Empty Nest and Nurses - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Precious · 04-18-2001, 01:59 PM

I just found out that Golden Girls had another spinoff, other than Golden Palace; Empty Nest and Nurses (which spunoff from Empty Nest). I remembered my parents watching the show about 5 years ago. What was it about and what did it had to do with the Golden Girls?

callmetootie · 04-18-2001, 02:12 PM

Empty Nest was with Estelle Getty as Sophia, and I remember it was set in Miami, and that there was a doctor in it. That's all that I can remember.

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Andrew Carden

boechsner · 04-18-2001, 04:29 PM

Empty Nest began in 1988 and aired on Saturday nights right after The Golden Girls. Created by Susan Harris (Soap, Benson, The Golden Girls) this series centered around Dr. Harry Weston.
A recent widower, Harry had to deal with going on with his life without his late wife, Libby. Fortunatly he had his practice (he's a pediatrician) as well as his two daughters, Carol and Barbara, who move back home and provide an annoyance to him. Other members of the cast include, Charlie Dietz (the obnoxious next door neighbor) and Laverne (Harry's sassy nurse).

In later seasons, Harry began working at a clinic with Maxine, with Laverne in tow. Also, when the Golden Girls sequel, The Golden Palace, ended in 1993, Estelle Getty came to the show and portrayed the Golden Girl character of Sophia Petrillo.

The Golden Girls and Empty Nest often overlapped, with characters of Empty Nest guest starring on The Golden Girls and each one of the Golden Girls guest starring on Empty Nest.

Nurses was not really a spinoff of either of the two shows. It just took place in Miami and occasionally had a character from Empty Nest or Golden Girls guest star.

[This message has been edited by boechsner (edited 04-18-2001).]

jayman75 · 04-18-2001, 07:02 PM

Nurses had a few recognizable people in it. Loni Anderson starred in the second season (I think), playing a hospital administrator. Then David Rasche, who is seen in some 80s TV shows, played a guy who was serving his probation/public service work there. Memory says he was an embezeller (sp) or something like that. Hattie Winston was the head nurse. She was a prominent character on "The Electric Company" in the 1970s and 80s. She's now on Ted Danson's new sitcom, "Becker."

"Nurses" wasn't too bad a show. The comedy was similar to "The Golden Girls" and "Empty Nest." However, it came in on the tail end of The GG success. I remember there were four main nurses... Hattie Winston was in charge, then a smart-ass lady was her "assistant." There was a Hispanic actress in there, and some blonde bubble-head. The typical basic comedy formula. There were also two men -- a male nurse (a funny comedian whose name escapes me), and a Hispanic man, who was a janitor.

When I saw this post, my interest grew. Now I want to know more about the show!

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80's Sitcoms Rock!!

GoldenFamilyTies · 08-28-2002, 06:13 PM

From TV Tome:
This spin-off of The Golden Girls and Empty Nest also took place at Miami's Community Medical Center, which they often used to crossover stars of the other two shows. This sitcom introduced us to the staff of 3 West. Annie Roland (Arnetia Walker), head nurse, was a strong-willed working mom. Sandy Miller (Stephanie Hodge), was the cynical, but dedicated, second in command. Gina Cuevas (Ada Maris) was an immigrant from the small country of San Pokeno. Greg Vincent (Jeff Altman) was a goofy anti-authoratative type with a penchant for physically attacking the doctors. And Julie Milbury (Mary Jo Keenan) was the flaky, neurotic newcomer -- a former psychiatric-social-worker who was deathly afraid of germs. Dr. Hank Kaplan (Kip Gilman) was the divorced, financially strapped doctor with a heart of gold, who later fell in love with, and married, Gina. Paco Ortiz (Carlos LaCamara) was the sees-all-and-tells-all orderly. Dr. Riskin (Florence Stanley) was the cynical old crone who always knew what was best. The second season saw the departure of Greg and Dr. Riskin and the additons of Luke Fitzgerald (Markus Flanagan), a rigid loner; and Jack Trenton, a crooked financer, sentanced to community service as punishment for insider trading. Season three saw the departure of Luke and Sandy and the addition of Casey MacAfee (Loni Anderson), the hotel-manager-turned-administrator.

After multiple retoolings, the show disappeared from the air for good in 1993. It briefly found a home from 1995-96 on the Lifetime cable network, and has since been seen in many countries outside of the USA.

TheGoldenGirlsUK · 08-28-2002, 07:42 PM

I've talked about Nurses here quite a few times, so I won't repeat myself for fear that it's becoming boring, lol! But, I have a couple of tapes with Nurses episodes on and the one in which Sophia appears. They were shown a couple of years ago here in the UK. I loved the Blanche appearance (which I don't have on tape unfortunately), it was very funny. You could see much of the GG thing working in Nurses though with the bubblehead and the slut, so I think Susan Harris was keeping a successful trend going.

I will be adding some screenshots from the Nurses episode in which Sophia appeared, to my website soon, so keep watching

Sam

04-18-2001, 01:59 PM	#1
Precious Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 08, 2000 Location: Uncasville, CT 06382 Posts: 254	Empty Nest and Nurses I just found out that Golden Girls had another spinoff, other than Golden Palace; Empty Nest and Nurses (which spunoff from Empty Nest). I remembered my parents watching the show about 5 years ago. What was it about and what did it had to do with the Golden Girls?

08-28-2002, 07:42 PM	#6
TheGoldenGirlsUK @TGG Webmaster Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 19, 2001 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 110	I've talked about Nurses here quite a few times, so I won't repeat myself for fear that it's becoming boring, lol! But, I have a couple of tapes with Nurses episodes on and the one in which Sophia appears. They were shown a couple of years ago here in the UK. I loved the Blanche appearance (which I don't have on tape unfortunately), it was very funny. You could see much of the GG thing working in Nurses though with the bubblehead and the slut, so I think Susan Harris was keeping a successful trend going. I will be adding some screenshots from the Nurses episode in which Sophia appeared, to my website soon, so keep watching Sam
	__________________ @ccess The Golden Girls \| @ccess The Golden Girls Forums

04-18-2001, 02:12 PM	#2
callmetootie Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 06, 2001 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 4,768	Empty Nest was with Estelle Getty as Sophia, and I remember it was set in Miami, and that there was a doctor in it. That's all that I can remember. ------------------ Andrew Carden

04-18-2001, 04:29 PM	#3
boechsner Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 2,212	Empty Nest began in 1988 and aired on Saturday nights right after The Golden Girls. Created by Susan Harris (Soap, Benson, The Golden Girls) this series centered around Dr. Harry Weston. A recent widower, Harry had to deal with going on with his life without his late wife, Libby. Fortunatly he had his practice (he's a pediatrician) as well as his two daughters, Carol and Barbara, who move back home and provide an annoyance to him. Other members of the cast include, Charlie Dietz (the obnoxious next door neighbor) and Laverne (Harry's sassy nurse). In later seasons, Harry began working at a clinic with Maxine, with Laverne in tow. Also, when the Golden Girls sequel, The Golden Palace, ended in 1993, Estelle Getty came to the show and portrayed the Golden Girl character of Sophia Petrillo. The Golden Girls and Empty Nest often overlapped, with characters of Empty Nest guest starring on The Golden Girls and each one of the Golden Girls guest starring on Empty Nest. Nurses was not really a spinoff of either of the two shows. It just took place in Miami and occasionally had a character from Empty Nest or Golden Girls guest star. [This message has been edited by boechsner (edited 04-18-2001).]

04-18-2001, 07:02 PM	#4
jayman75 I Love the 80s! Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 27, 2000 Location: THE GREAT UNITED STATES Posts: 3,809	Nurses had a few recognizable people in it. Loni Anderson starred in the second season (I think), playing a hospital administrator. Then David Rasche, who is seen in some 80s TV shows, played a guy who was serving his probation/public service work there. Memory says he was an embezeller (sp) or something like that. Hattie Winston was the head nurse. She was a prominent character on "The Electric Company" in the 1970s and 80s. She's now on Ted Danson's new sitcom, "Becker." "Nurses" wasn't too bad a show. The comedy was similar to "The Golden Girls" and "Empty Nest." However, it came in on the tail end of The GG success. I remember there were four main nurses... Hattie Winston was in charge, then a smart-ass lady was her "assistant." There was a Hispanic actress in there, and some blonde bubble-head. The typical basic comedy formula. There were also two men -- a male nurse (a funny comedian whose name escapes me), and a Hispanic man, who was a janitor. When I saw this post, my interest grew. Now I want to know more about the show! ------------------ **************************** 80's Sitcoms Rock!!

08-28-2002, 06:13 PM	#5
GoldenFamilyTies Por siempre tú Senior Member Join Date: Jan 15, 2002 Location: United States Posts: 1,329	From TV Tome: This spin-off of The Golden Girls and Empty Nest also took place at Miami's Community Medical Center, which they often used to crossover stars of the other two shows. This sitcom introduced us to the staff of 3 West. Annie Roland (Arnetia Walker), head nurse, was a strong-willed working mom. Sandy Miller (Stephanie Hodge), was the cynical, but dedicated, second in command. Gina Cuevas (Ada Maris) was an immigrant from the small country of San Pokeno. Greg Vincent (Jeff Altman) was a goofy anti-authoratative type with a penchant for physically attacking the doctors. And Julie Milbury (Mary Jo Keenan) was the flaky, neurotic newcomer -- a former psychiatric-social-worker who was deathly afraid of germs. Dr. Hank Kaplan (Kip Gilman) was the divorced, financially strapped doctor with a heart of gold, who later fell in love with, and married, Gina. Paco Ortiz (Carlos LaCamara) was the sees-all-and-tells-all orderly. Dr. Riskin (Florence Stanley) was the cynical old crone who always knew what was best. The second season saw the departure of Greg and Dr. Riskin and the additons of Luke Fitzgerald (Markus Flanagan), a rigid loner; and Jack Trenton, a crooked financer, sentanced to community service as punishment for insider trading. Season three saw the departure of Luke and Sandy and the addition of Casey MacAfee (Loni Anderson), the hotel-manager-turned-administrator. After multiple retoolings, the show disappeared from the air for good in 1993. It briefly found a home from 1995-96 on the Lifetime cable network, and has since been seen in many countries outside of the USA.