General Hospital
GH Head Scribe Ron Carlivati On Franco's Popcorn Pantomime!
Courtesy/ABC
We have previously written here about the fabulous performance of Roger Howarth as Franco, as he proceeded to destroy his “Hallowedding” to Carly (Laura Wright) on last week’s episodes of General Hospital!
Throughout the scenes, Howarth was at his best, complete with sitting on the sidelines pantomiming eating popcorn as he got a front row seat after dropping his bombshells to the wedding party: Carly cheating on him with Sonny (Maurice Benard), and Michael (Chad Duell) finding out that Sonny shot and killed his father AJ Quartermaine, and that Carly went along with the cover-up!
Now Soap Opera Digest has posted an online interview with GH head writer Ron Carlivati for some behind the scenes insights as to what was written in the scripts, and what was ad-libbed including; that end of the episode devious wink Franco gave to Carly, and the popcorn pantomime. Here is an excerpt below:
Carlivati on if the Popcorn pantomime was scripted: “No, it was not. I mean, we indicated that the camera was on Franco at the reveal, to see his reaction. We did not say what that reaction was. Frank (Valentini, executive producer) told me, if I’m remembering this correctly, that (Roger Howarth) did it with the popcorn during rehearsal, and then he didn’t do it when they went to tape it, and Frank was like, ‘Wait, wait, wait, why didn’t you do that thing that you did before?”‘And he was like, ‘Oh, I don’t know, I was just trying it,’ and Frank said, ‘No, no, no, you gotta do it.’ So, it was something that he did when they were rehearsing and Frank loved it and said, ‘You have to do that when we tape it.”‘
Did you love the popcorn pantomime and Franco’s wink as much as we did? Comment below!
Loved it; in fact I loved his whole performance that episode!! Howarth has fleshed out the Franco character better than James Franco ever could!
Loved the popcorn and the wink at the end was perfect!
I love Roger’s portrayal of Franco but I wonder how long can Franco last in a town where the the only friend he has is some unemployed, barely out of her teens girl? Plus I am sick and tired of everyone being able to insult him without judgements. Franco made some horrible choices but people forget if it wasn’t for Franco, Michael might be dead and Morgan may be in jail for his murder, after the fight on the docks where Morgan knocked Michael into the river unconscious and he we about to drown. I think we see the writing on the wall , Franco and Nina are going to become G.H. answer to the Adam’s family as a couple.
Franco has replaced AJ as the town punching bag. I was frustrated for AJ and I’m now frustrated for Franco. Let’s not forget, in addition to what you mentioned, Franco also risked his life to save Carly from Heather…actually tried to kill Heather (remember when he buried her thinking she was dead?) to protect Carly. And she runs back to…and sleeps with Sonny…who didn’t lift a finger to rescue her and threatened to kill her when she shot Olivia. I love Roger and he finally has some material to play off of. Unfortunately he’s going to be the town pariah…unless he gets a few people in his corner other than Kiki. Popcorn scene was very Todd…Roger…now Franco. Subtle but effective.
LOVED IT! ROGER IS THE BEST!!!!
Did I love the popcorn pantomine and Franco’s wink? I think it is pretty sad that this is what passes for great acting choices and gets attention. That’s what I think.
Well, speaking for myself, I keep lowering the barometer for my expectations. I thought the popcorn bit was funny, however it was evocative of Todd from OLTL’s past as he simulated the same action when he pulls off similar antics when Todd was supposed to marry Blair.
I do understand why they call him Re Ron. The dialogue at this wedding was almost word for word the same dialogue utilized at Todd and Blair’s wedding. Also Nina’s theft of Ava’s baby is a repeat of Marci stealing a baby. Oh well, it’s been amusing and not painful to watch as of late.
This again showcases why Roger Howarth is one of the best in the business. That wink and the popcorn pantomime were fantastic. Honestly, the scene probably wouldn’t have been the same without it, and it fits so perfectly with the character. Roger finally has the material worthy of his talents, and he’s finally getting me to love Franco. Couple the “Hallowedding” with the other madness going on in Port Charles, and it was GH’s best week of shows in a long time.
Totally agree! He’s finally really playing Franco and is playing it to the hilt!
Great actor..
Franco often shocks me…mostly to the point of laughter! I enjoy Roger Howarth.
grrrrreat!!!!
The pop corn (relax watch the show) was Rogers inner genius when it comes to subtle humor..
I really like the ”’wink” that was so believable for the ”I gotcha” ..
Franco is a very unique character that only Roger could own..
Roger is a soap treasure …
Love love love the wink and Frankco eating pop corn well done acting.
I actually watched this twice (great episode) and had no idea what the heck Franco was doing with those movements. So now I know!
I agree. I didn’t know what he was doing, but it was funny to watch.
Roger Howarth can make reading the phone book entertaining.
He is a talented actor and “makes” the scene…. I would watch him in anything he chooses to do….
having watched Roger for so many years, I knew it was just ‘so Roger’ to do that. You can’t script his humor!
That’s why he’s the best there is.
It just goes to show how off GH’s priorities are that the reveal to Michael about what Sonny and Carly did, about justice being served for AJ, is all. About. Franco. The. SERIAL KILLER.
Roger is just simply the best actor in daytime! They are finally putting him to good use! I also love the “Pepperoni” comment. That was super funny. Roger is just such a peach!
That was hysterical! Roger is a great actor! Has chemistry with anyone that shares scenes with him!
Loved the episodes! Roger Howarth has been and continues to be brilliant !
It seems as though a lot of Roger’s expressions are unscripted-which I love! Roger is very talented, a great comedic actor with great timing. Just continue to flush out the fact that he was brought back as Franco-stop referring to how he was a psychotic serial murderer, etc.
I love Roger, and trying to like Franco. It’s hard when the best character ever was Todd. EVER. Todd had people who loved him because they went deep into understanding where he came from. I’m not there yet with Franco, but that being said, anything that RH does is okay by me. My issue is why the Franco blame? Why not let us sympathize with him. Sonny killed AJ, Carly covered it up. She cheated. Her arrogance is annoying. Let’s not pretend they did nothing wrong. So yeah for Franco for blowing up there world. And Michael, the kid had to know. Just wondering how Franco is going to come out of this by leaving with Cocopuff Nina. She’s an emmy waiting to happen. Oh the wink and popcorn ….classic.
Totally agree. Franco was completely justified; he risked his life to save her from Heather when she was kidnapped! She cheats on him, betrays him in every way…Sonny is a serial killer!!! LOL…it’s as if being a murderer in the mob is SO much more sane than just than Franco’s past actions. Sonny and Carly’s indignation and ridicule of Franco would be so much more palatable if we saw more people in Port Charles side with Franco, even in a private conversation. But they won’t. Just like the scapegoat that was AJ. And actually, Scott. They pick a few people in town who are the pariahs. (They’re usually the ones I side with.)
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Cynthia Watros Honors Former ‘Titus’ Co-Star Stacy Keach Following His Passing
General Hospital star Cynthia Watros, who can currently be seen in on the ABC soap opera in the role of Nina Reeves, has had a enduring career in television. That included her time on the 2000-2002 Fox sitcom, Titus.
In Titus, Watros starred along with Stacy Keach as Erin Fitzpatrick and Ken Titus, respectively. After the November 10th news that Keach had passed away at 85 while living in Poland, Cynthia took to her Instagram on Thursday, November 12 to pay tribute to the great actor.
Watros expressed, “My first prime time show was along side Stacy. I loved him instantly. What an amazing talent and man.❤️”
Photo: ABC
In Titus, Stacy played stand up comedian Christopher Titus’ heavy-drinking, chain-smoking, five-times-divorced father who frequently pulled cruel pranks and tried to toughen his kids up. Cynthia played by Christopher’s level-headed, big-hearted girlfriend trying to build a normal life with him. In fact, Cynthia’s role on the sitcom was first series regular role after her Daytime Emmy run of Annie Dutton on Guiding Light which ran from 1994-1998.
STACY KEACH’S WIFE ON HIS PASSING
Keach’s wife, Malgosia shared the news of the actor’s death publicly in a statement with PEOPLE. Malgosia expressed, that Stacy had, “a long and difficult battle with a serious heart condition and heart failure.”
She added, “Stacy peacefully departed this world. He fought for so long, with extraordinary courage, determination and strength. He was a true warrior, facing his illness with the same remarkable spirit and resilience that defined his life.”
Małgosia continued, “Stacy was not only a legendary actor, admired and loved by audiences the world over, but also my beloved husband, my companion and the heart of our family. His passing leaves an immeasurable emptiness in our lives. But his extraordinary spirit, his unforgettable voice and the love he gave so generously will remain with us forever.”
Now, let us know do you remember when Cynthia made her sitcom debut in Titus? Share your thoughts via the comment section on Cynthia’s many TV roles and the passing of Stacy Keach in the comment section. But first, check out the very first episode of Titus with Cynthia Watros below!
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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‘General Hospital’s’ Cynthia Watros Honors Former ‘Titus’ Co-Star Stacy Keach Following His Passing
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