j swift

The Threads setup was super simple, it automatically imports all of your Instagram follows and followers.  I don't have many concerns about data mining, in fact, I prefer ads tailored to what I am searching for.  It looks exactly like twitter, and because it comes from Meta, all the news and information sites are already proving information.  So far, so good.

I wonder if it will be a VHS v Betamax thing because Instagram doesn't allow nudity, but twitter does?  If history tells us anything, porn always wins.

2 hours ago, DramatistDreamer said:

Yeah, I mentioned that already upthread.

You know what they say, "great minds think alike, and fools seldom differ."

Also, I went back to vault to see the previous year's July 4th episode, and there's a notable difference that Mamie is no longer stuck in the kitchen in her uniform for the whole party by the time this episode aired.

Do the ages add up?

If Jerry/Faux Theo was on Body & Soul during Abe's mayoral campaign, wouldn't he have been a teenager?

I find myself amused by the Abe story, except for the conceit that he doesn't like Whitley, but still accepts and forgives everything she says on a daily basis.  Like, the whole story hinges on him not leaving the apartment, and now that he's healed and mobile, there's no logical reason why he wouldn't venture outside while she's gone.

25 minutes ago, DramatistDreamer said:

It added so much resonance to what Neil was saying and I understood perfectly why it had to be Neil/Kristoff delivering the speech. It could really only be him.

And, of course, to put it in perspective this was just a few months after the LA Riots, so the issue was in the public conscience. 

Agreed, but I still find it ironic that their mausoleum is bigger than their living room.

According to our resident historian (pardon the pun) @JAS0N47

Today's episode featured the debut of the new DiMera Study set, which means the end, at least for now, of the DiMera Mansion set, which had been a "Days" staple since it first debuted as the Donovan Mansion set on October 3, 1988. After Shane left town in 1992, Kimberly (and later Bo and Carly) lived in the mansion in 1993. It became the DiMera Mansion when the family was first seen there on February 3, 1994. In recent interviews, Lauren Koslow stated the new study set is being used because it is smaller and quicker to build and take apart. The DiMera Mansion's final appearance was for Sami's last scene on October 30, 2014. It had been the second longest-running set in use on "Days", besides the Horton Living Room set, which has been in use since the show's pilot episode in 1965

My memory is that the original mansion (where Renee was murdered, and it had the tunnels to Doug's Place) had been Stuart Whyland's (Sarah's biological grandfather) house, but Tony forced him out of town.  Then, after Stefano died the first time, Liz and Neil lived there (meaning that Sarah should have some rights to that house).  Finally, when Stefano returned his company bought a different mansion, formerly Shane's home, which according to cannon is owned by whomever is the CEO of DI, that was used to explain why Gabi owned it for a short time.

In my imagination, this is the same space where Susan and John got married, (and her teeth flew out), but since the renovation in 2021 we are seeing it from the opposite side of the room, which is why the entrance is now stage left.

5 hours ago, carolineg said:

I 'm pretty sure Ron was just being lazy and didn't want to pin Laura's death on Gwen.  He just might bring it back later.

It reminds me of the story of Phyllis's therapist on Y&R who "fell" out of the window over a decade ago, but the case has never been solved.  Because the audience didn't see him die, we are left with the impression that Phyllis (and Gwen) are capable of lethal vengeance, but there's enough plausible deniability to avoid consequences.  Although we hate to see Laura go, it is so much juicier knowing that only Gwen knows how she met her demise...

Ron has an odd relationship with fans.  I think because he is so accessible on social media, people have developed a parasocial relationship where they project all kinds of crap on him while really only knowing very few details about his character.  The fact that he's gay gets somehow conflated with a desire to want to show hunky men, as if Bill Bell didn't write men in Speedos for decades at a time.  I mean, it is funny to think how Ina or Agnes would've admonished fans if they were able to clap back at the audience.  But, I've never had the sense that Ron is either lazy, burnt out, or dismissive about trying to create an entertaining show.

I can't wait to see if they celebrate the 4th in Salem, especially because it seems like Juneteenth was two days in their timeline.

Sonny advising Drew how to survive in prison was preposterous. Sonny has a panic attack any time he sees someone in an orange jumpsuit, he's hardly an expert on the subject.

Which may be why Drew made the type of mistake one could see from a mile away by taking anything from Cyrus (are there no surveillance cameras in this prison?).  And how does he not know Cyrus, who just terrorized Spencer a few months ago?  Also, did they need to write in the judge thing so we wouldn't question why a white collar criminal is in the same prison are murders and drug traffickers?  Because somehow Heather Webber's lounging in a country club jail as a serial killer, while Drew's doing hard time. 

Also, Carly lost 5 million dollars?  I wonder if they'll follow up on that detail, or just pretend like Carly's got good credit and move on.

I guess Megan invited Gwen because she is dating Dimitri, but would Gabi want her late fiancée's ex-girlfriend at her engagement party?

I gotta give it up for Gwen and Dimitri's discussion about brainwashing and masks, that was cute, even if only a pair of sociopaths could find humor out of a situation where they're being held hostage.

6 minutes ago, carolineg said:

As far as the Laura confession, I think it's just open to interpretation.  

That's an intriguing plot device, giving Gwen deniability allows her to move forward with no consequences.  Being almost run over by her stepmother, and befriending Leo, hasn't reformed the character, but I don't hear anyone pushing for a resolution to Laura's death.  It seems deliberate, not just a forgotten detail.

Did we ever find out why Gwen was in Bayview Sanitarium in the first place?

And was her confession to Abigail about killing Laura ever verified, or do we just assume it is true?

Talk about serial killers, she's killed Laura and Snyder the drug dealer, one more, and she's officially in the club.

11 minutes ago, AbcNbc247 said:

Personally, I don’t appreciate the implication that if you’re gay, you have to be like Leo. And that if you’re gay and not like Leo, you’re the one in the wrong, you’re the bad guy, etc. That was one thing I didn’t like about Beyond Salem season 1

It is an interesting discussion among gay fans. 

On the one hand, I understand the argument that people are uncomfortable with the limited portrayals of gay men as essentially eunuchs who are only allowed to comment on the lives of others and never pursue their own romance.

But, I also believe that discomfort with "prancing nellies" within the gay audience is steeped in homophobic and misogynistic language that only values one type of masculinity.  We were once ridiculed for acting like girls, and now it is cringy to see it on TV.  However, I would argue that there is power in embracing and celebrating that narrative.

Wow, RHoBH knows how to manipulate the press so effectively before they premiere!

I appreciate Leo as a comical side character, just as I appreciate @TEdgeofNight willingness to say an unpopular opinion in order to spark a discussion.  DAYS has a long history of comedic parts who often say what the audience is thinking.  Calliope, JJ (the nanny, not Jack's son), and Howie are all examples of funny people created by a variety of head writers.    In terms of the negativity of stereotypes, I think that is in the heart of the viewer, not the performer.  As a gay fan of DAYS, I am not offended by showing a gay man using humor to disarm aggression, unfortunately that is a skill that many of us have had to weaponize.

On the other hand, Gwen, to me, is just underdeveloped.  It seems odd that the same woman who killed Laura is also a pushover for love and romance.  I need that conflict to be discussed.  One assumes that she is both enraged by abandonment and drawn to immediate attachments with anyone who gives her a second look.  But, I need some dialogue to discuss this pattern in order to believe that I'm not just making it up to try to explain her bizarre history.

Also, I find both actors charming, which goes a long way to overlooking the flaws in the characterization. 

Is anyone having any luck with any of the new microblogging sites?

I've tried Post, but it is mostly news and information without an interactive community of comments.

Mastodon feels underdeveloped and underpopulated.

And I just got an invitation to Bluesky, but I haven't signed up yet.

I want something that is intelligent and provocative without being incendiary and poorly monitored for falsehoods.  And although I am entertained by TikTok it mostly feels like a self-created ad machine

Speaking of Knots, while this might be the most memorable

Karen MacKenzie : I am not a Pollyanna. Not now. Not after what was done to me. And that's why I feel so angry. I want to be a Pollyanna.

This is my favorite

Also props to Erica Kane

Pine Valley isn't exactly the corner of Hollywood and Vine.

Alexis Carrington (upon seeing her daughter Fallon for the first time in many years),  "I'm glad to see that your father had your teeth fixed; if not your tongue."

“I don't sleep in my clothes, nor do I sleep with them. I require one bedroom for my wardrobe, and one for myself...” — Dominique Deveraux

Is it the recasts or the retcon that keeps me getting Angelica and Diana confused?

I like the idea of Esme, a spoiled heiress with worldly knowledge, but I agree that her amnesia and constant entanglement with Spencer is getting tired.  There's so much potential in her backstory that I would like to see explored.  And she's a perfect candidate for a grifter duo, pair her with another con and let them snark and scheme for a while.

Unpopular opinion (maybe?), but that baby is an albatross for the character's potential, and they need to find some way to get rid of it.  Teen parenting is not the vibe I'm looking for in my escapist soaps. 

Gabi getting a piggyback ride from Harris in a short dress and heels, while everyone stares at her, is a very silly visual.

1 hour ago, Khan said:

Unfortunately, I can't post at all on Twitter, because Twitter assumes I'm some kind of bot.

I mean, you're not missing much, and I think this development means that there will be plenty of alternative resources very soon.  I've tried both Mastodon and Post, with mixed results.  But, like most social media platforms, there are always those who want to find any excuse to vent their outrage rather than communicate with others.  I  guess some people will always choose to disagree rather than respect other peoples experience may be different than what they can comprehend.  

Not only correct, but well documented - for anyone foolish enough to believe people who aren't even on the platform

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattnovak/2023/07/01/how-to-get-around-twitters-new-rule-that-limits-users-to-reading-just-600-tweets-per-day/?sh=22b8c2061201

On 11/21/2022 at 7:30 PM, Paul Raven said:

20th Century Fox were considering a move into daytime-'All about Eve' and 'No Down Payment' were two properties cited as potential daytime soaps.

It wasn't until a few years later that Fox developed 'Love Is A Many Splendored Thing' and 'The Best of Everything' for daytime.

On 5/15/2023 at 9:01 PM, Paul Raven said:

Three Coins in the Fountain' 60 min series. With Joe Hardy producing and Diana Gould scripting and based on the 50's movie, again soap like elements for sure.

I think the movie based pitches are interesting because they seem unsustainable.  For example, Love is a Many Splended Thing and The Best of Everything veered so far their source material that they were related in name only.

Unlike Peyton Place where there were multiple plots to be derived from the setting of a small New England town, films like All About Eve or Three Coins in a Fountain were self-contained and seem difficult to build a world around. 

One assumes 3 Coins wouldn't have been set in Italy, and the plot seems better suited for an episodic structure, like Hotel or Love Boat, rather than an ongoing tale.  Three people each make a wish, and we follow them to see the outcome each week.  But, soaps rely on ongoing drama, and a weekly resolution would quickly become formulaic and boring. 

All About Eve was obviously the inspiration for the Erica/Faux-Silver story on AMC (as well as the early Erica/Kendal story, and several other younger women usurping the role of established vixen storylines), but that wouldn't be enough for a multi-year story.  We are left to imagine that Eve will be hoisted on her own petard, just like Margo was, but it would be disappointing to see it actually play out on screen as some sort of All About Eve 2 - The Revenge of Addison Dewitt.

On 12/10/2022 at 3:28 AM, Paul Raven said:

Variety June 66 reports that NBC is mulling over serialization of famous novels eg Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and Therese in 8-12 week batches. 

However, I would be excited by this idea today, as I would be eager for some network to try to bring the concept of serialized dramas performed by a recurring cast, like the Playhouse 90 series from the 1960s.  It could be fun to see a group of actors cast in different roles across a series of stories based on books.