B&B: Week of August 10th

[sheilaforever]

So her hair is one hot tranny mess but Fairchild has sth. about her which her pleasurable. We'll see what's coming up with "Dottie"... Those fashion battles get more contrieved by the minute on the other hand - preperations for a major fashion show are now a couple of days???

Don Diamont sucks on B&B. He's just slimy and uncharismatic. Every day without Whip is like a day withoiut sunshine.

A left over from last week: Jackie and the cougar - could Brad please stop recycling his own scripts (and force John F. Smith to do the dirty deed). Spectra, a wild animal out of control - been there, done that with Clarke and a python which was far more thrilling. Yawnsville! Pammy & Clarke & the red wig is far more compelling and even slightly creative.

[ian]

Blasphemy!

[sheilaforever]

Forgot to mention one great piece of dialogue:

Whip: “There’s been a cougar attack.”

Stephanie: “Jackie attacked someone?”

LOL!

[Sylph]

That's sh!t. Stephanie always presented Jackie as a pathetic, poor little idiot. Now she's a cougar? Yeah.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Michael Fairman did an interview with Morgan Fairchild about her experience working on B&B.

Morgan said two of the outfits she wore were her own clothing, and from Ralph Lauren

There's also a little interview with Melissa Rivers.

http://michaelfairmansoaps.com/article/articleItem.cfm?cms_article_id=113

[YRBB]

Why "Dottie"? I mean, why? A woman like this would call herself at least Francesca or something

[Cat]

Oh, honey, you and me both. I ruined an entire B&B thread in the spoiler section a few months ago bitching about the name Dottie. I picture an octagenarian with a blue rinse and lifetime supply of Metamucil.

[ian]

I love Whip and Stephanie as friends/allies. Melissa Rivers is dreadful. Katie/Bill's showdown was decent

[Ann_SS]

Owen has an amazing body. He is cut and those abs are insane.

[bellcurve]

"Indulge. I do."

Wake up B&B! Daytime is crumbling. I don't expect socially responsible storytelling, minorities, gays, or even stuff that doesn't happen outside of Beverly Hills or L.A. But, for God's sake, even camp and fluff have to have some sort of substantial value.

I started watching this show a couple years after the turn of the decade, and to alot of people I missed the "glory years" of this show. Maybe so, but for the most part, this show stooped to levels of "shock and awe" and trash, but they were mostly within the scope of good storytelling. Everything from the acting, the writing, and the actual production of the show seems like one big, soul-less bore these days.

And Stephanie would never let Jackie and Owen go down that runway like some Vivid Porn Teaser. Embarassing.

[Cat]

I am actually feeling the love for this show. God forgive me, but it is so fun. Jackie & Owen are getting a little much with all the licking and pawing. They don't need that to convince us that both actors are hot stuff.

Love Morgan Fairchild. LOVE Katie & Bill.

Those cut-price prom dresses in the fashion vogue-off? Eh.

[ian]

The fashion showdown is fun and light. I'm used to having to switch my brain off to watch B&B, I at least find this entertaining and love they're using more of their cast though I want more LK!!

[sheilaforever]

Not join the love feast (yet), LOL. But you made a great point: this show has heart again! So much heart it hasn't had since the heart transplant; B&B has been emotionally dead for well over a year. There was zero reason to root for anyone. Now they are going back to the basics. Granted the storylines aren't crispy new, granted the show lacks a little bit of tension, granted the pacing is still faster than the Titanic sank but there is a feeling going on which says: it's bold, it's beautiful, it's campy - watch me.

Now add one than really thought through and great overall penned storyline to that and i'm back full time as a viewer...

[Cat]

I know what you mean. I need to equivocate every statement i make about B&B with the proviso "for the moment." I don't need to watch Shakespeare for 18 minutes -- I just want to be swept away in something fun and slightly campy but still loaded with office politics, boardroom battles, family rivalry and romance. However, I am so used to having Bradley Bell pull the rug out from under me -- and not in a good way. It makes me hesitant about fully enjoying the show.

However, what sealed last week's episodes for me (which I watched pretty much in one go this weekend) was the fact that it fired on many cylinders at once. OK, Bridge/Tridge is a horror. But I will give KKL major props for trying to humor up. She was teasing Ridge and laughing and, as a fan, it was so refreshing to see Brooke being (or trying to be) funny. Ever since those horse scenes, Brooke appears confident, in control and powerful -- even though she is the woman that Ridge has "left out in the cold" this week. Kudos for not going the Mopey Brooke route. Also, her return to FC and rallying the troops was an echo of the Brooke of old.

Other good stuff: Whip. Of course Whip! Veering from Jackie M shenanigans to slyly going to Bill Spencer and forcing both Eric and Stephanie's hand in the fashion dance-off or whatever the heck that was. Rick Hearst gives new meaning to "supporting actor." He truly adds value to the cast as a whole.

Speaking of... last week was Ensemble Cast Week and all the better for it. We even had wonky-nose Rick grilling Bill about Katie. How is he gonna use that to his advantage?

The Bill-Katie romance is the first time I have got behind a fledgling pairing in a LONG time. B&B is good at putting on the appearance of Mega Romance on its show but, in reality, its Destiny Couples like Bridge/Tridge and Nicket look seedy and old. There is nothing really appealing about them. Katie and Bill's trading of quips, daring each other to beat the other at his or her own game... this is solid flirting helped by some honest-to-god chemistry between HT and DD. Katie has been totally invigorated by the pairing. On Friday when the camara simply showed a close-up of their first real kiss was an effective move. No fireworks or overwrought declarations.

When you have that mix of camp, professional rivalry and serious romance -- that sort of balance can only help B&B, IMO. That and the fact that FC finally has a rival company that matches it. The focus is 50/50 with both Jackie M and Forrester. And what a difference that makes.

... well, for the moment.

[ian]

I totally agree. It's fun and it's balanced. But with B&B it's so hit or miss it's GOOD when it's good but its BAD when its bad.