Vee

Paggi sucked.

Exactly. I think this is just a move to take some of the pressure off their one-stop shop.

I agree with most of that. I think at the end of the day with Kirsten it's always been about the things they explicitly don't talk about - her mental or physical health or other long-rumored issues, and GH and FV feel responsible for her (and might consider themselves liable if they did terminate her). It's been this way since before Frank got there. When he did take over she was on another long break, and he almost let her go then. I don't know what is the right or wrong choice at this point. If not for her remarkable comeback onscreen in the last year I would say fire her. I've said to fire her more than once myself in the last ten years. I do think her taking off for six months is unacceptable after so many ups and downs, especially when (once again) I don't feel she or GH are being transparent about the reasons.

I am pretty frustrated with the situation, especially as she had a very strong comeback last year. Would I let her go, not yet but if she can't commit to being there ASAP, well...

November '91. A great bit with Max and Little Al: Max telling his tiny son "you're doing a fine job of raising me." Amen to that. The scenes following the Llanfair fire contain some really beautiful stuff, especially some lengthy, very deep scenes with Megan and Andrew at St. James Church, as she reflects on the tragedy and the mess of her life with a scattered family, MIA husband and failing health, and he calls her 'something of a pilgrim' both as an actress and a woman, searching for truth. "You see that in me?" she says, touched, and you can tell someone's never looked at her that way before. The clearly bereft Buchanans listening to Andrew's sermon is also really touching, as you can tell Joey and Jessica are beside themselves re: recent events and Viki and Clint are also spent. This leads up to a sequence in the smoky wreckage of the Llanfair drawing room that they later clipped for flashbacks during the 30th anniversary, a beautiful twofer with Viki and Clint where she sifts through various destroyed mementos - being at a state dinner at the Kennedy White House, her first byline for her father, etc. - and Clint tells her that the memories are inside of them as opposed to material things. Some of Erika and Clint Ritchie's very best work together, and very intimate. If you've never seen these scenes I do recommend them. Even Viki and Lee Ann get some lovely bonding scenes after Lee Ann risks her life to save Jessica from the fire. We all know that won't last. Bizarrely, Stephanie is back again after leaving town with a recuperating Carlo for Chicago maybe 2-3 weeks ago just in time to leave again, in the same outfit she last wore to the airport! She shows up for a single scene with Joey, Lee Ann and Jason at Wanda's to wish Lee Ann the best as she gets out of the hospital, then says she is 'leaving town.' Again! Somewhere! Sure, why not? I wonder if it was a contractual thing. Regardless, they did swiftly remove Robyn Griggs from the Tour of Llanview opening recently very shortly after adding her, Lee Ann and Jason (and then JDP a couple weeks ago, but strangely they never bothered with either Luna or Blair despite both having major roles these last two months). Meanwhile there's a full end credits on the 11/11 episode, and it still lists both Griggs and Ken Meeker (Rafe) as contract (also listed as contract: Christopher Cousins as 'Heinrich Kaiser'). Whatever! The Lee Ann/Jason relationship is also deepening, as he weaves a story for her doing her home recovery since he very obviously cannot read her beloved copy of "Black Beauty" to save his life. This connection is strong despite Max being back trying to make his play and Kevin being offscreen for several weeks at the Buchanan ranch, and it makes you wonder how far out that were planning or just improvising and experimenting with different combinations of characters and actors - most likely the latter, which was healthy early on. For example, Luna, Lee Ann's new bestie, merely clucks about 'this Max fella' taking up all her friend's headspace: "I can feel his aura just as strong as I can feel yours!" Once again they have Asa alluding to his 'first love' Rose Smith (how many did he have?) during the drama with Max, Renee and Wingate Holden's will. She came up in passing a few times in October and maybe September with Kevin and Clint when the Buchanan men went up to the cabin, and I think I know what it's about; the baffling thing is if it all ends up ultimately being a full remake of Asa's link to Max and Patricia Holden with a very similar set of characters. But more on that another time, as the truth about Wingate which Max came to town all fired up about comes out, uh, pretty quick! Only for Asa to finally chuck the incriminating document in the fire in front of Max and his wife. Moving right along! In the middle of this, Cord heads off to Japan with Blair in search of Jake in prep for John Loprieno's big exit. His relationship with Tina is still a bit frayed but tender and they have a sweet farewell that is neither over nor underplayed, followed by a bracing hard cut to the increasingly less mousy Blair's long legs draped across the backseat of the company car taking Cord to the airport, surprising both Cord and Tina. Nicely done. I have to wonder how their longtime fans would've felt though if they knew this exit was coming from the magazines, as this was the Cord and Tina even with the (well-received) KW recast. But I do think they'd been on the mid-tier of activity for some time now, certainly the last 4-6 months. The increasingly tiresome Doug Eber (apparently not 'Ebert' per the credits) saga hits its climax as Viki and the ill, still undiagnosed Megan are abducted in the second week of November. The Eber stuff has only been going since mid-October or so but has moved very fast, and while I still feel it has not overly dominated the show's traditionally long-form storylines, it has taken up a fair bit of time, half the cast seems preoccupied by it and I am ready for it to wrap up lol. Jane is just such a drip.

I don't see a reason to bring a character back until you have a clear direction and/or partner for them. I'd def like to bring Dillon back down the road, but until there is a clear angle that doesn't just turn him into another disposable male or stuffed shirt businessman, that retains some uniqueness, I'd wait. They brought him back with Rob Watkins as little more than a cheap spoiler for Dante/Lulu and nothing really came of it or him. (I wouldn't be opposed to Dillon getting between them again, but that would not be a long-term story or strong angle as Dante/Lulu are the money pairing IMO.) So I'd figure out how to reconceive Dillon first and who to put him with or how. It's not as though the show is currently hurting for Quartermaines - imagine saying that 10-20 years ago.

Chris McKenna (Joey) with Erika and Jessica Tuck (Megan) at GH.

I thought it would be nice to see Jeremy again sometime for an event too.

If there was one thing David Mendenhall was gonna do in an '80s TV show or movie it was cry his heart out. He was a good actor usually cast in very annoying roles lol. I wouldn't hate seeing him for Lesley's memorial at all. But I would bring on Rick Jr. someday.

They hate her.

He sucks, so no. I'm sure he'll live on in the picture threads I don't read.

Nope. But you have to try.

Oh, not that himbo. I would want to bring on Dillon eventually, but not that bland hunk. You'd have to either lure Scott Clifton back or get someone unique.

Oh man.

I remember an insane rumor in the 2000s that Zander Smith would turn out to be Mikey Webber lol. But he and poor little David Mendenhall (who was a good actor!) were a fan punchline for so long that I think they just have never gone there, in addition to the Webber clan being largely forgotten for many years. I have thought before about bringing on, say, Rick Jr. to sort of fill the hunky doctor mold his father and uncle once did. But never thought of Mike, really. It would make sense for Laura to hold a reunion and have him just make an appearance someday. Maybe for Lesley's memorial.

If you think the mansion is bad, don't look into the current status of the Brownstone from the '80s and '90s. Elizabeth allegedly lives in it but as we've been over in these threads many a time, there is almost no resemblance lol. I guess I'm glad it exists.

I'm just glad the Q mansion isn't totally lathered in gray paint anymore like a few years ago, that they still use the original study/drawing room from time to time (though it would still be the primarily-used meeting space if it was up to me) and that the Quartermaines and their home are once again very prominent on the show as a hub for story and characters. The fact that the foyer barely resembles the original beyond still having a big staircase I can live with.

Gio and Emma are becoming considerably popular IMO. But they haven't been played nearly as much as the Britt saga or Agent Joss of late, which is the problem. Same with Dante and Lulu. But I make this speech twice a week at this point so I'll stop.

It feels like it's largely for CVE plus shoring up Steve's status, and no one else. Maybe Frank getting to luxuriate in staring at Ryan Paevey's oiled pecs and watching Gati be campy again. I don't know.

Just when I was thinking of her for (another) role, lol.

Yeah, like I mentioned above. The account page has since crashed due to people's reactions lol. I think my discount is still in effect til April, but I am not going to stop loading it til I can reach a live agent and confirm it.

This is as about as exciting as he gets.

Hulu is operating at new levels of grime heretofore unheard of lol. They try to switch everyone's plan back to normal pricing the day after that deal and reinstating Kimmel, and suddenly the account/help pages don't work. That's okay, bitch! I'll wait!

I would shoot her in the head next time.

It's just good soap.