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

On Monday’s emotional episode of General Hospital, Ned (Wally Kurth) and Olivia (Lisa LoCicero) summoned family, friends, and loved ones to honor Oscar Nero (Garren Stitt), since he just past away due to his battle with brain cancer.  Oscar had his own way he wanted everyone to mourn his death and Ned and Olivia carried out his wishes.

When everyone gathers together, Ned and Olivia announce that Oscar wanted this to be a celebration.  After everyone arrives they sit picnic-style and some get up to speak to remember the amazing young man that Oscar was.  It turns out to be Michael (Chad Duell) who starts the tribute by saying that Oscar was brave to date his intimidating sister.  Next, Cameron (William Lipton) touches on his journey to friendship with Oscar.  Joss (Eden McCoy) finds the courage to go next and remembers how she had a crush on Oscar and how he wasn’t easy to talk to but how she was intrigued because he was mysterious. She then tells show she eventually fell in love with Oscar, and how she will never forget him.  When Drew (Billy Miller) gets up next, he breaks everyone’s heart by stating that he will be eternally grateful to have known his son and will always carry him in his heart.

Next, Ned asks everyone to follow him to the meadow.  Once there, Ned and Olivia hand out seeds to the attendees.  Then, Ned and Olivia reveal a plaque dedicated to Oscar, as everyone throw up seeds that land in the grass for it to grow.

Courtesy/ABC

Finally, Kim (Tamara Braun) speaks. She talks about how she raised Oscar on her own, and how after she learned he was sick, she brought him to Port Charles so he could meet his true family.  And with the analogy of the seeds, she says it helped Oscar blossom and how it enriched his young life.  In a heartbreaking moment, she thanks Drew for giving her son courage and being his dad when he needed it, and to Joss for being her son’s first love.  Kim hopes that Joss will come back to the meadow often and think of him.  They share an emotional hug.

Later, after Drew thanks Ned and Olivia for putting this all together for his son, Sam (Kelly Monaco) finds him and tells him he was a great father … and is a great father.  He wants to make sure that Scout knows he loves her.

Back at the meadow, Sonny (Maurice Benard) finds Kim in tears alone at Oscar’s plaque. He tells her he understands the deep pain and void she is going through, but she has to hold on to how Oscar touched so many lives.   Once Sonny leaves, Kim in tears looks up to the sky and says she’ll always love her baby boy.

Courtesy/ABC

The episode featured touching performances by Tamara Braun, Billy Miller, Eden McCoy, and William Lipton, who all carried the Oscar dying storyline so beautifully along with Garren Sttit.  Additional kudos go to Lisa LoCicero and Wally Kurth, who as Olivia and Ned, kept Oscar’s memorial moving forward, and were also emotional throughout.

So, what did you think of the episode and the performances? Are you sad Oscar is gone?  Comment below.

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.