General Hospital
Katie Couric's new talker already cleared in 60% of Markets in U.S.!
According to an ABC press release, the new Syndicated Katie Couric talk show slated for September 2012 is picking up steam and has been cleared in 60% of the country.
What does this eventually mean for the ABC Daytime line-up, and in particular GH? That has yet to be determined, but for now, if this is any indication, here is what the release stated below:
“In a period of only six weeks, Katie Couric’s highly anticipated nationally syndicated talk show, KATIE, has already been cleared in over 60% of the country, it was announced today by Janice Marinelli, president, Disney-ABC Domestic Television. KATIE is slated to premiere in September 2012. Disney-ABC Domestic Television has secured outstanding station clearances and key early fringe time periods for the one-hour daily daytime talk show. Sales to date include 14 out of the top 15 markets. In addition to the previously announced ABC Owned station group, Katie has now been sold to leading stations from broadcast groups including Allbritton Communications, Belo Corporation, Cox Media Group, Gannett Broadcasting, Hearst Television, LIN Broadcasting, McGraw-Hill, Scripps Howard Broadcasting and Young Broadcasting. The most recent Katie clearances include WFAA Dallas, WCVB Boston, WSB Atlanta, WJLA Washington DC, WXYZ Detroit, KNXV Phoenix, KING Seattle and WFTS Tampa, among others.
To have garnered such exceptional clearances in this short period of time is attributable to the enduring strength of the Katie Couric brand and her wide-ranging appeal as one of the brightest, most talented and most dynamic personalities in the business,” commented Marinelli. “We are enormously pleased to partner with such a stellar group of stations across the country.
In June the Disney/ABC Television Group signed a multi-year, multi-platform agreement with the award-winning journalist, best-selling author and popular TV personality. In addition to hosting the new nationally syndicated program “Katie,” which is set to premiere in September 2012, Couric currently serves as a member of the ABC News team. Katie will be produced in conjunction with Disney-ABC and Jeff Zucker will be the executive producer.”
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Chris McKenna On Jack’s Reaction to Carly Cheating On Him with Valentin: ‘Heartbreak and Absolute Rage and Humiliation’
The stage is set for next week on General Hospital, after yesterday’s May 1 cliffhanger, when Brennan (Chris McKenna) sneaks into Carly’s (Laura Wright) house and heads up to her bedroom, bursts in the door and finds her between the sheets, albeit at that moment alone.
However, Jack is already armed with plenty of ammo, he saw two glasses of wine in Carly’s kitchen, Josslyn (Eden McCoy) already lit the fire, by telling him her mother was seeing someone else, the WSB bureau chief then went to visit Carly’s ex, Sonny (Maurice Benard). The mobster’s reaction pretty much sold Jack that Carly must be sleeping with another man.
As Jack goes to check out the situation to confirm his suspicions, Carly and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) have just hit the sheets, after fighting their attraction once again for each other. Now comes the moment of truth that Carly has been sleeping with Brennan’s sworn enemy, Valentin.

Courtesy/ABC
In a preview of what’s to come, Soap Opera Digest spoke to both Chris McKenna and Laura Wright where they talked about the upcoming scenes. McKenna expressed, “This has been coming for such a long time.” He also previews, “Brennan comes at her pretty aggressively.”
THREE’S COMPANY
Wright added, “Carly didn’t expect Brennan to walk into her bedroom! He doesn’t have a key. It’s late at night. She thinks she and Valentin are in the clear. She sees that he’s so angry and so worried about being cheated on… but not that he’s sorry for lying to her face or because her daughter is in danger because of him!”
As to how Jack will handle the situation from here and finding out that Carly is with Valentin, McKenna confirms, to expect, “heartbreak and absolute rage and humiliation” from Jack. He’s thinking, ‘This can’t be real. This can’t have happened. I can’t be this stupid. I can’t have been this blind.’ And as to Jack’s current state of mind, coming into the situation, “Jack is drunk and a little unhinged and the audience finally gets a glimpse of what’s going on underneath that rigid exterior.”
Needless to say, the fallout will be huge, and McKenna is proud of the trios work in the scenes, sharing that Laura Wright was a fantastic as ever, and that GH’s executive producer, Frank Valentini was on the set the entire time with Laura, James and him, making this story point play out to its full effect.
So, are you excited to see how what goes down between Brennan, Carly and Valentin and the fallout? Do you think this will cement Carly and Valentin as a couple, or will Carly regret what she’s done to Jack? Weigh-in on how you hope this all plays out via the comment section below.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
Many things are coming up roses for Jonathan Bennett! On the heels of the news that he is set to debut this month in the role of Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital, who is rumored to be a new love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), comes the news that Bennett’s reality series, Finding Mr. Christmas has received 3 nomination for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.
Bennett’s Hallmark Channel series finds itself in tough competition alongside fellow nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), Survivor 50 (CBS), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Traitors (Peacock). In addition, Jonathan himself is nominated for Best Show Host and the series participants as the Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series.
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) revealed the nominees for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Thursday, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.

Photo: Hallmark
Taking to his Instagram to celebrate the nominations, GH’s Bennett, enthused, “3 Critic Choice Nominations! I’m so proud of the FINDING MR CHRISTMAS and to be in the company of all the legends in all these categories is so surreal! Congrats to Hallmark Channel and to our nominated cast and nominated show and everyone who made this magical show possible. This is crazy! This gives FMC 6 Critics Choice nominations in 2 years. Not bad for a little show on Hallmark Channel. What are your thoughts on our show?” Jumping first into the comment thread was one of his new GH co-stars, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) who expressed, “Yeah buddy!!!🔥🔥”
In the series, Bennett, the host and co-creator spends eight weeks guiding 10 aspiring actors through a series of “festive face-offs” and acting challenges alongside actors like soap opera notables, Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R) and Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS). Along the way, they develop their skills and a bond with one another. The show, which is available on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus, highlights LGBTQ+ representation with openly gay contestants vying to be the next Hallmark star.
It should be noted that Traitors received the most Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations with 6 nods, followed by Dancing with the Stars with 4.
Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans having started his career as JR Chandler on All My Children in 2000-2001, before landing the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout performance.
You can check out the full list of Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations here.
So, excited for Jonathan Bennett’s General Hospital debut this month? Have you ever watched Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark? Let us know via the comment section below.
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General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?
On the April 30 episode of General Hospital, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had some choice words and warning for her brother Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) who has been masquerading as his twin, the very dead, Nathan West.
As the story has unfolded, viewers learned that Britt knew all along that when “Nathan” showed up in Port Charles seemingly resurrected with a missing 7 years of his life unexplained, that Cassius was taking his place.
Now in developments on today’s GH, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is figuring out that this guy pretending to be Nathan is someone else, and Cassius learns from Britt, that Joss is not just a ditzy sorority girl as he claimed, but a WSB agent! The moment stuns Cassius. Are the walls about to close in on him and his charade?

Courtesy/ABC
Daytime Emmy winner, Kelly Thiebaud spoke to Soap Opera Digest, about the story point and getting the opportunity this time back at GH to work with Ryan Paevey, when she hadn’t had the chance to before.
BROTHERLY LOVE?
Thiebaud expressed on sharing scenes with Ryan Paevey, “It’s just been so wonderful to have him back and to actually work with him! When he first came onto the show (as Nathan at the end of 2013) I was kind of heading out — it was right towards the end of my contract, so we didn’t actually work together a ton. It’s been really refreshing and so much fun to really spend time together and get to know each other and work together. I think we have really great on-camera chemistry and banter with each other. I really enjoy working with him.”
With the stakes at an all-time, Thiebaud explained how she views her on-screen alter-ego’s involvement with her more hot-to-temper sibling and why Britt revealed the truth about Josslyn to him. “People finding out about Cassius would expose what she’s involved in and what she agreed to do,” explains Kelly “And now Josslyn is digging around, and she’s connected to Carly (Laura Wright) to Jason (Steve Burton) and that whole dynamic! It’s messy!”
BRITT’S MURKY FUTURE
Britt has currently also reached her breaking point with Jason being carted away by the WSB, Rocco (Finn Carr), the child she gave birth to, shooting Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) to protect her and Jason, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) being killed after trying to help her, and Cullum holding over her head getting her Huntington’s disease medication to control her symptoms, while blackmailing her into finishing the research on her father, Cesar Faison’s, final project. Thiebaud summed it up best for Britt right now, sharing, “It’s been a really tough time for her.”
So, who do you think will be the person to blow Cassius’ cover? Will it be Britt herself? Josslyn? Liesl? Brennan? Nina? Lulu? Rocco, Maxie, Cullum or someone else? Let us know your pick in the comment section.
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I hate to say it but this does not look good for General hospital. Seems like late September is when all the soaps had their final air dates. Guiding light and All My Childern both went off around that time.
gh soap fans need to pull their heads out of the sand.. the show is going to be going off-not moved to another time slot.. has no one figured out that abc is run by lies and liars… they need to cancel who wants to be a millionaire and that horrible Rachel ray… although she is better the the spew
GH turns 50 on April 1, 2013, Someway, somehow, hold out until then…
Dear Katie,
You really should never have stepped into the whole “General Hospital” soaps war matter, bad ju ju for you and your “career.” Karma, as you know, can be a real bitch! Let’s get one thing straight: You are no “O” and you never will be. When you left Matt and the Gang at Rockefeller Center, the Peter (Katie?) Principle took hold and your ascent upward to epic failure in the Ratings, continues unabated. Sadly this time for you, you have linked up with the rank toxic incompetent trio of Burbank Buffoons: ABC Disney’s Anne Sweeney and Brian Frons and Disney’s Asleep at the Wheel Robert Iger, and as is now becoming common knowledge in the industry, most everything that they touch – turns into the— Unspeakable. You may in fact however, be much brighter than you look (and your sponsors) because no matter what goes down — YOU WILL HAVE GOTTEN PAIDTHEBIGBUCKS$$$$! It is ABC/Disney and its shareholders and its snookered corporate sponsors who are being set up for the kill when you fall (and you will) because for the bulk of your career (which the aforemtioned once again neglected to carefully scrutinize a la due diligence) you have ALWAYS been chasing viewers who, for reasons best known to the Soap Goddess, do NOT want to watch you! The data powerfully demonstrates such…all of your rationalizing defensive excuses and ABC propagandistic press releases aside…
Finally Katie, make sure you are laughing all the way to the Bank!
Signed, A fan of “One Life To Live” Forever…
I am sure ABC has some deal with PP to send GH packing in Sept. 2012. GH would have to start pulling in numbers like Y&R to stay on ABC and that is not going to happen.
Leah…there is a difference between syndicated shows and network shows. Millionaire and Rachael Ray are both syndicated. They are not owned by, nor do they work for ABC. Katie is another story. She is the only real threat…so although you don’t like Rachael or Meredith, they will only be a problem if ABC gives the local affiliates that time slot to schedule as they like. For now…Katie or The View… or anything owned by ABC is all you need to worry about. taking the GH spot. Give Meredith and Rachael some slack…until they come to work for ABC. Since Meredith is working for the new NBC Primetime News Show and Rachael works for the Food Network, it’s safe with them for now.
GH did just hire a new female co-headwriter…so now if they would take a chance and get rid of that Old Executive Producer and take a chance like they did in the good old days with Gloria Monty, the show might thrive again. Either that or die a slow death. The choice is up to ABC whether they live or die. My guess is…the painting is on the wall…and I don’t see Meridith or Rachael in the picture…Couriocously, (pun intended) , I just see Katie.
Jill farren phelps or however you spell it i agree should go.
That woman is a BITCH and she like the SHREW will go to HE__!! Frons and and his cronies will join them!!! These shows will NOT succeed!!!! I have STOPPED watching ABC for the most part THEY need to do away with this company!!
By the time Katie joins ABC Daytime, I think the Chew will be ready for the axe, if not already gone by then, and they can slip Katie in that timeslot, or (if they must) move GH to the earlier timeslot and put Katie at 3pm . Honestly, if they remove GH from the ABC Daytime lineup, then clearly all of this was a sinsiter plan from day 1 (which is quite possible). I understand that a soap is much more expensive to make and keep up with than the new shows they are replacing them with, but, in no way is the Chew anything worth watching, as I am told by many that it does not compare to any show of its kind, and if the ratings of late are any indication, it is already on the decline, only a month into it. Also, who knows how the show that will be replacing OLTL will do, that can also be a bust. Getting rid of ABC’s Love in the Afternoon line-up, is a mistake, and if the powers that be don’t already see that, I am sure they will. Filling the shoes of iconic soap operas, will take a heck of a lot better than The Chew!!! Long live GH!!!!
I have been following soap operas for 40 years now and I believe come March or early April, 2012 ABC will announce the cancellation of “General Hospital”. So sad, but so true. Just what we need…more talk shows.
KING Seattle is affiliated with NBC, not ABC. Does this mean KOMO Seattle which is affiliated with ABC was not interested in Katie and prefers to continue with GH?