Get ready to witness “General Hospital” star Kelly Monaco (Sam McCall) as she dons her dancing shoes once more during ABC’s broadcast of “General Hospital: 60 Years of Stars and Storytelling,” an all-new primetime special dedicated to the daytime drama series which is celebrating its 60th year on television that is set to air Thursday, January 4 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, following the network’s LIVE broadcast of “The Golden Wedding” (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET/delayed PT). The special will also be available to stream the next day on Hulu.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), executive producer Frank Valentini shared some behind-the-scenes photos of Monaco and “Dancing with the Stars” professional dancer Valentin “Val” Chmerkovskiy as they rehearsed, which marks a reunion for the pair. After Monaco won the first season of the popular ABC competition series back in 2005, she returned in 2012 during the show’s 15th season, dubbed the “All-Stars” edition, with Chmerkovskiy as her dance partner. The pair placed third.
“So much fun. So many surprises. Don’t miss ‘#GeneralHospital: 60 Years of Stars and Storytelling’ – our primetime special airs tomorrow night at 10pm (EST) on @ABCNetwork,” said Valentini in his post.
Valentini’s post came in response to Monaco’s which was posted nearly two hours earlier on Wednesday morning. In her post, she said, “I put my dancing shoes back on for the @GeneralHospital primetime special (featuring a special appearance by @iamValC). ‘General Hospital: 60 Years of Stars and Storytelling’ airs tomorrow (January 4th) at 10pm on ABC. Don’t miss it!”
PHOTO: X/@valentinifrank
On the Tuesday, January 2 episode of “General Hospital,” Monaco was noticeably absent from the series as soap alum Lindsay Hartley (“Passions,” “All My Children,” et. al) stepped in as Monaco’s character Sam McCall for the third time. She previously filled in for Monaco in 2020 and 2022.
Valentini, Monaco nor ABC have commented on what may have caused the sudden recast at press time. However, it could be that Monaco was given time off to rehearse for the special. Either way, she’s already back taping at the show and will appear in the emotionally filled memorial episodes dedicated to the late Jacklyn Zeman and her character Barbara Jean “Bobbie” Spencer which is set to air next week Wednesday, January 10 and Thursday, January 11.
Last month, ABC announced it would air a retrospective special dedicated to “General Hospital” that will feature a robust slate of current and past cast members, including “Dancing with the Stars” pro dancer Chmerkovskiy, who also made an appearance on the soap in an episode aired in December 2012. The special also features several celebrity surprises from “General Hospital” alums Emma Samms, Rick Springfield and Amber Tamblyn, among others. Also, look for ESPN host Stephen A. Smith to take part. Smith has made several appearances on the soap throughout the years as Brick, an enforcer who works for Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard).
“General Hospital: 60 Years of Stars and Storytelling” airs Thursday, January 4 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
Check out a promo for the primetime special below.