A Soap Opera Romance That Started With An Assault

In Retrospect with Susie Banikarim and Jessica Bennett

09/21/23 • 44 min

What did a generation of young women—and men—learn about sex and relationships when the most iconic romance on TV’s most popular soap opera “General Hospital” began with a rape? Susie and Jess unravel the story of Luke and Laura, the beloved couple from the longest running soap of all time, whose wedding was such a huge cultural moment that it drew more viewers than an actual royal wedding (twice). CW: This episode contains discussion of sexual violence.

Guests:

- Cindi Leive, co-founder of The Meteor, former editor-in-chief of Glamour and “General Hospital” superfan
- Danielle Thompson, our soap opera-obsessed pal who knows A LOT about the history of soaps

FOR MORE:

Why Are College Kids in a Lather Over TV Soap Operas? (NYTimes)
The Complex, Contradictory History of the American Soap Opera (Jezebel)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Explicit content warning

09/21/23 • 44 min

In Retrospect with Susie Banikarim and Jessica Bennett - A Soap Opera Romance That Started With An Assault

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:00.400

Hi everyone. Before we start, just a note that we discuss sexual assault and violence in this episode II Laura, where Baldwin, Hi, Lucas Lorenzo Spencer take me to be my wedded wife, to be my lawful wedded husband, hold better richer for poor. The voices you're hearing are Luke and Laura, two beloved characters from one of the most popular soap operas of all time, General Hospital. This is their wedding, which took place in nineteen eighty one. T

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