The soap opera is a dying breed. There are only four remaining on network television.  The oldest of these, General Hospital is 52 years old.  But doesn’t seem to be letting age slow it down.  Like fine wine, General Hospital only seems to be getting better with age.

General Hospital premiered on April 1, 1963.  The early days of the soap focused on the happenings at the hospital and head doctor Steve Hardy in the fictional city of Port Charles.

Throughout the history of General Hospital, viewers have witnessed the evolution of the soap super couple with Luke and Laura, whose 1981 wedding made television history as one of the highest rated episode ever in soap history.

Although the climate of General Hospital is very different than it was a half century ago, with the soap focusing less on the hospital and more on adventure and mob related story lines with the Corinthos and Jerome mob families taking the forefront, it still continues to reach into its rich history of family to entice viewers.  The Spencer family introduced a cousin, Valerie, and the Quartermaines brought back Tracy’s son Dillon opening up a new set of exciting story lines. Actors Brytni Sarpy , Robert P. Watkins and Hayley Erin as Kiki Jerome are some of the newer cast members that have shined, causing viewers to take notice.

Like all shows, fan favorites come and go, but what General Hospital does best is bring them back to add excitement to the show.  The return of mob son Johnny Zacchara, who is planning a deadly revenge plot on behalf of former love interest (and Spencer daughter) Lulu on her cousin Valerie, is what viewers are talking about this week.

I began watching General Hospital in its 1980s heydey in the days before DVRs and watching online.  I remember the excitement of Luke and Laura, Frisco and Felicia and Anna and Duke.  Although these story lines are long over, the memories linger and I still look forward to seeing General Hospital.  It’s a testament of excellent writing, casting and acting when the newer stories and characters continue to pull viewers in.

So, here’s to the next 50 years General Hospital.

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