General Hospital
General Hospital Turns 59 Today
Today on Friday, April 1st, General Hospital celebrates its 59th anniversary on the air and continues to be the longest-running American soap opera. It debuted on ABC back on this day in 1963.
The show, which has told the story of the lives of the doctors, nurses and patients at GH, and later expanded into a soap about the town of Port Charles and its families, citizens, and mobsters has won a record 14 Daytime Emmys as Outstanding Drama Series.

Photo: ABC
It was created by Frank and Doris Hursley, and is currently written by co-head writers, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor and executive produced by Frank Valentini.
Original series stars John Beradino (Steve Hardy), and Emily MacLaughlin (Jessie) were the mainstays of the show back in the 60’s and were joined a year later by Rachel Ames (Audrey Hardy).

Photo: GH
Nowm the core families of the Quartermaines, Corinthos, Cassadines and more provide the romance, lust, high stakes drama, danger, mystery, love, and more, making GH one of the finest in its genre.
Happy 59th anniversary to the cast, crew and creatives for keeping GH a must-see for all soap opera fans and TV viewers for 59 years.
Now, share your congratulations to everyone at General Hospital via the comment section below, and if its your favorite soap on the air let us know why, too!
Happy bday GH, I’m so glad your part of my daily life, and here’s to many many more.
I am 59 this year too. I cannot recall a time in our house without GH. I think about the characters and stories from the half-hour episodes I saw after school. The excitement of Luke and Laura was unforeseen. I have not fully enjoyed the heavy mob-influenced stories or the eye-rollingly impossible resurrections but in six decades, there is more to celebrate than to deride. My other favorites, All My Children and As the World Turns should still be with us too.
Ok lakovos, how I miss ATWT! I used to love watching when we’d visit my feisty Scottish grandma…she’d spot a character on a show and just blurt out, “She’s a slut!” Or words to that effect. What memories of Nancy’s kitchen, the old Oakdale hospital, Bob and Lisa, Lisa and Grant, Lisa and…well, you get the picture. Golden days!
Congratulations to “General Hospital” on its 59 years, but a slight correction to the post. GH is the longest-running American soap opera ON TELEVISION. The distinction is important because “Guiding Light” remains the longest-running American soap opera overall. 72 years, starting on radio in 1937 before moving to TV. We loyal fans still miss it (but I’m very entertained by GH these days).
Yes and I watched that premier episode. I was immediately hooked by Jessie Brewer and Steve Hardy and Lucille March and even Phil Brewer. Those were the good old days. Happy Anniversary General Hospital and many, many more!!!!!!!!!!!!
LlAnview717
Just FYI. Lucille March, aka Lucille Wall played on two radio shows at the same time in the 40s thru the 50s. Probably wasn’t that hard to do as they were only on for 15 min.She played an attorney, reminds me of Alexes. Was called Portia Faces Life and she also played Lorenzo Jones wife Belle.
Kudos to the current cast members who’ve been part of the show for at least half of those 59 years…
Leslie Charleson
Kin Shriner
Genie Francis
Jackie Zeaman
Tristan Rogers
Finola Hughes
Kristina Wagner
Lynn Herring
John J York
Wally Kurth
Jon Lindstrom
& Maurice Bernard
Steve, thank you for that documentation. I like virtually all of the characters played by these actors, and their tenure is quite an achievement.
Wow. GH is only 4 months younger than myself! Hopefully more good years to come as GH remains the No 1 soap with writing. Just figure out what to do with Sonny and Carly please! And bring back Steve Burton as woke ABC made a big mistake.
I bet Sonny and Carly wish they looked like that old picture. Especially Sonny who seems to like and admire his grey hair and grizzled beard.
Hey Violet
Got to chime in and say that I usually appreciate when a performer embraces the gray. John York went natural and Mac still looks fantastic. Kudos to Benard for doing the same. On the female side, Jane Elliot rocks the gray/white.
Steve
I agree with you thoroughly, except for M.B and Michael on Y&R as he’s let it get so long and unbecoming. Sonny’s hair looks oily and sorry, but its nothing I’d want to run my fingers through, coupled with the nasty old beard. .Now take Gregory Harrison, and Michael E. Knight. They know how to sport that silver grey hair.
Violet, my friend, don’t get me started on Sonny’s recent appearance. It’s pretty sad when a confrontation with so lowly a character as Esme ends with our fearing for SONNY! That silly grin and Grizzly Adams look just ain’t working for him.
Congratulations! So happy GH is still going strong. I started watching It from the beginning, when I was in high school, and the story line was about Angie and Eddie. Loved Jessie, Phil, Steve and all the others. Especially, Audrey’s sassy-mouthed sister, Lucille. It got me through both, the good and challenging times. Loved it even when the writing wasn’t always stellar. Will continue to watch as long as it continues.
Happy Birthday General Hospital started watching soaps sence I was 9 my dad committed suicide my mother had my brother 2 weeks later so we moved to Michigan to live with my grandparents. My grandpa got me into soaps. I’m 70 and still watching so happy birthday many many more.
Lynn
So glad you had the Soaps to help you through such a bad time. They have been there for me most of my life and are like extended family. I’ve tried to stay loyal to most of them save DOOL which I’ve gone without watching due to the crazy Devil story line they have been pursuing for months.Maybe some day they will get back to normal, I miss the real show.r
Did anyone else not get the show today, the 14th? I had to watch it on Utube. If you missed it, nothing happened, boring.
B&B was not shown yesterday and thought we’d see the rooftop scenes with Sheila and Taylor today,, Wrong! They just showed Thurs.show.
Violet
I’ve had this issue a few times (always on the 2nd day after a preemption). It seems ABC, or whoever controls the DVR listing, makes an adjustment on the 1st day after (in this case Wednesday) so that records, but the 2nd day after (Thursday), the DVR thinks is a repeat because it had the same description as the original Wednesday show.
Confusing and annoying indeed. I catch it on the ABC app on those days (and “suffer” through commercials).
I’ve had the same issue, Steve. I tried revising the recording instructions to record all episodes, first run AND repeats. That works for Y&R but for some reason, not with GH. Go figure.
Steve
Thanks so much. I’ve been calling my Cable Co. when this happens blaming them.My goodness, how did you ever figure all that out?
This is why I’m happy we have Hulu in Hell, and I just happened to catch their “Black Friday” special last November so I’m only paying $1/month for a full year. No more worries about news interruptions… unless they preempt the whole show….. though I’m not entirely sure that there should have been a national pre-emption because of what was essentially a local news story in NYC
Iam realizing they inserted those scenes into today’s show and think I might change my mind about Sheila saving Taylor’s dumb butt! It’s nice to be grateful for having had someone save your life, and then to throw all your brains out in the process is beyond me. I wonder if Taylor will stand up for her when she finds out she tried to murder her daughter, after killing her own son.
Since Jason left and sonny has turned soft towards nina the show is getting boring. I have watched it for 50 years and now I am wondering if it is worth my while for first time I have fell asleep watching it this week. Bring the sunny jason duo drama back
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.
The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.
Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.

Photo: JPI
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST
Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”
Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”
Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”

Photo: JPI
KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”
You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.
So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!
General Hospital
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.
TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.
That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.

Photo: ABC
STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES
GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.
Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).
Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.
GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS
Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.
Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.
So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?

On the Friday, September 11 episode of General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship becomes strained to potentially the point of no return.
Things take a turn when an unglued Britt having been traumatized by almost being killed by Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Jason to back her up with the PCPD when she reports Anna for attempted murder.
However, Jason told Britt, he can’t. Jason shares that he does not believe Anna would have gone through with shooting her. Therefore, Britt was not in any real imminent danger. Britt is flabbergasted and hurt that Jason is refusing to tell the police what he actually witnessed for himself on Mount Emerson.

Courtesy/ABC
BRITT WANTS BACK UP FROM JASON
Jason counters that he can’t believe that Britt would want Anna punished. or sent to prison, or a mental facility after the trauma she endured while being locked up and mentally tortured while at Wyndemere.
He asks Britt, “How could you even say that you want her locked up or prosecuted for what she did when you knew she was being held prisoner and you did nothing to save her?” Britt is stunned by Jason’s response.
Coming up, official General Hospital spoilers share that on the upcoming Monday, September 14 episode, Jason confides in Carly (Laura Wright), while Britt is stung. In the video preview that aired at the end of the Friday, September 11 episode for this coming Monday, Britt says to Jason, “You don’t believe me. Do you?”
General Hospital head scribes, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte previously teased in their fall preview of the soap, “Britt and Jason have come a long way and fought a lot of enemies to be together. But the most stubborn obstacle to their happiness isn’t without, it’s within. Decisions Britt made to stay alive while under Cullum’s thumb will come back to haunt her and may prove too difficult for this unlikely couple to survive.”
So, what do you think will happen? Will Jason and Britt break-up over Britt’s lies and Jason’s unwillingness to report Anna’s crime against her? Do you want Jason and Britt to go their separate ways? If they do, will Britt become romantically involved with Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) ? If so, who do you pair Jason with? Anyone? Weigh-in via the comment section.
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