GH: June 2025 Discussion Thread

21 minutes ago, carolineg said:

No Jagger Cates or Brenda Barret either?

To be fair, the Degrassi kids did look young most of the time in Next Gen.  That's a show that would continue to bring in new kids to make the transitions seamless and dump the ones (except Spinner) when they graduated mostly.  

Well, the O.G. years, they looked older, especially in comparison to the later years (simply Degrassi and Next Class). But producers were adamant: they cast real-aged actors to play the ages of the roles they needed. So, in their case, the actors did appear visibly younger than those from the original Next Generation and even the iterations that came before. But it is a prime example of real-life teens appearing younger [today] in comparison to [yesteryear]. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Credits for Thursday, June 19, 2025:

Created by: Frank & Doris Hursley
Executive producer: Frank Valentini
Head writers: Chris Van Etten, Elizabeth Korte
Writers: Suzanne Flynn, Scott Sickles, Cathy Lepard
Director: Rory Kramer

2 hours ago, Liberty City said:

True. Older-looking teens don't bother me, either. I love watching Grease, and the casting was clearly... apparent in what they were doing. Hence why when Colin Cassidy came in as nüAiden, I was fine with it; yes, he looked older, but it worked for me.

And trust me, I was pissed there was no Dylan McKay, Brandon Walsh, etc., at my high school... not that I stood a chance. Not even a Marco DelRossi or Sean (Degrassi: the Next Generation).

The biggest issue for me with the Aiden recast was he looked too similar to the age of his onscreen parents. And there just was no real reason to recast him for the amount of story he has. It came across as defensive, like they thought they needed to cast an older looking actor for the part as they had decided Aiden was gay, even though we see almost no focus on him being gay. Now he's just there, likely being seen even less. 

The UK soaps do like to focus more on teen characters...unfortunately that often just means interchangeable stories about bullying, drugs, and pregnancy, most of them not very good.

I wish GH could find some kind of balance, as they did with the teens in the late '90s (other than Nikolas, who always seemed older and a bit out of place to me with that set), but I suppose when you are more focused on a much older cast and older viewers, they don't really want to see teens. In another era they never would have let Joss stagnate to whatever she is now (sadly, any GH era would have treated Trina the way she is treated). 

38 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

The biggest issue for me with the Aiden recast was he looked too similar to the age of his onscreen parents. And there just was no real reason to recast him for the amount of story he has. It came across as defensive, like they thought they needed to cast an older looking actor for the part as they had decided Aiden was gay, even though we see almost no focus on him being gay. Now he's just there, likely being seen even less.

Everyone kept saying that, and I truly did not see it at all; even when I tried, I just did not see it. He read "teen" to me. My guess is Tristian Riggs read too young and "on the nose" for a gay teen. Sad, but true. Whereas Cassidy does not, although Riggs did mirror that of Jason David, who was the first Aiden to be placed into the storyline. And my other guess⏤again, with no verifiable proof⏤is that Enzo De Angelis (while 16) was not who they envisioned playing the Tobias/Aiden storyline, or that his own parents weren't openly ready to take it beyond the fact Aiden had a crush on Tobias. Again, no verifiable proof, just my suspicions of what could have been a factor in recasting. As Charlie Besso (Tobias) is 22 years old, so that is what's making me think casting older was for the potential to tell stories you wouldn't necessarily want a 16 year old playing on daytime television.

43 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I wish GH could find some kind of balance, as they did with the teens in the late '90s (other than Nikolas, who always seemed older and a bit out of place to me with that set), but I suppose when you are more focused on a much older cast and older viewers, they don't really want to see teens. In another era they never would have let Joss stagnate to whatever she is now (sadly, any GH era would have treated Trina the way she is treated). 

The biggest mistake I do think American soaps make is using the summertime as a way to lure teens into watching with a teen/younger set, and it just... comes off really forced and unnatural to me.

So Sidwell bribed tge judge. I am intrigued. 

23 minutes ago, Liberty City said:

Everyone kept saying that, and I truly did not see it at all; even when I tried, I just did not see it. He read "teen" to me. My guess is Tristian Riggs read too young and "on the nose" for a gay teen. Sad, but true. Whereas Cassidy does not, although Riggs did mirror that of Jason David, who was the first Aiden to be placed into the storyline. And my other guess⏤again, with no verifiable proof⏤is that Enzo De Angelis (while 16) was not who they envisioned playing the Tobias/Aiden storyline, or that his own parents weren't openly ready to take it beyond the fact Aiden had a crush on Tobias. Again, no verifiable proof, just my suspicions of what could have been a factor in recasting. As Charlie Besso (Tobias) is 22 years old, so that is what's making me think casting older was for the potential to tell stories you wouldn't necessarily want a 16 year old playing on daytime television.

The biggest mistake I do think American soaps make is using the summertime as a way to lure teens into watching with a teen/younger set, and it just... comes off really forced and unnatural to me.

It was always forced, especially in the '90s when suddenly 25-30 year olds with bosoms aplenty and killer abs would be all over the screen, many of them lucky to get their lines out. That's one of the parts of soaps now being so much more geared to older people (other than DAYS, maybe) that I'm not sorry about. 

I just have a hard time imagining Frank ever wanting to tell any story with Tobias and Aiden. I am surprised they even made Aiden gay. That seemed to be something that slipped through during the strike. Maybe Frank figured Aiden is never going to matter anyway, so why not.

Edited June 19Jun 19 by DRW50

4 hours ago, carolineg said:

True.  People complain if they look too old, but I grew up in the 90210 era and so old teens don't bother me as much.  I was sorely disappointed there was no Dylan McKay at my school when I entered high school though lol.

Very. Perhaps that is why I have very little issue with it as well due to 90210. Heck, it was a running joke for decades. Let me add Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill to that list. 

15 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

Very. Perhaps that is why I have very little issue with it as well due to 90210. Heck, it was a running joke for decades. Let me add Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill to that list. 

One Tree Hill definitely. 😍 Lucas and Nathan. YES!

24 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I just have a hard time imagining Frank ever wanting to tell any story with Tobias and Aiden. I am surprised they even made Aiden gay. That seemed to be something that slipped through during the strike. Maybe Frank figured Aiden is never going to matter anyway, so why not.

Do you think that the same applies to Kraze? They were created at the same time.

Just now, Contessa Donatella said:

Do you think that the same applies to Kraze? They were created at the same time.

I wouldn't be surprised.

Well, at least tomorrow's previews show a shirtless Michael at the pool and a sleeveless Gio.

44 minutes ago, ranger1rg said:

Well, at least tomorrow's previews show a shirtless Michael at the pool and a sleeveless Gio.

Ooooo looks like I'll be jumped ahead again. hehe. I assume he will be maked up to cover his tatts.

3 hours ago, DRW50 said:

And there just was no real reason to recast him for the amount of story he has. It came across as defensive, like they thought they needed to cast an older looking actor for the part as they had decided Aiden was gay, even though we see almost no focus on him being gay. Now he's just there, likely being seen even less. 

The rumor was always that the network insisted on an older actor in the role due to anticipating right wing backlash. Hence why they cut the scenes Mulcahey's regime allegedly either wrote or shot with Aiden coming out to Laura.

They had been toying with Aiden being gay in the clumsiest way possible for close to ten years now - the whole borderline offensive storyline with him liking baking or 'feminine' things as a small child 5-6 years ago or whatever and getting bullied, which got dropped. I found it really tacky that they were approaching it that way; the angle was 'Aiden likes baking and girl stuff... is he, you know?' Then it went dormant for a year or two.

But the interest in baking carried over to the teen versions, and then they finally admitted okay, he's gay in late '23. Yet I don't think they've ever had any real interest in him. And he's honestly a nonentity to me, which is a shame to say about Lucky's son. I find far more potential in Cameron and Jake atm, but that may be because they both have had defined personalities and strong actors in the role long-term. Aiden can wait.

Tobias is never going to be a major character on this show - I don't know why people cling to that. It was just an offhand mention and they showed him once to get people to shut up about him. Charlie Besso is also a semi-prominent influencer who I was shocked to see show up on this show, and AFAIK he's made zero mention of GH on his social media vs. happily doing Hallmark movies lol.

Edited June 19Jun 19 by Vee

47 minutes ago, Vee said:

The rumor was always that the network insisted on an older actor in the role due to anticipating right wing backlash. Hence why they cut the scenes Mulcahey's regime allegedly either wrote or shot with Aiden coming out to Laura.

They had been toying with Aiden being gay in the clumsiest way possible for close to ten years now - the whole borderline offensive storyline with him liking baking or 'feminine' things as a small child 5-6 years ago or whatever and getting bullied, which got dropped. I found it really tacky that they were approaching it that way; the angle was 'Aiden likes baking and girl stuff... is he, you know?' Then it went dormant for a year or two.

But the interest in baking carried over to the teen versions, and then they finally admitted okay, he's gay in late '23. Yet I don't think they've ever had any real interest in him. And he's honestly a nonentity to me, which is a shame to say about Lucky's son. I find far more potential in Cameron and Jake atm, but that may be because they both have had defined personalities and strong actors in the role long-term. Aiden can wait.

Tobias is never going to be a major character on this show - I don't know why people cling to that. It was just an offhand mention and they showed him once to get people to shut up about him. Charlie Besso is also a semi-prominent influencer who I was shocked to see show up on this show, and AFAIK he's made zero mention of GH on his social media vs. happily doing Hallmark movies lol.

I wasn't watching in that period so I had no idea they'd done jokes about it for years. I'd think a gay producer would know better than to have that type of material on a show mostly for straight viewers, but clearly not. 

I wonder why they cut the Laura scenes but not Lucky finding out. Did most of the latter happen after the election?

The character could be interesting, someday, I suppose, but it's hard to imagine. I'm surprised they even have done as much as they have with Lucas, and that's not very much either.

4 hours ago, John said:

So Sidwell bribed tge judge. I am intrigued. 

So am I. That is a twist I never saw coming!

I'd been worried that the show might run out of steam now that we've had some big reveals in the two frontburner storylines: Gio's paternity and the Willow/Michael custody battle. But I feel like they're doing a pretty good job of laying the groundwork for future storylines. I'm even now a bit more invested in the Curtis/Portia portion of the show now that Jordan had that conversation to Anna about contemplating if she wants Curtis back.