General Hospital
GH's Jane Elliot Talks On Nurses' Ball Surprises, Julie Berman's Exit & ELQ!
Courtesy/ABC
Well you can’t do a 50th anniversary look at the legendary soap opera, General Hospital without a look at one of the shows most enduring stars. We are talking about Jane Elliot who for decades has played the feisty Tracy Quartermaine!
In a new interview with AccessHollywood.com via OMG Yahoo!, Jane discusses the big 5-0 celebration, the secretive behind-the-scenes work of executive producer Frank Valentini to bring fans the Nurses’ Ball with more surprises, losing cast mate Julie Marie Berman (Ex-Lulu) who decided to leave the series, and what is has meant being a Quartermaine. Here are some excerpts below:
Jane on what she can tease about the GH 50th anniversary Nurses’ Ball event: “I can’t because it’s so hush-hush. I mean, I know that there are probably a dozen surprises of people coming back and I don’t know what they are because Frank Valentini has coded everybody’s name… If you call the call line, it’s the code name that’s getting called, so you literally don’t know who that person is until you’re standing on stage acting with them. One of the things that I like most about [Frank] is he believes in surprising the audience, he believes in not tipping your hand beforehand because it doesn’t give you a reason to tune back in… Frank does not want people to know what’s going to happen. He wants people to be surprised and there are some fabulous surprises coming.”
Jane on the departure of Julie Marie Berman: “We’re actually friends off-screen… Julie started General Hospital when she was finishing up at USC. She was literally studying for her finals when she started… So it’s all she’s known. So it’s really time for her to spread her wings and see what life has to offer for her. So, I’m excited for her as much as I wish she wasn’t going.”
Jane on being a Quartermaine and Tracy recently losing her father, Edward: “I think the biggest loss for her is her father… She can change Luke, she can change ELQ, she can change her relationship with Monica. The only thing that’s not changeable, she is — in essence — an orphan now, she has no parents and that’s a very transformative thing in anybody’s life when you no longer have parents, and as connected as she was, I think there was part of her that thought it would be liberating to be free of her father and to be able to run the company the way she wanted to, to be – finally – the master of the ship that she always wanted to be, that her father would never let her be. And then in the end, it was not to be… she was going to have to fight a pipsqueak like A.J. for it.”
So GH fans, what do you think about Jane’s comments about what is going on behind-the-scenes with the Nurses’ Ball? What other surprises might be in store? Who do you want to ultimately want to end up running ELQ? Let us know!
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I love Jane Eliot and i love a suprise party(the nurses ball) too.
Jane Elliott is a class act!!! I love that Frank try’s to keep things hidden!! Can not wait for the nurses ball!!
TRACY NEEDS TO RUN ELQ!!!!
I am glad Frank is secretive, because I like being surprised!
I am hoping Tracy and AJ have to run ELQ together…those would be some fun scenes!
Agree
Love her!!! Can’t wait to see the surprises!
Just read the whole interview and loved it! I am so excited for them to have the chance to play with their old buddies!!! Still have to say that I love Jane and Tracy!!! I love the scenes with Anna and Lucy! Would love more with Laura and Tracy! Always love Luke and Tracy! Would love more of Spinelli and Tracy! Anybody with Tracy/Jane is better!!! Still can’t wait for more surprises!!!
I adore this woman. Best soap actress hands down. I hope my beloved GH is on for years to come and that Jane is part of it. She’s brilliant.
It’s funny how everyone in the show, past and present, refer to AJ as a loser. And, now…even Jane as Jane describes AJ’s character as a “pipskeak!” Haha…I LIKE AJ…always felt he got a bum rap, and would like to see him triumph over Tracy. (I do like “Tracy” as well…but I’m rootin’ for AJ.)
Wish now that they would have paired A.J. with Britanny or at least made Brittany the missing ELQ shareholder. Would enjoy seeing Tracy and Britch together in a good old fashion Quartamaine fight.
Bring back Alan for Tracy! Or how about Lord Ashton. Hope Sean Donely and Tiffany Hill are surprises for the nurses ball!
Maybe Alan is alive and he’s the missing ELQ shareholder. They are keeping the nurses ball a secret…he could show up there.
FV and RC kept Victor a secret on OLTL after we thought he was dead, and suprised us on the shows final network episode by showing us he was alive, so who knows they could do the same here with Alan? That could be the reason we havent heard him asked about a possible return for the shows 50th.
I love love love how FV keeps secrets and has surprises for us.. I do not read spoilers because it stupid to do so .. Spoilers spoil the stories, that is why very clearly the word ‘spoiler’ it warns one; you will spoil the surprise etc.. Spoilers are much like reading the 2 last chapters of a book while you are only at the 6th chapter, then you might well throw the book away .. I do not want to know what will happen or who did it.. I like the mysteries and the journey to find out who ,… Read more »
I completely agree. I think for too long stories on soaps have been leaked well in advance of airing. That spoils the mystery and makes some people not want to watch because they know what will happen. Then ratings suffer. I miss the days without Internet spoilers. Watching soaps was more fun!
Jane and Tony were what brought me back to GH after years away. I couldn’t bare to watch the Sonny & Jason Comedy Hour. But now the show has balance and pace, I don’t fast forward ( other than Steve). For the first time in years Im excited every day to come home and watch a soap thanks to Jane & the crew
Jane is a class act, love her and loving GH.
Love to see Traccy,AJ and ucy all involved driving each other nuts.The three together ould make some hillarous scenes.
Sorry keys not typing.Meant Lucy in the mix with Tracy and AJ would be a great hillarous show.usy could just oush her way in and Tracy and AJ are trying to push her back out.
I agree, I hope they keep Lucy and Doc for a long time. The ELQ scenes would be fun to watch, Tracy, AJ and Lucy Brilliant.
I love Jane Elliot! And I love that Frank lets the audience be surprised by not leaking everything to the press. Jane’s right on the mark when she says it gives a fan a reason to tune back in; you never know what’s going to happen. How refreshing!
Can’t wait for the Nurses Ball! I’ve really missed it!
I love Jane! Now, I’m looking forward even more to The Nurse’s Ball! Here’s to another 50 years of GH and Tracy!
I am extremely excited for all the surprises coming our way and I can not wait for the “Nurses Ball”. It makes me so happy every time Jane Elliot on my screen. I have enjoyed “loving to hate” Tracy Quartermaine from the minute I started watching GH. I absolutely love watching Tracy and AJ battling over ELQ and I think this is a fight that will really never end, as long as they are both breathing! LOL
Yes, it is good to have the Quartermaines Back in front and not on the back burner where they have been for far to long, Now if they could figure a way to bring Alan back from the dead, He never should have been killed, Emily to, But that was the last writers that were making more room for the crime stories. GH is back and I am enjoying it again, Thank you Ron and Frank, I knew if ANY TWO PEOPLE who could save GH it was you both.
IM hoping the 50th anniversary suprise will be Alans alive and the missing elq shareholder edward mention in his will. FV and RC brought gh back from the dead, and im hoping they’ll bring Alan back too.
I love the suprises too !!!
My favorite line from today’s episode: “Is this a private residence or a fast food restaurant?” I am tempted to use that.
That was funny
Lord knows….
Tracy befriends Connie….
Connie allowed herself to befriend Tracy…
that was a nice inroad….(S).
I wonder if that’s a no show…. since Kate emerged….
I don’t know… about this DID…. I was all gung ho… for Kate AGAIN… and not even afterglow could stop Connie from coming back…. ?
I like Jane Elliot a lot! Her character Tracy is so spunky & full if vim and vigar!
Frank and Ron have done wonders with her character. Not since Doug Marland has Tracy Quartermaine been so front and center.An independent women- For years she was the backdrop for Luke Spencer, not any more. Jane Elliot always gives 100%.
All I have to add to the glowing comments is that I can only hope I look this young when I am her age! 🙂
I think Jane Elliott is incredible and she is a big part of why I tune in to GH.
what comment? I don’t think I heard anything backstage. She is one of my favorite actress’s. I loved her most with Luke. I will miss Julie but wish her well and if Marcy Rylan is taking her place I think the transition will go well. Hopefully because soapfans can be brutal to a actress if they don’t like them in the part. I like Marcy. I can’t wait til the nurses ball to see the surprises. I love to be surprised and with all the internets information highway it isnt easy to surprise people. Yeah for Ron. Sometimes I cringe… Read more »
I love you Miss Jane….When you first came on the show I loved to hate you! Now, I just love, love, love you. You have showed so many facets of Tracy Q. I LOVE, Love, love, the Q’s. GH could never be GH without our beloved Q’s.
General Hospital
(WATCH) GH’s Genie Francis Shares: “I Just Have a Hard Time Believing, In My Heart, That The Great Luke Spencer Died in an Accident”
General Hospital
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General Hospital
ESPN Sports Personality and ‘General Hospital’ Guest Star, Stephen A. Smith Reveals COVID-19 Nearly Took His Life
In a harrowing account of coming down with Covid-19, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who also has a recurring role on General Hospital as Brick, revealed his battle over the holidays that led to him being hospitalized because of the severity of his symptoms.
On Monday, Smith returned to his co-hosting gig on ESPN’s First Take and it was there he shared what happened during his breakthrough case of Covid. Stephen had been fully vaccinated. Smith said that he had tested positive late in December and wound up in the hospital with pneumonia in both lungs over New Years.
Photo: ABC
Stephen A. discussed the details, expressing: “I had 103 degree fever every night. Woke up with chills and a pool of sweat. Headaches were massive. Coughing profusely. And it got to a point where right before New Year’s Eve, I was in the hospital into New Year’s Day. That’s how I brought in the New Year.”
He went on to say about contracting Covid-19: “For me personally, it hit me differently. (Doctors) told me, had I not been vaccinated, I wouldn’t be here. That’s how bad I was. I had pneumonia in both lungs. My liver was bad, and it ravaged me to the point where even now I have to monitor my volume, get to the gym every day … I’m still not 100% with my lungs, but I’m Covid negative … I’m on the road to recovery.”
On a happier note, Smith shared how glad he was to be back at work after testing negative: “I’m ecstatic to be back. I’ve missed being at work. I’ve used more sick days in the last month than I’ve used in my 28-year career in this business. And I can’t tell you how lucky and sincerely blessed I am to be sitting here with you guys today because two-and-a-half, three weeks ago, I didn’t know if I was gonna make it.”
So, glad to know Stephen A. is on the mend from a very scary bout with Covid? Share your thoughts in the comment section
“And they told me had I not been vaccinated, I wouldn’t be here. That’s how bad I was.”
— ESPN’s @stephenasmith details his recent, nearly fatal battle with COVID pic.twitter.com/jtkZV62RIA
— The Recount (@therecount) January 18, 2022
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NewsJanuary 13, 2022Remembering One Life to Live on the 10th Anniversary of its Final Episode on ABC
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General HospitalJanuary 21, 2022(WATCH) GH’s Genie Francis Shares: “I Just Have a Hard Time Believing, In My Heart, That The Great Luke Spencer Died in an Accident”
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