General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Spencer is Rocked When He learns Nikolas Slept With Esme; Ava Gets the Hook
Nicholas Alexander Chavez in all probability just nailed his second Daytime Emmy with a gut-wrenching performance as Spencer Cassadine on Friday’s episode of General Hospital. Back in June of this year, Chavez took home the Outstanding Younger Performer in a Drama Series award at the 49th annual Daytime Emmys ceremonies.
Friday’s much-talked out performance came after Spencer walked in on a moment where Ava (Maura West) was getting into a fight with Nikolas (Marcus Coloma), over him sleeping with Esme (Avery Pohl). An upset Ava tells Spencer that Nikolas betrayed her with Esme. As they bicker in front of Spencer, Nikolas puts the blame on Ava, claiming she wanted to destroy any chance of a relationship with his son. Then, Nikolas goes so far as to bring up the late Kiki, which leads to an Ava bitch-slap across the face of Nikolas. Ava then heads out leading to the highly-anticipated showdown between Spencer and Nikolas.
Courtesy/ABC
In tears, Spencer demands to know how long Nikolas and Esme were having an affair, but Nikolas swears it was one time, and a horrible mistake. Nikolas tries to justify his actions by pointing out that Esme told him that she had broken up with Spencer. Appalled, that his father would sleep with his supposed girlfriend, Spencer goes on to say that he had a plan to keep Esme close all in his efforts to save Trina (Tabyana Ali) from going to prison.
Now, beginning to get angry over his father’s betrayal, Spencer accuses Nikolas of all of this being a revenge-plot against him. Although Nikolas says there was no plot, Spencer goes in on him saying lying about it and covering it up was wrong. Nikolas rationalizes all, by saying he did not want to hurt Spencer when the two of them had finally seemed to heal old wounds. However, Spencer brings up the deepest wound … that he let him believe that his father was dead for three years!
Then in a heartbreaking moment, Spencer admits Esme did not matter to him, but his father, Nikolas, did. However, Spencer is done with Nikolas saying nothing will ever close the gap between them in the now or ever, and walks out.
Courtesy/ABC
Elsewhere, Ava is drinking and comes upon a lethal argument between Austin (Roger Howarth) and Mason (Nathanyael Grey) near the picnic barbecue, where Mason grabbed a knife and was holding it to Austin’s throat, with very threatening words. It appears that Ava overheard them and then makes her presence known when she has a chilly conversation with the two of them, before she exits. Next, Mason realizes Ava must be stopped and can’t risk having her saying anything about what he thinks she overheard in his fight with Austin.
When we go back to Spencer, he has been guzzling down beers at the picnic. When Nikolas, then Victor (Charles Shaughnessy), arrive on the scene, Spencer yells at his father and spits on the ground and exits saying that he has had enough of Nikolas. Victor questions Nikolas as to what has happened, and Nikolas blames it all on Ava.
As we come to the conclusion of the episode, Ava heads to the boathouse, and later is attacked by a grappling hook right through her side! But whodunit? That tis’ the question!
With Friday’s show, Nick Chavez has been named for the second week in a row, Michael Fairman TV’s, Power Performance of the Week.
So, what did you think of Nicholas Alexander Chavez’s work in his scenes with Marcus Coloma? Are you glad Spencer knows of Nikolas’ cover-up over sleeping with Esme? Who do you think hooked Ava? Share your thoughts and theories in the comment section below.
I was certain this performance would get performance of the week and it is so richly deserved! (: Second Emmy indeed, this was a superb performance, full of nuanced emotions and earned tears. Bravo!
Maura was great too – my guess is that ESME is the one who attacked her….
Amazing performance—yesss! We do think alike, Richard, my first thought was Esme—and I said so on another site. Who else could it have been? Ava does have a few disgruntled ‘enemies”—-
I hear Nelle is returning, but her nemesis is Carly ( in my dreams)—- soooo…
We shall see. I only hope this does not get dragged on and on and on.
Stellar performances by NAC, MC, MW and CS! It was a Friday worthy show, indeed, thanks to the raw emotions that lit up the screen; especially from NAC. Outstanding all the way, he is!
Great news for wonderful Nicholas Chavez and another out-of-the-ballpark performance. Not so great for his dad, who looked like he was dealing with a hangnail, not a family tragedy. I guess it’s hard to play guilty, because I sure wasn’t convinced Nikolas was sorry for the deed, just the comeuppance. Across the yard, I think the “hooking” of Ava was reprehensible. There is plenty of ugly violence against women in media already (not to mention life); these writers seem to want to perpetrate it, just as they did years back with the murders of Kiki and Sabrina. A simple konk on the head accomplishes the same thing. If I want this level of violence, I’ll turn on a Scorsese or Tarantino movie. It has no place on daytime.
I agree with you about Nikolas’s really ugly and pathetic response. He takes no responsibility for the awful things he does to others. A “hangnail” is exactly right, and he feels entitled to be forgiven by Ava – and Spencer – simply because he wants it, not because he has earned it.
I just don’t want anything bad to happen to Ava because I love and adore her and I love and adore Maura too!
We all know Ava’s not relocating to Hell anytime soon. So far she’s survived cancer, at least one fall of that infamous Windemere parapet, a fire that burned most of her body, being nearly strangled by AJ (after she tried to shoot him, but her gun jammed up)and being Ryan Chamberlain’s girlfriend. Among other things a Devil probably forgot about by now. She’s got more lives than 666 cats, apparently. So while the hooking may have been brutal, I would say it was done to show the mentality of the person who assaulted her.
If it’s Esme, we already knew she was psychotic, and that she comes by it genetically through her daddy Ryan. If it’s FrAustin’s cousin Mason (does he have a twin brother named Dixon?) then the intent is probably the same, since he was almost ready to stab a blood relative with a steak knife…until Ava interrupted him. He seemed rather determined to go after her for that, though it seemed to be just a little bit of an overreaction on his part, since she didn’t really hear enough of his conversation with FrAustin to have any idea what their nefarious criminal agenda might be (to be fair, NONE of us have heard enough from this skinhead creep to know that, really)
Certainly don’t think it was Spencer…. if he was angry enough to attack anybody at that point, it would have been his father, and not Ava.
I agree that the hook was gratuitous. I am assuming that the hook underscores the character of the assailant. On another note, Nicholas can exhibit a whole range of intense emotions without hamming it up. On the other hand, Marcus is a one note actor who just stands there gap mouthed and slack jawed while Nicholas and Maura act circles around him.
I know, Harry. I feel bad saying it because I genuinely like Marcus. He held up okay with just Maura West but with this powerhouse Spencer in the mix, poor Nikolas becomes little more than sexy eye candy. Heck, even a dazed and confused Elizabeth acted him off the screen at the picnic. Maybe he’s disappointed that the character has become, as Ava put it, a weak spineless coward.
This young man is a superstar and I see big things in his future. What an amazing performance and it has Emmy written all over it.
Shari, I agree. Nicholas Chevaz was so good yeaterday.He really does remind me when Jonathan Jackson was on. I see 2nd Emmy for Nicholas. And of course, Maura nailed it as always. I believe it was Esme.
This thing with Ava seems like the work of only one madman we know,although he claims to love her,I bet he’s escaped now that Esme isn’t there for him. Speaking of Esme I don’t know if she’s that vicious, but very capable and blames Ava Iam sure, for their last go around. I know it wasn’t Nickolas, he hasn’t got the guts for something that brutal. It looks like Austin’s cousin but I doubt it.
I doubt it was Esme because she knows that Ryan would never forgive her. I believe it was ryan. After all, he is a doctor he knows how to injure without killing. I believe he would love to see Ava suffer although he would never want her to die
I agree, Violet, regarding Esme. Her games are psychological and sneaky; I could see her poisoning someone (again) but not a fishhook. If it IS Austin’s cousin, then I really need to question why we need MORE violence-oriented people. Aren’t Ryan, Miss Wu, and Sonny’s mob enough? Either way, I’m already turned off by the way this began. A foul taste lingers.
Spencer is a great young actor, played his role so real like. When you found him he is phenomenal.
I fell asleep during Friday’s show. From MF’s summary and fan comments I think I’m glad I did. What a horrible, dark story this has turned into for day or nighttime. And for all “Ava the cat” has done I have no sympathy no matter how well Maura plays the part. And “poor, poor” Spencer…grow up, get over yourself. Same for Michael. Nicholas is an embarrassment to the Cassadine “tradition.” The only one who amuses me out of all of the characters on GH is Leo and his love potion.
rose
I love your take on this, I also do not feel sympathy for any of the Cassadines. Now the thing that has been bugging me. Not that I really know any Socialites, but I can’t imagine them just literally opening up their home to let anyone just come in, wander all over ,in and out all over the grounds, etc and the lady of the house, in this case Olivia, prepping, cooking, serving, etc.Its ridiculous! Don’t they usually have a venue with Caterers? Good thing you missed the horrible thing with Ava, I think Ryan is loose, and its sonething he’d do. but another thing I wonder why people like this would have these grappling hooks just hanging right there where anyone could grab one. They must have some big fish in their lake ,or whatever. Anyway, thanks for “listening” to my griping.
A Star is Born! He channels James Dean with his ability to play a vulnerable and hurt little boy and then seamlessly moves on to externalize that sadness into the anger of a man.
Well Spencer is in prison,wonder if we’ll see all his problems he has there as they have with other Characters who’ve been there, especially M8chael who was violated by that burly prisoner.
Really can’t see these writers going that direction. Maybe in act of redemption, Great Uncle Cyrus protects Spencer – making Laura forever grateful.
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.
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.”
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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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.’”
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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B&B’s Sydney Bullock Weighs In on Future of Dylan and Will: ‘I Think She Can Hold on to Him for Awhile’ (Exclusive)
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