titan1978

Your first point about JFP just about sums it all up! When she has strong writing pushing against those instincts (Curlee/Demorest being a great example), she can make an excellent soap. When she has a writer that leans into that favoritism and especially misogyny (Guza), it’s well written but bleak AF and anti-women. What was so shocking about Melissa was JFP essentially was willing to sabotage a well respected vet, who was always professional and happy to be at work and didn’t complain. What she did to Jackie was just horrible, to try to wedge in Jensen who was no longer the draw she had been. One of the things the Endgame story presented by Tony supposedly had in it was Luke and Laura were finally going to deal with Helena together and in effect, break the curse. And IIRC, it was going to make Stefan fully dark again, and deal with Nikolas either choosing his Laura side or Stefan. I think it was possible that Geary’s plans were going to cause Stephen Nichols to be essentially fired. I also recall reading something with Tony where he said the stuff with Stavros wasn’t part of that plan, essentially saying that when Luke kills somebody they stay dead. Not was the huge labyrinth below the hospital. I know Tony was vocal BTS about hating Labine’s Luke being a family man. But resenting Laura didn’t start until after the story where Laura woke up from her catatonic state. Both Tony and Genie thought having that wedding was corny and not earned, just shoehorned in for the anniversary. Genie has even said it wasn’t exactly what was pitched to her, even if that was the plan all along neither one of them was aware at first. One the one hand, I did get part of where Geary was coming from. The spectre of Laura haunted Luke and he did languish when Genie was on leave or gone from the show. And after that second wedding was kind of forced on them both, it seemed like they both publicly soured on the idea of being paired again in the exact same ways as they always were. Genie wanted to mature Laura, and Tony wanted to regress Luke. I think his instincts were all wrong to try to damage the couple after the fact with affairs and nonsense. With their beginnings and continued volatility there was always enough to play without ruining what we saw onscreen.

It is wild to me how weak his Valentin was allowed to be. The most scary Cassadine ever is more like the Cowardly Lion. I have no problem with sensitive men. But that’s not what he was supposed to be. The only time I found him remotely interesting was when he was revealed as the head of Pikeman, and was messing with Sonny’s meds. And all that was brushed away to keep him as Papa. It’s ridiculous! I think the online fandom for Vanna and Liz/Franco was strictly down to the audience craving romance, and if you are watching GH those are the ones we got that the show invested in enough to show every beat.

I agree totally.

The only crossover that would have made sense to me. Plus the hospital needed people. Still does.

Didn’t the demographics of premiere week show a much larger percentage of Black viewers compared to Y&R and B&B? I think the show has some audience that the other shows do not, and we are only in week two. If they can build on the people that watch that are not watching the CBS lineup, they will be doing fine. I have wondered about the logic of an hour, but that’s what TPTB wanted. What kills me about GH is that Mulcahey and several bts changes were done because the numbers had dropped. Look at those numbers- way worse. And yet Frank survived. He lost some power, Howarth, Easton, and JPS were finally pushed out (although Valentin has popped up). But he got to get rid of Kelly and bring on his preferred writing team. So the network is still working with what he wants. I think he would be out if they had a credible replacement. And before BTG arrived the mode of thinking was attrition with soaps, not development.

That entire storyline was just gross. If she has to stay on the show and as a Spencer, I think there is something there as far as a storyline where she gets help for being brainwashed by Victor, being shot and also being forced to be on the run. And as she gets help her therapy also reveals to her that Valentin, in his well documented neediness, made their relationship so codependent so she would never leave him. His psychological harm being just traumatic as Victor’s. Soaps used to do this kind of deep, personal investigation of their characters. I would rope Laura in and have her share the off-camera help she received to help her stand on her own for the first time in her adult life, and how her traumas impacted her and she didn’t seek real help until she had what was essentially a nervous breakdown.

There were rumors when he started that he declined a contract. Not sure about the validity of that. JPS refused a contract as well, but he was booked outside the show. Van not so much. Maybe he doesn’t enjoy LA?

I don’t disagree. What I want is actual soapy drama and them to be used better. Not a town full of genial people vs whatever weak villain FV keeps around too long. The stuff with Drew has been welcome because he isn’t being genial with everyone. It’s almost character based antagonism because of his place in the family and jealousy of Jason. Truthfully, it’s what AJ should have been like if the show was playing fair in 1996-2000ish with Jason, Carly, AJ and Sonny. I know people were nervous about Ava under Mulcahey. But her medical and mental manipulation of Sonny, coupled with those confrontation scenes between her and Nina and the one with Alexis were the most fun I have had watching Ava in years. And Watros is very capable of playing a character that can be pushed too far. Let them shine!

Watros is so wasted. They have an actor capable of playing a world class soap psychopath, and they waste her begging for Willow’s crumbs.

I know Corday has mismanaged the show several times. But the very long one two punch of AA and Ron Carlivati has been devastating.

Jackie really brought a passion to her and played Bobbie’s two sides of optimism and also cynicism really well. It is so interesting seeing her in 1978 episodes being really nasty to teenage Laura, and also bubbly and warm as a student nurse in the same episodes. It’s not a basic level schemer, Marland, Monty, and Jackie keep her rootable. I always liked her but I did take for granted just how good Jackie was as Bobbie. The hole in the heart of the show when both she and Genie were undervalued and gone in the 2000’s was noticeable. Joss is no Bobbie, she has too much of her self-righteous mother in her. She is specifically a daughter of Laura Wright’s Carly.

He is an attractive, good actor that is capable of being in lead stories. I have been impressed with him for a long time. One of the few men his age at this point in daytime that could play a decent guy and still hold my interest. He would have been a real get for them if he had been a recast Michael on GH. I think this is a big loss for DAYS.

Thanks for the detailed analysis, glad to see the full picture again!

His music on DAYS and especially GH is seared into my memory. From the days when soaps were crafted with more care for the final product, and artistry was still there.

I mostly agree with this whole post. I don’t remember Stone ever firing a gun. Did he ever carry one? He was a street kid who became kind of a runner for Sonny, who got him away from his junkie friends and some stability. Yes Sonny was a criminal, and they were very loyal to each other. Also- people forget that the entire reason Brenda wore the wire was Sonny was lying about how deep he was/his ambitions. Stone was never in his business as deep as Jason was. And Jason made one decision after another about his impulse control issues, the kind of life he wanted to live, and wanting to work with Sonny. He had enough of his own ambition that he took over for Sonny after he left Brenda at the altar. Jason was also an adult. I absolutely think he groomed Karen. And he was too old for Brenda at the time, although he was portrayed as being in his late 20’s maybe? That was the impression I had back then. Still too old for Brenda when they started. Never understood Sonny being allowed anywhere near the big house. A byproduct of the Valentini era where everybody is too genial. Carly too for that matter.

I can’t wait to see what kind of movement we see for May sweeps. That should give them plenty of time to build, even if it’s just building to a Guza sweeps pocket story. I do think Y&R and B&B are vulnerable too, not just GH, as far as where the ratings could lead. They benefited by having a block of shows though, and GH is an island. And island putting out a lacking product. And I love GH.

It is strange the show so clearly puts everyone through a lot of turmoil, but only picks a handful of people to show every step of their lives/emotional development. I feel like we saw way more of Kristina than Molly, and even less of TJ. This story should have covered all of them equally. Same with Joss and Trina- compare Joss losing Dex to Trina losing Spencer. If I give it more thought I am sure I can find more examples. Gio is too cute to be this wasted by GH. Drew and the show fully embracing him as a scumbag is the only thing these writers have done that works completely for me. Willow being duped by him might finally lead to the story we all want, which is Willow going unhinged on her way out of town. While I am at it, watching Scamanda on Hulu shows what a missed opportunity Willow faking her cancer could have been. Van does try to bring the passion when he gets to kiss another man. GH should take some notes from BTG- inject some fun ASAP.

Having one of the next generation end up in the WSB is such a late 1980’s throwback, and I agree Emma is the better candidate. If the show was smart it would have Emma also involved to create a natural rivalry. But maybe not, because then Joss would always have to win. Who in their right mind would recruit Joss? She has an incredibly loudmouthed mother who is terrible with secrets. A former stepfather who is a mobster. An uncle who is a terrorist. I know we need to suspend belief but come on.

I like most of the young cast, even the really green ones show promise. But Eva is killing it so far. The show is fun to watch. We are still in the introduction phase, so I can’t really get too bogged down in details that are just forming. But it is fun, and that’s something I haven’t felt about GH in a long time.

I was impressed by Karla on Friday, she got to do so many different things in one episode. When was the last time a woman on daytime got to do so much in one show? Leslie and Eva are absolutely fun to watch and I cannot wait to see what wickedness they are up to. I agree the pace has to be brisk because it’s hard to hold onto eyes these days. What made me happy was there are several already well established characters even with the pace. There are green performers, that’s true. I hope they settle in. Like many have stated, Martin bothers me only because so much hinges on his secrets. I hope he settles in and has some layers. I didn’t really see much of Mike Manning on DAYS, but I do think he seems much more comfortable playing his role. He is more used to the filming style though.

It must feel incredible to be a fan of this genre and have this show right now. Especially right now.

I have felt the opposite all week. I think she has been desperate to get everything about him back- the status and power in their community, she doesn’t want to be alone with their kids all grown, and actually has feelings for him, no matter how toxic they are. Her family has the status, but I have a feeling that Dani as the wild one didn’t start to get respect both inside and outside the family until her marriage and family. Daddy’s favorite is not the same as respect. Karla did good work today in the scenes about coming back to life sexually and later pouring her heart out to Bill. These people do not seem like stunted twenty year olds like so many other soap couples their age have for the last 20 years.

Didn’t one of the early character bios say she enjoyed cocaine here and there or something along those lines?

These other soaps are on notice! We want actual openings again!

Finally had uninterrupted time to watch the premiere. Like others have said, I left wanting more, and being interested in more, so that is a win! I loved that the show started with Nicole. The calm in the storm, the “stable” soap character. I also thought she was so well styled for our first meeting! I love the divas and the shady soap characters, but soaps have truly kind of left behind the normal, decent person going through struggles, either heightened or natural. I already know I am going to root for her, and Daphnee. Karla Mosley was exactly like the previews and I hope she eventually finds a groove that gives the edge Dani needs with a little nuance. Although I do think she showed she can get there in the scenes with her father. Also as others have said, Tamara Tunie had to carry a lot of exposition, and I can’t wait to see more of her when she isn’t being used to set the show in motion, in her own story groove. Those two white people really need something to bring life to their scenes. Both were close to Hallmark bland. I have hopes they will be fleshed out though. My only real complaints are technical ones- the lighting is incredibly bright and very flat. It is a subtle thing but it’s noticeable when you go from different locations and they all featured almost the same lighting, clearly from above. That poor white guy was looking up at his nurse girlfriend in his lap and blinking so rapidly. Their tiny apartment shouldn’t resemble the lighting of the country club. I also think there is still mileage in the long soap look when transitioning scenes, and there was very little of that, if any. Doesn’t have to be every scene or that dramatic all the time, but this show feels like it would work well here. I cannot wait to see them dig in and flesh these people out more, and to see more stories form besides the Dani marriage collapse and the beginning of her daughter’s brand, which felt like the only actual stories we saw highlighted in the first ep. As far as pilots go, it felt pretty good to me. And I have only seen a handful of pilots I consider pretty near perfect ever- Twin Peaks, Gilmore Girls, Arrested Development, and maybe Mad Men. This was in line with most of the decent ones- lots of promise, a couple of characters I am already vested in, and some kinks that need ironed out, including maybe 1 or 2 recasts down the road depending on how things develop. I hope the audience embraces this project! I loved that whole family scene too! It felt really special for soaps today considering how budgets have all but eliminated just normal family gatherings with lots of characters. I hope they are able to continue them.