SOAPnet marathon celebrates General Hospital 50th anniversary

Updated April 5, 2013, 12:41pm CT

If you’ve been a longtime viewer of ABC’s daytime drama General Hospital, you’ve probably been having flashbacks the past couple of months. Fan-favorite characters and actors from decades past — goodies and baddies — have been popping up left and right in the fictional town of Port Charles, some of whom haven’t been seen in years. That is all leading up to the General Hospital 50th anniversary episode airing April 2 at 2pm ET/1pm PT/CT on ABC (originally scheduled for April 1, the episode has been bumped a day because of yesterday’s General Hospital pre-emption by ABC News coverage of the pope selection, although the celebration begins April 1). Leading up to that momentous event for soap opera fans, SOAPnet will be airing a 50-hour marathon of classic episodes from General Hospital March 29-April 1, just prior to the General Hospital 50th anniversary show.

UPDATE 4/1/13: SOAPnet will be re-airing the entire 50-hour General Hospital 50th anniversary marathon April 5-April 8.

The SOAPnet General Hospital 50th anniversary marathon begins Friday, April 5, at 10pm ET/PT and runs through Monday, April 8, at 12am ET/PT (Sunday night/early Monday morning). The marathon kicks off with the very first episode of General Hospital from April 1, 1963, and will include shows from every decade since.

Included in the General Hospital 50th anniversary marathon are favorite couples, characters and storylines. Luke and Laura’s wedding (pictured). Frisco and Felicia’s wedding. Luke and Laura’s dance at Wyndham’s. Lucky and Liz’s first kiss. Stone’s death. Sonny leaving Brenda at the altar. BJ dying and Maxie’s heart transplant. The Ice Princess. The Hostage Crisis. The Hotel Fire. Elizabeth finding Carly in the panic room. AJ discovering that he is Michael’s father. Jason’s car accident. And plenty more drama.

RELATED: SOAPNET GENERAL HOSPITAL 50TH ANNIVERSARY MARATHON EPISODE GUIDE

During the course of the marathon, episodes featuring fan favorites like Elizabeth Taylor as Helena Cassadine, John Stamos as Blackie, Ricky Martin as Miguel and Rick Springfield as Noah will also be shown.

The SOAPnet General Hospital 50th anniversary marathon airs April 5 at 10pm ET/PT through April 8 at 12am ET/PT.

The General Hospital 50th anniversary episode airs April 2 at 2pm ET/1pm PT/CT on ABC, and at 9pm ET/PT on SOAPnet (the anniversary celebration begins with the April 1 episode).

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© 2006 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Credit: Bob D’Amico