General Hospital

After Two Days: Katie Strong, Steve Harvey Solid, Ricki Lake Perked Up, Probst Falling Fast!

September 12, 2012

The overnights for the first two days of the new line-up of daytime talks shows has come in. And now via TV Media Insights, while the first two days may not spell the actual path these shows will take and if they will succeed or fail, there are a few pieces of information and good data to glean from it!

So here we go: “Using the two key benchmarks – lead-in and year-ago time period average – Katie Couric from Disney-ABC remains the top-rated and Steve Harvey continues to impress. Ricki Lake from Twentieth Television perked up among women 25-54, but Jeff Probst from CBS Television Distribution nosedived from its already lackluster opening levels. Based on the weighted household averages from Nielsen (primary telecasts only), Katie averaged a 2.3 rating/7 share in the overnights on Tuesday (in 52 markets), which dipped by 18 percent from the 2.8/ 8 for its debut on Monday. The lead-in was a 2.4/ 8 and the year-ago time period average was identical at a 2.3/ 7 (and Katie outdelivered No. 2 Steve Harvey by 64 percent). But results among women 25-54 (1.0/ 6) did, however, dip by 23 percent from both benchmarks.

Steve Harvey remains right on par with its week one performance, with the 1.4/ 4 in households yesterday (based on 55 markets) up by 27 percent from the lead-in (1.1/ 4) and 40 percent from the year-ago time period average (1.0/ 3). Results among women 25-54 (0.9/ 3) also increased by double-digit percentages from the two benchmarks, and Harvey outdelivered Katie in women 25-54 in five of the top 10 markets (including a 1.1/ 7 in New York vs. a 0.8/ 5 for Katie). Get used to Steve Harvey — he is here to stay.

Ricki Lake (in 54 markets), which was still not available in about 40 percent of homes in the New York DMA because of a retrans dispute between Cablevision and Tribune, dropped from a 0.8/ 2 (and not a 0.6/ 2 as reported yesterday) to a 0.7/ 2 out of a 1.0/ 3. The year-ago time period was a 1.1/ 3. So there is erosion aplenty. But results among women 25-54 grew from a 0.4/ 2 to a 0.5/ 3, which was equal to both the lead-in and year-ago time period averages.

Last, and very least, was Jeff Probst which dropped 30 percent in households from a 1.0/ 3 on Monday to a 0.7/ 2 on Tuesday (in 51 markets). Comparably, that was off by 42 percent from the lead-in (1.2/ 4) and 36 percent from the Sept. 2011 time period (1.1/ 3), with erosion among women 25-54 at a significant 43 percent (0.7/ 4 to 0.4/ 2).”

We will bring you the two day totals for General Hospital later today, which moved in to its new timeslot with an impressive 2.5/8 in households on Monday. So have you checked out any of the daytime talkers and compared them? Let us know!

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Click to comment

Guest

Brian

No, have not checked them out, nor will I ever. It’s GH (and OLTL if it ever comes back) for me and nothing else.

And if we lose GH, then daytime tv will have lost another viewer.

Guest

Hilary

I have watched Probst, and IMO, there is alot of potential. I like his style, he’s a good talk show host. But this show was not marketed well, it should have had bigger promos over the summer. And as for the show itself, again, it’s got potential, but they do WAY TOO MUCH in one episode. Three stories, and three little fun things. That’s too much, it really is. I hope they re-evaluate and re-tool it and that it has more of a chance, cuz I like Probst, but this show in its current format is not doing it for… Read more »

Guest

susan M.

It’s just beginner’s luck for Katie….Give her 2 to 3 wks. And her ratings will flop for sure….Viewers will get bored after a while….A short while……Gh is a survivor!!!! GH is ROCKIN & ROLLIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Viewers will lose interest in all that talking crap-polla…………………….GH ratings look very promising!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A positive outlook!!!!As I said GH is a survivor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guest

susan M.

Katie’s show will flop & she will be going on her next venture…..And not on daytime programing ….. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have nothing against her personally…I just don’t want another talk show on daytime anymore..In fact no talk shows on daytime…Katie should be on in the morning……………………..Where she has been ………………There is no room for Katie’s talk show on daytime………

Guest

Scott

nope just gh and have no interest in any of the talk shows. i would prefer all my abc soaps to return.

Guest

ricardo

I LOVE THE RICKI LAKE SHOW. I THINK RICKI WILL LAST FOR A LONG TIME, KATIE COURIC LOOKS LIKE A HIT. SHE SEEMS COMFORTABLE IN WHAT SHE IS DOING. AS LONG AS GENERAL HOSPITAL IS STILL ON THE AIR. THE RATINGS WILL HOPEFULLY GO HIGHER AND HIGHER. BRING ERKA SLEZAK AS VIKI FOR A VISIT.

Guest

LynandZoe

Soap fans continue to bash Katie Couric as if she was the one to cancel AMC and OLTL. Get a grip folks because if it wasn’t her show it would be something else as ABC clearly want out of the soap business. I’m not a fan of Katie’s but I don’t have anything against her either. So people can root for her show to fail all they want because no matter what happens, they will NOT be bringing back those two soaps and GH will still most likely get the boot in a year.

Guest

Jean Mack

I never liked Katie on Today but tuned in for CBS news, still didn’t like her
and giving one more chance, tuned in to latest, “Katie”. Nothing new there.
Same-old-same-old. BORING, have never watched a full episode.

This show will never make it. Okay for a mid-afternoon nap.

General Hospital

GL Alum Kimberly J. Brown Joins the Cast of General Hospital

May 5, 2021

Another daytime favorite is coming to General Hospital. This time its Kimberly J. Brown (Ex-Marah) of Guiding Light fame. She last appeared on the soaps during her from 1993-1998 and then a brief return in 2006

According to Soap Opera Digest, she will make her GH debut next week in a mystery role.

Kimberly worked with two GH powerhouse actresses during her tine on Guiding Light.

She noted to SOD about her time in Springfield: Cynthia Watros (Nina, GH, Ex-Annie Dutton, GL) was my stepmom for a bit, and Laura Wright (Carly, Ex- Cassie, GL) played my aunt.”

Brown has appeared in numerous primetime television shows and motion pictures over the last few decades.

Now the question becomes, who will Kimberly play on GH? Share your theories via the comment section below.

General Hospital

General Hospital and ‘H.R. Pufnstuf’s’ Billie Hayes Dead at 96

May 3, 2021

She was one-of-a-kind, and now actress Billie Hayes has passed away at the age of 96. Hayes’ family announced her death from natural causes on April 29th at Cedar-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.

Hayes was best-known for her unforgettable role as Witchiepoo on the 1969-70 Saturday morning live-action children’s classic H.R. Pufnstuf from Sid and Marty Kroft.

However, daytime fans will remember that then General Hospital executive producer, Gloria Monty, hired Hayes to play the recurring role of the street-smart international spy, Brighton O’Reilly, back in the 80’s series hey day.

GH’s Tristan Rogers (Robert Scorpio) took to Twitter to mourn the loss of Hayes on Monday sharing; “My dear wonderful Billie Hayes has died. Sadly I only got to work with her on GH but it was a magical relationship. Right away Gloria Monty saw something unique and ran with it. I cannot tell you how her passing saddens me.”

Photo:ABC

In story, Brighton O’Reilly was shot and killed by Victor Cassadine back in 1981. Billie told Soap Opera Digest back in 2003 about her time as an agent on GH, and her exit from the series: “I asked Gloria why she killed me off, and Gloria said, ‘To tell you the truth, Billie, we really hemmed and hawed at it. But I decided to do it for selfish reasons. I knew if I killed O’Reilly there’d be such an abundance of sympathy and love for Scorpio that his stock would go up. And he’s my new leading man!’ I understand why Gloria knocked me off, but I would have loved to have gone on with it because I feel it could have been developed into a fascinating character.”

Photo: JPI

Sid and Marty Kroft also took to Twitter and expressed: “Margaret Hamilton (Wizard of Oz) once told us that Billie Hayes was “one of the best witches ever” We couldn’t agree more. Rest in Peace dear friend.”

Billie’s career spanned decades including Broadway, television, motion pictures and voice-over work. In addition, she founded the Los Angeles-based animal rescue nonprofit organization Pet Hope, a cause she had championed since adopting a puppy abandoned in the basement of Broadway’s St. James Theatre during the run of Lil’ Abner in which she was featured in the role of Mammy Yokum.

Share your remembrances of Billie Hayes and your condolences for her family and loved ones via the comment section below.

Breaking News

John Reilly ‘General Hospital’ Tribute Episode Set to Air May 21st

April 26, 2021

Details have emerged on the upcoming John Reilly tribute episode of General Hospital. The popular star passed away back on January 21st and the ABC daytime drama series had promised they would deliver a special show dedicated to the man who played Sean Donely starting back in 1984.

According to Deadline look for GH enduring stars: Genie Francis, Kristina Wagner, Finola Hughes, Jon Lindstom and John J. York to all appear in the special episode, along with Reilly’s real-life daughter, Caitlin Reilly, which had been previously announced.

The story will involve the mourning of WSB agent Sean Donely, which will set Felicia Scorpio (Wagner), Malcolm “Mac” Scorpio (York), Anna Devane (Hughes), Laura Collins (Francis) and Kevin Collins (Lindstrom) into a mystery involving Sean’s daughter, Annie (Caitlin Reilly).

General Hospital EP Frank Valentini shared in a statement: “John Reilly was an incredible actor and a large part of the 58-plus-year legacy that is ‘GH’. This episode is meant to honor him and his contribution to the show’s rich history. With so many fan favorites returning, new and longtime viewers will enjoy it. We had a lot of fun filming and I am grateful that we were also able to include his daughter. Viewers will hopefully also enjoy one more surprise return – it is just too amazing to spoil.”

Mark your calendars for May 21st when the special episode is set to air.

So, looking forward to seeing the John Reilly tribute episode, and who do you think will be the big ‘surprise’ noted by Frank Valentini? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.