DramatistDreamer

I came across this online and thought, "oh John, I wanted her to play tennis too but, what can you?" @https://twitter.com/BryanAGraham/status/566411639684333570

I'm behind, Amy, but I did see the Me'lissa Morgan episode and one thing that stood out first was that it was great to see that at a young age, she had the desire to learn how to craft a song so she made the decision to apply to Julliard to study music theory. I wish other aspiring singers would take the time to learn what goes into creating a song, even if they never write one themselves. It was really interesting that when her parents divorced, she made the decision to live with her Dad. She truly was a Daddy's girl, like she said but she also made sure to provide for her Mother so that her Mother wanted for nothing. I know the show mentioned her Dad's passing, but is her Mother still alive? I know the show talked about her Mother's alcohol problems. At the risk of sounding judgey, I wish that she could get access to a stylist who could truly advise her on the most flattering apparel, rather than trying to stick with that late '80s Soul Train look. I would love if anyone decided to give at least 30 Minutes to exploring the brief phenomenon that was Generations-- the unfulfilled potential and promise. When are they going to do an Unsung on Sylvia Robinson and Sugar Hill Records? I keep hearing about her in other Unsung episodes but the woman herself has not had anything that I remember. I missed a lot of the first season, so maybe I'm wrong?

She is well worth it, if you ever get a chance to see her, take it. She carries that 'fire' of someone who has lived and had to climb over obstacles but has never lost that great respect for the work and she goes about it with all due diligence. The first time I saw her onstage, it's kind of the way I felt when I first saw Viola Davis onstage-- just total command of their craft. I hope Viola never leaves her theatrical roots behind because she is never more powerful than she is onstage. Not all actors have this ability and some do get lost onstage but Viola, Tonya Pinkins and actors like them are like, True North!

I won't even get into it but it came up in the madness of the locked thread which shall not be named. I thought it was a way off the mark statement (part of a series of such statements by the same author) but I didn't think it worth responding to, plus that thread had me tired already. I'll just say Happy Birthday to You!

At the risk of throwing fodder to people who throw shade at 50 something year old ex soap Black actresses who do theater, Tonya Pinkins has been getting rave reviews, alongside Dianne Wiest for Rasheeda Speaks: http://www.vulture.com/2015/02/theater-review-rasheeda-speaking.html Anyone who thinks that theater is a step down from soaps has never been anywhere near a Broadway stage.

Okay, I just had a flashback to the Peaches & Herb Unsung episode, so bear with me for a moment: Remember, in the episode, how both described how miffed they were at watching from the audience as Kenny Rogers & Donna Summer sang one of their songs at the Grammys? I'm just discovering that last night at the Grammys created a small firestorm because apparently Beyoncé sang a gospel song that was featured on the Selma soundtrack-- only Beyoncé didn't sing it on that soundtrack, it was R&B singer Ledisi, who was right there in the audience! I'm wondering how Ledisi felt (deep down) about this.

the show, although still successful, wasn't the same after Lisa Ling left. And Joy was great the way she needled everyone with humor. You couldn't be made at her (at least I couldn't) since she understood how to debate without making it intensely personal. I haven't watched The View in the longest! Since ABC changed their website and made it impossible to watch episodes of some of their shows without a cable subscription.

Very well written piece on Serena's return to IW: http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/108434288/serena-williams-announces-indiana-wells-return EDIT: Here's another one: http://www.thenation.com/blog/197297/serena-williams-indian-wells-and-rewriting-future

Larry Ellison must be doing cartwheels. I'm sure it makes it a bit more digestible for Serena to return since the tournament has been under new ownership for the last few years. I must admit to losing interest in this tournament without the WS and it was easy to do since Miami was right around the corner but the interest factor has definitely ratcheted up for me now. Pat Cash can be known for being something of a firestarter. Having said that, inquiring minds (me) still want to know what he said. Do post, when you find it, Chit!

Hell yeeaah! Okay, not so much that I'll stay up and watch at match at 3 o'clock in the friggin' morning but if it's still on when I wake up at six, I might watch a few minutes before my morning cup of green tea.

I liked MES as well although I admit, I was sort of engaged then disengaged with the show at this time. Is MES still working as an actress or has she retired from the biz?

I know I shouldn't be laughing at Murray's rants but it was entertaining as hell! And I generally don't get a whole lotta entertainment from Murray's matches EXCEPT when he plays Nolé. People were noting, though that it's kind of rich that Murray is mad at Novak when Murray himself has employed a lighter version of some of those tactics that he accuses Novak of doing. They both do it but to varying degrees. I admit to not seeing all of the match because I wasn't going to get up at 3:30 in the morning. I suppose I can watch the replay on ESPN3 as the first two sets must have been much more entertaining than the final three that I watched.

Anyone ever hear of a songwriter by the name of Rose Marie McCoy? Neither did I until I read her obituary (she died at 92 years of age). If she isn't deserving of her own Unsung episode, I don't know who is. She worked with scores of artists in jazz, pop and rock and roll. And the most she's had is a radio documentary! I must admit, I'm disappointed with Unsung so far this season (what I know/ have heard of what they're offering). No offense to Angie Stone, who I don't think has gotten much credit for her talent- but there are people like Ms. McCoy whose contributions to music are prolific, yet I think the average person has not really heard of her (I'd love to be wrong about this, though). She fits the definition of Unsung! Now she's passed on and the chance to interview her directly has also passed with her. I would hope that by some miracle, TV One would surprise me and announce that they did indeed manage to do an episode on her before her death but I wouldn't count on it. By the way, if anyone is interested in listening to the radio documentary, here's the link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100823151

Aww, I thought he was so precious and I think if he can stay healthy and build his game, you could see great results from him in the future. He has a lot of potential and he has a younger brother! You never know, Sweden could be looking at the male version of the Williams Sisters! Venus will be ranked just outside of the Top 10 at number 11! I think that's awesome. She didn't play so well against Madison Keys (who also has a lot of upside to her talent/ability) but I'm hoping that Venus' health can remain stable and she will remain strong enough to train and continue to perform well. Congratulations, Serena! Firmly into the history books now and no one can take that away. Does anyone have video or a photo of Serena hugging the drag queen with the U.S. flag facepaint? I need to see this!! I saw her/him earlier vogueing and singing Staying Alive and just knew he/she would eventually get Serena's attention. I hope someone got video!

I grew up with JM's Frannie. Frannie was/is the reason why I don't accept the notion that a 'good character' can't be interesting. To me, Frannie was both good and interesting. She made such an impact on me as a ATWT viewer, that it's hard for me to believe that she was only on the show for 3 years. And was so nice to discover that the actress is so genuine and classy in real life. I just love Ms. Moore and I'm rooting for her that Oscar this year!

I forgot about the age issue with Hope. She would be in that group with Faith but all those kids needed re-writing and character adjustments. I would have set Liberty free somewhere else, the character was a waste of time for me and I didn't enjoy her, not one bit. Gabriel could only stay if he turned out to actually be Tonio Reyes' son and perhaps Craig, knowing that it was impossible for Gabriel to be his son, was actually secretly protecting him, he and Sierra having promised Gabriel's mother (who knows that Tonio is alive and living as a fugitive from justice in the jungles of Montega) to protect Gabriel. CM's Roseanna was always uptight and high strung to me. IMO, the only time she wasn't was when Marland made her into a sort of Lily 2.0 with Yvonne Perry in the role. Then the character wasn't fully formed. CM's Roseanna was very interesting in her controlling way but given the kinds of women Craig was attracted to (Betsey, Sierra, Iva, MS' Emily, Ellie, Sam--damn, that's a lotta women!), Roseanna seems like a departure for me. JMO. If it was Craig's pre-Sierra days when he was all about the money and influence, I'd say Roseanna would be a good match but if I were writing this character based on the character with SB in the role the way he, not the other Craigs, played the role, I wouldn't put Roseanna and Craig together. As much as I love EH and enjoyed Lucinda, as a writer, I would only allow ad libs sparingly under the right circumstances so I would have probably had the director rein her in at times. I can also see why constant ad-libs would turn off the Emmy voters, writers and directors, in particular. I'd think professionals in the field would much rather see how an actor can shape what is actually there written on the page and make it sing, rather than make up other stuff as they go along.

I would've loved to have seen Hope Dixon doing her residency at Oakdale. That would have made more opportunities for her grandfather John Dixon to make appearances and get in everyone's way, especially Chris Hughes. I just would have loved more of the original and longtime actors make appearances here and there, there were too many unfamiliar faces toward the end and that really helped to sink the show, imo. For that reason, I didn't mention Craig & Roseanna because I would've preferred Scott and I do not see Scott & Cady together. Roseanna was always wound very tightly and Craig's women were usually rebels of some sort or at least more comfortable in their own skin. If Jon Lindstrom had played Rick Ryan, I think Rick & Roseanna could've easily wound up together since Roseanna clearly liked tricky men. But yeah, with Allison Stewart as a nurse, Chris Hughes as chief resident on the track to possibly Chief of Staff, Hope Dixon doing her internship and becoming a resident, Isaac & Bonnie's son doing his residency to become a surgeon like his Uncle Ben. The hospital could've been the nerve center of Oakdale again. A better cast Dani Andropoulous (if Bryant Montgomery was going to fall hopelessly in love with someone and end up doomed to a Greek tragedy, it should have been her) Aaron, the return of the Quads...ATWT could have had a great young adult and late 20s/early 30s set! And just about everyone would have a deeply ingrained history in the show.

That would have been a great idea as it would've given both EH and EF something to play with. Lisa and Lucinda were the Betty Davis & Joan Crawford of daytime drama and ATWT should have carried that dynamic to the very end of the show. The fact that they didn't seems like a waste of interesting show history. Of course, I would've preferred if ATWT had just left Craig with Sierra in Montega and had him come up for brief storyline arcs (a la Penny or David Stewart in the '80s), to deal with his kids, fuss with Lucinda over the kids and head back to Montega. Hunt Block or Jon Lindstrom would have been better off as Barbara's brother Rick Ryan. That 90s boxy ill fitting baggy look did Rex Smith no favors. Funny how Courtney wore a similar style of jacket and it looked much better on her but hers was bit more tapered, I guess. The women are in general styled better than the men during this period. At least Holden (Hensley) ditched the mullet. John and Iva are not working for me. Funny how Kirk and Iva are at the point where they each wanted a family and would've been more compatible but are no longer together. Ellie's desire to not have kids at that time provided an interesting contrast. I guess she was meant to be the prototypical 90s woman, who had more control of her career and wanted to plan the rest of her life accordingly. In previous times, soaps would have made such a character cold & self serving but at least they didn't make Ellie conform to that old stereotype. Yes, do not get on Kim's bad side (lol). I always loved that about her character, that two seemingly opposed characteristics could exist so logically in the same person. Kathryn Hays was just so underrated! I'll give Eileen Fulton credit for playing something other than bitchy. The way she played Lisa's scenes with Bob and sometimes Kim were really good, imo. On the one hand, she was loyal to them and knew they were suited to be together but there was usually a hint of carefully concealed wistfulness and regret just under the surface for what might have been with Bob. I remember many scenes in the 80s where this was done particularly well.

Glad for DelPo, especially the beating Fognini part.

I find that all sorts of cool.

I'm so happy for Venus Williams. Well done! She and Caroline gave very classy speeches. After coming up short in the final, this victory was much deserved and it was nice to see the audience give appreciation--quite a change from the reaction early in her career. Hope she can keep playing well consistently for the rest of the season.

Looks like the Peaches & Herb and Rick James episodes will be slated for the new season: http://tvone.tv/15764/unsung-season-7-promo/

I know that all HW have their specific characters that they enjoy writing for but I feel like towards the late 90s and after, it just got way outta hand where the writing started to defy the history and often logic, often to accomodate a few chosen characters. ATWT could've brought back Betsey and/or Steve, even for a brief story arc but it seems like Goutman, in particular, had his own vision for characters and he wasn't about to let history or logic or fan's desires get in the way of that. Such a shame. I would've liked to see Dani return at the same time Bryant returned. If they could've gotten back Betsy and especially Steve along with Craig and even Sierra, that could have been a good story. I remember a scene where Bryant was a newborn and Craig introduced Dani to Bryant and asked if she liked him. Those words could've had resonance in a big way, especially if they brought Dani and Bryant into the same circle and if Bryant was anything like Craig in his young adult life, it could've created all sorts of problems. Steve would certainly not have approved. It may have lured Frank Runyeon back if he had another chance to tell Craig how he wanted nothing to do with him and didn't want his son to have anything to do with his daughter. Oh well.

I really enjoyed listening to that. Thanks!

Nia Peeples (Karen Taylor Winters, Y&R) appeared in a music video called Harlem Hopscotch based on a Maya Angelou poem. She appears at around the 2:44 mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mBHyKECPuA