SFK

I didn't really watch Passions, but I thought Alistair was always cast too young compared to Julian. Oppenheimer was so perfect, he probably wasn't interested, but they should have cast closer to him.

That's the second or third time I've read Katherine Helmond's name linked to a soap role (another being Helena Cassadine). Was she really serious about taking on a daytime gig or was her name just sort of tossed about?

I enjoyed his chemistry with Marj Dusay's Vanessa, as I did with what little I remember of Palmer and Cynthia Preston.

I don't know enough about Mindy to agree or disagree with that, but it seemed to me that they were just writing their "idea" of Tina. AE has an airy quality, her breath, her voice, her presence, she's like a tethered helium balloon, and that overall quality can read "ditzy" even when her thoughts and actions are well-grounded. I think the writers wrote into this quality and subsequent actresses played it. I never saw Tina as dumb, just as someone who made one bad decision after another. I think I still have it on tape, but there was a good episode where KT Tina goes over to Dorian's apartment where KD Blair is staying and calls her out for scheming to marry Todd and get her hands on his millions as Blair is pretending not to know that he's the true Lord heir. Tina says, "And they say I play dumb." She's very astute and on top of the situation, and particularly was when it came to her money. She let men distract her and that's when she got messy and did more damage than she would have on her own. But there was certainly something tougher about KT Tina in terms of voice and demeanor.

"She *dreamt* it, we had been talking about OATMEAL all over her face, obviously she had subconscious sexual feelings for me..." Classic crafty abuser.

Indeed! And frankly, it's not too late for it to become a HILARIOUS single camera mockumentary series. In Whoopi!, Whoopi played a fading soul singer like Jackie, and don't get me wrong, Whoopi was great in Sister Act (a role written for Bette Midler), but Jenifer sells OTT neurotic diva in a more sitcom appropriate way than earthy Whoopi.

Well, I'm all for a sitcom shooting in New York even if I have my.doubts about the funny factor. I'd love to be wrong. I didn't see much of Whoopi! but from what I did see, it's not really her fault that it failed. It seemed to be a reworking of a pilot she and Susan Fales-Hill tried to develop for Jenifer Lewis (network execs couldn't imagine a black woman as a, gulp, "diva"). So the concept seemed to be split into two, as the TV movie Jackie's Back for Jenifer (perfect casting) and the sitcom for Whoopi (not so perfect casting).

Deleted my blocked/copyright claimed Dynasty clips on YouTube last night. Thanks CBS. Oh well, at least they're available somewhere. One gem from Alexis to Krystle I had to part with: "The next time you order French wine and want to know about vintage, call me. On second thought, send me a note."

I've read that before, she suggested him when Christopher Bernau fell ill. Is this a recent SOW interview?

I adore her, thanks for sharing that.

I'm kind of sad that she's left Iowa already, I liked that angle. I didn't realize Adam was staying in her apartment. I missed the.finale last season save for the last few minutes. We should dig up the Girls thread.

Do they repeat Looking during the week? I missed it, caught Girls though.

I tuned in today to see if they'd say anything about Rosie's departure. Whoopi started off hot topics with a coy, "So you had a big weekend...", segueing into Rosie talking about the premiere of her documentary. I eventually turned the channel, apparently like so many others, so I don't know if they ever got around to mentioning it.

I liked Orleans, though I don't remember much about it. Judge Luther Charbonnet, IIRC. His love interest was played by Vanessa Bell Calloway which I thought was a cool choice. I seem to remember Luther in his drawers frolicking with her in the bedroom. I don't think the show lasted two months. Had a cool theme song.

I think the rationale behind the argument that TC hurt DYN was that the writers' attention was too split and their creativity got thinly spread over two shows already after several seasons of DYN. For me, TC is just different enough to get away with apparently recycled stories/characters. The similarities are clear, but it is titled Dynasty II so that's expected and why would they abandon their successful formula that won them a spin-off to begin with? I'm really pleased that DYN brought over TC characters in season 9, a brilliant move.

Shout Factory must be sniffing Adam Carrington's toxic paint with that ridiculous price. That irks me because I want to support such releases, but I can't in good conscience put The Colbys before about a dozen other things that need my $120.

That poor child! People playing games with human life, it's disgusting.

Not to be mean, but Stephanie and Joan cropped out in their '80s black and white would make for a nice profile pic.

I agree. I had a very vivid dream (?) while sleeping over at someone's house once, and I had been drinking. I remain entirely too embarrassed to ask questions. It happens.

I really enjoyed the Billy Clyde/Emily Ann/Donna/Benny stuff when it aired. A lot of it must have played out during the summer because I recall watching at my grandparents' house, where lunch=AMC. At my age, this was my intro to BC and my mom filled me in on the Estelle backstory. Donna, Benny, and Emily Ann lived in an apartment which for some reason seemed unique to me back then.

I missed the first episodes of both Looking and Girls (where Marnie got rimmed standing at the kitchen sink, Jesus be a DVR), which I find ironic seeing as how I watched the second episodes at least three times each on Sunday night with HBO playing them over and over again. They should devote at least one of those slots to the previous week's episodes. I also liked that other new series, the name escapes me at the moment.

Up early watching my obligatory Good Times marathon, and I just saw the promo for this season's Unsung: Hollywood. Not that I don't appreciate the chance to learn more, but on what planet (certainly not this one) are A Different World and Redd m'erf'ing Foxx "unsung"? They're also doing Cheryl Underwood which I oddly appreciate because I remember her scattered stand-up appearances on TV over the years. "Oh I'll suck a d!¢%. Datz why my teeth all crooked."

I feel for anyone associated with Cosby because this topic is unavoidable for the foreseeable future. I know from personal experience how hard it is to accept that someone you love may have done the unthinkable and it can be torturous embracing the truth while feeling a sense of loyalty... to the person "you know". I'm having trouble with that, "the so-and-so I know." What does that even mean really, how does that even matter? "Well, the Hitler *I* know...", if I'm being extreme. I'd just as soon say, "It's just an awful situation all around, and I'd rather not talk about it." That said, Malcolm handled that very well.

I flipped by and saw that there were TWO men on the panel today, Mario Cantone and some guy I don't know.

My friend, Amanda Seales, is co-hosting on the 26th, and quite frankly, she'd be an excellent permanent host. She's intelligent, funny, passionately opinionated, and she kisses zero ass. She's the sort of feisty presence who is guaranteed to give the show those heated viral incidents they live for.