Today in Soap Opera History (August 17)

1977: Leslie Charleson assumed the role of Monica on GH.
1992: Elizabeth Keifer debuted as Blake on Guiding Light.
2007: The 10,000th episode of One Life to Live aired on ABC.
2007: As the World Turns' Luke and Noah shared an historic kiss.

"The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron

"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...

1933: On radio soap opera Ma Perkins, Ma (Virginia Payne) has found out about Cousin Sylvester's marriage proposal to Penny, and she wondered what kind of men the cousins were.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Julia (Grayson Hall) warned Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) not to become too chummy with Barnabas (Jonathan Frid).

Today in Soap Opera History (August 17)

1977: Leslie Charleson assumed the role of Monica on GH.
1992: Elizabeth Keifer debuted as Blake on Guiding Light.
2007: The 10,000th episode of One Life to Live aired on ABC.
2007: As the World Turns' Luke and Noah shared an historic kiss.

"The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron

"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...

1933: On radio soap opera Ma Perkins, Ma (Virginia Payne) has found out about Cousin Sylvester's marriage proposal to Penny, and she wondered what kind of men the cousins were.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Julia (Grayson Hall) warned Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) not to become too chummy with Barnabas (Jonathan Frid).

Patty McCormack to Temporarily Play Monica on 'General Hospital'

Patty McCormack, best known for her starring role in the 1956 film The Bad Seed, will temporarily fill in as General Hospital's Monica Quartermaine while Leslie Charleson recuperates from an injury, according to Soap Opera Digest.

Charleson is being temporarily recast due to a leg injury that she sustained while walking her dog. GH's official Facebook page posted, “Leslie Charleson’s beloved dog, Riley Rose, was a little too eager for her morning walk and tripped Leslie – injuring her leg. Unfortunately, she will need to be replaced in shows already written. She sends all her love and will be back as soon as she recovers. We wish her a speedy recovery and all the best.”

McCormack previously played Linda Warren on ABC daytime soap opera The Best of Everything, and filled in for Kathryn Hays as Kim on As the World Turns. Expect to see her on GH in May.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 17)

1977: Leslie Charleson assumed the role of Monica on GH.
1992: Elizabeth Keifer debuted as Blake on Guiding Light.
2007: The 10,000th episode of One Life to Live aired on ABC.
2007: As the World Turns' Luke and Noah shared an historic kiss.

"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...

1933: On radio soap opera Ma Perkins, Ma (Virginia Payne) has found out about Cousin Sylvester's marriage proposal to Penny, and she wondered what kind of men the cousins were.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Julia (Grayson Hall) warned Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) not to become too chummy with Barnabas (Jonathan Frid).

Today in Soap Opera History (August 17)

1977: Leslie Charleson assumed the role of Monica on GH.
1992: Elizabeth Keifer debuted as Blake on Guiding Light.
2007: The 10,000th episode of One Life to Live aired on ABC.
2007: As the World Turns' Luke and Noah shared an historic kiss.

"If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree."
― Michael Crichton

"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...

1933: On radio soap opera Ma Perkins, Ma (Virginia Payne) has found out about Cousin Sylvester's marriage proposal to Penny, and she wondered what kind of men the cousins were. Later that day, Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees appeared in his 1,308th consecutive Major League Baseball game, breaking the record held by Everett Scott since 1925. Gehrig would go on to play 822 more straight games, and his record would last until broken by Baltimore Orioles star Cal Ripken, Jr. on September 6, 1995.

'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.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 17)

1977: Leslie Charleson assumed the role of Monica on GH.
1992: Elizabeth Keifer debuted as Blake on Guiding Light.
2007: The 10,000th episode of One Life to Live aired on ABC.
2007: As the World Turns' Luke and Noah shared an historic kiss.

"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again."
― Maya Angelou

"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...

1933: On radio soap opera Ma Perkins, Ma (Virginia Payne) has found out about Cousin Sylvester's marriage proposal to Penny, and she wondered what kind of men the cousins were. Later that day, Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees appeared in his 1,308th consecutive Major League Baseball game, breaking the record held by Everett Scott since 1925. Gehrig would go on to play 822 more straight games, and his record would last until broken by Baltimore Orioles star Cal Ripken, Jr. on September 6, 1995.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 17)

2007: Luke and Noah shared an historic first kiss on As the World Turns.

"To believe what has not occurred in history will not occur at all, is to argue disbelief in the dignity of man."
- Mahatma Gandhi

"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...

1967: On Dark Shadows, Julia (Grayson Hall) warned Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) not to become too chummy with Barnabas (Jonathan Frid).

1967: On Another World, Sam berated Rachel (Robin Strasser) for running to Ada about their argument.

GENERAL HOSPITAL Day-By-Day Spoilers (Week of December 30th)

Maxie (Kirsten Storms) meets Det. Nathan West (Ryan Paevey).
Photo Credit: ABC

Check out day-to-day spoilers and a preview video below to find out what's happening on GENERAL HOSPITAL during the week of December 30th.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Monday, December 30
Port Charles prepares for the New Year; Sabrina (Teresa Castillo) reacts to Felix's (Marc Anthony Samuel) hypothesis; Maxie (Kirsten Storms) tells Lulu (Emme Rylan) she's leaving; Monica (Leslie Charleson) confronts Silas (Michael Easton).

Today in Soap Opera History (August 17)

2007: AS THE WORLD TURNS' Luke & Noah shared an
historic kiss.  ONE LIFE TO LIVE celebrated 10,000 episodes.

History is not melodrama, even if it usually reads like that.
-Robert Penn Warren

"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...

1967: Julia (Grayson Hall) warned Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) not to become too chummy with Barnabas (Jonathan Frid).

1967: On ANOTHER WORLD, Sam berated Rachel (Robin Strasser) for running to Ada about their argument.

Leslie Charleson

1977: Leslie Charleson debuted as Monica in GENERAL HOSPITAL, replacing Patsy Rahn in the role. Monica's pairing with Alan Quartermaine ranked 20th on our 50 Greatest Soap Couples list in 2012. Charleson has earned four Daytime Emmy nominations for her work on GH and is the longest-running actor on the show today (Denise Alexander, Genie Francis and Kin Shriner started before her but have all come and gone multiple times over the years). Prior to joining GH, Charleson starred as Iris on LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING (1967-1970), Alice in AS THE WORLD TURNS (1966), and Pam on A FLAME IN THE WIND (1965)

1984: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Bo (Peter Reckell) and Hope (Kristian Alfonso) got away with the prism with help from Alice and Howie.

Nurses Ball 2013: Epiphany & The Revelations "Jump" (Video)

Epiphany (Sonya Eddy) & The Revelations brought the house down at the Nurses Ball on Tuesday's episode of GENERAL HOSPITAL with their rendition of The Pointer Sisters' "Jump." The Revelations turned out to be Monica (Leslie Charleson) and Tracy (Jane Elliot). Check it out below:

GENERAL HOSPITAL's Rebecca Herbst, Sean Blakemore, Leslie Charleson & John J. York Talk Tackling Tough Topics

GENERAL HOSPITAL taped an episode of KATIE this morning that will air on Thursday. Katie Couric makes a cameo on GH as part of the show's 50th anniversary celebration and pre-taped some footage as well when she was on the set. In a newly released video, stars from GH talk about talking tough topics. Rebecca Herbst remembers Elizabeth's rape storyline. Sean Blakemore revisits Shawn's PTSD. Leslie Charleson discusses educating as well as entertaining with Monica's breast cancer. John J York talks about Stone dying from AIDS. Watch it below:

GENERAL HOSPITAL Nurses Ball Photos [SPOILER ALERT]

Honoring 50 historic years on ABC, GENERAL HOSPITAL is the longest-running scripted drama currently in production in the United States and the third longest-running drama in American television history. To mark the show's Golden Anniversary, GH reprises the immensely popular Nurses Ball, a fictional charity event complete with musical performances from the illustrious citizens of Port Charles dedicated to HIV/AIDS awareness. The celebration begins on April 1st. Check out some other photos from Nurses Ball 2013 below [SPOILER ALERT]:

Chris Robinson & Stuart Damon Returning To GENERAL HOSPITAL

GH's Rick, Monica & Alan in 1980

Chris Robinson has been added to the list of GENERAL HOSPITAL actors returning for the soap's 50th anniversary, according to TV Guide Magazine.

Robinson's character, Rick Webber, will air April 1 in scenes with Rick's former love Monica (Leslie Charleson).

"I could never have predicted I'd be rejoining the group but I guess anything is possible on a soap, even when you've been dead 10 years!" says Robinson, whose GH character was killed off in 2002. "I looked pretty scruffy when I showed up at GH," he says. "I had long hair and a flavor saver on my chin because of the movie, so they tried to clean me up. They wanted me to look as much like Rick as possible, so they bring out this old photo they found in the files. It was me 35 years ago before I was cast on GH! I said, 'You want me to look like that?'"

GENERAL HOSPITAL Cliffhanger Friday: Brilliant! (West Coast Spoilers)

GENERAL HOSPITAL has been at the top of its game lately and Friday was a prime example. What a great cliffhanger! There are SPOILERS (and pictures) below so please don't read if you haven't watched yet. Enjoy the episode first and then come back and share your thoughts.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 17)

On this date in...

1967: On ANOTHER WORLD, Walter sent Lenore roses.

1977: Leslie Charleson debuted as Monica in GENERAL HOSPITAL.

1984: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Liz (Gloria Loring) sang "Always On My Mind" to Neil at their wedding.

1988: Victoria Shaw, who played Kira Faulker on GENERAL HOSPITAL in the mid-1970s, died at age 53.

1989: Terry Lester's contract expired with THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS where he had starred as Jack Abbott for nearly a decade. Lester ran into SANTA BARBARA's head writer, Chuck Pratt, an an L.A. function where Pratt commented, "Boy, would I like to write for you," which Lester found very flattering. Two weeks later, New World Television president Jon Feltheimer called Lester at home and emphasized that his company had many other production arms other than SANTA BARBARA and that if he joined the cast of the soap, they would help him find the other vehicles he was interested in.  Lester moved to SANTA BARBARA and the role of Mason Capwell.  Peter Bergman joined Y&R as a Jack recast.

1992: Elizabeth Keifer debuted as Blake in GUIDING LIGHT.

50 Greatest Soap Couples: #20 Alan & Monica From GENERAL HOSPITAL

COUPLE: Alan Quartermaine & Monica Bard Webber
SHOW: GENERAL HOSPITAL
RANK: 20
PLAYED BY:
Alan: Stuart Damon
Monica: Leslie Charleson
YEARS: 1977-2008

STORY:
Alan came to Port Charles to determine if his foundation would support building a new cardiac wing at General Hospital.  Monica was smitten with the wealthy doctor and the two of them began a romance.  Monica had a complicated history with Dr. Rick Webber, Alan was incredibly jealous and things became even more complicated in a hurry.  Despite questions about their relationship, Alan and Monica were married.  Eventually Monica had an affair with Rick which tore the couple apart.  AJ was born and eventually it was revealed he was Alan's son and not Rick's.  Alan refused to divorce Monica, afraid of losing his son.  So they stayed together, and bickered, and life at the Quartermaine mansion would never be the same.

CLASSIC CLIP: Alan & Monica in GENERAL HOSPITAL 1997

Alan gave Monica another anniversary gift in 1997 and then they talked about their relationship following by a musical montage of their highlights. Watch the clip below:

CLASSIC CLIP: Alan & Monica in GENERAL HOSPITAL 1977

Rick came to GENERAL HOSPITAL in 1977 to determine if his foundation would finance a new cardiac wing at the hospital. Watch the clip below in which Monica says, "I'm totally non-combative." (famous last words):