General Hospital
General Hospital Scores Best May Sweeps In Total Viewers In Seven Years!
It was a big May Sweeps for ABC’s General Hospital, the Nurses Ball along with the other major stories throughout the sweeps period gave GH its highest number of total viewers for the ratings period in seven years with 3.068 million tuning-in!
In addition, according to ABC, GH nabbed its highest ratings in 3 years in Women 18-49 demo (747,000/1.2 rating) and the Women 25-54 demo (999,000/1.6 rating) – since May Sweeps 2007 and 2011, respectively – ranking as the #1 show in daytime in Women 18-49 (tied on rating).
General Hospital also stood as the #1 program in Women 18-34 (252,000/0.7 rating), hitting a 4 year high in the demo – since May Sweeps 2010. The lone ABC soap also generated gains in key measures including, by 8% in Total Viewers (3.068 million vs. 2.851 million), by 6% in Women 18-34 (252,000 vs. 237,000) and by 4% in Women 25-54 (999,000 vs. 964,000).
So what do you think of GH’s performance during May Sweeps? Were you tuning-in? What was your favorite story or moment? Share your comments below!
General Hospital
GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)
At the conclusion of today’s August 21 episode of General Hospital, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) sings a lullaby to baby Dez, that went into a montage to close out the episode as her father Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) reports to Pentonville and winds up in his jail cell.
However, in a fun fact, the song entitled, “A Lonely Heart To Give” was actually written by none other than former One Life to Live and General Hospital actor, Patrick J. Gibbons.
Daytime fans first met Gibbons as Sam Manning on One Life to Live. At the time, when he started on the soap, he was just 5-years-old. Gibbons played the part from 2010-2013 on ABC and Prospect Park’s editions of the show. Fast-forward to 2018, Gibbons shows up on General Hospital as Wyatt Hoover, the scout who seemed always be injured, but in the thick of the drama. Patrick had appeared on GH multiple times as Wyatt including: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023.
Photo: ABC
FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER’S DEATH CAME THE INSPIRATION FOR HIS SONG
Now in 2026, General Hospital fans are getting to learn about another side of Gibbons’ talent as a songwriter and guitar player after “A Lonely Heart to Give” debuted today! Michael Fairman TV caught up with Patrick, who is now a senior at Penn State entering his final year as a finance major, to get the back-story of how his song wound up on GH!
Gibbons explained he wrote the song in honor of his grandmother who passed away a few years ago with whom he was, very, very close with. “Randomly, my grandmother had a downfall and passed away during the second semester of my sophomore year. I was in my dorm a lot and I was just playing with my guitar. And at the time, I was really into finger-style playing. I wrote the lyric and music to it (with a little help from my guitar teacher Lou), and my mom showed the rough demo to Frank Valentini (EP, General Hospital). He’s like an uncle to me. Frank loved it so much he said, “Finish that up. I want to hear the whole thing, and I want it on the show.”
MAKING MUSIC FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL
Gibbons and his parents took the next steps! “So now, all we needed was a female voice, because I thought that would fit the song well,” Patrick shared. “At the golf club we go to my parents were at a dinner. They liked the singer that was performing and spoke to her about the song, and she says she would like to bring it to her ‘boss’ who ended up being Eric Bazilian of the Hooters fame!” (Bazilian also wrote the smash hit song “One of Us” for Joan Osborne).
Next, “We went in the studio and recorded it and the song came together and it was beautiful. We loved it. They loved it at General Hospital and now they’re putting it the show and they are coming in with a piano, instead of a guitar. Paul Glass, the GH musical director, has been keeping us updated over the last six months of how it was coming along, and when it would air, and how GH put their own arrangement to it. I can’t wait to see and hear what they did with it.”
Photo: JPI
PATRICK’S ONE LIFE TO LIVE FAMILY
Everyone knows that the One Life to Live extended family share a very tight bond, and Patrick said he does stay in touch with a few of his former One Life to Live co-stars, especially those from the Manning family! “I stayed in touch with Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair) and sent her little videos here and there. She was like my second mom for five years. We keep in contact with Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) over X the most, and she can’t believe how big I’ve gotten. Like, none of them can! (laughs). I also loved working with Roger Howarth (ex-Todd) and Trevor St. John (ex-Todd and Victor Jr.), and to me since I was so young, they were just my friends, ‘Roger and Trevor,’ not Todd Manning or Victor Jr.”
It was a trip to California and a visit to Port Charles that ultimately led to Gibbons second soap role of Wyatt Hoover. Patrick explains, “In 2016, Frank Valentini invited us out to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital. I think he heard me say, ‘This is so much fun. I miss being on the set.’ He goes, ‘You should come out. I’ll bring you on the show. We can make you a character.'”
A few years later, Patrick’s dream became a reality! “Then, by the summer of 2018, I was playing Wyatt, the scout, and shared scenes with Wes Ramsey (Peter August), and the best was when I shared a scene with Roger Howarth and Michael Easton (ex-John, OLTL and ex-Silas, Finn et al, GH), it was like chemistry from the old days.”
Photo: PGibbons
IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS
As to his future aspirations, it’s a career in the finance game that has piqued Gibbons’ real-life interest. But never say never to a return to acting. Patrick explained, “I’ve always enjoyed numbers. And on top of that, one of the biggest parts of finance is being personable and outgoing.”
He continued, “That’s one of the greatest skills I developed growing up. I really love the markets. I’m super interested. I’m never going to close the door to acting. I’m always open to that because I just love it so much. It’s such a great art.”
Take note! If there are any investment bankers or private equity folks among the GH faithful looking for a young analyst next year, Patrick’s DMs are open. You can find him on X at @PatrickJGibbons.”
So, what did you think of the song sung by Trina on today’s GH that was written by Patrick J. Gibbons? Did you enjoy Patrick’s performances as One Life’s Sam and GH’s Wyatt? Would you like to see him back on GH at some point? Let us know via the comment section.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Admits That He Didn’t Expect the Role of Michael Corinthos to be Recast, and Would Consider Working on Another Soap (Exclusive)
Chad Duell, the Daytime Emmy-winning actor, who stepped away from the pivotal role of Michael Corinthos on General Hospital, opened up about: his previous decision to leave the series after nearly 15 years, where’s he’s at now after time away from the demands of a daytime soap opera, and took a stroll down memory lane with some of Michael’s most-acclaimed storyline during his run, during a livestream chat on August 19 on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel.
Viewers last saw Duell on-screen as Michael in January of 2025, and with his successor in the role, Rory Gibson making his debut at the GH Nurses’ Ball in episodes that aired later in May. It was clear that during the conversation, Chad was a bit surprised that the GH brass decided to recast him when he thought he was just taking some much needed time off.
Burn-out of the daily grind of being on a soap was definitely a part of Chad’s decision to take a break. Duell explained “People know when you’re doing something for so long or your character is kind of in the same place for so long or doing the same stuff over and over again, you do get a a little burnt out, you get a little stiff, stale, a little stiff at times. I didn’t want that to be any sort of lasting impression. I have 15 years of a body of work of I’ve done on that show, which is fantastic.”
Photo: ABC
WHILE CHAD WAS AWAY GH RECAST MICHAEL CORINTHOS WITH RORY GIBSON
Chad shared, his mindset when leaving GH was, “I’m taking some time away, we’ll see what happens.” Then he added, “Obviously, they decided to go in a different direction with Michael when I was gone. I didn’t think they were going to bring somebody back in my place. But you know, it’s the business. You never know what can happen.”
Duell also shared he has not watched a single episode of General Hospital since he left the series, but now feels he reenergized following the loss of his father and stepping away from the GH, “I’m in a place now mentally, where I’m ready to sink my teeth into it again.”
Courtesy/ABC
Even though he is no longer Michael on GH, Chad was very happy with his final storyline where Michael was set on fire when a bomb exploded at Sonny’s (Maurice Benard) penthouse. “It was fun to put him in a dangerous situation, because I was wanting Michael to be in something scary instead of trying to be a hero character or just things happening around him, but to be the center point of tragedy happening to him. (I always saw) Michael as the heart of the (Corinthos) family.”
When Michael was badly burned the show chose not burn his face, which normally a soap does when they are recasting role and switching actors. Chad weighed-in, “They didn’t burn my face because I told Frank Valentini (EP, GH) I’m willing to come back. It was just a little bit of a break. So, I assumed that if they would have burned my face, they could have brought somebody back looking different than me… if that’s what their plan was.”
Courtesy/ABC
MEMORABLE MICHAEL STORYLINES
One of Chad’s most memorable performances was the in the storyline of Michael’s rape while he was sentenced to prison in 2010 and the confession of it in 2011. “It was so well-written and I was very nervous,” recalled Chad. “When I get really nervous about something, it ends up being really good when I do it, because it just means I care a lot about it”
“I have to put a lot of effort and work into it, and I really want it to be good. I was working with Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) and Steve Burton (Jason) a lot during those scenes, and Laura Wright (Carly). It was great working with Steve and Dominic, especially, during that storyline.
A NEW SOAP ROLE FOR CHAD?
As to a future soap opera role, Chad is open to the idea and would love to jump back in to a juicy role, “I know people over at The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Young and the Restless. They know that if they’re interested, I would love to come in for a screen test or something, and they can see what I’m doing.”
Meanwhile, Chad has been busy putting out new music under the moniker Duelly and during the interview he explains how he creates his EDM tracks and much more. You can stream his latest single, Static in the Quiet Room on Spotify, Apple Music and You Tube Music.
You can check out the full conversation with Chad Duell below.
Now let us know: what show would you like to see Chad cast on down the line? BTG, DAYS, B&B, Y&R, or a new role on GH? What did you think of his thoughts on the casting switch while he was away in the role of Michael? What was your favorite Michael storyline during Chad’s 15-year run on the ABC soap opera? Let us know via the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ric’s History of Jealousy Where Elizabeth is Concerned Has Come Back Around
On General Hospital, Ric Lansing (Rick Heart) is about to fall back into dangerous old patterns by the foreshadowing during the Wednesday, August 19 episode. After first coming to see his brother, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and telling him of his plan to propose to Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) his longtime love tonight, Sonny has concerned.
Next, Sonny reminds his brother of what has happened in the past, when things have gone south with Elizabeth and wonders if it’s too soon for him to propose to her. What Ric did not tell Sonny is that he has seen the developing closeness between Sonny’s son, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) and Elizabeth, which is propelling his urgent need to propose.
Meanwhile, Dante ran into Elizabeth at the park during a break from their mutual team softball games. She needs help with a bookcase after the game at her house. Dante wants to put it together for her. Later, Dante arrived at Elizabeth’s house, limping after injuring his knee during the game. Head nurse Liz wanted to check out the injury as much as Dante protested, which required him to take off his pants.
Courtesy/ABC
RIC BEGINS TO UNRAVEL
Outside Elizabeth’s widow, Ric arrives with a bouquet of roses and the engagement ring. When he leers through the widow he is shocked to see Elizabeth rubbing Dante’s leg while Dante is in his boxer/shorts. He storm troops into the house, demanding to know what is going on here? Both Elizabeth and Dante look surprised by his reaction. In the pick-up of today’s Thursday, August 20 episode (see GH video teaser below), viewers will learn the upshot for all three characters.
A VENGEFUL PAST
As longtime GH fans know, Ric has done some horrible, vengeful things in regards to Elizabeth starting back in 2003 after she lost her baby after Ric’s ex, Faith Rosco pushed her down a flight of stairs. Ric accused Sonny for the accident and to get revenge, Ric kidnapped Carly (who was married to Sonny at the time), and stashed her in a panic room below the house where he was living with Liz.
On top of that, Ric fed his wife Elizabeth birth control pills to keep her from getting pregnant so that they could raise Carly’s baby together after it was born. Eventually, Elizabeth found Carly in the panic room but ended up having a pulmonary embolism. When she woke up in the hospital, Elizabeth was all confused by what happened, and Ric convinced her that her vision of Carly was just a bad dream. Eventually, Elizabeth learned the horrifying truth and divorced Ric.
Years later, Ric noticed the connection between Elizabeth and “Jake Doe” who eventually turned out to be Drew (Billy Miller) A jealous Ric hired Hayden Barnes to show up and claim to be “Jake’s” wife. Elizabeth stepped aside, and when Ric planned to propose to Elizabeth at the 2015 Nurses Ball, Carly exposed his manipulations, and Elizabeth dumped him yet again. And those are just two examples of the lengths Ric will go to for Elizabeth!
So, we ask you, given the history of Elizabeth and Ric, how do you see this playing out with Dante in the picture? How will Ric derail their growing bond? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Preview: Kelly Sullivan Debuts as Dylan’s Mom; Suspicion is Raised About Carter and Steffy
‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Mike Manning Lands Role in Indie Horror Feature ‘Deify’
GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)
‘Guiding Light’s’ Grant Aleksander Shares Heartfelt Remembrance of TV Daughter, Hayden Panettiere On What Would Have Been Her 37th Birthday
Sydney Malekeh Joins the Cast of ‘Days of Our Lives’ in Mystery Role: Who Do You Think She’s Playing?
‘General Hospital’s’ Maurice Benard Talks: New ‘Sonny’ Storyline, His Contract, and Three Characters He Would Want to See Back in Port Charles
How John Oliver’s ‘Days of Our Lives’ Guest Star Turn as ‘Devlin St. John’ Came to an End
John Oliver Recaps His ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘General Hospital’ Soap Opera Experience on ‘Last Week Tonight’
‘General Hospital’ Alum Bryan Craig Cast in ‘The Weapon’
‘Veronica & Julian’ Feature Starring ‘Days of Our Lives’ Alums Nadia Bjorlin and Kyler Pettis Releases Key Art and More (Exclusive)
‘Guiding Light’s’ Grant Aleksander Shares Heartfelt Remembrance of TV Daughter, Hayden Panettiere On What Would Have Been Her 37th Birthday
‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Admits That He Didn’t Expect the Role of Michael Corinthos to be Recast, and Would Consider Working on Another Soap (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ric’s History of Jealousy Where Elizabeth is Concerned Has Come Back Around
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy and Carter Get Lame Excuses From Their Spouses, and Try to Shake Off Their Night Together
‘Veronica & Julian’ Feature Starring ‘Days of Our Lives’ Alums Nadia Bjorlin and Kyler Pettis Releases Key Art and More (Exclusive)
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Obviously! GH is absolutely amazing. The writing is SO on point.
General Hospital rocks!!!
It deserves to be #1
and is kicking ass on all the soaps!!
🙂
Because a ton of Y&R fans have turn to watch it.
YES WE HAVE! YnR fans are loving it! Best soap on television now that YnR went to the dogs! #GH fan!
Congratulations to all involved. I tuned in and will keep tuning in. I may not agree with every storyline or character choice, but overall I enjoy the show. I am glad GH is on the air and that the ratings prove it deserves its spot in the ABC daytime lineup.
i watch all four remaining soaps – have watched gh since 1963……..having said that i have to say that i feel that dool had the best may sweeps this year………..jmo
Hello Ethel :
right ON!
Days of OUR Lives is tantamount to ALL the elements woven, intrigue, spin, allure, captivating… for that whole hour
don’t get me wrong…
I get so combusted… when … after spending so much time… in and around… weaving a tell tale that salivates… tune in
it does seem to tailspin and land… ugh! in Daniel and Jennifers Orbit ?!?! I am so OVER this parts… when do they stop… and listen to the audience…
Daniel and Jenn are so dulling the end response… to satisfy
I WAS loving out loud… and giddy beyond surprise… when Nicole was reading Daniel the riot act… “stay out of my life” “we are not friends, from here on out”
YES, YES, YES !!!!
bravo… !!!!
why for far too long… is Daniel knighted… the mt. sinai, mt. hope, mt. rock of gribraltor, gods web is mine to eradicate
and there goes Jenn … deer in headlights… horton embarrassment
anyway… after all that
Daniel and Jenn
like Michael and Kiki
are still front and center
DAYS of OUR Lives… clearly… resonates, imbues electric, and clearly enervates their show of shows with all the requisite elements that make serial prosper
Paige has taken hold… and that’s thanks to JJ magnetism
Lucas is back in front burner stat… and belongs… we need Sheryl to return to stratsophere his sense of humor… and audience love for
Sami just yesterday… is knocking me out of the park… or, should I say… hair and make-up department… she is so hot looking
the tailspin , going on with Will and Sonny is so refreshing and tell it like it is… to add layers and nuance to thee most talked about pairing… in this decade… kudos
Brady and Theresa… say what one will about Theresa… fan spin… she makes DAYS alive… with her uninhibited … I like how this story is unfolding… it’s only going to get power and through the roof FIRED up… when Kristen and Eve happen on the scene
it’s amazing to wonder… that with the spoiler alerts… and press… about the BIGGEST characters leaving the canvas… EJ, Sami, Nick, and even Chandler Massey… that DAYS fans… I know… are not worried about how on par excellent the DAYS production.. cast included.. have all stirred up the genre… I’m stoked… alive with… and giddy
anyway… I keep pressing for
Days of OUR Lives… ignites
finally somebody else gets it!
I love the music cue for JJ and Paige!
ethel, I get it too!
I’m glad GH is rising in the ratings. I haven’t watched in years but Y&R is soo bad it needs to be knock out of first place.
100% total agreement on everything you said. Especially about Y&R. I took the Muhney Walk on Jan 30, and have not gone back. But, I read the messages boards, and I am not missing anything. I gave my DVR scheduled to GH since Jan 31, and have no plains to take it off. I would love for Michael Muhney to show up as Jason or a new character saving ELQ. He looks so fine in a three piece suit. Y&R’s days are numbered, but, GH is just cracking up.
I started reading the recaps on GH last week. I get more enjoyment from just reading what’s going on in Port Charles, then watching or should I say fast forwarding Y&R.
Ditto! To Melissa
So many things that are so good on GH that I can’t just pick one…The show is on fire…
I have a love/hate relationship with GH…it can really be good at times and it can be bad too…but i stick with it because in spite of some flaws im still entertained…a year ago some said GH would be off the air by the end of 2013 but its still here…if it ever gets cancelled i wont loose any sleep over it but i dont see any cancellation in the near future! Now we all have our right to an opinion but some just constantly complain about the show with not one positive thing to say about it…well, they say that they invested so many years watching it and hope it improves and show their support but when their comments is 100% negative that doesnt show support at all…its like if that person cant have it their way all the time they seem to want to drive new viewers away with constant criticism and then if it is cancelled then they can say i told you so! I make some complaints…like the seemingly forgotten Patrina car accident or sex in a crypt and too much violence but i also say what i like about it: im not a Sam fan but i like the storyline involving Silas and Nina…fluke story is creepy fun but its time for the reveal…Dr.O should be less campy and violent but actress K.G. is so good i can overlook it some of the time…lets just say i like GH 75% percent of the time!!! If i thought it was as horrible as much as some commentors think it is and constantly complain without one positive thing to say, i simply wouldnt tune in!!!
jimh(leave it to beaver);
Said-
” If i thought it was as horrible as much as some commentors think it is and constantly complain without one positive thing to say, i simply wouldnt tune in!!!”//
LOL I believe they are-
Soap Opera Masochist’s..!
A study should be done on soap fans who hate their soap and inflict pain on themselves by watching it , that would be a study in- soap opera masochism.
I have no idea why any sane person would watch a soap they hate and inflict pain upon themselves suffering through it, buy watching.. LOL
Use that mentality for yourself when it comes to Y&R, su0000..You always trash and belittle the show..If you have so much distaste for the show, STOP watching..Reading this post you left and reading all your old posts regarding Y&R, It shows how much you fake the funk big girl!!
Here you go again. Andy yet, you go onto the blog comment section when the subject is about Y&R to post how much you hate it. But you watch.
Su000–it is not your job to psychoanalyze or insult viewers who are unhappy with the show. And frankly, I have found in life that those who go around questioning other people’s sanity are usually projecting.
Well said @jimh(leave it to beaver). SOMETHING is pulling in over 3mill viewers. And i’m sure it’s not to watch and then complain on Social Media…on the other hand…LOL
The 3 million number is a little bit of spin lol! This ABC press release is a bit of creative representation. It is usually understood that the “sweeps numbers” are the average for the period. Just like when we get the weekly numbers, we use the five day average and then you can see the breakout of the day to day numbers that change with highs and lows. In this instance, the ABC press release that has been picked up and the “spin” if you will, is carefully worded.
GH had it’s “highest number of total viewers for the ratings period in seven years with 3.068 million tuning in.” Get it? 3.068 million tuning in. That was a high for a day. The actual average for the four weeks counted was about 2.8 million total viewers. The average in 18-49 was about 645,000, not the 747,000 number posted above that is from the reporting. So they are inflating the numbers a bit to make them look better and so they can present that 3 million total viewer number that has alluded them for some time, but it isn’t the sweeps average, it is a one day high.
The average is still pretty good and higher than the last few years in total viewers. Interestingly, the 18-49 May sweeps averages were actually higher prior to Cartini. In 2011 it was 675,000, 2010 it was 877,000 and 2009 it was 856,000. The 2014 average is 645,000, 2013 was 602,000 and 2012 was 616,000. It’s interesting because they are always touting the key demo and they are actually lower. Hence the headline about “total viewers.” Which actually wasn’t 3 million on average for the period but a one day high.
But that’s what all networks do. They use language and numbers to their advantage and hope no one notices. lol! I don’t really get why they needed to be a bit deceptive like this. The 2.8 million number is pretty good and up from the last several years as well.
UGGHHH @AJQ…take an antacid…your stomach must be roiling about now. All that extra ACID cannot be good…
Thank you for the laughs, davlestev1….I particularly enjoyed your observations regarding “The Chew!” If there were ever a more unappetizing bunch of gadabouts obsessing over their respective foodstuffs, I couldn’t name them!!!!!
If they come out with a headline that says Y&R best ratings in seven years then you will know all this is smoke & mirrors until then this is probably true.
@jimh….You have made some excellent points and I do tend to agree with most of them….you already know what I love (Dr. O!) and despise (Sobby) about GH and everything in between, so I won’t expound, but for those of us who remember the show’s truly excellent days of the past, it is a real struggle to stay with it in its current form. There is so much to critique…format fatigue, storyline inconsistency, weak character development, an over-crowded canvas, etc… I just took a two-week break from the all the mob mess because I couldn’t stand it anymore, and only checked in today to see the Luke/Fluke sort of reveal, although that plot has been milked too much already…it’s time to wrap it up and move on. Having said that, I also frequently agree with the program’s most stringent critics here at MF….they are usually right on and very eloquently state their case(s)….I really don’t think anyone posts here simply to get their kicks by grousing…..they are each trying to be helpful in their own manner. Lastly, I enjoy reading nearly all the diverse opinions stated here….many provide excellent food for thought, but I have to say @Harry really hit the nail on the head in reference to the one persistent poster that completely leaves me cold with those manic remarks reminiscent of an escaped mental patient’s rantings (and not in a good “Heather Webber” sort of way…..) “Projecting,” indeed!!!!! Nice one, Harry!!!
You have some good points too and i do read all comments but there is one who hasnt said one positive thing about GH which makes me wonder why tune in…i remember GHs early 1980s storylines with the Quartimaines, the Webbers, Noah, Anne, Diana, Bobbi and so one and i consider 1978 to 1985 GHs golden years and i doubt the cast and storylines will ever reach that high level of greatest…how i wish it could be…GH currently does have a bloated cast, inconsistant plotlines and other flaws…im still waiting for them to mention the Patrina car accident again and the investigation into who caused it…i agree Sabrina and Patrick have no chemistry but i feel bad for the actress…i wish they try to pair her with someone else…she also acts too much with her eyes…if she needs to wear glasses and that would help her i would let her…GH has had some good episodes and some bad episodes but as long as they keep me interested ill watch…i know the 1980s are gone and many stars have come and gone but i feel if tptb would trim the cast by a few and write consistant character driven storylines the way they had done during their final year over at OLTL this show could be almost as great as it was in those good old days i mentioned!!!
@jimh…..The decade of 1980-1990 was my favorite GH time period….so many truly memorable characters and storylines!!!!! While I realize we can’t go back, it is always a thrill when we get to revisit the people and plotlines that made that era the show’s greatest ever…..I do realize we need a happy medium between then and now, but most of the modern roles are just soooo God awful!!!! (With the exceptions of our mutual favorite, Dr. O. and her kinder and sister….and by the way, we are going to be treated to Liesl’s softer, more humane side this summer, so I am definitely looking forward to that!!!!) But there really are some egregious aspects of today’s programs that are very hard to overlook…the format is truly tedious! It’s magnificent when a favorite of yours is on day after day after day, but as when GH turned into the “Ava Show” or worse yet, the “Sobby Show,” it was absolutely excruciating! (As I previously mentioned, I sat out almost the entire last few weeks because the characters featured were predominantly those for whom I do not care, and sadly, there are far too many of those these days!) I know you have a much more generous attitude toward the insipid babysitter and her shortcomings, but my thought is that all of these cast members are supposed professionals who are well paid for their contributions, and if we find them wanting in their dramatic presentations, then they should be fair game. Yes, I noticed the same thing with Sappy’s eye stuff, not to mention other strange speech and acting affectations that I have found to be very distracting….for me they were quite obvious, and I am surprised others did not find them as annoying as I did. In terms of that particular character for whom I hold so much disregard, I do feel that it was a grave error in judgment to give such a neophyte so much time and attention right out of the gate….she should have been parked behind the nurses’ station for at least six months to a year and gradually introduced, not force fed to us on a daily basis. I doubt that she would proved any more palatable to me under those circumstances, but that is just the preferable way to acclimate newbies to the canvas….witness Dr. O. and her journey to Port Charles! That lady left us wanting more….and more!!!!! At any rate, I still always hope for the best when I write of GH and its various components….it’s not simply an exercise in derision for me….when something is praiseworthy, I’m right there, too!!!! Oh, and once the bambino drama is dispensed with, there is going to be further examination of the carcrash….as a matter of fact, a spoiler I just read indicates that the culprit is going to be someone that no one has mentioned here yet (to my knowledge)…..yet another new summertime storyline!
Must be the Chew! 😉 good for GH !
I have heard that the Chew is reeling in many viewers…. GH should be thanking the Chew!
Bravo Cathy for realizing tthat!!!
LMAO…UHHH…NOT…They force feed you the last 5 seconds over the intro to GH and you couldn’t FF the DVR over it even if it you tried. Seconds before the show begins you’re treated to the hosts of the Chew hamming it up like you just missed the best Shepard’s Pie recipe on earth. You can only do SO MUCH to a recipe before you ruin it and I personally don’t need a bunch of uninteresting people telling me how to make a Bearnaise sauce for Eggs Benedict (which I love love love) when the Food Network and the Cooking Channel can tell me good enough…or i’ll just Google it and pick what’s closest. The Chew is only reeling in YOU…or so i’ve heard.
Dave, I am afraid I have to agree. I think people tune in to GH in spite of The Chew not because of it. When I tuned into GH from time to time, I made sure it was thirty second past the hour so I would not have to endure that obnoxious group of people who are probably the worst cooks I have ever encountered on television.
They’re so bad, they make Rachel Ray look like a culinary genius.
Here’s another fine example of ‘the numbers don’t lie’. Ratings go up because the audience is watching. The audience watches, disappointed or ecstatic with anticipation, and the company makes money. So, ABC/Disney, do you still care to suggest that the American people don’t give a damn? I know I do!
Congrats to GH on the great ratings.I know people complain about GH a lot and that is their right but they keep watching nonetheless.Which means to me that they complain and point out all the stuff about GH they don’t like but there might be some stuff they do like but won’t admit it.
Way to go GH!! I would love to see them pass the Young and the Nauseous and and the Bold and the Boring for the number 1 spot!!
But at the end of the day the overall GH #s will never be as high as Y&R!!! They still have over 4+ million viewers with over 3.+ ratings!!! GH struggles to get a day with over 3 million viewers GH will be canceled first….
I have been watching GH for over 42 years and I thought I would NEVER say this BUT the rate the writing is going for GH I do not see me watching through the New Year…. IT has been getting more painful to watch… GH needs new writers DESPERATELY!!!!!!!
I don’t think anyone is expecting GH to ever overtake Y&R for number one.As for Y&R it’s been renewed by CBS through 2017 i think.So they are at no risk to be cancelled anytime soon no matter how bad the ratings get.
I think people read nurses ball returns. Watched, now how are the ratings. I haven’t watched since Ava and Sonny desecrated AJ’s grave. That was the straw that broke the camels back. I have no interest in watching and I don’t.I read the boards and it makes sure I don’t bother.
I have my issues here and there with GH but overall they deserve this! It’s been non stop action for the whole month of May. Something for everyone. Many stories are coming to a head and I’m on the edge of my seat. Love it!!!
I have watched GH from the beginning and really like this soap. There have been a lot of up and down comments from GH fans during the past few years. I don’t believe any soap can be at the top all the time, but I think GH does a good job most of the time. They just need to try to not carry some parts of a story too long. For instance, by now we should know who the Fake Luke is. We are getting closer to his identity and hope we get the answer the early part of next week. Also, I would like it if they would use some of Vet Actors more often ….as most of them are awesome. But I will keep watching GH as long as it exists….and as long as I am able to!!! I am a loyal fan who loves “the good and the bad” of GH – and will not complain as long as the soap is there for us to watch!!!
Y&R has been at the top for over 25+ years!
Thank you Ron,
Frank
Maura West
Anthony Geary
Maurice Bernard
They all deserve Emmys.
Loving GH and DOOL right now.
Congratulations to GENERAL HOSPITAL!!! Great writing, producing, and acting bring the show outstanding success. Looking forward to more to come!!! Obviously, GH is the BEST soap on the air.
I guess I have different taste than those who are still tuning in. I don’t watch much anymore because there are far too many characters and disjointed stories. If I like something/somebody, it/they disappear and I don’t know when they are coming back. Romance is hardly showcased and the endless baby stories are mind numbing.
I hope ABC are taking this into account when they’re deciding where to place Tyra Banks on the schedule.
Been tuning in for May Sweeps for Julexis! Julian & Alexis love story has me hooked!
Congrats to all those in front of and behind the camera, and to all of the fans for not giving up on our show, it truly is great !!!!! I will say though, IMO, I want this Fluke Luke storyline to end already. Fluke walking in on a poor institutionalized Luke was no shocker for most all of us who have known this since practically day one. Let’s make the reveal and move on already. I am long over this storyline. Great idea for sure, but too drawn out, IMO.
I hate to rain on GH’s victory parade, but keep in mind that this a matter of default. OLTL and AMC last air dates were about two and a half years ago. Last year, Prospect Park brought those soaps to us. This year, GH had only three other soaps with which to compete. I tuned into today for about 10 minutes because I was told there would be the great Fluke reveal, and it didn’t happen. But other really disturbing things did happen.
I find the stories to be choppy and disjointed, there are too many new characters whom I do not care about. The worst thing is that before one story is finished, another story is started without finishing the other story. There’s no resolution, therefore, no sense of satisfaction. I know, I know, here it comes…well, then why watch? Those who make this query to us disgruntled GH viewers will be happy to know you won’t have to ask me that again. After watching since 1979, I am finally done and you won’t have to hear my griping anymore. But careful for what you wish for because when people like me stop complaining that means we have stopped watching which means it will ultimately have an impact on the ratings. I am not alone with this sentiment.
Frankly, I don’t understand why some think this is great escapist storytelling anymore than some of you don’t understand why I think this is utter drivel seemingly designed to please those with short attention spans written by a head writer who seems to suffer from ADHD.
Thomas Mann asks,”What flows beneath the mainstream? Mediocrity.” Of course I think GH flows beneath the river of mediocrity so there’s that.
Everything you say is spot-on, Harry, but please don’t stop posting! I enjoy reading your comments, and for those who think that all you ever do here is deride GH…(and mostly deservedly so in my opinion…) I simply refer to your lovely remembrance of the character of Billy Clyde Tuggle on the Matthew Cowles tribute page. You demonstrated just how much of a loyal, valuable and enthusiastic soap connoisseur you have been through the years, and I for one would very much miss your contributions! Even when you have been negative in nature, your wit and quips have kept me endlessly amused! So please, don’t be a stranger!!!! ; )
OMG! “Nick Tortelli” indeed!!!! Hah! Sonny also bears quite a resemblance these days to that ultimate neurotic, “Adrian Monk!” Ironically enough, the same actor who played “Nick” also portrayed that detective character’s father on his eponymous show.
well since Y&R sucks and michelle moved there ,MM not longer there .BM .am goingto general hospital until they get rid of the phelps idiot on Y&R
GH deserves those number or better..its been consistently entertaining even with all its flaws, I always look forward for the next episode.
Cartoonish, choppy and ignored storylines or actors, excess violence that is not necessary BUT this show entertains with an amazing cast that smacks it out the park..GO GH!!
GREAT SHOW!!!! I AM A NEW VIEWER…. AFTER LOSING JEANNE COOPER,BILLY MILLER AND MICHAEL MUHNEY I COULD NO LONER, AFTER BEING A WATCHER FROM THE BEGINNING, KEEP TURNING ON THE OH SO BORING Y&R……SUCH TIRED OLD SAME STORY LINES……KEEP UP THE GREAT STORY TELLING GENERAL HOSPITAL !
25-54 ROCK!!!
Congrats 🙂
I came back for Ric-Liz-Nik this May, but am enjoying so much. Loving the vast majority of it, in fact.
Kudos, writers!
May Sweeps was just a continuation of the already fantastic GH! But “Luke” needed to be unmasked , don’t want to wait till Tony returns from Amsterdam! The only thing GH is lacking is the GH theme song “fFaces Of The Heart” by Dave Koz & a proper opening montage of the actors names. The actors deserve name recognition as much as the EP & HW.
GH is unwatchable. RC & FV are the worst things to ever happen to GH.
AGREE
~ Cosign- GH “Fan” 4 42 years and it has soooo much potential…. sad … they are wasting it!!! 🙁
Before FV and RC took over i think GH was on the chopping block.I’m not saying they themselves alone saved GH because a lot of people behind the scenes and in front of the camera IMO did just as much as they did to save GH.
Andrew, because you think I am Negative Nelly, I am going to tell you that when Ron and Frank first came aboard, I was singing their praises. Finally there was an end to Guza’s obsession with emulating The Soprano’s through Sonny and Jason. Ron was bringing back the vets–he paid fidelity to the past. He even brought back that Aussie superhero back, Robert Scorpio, who is still cooler than the other side of the pillow. But then he had Betty White cold cock him into a coma. Wait, that was Dr. Uh Oh but the Scorpio I know and love would never let any woman, other than Anna get the best of him. And then Scorpio was gone. One of the reasons people like me keep watching is there is flicker of hope that there will be a return to core families and then that flicker is snuffed out with an army of newbies whom we are expected to care about instantly. Ron and Frank employ a bait and switch tactic which keeps some of us hanging on.
I do not want to return to the 80’s–I swear I don’t even own a Member’s Only Jacket and acid washed jeans. I just want good fluid and solid storytelling to be employed in which you might see a poignant and realistic scene between husband and wife, brother and sister, father and son which strikes a familiar chord. To use a tired and over used phrase, I want character driven storylines.
I’d like to go back to how it was before Fronz and Guza took over. One thing Guza never understood about The Sopranos was that the most interesting, the most powerful moments were the pauses–the tense silence which existed between Tony and Carmella or Tony looking up at the sky searching for his family of ducks to come home.
I was disappointed that Ron now seems to be replicating Guza’s mobster storylines–only he does it faster and with a lot more characters. I am also disappointed that brilliant women like Alexis, Anna and especially Traci are made to look like fools.
Okay, I said I was going to stop complaining but I was attempting to tell you why some of us continue to give GH a chance and complain bitterly when we are disappointed. We aren’t trying to change your minds or fancy that Ron is actually reading these posts, but sometimes we just need to air our grievances.
And speaking of Sonny, is it me? Or is he starting to look and act like Carla’s ex-husband Nick Tortelli from Cheers?
@Harry..Well said and amusing. But people need to take into account that this is one person juggling countless characters and storylines and subplots and writing hundreds of scripts per year. You can’t always get everything right and sometimes you can tell when they step back, look at the bigger picture and ramp it up again. I agree with your character driven point but those are not always the best stories to tell. A lot of viewers don’t want to constantly watch endless scenes of people talking to each other and droning on and on about something that seriously ends up being less compelling than a viewer thinks. Character driven plots are probably the most difficult stories a writer can attempt to write for months on end. Something big eventually needs to transpire within their orbit at one point that always takes those types of stories into a whole other stratosphere. Can some of the way out wacky be dialed down a notch…certainly. But then just how mundane do you want a show to be. As for TPTB reading posts. I am almost certain that they do. Or at the very least are given a rundown of what people post on a regular basis regarding their shows. Ron Fairman on Air Soaps is important to the Daytime industry, trust that, and at times just may impact what we actually do see on our screens. There’s griping, there’re people who try to incite a posting war instead of a good debate, and there’re people like you who post great points and make you stop and think about what’s being said on here. They’re not bashing you because you piss and moan…they’re doing it because they don’t know how to put down what they think in an intelligent and thoughtful manner like you do.
I beg to differ, Jill Phelps is the worst thing that has happen to GH. The show was almost canceled because of her. Now, she is working her magic at Y&R. They are loosing fans, and GH is gaining them. Go Frank and Ron.
My theory for high sweeps ratings it was all those pesky Ron Moss and or Player fans they came out in droves to watch them perform on GH– LOL. Of course that promo promising Blackie aka John Stamos would be on had nothing to do with the increase what so ever–
Ronn Moss was only on GH for one episode i think during May Sweeps.Yeah maybe some of his fans tuned into watch him but they may have stayed around even after he was gone.
i hope it last, right now the show seems to be on track, the pace, storytelling, the acting, hopefully somebody is making sure Rc stays on track, and hopefully he wont burn and crash like he tends to do. Remember, Guza was capable of giving us great stuff for a short period then alot of crap later. thats why its important that somebody keep an eye on RC work, and FV should control the show more and not let RC go off.
GH has been quite good lately–but still mad they killed AJ and Sonny is a loser who deserves a painful death! I missed Britt and Dr. O this week!
GH has been on fire. Tony Geary is a TOUR DE FORCE.Finally he gets some amazing material after many years. #love
Simple Nurses Ball and Nicolas and Elizabeth were focused on made this happen.
I’m watching for Elizabeth; whether or not she’s w/Nik (Lik/Niz) or Ric (LiRic). I don’t mind SOME of the mob stuff, BUT the show IS CALLED GENERAL HOSPITAL!!! There should be hospital stuff happening. Elizabeth should be shown at the hospital (ex. taking care of Lucas since she’s a RN!) MOST of the newbies are a COMPLETE waste of space & my DVR’s FF button has never gotten such a work out. Overall, there are definite possibilities for the show & I’m very pleased. THANK YOU for Elizabeth on my screen!!
Julian and Alexis have me racing home every day to watch – over and over and over. Classic soap romance filled with angst. I buy that these two have needed to find each other again after their tryst over 3 decades ago. I can almost see how differently their lives would have turned out if they had seen each other again after their night together in Hanover.
Brilliant move to pair William and Nancy.
I started watching GH once I found out MS was coming aboard . I was a Y&R fan for 40 years who stopped being one on 1/30/14! What a treat for me to see Nancy Grahn and Maura West, my other favorites from Santa barbara and ATWT repsectively. I was in time for the Nurse’s Ball, what a bonus! I’ve noticed there are alot of long time favorites there which must mean TPTB treat their cast right! Are you listening Y&R???
Let’s face it, GH was nothing, until OLTL writers and actors contribute to making GH interesting. It’s about OLTL fans finding heart for GH stories and loving the character once again. More Daytime Drama?soaps.
Take that haters. So good ratings can accomplished without Blackie Parrish or Frisco Jones or their portrayers or anyone else who thinks the soap world would not be the same without them. Lucy, Kevin, Mac, Felicia, Bobbie, Anna, Duke. That is why I tuned into the Nurses Ball. Faithful 80’s and 90’s watcher who still likes watching these vets. The other stories blow. Little kid romances, Maxie’s ugly boyfriend, ect. Franco? Nope, can’t stand them. Only tune in if I hear these vets will be on. So what if it is once in a blue moon. I don’t waste my life on soaps.
Jess….Just because some of us long for more vets to rejoin the GH canvas does not make us haters!!! Yes, I would love to see Blackie, Frisco (and Noah) back in Port Charles because they could add so much to the present storylines….with Jones’ WSB background, he could very easily be been a real asset to the mysterious plots unfolding, in addition to helping his daughter, Maxie, through some very difficult times….it would certainly beat her having to lean on Levi for support! Likewise, Noah has missed a number of momentous occasions in his son’s life: a near-wedding, his daughter’s-in-law return from the dead, and now his grandson’s almost certain death, not to mention happy times like Christmas and the NB…..so it would not be a stretch to expect him to turn up again…but I guess we are supposed to believe he is in such ecstasy with the former town good girl (who has apparently considerably upped her “skill set” since last we saw of her….) that these events hold no interest for him???? As for Blackie, yeah, it would be a cool blast from the past to get his story updated, but if that is not meant to be, than why should we have been subjected to that childish teaser that he would be returning???? Wishing to see some of these characters from GH’s wonderful history, particularly those who still look great and have much left to offer, is not an unreasonable request. On the other hand, there are legacy roles that are currently part of the landscape which I could definitely do without….Bobbie, Lucy, Scotty, Mac, Felicia and even, sadly Duke. They have very little substance to offer and I would love to swap them for more Robert Scorpio, Laura, Holly and assorted Cassadines and Quartermaines….these are the people who made the show great for many years!!!! But I do hear you on most of the newbies….many are horrible, although Dr. O has been a marvelous bridge between the current and days of old in Port Charles. Her backstory and expanding family tree are the only things I am looking forward to over the upcoming summer, particularly if we are left hanging until autumn to discover the true identity of “Fluke.”
Frisco and Blackie to the rescue to takedown Bill Eckert and Paul Hornsby would be awesome! Or maybe they could go head-to-head with Dekker and Jimmy Lee.
Bring back Colton Shore and Grant Putnam as bible thumpers with an agenda. 🙂
@the brother….Well, I’m definitely on board with the Blackie and Frisco “Dynamic Duo” plotline, but I can do without a redux of Dekker Moss and Colton Shore….they are definitely not on my “wishlist” for returning favorites. However, I do have to admit that I wonder about Grant/Andrei after all these years….what DID happen to him???? LOL…..Oh, and to bring us up to a more recent decade, a brief visit from Lucky, Ethan and Johnny Z. would not go amiss either!
But wait, Jess, I am on the same page as you. Yes, the vets reel me back in too (although I didn’t buy Lucy leaving Kevin for Scotty. That is akin to believing that a woman would leave George Clooney for Ned Beatty).
You seem to hate the same things I do. How does that not make you a hater and yet, someone like me is considered one? How does this work exactly?
By the way, what I do hate is the over use of the word hater. And really, if we didn’t care, we wouldn’t complain. Remember, hate is not the opposite of love, indifference is.
I’m just SO HAPPY to see Lucy back on the landscape. I did love the Nurses Ball, but I was so impressed that she reminded us of her acting chops when Kevin gave her the boot. I just hope GH has the good sense to use her for more than parading her around in her underwear!
Congrats to GH for high ratings I personally am loving the Julian and Alexis s/l that’s what keep me watching. Love their classic romance and amazing angst to go along with it. Keep up the great work GH
Kathleen Gati rocked the Nurse’s Ball. She is the reason I watched and replayed it over and over! Anthony Geary gave a fabulous performance as well. Could have listened to him and Kathleen all day!