Vee

They do. It's weird. They seem largely noncommittal about many romance stories or in a slow holding pattern with others, for all ages. It's strange that side characters (like the Black canvas), evildoers/troublemakers like Drew/Willow, Ava and Joss (who seems increasingly isolated still) are the only ones seeming actively engaged with either romance or getting laid. Even Jason and Britt, for example, are not going to happen overnight like the first time.

They are, and it's awful. Josh Kelly has been campaigning for Cody and Tracy in print for some time and I do think it's what Mulcahey may have been slowly angling towards. I would do it. FV or someone there seems to now have active antipathy towards the Spencers, given not just Genie's obvious treatment in the last couple years (as opposed to her riding high for a few before that - 2022-23 was not that long ago) or the JJ debacle but how Alexa has been largely squandered and the obvious stall on reuniting Dante and Lulu or making them frontburner vs. others. So I don't see it happening any time soon for any of them, which is shameful to me since Laura and her kids should still be central to the show. And yes, I would've introduced a new love interest for her long ago (and reunited Kevin and Lucy). What's ironic is we know that if Tony was willing to make a return I think Frank would probably roll over again. He seemingly gave TG everything and let him run roughshod over his and Ron's own plans in the 2010s.

I think the Y&R old guard have earned their status and I think dumping Victor and Nikki, particularly EB, would be a hit Y&R couldn't handle. His cachet with the general public can't be understated despite many folks here's exhaustion with the character. (GH has a similar issue with Sonny/Maurice Benard) But if the show is at the point of regularly looking like this and being unable to function even at the level of Frank's GH (which has stretched a dollar more than adeptly for many years, which has probably kept it on the air and creating various environments onscreen when they should be strapped) then Y&R needs to dig deeper, and people should be prepared for more cuts if they haven't already taken them. To say nothing of cutting several spent Griffith faves, like Thompson, MCE, Stafford, etc. And more.

Whether it's a new Jax like we talked about (an idea I am still iffy on) or someone entirely new or a man from her past, I would definitely do it. Rena Sofer should not come back after almost 30 years and be relegated to clucking away as part of the coterie at Deception and Home & Heart. She spearheaded story at B&B for a reason and she can still do it here. Her coming back running from something would also be a good angle, even now if she needs a reentry after her brief exile. Of course a lot of women in her age range (Alexis, Anna, Laura) all need partners or story, so therein lies the issue - there's too many of them and that's not even counting Ava (or Carly), who at least have options already on hand. I would frontburner Laura again like she was a couple years ago - the treatment of her post-Sprina seems downright punitive at this point - but that's a whole other topic. Anyway, yes, Lois deserves a lot more. But at a certain point the show is spoiled for talented women of a certain age and it's begun to become a question of real estate and space. (Honestly, Alexis is my lowest priority lol)

I would have to assume it goes to the longtime salaries. I am sure every vet in daytime has taken major cuts, but one wonders if Y&R's status has empowered Braeden, MTS, etc. to take less.

I think Eva and Leslie fill that role to a point, but Leslie just came into money (from Barbara, the Florence Ballard analog of Anita's old girl group) and is also a villain. Ashley and her mother also are in that zone, but are deathly boring so far. I do suspect they may try for an Agnes-style kooky pairing of previously homeless June and lovelorn Dr. Ted though. Agnes loved her some hobos, hookers and carnie folk! And I honestly won't hate it because they do have chemistry. If crazy June can just stop babbling in tongues, handing people bills of Candyland money and crashing out every few weeks about how 'the underpass is where I lived, and I liked it there!' I'll give it a chance.

BTG's issues with some sets are pretty minor compared to what we've seen on DAYS, Y&R, GL and ofc the all Metro Court everything years on GH in the mid-2010s. Yes, I think they need a couple more and some of the meeting places are silly but that's been an issue at soaps going back at least 20+ years. Randy needs to stop having 'secret meetings' at Orphey Gene's though. "I can't let Joey know I'm back in town! Let's get a table by the window."

It's insane. And it absolutely should be explored. Any sensible soap would've run hard with that stuff over the almost 2 years she was back (not counting her recent absence in the last few months). And I still would. But I don't know if they've actually had a scene where Tracy got to properly rake Lois over the coals re: Gio. I remember her confronting Lois when she found out there was a child, but nothing after the reveal. If there was I missed it and would love to see it. Because the fact is Lois' pathological behavior re: the Qs goes back to the '90s and how they reduced her relationship there to that near the end of Rena's run, spiriting Brook Lynn away for years, etc., and her doing this to them with Gio is both in character for that turn in the character near her exit and also proves she learned nothing. And I say that as someone who wants Lois back full time, but it should be fully addressed.

I don't think MVJ is snapping at anyone there. Snapping is what Carlivati used to do. She's just engaging, a bit enthusiastically to correct the record lol. Do I find the speediness of Leslie's windfall and how she is flinging it around a bit silly? Sure. But yes, like it or not it is a soap. They say there's more money, that's good enough for me so I'll roll with it.

Kate Jackson, Ron Perlman and Lane Davies is a wild combination. Among others (Polly Bergen, Patrika Darbo).

delete

That was part of her pointless ONS and pregnancy with Julian, which led to Leo who didn't need to exist but I'm glad he does now I guess. She had a fair amount of on/off flirtation with Scorpio, as Robert/TR was Lisa's real life crush BITD and they also had great chemistry onscreen; they went on a caper together at one point and Ned got very jealous but I don't think much actually happened between them. I kind of wish the show had made more of that before it was too late - the new, kooky Quartermaine mistress of the house caught up in a strange affair with an older superspy. Since then, she hasn't had much.

They used Olivia pretty heavy in the 2010s and off and on in the last five years. I'm okay with them having a bit of a break though I love LLC, but I do hate that we see Ned so little lately. I'm also probably the only person who wants Lois back regularly (and Rena has indicated she will continue, which is good) after eating a ton of humble pie.

They've been acting it for enough years (and Olivia got pregnant so young) that they still pretty much pull it off. Unlike, say, June and Samantha on BTG where they cast a talented young woman as Samantha who looks the same goddamn age.

The scene of the crime:

It's true! Look her up! I know they're big on hiring local, cheap ATL talent but there's a limit!

I still don't understand how the "#1 soap' for however many decades running is relying on some The Room-level green screen for outdoors scenes and relegated to a couple sets while Frank Valentini's GH isn't. Say what we will about Frank but he'd never let it get to that point and that's why he's not going anywhere. For real though, how do they not have the money? The other problem, assuming for a moment it's obviously Josh Griffith, is what replaces him? McDonald seems like a convenient install and JFP (pushing Methuselah age) isn't exactly promising. We've seen her grand version which hasn't updated in 20+ years. A lot of her Y&R schtick included stuff she'd been doing since Another World, right down to the Courtneys.

I assume Jan rejected everything about Joey and his underworld life. Which, fine. It's a good story angle, the first Ashley has had so far. But again, I wish stronger soap vets were playing some of these characters like Jan, Sharon from the Articulettes, Peaches as opposed to a 30 yo in a Jeffersons wig, etc. They could really make some of this inherent drama soar.

Giovanni Mazza gushes about Jane. You could tell from those first big reveal scenes a few months ago (which he talks about here) how in sync they were.

I'll say it, BTW: I have little use for either character up to this point (at least since the Ted recast) but Ted and June do have chemistry. Anyone who watched AMC knows this is straight out of one of those kooky-ass Agnes Nixon pairings, where rich dudes would fall in love with hookers and rednecks and circus folk or whoever else. Agnes did this all the time! So I am willing to consider it. Maybe if they put June on some antipsychotics, she doesn't start babbling in rhyme again for another couple months and she doesn't make change for Ted in more of her fantasyland money with the smiley faces and shít on it.

I would've recast with Hayley long ago if they wanted her to compete tbh. I still might. But for me my focus is on Eva, Leslie, etc. in that sort of zone. Hayley feels like a speedbump, especially with the serious heat between Bill and Dani.

How about we wait for one of them to show up before we jump to that conclusion.

On an unrelated note: June (a.k.a. Eve, apparently) and Samantha now look the same age. Especially with Samantha's hair up.

Portia really came to this funeral dressed like En Vogue.

I don't think I ever suggested otherwise. I've been pretty pointed on what I feel are the show's major issues. But I do think they also have something that is simultaneously a unique advantage and a unique struggle given their new and 'untrained' audience. I don't think it will be solved by importing more of the B&B or off-brand Bell house style for the dialogue. I applaud having a majority Black dialogue staff, but I would be leaning towards more the GH voice vs. modern CBS. The scripts wildly vacillate between hypermodern that's either fresh and fun or at the point of cringe/therapyspeak, and just stuff that may be goodhearted but creaky, or ancient as the hills exposition. We completely disagree on Vanessa, but that's fine. I think she's one of the most well-realized and dimensional characters even when she's being terrible and I think LB plays every facet to the hilt. And while Joey is (intentional) scum, I think JL plays it well enough these days and Joey at least moves plot. Unlike a number of characters on the show. The storyline may not be to everyone's taste but Vanessa has had a real character arc onscreen that has been both externalized and discussed in her character building dialogue, with an actor who can meet the moment. Not every character can say the same. Many are static, and some have just done 180s. As for Hayley, I just don't think there was ever intended to be the kind of character there that people imagined for her sight unseen. She's always been just this. Could she be more, sure, but she's kind of an afterthought and plot device to me atm. I'm focused on the characters I feel have actual layers and strong performances, including Bill, Eva, Dani, Kat, Vanessa, etc. I think Martin has evolved too. And yes: No way CBS dumps the first Black creator of the first majority Black soap opera. There aren't enough MAGA trolls bothering with it (they have bigger fish to fry atm), let alone angry gooners. Nor should they. But I do think the writing staff and several stories need major changes, and I would not say no to another strong co-head. I remain unconvinced by Tracy Thomson. Hopefully she'll surprise me.