I don't think they knew how prominent the Vanessa story would end up becoming tbh. She is still relatively supporting to the Dupree canvas. But I do agree she needs a set.

4 minutes ago, Vee said:

I don't think they knew how prominent the Vanessa story would end up becoming tbh. She is still relatively supporting to the Dupree canvas. But I do agree she needs a set.

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure she's the only person on contract without a set. That is crazy to me. 

4 minutes ago, Chris B said:

My biggest complaints for BTG often involve production and they have gotten on my nerves once again!

Vanessa and Doug (RIP) have been two of the biggest standouts since the show began. I literally accepted since we met him that he wouldn't live long but I was okay with that as long as they did him justice in his death. I feel like they've done a decent job so far but my production complaint is: How is Vanessa on contract with no set?

She should not be dressed to the nines, grieving in public. This is her time to shine and time for them to pay tribute to Doug. We should see Jan welcoming person after person into her home to express their condolences. We should see her in sweats on the couch with Donnell in her arms as they grief the loss of Doug. We should see people bringing food for them to eat. 

They did all that bragging about how many sets they had but didn't think to give one to one of their main characters? I don't understand how they have so much space and allegedly 27 sets but we keep seeing stupid things like this happen over and over. This is why I say they need a better executive producer to handle the day-to-day. For one, they need a new set designer and two, they need someone who knows how to create sets that can be redressed so you can have more locations with the same amount of space!

Things like this and keeping people like Alex Algeria and Ben Gavin employed annoy me. All that talk about excellence yet they settle for mediocrity in ways they simply don't have to. 

Agree on a lot of this.

Xavier Phideaux in his interview talked about restrictions with sets and I think mentioned characters having to be in a bedroom. Referring to Jacob/Naomi.

Which has me wondering why that decision was made in the first place. Such a dumb move.

That set could have easily been a small living room which a clever designer could have worked with to give the impression it was part of a larger house or apartment. Any sexy scenes could have taken place on the sofa or a limbo bedroom set as we have seen used for other charcters.

Then we had Randy at Orphey's which was odd but the next day they set up a simple set (wall/table/chairs) for Dani and Andre at the airport. Why not do that for Randy?

I remember when the show was announced and they talked about real estate agents, politicians and firefighters and I was wondering how they were going to show all that.

Well they haven't, and Vanessa not having either house or office is poor planning.

As for sets having Nicole and Bill's house having similar floorplans with no front door and people entering through a corridor -that's a miss for me. We need those classic soap scenes of character A opening the door to character B.

4 hours ago, Chris B said:

For one, they need a new set designer and two, they need someone who knows how to create sets that can be redressed so you can have more locations with the same amount of space!

Same. I would think they would do some redressing so it seem like everyone has a home. 

5 hours ago, Paul Raven said:

Xavier Phideaux in his interview talked about restrictions with sets and I think mentioned characters having to be in a bedroom. Referring to Jacob/Naomi.

This entire Phideaux Xavier interview is worth watching. Already posted in the behind-the-scenes thread and the directors&writers thread, but I think it's really useful for all BTG viewers to watch.   I watched the full hour and found it *very* interesting.
No spoilers. Just details about how BTG episodes are made, and addresses many issues discussed on BTG threads.

Edited October 3Oct 3 by janea4old

Writers:
Jamey Giddens
Jazmen Darnell Brown

Director:
Phideaux Xavier

I’m so glad Andre finally had enough. The Dupree women are so [!@#$%^&*].ing insufferable.

Bill sure can't keep his mind off Dani, they for sure will be together by the holidays haha.

Naomi worries too much.

Like Vanessa said, that was an odd choice to have drinks just after Doug's death, given how he died.

I think the Dupree women know that Dani is incapable of being an actual adult and they blame anyone (male or female) that influences her to do stupid things.  The dynamic I wish would be explored more is how having an emotional stunted mother affected Naomi and Chelsea... since both of them seem to have a better handle on maturity than their mother.

Bill dumping Dani before the show started was one of the smartest things he did because she is unhealthy and too toxic to have as a partner.   So the fact that he is tempted makes sense because it's hard to break free from a partner that wasn't a good fit outside of the bedroom.

Is there a third possible choice for Andre?  One that isn't vanilla spice (Ashley) and one that doesn't belong in a padded cell (Dani).. surely there are other women that could be good with Andre (Shanice maybe?)

I like that Naomi doesn't want kids, it's relatable 

Edited October 3Oct 3 by dragonflies

8 minutes ago, Soaplovers said:

I think the Dupree women know that Dani is incapable of being an actual adult and they blame anyone (male or female) that influences her to do stupid things.  The dynamic I wish would be explored more is how having an emotional stunted mother affected Naomi and Chelsea... since both of them seem to have a better handle on maturity than their mother.

Bill dumping Dani before the show started was one of the smartest things he did because she is unhealthy and too toxic to have as a partner.   So the fact that he is tempted makes sense because it's hard to break free from a partner that wasn't a good fit outside of the bedroom.

Is there a third possible choice for Andre?  One that isn't vanilla spice (Ashley) and one that doesn't belong in a padded cell (Dani).. surely there are other women that could be good with Andre (Shanice maybe?)

LOL completely disagree with all of this and Bill married someone who acts like a literal child, her maturity level is at a 2nd grade level 

17 minutes ago, alwaysAMC said:

Like Vanessa said, that was an odd choice to have drinks just after Doug's death, given how he died.

And Scotch? That's really what you offer a 21-year old for his "first drink"?

date: Friday, October 3, 2025 | Jamey Giddens, Jazmen Darnell Brown | Phideaux Xavier

• Not Bill getting hardT thinking about Dani while the child bride is trying to get it on.
• What a sweet sentiment Donnell had about having his first "official" drink with Douglas and it being a scotch. If Joey was not involved in Douglas' murder, I would think him offering the scotch would be a nice gesture.
• Joey, hide your face when Donnell is talking about Doulas. This is not going to go well for you, sir.
• Jacob and Naomi are on complete polar opposite lanes on this pregnancy, and it very well could just separate them. So unfortunate.
• Oop... the cracks in Andre and Dani's marriage are beginning to show. Get that annulment, stat!
• Not Derek wanting to get it on with Ashley... sir, you will not even tell her that feeling is coming back to your leg. Be honest for once.
• Kind of sucks that Jacob is truly not hearing Naomi speaking her truth and trying to convince her to keep the baby. If she does not want it, then do not make her have it.
• Uh-oh, could Bill not get it up for the child bride? Sweetie, let that say something.
• So, Andre and Dani are going to open up their marriage? Interesting. Hope it works out for them in the long run. And three orgasms a week? Damn, girl.
• So Drake was in on it?! Damn, Joey... you are playing them all. What do you hope to gain out of it all?!

Notes:

• This is the second breakdown from Giddens, and I have to say he cannot break down scripts. He has GOT to go.
• I have got to be honest: if you are going to have one of your female stars in a sleeveless top and showing their armpits, make sure they are shaved! I am all for the European look but unless that is established....
• I truly love how open this soap is about sex and how freeing one can be about their sexuality. It is refreshing and overdue in a stale medium.

12 minutes ago, ranger1rg said:

And Scotch? That's really what you offer a 21-year old for his "first drink"?

Haha seriously!  Just an odd choice for sure.

4 minutes ago, Liberty City said:

 

• I have got to be honest: if you are going to have one of your female stars in a sleeveless top and showing their armpits, make sure they are shaved! I am all for the European look but unless that is established....

I was afraid to say anything, but I noticed this too and was surprised.