General Hospital (1963– )

During the original show up through the 1970s, the show primarily covered Dr. Steve Hardy (John Beradino) and his friend, Nurse Jessie Brewer (Emily McLaughlin). Late in the 1970s, the show... See full summary »

Creators:

Doris Hursley, Frank Hursley, Jim Hursley

Stars:

Maurice Benard, Steve Burton, Rebecca Herbst

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 215 wins & 433 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Maurice Benard	...	Sonny Corinthos (1642 episodes, 1993-2013)
Steve Burton	...	Jason Morgan (1596 episodes, 1991-2012)
Rebecca Herbst	...	Elizabeth Webber (1211 episodes, 1997-2013)
Laura Wright	...	Carly Jacks (1149 episodes, 2005-2013)
Kelly Monaco	...	Sam McCall (1120 episodes, 2003-2013)
Julie Marie Berman	...	Lulu Spencer (1046 episodes, 2005-2013)
Ingo Rademacher	...	Jasper Jacks (1017 episodes, 1996-2012)
Nancy Lee Grahn	...	Alexis Davis (1001 episodes, 1996-2013)
Jason Thompson	...	Patrick Drake (900 episodes, 2005-2013)
Tyler Christopher	...	Nikolas Cassadine (887 episodes, 1996-2013)
Bradford Anderson	...	Damien Spinelli (872 episodes, 2006-2013)
Kimberly McCullough	...	Robin Scorpio (826 episodes, 1985-2012)
Anthony Geary	...	Luke Spencer (792 episodes, 1978-2013)
Brandon Barash	...	Johnny Zacchara (755 episodes, 2007-2013)
Kirsten Storms	...	Maxie Jones (749 episodes, 2005-2013)

Storyline

During the original show up through the 1970s, the show primarily covered Dr. Steve Hardy (John Beradino) and his friend, Nurse Jessie Brewer (Emily McLaughlin). Late in the 1970s, the show was doing badly in the ratings, so a new executive producer, Gloria Monty, decided to move the show's focus away from the hospital and onto material more relevant to a younger audience than the stereotypical "bored housewife", thus bringing in Luke and Laura, (Anthony Geary and Genie Francis) and eventually having them marry in a stereotypical fantasy wedding that would not be matched until the real-life marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.

---

Plot Keywords:

new york | actor shares full name with character | shipper | cult tv | doctor | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

abc [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Also Known As:

Hospital general

Filming Locations:

ABC Television Center - 4151 Prospect Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Selmur Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 30 min (1963-1976) 45 min (1976-1977) 60 min (1978-) 30 min (1963-1976) 45 min (1976-1977) 60 min (1978-)

Sound Mix:

Mono Stereo

Color:

Black and White (1963-1966) Color (1966-)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During Steve Hardy and Audrey March's first marriage, the minister was Rachel Ames's father, Bryan Foulger.

---

Quotes

Luke Spencer: Hey! Life's a gamble, People! This proves it! Everybody's got one chance to save his or her life! This is going to be a lottery, folks. Everybody draws a number, low goes first, high last. The only exceptions will be the badly injured and kids under 18 - they take priority.
Faith Rosco: Who put you in charge?
Luke Spencer: This. This is my authority. You want to challenge it, step forward. I won't hesitate to put a bullet in anybody who causes trouble. And one more thing - all drawings are final. No trading number, no ...
[...]

---

Connections

Spoofed in Chelsea Lately: Episode #6.67 (2012)

User Reviews

About General Hospital

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!