The ratings are out for the week of August 31- September 4, 2026 and it was a solid one for daytime’s youngest daytime drama, Beyond the Gates, now taping its third season.

According to the latest Nielsen report via Soap Opera Network, Beyond the Gates saw a rise in total viewers, tied with third place General Hospital in Households, and overtook GH in the women’s 18-49 and 25-54 ratings share putting them firmly in the number three spot.

Let’s take a look at the drama that had viewers tuning-in to the action in and around Fairmont Crest: Andre (Sean Freeman) kissed Heather (Ashley Jones) before leaving for Seoul with Dani (Karla Mosley).

Photo: CBS

Meanwhile, Heather figured out that her brother Joey (Jon Lindstrom) killed Doug. Hayley (Marquita Goings) poisoned Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett) yet again and left him unconscious. Jacob (Jibre Hordges) and Smitty (Mike Manning) made progress in the Impaler investigation, and the Articulettes had to deal with Leslie’s (Trisha Mann-Grant) interference.

As for the numbers, Beyond the Gates came in with an average of 1,677.000 total viewers and gained +66,000 for the week, with total household share at 1.2 up +1, and the key demos: 18-49 rating share of 0.20 up +0.07 from the previous week and 25-54 rating share at 0.29 also up +0.07.

Photo: ABC

GENERAL HOSPITAL

Over at General Hospital, the ABC soap opera was the only show to lose viewers for the week of all four broadcast network television daytime dramas. GH came in with an average total viewers tally at 1,911,000, but lost -24,000 and was now only up year-over-year +27,000.

In story for the ratings week: Ava (Maura West) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) buried Brennan (Chris McKenna) on the ground around the Quartermaine estate, and Drew framed Nina (Cynthia Watros) for the crime by planting Brennan’s wallet in her car.

Chase (Josh Swickard) aggressively pursued the investigation of Jordan’s (Tanisha Harper) car crash which led him to confronting Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton). Trina (Tabyana Ali) overheard information suggesting Brook Lynn might be tied to the incident and later got an earful.

Photo: CBS

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

CBS daytime’s The Bold and the Beautiful, which has been on a great run in the ratings of late, came in with total viewers at 2,778,000 adding +59,000, and up year-over-year at this time +312,000. B&B was firmly in the #2 position in households, plus 18-49 and 25-54 demos, behind its sister soap Y&R.

In story for the ratings week: Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) struggled to hide her affair with Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) from Finn (Tanner Novlan), and Carter did the same in trying to keep it under wraps from Daphne (Murielle Hilaire). In addition, Darcy (Kelly Sullivan) arrived in Los Angeles and stood up to Katie (Heather Tom) for her treatment of her daughter, Dylan (Sydney Bullock).

Photo: CBS

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

The top spot once again belonged to The Young and the Restless. In fact, Y&R gained the most viewers week-over-week adding +127,000 with its total viewer average at 3,189,000 tuning-in. In addition, it was also up year-over-year +327,000. Y&R also was #1 for the ratings week in households and in the 18-49 and 25-54 demos.

In story for the ratings week: Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) thought of a plan for Matt (Roger Howarth) to return to Genoa City. Billy (Jason Thompson) temporarily gave up his fight for Chancellor after Sally (Courtney Hope) had a pregnancy scare, which could have lasting implications as they head to the altar in October.

Meanwhile, Kyle (Michael Mealor) and Victoria  (Amelia Heinle) secretly arranged another hookup, Nate (Sean Dominic) prepared for surgery with Stephanie (Vivica A. Fox) by his side, and while in rehab, Nick (Joshua Morrow) helped Marie (Jade Harlow) after her frightening confrontation with her abusive husband, Logan (Tommy Walker).

So, what do you think of the latest ratings picture? Glad to see Beyond the Gates performing well? Which soap opera has you most glued to your screens? Which soap opera has you often wanting to tune-out? Let us know via the comment section below.

The Bold and the Beautiful has set their current long range story in motion, after Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) literally has backed Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) into a corner following the airing of the Friday, September 18th episode of the CBS daytime drama series.

No matter how much Steffy has told Carter, she does not want to give up her baby, especially after all that she went through before believing baby Beth was her child, when she was actually Hope’s (Annika Noelle). As fans recall, Steffy eventually had to give the baby she loved back to her biological mother. No matter how Steffy’s protests, Carter continues to connive to force the issue at hand.

After planting the seed to Daphne (Murielle Hilaire), that Steffy could be their surrogate and egg donor, he is over at Steffy’s pressuring her to say she’ll do this for Daphne as they have to act fast. Meanwhile, Daphne’s over at Forrester giving serious thought to Carter’s suggestion that her best friend can be her surrogate and donor.

Photo: JPI

THE LYING GAME

Steffy continues to try to explain to Carter (through her tears) that she cannot be the couple’s surrogate, and she needs to tell Finn (Tanner Novlan) that she’s pregnant, and now he is asking her to lie to everyone! Carter continues to put the pressure on Steffy, telling her she’d only be lying about how the pregnancy happened. She fires back, “No, Carter! I can’t!”

Carter goes in on her again. Steffy says the guilt is eating away at her. Steffy doesn’t think lying to her husband and best friend will bring her peace. He counterpoints they’d be making something good out of a bad situation. Carter insists this will be her way of giving Daphne something incredible.

Steffy cries, “My baby? I can’t do it!” Carter responds,“You can. Because you love Finn as much as I love Daphne.” He then adds to really make Steffy feel guilty, “I’m already in love with this child. With my child. Say yes!”

GIVE US A BABY!

Suddenly, Daphne shows up at the cliff house! Steffy is stunned, Carter says, “Steffy said she’s do it! Tell her Steffy. Tell Daphne the good news that you’re going to be our surrogate and donor. That we’re going to be parents.”

Steffy is left absolutely incredulous on how Carter just manipulated the situation and now Steffy needs to confirm to Daphne what Carter is demanding of her to do, as we fade to black.

Next week, official B&B spoilers for for September 21-25 share that on Wednesday, September 23, Finn asks Steffy not to go through with the surrogacy.

Now weigh-in: What do you think of how Carter put Steffy in a no-win situation with Daphne? Can you forgive Carter for forcing Steffy into this lie and to give up her baby? If Steffy says yes to the surrogacy, a complete cover-up would need to begin, and we still don’t know, do we, if the baby might be Finn’s! Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below. But first, watch the final moments again from Friday’s episode of The Bold and the Beautiful.

While Finn (Tanner Novlan) is unaware that his wife Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) is pregnant and that she is supposedly carrying Carter Walton’s (Lawrence Saint-Victor) child on The Bold and the Beautiful, Tanner Novlan is keeping busy, not only on the CBS soap, but in an upcoming new feature for the streamer Roku entitled Cowboy Hearts.

Laguna Beach star Kristen Cavallari is the lead opposite Novlan. The log lines of the story tease, “When a no-nonsense reality TV producer (Cavallari) is sent to Georgia to oversee the reboot of the hit dating show ‘Cowboy Hearts,’ she expects chaos behind the scenes, not romantic sparks with the cowboy himself (Novlan). Now, with the cameras rolling and her job on the line, she’ll have to decide if love is worth going off script.”

Taking to his Instagram to confirm his casting, Tanner Novlan shared, “Cowboy Hearts coming to @therokuchannel early ‘27!” The caption was posted alongside two photos of Tanner in the film wearing a cowboy hat, and a video with Tanner shirtless in said cowboy hat, but riding a horse. Tanner’s wife, former B&B actress, Kayla Ewell (ex-Caitlin Ramirez) joked in the comment thread, “Can you bring the cowboy hat home?”

Photo: JPI

KRISTEN CAVALLARI RETURNS TO ACTING AFTER 15 YEARS

Cavallari also recently starred as herself in an episode of ABC’s 9-1-1: Nashville, but Cowboy Hearts marks her first acting role in 15 years since she appeared in an episode of ABC comedy series, The Middle. Earlier in her career, Kristen appeared in the Laguna Beach spinoff, The Hills (as herself), plus episodes of Veronica Mars and CSI: NY.

The partnership of Roku and Cavallari comes from her having the biggest unscripted launch ever on the Roku platform with The Reunion: Laguna Beach. Now, Cowboy Hearts will launch sometime next year with Cavallari saying in a statement to Deadline, “I’m so excited to be stepping back into acting and getting to do something completely different with a rom-com. After such a great experience working with Roku on The Reunion: Laguna Beach, it feels especially exciting to be working with their team again — but this time for a scripted film. I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”

MORE THAN JUST BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL

As for Tanner Novlan, he has been playing Dr. John Finn Finnegan since July of 2020 on the CBS daytime drama series. He’s also well known for his role as the bad actor/ spokesperson in the Liberty Biberty commercial spots for Liberty Mutual, and his recurring role on Roswell, New Mexico. 

Novlan is no stranger as a leading man in rom-coms, too. He previously appeared in 2019’s My Best Friend’s Christmas, 2022’s Christmas Class Reunion, and 2024’s Debbie Macomber’s Joyful Mrs. Miracle.

So, intrigued to see Tanner in Cowboy Hearts when it comes out next year? On B&B, do you think Finn is really the baby-daddy to Steffy’s unborn baby that will be revealed later down the road? Let us know via the comment section.

 

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