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General Hospital 50th Anniversary Celebration Continues! Nurses' Ball Scores 18-Month Highs In Key Demos!

Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

The week of April 8 through the 12th was an amazing week of episodes for General Hospital!  The ABC soap who just turned 50 years old, continued its celebration in grand style with the second and third part of The Nurses’ Ball and the story of Luke and Laura and the Cassadines Ice Princess story revisited!

According to ABC, “During the week of April 8,General Hospital continued its 50th anniversary celebration, soaring to 18-month highs in Women 18-49 (721,000/1.1 rating) and Women 25-54 (927,000/1.5 rating) – since week of 9/26/11 – placing a solid #2 for the week in the demos and climbing by double digits year to year across all target demos.

In fact, General Hospital generated the biggest year-to-year increases of any broadcast daytime program, surging by 29% in Total Viewers (2.87 million vs. 2.22 million), by 31% in Women 18-49 (721,000 vs. 550,000) and by 22% in Women 25-54 (927,000 vs. 760,000).

Monday’s telecast, returning to the ‘Nurses Ball’ storyline, stood as the series’ most-watched telecast in nearly 20 months in Women 25-54 (1.02 million) and in close to 4 months in Women 18-49 (789,000) – since 8/15/11 and 12/18/12, respectively.”

So what do you think of the impressive ratings?  The Nurses’ Ball certainly had fan favorite returns, heartfelt moments and great singing and dancing production numbers! Let us know your thoughts on GH’s impressive ratings week!

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you know…. this isn’t all “sourgrapes”

but… it’s just time…

for GH to ascend to new heights…. ie: #2 is on the up and up…

should it be #1 – why not…

i read and hear that Y&R is on the mend… so… give em #2

DAYS…. hopefully… with Jenn Lilly and Charisse…. yeah, it’s revitalizing with characters and the writing is suspect…. Oye! TPTB… understand ???? PUHLEASE.

that leaves B&B @ #4.

Y&R will always be #1 no matter how bad it gets..
It has held #1 for for umpteen years even when it stunk to high heaven..
Then again, the BB and Y&R are shown in 32 countries..
GH in USA and Canada..

Y&R is a good soap, no doubt.. but in all these years not once has another soap topped its ratings, not even if just for 6 months..
and we know the odds of that happening for decades and it also has twice as many viewers as all the soaps.. I can see it having higher numbers but double?
Y&R will always be #1 .. (proof, it has been #1 for decades) even when other have been just as good and even much better..
You’d think just one year, just one, another soap would be #1 but it never happened.
(all as far as i know)

wow. CBS soaps are shown worldwide?!! No wonder why GH can’t beat CBS soaps eventhough the writting has been phenomenal as of late. Anybody know why ABC is not showing GH in those other 30 countries?

New characters to Days won’t help them, they need to dump their writing team.

I think they’ve tried that 14 times in the last couple years.

ces –

ditto!

DAYS -it’s bereft of passion…. the current writing team…

when will that writing team realize what a talented cast they have….. when?

it’s a little stifling to not compare… to GH…. when I watch both shows….

Totally Patrick!
There is no energy in this show, no passion, no oomphhh.. I want that mad crazy passion that Bo & Hope once had.

I can’t figure out why I still watch Days, after all, I did give it up for 10 years but thought I’d support it again when my faves came back.. Only problem? MY faves are either gone (Matt Ashford & Christie Clark) or they are not on the canvas much (Kristian, Drake & Dee)..

I may have to throw in the towel.

You just have to remember that Y&R will be #1 and will not leave that spot no time soon……….
It may not have been good over the years but it’s getting great again with JG as head writer. This past week has been a bit boring……

I know, right TRW? With the talent they have on that show, it’s a shame they aren’t utilizing them. The closest we had to a great storyline is Will coming out.. nothing has happened since.

Support GH soap fans…dont boycott it just because its on abc…over a year ago we were crying and complaining we were loosing our soaps, and now there is a turnaround we should not give up on any of them. Prove abc wrong…there is people watching soaps. no one boycotted cbs when they cancelled two of their soaps. Do what i do…boycott only the shows that replace our soaps not the whole network!

Love to hear it! GH has and is #1 for me!!!

This is good news for the soap world! A year or two ago, everyone was declaring the genre as dead.

congrats to GH’s crew and cast! Please keep it up. We love the show.

I don’t understand why Y&R and B&B numbers are so high. those shows are boring. Are they being broadcasted oversea and those viewerships counted toward the rating as well? Anybody knows?

I agree. I tried to watch Y&R years ago at it’s prime and I was bored. The pace is soooo slow and I’m sorry but trying to figure out what he hell Eric Braeden is muttering is not enjoyable TV.

I am thrilled for GH’s success on its 50th anniversary. Everyone involved in presenting this run of episodes deserves applause. Not only was it entertaining programming, it revived the entire genre and for GH, made it soemthign to keep watching into year 51 and beyond.

WOOHOO!

I agree, should be #1. 50th Celebration and Nurses Ball were both fantastic.

I’ve said it before….while I understand the ratings system and competition should make for better shows….I HATE that we put these shows against each other for ratings! I would much rather see how well ALL our soaps do against the other daytime shows – talk, game, judge…

Well, event programming always draws numbers- people who used to watch GH may have turned in for sentimental reasons, those who watch to see what the fuss is over, and then those lookie lous- fans of soaps that only watch when something big is going on then tune out after—if these viewers stick around then yes this will be good news. So it is the numbers in coming weeks that will tell the tale on whether GH star is rising or not.

I hope those viewers will stick around.

Yes, event programming does have that effect — but it bears noting that GH has had a steady incline in ratings over the last nine months, and just topped itself in numbers for the last EIGHTEEN months this past week. That’s an incredible accomplishment, considering where it was a little over a year ago. And the trend shows no sign of waning. 😉

anybody knows when GH renewal status would be confirmed? I’d love to see GH getting renewal for at least 5 more years. anyone?

GH is owned by ABC, so it’s on a perpetual production track; therefore, ABC doesn’t make a big deal about “renewing” it. It just keep chugging along. Basically, no news is good news.

Glad to see that all of the hard work and creative script writing paid off, and I hope to see GH continue to soar in the ratings. I am loving it. Keep up the great work.

GH may not get the numbers but it does get the praise..
No other soap gets praised, that is GH’s crown….

that’s right and we have the Emmy wins for best show to prove it. GH is the best in quality. I’d bet, if GH is shown in the same country as CBS soaps, our rating would be #1. Long Live GH!!

Awesome news! Soaps live on. I hope the naysayers will leave our shows alone now.

I sure hope we haven’t seen the last of Frisco. He and Felicia have so much chemistry, the screen just sizzles. Felicia and Mac that doesn’t happen. Mac is a nice guy and I enjoyed him with Alexis but not Felicia. I hated it when Felicia said no to Frisco. In fact, I turned my television to something else and the only thing that keeps me going back to GH is hoping that Maxie and Spinneli get back together.

What if Lauren Frank was always under Spinnelis nose and its Ellie? What if there really isnt a Lauren Frank but Francos child is really a man and its Spinneli?

General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Learns Britt Died and Tells Anna He Has Been Working For Cates Since November 2021

On the Tuesday, March 26th of General Hospital, Anna (Finola Hughes) and the viewers learn about where Jason (Steve Burton) has been for over two and half years. However, Jason gets some news of his own.

Anna is visiting Jason at the PCPD interrogation room. She asks him if he shot Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), which he flatly denies. Anna believes him, but she tells Jason it doesn’t matter, because video footage shows him on the roof at the time of the shooting

When talk turns to Jason not willing to speak without his lawyer present, Anna can’t grasp why Jason would instead spend an hour alone talking with John Cates (Adam J. Harrington).

Photo: ABC

It is then that Anna brings up that John went by “Jagger” and that the two of them knew each other in high school. Jason doesn’t recall much of his time in high school following his brain injury, but then he gets furious realizing John knew about “Jason’s” past. That is when Jason slams the table and tells Anna, “I’ve been working for John Cates since November 2021.”

Next, Jason explains further that he has been working as an informant for the FBI. Anna wants to know how this came about and he tells her that after the tunnel collapsed, and he couldn’t make it to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud)… all of a sudden he sees Anna’s face drop.  Anna is the first person to tell him that Britt died and was murdered. She tells Jason the killer is in custody, but he continues to be shocked, overwhelmed with tears welling up in his eyes. Realizing he has to pivot to save his life, Jason continues telling Anna how he wound up working with John.

Jason explains that after the tunnel collapse in Greece, FBI agents grabbed him and placed him under arrest and took him to Quantico where he met John. At Quantico, John played a recording of RICO violations and offered Jason a deal if he agreed to be an informant against Pikeman, the illegal arms dealer.

Anna hears from Jason that he thinks Pikeman is selling illegal arms to anyone flagged by the NSA but has ties to the WSB which they needed a civilian to infiltrate their organization as a military soldier, a mercenary.

Jason tells Anna he was a part of the team brought into eliminate Sonny (Maurice Benard). Every time an attempt was made on Sonny’s life over the last two years, a different team was sent to do the job. Anna gets furious when she learns that John told Jason his job was to kill Sonny and she was with John at the warehouse that night. Jason ensured the sniper missed Sonny and left the rifle behind. However, they were supposed to meet an extraction team. Before he was shot, Dante saw it was Jason on the roof and when he turned around with his hands over his head, Dante was shot by the other guy. Jason says if Dante dies, he’ll be charged with capital murder and then will be useless to the FBI.

Photo: ABC

Meanwhile, John visits Bobbie’s and runs into Carly (Laura Wright). She learns Jason is in custody and is going to head to the PCPD. Before she does, Carly has some words with Cates when she learns not only does John have a vendetta against Sonny, but Jason too.  Carly tells John he should recuse himself from the case.

So, what did you think about the moment when Jason learned Britt died? What do you think of Jason’s return storyline thus far and what we learned about Jagger/Jason and more? Comment below. But first, check out a moment from today’s GH with Jason and Anna.

 

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