General Hospital celebrated 62 years on the air on Tuesday, April 1. Laura dedicated a new cardiac center in Monica’s honor and thanked Sonny for his contribution in making it happen. Lucy showed up and talked about the Nurse’s Ball. Anna was…there. Now let’s talk about who — and what — didn’t make an appearance.
The Lady of the Hour
The hospital was named after Monica (Leslie Charleson), a long-time GH cardiac surgeon. Charleson passed away this past January. She hadn’t been seen on-screen in years.
Would this have been the perfect occasion to announce Monica’s death and to celebrate her life and legacy? Instead, Tracy (Jane Elliot) told us Monica couldn’t make it and referred to some vague breathing issues. Is the show planning to do a tribute to Monica and Charleson at some point down the line? Or do they plan to keep her in limbo indefinitely?
MORE: Find out what happens next week on GH.
Show Not Tell
A tribute to Charleson could have had flashbacks. Monica’s affair with Rick (Chris Robinson). Monica’s battle with breast cancer. Monica’s adoption of Emily (Amber Tamblyn) and Jason (Steve Burton), and her ultimately losing all of her children, including biological kids AJ (Sean Kanan) and Dawn (Sharon Case — yes, the one for Y&R), in a variety of ways, and some more than once. We could have relived those memories with her.
History Through Fiction
It also might have been nice to see a video of original cast members John Bernadino (Steve) and Emily McClaughlin (Jessie). Steve and Audrey’s (Rachel Ames) granddaughter, Elizabeth (Rebecca Hearbst), is not only head nurse now, she was also supposedly in a hospital room on the same floor, healing from a broken leg after a car accident.
How about a reminder about former head nurse Bobbie (Jaclyn Zeaman)? Or, when Laura (Genie Francis) talked about being a candy stripper, we actually saw it? Instead, all we got were Lucy’s (Lynne Herrings) many outfits. Happy anniversary, GH!
Share this: