GH: Thoughts on the Nurses Ball 2013

This entry is a commentary on the 2013 General Hospital Nurses Ball, which was shown on the episodes airing April 5, 8 & 9, 2013.

Friday's show:

The Nurses Ball was preceded by a Red Carpet event showing the main players get interviewed and photographed before entering the MetroCourt. Most everyone came with their date or family members. This segment was cute, and it made it easy for us to see all the gowns. That was something I appreciated, though in the real world, the designer names would have been mentioned. Of course, in some cases people who had no "fame" got introduced even if we in the audience know them. A part of me wishes in those cases, the photographers would have been confused. Actually that could have been a good bit, with one of the characters feeling slighted when they weren't recognized or called "date of whomever" or if it was a man called Mr. using the last name of their date. Patrick (Jason Thompson) and Sabrina (Teresa Castillo) were nearly late as he finally admitted to liking her. As usual, Lucy (Lynn Herring) was the host of the ball.

The first number was a "Welcome to the Nurses Ball", which was written in a very short time, by TJ (Tequan Richmond) and Molly (Haley Pullos). The song reminded me of something you'd hear at an amusement park. That routine had Epiphany (Sonya Eddy), Felix (Marc Anthony Samuel), Sabrina, and Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) along with assorted "extra dancing nurses". Since Elizabeth isn't a singer, she didn't vocalize, but the rest did. Lucy also spoke about the importance of nurses singling out too from GH's past Jessie Brewer (Emily McLaughlin) and Amy (Shell Kepler), both actresses have passed away in real life, but their photos were on display. Spinelli (Bradford Anderson) sang the lead in "She Blinded Me With Science" in a routine with his lab tech girlfriend Ellie (Emily Wilson).  There was a dance number with Sam (Kelly Monaco) and Anton (Maks Chmerkovskiy from Dancing with the Stars), as his original partner wasn't available. Unlike most DWTS performances, this was done in fun though the idea that Sam learned it that quickly was impossible. Mac (John J. York) performed with his dummy Mr. Marbles saying negative things about Frisco (Jack Wagner). He retaliated in song by performing "All I Need". As people who've watched GH way too long know, that wasn't Frisco and Felicia's (Kristina Wagner) song, but his with the late Tanya. (I know because I read way too much and was watching back when Frisco and Felicia were a couple.) He proposed marriage and that was the end of the episode.

Other things happened after the red carpet both behind the scenes and in the ballroom. Elizabeth and Felix were thrilled for Sabrina. Noah (Rick Springfield) and Bobbie (Jackie Zeman) talked for the first time in years including a mention of her faking blindness. Brenda (Vanessa Marcil) and Carly (Laura Wright) spar over how Carly ruined her engagement to Jax (Ingo Rademacher) who skips the ball completely. Brenda is removed from the ball after she throws bread at the other woman. Considering the friendship that Brenda and Robin shared, it was sad she was off screen as I wanted to see her interact with Emma.

What I liked most about this episode was Frisco's song and the mentions of Jessie and Amy. What I liked least was Mac's performance as he could have spoke about how great Felicia and Maxie are instead of it being an awkward moment of discrediting Frisco.

Monday's show:

Frisco was heartbroken, when Felicia said no to his proposal. In private, Felicia proposed to Mac and he said yes. He and Maxie (Kirsten Storms) spoke, and he told his daughter he was leaving Port Charles again.  Maxie was devastated that her father wouldn't stay in town for her. Lucy was surprised to see Richard Simmons back to harass her for being fired from his job as choreographer of the ball. Lucy was supposed to dance the tango with Duke (Ian Buchanan), but Anna (Finola Hughes) filled in, and Duke/Anna reunited. After the six-man striptease led by "Magic" Milo (Drew Cheetwood), Lucy came out in her skivvies as Richard attacked her. The men saved her from Richard and took him out of the ball. The striptease was done to "Give it to me Baby", and Anton, Michael (Chad Duell), Max (Derk Cheetwood), Felix, and Spinelli were Milo's students. The women went crazy seeing the men prance around in underwear. Olivia (Lisa LoCicero) wanted to see them without their boxers except for Michael. Rick Springfield performed "Jesse's Girl" as himself, though everyone just thought Rick Springfield looked a lot like Noah. Sabrina and Emma (Brooklyn Rae Silzer) were in pink performing "Call Me Maybe". Emma was happy to hear that Sabrina and her dadd Patrick were dating. The tone became serious once Lucy spoke about HIV and AIDS mentioning AMFAR. Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) and her mother Dr. Obrecht (Kathleen Gati) watched the ball on television. Dr. O only really liked the Rick Springfield performance. While alone, we found out that Faison is Britt's father. Britt left her mom to go to the ball, and planned to drop a bomb to ruin Sabrina and Patrick's new romance.

What I liked most about this episode was how Duke and Anna reunited. I was disappointed with how Frisco left as up to this point it didn't seem like Frisco was there solely for Felicia.

Tuesday's show:

Maxie had to deal with Ellie asking her about the conversation she had with Frisco before he left town. Thankfully, Ellie didn't hear anything which made her find out that the baby is Spinelli's biological child. Britt shows off why she crashed the ball, she has a huge baby bump. Max and Olivia are on stage together, she is the Bensonhurst Medium, and she makes predictions about people's lives. Molly and TJ perform the song "Private School Girls" with a band including Nancy Lee Grahn's (Alexis) daughter Kate.  Epiphany sang another number "Jump" by The Pointer Sisters. Tracy (Jane Elliot) and Monica (Leslie Charleson) provided backup, but everyone joined in the fun. Dr. O in her hotel room also liked this numbered. Lucy did a traditional thank you to everyone for coming to the ball. Sabrina mentions how Emma is the inspiration for the ball. The last song of the night is performed by Sabrina and Patrick an original called "You're not alone".  We also see Michael's heartbreak as on a one-sided call, his girlfriend Starr (Kristen Alderson who is not mentioned by name or seen) ends their relationship.

What I liked most about this episode was how much everyone enjoyed "Jump". I was disappointed that we only heard about AJ (Sean Kanan) and Liz's performance during the ball even though they kissed.

I hope it doesn't take over 10 years for General Hospital to air another ball. I liked most of what I saw, and it can be fun seeing the performers (hidden and not-so-hidden) talents.