All My Shadows

I started tuning in for the Ste storyline, but I'm interested in some of the other stuff going on as well. Dang, I was shocked to see how much of the characters from late '06 are no longer on the show. That's one thing that's always turned me off of watching this show (and the Aussie soaps) on a more regular basis. I couldn't deal with such a high turnover of characters. But anyway, I'm liking how the Ste/Brendan storyline is playing out right now. It's far removed from anything "romantic," so I don't know what those fans are thinking. Like Amello said, there's a sexual thing in there, but there's no romance there. Not yet, at least. I haven't seen a whole lot of Ste's storylines, but he's a fairly likable character now, so we'll see how this goes. That tacky ass mustache Brendan's sporting has got to go. Jacqui looks good! Mercedes looks...better than she did four years ago! Who were the couple sitting at home with the ice cream? I liked them.

Yeah, Simon being on the list was enough to make me gasp, but then seeing Sian on there was enough to make me apathetic about the whole thing. Nothing against her, but how could she possibly measure up against characters like Jim, Liz, Sally, Kevin, Deirdre, and even Carla or David? She's been on for barely a year and a half and her only story has been sidelined like crazy. I totally see Sean and Michelle running the Rovers, but the last episode I saw had Carla trying to talk Michelle into joining her in business. I decided to stop watching once Graeme woke up because...well, I don't need to see him without a shirt on and because I don't want to see him and Tina making baseless accusations against David. I liked that we were seeing Ashley a lot but knowing why really doesn't give me an incentive to watch for him. And where the hell are Rita, Norris, Mary, and Emily?

What about the Grimshaws? I think Eileen could run a fine establishment with Jason pitching in at the bar sometimes.

The new Vic looks nice! I wonder if the green is supposed to be a homage to when the whole thing was green in the early 90s. I caught up on this week's M/T episodes. The R&R stuff was hilarious! Janine vs. the Slaters was comic gold, as was drunk Billy. I love Kim. She fits in well with every character they put her with, and I'm loving the atmosphere she brings to her scenes. The actress keeps looking familiar to me, but I'm too lazy to IMDb her. Drunk Billy was adorable, with all of his "What, I'm not cute enough for you!? I'm Billy Mitchell!!" huffing and puffing. Carol rejecting him is kinda funny considering what happens next week. Oh, and good on Roxy for spiking boring Syed's drink. She should have spiked it with a haircut. When does Blossom return? I don't think I've ever seen any clips of her at all.

*faints in the presence of greatness*

Ugh. I used to love The View, but not so much anymore. When it was an actual daytime talk show and not trying to be like a 24-hour news net politics show, it was fun, entertaining, sometimes heated, but always interesting. Now, the only time Whoopi is vaguely engaged in the conversation is when she can talk about the latest political happenings or when one her so-called BFFs (ex: someone she co-starred with in a movie twenty years ago) is a guest or is in the news. Joy grates, Sherri is dumb as [!@#$%^&*] on a cracker, and Bitsy is an idiot. Barbara's on autopilot.

I finally found the song Damon and Vicki danced to on The Vampire Diaries and now it won't leave me alone. That good, though, because it's pretty good.

They have the first eleven done now. So far, so good, IMO. For those who don't feel like going look for it: 50. Tony Gordon (2007-2009, 2010) 49. Minnie Caldwell (1960-1976) 48. Rosie Webster (1990-present) 47. Liz McDonald (1989-present) 46. Peter Barlow (1965-1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1986, 2000-present) 45. Shelley Unwin (2001-2006) 44. Eddie Yeats (1974-1975, 1976-1980, 1981-1983, 1987) 43. David Platt (1990-present) 42. Albert Tatlock (1960-1984) 41. Jim McDonald (1989-2000, 2003, 2005, 2007-2008, 2009, 2010) 40. Kevin Webster (1983-present)

I haven't seen today's episode yet, but I have to agree with the Billy love. He's sort of a lovable loser. Everything goes wrong for him, but he keeps on trying anyway, yet he isn't dramatic about all of the stuff he deals with. A good solid character. Max and Carol were TENSE in yesterday's episode. Carol's just devastating...so lost, so sad, so upset. I could have done without Bianca's big meltdown with Kim. It was pretty random when she just started crying because of what Liam of all people said. That could have been a little more subtle...Bianca simply hanging her head in shame and walking away would have been better, IMO. Kim's still my girl, though!

Hanson

Pauly

Vampires: The Turning

Touch My Body - Aretha Franklin (YouTube it!)

I'd always rather play, but only if the other people playing aren't hardcore about winning Sunshine or moonlight?

I get what you mean, in regards to the feeling and emotion of it all. That's possible to do here, but I meant more of the aesthetics of it. We got to see Carol walk to and from work, we got to see the whole square standing outside, all "knowing" but no one wanting to say anything at that moment, the coroner taking Billie's body, being able to see the various characters nervously shuffle around from the kitchen to the foyer to upstairs to outside, the messy/disorganized beds, etc. It really did make you feel like we were eavesdropping on something you had no business being a part of, and I'd love to have an American soap that was a bit more down to earth in regards to characters, settings, storylines, etc. I'm glad I haven't really seen a whole lot of this decade of EE. I'm enjoying the early episodes for the look and feel of the show then and I see some of that in the current episodes too, so I'm kinda apprehensive about seeing the show try to be too over-the-top.

Yesterday's episode was pretty much beautiful in every way. I'd never seen Carol laugh/smile before that scene with Alfie and Patrick, so I loved that, but then to watch everything crash down around her for the rest of the episode was just heartbreaking. LC is incredible. No other word for it. And everyone else...Palmer, St. Clement, Owen, even the kids, they were all flawless. I hate to compare US soaps to UK soaps because I don't believe they're meant to be compared at all, but I just have to say...this is the type of episode that we'll never see on our soaps at all, and I mean now and also in the past. The format, the make-up of the UK soaps, especially EE and Corrie, allow for this more than any other type of show I've ever seen. An American soap could have told the same story (well -- probably not the same story, I can't see one of our younger characters suddenly dying from something as "mundane" as alcohol poisoning) very well and done everything right, but I guess that's why I can't compare the two. They're different, but both can be very effective in ways that are inherent to their particular formats. I guess my point is I really really really wish the US had at least one show that's cut from the same cloth as EE.

I just watched Friday's episode and I have to say, I was really, really entertained. EE's definitely back on my schedule for now. This Kim chick is hilarious! Loved it when she cut off the music and started playing Superstition, then the random drunkenness with Fatboy and Ricky. Too funny! Billie is just a sad, sad character to watch. The idiotic binge drinking...Carol or Pat or Bianca should have said something. But alas, I guess the whole idea of letting him "be his own man" was too important. Ugh. I primarily tuned back in to see Carol/LC get some serious material, so I can't wait for this coming week. Peter/Whitney was kinda hot, no? I was taken aback a little by her all up in his lap, but they work. Billy's such a lovable loser. I don't even know what the story is about, but I'm not surprised he's still walking around with the general mood of someone who needs to take a sh!t but all of the toilets are occupied. What's going on with him, Jay, and that guy who questioned them? I liked the Kat/Alfie stuff. Just from watching one episode, it still felt very quick. All it took was Alfie getting in the guy's face for her to run back to him? I mean, I know it was a straw/camel's back thing, but still, they wasted no time getting that out of the way. I like them, though, probably partly because I was able to see a plot play out with them so quickly. What else is going on? I'm sure those boring hags Ron and Rox are still eating up story in the Square.

I think Ray would make it if it wasn't a fan-voted thing, but we shall see. As long as Bet and Annie are in the top ten, I'm good. I'm sure the top ten'll include the likes of Ken, Dierdre, Gail, Hilda, possibly Bet, Elsie, Annie. Tony being so low is sort of a good sign, even though I kinda liked Tony before he went nuts.

Farentino had done LOTS of television work throughout the 60s and 70s. Mostly a ton of guest starring roles, but he was also a star on The Bold Ones and had a one of those NBC Mystery Movie series in the early 70s, though I forget which one. I want to say Cool Million.

Wow, Carl, thanks for posting that! That picture of Tudi, Ron, and Audrey makes me wonder what LOL would have been like had it lived 20-25 more years. A Meg/Bruce/Van triangle would have been essential somewhere along the way, if Bruce would ever entertain the thought of leaving Van. Hard to believe RT and TW are now gone. Oh, and Audrey's story about the phone call She's always come off as being pretty cool. I wish she could have gotten on ATWT and worked with Hubbard and Fulton. The part on Birgitta is interesting. I remember reading something years ago about how she definitely stuck her nose up to soaps, even when she was a major player on LOL. It seems like she matured a good deal between then and when this article was done. I'm still wondering why she was credited as Gitanna Tolksdorf at the end of the show's run.

http://www.archive.org/ has like over a hundred episodes of GL from 1950!

Not in the US, but she was pretty well-known in the UK for her role in Tenko and as the lead in the big hit mini-series Connie.

Ladies and gentlemen...I present an embarrassment of bitches: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNiDdW9JVro Stanwyck at the end

Hey, it was a hot summer. I couldn't handle the heat at times. I live in the south, where men walk around wearing as little as possible because the temperatures get so high. I promise I'll be good in the winter. Re: the picture. Wow. They actually all look photoshopped in to me, even though I know they're not. It just has a very flat look, and it reminds me of GL's last cast picture. Just doesn't look very good at all.