Faulkner

Je t’aime, oui, je t’aime…

I wonder about the costs of having EB, MTS, et al., on the canvas. I thought maybe MTS was becoming expendable for a while. The Jordan story is the first time Nikki has been center stage in years. Was it worth it having Nikki flounce around Genoa City as the new “grande dame,” making idle threats against various characters on behalf of Newman? I don’t think so. The balance is way off on this show. It’s either feast or famine. Y&R has a real problem with managing its budget (clear to anyone who’s watched in recent years—it looks cheap), and having such a top-heavy cast of worn-out characters doesn’t help. But Eric Braeden and even MTS bring such cultural heft from their 45 years on the show. (When EB talks [!@#$%^&*] on Twitter, it often trends. We know how hard it is to cut through the noise.) They were soap stars when that meant something. But they’re also albatrosses around the show’s neck from a creative standpoint.

I was thinking about her flirtation with the seemingly blue-collar Chris Stamp, but even he was revealed to be an attorney and spy. And you make a good point about her “daddy issues”—this was a character who had been thoroughly thought through. It’s a reason why she was so iconic. Also why people were so put off with her dalliance with the likes of Ryan Lavery. It struck a dissonant chord. (I didn’t mind her taking advantage of a little younger totty as long as it wasn’t sold as some great love affair.) There’s a reason why I only enjoyed him with Hope. She appeared vulnerable but had a ramrod composure of steel. I’m becoming more and more appreciative of what Signy Coleman achieved in that role, and it’s sad that they undermined her legacy with all of the Adam bullsh!t. Lady loved to sh!t where she eats. Correct me if I’m wrong, as I didn’t watch GH in the ‘80s except via YouTube, but it’s funny that Alan didn’t appear to rack up such a body count (although the affairs he did have were major and consequential—like Susan Moore and Lucy).

Sarah Becker from The Real World: Miami died by suicide earlier this month at 52. So tragic. I remember her well. Such a lively, fun-loving character: https://deadline.com/2024/06/sarah-becker-dead-mtv-the-real-world-miami-1235981235/

Exactly. A growth vs. maintenance mindset. Squeezing the living daylights out of their product/“managing for margins,” reducing sets to nothing, repetitive stories with the same faces, content to be ambient background noise, with just enough effort to keep people from tuning out altogether. Lots of people will still watch just to see their “family” every day out of routine.

Totally.

This is a wonderful interview.

Another “Million Dollar Baby” reel…

Lucinda Walsh (ATWT) seemed to be attracted to smarmy schemers and corporate climbers who could match wits with her (Craig, John, Kirk, Scott, even James). Bo Brady (DAYS) had a thing for stunningly beautiful, headstrong, slightly tomboyish brunettes (Hope, Carly, Billie). For Reva Shayne, the last name “Lewis” was an aphrodisiac. Certainly soaps often attempt to catch lighting in a bottle twice (or more), replacing a popular love interest with lesser photocopies (Sonny and his string of dark-haired, vaguely “exotic” Brendabots on GH: Hannah, Angel, Sam, Reese, et al). Obviously, actor chemistry plays a role here as well. And there can be exceptions (just because you have a type doesn’t mean it’s the only kind of person you’re attracted to). What other characters have a very well-defined type of romantic interest in terms of personality/profession/looks (other than gorgeous and with the right “equipment”)?

These scenes with Nick/Sharon and Faith/Teriah are so awkward. I don’t want to hear the details about my parents having sex or how I was conceived lol. Yet, the kids didn’t know Nick and Sharon had been unfaithful to each other, especially the Phyllis affair that led to Summer’s (Faith’s other half-sister’s) existence? At least the flashbacks are a reminder that JM can act when he wants to or is asked to step up beyond the flatline he often gives.

No, godammit. That the Academy never once gave him an Oscar nomination for that body of work is scandalous and feels disqualifying to me.