Last season, once again, ABC didn’t announce if General Hospital would return for another year. They haven’t cancelled the show either so, as long as it stays on the air, perhaps no news is good news. Will GH survive to see a 56th season (2018-19)? How will it do in the ratings? Stay tuned.
Debuting on April 1st of 1963, General Hospital revolves around the loves, lives, and deaths of the people of Port Charles, New York. The current season’s cast includes Vinessa Antoine, Maurice Benard, Steve Burton, Matt Cohen, William deVry, Chad Duell, Michael Easton, Hayley Erin, Genie Francis, Nancy Lee Grahn, Rebecca Herbst, Roger Howarth, Finola Hughes, Chloe Lanier, Lisa LoCicero, Billy Miller, Kelly Monaco, Anthony Montgomery, Ryan Paevey, Emme Rylan, Michelle Stafford, Kirsten Storms, Donnell Turner, Robert Palmer Watkins, Maura West, Laura Wright, and Dominic Zamprogna.
The ratings are typically the best indication of a show’s likelihood of staying on the air. The higher the ratings, the better the chances for survival. This chart will be updated as new ratings data becomes available. You can see how the ratings for the four soap operas compare here.
Note: If you’re not seeing the updated chart, please try reloading the page or view it here.
Note: ABC aired reruns on August 29, 30, and 31. The lower ratings for those airings were included in the demo average for the week of August 27 so we are omitting it so as not to throw off the season average.
For comparisons: The 2016-17 season of General Hospital averaged a 0.66 rating in the 18-49 female demographic with 2.55 million total viewers.
Raw data courtesy Soap Opera Network.
What do you think? Do you still like General Hospital TV series? Would you like to see it cancelled or renewed for additional seasons?
I like General Hospital but the writers drag the storylines out over too long a period; e.g. the truth about Michael’s baby, the truth about Kevin, the Dawn if Day drama. Six months is long enough for any story line to wrap up.
I’m a longtime fan of General Hospital. So few television programs are relationship-driven like GH and the other soaps. Even when GH is pre-empted (which seems more and more often), I will stay up late to watch the latest episodes. There are too many panel discussion and game shows on daytime TV.
I have been watching General Hospital for over 40 years now. When I would come home from school I would watch it with my mother. She got me hooked on the Spencers, the Quartermaines, the Cassadines and the Corinthos’ family as well. And of course, Luke and Laura, Robert and Ana, Frisco and Felicia, Alan and Monica and Carly and Sonny….as well as Jason and Sam. Please don’t EVER end this soap. It would NEVER be the same.
I’m 55 and starting watching GH in 1979. I can remember running home from the bus stop to see Luke and Laura. I’ve been recording it since VCRs came out!! Please keep the show running…
Lisa
Please don’t Cancel General Hospital. I’ve watched it since I was 16. It’s still definitely better than most night time shows. It’s great. Don’t cancel. I’ll Cancel you.