• by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, January 8, 2024

ABC prime time last Thursday featured the live wedding of two people in the prime of life.

This tearful, two-hour extravaganza was then followed by a one-hour tribute to the oldest scripted show on American television, 60-year-old “General Hospital.”

The two shows amounted to a three-hour salute to golden ages, starting with “The Golden Wedding” from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern.

For two hours, viewers watched -- or perhaps gaped at -- the spectacle of ABC’s “Golden Bachelor” Gerry Turner, 72, exchanging vows with Theresa Nist, 70.

She is the woman he decided he loved more than any of the 21 other eligible senior ladies who vied to win his hand on “The Golden Bachelor.”

“The Golden Wedding” was aired completely live, with the actual wedding ceremony taking place in its final half-hour.

As they exchanged vows that they may have written themselves (possibly with a little help from professional writers), the two cried as a crowd of family, friends and other well-wishers looked on.

Among those in attendance were various figures plucked from the long-running “Bachelor” universe, revealing ABC’s intention to use “The Golden Wedding,” at least in part, to promoting the world of “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette.”

Long-time “Bachelor” star Jesse Palmer served as onscreen emcee, and was joined by Joey Graziadei, the franchise’s newest bachelor.

He was on hand to promote his upcoming “Bachelor” journey scheduled to start Monday, January 22, on ABC. It will be the show’s 28th go-round.

With love in the air, Brayden Bowers and Christina Mandrell -- both from the ninth season of “Bachelor in Paradise” became engaged live on “The Golden Wedding.”

Truth be told, the whole thing was over the top and ultimately critic-proof. What would be the point of taking shots at it? The TV Blog is a not a party pooper.

Meanwhile, ABC rounded out the evening with its celebration of “General Hospital,” the longest-lasting of the three old soaps still on network television.

It is the last one standing on ABC. CBS still has two -- “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless.” NBC’s only soap is “One Life to Live,” now seen exclusively on Peacock.

ABC’s “General Hospital” special was a reminder that the soaps are still with us. It also represented one of those rare times when TV acknowledges its own heritage.

At 60 years, “General Hospital” is an old show, and ABC’s “Golden” couple are in their 70s. Neither are 18-49.

With three hours of prime time devoted to Gerry and Theresa Turner (nee Nist) and a soap opera out of the pre-cable era, ABC went older just for one night.