Who is the funniest, most charming man on daytime television? My choice is Kin Shriner, who has played Scott(y) Baldwin on General Hospital, on and off, for 45 years, and has appeared on plenty of other soaps, too, like GH’s spinoff Port Charles.
He’s a beloved veteran star with a huge and richly deserved following. And yet, according to his own report, the GH powers-that-be plan to write Scotty out of the show — and, presumably, Shriner along with him. The actor broke the news in a tweet a couple of days ago. Not surprisingly, the soap world is aghast.
Why would ABC do such a thing? There is widespread speculation that the network, which is expecting serious losses because of the ongoing writers’ strike, is doing it to save money. If this is so, what a horrible, short-sighted mistake! GH may very well never recover. Audiences love Shriner that much.
Shriner’s show business roots run deep. He and his twin brother Wil (an actor and comedian) were born in 1953. Their father was the popular TV humorist Herb Shriner. The boys’ parents died in an automobile accident when the boys were teenagers.
Shriner inherited his father’s sense of humor. His Scotty is a smart attorney— funny, good-looking and charming, a perennial hit with the ladies. He has always been an important source of laughs and romance on GH. The romantic potential has remained even as the character has matured.
Scotty was a key element in the Laura (played by Genie Francis)-Scotty-Bobbie (played by Jacklyn Zeman) triangle. After Scotty married the teenage Laura, the even more compelling Luke (played by Anthony Geary)-Laura-Scotty triangle took center stage. In 1981, GH viewership reached an all-time high. It was the hottest time ever, thanks to the actors and executive producer Gloria Monty. After Scotty and Laura’s breakup, Scotty had several girlfriends. His recent hilarious romance with the evil Dr. O. (played by Kathleen Gati) was particularly charming.
What a career he has had! Among other notable roles, he played Jeb Hampton on Texas, Harrison Bartlett on The Young and the Restless, and Keith Morrissey on As the World Turns. He also made occasional prime-time appearances. OMG, he was on The Love Boat and even The Six Million Dollar Man.
Over the years, Shriner has demonstrated how important humor is in the often-humdrum world of soaps. All Marlena knows is that the soap world needs Shriner. To ABC and the producers of General Hospital: If you’re prepared to sacrifice Shriner, you’re making a terrible mistake.
l am crushed! His character was funny and lovable, but also engagingly wicked. Just like a real person. Big mistake ABC.