DRW50

Part of an episode from the week of June 14-18 1982. A bit of Howard Rollins at the end.

Trump's right - a lot of people will vote for him because of SCOTUS. That's his best argument, beyond whatever weird con job he does about the economy that seems to have a lot of support. Like you said, the reactions to the convention have been some to remember. That bigot Mike Pence actually chided Obama for "name-calling." And they also went after Hillary for "plagiarizing" a line in her speech. They're obviously trying to do the whole Karl Rove weakness-is-strength thing, but it's laughable in this case.

One of various articles I've seen speculating about the convention trying to recreate Reagan's view of politics and his 1984 campaign, and how much both the Democratic Party and the GOP have changed to switch places. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/29/hillary-clinton-s-democratic-party-reclaims-morning-in-america.html

I wonder if Vanessa will ask him if he's going to go back to men with her sister too...

I think he will debate and do it in his usual way - showboating, petulant. The media will say he "won," the same way they did when W acted that way during debates.

I don't mind Vincent when he's used right. I do agree about Babe still surviving the axe when she should've been long gone after Abi was exposed for faking her pregnancy. Shakil ... meh. I don't mind him being the young male teen character (despite that hideous ponytail), but if he knocks up Louise or Rebecca, he can immediately go. I haven't even bothered to watch EE in weeks though. It is too plot driven. I am agreeing with Leslie Grantham and John Altman when they declared the show is either no longer light or too PC. The show can tell all types of stupid crime plots, but couldn't even give us a proper gay romance. My problem with Vincent is he just doesn't click with anyone. Richard Blackwood would have worked in a comedy type role I think, but not this one. Shakil, my main problem is that the actor can barely speak. I agree with most of what they said (and I'm so glad Leslie trashed the show for the "hello princess" travesty). The only thing I disagree with somewhat is the episode order - I don't think 4 episodes a week at 30 minutes is THAT much. DTC managed decent quality for a lot of his first year back, so it's possible. He just got caught up in his own ego and had poor assistants. I definitely agree with him about too much PC. The last time the show took a chance on a non-PC character was Shabnam, and she ended up carrying large portions of the show because she was so good and so fresh.

I still don't buy Harry Reid and Steve McFadden together. Harry tries to impersonate him sometimes, but generally they just don't have any chemistry together. Harry's full on shouty cringiness in the last scenes ruined them. Harry's Ben works better away from the Mitchells, which is why the show's refusal to let him grow up is doubly crippling. Jamie Borthwick has been carrying all the younger men on the show (although I also like Danny Boy Hatcher), yet I won't be surprised if he's let go soon, because he's not part of a pet family. That's how EE works in modern times.

Not a surprise, but disappointed, as Lin Blakley has been terrific the last few weeks (one of the only good things about Paul's death story) and dead end characters like Vincent, Babe and Shakil are still around. This also makes me think the show is moving away from a community aspect to become even MORE plot-driven, which is not good at all. http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/eastenders-cross-dressing-funeral-boss-8515516

I guess he got the color Kryptonite that gives you tuberculosis.

Pathetic. http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-jr-obama-plagiarism

Are they letting him go? That sucks.

A very strong chapter to close out your time at SON on. I'm so happy for Marley. If only it could last. Frankie is annoying me though.

That's a good point, although it still didn't help Gore (then again Gore probably did win). I can't believe this woman tried to get Joe Biden to come to her daughter's bat mitzvah. She's a sitcom waiting to be written: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/dnc-debbie-wasserman-schultz-226352

Very powerful chapter. The aftermath was even better than his final moments. I like how you include so many reactions of his loved ones. Iris and Russ and then Rachel/Paulina/Felicia was my favorite.

Really beautiful passing for Carl. Very poignant and classy. I like Ryan saying goodbye to Kirkland and Vicky too. A fitting sendoff to Carl - and to Charles Keating.

I love the way you write Christy and Grant. Both dangerous people who are convinced they are in the right, and Christy convinced that she's a genuinely good, fair person. Poor Carl. I wonder if he's really seeing Ryan or if it's from the tumor.

More tantrums on the way tonight. The media will lap it up. http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/bernie-sanders-tim-kaine-veep-convention-226313

Do you think he'll take over the Log Lady intro role?

A rare (very rare these days) well-written Washington Post bit on Bill's speech. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/only-the-clintons-why-bills-speech-tonight-will-be-unlike-anything-weve-ever-seen/2016/07/26/a849f84a-532b-11e6-bbf5-957ad17b4385_story.html?tid=pm_politics_pop_b Article on Bill's interests in the campaign (trying to recapture the white male vote): http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/bill-clinton-chasing-the-past-226189

I enjoyed bad girl Dinah (I enjoyed all of her bitch period that I know some felt trashed her), but victim Dinah and Lonatrat - I couldn't. I also had a lot of Dinah/Matt issues and I felt like the show would have paired them up 3 different times if not for the "Matessa" fans they were so afraid of. I know it's a standard soap story, but if they'd done that to Vanessa (and I didn't even like her with Matt), I would have lost my [!@#$%^&*]. I know they did in later years, but I'd quit watching by then. I went back and saw the clips, and I was able to appreciate it because at least it gave Maeve the rare chance to act.

I'm not a big fan of scenes where characters talk about a tragedy and then have sex, but I do think they work well together. I've seen people say that she'd never be with him after she was with gorgeous Ross, but Ross treated her like trash. I think Tracy and Chrissie as sisters would be more interesting than Vanessa and Tracy, although Jacob would probably snap and burn down Home Farm.

I think I read on FB how they staged a walkout. Can anyone here confirm that? Yes. I keep seeing comparisons to Occupy Wall Street, which is another movement that ate itself alive and had some people who made it all about themselves. And that seems to be the theme of these people too: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/dnc-2016-protesters-walkout-226247 http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/07/life-among-the-berned-214099