General Hospital
ABC/SOAPnet First Look Promo: Alderson, Howarth & Easton Return To General Hospital!
Courtesy/ABC
Just how will Roger Howarth, Kristen Alderson and Michael Easton look when they return to General Hospital in their new roles? For a first look teaser, all you need to do is check out this week’s promo from SOAPnet and ABC which shows the trio returning to Port Charles, and no longer as Starr Manning, Todd Manning or John McBain! So, just who are they?
Check out the latest GH promo after the jump, whose voice-over relates, “Everything you love about GH, like you’ve never seen before!” In addition to Roger, Kristen and Michael, look for Sabrina (Teresa Castillo) to try to figure out how Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) is pulling off her pregnancy, Nikolas (Tyler Christopher) declaring his love for Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst), and Sonny (Maurice Benard) and some gunshots! What’s that all about?
Let us know your thoughts on the new character looks of Kristen Alderson, Michael Easton and Roger Howarth and who you think they will be?
The latest ratings are out for the week of October 26-30, 2026 and the big takeaways include: that CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates was separated by only 23,000 viewers behind third place (of the soaps) General Hospital! For the last several weeks, Beyond the Gates has been closing the gap on this year’s winner for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series, and continuing to best GH in the key demos.
According to the latest Nielsen ratings breakdown from Soap Opera Network, the final week of October brought Beyond the Gates 1.790 million on average tuning-in and the show set a season high in total viewers. Meanwhile, General Hospital hit a new season low! The long-running ABC soap had 1.813 million for the week, and once again the series did not go over the 2 million mark.
Meanwhile, in the key Women 18-49 demo, Beyond the Gates was firmly ahead of GH with a rating share of 0.21, while General Hospital had 0.17 rating share.Then, in the key Women 25-54 demo, Beyond the Gates was once again ahead of the ABC soap with a ratings share for that demo at 0.30 while GH came in with 0.26.
Photo: CBS
MORE BY THE NUMBERS
In addition and comparatively, Beyond the Gates +22,000 viewers week-to-week, and had the largest gains in viewership year-to-year in daytime TV with +267,000 from this in 2025.. However, General Hospital seems to be going in reverse. The show was down -56,000 viewers week-over-week and down -22,000 year-over-year .
BEYOND THE GATES
Let’s take a look at some of the storylines that had people tuning-in to Beyond the Gates during the ratings week:
Hayley (Marquita Goings) attempted a massive shocker regarding her pregnancy and tried to use it to extract money from Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). Although, Bill saw right through her game, he demanded a paternity test, and made it clear he has no intention of raising the child—planning instead to pay her off to take the baby and leave. Meanwhile, Hayley confided her plan to her cousin Randy (Maurice P. Kerry).
Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges) and Naomi Hamilton (Arielle Prepetit) clashed over Jacob’s ongoing investigation into The Impaler, causing significant strain in their marriage. At the same time, Smitty (Mike Manning) considered taking matters into his own hands—including potentially heading to Mexico for evidence—while Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) worried about what comes next.
Photo: ABC
GENERAL HOSPITAL
Over at General Hospital for the ratings period, the story served up included:
Carly (Laura Wright) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) teamed up to investigate what really happened to Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna). Later, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) leads them to Jack’s dead body.
Jude (Wil Traval) dropped a bombshell claim to Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn); that he is Phoebe’s father, while Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard) signed their divorce papers.
Then, Danny caught Rocco (Finn Carr) and Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarski) sharing a kiss, plus the shocking return of Heather Webber (Alley Mills) capped the week.
Now the questions become; without having much promotional synergy in the ABC day-part to draw more eyeballs it is not helping but hurting General Hospital. It seems Beyond the Gates is also a benefactor of a one-two-three punch of CBS soaps (Y&R, B&B and BTG) and promotion.
However, that still doesn’t take away the fact that Beyond the Gates is close to besting GH in all ratings category as they go head-to-head in some markets across the country.
So, are you excited to see Beyond the Gates climb in the ratings? Are you concerned for General Hospital? Do you think they can stave off Beyond the Gates in total viewers or will the upstart soap overtake them in the next ratings report? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Antonio Sabáto Jr., the former Jagger Cates of General Hospital and GH: Night Shift, and the former Dante Damiano of The Bold and the Beautiful has issued his first public statement since the incident involving his son, Jack’s arrest in Alaska for a fatal hit-and-run.
Jack is the son of Sabáto Jr. and Oscar-nominated actress Virginia Madsen, and according to court documents obtained by KTUU Jack, was allegedly driving a white Chevy Tahoe when he hit and killed Carl Simmonds, 42, near an intersection in Anchorage around 5:35 a.m. on Monday, November 9.
The reports indicated that Jack fled the scene — but later decided to called the cops to say he hit “something” that “suddenly appeared in the road” while he was “doing late-night DoorDashing.”
Photo: NBC
Now, Antonio has taken to his Instagram breaking his silence on the situation, sharing, “At this time, my family and I are navigating an extremely sensitive and deeply personal matter.”
He added, “As a father, my love for my children remains unconditional, and my priority is the well-being of my family. We ask that the public and members of the media honor our privacy during this difficult time and keep us all in your thoughts and prayers.”
The soap alum concluded, “I also wish to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the gentleman who tragically lost his life. My thoughts and prayers are with them as well. We sincerely appreciate your compassion, understanding, and respect for the privacy of everyone affected.”
Jack Sabáto was arraigned in court on Tuesday, November 10 with bail set at $5,000, and a no-driving order and the potential of $5,000 penalty fees if he fails to attend future court appearances.
Antonio is the father to Jack, 34, daughter, Mina Sabato, 24 and son, Antonio Sabáto III, 15.
This is a developing story. You can check out Antonio’s official statement below.
So, let us know your thoughts on this tragic hit-and-run, which claimed the life of another man, and Antonio’s statement, via the comment section below.
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Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Ava’s (Maura West) daughter Avery looks quite different, starting on today’s November 9 episode of General Hospital. That’s because GH has made Avery into a full-blown teenager and the role is now being played by actress Alya Bullington.
In her debut, the Tennessee native was thrown into the deep soap waters with Daytime Emmy winners, Maurice Benard and Eden McCoy (Josslyn). Bullington weighed-in to TV Insider about her first scene which featured Avery overhearing a fight between Sonny and Josslyn.
She explained “It was something I have never done before, I did not have a lot of experience with the screaming and the crying stuff, but I got my first script, and I was like, ‘OK, this is a huge opportunity to learn so much about how that stuff works and to become this character that I have never even tried playing before.’”
Photo: ABC
THE TEENAGED VERSION OF AVERY WILL HAVE A LOT TO CONTEND WITH
Speaking of working with McCoy, Bullington shared, “She’s incredible. I remember her just laughing and making jokes on set, and then the minute that they started taping, she just locked in and she cried immediately, and my first thought was, ‘I want to be able to do that.’
The soap opera newcomer added, “I think she just inspired me so much because she is so great and she can just lock into whatever character she wants to in the moment.”
The character of Avery was born back in 2014, but as recently as the October 8 episode of General Hospital, the character was suddenly referred to as a teenager. This is the second young female character in recent months to be aged up following the casting of Kayden Brenna Tokarski as Scout Cain.
As for her take on Avery and what’s ahead, Alya said,“She’s emotional, and she’s curious, and she’s a really fun person to play because so much stuff is happening in her life. I think she’s kind of confused about what’s happening and what to believe.”
So, what do you think about General Hospital making Avery a teenager? Are you excited to see the conflict between Sonny, Ava and Avery now that they have aged up the character? Share your thoughts and welcome Alya to GH via the comment section below.
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie Kicks Bill to the Curb … for Now
RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Inches Closer to ‘General Hospital’ in Total Viewers
B&B’s Sydney Bullock Weighs In on Future of Dylan and Will: ‘I Think She Can Hold on to Him for Awhile’ (Exclusive)
Antonio Sabáto Jr. Breaks Silence on His Son’s Arrest for Fatal Hit-and-Run
DANCING WITH THE STARS: A Shocking Elimination on Grammy Night Leaves Ballroom Silenced
Y&R’s New Head Writers Share Vision for Genoa City: Contemporary Homage to Bill Bell, Mixing Heightened Escapism and Grounded Reality
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Episodes From New Co-Head Writers, Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor, Begin to Air
‘General Hospital’ Casts Ayla Bullington as the New Avery Jerome-Corinthos
‘Days of our Lives’ Celebrates 61st Anniversary: EP Ken Corday Teases New Character’s Arrival in Spring 2027
‘Days of our Lives’ Kyle Pryor Debuts as Dominic Marino and Says of Alleged TV Mom, “Deidre Hall is the Absolute OG, Amazing” (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie Kicks Bill to the Curb … for Now
B&B’s Sydney Bullock Weighs In on Future of Dylan and Will: ‘I Think She Can Hold on to Him for Awhile’ (Exclusive)
‘Days of our Lives’ Veteran James Reynolds Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis
Y&R’s Matt Cohen Talks Role as Compassionate Zookeeper in Rom-Com ‘Christmas at the Zoo’
Alice Halsey Returns to ‘Days of our Lives’ as Rachel Black – Find Out How Long!
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News2 days agoY&R’s New Head Writers Share Vision for Genoa City: Contemporary Homage to Bill Bell, Mixing Heightened Escapism and Grounded Reality
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Previews4 days agoTHE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Episodes From New Co-Head Writers, Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor, Begin to Air
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General Hospital3 days ago‘General Hospital’ Casts Ayla Bullington as the New Avery Jerome-Corinthos
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Days Of Our Lives4 days ago‘Days of our Lives’ Celebrates 61st Anniversary: EP Ken Corday Teases New Character’s Arrival in Spring 2027
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Days Of Our Lives6 days ago‘Days of our Lives’ Kyle Pryor Debuts as Dominic Marino and Says of Alleged TV Mom, “Deidre Hall is the Absolute OG, Amazing” (Exclusive)
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General Hospital6 days agoGENERAL HOSPITAL: Tracy Leaves Port Charles to Help Dillon; Paving the Way for Jane Elliot’s Temporary Exit
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I am interested in the new characters joining the cast. Im wondering how Howarth will look without his scar. I do like his hair though. Idk about Easton’s look this should be interesting thats for sure.
I think Howarth’s hair is a bit too short. Michael Easton is the best with his raspy voice and those blue eyes!
Not sure how to feel about that?
Well it will be a hard sell for me buying them as new characters there will have to be something really good to them in order for me to watch.
Well said. After many years of watching OLTL & the works of their writing teams (which are now on GH) it’s going to take a miracle for me to care about these characters. And I’m a Roger & Michael fan. Sorry, but PP’d brand is more my style these days. Good luck guys on GH. My guys are going to need it.
Roger and Kristen aren’t that much different except for hair color. But either Easton has a very short hair cut or it is slicked back and pasted to his head. Not sure I am liking it.
Roger might play Franco.
Kristen will play Lauren Frank.
Michael will play Stephen Clay’s brother
Maybe he’s the “real” Robert Frank and Franco was an imposter.
Really really bad idea didnt you just get rid of todd and starr manning why would you bring them back so soon after having played their characters to play another father /dauvhter duo todd was awful and is even worse now.surely you dont think you can pass him off as nason get real no one can ever replace jason clays ok
The teaser doesn’t tell us anything other than Howarth got a haircut and no longer has the scar.
…. and it shows he has big ears LOL. Nonetheless, he’s very handsome still.
RH looks likes he tells KA you dont know me…so maybe she is Lauren and he is Franco with a new face? He tells her she dont know him because he doesnt want anyone know he is still alive…and this will be their secret? It would work for me!
If RH is Franco, then I don’t think it would be KA whom he was talking to. Lauren has been kept away from Franco for years. I think RH was talking to either MW or ME. Whoever he’s talking to, obviously, they have an agenda. So excited! Yay!!!!
maybe hes talking to Maura Wests new character but whoever it is it looks like itll be real good!
That sounds like when Todd came back looking like Walker…..Can’t do that
lol…somehow i knew id get a reply from you…
I’m ready for new characters to come in. Especially Ava Jerome! Best new soap character of the year!
I can’t wait to see MW as Ava!
Maura West as Ava Jerome is going to be fantastic! I can already taste the amazingness.
I hate that they are coming back to GH as new charachters! It would of been nice if RC and FV would of tried to HELP the soap OLTL they dedicated a huge majority of their lives to! It just feel so un loyal to the fans that were once theirs too. But there is nothing I can but stop watching! So…
This has nothing to do with FV and RC. It’s a dispute between ABC and Prospect Park. I would bet if it were up to Frank and Ron, they would have liked to see an agreement that allowed both GH and OLTL usage of the Todd, John and Starr characters, which would have been the best for everyone. But that isn’t happening, so they’re trying to make the best of a bad situation.
Not true – RC and FV didn’t want to share the characters at all. They made it impossible for Prospect Park.
And Easton and Alderson had no intention of ever doing OLTL again. So it is back to GH with new characters, as well as Roger too of course. It will work just fine!
thank you for this!
Kristen Alderson doesn’t look different. Roger just got his haircut. Michael is really the only one of the three that looks different.
Kristen has darker hair. Roger’s is cut and dyed blonde a-la Paul Ryan and Michael looks like they added some grey and a potential must-required haircut.
This is so dumb.
Major fail!
EPIC.
You might want to actually watch the characters before coming to that conclusion.
I only watched GH after OLTL was cancelled to see these 3 as their OLTL characters. They left GH and I stopped watching months ago. Regardless of whether OLTL is back or not, I have no interest in these 3 actors as different characters. ABC should have worked out a sharing deal.
Easton and Alderson did not want to be shared. They did not want to do OLTL.
I think them coming back and playing new people is ridiculous! I have been watching one life to live forever and Star will always be father an daughter!
Very happy and very sad. Thanks to the major constant screw ups at ABC this is what we get. Thanks to Frank and Ron they are saving us again. The whole situation is entirely ABC and now their new show is called Mistresses. They also have Revenge and Bet on your Baby. Never in my entire life have I ever seen anything like this. Disney has completely ruined ABC.
I’m confused as to what you’re saying about Mistresses (which hasn’t even premiered) and Revenge?
I’m really trying to hang loose about the return of these guys to GH as different characters. I hope I like it. After watching the revived-OLTL, I kinda wish they were permanently back on that show as the characters they originally played there. IDK. Keeping my fingers crossed.
!!!!!! I’m doing a happy dance !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Roger Howarth back to GH!!!
and-
KA and ME are back too!!!!!!
It doesn’t get any better than that…
The 3 will bring so much to GH. so many stories to be told and it is exciting to see how they will be written /good or bad people/ and who they will be ..
So excited! Can’t wait for their returns! This is a great teaser promo. Keeps us guessing on who they will play. After seeing the promo, I’m starting to see where the Roger playing Jason rumor began.
I am very excited to see where the new characters and stories will go! Welcome back to the GH 3!
I can’t wait to see the 3 back on GH!
I gotta see this on this week or next week
Looks… Fantastic!!! Can’t wait!!! Love GH!!!
the anticipation is killing me i can’t wait to see who they are playing, i’ve heard so many rumors so it will be interesting to see wish on is true!
I’m so excited can’t wait screaming in my boots as we speak. Thank u Michael.
Hate it already!
me too. Roger IS Todd and I want Todd & Carly back together. BOO.
Not much of a promo & no clue about who Roger, Kristen & Michael will portray.. Roger should be Todd Manning!
Lame. That dyed short hair looks like they should be on old Star Trek reruns…and I mean the original one. Send them back to OLTL as soon as possible. I haven’t missed them at all. I tried watching Y & R again today after about a year and it just sucked. I guess now I will just give up soaps for good. 35 years was enough. Thank God for Search For Tomorrow, The Edge Of Night and As The World Turns. Anybody know a good book to read?
I,m so happy they are coming back to GH but I wish they were the same people as before Todd,Starr,and John but no matter what I glad to have them back can,t wait hope it is soon
Looking forward to seeing Roger Howarth, Michael Easton and Kristen Alderson back on GH. It will be very weird to not see them as Todd, John and Starr, but they’re all very talented actors, and I’m sure they will make their new characters work. I’m intrigued by all the possibilities.
Well, RH’s new character has short blondish hair and no scare..
hmm he doesn’t look like a bad guy ..
He looks like a corporate raider, IMO. But that 2 seconds liner made him sounds like a conman.
No matter how the actors looks are changed in their appearance, they will always be Todd, Starr and John from OLTL.
Folks – You watch soap operas. You believe that a child disappears and magically ages. You believe that characters die and come back to life. You believe in so many things that just could NEVER happen in real life. Yet you’re so hung up on 3 actors coming back to a show as new characters? Sort of like Sarah Brown playing Carly and then Claudia? Sort of like Tony Geary playing Luke, then Bill, then Luke? Natalia Livingston playing Emily then Rebecca? Jon Lindstrom playing Ryan then Kevin? Yes, some of these characters were twins/cousins. But come on people. You watch soaps – you have to leave some sense of reality at the door when you tune in. I do.
Well said AJ!
RH, ME and KA returning as different characters really turns me off. Hopefully it will go well though…
ME got the worst makeover out of the 3. KA is beautiful as a brunette. RH looks a lot younger than Todd used to be. With that youthful looks, he could pass as Jason’s twin. Don’t care who ME and KA play. I think RH is either the biological son of Alan and Susan who was switched at infancy (which would de-Q Jason) or he could be the true Jason’s twin (which would de-Q Franco) or he just simply a con trying to scheme the Q for their money. Either case, I’m excited to see them on our screen again. May 13th does not come soon enough for me.
I guess it’s because I’m a long-time “Dark Shadows” fan, but I’ll have no trouble accepting these three as new characters! Kathryn Leigh Scott once pulled that duty during one DS storyline! It’s called acting. It’s what they do. Frankly, I have a much bigger problem with SORAS than I do with this.
Meant to say that she played three different roles in one storyline … almost ALL of the DS actors pulled double duty frequently throughout the series.
I find it funny some fans are so up in arms about this. WIth all the outlandish storylines and character assassinations we have had to take through the decades on all our soaps, the return of three popular and well-regarded actors in the bodies of new characters should be easily accepted. Good for them to have this challenge.
As a fan, if I can swallow a family with machine that control the weather or more improbable resurrections and dopplegangers that anyone could possible imagine, I can take Howarth, Alderson, and Easton in new roles.
Come on, people!
I do not think we need them at all, there are already to many cast members. There has been talk for months about Lauren Frank so we know that one was coming. But a new Quartermaine has also been hinted at in expanding that family. We also were sort of left with a hint of the Vampire story to go on with the missing ring. They should just but put them on another ABC program until the contract runs out.
I still like Roger Howarth with his hair a little longer but no matter how he looks I will enjoy watching him. He is a wonderful actor and maybe he will come back as the new Jason.
I’m glad these three talented actors are back, but I’m not thrilled with Kristen Alderson playing Lauren Frank because that makes Michael and her character related, which sucks because I’m a fan of their chemistry. But I’m hoping Lauren will be a little more edgier than Starr and we’ll get to see a different side of KA’s acting abilities. 🙂
As a OLTL fan that only was able to get into GH because it was taken off of ABC, watching this show has been harder and harder since the Nurse’s Ball ended. Also with the rumors of who these actors are coming back to the show as I don’t see myself wanting to watch. General Hospital has so many characters they can run with, but felt the need to do whatever possible to keep these 3 stars instead of finding ways to keep actors that are important to GH fans.
I am very happy that Michael Easton is comming back with a different look
Now I think Kelly Monaco can get a short bobbed with her hair too!!!
Or least a different hairstyle for her new sexy lead man!!!
“Britt and her parents need to be put and kept in the slammer. The truth about the baby is that she took it out of maxie’s uterus; while giving her the examination and her mother, put it inside of Britt’s uterous. Patrick and Sabrina will get britt’s baby DNA results, that will read Lulu and Dante are the biological parents.”
“So, Patrick and everyone at the hospital: will simply ignore Britt and pretend that she is having Patrick’s baby.”
“Then when she ask for help? please? Everyone will just say look on the bright side Britt! it is your baby we are so sorry that you are having trouble but you made your bed now lye in it.”
“She will be confused and become angry and confess to people that she wanted a baby so desperately that she had it done that way to win Patrick over and rat on her parents for what they put her through and what they did to Robin too!”
“Since Lulu does not want Maxi and Spinelli’s baby either thinking it is her own spawn; she will give Maxie and Dante the benefit of the doubt and say keep the baby Maxie! I am not ready for a baby, then later Lulu will get checked by another OBYGN. and he/she will tell her that she has always been able to have children, someone made a very huge error about her being able to have children, all along she was given a big plate of a lie given to her the answer is why figure it out…”
“So Maxie tells Spinelli he is the father of her baby Yay!!! ”
That is what I am hoping to happen AAH, such a sweet paradise of an ending but on GENERAL HOSPITAL there is always more thrilling exciting things coming and going.
Can’t wait to watch Roger Howarth in any role. I have an idea of how they might play this, but since OLTL always surprised, I’m expecting to be wowed on GH.
I don’t like Micheal Easton’s new do for his different role on GH! It looks like they but a lot of gel in his hair to sleek it back. I like the other hair style better! Hope his hair doesn’t permantely stay like that…The other do was sexy even the shorter vereision of that hair-do was okay,when he was discovered he was the burn victim in the hospital a few years ago on OLTL!
I’ve heard that some of Roger’s first scenes were with Robin Mattson- maybe he is a recast Steve Webber!
No where else to say this… but…WELL DONE!!!… RC and other writers on the handling of the Luke and Laura relationship scenes on Tuesday’s show!!! While I am a HUGE Luke and Laura fan… it was really well done!!! Handled beautiflly with so much love and care of two iconic and favorite chracters!!! Now at least Luke can be with Tracy!!! I just wish it weren’t Scottie for Laura… maybe she will wise up someday or maybe somewhere down the way Luke and Laura will fit back together again… we can hope! Again beautifully handled in every way!!! Congratulations RC and company!!!
This is very interesting. I’m game for seeing this but can anyone confirm, is RH still going to lend his services to OLTL or is what we’re watching him do on there until June it? They really need him as Todd Manning.
Show these actors some respect. Had this played out a bit differently and PP was ready a year ago, I bet all 3 of them would have been willing to move again, But they have had a year and a half to settle into their new homes. Can we really expect them to sit on their thumbs and wait for OLTL to be ready for them ? I do hope that someday they can return to their roles on OLTL but for now I will support them in their new shoes at GH.
From what I understand, Roger will be doing both shows from now on. I hope this to be true, I really need to see a Todd / Blair reunion.
Michael and Kelly
THATS ALL I WANT!!!!
AND PLEASE RON!!!!
GIVE THEM A BABY GIRL!!!!