Would it work better if they dropped one of the interviewers?

That way there is more time for the guests to talk.

1 hour ago, Soaplovers said:

Would it work better if they dropped one of the interviewers?

That way there is more time for the guests to talk.

Budig's husband Mike Benson is a Paramount producer.
Edit: correction: the Paramount marketing executive.

Unlikely they'd drop her.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7575642/bio/

https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/executives/?view=mike-benson

Edited Sunday at 11:56 PM1 day by janea4old

2 hours ago, Soaplovers said:

Would it work better if they dropped one of the interviewers?

That way there is more time for the guests to talk.

I like having both. For me, the fact that Budig and Rikaart are good friends makes it more enjoyable, although they're definitely not as playful like they were in Season 1. I think the intent there was to make it seem 'more professional'.

I like that both come from different shows, so between the two of them, they have more stories and relationships across more soaps, which works well. Like had Rikaart only been there for Susan Lucci's interview, I don't think it would have been as special or fun since Budig/Lucci had a relationship (and Judy Blye Wilson)... and similarly, when Deidre Hall was on, had it only been Budig, it wouldn't have been as good.

32 minutes ago, alwaysAMC said:

I like having both. For me, the fact that Budig and Rikaart are good friends makes it more enjoyable, although they're definitely not as playful like they were in Season 1. I think the intent there was to make it seem 'more professional'.

I like that both come from different shows, so between the two of them, they have more stories and relationships across more soaps, which works well. Like had Rikaart only been there for Susan Lucci's interview, I don't think it would have been as special or fun since Budig/Lucci had a relationship (and Judy Blye Wilson)... and similarly, when Deidre Hall was on, had it only been Budig, it wouldn't have been as good.

I don't like them.. they're too corporate.

1 hour ago, alwaysAMC said:

the fact that Budig and Rikaart are good friends

True, Budig and Rikaart were real-life neighbors (don't know if they still are); and also real-life friends. I remember many years ago (maybe 10 or 15 years ago?) they would sometimes jokingly tease each other on social media.

Edited Sunday at 11:52 PM1 day by janea4old

1 hour ago, Soaplovers said:

they're too corporate.

I just re-read Budig's husband's bio. He's literally the Chief Marketing Officer, "who leads brand strategy and multiplatform marketing for the TV Media division of Paramount, a Skydance Corporation. In this role, he oversees marketing across all CBS‑branded businesses"

The first time I saw Viki at that diner in Paris, TX, I said, "This is 'Alice.' That son-of-a-bitch has ripped off 'Alice'." Sure enough, lol!

I actually believe Ron Carlivati when he says he watched a lot of TV growing up, because I was the same way. I think that's why it always scares me whenever one of my ideas happens to be in sync with one of his.

He's a very engaging personality. I understand why so many people BTS love him and love working with him. I just wish his stories were as engaging (and that he would stay his ass off social media).

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Khan

5 minutes ago, Khan said:

Oh. My. Gawd. The first time I saw Viki at that diner in Paris, TX, I said, "This is 'Alice.' That son-of-a-bitch has ripped off 'Alice'." Sure enough, lol!

And it was a great ripoff!

10 minutes ago, Vee said:

And it was a great ripoff!

You think so, lol? I mean, it WAS interesting to see Viki sling hash and not have it blamed on one of her alters. So, I'll give him that much.

I truly, truly wish he hadn't brought up the John Stamos Twitter feud. That [!@#$%^&*] needed to stay dead and buried. But, Ron's gonna Ron.

Oh, and Ron? In case you're actually reading this? Gigi falling through the ice? You were ripping off "Uncle Tom's Cabin," weren't you?

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Khan

28 minutes ago, Khan said:

You think so, lol? I mean, it WAS interesting to see Viki sling hash and not have it blamed on one of her alters. So, I'll give him that much.

I truly, truly wish he hadn't brought up the John Stamos Twitter feud. That [!@#$%^&*] needed to stay dead and buried. But, Ron's gonna Ron.

Oh, and Ron? In case you're actually reading this? Gigi falling through the ice? You were ripping off "Uncle Tom's Cabin," weren't you?

I think he lost whatever talent he had long ago, but ripping off film plots is definitely not a bad thing. All the great soap writers did it all the time. Of course, when they did it, the result was usually more palatable. However, those first couple OLTL years were a breath of fresh air for the most part. The rest of his work, I plead the fifth.

Just now, Bright Eyes said:

ripping off film plots is definitely not a bad thing.

No, it's not a bad thing. KL did it all the time! But ripping off an '80's sitcom (that wasn't "Cheers" or "Newhart" or even "The Cosby Show")? Nuh uh, lol.

25 minutes ago, Khan said:

You think so, lol?

I do, I thought it was a lovely romance for Viki with Charlie, a solid intro for Gigi and Shane as well as dovetailing beautifully with the Marcie on the run story, ending very well with the hostage crisis with Marcie at the diner with Viki. One of the best (and last) wholly cohesive stories Ron ever did, because he was not yet high on his own supply at that time. That changed quickly.

I haven't watched the episode yet. Not sure when I will. I'm not surprised Ron brought up his feuds. He can't let anything go and was still negging people at GH re: the 60th anniversary a couple years ago. I don't think it can be debated that Ron gave OLTL its last renaissance, and I was very pleased with it initially. But there were as many low lows as great highs over the next few years, often in the same moment in time. I loved and hated a lot of things, and some of it has aged even worse since. I also don't think it can be debated that he and Frank saved GH, both with fun stories or good stories alongside some purely rubbernecking ridiculous or offensive ones.

Very few HWs in daytime are just one thing, just binary 'good' or bad'. RC is no different. I think he's well past his prime and previous perspective these days, but he could always surprise me again. I know I'd rather watch his work than a number of others still working, for the good, bad or ugly. But I also don't think it's terrible that he's not currently HWing a soap. I think his extended glory run at ABC was bad for his talent and at times both good and bad for daytime. I'm sure he'll turn up somewhere again, but while I miss some things about his better work fondly I don't miss the feuds, the petty jabs and the tone-deaf approach to so many important issues or character beats.

13 minutes ago, Vee said:

I haven't watched the episode yet. Not sure when I will. I'm not surprised Ron brought up his feuds. He can't let anything go and was still negging people at GH re: the 60th anniversary a couple years ago. I don't think it can be debated that Ron gave OLTL its last renaissance, and I was very pleased with it initially. But there were as many low lows as great highs over the next few years, often in the same moment in time. I loved and hated a lot of things, and some of it has aged even worse since. I also don't think it can be debated that he and Frank saved GH, both with fun stories or good stories alongside some purely rubbernecking ridiculous or offensive ones.

Very few HWs in daytime are just one thing, just binary 'good' or bad'. RC is no different. I think he's well past his prime and previous perspective these days, but he could always surprise me again. I know I'd rather watch his work than a number of others still working, for the good, bad or ugly. But I also don't think it's terrible that he's not currently HWing a soap. I think his extended glory run at ABC was bad for his talent and at times both good and bad for daytime. I'm sure he'll turn up somewhere again, but while I miss some things about his better work fondly I don't miss the feuds, the petty jabs and the tone-deaf approach to so many important issues or character beats.

Well said!