The poor, put-upon network soaps — what’s left of ’em, anyway — are experiencing a mini-rebirth in the ratings department. Two of the four remaining daytime soaps — ABC’s “General Hospital” and NBC’s “Days of Our Lives” — are reporting in with some good numbers.
For the week of Nov. 11, “General Hospital” (2 p.m./Ch. 7) hit a two-year high in women 18-49 and spiked in women 25-54 to reach its best numbers in that demo in over two-and-a-half years (1 million viewers). It also averaged nearly 3 million viewers — its best numbers in 11 months in that category as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
For that same week (Nov. 11), “Days of Our Lives” hit its best viewership mark in nearly three years (2.9 million) and, season-to-date, is up 12 percent in women 18-49 and women 25-54 and is up 7 percent in total viewers. CBS’ “Young and the Restless” leads the pack, averaging 5 million viewers thus far this season. Maybe there’s life left in the old genre yet.