Days Of Our Lives
RATINGS: General Hospital #1 In Key 18-49 Demo For First Time Since 2014!
Courtesy/ABC
The ratings are out for the week of October 30th through November 3rd, and it was a big week for ABC’s General Hospital.
The series took back the lead in the key womens 18-49 viewers and rating share for the first time since 2014. GH was the only soap to add viewers in the key demo and gained extra points in the rating share as well.
In addition, GH was the only daytime drama to add total viewers for the week adding +13,000 bringing their tally to 2,763,000, and the show is now up from last year at this time by +125,000 viewers. The gang in Port Charles also saw increases in the 18-34 and 25-54 womens demos.
Days of our Lives was the only other soap not to lose viewers in a demo category adding +15,000 in women 18-34.
CBS Daytime sister soaps of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful saw dips in total viewers, while tying all-time lows in the 18-49 demo, and B&B also tying a low in the 18-24 demo, To see the entire ratings picture via SON click here.
Numbers are based on Live+Same Day ratings
(Compared to Last Week/Compared to Last Year)
Women 18-49 Viewers
1. GH 487,000 (+53,000/+37,000) *
2. Y&R 432,000 (-37,000/-164,000)
3. B&B 348,000 (-24,000/-146,000)
4. DAYS 347,000 (-20,000/-32,000)
* First time sole #1 since June 9-13, 2014
Women 18-49 Rating
1. GH 0.75/6 (+.08/+.05) ***
2. Y&R 0.67/6 (-.05/-.25) <—— ties low rating (2nd straight week) *
3. B&B 0.54/5 (-.03/-.22) <—— ties low rating **
4. DAYS 0.53/5 (-.04/-.06)
* Rounded to 0.7
** Rounded to 0.5
*** First time sole #1 since June 9-13, 2014
Time to be our Soap Opera Programming Executive Armchair Quarterback! Which soap opera is delivering the best daytime drama right now? Which soap is not? What changes or improvements would you make to your favorite soap opera to bring in more viewers? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
The June 22 episode of Days of Our Lives reminded us all of why Deidre Hall is iconic in the role of Dr. Marlena Evans. Here we are 50 years later, and Marlena is still the heroine of the long-running soap opera, and Deidre remains one of the most most recognizable names in the history of soaps.
To pay tribute, and to look back at the life and times of Marlena, the story starts with Marlena flipping through a photo album of her with John (the late Drake Hogestyn) over the years. As she misses him dearly, she gets a knock on the door and its none other than John’s son, Paul Narita (Christopher Sean).
With Andrew (Colton Little) in Salem working on a case, he sits down with Marlena, who says she can’t believe its been fifty years since she first arrived in Salem! Cue: Deidre’s first scenes on DAYS when she finds Mickey Horton (the late John Clarke) playing chess against himself inside the mental institution she worked.
Courtesy/Peacock
THE FLASHBACKS OF MARLENA’S LIFE
From there, viewers definitely got the cliff notes version of the history of Marlena and entrenched within them, some of the biggest moments in Deidre’s enduring run.
Paul thinks he is looking at 70s, and early 80s Marlena while going through her scrapbook, but he is actually looking at her twin, Samantha (Andrea Hall). Cue: when Marlena confronted Samantha about impersonating her, and then later getting a call on her radio show from the Salem Strangler (Jack Coleman as Jake Kostichek) who killed Samantha thinking it was Marlena.
In the present, Belle (Martha Madison) has arrived at this time to meet up with Paul, unaware of this trip down memory lane. She wants to go over the findings in the chess board mystery Stefano willed to Marlena and John, in private with him, since Marlena previously said she wanted nothing to do with it.
Back to the history lesson, Marlena speaks highly of Don Craig and even though their marriage didn’t work out, she could find a path forward with the new love her life, Roman Brady. (Wayne Northrop however is never shown, possibly to keep the story focused on John as Roman for confusion sakes?)
Paul sees a photo of a young Carrie (Christie Clark) in the album and Marlena says she was such a godsend after losing her baby. In fact, Marlena says caring for Carrie prepared her for her having and raising her own twins, Eric and Sami. Cue: The twin visiting Marlena in the hospital.
JOHN AND MARLENA’S LOVE CONQUERED ALL
Then, in a way to get through and incorporate the wild storylines only Marlena could have been in, she tells Belle and Paul, she has been through so much in her life, how lucky she was to find John, and some of the most unbelievable experiences no one could imagine. Cue: Marlena possessed by the devil and levitating from the bed. Next, John confronting Marlena being the Salem Stalker, where she admits she killed Alice Horton, pretends she needs help, then pulls a gun on her beloved John!
The comment is made by Paul and Marlena, that she literally has been to hell and back and she could not have survived were it not for her beloved John. Cue the big emotional highpoint clips; The Pier Scene! Marlena steps out of the fog when John sees her from a distance. After believing she was dead for four years, here she was before him in one of the greatest reunions in a soap opera love story in history. What followed were other times of the life of times of Jarlena.
Courtesy/Peacock
MARLENA’S ‘GIFT’ FROM STEFANO HAS A NEW CLUE
When Marlena makes a brief exit to the other room, Belle fills in Paul on the chess set Stefano left her mother and the photo of the Lire. Paul said he will investigate. Marlena comes back into the room and overhears, and says to promise her if things get dangerous he will back off, she does not want anyone hurt by Stefano’s games.
As the episode comes to a conclusion, it’s just Belle and Marlena going through the photo album giggling about 70s hairstyles and all the memories. Belle speaks on the impact Marlena has had in everyone’s lives, and that she is both the heart of their family and the heart of Salem.
An end card comes up acknowledging Deidre Hall’s 50th anniversary as Marlena, and we fade to black.
So, what did you think of Marlena’s walk down memory lane? Were you happy to see the flashback clips utilized throughout? Were you touched by the scenes and the performance of Deidre Hall? Let us know what you thought of Deidre’s 50th anniversary episode via the comment section below.
If you have ever tuned-in to the soap opera genre over the last 50 years, and witnessed some of the greatest romances, drama, classic and outlandish storylines of all-time, you would have seen Deidre Hall smack dab in the middle of it as longtime Salem heroine, Dr. Marlena Evans.
It was 50 years on this date, June 21, 1976 that Hall first appeared on DAYS on NBC which was its home for 57 years before it moved to its current streaming platform on Peacock in September of 2022.
In Hall’s first episode she was introduced as a psychiatrist treating Mickey Horton (John Clarke) at Bayview Sanitarium after he suffered a complete mental breakdown. Mickey learned that his brother Bill Horton (Edward Mallory) was the biological son of Mike Horton (Wesley Eure) with his wife Laura (Susan Flannery) and that he had been lied to for years and years. From that moment on, the rest is television and soap opera history. Days of Our Lives put Hall front and center.
Photo: NBC
There were so many heartbreaking and shocking story twists involving the beloved Marlena. One of the first was the historic crib death of baby DJ (Don Jr.) in 1980, Marlena’s infant son with Don Craig (Jed Allan). The story had never been told on daytime television and Hall’s performances received accolades from TV critics to fans when Deidre received thousands of letters from grieving mothers who had gone through the same thing in their own lives.
DAYS also brought Deidre’s twin sister, Andrea Hall Lovell to the show as her on-screen sister Samantha, who had a grudge and even locked Marlena up in a sanitarium and took her place! Fast-forward and in 1982, DAYS launched the Salem Strangler story where everyone believed Marlena was his next victim, only it turned out to be Samatha. Jake Kositchek (played by Jack Coleman) was revealed to be the actual serial killer.
Later, Deidre would assume the role of Marlena’s look-alike, Hattie Adams in 2004, once played by her sister, Andrea. Over the years, Hattie has come back to Salem and caused trouble giving Hall a chance to play a different type of character, then the always upstanding Marlena.
Photo: JPI
THE LOVES OF MARLENA
Deidre Hall struck gold with all her leading men: from the late Jed Allan, to Wayne Northrop as Roman Brady, and of course, her enduring love story with the late John Black played by the iconic Drake Hogestyn. In fact, Marlena’s 1986 wedding to John (who was believed to be Roman at the time) remains a favorite of fans to this day.
TOP MARLENA STORYLINES OF ALL-TIME
While the list is long, here are several that were some of the memorable during Deidre’s five decades in Salem!
The Possession (1994- 1995)
Considered one of the most ambiguous, outlandish and unforgettable story arcs in soap opera history, then Days of Our Lives head writer, James Reilly went there! Marlena was possessed by the devil! That included; the demonic eyes, hissing at father John (Black) the priest, morphing into creatures, and the classic levitating in her bed! It became a cultural phenomenon and cemented Deidre Hall’s status as a daytime television legend. Just ask Ryan Gosling!
Photo:JPI
The Affair with John Black (1993)
John and Marlena’s forbidden love could not be denied and they had passionate affair, while she was still married to the real Roman. Problem was her daughter, Sami (Alison Sweeney) caught her mother having sex with John on a desk that changed Sami forever.
The Salem Stalker Mystery (2003-2004)
In a shocker, Marlena was revealed to be a serial killer who bumped off several Salem favorites residents who were all alive on the island of Melaswen (spelled “New Salem” backward). Turns out, she was manipulated and gaslighted by Andre DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) to do the “killings” and had no memory of her actions.
The Pier Scene (1991)
This remains Michael Fairman TV’s all-time favorite Deidre Hall moment, which featured some of the best acting in the storied careers of both Hall and Drake Hogestyn.
In the story, a presumed-dead Marlena returns after four years. One foggy night on the pier, John is alone, and Marlena steps out of the fog to reveal herself, and is reunited with the love of her life. You can watch it any year, any decade, and in any moment, and it will have you reaching for the hankies again and again. (best music score fo a soap scene of all-time too!)
Photo: NBC
Kristen’s Secret Room Reveal (1997)
Marlena was caught in Kristen Blake’s (Eileen Davidson) elaborate web of lies, when she was held hostage in a secret wine cellar/room until John managed to track her down, leading to an iconic on-screen reunion. The classic catfight between Hall and Eileen Davidson was one for the ages.
It should be noted that Maison Blanche, Queen of the Night, Possession, Aremid and Lady in a Cage were all a part of classic DAYS storyline and all featured Hall at the epicenter of it from 1993-1996.
THE RECENT YEARS OF MARLENA
In recent years, DAYS brought back the possession 2.0 storyline under then head writer Ron Carlivati in 2021 where the devil leapt back in Marlena after taking advantage of a frail Doug Williams (the late Bill Hayes)
In 2025, viewers watched the end of the love story of John and Marlena, as John succumbed to injuries sustained in an explosion saving a vial of medication needed to bring Bo (Peter Reckell) back to life. Marlena has been a widow on-screen since June of 2025 as Hall as portrayed the good doctor struggling with her grief and to move on with her life since his death.
Photo: JPI
One story that never goes away is Stefano DiMera’s (the late Joe Mascolo) obsession with Marlena, his “Queen of the Night.” Even in death, Stefano is toying with her from the great beyond with the mysterious chess set and the missing “pawn,” that he had gifted John and Marlena in his will. The mystery is currently unfolding on all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives.
Tune-in to Days of our Lives on the Monday, June 22 episode as Marlena looks back at her 50 years in Salem.
Share your congratulations to Deidre Hall for this incredible 50-year milestone as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives in the comment section. Then let us know, what is your all-time favorite storyline or moment in the life of Marlena over the past 5 decades? And, just for kicks, and to celebrate this amazing milestone, here is Marlena levitating below circa Christmas Eve 1994.
Days Of Our Lives
Al Calderon Reflects on ‘Major Chapters’ Coming to an End on ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Brilliant Minds’
It’s been a bittersweet time for Al Calderon. The talented actor/singer/songwriter has watched from his vantage point to roles he loved so much come to their conclusion for different reasons.
In a heartfelt message posted to his Instagram story on Saturday, Calderon took a moment to share how grateful he was for the opportunity to play Javi Hernandez on Days of Our Lives, and nurse Nico Silva this year on NBC’s second season of Brilliant Minds. Currently, Brilliant Minds has two more episodes that will air on June 24 and the series finale on July 1.
Calderon expressed, “As I sit here reflecting on this lovely Saturday afternoon over the last two years of my life, I have two major chapters closing that have been part of my life every day for the last two years. We have Brilliant Minds. Our last episodes are wrapping up, and then my last scenes aired yesterday as me as Javi on Days of Our Lives.
Photo: JPI
“I’m just unbelievably grateful for the chance and the opportunity to be a part of something so much larger than me,” continued Al. “I (will) love Days of Our Lives forever, my family. Thank you for supporting me and supporting my decision to take the leap of faith and believe in myself and, and tell other stories. You know, it’s never goodbye. It’s always ‘see you later’ to me and just leaving with love and leading with love.”
Al concluded with a special mention to some very important people, the fans: “Thank you to the fans and the support from everyone, the lovely messages. So this next chapter, hopefully it’s not a dragon, hopefully it’s a gold coin.”
Photo: NBC
Calderon’s journey on-screen on Days of Our Lives began in October of 2024 and concluded this month. In one of his last appearances Javi was asking a favor from Gabi (Cherie Jimenez) before bumping into his ex, Leo (Greg Rikaart). In story, Javi has a new romance with Gus (Michael Ocampo), while fighting his feelings for Leo. The role of Javi will be played starting on June 30 by Jacob Martinez who takes over the role.
NBC decided to cancel the Brilliant Minds, after it split up the airing of its second season which began in the fall of September of 2025 and the back-half started airing after a long break this past May. Calderon joined the medical drama staring Zachary Quinto for the new season, which sadly was its last.
So, will you miss Al on Days of Our Lives and Brilliant Minds as his time on-screen has come to an end? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Britt and Rocco Say Their Goodbyes, Then She Gets Arrested; Anna Reveals “Nathan West” is an Imposter
‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Drops First Single EDM/Dance Track ‘If You Need Me’
Josh Griffith Out as Head Writer at ‘The Young and the Restless’
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Hope Floors the Runway and the Forresters!
‘Revenge’ 15 Year Reunion On Tap at Television Academy’s ‘Televerse’ Festival
Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric
Al Calderon Reflects on ‘Major Chapters’ Coming to an End on ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Brilliant Minds’
‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Karla Mosley Weighs-in on Dani Dupree’s Love Life Endgame: Are You Team Bill or Team Andre?
Deidre Hall Marks 50 Years as ‘Days of Our Lives’ Dr. Marlena Evans
‘General Hospital’ Head Writers Spill Some Summer Tea and Preview What’s Next for Jason, Anna, Cassius and Carly
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Britt and Rocco Say Their Goodbyes, Then She Gets Arrested; Anna Reveals “Nathan West” is an Imposter
‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Drops First Single EDM/Dance Track ‘If You Need Me’
GENERAL HOSPITAL: What Did You Think of the Return of Anna Devane, and What’s In the Letter?
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Kimberlin Brown Previews What’s Ahead for Sheila Carter
Christel Khalil Reveals She Almost Quit Acting After ‘That’s So Raven’ Audition, But Then Came ‘The Young and the Restless’
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General Hospital6 days agoMaurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric
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Days Of Our Lives6 days agoAl Calderon Reflects on ‘Major Chapters’ Coming to an End on ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Brilliant Minds’
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Beyond the Gates1 week ago‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Karla Mosley Weighs-in on Dani Dupree’s Love Life Endgame: Are You Team Bill or Team Andre?
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Days Of Our Lives5 days agoDeidre Hall Marks 50 Years as ‘Days of Our Lives’ Dr. Marlena Evans
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General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’ Head Writers Spill Some Summer Tea and Preview What’s Next for Jason, Anna, Cassius and Carly
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General Hospital1 week agoJequan Jackson and Robert Gossett Set for Return to ‘General Hospital’
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Recaps10 hours agoTHE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Hope Floors the Runway and the Forresters!
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General Hospital5 days agoGENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Carly and Lulu Make Plans to Rescue Their Children; Anna Looks Determined to Secure Her Freedom
Congratulations to GH. This Jason(s) story has been really good so far. They deserve to see that bump!
Days is the most improved soap at the moment…GH is somewhat better and i am tuning in more to both…glad Days is on Demand as i have too many medical appointments during the day !!!…i watch Y&R sometimes and enjoy that too!!!…just never could connect to Bold…
On Days it would had made more sense had Sami used Sonny and Will’s daughter Arianna to help jar Will’s memory instead of Will’s ‘killer’ Ben-i wouldnt want Ben anywhere near me!!!
I guess, Jimmy. You do have a point. But, after thinking about it, Will needs to relive the traumatic, horrifying experience to jar his memory. Ben is the only one who can do that.
So, maybe that’s why Ben is key to open those memories. But, Will and Ben can’t be alone together, LOL.
This really has to drive the Jason haters crazy.
(Insert demonic laughter here…..)
WOW!
I hope Days’ ratings go up! They should.
If you “WRITE IT” we will tune in, watch and rave about it !!!
#’s don’t lie. JASON-JASON storyline, Keeping it interesting
& fast moving is key. Bringing back STEVE BURTON was
in fact the booster shot the show needed.. Shook & woke
everyone up.
Amen, Fanny! This is all down to “The Burton Effect,” plain and simple! Not only did Steve’s return itself bring in more viewers, but the pivot back to other legacy players and storylines via his character has also had a huge impact upon the increasing ratings/satisfaction with GH. But that’s not to say that there’s no room left for far more improvement….Too many failed newbie characters of the past few years still remain in Port Charles and the moment they appear onscreen it’s back to square one all over again—no matter how much unsuccessful propping and shoehorning happens to try to make them fit in!!! Hence it’s imperative that this deadweight be given a one-way ticket out of town before GH can be declared well and truly back to where it should be.
@Shay, completely agree with your assessment of newbie characters.
They lack the ability to make us sit up and take notice… That takes
TALENT, which is immediately noticeable….last newbie to grasp our
attention was Nelle.
Always on point Shayster! The second and third tier players need weeded out!
Nelle
Amy
Chet
Jordan
Franco
@Timmm….Along with Nina and Alexis!!!! (Although I’m willing to let Chet stay….he has the potential to be an important character, sans his sister’s constant presence, of course! Maybe Kiki will end up being the “key” to his recovery???)
@Fanny….I do think that Jessica Tuck’s Cassandra has the potential to be a superb antagonist in the traditional soap opera sense, especially if she turns out to be Helena’s daughter…..I really hope that in her quest for Valentin she will end up being the instrument of evil that rids Port Charles of Nina once and for all!
@Shay…Can you imagine, yet another one of Helena’s offsprings…
a wrecking ball let loose on Port Charles. JT’s Cassandra could
pull it off.
P.S. Timmm’s right.. Chet’s got to go, maybe Amy can pack 4 both
of them and escort out of our orbit.
Oh, Fanny….I LOVE the idea of Cassandra being Helena’s progeny and carrying on her with her mission of destruction in Port Charles…provided the “Ice Queen’s” so-called demise is indeed a sad fact. (And I’m sincerely hoping it is not and that she is merely hibernating in some form of Cassadine-induced limbo for the duration…) Having said that, I actually like “Chet the Vet,” sans his overbearing sis, that is! It looks like maybe he is going to be on his best behavior from here on out, so perhaps we will find more appealing qualities to his character in the near future! Maybe he will even end up taking on the role of “Man Landers” when the dust finally settles on this unpalatable mess of a storyline! That would be okay, I guess…as long as it puts an end to the wailing and whining of Nurse Amy….I really cannot take anymore of her histrionics! Also, am I the only one who wonders if Maxie’s pregnancy will send that pushy femme into “psycho” territory since it’s pretty darn obvious she’s carrying a HUGE torch for Nathan???? I really do not want to consider the gory possibilities that scenario could bring since it appears that her ploy of milking Chet’s problems for her own benefit where Detective West is concerned is winding down.Then again, I should truly like to be proved wrong on that count, and simply see Amy and her OTT antics sent packing just like you said!
GH ratings have always improved with vets. They first showed a real and sustained improvement in Fall of 2012 when AJ came back, then the rescue of Duke that included Robert, the 50th anniversary, Robin’s return and now Steve Burton.
It isn’t just about the one actor or character but all the connections and history. That’s what soaps have to offer and it’s time GH gets it straight. All the new actors and new characters just don’t cut it.
Steve Burton is a GH icon. Jason Morgan is an iconic GH character with tons of connections across the canvas, even with so many Vets gone. Viewers returned for him, long time viewers and viewers in the 18-49 demo.
And to those writing fan-fiction or buying into the fan-fiction that SB is Jason Morgan, but actually Drew switched 20 years ago and Billy is Jason Q. We see the power of SB’s Jason Morgan and GH history. Screw the character of Jason Morgan and all that history and the viewers who came back will tune right out.
Yes, vets and key legacy characters are important to a show’s success, but new characters – when tied to core families – can work properly. And good actors can keep viewers intrigued with newer characters (as much horrible things that Ava has done, Maura West is quite often captivating to watch.) There needs to be a good balance. As a long time viewer, I’m happy to see Monica or Scotty once or twice a week, regardless of story. It’s when we get 4 days of Nina or Franco in one week and Mac and Felicia once a month that the balance is way off.
I will disagree with you again on the retcon idea for Jason Quartermaine. History is constantly rewritten on soaps. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Making Miller Jason Q would NOT have the show killing power that undoing Erica’s abortion did to AMC. Probably the stupidest retcon GH ever did was making Ethan Luke and Holly’s son. Longtime viewers were pissed that he cheated on Laura and were told long ago that Holly was unable to have children after she lost the baby while married to Robert. I’m not sure that a retcon in the Jason story would be worse than that.
Love to see Nina and Franco on. They managed to help carry a show that seemed as if they were given a blank script and ran w/it on their own. The return of SB seemed to have woken up the writers.
@Steve….It’s been pure heaven watching Monica front and center during the return of Steve Burton to the GH canvas….Her re-emerging presence really brings back the feeling this soap used to evoke, especially with the inclusion of all those vintage clips! (We need more such reminders of how relevant the remaining legacy characters are to modern day Port Charles….) Of course, that bliss quickly fades whenever the show swings back to the unwelcome antics of Nina, Nurse Amy, Jordan, Aunt Stella and yes, even the pigheaded, Julian-obsessed Alexis who has learned zilch from her previous amorous catastrophes. Talk about redundant! As for Franco….imposing his person into major storyline after major storyline has done nothing to make him any less of the local pariah…..ditto for Nina. No matter with whom she is tethered, she simply doesn’t fit into the show….Perhaps the promising new villainess, Cassandra, will be the instigator of her demise….at least, I certainly hope so!
Stunning post, Steve. As you know, I don’t know much about GH history….but, logic plays a big part in penning a story.
I, as anyone else, love the vets, yes. But, a soap is a living, ever-changing, pulsating story …..and, as such, new characters are vitally important when introducing fresh blood and fresh plotlines. Change is necessary ….part of nature. A story should cater to one and all, regardless of age.
As far as the two Jasons, I am beginning to get fidgety….impatient? Yeah, that’s moi. I trust TPTB to use timely discretion; pardon the pun.
As Timmm said….don’t fluke it up! How apropos, yes??
I am definitely into this story and in for the long-run, but, as I said from the get-go ( I know it’s a soap—it’s just that some reality does the mind good, once in a while), why couldn’t Liz or Sam know the difference between the ‘twins’ when intimate? Twins or not, I doubt two individuals have the same ‘set’ of tricks in their repertoire of lovemaking. I am no expert on men ( just one), but, I would think a woman can ‘tell’ with whom she lays??
I have always had a problem with that.
Shouldn’t these women have picked up, noticed that certain ‘maneuvers’ differed?
Have they had that many men in their lives that ‘one’ is like the other, thus, becoming a blur?
I don’t think it really matters if Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) is really Drew who was switched 20 years ago. He would STILL be the Jason Morgan/Quartermaine that we watched all those years… a rose by any other name is still a rose. It’s a technicality. If Billy Miller’s Jason was the Jason before his car accident with AJ…well…it would make sense that he wasn’t as keen on the business as Burton’s Jason and is different than the Jason Carly, Sonny and Sam knew.
Billy Miller original Jason Q before car accident…before he became Jason Morgan, before he got involved with Robin, Elizabeth and Sam.
Stever Burton as Drew…who was switched in the hospital after the car accident with AJ…awoke with no memories and became the Jason we and Sonny/Carly/Robin/Liz/Sam…everyone thought was JQ. It would still make sense.
I wonder if anyone would have a problem with these switched identities if Steve Burton was playing both parts…and instead of Billy Miller vs Steve Burton (and the Jason face/mannerisms etc) are the ones Jason fans identify with weren’t in the equation. Then it would be Steve Burton as Jason…or twin Steve Burton as Jason.
LOL. Does that make sense???
@Rebecca..It makes perfect sense to me, very well said.
Steve will always and forever be Jason to us.
Thanks, Fanny. LOL…but I do think it would make a difference if Steve was playing both roles. A lot of fans are more interested in “Steve Burton” being Jason…then which “twin” is actually Jason.
It doesn’t make sense because Jason had a piece of AJ’s dashboard surgically removed from his brain in early 2012. It would not have been there if he had not been in that accident with his drunken brother.
It’s actually a better story for Billy Miller & his fans if he’s a completely new character who has to find out what happened to him between the time Frodd threw him down the stairs as a child, and when Robin thawed him out in the Crichton Clark lab in 2014.
As for Steve playing both roles, he probably will be, to some extent. Because I don’t see Drew’s story being told without the generous use of flashbacks, as he either remembers things himself, or others who have known him (Tamara Braun’s new character will likely be the first) to relay their stories. And obviously the face Drew has in these flashbacks can’t be Billy Miller’s, because his face didn’t look like that before Ava ran over it with a stolen SUV.
The story of Jason Morgan is that he is Jason Quartermaine. He was injured in an accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury that caused amnesia and altered his personality. He then shunned his family who wanted him to be the person he was, who he could not remember being and he took up with the town mob boss and became his enforcer. The child of privilege, the golden boy was now a mobster who could not remember his previous life and his family and it tore them up.
All the drama, conflict, emotional beats, all the character pov, motivations and actions were based on that fact, that Jason Morgan mob enforcer was their Jason Quartermaine. Change that and you ruin everything. You change everything. All the characters were wrong, playing out an orchestrated lie for decades and went to their graves having been duped.
Look at the flashback they showed Friday of Monica and Jason. He tells her that raising Michael made him understand that she loved him no matter what, no matter how he changed, because she raised him. If he isn’t Jason Q, if she didn’t raise him, that scene means nothing. They are all playing out someone else’s drama.
Comparing a rewrite like that to the paternity of a child and whether the parents could have hooked up at that time is ludicrous. There is no comparison. Ethan’s paternity has no bearing on who he really is, how he lived his life and how he and other characters acted and reacted over decades.
And no, it wouldn’t matter if Steve Burton played both roles because the story and all I mentioned above still changes and is ruined. There is no need for this rewrite. The Q’s are dead, there would be no reunions except for Monica and Ned who is barely on. And even if they were, it wouldn’t be worth it, a great story would still be ruined and a character marginalized.
This is a prominent site and I’m sure the writers and producers check here to read Michael Fairman and check on what viewers are saying. So I’ll tell you this, you got a nice bump in ratings because people came back for Steve Burton’s Jason Morgan. They care about this character and his legacy. They invested for decades. Pull the rug out from under them and they will tune back out. The people on this site and who post on other platforms are mostly people who stuck with you and kept watching no matter what you did. They’ll take just about anything. They very well may not care. The people who have tuned out and tuned back in now do care. They’re the reason for your rise in ratings. I’d worry about them.
@AJQ…you R in fact 100% correct!!! We fans who have
stayed true to GH for decades… We’ve cared enough, so
much so in fact that we’ve never tuned out. We deserve
this win, we’ve earned it. STEVE needs to be, has got to
be the Original Jason.
AJQ
There is no set rule in soaps. Saying that if Billy Miller’s Jason is the real Jason would ruin everything would obviously ruin it for you, andd I’m sure many others. For me? And I bet others, it wouldn’t ruin a thing. I expect twists and turns in soaps. And saying if we change which twin is the real Jason then all the characters would have been duped…yeah….it does! Isn’t that the point?.” But that doesn’t mean their emotions weren’t real at the time, every single reaction etc was real for the friend/son/husband they thought he was. It’s like being in love…and then years later when after the the breakup the person says, “I THOUGHT I was in love.” The person WAS in love…if that’s what they felt at the time that’s what it was. It doesn’t change because you have a different perspective on it looking back. It was what it was in that moment in time…
By the same token the point of view you write about…Jason Quartermaine/Morgan and the people in his life…all the changes he went through and how it effected everyone…DID happen. Whether the cause was the car accident (I’m talking about, for newer viewers) that happened when AJ was driving and Jason woke up a “different person” or whether it was because, unbeknownst to us, he really WAS a different person…doesn’t matter. Because all that followed, whether it was from memory loss or because he was a blank slate to begin with…still happened.
All the feelings, emotions changes we, the audience and the characters went through in the show were real. Can’t change the emotions of the past. We STILL went through them, as did all the characters in the life of whomever Jason is/was.
I’m not saying Steve Burton shouldn’t wind up being THE Jason Quartermaine. Of course he feels right and comfortable…he looks, acts, talks like the Jason we all know. We missed him. So, it makes sense that’s who we want him to be. I’d be perfectly happy with that outcome. Perhaps the writers are weighing which would cause more viewer approval; higher ratings. The show probably has a lot riding on this decision.’
But, if it turns out Steve is Drew, I’ll be looking forward to how he evolves, who he attaches himself to and how it plays out considering he still would LOOK like the Jason those closest to him remember. Could be the catalyst for interesting stories ahead.
One could argue that those tuning back in (especially in the 18-49 demo) know only of Steve Burton from the days when it was the Sonny/Carly/Jason show and Jason had little interaction with the Q’s. I will agree that the character of Jason is unlike any in daytime history. That said, it allows for storylines that haven’t been tried before. To lure Steve Burton back, they had to sell him a story that would intrigue him. If he is indeed both Jason Quartermaine and Morgan, end of story and he’s back to being Sonny’s right hand. Whoever turns out is Andrew will have a long backstory to discover.
And no, comparing another major rewrite of show history is not ludicrous. It’s a soap — and anything can happen.
I commented on this in another thread and agree this would just kill the story and character of Jason Morgan. rebecca 1, no the point isn’t for characters to be duped. This twist and turn stuff seems like nonsense to me and thinking you were in love with someone and thinking someone was actually a completely different person is nothing a like.
As stated above and very well, that Jason Morgan is Jason Q was the story. Change that and you do ruin everything. It is ridiculous. If they make Jason Morgan, Drew, and he never was Jason Q, I tune back out.
MB: I’m going to try this for the 100th time and see if it posts. One hundreth time is the charm, right? Sigh…
You misunderstood both my points. I didn’t mean literally the point of the story was for characters to be duped…I meant the fact that ALL WERE, including both twins, Sam, etc…is the crux of the story. That all were living this alternate reality…BECAUSE they were duped!
As for my love analogy, I was responding to AJQ and his/her (?) feeling that to make Billy Jason Q and Jason M two separate people would change history and thus ruin the show. Not for me. Not for many. The emotions were all real because they lost Jason Q as he was before the accident with AJ. They mourned the loss of who he was…and they had to adapt to the man he became…Jason Morgan. That was all real…regardless of the reason. Sonny’s influence combined with brain damage? Or, because he was LITERALLY a different man. The end result…of all those years both onscreen and for us the viewer, were real at the time.The “history of WHY that happened would change…but the emotions, everything we felt, everything we/they experienced doesn’t change, isn’t negated. My analogy to love? If you loved someone in the past…and that’s the emotion you felt…the history ( of the emotions, the relationship) doesn’t change because you don’t love him/her anymore. It doesn’t change because you don’t feel it now. Whatever you felt was real at the time. Whatever the characters felt was real at the time. Regardless of the reason Jason Q changed, all the events and emotions that followed made sense because of what everyone believed. The history doesn’t change…just the explanation and the soapy switching of two brothers.
You say “Jason Morgan is Jason Q is the story…” It was. And now it may evolve to show how Jason Q and Jason M were BOTH the story, which we’re finding out now.
Not sure if that’s the way it’s going to play out. I think it’s great storytelling and gives a new element to a decades-old story that can fit in nicely. Heather indicated a few years ago there was another Quartermaine that no one knew about. Jason Q woke up a completely changed man; he never regained his love or loyalty toward his family. They said he was incapable of emotion…yet he felt it for Sonny, Carly, Michael, Sam…never again for his Quartermaine family. Maybe…because he never really knew them.
Just a theory and I think we’ll find out one way or another very soon. I’d be happy with either way it goes as long as it’s done well.
The vindication of Steve Burton!
I don’t think there is any denying that it’s his return which has boasted the ratings.
It seems that his return started good writing which has been absent for quite a while. There is some top of the line acting on GH and these stars were holding the show from being axed w/o good writing! I hope the writing continues to improve for everyone and NOT just for one person.
@Harry..Veritas be told!!!
Boy, these soaps are skewing older and older all the time. The 4 long-running daytime soaps cancelled since 2009 all got better demographic numbers than these toward the end. IMO, these shows must find some way to evolve with fresher, more realistic storytelling circa 2017 and maybe with some kind of different production model (not 5x/ week, 52 weeks/yr) if they’re going to have any real hope of connecting with and holding younger generations into the next decade. To be #1 among 4 current soaps with those numbers is anything but an accomplishment. GH is simply the best of the worst right now, which is not saying much at all. It’s such a pathetic, garbage shell of what it used to be during its glory days that it’s impossible to believe that it’s the same program.
Nick….what a buzz kill.
It’s just as easy to ignore Nick and his anti-soap agenda (which he’s never admitted to, but I know the truth)
The high ratings numbers will never come back as viewing options increase. Primetime Network TV has declined in higher percentages over the last 10 years than daytime.
A review of the production model is a good idea, as long as the DAYS version doesn’t become standard. A 5-month window from tape to air date doesn’t allow for adjustment to storylines that aren’t working. As ratings have gone down, so have budgets — and the shows have made adjustments. Perhaps the future is all recurring characters or short term contracts.
Regardless, GH should be commended for upping their game the past six weeks.
Oh, I feel what you’re saying, Nick….but, what of those of us who are not part of the glory days? Are we to be disregarded?
This is all I know, and I like GH right now. I guess ignorance is bliss, afterall? Well, that’s moi…ignorant, LOL.
I hear the same stuff about Y&R. It has its ups and downs, but I still enjoy it.
Are Abby and Scott about to do it? What will that mean for Sharon? Will the baby Melissa is carrying be Scott’s instead of Zach’s? Will the pregnancy even be introduced as part of Abby’s story?……and Dina? What’s going on with that spitfire?, LOL. She is a story unto herself….infinitely enjoying her.
……..not to digress with all these questions, but such scenarios interest me.
I don’t think it’s the storylines that are drowning the remaining soaps….it’s the skewed ( to use your word) shows taking over daytime…..too many talk ( nonsense) shows…..too many cooking shows…..too many uninspiring shows catering to the unaspiring. I love my soaps…..at least they offer intelligent conversation to be had, regardless of the subject matter.
C’mon, Nick…..you must still want to watch, yes?! LOL.
Congrats GH :0) I sure am glued to my T.V. @ 1;00p.m. everyday and thank goodness for the DVR’s 🙂
Great story, powerful performances by all, perfect recipe for ratings to soar. This is what soap drama is all about, when you get a story line that is so epic that it makes you have to tune it everyday. This was missing from my GH screen for awhile but lately all characters and actors on canvas are bringing their A-Game, my only complaint is that I miss Rebecca Budig and wish Hayden didn’t leave Port Charles, hoping she will someday return. Keep up the good work GH, you have made me one happy soap fan!
The only way Budig probably returns would be temporarily to help usher Easton out if he chooses not to renew his contract. I’m on the fence with Finn and Anna, which is actually better than a month ago when I was not a fan. Hughes usually brings out the best in her screen partners.
I am still holding out hope that Hayden will return with hers and Finn’s kid.
Love RB….always have.
I am not liking Finn and Anna—so unsuited. Need more time.
I think she will return especially if Finn and Anna take off as a couple because what’s better then a couple on a soap is a triangle so hopefully like you said she will return sooner rather then later.
I never took to Hayden. I honestly don’t miss her at all. If she does come back it will be with her and Finn’s baby…throwing a wrench into a Finn/ Anna romance. I so hope not; found her boring…their relationship the same…and I love Anna and Finn. i
Whether the GH viewers stick around is the question. If so, it proves that Steve Burton is worth the high cost & firings.
We lost some great actors this year or so , so I’m not so ecstatic on this issue. Perhaps if we had top of the line writing to go w/some phenomenal acting all along the return of SB wouldn’t seem so monumental.
Not surprised – GH is on fire right now.
Leason learned GH? Now, make him real Jason and please do something good with BM. Hopefully, Tamara’s return will be for him. Break up Kevin and Laura now please. She needs a real lead, the new doctor sounds good.
Laura and Kevin are one of the best couples on the show. It would be great to see more of them, but apparently Genie has a contract with the lowest guaranteed episodes on daytime.
Women and ME are coming on strong for Steve Burton! He has done a wonderful job. As long as they carefully tell this story and dont FLUKE it up, the ratings should continue to climb and our show will shine once again!
Don’t “fluke it up,” Timmm???? That’s brilliant, I love it!
That’s our Timmmbo, Shay!!!! LOL.
@Timmm…I’m on that Steve locomotive as well Tim !
As long as the storyline continues to move forward at
this speed, it shouldn’t derail. FLUKE was an epic FAIL
which crashed and burned, later rather than sooner.
Don’t fluke it up– that is going to be my new go to saying–LOL
the Jason story is driving viewers back to GH,Days has improved but it may be hard to bring viewers back that left during previous regimes. the two cbs soaps are the two worst soaps at the moment. Bold went from being so good a few years ago to so bad now. it’s only been two weeks but the new writing on Y&R does not look good. the show is starting to feel like Pratt again.
I don’t think Mal Young will make a difference…I miss the Bill Bell days and we will IMO never see the classic days of Y&R again and I don’t know how much longer I will be watching…I really had hope with Sally Sussman and Kay Alden and I just don’t think that SONY/CBS cares about Y&R and they aren’t listening to fans.
I started watching GH again and loving it since Steve Burton has returned…I think the writing is better…
Awwww, Kevin….I hope the network does care about Y&R. I have a feeling something great is in the air….
I think Chelsea is hiding something ( involving Jordan) which will destroy her relationship with Nick.
And, Sharon will find out about scuzzy Scott and Abby, leaving a wide path for Nick and Sharon to be together, again…Finally!!
I will give Y&R a bit of a grace period and wait…..
Celia, I appreciate your input…I will be sticking with Y&R at least through April of next year…Celia, I also want Sharon and Nick back together for I always loved them from the very beginning…Folks, I am so sorry to bring this up again but if they would bring back the beautiful classic background music which has been a staple for the show since the very beginning along with classic character driven stories with feelings/emotion along with some mystery and suspense then I will feel we have Y&R back…The background music they use now does not cut it and does not go with the show…Everyone have a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all…
I hope gh keeps the momentum going and while I’m sure the tale of the two JASON s has helped the show I also think the other stories are just as good , love Jessica tuck as Cassandra and the surprising pairing of Anna and Finn .
GH had been gawdawful after RC left and the Queens of Snooze took over..
Those two woman could put fans in a coma from boredom..
Not only was GH moldy stagnate boring it was an overkill of STUPID!
Being one of the Snooze Queens is still on board I have to give ‘Chris Van Etten ‘ a {{{HUG}}} and a BRAVO !!
GH got itself some Young Blood 🙂
It was Jeans idea. the 2 Jasons, and I give her props for that..
However it is Chris Van Etten that has brought it to awesome.
//no way in hades are Shelly and FV on the top of this one. we saw their comatose work the past 4-5 years..
Wow, someone that sees things they same way as myself. I agree w/all of your writing or lack there of comments!
@su000… Unfortunately Ron C, contributed to his own dismissal as
head writer on GH, due to the “FLUKE” debacle & w/ the helpful hand
of one actor who shall remain nameless. No love lost there, for sure!!!
I for one truly believed that was a grave mistake…since Ron was a
witty,fun,innovative,interesting,intelligent writer…who simply needed
a co-head writer to even out the CRAZYYYYYYYY. Chris V E….
could’ve / should’ve been that writer. Talk about a dream team!
Hi Fanny…
Not sure if the actor you’re talking about (but not naming) is Sean Kanan…but from what I read Ron was really obnoxious to Sean…starting with comments about Sean’s weight and then relegating him to the pickle relish story. LOL…I mean…look at the story Steven Burton is getting and compare it to Lila’s relish. I can see where Sean was a bit “perturbed.” And then killling AJ off? HORRIBLE decision! As a “newcomer” to GH (I’m talking about Ron) he shouldn’t have messed with a legacy character so many of us loved and were thrilled to have back.
I loved Ron’s work on OLTL. I agree for the most part he’s a good soap writer. And I (as a OLTL fan) was thrilled when he brought on some of the OLTL actors. But…his AJ decision and his unprofessional attitude…insulting attitude toward Kanan is off-putting.
But, yes, it probably would have been something to see him teamed with Chris as writers. On the other hand…GH is doing great without him at the moment!
Shelly could have been a good balancer with Ron as well. But Fanny is right, ratings were diving with Fluke, Denise Demuccio and other lackluster storylines. Add to that his childish treatment of Sean Kanan and his fate was sealed.
The beginning of the Altman/Van E writing period has proven to be exciting and faster paced. Unlike a few months ago, when I came close to removing GH from my DVR.
hi Fanny..
you said– ;; Unfortunately Ron C, contributed to his own dismissal as
head writer on GH, due to the “FLUKE” debacle;;
It was Frank/FV that did the Fluke story, not RC..
RC had written Tony out……….
FV then called Tony into his office and offered him the Fluke story, a story Tonny always wanted to play, 2 Lukes, so to say.
Tony agreed and stayed on..
That put RC in a spot to rewrite Tony’s exit.
And RC had the pressure of keeping the Fuke story alive while Tony was gone for 6 months..
Nonetheless, RC gave Tony an academy award winning exit with the black & white unforgettable exit,,
@Fanny….I believe you are speaking of “The Actor” who famously referred to Ron C. as “The Writer!”….Yes?
@Rebecca…It wasn’t Sean. Who shouldn’t have taken that sort of
treatment from anyone…no matter who they were!!!
@su000… Let’s agree that Ron C. wrote some of the best scenes,
episodes, storylines during his tenure on GH. Ultimately he was
bound to be the fall guy because of his title “Head Writer” regardless
of who helped come up w/ the ideas behind them.
Could not watch GH under RC, there was no dialoge and wat to much going in without any real depth, it did not feel like GH, those ladies u refer to helped reset the show and brought it back, yes it was supposed at times but Chris van etten seems to be bringing a fresh and younger , well needed
Agree with you J malnar…Ron C writing is not what I enjoy and that’s why I am not going back to DOOL…
The best show in town. I’ve been a loyal fan of GH since before there was a Luke and Laura. And I’m telling you, this has been a long time coming. They are clawing their way back to the top thanks to the return of Steve Burton and the awesome rejuvenated writing team. Keep it up GH!!!!!!!! The ride is awesome.
Congratulations to General Hospital! I’ve not enjoyed the show this much in a long time. 🙂
Today’s episode was sensational!
I am so surprised how much I have beenenjoying GH again. What happened? Better, writing, pacing, connection of story and characters, and of course the return of Steve Burton, which has proven to be a big boost to the show. So glad the ratings are reflecting all the improvements on the show.
I want to see DOOL keep rising in the ratings. Ron has done an amazing job reviving this show! Both GH and DOOL are watchable again.
Have always only watched and liked the ABC soaps…but do wish One Life To Live would come back !
I grew up with their slogan “Love in the afternoon” wake up ABC and reclaim your past glory !
GH is still a miss for me. I find no reason to invest in the story of a career criminal with over 50 arrests (according to Diane on today’s episode) who is fighting to regain his life with the help of his best friends, a mob boss who killed the career criminal’s brother and that mob boss’ shrill wife who helped cover up that crime. All this story does is convince me that Jason’s kids are better off with Billy Miller as their father.
Not surprised to see Y&R shedding viewers. Mal Young’s approach where most episodes equal one day in Genoa City is a total turn off. Soaps are about the exaggerated drama and when you stop having cliffhangers that carry over from one episode to the next viewers have no reason to tune in to see the resolution. Soap viewers don’t care about the sense of real time — we care about the drama and seeing all the beats of a story played out like no other genre has the ability to do. I think a year from now CBS is going to regret replacing Sally Sussman and Kay Alden because they were doing some real soap building with their work.
B&B was removed from our DVR the second the Sheila story was over.
DAYS is the only soap that is firing on all cylinders right now. With the exception of Claire and Tripp, I’m interested in every storyline and anxious for the next episode. Best of all, Ron C is telling a variety of stories (with that all but forgotten staple of the genre, ROMANCE) that will have ripple effects for the characters and generate future story.
Alan, I so agree with you 100% on what you said about Y&R and I am not impressed with Mal Youngs vision on Y&R…Mal says he cares about the show, no he doesn’t and neither does CBS/Sony…I think I am going to be turning it off one day for we will no longer see the glory days of Y&R…doesn’t even feel like Y&R anymore and I already miss Sally and Kay…
GH has been good the last month. I’m not FF’ing my DVR for almost entire episodes like I used to (for several years).