DRW50

Thanks. This sums up the Rauch era set design - simultaneously impressive but bland.

Thanks! It's also kind of fun (and true to life) that Josh only believes the best of Mindy while Trish is extremely wary. Another touch I liked in their scene was Trish carried on talking with Josh even as she left the room. The episode has a certain pulse even with characters and stories I may not be as invested in. After some moribund periods in 1982 they seemed to have put themselves back together to where Long and Kobe had plenty to work with. A shame how that ended up.

Happy New Year, everyone. This has been a tough year in many ways but also contained joys. That's life, I suppose, while we have it. I hope 2026 is a year that gives you what you want, and I hope for more pleasant surprises (like a new soap debuting in 2025!), in the world of soaps and outside of it. Thanks so much to all of you for giving me another reason to keep going.

It may have been me. I know it wouldn't be the same with Bobbie gone, but you could play beats with Lucas and Felicia. And I could actually see this being something Brad does as Brad is [!@#$%^&*]ed in the head. Maybe Brad's character could change his mind after getting to know Lucas or something. I get why but I just don't. I was barely watching through his third tenure as anything I saw of it horrified me, but I know many here have praised various elements of it. His second just annoyed me and bored the hell out of me once we got past 1998. @carolineg I can see why people wouldn't care for Bobbie and Tony as it does seem like something of a last resort pairing. Even under Labine I got the sense they were not meant to be. @dc11786 Thanks for the extra details. I can see why Marcus didn't care for the story. An adultery story for Bobbie at that time in her life feels like a regression.

I'd definitely be interesting in seeing Delia one more time if Ilene is still working. For such a big rewrite the show never did much with that.

Thanks @slick jones I never knew any of this about LaNasa. @Vee not sure if you're a fan of hers but I know you enjoy The Pitt so you may find the stuff on the last few pages interesting. Such a cozy photo of Lane and Todd McKee. Thank you again for all you do. Happy New Year.

Thanks for the info on that one. I never knew.

Oh I'd never heard about that story. Who would have played Nicole? The last one?

Thanks @Vee the video was entertaining. Kate Mansi basically asking for a story. Maurice Benard asking for Sonny to get laid (no thanks) Josh Swickard for some reason doing very slutty poses - maybe they should write that into the script. Lucas being the dude in distress at Wyndemere would probably be fitting (and maybe he could turn the tables [I'd have him get dirtied up by Marco and lose some of his halo as they stay together, but that doesn't seem likely]). If he goes over the parapet, I hope that he lands on Brad.

Thanks @vote4llama I'd never seen that either. Duncan was before my time, although he was often mentioned. They have several other (poorer quality) clips too.

Thanks @Paul Raven Puffery aside, I thought Ann Flood looked lovely but still looked her age. That's a credit to her as many even then who were in the industry were hesitant (that's one of the things which supposedly killed Constance Bennett). Did they ever say Nancy couldn't have children? Or was it just never mentioned because the show didn't want Mike to have two young kids and by the time Laurie Ann was aged up, they thought she and Mike were too old?

Thanks @Franko ! Oh that's right, Martha was in the wheelchair, right? Did they just disappear? I always thought they were strike creations as they sounded like strike creations. Clearly not. I wonder if the strike writers ended Bobbie/Scotty. I'm curious as to how much the strike affected GH compared to other soaps. I thought Tiffany left in 1983 as she doesn't seem to get much mention. I guess she held on a little longer.

Someone kindly figured out the days for the material in the Y&R promo. May 5th and 6th. So that means 15A2 must have aired around that point and 15A1 aired a little earlier? Guiding Light - (1983?) (15A2)

PJ suggested May 1983 - I am hoping some who are familiar with the Y&R promo may know the exact date.

Thanks to @P.J. for alerting me to this.

I always get confused over this too because I thought she was with Scotty again for a bit when he returned in 1987 and then isn't she on her own during the period where she's in a wheelchair and taking care of two teenagers (or whatever that story was)?

I guess it helped that it had only been about 3 years, and viewers had loved O'Reilly. I knew she'd briefly returned but I thought it was in another form, not in a made-up flashback.

That's interesting. This is the biggest issue, probably - not knowing details. I love the idea of the clown puppet story kicking off an EON revival. Here's one I made on Twitter when I asked for a Jessie Brewer exit plot: Jessie Brewer's Farewell Storyline (Hypothetical Episodes, February-March 1991) After nearly 28 years on the seventh floor, Nurse Jessie Brewer decides it's time to step away from General Hospital and start a new chapter. The storyline begins with Jessie reflecting on her life during a quiet shift. She's been feeling the weight of the years—the losses of Phil (multiple times over), her brief marriages, the patients she's cared for, and the friends who've come and gone. In a tender scene with her dearest friend, Audrey Hardy, Jessie confides that she's received an offer she can't refuse: a position heading up nursing training and patient care outreach for a new community health clinic in a small coastal town upstate, near where she grew up. It's a chance to mentor young nurses, focus on preventive care, and finally prioritize her own well-being away from the high-stakes drama of Port Charles. Steve Hardy, now Chief of Staff and like a brother to her, is initially stunned. In his office, they share a poignant conversation reminiscing about the early days—the show's very first line she spoke ("Seventh floor, nurses station"), the crises they've weathered together, and how she's been the heart of the hospital. Steve tearfully admits the place won't be the same without her, but he supports her decision, telling her, "Jessie, you've given more than anyone could ask. It's time you let someone take care of you for a change." Word spreads quickly through the hospital. Younger nurses like Bobbie Spencer (whom Jessie mentored) and Amy Vining organize a surprise farewell party in the nurses' lounge, complete with a cake inscribed "To the Original Angel of the Seventh Floor." There are speeches, laughs, and tears—Epiphany isn't there yet, but the spirit of the nursing staff rallying around her is strong. Even some old faces return briefly: a mention of Lucille March (Audrey's sister), and perhaps a phone call from a former colleague. In her final scenes, Jessie packs up her locker, pausing over old photos (including one from the 1963 premiere). She has one last heart-to-heart with Audrey over coffee, where they promise to visit often and reflect on how far the hospital—and women in nursing—have come. Jessie says, "I've loved every minute here, even the hard ones. But I think there's a little more life out there waiting for me." On her last day, Jessie walks the halls one final time, saying quiet goodbyes to patients and staff. At the elevators, Steve and Audrey see her off. She hugs them both, smiles through tears, and says, "This isn't goodbye—it's just... until we meet again." As the doors close, the camera lingers on Steve and Audrey, arm in arm, watching her go. The episode ends with a dedication card: "In loving memory of the nurses who've dedicated their lives to healing others." This exit would have allowed Jessie to leave on a high note—happy, fulfilled, and alive—perhaps opening the door for occasional returns. It celebrates her as the foundational heroine of General Hospital, giving fans the emotional closure the real-life circumstances sadly prevented. This was a more dramatic version: Jessie Brewer's Tragic Yet Triumphant Farewell (Hypothetical Episodes, February-March 1991) The storyline kicks off during a massive crisis at General Hospital: a severe winter storm hits Port Charles, causing a multi-car pileup on the highway and flooding the ER with critically injured patients. Power flickers, supplies run low, and the staff is stretched to the breaking point—echoing the high-stakes disasters GH has weathered over the years. Jessie Brewer, ever the dedicated nurse, has been pulling double shifts. Lately, she's been experiencing unexplained fatigue and chest pains, which she's brushed off as "just the years catching up." In a quiet moment amid the chaos, she confides in Audrey Hardy that she's been thinking about retiring soon—perhaps moving to that coastal clinic upstate to finally find some peace after a lifetime of heartache (losing Phil repeatedly, her failed marriages, the babies she never had). But fate intervenes dramatically. As the storm rages, a young patient—a teenage girl involved in the pileup—codes in the ER. Jessie, ignoring her own worsening pain, leaps into action, performing CPR and directing the crash team with the steady authority she's honed since 1963. She saves the girl's life, but in the exertion, Jessie collapses, clutching her chest. It's a massive heart attack. The hospital turns its focus to saving one of its own. Steve Hardy, fighting back tears, leads the code in the very ER where they've saved countless lives together. Audrey holds Jessie's hand, whispering memories of their early days. Flashbacks intercut the frantic resuscitation: Jessie's first day speaking the iconic line ("Seventh floor, nurses station"), her turbulent marriages, mentoring younger nurses like Bobbie, and quiet moments of unrequited affection for Steve. Against the odds, Jessie stabilizes—but the damage is severe. In her hospital bed (a poignant reversal, as she's now the patient), surrounded by Steve, Audrey, Bobbie, Amy, and even some returning faces via phone or brief appearances, Jessie reflects on her life. In an emotional monologue, she admits her regrets—the loves lost, the dreams deferred—but declares she's proud of the lives she's touched. To Steve, in a raw, long-overdue confession, she says, "You've been my rock, Steve... maybe in another life, we could've..." (leaving their unspoken bond hanging, true to soap tradition). Doctors deliver the news: her heart is too weakened for her to continue the demanding life of a nurse. With quiet resolve—and a touch of defiance—Jessie decides this is her sign to step away. She accepts the offer to lead the community clinic upstate, vowing to mentor from afar rather than risk another attack on the front lines. The farewell builds to a gut-wrenching climax: a hospital-wide gathering in the lobby (storm cleared, symbolic sunshine breaking through). Nurses line the halls as Jessie, in a wheelchair pushed by Steve, makes her final walk out. Tears flow freely—speeches from colleagues, a cake reading "Forever Our Guiding Light," and patients she's saved over the decades sending well-wishes. Audrey sobs in her arms, promising eternal friendship. Steve, voice breaking, tells her, "This hospital started with you, Jessie. It'll never be the same." At the doors, Jessie stands one last time, looks back at the seventh floor, and whispers, "I've given everything I have... and it's been enough." She hugs Steve fiercely, then steps into a waiting car for her new beginning—alive, but forever changed. The episode fades with a montage of Jessie's greatest moments, set to swelling music, ending on a dedication: "To the nurses who heal us all—with endless gratitude." This version heightens the drama with life-threatening peril, heroic sacrifice, emotional revelations, and a grand send-off rally, while keeping her exit hopeful (she survives and moves on). It's pure classic GH: tears, triumph, and closure.

Good for them! I didn't realize how much Colton looks like Van Hansis.

Thanks! Appreciate knowing about the new promos. I believe you about the episodes as you have seen much more of this period online than I have. Guiding Light - (1983?) (15A1) - YouTube Skimming through one of them and I'm so fixed on the moments with Helena, Philip, Eve and Justin - two of them stalwarts of the Dobsons era, one brought in by Marland, and Grant's Philip, brought in during one of the short-lived writers (Browne?). They'll all be gone within a few months while Philip is there to the final episode. I feel bad for Eve essentially being a maid. No wonder she leaves within a month (?) to live in Rome with hunky Ben, or wherever he was by then. You can tell that we've really entered into the "piece of ass" era of soaps as we not only have Philip shirtless and working out when Helena arrives, but at the end of the episode, he's shirtless again! Interesting how Helena was agog at him like a cartoon character - I doubt they were hinting at anything, more just her reacting the way they thought viewers would. The scene where Justin kisses Helena is one that Tom O'Rourke put on Youtube in a reel. The moment with Justin and Philip horsing around makes me a little sad as we got so little of that. This was presumably put in for the anguish of the upcoming paternity reveal...not that it mattered as Justin was written out not long after. Also nice to see some of these glimpses of Josh, Trish and Vanessa before we start getting into Lewismania. Trish in particular was swallowed whole by them. I didn't even know Floyd and Lesley Ann were still involved at this point.

I'm so used to that closed-mouthed awkwardness it's a genuine surprise for a soap these days. One of the tweets I saw about them had a reply from someone accusing the show of using them to try to make viewers forget about Dex and Joss and how great Dex and Joss were. I get liking a couple and being mad if they are split up but I don't really get what they have in common, unless they think Emma is taking Joss' place on the show. No worries, as I'm guessing Joss will be there to the final episode, whenever that may be (of course there's a chance the robot overlords will get into GH and 100 years from now we will be ruled by a Jessie Brewer chatbot).

Heartbreaking.

I think Monty even went to the press talking about how amazing Kevin was. She didn't play around. I think Bobbie fell down or was pushed down the stairs. I credit GH for never magically letting Bobbie carry a child, which is something soaps often love to do. So many stories, from Lucas to Carly, would have been less likely to happen, stories that changed the show in ways few at the time could have imagined. On Shortland Street, they had a story a few years ago about a woman who had a very unhappy childhood and never wanted to be a mother. She had a tubal ligation to make sure she couldn't get pregnant. Then this year, she found out that the ligation had somehow been breached and she was pregnant. After a brief moment of anger and considering an abortion, she magically decided that it was meant to be.

Thanks @Maxim I was not expecting Andrew to have his hands at Marty's waist. Malone clearly did have some attachment to that pairing which never quite gets used the way he may have wanted. Robin seems to relish going up against Susan Haskell, as they are both such forces. As she later described her scenes with Erika Slezak - being in "the arena." They really are playing up how childish Cassie is, still going on about the ski lodge. Is Nora still having her headaches?

@dc11786 Those are fantastic ideas, and they do match what little is available of the family in clips and episodes. Tying Barbara into the heart of the family dramas only makes sense. The other part I always wanted to see was how Liz would react about Michael.