Khan

I've a feeling, though, that if and when the recession does come, enough people on the right will spin it so that Trump ends up once more looking like the hero/savior to his base.

Frankly, I don't think there's anything wrong with updating a long-running series in order to attract a newer or younger audience. In the '80's, however, soaps' attempts at modernization often came at the expense of older fans' continued loyalty. Either TPTB took for granted that they'd continue watching, or they wanted them to go away and never return. Plus, and maybe it's just me, but I think the shows tried too hard to capture the youths' attention; and if there's one thing that teenagers and young adults hate, it's a poseur. That's how you end up with misguided efforts such as Jay Connors' MTV wet dream posted above. What I'm saying is, there's a way to court 'em without rendering yourself unrecognizable. Look at Y&R throughout most of the '80's. Even with the significant cast turnover at the start of the decade and the push toward new and younger characters, Y&R still felt like Y&R.

Well, I give the soaps props for attempting to appeal to the MTV demographic. And if used to advance story or reveal character, then musical interludes, for lack of a better word, are okay. In that instance, however, the set up was wrong. Were Jay and/or Frannie dancers? Had they danced memorably together before this? Otherwise, why is he fantasizing about dancing with her in a music video? Also, there is a way to choreograph these things w/o making the Solid Gold dancers look butch by comparison. I'm just saying. This was during the Daytona Spring Break storyline, which was still part of the Mary-Ellis Bunim regime, I think. (I can't remember who was head-writing the show at that time, though. Maybe Tom King and Millee Taggart?) That was perhaps the most in(s)ane part. Is he running in place? It would've better just to intercut the music video stuff with more shots of Jay's running on the beach.

Except, I think this country has become even more entrenched in its' racism since 2016, if such a thing were possible. Because Trump's and others' behavior has been normalized by the media, more people today feel bold enough to express their opinions -- no matter how racist, sexist, ageist, anti-LGBTQ or xenophobic those opinions might be. You can't tell me that won't affect how this country votes in 2020. And thanks to the GOP, he'll probably have help again from those same factors, and even more. I'll do my part in keeping him out of office for another four years by voting in 2020, but I really don't hold out much hope for the rest of the country. And I wouldn't put it past the GOP and/or the media to drum up another "crisis" right before this election as well. Something that will suddenly make voting again for Trump (or sitting out) look like a better alternative. They've done it before, and they'll do it again. This. All this. Speaking (again) of future "Tic Tac Dough" reboot host, Chuck Todd: https://www.cjr.org/public_editor/msnbc-chuck-todd-mueller-testimony.php

I don't think Trump's numbers were all that great in 2016 either. However, he had on his side an opponent whom much of the country -- not to mention, much of the media -- felt lukewarm about at best. Now, Trump might not have another opponent who is as polarizing as Hillary Clinton was and continues to be, but whoever ends up running against him better be prepared for his or her own "Server-gate" scandal, which the media will use to poison the waters against them and help Trump snag re-election. Yup.

Yup. And even if his strategy isn't successful the second time around -- meaning, he doesn't win re-election -- it still will be more successful than it ever should be, for anyone. Either way, I'm left unsettled.

Yet, people continue to stand behind this man, because "he doesn't lie." Never underestimate the stupidity of the human race.

But WILL he be voted out? That, as they say, is the $64,000 question.

Wow. I never thought of the issue in those ways. Yep. God forbid a Black woman should get mad about anything. If she does, then she's labelled "uppity" and put "back in her place." It's a downright disgrace how this country treats my people.

I'm disappointed as well, Susan.

I also remember a TIME cover story from long ago about how more and more Gen-X'ers were choosing to live at home with their parents for these very same reasons. In a lot of ways, we got screwed.

Or you could be in that buffer zone between the Gen-X'ers and the Millennials. (According to wikipedia). Which is where I think Pete Buttigieg is, even though he bills himself as the Millennial Candidate. I always have such a hard time following these labels: Baby Boomers, Gen-X'ers, Gen-Y'ers, Millennials, etc. Does being forty (which, as @marceline says, makes me a Gen-X'er) mean that the '80's had no effect on my upbringing whatsoever? Because, I would argue that the '80's indeed had an effect -- on me, and on everyone else who lived through them. About the only label that makes sense to me is "Baby Boomer," because people who are part of that group chronologically were conceived and/or born after a definite event (the end of WWII, as the soldiers were returning home and moving to the suburbs). You know, someone who was far more creative than I could pitch to the networks a sitcom about what it means to be in our particular generation these days, as we're caught between our right- and far-right-leaning elders, and our far-left-leaning offspring. It'd be somewhat like a cross between "All in the Family" (especially with the loud debates that could occur between grandparents and grandchildren) and "The Connors." Believe it or not, I'm pro-capital punishment, so this news probably doesn't phase me as much as it should.

Thanks, @marceline. I wasn't sure. (I "came of age" in the '90's, yet I was alive and cognizant of much of the '80's as well.) But seriously. It does feel sometimes like the media ignores our particular demographic when it comes to political issues. They're either focused on the far-left, who tend to be in their early and mid-20's from my perspective; or they're focused on the Trumpers, who tend to be our parents and grandparents. Ours seems to be the only segment of the population who still remembers when politicians from both sides of the aisle were supposed to compromise, not polarize.

I'm forty years old (ugh). Does that make me a Gen-X'er as well? I've seen a meme (with the cast of "The Breakfast Club") floating around FB that expresses a similar sentiment: Gen-X'ers are caught between the Baby Boomers and the Millennials, and they're unable to stand either group. It's pretty dead-on accurate, I think.

What is it about Target that attracts shoplifters? Is the merchandise really that awesome? It's been my contention all along that Russian agents stuffed ballot boxes during the 2016 election. Today's news just brings us one step closer to that fact. Once again, this administration displays its' total incompetence by not spotting the doctored seal sooner. Agree! Nevertheless, it troubles me whenever social media or news outlets (such as NBC News, which ran a story about this on their website) gives these conspiracy theories more oxygen than necessary. Carl's right: we're never going to leave the '80's and '90's behind. Bill and Hillary will be worm food, and people will stay blaming them for [!@#$%^&*] until the Rapture and beyond.

And even if she had put out a hit, THE MAN IS A [!@#$%^&*] SEX TRAFFICKER. Are these tin foil hat-wearing muthafuckas gonna stand there and hate on the Clintons AGAIN for ALLEGEDLY putting out a hit on a SEX TRAFFICKER? Really!? Priorities, you insane fools! Priorities! Good! I'm glad Kamala has many within the GOP a little spooked! She might not win the nomination, but I definitely believe whoever does should at least ask her to take the VP slot. Any Democratic ticket with her name on it might be tough to beat.

All I can say (after reading about the disappointment with Mueller's "performance") is that America has got to stop searching for a hero who will save us from Trump. There is no Superman, ladies and gentlemen. We got ourselves into this mess, and we're gonna have to get ourselves out of it.

Ah. Okay. Thanks, @vetsoapfan!

Wasn't Gerald killed off on SOMERSET?

Wait, Kelli Maroney once worked at the Guthrie Theater? Did she work the concession stand or something?

Mueller did not offer any slam dunk nor was he ever going to. He stuck to the facts, was doggedly insistent on referring to his report and did not waver from them. He was "boring". I, for one, am glad he was "boring." This was not supposed to be "The Real Housewives of Potomac," for God's sake. The media and the general public need to stop treating everything as if it were another reality series. After all, a BIG reason why we're here is because Americans thought the guy from "The Apprentice" would make a fantastic president. And I'm always down for Chuck Todd getting his basic ass handed to him again on social media. It's a joy that never fades.

In case you're missing it: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/mueller-testimony-congress-live/2019/07/24/d51a82d6-aca1-11e9-bc5c-e73b603e7f38_story.html?utm_term=.fcf00ffe8bc5

I'm bracing myself for the day when ICE will come to my door and demand my papers.

Why do we need separate actresses to portray FH and LL? I say let's find one actress who could play both parts really well!

LOL!