BetterForgotten

And of course this Cerullo cousin is being thrown at Joss first and not Trina. 🙄

They probably will keep Hulu going as a standalone for a while, but I know they’ve recently folded it into the Disney+ app as well. But this is a similar strategy they’ve employed internationally where Hulu doesn’t exist as well with an add-on service that included more R-rated material.

ABC doesn't make as much revenue to offset any costs as they still do from traditional TV advertising - that's why the ratings still matter for it and the other network soaps. Hulu is basically going to go extinct and be folded into Disney+ anyway.

Shannon Peace was fired because someone wanted to keep Chris Van Etten employed still, despite failing and being fired as a HW.

So, 2 months into this new regime at GH, and all PM/EK have done is add back Chris Van Etten as a breakdown writer?

Yes (or at least it happened in the clusterfuck that was 1994 when he was on the committee HW-ing team), Ed had a blackout from accidentally drinking and later mistakenly thought he had caused a car accident that temporarily left Dylan blind.

Josh Swickard looks constipated in that video thumbnail. 😴😴😴😴😴💤💤💤💤💤

I mean, I think we’re all inferring something fishy is going on behind the scenes right now. It’s feel evident watching the show, IMO. Someone has to say something soon though. It’s ridiculous not to tease or comment on the future vision for the show - unless, of course, no one actually has one or can compromise on one, hence the silence.

Has FV even given any recent interviews about the writing change and future/vision for the show? I can’t recall anything recent, so I’m still wondering what the hell is really happening behind the scenes at this show.

Honestly, I am surprised they haven’t yet. Both PM and Korte have never been press shy, lol. Unless there’s a mandate from FV and ABC that they don’t speak to the press for a specific period of time. PM doesn’t typically hold back, so the sheer spectacle of it all when he does finally speak will be entertaining, ha. But, if I am honest, the show currently does remind me structure-wise of PM’s last HW/CO-HW stint (at GL in 1994 after Nancy Curlee’s departure). That’s the only comparison I have for him as a HW. That stint was a cluster f.uck for a lot of reasons, not entirely his fault - but often their were really good scenes played by actors who cared, but the overall show could be a drag and the actual storylines lacked pizzazz and were very lackluster. But we should be lucky we don’t have Justin Deas mugging and yelling for what felt like every damn episode in this case…

At this point, I’d even go along with half the cast assembling in the Quartemaine kitchen for no reason at all - as Sasha prepares a big meal with the gas stove unexpectedly exploding, killing her, Cody, Blaze (who’s visiting the mansion to talk business with BLQ) and all the Chase’s at once. Tracy can quip, “I’ve been telling Monica to replace that stove for YEARS!!”

ELQ on GH is another one I’ve never really understood what the hell it’s about.

Still hoping for this at the wedding…..😗😗😗

It’s a very weird time for sure - why did this show go through the trouble of a regime change just to be so damn reserved and stagnant? That, to me, is the most interesting thing about GH right now - what the hell is going on behind the scenes there to lead to what’s on screen? Is there a power struggle? Is it Valentini? Is it Varni? Are PM/EK just executing a vision they’ve been given or is this indeed their own vision? So many questions.

Back to the current show - I think PM/EK are really struggling with some of the soapier staples that are needed narratively. There’s hardly ever any true cliffhangers anymore, and it feels like each episode ends on an awkward note. There’s a lack of suspense and passion, or someone’s creative vision (if one exists) is being f.ucked over somewhere. And yes, Frank’s sterile and passionless production doesn’t help.

Cree Summer is a Dazzler fan, lol https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6tuuHXRE-O/?igsh=bjVjeW9iaTF2MnRu

Totally agree, it’s consistent with Jason/Carly, loll and any reckoning would probably be too little, too late at this point. But I do think it’s a character flaw/f.uck up Jason in particular needs to reminded of and haunt him for the rest of his existence. He caused damaged to his own kids in the name name of Carly and her kids, when he had a choice not to. When/if both Jake and Danny freeze him out for good, and they want to play up “Jason’s box of pain and hurt” someone should remind him of how his choices with Michael made AJ, Alan, and Monica feel.

#1 - Let’s start with the fact that Jason is a horrible father that always places Carly and her kids above his own. Even Sam, who has issues with Jason, has yet to call this out. Jason’s terrible relationship with his sons and his abandonment of them is a compelling reason alone to reevaluate his character choices and allegiances. #2 - What hypocrisy? Jason and Carly spent years preventing Michael from having a relationship with the Quartermaine’s because they thought it wasn’t a suitable environment for him. Yet, exposing him to constant mob violence was. Again, Jason has willingly abandoned his sons and and real relationships with them in the name of Carly. Hypocrisy at its finest. #3 - Laura’s hypocrisy is another topic, lol. But actions speak louder than words, and I am not convinced she’s willing to give up her support of Heather just yet.

Just because it’s consistent, doesn’t mean it can’t and shouldn’t be changed. It also proves why you need characters (like Tracy, for example) to be the voice of the audience and call characters like Jason and Carly out for their hypocrisy, without the spin of said characters being comedic relief or stupidly unhinged. Right now, that doesn’t noticeably exist on the show. Elizabeth Korte has always been a Jason/Carly fangurl, so this writing doesn’t surprise me either since she and PM are billed as equal HW’s.

Other than Marland and Pat Falken Smith, Monty never had strong writers supporting her ideas. The character work during the later part of her first stint and during the entirety of her second stint left so much to be desired. I remember an interview when Wendy Riche first came on board and threw some unintentional shade about Gloria hiring her sister to write the show, and that it would take some time to rebuild the show, and she wanted to move it into a more character based direction.

Varni has a full plate at ABC, so I do wonder what the extent of his contributions are.

Disney’s D23 YouTube channel put this up today.

Honestly, other than moving a few pieces around and a change in the day to day writing, I do wonder how much control PM/EK really have in the writing. I know PM didn’t put up with interference/mandates from past jobs. But I also need to consider he’s older now, and may need health insurance or something, lol. The show feels like, for the most part, that everyone is happy with the status quo and whatever changes are being made feels more like window dressing rather than trying to correct systemic issues that have plagued the show for a long time. I am desperately waiting for a big burst of new energy that still has yet to come 2 months into this regime. It almost feels like TPTB decided PM/EK would just provide more gloss over the typical material they continue to dish out, and expected just that. I know that old adage of giving things more time, but 2 months in, and I still feel something about this show is as half baked as ever with this regime. I am struggling to find what the true vision is here - and to @Khan’s point, part of that definitely lies with FV as the EP.

And Melissa Bedford is her real mother, Natalia is overprotective because she stole Blaze at birth and doesn’t want to get caught….🤣