General Hospital
General Hospital Celebrates Its 51st Anniversary Today!
Today, ABC’s General Hospital turns 51 years young! The show premiered on April 1, 1963 and is still beloved by millions of viewers who tune-in each day.
After its monumental 50th anniversary celebration last year, in 2014 the show promises on today’s episode including the highly-anticipated Carlypolooza, nostalgia, love, and some more surprises for its long time fans.
GH head writer, Ron Carlivati shared on his facebook page this morning: “So proud to be writing General Hospital on its 51st Anniversary! Congratulations to everybody involved with the show!”
The series executive producer Frank Valentini sent out a very cute video tease tweet featuring Nicholas Bechtel (Spencer) late yesterday relating, “Check out these wise words on tomorrow’s 51st anniversary show!” ( You can watch it after the jump!)
Post your congratulation messages to GH for another year of success in the comment section below, and make sure to tune-in today to see what’s in store on the 51st anniversary episode!
Nicholas from Frank Valentini on Vimeo.
There was never any doubt that in watching the riveting and emotional scenes on General Hospital which featured Finola Hughes as a PTSD-driven and mentally tortured Anna Devane, that when the climatic moments in Anna’s story aired, that we would not be singing the praises of Hughes. Once again, Finola showcased why she is one of the soap opera genres greatest assets and actresses.
In the key scenes, Anna has had a complete breakdown as she has lured and cornered Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) on Mount Emerson, and even thought through how she would kill her and cover it up, all thanks to hearing the voice and seeing a dead man, Peter August (Wes Ramsey). It’s visions of Peter that keeps egging Anna on to pull the trigger on Britt while in her delusional state.
Before Britt realizes that Anna trapped her in meeting her in Mount Emerson, she is very confused as to why she was all the way out in the boondocks to talk about what happened to her brother, Cassius Faison. However, Britt soon learned that what Anna was about to do is personal, and not professional, as she pulls the gun on her.
Courtesy/ABC
ANNA FIRES HER GUN IN GAME-CHANGING MOMENT
When Jason (Steve Burton) shows up to save the say, he tries to talk Anna off the ledge, begging her to not shoot Britt and make one of the greatest mistakes of his life. When Jason figured out Anna felt she needed to kill anyone related to Cesar Faison, he made her think twice, because that would mean, she also would need to end the lives of two of Maxie’s children, James and Bailey Lu.
Anna can’t stop seeing hallucinations of Peter pushing her to shoot Britt. Suddenly and completely overcome, Anna fires bullets straight in the direction of where she sees Peter as she declares this all must end tonight.
After the shots are fired, Anna realized what she had done and just sobbed and shook. It was a devastating and heartbreaking moment for longtime General Hospital fans to see the beloved Anna Devane, super spy, so lost. Anna explained to Jason, after he was able to disarm her, how she was being pushed to kill Britt by her visions of Peter.
EMMY-WORTHY SCENES FOR 2027
In another hankie-inducing moment, Anna just grabs Jason and breaks down in his arms. If these weren’t Emmy-worthy scenes, we don’t know what is, and it must be remembered by Hughes, General Hospital, and hopefully the voting body of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) when Emmy submissions and voting get underway in 2027 for the 54th annual Daytime Emmys.
From everything we noted above, to the sheer brilliance of her work, Michael Fairman TV names Finola Hughes, this week’s Power Performance of the Week.
Now let us know, do you agree with our pick of Finola? Were you moved to tears during the gut-wrenching scenes? Should Finola include these scenes in an Emmy submission in 2027, should she decide to compete for Lead Actress gold? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
General Hospital
RATINGS: ‘General Hospital’ Shows Most Gains in Total Viewers Week-Over-Week and Up in Key Demo
The ratings are out for the week of August 24-28 for your favorite broadcast television soaps, and it was ABC’s General Hospital which added the most total viewers and planted itself firmly in third place in its battle with Beyond the Gates in the key demos of women 18-49 and 25-54.
According to Soap Opera Network, all daytime dramas were up year-over-year, and General Hospital was joined by The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful with gains in their total audience viewership, while Beyond the Gates was only slightly off pace for the ratings week.
Let’s take a look at what had viewers tuning-in, starting with General Hospital, who added +79,000 viewers. While still under the 2 million viewers mark (which they can hopefully return in the coming weeks) their overall tally was an average of 1, 935,000 tuning-in, while still up year-to-year +136,000.
GENERAL HOSPITAL
In addition, GH while actually down from the previous week in the 18-49 ratings share, they still out performed Beyond the Gates for third place. However, GH was firmly in third place for the 25-54 ratings share.
The stories that were featured for the week included: Anna’s (Finola Hughes) PTSD and struggle with painful memories tied to Cesar Faison, and her concocting a plan to get rid of Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) recording Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) threatening her, and later running into a severe threat from Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) regarding Kai (Jens Austin Astrup) and Drew’s (Cameron Mathison) shooting, and Drew enlisting Ava (Maura West) to gain leverage over Jack, which resulted in Ava drugging him, while Drew went snooping for the evidence Brennan had against him.
Photo: JPI
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
Y&R remained in the top spot amongst all the soaps once again with 3,062,000 tuning in, and up +35,000 for the week, while year-to-year still showing strong gains at +231,000 viewers. However, while Y&R remained #1 for the 25-54 ratings share, it fell to #2 in the 18-49 ratings share behind The Bold and the Beautiful.
In story for the week, Nick’s (Joshua Morrow) sobriety in rehab was a focus, as was Victoria (Amelia Heinle) and Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) hitting the Jabot office couch and having sex for the first time, and Lily (Christel Khalil) and Billy (Jason Thompson) battling over control and ownership of Chancellor Industries.
Photo: JPI
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
B&B is continuing to be inch closer to Y&R for the top spot, separated by a little more than 300,000 viewers. For the ratings week, the series posted a total audience of 2,719,000 adding +31,000 eyeballs overall, and like Y&R, is up year-to-year in its performance.
The CBS soap now , now in its 40th season is +217,000 from the same time last year. In the key demos, The Bold and the Beautiful was in the top spot for the women 18-49 ratings share and number two for women 25-54.
In story, the major threat to Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and Finn (Tanner Novlan) and Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) and Daphne’s (Murielle Hilaire) marriages continued as Steffy and Carter swore they would not tell their spouses that the two had a drunken hook-up. But as viewers know now, Steffy is pregnant!
Photo: CBS
BEYOND THE GATES
Beyond the Gates tallied an average of 1,611,000 total viewers for the week, up +72.000 year-over-year and down slightly in tune-in for the week losing just -36,000 viewers. The CBS soap came in fourth place in the key demos for the week behind General Hospital, with whom they are often trading places for the third spot.
In story, after Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) was released from the hospital, Hayley (Marquita Goings) stuck to her plan, doubling down on poisoning him and even getting caught in a major lie or meeting with Randy (Maurice P. Kerry), as Vernon (Clifton Davis) may be on to her machinations.
The ratings report is generated from Nielsen (Live+Same Day Big Data + Panel) for the week of August 24-28, 2026
So, what did you think of the performance of General Hospital for the ratings period? Which daytime drama has you most likely to tune-in each day? Which has you tuning-out? Let us know what’s working, or not working for you in story, via the comment section below.
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
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!
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Kyle and Victoria, Stephanie and Nate, Sally and Billy: Do Any Couples Have a Chance at Lasting Happiness?
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom on Working with TV Son Crew Morrow: ‘I’ve Always Wanted to Play an Overprotective, Overbearing Mother’ (Exclusive)
‘General Hospital’s’ Finola Hughes Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
RATINGS: ‘General Hospital’ Shows Most Gains in Total Viewers Week-Over-Week and Up in Key Demo
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
‘General Hospital’ to Rebroadcast Special Episode in Tribute to Anthony Geary
Vivica A. Fox Exits ‘The Young and the Restless’ For Now to Film Netflix’s ‘Women Like Us’
Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
‘General Hospital’s’ Braedyn Bruner Reveals Her Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and How Emma is Getting Her ‘Edge’ Back
‘General Hospital’s’ Bluesy Burke Marks 1 Year as Charlotte Cassadine: ‘It’s The Best Gift I’ve Ever Received’
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Kyle and Victoria, Stephanie and Nate, Sally and Billy: Do Any Couples Have a Chance at Lasting Happiness?
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
‘Beyond the Gates’ vs. ‘The Young and the Restless’ in a Soap Opera Showdown on ‘Flip Side’ Season 3 Premiere
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom Talks Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and What’s Behind Katie’s Deep-Seated Issues with Dylan (Exclusive)
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General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’ to Rebroadcast Special Episode in Tribute to Anthony Geary
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News1 week agoVivica A. Fox Exits ‘The Young and the Restless’ For Now to Film Netflix’s ‘Women Like Us’
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News2 days agoJess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
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General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’s’ Braedyn Bruner Reveals Her Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and How Emma is Getting Her ‘Edge’ Back
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General Hospital6 days ago‘General Hospital’s’ Bluesy Burke Marks 1 Year as Charlotte Cassadine: ‘It’s The Best Gift I’ve Ever Received’
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News5 days ago‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Drops First Look 40th Anniversary Opening Title Sequence
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Interviews7 days ago‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Kelly Sullivan Talks Becoming Darcy Dylan, Who’s Melissa’s Dad, and Future Love Interest (Exclusive)
Love this cute video!!! Love Nicholas as Spencer!!! Love GH!!! Happy 51 years!!! Thanks for the best soap ~ GH!!! Let’s hope there are 51 more years!!!
Heidi I love gh too, but lets be honest gh has 2 years left tops. ABC want out of the soap business. I still don’t trust abc, they will stab us, in the back again. Lets just enjoy gh for now. But gh, will not see another 51 years lets be realistic .
Im going to enjoy and hate it while i can…i too believe it has only two or three years and the same goes for the other soaps…and i too wont be around for another 51 years…lol
This is just so cliche. When GH was in its 49th year everyone said oh it wont reach 50. Then we had the people say it will hit 50 and be cancelled. Then people said oh it will be cancelled after the 51st anniversary. Now here are posts saying it will be gone in the next 2 years. Gotta love the doomsday predictions that have yet to come true. Why people harp on when the show will be cancelled is getting so old. The numbers are far better than they have been in many years. Eventually yes General Hospital will get cancelled but to say it will be in one year, two years etc is just dumb. When the ratings hit rock bottom then come back and discuss the show being gone. When those season averages are higher than they have been in 5 and 6 years that tells you the show is going to keep going.
GH is fun! It’s a soap… it’s story… it’s fantasy… it’s a guilty pleasure that I love!!! Why in the world would I want to think any differently than what I said…
I said I hope… and I do… all naysayers aside… I choose to hope that it has a very long life. I choose not to buy into any one trashing it or putting up any dooms day predictions. I choose to enjoy and watch for as long as I can and for as long as it is there to let me!
It’s a fun show… let’s have fun here talking and reading about it! Frank was certainly having some fun putting this video up… shouldn’t we embrace the fun he intended?
I was named after a character on this show… I’m now a grown woman and watch it everyday
I am so proud and happy for General Hospital’s longevity. It was not to long ago the rumors of their cancelation was right around the corner.Thanks to the team of writers and producers who have shown a great love and respect to the iconic tv series history. General Hospital has experience a rebirth and fans of their yesteryear are coming back and seeing the show they fell in love with years ago.
Nik is too cool!
51 years is great and im grateful the show is still with us! I like the show and im entertained but the show has flaws and could be much better…A.Js trial shouldve happened much sooner and the character didnt have to be killed off AGAIN! He either shouldve have been in a coma or had a mental breakdown…or found guilty for accidentally killing Connie and sent to prison! Tracy seems a little dumber than usual…she knows Luke is acting strangely and should be more suspicious…she was too quick to judge Lauren(kiki) and believing she made a pass at Luke! I like the Silas mystery but no ever mentions his lookalike brother who couldve put Nina in a coma…i still believe Ninas alive and Madeline is her stepmother…i originally thought the person playing Nathan was going to be much better but his acting is horrible…ill give him more time to improve! Previews mentioned Steve, Jessie and a few others…will Monica see them roaming the halls of GH like its been hinted(using either old clips or lookalikes)?
I think Monica faked A.J. dying again so she could ship him off to some clinic to recover (played by another actor).
Hope so…
I guess he really died this time…
Oh god, let’s hope!!
I rewatched…i think Britt will return Ben to Dante and Lulu?
After thirty years of watching GH, I am no longer watching due to the horrifically bad and choppy writing, the destruction of core characters, stunt casting, stunt plotting and trotting out one new character after another.
The killing of AJ before he completed his redemptive process was the last straw.
And I wish they’d stop exploiting this kid–it’s making him come off as petulant, unnatural and affected. He also should not be allowed on Twitter.
I agree completely with your “choppy” description because that is exactly what is wrong with this show, storylines just flutter about like a bird jumping from one twig to another. And you are also right about AJ, killing him off was a very poor lousy decision and I agree the redemptive process should have been explored and given the audience hope which soaps have always done.
So they should go back to writing the show in the way that the ratings were horrible? I’d love to see you both do a better job and stay within the budget and restraints that the network dictates. You wouldn’t last a day yet Ron Carlivati has lasted and has brought the shows numbers to the highest they have been in a long time.
I like Ron carlivati he has enthusiasm for the soap genre. But you have to agree David that killing off a legacy character right before the anniversary isn’t the best decision. Just my opinion and obviously people feel the same.
Only when the Scorpios were back, front and center were the ratngs the highest in a long time…now they’re back to where they were when Ron took over. From the end of 2013 the show has lost 15% of its viewership, the most of any of the daytime soaps by a factor of 3. With the Cranco kidnapping cartoon and the fiasco of naming Dr. O Chief of Staff of GH RC couldn’t write more of a parody if he tried. And the ratings decline is what is to show for his efforts.
Now he used the anniversary episode to kill off AJ – completely unnecessarily- and spent the rest of the show justifying his murder with lies and rewritten history. One almost has to assume TPTB are trying to lose audience so the new head of ABC daytime can put something else in the slot.
The actor wanted off the show. He gave notice they wrote the story that would be the best send off and leave so much more to tell for the other actors. You can not blame them for his choice to leave before his contact ended. The ratings show that the writing is better then ever. You can not make everyone happy so why even try. Tell a good story. Bring back my Favs. Go at a faster pace….are these not all good things?
I agree that AJ went out with a bang so to speak.Plus AJ’s death will have long term ramifications for the other characters on the show and create more story.Yeah i wish they hadn’t killed AJ but i don’t write the show and they may have thought AJ been dead was better storywise then him been off screen somewhere.Plus as you point out Sean Kanan wanted off GH and they willing to let him go because they may not have wanted someone who was unhappy.Finally GH has just celebrated 51 years on the air and they are moving forward and not looking back.
Will Jason be on? Really miss him. Love it that the Carlies will be on..Sarah Brown my favorite ex-Carly but love Laura Wright.
can’t wait to see it today!!
I absolutely can’t wait! Congratulations General Hospital! Please continue to remember the iconic history of the show and the core, legacy characters!
Happy 51st birthday General Hospital!Yeah GH could be cancelled at anytime but right now i think we should enjoy watching it while we can.Plus i think it’s nice that actors that have left the show are willing to return even if it’s just for one episode.Some actors may feel they owe GH because they started their careers on the show and now they can return the favor sort of.
Yes, Happy Anniversary GH!
I’m bummed that on the anniversary, programming was interrupted with President Obama talking about healthcare enrollment! They cut out half the show! It will be a grey day in California if GH everwraps up. The actors are so strong –but what’s going on with Luke!!!
Congratulations GH! I began watching in 1963 when Steve Hardy and Jessie were on. Over the years, I’ve lost touch with the show a few times but I’m really enjoying it now.
…. congrats !!!!
Thanks FV, RC, ALL the staff of GH for saving a great soap..
I look forward to and enjoy GH every day!
As boring as gh can get it’s nowhere near as bad as Y&R which is unwatchable at this point, a blank screen is preferable. Congrats GH!!
Congrats, Happy 51st GH a big one only in Hollywood, CA…. Many more birthdays to come..
Just finished watching GH’s anniversary episode and I loved it. A very moving show, especially Monica’s scenes with Emily and AJ, as well as Sonny’s with SJB’s, TB’s and LW’s versions of Carly. Here’s hoping for many. many more years of this great and venerable soap!
Well everything comes to an end eventually, so why dwell on it– it is like dwelling on one’s own death. It is far better to enjoy life while you are alive, and it far better to enjoy one’s soap while you got it. We are fortunate because most prime time series don’t last nearly as long, and daytime soap viewer who had the chance to grow up along with their soap experienced a unique journey that will not likely happen again in this world evolving entertainment choices. So for reaching 51 GH congrats–
They keep dragging things out they way they are… It will be history
If they had celebrated the show by stuffing Ron C. inside a pinata and let Sean Kanan and Leslie Charleson take some swipes at, that would have been a real celebration.
Focusing instead on the Three Faces of the SlagBeast and the Howler Monkey she loves didn’t do it for me. Both of them have less taste than bored baboons at the zoo and even less talent.
I wish there was something to be excited about. This regime has proven to be so far out of touch with what viewers want to see that it is truly mind boggling. They choose the day before the anniversary to kill off a legacy character…again???? Who does that????? AJ was brought back to much fanfare and excitement in 2012. His death was the most vicious and gruesome murder since that of Frankie on Another World. We got to see him remember that he was innocent…then be tortured by Ava, then shot point blank by Sonny, then called every name in the book by Snny and Carly. We got to see him briefly wake up a few times, then watched him die. Do these writers realize that all four of Monica’s children have been brutally murdered? Three of those deaths can b directly traced to disgusting career criminal Sonny. It is just cruel and very inhumane writing. I lost my 2 oldest brothers to cancer within a month and a day of each other, and then a year and a half later, lost my mom. Watching this show is just not entertaining in any way! But Happy Anniversary for the show that used to be and hopefully will again.
Yet you obviously keep watching to know all you do. The return of AJ didnt bring ratings. There was excitement among internet fans that was about it. Soaps have always dealt with death as do a lot of other tv shows. If you don’t like change the channel and stop writing about it on the internet. Sadly In life people get cancer thats just keeping it real. If you want to see happy stuff all the time soap operas shouldnt be what you are watching.
Obviously you don’t follow the ratings – viewership has dropped 15% since the end of 2013… you think that was because of AJ? How about Heather digging herself out of a grave after being stabbed and writing a note in blood? or the absurd kidnapping of Carly and dragging her all over town? You think that earned ratings? How many ratings points do you think the show earned when they put an international criminal in charge of General Hospital, after having Monica fired because her son was a suspect in a criminal case? If everyone who didn’t like where RC has taken this show stopped watching the ratings would tank ever further. Everyone has a right to register their displeasure for a show that has been on the air for 50 years. If you don’t like to see viewers express other than positive views, don’t read them.
Like every other person on here, I am free to watch what I like and I am also free to post about it on here. I am a lifelong soap fan and I stick with them even through bad periods…and for me personally, this is arguably the worst GH has ever been. I dont care what the ratings say, or who else declares GH the beat show ever. The show is dark, disturbing, depressing, and often grotesque in its glorification of violence and crime. I will keep watching because there is hope that Ron Carlivati will be fired one day and a writer will b e hired to improve the show again. But thanks for your suggestion David.
Johnny no one ever said you are free to watch. But honestly why waste your time on something that you dislike so much. Most normal people would watch soemthing else but then if you did that Johnny you would have nothing to come on and complain about on the internet every day.
You can keep watching Johnny but unless the ratings drop to extreme low numbers than Ron is here to stay. SO keep hoping for something that won’t happen for a long time.
I want Micheal to find out the truth…i want him to confront Sonny with a gun with intent to shoot…Sonny thinks he is bluffing, says’But you wouldnt shoot your father!’…Micheal pulls the trigger but nothing happens because its a fake gun! Micheal angerily retorts,’I wouldnt shoot you…im not a monster…im nothing like you! And you are NOT my father because a true father would never hurt his own son…the man you murdered in cold blood is my ONE AND ONLY father-A.J. Quatimaine! And im proud to be his son…i am Micheal Quartimaine!!!
I can dig it.
“so far out of touch with what viewers want”… Let’s see, since Cartini arrived ratings have risen, it was Soap Opera Digest’s Best Show for the last two years, they got rid of the dark that everyone complained about, they brought back tons of legacy characters (and Nurses’ Balls) for the short- and long-term…. Killing off a legacy character, yes, I agree, bad idea. But they’ve listened to what viewers want more than they have not.
I agree with some of your points but much of the dark has returned…Carlos is shot, Max is shot, Julian is beaten, Heather is stabbed, Franco shot, a day player is murdered, and A.J. attempts to strangle Ava but is gunned down and dies all in just a few short months…Yes, the show has improved and the ratings are up…some days i enjoy the show but its overloaded with too many villains and too much violence…so its still too dark! If they’d at least cut back half the darkness and fix the choppy plotting of the stories then the show would be so much better!!!
Amen to your comments, Johnny! Today’s show was absolutely dreadful as a singular episode, let alone a special 51st anniversary program! The “Three Faces of Carly” and their “Sonny Boy” was a complete waste of time, perhaps because I couldn’t care less about any of them!!!! Ron’s obligatory, ongoing trashing of Frisco Jones was again front and center, along with a nice slam at Noah Drake, too….as if reuniting with an old flame were a major sin…c’mon, why would a (still very) hot guy like Rick Springfield really want to cavort with the likes of the over-botoxed, surgically-altered Bobbie???? (He and Anna were the real couple to watch….loved them together!) Nurse Spencer is completely, over-the-top annoying (and just impossible to watch anymore)….Ditto for the mundane Felicia, overbearing Lucy (and Scotty) and dull Mac (please, NO more Mr. Marbles!) The only one I even felt for was the clueless Doc being stuck with that bunch of deceptive bores…And the thought of another “Nurses’ Ball” is the last thing I even want to ponder right now….not to mention the possibility of once again being subjected to the demented antics of Richard Simmons…God help us! It was all such a mishmash and misuse of the ingredients that once were GH’s recipe for success. That being said, the only magical moments were the heartbreaking, poignant ones that marked AJ’s bittersweet swan song….how beautifully acted by both Sean Kanan and Leslie Charleson. They truly captured the immense tragedy of his (totally unnecessary) demise and departure….quite the tearjerker as it represented not only the death of the beloved Quartermaine that so many of us were fervently rooting for to succeed, but a metaphor for the entire soap…it’s as if all the wonderful elements that once comprised the mythology of Port Charles are systematically being extinguished by this current regime. So very, very sad.
I wish the show hadn’t killed AJ but instead sent him away to get treatment.That way Sonny and Ava both would have to worry that AJ would wake up.As for Sean Kanan he asked to be released from his contract and the show was willing to accommodate him.Plus i don’t think him going back to B&B happened overnight.There might have been some informal negotiations between him and Brad Bell and then once he’s got an offer to return then he may have asked GH to release him.So i’m wondering if B&B hadn’t wanted him back would Sean had asked to be let go or would he have stayed at GH?As for how GH is doing in the last ratings report they had more than a 100,000 or so more viewers then the same time last year.
From both a storyline and audience reaction perspective your way was definitely the better option, Andrew. I have no quibble with SK wishing to leave the show at this time….he was given truly inferior material and his character was constantly abused….most of us were not at all happy with these developments, so I can completely understand the actor’s displeasure. Once again, it’s not the what but the how….so AJ was departing the Port Charles canvas? No problem, he certainly could have been left in soap limbo for awhile or even indefinitely….it happens all the time, and this would have been a fine plot device to keep things interesting. But no….instead we were (once again) subjected to a petty little man’s contempt for a character, his current portrayer and his fans via a vindictive and pretty much definitive event that (apparently) slammed the door shut for any future possibilities. Just…plain…tacky…..and unnecessary!!!!!
I checked my DVR when I got home and most of the show was preempted due to breaking news from Obama about Health Care. I will check ABC.com later tonight.
I normally don’t care much for the kids’ storylines on GH, but I have been enjoying Spencer, Emma, and Cameron’s storyline the last couple of months.
They killed another Quartermaine,what a way to celebrate the shows history.
Seriously GH Fans…… you are just about the most negative bunch I’ve ever had to deal with. Constant complaints b/c Steve Burton QUIT, constant whining that Robin needs to come back, when the actress is coaxed back for a few months — the complaints then escalate b/c she opts to leave again, there’s too much violence vs. Sonny isn’t on enough, the show is too serious vs. the show is too silly. Constant harping that ABC is going to cancel the show.
WHAT WILL MAKE THE VIEWERS HAPPY?
Let’s face it. Nothing lasts forever. Let’s enjoy the show while it’s on. Let’s enjoy the actors that stick with the show & enjoy the ones that return for however long in duration. Just enjoy and stop complaining. Peace.
some of you are blaming RC for decision that Sean Kanan made..
It was Sean Kanan who called Bell and asked to go back to B&B and to have a romance , he wanted back to B&B..
Sometimes it is the stars and their decision to leave..
ALL actors love to go out with a bang not a whimper; fact..
Sean most likely loved his death scene, much better than off to Iowa bye bye..
He will be happy back in his comfort zone a place he wants to be B&B..
I wish him all the best ..
And AJ was written true to his character, he was what he was.. 🙂
Plus it was reported that a few months that Brad Bell approached Sean Kanan about returning to B&B but Sean told him he was under contract to GH for awhile more.For the record i have no problem with Sean Kanan going back to B&B if that’s what he wanted to do.My issue is if he didn’t know B&B wanted him back would he still have asked GH to release him?Plus did Sean call Brad Bell to see if the offer to return was still open before he asked to be let go from GH?So Sean may have made sure he had a job at B&B before leaving GH.I’ll miss Sean on GH but i’m sure the show will survive without him just fine.As for the anniversary episode i thought it was nice and just happy that the show was able to celebrate their 51st anniversary because a few years ago there were rumors that GH would be cancelled.
guess what happened in colorado springs where GH airs at 2pm?? GH was interrupted by by george stupidnopilous for late breaking news on obama care. lol, yes, late breaking new on obama care. so the news division thats run by the guy who will by next year run all of abc daytime, interrupted GH anniversary episode for news that could of waited for later on. how disappointing. i”m not freaking out, eventhough theres no soapnet, and the abc apt makes it impossible to watch the episode, thank god for itunes, i’ll buy the episode for a few bucks and it will be worth it. as for abc, this was wrong, theres life and death breaking news and news that could of waited for later broadcast.. i feel sorry for those who wont be able to catch the episode.
Ditto.
from a SF Bay area fan.
I’m in Portland and the same thing happened to us. What a stupid reason to interrupt the show but that is ABC news for you. If they had found that missing airplane I could understand but Obamacare, give me a break.
Yeah, the president’s comments could have been held for the evening news. ABC made a big mistake cutting the regular programming.
What a tacky embarrassing show today I am sad to say my GH days are
Over!
Today was a fan’s treat. Thank you GH for the haunting opening with the names we have loved to the Carlypalooza to the ending at the stairwell.
what was the name of the song as emily was taking AJ out..anyone know?
The song is called “The Lovely Years” by Fisher. Can get it on iTunes for .99 cents. I too searched for an hour trying to find the name of the song.
I have been watching GH for 51 yrs. Started watching with my grandmother. It has always been my favorite soap!