Soaplovers

I've actually liked it better the last week or two then I did the first week or so of the show. I do agree about the background music and how it can add to a scene. The link is an example of background music that ended a scene and/or episode. Days and Y & R used to be masters of background music to either start an episode or to end an episode. Today's episode did have some background music during the scenes at the country club with Vanessa and Nicole. I also think the final scene with Bill and Naomi would have been even better if there was a music queue as he realizes that his hand is numb with a concern Naomi looking on.

I guess the podcast has dropped featuring Michelle/Donna/Joan https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/were-knot-done-yet/id1805944598

This was a good episode: Nice 1:1 scenes with Nicole and Vanessa. About time we see this good friendship vibe play out since it was mentioned in the past they were good friends. Ted/Nicole do have some chemistry and I knew that Joey's mama had to be deceased especially when Joey had a brief look of 'Oh *hit' when Vanessa mentioned wanting to meet her to show her properties. Naomi/Bill/Caroline/Client scenes were pretty good and it made sense that Cheryl Davis was the script writer since they appear to be an attorney in real life. With Caroline and Shanice being back in action, when can we expert Mona to come back for an appearance. I'm hoping the last scene isn't a cop out. I could see Bill playing it off and convincing Naomi all is ok since he doesn't want to appear weak in front of his daughter. Hope MVJ can resist taking on the bad traits of her former boss at B & B.. although if she's bringing Jamey G onto the show as a breakdown writer.. maybe not.

Probably old school, but I think it's because the country club/social world is women's business that men stay out of. Dani is not a winner as a character

Not a bad episode, but not a great episode either. This would be more of a recap episode then an excellent episode. I like that we got the same script writer writing two episodes back to back, but you can see the differences in breakdown writers. What I liked: Vernon and Anita gave some good advice to Naomi, but am I bad for hoping she doesn't take the advice so that we can see the vindictive side of Bill come out? Then we can see some skeletons come of the Dupree closet if that side comes out Good flashback scene between Bill and Naomi. Without his influence, who knows what kind of hot mess Naomi would have been if she just had Dani's influence. Nice to see Caroline again and it's good that she's there for Hayley to bounce off of. The Joey twist makes sense because cops can sometimes use someone on the lower level of criminal activity in order to nab someone higher on the criminal activity food chain. I wonder if perhaps Doug/Vanessa will be caught up on this.. or if maybe it will turn out that Joey is being used to nab a Dupree (like Martin or Vernon.. for instance). What I didn't like: Dani is so one note and played by a one note actress. The difference between Erica Kane and Dani Dupree is that Erica was played by a likeable performer that makes you laugh while Dani is played by someone that doesn't seem to have that soft touch. I don't like Bill... but in the Bill/Dani marriage situation, I'm team Bill. I always support a man deciding to leave his wife, but I do wish they opted to leave before they actually cheat. Hayley believing Bill. She has potential as a character and I kind of wish that the show could show her actually working as a paralegal since I don't think her dream of being a lady of leisure will be happening at Fairview Crest. Ashley/Derek.

From the interview she gave in 1992, I think Beverlee was going to leave the show anyway once her contract expired in 1993.. she just happened to exercise a clause/loophole in her contract that let her leave the show a year early. Her final scenes in mid 1992 showed a remorseful Alex that realized that she had driven away everyone that she loved and cared for. She had scenes with HB, Vanessa, Henry, Nick, and I even think she had a final one with Fletcher before she left on her trip. I do wonder what the show would have done with her character had she not had the loophole/clause and she came back after her vacation was over. Would she have tried to push Nick/Eve together or tried to keep a distance and focus on Spaulding and trying to forge a new path forward.

He's a fox Maybe the gala will be held in the summer around Juneneeth? For sure the Eva/Silk Press Sheila plot will have to come to a head during May sweeps since Laura should be recovered and ready to resume her duties in the coming weeks. And also Silk Press Sheila has a different nickname that another forum uses... Alias (I assume because of her wigs and the lead character on Alias always wearing the fun wigs during secret missions). I had this weird thought about nurse Ashley and her backstory. According to what I read, Ashley's backstory involved her being raised by a single mother Jan.. and basically being left home alone everyday while her mother worked numerous jobs raising her. With that type of backstory, I would think a performer could be able to mine something for that to infuse into the character. So far, she hasn't been able to bring anything to the character.. and the audience is left mystified that she's been featured so much without any sort of personality/agency. Another thing is that since Ashley's father hasn't been mentioned, I'm wondering if it's going to be revealed that Joey is her father. It's been established that one of the jobs Ashley's mother Jan has is working for Vanessa/Doug at their house.. and perhaps Joey will one day become a guest of the McBrides and Jan sees him and freaks out.

I don't know why Dani doesn't open a boutique, or maybe use some space in the country club for a pop up store for some items (i.e. sportswear, shoes, etc)

A so so episode today, but Ron C was involved so no surprise it wasn't stellar. - Chelsea has a little bit of fire in her, didn't know the girl had it in her. - I wonder if the writers/producers benched Ashley/Derek/Andre for a week because they saw things weren't working in order to figure out how to fix it. There were subtle improvements, and elevating Shanice's airtime will only benefit the three. - Yesterday I was wondering about Laura, and today we got an answer that she's still in recovery and that Shanice doesn't seem too keen on Eva. Maybe have Eva/Ashley/Shanice in a scene... show us, don't tell us. - Dani/Bill = yawn. Dani is so one note and the writing isn't doing her any favors. As I said, not a bad episode.. but not a great episode either.

That would explain why the Mystery Movie format on ABC eventually did create fourth movie series called Christine Cromwell starring Jaclyn Smith.. since it looked like the network was interested in adding a female detective to the roster. I think it was a move done by MSW to ensure that Lansbury got her wish for a reduced work schedule. If you look like you're in demand, then your current employer will give you anything you want to ensure you stay.

Actually... I would like see both come out of retirement and at least do a guest spot on a sitcom or something.

In regards to the March 1982 episodes, this was a good way to cap off its run on CBS and kick-off a new era on NBC. And I wish straight men would also start wearing speedos since it was a nice sight to see In regards to the 1/30/1952 episode, I was surprised Jo's husband Keith was still alive at this point since I assumed he was killed off close to the debut of the show. His death looks to have happened during Feb 1952 since the early March 1952 shows Jo's in laws grieving Keith's death. Based on the 1/30/1952, it looks as though Irving V (creator of Edge of Night) was now head-writing.. and I can see why he eventually moved the show into a more crime ridden direction during his tenure working on the soap. This episode seemed to be carrying on threads established during Agnes Nixon's 13 week stint. It looked as though her concept of the soap was a domestic drama where Jo/Keith weren't exactly happily married with his mother causing issues between the two. I think Irving was smart to move the show in a different direction during his time writing it.

Calhoun, from what I understand, was an excellent Executive producer. ATWT changes in tone once he jumps over to GL and Caso takes over as EP.

In regards to Kim Lankford's states about James H and his choosing to leave thus leading to her being fired. I'm wondering if that was only told to her in order to shield themselves from blame. I wonder this because he had stated once that he was 'forcibly ejected' from the show when he was asked about whether his leaving was his decision or not. So he probably saw the writing on the wall, went to the show runners and basically was told that they had no place on the show going forward.. and then to save face, the showrunners told Kim that she was being cut because of James. It wouldn't be the first time that bosses lie to employees and pit them against one another.

It didn't feel like a Marland episode because the dialogue flowed better and I liked that mention was made that Ellen and Nancy weren't contemporaries unlike during the Marland era where it seemed as though the two were in the same generation. When Marland came on, all he really did was add Iva/Emma/Holden while adding Doug and Marsha to the already ongoing Frannie/Kevin/Marie story. I like that more 1985 episodes are coming out from before Marland's arrival that show that some of the things people raved about weren't generated/created by him.. but were elements he continued.

Decent breakdown from Gregori M (I'm not familiar with their past work) and decent script from Danielle P. This means tomorrow will be Ron C as breakdown writer and Lynn Martin as script-writer. Their past collabs have been sort of lackluster, but third time is the charm. What I liked about today: - Nurse Shanice adding that extra touch that was missed last week. - Some good family moments with Dani/Nicole/Andre. - Chelsea finally taking a stand with her mom. It seems as though Bill handled raising Naomi while Dani focused on Chelsea... and Chelsea is feeling suffocated by her mother. Those brief snippets of Chelsea with the guy and his partner showed a different side to Chelsea and I have a feeling that this partly stems from being suffocated by Dani. - Vanessa and Joey have mad chemistry. I also like that Vanessa has been toned down and is less flighty then she was in her first appearance. What I didn't like today - Ashley/Andre merry go round is back. I did like that Ashley was mostly used sparingly and got some brief scenes with Dani, Nicole, Ted, and Shanice. @Mona Kane CroftI do agree that there is no character for Jen Jacobs to play.. but that means that the actor/actress needed to flesh out the character and then the writers can go from there. Since Ashley knows Dani then it means that she also knows/knew Hayley so a brief scene between them would help bring some conflict to Ashley that doesn't involve Andre or firefighter guy. Did Ashley choose Naomi because she was also mad at Hayley, or did she pick Naomi because she didn't want to feel the wrath of the Duprees that Hayley has been getting. - Eva vs Kat was so fleeting, but I hope that Kat backing off is just until she gets some proof and not because she wants to get into Tomas' pants. - I wonder if the actor that plays Tomas has gotten Botox because his face doesn't move... though it is a beautiful face. Lastly, the actor that plays the firefighter has starred in some Hallmark Channel movies and it shows in his acting. Acting on a soap opera is vastly different then acting in a Hallmark Channel movie. Both are particular styles, but you can't use them on the other. Bill could be the Victor Newman of this show.

Maisie was too blue collar/salt of the earth with limited storyline potential hence why she was killed off. Quinn was a beautiful and confident black woman that was disposed of because this was a period where the writers seemed incapable of writing for a mature black woman. Quite frankly, Quinn could have been tested with the other male characters that were on at the time like Michael, Mac, etc to see where she fit.

Unpopular opinion, but I supported Billy being told about Mindy's affair with Roger. Maybe Alex shouldn't have been the person to tell him, but it needed to be revealed because Mindy took delight in sleeping with Roger and being disrespectful to Alex during the early months of the affair. Had Mindy did the logical thing and kept her distance from Nick.. then none of that would have happen. She only had herself to blame.

People forget this, but Mindy switched the paternity test that proved Nick was Alex's son. To me, that is unforgivable and her hatred of Mindy was justified... and it probably brought up painful memories of Lujack being taken from her by her father.. and then having the same thing potentially happen again thanks to the slut that broke up her marriage.

I kind of think that Richard leaving at the end of season 4 played a small part in Ginger being axed at the end of season 4. I'm not sure if John P opted to quit at the end of season 4 or if it was a storyline dictated decision... but the show most likely would have struggled writing both Ginger and Laura as divorced women juggling kids with finding their place in the career world. Much as how Ginger suffered with her occupying the same place as Val in the early seasons, she would have suffered even more as a character in season 5 being the same place as Laura. As strong as the show was, it did seem to have a weak spot in terms of not being able to write diverse stories for their characters that were in the same station in life.

I don't mind background music, but realistically the background music should be placed in locations where such a thing would be a thing. Music plays when at a restaurant, coffee house, a club, etc.. but the type of music should vary based on the location. For instance, the country club could have a more muted instrumental music queue, a coffeehouse more of an acoustic music queue, a restaurant/Club could have standard top 40 or other mainstream type of sounds playing in the background. Normally as a scene fades to black after a story twist is revealed could be another place where background could come into focus.. but this show seems to do quick flashes to the next scene so that idea is out the door. And sadly.. it looks as though Ashley/Derek/Andre will be on next week. I haven't missed them at all... and their triangle is what I call bathroom and fast forward material. I wonder if the show is making any sort of adjustments/modifications behind the scene as the episodes air (i.e. if two random characters have chemistry, will future episodes be written to showcase that, etc).

Yes, and it exposed Curlee as a toxic female with her body language and how she choose to answer certain questions. She seemed to take delight in humiliating Alex as a character while Simms said she tried to really balance how she played Mindy during that whole storyline. The fact both of them admitted once they hit a certain age and their desirability went down is the only reason both had some sort of regret over how the story was written. There were a lot of events that happened where Mindy wasn't around so her not being able to be there when Billy got sent off to jail would have been explained away by a phone call of some sort. I think the Nick/Eve story could have worked without Mindy coming back as the spoiler since Eve's descent into mental illness would have been from PTSD and the show still could have had Eve get help and then move her over to Ed's orbit later on. Holly and Nick...hmmmm... never thought of those two together. I kind of thought she had chemistry with Cutter, but the show didn't seem to know what to do with that character.

Unpopular opinion, but I think the show should have rested Mindy as a character after Simms left the show in mid 1992. Her character hardly contributed to the show when she was recast between 1993 and 1995 so it would have been better to have brought her back later on when either Simms or Krista were available to come back. Also, if they had managed to get Krista to come back later on... I would have paired her Mindy with Frank.. since the two had chemistry during their brief dalliance in 1988 during the writer strike.

I'm in a wait and see pattern with the casino storyline. it's better then seeing Dani having an emotional meltdown every time she's on the air... yawn.. boring.

Nicole was my fav on episode 1 and I still like her. She's what a human being should be like (and I have a feeling the female show runners think they're exactly like her). Dani is probably my least favorite character. She's someone that blames others the very problems she faces instead of taking ownership over the choices she made (and Dani is exactly who the female show runners probably are really like). The two characters I didn't have any expectation of like or not liking... but ended up loving are Kat and Eva. One character that I have also ended up liking and find that he manages to infuse layers into his character is Bill (lord knows that the feminist showrunners probably hate that some viewers actually like him.. or potentially will turn out to love to hate him).