Corsie in allegria

If the Golden Girls gave birth to Empty Nest, then Empty Nest gave birth to Nurses, a sitcom, which featured the talented and underused Stephanie Hodge who left the show. Arnetia Walker was very good as one of the nurses as Ada Maris. The show also included Loni Anderson as a hospital administrator. The show was never as good as Empty Nest nor was it as brilliant as Golden Girls but sitcoms were abundant in it's day. Unfortunately those sitcoms haven't resurfaced or returned to the popularity it once had on the networks since the Golden Girls and Cosby Show days. Unfortunately, I think we need laughter that is not so based on sexuality like Will and Grace and annoyance like Friends. Good comedy does not have to be dirty or x-rated. The Nurses never became the huge hit nor was it supposed to be. It was there to fill a spot in Saturday's sitcom schedule.

Granted, I was about 10 when the show debuted, but I really have fond memories of it. Don't get me wrong, this was not in my top ten of the late 80s/early 90s or anything, but I remember enjoying it and it would be on the semi-shortlist of shows not available on DVD or streaming media (which covers most of the major or semi-major hits of the era) that I'd like to have a second go of watching. If you liked Golden Girls and Empty Nest (or even Golden Palace) you'd probably enjoy this show. Not necessarily a classic or entirely overlooked gem, but a better than average sitcom of the era. And, having recently caught David Rasche on reruns of Sledge Hammer! I had some nostalgia remembering when he was brought on this show. I was too young to remember Sledge Hammer! when it was originally run, but looking back, I assume he was brought on to give this show a shot in the arm in the second season that probably earned it a third before its eventual cancellation.

I know a lot of people criticize programs like this one because they are not sophisticated enough or not politically correct, but for me comedies have one criteria and that is to make people laugh.

Well this program makes me laugh. It is not politically correct (as most funny comedies aren't) in this it is similar to 'Married with children' another funny series.

David Rasche is very good in this as is Carlos Lacamara, but all the cast are good and even Salma Hayek is in a few episodes.

Nurses is a very funny and under rated comedy, in my opinion.

I was pretty young when this show ran, but I remember thinking it wasn't as good as some of the other shows I watched. I was surprised it ran for that many seasons, seeing as how it was mediocre.

Stephanie Hodge was not funny at all. She tried to be the witty, sharp tongued, independent feminist, but came across as loud and obnoxious. She was no different on that absolutely lame show called Unhappily Ever After. Arnetia Walker did not do her best work here. I remember seeing her in an episode of NYPD Blue and being amazed at how good an actress she was. This show was just not a showcase for talent.

I think with a little retooling and some cast changes, it could have been much better.

Nurses, a quasi-spin off of The Golden Girls & Empty Nest, was a mixed bag in the sitcom world. Created by Susan Harris (Who also created both Girls and Nest, among other shows) Nurses focused on a small staff of Nurses, with varying personalities, who worked on a particular floor in a large Miami hospital. Along with Girls & Nest, it was part of the "Miami Trilogy". All three shows shared characters and minor plot threads. Nurses was the last show to enter into the trilogy and was easily the most unsuccessful.

Nurses was definitely a mixed bag. Although most episodes would either fall into the decent or so-so category some were truly awful. The fairly good acting was unfortunately dragged down by mediocre writing and poor direction. The characters were pretty stock. From strong willed head nurse Annie Roland (Played by Arnetia Walker) to the ditsy and neurotic Julie Milbury (Mary Jo Keenan). The character of Julie was probably the shows funniest. She always reminded me of a younger crazier Rose (Of Golden Girls fame). It's also interesting to note that one of the characters, Nurse Sandy Miller (Stephanie Hodge) was actually the best friend to the character of Laverne (Park Overall) from Empty Nest.

Not surprisingly the various characters on Nurses are uncannily similar to many of the characters from both The Golden Girls and Empty Nest. This points to one of the major problems with the show. Since much of the shows creative team also worked on both The Golden Girls and Empty Nest it seemed the idea well was running a bit dry for all involved. Many of Nurses themes, characters, and plots all felt like they had been recycled from the other shows. In a last ditch effort the shows creators got Loni Anderson to portray Casey, the hospitals new "big boss". Although it created quite a bit of publicity (At the time she was in the national spotlight amidst a break-up with Burt Reynolds) it failed to jump-start the ratings. Although not completely out of the question I personally feel like DVD release for the show is unlikely. Considering it's relatively short run and lack of mainstream popularity I wouldn't hold your breath.