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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: Trina Reminisces About Spencer, Soon After Roses and a Note from Her ‘Biggest Fan’ Arrive

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Trina and Spencer

General Hospital fans know red herrings when they see them. That the obvious choices, are usually not the culprit when a soap opera tells the story of an obsessed stalker. The soap trope always cast doubt on a laundry list of potential suspects until one day the actual reveal occurs!

The latest soap obsession is the character of Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali), the young singer who has been performing alongside her recording label mate Gio Palmieri. (Giovanni Mazza). The duo are back for another gig at the Cat’s Eye Lounge on the Tuesday, October 13 episode of the ABC daytime drama series.

After a sound check, where someone is watching Trina through the window, she is greeted by Ava (Maura West) and Trina’s current beau, Kai (Jens Austin Astrup).  Later, while talking to Emma (Braedyn Bruner) about Emma’s thoughts on moving in with Gio, Trina admitted she wasn’t ready to move in with Kai just yet.

Trina roses

Courtesy/ABC

ROSES ARE RED …

It’s at that point, for the very first time in a very long time, Trina mentioned the name of Spencer. Trina recalled the time she was ready to move in with him when she and her beloved late boyfriend were going to move to Paris.  With sorrow in her voice, Trina told Emma. “Take the leap. Because life doesn’t always give you a second chance.”

In a recent interview on the Michael Fairman Channel, Tabyana Ali had mentioned that while she is being kept in the dark as to who is her on-screen stalker, will turn out to be she loves the idea of turning it out to be Spencer Cassadine, as do many GH fans who have begun to speculate heavily that the story could reveal a very much alive Spencer. In story, Spencer went overboard and into the Seine River in Paris to his presumed death back at the end of January 2024.

As today’s episode continued, Quinn arrived (Jequon Jackson) and questioned Kai, if he was at all bothered by the growing closeness between Trina and Gio. Kai says he is not.

BACK FROM THE DEAD?

After Trina and Gio perform, Emma brings over to the table a bouquet of roses for Trina, that had been left outside from her “biggest fan.” Trina assumed the flowers were from Kai. He says he did not send them. Quinn just stares at Trina.

So, do you think the stalker could turn out to be Spencer, trying to get back to Trina because he loves her so much? How would you feel about a Spencer Cassadine recast? Do you think Trina mentioning Spencer today was a red herring or dropping a hint that it could very much turn out to be him that is the ‘fan’?  Let us know in the comment section, but first check out some of the key moments from Trina’s stalker story on Tuesday’s GH below, followed by our conversation with Tabyana Ali.

 

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General Hospital

Parry Shen and Lydia Look Make a Return to ‘General Hospital’

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Parry Shen and Lydia Look

In a surprise appearance on the Monday, October 12 episode of General Hospital, Parry Shen and Lydia Look returned to the canvas as Brad Cooper and Selina Wu, as the Wu crime family was bidding for the Port Charles piers up for auction!

Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Ric (Rick Hearst) are completely floored when Selina strolled into the Metro Court conference room with her nephew and former GH lab tech, Brad Cooper, by her side.

This is the first time GH viewers have seen the character of Selina Wu since back in July of 2025. Previously, Sidwell (Carlo Rota) framed Selena for the firebombing of Charlie’s pun that put Sonny’s daughter Kristina (Kate Mansi) in grave danger. GH fans recall it was the late Marco Rios (Adrian Anchondo) who saved Kristina from the fire. In story to avoid Sonny’s wrath, Selina fled the country.

Selina Wu

Courtesy/ABC

SURPRISE NEW PIER OWNER IS REVEALED

When Selina entered the conference room on today’s GH, she told Sonny the entire Sidwell debacle was “water under the bridge,” and he agreed. “I have no issue with you,” Sonny said in return.

In order to secure her bid for the piers, Selina explained Brad stepped in to make the necessary arrangements while she was trying to get herself get back to the United States. Sonny tells Brad, “You’re not going to get those piers!”

When it’s time for Ezra Boyle (Daniel Cosgrove) to reveal the winning bid for the piers, seated in the room are potential buyers: Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison), Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart), and JJE executive, Hudson Parker (Troy Lennon Appel).

Suddenly, Ezra reveals that JJE secured the piers and the winning bid as Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) made a surprise entrance as the new pier owner. How did Josslyn do it? Watch the clip below where prior to the final bids being announced, the WSB agent rigged the computer system!

So, glad to see Brad Cooper and Selina Wu back in action? Do you hope they stay for a bit? What do you think of Josslyn getting the piers? Is this how she sets out to destroy Sonny? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: ‘From Your Biggest Fan’

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Trina, Willow, Josslyn GH Preview

This week on all-new episodes of General Hospital, official spoilers for the ABC daytime drama series, and the just released video teaser, reveal that several women are in serious peril, but in very different ways.

First, Lulu (Alexa Havins) finds out that Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) is suing her for libel! Looks like Willow took Chase’s (Josh Swickard) advice to fight back on these “allegations” levied by an “out-of-it “Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) who now claims everything he told Lulu in their recorded interview was a lie. However, the GH faithful viewers know what Sidwell said is true.

Willow is ready to prove her innocence to the Quartermaines too after entering their home. Will anyone be able to crack Willow and get her to admit to all she has perpetrated, but in a court of law, so she can be sentenced for some of her crimes, or will she continue to walk around Port Charles forever unscathed?

Quinn

Courtesy/ABC

A SONNY TAKEDOWN

Meanwhile, Josslyn (Eden McCoy) wants to take down Sonny (Maurice Benard). So, she has decided to leverage being forced by the WSB to take the CEO position of her father’s company, JJE, in order to do so.

Sonny contends he has gone straight and is no longer in the mob, but try as he might, he may have to fall back into his old ways so people see the light!

Knowing Josslyn, and everyone else refuses to believe he had nothing to do with the prison beatdown of Curtis (Donnell Turner) and Sidwell, Sonny says, “If Josslyn thinks I’m gonna let her destroy me. She’s dead wrong.”

ROSES AND CAR TROUBLE

Meanwhile, looks like Trina’s stalker is amping up their obsession. Now, at her latest musical gig at the Cat’s Eye Lounge, she receives a card and a bouquet of roses. The card reads, ‘From your biggest fan.”

Later, we see Trina sitting in her car having trouble getting it to start. Suddenly, there is a knock on her car window. Quinn (Jequan Jackson) is standing there with a smile on his face, and says, “Car trouble?” Trina is startled. Is Quinn just there to help out, or is something more heinous about to go down? Stay tuned.

Now below, take a look at more GH spoilers for the week of October 12-16.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12
Drew confronts Lulu. Dante has questions for Sidwell. Trina is under surveillance. Emma supports Gio. A winning bid is made for the piers.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13
Carly surprises Valentin. Drew lays out his plan. Dante encourages Lulu. Sonny targets a new rival. Elizabeth wants answers.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14
Jason is taken to task. Tracy voices her concern. Brook Lynn is given food for thought. Michael reflects on his past. Britt defends Lucas.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15
Sonny and Ric plot. Joe questions Willow. Josslyn defends herself. Chase ponders his future. Monet advises Curtis.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16
Britt is triggered by Jason. Trina is in need of rescue. Ric takes on a new client. Elizabeth and Dante get closer. Gio has second thoughts.

Check out the official GH promo for this week entitled, “Dangerous Obsession” below, followed by our recent chat with Tabyana Ali on her latest stalker storyline and more, via the Michael Fairman Channel.

Now weigh-in: At this point, who do you think will be revealed as Trina’s stalker? How will Josslyn try to destroy Sonny and how will he counter her maneuver? Are you sick and tired of Willow never paying for any of her crimes? Let us know via the comment section below.

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

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