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GH's Tony Geary & Jackie Zeman Reflect On Elizabeth Taylor's Appearance On Anniversary of Luke & Laura's Historic 1981 Wedding!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC Photo Archive

Courtesy/ABC Photo Archive

“My curse on you Laura and Luke … my curse on both of you!”  And with that, fans of General Hospital are still to this day seeing the evil Helena Cassadine continuing her revenge vendetta against the Spencer clan, and almost every one else in Port Charles!

Of course, that classic line was uttered by the late Oscar winning motion picture star Elizabeth Taylor, the original Helena Cassadine, now played by Constance Towers.

Today, November 16th marks the anniversary of the beginning of the two-part episode from 1981 where a record breaking 30 million people stopped what they were doing in the afternoon to watch the nuptials of Luke (Tony Geary) and Laura (Genie Francis)!

Now, TV Guide Magazine’s Michael Logan has a chat with none other than Geary, and his on-screen sis, Jackie Zeman (Bobbie) to get a few remembrances of what it was like having a star of the magnitude of Elizabeth Taylor come to the ABC soap opera, and how it impacted the genre.  Here are a few excerpts below!

Tony Geary:  “I’m sure nobody from the network went to Elizabeth about this unsolicited, because the possibility that she’d do GH was just too crazy to even imagine. Someone from her team must have floated the idea first. This was back when she was married to Sen. John Warner and wasn’t very happy sitting on the farm in Virginia. She told me that GH — especially the Ice Princess story — took her out of her lethargy every afternoon. Luke and Laura’s love story made Elizabeth feel very nostalgic. She said it reminded her of her youth and the great romance films of the old studio system.”

Courtesy/ABC Photo Archives

Jackie Zeman:  “You  have to remember these were very different times. Show business was compartmentalized. Soap actors didn’t do primetime.  Primetime actors didn’t do movies. So (Taylor]) was a big shot in the arm for GH and all of daytime TV. Her guest stint broke the rules.”

Tony Geary:  “After her appearance, we suddenly had a glut of big names wanting to be on GH  but (then-executive producer) Gloria Monty wasn’t biting. Her attitude was, ‘I don’t need stars. I make ’em!’  It’s a testament to Elizabeth’s star power that her character (now played by Constance Towers) is still with us all these decades later. Helena has died and come back more often than I’ve had a glass of wine. There’s a reason for that longevity — the character was born of magnificence.”

Watch the “I do’s” from Luke and Laura’s wedding, and then the classic moment when Helena (Elizabeth Taylor) puts the “Cassadine curse” on the young marrieds!  Then let us know, where were you watching Luke and Laura’s 1981 wedding?  What did you think of Elizabeth Taylor coming to General Hospital for her guest star turn as Helena? Was it the biggest shot in the arm for the soaps?  Comment below!

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I was a junior at Kalamazoo College in Michigan when this aired. About 30 of us, mostly girls but some guys as well, cut class both days to watch. We smuggled champagne into the lounge, even though we were under age and had cake too. It was a blast!

It was before my time..
I did notice back then GH had a great budget, the sky was the limit in comparison to today when they pinch pennies..
It was fun to put faces to some of the names that still echoing in Port Charles..

It reminded of Mayberry and I thought I’d see Aunt Bee and Opie .. lol

(how young everyone was wow!)

I was a freshman in college but made sure I made it home in time for the fun. Man, it sure would have been so much easier watching GH and going to school if I’d had a video recorder but alas that was still several years in the future…

OMG, i still remember this i was only 5 years old. I was home at my Grandmas house with the whole 25 members of my family watching “GH” my aunts, uncle, grandma, cousin brothers,cousin sisters, my sisters, my mom and grandpa. Wow, we had our turkey that day. Man, so many memories of that day. 🙂 Still a loyal fan to this day.

Freshman in college. Teacher canceled class on the 17th.

Was also a college freshman, at University of Dayton. had a bio lab and the graduate student in charge knew we were all about Luke and Laura. She let us go in time to watch. It was so cool, in memory, that we collectively gathered everywhere for this pop culture phenomenon. I have seen the episodes since and I cringe a little, but even with the outrageousness, GH showed its roots in family and humanity. I miss that on GH and other soaps. Seems it is about moving ever faster and being more shocking. That Luke and Laura played out a long time and that is why the payoff was huge. We were so engaged and involved.

What a fun piece to read, Michael Fairman. I remember Elizabeth Taylor cursing Luke and Laura as if it were yesterday.
Sadly, her curse was powerful and lasting.

On the day Elizabeth Taylor made her debut on GH ( 11/10/81 ) I gave birth to my son Michael. I left my teaching job and drove to the Dr.’s office and was promptly sent to the hospital. I drove down a Main St. in Boston having contractions. When I pulled into the parking lot of the hospital the attendant said there wasn’t any room to park. I gave him the keys and said I was in labor. Thirty minutes later my son was born. I begged the Dr. not to send me to recovery as Ms. Taylor was making her debut on GH and I needed a TV. The Dr. agreed and I was ushered into a private room. A few days later with a newborn baby and a toddler at home, my grandmother and I watched the wedding together. I will never forget that time and am still watching GH since 4/1/63.

Great story!

Now for a BIZARRE question- Is your son, Michael, a musician in Nashville? I ask because I recognized the last name (unique) and I lived in Nashville & worked in the music industry up until I got married a few years ago. My hubby’s job keeps him in Arkansas for now..but nevermind that.. I still talk w/my Nashville friends & somewhere, somehow I’ve come across this name & his music. I just thought that was so strange and it’s such a small world if so!!

I was 11 when Luke & Laura got married. I remember it and this is around when my lifelong crush on Dr. Noah Drake, Rick Springfield began. It’s too bad recording devices weren’t around back then for viewers to record their “stories” just yet. Love to see these videos. Thank goodness for youtube & sites like these.

Hi Laurie, No, my son lives in Boston . The best part of Luke & Laura’s wedding was when Scotty grabbed the bouquet as Laura tossed it. We were totally surprised since there weren’t any hints, social media , etc. at the time. Something funny, I won a guitar at the 50th GHFCW in ’13 signed by Rick Springfield. My grandson is using it now to take lessons. I’m still a die-hard fan. Yes, You Tube is great.

I was a sophomore in high school and skipped class both days to watch at my friend Tipsy’s house.

I think Luke and Laura ultimately did more harm than good to the soaps. Other shows attributed The couple’s popularity to their “on the run” adventures instead of their love story spawning a trend that led most soaps astray of their roots. Suddenly Search For Tomorrow’s Travis and Liza Sentell were running all over Hong Kong looking for a jade necklace, Bo Buchanan was driving a car powered by the mysterious alternative power source Solarimide, and Days Of Our Lives’ Bo and Hope were trying to find the 3 prisms of power that Stephano DiMera thought would cure his brain tumor.

I don’t know if I agree completely, but yes, most do claim the action was what drove their popularity. I always thought they were popular DESPITE the “on the run” chaos, not BECAUSE of it. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it. I did fall in love with the characters and the show though! Fun times.

I agree in general. Often when something has succeeded on the soaps, TPTB on other soaps have misunderstood WHY it has succeeded and tried to duplicate the wrong elements; Luke-and-Laura-on-the-run isn’t the only example of this. (Not that trying to copy somebody else works very often anyway.)

I wasn’t alive during Liz’s time on GH, nor was I a GH watcher until 2007-08, but I must say, she brought such a regal presentation to Helena, and would’ve loved to see her carry that character more than the appearances she did provide with her. I think the character could’ve been so much more than she has been.

I remember those episodes very well. Those were the days!!!!!!!!

Oh TG get your memory going she was a big fan and called to say when our Luke &Laura going to get married the rest is history!

i I em ember the day well, I had an hour on my first office job at a PR firm on 34th street across from Macy’s in NYC, I took my lunch at 3pm to see the wedding and when I got there I had to turn the channel to 7 and another two fans cam up and we decided to change all of the sets on and to channel 7 by mid show a crowd had gathered and we all watched the wedding together, some of us even met for the next day to see part two.

I remember this storyline so well. Great time in soap history. Thanks for the memories!

Without a doubt Ms Elizabeth Taylor’s appearance on General Hospital changed the ENTIRE way soaps were viewed by the entertainment industry and the general public. No longer was it embarrassing to admit a soap on a resume but became a place where many noted people would now be seen. She was amazing!

I was in high school when the wedding occured, and I ran home to watch it. I didn’t have a VCR yet (the next year I got one), so I used an audiotape recorder to tape the event for posterity- if only I knew about today’s technology! The big shock was Scotty’s appearance and the resulting fight. I’ve always felt that GH should redo the scene with Helena casting the curse with Constance Towers for continuity’s sake, as Taylor’s scenes were filmed separately as inserts.

The big problem caused by the wedding was that EVERY OTHER SOAP played “Follow the Leader”, especially the P&G soaps, desperately trying to duplicate what uniquely worked for GH. BIG MISTAKE- overall, longtime viewers began to be alienated as some shows went for big adventures, big weddings, and big-name guest stars. Most of these attempts flopped (e.g, ATWT’s “Mr. Big” storyline with Zsa Zsa Gabor, SFT’s Hong Kong story), and ratings began to erode for some shows. Yes, it was a watershed moment for daytime, but some soaps were comprimised in the long run by trying to copy GH’s formula for success.

I do not agree.. it is not true..
guest stars have always brought in viewers and most importantly they are a fun time for the fans to have them in a story..
Bif events also brought in viewers are were a treat to watch..
anything that is grad is interesting, different, and fun ..
Right!!
GH always has been and always will be the ‘modern’ forerunner of the soaps..
GH is truly unique and stand outside the box..

You miss the point I was making- OTHER soaps have tried and failed to follow the formula of GH’s success!!! What works for one soap doesn’t usually work for others. If you were around in 1981-82, you probably remember a LOT of actors on other soaps imitating Tony Geary’s classic “Luke” curly hairdo- Rod Arrants on SFT, Christopher Rich on AW, Allen Fawcett on EON, Wayne Northrop on DAYS. The larger-than-life adventures that worked for GH did NOT work for shows like AW, ATWT. Y&R and AMC, for instance, stayed more-or-less true to form during the next few years and kept high ratings.

I’m curious how you would know “it is not true,” su0000? You said above this was before your time.

I remember things just as Avatar610 does. The storylines on other shows that tried to copy GH’s “On the Run” storyline were indeed big failures; daytime executives tried too literally to copy what GH had done without understanding why it worked. The adventure stories didn’t fit the other shows that tried them, and it showed—and the effort failed, and actually damaged some of those shows badly.

Thank you, Michael! Those of us who were watching soaps back then remember how things did change for the worse for some shows desperate to grab big ratings to match GH’s unique success.

Interesting, but it would have been more appropriate to hear from co-star Genie Francis on this epic soap event. JZ was a poor substitute.

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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sidwell Surfaces; A Twist in Britt’s Condition

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On the Thursday, June 18 episode of General Hospital, Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) makes his shocking return right in Port Charles, after fleeing (thanks to Cassius) to supposedly parts unknown to escape capture for trying to kill Dr. Lucas Jones (Van Hansis).

How does he show up in town? First, Ezra (Daniel Cosgrove) gets a text from Jacinda (Paige Herschell) to meet in his hotel room. Ezra thinks the two are going to have a sexcapade so he puts champagne on ice for his favorite escort.

Suddenly, there is a knock at the door. Ezra’s excitement turns towards fear as instead of Jacinda, Sidwell is standing in front of him. Next, Sidwell blackmails Boyle telling him he has plenty of leverage he can use against him. Sidwell wants to use Ezra to help him takedown, Sonny (Maurice Benard), Lucas, Laura (Genie Francis) and Cullum.

Courtesy/ABC

ARE SIDWELL’S DAYS NUMBERED?

Meanwhile, Sonny confides in his brother, Ric (Rick Hearst). He says he knows who killed Marco an he is going to use that intel to lure Sidwell out of hiding.  Sonny also shares he is going to kill Sidwell, and handle this by himself. He gave the PCPD a chance, but they failed to nab Sidwell for good and lock him up.

Sonny also has been tracking the whereabouts of Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) and Rocco (Finn Carr) through Brick, and learned they took a flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and then boarded a fairy to take them somewhere off the island.

Courtesy/ABC

BRITT’S ‘SYMPTOMS’ RETURN

Turns out, Britt and Rocco are hiding out in the British Virgin Islands. Britt set up Rocco with a burner phone and a VPN on her tablet, that is not traceable. Rocco reads on the tablet about Lucas’ shooting. Britt starts to have the shakes and passes out. When she comes to, Britt won’t let Rocco call a doctor, but he uses his phone to step on the balcony and call Charlotte (Bluesy Burke) and ask for help. Charlotte looks shocked to hear from her brother as Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) looks on!

Courtesy/ABC

However, Joe (Jonathan Bennett) could be the one to put two and two together! While at General Hospital and after questioning Lucas about a syringe he found that was in someone’s possession. the toxicology report showed traces of saline solution, not actual medication. He asks Dr. Jones, why someone would inject themselves with saline? Lucas responds saline is harmless and would have no effect on someone.

So, does this mean that this entire time, Britt has been led to believe that the medication she was taking to treat her Huntington’s disease was placebo? Has Britt been lied to into believing she is dying? Is something else wrong with her instead?

Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below, and if you are ready for Sidwell to finally get his comeuppance from Sonny! But first, watch the scenes where Sidwell comes out of hiding and blackmails Ezra Boyle.

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‘SNL’s’ Sarah Sherman and ‘Good Hang’s’ Amy Poehler Share Love of ‘General Hospital’

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Saturday Night Live veterans apparently love ABC’s General Hospital! In the latest episode of the Emmy-winning podcast, Good Hang with Amy Poehler, the former SNL cast member spoke to her guest, and current SNL cast member, Sarah Sherman for a lively conversation.

Suddenly the topic of soap operas got brought up and Sherman asked Poehler, “Did you grow up watching soaps?” And the Good Hang host answered, “Yeah. I watched General Hospital.” Sherman responded, “My favorite show of all-time.”

Then, Poehler says to Sherman, “Weren’t you on a soap?” Prompting Sarah to admit, “I begged to be on General Hospital, so I could bring mom (to the set) and we met Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and sobbed for days.”

Photo: ABC

DIALECT COACH TO LOIS CERULLO

As GH fans recall, Sherman was on for a two-day guest stint back in September of 2024, when she portrayed, Lois Cerullo’s (Rena Sofer) dialect coach, when Lois was upset by her thick Brooklyn (Bensonhurst to be exact) accent when trying to sell Deception cosmetics on the fictional home shopping network, Home and Heart.

Sherman showed up on GH as Ms. Finch, described as “a spirited etiquette teacher for Lois Cerullo.” After her taping, Sherman had told PEOPLE at that time, “I had the best time of (my) life,” and was thrilled she got to share the screen with Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot).

Photo: TV Academy

In addition to Sherman, Poehler shared she had just talked with American comedy writer, producer Paula Pel who revealed she loved the soaps, too, but had never been on one. Maybe, she will also make a guest stint one day on one of the five soaps still going, if not General Hospital.

You can check out Poehler and Sherman’s conversation below. The General Hospital comments come around the 1 hour 4 minute mark.

Now let us know, are you happy to hear Amy Poehler can be added to the list of celebs who watched General Hospital? What did you think of Sarah Sherman’s guest visit to GH as Ms. Finch? What did you think of her love for Sonny Corinthos AKA Maurice Benard? Let us know via the comment section.

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‘General Hospital’ Head Writers Spill Some Summer Tea and Preview What’s Next for Jason, Anna, Cassius and Carly

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This summer, Port Charles is set to sizzle with major returns, the culmination (or is it?) of the Sidwell/Cullum cold fusion story, the introduction of “Z” and so much more.

General Hospital Daytime Emmy Award-winning co-head writers, Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten served up the tea in a preview of what’s to come in the next few months to Soap Opera Digest as they discussed the main characters and stories that have viewers tuning-in.

First, on everyone’s minds is the imminent returns of Daytime Emmy winners and enduring fan favorites, Steve Burton (Jason) and Finola Hughes (Anna). According to Korte and Van Etten, the Jason we see next has changed, but is it for the better? Jason left the canvas in early March after being taken into custody by the WSB for allegedly shooting director, Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes), when he actually covered for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) .

Courtesy/ABC

JASON HAS A NEW OUTLOOK

What we do know is Steve Burton first returns on the upcoming July 13th episode which is the soap’s 16,000th episode. In the story, the co-head scribes elaborate, “His (Jason’s) imprisonment has had a profound effect on his outlook, and how he intends to conduct the rest of his life. His decision will have big implications for Danny (Asher Antonyzyn), Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), the Quartermaines, Anna and especially Sonny (Maurice Benard).

ANNA FACES THE EFFECTS OF BEING GASLIGHTED

When Finola Hughes is first seen and back in action as Anna Devane, it’s a slippery slope for her, because for months, she has been locked up (and off-camera) in some mental clinic in France, after being gaslighted and drugged by Sidwell/Cullum and company. However, she has the intel on Cassius (Ryan Paevey)!

According to Korte and Van Etten, “We’ll begin to see the long-term effects of her imprisonment and gaslighting at Cullum’s hands. Any happy reunions with friends and family are colored by counsel from a less-than-reliable source. We’ll see echoes of Anna’s earliest incarnation as she returns to Port Charles with deadly intentions.”

Courtesy/ABC

CASSIUS GIG AS ‘NATHAN’ EXPIRES

Speaking of Cassius, the truth of his duplicity will come to light after posing as his twin brother, “Nathan” for months. The GH head writers share, “Cassius risks a clean getaway to say goodbye. Cassius’s life as Nathan comes crashing down, and we’ll learn whether his masquerade has changed him for the better. But in the end, his legacy will not be determined so much by his own decisions but by the choice of someone he leaves behind.” Is this the end of the line for Cassius, for now?

Then, GH has began to tease that WSB director and double agent, Ross Cullum has a superior known as Z.  Who will play Z?  Could Z be just as despicable or even more so than Cullum? Carly (Laura Wright) is on her way to do battle with the higher-up, as her feelings for Valentin (James Patrick Stuart), who has to sacrifice himself and his freedom to save everyone else, has grown.

Courtesy/ABC

CARLY AND Z

According to Elizabeth and Chris, “Carly takes it upon herself to save Josslyn not only from Cullum, but from the WSB itself – which means going head-to-head with the formidable Z. Carly means to get revenge on Brennan (Chris McKenna) for luring Josslyn (Eden McCoy) into the WSB. Any future with Valentin is at the mercy of the WSB… as well as the multitude of people back in Port Charles who can’t stand Valentin… and one who can – Anna Devane.”

And from the sounds of it, Britt when back at Port Charles and at her job at GH, will cross paths with newcomer Dr. Tristan Roberts (the incoming Dean Geyer) who doesn’t seem to be so keen on her (or is he?). Korte and Van Etten add, “It’s when Britt finds a new low that she receives a kind look from a lost love.” Is that Jason?

So, from what we previewed above, what are you most looking forward to this summer on GH? The return of Jason? The return of Anna? Sidwell and Cassius getting their comeuppance? Carly coming face to face with Z? What happens with Britt or something else? Let us know via the comment section below.

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