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General Hospital

EP Frank Valentini, ABC Exec Vicki Dummer & Tony Geary On The Revitilzation Of GH!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/Variety

Courtesy/Variety

The celebration is just beginning this week for ABC’s General Hospital who turned 50 years old on Monday,  and now the party train has left the station!  Coming up. we have the highly-anticipated Nurses’ Ball and some exciting special episode of Katie and 20/20 to look forward to as well!

Variety has a great piece on the revitalization of General Hospital which ABC reports, “that ‘General’ is pacing for its best season in five years in total viewers, averaging more than 3 million. ‘General’ is the No. 1 broadcast daytime program among women 18-34 and also up 18% in total viewers season to season.”

Series executive producer, Frank Valentini,  spoke about putting together the Nurses’ Ball episodes, and all the returns he and head writer, Ron Carlivati brought home to Port Charles for the GH 50 celebration noting, “I  felt that if we aimed really high and came close, then we’d be really happy and the fans would be, too. We’re really thrilled with what we have. It’s exceeded our expectations.”  He went on to say, “I like celebrations. It’s really important to reflect back, take stock and look towards the future.”

Vicki Dummer, ABC Executive VP of Time Square Studios, Primetime Current Series and Specials, who now oversees General Hospital, related how happy she is with the attention the lone ABC is garnering:  “I ’m thrilled to be celebrating (the show’s) 50 exceptional years on television. … As someone who grew up watching General Hospital, it has a special place in my heart.”

Long running series star, Anthony Geary (Luke), also thought 50 years was nothing to sneeze at revealing:  “Our 50th year could have come and gone with a (simple) ‘Wow’. But Frank and Ron have been determined to make it something special for the audience. The ratings are showing that they’ve already decided to achieve that.”

So GH fans, are you happy with the celebration thus far? Do you think ABC  is now 100% behind GH?  Let us know your thoughts!

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with great work from FV/RC team, I hope ABC is 100% supporting GH.

As Edna Krabappel would say, “Ha!!”
What a difference a year makes, ABC was anti soaps and today so warm and fuzzy to it’s last one.
General Hospital is the Grand Dame of soaps and deserves praise but at the stupid sacrifice of One Life.

Agree what you said & especially on their stupid saxrifice of One Life which was doing well in the ratings at the time it was cancelled last year.

Happy with the celebration – only reason I’m watching at this time! After it’s over, I’m done. I’m an avid ABC boycotter since they took off OLTL, can’t wait for it’s return!!

Boycotting GH will only make it get cancelled too. Please reconsider your boycott!

Have to agree with BeckyZ. If you enjoy the show, then watch it. Those involved with the demises of AMC and OLTL are gone. That’s the best cumuppance that could happen.

Boycotting ABC will do nothing but get other great shows cancelled.

I have been watching for 30 years and General Hospital is as good as it has ever been!! I look forward to watching every afternoon!

GH’s 50th Anniversary episode was fabulous! I wish it had lasted longer. Kudos to FV, RC and the entire cast and crew!

As for ABC, I don’t trust anything that comes out of it’s mouth!! I only hope they have learned the lesson – DON’T SCREW WITH THE SOAP FANS!!!!

the 50th anniversary was fabulous. I loved it. GH is better than ever these days. I hope it continues. I still do not trust ABC. I hope ABC learned their lessons
don’t mess with GH and Soap Fans. the episode reminded me of the last 2 shows of OLTL. Very hearfelt.

I am thrilled with the 50th Anniversary celebration of GH. Seeing all the soap vets return really is like seeing old friends. However, I do not and will not trust ABC again. It is in extremely poor taste for Katie (I want GH’s time slot) Kouric to host a special on the 50th anniversary of GH. That is something I will not watch. It should be Barbara Walters hosting it.

Im 100% happy with the celebration of GHs 50th, only a little worried for what comes after the NB but i have faith FV and RC can keep the magic alive and as for ABC (im still upset that they cancelled Dark Shadows back in 1971 as it is)but i feel they are only 100% behind GH because of the good ratings and for the publicity the 50th has given the network. When the show hits 51 and the show is renewed past 2014 then ill agree they are 100% committed!

P.S. i wish NBCs The Doctors (the soap opera) wouldve survived and then we’d have two medical soaps celebating their 50th. It couldve been awesome. The Doctors premiered the same day as GH but originally was an antholgy b4 revamped as a continuing drama! Had that one survived, it would have been fun compairing both celebrations! Im still wondering what the song singer turned nurse Lauri James(Marie Thomas) used to play and sing on that show, and if ever avaiable for purchase!

Im always going to wonder ‘what if’ ABC never cancelled OLTL? Would GH still make it to its 50th under a different regime, and would PP still have picked up just AMC if only that one had been cancelled…maybe in some way it was good that ABC cancelled both AMC and OLTL otherwise how would PP start without them…maybe create their own soap? Probably will never know. Just a thought…

I take anything that comes from the ABC Studios with a grain of salt. I don’t trust it one bit. That said, I hope ABC finally realizes that it made a huge mistake by cancelling AMC and OLTL, and that it will leave GH alone.

I appreciate and am enjoying all of the celebrations for GH’s 50th anniversary. Frank and Ron have done a fabulous job, and have made GH must watch TV again! As for ABC/D, I will never trust anything they say again. As happy as I am that AMC and OLTL will be returning online, I can’t help but feel bitter about those two wonderful shows not getting the network support that they should have had all along!

After ABC canned OLTL, I stopped watching everything on ABC-even GH. I just don’t trust ABC to do right thing and keep it on the air. After I heard how good it was again, I was going to watch, but the fools at ABC moved it up an hour. It airs against Days, which I turned to after OLTL went off the air. I WILL watch the new OLTL online though! I can’t wait to see my favorite actors again, but the boycott of ABC continues!!!!!!!!!!!

fv/rc is doing an extraordinary job with gh period!
as far as abc goes i still don’t trust them………….

ABC/D did exactly what they said they would do, cancel the 2 soaps., and they did, no lies from ABC/D lol .
all that other junk was simply an Idiot Frons messing with the soaps..

ABC canceled OLTL, only because it was the Lone soap in NY (They also needed to make room for Katie’s studio) and AMC was destroyed after moved to LA. With Agnes still living, ABC wanted more control creativity.

With GH, They owned the show from the beginning and the creators have been gone for years. So They (Brian Frons/ABC) could do what they want. They probably canned OLTL and and prevented the PP delay so they could snag FV and RC and bring them to thier crown jewel. The plan worked and GH is better than ever.

I agree with you suOOOO!

Also will Robin show up at the nurses ball and will it really be her or Brittany in a Robin disguise?(Id rather Britt pull a ‘Carrie’ on Sabrina myself) If Britt does show up as Robin im sure itll upset fans because Anna would look dumb if she believed it was her daughter after what happened with Faison/Duke! However if K.M. was returning and staying it would be fun to watch two Robins…real and fake…showing up at the nurses ball at the same time!!!

I am not an expert on GH, but it is refreshing watching a soap written by writers that seem to care about what the viewer would like to see, instead of trying to manipulate us into believing we want what they are throwing at us. When a writer writes like they are a viewer there are writing for their audience- when a writer writes for ratings they are writing for the network.

Networks that interfere instead of support the creative process cut their nose off to spite their face, because by trying to control ratings by controlling the story line usually causes the ratings to go down. Write with the viewer in mind then ratings will go up. GH proves this to be so- so let us hope ABC did learn their lesson and will continue to support a team that knows what they are doing.

GH is the absolute most entertaining show on TV. I cannot believe how fantastic it is now. I knew it would be with the addition of frank and ron, who I admire completely. I don’t believe a word Vicki Drummer says. She should discuss what has happened to their network. Worst thing I have ever seen. Power to the people!!!

Am I happy with the GH 50th Anniversary celebration so far? Yes, very. I love the way FV/RC manage to TEASE and not SPOIL the viewers. It really makes me salivate for what may be coming in the next episode. It amazes me how they were able to get ABC/D to cough up the cash to bring in so many, many of the former GH actors ~ even if only for a day. It’s just like real life, where you may not see someone for months and then they’re in town for a brief visit; so nice to just get a glimpse even and find out what they’ve been up to or that they’re okay.

I don’t trust abc either…They say one thing and do another(talking from the two sides of their mouth)! They better leave the last remaining soap alone! Or there will be an even bigger up roar than before………… Enjoy watching GH a lot! Love the storylines and bringing back characters from the past.. What a BLAST!

I am thrilled about GH bringing back the Nurses Ball & many of the old characters
It was long overdue, I hope they get another 50 years. I have watched soaps since I was around 10yrs. Old. One of my aunts watched AMC, I got hooked on GH around 1982, then got into OLTL.
I still wish ABC had not cancelled the other 2 soaps but I will watch them on HULU in April.
I don’t trust ABC yet, they let the fans down & have a lot to make up for. If GH continues for at least 2more years +, then I may reconsider…
Note to ABC…. We need more family shows that bring back the moral finer of this country!!
Our kids watch more TV & play on computers more than ever.
Parents spend less time with their kids& are worried about paying bills in this economy….. We meed more family shows desperately!!!!

I am LOVING GH ever since Frank and Ron took over. Its been the best it’s been in a long time and I’m actually EXCITED to watch every day! They’ve went beyond the call of duty for the 50th, but even prior to that, bringing people like Finola and Ian back, keeping Kimberly M. around, putting the Quartermaines on the front burner, adding humor and romance back into the show, everything has just been incredible! I love that we FINALLY have a daytime exec who knows what daytime SHOULD revolve around and thats soap operas. And I love that Anthony Geary, someone who has been under so many leaderships, respects Frank and Ron and notices that viewers have as well.

As for people on here who are saying they boycott ABC because they don’t “trust them.” That is absurd. I was devastated when OLTL was cancelled, but boycotting GH doesn’t do anything but take away one less viewer. Be apart of revitalizing love of soaps and tune in! If you really hate ABC so much, the best revenge is the sweet, sweet success of their remaining soap so watch! 🙂

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Carly Fears Escalating Tensions Between Sonny and Josslyn: ‘I’ve Already Lost One Kid Because of That Man. I Won’t Lose Another’

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General Hospital

On the Thursday, November 12 episode of General Hospital, as battles line are drawn by Carly’s (Laura Wright) ex-husband, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and her daughter, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy), she realizes things are about to get a whole lot worse, and she expressed her fears to Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart).

After Sonny came to see Carly to get her daughter to back off of him; especially when Josslyn lit into him in front of nuAvery (Ayla Bullington), Carly is terrified that Sonny could retaliate against Josslyn. Realizing, Josslyn is in danger, Carly won’t sit by and let anything happen to her. She tells Valentin, “I’ve already lost one kid because of that man. I won’t lose another.”

Viewers won’t soon forget the devastation Carly felt when Morgan (Bryan Craig) died in a car bomb explosion back in 2016 because of Sonny’s dealings in the mob in a complex story involving Julian (William deVry) and Olivia Jerome (Tonja Walker).

Avery

Courtesy/ABC

SONNY IS READY FOR WAR

Meanwhile in the aftermath of his visit with Carly, Sonny told his brother Ric what went down when Josslyn disrespected him in front of his own daughter and hurt Avery. Since Josslyn already make it known that she no longer considers herself part of Sonny’s family, he’s decided to treat her accordingly.

Sonnys first step in payback is to take away her support system at JJE by approaching Hudson Parker (Troy Lennon Appel) again, but this time in a much less-friendly way.

Ric points out that this would go against every move Sonny made as a legitimate businessman in Port Charles and would mean he’s back in the mob? Sonny doubles down, saying Josslyn changed the game when she involved Avery. While he showed concern of how bad Carly would feel over all this year, he said he is ready to finish what Josslyn started.

At the Metro Court, Ava (Maura West) is listening to Avery explain what happened between Sonny and Josslyn and how much she hates Josslyn right now, which Ava seems to be OK with.

WILL JOSSLYN’S WORLD BLOW UP ON HER?

Speaking of Josslyn, she is on the pier still after her talk with Hudson and still crying over her confrontation with Sonny and Avery overhearing it, and what she told her sister. Lucas comes across her at the pier while out for his run.

Explaining how badly she feels for what she said about Sonny to Avery, Lucas says that eventually Avery will discover the truth about Sonny. He explains to Josslyn that even though Avery hates her now, she will come to realize that what she said about her father was the truth, and that Josslyn was not lying to her at all.

So, what do you think about Sonny ready to play dirty to take down Josslyn? How will Carly ensure her daughter does not wind up dead? Who do you think is in the right here? Is Josslyn’s vendetta against Sonny justified, at the cost of the relationships with her family? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Cynthia Watros Honors Former ‘Titus’ Co-Star Stacy Keach Following His Passing

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Stacy Keach and Cynthia Watros

General Hospital star Cynthia Watros, who can currently be seen in on the ABC soap opera in the role of Nina Reeves, has had a enduring career in television. That included her time on the 2000-2002 Fox sitcom, Titus.

In Titus, Watros starred along with Stacy Keach as Erin Fitzpatrick and Ken Titus, respectively. After the November 10th news that Keach had passed away at 85 while living in Poland, Cynthia took to her Instagram on Thursday, November 12 to pay tribute to the great actor.

Watros expressed, “My first prime time show was along side Stacy. I loved him instantly. What an amazing talent and man.❤️”

Photo: ABC

In Titus, Stacy played stand up comedian Christopher Titus’ heavy-drinking, chain-smoking, five-times-divorced father who frequently pulled cruel pranks and tried to toughen his kids up. Cynthia played by Christopher’s level-headed, big-hearted girlfriend trying to build a normal life with him. In fact, Cynthia’s role on the sitcom was first series regular role after her Daytime Emmy run of Annie Dutton on Guiding Light which ran from 1994-1998.

STACY KEACH’S WIFE ON HIS PASSING

Keach’s wife, Malgosia shared the news of the actor’s death publicly in a statement with PEOPLE. Malgosia expressed, that Stacy had, “a long and difficult battle with a serious heart condition and heart failure.”

She added, “Stacy peacefully departed this world. He fought for so long, with extraordinary courage, determination and strength. He was a true warrior, facing his illness with the same remarkable spirit and resilience that defined his life.”

Małgosia continued, “Stacy was not only a legendary actor, admired and loved by audiences the world over, but also my beloved husband, my companion and the heart of our family. His passing leaves an immeasurable emptiness in our lives. But his extraordinary spirit, his unforgettable voice and the love he gave so generously will remain with us forever.”

Now, let us know do you remember when Cynthia made her sitcom debut in Titus? Share your thoughts via the comment section on Cynthia’s many TV roles and the passing of Stacy Keach in the comment section. But first, check out the very first episode of Titus with Cynthia Watros below!

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Beyond the Gates

RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Inches Closer to ‘General Hospital’ in Total Viewers

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Beyond the Gates and General Hospital

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.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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