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Former General Hospital Headwriter Wishes Everyone at the Soap a Happy 60th… Except ‘Certain Individuals Who Owe Me an Apology’
Sunday, April 2nd, 2023
Let the wild speculation begin!
If you spent any time on the internet over the past few days, you know that everyone from longtime fans to former stars have been sending “birthday” wishes to General Hospital. After all, it’s not every day that a show marks it’s 60th anniversary. (In fact, it’s only once every 21, 915 days, to be precise!)
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At least one of those well-wishers served their congrats with a side order of sass, however. Ron Carlivati — the current Days of Our Lives headwriter who formerly served in that position at General Hospital — got tongues wagging when he posted a decidedly pointed message to his Instagram feed.
“Happy 60th anniversary to General Hospital,” he wrote, “a show I started watching when I was 10 years old. I grew up on the Quartermaines and the Scorpios and Anna Devane and Heather Webber and Lucy Coe and countless others, and my love for all these characters eventually led me to write soaps for a living.”
As he continued, things got a bit… snarkier. “There are so many wonderful, talented people in Port Charles, and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything,” the scribe shared, “even though it ended on a sour note and there are certain individuals who owe me an apology that I’m pretty sure I will never get.”
Carlivati, you might recall, was hired to helm General Hospital back in 2012. To say that this was a scary time for soap fans would be an understatement, given that ABC had only just axed One Life to Live and All My Children, making the soap he’d been hired to write the network’s only surviving drama.
Although Carlivati would be replaced as headwriter few years later — clearing the way for his move to Days— many fans credit him with seeing the show through an incredibly difficult period and helping to keep the long-running soap on the airwaves.
More: Kelly Thiebaud on an emotional time in her life
As for the reference to apologies he’s owed, it’s no secret that as Carlivati was exiting the show, several actors made comments that caused a bit of a stir. In fact, in accepting the 2015 Writers Guild Association award for Best Writing in Daytime Serials, the scribe — who had by that time left General Hospital — publicly acknowledged remarks made by Anthony Geary (ex-Luke).
“We told an origin story about one of the most popular characters on daytime television,” Carlivati said in his acceptance speech. “At the time, [Geary] told me it was his favorite storyline in his entire 37 year run on the show. Shortly after this, however, he became disenchanted with my writing and for some strange reason refused to acknowledge that we ever even met, referring to me in interviews only as ‘the writer.'”
Maurice Benard (Sonny) would use the same term to refer to Carlivati in a less than glowing fashion. During a fan event in the fall of 2015, Benard said, “As you guys know… we got rid of the writer. I’m not one to bash but the thing with him was, obviously, he wasn’t a fan of mine… and that’s a stupid thing.”
What better way to mark General Hospital‘s milestone than by flipping through the positively massive collection of history-tracking photos we’ve compiled below!
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Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Just have a seat and fill out these forms, the doctors will be right with you. Also the mobsters, strumpets, cult leaders, martyrs and madmen.</p>
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<p>General Hospital’s first patient was Angie Costello (Jana Taylor), a young woman who wound up worse for wear after a joyless ride with boyfriend Eddie Weeks (Craig Curtis).</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Angie was treated by Dr. Steve Hardy (John Beradino) — that is, when he wasn’t being distracted by the likes of Nurse Jessie Brewster (Emily McLaughin), fiancée Peggy Mercer (K.T. Stevens), Priscilla Longsworth (Allison Hayes of <em>Attack of the 50 Foot Woman</em> fame) and… <em>Angie</em>?!? What the heck are <em>you</em> doing in there?</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>We can only assume that this is a photo of Steve and buddy Lee Baldwin (Peter Hansen) looking at that last picture and going, “Dude! You had it goin’ <em>on</em>!”</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Of course, Steve was destined to fall in love with flight attendant-turned-nurse Audrey March (Rachel Ames), who first had to brush off infatuated patient Randy Washburn (Mark Miller).</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Giving Audrey advice every step of the way — on everything from gentlemen callers to how to open an envelope — was her no-nonsense sister, fellow nurse Lucille (Lucille Wall, who joined the cast in episode No. 14).</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Throughout the 1960s and beyond, Steve’s right-hand woman was Jessie, who had her hands full with philandering husband Phil Brewer (Roy Thinnes). In hindsight, his wandering eye would’ve been easier to spot if they hadn’t all been looking in the same dang direction.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Jessie knew better than to buy into Phil’s BS. But then he’d look at her like this, and the words “Take a hike, bub!” would get stuck in her throat.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>After what doesn’t look at <em>all</em> like it was the world’s awkwardest job interview — hello, HR! — Steve added to the hospital’s staff Dr. Lesley Williams (Denise Alexander), who’d end up providing as much drama as she did medical care.</p>
Image: Jerry Fitzgerald/ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Did we mention that Steve and Audrey got married? Because they did — three times, as a matter of fact. Apparently, the on-again/off-again Hardys were advised that the third time really <em>was</em> the charm.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Once the Hardys got it right, buildings were tested against their solidity. If Steve and Audrey couldn’t withstand it, then neither, inspectors wagered, could skyscrapers.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>The Hardys epitomized #relationshipgoals right up until his death in 1996. Though Audrey still had a lotta life left in her, she never remarried.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In the early 1970s, future Luke Skywalker Mark Hamill was a <em>General Hospital</em> regular as Kent Murray, who moved in with aunt Jessie along with sister Carol (Anne Wyndham).</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Occupying the front burner in 1978 were Craig Huebing as shrink Peter Taylor, Alexander as Lesley, Michael Gregory as her love interest Dr. Rick Webber, newcomer Genie Francis as her long-lost daughter Laura and, naturally, Beradino as Steve.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p><em>General Hospital</em> was in danger of cancellation when it struck pay dirt in 1978 with the pairing of Francis’ Laura and Kin Shriner’s Scotty Baldwin. After that, the show was only at risk of being… well, too <em>popular</em>!</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Is a supercouple really super if it doesn’t have a spoiler? Probably not, right? So Laura and Scotty’s title was secured — and then ripped away — by a jealous Bobbie Spencer (Jacklyn Zeman), who sought to break them up with the help of big brother Luke (Anthony Geary, pre-perm).</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>That umbrella might’ve shielded newlyweds Laura and Scotty from the sun, but nothing could protect them from the runaway train that was the bride’s forbidden attraction to Mob flunky Luke.</p>
Image: Curt Gunther/TV Guide/ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Luke’s rape of Laura should have put the kibosh on any chance that they might have had as a couple. Somehow, it did not. All it did was ruin Herb Alpert’s “Rise” for the rest of us.</p>
Image: Curt Gunther/TV Guide/ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Laura thought long and hard about her feelings for Luke. And then she cast aside all of those sensible thoughts to go with her gut.</p>
Image: Curt Gunther/TV Guide/ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>No matter the obstacles that life put between her and Luke, Laura surmounted them. Yep, even an understandably vengeful Scotty.</p>
Image: Curt Gunther/TV Guide/ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Mind you, Luke didn’t make it easy for Laura to choose him. He was as determined to have her as she was at first unsure that it was a good idea to be, well, had.</p>
Image: Curt Gunther/TV Guide/ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Executive producer Gloria Monty took a hands-on approach with Francis as she studied her lines.</p>
Image: Donna Svennevik/ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Yup. Francis made Laura the hottest thing since sliced bread. And who doesn’t love sliced bread?</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>While all of that was going on, Rick (by then Chris Robinson) showed an interest in auditioning for <em>Deliverance</em>. Cue the banjos!</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>When not sucking face, Laura and Luke sought to thwart the villainous Cassadines’ attempt to turn the world into a popsicle with a formula for carbonic snow hidden in the base of a supremely ugly statuette called the Ice Princess.</p>
Image: Curt Gunther/TV Guide/ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>The daring endeavor called for the couple to hurl themselves into one scenario after another that <em>had</em> to have been lifted from a James Bond movie.</p>
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<p>In the end, Laura and Luke were so successful in their endeavor to stop climate change before anyone even knew that climate change was a thing that Port Charles insisted they have the biggest, best wedding ever.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>During this period, the sweethearts were so beloved that their portrayers took part in photo shoots that we’d never even <em>seen</em> before putting together this gallery — and we’d have sworn that we’d eyeballed every picture of them that had ever been taken!</p>
Image: Craig Sjodin/ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>An unexpected — <em>and</em> unwanted — guest at Luke and Laura’s wedding was Helena Cassadine (Elizabeth Taylor), who blamed the bride and groom for the demise of her husband, Mikkos.</p>
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<p>At least Luke’s pal, Robert (Tristan Rogers), appeared to be able to hold Helena’s interest as much as the notion of retribution.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Then again, the she-devil might have just been plotting to poison him. She’s always been like that, you know.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>How was Laura — or <em>any</em> bride — supposed to compete with a diva in an outfit like this? The curse that Helena placed on the Spencers was almost superfluous!</p>
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<p><em>Aaanyway</em>… Laura and Luke’s nuptials wound up being a simple affair… attended by some 30 million viewers, making it the most-watched episode of a soap opera in TV history.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>The newlyweds saw a bright future ahead of them. They just didn’t realize how short it would be, at least at first.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>To this day, the Spencers’ lavish wedding remains the standard against which all other soap ceremonies are measured.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In other plots — and yes, there were some — once Monica Webber (Leslie Charleson) had for the most part stopped ping-ponging between Rick and his brother, Jeff, she focused her attentions on… well, as you can see, <em>General Hospital</em>’s newest doctor, filthy-rich Alan Quartermaine (Stuart Damon).</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Alan’s parents, Edward (David Lewis) and Lila (Anna Lee), knew better than to involve themselves in his squabbles with Monica. This, of course, did nothing to stop them from involving themselves in the Bickersons’ quarrels.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Here, Edward sits idly by waiting to see if Monica is going to remind his son of the time he almost dropped a roof on her and loverboy Rick. (Hey, we only said that she was done ping-ponging between the Webber boys, not that she was done ping-ponging.)</p>
Image: Craig Sjodin/ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Mind you, Alan was not without his own peccadilloes. In addition to his fling with Susan Moore, he up and <em>married</em> gold digger Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring), a move that could’ve put his family in the same color as her plus-sized hat and gown.</p>
Image: Craig Sjodin/ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>At least Alan’s affair with Susan brought into the fold golden boy Jason (Steve Burton), the saintly antithesis of his ne’er-do-well older half sibling, A.J. (Sean Kanan).</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Jason and A.J.’s early-1990s peers included scheming Brenda Barrett (Vanessa Marcil), muscle-bound Jagger Cates (Antonio Sabato Jr.), secret stripper Karen Wexler (Cari Shayne) and Robin Scorpio (Kimberly McCullough), the daughter of superspies Robert and Anna. More on them in a bit…</p>
Image: Craig Sjodin/ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Neither Monica nor brother-in-law Paul Hornsby (Paul Satterfield) were really interested in hearing how justified Alan had been in contemplating dropping a roof on her and Rick. Let it go, buddy. Let. It. Go.</p>
Image: Craig Sjodin/ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>A car wreck with a drunk A.J. transformed Jason from a promising future doctor into a Mob flunky who, if he was going to wear any shirt at all, was going to wear a tight black T. No exceptions.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>But we’re getting <em>way</em> ahead of ourselves. Let’s rewind to the 1980s once more, shall we?</p>
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<p>In its Golden Age, <em>General Hospital</em> attracted a Who’s Who of famous folks, among them Sammy Davis Jr., who passed through Port Charles as Eddie Phillips for a fraught family reunion with estranged son Bryan (Todd Davis) and daughter-in-law Claudia (Bianca Ferguson).</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Legendary funnyman Milton Berle briefly played Mickey Miller, the talent agent responsible for the career of B-movie starlet Tiffany Hill (Sharon Wyatt).</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Mickey was also the mover and shaker that turned Luke’s bride into a supermodel who vanished in the fog on Port Charles’ docks. That is, Mickey made Laura Miss Star Eyes; as far as we know, he had nothing to do with the weather that fateful night.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>After Laura’s disappearance, Luke teamed up with reporter Jackie Templeton (then Demi Moore) in hopes of finding not only his wife but her sister.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Jackie’s younger sibling, Laura (Janine Turner), did turn up. But Luke’s Laura? No such luck.</p>
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<p>Viewers didn’t buy Laura 2.0 as a new love interest for Luke. And they soon discovered that they preferred Jackie with Luke’s BFF Robert than with Luke.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In the 1980s, it was tough for Robert to go anywhere without running into someone with whom he’d been involved. Tiffany? Check. Jackie? Check. Yeah, his little black book really wasn’t little at all.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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