original release date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 | writers: Christopher Dunn, Cheryl L. Davis | director: Steven Williford

Thoughts:

• Hayley is laying it on thick about the continued tea with her 'secret recipe'. Like, be less obvious about it, sweetheart.

• Well, look who is at the hospital. Kial! Hi Kial! Nice to see you again.

• I find it interesting. Donnell wants to be home (while not as struggling with Douglas' death) and Vanessa does not want it, but Deanna refuses to come home (while struggling with Douglas' death) and Vanessa wants her home.

• Naomi, to hide the truth about your diagnosis, you should have a stronger poker face than being absent-minded, especially when your husband is telling a story.

• Hayley attempting to scurry out of the country club's dining room to follow her meal ticket (a.k.a. Bill) is hilarious.

• Uh-oh. Not Carlton and Kial coming face-to-face. Shanice is right... things are about to get awkward as frick.

• Nicole, you have two men vying for your attention, and they are two very attractive men. You are one lucky lady. And not Vanessa attempting to use it as a business opportunity for her escort service.

• Inner Street Free Clinic? I do like it. But Dana is not happy with it one iota. But she should have known Joey would play his hand against hers... Hell, even Marcel tried warning her.

• Oh my... does Joey have the footage from the night of Laura's accident? That is what I am thinking he has.

• Regular to hard gel? Oh, Vanessa. Look at you.

• The tension between Bill and Dani could be penetrated by the dullest of butter knives. Oo-wee.

• Hayley, you snot-nosed, con artist child bride, watch her damn facial expressions. For a con artist, you suck at holding your cover.

• Not going to lie, I do love that Dana can read Hayley in the way that she does. And them teaming up could be... interesting.

• Malik? Party favours? Oops. Here we go. Does not look like Madison is happy about this, but Malik should also be a bit more discreet about handing them over, especially in a public setting, like Uptown.

• Sir, if your wife is hiring male companions via a dating service, then that should be a reflection upon you and your wife and not the person running the service.

• And here is where the maturity levels between Chelsea and Madison come into play. Madison sees the danger and Chelsea does not.

Notes:

• Dunn and Davis work exceptionally well together as breakdown and scriptwriter, respectively.

• How cool is it to see Hawthorne's bedroom set re-dressed to create a living space for them? And it is decorated so well. Go to see the new year budget is coming into play at long last!

• It makes me happy to see that the titbit concerning "Cheryl" during the original casting breakdowns is finally coming to light. That is exciting to know that it has not been abandoned.

The show was really good today. So glad to see Kial.

I believe this is the second time I had to watch on PP, but the first time I'm hearing the full closing theme. That little tune had me bopping my head.

10 minutes ago, MontyB said:

The show was really good today. So glad to see Kial.

I believe this is the second time I had to watch on PP, but the first time I'm hearing the full closing theme. That little tune had me bopping my head.

I know, right?! It's so damn catchy.

Dani/Bill/Hayley/Andre

Leslie/Joey

Leslie/Hayley

Nicole/Kial/Carlton

Chadison

Naomi and Jacob's living room

Vanessa getting hemmed up on the phone.

Today showed up and showed tf out.

I had a feeling either Joey or Marcel would have something on SPS/Leslie.. I'm going to assume it's that, but now that Joey has blackmailed her.. the gloves are off.

Vanessa was acting more like Vanessa of the Guza era today.

Chelsea... I had heard a rumor that the bible had mentioned her character was going to be into the snow and other party favors... but it was smart of the show to hold off on that until having two traumatic situations (kidnapping and the gene scare) happened. Her manic energy today is one way that PTSD can manifest and it looks as though she's having an episode of that today.

Nicole taking her time in regards to romance/men is so Nicole. Her facial expressions at finding out about Vanessa's new business were priceless.

SPS/Leslie has Hayley's # and if Hayley were smart... she'd want her as an ally instead of as an enemy.

Greg Vaughn was on... and he's still dreamy :)

I wonder how Naomi will navigate things going forward.

-- That coffee spot set. Now they're sending even more characters there to talk? Are they at the airport? At some mall? I'd rather see Orphey Gene's overused than to see that set from nowhere.

-- I hope Madison sees how immature and childlike Chelsea is. Chelsea equates "spontaneity" with "taking drugs." Dump her, Doctor.

-- Vanessa continues to be an embarrassment, wondering why her daughter doesn't come home. Hey, Vanessa, she'd be even less likely to visit if she knew you were screwing the Gold Corral Casino Mobster and running a whorehouse.

-- Pretending she's operating a "dating service" is pretty hilarious. I wish Nicole -- or anyone other than some irate husband we've never met -- would call her out.

-- I hope Hayley and Leslie get together. Would be great to see them blow themselves out of the water.

26 minutes ago, Soaplovers said:

I had a feeling either Joey or Marcel would have something on SPS/Leslie.. I'm going to assume it's that, but now that Joey has blackmailed her.. the gloves are off.

Vanessa was acting more like Vanessa of the Guza era today.

Chelsea... I had heard a rumor that the bible had mentioned her character was going to be into the snow and other party favors... but it was smart of the show to hold off on that until having two traumatic situations (kidnapping and the gene scare) happened. Her manic energy today is one way that PTSD can manifest and it looks as though she's having an episode of that today.

Nicole taking her time in regards to romance/men is so Nicole. Her facial expressions at finding out about Vanessa's new business were priceless.

SPS/Leslie has Hayley's # and if Hayley were smart... she'd want her as an ally instead of as an enemy.

Greg Vaughn was on... and he's still dreamy :)

I wonder how Naomi will navigate things going forward.

I think Hayley is gonna see Leslie as her way out if this plan doesn't work. This is their second conversation where Leslie has shown her disdain of Bill and Hayley could use that as the motive.

So is this going to be a Tuesday thing with my system not having today's episode up? Whatever, I have the app and...

'You picked the wrong day. I'm not the one' has me rolling!!! SHANICE!!!! LOL.

And for those who have been asking...HEEEEE'S BACCCCCCCCK!!!

And another episode of Silk Press Sheila vs Joey! YES, PLEASE. Is he about to trump (pun unintended) card her?

6 hours ago, dragonflies said:

OMG get this damn orange rapist off our screens

lol. DEAD.

Whew they threw everything into this episode and you know what? It worked.

What a superb start to the week. The cast interactions have been on point since Tracy Thompson joined, and there’s a better flow to the episodes.

I wonder what Joey has on that flashdrive...that's SPS was behind Laura's accident? Her hospital visit? Something else entirely?

1 hour ago, ranger1rg said:

-- That coffee spot set. Now they're sending even more characters there to talk? Are they at the airport? At some mall? I'd rather see Orphey Gene's overused than to see that set from nowhere.

If I remember right, the first time we saw that "coffee spot" was around Halloween. At the time, I thought it was part of the hospital cafeteria. That ain't the case, based on those little signs. I really can't figure out what it's supposed to be.

16 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

I wonder what Joey has on that flashdrive...that's SPS was behind Laura's accident? Her hospital visit? Something else entirely?

I saw a theory that it's Eva's real paternity results lol

SHANICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL. All that mess in front of her and she is eating it up in the background.

Just now, Rmodelboy said:

I saw a theory that it's Eva's real paternity results lol

Lol. Omg. They didn't!

We got a living room! And Jacob has been hitting up chest day!

Jibre Hordges has been working out too.