General Hospital
Steve Burton Addresses His Fans on Twitter on the News of His Exit From GH!
Photo Credit: Jim Warren
It’s been a whirlwind day in the world of soaps and once again the shake-ups behind the scenes seem to be more intriguing then the plot lines themselves on the air shows of your favorite daytime dramas! Early today fans learned that Steve Burton (Jason) will be departing General Hospital after 21 years from his own decision to call it quits and move on to new adventures with his career and his loving family.
Burton later took to Twitter to address his legions of followers and fans! Here is what the popular Daytime Emmy winner shared on his exit! “Just wanted to thank all of you for your support over the years. You are amazing. It’s been an incredible 21 yrs of my life. THANK YOU Thanks for all the luv.. I know it’s difficult for some. It is difficult for me. I luv the cast and crew…it has been home. Hoping to tweet ltr. They are trying to figure out my last day. I will let you know. (much luv and thanks to u all.) I will keep tweeting. And Port Chuck lives!”
What do you think of Steve’s thoughts to his many fans who are reeling from the news, but happy that Steve seems content to move on? Weigh-in!
Good for Steve for making a big life change. I hope it all works out for him and his family. The show will go on and maybe we’ll see less mob focus. Even in Ron C’s capable hands, I find the hitman with the heart of gold and little difficult to swallow.
It’s as bad as news as hearing your soap is cancelled!! Irish Jim all the best!! I hate it but happy for him and his family and doing what he’s wanted to do!!
I think it is a win-win. He loves and respects his fans who love and respect him and he is acknowledging that. He is also trying to keep everyone in the loop. Great way to go!
Regarding the TV Guide Interview:
No money battles, storyline complaints (oh, really?) or testy negotiations?
Now was the time to leave after 21 yrs. with GH?…..with the 50 Anniv. storyllines taking shape?
JMO but if Phelps, Frons and Guza were still around, SB would have hung around for the 50th Anniv. show. They would have accommodated SB with a working schedule with his family in TN..he would have stuck it out….but with this new regime…SB and Jason Morgan apparently were not that important to keep around. I think Steve realized this. Todd, Starr and John were more important (thus no deal could be worked out)
Friends of SB were gone: Phelps, Frons and Guza. I remember at the beginning of the year before the new regime started…SB had announced his band PC would be doing three tours in 2012. One was done in April..then you read on twitter the other two (one around August) were a no go because of TPTB. Couldn’t do them. This could not have set well with Steve. Also, in interviews…SB did not like what the writers were doing with Jasam and he said so.
Yes, Steve the door was open for you to leave GH, but I don’t believe it was because you sold your house to live in TN full time. I think there waas much more to it than that.
So SB is now working with his bud, JFP. Does this mean he will be commuting back and forth to LA or NYC for their project with Franco?
For an actor/director/producer the work is in either LA or NYC.
Movies? More commuting to LA or NY from Nashville?
Primetime TV? More commuting to LA or NY from Nashville?
But SB wouldn’t or couldn’t commute back and forth for GH to finish up the 50th Anniv?
If he eventually winds up on Y&R….we will know there was more to leaving GH than was printed in his TV Guide interview.
FV is making a big mistake by letting SB go. JASON IS GH. Steve has a huge fanbase and it’s gonna show in the ratings. First OLTL takes over GH and now the main man is leaving. BIG MISTAKE
First off, Jason is not General Hospital. Jason is a hitman, that barely acknowledges his real family, the Quartermaines.
Secondly, OLTL has NOT taken over GH, that is absurd. Three characters (four if you include the few weeks Tea was involved) have come to the show. That is all. With them, they have brought new fans as well as new storylines for characters who were becoming boxed in (take for example Sam, who had been nothing but Jason’s lapdog for several years).
I understand that Steve was very close to the previous regime, but the previous regime was not benefiting GH and if that is a reason SB chose to leave, that is his decision. I, personally, would rather have a good overall show, than bending backwards to please an actor whose character is actually disliked by many viewers. Frank Valentini did not let go of Steve. This was Steve’s decision- that is all.
With that being said, I am very happy for Steve to be pursuing new opportunities and expanding his acting career and I wish him nothing but the best in his new endeavors and his new home in Tennessee 🙂
Yes, Steve Burton is GH, Mo Bernard is GH, Anthony Geary is GH and it’s a shame that something couldn’t be worked out between FV and Steve so he could be around for the GH 50th Anniv. storylines.
SB and Fv were in negotiations for Steve to stay at GH.They broke down because Steve did not like the offer from FV…so SB decided to leave. Yes, it was SB’s decision…he could take it or leave it. He didn’t take it.
Yea, you are right about FV “actually disliking” the character of Jason. You could plainly see it on screen since FV invaded GH.
There isn’t ONE GH writer left on the “new” OLTL show. Why? What does that tell you? These OLTL writers know squat about the GH characters. Ratings have not improved since FV/RC took over this show.
So Steve’s character, Jason, was actually disliked by many viewers. LOL Oh, really? How do you know this? You work for the studio and count his fan mail? Just because you dislike him doesn’t mean there are tons out there just like you.
Frank doesn’t “dislike” the character of Jason so how was this evident when Frank and Ron TOOK OVER (not “invdaded”) General Hospital? Ron wrote very well versed storylines for Jason, including his failing marriage to Sam (giving Steve the opportunity to show off his acting chops), rebuilding his friendship with Elizabeth (respecting that aspect of his character’s history), staying true to his job (working with Sonny to help bring down Joe), interacting more with Carly and his goddaughter (something that was lacking with previous regimes), as well as Michael, not to mention opening up new doors for his character such as his frenemy relationship with John McBain and his new enemy, Ewen.
Also, GH is not in any form OLTL. Yes there are THREE characters from there, all of which have been well integrated with GH characters and although the new executive producer and headwriter are from OLTL, they have done a marvelous job and have actually written the characters more like themselves than they have been in YEARS! Sam is no longer a door mat that lives to please Jason, Elizabeth is morphing back into the strong woman she used to be, Carly actually gets to spend time with her children now, as does Alexis who, also, is being written better than ever before. And I beg to disagree, but ratings, as well as criticisms, have substantially improved since the new regime has been set in place- sorry to burst that bubble. It also helps that many GH actors are supremely satisfied with the new team, as well as the network. 🙂
And actually Jason is disliked. Do you go on any social media sites? Jason is usually heavily criticized. While the character does have many fans, as with any character, he also has many who are not fans, especially in years of previous regimes when he was constantly onscreen. Now, I hope you understand the difference between Steve and his character, because I am strictly talking about Jason Morgan. I personally am not a fan of the character, but am certainly a fan of Steve’s work, which is why I know he will succeed in future endeavors, which was his choice. And if you read the interview with Steve, you would know that contract negotiations had very little impact on his decision, he chose to leave because he wanted to branch out, as well as move his family to Tennesee.
ITA!!!!!!! Its more to it…….I wish steve the best…..sad for my jasam…..
I hope they show Jason… re-uniting with his son… and giving his son to Sam… and Move on.
I’ll cry…. alas, Jason will have a son, in Port Charles.
I figure… he’ll have a brain aneurysm… Oye… even more sad… but, he’ll come out of it… and be a quartermaine… and “relapse”.
Thanks,Steve,let me know right away. Good luck in TN, I do have friend from my old church who went back to his hometown. I love you,big brother..take care of yourself and family and be think of u everyday as big brother to watch your would be former soap show.
I am still so sad to see one of my faves leave, but I am happy for Steve to get a chance to do other things and spend more time with his family. I will miss him on the show so much. Yes he was a hitman but he was so much more and he is so talented and he will do well. But… please let him come back if he is available and wants to! Best wishes Steve and thanks for being such a great guy and a fun character!
I am very sad to see Steve Burton leave. He and his character Jason Morgan are the reason I have been watching General Hospital. Jason Morgan is the heart and soul of Port Charles and Steve Burton is the heart and soul of Jason Morgan.
He will be missed.
I wish him nothing but the best and am looking forward to seeing him in some new projects.
Glad for you and your family but not us GH fans
you will be missed on General Hospital
even if we have another Jason , it will be so hard to like him because we love you soo much an we got do used to you
thank you
love
You will be missed!!You are the reason I have been watching the last 21 years. You and Kelly made an amazing love story that I will never forget.I wish you the bet of luck!!I hope good things come your way!
I ‘ve been watching GH pretty much from its beginning and I have always loved Steve Burton no matter which incarnation of Jason he was/is. In my personal opinion, I think his departure from GH is a combination of things , the most significant being his personal goals for his family and his career- the time is right. things have a way of falling in to place. I believe Steve is a person who has great faith, and is following path that is being shown clearly to him. He left the show once before to pursue other possibilities but came back as many have done before him, because he needed to support a family and work wasnt that available at the time. I wish him great success in whatever his endeavors are, and will miss what he brings to the show. His great sense of humor is undeniable. I would like to have been able to see Steve and Michael Easton play their humor off one another since Michael has the same type of tongue in cheek , witty, and dry dead pan type of humor that Steve does. ( Roger Hawoth too for that matter. In any event there will be a huge hole in the heart of GH once Steve is gone., and the remaining 2 Q’s (Edward’s been talked about but not seen) plus ALice will be have even less reason to be written for. Wow GH is missing that balance . We a legit powerful billionaire business tycoon family with good honest people with moral fiber and conscience on the scene that the mob can’t touch .I digressed. Best to you and your family Steve, from one of your fans.
Since Steve Burton has decided to leave General Hospital, I have lost interest, as he was one of the main stars for years. Please do not kill him off permantley, but replace him with another actor ASAP!!!!
u will always be in our hearts good luck on ur journey
Good for Steve I think after 21 years he needed a change and be with his real family. he is a great actor and will go far in his career. just want to say thank you for playing Jason for so many years. Truly your fan Joanne by the way I will give the Y&R a chance even though GH is my favorite but I know what a great actor you are you will be great!!!
Good for Steve I think after 21 years he needed a change and be with his real family. he is a great actor. always in heart will miss you on gh
He is gone let it go. I wish Y&R long before he got there and they really dont need him, he will not make or break Y&R. I wish him luck.
DEAR STEVE, I HAVE NEVER MISSED A CHARACTER MORE THAN ROBERT SCORPIO, G,H, = SONNY,JASON, CARLY, LUKE & THE REST- U & SONNY R MY SHINING STARS, U ARE GONE & NOT COMING BACK, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE FAMILY THING, & IM PROUD U PUT YOUR FAMILY FIRST, BUT WHAT U SAID COMPARED TO HOW FAST THE RUMORS WERE SPREADING ABOUT THE Y&R WHICH I NEVER WATCHED & JFP-ETC, WERE TO CLOSE TO COMFORT, YOU AREA AN AMAZING HANDSOME ACTOR & FOR ME & MILLIONS NO ONE CAN EVER REPLACE JASON Q MORGAN- OR THE BEST COUPLE JASAM- NOT EVEN SONNY-WHEN I WATCHED YU ON THE TALK I WAS SO MAD, HURT & DISAPPOINTED I FELT LIKE U LIED & BETRAYED US, IF U WERE TIRES OF PLAYING JASON AFTER 21 YEARS I COULD UNDERSTAND, IF GH WOULDNT WORK WITH YOUR SCHEDULE TO FLY TO TENN & BACK TO L.A. I UNDERSTAND, I CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU & JAMES FRANCO TOGETHER & HOPE U COME TO SOUTH FLORIDA ONE DAY WITH PORT CHUCK SO I CAN SEE YOU, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FROM MY HEART FOR GIVING ME 21 OF MY FAVORITE CHARACTER JASON-THEY DIDNT EVEN HAVE YOUR MEMORIAL YET ON GH-THAT WILL BREKT WHAT EVER PIECE OF A HEART I HAVE LEGT AFTER LOOSING MY HUSBAND & MOM & DEAR FRIENDS & ANIMALS ITS BEEN A ROLLER COASTER RIDE THE LAST FEW YEARS & AT THE END OF EVERY DAY I WATCH MY GH, BUT WITHOUT YOU IT IS NOT THE SAME- I FEEL YOU SHOULD GET ON NOT A CBS CHANNEL OR JUST A SHORT INTERVIEW & TRY TO CLEAR SOME QUESTIONS UP FOR THOSE FANS WHO WORSHIP YOU, WHEN I SAW HOW HAPPY U WERE ON THE TALK, I SMILED THROUGH THE TEARS & KNEW THIS IS WHAT YOU WANTED, HAPPY FOR YOU TO BE HAPPY & HAVE MORE TIME WITH YOUR WIFE & CHILDREN, I WILL MAKE SURE NEVER TO GET THAT ATTACHED TO A CHARACTER AGAIN, MAYBE BECAUSE MY SONS NAME IS JASON & U RESEMBLE EACH OTHER IN MANY WAYS & CLOSE IN AGE, I GOT SO ATTACHED TO YOU, SO BE HAPPY, ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY & GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR NEW SHOW & LIFE, I DONT THINK I CAN TRY TO WATCH OR FOLLOW ANOTHER SOAP, ESPECIALLY SINCE AMC & OLTL ARE SUPPOSE TO COME BACK- TODD HAS HELPED ME ALOT BEING ON GH, HE MAKES ME LAUGH, AGAIN THANKU FOR BEING JASON & THE 21 YEARS- U R LOVED & MISSED & SOME OF US STILL PRAY U WILL COME BACK SOMEDAY IF U LEAVE Y&R, BUT RIGHT NOW ENJOY WHATS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU,KNOW U R LOVED & MISSED BY SO MANY-GOD BESS –FRANNIE :))) XO XO
The latest ratings are out for the week of October 26-30, 2026 and the big takeaways include: that CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates was separated by only 23,000 viewers behind third place (of the soaps) General Hospital! For the last several weeks, Beyond the Gates has been closing the gap on this year’s winner for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series, and continuing to best GH in the key demos.
According to the latest Nielsen ratings breakdown from Soap Opera Network, the final week of October brought Beyond the Gates 1.790 million on average tuning-in and the show set a season high in total viewers. Meanwhile, General Hospital hit a new season low! The long-running ABC soap had 1.813 million for the week, and once again the series did not go over the 2 million mark.
Meanwhile, in the key Women 18-49 demo, Beyond the Gates was firmly ahead of GH with a rating share of 0.21, while General Hospital had 0.17 rating share.Then, in the key Women 25-54 demo, Beyond the Gates was once again ahead of the ABC soap with a ratings share for that demo at 0.30 while GH came in with 0.26.
Photo: CBS
MORE BY THE NUMBERS
In addition and comparatively, Beyond the Gates +22,000 viewers week-to-week, and had the largest gains in viewership year-to-year in daytime TV with +267,000 from this in 2025.. However, General Hospital seems to be going in reverse. The show was down -56,000 viewers week-over-week and down -22,000 year-over-year .
BEYOND THE GATES
Let’s take a look at some of the storylines that had people tuning-in to Beyond the Gates during the ratings week:
Hayley (Marquita Goings) attempted a massive shocker regarding her pregnancy and tried to use it to extract money from Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). Although, Bill saw right through her game, he demanded a paternity test, and made it clear he has no intention of raising the child—planning instead to pay her off to take the baby and leave. Meanwhile, Hayley confided her plan to her cousin Randy (Maurice P. Kerry).
Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges) and Naomi Hamilton (Arielle Prepetit) clashed over Jacob’s ongoing investigation into The Impaler, causing significant strain in their marriage. At the same time, Smitty (Mike Manning) considered taking matters into his own hands—including potentially heading to Mexico for evidence—while Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) worried about what comes next.
Photo: ABC
GENERAL HOSPITAL
Over at General Hospital for the ratings period, the story served up included:
Carly (Laura Wright) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) teamed up to investigate what really happened to Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna). Later, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) leads them to Jack’s dead body.
Jude (Wil Traval) dropped a bombshell claim to Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn); that he is Phoebe’s father, while Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard) signed their divorce papers.
Then, Danny caught Rocco (Finn Carr) and Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarski) sharing a kiss, plus the shocking return of Heather Webber (Alley Mills) capped the week.
Now the questions become; without having much promotional synergy in the ABC day-part to draw more eyeballs it is not helping but hurting General Hospital. It seems Beyond the Gates is also a benefactor of a one-two-three punch of CBS soaps (Y&R, B&B and BTG) and promotion.
However, that still doesn’t take away the fact that Beyond the Gates is close to besting GH in all ratings category as they go head-to-head in some markets across the country.
So, are you excited to see Beyond the Gates climb in the ratings? Are you concerned for General Hospital? Do you think they can stave off Beyond the Gates in total viewers or will the upstart soap overtake them in the next ratings report? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Antonio Sabáto Jr., the former Jagger Cates of General Hospital and GH: Night Shift, and the former Dante Damiano of The Bold and the Beautiful has issued his first public statement since the incident involving his son, Jack’s arrest in Alaska for a fatal hit-and-run.
Jack is the son of Sabáto Jr. and Oscar-nominated actress Virginia Madsen, and according to court documents obtained by KTUU Jack, was allegedly driving a white Chevy Tahoe when he hit and killed Carl Simmonds, 42, near an intersection in Anchorage around 5:35 a.m. on Monday, November 9.
The reports indicated that Jack fled the scene — but later decided to called the cops to say he hit “something” that “suddenly appeared in the road” while he was “doing late-night DoorDashing.”
Photo: NBC
Now, Antonio has taken to his Instagram breaking his silence on the situation, sharing, “At this time, my family and I are navigating an extremely sensitive and deeply personal matter.”
He added, “As a father, my love for my children remains unconditional, and my priority is the well-being of my family. We ask that the public and members of the media honor our privacy during this difficult time and keep us all in your thoughts and prayers.”
The soap alum concluded, “I also wish to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the gentleman who tragically lost his life. My thoughts and prayers are with them as well. We sincerely appreciate your compassion, understanding, and respect for the privacy of everyone affected.”
Jack Sabáto was arraigned in court on Tuesday, November 10 with bail set at $5,000, and a no-driving order and the potential of $5,000 penalty fees if he fails to attend future court appearances.
Antonio is the father to Jack, 34, daughter, Mina Sabato, 24 and son, Antonio Sabáto III, 15.
This is a developing story. You can check out Antonio’s official statement below.
So, let us know your thoughts on this tragic hit-and-run, which claimed the life of another man, and Antonio’s statement, via the comment section below.
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Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Ava’s (Maura West) daughter Avery looks quite different, starting on today’s November 9 episode of General Hospital. That’s because GH has made Avery into a full-blown teenager and the role is now being played by actress Alya Bullington.
In her debut, the Tennessee native was thrown into the deep soap waters with Daytime Emmy winners, Maurice Benard and Eden McCoy (Josslyn). Bullington weighed-in to TV Insider about her first scene which featured Avery overhearing a fight between Sonny and Josslyn.
She explained “It was something I have never done before, I did not have a lot of experience with the screaming and the crying stuff, but I got my first script, and I was like, ‘OK, this is a huge opportunity to learn so much about how that stuff works and to become this character that I have never even tried playing before.’”
Photo: ABC
THE TEENAGED VERSION OF AVERY WILL HAVE A LOT TO CONTEND WITH
Speaking of working with McCoy, Bullington shared, “She’s incredible. I remember her just laughing and making jokes on set, and then the minute that they started taping, she just locked in and she cried immediately, and my first thought was, ‘I want to be able to do that.’
The soap opera newcomer added, “I think she just inspired me so much because she is so great and she can just lock into whatever character she wants to in the moment.”
The character of Avery was born back in 2014, but as recently as the October 8 episode of General Hospital, the character was suddenly referred to as a teenager. This is the second young female character in recent months to be aged up following the casting of Kayden Brenna Tokarski as Scout Cain.
As for her take on Avery and what’s ahead, Alya said,“She’s emotional, and she’s curious, and she’s a really fun person to play because so much stuff is happening in her life. I think she’s kind of confused about what’s happening and what to believe.”
So, what do you think about General Hospital making Avery a teenager? Are you excited to see the conflict between Sonny, Ava and Avery now that they have aged up the character? Share your thoughts and welcome Alya to GH via the comment section below.
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THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie Kicks Bill to the Curb … for Now
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B&B’s Sydney Bullock Weighs In on Future of Dylan and Will: ‘I Think She Can Hold on to Him for Awhile’ (Exclusive)
Antonio Sabáto Jr. Breaks Silence on His Son’s Arrest for Fatal Hit-and-Run
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THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Episodes From New Co-Head Writers, Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor, Begin to Air
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