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General Hospital and ABC Partner with amFAR For Upcoming Nurses' Ball!

Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

General Hospital continues to pull out all the stops for their upcoming 50th anniversary celebration and the Nurses’ Ball gala!  Now according to an official press release today, GH will be using for the first time a non-fictional charity for the return of the beloved Ball that always raised awareness in an amazing show support for those living with HIV, and the global epidemic of AIDS.

The official press release related:  “ABC has joined forces with amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, in celebration of  General Hospital’s 50th Anniversary with an exciting storyline integration.  Approaching 50 historic years on ABC on April 1 and to help mark the show’s Golden Anniversary, General Hospital will reprise the immensely popular Nurses Ball, a fictional charity event complete with musical performances from the illustrious citizens of Port Charles dedicated to HIV/AIDS awareness. The partnership with amfAR marks the first time that the Nurses Ball will be linked to a non-fictional charity, and helps to continue amfAR’s vastly important mission of raising HIV/AIDS awareness. The inaugural Nurses Ball aired in 1994 and became an annual event until 2001.

General Hospital is proud to be working with amfAR as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary,” said Executive Producer Frank Valentini. “We have pulled out all the stops to make the return of the Nurses Ball an event worth waiting for, and by linking the ball to amfAR we partner in their efforts to raise awareness beyond the town of Port Charles.”

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. Founded in 1985, amfAR is dedicated to ending the global AIDS epidemic through innovative research. amfAR-funded research has increased the understanding of HIV and has helped lay the groundwork for major advances in the study and treatment of HIV/AIDS.”

What do you think of GH partnering with amFAR for the upcoming presentation of the Nurses’ Ball?  Let us know!

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I think this is great that they’re doing this. And I don’t believe anything of this nature has been done before, and it’s for a great cause. Proud right now.

What a great idea! I’m sooo looking forward to The Nurses’ Ball!

Great to see ABC do something positive for a change. Kinda renews my faith in them. Hope this continues.

Too bad they couldnt have done a special 2 hour live version of the nurses ball where viewers could call in and make donations to the cause…that would be groundbreaking!

that’s a great idea Jim!!

That really is, Jim.

Touching and affecting…. that, GH… continued on with this wonderful awareness.

I should say…. that ABC is bringing this storyline back…. after so many years…

and w/your idea… of, perhaps a telethon… live…. in conjunction… or after the nurses’ ball….

it would be bringing this “epidemic” it legs again… and reminding people that it’s affecting so many to this day.

This is fantastic! There hasn’t been much that abc has done in the last year and a half that I’ve even “liked” but this is a wonderful commitment not only to General Hospital but to a charity and cause that still has a great need. Thank you!

Agreed Shannon! I will watch GH for the nurse’s ball and their 50th Anniversary, now that the OLTL characters have been suspended for a time. Hope to see them back where they belong (can’t wait for OLTL) and enjoy GH as it once was!

What a wonderful way to not only celebrate this milestone for GH, but hopefully highlight the work of amFAR — who ever came up with the idea deserves a pat on the back and a thank you. HIV and AIDS still exists- progress made yes, but there are still strives to be made– lets hope this teaming up produces some positive awareness for the issue that often gets neglected these days—looking forward to April 1.

Eloquent and HEARTfelt.

Thank You Soap’ies: for sharing, a cause that, still, to this day…. needs to be at the forefront….

Where are the red ribbons….

remember when…. on the awards shows.. said actors would acknowledge their support and give relevence to ALL people with hiv – aids.

Thank you ABC/General Hospital/AmFar.

This is wonderful. My husband’s cousin died of AIDS 20 years ago. His suffering was intense and shocking. This disease was discovered in my lifetime and I feel like we can cure it in my lifetime.
I love the nurses ball and I can’t wait. I think it’s pretty cool that ABC is using “love in the afternoon” to help put an end to real life human tragedy.

I think it is wonderful !
ABC/ GH and its’ Peoples have been doing a great job..

Can’t blame all of ABC for Frons’s stupidity/ignorance.. .lol ..

I think this is a great idea for the show. IGlad to see ABC & GH doing this! Looking forward to the Nurses Ball.

I want to thank you 4 the reply you made to me on what i said about how they shouldve have done a live version of the nurses ball and had it so viewers could call in to make donations to amFar. Had they made it more like a Jerry Lewis telethon i feel it could have been something even much bigger and a yearly event. It would also remind people aids is still out there and that their donations was going to a worthy cause. This would have been the most groundbreaking thing a soap could have done! Had i known about amFar much sooner i would have contacted GH and made my suggestion to them and ABC.

Jim,

I haven’t agreed with you on much, but if the Nurse’s Ball is successful, and GH gets the renewal it deserves-you never know what might happen. Anytime soaps fulfill their unspoken social contract with fans-it’s a good thing. Congrats to amFAR and GH

I think GH & ABC should hire you Jim 🙂 Yep, too bad you didn’t know about AmFar before they already filmed the Nurse’s Ball; that would have been very different for a daytime show to do and who better than GH to pull it off?! Hopefully they get some donations by putting a scroll at the bottom of the show to TEXT a $5 donation like the Red Cross does. AIDS is still out there and still needs attention.

Yes a live version would have been groundbreaking, yet honor soaps beginnings when all soaps were live to air. But I would hope if they are teaming up there will be info given during the broadcast on how viewers can donate to the cause- it might not be as interesting as your idea, but awareness is awareness and fusing fiction with reality like that was an inspired idea- I wish them success for this venture.

Wonderful and forward thinking! Great job to all involved!

Fantastic!

This is not the first time they have raised money for aids research. They used to sell nurses Ball T-shirts and allot to various AIDS charities, This may be the first time they actually partner with a specific charity.

Nice idea. Congratulations, General Hospital and amFAR!

I have Nurses Ball T-shirts (never worn) from years ago…would ABC be interested in having them ?

General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Learns Britt Died and Tells Anna He Has Been Working For Cates Since November 2021

On the Tuesday, March 26th of General Hospital, Anna (Finola Hughes) and the viewers learn about where Jason (Steve Burton) has been for over two and half years. However, Jason gets some news of his own.

Anna is visiting Jason at the PCPD interrogation room. She asks him if he shot Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), which he flatly denies. Anna believes him, but she tells Jason it doesn’t matter, because video footage shows him on the roof at the time of the shooting

When talk turns to Jason not willing to speak without his lawyer present, Anna can’t grasp why Jason would instead spend an hour alone talking with John Cates (Adam J. Harrington).

Photo: ABC

It is then that Anna brings up that John went by “Jagger” and that the two of them knew each other in high school. Jason doesn’t recall much of his time in high school following his brain injury, but then he gets furious realizing John knew about “Jason’s” past. That is when Jason slams the table and tells Anna, “I’ve been working for John Cates since November 2021.”

Next, Jason explains further that he has been working as an informant for the FBI. Anna wants to know how this came about and he tells her that after the tunnel collapsed, and he couldn’t make it to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud)… all of a sudden he sees Anna’s face drop.  Anna is the first person to tell him that Britt died and was murdered. She tells Jason the killer is in custody, but he continues to be shocked, overwhelmed with tears welling up in his eyes. Realizing he has to pivot to save his life, Jason continues telling Anna how he wound up working with John.

Jason explains that after the tunnel collapse in Greece, FBI agents grabbed him and placed him under arrest and took him to Quantico where he met John. At Quantico, John played a recording of RICO violations and offered Jason a deal if he agreed to be an informant against Pikeman, the illegal arms dealer.

Anna hears from Jason that he thinks Pikeman is selling illegal arms to anyone flagged by the NSA but has ties to the WSB which they needed a civilian to infiltrate their organization as a military soldier, a mercenary.

Jason tells Anna he was a part of the team brought into eliminate Sonny (Maurice Benard). Every time an attempt was made on Sonny’s life over the last two years, a different team was sent to do the job. Anna gets furious when she learns that John told Jason his job was to kill Sonny and she was with John at the warehouse that night. Jason ensured the sniper missed Sonny and left the rifle behind. However, they were supposed to meet an extraction team. Before he was shot, Dante saw it was Jason on the roof and when he turned around with his hands over his head, Dante was shot by the other guy. Jason says if Dante dies, he’ll be charged with capital murder and then will be useless to the FBI.

Photo: ABC

Meanwhile, John visits Bobbie’s and runs into Carly (Laura Wright). She learns Jason is in custody and is going to head to the PCPD. Before she does, Carly has some words with Cates when she learns not only does John have a vendetta against Sonny, but Jason too.  Carly tells John he should recuse himself from the case.

So, what did you think about the moment when Jason learned Britt died? What do you think of Jason’s return storyline thus far and what we learned about Jagger/Jason and more? Comment below. But first, check out a moment from today’s GH with Jason and Anna.

 

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