Yesterdays show was what great soap operas are all about. I saw it twice once during the day and again on soapnet and from what I can tell, it will be on soapnet again tonight. Awesome acting and christ I was bawling, my son came in and goes omg Mom whats wrong? I pointed to the tv and said Luke and Laura he just rolled his eyes and walked away. But yeah great show

I have to join the "I don't usually cry for TV shows but I did for this episode" bandwagon. The montage is what killed me. And I don't care if the "secret" was lame. I found it touching that Laura shared something with Lulu and only Lulu, and it's given Lulu something to hang on to and fight with. When she told Dillon that she had to prove her mother's innocence, I was like, "that's a girl!" And then the tears just followed like crazy.

I also found it touching that Genie gave Laura a faint little smile while she remembered her first wedding to Luke. It was her way of letting us know that Laura may be slipping away, but she is perfectly happy where she's slipped away to.

Fantastic story, I have to say. Start to finish, I loved this chapter of the Luke and Laura saga.

IMO Laura is the heart of the show that the show desperately needs.

I just wish that TPTB could and would move Heaven and Earth to have Genie stay for a longer period. She and Tony are gold. Whatever they are given is magical. Even though Laura is in a catatonic state again, she got to see her children grown up and was happy for a short time.

Thank you GH, you got it right this time

I never cry over televisions shows and I cried my eyes out. It was excellent and it was the type drama that only Tony and Genie could make work. I will say the young woman who plays LuLu is far and away the best younger actress on daytime, and she outshines many of those in the 25-40 range currently getting airtime on other soaps.

As far as Emmys, don't leave out Genie Frances. If GH has the eggs to nominate her, I think she would stand an excellent chance. It was a powerhouse performance, and yet she was subtle in her mannerisms. Genie and Tony communicate so much without saying a word.

Finally, I cried during the previews too. I cried because they showed GH returning to the mob bull after showing us what the show was capable of producing.

Unfortunately, as long as Maurice Benard lives, General Hospital will be Mob Central. The man's 40something and short -- not traditional Hollywood Leading Man material, so his chances at getting ANYTHING as huge as the Sonny character are slim to none. And the only way to soothe an ego like his is to make his character the most powerful, intimdating character on the canvas.

This is the problem with General Hospital. For some reason, that company builds up actors' egos like none other on the ABC lineup. Maurice, Vanessa, Steve, Ingo, Kelly, Laura...

Seeing Genie on reminded me what it's like seeing an actor with a sense of humility play scenes truthful to the character, without the bravado of playing scenes that make them look mega-glam. Genie played Laura's catatonia so honestly BOTH times (2002 and this past week). Maurice Benard and the writers told Sonny's bi-polar story as if it was a midlife crisis on hormones, with Benard's penis firmly gripped in hand as he yelled and broke things and threw glassware all over the place (as usual) and banged his young 29 year old girlfriend, Emily...

As far as Emmys, don't leave out Genie Frances. If GH has the eggs to nominate her, I think she would stand an excellent chance. It was a powerhouse performance, and yet she was subtle in her mannerisms. Genie and Tony communicate so much without saying a word.

Genie doesn't have enough episodes to be considered for an emmy. I'd LOVE to see Genie finally be rewarded with an emmy for her remarkable work as Laura Spencer. However, taking the whole year into account I do believe that such actors like Nancy Lee Grahn and Maura West for instance deserve it more.

Unfortunately, as long as Maurice Benard lives, General Hospital will be Mob Central. The man's 40something and short -- not traditional Hollywood Leading Man material, so his chances at getting ANYTHING as huge as the Sonny character are slim and none. And the only way to soothe an ego like his to make his character the most powerful, intimdating character on the canvas.

This is the problem with General Hospital. For some reason, that company builds up actors' egos like none other on the ABC lineup. Maurice, Vanessa, Steve, Ingo, Kelly, Laura...

Seeing Genie on reminded me what it's like seeing an actor with a sense of humility play scenes truthful to the character, without the bravado of playing scenes that make them look mega-glam. Genie played Laura's catatonia so honestly BOTH times (2002 and this past week). Maurice Benard and the writers told Sonny's bi-polar story as if it was a midlife crisis on hormones, with Benard's penis firmly gripped in hand as he yelled and broke things and threw glassware all over the place (as usual) and banged his young 29 year old girlfriend, Emily...

I think that's the main problem w/ GH. Obviously, Maurice can act...we've all seen him do it in the past. But in the past few years, he has chosen to just stop trying. If it were any other show, they would have kicked him to the curb. But for some reason, GH seems to think that they need him on the show, that Sonny is the driving force on their show, and that w/o him, the show would just fall apart.

Then you see someone like Genie who puts the effort through (either that or she's too-good of an actress) and just shines in every scene she's in. She brought life to the show. I watched the L&L episodes on SoapNet last night, and while Genie was really talented back then, I think she's a thousand times better now. Her presence on GH was absolutely glowing. When's the last time that Maurice made a scene like that? When I think of Sonny, I don't think "shining" or "glowing": I think dark and depressing. When's the last time that anything that Sonny did provoked most viewers to tears that weren't from boredom? Not in ages, I bet.

It's really sad that GH is going to return to the show that it was before Laura's return. I only hope that the storylines involving Lulu, Luke, Lucy, and Nikolas are somewhat better since their characters got the chance to have a storyline w/ Laura...but I don't see that happening anymore. Maybe Lulu will go on to prove her mother's innocence, but I don't see Lucky and Nikolas having storylines that don't revolve around the mob.

It was much too short and GH should do everything in their power to bring Genie Francis back full-time, but it was so worth it. Her return was powerful and emotional, and you could visibly see Luke and her children healing themselves in her presence, and their hearts breaking as she left. It was the stuff of great soap opera.

I would love to see Lulu and Nikolas get some good story out of this -- Laura's remark that Nikolas had her heart and that he was calm and steady (like her) was especially apt, and it would be smart of the show to re-position him in that family so he could fill the hole left by her absence for them. Lulu should be changed, as well; now that she knows she was a wanted and loved child, will that help make her stronger, or will she continue to doubt her place in the world? The show could get some good mileage out of this if they wanted to, but I'm not hopeful they will.

Ah well, it was good while it lasted.

Let's give credit where credit is due: Guza & friends did a wonderful job with Genie's return, given the 4 short weeks they gave her. A little more Leslie would have been appropriate, and not giving Laura a single scene with Robert--or even part of a scene--spoke volumes about Guza/Phelps/Frons: they still don't care about the show's history prior to their arrival, and they will ignore or rewrite that history in any way they like. But all around, they did a great job with this storyline, and Genie's exit really was heartbreaking.

That said: other than Luke, Laura, their kids, and Tracy Q, I fast forwarded thru every other scene. Sonny, Jason, Sam, Ric, Alcazar, and Carly are just unwatchable. Sadly, now that Genie's gone the show is turning the show right back over to these characters and their stupid storylines--and throwing poor Lulu into the mix, as well. (What? You thought she'd get a storyline outside the mob? Get a clue already!)

And if that's not bad enough, Kin Shriner is coming back. Is there a soul on the planet that doesn't believe Scotty is going to turn out to be Rick's real killer? (Unless Frons, Phelps, and Guza get the axe before they ruin Scotty, too)

Final grades:

Genie's return: A

The rest of the show: F

Guza & the writers truly impressed me with how they conceived Laura's return and actually scrioted the moving scenes. I wish Genie were back full time, but GH should have never taken her for granted.

Did anyone figure out who sang Angel? That was a beautiful song that went along with the montage.

I've watched the ending montage four times now I think and I love it more each time. I cried the first two times. I am absurdly pissed that Genie's gone right now. I really am.

Oh, in case anyone didn't know, the song was "Angel" by Robin Thicke. I'm interspersing listening to that with listening to "Think of Laura," and while I do love both, I think ToL would've given the montage a very different feel to it. As it was, "Angel" was actually rather hopeful. Cause theres nothin like the truth/

To bring her back to u. Maybe the reveal of her innocence or something similarly contrived will bring her back.

I love Luke & Laura with an unequaled fervor--even my adoration of LuNacy (Luke/Tracy) can't compare. When I heard Luke's voice reciting his vows, I held my breath because I didn't believe in a thousand years that Guza was this good. I was wrong. For once I concede on that point.

That was probably the most beautiful moment on General Hospital some time. I'm still slightly speechless.

Thanks for the info and I agree.