BTG: May 2025 Discussion Thread

[Alan]

I think maybe Andre is subconsciously looking for a caretaker/nurturer in his life to replace his parents. That would explain his attraction to both Ashley (nurse) and Dani (older woman/his aunt's sister).

I don't see any chemistry between Ashley and Andre though. In fact Andre and Derek had more chemistry in the pasta night episode than either of them have ever had with Ashley.

[ranger1rg]

-- "The role of Ted Richardson is now being played by...." I love that throwback to soaps from yesteryear. I know we don't want BTG to be our grandmother's soap, but sometimes Grandma's soaps had it right.

-- I was FULLY prepared to dislike Keith D. Robinson as Ted, and I even went through things in my mind that I could say because I was fine with Maurice Johnson and felt bad for him.

    However, Robinson was awfully good, especially for Day 1. He's a different Ted, but he's a good actor -- natural and real. People saying Gates "should have gone older" are head-scratchers since Robinson is older than Johnson.

-- I expected Bill to be tougher than he was with Dana, THE worst mother of the year on soaps.

-- Kat went toe-to-toe in those scenes with Dana. We're all in love with Ambyr/Eva, but Colby/Kat is also killing it.

-- Derek and Ashley? I'm turning on Ashley, who can't even pretend to like Derek, let alone love him. Her annoyance with him is overboard, and I'm also annoyed with the show portraying Derek as a Neanderthal -- to the point of putting "Neanderthal" in his dialogue. Every single thing he does annoys Ashley, which makes me wonder what she ever saw in him. I want him away from her.

-- Seeing Derek and Ashley in that bed was hilarious. It looks like a single, not something for two grown adults.

-- Ashley and Andre are still a no for me -- a big no. I see no reason why he'd be infatuated with her. None. At least Andre got a smile from her, which she didn't have for Derek, even when he wanted them to get a bigger place. Derek, please dodge the bullet.

[Taoboi]

@Paul Raven thank you. I knew you would have the skinny on sets. So probably more to come.

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As for recast Ted, I saw him briefly because it's been a busy day, but what little I saw of him...I didn't dislike him as much as I thought I would. Keith felt like Maurice's Ted in a lot of mannerisms and way he had with some things/words. Definitely a different presence from Maurice's Ted, but I still feel like Keith WAS Ted. If that makes sense. Maruice's Ted definitely had a different charisma to him. From the brief scene I saw.

 

Will probably watch later when I get more time. Sounds like it was a great episode from the parts I've glanced on here earlier. 

Speak on it. 

[EricMontreal22]

I'm not a Derek fan at all (and not even all that much of an Ashley fan, but man has she become awful in their relationship--like she's not even trying.  But also I admit, I don't think I'd ever live with someone, even someone I was married to (I know they're not married) in a bachelor apartment unless I had to.  Even just a one bedroom would make a big difference.  I'd probably end up hiding in the bathroom a lot

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[1974mdp]

I actually thought he came off as younger. It's so hard to buy Martin as Nicole and Ted's son unless they had him when they were 12.

[ranger1rg]

Keith D Robinson is 49. Maurice Johnson is 46.

[Soapsuds]

Keith still comes off younger to me.

I thought he wasn't that bad for his first day.

[BetterForgotten]

Loved this IG post from Ambyr about how she and Trisha work together. You can tell these ladies go above and beyond the script, and that they really trust and enjoy working together.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJpJufFPOQ2/?igsh=MXBmcWs0YzIwaXVhNA==
 

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[GLATWT88]

I didn't get to finish the episode last night. It's been a week and I was not able to keep my eyes open. 

I will say that I understand everyone's comments on the new Ted. I think more so than anything is the shock. Where else in modern TV do you get an actor to replace another from one day to the next without a break or some storyline to explain it. However, it's such a soap staple that I can't help but love it when I heard "The role of...is now being played by..." 

I think the actor is good. I felt like Kat felt different playing against him. I wonder if it was nerves or just maybe this actor bringing something difgerent out of Colby. I do think Maurice's acting range showed itself to be weak when he got these more emotionally charged scenes to play. I actually clocked him as one of the weaker actors from Day 1, but he definitely wasn't the worst and I didn't think he needed to be replaced. However, I'm open to new Ted. Maybe Maurice can come back as Andre's daddy back from the "dead." 

Ashley is really becoming unlikable with her attitude towards living with Derek. Although, she should have shut him down the minute he imposed the idea on her. Also, if I'm living with someone and I have a guest coming over soon which I forgot to mention to that person than they are more than welcome to stay. Especially, if that person is someone we both know. They'll just be made aware that next time I'm going to need them to leave for a few while when I have time with a friend. It was so rude the way she approached it, which makes it even more confusing as to why all the characters around her put her on a pedestal and Andre is obsessed. 

I honestly don't see any chemistry between Andre and Ashley. Andre gets on my nerves. I'm sorry yall, but I can't with that man. He always gotta let out a huff in that last syllable when he's saying something emotional. It's like okay now Big Bad Wolf. Also, what is the appeal of Ashley? She's boring. The character is bland. I do feel for the Ashley and Derek actors because what are they even doing there...taking up space. 

 

 

[Soaplovers]

We're getting an actual personality and flaws for Ashley... so it's a good start.  I'm guessing that Derek is her first serious relationship and I think she's falling out of love with Derek.. just hasn't accepted that realization as of yet.

I agree that the show was diving headfirst into an Andre/Ashley pairing in the first handful of episodes, but they backed off of it and I have two theories:

- Andre/Dani had a rapport/chemistry.  Probably more so than MVJ or the writers anticipated so the show is probably exploring that avenue.

- Based on the character template that Ashley was created from... having her stray with Andre would have been out of character and caused the audience to hate her so the show is now weaving in reasons why Ashley might be looking Andres way (i.e. grass is greener on the other side, inexperience, Derek being too basic/vanilla).

 

[Liberty City]

It's giving Ashley as "type A" personality, while Derek is giving "type B" personality, and they're clashing.

[BetterForgotten]

And it’s give me a Zzzzzzzz viewing experience!

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[janea4old]

One of the main traits of a Type A personality is ambition/competitiveness. That's not Ashley.

[MissPhoenixGirl92]

Oh yeah, definitely! I actually like this storyline because it's very realistic and we are definitely starting to see the cracks in Ashley and Derek's relationship. I also like that they are finally starting to develop Ashley as a character and putting her in scenes with her mom Jan also helps a lot. I'm not so sure about Ashley and Andre as a couple though and I'm also still sort of on the fence about Andre/Dani too. Maybe if the writers continue to flesh out Ashley as a character and give her a real purpose outside of Derek and Jan I might eventually warm up to them as a couple if the writers actually intend for them to be a real thing long term. I'm not entirely convinced that Andre/Dani are in it for the long haul and I feel like they should have kept Andre as a womanizing lothario because at least he would have something of a personality. 

[Cheap21]

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that was fast! And I love that he's still next to Leslie, Kat and Eva

 

at least she does her laundry!