Saving Our Soap: Why I Watch General Hospital

It's been a long time since I've written anything on this blog, not since 2009 but I felt the need to make this post in light of recent events.


Last night a beloved radio show host on blog talk radio felt the need to take a leave of absence for awhile because of a group of malicious, vindictive so called fans of the soap General Hospital that in my opinion are not fans of the show at all but simply fans of one person and/or couple on the show. And instead of seeing the bigger picture which is to save the show, they want to be petty and childish and complain about the most mudane things like the show's opening. Give me a break, no one gives a damn about something that dumb. The opening is rather meaningless compared to the overall show. And really most people who DVR it usually fast forward through it anyway. The fact that it's shorter is better because it leaves more time for the show which is the more important of the two things. Now don't get me wrong I am not upset that this person is taking a leave of absence because honestly I think they need it. This person needs to recharge and take a much needed vacation. I am upset at the reason they are doing it because they don't deserve to be attacked in such a manner. This person works their ass off everyday trying to save GH because they are deeply passionate about it and because they love the show. They don't want to see it die. So to all the haters out there just SHUT UP! You have no business watching GH if you aren't a fan of the overall show. It's okay to like an actor/actress and to like a a certain pairing and it's okay to root for them but right now we need to save the show because if cancelled then you won't have a couple or actor/actress to root for because they will be out of a job. The show won't be there to have anyone to root for anymore. We are all deeply passionate about some aspect of the show but for right now we need to refocus that passion on keeping it on the air. So just watch it or just have it on the tv and let air in the background if you don't care to watch it. I don't care just have it on. We need the ratings. Don't let ABC destroy a piece of history for something that will likely bomb. Okay enough about that. Now on to something else.





I've only been watching GH since about 1995, so not extremly long. I will admit I am young, I am only thirty so I wasn't around for the majority of GH. I remember seeing Stone die and Robin grieve. I remember Jason getting to his accident and becoming Jason Morgan. I remember Sonny leaving Brenda at the alter and Jason breaking then news to her. I remember Jason getting shot at Robin's house by the the Tin man and her being afraid to touch him because of her HIV. I remember Robin making Sonny fire Jason because she was terrified. I remember Robin betraying Jason by telling AJ about Michael. I remember Emily going through her drug use and Elizabeth getting rape. I remember her confronting her rapist. I remember when Lucky died in the fire and how Elizabeth grieved. I remember Jason and Elizabeth becoming friends. I remember so many things. Mostly I remember being hooked and not being able to wait to come home and watch GH. But among all those memories I also remember the not so good times. I remember when Brian Frons became in charge and started systematically destroying a once proud history rich show. I remember his agenda driven storylines that nearly killed GH and how he seemingly played favorites, how he intentionally plummed ratings in favor of a flavor of the month. He shoved characters down our throats day after day and he played character assaination more than once. For example he turned one of the most popular actors/characters into a pod person. I speak of course of the wonderfull Steve Burton. He drug that man's reputation through the mud on numerous occasions simply for someone who didn't deserve the star power she got. During this man's regime he continued to bring on newbie after newbie and started killing off beloved characters like Alan Quartermaine, Georgie Jones, Emily Quartermaine, AJ Quartermaine and finally Elizabeth's beloved son Jake. And for what, some stupid plot point that made no sense to us. It was done to further his sick and twisted agenda. For so many GH fans the final straw was when the killed Jake for no reason other than to stick it to a fanbase of a couple. And for others the final straw was when Rebecca Herbst was fired. These two events cause a firestorm of conterversy and sent down a backlash that I am sure is still felt today. We fans banded together to save Becky's job and now we must do it to save General Hospital. But lucky for us a mircale happened and Brian Frons was fired from his position of power. And now we have a new wonderful writing team headed by the truly awsome Ron Carlivati and excutive producer Frank Valenti. You can already see the massive change. Characters are finally being written in character instead being whitewashed. And things are finally moving in a positive direction. For the first time in a decade I recogonize General Hospital again. Isn't that worth saving? I think so.