View source for General Hospital

{{Short description|American television soap opera (since 1963)}}
{{About|the American soap opera|the type of medical facility|Hospital#General and acute care|other uses|General Hospital (disambiguation)}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = General Hospital (logo).svg
| image_class          = skin-invert
| alt_name             = ''GH''
| caption              = 
| genre                = [[Soap opera]]
| creator              = [[Frank and Doris Hursley|Frank & Doris Hursley]]
| writer               = {{Plainlist|
* [[Elizabeth Korte]] and
* [[Chris Van Etten]]
}}
| director             = ''[[#Main crew members|See below]]''
| starring             = {{Plainlist |
* [[List of General Hospital cast members|Present cast]]
* [[List of previous General Hospital cast members|Past cast]]
}}
| theme_music_composer = {{Plainlist |
* [[Jacques Urbont|Jack Urbont]]
* [[Paul Glass]]
* [[Steve Hopkins (composer)|Steve Hopkins]]
}}
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_episodes         = 15,000<ref name="GH Ep15000">Various citations concerning the 15,000 episode of ''General Hospital'':
* {{cite web |last=Pennacchio |first=George |title=Daytime drama ''General Hospital'' celebrates a major television milestone: 15,000 episodes |url=https://abc7.com/general-hospital-genie-francis-maurice-benard-daytime-drama/11842242/ |website=[[KABC-TV]] |publisher=[[ABC Owned Television Stations]] |access-date=May 13, 2022 |location=United States |language=en |date=May 12, 2022 |archive-date=May 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513013627/https://abc7.com/general-hospital-genie-francis-maurice-benard-daytime-drama/11842242/ |url-status=live }}
* {{cite web |author=SOD |author-link=Soap Opera Digest |title=National ''B&B'' and ''GH'' Preemptions |url=https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/national-bb-and-gh-preemptions/ |website=[[Soap Opera Digest]] |publisher=[[American Media, Inc.]] |access-date=June 16, 2022 |location=United States |date=June 16, 2022 |quote=As a result, ''GH''{{'}}s show's 15,000th episode, which was originally slated to air on Friday, June 17, and due to a previous preemption was going to air on Monday, June 20, is now scheduled to air on Tuesday, June 21. |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616183404/https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/national-bb-and-gh-preemptions/ |url-status=live }}
* {{cite web |last=Eades |first=Chris |title=''GH'' Is Preempted Today |url=https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-is-preempted-today-june-21-2022 |website=[[Soaps In Depth]] |publisher=[[Bauer Media Group]] |access-date=June 22, 2022 |location=United States |date=June 21, 2022 |quote=Unfortunately, as was expected, ''General Hospital'' is preempted on June 21 for ongoing news coverage of the hearings on the attack on the Capitol Building. |archive-date=June 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622180521/https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-is-preempted-today-june-21-2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| executive_producer   = {{Plainlist |
* [[Frank Valentini]] (2012–present)
* (and [[#Executive producers|others]])
}}
| producer             = ''[[#Main crew members|See below]]''
| location             = {{Plainlist |
* [[The Prospect Studios]]
* [[Los Angeles, California]]
}}
| editor               =
| camera               = [[Multi-camera]]
| runtime              = {{Plainlist |
* 30 minutes (1963–1976)
* 45 minutes (1976–1978)
* 60 minutes (1978–present)
}}
| company              = {{Plainlist|
* Selmur Productions (1963–1968)
* [[ABC Signature]] (1985–2024){{citation needed|date=June 2025}}
* [[20th Television]] (2024–present){{citation needed|date=June 2025}}
}}
| network              = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1963|04|01}}
| last_aired           = present
| related              = {{Plainlist|
* ''[[General Hospital: Night Shift]]''
* ''[[Port Charles]]''
* ''[[The Young Marrieds]]''
* ''[[All My Children]]''
* ''[[The City (1995 TV series)|The City]]''
* ''[[Loving (TV series)|Loving]]''
* ''[[One Life to Live]]''
* ''[[Ryan's Hope]]''
* ''[[What If... (web series)|What If...]]''
}} 
}}

'''''General Hospital''''' (often abbreviated as '''''GH''''') <!-- STOP...do NOT change to 'was' -->is<!-- NOTE-remains as "is" per Wikipedia convention; see [[WP:WikiProject Television/Style guidelines#Lead paragraphs]]. --> an American daytime television [[soap opera]] created by [[Frank and Doris Hursley]] which has been broadcast on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] since April 1, 1963. Originally a half-hour serial, its running time was expanded from 30 minutes to 45 minutes on July 26, 1976, and again to a full hour on January 16, 1978.<ref>Boca Raton News, January 13, 1978 (via Google News archive): {{cite web |title='General Hospital' expands to an hour |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X94PAAAAIBAJ&pg=4399,2284786&dq=general+hospital+expands&hl=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105172739/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X94PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mowDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4399,2284786&dq=general+hospital+expands&hl=en |archive-date=November 5, 2015 |access-date=September 20, 2016}}</ref>

Set in a [[hospital]] in the city of Port Charles, New York,{{efn|The city of Port Charles was not named until the 1970s.}} ''General Hospital'' originally starred [[John Beradino]] and [[Emily McLaughlin]]; both actors stayed with the show until their deaths in 1996 and 1991, respectively. They were joined a year later by [[Rachel Ames]] who made her most recent appearance in 2015. The show is taped at [[the Prospect Studios]] in [[Los Angeles]], California. ''General Hospital'' was the second soap to air on ABC after the short-lived ''[[Road to Reality]]'' (1960–1961). In 1964, a sister soap was created for ''General Hospital'', ''[[The Young Marrieds]]''; it ran for two years and was canceled because of low ratings. ''General Hospital'' also spawned the daytime series ''[[Port Charles]]'' (1997–2003) and the primetime spin-off ''[[General Hospital: Night Shift]]'' (2007–2008).

In the late 1970s, storylines began to shift focus around the [[Spencer family (General Hospital)|Spencer]] and [[Quartermaine family|Quartermaine families]]. From 1979 to 1988, ''General Hospital'' had more viewers than any other daytime soap opera. It rose to the top of the ratings in the early 1980s in part thanks to the monumentally popular "[[supercouple]]" [[Luke and Laura]], whose 1981 wedding brought in 30 million viewers and remains the highest-rated hour in American soap opera history.<ref>{{cite news |author-link=Buck Wolf |last=Wolf |first=Buck |date=November 16, 2006 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/WolfFiles/story?id=236498 |title=Luke and Laura: Still the Ultimate TV Wedding |publisher=ABC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090808013002/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/WolfFiles/story?id=236498 |archive-date=August 8, 2009}}</ref><ref name="www.ew.com">{{cite magazine|first=Abby|last=West|title=Luke and Laura: 17 Great Soap Supercouples|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=January 29, 2008|url=https://ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20174499_9,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201164627/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20174499_9,00.html|archive-date=February 1, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> The soap opera is also known for its high-profile celebrity guest stars who have included, among others, [[Roseanne Barr]], [[James Franco]] and [[Elizabeth Taylor]]. On April 23, 2009, ''General Hospital'' began broadcasting in [[high-definition television]], making it the first ABC soap opera to make such a transition.<ref name="HD Start">{{cite web |last=Mitovich |first=Matt |title=GH in HD: Soap Will Look Sharp for May Sweeps |url=https://tvguide.com/Soaps/General-Hospital-HD-1004764.aspx |work=TV Guide |publisher=tvguide.com |access-date=September 9, 2012 |date=April 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023034542/http://www.tvguide.com/Soaps/General-Hospital-HD-1004764.aspx |archive-date=October 23, 2012  }}</ref>

''General Hospital'' is listed in ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' as the [[list of longest-running television shows by category|longest-running American soap opera in production]], and the second  in American history after ''[[Guiding Light]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 24, 2020 |title='General Hospital' is American Television's Longest-Running Drama Series |url=https://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2020/11/general-hospital-long-running-american-drama-series-key-art |website=soapoperanetwork.com}}</ref><ref name="worldrecord">{{cite web |year=2009 |title=Longest Running TV Drama |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/arts_and_media/tv_shows/longest_running_tv_drama.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419222504/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/arts_and_media/tv_shows/longest_running_tv_drama.aspx |archive-date=April 19, 2011 |access-date=October 7, 2012 |work=Arts & Media |publisher=[[Guinness World Records]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Longest-running TV medical drama |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/12000/longest-running-tv-medical-drama |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110233242/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/12000/longest-running-tv-medical-drama |archive-date=November 10, 2013 |access-date=June 27, 2012}}</ref> Concurrently, it is the world's third-longest-running scripted drama series in production after British serials ''[[The Archers]]'' and ''[[Coronation Street]]'', as well as the world's second-longest-running televised soap opera still in production. It is also the longest-running serial produced in Hollywood, and the longest-running entertainment program in ABC television history. ''General Hospital'' became the oldest ongoing American soap opera on September 17, 2010, following the final broadcast of [[CBS]]' ''[[As the World Turns]]''. On April 14, 2011, ABC announced the cancellation of both ''[[All My Children]]'' and ''[[One Life to Live]]'', leaving ''General Hospital'' as the last remaining soap opera airing on the network after January 13, 2012.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://deadline.com/2011/04/abc-cancels-both-all-by-children-one-life-to-live-replaces-them-with-healthlifestyle-series-122740/|title=ABC Daytime Shakeup: Network Cancels ''Both'' 'All My Children" & "One Life To Live', Replaces Them With Lifestyle Series|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|magazine=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=April 14, 2011|access-date=April 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415225702/http://www.deadline.com/2011/04/abc-cancels-both-all-by-children-one-life-to-live-replaces-them-with-healthlifestyle-series/|archive-date=April 15, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>  The show celebrated its [[General Hospital's 50th anniversary|50th anniversary]] on April 1, 2013, and its 15,000th episode on June 22, 2022. It holds the record for most [[Daytime Emmy Award]]s for [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series]], with 14 wins. In 2007, the show was listed as one of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All-Time".<ref>{{cite news |last=Poniewozik |first=James |author-link=James Poniewozik |date=September 6, 2007 |title=The 100 Best TV Shows of All-Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1651341_1659192_1652529,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119231759/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1651341_1659192_1652529,00.html |archive-date=January 19, 2011 |access-date=March 4, 2010 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref>

==Show history==

===Origins===
''General Hospital'' was created by [[Frank and Doris Hursley]] and premiered on April 1, 1963, replacing the canceled [[game show]] ''[[Yours for a Song]]''. The first stories were mainly set on the seventh floor of General Hospital, in an unnamed midsize Eastern city (the name of the city, [[Port Charles (fictional city)|Port Charles]], would not be mentioned until the late 1970s by headwriters [[Eileen and Robert Mason Pollock]].<ref name="Port Charles name">{{cite news|last=Reed|first=Jon-Michael|title=Soap Life Isn't Easy For Serial Writer, Either|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BZBPAAAAIBAJ&dq=soap%20life%20isn-t%20easy%20for%20serial%20writer&pg=7193%2C3034750|access-date=December 29, 2012|newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner|date=November 14, 1976|archive-date=June 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610174103/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BZBPAAAAIBAJ&dq=soap+life+isn-t+easy+for+serial+writer&pg=7193%2C3034750|url-status=live}}</ref>). "They had this concept of the show that it was like a big wagon wheel—the spokes would be the characters and the hub would be the hospital", [[John Beradino]] ([[Steve Hardy (General Hospital)|Steve Hardy]]) later reflected to ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' in 1994.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Shaw|first=Jessica|title='Hospital' Birth|url=https://ew.com/article/1994/04/01/general-hospital-celebrates-31-years/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=September 2, 2012|date=April 1, 1994|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527005755/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,301606,00.html|archive-date=May 27, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

===History===
{{Main|History of General Hospital}}
Launched in 1963, the first stories were mainly set at General Hospital in an unnamed midsized Eastern city. Storylines revolved around [[Steve Hardy (General Hospital)|Steve Hardy]] ([[John Beradino]]) and his friend, Nurse [[Jessie Brewer]] ([[Emily McLaughlin]]). Jessie's turbulent marriage to the much-younger [[Phil Brewer]] (originally portrayed by [[Roy Thinnes]]; lastly by [[Martin West (actor)|Martin West]]) was the center of many early storylines. In 1964 [[Audrey Hardy]] ([[Rachel Ames]]), a flight attendant and sister of Nurse [[List of General Hospital characters (1960s)#Lucille March|Lucille]] ([[Lucille Wall]]), came to town, and was the woman who won Steve's heart.

By the end of the 1970s, ''General Hospital'' was facing dire ratings when [[executive producer]] [[Gloria Monty]] was brought in to turn the show around. Monty is credited with creation of the first [[supercouple]], [[Luke and Laura]], played by [[Anthony Geary]] and [[Genie Francis]]. The end of their hour wedding on November 17, 1981, was the most-watched event in daytime serial history.<ref name="www.ew.com"/> During the 1980s, the series featured several high-profile action, adventure, and some science fiction-based storylines. Location shooting at sites including [[Mount Rushmore]] in [[South Dakota]]; [[Niagara Falls]]; [[Grand Ole Opry]] in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]; [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]]; Big Bear and Avalon ([[Santa Catalina Island, California|Catalina Island]]), California; and [[San Antonio, Texas]] are some that propelled the story.

After Gloria Monty first left the series in 1987, ''General Hospital'' entered into a transitional phase that lasted until Wendy Riche took the position of executive producer in 1992. Under Riche, the show gained critical acclaim for its sensitive handling of [[social issue]]s. In 1994, Riche started an annual Nurses' Ball, a fundraiser and [[HIV/AIDS]] awareness event both on the show and in real life. Later that year, a [[heart transplantation]] storyline involves the death of eight-year-old {{nowrap|[[B. J. Jones]]}} (daughter of [[List of General Hospital characters (1980s)|Dr. Tony Jones]] and [[Bobbie Spencer]]) in a bus crash and the subsequent donation of her heart to her dying cousin [[Maxie Jones]]. Shortly afterwards, [[Monica Quartermaine]] ([[Leslie Charleson]]) begins a long battle with breast cancer, which leads to her adopting [[Emily Quartermaine]], the orphaned young daughter of Monica's friend from treatment. ''General Hospital'' was also praised for the love story of teenagers [[Stone Cates]] ([[Michael Sutton (actor)|Michael Sutton]]) and [[Robin Scorpio]] ([[Kimberly McCullough]]). After a struggle that lasted throughout most of 1995, Stone dies from AIDS at the age of 19 and his death is followed by 17-year-old Robin having to deal with being HIV-positive as a result of their relationship. Sutton received a nomination for the [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series]] and McCullough won a [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series]] award. ABC featured an Afterschool Special "Positive: A Journey Into AIDS" revolving around the AIDS story as well as ''[[The New York Times]]'' best selling novel ''Robin's Diary''.

On Saturday, December 14, 1996, ''General Hospital'' aired its one of three primetime episodes, ''[[General Hospital: Twist of Fate]]'', which picked up where that Friday's episode had left off. The special centered on Laura's supposed death at the hands of [[List of General Hospital characters (1990s)|Stefan Cassadine]]. In 1997, the show's long-rumored spin-off materialized into the half-hour serial, ''[[Port Charles]]''. The series' 11,000th episode aired on February 20, 2006.<ref name="EW 2006-02">{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/ew/article/0,,1160337,00.html|title=What to Watch|last=Wheat|first=Alynda|date=February 17, 2006|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=June 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427132254/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1160337,00.html|archive-date=April 27, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> On April 23, 2009, ''General Hospital'' became ABC's first regular daytime drama to be taped and broadcast in [[High-definition television]], though the 2008 season of its primetime spinoff ''[[General Hospital: Night Shift]]'' was in high definition. This is the second daytime drama to move to high definition after [[CBS]]'s ''[[The Young and the Restless]]''. On February 23, 2010, the series aired its 12,000th episode.<ref name="sn.soapnet.go.com">{{cite web |url=http://sn.soapnet.go.com/news/article/gh-gets-new-credits-sequence |title=Watch GH's New Opening Credits &#124; SOAPnet |publisher=Sn.soapnet.go.com |access-date=June 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525185658/http://sn.soapnet.go.com/news/article/gh-gets-new-credits-sequence |archive-date=May 25, 2010  }}</ref> On December 1, 2011, ABC confirmed that former ''[[One Life to Live]]'' executive producer [[Frank Valentini]] and head writer [[Ron Carlivati]] would replace longtime executive producer [[Jill Farren Phelps]] and [[Garin Wolf]], respectively, though Wolf would remain on as a regular writer. The change took effect on January 9, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abc.go.com/shows/general-hospital/GH-Valentini-Carlivati |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207224412/http://abc.go.com/shows/general-hospital/GH-Valentini-Carlivati |archive-date= February 7, 2012 |title=Valentini and Carlivati to Take the Reins at 'General Hospital' |work= ABC |publisher= abc.com}}</ref> The first episode under the direction of Valentini aired on February 1, 2012, with Carlivati's material beginning on February 21. Several storylines reminiscent of iconic story arcs of the past were created and popular characters returned to the show in order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the series in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last=Logan|first=Michael|title=General Hospital's Nostalgic 50th Anniversary Plans|url=https://tvguide.com/News/General-Hospital-50th-Anniversary-Plans-1062932.aspx|access-date=April 7, 2013|newspaper=[[TV Guide]]|date=March 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409191118/http://www.tvguide.com/News/General-Hospital-50th-Anniversary-Plans-1062932.aspx|archive-date=April 9, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The serial celebrated 13,000 episodes on February 24, 2014,<ref name="Episode 13,000">{{cite web|last=Logan|first=Michael|title=Exclusive: Sneak Peek at General Hospital's 13,000th Episode|url=https://tvguide.com/news/general-hospital-13000-episode-video-1077888.aspx|work=[[TV Guide]]|access-date=February 27, 2014|date=February 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228162624/http://www.tvguide.com/news/general-hospital-13000-episode-video-1077888.aspx|archive-date=February 28, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> and marked its 51st anniversary several weeks later on April 1.<ref name="51st anniversary">{{cite web|url=http://michaelfairmansoaps.com/news/general-hospital-brings-returnstrips-down-memory-lane-a-death-to-its-51st-anniversary-episode/2014/04/01/|title=General Hospital Brings Returns, Trips Down Memory Lane & A Death To Its 51st Anniversary Episode!|date=April 1, 2014|first=Michael|last=Fairman|work=[[Michael Fairman On-Air On-Soaps]]|publisher=Michael Fairman Soaps, Inc|location=United States|access-date=July 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140731140743/http://michaelfairmansoaps.com/news/general-hospital-brings-returnstrips-down-memory-lane-a-death-to-its-51st-anniversary-episode/2014/04/01/|archive-date=July 31, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Also in January 2014, ABC renewed Carlivati's contract with the soap.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kroll|first=Dan J|title=General Hospital to continue for another year|url=http://soapcentral.com/gh/news/2014/0123-renewed.php|publisher=Soapcentral.com|access-date=September 16, 2016|location=United States|date=January 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814060522/http://soapcentral.com/gh/news/2014/0123-renewed.php|archive-date=August 14, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://michaelfairmansoaps.com/news/gh-head-writer-ron-carlivati-signs-new-contract-with-the-abc-soap/2014/01/23/|title=GH Head Writer Ron Carlivati Signs New Contract With The ABC Soap!|date=January 23, 2014|first=Michael|last=Fairman|work=[[Michael Fairman On-Air On-Soaps]]|access-date=September 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917084356/http://michaelfairmansoaps.com/news/gh-head-writer-ron-carlivati-signs-new-contract-with-the-abc-soap/2014/01/23/|archive-date=September 17, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The series marked its 52nd anniversary on April 1, 2015, with a special episode revolving around the [[Spencer family (General Hospital)|Spencer family]].<ref name="ABC7">{{Cite web|url=http://abc7.com/entertainment/general-hospital-goes-retro-for-52nd-anniversary/603491/|title='General Hospital' Goes Retro for 52nd Anniversary|work=[[KABC-TV]]|publisher=[[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]]/[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]|last=Pennacchio|first=George|date=April 1, 2015|access-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104909/http://abc7.com/entertainment/general-hospital-goes-retro-for-52nd-anniversary/603491/|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Broadway">{{cite web|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/ABCs-GENERAL-HOSPITAL-to-Commemorate-52nd-Anniversary-Today-20150331|title=ABC's General Hospital Marks 52nd Anniversary Today|work=broadwayworld.com|access-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402115736/http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/ABCs-GENERAL-HOSPITAL-to-Commemorate-52nd-Anniversary-Today-20150331|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Soaps">{{cite web|url=http://soaps.sheknows.com/generalhospital/news/id/42733/|title=General Hospital - News Room|work=soaps.sheknows.com|date=March 27, 2015|access-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402001835/http://soaps.sheknows.com/generalhospital/news/id/42733/|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="People">{{Cite web|url=http://www.people.com/article/luke-spencer-general-hospital-anniversary|title=Sneak Peek: Luke Searches for Answers inGeneral Hospital Anniversary Episode|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|publisher=[[Time Inc.]]|last=Rice|first=Lynnette|date=March 31, 2015|access-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402113514/http://www.people.com/article/luke-spencer-general-hospital-anniversary|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2015, it was revealed Carlivati was fired as head writer; [[Shelly Altman]] and [[Jean Passanante]] were hired as his successors.<ref name="Writing Changes">{{cite web|url=http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/head-writer-switch-gh|title=Head Writer Switch at GH|work=[[Soap Opera Digest]]|publisher=[[American Media (publisher)|American Media, Inc.]]|date=July 24, 2015|access-date=July 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725073027/http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/head-writer-switch-gh|archive-date=July 25, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 16, 2016, ''Daytime Confidential'' reported that Valentini, Passanante and Altman re-signed with the show.<ref>{{cite news|last=Giddens|first=Jamey|url=http://daytimeconfidential.com/2016/09/16/frank-valentini-and-head-writers-re-up-at-general-hospital|title=Frank Valentini and Head Writers Re-Up at ''General Hospital''|date=September 16, 2016|work=Daytime Confidential|publisher=Confidential Media ([[SAY Media]])|access-date=September 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920062400/http://daytimeconfidential.com/2016/09/16/frank-valentini-and-head-writers-re-up-at-general-hospital|archive-date=September 20, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 6, 2017, Passanante announced her decision to retire from the serial.<ref name="Passanante">{{cite news|author1=SOD|title=GH Scribe Jean Passanante On Retirement: 'It's Just Time.'|url=http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/gh-scribe-jean-passanante-retirement-just-time/|access-date=August 18, 2018|work=[[Soap Opera Digest]]|agency=Odyssey Magazine Publishing Group Inc.|publisher=[[American Media, Inc.]]|date=June 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606225434/http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/gh-scribe-jean-passanante-retirement-just-time/|archive-date=June 6, 2017|location=United States|url-status=dead}}</ref> On July 29, 2017, it was revealed through Passanante that breakdown writer [[Chris Van Etten]] would be promoted to co-head writer as her successor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2017/07/chris-van-etten-promoted-co-head-writer-gh|title=Chris Van Etten Promoted to Co-Head Writer at 'GH'|date=July 29, 2017|first=Errol|last=Lewis|work=[[Soap Opera Network]]|access-date=July 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730071100/https://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2017/07/chris-van-etten-promoted-co-head-writer-gh|archive-date=July 30, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 23, 2018, the serial aired its 14,000th episode.<ref name="GH Ep14000">Various citations concerning the 14,000th episode of ''General Hospital'':

* {{cite news |date=February 23, 2018 |title=GH Airs 14,000th Episode |url=https://www.soapoperadigest.com/photos/gh-airs-14000th-episode/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223191953/https://www.soapoperadigest.com/photos/gh-airs-14000th-episode/ |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |access-date=February 23, 2018 |work=Soap Opera Digest |publisher=[[American Media, Inc.]] |location=United States |agency=Odyssey Magazine Publishing Group Inc.}}
* {{cite news |last=Eades |first=Chris |date=February 23, 2018 |title=''General Hospital'' Celebrates Its 14,000th Episode — See the Fun Backstage Pics! |url=http://www.abc.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital-14000-episode-gallery-154535 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223192202/http://www.abc.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital-14000-episode-gallery-154535 |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |access-date=February 23, 2018 |work=[[ABC Soaps In Depth]] |publisher=[[Bauer Media Group]] |location=United States}}
* {{cite web |last=Fairman |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Fairman (journalist) |date=February 23, 2018 |title=TODAY: ''General Hospital'' Airs Its 14,000 Episode! |url=http://michaelfairmansoaps.com/news/today-general-hospital-airs-its-14000-episode/2018/02/23/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223190927/http://michaelfairmansoaps.com/news/today-general-hospital-airs-its-14000-episode/2018/02/23/ |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |access-date=February 23, 2018 |website=[[On-Air On-Soaps]] |publisher=Michael Fairman Soaps, Inc. |location=United States}}</ref> On July 30, 2019, Altman announced her retirement; breakdown writer Dan O'Connor was named as her successor, joining Van Etten as co-head writer.<ref name="Altman retirement">{{cite web |last=Maloney |first=Michael |title=''General Hospital'' Top Scribe Shelly Altman Retires; New Co-Head Writer Announced |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/799298/general-hospital-writer-shelly-altman-retires-replacement-dan-oconnor/ |website=[[TV Insider]] |publisher=TVGM Holdings, LLC. |access-date=July 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730232454/https://www.tvinsider.com/799298/general-hospital-writer-shelly-altman-retires-replacement-dan-oconnor/ |archive-date=July 30, 2019 |location=United States |date=July 30, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> On June 22, 2022, the soap aired its 15,000 episode; in celebration, the episode focused on Francis' [[Laura Spencer (General Hospital)|Laura Spencer]].<ref name="GH Ep15000"/>

On January 22, 2024, it was announced Van Etten and O'Connor had been dismissed from their positions as co-head writers;<ref>{{cite web |last=Rice |first=Lynette |title=''General Hospital'' Replaces Head Writers with Vets Patrick Mulcahey, Elizabeth Korte |url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/general-hospital-replaces-head-writers-1235801497/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |access-date=January 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123044627/https://deadline.com/2024/01/general-hospital-replaces-head-writers-1235801497/ |archive-date=January 23, 2024 |location=United States |date=January 22, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kroll |first=Dan J. |title=''General Hospital'' discharges head writers, names Patrick Mulcahey and Elizabeth Korte as new co-head writers |url=https://www.soapcentral.com/general-hospital/news/2024/0122-general-hospital-co-head-writers-chris-van-etten-and-dan-oconnor-are-out.php |website=[[Soapcentral.com]] |access-date=January 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123045637/https://www.soapcentral.com/general-hospital/news/2024/0122-general-hospital-co-head-writers-chris-van-etten-and-dan-oconnor-are-out.php |archive-date=January 23, 2024 |location=United States |date=January 22, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> former associate head writer Patrick Mulcahey and present script editor [[Elizabeth Korte]] were named as their replacements.<ref>{{cite web |last=Fairman |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Fairman (journalist) |title=''General Hospital'' Names Patrick Mulcahey and Elizabeth Korte as New Co-Head Writers; Replacing Chris Van Etten and Dan O'Connor |url=https://michaelfairmantv.com/general-hospital-names-patrick-mulcahey-elizabeth-korte-new-co-head-writers-replacing-chris-van-etten-dan-oconnor/2024/01/22/ |website=[[Michael Fairman TV]] |access-date=January 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123045249/https://michaelfairmantv.com/general-hospital-names-patrick-mulcahey-elizabeth-korte-new-co-head-writers-replacing-chris-van-etten-dan-oconnor/2024/01/22/ |archive-date=January 23, 2024 |location=United States |date=January 22, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> Per reports, material from the former regime aired into March 2024.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Levinsky |first=Mara |title=''General Hospital'' Taps Patrick Mulcahey, Elizabeth Korte as Co-Head Writers |url=https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-taps-patrick-mulcahey-elizabeth-korte-as-co-head-writers/ |magazine=[[Soap Opera Digest]] |publisher=[[A360media]] |access-date=January 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123044258/https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-taps-patrick-mulcahey-elizabeth-korte-as-co-head-writers/ |archive-date=January 23, 2024 |location=United States |issn=0164-3584 |date=January 22, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> Five months later, it was announced Mulcahey had been dismissed from his position as head writer.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Levinsky |first=Mara |title=Patrick Mulcahey Out as ''General Hospital'' Head Writer |url=https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/patrick-mulcahey-out-as-general-hospital-head-writer/ |magazine=[[Soap Opera Digest]] |publisher=[[A360media]] |access-date=May 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517135232/https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/patrick-mulcahey-out-as-general-hospital-head-writer/ |archive-date=May 17, 2024 |location=United States |issn=0164-3584 |date=May 16, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Rice |first=Lynette |title=''General Hospital'' Shakes Up Writers Room; Patrick Mulcahey Is Out as Co-Head |url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/general-hospital-patrick-mulcahey-out-co-head-writer-1235920047/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |access-date=May 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517135624/https://deadline.com/2024/05/general-hospital-patrick-mulcahey-out-co-head-writer-1235920047/ |archive-date=May 17, 2024 |location=United States |date=May 16, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> Mulcahey's final credited episode aired on August 6; the following day, it was announced Van Etten would resume the role of co-head writer credit, with Cathy LePard named as associate head writer.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Brounstein |first1=Diane |last2=Levinsky |first2=Mara |title=Exclusive: General Hospital Confirms New Head-Writing Team |url=https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/exclusive-general-hospital-confirms-new-head-writing-team/ |magazine=[[Soap Opera Digest]] |publisher=[[A360media]] |access-date=August 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240807235632/https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/exclusive-general-hospital-confirms-new-head-writing-team/ |archive-date=August 7, 2024 |location=United States |issn=0164-3584 |date=August 7, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Production===
[[File:1973 10th Anniversary General Hospital.jpg|thumb|left|200px|John Beradino and Emily McLaughlin celebrating the 10th anniversary of the show in 1973]]
''General Hospital'' has aired on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] television network and has been filmed in Hollywood since its inception. The show was filmed in the [[Sunset Gower Studios]] from 1963 to the mid-1980s. It relocated in the 1980s to [[The Prospect Studios]].

''General Hospital'' has had a number of different distributors throughout the show's history. From its beginning until 1968, it was a co-production of [[Plitt Theatres]] and Selmur Productions. ABC bought the series outright in 1968 and its ownership passed from Selmur to American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., ABC's old separate conglomerate. Ownership of the soap was then passed in 1986 to [[Capital Cities/ABC]], which was formed after the acquisition of ABC by a smaller media concern, Capital Cities Communications. [[The Walt Disney Company]] bought Capital Cities/ABC in 1996, and Disney has held ownership of the soap since then.

Production of ''General Hospital'' was suspended in March 2020, as a direct result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]].<ref name="TVL 2020 suspend">{{Cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2020/03/18/daytime-soap-operas-coronavirus-young-and-restless-episodes/|title=Coronavirus Shuts Down Soaps: When Will ''Bold & Beautiful'', ''Days'', ''GH'' and ''Young & Restless'' Run Out of Episodes?|first=Michael|last=Ausiello|website=[[TVLine]]|date=March 18, 2020|access-date=May 12, 2020|archive-date=May 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513114241/https://tvline.com/2020/03/18/daytime-soap-operas-coronavirus-young-and-restless-episodes/|url-status=live}}</ref> Production resumed on July 22 of the same year; new episodes began airing on August 3, 2020.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Rice |first=Lynette |title=See Dominic Zamprogna back on ''General Hospital'' |url=https://ew.com/tv/dominic-zamprogna-returns-general-hospital/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |publisher=[[Meredith Corporation]] |access-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803213006/https://ew.com/tv/dominic-zamprogna-returns-general-hospital/ |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |location=United States |date=August 3, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''General Hospital'' was Disney's first series to go back into production during the pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/dana-walden-disney-covid-tv-general-hospital-1234902780/|title=Dana Walden Says Disney Productions Are Among L.A.'s 'Safest Places' with Low COVID Rates|first=Cynthia|last=Littleton|date=February 7, 2021|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=February 8, 2021|archive-date=February 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207221352/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/dana-walden-disney-covid-tv-general-hospital-1234902780/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Cast==
[[File:GH Cast Photo (2023).png|thumb|300px|The cast photo of ''General Hospital'', taken in celebration of the soap's 60th anniversary (2023).<br/>'''Front row (l–r):''' [[Josh Kelly (actor)|Josh Kelly]], Sofia Mattsson, [[James Patrick Stuart]], [[Finola Hughes]], [[Donnell Turner]], [[Dominic Zamprogna]], [[Kelly Monaco]], [[Cynthia Watros]], [[Maurice Benard]], [[Genie Francis]], [[Jon Lindstrom]], [[Laura Wright]], [[Nancy Lee Grahn]], [[Michael Easton]], Jophielle Love, [[Rebecca Herbst]], [[Jane Elliot]], [[Josh Swickard]], William Lipton, [[Kristina Wagner]], [[John J. York]]
<br/>'''Middle row:''' [[Charles Shaughnessy]], [[Carolyn Hennesy]], [[Tristan Rogers]], [[Lynn Herring]], [[Kin Shriner]], [[Jacklyn Zeman]], [[Robert Gossett]], [[Brook Kerr]], [[Nicholas Chavez]], Tabyana Ali, Avery Kristen Pohl, [[Kathleen Gati]], Eden McCoy, [[Evan Hofer]], [[Gregory Harrison]], [[Kirsten Storms]], [[Cameron Mathison]], [[Bradford Anderson]], [[Maura West]], [[Lisa LoCicero]], [[Wally Kurth]], [[Tajh Bellow]], [[Haley Pullos]], [[Lexi Ainsworth]], [[Amanda Setton]], [[Chad Duell]], Viron Weaver, Katelyn MacMullen, [[Parry Shen]], Lydia Look, [[Vernee Watson]], [[Tanisha Harper]]
<br/>'''Back row:''' Cassandra James, [[Roger Howarth]] ]]

{{Main|List of General Hospital cast members}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Original cast<ref name="DTV Story 1">{{cite web|last1=Kearney|first1=Patricia|last2=Buchanan|first2=Betty|title=The Story of ABC-TV's General Hospital (First Installment)|work=[[List of soap opera media outlets|We Love Soaps]]|publisher=[[Blogger (website)|Blogger]]|location=United States|date=January 1976|pages=17–24, 53–55|url=http://www.welovesoaps.net/2011/06/flashback-story-of-general-hospital.html|access-date=March 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110233944/http://www.welovesoaps.net/2011/06/flashback-story-of-general-hospital.html|archive-date=November 10, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! Character !! Actor
|-
| [[List of General Hospital characters|Cynthia Allison]]|| [[Carolyn Craig]]
|-
| [[Jessie Brewer]] || [[Emily McLaughlin]]
|-
| [[Phil Brewer|Dr. Phil Brewer]] || [[Roy Thinnes]]
|-
| [[Angie Costello-Weeks|Angie Costello]] || [[Jana Taylor]]
|-
| [[List of General Hospital characters#Mike Costello|Mike Costello]] || [[Ralph Manza]]
|-
| [[List of General Hospital characters#Fred Fleming|Fred Fleming]] || [[Simon Scott (actor)|Simon Scott]]
|-
| [[List of General Hospital characters#Janet Fleming|Janet Fleming]] || Ruth Phillips
|-
| [[Steve Hardy (General Hospital)|Dr. Steve Hardy]] || [[John Beradino]]
|-
| [[List of General Hospital characters#Roy Lansing|Roy Lansing]] || [[Robert Clarke]]
|-
| [[List of General Hospital characters#Priscilla Longworth|Priscilla Longworth]] || [[Allison Hayes]]
|-
| [[List of General Hospital characters#Ken Martin|Dr. Ken Martin]] || [[Hunt Powers]]
|-
| [[List of General Hospital characters#Peggy Mercer|Peggy Mercer]] || [[K. T. Stevens]]
|-
| [[List of General Hospital characters#Philip Mercer|Philip Mercer]] || [[Neil Hamilton (actor)|Neil Hamilton]]
|-
| [[List of General Hospital characters|Mrs. Weeks]]|| Lenore Kingston
|-
| [[List of General Hospital characters#Al Weeks|Al Weeks]] || [[Tom Brown (actor)|Tom Brown]]
|-
| [[List of General Hospital characters|Eddie Weeks]]|| Craig Curtis
|}

===Characters===
{{Main|List of General Hospital characters}}
{{see also|List of General Hospital characters (1960s)|List of General Hospital characters (1970s)|List of General Hospital characters (1980s)|List of General Hospital characters (1990s)|List of General Hospital characters (2000s)|List of General Hospital characters (2010s)|List of General Hospital characters (2020s)|Children of General Hospital| Cassadine family| Corinthos family| Jerome family| Quartermaine family| Scorpio/Jones family| Spencer family (General Hospital)}}

Though the series originally focused on solely the medical staff at Port Charles' General Hospital, and starred [[John Beradino]] as [[Steve Hardy (General Hospital)|Dr. Steve Hardy]] and [[Emily McLaughlin]] as [[Jessie Brewer|Nurse Jessie Brewer]], the series branched out and began to focus more on the people and families of the town of Port Charles rather than those solely in the hospital.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/general-hospital/timeline|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504094545/http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/general-hospital/timeline|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 4, 2013|title=''General Hospital''|publisher=beta.abc.go.com|access-date=August 8, 2016}}</ref>{{cbignore}}

Port Charles is full of "dysfunctional family dynamics&nbsp;... and family drama remains the focal point of this town."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/general-hospital/about|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130107094500/http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/general-hospital/about|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 7, 2013|title=''General Hospital''|publisher=beta.abc.go.com|access-date=August 8, 2016}}</ref>{{cbignore}} The current families on the show include the quarreling and wealthy Quartermaine family, the mobster crime Corinthos family, the middle class Scorpio/Jones family, the aristocratic Cassadine family, and the adventurous Spencer family.

==Executive producers and head writers==
===Executive producers===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of ''General Hospital'' executive producers
! scope="col"| Name
! scope="col"| Years
! scope="col"| Production notes
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Selig J. Seligman
| 1963
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| James Young
| 1963–1976
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Tom Donovan
| 1976–1977
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Gloria Monty]]
| 1978–1987
| <ref name="Monty NYT">{{cite news|title=Gloria Monty, 84, Producer Who Resuscitated 'General Hospital'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/arts/television/05monty.html|access-date=August 25, 2012|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 5, 2006|agency=Associated Press|page=21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430072123/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/arts/television/05monty.html|archive-date=April 30, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[H. Wesley Kenney]]
| 1987–1989
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Joseph Hardy (director)|Joseph Hardy]]
| 1989–1990
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Gloria Monty
| 1991–1992
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Wendy Riche
| 1992–2001
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Jill Farren Phelps]]
| 2001–2012
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Frank Valentini]]
| 2012–present 
|}

===Head writers===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of ''General Hospital'' head writers
! scope="col"| Name(s)
! scope="col"| Years
! scope="col"| Production notes
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Theodore Ferro
| rowspan="2"| 1963
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Mathilde Ferro
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Terence Maples
| rowspan="2"| 1963–1964
| rowspan="2"| Served as co-head writers with [[Frank and Doris Hursley]] in 1964.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Joan Maples
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Catherine Turney]]
| 1963
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Milton Geiger
| 1963–1964
| Served as co-head writer with Frank and Doris Hursley in 1964.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Rick Vollaertz
| 1963
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Melvyn Levy
| 1963
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Frank Hursley]]
| rowspan="2"| 1963–1973
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Doris Hursley]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Bridget Dobson]]
| rowspan="2"| 1973–1975
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Jerome Dobson]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Richard Holland
| rowspan="2"| 1975
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Suzanne Holland
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Eileen and Robert Mason Pollock|Eileen Prince Pollack]]
| rowspan="2"| 1976–1977
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Eileen and Robert Mason Pollock|Patrick Mason Pollack]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Irving Elman
| rowspan="2"| 1977
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Tex Elman
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Eileen Prince Pollack
| rowspan="2"| 1977
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Patrick Mason Pollack
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Douglas Marland]]
| 1977–1979
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Pat Falken Smith]]
| rowspan="2"| 1979–1982
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Margaret DePriest]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Robert J. Shaw]]
| 1982
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[John William Corrington]]
| rowspan="2"| 1983
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Joyce Hooper Corrington]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Anne Howard Bailey]]
| 1983–1985
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Pat Falken Smith
| rowspan="2"| 1985–1988
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Norma Monty
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Ann Marcus]]
| 1988
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Gene Palumbo]]
| 1989–1991
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Norma Monty
| 1991–1992
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Maralyn Thoma]]
| 1992
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Bill Levinson
| 1992–1993
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Claire Labine]]
| 1993–1996
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Robert Guza Jr.]]
| 1996
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Karen Harris (writer)|Karen Harris]]
| 1996–1997{{efn|[[Karen Harris (writer)|Karen Harris]] served as co-head writer with [[Robert Guza Jr.]] in 1996, and remained as co-head writer with [[Richard Culliton]] in 1997.}}
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Richard Culliton]]
| 1997
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Janet Iacobuzio]]
| rowspan="2"| 1997
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Christopher Whitesell]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Robert Guza Jr.
| 1997–2000
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Michele Val Jean]]
| rowspan="2"| 2001
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Elizabeth Korte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Megan McTavish]]
| 2001–2002
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Robert Guza Jr.
| rowspan="2"| 2002–2006
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Charles Pratt Jr.]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Robert Guza Jr.
| 2006–2008
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Garin Wolf]]
| 2008
| [[2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Robert Guza Jr.
| 2008–2011
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Garin Wolf
| 2011–2012
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Garin Wolf
| rowspan="2"| 2012
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Shelly Altman]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Ron Carlivati]]
| 2012–2015
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Shelly Altman
| rowspan="2"| 2015–2017
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Jean Passanante]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Shelly Altman
| rowspan="2"| 2017–2019
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Chris Van Etten]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Chris Van Etten
| rowspan="2"| 2019–2023
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Dan O'Connor
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" {{n/a}}
| 2023
| [[2023 Writers Guild of America strike]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Chris Van Etten
| rowspan="2"| 2023–2024
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Dan O'Connor
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Elizabeth Korte
| rowspan="2"| 2024
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Patrick Mulcahey
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Elizabeth Korte
| rowspan="2"| since 2024
| rowspan="2"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Chris Van Etten
|}

==Setting==
Since the series began in 1963, Port Charles, [[New York (state)|New York]], has been the setting for the show. The town exists in the same fictional universe as other soap opera settings such as [[Llanview]] (''[[One Life to Live]]''), [[Pine Valley (All My Children)|Pine Valley]] (''[[All My Children]]''), [[New York City]] (''[[Ryan's Hope]]''), and [[Corinth, Pennsylvania,|Corinth]] (''[[Loving (TV series)|Loving]]''). The same setting was also used for ''General Hospital''{{'s}} spinoff, ''[[Port Charles]]''.

* '''General Hospital''' is founded by Dr. Steve Hardy. It is a major employer in the city, and one of the largest medical facilities on the East Coast. In the 1990s, [[Sonny Corinthos]] donates an extra wing dedicated to AIDS research, and in the 2000s, [[Carly Corinthos]] donates a pediatric center for head neurology. In 2009, a fire destroys the hospital, which is rebuilt with money from the [[Quartermaine family]].
* '''The Metro Court''' is a prominent hotel in Port Charles, built by [[Jasper Jacks]] on the site of the Port Charles Hotel after it is destroyed in a fire in 2004, and named in honor of [[Courtney Matthews]], who Jax was pursuing romantically. Carly Corinthos soon becomes his business partner, and later co-owns with [[Kate Howard]] when Jax sells his portion to her. The hotel boasts a skyline restaurant, spa, penthouse suites, and business offices. The current owners are Carly and [[Olivia Falconeri]].
* '''Kelly's Diner''' is founded by Joe "Paddy" Kelly, and becomes a vintage restaurant in the heart of Port Charles. It features boarding rooms upstairs which become homes to many Port Charles residents and guests over the years. The restaurant is operated by Paddy's wife [[Rose Kelly (General Hospital)|Rose Kelly]] after his death, who later sells it to [[Ruby Anderson]] when Rose leaves town. When Ruby dies, she leaves the diner to her niece [[Bobbie Spencer]] and nephew [[Luke Spencer]].
* '''The Haunted Star''' is a yacht first owned by Luke Spencer, who receives the vessel as a wedding present in 1981. In 2003, the ship is turned into a casino by Luke and investors [[Skye Chandler]] and [[Tracy Quartermaine]]. In 2011, Luke's daughter [[Lulu Spencer]] purchases the boat, and in 2012 [[Johnny Zacchara]] invests to become co-owner. Together they turn the ship into a nightclub. The ship was destroyed in 2023.
* '''The Floating Rib''' is a bar located in downtown Port Charles, just a block away from General Hospital. Originally named Jake's, the bar has been a hotspot for the local nightlife since the early 1990s. [[Coleman Ratcliffe]] becomes the owner in 2002, and [[Mac Scorpio]] takes over in 2012. There was also a popular fine dining restaurant in Port Charles with the same name in the late 1970s/early 1980s. In 2020, a bomb destroys the restaurant and kills multiple patrons.

==Accolades and recognition==
{{main|List of General Hospital awards}}

''General Hospital''{{'s}} cast and crew have won many awards since 1974 when the [[Daytime Emmy Award]]s were created. In 2012, the [[Creative Arts Emmy Award]]s were created. ''General Hospital'' has won 16 Daytime Emmys for [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series]].<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=''General Hospital'' dominates 50th annual Daytime Emmys with six trophies |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/12/16/1219811929/general-hospital-dominates-50th-annual-daytime-emmys-with-6-trophies |access-date=December 16, 2023 |date=December 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216144826/https://www.npr.org/2023/12/16/1219811929/general-hospital-dominates-50th-annual-daytime-emmys-with-6-trophies |archive-date=December 16, 2023 |location=United States}}</ref>

In June 2009, ''[[TV Guide]]'' ranked "Luke and Laura's Wedding" at number forty-five on its list of the 100 Greatest Episodes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rev-views.blogspot.com/2009/06/tv-guides-top-100-episodes.html|title=TV Guide's Top 100 Episodes|work=Rev/Views|location=United States|access-date=July 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122643/http://rev-views.blogspot.com/2009/06/tv-guides-top-100-episodes.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In December 2023, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' ranked ''General Hospital'' number eighty-eight on its list of "100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time". Citing the Luke and Laura pairing as reason for the soap's "stratospheric heights", the magazine also called the soap's celebration of it sixtieth anniversary a "feat".<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time |url=https://variety.com/lists/greatest-tv-shows-of-all-time/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |access-date=December 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220162853/https://variety.com/lists/greatest-tv-shows-of-all-time/ |archive-date=December 20, 2023 |location=United States |issn=0042-2738 |oclc=810134503 |date=December 20, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Broadcast==
During the 1960s, ''General Hospital'' earned decent ratings against the likes of ''[[To Tell the Truth]]'' and ''[[The Secret Storm]]'' on [[CBS]], but there was a decline as the 1970s came, especially when [[NBC]]'s ''[[Another World (TV series)|Another World]]'' became highly popular. For two years, it also faced CBS's ''[[The Price Is Right]]'', already a major hit. After continued mediocrity in the [[Nielsen ratings]], [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] was prepared to cancel ''General Hospital'', but decided to give it a second chance in 1978 when it expanded the show from an experimental 45 minutes to a full hour. However, the expansion came with an ultimatum to the producers that they had six months to improve the show's ratings. [[Gloria Monty]] was hired as the new executive producer, and on her first day, she spent an extra $100,000 re-taping four episodes. A miracle occurred thanks to Monty and head writer [[Douglas Marland]]; the show became the most-watched daytime drama by 1979, marking a rare instance of a daytime serial's comeback from near-extinction. During the wedding of [[Luke and Laura]] on November 17, 1981, about 30 million people tuned in to watch them exchange vows and be cursed by [[Elizabeth Taylor]]'s [[Helena Cassadine]].

From 1979 to 1988, ''General Hospital'' remained number one in the ratings, competing against two game shows and two low-rated soaps on NBC—''[[Texas (TV series)|Texas]]'' and ''[[Santa Barbara (TV series)|Santa Barbara]]''—and ''[[Guiding Light]]'' on CBS (although  ''Guiding Light'' experienced a renaissance for a brief period in the middle of 1984, and became the #1-rated soap, briefly dethroning ''General Hospital'' from the top ratings spot). For the most part, however, ''General Hospital'' continued to triumph, even after the departure of popular actors [[Anthony Geary]] and [[Genie Francis]] in the mid-1980s. Although ''[[The Young and the Restless]]'' took ''General Hospital's'' place as the highest-rated serial in 1989, ''General Hospital'' continued to maintain excellent ratings.

Even at its peak in the 1980s, ''General Hospital'' had been pre-empted in at least two markets in the United States. With the show still number one in the Nielsens, [[WDTN]] in [[Dayton, Ohio]] preempted the series upon joining ABC in January 1980 in favor of ''[[Woody Woodpecker]]'' and ''[[Super Friends]]'' cartoons. Later, the station would air such shows as ''Hour Magazine'', ''[[Geraldo (talk show)|Geraldo]]'' and ''[[Maury (talk show)|Maury]]'' in the show's timeslot until September 2000, when the station's new owners, Sunrise Broadcasting (which purchased the station from [[Hearst Television]] two years prior), pulled ''Maury'' from the station's schedule, due to what it called "community standards", and brought ''General Hospital'' back to Dayton. In [[Vermont]] and [[Plattsburgh (city), New York|Plattsburgh, New York]], [[WVNY]] dropped ''General Hospital'' from the schedule in the 1980s and would only bring it back in 1995. During that hiatus, ''General Hospital'' still aired on [[Montreal]]'s [[CFCF-DT]], whose signal was decently available in Vermont and Plattsburgh.

Ever since the 1991–1992 season of ''General Hospital'', the show has had a steady decline in ratings. On and off, it would rank between third and fifth place in the Nielsen ratings, with CBS's ''The Young And The Restless'' and ''The Bold and the Beautiful'' coming in first and second place, respectively. ''General Hospital'' remained in between third and fifth place in the ratings during that time, and from late 1991 to 1996 ''All My Children'' held the title of ABC's highest-rated soap.

After months of speculation and cancellation rumors, ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' reported on April 11, 2012, that ABC quietly made the decision to keep ''General Hospital'' on the air and to cancel instead the lower-rated talk show ''[[The Revolution (TV program)|The Revolution]]''.<ref name="Revolution canceled">{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2012/04/abc-the-revolution-cancelled-general-hospital-renewed-gma-afternoon-255112/ |title=ABC's The Revolution Cancelled, General Hospital Renewed |work=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=April 11, 2012 |date=April 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412131622/http://www.deadline.com/2012/04/abc-the-revolution-cancelled-general-hospital-renewed-gma-afternoon/ |archive-date=April 12, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> On June 26, 2012, ABC officially announced that ''General Hospital'' would move to the 2 p.m. ET/PT timeslot starting on September 10, 2012, and that the network would give the 3:00&nbsp;p.m. hour back to its affiliates, as it was the recommended time slot for [[Katie Couric]]'s new, ABC-[[Broadcast syndication|syndicated]] talk show, ''[[Katie (talk show)|Katie]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2012/06/general-hospital-to-move-to-new-2-pm-slot-on-september-10-292479/|title='General Hospital' To Move To New 2 PM Slot On September 10|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=June 26, 2012|work=Deadline|access-date=October 10, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010095454/https://deadline.com/2012/06/general-hospital-to-move-to-new-2-pm-slot-on-september-10-292479/|archive-date=October 10, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Encore episodes were shown every weeknight on the former cable channel [[Soapnet]], with a marathon on Saturday and classic episodes at 4 a.m. EST and 5 a.m. (3 a.m. and 4 a.m. CST).

Production of ''General Hospital'' was suspended in March 2020 as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The show had banked roughly two months' worth of episodes at that time.<ref name="TVL 2020 suspend"/>  By airing repeats on "Flashback Fridays", ''General Hospital'' was able to air original episodes through the week ending of May 21.<ref name="TVL encore">{{Cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2020/05/11/general-hospital-last-new-episodes-abc-final-original-reruns/|title=''General Hospital'' Is About to Run Out of Original Episodes—Here's How ABC Will Fill the Daytime Void|first=Michael|last=Ausiello|website=TVLine|date=May 11, 2020|access-date=May 12, 2020|archive-date=May 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511191057/https://tvline.com/2020/05/11/general-hospital-last-new-episodes-abc-final-original-reruns/|url-status=live}}</ref> This was followed by several weeks of vintage episode repeats.<ref name="TVL encore"/> Production resumed on July 22, 2020, and new episodes began airing on August 3.<ref>{{Cite web|title=See Dominic Zamprogna back on 'General Hospital'|url=https://ew.com/tv/dominic-zamprogna-returns-general-hospital/|access-date=August 4, 2020|website=EW.com|language=EN|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803213006/https://ew.com/tv/dominic-zamprogna-returns-general-hospital/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On October 22, 2024, it was announced [[10Play]], a free [[video-on-demand]] and [[catch-up TV]] service by [[Network 10]], would carry the soap in Australia beginning January 1, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iconic Soap ''General Hospital'' Is Coming to 10 Play |url=https://10play.com.au/10-play-trending/articles/iconic-soap-general-hospital-is-coming-to-10-play/tpa241022sneit |website=[[10Play]] |access-date=October 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241022035545/https://10play.com.au/10-play-trending/articles/iconic-soap-general-hospital-is-coming-to-10-play/tpa241022sneit |archive-date=October 22, 2024 |location=United States |date=October 22, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Foxtel]]'s [[SoHo (Australian TV channel)|W]] previously broadcast the soap in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |last=Knox |first=David |title=10 Play to screen ''General Hospital'' from January |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/10/10-play-to-screen-general-hospital-from-january.html |website=[[TV Tonight]] |access-date=October 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241022035241/https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/10/10-play-to-screen-general-hospital-from-january.html |archive-date=October 22, 2024 |location=Australia |date=October 22, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Schedule===

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 50%; text-align: center"
|+ ''General Hospital'' broadcast history
! Start date !! End date
! Time slot<br/>{{small|([[Eastern Time Zone|ET]])}}
! Run time<br/>{{small|(minutes)}}
|-
| style=white-space:nowrap| April 1, 1963
| style=white-space:nowrap| December 27, 1963
| 1:00&nbsp;p.m.
| rowspan="2"| 30
|-
| style=white-space:nowrap| December 30, 1963
| style=white-space:nowrap| July 23, 1976
| 3:00&nbsp;p.m.
|-
| July 26, 1976
| January 13, 1978
| 3:15&nbsp;p.m.
| 45
|-
| January 16, 1978
| September 7, 2012
| 3:00&nbsp;p.m.
| rowspan="2"| 60
|-
| September 10, 2012
| present
| 2:00&nbsp;p.m.{{efn|In September 2014, ''General Hospital'' reclaimed its former time slot of 3:00&nbsp;p.m. Eastern/2:00 Central and Pacific on ABC [[owned-and-operated station]]s in [[WABC-TV|New York City]], [[WPVI-TV|Philadelphia]], [[WTVD|Raleigh–Durham]], [[WLS-TV|Chicago]], [[KTRK-TV|Houston]], [[KGO-TV|San Francisco]] and [[KABC-TV|Los Angeles]]; and affiliate [[KSAT-TV]] in [[San Antonio]].<ref name="Timeslot Swap (September 2014)">{{cite web|last=Lewis |first=Errol |title=''General Hospital'' Time Slot Switch: The Affected Stations Fall Afternoon Lineups |url=http://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2014/08/general-hospital-time-slot-switch-affected-station-fall-afternoon-lineups |website=Soap Opera Network |publisher=Manti, Inc. |access-date=April 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821042044/http://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2014/08/general-hospital-time-slot-switch-affected-station-fall-afternoon-lineups |archive-date=August 21, 2014 |location=United States |date=August 19, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Fairman|first=Michael|title=Monday: ''General Hospital'' Is On The Move With Its Timeslot Change In 8 Major Markets!|url=http://michaelfairmansoaps.com/news/monday-general-hospital-is-on-the-move-with-its-timeslot-change-in-8-major-markets/2014/09/05/|work=Michael Fairman On-Air On-Soaps|access-date=April 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908223447/http://michaelfairmansoaps.com/news/monday-general-hospital-is-on-the-move-with-its-timeslot-change-in-8-major-markets/2014/09/05/|archive-date=September 8, 2014|location=United States|date=September 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=GH'S Time Slot Change Takes Place Today!|url=http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/ghs-time-slot-change-takes-place-today|access-date=April 6, 2015|work=[[Soap Opera Digest]]|agency=[[American Media (publisher)|American Media]]|date=September 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413012937/http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/ghs-time-slot-change-takes-place-today|archive-date=April 13, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2025, ''General Hospital'' will reclaim its former 3:00&nbsp;p.m. Eastern/2:00 Central and Pacific time slot on [[Boston]] affiliate [[WCVB-TV]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tenser |first1=Phil |title=WCVB announces programming schedule changes for fall 2025 |url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/wcvb-announces-programming-schedule-changes-for-fall-2025/65865207 |access-date=August 23, 2025 |agency=[[WCVB-TV]] |publisher=[[Hearst Television]] |date=August 21, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250823191621/https://www.wcvb.com/article/wcvb-announces-programming-schedule-changes-for-fall-2025/65865207 |archive-date=August 23, 2025 |location=United States |language=en |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Errol |title=Boston Affiliate WCVB Announces ''General Hospital'' Will Swap Time Slots With ''The Jennifer Hudson Show'' |url=https://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2025/08/wcvb-general-hospital-the-jennifer-hudson-show |publisher=[[Soap Opera Digest]] |access-date=August 23, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250823191415/https://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2025/08/wcvb-general-hospital-the-jennifer-hudson-show |archive-date=August 23, 2025 |location=United States |date=August 22, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>}}
|}

====Notes====
{{refbegin|}}

ABC stations in the [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain]] and [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]] time zones, and in [[Alaska]] and [[Hawaii]] follow a Central Time Zone schedule for daytime programming; thus, ''General Hospital'' is scheduled by the network to air at 1:00&nbsp;p.m. in these areas.
{{refend}}

===Ratings history===
''For historical ratings information, see [[List of American daytime soap opera ratings]]''

;Years as #1 series
{| class="wikitable"
|+ ''General Hospital'' ratings history
! Year(s) || Household Rating
|-
|1979–1980 || 9.9
|-
|1980–1981 || 11.4
|-
|1981–1982 || 11.2
|-
|1982–1983 || 9.8
|-
|1983–1984 || 10.0
|-
|1984–1985 || 9.1
|-
|1985–1986 || 9.2
|-
|1986–1987 || 8.3
 |-
|1987–1988 || 8.1 (Tied with ''[[The Young and the Restless]]'')
|}

;Highest-rated week in daytime history (November 16–20, 1981)
:(Household ratings, [[Nielsen Media Research]])

{| class="wikitable"
|+ ''General Hospital'' ratings history
! Serial || Household rating || (Time slot) network || Millions of households
|-
|1. ''General Hospital'' || 16.0 || (3–4pm) ABC || 13,040,000
|-
|2. ''All My Children'' || 10.2 || (1–2pm) ABC || 8,313,000
|-
|3. ''One Life to Live'' || 10.2 || (2–3pm) ABC || 8,313,000
|-
|4. ''Guiding Light'' || 7.9 || (3–4pm) CBS || 6,438,500
|}

==Parodies and references in other media==
The popularity of ''General Hospital'' has gained it many parodies and references in other mainstream programs. For example:
*In the early 1990s, some episodes of ''General Hospital'' were featured as "shorts" during the fourth season of the parody show ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]''. 
*The series was also parodied/homaged in the song "General Hospi-Tale" by [[The Afternoon Delights]],<ref name="NYT 25">{{cite news|title=At a Ripe 25, 'Hospital' Is Healthy|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/02/arts/at-a-ripe-25-hospital-is-healthy.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 19, 2012|agency=Associated Press|date=April 2, 1988|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114143405/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/02/arts/at-a-ripe-25-hospital-is-healthy.html|archive-date=November 14, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and in the film ''[[Tootsie]]'', which took place among the cast and crew of a fictional soap opera program. 
*In the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] medical drama ''[[House (TV series)|House]]'', [[Gregory House]] enjoys ''Prescription Passion'', which is an over-the-top parody of ''General Hospital'' that he watches constantly. In the season three episode, "[[Half-Wit]]", House hides his blood test results under the name, "Luke N. Laura", referring to ''General Hospital''{{'}}s popular couple. 
*In the 1970s, ''[[The Muppet Show]]'' had a recurring sketch called "Veterinarian's Hospital" parodying the hospital soap opera/drama genre clearly inspired by ''General Hospital'' and shows like it. 
*''[[Mad TV]]'' did a sketch on the series with actors [[Jacklyn Zeman]], [[Rebecca Herbst]], and [[Jacob Young]]. 
*The 1982 comedy film ''[[Young Doctors in Love]]'' featured a large part of General Hospital's cast from 1982. 
*The February 23, 2000 episode of ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'' covers a ''faux'' segment of the program with regards to [[David Letterman#Heart surgery hiatus|David Letterman]]'s heart surgery.<ref>{{YouTube|id=hIrWLu18Ig?t=69|title=How the media covered Dave's surgery}}</ref>
*In a 2010 episode of ''[[The Colbert Report]]'', comedian [[Stephen Colbert]] poked fun at the show, responding to a clip of [[Maurice Benard]]'s [[Sonny Corinthos]] shooting [[Dominic Zamprogna]]'s [[Dante Falconeri]], satirically screaming, "Sonny shot Dante! No!"<ref name="Colbert Report 7/6/10">{{cite episode| title = Latest Soap Opera News| url = http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/340894/july-06-2010/latest-soap-opera-news?xrs=share_copy| series = The Colbert Report| credits = [[Stephen Colbert]]| network = [[Comedy Central]]| airdate = July 6, 2012| minutes = 0:00:50| access-date = July 8, 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100712141256/http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/340894/july-06-2010/latest-soap-opera-news?xrs=share_copy| archive-date = July 12, 2010| url-status = live}}</ref>
* In the ABC comedy ''[[The Goldbergs (2013 TV series)|The Goldbergs]]'', Erica and Adam frequently watch ''General Hospital'' together.
* In the book series ''Virgin River'' by [[Robyn Carr]], Mel mentions watching ''General Hospital'' in nursing school.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Carr|first=Robyn|title=Virgin River|year=2007|isbn=978-0778314158}}</ref>

==Spin-offs and specials==
The success of the long-running soap opera has had one sister serial, one spinoff in the United States, and two primetime spinoffs in the United States and the United Kingdom.

''[[The Young Marrieds]]'' was ABC's first attempt at a sister serial for ''General Hospital''. It ran for only two years, racking up a total of 380 episodes. Despite its moderate popularity, it was aired against [[CBS]]'s top-rated ''[[The Edge of Night]]'', which it could not compete against. The series finale aired on March 25, 1966, with the show's main protagonist contemplating suicide. It ended in a cliffhanger, leaving the audience wondering if the man had killed himself or not. ''The Young Marrieds'' was set in the fictional suburb of Queen's Point, which was considered by the writers to be a suburb of ''[[Port Charles]]''.

The British television series ''[[General Hospital (British TV series)|General Hospital]]''  did not feature any characters from the American show, but was modeled after its format. It started as a half-hour program broadcast in the afternoons, which was unusual for British serials that normally aired in prime time. In 1975, it was expanded to an hour-long format and moved to Friday evenings.

''Port Charles'' was a daytime drama that initially featured interns in a competitive medical school program,<ref name="PC Spinoff">{{cite news|title='GH' spawns spinoff 'Port Charles'|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nj06AAAAIBAJ&dq=scotty-baldwin%20general-hospital&pg=4525%2C623818|access-date=December 31, 2012|newspaper=Reading Eagle|date=June 1, 1997|author=Tribune Media Services}}</ref> and was known for having more action actually in the hospital than ''General Hospital'' itself. It also included the characters of [[Scott Baldwin]], [[List of General Hospital characters (1990s)|Serena Baldwin]], [[Lucy Coe]], [[List of General Hospital characters (1990s)|Kevin Collins]], and [[List of General Hospital characters (1990s)|Karen Wexler]], all of whom originally appeared as characters on ''General Hospital''.<ref name="PC Spinoff"/> As the show evolved, it tended more towards gothic intrigue, including supernatural elements such as [[vampire]]s and [[afterlife]]. It also switched formats from an open-ended daytime serial to 13-week story arcs known as "books", similar to Spanish-language [[telenovela]]s.

''[[General Hospital: Night Shift]]'' is the second American prime time spinoff of a daytime drama (the first being ''[[Our Private World]]'', a spinoff of ''As the World Turns''). Its first season aired from July 12, 2007, to October 4, 2007, on [[Soapnet]], a cable channel owned by ABC.<ref name="SC Feb 2007">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.soapcentral.com/gh/news/2007/0212-nightshift.php |title=''GH'' Spinoff Planned For SOAPnet |magazine=Soap Central |date=February 12, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202001913/http://www.soapcentral.com/gh/news/2007/0212-nightshift.php |archive-date=December 2, 2008}}</ref> The series follows the nighttime adventures of familiar and new characters around the hospital. As of March 2008, the first season of the series was "Soapnet's most-watched series ever", with ABC Daytime and Soapnet President [[Brian Frons]] noting that ''Night Shift'' drew more than 1 million new viewers to the channel during its first season.<ref name="THR 2008-05-27">{{cite web|last=Nordyke |first=Kimberly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100907085325/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i92f29f82847baa410bb0749250d9db07 |archive-date= September 7, 2010 |access-date= March 8, 2013 |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i92f29f82847baa410bb0749250d9db07 |title=SoapNet renews 'Night Shift' |work= [[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher= hollywoodreporter.com |date= May 27, 2008}}</ref>

''[[General Hospital: Twist of Fate]]'' was a primetime special that aired on Saturday, December 14, 1996. The episode picked up where that Friday's show had left off. The special centered on Laura's supposed death at the hands of [[List of General Hospital characters (1990s)|Stefan Cassadine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://despairintheafternoon.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/twist-of-fate/|title=The Best of S&B: "Twist of Fate"|work=despairintheafternoon|last=Tenillypo|date=September 3, 2009|access-date=December 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019064354/https://despairintheafternoon.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/twist-of-fate/|archive-date=October 19, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 2, 1998, ''General Hospital'' aired a primetime special in celebration of the program's 35th anniversary. Hosted by [[Anthony Geary]], the show focused and recapped on many popular storylines including [[Monica Quartermaine]]'s breast cancer, [[Children of General Hospital|BJ]]'s death, and [[Stone Cates]]' battle with HIV. This was the first anniversary special that was broadcast in primetime and that did not include any of the current storyline.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/general-hospital/season-35/35th-anniversary-special-66.aspx|title=General Hospital|work=buddytv.com|access-date=December 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209155319/http://www.buddytv.com/general-hospital/season-35/35th-anniversary-special-66.aspx|archive-date=December 9, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/tv/show/48353/General-Hospital-35th-Anniversary-Show/overview|title=General Hospital 35th Anniversary Show|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211132734/http://www.nytimes.com/tv/show/48353/General-Hospital-35th-Anniversary-Show/overview|archive-date=December 11, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 6, 2013, as part of the show's 50th anniversary commemoration, ABC's newsmagazine ''[[20/20 (American TV program)|20/20]]'' aired ''General Hospital: The Real Soap Dish''—a retrospective and behind-the-scenes special hosted by [[Katie Couric]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.channelguidemag.com/tv-news/2013/03/22/katie-couric-2020-special-general-hospital/|title=Katie Couric special goes behind the scenes of General Hospital|date=March 22, 2013|website=Channel Guide Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=January 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110183356/https://www.channelguidemag.com/tv-news/2013/03/22/katie-couric-2020-special-general-hospital/|archive-date=January 10, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 5, 2014, it was announced that cast member [[Nancy Lee Grahn]] would begin to host a companion web series for ABC.com in January 2015, ''General Hospital Now!'', which would feature behind-the-scenes interviews with fellow cast members, as well as panel discussions with comedians who are fans of the show.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2014/12/nancy-lee-grahn-hosted-general-hospital-now-hits-abc-com-beginning-january-2015|title=Nancy Lee Grahn Hosted 'General Hospital Now' Hits ABC.com Beginning January 2015|date=December 2, 2014|website=Soap Opera Network|language=en-US|access-date=January 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613011624/http://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2014/12/nancy-lee-grahn-hosted-general-hospital-now-hits-abc-com-beginning-january-2015|archive-date=June 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2014/10/coming-soon-general-hospital-now-hosted-nancy-lee-grahn|title=COMING SOON: 'General Hospital Now' Hosted by Nancy Lee Grahn|work=Soap Opera Network|last=Lewis|first=Errol|date=October 1, 2014|access-date=December 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217220247/http://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2014/10/coming-soon-general-hospital-now-hosted-nancy-lee-grahn|archive-date=December 17, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://soaps.sheknows.com/generalhospital/news/id/40047/General_Hospitals_Nancy_Lee_Grahns_General_Hospita/|title=General Hospital's Nancy Lee Grahn's General Hospital Now.|work=soaps.sheknows.com|date=December 1, 2014|access-date=December 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211103543/http://soaps.sheknows.com/generalhospital/news/id/40047/General_Hospitals_Nancy_Lee_Grahns_General_Hospita/|archive-date=December 11, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On May 15 and 18, 2015, ''General Hospital'' aired two live episodes as part of its 52nd anniversary celebration, using the [[hashtag]] #GHLive to promote the broadcast on social media.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/article/general-hospital-live-abc-may|title=You Won't Believe What General Hospital Has Planned For May|work=people.com|date=April 2, 2015|access-date=October 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409131348/http://www.people.com/article/general-hospital-live-abc-may|archive-date=April 9, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

On December 15, 2023, it was announced ABC would air a primetime special ''General Hospital: 60 Years of Stars and Storytelling'', in celebration of the soap's sixtieth anniversary. The special featured interviews with present and former cast members, behind-the-scenes footage, blooper reels and a "special fan tribute".<ref>{{cite web |author=The Deadline Team |author-link=Deadline Hollywood |title=ABC to Celebrate ''General Hospital'' with ''60 Years of Stars and Storytelling'' Special in January |url=https://deadline.com/2023/12/abc-general-hospital-anniversary-special-60-years-of-stars-and-storytelling-special-january-1235669717/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |access-date=December 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216141908/https://deadline.com/2023/12/abc-general-hospital-anniversary-special-60-years-of-stars-and-storytelling-special-january-1235669717/ |archive-date=December 16, 2023 |location=United States |date=December 15, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> The special aired on January 4, 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last=Donnelly |first=Jim |title=Watch ''General Hospital: 60 Years of Stars & Storytelling'' Thursday, January 4 |url=https://abc.com/news/insider/watch-general-hospital-60-years-of-stars-and-storytelling-on-abc-and-the-abc-app-hulu |access-date=December 16, 2023 |work=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] |date=December 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216142712/https://abc.com/news/insider/watch-general-hospital-60-years-of-stars-and-storytelling-on-abc-and-the-abc-app-hulu |archive-date=December 16, 2023 |location=United States |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
===Notes===
{{notelist}}

===Citations===
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Gary Warner, ''General Hospital: The Complete Scrapbook'', Stoddart (November 1995), {{ISBN|1-881649-40-7}}
* Gerard J. Waggett, ''The Official General Hospital Trivia Book'', ABC (October 1997), {{ISBN|0-7868-8275-1}}

==External links==
* [http://abc.go.com/shows/general-hospital Official website]
* {{IMDb title|0056758}}
* {{EmmyTVLegends title|general-hospital|General Hospital}}
* [https://archives.lib.umd.edu/repositories/2/resources/1669 Fielden Farrington scripts], at the [[University of Maryland Libraries|University of Maryland libraries]]. Contains scripts for ''General Hospital'' from 1975 to 1976.

{{General Hospital}}
{{General Hospital characters}}
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|title = [[List of General Hospital awards|Awards for ''General Hospital'']]
|list  = 
{{Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series}}
{{Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team}}
{{Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team}}
{{Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Daytime Serials}}
}}
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