General Hospital
General Hospital’s Cynthia Watros Delivers The ‘Power Performance of the Week’
Friday’s episode of General Hospital combined with Tuesday’s episode of the ABC daytime drama series, saw Daytime Emmy-winner, Cynthia Watros, run through the gamut of emotions in her portrayal of the duped Nina Reeves on her wedding day and the aftermath.
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Watros, who made Annie Dutton of Springfield and Guiding Light one of the most memorable soap roles of all-time, showed GH viewers why she is just THAT good! We have always said that Cynthia can play: drama, romance, torture, cray-cray, heartbreak all rolled-into-one; especially when given the material.
Courtesy/ABC
In story, after part of the secret is out that Sasha (Sofia Matteson) is not really Nina’s bio-daughter – Nina, who has had everything she believed in fall in on her, tries to regain her strength to go back to Wyndemere to face Valentin, and move out of his house. Once there to get her things, Nina tells Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) that where she goes is no longer his business.
Valentin admits that he was looking for her daughter which caused this whole situation, but he also does not admit his part in the Sasha cover-up and that he was the one paying her to portray Nina’s daughter. He even goes so far to insist that Sasha’s actions were all her own. Nina still does not believe him. After she packs her bag, and heads for the door. Valentin tells her that his life is meaningless without her. Nina basically says, “True, that” in so many words … and makes her exit.
Next, with sunglasses on, Nina returns to the workplace at Crimson where she finds Sasha with Michael (Chad Duell) and Lucy (Lynn Herring). She calls security and tells them all to get out. Sasha then spins a yarn, much to the chagrin of the audience, knowing that if she implicates Liesl (Kathleen Gati) and Valentin, Nina would be devastated. So, Sasha says she acted alone and faked being Nina’s daughter, when she was contacted by her attorney, and she was in cahoots with the guy … until he suddenly died! What!? Nina looks very suspicious… and throws back that how would Sasha know how to change three DNA test results. Sasha had an answer for that – she had a friend who works in a lab do it. Nina still believes she could not have done this alone without Valentin. Then, in a heartbreaking speech, Watros as Nina shares how she has lost everything: her daughter, her marriage, hope she even had a daughter in the first place, and the list goes on.
Courtesy: ABC
And … let’s not forget Tuesday’s nuptials, which we gave our review and recap previously here. It is there that Nina is first blindsided, and the betrayal, rage, and hurt displayed by Watros was all top-notch. Here is Nina finally marrying the man she loves, whom she had to allow herself to come to trust all over again so she could be with him, even with all of the warning signs around her. Not only does she have Lulu (Emme Rylan) spoil her nuptials with exposing the secret of Sasha, but then has to process the deception which means to her that maybe she never had the child she so desperately wanted and believed she had all along.
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Courtesy/ABC
The Friday cliffhanger though posed an upcoming intriguing scene. Ava (Maura West) showed up with a bottle of booze to commiserate with Nina at Crimson (The same woman who Nina literally ripped the baby right out her and kidnapped it in a heinous revenge plot). Will these two wronged woman team up? Will there be hell to pay? That is yet to be seen, but without a doubt, Cynthia Watros is Michael Fairman TV’s ‘Power Performance of the Week’.
Let us know if you agree with our pick via the comment section below, and what you thought about Cynthia’s work in these key episodes.
Wow…amazing
It certainly was “soapy” and over the top.
Yes, she is in real Nina mode now! Remember,all of you old soap-timers, this is the woman that played the deliciously, wicked Annie Dutton on Guiding Light, many years ago! I hope she doesn’t let Valentin off the hook!
Nina’s performance was magnificent! She showed viewers she can assume a role right in the thick of things and blow it out of water! Congratulations on this riveting performance!
Excellent betrayed performance
I still miss Michelle Stafford. She was my Nina .
Meh….the previous actress that played Nia was 100 times better.
Totally. Our original Nina was beautiful and classy with a little bit of evil if you brought it out. She’s great whether she’s Phyllis or Nina. Not trying to knock new Nina but I just don’t feel her as Nina… yet
I was so happy to hear Cynthia Watros was going to play Nina
She has stepped in and has done a fabulous job! She is a wonderful actress and i loved her in the Guiding Light too! I also would like her to stay with Valentin!
I’m glad the truth is out(half of it anyway). I’ll be glad when Valentin is exposed for the treacherous person he is.
this week she finally took over and wiped the memory of Michelle away.
I totally agree. It was a brilliant performance and unbeatable for the week.
I disagree, but thats because i like the other Nina, this one seems boring and i never watched the other soap she was in but i hope she was a better actress in that one. She really needs more make up , kind of frumpy!
I’m with you Valerie
Stunning performance emotions riding in waves
Honestly, I still don’t care for her. She doesn’t measure up to our original Nina.
I knew Cynthia would deliver a outstanding performance on GH. She was a phenomenal actress on GL.
Agreed that cynthia’s performance was amazing with all the different emotions being displayed! I was very inpressed!
I was very impressed with Cynthia’s acting and capturing all the emotions needed to convey the raw feelings of the moments. Yes. She’s a good actress!!
I can’t help but feel like I wish Michelle Stafford had gotten to play these scenes, but ABC dropped the ball on that one. However, I will say, after what was a slow beginning, Cynthia Watros has really done a nice job making the role her own. And she knocked it out of the park in these scenes. I finally got to see what my friend that watched her on Guiding Light was raving about. I’m very glad GH finally moved this story along after being stuck in neutral seemingly forever, and the pay off was worth it.
She played the emotional moment very well. Wish the writers would have added more anger and outright hurt. She wears her heart on her sleeve, would’ve been in character. We’ll have to watch and see.
Valentine needs to be showed up don’t let him off the hook.
It was great performance. But it’s time for Cynthia to make Nina her own. Stop all those tics and flips from previous actress Leave staffords portrayal in past make Nina a stronger woman not so crazy and needy
Agreeed!
I’ll give Cynthia credit though, she has made this transition a little but more easier but with the wedding scenes out the way, lets hope she can connect with the key players.
Cynthia does however need to connect with Ingo and Donnell to truly make Nina work.
So far, the Jax-Nina storyline that GH is banking on hasn’t exactly worked out due to the nonexistent chemistry between Ingo and Cynthia.
It may have looked good on paper due to Cynthia’s resume but on wax it’s a dud and GH may have to heavily cut it’s loses.
YES! Love Cynthia Watros.
I just turned on Monday’s show, gotta turn it off, Parking Lot is ruining it. Get rid of him!
No impact—emotionally and/or otherwise.
I have a low tolerance for “duh”, naive ( yet mature) women with stars in their eyes. And, I do not appreciate the scribes , who depict supposedly intelligent females as fragile idiots ‘taken-in’ by devilish men such as Valentin.
C’mon—-it’s the 21st Century….women, even on soaps, should not be allowed to appear brainless by looking the other way and follow their heart…..Especially knowing Valentin’s iffy reputation.
Nina is no babe in the woods. She’s been around the corner a few times—coma or not!!
I hear you, CeeeCeeGirl! This obtuse one is yet another GH character suffering from the “Alexis Syndrome,” aka, females who have never grown up and repeat the same mistakes with men over …and over….and over again like they are naive teenage girls just experiencing their first pangs of lovesickness…it’s patently ridiculous and insulting to women everywhere to repeatedly portray such femmes who only seem to know how to think with their nether regions and not their God given brains! P.S. Hope you are feeling better!
Nina isnt stupid,,,its Halloween,,she is going to trick Valentin somehow
Hello, Jim! I think Nina can be quite dim when it comes to men, but she’s crazy like a fox once it’s time to mete out the punishment for disappointing her with their bad behavior. In between meltdowns, she always has a plan…..Lol.
Hey’ Shaybelle,
Right?? The portrayal of ditzy, lovesick mature women makes me foam at the mouth.
I do like Alexis so far, but there is the potential in the revival of a Julian-Alexis lovefest, now that Kim is out of Julian’s life. Ha??
I wouldn’t mind if both ignited their fiery ‘union’ behinf closed doors–literally. I mean, both characters have grown, I see that. I think the relationship would be more sedate at this point? ….
NuNina was soooo overacting, looking like a lunatic—-that was not a nice moment for me. I cry over anything—but my eyes did not well-up—-unreasonably enough, I felt aching pangs of pity for Sasha, albeit the girl was playing with fire.
Nina is not the only victim here. She was so desperately looking for her long-lost child that she would accept a little pet dog, as her child, if Valentin said so. Patetica!!
Sasha is as much of Valentin’s victim as Nina or anyone else who crosses his path —-everywhichway….
Wouldn’t it be soooo beyond expectation if Sasha did turn out to be her daughter afterall?
The ye-gods missed their opportunity with Kiki and Nelle. Why not make Sasha her daughter? Redo the DNA test—
I do feel much better, my Shay…..thank you for asking.
Remember when I hurt my knee ice-skating? Well….I am home because my knee is acting up again….Cortisone shots aren’t working for my torn meniscus– meaning: surgery!!
I can just see myself in twenty years—stiff and misshapen from arthritis. LOL.
Soon, mia bella! Stay well….
Oh, CeeCee, God forbid we get a redux of the Julian and Alexis saga! She’ll be dropping her knickers at the ready anytime he is in close proximity…so much for being “sedate” and “behind closed doors!” You just know the two of them will be going at it like rabbits once again…everywhere, anywhere! ! Please…no, just NO!!!! Been there, done that! Lol….As for NuNina, you’ve called it correctly…she’s a real loon, isn’t she??? Egads….I wouldn’t want to see either human or furry being suffer the fate as her child…especially not Sasha….I am still holding out hope she is a Westbourne…and why not??? As the song says, “She’s got the look!” (But what a mess of maternal mysteries GH has become….I’m still not convinced that Kiki was ever Ava’s real daughter…guess that’s another loose end never to be tied up in a neat little bow, eh???) Anyway, so sorry to hear of your ongoing discomfort….sounds very painful, and it’s especially inconvenient this time of the year when the hustle-and-bustle of the holidays is right around the corner. Do take care, mia amica! It was so nice to hearfrom you! Later….
Well, my Shay…..I look a it this way: if Alexis and Julian decide to indulge their insatiable libido of old ( rerun performance) by scorching the sheets, I will, at least, be rewarded by your very vividly colorful excoriation—-I can see their dkin scraping from your scathing words…..you know how much I enjoy your descriptive prose, LOL.
None of these storylines hits my core. Blah, blah, blah…..I want to spank Lulu!! I want to put a paper bag over Nina’s head!! I want to fix Kim’s teeth and snap her out of her schoolgirl daze. I suppose every mother who has lost a child grieves in her own way—-but, this is so nuts, Shay—-yeah; it’s a soap.
Franco need his ears boxed until Drew is out if his system. Just give me one day to personally straighten everyone out…..including the scribes. They are writing for grammar school children.
Lucy? She is just annoying entertainment.
At the moment, Sasha and Ava deserve “hats off”….not that I am “taken” by the characters, but, Ava never ceases to grab me—-she can simply stand there doing absolutely nothing and capture my attention—Sasha is a very believable protagonist—the sense of innocence her limpid eyes emanate is a skill which eludes many……not easily conquered. Yet, it could be an innate quality the actress uses to her advantage.
C’est tout, ma belle…
Thank you for your solicitousness. I truly appreciate it.
Stay well, tesoro!!
Nina is just playing Valentin…she is no fool!!!
Perhaps, Jim ( Jimmy?) ……but, I don’t think it’s the case this time. I think Nina is in denial and lonely for lack of a family. She is hurt and is aching to fill that void of love which , for all appearances, Sasha tore from her. She may have misgivings about Valentin’s integrity, yet subconsciously, she’s willing to give a deaf ear and a blind eye to these internal signals.
More’s the pity, as my Gran is wont to say.
Frankly, I am more interested in the phenomenon called Ava/Maura. She is deserving of all the accolades fans can regale to such a star……and, she is a star!!!!
I have anticipated Nikolas’ resurrection from the onset—-hopefully, he will be both Ava’s White knight and Sir Galahad.
It was very disappointing to have had the hint of a strongly potential liaison between him and Ava, to then have the blooming relationship end as soon as it started.
Hey, Jim,
Perhaps I spoke too soon? I’m catching up here….LOL
Nina seems to be a little, ’emotionally’ distant from Valentin. You may be right! She ain’t no fool.
It’s Sam that is getting on my nerves with her damsel in distress syndrome, looking for her Robin Hood. No pity from this corner.
This is an aside–In today’s ep, Julian offered Ava a latte—-Italians are literally consumed with rage when their native tongue is either butchered or if their phrases are misinterpreted……Latte means milk. If one asks a barista, in Italy, for ‘un latte’, one will be served a glass of milk. The true expression is ” latte e caffe’ “. However, Americans have adopted their own version of Italian phrases etc.
In Italy, the only coffee that is served is un’espresso. Then there’s the cappuccino …….Here in the States, we have milk with our coffee. In Italy, the locals have coffee with their milk—ergo, latte e caffe’—-or caffe’-latte. Macchiato ( which literally means “stained) is another variation—-all derivative of espresso as the basic beverage. Cappuccino means ‘hood’—invented by the Cappuccini monks who wore hoods. LOL.
Oy vey!!
Powerhouse disaster is more like it. In a word – horrible. Horrible writing and the worst recast ever. No chemistry with anyone. Either bland or over the top. I can’t even watch when she’s onscreen anymore. She has completely ruined the character of Nina. Been watching GH since I was a kid and it’s just become ridiculous. Too many outlandish story lines with gaps and poor fact checking and now they can add character assassination to the list too.
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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