1 hour ago, Vee said:

I would consider a few ideas for Michael, including someone new (like a driven Asian doctor in the Patrick or Monica mold). Serena is a good option but one who I think might be a bit too pat and obvious initially - two core kids. Maybe if you play up the business aspect between them with her being a cosmetics tycoon/philanthropist like Dominique or Lucy. I do also think there is room for Michael and Willow to have hate sex lol, or for her to keep trying to land him again before she inevitably flames out for good. Then there's the Zoe Ward thing Guza almost did but who never made it onscreen. In the case of Serena and Zoe you have characters who are essentially new, blank slates. Same goes with creating someone from scratch.

There's just many strong options for a strong new lead. None of which involve playing it cheap and lazily doling out the same story Michael has already done before with the nearest low-cost dayplayer you can find. Invest in new personalities and characters up front. If Kimberly McCullough had come back in 2025 and not 2005, would Frank have created a new character like Patrick Drake for her or would he just have had her float around among his already-cast actors? It's depressing.

You didn't post anything, dude. You just quoted my msg.

Sorry about that

2 hours ago, DRW50 said:

I know they do have a history but it's tough for me to see Tracy with Scotty. I could see Lucy with him again though.

I understand why they wrote Gregory out, but I thought Gregory Harrison and Jane Elliot worked well together.

Cody too but I know that's not likely.

Strangely enough I also thought Jane had good chemistry with Michael Easton which shocked the hell out of me.

Jane Elliot's the type to have good chemistry with lots of people, lol.

So it's been a couple weeks since Anna was taken... did Finola take a leave of absence? Curious if they'll get back to Anna soon! Such a long cliffhanger haha.

Does Jason ever smile? LOL - he's always so serious with adult Spinelli when he doesn't need to be.

Credits for Thursday, December 4, 2025:

Created by: Frank & Doris Hursley
Executive producer: Frank Valentini
Head writers: Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten
Writers: Micah Steinberg; Stacey Pulwer and Cathy Lepard
Director: Denise Van Cleave

Aww poor Molly! I love this type of unintended misunderstanding and tension though, because it makes you want to root for a couple. Looking forward to seeing them reconcile.

Sidwell is bad! I like the difference in personalities between the two big villains right now - Sidwell and Drew. That's smart to have them be completely different people.

Great show today!

Dante is freaking insufferable.

Can Ric be Sonnys full-time lawyer?

2 hours ago, alwaysAMC said:

So it's been a couple weeks since Anna was taken... did Finola take a leave of absence? Curious if they'll get back to Anna soon!

That’s the problem with the filming schedule! Like Genie Francis, Finola takes a break every year, it’s just not always the exact same time of the year. Couple that with the filming schedule- she could have taken a week off, or a month, or more. And either way what happens onscreen is a dropped storyline. They used to at least pre-tape scenes to pepper in, like when Tony Geary took his breaks. We might even get an episode where Anna almost escapes, then back to chained to a chair. But now they just drop it until they want to pick it up again, with little to no mention in between.

One of the things I like about Scotty sharing scenes with Laura is Kin always plays it more vulnerable than his usual bluster with everyone else. He still plays that Scotty carries that torch. So him being a confidant would work for me because he calms down.

Martin is just there to me. This one character suffers from what was a huge problem for the whole show until Drew- too genial. They used to go right up to the line of conflict but it would be resolved quickly and have no lasting consequences. Everyone was defanged. Scotty at least also has a swagger as a lawyer.

Dante really needs to chill. He forgave his own father after he shot him in the chest, but is getting all up in arms about some dogs?

Also, the actors holding those dogs was adorable.

Honestly, Jason has a lot of flaws. I accept that. I still feel like he is way too mature and experienced to deal with the hot mess that is Britt. She's 40 plus and would be an awful partner for him. Getting drunk at bars, causing scenes, being an overall selfish jerk. Jason, the hitman, deserves better lol.

19 minutes ago, titan1978 said:

That’s the problem with the filming schedule! Like Genie Francis, Finola takes a break every year, it’s just not always the exact same time of the year. Couple that with the filming schedule- she could have taken a week off, or a month, or more. And either way what happens onscreen is a dropped storyline. They used to at least pre-tape scenes to pepper in, like when Tony Geary took his breaks. We might even get an episode where Anna almost escapes, then back to chained to a chair. But now they just drop it until they want to pick it up again, with little to no mention in between.

Finola, as far as I know, hasn't taken annual breaks for the past few years.

8 hours ago, Vee said:

I would consider a few ideas for Michael, including someone new (like a driven Asian doctor in the Patrick or Monica mold). Serena is a good option but one who I think might be a bit too pat and obvious initially - two core kids. Maybe if you play up the business aspect between them with her being a cosmetics tycoon/philanthropist like Dominique or Lucy. I do also think there is room for Michael and Willow to have hate sex lol, or for her to keep trying to land him again before she inevitably flames out for good. Then there's the Zoe Ward thing Guza almost did but who never made it onscreen. In the case of Serena and Zoe you have characters who are essentially new, blank slates. Same goes with creating someone from scratch.

There's just many strong options for a strong new lead. None of which involve playing it cheap and lazily doling out the same story Michael has already done before with the nearest low-cost dayplayer you can find. Invest in new personalities and characters up front. If Kimberly McCullough had come back in 2025 and not 2005, would Frank have created a new character like Patrick Drake for her or would he just have had her float around among his already-cast actors? It's depressing.

At this point I'd rather they bring on someone new for Michael if they intend for him to be the next gen Alan type, because if he's supposed to have the type of relationship that Alan and Monica had, I just don't really see it with Willow. Willow is just basically a crazy unhinged psychopath at this point and she only has a certain amount of shelf life. I wouldn't hate the idea of bringing Serena on except that pretty much all of Scotty's kids are dead and I don't want her to be next. Zoe could probably work too. They could also bring on Lisa Yamada to play Selina Wu's daughter or something.

10 minutes ago, MissPhoenixGirl92 said:

At this point I'd rather they bring on someone new for Michael if they intend for him to be the next gen Alan type, because if he's supposed to have the type of relationship that Alan and Monica had, I just don't really see it with Willow. Willow is just basically a crazy unhinged psychopath at this point and she only has a certain amount of shelf life. I wouldn't hate the idea of bringing Serena on except that pretty much all of Scotty's kids are dead and I don't want her to be next. Zoe could probably work too. They could also bring on Lisa Yamada to play Selina Wu's daughter or something.

They are likely reluctant to give anyone who isn't white too important a part.

I don't think the show sees him as another Alan. Valentini has helped build the Quartermaines back up but I think they still probably see him as being closer to Sonny or Jason for future use.