j swift

3.2/10 Today felt very old school soap to me. Scenes with couples and friends reminiscing about recent events. The love scenes were remarkably tame. Once again, Xander and Sarah did it on the sofa. And Johnny and Chanel just pushed each other around a hotel room and kissed. If I were an alien from another planet and watched DAYS to understand how humans procreate, I would be completely confused. Big question du jour Why is Stefan trying to go to the Pub for a drink when he owns The Bistro? Did they replace all of their booze for drugs? Has he already given the keys to EJ?

I'd argue, it depends on the lighting and makeup Although, goodness knows, I would hate to be compared to images of myself from thirty years ago.

This artist, who I recognize from other ABC daytime ads, was definitely the worst at perspective and realism. Adam's hands are two different sizes. Kirby's face is indistinguishable from the one they drew to depict Alexis. I appreciate that they hired actual cartoonists to compose these ads, but the quality is variable based upon the artist. However, the ad copy is provocative enough to make me want to tune in on a Wednesday night.

Now that we've concluded, our thoughts on whether Steve Burton should be shirtless. What did you make of the North Korea reference? Too silly or just bombastic enough for the situation?

But also, it is so silly to see men on TV with the sheets pulled up to cover their chest. As a content expert, I can tell you that most men don't relax in that position after sex.

I recall the same thing, but that was later than the Playgirl issue. Fun fact, his ex sister-in-law (whatever you call the wife of your brother-in-law) is Melissa Ordway (Abby Y&R), because his wayward ex-wife is Justin Gaston's sister.

2.3/10 North Korea? I was amusingly stunned when EJ mentioned Stefan going past the DMZ. It's quite a marvel how the Salem airport seems to offer direct flights to Italy for coma patients and even to North Korea! Perhaps the DiMeras have their own private jet, but it still leaves me wondering how EJ managed to arrange for Stefan to travel to a country that doesn't accept US passports. Despite that, I must admit, the dynamics between the DiMera brothers never fail to intrigue. Watching their bickering alongside the camaraderie between Brady and Eric was both fun and clever. Their weekly debates on what might upset Stefano in his grave are particularly rich, considering their own resurrection experiences. And as much as Brady and Eric may lack finesse in romance or business, their unwavering support for each other is heartwarming. On the flip side, I can't stand how Eric treats Sloan. His audacity in questioning her reluctance to have Nicole host the christening is baffling. Could it be because Nicole's past actions, like kidnapping baby Jude not too long ago, have left Sloan understandably wary? It's hardly surprising that she'd prefer a bar with bad chowder over husband's former lover and her legal foe as hosts for her son's party.

The depiction of a 'mountain of castmates' with leading characters on top is a popular theme in illustrated soap ads. If you look back over the past couple of pages there are at least two or three other ads with same composition. I'm amused by this collage of Dynasty ads from Pinterest, because they always gave Linda Evans such severe cheek bones.

I recall an interview with Steve where he talked about going on morning television after his Playgirl pictorial in a vest with no shirt. Maurice Bernard made fun of him, and told him that nobody would take him seriously as an actor if he dressed like that (because the 'craft' of acting is so important to MB, give me a break). So, he eschewed shirtless scenes in order to gain more respect. Also, the makeup department would've needed overtime pay to cover those awful tattoos.

from Vanity Fair In late 1976, Truman was locked in a nasty battle with O’Shea, exacerbated when O’Shea became involved with a woman. Claiming that O’Shea had run off with the manuscript of the “Severe Insult to the Brain” chapter of Answered Prayers, he sued his former lover in Los Angeles Superior Court, eventually dropping the suit in 1981. The two men reconciled, then broke up, again and again. In an attempt at revenge, Truman hired an acquaintance to follow O’Shea and to rough him up. Instead, the person ended up setting O’Shea’s car on fire. O'Shea died in 2014 after years of battling Alcoholism and his daughter Kate went on to be a costume designer I tend to put more of the blame on Jon Robin Baitz's writing. I've never been a fan of his plays. And this script felt under researched and lacked a point of view. For all the focus on the swans, they lacked any exploration of their motives or circumstances. Lee was jealous of Jackie, and lusted after David Maysles. I feel like that's one Town and Country article and it is not exactly a fresh take. And blaming Truman for Anne Woodward's suicide is reductive to say the least. She didn't go to the Black and White Ball, in fact she was barely social by the early 70s. So, to portray the article as the straw that broke the camel's back is very unfair. Gus Van Sant's direction was also a bit heavy-handed. All the dreaminess felt similar to a lot of his prior work, and it doesn't work as well in a multi-episode series versus a 90-minute movie. Most of all, I think they failed in explaining the main point of the story, which was why Truman chose to betray his friends. They vacillated between saying he was just a jerk, or the swans weren't really good friends because they used the "f" word and didn't make him stop drinking. But, it lacked a theory as to why the titular feud erupted.

I think Zaslow would have also been more believable in the triangle with Denis and Paige, because I never understood what Paige saw in Davis's Eliot. I mean, the character was a mess overall because his backstory with Barrett got rewritten as often as John Black in DAYS, (okay that's a bit hyperbolic, but you get my point).

It's a good guess. I just checked AWHP. Jeb first appears in October 20th, and on October 17th Eliot calls Dennis to tell him that he's alive, then he premieres on screen a few weeks later. MZ would have been a good Eliot, because he would have been a formidable player in Iris's triangle. Daniel Davis was not a large enough presence, even as opposed to Bert Kramer. Iris may have had a “type” after Brian Bancroft and Eliot (brainy, not brawny), but I picture her as more suited for an even more charismatic guy. I always think back to that scene of Eliot slapping Iris when he found out that Alex was Denis's father. Davis played that with such a manic energy that it seemed cruel and humiliating. Whereas, I think MZ could play intense anger from a more internalized and darker place without needing the physicality.

Image courtesy of Texas Facebook group I'm a terrible spelling, so I am the last one who should criticize, but it never ceases to amaze when newspaper editors can't get an actor's name correct (Zaslow not Vaslow) .

I'm in an optimistic mood today, so I will say that I look forward to the day when they SORAS Ace, and Laura and Kevin have to deal with the spawn of Esme and Nik. It seems like Laura was missing from big chunks of Lucky and Lulu's life, so it will be fun to see her struggle with child-rearing at an advanced age. Also, TIL that Jeff Kober aka Cyrus was once married to Kelly Cutrone of The City and Kell on Earth fame.

I appreciate the immediate dissolve from the theme into the first act. As soap viewers we were conditioned to watching the cold open, then the theme, then the announcer saying, “today's episode is brought to you by blah blah blah”, and then the first set of commercials. So, it is nice to see a production try to change things up in order to stop the audience from changing the channel.

Random thought and shout out to @AbcNbc247 or @carolineg - Do we still not know why Alex was carrying around a diamond ring in his pocket a few weeks ago?

I know she's had her fortune plundered a couple of times, but I wonder if Nina is more wealthy than Sonny?

Finally, a little sexy time on DAYS. I feel like all the promotions of streaming not having to comply with network constraints were a false promise. They don't even cuss.

(image courtesy of Facebook, Daytime Soaps no longer on the air group) I think these pencil sketches are my favorite because they remind me of the times when they were popular in TV Guide. And there's always someone whose done a little dirty. In this case, poor Stephen Yates look like he hasn't slept in nine years. Also, Kristen Vigard and the others in little boxes, makes it look like they weren't available for the shoot and had to be photoshopped in later, which is unusual because it is a drawing. I'm guessing this is from their 1982 win?

Please, it is a job requirement for the Police Commissioner of Port Charles to have committed treason at least once. Mac blew up a ship, Sean and Anna were counteragents, even Burt was sketchy. The police are shadier than the mobsters in that town. I'm happy Carly is going back to the diner. Although it is a little odd that she manages a diner, but lives in a mansion (I know why within story, I'm just talking about the appearances).

Does anyone share the experience that once you've heard the lyrics, that's all you hear when they play the instrumental theme? Although it often seems like the lyrics were an afterthought. I recall the first time that I heard Anita Dobson sing the Eastenders theme, and now every time it plays I hear, “anyone can fall in love, that′s the easy part, you must keep it going”. (although there's some controversy about if the lyrics were official) It is the same with EON, "half dark, half light, the edge of night.."

Perhaps they will explore the medications that Heather has been given for her hip pain as the issue? We know that her facility was not ethical when it came to treatment. So, it may be interesting to see if the side effects of her prescriptions had an effect on her judgement.

agreed Here's Francis Reed at 76 (in 1990), and I feel like Deidre looks much more contemporary, stylish, and fit - with or without the benefits of modern medical science

That darn Alice Grant put a chip in her hip 😉

Right now, I would say that Corrie does a better job of incorporating social media than any other soap, UK or US. The use of social influencing, the confusion over parasocial relationships, and now Roy being falsely accused based on internet sleuths are creative ways of using modern communication. I always think who needs Phoebe Wallingford, or Hilda Ogden, when you've got random folks judging strangers on Istagram?