prime time
Prime time, or peak time, is the block of broadcast programming taking place during the middle of the evening for television shows. It is mostly targeted towards adults (and sometimes families). It is used by the major television networks to ...
spin-off
Spin-off, Spin Off, Spin-Off, or Spinoff may refer to: Entertainment and media
*Spinoff (media), a media work derived from an existing work
*''The Spinoff'', a New Zealand current affairs magazine
* ''Spin Off'' (Canadian game show), a 2013 Canad ...
of the American
ABC Daytime
ABC Daytime (sometimes shortened to ABC-D or ABCD) is a division responsible for the daytime television programming block on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC Network and syndicated programming. The block has historically encompassed soap o ...
soap opera
A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term ''soap opera'' originat ...
''
General Hospital
''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera created by Frank and Doris Hursley which has been broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC since April 1, 1963. Originally a half-hour seria ...
''."''GH'' Spinoff Planned For SOAPnet." - SoapCentral.com February 12, 2007. The series first aired on
SOAPnet
Soapnet was an American basic cable network owned by the Disney–ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company.
The network's programming was oriented towards the soap opera genre; on launch, Soapnet carried primetime encores of ABC' ...
for a 13-episode run from July 12, 2007, to October 4, 2007, and began a second season of 14 episodes on July 22, 2008. As of March 2008, the first season of the series was "SOAPnet's most-watched series ever," with ABC Daytime and SOAPnet President
Brian Frons
Brian Scott Frons (born June 15, 1956) is an American television executive and the former president of ABC Daytime. He is an adjunct professor at the UCLA Anderson School of Management and founder of Frons Consulting LLC.
Education
Frons earned a ...
noting that ''Night Shift'' drew more than 1 million new viewers to the channel during its first season.Nordyke, Kimberly "SoapNet renews ''Night Shift''." ''The Hollywood Reporter.'' May 27, 2008.
Chronicling the nighttime adventures of familiar and new characters at
Port Charles
''Port Charles'' (commonly abbreviated as ''PC'') is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from June 1, 1997, to October 3, 2003. It was a spin-off of the series ''General Hospital'', which has been running since 1963 and takes p ...
General Hospital, the series consists of self-contained episodes which "delve deeper into the relationships, friendships and medical cases seen at the hospital." Alongside new characters are those "plucked from ''General Hospital'' history" and "younger characters with ties to ''GHs core families." The first season of the series features ''General Hospital'' regulars Dr. Robin Scorpio (
Kimberly McCullough
Kimberly Anne McCullough (born March 5, 1978) is an American actress and television director. She is best known for her role as Robin Scorpio on the soap opera ''General Hospital'', a role which she originated at age seven, playing the characte ...
Epiphany Johnson
''General Hospital'' is the longest-running American television serial drama, airing on ABC. Created by Frank and Doris Hursley, who originally set it in a general hospital (hence the title), in an unnamed fictional city. In the 1970s, the city ...
(
Sonya Eddy
Sonya Eddy (June 17, 1967 – December 19, 2022) was an American actress. She was best known for playing Epiphany Johnson in the American American Broadcasting Company, ABC soap opera ''General Hospital'' (2006—2022) for which she won a posthu ...
), as well as guest star
Billy Dee Williams
William December Williams Jr. (born April 6, 1937) is an American retired actor, novelist and painter. He has appeared in over 100 films and television roles over six decades. He is best known for portraying Lando Calrissian in the ''Star Wars ...
as
Toussaint Dubois
Toussaint Dubois (October 8, 1762 – May 10, 1816) was a Montreal born person and American soldier who joined with Lafayette to fight for American independence in the American Revolutionary War.
Biography
Toussaint DuBois was born Oct. 8 17 ...
. The second season features these same characters minus Burton's Jason, as well as the return of legacy ''General Hospital'' characters
Robert Scorpio
Robert Scorpio is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera ''General Hospital'', played by actor Tristan Rogers.
Casting
Tristan Rogers originally played the role from December 2, 1980 through February 25, 1992. The popularity and longevity o ...
(
Tristan Rogers
Tristan Rogers (born 3 June 1946) is an Australian actor. He is best known for playing Robert Scorpio on the ABC soap opera ''General Hospital'' and for voicing Jake in Walt Disney Pictures' '' The Rescuers Down Under''. He is currently starri ...
) and
Jagger Cates
''General Hospital'' is the longest-running American television serial drama, airing on ABC. Created by Frank and Doris Hursley, it originally was set it in a general hospital (hence the title), in an unnamed fictional city. In the 1970s, the ...
anesthesiologist
Anesthesiology, anaesthesiology or anaesthesia is the medical specialty concerned with the total perioperative medicine, perioperative care of patients before, during and after surgery. It encompasses anesthesia, intensive care medicine, critica ...
at General Hospital, portrayed by Ron Melendez in the 2007 first season of ''General Hospital: Night Shift''. In the storyline, Archer self-medicates with gas to help himself sleep but soon becomes addicted; he is nearly killed when "psychotic" nurse
Jolene Crowell
'' General Hospital: Night Shift'' is a prime time spin-off of the American ABC Daytime soap opera ''General Hospital''. He also becomes involved with fellow doctor Kelly Lee, who is herself battling a sex addiction and rebuffs his desire to pursue a relationship. They soon agree to be friends and help each other with their addictions.
Archer subsequently appears on ''General Hospital'' sporadically until January 29, 2009, when he dies as the first victim of a
biotoxin
A toxin is a naturally occurring poison produced by metabolic activities of living cells or organisms. They occur especially as proteins, often conjugated. The term was first used by organic chemist Ludwig Brieger (1849–1919), derived from ' ...
accidentally released in the hospital.
Saira Batra
Dr. Saira Batra is a new doctor specializing in
Holistic health
Alternative medicine refers to practices that aim to achieve the healing effects of conventional medicine, but that typically lack biological plausibility, testability, repeatability, or supporting evidence of effectiveness. Such practices ...
at
Port Charles
''Port Charles'' (commonly abbreviated as ''PC'') is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from June 1, 1997, to October 3, 2003. It was a spin-off of the series ''General Hospital'', which has been running since 1963 and takes p ...
General Hospital. Introduced in the July 22, 2008 second-season premiere episode " Crash," Saira is a friend of Dr. Robin Scorpio's from
medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, professional school, or forms a part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, ...
, and had been invited to Port Charles by Robin herself.
Robin Scorpio
Robin Scorpio is a fictional character from the ABC Daytime soap opera ''General Hospital'' and its primetime SOAPnet spin-off '' General Hospital: Night Shift'', originated and portrayed by Kimberly McCullough on and off for over 30 years sinc ...
, who notices that Stone acts differently than most children his age. Stone is later diagnosed with autism.
Jolene Crowell
Jolene Crowell is a student nurse introduced in season one, and is ultimately revealed to be secretly working for the
HMO
In the United States, a health maintenance organization (HMO) is a medical insurance group that provides health services for a fixed annual fee. It is an organization that provides or arranges managed care for health insurance, self-funded heal ...
Medcam, which seeks to acquire
Port Charles
''Port Charles'' (commonly abbreviated as ''PC'') is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from June 1, 1997, to October 3, 2003. It was a spin-off of the series ''General Hospital'', which has been running since 1963 and takes p ...
General Hospital. Jolene is responsible for the string of accidents and deaths which plague the hospital, including an explosion in an ambulance, a sabotaged elevator with a pregnant woman inside, and the attempted murders of a doctor and a janitor.
Jolene sleeps with virgin
Damian Spinelli
Damian Spinelli is a fictional character on the ABC daytime drama, ''General Hospital'', played by actor Bradford Anderson from November 13, 2006, to December 16, 2013. Spinelli was also one of the characters in the first season of '' General Hos ...
, who is in love with her; weeks later, she jumps in front of a bullet during a gang fight at the hospital to save him. Seriously injured, Jolene lapses into a coma.
Toussaint Dubois
Toussaint Dubois is introduced in the July 12, 2007, episode "
Frayed Anatomies
''General Hospital: Night Shift'', stylized as ''NIGHTSHIFT'', is an American prime time serial that first aired on Soapnet for a 27-episode run from July 12, 2007, to October 21, 2008. A spin-off of the ABC Daytime soap opera ''General Hospital' ...
" as a janitor at
Port Charles
''Port Charles'' (commonly abbreviated as ''PC'') is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from June 1, 1997, to October 3, 2003. It was a spin-off of the series ''General Hospital'', which has been running since 1963 and takes p ...
General Hospital. It is ultimately revealed that he had previously been a member of a famous band, The Saints.Toussaint Dubois profile - SOAPnet.com Retrieved August 26, 2008.
Williams returned for the second season in 2008. In his storyline, Epiphany Johnson, R.N. hires Toussaint as an orderly, and they begin a romantic relationship.
On June 4, 2009, Toussaint reappears on ''
General Hospital
''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera created by Frank and Doris Hursley which has been broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC since April 1, 1963. Originally a half-hour seria ...
intern
An internship is a period of work experience offered by an organization for a limited period of time. Once confined to medical graduates, internship is used to practice for a wide range of placements in businesses, non-profit organizations and g ...
at
Port Charles
''Port Charles'' (commonly abbreviated as ''PC'') is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from June 1, 1997, to October 3, 2003. It was a spin-off of the series ''General Hospital'', which has been running since 1963 and takes p ...
General Hospital introduced in the July 22, 2008 second-season premiere episode " Crash." He was portrayed by actor Adam Grimes.
In that episode it is revealed that Kyle is the younger brother of Dr. Leo Julian, and that the two do not get along. Kyle also tells fellow intern Dr. Claire Simpson that he is
gay
''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'.
While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late ...
. The July 29, 2008 episode " Other People's Children" establishes that Leo had been adopted around the age of 4 or 5. In " Brothers & Sisters" (9/23/08), their mother Patricia notes that she and her husband adopted Leo because they believed she was unable to have children, and she had subsequently become pregnant with Kyle. Kyle becomes romantically involved with a liver transplant patient named Eric Whitlow, played by Chad Allen.
Kyle and Claire are the main characters of the online series of
webisode
A webisode (portmanteau of "web" and "episode") is an episode of a series that is distributed as part of a web series or on streaming television. It is available either for download or in streaming, as opposed to first airing on broadcast or cab ...
Port Charles
''Port Charles'' (commonly abbreviated as ''PC'') is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from June 1, 1997, to October 3, 2003. It was a spin-off of the series ''General Hospital'', which has been running since 1963 and takes p ...
General Hospital.
First introduced on ''General Hospital'' on July 2, 2007, Leo was portrayed by
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
ian actor
Dominic Rains
Dominic Rains (; born Amin Nazemzadeh, , March 1, 1982) is an Iranian-American actor, best known for his roles in independent films, including '' The Taqwacores'' (2010), '' A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night'' (2014), as well as Dr. Crockett Marcel ...
for the series' first season from July 12, 2007 to October 4, 2007. When Rains was unavailable for the series' second season in July 2008, his brother
Ethan Rains
Ethan Rains (born Iman Nazemzadeh; February 19, 1981, in Tehran, Iran) is an Iranian Americans, Iranian American actor, best known for his portrayal of Leo Julian, Dr. Leo Julian on the second season of SOAPnet's ''General Hospital: Night Shift'' ...
was cast in the role starting July 22, 2008.
In the July 22, 2008 episode " Crash," it is revealed that new hospital intern Dr. Kyle Julian is Leo's younger brother, and that the two do not get along. The July 29, 2008 episode " Other People's Children" establishes that Leo had been adopted around the age of 4 or 5. In " Brothers & Sisters" (9/23/08), their mother Patricia notes that though she had been unable to have children and so she and her husband had adopted Leo, she had subsequently become pregnant with Kyle.
Claire Simpson
Dr. Claire Simpson is an
intern
An internship is a period of work experience offered by an organization for a limited period of time. Once confined to medical graduates, internship is used to practice for a wide range of placements in businesses, non-profit organizations and g ...
at
Port Charles
''Port Charles'' (commonly abbreviated as ''PC'') is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from June 1, 1997, to October 3, 2003. It was a spin-off of the series ''General Hospital'', which has been running since 1963 and takes p ...
General Hospital introduced in the July 22, 2008 second-season premiere episode " Crash." She was portrayed by actress
Carrie Southworth
Carrie Southworth is an American actress, model, and businesswoman who portrayed Claire Simpson on the SOAPnet prime time serial '' General Hospital: Night Shift'' in 2008. She is also the co-founder of a personalized children's book company launc ...
.
Claire soon befriends fellow intern Dr. Kyle Julian. Claire and Kyle are the main characters of the online series of
webisode
A webisode (portmanteau of "web" and "episode") is an episode of a series that is distributed as part of a web series or on streaming television. It is available either for download or in streaming, as opposed to first airing on broadcast or cab ...
s ''Night Shift: Claire & Kyle.''
Stacey Sloan
Stacey Sloan is an expectant mother with
HIV
The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of '' Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the im ...
nurse
Nursing is a health care profession that "integrates the art and science of caring and focuses on the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and human functioning; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; and alle ...
at General Hospital during the first season of ''General Hospital: Night Shift''.