General Hospital stars Genie Francis and Maurice Benard explore the absence of supercouples on soaps on State of Mind

General Hospital characters Laura Webber Collins and Sonny Corinthos, played by Genie Francis and Maurice Benard, share a grandson, Rocco. Now, Benard and Francis are sharing something else -- a deep conversation about many topics on Benard's YouTube talk show State of Mind.

General Hospital, an intimate conversation

Maurice Benard talks mental health on State of Mind, and plays Sonny on General Hospital | Image: State of Mind

Benard and Francis are set to explore a variety of topics as they sit down in a two-part State of Mind interview. The first episode airs today, Sunday, November 16, and the other will be next Sunday, November 23.

As previously reported by Soap Central, Benard and Francis are set to talk about mental health and also, the infamous story in which Luke (Anthony Geary) raped Laura on the floor of the Campus Disco, and how, despite this heinous act, the couple went on to have an epic romance, culminating in their wedding, which aired on November 16 and 17, 1981. It's been reported that a record 30 million viewers tuned in for the event, which included an appearance by Elizabeth Taylor as Helena Cassadine, who put a curse on the newlyweds.

Supercouples situationships

Genie Francis, who plays Laura on General Hospital, appears on State of Mind with her husband, actor/director Jonathan Frakes | Image: State of Mind

Francis and Benard are also going to explore the state of supercouples on soaps. Dynamic duos populated the soaps, especially in the 1980s and into the 1990s. Shows still have romantic duos, of course, but Benard and Francis address how soaps are different in 2025.

“Let me tell you something. They don't do couples anymore,” says Benard. “They don't,” concurs Francis.

The actor who plays Port Charles's most famous coffee importer continues: "If you thikn about that time when you came back, and I just started [in 1993], Sonny and Brenda [Vanessa Marcil], Luke and Laura, Lois [Rena Sofer] and Ned [Wally Kurth] Jason [Steve Burton] and Robin [Kimberly McCullough]…couples were the thing. Now they're not doing as many. I don't know why."

"Do you think the pandemic changed it because of intimacy?” Francis asked.

Benard replied: "Maybe, yeah. I mean, it could be. I truly believe...Look, I don't question anybody [about] how they’re doing their jobs, but they should get back to couples. I think that's what helps."