5 storylines on General Hospital that left us shook

The debut season of General Hospital premiered on the ABC network on April 1, 1963. Listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running American soap opera, it has captivated the audience for decades.

It is currently the world's third longest-running scripted drama series, after The Archers and Coronation Street. It has won multiple accolades such as Daytime Emmy Awards, Creative Arts Emmy Awards, Writers Guild of America Awards, and more

The show was created by a screenwriting duo, Doris and Frank Husley (husband and wife). Initially, it was set in a hospital in an unnamed fictional city that was later revealed as Port Charles, New York in the 1970s.

The daily soap opera was originally named 'Emergency Hospital' but the title was changed to General Hospital by the Hursleys since it sounded better. The storyline is a blend of events happening in Port Charles City between family, friends, enemies, and lovers.

The show's previous runtime was 30 minutes from 1963 to 1976. It was later extended to 45 minutes in 1976 due to its popularity and increase in viewership. Then, the runtime was again changed to 1 hour in 1978.

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5 storylines on General Hospital that left us shook

1) The death of BJ Jones

In 1994, BJ Jones, the daughter of Tony and Tania Jones, died in a school bus accident. Her heart was transplanted to her cousin Mazie, who was born with a weak heart. It was one of the saddest and most emotional moments. The performances of all the actors involved made this storyline unforgettable and impactful.

2) The Metro Court Hostage Crisis

In 2007, the intense Metro Court hostage crisis took place. In this sequence, several characters were taken hostage by masked gunmen. It built up mighty crescendo over weeks before finishing with an explosion killing many characters and leaving long-term consequences for the survivors.

This plot kept the audience on edge for weeks. On November 15, 2023, a fan shared the video with the caption:

So I was watching General Hospital 2008 daytime Emmy wheel and damn This sh*t was so good 🔥🔥 #GH

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3) Luke Spencer's dark secret

Genie Francis and Anthony Geary (Image via ABC)

In 2014, a bombshell from the past was revealed about one of the show's most loved characters: Luke Spencer killed his parents. It was something he kept buried inside him for years. It fleshed out Luke's character further and made fans gasp in shock over his deep and dark history.

4) Jason Morgan's identity crisis

Steve Burton and Laura Wright (Image via ABC)

Jason Morgan (played by Steve Burton) is the main protagonist of the show. The audience was in for a shock when it was revealed that he wasn't Jason Quartermaine, as was previously thought, but rather Jason Morgan, who had been brainwashed and given another identity. From amnesia to mistaken identity, this storyline thrilled fans until the very end.

5) Sonny Corinthos's amnesia

After the bridge collapse in 2021, Sonny Corinthos, a strong mob boss of Port Charles, suffered amnesia and lived another life with a new identity of Mike. He remembered nothing at all. This story arc featured questions about identity and redemption. It left an everlasting impact on Sonny's loved ones when he was gone, building up to his dramatic return to his old life.

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Fans can now watch General Hospital on ABC network.