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‘General Hospital’ Casts Alimi Ballard in New Role

By Michael Fairman

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Alimi Ballrd
Photo: LISA OConnor/AFF-USA.com

A familiar face to ABC daytime fans is about to make a return to the broadcast television network, when Alimi Ballard makes his debut as new character William Baines on the Thursday, September 3 episode of General Hospital.

Early in his career, Ballard played Frankie Hubbard, the grown-up son of legendary All My Children super couple, Angie (Debbi Morgan) and Jessie Hubbard (Darnell Williams). Alimi played the part starting on Loving in 1993 which later was rebranded The City in 1995.

The GH casting news came from TV Insider, and while no other casting details were made immediately available about the character of William Baines, he enters the canvas hot on the heels of a murder mystery after Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) was found dead in the Metro Court pool. Could William Baines be a detective, a WSB agent, or something else? Stay tuned!

If Ballard also looks very familiar to you, he has an impressive list of TV and film credits including: Quizmaster in Sabrina the Teenage Witch and FBI agent David Sinclair on Numb3rs, and starred with Vivica A. Fox (Stephanie, Y&R) on the sitcom, Arsenio, plus roles in numerous episodic dramas including: Criminal Minds, Queen Sugar, Queen of the South, Law & Order and The Rookie. He also appeared in the 1998 film Deep Impact.

Debbi Morgan

Photo: JPI

DEBBI MORGAN HELPED ALIMI BALLARD PREPARE AS AN ACTOR

Alimi took part in a sit-down interview with the Theater Corner in 2020 where he opened up about his beginnings on a soap opera and working with Debbi Morgan. You can see that below. During the conversation Ballard shared, “I got a chance to work along alongside one of the greatest actors I’ve ever seen lace up her boots — Debbi Morgan.”

He added,”She taught me everything I needed to know to get started as an artist — how to prepare you for the level of intensity, the level of dedication required to make these fictional circumstances connect with the audience.”

So, when William Baines hits Port Charles on tomorrow’s Thursday September 3 episode of GH, how do you think the character will fit into the storyline? Looking forward to seeing Alimi Ballard back on the soaps after more than 30 years? Let us know via the comment section.

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It’s a new role; however, I was kind of hoping it could have been a Justus or Taggert recast situation. But welcome back to daytime, Alimi Ballard!

Or they could just bring back Real Andrews as the original Taggert again. He got the bombshell dropped on him that Trina wasn’t his daughter, and then vanished never to be seen or heard from again.

Justus would be a little difficult to explain, since he was murdered on screen by Manny Ruiz. But it’s a soap, people come back from the dead like normal people come back from summer vacation, so anything is possible, lol.

Or they could just bring back Real Andrews as the original Taggert again. He got the bombshell dropped on him that Trina wasn’t his daughter, and then vanished never to be seen or heard from again.

It feels like Réal Andrews is not someone that TPTB wants on that set, and that Taggert is a character that they would rather not acknowledge.

Justus would be a little difficult to explain, since he was murdered on screen by Manny Ruiz. But it’s a soap, people come back from the dead like normal people come back from summer vacation, so anything is possible, lol.

Britt Westbourne came back from the dead (when we saw her die) and no longer has Huntington’s (insulting, mind you). Bringing Justus back would not be that much of a stretch. And it is high time that the Ward family be re-established.

Love it. I remember him- he is good. Hope he is the new head of the WSB and he boots petulant and silly Joss back to college and volleyball camp.

I am not a big fan of new characters, but I’ll take someone who will take screentime from Trina and Gio’s act.

Oh god, me too.

Me three! or 666, even! I know Di$ney owns ABC, but for Hell’s sake, I thought this “High School Autotuned Musical”dragonshit went away when they fired ReRon?

His new role on general hospital sucks. I don’t like his attitude. He’s trying to hard to be rough and tough. Chopping down just about every word that Joyclyn Jacks has to say. Some people can take being the boss too far.

Good! Joss acted like an entitled, immature, disrespectful, smug, spoiled brat to Brennan. She is not cut out for the WSB no matter how much she is propped.

General Hospital

William deVry to Appear on ‘Tracker’ Season 4; Shuts Down Rumors of a ‘General Hospital’ Return

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William deVry addressed the rumors of his imminent return to General Hospital as Julian Jerome, which have popped up recently as click bait on websites or in video reels.

The soap opera veteran set the record straight when he took to Instagram to share a video of all that he’s been up to lately, and how fans catch him on multiple upcoming shows. Chief among them appearing in Justin Hartley’s (ex-Adam, Y&R and ex-Fox, Passions) drama series Tracker on CBS during its upcoming 4th season.

As deVry closed out his video message, he took a moment to confirm once and for all, “I am not coming back to General Hospital.” The last time viewers saw Julian on the Port Charles canvas, he was being zipped in a body bag after being shot in December of 2020, which ended deVry’s six-year-run on the soap.

Daytime fans also know that before his time on General Hospital, deVry played Michael Cambias on All My Children (2003-2004) and Storm Logan on The Bold and the Beautiful. (2006-2008).

Photo: CBS

TRACKER SEASON 4 HAS SEVERAL SOAP OPERA ALUMS

Coming up on Tracker, William is set to appear in episode 5  that airs in early November, where he is playing a bad guy. That’s the same episode that marks the return of another soap alum, Jensen Ackles (ex-Eric, Days of our Lives) as Russell Shaw, the brother of Hartley’s Colter Shaw.

Tracker premieres on Sunday, October 4 with its season premiere episode entitled “Safe Harbor,” launching Colter into a port-side case.

Before William is seen on Tracker, you can check him out next week in the movie Spill which drops on September 20 on Apple TV and Amazon Prime. That is followed on October 10, when the GH alum appears in Lifetime’s Movie of the Week, The Monster She Married, alongside Matthew Morrison (ex-Glee).

You can check out William’s video message below.

So, excited to see William deVry on the new season of Tracker? How do you feel about how the rumors got started that Julian Jerome might be resurrected? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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Beyond the Gates

RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Bests ‘General Hospital’ in Key Demos and Gains More Viewers Week-Over-Week

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Beyond the Gates

The ratings are out for the week of August 31- September 4, 2026 and it was a solid one for daytime’s youngest daytime drama, Beyond the Gates, now taping its third season.

According to the latest Nielsen report via Soap Opera Network, Beyond the Gates saw a rise in total viewers, tied with third place General Hospital in Households, and overtook GH in the women’s 18-49 and 25-54 ratings share putting them firmly in the number three spot.

Let’s take a look at the drama that had viewers tuning-in to the action in and around Fairmont Crest: Andre (Sean Freeman) kissed Heather (Ashley Jones) before leaving for Seoul with Dani (Karla Mosley).

Hayley and Bill

Photo: CBS

Meanwhile, Heather figured out that her brother Joey (Jon Lindstrom) killed Doug. Hayley (Marquita Goings) poisoned Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett) yet again and left him unconscious. Jacob (Jibre Hordges) and Smitty (Mike Manning) made progress in the Impaler investigation, and the Articulettes had to deal with Leslie’s (Trisha Mann-Grant) interference.

As for the numbers, Beyond the Gates came in with an average of 1,677.000 total viewers and gained +66,000 for the week, with total household share at 1.2 up +1, and the key demos: 18-49 rating share of 0.20 up +0.07 from the previous week and 25-54 rating share at 0.29 also up +0.07.

Drew and Ava

Photo: ABC

GENERAL HOSPITAL

Over at General Hospital, the ABC soap opera was the only show to lose viewers for the week of all four broadcast network television daytime dramas. GH came in with an average total viewers tally at 1,911,000, but lost -24,000 and was now only up year-over-year +27,000.

In story for the ratings week: Ava (Maura West) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) buried Brennan (Chris McKenna) on the ground around the Quartermaine estate, and Drew framed Nina (Cynthia Watros) for the crime by planting Brennan’s wallet in her car.

Chase (Josh Swickard) aggressively pursued the investigation of Jordan’s (Tanisha Harper) car crash which led him to confronting Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton). Trina (Tabyana Ali) overheard information suggesting Brook Lynn might be tied to the incident and later got an earful.

Darcy and Dylan

Photo: CBS

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

CBS daytime’s The Bold and the Beautiful, which has been on a great run in the ratings of late, came in with total viewers at 2,778,000 adding +59,000, and up year-over-year at this time +312,000. B&B was firmly in the #2 position in households, plus 18-49 and 25-54 demos, behind its sister soap Y&R.

In story for the ratings week: Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) struggled to hide her affair with Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) from Finn (Tanner Novlan), and Carter did the same in trying to keep it under wraps from Daphne (Murielle Hilaire). In addition, Darcy (Kelly Sullivan) arrived in Los Angeles and stood up to Katie (Heather Tom) for her treatment of her daughter, Dylan (Sydney Bullock).

Phyllis and Matt

Photo: CBS

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

The top spot once again belonged to The Young and the Restless. In fact, Y&R gained the most viewers week-over-week adding +127,000 with its total viewer average at 3,189,000 tuning-in. In addition, it was also up year-over-year +327,000. Y&R also was #1 for the ratings week in households and in the 18-49 and 25-54 demos.

In story for the ratings week: Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) thought of a plan for Matt (Roger Howarth) to return to Genoa City. Billy (Jason Thompson) temporarily gave up his fight for Chancellor after Sally (Courtney Hope) had a pregnancy scare, which could have lasting implications as they head to the altar in October.

Meanwhile, Kyle (Michael Mealor) and Victoria  (Amelia Heinle) secretly arranged another hookup, Nate (Sean Dominic) prepared for surgery with Stephanie (Vivica A. Fox) by his side, and while in rehab, Nick (Joshua Morrow) helped Marie (Jade Harlow) after her frightening confrontation with her abusive husband, Logan (Tommy Walker).

So, what do you think of the latest ratings picture? Glad to see Beyond the Gates performing well? Which soap opera has you most glued to your screens? Which soap opera has you often wanting to tune-out? Let us know via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Secrets Exposed!

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General Hospital

This week on all-new episodes of General Hospital, official spoilers, and the latest teaser video, indicate that the truth is about to come out on many fronts which could put several Port Charles residents in harm’s way, but who will double-cross whom?

First, Nina has been carted away by the WSB, after she is the prime suspect in the disappearance and possible murder of Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna). Now it appears that her daughter Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) is willing to do anything to find her mother. (probably for fear she will somehow implicate Willow!)

Ava (Maura West) meets with Willow at the Metro Court Gardens and informs her, “If Nina is being framed. I may know by whom.” Would Ava risk the ire of Drew (Cameron Mathison), if she throw’s him under the bus and admits he planted Jack’s wallet in Nina’s car, or is she about to accuse someone else to protect him?

Meanwhile, Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Justine’s (Nazneen Contractor) romance is about to become public, or at least fall into the wrong hands! The two are being spied on while making out in a dark location thinking they are alone. Next, Ava’s voice is heard saying, He had to go down!” Is she talking about Sonny who she had teamed with Drew to take down? Cut to Sonny telling Ric (Rick Hearst) “Let ’em try.”

Finally, the action turns to Pentonville, where Curtis (Donnell Turner) is in a dangerous situation, when outside his cell, another inmate suggests to him, “Find a reason not to be in your cell after lunch.” Later, that man and two others, enter the cell as Sidwell (Carlo Rota) just reads a book, as he looks concerned as the men encircle him. Does Curtis come to the rescue of Sidwell? Stay tuned.

SPOILERS

Here’s a look at the official General Hospital spoilers for the week of September 21-25 below.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Willow seeks out Valentin. Anna shares her fear with Jason. Carly makes a discovery. Rocco reassures Scout. Britt confides in Isaiah.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Jason and Sonny catch up. Carly does damage control. Britt and Anna come face to face. Jordan sees something she wasn’t supposed to. Lulu opens up to Dante.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Sonny strategizes with Ric. Tracy enlists a new ally. Drew takes note of an encounter between Chase and Willow. Trina makes a big decision. Kai receives an offer.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Ava confronts Sonny. Tracy reveals her agenda. Jordan is in for a shock. Michael and Drew put their cards on the table. Alexis meets with a potential client.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Carly levels with Jason. Lulu is stunned. Josslyn refuses Michael’s request. Jordan wants answers. Hudson assists Brook Lynn.

Now below, check out the latest General Hospital promo entitled, “Out Secret’s Out.”

Then weigh-in: Do you think Ava truly helps Willow save her mother by pointing the finger at Drew? Do you want Drew to go down, or do you want him to exact his revenge on Nina and Willow? Who do you think is behind Sonny and Justine’s romance being exposed? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.

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Video Du Jour

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

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