I Dream of Genie (Frances)

November 02, 2006

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After a four-year absence, I'm riveted by the second week of the triumphant return of "Laura Spencer," played by Genie Francis, to ABC's "General Hospital." It’s been triggering flashbacks of my youth: rushing home from school to see Luke and Laura save the world from the Cassadines and the weather machine.

ABC Daytime, under the clever leadership of Brian Frons, continues its fun trend of bringing back classic soap stars for short-term Sweeps stories. Sure, it was great to see Robert Scorpio, and his ex-wives Holly and Anna, as well as Noah Drake, all played by original performers (Tristan Rogers, Emma Samms, Finola Hughes and Rick Springfield). But none of these soap icons quite compare to Laura coming out of catatonia to reunite with Luke Spencer and her troubled three children, and meet her grandson.

In retrospect, the genesis of their relationship is not one of daytime soap opera's proudest moments. In the original, bizarre storyline, teenage Laura is raped at the Campus Disco, and then falls in love with her rapist, Luke.

ABC and the writers clearly didn't anticipate the two becoming a full-fledged couple, and then tried spinning the rape as a "seduction." Luke and Laura facing the mob and family disapproval went on the run for an entire summer. Next thing you know, they're on the cover of Newsweek.

By 1981, Luke and Laura had become such a pop culture phenomenon that Elizabeth Taylor showed up at their wedding as villainous Helena Cassadine. There were hit songs tied to the couple like Christopher Cross' "Think of Laura," and the novelty hit "General Hospi-Tale."

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