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ABC’s flagship soap “General Hospital,” will be celebrating its 12,000th episode on Tuesday, February 23rd.
ABC’s flagship soap, General Hospital, will be celebrating its 12,000th episode on Tuesday, February 23rd. To put that number in perspective, it would take 545.5 years for a traditional 22-episode series to make it that far. Executive Producer Jill Farren Phelps said in a press release today, “In any climate, it is amazing that we have the opportunity to celebrate such a momentous occasion. This milestone honors the strength of the daytime drama and looks to the future that General Hospital will continue to air many, many more episodes.”
General Hospital was created by Frank & Doris Hursley and premiered on April 1, 1963. This fall, General Hospital will become the longest running daytime drama still on air when As the World Turns leaves the airwaves. The show has won a record 10 Emmys for Outstanding Daytime Drama. Its actors have won 33 acting Emmys including 2 Lifetime Achievement Awards. Its crew, directors and writing staff has won 23 Emmy awards. The program rates as one of the top-rated Daytime programs in the key demographic of Women 18-49. In 2007, General Hospital was named #31 on Time Magazine’s list of the Top 100 TV Shows of All Time, and in 2003 it was named TV Guide’s Greatest Soap Opera of All Time.
The 1981 wedding of supercouple Luke and Laura brought in a record 30 million viewers to see one of the most memorable moments in television history. General Hospital has been praised for its social awareness storylines highlighting issues such as breast cancer, the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic, sexual assault, and heart disease. The show has seen guest stars such as Richard Simmons, Elizabeth Taylor, James Franco, the Girls Next Door and Vincent “Big Pussy” Pastore. Over the years, GH has seen many of its talented actors successfully make the crossover to primetime and film including Richard Dean Anderson, Demi Moore, John Stamos, Vanessa Marcil and Amber Tamblyn.
Here’s some of what you can look forward to on the upcoming 12,000th episode. Bruce Weitz makes an appearance as Johnny visits Anthony after a confrontation with Jason; those in Lulu’s life look out for her best interests; more fallout from mobster Sonny Corinthos and his undercover police offer son Dante; and love is in the air as one couple shares a kiss…
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