edgeofnik

Will be interesting to hear how many formerly free Xfinity users they ended up losing. I'm sure most, like me, didn't subscribe. Watching DAYS occasionally simply wasn't worth it.

What's the point of accelerating everything in the Lope storyline? I don't get how we go from Rome to divorce in three weeks. Really. Maybe Brad wants to break up Lope so he can finally fulfill his Looke fantasy. They might as well go there now because *nobody* wants Steam.

I never understood why they went full-on psycho with David because MC was an established and good actor. With his good looks and body, he totally seemed like a perfect leading man for Y&R. I wonder what happened. And, gosh, wouldn't a Sheila/David alliance been interesting? Speaking of good looks, MC has certainly kept them. Glad to see him back on TV. I'll have to check out the trial episodes now.

Oh, suddenly Hope remembered the years' old betrayals? Bizarre. Thought that resentment was over and done during the Beth saga. I guess they can simply have Hope *own* that she lusted for Thomas.

@soapfan770 What I didn't include was that actors have the right to express their discomfort. I absolutely agreed with CE because there was no need to make Adam so awful. I only mentioned ED's comments because as someone who'd been in the industry for 3 decades at that time, she had an interesting point. ZS has been a breath of fresh air on the show. Audra has a lot of potential with her already existing ties. It sounds like she's merely going to be collateral damage for Skyle.

Her comments remind me of Chris Engen. I seem to recall ED pretty much said in response that when an actor is given that kind of spotlight/major story, they need to grab it and make the best of it because it's not always there. I thought her comments were really insightful because she'd obviously been through many ups and downs through her career. The harsh reality is that shocking and scandalous is par for the course for all dramatic series - daytime and primetime.

Has there been any explanation why Hope did a complete 180 and started lusting for Thomas months ago? It's not like anything happened in the Lope marriage to at least spur Hope's actions.

No. B&B's remote was over the week before, except for 26th with Brooke/Ridge in the villa - I'm not even sure that was shot in Italy based on the pics I saw. As @Jeff noted, B&B's rise is more likely the result of Y&R's massive gain.

@Soapsuds Thanks for posting those clips since I stopped watching after the Bill/Sheila/BunHead fiasco. JMW played those scenes perfectly. I'm continually impressed with her evolution and growth as an actor. SC is the male KKL in so many ways. Liam, like Brooke, are written as insufferable characters, when they really shouldn't be. Instead of focusing on Brooke's intelligence and her climb into society -- we got decades of Brooke's wide open heart and scandals. If not for KKL, the caricature would've never lasted this long. Same for Liam, he came on as a savvy tech guy from a humble background and thrown into the $B insane world. So many different paths Liam could've taken. Instead, he is Ridge, but worse! I wasn't really a SC fan, but I've grown to appreciate that he has somehow keep Liam alive. I've always wonder how SC would handle if they turned Liam into a true $B Jr.

Y&R - Phyllis + Malcolm. I always liked this friendship because they never tried to pair them, Malcolm always grounded Phyllis and there wasn't some sort of hidden agenda. Plus their scenes were always fun - even when serious stuff was happening.

This was alluded to during the bicentennial episode where Audra swiped Kyle's phone. I'm glad they saw what I saw - sparks. Kyle and Summer are still too young to be stuck as an *old* married couple. Abbott breakfast with Audra and Diane... I'm in!

I'm glad they waited so it could be part of the 50th. JD was a fine actor. Killing John was one of the show's Top 5 mistakes. As evidenced by John's ghost for the next 10+ years, JD wasn't ready to retire. The actor and character deserved better.

@Jeff The Hunter Tylo angle is spot-on. KA has done a fine job taking over a 30-year character, but Brooke being friends with KA's Taylor didn't hit the same if HT was in the role. The inability to use three decades of Brooke/Taylor flashbacks also lessened the impact. During those wine drinking sessions, the 'remember when...' that could've hit the point home. For example, earlier this year I watched the Bridget born/Belief/Men's line era so the meaning of the truce was significantly watered down without HT. Brad had an opportunity to move both characters in new directions without fighting over BunHead, but chose to go to his *safe* place.

B&B Summer 2023 drinking phrase: 'We had a PACT!' Y&R: Only one character benefits from Cameron being back in town. It's pretty much the template now for bringing back former ex-cons: Phyllis brings back Jeremy to split Jack/Diane. Elena tries to bring back JT to split Nate/Victoria. Adam brings back Cameron to split Nick/Sally.

The strength of soaps reruns during COVID was far different because you had a significant number of people staying home. That's not the case now. The bummer for soaps v primetime programming is that the average lo-info viewer thinks the TV season is over *until fall* because they just finished watching season finales this month. The overwhelming majority of folks have no clue about the strike and its impact. The GP is seeing the usual summer movie rollout, new scripted seasons are launching on streaming, etc. It won't be pretty for soaps if they stop showing original episodes. Shoot, B&B can basically use old scripts with Brooke/Ridge/Taylor or Hope/Liam/Steffy. The difference would be minimal! Note: As a screenwriter, I fully support the strike.

Y&R - JT Hellstrom was a bit character surrounding the next-Gen Billy set. It wasn't long before TL was on contract and outlasted every other original actor from his group - Billy, Mac, Raul, Brittany, etc.

At least Sharon is fretting while pouring coffee. Knowing JG, I do foresee this conversation around Halloween. Nick: 'Why isn't CL decked out in Halloween decorations? Sharon, did you get lazy?' Sharon: 'I'm pregnant.' Nick: 'At least I know *this* one's mine. No tricks, just treats!' Sharon: 'We need to talk about Chance and Cameron...' SC - it's her body, her choice. 'Sharon' is only a viable character thanks to what SC has brought and given to the role. I'll always be a fan regardless of her looks.

A miracle indeed that simply because of Sharon Case. I always understood the writers made Sharon loco as plot points, shock value, etc. Instead of bipolar or whatever faux diagnosis, they could've gone either with grief over Cassie or just let her own it, regret it and be her better self again. Were Sharon's actions any worse than Victor, Phyllis, Adam, etc.?

Agreed. Except the show is doing well - at least in US, where stable ratings is a huge win. Unless the show starts losing international licensing and experiences a major ratings drop, there's zero incentive for change. Could the show be better? Definitely. The questions is: do the low-info masses that watch it care? So far the answer is no.

Are international sales the reason why B&B is so conservative? When I think of the concepts Bold & Beautiful, LA, fashion house - at least some set of characters should be living a decadent lifestyle - parties, clubs, dr@gs, casual encounters, etc., not turning 21 and focused on getting married and kids. Honestly, Brooke's *scandals* should be the *baseline* not the anomaly I mean, seriously, how long before RJ meets someone and the marriage talk starts? The writing has been a real mess since January starting with the Thomas 'tomorrow we're going to court/Douglas chooses who to live with' that was abandoned as quickly. Everything that's followed has been extraordinarily poorly plotted.

Edge of Night - Draper was presumed dead in a train crash on his way to prison, but we knew he was alive as Kirk Michaels and living with Emily, her father and housekeeper Molly. The story dragged for far too long, but the payoff reunion with April was solid and it directly led to both the Clown Puppet Murders and the reason why Nancy Karr ended up at the Rexford Clinic.

I'm all for Steffy getting her edge back. I realize one of the reasons why the show is frustrating aka boring is that every character is *good* - except for Sheila. Thomas, Deacon, $B have all been neutered. Brooke/Taylor - smoking the peace pipe. It's super strange to watch a soap and literally have only one character that stirs sh*t up - Sheila. Sadly, instead of using her a catalyst/instigator, Brad writes her as criminal.

SC going big either to end his separation or getting ready for single life. While Brad is busy trashing up Hope, why not give Lame a dark side?

Hmm. Sharon says 'hi'

Ridge really didn't proclaim that RJ and Thomas were given the *Forrester* design gift via Eric... Another reason why Sheila needs to reveal she messed with the test to expose Stephanie's hypocrisy, hurt Eric/Ridge, etc. Easily one of biggest mistakes B&B ever made. Don't care about Rick/Steffy implications if it'll right this very bad wrong. Massimo will never return.