Today in Soap Opera History (December 19)

1967: The Doctors' Althea turned in her resignation.
1997: General Hospital's Helena returned to Port Charles.
2008: All My Children celebrated the life of Myrtle Fargate.
2011: One Life to Live's Roxy dreamed about Fraternity Row.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Peyton Place, Martin Peyton (George Macready) told a drunken Leslie Harrington (Paul Langton) that he had always been inferior.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 19)

1967: The Doctors' Althea turned in her resignation.
1997: General Hospital's Helena returned to Port Charles.
2008: All My Children celebrated the life of Myrtle Fargate.
2011: One Life to Live's Roxy dreamed about Fraternity Row.

"History is a vast early warning system."
― Norman Cousins

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Peyton Place, Martin Peyton (George Macready) told a drunken Leslie Harrington (Paul Langton) that he had always been inferior.

Constance Towers Returning to 'General Hospital'

The character of Helena Cassadine first appeared on General Hospital in 1981, played in a short guest-starring arc by the legendary Elizabeth Taylor. Dimitra Arliss briefly brought the character back in 1996, before Constance Towers joined the cast in 1997. Since then, Helena has defied death numerous times. Based on a new teaser released by the show, it's possible she may have again.

In the teaser below, the camera pans across the Cassadine Island set, then we see Towers, who says, "You know, Port Charles is a very mysterious place. You never know who’s gonna come on!" She then blows a kiss to the camera as it fades to the GH logo.

Watch below.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 19)

1967: The Doctors' Althea turned in her resignation.
1997: General Hospital's Helena returned to Port Charles.
2008: All My Children celebrated the life of Myrtle Fargate.
2011: One Life to Live's Roxy dreamed about Fraternity Row.

"More and more, I tend to read history. I often find it more up to date than the daily newspapers."
― Joe Murray

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Peyton Place, Martin Peyton (George Macready) told a drunken Leslie Harrington (Paul Langton) that he had always been inferior.

'General Hospital' Spoilers (March 28-April 1, 2016)

"He has convinced himself he's in love with her," Laura tells Liz about
Nikolas after they discover Hayden's true identity.

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek video below to find out what's happening on ABC soap opera General Hospital during the week of March 28-April 1, 2016.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, March 28
Nikolas (Tyler Christopher) brings Sam (Kelly Monaco) up to date; Tracy (Jane Elliot) has a plan for ELQ that involves her secret weapon; Ava (Maura West) asks for help from an unlikely person.

'General Hospital' Spoilers (March 21-25, 2016)

"Please, dont' ask me to do that," Monica tells Tracy.  "You want me to
pull the plug if you're incapable of doing it."

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek video below to find out what's happening on ABC soap opera General Hospital during the week of March 21-25, 2016.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, March 21
Carly's (Laura Wright) hostile persuasion gets results; Nina (Michelle Stafford) sets the wheels in motion to flush out Crimson's saboteur; Tracy's (Jane Elliot) lab results come in.

'General Hospital' Spoilers (March 14-18, 2016)

Lulu and Laura listen as Scott tells them they are in for some big surprises.

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek video below to find out what's happening on ABC soap opera General Hospital during the week of March 14-18, 2016.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, March 14
Helena (Constance Towers) sends enduring words and emblematic gifts to everyone from her grave; Anna (Finola Hughes) discovers Griffin's (Matt Cohen) real identity and his reason for spying on her; Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) learns the truth about "Claudette."

'General Hospital' Spoilers (March 7-11, 2016)

Helena has lasting words and symbolic gifts for all from her grave.

Check out the day-to-day spoilers and a sneak peek video below to find out what's happening on ABC soap opera General Hospital during the week of March 7-11, 2016.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, March 7
Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Carly (Laura Wright) take a long, hard look at the direction of their relationship; Lulu's (Emme Rylan) declaration gives Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) new hope; Baxter (Tom Parker) covers when Sam (Kelly Monaco) starts asking too many probing questions about Hayden (Rebecca Budig); Griffin (Matt Cohen) is stumped by Tracy's (Jane Elliot) test results.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 19)

1967: The Doctors' Althea turned in her resignation.
1997: General Hospital's Helena returned to Port Charles.
2008: All My Children celebrated the life of Myrtle Fargate.
2011: One Life to Live's Roxy dreamed about Fraternity Row.

"The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect is already in the cause."
― Henri Louis Bergson

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Peyton Place, Martin Peyton (George Macready) told a drunken Leslie Harrington (Paul Langton) that he had always been inferior.

'General Hospital': Jake Is Alive! (Video)

"My name's Jake, what's yours?"

On Thursday's episode of General Hospital, Luke (Anthony Geary) and Laura (Genie Francis) arrived on Cassadine Island to confront Helena (Constance Towers) about their grandson, Jake. He threatened her with a gun, demanding info on the child he thought he had killed. She came clean with him and a little Jake (James Nigbor) walked into the room, played with a remote control car, which ran into Luke.

"How fitting that he hit you with his car," Helena said to Luke.

Helena thanked Luke for "all those years of passion" and then left. Jake walked over to Luke to introduce himself.

"My name's Jake," the boy said, "what's yours?"

Watch Luke meet the alive and well young Jake below:

Today in Soap Opera History (December 19)

1967: The Doctors' Althea turned in her resignation.
1997: General Hospital's Helena returned to Port Charles.
2008: All My Children celebrated the life of Myrtle Fargate.
2011: One Life to Live's Roxy dreamed about Fraternity Row.

"Most of us spend too much time on the last twenty-four hours and too little on the last six thousand years."
― Will Durant

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Peyton Place, Norman Harrington (Christopher Connelly) told his wife, Rita (Patricia Morrow), that he no longer wanted to have children. "If you want to have a baby so badly, you'd better cash in that ring and go out and get yourself a cat with a healthy pedigree," Norman told her.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 19)

1986: Y&R's Jack was concerned about Ashley. 1986: Kelly
received happy news on CAPITOL. 2008: AMC paid tribute
to Myrtle Fargate.  2011: OLTL's Roxy had a FRATERNITY
ROW dream.

"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see."
- Winston Churchill

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1972: On ANOTHER WORLD, the grisly discovery of the murdered Bernice Robinson (Janis Young) on the Randolph terrace was horrifying for Mary Matthews (Virginia Dwyer) and her alcoholic daughter, Pat (Beverly Penberthy). Bernice had been having an affair with Pat's husband, John.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 19)

On this date in...

1977: Rolanda Mendels aired for the final time as Molly Ordway Randoph in ANOTHER WORLD. The character never returned but her sister, Mary Frances Ordway aka Frankie Frame, came to Bay City in 1989.

In the episode, Olive (Jennifer Leak) arrived at the new house and found a confused John (Michael M. Ryan). John told her they had to call the police and then Olive found Evan’s (Barry Jenner) body, screaming at John that he killed the only man she ever loved. Barry Jenner left the show but appeared a year later (December 29, 1978) in Olive's dream.

1983: Actor Alan Dexter, who played Frank Ferguson on DAYS OF OUR LIVES in its first year, died at age 65.

1986: On CAPITOL, Kelly (Jess Walton) was upset she wouldn't be with Scotty on Christmas morning but then received good news. Watch below:

NEWS ROUNDUP: Constance Towers Talks GH Short Stint; NYC Productions Resume; Brazilian Novela Finale Reached 50 Million Viewers

Constance Towers discusses her upcoming short-stint as Helena in GENERAL HOSPITAL
"I really am excited to have viewers see what Helena has up her sleeve this time around," shared Towers. "The writing is absolutely amazing for GENERAL HOSPITAL, and I hear it every day whenever I run into a viewer. It's amazing. I may only return for a short time each time, but I feel as though I've never been away. Everyone is so professional and great to work with, from the actors to the behind-the-scenes geniuses that make all of us look and feel great."

When asked how long we might get to savor Helena's scheming ways this go around, the actress would only say that she's on for a "short stint."

Hurricane Sandy: New York City to Resume Issuing Permits for Exterior Shoots
With Hurricane Sandy recovery and relief efforts ongoing, the city of New York will begin issuing permits for exterior production shoots on Monday, Nov. 5.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Constance Towers Returning To GENERAL HOSPITAL; Shobna Gulati Leaving CORONATION STREET; Melissa Reeves Talks DAYS

Constance Towers returning to GENERAL HOSPITAL as Helena Cassadine
Towers is reporting back to work at the GENERAL HOSPITAL set this morning.

Y&R's Joshua Morrow and his wife Tobe welcome new daughter
Morrow (Nick, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) and his wife Tobe welcomed their fourth child, a daughter, named Charlie Jo. "6 lbs 8 oz. 19 inches of pure amazingness," tweeted the actor. The latest Morrow addition joins brothers Cooper,10; Crew, 7 and Cash, 4.

Hal David Dead at 91

Burt Bacharach & Hal David

Hal David, who along with partner Burt Bacharach penned dozens of timeless songs for movies, television and a variety of recording artists in the 1960s and beyond, has died. He was 91.

David died of complications from a stroke Saturday morning in Los Angeles, according to Jim Steinblatt, spokesman for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. David was a longtime member and former president of ASCAP.

Bacharach and David wrote many top 40 hits including "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," "Close to You" and "That's What Friends Are For."