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

By Michael Fairman

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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

Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

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Maura West and Kelly Sullivan

It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.

The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.

Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.

Photo: JPI

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST

Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”

Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”

Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”

Photo: JPI

KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL

Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”

You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.

So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!

 

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General Hospital

Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

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Steve Burton

The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.

TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.

That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.

Steve Burton

Photo: ABC

STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES

GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.

Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).

Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.

GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS

Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.

Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.

Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.

So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?

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Jason and Britt

On the Friday, September 11 episode of General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship becomes strained to potentially the point of no return.

Things take a turn when an unglued Britt having been traumatized by almost being killed by Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Jason to back her up with the PCPD when she reports Anna for attempted murder.

However, Jason told Britt, he can’t. Jason shares that he does not believe Anna would have gone through with shooting her. Therefore, Britt was not in any real imminent danger. Britt is flabbergasted and hurt that Jason is refusing to tell the police what he actually witnessed for himself on Mount Emerson.

Britt

Courtesy/ABC

BRITT WANTS BACK UP FROM JASON

Jason counters that he can’t believe that Britt would want Anna punished. or sent to prison, or a mental facility after the trauma she endured while being locked up and mentally tortured while at Wyndemere.

He asks Britt, “How could you even say that you want her locked up or prosecuted for what she did when you knew she was being held prisoner and you did nothing to save her?” Britt is stunned by Jason’s response.

Coming up, official General Hospital spoilers share that on the upcoming Monday, September 14 episode, Jason confides in Carly (Laura Wright), while Britt is stung. In the video preview that aired at the end of the Friday, September 11 episode for this coming Monday, Britt says to Jason, “You don’t believe me. Do you?”

General Hospital head scribes, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte previously teased in their fall preview of the soap, “Britt and Jason have come a long way and fought a lot of enemies to be together. But the most stubborn obstacle to their happiness isn’t without, it’s within. Decisions Britt made to stay alive while under Cullum’s thumb will come back to haunt her and may prove too difficult for this unlikely couple to survive.”

So, what do you think will happen? Will Jason and Britt break-up over Britt’s lies and Jason’s unwillingness to report Anna’s crime against her? Do you want Jason and Britt to go their separate ways? If they do, will Britt become romantically involved with Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) ? If so, who do you pair Jason with? Anyone? Weigh-in via 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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