Y&R: Week of January 26, 2008

[DaytimeFan]

First of all, Sharon Case, obviously to me but allegedly...has had Botox in her forehead. It looks good but girlfriend needs some power or a matte moisturizer.

I loved Sharon and Brad...I do think they would have fizzled like Y&RWorldTurner said...but they had such awesome chemistry. In a way, it's better that we see what never was rather than what was and fell flat. Sad to see Don Diamont and Brad Carleton go...I really identified with that character...but he's gotten a very dignified 'out with a bang' heroic sendoff.

I really hope they go for Ashley having a breakdown and then getting into full BITCH mode...Eileen would knock it outta the park.

Jess Walton and Billy Miller have terrific chemistry. I'm just going to go ahead and say it: Billy Miller and David Tom are equals and I'm not even sure that David Tom could have pulled off 'Businessman Billy'...

[Becki]

I enjoyed it immensely as well.

I miss Cassie.

I seriously can't stand NuAbby.

I know this is unpopular, but I want Eden #1 back.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

I noticed they played a subtler version of "Cassie's Theme" during the parts that mentioned her. I'm glad they still bring that out from time to time. I wanted to punch my screen a few months ago when they used it for a Noah and Eden scene. That score fits Cassie so well, and I'll always think of her when they use it.

[Heyou]

Truer words have never been spoken. They are making better judgments with their casting decisions now than in the LML era where everything was a mess.

[Dan]

I actually kind of disagree, which is funny because with any other regime, I would have thought they dropped the ball. But I honestly think there is a bigger plan at work here. The lack of details surrounding the rescue adds a bit more suspense to the search for Brad. Did he make it out of the water? If he did, then where is he now? Something tells me the gaps will be filled in as Noah's memory comes back. Then, we will be able to see the rescue itself.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

^Yeah, now that I think about it, you're right. It sounds like they're going to be showing us Brad's rescue of Noah via flashbacks when Noah regains his memory fully. Also, Don Diamont's last episode isn't supposed to be until late NEXT week. There's more details to this story that they didn't divulge in this one episode, which might have confused some people.

ETA: I LOVE Y&R's outdoor sets. They have the most realistic outdoor sets in all of daytime...

[Toups]

I hope you're right, Dan.

[Cheap21]

I forgot to mention the other day that I hate how Victor summonded Nikki and I hate how she just stayed up for him and then listended without shutting him up. WTF? Why did she put up with him scolding her as if she was a 5 year old. All that bc she made a quick comment to Ashley. Ashley seemed juvenile tattling on her to Victor as if she couldnt handle her own battles with Nikki. This is ridiculous

[MarkH]

My wish is that the lack of details signify this:

Brad was at the lowest ebb in his life. In his mind, he was estranged from Ashley and Abby, had said "farewells" to Traci and Colleen, and had basically been ground to cinder in the business world. Genoa City held nothing for him. Moreover, he has some big blackmail targets on his back: the killing of the Kommandant's son and henchman and Jana's father in Kutna Hora, and the illegal hacking of Newman computers. He also has to be *mindful* of his backstory getting out at all times (which is why he squashed Korbel's book), lest his mother come to harm.

I can see Brad coming to the conclusion...just as George Kaplan did nearly thirty years ago...to PRETEND to be dead...and use it to start over. Let's face it...he needed to start over. (Yes, I'm thinking "Jason Bourne").

This is an ideal setup. His body would be trapped beneath the ice. With a blizzard (and cold snap) they could drain the lake. If there is any kind of undercurrent, it could push Brad's "body" far from the crack in the ice.

So, then, authorities would probably need to wait for the Spring thaw...and by then, realistically, what might be left of the corpse. The freeze-thaw-bloat would like skeletonize the body quickly. So, if the body were never found, that would not be unexpected.

Previews for next week (not a spoiler!) use the term

. On soaps, they almost always only do that when there is no body.

Meanwhile I could see George Kaplan assuming identity #3, maybe with the help of his mother and his long skills of remaining hidden.

I feel Brad's exit story was written in such an interesting way -- high drama with so many on the canvas -- that this is an IDEAL way to "rest" a character that Maria Arena Bell clearly didn't want on the front burner...and whose exit was probably financially encouraged by the economic downturn. I have no doubt that ... if Abbotts and Newmans and Carltons remain on the canvas in the future ... that some day Georgie might turn up again.

Given a press interview (where Bold and Beautiful was mentioned, and Diamont said he'd "love to stay in the Bell family" but also that the audience needed some time to "forget" Brad) I totally would not be surprised if a physically altered Brad (beard? dye job?) showed up in LA a year or two from now...playing a different character...but we'd all wonder if this wasn't the third incarnation of Georgie.

That's my hope.

But my hopes will be dashed if they find a body. And I'm very, very worried that they WILL find a body. This is not one of those deaths where I need "closure".

[dm.]

Brad's exit date will be February 5th.

I wish they wouldn't find the body. But I guess there's always a way to bring him back somehow, if that day should come.

I still don't like Eden, especially now that Abby is there. The original Eden was just awful, it was nice to have someone that doesn't yell so much. But now this version has an irritating voice.

[DaytimeFan]

I LOVE that scenario. Brad 'starting over' once again...that would be awesome.

And B&B...again, terrific idea. That show could use Brad Carleton...er...George Kaplan...er Don Diamont!

[dm.]

Daily synopsis for Feb 5th says

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Another spoiler for that day also says:

[Cheap21]

that all sounds great and I would it if only to give hope that he will return. I dont want his death to be final. The only thing I dont like about this is Brad doing this to Abby and Colleen. Its pretty cruel letting them think he's dead if he isnt

[Vanguardian]

I keep thinking DD will soon show up on GH as a sexy mobster.