Today, let's talk General Hospital.After a successful promotional campaign (read: brainwashing) I've been compelled to return to my GH roots and start watching again. And we all know what that means. I'll be a guaranteed trapped viewer. It happens to those of us with inclinations towards soap-addiction.
GH was my first soap many many moons ago, when the Cassidines looked a lot like Hollywood starlets named Elizabeth Taylor, before Blackie & Jackie turned into Uncle Jessie & Mrs. Ashton Kutcher, when Luke & Laura's epic romance was cover-worthy world news. I watched on and off through til college, and then I got a job and was able to kick my soap habit.
Then I re-discovered OLTL, and now have a once-a-day vice with my TiVo.
But today, Brenda Barrett returns to GH, and so I watched the three hour retro-run yesterday, and now I wanna know... WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW before embarking on this new era of GH.
Fill me in.
A couple thoughts about the retro episodes I saw (which I
actually did watch the first time around!):** I forgot how cute Eddie Maine/Ned Ashton was! Those dimples! Is Lois still part of the storyline?
** Why didn't Ned want Brenda to marry Jax (that first time?)
** Who is married to whom these days?
** What happened to AJ? I know he is no longer Billy Warlock (who is coming to my OLTL! yipppeee!)
** I think I heard Alan & Monica are gone, but where are they supposedly?
** Felicia & Mac?
** Where has Brenda supposedly been?
** When Carly first came to town and stole Tony Jones from Bobbie... didn't she have a job at the hospital (am I mistaken, or is Carly a nurse?)
** And do we LIKE Carly now?
** What the heck was Skye Chandler doing out of Pine Valley??
** This Spinelli character and Dante and other newbies... who are they?
** Are there any actual doctors left in Port Charles? (If they do, Llanview Hospital is in dire need of doctors and med students. The same one guy seems to work in every unit when Dr. Evans isn't around.)
** Emily? Is she in the show?
UGH. OK, that's it for starters... Please feel free to fill in ALL the blanks for me!!! THANKS IN ADVANCE
wow that's a lot of questions. I watched all through the 80's and 90's and then got sick of recording it. (back in the VCR Days!) Then i went on maternity leave in 2008 and got sucked back in!! The funny part is so has my hubby. OK, here's some quick anwers... Ned and Lois or still running their music business but I believe they are still divorces. Carly is married to Jax. I like Carly when she's happy but lately she's been a complete and utter B****. Monica is still at the hospital and Alan is dead. AJ is dead too but i missed how that happened. Emily's dead. She had cancer but i think she may have been killed. (oh yea her mysterious twin sister visited for a while too) I think Felicia is in Texas. Maxie hates her. Mac has gotten boring, poor guy. Brenda has been in Europe modeling. Carly WAS a nurse, but then went crazy when she married Sonny, and she now runs the Metrocourt hotel...that Jax owns. Dante is Sonny's son with Olivia. She had him when she was 16 and never told Sonny. Spinelli is just annoying and even more so since he's been working with Carly to get back at Dante for turning Michael into the authorities after he accidently killed his stepmom Claudia (who was played by Sarah Brown, the original Carly). Hope that helps!! LOL My husband asked if they make box sets for these things!
ReplyDeleteyeah, i'm shocked they haven't put old soaps on DVD. if they condense them (like a week into one episode), i'm convinced people would buy them. i saw superold ryan's hope reruns on soapnet and i actually stopped to watch, and this episode had to be from the 70's.
ReplyDeleteso wait. how many kids does sonny have? michael is sonny's real first name too, right? i think i'm confused, bc wasn't michael also stone's real name? (stone & jagger were brothers, isn't that how sonny first came into the picture?)
hahaha maxie hates felicia. good, so do i. lol always found the actress' voice annoying. poor frisco. as for mac, that's a shame. yesterday's episode had him & catherine at odds, and i had forgotten all about them.
claudia? olivia? alexis? lol yeah i noticed sarah brown came back and played an evil lookalike. classic.
thanks doreen!!
Sonny's kids (that we know of) are Dante with Olivia; Michael, who's not his real son, AJ was his father; Christina with Alexis; and Morgan with Carly. But now prosecuter Claire wants to have his baby too. I don't like her. She's obnoxious.
ReplyDeleteoh, and Michael was named after Sonny. Michael Cornithos, III. I think Jason may have given him that name when carly was lying about who the father was.
ReplyDeleteTHANKS DOREEN! btw, who do we want brenda to end up with?
ReplyDeleteI was going to try to answer some of these, but I think Doreen got most of the ones I knew. Emily had cancer, but I think she was killed by some serial killer at a masquerade ball. Luke is married to Tracy now. There are lots of people working at the hospital now. Robin, Patrick, Liz, some other doctors in Robin and Patrick's storyline. Skye was hanging around in Port Charles for kind of a long time because for a while she thought she was a Quatermaine. If you see someone you don't know, they're probably involved with Sonny, Jason, and the mob.
ReplyDeletelol Mike... thanks for the input. Yeah, I figured General Hospital was now actually less about doctors & medicine than it was about a loveable mob boss who broods all day and somehow all the women find that hot.
ReplyDeleteLOL
Yes, I've been a GH fan since the days when Steve & Audrey Hardy were the main couple.
ReplyDeleteMost questions were answered, but i just want to clarify at least one. Originally Carly was a physical therapist - she flunked out of the nursing program. Yes, Carly is quite likeable now. She is married to Jax, but separated although they really do love each other. And I think it's kind of fun to watch her be a little b*****y. lol
Spinelli has a strong friendship with Jason which is endearing to watch. His romance with Maxie was never going to last, but sweet while it lasted.
Enjoy watching, i still find this form of "old-fashioned" entertainment fun.
Charlene
Totally agree Charlene! I LOVE soaps, even though the future of soap operas look bleak, I hope they're on forever. I picture being an old grandma crocheting blankets & baking pies with my "Love in the Afternoon" going on in the background.... LOL.
ReplyDeleteLois is NOT part of the storyline BUT Lois' and Ned/Eddie's daughter BrookLynne has returned and is in "cahoots" with Carly to try to destroy Lulu Spencer and Dante Falconari's relationship. Luke Spencer and Tracy Quartermaine are married; Carly and Jax are married/seperated/verge of divorce; Robin Scorpio is back and married to fellow Dr. Patrick Drake (yes Dr. Noah Drake's i.e. Rick Springfield oldest son- youngest son Matt is also a Dr. at GH). A.J. is dead. Alan died I believe after suffering a massive heart attack but Monica is still alive and kicking. Felicia is NOT in Port Charles so that's all that matters there although she did return when Georgie was murdered and Maxie demanded she leave Georgie's memorial. Mac is trying to well mac on Alexis. Brenda went to Paris to model. Carly has her ups and downs she's no longer really considered a stepfather/ husband stealer lol. I believe Skye is Alan's daughter with Rae Cummings. Damien Spinelli is a geek and a half but Jason's right hand man in a sense as well as Maxie's on-again/off-again boyfriend. Dante is as stated in an earlier post the eldest son of Sonny Corinthos and Olivia Falconari and a Port Charles Police Officer and Lulu Spencer's boyfriend. And as stated above Brook Lynne is back and actually grew up with Dante in Bensonhurst. The main Drs. in P.C. are Robin, Patrick, Matt, and Steven Weber oh and an ex of Patricks named Lisa (I think- I don't care for her too much) and Elizabeth Weber is still a nurse who just had baby boy number 3- She has Cameron with now deceased Zander, Jake with Jason Morgan, and now baby Aiden with Nikolas Cassadine although Aiden is biologically Lucky Spencer's which can only mean one thing... Helena is BACK!!! Hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! I watched General Hospital everyday after school while doing my homework. Thinking back I can't believe my mom let me watch those scenes at age 6! LOL! I'm still hooked 20 plus years later! I'm so excited Brenda is back...hopefully they finally get her and Sonny together for good!
ReplyDeleteWOW, thanks Pauline! LOL, anonymous -- sounds ilke me! My babysitter watched ALL the soaps - I was 4 watching "sands of the hourglass", lol!! She was also a devoted GH fan, and that would be nearly 30 yrs ago for me!! whoa!
ReplyDeleteThis is crazy!! Lol. And so soap-opera like :)
ReplyDeleteI started watching when I was 10 and watched through high school (I'm 29 now). That time included Robin (I liked her a lot) and Stone, Brenda and Sonny, Lily and Ricky Martin, Lois and Ned. It was so cool! :) I think that's probably when the show started being geared more toward a younger audience. Unfortunately, that's also the reason I stopped watching after high school-I didn't like how they made the kids go from 2 years old to a teenager so quickly! It sounds like the same stuff is still going on.
Didn't everyone hate Carly in the beginning?? She tried to take the new Jason (the good boy turned bad boy) away from Robin, and poor Robin was HIV-positive! I hated Carly! Lol. I did like the actress who played her, though. She fit right in.
I think what stinks about soap operas is that you can like an actor in a role, but then they get replaced, or the character totally changes, and it just isn't the same. Occasionally it's a good thing, but a lot of times, not so much.
I have to say that your blog did make me remember those good old days of coming home after school and watching One Life to Live and General Hospital, so thank you! :)
Good luck with your new/old addiction! :)
** I forgot how cute Eddie Maine/Ned Ashton was! Those dimples! Is Lois still part of the storyline?
ReplyDeleteThey r running their record label and their daughter Brooklynn is back on the show and got into some trouble but Carly hired her to sleep with Dante. Thats why she is back (Carly feels itis Dantes fault for Michel GOING TO PRISON)
** Why didn't Ned want Brenda to marry Jax (that first time?)Buisness stuff Jax was trying to take down ELQ and he had started in town hitting on Lois
** Who is married to whom these days?Jax and Carly yup thats really it
** What happened to AJ? I know he is no longer Billy Warlock (who is coming to my OLTL! yipppeee!) he was killed when the Micheal kiddinapping took place at the mansion he fell from the stairwell with Jason and Jason of course made it
** I think I heard Alan & Monica are gone, but where are they supposedly?Alan died at the Metro Court hostage thing of a heart attack hostage thing was jerry jaxs
** Felicia & Mac?Mac is still on felicia left and whatever
** Where has Brenda supposedly been? Brenda has been in europe
** When Carly first came to town and stole Tony Jones from Bobbie... didn't she have a job at the hospital (am I mistaken, or is Carly a nurse?)she was in nursing school then dropped out or got kicked out
** And do we LIKE Carly now?Love Carly and this is the 4th Carly the third one didnt count she sucked so bad and they replaced her that quick
** What the heck was Skye Chandler doing out of Pine Valley?? Skye is Alan Q and Rea kid
** This Spinelli character and Dante and other newbies... who are they? Spinelli kinda feel in the last time Brenda was here Dante is sonnys long lost son olivea is Dantes mom and sonnys old love
** Are there any actual doctors left in Port Charles? (If they do, Llanview Hospital is in dire need of doctors and med students. The same one guy seems to work in every unit when Dr. Evans isn't around.) Sure Robin and her husband patrick elizabeths brother steve is back and patricks old college girlfriend lisa who is nuts
** Emily? Is she in the show?Emily was killed at windomear at a black and white party and then she came back as her own twin and then left again
** I forgot how cute Eddie Maine/Ned Ashton was! Those dimples! Is Lois still part of the storyline?
ReplyDeleteThey r running their record label and their daughter Brooklynn is back on the show and got into some trouble but Carly hired her to sleep with Dante. Thats why she is back (Carly feels itis Dantes fault for Michel GOING TO PRISON)
** Why didn't Ned want Brenda to marry Jax (that first time?)Buisness stuff Jax was trying to take down ELQ and he had started in town hitting on Lois
** Who is married to whom these days?Jax and Carly yup thats really it
** What happened to AJ? I know he is no longer Billy Warlock (who is coming to my OLTL! yipppeee!) he was killed when the Micheal kiddinapping took place at the mansion he fell from the stairwell with Jason and Jason of course made it
** I think I heard Alan & Monica are gone, but where are they supposedly?Alan died at the Metro Court hostage thing of a heart attack hostage thing was jerry jaxs
** Felicia & Mac?Mac is still on felicia left and whatever
** Where has Brenda supposedly been? Brenda has been in europe
** When Carly first came to town and stole Tony Jones from Bobbie... didn't she have a job at the hospital (am I mistaken, or is Carly a nurse?)she was in nursing school then dropped out or got kicked out
** And do we LIKE Carly now?Love Carly and this is the 4th Carly the third one didnt count she sucked so bad and they replaced her that quick
** What the heck was Skye Chandler doing out of Pine Valley?? Skye is Alan Q and Rea kid
** This Spinelli character and Dante and other newbies... who are they? Spinelli kinda feel in the last time Brenda was here Dante is sonnys long lost son olivea is Dantes mom and sonnys old love
** Are there any actual doctors left in Port Charles? (If they do, Llanview Hospital is in dire need of doctors and med students. The same one guy seems to work in every unit when Dr. Evans isn't around.) Sure Robin and her husband patrick elizabeths brother steve is back and patricks old college girlfriend lisa who is nuts
** Emily? Is she in the show?Emily was killed at windomear at a black and white party and then she came back as her own twin and then left again
** I forgot how cute Eddie Maine/Ned Ashton was! Those dimples! Is Lois still part of the storyline?
ReplyDeleteThey r running their record label and their daughter Brooklynn is back on the show and got into some trouble but Carly hired her to sleep with Dante. Thats why she is back (Carly feels itis Dantes fault for Michel GOING TO PRISON)
** Why didn't Ned want Brenda to marry Jax (that first time?)Buisness stuff Jax was trying to take down ELQ and he had started in town hitting on Lois
** Who is married to whom these days?Jax and Carly yup thats really it
** What happened to AJ? I know he is no longer Billy Warlock (who is coming to my OLTL! yipppeee!) he was killed when the Micheal kiddinapping took place at the mansion he fell from the stairwell with Jason and Jason of course made it
** I think I heard Alan & Monica are gone, but where are they supposedly?Alan died at the Metro Court hostage thing of a heart attack hostage thing was jerry jaxs
** Felicia & Mac?Mac is still on felicia left and whatever
** Where has Brenda supposedly been? Brenda has been in europe
** When Carly first came to town and stole Tony Jones from Bobbie... didn't she have a job at the hospital (am I mistaken, or is Carly a nurse?)she was in nursing school then dropped out or got kicked out
** And do we LIKE Carly now?Love Carly and this is the 4th Carly the third one didnt count she sucked so bad and they replaced her that quick
** What the heck was Skye Chandler doing out of Pine Valley?? Skye is Alan Q and Rea kid
** This Spinelli character and Dante and other newbies... who are they? Spinelli kinda feel in the last time Brenda was here Dante is sonnys long lost son olivea is Dantes mom and sonnys old love
** Are there any actual doctors left in Port Charles? (If they do, Llanview Hospital is in dire need of doctors and med students. The same one guy seems to work in every unit when Dr. Evans isn't around.) Sure Robin and her husband patrick elizabeths brother steve is back and patricks old college girlfriend lisa who is nuts
** Emily? Is she in the show?Emily was killed at windomear at a black and white party and then she came back as her own twin and then left again
" I believe Skye is Alan's daughter with Rae Cummings."
ReplyDeleteNo they retconned that. Skye is Rae's daughter but it turned out that she wasn't Alan's bio daughter but then Alan adopted her even though she was a grown adult.It bugs me that they retconned Skye's bio family twice.