General Hospital fans fear ‘there won’t be a show’ after dramatic ratings drop & viewers tuning out over ‘boring’ scenes

GENERAL Hospital has seen a major decline in viewership over the last few weeks, as fans questioned the show's future due to its lackluster episodes.

The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal that the long-running soap opera has lost viewers for recent episodes, and many have admitted they're completely tuned out.

General Hospital drew 1,865,000 viewers during the week of July 15 to 19 - a dip from the previous week, when it had 1,932,000, according to Soap Opera Network.

The lower numbers are even more concerning compared to the week of June 24 and 28, when 1,957,000 watchers were recorded.

However, viewership appeared to decline weeks earlier, as June 10 to 14 only brought in 1,897,000 - a decrease from the ratings of 1,903,000 from May 20 to 24.

Shortly before that, Soap Opera Network noted worries about the show's fate, as, at the time, it experienced "the biggest year-to-year decline," and it consistently averaged less than 2,000,000 viewers.

'MAKE IT STOP!'

Fans have expressed their thoughts about the 2023-2024 season on social media and might have shed some light on why people aren't tuning in.

"Can they please exit John Cates character now. Such a boring storyline that is just dragging on," one person wrote in the comments of the ABC show's Instagram post showing a preview for a recent episode.

"Ratings have been low for 19 consecutive weeks…none of this mob stuff is interesting. Been there done that a million times before. If you continue down this path there won’t be a show left," someone else predicted.

"General Hospital we know where you are going with the story before you even do it kill. Cates and it’s a who done it story ! And it’s not interesting enough Sonny and the meds is old," a third complained, referencing Antonio Sabato, Jr. and Maurice Benard's characters.

"Someone please make it stop! So so so bad.. Have you all looked at the ratings and the reviews and what people are saying? does anyone read this stuff? This is awful.

"The writers have got to be Gen Z who have no concept of the history of these characters or how they would behave. Fire them!" a fourth demanded.

"I am so tired of Carly whining and whining about herself.. I had to fast forward when she is on," a fifth fan said of Laura Wright's character.

"I won’t be watching. Hopefully they get the hint," a sixth said of the show's producers.

"Tired of the blaze storyline. Turned it off," a seventh confessed, while an eighth added, while others claimed the writers "blew it" with their "blah" storylines.

General Hospital has been called out for seemingly dragging on storylines for some time.

General Hospital cast

General Hospital has been on air since the early 1960s.

The cast of the iconic soap opera includes:

• Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos)
• Chad Duell (Michael Corinthos)
• Katelyn MacMullen (Willow Corinthos)
• Robert Gossett (Marshall Ashford)
• Josh Swickard (Harrison Chase)
• Gregory Harrison (Gregory Chase)
• Michael Easton (Hamilton Finn)
• Kirsten Storms (Maxie Jones)
• Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri)
• Kelly Monaco (Samantha McCall)
• Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth Webber-Baldwin)
• Cynthia Watros (Nina Reeves)
• Maura West (Ava Jerome)

Celebrity appearances:

The writers attempted to spark more interest earlier this week by creating a custody war between sisters Molly Lansing (Haley Pullos) and Kristina Davis (Kate Mansi).

But some fans think more should be done to save the show, including bringing back some familiar faces.

After a trailer for Friday's episode was released last week, some fans pined for Lulu Spencer, portrayed by Emme Rylan, to return after her 2020 departure.

Before that, it was revealed that Lulu's brother, Lucky Spencer, would return this summer after exiting the show in 2015.

General Hospital has made several other cast shakeups as Charlotte Cassadine (Scarlett Fernandez) and John Brennan (Charles Mesure) are expected to return to the series.

Jake Webber, played by Hudson West, also recently returned.

The changeup follows the death of General Hospital star Michael Easton, who had played Dr. Hamilton Finn since 2016.