General Hospital
Jonathan Jackson cast in major role in new ABC Music-Drama Soap Pilot … Nashville!
Courtesy/ABC
General Hospital fan favorite and Daytime Emmy winner, Jonathan Jackson has landed his first major role post- Lucky Spencer! Deadline.com is reporting that Jackson has been cast in one of the central role’s in one of the previously reported new primetime soap opera pilot dramas ordered by ABC!
Jackson will play Avery, a sexy bad-boy musician and aspiring songwriter in Callie Khouri’s (Thelma & Louise) new scripted soap pilot, Nashville! This ABC Studios production revolves around the Nashville music scene and its fading and rising stars. And as in the case with many new shows over the past few years, it will be a musically-driven dramatic series, if it gets the green light!
Meanwhile, Jonathan is on tour with his band, Enation this weekend playing dates in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and of all places, Nashville! For information on how you can see Jonathan live click here! So what do you think of Jonathan landing this role in the new soap primetime pilot, Nashville? Let us know!
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.
‘Beyond the Gates’ Emmy Winner Ambyr Michelle Wants to Compete on ‘Dancing with the Stars’: ‘Pick Me’ (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie Kicks Bill to the Curb … for Now
RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Inches Closer to ‘General Hospital’ in Total Viewers
B&B’s Sydney Bullock Weighs In on Future of Dylan and Will: ‘I Think She Can Hold on to Him for Awhile’ (Exclusive)
Antonio Sabáto Jr. Breaks Silence on His Son’s Arrest for Fatal Hit-and-Run
Y&R’s New Head Writers Share Vision for Genoa City: Contemporary Homage to Bill Bell, Mixing Heightened Escapism and Grounded Reality
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Episodes From New Co-Head Writers, Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor, Begin to Air
‘General Hospital’ Casts Ayla Bullington as the New Avery Jerome-Corinthos
‘Days of our Lives’ Celebrates 61st Anniversary: EP Ken Corday Teases New Character’s Arrival in Spring 2027
‘Days of our Lives’ Kyle Pryor Debuts as Dominic Marino and Says of Alleged TV Mom, “Deidre Hall is the Absolute OG, Amazing” (Exclusive)
‘Beyond the Gates’ Emmy Winner Ambyr Michelle Wants to Compete on ‘Dancing with the Stars’: ‘Pick Me’ (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie Kicks Bill to the Curb … for Now
B&B’s Sydney Bullock Weighs In on Future of Dylan and Will: ‘I Think She Can Hold on to Him for Awhile’ (Exclusive)
‘Days of our Lives’ Veteran James Reynolds Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis
Y&R’s Matt Cohen Talks Role as Compassionate Zookeeper in Rom-Com ‘Christmas at the Zoo’
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News3 days agoY&R’s New Head Writers Share Vision for Genoa City: Contemporary Homage to Bill Bell, Mixing Heightened Escapism and Grounded Reality
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Previews4 days agoTHE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Episodes From New Co-Head Writers, Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor, Begin to Air
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General Hospital3 days ago‘General Hospital’ Casts Ayla Bullington as the New Avery Jerome-Corinthos
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Days Of Our Lives4 days ago‘Days of our Lives’ Celebrates 61st Anniversary: EP Ken Corday Teases New Character’s Arrival in Spring 2027
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Days Of Our Lives7 days ago‘Days of our Lives’ Kyle Pryor Debuts as Dominic Marino and Says of Alleged TV Mom, “Deidre Hall is the Absolute OG, Amazing” (Exclusive)
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abc s soap opera pilot for prime time tv,I thought that no one watches soaps anymore ,thats what they say at abc,oh I get it ,no one watches all my children and one life to live .Its on abc I wont watch.until I get my favorite people back from landview and pine valley .general hospital is all abc has me for ,thats 1 hour,5 days a week.
This kind of makes me sad…. and feel that as talented as Jonathan Jackson is, he is being used by ABC to get viewers for this show.
Is ABC trying to “cash in” on its daytime stars to make their night time shows a success?
I believe the same thing,and I wont give in ,I dont care who shows up,abc will never, ever ,suck me up in there crappy programing again.
I agree with your comment… unless, of course, it happens to be Erica Slezak. I would watch anything with her in it.
I feel that way to ,after one life to live ended ,erica slezak came out about the canceling ,and she is not very happy with abc/disney,I hope she gets an acting job somewhere else .she has been the heartbeat of one life to live for 40 years and my favorite,hope to see her soon,there is so much she can do.I just hope she stays far away from abc/disney I cant support a television network that shit on millions of all my children and one life to live fans over money ,abc use to be a class network ,not anymore and you can see that with there crappy programming daytime and prime time,there running out of descent shows.
Barbara, dont U hate when people make STUPID comments on here? Comments they haven’t given any thought to. I’m not talking about having an opinion about something, I’m talking stupid ass comments about people or remarks. For example, like the one Lisa Rinna made. That was her opinion, naturally. But it was STUPID because obviously if the man couldn’t act, he wouldn’t me in the medium for 30 years. That’s the kind of comments I’m talking about that people make on here without giving much thought to the words they are using.
ABC just stinks!! They are manipulaters!! If GH’s previous writers/exec’s would have treated him right, he would still be there!!
ABC is the most dishonest network on TV. They are like politicians, LIE, LIE, LIE to get what they want. Im done with ABC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with all of you but, don’t stop watching because your hurting a really good actor and maybe if you do watch the show ABC will see how many people watch soaps. Maybe this will help them to decide to do something for AMC and OLTL and put them back on the air.
everyone needs a job…i wont watch it.
didn’t jonathan quite GH because of long hours? all you hear primetime actors talk about are the long hours it takes to film just one episode, so, whats the deal? guess he’s not that exulted . plus the pay is better.
he was getting to many hours ,he also wanted the writers to team him up with liz again.when he said he was going to be leaving ,he sure did leave,like in record time, I thought we would at least get another month with him.he also wanted to spent more time with his music.as much as I like jonathan ,gh was better off keeping the old lucky.never did like it when he was let go.
which “old Lucky” are you referring to? Jonathan Jackson is the original Lucky. They had a couple other actors in there in between the times the original Lucky was there. I liked Jonathan when he was on originally. Think he disappeared after being “killed” in the fire… that’s when Jason & Liz started being friends…. I also like the blond Lucky they had (when they came up with Lucky wasn’t in the fire, he had actually been kidnapped and brainwashed by Helena all that time he was presumed dead)… but didn’t really like Jonathan when he came back and they had him as a druggy… and his little scrawny facial hair.
well, A. I can’t stand country music, and B. I’m boycotting ABC except for GH and Castle. Un-Lucky for Jackson to be on stuck on soap-hater ABC-D channel. I haven’t even peeked at their River show either.
greg vaughn,I really liked him ,and the only reason he is gone is because johnathon jackson came back.the character of lucky should never have been changed.the other lucky I liked jacob young ,he later went to all my children ,loved him there.as the screwed up j r.to bad they cant get one of those two guys to come back.
She is talking about Greg Vaughn the third actor to play Lucky! Tony Geary thought he was too old for the part and kept at him GV like he does everybody, why he likes JJ is beyond me JJ is a conservative and TG is a flaming liberal go figure. JJ is a great actor but he was not mature enough looking for the storyline they had written for Lucky GV got shafted!!!
They need Lucky on the canvas. They should haave given him what he wanted. Those storylines with him going to Ireland and laying in the dirt on the ground seeing ” Go Home ” written in stone, was a waste of his talents and our time. It was heavy emotional stuff, unnecessarily, right after the whole Jake storyline of heavy emotion. Now there is no Lucky on the canvas, which ain’t kool when it comes to completing Lukes family. If Johnathan Jackson gets a real taste of Primetime success, he is NEVER coming back to GH (especially after what they did to him this time) with his good looks and awesome talent, he’ll never look back not even to be Lucky part-time. And so ” we ” lose. No one plays Lucky better than he. I accepted Greg Vaugh (didn’t like Jacab Young as Lucky) but Johnathan just embraces Tony Geary’s ‘ style of acting ‘ making Johnathan’s protrayal as Luke’s son believable and so very real.
Jonathan Jackson has been in movies with Al Pacino, William Hurt & Michelle Phieffer. That is why I for one was shocked he came back to GH I do beleive if GH get’s cancelled and I hope it makes it they will bring him back to exit out with Liz.