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March 27 - April 2, 2023 Page 3 By Jay Bobbin Very few television programs last for 60 years, especially in the current media climate. That makes it a big deal, indeed, that the ABC drama "General Hospital" – which has won the Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding drama series 14 times, a record – is marking its six-decade milestone with special moments before and after the ac - tual anniversary: April 1, which falls on a Saturday this year. Still, the Monday-through-Friday episodes surrounding that date will honor legendary characters and stories (including a tribute to late co-star Sonya Eddy), and bring back the popular Nurses Ball being staged for the first time in three years. Created by Frank and Doris Hursley, the saga of the residents of the fictional Port Charles (now guided by executive pro- ducer Frank Valentini) has trans- formed since its 1963 debut, reaching one of its peaks with the 1981 wedding of Luke and Laura Spencer (played by An- thony Geary and continuing cast member Genie Francis) ... to date, the highest-rated dramatic hour in daytime-TV history. However, for whatever romance or espionage has been factored in, the center of the show always has been the title medical facility. One of the longtime char- acters reflecting that is Nurse Elizabeth Webber, portrayed by Rebecca Herbst, who's marking her own "General Hospital" milestone by celebrating her 25th anniversary with the series. The part was created for her, and with her alter ego having gone through affairs and kidnappings and pregnancies over a quar- ter-century, the three-time Day- time Emmy nominee appreciates that she remains prominent on the show. "It certainly does not feel like it's been 25 years," the pleasant Herbst reflects. "We have so many cast members, I do not envy the writers with their job of keeping everybody on the canvas in these complex stories. It really is amazing to me." Herbst confirms that the mood on the "General Hospital" set has been quite spirited lately. "I feel like we look at each other and just chuckle in a way," she muses, "because this show has been around for 60 years. We're not surprised, because it's been a popular show forever and our writers have done a really great job of keeping up with the times. We're just incredibly grateful that we're still here!" Married to former "General Hospital" co-star Michael Sauce- do, with whom she has three children, Herbst almost left the show in 2011 due to a storyline shift. Fans spoke up against that – loudly – and effectively saved her job. Expressing her ongoing thanks for that, Herbst says that lately, the initially rebellious Elizabeth is "not too far off from who she was when she came to Port Charles. It's really nice that I've been able to add so many layers to the character over the years." ACROSS 1. Role on "The Rook- ie" (2) 8. Nicolas __ 9. celebration 10. Series for Kevin alejandro (2) 14. Srta. in Strasbourg 15. Kildare & Quinn: abbr. 16. "__ Got a Gal in Kalamazoo" 17. West & others 18. Namesakes of pitcher Young 19. classic Fords 20. Jamie of "M*a*S*H" 24. "Station 19" net- work 27. Jacob's twin 28. __ John Gielgud 29. Jay R. Ferguson's "The conners" role 32. "The __ i live in"; antonio Banderas film 33. actor on "So Help Me Todd" (2) 36. Fencing sword 37. Some bills 38. Roxy of "FBi: Most Wanted" DOWN 1. locked up 2. Witch in "Hansel and Gretel," e.g. 3. "__ Haw" 4. "Just the Ten __ __" (1987-90) 5. Mr. Goodman 6. Upper room 7. cheeky 8. B on a piano key- board (hyph.) 11. Musical disc, for short 12. Word in the title of Howie's game show 13. "Say __ to the Dress" 14. 27 years from now 20. Uncle __; "The addams Family" role 21. inquiring 22. actor claude __ 23. "__ all Night"; liam Neeson film 24. Mule's father 25. Two-wheelers 26. "Tales from the __" (1989-96) 29. actor on "The Bev- erly Hillbillies" 30. George clooney series 31. Mexico's continent: abbr. 34. Joseph __ an- derson of "Young Rock" 35. Sault __. Marie CoverStory The identity of the featured celebrity is found within the answers in the puzzle. in order to take the TV challenge, unscramble the letters noted with asterisks within the puzzle. InFocus ABC weekday staple 'General Hospital' turns 60 "Jane: Season 1" (Apple TV+ — series premiere, April 14) inspired by the work of Jane Goodall, this original family drama series follows 9-year-old Jane, a budding environmentalist on a quest to save endangered animals with the help of best friends David and Greybeard the chimpanzee. ava louise Murchison, Mason Blomberg, Tamara almeida and Dan abramovici star. Solution is on page 2. Advertise Here! (574) 533-2151

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