First Look: ‘General Hospital’ Unveils New Pool Set at Metro Court Hotel Rooftop
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Soaps are never more filled with hardbodies than they are in the summer months. With this in mind, General Hospital has produced a brand-new set that will debut on Thursday, July 15.
“GH is very excited to announce the opening of The Metro Court Pool and Spa — the place to see and be seen this summer for all the heat and drama,” says Frank Valentini, the show’s executive producer.
The daytime drama’s production designers, Jennifer Elliott and Andrew Evashchen, say that getting the new set up and running took about three months from conception to finished project. Contract players and background artists alike won’t have to work hard to make the pool look like the real thing given the efforts that went into making it appear authentic.
“It’s about three feet deep,” Evashchen tells TV Insider. “Frank [Valentini] wanted people to be able to get into it so we made it deeper than what we’d usually do. “
“Frank’s number one point to us was to make this set look believable,” adds Elliott. “That gave us a great jumping-off point.”
Evashchen says there’s “a real process” for creating a realistic pool set on a soundstage. “We lined [the water tanks] with a certain material that’s like a bed liner for trucks. It works really well for pools. It’s durable and watertight. We chose a specific blue that Frank really liked and had the pool sprayed and sealed in that color.”
ABC/Troy Harvey
Most sets on soaps have secret alcoves or corners so that characters can eavesdrop when it’s time to reveal or learn information and this new hotspot is no exception. “If I had a dollar for each time that we read someone ‘listening from a place of concealment,’ we could be retired,” chuckles Evashchen. “We always work that into sets.”
The entire set is about 16 feet high. Deck chairs with adjustable backs help complete the look. “We’re trying to make everyone a little bit more comfortable,” Elliott says. “Frank asked if I would put pads on the lounge chairs. The wood looks really good but it’s a little bit hard if you’re sitting there for a long time … That’s who Frank is in a nutshell. He’s firing on all points, keenly aware of every detail at all times.”
“It’s so much fun to work in this set,” Eden McCoy, who plays GH‘s Josslyn) says. “I haven’t gone fully into the pool yet, but they keep it warm for us. It feels different taping in this set, very relaxed. Shawn Reeves [GH’s costumer] has been styling us with these cute [bathing] suits and new wardrobe.
ABC/Troy Harvey
Josslyn and her pal Cameron (William Lipton) will have plenty more to talk about this summer now that they’ve cleared the air about their feelings and even recently shared a kiss. “It’s not shocking that this is happening,” McCoy says of the Joss-Cameron pairing. “Our characters admitted to having feelings for one another years ago — before Oscar [Garren Stitt] was dying.”
There was a pause put on that relationship but McCoy says she’s glad that it’s now being fully explored. “William is awesome,” she raves. “He’s one of my closest friends off-screen and we want to give the fans everything that they’ve been asking for.”
Josslyn’s also processing that her “widowed” mom Carly (Laura Wright) is engaged to her BFF Jason (Steve Burton), but that’s been a quick adjustment. “Joss has had the outlook that Carly was always going to have to move on,” McCoy says. “She knows that Jason’s the best one for her.”
While the drama that takes place at the pool is just beginning, Elliott and Evashchen say that seeing the finished set for the first time gives them a sense of completion. “Once the directors point the cameras at the set and we see the talent lying on the chairs that’s when we take a breath and feel really good about the project,” Elliott says.
Expect to see this new set for a while, as Elliott reveals that they’ve already started filming September episodes and the pool is still being used. “Frank’s intention was to put this up and really get some use out of it. It’s nice to have it on stage and not have it go up and down. We’re going to get a lot of use out of it,” she shares.
General Hospital, Weekdays, ABC
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G
When are they going to bring Sonny back home ? Tired of this story line!!
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G
I'm tired of the mob story all together. Gh has been on the air for 50 years. I watched since the late 70s, when the show was about the hospital, the doctors and nurse. Not about the many lives of Sonny and Carly.
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As much as I love Sonny and Carly, I agree! The show really should make it more about the hospital.
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B
Agree 💯 percent
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B
Give Michael a life with Willow. How long are you going to drag the Willow/Chase storyline out?! Also, you need to bring Sonny back now! Joss & Cam are great & Dante & Sam are great!
33 4
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B
I agree... They're dragging out these two ridiculous relationships. Lots of times GH does this, it just never ends the storyline. They drag them out and drag them out. I'm bored with the whole thing now
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C
Willow needs to be honest. How many men would go along withis like michael is. Crazy
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C
The new pool set looks fantastic! Congratulations to everyone who had a role in its creation.
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P
And poor Michael. The writers causing more heartache than anything.
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I'm watching GH score 40 plus years
19 1
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P
What the H is going on with these story lines ? Carly and Jason? Nasty! Hate it, no no no! And Nina and Sonny , definatly a NO. And now Jax and Britt !!! 🙄
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O
7th
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R
Too bad Carly isn't the best one for Jason. Jason isn't even into her that way so not sure why the other characters are acting like it is a given. She hurt him badly back in the day and he said he wouldn't go there again. I hope he remembers that because if he sleeps with her, I'm done. I hate she is getting her way and the power she has over him. He never gets to be happy. As for as Joss/Cam is concerned, I'm just not feeling it. Joss is a mini-Carly so, I'm not feeling her either, and they have turned Cam into such a needy whiner.
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I have be watching GH from the the mid 70's and I don't like the story line with Carly and Jason. Please bring Sonny back to be with Nina. I would have like to see where the story line with Britt and Jason go since she is a better choice to stand up against Carly.
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These are the best story lines and writers for quite awhile, love the drama, the anticipation!!! I've been watching GH, on and off since the show started. Of course everything drags out, but for those that invest too much of themselves in a soap drama????? Get a life. I love this show, good and questionable stories. All the actors are excellent at portraying their characters...Writers keep writing, actors keep acting. You all give me such joy, especially at the end of the days show I get to theorize!!!! ✌👌
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G
Please explain to me how these are the best story line the writer's have written in a while.? The only good story there was was the story about Mike and Sonny. It's rather obvious your a fan of this endless mob drama with Carly and Sonny. Now its even more insufferable with Carly and Jason getting married. Carly thinks she is the belle of the ball. Though I'm surprised it took the writer's this long to finally hook these two up.
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P
Love the new pool set. Maybe Carly and Jason's Wedding could be there. I wish Sonny's memory would come back soon before Carly and Jason gets married. Nina is not going to come off good from any angle either.
8 2
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It’s time for Sonny to come back home, the storyline between Carly and Jason “fake marriage” is ridiculous
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O
When Carly finds out about Nina, she can slap her into the pool.
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Definitely tired of Sonny not remembering. Putting him together with Nina, UGH!!! I'd rather see him back with Ava if that's the case. Just bring him back home to Carly already 🤷🏾♀️
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I think that with all the rich people in Port Charles someone would have a pool...
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G
Right think sonny would have a pool or the quartermains
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R
At first I was very surprised (stunned even) by the pairing of some couples. Since it seems to be happening to most of the cast now, I am enjoying the mix n’ matches and looking forward to seeing what the end results will be.
As viewers, it’s not up to us to control what happens no matter how many years we have been watching. I am finding these recent pairings somewhat humorous, slightly shocking and somewhat refreshing. Going with the flow!
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G
Well at least is somerning new. That's all I can say.
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Bring sonny back before Jason an carly marty's put willow an michael together
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Well it's a soap so any thing can and will happen yes let's get it going sonny back jason with britt and michael and willow finn maybe with elizabeth let's just see how it all plays out that's why it's called a soap
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G
Wish they’d get new writers for the show. So sick of the same old storylines. Why don’t they ever redo the great love story lines if they have to repeat?? I’m finding it harder and harder to watch anymore
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B
What is Nina thinking?? This is not going to end well for you her no matter what. Wake up Sonnt, send him back to Carly so that Jason can explore his relationship with Britt. Yes!
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The major problem is the area around the pool is wood and you can hear people walking on it but it’s made to look like patio
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G
Carly and Jason are like sister and brother, come on now yall digging, it would be exciting to see Sonny back and into Nina and Carly foaming at the mouth, and Michael need to work in the mob, for a little while.
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I love Sonny.
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O
Nice set, but I really hate everything about the show right now. The writing is sooo bad and has been now for about 5 years. First and foremost, bring back Sonny, pair him with Nina (we need MOB stories and we need them now); Bring back Cyrus and have he and Sonny face off in business (the actor who played Cyrus is phenomenal but he was wasted and should interact with Sonny); Carly should be alone because she's awful. Jason should be with Britt; Cam is just miserable (he's such a terrible actor) and I'd like to see Joss pair up with Spencer now that he's been recast; Let Michael & Willow finally be together; Bring back Tyler Christopher as Nikolas and break him up from Ava; Bring in a new lady for Valentine and bring back the Cassadines into the fold, front and center (along with the Corinthos & Morgan clan); and finally, finally... get rid of Roger Howarth once and for all. He is the WORST thing to happen to this show in a really, really, really long time. I'm tired of seeing his face in 20 different stupid characters, each one more annoying than the last.
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G
Nice , looks great
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I love the pool setting. Awesome idea 👍🏾
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C
I can't believe they're spending time and money on a pool set! I don't watch so I can see a bunch of half naked people.
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G
The new music is not very pleasing. So loud at times it’s hard to hear person talking.
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Good grief no wonder The Laura Wright Show...er I mean GH...is awful. 3 months spent on designing a pool. Putting cushions on chairs. Picking out cute outfits. If only they spent half that much time on the outdated, boring, cliched writing that's stuck in the 60s, the show might actually be watchable.
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