General Hospital: Night Shift
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| General Hospital: Night Shift | |
|---|---|
 General Hospital: Night Shift Intertitle |
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| Format | Medical Drama/primetime serial |
| Starring | See below. |
| Theme music composer | RC Cates |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 13 (List of episodes) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | SOAPnet |
| External links | |
| Official website | |
| IMDb profile | |
| TV.com summary | |
General Hospital: Night Shift is an American prime time serial that first aired on SOAPnet for a limited 13-episode run from July 12, 2007 to October 4, 2007. A spin-off of the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital,[1] the series follows the nighttime adventures of familiar and new characters around the hospital. 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 noting that Night Shift drew more than 1 million new viewers to the channel during its run in the summer of 2007. [2]
Frons announced a second season of Night Shift during a December 2007 interview with TV Guide's Michael Logan. However, "Frons says he won't repeat the mistakes of Season 1, when plots didn't sync up with those on the mother ship." Frons admits the spin-off 'put a big strain on the General Hospital team.' He'll bring in a new set of writers and producers to handle Season 2."
It was later announced in May 2008 that Lisa de Cazotte of NBC's Passions, which ended production in March 2008, would serve as Executive Producer for Season Two, joined by Head Writer Sri Rao of the N's What Goes On.[2][3] The 13 new episodes of Night Shift will be taped in high-definition starting in June 2008, with the series airing Tuesdays at 11 p.m. and premiering on July 22, 2008.[2][3] SoapNet said the second season "will feature new and returning characters as well as the return of 'legacy' characters from GH. In addition, the continuity between story lines on Night Shift and GH will match." [2]
Night Shift is the second spin-off series for General Hospital, the first being the 30-minute daytime serial Port Charles, which ran on ABC from 1997 to 2003.[1]
The complete first season of Night Shift was released on DVD on February 12, 2008.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
Prior to its premiere, SOAPnet had announced that Night Shift would "delve deeper into the relationships, friendships and medical cases seen at the hospital."[1] It was noted that unlike General Hospital itself, the stories on Night Shift would be "self-contained and wrap up during each weekly one-hour episode," as well as being "understandable to viewers who do not watch General Hospital."[1] With the goal "to attract younger viewers to both SOAPnet and General Hospital," characters would be "plucked from General Hospital's history" and "be mostly comprised of younger characters with ties to GH's core families." [1] Night Shift's storylines, however, did not directly intersect with those on General Hospital.
[edit] Cast
[edit] Contract cast members
[edit] Recurring cast members
[edit] Ratings history
The premiere episode of Night Shift ranked as the SOAPnet's "most-viewed telecast ever" with total viewers and in its target demographic, women age 18-49.[4] The show was also SOAPnet’s most-watched premiere with those groups and with women 18-34.[4] According to Nielsen Media Research, the series averaged 1 million total viewers, "posting 63% audience growth over its lead-in," and ranking as "the second most-viewed cable program for the hour with women 18-49."[4] Broadcasting & Cable notes the significance of this fact considering "only 64 million homes carry the network, compared to the 94 million that carry USA, the top network in the demo that night."[4] Night Shift doubled SOAPnet's time-period viewership from 2006 in total viewers and the women 18-49 demographic. [2] The series averaged 833,000 viewers (and 381,000 among women 18-49) during its first season.[3]
[edit] Criticism
"Night Shift's only redeeming aspect and its real legacy to daytime is its bravura casting. Casting directors Mark Teschner and Gwen Hillier introduced a group of new actors who are universally talented and interesting. No brainless hunk or hunkette models typically hired en masse .... Teschner and Hillier made very well thought-out choices: the politically chic, not to mention gorgeous Nanizin Boniadi; the unusual looking and very goofy Dominic Rains (Leo); Graham Shiels (sexy villain Cody), and an appealingly real Angel M. Wainwright (Regina), a real gem. As you know, NS cast member Amanda Baker (psycho Jolene) has already been franchised out to All My Children as the new Babe." — "Savoring Soaps by Marlena De Lacroix," JackMyers.com [5]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "GH Spinoff Planned For SOAPnet." - SoapCentral.com 12 February 2007.
- ^ a b c d e Nordyke, Kimberly. "SoapNet renews Night Shift." The Hollywood Reporter. 27 May 2008.
- ^ a b c Reynolds, Mike. "SoapNet Swings Into Second Night Shift." MultiChannel.com May 25, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Becker, Anne. "SOAPnet's Night Shift Premiere Breaks Ratings Records." Broadcasting & Cable. July 13, 2007.
- ^ De Lacroix, Marlena. "Savoring Soaps: General Hospital Night Shift: Good Night and Good Riddance." JackMyers.com October 11, 2007.
[edit] External links
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