They set the country on fire. On November 16, 1981, General Hospital's Luke and Laura said "I Do" to a record audience of 30 million viewers. Exactly 25 years later to the day, the now-divorced soul mates will marry again. Will lightning strike twice? TV Guide caught up with five-time Emmy winner Anthony Geary, 59, and Genie Francis, 44, who is making a brief return to GH after a four-year absence, to get their take on the pressures of fame and their upcoming nuptials — the ultimate soapy sweeps stunt.
TVGuide.com: What made GH, and especially the wedding, so hot and memorable back in the '80s?Tony Geary: The soap medium had become pretty staid – it was like radio w
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In other sad news, legendary soap producer Gloria Monty passed away on Thursday from cancer in Rancho Mirage, Calif. She was 84. Back in 1978, Monty took over as General Hospital's executive producer when the ABC sudser's ratings were considered poor and cancellation was a very real threat. During her memorable tenure, this tough, ambitious auteur made GH No. 1 by stepping up its sluggish pace, rustling up cash to spruce up shabby sets and introducing fan-fave supercouples like Luke and Laura, Frisco and Felicia and Robert and Holly.
"Gloria Monty transformed soap-opera viewing from a housewives' pastime to the cool thing to do," says Jane Elliot (Tracy). "As I was a beneficiary of that transformation, I will be eternally grateful and will miss her terribly. I can’t wait to see what she does with heaven."
Monty produced GH from 1978-87 and again from 1991-92. Before that phenomenon, she began her care
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