By 
Worst Show
What else can one say about the dark, dreary, and dismal General Hospital, other than it receives the honor of Worst of 2008 for a reason.
Over this past year it is no wonder why viewers have tuned out. Murder, violence and mayhem is just another week in Port Charles. For a show that’s named “General Hospital,” the hospital still doesn’t feel like the focus of the show. Rather it’s the daily dramas of mobsters and their current (and past) bed mates who suck the life from the show with repetitive storylines.
Let’s start with the horrendous writing. Continually telling viewers that the criminals in town (ie Sonny and Jason) are the good guys, and the people who try to put them away (the district attorneys, police, FBI) are the bad guys. Then there are the “good” mobsters vs. the “bad” mobsters drivel that never seems to end — different year, different families, same story. A show whose concept of good storytelling means having a 12 year old child get shot in the head as punishment. Where was the fallout from that? Sonny and Jason are more involved with the mob than ever, fighting and killing people over territory they don’t own. Michael’s shooting should have been the catalyst that forced Sonny and Jason leave the mob; instead it’s the same old status quo.
Where are the strong women on this show? This is a medium that claims to be for women, yet there are few strong women at all. The ones that are, end up being turned into needy, co-dependent women who need a man in their life to justify their happiness. It’s a sad day when a woman like Kate Howard, who set goals for herself and accomplished them is labeled a bad person by Carly, a woman who came into everything she has by laying on her back (and in limos) with powerful men.
What is it that makes women who hook up with Sonny and Jason lose common sense? Case in point, Elizabeth forgetting she has two children at home to protect from danger that looms because she is in a ‘relationship’ with known mobster Jason Morgan. She seems to excuse Jason’s dangerous lifestyle only when it fits her needs as a woman and it’s beneficial to her. What happened to the Elizabeth who walked out on Jason only a few short years ago? The Elizabeth who puts the wellbeing of her children ahead of her libido? It’s not all on her either. Whatever happened to men who “man up” and do right by the women in their lives and children? Elizabeth wouldn’t have to worry about all the danger if Jason grew some balls, stood up to Sonny and walked away from the mob life, but he’s content being a gun-toting, undomesticated playboy who lives with a teenage hacker. Then men that do stand up and take care of their children (even ones that aren’t theirs) end up playing second fiddle to the bad boys. We’d take Lucky over Jason any day.
Actresses such as Nancy Lee Grahn, Jane Elliot, and Leslie Charleson aren’t given material worthy of their talents. Instead they’re used as sounding boards, props and wallpaper whenever the writers remember they’re a part of the show. Send those actresses a show like Y&R and we’re sure they’d have front burner storylines, love scenes and love interests that don’t disappear for 9 months out of the year.
Let’s not forget the newcomers who have invaded the show over the past year. How many are we up to now? 4? 5? These characters are NOT needed and serve no purpose other than to prop other characters in need of hero worshiping or being placed on pedestals. What about the veterans? Well let’s just say the ones that remain are nothing but wallpaper, brought out to fill time and for holiday episodes. There is no wonder viewers are turning off GH, if it’s not an overload on mobsters and their polishing of their halos, it’s the rewritten history and lack of character integrity that turns viewers off.
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