Nor had she met her grandson, Dumbo, er, I mean Franco, who was dancing around trying to catch the confetti.

I agree Joe. For obvious reasons, this was Scottie’s episode, and Kin proved it by his performance. Like everyone else in the late seventies, I was glued to my TV everyday after school, during the Luke and Laura years. Due to work, and losing interest, I gave up in the mid-eighties. I started watching the anniversary shows at the 50th, just to see ( not to sound morbid ), the the vets that are left, and to see if the ones who are gone are mentioned. When Scottie uncovered Gail’s picture, I was hoping the camera would do a quick long shot so we could see the entire wall. Leslie calling Monica a slut was perfect, and I cried when Lucy gave Monica Alan’s handkerchief. But like I said, this was Scottie’s episode, and Kin played it beautifully

Touching at times, yet still woefully inadequate! Where to begin, where to begin??? Well, I will take your cue, Steve, and go with the most obvious flaw in this whole episode. As you pointed out, there was absolutely no need for Julian’s clearly out-of-place presence! It was just another transparent excuse concocted to promote a “Julexis” re-coupling, which quite frankly, always brings a dirty, raunchy vibe to any scenario! Hardly the appropriate emotion to be included in a purported salute to a classy, highly-respected, dearly-departed member of the GH staff! Sorry, but are we really expected to buy into the notion that Gail, in her last days, gave such concerted consideration to this purely disgusting couple compared to her logical list of loved ones? Oh, spare me! Those of us who watched the ever-competent professional Dr. Adamson in her prime recall both her huge heart and generous, gracious soul, although she was also all about self-respect and dignity, especially for women. Even though she clearly adored Lee Baldwin, when he was in the deepest throes of his alcoholism, she was not about to stand by and allow his self-destructive behavior to mar her own life….she gave him a real dose of tough love and told him to clean himself up or she wouldn’t be there for him anymore. (As any female of substance would do….) Perhaps it was that very impetus that finally forced Lee to address his drinking problem because he didn’t want to lose his lady love…Gail’s ultimatum worked! Yet, at the same time, we’re supposed to believe that this iron lady of such strong convictions was in favor of Alexis reuniting with the man who violently held a knife to her throat? Oh, yeah…NOT! Adding to the insult of this dubious implication was the purely predictable sight of those two salivating over one another on the hospital staircase, practically succumbing to their barely-controlled lust in full-fledged public view. Right! As far as the ongoing effort for the golden girl Laura to sanitize Sonny’s sordid saga with her own sweet form of flimsy praise, well, that is an exercise in futility….even the beautiful, courageous heroine of GH’s glory days cannot remove the heavy tarnish of the Corinthos character from Sonny’s personage. It’s stuck like a piece of old gum on his “soul!” (Note: Use of homophone was purely intentional!)

Right? It was supposedly all about Gail and yet it wasn’t. SMH.

I agree Davy. Although I liked this episode better than last year’s anniversary, I wish it included clips of Gail.

No, no and NO! And your’re so right, Davy! How could it be that the “woman of the hour,” Dr. Gail Adamson-Baldwin didn’t rate even one video appearance? Whilst her photograph on the wall of GH honor was a fitting reminder of this beautiful character and the equally-lovely actress who portrayed her, it was extremely curious that she was not represented more prominently in this episode. Unless I missed it, there wasn’t even an “In loving memory” tag dedicated to this very special lady….how strange!

They were also the saddest….watching those two laboring down the hallway like little old ladies made for difficult viewing. On the other hand, it was too comical to have them still rehashing old grievances…especially when Lesley couldn’t resist calling Monica a “slut” for the umpteenth time for good measure! Given the conduct of more modern GH-ers, Dr. Quartermaine was a real piker in sexual licentiousness!!! (Just compared to that floozy Lucy Coe alone! And what about Bobbie???)

Well said, Colin. I so agree with you! It was so good seeing the old faces that I grew up watching every afternoon when I got home from school. It’s proven over and over, the shows that discard their veteran actors and bring on a bunch of newbies, always create fan backlash. When will the producers learn???

@Rodd….Having video clips interspersed throughout the show when the actual characters were referencing their past storylines would have provided a far more effective and enjoyable method of presenting this episode. This would have offered a more “you were there” experience for viewers like yourself who weren’t initially around when these scenes originally aired! Whilst I was fortunate enough to have watched a great many of those scenes firsthand, I still would have preferred the appropriate clips accompanying that dialogue down memory lane. It would have made it much more special.

Heeey Jimh ..
I, like many others, have never heard of Gail.
The entire episode was a huge HUH?

It was made for the ol’ timers, only.
All others, like me, that came to Y&R well after that era hadn’t a clue about what in the heck was going on. It was nonsense to us.

I have not a clue as to who was whom and the whole of it was a complete HUH??

Well put, Jimh! I could have done without Sonny and Carly, too, not to mention, Alexis and Julian, Franco, Stella and Curtis! This episode should have included only the nearest and dearest to Dr. Gail during her years on GH! (And copious clips of the lovely lady doc in action with those she chose to assemble in her honor.) But it was lovely to see Epiphany back where she belongs, and the timeless Liz included in the episode. (That girl simply does not age…amazing!) And the ever-luminous Laura whose smile still lights up the room! (I would have loved to have seen more of her past with the remorseful Scott depicted, as well as dwelling upon her hopeful future with Kevin…Even after four decades, Genie remains the star of the show!) Monica looked really wonderful and it was a kick to see that Lesley couldn’t forego her momentary slut-shaming of her former foe even now….LOL. (Some clips of their famous fracas would not have gone remiss!) And speaking of trashy antics, how gratifying was it to see that after all her whoring and hustling, Lucy Coe has ended up alone with nothing more to show for her efforts than a well-earned tattered reputation and a rackful of flashy eveningwear…that pretty much sums up her character for me! Hah!

The confetti was anti climatic for sure.

(SMile!)

In keeping with the theme of Laura validating and propping up Sonny by stating that she has always known he was a good person, here is some dialogue from future episodes:

Monica: “You know, Sonny, you’ve been more of a son to me than A.J. ever was. He was nothing but trouble. When you killed A.J., you were actually relieving me of my long suffering. So, thank you, Sonny. And I apologize that it took me so long to realize that.”

Scotty: “Sonny, I’ve been meaning to thank you for helping my little girl Karen when she was so young. You taught her how to dance, and you who gave her the confidence to put herself out there.”

Ava: “Sonny, please give me a moment of your time. I just want to thank you for helping me become self-aware and self-actualized. All those times you yelled at me and threatened me, you selflessly did it for my benefit! I didn’t get it at the time, but you were giving me tough love in order for me to comprehend how worthless I was, at rock bottom, and how I could only go up from there. I am not where I want to me, but I am in your debt for all those nudges.”

Mac: “Sonny, we haven’t always been friends, but you should know how much I admire you. When I think back on all those times, as police chief, I threatened to put you away for life, and you always stayed one step ahead of me. It takes cunning intellect to remain unscathed and out of jail, given all the crimes you’ve committed, including murder. I’m blown away at how adept you’ve been at remaining a free man, despite the best efforts of our police force as well as myself. May I give you a hug?”

Bobbie: “Sonny, this Christmas, why don’t YOU read the story of the first Christmas to the children in the hospital? You’re a much better reader than Steve Hardy ever was!”