‘General Hospital’ checking in for 60th year
In shift from early days, soap’s women run fictional world
ABC’s “General Hospital” is celebrating its 60th anniversary, making it the longest running scripted show currently in production on American television.
The soap, which debuted on April 1, 1963, marked the milestone with a fan favorite storyline, the Nurses Ball, a gala that raises money for charity. The residents of the fictional city of Port Charles dress to the nines and walk a red carpet. In a guest appearance, Chandra Wilson of “Grey’s Anatomy” plays fashion editor Sydney Val Jean.
“She’s a big fan of the show,” said executive producer Frank Valentini of Wilson. “She taped all the scenes on the red carpet and was working at ‘Grey’s’ the same day. I’m just so crazy about her.”
Valentini was pumped about this year’s musical performances, as a number of the cast members can sing and dance. “Some of the numbers are some of the best things we’ve ever done, and we’ve done some really good stuff.”
After 60 years, much remains the same for “General Hospital.” A hospital is still the backdrop for the soap opera, many of the veteran characters populate the episodes, the wealthy Quatermaine family looms large, and the stories are about love, mystery and adventure.
“When you inherit so much history and so many front-loaded characters and stories, you can’t just abandon them,” Valentini said. “The cast is just phenomenal, and the few people that we’ve added over the years, I think have really complemented and given to the characters on
the show’s storyline. You bring in people to support who you have. We introduce the new characters slowly and methodically and in a way that the audience responds to them.”
When Valentini took over as executive producer in 2012, he leaned into the soap’s history and brought back several of its veteran cast. Some made appearances, others stayed on. Today, “General Hospital” has veteran cast members — including Genie Francis, Tristan Rogers, Finola Hughes, Kristina Wagner and Lynn Herring — who are very much in the mix. There’s another tier of longtime cast members — Maurice Benard, Rebecca Herbst, Laura Wright and Chad Duell, for example — who are in front-burner stories. The soap also regularly features storylines with its newer cast, including Tabyana Ali, Nicholas Chavez and Evan Hofer.
But in a shift from years past, many of the most powerful residents of Port Charles are women these days.
Francis’ legacy character Laura Collins, whose 1981 wedding to Luke Spencer drew 30 million viewers and is still the highest rated soap opera episode in U.S. history, is now the mayor of Port Charles. The police commissioner is a woman (played by Tanisha Harper), and the chief of staff at General Hospital is also a woman (played by Cassandra James).
Wagner, who plays Felicia Scorpio, first joined “General Hospital” in 1984 as a literal princess and romantic interest for Frisco Jones (Jack Wagner), forming a soap supercouple. While agent Frisco was out chasing bad guys, Felicia would wait in Port Charles. But now, Felicia — long divorced from Frisco — takes down villains herself
and often teams up with Hughes’ Anna Devane to solve mysteries.
“I’m really proud to say that the show now feels very woman-centric,” said Kristina Wagner. “Most of the stories revolve around women more than they ever have. We’ve changed with the times, and that’s a real perk. That’s what makes me keep coming back.”
Wright, who plays Carly Spencer, has acted in three different soap operas, and says it used to be common for each soap to have one woman who was the standout, strong female lead.
“You go back and you had Kim Zimmer on ‘Guiding Light,’ who played Reva Shayne. Erika Slezak playing Viki (‘One Life to Live’), Susan Lucci playing Erica on ‘All My Children.’ You had some strong women, but you had like, one. Now we see so many,” she said.
Eden McCoy who plays
Carly’s daughter, Josslyn Jacks, has grown into a fiercely independent woman in her own right. She doesn’t ask for a man’s help easily and has no problem standing up for herself. She even tells her love interest, Dex (Hofer) that he can’t dictate where they stand.
“It’s like this wall went up between us, and you have to protect little old me from big bad you,” Josslyn said to Dex in a scene. “I call BS on that. I make my own decisions. I know the risks I’m taking. If you don’t want me, just say that.”
McCoy says the characters stand on their own.
“They’re good enough characters on their own, and they don’t need men surrounding them. If men surround them, then that’s awesome and great, but they don’t need it,” said McCoy. “We’re not arm candy. We have things to bring to the table.”
Off screen, the actors also make an important impact. Ali, who plays Trina Robinson, is part of a beloved biracial couple on the series. Fans recently purchased a billboard in New York’s Times Square to play a video montage devoted to the pairing of Trina and Spencer Cassadine (Chavez) — known to fans as Sprina.
Ali admits to being surprised by how much the relationship meant to viewers, particularly those who could relate personally. “I didn’t realize that the people that are in interracial relationships, this means a lot for them. They feel very seen,” she said. “I’m honored to be part of it.”
Cynthia Watros, who plays Nina Reeves, the editor of a high-fashion magazine and co-owner of a hotel, says even her male co-stars have noticed the shift.
“We’ve had some conversations with some of the guys on the show who’ve been here for a while.
And it has shifted a lot
(to) women commanding the show,” said Watros. “I give a lot of credit to Frank (Valentini) and the writers for allowing this show to be so women-driven.”
The women also feel a strong kinship behind the scenes. Herbst, who plays Elizabeth Baldwin, joined the show as a teen in the ’90s and says the “GH” set is truly another home. She counts Francis, Wright, Jane Elliot, Kelly Monaco and Kirsten Storms in her “friend circle.”
“Sometimes it doesn’t even feel like a job. When I get in my car, I’m just going to go see my second family, and I get to work, and we all just kind of get to play together. I see people that are near and dear to my heart and that I will forever cherish their friendships and love them. It’s pretty amazing. I feel very blessed.”