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: Brook Lynn and Chase Have Their Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties
On General Hospital, Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard) both were treated to Bachelorette and Bachelor parties to shake off any of those pre-wedding jitters. At The Savoy, the ladies have a touching and fun time with Brook Lynn.
The bride-to-be gives a speech to thank everyone for coming, while Lois lets everyone know to try the signature cocktail the “Brooklynn Chaser”, which gets everybody eventually and mostly, drunk.
When Tracy (Jane Elliot) questions Lois (Rena Sofer) as to why there is no music for the party, Lois realizes she forgot, and somehow, who does she call to the rescue? Spinelli (Bradford Anderson)! Saving the day, he winds up playing some tunes and later gets on the dance floor to ‘shake it off’ with the gals.
Photo: ABC
Lois makes a speech as the mother of the bride, and shares how proud she is of the woman Brook Lynn has become. Wedding games begin, including one of “hot potato” with a wedding bouquet.
When it’s time for the “Silly Poses” section of the party, Spinelli has now morphed from DJ to staff photographer taking memorable photos of the ladies to remember the evening by.
Photo: ABC
The best part of the event, was when Brook Lynn tries to get her grandmother Tracy out on the dance floor, which, at first, she refuses. After several of the guests bust a move, a tipsy Tracy joins the dance party after Joss mentions that if her grandmother Bobbie was here, she would dance. Tracy says “she agrees” and begins to cut a rug on the floor, much to the delight of the other women.
Photo: ABC
In the final moments, a tipsy Joss and Kristina (Kate Mansi) have a confrontation about Sonny, and Joss lets Kristina in more on Sonny’s behavior, which looks to have clued in Kristina a bit more as to how something is way off about her dad.
Photo: ABC
Across town at the Hatchett Bar, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) and the men with the exception of Anna (Finola Hughes) and Jordan (Tanisha Harper), all attend Chase’s Bachelor Party where throwing hatchets into a dart board for supremacy is the order of the day. Drew (Cameron Mathison) and Ned (Wally Kurth) get into some words over ELQ, while Dante makes a toast to his police partner, Chase.
Photo: ABC
Suddenly Dex (Evan Hofer) shows up. Chase thanks Dex for coming, but Dex gets some dirty looks from other cops on the force. Dante gives Chase his present, which is a signed baseball by the Boston Red Sox.
Ned (Wally Kurth) makes a speech that although no one is good enough for his daughter, Brook Lynn, Chase has come closer than anyone has, so welcome to the family. Running in at the end is Blaze (Jacqueline Grace Lopez), who just left Brook Lynn’s party, and she toasts her singing partner, Chase, and to the great man that he is.
Photo: ABC
What did you think of Brook Lynn and Chase’s pre-wedding celebrations? What was your favorite moment? Comment below.
General Hospital
Cameron Mathison Previews New Game Show ‘Beat The Bridge’ (Promo)
As previously reported, Cameron Mathison (Drew, General Hospital) will be seen doing double duty this summer when he premieres in June as the host of Game Show Network’s Beat The Bridge.
Now, while Cameron will be the host with the most, that doesn’t mean he will stop playing GH’s Drew. In fact, Mathison taped the game show in 2023, so it will now air for the first time in 2024.
Taking to his Instagram this week, Cameron shared his enthusiasm and some new hosting snaps, sharing, “Our newest game show host reporting for duty😎 Head over to the Game Show Network YouTube channel for your first look at the show and don’t miss Beat The Bridge premiering this June! I can’t wait for you guys to see this!”
Photo: GSN
In Beat The Bridge, an enormous interactive bridge dares players to cross by stepping on the right answers to challenging trivia questions. As they play, each steps forward and puts money in their team’s bank, with bonus money for each successful crossing. Here’s the catch: the team gets to keep the money only if it can “beat the bridge” by returning one of its players back across before time expires.
Photo: ABC
Meanwhile, on GH, Drew and Nina (Cynthia Watros) recently had hate-sex. Do you think its a one-time deal? Where will Drew’s story take him next under new head writers, Patrick Mulcahey and Elizabeth Korte? Stay tuned.
Now below, check out the first promo for Beat The Bridge from the Game Show Network with you host, Cameron Mathison. Then, let us know, will you be checking out the game this summer? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
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General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Nina Confronts Ava for Sabotaging Her Relationship With Sonny and Signs the Divorce Papers
Looks like Nina (Cynthia Watros) and Ava (Maura West) are back to be each other’s sworn enemy number one. By the end of the Monday, April 22nd episode of General Hospital, the women know where they stand with each other after Nina goes in on Ava accusing her of wanting Sonny (Maurice Benard) all to herself, while her marriage has been on the rocks.
In story, at Nina’s office, Ava shows up to see Nina and says she is sorry about what happened with Sonny and that he reacted the way he did, acknowledging that is was over the top, even for Sonny. Ava says she’ll smooth things over, but Nina says she now understands how manipulative and transparent Ava really is.
Given their horrible history, Nina goes in on Ava and how she should never have trusted her. Nina wants to know how long has Ava had this agenda dating all the way back to telling Nina to turn Carly (Laura Wright) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) into the SEC. Ava says she never told her do to that, but Nina wants to know how long Ava has been playing her for a fool.
Courtesy/ABC
Ava says she moved in with Sonny to keep Avery safe and she wants to be on good terms with Avery’s father, Sonny. Nina thinks she likes being in Sonny’s inner circle. Ava tells Nina if she goes to him about her advising Nina to call the SEC on Carly and Drew, it won’t work. Sonny still considers Nina a traitor and he will think she’s lying because she’s so desperate to win him back. Ava says if Nina would stop blaming everyone else that maybe Sonny would respect her. Nina says “like he does you?” Ava says Sonny not only respects her, but he also counts on her.
From there, Ava launches into why she and Sonny understand each other, after all, Sonny is a powerful, turbulent, and sometimes violent man. She goes so far to say if Nina wanted someone to just sit by the fire with and play with their grandchildren, she’s got the wrong guy. Ava then talks about Mike from Nixon Falls (Sonny with amnesia) and how Sonny hid the darkest parts of himself from Nina back then, whereas with Ava they are the same similar creatures, so he doesn’t have to hide anything.
Courtesy/ABC
Nina wants to know just what Ava wants with Sonny? What is her end game? Ava responds that they understand each other, in ways she can’t with Sonny. Nina tells Ava she can go ahead and have it all and signs Sonny’s divorce papers. Ava walks out with the documents, while Nina in tears at her desk, takes off her wedding rings and has her assistant come in so she can messenger the rings back to Sonny’s address.
The episode and these scenes featured great performances by Cynthia Watros and Maura West. You can check some of the scenes below.
Now, let us know, what is Ava’s next move? Is she going to become Mrs. Sonny Corinthos? Do you like Ava and Nina as enemies? Comment below.
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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?