Faulkner

To paraphrase Alyssa Edwards, “Short-term thinking is a killer in this industry.” So easy to do a death for a quick dramatic impact (potential ratings boost) instead of thinking of other creative ways for a character’s departure. Funny how, especially in recent years, writers are told to avoid specificity with characters so that they have “freedom” to take them in different directions. Yet they are so often given leeway to kill off even crucial characters in permanent ways that wind up limiting story opportunities for key players (like how Hilary’s death completely undid all the work Y&R did to finally make Devon into a rootable leading man—just to stick it to Mishael Morgan). Or they’re forced to go sci-fi to undo those deaths. Also, when you have so many deaths, you can get numb to it. I can’t imagine “killing off” Spencer Cassadine on the backs of so many deaths (including RL ones) in Port Charles. It’s too much.

The Academy will introduce a Best Casting category for the 2026 Oscar ceremony (films from 2025 to be eligible).

JONI. The greatest.

Tracy Chapman looks SO good. Glad to see her perform. That Luke Combs version is making her some $$$$.

I remember a long monologue for Quinn (during her dalliance with TK/Ridge) about women being punished for their sexual desires that I knew instantly PM wrote. It’s about 15 minutes in:

Another Twin Peaks loss with Don Murray’s passing:

Don Murray (Sid) has passed:

Lots of deaths today. He radiated such goodness as Sid on Knots:

What a bummer about Carl Weathers, who was so crucial to my burgeoning sexuality. A stunning man and icon.

Not sure why he likes to destroy the only couples who have genuine chemistry (Adam/Sally being the other notable example). Maybe he just sucks.

I must say she’s completely overexposed right now, even in our fragmented media environment (although nothing get closer to monoculture in the U.S. than the NFL and politics, and she’s omnipresent in both at the moment). Hopefully she (and we) will get a break after the Super Bowl.

The world is just getting stupider by the day.