One thing I admire about Eric N. is his refusal to shy away from showing his character's less-than-glamourous aspects. Many young actors hold back and phone it in...in a misguided effort to have a "glossy reel".

That's why I can't be TOO harsh about Eric Nelsen (nose jokes aside). He seems pretty fearless. He also seems the type who could make just about ANY material seem good. I only wish directors would work with him more in rehearsal to help him avoid his tendency to over-act.

Finally watched this...

I thought the JR/AJ scenes were well-written, especially AJ telling JR that he overheard Brooke and Adam doubting him. I wish we'd seen that phone conversation - did we?. The acting was not quite up to par, Bittle was under and Eric was over, but they did decently enough for the most part. I think they need to improve AJ's dialogue. It's very 1985 teen movie.

I like seeing Bianca and Miranda have feelings and concerns, and hurts, but try to work things out as mother and daughter. I still think Miranda is too dismissive of Bianca's pain, but overall I like the relationship.

I still don't want to see most of the Cassandra story but I did see the last scene, where the new girl was trying to comfort her, as she'd once tried to comfort other broken girls. Good, stomach-churning writing.

They're treading a fine line with Zach, because they sometimes write him as the sleaze that a tough woman can't help liking, as he truly knows who she is, he's just being "real" etc. That's not acceptable writing for 2013, even if it is the standard in most soaps and other genres. I think Paula Garces is doing OK, and I actually thought Thorsten Kaye was terrific in this episode. I've never been much of a fan of Kaye's, but I've always thought Zach was his best role, and sometimes he really impresses me with the depth and sense of loss under the sexist pig surface. Now I just need the writing to say that Lea is not a dove who will be wooed by the hurt bad boy who routinely degrades her.

I really liked the David/Joe scene. David was so open with Joe and you could tell that Joe shutting him down truly did wound him. This is where I truly appreciate the absence of those assholes Jake and Tad, because when David blew up at Joe, I actually felt a little sorry for both men, instead of seeing Joe as part of a gang of sanctimony and sucker punches.

I liked the Joe/Cara scene, what we saw, but that old school melodramatic sobbing is...wow. JER lives on.

I'm so happy Dixie got out of the red blazer and red lipstick, but she was wearing AJ's top. Weird.

OK, I haven't seen this episode (I've been really busy and also sick, so I really need to catch up), but regarding the Colby discussion:

I liked Ambyr Childers the best of the "bad" Colbys. She started out a bit green, but really improved by the end of her run and I was a surprised she was let go.

Brianne Moncrief annoyed the HELL out of me and I thought her acting was weak. Is it just me, or did she always look like she was smelling a fart? UGH.

Natalie Hall was alright, but I agree with the poster who said she was sort of just... "there".

I hope the new actress is good.

Edited June 19, 201312 yr by Pine Charles

Wasn't it Ambyr who was let go amongst rumours of either not wanting to have romantic scenes with a black, or gay, or gay and black actor? (Who could have been the Senator's son--I think?) Of course who knows if that's true, and most of that teen scene seemed to be let go when (I believe) Pratt replaced B/E, but...

(I could be completely wrong about which actress played when...)

Those were the rumors. I didn't want to believe them, and she gave a wonderful supporting performance in Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master.

Yes, I actually was going to say she was in The Master which hardly seemed a movie that an insanely conservative actress would do...

Her age jumped around--Ambyr was born in 1988, Brianne in 1983 and Natalie again in 1988.

Yes, I actually was going to say she was in The Master which hardly seemed a movie that an insanely conservative actress would do...

Her age jumped around--Ambyr was born in 1988, Brianne in 1983 and Natalie again in 1988.

Colby's age didn't jump around ever since Ambyr took over Colby's birthyear always remained at 1990

Grr you know what I mean.

Was it Nellie Olsen who had the blind item that many thought was Childers? If so then I would write it off.

It prob was--I would say the same thing. I do believe it was all but confirmed that she was dropped by AMC and quickly replaced but not of her choosing which probably fueled the belief

Oh, Childers was the alleged homophobe? I always thought it was Moncrief -- and the gay male she didn't want to kiss was Daniel Kennedy (ex-Petey).

Oh, Childers was the alleged homophobe? I always thought it was Moncrief -- and the gay male she didn't want to kiss was Daniel Kennedy (ex-Petey).

It was Childers and supposedly she didn't want to do scenes with Frankie/CSJ. They were teasing that Colby was developing a crush on Frankie after they had been kidnapped and it was then that Nelson dropped that an AMC actor was being replaced because they were a bigot who complained about working with gay people and minorities.

It was Childers and supposedly she didn't want to do scenes with Frankie/CSJ. They were teasing that Colby was developing a crush on Frankie after they had been kidnapped and it was then that Nelson dropped that an AMC actor was being replaced because they were a bigot who complained about working with gay people and minorities.

Well, that's unfortunate if true.

Not surprising she played a good bitch then....she didn't even need to act!

Well, that's unfortunate if true.

Not surprising she played a good bitch then....she didn't even need to act!

Knowing what I now do about how Nelson operates I'm not sure that any of that was true.