Cat

This Finn/Finn's dad/Finn's stepmom story is riveting

TRF is an institution that, for better or worse, symbolically represents the United Kingdom, so I am guessing that even moderate Brits will be, initially, defensive about the interview and towards Meghan specifically. Because they don't like being called racists, colonial, parochial, out of touch. They might take it personally, like how dare the Yanks lecture us with their race record? The British care what other people think of them and how they appear on the world stage. However, as with Diana, this may have a slow, drip-drip effect. Diana's interview with Martin Bashir did not bring down the monarchy overnight. But the bad press almost did over the period of the early-to-mid 90s. I'd be worried if I was in 'The Firm.' There is no other way of looking at it -- they have been deeply damaged by this. The specificity and detail of some of the things that happened to Meghan is shocking. It shows an institution which has only gone through the vaguest motions of change while staying inflexibly the same. Now that the Empire has gone, the Queen during her reign has been all about The Commonwealth -- a loose affiliation of countries which had been former colonies of Britain. TRF is always paying lip service to The Commonwealth because it paints a rosy glow over Britain's colonial past ("We gave them parliaments! The English language!") and makes the royals look good interacting with people of different ethnic backgrounds. Now that the H&M interview has exposed TRF on the racism front, how will their interactions with The Commonwealth be from here? What about with black Britons at home?

The fact that TRF and tabloid attack-dog press went hard on an intense, targeted, smear campaign last week illustrates your point exactly. If they had nothing to fear, why bother? But they knew some bombshells would be coming that would make them look bad, so they went hardcore with the 'deflection tactics.' Only problem was, it was all so obvious and proved H&M's point. It made TRF look even worse.

Oh, and @DRW50 : More and more people are demanding answers about Andrew, but he remains completely protected by the Queen. Moreover, the press is careful not to mention him too often (illustrating the also-toxic quid pro quo relationship between the BRF and the Murdoch/Dailly Mail tabloids). Andrew may no longer be a 'working royal' (which suits him to the ground, as I don't believe he was ever big on 'working') but he kept all his military titles -- which is more than Harry got. (Harry served in Afghanistan).

Both Bethenny and Dorinda truly over-played their hand. So foolish, too, before the interview had even aired! Looks like they were trying to appeal to a certain kind of 'fan' who views Meghan as overly woke and liberal -- it was a flop.

IA this does expose the BRF in a way they have not been exposed since Diana. Despite attempts to show that the institution has changed with the times, it really has not at all and may never. With the exception of the use of computers and cell phones, the 'Firm' is still run as it was back in the 1940s and 50s -- a shrouded, hierarchical institution protected from the great unwashed, run by the Men in Grey who prioritise pedantic protocol and extreme deference. The family itself grudgingly goes through well-paid motions of 'service' and is clearly dysfunctional but clings on because... all that wealth. However, will this interview kill off the institution? Too soon to say. Revolution is often a straw which breaks the camel's back. The BRF is embedded in English class culture, and people out there, moderate Brits but also white, nationalistic, alt-right Brits, view the institution as embedded in their history and identity, a symbol of when Britain lorded it over the world. They have a lot in common with the core Trump vote in terms of background, culture wars, and political POV. I've always thought parts of the US and UK are kissing cousins born of twin sisters. Watching clips of the M&H interview (it officially airs tonight on UK TV in Primetime), I realise that she represents such a clash with that nationalistic institution -- international, millennial, multicultural. Her self-management of her fame and 'brand' is of the now. She speaks a language that the old guard hate and reject. P.S.: Totally agree about W&K. Last November, at the height of a lockdown, they went on an expensive Royal Train tour of Britain, to breathe on cute kids and essential workers (neither W&K worse masks, for photograph purposes). It was, apparently, their way of 'thanking' the NHS. Well, it totally flopped as a PR exercise and was roundly criticised. Completely stupid and tone deaf.

It's interesting what you point out about Jen and Heather being two sides of the same coin. I definitely believe both Jen and Heather did their homework with regards to the fanbase and what the audience might want to see and hear, harnessing the odd buzzword du jour. Jen Shah's strategy was obvious early on; Heather's only really became apparent going into Reunion. This is not to say that I cannot appreciate aspects of these women's personalities, or take the good with the bad. I like a multifaceted HW. I think this sets up for a more interesting S2, especially with Lisa trying to get in the mix, and Mary just being generally fascinating. I will say that those audio and video leaks of Jen Shah are a shocker, and make it harder for me to find the multifaceted human beneath. The no-neck rage monster screaming at an employee, throwing a phone at them, threatening them, calling them a 'fuckin piece of sh!t' ? And the excuse for that was... reunion was coming up? She is spoiled, entitled brat until she shows otherwise. That Coach Shah could not even intervene was shocking, too. Her reunion 'epiphany' is now looking increasingly hollow. I'm not 'crying a river 'for either woman sitting in their luxury mansions during a pandemic. But I see Bethenny has taken an opportunity to promote her ass and her wretched podcast by blasting another female (of COURSE she gives Harry a pass!). It must really burn her that wellness-podcaster-in-all-but-name Meghan probably couldn't pick Bethenny out of a line-up. Nobody is associating Oprah's newest buddy with 'Bethenny from the Real Housewives'. Nobody, except delusional Bethenny, that is, who appears to be experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms from the lack of attention ever since she threw Bravo's contract in their face.

This week has been full of British Royal Family gossip, deflection and shenanigans in anticipation of Oprah's interview with Meghan & Harry. This interview has the BRF running scared, I think. The View weighs in on it:

Would not be against replacing Crimson Lights or giving it a makeover. It's a very, um, brown set. And that generic meh-meh-meh music playing in the background (I blame JFP for that lol).

Thanks for the tea! First of all, I wish there was a lowkey Kathy mention LOL because I am slightly obsessed with her being back on the show and Kyle being a little afraid of her. I wish Kim were coming back too -- 3 for the price of 1. Plus it would make Rinna's head spin! Garcelle sounds like she put everything on the table right away. Apparently Rinna is going to be biggest pot-stirrer this year. Given that Sutton has been lumbered with the 'Let's talk about The Husband' script, I am guessing that Rinna's pot-stirring is a deflection tactic away from Erika, and maybe herself. I would love it if Erika 'went there' but will there be talk of burn victims and crippling criminal law-suits? Or will it be 'Tom had an affair with [redacted Judge's name] I am stoic but hurt' ? Apparently, according to G, Crystal holds grudges. Oooooo! Garcelle, I find Dorit annoying too sometimes. I hope it's not a season of micro-aggressions directed as Garcelle, because that sh*t on RHOD is not a good look. SLC: There is video to go with audio now. Something is not right with Jen, and it's way more than just mourning her dad or being a WOC in Utah. The way Coach Shah wearily picked up the phone she had thrown off the floor and asked if the guy was ok, tells me that he has seen this before. And he has been trying to manage it for a while.

It's been this way for, I would say, +2 decades? TPTB are under the delusion that the viewers love Carly and LW. They write the character's harassing aggression as a signifier for 'fiesty.' It has always bothered me. To be fair to LW, she actually (maybe unintentionally) plays Carly as written -- a smug, hair-tossing loudmouth -- and it hammers home how unsympathetic Cujo is. 'Let's ruin another character in order to make an already unsympathetic character the good guy by default' was Robert Guza's M.O. back in the day and it seems to be still in vogue over there. It's too bad because Cynthia Watros is such a palatable Nina. Maybe the writers will surprise us and write Carly in the wrong for once. Lord, what am I saying?

I don't know what happened to the GCAC as I only recently tuned back in after a bit of a hiatus. The GCAC set did at least give an impression of depth of set -- multiple rooms (lobby to bar to eating area). I don't know why they didn't just have Phyllis take it over. Yeah I was kind of ready for Sally or even (heaven forfend) saint Mariah blackmail Kyle about not telling Summer about the child for a few days. They could have got Kyle to vote on Jabot stuff they wanted, even if it went against his own interests. Just a little light humor watching him do stuff he obviously doesn't want to do because he is trying to cover his mess.

Spooky I was just trying to remember the name of GL's boutique inn! The Beacon. That takes me back to GL's studio-bound Jonathan Era (just before Wheeler and Peapack) when half the cast would meet each other on the landing of the Beacon on the way to their room(s).

I read that as Grown Penis initially. Prepare to see those one-armed dresses all week! Phyllis is like trapped in the lobby/bar of that 3-star hostel and can't get out.

Totally. GH sets now far outstrip Y&R's in terms of size, variety and (as you say, Vizion) plushness. There are tons of flower arrangements in almost every scene (a former Y&R staple!). I even prefer the moody lighting. I never thought I would see the day when GH had better sets and lighting, but FV really has maximised the design and what little set budget there is. I also think the issue with Y&R is not just a low rotation of small pokey sets, but its particular method of socially-distanced filming. GH has a wedding going on and I was lowkey shocked at the number of actors milling around and talking to each other, and not at a distance either. GH obviously has its own health protocols at play, but Y&R seems stricter, with max 3 people per scene, sitting across from each other at big tables or standing with lots of furniture between them. The Jabot boardroom set currently only seems to allow two actors at a time. As the months pass, and the social distancing situation eases up, maybe Y&R's showrunners will be able to plan for more varied scenes with more people. It's not just that the SD stuff is hindering the show -- it also exposes just how poor and dull the writing is TBH. In the 60s and 70s, some soaps had like 2 actors on one set for a whole episode, but they still managed to produce psychologically insightful, tense drama.

Oooo the Bassett Hound! I never thought of Brown Dick.... I did wonder if it was Eddie for a second. Juan is still a strong contender, and like you, I don't think it is Papa Smurf or crinkly ass Michael. IA that Michael is done being a sexually frustrated mess and has tired of the spotlight. He will be a rarely seen husband from here on in. Ashley has secured the rights to her post-nupt otherwise. RHOD: If Brandi chases Tiffany off the show with all her passive-aggressive bullsh!t, I will be so mad! We had a good episode with D'Andra and Kary sweetly reconciling, and Tiffany opening up to Kameron and Stephanie about wanting to have more time with her kids. But Brandi couldn't stand there being no discord. So she had to gaslight DTM, acting like its her fault Brandi feels guilty for being a racist fool. When Tiffany has never brought up the Instagram BS or held it against her. Honestly, good riddance to that bag of trash.

It would be cool. She obviously knows Y&R from a behind-the-scenes POV, having worked there and at CBS in different roles.

Thanks Errol. Some of the comments suggest she may replace JG as HW or co-HW. Given her production background, I wonder if she will be eventual showrunner with some episode script-writing as well.

Salt-n-pepper Fox is super foine! But the way they are talking about the character on the show, it sounds like a one-note, moustache-twirling villain is coming to town. Another Ian, as it were. I really fear he will be killed off in some two-week whodunnit, where one of the Abbotts/Newmans did it, but it was 'justified' because he was Evil. yikes Tucker 😬 So true about talking about their jobs rather than doing it. I'm assuming they are limited due to budget and social distancing, but we always see them yapping about their boring lives in the Jabot conference room rather than actually having a board meeting.

From a momentum POV, I found Tuesday's episode better than Monday's (Abbybot/Devon politely discussing surrogacy was like watching oatmeal congeal in a bowl). At least people are moving around those 4 tiny sets (hotel/Jabot/Crimson Lights/'penthouse')! This was probably JG's soapiest episode this week, even though the stories are pale imitations of what we would view as traditional soapiness. So we've got a vengeful Chelsea trapped in a wheelchair-bound body plotting revenge (reminds me of JFP era). We've got Sharon and Adam making heart eyes at each other at Crimson Lights. We've got Phyllis going through Sally's Google history. And we have the Kyle long-ago affair/illegitimate kid thing. It's not great. I always hope Y&R will get better, but TBH, CBS and Sony have butchered the elements that made Y&R special for so long, turning it into a generic ABC-lite soap with generic ABC-lite music (and I'll repeat what I've said before: music on Y&R was a key element in underpinning the characters' psychological state/hidden motives. With that -- and the rehearsals -- gone, we just have one-dimensional characters cycling through plots). So why was I lowkey entertained? The energy of some actors in their scenes, specifically Stafford and Mealor. Stafford is probably bored and sauced, but at least she's giving me something chaotic in this cockamamie rivalry story with Sally. She knows the story isn't strong but she's trying to make it happen. Mealor is doing a decent Peter Bregman vocal impression. Not crazy about the actor playing Adam who has muted screen presence compared with some of his predecessors, and the Tara actress is basic thus far, even though she looks like a young Cynthia Watros. Perhaps the arrival of Ashland Locke will pick up that story. Maybe he will have a fling with Ashley lol.

Thank goodness. At least the Kardashians back in their heyday offered drama and personality. Rinna keeps trying to make those two eye-rolling mouthbreathers happen. Rinna never had an original idea in her life -- she stays copying what other people (Yolanda, Kris Jenner) originated. SLC: Anyone heard the audio of Jen Shah in a long screaming rant at the designer who did her fashions? It reminded me of some of the showbiz types I worked for as a literary agency assistant back in the day. That kind of verbal excoriation (nicknamed 'the hairdryer' lol) was... not fun. The addition of a pointy fingernail in the face would have made it worse. Even though Jen said some things at reunion about learning to do better, this audio isn't a good look. Perhaps she feels this is how 'queens' act -- it's not. Potomac keeps bringing it and bringing it! Is this the new HW Mia Thornton? I doubt it's Wendy somehow. And the husband? You know everybody's mind goes straight to Juan on these things! Though it could be anybody -- even Michael. Speaking of the Darbys.... Ashley had her bebe!

I'm watching yesterday's episode and *just* made the connection. Thanks for the heads up!

Richard Burgi is a fine actor and I am lowkey excited about this. Mind you, I thought the same about Eric Steinberg who played Ji Min Kim on Y&R back in the day... and he was killed off in a sweeps stunt a few months later. I still wish Ji Min had established roots on Y&R. Maybe Burgi's character Ashland Locke will put down roots (that would have been William J. Bell's way, have Ashland's own family eventually coming on the show). However, I suspect he may end up being an abusive ex-lover of someone on canvas (Chelsea?) and therefore 'accidentally' killed by Nick come May sweeps.

Stop. No. Nobody is asking for this. Mary is the gift that keeps on giving. We have Jen Shah, Heather and Lisa fighting for top spot, and LOL over here is Mary stealing the show from under them! She's got a little Kim Richards/Katie Rost about her, and also the church side which is a whoooole other (perhaps unsettling) dimension to her. The thing about Kim/Katie/Mary, though, is that they have this fragility which makes me worried that Bravo is going to gobble them up and spit them out. All seem to have dealt/be dealing with unspoken trauma, including Mary. I love the unique way she sees and expresses things, and the clear way she got everyone together; I just hope she's strong enough to handle the show and keep it calm and collected as she did in Reunion. Mary stayed composed even when deeply emotional. Her vulnerability came across as authentic to me because I don't think it was planned/targeted to get the audience on-side.

I am probably biased, but I find the relationships between a lot of the NJ women authentic? Dolores and Margaret are close outside of the show (one of the more unexpected but welcome friendships IMO, given that the show has essentially separated the cast into Team Teresa and Team Melissa). Melissa, Jackie and Margaret apparently hang off-season too. Dolores is, of course, close with Caroline Manzo and no longer close with Dina. And then we have the husbands who seem to love hanging with each other. Even David is in on some action. Jennifer is a little isolated in Paramus but nevertheless, I loooove Jennifer. Her calling Melissa out on her fake SLs gives me big joy. MeHo is the luckiest 'wench' (S3 reference ) in RH history. Because what has Budget JLo contributed to the show? On Display? Milania took over and destroyed that meme. 'WE ARE BEGGIN YOU TO PLEASE. STAHP. HURTIN. US" ? Sadly overshadowed by the two Joes and Joe Gorga's spray-on hair. Melissa has become a lot smarter about keeping her hands clean while still in the mix, but truthfully, Bravo loves Joe Gorga and Melissa stays by default. Which is why I am shocked that she would foolishly come after Jennifuh about her SLs. Girl, everyone knows the illegitimate sister does not exist. The baby SL was fake AF. The marriage trouble SL is likely fake. Jennifuh is wielding the truth like a whip and you are not going to win this one. "Wow, Melissa. Maybe if I was a mirror, you would greet me." Never remove that foot from MeHo's neck, Jennifuh! @Gray Bunny you hit on something: Teresa is completely islanded. In the past, she at least had soldiers like Danielle and her family to fall back on. Her family was everything. But now that Papa Gorga has passed, Joe is selling sex toys out of a car boot in Italy, and Gia is at college, she really is an outsider. Added to this strange dichotomy is that fact that the cast still treat her as Queen Bee. Margaret calls Teresa a damn idiot in her VTs, but at Lake George she is easy, breezy, let's talk about something else, Tre. The cast are cowtowing to her power, but Team Melissa is quietly ready for her to go. Especially Jackie, the henchwoman who thinks she's a star. Given Teresa's innate boneheadedness, they may get their wish this year. Or they may not, as Teresa no longer minds being production's stooge. You're right about Marge. It's a Picasso puzzle of old and new Marge attributes, and the sum of their parts have not coalesced yet. BH: IA. I hate this sex doll look with the fire of a thousand suns. Erika, Dorit and Rinna are constantly copying each other, getting the same surgery/procedures, and it is jeopardising their uniqueness in the process.