General Hospital
Jonathan Jackson talks on his hopes, the future, and his decision to say goodbye to GH!
Courtesy/ABC
What a Christmas bummer for soaps fans! We have to say goodbye to the talents of four-time Daytime Emmy winner who is exiting the canvas of General Hospital as Lucky Spencer this week.
Jackson caught up with ABC Soaps In Depth to discuss his decision to leave the show, what he had hoped would happen with the Lucky/Liz pairing, and if he might reconsider his decision in the future and return to GH. Here are a few excerpts!
Jackson on the challenges with the Lucky/Liz love story: “It’s difficult to tell love stories in a day in and day out medium. It can easily become a little bit mundane. I think there’s a way around that, but it’s not easy. The answer can’t be to always have one of the two people betray the other one and have the whole thing fall apart because the characters end up compromising everything about themselves. There has to be another way to have drama without the characters themselves doing that to themselves or doing that to each other. That would be the challenge: how do you create drama and suspense nuances but maintain the integrity of the characters? That’s really difficult to do.”
Jackson on if he might return in the future: “I hope that the show can continue to thrive and be successful. The world is a fluid place. Things change and evolve. Everything in this world is temporary and transient to some degree. It’s the eternal things that matter and the relationships with people that matter. Those are the things that I try to focus on and hold onto.”
ABC Soaps In Depth goes on to say, “With the behind-the-scenes regime change at GH in the new year, all this might, indeed, change, and Jackson might be back on your screens after a quick negotiation and compromise. Jackson fans, cross your fingers.”
Are you sad to say JJ go? Do you think a deal will be struck with Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati that will bring Jackson back to GH and in a creative forum that works equally for the show and for the actor? Let us know what you think!
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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I agree with what he said about the love stories being a little mundane….because it does become all too familiar and predictable sometimes with soaps. I mean, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been sitting in my living room watching a soap, and can say the lines or predict the actions before the characters act them out. It would be nice for someone to surprise us every now and then….and rather than drag a story out to nauseam, they actually get to the point….or have the characters say what any normal person would say or do in a real life situation. That would be a twist and a change that would be well received by the audience.
I love JJ’s Lucky Spencer and I want him back on the canvas pronto!
At this point it would be a surprise if Lucky and Liz got back together. GH is in free fall and disintegrating, about to crash and burn, with so many characters written off and actors leaving. Bringing back Lucky and reuniting him with Liz would help, and FV and RC are probably smart enough to figure that out. But whether anything or anyone can save GH from Katie is another issue.
I do hope that the new regime is doing their homework and that they are studying the history of this great show and its characters. I hope they don’t turn GH into OLTL. I’m not saying one is better then the other, they both stand on their own legacy. So yes, I’m hoping they realize how valuable Jonathan is to the show, as well as Nathan Parson who i hear is also leaving, and do everything possible to keep the people we want to see, and not make the mistake of bringing in new people to soon.
What I was sad about is how the last year they have written for this character and his exit story was awful obviously they did not feel inclined to write for him in a positive way. Get prepared for all out of work OLTL actors over here and how does that help, look how Y&R has been ruined. GH just start working with your cast and get back to basics. JJ good luck! Go back to movies and your band and be happy!
It is so sad when the powers-that-be allow these kind of travesties to happen! I’m appalled that such an asset to the show is leaving and with the current changes in cast. Lexie & Nathan have a gold mine of potential, but alas they screwed that too. If/when GH is cancelled, they have only them selves to blame. What a shame!
Cant replace Lucky nor Cole on OLTL.
*gets down on knees and prays like a 6 year old hoping Santa comes soon* Please please please let this work out! GH w/o JJ has always seemed less alive.
This mans talented and maybe knows GH is next to be cancelled.
So go out while hes fresh in peoples minds.
I wish more HIM luck, he’s just a great actor and deserves a BIG shot at the Big Screen.
GH is looking to be cancelled, first they don’t jump at the chance to have Genie Francis return and now they are letting Johnathan Jackson go. The writers must want to crash and burn.
PLEASE PLEASE ALL YOU NEW WRITERS BRING JJ BACK HE IS THE WHOLE SHOW NO ONE & I MEAN NO ONE CAN PLAY LUCKY AS HE WILL ALWAYS BE LUCKY & LUKES COWBOY I PRAY EVERYDAY THAT IN 2012 THEY WILL FIND A STORY LINE FOR A REUNION WITH LIZ AS I WATCHED THEM TOGETHER IN THE 90’S THIS IS MY NEW YEAR DREAM PLEASE PLEASE BRING MY JONATHAN JACKSON BACK HE IS A 4 TIME EMMY WINNER HELLO GH WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WITHOUT HIM AND RECAST???? OMG NO NO NO PLEASE!! NO ONE CAN BE LUCKY BUT JJ HE IS THE REAL LUCKY I HOPE YOU WRITERS ARE READING THIS BECAUSE WE ALL WANT JJ BACK PLEASE!!!
Please bring jj back..I love him..Work it out with him please..
Love lucky…
Please come back.
He is the original Lucky. The writers should bring him back and Luke too. I liked Luke as the wonderful drunk he was. Luke being sober… A 32+ year fan! I remember the Campus Disco when Luke raped Laura and the whole Frank Smith saga! Bring JJ back…
I understand why Jonathan is leaving. How much doom and gloom can a person subject themselves to as an actor. They could have added some fun in the mixture and maybe he would stay. Ridiculous, all the great actors on GH are leaving. Personally, who really cares about the Shawn character. Bring back Jax to stay.
I hope they do bring Jonathan Jacks back at Lucky he is so good.