j swift

At least she's not related to anyone, which in Salem is a plus.

I think it looks good (although leave it to DAYS to not know what a text looks like). I agree @AbcNbc247, we had one week when Fiona was humanized, and engendered some sympathy. And the next week, she's pushing her daughter-in-law down a set of stairs. Which we know are lethal because a couple of characters have already died on those steps (didn't Nicole's mom die like that?) 😎 Also, I hope Clyde is paying for Mark's trip to Paris. That's an expensive last minute ticket (although once again, people from Salem are somehow able to travel internationally with a gun, when I can't even bring a bottle of cologne to Europe).

Are we to assume she's being set up with Alex or Johnny?

What are the odds that we'll ever learn why Abby was removed from her grave? Obviously, it was to convince Chad that she's still alive. But, even in a soap universe, they don't always exhume the casket to check if the corpse is still there. Did Clyde tell Chad to do it? I don't recall. Otherwise, we'd have to believe that Clyde anticipated that Chad would dig up the grave, so he got his henchmen to go there first, completely re-sod the grass, and stash the body someplace else. That's a bit farfetched, even by Salem standards.

To go back to @AbcNbc247 's objection from a few days ago, not only are Chad and Abby still married (if it was really her), but a wedding in France is not legal in the US without a license. And if F-Abby signs the marriage certificate, then that would be fraud. I hope she's not marrying him to make him fall in love with her, because so far they've tried hard to keep her from being cruel. Tate and Maggie's convo was odd, because it assumes that Holly's been calling her grandmother, but hasn't told her that she broke up with Tate? However, I appreciate the effort to make it an even sided love triangle. Now that Sophia is more likable, she has an equal chance at making it work with Tate. Even if it is obvious that Holly and Tate will reunite soon. I was also pleased that Xander told Maggie about Rolf's serum. The Xander/Maggie and Chad/Julie relationships are a refreshing form of intergenerational story-telling that I enjoy. Finally, on a positive note, I appreciate the clever use of Holly given that they're all in Paris. I just wish there was some history which would cause Chad to question Steve's advice. One assumes that was supposed to be John. However, given that it's Steve (and he's Abby uncle, and Stephanie's father), I wish the Chad and Steve connection was given a bit more focus.

Agreed, but my point was that either decision about the paycut may result in the loss of representation by agents and managers (e.g., Ari Zucker), and then you have even fewer options. The discourse on this topic tends to get caught up in discussions about talent and creativity, versus the business realities of being an actor. As if any aging actress has the ability to make these types of choices on their own, without respecting the needs of those on their management team that depend on them to make a consistent salary.

not a very reliable source, I will believe it if we get confirmation from a site with more journalistic ethics

That's ironic because as the resident RC apologist, I thought it meant that she was definitely coming back. Because it seemed like his classic heavy-handed foreshadowing.😉 I guess there are no trials in Salem. Because if Sarah's not going to implicate Brady on the witness stand, what does it matter? When did Holly find the time to fly to Paris? It feels like only an hour has passed since she broke up with Tate in Salem time. And why would she fly separately from Eric? Does she hate him so much that they can't share the same plane?

and she was shagging Alex at the same time! (BTW Alex and Kristen's affair is the scabbiest of the scab writing. RonC dropped that like a hot potato). Also, he was drunk because he was drowning his sorrows over Theresa, so it seems pretty pathetic that Kristen is willing to mop up his mess over another woman.

I got skewered by the new edit rules. I meant to write that I always forget that they aren't related because Susan has so many siblings. ☺️ But, thanks for the context. Personally, I think Brady's weird m-f-er syndrome makes him equally liable in his affair with Kristen. I don't like that we're getting yet another re-tread of that romance, which should have been repressed and forgotten years ago.

I always forget that Susan and Kristen are twins, maybe because Susan has so many other siblings

It is nuts how inconsistent the quality of episodes has become. Do I wish that they had played out the drama of Sarah adapting to her paralysis for a bit longer than two weeks? Yes. But that interaction between Fiona and Sarah was so lovely, natural, and well played, that it was worth it. I am surprised by how much I am taken by Fiona. Her arc has been so quick, but she's charming, and I can see the change that she has gone through in getting to know Sarah. I also really liked the spark between Kristen and Fiona. Classic daytime clash of the titans (excuse the pun). Considering that Susan and Fiona have sons the same age, I wonder if they are supposed to be the same age too? Also, cheers to nu-Gabi. I don't like the hair, makeup, or wardrobe, but I enjoyed the goodbye scene with Stefan. It is an odd conflict that they both want to move on, but feel like they can't forgive each other. Especially, given that Gabi was in love with Jake while Stefan was presumed dead, but he moved past that. And Stefan professed that Chloe was his one true love when he came back from the dead. But, at least it isn't some ridiculous business decision that is tearing them apart.

I would cite the contrarian argument that we now have a gay character played by a gay actor, which I would consider progress

Once again, GH actors reminding us of the importance of wearing sunscreen to prevent aging skin.😉😎

The right's outrage to the VP's appearance on Call Her Daddy is so predictable. But, once again, Trump gets a pass when he appeared Adin Ross and Logan Paul's YouTube channels. At least Alex Cooper can be legitimized by her deals with Spotify and Sirius, those guys are just video game streamers and NFT grifters.

I swear, one mention of Sami could give the Johnny/Chanel conflict the gravitas that it needs. So far, Johnny just seems either sexist or silly for not allowing his actress-wife to play love scenes. But, if he talked to Chanel about how often Sami cheated in relationships. Or, if Chanel would talk to Johnny about how Sami's obsession with vengeance and control ruined her relationships. Then, we could see how Johnny is informed by the history of his parents. He would benefit from some vulnerability. I'm actually surprised that Jamey, who I recall being a big fan of Sami, doesn't bring in those bits of dialogue. It's not as if his episodes are starved for repetition, and couldn't use a little more interesting padding. BTW, many years later, I still have no idea how Chanel being raised by Paulina affected her view of the world. There is such little characterological exploration, and it is a pity.

The logistical contortions that they went through in today's script to get Alex to be shirtless as much as possible were absurd. I mean, were Alex and Stephanie supposed to be nude in the exam room? In the middle of the hospital? With cast, crew, and the whole medical staff present? And without locking the door? One assumes that we aren't supposed to believe that Johnny has a thought disorder which does not allow him to differentiate his dreams from reality. But it defies all other explanations. My biggest issue with B&S scripts is that they take over an entire episode. It feels like filler, which seems unnecessary in a soap with so many stories going on at the same time. It just stops time, and distracts from everything else. For example, Gabi is at the hospital, why can't she be shown on the same day as a B&S episode and keep her momentum going?

I've been thinking a lot about the fan responses to paycuts in general. I know it is ancillary to this case. The kneejerk fan response has always been that actors should take a paycut for the good of the production, and their fellow performers. Personally, if a show asked me to take a paycut, I would think the show was saying that my presence no longer attracted an audience to justify my pay. Therefore, I would leave rather than take a cut. Because not only would I be working for less pay, but the production is also saying that they won't invest creatively in my character because I don't raise ratings. However, an issue that fans often overlook is that if I say that I won't take a paycut, there is a high likelihood that my agent and manager will drop me. Agents want their clients to collect a salary, and if you show that you are willing to quit, and make them less money, they will get rid of you as a client. So, then you're left as an aging actress without representation trying to get another job. Which means that it is not as clear-cut as often discussed.

Speaking of which, it is too bad that Ava didn't take over that apartment, it was cute. And whomever was that landlord let Sloan get behind on the rent when Leo was blackmailing her.

Does Paulina's set look different? It seems like the kitchen was more prominent in the past.

DAYS terrible hair and makeup for men continues. What have they done to poor Brandon Barash? The color, the cut, the style of his hair is criminal. And, I doubt a Dimera (regardless of legitimacy) would wear a tan suit in October.

If that's the case, it really sucks for writers. One assumes that they don't complain to their union because it is such a small community, and they want to be hired by other productions. But, both taking the risk to go uncredited and having someone credited for your work is a nasty situation. Regardless of talent, everyone should adhere to rights achieved through collective bargaining.

I respect that you were present, but it does go against explicit WGA rules; so it is a quandary why it would be discussed so openly.

How do you reconcile your theory about ghostwriting with WGA rules? Certainly, the union would not allow anyone to go uncredited. Nor would they allow anyone to take credit for someone else's work. So, do you mean it in a less literal way? Or are you suggesting that they circumnavigated union rules?

I feel like writing a “hook” is one of Josh Griffith's strengths. For example, Diane's surprise return with Jack's granddaughter, Tucker crashing the wedding in a helicopter, the mystery surrounding Jeremy Stark, and Tucker's return without Ashley from their honeymoon. The problem has been sticking the landing to end the story and transition into new tales.