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GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Lulu Wakes Up and Sam’s Funeral Take Centerstage

By Michael Fairman

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Spoilers for the week of November 18th-22nd on General Hospital reveal,(and as has been previously reported), that viewers will finally see the highly-anticipated debut of Alexa Havins as Lulu Spencer. That’s because on Tuesday’s, November 19th episode of the ABC daytime drama series, Lulu finally wakes up after her four-year coma!

However, (and from the looks of it), that will be juxtaposed sadly with the funeral for Sam McCall (formerly played by Kelly Monaco), the woman who unselfishly donated her liver to Lulu, in order to save her life. Tragically, after surviving the donor transplant surgery, and after she just became engaged to the man she loves, Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna), Sam suffered a fatal heart attack, that is still under investigation.

Now, Sam’s family and friends are set to mourn her on the same day as Lulu comes back to life. Plan on Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) struggling with the loss of her daughter, and Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) trying to deal with the loss of his mom.

Photo: ABC

Elsewhere, Sasha’s (Sofia Mattsson) parents skipped town leaving her shell-shocked with the news, while concerns if she might be pregnant after hitting the sheet with Michael (Chad Duell) loom. As they have for Robin (Kimberly McCullough) and Maxie (Kirsten Storms), look for Felicia (Kristina Wagner) and Mac (John J. York) to be there for Sasha as she tries to figure out her life and relationships.

Now below, take a look at the official GH spoilers for the week of November 18-22:

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18

Alexis and Ric face off. Lucky gets an unexpected offer. Dante opens up to Cody. TJ tries to support Molly. Danny has harsh words for Lucas.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19

Port Charles mourns Sam at her funeral. Kristina and Molly rally around Alexis. Ava and Lucas find common ground. Lulu wakes up.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20

Jason and Danny have a heart-to-heart. Elizabeth gets alarming news. Alexis makes a vow. Molly discloses Ric’s plan. Dante and Kristina want justice.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21

Michael confides in Sasha. Jason is adamant. Dante ponders his next move. Kristina thanks Josslyn. Kai surprises Trina.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22

Molly delivers bad news to Kristina. Ava is anxious. Stella encourages TJ. Jason seeks advice from Dante. Mac and Felicia step up for Sasha.

How will you feel if Lulu wakes up just as they are having the funeral for Sam? What storypoint are you most looking forward to? Which storypoint are you least interested in? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

 

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I like Alexa Havins well enough but this feels like a one-for-one swap with Sam and I don’t like that. Having Lulu wake up, played by a recast actress (I’d be excited for Julie or Emme, because I loved both in the role) during Sam’s funeral just feels…ugh.

I remember assuming Sam leaving and being replaced with a recast Lulu was about budget money but then they went with a “name” soap star and we found out Emme wasn’t even asked AND the Kelly was willing to accept the paycut.
(And in Alexa’s recent interview it sounds like Frank, who knew her from her time on AMC and crossovers to OLTL, reached out and offered her the role vs. her agent submitting and her auditioning against other actresses for it.)

It all just feels skeevy and its made me not look forward to Lulu waking up. I’ll keep an open mind, but they will need to win me over.

Per Dayrtime Confidential, both Jen Landon (ex-Gwen, As the World Turns) and Marci Miller (ex-Abigail, Days of Our Lives) were in consideration for the role. Plus, Stephanie Gatschet was supposedly offered the role and declined. I don’t blame them for recasting the role, honestly. Supposedly, Julie Berman did not want to return, and I don’t think Emme Rylan was top choice ultimately.

Great recap Scott.

Emme was never an option to return. Her performance was why the coma storyline for this most “legacy of characters” began.

I liked Rylan when I first watched, but the writing for Lulu was never there…. there was zero Spencer spice in the material she was given, and when they tried giving it to her, it fell flat. Am praying, based on script hinting at how spicy Lulu used to be that Alexa Havins Bruening will bring that classic Lulu back!

So let me get this straight you think a third recast of Lulu after four years in a coma and fans of Sam who has been on the show for 21 years is going to improve ratings? Ok please stop the madness . You bring Lucky back who has not bathed in years that’s going to bring ratings ok. Kaon kissing Anna that’s going to bring ratings ok.

Jason sorry

Goodbye Sam McCall and Hello Lulu Spencer!

I cannot believe that they got rid of Sam McCall on GH. I have been watching GH since 1963 when it aired! I guess long term watchers opinions don’t count! Not that I will stop watching! Just saying!!??!!

Okay?

I do so agree with you. I have stopped watching. Fan for years, just b4 Luke and Laura’s wedding.

General Hospital writers should have never killed Sam off. I will never watch GH again.

I have nonetheless againstAlexa Havins as lu but I hate that a legendary actress ofx25 yrs was killed permanently so she could never come back plus,Kelly’s Sam was the original and one of the best to play her. Loved her with Jason. They had so many memories. They were ride and die for yrs. I loved the family she made with Dante. They were so happy.

Aside—overdose of digitalis killed Sam? Hmmm—-Was is Cyrus’ doing?—-so that Dante and Lulu could be together without Sam as the extra baggage?

At 78 years old I remained committed to my choice to not watch GH again.

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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General Hospital

Antonio Sabáto Jr. Breaks Silence on His Son’s Arrest for Fatal Hit-and-Run

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Antonio Sabato Jr.

Antonio Sabáto Jr., the former Jagger Cates of General Hospital and GH: Night Shift, and the former Dante Damiano of The Bold and the Beautiful has issued his first public statement since the incident involving his son, Jack’s arrest in Alaska for a fatal hit-and-run.

Jack is the son of Sabáto Jr. and Oscar-nominated actress Virginia Madsen, and according to court documents obtained by KTUU  Jack, was allegedly driving a white Chevy Tahoe when he hit and killed Carl Simmonds, 42, near an intersection in Anchorage around 5:35 a.m. on Monday, November 9.

The reports indicated that Jack fled the scene — but later decided to called the cops to say he hit “something” that “suddenly appeared in the road” while he was “doing late-night DoorDashing.”

Jack Sabato

Photo: NBC

Now, Antonio has taken to his Instagram breaking his silence on the situation, sharing, “At this time, my family and I are navigating an extremely sensitive and deeply personal matter.”

He added, “As a father, my love for my children remains unconditional, and my priority is the well-being of my family. We ask that the public and members of the media honor our privacy during this difficult time and keep us all in your thoughts and prayers.”

The soap alum concluded, “I also wish to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the gentleman who tragically lost his life. My thoughts and prayers are with them as well. We sincerely appreciate your compassion, understanding, and respect for the privacy of everyone affected.”

Jack Sabáto was arraigned in court on Tuesday, November 10 with bail set at $5,000, and a no-driving order and the potential of $5,000 penalty fees if he fails to attend future court appearances.

Antonio is the father to Jack, 34, daughter, Mina Sabato, 24 and son, Antonio Sabáto III, 15.

This is a developing story. You can check out Antonio’s official statement below.

So, let us know your thoughts on this tragic hit-and-run, which claimed the life of another man, and Antonio’s statement, via the comment section below.

 

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A post shared by Antonio Sabato Jr (@antoniosabatojr)

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Casts Ayla Bullington as the New Avery Jerome-Corinthos

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Ayla Bullington

Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Ava’s (Maura West) daughter Avery looks quite different, starting on today’s November 9 episode of General Hospital. That’s because GH has made Avery into a full-blown teenager and the role is now being played by actress Alya Bullington.

In her debut, the Tennessee native was thrown into the deep soap waters with Daytime Emmy winners, Maurice Benard and Eden McCoy (Josslyn). Bullington weighed-in to TV Insider about her first scene which featured Avery overhearing a fight between Sonny and Josslyn.

She explained “It was something I have never done before, I did not have a lot of experience with the screaming and the crying stuff, but I got my first script, and I was like, ‘OK, this is a huge opportunity to learn so much about how that stuff works and to become this character that I have never even tried playing before.’” 

Josslyn

Photo: ABC

THE TEENAGED VERSION OF AVERY WILL HAVE A LOT TO CONTEND WITH

Speaking of working with McCoy, Bullington shared, “She’s incredible. I remember her just laughing and making jokes on set, and then the minute that they started taping, she just locked in and she cried immediately, and my first thought was, ‘I want to be able to do that.’

The soap opera newcomer added, “I think she just inspired me so much because she is so great and she can just lock into whatever character she wants to in the moment.” 

The character of Avery was born back in 2014, but as recently as the October 8 episode of General Hospital, the character was suddenly referred to as a teenager. This is the second young female character in recent months to be aged up following the casting of Kayden Brenna Tokarski as Scout Cain.

As for her take on Avery and what’s ahead, Alya said,“She’s emotional, and she’s curious, and she’s a really fun person to play because so much stuff is happening in her life. I think she’s kind of confused about what’s happening and what to believe.”

So, what do you think about General Hospital making Avery a teenager? Are you excited to see the conflict between Sonny, Ava and Avery now that they have aged up the character? Share your thoughts and welcome Alya to GH via the comment section below.

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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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