Volume I, Issue iv

December 1998

From the Editor by Amy McWilliams

Happy Holidays! Whatever holiday you're celebrating, we at the General Hospital Review hope that it's a happy one.

In our December issue, we've continued our attempt to bring you both established columns and new ideas. Teresa Leslie begins our newest column, "Set Pieces," with an expanded version of her reading of the Spencer House. In addition, we're trying a new series featuring the editorial board in a round-table discussion on the anniversary of Guza's return on December 8, 1997. Our editors also remember Norma Connolly, who played Ruby for years before she passed away recently.

In addition, Joan Roseman contributes a character study of Laura Spencer, while Arda Clark continues our "How We Watch" column with a description of her own viewing of GH. If you'd like to tell us how you watch, let us know in our first reader's poll (see below). Finally, I've managed to get "on schedule" with my review of GH, and this issue covers all of last month. I've also caught up with PC, and you'll find included my responses to the revelation of the General Homicide killer.

If you had strong opinions on that storyline or on any other from either of our soaps, if my own responses to these episodes garner a reaction from you, or if you'd like to share your opinion on another of our features--especially our Guza discussion--let us know. Please write in with a letter to the editor letting us know your opinion, and we might publish you in a later issue.

Finally, this issue is coming out "late" again, but we think that we've found the rhythm in our publishing now, after a few issues. Look for future issues between the 15th and 20th of each month.

So enjoy the issue, enjoy the holidays, and we'll see you in the new calendar year with more of our regular features as well as new writers and our first exclusive interview!

GH and PC in Review by Amy McWilliams

This issue's review covers the month of November on GH and two months of PC--October and November.

As always, thanks go to Allyn Wilkinson for her GH Transcripts Page. I depend on her as well as the daily updates from the official ABC website and r.a.t.s.a. Thanks also to everybody on the GH side of the Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.tv.soaps.abc for their discussion of the show.

Featured Web Page: Port Charles Online

Each month the General Hospital Review features one of the outstanding GH or PC web pages on the net. We alternate between general sites dedicated to the entire show and smaller, more focused sites--usually character-centered pages. This month, we're honoring what I consider the best overall GH/PC site on the web, Port Charles Online. Not only is the design of the page superb, but Jeff Jungblutt provides the highest quality selection of past and present information, scoops and news, and interactivity. PCO houses one of the most popular message boards on the web. If you haven't visited before, do yourself a favor and visit now.

If you'd like to nominate a page (even your page) for recognition here, send us the request at the feedback form.

Letters to the Editor

"Letters, we've got letters, we've got stacks and stacks of letters...letters!" (Name that tune by shifting from daytime to nightime....) Ok, so we've only got one this month. We're waiting for you to write in and let us know your opinions on the show. This month's letter talks about Elizabeth and Lucky's dancing.

Send your letters to the editor using the feedback form.

Feedback

• Comments?
• Suggestions?
• Questions?
• Complaints?
• Recommendations for featured web sites?
• Topics you'd like to read about?
• Letters to the Editor?

Fill out the feedback form.

Set Pieces: The Spencer House by Teresa Leslie

One of our new columns this month is "Set Pieces," which will look at the spaces and settings of our soap. Here, writers will consider both the literary and practical aspects of the different sets on which the action of GH occurs. For our first entry, Teresa Leslie continues the reading of the Spencer House she began in a previous "Small Stuff" column.

Five Voices: On Guza's Anniversary

In this first installment of a new feature, our editorial board sits down around a virtual table (we like to imagine ourselves at Kelly's diner) and discusses GH head writer Bob Guza on the anniversary of his return to the show on December 8, 1997. We consider his strengths and weaknesses and offer our suggestions for the New Year.

What's Cookin' on the Backburner: Episode 3 by Judy Ellison

Judy Ellison's concoction is a fictional look at the characters who are, shall we say, not so busy right now. This month, she serves up the poignantly funny third chapter in her saga, in which we say goodbye to Ruby.

In Memoriam: Norma Connolly by Amy McWilliams

Like Judy, the rest of us at the GHR would like to remember Norma Connolly, who played Luke and Bobbie's Aunt Ruby for so many years on our show, on the event of her death. Here are some of our thoughts and memories as we send our good wishes out to those who knew and loved her.

How We Watch by Arda Clark

"How We Watch" is a column dedicated to sharing the stories of our soap viewing. This month, Arda Clark describes how she fell into watching ABC soaps and became a loyal fan of General Hospital, primarily because of Anthony Geary. We can't fault her taste.

See the poll, below, that we're running in conjunction with this new series of articles.

A Study in Character: Laura, Seen Plain by Joan Roseman

Joan Roseman offers here a historical and psychological look at the character of Laura Webber Baldwin Spencer. Going back to Laura's adolescent years, she offers an explanation for and a defense of Laura's current choices. For those who don't know her history or wonder why she can't make a seemingly easy choice in her situation with a father and son on either side, this piece may be the perspective that makes sense of it all.

Readers' Poll

Our first poll runs in conjunction with the inauguration of our "How We Watch" column. If you'd like to submit a description of 750 words or less describing how you watch, you can do so at the feedback form. Please include your name and double check your email address so we can get back to you. We'll accept entries for the next couple of months and publish selected entries in a later issue.