Today in Soap Opera History (November 29)

1985: General Hospital's Robert and Anna explained to Robin why
they hadn't told her the truth about being her parents.
1995: Stone Cates died. 2006: Sonny and Robin remember Stone
on the anniversary of his death. 2011: Robin talked to Stone
on the bridge.

"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...

1946: The Guiding Light aired for the final time on NBC Radio, sponsored by General Mills. Irna Phillips had been in a prolonged lawsuit with Emmons Carlson over rights to the show, leading NBC to cancel the series for the second time. Carlson, a former GL writer, claimed he had helped Phillips spawn the popular serial, while Phillips claimed he had only written a few early scripts. Carlson was ultimately awarded $250,000 by the courts. CBS Radio picked up The Guiding Light and began airing new episodes on June 2, 1947, sponsored by Procter & Gamble. The show remained on CBS Radio until 1956, and was broadcast on CBS-TV from 1952 to 2009.

1968: On Dark Shadows, just as Adam (Robert Rodan) was about to throw the switch that would have electrocuted Victoria Winters (Betsy Durkin), Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) shot him.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 29)

1985: General Hospital's Robert and Anna explained to Robin why
they hadn't told her the truth about being her parents.
1995: Stone Cates died. 2006: Sonny and Robin remember Stone
on the anniversary of his death. 2011: Robin talked to Stone
on the bridge.

"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...

1946: The Guiding Light aired for the final time on NBC Radio, sponsored by General Mills. Irna Phillips had been in a prolonged lawsuit with Emmons Carlson over rights to the show, leading NBC to cancel the series for the second time. Carlson, a former GL writer, claimed he had helped Phillips spawn the popular serial, while Phillips claimed he had only written a few early scripts. Carlson was ultimately awarded $250,000 by the courts. CBS Radio picked up The Guiding Light and began airing new episodes on June 2, 1947, sponsored by Procter & Gamble. The show remained on CBS Radio until 1956, and was broadcast on CBS-TV from 1952 to 2009.

1968: On Dark Shadows, just as Adam (Robert Rodan) was about to throw the switch that would have electrocuted Victoria Winters (Betsy Durkin), Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) shot him.

Michael Sutton Bringing Stone Cates Back to 'General Hospital' in August

Emmy nominated ator Michael Sutton will be reprising his role as Stone Cates on General Hospital in August.

Sutton played Stone from 1993-1995. The character was diagnosed with HIV and ultimately died of an AIDS-related illness. TV Line is reporting that Sutton will return to GH for a brief return sometime in August.

Stone’s romance with Robin Scorpio (Kimberly McCullough) was beloved by fans at the time, and Sutton even returned for a few episodes in 2010 when the character returned as a vision to Robin, who was being held captive in a well to urge her to stay alive and fight. The couple came in at #41 on the We Love Soops "50 Greatest Soap Couples" countdown in 2012.

[Warning: Spoilers ahead...]

Ston's return is part of Sonny Corinthos' upcoming storyline as the mobster goes through a particularly rough patch.

“Sonny and Stone once again like the good old days!” Sutton posted to Instagram. “Always a pleasure to work with my brother, Maurice Benard (Sonny).”

RELATED:
- We Love Soaps World AIDS Day Interview With Michael Sutton
- We Love Soaps TV 2.06 Kimberly McCullough & Michael Sutton

Today in Soap Opera History (November 29)

1985: General Hospital's Robert and Anna explained to Robin why
they hadn't told her the truth about being her parents.
1995: Stone Cates died. 2006: Sonny and Robin remember Stone
on the anniversary of his death. 2011: Robin talked to Stone
on the bridge.

"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...

1946: The Guiding Light aired for the final time on NBC Radio, sponsored by General Mills. Irna Phillips had been in a prolonged lawsuit with Emmons Carlson over rights to the show, leading NBC to cancel the series for the second time. Carlson, a former GL writer, claimed he had helped Phillips spawn the popular serial, while Phillips claimed he had only written a few early scripts. Carlson was ultimately awarded $250,000 by the courts. CBS Radio picked up The Guiding Light and began airing new episodes on June 2, 1947, sponsored by Procter & Gamble. The show remained on CBS Radio until 1956, and was broadcast on CBS-TV from 1952 to 2009.

1968: On Dark Shadows, just as Adam (Robert Rodan) was about to throw the switch that would have electrocuted Victoria Winters (Betsy Durkin), Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) shot him.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 29)

1985: General Hospital's Robert and Anna explained to Robin why
they hadn't told her the truth about being her parents.
1995: Stone Cates died. 2006: Sonny and Robin remember Stone
on the anniversary of his death. 2011: Robin talked to Stone
on the bridge.

"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...

1946: The Guiding Light aired for the final time on NBC Radio, sponsored by General Mills. Irna Phillips had been in a prolonged lawsuit with Emmons Carlson over rights to the show, leading NBC to cancel the series for the second time. Carlson, a former GL writer, claimed he had helped Phillips spawn the popular serial, while Phillips claimed he had only written a few early scripts. Carlson was ultimately awarded $250,000 by the courts. CBS Radio picked up The Guiding Light and began airing new episodes on June 2, 1947, sponsored by Procter & Gamble. The show remained on CBS Radio until 1956, and was broadcast on CBS-TV from 1952 to 2009.

1968: On Dark Shadows, just as Adam (Robert Rodan) was about to throw the switch that would have electrocuted Victoria Winters (Betsy Durkin), Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) shot him.

50 Greatest Soap Couples: #41 Stone & Robin From GENERAL HOSPITAL

COUPLE: Michael "Stone" Cates & Robin Scorpio
SHOW: GENERAL HOSPITAL
RANK: 41
PLAYED BY:
Stone: Michael Sutton
Robin: Kimberly McCullough
YEARS: 1993-1995, 2010

STORY:
Stone was the brother of Jagger Cates who worked for mobster Sonny Corinthos when he met Robin.  She developed a crush on him and the two fell in love, much to her Uncle Mac's chagrin.  When the couple had sex, Stone told Robin he had been tested for HIV and was negative.  They were safe but over time did engaged in unprotected sex.  Stone never followed up on his AIDS test six months after the first but it was eventually revealed he had the disease.  Robin tested negative for HIV once but her follow up test revealed she was positive.  Stone eventually lost his battle with AIDS in one of the most touching death scenes in television history. 

CLASSIC CLIP: Stone's Tells Robin He's HIV-Positive on GENERAL HOSPITAL

One of the most memorable scenes in the touching Stone and Robin love story on GENERAL HOSPITAL was the day he told her he was HIV-positive. Watch the clip below featuring Michael Sutton and Kimberly McCullough:

CLASSIC CLIP: Stone's Death on GENERAL HOSPITAL

Stone's death on GENERAL HOSPITAL was one of the most memorable scenes in soap opera history. "Oh, Robin, I see you." Watch the clip below featuring Michael Sutton, Kimberly McCullough and more:

WLS World AIDS Day With Michael Sutton - Part Two

In Part One of our interview with Michael Sutton for World AIDS Day, the acclaimed actor discussed taking on the role of HIV patient Stone Cates on GENERAL HOSPITAL, and the challenges he faced while doing this beloved story.  In this final part, we discuss current research and vaccine trials aimed toward eradicating HIV, as well as the toll this story took on him personally.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: I am currently doing outreach and education for current HIV vaccine trials that are being conducted through the National Institute of Health. The biggest obstacle I encounter are younger people who don’t think HIV affects their lives.  What might you say to someone who doesn’t perceive HIV is a reality?
Michael Sutton: Unless you have some sort of religious ideas about abstinence, most people are sexually active.  I think that the responsibility that comes with that is to make yourself aware.  And with that awareness comes prevention.  I think it is only a minority of people that do not need to be concerned about this.  If you’re abstaining from sex then okay you fall into that category.  But if you are active, you owe it to yourself, your loved ones, to the people who love you, to get this information.  So it really does resonate for 99% of the population.

WLS World AIDS Day With Michael Sutton - Part One

He was the central part of one of the most important AIDS stories in American history.  His portrayal of Stone Cates on GENERAL HOSPITAL made millions of viewers think about HIV in a way that they had never imagined before.  But how did the young actor cope with such an important role, and how did it change his life today? WE LOVE SOAPS TV honors World AIDS Day and Michael Sutton's contributions in this two-part interview.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: It is wonderful to get to speak with you.  As someone who has been involved with HIV prevention work for most of the past 20 years, I am thrilled to acknowledge your contributions to AIDS Education and prevention in your role as Stone Cates.  As a young actor, what was it like to be handed this emotionally and politically significant story line?
Michael Sutton: To be honest with you it was a little overwhelming.  That was partly because I had just started acting.  I had been to film school, and I knew that when I got on a soap that the level at which I was able to manipulate the material was underwhelming to say the least.

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Stone Visits Robin When She's Trapped In a Well

When GENERAL HOSPITAL's Robin Scorpio was trapped in a well in 2010 she was visited by a vision of Stone, who encouraged her to give Patrick a chance and to hang on to life. Watch the clip below featuring Michael Sutton and Kimberly McCullough:

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.06 Kimberly McCullough & Michael Sutton

On the latest episode of We Love Soaps TV (2.06), Stephen Seidel talks with General Hospital Emmy winner Kimberly McCullough and returning guest star Michael Sutton about working together again after 15 years, and much more. Watch below.



Back in the '90s, “Robin” and “Stone” were a groundbreaking couple who both contracted HIV (one of the first times TV explored AIDS with heterosexual couples.) “Stone” eventually died of the disease and “Robin” continues to live a full life today with the virus (a doctor, wife and mother.) A tragedy where “Robin’s” life is in peril causes her to hallucinate and see “Stone” (even though, yes, he really is dead) on Sept. 28 and Sept. 29. This marks the first time the original actor has returned to the role since “Stone” died in 1995.

If you are in the New York City area and would like to be in the audience during a taping of a future episode of WE LOVE SOAPS TV, email us at audience@welovesoaps.net and we will keep you posted on our upcoming schedule.

CLASSIC CLIP: Robin Tells Stone She Loves Him on GENERAL HOSPITAL

Stone and Robin's memorable love story and his eventual death on GENERAL HOSPITAL was one of the most memorable in the show's history, including the Robin told Stone she loved him. Watch the clip below featuring Michael Sutton and Kimberly McCullough:

Flashback: Real-Life AIDS Lessons (1995)

Real-Life AIDS Lessons For Two Playing a Part

By John J. O'Connor
New York Times
December 7, 1995

Pity the do-good project that winds up more irritating than illuminating. Pity indeed Positive: A Journey Into AIDS, an "Afterschool Special" on ABC at 4 P.M. today.

The primary players here are two actors who figured in a recent AIDS story line on ABC's General Hospital. Robin Scorpio (Kimberly McCullough), hard-working A student, fell in love with Michael (Stone) Cates (Michael Sutton), runaway drifter, only to discover that Stone had AIDS. As Robin prepared to deal with Stone's death, she discovered that she was H.I.V.-positive.