GH: Thoughts on the 2014 Nurses Ball

General Hospital's four-day extravaganza that is the Nurses Ball ended today. Below are my thoughts and some highlights of the 2014 event.

Thursday, May 8

This was the episode with the red carpet material. In the old days, they didn't have a red carpet part, but this year's version was better than what was done in 2013. This is also a good way to show product placement without it being too annoying. I think it is strange how Bobbie is called a living legend as what has she done that is so remarkable that the average Port Charles native would think of her that way. Sam did a tumble, which seemed to be a play on Jennifer Lawrence. Everyone else entered: Olivia and Ned went together due to her estrangement from Sonny, and Lucas/Felix were alone so they went together. This upset Brad seeing both of the guys he dated walking together as he and Britt were at home watching it on tv. Cameron and Emma walked together and he dissed Spencer on television in a way that you wouldn't think a child of that age would be clever enough to do. Elizabeth's dress was said to be designed by her, which of course was a short out to how Becky Herbst has done that IRL for the Daytime Emmys. Levi convinced Maxie to stay home from the ball, though I wish there had been mention of Robin being her cousin and that her niece Emma was part of the show. Lucy talked about amFAR, which I appreciated. The musical performances began with the song from last year "Welcome to the Nurses Ball"… Thankfully Obrecht stopped that nonsense with a number of her own "Wilkommen" from "Cabaret". This was a bit subversive as in some descriptions of the musical Cabaret, the show is about purgatory and hell with the host being the devil.

Friday, May 9

Spencer convinced his dad Nikolas to take him to the ball, and the boy plotted a surprise. Britt, Maxie, Levi and Brad all decided to go to the event. Everyone had a non-reaction to Obrecht's performance as they were stunned. More performances happen on this episode Kiki does Raise your Glass, by Pink, which is a song I don't really care for (sorry I don't). Of course, there was a bit of irony there because some people don't think Kiki fits into the show and she's singing a song about raising ones glass to people who don't fit in and are freaks. Elizabeth, Lucas, TJ and Felix were also a part of this routine. A 90s flashback occurred as Eddie Maine (Ned's alter ego) performed "You Took the Words Right out of my Mouth" by Meatloaf. Ned and Tracy spoke about how Edward would have gotten upset, but Tracy was proud of her son. That was a great moment. Luke sang "I Am, what I am" which is a huge gay anthem from the musical about drag queens La Cage aux Folles. Of course, since Luke isn't himself doing a song about being real was supposed to be funny I guess. Luke proposed that he and Tracy get married at the ball. Lucy would perform the ceremony and Lulu and Ned should stand up for them. The last performance of the episode was Magic Milo and the Magic Wands to "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC. The group was Milo, Nathan, Lucas, Felix, TJ and Michael. One thing I thought about it was I wondered why they all had dark hair as even Michael's hair isn't light anymore. The show closed with that routine and on their butts were the letters to spell the event name.

Monday, May 12

Lulu and Maxie reconciled and due to someone dropping out, Maxie was needed for a performance. Blackie Parish was supposed to appear, but couldn't make it so Brad filled in doing Karmin's "Brokenhearted", which is another song I don't really like. (I don't like it because it sounds whiny and since the artists aren't British the use of Cheerio is just strange.) Mac comes out with Mr. Marbles again though Lucy tries to stop him. Epiphany had enough of the dummy and stomped on him after grabbing him away from Mac. While the Mr. Marbles thing annoyed the crap out of me, I thought that was going a bit too far, though at least she didn't hang him from the rafters. (That's a Port Charles reference to the Nurses Ball, where that actually happened to an intern…) Spencer and Britt reunited as both missed each other. The Haunted Starlets (a play on the Haunted Star) performed, it was Sam, Maxie, Kiki, Molly, and Lulu. Icona Pop's "I Love It" was the tune for the performance and suddenly I wanted to look at shoes. There is a website that advertised with that song to sell footwear, so I guess that ad was effective. Eddie Gomez sang "Criminal Love", which considering the amount of criminals in Port Charles was apt. TJ and Lucas were on instruments, so I wonder if either really play. Emma and Cameron danced their tango, but were interrupted by Spencer. He had a special surprise for Emma: Player was going to be performing the song "Baby Come Back". This was the huge Ronn Moss cameo, which was mentioned as was "bold and beautiful" -- ha ha. They showed all the couples who were in turmoil while the song played. The show ended with Tracy and Luke finding out the news that she lost the CEO position to Michael.

Tuesday, May 13

Lucy's surprise performance was discovered as everyone found out about her affair with Scott. Kevin was heartbroken, and Lucy spent the rest of the ball behind the scenes. TJ and Molly did "Just Can't Get Enough" with the keyboard. Emma sang a song, though her mother Robin wasn't mentioned or the fact that Emma has an HIV Positive parent, which considering the topic of the ball would have been appropriate. Adele Dazeem also performed which was really Obrecht. This was a joke about the Oscars though since the Academy Awards air on ABC I wish someone would have noticed the name and commented on it. She sang "Always on My Mind", which seemed to be about her kids, who she ended up leaving the Ball wish so good on her. Epiphany started to sing the song from last year's ball, and then we hear Patrick and Sabrina join in though they aren't at the event. Their son is in trouble and their friends have come to comfort them.