Days Of Our Lives
RATINGS: Here Comes GH! Lone ABC Soap Scores Great Week!
Just as General Hospital is about to move into its new time slot on Monday, the show had some terrific news in the ratings department!
The excitement of the storylines, the returns, and the surprises, have paid off and for the ratings period of August 27th-31st, General Hospital was the only soap to show gains. In fact, it gained +215,000 in total viewers, and was the only daytime drama to add viewers in the key 18-49 female demo!
GH also moved ahead of Days of our Lives into the number three slot of the four remaining network soaps! Can GH’s new time up the numbers even further? Stay tuned!
The show losing the most ground for the ratings week was Days of our Lives, which had just rebounded post-Olympics with two strong ratings week. Some fans of Salem dropped out for the week as the show registered a loss of -200,000 in total viewers, and the NBC soap also lost the most ground in the women 18-49 demo. However, DAYS is still ahead of where it was a year ago at this time.
The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful remained once again firmly in the number one and two positions, but both shows did not have strong weeks losing – 166,000 and – 173,000 in total viewers respectively. You can view all the numbers courtesy of Soap Opera Network here!
So soapers, here we go! Time to play in our weekly be our Soap Opera Programming Executive Armchair Quarterback! Tell us, what GH needs to do to keep improving its numbers? What should Y&R and B&B do to spark your interest? And what would you do to Days of our Lives to try to make it more consistent must-see TV? Weigh-in!
Days Of Our Lives
Wally Kurth Talks on His DAYS Daytime Emmy Nomination, His Emotional Scenes, and Remembering John Aniston
During our 2023 year-end honors at Michael Fairman TV, we named Wally Kurth as our pick for Best Overall Performance by an Actor for his double-turn as both Ned Quartermaine on General Hospital and as Justin Kiriakis on Days of our Lives. So, it was absolutely no surprise to us that Wally landed a Daytime Emmy nomination for his riveting work as a grieving Justin in the Supporting Actor category for the upcoming 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards.
On DAYS, Justin had been put through the emotional wringer, of first, losing his beloved Uncle Vic, played by the late John Aniston, and then finding out that Victor was the supposed biological father to Justin’s son, Alex (Rob Scott Wilson). If you didn’t reach for the hankies during some of Kurth’s work in these scenes, we don’t know what will make you do so.
Michael Fairman TV caught up with Wally to get his reaction to his fourth Daytime Emmy nomination in the last six years. Kurth was nominated in the Supporting category in 2018, 2020 and now 2024 and Lead Actor in 2021.
In addition, Wally shares what scenes were on his nominated reel, how John Aniston impacted his work, how he has changed as an actor over the years with a new outlook, and being the only actor out there with two long-running roles on two long-running soaps, and much more. Here’s what Wally had to share below.
Congratulations on your well-deserved nomination. You decided to submit yourself this year for Emmy contention in both Lead Actor for GH and Supporting Actor at DAYS, correct?
WALLY: I did. I thought the DAYS reel was a little more dramatic, much more emotional. I had thought with the way the judging goes that it might be a little bit more, winnable, if you will. I enjoyed and was proud of my work at General Hospital, so it’s all good. I’m thrilled. It’s always nice to be nominated.
Photo: JPI
What scenes did you ultimately choose for your Supporting Actor reel?
WALLY: I started chronologically, as always, trying to tell a little bit of a story. I actually started with a scene where Justin has to tell Maggie (Suzanne Rogers) that Victor’s (the late John Aniston) plane went down and it was not found. Then, the scene with Bonnie (Judi Evans) where I sort of have to let it all out, and grieve the loss of this man who was practically Justin’s father, but it was his Uncle Vic. We have a little scene talking about Victor, and then there is a short snippet at the funeral where Justin eulogizes Victor. Next, we jump to scene where Justin discovers the letter where Angelica admits that indeed Victor is Alex’s father (Rob Scott Wilson). So then, Justin has to tell Alex, and then I also sort of grieve the fact that I’m no longer his father. Justin basically lost his son. It was very dramatic and very emotional. I was guessing the judges would be like, “Hey! Enough with the crying! Stop, you big baby!” But, they didn’t. They must have thought that it was convincing enough that it felt really truthful at how Justin was upset about these two unfortunate realizations.
Photo: JPI
You bring up a really good point. I talk to actors all the time about crying on Emmy reels. Sometimes, many feel it might put voters off. But obviously, this time it worked well for you!
WALLY: What I liked about the crying scenes was that, like in real life, you’re not crying all the time when something bad is happening, right? I think crying happens and it takes you off guard. It happens without you realizing it. These were all moments when Justin was alone, really. Bonnie comes in the room where Justin is just kind of like dealing with it. And then her coming in, opens up Justin and she is there to hold him. I think that often happens in real life. I thought that was correct for the writers to do that, you know, that Justin would break down when he was alone.
Photo: JPI
Did you feel the pressure of wanting to get these scenes when Victor died and at his memorial, just right due to the enormity to it, and to do justice for John Aniston?
WALLY: I allowed myself to use my heartbreak over John Aniston. I loved him. I just sort of allowed his presence for me in the scenes. It was sweet. It was good for me. I’m just thinking about it now and I feel teary-eyed. John was such a sweet man. He led by example, and he really did teach me how to be a professional actor, and he was a mentor. He never told me anything specific, but he was just John, and in the scenes, this was the time for me tell him how I feel.
Photo: JPI
Then, you had the heartbreaking scenes with Rob Scott Wilson where Justin tells Alex he is not his father!
WALLY: I thought that was just really challenging material. As I get older, I just trust the material, and don’t get ahead of myself. I trust myself with the emotion. Just let it happen if it happens. When I first read it, I kind of imagined what it could look like and then you just let it unfold from there.
You’ve got Robert Gossett (Marshall, GH), A Martinez (Nardo, The Bay), Mike Manning (Caleb, The Bay), and Bryton James (Devon, Y&R) all in your category. Robert has won two Daytime Emmys in a row, last year for Supporting Actor and the year before for Guest Performer.
WALLY: l love Robert. I worked with the character Marshall on General Hospital, and we had so much fun. He’s a great guy and a really good actor. A Martinez is the best guy ever. I have such admiration for him. Whenever I see him, we always really connect and to be in included with him is great. Bryton James, I don’t know, but I know he beat me in this category in 2020. Mike Manning, I didn’t get the opportunity to know when he was at DAYS as he weren’t in scenes together, but I hear good things about him, too.
Photo: JPI
When you are judging Emmy reels, what do you look for when you’re voting on a performance?
WALLY: That’s a really great question. And because let’s face it, there’s just a lot of terrific talent in daytime. This year, I judged two categories. I don’t just go with, “Okay, who’s crying the most.” I really try to go with the one who’s touches me the most, who surprises me and moves me. And so, if you go with that, you’re probably going in the right direction. I also think that upfront you do need to kind of give them something in the first couple minutes that shows you know what you’re doing and don’t make it too repetitive.
Who did you first tell you were nominated?
WALLY: My manager, Michael Bruno called me. I was in Chicago with my daughters having a late breakfast and I knew the nominations were going to happen around 11 am Chicago time. I didn’t tell my daughters about what was happening, just in case, I didn’t get nominated. So, when Michael called, I went, “Oh, boy!” I told my daughters who were sitting at the table with me. So, they were the first two people that I could tell, and that was really nice. We had champagne which was really funny because I bought three little glasses of champagne, and as soon as I bought it, we toasted. They said, “We don’t really like champagne.” So, I ended up drinking all three glasses. (Laughs)
Photo: JPI
What do you think of Eric Martsolf (Brady), your Day Players Band member, and DAYS co-star getting a Lead Actor nomination?
WALLY: I remember, I was like talking to him and I was like, “Eric, are you going to submit yourself?” And he is like, “I don’t know. I don’t really have anything …” And the next thing you know, he’s nominated. I’m like, “Wow! I guess he found something!” (Laughs) I love Eric. I have such respect for him and his gift, and he works really hard. So, I was very happy for him. I’m glad we weren’t in the same category, however.
How many years now have you been playing Justin on DAYS?
WALLY: I started here 37 years ago in 1987. I was there for four years and then I left. Then, 18 years later, Ken Corday (EP, DAYS) invited me back in 2009 and I’ve been on the show now for 15 years. So, I guess a total of 20 years on and off over the last 37 years. Everyone remembers 1987-1991 … those were big, big years for Justin and Adrienne who back then were a supercouple.
Photo: JPI
Have you determined who you would thank in your acceptance speech if you win this year’s Supporting Actor Daytime Emmy?
WALLY: I feel like this year I kind of have an idea of what I would say. I think I can remember all of that without writing it down. If I had gotten nominated for both shows, I was definitely going to point out and thank the powers-that-be for giving me dual citizenship and how much I appreciate that. I do think that being on both soaps, I will go to my grave believing that it’s made me a better actor. In fact, since I’ve been doing both shows, I’ve been nominated for Daytime Emmys. I’ve become a better actor. I feel like maybe it’s just that I’ve gotten older and wiser, but I feel as though when I go in there to work, I’m really focused and I’m really prepared. I know I pretty much get one shot to get it. We’re in the business of “one takes” now in the soaps.
Photo: Peacock
People are so lucky to even have one enduring role in their careers, but you’ve been able to have two, and they’re completely separate characters on two legacy shows; one which just turned 61, General Hospital, and the other Days of our Lives which will soon celebrate 60 years, as well.
WALLY: I didn’t plan on it. I must have done something right. Back in 2009, Ken called me up and invited me back to DAYS. I really jumped in. I’d been out of work for four or five years. I went back with a whole new attitude about the work, about the genre. In 2004, when I left General Hospital, I was kind of burnt out. Looking back on it, I didn’t have a good attitude and I was just done. I was kind of tired. New writers come in and sometimes, when you have new writers that look at your character differently, it can be very difficult, because you just know that their passion is not with your character. However, in this case, I’m like, “I’m going to take whatever the writers give me and do the best I can and do my job. Let the writers do their job.” I think the writers also know that I really respect them and I’m not going to complain. I’m not going to tell them what to do and I’m going to stay out of it. They have enough to work out. They have enough to do. I’m going to be the problem solver, not the problem creator. There are enough problem creators. Believe me when I tell you that every time I leave those sets, I’m like, “Thank you. I love it. See you the next time I see you.” I know how lucky I am to do both shows and to have this opportunity to act at my age and still be sent scripts. I love the art of acting. I’d do it for free. The fact that they’re paying me and I am able to do this and work with these great, wonderful, talented actors every day, it’s kind of mind-blowing.
So, will you be rooting for Wally to take home the gold in this year’s Outstanding Supporting Actor in Daytime Drama Series at the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards on June 7th live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+? Let us know if you remember his nominated scenes from Days of our Lives via the comment section below and how they affected you.
Days Of Our Lives
Lisa Rinna Would Be Down to Reprise Her Role of Taylor McBride in ‘Melrose Place’ Reboot
When Lisa Rinna departed her popular role of Billie Reed on Days of our Lives back in 1995, her next major role would be a jump to primetime and the soapy Melrose Place.
In 1996, Lisa was introduced as new character Taylor McBride and stayed with the Fox young adult sudser for three seasons. Now in 2024, with the recent reveal that a Melrose Place revival is the works with Heather Locklear, Daphne Zuniga and Laura Leighton all on board to reprise their signature roles, would Rinna board the project should it come to fruition?
Speaking with PEOPLE, Rinna expressed, “Well, gosh, I’ve heard about it. I haven’t been approached or anything, but I would love to see what Taylor McBride is up to 25 years later. Wouldn’t that be something?”
Photo: FOX
OG Melrose Place fans know that in story, Taylor moved to the Melrose Place apartment building with her husband Kyle played by Rob Estes. However, Taylor had her eye on Dr. Peter Burns played by former GH star Jack Wagner (ex-Frisco). But, by the time she had moved to the apartment complex, Peter had married tough as nails ad executive, Amanda Woodward, played by Heather Locklear.
Recalling her time on Melrose Place, Rinna added that it, “was one of my greatest and most fun acting experiences, playing Taylor and working with Heather and the whole crew.” Rinna also noted, “So if they need a Taylor McBride appearance, they know who to call. I’m around.”
Photo: JPI
The new Melrose Place is in development at CBS Studios. In the premise of the reboot, the Melrose Place residents reunite after the death of one of their friends, “but the pressure cooker of a reunion soon uncovers old traumas, rekindles old romances, reignites old resentments, and reveals new secrets… throwing our characters into chaotic drama that’s reminiscent of the past, but with a much more modern perspective.”
So, would you want to see Lisa Rinna reprise her Melrose Place role as Taylor McBride? Comment below.
Days Of Our Lives
Kristian Alfonso Returns to Days of our Lives for Tribute to The Late Bill Hayes
After a few weeks of Days of our Lives fans being upset that Kristian Alfonso (Hope Williams) was not on the first list of initial returns for Doug Williams’ funeral and episodes honoring his portrayer, the late Bill Hayes, comes word that the popular star is back and taping scenes.
Kristian reported to work on the Peacock streaming soap opera on Monday, April 22nd. She shared how important it is for her to be back for this particular return to the show that made her a household name.
“My return is very bittersweet,” Alfonso told TV Insider, “because it is the end of an era with Bill gone. So to return to Days is very sad. I am appreciative that they came to me to include me in their series of shows honoring Doug and I’m very happy to see everyone, but I’m entering the studio with a heavy heart.”
Photo: JPI
It was back in 1983 that Kristian first debuted as Doug’s daughter, and now 41 years later looking back at it, and her time with Bill Hayes is very emotional for her.
“I remember my first scenes with him/ He was very loving, very welcoming. That he was very talented and an incredible actor and an icon, that all goes without saying, but my personal relationship and my working relationship with Bill, it was home,” expressed Alfonso. “Doing the scenes with Bill, I felt like I was with my dad because there was so much warmth and reality.”
Photo: JPI
Alfonso did express some deep regret, in that she had wanted to work with Bill Hayes during her last appearance on the soap back in 2023, but according to the iconic actress, there was something in the works but it never materialized. “I’m sad that I did not get the opportunity to do the storyline that Ron (Carlivati, head writer) had planned/ It was great; we returned to Salem to reunite with our families and I would have had father/daughter scenes with Billy. What Ron had written was beautiful and emotional and it was a fantastic story. I was 100 percent for it and the fans would have loved it.”
Photo: JPI
As for if Bo (Peter Reckell) and Hope will be back on-screen together anytime soon, Kristian would only say, “What I will say is don’t give up hope.” Doug’s passing and memorial episodes will stream later this year come late November into December.
So, are you happy to learn that Kristian Alfonso is back taping episodes surrounding Doug’s memorial episodes? Comment below.
Wally Kurth Talks on His DAYS Daytime Emmy Nomination, His Emotional Scenes, and Remembering John Aniston
‘Neighbours’ EP Jason Herbison on Series Daytime Emmy Nomination: “It’s a Huge Honour to be Nominated Alongside Such Iconic US Daytime Dramas”
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Brook Lynn and Chase Have Their Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties
Lisa Rinna Would Be Down to Reprise Her Role of Taylor McBride in ‘Melrose Place’ Reboot
Sean Kanan’s Stepdaughter, Juliet Vega, to Appear on The Bold and the Beautiful
‘Knots Landing’s’ Donna Mills and Joan Van Ark Reunite for Los Angeles Ballet Season 18 Gala
The Young and the Restless Preview: Ashley’s New Alter Emerges
Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital
‘Tracker’s’ Justin Hartley on His ‘Passions’ Soap Start, “They’d Have Me With No Shirt Walking Around a Hospital for Three Weeks. It Was Ridiculous, but I Loved It.”
The Young and the Restless and General Hospital Actress and Writer, Meg Bennett, Passes Away at 75
Cameron Mathison Previews New Game Show ‘Beat The Bridge’ (Promo)
Y&R’s Michelle Stafford Talks on Her Lead Actress Daytime Emmy Nomination, Allison Lanier, and ‘Pacific Palisades’ with Finola Hughes
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Nina Confronts Ava for Sabotaging Her Relationship With Sonny and Signs the Divorce Papers
AEW Dynasty: Swerve Strickland Becomes AEW World Heavyweight Champion, Jack Perry Returns, Will Ospreay Retires Move After Scary Finish
GH’s Finola Hughes Chats on Her Lead Actress Daytime Emmy Nomination, New Directions for Characters in Port Charles, and Anna’s Love Life
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General HospitalApril 21, 2024‘Knots Landing’s’ Donna Mills and Joan Van Ark Reunite for Los Angeles Ballet Season 18 Gala
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NewsApril 20, 2024The Young and the Restless Preview: Ashley’s New Alter Emerges
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Days Of Our LivesApril 19, 2024Stephen Schnetzer Talks On His Return to Days of our Lives and Working with Susan Seaforth Hayes In Emotional Episodes
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General HospitalApril 22, 2024Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital
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Days Of Our LivesApril 17, 2024DAYS Alum Tanner Stine to Appear in ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ Starring Nicholas Chavez
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Breaking NewsApril 17, 202451st Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Set to Be Announced
Days needs to axe the character of Gabi. She adds nothing to the story and no one has “friends” like that! More romance and less corporate s/l. No one cares about the business.
Couldn’t agree more. And let Will & Sonny get together… DAYS, don’t be afraid to “go there”…
Here we go again DAYS !!! Too much pimping Rafe ! BS
I love your comment! Its funny how Rafe gets pimped and DAYS loses viewers. Ken Corday will never learn his lesson. I should have known that Gary I love Rafe/Safe/ GG Tomlin will pimp Rafe any way hd can. Rafe didnt give Sami a second thought while Carrie was around and is lying about EJ’s babg being his and he is still made to look like a hero. Watching paint dry is better than SAFE round 2.
I totally agree. Pimping Rafe and turning away from the natural chemistry of Ejami is ruining the show. I quit watching. If they could market Rafe as the new Ambien they could make millions. Unfortunately this is the entertainment industry!
LOL. I quit watching as well. No offence to Galen Gering but he cant act.
Half the men on this show can’t act! I’ve started watching DAYS for the first time since 1999 to fill the void of not having AMC & OLTL and the stories have been decent, but the acting is ATROCIOUS. No wonder they barely get Emmy nominations.
Your right the acting is TERRIBLE!!!!!!
G.H. needs to show allot more of Monica and Edward. Bring the Q’s back please. Also give Sam her baby back you should never had taken her baby in the first place. allot of fans are very very upset about that dumb story line
I heard, sadly, that John Ingle is very ill so I don’t think we will be seeing much of Edward any time soon. 🙁
Keep it up GH !! We are out to win! Need our Families , danger & excitment! KEEP IT UP!
It would take a university dissertation to dissect what’s right and wrong with GH and what it would take to make it more successful. To that end, I will only spend time here highlight the show’s greatest strength and weakness. As if this were a performance review given to an employee, here’s my “do more of” and “do less of” assessment:
When Team Valentini and Carlivati took over GH, I had expected we would see less of what had long become daytime TV’s version of THE SOPRANOS. So far, it’s only been the opposite. Perhaps Sonny has had less onscreen mileage, but that’s not the point; viewers by and large love this character, just not so much his line of work. And while Jerry Jacks’s terrorist plot on Port Charles may serve as a fast-track device to clean up the canvas of characters to the new show runners’s liking, it’s as implausible as it is cartoonish, and I for one would like to see less of the “Legion of Doom” and mafia warfare, and more realistic drama – the kind that resonates with viewers on a true-to-life level.
This may seem contrary to what I’ve just said, but what works extremely well for GH right now is its most insane character played by someone who is arguably the show’s best acting asset: Heather Webber as brought to life by daytime’s incomparable “replacement queen” herself, Robin Mattson.
I once read a creative writing tip that said the best way to keep the fish alive is to put a predator in the tank. With any given drama series, we need to be kept on the edges of our seats, and the way to do that is to introduce a factor of unpredictability at every turn. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Ms. Heather Webber. To Port Charles, she is the quintessential human embodiment of Force Majeure. Like a massive hurricane, she blows into town, turns everything and everyone upside down, and when she’s gone she leaves massive destruction in her wake – enough to sustain numerous new stories in many disparate directions for months and even years to follow.
The tricky part for the writing team is figuring out how to keep crazy Heather a core player in town without relegating her to The Big House or The Loony Bin (which would limit her options for continuing to wreak havoc among Port Charles denizens, of course). To that, I say look to such cleverly written dramatic series like DEXTER (who literally gets away with murder in every episode yet viewers can’t get enough of him because he is drawn with such complexity and not simply as a thinly layered villain). It can be done, and GH has the most creative writing team in daytime to do it.
One final note about GH. When the show moves into its new time slot, I’m hoping two things: (1) that it will not erode ratings for DAYS in whatever markets where they’ll air opposite each other, and (2) that it will eviscerate THE TALK’s audience beyond recognition! (Yes, I still hold a grudge against CBS for canceling our beloved institution AS THE WORLD TURNS and replacing it with a copycat version of THE VIEW.) Break a leg, GH!
Well said! And yes, GH will be airing directly against DAYS in my market – which is too bad since I’ve started watching DAYS again to try and help fill the void left by the idiotic cancellations of AMC/OLTL. However, GH will have my loyalty always!! And I too am still pissed about “The Talk” replacing ATWT. If there’s any justice, THE TALK and THE CHEW will be gone by this time next year.
yes margie gh keep on rocking and pls keep watching all soaps
GH needs to remain on ABC even though it sucks the network not GH
joe your are right GH has my loyalty as well, I like days but in my market
area it comes on at 1:00pm so i can kinda watch it
but GH is my fav, I am pissed as well about the chew and the talk
‘
but you know Julia Chen of the talk her spouse is a big wig at CBS
so you can blame her as well and we will see if it gets cancelled anytime
soon its a copycat of the view
i hate the chew too
Jeffrey:
I love what your write and agree with many of your opinions, particularly the desire for more realistic drama. GH, however, made its mark in the early 1980s with the outlandish/cartoonish plots so I suspect they will rmeian part and parcel. But I, too, would love more hospital-based and family stories based in reality. GH has done well with those, too, and should revisit that storytelling.
I am also a huge Robin Mattson fan and am glad to see Heather Webber back on the canvas. Her original storylines with the Taylors and good-two-shoes nurse Anne were so good back in the day!
And I am with you again on the hope GH shuts down THE TALK. I so miss AS THE WORLD TURNS. You know, I could actually believe Oakdale was a real place. Only Pine Valley came close to really giving me a sense of place in again, reality-based stories.
Thanks for sharing your comments! I will look for more.
Interesting that you should mention the early ’80s outlandish/cartoonish plots on GH. While that may have marked a ratings zenith for daytime drama, that’s also when the industry began its slow but certain decline. In part, I do blame the “weather machine” for killing the genre. Pre-Luke and Laura era, soap operas – including GH – primarily concentrated on real human issues to which everyday viewers could relate. Then came a point when daytime started to veer toward more cinematic storytelling, which, while entertaining, came with a steep price; daytime has never been able to compete with primetime or the film industry in terms of production quality. So, when it began trying to be something it inherently wasn’t, then it by turns began to lose its audience. That, coupled with the changing times, evolving ways of life, and new entertainment outlets, has brought us to where we are now.
Ultimately, I believe daytime should get back to what it does best: emotionally resonant melodrama. The one thing a classic soap opera should have and which most are missing today is the “melos” (music) to go along with the “drama” (conflict), of which there is an abundance. Where are the recognizable musical scores? I think that’s one reason Y&R has stayed strong for so long, because it does employ music well. Remember the organ music that started it all during the radio days? In a true melodrama, it’s the music that tells the story. Look at the name itself: soap opera. What more is an opera in its basic form but a drama set to music? Today’s soap opera just happens to be a televised variation. It’s not nearly as effective without a strong musical score. Look at the most compelling film melodramas (from Gone with the Wind to Moulin Rouge to The Hours, et al) and what you’ll find are sweeping soundtracks that mimic the emotional undercurrent of what plays out on the screen. Forget mobsters, terrorist plagues, and perennial explosions in Port Charles. Instead, give me big tears and make-up, along with a memorable, atmospheric soundtrack to make me laugh and cry right along with my favorite characters.
Jeffery:
I largely concur with your sentiments, and in fact they echo the sentiments of many of the industry experts who contributed to the recent book “The Survival of Soap Opera”, which. like you, cites the outlandish plot devices employed by soaps, particularly GH, in the 1980s as the fateful move which started all other soaps on the road to becoming less about inter-generational family conflict and melodrama, and more about emulating primetime production styles with shock-value and over-the-top plots (e.g., many, many on GH, OLTL’s “Eterna” storyline, DAYS’ exorcism of Marlena, to name but a few) which ultimately succeeded only in driving away the soap opera’s core audience, and failing to attract the younger, ‘hipper,’ primetime audience that their narrative structure suggested they were trying to attract.
Glad you found the book of interest, Casey. I think it’s a case of soap operas not understanding the transgenerational nature of the genre and taking short-term approaches instead of long-term strategies. It was easy in the 80s to temporarily spike ratings among teenagers and young adults as a knee-jerk reaction to falling ratings that were happening across the board as people got more and more entertainment options and moved beyond three network options….But while that might have created a temporary spike for some shows, it didn’t create a long-term recipe for success for the traditional daytime soap, to be sure…
The new writers at General Hospital are so good! They just need to keep telling get stories and I will continue to watch!
GH End the torment and let Jasam be happy before Steve leaves. Keep Carly and her three men front and center. Love Laura Wright’s feisty Carly. Roger Howarth’s scenes with anyone are must see TV. Get into Kate’s storyline in finding her son. Also who can ever get enough of Sonny. Thanks, Joan
Days right now– my fav scenes are with Maggie and Victor, Love them together. Give Lucas a storyline, he deserves one. I loved Brady and Nicole together. He is the one person who really got her.
thanks joan and shannon who could ever get enough of sonny and those
dimples those darn dimples have had me hooked for the last 22 yrs
everday via soapnet or dvr or the old vcrs
grew up with gh luke and laura love them
am so sad about steve leaving though and hope they do not recast
big mistake if they do but ABC is so screwed up look at what they did to
our other soaps amc and oltl
also love victor and maggie on days such a sweet love story soap opera perfect
Kudos to #GH – well deserved bump in ratings. Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati, the awesome cast and crew are fighting hard. It shows.
On the flip side, #DAYS better steer back to an EJ and Sami romance quickly. Last week was a disappointment. Time to wave goodbye to Melanie, Gabi and Rafe. They all had way too much airtime.
These are my ‘stories’ – I want to see both of them remain on air. Have to give the greatest praise to #GH right now. They are ready to give it all they have got.
GH has a great story line and the writers and crew have done a wonderful job on location shots. It loooks and sounddds like a real nighttime show. Very dramatic and viewers are getting what they want..It’s OUTSTANDING entertainment. MUST SEE and don’t miss it.
yes yes i agree caroldee, outstanding gh love maurice benard and steve
burton and of course tony geary
also love todd and mcbain hot hot!!
but we GH fans know we have the best looking men on our soap
oh cannot forget jason thompson, and the rest
DUKE! Duke was a great stepping stone and HUGE surprise! Now if we could just lose Sonny and gain Robert, Alan, Lucy and Scotty!
sorry duke no go, DUKE!!! WHO!!! he has been gone forever and on ever other soap days, b&B and who knows what others?
sonny is not going anywhere sorry!!! he is the core of the show with tony geary
love robert and anna
also love anna with luke, but lucy and scott baldwin nay
heaven forbid GH bring back characters that made it #1. GH has never been and never will be #1 with MB on board.
SORRY JR BUT LOOK AT THE RATINGS BOOST
AND I WOULD SAY MB HAS ALOT TO DO WITH THAT!! HA HA AND
WELL DUKE WILL NOT LAST, SO GH NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
THE STARS OF NOW SORRY IF IT OFFENDS YOU BUT TURN THE CHANNEL
I AGREE SUSAN MB IS GH , DUKE IS OLE NEWS
ANNA IS GREAT WITH LUKE, AND DUKE WILL NOT LAST HE HAS BEEN
GONE TOO LONG, MB OVERY 20 YEARS AND STILL GOING STRONG
THE BEST IS YET TO COME WITH MB HE JUST GETS BETTER AND BETTER
BESIDES DUKE HAS BEEN ON EVER OTHER SOAP HOW MANY?
In the midst of all the turmoil (which is riveting) it was so nice to have the fantasy scenes with the baby shower, Spixie reuniting, my faves getting together for the shower, the Quartmaines getting more involved with Jason and Sam’s children and just the sweet happy moments. So wish Jason could stay and hope they don’t kill him… so he may return and possibly make those fantasies come true! Love the show and they just need to keep doing what they are doing! GH has the best cast bar none and they need great stories and great settings and then it will always be golden! Great promotions would also help! Great shows leading and following would help too!
yes heidi but rumor is they may recast jason with sean kanan
big mistake!!!! ABC may screw up again and lose more viewers if they make
that choice, but i think they should just leave it open for steve to return
i do agree promotions for GH are great and they (ABC) need to continue it
Hooray for GH, hope it keeps going up.
GO GH!!!! # 2 IN 18-49 DEMO!!! BEST SOAP ON AIR!
yes sean so agree!!!!
Was this the week that Cartini told everyone not to miss the Monday surprise? I’ve been enjoying GH the past few weeks, with Jerry’s return, and Jax’s return (IR needs to come back to GH for good! He and Carly just sparkle together), and am interested in where this Duke storyline goes. Still not liking the Kate/Sonny/JoeJr/Trey nonsense, but the rest of the show is fairly enjoyable. As for Days, I used to like Rafe and Sami together, but after watching him spend months chasing after her sister, I can’t support them together. I think the triangle should be Lucas/Sami/EJ as it always should’ve been. I knew when Gary Tomlin came back, Lucas would probably get shoved out of the story again and Safe would become the main couple, but at this point, I think Rafe and Gabi could both leave the show. I also think Days needs to really amp up the Will/Sonny romance. Will is the only character I have consistently cared about in ages, he is very very much his mother’s son, he’s such a self destructive train wreck, but I absolutely love him. I do think it was a mistake ending the EJill partnership though because I thought JS and CM had oodles of chemistry (although at times, the chemistry was so strong I started to want something to happen there lol). But Days is far from enjoyable television, IMO. There are certain stories that at times intrigue me, but like I said, other than Will, I’m not that invested in the rest.
jenn all stories on days are bad, nothing against will and sonny but its all boring
gh is so much better, we have to keep watching if we want to keep our soaps on
good luck to us both maybe days will pick up the pace with better storyline
less sami, sami
GH need to continue writing better script and stay focuse on GH characters not OLTL. Also bring closure to some of the storylines that were never handled properly by previous writers. FYI love the Jerry/Jax/Ewen story line. Give Sam her baby back before Jason leaves the show!!!!
I have this nagging feeling with Steve Burton leaving that Sam may get her baby back because of Jason’s sacrifice. I could see the writers doing that and having Jason presumed dead to save the baby.
Days relies on Sami and her men way too much… Time to realize that many people out there really do not care and are tired of the SAMI and which man she is after or is after her each week.. Make my watching Days go very fast, since I fast forward thru all of those scenes… Not really sure if I will be excited to watch Jennifer and Brady fall in love either… Don’t see how they can have chemistry…. will it be the older woman, younger kid story.. I remember when Jennifer was dating a young adult when brady was born…. I think Jennifer would have been with Jack or Frankie at that time.. ….
Again.. still waiting for Kristen to come back… DON”T disappoint me DAYS!!!
totally agree ts sick of sami also she bed hops more than we change clothes
they needto put jennifer with daniel i did like them together he is so fine and
hot it is a waste to not use him
jenninfer and brady please!!! uck!!!
and sami would sleep with sonny wills possible love interest if she could ha ha
Very happy that Cartini is finally earning their paycheck! I’m not a huge fan of the current format and style of GH, but not a hater on it either. I am very happy to see GH succeed in the ratings! I couldn’t help notice that it was a week when GH vets Duke and Jax made a returning appearance. That says something. Toward the end of the week they lost steam so I’m hoping they can keep this momentum up. I still think if Katie doesn’t do well the ABC brass will find a way to turn their backs on GH.
GH’s short reprieve happened for 2 reasons- The Revolution tanked and Katie asked Disney to keep GH as her lead in. If Katie tanks and GH continues to be under 3 million in the ratings I have zero doubt that Disney will return to its anti-soap, budget slashing agenda.
The only problem is that now they see how hard it is to find suitable replacements for soaps that can get decent revenue. But the fact remains that even when the talk shows dont perform as well as soaps they are still a bargain because they are cheaper to produce.
And if need be Disney can always return to the other part of their original master plan which was to syndicate the daytime hours out to the local affiliates. Then it would be their responsibility to supply local programming, infomercials or reruns during those hours.
i agree but yet it cost 80 million for Katie’s show go figure. Remember last year when the NYTimes said soaps were kaput I think they may be right. Y&R has been taken to the depths of despair how do you pull back from there soap actors veterans are leaving it to me is a bad sign.
Just to be clear I was talking about Susa Flannery, Ronn Moss & Steve burton going on to other things.
Now that viewers are fully aware of Steve Burton’s departure from GH, the rating will once again see a decline. GH has many talented actors and I am sure the rest of the crew is great as well, but Steve Burton and also Maurice Bernard are the faces of GH. He is the heart and soul. So that is the question, what can they do to fill that void and still keep GH alive?
christy you are so right maurice and steve are the favs and faces of GH
a recast is possible I heard for stee big mistake
and the fact the cost for katie 80 million dollars
hell she was a flop on CBS news
ABC should have known when you play with our soaps you lose viewers
hope they lose 80 million more
I boycott ABC until GH comes on and now until DWTS comes on. That is the only time anything ABC gets viewed in my house! Katie WILL tank if its up to Soap Fans! My local ABC affiliate didn’t pick her show up. HA! I was so happy! But I turn it as soon as GH is over anyway. I hope she is cancelled after her first season! Not worth that $$$$$$.
GH has tanked with those two as the leads. It’s the reason its at the bottom of the barrel. Never been #1 with either of these male leads so don’t know why everyone thinks they are the end all be all!
We will see when the ratings drop! When they recast Jason this character will not be the same! Have you been on Twitter or Facebook? The outpouring of love and support for this man after almost 22 years is unbelievable. He is a leading man and so is Maurice Bernard! They can only give us whatever the writers give them!!!!
This will be inconvenient as GH is going to the same time slot as Days in our area! Before the change, we viewed Y & R, News, B & B (fav), Days and then GH . Bummer.
Deacon please return to B & B soon and shake up Bill’s world!…and Steffy’s while you’re at it : ) DRAMA…YES PLEASE!
oh kristen by know you should know deacon aka sean kanan is going to gh
and rumor is a recast for steve burton
but he was on B&B last wk BAD RECAST FOR GH
no one can replace steve burton as jason heck he has played for appx 22 yrs
The latest rumor is he indeed is AJ Quartamine and that Edward knew all along that he was alive and well. I hope it is true let’s see old Sonny try to hang SK version of AJ on a meat hook. And it would give me great pleasure to see Carly get hers for keeping Michael away Sk can play bad boy like nobody else let the games begin.
I hope this is true! I do not want a Jason recast! Nobody can play Jason like Steve Burton! I would almost rather see a sad ending and farewell than a recast! I have bee watching since I was 7 and will truly miss him. 🙁
GO SOAPS & congrats GH!
I know lots of viewers love the romance & love stories, but I like the mystery, suspense, intrigue and don’t mind the corporate storylines at all. A mix of ALL those elements is my preference.
I think all of the daytime dramas have been really good. Y&R needs something (not Victor goes missing #2,834) but I was surprised to see Daisy at Ferncliff & Billy not telling Victoria he found Victor. Enjoying the Paul & Phyllis storylines.
I’m happy to see Nick Fallon back on DOOL and the Nicole storyline is good.
B&B I like but am tired of “The Triangle” and find Liam’s Dad’s obsession with his son’s love life super-creepy, disturbing and implausible. Other than that I like the characters.
GH has been awesome IMO! I do feel for the Steve Burton fans and hope all his fans get what they want before he exits (a very tall order, I know).
WILL NOT WATCH KATIE OR ANY OTHER OF THE OVERKILL OF TALK POLLUTING OUR AIRWAVES!
Unfortunately turning against Katie may do GH in. Insiders are starting to say that Katie’s fate is closely tied to GH.
Katie begged ABC to save GH and to cancel the Revolution so she could have GH as the lead in for her show. ABC spent 80 million on Katie and they kept GH on the air to prop up Katie’s show.
Fans like to think that ABC just suddenly became soap friendly but all the insiders have said for months thats not true. Its good not that GH has been able to maintain a 2.5 in the ratings at their new time slot, but ABC is determined to make Katie work. If Katie fails GH could also get the ax. That’s not my opinion Im hearing it from soap columnist who have inside info from the network itself. So fans have got to be very careful attacking Katie’s show and boycotting it and such if you dont want GH to be negatively effected.
So far I think Katie’s show has been boring. But again none of this is about what we want as fans. Disney/ABC has their own agenda. And I completely understand why fans are angry with ABC and want to stick it to them. But Katie and GH are indeed linked today, unfortunately.
GH has been getting some more promotion lately (that promo is awesome!) and a lot of possessive feedback from fans. I think this just needs to keep up. Soap columnists, blogger, cast crew, fans, etc. have been saying for years that if soaps can get the ratings they have w/o promotion form the network, imagine what would happen if they actually got some promotion. I think if GH continues to tell exciting stories (the cast & crew are clearly working their butts off!) and show exciting promos like their most recent one, people will watch. GH is better looking & more fun than it has been in years! Good promos will let people who aren’t watching see that and will entice them to watch.
Days getting a little boring again. GH may really hurt Days in the new timeslot.
This was GH’s highest rated week since April 2011. Hopefully, it’s the start of a trend for the show. Team Cartini all the way!
Thanks not saying much, lol. For most of the last decade GH has performed terribly ratings wise. YR now has the ratings GH had ten yrs ago. Team Cartini cant get 3 million viewers. Guza could do that even with the terrible garbage he and frons pushed on the audience in the early 2000s, lol
GH needs to find a way to hold on to Steve Burton and continue to write stories about the core characters. We watched last week because it wasn’t about the painful-to-watch Christina and Trey storyline or John McDroopy. We watched because Jax and Jerry were back. Anna and Luke had some airtime. Sonny and Carly had a moment. Sam and Jason were in the same room for more than a second. These are our charters. Just keep writing for them.
not to leave out that we watched to see KIRSTEN STORMS return!!
Finally someone who understands that the core GH characters and families are what spike the ratings. This is what the viewers want to see. McDroopy, lol! Hilarious. Im so tired of the One Life viewers saying that the One Life actors are saving GH. That’s pure BS.
As far as Steve Burton is concerned he’s wanted to leave for quite a while. They cant force him to stay. I think his departure may open the door for an interesting story.
general hospital is getting really really good now. heather webber is back. i am so happy that robin mattson is back again. i want heather to go back to kellys and order another blt sandwich. i hope they keep robin mattson on general hospital. she is such a wonderful actress. please get rid of jerry jacks. enough already he needs to go now. i am happy that ingo is back as jacks. please sign him to a contract. gh producers listen to me please bring back jackie zeman as bobbie spencer. she needs to come back to general hospital. i miss her so much as bobbie spencer. recast laura spencer now. genie francis will not come back to general hospital anytime soon. bring back antonio sabato jr and vanessa marcil to fill the steve burton departure. why not recast jason morgan. if they find the right actor why not.
I am still anti Cartini and I say this ratings jump is only temporary. Like the Guza regime they can pen a gimmick, sweeps story but all the show’s basic stories are a complete and total snore….Skully JR vs Sonny? Boring and repetitious and with all the out of work soap actors out there of course Valentini goes cheap and hire Richard Steinmetz from Loving and Passions (two of the most low rated soaps in decades).
Christina and Trey? Completely boring and whack-they are two untalented newbies playing characters that the majority of the audience couldnt care less about. Lame.
Tracy, Anna, Luke and Heather-Give me a break, what a complete waste of fabulous actors and legacy characters. Tracy and Luke are like watching paint dry on a wall at an old folks home, with the exception of a few good jokes about regularity a dentures thrown in. Lol.
Finola Hughes’s character is wasting in a lackluster creepy romance with TG. Luke and Anna have no romantic history and Finola looks too young for him. And a Tracy, Luke Anna triangle would be as boring as a Molly, TJ, triangle with a boy from One Direction! Lame again!
Heather’s obsession with Luke was also super lame and a horrible waste of both TG and Robin Matson. Sam’s baby switch was a uber predictable way to link Tea and possibly the errant presumed dead Victor Lord ( TSJ) to Port Charles and continue Valentini’s twisted plant to create LLnadview General Hospital. Carly and Johnny-hit the snooze button. Cartini had a super couple in the making but they blew it and now they try to redeem themselves by putting Sean Blakemoore with Nancy Grahn and the two of them prop of the romper room civil rights couple Molly and TJ? Give me a break and pass the remote so I get break the ff button!
GH is a zonk prize wrapped in a pretty package. The only compelling story on this show is the gimmick plot stemming from Robin’s kidnapping. That story itself has the potential to be one of the most convoluted, historically inaccurate pieces of nonsense ever penned for GH. Duke Lavery kidnaps his beloved step daughter and puts the woman he loved through pure hell to work with Jerry Jax ( a beat to death interminable villain? ) Oh brother. GH right now is classic Cartini-a tabloid video magazine with a sensation cover but lacking any true substance. ( They ran One Life they exact same way and we all know how that ended, lol).
GH lost its true core audience over a decade ago. YR still gets the ratings GH got in the 90s. GH will never see 3 and 4 million viewers or better every again because the history has been slashed and bastardized and the junk Cartini writes now will only suffice for those so desperate for soap opera they are willing to put their intellect and good taste on the shelf. SMH.
Why do you even watch GH? Its seems like it should give you a one-way ticket to the Dr. Phil show for some therapy. Move on. There are only 4 soaps on the air now and we certainly don’t need your ‘expert’ analysis. I hated what Guza and Phelps did to my once beloved GH so I stopped watching it. Why give myself heart palpitations. The only saving grace for me was the Robin and Patrick romance why I sadly say I didn’t fully watch so I kept up with it with YouTube. You can say what you want about Frank & Ron (and you have), but at least they haven’t graphically and unnessarily killed off half the beloved characters. I’m actually back watching GH now BECAUSE of Frank & Ron…I refuse to say Cartini. The characters are back having nuanced conversations and it makes me want to tune in every day…how rare is that? In this day & age of soap budgets slashed, taping way in advance, and eroding ratings, we should be darn lucky GH is still on the air. You can speculate since your such the soap expert over WHY GH is still on, but it IS. I will be forever angry and not trusting of ABC. That said, any fan of AMC & OLTL would be thanking the high heavens if it was THEIR show that was still on the air. So, instead of whining about what your NOT seeing or making the rest of us feel belittled for actually liking GH right now, get off your soap box. Move to LA and start your own soap and then all of us peons can see your brilliance at using budgets slashed to zilch and still get a viable product in the air. Soaps are ALL about leaving your brains at the door. Its called escapism for a reason. GH once featured an alien (which in the end was very good!) so anything other than that is gold to me in terms of story. Some are duds but they won’t keep me from watching. I just couldn’t stomach watching Alan, Emily, Georgie, AJ, Tony, Rick, Zander, Justus & Jake.all great characters die. That to me, was the horrible legacy of Guza & Phelps. THAT is what eventually eroded GH’s core audience. Not worrying over whether plots made sense. Now, please take the time you have been bitching over GH and take some writing courses so YOU can elevate soaps to the brilliance you seem to offer. I’d really like to see you try it. Thought so.
Thank you so much Robb for validating most of my points. You praise Cartini because you compare them to the train wreck that Guza, Phelps and Frons left at GH. But you forget that in his latter days Frons was merely a henchman carrying out ABC’s agenda to dismantle GH to ready it for cancellation.
So praising the Cartini regime based on the former regime’s performance is not very intelligent. Cartini should be judged on their own merits and their history.
Thank you also for validating my opinions about them with your comment “Soaps are all about leaving your brains at the door.”
That comment proves that you are ignorant of soap history. When soaps began they were family centered, romantic and much more grounded in reality. And you insult creators like Irna Phillips and Agnes Nixon who believed that the daytime serial medium was one that could both entertain and inform.
Soaps were among the first genres to explore some vital family and social issues and they were the first to show women in a positive domestic and professional light. Outlandish back from the dead , convoluted doppelganger and DID plots were far more scarce than the cartoon, softcore porn fare we get today.
I have been writing treatments for serials and prime time shows for kicks since I was a kid. I am definitely working toward breaking into the business. I already have a degree in broadcasting and as we speak Im applying to a few different Universities to get into TV writing programs. One of those is North Western U where ironically Agnes Nixon and many other greats got their start. And yes I would like to restore brilliance, intelligence and respect back to the serial genre as well as TV in general.
I find it sad that even longtime viewers have no desire to raise the this genre back to something of which we can be proud. That doesn’t mean the fun and entertainment aspect has to be sacrificed. You can have both intelligence and entertainment. Erika Slezak was once quoted as saying that she counseled new actors on One Life to “try to make it art, everyday.” That’s good enough for me. Peace.
ITA with every word! GH did lose it’s core audience and it’s heart and sole when it became all about Sonny and Jason. Now it may be too late to fully redeem the audience with gimmicky scripts. ITA with Duke by the way too. He would NEVER do that to Anna. At least not the Duke I know. But then again, the Robert I know would never jump off a bridge or miss his daughter’s funeral to chase after a son that’s not even his! ugh.
Thanks JR. God bless the people who despise my comments though. Its obvious that they are desperate to see GH kept on the air. I get where theyre coming from. But I refuse to bow down at Cartini’s alter. GH in no way is even one tenth of what it used to be in the 90s, let alone the grand days of Gloria Monty.
Is it better than it was under Guza, yes, but that’s not saying much, lol. Cartini are masters at gimmicks and sensationalism.
But GH needs writers and producers of substance who tell grounded, plausible stories centered on family and the core history of the show. That’s how a soap opera succeeds in the long term. Temporary ratings spikes arent the answer. The answer is for this show to return to its roots and to jettison the dead weight and Valentini’s penchant for continuing One Life stories. Thanks again for the nod JR. I feel lonely out here crusading for the truth sometimes! But I wont relent until I see GH reach its potential.
I still adore DAYS…love the Nicole and Jennifer stuff and cannot wait to see Kristen again. On the other hand GH deserves the bump. GH is now the best soap on, as it has been since OLTL left the airways. Y&R is too much and B&B is a repetitive bore feast. This is how the ratings should be:
1. GH
2. DAYS
3. Y&R
4. B&B
JMO!
yes, i agree, this is how the ratings should really look like..
GH needs to keep moving away from all the exclusively mob-related storylines. I was never a fan of The Sopranos, and quit watching GH because of the storylines. I watch every day now. Glad to see more variety, and new characters, entering into the writing. Days–well, they need to add more younger cast members. Bold and Beautiful–I just started watching, one day a week. I can catch up on everything in one day, the pace is that slow. I don’t watch the Young and the Restless, so can’t comment.
This is probably going to get me put into message board jail, but I have to wonder if it is a conincidence that the GH ratings were so good on a week where Sam wasn’t being shoved down our throats? I actually watched pretty much every scene last week except the stupid Kristina (really you were waitlisted at Yale?) and Trey (you actually got into Yale?) run off and get married. And I love seeing Steve Burton with Rebecca Herbst again. Their chemistry is what I, as a long-time soap viewer, look for when watching. They do more with a look than what others do with pages of dialogue.
I have to say that for the last few months I have enjoyed watching GH again. I really neve stopped watching but was losing all hope that it would get back to the brilliance that it once was. Enter the dynamic team of Ron Carlivati & Frank Valentini and the turnaround has been amazing. No more “agendas.” No more showing an unworkable, low ratings pairing where other characters were sacrifice to prompt this unworkable pairing. No more forgetting the vets of the show. No more useless writing being thrown against the wall to see if it sticks. No more my balls are bigger than yours among executives but a common ground….that’s the good of the show and a desire to get viewers back.
I was leary of the influx of the OLTL characters coming on GH taking over. However, under the careful tutelege of Cartini, they have made the characters of John McBain and Todd Manning, which I might add a character that I have detest from his portrayal on OLTL to now enjoying him immensly. I can forever do without the character of Starr Manning, but thank God for the fast-forward button as I use it often when she is on. I don’t need Blair Manning on the GH as I’ve always thought that she was a detriment to Todd’s growth. Hopefully Ron Carlivati will move Todd further away from Blair Manning and onto a new love interest. I’m not adverse to a Todd/Carly hook up.
I can actually watch the character of Sam McCall but only when she is away from one, Jason Morgan. The whining, needy, clingy mess that she is with Jason has always been something that I sorely refuse to subject myself to and I can watch the character. Enter John McBain and I can watch the character. The chemistry betwen Michael Easton and Kelly Monaco is amazing. They have the potential of being a couple worthy of rooting for. Everything about McBam screams workable, potential and something to really explore.
GH is now getting back to couples that make sense. I like the potential of Shawn/Alexis pairing. We get to see an adult relationship where two adults can show us what true romance is about. Now GH is getting back to the history and core of GH with an amazing pairing of Jason/Elizabeth. Their scenes have been amazing but I expect nothing less of what Steve Burton and Rebecca Herbst bring when they are onscreen. Notice that the ratings actually spike high with Jason & Elizabeth. Imagine that. It speaks volumes in my opinion. I’m even enjoying the puppy love of Molly & TJ, with being one of those characters I could do without but now actually enjoy her. Now if we can get away from couples like Anna/Luke, Kristina/Trey, Tracy/Joe Jr. then I’m happy. Anna deserve better than Luke. The Kristina/Trey pairing is a waste and please Joe Jr. shouldn’t have lived beyond 2 weeks.
I know some keep wishing for GH’s demise but I’ll never do that. Apparently GH was saved for a reason. Afterall, GH birth OLTL and AMC so it’s only befitting that it remains on air and the last remaining ABC soap. That’s not to say that I don’t want OLTL and AMC back. I do. However, I’m just happy having GH on air. And now with Cartini firmly in place giving us riveting stories with the return of Duke Lavery, Jerry Jax diabolical menance to the citizens of Port Charles and the return of Ingo Radomacher, GH is interesting again. I want it to continue. I want GH to continue to thrive. I want GH to continue to climb up the ratings knocking off Y&R and B&B off their pedestal with the stories they have currently going.
Now with GH up against Days in the same timeslot, with the writing brillance of Ron Carlivati, I see no reason why GH going head-to-head against Days and winning the coveted position in the ratings, with more to come.
Bradley Bell’s ideas have stagnated, and with Jill Farren Phelps now in place at Y&R I fear for its position on air. Look at Ms. Phelps track record as an EP. It does not bode well with Y&R’s future. Fans should be very concern. As for B&B, END the MADNESS that is the Steffy/Liam/Hope nightmare. It has gone on far too long and quite frankly I’ve stopped watching because vets like Ronn Moss and Susan Flannery have been pushed aside and halfway out the door because of this incessive drivel that is the Steffy/Liam/Hope saga over and over. Put Steffy & Liam together. Move Hope to someone new (I can work with Thomas & Hope) or either blow the triangle up and stop putting viewers to sleep.
As for Days, sorry but I’m not a viewer so I really can’t comment on the show. All I know is that GH is now a show that I rush home to watch again.I look forward to what Cartini has in store. I feel good about watching instead of cringing and debating whether I should watch again. Yes there is a sad cloud hanging over the halls of GH with Steve Burton’s imminent departure. However, I’m hopeful that his storyline exit will see the return of his son, Jake, the end of Jason & Sam in divorce with the paper signed, sealed and delivered. Give her a child so long as it’s not a replacement for Jake. I want to see the continued closeness of Jason & Elizabeth that finally leads to the Love Story that should have been told before the agenda stepped in and derailed it. My hope is that Steve’s departure opens the doors for stellar acting performances for so many character to which the character of Jason has ties to with the ultimate ending for Jason Morgan is him having a little bit of happiness with Elizabeth, Jake and their family before we lose the character to parts unknown.
GH is BACK!!!! I’m happy and will continue to be a loyal viewer of 42 years + and cry at its 50th anniversary which I’m sure will bring about so many surprise. GO Cartini. GO GH! Keep up the Great Brilliance. You deserve it.
Days is doing poorly because EJami makes EJ a wimp and Sami a slut. Lumi/Safe and EJole r better
Then please explain the drop in ratings. they are shoving the borefest Rafe down our throats and suddenly the ratings decline. Sami needs to focus on her kids or move away. EJAMI helped with the ratings but now that Rafe has rocketed at the speed of light to Sami we get a drop in ratings.
No, the Daysaster helped the ratings. EJami were part of that, but other storylines, such as Stefano being alive and Chelanie/Brady/Gabi/Andrew, along with Jack and Madison’s deaths, gave more ratings. People have become bored with the “Days of EJami’s Life” because EJami are written out of character when together. People don’t necessarily like Safe as much, but they are just willing for them to settle if it means the end of Sami’s love triangles. Also, a lot of people are willing to see a Safe/Lumi triangle.
Please you should watch the show and read other message boards before jumping to conclusions. NOONE wants to see Safe/Lumi triangle even though I dont mind Lumi. Safe and Ejole really hurt the ratings last year and the show was at its worst ehen Saint Sami dhot EJ in the head and then went home to boink with expressionless Rafe. People are slso willing to settle gor Ejami to end Samis guy trounles. However I do respect your opinion and focusing on Sami and her love is really turning me off. The daysaster is starting now and Y and R is actually interestong me more than Days.
I do watch the show. And in fact, I had read other message boards prior to writing my post on here! Look at Daytime Royalty. There are so many people supporting EJole and Safe or Lumi on the boards. A lot of people want a Safe/Lumi triangle (if there has to be another Sami love storyline) rather than the re-done Lumi/EJami triangle that occured earlier in the year, or now the Safe/EJami triangle that is taking place. Sami having to choose between Rafe and Lucas would be more interesting because they both have that family-guy element to them, and are Sami’s two great loves. Again, Sami has never told EJ that she is in love with him. A great supercouple cannot be one-sided AND do all these horrible things that EJami have done to each other. Chemistry between EJami is good, but that is not all that makes a good couple. Besides, other couples have more chemistry than EJami. But I digress. Safe and EJole didn’t really hurt the ratings. What hurt the ratings last year were EJaylor and the fake Rafe. People were watching last year when EJole and Safe were together because the writers changed and storylines picked up. Carrie, Austin, Jack, Marlena and John had returned, the set had changed, Chelanie became a couple, the gay storyline and the kidnapping all had a great effect on the ratings, along with the departures of several characters and the EJamideadbabysex (gross). But still, the ratings had not gone down ebcause of Safe and EJole, but rather because of EJaylor and fake Rafe.
I watch the show as well and I disahree. Safe literally caused me to pull my hair out and Ejole pulled Nicoles character down. The ratings were down when Stepford Sami and good old Rafe were gracing our screens. Galen Gering cant act. Your attitude is not very nice and It was grief sex. Maybe you should tone down your language. I hated Ejaylor and loved the return of the vets. Too bad Gary Tomlin doesnt agree. Your entitled to your opinion and Im dntitled to mine but I dont like being attacked.
By the way I think its just daytime royalty that dont like Ejami. Im not saying solely that horrible Safe contributed to ratings being down but a mixture of things. The writing is bad now even with Ejami on
If General Hospital could bring Erika Slezak to Port Charles to portray the iconic Victoria Lord the show could have a much needed matriarch and the audience would follow. I think GH is so heavy in male characters the balance would be good. . ABC has no heart and will cancel GH in the spring if numbers are not good. While often overshadowed by Susan Lucci, the much decorated Erika Slezak is the heart and soul of ABC daytime and has been for 40 plus years!
I AM 62….I HAVE WATCHED YOUNG AND RESTLESS SINCE A LITTLE GIRL I LOVE ERIC BRADEN .DO NOT LIKE ..HIS STORY LINE …WITH SHARON CASE