As part of the amazing whirlwind blogging tour I took to LA in March, I got the opportunity to visit a number of TV show sets including Grey’s Anatomy and The Middle. But I also got the chance to walk onto the set of ABC’s General Hospital.
If you’re into soap operas, you’re probably having a heart attack right now or dying of jealousy. Please don’t. Either one still won’t get you onto the set, only to your own local hospital.
Now, I’m not going to lie and say I’m the biggest General Hospital fan on the planet. I don’t watch soap operas (unless you count wrestling!), but I do recall my mom and sister watching it religiously when I was a kid. We’d come home from school around 3 p.m. I think, and they’d turn it on and shush me every 5 minutes. Here I was asking for help with my math homework (or for some cookies) and I was cast aside like a rejected lover, only to be ignored until the next commercial break.
I remember the whole Luke and Laura storyline, not that I have any clue what that was all about, but my mom and sis were all aflutter for the longest time about those two. It must’ve been one heckuva romance.
Anyways, despite my lack of General Hospital knowledge, the set visit was still an incredible experience. It’s always amazing to me to see how reality compares to the fictional worlds we see on TV.
We first were brought into a room set up with loads of old props from classic episodes and given full reign to walk around, snap pics, and go “ooh” and “ahh.” When I mentioned this to my sister, her first question was, “Did you see the Ice Princess?” I think my sister may’ve very well fainted if she was in this room!
Take a look at the Ice Princess herself, along with tons of other familiar props. Recognize any?
There were also loads of gowns on display. I managed to try a good number of them on and I must say I looked fabulous. Unfortunately, my camera ran out of batteries and I couldn’t get any photos. Sorry about that. But here’s a look at the gowns themselves!
After that initial welcome, we walked on set and immediately stepped right into an art gallery. That’d be the Jerome Gallery to be precise. On TV, your mind fills in all the blanks and you have no problem accepting this area as a huge art gallery. It was a decent size, but as the camera pans back, you’ll see there’s really not much to it.
The police station was even smaller. Poor Tara got herself handcuffed to the table, while Kas played Bad Cop, with no Good Cop in site.
Right next to the interrogation room was the heart of the hospital, and probably the biggest area of the set.
We even got a special guest appearance from William DeVry (Julian Jerome) himself!
I found the medical records department, but was disappointed there wasn’t an “Idiot’s Guide to Brain Surgery” book anywhere nearby.
So what’s coming up on General Hospital you ask? Well, besides tons of lies, lust and lives on the line, the big Nurses Ball gala event is coming!
Port Charles will once again hold the iconic Nurses Ball gala, a fundraiser for HIV and AIDS awareness and research. As the Nurses Ball 2014 begins, several popular Port Charles residents will be noticeably absent from the Red Carpet and stuck at home watching the festivities on TV. Old and new loves will percolate while others find themselves in awkward situations. Amidst all the romantic drama, the never-dull Nurses Ball audience will be entertained with fun performances and sexy surprises. The Nurses Ball episodes air May 8 through May 13.
General Hospital airs weekdays (2-3 p.m., ET) on ABC
#ABCTVEvent
Where did you get Ava’s round white table in her apartment?
I’ve been watching GH all of my life I’m 49, I try to never miss a episode & if I must I watch it later on demand. I watched kids grow up on the show I’ve seen actors & actresses come & go I’ve laughed I’ve cried you’ve even at times had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was coming next. I love watching the weddings & births on the show. It tore me up to see Luke & of course the original Jason leave the show & many others.. As you can see I AM A FAN & WILL BE FOR LIFE.
I have been watching the General Hospital show my whole life in the U.S.A. (about 11 years now) because the show I could understand what was going on with my English level.
I got inspired by the show, and now I am a Nurse. My family knows that it is my favorite show, and the only one that takes my time, even though they don’t really understand why I am crazy about the show. When Sam participated in the Dancing with the stars, I watched her the whole time and I voted for her, for the first time . I kept explaining to my husband who ever would come to the show for support, My everyday activities are done before and after the show, I will be so happy to visit GH , or even play in GH…(why not? THIS IS MY DREAM)
I have watched GH since 1960. Crises and cliffhangers are resolved in a timely manner and the storyline moves on. This is a credit to the wonderful writers. The actors are amazing. It is a tried and true soap and I am glad that it is still on daytime. Thank you for the many years of broadcasting GH.
you are so lucky to get to go to all these neat events,,as a kid growning up my mom watched this show all the time,,was raised watching this everyday
Andrew Kardon It really must of been a great vist to see what goes on behind the set. I am trying to find one of the paintings that are from the Jerome Gallery it a black, grey ,white strip that hangs in Ava apartment is there any way that it can be purchase or find the painter please let me know Thank you Ann
Hi Ann,
I’m trying to find out about that same black, gray, and white painting in Ava’s apartment. Did you ever find out if others like it are for sale or who the artist is?
Thanks for any info!
Dawn
Great fun! I used to watch General Hospital with my Mom. Brings back good memories.
I dont watch soaps either but I have to admit it would be pretty fun to see considering the history of the show. They have been on TV forever and still running. Very nice pics!
Visiting this set was awesome. Watching the actors rehearse was fun too. You took some great photos.
This would be so much fun! I love Greys anatomy. I havent seen much of General Hospital but If I went to an event like this I may become a fan
Thanks so much for sharing your tour of the GH set! LOVE all the pictures. I’ve been watching GH for many years. I got hooked around the time your Mom & sister did. 🙂
I’ve always thought visiting a set would be a fantastic experience. Those dresses…I could spend all day in that room!!! I love sparkly dresses. I started drooling. So sad. Hehe