I TOTALLY AGREE! I think ATWT is damn good right now, and has been since last summer. This week, and I'm not sure if it was a gift to the fans or the actresses, but Maura West & Elizabeth Hubbard shared scenes! Magnifique! Makes me wish they had been put in a story together long ago. Right now, I'm LOVING just about every story in this order:

1. Casey/Vienna/Henry/Barbara- Yes, the whole pregnancy faking thing is cliched and overdone, but I really like it in this story. Casey & Vienna are HOT, and if Henry doesn't end up with Babs, I'll be highly disappointed. For my money, no character's pain is more compelling & palatable than that of Barbara Ryan. Colleen Zenk Pinter has been simply divine & I'd LOVE to see her walk with her much-deserved first Daytime Emmy in 2011. I ached for her when those guys started singing to her instead of Vienna. Masterful. What I love so much about this story is that it's character-driven, which is evidenced by the major players acting in character

2. Dusty/Janet/Jack/Carly/Craig- The only real rooting couple here is Jack & Carly, but the story is so well-told & compelling that I almost forget that I barely care about the others. I'm so hot & cold with Janet it isn't even funny, but THANK GOD Julie Pinson plays her because it saves it for me.

3. NutMeg- Love her or hate her, you cannot deny that Marie Wilson's Meg has been a HUGE part of ATWT's turnaround. Ever since the whole Damien affair (and the separation from Paul finally!), Meg became interesting again, not a moment too soon. This is the complex, flawed heroine that I fell in love with when Marie Wilson first arrived on the scene. I was loving Meg & Emily's newfound respect & understanding, which makes it all the more compelling to watch it all unravel. And now that we know he's returning, it's obvious that

James is probably behind Meg's poisoning, though I think Damien would have been a smarter choice & would have made more sense.

4. Gabriel is Craig's Son- Yes it's been done to death on ATWT of late (paging Hunter!) and is a total retcon, but the fact that Lucinda & Elizabeth Hubbard are driving the story makes it ok by me.

5. Lily/Holden/Molly/Silas- First of all, Victor Slezak is marvelous. I hate the piss out of Silas & he's such a creep, but that means Slezak is doing his job & doing it damn well. And I LOVE Holden & Molly together. I was never interested in the Molly character before & have long thought Lesli Kay is vastly overrated (and from what I've read over the years, a real bitch IRL), but I'm really liking this story. I've never cared for Lily & Holden and couldn't understand their appeal even when Martha Byrne was playing the part. I admit I prefer Noelle Beck and in a lot of ways wish they didn't make Damien unredeemable because that's who she truly belongs with IMO. In any event, good stuff.

6. Reid/Luke/Noah- Finally, Noah has become semi-interesting & Silbermann has improved. And what can I say that hasn't already been said about Eric Sheffer Stevens & Reid? He is BY FAR the most layered, interesting, and complex male character daytime has seen in YEARS (take that Y&R's Tucker!). But I hate Luke- always have, always will, and the only ending in this story that would make this viewer happy is to see Noah [!@#$%^&*] the [!@#$%^&*] out of Reid in the finale, which Luke walks in on & has a nervous breakdown, pulling a gun on both. At some point, I would think IRL, Reid & Noah would realize they're both hot, strong men and BOTH of their relationships with that little bitchy queen Luke are toxic and, not necessarily to have a wonderfully fulfilling gay relationship, but rather, decide to have mad hot sex for the sole purpose of ridding Luke from their lives once & for all. But seconds into their first kiss, their attraction burns up & crackles, to the point where they do end up actually wanting to be together, and Luke is left all alone, with his final scene being with Zac LAUGHING at him because the little bitch finally got his.

The ONLY thing I don't think is working right now is Chris/Katie for the following reasons:

1. Daniel Cosgrove is grossly miscast. On paper, it looked great, but onscreen, all I see is shades of his weird character in Van Wilder mixed with Matt on 90210. Why ATWT didn't bring back the talented, good looking, and likely cheaper Dylan Bruce is beyond me. He was easy on the eyes & had a natural way about his acting. In fact, Dylan Bruce's tenure was the only time that I actually gave a damn about Chris Hughes.

2. They have no chemistry, which is crazy because that's Terri Columbino's biggest strength as an actress- chemistry with her leading men. She sizzled with Jon Hensley, Paul Leyden, Mark Collier, and Austin Peck, so it says something that it's not working here.

3. Their courtship is WAY too similar to that of Brad/Katie, which makes it all the more jarring that the writers are forcing this pairing so soon after Brad's death.

But honestly, I will not be satisfied unless Mark Collier returns & Mike & Katie ride off into the sunset.

But overall, I think ATWT is the best it's been in YEARS, since it last lost it's footing in mid-2006. It has so much life in it IMO, which makes the cancellation & upcoming last episodes all the more painful. I, too, wish they were having more returns but I'm totally surprised & tickled that one of my fave characters of my 10 years of viewership,

Iris Dumbrowski is coming back.

And while I'm not sure, but I have a feeling that

John Dixon

is coming back to reunite with Lucinda. Nothing would please me more.

In any event, I'm over all of the posters constanly bitching & moaning about Goutman and Passanante. True, their ATWT has had its ups & downs, but they have proven themselves capable of producing great soap over the years & I think they've been doing that for the past year now. In my opinion, ATWT is the best soap out there right now, and that's a fact! (and yes, I know I just contradicted myself LOL)

You and I are so on the same page right down to your Goutman comments: He is capable of putting out a good show when he makes the effort and is still better than show-killer Raunch. Today's episode was the best ATWT I've seen in years. Gone is the 3/2 production model and Oakdale is finally a community again. Again, Lucinda was on the show again meaning that TPTB finally understand what a gem she is. I was pretty suprised that a cancelled show went out and spent a fair amout of money for the sound track for that montage. They never made this sort of effort when the show was still signed to the network which tells me that Gotman hasn't given up hope on trying to get the show sold. I wish he could but it all seems a little to late in the game. I actually like the fact that the show is still going on and that TPTB have not moved to tie up all the loose ends. A three month good bye-fest would have been annoying plus I want to think of Oakdale still going on out there somewhere in some virtual reality.

ATWT is currently quite good and the best soap on CBS. I agree with your point that we posters don't always give credit where credit is due.

It's funny last year at this time I knew GL was ending and I pretty much couldn't wait til the finale because I was totally done with GL years before. With ATWT, it feels odd that its ending at summer's end. Sure it hasn't been as good as it was last summer and fall and I haven't been on top of it as much as I want too but it's just something I noticed between the two shows.

http://www.cbs.com/d...fault&play=true

http://www.cbs.com/d...fault&play=true

Why in the world is he still blind acting?

that would be a great scene...if it wasn't Reid defending Luke. I could go on and on about the whiny bitch Luke is and continues to be. Reid deserves better. And yes...I can like Reid and still cheer Noah busting him in the nose. Noah's so butch now that he's not tied down to Luke. LOL.

I kinda/sorta liked today. It was nice to see Tom not immediately jump down Casey's throat upon hearing he might have knocked a girl up. I FLOVED the Henry/Barbara stuff. Meg's at least interesting, even if I could care less about Paul's latest woman dilemma.

Coulda done without the lame Chris/Katie stuff. I just don't GAS if Katie "opens her heart again" a mere eight months after her husband's death. I love Danny Cosgrove---and normally, he has chemistry with a brick wall. But he is severely miscast as the suddenly straight arrow-ish Chris and there is NO chemistry whatsoever with Teri C.

that would be a great scene...if it wasn't Reid defending Luke. I could go on and on about the whiny bitch Luke is and continues to be. Reid deserves better. And yes...I can like Reid and still cheer Noah busting him in the nose. Noah's so butch now that he's not tied down to Luke. LOL.

I kinda/sorta liked today. It was nice to see Tom not immediately jump down Casey's throat upon hearing he might have knocked a girl up. I FLOVED the Henry/Barbara stuff. Meg's at least interesting, even if I could care less about Paul's latest woman dilemma.

Coulda done without the lame Chris/Katie stuff. I just don't GAS if Katie "opens her heart again" a mere eight months after her husband's death. I love Danny Cosgrove---and normally, he has chemistry with a brick wall. But he is severely miscast as the suddenly straight arrow-ish Chris and there is NO chemistry whatsoever with Teri C.

Most Lure fans are saying Reid deserves better than bitchy Luke. Luke and Noah deserve each other.

As for today's show..mix bag....floved Barbara....The Meg ending was expected but yet good....I dont buy Katie is up to being [!@#$%^&*] again. I mean really Brad just died and she want to open her legs wide open again??

Why in the world is he still blind acting?

Jake Silbermann can't act thats why.

http://www.cbs.com/d...fault&play=true

Is that tomorrow?

Is that tomorrow?

Yes

Most Lure fans are saying Reid deserves better than bitchy Luke. Luke and Noah deserve each other.

Noah deserves better than Luke. I don't see why Noah should be ridden out of town on a rail for doing EXACTLY what Luke has done in the past. At the very least Luke sent Noah mixed messages---every time Noah said "I need time", Luke threw a hissy fit and staunchly declared his love and his intention to wait. Even AFTER he started having feelings for Reid, he played the devoted boyfriend, then tried to back off to being "just friends" and then when Noah got his sight back, he was all "I LOVE YOU NOAH"...even though he had kissed Reid FIVE seconds before. Luke doesn't know what he wants, and yet he expects both men to wait around for him to figure it out. And then thank him for the privledge. If that was a woman, everyone and their mother would call her a slut.

Noah deserves better than Luke. I don't see why Noah should be ridden out of town on a rail for doing EXACTLY what Luke has done in the past. At the very least Luke sent Noah mixed messages---every time Noah said "I need time", Luke threw a hissy fit and staunchly declared his love and his intention to wait. Even AFTER he started having feelings for Reid, he played the devoted boyfriend, then tried to back off to being "just friends" and then when Noah got his sight back, he was all "I LOVE YOU NOAH"...even though he had kissed Reid FIVE seconds before. Luke doesn't know what he wants, and yet he expects both men to wait around for him to figure it out. And then thank him for the privledge. If that was a woman, everyone and their mother would call her a slut.

Hahaha...Luke the slut....I like it...

Loving today's show. Everyone is slamming Noah left and right!

*snort* I gotta admit, I rewound Noah sucker punching Reid a couple of times. The one thing I hate most about this show is how at some point, everyone rewrites history and then acts like that is REALLY what happened. Reid is now selling this garbage that he's seen Noah blame poor little Lukey for his blindness. Or that somehow Reid demanding Luke stay out of his way and by extension Noah's life wasn't coercive and controlling on his part (oh, no...now Reid just says "you didn't have to do that..." *eyeroll*)

I'm glad Noah punched Reid. Reid's deserved it for a long time. And did you see...five seconds after Luke told Noah he no longer had the right to weigh in on who he saw...Luke was back in Noah's face, asking him if he still wanted to have a say in what Luke did. Luke is playing BOTH men.

*snort* I gotta admit, I rewound Noah sucker punching Reid a couple of times. The one thing I hate most about this show is how at some point, everyone rewrites history and then acts like that is REALLY what happened. Reid is now selling this garbage that he's seen Noah blame poor little Lukey for his blindness. Or that somehow Reid demanding Luke stay out of his way and by extension Noah's life wasn't coercive and controlling on his part (oh, no...now Reid just says "you didn't have to do that..." *eyeroll*)

I'm glad Noah punched Reid. Reid's deserved it for a long time. And did you see...five seconds after Luke told Noah he no longer had the right to weigh in on who he saw...Luke was back in Noah's face, asking him if he still wanted to have a say in what Luke did. Luke is playing BOTH men.

Reid was just telling Noah the truth. Something he isn't willing to accept. Nuke relationship is toxic. Both want it their way or no way. I think they are both at fault.

Luke sure wants both men fighting over him.

Luke becomes upset because Reid doesn't fight for him concerning Noah.

It was lame Bob's speech about getting involved with Luke. Reid brought up some good points about previous affairs at Memorial. I guess Bob forgot his affair with Susan.....lol.

I think Reid will do fine on his own. I see him and Luke doing the secret relationship but Reid choosing being chief of staff over Luke. Thus pissing off Luke and telling Noah he was the only one....oh well...they deserve to be in the hell of misery in their relationship.

Edited June 10, 201015 yr by Ruxton Hills

I loved Reid today. I cheered as he put Noah in his place. I then cracked up when he was making obnoxious comments to Mona. I also laugh when Reid said getting hit was just how it was with him. Hysterical.

Today proved again that Reid is too good for Luke. Noah and Luke need to be together. Luke has no taste and isn't running into Reid's arms and Noah, well he is just a dumbass.

Bob is so ridiculous. The amount of inappropriate sex that has happened in that hospital over the years, but I guess, it is an obstacle for Reid and Luke. Reid has got to find a new man.

As much as it pains me to admit this, when Reid and Luke caress each other's faces and then move in for a kiss, it is sweet and hot at the same time.

Edited June 10, 201015 yr by Ann_SS

Today proved again that Reid is too good for Luke. Noah and Luke need to be together. Luke has no taste and isn't running into Reid's arms and Noah, well he is just a dumbass.

I agree!! Both Noah and Luke are whiny b i t c h e s!!

Reid was just telling Noah the truth. Something he isn't willing to accept. Nuke relationship is toxic. Both want it their way or no way. I think they are both at fault.

And I get that. But Noah was also right...that relationship is about more than the last six months (or so) of Noah's blindness, wherein Noah has taken ALL of Luke's whiny, narcissitic CRAP as he flitted from cause to cause, job to job, and tried to smother Noah with his "my way or the highway" need to control seemingly EVERY facet of the relationship and Noah's life in general.

Reid doesn't get a pass to "speak the truth" and not take responsibility for his own actions. If memory serves, Reid kept taunting Luke about "his boyfriend Noah" right up to the point they "accidently" kissed. So even though Reid might not have been out to "steal" Luke away, he did in effect poach his patient's boyfriend.

Luke sure wants both men fighting over him.

Well, he's Lily's son.

As for the whole Bob/ethics thing...I think Bob made it clear Reid's relationship with a donor when he was in charge of how that donation was used/utilized is what's inappropriate. Screwing Luke isn't the problem. He just can't do it and head the new wing (or whatever it is..) That's the difference in the Bob/Nancy&Chris and Reid/Luke situations.

Even historically, Lucinda was on the hospital board (and a generous contributor) throughout her marriage to John. But he wasn't in charge of how her donations were used.