GH: August 2024 Discussion Thread

[Contessa Donatella]

Dante had a bad case of PTSD. 

So his name WAS Dustin! Yea, I got something right. He reminded me of a young James Hyde. 

Edited August 24, 2024 by Contessa Donatella

[carolineg]

PSTD!  Thanks!  I knew he was in Turkey because that's where Sonny 'adopted' random street kid Dev lol.

I think Dustin was Joss's teacher too?  The only reason I even mildly remember Dustin is because he started out as a bit of a day player like FV liked to do with his OLTL buddies sometimes and then he just randomly kept reappearing until I realized he was an actual character on the show.

He seemed like just a regular nice guy.  I guess they dumped Lawson when they fired Rylan.  I am going to assume there was a head writing change during that time, but I am too lazy to look it up.  

Edited August 24, 2024 by carolineg

[Contessa Donatella]

Very much regular nice guy, although also quite good looking. I literally only know who he is at all because he & Lulu fell in love. I vividly remember them together at her place, out at restaurants & even that fateful night sitting opposite her at a table. He & she are apparently emblazoned upon my brain. I saw so much more of her on GL but it is GH that I remember. Recently some other GL fans have said how much they liked her as Lizzie. I did not. So, I also was not overly fond of her Lulu. Lulu & Lizzie what a resume.

I recently talked to a friend at the studio. 2 weeks ago all glum, no Lulu yet. just the other day, fairly jubilant: We have a maybe Lulu! I asked what a maybe meant. He said everyone is speculating & we cannot talk about names. So, of course I accepted that names were off the table. He did say, though, that it is definitely not Stephanie G. She was out of the running earlier which we also know from Errol. I was excited just to know there's a maybe NuLu.

[depboy]

Maxie nicknamed him “Hot Dustin”, which was very apropos IMHO.

[Beachstorm]

Thanks for this NuLu info. So glad for a recast.

[Contessa Donatella]

You're very welcome. Easy enough to share. Also it's not like it's some big deal or even a spoiler. 

I know that some of you skipped out on both the Cody & James scene, short though it was, and then also skipped Home & Heart, which we all know should be named Home & Hearth, but whatever. 

I just thought I would apprise you of a few things.

Cody gave James a black cowboy hat just like his only in his own size, so he can wear it & actually see what is in front of him. 

Now, at Home & Heart immediately Lois faced a crisis. When it was her cue to go on, she froze. A female staffer grabbed her arm & said GO!!! She went. But, no, it wasn't over yet. Who would have ever guessed that Lois would be hit with paralyzing stage fright. Haven just treated her very gently but ureged her to begin by talking about the products! All of a sudeen Lois's mouth worked & then she reached down & picked up the right product & held it up to the camera & yes, she knew which camera to face. After that it was smooth sailing except for the anonymous internet troll on the phone yakking on & on about Lois's accent. Again, Haven showed her true colors by giving the caller a comeuppance. And, I was so proud of Morgan Fairchild, not snippy at all. aven said she was raised to think it was bad manners to blah blah but it was perfect. 

Edited August 25, 2024 by Contessa Donatella
combine

[titan1978]

I wonder what the issue is with Kelly Monaco? She’s barely used at all anymore, and then misses one of her few appearances, in a pivotal set of scenes.

I will just continue to harp on this until Valentini is gone or the show ends. The way they use contract performers is baffling.

I think I am supposed to feel sympathy for Kristina, but it’s just not there. And a lot of it is how Mansi is playing it.

[Contessa Donatella]

Now, this about Mansi's acting choices makes me curious. I think Kate & Kristen are both acting the pants off of everyone else!

[Liberty City]

Same; she's a damn good actor but those graveyard scenes were painful to watch (and not in a good kind of way). Vaganos & Grahn were the superior players in those scenes.

[titan1978]

There is a way to play selfish or even heinous and still win over an audience, or get their sympathy. Judith Light was the gold standard from what I have seen of her as Karen Wolek on OLTL. Maura West pulls it off quite often. Sarah Joy Brown was superb at doing it as Carly. Certainly they all had more time to craft those performances than they have on daytime now, and much stronger writing.

I think Mansi has been great as Kristina. I just don’t think she is doing anything to make Kristina rootable. Which is fine, she doesn’t have to. Kristina is spoiled, she is impulsive, and she can be reckless. That has all been there no matter who plays her. But from the time she decided the baby was her baby, before the accident, they didn’t do her any favors by making it seem she was truly conflicted about what she is doing to Molly and TJ. It wasn’t written well at all. I am relieved that at least this late in the game someone is calling her out, and that Molly is also calling out Alexis.

[detroitpiston]

Yeah I felt Mansi got outshone in the graveyard scenes. She goes for hammy acting choices often and it works in her favor sometimes (Kristina’s crying outburst during the funeral, the freakout over Sonny beating Dex) but it can ring very false in other moments. She didn’t take me out of the graveyard material completely and it all kind of worked if you lean into the idea of Kristina being a selfish drama queen…but Vaganos, NLG and even Rick Hearst & Tahj B with few lines were performing on one level and Kate wasn’t matching them IMO. I wouldn’t have those in my Emmy reel if I’m her.

 @titan1978 the comparison to people like SJB and Maura West is a spot on example of what’s lacking in Mansi’s Kristina portrayal for me overall. Those actresses understand how to infuse a layer of complexity and reasoning behind their characters actions in every scene and Mansi isn’t really doing any of that, she’s just playing whats on the page. I’m not gonna begrudge her for that too harshly but I think going a little deeper and maintaining that would help with the likability problem.

[Liberty City]

Yup. Both Brown & West are masterclasses in daytime acting, and acting in general.

[dragonflies]

Kate Mansi is f*cking horrible, WTH was that at the grave side? Kristen Vaganos is perfect as Molly, I adore her so much!

[Contessa Donatella]

Kate posted this morning about the scene where Alexis tells Jagger "his ass in a sling". Apparently they had to do that scene over & over & the whole time they were about to bust a gut laughing at that one line.

[Beachstorm]

Vaganos is officially the best Molly. I am taken with her. Glad they found her.

Mansi is not cutting it for me. But then can you just imagine Lexi trying to keep up in this storyline? That wouldn't have worked at all, so I'm also glad for this recast in that way. Maybe Mansi will go dark and be better. That's her stronger suit.