Liberty City

week ending January 2 Thursday, January 1, 2026 (Episode #6460; original airdate: 9/10/1998) Jill interrupts Katherine's party with a shocking announcement. Friday, January 2, 2026 – Episode #13285 Victor and Nick plot against Matt Clark. Daniel makes a promise to Tessa. Mariah is haunted by Ian Ward.

week ending January 2 Thursday, January 1, 2026 – Episode #15283 Chanel resents Johnny. Gabi and Gwen bond. The Hernandez family prepares for Javi's upcoming marriage to Leo. Leo asks Marlena for help. Friday, January 2, 2026 – Episode #15284 Today is Leo and Javi's New Year's Eve wedding day. Gwen becomes frustrated. Kayla surprises Steve. Alex gives Stephanie a late Christmas gift.

Credits for Friday, December 26, 2025: Created by: Frank & Doris Hursley Executive producer: Frank Valentini Head writers: Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte Writers: Emily Culliton; Charlotte Gibson and Cathy Lepard Director: Robert Markham

Hoping to jump back into my 1997 watching (where I started earlier this year) sometime next year. 🙏🏻

Beyond the Gates: Continue on telling the family-focused storylines they've been telling since day one. While hiring 'soap names' is nice and welcomed, I also hope they continue to hire local talent/unknowns. That is where I have found they excel in finding names like Lauren Buglioli, Timon Kyle Durrett, Jen Jacob, Trisha Mann-Grant, and Ambyr Michelle. Introduction of additional sets (i.e., Dana's 'shouse', Vanessa's home, other restaurants, etc.). Perhaps one apartment set that can be re-dressed depending on who lives there. A simple apartment set. We have ample sets on this soap, but a few select extras would really expand upon the canvas greatly. Shift in contract players: I would demote Alex Alegria (Tomas) and Ben Gavin (Derek) to recurring and promote Greg Vaughan (Kial) and Ernestine Johnson (Shanice) to contract as replacements. Ditch Jamey Giddens as a breakdown writer. The Bold and the Beautiful: Long shot: a new head writer and better executive producer. Cutting the dead weight of the cast. Bringing back classic characters, and I do mean classic, like Felicia, Kristen, Thorne, etc. No more love triangles. Focus on business storylines, less focus on interpersonal/incestuous relationships. Coronation Street: Cut the dead weight out of the cast, which is a lot of the newbies. Build better new characters. Days of Our Lives: Stop filming for six to eight months, and get closer to the release date. Being nearly one year ahead is ridiculous, especially when in 2020 you were technically only weeks out, thanks to COVID. Sony Television and Corday Productions replaced by Universal Television (should have been done years ago). New costume department head whose fashion sense is not stuck in dated 1980s fashions. Continue focusing on character-driven stories, but add some drama into them. The cast's talents are mid... push their limits a bit. Long shot: new sets? Enough of the DiMeras. EastEnders: Past families return, i.e., the Masood family. Familiar faces should be spread throughout the year, and not beginning and/or end. No more Christmas murder plots. Hire the 'younger' Grant and Phil as full-time contract players. Return the character of Ben Mitchell, either with Max Bowden or 'young Phil' actor Daniel Delaney. Emmerdale: While I like the Dingles, perhaps we could focus a bit less on them, yes? General Hospital: New executive producer; return of Patrick Mulcahey as head writer. No more block-taped scenes. Cut the extreme dead weight of the cast. No more stunt casting. New costume department head. Improved hair and makeup departments. Shifting focus from mob-centric stories to hospital-centric ones. Expand the Quartermaines with more faces/names from the past (i.e., reintroduction of the Ward family). Make some sets less HGTV-focused. Seeing CBS soaps introduce warm sets throughout their three soaps, it is glaring how extremely cold the sets on this soap are. They do not need redesigning... just new paint jobs. The Young and the Restless: End of the AI storyline. End of the Jack/Victor feud, for good. Cut the dead weight of the cast, especially Michelle Stafford. Reintroduction of the Brooks/Prentiss families and more faces from the past. No more stand-alone episodes dedicated to characters/actors/couples. Remodel the Society set to be a bit more classic-feeling, almost like what Gina's was. The setup/design is nice, but the decor is a bit tacky. All soaps (minus Beyond the Gates): NO MORE BACK FROM THE DEAD STORYLINES! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Whatever is going on with Heather Tom's hair is hideous. Wig or haircut. Tragic. All she really needed was a couple of inches taken off. But her acting is still top tier and better than what this 'soap' gives her. I knew Katie would name her fashion house 'Logan'. It just made sense she'd do that, which will cause upset with Brooke, because it's not all about HER. Of course she'd take issue with it. Self-centred as she's always been: the Slut from the Valley.

week ending January 2 Monday, December 29, 2025 – Episode #13282 Nick calls Matt Clark's bluff. Phyllis gives Jack an unexpected gift. Noah worries about Sienna's safety. Tuesday, December 30, 2025 – Episode #13283 Victor rewards Michael's loyalty. Nikki shares a secret with Jack. Claire stands by her actions. Wednesday, December 31, 2025 – Episode #13284 Cane makes a bold move to impress Lily. Adam and Sally discuss their complicated past. Tessa explores her feelings for Daniel.

week ending January 2 Monday, December 29, 2025 – Episode #15280 Rafe delivers bad news to Gabi. Steve and Kayla have the perfect farewell to Christmas. Alex and Stephanie get a moment alone. Marlena finds comfort with Roman. Lucas and Philip share Christmas with Kate. Tuesday, December 30, 2025 – Episode #15281 Johnny shares his growing fear with Chanel. Tony and Anna have a joyous reunion. Javi questions Leo. Gwen tells EJ her plan. Kate teams up with Xander. Wednesday, December 31, 2025 – Episode #15282 Kristen is forced to make a difficult decision. Melinda and Belle strike a deal. The DiMera brothers contemplate their options. Cat and Chad have an awkward run-in. Rachel and Sophia receive visitors on New Year's Eve.

Yes, the chair was a choice. Who knows what it's there... maybe shoes off before going upstairs?

My guess is it's cheaper to pay for a child to come in as a day player than possibly work against a contract player's guarantees.

The kids playing Steffy's kids cannot act, and the fashion was horrific. So embarrassing. And the rinse-repeat for Christmas episodes is tired, just like everything Bradley Bell does.

Considering he is sharing show-related things on IG, I'd wager he is still there. I know he isn't in Georgia for the holidays per his social media, so that's likely why he wasn't visible at the holiday event.

Seeing the O.G. ranch set again today really makes me appreciate how much better the current set is. However, the way in which production (especially post) is done in today's classic episode, I much prefer it. It has that classic Y&R look that we always had, even prior to going high definition. And, even in 4:3, the 2003 opening is better than the PowerPoint we have now. Truly. We need a major update to the opening to something brand-new. We really do. Hell, bring back this opening but with actual clips from the show.

week ending January 2 Thursday, January 1, 2026 (Episode #200) Nicole delivers some devastating info to Kat and Martin, which causes an argument between the siblings. Dani demands Bill's attention while Hayley gets an earful. Naomi and Chelsea are sideswiped by what they learn during a visit with their grandparents. Friday, January 2, 2026 (Episode #201) Dani supports Vernon as Bill offers some unsolicited advice to Anita. Tomas comforts a secretive Kat while Martin shares all with Smitty. Ted reaches out to his daughter and surprises her with his stance on the matter at hand.

week ending January 2 Monday, December 29, 2025 (Episode #198) Anita and Vernon struggle to accept their new normal. Leslie courts Joey with a scandalous offer. Dani and Vanessa compete over the same man. Eva pulls back where Izaiah is concerned. Tuesday, December 30, 2025 (Episode #199) Special guest star Kenny Lattimore sings for New Year's Eve. The Dupree sisters receive heart-wrenching news. Ted and Shanice's friendship takes a turn. Chelsea schemes while Ashley and Derek have an awkward conversation. Wednesday, December 31, 2025 Pre-empted due to CBS Sports coverage.

week ending January 2 Thursday, January 1, 2026 – Repeat Episode Original Airdate 7/27/2015 Luke (the late Anthony Geary) says goodbye to Port Charles. Friday, January 2, 2026 – Episode #15867 Sonny warns Michael. Kristina is taken aback. Alexis decides upon a new strategy. Dante confers with Justine. Laura gets new marching orders.

week ending January 2 Monday, December 29, 2025 – Episode #15865 Tracy cautions Michael. Laura gets new intel. Sidwell issues a warning to Drew. Cody dispenses advice. Willow becomes privy to a secret. Tuesday, December 30, 2025 – Episode #15866 Britt wants to celebrate her birthday. Lulu and Nathan bond. Trina makes a commitment. Curtis and Jordan reach a decision. Valentin reassures Carly. Wednesday, December 31, 2025 – Episode #15618; REPEAT Jason stuns Anna. Michael seeks advice. Trina assists Kai. Alexis is in for a shock. Brennan makes a request.

An underappreciated era.

I agree; reminded me of Christmases on the Snyder farm from my childhood. Miss those times.

date: Wednesday, December 24, 2025 | Sara A. Bibel, Lynn Martin | Steven Williford Thoughts: Anita distracting herself by making this the perfect Christmas to remember. It is very, very realistic, and the home is decorated as warmly as ever. Not a plaque for the 'shouse'. Whew. I cannot wait to see it on what I am sure will be the tackiest front door in Fairmont Crest in 2026. I appreciate these moments between Dana and Eva. The humanisation of Dana in these moments is what we should be seeing more of. Okay, those Vegas-themed ornaments that Andre and Dani got each other were cute and very personalised. Love that. Chelsea and Naomi talking about the 'ho ho ho' is hilarious. "Go bake some cookies for him. Hell, be the cookie." Ooo-wee, Dana, I can agree on that one. That is the sound advice you should be giving. Nicole is a bit... frosty towards Sharon... and I get why, but it is the holidays, so she should temper herself. The gang-up on Anita in such a playful way by her family is hilarious and very heartwarming. I love it. So, so much. And Vernon's gift to Anita is precious and shows their history together. There is a Christmas version of Shanice? Okay, then. So, there we have it (as I have suspected since day one): Sharon was giving Vernon private singing lessons for this Christmas miracle for Anita! So beautiful! Notes: Bibel and Martin provided the perfect holiday episode! Love their work together. I love the introduction of history and traditions by way of telling them via modern happenings (i.e., the worst gift/the best gift, etc.). Seeing everyone gather within the Dupree set singing Christmas songs is beautiful and shows the true meaning of family that this soap represents, and that is long missing from American daytime soaps. So blessed to have it back. The final scene of Clifton Davis singing a song he wrote, a genuine classic, is amazing. And the looks from Tamara Tunie (Anita)? Yeah. I'm choked up.

Credits for Wednesday, December 24, 2025: Created by: Frank & Doris Hursley Executive producer: Frank Valentini Head writers: Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten Writers: Suzanne Flynn; Stacey Pulwer and Cathy Lepard Director: Gary Tomlin