Vee

This I don't remember. Do tell.

I don't think she necessarily has a plan right now. I do think it will end up being her that finishes him off. And @Khan since multi-quote is being annoying, I think Ben Gavin is def off-contract.

How do you know how many or most see the show if you haven't watched it? Simply googling it or rummaging around through the best or worst of X, IG or Bluesky is not going to get you there. No one's social algorithm is a pure instrument, so that's not the answer. I'm sorry, but I don't think the rave reviews of the show are simply for pure fetish material. And I think if you want to reduce it (or anything else) to that then you should watch it first. Letting social media noise and a skewed sampling of something's audience get in the way of actually engaging with a piece of art or media is a self-fulfilling prophecy in our day and age, but we can still make the choice to view it devoid of that from our own perspective. I think it's the least we can do for ourselves. And that's all I have left to say about that.

Eden reads butch and always has. Most of her male partners are soft by comparison. It's a good idea, unless you recast (which I would eventually, while making Joss a comic scheming socialite). But Joss and Kristina as lesbian hatesex would be hot. Eastenders would've done it already. Even Days might have.

Except Zach Slater was supposed to be a hero (same with Sonny). Joey is not that; he's clearly a black hat and bad to the bone. I think he works in that role, much moreso than he did a year ago. I have no problem with them securing Lindstrom for the duration, because sooner or later Joey is going to be toe-tagged. And I think it likely will be courtesy of Vanessa, or on her orders. By that same token, I enjoy Leslie mixing it up with Joey. It's a story arena that works for her. Leslie and Vanessa linking up down the road and ending up in some sort of Jonathan Kinder/AMC scenario (a concept I keep returning to on this board lately, idk why) with a dead crimeboss on their hands would be a hoot.

I don't think he has a performance to clash with. I do think Tomas comes off that way and should be written as such, but Alegria is not giving any kind of performance. He's useless and helpless. I also don't think Jacob is infusing Ashley with much. She's a decent enough actress but I see nothing beyond mediocre so far. RhonniRose may be somewhat green but I'd still keep her and Madison all day over either JJ or AA.

Joey is a finite character. But I have no problem with him being in the opening. Or with cutting Derek. Hopefully the first of several.

The actors used to regularly call him Dax! I ain't forgot, Finola!

Michael B. Jordan (Reggie, AMC) and Amanda Seyfried (Joni, AMC/Lucy, ATWT) had a brief reunion at the Critics' Choice Awards last night where they shared a hug on the red carpet. I can't find that clip but here's a clip from another Palm Springs awards ceremony of both talking about the other.

You goofball. I can't find the clip he sent me, but here they are talking about each other.

Wonderful. Thank you.

Did we point out Colby going by "Colby Natasha Nixon" now in the opening?

I wouldn't call her opinions subtle lol. Erika usually held her fire while on the clock or mid-story, she was always very professional in the moment. But in her fan newsletter which went under the radar of most of the audience until the mid-2000s, or in spaces like these interviews (or the oral history post-show) she could be refreshingly, bracingly blunt and candid. She was still the same very recently when discussing visiting Roger Howarth during her GH stint in L.A. Howarth is someone Erika has immense affection for, who she's always liked and enjoyed working with and sung his praises from the start (as opposed to Trevor St. John), but she also casually said Roger was 'a pain in the ass' when he was young lol. I think Erika liked JFP because of the story she got with Ben, and because of what was maybe seen as a forthright female POV BTS. But I really wouldn't know. Lots of talented actors love Jill. Lots didn't. Erika openly says she disliked Linda Gottlieb both personally and professionally. A lot of Gottlieb-era stars felt that way about her; even Hillary B. Smith who was hired by her was less than fulsome in her own praise in the oral history. But ultimately I don't care if someone is Mr. or Mrs. Sunshine BTS (not that JFP was). As a viewer I care about the product. Gottlieb's was superior, and Jill's nearly destroyed the show. I don't judge Erika for her views, I just don't share them. And FWIW Hillary was frontburner during JFP. But she also was so upset about the Matthew story with Sam that she went to the network to try to get Nora killed off during childbirth.

Carlton's only personality is that funky beard growth. "Imma keep growing this out til you fall for me fr, Nicole."

It's unsurprising but still a pity about today's developments, as I was just getting used to the adorable new Ace. He may suddenly be the whitest child this side of the Third Reich but he's sweet and actually smiles and reacts to people, unlike that miniature sphinx who played Lulu for her first five years on the show. Even Wiley has only recently stopped constantly giving that dead-eyed paste eater stare! Thus ends Aryan Ace's World Tour into my heart, while Jon Lindstrom joins the opening credits on Beyond the Gates. Kevin and Laura can divorce any time, I'm good!

I don't think they were concerned about that, or about whether people would accept a recast. I think they just wanted it over and Spencer gone if Chavez wasn't going to re-sign, because Sprina becoming popular and the show's flagship young couple was a nightmare for FV that the show was clearly deeply uncomfortable with, as it did not fit their priorities either for young couples or re: diversity. Chavez leaving just gave them the convenient excuse. Unless something dramatically changes BTS at the show you won't see Spencer back til Trina is gone.

Yes, all part of MVJ's continued conspiracy to turn her own show into a white paradise.

What titan and I are talking about is the show itself. I've watched the entire series, and you know me well enough by now to know what I do and don't have time for. It is pure romance, as he says. It's also refreshingly frank and explicit. Anticipating what some of the audience may or may not do in future in social media bubbles is not my problem, and not in my interest as a viewer of Heated Rivalry. I'm not watching the audience, I'm watching the show. The show exists independent of them, I watch it and it's quality work. It has been a success because of its quality, not just because it's explicit. Daytime may be afraid of their viewers and unwilling to bother pushing the envelope vs. just going along to get along, but it made that kind of effort in the past and it should again. HR and other recent successes in the same wheelhouse (homo or hetero) prove they are dividends to be found, whether it's with Gio/Emma or whatever else.

A lot of viewers (male and female) enjoy watching gay men fúcking, and HR has certainly leaned into allowing them that pleasure. But that show is about romance, in addition to being refreshingly explicit about sex and sexual roles. It's not vapid fetish material. It just doesn't shy away from or apologize for sex and intense intimacy being a part of its hook and its appeal. It's the story, the characters and the execution that keep people there.

I think the Sonny of '94 or '95-'96 is a very different issue to handle vs. the Sonny of '99-onward. But YMMV.

Judge for yourself! The overall scenes that day are well done but the end made me do a double take. You're not getting that from Molly and Cody (though I think they did finally sleep together after the world's longest build).

I don't see why Curlee wouldn't have worked at GH tbh. I am no GL scholar, but what I have seen of her work there seemed very much of a piece with a lot of Labine/Riche to me. It always struck me as a choice that would be staying very much on brand and tone. Guza was a very distinct departure, and a strong one in the first years. For me Curlee is the road not taken, and possibly one that might've been better for the show in the long run (and I say that loving a lot of Guza I stuff, flaws and all). Alden I never heard of going to GH. I did hear she was approached for AMC, I think. And I think Riche arguably could've saved ATWT or GL.

I am sure someone has already mentioned this, but Mazza and Braedyn Bruner were really going for it after the fireworks following their lovely but largely wholesome scenes on Tuesday's show. The switch flipped and they were all over each other hot and heavy like it was 1994. Judging by their socials I would not be surprised if they are together IRL, but regardless that was heat and it's something the show needs to lean into instead of writing them like overgrown children.

Rosie was absolutely ride or die for the soaps, especially AMC. She'd get in the weeds with it. I always loved that about her.

I always had a soft spot for Becca. Happy to see her steadily working.