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RATINGS: All Soaps Gain in Total Viewers; GH Scores Largest Increase, while B&B Has Largest Audience in 9 Months

By Michael Fairman

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Photos: ABC and CBS

Finally, a week during the coronavirus pandemic that has gripped the nation and the world, where your favorite daytime soaps all aired new episodes, and all showed an increase in total viewers.

For the ratings week of January 25th through the 29th, it was ABC’s General Hospital which saw the most viewers additions for the week coming in with + 161,000.  Meanwhile, as previously noted, The Bold and the Beautiful scored its highest viewing audience in over nine months, nearing close to 3 million viewers while showing a net gain of + 68,000.

The Young and the Restless is now back above 3 million as it has been in the last few weeks (after dropping considerable viewers) and adding +54,000, while NBC’s Days of our Lives added + 9,000 total viewers.

 

In the key 18-49 demo, GH scored the most gains, and landed in the 3rd spot, while DAYS was the only show to lose viewers in the age group.  However, both shows still scored all-time lows in the 18-34 ratings demo for the second week in a row.

You can check out the full ratings picture at SON here.

Total Viewers
1. Y&R 3,341,000 (+54,000)
2. B&B 2,946,000 (+68,000)
3. GH 2,176,000 (+161,000)
4. DAYS 1,804,000 (+9,000)

Women 18-49 Viewers
1. Y&R 307,000 (+11,000)
2. B&B 273,000 (+15,000)
3. GH 252,000 (+24,000)
4. DAYS 230,000 (-13,000)

So, which of the four network soaps do you think is delivering to you the best storylines at this moment? What fixes would you make to improve your favorite show? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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I really think it’s time for both GH & Days to seek other writing avenues.

I totally agree about GH, Nicole. Sam and Dante? Hasn’t anyone figured out they’re the same person? Dullsville Central!

I wonder if TPTB at CBS and Sony will get that Y&R is a hot mess after B&B overtakes the show in the ratings? Or will they simply change gears and tout B&B as the number one soap? Most likely the latter since they’ll refuse to be seen having egg on their face.

The Y&R writing team continues to implode, the undoing of Danny Boza- Chance Chancellor,after having just married Abby Newman, is total betrayal to the audience and the legions of us all who lov them. Bringing Michael and Kevin’s mother,Gloria and all her bags of chaos, does not make up for the shambles that the writers have created. Don’t even start on the chaos of Sharon, Ray, Adam and Chelsea, disaster…. WTF are they thinking???This is the worst storyline ever…all built around keeping Connor happy?????Give me a break….not dr behind this disaster is Devon, Nate,Amanda, her newly discovered mother and sister, they appeared briefly and disappeared, this disaster in waiting.SOMEONE PLEASE FIRE ALL THE WRITERS AND GET Melody Thomas Scott’s husband Ed Scott to come in and rescue this sinking ship….. they need an experienced leader to take over this sinking vessel.

Add the latest kyle ‘secret’ yet again…to your list Charles
Is another nonstarter
Its the latest in past redux stories of things happening off camera of things we know or care anything about
Poor Michael Mealor and Sasha Colle. They were in such a sweet young innocent romance with Summer as the antognist. This triangle could ve gone on forever as each couple had a rooting fanbase. Instead Josh Griffith dumped it mid story and instead we keep getting Theo and his amateur hinjinx.
Ughhhh. So frustrating

So right, Damien. I actually groaned aloud when creepy Theo revealed the latest “Kyle Caper”. Who cares? If I were Kyle, my first call would have been to Jack. Maybe he would have fired Theo and clued Lauren in about the Red Menace.

Josh Griffin was supposed to be the savior of Y&R writing woes, yet they managed to get the Emmy for best show… Go figure…. perhaps he just needs to get his mojo back….

It was Mal Young that won that Emmy. Griffith is the one who has undone everything Mal was creating. I can’t stand this writing. There’s no consistency. The only thing I was enjoying was Lilly and Billy. Now they’ve got Victoria acting stupid and Billy like a king of woes doormat

Days then GH,,i no longer watch the other two…

I don’t watch GH anymore the story line are horrible need to put back JaSam and Carson back together

There are only four soaps on the air, so of course they’re ranked 1-4. How idiotic for people to get so upset that their show isn’t #1! GH is #3 and it’s my main soap, with DAYS coming in as my second. I enjoy both soaps and am soooo thankful to have them still! GH is so much better than the ratings might suggest and IMHO deserves much better ratings. But I’ll say that these soaps are a lot better than the majority of programs in primetime. When you look at primetime show’s low ratings and how much they cost to produce, soaps look like a real bargain that the networks ought to do a better job of promoting. JMHO.

It’s upsetting only because the ratings matter to advertisers as we know. If they didn’t, I couldn’t care less where they came in. To see B&B which is the most redundant, boring, lackluster show beat GH & Days? That’s where the advertising dollars will go…to a crap show… while the other two could be at risk of cancellation…

Oh Rebecca1, so right. The endless unmerry-go-round of Brooke and Ridge. I’d rather watch water evaporate!

B&B is absolute garbage. Same old/same old, lazy writing. It’s mind-numbing; gave it up. I find it astounding, looking at the ratings, that they’re higher in the ratings than Days and GH, both of which I think are completely enjoyable; love them both.

Bring Danny Boaz diehard Y&R fan

The Gwen/Chad/Abigail storyline has been amazing. I thought the Eli/Lani storyline would be great, but am not thrilled this is yet another Vivian storyline. I would love to see the show move forward, away from gimmicky tributes to the past. I have grown tired of Clyde, Ivan, Vivian, and other cartoon villains. I miss the days of Victor causing chaos. Also, PLEASE no one ‘back-frim’the-dead” stories. The writers need to find a way to get Kristen out of jail. Her storyline with Brady is boring. I am not feeling the returns of Phillip and Chloe. Their chemistry seems a thing of the past. Lastly, why has Sarah started acting like a teenage girl? Her character seems too silly to be a doctor.

I am looking forward to seeing Jackee and her ties to the Carvers. I would love to trim the cast, and then recast Peter and EJ. Chad is great, but still seems too young. I would also love to see Johnny and Sydney come back with Sami.

Marcy Miller is an acting powerhouse and the writers need to show her as a badass, instead of wimpy and granola. Her scenes with Gwen and Chad should win her an Emmy.

Im tired of Ciara getting kidnapped 100 times…they cant think of anything else?

That’s ReRon for you… Kidnappings, baby switches, and Identity disorders. Repeat endlesssly…. that’s what he does.

To be fair though, Marlena’s been kidnapped far more than Ciara… and that’s just within the last year.

Ray, I wholeheartedly agree with your commentary! One point in particular: “Lastly, why has Sarah started acting like a teenage girl? Her character seems too silly to be a doctor.”

While I like the pairing of Zander and Sarah, it’s clear that, despite much heartbreak and angst, Sarah is now supposed to provide comic relief. But it’s all too forced and bizarre, almost hard to watch.

In general, I like when a soap injects some humor into characters/storylines, but it has to be written and executed well and believably…

I have seen episodes that my mother recorded back when Vivian was a daily part of Days. She is definitely not a cartoon villain. And Ivan was hilarious as Vivian’s major domo.

Ray,
I agree with all your comments starting with Marcy Miller who deserves an award for her acting as the betrayed wife of the stupid Chad who’s character has turned into a real jerk and I hope Abby dumps his ass! The twins birth and joy of their parents was ruined by the kidnapping by the nutty Vivian’s man- servent. I would love to see Kristen get out of jail and leave Salem for good. Iam sick if her obcession with Brady and his crazy notion that she’s changed.
I also totally agree about ” Silly Sarah” she is like a nutty windup doll on speed. I’d hate to be in the O.R when she comes tripping in with her actions, knowing she was going to operate on me. Now we’re losing Cady whom I love as Jennifer with no return of Melissa Reeves. Boy, can this show get any worse?
Hopefully Jackee will spice things up, one can only hope.

IMHO, GH is on fire at the time and so good and it’s my favorite…B&B, I only watch for Heather Tom and to hear the BEAUTIFUL background music, lol…B&B is horrible, like others said, same old stuff over and over that it’s sickening…Also regarding B&B, the way they all stand apart, I know due to Covid and Y&R is the same and a show I no longer watch…Look at GH, it basically looks normal with the way the film the scenes, why isn’t B&B and Y&R not able to do the same? Wakeup CBS/Sony, IMO Y&R is doomed and it’s extremely sad what this show has become…

I agree with the filming of GH and Y&R. It bugs the shit out of me that Y&R actors are 10 feet a part and dont hug someone they love. Deena died and all the Abbotts sat around 20 feet apart! Weird and disturbing! GH is basically normal and I commend them for doing a great job in these odd times.

Timmm
Boy are you right! What got me was the newlyweds saying goodby for God knows how long, Abby walks out leaving Chance, no hug or kiss . Chance wants to be alone and then leaves a note for Abby and for his mother whom he hasn’t seen in years, and Abby’s going to carry on having a baby with family and friends but without the most important person, a husband and father. Only a Newman would do this.

DOOL

Soaps have beyond peaked and with other options out there via streaming; it is very unrealistic to think they will bring in too many new viewers or any. Powers to be should be concerned with how to keep their audience (the average viewer age has increased to around 63 if I’m correct, Soap Opera Network put that out recently). I love GH and will continue to support it & the CBS drama’s. Days is too far removed from reality with poor plot camp writing and focus on the wrong characters. They would be better served to concentrate on core cast/veterans and stop bringing in more characters for short arcs, etc. They should use that money for production, their sets are horrible.

Lincoln, I totally agree re:Days…I tried watching the episodes that Jaime Lyn Bauer are on, oh how Days is no longer the show it use to be…IMO DOOL is horrible and so is the background music, very annoying. IMO Y&R and Days are the two shows that really have majorly deteriorate and it’s extremely sad what these shows are like today.

Ratings and quality of storyline don’t always match up. Y&R is helped by it’s time slot in many parts of the nation — airing earlier with less quality competition than GH, which goes against better talk shows.

On the other hand, in many markets, each soap doesn’t compete time slot-wise with other soaps. A live viewer could channel switch and watch all 4 shows in a row.

Regardless, Y&R benefits from a less competitive time slot than GH.

I am tired of sharron and Adam you all have to stop repeating the story lines . Why can’t sharron keep Ray and they fall in love . also jack needs a wife in his life and someone honest

Steve, you make some great points: Specifically, “Ratings and quality of storyline don’t always match up.” I must add, however, before the 30-year reign of Y&R as the #1 soap, GH was for years the #1 soap, achieving the highest soap ratings ever for the Luke and Laura wedding, never to be seen again — the ratings, not Luke and Laura! And that was during a time when there were quite a few more soaps; also, GH aired at 3 PM Eastern while Y&R had the same time slot it has now.

My larger point is that, in entertainment (TV, music, movies, etc.), ratings success (or sales, or box office) is not always commensurate with quality. I think we’re seeing that on display with this article.

In San Diego, CA: Days, GH and Y&R are all on at 1:00 PT. B&B is at 12:30, where its only competition is local news. If one doesn’t have means for recording devices, what a terrible choice to have to make!!

GH is the best soap ever!

Gh has messed up so many couples that’s it ridiculous story lines u can’t keep up don’t watch any more until they put those power couples back JaSam Carson
Trying to rewrite JaSam love story with Jason and Britt no chemistry all fake

I personally love General Hospital the best out of all the shows. I have watched it since High school. It is on fire now I tried the other soap Young n Restless but I found it boring.

IMO the only reason B&B saw an uptick in viewer’s was because of the Y&R Sally Septra storyline crossover! I’m over the constant Steffy/Liam/Hope storyline regurgitation! The writer’s storylines are so predictable it’s like rote memory. Rather sad, I’ve been watching Soap Opera’s since the early 60’s . The network’s cancelled all the well written one’s. Leaving we soap addicts with predictable merry-go-round storylines from boring writer’s.

General Hospital is Showing the Best Stories From the Mob war , to Sonny’s Memory loss , the Sasha/Michael , Willow/Chase turmoil , Franco’s illness

Marianne Lynch
I feel the same. I enjoy Sonny and his Mob while others just hate this part of the show. Luckily, there are enough Sl’s for everyone’s taste I think.

I don’t know why more people don’t watch Days. For me, it’s the best soap and have been for a while.

Y&R and B&B have some good moments, but also some blah stories. I don’t watch GH.

I tried but between some of the bad acting, poor sets, and dialogue with over the top characters, all it did was teach me to appreciate GH even more.

Days is a bit more fantasy than the other three soaps. So if that’s not your bag baby, you won’t like it. I don’t think acting is bad. Sets are fine to me.

These ratings are fake news! Y&R is horrible! I watch the show in 15 minutes! Jack is basically the new John Abbott, they cut Chance, Nina, Jill, Michael, Gloria, Kevin and Chloe are just decorations! Rey and Sharon have to be the worst couple ever! NuAdam sucks. I’m loving the new silent Chelsea! This show cannot be outscoring GH in the ratings. GH is normal looking, has so many talented actors and their stories are for the most part, interesting. GH#1!

Lol
Its not ‘fake’ news
Yes I agree y n r is the absolute pits but the only reason y n r is still #1 is not out of quality
Its the viewers loyalty for the cast and holding on to the memories of how groundbreaking the show once was soooo long ago
Cbs takes the viewwrship for granted and hasnt taken proper steps especially in the last maybe 15 years since the shows become progressively worse. However y n r has hit an all time new low. Whats worse than ‘bad writing’? Take a look at y n r , its ‘ no writing’! Absolutely nothing is going on here . Shows are filled with two characters repearing lame boring dialogue.

Pretty bad when they have to drag B&B stars over to light a flame. Bill and Sally are 10 times more interesting than any Y&R character!

Timmm
Right! Chelsea’s inner thoughts are priceless. Wait until she can move more than her arm, I hope Sharon can run fast. I hate her and Rey, they are like brother and sister. Never thought she’d agree to treat Chelsea as a patient especially with the method they are using, though it seems to be working.

With all the Impeachment stuff this week and no shows, the one I missed most was GH, but I did catch up with them later on UTUBE. Just watched the parts that I was interested in.

Don’t know where you get your numbers but I fought Y &R picked up what you said or what you lost.

Dante and Sam is just DUMB
You want somebody with Sam is should be Curtis or recast somebody to play Drew
But I’ll will always love Jasam!!

I have never ever been a fan, of The Young and the Retarded. Sorry, just never understood why it is still on. It will never have the magic of General Hospital!

Days

Days has the best storylines

I think the ratings are actually much higher, but the system hasn’t caught up, and that’s a bit of a problem, making it look like less interest than there is,
I mean that’s a good addition of viewers, but many people don’t even watch on network tv anymore, millions of people watch GH for example, all around the world now, but they may be watching from hulu, youtube premium, amazon prime, and other such sites,
They may not respond to surveys and they aren’t able to be tracked, (I guess if companies like hulu cooperated they could tally hits on episodes posted on their site) but the point is I know way more than 3 million people approximately are watching, there’s about 300 million americans and it seems almost everyone in my area watchs gh at least once a week, often more. Plus I’ve talked to people who watch from Canada, Ireland, England and even Mexico, so just using common sense id imagine world wide fan base is at least 100 million.

General Hospital

Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

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Maura West and Kelly Sullivan

It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.

The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.

Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.

Photo: JPI

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST

Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”

Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”

Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”

Photo: JPI

KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL

Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”

You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.

So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!

 

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General Hospital

Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

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Steve Burton

The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.

TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.

That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.

Steve Burton

Photo: ABC

STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES

GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.

Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).

Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.

GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS

Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.

Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.

Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.

So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?

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Jason and Britt

On the Friday, September 11 episode of General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship becomes strained to potentially the point of no return.

Things take a turn when an unglued Britt having been traumatized by almost being killed by Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Jason to back her up with the PCPD when she reports Anna for attempted murder.

However, Jason told Britt, he can’t. Jason shares that he does not believe Anna would have gone through with shooting her. Therefore, Britt was not in any real imminent danger. Britt is flabbergasted and hurt that Jason is refusing to tell the police what he actually witnessed for himself on Mount Emerson.

Britt

Courtesy/ABC

BRITT WANTS BACK UP FROM JASON

Jason counters that he can’t believe that Britt would want Anna punished. or sent to prison, or a mental facility after the trauma she endured while being locked up and mentally tortured while at Wyndemere.

He asks Britt, “How could you even say that you want her locked up or prosecuted for what she did when you knew she was being held prisoner and you did nothing to save her?” Britt is stunned by Jason’s response.

Coming up, official General Hospital spoilers share that on the upcoming Monday, September 14 episode, Jason confides in Carly (Laura Wright), while Britt is stung. In the video preview that aired at the end of the Friday, September 11 episode for this coming Monday, Britt says to Jason, “You don’t believe me. Do you?”

General Hospital head scribes, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte previously teased in their fall preview of the soap, “Britt and Jason have come a long way and fought a lot of enemies to be together. But the most stubborn obstacle to their happiness isn’t without, it’s within. Decisions Britt made to stay alive while under Cullum’s thumb will come back to haunt her and may prove too difficult for this unlikely couple to survive.”

So, what do you think will happen? Will Jason and Britt break-up over Britt’s lies and Jason’s unwillingness to report Anna’s crime against her? Do you want Jason and Britt to go their separate ways? If they do, will Britt become romantically involved with Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) ? If so, who do you pair Jason with? Anyone? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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