General Hospital
RATINGS: ‘General Hospital’ Makes Strongest Gains in Total Viewers, Plus Key Demo Highs in Over Three Months
On the strength of a dramatic week of story in Port Charles, General Hospital bounced back in the latest Nielsen ratings data for the week of May 4-8, 2026. For the first time in five weeks, the ABC daytime drama series was back over averaging 2 million total viewers.
According to the most recent ratings report from Soap Opera Network, GH also delivered a 17-week high among the key Women 18-49 demo with a 0.19 rating share, and a 14-week high in the other key Women 25-54 demo with a 0.26 rating share.
However, the other big news is that of all four broadcast television soap operas, General Hospital showed the most gains in its total audience of the week adding an impressive 192,000 total viewers, plus being up 151,000 year to year at this time.

Courtesy/ABC
GENERAL HOSPITAL DRAMA HAS VIEWERS TUNING-IN
In story, the week featured, the explosive showdown between Cassius (Ryan Paevey) who is pretending to be his dead brother Nathan and Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) where he then takes her captive and locks her in the secret room that was previously used to hold Anna Devane hostage. In addition, the mystery of the late Delilah and baby Phoebe widened as Ethan (Nathan Dean) met the little bundle of joy, and then went to burn a photo of Delilah at the pier, promising no one will know their connection and that he was so sorry he was not there for her.
The climatic moment of the week featured the brawl between Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) and Brennan (Chris McKenna), which saw Nina (Cynthia Watros) accidentally stab Jack with a syringe of the paralytic drug that was supposed to be used for Drew (Cameron Mathison), who was in the other room of the house starting to come out of his locked-in state.
The week kicked off with Aladdin star, Michael James Scott performing at the Savoy, when he came to Port Charles in the last of the series of three episodes in the GH/Broadway crossover that saw Gio (Giovanni Mazza) and Emma (Braedyn Bruner) travel to New York for Gio to reunite with the Broadway star, and it culminating in his appearance at Curtis Ashford’s (Donnell Turner) nightclub.
The Young and the Restless also had some notable numbers for the ratings period, as they remained atop the soap scoreboard with averaging 3,210,000 total audience. The CBS soap brought in +67,000 additional viewers for the week However, the series is way up year-to-year with viewers having added +299,000. Y&R was also number #1 this week in all key women demos: 18-49 and 25-54.
The Bold and the Beautiful remained in the number #2 position in total viewers with 2,738,000, but lost – 57,000 during the ratings week. But, the big story here is Y&R’s sister soap is actually up +371,000 viewers from this time last year; more than its competitors. Elsewhere, Beyond the Gates came in with 1,627,000 total viewers for the week dropping -28,000 from the previous ratings period. However, like all the network soaps, they too, showed an increase year-to-year adding +89,000.
It should be noted that the ratings picture is comprised from Nielsen’s Live+Same Day Big Data + Panel for the week of May 4-8, 2026.
So, what did you think of the ratings performance of General Hospital for this ratings period? Which soap are you most intrigued by to keep you tuning-in? Which is not piquing your interest at this point in time? Let us know via the comment section below.
Love General Hospital every day
I hope Anna comes back this week!
GH is can not miss TV
Wonderful news for my fav, GH! Well deserved!
General Hospital is the Soap Opera that I cannot miss. Everything else in my life gets paused for that hour each weekday. I do not answer my phone during that hour and no one but a cop would make me answer my door!
I totally agree. If GH has started when I turn on my TV, I will wait for the next hour when it’s scheduled on another channel. I do not want to miss a WORD. I am an addict for the past 25 yes. Just turned 74 and GH is my family
Cannot understand how Young and the Restless is still number one. It is so terrible now. It is so repetitive. General Hospital is 10 times better than Young and the Restless right now. People are watching it just because of old loyalties.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’ Head Writers Spill Some Summer Tea and Preview What’s Next for Jason, Anna, Cassius and Carly
This summer, Port Charles is set to sizzle with major returns, the culmination (or is it?) of the Sidwell/Cullum cold fusion story, the introduction of “Z” and so much more.
General Hospital Daytime Emmy Award-winning co-head writers, Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten served up the tea in a preview of what’s to come in the next few months to Soap Opera Digest as they discussed the main characters and stories that have viewers tuning-in.
First, on everyone’s minds is the imminent returns of Daytime Emmy winners and enduring fan favorites, Steve Burton (Jason) and Finola Hughes (Anna). According to Korte and Van Etten, the Jason we see next has changed, but is it for the better? Jason left the canvas in early March after being taken into custody by the WSB for allegedly shooting director, Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes), when he actually covered for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) .

Courtesy/ABC
JASON HAS A NEW OUTLOOK
What we do know is Steve Burton first returns on the upcoming July 13th episode which is the soap’s 16,000th episode. In the story, the co-head scribes elaborate, “His (Jason’s) imprisonment has had a profound effect on his outlook, and how he intends to conduct the rest of his life. His decision will have big implications for Danny (Asher Antonyzyn), Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), the Quartermaines, Anna and especially Sonny (Maurice Benard).”
ANNA FACES THE EFFECTS OF BEING GASLIGHTED
When Finola Hughes is first seen and back in action as Anna Devane, it’s a slippery slope for her, because for months, she has been locked up (and off-camera) in some mental clinic in France, after being gaslighted and drugged by Sidwell/Cullum and company. However, she has the intel on Cassius (Ryan Paevey)!
According to Korte and Van Etten, “We’ll begin to see the long-term effects of her imprisonment and gaslighting at Cullum’s hands. Any happy reunions with friends and family are colored by counsel from a less-than-reliable source. We’ll see echoes of Anna’s earliest incarnation as she returns to Port Charles with deadly intentions.”

Courtesy/ABC
CASSIUS GIG AS ‘NATHAN’ EXPIRES
Speaking of Cassius, the truth of his duplicity will come to light after posing as his twin brother, “Nathan” for months. The GH head writers share, “Cassius risks a clean getaway to say goodbye. Cassius’s life as Nathan comes crashing down, and we’ll learn whether his masquerade has changed him for the better. But in the end, his legacy will not be determined so much by his own decisions but by the choice of someone he leaves behind.” Is this the end of the line for Cassius, for now?
Then, GH has began to tease that WSB director and double agent, Ross Cullum has a superior known as Z. Who will play Z? Could Z be just as despicable or even more so than Cullum? Carly (Laura Wright) is on her way to do battle with the higher-up, as her feelings for Valentin (James Patrick Stuart), who has to sacrifice himself and his freedom to save everyone else, has grown.

Courtesy/ABC
CARLY AND Z
According to Elizabeth and Chris, “Carly takes it upon herself to save Josslyn not only from Cullum, but from the WSB itself – which means going head-to-head with the formidable Z. Carly means to get revenge on Brennan (Chris McKenna) for luring Josslyn (Eden McCoy) into the WSB. Any future with Valentin is at the mercy of the WSB… as well as the multitude of people back in Port Charles who can’t stand Valentin… and one who can – Anna Devane.”
And from the sounds of it, Britt when back at Port Charles and at her job at GH, will cross paths with newcomer Dr. Tristan Roberts (the incoming Dean Geyer) who doesn’t seem to be so keen on her (or is he?). Korte and Van Etten add, “It’s when Britt finds a new low that she receives a kind look from a lost love.” Is that Jason?
So, from what we previewed above, what are you most looking forward to this summer on GH? The return of Jason? The return of Anna? Sidwell and Cassius getting their comeuppance? Carly coming face to face with Z? What happens with Britt or something else? Let us know via the comment section below.
General Hospital
Jequan Jackson and Robert Gossett Set for Return to ‘General Hospital’

This summer will be a busy one in Port Charles with newcomers and longtime favorites returning to the canvas in July. According to Soap Opera Digest, now you can add two more names to that list when two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Robert Gossett (Marshall Ashford) and Jequan Jackson (Quinn).
As GH viewers know, Jequan Jackson was introduced as Quinn back in November of 2024, who was Kai’s (Jens Austin Astrup) PCU football teammate. In real-life, Mark Teschner (casting director, GH) and the soap’s producers auditioned Jackson for the role of Kai, but then cast him as Quinn instead.
The last time anyone saw or heard from the character was back in February of 2025 after he went in on Trina (Tabyana Ali), blaming her for his football career-ending injury that he sustained. Quinn believed it was because of her, and Kai not being focused on just being the star football player that he was, which led to the injury.

Photo: ABC
CAN MARSHALL TALK SOME SENSE INTO CURTIS?
Robert Gossett will be heading back on-screen as Marshall just in time as his son, Curtis (Donnell Turner) is need of some council, anger management, and help. Portia (Brook Kerr) is set to give birth to Curtis’ child. Meanwhile, Curtis is in a whole heap of legal trouble for punching out Dr. Isaiah Gannon (Sawandi Wilson) and potentially ending his surgical career due to the damage to the bone and the tendons in his hands.
The veteran actor has already racked up two Daytime Emmy Awards for his role as Marshall in consecutive years, 2023 and 2024, and in 2022, Robert was nominated in the Guest Performer category as well.
The timing of Quinn returning to the show is interesting. Does something happen to Kai since Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) knows he and Trina have evidence that she shot Drew? Is Quinn back to cause trouble for Kai and Trina, or is something else about to play out in the romance department? Stay tuned!
So, intrigued by the upcoming returns of Jequon Jackson and Robert Gossett to Genera Hospital? Let us know via the comment section below.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Dante and ‘Nathan’ Have It Out, Valentin and Carly Share Passionate Moments Which May Be Their Last
On the June 16 episode of General Hospital, the PCPD under acting police commissioner Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) is in a bit of mess and does not go unnoticed by ADA Turner (Nazneen Contractor).
First, there is the whole Chase (Josh Swickard) defending Willow Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) over Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot), who he arrested for allegedly tossing Willow in the waters next to the Quartermaine boathouse. Turner has had it with Chase’s good guy act and how he tampered with evidence in her case against Willow for shooting Drew.
Later, Dante and Justine question “Nathan” (Ryan Paevey) about Sidwell’s escape while in his custody. Turner is not buying his cover story that he was ambushed by Sidwell and his men. Once “Nathan” left the interrogation room, Turner went in on Dante about having “Nathan” on the force after seven years away, and Chase she views as a “dirty cop.”
However, Dante defends both of his officers, but Justine warned that “Nathan” and Chase’s behavior would reflect poorly on Dante as commissioner and she should really think about that. Later, Dante has a terse confrontation with “Nathan” on how he botched a prison transport and that he better watch his back as Justine is one step away from turning this over to Internal Affairs.
COP MADNESS
Next, “Nathan” apologizes for the way he handled the situation with Rocco and says he feels badly. But then in the twist, Dante said that he was grateful that “Nathan” had been there for his son in his time of need (referencing after Rocco shot Cullum and covered it up).
Then, there’s the newest police officer in the precinct, Joe Fitzpatrick (Jonathan Bennett). He may actually be on to “Nathan’s” double life when he questions him about a syringe found in Britt’s room at Bobbie’s. “Nathan” made up a story to counter Joe’s, that he was not aware that his sister was taking anything for her Huntington’s disease diagnosis. Joe called the forensic department lab wanting to know what drug was exactly in the syringe.

Courtesy/ABC
BEFORE YOU GO
At Carly’s (Laura Wright), Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) tells her that he must travel to Geneva to speak to the head of the WSB, named Z. Valentin feels it’s the only way to save Josslyn if he informs Z about Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) being a double agent. Valentin shares with Carly that he has to stop Cullum from bringing his dangerous cold fusion device online. Carly is beside herself. She doesn’t want Valentin to sacrifice himself by turning himself into the organization who has made him a fugitive in the first place. Valentin stands firm that he must meet Z in person.
Knowing that revealing himself to the WSB meant he was likely going back to prison, Valentin asked Carly if she’d get in touch with his daughter, Charlotte so he could say good-bye to her. Next, Carly and Valentin make their way to the bedroom to make love, which may be for the very last time, if Valentin is caught and put back in Steinmauer Maximum Security Prison.

Courtesy/ABC
CAUGHT BY CULLUM
At the same time while at Wydemere, Cullum is talking with one of his WSB operatives. Now, he is pondering if Valentin and Sidwell were working together all along. Next, Cullum entertains the idea of involving the FBI to locate Britt and Rocco. He says he plans to kill them both once he knows of their whereabouts. Cullum sees the only other threat to the completion of the cold fusion project to be Anna Devane.
Cullum wants to track the location of the unidentified person who called the private clinic in France trying to get in touch with Anna, while pretending to be Kevin Collins. When the agent came back with a report, he says it emanated from a cell tower near Shoreline Road. It’s in the that moment that a light bulb goes on for Cullum! Valentin is in Port Charles and hiding at Carly’s!
So, what do you think of the PCPD cops, Chase, Joe and “Nathan?” Who should Dante fire? Do you think Valentin will go the run?Are you digging Carly and Valentin’s relationship and want it to continue, especially with Finola Hughes on her way back as Anna next month on-screen? Weigh-in via the comment section, and in case you missed it, you can check out our latest interview with Dominic Zamprogna below from his appearance on the Michael Fairman Channel, where he talks the PCPD cops, Rocco on the run, and more.
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