I know that you, Always be Watching Constant Reader, are far too hip for daytime soap operas. After all, you are a person of taste and those daytime soaps are just far beneath you. And sure, okay. I'm not going to be the person who defends an entertainment staple that has made millions of TV viewers happy for decades around the world.

But what I can tell you is this: In the world of daytime soap history, there is no more important an on-air pairing than General Hospital's Luke and Laura Spencer. Their wedding in 1981 was recorded as the most watched hour in soap opera history with 30 million people tuning in. Luke and Laura are TV royalty and this week the show killed Luke Spencer.

The death took place off-screen, with Luke dying in a cable car accident in Austria. Actor Anthony Geary left the show back in 2015. A quiet end to a very noisy character.

What is most fascinating about Luke Spencer as one of soaps most important, most popular characters is that the Luke and Laura relationship started after Luke raped Laura at a disco. Within just a few years, the character was rehabilitated and married his victim. It's gross, unsettling, and audiences loved it.

Shocker: General Hospital Kills Off Luke
One of daytime television’s most iconic figures has been laid to rest. On Monday’s General Hospital, it was revealed that Luke Spencer
TVLineMichael Ausiello

If you want to find out more about the rehabilitation of Luke, there was an interesting episode of Decoder Ring about it. Worth a listen even if you are only casually interested.

TeeVee Snacks

  • Ghosts (UK) has started production on its fourth season. Read: Radio Times
  • Finally, techno-wizards have gifted us with a lickable TV screen. Read: Nerdist
  • Home Improvement star Richard Karn has revealed he is selling Home Improvement and Family Feud-related NFTs. I was going to make a joke about this, but couldn't find the comedy through so much thick disdain. Read: Pop Culture
  • Here's a list of what Variety says is the 40 most-anticipated shows of 2022. Read: Variety
  • UK soap Hollyoaks is returning with a week of huge stunts. Here's a guide to them all. Read: Radio Times
  • Here's a list of prominent works entering the public domain this year. It includes the character Winnie The Pooh, but only as he appeared in the original book - not with the Disney red sweater. Read: Public Domain Review
  • Is This Is Us the last hit show on US broadcast TV? Read: Variety

Seth Myers tests positive for COVID, cancels shows

Host of US late night show Late Night with Seth Myers tested positive for COVID-19 and has cancelled shows for this week. The show will probably return next week with remotely recorded shows.

Myers says that he feels okay and commented on the future look of the show:

“Late Night” would most likely return in a remote format next week, asking viewers to “tune in next Monday to see what cool location we will try and pass off as a studio!!!”

Could this start to represent a return to home for a lot of TV hosts as the Omnicron variant spreads?

Related: Jimmy Fallon reveals he also tested positive during the first week of the Tonight Show's holiday break. [CNN]

‘Late Night’ Cancels Shows After Seth Meyers Tests Positive for Coronavirus
The NBC host said, “I feel fine,” and that his program would most likely return in a remote format next week.
NYTimesBy

Uh, Brian Kilmede... what the heck, dude?

Co-host of Fox News morning show Fox & Friends Brian Kilmede is telling viewers they need to just live with the virus:

“It’s called live with it,” he said. “Go to work. Live with it. Get on a train, get on a bus, get on a plane, how do we live with it? We can no longer hide from it.”

Brian Kilmede said this while working from a remote studio, based on mandates from employer Fox News. Incredible that so many viewers takes this dumb news network seriously.

Brian Kilmeade Demands Viewers to ‘Go to Work’ and ‘Live With’ Covid ... While Co-Hosting Fox & Friends Remotely
Brian Kilmeade passionately implored viewers of Fox & Friends return to the pre-pandemic routines of their daily lives Tuesday morning...from a remote studio.
Mediaitecolby-hall

Trailer Park

Ice Age: Adventures of Buck Wild debuts on Disney+ Jan 28.

Parody film The Woman In The House Across The Street From The Girl In The Window debuts Jan 28 on Netflix.

Watching the world go by from her living room window, heartbroken Anna sets her sights on a handsome new neighbor until she witnesses a gruesome murder.

In more Netflix window-related programming Through My Window debuts Feb 4.

Raquel's longtime crush on her next-door neighbor turns into something more when he starts developing feelings for her, despite his family's objections.

Sex Appeal debuts Jan 14 on Hulu.

Avery Hansen-White doesn't do things she isn't excellent at. So when her long-distance boyfriend hints at wanting to take their relationship to the next level, she sets out to master her sexuality, employing her oldest friend, Larson, as a test subject.

That's it for today.