Faulkner

This is my problem with most of the soaps these days. The dialogue is generic, bland, and dreadful. Agreed on those scenes, especially the relentless ADHD pacing. Why can’t they make exceptions when necessary, even if their “research” shows that modern audiences reach for the remote after so many seconds/minutes? Isn’t this a special enough occasion to break the rule? Frank and team have zero confidence in their viewers.

Ian Ziering (GL, BH90210) randomly attacked by biker gang in apparent road-rage incident in Los Angeles - video:

What are they even doing with Brytni Sarpy? 2022’s rankings for comparison

I just saw the Nikki/Jordan scene and was left feeling underwhelmed, as it all seemed beyond lazy and formulaic. Janice Ferri Esser has watched too way many bad hostage movies and cribbed a lot of that cliché dialogue. The expository scenes at the ranch with the Newmans were kinda mind-numbing. Nikki’s “drunk acting” was a bit overdone. I really wanted to see the Clash of the Titans, but Nikki bobbing and weaving and slurring ruined that opportunity. And Nikki not grabbing the gun when she knocked Jordan out… my God. I love CZ, but Jordan is such a sketchily, poorly written character, and her hamminess is very grating. At least with Barbara on ATWT, even though she sometimes went over-the-top during the Sheffer years, she had a substantial backstory to support her performance.

Damn. Great scene with him and Sissy Spacek from “In the Bedroom.”

I try to avoid that. Style/fashion/hair/cosmetic surgery are totally fair game. And we never know what medical issues people might be having.

I’m deleting that comment because it’s not nice.

Ashley looks crazy af walking around with that baby. They really did a number on her character over the years. EB can be SO good when he wants to be in small moments, like in that final scene with Ashley. We don’t get good group scenes like that anymore.

I admire how you stand in your truth!

Yeah, her look was off-putting. She’s gorgeous but I don’t think that style suited her. KHC/Damon with the same cut as JM and DD. “I should presently expire if I do not kiss you forthwith.” He was such a cornball Lothario.

GR was legit great back then. He’s talented but doesn’t get to show it much other than moments. I know he’s well-liked BTS and Kevin still has his stans even though he should have been killed off after this. EB’s “hair”… LOL. The female cast looked very plasticky around this time. Patty Weaver looked amazing tho. Shame what they did to Gina’s.

Josh Morrow and Don Diamont with dueling buzz cuts and Thad Luckinbill with his spiky boy-band twink hair. I still don’t f*** with Kevin due to these episodes. So disturbing. Greg Rikaart gives great villain, though. I wish these shows would allow him to play darker and not goofy. Nikki and HT/Victoria’s hair… Lord. Not sure why they had to be so blindingly blonde.

From David Fumero:

Oh god yes. They’d have been fire as adversaries. It’s so anti-drama to make characters invulnerable. Eff actors’ egos and/or writers having a hard-on for certain characters. Indeed. She had total ice in her veins. Plus, when God was painting the Cynthia Preston doll, he painted her FIERCELY.

Justice for Faith Roscoe, who should have been a more formidable foe to Sonny on GH:

And they sort of punished her for that. Lame. Victor as this behemoth is so boring. Sheila Carter got some good licks in as well. At least for a bit.

Whether it’s Victor Newman or Sonny Corinthos, Stephanie Forrester or (Bev’s) Alexandra Spaulding, these soaps all have big powerful characters that routinely crush the competition. They aren’t very easily rattled and typically have people around town quaking in their boots. But once in a while, they come up against a force not quite so yielding. For example, I love how Mary Kay Adams’s India gives as good as she gets against Beverlee McKinsey’s Alex on scenes I’ve watched from their time on GL. And we all saw how Connor pulled one over on the great Lucinda on ATWT. What other examples do you have of a character who squared up with one of the soaps’ alphas—and maybe if they didn’t “win,” they at least put up a fierce enough fight to make the oh-so-powerful character look vulnerable? Someone mentioned that Judith Chapman’s Charlotte Greer was the only character to strike fear in the heart of the unflappable Maeve Ryan on RH. Or perhaps there’s an actor who usually steamrolls through scenes, yet they finally met their match, à la Stafford’s Phyllis vs. Rowell’s Dru on Y&R?

This is funny. Casper Ruud looking uncomfortable af during a UTS roundtable discussion with the super-chaotic Alexander Bublik and Benoit Paire.

How horrifying and tragic. So many celebrities from South Korea have taken their own lives in recent years.

From Eddie Alderson (who’s had his own cancer battle):

Ryan Carnes

Going through his IG, he did look gaunt in recent months. Cancer can be such a cruel disease, whether it’s aggressive or lingers for years. His parents are both still alive according to his NYT obit. Their hearts must be shattered. Deaths around the holidays can ruin that season forever, as many of us know.

All these young people dying is so disturbing and depressing. Especially people who were once in our homes every weekday not *that* ago.