Beyond the Gates
Which Soap Opera Had the Best ‘Cliffhanger Friday’ This Week?
As long as soap opera viewers can remember, it’s always about the lasting image, the final moment, the classic Friday cliffhanger that is supposed to leave us coming back for more the following Monday. A good cliffhanger should leave us either breathless, shocked, confused, excited or give us pause to ponder the multiple twists in the story that may lie ahead.
Let’s take a look at how your favorite soap operas came to a conclusion on Friday, December 12. On General Hospital, try as Jason (Steve Burton) might, and as much is he tries to get through to Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) she seemingly let’s her wall down as he wants her to finally tell him, how is she getting the experimental medication to save her from the symptoms of Huntington’d disease and what happened at the Five Poppies and what has her so scared.
Just when you think Britt’s tough demeanor is crumbling, she finally goes in for a kiss on Jason, and after the big smooch, she tells him that she will never tell him what’s going on. So, where does that leave Jason? Will he continue to try to figure out what is happening to her? Is this the end of Britt and Jason for now, or just the beginning? In addition, also before the end of the episode, Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) learned (as did everyone else) that she is now, once again, the prime suspect again in Drew’s shooting, after footage of her crying in the rain inside her car and outside of Drew’s house came to light by the PCPD which does not jive with her original story or whereabouts the night Drew was shot. So, did she do it?

Courtesy/ABC
On The Bold and the Beautiful, and speaking of romance, after Hope and Liam get remarried in front of family and friends, and as everyone is celebrating the happy couple at the wedding reception at Bill’s house (where they also tied the knot), Bill (Don Diamont) has a moment alone with Katie (Heather Tom). Dollar Bill is so moved by the day, he gets down on one knee and proposes to the love of his life.
Katie, looks stunned, but then in the kicker, Bill says that he wants them to get married right now today, while all of their family members are present. As the show goes off the air, Katie is pondering if she will say “Yes” to the whole proposal, half of it, or none of it. However, from the “Look Ahead” video teaser for next week, Bill is proposing a new fashion house for Katie to run as his wedding present! Will Bill get Eric to come over as the lead designer or to run the design division?
Next, on The Young and the Restless, after several rounds of chatter between Noah (Lucas Adams) and Sienna (Tamara Braun) in front of Nick (Joshua Morrow) and Sharon (Sharon Case) and not in front of Nick and Sharon, he is able to get Sienna to stay put with him and his family to protect her from the on the run, Matt Clark/Mitch Bacall (Roger Howarth). Meanwhile, Sienna continues to be concerned with being in Genoa City, but Noah seems to love her and wants to be with her no matter what.

Photo: JPI
At the end of the episode, after we learned via flashback, that the man that Audra (Zuleyka Silver) stole a half million dollars from was accidentally killed when Holden (Nathan Owens) and the guy came to blows and he hit his head on the floor, meaning this is what she has been covering up that happened back in LA at the Shadow Room, we next see Matt Clark coming to the front door of the Genoa City Athletic Club with a beanie on his head, ready to take down Sienna, Noah, Sharon, Nick, Victor and anyone else who got in his way, in his thirst for revenge. Will Audra’s secret somehow be used by Matt to blackmail her, or is this just a whole other separate story?
Over at Beyond the Gates, Hayley (Marquita Goings) wants to get Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett) to St. Barts so she can kill him there, after traces of the drug Randy gave her could be found in Bill’s system after he passed out. Randy initially promised her the drug he gets from his guy, would never be traceable. She feels she needs a clear path to do her husband in without any trace of foul play. Bill says he cannot leave town yet as he has a potential new client.
At the end of the episode, Bill is talking to Lynette at his office, who is accused of embezzling from the bank at which she worked. Just then, Hayley walks in unannounced. She looks at Lynette and Lynette shoots her a look back, and the two clearly share some sketchy past. What is the connection between Lynette and Hayley, and will this be Mrs. Hamilton’s undoing?
As Days of our Lives concluded on Friday, finally, EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) has been drugged and tossed in the crypt with the rest of the family passed out. With the arrival next week of former OLTL fan favorite, Dan Gauthier as Peter Blake, does this finally mean all the DiMeras are together and we will learn just why the children of Stefano et al are trapped together, and just what is the master plan? Stay tuned.
So, which cliffhanger was your favorite? The final moments of: General Hospital, Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives or The Young and the Restless, OR, did they all bore you and none of them floated your boat or left you interested or intrigued for Monday? Let us know via the comment section below.
Beyond the Gates, without a shadow of a doubt.
I only watch General Hospital.
I only watch GH due to time constraints but it sure sounds like Beyond the Gates is on fire. That said, I don’t find the Britt and Jason story to that much of a cliffhanger. I do hope they explore the idea that Willow has developed an alter who shot Drew and who tampered with Sasha’s baby.
Beyond the gates, hands down. GH is unwatchable right now. Britt’s return is worse than Jason and Lucky’s return combined.
God forbid someone changes their mind about wanting to do a soap again.
Britt ≠ Kelly Thiebaud
Kelly Thiebaud ≠ Britt
Beyond the Gates. I love Haley and Randy’s scheming. And I am happy every time Clifton Davis and Tamara Tunie are on my screen. I never thought that Clifton Davis would be on so often. I love his one on one conversations with his family members. I’ve been a fan since That’s My Mama.
Runner-up for cliffhanger goes to Roger Haworth and Tamara Braun. Can they become series regulars?
General Hospital.
i watch all except Gh bold was ok days is always underrated and gets the job done gates was good as well but for the first time in weeks it was yandr that caught my attention! Awhile back i thought Audra could walk but was highly intrigued by her back story with Holden and love Tamara Braun she can be anywhere and she shows up Also liked lily and her banter with Audra and Cain!yandr caught me with the dialogue and the ending !
#BTG was fiyah on Friday and runner-up is #YR (it shocks me that I’m even saying this about Y&R considering Josh Griffith can’t write a decent cliffhanger to save his ass).
Beyond the Gates
RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Inches Closer to ‘General Hospital’ in Total Viewers

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.
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Daytime Emmy Winners Ambyr Michelle and Tamara Tunie to Chat Live on the Michael Fairman Channel

Just over a week ago, Beyond the Gates stars Ambyr Michelle and Tamara Tunie broke ground becoming the first performers in the history of daytime’s newest soap opera to win Daytime Emmys!
Michelle became the first, when she took home gold statuette earlier in the ceremonies in the Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series category. Later, Tunie joined her when she took home the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series, the first Emmy of her veteran career.
Now, both actresses visit the Michael Fairman Channel live for two separate chats! Ambyr Michelle will be with us on Wednesday, November 11 beginning at 6pm ET/3pm PT, while Tamara Tunie follows the next day on Thursday, November 12 beginning at 7pm ET/4pm PT.

Photo: CBS
Find out what happened on their Emmy night both behind the scenes and in front of the camera, and in the celebration afterwards, plus what’s next for Eva and Anita in story on the CBS soap opera.
AMBYR TOOK A ‘SEAT AT THE TABLE’
Daytime Emmy viewers will recall Ambyr’s heartfelt Emmy acceptance speech, when she shared, “I don’t just see an award. I see every audition, every rejection, every moment I questioned my artistry. And to Eva Thomas, thank you, girl. Playing your pain made me process my own.“
She ended her speech with, “To my beautiful Black women and girls, take up space, be undeniable, create your tables, and fill those seats. When the tables are full, and those seats are full, make the table even bigger. So that the women coming up behind you never have to ask permission to belong.“

Photo: CBS
TAMARA HONORED THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE HER AND HER MOM
Tamara Tunie received a standing ovation when her name was called after her win in an enduring career. Tunie began by sharing, “My heart is so full right now. This is the best welcome back to daytime ever, There is a host of Black actresses who paved the way for me, and I feel them as I stand here tonight, beginning with the legendary Cicely Tyson, the first Black woman to appear on a daytime television show, The Guiding Light.”
Tunie went on to thank her co-stars and everyone at Beyond the Gates and soap opera fans, plus getting to share the screen with the legendary Clifton Davis as Anita’s husband, Vernon Dupree. However, it was Tunie’s mother, who at 92, was with her on Emmy night that she thanked the most.
“There is one person who has been on this journey with me every single step of the way, who has traveled across states, countries and oceans to support my dream,” she expressed. “I would not be who I am as an actor or a woman without her love, support, encouragement and mere presence, She has been my example, my role model and my inspiration. I accept this honor on behalf of my mother … who, at 92 years young, crossed the country yet again to see me take this goal tonight. I love you, mommy!”
HOW YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Make sure to join us in the live chat with your questions for Ambyr and Tamara in what is sure to be emotional conversations.
If you cannot be with us live, but have a question you would like posed to either actress, make sure to drop in the comment section below and we just might pose it during the live broadcasts.
So, were you happy to see Ambyr and Tamara win Emmy gold? What are your hopes for Eva and Anita as the holiday season approaches and with 2027 just around the corner? Let us know in the comment section.
Beyond the Gates
Yvette Nicole Brown and Husband Anthony Davis Head to ‘Beyond the Gates’

Next week on the Friday, November 13 episode of Beyond the Gates, Yvette Nicole Brown and her real life husband Anthony Davis guest star. In story, Brown takes on the role of Temeka the cousin to Shanice (Ernestine Johnson Morrison).
When Temeka comes to Fairmont Crest she will be accompanied by her husband, Tony, played by real-life hubby Anthony Davis. The castings come as the soap opera continues to expand the family of Shanice. Previously, we met her brothers, Cedric and Lamont.
As Shanice gets ready to head down the aisle with Dr. Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) will the presence of Shanice’s family members actually deter the nuptials from ever taking place?

Photo: CBS
This now makes the third daytime drama appearance by Yvette Nicole Brown. She first popped up on The Young and the Restless in 2016 and 2017 as reporter Lois Thompson.
Then in 2023, she played a nurse on General Hospital when she appeared in the March 29, 2023 episode honoring her real-life friend, Sonya Eddy who past away in real-life in December of 2022, The soap honored her in death when her character, Epiphany died.

Photo: ABC
Brown and Eddy first met in 2003 while testing for an ABC pilot titled “The Four Divas” alongside Octavia Spencer and Carla Renata and became very close friends up until Eddy’s passing.
It was actually Brown’s character, who came forth to Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and shared that Epiphany died saving her life which gave some sort of solace to Elizabeth; knowing Epiphany died doing what she loved, helping people.
As for Anthony Davis, not only is he an actor, but a writer and minister known for TV and film roles including: He Wasn’t Man Enough (2025), The Family Business: New Orleans, and The Upshaws.
Brown is also recognized from her roles on: Community, The Odd Couple, The Mayor, That ’70s Show, The Office, Boston Legal, Chuck, Mom, Big Shot to name but a few.
So, looking forward to see Yvette Nicole Brown and her real-life husband, Anthony Davis on Beyond the Gates? Happy to see more family members from Shanice’s life showing up at Fairmont Crest? Do you remember the heart-tugging episode where everyone learned Epiphany had died on General Hospital and Yvette Nicole Brown’s part in the story? Let us know via the comment section.
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