Whoever said soaps were dying sure didn’t have a reliable crystal ball: “General Hospital” is at it again with yet another week of climbing ratings!

As the show’s 50th Anniversary continued through the week of April 8, the show saw an 18-month high in women ages 18-49, placing it in the number two spot in the demos and — you better believe it — generating the biggest year-to-year increase of any broadcast daytime program! Read on for the official press release containing more information regarding “GH’s” upsweep:

Ron Tom/ABC

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ABC

Message board posters circulated a rumor days ago that daytime newcomer Bryan Craig had been tapped to step into the role of “General Hospital’s” Morgan, and a rep for the show has now confirmed it’s true! And that means residents of Port Charles better watch out, because the reintegration of Sonny’s son onto the canvas is likely to be anything but smooth!

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David M. Russell/Prospect Park

Shortly after news first broke that Roger Howarth, Kristen Alderson and Michael Easton would be returning to “General Hospital” as new characters, I tweeted, “Hearing Prospect Park won the character battle between it and ABC. More details on this matter forthcoming.” Those details are now ready to be revealed!

Soap Opera Network has learned exclusively that although Howarth will be portraying a new character when he begins filming episodes of the ABC sudser on Monday, the actor will also continue portraying his iconic role of Todd Manning on The OnLine Network‘s “One Life to Live.”

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Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Although a show spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment at press time, a representative for Lindsey Morgan has informed Soap Opera Network that the actress has already appeared in her last episodes of ABC’s “General Hospital.”

In a message posted on her Facebook page last month, Morgan announced her departure from “GH.”

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IMDb

A CBS spokesperson has confirmed to Soap Opera Network that actress Jhoanna Flores has completed her run as Adriana Stone on ”The Young and the Restless” with her last airdate being Tuesday, April 9. The actress joined the series on January 4 as the onscreen sister of Ignacio Serricchio‘s Alejandro “Alex” Chavez. The news was first reported by Daytime Confidential.

Flores’ acting credits include stints on ABC Family’s “Greek,” CBS’ “Criminal Minds” and the 1990′s ABC sitcom “Two of a Kind.” Flores appeared in the 2007 film “Her Best Move” with Daytime Emmy Award winner Drew Tyler Bell (ex-Thomas Forrester, “The Bold and the Beautiful“).

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Disney/ABC Television Group

Ratings Report for the Week of April 1-5, 2013

NOTE: Please do not copy and paste the entire ratings.  Thank you.

Numbers are based on Live+Same Day ratings

(Compared to Last Week/Compared to Last Year)

Total Viewers
1. Y&R 4,669,000 (-86,000/+709,000)
2. B&B 3,308,000 (-85,000/+497,000)
3. GH 2,792,000 (+38,000/+548,000)
4. DAYS 2,310,000 (-123,000/+148,000)

Households
1. Y&R 3.4/11 (-.1/+.4)
2. B&B 2.4/8 (-.1/+.2)
3. GH 2.1/7 (+.1/+.4)
4. DAYS 1.8/6 (same/+.2)

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Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

On Thursday, April 11, ABC’s “General Hospital” announced that former “One Life to Live” stars Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr Manning), Michael Easton (ex-John McBain) and Roger Howarth (ex-Todd Manning) would be returning to the soap after more than two months had gone by since they last appeared at the Prospect Studios, where “GH” is filmed. According to sources, the actors will be portraying new characters. Now two of the three stars have taken to their respective social networks to respond to fans who’ve been dying to hear their take on things.

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Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

As previously reported, tomorrow, April 12, The Paley Center for Media will present a panel discussion with the cast of ABC’s “General Hospital” in honor of the soaps 50th anniversary. Also scheduled to join in are executive producer Frank Valentini and head writer Ron Carlivati.

While tickets have already sold out quickly, fans of ABC’s “General Hospital” won’t have to miss out on their favorite actors as they take a chair with Will Keck, Senior Editor & Columnist, TV Guide Magazine, during an interactive panel conversation that will be streamed live at PaleyCenter.org on Friday, April 12 at 7:00 PM PT at The Paley Center for Media John H. Mitchell Theatre in Beverly Hills, CA.

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Investigation Discovery

Ever since word broke that “Desperate Housewives” creator, Marc Cherry, was working on “Devious Maids,” a series that stars “All My Children’s” Susan Lucci (ex-Erica Kane), fans have been chomping at the bit for more information and an airdate. Well wait no longer: The full cast, synopsis and premiere date for the Lifetime series has officially been released!

Premiering Sunday, June 23, on Lifetime, the drama series follows Ana Ortiz (“Ugly Betty”), Dania Ramirez (“Entourage”), Roselyn Sanchez (“Without a Trace”), Edy Ganem (“Livin’ Loud”) and Judy Reyes (“Scrubs”) as five ambitious maids who, while working for the rich and famous in Beverly Hills (including Lucci as Genevieve Delatour), dream of wealthy lives of their own. This makes for one heck of an upstairs-downstairs scenario, which is complicated by murder and mayhem — just like on “Desperate Housewives,” and just like on daytime soaps!

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