Vee

I would argue most of the audience is somewhere in the middle on Dani and her bullshít, which is how it should be. But people loving or hating her, or doing both at the same time, works too.

Adam is a strong enough character and they've had several successful recasts. The other high profile recasts of poor characters? Nah. And I think both Burgi and Newman were set up to fail honestly - on paper that role (another handsome tycoon) and those actors could've worked, but the story sucked and got burnt through fast. Also, pairing them with Heinle, I just don't get it.

Agreed, which is what makes it a mistake of a story to me. But here we are.

Didn't y'all already go through this with TSJ as NuTucker? Look how that turned out. Trevor was clowning it up on-set within weeks. I agree, the characters in these instances (like Cane) simply aren't strong enough.

I should add that Rory Gibson, who I remembered being somnambulant on Y&R, has impressed me so far as Michael. There is the edge and steel or danger to him that recalls not just Drew Garrett's Michael but Chad back when he cared (and had decent day to day writing in his first couple years), as well as some of Kanan and Billy Warlock. (I'd still put his Michael with screwball Maxie way far down the road though - opposites attract.)

I wasn't even here to watch the E.J. thing kick off but I remember MM's Belle well enough from back in the day. The answer is the same as it ever was: She got horny for forbidden dick.

I am admittedly a few days behind but how is Leslie still going from wig to wig and house to house? They all know who she is!

I never wanted Gio to be Dante and BLQ's kid. I made that clear many months ago, and I still don't. I think this show regularly leans on insta-kids and baby storylines that age up viable performers (DZ, Setton, etc.) too much to pad out months of the show every year, and leave it more incestuous. I think it's very lazy. That said, good drama is good drama and good performances are good performances. I'm not going to begrudge GH for doing good work with this material when I see good work on air. I haven't watched all of it yet but I do think GM has done very good work as have the vets. I had a feeling early on after his hiring that his charisma and appeal could carry him far if they wrote for him - several of us noted his joy in carrying a lot of throwaway domestic scenes with the Qs - and they are now doing that. I don't particularly want or need him to be Dante's large adult son but I think for someone who is a musician first he's become another of the soap opera (and particularly GH) success stories in this arena. And I care about Gio and what happens to him, while also thinking he has real chemistry with the smart and unconventionally spiky Emma they've cast (though he also could with Trina and y'know, some cute boys). I just wish the show was consistently good enough to give these actors better story. It's 2025 and GH is still on the air. We all take our victories where we can get them day to day.

I apologize in advance for asking y'all questions about who half these people are or what they're doing as I reenter this show after quite awhile.

As do I.

Christie should have been back on contract and stayed there years ago, but many of us have said that many times.

I'll give it a shot. If this is bad it's on you, @carolineg!

Absolutely ridiculous that three soaps are going to make me watch today's episodes.

If it's really that good I'll have to check it out. Where to start? I won't know who half these kids are, Higley and co. added way too many.

And as a gay man, we're both entitled to that.

He's been kissing Mike Manning onscreen for weeks, so it's bullshit. Social media numbskulls who think BC is married to a woman are hopelessly stupid.

While it might not yet be as visible as the str8 couples we've seen a lot more physical intimacy between Smitty and Martin lately vs. the first couple weeks. And I think the handling of the Chelsea situation has been very forthright. I don't see them hiding away their gays yet.

If Claybon is married to a woman I'm the Archduke Ferdinand.

I do think Ben should come back. I think Max Bowden is all wrong for Ben.

Ugh.

I think Neighbours was a perfect storm of many elements including everything listed above. But as I've said before, I just don't think streamers have been serious enough about understanding or committing to long-form serials themselves financially despite craving those endless years of sitcom, etc. archival content. When a team was in place at Amazon that wanted to try, it apparently got dumped and now we have the ongoing streaming crunch/crash. And yes, it's beyond me there aren't more homegrown streaming soaps.

I think a number of us have noticed from the start. A new or slightly different at least audience is there for BTG, which is very important. (Even if I'm behind again!) I've talked about it in the BTG thread but I think this is extremely accurate. The show as it is now is a strange but fascinating mix of very old-fashioned soap staples (right down to the OG product placement or heavy, clunky exposition and Bell-style grand pronouncements), and then other stories or dialogue that try very, very hard to be hip and fresh a la the Prospect Park soaps. With extremely variable success or failure. But that's me judging it from my POV, which is not negative per se. And what I think maybe resonates for this new audience is that strange mix itself - both of soapy staples and current issues. They're not necessarily as picky as us on here, and they seem to appreciate the use of, say, the Bell/B&B house style (perhaps as loyal CBS viewers) to tell them how to feel or what to focus on.

Do NOT jinx this year or next year.

Frank made time for Franco (Franco!) and little Jake singing at the Nurses Ball, IIRC. Just as a point of comparison.

Absolutely insane that Donna is still here, let alone thinks she should ever say Drake Hogestyn's name again.