On Friday’s first installment of the 2019 GH Nurses’ Ball episodes, it was red carpet time in Port Charles as all of the most famous and infamous residents got dressed to the nines and to impress.

This year, Nina Cassadine (Michelle Stafford) is back for her on-camera hosting duties covering the arrivals on the live-stream, but is joined by Crimson’s New York fashion editor, Sydney Val Jean played by guest star Chandra Wilson of Grey’s Anatomy.  And as you’d expect, these two fashionistas battle it out at times on the carpet for attention.

Throughout the arrivals, and through this episode, this one really belonged to the talents of Michelle Stafford, who through her comedic, romantic, and dramatic timing, made for some of the best moments.  In a surprise, when Nina begins to choke after interviewing Peter (Wes Ramsey), Maxie (Kirsten Storms) and Lulu (Emme Rylan),  she excuses herself and ends up outside where Jax (Ingo Rademacher) appears and offers her some champagne.  The two seem to be clearly smitten with each other! Nina accepts his drink, and thanks him, and then goes back inside to her hosting gig, while Jax looks very intrigued by Nina.  Previously, Nina gave a major kiss to Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) when he appeared on the red carpet.

Photo: ABC

Some of the more shocking …. or interesting red carpet arrivals included: Shiloh (Coby Ryan McLaughlin) showing up with Sam (Kelly Monaco) on his arm, and then getting into words with Sonny (Maurice Benard), who tells the cult leader that family means everything to him and that there is nothing he wouldn’t do for the people he loves.  Shiloh is convinced Kristina (Lexi Ainsworth) will come back to “Dawn of Day”.

When Anna (Finola Hughes) and Finn (Michael Easton) stroll down the red carpet, they get distracted when a dapper Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers) shows up, clearly intent on wooing back Anna, to which Anna looks caught by her feelings for both men while Finn is pissed at the game’s Robert is playing.  Later, Finn confronts Robert about his ring.

Photo: ABC

Everyone was shocked when Kevin Collins (Jon Lindstrom) showed up arm and arm with Ava Jerome (Maura West).  We later learn that this is an attempt to smoke out Ryan, who Ava believes will show his face at the ball.   Lucy (Lynn Herring), the hostess with the mostess, comes up with a plan to get Kevin away from Ava, not knowing they are not romantically together and tries to, perhaps, rekindle their romance up in a Metro Court hotel room.  Meanwhile, Scott (Kin Shriner) wants to get Ava away from Kevin, so he heads up to Lucy’s room with Ava to show her and to catch Kevin and Lucy together, but we don’t know what they saw when the door opened!

Photo: ABC

Meanwhile in Toronto, Canada, Curtis (Donnell Turner) and Laura (Genie Francis) come to realizing they have been tied up and there is a gas leak in the cabin.  Laura realizes Ryan is trying to kill her in an explosion just as he was supposed to have perished in at the fun house years ago.  It appears Ryan set a trap for Laura and Curtis and fled the scene.  The two extricate themselves before running from the cabin just as it blows up!

Back at the ball other notable couples have arrived from: Chase (Josh Swickard) and Willow (Katelyn MacMullen), to Michael (Chad Duell) and Sasha (Sofia Mattson), to Franco (Roger Howarth) and Liz (Rebecca Herbst), to the GH nurses crew.

Photo: ABC

The episode ends with an announcer telling all the guests to take their seats as its just about showtime!  And of note:  Is the opening title sequence music changed to a new theme for GH, or is it just for the Nurses’ Ball episodes? That’s one of the buzziest questions today.

So, what did you think of the red carpet arrivals?  Michelle Stafford’s performance?  Jax meeting Nina? What do you think will happen next with Ryan?  Comment below

General Hospital is getting you ready for the GH Nurses’ Ball 2019 edition, by releasing the full musical number performed by Port Charles’ Harrison Chase AKA Josh Swickard during the gala.

As a prelude to the ball and what is to come, Swickard takes on the top hit made famous by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay, “Something Just Like This” along with the Nurses’ Ball dancers.  And yes, there is cute moment for Chase/Willow (Katelyn MacMullan) fans when he brings Willow up to the stage!

Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring) introduces Chase before he performs and Lynn Herring took to her Twitter account yesterday when GH released this sneak peek stating: “Hey, how did this get out there before the BALL!! Someone has some ‘splainin’ to DO!”

GH social media accounts teased: “After bringing down the house last year, we couldn’t wait for you to see Chase’s latest Nurses Ball number – so here it is! This is the only place you can watch his entire performance before it airs next week.”

The 2019 Nurses Ball begins tomorrow on the Friday, May 17th episode of the ABC daytime drama series.

Now below watch Josh’s performance and then let us know what you thought of it via the comment section below, and let us know who else do you hope performs at the ball!

Today at the CBS Upfronts the network unveiled a new comedy series for its fall line-up from Chuck Lorre entitled Bob ♥ Abishola.

The series stars Folake Olowofoyeku as the love interest of Billy Gardell’s Bob, a middle-aged compression sock businessman from Detroit who unexpectedly falls for his cardiac nurse, a Nigerian immigrant.

Also in the cast is two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Vernee Watson (Stella, General Hospital) who will play Gloria.

The series will air in the fall on Monday night’s in the 8:30-9pm slot.

No word yet if this means less screen time for Stella on the Port Charles canvas … or Watson’s status with the series.

So, what do you think of Vernee’s new role? Let us know in the comment section below.

And check out our backstage interview with Vernee following her Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series victory during this year’s 46th annual Daytime Emmys just over a week ago.