Faulkner

HATED her. I did wind up being pleasantly surprised by SS on OLTL.

I remember Disney acquired ABC around that time.

Again, Ash looking dominant…

There were nice moments and a few revelations, but it came off a bit stiff to me. And maybe a bit overstuffed, especially with all the games. Ok that’s amazing. Why do those screens at the RHOD reunion look like photos at someone’s memorial service?

I like the use of the vets too, and I admire the ambition of doing traditional soap storytelling with 2021’s financial and logistical limitations when the other three soaps have pretty much abandoned it. The sh!tty characterizations (both in writing and acting) of Peter and Cyrus really undermine the show for me. Completely takes me out of the story.

Eboni also came to represent and educate, which was significant, with her shirt acknowledging the murders of black men and her BLM mask and her Howard sweatshirt and her story about Sag Harbor’s black community in the ‘40s. But like she said, “This serves everywhere.” This is a woman who’s been around the block and knows how to effortlessly navigate a variety of spaces. And admitting her flaws (her fûcked-up FICO) is in its own way brave, but of course she’s on a show with these disasters! No real reason to hold back, aside from the absurd expectations of perfection that she alludes to in her tagline… I agree that it felt a little off to only have five women, but again I think it benefited Eboni. Gave her the spotlight for a moment before they throw in Heather and Bershan. Even after her ugly last season and hideous finale meltdown, I did miss Dorinda, and I think the time off might have given her a moment to chill out. Since Bravo has been marathoning old seasons, I also was thinking about how Bethenny would fit in this group. She’d likely try to befriend Eboni, but I’m also trying to imagine Bethenny with Leah. I know Bethenny apparently recommended Leah, but I think they’d bump heads, especially as Leah has taken on the Greek chorus role Bethenny once had. I will say: they were probably told to keep mum so as not to spoil the season, but the NY ladies’ WWHL appearance was off-putting. It would have probably been good to only have Eboni and Leah on first.

From NYC 🇺🇸

Lots of “mystery roles” being teased right now—Cameron Mathison’s new role. Roger Howarth’s return role…

I’d sacrifice Faith to get rid of Adam. If Mal Young and Angelica McDaniel did anything right, it was keeping Adam “dead.” Plus his presence allows Griffith/Morina to avoid addressing how stagnant Nick and Victoria are as characters.

It really showed on screen. Such a depressing watch at the time.

Pavs is getting some nice victories: Not a good day at the office for Jannik.

She was a very good actress. But wrong story definitely. The show at that time was hitting so many off notes if I recall. So disappointing.

God, I remember that like it was yesterday … so bad. Julie really lost her usefulness without Hart or being in the mix with Dylan and Bridget. Whatever happened to Jocelyn Seagrave?

Ash Barty is looking like a World No. 1.

Totally. And 1992 was deeply flawed and coasting on previous successes, but those actresses (Kimberley, Sherry, and of course Bev) sold their stories, had irreplaceable chemistry with co-stars, and we were invested in them. Barbara Crampton, Liz Kiefer, and Marj Dusay were all solid-to-great actresses but hopelessly miscast in their roles. They magnified the flaws in the writing too. The Nick/Mindy/Alex stuff was becoming dreadful even with KS and Bev in the roles. He was only on the show for a brief time in ‘93, but I think Leonard Staab’s tragic accident and departure as Hart was a huge blow as well. GL really went through the ringer in those years. Just a demonstration that near-perfection is short-lived.

From NYC 🇺🇸

The one-two-three punch of Kimberley Simms, Sherry, and Bev leaving in Summer ‘92 was really the end of that gorgeous era, then the senseless death of Maureen in January ‘93 was the fatal blow. The show did mostly maintain its high level of day-to-day scripts until Nancy left in early ‘94, but the Lucy/Buzz takeover toward the end of her run really made it hard to watch. GH was really taking off then too under the Labines.

Steven Soderbergh on his Oscar production choices: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-05-04/steven-soderbergh-oscars-ending-chadwick-boseman-anthony-hopkins?_amp=true&__twitter_impression=true

Ooof. Glad Scott Holmes ditched that hair.

Totally on brand. Tacky, cheap, and embarrassing. Just like the rest of Y&R.

Some Scott Evans action:

I believe you’re right! And Access Hollywood Live got cancelled, so I wouldn’t be surprised if The Talk also had their eyes on him or Scott Evans (not Chris’s brother but a very handsome black man).

That rings a bell but don’t remember…