Things continue to look up, up, up for CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates. Now, in the latest Nielsen ratings picture, that 15-time Daytime Emmy nominated drama has moved into the #3 spot over legendary soap opera, General Hospital in the key women’s demos, 18-49 and 25-54.

In addition, according to data from Soap Opera Network, Beyond the Gates is closing the gap on General Hospital, even among total viewers. Let’s take a look at the week in question which are reflected in the latest ratings report.

For the week of October 5-9, 2026, Beyond the Gates is inching closer to an average of 1.8 million viewers tuning-in with the ratings week at 1,756,000. While down slightly from the previous week by -9,000, the series taped in Atlanta, is still up year-over-year +161,000.

Photo: CBS

BEYOND THE GATES

As for the all-important demos, Beyond the Gates delivered a 0.22 ratings share in women 18-49, which is up +0.02 week-over-week, while General Hospital fell to fourth place in ratings share for the demo with 0.21, which was on par from the previous week. Then, in women 25-54, Beyond the Gates scored a 0.32 ratings share; that’s 0.05 points more than GH who came in with 0.27 of the ratings share and up + 0.02 week-over-week.

So, what had viewers tuning-in to Beyond the Gates the week of October 5-9 2026? For starters: Hayley Lawson Hamilton’s (Marquita Goings) blackmail plot falls apart as Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis) and Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom) intervene to stop her in her tracks. Meanwhile, Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) proposed to Shanice (Ernestine Johnson) in the Big Apple.

In addition, Smitty (Mike Manning) refused to participate in Martin’s (Brandon Claybon) upcoming political press conference due to liability concerns, and Andre (Sean Freeman) confronted Dani (Karla Mosley) about her near-death experience the night of the tornado and what it has to do with her ex-husband, Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett)!

Courtesy/ABC

GENERAL HOSPITAL

Over in Port Charles and General Hospital, the ratings week saw a slight uptick in total viewers of +6,000 with a total viewer average at 1,898,000, and up overall +20,o0o year-over-year.

In story, GH brought viewers, ADA Justine Turner (Nazneen Contractor) breaking off her secret romance with Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) as she seemingly struggles to believe his professed innocence in the prison beatdown of Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota). Then as Sonny cannot get a single person to believe that he is telling the truth, his ex-wife, Carly (Laura Wright) shows up and stands by his side.

Elsewhere, Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase’s (Brook Lynn) marriage continued to crumble, as Lulu (Alexa Havins) published explosive allegations that Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) drugged Drew (Cameron Mathison), after recording Sidwell in his hospital room, who later denies he said anything about Willow and Drew to Lulu.

As per usual, the number #1 and number #2 soaps of the week were The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful. The sister soaps also saw the gap close between the two for the top spots with Y&R adding the most viewers for the week with both soaps losing the most viewers for the ratings period.

In total viewers, Y&R came in with 3,015,000 while B&B 2,628,000, which means there is less than 400,000 viewers separating the two.

So, what do you think of how Beyond the Gates outperformed General Hospital in the key demos for the week of October 5-9, 2026? Do you think its just a matter of time before Beyond the Gates overtakes General Hospital in total viewers for the #3 spot, or do you think the iconic daytime drama series can stave them off and maintain its hold on #3 in the viewership? Weigh-in via the comment section.

Alan Dysert, who played Sean Cudahy on ABC’s All My Children has died. He was 75-years-old. The news of his passing came from his wife Michele who shared via a Facebook post that Dysert died back on October 23.

“My heart is broken as I share that my beloved husband, Alan, passed away on October 23, 2026. While I am struggling to imagine life without him, I am forever grateful to have experienced what so many people spend their lives searching for — the love of a lifetime,” Michele expressed.

While a cause of death was not made public at this time, Michele admitted that Alan, “faced more than his share of health challenges over the years, yet he continued to approach life with determination, humor, and gratitude.”

Photo: ABC

Dysert wrote about his battle with a rare, aggressive and incurable cancer in his 2023 autobiography, Lights, Camera, Cancer! He spoke of having undergone four major cancer-related surgeries, and many rounds of chemotherapy and CT scans.

SEAN CUDAHY WAS ‘BAD GUY’ PERSONFIED

On All My Children, Dysert played Sean Cudahy, the con man villain to his brother, good guy, Tom Cudahy played by Richard Shoberg. Dysert played the role between 1980 and 1990 returning for multiple story arcs, which included being revealed to be the murderer of Sybil Thorne. He was also involved in several affairs including with the impressionable Devon McFadden (Tricia Pursley).

THE LIVES HE TOUCHED

Alan’s longtime agent Melinda Eisnagule told PEOPLE his death is a “loss to our community and to the acting community at large. He touched so many lives and made the industry and the world a better place every day with his positive energy and kindness.”

Dysert leaves behind his wife, Michele and his two sons Cody and Cooper and will be remembered by those who knew him for a career that spanned the theatre, film, TV and performance coaching, and of course being a part of the legacy of All My Children.

Share your remembrances and condolences on the passing of Alan Dysert, All My Children’s Sean Cudahy, via the comment section below.

This week, The Young and the Restless veteran, Beth Maitland (Traci Abbott) is vying for her second gold statuette at the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards some 41 years later after winning the CBS soap’s first acting award ever back in 1985.

That year, Maitland took home the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series Award making Y&R history as the first performer to ever have her name called. A little bit later in the ceremonies, Tracey Bregman took home Y&R’s second Emmy for the Outstanding Ingenue.

Fast-forward to 2026, and Maitland, who has appeared on the soap both on contract and recurring since 1982, has been on the series now for over 44 years. Over the weekend, Traci talked with good friend Lawrence Zarian for a segment on KTLA Morning News. 

Photo: JPI

HOW TRACI REPRESENTS WOMEN ACROSS AMERICA

Maitland discussed how Traci has evolved over the years, where now she is the voice of reason for the Abbott family, and where more often than not, characters come to her with their issues.

“Aunt Traci is who everyone comes to with their problems, and what it’s taught me is to really take that seriously. I represent women of a certain age. I represent women over a certain dress size, and I feel it gives a lot of America and a lot of viewers a voice,” expressed Maitland, adding playing the role, “Really is meaningful to me.”

It was back in 1985 that Beth’s name was called as the winner of the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama  at the Daytime Emmys besting the likes of: Norma Connelly (ex-Ruby, General Hospital), Eileen Herlie (ex-Myrtle, All My Children), Maeve Kinkaid (ex-Vanessa, Guiding Light) and Elizabeth Lawrence (ex-Myra, All My Children).

FIRST DAYTIME EMMY WIN WAS ONE FOR THE Y&R RECORD BOOKS

Recalling what happened after hearing her name called 41 years ago, Maitland reflected, “It was a Cinderella moment. I was so stunned. I was in the company of mature actresses who had been doing daytime for decades and I was this absolute newbie”

She also remembered, “Honestly, I was so nervous I walked right out of my shoe going up the stairs at the Waldorf-Ast0ria on live television. That’s what I remember. I was absolutely overwhelmed, absolutely unexpected, and it was a really important moment in my young career. I never expected it, not in a million years and here we are again!”

2026 DAYTIME EMMY NOMINATION

Speaking of vying for the same prize 41 years later, Beth is nominated for her work in the Traci and Alan/Martin Laurent (Christopher Cousins) storyline which featured Traci’s love life blowing up in her face amid deceit and twins!

This year, Maitland is nominated alongside of: Linsey Godrey (Sarah, DAYS), Amanda Setton (Brook Lynn, GH), Trisha Mann-Grant (Leslie, BTG) and Camryn Grimes (Mariah, Y&R).

Maitland shared on the moment she learned she was in the running:  “I am absolutely flabbergasted. I’m in the company of amazing actresses, all these years later, but mostly I am honored to be a part of the daytime community. It’s a place in a world gone mad, people can tune-in and forget their problems for just a few minutes, laugh and cry, and take a break for a second and escape for the moment. To still be a part of that almost 45 years later, I never thought I would be here and I could not be more grateful.”

So, is Aunt Traci one of your favorite legacy characters of The Young and the Restless? Are you happy to see Beth included 41 years later after her first Emmy win in the Supporting Actress category at this year’s 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards? Let us know via the comment section.