General Hospital
GH’s Nancy Lee Grahn Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
Well, Alexis Davis certainly gave a ‘power performance’ of her own, with a night of sex with Neil that everyone thought tuckered the guy out and eventually killed him! But au contraire! As viewers of ABC’s General Hospital learned on Friday’s episode, Neil actually died of a drug overdose, shocking Alexis.
Through this week’s episodes, two-time Daytime Emmy-winner and GH mainstay, Nancy Lee Grahn reminded us all as to why she remains one of the all-time leading actresses in the genre – able to go from the dramatic, to the comedic – with humanity every step of the way.
Alexis’ devastation played so beautifully by Grahn, showcased why this once invincible lawyer always seems to have happiness pulled out from under her time and time again; whether it’s a set of circumstances … or self-destruction and self-loathing, which Alexis often displays.
When Grahn sees that Neil (Joe Flanigan) is dead, and the aftermath in scenes with her on-screen daughter, Sam (Kelly Monaco), and later in the week with AA buddy, Dr. Hamilton Finn played by Michael Easton, Alexis is just gut-punched. She has the realization how much of her time with Neil was wasted dancing around each other; rather than just acting on their feelings and their growing love for one another.
Now, with Neil’s death ruled a drug overdose … will all this lead to Cyrus Renault (Jeff Kober) being behind it ? If it does, will Alexis be the one to take the bad guy down?
Scene after scene in this week’s story arc, Nancy Lee Grahn delivered and that is why she is Michael Fairman TV’s ‘Power Performance of the Week’.
So, what did you think of Nancy’s performances this week on GH? Comment below.
Gotta be honest…didn’t see Neil’s death coming.
I sure didn’t either. Will really miss this relationship play out.
I could not agree more. Those scenes will undoubtedly win Nancy Lee Grahn that elusive best actress Emmy for 2021. Graham’s confessional out on the balcony with Sam was a master class in acting (definitely worth replaying). There is no better actress working now in daytime.
Nancy Lee Grahn performance was epic and very powerful
because he’s a HOT guy ; “listen to that! ” you hear a roar of fan and spotlight . I don’t want to see Nancy Lee Grahn, that much… she’s a featured player… you tag her with some thing HOT and this is what we get ? there are – MANY ) actors who have to support – submit – to the “LEADS” .. case in point, expendable
after the dust clears… with so many past on… the dullard await their turn :
Sonny / Carly / Josselyn ; Michael / Finn / Franco / Peter / Jason / Sam
pick the litter
sans interested people
I agree with your “dullard” list-UGH!
Nancy Lee Grahn was brilliant, as she always is when they give her good material. I’m not a huge fan of killing off Neil. I think Alexis and Neil had a lot of potential as a couple, that they barely scratched the surface on. Alexis needed a decent man in her life after all those years of screwing around with Julian.
Neil as a character himself, I feel like there was a lot more there they could have done with him. Joe Flanigan did a great job portraying Neil with that sense of mystery that you always felt there was more going on than meets the eye. Unfortunately, we’ll never know.
But that’s how it happens sometimes, characters are victims to the larger story arc, and obviously between Neil dying of an overdose and Sasha getting hooked on cocaine, this is becoming a drug addiction story and a larger arc of Cyrus infiltrating Port Charles with drugs.
I was a fan of Nancy with Neil. Now that he is gone I do not care what she does. Yes, she is a good actress but fans are devastated about Neil’s death. As he told her in their last therapy session ” it isn’t always about you.” I will not watch GH anymore. GH gave more time to Ryan Chamberlain and Shiloh. Goodbye GH. And if you do win another Emmy just remember how much Joe’s fans are hurting.
She was wonderful in those scenes! Enmmy-reel. But, oh, how I wish they hadn’t killed off Neil! I LOVED Alexis and Neil together. And now they’ve wasted him (Neil)on this damn drug story that I absolutely HATE! I hope Alexis washer-lines Renault and brings him to his knees before kicking his ass to solitary confinement at Pentonville for life.
I wish I could watch, because NLG is a powerhouse.
I was so happy watching their reunion, I got chills! I said finally a storyline that does not involve criminals! A love story! I was floored that they killed Neil. Mistake! What on earth could be next for Alexis? She’s has the WORST life!
Way..WAAAY too soon to have killed off Neil …if they’re gonna build in a storyline of drug overdose and it’s because of Cyrus we needed a whole ” before” …like Neil disappearing after this hot night (” going out for something at the store! Be right back,!” And it taking a few hours..) or unexplained behavior changes … something to give a few clues that is was drugs somehow..or his meds getting messed up due to tampering etc…THEN Neil dies to overdose and people have pieces to add up ..they could’ve got a big storyline involving drugs and Cyrus and unsuspecting others – we see Sasha starting down a path to destruction..but Neil would’ve been real shocker so I think they missed the boat on this one..Nancy was stellar..but she could’ve done as well a week later even though shock – factor of it being the night after finally
Totally agree!
How does Neil die of a drug overdose? He was not one to take drugs.
Well, actually…..
All we really know about Neil is that he was a shrink, he had a thing for Alexis, and he had lost a child at some point in the past. Aside from that, his character is a blank slate, and Hell only knows what his back story might be. For one thing, I find it hard to believe that he would have his medical license yanked, just because he was found to be “dating” one FORMER patient, so that raises the question of whether he had some other “medical ethics” issues in the past which put him on shaky ground with whatever board it was that suspended his license.
As I said in my previous post (when I guessed the direction of the story the day Neil died) I doubt he was a “recreational” drug user, or that his OD was intentional…. after all, he certainly died happy, since the last thing he apparently did was sex with Alexis.
So this is clearly all a plot point to eventually point to Cyrus the Virus using his recently acquired power over the hospital to traffic his bad drugs through a legitimate medical facade. And Neil probably won’t be the only casualty. Sasha better either get off the nose candy or be extremely careful with her dealers, at least.
I truly was into this couple—Unlike her “relationship” with Julian. Hmmmm—-Alexis killed Neil with sex? LOL–too bad—they gave scenes with substance and import—-but, as far as Nancy ravishing the audience with a “power-performance”? —-not so much!! My opinion.
Underwhelming indeed, CeeCeeGirl! My thoughts exactly! This is simply one more illustrative instance of Alexis doing what she does best…turning a night of rousing rumpy-pumpy into a life-destroying event. LOL! When I first set my eyes upon the previous post trumpeting yet another disastrous outcome of this wanton woman’s well-documented sex-capades, that awesome ‘80’s hit, “I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight” by Cutting Crew immediately came to mind! (By the way, the group recently released an orchestrally-based reboot of the tune…it’s amazing!) On the other hand, this would be a magnificent starting point for a serial killer “Death By Sex” storyline…Alexis finally snaps and decides to take out all the studs of Port Charles ala viagra overdoses. (Hey, at least they will die with smiles on their faces—and perhaps she will finally get some “satisfaction,” since the normal routes of romance have failed to provide that each and every time she has tried them with her questionable collection of misfit misters…) I think this idea rocks…What say you, mia amica?????
You are too funny, Shaybelle—-ma belle amie!! It’s been too long–you have a way with words; and yes, agreed!!.
How old are these people? Not to sound ageist, but I can only hope my husband will be able to “deliver” in his sixties. What else can a girl ask? LOL.
Nonetheless, Neil did not strike me as an opioid addicted derelict. Cyrus ( what a truly bad actor) probably had his claw in this imbroglio. Here comes another fatuous plot/ storyline. What’s the connection between the two? Could Kim Delaney’s character be tied to Neil, somehow??
Later, cara❤️
PS, Shay—-it just struck me— ( though constantly at the back of my mind)—-this latest Alexis-fling-gone-bust, is most-likely a prelude to many pre (all-too–consuming) sexual interludes with Julian. She and he will be a couple again.
Are you ready for it, Shay?? Bet you can’t wait!!
Great performance by Nancy. She made me cry.
Alexis was just being Alexis to me but I could not feel her pain. The actress could’ve dug much deeper in the moment. Although this is a soap opera, I think Ava would’ve carried me to the limit if she had done the scene. (“carried me” means to make your audience feel the pain/happiness so much that it makes you uncomfortable/jump with enthusiasm).
I have been hoping that Dante’s Dr. will return with him to P.C. The first time I saw him I could see he and Alexis as a couple. I hope TPTB see it also.
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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