1 hour ago, carolineg said:

but I have always said I don't think he has much fondness for the Sonny/Brenda pairing.

I don’t think he does either. He loves Brenda, and Sonny, just not together. He was smart enough to play the longing, but once he had Carly/Sonny nobody else was ever good enough there. I felt during her first return they were a little heavy handed even with the Carly/Sonny stuff. I think it’s part of why he intended Brenda to end up with Jason in 2002, and why she and Jax were always played more as a couple.

1 hour ago, titan1978 said:

I don’t think he does either. He loves Brenda, and Sonny, just not together. He was smart enough to play the longing, but once he had Carly/Sonny nobody else was ever good enough there. I felt during her first return they were a little heavy handed even with the Carly/Sonny stuff. I think it’s part of why he intended Brenda to end up with Jason in 2002, and why she and Jax were always played more as a couple.

Guza generally seems to like couples he creates like Carly/Sonny, Jax/Brenda, and potentially Jason/Brenda. He never really wrote for Sonny/Brenda as a couple together besides the last return.

I do think it was fairly wise to keep Sonny/Brenda apart in the first run because of Carly/Sonny's popularity and the length of Vanessa's initial contract. I am pretty certain everyone assumed Vanessa would stay, but at the time it was probably a solid decision when VM bolted. Unfortunately, Carly/Sonny will end up torturing us for the next two decades lol. At the time blowing up the very rushed Skye/Jax pairing was a smarter choice.

11 hours ago, carolineg said:

I do think Garin Wolf tried to change the tone slightly in his brief stint, but I also don't think a ton of effort was made to drastically change things until Ron stepped in.

GW's promotion to HW proves @titan1978 's point about JFP and Frons hiring a lackey to keep the show going until what was supposed to be its' cancellation. I still remember reading his interview w/ Michael Logan; and after about the fourth or fifth time he uttered that "Sometimes they come back!" garbage, I think it was clear to Logan and everyone else that he had absolutely no idea at all what to do with anyone on the show.

1 minute ago, Khan said:

GW's promotion to HW proves @titan1978 's point about JFP and Frons hiring a lackey to keep the show going until what was supposed to be its' cancellation. I still remember reading his interview w/ Michael Logan; and after about the fourth or fifth time he uttered that "Sometimes they come back!" garbage, I think it was clear to Logan and everyone else that he had absolutely no idea at all what to do with anyone on the show.

I get both your points. If that were the case they might as well have kept Guza but I assume it was a last attempt to save money or maybe they were eyeing RC/FV all along. For all I know GW was following Guza's outlines.

I think I recall GW's GH being slightly less dark and liked some of what he did with Sonny (temporarily) hit rock bottom. I would have to refresh my memory of that period because I can't actually remember much more than the Sonny arc. I don't think GW was necessarily head writer material and it would have been awful for GH to close out the show with him at the helm.

Garin Wolf, like Jean Passanante, might have been really good as part of a writing team in the right role. But neither one of them should have gotten the top spot. As much as I love Patrick Mulcahey, I think he also should not have ever been a solo HW or at the top of the ticket without a pure idea person there as his equal, which Korte is not. But PM at least knows how to make a character and their words reveal their motivations, wishes, personality, etc.

I was hopeful when Guza was let go. I remember the fan response and wishes for Sri Rao during Night Shift 2, and at the time that was airing he expressed interest in the main show. So there were talented writers not already washed up interested. And there was a tonal shift, but it stayed firmly in JFP’s creative wheelhouse, which is part of why she got fired too. It was also her MO back then. She tried to get rid of the HW position on OLTL, preferred weaker HW writing teams towards the end of her GL run, AW was a mess, and she brought McTavish with her to GH. Awful decisons and they showed onscreen. Guza/Pratt got associate producer titles specifically for more money and some autonomy to enforce their ideas, and she acquiesced unless something gave her the edge, like budget issues. She even tried Passanante on Y&R. Comically a bad idea!

GW had stayed and gone fi-core during the writers strike, and it felt to me like his GH was just limping to a close instead of trying a shot of adrenaline. Ron Carlivati drives me crazy with his bad habits, but he and Frank tried to save the show. Jill did not, and it’s almost comical considering she is supposed to be such a great EP. We can say Frons was stopping her all we want, but he was on borrowed time after the cancellations and general distaste for his ideas, which were almost DOA, and ratings matter. Had she injected energy and used the vets like FV/RC did, who knows how different things could have been?

1 hour ago, carolineg said:

For all I know GW was following Guza's outlines.

That was my hunch, too, lol.

IIRC, Karen Harris still was on social media at the time, saying, "If you thought Guza was too dark, wait 'til you see Garin in charge," or words to that effect. Frankly, I think she was too close to Guza to be objective, because what I saw of Wolf's work wasn't as dark as Guza's. It was just slower and duller.

1 hour ago, titan1978 said:

Garin Wolf, like Jean Passanante, might have been really good as part of a writing team in the right role.

Any time I forget that Jean Passanante (and Shelly Altman) once worked on GH, all I have to do is to remember Tracy's brain-eating bacteria and it's like yesterday once more, lol.

Week 17, Part III

Sean: "When are you ever going to get back to the business of being a woman and stop trying to be Robert Scorpio?"

Laurelton, the Anna (and Buzz) stuff: Just a few more weeks of this crap where almost nobody respects Anna. Just a few more weeks. Okay, let's do a quick rundown of her wins and losses this week:

• having some mother-daughter time with Robin while they buy summer clothes (WIN)

• Felicia wanting to be friends again (WIN)

• Kevin getting acquitted of murder (LOSS)

• doubting her abilities as a judge of people, crimefighter, etc. (LOSS)

• receiving tough love from Sean (WIN; Yes, he says some condescending things, but he does genuinely care for her. Contrast with Jake pulling the same routine a few weeks ago.)

• getting various degrees of attitude from Patrick, Jake, Kevin, and a random heckler while out to dinner (LOSS, but that's to be expected)

• going on a dinner and dancing date with Buzz (WIN, according to the show), who keeps stepping on her toes (LOSS)

Anna can't deny that she cares about Buzz, but she doesn't know if there's a future for them. Back at her place, they share a nightcap, Buzz kisses Anna, she pulls away, they confirm Robin's whereabouts, one more kiss, and then it's time to be interrupted by Frisco, Felicia, and Robin.

Side note: Anna and Buzz's date included instrumental versions of "I've Got a Crush on You" and "Somewhere." I thought the latter was played in a rather improv. style that actually kinda made sense for how unorderly their situation is.

And there you have it. The farthest Buzz will ever get with Anna. I already know that he'll get bopped on the head next week, and by the time he gets out of the hospital, Duke & Anna will very much be happening.

Buzz gets some last creepy moments Thursday while sharing an awkward breakfast with Anna and Robin. Anna's already told him that she's really not ready for a serious relationship right now. Buzz thinks she is. Anna's glad she's gotten the chance to feel like a woman again.

Anyway, at breakfast, Robin brings up having a baby brother or sister. "Do you think you could manage that?" Anna says she could, but there's more to it.

Robin: "There is?"

Buzz: "Yes, tell us."

Anna: "You stay out of this, Buzz."

Anna says that if you're going to be a mommy, you should be married.

Robin: "That shouldn't be so hard for you."

Buzz: "No, it shouldn't."

Anna: "Um, eat your breakfast."

Robin: "You can marry one of my godfathers. They're all unmarried. ... It might have to be you, Buzz."

Anna: "He's speechless. ... Please try to be."

Anna's week ends on Thursday, when she admits to Buzz that she can't let go of her doubts about Kevin. She's right, of course, but we won't know that for a while longer.

This one's for you, Buzz!

2 hours ago, Khan said:

That was my hunch, too, lol.

IIRC, Karen Harris still was on social media at the time, saying, "If you thought Guza was too dark, wait 'til you see Garin in charge," or words to that effect. Frankly, I think she was too close to Guza to be objective, because what I saw of Wolf's work wasn't as dark as Guza's. It was just slower and duller.

It was slower and possibly duller that's true.

@titan1978 whatever happened to Sri Rao? I would have liked to see him try main GH or any soap. Night Shift was so different from main GH though.

32 minutes ago, carolineg said:

It was slower and possibly duller that's true.

@titan1978 whatever happened to Sri Rao? I would have liked to see him try main GH or any soap. Night Shift was so different from main GH though.

He still writes and directs, according to IMBD he has a Netflix deal to create projects. That season of Night Shift was different than GH. It reminded me a little bit of Labine’s run. Like Ron Carlivati you could tell he was a fan of the 80’s GH, especially Robert. But he wanted to tell richer, deeper stories with those characters and RC wanted to tell superficial stuff with them.

Week 17, Part IV -- Conclusion

Monica: "Well, I have to get to the hospital. I'm sure, Edward, you can appreciate someone with a salaried position."

Sean Swindles the Quartermaines: Now that Alan, Edward, Lila, and Jimmy Lee are wiped out, let's have a round of good idea, bad idea!

• Lila: figuring out available resources (free busing, discount senior meals) -- GOOD IDEA!

• Edward: cutting back on the food spending ("Maybe some macaroni and cheese or a free pizza.") -- GOOD IDEA!

• Edward: vowing to drag Dimitri into court to get the money back -- UNREALISTIC IDEA!

• Lila: deciding to sell her jewelry -- GOOD IDEA!, as far as Edward's concerned ("Have you ever seen those rocks she has stashed away in the vault? I mean, this could be our version of Live Aid."; he's okay with Lila selling everything but her wedding ring)

• Alan: considering working double shifts to allow for more patients and more billing revenue -- GOOD IDEA!

• Edward: tapping into a rainy day fund of several hundred thousands -- GOOD IDEA! -- but intending to use that as seed money rather than the means to live modestly -- BAD IDEA!

• Edward: cutting back on the alcohol spending -- GOOD IDEA!

• Alan: considering looking for work outside of Port Charles -- BAD IDEA!

• Edward: urging Alan to reunite with Monica so they can keep their housing while he rebuilds the family fortune -- UNREALISTIC IDEA!

• Alan: accusing Jimmy Lee of being part of Dimitri's scheme -- BAD IDEA!, this gets Alan a punch in the face that sends him backwards over a chair

• Edward: deciding to sell the Southampton estate -- GOOD IDEA!

• Edward: deciding to close ELQ's international and Manhattan offices and dismiss the staff from the Port Charles office, with the family taking on all duties there -- UNREALISTIC IDEA!

• Edward and a reluctant Alan: trying to trick the GH board into paying Edward for being the chairman -- BAD IDEA!, this backfires when Steve, Amanda, Dan, and Rick assume Edward would be insulted by what they think would be modest wages, and decide it's best to just thank him for his service

Sean, meanwhile, keeps Monica in the dark about having the Q's money. I can't remember when or if she found out. Either way, we can already start to see the finish line for that couple. Speaking of sex, after some urging from Buzz, Jimmy Lee finally agrees to go after women again. Actually, at this point, Jimmy Lee is the star of the family. He's been promoted to supervisor -- not "foreman" -- of a new construction job.

Domestic Corner:

• Bryan and Claudia: She starts the week worried about Bryan, who didn't come home. Did he go on a bender? (I forgot Bryan's an alcoholic.) Was he with Debbie? Bryan gets mad that Claudia would think so little of him, says that he needs some space, and disappears for the next four episodes.

• Rick, Ginny and Mike: Mike likes girls, specifically Jamie (I'm 90% sure she's played by Wendy Brainard from Kids Incorporated), a fellow soccer player. Jamie tells Mike about how her parents don't pay her any attention, and I hate that I can make an educated guess as to where things are going. Mike will inevitably freak out about Rick and Ginny not worshipping him, and that's what's going to send him into Derek and Lorena's clutches. This is also where I can mention that on Thursday, when discussing with Anna the matter of friendships surviving tough times, Ruby alludes to Ginny framing Bobbie for murdering D.L. Yeah, that would be something tough to overcome.

• Tony and Tania: He installs a deadbolt on their door, since there's still a murderer out there. Later, Robin's made an honorary Jones, and Frisco & Felicia accept the honor of being the upcoming baby's godparents. It's all so adorable.

Edward: "We may be out of brandy, but damn it, we are going to maintain dignity in this house." Shoves Alan, causing him and the chair to once again fall over

Every week, I tell myself I'm not going to write War and Peace ... Oh well, as long as it's still fun for me and hopefully you guys.