j swift

To be fair, that's also the maximum number of people allowed on that teeny tiny set before they commit a fire code violation. 😉🧯

Not to mention the Brooke Shields effect. Thematically, ABC soaps jumped on the cultural bandwagon of the moment. Lori's long brunette locks when paired with a love interested who rocked a blond perm was a perfect daytime analogy for the Blue Lagoon.

The voice-over and music are enticing, but I'm not looking forward to what is being promoted as a tangential story portraying dementia as amusing and heartwarming.

I feel like going all the way back to Justin Hartley's Adam, there's been a problem defining just how evil the character should be. When he was first introduced, as played by MM, Adam was an awful guy. Then, he was a lovable scamp. Then, he was justifiably angry due to sibling rivalry. And, now, it feels like they've never achieved a balance between making Adam an antagonist and giving him enough justification to maintain some sympathy from the audience. Mark Grossman plays intensity so well, that it is difficult to think of Adam as anything but a brooding, despicable, ingrate. But, the writers keep inventing ways for us to pity Adam and thereby make him more likable. Which, to me, destabilizes the character.

Friday's lackluster cliffhanger had me questioning recent preemptions. Because, I don't know how it works anymore with broadcast and streaming. Is GH off by a couple of days, so we are seeing an episode that was originally planned for a Wednesday? Or, do the pre-empted episodes play on Hulu, so they stay on track and this was just a dull Friday?

Reading @Kane's history of the Loving Murders really makes me appreciate how well the mystery was constructed. My recollection was that Gwyneth was a random choice for a serial killer, and other than the clicking, there were no clues that solidified her as the perpetrator. However: (1) The red herrings are not obviously innocent. Sure, we all know that the first person arrested in any soap mystery is usually not the killer. However, Loving included a bunch of other possible suspects that were all plausible. For example, Curtis seemed likely, he had the means, motive, and opportunity (I delighted in the realization that since he worked at his family's cosmetics company he would have access to poison, but so would the killer). He was re-introduced at the beginning of the storyline, so it was plausible that the writers would sacrifice the character. And the inclusion of Neal as a suspect brings in a total last minute surprise. (2) There were such interesting clues that I only appreciate in the re-read. I remembered that Stacy was killed by poisonous body powder. But, I didn't recall that the body powder container was only available to Ava and one other person, because it was in a shipment to Burnell's that hadn't been unpacked for sale to the public yet. So, it is fascinating that Ava suspects Jeremy (who gave the body powder container to Gwyneth) which tied in the PTSD from his kidnapping by his brother. (3) I forgot how the victims were intertwined. Except for Stacy, whose death is not as clearly motivated, it makes sense that Gwyneth in her twisted mind would kill Clay, Curtis, Isabelle, and Cabot. Then, you get victims like Jeremy who were collateral damage in order to cover for the original crime. It never feels like a random bunch of characters that they had to kill off in order to create a new show. (4) Serial Killer stories are a soap staple, but unlike the citizens of Port Charles who have lived through dozens of serial killers with little to no repercussions, we finally get to see how a society falls apart due to trauma. I would argue that GH's Trina has no recollection that last year there was a killer in her midst, offing many of her friends and loved ones. But, you really get the sense that the people of Corinth are going through a life-changing event. It would have been easy to just have everyone who is going to survive stay in stasis until they move to Manhattan. But, both the destruction of the town's icons due to the serial killings, and the relationships that grew during the mystery, propels the new soap. For example, they logically laid the groundwork for the end of Ava's marriage to Alex. Even though they seem like an end-game couple, his suspicion of her motives, and her inability to rely on him for safety tore them apart. Finally, I adore the reminder that the source of the clicking was established at the start of the plot, and the writers relied on the audience bias toward ignoring someone like Gwyneth in order to trick us.

I get all of my powerful media Brians confused, in fact, I questioned why they mentioned Comcast rather than Paramount. - thanks for the correction

Maggie's reluctance to give her blessing to Rex for cheating on Sarah is hypocritical. I'm surprised (hyperbole?) that Ron C didn't mention Maggie's prior relationship with Don, or Micky's many affairs, including Bonnie, with whom she now shares a mansion. Maggie's whole preference for Xander over Rex is illogical, given that Rex has done very little to deserve her mistrust. Also, it is such a soapy thing that Eric noticed Nicole's engagement ring. I don't think that I've ever taken notice of a woman's change in jewelry, let alone during a trauma. I mean, Nicole's been married at least five times, so it's not uncommon for her to wear an engagement ring. Finally, I hate to speak ill of the press (te-he), but if this is the last that we see of Rex as played by Kyle Lowder, I won't be disappointed. His stiff recitation and blustery baritone voice makes him a perfect anchorman, and he should stick with that pursuit.

Imagine if Roger Ailes had spent the last 50 years producing a soap, rather than harassing female "talent" at Fox News how the world would have been different....

Trask said it was because she prosecuted Lani. But, she also gave Chanel community service, so I think Paulina should not have beef with her. Either way, it is totally in Melinda's mind, because Paulina has given no indication of firing anyone (including, Shawn). This week feels like it was produced after a vacation break. For example, EJ suddenly remembering his malice toward Ava, and Nicole new hair. Maybe they took a hiatus after John Aniston's death to plan the memorial episodes and negotiate the returning characters?

SOD has got to go back to hiring a photographer and stop using elementary school students to photoshop their cover. These pictures are old, and the proportions of the faces on the cover don't even make sense. If Josh Morrow's head was really that much larger than his on-screen mother, I don't think he'd be able to walk upright.

Let me get this straight, Melinda was willing to develop a relationship with Li, until she heard Paulina may be the replacement mayor, and she may want to fire her, so now she turned on Li, and is going hard to convict him, despite the fact that she's not shared a single scene with Paulina telling her that locking up Li will keep her from being fired? I don't like it. Don't people vote for the DA in Salem? Why is Li's trial taking five months and Colin was sent to prison a few weeks after he accidentally caused Abe's head injury. Melinda was becoming a more layered character, and this feels like a regression.

For those who were worried about where Maria and Bill Jr will rest their weary heads now that Beyonce bought their house, good news, they got a new one. They bought Brian Robbins' house for 20 million. That means that they still have 180 million left over from the sale of their Malibu home. Thank goodness, because the Erewhon in Beverly Hills is selling smoothies for $30 a pop. So, the Bells will need some pocket money. Of course, they'll also need to remodel and decorate a bit. Luckily, they scooped up this pad just as Pottery Barn's Summer Sale begun. You know Maria, always shopping for a bargain. She describes the 4,000 square foot mansion as a "jewel box", which should tell you something about the size of presents that Bill Jr buys for Valentine's Day each year. But, I guess the kids are grown, and they only require three bedrooms, (as well as a pied-à-terre in Manhattan, Aspen, and Newport). Finally, it is such good fortune that they sold the art to Jay-Z with the Malibu home, because their modern pieces would clash with the Regency style of their new estate. BTW, I'm I the only one who still thinks of Brian Robbins as the kid from Head of the Class? Every time I hear him referenced as the CEO of Paramount, I always picture him in the classroom with Robin Givens. Couple Who Sold Malibu Mansion to Beyoncé and Jay-Z Pick Up Beverly Hills Pad for $20.1 Million - Mansion Global

The true sociopath test is to look for the ones that are smiling in a booking photo, it's an indictment, not senior prom.

I agree that Wednesday was disappointing, except for the amusing detail that Frankie is a chocolatier. I wonder if in Alamania rather than Tony Chocoloney bars they sell Frankie the Yankie bars? And why did he give up being a lawyer?

Not to speak ill of the dead, but, Laura Malone (aka Blaine) might quibble about Nancy getting lost in the shuffle. During that period, Nancy seemed to have a lot of power backstage. At least enough to have her side of the story about Laura's firing "leaked" to the press. I don't intend to sound too quippy, but I think that era of backstage drama is interesting.

I know David Jacobs is credited as "creating" Dallas and Knots, but do we know his contributions? I see that he wrote on the first three seasons of Dallas, and he wrote the TV Movie Dallas: The Early Years. So, was he the head writer? Are there any significant episodes that we can attribute to him? Did he adapt the source material for Dallas? In other words, does anyone know if he was more of a writer or a producer?

I'm honestly confused about the Cyrus stuff because his dialogue is so obtuse. Why hasn't he told Laura about Nikolas? And does the timeline work out that Austin saved Nikolas (did he do that when he told Ava that he was stashing the body)? Is Cyrus's whole conversion a con?

I haven't watched Wednesday, but the Cyrus clue is interesting, because while I think he is too insane to run the organization, it is remarkable that Pikeman is beholden to him, which makes me wonder if it is someone who did time with Cyrus.. On the other hand, I think Montague is just a mean dude and has nothing to do with an international arms deal. The whole thing about that Marcus had referred to his boss as a woman, and now uses he/him pronouns to refer to his superior has also left me with questions. (1) Have the scabs changed the identity of the boss? or (2) Was the woman just Marcus's supervisor, but the head of the organization is a man?

I was looking at a picture of Kerry Sherman (Amy Perkins) on a Facebook post about SB, and it struck me that the baby she had during the show would be around 37 today!

RIP David Jacobs https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/david-jacobs-dead-dallas-knots-landing-1235572625/

I actually thought the sillier part was Kayla reminding Talia that she could work as a doctor, after Talia complained about money. It was as if she thought, "oh yeah, I almost forgot that I went to school for six years to study medicine while I was interning as a con artist." First, is the hospital the only place doctors in Salem can work? If the University doesn't hire her, can't she open a private practice? Second, how has she been surviving thus far? Colin went to jail a while ago, and I know Talia lives with her sister, but hasn't she had any expenses all summer? I guess there was a reason that Talia was introduced as a doctor? Maybe it is heading toward a romance with Tripp? But, so far, it seems awfully random. Including her instinct to do CPR on Sloan, rather than calling for an emergency code (and where's the emergency room in that place?)

IIRC, April's first storyline was about her poor health, which she tried to keep hidden from Draper so as not to feel as if he was beholden to her out of pity rather than love. That coincided with Denise's reign of terror, which then lead to reveal that Margo was April's biological mother. However, my point @DRW50, was that April's circumstances were so much more mature when she was the young lead, than Jody's seven years later. Even though, April in 1977 would've been a similar age to Jody in 1984. But, under Sheldon, writer who was tasked with attracting a younger audience, Jody remained a college student who was dependent on others, while April was allowed more agency as a young adult under Slesar. For example, they both lived in the same penthouse, but April owned it, because she inherited it from Margo, while Jody lived there due to the largess of her half-sister's widower. One other thought, I always get confused whether Jody was Nicole's step-sister or her half-sister. Obviously, she was a retcon. However, Nicole was wealthy, while not much was made of Jody's economic status. I know before my time as a fan, Nicole's father was convicted due to mob ties. So maybe the money was gone by the time Jody came of age? But, it is a source of confusion in my memory.

Yeah, I did the math on Toups' ratings thread, and 88% of Y&R's viewers last week were over 50 years old! I mean, it explains a lot when you have a middle-aged headwriter (best guess from an internet search) trying to entertain a group of 18-49 women in order to maintain ad dollars. As a middle-aged guy myself, nothing feels more alienating than the realization that even though I am part of the majority of the audience, culture is not geared toward my taste because sponsors don't care what I watch.