DS Forums

 
 

General Hospital: Stethoscopes & Shoulderpads. Madness!!


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 16-09-2004, 01:51
TheWalfordOne
Banned User
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 327

Not exactly Holby, is it!

I've been checking out the 35th Anniversary Clips that were posted on this board a while back, and GH really looks great. Totally changing my conception of US soaps... they are still dramatically very obviously theatrical (orchestrated theme music, etc), but whereas I always saw them through the semi-parody of DOOL, SuBe, Soap, even stuff like Joey's soap scenes on Friends. I thought they were all fun cards which were one step aside from being self-send-ups.

But through the 1960s, 1970s and 1990s, Generah Hospital appears to have done alot to retain credibility. The medical starkness of the 60s, the searing relationships of the 70s, and the candid bleakness of the 90s. But WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED IN THE 80s??!!

From a Hospital based drama, to a sci-fi fantasy where a man is going to freeze the earth? Eh? And Elizabeth Taylor struts in. Fantasy dancing in a department store? Superspies? This show left the ground in an epic way. Why was this, I wonder? I expect the long shadows cast down from the decidedly more off-the-wall Dynasty & Dallas, but considering these years brought in uch epic audiences, why did they reign in? What is an average audience for the show nowadays?
TheWalfordOne is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 16-09-2004, 11:40
Safra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Manchester
Posts: 7,708
For GH the it usually gets between 2.9-3.4 million always competing for 2nd spot with The Bold and the Beautiful and Days of our Lives.The ratings system (Neilsen) in the US is really crap though. I don't think it even counts people who tape shows!
Safra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2004, 12:45
Dippit
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 3,607
Yes, Druing the Gloria Monty era the show certainly did go into the action adventure plots.

It all came about because by 1977, General Hospital was on the verge of being cancelled. Viewers had gotten tired of the traditional formula and General Hospital had been suffering because of this, and the show also suffered because of the high turnover of its writing staff.

Then along came Gloria Monty, the shows new executive producer. Gloria Monty was detirmined to make GH succeed at all costs. At this time, the show was about to expand from 45 minutes to an hour per episode (The show had already expanded from 30 minutes to 45 in 1976). This marks the change between the 'old' General Hospital and the 'new' General Hospital.

Gloria saw potential in the character of 16 year old Laura, played by Genie Francis. Laura had previously been a minor character, but under Gloria Monty, she quickly became the centre of GH's major storyline, where Laura was seduced by a man that was actually after Laura's mother Lesley (And a 16 year old girl having an sexual relationship on a soap in those days was practically unheard of). The storyline climaxed when Laura accidentally killed her lover and then let her mother take the blame. As a result, General Hospital's ratings soared from being at the bottom to number one in the US ratings and the character of Laura became front and centre stage. Laura then became involved in a romance with Scotty Baldwin (As featured in the 35th anniversary special) and the show began to shift its focus away from the Hospital to feature young characters such as Laura, Scotty and Bobbie.

Later on in 1978, the character of Luke was introduced. He remained a minor character at first until mid 1979, when his character became involved with the Mob. Luke was originally going to be killed off after he raped Laura but for some reason, the fans liked the chemistry between these two, even after the rape was actually aired. So they broke up Laura and Scotty and instead began to push Luke and Laura closer together. The couple's popularity really went through the roof when Luke and Laura went on the run from the Mob together in the summer of 1980 (And it was while the two were on the run that the dancing sequence in the Department Store occured). After the enormously popular mob storyline finished, Gloria Monty looked for a way to top this and as such introduced the Cassadines, the family that almost freezed the world! Even though this storyline suffered from bad writing, viewers kept tuning in because they wanted to see if Luke and Laura would be able to save the world! After this was over, GH garnered the highest ratings in US daytime history when Luke and Laura tied the knot.

Soon after though, both Genie Francis (Laura) and Tony Geary (Luke) quit the show (Later to return in the 1990s), but Gloria Monty kept the ratings high with continued action adventure storylines. I think the major factor in the success of these Adventure storylines was that they while they dominated the storylines, they were not the true focus of the show. GH in the eighties was about a succession of popular "Supercouples" such as Luke and Laura, Duke and Anna, Frisco and Felicia etc who could overcome any obstacle that was put in their path, and these obstacles just happened to include things such as Megomaniacs who wanted to control the world, or the fact that one of the couple just happened to be an enemy spy as well as the more traditonal obstacles such as jealous ex spuses or lovers, adultery etc.

Of course, by the early 1990s Gloria Monty had long since left (Although she did come back briefly as Executive producer in 1991) viewers were starting to get sick of the action adventure storylines, and GH was again suffering in the ratings, so they began to return to the hospital setting a bit more (With the Heart transplant, Breast cancer and AIDS storylines that all occured within 18 months of each other in 1994 - 1995 - but were really awesome!!), before focusing on the Mob surrounding Sonny Corinthos in the late 1990s.
Dippit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2004, 13:12
LoveUSsoaps
Banned User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 606
i can provide clips of any character for anyone interested. Here is a powerful scene from GH in february during the Port Charles Hotel fire.

In 2002, Alexis Davis slept with Sonny Corinthos and got pregnant, but pretended Ned Ashton was the father. The secret about baby Kristina has been safe since then. In this scene from earlier this year, Alexis is trapped in a lift with Sonny's wife Carly. She confesses the truth about Kristina's paternity to Carly (Carly has just seperated from Sonny and is fuming) and its very wonderfully acted by Nancy lee Grahn (Alexis) and Tamara Braun (Carly).

BROADBAND:
http://nancyfan.com/videovault/febru...2-09-04_04.wmv
MODEM:
http://nancyfan.com/videovault/febru...04_04modem.wmv

BROADBAND:
http://nancyfan.com/videovault/febru...2-10-04_01.wmv
MODEM:
http://nancyfan.com/videovault/febru...04_01modem.wmv
LoveUSsoaps is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2004, 13:40
Safra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Manchester
Posts: 7,708
Thanks for those. I always thought the GH 'Towering Inferno' storyline sounded great
Safra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2004, 13:41
TheWalfordOne
Banned User
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 327
Interesting stuff, guys. It looks like a fun show. LoveUSsoaps, do you have stuff like this for other US soaps? or are you mega GH? I'm interested to see some stuff from B&B, ATWT & GL too.
TheWalfordOne is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2004, 13:45
squarian
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 38
On What Channel does General Hospital Show
squarian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2004, 13:47
Safra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Manchester
Posts: 7,708
You can get some ATWT clips from here:

http://www.cataz.net/00atwt/index.html

General Hospital shows on the abc network in the USA. It will also be airing on the abc1 channel here in the UK when it launches later this month. However it will only be initially available to freeview customers
Safra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2004, 14:00
Dippit
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 3,607
It seems that GH has the most video clips of any soap on the internet. I have never been able to find many clips for other soaps.
Dippit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2004, 14:39
Sunset Bitch
Banned User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Dundee
Posts: 955
Originally Posted by Safra
However it will only be initially available to freeview customers
Theres no such thing as a Freeview "customer". Only Asda, Tesco, Argos and Dixons etc customer since we don't pay anything to Freeview...
Sunset Bitch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2004, 14:46
Safra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Manchester
Posts: 7,708
lol ok, a Freeview viewer
Safra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2004, 15:08
sunsetbeacher
Banned User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: london
Posts: 1,743
GH is considered the BEST US soap, tho its usually 3rd in the ratings. It has won more awards than any other soap!

I do hope its not like B&B, which is the only US soap I cant stand.

I cant wait, first we get SB back, and now we get GH...HOORAY!!!!
sunsetbeacher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2004, 15:25
LoveUSsoaps
Banned User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 606
Interesting stuff, guys. It looks like a fun show. LoveUSsoaps, do you have stuff like this for other US soaps? or are you mega GH? I'm interested to see some stuff from B&B, ATWT & GL too.
They say some people have unhealthy obsessions, American daytime soaps are mine.
On this website, you can read daily transcipts of the soap of your choice, if you choose to follow them online lol:
http://tvmegasite.net/

I'm mega into ALL OF THEM, lol, i think im your ticket if you want to see clips and other things. No problem

Always keep your eyes on www.wost.org, a lot of hardcore oldie fans of the soaps have their residence there, and Brian the webmaster uploads classic episodes every month.

www.soaptownusa.com has columns, rumours and scoops, its brilliant.

OK, the wonderful Safra has provided the cataz page of ATWT which covers Roger Howarth's character Paul and his relationship with Cady McClain's Rosanna.

There are SO MANY GH character/couple pages on the net with masses of video clips, that show has the most vocal fanbase of any soap either here, in Oz, or in the States.

www.generalhospitalhappenings.com
all the latest spoilers

www.soapzone.com
Perhaps the most infamous american soap opera community on the net. Maurice Benard (Sonny) has even said "SoapZone can kiss my ass", promting people to join up with usernames like 'BendOverMo' its a regular soap opera at that community!!!

www.guidinglightcity.com
All the lates, theyve unfortunatly taken down the video clips

www.soapcity.com
pretty good

official websites for the soaps.

www.cbs.com/daytime

www.nbc.com/daytime

www.allmychildren.com
www.onelifetolive.com
www.generalhospital.com
LoveUSsoaps is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2004, 15:55
Safra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Manchester
Posts: 7,708
Originally Posted by sunsetbeacher
GH is considered the BEST US soap, tho its usually 3rd in the ratings. It has won more awards than any other soap!
I would have thought that title would go to The Young and the Restless. Everything i read about this soap is good, and plus it always gets around a million viewers more the 2nd highest soap.
I have seen a few weeks of Y&R (when Newman enterprises launch Safra (hence my name ) and Jack Abbot and Co (is it Jabot?) launched Tuvia and i really loved it!
Safra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2004, 16:09
LoveUSsoaps
Banned User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 606
I would have thought that title would go to The Young and the Restless. Everything i read about this soap is good, and plus it always gets around a million viewers more the 2nd highest soap.
I have seen a few weeks of Y&R (when Newman enterprises launch Safra (hence my name ) and Jack Abbot and Co (is it Jabot?) launched Tuvia and i really loved it!
i love the history Y&R really stands for, it really prides itself on character.
The beauty of the Newman Enterprises/Jabot story is that the ENTIRE CANVAS was involved, it was an epic tale and in it all these other storylines were going on, Victor breaking the law, Jack and Phyllis' marriage breakdown, Ashley's breakdown, Drucilla and Neil etc..
Bill Bell is really fantastic in that he has made such memorable stories like Victor & Nikki's relationship, the 30 year Jill and Katherine fued, the Sheila/Lauren babyswitch story, David Kimball's reign of terror and all the socially relevant stories the show prides itself on.
The actors are superb, the stories are broad and all the characters mesh.
In May, Michelle Stafford who plays the fiery Phyllis won the Best Actress award at the Emmys - her speech is so wonderful.

MODEM:
http://www.mstafford.com/clips/mstaf...8-2004_low.ram

BROADBAND:
http://www.mstafford.com/clips/mstaf...-2004_high.ram
LoveUSsoaps is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2004, 16:31
LoveUSsoaps
Banned User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 606
Here, are clips from the 2004 Emmys where GH cleaned up in the acting categories!!! Save target as on these vids, it saves the website's bandwitdth.

AS THE WORLD TURNS' segments at the Emmys
Cady (Rosanna) wins Best Supporting actress, Hogan Sheffer who is headwriter gets Best Writing (his speech is hilarious)
http://www.markcollier.net/Videos/EmmyAwards04.wmv

GENERAL HOSPITAL segments
GENERAL HOSPITAL's nomination segment:
http://www.sbelievers.com/emmys04/12.WMV

YOUNG ACTOR , Chad Brannon (Zander, GH) wins
http://www.sbelievers.com/emmys04/7.WMV

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, Rick Hearst (Ric, GH) wins
http://www.sbelievers.com/emmys04/2.WMV

BEST ACTOR, Tony Geary (Luke, GH) wins:
http://www.sbelievers.com/emmys04/16.WMV

VANESSA MARCIL (ex Brenda, GH) presents the outstanding drama award
http://www.sbelievers.com/emmys04/18.WMV

THIS is from a GH episode from July, when Lila Quartermaine died in her sleep.
This is from the funeral, the montage dedicated to the actress, Anna Lee. Grab your tissues.
http://www.sbelievers.com/video/gh_lilatribute.WMV
LoveUSsoaps is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2004, 18:09
LoveUSsoaps
Banned User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 606
funny clip between Nikki and Sharon on Y&R:

http://www.melodythomasscott.com/melodyynr.htm
LoveUSsoaps is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-09-2004, 03:18
TheWalfordOne
Banned User
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 327
any clips you have featuring Aaron Snyder/Agim Kaba on ATWT? i've met him before (kerplunk, name drop), and was keen to see him on the show. The ATWT site Safra linked too it a tribute sort of site for one guy, who is most definitley not Agim Kaba. if you can help, then a bunch of cheers coming your way.
TheWalfordOne is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-09-2004, 07:56
LoveUSsoaps
Banned User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 606
Originally Posted by TheWalfordOne
any clips you have featuring Aaron Snyder/Agim Kaba on ATWT? i've met him before (kerplunk, name drop), and was keen to see him on the show. The ATWT site Safra linked too it a tribute sort of site for one guy, who is most definitley not Agim Kaba. if you can help, then a bunch of cheers coming your way.
i can certainly help you there. This is from a Dusty/Lucy site, from Tuesday's episode. At a boxing place, Lucy talks to her fuming friend Aaron about his feelings for Alison Stewart (who is marrying Chris Hughes).

http://photos.imageevent.com/strange...tyPt2-0915.WMV

Agim was nominated for Outstanding Younger Actor at this year's Emmys (look above at Chad Brannon's win video clip to see Agim's nomination sequence) and is dating Elizabeth Hendrickson (Maggie on All My Children), I'll see if i can find a clip of them attending the Emmys.
LoveUSsoaps is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2004, 16:23
LoveUSsoaps
Banned User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 606
>bump<
LoveUSsoaps is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2004, 20:50
jaxconrad
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: London
Posts: 1,874
Does anyone know at what point ABC1 is going to pick up the story line? Hopefully it won't be more than a few weeks behind the US. Wouldn't it be great if they did like they do with Leno and had it just one day behind the states .. not very likely though.

BTW, did anyone watch GH when it was on Sky One back in 1989-90? US wise, it was episodes from 86/87 .. the time of the whole The Laurelton murder mystery, Anna Devane & Duke Lavery, the arrival of Lucy Cole and Frisco & Felicia .. god I loved the show then.
jaxconrad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2004, 21:08
Safra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Manchester
Posts: 7,708
I don't know when it will air, probably from a few months ago, but i hope its not longer than a year behind! I don't want it to be too close as i want abc1 to join the ntl platform before it gets to the current episodes with the new opening as i want to see the old opening on TV first!
Safra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2004, 21:43
jaxconrad
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: London
Posts: 1,874
Originally Posted by Safra
I don't know when it will air, probably from a few months ago, but i hope its not longer than a year behind! I don't want it to be too close as i want abc1 to join the ntl platform before it gets to the current episodes with the new opening as i want to see the old opening on TV first!
Ooh, I'm getting quite excited about it now. I use to be a huge US daytime soap fan. At one time (1989) I was watching AW, ATWT and GH every day on Sky One. When they first started my faves were GH and ATWT and then when they were taken off I really got into AW, which was so good around 89-91, with the whole Jake/Paulina, who shot Jake story line, Vicky & Ryan, etc. Then they all seemed to get dropped one by one. I watched Sunset Beach for a while, but mainly only during the big storylines like the tidal wave/boat capsizing story and the serial killer.. for me, it was too much of a fantasy soap, as was DAYS. Would love to see ATWT again, but GH is the next best thing.

BTW, I just read about the new GH opening credits and found a clip of them at http://www.wost.org/gh04ov.ram I like the visuals on this one, but I prefer the 98 opening music. I know its the same tune, but it sounds nicer on the earlier version.. Although I guess perhaps it wouldn't go with the edgier new titles.
jaxconrad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2004, 22:05
Safra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Manchester
Posts: 7,708
To me, the new music sounds like the one called Autumn Breeze which was used before the Faces of the Heart music (the music used on the previous set of opening titles which have just been changed).
Safra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-09-2004, 12:06
LoveUSsoaps
Banned User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 606
new GH clips.
Classic character Steven Webber, son of Jeff and psycho Heather (who recently returned herself) has come back to GH.
For those who will be following the show, you may not want to watch in case you dont want anything spoiled.
Here, Steven interacts with Carly (nice chemistry already, they are kind of flirty). Michael, the little boy in the clip who is Carly's bratty son is ridiculed on GH boards, people are terrified of him and call him Damien and Chucky because he is rather scary.

http://www.ilovelilo.com/videoclips/2004/20040914a.wmv

Second clip, Steven reunites with his sister Elizabeth at GH, she warns him that his nasty mother Heather is back in Port Charles!

http://www.ilovelilo.com/videoclips/2004/20040914b.wmv
LoveUSsoaps is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 13:54.