General Hospital

General Hospital is a long running soap opera that had wonderful leadership with Gloria Monty and Wendy Riche and amazing writers like Claire Labine. Also great performances by John Beradino,Rachel Ames, Tony Geary,Genie Francis,Tristan Rogers,Finola Hughes,Kimberly Mccullough,Vanessa Marcil,Alicia Leigh Willis and Billy Warlock.

Tristan Rogers and Finola Hughes were incredible as Robert and Anna in the 80s and 90s where GH was filled with action,adventure and romance.

The highlight of the 1990s included storylines of the family. BJ Jones's death, Monica Quartermaine fighting breast cancer, Stone and Robin's love story and their AIDS storyline. Plus the amazing chemistry and connection that made Sonny&Brenda soulmates.

GH hit a rough patch in 2000-2001 with many backstage changes but it is improving in 2002. One of the most promising current storylines is the AJ Quartermaine and Courtney Matthews relationship. Billy Warlock and Alicia Leigh Willis have phenomenal chemistry that makes watching in 2002 a must.

I've been a faithful viewer since 1978 when Luke and Laura's storyline took off. GH will lose their footing if they don't shake loose the idiotic storylines presently going on. If the writers are going to kill off anyone else, let me send you all a list.

Who cares who the hook sinks that hook into next? You've made that storyline a joke. I read where the gal who plays Esme signed a three year contract. What's wrong with all of you writers? Bring Genie Francis back.

I see where the older actors are given slim arcs if any. This is heartbreaking. Yes, GH won for best drama this year. I don't see how.

Firing/removing Genie Francis/Laura after almost four decades showed us older viewers how much you value your senior actors and viewers. Who's next?

This really is probably one of the most iconic soap operas of all time.

It has had some amazingly famous storylines...like Like and Laura, their iconic wedding is still talked about today.

For the younger set, the rape storyline with Elizabeth "Liz" Webber and Lucky Spencer.

The great love triangle between Sonny, Brenda and Jax.

The love story of Karen and Jagger...

The HIV storyline with Stone and Robin and the continued awareness of HIV.

The amazing song and dance numbers of the Nurses' Ball, along with Lucy's crazy shenanigans.

The transformation of the character of Jason due to brain injury...from Med School student to mob enforcer.

And who could forget the Lois era with the shared record label with Brenda and the musical numbers by Miguel and Ned Ashton!

Puerto Rico!

Seductions, attempted murders, fake babies, psychotic twins, jealous brothers, risen from the dead....this soap had it all.

And there have been some amazing memorials over the years.

Lots of great serious topics have been brought up alcoholism, addiction, rape, HIV, and mental illness (bipolar) to name just a few.

It was really nice to see some characters played by a single actor and it has been nice to see older actors brought back in the same roles. That familiarity is what keeps people coming back.

When I was a kid in the 70s, I watched soaps with my mother. It was all the ABC ones. All My Children, One Life to Live and General Hospital. When I was about 12 or 13. Luke and Laura got married, I wanted to see it so bad, I told my mother I was sick and stayed home from school. Over the years I stopped watching the other two and stuck with GH. It's still the best soap I've ever seen. It's not as good as it used to be but it's good. I would love to see less Sonny and Carly and more Luke and (whoever). When Luke was the hero, the show as truly great. Since now it's all about Sonny, it's getting really boring. The same old mobster stuff, Sonny isn't heroic he's a crook.

Maybe in the future GH will regain it's backbone. Maybe draw clear lines between good and evil like it did in it's hey day.

Rayvyn

In 1980, Gloria Monty along with other General Hospital writers decided to make a couple out of two actors that had amazing chemistry. Genie Francis and Tony Geary who have become the phenomenal Luke and Laura. Luke and Laura made General Hospital the unforgettable soap opera it is, and still today, Luke and Laura's though painful relationship, keeps viewers going through their fascinating characterization and never ending passion between them.

Alan and Monica, played by Leslie Charleson and Stuart Damon, Frisco and Felicia, played by Jack and Kristina Wagner, Robert and Holly, played by Tristan Rogers and Emma Samms, Sonny and Brenda, played by Maurice Bernard and Vanessa Marcil, and Luke and Laura have showed every other soap opera the definition of a "love story". Though never simple, always intense, always unforgettable.

General Hospital has also shown amazing technique in storylines that are not love stories. Such as Monica Quartermaine's heartwrenching breast cancer storyline in 1994, or the amazing storyline of two little girls dying, yet only one miracle came out of it. I could only be talking about Bobbie Spencer's and Tony Jones's daughter BJ giving her heart to Frisco and Felicia's daughter Maxie, in the last moments to save her life. These stories touched many viewers and there are so many more.

Some of the most precious moments on daytime television have occurred on General Hospital, and the highest rated moment on daytime television was Luke and Laura's wedding in 1981. It was said to be the only wedding ever to rival Princess Diana's. General Hospital has created feelings, storylines, and characters that go beyond words. I thank Genie and Tony who play Luke and Laura for bringing out the fantasy we all have about how love should be. Though they are General Hospital's greatest achievement, I don't think General Hospital's done with them yet! And we know that Luke and Laura are not the only life changing storyline they've come up with! Thank you General Hospital!