Connect with us

General Hospital

41

Vinessa Antoine Recalls Her Time as the OG Jordan Ashford of General Hospital

By Michael Fairman

Published

on

Photo: ABC

When General Hospital’s Jordan Ashford first came to Port Charles in 2014, she was played by popular actress, Vinessa Antoine.

Antoine played the former police commissioner and DEA agent four four years, before exiting the show when she landed the lead role on CBC’s new dramatic series, Diggstown.  It was there that Vinessa became the first black Canadian woman to be the lead of a Canadian TV drama series.

As the story goes, believing she would be able to take a break from the show to film her other series, GH made the decision to recast the part of Jordan with Briana Nicole Henry.

Vinessa talked to TV Watercooler back in 2020 on her GH departure: “I thought that I would get to stay. It was quite a shocker for me. I never planned to leave the show. I was hoping to get to do what the other actors get to do…go on a little sabbatical. I knew that we were only going to be gone for the summer, so I thought maybe my character could go away on an undercover mission or fall into a coma. But they had other plans, which was out of my control.”

Photo: AntoineIG

Now in 2023, Antoine took a walk down GH memory lane via her Instagram account, where she shared some photos from her time on the show.

Accompanying the pics in the post, Vinessa said: “Some memory photos came up from my ABC soap days at General Hospital. Original Jordan Ashford. Feels like a lifetime ago now but what an amazing workout space for the brain of an actor. A great experience to sharpen your tools in the craft. It’s like going to the gym. Mad respect to everybody still in the soap game.
Grateful for all of the moments and for the GH fans along the way.  You guys remember when Jordan was actually undercover DEA? That’s the Jordan I liked playing.Anyway, just sharing some pics for the lifelong GH fans who remember #ogjordanashford”

Since Diggstown ended its run, Antoine has also been seen on The Resident, Interrogation, So Help Me Todd and more.

Did you like the OG version of Jordan, who was undercover DEA? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

41 Comments

41 Comments
oldest
newest

Diggstown only did 6 episodes a year, so it’s ridiculous to think she couldn’t have done both. Granted, the COVID epidemic would have made things more difficult, trying to work both in Canada & the US (this is why Julian Jerome was killed off, because he wanted to live in Canada – a country with an actual healthcare system – during the pandemic)

But this wasn’t the case when Diggstown started, so at the very least she could have started out doing both shows… then maybe dealt with the border crossing difficulties when that became an issue.

Of course now Diggstown is over, as is the “emergency” designation of COVID. So this may be wishful thinking on a Devil’s part, but I’d really like to see the original Jordan return.

Hey Satan

Canada’s is a good place to be ! Here in Manitoba…it’s pretty sweet with cold hard winters… what is it like there when hell freezes over?

Hell hasn’t frozen over yet. But I have some sweaters on hand, just in case I need them… for example, if a certain orange mortal with 70 + indictments against him (with more to follow) is actually convicted and sentenced to prison… well, there’s going to be a fully functional ski resort on Beelzebub Mountain when that happens, but I’ll be happy to wear the itchy old wool sweater that day!

That will be a heavenly day indeed!

I would like to see her return as well

I really would love to see her return. The new one just don’t get it.

I totally agree..I think the current Jordan lacks any kind of depth or acting abilities..Shes just a one dimensional character..Loved VA and her chemistry with Anna as she worked under cover for her..Love to see her come back !

Me to.

Wish she would come back,this jordan isn’t as good,she is to fake.

But she was so good comforting Taggert. She can act! She might just be too subtle and understated for some folks who like actors who mug it up.

That is not the reason Julian was killed off. He had no plans to move back to Canada then; he hasn’t even moved there now. William DeVry was completely blindsided by the decision to kill Julian off.

It would be interesting to William DeVry return as a new character as well

I couldn’t agree with u more

I hope GH does what it always does… bring her back as a new character.

Bring her back, the new Jordan is easily the worst actor on the show. Antonine and Henry were both great in the role.

% agree..She lacks any kind of emotion or depth..She’s a one dimensional character who has no acting abilities..Love to see her go and take Curtis with her..Hes become such a hypocrite!

Really? I love the current actress playing Jordan. She’s understated but that’s in keeping with the stoicism required of a police commissioner. I also think she’s a goddess.

I agree and she has grown in the roll especially with her little romance. But, I agree about dropping Curtis, he’s a one tone actor!

I agree Harry. Your “goddess” is a model. Have you seen her IG account? She has some great pics from her photo shoots. As for her acting, I thought she was awful when she first came to the show; very stilted (like what’s-his-face was who played Nathan). And personally I liked Briana who she replaced, so it was difficult for me to accept Tanisha Harper. But then I saw her improve and now I really like her; she made the character her own. She’s a much more sophisticated Jordan in her look and demeanor, than Vinessa or Briana. The others came across grittier. She looks like she’s on her way to a shoot after she leaves a shooting. (see what I did there? lol.) She brings a different vibe which I’ve become used to and like.

I did like Vinessa, too. I was familiar with her from a Canadian show she was in that I loved, “Being Erica.” So it was interesting and surprising for me when she came to GH.

I seriously want her back on GH. She is Jordan.

Me to. Shes the best .

Yes I agree! I miss her!
She played that role!

Vinessa is Jordan! She won awards every year she was on the show. Its painful.to watch the recast a try to play the part
The execs made a horrific mistake by not allowing her the small amount of extra time she.needed to do Diggsville. Correct the miistake

I liked her with Shawn Butler, T,J’s dad and also her close relationship with Anna. Hasn’t been the same with the other Jordans.

I agree !!

Got that right! GH needs to bring her back

Bring her back!! Pleeeeeaase!

LOVE LOVE LOVE The Current Actress playing Jordan! Wonderful actress and very beautiful! I am so excited about her upcoming storyline with Zeke. Hope she is around for a long time!

Nice to see a positive comment about the current actress. Tanisha Harper’s Jordan is strong, courageous, dignified and drop dead gorgeous. She contrasts sharply with Portia, who acts like a silly, giggling sixth grade girl.

She need to come back as Jordan on GH. Don’t t like the this one or all the replacement . They should of let her come back.

Need to let her come back to General Hospital as Jordan. Don’t like those replacement. She’s did a great job as Jordan.

She was a great Jordan! I wish she could come back to the show.

Agree completely. She was great in the role of GHs Jordan. Such stage presence!
Wouldn’t she make a great Michele Obama?

Vinessa was easily the best actress to play Jordan. Brianna Henry was alright, but this new Jordan is awful. She looks far too young to play the role, and is extremely wooden. She and TJ look much more like brother & sister than mother & son. I was hoping to see Mishael Morgan step into the role after she wrapped on Y&R, but sadly that didn’t happen.

The current Jordan is soon to be 38; Briana before her is only 30 and Vinessa is basically 40. If anyone looks really young it’s Portia, even though the actress is soon to be 50.

How do we as viewers get this point across to the producers at GH. Almost every comment is the same – bring Vinessa back!

She was the best Jordan. The new lady just doesn’t have the charisma that is needed. GH, please bring her back!!!!

Wish she was back on GH. The new Jordan is robotic and nothing like a Police Commissioner should act.
The new one won’t move fast like she thinks her eye makeup will fall off

Loved her on that role…dumb to let her go . The new woman is great but she was out standing

I started watching GH in 2014. Vinessa was Jordan and I really loved her. It’s a shame she was treated this when her other costars were given the time to do other projects while also doing GH. It took me some time to get use to Briana Nicole Henry, but eventually did and then poof, she was gone. I LOVE ❤️❤️Tanisha Harper, she’s killing it. I would love to see Vinessa return to GH as maybe a former/current coworker, DEA or law enforcement agent, of Marcus Taggert. Taggert could use the support right now. She could help heal his broken heart .
She could also be a relative of Stella Henry who comes to visit her for the holidays. Or a long lost daughter of Hat Daddy Marshall Ashford. We don’t really know much about his time spent away from his family. Maybe he was a rollingstone, he is a musician after all. So, she comes into town hell bent on getting revenge on the father who abandoned her and her mother while she was pregnant, but then finds out eventually he had no idea she excited. So many exciting ways she could be written in and expand on the #BlackHospital stories.

Loved her and miss her as Jordan! So talented and beautiful. Absolutely loved the character with her in the role, been boring since she left.

Beyond the Gates

RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Inches Closer to ‘General Hospital’ in Total Viewers

Published

on

By

Beyond the Gates and General Hospital

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.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

Antonio Sabáto Jr. Breaks Silence on His Son’s Arrest for Fatal Hit-and-Run

Published

on

By

Antonio Sabato Jr.

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.”

Jack Sabato

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.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Antonio Sabato Jr (@antoniosabatojr)

Continue Reading

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Casts Ayla Bullington as the New Avery Jerome-Corinthos

Published

on

By

Ayla Bullington

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.’” 

Josslyn

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.

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

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

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Heather Tom

The Bold and the Beautiful

Airdate: 7-24-2026

Popular

41
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x