j swift

Hot take: no reunions are fine with me. We get after shows on YouTube, and the cast is interviewed multiple times throughout the season on WWHL. Thus, we don't need to re-hash old issues. And there's rarely a resolution or new information that wouldn't be put to better use within the next season. A recap episode where they re-edit the footage to funny music, show some outtakes, and get some additional interviews would suffice. And it would lighten the mood. Finally, and most importantly, they can't reference the reunions on the show, so we get those weird conversations like in RHoNJ when they keep talking about 'New York', but won't just say 'at the reunion'.

the age difference is pretty negligible except that Hunter Tylor is a decade older than either recast

My only regret is that my portmanteau Bobette never took off

I agree, I don't know if it just a case of being overhyped or setting expectations too high, but that was not interesting. And it was not even close to the RHoSLC/Reality Von Tease reveal. Both were cases of information that was unknown, but in the scheme of things not really a big deal. However, the Salt Lake women really made it an event, and Monica was such a good antagonist. Theresa is just not very smart or witty. I don't care if her husband is a con. She used up all of her good will from her prison sentence, when it became obvious that she never felt contrition because she is a sociopath. And she is not entertaining due to the fact that her only retort is from the “I'm rubber, you're glue” book of humor.

Darn RonC! I fell for it again. He's always got a good setup for a mystery and then poor follow through. There aren't enough clues to actually solve the crime, so as an audience we are always twelve steps behind. And the characters get distracted by random stuff, like John calling Marlena, rather than answering the questions that we want to know. On a positive note, I'm glad that they specified that Xander doesn't have the inheritance yet. At least the ridiculousness of some random drunk guest at a wedding isn't being used as the sole excuse to hand over an entire family empire to a bastard child. But, how long has Brady been running around town commando? And why wouldn't he go home to put on some drawers before going out to the bar? And, gotta love a soap town, Connie, Stephanie, and Alex are all able to move into fully furnished apartments without one box or a bag. All the knickknacks are in place, and no need to even buy a new shower curtain.

It definitely feels like Alex has not been humbled, especially by Maggie. She's not the vindictive type, but he treated her rather poorly.

One of the clearest signs of the loss of meta-culture for me is that I have no idea what Yellowstone is about, where it streams, or that one of my favorite GL stars was on it for multiple seasons. I know it is wildly popular, and that it is soap adjacent. But, you could knock me over with a feather that Wendy Moniz has been on this show since 2018. I'm sure that I'll watch it on a plane someday…

Were Hillary Bauer and Kelly Nelson distantly related, or was Kelly just a friend of the family?

Again, I question if he would take a job as part of a team, when he's been a headwriter on three different soaps consecutively since 2007. That's an amazing run, that I don't know if anyone else has accomplished on their own.

Looking back, Shawn-D was never arrested for illegally traveling with a gun and shooting Bo last year. So, I assume Greece has become lawless since Lindsay Lohan's nightclub failed.

I guess the theme of DAYS is that people are better off once they return from the dead. Abby got a glow up, Li got a personality, and Stefan is five times more charming. People in Salem need to fear weddings more than death. 😆 note: I know Li is technically still dead, it is just a joke.

Whether or Not the Conspiracy is Successful Does Not Matter If a prosecutor can prove that two or more persons agree to commit a crime, and they attempt at least one overt act, then these people can be charged with the crime of conspiracy. Even if the step, or overt act, taken to go forward with the conspiracy plan fails, the persons could be prosecuted for conspiracy because a conspiracy case does not depend on whether or not the persons actually complete the intended result. https://www.teakelllaw.com/conspiracy-to-commit-fraud-what-is-it-and-how-to-react-if-under-investigation/

All things being equal, didn't Nicole kidnap Jude from Sloan outside the bakery in January for longer (and further) than Theresa had Victoria? I'm just saying, kidnapping seems like the least of her crimes in comparison to the fraud she committed over the will. Also, was the show shorter than usual today? It felt incredibly quick.

Have we learned Theresa's sentence? I recall her at the station for a plea agreement (again, Salem justice makes no sense, why wasn't it in court?), but I don't know what happened to her.

What I appreciate is that media (for the most part), has stayed away from a debate over biracial identity, and instead has highlighted that Trump causes chaos and anxiety everywhere he goes. I think the Harris campaign has been very successful in steering away from defending themselves from an obvious racist attack into the message that everyone deserves respect. Americans are anxious about the type of mobs that Trump motivates, and that is a useful tool in this campaign. The messaging that Harris can bring about stability really helps her, and he could not have given her a better gift.

The laws of physics must work differently in Port Charles. Because how does the impact of breaking a window propel a person forward into a pool? You know, Newton's third law is that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. So, if a mass moving forward meets a barrier (like a window) it would stop or reverse course, but it would not accelerate. Also, why would they build an office tower with windows so close to a pool? And why didn't anyone get splashed when over 100lbs of force hit the water?

I'm hoping Peter Thiel's influence on JD Vance, including his quarter billion dollar investment in border security for his company Palantir, which is the motivation for all of Trump's racist immigration policies, gets more traction. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/28/jd-vance-peter-thiel-donors-big-tech-trump-vp/ “WE HAVE A FORMER TECH VC IN THE WHITE HOUSE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH BABY,” Delian Asparouhov, a partner at Thiel’s Founder’s Fund, wrote on X after the announcement of Vance’s nomination. Although, we all know Trump's been a self-interested racist for years.

Unless the “real” Bobby Stein is going to arrive soon, things seem pretty final for Everett. Which is odd because there are still so many unanswered questions. Like the mystery of his father's death and his ties to Clyde's drug ring. Not to mention that it happened on a Thursday. It is just so bizarre, the number of plots that are being quickly sewn up and ending. If I didn't know better, I would imagine that the show is heading toward either a finale or a reboot.

I really liked the Harris campaign response highlighting the chaos and division that Trump causes. It is refreshing that the campaign is no longer going with the “they go low, we go high” route. Instead, they are really leaning into the anxiety that American voters felt around January 6th, and a desire for stability. It seems much more dignified to focus on the cultural impact of Trump's brand of division, than trying to defend why it is wrong. It assumes that any logical person would be appalled by his treatment of Black women. But it also broadens the issue to show how it makes everyone feel uneasy and afraid of what he'll do next.

It is an interesting contrast between the spin-off of Somerset versus Texas. The seeds of Somerset seem to be sewn from the moment Missy and Bill leave Bay City. I know that it was not always the plan to have Missy anchor the spin-off, but their departure sets in motion a series of events that culminate in Sam, Lahoma, and Missy moving to Somerset. As I mentioned, Walter and Lenore buy Missy and Bill's house, which necessitates Walter leaving the DA's office in order to join John Randolph's practice so that they can afford the new place. Sam and Lahoma had been having problems in their marriage due to his neglect around the time of Lee's death, her taking on a new job, and his fluctuating dedication to law school. So, when he passes the bar, but John had already taken on Walter as a partner, it seems like the right time for them to renew their commitment to each other and get a fresh start in Somerset. Then, Bill dies, Missy returns, Liz becomes overbearing, and she realizes that she'll never be liberated living with her mother-in-law. So there's a flow, along with Rachel searching for her father while avoiding Russ during her pregnancy with Jamie, that builds momentum. Years later, while Reena had become a part of the Bay City crowd, Iris's decision to visit Houston feels more impetuous. Obviously, she didn't plan on staying until Alex wooed her. However, she had just divorced Brian, and she had spent a good period of time off-screen in the south of France. So, even though the audience had been introduced to the Houstonians, there was less groundwork laid for the connection between Texas and Another World. That may have been done on purpose, so that when Mac was going through his marital troubles with Rachel, it didn't create a situation where we expected Iris to weigh in on the matter. But, I recommend reading the synopses, starting at six months before the debut of each show, to see the differences. It shows some intriguing creative choices. The For Richer, For Poorer spin off is the clutziest of the three, in my opinion. When Lovers and Friends started, there was no mention of the connection to the citizens of Bay City. Then, when it got retooled, Amy and Austin have a week-long dinner with Mac and Rachel where both couples discuss their marital issues. It seems especially odd, that suddenly Mac is giving relationship advice to these two strangers. But, Rachel and Mac wish them well, then Amy and Austin leave to show up on the new FRFP.

Agreed, because as much as I may question the creative choices, there's still plenty to enjoy. I'm eager to see where the Abigail story goes. I want to know what happens to EJ now that he has so few supporters. I enjoyed the pairing of Alex and Stephanie, so it will be nice to return to their story. And, I think the strength of the show currently lies in the friendship dynamics that are always fun to watch. Jada and Stephanie, Marlena and Kayla, Chad and Stefan, and even Abe and Kate have bonds of friendship that are sweet and interesting. Finally, it is hard to argue that DAYS has more sexual diversity than any other soap. It may be written immaturely, but I doubt we'll ever see another threesome in daytime.

not a past star (unless we count AMC), but it seemed like the best place to post this

So, does she knock on the door and then stand there and pose? Or does she walk up to the door pose, and then knock? Beyond everything else, it is the single thing that I can't get off of my mind. It was such an unnatural way to stand in a doorway. And when Kate & Abe hire Leo as the writer (aka the RonC surrogate), I'm worried that people's heads are going to explode.

It also doesn't help that in both cases, the female cop never got to be a true partner. The conflict was always about the man “allowing” them to do their job, which involved some sexualized danger, and then needing to be rescued by their partner. There was always some lame excuse for the woman had to go undercover as a hooker, or in a sexy dress, which made her vulnerable. I don't think Harley ever solved a case on her own. And the only time she was given any agency is when Mallet was figuratively castrated by being in a wheelchair.

I read the recaps recently, and yes, Missy stayed with Liz. But, Liz being Liz, she started to complain about Missy hanging out with Susan and Sam rather than attending to her as she was grieving. This was part of what motivated Missy to move out on her own, and played into the rift between Susan and Liz that Wayne took advantage of when planning his con. The whole thing was part of what I've always enjoyed about Bay City, is that the whole town was interwoven, and the motivations seems so natural. For example, using Liz's foibles to isolate her from her family made her an easy target for a guy like Wayne. Even the sale of Missy's house effected not only the lives of Lenore and Walter, but it also meant that Sam needed to find another law firm. Because, Walter left the DA's office to work with John in order to afford the house. So, there's a ripple from every decision that people made and how it affected the lives of those around them.