Fans Are Wondering, When Will General Hospital Spread The Love?

I don't see how a professional writer and producer can be so blind to the effects of their work. The fan pages are harsh to condem how poorly the show is being written, the audience screams for the vets and the history of the show to return, the one dimensional storytelling is dismal at best. The ratings of the show contine to tank week after week. If I were wanting my business to fail I would follow the exact pattern the people in charge of the show are following. This is all just to obvious to me that the true intention here is for the show to sink so low in the ratings it gives the network a reason to cancel it. At this point I think this is the true agenda of ABC is to get rid of the daytime lineup all together. Otherwise, there is no reason why they would continue to leave the people in charge who have year after year driven this show into the ground.

Bad, boring storylines and writing is the problem, not the overkill by certain actors. Was anyone complaining in the 80s about over-saturation?
After decades of faithful watching and recording all ABC soaps, I sadly have come to the conclusion, soaps are no longer for me. All 3 are dreadful. I will never understand why they cannot get great writers and great actors on these shows.

My question is: why did anyone expect any different from GH? As soon as VM's return was announced, I knew it would become Brenda Hospital again. Bob Guza went on record to say that if anyone could raise ratings, it would be her (the amount of schadenfreude I derive, given the current state of their ratings, amuses me to no end). It was obvious they were hedging their bets on Brenda coming back, and until they learn to listen to something other the sound of their hands patting themselves on the back, things aren't going to change.

General Hospital should just change it's name to "General Mobsters" or "Specifically Brenda". Guza and Frons never heard the expression "a little goes a long way". They hear that the fans like something so they play it into the ground, with the head-scratching exception being the Q's or Liason. I KNEW Brenda would eat the show. She did the last time she was on and then when she left, so did a lot of viewers b/c there wasn't much interesting story w/o her. The "classic" episodes ABC has been airing every so often serve to show how unbalanced this show has become. What puzzles me most though is the response to DC's best/worst polls this week. GH "won" worst soap. GH on it's worst day is still better than AMC on it's best day right now. At least GH has characters I care about in stories that have some interest, most notably the secret between Brenda and Dante. I can't sit through an entire episode of AMC and I used to love that show. I commend Luke and Regan for watching it for the podcasts so I don't have to!

I remember thinking when I heard that VM coming back everything was going to change and it will become the Brenda show. I was right. And when Sarah Brown came back, Claudia was constantly thrown in our faces. Her presence made the show very dark. Neither did/does anything for me.

At the Port Chuck show at Staten Island, Bradford said that Brenda's presence was going to change everything for everybody.

I remember the 80s and how it was the Luke and Laura show in the beginning of the decade until Genie Frances left.

Doesn't much matter to me anyway -- I haven't watched since the day Jake was kidnapped and don't see any reason to come back and watch.

Viewers knew from painful experience that even the return of VM would not bring back the return of good writing and they did not come back.

this failure is plainly on GUZA shoulders; viewers know that no matter WHO is back or passing by, the writing will STILL be awful.

Enough said, we all know that the only way to save GH is to get rid of Guza and since it won't happen the next question is: How long will it take until it completely tank, it is almost there!

Not only is the show everything Brenda, but just like Sonny every man in PC has to trip over themselves at the sight of her? Another unbelievable thing is Sonny and Claire; GH squandered the actress' chemistry with JJ but nice to see that he will be getting his own storyline!

ktuc, It is not only the men falling all over themselves at the sight of her but Guza is doing one of my biggest pet peeves about soaps in having the women feel intimidated by her. I'm sorry, but this go around I just do not see it and I really am not feeling anything since she returned. So having Maxie and Lulu reciting such garbage as "every man wants Brenda Barrett and every woman wants to be Brenda Barrett" is beyond stupid. Even having Carly go bat shit over her return is too much. This incarnation of Carly is way over the top for me but since Brenda's return she has been even harder to stomach. The only confrontation that really merited my interest was her meeting Sam because Sam was such an obvious supposed look alike but that even fell flat. So far this is both a creative and ratings disappointment. But the blame lies with Guza who has decided to write the show around her. GH fans are the most consistent when it comes to showing the powers that be their discontent in the ratings so they need to pick it up since this is a sweeps month. A soap opera works if you spread the wealth. You have a slew of talented actors Guza, use them. Nancy Lee Grahn is on the sideline for this? C'mon Guza, this is a wake up call!

When a newbie, Dante, reaches 12 months in a row the Number 1 spot in the Episode Counts and ends up with almost 20 episodes more than Sonny/Maurice Besnard (which is a full month of GH !!!), there is something definitively wrong. Even Brenda/VM has been out a few days since she has been back. I have read that DZ has broken the record of the highest number of consecutive days of any soap in the history of TV with 72 days in a row.

This illustrates so perfectly the problem of the show for me. Guza seems so desperate that when he feels that the audience likes someone or a pairing or a storyline, it is shoved down our throat until we cannot stop throwing it up. People including myself loved Dominic Pirelli ... then he started to be on every day, then he was revealed Sonny's son and was non stop thrown to our faces as well as his endless and tacky love scenes with stupid Lulu. The result of this ? Dante has turned in a record time from a loved character to a hated character (even myself who considered myself as one of the earliest member of the Dante hate club must confess that I am surprised of how trashed Dante is everywhere as well as Lante. Guza with his addiction to his new pet has ruined a character who could have been a great one and a couple everybody started making fun at since the blurred and overpromoted first sex scene and has now become a total joke since it was revealed that all Dante has done since the beginning is lie to Lulu.

Same for storyline. No promotion (everything was for Brenda of course) but the Scrubs / Lisa was a real hit with the fans. Because it was perfectly built up (and slowly built up !) until Mr Guza realized that people seem more interested in Scrubs/Lisa than Brenda laughing like a hyena in Rome (wonder why ...) and then it's "let's play this Scrubs/lisa thing again and again if people loved it" Except that the "Lisa/Scrubs The return" was written in such a pathetic and lazy way that the audience is hating it ! Because it makes zero sense ! And now Brianna Brown has been signed up for one more year ! And Guza must be scratching his head wondering what he did wrong when it is all in front of him since the beginning !

1 - Stop thinking that bringing back characters that people used to love will "save the show". All the other characters have moved on and it is as if we are asked to forget about what we have watched in the past 5-10 years ! Sonny has been involved with so many women but now we have to swallow that he has never stopped thinking about Brenda ? When her name was barely pronounced during the past 5 years ? When he was declaring his love to Carly ? To Kate ?

2 - Stop considering the audience as pure idiots. You cannot train us to love a character. The more we feel manipulated the more we are going to reject the character and the pairing ! Don't you find interesting that for the past 2 months (that is to say 4 SID issues), both MB and VM are in the top three of the favorite soap actors but are NOWHERE to be found in the SID Couple top 10 ? That the last published SOD poll got 60% for "I like Brenda and Dante secret" and only 40% for "I don't like it - I want Sonny/Brenda and Dante/Lulu". I know it is difficult to find any Lante fan remaining those days but I haven't seen ONE poll where a Sonny/Brenda reunion was winning !!!

3 - Stop writing actor (not even character !) driven storylines. Write GOOD storylines first and then mix the amazing actors/actresses team of GH on it. GIVE BALANCE and CONSISTENCY to the show (what OLTL is doing perfectly well lately ! And look what happens, the cheapest of the ABC soaps is now Number 1 of the ABC soaps !!!

Guza must have problem swallowing laely watching his own figures compared with OLTL. The show has lost an average 11% of viewers since the day poor Vanessa has come back to this mess to mainly condone everything Sonny does and say stupid things as "I couldn't be with Alexander because he was a CRIMINAL ...". Because Sonny is what ? A pre-school teacher ? DId I miss something ? The Brenda we have on screen is a Pod Brenda ...
The real Brenda would NEVER have condoned Sonny putting a bomb under Johnny's car. So don't look further about why viewers are unhappy....
This is all so sad but I have the feeling that even if Genie Francis (the last possible ace in Guza's sleeve) comes back as it is rumored, it is going to be ruined too and as long as this man will write for this show, it will slowly but surely head towards mediocrity and disaster ...

I really have to wonder why Jill Phelps and Bob Guza still have jobs. You would think ABC would at least try a different regime to get a different outcome (higher ratings). But Frons probably thinks he can "train" the viewers. That or there are some goat pictures involved.

Well I seem to differ from most of the opinions here because I'm loving having Brenda back and I think most of the storylines are pretty good right now. I also like how the different stories are all tying into each other: lucky's connection to the balkan tying into brenda/jason. Dante's connection to Sonny tying into Brenda. I like when Lucky and Jason and Dante work together.

That being said, here are the things I have a problem with: I love the Scrubs storyline but it should have ended when Patrick got Robin out of the well and Lisa was sent to Shady Brook. It felt very contrived to have her released that soon and sent back to the hospital and as CRAZY as Lisa has acted, it is ridiculous that Patrick or anyone else would doubt Robin.

As far as every woman being jealous of Brenda and everyman being crazy for her, that's not really that unrealistic given the history. Jax and Sonny have both always loved Brenda and have always fought over her, so it is completely understandable to me that Carly would be throwing a fit. She always has when it comes to Brenda and Carly knows that Brenda is the only other woman that will ever be TRUE competition for her when it comes to Sonny and Jax. And Carly thinks she owns Jax, Jason and Sonny so its perfectly reasonable that she would be afraid of Brenda stepping in on her territory. As far as Lulu, I would dislike Brenda too and be jealous if I found out that my boyfriend had lied about knowing her. Spinelli is just being Spinelli and that isn't unbelievable to me that he would be acting like he is, or that Maxie would be jealous. Maxie has been jealous of any other woman coming into Spinelli's orbit. Other than that, I do think it is a bit far fetched that they are acting like EVERY MAN is in love with Brenda. For Sam to be worried and attempt to break up with Jason was ludicrous because Jason can barely stand Brenda.

Regarding Sonny having always been in love with Brenda. Yes, Sonny has been with MULTIPLE other women since Brenda. But we have always known that Sonny has had unresolved feelings and love for Brenda. That doesn't mean he never loved anyone else. In my opinion, Sonny has only truly ever been in love with Brenda and Carly. Carly being the only other woman that he loved as much as/ or more than Brenda. The other women, IMO, were just a way for him to have someone in his life. So, for him to be saying that he's always loved Brenda, I completely believe that a part of him always has. However, I do feel like the writers are being unrealistic and degrading the shows/characters history by acting like Sonny and Brenda have always been the ONLY loves of each others lives. This negates Sonny's deep love for Carly and Brenda's for Jax. I think that they are re-writing history to act like Sonny and Brenda have been wanting each other only all these years because the last 2 times Brenda was in love and in a serious relationship on camera were both with Jax. As a true Jax/Brenda fan, that ticks me off that they are acting like her love for Jax wasn't as great as her love for Sonny.

Regarding the underuse of other actors and one horse storylines, I completely agree. Although I love Jason and the mob stuff, it is too much. This is General HOSPITAL and 90% of the storylines are about the mob. I have been reading for quite some time on message boards that the fans are tired of GH being all about the mob and Jason/Sonny/Carly. I don't like how stories are started and barely shown or dropped (Mac and Alexis story, Michael's prison incident, Valentin Cassedine). And I don't like that core families are never shown (The Quartermaine's). And I don't like that new characters are brought on for no purpose (Maya) when talented actors/actresses and favorite characters are never shown (Alexis)and new characters are shown too much (Dante). I was a HUGE Dante fan at first but now am growing sick of him too.

Regarding bringing back old characters. If its done right, it can be good. But please figure out what you are going to do with them BEFORE bringing them back. Example: Brooklyn. She first came back to mix it up with Dante/Lulu for Carly. That was sporadically shown for months (we were supposed to assume she was working on it), then it was shown like 2-3 days and resolved immediately. They also had her sing at Jakes which made us think maybe she was going to focus on her singing. Then, they had her mix it up with Johnny a few times, leading us to believe they may FINALLY get over the Johnny/Olivia crap. Then they shoved her at Windemere with Nikolas leading us to believe they would have a big story and it is barely shown. And PLEASE, how many times can Olivia decide she can't be with Johnny because of what he does and then run back for a booty call?

Regarding Genie Francis and Laura. I have been watching GH since the 80's and the Cassidine/Spencer/Scorpio era. Guza has NO BUSINESS bringing back Laura unless he is going to deliver and keep the character integrity of Luke/Laura and their history intact and show it/them respect. Last time Laura was brought back was ridiculous. Luke and Tracy are cute and funny but there is NO WAY at all in the world of GH and PCharles that I KNOW OF where Luke Spencer would be with ANYONE else while Laura is alone on the other side of the world!

My hope is that when the Balkan storyline concludes, the 'Brenda show' will slow down too. I only watched periodically when Brenda was on the 1st time, so I don't have a huge recollection of Brenda the character. Honestly, Brenda annoys the hell out of me, but Vanessa Marcil is an incredible actress. Her chemistry with SB is spot on and would love to see them as a couple, but it is obvious that she is meant for Sonny.

My respect for Dante flew out the window last week when he flat out lied to Lulu about his relationship with Brenda. Why can't he trust Lulu?

I don't think the writing is bad. I just think the focus on certain characters should be shifted to others.

BTW - LOVE Lucky and Siobhan!

Aramis-just Ditto to every word you wrote!

Beans for me that post hits a chord with me, because I do love all things Brenda.

Though I wish Guza would have gone about it in a different less shoving it down my throat sort of way.

I just want to yell and scream!!! What isn't ABC listening to the fans? They are clearly not happy with the show! Every major bloggers and soap reporter ought to be writing about it! How do we get our voices heard?

Hmmmm, I find GH to be one of the best of the three that I do watch. I watch Y & R and B & B and can barely make it through either soap. I guess each one has its issues. I wouldn't miss GH at all even though I have some of the same dislikes as others - too much Dante being the primary one. At least it holds my interest for the hour unlike the others that sometimes get deleted without being watched.

I am all for balance and allowing the veterans to come out of the closet. Why can't Robins father or mother be around especially now. Nurse Bobby should be all over the hospital and interacting with carly. As much crazy people as they have running around GH Lainey should be busy. Lucy Co should take over the magazine there is just so much vets can do that will instantly energize GH. The Cassadines and Qs should be front and center. the list goes on and on...

I stil tune in now and then hoping to see other people but lo and behold, there they are Dante, his sidekick Lulu and the all mighty Brenda.

AMC is certainly not the most interesting soap currently (although I have the feeling this week is a dealbreaker) at least they know a thing or two about balance.

GH just overdoes it. They get some postive feedback (like with Lante) and then they shove lante down people's throats that even the Lante fans can't really defend them being on 24/7

TomZ and aramis: AMEN!

Today was another example of BRENDAGATE!! Hell, Claire, Jason, Jax, Olivia, Carly, Johnny, Spinelli, Sonny and that woman whose name I keep forgetting about were talking about her---and she was ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OVERKILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But at least I got to enjoy my Luke and Tracy!! And I am starting to warm up to Maya and Ethan!!!!

And her insistence on eating nothing but organic food really irks me!! LOL! She needs a cheeseburger or something---it wouldn't kill her to gain a few pounds!!

Okay, now I am just being petty and superficial, but I am on Bren-Duh overload!!

P.S- I do actually LIKE the character of Brenda and I have nothing against Vanessa, but there are only a few characters on that show that I can handle being exposed to NINE days a week, and unfortunately she ain't one of them!!!

Ratings are in for the week - Nelson had them in his column. GH up 125K and back in first for abc soaps.

If we keep sending mixed messages like this, nothing is ever going to change!

I adore VMG and her character Brenda Barrett. I am so happy she is back but GH has definitely gone on Brenda overload. Now don't get me wrong, I have loved all of her scenes, especially Vanessa's scenes with Steve Burton, but definitely way too much.

Give me more Elizabeth. She has hardly been on since her return. I would enjoy watching Elizabeth sharing scenes with Jason once again. I would enjoy watching Jason, Elizabeth and their son Jake interacting. I would enjoy watching Jason interacting with the Q's. too. Just an FYI.

I completely agree Luke! Great article.

Aramis270, I agree with everything in your post i dont care about ratings i want the show that i use to love back when we had family ,friendships and love in the afternoon i remember when GH use to win an emmy just about every year for best daytime drama (

Give me more Elizabeth. She has hardly been on since her return. I would enjoy watching Elizabeth sharing scenes with Jason once again. I would enjoy watching Jason, Elizabeth and their son Jake interacting. I would enjoy watching Jason interacting with the Q's. too. Just an FYI.
Word, Kelly8970. I totally agree with you!!

I agree with the majority, I have nothing against VMG or Brenda, but the problem is that it's becoming all Brenda, all the time and the storyline has been bad.

The Scrubs storyline has been good, but the effects haven't been because why is Lisa still working at the hospital?

I do like Ethan and Maya, but again not a lot of Alexis and not much Liz since she's been back.

This soap needs a complete overhaul, if not it could be getting the axed sooner rather than later.

As always great article, Luke!!!!!

I knew this would happen why peeps thought Jr. would change at this late date behooves me...what did he think would happen when he sequestered her in a Jason storyline? When nearly all his story lines has tanked for the last few years.

1. It was classic baitNswitch instead of Sonny / Brenda its some stupid quad with two newbies from nowhere riding on their coattails for buzz..Brenda should be in the Robin storyline period...

Dante is overexposed and has too much story more than he can handle ... while others are gasping for air he's on every day and the word is many are sick of him and his unprecedented amount of airtime...Rumor has it he has more air than any character on any soap this past year. It was a bad bad move to ensconced him with this backstory...huge mistake of monumental proportions. SnB fans tuned in to a train wreck from what I'm reading. But the writers do this all the time .... just leave a tender moment alone (Billy Joel) stop with this silly crap and lo and behold a baby WTD and all this...

This is how she should have come on plain and simple she should not have been used for this lightweight angst between couples...She should have been sharing scenes with her best friend and be involved with her goddaughter. SnB should be pure fluff angst is good but not on the "onset" of this storyline Bob starts off with angst right away Boom the push/pull nonsense its boring he tells stories the "same way." It has to be a variety of storytelling styles not the same shit warmed over.

Yes the Balkan storyline should have kicked in with the protect me, save me damsel in distress that Jr. keeps writing over and over again. Bob is continuing to destroy the history of GH and "characters" with historical ties to the show to replace all with his "new characters" in the same ole story lines just new faces.

Its a horrible storyline and it doesn't make sense on so many levels. I didn't see Brenda's first run (just on Utube) but those that post at our website have said repeatedly this is not the Brenda Barret they watched, and he's taken a hatchet to her character. GH is weak because of the writing of the stories its how they "tell their stories" that is a flaw IMO

This should have been a simple between this popular pairing...I don't know how long Vanessa is around so it should be a love story that's it! They don't need all this nonsense ... they don't much angst for awhile because they have built in conflict; major angst can come towards the tail end of her run. If soap characters should ever have been written as a Harlequin Romance these two should be it

...yes your mustache twirling drive by villain (the Balkan)can still be after her and all that but Sonny should be protecting her not her stuck in PimPhse2.

Don't let my screen name confuse you. That is my way of sarcasm!!

The obsession that Guza has with this character is overwhelmingly sick!!
How many women want to be like another women?? Maybe when we were 13?? I certainly don't want to be anyone but myself. C'mon writers. Surely you must know that much about grown women!!??
Who behaves like a jr. highschool student, more than BB?? Her sleeves down covering her fingers. Isn't that the fashion for jr.high school girls? Did you ever see her walk?? She almost is skipping!! And her fragile state of mind is a killer. Yea, most women want to be like her. NOT!!!!!!!

I am a fan who would like to see the history of GH played out again. If originals aren't available, or GH can't afford them, then recast. So much history with the Webbers & Q's. Speaking of Webbers, why isn't Dr Steve shown in his grandfather's office, sitting behind the desk of where Dr Hardy sat for soo many years?? Instead he floods the hallways like a candystriper instead of a Dr!!
And Q's, why can't Monica be dating?? Or better yet, why can't she know about Jake being her grandchild??

WAKE UP General Hospital!!