“General Hospital” Reaches All Time Low in Ratings, Prepares for Wrap Up - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-23-2012, 10:54 AM

A few months ago I wrote that “General Hospital” would kill off Robin Scorpio, played by Kimberly McCullough she since was a child. Well, they did it. There is a lot of mail on this subject. But last week, “GH” reached an all time low in ratings. This isn’t by happenstance. ABC is getting ready to say goodbye to its last soap in time to debut Katie Couric in September. McCullough says she left to become a director, which may be true. But “GH” and ABC are following the plan laid by Procter and Gamble a couple of years ago. They got rid of the young demographic actors on “As the World Turns” and “Guiding Light.” It’s one thing to kill off old characters on a soap. But when you start killing the young female characters with big fan bases, that’s a sign the show is over.

ABC’s big problem is that the two shows they replaced “All My Children” and “One Life to Live”–”The Chew” and “The Revolution”–are unwatchable. So now what? The wheels are in motion to end “General Hospital,” on the air since Lyndon Johnson was president. There will be a lot of mail, but the network doesn’t care. This is cost cutting. Just as with the two other shows, they want “GH” off the air. Maybe they’ll go really retro and bring back The Afternoon Movie, in black and white. Or drag over programming from Lifetime. But Tuesday was the pivotal day for “GH.” Sorry, fans. (Ratings are from tvbythenumbers.com) PS McCullough has directed a new short film, listed on the Internet Movie Data Base, and has appeared in what looks like a direct to video film. But she’s talented, and there’s nowhere to go but up.

http://www.showbiz411.com/2012/02/21...es-for-wrap-up

80sTrivia · 02-23-2012, 08:46 PM

I can't imagine General Hospital lasting another year, which is really, really sad.

mets82 · 02-23-2012, 10:50 PM

The very fact that they killed Robin makes me sick!!

I mean was that really neccessary?? They have a really boring triangle with Ewen, Ethan, and the Women and White, yet they get rid of Robin??!!! ABC Daytime screws over the soaps, yet again. When are they going to learn that we dont want to watch The Chew or The Revolution. How can Frons and the rest of his cronies or ex cronies live with themselves?? They just make me sick!!

catlover79 · 02-24-2012, 04:26 AM

I haven't watched or followed GH for nearly a decade, and news like this is exactly why. Sickening.

comedyfreak · 02-24-2012, 05:01 AM

According to facebook, GH is suppose to be a lead in for Katie Couric's new show and that Katie wants GH to continue. She doesn't want to see her show sink like The Revolution has. Who knows anymore.

catlover79 · 02-24-2012, 05:39 AM

Is anyone out there really eager for a Katie Couric talk show, anyway? *gag*

Mr. Television · 02-24-2012, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

According to facebook, GH is suppose to be a lead in for Katie Couric's new show and that Katie wants GH to continue. She doesn't want to see her show sink like The Revolution has. Who knows anymore.

Maybe GH will move to 2:00 next year then.

MickeyMac · 02-24-2012, 04:10 PM

Are they going to kill off Luke Spencer next?

Melissa197801 · 02-28-2012, 11:57 PM

I truly like General Hospital alot and I'm also truly pissed they killed off Robin.I remember watching her as a child/teen she's not that old I was shocked.

I was disappointed when OLTL and AMC when off air I like them too and watch past episodes on Soapnet and I'm truly mad that soapnet ceases operation for another channel for young kids all day and Night don't they have enough channels.

I hope GH doesn't go off air.After soapnet goes I won't be able to see past episodes of ACM,OLTL, and GH at night since I missed them during the day since I work.

comedyfreak · 03-01-2012, 04:40 AM

Youtube has old episodes with some new. I just watched GH's 1000th episode they showed a very young Maxie who was giving attitude to Felicia Jones. Don't know if it was a different Maxie than Kristen. I'm hoping Robert Scorpio comes to Luke's rescue.

UMFaninMD · 03-03-2012, 07:27 PM

GH really has been on a downhill slope since former headwriter Bob Guza decided that 99% of the show should be about Sonny Corinthos and his mob woes. While the mob was always a part of GH since the Luke and Laura days, at least the writers back then actually focused on other characters and their stories as well. Building a soap around one specific character, one that is not very likable to begin with, really doesn't make for a successful show. Well, in my humble opinion.

Schmoopie · 03-05-2012, 12:57 PM

GH was the first soap I EVER watched. My grandparents would watch the ABC soaps and I never really understood them until the Luke and Laura storyline when they were on that island (before the infamous wedding). They were the ones who got me hooked on this show and although I haven't watched it in years, I'm grateful to them. I can't imagine GH being gone because I have so many memories of this show, it's incredible. I saw a clip on Youtube of Robin and it actually said "Robin is Fried". I found that very distasteful and I don't even want to know what prompted this storyline.

02-23-2012, 10:54 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	“General Hospital” Reaches All Time Low in Ratings, Prepares for Wrap Up A few months ago I wrote that “General Hospital” would kill off Robin Scorpio, played by Kimberly McCullough she since was a child. Well, they did it. There is a lot of mail on this subject. But last week, “GH” reached an all time low in ratings. This isn’t by happenstance. ABC is getting ready to say goodbye to its last soap in time to debut Katie Couric in September. McCullough says she left to become a director, which may be true. But “GH” and ABC are following the plan laid by Procter and Gamble a couple of years ago. They got rid of the young demographic actors on “As the World Turns” and “Guiding Light.” It’s one thing to kill off old characters on a soap. But when you start killing the young female characters with big fan bases, that’s a sign the show is over. ABC’s big problem is that the two shows they replaced “All My Children” and “One Life to Live”–”The Chew” and “The Revolution”–are unwatchable. So now what? The wheels are in motion to end “General Hospital,” on the air since Lyndon Johnson was president. There will be a lot of mail, but the network doesn’t care. This is cost cutting. Just as with the two other shows, they want “GH” off the air. Maybe they’ll go really retro and bring back The Afternoon Movie, in black and white. Or drag over programming from Lifetime. But Tuesday was the pivotal day for “GH.” Sorry, fans. (Ratings are from tvbythenumbers.com) PS McCullough has directed a new short film, listed on the Internet Movie Data Base, and has appeared in what looks like a direct to video film. But she’s talented, and there’s nowhere to go but up. http://www.showbiz411.com/2012/02/21...es-for-wrap-up
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02-23-2012, 08:46 PM	#2
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,715	I can't imagine General Hospital lasting another year, which is really, really sad.
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02-23-2012, 10:50 PM	#3
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	The very fact that they killed Robin makes me sick!! I mean was that really neccessary?? They have a really boring triangle with Ewen, Ethan, and the Women and White, yet they get rid of Robin??!!! ABC Daytime screws over the soaps, yet again. When are they going to learn that we dont want to watch The Chew or The Revolution. How can Frons and the rest of his cronies or ex cronies live with themselves?? They just make me sick!!
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02-24-2012, 04:26 AM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I haven't watched or followed GH for nearly a decade, and news like this is exactly why. Sickening.
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02-24-2012, 05:01 AM	#5
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	According to facebook, GH is suppose to be a lead in for Katie Couric's new show and that Katie wants GH to continue. She doesn't want to see her show sink like The Revolution has. Who knows anymore.
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02-24-2012, 05:39 AM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Is anyone out there really eager for a Katie Couric talk show, anyway? gag

02-24-2012, 04:10 PM	#8
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	Are they going to kill off Luke Spencer next?

02-28-2012, 11:57 PM	#9
Melissa197801 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 23, 2011 Location: New York Posts: 23	I truly like General Hospital alot and I'm also truly pissed they killed off Robin.I remember watching her as a child/teen she's not that old I was shocked. I was disappointed when OLTL and AMC when off air I like them too and watch past episodes on Soapnet and I'm truly mad that soapnet ceases operation for another channel for young kids all day and Night don't they have enough channels. I hope GH doesn't go off air.After soapnet goes I won't be able to see past episodes of ACM,OLTL, and GH at night since I missed them during the day since I work.
	__________________ Proud storywriter since 1990 The Secret Circle, Private Practice, The Mentalist, Pretty little liars, The Lying Game all good shows. Cassie to Diana-"You're the other Blackwell in the circle,You're my sister"-The Secret Circle

03-01-2012, 04:40 AM	#10
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	Youtube has old episodes with some new. I just watched GH's 1000th episode they showed a very young Maxie who was giving attitude to Felicia Jones. Don't know if it was a different Maxie than Kristen. I'm hoping Robert Scorpio comes to Luke's rescue.

03-03-2012, 07:27 PM	#11
UMFaninMD I love a mystery Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,287	GH really has been on a downhill slope since former headwriter Bob Guza decided that 99% of the show should be about Sonny Corinthos and his mob woes. While the mob was always a part of GH since the Luke and Laura days, at least the writers back then actually focused on other characters and their stories as well. Building a soap around one specific character, one that is not very likable to begin with, really doesn't make for a successful show. Well, in my humble opinion.

03-05-2012, 12:57 PM	#12
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	GH was the first soap I EVER watched. My grandparents would watch the ABC soaps and I never really understood them until the Luke and Laura storyline when they were on that island (before the infamous wedding). They were the ones who got me hooked on this show and although I haven't watched it in years, I'm grateful to them. I can't imagine GH being gone because I have so many memories of this show, it's incredible. I saw a clip on Youtube of Robin and it actually said "Robin is Fried". I found that very distasteful and I don't even want to know what prompted this storyline.
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