GH: January 2025 Discussion Thread

[Cheap21]

Are we sure Cyrus isnt going to make his way into Michael's room and OD him on some digitalis?

[carolineg]

It's in 2000.  Emily/Zander and Alexis are with Sonny.  It's on you tube, but the song has been taken out.  I can't remember what song it was either.

 

[DRW50]

Thanks.

That would be a huge death that genuinely could change the show - a part of me wishes they'd do it, although I'd hate to see how it would diminish the Q side of the canvas.

[Vee]

I am behind by a few days because I've been focused on family and now monitoring the fires in LA (my apt is safe so far, but I may be chilling back east a bit longer than I thought) but I will say what I've said before: Based on GH actors' many anecdotes, when FV cares about something he will make time to put it together to his liking. He is said to be very active on the floor or in the booth and has given lots of vets or other actors notes on performance and how to work a scene. So when it's something that matters to him, he will still work to craft it.

The issue for me is twofold. First, I think his skill level for that has degraded as the time and budget crunch has gotten worse. When Frank first started as EP at OLTL he was basically a chameleon; he would tailor himself to whatever HW he was working for (starting with Malone and Griffith) and deliver a reasonably atmospheric show under budget, especially in the first couple years which were very dark and stylish in aesthetic at times even when the stories were often very silly. They never had the money or indulgence from the network that 2000s GH had (which allegedly went over a lot in the Guza II/JFP high on the hog days) but they put out a solid technical product.

As time has gone by and money has gotten tighter I think the upper limit of FV's skill for production value has been maxed out long ago. But the second problem is IMO ultimately about his own taste. When Valentini became the de facto head creative at GH with Carlivati gone, replaced with a succession of writers who answer to him a la JFP, his own preferences were revealed and I think there's just not much there. He was good at being a chameleon producer for others up to a point, but as his own voice IMO it's just about showcasing his favorite actors and personal preferences, maintaining a bland equilibrium and putting the show out. I think all these factors contribute to a very anodyne, rushed show. He'll focus on crafting specific scenes he cares for, sure. But the larger picture doesn't hold together because his emphasis is often on the wrong places. Unlike, say, a Wendy Riche or her crew.

Edited January 9 by Vee

[carolineg]

The only montages that touch "Clink Boom" are the "Lullaby Massacre" when Laura is singing to baby lulu and shots ring out at the club, Luke's house, and Sonny's apartment.  That was obviously before Clink/Boom and the Amazing Grace montage when Brenda returns.  You might all be thinking I said that because Brenda is in all three-and that is true.  They still are the top 3 IMO.

The Metro Court Hostage situation one was pretty cool too.

[Vee]

I did kind of like the one where Tamara Braun's Carly brokenly sings "Hush Little Baby" to Morgan in early '04 (when Courtney shoots Brian Beck), but by that point JFP and Guza had already begun regularly overusing the mob action montages. It also was wildly over-choreographed in the action with Jason and the baddies, it just didn't look remotely realistic and was comical. Very few hit well after that for me, though I do have a fondness for the blatant Godfather ripoff sequence crosscutting between Josslyn's(?) christening and Sonny and Dante's confrontation in 2010, right before Sonny shoots him. Mostly bc of the dialogue and performances there.

Edited January 9 by Vee

[carolineg]

I think it's Joss's Christening.  It definitely was a Christening because I thought about that one when someone brought up the Christmas shooting.   That was pretty good.

I am going to embarrass myself here, but I liked the James Franco one to Mad World when he falls of the MoMA? balcony.  It's hilarious.

Obviously, I agree about Guza's reliance on these montages.  They were always trying to one up Clink Boom.  A lot of them were entertaining though.

Edited January 9 by carolineg

[Contessa Donatella]

I'm coming up empty. Perhaps I will hit upon it later but at this point, I'm going to have to say I'm sorry but I must have been mistaken. 

[BetterForgotten]

Maybe she didn’t take a maternity leave, but I’d be happy if Mattsson took a permanent leave. 

[Liberty City]

Credits for Thursday, January 9, 2025:

Created by: Frank & Doris Hursley
Executive producer: Frank Valentini
Head writers: Elizabeth Korte, Chris Van Etten
Writers: Emily Culliton, Scott Sickles
Director: Jillian Dedote

[John]

Loving Curtis today

[John]

And of Course Willow gets to make Michael's medical decisions. 

[Taoboi]

Lol. Oh, you.

Tbf, January on GH has usually had a good pacing to it that comes across as if it's building to February Sweeps. And there is almost always an event that kicks it off somewhat. Or something happens right before. I believe last year it was Spencer and Esme. And the year before that it was Nik's dark descend. etc.

 

So it's per the course. Which I don't mind at all with GH.

 

Lol. After posting that...someone posted the original. It goes without saying how good someone looks.  

 

But yeah it sounds so weird.

 

 

[John]

Is that Son of a Bitch Drew really using the fact he went to Pentonville aganist Carly?

[ranger1rg]

I'd rather Brook Lynn leave Port Charles when the truth comes out.