What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Here are the highlights from what I missed at the beginning, because it’s been that kind of week. Jordan told Curtis that Taggert was safe in the witness protection program. He asked how long she’d known Taggert was alive, and she said since Taggert faked his death. Cyrus told Laura that he knew she’d find her way to their mother’s room because he’d left a trail of breadcrumbs. To make it even better, it was their mother’s birthday. He told her, welcome to the family, sis. Josslyn thanked Carly for being understanding about the Taggert craziness, and Carly told her, it wasn’t crazy, Taggert really was alive. And when I got there…
On the bridge, Sonny tells Julian, it ends right now, and Julian asks why Sonny doesn’t just pull the trigger. They all know he’s been wanting to for years. Sonny says he’s tempted, but tells Julian, congratulations. It’s his big chance to live.
Laura says Cyrus and Martin are brothers? and Cyrus says, correct. Florence is their mother, and Gordon was their father, may he rest in peace. Martin says, as if Cyrus cares if he rests at all. Cyrus tells him, don’t do this; not where their mother can hear. Martin says he’s not the one who did anything, and Cyrus says, that would make Laura their half-sister. She says he’s lying. That can’t be true. He’s playing mind games with her, right? Martin says, as much as it pains him to say it, for once Cyrus is telling the truth. She says, they’re brothers, and Gordon is their father? Martin says, yes to both, and Cyrus says, they’re all Gordon’s children, and there’s no denying they’re all siblings.
Jordan tells Curtis, when she decided to put Taggert in the witness protection program, it was a decision made in the moment. Taggert was dying, and his child had been kidnapped. She contacted the most high-up person she knew, and called in every favor. They faked Taggert’s death, and got him out. There was no one left for Cyrus to roll over, except for her. Curtis says, it makes sense. He understands, and would have done the same thing. That’s why he doesn’t get why she didn’t tell him.
Josslyn asks if Carly is serious. Taggert is alive? Oh my God. Trina is going to freak out; she’ll be so happy. Does she know? Carly says she imagines Trina does. She’s with her mother, figuring things out. Josslyn asks how it happened. Where has Taggert been? Carly says she doesn’t know the details, but Taggert needed everyone, especially Cyrus, to think he was dead. Josslyn asks how long Carly has known, and Carly says she found out just now. Josslyn says, how did Cyrus find out? but Carly doesn’t know. She assumes Cyrus told Trina, so she could do his dirty work, and lead him to her father. Taggert is fine; he’s in police custody, so he’s safe from Cyrus. She asks if Josslyn is okay, and Josslyn says she is. Carly takes her hand, and says she’s sorry. She hopes Josslyn understands why she couldn’t say anything. Josslyn says she does, and Carly asks, what is it? Josslyn asks if it ever hits Carly how strange their life is sometimes.
Jason makes a call, and says he’s at the 17th Street bus station in Secaucus. There was a shootout; one guy, sent by Cyrus. How soon can they get there? A cop tells Jason to freeze, and Jason says, okay. He tells the cop that he has a gun, and he’s putting on the ground. Jason assumes the position on his knees, and the cop cuffs him. He asks Jason to tell him what happened, and Jason says he’s got nothing to say without his attorney. But you already knew he was going to say that.
Sonny tells Julian that he’s going to go to the cops, and tell them Julian planted the bomb on Cyrus’s orders. Julian says Sonny wants him to help take down Cyrus? and Sonny says Julian gets an A for listening. Julian asks why he would do that. They both know as soon as he opens his mouth, he’s a dead man.
The cop says if Jason won’t talk, he can come to the station. Judging from the guy’s gunshot would, Jason is in serious trouble, and could be looking at second-degree murder. Diane arrives, and says she’s going to need a moment alone with her client. The cop says, she’s his lawyer? and she says she assumes Jason told him that he’s not speaking to anyone without her. See? She knows too. The cop says, he’s got that bit down, and Diane introduces herself. She says from now on, she’ll speak on his behalf, but she needs a word with him. The cop says, they can chat as much as they want at the station, and Diane says, it’s an option they can leave open, but it’s a procedural violation, and will throw out any case he hopes to make. A word with her client will bring them to a swift resolution of the issue at hand. He asks if it’s necessary, considering they just wheeled a dead body out, and she says, yeah; it’s necessary. The cop tells his partner to keep an eye on Jason, and leaves. Diane says, please tell her he was acting in self-defense.
Julian tells Sonny, the chances of him actually making a statement and giving up Cyrus, then living long enough to cut a deal are slim to none. Sonny has seen how Cyrus operates. He has people everywhere; the alley, the bus station. He’s going to die anyway, so what the hell’s the point? Sonny says he thought Julian wanted a shot at redemption.
Martin says he understands Laura has had more than her fair share of unfortunate news recently, and Cyrus asks why this is unfortunate. Martin says, Cyrus isn’t the best brother material, and Cyrus says Martin didn’t care when he needed money. Martin says, their mother needed money, and he appreciated Cyrus answering the call. Cyrus says it’s an honor to provide the best care for their mother, and Martin says just because Cyrus pays her expenses doesn’t qualify him for sainthood. He’s committed atrocities that, in Martin’s mind, are beyond redemption. Laura wonders if she can ask a question, and Cyrus says, of course (🍷). She’s family. She can ask anything. She says Cyrus knew all along, didn’t he? From the first moment they met, probably before, he knew they were related.
Jordan tells Curtis, it all tied back to the cover-up, but he says he’s not hearing why she didn’t clue him in. She says, if anything went wrong, he could be charged. She didn’t want him near this. He asks who else was involved, and she says, the people who were in the room when Taggert died. He says, who else? and she says, Sonny and Jason, but she didn’t tell them. They found out on their own. He asks, how? and she says, Taggert wouldn’t shut up and let himself be protected. He started making moves on his own. Curtis says, so Taggert was a wild card, and in danger of blowing the operation. So why didn’t she let him in? She says, it would have put him in jeopardy. It had nothing to do with them; it was about work. He says she’s wrong. It had everything to do with them.
Cyrus tells Laura, he found out they were related shortly after they met, when she egregiously used her power as mayor to put him in solitary confinement. Martin says, well done, and Cyrus says he had nothing else to do, so he researched her. He read about her mother’s rogue ex-husband and their tempestuous relationship, and as the internet is wont to do, it led him back to his father, a medical professor with fidelity issues. Imagine his delight to find out they shared the same DNA. She tells him not to expect the same delight from her. She still holds him responsible for the bomb that hurt her daughter. Cyrus says he’d never intentionally hurt Lulu, and she says of course (🍷) not. He never intentionally means to hurt anyone, yet it keeps happening over and over. Martin says she has no idea. Cyrus killed their father.
Cyrus says he did no such thing, and Martin says, because he never admitted it? and Cyrus says, because it’s untrue. Laura suggests they take the conversation outside, and Cyrus says, it was an accident. As much as he and his dad fought… Martin tells Laura, don’t dare believe what Cyrus tells her. Their father was a kind and gentle man. Cyrus says, except when he was philandering. He lied to their mother, and told her that Laura was stillborn, depriving their mother of the chance to raise her. He was unspeakably cruel, and had no problem cutting people out of his life, including his son. Martin says, their father and Cyrus didn’t get along. On the day their father died, he and Cyrus had a horrible fight. Cyrus says, he didn’t kill him, and Laura asks, what happened? How did Gordon die? Martin says, Cyrus ran him over with his car.
Curtis says Jordan saw how much his part in Taggert’s murder ate him up inside, and how the guilt kicked in whenever Trina accused him of not doing enough. Trina had him second guessing himself. He thought maybe she was right; he should have done more, or done something different. Jordan says it killed her, watching him beat himself up, but she couldn’t tell him. He says she just didn’t want to. She was determined to keep that part of her life separate. Because of remorse, or guilt, or pride, he doesn’t know, but she won’t communicate with him. She says, she couldn’t, and he tells her to stop saying that. They both know it’s not the truth. It’s not about outside forces; it’s about her. She shakes her head.
Carly says, does she ever question their strange life? and Josslyn says she didn’t mean it like that. She likes her life. She gets it, but sometimes it’s strange living surrounded by guards, and having to make a daily choice not to look too close or ask too many questions, and ignoring the accusations. She doesn’t want to know the bad stuff, and would prefer just to know the good stuff, and Carly says, don’t they all. Josslyn says, then something will smack her in the face that what they’re doing is so… weird. Don’t get her wrong. She loves Sonny and Jason. Carly says she knows, and Josslyn says she never wants anything bad to happen to them. Like she said, she really does love her life. Carly says, it’s just different from everybody else. Josslyn says she feels… not dishonest, that’s not the right word, but it’s like a compromise. Does that make sense? Carly says, more than she knows.
Diane tells Jason, she’s assuming there are security cameras there. Can the cops look at the footage or not? He says the gunman fired first, and he shot back in self-defense. She says it was fortunate that she was just across the river. Walk her through it. He says they caught up with Julian, but when they tried to grab him, the shooter came out. She says, sent by Cyrus? and he says, had to be. Julian took advantage of the situation and ran, and Sonny followed him. Sonny is going to need back-up; he has to get out of there. She says before she works her magic on the cop, is there a long-term plan for Julian? He has a gunshot wound. Julian says they don’t want him dead. They want to hand him over to the cops so he can nail Cyrus. The cop tells Diane, time’s up, but she says, no.
Sonny says Julian has done horrible things. He held a knife to Alexis’s throat, helped Brad steal Wiley, helped Nelle steal Wiley, and for his final act, he planted a bomb in The Floating Rib, right? Julian says he didn’t know, and Sonny says, what? That it was a bomb? Julian says, Jason was supposed to be alone; the restaurant was supposed to be empty. Sonny says, it was a restaurant. People were in the restaurant, including Julian’s grandson. Julian says he would have killed himself if he’d killed Danny, and Sonny says, no more excuses. Julian can get redeemed and save himself to stop the bigger threat. Take down Cyrus to make Port Charles safer for the kids he claims he loves. For once in his miserable life, don’t think about himself. That’s how he gets redeemed. Julian says, okay. He’ll help Sonny on one condition. He wants Sonny to give him his word that he won’t kill him when it’s done. Julian slumps down, looking lifeless.
Curtis says it’s not the first time Jordan has done this, but it’s the worst, and part of a pattern. Ever since Cyrus came to town, and she admitted to being part of the original frame, and she’s been under his thumb. Now Taggert is alive. She lets him help in taking Cyrus down, but doesn’t let him in on the real mechanics of what’s going on. Jordan says, it was on them. She, Taggert, Mark, and Bob decided framing Cyrus was worth the risk. They took it on themselves, and she wasn’t willing to let any of it land on him.
Cyrus says, it was terrible and traumatic, but not his fault. Martin says, so the instant after they left Port Charles, they moved to Shreveport, Louisiana. Cyrus had a hard time adjusting. Cyrus says, he was just a kid. It was a different world. They moved all the time, and their family was happy in Port Charles. Martin asks if Cyrus thinks their mother was happy, being reminded of daddy’s affairs. Cyrus says, their mom was strong, and tolerated it. Their dad couldn’t take the heat. Martin says, Cyrus didn’t even try to adjust. He fell in with the wrong crowd; truants, petty thieves, and drug dealers. Cyrus says, they accepted him, and Martin says, their dad had enough. He took Cyrus’s car keys, and Cyrus lost his mind. Cyrus says, he was a teenager, and Martin says, Cyrus jumped in the front seat, turned the ignition, and stepped on the gas when their dad was in front of the car. Cyrus shouts that he didn’t do it on purpose. It happened so fast. Their mom was yelling, their dad was screaming, and he just wanted out. Martin says, like he’s always done, no matter who gets in the way. Who the hell does Cyrus think he’s talking to? Cyrus hated their dad. Cyrus says he was furious, but he never wanted their dad dead. It was an accident. Martin says their momma never believed him, and he sure as hell doesn’t either.
Diane tells the cop, Jason fired in self-defense, and the cop says, that’s what Jason said, but the shot was carefully placed, leading him to believe it was premeditated. She says her client is an excellent shot, and fired in self-defense. They’ll see when they review the security footage. They are planning on looking at it, right? The cop says it’s part of the case, but they’re not required to do it tonight. She says, so he was planning on throwing her client in jail, when they have the means to ascertain his innocence readily at hand? He’ll probably lose his badge. The cop says, really, and she says, really. She cites Peabody vs Harlan, and says if they have the means to collect evidence that could exonerate a suspect, but choose to ignore or put it off, it opens up a host of civil rights violations, and charges of false imprisonment. She assumes he’d like to keep his career after this.
Carly says, what Sonny and Jason do is their business, and they go out of their way to try not to involve the rest of the family, but Josslyn is right. They feel it when something is up. They can hear about Sonny’s day, but they don’t get to know everything. Josslyn says, most of the time, she doesn’t think about it; she just accepts that area of their lives is walled off. Maybe the stories are true, maybe not, but it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t directly affect her. Carly says, until it does. Sonny and Jason will always try to make sure their business doesn’t touch her, but that doesn’t make it any easier. It’s compromise. What we’re willing to accept to hold onto something or someone that matters to us. She gets it. She understands this life and this house just aren’t working for Josslyn anymore.
Sonny tells Julian, get up. Julian coughs, and says Sonny wants him to roll over and give him Cyrus to save his life. He closes his eyes, and Sonny says, Julian? He gets no response, and kicks Julian. He says, dammit, and he’s about to check Julian’s pulse, when Julian jumps up, and pushes him across the bridge. I laugh, since neither Sonny nor I expected that one.
Martin tells Laura, their mother was devastated, and Cyrus says, they all were. Martin says she put Cyrus’s stuff on the lawn, and changed the locks. Laura says, she kicked him out? and Cyrus says, she refused to believe it was a terrible mistake, even after he was cleared of all charges. Martin says, Cyrus blamed her, and Cyrus says, he was on his own, without even a high school diploma. But he made due. He lived in his car, worked odd jobs, and worked toward his GED. He moved out west, and liked it there. Martin says, that’s where his career took off, and Cyrus says, Martin’s words. Laura asks if Martin means being a drug lord, and Cyrus says he was unfairly implicated for crimes he didn’t commit. He’s trying to make up for past missteps, and taking care of their mother is part of that. Martin says, as is saving GH? Cyrus can pass himself off as legitimate, but it’s not going to work. Their mom will see right through him. Face it. She’ll never be proud of him. Cyrus says Martin doesn’t know that, and Laura says their mom is awake. Martin sits on her bed, and says, hey, mom.
Josslyn tells Carly, she has no plans to go anywhere or change anything, and Carly says she doesn’t? Josslyn says, no. No one is perfect, including her dad, but don’t tell him she said that. He’s not par with Sonny and Jason, but she doesn’t look too closely at what he does either. He’s just her dad, and the other stuff is his business. Carly asks when Josslyn got so strong and smart, and Josslyn says, duh. Look who her mom is.
The cop tells Diane, it’s clear from the security footage, Jason acted in self-defense. He’s within his jurisdiction to bring Jason to the station anyway, but he’s letting Jason go on his own recognizance. However, he needs to come to the station tomorrow morning, and give a formal statement. Diane says, absolutely, and the cop tells her that she cited a pretty good precedent. It doesn’t apply, but he would have let Jason go anyway. He doesn’t agree with vigilantism, but what Jason did helped a lot of people. He’ll give Jason back his gun when he gives his statement. Out of curiosity, what happened to the other two guys in the video? Diane says, how on earth would her client know where the terrified bystanders fled? Back to logistics. She recorded the conversation, and he’ll receive a copy of the transcript. She also expects a copy of the security footage, lest they use it against her client later. He says he’ll get that to her, and she thanks him.
Julian and Sonny struggle on the bridge. Sonny tells Julian, get back, and there’s a shot.
Curtis tells Jordan, she doesn’t get to make his decisions, or take his choices away from him. She never gave him the option of getting involved. She says, of course (🍷) she knew he’d want to help, because he loves her, but she didn’t want the stain on him for trying to protect her. Curtis says, what she calls protecting him, he calls lying. He can’t pretend he’s okay with it. He leaves, and she cries.
Martin asks Florence how she’s feeling. She says, was she sleeping? and he says, out like a light. She asks, what time is it? and he says, there’s still time; it’s still her birthday. He made it. He brought her favorite, hummingbird cake. It’s all right. He kisses her forehead, and says he’s right there. Cyrus says he’s there too. Happy birthday, mama. In some weird way, this is breaking my heart.
Josslyn thanks Carly for being there, and Carly says, for her, always. Josslyn says, and for being a great role model, and Carly says she doesn’t know about that. Josslyn says she does. She doesn’t always like it when Carly pries into her life, but she’s happy Carly is there for her, and she can come to Carly whenever she needs to. Carly says, any time. She wants Josslyn to hear that. She doesn’t care if they’re in the middle of a knockdown, drag-out fight, Josslyn can come to her. She’ll always be there if Josslyn needs her. Josslyn asks if Carly knows what she loves about her. She’s been a teenager too. She knows technically everyone has, but Carly gets it in a way others don’t. She can come with to Carly with a problem or a mistake, or when she’s just generally confused about life, and Carly understands it because she lived it. And she survived it. That’s how Josslyn knows she can too . She realizes she doesn’t get to trade things she loves for the things she doesn’t have. She could have had a mom who baked cookies. Carly says Josslyn doesn’t want her baking, and Josslyn agrees she doesn’t, and says, but that wouldn’t be Carly. Carly chose this life because the people she loves are in it. Josslyn chooses it for the exact same reason. Carly hugs Josslyn, and tells her that she loves her.
Julian stumbles back, and discovers a fresh bullet wound. Sonny says, don’t make him shoot, and Julian backs away and falls. Sonny carefully checks Julian’s neck pulse, and says, just like him. Dying and running away. Jason arrives, and suddenly, part of the bridge gives way, and Julian and Sonny fall into the water. Jason runs over, and calls to Sonny.
On Monday, Laura tells Cyrus not to ask their mother for something she can’t give, Finn tells Gregory the real reason he didn’t come to the wedding, and Carly tells Dante that she thinks he’s doing the right thing.
👑 Viva la Vivian…
Linda Dano is a legend. I think she’s going to rock in this roll role.
https://www.soapcentral.com/days/news/2020/1211-linda_dano_new_vivian.php
🥱 No Surprise…
It’s things like this that make me feel guilty for liking Two and a Half Men. Which I actually shouldn’t like for other reasons.
https://pagesix.com/2020/12/17/denise-richards-says-charlie-sheen-divorce-affected-her-work/
💸 She Said He Said…
You’d think it would be the other way around, but it’s not unlikely.
https://pagesix.com/2020/12/18/erika-jayne-allegedly-divorcing-tom-girardi-over-cheating/
Funny how they’re always suddenly broke before a lawsuit or divorce, and this is both.
https://pagesix.com/2020/12/17/erika-jaynes-husband-tom-girardi-testified-that-hes-broke/
📠 Receipts Coming Up…
IMO, Gizelle always looks amazing.
👰🏾 Get Off Mary’s Jock…
It sounds like there’s about a twenty year difference, and he was a young grandpa. They also seem happy, so enough already.
🍸 Pumping Along…
No surprise that Bravo would tell them what to say, but who cares? Go already.
That was fast. It seems a little vague though.
Are they VanderCanceled for real? And no mention of what’s in store for LVP. She really needs her own dog and pony show. Literally.
🧛🏻♂️ Bloody Return…
I’m not sure how I feel about this.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/true-blood-reboot-in-the-works-at-hbo
https://the-line-up.com/true-blood-reboot
🐲 Write Faster, George…
I need those books. In the meantime, it looks like the prequel is moving along.
👩🏻⚖️ Crankier Than Ever…
I’m sure she’s got a lot to reflect back on.
https://nypost.com/2020/12/14/judy-sheindlin-reflects-on-25-years-of-judge-judy/
💔 It Doesn’t Get Sadder…
He was my TV dog crush, and the best New Year’s Eve date ever. R.I.P. Giggy.
https://people.com/pets/lisa-vanderpump-dog-giggy-dies/
📼 End Of an Era…
This sounds like a great documentary.
https://nypost.com/2020/12/17/the-last-blockbuster-store-is-a-beacon-for-movie-nostalgia/
🎄 Bring It On…
The holidays are officially in full swing, although some people started on Labor Day.
https://pagesix.com/2020/12/14/celebs-celebrate-hanukkah-2020/
Not one of these looks like the erratic mess eclectic group of ornaments I have on my tree.
https://pagesix.com/2020/12/09/celebrities-decorate-for-christmas-2020/
Holiday greetings from the stage.
https://pagesix.com/2020/12/14/carolines-on-broadways-sends-out-annual-holiday-card/
🦜 Quotes of the Week
You never fail until you stop trying. – Albert Einstein
I may not be where I want to be but I’m thankful for not being where I used to be. – Habeeb Akande
To be inspired is great, but to inspire is an honor. – Stacey T. Hunt
Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear. – George Addair
The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me. – Ayn Rand
Believe you can and you’re halfway there. – Theodore Roosevelt
If you are not willing to risk the usual, you will have to settle for the ordinary. – Jim Rohn
The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. – Nelson Mandela
You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job and not be paid for it. – Oprah Winfrey (I already do a job with no pay. Does that mean I’m twice as successful?)
Most times, a ghost is a wish. – Steven Crain (Michiel Hulsman), The Haunting of Hill House
When we talk about understanding, surely it takes place only when the mind listens completely — the mind being your heart, your nerves, your ears- when you give your whole attention to it. – Jiddu Krishnamurti (So when you say, I understand, make sure this is what you’re doing.)
Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions form habits; habits decide character; and character fixes our destiny. – Tyron Edwards (Too bad I can’t get past the thought part…)
My mom cannot be mistaken, because she’s my mom. – Natalie Mordovtseva, 90 Day Fiancé
You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great. – Zig Ziglar
Happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. – Frederick Koenig
Maintain composure in times of heightened emotion, reacting only when thoughts are calm and clear. Being sensible will open doors for solutions and creativity. – Jaren L. Davis
Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. – Robert Brault
If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. – Vincent Van Gogh
Sometimes a person has to go a very long distance out of his way to come back a short distance correctly. – Jerry, The Zoo Story, Edward Albee
💃🏽 Dancing Off Into the Night Like…
It’s that time again, that weekend before Christmas where many of us looked like deer in the headlights at the mall, buying out of sheer fear of someone else missing out. Now we’re doing that from the comfort of our homes on Amazon. AMC is still working through their catalog of holiday films, so no Dead yet, but I’ll see you on Deck on Monday, when Captain Lee’s head finally explodes. Until then, stay safe, stay making the most of what you’ve got, and stay choosing your life because the people you love are in it.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 