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Nurses is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from 1991 to 1994, developed and produced by Susan Harris as a spin-off of Empty Nest (which, in turn, was a spin-off of The Golden Girls).

The series Nurses spanned three seasons of 68 episodes total. These were aired between 1991 and 1994 on the NBC network. Because Empty Nest and Golden Girls aired back-to-back on the same night, special cross-over events were possible. One example is Hurricane Saturday, where all of Miami was struck by a hurricane storm that effected all episodes airing that night. Also at times some characters from one show guest starred on another. The show was taped at Sunset-Gower Studios.

Nurses was filmed in front of a live audience, aired September 14, 1991 — May 7, 1994. The series was created by Susan Harris, the creator of Empty Nest and Golden Girls.

Synopsis[]

The show revolved around a group of nurses working at the same Miami hospital as Empty Nest's Dr. Harry Weston. Initially, the main characters were strong-willed nurse Annie Roland (Arnetia Walker), sarcastic nurse Sandy Miller (Stephanie Hodge), dim-witted nurse Julie Milbury (Mary Jo Keenen) and Latina nurse Gina Cuevas (Ada Maris) who frequently reminisced about her homeland, the fictional San Pequeño. Also in the cast were arrogant Dr. Hank Kaplan (Kip Gilman), wise-cracking orderly Paco Ortiz (Carlos Lacamara) and flaky nurse Greg Vincent (Jeff Altman). In addition, Florence Stanley had a recurring role during the first season as Dr. Riskin.

Nurses main cast photo 480x465px

"Nurses" Season 1 main cast photo.

Changes were made, however, after the first season. In an effort to boost ratings, David Rasche joined the cast in the second season as Jack Trenton, a slimy white-collar criminal forced to perform community service at the hospital, and in the final season Loni Anderson joined the cast as new hospital administrator Casey McAfee. Other changes included the addition of Markus Flanagan as hunky orderly Luke Fitzgerald for the second season only, the changing of the show's theme song in seasons two and three, having nurse Gina and Dr. Hank Kaplan get married (Gina being pregnant with Dr. Hank's child). Nurse Greg Vincent was also written off after season one.

In the show's final season, nurse Sandy was gone, and the show's focus moved increasingly from the nurses to Casey McAfee's adjustments in running the hospital under a new HMO, and the antics of Jack Trenton and his sidekick Paco the orderly.

Although ratings improved somewhat, NBC still cancelled the show after its third season.

Cast[]

  • Stephanie Hodge as Nurse Sandy Miller (1991-1993)
  • Arnetia Walker as Nurse Annie Roland
  • Mary Jo Keenen as Nurse Julie Milbury
  • Jeff Altman as Greg Vincent (1991-1992)
  • Ada Maris as Gina Cuevas
  • Kip Gilman as Dr. Hank Kaplan
  • Carlos Lacámara as Paco Ortiz
  • Florence Stanley as Dr. Riskin (1991-1992)
  • Markus Flanagan as Luke Fitzgerald (1992-1993)
  • David Rasche as Jack Trenton (1992-1994)
  • Loni Anderson as Casey MacAfee (1993-1994)

Episodes[]

See List of Nurses episodes

Crossovers[]

The following is a list of Nurses episodes featuring characters from The Golden Girls and Empty Nest.

Season One
  • Episode 2: "A Lesson in Life" - Laverne Todd from Empty Nest
  • Episode 6: "Mother, Jugs, and Zach" - Harry Weston from Empty Nest
  • Episode 9: "Begone with the Wind" - Rose Nylund from The Golden Girls and Laverne Todd from Empty Nest. Concurrent with The Golden Girls episode "The Monkey Show" and Empty Nest episode "Windy".
  • Episode 20: "Moon Over Miami" - Blanche Devereaux from The Golden Girls and Charley Dietz from Empty Nest
Season Two
  • Episode 2: "In My New Country" - Laverne Todd from Empty Nest
  • Episode 7: "Playing Doctor" - Carol Weston from Empty Nest
Season Three
  • Episode 1: "The Eagle Has Landed" - Harry Weston from Empty Nest
  • Episode 4: "Jack's Indecent Proposal - Charley Dietz from Empty Nest
  • Episode 7: "The Bridges of Dade Country" - Harry Weston from Empty Nest
  • Episode 9: "Temporary Setbacks" - Sophia Petrillo from The Golden Girls and Empty Nest, and Carol Weston from Empty Nest
  • Episode 10: "The Birth of a Marriage" - Harry Weston from Empty Nest

Ratings[]

  • 1) 1991–92: #38
  • 2) 1992–93: #60
  • 3) 1993–94: #54

Predecessor[]

The series Nightengales as aired in 1989 can be seen as a predecessor. The cast constists out of the same kind of characters in a same setting with similar storylines. Similary it was aired on the same channel. According to rumors Nightengales was pulled from the air because the American Nurses Association convinced sponsors that the series was "demeaning the nursing profession".

Media[]

External links[]

Links[]

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