Liberty City

Love Jason as Billy. The best Billy, IMHO. And I'm glad he is celebrating his tenth year in the role. 🥰

If Daily Mail is to be trusted (and they are marginal at best most times), Boatman was in negotiations, so his cut was likely easy.

original release date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | writers: Ron Carlivati, Lynn Martin | director: Michael V. Pomarico Thoughts: Damn, Hayley. That is beyond harsh. But, it is thankfully a fake-out, because even the way she was acting was beyond below the belt, even for the character. And hey, Pamela! Welcome back! Dana is turning on the ass-kiss quite thick. Way too thick with Joey, who is not going to buy it coming from her. At all. Vanessa is such a kind and caring friend, tending to Nicole while she has her hangover. Oh no. Not Joey arriving at Bill's office door. This can never be good. And it is interesting that Bill appears to be protective of Vanessa; is another link to his Dupree nature still existing? I adore that Pamela is there for Dani, through thick and thin, with some giggles and undying support. That is a friend. I can appreciate Nicole trying to be a bit more accepting of Vanessa's relationship, but I do feel like it will be very short-lived. What the Hell happened in Berlin? Now I need to know every single detail, from the beginning to the very end. Dana, stop looking at that gun. You do not need access to a firearm. At all. Do not. Dani, Dani, Dani... it is time for you to just admit you want Bill as much as he wants you. And here comes the hurdle: the con artist who stole him from you for the sake of her desperate bank account. What a ho. Notes: Ugh. I thought the writer was gone... praying this is their last breakdown, because it is messier than the messiest of messy days. No bueno. Xavier's direction, like yesterday, was outstanding! He knows how to shoot a soap, and it shows in the results. I appreciate how Beyond the Gates handles its recurring players. They pop in and out as necessary, and when they arrive, it is so nice to see. Jeresa Featherstone was solid as a costume designer in 2025 (with some hiccups), but I have yet to see one hiccup in 2026. She knows her cast well, and it shows in what they wear. Rarely does a dark lip work on any woman who is not Bette Davis, but Cady McClain (Pamela) pulls it off so well. Excellent choice by the makeup team. McClain and Karla Mosley (Dani) light up in their shared scenes. They have a palpable chemistry that makes me truly buy them as lifelong friends.

She should have been cut years ago; if anything, she should have been a six month guest star, not a multi-year feature.

Love the softening of Leo, but if he dumps Javi for Dimitri, I would lose my shït.

Credits for Wednesday, January 14, 2026: Created by: Frank & Doris Hursley Executive producer: Frank Valentini Head writers: Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten Writers: Suzanne Flynn; Charlotte Gibson and Cathy Lepard Director: Denise Van Cleave

Writers: Ron Carlivati Lynn Martin Director: Michael V. Pomarico

We'd hope he would either mute his phone for the meeting, lower the volume or that people would understand he has a young child, etc.

Genuinely do not believe he was the right one to cut, but I'm hopeful for what his future could hold, either in daytime or out of daytime.

Who knows; this is also the soap that continuously fires the same actors over and over again (*cough*Nadia Bjorlin*cough*) to save some pennies and then brings them back so they can do it over and over again. Rinse-recycle-repeat.

Alexis' slip of the tongue during her closing argument was fantastic.

Funny enough, the entire cast being cut from contract happened right before COVID struck, and it seemed like they invited nearly everyone who was signed back to re-sign new contracts, which was a mistake; they easily should have used the time from airing the episodes filmed pre-COVID and gone back to a regular shooting schedule. Instead, we went from six months tape-to-air to ten-plus months. Ridiculous. November 2019: Contract cast released, due to "scheduling reasons" (per People's reporting) February 2020: Cast returns to set March 2020: Production suspended, indefinitely (per Deadline Hollywood, they had material that could air "through October") September 2020: Cast returns to set And then we had a two-week suspension in October 2020, due to a positive COVID test on set ⏤ which did not surprise me, given Corday's remarks about allowing actors to film love scenes should they want to ⏤ and then we had the suspension. 😬 IIRC, they were about six to eight weeks out when they returned to set in September, which was amazing. And then the cast who did leave the soap and opted not to return post-COVID ended up returning anyway, likely because of the pandemic and the uncertainty of securing work during that time (i.e., Camila Banus, Galen Gering).

That's ridiculous. Beyond ridiculous to be closing out 2026's production when we just started the dang year.

And, thanks to the ridiculous taping schedule, we will say goodbye to them in 2027. 🤣 Carson Boatman and Raven Bowens could easily shift to General Hospital as Cameron Webber and Trina Robinson/Maya Ward, respectively, and do exceptionally well at that soap. Leo Howard was miscast as Tate Black. He would have fared better as Will Horton. And following the ever-charismatic Jamie Martin Mann, he just was a complete mess. Perhaps nüFenmore on The Young and the Restless? Ashley Puzemis was fine as Holly; however, once Arianne Zucker left the serial as Nicole, there was zero reason for her to stick around.

Between the writer having an unnatural crush on him and his clear alliance to others on the set, that is likely why he is being kept around. But yes, he should have been out YEARS ago. Nah. The Ashfords can go. Tajh Bellow could have easily been Tommy "TJ" Hardy Jnr, too. And that would have given Elizabeth a family member with genuine history on the canvas.

original release date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 | writers: Sara A. Bibel, Danielle Paige | director: Phideaux Xavier Thoughts: Anita is right: Vernon is very selective with his words and how he does word things, so that little hint that Nicole's test results were positive, while leaving out that Dani's were not, tells all that Anita needs to know. It is nice seeing Carlton be present for Nicole in her hour of need, and seeing them together at Uptown is nice as well. Naomi is on the money: Ashley needs to take Grayson up on his offer to take her out on a date. I know it will be cold as fire, hot as ice! From the sounds of it from Chelsea, Madison, and Naomi, Grayson is gearing up to be Garland Memorial's McDreamy or McSteamy, and I am here for it. Chemotherapy has not diminished Anita's spitfire personality and I love how she is going head to head with Vernon; if I did not know better, I would swear this could be foreplay for them. Poor Josh is trying to do his job while Nicole's coming a bit undone. She holds everything in and together and does not allow herself these moments to allow herself to be a bit cracked and fragile. LMAO. Anita does not give a rat's behind if Dani is up there bare naked. I love it. She just wants to see her daughter. Not Nicole wanting her third (???) Long Island Iced Tea. That is hilarious but her fears are real, and she is fully in her right to feel the way she feels. Good seeing Elon finally being a father to Jacob and telling him to go see Naomi. That is what should be happening. No. Can we not turn this into another double date? Ashley, sweetie, you can handle this one on your own. I know you can. Good on Carlton for being a stand-up guy and not taking advantage of Nicole in her impaired state. That is what a man should do. Notes: Bibel and Paige worked exceptionally well today. Loved the scriptwork of today's episode and the pacing was perfection. Xavier's direction, like yesterday, was outstanding! He knows how to shoot a soap, and it shows in the results. Welcome to Beyond the Gates Jordi Vilasuso! He is already charismatic as frick, and I sense that underlying chemistry with Jen Jacob (Ashley) already. Yes. This is a match made right. Oh yes, the chemistry is FIRE! I am liking this pairing already.

Well, they damn well should be. Ditch the Ashfords, rebuild the Wards. That's how it should be at that soap.

Credits for Tuesday, January 13, 2026: Created by: Frank & Doris Hursley Executive producer: Frank Valentini Head writers: Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte Writers: Suzanne Flynn; Kate Hall and Cathy Lepard Director: Tina Keller

Writers: Sara A. Bibel Danielle Paige Director: Phideaux Xavier

She should go to GH as nüTrina, and reset the role. And cast cuts needed to be made; cutting four at once, especially in that generation, is giving me 2012 when Matthew Ashford, Sarah Joy Brown, Christie Clark, and Patrick Muldoon were all cut at once.

Jen Jacob is a solid actress. She really is.

I happen to like Max, so I look forward to seeing how everything plays out this year.