j swift

In 2021 it was estimated that the average episode of Corrie costs 141,000 pounds, (which works out to $175,000) - 1/3 of the cost goes to the writing staff and actors - https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/how-much-emmerdale-coronation-street-5178636 By comparison (just for shits and giggles), in 2010 Days of our Lives spent $150,000 per episode, with a smaller cast and much less expensive sets. - https://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/TV/2010/1013/Soap-operas-All-washed-up/(page)/2 But, the acting, writing, and production of Corrie are so superior that it boggles my mind. Just watch this one scene and try to argue that the two shows are comparable enough even to be considered in the same genre. This is part of the reason that 5.5 million people watch Corrie weekly, and 1.7 million watched DAYS during its final season on NBC. Bravo Corrie!

There's an excellent playlist on YT of all the finale and premiere promos ("this season on Falcon Crest") they are like a highlight reel of all of the best scenes without the fluff. I am a big fan of the Falcon Crest score, and I find it thrilling to re-watch those scenes with the music in the background.

I prefer Nicole with EJ, and I don't look forward to any stories involving Harris. Unless there's some Lucas and Harris drama to help get him out of jail...

I'm trying to imagine if there is a suitable love interest for Harris (especially because I don't want a protracted triangle with Bo and Hope), and it made me realize how many of the citizens of Salem are men. I guess he could date Megan or Kristen, but he seems like too much of a good guy to be with them. Jada feels a little young, although I guess she's close in age to Rafe who was married to Hope. Paulina, Kayla, Kate, Belle, and Marlena are all taken. Given that we know people in Salem are either concerned with their relationship or getting a CEO position at their family business, I hope this means that there's not much story potential for ol'Harris.

I'm eager to see if they have Alex & Xander (who share a name) in a scene with Ben (who shares a face) Also, does anyone have a tally of the number of people who have returned from the dead since Hope left Salem? EJ, Stefan, and Megan come to mind, but I bet there are more.

We know one thing for certain, she's not a minimalist

Yes, but also justice for Julie who had to endure Hope's nasty attitude for years. Also, Hope had a crush on Jake Kostichek the Salem Strangler, so an affinity for chockers runs in the family. I'm just saying that I appreciate the consistency

I enjoy the consistency that Ciara and Hope don't get along, it is reminiscent of Hope's relationship with Julie

I've seen more content about the time capsule on TikTok from the CBS Daytime account. I wonder if it is also an opportune time to dig it up before the new owners of Television City force them to move like Price is Right.

Logically, would Ben and Ciara get a hotel every time they docked the boat? Isn't that why they live on a boat? Also, I guess Jamie et al haven't googled how expensive it is to dock a boat in Annapolis (around $300 - $800 a day). If Harris is so worried about getting a job after being brainwashed by Megan, Hope should remind him that her son-in-law is a convicted serial killer/mechanic but, he can afford to sail around the world with no viable means of support. Anyway, good to know that the ISA has offices in Maryland and DC (the bad news is that the spy agency seems to have an open-door policy for daughters of agents). I don't recall who mentioned it (maybe @Noel ?), but it is funny that Kayla, Kate, and Marlena appear to be fully dressed (with shoes) under their hospital gown, which seems to undermine the purpose of wearing a backless garment. I'm so happy that Kayla figured out that she can overpower Rolf, he's a skinny old man with a tiny head. But, why wouldn't she free Marlena before escaping the room? The cliffhanger was fun. I wonder how they'll show if the fountain of youth has worked? (better lighting for Megan, I hope).

Amusingly, because you were referencing DAYS, I initially read it as you had been brainwashing all morning...

I can see it now, Josh and a room full of robots pushing out scripts as fast as they can

I feel like the writers have purposefully avoided having Alex and Xander in the same story until this week because of the awkward circumstance that they share the same name. Obviously, IRL more than one person in town has the same moniker, but it is remarkable on a soap that not only does RSW play two parts, but one of them has the same name as another character. Maggie telling Brady that she could still be his AA sponsor even though she was now the CEO was incredibly dumb. It's her first week on the job, she hasn't seen him for weeks, and it has been a long time since he sought her advice, so it was an unnecessary interaction. And Chloe's motivation to stay out of Leo's column lacked logic. Brady was pleading with Kristen to get Rachel to stop being a brat to Chloe. And, he just spent a week trying to de-program Stefan to get her back. So, why would one mention in a gossip column (based on the truth that they both already know) threaten their relationship? Historically, Chloe has always known when she has the upper hand in a relationship. So her sudden desperation seems out of character. Overall it is weird that so many things happen in a day when we don't focus on the Beyond Salem crowd, but time moves so slowly in the BS3 episodes.

I just watched the 6/22/81 episode, which according to the poster was the first episode to be rerun on USA. It marks the transition from Draper and April to Sky and Raven. Draper returns from his adventure at The Bryson's clinic with the knowledge that Sharkey is the father of Emily's baby. He confronts Emily in a scene that was well written. She tries to continue her fraud by saying that Sharkey can't be trusted and that they would never have had time to be "alone" while in the clinic. In response, Draper pulls out the "do not disturb" sign that Sharkey left as proof of their affair and Emily is devastated. However, Tony Craig lacks the charisma to elevate the writing of that scene. There is barely any reflection of either Draper's anger toward Emily or the satisfaction that he has uncovered her scheme. However, Terry Davis is the underappreciated powerhouse of the episode. Under most other actresses April would have been an insufferable victim. Plagued with a heart condition, unlucky in love, and saddled with raising other people's kids, she was the type of female character that I never liked because she was always lacking agency. But, at the end of the episode April gets her chance to confront Emily and it is so satisfying! First, Emily comes up in April's private elevator and April remarks that she needs to remind the building staff that Emily is not welcome in her home. Then, she rips away Emily's innocent veneer and lets her know that she has no future left and had better leave town. And finally, she gets to one-up Emily by letting her know that she is actually pregnant and now April will have everything she ever wanted. I loved watching April's contentment at being the final piece of the puzzle that ends Emily's reign. Of course, this being EON, the episode ends with Sky and Raven bantering in the back of his limo, rather than the April/Emily scene. But, it is a perfect episode to choose as the first re-run because it really made me hungry to see what would happen next...

I have an aversion to soap opera openings where the cast turns into camera. It is so forced and everyone looks so odd when they turn. Also, the font used for the credits has no reference point to the original opening which was iconic.

Watching the new intro gave me flashbacks to the sets of the 1980s and I was hoping that someone with expert recall could fill in some of the missing pieces. IIRC Paul had his offices (with the slanted window) in the same building as Victor Newman. I don't remember them referencing Newman Towers at the time, in fact, I have a vague memory that George Rawlins developed the building for Ra-Tech, and Paul moved in when he consulted on security for George. Jabot was across the street in another highrise Then there was the building with Top of the Towers (or maybe that was at the penthouse floor of Victor's building?) And finally, there was the highrise condo building where Victor lived with Leanna, and Jill moved there after her divorce from John. All of which is to say that Genoa City had a limited number of high-rise buildings in the 1980s and did not resemble the bustling metropolis shown in the most recent version of the opening - correct?

Are Fen and his boyfriend returning? Where did they go? I thought the boyfriend was working for Lauren?

I always thought the Abbotts lived in town, in a large townhouse like those on UES of Manhatten, while The Chancelor Estate and The Newman Ranch were off in the suburbs.

I thought the flashbacks were a clever storytelling technique. It made me want to go back and see if it fit with what we watched, in terms of Rolf leaving during the Stefan story, and if Johnny and Wendy figured out the lair, but don't realize it because nobody's asked. They keep specifying that Dr. Rolf kept someone in an altered state for a decade, and he doesn't seem to be referencing Megan, so I keep wondering if this is Bo (because he was dead for less than a decade). I also appreciate that Rolf's weakness is that he likes to brag about his accomplishments, but since he can't publish in a medical journal, he has to settle for Kayla and Marlena. However, the pacing is still odd because we focus on one story at a time, and there's no co-existing b-story. I get that this was supposed to be a stand-alone episode, but now that it's not, the choice to suspend the other plots seems remarkable.

🔼Is that Terri Conn? Isn't she busy selling Tupperware on home shopping? I mean it's not Salem where they only allow a maximum of four gay men to live in town at the same time. Paul lives in San Fransisco and Andrew in DC where there are tons of options that are more geographically desirable.

Paul specifically mentioned that he was at the funeral, he was just checking in to see how John was doing currently Also, realistically, wouldn't Paul seem like a bit of psycho if he moved to DC to start a relationship with a guy that was a casual hookup while on a vacation adventure?

To be fair, minor league coaching is apparently so demanding that Paul had to leave Marlena's funeral early in order to get back to his team (that plays baseball in February?)

BTW, wouldn't you love to travel like they do on a soap? John flew from Salem to the west coast for about an hour, had a beer with his son, and then went back home. Andrew spent the day at his office, then flew cross country (without luggage), and was able to catch Paul before he went to sleep. Of course, nobody ever needs a ride to the airport, connecting flights, or even a laptop to watch a movie. And when you arrive, no need to text your loved ones, they're sure to be home waiting for you with a cold cocktail.

Have EJ and Nicole, or Gabi and Stefan, actually had sex in the months since they've reunited? (I know EJ and Nicole have passed out in the same bed, I don't recall if they've done the deed.) Because all Andrew had to do was come on and knock on Paul's door. 🎼🎶

They were so specific about the amount of time spent in the cryo-chamber that I questioned if this was Bo, or like a Bo-clone that Rolf made for Megan. Or maybe Peter Reckell has been away from acting for so long that this was his best effort and I am just reading too much into it.