Days Of Our Lives
RATINGS: GH big winner spikes to #2! DAYS still at bottom despite gains!

Courtesy/ABC
Seems like everyone and then some tuned in the week of March 21-25th, as the Jake/Josslyn drama begin to seriously unfold. Thus General Hospital, for the first time since March of 2005 has jumped to the #2 position in total viewers gaining +236,000 viewers!
Meanwhile in other news ratings news, One Life to Live scored viewers gains and remained at #4 for a second week in a row, and Days of our Lives which still dwells at the bottom as the lowest rated soap, did gain +45,000 viewers last week, but still tied a record low in total households for the second straight week.
Y&R lost a significant amount of viewers that week with a total of 196,000, but still is steady at number one. View the complete ratings from Soap Opera Network here!
Days Of Our Lives
‘Brilliant Minds’ Officially Canceled After 2 Seasons at NBC; DAYS Alum Al Calderon, OLTL Alum Teddy Sears and Zachary Quinto Among the Cast
After languishing on the bubble for months, on Friday, NBC handed down the decision and canceled the medical drama Brilliant Minds after two seasons.
Brilliant Minds stars Zachary Quinto as neurology physician Oliver Wolf, who’s character and the series is inspired by the life and books of neurologist. Oliver Sacks. The series focuses on the medical mysteries of the mind, as Wolf a larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns explore the last great frontier, the human mind, while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.
The final six episodes of what will now be the end of its second and final season were already set to air beginning on May 27, after being pulled off the network schedule in February as viewership saw a steep decline. Brilliant Minds second season became the lowest-rated drama on linear TV viewing, which didn’t bode well fo a network renewal, although it had its hard core fan base.

Photo: NBC
There are some exceptional notables in the cast along with the talented Quinto that includes Days of Our Lives alum, Al Calderon (ex-Javi Hernandez) who joined the series in its second season as Nurse Nico Silva, and One Life to Live alum, Teddy Sears (ex-Chad Bennett) who plays Wolf’s love interest and fellow physician, Dr. Josh Nichols.
The rest of the talented cast includes: Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Donna Murphy, John Clarence Stewart, and Brian Altemus.
In an ironic twist of fate on Thursday, April 30, Days of Our Lives finally revealed the actor who was Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Javi, when they announced that actor Jacob Martinez had now stepped into the role. Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming new episode, Calderon left in the spring of 2025, but will be seen in the part for the final part this month, and then on June 20, Martinez debuts as Salem’s new Javi.
Taking to his Instagram with a sorrowful and heartfelt post on the Brilliant Minds cancellation was Teddy Sears who wrote, “Thank you, Brilliant Minds. I got the call today and I didn’t want to hear, but I knew that it would come, You have to be a particular vintage to quote Don Henley from memory, but that’s the line that came to mind earlier today after I got off the phone with our inimitable showrunner Michael Grassi who delivered the news that NBC has cancelled the series”.

Photo: NBC
Sears continued, “To say that I feel sad to be moving on from these stories, this character, and this cast and crew just doesn’t paint the entire picture. I’m sad, sure. But I’m also deeply grateful that I got hired to play this part, so proud of the stories we told, and the other actors I got to play alongside. I’m excited to see what comes next, what adventures await, and terrified to be without a professional home. A quick and heartfelt thank you to everyone, all over the globe, who found us and found themselves in us, in our characters and in our stories. We wouldn’t have been able to tell them without you. And we still have 6 fresh episodes yet to air, and I do hope you tune in enjoy the remainder of the series. They’re the best we’ve done.”
As he wrapped up his sentiments, Sears signed off with, “The more I know, the less I understand. All the things I figured out I have to learn again. I’ve been trying to get down to the heart of the matter. But everything changes…Thank you, Brilliant Minds.”
The medical drama was created and executive produced by Michael Grassi alongside Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Lee Toland Krieger, DeMane Davis, Jasmine Russ, Henrik Bastin, Jonathan Cavendish, Andy Serkis and Shefali Malhoutra.
So, what do you think of NBC’s decision to cancel Brilliant Minds after two seasons? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Sophia Seemingly Plans to End Her Life, But Not Before Setting Fire to Johnny’s Apartment With Him Trapped Inside
The final few moments of the Thursday, April 30 episode of Days of our Lives, will pave the way, to what just may be the end of Sophia Choi’s (Rachel Boyd) life, but not as you may think!
After an unhinged Sophia paid a visit to Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman), maced him in the eyes, knocked him out and then tied up to a chair, now conscious, she lets him know that she holds him responsible for all the trouble and trauma she has gone through from adopting her child, and her being sent to a mental institution.
So instead of the unregistered gun Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) gave her to finish off Johnny, Sophia sets up a plan to light candle, use nail polish remover and turn on the gas on the stove to ultimately create a mass explosion, which although Johnny pleaded to her not to that to all the innocent people inside his apartment building, she doesn’t seem to care.

Photo: JPI
FIERY FACE OFF
The plan was supposed to be, after she takes care of Johnny she will toss the gun in the Salem River, then focus on payback to Holly Jonas before leaving town to start a new life.
Now, Sophia makes her exit, leaving Johnny to be a few moments away from an explosion or gas inhalation, when Chanel (Raven Bowens) comes home after awaiting the results of her mammogram. She sees Johnny tied up, as he panics and tells her to put out the flame on the candle, things go awry, and a fire has begun and everything may go up in flames with Johnny and Chanel inside.

Photo: JPI
A BROKEN SOPHIA
Back in her room, Sophia breaks down after reading the social media comments about her, she planted, and then starts writing a suicide or farewell note which says. “I’m tired of begging for forgiveness for my mistakes. All I wanted was to move forward, to be loved and understood. But it’s clear that I was never going to get that. Holly Jonas said that I was dead to her. So, as her former BFF, I’m going to make her dream a reality.”

Photo: JPI
A DEADLY TRAP
Now, the fate of Johnny, Chanel and Sophia will be revealed on tomorrow’s May 1st cliffhanger, which may be the end of Sophia when she crosses paths with Kirsten at the bridge near the river. We do know Rachel Boyd is no longer appearing in the show credits section and is now off contract with the soap.
So, what did you think of the climatic final moments of DAYS? What did you think of the performance of Rachel Boyd as Sophia Choi? Let us know via the comment section.
Breaking News
Jacob Martinez is ‘Days of Our Lives’ New Javi Hernandez Replacing Al Calderon in the Role
Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.
As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.
Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.

Photo: JPI
Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.
Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”
Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.
So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.
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Everyone blames Guza for bad writing. But if he keeps the ratings up he’s sticking around for awhile.
Im a DIE HARD EJAMI on Days but their writing is so bad right now that Im disgusted to watch. GH is my fave soap right now and with SCRUBS getting back together and Becky Herbst Staying- I am one happy camper
GH spiked because of two things:
1. Rebecca Herbst was rehired
2, Because of what fans HOPED to see. Unfortunately, Jake’s death was badly mangled with its lack of build up to Joss’ illness, with its rapid pacing and way too much focus on Jason and Carly. Luckilly, the stellar performances by Rebecca, Jonathan Jackson and Tony Geary, not to mentioned Jason Thompson and Kimberly, as well as Jane Elliot, managed to rise above it all.
Just watch the rating crash as the show returns its warped focus back to the Jason, Carly and Sonny show.
Rebecca wasn’t rehired last week during the ratings spike,,,that wad over a month ago. Death of children, weddings all spike ratings that’s why so many other soaps had weddings during sweeps also.
Many said they were tuning out because Jake was dying they either lied or news that he was dying brought old viewers back. I think they will fall again until the next dramatic plot point!
i love me some GH. it is my fav next to OLTL. I ENJOY all the chacters on the show. however right now i can slap Micheal up side his head. he better come out that phase he’s in now and come out of it in a HURRY……YESTREDAY, MICHEAL ! things are going GOOD for him but, he want to go into a phase.
i haven’t cried so much in a long time for a soap as i did to the s/l of JAKE. oh! how i cried. it was heart wrenching. when i stop crining, i got…… mad. mad people i didn’t thinking i would get mad at. JASON, CARLY,LUCKY, that sorry a $$ JAX and LIZ.
WHY DID THEY DO THAT TO LUKE ? they knew that was an accident . but i didn’t hear a soul asking, how/why JAKE was where he was to get hit ? why he was out in the street in the dark and so on. where was his mother . i always go by to the reading class i taught. CAUSE and EFFECT. OH. WELL ! I know i will have some more crying days to come. those are some great shows. i don’ care what the rating say.
I want to thank Bob Guza and Steve burton for the heads up on where the storyline for Jason Morgan is going…nowhere that I am interested in watching.
I loved what my buddy Nancy had to say after watching this: So he knew that having Luke be the one to hit Jake, would be the way to make it about Jason,Sonny,Jason,Carly,Jason, Lucky, Jason, Luke JASON JASON JASON
It does seem that Elizabeth and Cameron, who spent the most time with Jake, are afterthoughts in this stupid story. Will be FOREVER grateful to have had the Jason/Elizabeth scenes however.
The ratings spiked because of the liason scene promo and liason fans tuned back in.. the video of Guza and Burton was disgusting. I turned it off after Guza stated his story will be told which he was referring to Jasam. They rushed through the Jake storyline so Guza can tell his story that no one cares about. The Jake storyline was pure agenda and done horribly.. Guza couldn’t even give him a funeral or memorial or more than one liason scene (the parents of the child ran over) and gave his kidney to Joss who has no purpose on the show.. should have been Joss giving her kidney to Jake…that would have been an amazing storyline…but of course Jake reminds everyone and gives the hope of Liason and Frons and Guza are having none of that..
The Liason fanbase is the largest couple fanbase in the history of soaps and is still present even thought their couple has not been written together in 3 years yet Frons and Guza keep on with forcing Jasam.. first they tried to get rid of Becky and now they killed Jake and to add further insult to the fanbase we get this ridiculous video where Guza further insults the Liason fan base and Burton sits right there with him.. 🙁 so disappointing the PR behind GH…
The ratings increase is temporary as Liason brought 2.2 for the day they had a scene together. Jasam brings an average of 1.5 ratings when they are promo’d. So go ahead Guza tell your story we won’t be watching. This is why soaps get cancelled…so sad 🙁
I don’t think that the ratings increased because liason. The comment that liason got 2.2 ratings versus Jasam and 1.5 makes no sense. People didnt tune in for Liason, most wanted a story close to the BJ/Maxie storyline which till this day is one of GH best!! Liason had no part of it. And there is no evidence to support that liason is the largest fanbase in the history of soaps. Every issue of ABC Soaps in Depth has the two couples alternating almost every week which would make both fan bases VERY large. I don’t even look at Soap Opera Digest cuz those are robovoting for sure cuz the same couples, actors, and actresses could never always be the same. Soaps in depth had Spixie as # 1 for weeks and weeks but never got voted in at SOD and neither has jasam.
Liason wont fix GH. Better stories revolving around family, friends and romance is what will make the show better. I hope the people who tuned in for the Jake story arent too disappointed and will keep tuning in.
The very best thing I can say about that video is that it was desperation at it’s worst. The HW couldn’t have been any more of a suck up than it he had a hose connected to SBu and sucked his essence out.
I don’t expect any better from GH than these kinds of antics and isn’t that sad. If they go with a jasam baby/wedding/powwow whatever it will still be the same stuff they have given us for over two yrs.–crap.
If SBu thought that BS about jm having a big epiphany was flying he knows nothing about GH fans, especially long term ones. You don’t go from losing a child to having another in 2-3 months, but if it does happen it will only cement with fans that the whole past couple of wks was agenda driven poop.
Even worse it contradicted everything Guza said in the interview with TV Guide and confirms they are playing both ends against the middle.
I watched GH for 1 wk the one where Jake actually died and I did it for one reason only Becky Herbst and she killed that wk over and over and stiil it wasn’t from her POV it was from jm, lucky, luke even carly for pete’s sake but she was a stand out along with JJ and TG all three were excellent.
The rumors were true a lot of heavy male egos on this show!!!!! That is why I am no longer a viewer!!!
Do you think abc would do well if it got rid of Frons? GH took a dive when Brenda was brought back.. the killing off of Claudia wasnt a big helper either. The writing is just bad. so many dropped story lines… Tyler Christopher says they couldnt pay him and not only that they had no story line for him… wow… maybe they were so busy writing a book for spinelli they forgot to write for the show… its just time to clean house Guza needs to Go… the writing was better during writers strike.