ranger1rg

-- I know all these confrontation scenes are needed after the Gio reveal, but I hope this doesn't go on too long. It gets repetitive. -- It was good to see Gloria Cerullo (Lois' mother) but I could have done without the "Respect your elders" lecture. -- Just as I thought, Gio went to Sonny first. Guess he had to hear all the truth from the biggest criminal in town. And now the show ends with Dante visiting Sonny for some paternal wisdom. And the previews show Dante telling Sonny he owes him an apology? GMAFB. -- At least we're not getting Natalia thrown in. Eva LaRue seems to be on her way out....at least I hope she is. -- The preview with Gio walking in on his mother, grandmother, and great grandmother looks good, but let's move it along, people. -- The writing for Liz and Lucky is so damn weird. Would Liz really be so mellow and laid back when she hears from Lucky that he knew what Kristina did and that he's perfectly OK with covering it up?

GH: A- DAYS: A- BTG: B- B&B: F Y&R: F

The last thing I want on a new soap -- or on any soap -- is an actor thinking she's a kid in a candy store. I know Cady has plenty of fans, but I'm just not fond at all of all these accents (and accent changes) and tics. The show should INSIST she settle on a consistent character for Pamela -- now. The idea that these established soap actors get to play around like it's a game is bizarre. I don't like what she's doing at all, and the fact that I can't tell you what she's doing makes it even worse. The hour does fly by, and I do enjoy the show. I'm no longer on a high with the show and screaming "I love this show!" though. That's not a bad thing. We can't forget we're still in the first 6 months and every soap had to deal with first-year struggles and changes. I'm willing to give GATES time on all of it. In the meantime, though, I have to call out the stuff that isn't working. Yo're exactly right about the editing. Those "sudden drop offs to commercial"? I hate them. I think they're awful and poorly executed in all phases -- the timing, the music, the fade itself. I have no idea what they're doing. I've said this before: I think it's intentional. It's not just one director, and it's clearly a production choice. I think they want to be "the different soap." Sorry, this ain't the place to do that. They have not only ruined scene endings galore with these fades, but they have ruined cliffhangers. Ending a show with something dramatic followed by an "Oh, well" fade makes no sense to me.

-- I agree that the vibes are there, but I can also make the case that it's a pale imitation. That Neil Winters Lounge is already a pretty classy place, but the decor make it look tackier. Those Happy Birthday signs are tragic in design and color. The tablecloths look like they've been chosen by Helen Keller. Where is Claire? We hear stupid reasons for her lateness, but we all know it's because this show is too cheap to pay for too many actors in any one episode. It makes NO sense that Victoria has that toast to Nikki without Claire's presence. And where is Cole? Off coughing somewhere? -- The rest of the show was watching people open their black invitations from Alexander Dumas -- for a party on June 13...TWO WEEKS AWAY. So we got through the entire sweeps and still no Dumas? The big sweeps reveal is a party in France in 2 weeks??? Why anyone thinks this is good soap is beyond me.

Chandler Massey smirked in EVERY scene in which he appeared. He's not a good actor. He cannot get into character, ever, and plays every scene like he's Chandler running into an old friend on the street. I hate it because actors should take their work seriously and respect it and everyone around them. It's all so real, to the point where there's no sense trying to separate Drake from his character. I snarked a lot over the years about Drake Hogestyn's acting -- very arch, lots of tics, over-the-top at times -- but I also think he was a great soap star. There was so much humanity in everything he did, and he was always a comforting and stabilizing force on screen. Flashbacks on soaps are almost always special and fun, but does anyone come across as more loving and filled with humanity than John? I don't think so. DAYS has suffered a lot of loss in the past few years. For me, this one hits the hardest.

-- That accent Cady McClain is using is awful, and it was especially bad in her first scene. Make it stop. -- I agree with all the good and all the bad about Dani, but I do not want Andre to get swept up in her craziness. He deserves better. -- "Better" for Andre is not Ashley. The crazy thing is that the Andre/Dani and Andre/Ashley stories seem to be a part of separate universes. -- The jewelry guy (Adam) who sat with Dani and Pamela had my gaydar pinging. -- I will say the writers are working overtime to make us know Dani and Andre "aren't really related." -- I don't think Leslie will be arrested next week. I think Eva is going to remove the evidence -- that motorcycle helmet -- from the apartment, and that they'll find nothing on the search. -- That wig on Sharon is rough. Wow.

I think this is pretty stunning news. It's one thing to be hired as someone to help get a new soap off the ground, but Guza was also co-head writer and an executive producer. I have a hard time believing his intention was to stay less than a year.

-- I didn't want to be the first person to mention it, because I've complained so much about Chandler Massey's smirking and grinning in the past. He just cannot get through a scene without breaking -- that grin broke through every time he ran into another character today. He looks young -- and good -- but I am not a fan of this acting. He's not trying. -- I agree with others here about this goodbye. The bandaged John is a throwback and a full circle moment, but it's gone on too many days already. I especially hate the "He's getting better" stuff. That doesn't work since we all know how this ends. -- I'm glad to see the return of all these characters and I love the flashbacks, but I think DAYS could have done all that without the bandaged exit.

LOL That's true, but also GAG ME.

In the previews, Gio is shown talking to Sonny. Are we really going to have Gio decide the first person he needs to see and sort through this mess is Sonny???

Really frustrating show today: -- I agree with others that Leslie has made far too many visits to Ted's hotel room. Why would he entertain a thing she said? -- More plot convenience: Kat walking in Ted's hotel room without knocking just so she can catch them having some contact. -- I don't mind Jacob and Kat confronting Mona, but they'd better get to Shanice in a New York minute. -- In no universe was Dani the victor in those scenes with Hayley and Bill. She made a complete fool of herself -- again. She had a couple good lines, but they were lost because she's already lost the plot. Breaking into someone's house will not garner sympathy for her. -- Even if Hayley isn't pregnant, Dani will never be the winner in those scenes. Why not let the months ahead take care of that? -- Dani pulled her "I'm a Dupree" at Uptown, and it was as obnoxious as it sounds. -- I never thought that back room was the full casino. Regardless, it's always looked cheap and ugly. -- Vanessa is for the streets. I'm sorry, the woman is trash. -- Do I want to see Joey and Vanessa having sex on a poker table in a back room at a casino? I do not. -- Actually, I don't want to see Joey and Vanessa having sex anywhere.

I didn't hand wave all the inaccuracies in the story, and I wasn't dismissive. I just disagreed and explained why. I clearly stated that I understood why some people have problems with the story and that I get it. I did say I was surprised about all the negativity regarding the story, but that's not dismissing those concerns or hand waving them away. I offered another viewpoint, that's all.

+1

All true. If someone wants to criticize the Gio storyline/retcon, fine. However, the criticism can't just be "They won't follow through with any story because they rarely do." I think those are two different discussions.

My thoughts exactly. It's the DD celebration and photos of KKL. That's it.

I know it's early to proclaim a recast is a success, but 3 appearances by Rory Gibson and I've already forgotten about Chad Duell.

I'm with you on this. I see the retcons and inconsistencies. This story has been strong enough to allow me to get past those. A lot of people here seem angry about/disgusted with the retcons, and I can't tell others how to feel. I admit I am surprised at the amount of negativity here, because I think the show has been firing on all cylinders But doesn't this happen to most soap characters -- a return to the back burner? In what universe is Lois a character who's always front burner? There's no story left for Gio after this initial shock wears off? Then what's your alternative where Gio has a story and then there's a lot of story left to tell? As far as GM being a Cam replacement, I'm glad they didn't go that way. There is no evidence Cam was going to be front-and-center. None.

I don't think that's clever, though. Maybe the writers should forget about throwing shade and write dialogue and story for Ashley and Derek that isn't boring and doesn't paint them as boring. I agree -- both of those still need a ton of work. I still say the fades to commercials look like someone walked past the camera and hit the OFF button. Yep, this was regression in every way. Dani was all hopped up with Chelsea like she'd taken some party drug, and then it got worse when she literally broke into Bill and Hayley's house. -- The fakeout scene was good, but I don't want them to go to that well too often. They're already in danger of doing that. -- I'm good with Brandon Claybon's acting style. It's different, but in a good way. -- It was an interesting turn to have Tyrell question Jessica's intentions. -- I didn't see anything special about the plated food on today's show. At Orphey Gene's, it looked like everyone had a plate of french fries.

Olivia did have a good reason for what she did. Still, I'd think she would be slower to pass such harsh judgment on Lois since she knows what she herself lived through. I'm hoping we get a softer Olivia when she reflects on everything. I'm going to disagree with this. I don't think the character has been ruined and trashed, and I don't think it's impossible to come back from this. Yes, a great case can be made that this is out-of-character for Lois, but I can also make a case for people doing out-of-character things when life deals us crazy and impossible moments. Because of the story we're getting from this, I think it was worth putting Lois into this situation.

Today's show was completely meh to me. -- I'm frustrated with the Articulettes story. I know it's early, but we've had countless conversations between Anita and Tracy, and we've learned nothing specific about what happened. Yes, Sharon is "the angry one," but why would Anita agree to go on tour and talk to Sharon without even discussing those past problems with Anita? It makes no sense. -- We're supposed to feel bad for Chelsea and her unrequited love, but I still think it's a problem that no one's mentioning that she wanted to break up a marriage. She spoke today about the "3-way relationship," but we never saw her invested in the guy in any way, shape, or form. She wanted the woman. She needs to get with someone who isn't damn married or in a relationship. -- Another Hayley pregnancy? Already? I'm not crazy about the timing on this. Honestly, I wanted fireworks with the Hayley character and not watching her walk around with a big belly and then a stroller. -- Tomas is still painfully awkward, although I do like looking at him and I love his voice. I also think it's strange that he and Kat are having conversations that every other couple would have on their first or second meeting. Haven't these two been seeing each other for a couple months? It's as if they know nothing about each other. -- I still dislike almost every fade to commercial, and it takes away from the scene we just saw. It's like putting a comma at the end of a sentence instead of a period -- these fades do not make a statement. It's clearly intentional, but I will never get on board with whatever it is they're doing.

What an hour of soap opera television. -- It doesn't get much better than this. Every actor delivered in every storyline. There's so much blame to be placed on so many characters for their mistakes, yet it's impossible not to sympathize with them. -- When Tracy looked at Gio after hearing the news about Dante and Brook Lynn, iT was just another example of the excellence of Jane Eliott. All it took was one look to make an already good Giovanni Mazza even better. -- My heart broke for Gio, but you have to feel heartbreak for Brook Lynn and Dante, too, unless you have ice in your veins. -- Cody's understanding and sympathy for everyone was real and sincere. Lulu was into her "Well, maybe in the long run this will all be better," but Cody understood that part of Lulu's reaction was a defense. She made mistakes, but she never wanted to hurt anyone. -- Neither did Lois, who's going to get it from all sides and take the brunt of the blame. I don't think she'll get any relief from Ned. Rena Sofer has been great at expressing her pain. -- Rory Gibson is off to a good start as Michael, and is expressing more emotion than he did in his entire run at Y&R. -- I didn't mind the Trina and Kai "first time" scenes. Those scenes were well-acted and nicely directed, and some goodness was needed in a show with so much heaviness. GH is on a really good run, and every day has been must-see TV.

How about all of that talk on today's show about the Cola Wars on the 1980s and McDonalds vs Burger King? Jesus, these writers are horrifically stuck in the past. There's nothing about ANY company on Y&R that sounds like it could compete in today's business world.

It really is a stunning turnaround. I didn't think this kind of improvement was possible in this short time. It's one of the most shocking turns I've seen on the soaps in I don't know how long.

Give it another day or two. I did, too. The friendship seemed genuine with Tognoni. It doesn't with Stafford. -- Today was another day of wash, rinse, repeat. Just more business talk without a sighting of a product or a company goal. Beyond boring. Josh Griffith thinks that discussing "perfume wars" without showing the perfume or the wars is good soap, and it's not.

Do the people who say these things have eyes and ears? 😂 MY gaydar pings off the charts every time BC is on screen. 🤣😂🤣 And I'm Archduke Ferdinand's assistant. I'm keeping my eye out on the way BTG handles Martin/Smitty when it comes to intimacy and sex. I love the show, but I'm calling it out if we get the old okey-doke with them. They aren't, but I'm worried about seeing a difference between the way a straight couple is shown and a gay couple. We all know what the soaps have avoided over the decades. There is absolutely zero evidence that Brandon Claybon refused to do kissing scenes iwth Mike Manning. None. Yep, and most of us knew he is gay before looking at his IG.