What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Lulu and Dante take New Year’s Eve (Day? whatever) selfies, and Lulu comes across a picture of Charlotte. She tells Dante that they have to get her away from Valentin.
Valentin carries Nina over the threshold.
Alexis is passed out after drinking an entire bottle of a vodka brand I’ve never heard of. Sam tries to call, but there’s no answer.
Sam is concerned about Alexis not picking up. She tells Jason that it’s not like her to not answer this late. They decide to check on her.
Someone bangs on Elizabeth’s door. Well, I doubt it’s a criminal. They usually don’t knock like that. Make that debatable, since it’s Franco. He wants to talk. Elizabeth wants to know about the murder weapon and asks if the knife is his. He tells her it is.
Carly tells Sonny she can’t do this. He asks what’s wrong. She says she has to go, and he tells her not to start the new year by running away. She says she shouldn’t have come. When he asks why she did, she tells him that she got worried about life being short and wanted to spend time with him, but his business is his business and nothing has changed. He asks her to stay.
Franco tells Elizabeth that most likely, Tom took the knife when he took off, but his own prints and DNA are probably all over it, and they’re going to think he did it. Elizabeth says that he should be talking to Scotty. He asks if she believes he didn’t kill Tom Baker.
Julian tries to wake Alexis. Sam knocks at the door. Alexis struggles to wake up.
Nina asks Valentin if he’s been married before. He says she’s his first and only. She says she was married twice – the first time she was young and foolish, and the second, just foolish. He tells her the third time is the charm. She says they’re going to make it work for Charlotte.
Lulu thanks Dante for being so supportive, and tells him that they have to win in court.
Valentin tells Nina that Charlotte will love having her as a mom. Nina says that Lulu isn’t going to like it. She wants Charlotte all to herself, but she’s going to lose. Valentin says he doesn’t want to spend their wedding night talking about Lulu. He kisses Nina’s hand and says it deserves a beautiful ring. She tells him the ribbon ring that she has is priceless, and she’s never letting it go. They get all hot and steamy, and by that I don’t mean they’re taking a shower, but it does make me wonder how that “ring” is going to hold up in one.
Sam starts to let herself in, and Alexis meets Sam and Jason at the door. She tells them it’s late, and she’d silenced her phone. Sam says they need to talk to her. Now. Sam and Jason walk into the house past her. Hmm…looks like Julian cleaned the place up. Sam sees Alexis’s phone and tells her there’s three missed calls. Alexis says she can’t respond to calls she didn’t know about. Sam tells her that she has to be careful. She starts to say something else, and then asks if Alexis has been drinking. She probably stinks to high heaven.
Sonny asks Carly why they can’t reconnect. She says it’s happening too fast. Sonny tells her that he knows he’s put them through a lot, but deep down she knows they belong together. She tells him that she loves him, and he asks what she really wants. If her doubts and fears were gone, would she stay? She says she wants to. They kiss.
Franco tells Elizabeth that he didn’t kill Tom, and asks if she believes him. She says he locked Tom in a dog crate, and why shouldn’t she think he did something worse? And this was after he promised he wouldn’t go near Tom, not to mention their public fight. Franco says it’s a far cry from murder, and he’s not that guy. He says after Tom left, he had a life-altering experience and there’s no way the person he is now would do that. Elizabeth asks what happened.
Lulu worries about Charlotte liking Nina so much. She admits to being jealous, but what really concerns her is the bond between Nina and Valentin. Dante drinks to Nathan talking sense into his sister. Lulu says that Nina looked her straight in the eye and said Charlotte loves “us,” like she and Valentin were a couple. Dante asks why they were talking about Charlotte in the first place, and Lulu tells him that she might have mentioned she was going to fight for sole custody.
Valentin tells Nina now that they’ve consummated the marriage, there’s no backing out. He asks if she’d like to join him in the shower. She tells him he promised they’d go out for a New Year and wedding celebration, and she’s holding him to it. He goes into the bathroom, and she sees a gun when she’s moving his clothing around. Well, I don’t think it would be weird for him to have one.
Franco tells Elizabeth that when he was unconscious, he had visions of her and Sam and even himself. She asks what they were all saying, and he says it was what he needed to hear; he has to come to terms with who he’s become after the tumor was removed. He says he’s not a monster but not a particularly good person either; not as good as he thinks he is. He’s decided he should be better, better because of her. He wants to tell her how he feels about her, and she says she knows he loves her.
Alexis says yes, she was drinking, but she’s had a crap year, her life is a trash fire, and it was New Year’s Eve. She says she got hammered and finally got some sleep. It was a one-time thing, but she felt entitled. Sam says she was worried, but she’s glad Alexis is fine. Alexis asks what the dire situation is about.
Jason asks if she knows Winston, and Sam adds that they know he was there. Jason shows her a picture, and Alexis says he wanted to talk to Julian.
Sonny and Carly get busy.
Lulu tells Dante about the scuffle with Nina, and he tells her that she needs to stay away from Nina. Lulu asks how she’s supposed to do that, since she’s Maxie’s matron of honor. He says she can’t get into another fight with Nina, because it will make her look bad in court. Lulu asks how it could since she’s fighting Valentin.
Valentin tells Nina that she seems quiet. She says she has a lot to think about, starting with the gun she found, explaining that she wasn’t snooping, just cleaning up. Valentin says he doesn’t advertise it, but he’s licensed to carry it. She says she doesn’t like guns, and he says sometimes they’re a necessity. He hasn’t lived a blameless life, and it’s just a precaution. He promises he’ll never let her or Charlotte come into harm’s way. He tells her that he’s never let his guard down except for her.
Elizabeth reminds Franco about telling her that she’s the woman he loves when they were at the hospital, but it got lost in the confusion of his almost arrest. He says he does love her, and that he’s going to tell her about the ghosts of the past, present and future that talked to him. He tells her that he’s never going to lie to her, especially about something that matters, and asks if she believes him.
Alexis tells Jason that Winston thought she and Julian were still together, but she gave him Ava’s information and he left. She says he told her something about working with Julian and not for him. She wonders how Jason knew he’d been at her house, and Jason says he’d had Winston followed. Alexis has questions, but Sam says it’s late. She tells Alexis to watch out, and Jason tells her to call if Winston comes back. They leave, much to Alexis’s relief. She asks Julian about Winston, and then says screw this, she doesn’t want to know, just keep him away. She’s going out, and Julian tells her not to go drinking. She tells him what she does is none of his business, and to keep Winston out of her house.
Carly and Sonny bask in the afterglow. Carly says that Sonny owes Michael and Sam a thank you. He asks if they told her that “Sonny is great,” and she says no, but they did tell her to trust and believe in their marriage. She tells him Nell is on his side too. He says there’s something he has to tell her. Oy.
Elizabeth tells Franco that she believes him. He says that he knows the other stuff bothers her, and she says it’s a lot to process. He did something extreme, and then claims he’s changed. Franco says anyone can say that, but it takes time to really change. He tells her that ironically, he’s going to go down for Tom’s murder instead of anything he’s really done. He says no matter how he strives to change, there’s a possibility that he won’t be with her for her to see it. He says before this, he would have tried to convince her to run away, but it’s time to face reality. He might lose the best thing that’s ever happened to him.
Lulu tells Dante that Nina is an outsider to this and always will be. Dante suggests they go home. On their way out, they run into Valentin and Nina. Valentin asks if they want to join them for a drink. He and Nina have news.
Sonny tells Carly that when they lost Morgan, he couldn’t see through his own pain and didn’t want to. She turned him away, but he doesn’t blame her for anything and is sorry his actions kept them apart when they needed each other. Carly says she’s sorry for punishing him, and he says he doesn’t want her to apologize for anything. They both said and did things they shouldn’t have. She tells him to stop. They’re here together now, and it makes sense to her.
Sam and Jason go back to the MetroCourt. Sam is concerned about Alexis’s drinking. Jason says maybe Winston was there looking for Julian, but somehow, he’s connected to Morgan’s death.
Julian texts Winston saying his daughter and son-in-law are suspicious. The reply text says, “we know.”
Alexis goes to the dive bar. The bartender says last time she was there on December 21st, she stiffed him, and maybe she wants to take it easy tonight. Alexis looks surprised.
Carly tells Sonny that she’s going to stay the night. Sonny asks what about tomorrow. She tells him that she loves and misses him, but it’s all undecided. He says that he’s grateful for tonight. She says she is too.
Valentin tells Lulu and Dante that he and Nina are married. Lulu says that’s absurd, and he tells her that’s sweet (I laugh), but it’s all legal. They explain how they used the priest from Maxie’s wedding that didn’t happen. Valentin says it’s going to do Charlotte a world of good. Lulu implies that he tricked Nina, but Nina tells her that she’s being insulting, and she’s the one who asked Valentin.
Sam asks Jason what he’s thinking. Jason wonders how Winston didn’t know that Alexis and Julian were divorced. Something doesn’t add up.
Julian gets a text from Winston saying they’ll take care of it. He asks what Winston means by that, and what is he going to do?
Franco tells Elizabeth that he’s not giving up, but maybe until the police come up with another lead, they shouldn’t see each other. He says he’s not a praying man, but he’s going to pray this isn’t the end for them, and that the truth comes out.
Alexis suddenly remembers the night she was there. And seeing Tom again. Ohhhh….
Tomorrow, Alexis wants to confess something to Diane, Anna wants Andre to help her find out the truth, and Nina wonders what will happen when Claudette comes back.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Please, God, can we stop talking about Erika’s lack of underwear? Hmm…maybe she left them in Lala’s Range Rover.
Erika has been working on her new video, Expensive. She talks to her assistant, or whoever he is, about the underwear that Dorit gave her. In her interview, she asks again why PK didn’t say something about it at the time. She thinks that Dorit is the type of woman who takes the fun out of hanging out with women. I don’t know what’s more annoying, the relentlessness of the topic or her ignorance as to why a man who doesn’t know her well would rather mention it to his wife than directly to her. Although, I guess she thinks he should have said something to his wife immediately? Omg, I can’t believe I’m even going on about this.
Dorit and PK are having a dinner party. LisaR has been invited, since she’s by herself while the rest of the family is off doing work things. Wow. Lisa is wandering around with a bottle in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. Apparently, she was met at the door with a drink, but you’d think someone would have relieved her of the hostess gift. No surprise, the food looks fabulous. I’ve always been an adventurous eater, so I get obsessed with the food at these parties.
LisaR talks about her apology to LisaV. PK tells her that there’s an old saying that you can’t put your head on someone else’s shoulders. I like it. Some guy named Elliot puts his two cents in, and it’s very poetic, but neither LisaR nor I understand anything that he’s saying. In her interview, Lisa thinks that someone filled PK in on the conflict since he knows more than she’s told him. NOOO! We flash back to the origination of the conflict, where LisaR used the M-word. Lisa mentions that her father had recently passed away, and PK suggests that might have influenced her perception. In her interview, Lisa isn’t liking that he’s analyzing how she feels, although I think he’s just trying to be nice. IMO, everyone is reading way too much into everything.
Lisa tells everyone that Eileen has lost six people in her family in the past year, and never told anyone about her mother dying just prior to the reunion. Lisa knew, but by some miracle never told anyone. PK doesn’t think Eileen’s silence was fair to the others, and Dorit agrees, but Lisa tells them it was survival for her. In her interview, Lisa thinks it’s odd that they’re giving their opinion on how anyone else should grieve, and I have to agree with her on that.
Mauricio has gotten a speeding ticket in the mail from driving with Alexia in the Ferrari. 600 Euros, whatever that adds up to. So is he supposed to send cash in an envelope to Italy or what? Kyle figures that he was driving about 112 miles an hour, and threatens to cut something off if it happens again. Here’s a hint – it’s not his arm. She says it’s been a real adjustment with the two of them working in different places on the planet lately.
Eileen, who is wearing the most magnificent dress ever in the opening credits, talks about Vince having been a tennis pro, which I had forgotten. He placed 25th, which is probably millions ahead of me. She tells Vince that she got a text from LisaR telling her all about the dinner party, and what Dorit and PK’s opinions were in regard to her keeping her mother’s death to herself. She doesn’t get why they’re judging her behavior, or how they linked it to the conflict with LisaV when her mother passed away after that. She thinks they’re trying to justify LisaV’s behavior.
Harrison! En route to somewhere, LisaV and Kyle go through whose husband might be shaggable, but Kyle asks why she’d downgrade. They arrive at a skincare facility, where Kyle gets a laser treatment on her face. After Kyle is finished, Lisa gets some kind of neck thing done, and they discuss vaginal rejuvenation. One of the assistants brings out a “probe” that looks like a huge laboratory test tube, and I don’t even want to know. Neither does Lisa, btw.
Erika and LisaR go to a Pilates studio run by Vidal Sassoon’s daughter. They use the machines, and it looks difficult. In her interview, Erika says that people think just because you have money, you don’t have to work hard to look good. I’ve never thought that, but I think it does give you more options. Afterwards, they stroll over to where Lisa first met Harry – Optical Connection. How romantic.
Dorit meets Eileen for a walk on the beach. It doesn’t happen though, because it’s windy and Eileen is wearing a dress. Which is what I always wear for a walk on the beach. In her interview, Dorit thanks Eileen for wearing underwear. Eileen invites Dorit out to Malibu for lunch with Camille Grammer, and they discuss the escape room event. Dorit thinks there was tension between herself and Erika. Eileen feels that Dorit blindsided Erika with the panties, and Erika felt like everyone was in on the joke except her.
Eileen brings up what was discussed at Dorit’s dinner party about her mother’s passing, and how she didn’t tell anyone. Dorit says she doesn’t remember the conversation. I’m not sure if she’s that scatterbrained or if she’s trying to avoid the topic. She doesn’t get what the context was, which flusters Eileen. She tries to explain further, but gets nowhere. In her interview, Dorit says that Eileen wants to give credence to something that apparently wasn’t that important. Eileen thinks the more she tries to clarify things, the more confusing she’s making them. Somehow, she manages to get her point across. I think.
Eden Sassoon, LisaR and Erika go out to lunch. Eden says her father created the “bob” haircut, but wasn’t that popular in the 1920s? Eden tells Lisa that her hair is iconic and to never change. Really? She talks about her younger sister dying in her 30s of an overdose, and tells stories about hanging out with celebrities in the 80s. Lisa invites her to Kyle’s game night, since the Richards sisters were part of the pack way back when.
Kyle drops off lunch for Mauricio and two of their daughters, who are working at his office. He’s excited about the girls working with him. Kyle says that she and Mauricio are having a hard time finding balance, and talks about making marriage and family being a priority.
Camille has a new home, and Eileen comes bearing a gigantic plant. In her interview, Camille says she doesn’t know if the ice will ever thaw between her and Kelsey, and I wonder if she’s gearing up to be on next season. Dorit arrives bringing a gigantic bottle of wine, and Erika brings a pretty large box of…something. The ladies go outside to eat.
Erika talks about her latest video and explains the process. In her interview, Dorit seems to think that Erika’s career is just a hobby, comparing it to Boy George’s gig. Even though Erika just had her ninth number one single. Dorit thinks that Erika doesn’t have much “performer allure” (?) in normal conversation, and is kind of reserved. They talk about being in your 40s, which Dorit seems to think brings confidence. Erika laughs because Dorit has only been 40 for a week. Eileen thinks you care less about what other people think and that it’s emancipating.
Dorit brings up what Eileen had asked her about the dinner party. I just hate how they beat things to death on this show. In her interview, Eileen thinks Dorit is trying to make her [sic] a problem when she isn’t one. Eileen interrupts Dorit, who asks Eileen to let her finish.
Next time, Dorit feels like she’s in the hot seat, another game night, Eileen tells Dorit she talks to much, and Kim Richards and LisaR go at it. Ought to be good.
The Haves and the Have Nots
I had to attend a dinner at a neighbor’s house, so I missed the first half of the show. Why OWN’s programs aren’t repeated immediately afterward, like just about every other station’s, is a mystery to me. The next one is at 3 am, and I’m not making it until then. The only two things of real import are that Kathryn has Veronica locked in the Cryer mansion and Justin now knows all about Quincy.
At Benny’s place (at least for right now), Hanna hassles Benny about not eating, but then says his appetite will come back. He wonders why she’s not mad about him, Candace, and the whole house thing. He says Candace is his sister, so he tries, but she is who she is. He says at least she paid the mortgage on Hanna’s house. Hanna tells him that she has a peace that passes all understanding.
She tells Benny she has $300 left and they can go to a hotel for a while. She tells him that Candace will never learn. Benny wonders why she’d do something like this, referring to her mortgaging everything, but Hanna says as long as he trusts in her, he won’t be able to believe in anything higher.
Candace knocks at the door. She tells Benny she can’t get the money, but she’s been offered cash to turn herself in, and thinks maybe then they can keep the mortgage. The other thing that might be important is that Oscar has offered her a place in some grand scheme, so maybe that’s where she’s planning on getting money from. She says she wasn’t expecting Hanna to be there, and Hanna says only until tomorrow. She asks what Candace would be turning herself in for, but Candace won’t say. Benny tells Hanna that it was for falsifying documents. Candace thinks she can change the banker’s mind. Hanna asks if she’s going to sleep with him, and Candace gets sarcastic, telling her yes, and if that doesn’t work, she’ll make the rounds of all of the bankers and their families.
Hanna doesn’t believe she’ll turn herself in, because that would mean taking responsibility. She tells Benny to pack his clothes before he’s thrown out on the street. Benny tells them he’ll just leave. Hanna says if Candace doesn’t go to jail for this, she will for Quincy. No one ever saw him come out of her house. Candace asks why she’s so interested. Benny says he’s not sitting by while she goes to jail, and Hanna asks how she’s going to learn anything. Candace says Hanna can live the way she wants to, but there’s more to life for her. Hannah agrees that there’s more to life.
Candace says she has some money in a safe. She’ll get it out, and if she has to go away, that’s the way it goes. She tells Benny she’ll be back, and leaves. Hanna tells him that she doesn’t get it.
David meets Charles, telling him congratulations. He thinks Charles will be the next president. David says his situation is hot, and it’s not going to help his campaign being seen with him. He says he’s sorry about Charles’s wife, and Charles says sorry about David’s pending divorce.
He goes back to the bar and sits with Erica. She asks how David knows Charles, and he tells her that he’d met him when he was running for senate. David gets a call from the county jail and steps away to take it. It’s Jim. David tells him if he apologizes to the judge, he’ll reconsider bail. Jim doesn’t want to, but David says it’s the only way. Jim says he needs to get War out of there too. He’s an ally, but in for drug possession. Jim doesn’t want to explain further, so David says he’ll get Wally on it.
David goes back to Erica, saying it’s just the two of them, and she says until his phone rings again. She’s cool with it though.
Kathryn tells Veronica she can be ruthless and cunning, and asks if she forgot that. Veronica says no, and Kathryn says she won’t now. Dammit. I know I missed some good stuff. Kathryn asks if they’re going to continue playing this game. She says it will just drive her further into this insanity, but that would be a good defense. She asks why Veronica did that to her son, and how she knew he was in jail. Veronica says she has clients from all walks of life and many sources. Kathryn wants to know about Wyatt’s cellmate.
Veronica says he was murdered. Kathryn asks what his name was and Veronica tells her, Milton. Kathryn asks what he was in for, and Veronica says murder. Kathryn says that Wyatt was assaulted as a child and says she knew it. Veronica tells her that it wasn’t supposed to go that far; she just wanted him to be scared. There’s a knife a little too close to Kathryn’s hand, and I’m guessing she’s going to use it at some point. Veronica says Jim was protecting Wyatt too much, and Wyatt needed to be frightened. She says she would never do anything to intentionally hurt him, and Kathryn asks how that worked out. Veronica says not good. Kathryn says not good for Wyatt, and not good for her at all.
Veronica asks what she means. Kathryn says she knows when Veronica is lying and telling the truth, and she knows how desperate Veronica is. Veronica apologizes, and says to let her fix it, adding that they’re friends. Kathryn says they’re friends all right. Veronica’s mother was a whore and her father played the numbers. She’s one of five children who all hate her guts. She needed a scholarship from Kathryn’s father, and she knows what Veronica did to get it. Yuck. She’s also technically in the red and in debt with the bank. Kathryn says she’s on the board of the bank and has power. She tells Veronica that the life she knew is going to be over, and tells her to leave.
Veronica says the doors are locked. Kathryn tells her that she’s going to realize the grave mistake she made putting that animal in with her son. She grabs the knife (called it), and says Veronica needs to die. Veronica runs and Kathryn catches up, slashing at her and cutting her.
Next time, Benny fights with Wyatt, Candace tells Justin he doesn’t want to go down that road, and Veronica and Kathryn struggle for the knife.
Ladies of London Quote
💋 If everyone’s calling you an a-hole, maybe you’re being an a-hole. – Joan Collins Sophie referring to Caroline #1.