Devon and Hilary Wed on Young and Restless and Other Big Soap Moments From August 17

In 1977, Leslie Charleson made her General Hospital debut as Monica Bard Webber. She assumed the role from Patsy Rahn, who had begun playing her in 1976. The actress recalled to Soap Opera Digest in 2023, "I started the show the day Elvis Presley died, and being such a huge fan, I of course was very upset driving to the studios, and then getting there I was told that they hoped I had brought my own wardrobe and makeup because there was a strike going on — and that was before I even got in the building. Then I got in the building and I realized that no one really liked me, because the girl playing Monica before me was very rudely fired." Charleson remained with the show until her death in 2025, although her appearances became far more sporadic in later years as a result of her real-life health issues.

In 2007, As The World Turns featured daytime’s first gay male romantic kiss, which occurred between Luke Snyder (Van Hansis, l.) and Noah Mayer (Jake Silbermann). Hansis mused to Soap Opera Digest in 2025 of playing a role that broke new ground in soaps, "I wasn’t really familiar with daytime, and therefore I wasn’t really familiar with what was happening socially on daytime. I didn’t really realize how impactful that character and his relationships were. But in retrospect — and also, with time and with age — I do, and now I can really look back at that as a really wonderful gift, to be able to play that and to be part of something that, I think, in a small way, opened some doors. And I know for a fact that it changed some points of view from fans at the time, who would write to me about it. It was a really, really special moment in my life. And I think I’m only beginning to understand that specialness as time goes on.”

In 2011, One Life To Live's Irene Manning came clean about giving birth to twins, and “Todd Manning” (Trevor St. John, r.) learned that he was really Victor Lord, Jr., and not the real Todd (Roger Howarth).

In 2015, Devon Winters (Bryton James) and Hilary Curtis (Mishael Morgan) were first married on Young and Restless. The ceremony was interrupted by Neil Winters, the groom's father and the bride's ex-husband, but instead of objecting to the union, he wished the couple well — no small matter, since Hilary had cheated on him with Devon. Neil remarked, "They say that life is about love and forgiveness. I wish you both love, and I forgive you. I wish you a lifetime of happiness." With that, Devon and Hilary exchanged rings and were pronounced husband and wife. James recalled to Soap Opera Digest in 2019 of his on-screen bride, "Mishael was very pregnant at the time and we joked that she was practically carrying a bush to hide her baby bump.”

In 2021, former All My Children star Cameron Mathison made his General Hospital debut as the presumed-dead Drew Cain, who was being held captive in Greece by Victor Cassadine. Drew, who was originally played by Billy Miller, had last been seen in 2019. In 2022, the actor — who since AMC's cancellation had made a name for himself as an entertainment news correspondent and talk show host — mused to Soap Opera Digest, "I’ve been lucky to be busy all these years on the hosting side as well as the acting side, but I started in daytime and I love it. I love the energy of it, the pace of it, the ability to play many different sides of a character. Especially a character like Drew, who is such a goodhearted guy but has the potential of being programmed and doing things that are well out of his element. He’s got the adventure side, the Navy SEAL side, the tender side with his daughter, the history with Sam — there’s so much to it that makes it really exciting for me.”