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04-03-2006, 09:35 AM
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/03/obit.monty.ap/index.html (http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/03/obit.monty.ap/index.html)
'General Hospital' producer Monty dies at 84
Monday, April 3, 2006; Posted: 7:37 a.m. EDT (11:37 GMT)
RANCHO MIRAGE, California (AP) -- Gloria Monty, a groundbreaking producer who turned the ABC daytime drama "General Hospital" into a pop sensation in the late 1970s, died Thursday. She was 84.
Monty died of cancer at her home, ABC announced.
With more women joining the work force, the traditional audience for soap operas like "General Hospital" was waning when Monty took over the slumping show in 1978 and was given 13 weeks to turn it around.
She quickly set about reinventing the show to appeal to teens and young adults. Monty added action-adventure and science fiction to plot lines, cast younger actors, quickened the pacing, and had a Broadway designer modernize the set.
Among Monty's boldest -- and most controversial -- moves was a story line in which the characters Luke and Laura began a romance after he had raped her on the floor of a closed disco.
Critics accused Monty of glorifying violence against women, but she appeared unfazed.
Played by Anthony Geary and Genie Francis, Luke and Laura became pop icons and their 1981 TV wedding drew a stunning 30 million viewers. A Newsweek magazine cover featuring the couple declared the soap "TV's Hottest Show."
"General Hospital" went on to become the No. 1 show for five years and won two Emmy Awards.
Copyright ©2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNN.com-April 3, 2006
'General Hospital' producer Monty dies at 84
Monday, April 3, 2006; Posted: 7:37 a.m. EDT (11:37 GMT)
RANCHO MIRAGE, California (AP) -- Gloria Monty, a groundbreaking producer who turned the ABC daytime drama "General Hospital" into a pop sensation in the late 1970s, died Thursday. She was 84.
Monty died of cancer at her home, ABC announced.
With more women joining the work force, the traditional audience for soap operas like "General Hospital" was waning when Monty took over the slumping show in 1978 and was given 13 weeks to turn it around.
She quickly set about reinventing the show to appeal to teens and young adults. Monty added action-adventure and science fiction to plot lines, cast younger actors, quickened the pacing, and had a Broadway designer modernize the set.
Among Monty's boldest -- and most controversial -- moves was a story line in which the characters Luke and Laura began a romance after he had raped her on the floor of a closed disco.
Critics accused Monty of glorifying violence against women, but she appeared unfazed.
Played by Anthony Geary and Genie Francis, Luke and Laura became pop icons and their 1981 TV wedding drew a stunning 30 million viewers. A Newsweek magazine cover featuring the couple declared the soap "TV's Hottest Show."
"General Hospital" went on to become the No. 1 show for five years and won two Emmy Awards.
Copyright ©2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNN.com-April 3, 2006