General Hospital at TCA: Highlights

General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC.

The cast of General Hospital is celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year. To celebrate, members of the cast were on hand at the TCA (Television Critics Association) Winter Press Tour.

On the panel in person was Genie Francis, Maurice Benard, Donnell Turner, Kristina Wagner, Nicholas Chavez, Tabyana Ali, and co-head writers Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor. EP Frank Valentini joined the panel virtually.

Here are some photos and some statements from the event.

Genie Francis, who has played Laura Collins on and off since 1977, was asked about the stories of social issues including the date rape scene from 1979. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Laura and Luke (Anthony Geary) were a super couple on the show. Their relationship came into question as Luke raped Laura and they fell in love and got married. “As a young kid at 17, I was told to play rape and I played it and I didn’t know what it was. At 60, I do not feel the need to defend that anymore. The story was inappropriate, and I don’t condone it”.

Francis also stated “I feel very fortunate to have this new reinvented Laura. I love who she is in the present day. She was such a victim as a young woman, and to have her as an empowered woman and mayor of the town, I love my Laura today.”

On how the writers come up with ideas for the 60th Anniversary: Co head writer Dan O’Connor stated: “The best way to honor the past is to use the Nurses Ball as a jumping off point, to bring our beloved cast together, acknowledge the past and set up the future.”

Francis added that the old days of filming were terrifying because they pretty much filmed it live, “There was no such thing as making a mistake.” I grew up being taught to not make a mistake. “My sweet producer one day said, ‘You can make a mistake now.'”

Kristina Wagner who plays Felicia Scorpio talked about what it was like to come back to the show: “I left because I need to grow up in a different way. The first time I left was because I got a divorce and I went to college. I’m grateful I did do that.”

Tabyana Ali, who plays Trina Robinson, was asked if her character will get a kiss in the first quarter of the year.(with Spencer Cassadine). As somebody who is a big romance fan, the slow burn is necessary. There is something about the tension that draws in the audience, and I think that’s why we’re bringing in more audience.” “It’s important to see two young interracial people who love each other try to get closer to each other, and try to jump over the barriers created by them and their environment.”

Check back to this page for more updates from the panel.

General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC.

Caption: GENERAL HOSPITAL – ABC Winter TCA Press Tour panels featured in-person Q&As with the stars and executive producers of new and returning series on Wednesday, Jan. 11. “General Hospital” airs Monday – Friday, on ABC (check local listings). (ABC)
KRISTINA WAGNER, CHRIS VAN ETTEN (CO-HEAD WRITER), MAURICE BENARD, TABYANA ALI, GENIE FRANCIS, NICHOLAS CHAVEZ, DONNELL TURNER, DAN O’CONNOR (CO-HEAD WRITER), REBECCA HERBST Photo: Courtesy of ABC