j swift

I know it's just TV blah, blah, blah, but how is a cop from Salem going to arrest a criminal in Montana? We live in America, police don't have jurisdiction across the country. And why was Goldman's arrest off-screen? All that being said, I enjoyed the Lucas and Ava scene. DAYS is very good at friendships, and I would like to see Ava and Lucas have a platonic relationship based on advising each other how not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Rafe and Stefan were odd. Not only because of the unnecessary flashback, but also because this seems to be the first time that they've connected since Gabi went to prison. I'm sure they've been in a scene together, but Rafe thanking Stefan for sticking by Gabi seemed so weird, given that they've not talked about her together for months. I am eager to know how long Clyde has known that Abigail was alive, because I think that will change a lot of the issues that I have with the story. So, I'm willing to suspend judgement.

Oh, and if you haven't seen Wellmania, he's shirtless in like 2/3 of the episodes 😉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69ZfDTpeBTA

But, does that assume that he was willing to go to prison with the foresight that two years later, Li's murder would allow him to force John and Steve to free him? Or, did he think his sentence would be commuted like everyone else in Salem? 😉

Which is why it never makes sense to me when people criticize DAYS because they feel that the gay writer is featuring the gay actor too much. The truth feels more nuanced (as it usually does). Also, Lachlan was on this season of Station 19 (a show that I've never seen, but know it is popular), and Mike Manning has a popular podcast and was just cast in a film.

I looked it up before posting. White Collar premiered in 2009, he got married after the second sseason and his wedding was announced in People Magazine. It wasn’t cancelled because it was the highest rated show on the network. And my point about the other three stands, as Lindsay Godfrey came out as queer two years ago and is still playing a straight romantic lead on Days. Again, not denying homophobia, just arguing that it is not worse now, nor have actors faced more backlash now than in the past

Yeah, I just don't think either of them in particular are very good evidence of your argument. Bomer starred for six seasons on one of the higher rated series on cable, playing a straight romantic leading man, after he was out of the closet. And Everett is a confessed drug addict, who self-immolated his career. I'm not suggesting that homophobia doesn't exist in entertainment, I am simply saying that they are not exemplars of that fact. And, I think you’re ignoring examples like Lindsey Godfrey, Lachlan Buchanan, and Mike Manning who all came out more recently without significant backlash . (Not you individually, those making the same point as you, I don’t intend any personal disrespect)

I assume you guys know that Matt Bomer's husband is Simon Hall, the former PR agent who successfully helped many actors out of the closet and onto the covers of People Magazine. One tends to think that given his husband's influence, Matt has not faced many limitations beyond not getting cast in a comicbook movie. I mean, White Collar ran for six seasons, and he's in two very buzzy projects this year. So, one could argue that not getting typecast as Superman was helpful. As for Rupert Everett, he dated the 7th Marquis of Bristol, and they could've lived a life of luxury, if they had not allegedly burned through his entire inheritance on booze and injectable drugs. Which was also most likely the reason he failed to achieve sustained success in films. His sexuality was the least of his issues.

@chrisml & @Soapsuds, you guys are bumming me out, and not in the good way…

It would also be cool to have more women as head-writers. The first generation of female head writers made them popular, then the next generation of men tanked it, so it would make sense to go back to the roots of the genre (obviously, I am oversimplifying for effect).

From the pic on the left, it also looks like he went commando on the carpet.

I will say that if Bill's the father, he should really do some soul-searching about why 3 out of 4 of his children's mothers didn't tell him that they were pregnant. Resulting in multiple situations where he didn't meet his offspring until they were adults. I mean, once is a big deal. But, when it happens three times, you have to ask yourself if it is you… Maybe it's a Spencer thing, since Bill Sr. didn't know about him until he was an adult.

I hope not. I thought we had reached the phase where actors don't need to come out, they just live their lives on social media, and endure the occasional idiotic comment.

This just came up on my timeline, and it made me think of this topic, even though it is not exactly soap related Rhetorically, here's what I wonder in 2024. Obviously, there are still people who are going to try to scare actors into not coming out, because they depend on a percentage of their income for their livelihood. I mean, if it can happen to this guy who Ryan Murphy specifically cast to play a gay character, then it could happen to anyone. BUT, with social media, and the use of parasocial relationships to advance careers, do young actors still care about such bad advice? For example, if there's a gay actor on DAYS playing a romantic lead, but showing his actual life on Instagram, would it matter if an agent said to stop it? Or, would a production dare to make that demand in the current cultural (and litigious) environment? I hope not (but, obviously, there is no way of knowing). I think there is clearly a difference between actors who choose not to live their lives publically, and agents/managers telling people to stay in the closet. So, I'm not talking about actors who censor themselves, but I am surprised that there are still open discussions amongst their teams in terms of staying closeted. Perhaps, I've lived in LA too long and have become jaded about such issues.

Maybe she's just hoping someone will buy something off of her Crate & Barrel registry… 😉

It's also one of those soap things, when it's like, you've not seen your mother for years, let's invite her to our wedding (which will probably take place in someone's living room). I mean, whatever happened to just sending an email, or a DM? Who wants to reunite at a wedding?

5/10 My prediction almost came true. I thought Ava would mistakenly kill Harris while shooting Clyde. It could still happen, but it seems like if it was going to happen, it would've happened today. I like that Sarah told Xander that she was searching for his mother. She's a busy mom, and I don't know where she'll find the time. But, this is one of those situations where soaps have characters keep information from each other for no particular reason. So, I am glad that they avoided that trope. I like Sarah and Xander, even though I felt like he had more chemistry with many of his former partners. But, how was Steve planning to fly to Montana with a gun in his suitcase? Don't they have TSA in their universe? He's a PI, not a cop or an ISA agent, so I don't think he'd be able to travel with a weapon in his checked luggage. I mean, he and Bo were Merchant Marines, so technically they're not even vets. Do we predict that they'll pair Xander's Mom with either Eric or EJ? The age difference would be remarkable. I don't think Steve or John need a love triangle. So, I wonder who she'll wind up with?

I get Joey and JJ confused, it's an Alex and Xander situation

Someone should correct (or amend) his wiki

As long as she puts a button on every episode by saying, “They opened The Wrong Gate”

I never knew that it was an unpopular opinion that I liked Ron Raines. His scenes in the final week with Phillip were heartbreaking. I liked his chemistry with Annie. And, I totally bought his sibling relationship with Alexandra. He was involved in a lot of stories that were unappealing, but I thought as an actor he had loads of charisma. I've seen him on Broadway twice, and it is really a shame that they didn't let Alan sing more often. It might have seemed out of character, but Ron Raines vocal tone was lovely. Ironically, the only lingering memory that I have of Matt and Vanessa was how shocking it was when they both let their hair go gray. In hindsight, it was a controversial move for two actors on a show that was trying to sell Clairol hair products. Which reminds me of the book Soap Opera: The Inside Story. Alecia Swasy, the author, makes an excellent point, that the payout for civil lawsuits over issues like toxic shock and formaldehyde exposure in women's products is really what forced P&G out of producing soap operas. Because they were losing more money to litigation than they would gain from promoting products through daytime dramas. Regardless of the quality of the program, she suggests, that ratings would've sustained the production. It is the ultimate story of corperate greed, because after infecting 2,000 women with Toxic Shock Syndrome, P&G's answer was not to stop producing tampons, but just stop promoting them on daytime TV. I think the perspective is important, because as annoying as fan bases, or writers may be, they were a very small varible in the decision to cancel GL.

Are you suggesting that he's the Matthew Ashford of this generation? (without the humor or charisma)

It is hard not to be reminded of backstage events when this many actresses have left or been fired in the past year. And the absence of Wendy during the solution to Li's murder feels especially odd. Back in the 80s, Tripp and Wendy would've spent the entire summer in Montana tracking down Clyde, and falling in love.

@Maxim I made a banner just for you

That's a surprise. Usually we hear about departures pretty far in advance. But, life with a billionaire sunglasses heir seems pretty sweet in comparison to filming eight episodes a week.

That is an excellent question. Not one that I have an answer for, but it would make for some very interesting cast interviews...