I've stated this elsewhere, but it bears repeating. The period when Claire and Matthew Labine were the head writers, was the absolute BEST period for this show...and soaps in general. B.J.'s heart and Stone & Robin are at the APEX of storytelling, and the quality of writing and quality of performances and the ability to generate the emotion from the viewers will NEVER BE SEEN AGAIN in daytime television.
I am bawling all over again. They were all fantastic in this storyline. Jacklyn Zeman, Jack Wagner, Kristina Wagner...but especially Brad Maule. What a great actor he was, even when his character had crap for a storyline or nothing to do. He shined when they'd give him something with substance. What a tearjerker.
Next to Robin and Stone, I completely agree. Mike's Alzheimer's storyline is up there too. Also when Tony dies, because his last words were about seeing BJ.
In all of my years of watching GH, this storyline has resonated the most and - to me - is the finest example of creative genious ever broadcast on daytime. It still brings tears to my eyes. Kudos to Claire Labine, Head Writer at the time. We need her back!
Why can't GH write storylines like this anymore? I am crying my eyes out just for that clip - that's when GH actually had character driven storylines that touched on family, friends, the hospital...everything but the mob violence that has taken over GH today
Also didn't have Felicia crying in the hall and Bobbie comforted her, just Carly thanking Jason for saving Joss *gag* when it was LUCKY and ELIZABETH who donated Jake's organ. You can't recreate this, because a work of art can be faked but never truly duplicated.
Imagine elizabeth going to carly to sign the papers. Carly avoiding eye contact. Liz saying its not fir carly, its for joss. It could have been great. Instead it was the jason hour.
Wow....it is just as powerful today as it was then. This was, imo, the best storyine in soaps ever. The scene of Tony listening to his daughter's heart beat on in Maxie is one of the most powerful scenes ever. He captures the comfort that her heart lives on and the heartbreak that she is gone so wonderfully.
Watching Bobbie's funeral episode today and needed to go back and revisit Jackie Zeman, Brad Maule, Kristina & Jack Wagner acting their tails off. Thirty years later and it still made me cry. Bravo.
This was THE most heartbreaking story and every one of these actors were amazing. This and Stone dying of AIDS. Both were written so well. These were GH at it's finest.
The best scenes from the best story GH has ever done. It's pathetic what GH has been reduced to nowadays with all the mob violence. This is CLASSIC soapl! No show has ever done a more gut-wrenching tale of loss and hope. No story on any show has every made me cry as much or as hard as this one did. Poignant, devastating, and all around superb. All of the actors involved in this storyline deserved Emmy's, but of course none of them got any. Whatever...
You know, I have to say I agree with you! They've done other transplant stories before on soaps, but honestly, nothing will ever be as good as BJ's death, and Robin and stone? Just epic!
Oh SO glad I found this. This is awesome to relive again (even though terribly sad). I so wish I had kept this back in the day. Best TV storyline EVER, to me anyway.
Wow after all these years that scene is still a tearjerker. I 'm crying like a baby. Best years of Gh hands down. I miss that era great storytelling at its best.
This storyline is nearly 29 years old and still moves me to tears. I remember skipping what afterschool activities I could and rushing home, skidding in the door at 3:10 to watch this show. Why Brad NEVER got a Daytime Emmy for this, I'll never understand!
OMG, I cried! At the very last second of the clip the one who says "My Cousin BJ gave me my heart" that looks like one of the actresses that played Jessica on Passions!
Absolutely! Jake's death was a disgrace when comparing it to the bJ/Maxie story. Nothing will ever compare to this story like you said. This story I think was one of the gratest stories ever told in soap history!
@Calflym But there's one thing the Jake-Kidney thing didn't have - Tony leaning over Maxie as he's listening to BJ's heart in Maxie's body. That was the most amazing, heart-wrenching, and beautiful scene ever on ANY & ALL SOAPS! Nothing will EVER COMPARE! NOTHING! Keep that with you & when you think of the Jake story - remember it may be similar but it's missing that raw, unadulterated emotion that Tony Jones felt & we felt along with him: NOTHING CAN COMPARE TO THAT; NOTHING!
The GH today would never write a story like this. I cannot even stomach the show now. It's sad because I can't not watch this clip and not remember how sad the week was when this all aired. If only could bet back Claire Labine and get back to character driven writing and not the daytime version of Sopranos
@Muggle423 There were actually several Emmy nominations - and wins. Brad Maule was nominated for Best Actor, Jackie Zeman for Supp. Actress (both lost). The show itself won for Best Drama and Best Writing.
@Muggle423 The Emmys are always presented the year AFTER the work is done... for example, the eligibility period for a 1995 Emmy is Jan '94-Jan '95. They can't possibly present awards for 1995 when only half the year's work is done, make sense? The only major '94 Emmy GH got that I recall was for Sharon Wyatt's Tiffany (Supp. Actress) because of the Bobbie/Tiffany battle over baby Lucas.
She wanted to save her daughter but not at the expense of Little BJ... That was one of the truest senses when Felicia actually acted the part of a parent b4 GH dumped her off the show or she left along with Frisco & Mac ended up raising not only Maxie but Georgie and Robin too though in Robin's defense she thought both parents were dead for years & they were so deep in cover they couldn't come back to her or drop hints (still left but different reasons shown for it)
This was the best of Daytime soaps - and gosh it did not take 2+ years to tell a silly story back then. the old GH did not drag this out endlessly like they do the stories today. Thankfully they realized back then that Life is too short! The only bad thing was Brad Maul (Tony) was robbed of that Emmy for his portrayal of a grieving father.
Well you are right for spoiler alert was that on today's episode, the reporter who interviewed several people that knew Bobbie was BJ as an angel in disguise who was played by the same girl who was BJ!
I wish GH would have SL like that again. That was beautiful!!! Now there's not one sweeps that goes by where it's not about the mob or has the mob in it!! I'm tired of it.
@GlowInTheDark707 True, True and True. OLTL was the one that really took on all the social issues, but I gotta say GH stepped their game up in he 90s. This was the end of the golden era.
I remember crying alot when this episode aired - it still brings tears to my eyes. Great writing! I stopped watching the show for the last few years & just started watching again the last couple of months. The writing isn't as good now, but I have gotten drawn back in to the characters. Still love Luke, Jason, Jax...don't like the new Maxie or Carly, don't like the Kate Howard character at all. Love Spinelli & his weird way of talking. Thanks for sharing this video!
@GlowInTheDark707 Do you see how they are redoing BJ's Heart? With Jakes Kidney! I agree this story line makes me bawl like a baby, as i am sure the new one will too. But can they not come up with new ideas?
Yea, it really does. I mean, It was kinda cool before, but that is only becuase I liked Claudia, the part where her and Carly were in the hospital was pretty good. It seems like 3 of the mob members are going to leave the mob, atleast hat is what they said. The show is called GENERAL HOSPITAL, not freakin...Italian Mobsters. Thats why we have "The Godfather." Thank you.
jesus where are the writers i mean the good writers of GH...they had such good storylines back then and now look it's all about mobsters..don't get me wrong i still am a fan!
@Muggle423 Excuse me, Ms. Wyatt was NOMINATED... she unfortunately didn't win. Actually, that was Susan Haskell (OLTL) 1st win - VERY much deserved for Marty's 1993 Spring Fling S/L.
