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General Hospital Icons Anthony Geary and Genie Francis To Be Reunited During 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Telecast!

Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

The 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will bring fans the long-awaited, much anticipated moment they’ve been asking for – the reunion of two iconic soap stars, Anthony Geary and Genie Francis, who played the on-screen romantic duo Luke and Laura on General Hospital for more than two decades. Mr. Geary and Ms. Francis will make a special appearance as presenters during the live awards broadcast airing on Pop this Sunday, April 26 at 8:00 at 8:00 PM, ET/5:00 PM, PT.

Hosted by Tyra Banks, the Daytime Emmy® Awards will include a star-studded line-up of presenters, including (listed alphabetically): Tom Bergeron, Eileen Davidson, Craig Ferguson, Kevin Frazier, Leeza Gibbons, Deidre Hall, Steve Harvey, Vicki Lawrence, Mario Lopez, Shemar Moore, Nancy O’Dell, Marie Osmond, Regis Philbin and Alex Trebek. This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award will honor television icon Betty White.

Cast members from the four daytime soaps-“The Young and The Restless,” “General Hospital,” “Days of Our Lives” and “The Bold and the Beautiful”-as well as daytime television series and talk shows “The Talk,” “Queens of Drama” and “The FAB Life” will be presenting.

The 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards show on Pop will be executive produced by Michael Levitt of Michael Levitt Productions with Gary Tellalian and Mike Rothman also serving as executive producers.

What do you think about the news that Genie and Tony will be presenting and reuniting on stage during daytime’s biggest night of the year?  Let us know!

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I guess ill say Genie Francis is the suprise person showing up on emmy night…i wanted to say Jack Wagner but something tells me its Genie…lol

Favorite was Luke and Laura and Sharon with Adam on my days of soaps 🙂

Now if they would only bring her back to GH.

I didn’t much care lol
Everybody as myself who did not watch GH during Luke and Laura, well why would we millions be excited over it.. (we wouldn’t) many never even heard of Luke and Laura, I heard about them from my neighbor ..
It is only the very old timers who would get all giggly over it .. lol
Hope y’all have a great nostalgia rush 🙂 enjoy!

I love Sharon and Adam much more but Luke and Laura came to a very close romantic second. Both couples were very very similar and wonderfully romantic and adventurous. Miss you Shadam 🙂

Gee thanks. SUooo.
I get the feeling you’re no spring chicken yourself so perhaps you ought to pause before throwing out the “old timer” remarks.
And finally, really–learn to speak for yourself. While you felt compelled to come in and here and say this news does not excite you, you do not get to speak for “millions” of people as you do above.

You didnt have to be around in the early 1980s when GH was at its greatest to know about Luke and Laura…theyve been on and off this show for over 30 years…Laura made a brief return a couple of years ago…unless someone is new to GH after Laura’s last departure and born yesterday then they might not know of her…she is mention in the show…one can go on utube or google the character to know her…very few might not know Laura’s history but most should know who Laura is and connection to various characters…i have relatives who never watched GH and they know who Genie Frances/Laura is and they arent even old…there are a lot of people from this generation who know who she is…maybe some dont but when one follows a show like a soap they usually try to know more about it…and Laura has been mentioned on this message board numerous times so many of todays audience should have some idea who she is…sure, they might not have been around when Luke/Laura was the most popular couple on tv but by now many GH viewers should know one or two things about them…too bad you werent around when soaps where at their greatest…youve missed a lot!!! su, your a joy and i always love reading your comments whether we agree or not…Peace! oh, thats from my hippie days…gosh, i am old…lol

You and Harry are both right, of course, jimh. I knew who Luke and Laura were/are, albeit I only started watching a about a year or so ago.
But, I don’t think that is was Su means….unless, I’m really not reading her correctly. I think she means that anyone forty and under would not feel the same vibe about any soap character from thirty years ago. If a fan did not live through all of Luke’s and Laura’s trials and tribulations, love and marriage etc., then there is no connection to their plight, happiness and life together.

I can’t speak for Su, but I do agree with Jimh….one does not have to be present to appreciate true love, romance, comedy, tragedy etc. For instance; GONE WITH THE WIND never goes out of style, it has significance for every generation….it’s a classic.
Thus, I suppose to those avid fans of GH , Luke and Laura are a legend….a classic love story unto itself.

I agree, Su. As famous/infamous this couple has been, …..that’s exactly what Luke and Laura are…..’has Belen’s’. However, I can appreciate how fans feel about this couple. Luke’s and Laura’s idyllic romance/love/life, will forever live in soapland and in the hearts of their fans. That’s how I feel about some characters from AMC and OLTL.
My grandmother’s favorite soap of all time was ANOTHER WORLD. She still laments over it…..LOL.

Correction ‘has beens’, not has Belen’s. Auto correction keeps changing it…lol.
PS. Su, a nostalgia rush is the best way of phrasing it. As young as we are, we get that feeling too…at least, I do….I’m sure you do too.
Sometimes when Gran talks about ANOTHER WORLD, SOMERSET, THE DOCTORS…so many other soaps of yore, I feel that I was there fifty years ago. ….that’s how good of a narrator she is. I get goose-bumps….LOL.

Listen up this is a teaching moment we in this wonderful country with our freedoms to speak our mind or lack of it in some cases RESPECT the people who came before you and will lead on long after you are gone. These has Belen’s as you call them paved the way for these in a lot of cases hair models to have a job . Their is a old country song called Mama tell me about the good old days. My husband calls it a simpler time I think he is right if I told. Some of you younger posters what I use to do for entertainment you would scratch your head but I can quote lines from movies I can tell you what I was wearing on certain days I can tell you what it felt like to look across a classroom at a boy and stare in awe. Yep I am Fifty years old and I would not change one minute of my journey and the upbringing I had for the so called youth of today I have a daughter who is brilliant a husband who is a hero that is all I have ever needed!

Has Beens got a little emotional there! Enjoy the emmys have a great evening!

I was there 50 years ago…lol…AW was one of my favorites too…especially in the 1970s when we had the Mathews family, the best love triangle ever: Steve, Alice, and villianous Rachel, meddlesome Aunt Liz, and daytimes best villian Iris Carrington who had an almost incestual love for her wealthy daddy, publisher Mac Cory who married the much younger Rachel whom Iris hated and believed only married Mac for his money…then there was the evil Cory caretaker Sven who murdered the gardner and later Rachels son Jaime and Iris’s son Dennis found the victims remains in a garbage bag…i could go on forever…i wish the network had never erased those early AW eps., —that show was soooo good id watch it again if those eps. were still available!!! Glad The Doctors survive…dont think Somerset did…i watched both…AW and Somerset was the first soap to do crossovers with AW characters visiting Somerset and some going to AW!!!

FYI: you want to see a brilliant performance watch Anne Heche/play opposite herself time and time again as the twins on Another World this was consant not a one time time thing with Geary. You newbies have no idea what true talent is.

Constant ,

I like su but she sounds a little insulting at times…we oldies dont get giggly just because certain characters return…its a little like going to a class reunion and seeing an old friend(ok, there might be a few giggles there)…everyone usually feels nostalgic no matter their age(if they have memories of their first day of school, that first kiss, a family moment ect. when you talk about these memories its being nostalgic just like when we talk about certain past soaps ect)–its not like Laura has been gone over 30 years…she’s been on and off the show many times…her last just two years ago…su acts like Laura has been gone for decades and that current viewers havent heard of her—maybe some new viewers who never watched before her last appearance…its just paying homeage to a long time favorite character…i actually dont care if she came back to gh or not but sometimes its nice to see a former character return no matter what era, especially when they have connection yet to the show! Why watch a soap and not care about the show’s past history when there is still a connection to it with certain current characters and storylines…su did like the old time flashback which helped tell the fluke story…not much different than talking about a blast from the past!!!

Forgot to add…ive watched soaps with unfamiliar characters have returned…i learned who the were and never really made a big deal about it…i read about them so i could be as familiar with the other fans who knew who or she was…it makes for better soap viewing!!!

im terrible at editing…lol

Thank you, Substitute.
I am so happy for Maura’s win….and Tony; I knew they would get the Emmy….they deserved it.

Now, your writing gave me goosebumps. I love hearing those kinds of stories…so innocent,…. such precious memories.
I have my mother and both my grandmothers who are a font of information…I soak it all up. My Scottish, maternal grandmother is wont to tell me that every tiny line/wrinkle on her face has a story to tell.

As far as ‘Belens’? That word just kept coming up each time I wrote ‘beens’. Unfortunately, Substitute, that’s what society labels the IT couples of yesteryear. That is the point I think Su was trying to make. By the same token, the actors/actresses themselves still hold their ground….as it was proven last night by Donna and Anthony.
Sometimes I think that I lived long time ago and reincarnated into myself….LOL. Then again, subconsciously, I know it is the power of suggestion from my grandmothers. They always tell me I am too old for my age….sorry, now I am getting too philosophical.

I am so glad I started watching GH…..this show really rocks. Plus, this is the best site to discuss the pros and the cons….and, meeting so many great poster-friends with unique and informative commentaries.

@jimh.
Of course, you want to see familiar characters make an appearance or return to your favorite soaps, jimh. I feel the same way. That’s why I was so happy when Roger H, Michael E, and Kristen A came to GH. I also thought Kassie DePaiva was going to join the cast. I was ecstatic.
I was glad Kassie is on DOOL , not the role of a ‘perfect’ character, but glad, nonetheless.

Best news I’ve heard! Come on back, Genie! We loyal fans are waiting for you.

You could check it out on youtube and you would be amazed at how compelling they were. Nothing today on soaps compares, the writing, the romance, the drama, the fun. Too bad you don’t know any better than to refuse to see for yourself what all the hooplah is about.

Darn it !!!! I can’t believe I guessed correctly.

I can’t either, Lou.
I cannot believe Geary agreed to this as he usually hates revisiting the glory days of his supercouple past. Well, good on him!
I guess hell hath finally frozen over and I for one, am glad of it!

But maybe thats not the real Tony Geary…lol

And I for one could give a flying you know what that Geary agreed to! Please he is not God he is a soap actor that got lucky a one note actor compare him to Terry Lester, Michael Zaslow, Chris Bernau, grant Alexander,Douglas Watson. Gosh Almighty he Pales in comparison hype no substance.

Since our cable company does not carry Pop will have to miss the broadcast…unless it is streaming….and I can’t find that info on their site.

Boring….. and predictable. This could’ve been called a million miles away, and has been done before on an EMMY telecast.

I like these two, but unless they DO something with their appearance ~ more than have them walk toward each other and smile before cutting to a commercial break ~ it doesn’t do anything for me. If this is sign that they’re bringing Genie back to GH as Laura for a significant story than I’m all in. Am I wishing for too much here?

I’m wishing too!

I ageee!

Zzzzzzzzzzzz……….

PLEASE, let this announcement that Genie is returning. And let the writers come up with something good for her!

Nope, once again they used her to up the viewership, nothing more.

I hope it is followed with the announcement that she is coming back and they give us fans the happy ending we all vested in for over 30 years !

Sounds like an awesome show! Can’t wait! I hope it gets ratings that at least compete with whatever the big 3 networks have.

well if abc and RC and FV don’t want Genie Francis, then i guess we will have to take seeing her on pop emmy awards. is it a tease only at the emmys” or will she be returning to GH?

This is really exciting for SO many fans of Genie and Tony. Laura has been so missed in the Fluke/Luke story line and she is crucial to Luke’s redemption. Hopefully ABC realizes it. SO EXCITED TO SEE THEM TOGETHER AGAIN!

Oh I couldn’t agree more. Laura IS Luke’s redemption.

Hi Nancy.
I realize Luke was a renegade and all things despicable at the time he raped Laura. I also know that she signified/symbolized everything he was not and couldn’t have.
I also have knowledge via Shay and the Internet that Laura was not so Lily-white. That can be forgiven because she was so young and had not ‘come’ into herself….not he. I’m glad Tony won, but I still do not like Luke….
When you say that Laura will be Luke’s redemption, I am assuming that this couple has gone down this path before…perhaps, several times?
So, do you think the writers may bring her back for the sole purpose of saving Luke’s soul?

I did not know Genie as Laura (wish I did), but I know her as Genevieve ( Tristan Roger’s ex) from her Y&R stint. ….not only is she beautiful, but also, a natural performer…I loved her.

I don’t get POP. Reading other comments regarding “day times biggest night of the year” I’m not the only one. Why are daytime awards treated like an orphan compared to all of the other, frequent, award shows that are show on network TV?

It will be nice to see Genie Francis again, but does her appearance at the awards mean she’s also bringing Laura back to GH. Now that would be great news!

I’d rather see Tony and Genie reunited on GH

They will not look like the Luke and Laura that some remember..
Age at wedding
Luke (35) Laura (19) /huge age difference!
They wed on November 16, 1981
that is 34 years !!! since they were together..
Shortly after the wedding aired, Francis left the show..
(that is like half a lifetime ago!)

Anyways,, google says; the Luke and Laura song is-
“Think Of Laura” was their love theme song..
hope they play it for the LnL fans when they reunite during the emmy’s for their fans..
or=
they could play;
the song “Rise”, performed by trumpeter Herb Alpert during the rape scene and ensuing scenes that recalled the rape “Every time Laura thought of the terrible rape by Luke, it was played to evoke that memory.. ohh geez lol
And ”Rise” hit the #2 song on the billboard after that it became a hit.. lol

See, you do know something about them…lol

And any of you youngen’s can just google like you did and know everything about GH like us oldies but goodies…lol

Look who Googled a topic! Su00, you seemed bound and determined to be a wet blanket on this topic. Not only that, you seem to want to reiterate the obvious.
Folks here are not stupid so stop projecting. This is not about living in the past. it’s about paying homage to two soap vets who made soap opera history.
This subject clearly bores you and does not interest you so stop commenting on it.

Su, I don’t think anyone expects Luke and Laura to look as they did on their wedding day. Perhaps I did not make my point clear enough. These characters are part of their fan’s lives….said fans have aged, as we all have, along with Luke/Tony and Laura/Genie. Some grew up watching them….they are just excited to see them.
Have you ever walked down memory lane, su? I, for one, am very sentimental. Later.

No you don’t not with RC writing it let it go Ms. Francis has she had her day in the sun some great stories time to move on.

It’ll be great to see them together again. BTW, on Monday, The Talk will feature a daytime Emmy after-party with appearances by many winners.

I’m hoping this means they are bringing her back to the show. When they returned in 1993 this is how they made the announcement via presenting at emmys. If Laura didn’t make sense to bring back before she sure does now as both she and Luke have a lot to reflect on after these revelations. A triangle between Laura Luke and Tracy would be nice to see play out with Tracy left heartbroken in the end. Please God please

Like I said before I would love to see Stuart Damon again one of the loveliest men on the planet and that show suffered when he was let go. Every show needs mentors to lean on veterans that hold a show together not everybody wants to watch Beverly Hills 90210.

Yeah, that’d be great. And where has Monica been the last 5 months?!!?!?

I might watch, Genie .Tony no thanks ,. He got his way dark and evil luke with Tracy on GH love Genie and maybe another soap will have room for her. I see most of the presenters will NOT be soap actors. Just like last year. Maybe I should just DVR it, so I can FF through most of it !

Can Genie Francis PLEASE return to GH already?! Even if it’s just for a short time, because Laura HAS to be involved in the Luke/Fluke story. And for that matter, Lucky should be there too! They keep talking about Luke’s family being only Lulu, Tracy, and Bobbie, but Luke also has a son and his childrens’ mother out there who don’t seem to be even a thought. I hope Genie can return, maybe to usher Luke off for recovery?

She’ll probably come back as Flaura…a fake Laura who kidnaps Luke…lol

HaHa, Jimh…now, that’s funny. …can you imagine?

Yes to Genie returning to GH,No to Luke and Laura getting back together.

How can watch the emmys? If my cable company does not carry POP how can I find it or do I have t wait til it’s on youtube?

genie seemed like she was so not into be a presenter

Luke and Laura and part of one of the mode American myths. They are more important than Romeo and Juliette personally. I am 36 I’ve been watching the show my entire life. Luke and Laura shaped a lot of my views on love and what it can be and do. Beautifully tragic quality to this love story.

Hey, Allen.
With all due respect, I would think you are comparing hamburger with filet mignon. LOL.
You are comparing a Shakespearian classic; a masterpiece, ROMEO AND JULIET, to a soap opera and its romance couple? WOW!! I know you’re trying to make a point, so I get it.
When Harry, a master of English Lit., reads your post, I can bet he’ll jump three feet off his chair. LOL.

Lucky for me Shakespeare has not had that kind of influence on my creative writing etc… But Luke and Laura oh man have they. 🙂

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Nina Confronts Ava for Sabotaging Her Relationship With Sonny and Signs the Divorce Papers

Looks like Nina (Cynthia Watros) and Ava (Maura West) are back to be each other’s sworn enemy number one. By the end of the Monday, April 22nd episode of General Hospital, the women know where they stand with each other after Nina goes in on Ava accusing her of wanting Sonny (Maurice Benard) all to herself, while her marriage has been on the rocks.

In story, at Nina’s office, Ava shows up to see Nina and says she is sorry about what happened with Sonny and that he reacted the way he did, acknowledging that is was over the top, even for Sonny. Ava says she’ll smooth things over, but Nina says she now understands how manipulative and transparent Ava really is.

Given their horrible history, Nina goes in on Ava and how she should never have trusted her. Nina wants to know how long has Ava had this agenda dating all the way back to telling Nina to turn Carly (Laura Wright) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) into the SEC. Ava says she never told her do to that, but Nina wants to know how long Ava has been playing her for a fool.

Courtesy/ABC

Ava says she moved in with Sonny to keep Avery safe and she wants to be on good terms with Avery’s father, Sonny. Nina thinks she likes being in Sonny’s inner circle. Ava tells Nina if she goes to him about her advising Nina to call the SEC on Carly and Drew, it won’t work.  Sonny still considers Nina a traitor and he will think she’s lying because she’s so desperate to win him back. Ava says if Nina would stop blaming everyone else that maybe Sonny would respect her.  Nina says “like he does you?” Ava says Sonny not only respects her, but he also counts on her.

From there, Ava launches into why she and Sonny understand each other, after all, Sonny is a powerful, turbulent, and sometimes violent man. She goes so far to say if Nina wanted someone to just sit by the fire with and play with their grandchildren, she’s got the wrong guy.  Ava then talks about Mike from Nixon Falls (Sonny with amnesia) and how Sonny hid the darkest parts of himself from Nina back then, whereas with Ava they are the same similar creatures, so he doesn’t have to hide anything.

Courtesy/ABC

Nina wants to know just what Ava wants with Sonny? What is her end game? Ava responds that they understand each other, in ways she can’t with Sonny. Nina tells Ava she can go ahead and have it all and signs Sonny’s divorce papers. Ava walks out with the documents, while Nina in tears at her desk, takes off her wedding rings and has her assistant come in so she can messenger the rings back to Sonny’s address.

The episode and these scenes featured great performances by Cynthia Watros and Maura West. You can check some of the scenes below.

Now, let us know, what is Ava’s next move? Is she going to become Mrs. Sonny Corinthos? Do you like Ava and Nina as enemies? Comment below.

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General Hospital

Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital

If General Hospital’s Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) nuptials are on, you didn’t think Grandma Gloria Cerullo would miss out on the festivities, now did you?

Casting news from Soap Opera Digest reveals that Ellen Travolta is back taping scenes that will air the week of May 13th on the ABC daytime drama series.  When viewers learned that Carmine Cerullo, was also on his way back to Port Charles, now in the face and body of actor George Russo, it only made sense that Grandma Gloria would join Grandpa Cerullo. Look for them both mid-May.

As most people know, Ellen is the older sister to John Travolta. She first make appearances as Gloria back on GH in the mid-90s. Most recently, she returned to the Quartermaine mansion to meet up with daughter, Lois (Rena Sofer) and granddaughter Brook Lynn for Thanksgiving in Port Charles in 2023.  Michael Fairman TV interviewed Rena Sofer and Amanda Setton late last year where they shared what it had been liking working with Ellen, who remains very close to Sofer in real-life.

Photo: JPI

Amanda shared: “We fell in love immediately. What’s crazy is my maternal grandmother was Grandma Gloria. I had her till I was 30 and we were so close. She was really like a second mom to me. So, when I got this script and I’m reading “Grandma Gloria”, it was so bizarre. And then in meeting Ellen, she looks like my grandma – same haircut, same high cheekbones. It really did feel like I had a few days with my grandma. It was very, very special for me. Ellen is sweet, prepared, professional, talented and funny to boot. So, it was one of the best weeks I’ve had at work. I hope she comes back. My fingers are crossed.”

Photo: ABC

Now, we can’t imagine Brook Lynn and Chase’s wedding day to be smooth sailing, in fact, expect just the opposite, but could it be Grandma Gloria who is ultimately the hero or the calming voice of reason for any pre-wedding jitters? Stay tuned.

So, glad to know that Ellen Travolta will be back for Brook Lynn and Chase’s big day? Comment below.

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Breaking News

The Young and the Restless and General Hospital Actress and Writer, Meg Bennett, Passes Away at 75

Meg Bennett, who had played Julia Newman and later became a writer for the top-rated daytime drama, The Young and the Restless has died at the age of 75.  The news comes from her family who shared that she lost her battle to cancer back on April 11th.

Daytime fans remember fondly, Meg’s portrayal of Victor’s (Eric Braeden)first wife. Bennett joined the show in 1980, after her first soap stint for two years in the role of Liza Walton on Search for Tomorrow.

Impressed by her story notes, the late Bill Bell, then head writer of Y&R, had Meg doing double duty acting and writing on the show from 1983-1987. When he decided to write off the character of Julia, he also wanted Meg to stick around as a writer.  Not only did this begin a whole other daytime career for Bennett, but she was not done playing Julia either. Throughout the decades, Julia would still come back to Genoa City for a visit. Most recently, Y&R fans saw Julia in 2018, and again in 2020.

Photo: JPI

Bennett also appeared on Santa Barbara and was a writer on that show as well from 1991-1993. She played the role of Megan Richardson. It was next that Meg had her longest writing stint coming to ABC’s General Hospital. Meg wrote for GH from 1993-2011.

In 1995, Bennett won her first Daytime Emmy for writing and her personal life changed after falling in love with nine-time Daytime Emmy winner, former GH head writer, Bob Guza Jr. In addition, GH also utilized Bennett for her acting skill when she was cast as the villainess Allegra Montenegro.  Meg and Bog Guza were officially married in 2004 and purchased a home once owned by Boris Karloff and Gregory Peck.

Photo: JPI

Additionally, Meg wrote for The Bold and the Beautiful 1987-1989 and later served as a executive story consultant to Brad Bell from 2002-2004.  She also wrote for Sunset Beach, Generations and GH: Night Shift throughout her writing career. She went on to win five WGA Awards for GH and Santa Barbara.

Meg is survived by her husband of 19 years, Robert Guza Jr., two stepdaughters, four grandchildren, a brother and a sister.

Share your remembrances and condolences for Meg Bennett via the comment section below.

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