Meredith Vieira (center) returns to "General Hospital" for an episode airing at 1 p.m. Friday on ABC, channel 8 Pictured with her are series regulars Marc Samuel, left, and Teresa Castillo. RON TOM/ABC
Meredith Vieira (and many fans) will experience déjà vu on Friday when she returns to the set of the daytime drama "General Hospital" on ABC.
The multiple Emmy winner and former co-anchor of NBC's "Today," first played the character Bree on the show in March 2003. She was a madam, said Vieira, who is also the host of the popular game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”
"I actually resurrected a character, Bree Flanders, that I played 10 years ago," she told ABC. "At that point she was a madam. Now she's a senior vice president of a company, so she's definitely improved her lot in life. It strikes me every time I do anything with a soap opera – but just working with 'General Hospital' - so impressed with the actors, they're so good.
"They have to learn so much material on a day-to-day basis. You know, 10 years ago I had a better memory than now, so I was a little intimidated, but it worked out great."
Her character, who once tempted Luke Spencer’s girl friend to join her ranks, has become VP of marketing for CoeCoe Cosmetics. Vieira's appearance also helps mark the return of fan favorite Lucy Coe, played by Lynn Herring, who also returns to "General Hospital" on Friday.
On April 1-2, 2013, as "GH" celebrates its 50th Anniversary, host Meredith Vieira will welcome two of the daytime drama's fan favorites, Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) and Jason Thompson (Dr. Patrick Drake) as "Millionaire" contestants playing for charity to benefit Art of Elysium.
"General Hospital" airs at 1 p.m. weekdays on ABC, channel 8. "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" airs at 2 p.m. weekdays on KJRH, channel 2, cable 9.
