General Hospital

General Hospital is the longest-running soap opera currently on the air, a cornerstone of ABC’s daytime lineup since its premiere on April 1, 1963. Set in Port Charles, a fictional city in upstate New York, GH centers around the staff of its bustling titular hospital and the community it serves, including families like the Quartermaines, the Corinthoses, the Ashfords and the Spencers. But medical dramas are only part of what makes GH tick. From superspy adventures to mob wars to sweeping romance to multigenerational family sagas, the show has a little something for everyone.

GH has won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series a record 17 times as of 2024 and currently boasts 13 Daytime Emmy-winning actors in its cast. Famous alumni include Demi Moore, John Stamos and Rick Springfield, while stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, James Franco and Grey’s Anatomy’s Chandra Wilson have popped up in short-term roles.