DRW50

I think that's Dolly's Aunt Jessie, who was a wonderful character (so much so that she was one of the few the show brought back in that era).

If any longtime fans want to do this, Walford Web's Emmerdale fans are nominating their all time top 20 characters. http://walfordweb.com/topic/11497985/1/

I still prefer Hillary as a candidate, and I still think a lot of Bernie supporters are quite nasty and smug, but she's just reminded me all over again that she is a poor candidate. She's good when she's down for the count, because her instincts come out, and I feel like she's someone who has been fighting her instincts for most of her career, but otherwise she's just a mess. Directionless, scared, and yet again she seems to be surrounded by questionable people (this time David Brock). The whole how-dare-you-criticize-Planned-Parenthood-and-Human-Rights-Campaign business leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It's the utmost inside of the inside, and comes at a time when I would guess that many primary voters don't give a damn about treating these organizations as sacred cows, especially since he said nothing to criticize. He said they are establishment, and they are. I guess they want to act like they are outsiders because it gets the money rolling in, but the whole thing has been so badly handled I've seen some Bernie supporters having to beg others not to stop donating to Planned Parenthood or HRC. As for Trump and Cruz, it's been interesting, if not surprising, how many of the GOP hierarchy are mute about Trump, or tacitly supporting him over Cruz. I guess in this case, being the devil you know is not a good thing. Cruz's poisonous relationships with most of the party beyond the base starts to rot him away when the base begins to doubt him, which they have, somewhat, thanks to Trump's relentless attacks. The pseudo-intelligent brigades at National Review are hitting the panic button about Trump, likely as he is a finger in the eye to everything they've spent decades trying to push. http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/trump-nationalreview-218079 Limbaugh, who like Palin is more on the carnival barker side, seems to be going toward Trump, I guess because he's in touch with the base. And the base is frothing-mouthed loons who want to know who can fling their sh!t the furthest. I'm not sure if the higher-ups have cooled on media darling Marco, or if they're just waiting until a few so-called "moderate" types drop out so he can coalesce support. Either way, his whole "I got a gun on Christmas Eve to stop ISIS!" routine shows a desperate campaign.

I thought the scenes with Aaron were well-acted and well-written (aside from the rewrite that he was happy to be kicked out by Gordon - he was actually very angry and hurt), but as much as I like seeing a more supportive side of Robert, and as much as I know the character needed it, I wish he hadn't been the one with Aaron in those scenes. I think it got in the way of the main message of the story and the whole thing intertwined with romantic elements, which shouldn't have been there, IMO. I can't help being disappointed that they've taken this route with Gordon, as Aaron really needed a fresh perspective and fresh relationships. Once this story is wrapped up, Aaron will be more isolated than ever, and I can't take his relationship with Chas in particular anymore. Kate Oates has just about decimated this character and I have a feeling it's going to get a lot worse. Even with my doubts about the story, I do think the second episode, other than the retcon, was very well-written, very believable, powerful dialogue, and very strong work from Danny Miller. Adam and Kirin WOULD make a hot couple. I kept thinking it during their scenes on the sofa today. They complement each other physically and have good chemistry. I guess Adam won't be in the story anymore, which is a shame, because it would be interesting to see him as a part of Johnny's life. This story has been unsung but the writing and acting have consistently worked for me. NIkhil is gorgeous and he's a wonderful man, but Leyla doesn't really want him, and I think it's going to end with him being very badly hurt. I think Rik may be done filming now, as he's looking for other work. I wish he could stay... I don't think Alicia would let Jacob go so easily. I guess it's better this than her character being trashed, but it hurt to see them all so happy and knowing she's alone in Portugal.

It's a shame the role is so skeevy because I think he'd be likeable in another part. The actor has had a few cute videos out. Here's one: Sorry - I can't delete the first video. This one doesn't have NEWSFLARE in large letters.

I have a feeling Palin's endorsement of Trump will be the media whore whackadoo version of Al Gore's endorsement of Howard Dean - the last hurrah before the fast slide. So, now that Hillaryland is unveiling their "Bernie is a socialist and the GOP will bury him as a commie" (which is certainly true, but a very questionable attack to make in a primary full of angry liberals), I read this Atlantic piece that focused on her deluded, navel-gazing campaign staff that destroyed her, and each other, in 2008. I do think she will win the nomination this time around, but I worry that she is going to be as DOA in the general as he will likely be. http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/09/the-front-runner-s-fall/306944/ And here's some silly poo-pooing from HRC (times two) and Planned Parenthood over Sanders calling Human Rights Campaign and Planned Parenthood are part of the political establishment. http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/20/politics/clinton-sanders-establishment-endorsements/ I don't have any great support for Sanders, but he's telling the truth here. They are part of the political establishment, they are very well-funded and influential groups. What's with this wah-wah routine? HRC in particular has struggled so much to seem effective, they have better things to worry about than a basic truth.

Thanks. Yeah, I agree. I'm mostly annoyed that Danny Dyer won something. So tired of his mushmouth ego.

Yes.who else but McTrash would do that. I do have to say I did like Alex and Amanda bitching at each other..."PLEASE, get that WOMAN out of my house, there is not a drain in the mansion that hasn't been clogged by that hair!" Those were fun lines, although I remember Liz Keifer saying that she didn't like saying them. I wonder sometimes if Toby Poser was hurt by them as wasn't she biracial? I'm not sure. I thought she was great as Amanda, although I liked Kathleen too, when I went back and watched her run. By and large Amanda had so much wasted potential.

Emmerdale won nothing (big shock). lol at those who insist EE won and ED lost because of quality... TimWil what does the picture show? I can't see anything.

I agree about Charity and Cain. It's just a lazy pairing at this point. I mostly just want something fresh for Moira. Hell, maybe someone like Rakesh. The Dingles feel very depleted. Of the younger group only Aaron and Belle get stories, and they have run Aaron into the ground, while Belle can't really carry major material. I'm very wary of where they will take Charity, and Chas needs a lot of repair work. I like Sam, and Marlon, but they can't carry major story. If they want to keep the Dingles around that much I'd say it's time to recast Tina Dingle, and maybe give her a kid with Frank Tate. Of course I don't want a ton of new characters driving story, like on Hollyoaks or Eastenders, but I do understand they need some new blood. But it shouldn't be at the expense of the rich, underused B or C-players.

Even now there are so few openly gay actors on soaps. It's odd. You were right - the episode was good. I hope this is rock bottom for Aaron and he can get more positive material. I really enjoy that whole group with Leyla, Carly, Tracy, Finn (when he's around...), David, etc. They help balance out the show so much. I hope the new producer won't see them as a waste compared to the overused Dingles. I'm also kind of starting to wish they'd split Moira and Cain.

I just hate how weak they've made Chas lately. I wish the character was a bit more like she used to be, more self-aware. Oh well... I don't know if you've ever seen any photos of it but Rik Makarem played a gay man in some play called Passing By. There are a lot of photos around, and I think a short video. If he did this with David I'd probably pay a few bucks. http://andrewkeates.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/PassByProductionTBT-084.jpg

With a Hollyoaks producer on the way I'm expecting the worst for Robert, although I hope I'm wrong. I have a feeling the only reason they have humanized him somewhat is due to him being more popular than expected, so I hope that continues. Great to see Nikhil in his lycra again, although we needed some shots of his ass. I'm just watching through now and of course it's a soap, but Chas not seeing Aaron is obviously in great physical pain is baffling. Oh well. They've done a number on her.

I thought the Kat portions of it were fine (I really liked the scene where she tried to speak about him and got lost in her memories), and the Stacey scenes didn't bother me as much this time (aside from the wack-ass special effects that take viewers for fools), but Shirley being in this to whine about Phil some more was jarringly wrong. It had no place in the episode. I am so tired of this woman and her pity parties. She is never happy unless she is being abused by Phil. She's a pure waste of airtime and drags any scene down. As BF says, they really have gotten Kat right this time. If only it were not such a rare thing.

He's not a good actor, to say the least, but he has his moments (he was good when Vanessa had the baby and he stayed with her). He also has a lot of chemistry with the main people in his story. For me the worst actor on the show is Chris Bisson, although he has his moments.

He had complained about the writing in some interviews - is that why? Yet another poorly realized bisexual character on a soap. Yet gerbil Ste and dead-eyed Harry will stay on and on...

Chas borrowed Paddy's car. I'm enjoying the whole baby story with both couples and I'm glad it hasn't been dropped yet. I think that it's easy sometimes to forget (I don't mean you, BTW) Kirin is only 18, and that's an even bigger reason for irrational, petty behavior. Adam Fielding is mid-20s and looks it, and I can see why they went that route, as some idiots have said things like "Vanessa groomed Kirin," even when he doesn't look the actual age. Still, I feel like the show sort of overlooks his age now, even though it helps make more sense of his behavior. I thought yesterday's episode was, while somewhat dull, one of the first in a while that felt like Emmerdale, with people talking and being complex. The show has been ALL over the place for a year now and it was nice to get off that track. I wish they'd eased more into Robert being "nicer" now, but I guess I should take what I can get. I hate to say this but all of Diane's wigs look cheap. Adam Fielding has a Twitter now. He's a good artist. https://twitter.com/TheAdamFielding Mike Parr will be climbing. (not any of you of course...) http://metro.co.uk/2016/01/19/michael-parr-to-take-a-break-from-emmerdale-to-climb-mount-everest-for-charity-5631786/

Love Amelia Marshall!

The show is so clumsily, repetitively written at the moment, drowning in its own delusion. The scenes of drunk Phil berating and beating his family in the Vic were clearly supposed to be epic, but how many times have we seen that before? And why am I supposed to care that skeezer Shirley is sniffing around Phil again and yet again distancing herself from the child she supposedly loves so much? Her "family," her enabler Buster - none of this will ever compare to Phil. Why is Sharon already calling Gavin "Dad"? Why do they consistently write Sharon as a doormat? Why did they even bring Kathy back when she's just there to remind Ben that Phil isn't so bad? Why is that nasty Louise taking up residence as Phil Enabler #1 when she barely knows the man? Why is Lacey Turner twitching and hamming it up to a point where everyone in Stacey's life looks blind and deaf for not seeing the state she's in? The only worthwhile material in the entire episode was Kat and the stuff with the funeral.

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article1654809.ece?shareToken=92e5fbc0114df3c16f2fab5ab66f04ee http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/830396/long-lost-multi-award-thai-film-rediscovered

In the pilot episode, Danny (Bob Saget) explains why Michelle isn’t present for a family gathering — she’s busy with her fashion company in New York — after which the original cast members break the fourth wall and stare into the camera for several long, and almost awkward, seconds. The glaringly obvious nod to the fact that the Olsen twins would not be involved in the project aside, creator Jeff Franklin insisted it “wasn’t meant to be a dig,” he told reporters at the Television Critics Association’s press tour on Sunday. “It was meant to be a playful wink.” This is just ludicrous. I'm flabbergasted that they're going to waste time in their pilot episode on this type of dig (and that's what it is). They have zero faith in their own product. They are basically saying, in the most important episode a show can have, that they are only interested in the Olsen twins and want other people to feel the same way. I guess most of the people working on this show are just happy to be paid, because otherwise I'm surprised none of them spoke up. This show has some of the worst PR I can remember for any revival. Stamos being arrested, Cameron showing the world what a dumbass and a hatemonger she is, and the obsessive need to go on and on and on about two women who have no obligation to the show and have been polite by not saying anything when they've been goaded in the press for a year now. They're lucky that they're on Netflix and ratings don't matter, because they haven't given anyone one reason to watch their show. Not one.

I wouldn't be too shocked if they just have Sam not bother to be there at all. It would be the laziest choice. Typical DTC. After the mess where she was fired from Hollyoaks last year I think she's unemployable to major shows, especially with the government breathing down the BBC's neck.

Wow - I was genuinely shocked by the twist with Eric and Kirkland.

I was looking at some July 1970 Doctors episodes, and the woman who plays little Greta's nurse...I'm pretty sure she played Frank's devoted secretary.

Love the Marsha Clark photo!