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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2006 > May > 12 > Entry
It’s like good old days on ‘General Hospital’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“General Hospital” actor Anthony Geary is hilariously succinct in describing his workplace environment.
In recent weeks, Geary’s Luke Spencer has been rejoined by his old co-star Tristan Rogers, who played superspy Robert Scorpio during the soap’s ratings heyday. Also back are Emma Samms as the pair’s ex-gal pal, Holly Sutton, and Finola Hughes, who literally drops in at 3 p.m. today to reprise her role as Anna Devane, Robert’s wife.
“Tristan and I were on the set for a couple of hours the other morning,” Geary recalls, laughing. “And one of the [veteran] stage hands told us, ‘If I had a quaalude and a couple of beers, it would be the ’80s all over again!’ It’s been fantastic.”
While the high-profile returns (and yes, Rick Springfield is even back as Dr. Noah Drake) have prompted profiles in The New York Times and Variety, the venerable ABC Daytime drama is also seeing a dramatic rise in ratings.
“Tristan and I picked it right back up,” Geary says. “And there’s no competition going on between us now that sometimes intruded on the work in the days when we were younger men.”
And like many of their viewers, the soap’s classic characters are saddled with kids intent on getting in the way. For Geary, one of Luke Spencer’s spawns — his now-adult son Lucky — also helped him snag his fifth Emmy as best actor last month.
In a series of gut-wrenching scenes last year, Geary pulled the plug on Lucky, who was on life support after an accident. What viewers didn’t realize was that Geary could have wrangled writing and producing credits for what made it onto the screen as well.
“Originally, the script called for Luke to come back after weeks away and immediately pull the plug on his son,” Geary explains. “He was essentially just being used as a grumpy old guy, a foil for the kids on the show. I told them, ‘I won’t play that for you. You have to give me a reason.’ We were also playing this just after Terri Schiavo as well. I felt a commitment to the issue.”
According to Geary, “after much consternation and blood on the walls,” the scripts were rewritten, per his specs.
As he ensures that his character’s rough edges stay intact, Geary paid tribute during his Emmy acceptance speech to the woman who gave him his signature role, late “G.H.” executive producer Gloria Monty.
“Gloria really created Luke, who was her male counterpart in many respects,” he says. “All I did was jump off the cliff with her.”
A question about New Birth
Hey, he was in Atlanta, after all. Home of many a megachurch. And his latest book, “I Say a Little Prayer,” is about a homosexual man dealing with an anti-gay experience in his church.
So it shouldn’t have surprised author E. Lynn Harris that the first question at his Chapter 11 bookstore signing Wednesday in Ansley Mall in Midtown was whether the book was based on something that happened here. Specifically, at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church or Victory Church. “No,” the part-time Atlantan said, with a not-so-convincing smile. “I’ve never been to any of the megachurches here.”
“I went to New Birth a long time ago,” Harris added. “But that was when it was small.” Turns out, the page-turner was based on his experiences in Arkansas, where he has been teaching and coaching the cheerleading squad. He’ll return for fall semester. But for now, he’s back in book mode, signing “Prayer” at 7 tonight at the Shrine of the Black Madonna Cultural Center and Bookstore (404-752-6125) and 2 p.m. Saturday at Outwrite Bookstore (404-607-0082).
Quote of the day
“Katie is a young girl’s name. Her name is Kate now; she’s a childbearing woman.” — The ever-increasingly creepy Tom Cruise at the London premiere of his latest explosion-filled piece of nonsense, on why he refuses to call Katie Holmes, well, Katie, from today’s US Weekly.
Celebrity docket
Rapper Snoop Dogg has accepted responsibility for using “threatening words or behavior” in a brawl last month at Heathrow Airport.
The 34-year-old rapper, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, appeared at Heathrow police station and “accepted a caution for a Section Four Public Order Act matter, using threatening words or behavior,” London police said Thursday.
A caution means a person has accepted responsibility for the offense, and a record will be made. No further action will be taken. Seven officers received minor injuries — mainly cuts and bruises — and one suffered a fracture to the hand.
British Airways has banned Snoop from travel on the airline.
Celebrity birthdays
Composer Burt Bacharach is 78. Talk show host Tom Snyder is 70. Comedian George Carlin is 69. Singer Steve Winwood is 58. Actor Ving Rhames is 45. Actress Kim Fields is 37. Actor Jason Biggs (“American Pie”) is 28. Actor Malcolm David Kelley (“Lost”) is 14.
Contributing: Sonia Murray and news services. If you have a tip, 404-526-2749. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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