NIKOLAS AND EMILY
TYLER | NATALIA

Hit: Drunk and Disorderly on GH
Soap Opera Weekly
September 16, 2003

IN THE MIDDLE OF A DEADLY SERIOUS STORYLINE - Emily's struggle with breat cancer - General Hospital added some much-needed levity in the form of Zander and Nikolas bellying up to the bar at Jake's.

It might seem distasteful for a couple of concerned suitors to be tangling in a barroom brawl while the woman they love lies dying, but Chad Brannon and Tyler Christopher (Zander and Nikolas) were rousingly entertaining and sympathetic while also getting the rare chance to showcase their comedic muscles.

Both men morphed into hilarious parodies of themselves after kicking back a few drinks. Zander's street-tough bravado became a caricature as the rebel without a cause pounced on the first and thought later, sending Nik flying across the bar. But the biggest delight was watching Nikolas, the deadpan, always-in-control-prince, slurring poetry while he did shots. Christopher deftly showed a previously unseen side of Nikolas - silly and sloppy - even as he imitated a high-toned British accent.

After the guys traded barbs, they wound up laughing and commiserating and toasting to Emily. (And we thought that only happened after catfights.) Brannon and Christopher advanced the story, added layers to their characters, and managed to do it all while letting their hair down and having some fun.

We'll drink to that! - JG