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RATINGS: ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Strong Gains Year-Over-Year; ‘General Hospital’ Fifth Week With Over 2 Million Viewers

By Michael Fairman

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Photos: ABC and CBS

After last week’s boffo soap ratings, where as previously reported, all network daytime dramas reached season highs and more on the heels of the winter storm that gripped a good portion of the United States forcing people to stay home, we can now also report that in the latest Nielsen ratings for the week of February 2-6, 2026, while not as glowing as the previous week, the soaps were well over their marks a year ago at this time.

Leading the charge, according to Soap Opera Network was CBS daytime’s The Bold and the Beautiful who came in with just under 3 million total viewers with 2.945 million. That is a decrease of just 48,000 eyeballs from the previous week. But here’s the good news of network soaps, B&B had shown the most increase in viewership year-to-year with plus 271,000 total viewers. In addition, in the key Women 18-39 demo it ranked #1 for the week above all the other soaps.

In story, while Sheila (Kimberlin Brown) is unaware that her husband Deacon (Sean Kanan) is making out with his therapist, Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig), the good doc’s ex, Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) catches the two in a passionate kiss and demands Taylor stop this burgeoning relationship for the safety of their families, given Sheila’s penchant for violence and revenge, if the truth were to come out .. and we know it will!

The Young and the Restless remained number one overall for the rating period with 3,369,000 total viewers, slightly down from the previous week, but also far ahead of last year at this time with year-over-year data at +219,000. It also remained the top soap in the key demo of Women 25-54.

As for General Hospital, the long-running ABC soap, is getting its ratings groove back, as for the fifth time in six weeks, GH crossed the two million total viewer line. This come on the strength of Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) revealing to Drew (Cameron Mathison), while he is drugged (which appears as a stroke), she confesses, it was she who shot him and now she is going to keep him out of her way by continuing to drug him, so she can get her children back and a start a new life for herself.

GH officially came in with 2.185 million viewers for the ratings period, and of note marked its longest streak with over 2 million total viewers since back in March of 2024. This also was the soap opera’s second-largest audience of 2026. In addition the series is up year-to-year +265,000.

The upstart Beyond the Gates landed at 1,738,000 total viewers for the ratings period, that’s down from its previous week which was its current all-time high by 121,000 eyeballs. However, BTG’s showing for this ratings period marked its third best in hits history. The series slightly dipped in its key demos.

So, what did you think of the current ratings picture? Which soap opera is floating your boat the most? Which is not? Share you thoughts via the comment section below.

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Glad to see Beyond the Gates holding strong; the preemptions during this week surely did not help any of the soaps, though.

Time for another soap. Can we have a Quartermaine spin-off?

Yes like a gothic Wyndemere soap!

There’s really not that many of the Qs to warrant a spinoff.

Legend has it that originally Ned and Lois were going to be spun off in the 90s, but “Port Charles” instead launched with Lucy, Scott and Kevin.

At one time they tried a nite time version of GENERAL HOSPITAL with Robin and a few “old-timers but it was either on a channel everyone didn’t get or it was opposite of established shows. I never had the chance to watch it.

GH: Night Shift aired for two seasons on SoapNet. The channel’s tight budget and ABC’s waning interest in soaps sealed the fate of the show.

What a great idea! And maybe Y&R can have a William’s family spin off!

Is that a joke? Because Paul Williams is gone, and his parents, including Mary Williams, the insane Holy roller, are long deceased. I hear Patty Cakes Williams is coming back.

Loving GH and B&B right now

I love GH, so glad I went back to watching it!

ME TOO Its the best!!!!!

This has nothing to do with ratings. But here I go.

I have a whole trunkful of VHS tapes going back to 1982. I know there are episodes on them from every daytime and nighttime soaps going through 1982 to the 2000’s. There are also several Soap Opera Digest awards show as well as several daytime Emmy broadcasts.I no longer have a VHS machine but I know there is a lot of interesting valuable footage on them.

My question is what do I do with all these tapes? are they worth saving? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

That’s quite a collection! All the network soaps were archived by the early 1980’s. It’s the ‘70s and before where original episodes no longer exist.

NATAS likely has the recordings of the Daytime Emmy broadcasts. You might want to contact Soap Opera Digest to see if they need the copies of their shows. Might be an interesting addition to their website.

Thanks for your reply. I realize that episodes from the 80,s are archived but that doesn’t mean they are all available for public viewing. You Tube has scattered full and partial episodes but I know i have a lot of footage not currently available on You Tube. Also I know the last 2 years of the Doctors was all erased and I do have some of those episodes on my tapes. Problem is I was young back then and not great at labelling my tapes but I do know that I have some stuff that people would love to see. But in this day in age I don’t know if anyone would be interested in going through all my tapes.They are just taking up space so maybe it is time to just dump them?

I hope someone can offer you some wise words of expertise. I’m certainly no expert, but I bet those VHS tapes are a real treasure and someone would be interested! Wish I could help.

I do not believe these ratings I watch none have not four months today thought someone might tell me come on back nobody did.

Um, please proofread your comments before clicking “post comment”.

I do not need none of you’re advice as I right very good and no one might tell me to right better but nobody did.

At the risk of sounding like a certain belly- aching, snow- flake, dishonest, whiny, paranoid, bitchy little president, I say these ratings are rigged! Rigged, I tell ya! How on earth is the least watchable soap ( that would be Y&R) continue to hold its spot as number one?

Simple answer – it airs directly after the ratings juggernaut “The Price is Right” in many markets.

Oh. Well, there’s that.

I think it’s Lunchtime slot helps ,Also..

Payola!

I’m so very happy for GH! I hope it can sustain this ratings streak.
Every list has to have some show come in first and last. First doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best and last doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the worse. I hope people are gentle and realize we NEED all five soaps to do well.

Bills wife Haley is getting annoying. She acts like she never had anything. Bill needs a more mature woman.

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Cullum Kidnaps Obrecht as Britt’s Replacement to Finish Faison’s Final Project

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WSB director Ross Cullum is truly as despicable villain as they come, and played with steely intensity by Andrew Hawkes. For the double agents latest crime, you need to look no further than the Friday, June 5 cliffhanger of General Hospital, where in the episode’s final moments he sneaks up on an unassuming Dr. Liesl Obrecht (Kathleen Gati) after hiding in the back seat of her car.

Next, he chloroforms her with his intent clear. He plans on forcing her to finish the last leg of Faison’s final project at Wyndemere, since her daughter Dr. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) left town with Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) in tow to get away from Cullum!

In what led to the kidnapping, Cullum had a terse conversation with his business associate and co-conspirator on the project, Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota). It is Sidwell who is preoccupied with wanting to bring Marco’s killer to justice (not knowing it’s the man right in front of him!). Sidwell told Cullum if bringing Marco’s killer to justice wasn’t a priority for the WSB director, then why should protecting Cullum be a priority for him?

SIDWELL VS. CULLUM

The two finally put aside their differences as they have to complete Faison’s final project for it will be highly lucrative for them, useful for their mutual gains, and groundbreaking. In order to do that they need a great mind with a scientific background to finish it up and get them to the finish line since Britt as disappeared.

Later, outside of “General Hospital,” Obrecht is headed back to her car after searching Britt’s office for any clues as to the whereabouts of her daughter. But when she got in the car to drive away, that’s when the aforementioned Cullum strikes!

Courtesy/ABC

BROOK LYNN GETS ADVICE FROM A FORMER ADULTERESS

In other key developments, after Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) keeps inserting herself into Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) life, all with the seeming pretense to pay back Chase for helping her clear her name at the trial, and standing by her, she brings good news in person about baby Phoebe’s adoption to Alexis’ (Nancy Lee Grahn) law office to Chase. Once Brook Lynn heard Chase was on her away over with paperwork, she decided to hightail it out of there for an “emergency” appointment for Deception.

As we come to find out, Brook Lynn meets up with Lucy (Lynn Herring) at the Metro Court pool, She then proceeds to inform Lucy about Willow sniffing around he husband. Lucy says she knows a thing or two about being an adulteress. Brook Lynn wants Lucy to help her send a clear message to Willow to stay away from her husband, or else!

Now below, check out the scenes before Obrecht was kidnapped where she visited Willow, Nina (Cynthia Watros) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) and suspects Willow is up to no good.

Then let us know, with Lucy taking Brook Lynn under her wing, what plot do you think the two will come up with against Willow? What do you think will happen to Obrecht? With Lucas also at Wyndemere trying to bait Sidwell into an attempted murder charge, will he winds up thrown in the secret room with Josslyn? Share your thoughts and theories on the latest GH via the comment section below.

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Beyond the Gates

2026 SDSA TV Award Nominations: All Five Daytime Dramas Score in Best Achievement in Set Decoration

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The Set Decorators Society of America has revealed its nominations for 2025-26 SDSA Awards for Television, which recognizes the work of the set decoration and production designers in primetime, streaming and daytime series.

This year, all five soap operas: Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital and The Young and the Restless all received nominations in the Best Achievement in Decor/Design of a Daytime Series category.

In its official SDSA rule book, to qualify for the category of a Daytime Series, which includes daytime dramas, daytime talk shows, daytime game shows, and daytime children’s programming, all episodes must air before 6:00pm and must have a credited Set Decorator. For daytime dramas, the content must contain multiple plotlines that are carried over from episode to episode.

Photo: JPI

WHICH EPISODES CAN BE INCLUDED IN THE COMPETITION?

The eligibility year for episodes runs June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026.  Founded in 1993, the SDSA is an international nonprofit professional association dedicated to promoting excellence and preserving the legacy of the art of set decoration in motion pictures and television.

Several popular primetime and streaming titles that have wrapped their final seasons also received nods including Euphoria, Stranger Things, Hacks, Outlander, and The Boys. Popular titles such as Bridgerton.

Take a look below at the nominated scenic design teams from your favorite soaps:

Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Daytime Series

Beyond The Gates: Set Decoration by Cynthia Slagter with Production Design by Bruton Jones

The Bold and the Beautiful: Set Decoration by Prim Rosales, Beth Wooke, Prerna Chawla, Charlotte Garnell, Chelsea Mondelli, Michelle Hall, & Linda Louise Sheets with Production Design by Lou A. Trabbie III

Days of Our Lives: Set Decoration by Adele Caine & Sarah Holmes with Production Design by Tom Early & Dan Olexiewicz

General Hospital: Set Decoration by Jennifer Elliot with Production Design by Andrew Evashchen

The Young and the Restless: Set Decoration by Jennifer Haybach, Justine Mercado, Maria Dirolf, & Monica Lowe with Production Design by David Hoffmann

So, which soap opera from the calendar year of basically June of 2025 to a week ago in 2026, do you think has had the best looking sets? Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, or The Young and the Restless? Make you pick and drop it in the comment section below.

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General Hospital

Marc Forget Exits ‘General Hospital’

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The Thursday June 4 episode of General Hospital paved way for the end of the line for Jenz Sidwell’s (Carlo Rota) butler/fixer, Pascal (Marc Forget).

In the pick of the June 3 cliffhanger, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) was the hero and stopped the evil-doer from fleeing Port Charles for his part in aiding and abetting his boss with the cover-up of the murder of Professor Henry Dalton (Daniel Goddard) among other crimes.

Today’s episode did indeed mark the final appearance of Marc Forget who joined the ABC soap opera when he debuted back in July of 2025. Viewers met met Pascal when Kelly Thiebaud returned to the soap opera as Britt Westbourne and she was being blackmailed to work on Faison’s final project while at the Five Poppies in Dalmatia.

Courtesy/ABC

A General Hospital rep confirmed to Soap Opera Digest, that the June 4 episode, “Will be the last viewers will see of Pascal for now, but notes that in the world of Port Charles, comebacks are always possible.” So, how did Pascal get written-off the canvas? Here’s what went down:

PASCAL GIVES LUCAS KEY INFORMATION BEFORE BEING DRAGGED AWAY

After Sonny intercepted Pascal on his desperate attempt to get out of town, Sonny informed him hat Sidwell would stop at nothing from trying to get retribution for whoever killed his son, Marco, and promptly turned around and said that he would help Pascal flee the country, only if he turned on Sidwell.

An absolutely terrified Pascal had evidence for Sonny that he could use against Sidwell. However, he feared he would get killed on sight if he tried to retrieve the incriminating photos of Sonny and Laura from the safe at Wyndemere. So instead, Pascal gave the combination to the safe to Lucas (Van Hansis), so he could get the blackmail photos himself. But, did Pascal just set up Lucas to be killed since he loathes him for being the man to win the heart of the late Marco?

In the end, Sonny had one of his henchmen drag Pascal away and whisked off to an airfield to fly away to parts unknown, and hopefully never to be heard from again. But what now? Is Lucas going to end up being pegged as Marco’s killer and taken down by Sidwell if he gets his hands on the incriminating photos for Sonny and Laura? Stay tuned.

So, what did you think of Marc Forget’s run as Pascal? Sad or happy to see the character go? Do you think he will be back down the line? Share your thoughts via the comment section.

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Video Du Jour

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

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Finn Carr & Dominic Zamprogna as Rocco & Dante

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