A Day of New Beginnings was a special episode for the ABC soap opera General Hospital, celebrating its 30th Anniversary on April 1, 1993, centered around the show's original cast member, Dr. Steve Hardy.
The episode begins with the original piano opening from April 1, 1963, and transitions to John Beradino introducing viewers to the set of General Hospital. He elaborates on the progress made over the past 30 years, stating that General Hospital has now become the longest-running show in Hollywood. He mentions that it is a day of new beginnings and invites viewers to join them for another 30 years before exiting as the director's countdown signals the start of the show.
Storyline[]
The staff gathers in the cafeteria
On his 30th anniversary at the hospital, Steve feels he hasn't contributed to the hospital lately, while Audrey Hardy reassures him he'll always be a good doctor. Secretly, the staff plans a surprise party in the GH cafeteria to show him their appreciation. Steve runs into Angie Costello, his very first patient at GH. They reminisce, through flashbacks to the first episode of General Hospital in 1963, about when he treated her as a teenager following a car accident that left her face horribly disfigured. Angie thanks Steve for his support years ago and asks if Jessie Brewer is still around. Steve acknowledges that Jessie died a couple of years before, marking the first time her death was mentioned on camera.
John Beradino exits the set of GH after shooting
Elsewhere in the hospital, Scott Baldwin interviews potential surrogate mothers, but none meet his expectations. Lucy Coe gets upset when Scott flippantly asks Amy Vining if she would consider the job. Bobbie Spencer breaks into Ryan Chamberlain's office to copy his address book. Steve catches Bobbie in the act but covers for her when Ryan comes by GH staff and Port Charles residents surprise Steve with the party, where he is overwhelmed with love. Fugitives Mac Scorpio and Felicia Jones watch news coverage of the party on TV, wishing they were home.
The episode ends with Steve leaving the party as the camera follows John off camera back the way he started the episode, as he begins to march down the hall to exit the set.
Trivia[]
- This episode featured the premiere of the GH theme song "Faces of the Heart" by Dave Koz, which continued to be used until August 2004.
- This episode also featured the retirement of the General Hospital cafeteria set, which had been in service since the late 1970s.
- At the time of this airing, Jana Taylor (who returns in this special) was 49 years old and John Berardino was 75.
- Jon Lindstrom only appears in three scenes and has a few lines.
- During the surprise party scene, some of the cast members (including Anthony Geary and Steve Burton) only appear in silent cameos.
- John J. York and Kristina Wagner only appear in one scene.
- Just like the first episode 30 years prior, this special takes place entirely within the confines of General Hospital.
- Future Saturday Night Live cast member Molly Shannon makes a guest appearance as a surrogate.