General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: The Identity of ‘The Hook’ Revealed
In the first all-new episode of 2023, General Hospital made a ‘killer’ reveal on Tuesday as several characters were put into turmoil in life and death situations.
Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), who is waiting at Pier 27 for her way out of Port Charles to enact her plan to disappear, instead winds up being at the right place at the wrong time.

Courtesy/ABC
Elsewhere at the pier, Josslyn (Eden McCoy) is fending off ‘The Hook” who is taking swipes at her. Josslyn manages to push ‘The Hook’ away, but ends up tripping on her high heels! ‘The Hook’ moves in to kill Josslyn, but in comes Britt to save the day! She and ‘The Hook” go at it and just when the killer is going to strike Britt, a shot is fired. It’s Dex (Evan Hofer)! He has arrived on the scene. ‘The Hook’ takes off.
Next, Britt wants to call the police, but Dex stops her. When the detective and the cops eventually show up, Britt tells them she fought off ‘The Hook’, who was attacking someone else. Britt says she doesn’t know where the other victim went to, as we cut to Dex who has taken Josslyn to his apartment. Then, one thing leads to another, and Dex and Josslyn can’t resist their attraction to one another and have sex.

Courtesy/ABC
Back at the ‘Haunted Star’, just as Trina (Tabyana Ali) and Spencer (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) are about to kiss, Esme (Avery Pohl) shows up and passes out! She has hypothermia from jumping off the parapet at Wyndemere and landing in the steely waters below. When Spencer gets Esme to the hospital, he calls Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) who is with Nikolas (Marcus Coloma), and they realize they are in big trouble with Esme landing at GH alive, pregnant, and with hypothermia. Will she implicate Liz and Nik as her kidnappers? Meanwhile, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) shows up at GH, and wants to question Esme, believing at this point she is more than likely ‘The Hook’.
Next, we see ‘The Hook” with a bloody arm, who then takes off her mask revealing herself to be … wait for it … Heather Webber!
After the shooting and almost being killed by ‘The Hook’, Britt decides to go back to the ‘Haunted Star’ to be with her mother, Liesl (Kathleen Gati). The two down some shots. However, when Britt removes her coat, Liesl sees blood on Britt’s chest, and the next thing you know, Britt crashes to the floor … and we fade to black.
So, what do you think of the reveal of Heather Webber as ‘The Hook’? Do you think GH just killed-off Britt since Kelly Thiebaud is exiting the series? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.
I hope that Britt does not die. I would rather see her go off screen to some “far away clinic” since prime time shows come and go… but GH has proven it’s “staying power”. Kelly Thiebaud is always welcome back, in my opinion.
When does this HOOK actor finally get caught
It’s getting pretty boring on and on and on
Come on GH this is getting a little boring you are gonna loose a lot of GH watchers if you keep going on and on with these boring situations for ever and ever
Totally agree with you!!
I agree! Geez, move on with catching the Hook character. And how the heck could she go & come freely like she does with no one missing her. I enjoyed the storyline for awhile but let it go already…along with the whole Esme stuff too!
GH should have replaced Brit-not kill her off. Her character was worth watching-especially her relationship with shady Coby. Bring the character back.
They had better not kill Britt, keep the door open for this great actress/character.
@mike I completely agree! What a great character Britt was and then you leave Leisel with no kids. This is cruel and terrible!
I realize people move on when the story gets boring and opportunity knocks move on to better things.
Also hoping this is not the end for Britt Westbourne. She’s too good a character to be dead-dead. Then again, so were Alan, Georgie and AJ.
As for Heather being “the Hook”, there’s a lot that doesn’t make sense. Why would Heather Target Ava, who was one of Franco’s few friends? Is she only out to avenge one of her children? Peter would’ve been a target once it became knowledge he killed Franco and Heather certainly held a grudge on Olivia as she perceived her to have wronged Steven Lars. And just how did a senior citizen woman easily overpower Brando?
Esme popping up on The Haunted Star was a surprise. Note to Chris & Dan (and future writers) tear down the parapet – it’s become comical at this point.
Despite my affinity for Cameron, Joss and Dex definitely sizzle.
They ought to just open up the parapet as a theme park tourist attraction … $5 per jump. Nobody EVER dies from that fall!
Katherine Bell (on her second try) actually did meet her maker. Not sure anyone else ever made a permanent departure.
I really hate it when soaps do this. Heather was not on the canvas when the storyline began and it’s another LONG mystery with a dud ending. I felt that Heather killed Rory in the mistaken idea that she was helping Esme, who she thinks is the hook – unless she was lying to Ryan she didn’t know that Esme was her daughter (of course she could have lied to him). My hope is that it is revealed that ESME was the hook before being held prisoner at Wyndemere but Heather took over for her. I know they will do some convoluted and idiotic explanation and I am not looking forward to it (it’s as bad as having Jan kill Charlie while she was supposed to be in a coma but somehow she not only left the hospital but then snuck back in and pretended to still be in a coma! Heather was locked up in a high security prison when she is supposed to have committed the hook’s crimes – it’s preposterous and I am tired of soaps thinking they don’t have to have logic in their storylines)…
I agree she wasn’t. She was still in prison not the mental hospital
Joss & Dex….. worst soap couple since Tony & Renee on Days in 1982. For the exact same reason. I suppose she’ll end up pregnant before she realizes she’s a brotherphucker.
As for Britt getting hooked… 666% completely unnecessary, since she was on her way out of town anyway.
And yeah… Heather’s the Hooker… who didn’t see that coming from 666 miles away??
Yup, Satan–we did discuss Heather. If not Rory ( albeit, I still think he was a baddie, somehow), then Heather. I remember saying specifically it was probably H–she re-appeared at the most opportune time.
Joss is a ______–I refrain from saying IT!! Plus, that puny guy with droopy shoulders is so not for her. Agreed, a badly mismatched couple. Poor Cameron!! I hope Joss and the other guy do not last–the greatest payback would be for Cam to find a girl and for Joss to regret her lusty decision—(lust fades, love endures), and be left in the dust.
I had a good cry today—the scene betweeb Britt ( spectacular acting) and Mutter, Liesl, broke me down. WOW!! What a phenominal pair!! I hope Britt is not really “dead”. Please!!
Happy 2023, Celia. But not for the viewers! If Britt is truly dead (is anyone on soaps?), this is another in a long syndrome of catastrophic ideas. Wow, Joss is truly Carly’s daughter, eh? Just cheat and fornicate your way thru town with no guilt. My nan would dub her ‘la puttana’. But hey, how about that wallop Ava gave Nikolas at GH…that looked like it hurt!
Same to you, beautiful lady—Happy New Year!!
I was taken aback by Joss’s behavior. I really liked her—lost all respect for her. Break up first; cheat later—I must admit I am very old-fashioned. After all these years, I can still hear my grandmother’s pounding in my brain, “keep your legs crossed”—-LOL.
Well, her mother is neither virtuous nor honest—having sex with all three brothers–WOW!! What an achievement!! –“puttana” is right!! My nonna-in-law loves the word “troia”—fits Carly to the letter.
Hurrah for Ava!! If anyone deserved that “schiaffo”? it was definitely Nikolas!!
I am as annoyed and disappointed about the road GH ( and the three remaing soaps) is taking—I understand Kelly is “moving” to “Station 19”–but, why kill her off? Bad, sad and mad!!
Aside–watching “Chicago Med”— I am pleasantly surprised to see Mishael Morgan as Dr. Petra Dupre added to the cast!!
Un salutevole e prospero capo d’anno—❤️
Oh Celia, I like CHICAGO MED also but was disappointed when Ethan Choi left. He really fed my fetish for incredible hair..and the rest of him was pretty hot as well. Will Halstead has become such a wimp…they need another strong leading man, STAT!
Dr. Ethan’s exit is a bummer, Soaphound—-I could get lost in his hair—-
The consolation prize is that he and April were reunited and left together. To be honest, I love Yaya—-more so than Mishael.
At least I can stomach Joss & Dex, who arguably have good chemistry. Worst soap couples (GH nominees) were the vomit-inducing, short-lived dalliances between Luke & Felicia and Sonny & Emily.
To bad the hook didn’t get cheating jostlin!
It doesn’t make any sense that Heather Webber is the hook killer.
Hey, Michael—Heather is Esme’s mother. So, I’m assuming that in her distorted brain, she’s defending her daughter from those whom have hurt her.
However, I do see your point–I’m a little confused–I did not realuze she knew Esme was in PC. Therefore, I have my own take on this entire craziness–I think the original Hooker was Rory. Heather merely picked up where he left off. Ok, ok—not plausible? I’ve guessed right a few times before…LOL.
I know she’s her Mom, but it doesn’t make sense that she’s able to escape from prison and kill people without anyone noticing.
Oh, Michael, Heather has a knack for breaking out of prison. I am not a long-time watcher of GH, but I do believe that’s her modus operandi
However, at the risk of sounding repetitious, I do not think Heather is THE real Hooker.
Hi Celia, Your theory makes sense.
Thank you, Lew–Heather’s impromptu appearance makes me wonder. Maybe the PTB are tired of this story themselves and are grasping at straws. Heather is a convenient alternative—
I think “the real hook” hasn’t been exposed yet. I think Heather was a filler……
Is it possible that Esme has multiple personality disorder? That would explain why she truly believes she is not the Hook & why Heather picked up where her other personality left off after being held captive by Nicholas.And why she doesn’t remember who she is now after jumping off the parapet pregnant and getting hypothermia. Kevin doesn’t seem to think she is faking the memory loss.
What a difference between the Alley Mills/Pam on B&B’s closing holiday show, and her crossover role in GH as deranged Heather Webber. Both in almost the same week. She’s been great in both roles.
Alley Mills is doing a great job as the deranged Heather Weber!!
She was great!!!
It wasn’t a total surprise that it is Heather. The real mystery now is how she managed to get out and back into her “prison” without being noticed?
Britt had better make it. Kelly is too great an actress for her character to be killed off.
Hope Diane runs across Heather soon and it jolts her memory; thus, putting an end to Heather’s latest reign of terror.
Heather has been escaping from various prisons & mental institutions for years, so that’s at least consistent with her character. You may also have noticed that she has been letting herself in and out of Ryan’s cell at Spring Ridge with a key. Presumably stole a key ring from a guard somehow, so that key ring would probably also have keys to other doors that would let her out of the prison to do some hooking.
The security at Spring Ridge can’t be all that great, because Spencer was able to walk out of there, visit his mother Courtney’s grave, and then return to the prison before anybody noticed he was missing. And he didn’t even have any stolen keys.
I figured it would be “Heather the Hook!” Thats okay, the new actress portraying Heather is “Killing it!” I thought the Hook would have gotten Jeff Weber when he was in town. But, I didnt want Britt or Joss to get it. The girl who plays Joss is great! Britch, I still think her mother sends her off to a clinic out of the country and she will heal and find Jason and both will return to PC by 2024. Esme, that actress is another one, so talented. She has horrible parents but like Ava and Sonny, the writers will always find a loophole to keep Esme on the canvas! Heather, if you need some advice, I got three hooks for you sweeti, Finn, Dex and Austin. Snore, snore, snore!
Lazy, unimaginative, anti-climactic.
While Alley Mills is great as Heather making her the hook is a big letdown. Killing Britt is a giant waste for the show.
There was no need to kill Britt. Now poor Leisel doesn’t have any kids left. This is terrible.
Oh no!!!Killing Britt…..what a sad day!She was such a great character….Why?Heather kind of makes sense to me a the hook but not the most shocking!Heart breaking scenes with Josh and Cam….do love Joss and Dex they have great chemistry!Esme is just annoying on all levels!!!!
Liesl and Britt’s last toast, ending with Britt dying in Mutter’s arms was probably the first time I was brought to tears in a soap. Kathleen was outstanding. Let’s hope this isn’t really Britt’s last breath on GH. Being a soap you never know.
I know they “showed” Heather as the “hook” killer, but something seems wrong with this to me. If the attacks were to get back at Esme’s enemies, since she was her daughter, Heather wasn’t always discriminating on who she attacked. And timeline-wise GH didn’t show Esme was her daughter until well into the attacks. This during a conversation with Ryan, her father. So I’m not sure the writers don’t have another surprise about the “hook.”
rose
I agree. This hook thing is so convoluted. On one hand, every victim was an enemy of Esme, starting with Ava and the second intended was Joss, also the last one. I can’t figure the attack on Diane, she hardly knew Esme.As you said Heather didn’t know Esme was her and Ryan’s daughter until recently, I think there are two Hooks as some others are saying.
Also, where would Heather be getting the poison used on the hook?
There was a guy who was supplying the snake venom. That’s the other body who was found on the floor in the apartment where Rory got hooked. Remember when this Heather recast first appeared, she was being treated at GH for an infection of a flesh eating bacteria, the specific type being native to the Amazon rain forest in South America… which was also the source of the venom used by the Hooker.
So Heather definitely fits that part of the Hooker’s profile. You just have to suspend your disbelief that a woman who should be over 70 by now can move and react as fast as this killer has. Not to mention this latest Esme rewrite which would have had Heather giving birth at age 50 or so. Not impossible, but highly unlikely.
So dumb that it’s heather…whyy
I think it’s ridiculous that Heather is the hook. It lacks imagination of any sort on the writers’ part. Ryan’s obsession with Ava is so old and overdone. I’m so disappointed that Britt was killed. Couldn’t she have left like she wanted to so she could return from time to time to visit Liesl? Poor Liesl has lost both kids. If not for the brilliance of Kathleen and Kelly, Britt’s death scene would have stunk!! It was really nice seeing Roger and Kathleen together on-screen too. While Alley Mills portrays Heather perfectly, the hook should have been someone else. And Esme losing her memory?? Sooo convenient.
I am so sick of the bulshit, on GH, they have the worst writers can they not come up with any other ideas .besides amnesia, everyone and their mother gets amnesia, God knows no one loses their memory from a stabbing, but on GH, now you have Esme losing hers, Please atop the BS and lock Nicolas and Elizabeth up for kidnapping, Tell Nina she Willow mother, and burst Carly bubble and move on to some new storylines what’s it been 3 yrs of the same old stuff. This stuff is so old!!!!!!!!
I think Heather Webber as “The Hook” is a let down. It wasn’t a OMG moment. Ryan, for one, would have made it better!
Debbie
I thought Ryan was the hook but realized he wouldn’t have tried killing his beloved Ava, but the thing that bothers me the most is how did this Hook person know where each victim was each time, did they just get lucky or did they just attack who was available? It’s crazy!
How can Heather be the hook killer? The hook killer’s 1st victim ,Ava, was way before Heather knew that Esme was around. And we’re supposed to believe that Rory was killed at that apartment by Heather! Heather used her right hand when fighting with Nicholas & then Britt. The original hook killer was left handed.
Enough of Heather Webber! GH could’ve picked someone, anyone else. Why flog a dead horse.
Heather’s a copycat Hook Killer she might have killed the last two but she didn’t attack the others. This is a red herring. I still think it’s someone else well known on the show that we will be totally shocked to find out is the initial Hook Killer and that is hoping the writers are that creative which I hope they are.
I think Elizabeth will be revealed as the Hook. Small but mighty.
If they turn the last surviving member of Steve Hardy’s family into a serial killer, that would only be 666% confirmation that they are deliberately trying to get GH cancelled in 2023.
(as if the show becoming the Parasite Nina Praise & Worship Hour wasn’t already evidence enough of that!)
Beyond the Gates
RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Inches Closer to ‘General Hospital’ in Total Viewers

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

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

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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