General Hospital’s Emily and Nikolas Split and Other Big Soap Moments From August 29

In 1984, Nicolas Coster (pictured with Louise Sorel as Augusta Lockridge) made his Santa Barbara debut as Lionel Lockridge. The late actor remained with the show until 1988, then returned in 1990 and continued to play Lionel through to SB's cancellation in 1993. "I don't think anything will ever be equal to Santa Barbara," he mused to Soap Opera Digest in a 2013 interview in which he also recalled that he exited in 1988 when he disagreed with a storyline created for his character. "Lionel Lockridge pretended to kill himself and then went to his own funeral and watched his children grieving. He was in the background snickering. I told the producer, 'I'm sorry. I can't do that.' "

In 2000, Jordi Vilasuso made his soap debut as Tony Santos on Guiding Light. The actor recalled to Soap Opera Digest in 2020, "I had just moved right after high school to Los Angeles to pursue a TV and film career, so I knew that getting the role [of Tony] would mean relocating to New York City. I really felt like it wasn’t this obsession that I sometimes have with other parts. I was really kind of like, ‘Well, if I don’t get it I still win because I’m really starting to like L.A.’ When you don’t make things too precious and you have perspective on it, it kind of makes it more objective. I was more relaxed and like, ‘Whatever happens, it’s all good. I can’t lose.’ But then I got it, and I was like, ‘Okay, I’m moving to the big city.’ ”

In 2005, General Hospital's Emily (Natalia Livingston) called it quits with Nikolas (Tyler Christopher) over his lingering feelings for Courtney, and stormed out of Wyndemere when Courtney showed up. While she opened up to her mom, Monica, at the hospital, Nik explained to Courtney why he was unable to tell Emily that he no longer harbored romantic feelings for Courtney. In 2006, Nikolas and Courtney got engaged and they welcomed their son, Spencer, but Courtney passed away due to encephalitis shortly after Spencer's birth.

In 2006, Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney) and Austin Reed's (Austin Peck) ultimately aborted wedding began on Days of Our Lives. Sami was shaken by a threatening phone call she had received, and her nerves were even more rattled when Lexie (who Sami had blackmailed into making Carrie and Austin believe that their potential future offspring would be affected by a genetic defect) slipped into the church. Austin said his vows first, telling Sami, "We have known each other a long time. And we have been through some tough times together. And I have seen you struggle with hurt and disappointment. But you have never given up. And watching you has inspired me to be a better person. And like Father Jansen said, you are a loving mother. And I have seen your determination to be not just a loving mother, but a responsible one — a mother that Will can count on. And he's seen it, too. And he's as proud of you as I am. I stand here before God, our friends, and our family to say how honored I am that you agreed to be my wife. I love you, Samantha Gene. And I will do my best to respect our differences. I will love and support you. I will be your safe haven and your home. And I hope you will always be as happy as we are today."

In 2022 on General Hospital, the Quartermaines hosted a picnic on the mansion grounds that ended in grisly fashion when Josslyn Jacks discovered that Ava Jerome (Maura West) had been stabbed! As Ava lay bleeding out, Joss scrambled to find a towel to apply pressure to Ava's wound. She called out for help as Ava lost consciousness. Though Ava pulled through, her attack was significant because she was the first character to be knifed by the serial criminal known as The Hook, who would ultimately be revealed to be Heather Webber.