Writers:
Michael Montgomery
Jazmen Darnell Brown

Director:
Phideaux Xavier

Opening credits:
Ben Gavin (Derek Baldwin) removed
Jon Lindstrom (Joey Armstrong) added

So Jon Lindstrom receives the honor. I guess he and ho bag Vanessa will really be "ruling the roost" now. Kinda weird that only two cast members received updated pics while everyone else got zilch.

Shanice vs Leslie is the rivalry I didnt know I need. I love how Shanice sees her and throws the shade right back

2 minutes ago, Vanguardian53 said:

So Jon Lindstrom receives the honor. I guess he and ho bag Vanessa will really be "ruling the roost" now. Kinda weird that only two cast members received updated pics while everyone else got zilch.

It doesn't bother me much, but this is what I'm curious about - the why just two.

Yes, all part of MVJ's continued conspiracy to turn her own show into a white paradise.

8 minutes ago, Cheap21 said:

[img]

Joey in the intro. Now all I need is Shanice

Good. I am glad he's finally contract as he was wasted on GH. And I agree that Shanice needs to be upgraded, too, if not. I do feel bad for the actor who plays Derek as he wasn't horrible. His character is just boring and is isolated as a fire fighter. IDK why MVJ didn't make him Jacob's partner. And Derek had great chemistry with Shanice. But whatever.

8 minutes ago, Cheap21 said:

Shanice vs Leslie is the rivalry I didnt know I need. I love how Shanice sees her and throws the shade right back

Same! Loved their exchange today, it was so good.

14 minutes ago, Cheap21 said:

[img]

Joey in the intro. Now all I need is Shanice

Good for Jon. GH was wasting him and he's one of the breakout characters of the show. The writers love writing for Joey. Although, I'm not a fan of his story with Vanessa, the fake widow.

I also hope Shanice is upgraded next to a series regular.

I hate Leslie but I've never been so happy to see her on screen. The Anita breast cancer story is heavy and it feels as if almost all of the characters have solely been focused/reacting to her diagnosis. A secondary story is necessary.

Karla looks great. The fit is so loud and bright, just like Dani. She really does give Dani 100%.

Edited January 5Jan 5 by CrazySexyQ

I'm watching live today for the first time in months. I love the Nicole/Dani conversation about their pasts as sisters and how Nicole always figured out solutions.
The Ted/Andre convo feels natural.

25 minutes ago, NothinButAttitude said:

I do feel bad for the actor who plays Derek as he wasn't horrible. His character is just boring and is isolated as a fire fighter.

I think there's 3 areas where things desperately needed improvement.

(1) The "triangle" with Derek, Ashley, and Andre just never worked at all --- very little chemistry among them, and the writing for that story was disjointed and lackluster at best. I'm sorry someone lost a steady job, but that entire debacle needed to be dropped from the canvas.

(2) The actor playing Tomas is horrible (and has been horrible since Day One).

(3) There was entirely too much "DuPraise" in the dialogue (people endlessly praising the Duprees). I've noticed that's finally lessened-up over the past couple of months.

original release date: Monday, January 5, 2026 | writers: Michael Montgomery, Jazmen Darnell Brown | director: Phideaux Xavier

Thoughts:

• Not surprised Nicole has 'healthy' snacks in her office. She is in the medical profession, so health is at the top of her mindset.

• I like seeing Tomas trying to be the supportive boyfriend, despite the self-centred spoilt bitch trying to be as nasty as she usually is. Tomas, go find someone else, like Eva!

• Dana versus Shanice will never not get old... at least for right now.

• I appreciate that Dani acknowledges she fell bad into old habits by going to Bill first and foremost. At least she is aware of herself.

• Naomi, how dare you deny bacon? I do not care what is going on... I will never, ever refuse bacon!

• I love how much Chelsea and Madison connect with each other. They definitely get each other. So beautiful! I love their love.

• Dana wants Marcel's considerable weapon? Oh, so she has got a word association kink. I see you.

• It is very, very sweet that Andre is there to just hold Dani as she sleeps.

Notes:

• It is a Montgomery and Brown day! And they work exceptionally well together! Finally Brown has a breakdown writer (Montgomery) worthy of his talents.

• Replacing Ben Gavin (Derek) with Jon Lindstrom (Joey) in the opening, especially with a new 'background', was the right upgrade. I just wonder if he is under contract or not... as of Friday, Lindstrom is still a principal guest. Guess we will find out this week.

41 minutes ago, NothinButAttitude said:

Good. I am glad he's finally contract as he was wasted on GH. And I agree that Shanice needs to be upgraded, too, if not. I do feel bad for the actor who plays Derek as he wasn't horrible. His character is just boring and is isolated as a fire fighter. IDK why MVJ didn't make him Jacob's partner. And Derek had great chemistry with Shanice. But whatever.

As of Friday, Lindstrom is still recurring. I am sure he was upped to contract and added in as a formality ahead of this week's end credits.

43 minutes ago, Vee said:

Yes, all part of MVJ's continued conspiracy to turn her own show into a white paradise.

People spewing that are dumber than rocks. 🫠

This show has shifted the last couple of weeks and I mean that as a compliment

9 minutes ago, Rmodelboy said:

This show has shifted the last couple of weeks and I mean that as a compliment

Definitely has; from production to writing, and it's been such a nice shift.

As a Joey fan, I'm so glad that he was added to the opening credits because the show needs characters that don't worship the ground that the Duprees walk on (and yes, I felt that way about the Capwells on Santa Barbara.. which I still think heavily influenced this show).

Derek being downgraded makes sense even though he was a sweetheart, but the show heavily invested in Ashley. As a friend of mine told me, Ashley is connected to the canvas due to her job as nurse, her friendship with Naomi is focused on, her mother provides background/details over her past, and other places also share the theory that Joey might be her father. I still that could be a possibility only because of the brief scene where Vanessa introduced Jan and Joey and the facial expressions that both Jan and Joey had hinted that they weren't comfortable with one another (and also could be viewed as both trying to be there for Vanessa after Doug's death). With Guza gone, might be out of the window and perhaps the backstory of who Ashley's father is might have changed... but Joey did mention his ex recently in a conversation.