Category Archives: real housewives

September 25, 2020 – On the Pennsylvania Side Of the River, MLB Preempt, Missing Link, Stars Dance, 9 Years Ago, Stolen and Found, a Return, More Emmy, NYC Explains Or Not, Possible Wife, Real Deal, One More Than a Dozen Quotes & Another Part of PA

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

General Hospital

Alexis and Valentin arrive at Neil’s memorial, and Alexis says she appreciates Valentin bringing her, but she’ll get a car back. He says he drove her there himself, and he’ll drive her home. She wonders when he got so chivalrous, and he says he’s leveling the playing field. She was good to him when he needed it. They go inside, and she sees a photo of Neil.

On her phone at the hospital, Sasha says she needs to make a purchase. The usual. She asks them to meet her at GH, and text when they’re outside. Chase startles her.

Brook gets that it’s a shock to find out Olivia is in Monte Carlo, and Ned says, in the honeymoon suit at a glamorous hotel, with ex-spy Robert Scorpio. She says he sounds insecure and jealous. She thought he and Olivia were solid. Did something happen? He says, ELQ happened. Olivia hasn’t been happy since he took over the company, then Robert was able to get her in to see Dante. She might have had a hard time leaving him. It’s not her fault; they’ll work it out. He just wants her home safe and sound. The same goes for Brook. Can he convince her to come home? She says she doesn’t think it’s a good idea for either of them right now, but she’ll do what she said. She’ll let him know where she lands. He thanks her for trying to make him feel better about Olivia. Brook says, don’t tell Olivia that she said so, but Olivia is smart. She wouldn’t blow things up like that. He tells her, call him if she needs anything at all. She says, okay, and he says, maybe there’s hope for them yet. She says, maybe.

On a private plane with Robert and Ethan, Olivia says, well, it’s official. Her phone is nowhere to be found. She left it in Monte Carlo. Ethan says there’s no Wi-Fi anyway; it’s intentional. Robert says, the Bureau likes to get a head start on spinning the story. The casino bust is a way for them to control the narrative. Ethan says his mother is dead, buried in a shallow grave. How are they going to control the narrative for that? Olivia says she’s so sorry. Holly probably would have been saved if not for her.

Josslyn and Cameron are at the Bistro. Which, by the way, suddenly has an identifying name. I’ve been calling it the café for years now. Cameron says they just saw each other. Why did she text him to meet her? She says she’s fine. She didn’t feel like being at home. Cameron asks, why not? and she says, Mike just died and her mom is acting upbeat about homecoming. Josslyn knows it’s for her sake, but figured if she wasn’t around, they could be honest about how they’re feeling. Cameron totally gets it. It’s strange at his house too. There’s tension, and his parents are pretending there isn’t.

Scotty tells Franco and Elizabeth that he met with Ava and Nikolas. Elizabeth asks, what happened? and Scotty takes out the phone, pointing to the pictures. He says he showed them boom… boom. Franco says the photos have remarkable composition, but he doesn’t like to look at a picture of Elizabeth with that other dude. Elizabeth says she doesn’t like to see him and Ava either. Scotty says, the make-out sessions were their idea. He thought it was hairbrained at first. However, the two of them are masterminds, and it worked out great. They’ve got Ava and Nikolas right where they want them – scared, and ready to pay. They all smile at each other.

Robert asks what Olivia is talking about, and she says Holly would be alive, but they didn’t get there in time. Robert took her to Geneva first, and it was a waste of time to try and see Dante. Ethan asks if the call didn’t come after Holly’s memorial, and Robert says he didn’t want to go to the memorial. He only went because Olivia badgered him into it. If she hadn’t, he would have been in Port Charles when Holly called. He would have had no time to get to Monte Carlo. Ethan says, and Winston would have covered his track. They wouldn’t have gotten answers, but because of Olivia, they did. Robert says, he can only speak for himself, but he’s sure Ethan feels the same. He’s more than grateful.

Chase apologizes, saying he didn’t realize Sasha was on the phone. She says, no problem; what’s up? He asks if she’s heard about Nelle. She asks if Nelle was captured, but Chase says her body was recovered. She’s dead. Sasha asks, how? and he says, her body was found on the Pennsylvania side of the river (🍷 – a new drinking game phrase for today). She asks if he’s sure, and he says the body was positively ID’d, but he’s there to get more details. She asks if Michael knows, and how he’s taking it. She guesses he must be relieved, for himself and Wiley. She’s sorry she feels this way, but she’s thankful they’re free from Nelle’s constant torment. Wiley is truly safe. She clutches her stomach a little, and he asks if she’s okay. She says she’s fine. It’s the finality of everything. It’s finally over, and it’s too late.

Scotty says they should have seen the look on Nikolas’s face when Nikolas saw it was him; like he’d seen a ghost. To be honest, Ava felt like he’d betrayed her. Franco says, if anything, she betrayed Scotty, since he’s Scotty’s son. Where’s Ava’s loyalty to Franco, and respect for his marriage? Elizabeth says Ava and Nikolas are both just as bad, using them as pawns in their chess game. All Nikolas cares about is the infidelity clause and post-nuptial agreement.

Cameron tells Josslyn, he walked in on a conversation where his parents were discussing the bills, and they froze up. They always change the subject. How interested in his soccer practice can they be? Josslyn says she knows what he means; it’s awful the way they find a way to cover, and make like everything is all right. He says he knows his parents took out a loan when the pipe burst. Britt Westbourne is Chief of Staff, and she hates his mom, so Britt cut her hours back. Franco thinks he’s going to be fired. For no reason. She says, like Monica and Bobbie were fired. Michael thinks they should sue. He doesn’t think that’s an option for his mom or Franco. He’s looking for after school jobs. He has to help out with the expenses.

Valentin asks if Neil had any immediate family, and Alexis says, he had a brother in New Jersey. She sees a man sitting down, and says, that must be him. Valentin says, why doesn’t she pay her respects? She goes over to the man, and asks if he’s Neil’s brother. He says he’s proud to say he is. She says she’s terribly sorry for his loss, and he thanks her. He asks if she worked with his brother. Valentin introduces himself, and Alexis does the same. She says, she and Neil… and Brendan (we find out his name in the course of conversation) says he knows who she is.

Alexis says, of course (🍷). He was probably told about the circumstances of Neil’s death. He says he was, and Neil used to talk about her. That surprised him, since Neil never mentioned his personal life. He didn’t have much of one. He dated, but never seriously. He kept saying he had finally met his match. Alexis says they had a special connection. He says, Neil was a wonderful, caring person, who spent his entire life helping others. She says she was extraordinarily lucky to know him. He says, she was, and he wishes to God Neil had never met her.

Olivia tells Robert, it’s ironic. She always loved spy movies. They were so glamourous and exciting. But when you really see what goes on, it’s not that glamorous anymore, is it? She starts to cry, and says, sorry. She gets up and goes (presumably) to the bathroom. Ethan asks what the story is between them, and Robert stammers a little. He says, him and Olivia? Ethan says, no, the other bombshell on the plane. Robert says, a couple of years back, he was a fugitive, and he… well, she… she’s married. Ethan says it never stopped Robert before, and Robert calls him Mr. Leap Before You Look. Ethan says, life is short. You’ve got to cut loose. Why wait in line? You should take all the chances you can, and a few more. Play the cards your dealt, and bluff if you have to. At least you know you lived. Robert says, for a moment, Ethan reminded him of Holly.

Chase tells Sasha, it’s not too late. They got exactly what they wanted. Not for Nelle to die necessarily, but be out of Wiley’s life. Michael and Willow don’t have to be married anymore. She asks, what if they don’t want to divorce? and he asks if she’s talking about the kiss. It’s natural that it would happen. They both love Wiley, but that doesn’t mean they have feelings for one another. One kiss doesn’t make a romance. She says neither one of them would take a kiss casually; that’s not who they are. As much as they’re hurt, she and Chase have to accept the truth. The kiss was a turning point.   

Josslyn asks what kind of job Cameron is going to get that doesn’t interfere with school, homework, and soccer. He says all he knows is, he has to do something. They might be able to fool Jake and Aiden, but they can’t fool him. He sees how stressed they are about being able to afford college for him. She asks, what about a scholarship? and he says, soccer scholarships are mostly partial – if he gets one at all. Josslyn thinks he should get tons of offers, since he’s all-around amazing.

Elizabeth says, no party over what Ava and Nikolas did, especially Nikolas. She got her friend back, and watched him sinking lower and lower. Scotty says, he’s a Cassadine, but she says, he’s better than this. Now look at them, stooping to blackmail. Scotty says, they asked for it. Franco says, think about it. It could be the thing that keeps them afloat. Scotty says, it was a drop in the bucket. Nikolas and Ava were lowballing them. The reality is, they could probably get enough to pay off their mortgage, put Cameron through college, and have a cushion. Elizabeth asks Scotty what he’s done.

Cameron says Josslyn always knows how to make him feel better. She says, same. They’ve been through a lot together. He says, true that, and she says she hated house arrest. She was so lost without him and Trina; she felt left out. He says he missed her too. She says she knows he and Trina got closer during that time, with the whole kiss that happened. The important thing is, they got through it. It’s cool how they’re going to homecoming as a group. None of that date pressure. Everything’s back to normal, which is great, right? He says, yeah, totally.

Chase asks Sasha if she doesn’t see it. Everything has changed. Nelle is dead, and they’re free to tell the truth. She says, then what? Michael and Willow will realize she and Chase lied because they love them, and thank them for manipulating them for their own good? Now it’s over, and they can just pick up where they left off? He says he knows it sounds crazy, and she says, because it is. Stop living in a fantasy world. He says she’s acting like she wants Michael and Willow to hate them, and she says she didn’t mean to come at him. She’s not sleeping well. Launching Deception is a 24/7 job. He says, no doubt. He doesn’t think that’s all that’s going on.

Scotty says, when he saw the desperation on their faces, he knew Nikolas and Ava would pay, so he asked for $125K. Franco says, they agreed on $50K, and Scotty says, that’s not what he meant. He asked for $125K from each of them. Franco says, $250,000? What’s wrong with him? Elizabeth says, it’s a quarter of a million dollars; that’s extortion. Scotty says, what’s done is done. You don’t go back after a shakedown, and say, oops, I changed my mind. Even if they negotiate, they’ll come out ahead. Franco says there’s so much they could do. He and Scotty shake hands, and Franco says he’s got to hand it to Scotty. Bummer Elizabeth says she can’t believe what she’s hearing. It’s got to stop right now.

Robert says, Holly didn’t raise Ethan, but he’s just like her. Ethan says, coming from Robert, that’s a high compliment. Robert says he appreciated Ethan’s help at the casino. He doesn’t think he could have taken Winston down without him. Ethan says, actually, Olivia took him down, clobbering him with the Uzi. They laugh, and Robert says Ethan played a big part. Ethan says he wanted answers, and owed Robert one. Robert dropped everything to help them, leaving Port Charles and Anna behind to get them out of a jam. Robert says he got something out of it too; he reconnected to Holly. Too bad they couldn’t make it last, but they had a great time. Ethan says he didn’t hang around much after that because of his guilt. Robert says, about what? and Ethan says, about letting Robert think he was Robert’s son.

Valentin says he realizes the difficult circumstances, but Brendan’s words are uncalled for. Brendan doesn’t think so, and Alexis says, let him speak. He obviously has something say. Brendan says he wasn’t sure he’d get the opportunity to talk to her. He didn’t know if she’d dare show up. From what he can see, she caused more sorrow than joy. Neil took it hard when they broke up, and he couldn’t pursue her. He was moving on, then he bumped into her at the opera – the one night that ended his career, the one thing that kept him going after his daughter died. His practice helped others, and it drove Neil to despair. She dismantled his life and Neil took what was left, and threw it away on a drug overdose.

Josslyn tells Cameron, she’s seen the Crimson wardrobe vault – it’s the 8th wonder of the world. Cameron must be anointed to be allowed access, Cameron says it was complicated. Nina is all about the fit and the cut, and all the accessories; a shirt, the collar, a tie, cufflinks. She asks if he found anything he liked. She thinks it will pay off. He says he plans on looking smoking hot, and she says she bets he will.

Scotty says Elizabeth wants to torpedo their plan. Ava and Nikolas are the ones acting like bad guys, and messing with his family. He takes family seriously, and thought she would too. Franco says he thought what her friend did was unacceptable. He wants them to feel what’s it’s like to be used and tricked. Scotty says, if not, they can feel it in their wallets. Elizabeth says, blackmail is a crime, and she wants no part of it. Franco shouldn’t either. Scotty asks if she thinks they’re going to the cops. Franco says, come on. Technically, it’s not blackmail until money exchanges hands. They don’t know if Ava and Nikolas are going to pay at all, so maybe wait see what happens. She says, okay. When are they meeting with Scotty? Scotty says he gave them 24 hours. They’ll never know Franco and Elizabeth had anything to do with this; it’s all on him. Franco says he appreciates everything Scotty had done for them, and says, Elizabeth? She says she knows Scotty’s heart is in the right place, and she appreciates that he’s overprotective of his family, even if they don’t agree on his methods. He says, no one messes with his family. Not on his watch.

Robert says, all the same, what are the odds he and Ethan would be stuck on the same plane? Get it over with. Ethan says Robert thought Robin was dead, and Holly told him Ethan was his son, so Robert would feel obligated to save him. Robert says Ethan’s real father had a big hand it; it’s a convoluted Spencer special. Holly lied to give him hope, but without Holly and hope, he doesn’t know if he would have survived. She was almost always right. Ethan says, and she never let them forget it. Robert says, that’s for damn sure. They drink.

Chase says Sasha is trying to hide her feelings, but he can tell she’s struggling. She’s trying to convince him, but giving up Michael is too painful to admit. She says she wishes she could, and he says, she buried herself in her work, so she doesn’t have to face what’s going on. She says she never expected life to turn into this, and he says the two of them are in it together. He’s here for her anytime she wants to call, and she knows he’ll understand. She thanks him for being a good friend. Brook appears, and says, hey, roomie. Sasha says she’s on her way out, but Brook tells her, don’t jump to conclusions. She’s just crashing at Chase’s place. He’s being a sweetheart, but nothing is going on. Sasha says, nothing is going on with her and Chase either. Chase says there’s something Brook should know; Nelle is dead. Her body was recovered on the Pennsylvania side of the river (🍷). He’s going to the morgue to follow up. Brook says she should be sorry for the loss of any human life, but all she feels is relief. Chase says, him too, and he moves along. Brook says, wow. Nelle is dead. (I expect her to say, and her body was recovered on the Pennsylvania side of the river, but she doesn’t.) Sasha asks if she’s okay, and Brook says she’s just processing. Sasha doesn’t blame her, and says Brook has been through a lot. Brook says she’s on the mend, and stronger every day. Sasha says she’s glad to hear it. They need her voice for Deception. When is she recording a new song?

Valentin says, Neil was a grown man; he made his own decisions. What happened was tragic, but don’t put it on Alexis. Alexis says Brendan has a right to feel the way he does, and Brendan says, the memorial is a celebration of Neil’s life. She stripped him of everything worth living for. He doesn’t want the memorial tainted with her presence, and tells her that she’s not welcome. Alexis runs out crying. Well, he’s not making a very good first impression.

Chase orders some food to go at The Floating Rib. Valentin and Alexis walk in, and Valentin suggests she get something to eat. She says she doesn’t have much of an appetite, and he says, Neil’s brother was out of line. He’s grieving, and needs someone to take it out on. He chose her. She says Branden used words that she can’t unhear, and watches as a drink is poured.

On the phone, Josslyn says she’s glad Carly called, instead of waiting until she got home. She’s with Cameron, but she’ll see Carly soon. She loves her. Cameron says he heard her say Nelle was dead. Is she really gone? Josslyn says her mom told her they found the body on the Pennsylvania side of the river. (🍷) He asks, what happened? and she says, it’s too early to say exactly how Nelle died. He says, after everything that happened, it’s really over. Nelle is gone.  

Alexis tells Valentin, she can’t be angry with Neil’s brother. He didn’t know how their relationship was. Ned comes in, and orders a double scotch, neat, at the bar. Chase asks if he’s okay, and he says, just great, throwing back his drink. He doesn’t know whether to be annoyed with Chase or grateful that he’s letting Brook stay. If he hadn’t, it might be easier to convince her to come home.  Chase says he tried to give her options. At their table, Valentin says, Brendan is furious that Neil threw his life away, and is looking for someone to blame. She’s an easy target. Ned tells Chase, women like to have options, loud enough for Valentin to hear, and looks pointedly at Valentin.

Ethan says, all the stories he heard of their adventures together; Holly loved Robert, in her way. Robert says he loved Holly. That’s all he wants to say about it. He’s sorry she wasn’t a conventional mother. Ethan says conventions are overrated. They were perfect partners in crime. They could go a month not seeing each other, then she’d then send up a flare, and he’d come on the run. The cons were just an excuse. She really wanted to spend time together. Robert said she knew she could trust him, and Ethan says he doesn’t know how to get over it, but it helps knowing there’s someone else out there who remembers her too. Olivia comes back, and says, sorry for making a scene. How did the two of them manage without her? Robert says they buried a few hatchets, and Olivia asks when they’re landing. Robert tells her, he’ll check with the pilot, and goes up front. Olivia tells Ethan, when they get there, she’s putting him up at the MetroCourt; no argument. He says he appreciates it, but as soon as they touch down, he has a date in Antigua. She asks, what it would hurt to stick around Port Charles?

Sasha says she has to go, but she wants to see Brook in the recording studio asap. Geez, Brook practically just got off the operating table for an injury to her vocal chords. I know Sasha is high, but come on. Brook says she’s going to have to extend that timeline, and Sasha says Deception gained momentum from the Nurses Ball telethon. Brook says, her doctors haven’t cleared her for singing, and Sasha says, sorry. She’s just excited. She’s a partner, and brand ambassador. The projections are through the roof. It’s going to be a huge success, and she wants Brook to be a part of that. Brook says she does too. She’d love to be involved in the business aspect. Sasha says she didn’t think Brook was interested in that, but Brook says, sure she would. She’s always wanted to be part of a winning team. Sasha says Brook doesn’t have to prove her worth. They just want her voice; it’s more than enough.

Franco tells Elizabeth, it’s just a threat. They’ll destroy the picture, whether or not they pay. She says, okay, but he says she’s still angry. She thinks they deserved a scare. Marriage means nothing to them, and everything to her. She doesn’t take what they tried to do lightly. Franco says, they were just trying; no real damage was done. She says, right, and he says, checking in. Around the time of the party, things were rocky. Elizabeth says, she’s glad she overheard Ava and Nina talking about Ava’s post-nup and wanting Nikolas to cheat. She finally understood what was going on. Franco says they feel solid. Does she think they’re better than ever? Elizabeth says, yeah. They never lost faith in each other. It doesn’t matter what happens with Ava and Nikolas. Clearly, they’re the winners. They hug.

Cameron asks if Josslyn is okay. How does she feel about things, honestly? She says, conflicted. She can’t tell him how much she’d wished Nelle would disappear and not come back. Nelle deliberately set out to ruin her mom’s life, and manipulated her to go against her mom, and she let Nelle do it. She should hate Nelle, but despite all she did, she’s the reason Wiley exists, and she can’t regret Wiley. So being glad Nelle is dead is harsh, but she’s relieved that Nelle will never hurt them again. Does that make her a horrible person? He says, no, but it does add another thing to deal with. Josslyn says she should get going. She needs to start getting ready for homecoming if she’s going to keep up with him. Cameron says she always looks beautiful, and Josslyn says she should probably go.

Brook tells Sasha, she has a follow-up appointment with her surgeon, and Sasha says, her too. She means an appointment. She tells Brook, hurry up and get well. She can’t wait work with Brook. Sasha leaves, and Brook says she has to figure out how to be the voice of Deception without a voice.

Chase tells Ned that he doesn’t think Brook would be this angry if she didn’t love him. At the table, Valentin tells Alexis, she wants to blame herself, but she’s not the reason Neil did drugs. Chase tells Ned, Brook couldn’t be indifferent if she wanted to, and Ned thanks him for trying. He walks over to the table, and asks if he can have a word with Valentin. Valentin says he’s a little busy, and Alexis says she’d consider it a favor. Valentin says, okay, as a favor. He and Ned go outside, and Alexis joneses after the alcoholic drinks.

Ethan says, Port Charles hasn’t been his home in years, but Olivia says, Robert is there, and they’re both grieving Holly. They can help each other. Robert says they don’t have to be in the same city. If Ethan is in a tight spot, he’ll be there, like his mother would have. Ethan says, it goes both ways, and Olivia asks if he’s absolutely sure. Ethan says he has a score to settle, and Olivia hopes when he’s ready to settle down, Port Charles is the first place he thinks of. He says he’ll keep it in mind.

Valentin tells Ned, if he wants to talk about ELQ, call his office. Ned calls him a smug bastard, saying Valentin preyed on his daughter when she was vulnerable. He’s not letting Valentin do the same to Alexis. Valentin says Ned is drunk, and starts to walk away, but Ned grabs him and punches him.

Alexis orders a double vodka.

On… whatever day it’s on next (see below), Portia tells Curtis that he shouldn’t be asking questions, Robert asks Peter if he was missed, and Olivia tells Lulu about seeing Dante.

⚾️ What the What…?

For baseball? Really?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-preempted-for-three-days

📺 In Case You Missed It…

I have no idea what this is about, but apparently some people missed the September 23rd episode of GH. If this is you, here you go.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/watch-september-23-episode-general-hospital-in-full

🧼 Better Than a Foam Party…

Former soap stars cut the rug.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/soap-alums-on-dancing-with-the-stars-week-two-recap

🌠 Rubbing It In…

We come together to mourn the passing of a soap kids once scheduled their college classes around.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/all-my-children/all-my-children-final-episode-anniversary

💍 I See a Ring In Someone’s Future…

This was one of the few parts in RHOBH Secrets Revealed that I thought was worth watching. And Sutton’s birthday party. I could watch that all day.

https://pagesix.com/2020/09/24/kyle-richards-saw-stolen-ring-on-photo-of-psychics-hand/

https://pagesix.com/2020/09/25/tiktok-user-says-woman-wearing-kyle-richards-stolen-ring-is-her-grandma/

👨🏼‍🌾 The Simple Life…

I liked this show, and liked the idea of a family living off the media grid, social and otherwise. It looks like the kids will be branching out some this season. You can take a trip to Plathville on November 10th.

https://people.com/tv/tlc-welcome-to-plathville-returning-for-season-2/

📝 Because I Like a List…

Another take on Emmy’s best and worst moments.

https://www.tvguide.com/news/emmys-awards-2020-best-and-worst-moments/?ftag=NLS-04-10aaa2i

🗽 Reunion Rehash…

Tinsley and Dorinda explained.

https://www.thelist.com/247833/the-truth-about-tinsley-mortimer-and-dorinda-medleys-relationship/

Dorinda makes excuses explains.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1191191/heres-how-dorinda-medley-explains-her-rhony-finale-blow-up-over-tinsley-mortimer

Dorinda makes excuses admits a wrong move.

https://people.com/tv/rhony-dorinda-medley-admits-she-shouldve-taken-this-season-off/

Tinsley makes excuses for being really weird explains.

https://pagesix.com/2020/09/18/tinsley-mortimer-explains-why-she-made-out-with-sister-dabney-mercer/

Tinsley really does explain.

https://people.com/tv/rhony-reunion-tinsley-mortimer-explains-fallout-with-dorinda-medley/

🧩 Another Puzzle Piece…

So Kathy wants on the show. Another reason Kyle might have to claim Brandi never lies. I’m telling you, that was a set-up.

https://pagesix.com/2020/09/17/kathy-hilton-reportedly-in-talks-to-join-rhobh/

🥋 Just In Case You Were Wondering…

Wax off this.

https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-real-martial-arts-behind-cobra-kai-and-the-karate-kid/

🏌️‍♀️ Quotes of the Week

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe. – Albert Einstein  (I question as to whether he really said that, but it’s a good one.)

Believe in your infinite potential. Your only limitations are those you set upon yourself. – Roy T. Bennett

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. – Theodore Roosevelt

Aggressive is protecting your rights, but hurting others. Assertive is protecting your rights and not hurting others. – Dr. Phil  (Fat blipping chance a huge percentage of the world will ever get that.)

Everything’s funny eventually. Sometimes it takes a while but the day will come when you’re able to laugh about anything. – David Sedaris

Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten. – David Ogden Stiers  (Ha-ha! Good thing we have friends.)

People dress up for funerals. Why not dress up to celebrate that you’re alive?Gay Talese

I don’t focus on what I’m up against. I focus on my goals and I try to forget the rest. – Venus Williams

Live your vision and demand your success. – Steve Maraboli

Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. – Joshua J. Marine  (Seriously though, I’d like a break from both.)

This one matches our curtains. – Eric helping Larissa choose lingerie, 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?

Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success. – Dale Carnegie

And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about. – Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore

👷🏽‍♀️ You Know the Drill…

It’s that time again. Those two days that may or may not have taken on a whole new meaning for you. As the Dowager Countess said, what’s a weekend? I say it too, but it’s because I never get one. I’ve questioned the validity of the word vacation for quite a while too. Regardless of how you view them, make the next two days different. Listen to music you’ve never heard before, gather some fall leaves to press or the last bloom of the summer. Get outside, and get outside your head. And while you’re at it, stay safe, stay appreciative, and stay away from the Pennsylvania side of the river. I hear they find bodies there.

September 24, 2020 – The News About Nelle Spreads, NYC’s Reunion Ends On a Socially Distant High Note, Leah Gets Her Due, a New Kind Of Chat & Sweet

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

General Hospital

Franco tells Elizabeth to hold on as she jets to the elevator. He says, money problems shouldn’t get between them, but she says, money’s not the problem. He says, she’s right. People are the problem, but they found a solution. She says he found a solution. One that could cause more problems, and he knows that. She gets in the elevator and the doors close.

Ava goes to the pier. She looks around and says, all right. She’s here; where are they? She hears someone behind her, and whips around, pointing a gun. It’s Scotty, who tells her, be careful with that heater. She says she’s meeting someone there, and it would be better for her if she’s alone when they got there. He asks if she’s going to plug them, and she says, it’s a very sensitive business transaction. He says he might be of some service, and she says it’s kind of him, but he needs to go. He says he has a transaction for her – $125K for a picture he has of her and Franco making out, before it finds its way to Nikolas.

Nikolas and Martin sit at a table at the MetroCourt. Martin says he was curious when he got Nikolas’s call. How may he be of assistance? Nikolas says, first – he slides an envelope over to Martin – consider that his retainer. Martin says, he would, but if it’s related to Valentin, his hands are tied. Nikolas says, no; there’s no conflict of interest. Martin asks why Nikolas requires his legal expertise, and Nikolas says, for a post-nuptial agreement.

Ned tells Brook, if she’s not coming home he’d like one consideration. She says, forget it, and he says, just one. Then he’ll leave. She says, fine, and he asks her to let him know where she’s staying when she leaves Chase’s place. She says she’ll  send him a change of address card. Ned’s phone rings, and he says, she did what? No. He’ll have his assistant get in touch. Brook asks, what is it? and he says, a motel in Monaco seems to think he and Olivia are there on their honeymoon.

Willow and Michael go into the hospital. Michael tells her they have to find Epiphany. If anyone knows how Cyrus’s new regime is affecting the hospital, it’s her. Elizabeth says she’s sorry hear about Michael’s grandfather passing, and he thanks her for visiting Mike. She says, Mike was a special man. She’s going to miss him. Sasha runs up, and says, Mike died? She almost hugs Michael, but backs up, saying, sorry for his loss.

On his phone, Jason thanks someone for the update. Sonny asks, what is it? and he says, they are their guy at the PCPD confirmed Nelle is dead. They found her body. Sonny says, finally. May she rot in hell.

Sasha tells Michael to give his parents her sympathies about Mike. He says, they’ll appreciate that. Willow asks him to go see if he can find Epiphany; she’ll stay right there. He says, okay. He’ll only be a minute. Sasha tells Willow that she should get going, but Willow asks her to wait.

Ava says Scotty has got to be kidding. He says he’s very serious, and she says, he’s been spying on her? He says, that’s one way to look at it, or look at it like… Yeah, he’s been spying on her. Ava says she knows how it looks, and he says, so does he. He’s got a picture. She says she was in a vulnerable space. Franco seemed supportive, and the kiss just happened. He says he knows. He hears that in divorce court a lot. She tells him, erase his lapse in judgement, and she’ll forgive his.

Nikolas explains to Martin, Ava will get 90% of his assets, with 10% going in trust for his son if he’s unfaithful. If she’s unfaithful, she gets nothing. Martin says, as long as the agreement clearly defines what constitutes infidelity, then the situation is straightforward, but Nikolas says, suppose it isn’t defined? Martin says, then it’s a veritable minefield of complications, any of which could trigger Nikolas into losing his fortune.

Scotty tells Ava, he’s had no lapse in judgment, and she says, what?! They’re supposed to be friends; she relies on him. He ask when was the last time she called him? and she asks when was the last time he called her. He says he tried every night, wanting to go out, have martinis, and have fun, but she got busy with her new husband. She says, now he’s punishing her for marrying Nikolas. He says, he’s not punishing her for being a bad friend, but she didn’t even let him do the post-nup. She says she wanted to. She almost did, but she didn’t want to put him in an awkward situation. So she went with Dingleberry and Dingleberry (okay, I didn’t catch it). He says, those guys are all bozos, but she says, those bozos did a good job. Delete the photo. She says he knows the only reason she married Nikolas was to punish him. Scotty says, and clean him out. She says, eventually, but right now she’s enjoying the glamorous life, using the Cassadine coffers. He says the money he’s trying to get is peanuts; what’s the big deal? She’ll get the Cassadine money, unless the photo hits social media. She says he’s not going do that, and he asks, why? She says, because Franco is his son. Even if he hurts her, she knows he wouldn’t want to hurt Franco. He tells her, says you.

Sonny asks Jason if they’re sure, and Jason says, the body was found on the Pennsylvania side of the river. Their guy is handling the paperwork and arranging transport of the body. Sonny asks if they know how she died, and Jason says, he didn’t want say before the autopsy. He’s sure they’ll know soon. Sonny says, Carly must be relieved. After all this time, and the damage Nelle has done, it’s hard to believe they’ll never have to worry about her again. Jason asks if Carly is sure she’s okay, and Carly says she’s just shocked. It’s over. Sonny says, Nelle stalked Carly and tried to dismantle her life. Now she’s dead. Carly should be jumping up and down.

Sonny says, Carly wanted to tell him and Jason something, then Nelle’s death was confirmed. Now she seems more worried. What’s going on? She says, okay. They need to understand why she didn’t say anything. Mike was dying and she didn’t want anything to interfere with his last few days, least of all, Nelle. Sonny asks if she lied about what happened at the cabin, and she says, no, but there was more. He asks, what’s the rest? Did she kill Nelle?

Ned tells Brook, the hotel thinks Olivia left her stuff behind in their honeymoon suite in Monte Carlo. Olivia’s credit card must have been hacked or stolen. He’ll call the bank and report it. Brook says she wouldn’t, but Ned says, Olivia is in Geneva to meet Dante, not Monte Carlo. It’s crazy. She says, not as crazy as he thinks.

Sasha tells Willow, she’s sorry. It was just force of habit. Willow says she knows; it’s okay. Sasha wanted to comfort and support Michael in his time of grief. Sasha says she has no right, after what she and Chase did, and Willow says she hasn’t forgotten or forgiven. Sasha says she didn’t think Willow had, but Willow says, that’s neither here nor there. The point is, she saw how difficult it was for Sasha. Sasha says, and inappropriate for her to comfort Willow’s husband. Willow says, Sasha is still in love with Michael, isn’t she?

Martin says, the old definition of infidelity was to stray outside the marriage sexually. Nikolas says, and now? Martin says, currently, emotional intimacy is just as sacred as physical intimacy, and Nikolas says, so all he has to do is have sexual or romantic feelings to be considered unfaithful? Martin says, it’s not quite that simple, but if his spouse has proof that he behaved in a manner that compromised either the emotional or physical integrity of their agreement, they might have a cogent argument for infidelity. Nikolas says, but there has to be proof? and Martin says, exactly. In the absence of proof, there’s no accusation that can be sustained. He’d be in the clear.

Ava says, no way is Scotty blowing up Franco’s life and marriage for a few bucks. That’s what would happen if he released the photo. He won’t get any money, but he’ll get an unhappy son. It was a mistake; a slip-up. He says, sure, Elizabeth would be livid, but she’ll blame Ava. She already thinks Ava exploited Franco’s past, and she’s going to protect her territory. Ava says, that’s not the way she sees it; the portrait was an opportunity for Franco. Scotty says, maybe if he posts the photo, Franco will come to his senses. So the options are, post, don’t post. She says she’s not as heartless as he describes. She and Franco had something wonderful once. How does Scotty know she’s not in love with him?

Elizabeth asks if she can do something for Michael, and he says he’d like to talk to Epiphany, but she’s no longer on the schedule. Elizabeth says she’s been moved to administration now, and Michael asks, why? She says, what can she say? Their new Chief of Staff, Britt Westbourne, gets her marching orders from Cyrus. Michael asks what other changes were made, and Elizabeth says her hours were cut. He says, sorry, and she says she’s there for the time being. Is there something she can do for him? He says, Wiley is due for surgery. Given its current state, is GH still the best hospital for him? She says she still loves the place, and the staff and doctors, but as a parent, she understands his concern. Given everything that’s going on, she thinks he should look at other options. He guesses he should do some research, and she says he didn’t hear it from her, but Mercy’s cardiac unit is on the rise. He thanks her.

Scotty tells Ava, she likes to play all her cray 8s, but she says she’s not playing cards. This is her life. He says, okay. Say she’s in love with Franco. He’ll put it out there to the world, and let everybody know. All it takes is one tap. She says he’ll do nothing of the sort, and he says, now there’s his girl. She says he knows what Nikolas did to her. She ended up in an asylum because of him, and now Scotty wants to spoil her revenge? Why? He says she did it for the money, her marriage went to hell, then she went after Franco to scratch a few itches. That’s why she’s going to pay. Ava says they have a rare thing here and now. Most friends disappear or fade away. Knowing the exact time of death, the exact moment a friendship ends is a rarity. He says, well then let him mark the exact time of death. She’s got 24 hours to pay up. Got it?

Nikolas sees Julian at the MetroCourt bar, and asks if he’s spoken to Ava since her trip to Sonny’s cabin. He says, no, and asks if something happened. Nikolas flashes back to him and Ava in the cabin, and says, not that he’s aware of. Julian says, but Nikolas hasn’t heard from her and doesn’t know where she is? Nikolas says, she’s a strong, independent woman, and makes her own schedule. He’s not concerned. Julian says they both know Nikolas doesn’t care, and Nikolas tells Julian, he didn’t say that. Julian says, everybody knows; he approves. Nikolas says he’d rather Ava be in a loveless marriage than with someone who makes her happy? Julian says, their family doesn’t do happiness. He tells Nikolas, he’s got his own problems to deal with, and leaves.

Sasha tells Willow, she’ll always care for Michael, but she’s not acting on it. She heard Mike died, and knowing how much he meant to Michael, it was an impulse. Willow says, a good impulse, but just so Sasha knows, Michael hasn’t had to grieve alone. He’s had his family – both of them – and Wiley. Sasha says, and Willow. Willow says, yes, and Sasha says, good. She’s glad Michael’s had all sorts of people to lean on. He needs that. He needs Willow. She got one thing right, about how much they all need each other.

Carly tells Sonny, no; she didn’t kill Nelle. It’s more complicated than that. Jason tells her to take them through it, step by step. She says she found Michael and Wiley in the cabin. Jax was there, outside, calling the police. That’s when Michael told her that Nelle took off. Jason says, and Carly ran after her, and caught up with her in the clearing. They fought, and Nelle got away. Carly says, Nelle ran, and a few minutes later, she heard Nelle screaming. She followed Nelle’s voice, and ran to the cliff. Nelle was screaming and begging for Carly to help her, but she hesitated; she thought it was some kind of trick. Nelle kept screaming and begging for help. She looked over the edge, and Nelle was dangling. She tried to help. She had Nelle’s hand in her hand, but Nelle slipped. Jason says, it’s not Carly’s fault, and Carly says, maybe not, but if she’d gotten there sooner, she could have done something. The doorbell rings, and Jason answers. It’s Chase, who says he’s there on police business. Can he come in?

Ned tells Brook, what if Olivia got her purse stolen, with her wallet, passport, and phone in it? That would explain why she hasn’t called him back. Brook flashes back to listening to the message Olivia left about staying overseas with Robert for a few mores days. She remembers deleting the message, and saying, let Ned worry about not hearing from her. Ned says, she could be stranded with no ID or passport. He’s going to call Interpol; no, he’s calling the WSB. She tells him, don’t; that didn’t happen. He asks how she knows, and she says she did something impulsive. It was after Dr. Robinson told her that she’d have a long recovery time. Does he remember when he left his phone in her room? There was a voicemail. He insists there wasn’t, and she says that’s because she deleted it. He asks why she did that, and she says she doesn’t know. She guesses she was upset about Olivia running all over Europe with Robert while she was laid up. He asks what she means, running all over Europe? Tell him what his wife said. Brook says, Olivia said she and Robert would be a few days in Monte Carlo. She didn’t leave any details. Ned says he thinks he’ll call the hotel back.

Chase comes into the living room, and says he just explained to Jason that he’s there on police business. Sonny thanks him for bringing Brook to Turning Woods; it meant a lot. (Nice deflection and mood setting.) Chase says he was glad to help, and he’s sorry for their loss. Carly asks what they can do for him, and he says he wanted to tell them in person that Nelle’s body was recovered on the Pennsylvania side of the river. It’s now in the Port Charles morgue. Sonny asks if he’s sure it’s her; was there a positive ID? Jason asks how she died, and Chase says her body was on the riverbank. Apparently, she drowned, but a full autopsy is being conducted. He thought they should know, after what Nelle put their family through. Since Carly was the last person to see Nelle, he was wondering if he could ask a few questions.

Julian meets with Martin, and says he wants to annul his marriage to Nelle, and Martin recommends consulting a lawyer. Julian asks if that’s not what he’s doing, and Martin says he has to get his own lawyer. He can’t handle the case. He’s no longer Nelle’s attorney, but it’s still a conflict of interest. If Julian wants to annul his marriage to the charming Mrs. Benson-Jerome, he’ll have to find another attorney. Perhaps he could hire a new lawyer on Nelle’s behalf, but when he does, do him a favor. Nelle left an important document in his care, and it needs to be transferred to her new representation. Martin’s phone rings, and he says he no longer represents Mrs. Benson-Jerome. He sees. He thanks them for calling. He tells Julian, it would appear his marital woes resolved themselves. Julian asks, how’s that? and Martin says, congratulations. He’s now a widower.

Willow tells Sasha, regardless of what went wrong, they’re four adults, who all want Wiley to be happy. Sasha says, and safe from Nelle. She heard Michael got sole custody, and Willow says, he did, and he’s arranging for her to adopt Wiley. She’ll legally and officially be Wiley’s mom. Sasha says, that’s great. It couldn’t have turned out better. Michael comes back, and asks if everything is okay. Sasha excuses herself, saying she has to go. Again, condolences on his grandfather. She leaves, and Michael asks Willow if that was as uncomfortable as he thinks it was. She says, the whole situation is still a little raw. It probably didn’t help that she told Sasha that he’d asked her to adopt Wiley.

Sonny tells Chase, what happened was terrible, and they’re still reeling over the news. Can he do this some other time? Carly says she gave Valerie her statement at the cabin, but Chase says, now that there’s a body, he has to do follow-up questions. She asks what he needs to know, and he asks her to summarize the events of the evening, starting with going after Nelle. Carly says she caught up to Nelle in the clearing, about a half-mile from the cabin. They fought, Nelle scratched her, she fell, and Nelle took off. Jason says they’ve been up for days with Mike, and asks if Chase can do this later. Chase says he’ll reach out if he has more questions. Sonny says he appreciates it, and Chase says, it’s nice to close the case.

Sasha asks Elizabeth if she has a second. She was hoping for help with a referral. She’s not feeling well; she has insomnia and everything that comes with it. She was wondering if she could get a prescription for something to help her sleep. Elizabeth says Doc is a great psychiatrist, but Sasha says, it’s not a therapy issue. She’s just having trouble sleeping. Elizabeth says she can refer Sasha to a GP, but prescriptions aren’t as easy to come by as they used to be because of people abusing them. Sasha says she can imagine, but all she needs are one or two good night’s sleep. Elizabeth tells her to be careful when she uses them, and Sasha says, don’t worry. She’s always careful about what she puts in her body.

Julian says, Nelle is dead? and Martin says that was the police notifying him. Apparently he’s still Nelle’s counsel of record. Julian asks how it happened, and Martin tells him, being Nelle’s next of kin, the police will supply him with the details. The body is awaiting autopsy. Julian casually says, what about the document Martin mentioned? and Martin guesses the legally responsible way to handle it is how the deceased intended. Julian asks if there’s anything he can do to take it off Martin’s hands, but Martin says, no. He’s afraid everything is on hold until the death certificate has been filed. He excuses himself, telling Julian, his dance card is suddenly quite full.

Nikolas waits for the elevator. He remembers meeting Scotty at the pier. He tells Scotty, people he cares about are going to get hurt, and Scotty says, collateral damage. Nikolas says Franco is his own son, and what about Ava? They’re supposed to be friends. Scotty says, don’t pretend to care. Part of him hopes Nikolas doesn’t pay, and everyone will see exactly who he really is, but in the meantime, he’d really prefer the money. Nikolas gets in the elevator.

At the hospital, Franco asks Elizabeth if she’s ready, and she says, as she’ll ever be. They get in elevator, and meet Scotty in an office. Scotty says, so…? and Franco says he wanted see them.

Ned tells Brook, so it was her. The hotel sent a copy of the room receipt. It’s definitely Olivia’s signature. The housekeeper found Olivia’s phone in the room, and they called him because he’s the emergency contact. Brook is sure Olivia had a reason to be going to Monte Carlo, and he asks where her certainty was when she deleted the message. He apologizes, saying, he doesn’t mean to come down on her. He doesn’t know what Olivia was thinking. He can’t call her, and doesn’t have Robert’s contact information. Brook suggests checking with Anna, and he guesses he can do that. Brook says she doesn’t think Olivia left a message to cover her tracks; she has to be on the up and up. He says, all he knows is, she checked into the honeymoon suite at a five-star hotel in Monte Carlo, and left her phone there. Now God knows where she is. What the hell has Robert gotten his wife into?

Willow asks if she shouldn’t have told Sasha, but Michael says, of course (🍷) she should. She’s going to be Wiley’s legal mother, but in the meantime, they have to deal with Wiley’s heart surgery. They need to find a GP. He spoke to Elizabeth, and she confirmed his suspicions. Even though his family has a long history with GH, he thinks it’s best they explore surgical care at other hospitals. She says she’s sorry. She knows how much the place means to him. He says it always will, but as Wiley’s parents, they have to make the right choice for their son. Chase comes by, and says he’s glad he ran into them. Nelle’s body was found earlier. Michael asks if he’s sure, and Chase says, it’s been positively ID’d. He’s headed to the morgue to confirm it. Michael thanks him for letting them know. Chase moves on, and Willow says, it really is over. Wiley is safe. Michael says, they’re safe. Nelle is never going to try to mess with their lives again.

On the phone, Sasha says she needs to make a purchase. The usual.

Scotty tells Franco and Elizabeth, he met with Ava and Nikolas, and showed them these. He holds up his phone, and says, boom, boom.

Nikolas sees Ava, and she asks if he had a nice lunch at the MetroCourt. He says he didn’t eat, and Ava says, ah. He says, what? and she says, nothing. Just ah. He asks if everything is all right, and she says, just fine. Why wouldn’t it be?

Carly tells Sonny and Jason, she messed up. She changed her story. She told Chase that she fell, but when she gave her statement, she said Nelle pushed her. It’s a huge difference, and they’re going to notice. Sonny says, it happened quickly, and Jason says, a change in detail isn’t unusual. It would be more suspicious if she told the same story, word for word over and over. She says, what about the follow-up? and Jason says, Diane will be there. The important thing is, Nelle is dead, and no one else saw anything. Carly says, except for Jax. I see Sonny’s face, and l laugh.

Tomorrow, Ned asks if he can convince Brook to come home, Scotty says they’ve got Ava and Nikolas exactly where they want them, Valentin tells Alexis that he’s leveling the playing field, and Sasha tells Chase that the kiss was the turning point.

The Real Housewives of New York City – The Reunion – Part Three

We flash back on this season of Ramona’s eternal apology tour; Sonja wanting to catch a d*ck; LuAnn wrangling Ramona, and trying to get everyone moving or sitting or whatever; Dorinda’s overuse of the phrases here’s the thing and can you imagine; and Leah smelling things. LuAnn says, who knew Leah was a sniffer? Dorinda asks if Leah knew that about herself, and we see a clip of Leah sniffing her own armpit. Andy asks if she was stunned by her habit of smelling things, and she says she had no idea. She tends to learn by touching things. Viewer Donnie in Ann Arbor says the way Dorinda speaks is almost a European thing. He wonders if she picked up phrasing in England or it was her mom’s influence. She says, here’s the thing… and everyone laughs. Andy says LuAnn seemed to keep the ladies on track and maintained decorum. Does she see herself as the peacekeeper mom? LuAnn says it took work. He asks what Sonja’s fascination was with catching d*ck, and she says, the law of attraction. If you say it enough, it appears. That’s why she was eating so much; she wasn’t getting any d*ck. A viewer says, d*ck pics reared their ugly heads (sigh), and excluding Leah, who in the group received the most? They all say, Ramona, then LuAnn says, Sonja. We flash back to Sonja saying the only one she’s ever gotten was a wrong number. She says, they tried to backtrack the number because she liked the décor.

Andy says Ramona has been known as the Singer stinger and apologizer, but this season the women wondered if Ramona could be called a good friend. We flash back to Ramona being an a-hole and ditching everyone every chance she got to scout a place for men. We see LuAnn’s interview where she said Ramona was the winner of the worst hostess award. We revisit Ramona fat shaming Sonja, and forcing her 50/60/70 girlfriends to get her a pocketbook via $100 donations, and Leah saying, at least it’s a real Gucci bag. Ramona insists her bags are real, and Leah says, no; they’re not. A viewer says Ramona is different in the Hamptons. It seems like her sole reason for being there is to see and be seen. Sonja says, amen, and Ramona says she’s popular and has a lot of parties. Viewer Bryan from Chattanooga says we know Ramona is a double-booker, but leaving her own party is nuts. She suffers desperately from FOMO. Ramona says she didn’t want leave, but she knew the group was going to crash. Sonja says, Ramona is horny. Alrighty then. Can we go home now? Andy says Ramona bringing up how many friends she has seemed to be a trigger for Sonja. Sonja feels a lot of Ramona’s friends are really hers, and tries to talk, but Ramona won’t let her. Sonja gets up, and tells Ramona, S-T-F-U, actually saying the letters. Ramona says she sees them all the time, and Sonja doesn’t see anybody. Sonja says they don’t care about Ramona, and they’re using her. Ramona says she loves them and they hang out all the time. Sonja asks, where are these people going to be when it’s you and me, and two for one at Burger Heaven?

Andy asks Dorinda what’s wrong with a 63 year old throwing themselves a birthday party? and Dorinda says, it doesn’t seem sincere. She just met some of them like Maria. We flash back to Ramona talking to somebody named Maria, who was apparently totally forgettable. Ramona says Maria is at her house every day. I can’t imagine anyone having that little to do, so I translate that as, we text once in a while. Dorinda thinks it comes off as insincere, and Sonja says she’s social climbing. Ramona says she’s so wrong, and Andy asks if Leah can spot a Gucci fake. I wonder how we got back here again, and we flash back to Ramona and her fake-ass bag. Ramona insists her bags are all real, and Sonja says, Chinatown. Side story. I have a couple of fakes that I bought just because I liked the bags. They must be good ones because someone I went out with actually thought I owned I Louis Vuitton bag. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! I just looked at them like they were nuts. Like I’d sink that kind of money into a purse, even if I had it. Leah says Ramona acted like she’d never seen a bag before; it was weird. We go back to Ramona’s birthday where she’s going apesh*t over the bag she orchestrated her friends into giving to her. Ramona says she loves presents, and she was excited. A viewer asks why she would call a close friend heavy, and thinks what she said to Sonja was rude and uncalled for. Ramona says her girlfriends tell her when she’s getting porky, and all she said was Sonja needed to lose a little weight. Sonja says that’s when she ate more. She’d stopped having sex with her Netffix and chill guy. Maybe she should get a friend with more compassion. A viewer says Dorinda gave Elyse grief for defending Ramona, when Sonja has defended Ramona for years. Dorinda explains that Elyse was coming to her and Leah, saying Ramona was being a terrible friend. She would flip-flop. We see clips of Elyse saying Ramona shuts her down in front of the group, and, Ramonaville is filled with one-way streets. Dorinda wonders why Ramona fell out with Elyse, and Ramona says, Elyse is a black widow, which makes no sense, since isn’t that someone who marries a guy and then kills him? Is there something I don’t know? Ramona says she should never have trusted Elyse and brought her on the show. Elyse had said she had Ramona’s back and betrayed her. She’s not being very specific, and I’m sure whatever it is, she’s making it sound more dramatic than it was. Andy says Ramona wanted blind loyalty, and suggests Elyse was the Barb K. of  the season. He asks if Barb and LuAnn are still friends, but LuAnn says they’re not friends anymore. Andy says it was a long friendship, and LuAnn says it was Barb’s doing. We see some clips with Barb, and I want to know more about this falling out, but they move on. Viewer Valerie from Chicago says, Ramona was accused of being a friend when it was convenient. It seems like it’s Ramona’s world, and everyone else is just living in it. Ramona says she wants friends who are happy and positive, but Dorinda says, that’s not what friendships are about; those are superficial acquaintances. If she’s going through something traumatic, she wants friend who can shepherd her and journey with her. Andy asks how they’re feeling about Ramona after this season, and Sonja says Ramona is family, and she loves her. Leah says she’ll never ruin Ramona’s backyard again, and Ramona says she wants to see Leah naked though. I’m not sure what to make of that.

Andy welcomes us back, when I didn’t even leave to go to the bathroom. He says they’re freshly sanitized, and ready for more. Sonja by Sonja Morgan had a promising deal with a major retailer that was a dream, but her townhouse continued to be an expensive nightmare. We flash back to Sonja’s runway show, and Sonja dealing with the townhouse. Sonja says she hides when she’s going through something. We see Sonja going over the zero sales from the show, and getting her Century 21 deal. Andy congratulates her, and she says she’s still pinching herself. It was a long haul, but it feels good from where she’s sitting. Ramona – who just can’t help herself – says she was in the fashion business for two years (wow – that long?), and Sonja being front and center in two retail stores says it all. LuAnn says she’s proud of Sonja, and even bought a dress. Sonja says LuAnn has been there every step of the way. Andy says, it’s cool. They’ve been sitting here for so many years with Sonja planning. Her toaster never came to fruition. We flash back to a million years ago, when Sonja talked about having a signature toaster oven. Andy says the women had been all over her for various things. Bethenny called her out for being a cheater brand, and she was called out for products that never launched. Now here she is in a store, and it must feel satisfying. She says it is, and her daughter is proud of her. She’s told her daughter, there are no mistakes, but experiences. She made connections in business along the way. Andy asks how the pandemic has affected things, and she says online sales are up 117%, and she’s sold out. It’s tough for retail. Funny. Doesn’t sound like it. Leah says the cashmere suit Sonja wanted her to wear – we flash back to that – and anything that looks like that, is selling out. No one is wearing dresses. Andy asks what the price on the townhouse is now, and Sonja says she’s dropping it to $8.5 million. Leah has one request. She wants to see it before Sonja sells it. Andy asks if Sonja has any male prospects, and she says she’s not getting laid. She’s been focusing on her daughter, but now Sophie is in an Ivy League school. It’s time for her mama to get something. Leah says Sonja looks hot, and Sonja says she needs to lose another five pounds. Andy says he doesn’t know about that.

Andy tells us, a wise woman once said she made it nice. This season, her temper rose, and nice was not always on the table. We flash back to Dorinda talking about Bluestone Manor being flooded; Dorinda telling Sonja that there’s nothing carefree about her anymore, and that she’s afraid John can’t take care of her; Dorinda telling Ramona that she has schadenfreude; rubbing LuAnn’s mugshot in her face; and killing the messenger when LuAnn told her what Ramona said, at her insistence. We revisit LuAnn’s interview, where she said Dorinda deflects and it’s your fault; and Sonja’s interview, where she said Dorinda was in pain, and projecting it rather than feeling it. Then comes the pièce de resistance, Dorinda flipping out over Leah saying Tinsley’s name at the Christmas party. Viewer Jack from Minneapolis points out, at the beginning of the season, Dorinda said there was nothing carefree about her, and she wasn’t nice to anybody anymore; then proved it. He asks if she ended in a better place than she started. Dorinda says she was more overwhelmed than she’s ever been, but she didn’t reach out for help. She was dealing with the house, and John, then broke a rib. She couldn’t catch a break. She was angry about what was happening, and projected it. She felt she couldn’t cope, and was at her wit’s end. It made her sad, and she was most upset about Ramona. She knows Ramona so well. She had a right to be angry, and was struggling. She felt Ramona made it worse. She never called Dorinda once, or took her out after the show ended. She just reminded Dorinda how much she didn’t like John. Ramona whips out a pile of papers, and says she texted Dorinda. Dorinda says she got through it, and moved on, but Ramona wanted it to continue. She needed Ramona to pull her aside, not hammer at her inf front of people. LuAnn says she tried to talk to Dorinda, but Dorinda wasn’t open to it. We flash back to Dorinda not having LuAnn’s advice, and she says she does feel bad about LuAnn, who was coming from a good place. She’s sorry. It was like Ramona was just waiting to jump on her. Leah thinks so too, and says when Dorinda and John broke up, she noticed Dorinda was in pain, and not admitting it. They’d been together for so long. Dorinda says, it was terrible, and Leah says, they didn’t get to see that. Andy says Dorinda held Tinsley to the standard that she needed to do everything on the show. Dorinda says she did show everything. She wanted Ramona to call her up, and ask if she was okay; say, I love you, and, I’m here for you. Ramona says, when Tinsley left, she turned into Dorinda’s punching bag. Ramona says Dorinda came to her home for cocktails and conversation, and said hurtful things. Dorinda wants to put people down. Dorinda says Ramona doesn’t know how to let it go. Sorry. Ramona says the next day, Dorinda made her an old-fashioned playlist. Sonja says, Dorinda was hurt, and Ramona starts to read from the texts, but Dorinda isn’t having it. Andy tells Dorinda to let Ramona read them (no surprise), and Dorinda says it’s one-sided. She used them to get a free party. She uses people. Ramona throws the papers in the air, and says she loves Dorinda. Why is she doing this?

Sonja says Ramona does use people, and Ramona asks again why Dorinda is doing this. Dorinda tells her, don’t throw things. It’s low class. How anyone on any of the shows in the franchise can say anything is low class, is beyond me. Every single one of them has done something low class. Except for LVP. Who can do no wrong. Andy asks LuAnn what she has to say about the trip to the Berkshires. LuAnn says they all drank too much, and said hurtful things. But how Sonja was behaving didn’t give Dorinda an excuse to say what she did. Sonja says she brought it up again in Mexico. LuAnn says she knows Dorinda didn’t mean it. She hopes Dorinda recognized she was being hurtful. When she was on Watch What Happens Live, Andy asked if Dorinda regretted what she’d said to LuAnn, and she said no. LuAnn says she thought Dorinda had no remorse for the way she’d behave. She doesn’t look at herself. If LuAnn had done that, she would have thought, oh my God, I can’t believe I said that. Dorinda says she was wrong, and definitely wants to go back to where they were when they met. LuAnn says she must have been harboring those thoughts, and Dorinda says she wants to work on it. LuAnn says work on the fact she’s holding resentments. Andy picks up Ramona’s sheaf of papers, and Ramona says he can read them later, then laughs like a hyena. Andy says, Dorinda obviously brought up all these things, like LuAnn’s mugshot, probation, Jovani. Dorinda says she’ll never stop saying Jovani, and she doesn’t need a lecture from LuAnn when it’s between her and Ramona. LuAnn says it doesn’t feel like means it. She shouldn’t have said those things. How can she see the show, and not say, holy sh*t, I need to change? To her credit, Dorinda takes it like a man, and says she does feel that way. Andy asks about the Mexico trip, and says, Leah was fried. Dorinda says, Leah had her back. Leah says she’s not making an excuse for bad behavior, but she’d rather deal with anger issues than someone who just says horrific things like Ramona does. She doesn’t think Dorinda hit below the belt. I’m guessing she’s talking specifically about what she’s said about Ramona. LuAnn can’t say Dorinda doesn’t hit below the belt, especially with what Dorinda said to her. Dorinda agrees.

A viewer from Richmond, Virginia says there wasn’t a single sincere apology from Dorinda. What’s her theory on why she’s as defensive as she is? Dorinda says she was in a lot pain, and felt wounded, weak, and vulnerable. Ramona says, all she wanted to say… and Dorinda says Ramona’s not listening. She couldn’t. She was in a damaged place, and needed someone. She literally should have taken off last season; she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Andy says the anger intervention lunch in Mexico was a bust, and Dorinda says, it was ridiculous. Andy says it didn’t seem like they picked the right moment. We flash back to when Dorinda was on the phone with Hannah. Leah says, even though she thought it was overboard for Dorinda to tell her and Sonja to get off their laptops, it wasn’t the same as Dorinda talking to her daughter. It didn’t add up. Dorinda says they made a bigger thing out of it. Andy says, it’s ironic how it ended, given that Leah and Dorinda are pals. Leah says, yeah, and he asks what was going through her mind, and she says she was kind of shocked, and bummed. She was about to give them props, tell them she loved and appreciated them, and had a great time. Her saying Tinsley set it off, but Dorinda called her the next day. She was upset about it and apologized. Andy wonders why the mere mention of Tinsley’s name caused such a reaction, and Dorinda says she thought it wasn’t authentic; Tinsley wasn’t there. They’d done great as a group after Tinsley left, and she was surprised they were going back to that. Leah says Tinley was an important person to her in terms of them. Dorinda says, that’s why she called the next day. Leah tells her, it’s okay to be wrong. Dorinda says she feels bad about LuAnn, and Leah, but she and Ramona can’t reconcile things. It’s a 20 year friendship. If Ramona wants continue, she can’t rehash everything. They need to build their friendship again, if it’s important to her. Ramona says she’ll always love Dorinda, and Dorinda’s not sure Ramona always does, but she tries. If that’s what Ramona wants, they’ll do it. They elbow bump – otherwise known as the new hug. Andy says they’re in a great place, so he’s going to leave it there. Dorinda says, by the grace of God she got through it, and hopes she’s moving to a better place.

Andy says, it’s another one for the books, and the months followed were stranger than fiction. They’ve all had time to reflect, and he wants to know which moments they’d like to socially distance themselves from, and which Housewife do they look forward to hugging most? Ramona is first, and she says she wants to distance herself from when she talked about Leah’s mental issues. She should have gone directly to her. She wants to hug Dorinda. Dorinda says, obviously what she said to LuAnn. She hurt LuAnn when she was in a vulnerable place. She’s going to work on it. She feels the hugging question is unfair. She’s looking forward to hugging everyone. She’s a big hugger; it’s like food to her. LuAnn says she’d like to socially distance herself form the night in the Berkshires; it was ugly behavior toward Sonja. She agrees with Dorinda, and would love to hug everybody. Sonja says she’s made it clear she wants to socially distance from not having control and being present when she’s drinking. She’s grateful to have the show to show her how she was behaving, and she’s grateful to Ramona for telling she needed to look into some things. Ramona is her girl. She says, Dorinda called her all the time, but even though she didn’t want Dorinda to know what she was trying to handle, Dorinda would share what was going on with her. Sonja felt like she wasn’t alone, and owes Dorinda big time. Dorinda says she did something right. Leah says she wants to distance herself from the entire state of Rhode Island, and wants to hug Ramona. Her mommy issues are apparently still alive. Ramona says she wants to be more of a friend than a mommy, and Leah says, it feels like that will work. Ramona says, it will. Andy thanks everyone for an incredible season. He’s looking forward to getting close enough to toast, and can’t wait to hug them all.

They take a socially distant selfie, and Sonja asks Ramona, can we go to the speakeasy after this? I guess that’s the grown-up version of getting ice cream.

🤸‍♀️ Go Leah… Go Leah…

She got her raise, but whether Ramona will get to see her naked next season, remains to be seen.

https://pagesix.com/2020/09/23/leah-mcsweeney-bumped-to-10k-per-episode-for-2nd-year-on-rhony/

📅 Mark Your Calendar…

A new show is premiering on Bravo, this Sunday, September 27th at 10:30 pm, and it looks like fun.

https://www.nydailynews.com/snyde/ny-andy-cohen-late-night-bravos-chat-room-reality-stars-20200921-5thj4zqqojg6zojd3uaabnjeoe-story.html

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/bravos-chat-room-cast-premiere-date-announced

🦄 Sweet Dreams Be Yours…

I don’t know if the world has quite gone to hell in a handbasket yet, but it’s certainly on fire, both literally and figuratively. It’s your job to rise above it, and stay safe, stay funky, and stay socially distant from Ramona.

September 23, 2020 – A Demand To Meet At the Pier, Beverly Hills Reveals Nothing, More Than You Need To Know About Emmy, a Baby, Bye Fenicia, Silent Spin, a Feud, Good Riddance To Bad Stirrer, We Loved Him Too & Some Cake

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

General Hospital

Chase comes home, and Brook says, back so soon from solving crimes? He says he’s taking a shower, then going back out. Brook is painting her toenails, and asks if he could get her some fresh coffee.

Ned sees Julian at the MetroCourt, and Julian asks what he can do for him. Ned says, not for him; for Julian’s son Leo. Leo is wondering when Julian’s next visit will be. Julian says, tell Leo, soon, and Ned says, that sounds vague. Doesn’t he normally schedule it with Olivia? Julian says he does; he’ll give her a call. Ned asks when was the last time Julian heard from Olivia? and Julian asks if she’s missing. Ned says, no, she’s in Geneva to visit Dante. Julian asks Ned to wish her luck, and tell her that he hopes it goes well. Ned says he can do that, or Julian could call. Julian says he’s not sure what’s going on, and doesn’t care, but if Ned wants to know how Olivia is, he should speak to her. Ned says, if only it was that simple, and Julian asks what he means. Ned tells him, never mind, and Julian says he’s as helpful as ever.

Sitting outside Kelly’s, TJ tells Molly, he forgot about Neil’s death. It was so sudden, it knocked everyone for a loop. She says, especially her mom; he died in her bed, and she didn’t even know he had a drug problem. She’s not going to be able to host their commitment ceremony. They’ll need a new venue. He says they might have to postpone it, and she says, it seems inevitable. Stella approaches and says, the problem with their generation is they give in too easy. If they want a ceremony, she’ll get the job done.

Lulu tells Nikolas, she could be wrong, but it sounds like he’s falling for his wife. His phone dings, and he sees the photo of him kissing Elizabeth. Underneath, it says, I know what you did, and he says, what the hell? She asks if it’s bad news, and he reads, Meet me at the docks ASAP. It’s going to cost you big.

Nina says, Ava is falling for Nikolas. Ava’s phone dings, and she sees the photo of her and Franco kissing. Underneath, it says, I know what you did. Nina asks if she’s okay. What did the message say? Ava reads, Meet me at the docks in an hour. It’s going to cost you big.

At a booth in The Floating Rib, Bobbie and Scotty sit with martinis, while Scotty concentrates on shelling nuts. Bobbie tells him, the hardest part is physically being away from the building. She knows details will be missed, or not taken care of as good as they could be. It’s not like the nurses won’t do their jobs without her, but they won’t do it as well. You’d think she’d enjoy her time off. She has ten different household projects she’s been dreaming about, but it doesn’t give her the same sense of fulfillment she had at GH. She sees he’s not paying attention, and says maybe she’ll go back to her old job of giving the girlfriend experience (i.e. – being a hooker). At least she’ll get companionship out of it. She says he hasn’t been listening to a word she said. He says she just told him she’s going back to her former profession, and she tells him that she was pushed to desperate measures. Tell her why he’s so preoccupied.

Sonny asks if Avery is okay, and she says she’s hungry. Sonny suggests they go get a snack. He sees the half-heart necklace on the ground, and picks it up. He says she dropped this, and she says it’s hers. He asks if mommy gave it to her, and she says she thought she’d keep it for good luck. He says, now what? It’s not good?

Carly tells Jax, she hopes anything incriminating stays gone, along with Nelle. Jason comes in, and she says she’s glad he’s there. Sonny is on the back patio talking to Avery about Mike, and Jax came to check on Josslyn. Jason asks how she’s doing, and Jax says she’s sad about Mike, but she’s doing okay. Carly says Josslyn is shopping for a homecoming dress as they speak. Jax says he and Carly will talk later. Just keep in mind what he said before. He says goodbye to Jason, and leaves. Carly tells Jason, she did something he’s not going to like.

Chase asks if Brook has given any more thought as to what she might do. She says, about what? and he says he has a one-bedroom, one bathroom apartment. She can’t be comfortable. She says she can see moving some furniture around to make more space, and he says, maybe there’s someone else she could stay with. She says he’s kicking her out, but he tells her that he didn’t say that. She says he strongly hinted, and in case he forgot, he invited her. Sorry for the inconvenience; she’ll go. He says he didn’t ask her to leave, but she says she doesn’t stay where she’s not wanted. That’s how she ended up there in the first place. He says he’s not kicking her out, but it was supposed to be temporary. They barely know one another. She says, aside from three arrests. He asks if there isn’t a close friend or family member she’d rather live with, and she says she’d rather live under a rock than crawl back to her family.

Julian asks how Brook is, and Ned says, her spirit is unbroken. Julian asks, how about her vocal chords? and Ned says she’s not using them to speak to him. Julian understands, and says he hopes it works out. For what it’s worth, he’s sorry Brook crossed paths with Nelle. Ned says they’re all sorry for the chaos Nelle left in her wake. Julian says, for sure; now she’s a fugitive on the run. Ned thinks it would be a good time to sever ties, and Julian says he plans on it.

Lulu asks Nikolas if it’s something about Spencer, but he says it’s just a business situation he needs to handle. She ask if he’s sure it’s not more about Ava than business. The way he’s acting, it seems like it. He says, a little bit of both, and tells her that they’ll talk later.

Ava says, you know that kiss she told Nina about? and shows Nina the picture. Somebody saw her, and she wonders how it happened. Nina says someone has been following her, but Ava says she was at the gallery. It’s not like she and Franco were making spectacles of themselves. No one was there. At least that’s what she thought. Nina says she was preoccupied with Franco, but Ava says, just for a moment. It wasn’t like her and Nikolas at the cabin.

TJ wonders how Stella manages to show up when she’s needed most. She’s like one of the Avengers; the psychic social worker. Stella says, too much flying. He says with Mike passing, he knows the family was grateful to her. She says she was glad to be there; Mike was a good man. She heard about their commitment ceremony, and Molly says she’ll let TJ fill Stella in, while she grabs a half ice tea, half lemonade. She knows it’s Stella’s favorite. Stella tells TJ to hang onto Molly.

Sonny tells Avery, he thinks the necklace is still good luck. Like how her grandpa is with her always in her heart. She says, but it’s only half, and he says, maybe the other half is out there somewhere. Even if it isn’t, it’s still pretty. He tells her, let’s get a snack, and they go inside.

Scotty tells Bobbie, for cryin’ out loud, he’s not preoccupied; calm down. He’s just thinking about the payoff she’ll get from the hospital for wrongful termination. Bobbie says she doesn’t want a payoff; she wants her job back. But it’s not going to happen as long as Cyrus is Chairman of the Board. Scotty says, okay then, find another job. Bobbie says she had some interest from Mercy, but he laughs and says, that rusty old hospital? The future is in telemedicine. A start-up company would love an experienced nurse. She can get in on the bottom floor, get equity, and when it becomes an IPO, the sky’s the limit. She says, it’s something to explore, and Scotty’s phone dings. He says, ugh. He has to work.

Jason asks Carly if what she needs to tell him is time sensitive. Does he need to do something? She says, no; it already happened. She’s doing potential damage control. He asks if it involves Jax, and she says it does. He says, and Jax doesn’t want him to know? She says Jax doesn’t want him or Sonny to know.

Brook tells Chase to go ahead and call her dramatic, and he says, isn’t she? She asks if it isn’t the ultimate betrayal, being abandoned by her family. They threw her into the street. He says he saw her dad’s face outside her hospital room, and Monica and Michael’s. No family is perfect, but it’s clear her family loves her and wants to help. She says she knows they love her. Staying there isn’t about what they did to her, but what she did to them.

TJ sees Stella looking at him, and says, what? and Stella says she’s just checking his beautiful face. When Curtis said he’d been beaten, it nearly killed her. How is he doing, really? He says, a few more PT sessions, and he’ll be good as new. She says she was sure he was off licking his wounds after Molly turned down his proposal, but that wasn’t the case. No one expected him to be abducted, least of all him. A person doesn’t go through hell and not carry some of it back with them. How is he really? The truth.

Carly says she knows what Jason is thinking. She didn’t sleep with Jax. He says he didn’t think so, but what’s going on? The doorbell rings, and she tells him, wait. He says he’s not going anywhere. It’s Lulu, and Carly invites her in. Carly says she’s sorry. She’s been meaning to call and thank Lulu and her mother for the donation to Alzheimer’s research. It was generous of them. Lulu says she was thinking about how Mike lent a sympathetic ear when she was a teen. Sonny joins them, and Lulu says she wanted to tell him how sorry she was, and see how he’s doing. He says Mike’s passing was peaceful, but he couldn’t have done it without the support of the family. She says she’s sorry Dante wasn’t there. She knows he’d love the chance to be supportive as well.

Nina wonders if Nikolas took the picture, but Ava says he went to the cabin to catch her cheating. There would have been no point if he’d taken it. And there was nothing going on with her and Franco, contrary to the proof. She asks how she could be so sloppy, and Nina asks what she’s going to do. Ava says they want big money, but she doesn’t have that yet. It could put her fidelity in question, and it’s the ammunition Nikolas needs to divorce her without her getting a dime.

Nikolas goes to the pier, and says, whatever Ava paid to get them to take the picture, he’ll pay much more. He looks up the stairs and says, you’ve got to be kidding.

Brook tells Chase, believe it or not, she gets why her dad threw her out. From his perspective, she betrayed the family when she sold her stock; never mind the other Quartermaines who did. She should have known better, and should have said something. That’s on her. Chase says, none of that mattered when she was fighting for her life and almost died. She asks if he thinks bygones should be bygones. If she didn’t have the power now, her dad wouldn’t be begging her to come home. He traded anger for pity. He’s not sorry; he feels sorry for her. It’s the one thing she can’t bear to live with. She tells Chase, it’s his space, and he wants her gone, and she will be, but she’s not going home. Chase’s phone rings, and he asks if they’re sure. He’s on his way. Brook asks if it’s a killing spree, a bank robbery, or another one of Lulu’s epic pouts. He says he understands where she’s coming from, but he thinks she’s underestimating her family. She can stay there as long as she needs to. He opens the door, and Ned is there. He says he understands his daughter is there, and Chase says, she’s all his. He leaves, and Ned comes in. He says, Brook, sweetheart, we need to talk. She says, we absolutely do not.

TJ asks if Stella can’t just enjoy the visit, and not have to use her social worker superpowers on him. She tells him, start talking, and he says, yes. The abduction was terrifying and painful; all of it. He doesn’t know who they were or what they wanted. The police have no leads, and all he can do is focus on his career and his life with Molly. She says she wants what’s best for him, and wants him to grab what he can from life, but there are no shortcuts to healing. He says he wakes up from the nightmares, and feels like he’s still tied up. He doesn’t know if he’s going to live or die. The thing that got him through it was thinking of Molly, and knowing she was waiting. Molly listens from the doorway.

Nina asks if Ava has any idea who would blackmail her like that. Ava says, in general, she can think of plenty of people, but this? No one who would care. It’s not like Nikolas has a lot of people rooting for him. Nina says, maybe Nikolas hired a P.I., and Ava says, maybe a P.I. wants to shake her down. Even if she’s right, that doesn’t solve the problem of the picture. Whoever took it has proof of her indiscretion with Franco, and she has to decide what to do about it.

Nikolas tells the mystery person that he’s not handing over that kind of money. He needs 24 hours. If they do anything with the photo before then, they’re done.

On the patio, Lulu and Sonny look at pictures. Lulu says, Mike with Ruby, were they a thing? Sonny says his dad only wished. She was immune to Mike’s flirting. Lulu says, she must have had an iron will. She doesn’t know how Ruby resisted his charms. Sonny says, Mike was everyone confidant and friend. Everyone adored Mike, except him.

Carly says she’ll tell Jason what happened, and he can tell her what he thinks. Something serious happened. Jason says, and Jax knows, and doesn’t want her to tell Sonny. She says she couldn’t, and she doesn’t feel she can tell him now. I tell her, well, for God’s sake, tell Jason before he has apoplexy. He looks like his head is going to explode.

Molly tells Stella, you’d think a dining room table is the last thing they’d need, but you’d be wrong. They’re students, and spend half their lives there. TJ’s phone rings, and he steps away to take the call. Stella says she’s glad she and Molly can spend some time alone. So much has happened. How is Molly holding up? Molly says, okay. TJ was the worst of it. Stella says, Lord knows it must have gone through her mind that TJ walked out on their commitment, especially after she refused his proposal. Molly says, he wasn’t taking her calls, and Jordan told her that he didn’t want to talk to her; that she should be responsible for her own actions. She got more and more desperate, until she finally… Stella says, what? but Molly says she doesn’t want to say. Stella says she thinks she understands. She’ll say it for Molly. She finally lost faith in TJ.

Ava says she’ll tell Nina one thing, she’s not losing her claim for one picture of her and Franco. She gets up, and Nina says she’s not thinking of going by herself? Why don’t she and Jax go with her? Ava says she can handle it, and jets. Jax comes over, and asks, what’s going on with Ava? Does he want to know? Nina says, no. It’s just a reminder of how glad she is to have a relationship with him. No games and no secrets.

Carly tells Jason, Sonny just lost Mike. Like he doesn’t know. She says, he needs time to grieve. She can’t put it on him unless Jason thinks she should. He says, obviously she’s trying to protect Sonny, and she says, that’s all she’s doing. She just wants to protect Sonny.

Sonny tells Lulu, he held on to so much anger, and couldn’t let it go. She says, he had a right to his anger. However wonderful Mike was to the rest of them, he left Sonny when he was a little boy. She wouldn’t want that for Rocco, hating Dante. It’s not the same struggle, but Sonny made peace with Mike’s gambling being a disease. Once he understood that, is when he started to forgive. It happened the way it was supposed to.

Bobbie signs the receipt, and Scotty returns to the table. He says his clients think his time has no value. Where were they? She says, nowhere, and he asks if she’s mad. She says she’s mad and disappointed. Scotty says she’s right, and he’ll make it up to her, but she says she’s not mad and disappointed at him. He suggests they enjoy their cocktails then. She says he’s being who he is – himself, a self-absorbed schemer. He has good intentions, but a terrible follow-through. He says, that’s harsh, and she says she adores him. He’s the sweetest guy when he gets out of his own way, which is never. He’s a good friend, but a lousy boyfriend. The person she’s mad and disappointed at is herself, for going down the same road again, knowing how it ends again. What scares her is one day she’ll lose his friendship, and it will break her heart. For both their sakes, she’s calling it quits. Aww.

Ava waits for the elevator, and Nikolas comes out of it. She says he’s not following her or having her followed, is he? He says he didn’t know where she was. She says she hopes not. They both saw how his jealousy ended last night. He says he thinks they need to talk – about us.

Brook asks Ned if something is the matter, and he says, it’s a nice apartment… She says, but… and he says this can’t be how she wants to live, sleeping on a couch in someone else’s living room. She says, you don’t know until you’ve tried it, and he says doesn’t she want to go home? They can work through their issues. She says, why do that? and he says she’s been through a trauma. Not just the attack, but how he treated her, his daughter. She’ll always be his daughter, and he wants to take care of her. She says, that never works out. No matter how good the intentions, they inevitably disappear. They get angry, and end up hurting each other, like they always do. He says, it doesn’t have to be that way. They can be better. She says, even if that’s true, it’s not a good time to try it. Doesn’t he have a big enough mess to clean up?

Scotty says, don’t do this, but Bobbie says, it’s already done. He says they can undo it. They can talk about anything she wants. She thanks him for teaching her a valuable lesson. The next time she has a setback, she’ll face it, and not fall back on a sort of romance to feel safe. It’s good – he makes her laugh a lot – until she finds out he’s cheating. He says he doesn’t always, and she says he can’t if they’re not together. Good luck with his client. He thanks her for the drink, and she says she put it on his tab. He looks at the tab, and does a spit-take, and Bobbie says, the next time they meet for drinks as friends, he’ll know not to keep her hanging.

Stella says, how would Molly know? It’s not like she’s had experience. She never had a serious relationship other than TJ, and no history with other men. She’s not trying to embarrass Molly; she’s putting herself in Molly’s shoes. She might have questioned the relationship, if she’d thought he walked out after their first disagreement. Molly says, Stella doesn’t blame her? and Stella says, for doubting? If Molly had said she never wavered, Stella would have known Molly was lying to her and herself. She’s glad she’s come to know and love Molly. It’s no sin to doubt. Better to doubt than to deceive.

Ava tells Nikolas, they should stick to the plan. They’ll rendezvous at Windymere, and see what happens. She gets in the elevator.

Nina asks Jax how Josslyn is, and he says, okay. She’s sad about Mike, of course (🍷), but she’s carrying on. He felt it had less to do with that, than a lesson of the heart. Sometimes he just has to listen. Nina says, do her a favor, and share some of his parental wisdom. She wants to be that kind of a parent if she finds her child one day.

Lulu says, when Mike was diagnosed, Sonny brought Mike home to live with him. Think of what’s happened in the two and a half years Mike has been there. Sonny recreated Luke’s Club; it was a gift. Even though Mike’s memory was fading he could feel it in his heart. Sonny never failed be present. All Mike wanted was to find his way back to Sonny, and Sonny gave that to him. He gave Mike the one thing that made him happy – a family.

Carly says she wants to tell Sonny, and Jason says, do what she needs, but it’s not fair. She should give Sonny a chance to be there for her. She’d hate if Sonny did that to her. She says he’s right. She needs to tell him. She needs to tell them both.

Ned says Brook can’t expect him to walk away, and leave things the way they are. She says, why not? She’s still the same daughter, and it’s not enough for him. He could give her all the I’m sorries in the world right now. He says it’s not too late, and she tells him not to hold his breath. He says there’s unfinished business between them. Fighting with his daughter, another Quartermain trait they’d be better off without. She says, it’s a shame that’s who they are.

Lulu and Sonny come in, and Lulu says Jason should have seen the pictures her mom sent. There’s one of Jason and Mike, when Jason was a valet at the club. Carly says she’d like to see that. Sonny says he’ll walk Lulu out. At the door, he says her mom did a world of good, sending the pictures. She thanks him for sharing them with her. She’s keeping him in her prayers, and Mike too. I don’t think Mike looked like he needed prayers when he went off with Courtney, but okay; it’s nice of Lulu. Sonny thanks her, and goes back to join Carly and Jason. He says, what? and Carly says, something happened and she needs to tell them both. Jason’s phone rings, and he says, it could be important.

TJ comes back, and Stella says Molly was giving her pearls of wisdom on their not-married commitment ceremony. TJ says, all that matters is he’s sharing his life with Molly. He hopes Stella isn’t disappointed. She says, two of her favorite people, vowing to cherish and love each other; it’s icing on the cake. There will be cake, right?

Ava goes to the pier, and says, all right she’s there. Where are they? She feels someone behind her, and turns around, pointing a gun at them.

Nikolas looks at the picture of him and Elizabeth. He deletes it.

Jax says he doesn’t know how big Mike’s funeral might be. He’ll ask Carly if he should go. Nina asks if he thinks Nelle might show up. Forget she said that. Nelle is probably halfway across the country by now. Has Carly heard anything from the police; do they have any leads? He says, no more than he does, and he doesn’t know any more

Jason thanks the caller. He tells Sonny, it’s an update from their guy at the PCPD. They can confirm Nelle is dead. They’ve found the body.

Tomorrow, Chase tells Jason that he’s come on police business, Willow asks Sasha if she’s still in love with Michael, Ava asks if she’s being blackmailed, and Carly says she didn’t lie; she just didn’t tell them everything.

💎 Shortest RHOBH Recap Yet…

Even though Kyle said, the Secrets Revealed show was, the sh*t you thought you got away with, there were neither any secrets nor any revelations. Except for one. I finally found out that Dorit’s Gucci ice cubes were ice cubes shaped like the Gucci logo. As I’ve said, it’s either nice, peaceful stuff that didn’t make the cut since it was too low-key, or stuff that was a real snooze.

There were some nice moments between Garcelle and Denise, where they talked about acting and family life. We saw a little more of their NYC trip, and Erika told us, New York City in the 80s is where it was at. We agree on this. However, when getting a hot dog, not one of them knew what sauerkraut was. Since Teddi is supposed to know about nutrition (see more on that in links below), I’m surprised she doesn’t know it’s fermented cabbage. And WTF? A Nathan’s hot dog without sauerkraut from the hot dog cart? Go back to Beverly Hills, the lot of you. There was also ax throwing and drinking canned wine at a dive bar. In her interview, Denise remarked that the women were a little out of place. Okay, Denise can stay.

Kyle told us that she wants Farrah engaged to boyfriend Alex asap, because she wants to be a young grandmother. Her mom had five grandchildren by her age. In one of the things I would have liked to see during the season, Kyle had discovered a picture online of a women wearing one of the rings she’d had stolen. (Some time back, there was a break-in at Kyle’s house, where all her bags and jewelry were taken.) She and Teddi played amateur detective, and went on a hunt to find the woman, who was a psychic with very distinctive nails.

Garcelle’s new house just missed the fires, and she managed to move in before quarantine.

The secret behind Bravo, Bravo, Bravo – which is no secret if you’ve watched Bravo, Bravo, Bravo for any length of time, time, time – was that if the phrase was said, the footage wouldn’t be aired. Apparently, this information came from Kyle, who said, it was a misunderstanding of an old joke. LisaR, who couldn’t stand being left out, said the information probably came from her.

In another scene I would have liked to have seen, we attended Sutton’s 48th birthday party, where the cake was displayed inside a giant birdcage adorned with flowers. It was also on a swing, which Sutton sat on after the cake was removed. I think. She was a bit tipsy. Jennifer Tilly was a guest, and we found out that instead of a tiara that year, Dolce and Gabbana sent Sutton a toaster. TBH, it was a pretty cool toaster.

They ended the show with a clip from the reunion, where Sutton said, quarantine was so bad, she’d go to Rome with them again tomorrow.

🏆 Better Late Than Never…

A rundown on the Emmys. Schitt’s Creek gets a paddle.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1188087/2020-emmys-winners-the-complete-list

Who wore it best.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/31482/emmys-2020-best-dressed-stars

And not.

https://www.tvguide.com/news/emmys-2019-worst-dressed-red-carpet/

The ups. The downs. The WTFs.

https://www.tvguide.com/news/emmys-awards-2020-best-and-worst-moments/

Mrs. Maisel and her dog.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1189911/rachel-brosnahan-and-dog-winston-are-color-coordinated-for-the-2020-emmys-and-for-a-marvelous-cause

More celebs with their dogs.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/these-celebs-brought-their-dogs-as-dates-to-the-virtual-2020-emmys/ar-BB19eVNp

The night’s biggest mistake. Maybe.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/emmys-accidentally-gave-award-jason-223600470.html

👶🏻 They Didn’t Start the Fire…

Lala and Randall make an announcement.

https://pagesix.com/2020/09/19/lala-kent-and-randall-emmett-reveal-gender-of-their-first-child-together/

✌🏽 It’s Double Official…

NeNe is bye-bye.

https://www.essence.com/entertainment/nene-leakes-real-housewives-of-atlanta-season-13/

🏍 The Spin On Carol and Daryl…

The scripts must be mighty thin, since neither one of them talks very much.

https://www.tvguide.com/news/everything-we-know-about-the-walking-dead-carol-daryl-spin-off/

🤼 Rivalry At the WWE…

I loved Roddy Piper.

https://comicbook.com/wwe/news/wwe-edge-wanted-john-cena-rivlary-hulk-hogan-roddy-piper-wwe-untold/

🙋🏽‍♀️ Best News All Week…

Teddi is out at RHOBH, but not for being a full-fledged mean girl after being merely a follower last season. She’s finally had to take accountability for her lousy fitness program.

https://pagesix.com/2020/09/22/teddi-mellencamp-confirms-rhobh-exit/

🏈 He Was Third…

And he wanted us to love Brian Piccolo. Show of hands who didn’t cry at the end of Brian’s Song? Yeah. I didn’t think so.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29951448/chicago-bears-hall-fame-running-back-gale-sayers-dies-age-77

🌃 Bonsoir…

Can it be? Can I truly get to bed before almost sunrise? I’m going to do my best, and you do yours by making it your business to stay safe, stay progressing, and stay being the icing on the cake.

⚠️ Warning: Bleeped Bad Words Ahead

September 18, 2020 – Sonny Gets His Bike, Two To Know, Goodbye Chuck, Not Cast, Kenya’s Gain, Runway Shocks, an Ending, South Special, Your Choice, Season Two, Six Quotes, a Poem & Race

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

General Hospital

Ned brings Alexis to the hospital, and Portia asks what she can do for them. Alexis says she can reassure Ned there’s nothing wrong with her. Portia says she’ll need a few more details, and Alexis says she fell at the gym and aggravated an old injury. Ned says it was weeks ago, and Alexis is still in pain. Portia says she can examine Alexis and Ned can come if Alexis is okay with it. Alexis says she wants Ned to be there when Portia tells her there’s nothing wrong.

Outside Kelly’s, TJ tells Brando he’s being too hard on himself. He just got out of the hospital, maybe it was too early for him to get out on the field. Brando says, from now on, they stick to basketball, and TJ says he should have said that earlier. Moving forward, they’ll stick to the court. Molly sees them together and looks horrified.

New York City. Nina asks Jax, how is it this woman who paid to have her necklace divided became her nurse twenty years later? He says, it would be quite the coincidence, and she says, there has to be a connection. She knows what happened to Nina’s child.

Josslyn tells Jason, it might sound crazy, but she wanted to feel her lungs fill up with air. He says it doesn’t sound crazy, and she wonders how long it’s been since Mike ran until he was out of breath. Little by little, everything was taken away from him until there was nothing left. She cries, and says she doesn’t even know what she’s saying anymore. He was a great grandpa. She’s going to miss him. Jason says he’ll miss Mike too, and she says Mike dies, and all she wants is to feel alive. He says, that’s what Mike would have wanted. Mike made some big mistakes, but he lived his life. He didn’t stand on the sidelines, watching and criticizing. Mike made sure he lived. He took chances and had to live with the consequences. There are people who run the race, and people who stand by and do nothing but watch. He knows she’s going to be someone who runs the race. She’s won’t know who’s going to win, but those are lessons she’ll learn. She’s going to live her life to the fullest, and it’s all Mike would have asked for.

Sonny looks at the picture of the boy on the bike, and shows it to Carly, asking if she saw this picture that Avery drew. His dad loved it, and said it looked like Sonny when he was a kid, but he doesn’t think it looks like him. They laugh, and Sonny says his dad never gave him the bike he wanted when he was a kid. He nursed that broken promise for years, and thought it was proof Mike wasn’t a good father. He didn’t know it haunted Mike. Even when his mind was gone, he needed to get Sonny the bike, and keep his word. Carly says Mike knew Sonny loved him, and Sonny says he knows. He asks if she can imagine them riding bikes together after all these years. The laugh some more, and Sonny says, it hurts.

Winston tells Ethan and Robert to keep their hands where he can see them. He says, this must be Ethan Lovett. He was afraid the calvary would come riding to the rescue when Holly placed the call. Robert says Winston knew Holly was alive.

Winston says, he takes their lack of professional detachment to mean there’s a personal interest. Robert calls Winston a smarmy bastard, and says, tell him where Holly is, or he’ll rip Winton’s throat out with his bare hands. Winston says Robert showed up for a gunfight with no gun, and tells his henchmen to restrain them, without shooting if possible. He tells Robert, Holly was investigating their less than reputable businesses that were being run from the casino. When he learned of her interest, he arranged for her ship to sink, but brought her there to manage her. They wanted to know just how much the Bureau had. Ethan tells him to take them to Holly, but Winston says she managed to distract a guard, and appropriate his phone. By the time they knew what was going on, it was too late. Robert says he knew it was her voice. Where is she? Winston says she had to be dealt with, and Robert asks what that means. Winston says, he’ll demonstrate. He raises his gun, but Olivia comes up behind him, and hits him over the head with an automatic weapon that she got from who knows where.

Nikolas tells Ava, he squandered his son’s chance at being close with this grandfather, and having a connection to his own mother. Mike knew Courtney better than he did; the things could Mike could have shared. It goes to show how messed up his priorities are. Ava says they’ve all been there, but he says, not as much as he has. The truth is, he keeps making the same mistakes. He doesn’t see how valuable something is until he lets it go.

Chase brings Brook to Turning Woods, and Brook thanks Michael for letting her know. She asks if Sonny is in Mike’s room, and Michael says he is, so she goes to  find him. Chase tells Michael that he gave Brook a ride. He’s sorry about Mike. Michael thanks him for bringing Brook. He thinks it will do his dad good to see her. He knows she had a big fight with Ned, and she’s too prideful to accept help. He’s worried about her being by herself. She didn’t say anything about a plan, and he wonders if she has a place to stay. Chase says he thinks she’s going to crash with him.

Nina tells Jax, after all the years of unanswered questions, she has an actual fact. He tells her, be prepared; she might not like what Phyllis has to say. She says she knows, and thanks him. Because of his connections, she’s closer than ever before to knowing what happened to her child. It would mean the world to her. He says he’d give her the world if he could, and she says she knows he would.

Molly joins TJ and Brando, and TJ says he believes Molly is a couple of minutes late; she’s obnoxious about being on time. Brando says he’s guilty of it too; it was drilled into him in the military. Molly says she didn’t know Brando was joining them, and TJ says they’re having a drink after their game. He’s buying; a consolation prize for beating Brando in all 8 innings. Brando asks if they don’t have plans, and Molly says, just studying medicine and law. TJ says they can take one night off, but Molly says, maybe Brando has someplace to be.

Portia presses on Alexis’s wrist, and asks if it hurts. Alexis says, ow! and Portia says, it’s definitely swollen. It might be more than a sprain. Ned says Alexis got an injury last summer, and Alexis says she thinks Portia was speaking to her. He says, sorry, and she says she slipped on the porch steps, and when she tried to steady herself, jammed her wrist. It ached for a week or two, then it felt better, until she fell at the gym. Portia asks if there was any weakness, and Alexis says, some in between incidents. Portia asks if it was continuous, and Alexis says not that she can recall. Portia asks, what about this time? and Alexis says this time, it’s been aching since she fell at the gym. She’s left-handed, and trying not do things with her left hand, and icing it. Portia asks if she’s done anything besides icing it, and Alexis says, nothing stronger than taking over the counter medication. She’s a recovering addict, and also highly sensitive after Neil’s death. Portia says she can prescribe a non-narcotic pain medication. They can take x-rays, and take it from there. She’s sorry to hear about Neil. She didn’t work with him very long, but he was a good man. Portia leaves, and Ned says, it’s okay to cry. He won’t judge.

Olivia says, a little help here? and Robert and Ethan deck the guards. Robert takes the gun from Olivia, and Ethan punches a guard one more time, saying, that one was for his mother. Robert gets on the phone, and says, it’s former field agent Robert Scorpio, and he’d like a direct line to the field office for District 3. He has a prisoner of interest.

Alexis cries, and says, the last place she expected to be was an examining room. Ned says he’s sorry, and suggests she get checked out; not just her wrist, everything. She says Neil was only in her life for two years, but changed it so much. He got her to dig inside for answers, and believe she’s worth being loved without conditions, secrets, or pain. If she hadn’t met him, she wouldn’t have risked her career for happiness. Now he’s just gone, and she’s in there getting a check-up for her aching wrist, like it’s any other day. Life just goes on, but it doesn’t. It’s not fair. Ned holds her, and says he’s so sorry.

Molly says Brando doesn’t want to hang out with a couple of studyholics. He might have someone to see. TJ says, the ladies are probably lining up, but Brando says he’s going through a dry spell. TJ says Molly can hook him up with one of her friends from law school. Ashley and CJ are smart and fun. Molly says she’ll see what she can do, and TJ says he’ll grab some ice teas, and Molly can arrange something with her friends. Molly says, no pressure, and TJ goes inside Kelly’s. She says TJ and Brando are bonding all over the place, and Brando says TJ is a good guy, but he’ll start making himself scarce.

Ava comes running in, and tells Nikolas, Avery is gone. The sliding door was open, and she’s gone. He says, she couldn’t have gone far.

Looking in the phone directory, Nina says she told Jax that she just wanted a trail to follow, and this is it. The woman she remembered, and will recognize when she sees, but she still has to find her. Who knew there were so many Phillis Caulfield in NYC? He says, there’s more than one? and she says, a lot more. Jax gets a call from Josslyn, and asks if everything is okay. Josslyn says, actually, no, and he says, Mike? Josslyn says, he’s gone. She knows it’s a good thing. It was time, and he doesn’t have to suffer now, but she just wanted to call and hear his voice, and know he’s still there to talk to. He says, always.

Sonny thanks Brook for everything she did for his dad. When she would visit and sing, Mike lit up like a kid. She says she’s glad Mike liked her singing and company, but the person he lit up for was Sonny. He loved Sonny so much, and Sonny was with him to the end. He did good. So, so good.

Avery walks through the woods with a flashlight.

Molly says, so Brando is just going to take off and leave her to explain? He says, isn’t that what she wants? She says she’s asking him not to be rude. When TJ challenges him to a basketball game or whatever, he can be busy. He tells her not to worry; he’s not getting in her business. She says she and TJ are in a great place; she’s not worried. There’s not going to be a repeat them. He says, no offense, but he’s not looking for one. She says, no offense, but she’s clear about what she wants in life, and it’s TJ. He says he likes hanging out with TJ; he’s a cool guy. TJ likes hanging out with him and wants to be friends, but he doesn’t lie to friends. She says neither does she, and he says maybe they should tell TJ the truth.

Ned waits in the hallway, and Portia says she wanted to give Alexis privacy, since Ned isn’t a family member. The orthopedic specialist confirmed it’s a fracture, which explains her limited movement and pain. Alexis says it’s not like when she fell in the spring, and it healed on its own. Portia says women lose bone density rapidly after menopause, and can get a fracture easily. They’re going to put her wrist in a cast. They stay on six to eight weeks, sometimes longer, but that only addresses the immediate injury. She suggests Alexis consult with the specialist, and have more tests to see if bone loss is the reason for the break. A fall shouldn’t result in a fracture, and there could be an underlying condition.

Jax tells Josslyn that he’ll be home first thing in the morning. In between, if she needs to, what should she do? She says, call him, and he says, that’s right. He loves her. She says she loves him too.

Avery finds Nelle’s half of the heart necklace, and hears Ava calling to her. Avery says, ooh, pretty. Ava calls again, and she says, coming, mom.

A WSB agent tells Robert his people are doing a sweep of the casino. There’s a laundry list of illegal activities there, enough to put Winston and his cronies in Steinmaur until they’re old and grey. Ethan asks if they found his mother, but the agent says, there’s no sign of Holly. She’s not there, if she ever was. Robert grabs Winston by his lapels, picks him up and shoves him against the wall, saying, you bastard, where is she?

Josslyn says, it must be strange for Willow. She joined the family five minutes ago, then has to jump into this experience. Willow says it’s sad, and she’s sorry about their grandfather, but what she’s experiencing is really how close they are, and how much they love each other. She was never part of a family in that way. To see them help sustain each other makes her more grateful than before.

Winston says, Holly is gone, and Robert says, son of a bitch. The agent says, let him go, and Robert drops him. Robert says, he’s lying, but the agent says it’s out of Robert’s hands. The Bureau is taking over. Ethan says, hell, the Bureau sent her there, and kicks Winston, asking, where is my mother? Winston says, gone. Disparue. What’s Mandarin for gone? The agent tells Ethan, don’t make them arrest him. They’ll search the grounds. The WSB is grateful for their help, so they avoided running Ethan’s name and finding out he has outstanding warrants. He’d like to see Ethan walk out a free man, so don’t kick Winston again. He tells another agent to help him load the prisoner for transport, and they take Winston out. Ethan says, Winston is lying. He has to be.

Molly says she thinks about telling TJ every day, and Brando says he thinks if she tells him the actual reason – that she thought he was ghosting her – he’ll realize there’s nothing to forgive. She says, except for keeping the truth from him. He says he’ll keep his distance, and she says she doesn’t want that; obviously TJ doesn’t want that. He says TJ can’t force him to shoot hoops; he has a garage to run. And if she keeps driving her hybrid like a tank, she’s going to severely damage it. TJ comes back with the drinks, and says, sorry. He was phoning a guy in his study group. He asks if Molly gave Brando contact with CJ and Ashley.

Willow asks if Michael is going to wait for his parents, but he says he thinks his dad would like to be alone with his mom for a bit. He and Willow leave.

Carly tells Sonny that she spoke with administration, and he can have all the time he wants with Mike. Sonny asks if they’re ready to take him, and she says if he’s ready. He says, let’s do this. He goes over to Mike, and picks up the drawing. He says he got his bicycle. He loves this bike; he loves this picture. And I’ll always love you, dad. He cries a little, and joins Carly.

Back at the cabin, Ava tells Avery, no more woods. Promise her. Avery promises.

Portia tells Alexis, a nurse practitioner will come in to cast her, and she can consult with the orthopedic specialist. They might be able to run more tests tonight. Alexis says, it’s kind of her to offer, but she’d like to get home. She’s dealing with a lot, and just wants to take a moment to catch her breath. She promises to make an appointment. Portia says, obviously, it’s her call, but she doesn’t advise putting it off, since any underlying condition needs to be addressed. Alexis asks what tests the specialist will want to run, and Portia says a big term that means bone density scan. Alexis asks what condition Portia thinks she has, and Portia says, the specialist will explain in depth. Alexis says the specialist isn’t there, Portia is. What does Portia thinks she’s dealing with? Portia says, based on her symptoms, Alexis might have osteoporosis.

Brando tells TJ, the garage needs his attention; he has no time for a social life. TJ says he’s said the same thing a million times. If not for Molly, he’d have no social life. Brando says, there’s only one Molly, but TJ says, her friends are really cool. What if the set up a meeting while supporting a righteous cause? They have a group who’s standing with GH. Brando says, against what? and Molly says, not what; who. Cyrus Renault, the Chairman of the Board.

Ethan tells Robert, the agent told them they have enough on Winston to send him to Steinmaur. They can use it as a bargaining chip, and trade Holly’s whereabouts for a lighter sentence. Robert says, Holly wasn’t an agent; she did contract work. They’re not going to bargain for her return. Ethan says, they have to. They said she was investigating the casino. She risked her life for the Bureau; they have to find her. The agent comes back, and says, they did find her. They found a shallow grave, containing a woman’s body burned beyond recognition. Ethan says, it could be anyone, and the agent says, they’ll find out when they do an autopsy, but the body matches Holly’s height and build. And they found this. He gives Robert something, and says, it was on the body. Ethan asks, what is it? and Robert shows him a ring.

We see Holly and Robert back when we were all so much younger. He says she should have a ring. He bought it a while back, and after tonight, he realized she might want it for appearances sake. He puts it in her hand, and she thanks him.

Robert tells Ethan, it’s Holly’s wedding ring.

Outside Turning Woods, a staff member says they have something for Sonny. It came several weeks ago, and they put it in the back for safe keeping. Sorry no one told him. They bring out a bicycle with a big bow on it, and my heart sings. Carly says, how… and he says, who cares? He hands her the picture, and opens the card. Sonny reads, Sonny, this is late, but I hope it’s not too late. I love you. Dad. She says, it’s a beauty, and he says, it’s perfect.

Nikolas asks Ava if Avery is all right, and she says, Avery is snug as a bug in a rug. She thanks him for helping her look, and being wonderful with her. She thinks he’s got himself a fan in her daughter. He says Ava must be relieved they found her. She’s quite an adventurous girl. He wonders where she gets it from. Ava asks if he’s leaving, and he says, yeah. He thinks there’s been enough excitement for one night. He asks if she’s returning to Windymere tomorrow, and she says she is. It’s her home. He tells her, goodnight, and she says, drive safe.

Jax says he hates to bail on Nina, but she says, is he out of his mind? Of course (🍷) he has to be with his daughter. This can wait. He says she could continue without him, and she says she could, but she wants him to be with her, no matter how it ends, if he wants to be. He says he does, and she asks if he’d mind company on the flight back. He says he’d love that. We see the necklace around her neck.

Avery takes the necklace out from under her pillow, and puts it in her backpack. She gets back in bed.

Brando says he understands why the hospital isn’t thrilled by Cyrus being on the board – Molly says, Chairman of the Boar – but maybe they could volunteer for another cause. TJ says, GH is the heart of Port Charles. They can’t let Cyrus corrupt it. He’s signing up staff members, and Molly is pulling some people from law school. Brando says, Cyrus could bring them a lot of trouble, and TJ says, let him bring it. The hospital is worth fighting for. Brando asks if Molly agrees, and she says she backs TJ all the way. Brando says, okay; he’s in. TJ says he knew it. Brando might be a sorry softball player, but he’s a man with principles. Brando hopes Molly’s friends are worth the trouble.

Alexis asks if osteoporosis isn’t common in women older than she is, but Portia says, that’s a misconception. Post-menopausal women over 50 are at risk. She can’t say for certain that’s it though, until the test results come back. Alexis says she’ll make arrangements. Ned pops in, and asks if everything is okay. Alexis says she’s waiting to get a cast, and tells him, go ahead and say it – I told you so. He says he’s just thankful she’s being treated. He tells her, he’ll wait outside, but Alexis says, they’d like to run more tests; it could take time. She’ll grab a Ride Share. He says, nice try. He’s not going anywhere. For once, stop arguing and say thank you. She says, thank you, and he says he’ll be outside.

Ned calls Olivia, and says, come on. Call him back.

Olivia gives Robert a drink, saying she thinks he could use this. Ethan says Holly was wearing the ring the last time he saw her. They met in Singapore to run game on a billionaire. Robert says he gave it to her when they got married. One thing after another happened, and it wound up in a safety deposit box in Switzerland. He gave it back to her after a two-year separation, saying, while they were separated, they were never going to be done with each other. He says he never should have given Ethan false hope that she was alive, but Ethan says now they know the truth, and who’s responsible. Robert says he should have gotten there sooner, and Olivia says he did what he could, but he says, it doesn’t feel like it. The agent comes in, and says the Bureau sent for a plane to take them home; it’s waiting on the tarmac in Nice. Robert wonders why the Bureau is so accommodating, and the agent says they’ve wanted the casino shut down, and now they were given a way to do it. Olivia says, as a girl from Kansas said, there’s no place like home. Robert asks Ethan if he’s going somewhere, and Ethan says, any continent but this one. When they leave, a man comes out and makes a call.

We see a woman’s hand pick a phone up. The man says, they’re gone. Scorpio and Ethan were given proof she’s dead. The casino was shut down, but the Bureau might be able to link the place to her. Winston knows to keep his mouth shut about what she really did with Holly. On one of the screens, we see a room with a woman sitting on the floor, leaning against a bed. She gets up, and starts yelling, open the door. Holly looks at the camera, and says, you bastard, let me out of here.

On Monday, Lulu asks Curtis what his fascination with her mother is; Curtis tells Jordan that she should have skipped this visit; and Jason tells Brando, he told Sonny they need a plan, but it will take both of them.

🏥 In Case You Haven’t Met…

All about Winston.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/winston-rudge-david-s-lee

All about Courtney.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/general-hospital-courtney-matthews-alicia-leigh-willis-168882

🎸 The Boys In the Band…

Think it was creative differences?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/steve-burton-says-goodbye-to-port-chuck

💎 Anything’s Better Than Brandi…

I don’t even know who they are and wish they’d been cast.

https://extratv.com/2020/09/14/jana-kramer-and-mike-caussin-on-auditioning-for-rhobh-and-fighting-through-the-tough-times/

🍕 She’s Not Going Out Anyway…

The quarantine twenty-five’s got nothing on Kenya.

https://people.com/health/rhoas-kenya-moore-doesnt-mind-25-pound-quarantine-weight-gain/

👠 It’s An Outrage…

Fashion scandals should be our worst problem.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1187374/relive-16-of-the-biggest-fashion-week-scandals-on-and-off-the-runway

⚰️ Explaining the Dead…

But will it line up with the show?

https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-walking-dead-comic-ending-explained/

🤡 Laughing In the Face Of Pandemonia…

Think they’ll kill Kenny?

https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/south-park-season-24-release-date-pandemic-special/

✉️ Almost Time To Vote…

For the People’s Choice Awards.

https://pca.eonline.com/window

🛸 Break It Down…

Because, Baby Yoda.

https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-wars-the-mandalorian-season-2-trailer-breakdown-analysis-spoilers/

🧾 Quotes of the Week

The problem with doing nothing is not knowing when you are finished. – Nelson De Mille

It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. – Albert Einstein

Technology without morality is barbarous; morality without technology is impotent. – Freeman Dyson

You don’t develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.Epicurus

Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself.Harvey Fierstein

Maturity is achieved when a person accepts life as full of tension. – Joshua L. Liebman (Hmm… Apparently I’ve been mature since I was 5.)

I Call You Dog

Author Unknown

When God had made the earth and sky,

The flowers and the trees,

He then made all the animals,

The fish, the birds and bees.

And when at last He’d finished,

Not one was quite the same,

God said, “I’ll walk this earth of mine,

And give each one a name.”

And so He traveled far and wide,

And everywhere He went,

A little creature followed Him,

Until its strength was spent.

When all were named upon the earth,

And in the sky and sea,

The little creature said, “Dear Lord,

There’s not one left for me.”

Kindly the Father said to him,

“I’ve left you to the end,

I’ve turned my own name back to front,

And called you DOG, my friend.”

🍂 A New Season…

We made it to autumn, and another weekend. Or whatever name you’ve made up for what used to be your weekend. No matter the term, stay safe, stay discriminating, and stay running the race instead of watching from the sidelines.

September 17, 2020 – A Loved One Brings Mike Home, Reunion Finger Pointing, No Pandemic Here, Sonja By Not Sonja, Next Time, She Does What, NeNe Says Bye-Bye, Pups Go Surfing & Dream

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

General Hospital

Dante wakes up, and says, dammit. Why did I do that?

At Kelly’s, Diane tells Alexis that she needs to eat something. She can’t begin to know what Alexis is going through. She was just starting to be with Neil, and then he was gone. She’s been with Alexis the whole time. Alexis says Diane thinks she’s going to relapse and drink again, doesn’t she?

Monte Carlo. Olivia asks if Robert had any luck, and he says he scoped out the location of the security office. If Holly is anywhere, that’s where she is. Olivia asks what he suggests they do next. They see Winston, and Robert says, continue to enjoy their romantic honeymoon.

Ned gets Olivia’s voicemail, and says it’s him again. He hasn’t heard from her or Robert for over a day, and he’s getting concerned. Please call.

At the bistro, Brook tells Chase that she doesn’t think ginger tea is the answer to her situation, but she thanks him. He asks what she thinks she’s going to do next. Is she still dead-set on not going back to the Quartermaines? She says, it’s a pity invite, and will never happen. BLQ doesn’t accept charity.

Josslyn says her grandpa will always be with her, and Michael says, him too. Brando says, and his buddies in Iraq, and Willow says, and her dad and baby. Stella says their loved ones didn’t vanish into darkness. They’re always with them and watching out for them.

Sonny says he doesn’t want Mike to think he wants him to die. He had so many dreams for them. We see Sonny and Mike with bicycles, and Mike asks how Sonny likes it. He bets Sonny thought he’d never buy him a bike, and Sonny says it surprised the hell out of him. Mike suggests putting on training wheels, and Sonny says, let’s see who needs training wheels, old man. Mike says they’ll see who the old man is. He’ll race Sonny to the end of the street. You know what they say. You never forget how to ride a bike.

Mike and Sonny come into the living room, and Mike wonders how Michael isn’t exhausted. Sonny says, he’s young. He can play catch with Wiley forever. Mike says he taught Sonny how to play catch, and Sonny says Mike has a pretty good arm; Wiley was impressed, and so was Michael. Mike says, someone has to show the young ones how do it. He does a pretend throw, and rubs his shoulder. Sonny says he’s still got it. He gave Michael and Wiley a great afternoon they’ll never forget. He wants to thank Mike.

Mike and Sonny walk into the living room wearing suits. Mike thanks Sonny for taking him to Adela’s grave – in his big, fancy private jet. Sonny says anytime Mike wants to visit her grave, just give him the word. Mike says, one time he told Sonny’s mom that Sonny could be anything he wanted to be, because he was going to bring Sonny the world. He didn’t do that. Sonny says, no, he didn’t. He gave Sonny love. He didn’t know it then, but he knows now. They clink glasses, and Mike says he doesn’t deserve Sonny. Sonny asks, why even say that? and they sit. Mike says Sonny has a beautiful family, and made him a part of it. It was good. He wishes he could tell Sonny’s mom how proud he is of him, and how sorry he is for not being there to watch him grow up. Sonny says, Mike still loves his mom, doesn’t he? and Mike says, always have, always will. Anyone who came after, never equaled her kindness and compassion. He told Adela that too. He only wishes he could have told her face to face, but maybe someday, somehow he’ll see her again. He’ll take her in his arms and spin her around, and they’ll dance. Sonny says, that day’s not coming for a long time, but she’ll be waiting. Mike says, you can’t live forever, can you? and Sonny says, no. He guesses not. Mike asks why he’s doing this. Why does Sonny keep remembering things that never happened between them? Sonny says he wants his father to give him more, and knows Mike can’t give him that. He doesn’t know why Mike keeps holding on. He knows Mike is hurting and ready. Why doesn’t he let go? Sonny is here for him, and he’s not going to do this alone… Unless that’s what Mike needs. Does he need Sonny not to be there, so that way he can go find peace? Mike says he’s out of answers. Answers like that are found within. Sonny has the strength to do that; more than Mike ever did. Look inside his heart, and he’ll know what to do.

At Turning Woods, Sonny says he’s looking. He sees it. Mike doesn’t want to go with him watching. He wants to protect Sonny. Sonny tells him, do what he’s got to do. Sonny cries a little, and tells Mike, do what he’s got to do. However he wants to go, however he wants to do it, it’s fine.

Alexis tells Diane, yes. She wanted a drink. Sobriety can be fickle when dealing with emotional distress. Diane asks, how fickle? and Alexis says she found out Neil was using under her nose, and she wanted a drink, but she stopped herself. She wasn’t succumbing to her addiction. It was bad enough to see Neil succumb to his. Ned comes in, and says he’s sorry to hear about Neil. He’s been meaning to reach out. Alexis thanks him, and says he’s had enough to deal with. She heard Brook was out of the hospital and on the mend. He must be relieved. Ned takes her hand, but Alexis draws back in pain.

Olivia says she’s always dreamed of driving in an Austin Martin in Monte Carlo. He says, she’s not going to get nervous, is she? She says, not with him driving. He lowers his voice and tells her, sorry to push the honeymoon, but Winston won’t take his eyes off them. She says he needs a diversion, and he asks what she suggests. She says, stick with her. She’s about to go on a hot streak. Winston won’t know what hit little his casino.

Sonny tells Mike he’s going to go. He’s saying goodbye to Mike, so Mike doesn’t have to say goodbye. He kisses Mike’s forehead. He takes a last look, stands at the door for a moment, and leaves.

Robert tells Olivia, for this to work, they have to stick with the plan. She says she was playing blackjack before she was old enough to vote. She sits at a table, and says, deal her in. Robert wanders around, and Olivia gets 21. She says, yeah; do it again. Leave it all on the table. A man comes to the table, and says, someone is feeling lucky, and she says, you bet she is. He says, maybe the lady’s luck will rub off on him. Deal him in.

Ava plays outside with Avery, and Nikolas says, there she is. Ava says, yes, she’s here. Avery had a bad dream, so they were catching fireflies. Nikolas tells Avery, he’d like to help if it’s all right with her mother, and Ava says, it’s more than okay.   

Chase tells Brook, it isn’t charity letting her family help. It’s what families do. She says, some families, but not the Quartermaines. He says, Michael is a Quartermaine, and she says Ned was furious with her, and had a massive overreaction. She knows she messed up, and Ned was right to be mad, but she also knows he wouldn’t have retreated if Nelle hadn’t attacked her. He says, tragedies have a way of putting things into perspective. You realize how important it is to love a person, rather than whatever you thought was so crucial. Maybe Ned realized he loves more than the company, wants her as a daughter, and wants her to recover. She says he’s describing a normal, rational person. He can’t understand what ELQ means to the Quartermaines. Ned put it in perspective for 25 minutes when he thought she was going to die. That’s over now, and he just feels sorry for her, and she doesn’t want that. She’s fine on her own. He says, excellent. What does that look like? She says that’s the part she hasn’t figured out.

Stella says, when she came in, Brando was talking about butterflies. What did he mean? Sonny comes in, and Carly asks if he’s okay. He says, Mike is resting, and he’s fine. Michael asks if he needed a break, and Sonny says, just a short one. Jason says if Sonny wants anything, he’s there with them. Josslyn and Michael volunteer to go sit with Mike, but Sonny tells them to stay. Mike will be fine by himself. Josslyn asks how he knows, and Jason says, it’s okay. Sonny knows what he’s talking about.

A bright light falls on Mike. He opens his eyes, and says, I know you.

Sonny thanks everyone for coming, and says, it means a lot. Carly asks if he’s ready to go back, and he says, it’s probably time. He and Carly join hands, and go back to Mike’s room. Stella asks Brando to tell her more about his experience with butterflies. He says after learning about them in high school, he started seeing them as his buddies from his unit; a sign everything was okay. At least that’s what he wants to think. Stella says, then that’s what they are.   

Alexis tells Nelle, she took a fall at the gym and jammed her wrist; it’s still tender. Diane says, that was weeks ago. She should see a doctor. Alexis says she has other things on her mind, but Diane says she can’t put it off. She’s getting checked out. Diane’s phone dings, and she says, lovely. A client demands her immediate attention. They’ll just have to wait. She’s a respected attorney, not Ride Share. They can’t summon her when they feel like it. Alexis says, for the retainer she charges, of course (🍷) they can. She says, Ned is there to assist her if she needs it, and Diane says she’ll call Alexis later. Diane leaves, and Ned asks if he can get anything for Alexis. Blueberry pie maybe? She says, it’s nice of him, but her speech was for Diane’s benefit. He doesn’t have to stay. He says he has nowhere else to be. He lost ELQ, and his wife and daughter aren’t speaking to him.

At the casino, the man says, Mrs. Falconari. She’s the last person he expected to see. She says, hello, Ethan. It’s Mrs. Quartermaine now. He should have been at his mother’s memorial. He asks, what brings her to the casino? and tells her the man who runs it isn’t someone she wants to cross. She says, too late, but she has back-up in Robert Scorpio. He says, Scorpio is here? and she says he’s convinced Ethan’s mom is alive, and being held prisoner there.

Robert walks down a hallway toward the office, and a guard asks if he can help Robert. Robert acts like he’s drunk, and says, restroom, and the guard says, it’s authorized personnel only. Robert acts confused, and says he guesses he got turned around. Sorry, man. He moves on.

Ethan says, Scorpio thinks his mother is alive? and Olivia says he got a call after the memorial. There was a lot of static, and a bad connection, but he swears it was Holly. He says, and she believes him? She says she does. The call was traced to this casino. She was creating a diversion while Robert checked out the security office. Ethan says, Robert wants Holly to be alive, so he can ride in and save her. She says she understands their relationship was complicated, but Robert never stopped loving her. If he thinks she’s alive, doesn’t Ethan think it’s worth hearing him out? Robert comes back, and tells Olivia, a guard is watching the door. They have to find another way in. He realizes Ethan is there, and Ethan punches Robert. Olivia catches him.

Carly says, Sonny has been so insistent on being with Mike to the very end. Why did he leave?

Mike sits up, and says he knows her. Courtney says, hello, dad, and asks him to come with her. She holds out her hand, and he gets up, putting on his sharp hat. Courtney takes his hand, and he says, it’s good to see you, sweetheart.   

Sonny tells Carly, he took a break for his father, not for himself. They go into Mike’s room, and Mike and Courtney see them. Mike tells Sonny, he’s so sorry it was so hard on him. He deserved better than he got from Mike, but Sonny did right by him up until the end. He says, thank you for being my boy. Don’t think of him as the guy in the bed. Think of him as the father who came to his son for help. He takes Courtney’s hands, and a bright light shines down from above. They disappear. Carly says she doesn’t understand, but Sonny says she doesn’t have to. She says, everything Sonny has done, every decision he made, was exactly what his dad needed. Sonny says, dad? He listens to Mike’s heart, and Carly says, is he? Sonny says, he’s gone. That’s why he left the room. He knew Mike couldn’t say goodbye. Mike was trying to protect him. Carly nods, and says Sonny, he let go. His mom is waiting for Mike. It’s okay. She forgives him, and loves him very much. We see a butterfly floating around the room, and I’ve already lost it completely. Sonny says, there’s no more loss, no more sorrow. A big world is waiting for him out there. He’s finally coming home. Sonny puts his head against Mike’s. Carly says, safe passage Mike, and tells him that she loves him.

Ava says it’s time to get Avery back to bed, and tells her to say goodnight to Nikolas. Avery wants him to come, and he says he’d be delighted. Ava tells Avery, in that case, lead the way.

Alexis tells Ned that she’s not surprised there’s friction. Brook is a determined young woman. He says, right now, she’s determined to avoid him. She doubts that’s the case with Olivia, and he says, that situation is more nuanced, but at the moment he’s more concerned about her. He says he and Alexis haven’t caught up since she and Neil got together. She says, point of fact, they were barely together. Their feelings were complicated, but she felt a connection. She risked everything, threw caution to the winds, and lost her law license. She believed in Neil, and believed in the possibility of them, but the truth is, she didn’t know him. How could she not realize he was using drugs? Was he that good at hiding it, or was she being willfully blind, like with Julian, Ric, and all the other men? Present company excluded. He asks if she really believes that, and she says, yes. Neil was a good man, even though he had secrets. He suggests she take her coffee to go, and they take a walk in the park. She says, sounds like a plan, and he says he’ll meet her outside. He’s going to give Olivia one more call. He goes out, and she picks up her coffee cup, dropping it. She grabs her wrist.

Robert suggests Ethan try again when he can see it coming. Ethan says Robert ruined his mother’s life. The only reason she was on that damn boat was because he walked out on her. They lunge at each other, but Winston comes over, and says, gentlemen. They’re disturbing the guests, and ruining night. He tells his bouncers, take them in the back.

Carly joins the others, and says, he’s gone. She hugs Josslyn, and says her grandfather isn’t confused or afraid anymore. Josslyn asks how Carly knows, and Michael asks how Sonny is. Carly says, quiet. He’s sitting with Mike if Michael wants to say goodbye. Michael leaves, and Josslyn says she wants some fresh air. Carly asks if Josslyn wants her to come, but she says she just wants to be outside. Carly says she loves Josslyn, and Josslyn says she loves Carly too. Willow tells Carly, she’s going to call and check on Wiley. She’s so sorry for their loss. She hugs Carly, who thanks her. Jason asks if Carly is okay, and she says, she knows it’s what’s best for Mike, but she’s going to miss him so much. Jason hugs her.

Chase asks how Brook feels couch surfing. She says she needs more context, and he says if she has nowhere else to crash, she can stay with him. She asks if he’d really let her move in, and he says, while she’s figuring out the next step. She tells him that she doesn’t know what say, and he says, that’s a first. Brooks phone rings, and she says, it’s Michael; she has to take it. Michael tells her that Mike passed away a little while ago. He went peacefully, and wasn’t in pain. She says, he was an incredible man, and Michael says, he was. She asks how Sonny is doing, and Michael says, he’s okay. Luckily, he has a lot of support. She asks if it would be too much if she came, or does he think it would help? He says, that would be great. His dad would appreciate it. She tells him that she’s sorry for his loss. It put her so-called problems in perspective.

Carly tells Jason, the people they love, they just think they’ll be there forever, but they won’t. They have to love them with everything they’ve got, every minute they have them, and not get caught up in the stupid stuff their minds perceive as bright and shiny in life, and make that stuff more important. She admires Jason. He’s lived his life with that perspective, and doesn’t get distracted. She asks him to promise, if she spirals out of control and gets caught up in the BS of life, remind her please of what’s important. He says, like when he tells her to take a deep breath and count to ten? That’s just to calm her down. She’s always known what matters. He doesn’t always agree with her methods, but he doesn’t disagree with her heart. He came back in time to watch Mike slip away, and watch Sonny’s agony, and he watched her do the heavy lifting. She took care of everything, and gave selflessly. She has her priorities straight in life. She says he had her up until selfless. Everyone knows she’s the most selfish person on the planet. He says he knows better.

Robert and Ethan are sitting in chairs, tied up, back to back. Robert says Ethan’s little outburst just blew his cover. Ethan asks if Robert thinks he gives a damn. He punched Robert to get them back there. Robert says, a classic Spencer move. Ethan’s old man would be proud. Ethan tells Robert, Olivia said Holly called him, and he believes she’s alive. Robert says, it’s the only part of the accident that makes sense. Ethan says, Holly said his instincts were on point, and Robert says his instincts didn’t tell him they’d find themselves trussed up like this. Ethan says, Robert is a super spy. Get them out. Robert sees a nail sticking out of the floor, and says he thinks he has a plan.

Alexis apologizes to the waitress, saying she’s clumsy. The waitress says she’s got this, and Ned comes back in. He asks if everything is okay, and Alexis says she lost her grip on the cup. She must have been holding it wrong. He says, if it’s that painful, she should have it looked at. She says she’s embarrassed enough, and he tells her, she said it was hurting. She insists it’s nothing serious, but he says she can’t hold a cup. She says he’s making it sound worse than it is, but he says, there’s only one way to find out. He’s taking her to the hospital. She grabs her bag, and flounces out ahead of him.

Ava says, it looked like Nikolas enjoyed that, and he says he did. Not just the fireflies, and the bedtime story. He loved that, don’t get him wrong, but watching her with Avery, it’s nice seeing that side. She says he thinks she might actually be human? Her phone rings, and she sees it’s Carly. She asks if everything is okay, and Carly tells her, Mike is gone. She’s sure Avery is sleeping, but she wanted Ava to know. Ava says she’s so sorry. She appreciates Carly calling. Carly says, Sonny would like all of his kids together, and Ava says, of course (🍷). She’ll have Avery back first thing tomorrow. If it seems appropriate, offer her condolences to Sonny, and don’t worry about Avery; she’ll follow his lead. Carly says she’ll let Sonny know, and thanks her.

Michael tells Sonny, he’s so grateful he had Mike for a grandfather. Knowing him was a privilege Sonny gave him. Sonny says, a long time ago, all he could see was Mike’s failings. He knows now Mike was just trying to be a good dad. Actually that was most of the time. He tried to be a better father than Mike was. He doesn’t know if he managed it, but Michael will be a better father than either one of them. Michael says, everything he learned, he learned from watching them.

Winston tells Olivia, he hopes her evening wasn’t spoiled. He heard she had success at the blackjack table. She says she did, and she’s hoping for more, as soon as her husband and his friend return. He says, they didn’t look like friends, and she says, you know boys; macho chest thumping. She guarantees their good behavior form here on out. When can she expect them back? He says he’s sure it won’t be much longer.

Robert says, got it, and Ethan is freed. How he did this, we don’t get to know. Spy magic. He tells Ethan, get him out. He’s a prodigy of Spencer, and should be able to do it in less than 30 seconds. Ethan says, he just did, and Robert gets up. He says, okay, it’s time to find Ethan’s mommy. Winston walks in, and says, how clever. Going somewhere, Mr. Scorpio?

Tomorrow, Robert says now he knows Holly is alive, Nina says there has to be a connection, Brando says maybe he and Molly should tell the truth, Avery disappears, and Jason tells Josslyn it’s exactly what Mike would have wanted.

🎁 I’ve been so busy, I hadn’t even realized it was my father’s birthday yesterday. He’s been gone a long time, but I still miss him like he just passed. What a gift this storyline has been. So very sad, yet bringing such hope.

The Real Housewives of New York City – The Reunion – Part Two

We jump right in to the argument between Tinsley and Dorinda that started last week. Dorinda wonders why Tinsley signed up for the show, when they’re told they have to be transparent. Tinsley says she’s been real, but Dorinda says she and Sonja knew she was still seeing Scott. Dorinda whines that she was going through a bad time, and Ramona says Dorinda never shared. We see an article from Page Six about Dorinda taking a break from John. Dorinda says she was going through the house flood, a broken rib, and trying to figure out if she wanted to be in a relationship. Her good friend Greg planted the Page Six article. She may not have been forthright, but she wasn’t dishonest – her segue into griping about Tinsley, while absolving herself of the same thing. She says Tinsley claimed she wasn’t seeing Scott, but they knew she’d had dinner with him, and was with him in Las Vegas. LuAnn asks how she knew all this, and a viewer points out that while good friends don’t bully, good friends don’t watch and stay silent. Andy asks why not defend her? and Sonja says Tinsley played the victim, but she just sucked it up. Ramona says when Tinsley is on roll, there’s no stopping her, but Dorinda says, with her it’s different. Tinsley says Dorinda deflects, and Dorinda says Tinsley was living in a hotel, like this means anything. Andy says Dorinda was mean to Tinsley, but Dorinda says she apologized. Tinsley claims she didn’t, and the turkey baster remark was appalling. Andy chimes in that it was pretty bad, and Dorinda says she wants Tinsley to live well, be well, and be happy. In retrospect, she feels she should have handled it differently, and she’s sorry. Tinsley says, too little too late. LuAnn says she’s happy for Tinsley, and Andy asks what Leah’s thoughts are about her best friend. Leah says she was new, and trying to forge relationships with the women. She has close relationships with both Dorinda and Tinsley, and they were the two going at it. She wanted to do a lunch with the three of them. We see a clip of her suggesting it, and Tinsley saying she’s not too sure it would be a good idea. Leah says they didn’t do it, and Tinsley says Dorinda comes off as strong and a tough guy bully, but she’s a coward. She can’t do one on one, and needs her cronies to stand up for her. Leah says she’s not a crony; she just wants to help. Tinsley says it was fine having a conversation with Dorinda off-camera, but Dorinda turned on her when Scott gave John money. A viewer points out that Dorinda said Scott was able to give Tinsley the things Richard used to give to her, and wonders if Dorinda is jealous. Dorinda says she doesn’t want that kind relationship; giving up her life to be dependent. Tinsley says, now Dorinda is the authority on her relationship with Scott. Dorinda’s Achille’s heel is that she’s never wrong, and it’s going to be her end and detriment. She needs to be accountable.

Andy asks why Dorinda got so mad in the finale, the second Tinsley’s name was brought up. We flash back to Dorinda going ballistic when Leah mentioned Tinsley. Leah hadn’t even finished her sentence, when Dorinda was all, I WON’T HAVE IT! SHE BREACHED HER CONTRACT! and put her finger in everybody’s face. Dorinda says, it wasn’t authentic. Tinsley didn’t bring Leah to the group. If they were paying a finder’s fee, Bethenny would have gotten it. Like Dorinda gives a flying. Ramona says, Bethenny didn’t even know Leah, and Andy says she gave them 30 names, and Leah was on the list, but they also got her name form the casting producer. Then he asks the question on all out minds – what does it matter? Who cares? Dorinda says, at the end of the day, Leah was implying Tinsley brought her into the group, and it’s not true. I think what Leah actually said, and it wasn’t even the point she was making, was that Tinsley had introduced her to the group, as in, this is Leah. Andy says Leah and Tinsley did become friends before shooting started; it wasn’t forced. Tinsley says they liked each other, and it annoyed Dorinda. Leah says, it was more of an homage to Tinsley, whatever that means, and she never even met Bethenny. She doesn’t understand, and Ramona wonders why Dorinda was foaming at the mouth when Tinsley’s name was mentioned. Dorinda says, Tinsley wasn’t transparent, and Ramona says, are you kidding? Tinsley says the minute she came on she was talking about her arrest, and we see a clip. I dunno. If weeping to her mother at the circus about freezing her eggs, while wearing a Baby Jane outfit isn’t transparent, I don’t know what is. Tinsley asks if she needs to poop in front of the camera like Dorinda did. 💩 Sorry, I had to. Dorinda says they were already down a person with Bethenny leaving, and Andy says Bethenny left a day before shooting. Dorinda doesn’t think they should honor people who haven’t stayed on. Andy says Tinsley spoke to him and Bravo, and they mutually agreed it was okay. Dorinda says what she’s learned is, you don’t have to stay to the end, and can hide stuff. Ramona says, that’s not what Tinsley did; what’s wrong with her? I’m thinking Dorinda isn’t going to change her mind – what Tinsley said – so why belabor the point? Tinsley says, Dorinda thinks she can keep talking and make it real. I’m definitely enjoying Tinsley’s spunk now that she’s shaken free of the franchise. Ramona says she has to pee. Thanks for sharing. Sonja says, at least she didn’t fall asleep. Andy calls after her that she forgot her mask.

Back in her seat, Ramona says she never turned her phone off, and Andy says, moving on. From chicken a la vibrator to LuAnn a la camel, the Housewives are always a trip. We flash back to vacations us normal humans will never be able to afford, the weekend at Ramona’s house, the camel ride, and Sonja’s birthday. Andy says they have so much to discuss, and wants to know how Tinsley ended up making out with her sister. Tinsley says, it was a joke. They were with a bunch of girls, and all demonstrating how they kiss. Andy asks if Tinsley is a good kisser, and Leah says she is. I guess that puts that question to bed. Andy asks, who put the vibrator in the chicken? and Sonja guesses she did. They discuss vibrators in luggage, and Andy says he’s impressed Leah got Tinsley to strip and swim. Tinsley says it surprised her too. He asks LuAnn how being put in a suite in Ramona’s basement was disrespectful, and LuAnn says, before the trip, Ramona said she was getting the best room, but she wound up in the basement. This answers that question not at all, and Ramona says she was concerned about Dorinda and Sonja bucking for good rooms. Dorinda says she doesn’t care where she sleeps, and TBH, I don’t remember that ever being an issue with her. Just Ramona and Sonja. Andy asks if Ramona got heat for referring to the waitstaff in Mexico as servants. Ramona says, she’s old – what??? alert the media immediately! – but she owns it. Now alert LisaR. Andy gives LuAnn props for getting back on a camel, and LuAnn says she runs toward her fears to conquer them. She wasn’t letting a camel throw her off and not get back on. Leah says she’s never getting on another camel. She says Sonja’s camel was angry, and bumping hers. It’s time for Tinsley to say goodbye, and they tell her to enjoy her happily ever after in Chicago.

Andy welcomes us back, even though… you know the rest. He says, LuAnn finished probation, and was ready to raise a glass to a bright future. From giving back to giving up sobriety, she was marry f killing it. We flash back to LuAnn making almonds amends, and Andy says, thinking back to last year, the women had it with LuAnn. We flash back to the last reunion, where LuAnn was called out. Andy asks what the biggest change in LuAnn has been, and Ramona says she’s more real, approachable, and down to earth. Sonja says, the pressure is off now, and Dorinda says, it feels like LuAnn is more centered. LuAnn says it’s a lot of pressure when you’re told if you have a drink, you can go to jail; it was almost two years. Andy says he was glad to see her and Dorinda get back on track, except for a hiccup in the Berkshires. LuAnn says there were a couple of hiccups, and Dorinda says she was upset about how LuAnn was treating Sonja. Leah says she thinks LuAnn is down to earth, although sometimes it’s all about her. LuAnn says with six brothers and sisters, she had to be that way sometimes. Leah says she finds it endearing. A viewer says, even when LuAnn was drinking, she seemed to be the sober voice of reason. LuAnn says she’s been through a lot, and had to check in with herself and her relationship with alcohol. Part of her recovery is learning what she’s able to do and what she’s capable of. She’s not always proud of her behavior. Another viewer says LuAnn needs to stop saying she’s been to prison, and she wasn’t on parole; she was on probation. LuAnn says she’s not schooled in the terms. She does want to raise awareness about the prison system. They’re making money from people’s misfortunes, and a lot of people are there for petty crimes. It’s a real issue that needs attention. Viewer Diana from Miami says Sonja claimed LuAnn paid for only half of her hair and makeup, and Sonja says LuAnn doesn’t really pay her. LuAnn says when she started the show, she had a show director and musical director who ran things. She asked Sonja to come to the show as a guest. When she performed at Sonja’s drag bingo party, she didn’t ask for money. Sonja says, that was for charity, and LuAnn ignores that, saying, the fans love Sonja. Andy asks if, as it gets bigger, she’ll give Sonja more of a piece of the pie, and LuAnn says she told Sonja that.

Andy brings up LuAnn’s dad’s alcoholism, and how she connected with him through her experience. He asks her to elaborate, and she says, it’s in the book, but her father had an issue with alcohol for ten years – when she was ten to eighteen. Her father was everything to her; she adored him. He had more class in his pinky than most people have in their whole body. She misses him every day. She starts to cry, and I tweet her, since I understand. She says, at the end of his life, he’d been sober for ten years. She spoiled him, taking him to Asia, London, and Paris, all over the world. He deserved it, and she wanted to share that with him. No matter how low you go, you can get back up. Andy asks what her hope for the immediate future is, and she says to be healthy and in a good place, and to feel in control of her life. She’s been working hard. Being busy for her is good. Ramona says she’s seen LuAnn evolve ins a positive way. When they first met, she was kind of on a high horse with her Countess image. We flash back to a million years ago, and LuAnn says she was hiding a bad marriage. She’s been through a lot; they all have. Ramona says, kudos to her. She’s proud to know LuAnn as a friend and person. She’s an inspiration to a lot women, and grown so much.

Andy tells us, the sun will rise, the birds will sing, LuAnn will mention cabaret, and the ladies will hit on every man in their path. We go down Man Memory Lane, where it’s mostly Ramona, LuAnn coming in second, then Sonja, and Leah bringing up the rear. Sonja asks LuAnn how it went with the groomer, and LuAnn says, it didn’t. He was married. Andy asks why Harry Dubin and Tom were at the center of their love triangle, when William was up for grabs. Ramona asks him to expand on who William is, and Dorinda says he was at her party. Ramona says, oh, Bill. They’re just friends. Dorinda says she’s friends with him too, and heard the gory details. Andy asks if Dorinda has any desire to meet someone new, and Dorinda says dating is where she’s at. Time will tell. Andy asks if she’s seeing someone, and she says, we’ll see. It’s not to be spoken of. LuAnn says, when Dorinda talks about him, her face lights up, and Dorinda says she’s waiting until Covid is over to see where it is. Andy asks Leah about the Berkshires bartender, and she says they made out and played pool. He was cool, but he lives in the Berkshires. She says she has nothing against one-night stands, but where she’s at in life, how she feels, and her age, that’s not for her. She’s looking for more. Andy asks who they think is next for a monogamous relationship, and Ramona says, Dorinda. Dorinda says she doesn’t know how to do anything else.

Andy says, Ramona took to Leah in a maternal way, but Ramommy didn’t appreciate Leah’s behavior, and she found herself in Housewife hell. We flash back to Ramona’s idiocy, and Andy says, it was a wild ride. It was striking to him that they found a connection that went awry. Ramona says she’s more controlled, and LuAnn says, more conservative. Andy says, the breaking point was Ramona’s party, and Ramona says they had a conversation beforehand. Maybe if she’d had pants on… Ramona admits she lost it, and Leah says, because of her dress? Ramona went ballistic, yelling, cameras off! and should have just pulled her aside. LuAnn agrees that Ramona should have just gone to Leah, and overreacted. Leah says she was dancing, and Ramona says she didn’t appreciate it. Dorinda says they were all dancing, but Ramona says, Leah started it. Dorinda says Leah had a leotard on underneath, and there were only women there. Andy asks Ramona if she thinks she overreacted, and Ramona says, yes, but no, both owning it and not. Andy says Ramona has a different standard for Leah than her other friends, and Ramona says she asked Leah to contain herself. Leah says Ramona has a weird infatuation with her and her sexuality, and held her to a different standard. Ramona says, Sonja is funny, like Lucille Ball, but Leah is crass. I doubt Lucille Ball ever acted like Sonja. Andy says something about Leah being young and beautiful pushes Ramona’s buttons, and Ramona says she feels like Leah’s mother. Dorinda isn’t having it, and says Ramona doesn’t treat Leah like that. Leah tries to talk, but Ramona keeps interrupting, even after Andy tells her to cut it out. Leah says it started before Ramona’s party. She made a penis joke, and Ramona told her that she couldn’t say that. We flash back to whatever dinner that was, and Ramona says her daughters were there. Leah says Ramona was jerking off her wine glass, showing how she picked up men, and we see her pretty much doing as described. Andy says the party in Newport seemed to change Ramona’s opinion, and Ramona says she’s not used to someone with Leah’s energy, which I guess is what we’re calling drunken crazy-ass antics now. Leah says she was drunk, and Ramona thought, now is a good time to tell her that her sister can’t come. She over-drank (is that even a thing?), and the next day had to keep apologizing. Ramona say she doesn’t like Leah when she drinks.

Andy says, Ramona brought out Leah’s mental health issues, and asks if Leah buys that Ramona’s friend just came across the information. Leah says she wrote an article in 2016. Ramona’s friends don’t work, and have nothing going on, so no doubt they were looking for something on her. Ramona says her friends do work – they’re in real estate. All 50 of them? Leah says she was drunk, and Ramona was saying it was bi-polar behavior. Ramona says being on medication and drinking is scary, and Leah says she’s not on medication. Ramona says, well, she didn’t know that, and Leah says Ramona should have asked her. Dorinda tells Ramona not to act like she’s a doctor; it was malicious. Ramona insists it wasn’t, and Leah says she knew it was going to be on TV, and her kid would see it. Kier had no idea about it, and Leah had to have a conversation with her. Ramona acts innocent, and Leah says Ramona brought it up when it was being effing filmed, and knew it would end up in the show. Why do that? Desperate to turn the tide, Ramona says, half of America is on antidepressants. Why not help America? Andy asks if Ramona stands behind bringing it up, or does she regret not personally talking to Leah? Leah said she would have appreciated that, and it would have given her a voice. In Mexico, she tried talking to Ramona, and didn’t even know why Ramona was mad at her. Andy says if the article was out there already, why was Leah upset that it was on camera? Leah says this is a new platform, and a new way of communicating for her, and it’s her story. I actually understand this, since I once wrote an article about a personal experience (not the same thing, but the article was public and on the internet), and this drunken wretch I knew got pissed at me, and thought she was revealing something, posting it on my FB page. Not only did this idiot not grasp that it was something already out there, they got reamed out by all of our mutual friends and booted from a trip they’d been invited on. Yay karma. Ramona asks, why not bring it up? and Leah says she didn’t want to talk about it on the show. Ramona wonders why, since Leah is open about her vagina. I guess that word is okay for Ramona to say now? Dorinda says, Ramona is obsessed with Leah’s vagina, and Leah says Ramona likes to take things that could ruin them and make it public, like with Sonja’s clothing labels (see below), and her being on bi-polar medication and drunk. LuAnn says Ramona knew she was struggling with a probation, and announced she was still drinking. We see a clip from the last reunion, where LuAnn said she wasn’t drinking and Ramona said she believed LuAnn was definitely drinking. Sonja says, LuAnn could have been arrested, and Ramona says, at least she doesn’t whine – like some people. Dorinda says Ramona says it’s all her skincare products, but she had a facelift. Andy asks if Ramona got a facelift, and Dorinda says, be honest; no one cares. Ramona says Dorinda likes to drink, and no, she didn’t get a facelift. Dorinda says Ramona has a new man every night, and Ramona repeats that Dorinda likes to drink. Okay. So do I. What the what? Dorinda tells Ramona to go with her 60 friends – Lu Ann says, 50 – who can’t stand her. Ramona says Dorinda is full of sh*t, and Dorinda says Ramona’s friends think she’s ratchet. Andy asks how they move forward, and can they? Ramona says Leah reminds her of herself. She moves to the beat of her own drummer, and is self-made. She had no ex-husband supporting her, or husband to guide her, or rich boyfriend. Leah has been on her own since forever, like her. She respects Leah. She thinks they had a conflict because Ramona felt maternal, and when that was taken away, it brought stuff up. Ramona asks if they can hug, but Andy is like, no way. They elbow bump instead, and Andy says, here come the health guys.

Next time, the Reunion concludes – Sonja tells Ramona S-T-F-U; Leah doesn’t think Dorinda hits below the belt, because she lives on another planet; Dorinda says she was angry and struggling, and Ramona made it worse; Ramona thinks it’s Intervention, and reads an 18-page letter to Dorinda; and Ramona asks why Dorinda is doing this.

🏥 Hello Pandemic…

It’s a great time to be living in Port Charles.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/why-gh-wont-address-the-pandemic/

👗 About Those Labels…

What Leah was referring to that Ramona let fly.

https://www.newsweek.com/sonja-morgan-clothing-ali-express-1442913

📑 Holding Out…

Will she or won’t she?

https://celebmagazine.com/leah-mcsweeney-not-return-rhony-season-13/

https://celebmagazine.com/rhony-season-13-filming-without-leah-mcsweeney/

🗽 Moving On…

News about the next season of RHONY.

https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/rhony-season-13-everything-we-know/

💩 For (Literal) Sh*ts and Giggles…

Leah and Elyse go mean girl on the mean girl.

https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/rhonys-ramona-singer-fires-back-after-leah-mcsweeneys-sex-claims/

👩🏾‍🦰 Goodbye Wig…

A decision has been made. By exactly who, I’m not so sure.

https://extratv.com/2020/09/17/nene-leakes-quits-real-housewives-it-wasnt-an-easy-decision-for-me/

🌊 🐶 Pups Ride the Wave…

Something to alleviate your boredom.

https://animalcenter.org/surf-dog-surf-a-thon

🌜 Dreaming Of Dreaming…

Hoping for a whole six hours tonight. Also hoping you stay safe, stay dazzling, and stay making every moment count.

September 16, 2020 – Mike Begins His Transition, Butterflies, So Far, Good Riddance Season 10, a Little More, Jimmy Speaks & Gonna Swing

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

General Hospital

Jason asks Carly how Mike is. She says, his breathing is rough, and they’re giving him morphine. He asks if Sonny is with Mike, and she says, he won’t leave Mike’s side.

Michael sits outside at Turning Woods, and Willow comes by. She says she was on her way inside, and saw him sitting. She thought he could use some company, but if he’d rather be alone… He says that’s the last thing wants, and asks her to sit. She says, before he asks, Wiley is at home. She gave him his dinner and bath, and when she left, he was playing toy cars with the nanny. He didn’t even notice her leaving. He says she’s amazing, and she says so is he. He tells her, his mom and dad are looking after Mike, and she says she knows it’s not easy waiting. He says his dad is usually so strong, and now he’s losing his father. He honestly wishes… She says, what? but he says, nothing. She says, tell her. Nothing he could say would ever make her think less of him. He says he wishes this was over.

Sonny tells Mike that he wishes he knew how to make it easier. He knows Mike is ready. One of the last things he said to Sonny was that he’s ready. Stella comes to the door, and asks, how’s Mike? Sonny says, the same, and she says she just talked to Mike’s caregiver Dr. Knox. It’s good they’re giving Mike morphine; it’s the right thing to do. Sonny asks if she doesn’t think it’s extreme, but she says it’s standard. It will prevent Mike from gasping for air or feeling pain as his body shuts down. He asks if  that’s what’s causing Mike’s low blood pressure, and she says, it’s part of the process. She also saw that he was getting anti-anxiety medication. It will keep him from panicking. Believe her, his father is very comfortable right now. He thanks her, and says Mike seems to be holding on, waiting for something. Stella says, knowing Mike, she’s not surprised. She thinks the thing he’s waiting for is permission to let go. I’m not so sure, since Sonny already gave him that.

Michael tells Willow, he knows it’s terrible to want his grandfather gone, and for it to be over. She says he wants Mike to stop hurting; there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. He says his dad hasn’t left Mike’s side, saying it’s all the time he’s going to get. Waiting and watching every breath. He wants his dad’s pain to be over too.

Jason hopes it’s helping Mike for Sonny to be with him, and Carly says she knows it’s helping Sonny to be there. Some people say it’s magical thinking, believing a loved one at the end of life can feel the presence and take comfort in those around them, but she thinks it’s think true. Josslyn arrives, and says, so does she. Carly asks why Josslyn didn’t tell her that she was coming back. Josslyn says she made Tony drive her. She feels like she should be close. She thinks her grandpa knows more than they realize. He heard everything she said this afternoon, and even gave her a thumbs up. Jason says, sounds like Mike, and Josslyn says, she feels even now some part of him is still the person they love. She and Carly hug.

Stella tells Sonny, at the end of life, patients often straddle this world and the next. Telling Mike how much they’ll miss him and the outpouring of love is a good thing. In his mind’s eye, he’s transitioning to what’s waiting for him after he takes his last breath. He’s torn between staying there with his loved ones and going to that magical place where he’ll see all the people he loved and lost, and where he’ll be whole again, and where something bigger than any of us could ever know waits. Sonny says she sounds convinced it’s true, and she says she’s heard too many stories and testimonies, and believes it’s God’s honest truth. Sonny wonders what the doctors think, and she says, it depends on the doctor. Some call it sensory changes and illusions, but that’s the practical side talking. Sonny says, science, and Stella says she likes to think from the spiritual perspective, which is that Mike is ready to take his journey to the other side. He needs Sonny to let him go, and make his peace. Has he done that yet?

Sonny says he appreciates everything Stella has done, and Stella says, but he needs time with his dad. He says he knew she’d understand. Before she leaves, she’ll give him some tips on how to make Mike more comfortable. She tells Mike that she’s there. She was there this morning, and talked about his sharp hat. They’re going to make him more comfortable. She lowers the lights, saying, he doesn’t need that bright light in his face. She tells him that Felix will be by to take the gear off him, and asks Sonny to put on some nice music, which he does. She says, this will help him feel better too, and picks up a cup. She tells Sonny when his lips get dry, dab some water on them. Sonny does that, and she says that should make Mike feel better. She asks Mike if he’s doing okay; is he cold? Sonny says Mike’s hands are freezing, and she says, that’s expected. Mike’s body is shutting down. The blood is all going to his heart to keep it beating, so his extremities get cold. She gives Sonny a blanket, saying, it will make Mike feel better. Sonny puts the blanket over Mike.

Willow tells Michael that she thinks his dad is lucky, or maybe the word is blessed. He has a chance to say goodbye, knowing Mike has all this love to take with him when he passes on to the other side. He asks if she really believes that, and she says, absolutely. She also believes those Mike loved who have passed on will be waiting. She can’t think of anything better. He says, that’s a good way to look at it, and thanks her. She says, for what? and he says, for being there and letting him vent. He knows it’s not what she signed up for. They got married for Wiley, not so she could take care of him. She says, if that’s what he thinks, forget it. That’s not how marriage works.

Stella tells Mike, Sonny is there, and going to stay with him. If he needs anything, let Sonny know. It’s been an honor knowing him, and calling him her friend. Do what he needs to do. It’s going to be one of those times that will stay in both their hearts forever. God bless him. She hugs Sonny, and he thanks her, going back to sit next to Mike’s bed. Sonny tells Mike, Stella is something else. She’s the most practical down to earth woman he’s known. She has  a woo-woo vibe about the afterlife, but who knows?

Josslyn asks how Mike is, and Carly says, he was peaceful when she was there. Jason asks if he should check on Sonny, and Carly says, he would love that, and it might help him. Josslyn asks what about Carly? and Carly says she’s okay. She’s sad – she’s going to miss Mike – but it’s hard watching Sonny go through this. It’s going to be hard on him, but she’s glad he and Mike are going through it together. There was a lot of anger between them a long time ago. If Mike had died while they were still estranged, it would have broken Sonny’s heart. Now he gets to be by Mike’s side, and tell Mike how much he loves him, and that’s a gift. Truly a gift.

Sonny tells Mike, Stella said he needs to know that Sonny has made peace with his passing, but they both know that’s not it. Mike needs to hear and know they’ve made peace with what went wrong when he was a kid. Mike couldn’t help himself, but Sonny’s mom and him couldn’t understand. Gambling is an addiction. Now he knows how much Mike struggled. He’s a good man, who fell victim to something he couldn’t help. There’s no need for regret anymore. He forgave Mike a long time ago. He just wants Mike to go in peace. He’ll also go with love.

Willow tells Michael, she needs to be clear. When they got married, taking care of each other was part of the deal. When one is hurting, the other tries to help. He’s already done that for her, so of course (🍷), she wants to do that for him. They got married for Wiley’s sake, but he was her friend before that. They agreed when they took their vows, to share their lives with Wiley, which means sharing a life together. Got it? He says he does. He tells her that he should get back and be with his family. Willow is part of that family now, and she’s coming with him.

Jason watches Sonny with Mike, but doesn’t go in the room. In the hallway, Carly asks if he went in, and he says, no. Sonny is with Mike, and he didn’t want to intrude. She feels the same way. She wants to help, but Sonny has to do it on his own, and find a way to let go of Mike. Jason says Sonny has the courage to face reality and accept it, no matter how bad it hurts. When the time comes, he’ll do the right thing. He always does.

Josslyn works at a jigsaw puzzle, when Michael comes in with Willow. She and Michael hug, and he asks when she got there. She says, a little while ago. Jason is there too. He says, they’re all together; good. She asks how he’s holding up, and he says, better, thanks to Willow. He was starting to brood, and she gave him a talking to. Josslyn says, good for her, and Willow says, he’s exaggerating. Michael says he’s not, and Josslyn asks what Willow said. Willow tells her, the people Mike loves are waiting and happy to be with him. That was her experience with her own father. She never said goodbye, but she knows he’s in a better place, watching over her. Josslyn asks how she can be sure.

Sonny says, it’s not like he wants Mike to die. He did drag Mike to New York City for a drug trial, which probably wouldn’t have worked anyway. That’s how desperate he wanted Mike back. When Mike stopped eating, he wanted to shove a feeding tube down Mike’s throat, and would have kept him on machines, but that wasn’t right. He tells Mike, Stella says there’s somewhere much better out there for him, and he believes Mike feels the same way. Mike clears his throat, and Sonny says, hey, dad. When he was a kid, mom forced him to confess, so he went to church, and Mike was coming out of the confessional. He sat down, and they saw him pray. Mike didn’t know they were in the back, and they saw the guilt and pain on his face, even though he’d just confessed and wiped his soul clean. Sonny suddenly says, why didn’t he think of that before?

Carly tells Jason, she had the best dream. She was talking to Mike, and he was kind and loving, like a father. She’s never going to know that man again because of this damn disease. Sonny comes out, and Jason asks if there’s something he can do. Sonny says he needs both their help to do something for his dad.

Willow says she never told anyone before, but when she was giving birth to her baby, she felt her father’s presence so strongly. She knew he was there with her, and he told her she’d be all right, to stay strong; she was strong. She felt it so strongly. It was real. Josslyn says she gets that. She felt that with Oscar. In the past year, she’s thought about it a lot, and now with her grandpa. They knew the end was coming. Willow says, Oscar had her and her love; it made it easier for him. Josslyn says, one time, she and Oscar were looking at the stars, and Oscar said he’d be a part of them; part of the universe. It’s how he’d live on. Willow says, amazing, and Josslyn says, she thinks about it when she sees the sky on a clear night. She waves, and says hi, and tells him how much she misses him. Michael takes Josslyn’s hand, but she says, she’s fine. She really wishes there was some more immediate way to know Oscar was around. Brando walks in, and asks if she sees butterflies. It’s a sign a loved one is near, and watching over you. He heard about Mike, and came to pay his respects. He hopes it’s okay. Michael says, he’s their cousin, which means he’s family. He asks Brando to join them.

Michael asks if Brando is okay, and Brando says he’s getting back to normal. Josslyn asks, what happened? He looks like he got hit by a bus. Brando says, working in a garage and not being careful, let’s just say bad things can happen. Josslyn asks if Dev knows, but Brando says he hasn’t told him. Mike is more important. Sonny sent him a text. He asks if it’s true Mike doesn’t have much longer. Michael says, yeah, and Brando says he’s sorry. In Bridgeport, Mike was always around and would stop by. One time he came by when Brando and his mom had been fighting about something stupid. She’d sent him to his room, which he’d thought was totally unfair at the time. Mike saw him stuffing clothes into a bag; he was determined to run away. Mike said he could take off from his mom, but he’d take his anger with him, and whatever problems he had. He’d never get rid of them until he tackled them head on. Mike had a sad smile on his face, and said he’d run away himself, and was still dealing with his problems. Brando says he thinks about Mike’s words all the time. That’s why he’s still there. He’s getting to know his family, and putting down roots. Josslyn asks if Mike is the one who told him about the butterflies, and what they mean. What does it have to do with the afterlife? Carly comes in, and Josslyn asks how her grandpa is. Carly says, the same, and thanks Brando for being there. He says he doesn’t want to intrude, but she says, it means a lot to Sonny and Mike. She tells Michael and Josslyn that their father has come up with the idea to hopefully make Mike more comfortable and peaceful, and she’d like them to be a part of it.

Sonny tells Mike, they’re bringing someone there to help him. There’s a knock at the door, and Father Reyes joins them. He tells Sonny that he conducts mass there on Saturdays, and Mike usually showed up, although sometimes Mike called him Father Quinn. Sonny says that was the name of their parish priest in Brooklyn, and Father Reyes says he figured it was something like that. Sonny says it’s near the end, and he’d love to get a blessing for Mike. Father Reyes says he’d be honored. He puts a crucifix on Mike’s chest, and anoints parts of Mike’s body with oil. He asks that Mike be pardoned for the sins he’d committed by sight… by hearing… by smelling… by tasting… by touching… and by walking. He puts his hand on the Bible, and asks that Mike be forgiven all sins, and that God set Mike above all, choosing to see him face to face, with no division between him and God forever. He puts Mike’s hand on the Bible, and asks that he may be wrapped up in God’s love, and found deep in his everlasting wings, carried and kept safe and cherished. May the healing power of Christ breathe across his being now. He prays the Lord’s Prayer, and Carly, Sonny, Josslyn, and Michael pray with him. He blesses Mike, and they all make the sign of the cross.

In the waiting area, Michael wonders if this is the last time he’ll see his grandfather alive. Josslyn asks if what Mike has done is really gone, and how they know the afterlife is true? Stella says they just have to seek faith, because if there was nothing after death… Willow says, the alternative is too grim to think about. Brando says he was messed up after he came back from Iraq. Seeing his buddies gone. It seemed pointless, and he became self-destructive. Josslyn asks, what changed? and he says, he realized he wanted to live.

Carly thanks Father Reyes. The priest tells her that Mike had said how proud he was of them. He’s sure it’s a comfort that they’re with him.

Sonny says he’s been thinking about Morgan, and Jason says, him too. Sonny says, too bad Mike never got a chance to know Morgan before he died. Maybe Morgan is waiting for him. Sonny laughs, and Jason says he thinks Morgan is. Sonny says he wants to believe it. It makes it a lot easier, but at least Mike had the chance to see Dante, and have a good time. Dante is gone too; another loss. He asks if Jason thinks that’s why Mike doesn’t want to leave. He doesn’t want Sonny to have another loss. Jason says, maybe. Or maybe it’s something else. Sonny says, like what? and Jason says, if Sonny wants to take a break, he can stay there, but Sonny wants to stay. Mike might need him. He wonders what Jason isn’t telling him, but Jason says, it’s nothing. Sonny will figure it out. Jason goes over to Mike, and tells him, just do what he needs to do, okay? He’s there for Sonny. He leaves, and Sonny sits down. He says, all right, dad. He doesn’t have to feel bad or be afraid. There are people who want to see him, and he needs to see them. He doesn’t have to worry about Sonny; he’s not a little boy anymore. He believes Mike knows what’s going on, and says, listen, dad. Remember when he was a little boy, and Mike and his mom were fighting? They thought he was asleep, but he wasn’t. He heard them fighting the night Mike left. Mike was walking out, and his mom said he couldn’t walk out unless he said goodbye to Sonny, and he didn’t. Sonny starts to cry, and says Mike left, and his mom didn’t give Mike another chance. She divorced him, but it’s okay. Sonny understands now. He knows Mike loved him. He thinks maybe too much.

Tomorrow, Olivia says Winston won’t know what hit his casino, Alexis asks if Diane thinks she’s going to relapse, and Mike says, I know you.

Oscar’s exit was good, but this is phenomenal. I have no idea how these actors got through this without bawling their eyes out every second. Anyone who thinks soaps don’t deserve the same respect any other programming does, is out of their damn mind.

🦋 About Those Butterflies…

I wish they’d finished that conversation.

https://butterflywebsite.com/DISCOVER/bfliesandrainbows.cfm

✨ IRL…

Soap roll call of the dead for the year so far.

https://soaps.sheknows.com/gallery/soap-opera-actors-passed-away-2020/

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

We jump right in. Andy asks, what’s the worst thing Denise has said about Teddi? and Denise says she told Teddi to her face; she’s a sh*t stirrer. Teddi says Denise told Brandi that she said worse things. Denise says, according to who? Brandi? and Erika says, according to Denise. We flash back to Denise’s interview, where she did say that. D’oh! Although I’m sure whatever it was, it was warranted. Teddi is a poser, follower, and sh*t stirrer. Denise says Teddi is the daughter of a famous father, and the fact that she’d bring up gossip at a group dinner is really sh*tty. We flash back to Teddi saying she won’t torture Denise anymore, when really, she was just getting started. LisaR says, Brandi brought it up on camera, and Denise tells her to be quiet. Like this has ever been an option for LisaR. LisaR says she won’t be quiet, and she won’t be sorry. Denise says, stop. Brandi wasn’t at the dinner, but Teddi was. LisaR says it was already out the in the world, which is like the 50th time she’s used that expression. Denise says Brandi talked about a lot of them, and Teddi says, if Denise had no relationship with Brandi, how does she know what Brandi said? Denise says when she and Brandi met through their mutual agent, Brandi had diarrhea of the mouth, but she never repeated any of it. There’s more babbling about this, and Denise says Brandi called and asked out of the blue if she could come with her and Aaron to Kyle’s event. Aaron said, no effing way, as we all would, and Denise says, Aaron doesn’t like Brandi. She’s a train wreck, and not stable; she drinks a lot. This actually does sound like Brandi, since she’s continually tried to worm her way into places she’s not wanted. I would feel bad for her if she wasn’t so detestable. Andy asks when was the last time Denise saw Brandi, and Denise says when Brandi asked her to do the podcast. Aaron was there, and met her. Andy says Brandi was so specific, even about the hotel room, and we flash back to Brandi saying, blah-blah-blah poor me. Denise says Brandi knocked on the door, and she let Brandi in while she was getting her stuff. Aaron was there the whole time, and they don’t have an open marriage. If they did, she would say so. Kyle says it would be easier and better if she said it was between her and Brandi, and she didn’t want to talk about it. She hasn’t been honest. That was a pattern, and then she stopped showing up. Denise says, it was between them based on what Brandi claimed. Everyone starts babbling at once, and Andy says, one at a time.

Making a new paragraph, and inserting my opinion. For argument’s sake, even if Denise had said what Kyle just suggested, there’s no way they would have left her alone. They would have said nothing is private since she’s on a reality show, and LisaR would have screeched about owning it. Denise says she had a fever and she was sick, when she FaceTimed with Dorit and Garcelle. Kyle says Denise said she was coming to her housewarming, but turned her phone off. Be honest. Like any one of them knows what that is. Denise says she owned up with Garcelle. What’s it to Kyle? <snort> Sutton says she didn’t know Denise at all 2018, heard a rumor one person removed from Brandi. Either Brandi is lying (hello? has she been paying attention?) or Denise is. LisaR talks, but all I hear is, wah-wah-wah, like Charlie Brown’s teacher. Dorit suggests she let Sutton finish, but apparently Sutton thinks better of it, and says she is finished. Andy asks if Denise didn’t say the texts were made up or engineered, and Denise says her text thread is very different. LisaR pulls out this humongous stack of papers, and says she has a print out. Garcelle says, wow, and LisaR asks if Denise wants to go through it. Denise tells her to be careful, although no one else seems to care a whole lot. They’re probably bored with this sh*t, and want to move on to talking about Fendi or Fenty or whatever. LisaR asks if Denise is threatening her, and Denise says she’s telling the truth. If LisaR wants to play this game, she’ll do it. LisaR asks again if Denise is threatening her, and Kyle says she thinks it’s a promise. Huh? I have no idea what that means, but I want to see these texts. Denise says she’s willing to show they don’t match up, but is LisaR willing to let her show texts between the two of them? At least she’s asking. LisaR suddenly refuses to own it, saying, those are private. Denise says it’s about her, and all of them. I WANT TO SEE!!! LisaR says she’s being muzzled. Something else I’d love to see. She says Denise sent a cease and desist letter. Her lawyer threatened Bravo, telling them to cease production. Denise says she sent one to Brandi, hoping to make her tell the truth. LisaR asks if a cease and desist (which I’m already tired of typing) is to make someone tell the truth or to silence them. Erika says it means, quit it. Kyle says she’s been there, and it was hurtful to her family. She says something about LVP that I don’t catch, and I’m sure was just bullsh*t anyway. Andy asks if LisaR doesn’t feel there are things that are off limits, and LisaR says she dealt with it. She certainly did, and we flash back to her going ballistic, smashing a wine glass on the table and screaming, don’t touch the husband, when Kim asked, what about the husband? in Amsterdam. (#WhatDidHarryDo) LisaR says she faced Kim then, and faced her at the reunion. Of course she did, it’s screen time. She’d never walk away with the camera rolling. Although she did get her bunny thrown back at her for her trouble. She says she didn’t run, and Garcelle says, not everyone deals with things the same way. Why does she care? LisaR says they’va been having to deal with it for the last six months. Um… Only because they insisted on dealing with it. Andy tells her, let’s say something did happen, and maybe Denise would be trying to protect her family and marriage. What would LisaR say? LisaR thinks if a good friend came to her and said they needed help, she’d do it. Garcelle says, all she did was attack Denise, when they’d been friends for 20 years. LisaR insists she wasn’t attacking, and Kyle says, moving forward means having honest relationships. She doesn’t care what someone did. Andy says, Kyle is saying the way to move forward is to be honest, but Denise is saying the truth is that she didn’t sleep with Brandi. Denise says they’re not accepting that, so she doesn’t know where they go from here. Kyle says she doesn’t want to see anyone feel bad, and I choke on the vanilla wafers I just shoved in my mouth. She says they’ve all gone through difficult times in their lives, but things like this have repercussions. Andy asks what it looks like for Denise moving forward, and she says, sometimes the women don’t accept honesty. They think she’s lying, and that’s what’s hurtful. Andy wants to take a break, and I want to knock LisaR’s chair out from under her.

Sutton says Garcelle’s boobs make hers look sad, and Garcelle says she like to keep it real. She uses tape. Andy welcomes us back, even though, once again, we’re not the ones who went anywhere. He says, from go-go cage to the Broadway stage, Erika pulled back the curtain to new layers in her life that we’ve never seen before. We flash back to her nostalgic trip to Shakers, and her getting Roxie in Chicago. Viewer Tabatha from Arkansas says it was great that Erika did what she needed to survive, and asks if she was ever propositioned. Erika says she was, but never took them up on it. Another viewer points out that LisaR said her daughters would never work in a strip club, but they pose half-nude. What’s the difference? LisaR guesses there is no difference, and Erika says, more money. Andy says he saw her in Chicago, and was amazed at how packed the house was, and they were there for her. Erika says it was a surreal moment she’ll take to her grave. Andy says Janet Jackson and Marc Jacobs were there, and asks what Tom thought. She says he wasn’t able to come. He was going to be there the last week, but Covid happened. I try like hell not to think, karma is a bitch. Andy says Garcelle called LisaR out for stealing Erika’s thunder, and Garcelle says, she felt it was Erika’s time to shine, and she it was repetitive (as is everything with Lisa Own It Rinna), and LisaR says she went to see Erika, but Garcelle didn’t. Garcelle says it had nothing to do with not supporting Erika; don’t even try it. Erika knows Garcelle was there for her. Just because she didn’t go to New York, doesn’t mean she wasn’t supportive.  Erika says she didn’t feel that LisaR was stealing her shine or butting in. She relied on LisaR, and asked questions. It was a big project for her, and she was glad to have someone at her fingertips who had done it. She thanks LisaR, and thanks everyone who showed up. They’d finished shooting, and left their lives and families, and traveled to NYC. Whoa. Wait. Why did we see it on camera if they weren’t shooting? Was that a mirage? She says the left their lives and families, and traveled. It made her cry. She thanks Sutton for chartering the plane. It might sound corny, but she thanks them for being on the journey (ugh) with her. Teddi says Garcelle and Denise kept saying they should lift each other up and not be petty, but they weren’t there when no cameras were rolling. Garcelle asks if Denise wants to go first, and Denise says she wasn’t invited until the night before when Sutton realized she wasn’t on the list for the plane. She didn’t even know they were going. Andy asks if at the time she was suing them, and she says she wasn’t suing anybody. She sent a cease and desist (gritting my teeth) to Brandi, and a letter to Bravo asking if they would remove the footage. She sent nothing to any cast member, and that’s the extent of it. Garcelle says she constantly texted Erika about how proud she was of her, and asking how rehearsals were going. She’s deathly afraid of small planes. When she was a model, a lot of scary things happened. LisaR says Teddi and Dorit flew commercial, and Garcelle says just because she couldn’t make it doesn’t mean she’s not supportive. Sutton says, good point, and LisaR demands to know why Garcelle wasn’t there, since the plane wasn’t small. Garcelle says she had to work, and she had the kids. Her husband wouldn’t change the schedule, and she had prior commitments to fulfill. Erika says so it wasn’t the plane, and Garcelle says, that’s the truth, and she’s sticking to it. I stuff another cookie in my mouth because I hate LisaR’s stupid effing face-making so much. She’s a disgusting human being – if I’d even call her human. She’s like a mean blow-up doll.

Speaking of which, Jane from Mississippi asks if it’s true that The Bold and the Beautiful is using blow-up dolls and spouses for love scenes. Denise says, if anything is closer than eight feet, they use a mannequin to step in, and the other actor is off-camera. We see a clip of her talking to a mannequin, and she says she’s doing her first love scene with her husband tomorrow. Andy bets the rehearsal process is intense, and she says, well, you know. He asks if Aaron was defending Denise or mansplaining at Kyle’s barbecue, and we revisit him telling Teddi there’s no issue and they’re being ridiculous. We flash back to Teddi’s interview where she asked if he thought it was sexy when he put women down, and called him an a-hole. We see clips from the shoe party where Denise made the mistake of leaving him alone with the women, and Erika accused him of talking down to them. We also see Denise apologizing for him, and also saying in her interview that, after what they did to her in Rome, fat chance they’d get an apology from him. Andy says they invited Aaron to the reunion, but he didn’t want to come, and Denise says no one else’s husband is there, and it would have been a no win situation. Andy says, when PK came, he and Erika talked through what happened, and their relationship is good now. Erika says they squashed their beef, and we flash back to that. Dorit says it didn’t happen overnight, but they were able to start from scratch. Andy asks how Denise feels about how Aaron spoke to the women, but she doesn’t think it was offensive. He liked the women, she thinks he was trying to diffuse the situation. She should have brought him to the bathroom with her. Erika says when Denise left, she thought, at least Denise wouldn’t whisk him away, and Denise says don’t ask her husband questions if they don’t want him involved. Erika says they did want him involved. I’m just confused. They’ve gone on and on about how he basically shouldn’t talk to women like he would a man, so they want everyone to behave honestly except him? And I could swear in Rome, they said he shouldn’t have gotten involved. These idiots need to make up their minds. Andy asks what their reaction is to Denise not wanting Aaron around them, and Erika says, he’s a grown man, which Kyle parrots. Erika says, they’re six women, not six Mike Tysons. Give her a break. Andy asks why Aaron hasn’t apologized, and she says he hasn’t even seen them. Teddi says he had the opportunity, but doubled down. She was uncomfortable with the way he spoke to them and to Denise. Viewer Rachel from Santa Monica says she rewound and watched Aaron and Denise leaving the barbecue four times to catch what Aaron said to Denise. We watch the clip with subtitles, and he says he’s going to crush her hand. At the time, I’d actually thought he said she was crushing his hand. Denise says he didn’t even know what he’d said either until she played it for him, and then he told her that he didn’t know why he said that since he’s afraid of her. Andy asks why he’s afraid of her, and she has to explain that he was joking. Sutton says she has zero tolerance for that, and Garcelle says she saw it on social media and was worried. Omg. I honestly don’t think it was a real threat. It’s like none of them has ever said something like, I’m going to kill you.

Andy says, with these women, glam isn’t a fashion statement, it’s a competition. Black rompers and ragamuffins need not apply. We flash back, and normally I enjoy the fashion stuff, but msot of them are disgusting me tonight, and I just want this to be over. Garcelle asks if Sutton knows who Fenty is now, and she says, hell yes. A new collection just came out. Andy asks if Sutton got a lot of crap for that, and Sutton says she didn’t want to leave the house. Dorit shows off the back of her head, which is a conglomeration of braids. Andy outs Kyle spending $10K in Rome when she was on probation, and she tells him, thanks for putting that on blast. She admits to being just as excited to shop at Home Goods as Fendi in Rome. Switching gears, Andy says LisaR and Denise have been friends for years, and this was the ultimate test. If they were giving grades, their friendship would get an FU. We flash back to Denise talking to LisaR about having been friends for 28-30 years, and in her interview saying she’s starting to feel betrayed; maybe they’re not as good of friends as she thought. We see LisaR saying, own it, own it, own it, and this fake bitch crying about how she should have warned Denise, and that Denise would have done that for her. Denise looks sad, and LisaR makes stupid-ass faces. Andy says they both claimed the other had changed, and asks Denise how LisaR has changed. She says she needs to eat something before she answers, and I completely identify, since I need to eat something before I hear it. Like my feelings. LisaR says she’d like to know the answer, but Denise disappears. LisaR makes a stupid face, and everyone babbles about Denise walking off, when she probably just went to get her bag of vanilla wafers.

Denise comes back, and says she has to go to work in the morning, and has 48 pages. LisaR says if she’s unhappy, don’t do the show. Just do B&B. Denise says she’s not unhappy. She enjoyed doing the show, and getting know the women. Andy says Denise had told them LisaR was someone she trusted to go to for advice, and asks how she feels now. Denise says, very different. LisaR turned on her while on the show. LisaR lies, saying she doesn’t turn on people, but Denise hasn’t been open and honest. Denise says she’s an open book, and of all people, LisaR should know that. LisaR gripes about all the times Denise has run, and Denise says, not cool. We see her leaving several events, but I don’t see any reason why anyone should stick around if they’re being abused. Viewer Maya from Spokane wonders why LisaR didn’t just pull Denise aside, instead of calling her a hypocrite about the kids. LisaR says Denise talked about hookers so many times, and Denise says, one time she talked about inviting one in for Thanksgiving. She was wearing sweats, and it’s not like she was dressed for the street. Her mother would have done the same thing. Shame on LisaR, when she was just telling the woman to come in for a square meal. Kyle says they were on a group trip together, so it was an open conversation in the group. They keep saying this is a reality show, but in reality, no one says everything to everybody in a group.

Andy wants to finish, and so do I. He says the turning point was not being honest, and LisaR says, when she sees a year and a half worth of text messages, and Denise says she’s only seen Brandi three times, she can’t reconcile it. Denise says, moving forward, she should remember those words, and LisaR asks if Denise is threatening her again, because she’s gone completely insane. Denise says, no, but LisaR has told her a lot of stuff about Brandi. LisaR says she doesn’t like Brandi, and Denise asks if Brandi knows that. LisaR says she’s been nice to Brandi lately because Brandi is just trying to get back on the show tell her side. Denise says so much has been said about her family, and her kids are at an age when they hear stuff. How would LisaR feel? LisaR says she would get on the phone and say, stop it, f***er. Denise says, Brandi isn’t a friend, or even a cast member. If it was one of them, she would have, but she barely knows her. Andy says if LisaR was allowed to do it over, would she have given Denise a heads up? LisaR says she wouldn’t have had Denise come on the show, like she does the hiring. Denise rolls her eyes, and Garcelle says, damn. Andy says they’d agreed to try and work on it, but has the stress of the show airing and social media come between them? LisaR says they haven’t spoken or texted in six months. He wonders if they can go back to being friends, and LisaR says, like Denise was friends with Heather Locklear. Denise says Heather wasn’t her friend; she was friends with Denise’s ex-husband. LisaR is grasping at straws. LisaR says, maybe, and Andy says he doesn’t understand the reference. LisaR says Denise is insinuating she’s a bad friend. Denise says she isn’t, and Andy what’s to know what’s up with the Heather Locklear thing. He’s kind of interested. Denise says LisaR is being low. Not owning it in the least, LisaR says, google it. So I do. See below. Andy says Dorit defended Denise, and Dorit says, everything that’s happening hurts her. She’s grown to have a friendship with LisaR and Denise. She respects Denise and doesn’t like to see them go at it. She doesn’t like to see a 20 year friendship gone like that. She cares about them, and it’s hard. She wonders if, with time, they can find their way past it. She cares about both of them. Andy talks about how LisaR was so excited about Denise coming on the show, and said everybody would love her. Denise asks, what changed? No one says anything, and Andy asks where they go from here. LisaR says she doesn’t know, and Denise shrugs. Andy says they’ll leave it there, and Denise dabs at her eyes.

It’s time for Sutton to say goodbye, and she thanks them for having her. Andy says, it’s an unforgettable way to end a momentous season, and asks what went through Denise’s mind. She laughs, saying she came there to resolve things, but feels like that some of them didn’t want to do that. He asks if she’s going to move forward, and be friends again. She says, with some of them, and he asks Garcelle what surprised her the most. She says that the show wasn’t scripted. She came in open-hearted; ready to play and make new friends. She’s optimistic about the future. He asks how it was for Teddi being pregnant, and she says it was like being the narrator, being really present. It was harder, but good things happened. He asks for Erika’s takeaway, and she says, it was a great year. She had a lifetime achievement in Chicago, and feels good. She hates discord and conflict, but sh*t happens. If you’re willing, you can have a friendship. Andy says there have been years that ended in a bad way, but amazing friendships developed. He asks LisaR what she’d change about the season, and she says, nothing. She’s a truth teller. If she needs to say it, she’s going to say it, whether she’s known someone two or twenty years. He asks about her friendship with Denise, and she says it’s not where she’d like it to be. She’s sad about that, and it’s too bad they’re where they are. In the six years she’s been on the show, she’s been through it. She and Dorit moved forward. Dorit gave her a chance, and she’s grateful. Andy says, Kyle has been on the show ten years; how does she think they can move forward? She says, being honest and open, maybe one on one conversations. You have to be honest and open (omg, is that tattooed on her?) enough to give it a chance. She doesn’t think anything is irreparable. If I were Denise, I would never be friends with LisaR again for sure. It’s one thing siding with what you know to be true, but this showing up with a stack of texts from someone who’s a known liar (sorry, dumbass Kyle, but Brandi is) is ridiculous. Kyle says she’s glad she and Garcelle got to know each other. Andy says Dorit has been in the middle of drama, and she says she’s had issues with some of the women, but they’re good friends now. As bad as it gets, she thinks you can truly move on from something if both parties want to.

Andy tells them to raise a glass to season 10. It’s the first time Teddi has been able to drink. Dorit tells us that she has Gucci ice cubes in a Gucci glass. Um… maybe she used a Gucci ice cube tray, but I think the actual ice is courtesy of the city of Beverly Hills or wherever her sink is. She toasts, may the only pain in your life be champagne, and Kyle says, to moving forward and healing, even though nobody asked her. Andy says he can’t wait to see them in person, but at least there will be no L.A. traffic waiting.

Next time, RHOBH Secrets Revealed. This is code for crap they either couldn’t squeeze into the show, or that wasn’t worth airing.

💎 Extra Diamond Drama…

What happened with Heather.

https://people.com/tv/rhobh-season-10-finale-what-happened-between-denise-richards-and-heather-locklear/

Teddi’s All In program sounds deeply disturbing.

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/09/10028744/all-in-by-teddi-mellencamp-diet-business-scam-twitter

📺 The New Emmy…

Jimmy Kimmel gives you the skinny.

https://abc.com/shows/emmy-awards/video/most-recent/vdka20111302?cid=email_ABC_20200913

🍸 One Two Three…

Another late night. Pretty soon, I won’t need to drink to swing from a chandelier. Hopefully, you’re soundly sleeping as I type this, but when you wake, stay safe, stay original, and stay looking for butterflies.

September 11, 2020 – Josslyn Says Goodbye To Mike, Chief Britt, All About Alex, Returning Morgan, Kris Cross, Goodbye Mrs. Peel, Another Stand, Upcoming Story, So Ratched, It’s Over, Quotes Of Ten & Trixie’s Malibu

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

General Hospital

The doctor tells Sonny, Carly, and Josslyn, he’s seen a lot of patients in hospice. The oxygen should keep him comfortable, and they’ll monitor him for any discomfort or pain. Josslyn asks if they can see him, and the doctor says, absolutely. He encourages it

Ava and Franco kiss. Someone takes a picture. Ava says she’s sorry, and he says he’s sorry. They can’t do that. They did do that, but they shouldn’t. Ava says it brought her back to their time in the city, before their lives went haywire. He says, before they were married to other people, and she says, yeah, before that.

Nikolas kisses Elizabeth. Someone takes a picture. Elizabeth backs up, and he says he forgot how good this felt; how they just fit. Does she remember? She say she can’t do this to Franco, and he says, why not? She just told him that she thinks Franco is interested in Ava. She deserves better, and she knows it. She says she doesn’t know anything for sure, and he says he doesn’t believe that. He thinks she’s looking for a way out of her marriage.

Trina comes to the hospital, and Portia asks, to what does she owe this surprise visit? Trina says she wants to thank Portia for clearing the air with Ava, and also letting her work the extra hours. She’s excited. Portia says if it makes Trina happy, she’s all in.

Dev asks if Cameron’s problem is that he can’t choose between Josslyn and Trina? Cameron says he doesn’t know how he got in this mess, and Dev says, come on. He doesn’t want to pump Cameron’s ego, but Cameron is an athlete, he’s popular, and he’s kind of smart. He’s not surprised girls are into him. Cameron says he doesn’t know if Josslyn and Trina are into him. Maybe they just want to stay friends. Either way, the whole thing is a mess.

Sonny, Carly, and Josslyn go in to see Mike. Sonny says, all right, dad. The doctor says he’s ready to leave, so they just want him to know they’re here for him; all of them. He’s not doing this alone. Sonny smiles at his father.

Elizabeth tells Nikolas, she’s not looking for a way out of her marriage. She loves Franco. She’s trying to save her relationship, not ruin it. He tells her, explain the kiss, and she says, it was a mistake. She was feeling insecure, and it was stupid and impulsive. It shouldn’t have happened. She apologizes if she gave him the wrong idea, and he says he’s sorry for giving in to temptation. He’s missed human contact. She’s right; it can’t happen. She asks if he’s being noble, and he says he wishes. She’s not the only one with a lot to lose. She says don’t tell her that he’s comparing their marriages. There’s no contest.

Ava tells Franco, she misses that kind closeness. If anyone finds out… Franco asks why she cares. Her marriage is a  sham, right? She says, true, but his isn’t. Despite their recent closeness, she knows he loves Elizabeth and the boys, and knows he would never want that for Elizabeth. She would never want that for Elizabeth. He asks if this is her version of altruism; her effort to preserve his marriage. She shrugs, and he asks if she has feelings for Nikolas.

Portia asks if going to homecoming as a group is a thing, and Trina says, it’s their thing. Portia asks if it’s like they’re each other’s dates, and Trina says, they’re each other’s friends, without the drama of who’s into who. Portia asks if she’s good with that, and Trina says, why not? Portia says Cameron took her last time, but Trina says, as a friend. Portia asks, if Cameron ends up with Josslyn at the end of the night, will she be okay with that?

Cameron tells Dev, the three of them, and now Dev, are a package deal. He doesn’t want to do anything to mess that up. They’re better off if it’s left the way things are. Dev tells Cameron, he said himself, it’s a confusing mess. Dev thinks it’s best if Cameron makes up his mind. Pick one, go for it, and set the other free. Cameron says, it’s that easy? and Dev says, kind of. Cameron asks what Dev would know, since he’s asexual.

Sonny tells Mike, they don’t know how long it will be – that’s between him and God – but Sonny will be right there with him. Carly says, her too, and Josslyn says, and her. Carly says they love him so much. She’s going to let Michael know, and promises she’ll be right back. Sonny asks if Josslyn is okay, and she says she should be asking him that. Sonny says she went through the same thing with Oscar, and she says now she sees how lucky she was. She was able to say everything she wanted to. Sonny says, it is lucky, and she says, if it’s all right with him, she’d like to be able to do that with Mike. He says, of course (🍷), and steps aside. He asks her to do him a favor, and let him know if anything changes. She says she will. She’ll be quick. He tells her, take her time, and he leaves. She says, hey, grandpa. First off, she wants to thank him for always treating her like his own. Technically she’s not, but he’s the only grandfather she’s ever known. She can’t picture a future without him, and doesn’t want to.

Epiphany asks Trina how she is, and Trina says, it’s still hard, but she’s moving forward day by day. Epiphany says she’s glad Trina has direction. She tells Portia the new Chief of Staff will be there today, and Portia says, Cyrus’s right hand. Trina looks at her phone, and says, Josslyn’s grandfather is in hospice, and it’s not looking too good.

Carly sees Sonny in the hallway, and asks why he’s out there. He says Josslyn wanted time with Mike, and she thanks him for giving it to her. He’s says he’s grateful Mike had time to know her. Alzheimer’s is difficult for anybody, but especially for a teenager whose not blood related… Carly says, it didn’t seem to matter to Mike or Josslyn, and Sonny says, it’s just… The fact that she loved him and welcomed him…  Carly puts her head on his shoulder, and says, the best part is, it went both ways.

Josslyn says she’s so thankful for the time she got with Mike; real time. All of them living under the same roof. She finally got to know what it was like to have a grandfather, and she loved it. Does he know what else she loved? She laughs, and says it might sound weird, but the one time he thought she was his childhood friend Mary, and asked her to come play stickball with him. Of course (🍷) part of her was sad that he didn’t know who she was, but the other part thought it was so cool she got meet him when he was a kid, and got to be his friend. She starts to cry, and says, it felt special to her. How many people get to do that? Know the person someone was when they were younger. Him living with them made her think about her future in a different way, and now she’ll make sure all the milestones she has, he’s right there with her.

Josslyn walks into the living room, wearing a formal gown. Mike sees her and says he always knew she was a stunner, but wow. She should be declared homecoming queen right now. She thanks him, but says she decided not put her name in. There are other girls who want it more. He says she’s the queen for him, and tells her to look around. There’s something there for her somewhere. She goes to the bookcase, and says, a corsage. He says, of course (🍷). That’s what grandfathers do. She says, it’s gorgeous, and thanks him. He puts it on her wrist, and she says, how beautiful, and thanks him again. She says he’s always watching out for her, and he says, he always will be.

Josslyn tells Mike, she was going to have a good time at homecoming. She still will, because she knows that’s what he’d want her to do, but she’s going to miss him so much. He looks at her, and smiles a little.

Elizabeth tells Nikolas, there’s no comparison. She and Franco are in love. He says he and Ava are definitely not, and she says, the ridiculous post-nup trapped him in a marriage he doesn’t want to be in. All because he wants to hang on to his money. How can they be so mutually destructive? What’s wrong with him?

Ava tells Franco, she doesn’t have feelings for Nikolas. She despises the air he breathes. Franco says, so it’s a match made in heaven. She should find another outlet; somebody to take care of what she needs. She says, like a gigolo? and he says Nikolas would probably be grateful for something to keep her occupied. She says, he’d love it, but not because it kept her occupied. If she gets caught cheating, he gets everything; all the money, all the property, and she gets nothing. Franco asks how she signed off on something like that, and she says, it goes both ways. Whoever gets caught cheating loses it all. He tells her, that’s one crazy situation she got herself into, and she says, ain’t it though? He says so she can’t be with another human being; not at all? She says, until Nikolas screws up. Franco says, but what if he doesn’t?

Dev tells Cameron, what the hell’s with the asexual comment? and Cameron says Dev never talks about being interested in anyone. But now that they’re talking, is there a girl, or… someone he’s into? Dev says Cameron seems to have his hands pretty full with Josslyn and Trina. If he were Cameron, he’d stay focused on them. Dev walks away, and Cameron says he’s welcome for the soda. Dev yells back, thanks.

Finn asks if Epiphany is okay. He knows she’s tight with Sonny and his family. She says, Mike Corbin is a beautiful human being. Finn says he knows. It puts the fear of their new Chief of Staff in perspective. Britt appears, and says, she’s glad to hear it. Because she’s looking forward to working with him again.

Elizabeth says, wild guess, but she supposes Ava and Nikolas aren’t sleeping together. He says, God no, and she says, neither of them have had sex all this time? He asks if she thinks he wanted this. It was the only way to ensure Ava didn’t get his fortune. She says, it’s so twisted and dark. No sex or love until one of them cracks. She knows him, and he won’t be able to do it. He says he’s had practice. He was alone when he was recovering in Greece, and can do this. Ava will be first. She says, what if it doesn’t work? and he says, it has to. Do him a favor. Ava can never find out they kissed, and Elizabeth says Ava’s not going to hear it from her. She can’t risk Ava telling Franco. She says, Nikolas needs to fix this. He can’t keep living like this; he just can’t. She walks off, leaving him to ponder.

Ava tells Franco, she doesn’t know how she’s going to keep this up. Their kiss was a stark reminder of what she’s missing. She says, Nikolas can’t hear about it, and Franco says, Nikolas won’t hear it from him. She says, it will be their little secret, and Franco says she should reconsider the marriage. Find a way to fall in love with Nikolas, or make him fall in love with her. Franco leaves the gallery.

Carly tells Sonny how wonderful Josslyn has been with Mike, but it’s also been rewarding for her. To think back when Mike moved in, the man with the twinkle in his eye, and his amazing ability to enjoy life; Josslyn got to be around that. Even when Mike started to deteriorate. It was something else she had to go through with him, and learn from. Mike never disappointed Josslyn. She just got to enjoy and love him. Sonny says, what an incredible gift.

Josslyn tells Mike, after Oscar died, she let her grades slip. Everybody told her it was normal and she shouldn’t worry, but he knows her; she was worried. She’s been working at every extra credit project, and she’s almost at the top of her class again. If she continues – which she will – she’ll graduate with honors. If only he could be there to see it.

Josslyn walks into the living room wearing a cap and gown. Mike says, there’s their valedictorian. Is her speech ready? She says, of course (🍷), and he asks how he got such brave and brilliant granddaughter. She says he got lucky, and he says he sure did. He says there’s something for her somewhere in the room, and she sees a jewelry box in a bowl on the coffee table. She takes out a watch, and says, it’s beautiful; she loves it. He says, it belonged to Sonny’s mother. She says, Adela? Maybe he should give it to Donna or Avery. He asks, why? She’s every bit as much his as any of the grandkids. He doesn’t want her to ever think she’s different. He puts the watch on her wrist, and says he wants her to wear it to remember how fast time flies, and make the best of it, always.

Josslyn tells Mike that she wants to make him proud. She takes his hand and promises she will. She doesn’t know yet what she wants to do when she’s older, but she thinks that’s a good  thing. It weirds her out when kids her age have their whole careers planned out, when they haven’t even left the house yet. She does know this. Whatever work she ends up doing, she’ll always make room for love in her life, just like he did, even toward the end.

Mike waits in a lounge area of the MetroCourt, when Josslyn comes out in a wedding dress. She says, the party is in the ballroom, but he says, it’s too crowded. He wanted to have her all to himself for a minute. She says he can have more than a minute. He says she’s the most beautiful bride ever, and she’s sure he says that to all the ladies. He says, not today. Today he only has eyes for her. He had a talk with that husband of hers. She looks a little panicked, and he says, nothing bad. He just let him know how important she is to him, and told him to take care of her heart for the precious cargo it is. She asks what she’d do without him, and he says she’d be fine. Fortunately, they don’t have to find out for a long time. Give him a twirl. She does, and he says, that’s my girl.

She tells Mike, whatever she does, however life turns out, she’ll always be his girl.

Carly tells Sonny, in the time since Mike came to live with them, he’s experienced love and joy, and given it right back. He’s got to know in his soul that he made his family’s life better just by being there.

Finn says Britt is the new Chief of Staff? and she says, yes, indeed. She congratulates Portia on being new Chief of Internal Medicine; she knew Portia had what it takes when they worked together. Epiphany says, when she ghosted the hospital a few months back? and Britt suggests Epiphany might want to rethink her attitude. Epiphany says Britt sounds like her mother, but Britt says, she’s nothing like her mother. The only thing they have in common is that she too, runs a tight ship. It’s a whole new day at General Hospital. Finn says, is it? Elizabeth joins them, and says she didn’t know Britt was back. Britt says, Dr. Westbourne to her. Epiphany tells Elizabeth that Britt was about to tell them about this new day she has planned for the hospital. Elizabeth says, she has plans? and Britt says, as the new Chief of Staff, it’s her job is to get the hospital whipped into shape.

Trina comes into the gallery, and Ava says she wasn’t scheduled, but Trina says she could use a distraction. She thought it was also a good time to start her extra hours, if it’s okay with Ava. Ava says, of course (🍷), and asks if Trina wants to tell her why she needs a distraction. Trina says homecoming is coming up, and it’s hard not to think about the last dance she went to. Ava says she knows it’s not going to happen again, right? and Trina says, it’s going to be different. All four of them are going – her, Josslyn, Cameron, and Dev – as friends. Ava says, so she and Cameron never kissed again? Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Franco sees Nikolas sitting on a bench in the park, and says it looks like he had a rough day. Nikolas says he could say that. What’s up with Franco? Franco says, not much. He was supposed to meet Elizabeth for lunch. Has Nikolas seen her?

Britt says, everyone seems shocked that she’s the new Chief of Staff. She’s almost offended. Epiphany says, let her guess. Cyrus appointed her. Britt says, yes. He reached out to her in person. Elizabeth says, Britt knows he’s an accused drug lord, right? and Britt says she does. She kept up with the news, and remembers reading that he was framed by the Commissioner’s former colleague. Some cop named… Portia says, Taggert, and Britt says, Cyrus lost years of his life, and now he’s trying to do good. Finn says, tell them how she’s going to whip GH into shape, and she says she’s been studying the state of affairs there, and was horrified at how mismanaged the hospital has been since she’s been gone. As a former employee, she takes it personally. Finn says their reputation was good until Cyrus bulldozed his way in. Britt says, the way she sees it, the unethical actions of Monica and Bobbie put the hospital at risk. Elizabeth says, the surgery was successful, and Finn says, not to mention necessary. Britt asks if they’re both willing to go on record to condone the circumventing of law and parental rights. Epiphany tells Britt to let them know when she’s ready. She and Elizabeth have patients to attend to. She tells Elizabeth, they should go before they say something they’ll regret, and Britt says they might want to check their schedules. There’s been some reassignment, and Epiphany says, by whom? Britt says, the new head nurse.

Elizabeth tells Britt, Epiphany has been head nurse since 2006, and Finn says, the hospital won’t last eight minutes without her. Portia says she’s really new there, but Epiphany is the heart of the hospital. Britt says she has no intention of stripping Epiphany of her unofficial title, and Epiphany says, just her official one. Britt says, the Chairman thought it was time to make some changes. Elizabeth wonders if it has anything to do with Britt’s past history with Epiphany, but Britt says she’s not as petty as some people. The Chairman makes the decisions. It’s not her place to intervene, unless she disagrees, which she doesn’t. Finn says he has a long history of substance abuse, and asks if it’s going to be a problem with the Chairman. Britt says she’s not interested in personal issues; she’s interested in how he runs his department. She’d like to set up a meeting, but he says he’s booked solid. She tells him to make an appointment, and come prepared. Portia asks if her job is on the line too. Epiphany and Elizabeth look at the bulletin board, and Elizabeth says Epiphany has been bumped to an administrative position. Epiphany says, no patients? and Elizabeth says, just paperwork. Epiphany says, not for long. She’ll fight it. Elizabeth says, she’s no longer full time. She’s on the satellite crew, and has a whopping two shifts a week.

Nikolas tells Franco, he hasn’t seen Elizabeth. Franco says they were supposed to have lunch. Weird, since Elizabeth texted him that she ran into Nikolas. Nikolas says, strange, and Franco says, it is. Nikolas suggests Franco call her and sort it out, and Franco says he’s embarrassed to say it, but it’s his bad. It’s later than he thought. They probably just missed each other. The time does seem to get away when he’s hanging out with Ava.

Trina tells Ava that she doesn’t want to mess up her friendship with Cameron, and Josslyn needs them now. Her grandfather is in hospice, and probably won’t be with them much longer. Ava asks if Trina can hold down the fort. There’s something she needs to do. Call if she needs anything. Ava runs out.

Carly tells Sonny, she knows it doesn’t feel like it right now, but all the memories they’ve made with Mike are there with him. Sonny says he knows. She says, his dad is thinking how lucky he is he got be a part of the family, and Sonny gave that to him. He says, they did it together, and they hug.

Josslyn says she knows it sounds silly, but she wanted Mike there for all of it.

Mike and Josslyn play checkers, and she says he should really take it easy on someone in her condition. He says, you don’t mean… and she says she had a doctor’s appointment this morning. Guess who’s going to be a great-grandfather again? He hugs her, and says she’s having a baby. Boy or girl? She says they don’t know yet. She doesn’t think they’re going to find out. He says, it’s the best surprise there is. He can’t wait. She says she can’t wait for Mike to meet him or her. He tells her, congratulations. She’s going to be a great mom. What a blessing. Josslyn says, it really is.

Josslyn tells Mike, he’s the blessing.

Portia asks Britt, so what’s her fate? Britt says she has no ill will toward Portia. She doesn’t believe Portia was involved in the Monica and Bobbie shenanigans. She has every faith that Portia will do right by General Hospital. So does Cyrus. Elizabeth tells Finn, she’s been demoted, and Epiphany says, two whole shifts a week. He says, that’s insane. Why? Elizabeth says Britt is carrying out Cyrus’s orders. He’s trying to marginalize anyone who’s been there a long time. Finn says, anyone who knows the history of the hospital. Epiphany says, what that indicates to her, is that Cyrus is going to be messing with stuff he shouldn’t be messing with, and putting everyone, especially their patients, at risk.

Nikolas says Franco is going to be late because he was hanging out with Ava? Franco says they had a little disagreement about the portrait, but they sorted it out. Franco starts to leave, and Nikolas says, good luck. Franco asks why he would need luck, and Nikolas says he just means he hopes Franco finds Elizabeth. Franco says he’ll find her.

Trina flashes back to telling Cameron that she researched PTSD, and that’s what happened. Things got scrambled. It’s fine, but what’s not fine is making the kiss something it’s not. Nothing has changed between them. She sits down.

Sonny tells Carly, he couldn’t have done it without her, and she says he’s always got her. She’s going to grab coffee, and asks if she can get him anything. He says he’s fine. She says she loves him, and he says he loves her too. She leaves, and Ava comes along. She says she hopes she’s not intruding, and Sonny asks what she wants. She says she heard about Mike. Sonny wipes tears away, and she asks if there’s anything she can do to help.

Josslyn asks Mike if he wants to know a secret. She’s super competitive. She tells him, okay, it’s the opposite of a secret. It’s the challenge of making mistakes and trying to make up for them, like him trying to make up for leaving Sonny and his mom. She hopes she never has to do that, but if she does, she prays she can deal with it the way he showed her, and learn from the lessons he taught her. More than anything, she hopes he can hear her right now. She says, thank you, grandpa, for everything. I love you so much. His hands move, and he gives Josslyn two thumbs up.

We all cry like babies.

On Monday, Britt asks if she gets no welcome back from Felix, Olivia tells Robert that she’s going with him, Ava asks Sonny to trust her, and Jason says someone has his word.

🩺 Hail To the Chief…

The Britch is back in a big way.

https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/recaps/577812/britt-westbourne-named-chief-of-staff-general-hospital/

👭🏻 Two Times the Spy…

All about Anna’s twin.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/general-hospital-alex-devane-128961

🧩 If There’s No Body…

I never thought he was dead anyway.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/bryan-craig-is-ready-to-return

👠 From Momager To Wife…

It remains to be seen if RHOBH will inherit a Kardashian.

https://extratv.com/2020/09/09/would-kris-jenner-ever-join-rhobh-andy-cohen-weighs-in/

🥀 Farewell Queen Of Thorns…

And the best Avenger ever.

https://extratv.com/2020/09/10/diana-rigg-of-the-avengers-game-of-thrones-dead-at-82/

🎡 Standing Again…

I wasn’t sure if we needed another one, but this looks like a great cast.

https://www.ihorror.com/premiere-date-is-set-for-the-stand-on-cbs-all-access/

https://www.ihorror.com/the-stand-receives-first-teaser-trailer/

🩸 New Horror Coming…

I don’t know if anything will top 1984 for me though.

https://www.ihorror.com/american-horror-story-shares-a-tease-and-begins-filming-season-10/

💉 Ratch This…

Speaking of Sarah Paulson.

https://www.ihorror.com/watch-final-lobotomy-filled-trailer-for-netflixs-ratched-is-epic/

📍 It’s Official…

And it was only a matter of time.

https://pagesix.com/2020/09/02/teresa-and-joe-giudice-finalize-divorce-after-20-years-of-marriage/

📝 Quotes of the Week

What you’re thinking is what you’re becoming. – Muhammad Ali

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. – e.e. cummings

He got distracted by a clapping ass; it happens. – Cynthia Decker, Pillow Talk: 90 Day Fiancé

I’m gonna give you a prostate exam with this foot. – Medea (Tyler Perry), Boo! A Medea Halloween

Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well. – Mark Twain

A room without books is like a body without a soul. – Marcus Tullius Cicero

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.Mahatma Gandhi

A day without sunshine is like, you know, night. – Steve Martin

Make a pact with yourself today to not be defined by your past. Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your hard work isn’t what you get for it, but what you become for it. Shake things up today! Be You…Be Free…Share.Steve Maraboli

Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11. – Barack Obama

🗑 There Goes Another One…

Crossing another week off the calendar, and hoping we’re closer to a pandemical solution. Or even just some bars opening. Regardless, venture out into the world, but stay safe, stay observant, and stay making room for love in your life.

September 10, 2020 – Coming To the End, a Huge Reveal About Dorinda & Hair

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

General Hospital

Nikolas meets Elizabeth in the park. He says he came as quickly as he could. Her message sounded urgent. She says his screwed up fake marriage is screwing up her real one.

At the gallery, Franco talks to Ava about the portrait. She thinks maybe they should cut their losses. Being mistress of Windymere isn’t as fun as she thought it would be. He says he has to ask. Is she unhappy with his work? She tells him, don’t be crazy. She loves his paintings. He says he has an idea for a new portrait. He could make it less ostentatious. Make it more casual, and less static, more real. He admits he has no idea how to capture her free spirit and energy. When he thinks of her, he sees her in motion. Ava wonders why he stopped talking; she was starting to get excited about another portrait. He says he didn’t think it through, and can’t do that to Elizabeth.

Chipping Campden, England. Robert thanks Olivia for waiting, and she tells him to take his time. He says something doesn’t feel right about having a memorial. Prayers and condolences, what’s that got to do with Holly? Her lust for life, her taste for adventure, and incredible sense of humor. There’s no body, so what is he doing at a memorial? Olivia says, a memorial is as much for the living as the dead. It’s a chance for people to gather and reflect on the person they love, and remember what that person meant to them. Robert sighs, and says, oh, sweetheart. How could I ever forget you?

In the park, Josslyn says, too bad Trina couldn’t hang out with them. It’s been forever since all four of them were together. Dev asks if that’s not what homecoming is for; the four of them going as friends. Cameron says, before they know it, they’ll all be going to college, and going their separate ways. Dev says, that’s not for a couple of months; they still have time. Josslyn can’t imagine not seeing Cameron – not seeing all three of them. Cameron says they have the best times when they’re together.

Nina and Jax walk up to an apartment in NYC, and Nina says, it’s all really fast. Jax says they found the jeweler who fashioned the clasp. Maybe he’s the one who separated the original piece. She says, he hasn’t returned her calls, and he’ll think she’s some kind of nut. Jax says they’ll find out soon enough. Nina’s phone dings, and she says, it’s a bulletin from The Invader. Have you seen this woman? She tells Jax that she gets an alert whenever Nelle’s name is mentioned. They should keep an eye open for her. She can’t vanish into thin air, and could be anywhere. Even there. Jax pretends to agree.

At Turning Woods, Carly looks at the same bulletin and remembers yelling to Nelle to take her hand. Ned comes in and startles her.

Sonny tells Mike, he’ll be right back. He tries to compose himself in the hallway, and Stella comes along. He says he’s so happy to see her, and she says that’s exactly why she’s there.

Carly tells Ned, he startled her, and he says, sorry. She says she was lost in thought, and he asks if it was because of Mike. She says Sonny is spending most of his time there, and she’s all about supporting him. She was about to text Olivia regarding some hotel business, and asks if she’s with Ned. He says he’s there to update Sonny. He needs to know where Olivia is and what she’s up to.

Robert tells Olivia, the thing about Holly is she thought you lived life to the fullest, or survived at the other end. It was one adventure after another. We flash back to Holly and Robert when we were all practically children. Holly tells him, everything about him is new and exciting. They have their whole lives ahead of them. They toast, to us. Robert tells Olivia, what else can he say about Holly? She truly was one of a kind.

Stella asks Sonny how Mike is doing; be straight with her. Sonny says she knows he always is. She doesn’t let him be any way else. He says, it’s hard not knowing how long Mike will hold on. The nurses say days or hours. Stella says, once they stop eating, it’s only a matter of time. Sonny says he knows that in his head, but yesterday, Mike woke up and knew who he was, and spoke to him. Stella says, that’s the way the disease works. There’s a run of bad days, and still have a good moment. Sonny says he was talking about horse racing, and Mike perked up. He got permission to take Mike to the track. Stella says, what?! and Sonny says he took Mike to the stables. There was a horse there, and Mike looked like a little boy. Stella says, sometimes, when a person is close to passing, they have one final burst of energy. She’s always thought it was God’s gift, so the person can say goodbye to their loved ones. Sonny says he’ll never forget Mike’s smile. He was so happy, enjoying himself. She says it sounds like Sonny benefited from the break in the situation. She asks if she can see Mike, and he says Mike would love that. She goes into Mike’s room, and says, hello. She sits next to the bed.

Nina tells Jax, no. They shouldn’t do this. He’s retired, and they shouldn’t bother him. Jax says it’s her nerves talking, but she says, actually, it’s reality. If she doesn’t talk to him, she still has hope. Jax says he could give her a clue to find her child, but she says if he doesn’t, it’s the end of their leads. They have nowhere else to look. Jax says, whatever they find, or not, he’s here with her. She says, okay, and knocks on the door.

Josslyn says she’s heading to Turning Woods to visit Mike. She wants to say hi, even though he won’t realize she’s there. Cameron says if she needs anyone to talk to, she can talk to him – always. She thanks him, and says he’s the best. She leaves, and Cameron tells Dev that he thinks Josslyn might like him as more than a friend.

Franco says the time he’s spent with Ava is an issue, and Ava asks, why? Artists have had patrons for centuries. That’s how the art world works. He says before the unveiling, Ava did publicity that focused on his past, in particular Francophenia. Elizabeth isn’t a fan. Ava thinks Elizabeth should get over herself. What kind of wife doesn’t support her husband’s passion?

Elizabeth says Nikolas and Ava are making each other miserable, and Ava is clearly using it as an excuse to run to Franco. She says, Nikolas told her not to trust him, and Nikolas asks if she feels that way. Nothing will happen unless Franco is a part of it. Is this really just about Ava, or does she doubt her husband?

Elizabeth tells Nikolas, she loves Franco and knows he loves her. He says, that doesn’t answer his question. Does she have any doubts? She says, all couples fight, and some of theirs have been about Ava and him. Nikolas asks what he did, and she says Franco has always been insecure about their the history they share; how long she’s known Nikolas, and how well she knows him. Franco also knows she’s forgiven him. Nikolas says, she forgave him? and Elizabeth says he let everyone think he was dead for so long, but now that he’s back, she realizes how much she missed him. He says, they’ve been to hell and back, and their bond is something that will never go away, even if Franco wishes it would. She says she loves Franco, but he doesn’t pick her friends. Nikolas thanks her for giving him another chance. He won’t let her down this time; he missed her so much.

Franco tells Ava, when he was a bad boy artist genius of sorts, he was single. He wasn’t married and didn’t have three boys to raise. Now he has to take into account any publicity he gets might have a negative impact on his family. She asks if it ever occurred to him that Elizabeth’s failed dream to become an artist might affect if she honestly wants him to be a success. Franco says she’s wrong about that. Elizabeth wants him to have a great life. She says, as an art therapist, not as a painter whose work is sought after. She doesn’t think it’s fair that he should have to downsize his dream to fit Elizabeth’s soccer mom ideal.

Nina knocks on the door again, and a man answers. He says, sorry; he was on the treadmill. Jax asks if he’s Abraham Dokken, and he says he is. He retired five years ago, but he’d be happy to refer them to another jeweler. Nina says they’re not looking for a repair, but they were hoping he could identify a necklace. She shows him the half-heart, and asks if he made it. He looks it over, and says it’s his clasp for sure. He couldn’t tell her if he made the piece. He made hundreds of heart pendants – they’re big sellers around Valentine’s Day – but they’re usually a whole heart. Nina says, it was a whole heart originally, but was split to make two necklaces. Does that sound familiar?

Stella says Sonny told her about taking Mike to the race track, and how he got to bet on a horse. It must have been quite a time. She tells Mike, his son loves him very much; lots of people love him. Mike looks at her, and she says, hello there. She’s so glad to have a chance to sit with him again. It’s like old times. All they need is a deck of cards. She tells him, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Everything is going to be all right.

Sonny asks Ned how Brook is, and Ned says, she’s still at GH. Sonny asks about her voice, and Ned says, she has to make more progress before they can get a complete overall diagnosis. Sonny says, Brook is strong and resilient, and won’t let anything or anybody keep her down. Ned couldn’t agree more. Ned asks about Mike, and Sonny says Stella is with his dad. Carly leaves to go see her, and Sonny says Ned never told him why he’s there. Ned says Sonny has a lot on his plate, and it can wait, but Sonny says he needs a distraction. Ned asks if Sonny has heard from Olivia lately, and Sonny says, no; is she okay? Ned hopes so. She’s in Geneva with Robert. Sonny says, because? and Ned says, Robert said he could get her in to see Dante.

Robert thanks Olivia for indulging in his nostalgia, and she says his life with Holly is the stuff spy novels are made of. She hopes it eased some of his grief a little. He says, who needs a memorial when he can sit with her, and she can listen to him ramble on? She thanks him, and he says, it means a lot. He says, there’s got to be a decent restaurant around. They need to find it, and buy the best, most expensive bottle of champagne on the menu and toast to Holly. Olivia likes the way he thinks, and happens to have a spectacular travel app. She walks off, looking at her phone, and Robert sighs again. He says he doesn’t know whether Holly is out there, but if she’s not, he’s sure going to miss her. His phone rings, and he sees the caller’s name and number are blocked. He answers, and there’s a lot of static, but he hears, help… need you. He says, Holly?

Nina asks if Abraham remembers dividing the necklace, and he says he does. It was an usual request. Most people buy two matching necklaces; it’s less expensive, but she insisted money was not an issue. Nina asks if he remembers the woman, and he says he’s good with faces. Customers like it if you remember them, and it keeps them coming back. She shows him Madeline’s picture, but he says, she doesn’t look familiar at all. Nina asks if he at least remembers the time frame. He says he’s been in business for forty years, and can’t answer that off the top of his head, but he’s kept receipts. Does she have a rough time frame? Nina says, it would have been in 1991, and he says he’ll take a look. She thanks him, and he goes to look at his records.

Elizabeth says she, Nikolas, Emily, and Lucky shared an important part of their lives. Even though Nikolas infuriates her sometimes, she doesn’t want to lose their connection. He says he hates that he’s the source of conflict in her marriage, but she says Franco has always had a jealous streak, and Nikolas is intimidating. He’s a prince; they’re few and far between. Nikolas says Franco would have liked it better if he never came back, and Elizabeth asks if he’s making an undeserving accusation about him?

Ava says if Franco’s wife feels inferior she probably shouldn’t have married him. Franco says he’ll give Ava this much. She’s been supportive, and always made him feel like he could succeed. She says, his success has made her money, but he says, if she wants to be the heartless ice queen of Port Charles everyone thinks she is, he still knows how passionate she is, and how she’d do anything support the people she loves.

Carly sees Stella, and they hug. Stella asks how Carly is doing, and Carly says, okay, but Sonny is having a hard time. Josslyn arrives, and Carly says she thought Josslyn was hanging out with her friends. Josslyn says she couldn’t relax and enjoy herself. She kept thinking about her grandpa, and wanted to be near him. She realizes he doesn’t know she’ll be there, but Stella says, don’t be so sure. Even if he’s not responsive, he knows. Carly says she’s glad Josslyn is there, and Mike will be too.

Sonny asks how Olivia managed to see Dante, and Ned says, Robert pulled some strings at the Bureau. He knows the interim director. Olivia would have asked Sonny to join her, but she knows he can’t leave Mike. Sonny says he hates missing a chance to see his son, but she’s right; he can’t  leave his dad. Did she say how Dante is doing, or give any indication when he might come home? Ned doesn’t know. She hasn’t made too much contact other than telling him that she arrived safely. Sonny tells him to call when she finds out. Ned says, with Brook in the hospital, and the situation with Mike, it wasn’t a great time for her to run to Europe.

Robert says, tell him where she is. The call cuts off, and he says, dammit. He makes a call, and says he needs something quickly. He just took a call, and it was a bad line. He needs it to be traced. It’s a blocked number, and he needs it asap. It would be a real favor; he owes them. Olivia comes back, and Robert tells her that he took a phone call from a blocked number. There was a horrible connection, and here’s the part that’s a bit nuts. Holly was on the other end asking for help. She asks, how can that be? and he says it was pretty garbled, and he does have Holly on his mind. She says, it probably just sounded like Holly, but he says he’d know her voice anywhere. She doesn’t believe him, does she?

Elizabeth asks what exactly is Nikolas saying? He says, it doesn’t matter. She tells him, ever since Ava dredged up Franco’s past, the past he’s tried hard to overcome, there’s been distance between them. She’s never been so alone when in the same room with someone. Nikolas promises she’ll never be alone, no matter what happens with Franco.

Franco says when Ava lost Kiki, she lost faith in herself, but look at her now in this ridiculous sham of a marriage. She tells him, don’t worry; she went into it with her eyes wide open. Some people would say they both deserve what they got. Franco says she deserves way better, and she says he’s sweet to say that. He says he’s saying it because it’s true. He wants her to have a good life too. She deserves to be with someone who believes in her.

Olivia tells Robert, she never said that, but he might have heard Holly because he wanted to hear her. He says, it was definitely her voice. He doesn’t mean to say she’s alive; it could have been a recording, but who would do that to him? If it’s not Holly herself, it’s someone who wants him to believe it’s Holly. He has to find out where it came from. Olivia asks if he really thinks the call was from Holly, and he says he thinks Holly is alive.

Sonny tells Ned, if his dad’s Alzheimer’s taught him anything, it’s that you can’t waste time where the people you love are concerned. If Olivia has the chance to see her son, she should 100% take it. He can’t go because of his dad. Ned says he’s afraid Olivia flew halfway across the world, when Dante might reject the idea. She’s setting herself up for heartbreak. Sonny says Ned knows enough to know no one can stop Olivia from doing what she wants. Ned says he absolutely knows that. He’s sorry to hear Sonny’s father isn’t dong well, and Sonny thanks him, and says he’s trying to make the most of the time they have left.

Josslyn goes into Mike’s room, and tells him that she loves him. She wonders what he’s thinking about, and asks if Mike is still there in his head. Stella says you can never be sure, but she’d like to believe he is. There are moments Mike focuses, and looks at them like he sees them, and she believes he has. Sonny comes back, and tells Mike that his family is there, including Stella. Mike stirs, and has a hard time breathing. Josslyn says she’ll get the nurse, and Sonny tells Mike that they’re getting him some help.

Abraham comes back with the receipt, and tells Nina, he found it. In September 1991, an alteration to a heart pendant to make two matching necklaces. Jax says Nina is a step closer.

Ava tells Franco, according to Nikolas, she’s a conniving wife; amoral, shallow, greedy, the list goes on. Does he really see good in her? He says he does. She’s her own worst enemy, but who doesn’t do that sometimes. He, for one, tries to live up to Elizabeth’s… everybody’s high expectations. Ava thinks he’s good the way he is.

Elizabeth asks if Nikolas means it; that he’ll always be there for her. Nikolas says he’s let her down, but she makes him want to be a better man. Ava doesn’t bring that side out of him. She says she can’t believe her marriage is on the rocks again. Nikolas says because of her generous heart, she gave Franco a chance. If he can’t live up to her expectations, it’s not her fault. She says she doesn’t understand how it fell apart so quickly, but he says, maybe it’s for the best. The way he sees it, she and the boys are better off without Franco in their lives. She says she feels like a failure.

Robert tells Olivia, his Bureau source should at least be able to tell him the location of the call. She says, then what? and he says, if there’s the slightest possibility Holly is alive, he’s got to know. If someone is using a recording of her voice, he’s got to know that too. She says she completely understands. She flew there because of the slimmest chance she could take to Dante. She had to try. Now Robert has to try to find out for himself. His phone rings, and he says it’s his source. He asks if they were able to trace the call.

The nurse comes out, and Sonny asks, what’s going on? She says his father has pneumonia. It’s common when a patient can’t swallow. They’re putting him on oxygen. Still by Mike’s bedside, Stella tells him that his family is waiting outside. She knows he’s tired, but hang on a little longer. They want to say goodbye.

Robert tells Olivia, they were able to trace the call to Monte Carlo, and she says, as in the Monte Carlo in Monaco? He says, that’s the one. She says he doesn’t seem happy, and he says he called in a favor. The WSB doesn’t waste resources looking for dead people. Monte Carlo’s not all that big. If Holly is there, there’s a good chance he can find her. He’ll get Olivia a ticket back to Port Charles. She says, no he’s not; she’s going with him. He says he’s grateful she was there for the memorial, but now it’s time for her to go home, and be with her family. He’ll be fine.

Nina says she can’t believe this is happening, and starts to cry. Abraham asks if she’s okay, and she says, more than okay. This is incredible news; these are happy tears. She takes the receipt, and Jax thanks Abraham. Abraham tells Nina, good luck with whatever she’s looking for. Now, if they don’t mind, his stories are coming on. (Think he watches GH?) They thank him again, and leave. In the hallway, Nina tells Jax, the customer is Phyllis Caulfield. He asks if she recognizes the name, and she says she does.

Olivia leaves a voicemail for Ned, telling him there have been developments in the situation. She can’t talk, but promises to tell him everything as soon as she can, in person. Robert asks if she made a reservation to go back to Port Charles, but she says, no. She’s coming to Monte Carlo with him. End of story.

Nikolas turns Elizabeth’s face to him, and moves in for a kiss. As he kisses her, someone takes a photo.

Franco kisses Ava, and someone takes a photo.

Stella comes out, and Carly says the nurse told them it’s pneumonia. She asks if the oxygen is helping, and Stella says, a little bit, but he’s having a hard time still. Sonny says, it’s the end, isn’t it? and Stella says, yes. It’s time for everyone to say goodbye to Mike.

Tomorrow, Dev tells Cameron to pick one and set the other free, Nikolas asks if Elizabeth is looking for a way out of her marriage, and Carly says Mike made his family’s life better just by being there.

The Real Housewives of New York City – The Reunion – Part One

Andy tells us, at long last it’s an in person reunion with The Real Housewives of New York City. He asks Tinsley how she feels, and she says she’s in a happy mood. Maybe she needs some resolutions, but she doesn’t care. Everyone fusses with their masks, and Andy says they only need them when they get up. Several of them have cool masks. Sonja’s has fringe, and LuAnn’s is a smile. LuAnn says, it’s a good start for today.

Andy says, season 12’s reunion is like a fever dream. They’re in a warehouse surrounded by relics of NYC reunions past. What makes it more monumental is, it’s the first time since March they’re having an in person reunion. He assures us it’s at a safe and socially distanced. He tells them that they look radiant, and asks if Leah is ready for her first reunion. Leah says she’s so ready. She’s wearing her sheer black number that she wore to Ramona’s party, and Andy asks if she wore it to piss Ramona off. He makes her stand up to show the dress off. Dorinda says she’s excited, and Andy tells Ramona it’s the best she’s ever looked. He asks how she’s feeling, and in true Ramona pretend-I-feel-nothing fashion, she says, it’s just another day. He asks how LuAnn is, and she says, Lu and improved, which is getting old. Andy says he loves Sonja’s new haircut, and something else is different. She tells him about her face lift, and says she was inspired by Ellen Barkin. Andy says, last, but not least, their princess from Chicago, Tinsley. Tinsley says it feels strange, but it’s a nice closing for her chapter in New York.

Andy says, before they unpack season 12, he wonders how quarantine affected the women, and asks if they were outside the city. Leah says, for the first five weeks, she was in Long Island, but since then, she’s been in the city. He says, Ramona garnered the most attention. She was in Florida hunkered down with her ex-husband and daughter Avery. Ramona says Avery suggested it, and it was a great experience; they became a family again. Andy asks if there were any moments she thought there would be another shot with Mario, but she says she loves him as a person; she’s not in love with him. Andy says Sonja was trapped at a spa in Palm Springs, and Sonja says she had to reel it in after the show; she was going off the rails. She did colonics for three weeks, and explains some things we didn’t need to know about that. Andy asks how LuAnn is keeping busy with no cabaret, and she says she’s still working on her shows, and working on a book. She’s been busy. He says the burning question is how everyone has been coping since the pandemic. Leah said she was disgusted with her castmates with their families, living it up in Florida. We see her Instagram story, and she says, they’re not taking this sh*t seriously, and laughing. It’s despicable and déclassé. She gives the finger; two of them actually. He asks who she’s referring to, like we don’t know, and Ramona says it’s her, but Leah has it wrong; she’s been cautious. Leah says Ramona has a total lack of awareness. People are dying who can’t say goodbye to their families, and she’s posting about her workouts, and doesn’t care if she’s not masked. She has a lack of empathy, when people are suffering in our country and the world. We see Ramona’s Instagram, where she and Avery are demonstrating Turtle Time. Ramona insists that she was up at 4 am, reading the day’s horrific news. It was scary, and they were living every day as best they could with what they had. And she donated to charity. We hear the sound of one hand clapping. Ramona says people told her that she was an inspiration. Was she supposed to cry all day? Leah says, it’s about acknowledging the situation. Ramona also lied about donating blood. Ramona insists she did. In February she had Lyme disease, but they weren’t testing for Covid yet. She went to Aspen and got better, then went to Florida. She’d been in quarantine for eight weeks, when the Boca Beach Club opened up for going to the beach and playing tennis. She was tested, and found out she had antibodies. The doctor said, when she had Lyme disease, she also had Covid. Sonja says she’s a walking petri dish, and Ramona says she was allowed to come back. Leah behaved low brow, giving her the finger. Andy says a lot of people got upset that she went to a party where Donald Trump, Jr. was, and then his girlfriend tested positive. Ramona insists she stayed six feet from everyone, and left after an hour. Dorinda says, it’s not very responsible, and Ramona says, she doesn’t have the virus. She keeps repeating it, like somebody wound her up. Leah says, God knows how many people Ramona gave it to, and Dorinda says, Ramona is un-virusable. Ramona says she had it in February, and Andy says, you can get it again. He’s scared of getting it again. Sonja says, you can also spread it, and Dorinda says, Ramona was at a speakeasy with no mask; Breakers with Harry Dubin. We can never get through an NYC reunion without Harry’s name being mentioned at least once. Leah says, people are dying, and Dorinda says, people are out of work. Leah says, Ramona doesn’t give a sh*t. It’s not about wearing a mask, you effing idiot. She was showing herself dancing. Everyone is talking over each other, and Andy yells, shut up! He asks if Tinsley isn’t glad she came. He says he has one comment, and Ramona says the discussion is over. He says she was putting it out there that she wasn’t compliant. We see a picture of Ramona and another woman, arms around each other, not wearing masks. Ramona says she was in Florida with a friend at a restaurant, and they took a picture. They were allowed to do that.

Andy says it’s been a crazy year so far, and they have so much to get into with the actual season. With an unapologetic sense and an aversion to tiki torches, new housewife Leah proved a force be reckoned with. We flash back to Leah throughout the season, and Andy says in the feedback they received, everyone thought Leah hit the ground running. When Sarah Paulson was asked to rate Leah’s freshman season from 1 to 10, she gave it a 25. John Oliver was asked if he thought her season was good, he said he wasn’t sure, but never laughed harder than during the episode when she trashed Ramona’s house. Leah says, it’s nice to hear, and a nice welcome. When it aired, the pandemic had started, and they were in lockdown. If thinks if she’d gotten negative feedback, it would have been debilitating. LuAnn says, Leah is a tough New Yorker. She came on as a younger mom and businesswoman. She was vulnerable, and LuAnn instinctually liked her. Sonja says when you have a conversation with Leah, she actually listens and doesn’t judge. Dorinda says Leah gave it a different angle, coming from Downtown. She was confident, and able to handle the initiation. LuAnn says, tiki torches will never look the same, and Ramona says she has them stored behind her garage now. Andy asks if anything has changed for Leah, and she says she stopped drinking, but not much else.

Andy asks Tinsley about her take, and Tinsley says she joined at a low point in her life. She was weaker, and not confident. She loved that Leah didn’t hold back and was super confident; they connected right away. She has a hard time with the others listening to her, and it was nice having someone who actually did. Andy says a viewer asks, what’s up with Leah’s age shaming, and saying she’s the only one with a period? Instead of making fun, she should be seeking wisdom from the women. Leah says she respects them, and doesn’t think she age shames. Dorinda says Leah does look to them for advice; she calls about Kiki all the time. Andy says Ramona, Sonja, and Dorinda shamed Leah and judged her for her tattoos; it wasn’t very welcoming. Leah says she wasn’t uncomfortable about it, and Ramona says she’s not used to tattoos. Leah says the only comment she felt icky about was Sonja saying she’d never have sex with her because of it. We see a clip of Sonja saying Leah’s tattoos are a deal breaker, and Leah says, for some reason, it made her extra offended. Sonja says it was joke because there was sexual tension between them. Betsy from North Carolina wants Leah to elaborate on her vagina wings, and asks if it really flies. Leah says, it’s a crazy story. When she was 17, she did some hallucinogenics, and went into another dimension of the universe. She had purple wings, and when she came to, she wanted them tattooed on her. Her back was too obvious, so she got them on her p*ssy. Dorinda asks, what happens when men see it? and Leah says, they love it. Dorinda marvels at that, and Andy asks about Leah’s family watching the show. She says her father has the biggest crush on Sonja, and Sonja says, he’s an amazing artist. Leah says her mother wasn’t thrilled that she was buck naked, and talking about peeing on a prince – obviously; she’s Leah’s mother. Leah says her daughter hasn’t seen the show, and Andy asks, what about Rob? Leah says she thinks he gets jealous, and turned into a Guido. Andy asks if her mom is really a shrink, and Leah says, don’t judge her mom by her; she’s good at her job. Andy says she wasn’t drinking before the show started, and asks if she was worried about starting again. Leah says, a little, since it was being filmed and she knew it could go wrong. She hadn’t had one sip of alcohol in a decade. LuAnn says they drove her to drink, and Leah says she’s happy she got to spend 9 months drinking with the funniest bitches ever. She has no regrets.

Andy says, on that note, there were a lot of layers in drinking this season, with no exception. We flash back to many drunken antics, and he says, Joe from Ohio says the season was tough to watch with the drinking. He asks if anyone wishes the sloppiness had been addressed more, and Andy wonders if seeing the show in quarantine altered their behavior. Dorinda says, of course. When the season ended, they all stopped drinking, but she’s not like Ramona, who goes out every night. Leah says being shamed in Newport bothered her. Everyone was out of control wasted except Tinsley. She was new to the group, and dealing with sh*t. She’d had a bad night, and Ramona made her feel terrible about herself. Dorinda says Ramona does everything to deflect from her own behavior, and Ramona calls her a liar. She says Dorinda is disgusting, and should go to church.

Okay, time to break out the cookies. Andy asks why Leah decided to stop drinking, and Leah says when the pandemic started, and  they were in quarantine, she needed to be at the top of her game for her daughter. There was no way she could use alcohol in a happy, fun way. A viewer asks if LuAnn’s first sip of vodka on the show was really her first sip since getting off probation, and LuAnn says it was. She felt like she hit the reset button, and thought she’d try it, but she’s reeled it in and stopped drinking since the season ended. She doesn’t want to label herself though, or put pressure on herself, but she does have to watch herself, and she’s very aware. Briana from Nashville asks if LuAnn’s outburst (about Sonja) gave anyone pause, and LuAnn says she gave herself pause. She had to evaluate her use of alcohol. Andy tells them, viewers said no one else is as mean as Dorinda, and wonders why they defended her. Dorinda says Ramona said what she did as a zinger, and Ramona says she was petrified. Andy tells Ramona to let Dorinda finish, and asks why Dorinda gets defensive when her drinking is brought up. Dorinda says she’s sensitive about it. Ramona was accusatory, when Dorinda tries not to point out anyone else’s drinking or Ramona sleeping with people. LuAnn says Dorinda doesn’t like to be told about it, and she gets it, but she was just looking out for a friend. Dorinda says LuAnn does look out for her, but Ramona does it to be harmful. She says she’s for women, but she’s not. Andy says they’re talking about Dorinda, and Ramona says Dorinda is deflecting. I tell Ramona, STFU. Dorinda says it makes her uncomfortable that Ramona talks in front of the group, while LuAnn took her aside. She doesn’t know what else to say. It makes her uncomfortable. Andy says when she watched it back in quarantine, could she see it was about her relationship with alcohol, and not personal? Ramona won’t shut up, babbling about how Dorinda lies and won’t admit it. Dorinda says, it’s stress relief. She has no outlet to express herself, and uses alcohol, and it doesn’t turn out well. LuAnn says they’ve all had their days, but seen themselves, and realized they need to do something about it. Andy says they’ve all expressed concern with Sonja’s drinking, and Ramona says she knew it had to be an interaction with medicine. LuAnn says Sonja used to end the evening like that, but then it started happening at the beginning. Andy says, rosé and Coke? and Sonja says she was looking for any solution. Andy says, it sounds like a problem, and Sonja says she was shocked when she saw herself, showing up at LuAnn’s Halloween party. She’d been on a diarrhetic, and was also on it when she fell under the table after yelling at Bethenny. We flash back to that, and Sonja says she didn’t like the example she was setting for her young viewers. It slowed her motor skills, and it was the pills. Dorinda says she’s taken it for years, since menopause.

Andy says, Tinsley finally found her fairytale ending with Scott, trading hotel life and Housewives for her happily ever after. We flash back down Tinsley Memory Lane, and Andy says, to clarify, they’re still together? Tinsley says, they’re still together, thank God, and they’re getting married. Everything’s good. She shows off her ring, which is quite a sparkler. She says it’s weird sitting there, and Ramona corrects Tinsley about her own feelings, and says, it’s surreal. Tinsley says she got everything she wanted, and she’s going to Chicago to see Scott tomorrow, and be a family again. Andy asks if the one thing that was holding them back as a couple was her being in New York, and him in Chicago. She says, it was a big issue, and Ramona says she persevered; she gives Tinsley credit. Tinsley thinks her being with Bruce was trying to make a jab at Scott, showing him that she was in Chicago with someone else. Ramona says, it worked, and LuAnn says, the pandemic made Tinsley a solid housewife. Tinsley says she wanted to show Scott that she was this person too. He’d never seen her in a normal situation at home. When they’d get back together, they were always traveling. She adds that she’s never going to complain about traveling again, and Andy says he doesn’t think anyone will. A viewer says, it’s ironic that Tinsley had to leave the Housewives to be the only real housewife. Tinsley says she wants to do a lot of things. She’s been working with PETA and Paws Chicago, a no-kill shelter. Andy asks how she feels watching it back, seeing what everyone was saying, and who was supportive. She says, few people were supportive. Leah was, and later, Ramona and LuAnn, who’d been falling under Dorinda’s spell. Leah says she never heard anyone asking about Tinsley’s relationship, and LuAnn says they were doubtful, since Tinsley and Scott had broken up so many times. Tinsley says she felt embarrassed and humiliated, crying so many times about it. Sonja says they were happy for her, but became protective, and Tinsley says she couldn’t talk about wanting babies, or they’d be like, this again? Sonja says she brought it up all the time on the show, but Tinsley says it’s not a show, it’s her life. Andy asks if Scott made her choose between him and the show, but she says he never did. The show was still an issue, and she knew when they got back together, she had a decision to make. Dorinda says the show was how she met him, and Tinsley should say thank you. They talk at the same time, and Tinsley says, of course he let her finish the season, but she chose him over them. She didn’t want him to be in the mix, knowing it could be toxic for their relationship. Andy asks Ramona, if she dated a guy who didn’t want her to be on the show, would she quit? Ramona says, if he put a ring on it, and LuAnn says, her too. Tinsley says she proved how much she loved him, while Sonja puts hand sanitizer on her legs. Andy is like, what are you doing? and she says she needs some shine. Tinsley says, if she had to show how much she loved him by leaving, she was going to do it.

After a commercial break, Andy welcomes us back, even though we’re not the ones who went anywhere. He says, Tinsley wasn’t comfortable sharing all of her details, but Dorinda had no qualms about sharing her distain for Tinsley. We flash back to Dorinda being nasty to Tinsley, ending with her turkey baster comment. Tinsley looks pretty upset, and Dorinda pastes a smile on her face. Andy says he’s assuming they haven’t spoken since then, and Dorinda says Tinsley has only spoken to Leah. Tinsley says she and Dorinda were friends at one point. Her turkey baster comment was vile, especially when there are women who can’t get pregnant. Dorinda says she’s sorry she shamed Tinsley, and Tinsley says she was shamed for wanting a child and not having one. Dorinda is surprised she’s not already pregnant. She repeats that she’s sorry, and says, it was a bad joke. Tinsley says, it’s not a joke, and Andy says viewers thought it was mean. Tinsley says it will never go away, and a viewer asks what Dorinda’s issue is with Tinsley. Dorinda says she believes only half of what she hears, and all she sees, which is a variation on an old Navy saying – believe only half of what you see, and nothing you hear. She says a lot of stuff went on that no one saw, and Tinsley says after she and Scott broke up, she and Dorinda got in a horrific fight that wasn’t on camera.

Separating this paragraph because it’s such a good reveal, and explains a lot. Tinsley says she told Dorinda that Scott had given John money she didn’t know about. Dorinda took it as a betrayal, and took her anger at John out on Tinsley. The producers didn’t want her to stay in the house; they were worried for her safety. Dorinda says she never got involved in John’s finances, because once again, a Housewife has forgotten the cameras see all. In some unseen footage, we see Dorinda on the phone with John, screaming at him not to use her friends to ask for money, and telling him not to talk to Scott. Scott is not his friend. When she says not to do something, he’d better listen. LuAnn says she remembers that call. Tinsley says she hasn’t done anything to Dorinda, and Dorinda says she hates Tinsley’s life. Tinsley says, Dorinda is obsessed with her life.

Wowee, wow, wow.

Next time – The Reunion – Part Two – Dorinda is asked if she’s seeing someone, Leah makes fun of Ramona, Ramona’s comment about Leah being bi-polar is discussed, and Leah says she doesn’t think Dorinda hits below the belt. Is Leah sure she quit drinking?

🤸🏽 Hair Reborn…

Finally, my head has felt the freedom that is a color and cut. And with that, I bid you adieu until my next post, where I will pour you some tea, and we can laugh about how rich folks have to be just like us. For the most part. Okay, they still have it better, but we can laugh anyway. Until then, stay safe, stay amused, and stay not giving John any money.

September 9, 2020 – Ava Sounds the Alarm, Brandi’s Not Here, After the Dreck, Salt Lake Date, Graceful Exit, Dead News & Creeping

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

General Hospital

At the MetroCourt, Carly tells Bobbie, she should sue. Diane would gladly take the case. Bobbie says, another lawsuit would only hurt the hospital, and Carly says the hospital fired her. Bobbie says, Cyrus fired her, but Carly says, they both know he had help. They look over to see Valentin sitting with Martin.

Valentin thinks Martin should have a shot. After the antics of his last client, he could use one. Martin says he’s sure he doesn’t know what Valentin means, and Valentin wonders if Nelle’s latest disappearing act is for real.

Sam tells Jason, her actions caused Bobbie and Monica to be fired, but Jason thinks it’s reaching just a little bit. She says, is it? She gave Valentin consent to vote Danny and Scout’s proxy. He says, and she was assigned a new parole officer. She says, so he was able to move back in, and that’s great, but it left the hospital open for Cyrus’s control. He thinks it’s her fault, doesn’t he?

Alexis looks at the syringe, now sitting in a plastic bag. Julian says, the police are on their way to pick up the evidence. She says she’s not sure why, since it was accidental. He says, maybe he should take it, and reaches for it, but Alexis snatches it up. He says because of the prevalence of opioid deaths, the police are treating all drug induced OD’s as homicides.

Jordan asks why Cyrus murdered Neil, and he says, I beg your pardon? She says, it’s a simple question, and she’s not wearing a wire. He can speak freely. Why did he kill Neil? He says, all right; he’ll play along. Who’s Neil? She says he died of an OD, with no prior history of drug use, and he says, by definition, addicts are good at hiding their addiction. She says, like Bob and Mark? and he says, how hypocritical of them. They planted the evidence that framed him for being a drug lord, when they were sampling the wares. He can’t thank her enough for exposing their corruption. She says she doesn’t know what game he’s playing, but what’s the connection between him and Neil?

Josslyn, Cameron, and Trina go to Charlie’s. Trina goes over to say hello to Ava at the bar, and Josslyn says she’s been meaning to tell Cameron that she knows. He says, okay… She says now that she knows, they don’t have to be weird. She and Trina talked through everything, and she’s totally cool with it.

Alexis asks Julian if she’s supposed to believe Neil was a user all this time, when she had no idea. Not when he was her therapist, not when they were stumbling through their relationship, not even when he was in her own bed, but apparently, he was. There was the bloodwork, a puncture wound, and now Julian found the syringe under her bed. Julian suggests he hang on to it until the police get there, and Alexis says she was so certain that she was making a better choice. It turns out she was just falling for a better liar.

Valentin doesn’t suppose part of Martin’s service was to hustle Nelle off to an undisclosed location. Martin says, no, and Valentin wonders if he’s not saying anything because of professional ethics, or because Nelle owes him money.

Carly says, when Valentin took over, his first act was to bail on the hospital, opening the door to Cyrus. His second act was to fire Michael. Bobbie says, and now he’s having a drink in Carly’s restaurant. She doesn’t think so. Bobbie stomps over to Valentin’s table, and says she had the misfortune to marry his brother Stephan. He was bad, but Valentin is infinitely worse, handing the hospital over to the likes of Cyrus. He says, sorry, and she says she wants to smack the smirk off his face. Carly says she’s right behind Bobbie, and Brick walks in. He says, no doubt. It looks like he got there just in time.

Alexis tells Julian, she didn’t know Neil was an addict, but she’s good at spotting other addicts, since she is one. It’s like a funhouse, with everyone distorted in their own unique way. Julian says she doesn’t know for sure Neil was an addict. He could have been a recreational user; those people exist. Or he could have been a high-functioning addict. Plenty of successful people are. Alexis says she doesn’t know anything right now. She’s going to drive herself crazy, going over every detail of what Neil did or didn’t do. Julian says, from what he’s seen, Neil was a complicated guy dealing with a lot, including his emotions and feelings for her. Alexis gives him a look.

Ava says Trina has been holding out on her. She’s so talented. Her performance with her friends at the Nurses Ball was spectacular. Trina asks if Ava and Nikolas had a good time, and Ava says she knows what Trina is doing. Trina doesn’t have to look out for her. She and Nikolas know where they stand with each other.

Cameron asks Josslyn what everything she’s talking about, and Josslyn says, don’t worry. Trina says it’s not a big deal. He says, good to know, and she says she doesn’t want him to feel he has to keep it secret. Portia walks in, and Trina tells Ava that her counselor said she could get additional credit for working at the gallery, so she can give Ava ten extra hours. Ava appreciates her enthusiasm, but thinks Trina should speak to her mother. She might have other plans. Portia asks, does Trina mind if she and Ava take a moment to catch up? Trina asks if Portia promises to be nice, and Portia asks if Trina promises to be nice to Curtis. Train tells her, try not to break anything too expensive. Ava tells Portia, if this is about Trina asking for more hours, she said Trina needed to clear it with her first. Portia says she’ll bring that up later, but first, they need to talk.

Cyrus tells Jordan, he’s not aware of any connection between him and Neil. The first time he’s heard Neil’s name is when she said it just now. She says his innocent act is wasted on her, since he kidnapped her son, and made her turn a blind eye to his drug shipment getting through. He says he’s never kidnapped anyone in his life, and no one can make her do anything. She’s always had the power to make her own choices. She says, Neil died under similar circumstances to Mark and Bob; the same pattern. Cyrus says, people die all the time. That doesn’t mean he had a hand in it. She says, unless they were his drugs. Then he’s legally responsible. He says she exonerated him. Although now, she comes to him late at night, hurling accusations and innuendos, reviving a vendetta against an innocent man.

Jason says it sounds like Sam wants him to be angry with her, but she says she wants him to tell the truth. He asks when he’s lied to her, and she says, never. He doesn’t say anything, and she says, ELQ was supposed to bail out the hospital. She should have known Valentin was up to something. All she cared about was getting a new parole officer, and getting to spend time with him. He says she’s only responsible for the proxy she signed over to Valentin. Valentin took control of the majority, and it was his decision not to help GH. Those were his actions, not hers. She says, it was selfish. She got what she wanted, and because of her actions, people she cares about are paying for it.

Julian tells Alexis, he knows more than most people that it’s complicated to lead a double life. Neil was confused, and he may have been confused about a number of things, but he knows that Neil genuinely cared for her. She says, dying in her bed was a funny way to show it, and he tells her, she has no idea how many secrets Neil might have been keeping, but anyone could tell his feelings for her were genuine. She says he should go. She appreciates him coming by, but can’t have him there to turn to. He says, that’s different. If she needs anything, let him know. For what it’s worth, he’s sorry it happened. It was nice to see her happy again.

Trina sits back down, and Josslyn says she told Cameron what they talked about, so they’re all on the same page. No more secrets. Trina says she’s glad to hear it, and Cameron says, excellent.

Ava tells Portia, with all due respect, she’s already apologized for overstepping with Trina. Portia says, she did, and Ava says she’s not sure what more she can do. Portia says she realized she came on strong, and made assumptions about Ava’s motivations. Ava says, as a mother, in protecting one’s child, you can never be too careful; she understands. Portia says, whatever Ava’s motivation in helping Trina, she realizes it came from a genuine place, and thanks her. Trina’s work at the gallery is grounding, and she realizes it’s even more important now, in the wake of her father’s death. She believes Ava when she says her intentions were honorable. Ava says she appreciates that, and Portia says, but she doesn’t believe Ava has led an honorable life. She won’t prevent Trina from working at the gallery, but won’t be taking her eyes off Trina either.

Cyrus says Jordan exonerating him doesn’t seem that long ago He doesn’t think he dreamed it or imagined it. She says he threatened to kill her son unless she did what he wanted, and he says, what imagination she has. He’s making a fresh start, and exploring the possibilities available to a free man. He tells her, thank you, waits, then says, say you’re welcome. She says he’s made himself welcome enough. He doesn’t need to hear her say it. Since he’s an innocent man leading an innocent life, he doesn’t require the police commissioner. She’s met the terms of their extremely one-sided agreement, and they’re done. He tells her, don’t be so sure.

Sam asks if Jason is telling her that he’s okay with what she did. Jason says he hates that Monica and Bobbie lost their jobs; it’s awful and unfortunate, but it’s not permanent. She asks how he’s so sure, and he says, Cyrus is testing the truce already. When he breaks it, he’s gone. She says, what about Valentin? and he says, the Quartermaines have lost control of ELQ before. They’ll get it back. Michael is smart, with a cool head, and he’s not distracted by the custody case anymore. She says, it really doesn’t bother him that her actions are what set things in motion?

Jason says, it’s not like Valentin gave Sam a choice. He knows she acted in good faith. It’s done. It’s over. She can’t change it. Let’s just move on. Her phone rings, and she says, it’s Julian. He has the worst timing. She tells Julian that she’s in the middle of something. What does he want? He says he was at her mother’s. He just left, and Neil’s OD is hitting her hard. He found a syringe under her bed. They both know he’s not the right person to be with her mother, but Alexis shouldn’t be alone. Sam says she’ll be right over, and thanks him. She tells Jason what happened, and he says he’ll go with her.

Officer Gonzalez comes downstairs, and tells Alexis, there was no other paraphernalia, but forensics wants to look around. Alexis says she’s not going to be sleeping up there anytime soon, and Officer Gonzalez says if they have any more questions, they’ll contact her. Alexis says she’s fresh out of answers.

Cyrus says he appreciates Jordan’s faith in him adjusting to life outside, but it takes time, especially after such a long stretch. She tells him not to sell himself short. Clearly her services are no longer required. He says she’s gone from callous pessimist to wide-eyed optimist. She needs to split the difference, and become a pragmatist. An old friend might come in handy. Isn’t that what she was thinking when she invited Taggert back to town, or did she feel it was a mistake? Another hasty decision. Look at the damage that was done to that poor man.

Martin says, amusing as it might be to watch them deck his client, he’d be compelled to call the cops. Carly tells Bobbie, they’ll leave Valentin alone, and invites Brick to have a drink. Valentin says, good idea, and she says no one asked him. Bobbie tells Carly that Scotty is taking her out to dinner, and leaves. Martin tells Valentin, let it go, but Valentin says Bobbie is wrong. He’s nothing like Stephan, who was consumed with ghosts. Martin asks if Valentin’s ghosts are under control, and Valentin says he doesn’t believe in ghosts. Martin says he’d like to know why Julian was looking for him; does he miss his wife? Valentin says, Julian is looking to get out of a marriage of crippling inconvenience, which leads him to wonder what leverage Nelle had to get Julian to marry her in the first place. He had the impression the leverage was in Martin’s possession. Is it?

Ava says, normally if someone spoke to her like that, she’d tell them to go to hell. She’d say they don’t know about her, or what been through in her dishonorable life. Portia asks if that’s what Ava is telling her, but Ava says, on the contrary. If she was in Portia’s shoes, and her daughter was working for a woman with her… colorful past, she’d be… Portia says, cautious? and Ava says, livid. She’d never take her eyes off her daughter. As a mother, there’s nothing more important than a child’s safety or happiness. Trina is determined to work extra hours, but Portia should feel free to say no. Portia wonders if Ava is asking her to turn Trina down, but Ava says, no, but don’t feel obligated. Portia says, seven days is a big ask, and Ava says, if they start to drive each other crazy, she’ll send Trina on an errand. Portia says, when Trina returns with coffee in five minutes, what then? and Ava says she’ll send Trina to Tokyo to pick up on what’s trendy. That will take longer. Portia says, Ava is kidding, right? She does have a couple of requests. She asks Ava to keep an eye on Trina, and if she’s there to work, make her work. Ava says, of course (🍷). As if she could stop Trina. The gallery might seem like a placid boutique, but there’s a lot to do. She tells Portia, feel free to pop in and check up on Trina. Portia is sure it won’t be necessary, and Ava says, yet she has the feeling Portia will. Portia says, at least once a week. Maybe more. Ava says she’s always welcome, and Portia thanks her. Trina asks if everything is okay, and Portia says she’s giving Trina permission to work extra hours.

Julian comes in, and Ava says she hears congratulations are in order. He asks, for what? and she says she heard his wife – who makes her look like Mother Teresa – is gone. Why is he in a foul mood? He should be celebrating the end of his hellish marriage. He says his hellish marriage is far from being over. She asks what Nelle did now, and he says she claimed to have left a letter detailing his role in Wiley’s kidnapping with her lawyer. Until he gets the letter, he’s on borrowed time. She says Julian should have let her kill Nelle when she offered.

Sam says she thought Alexis was going to stay at their place, but Alexis says she couldn’t. Sam says Julian called her; she’s so sorry, Alexis wonders how she couldn’t know, and Sam tells her, don’t blame herself. Alexis asks how someone who presents themselves as a decent, wonderful person could do something like that? How could he?  

Martin says his hypothetical sometimes client – he’s not naming names… Valentin says, Nelle, and Martin says, it’s hypothetical. Valentin suggests Medea, and Martin says, Medea it is. Medea has left some loose ends, providing actual proof of her departure is permanent. Martin doesn’t know what Valentin’s interest is, so why should he share secrets? Valentin says, Nelle is currently a friendless fugitive wanted for murder and attempted kidnapping, and wonders if Martin’s ability to keep secrets is based on the size of the retainer. Martin says he’ll take care Nelle’s affairs in any way he pleases, and Valentin says, just make sure his take precedence.

Carly asks if Sonny called Brick, but Brick says he was on his way to another assignment. He had time to stop by and say hello to Sonny. She asks if Sonny knows he’s in town, and he says he was at Turning Woods earlier. She says then he knows what’s going on with Mike, and he says, sadly, he does.

Julian tells Ava that Nelle left the letter with her attorney Martin, and Ava says, ugh. That man is a reptile in a linen suit. If Nelle left the letter with him, and it incriminates Julian, Martin will absolutely use it for his own gain. He says that’s why she’s going with him to help find it.

Trian asks Portia if she can stay longer, and Josslyn says her driver will drop Trina off. Portia tells Trina to text when she’s on her way, and not after Curfew. Trina says, definitely.

Cyrus says Jordan saw how Taggert’s poor family suffered. First, by his violent death, and then when she revealed how honorable Taggert was anything but. The shame rained down on that man’s family… But fortunately, families are resilient. Take hers for instance. She tells him, stay away from her family, and he says, or what? She says she doesn’t know. Neither of them know what she might be capable of. She doesn’t want to find out; does he? He says he’s sure it won’t come to that. Isn’t the motto of every police force to serve and protect? That’s what’s going to happen between them. She says, in serving, she’ll also protect him? and he says, that’s everybody’s job on the force, right? He tells her, goodnight. Oh, and if she ever decides to drop by for another late night chat, ask herself if it’s worth his trouble. She walks out.

Jordan runs into Portia outside of Charlie’s, and asks how Trina is. Portia says, fine. She’s loving her job, her friends, and school, so Portia can’t complain. Nothing will take away losing her father, but it does give her the structure she needs to heal and work through it. Jordan asks if there’s anything she can do, but Portia says nothing short of clearing Taggert’s name will satisfy Trina. Jordan wishes that were possible, and Portia says, there is one thing she’d like to clear the air about. She knows Curtis told Jordan about their conversation. Jordan says he did, and Portia says she wanted Jordan to know, woman to woman, she shouldn’t have brought up something that was clearly in the past. She has no designs on Jordan’s husband. Jordan laughs, and says she appreciates Portia making that clear.

Julian messes with the lock on Martin’s office door, and says Ava knows what to do, right? She says, if she sees something, text something, and tells him to make sure he notices. She asks if he has a secret spy code, and he says he doesn’t think that would make him look more innocent. She asks if he’s sure there’s no alarm, he says he’s not. He gets the door open, and she says, hurry up. He goes into the office.

Alexis says when she was lying next to Neil, and they were planning their future, he was waiting for her to fall asleep so he could shoot up. Jason says she doesn’t know what Neil was thinking, and Sam says, Jason is right. She doesn’t know what was going through Neil’s mind at the time. Alexis agrees, and says, Neil was a multitasker. He could have been planning his life and thinking about shooting up at the same time. Sam says Alexis sounds morbid, and she doesn’t want Alexis to be by herself. She suggests Alexis come home with them, but Alexis doesn’t think it’s a good idea. Jason says, Danny and Scout love having her there, and she’d be close to Sam, but Alexis says she has a lot of feelings right now, and they’re not pretty. She doesn’t want to have them in front of her grandchildren. Sam says she’ll stay there, but Alexis says, no. Jason just got home, and Sam should be home with her family. Sam doesn’t feel good leaving Alexis, but Alexis says she needs privacy. Sam says if she starts feeling depressed, or more depressed, call. Or call if she feels like drinking. Alexis says, yes to all of it, and thanks them for coming by. She and Sam hug.

While Josslyn is away from the table, Cameron says he can’t believe Trina told Josslyn about… you know. She says she didn’t want it to be a deep, dark secret. Now that it’s out in the open, it’s no big deal. He says he doesn’t want everyone talking, and she says, Josslyn isn’t everyone, and only three people know. He says, you know what they say about three people keeping a secret. In order for them to do it, two of them have to be… She says, what? and he says, never mind. Josslyn comes back, and says she has the best idea about the three of them.

Julian rifles through Martin’s files. Ava hears Martin telling Valentin that he is billing him for this. She texts, GET OUT NOW!!! three times. They get close to the door, and Ava tries to send another message, but it says communication failure. Martin puts his key in the lock, and Julian realizes they’re coming in.

Carly tells Brick, Sonny gave Mike one last afternoon at the track. It was good for him to be around the horses, and it was special to Sonny. Brick says he always admired Sonny, but seeing him care for Mike, being there for him, he admires Sonny even more. Carly says Brick was the one who helped Sonny step up for Mike. It was like using a Lamborghini as a golf cart. He says he was honored to help, but if he looks better to her, that’s even better. She says, it’s not fair. He comes there, flirts with her, and takes off on another mission. He asks if she’s telling him to stop, and she says, not a chance. They clink glasses.

Julian hides, and the fire alarm goes off. We see Ava has pulled it, like we didn’t guess that. Martin says, what the hell…?

Josslyn says, it’s almost homecoming, and suggests they all go together. Cameron says, the three of them? and Josslyn says, the four of them. They can’t forget Dev. Cameron and Trina say, sure they can, and Josslyn says they can still dress up and have fun, but no romantic drama. And they won’t have to worry about who they’ll kiss at the end of the night. Trina says, good idea, and Cameron says, he’s in.

Jordan tells Portia, forget she brought up the past. It’s better for them to move on with no tiptoeing around things. Their only worry is that Trina is still blaming Curtis for Tagger’s death. Portia says she keeps telling Trina that she’s dishonoring her father’s wishes, but does she listen? Jordan says, she’s more stubborn than Taggert is. Portia says, was. She still does that too; talk like he’s still there. Trina is young and headstrong, but one day she’ll realize there are few men with as much integrity as Curtis. Jordan says that’s kind of her to say, and Portia says, of course (🍷) Jordan and Curtis are lucky to have found each other.

Julian asks Ava, what happened? She says she had no reception, so she pulled the alarm. Why should he be the only one committing a felony? Julian says, if Martin has the letter, it’s not in his office.

In Martin’s office, Valentin says, someone was looking for something, and Martin says, obviously. The lookout probably pulled the fire alarm. In any case – he pulls the ELQ folder out of a drawer, and takes another from his briefcase – here’s everything Valentin needs to sign. Just put his John Hancock there. Valentin says Martin had it right there? and Martin says, except the final revision of the offer in question. He would have brought that too, but he didn’t know he’d be seeing Valentin. He makes a practice never to be apart from his most sensitive documents. We see Nelle’s letter in his briefcase.

On the phone, Cyrus asks Walker where they are on the new Chief of Staff. He can’t wait to meet them in person. He tells Walker that Neil OD’d, and wonders where he got the drugs that killed him. I wouldn’t be surprised if Neil had been Cyrus’s therapist, since Cyrus is so au currant.

Alexis looks at a glass of water, but sees a shot. She says, one day at a time, and takes a sip.

Sam tells Jason that she thought she was doing the right thing. To her, there was nothing more important than them being together. She was wrong, and she’s sorry for what it cost. Jason tells her, like he said, it’s over.

Tomorrow, Ava tells Franco that they should cut their losses, Elizabeth tells Nikolas that his fake screwed up marriage is screwing up her real one, and Nina speaks to the jewelry designer.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills – The Reunion – Part Two (Home Edition)

Ugh. Even in the preview I hate the stupid faces they make. Denise eats chips. I get my vanilla wafers ready.

Andy says, this season Kyle was under attack for calling the women a group of fake-ass bitches. It made the group wonder if it takes one to know one. We flash back to Kyle being insulting, interrupting everyone, and being a moron in general. In one clip, she says she’s not friends with a-holes. I beg to differ. Andy asks why she thinks everyone came after her, and she says when she left L.A. to do her clothing line, then went to North Carolina for Halloween, she’d been going back and forth, and was tired. She felt like everyone was coming at her, and not being honest. Which answered the question not at all. Adam from Baltimore asks Dorit why she told everyone she had a life when she was late for Teddi’s retreat. It sounded self-centered and condescending, and she pissed Erika off. Erika admits to being pretty drunk, and we flash back to that. Yep. She was. Erika says they all have busy lives, and Dorit says Teddi claimed it made no difference what time they got there, yet she was attacked. Kyle says that’s extreme, but Dorit says she didn’t feel welcome, and had to defend herself. She didn’t mean the rest of them didn’t have lives. Kyle says she felt like Dorit was showing up to show off her outfit more than to support Teddi. Dorit says beforehand, she was taking pictures to promote her business. Teddi says everyone else keeps bringing it up; she had nothing to do with it. She didn’t think Kyle was defending her, just pointing out the obvious. A viewer asks how Teddi felt when Erika said she didn’t feel like being there. Teddi says she had to move on from it, and while they’re on the Teddi subject, Dorit doesn’t know why Kyle can’t acknowledge her friendship with Teddi is different from her friendship with the rest of them. Maybe it’s true. She says this like it’s tabloid fodder, and none of us have ever had a friend we’re closer to than our other friends. Kyle says, of course it is. Teddi is a better friend to her. It makes sense; they have more in common. Dorit is glad Kyle is finally admitting it. Seriously, are these women that bored? Kyle says Dorit acts like it’s a crime. She’s slept in the same bed with her friends and sisters her whole life; it’s not weird. Stirring the pot, even though there isn’t much to stir, Andy points out that Kyle insulted Erika by suggesting Erika didn’t have close friends. Kyle tries to cover her ass by saying she meant friends close enough to sleep in the same bed. Just an aside, while I wouldn’t mind sharing if necessary, being an adult, I’d rather have my own bed if it’s an option. Erika says they have different lives, and not everyone has that type of relationship. Just because they don’t have the same experience doesn’t make it wrong or bad.

Dorit wants to address the astrology party, where Kyle said she wasn’t as good a friend as she’d thought. Kyle says she was just frustrated and apologizes, but Dorit doesn’t listen and asks Kyle to justify telling her that. Kyle repeats that she apologized and explained, but Dorit says she hasn’t explained. Kyle says Dorit wanted to take credit for her fashion show, and her hiring Wilson Philips for her party. No surprise, Kyle won’t let Dorit respond, and just keeps babbling. Kyle says she never spoke against Dorit, yet Dorit threw her business under the bus, saying Kyle didn’t know what she was doing. There’s a break, and I realize I’m holding my breath.

Kyle says she was shocked, and we revisit Kyle freaking out when she checked out her line before the fashion show. We see Dorit’s interview, where she wondered how Kyle couldn’t have seen the pieces beforehand, and if she just woke up and said she’d throw a show together and be a success. No need for experience or know-how. Kyle says, of course she was freaking out; Dorit said she didn’t know what she was doing. Kyle once again refuses to let Dorit talk, and says Dorit came to her house and she felt like they were friends for life. Then Dorit made fun of her in her interview. She thought they were better friends than that. Dorit says she never slammed Kyle’s designs. She poked fun at Kyle for not being prepared, and she thought Kyle should have been. Garcelle says Kyle got more upset at her saying she’d felt glazed over than she did over Dorit hurting her business. She didn’t seem that mad. Dorit says Kyle just blamed her, but never spoke to her directly. Instead she went to Twitter and the press. Kyle says she was upset, thinking Dorit had slammed her business. Dorit says Kyle told everyone her fashion show was in a warehouse, and Kyle says she had to fight back. She wasn’t going to sit there like a moron. No comment. Too easy. Dorit asks why Kyle didn’t text her, and Kyle asks why Dorit said it in the first place. Andy wants to move forward, and Dorit says she’s very sorry, and wishes Kyle success. She adds she’s always there if Kyle needs anything, and Kyle says she appreciates it. I see why they had to focus on the whole Denise/Brandi thing this season. Apparently, they didn’t have a show without it. Wake me when it’s over.

Andy says, moving on. He asks why Kyle thinks Denise is a fake-ass bitch, and Kyle says Denise claims she doesn’t care about the glam thing, but then defended Dorit. She felt like everyone was putting on an act, and not being genuine, but she was singled out. Bob in Syosset says Denise is the sexiest women alive, and asks how she felt when Kyle called her a ragamuffin. Denise says she was surprised, but wondered if could trademark it somehow, like Ragamuffin Clothing. I actually like that idea. Kyle says, when she was a kid, if she left the house looking messy, her mom said, don’t run around like a ragamuffin. Andy asks if Denise was offended, but Denise says she didn’t care. No pot stirring for you there, Andy. Kyle says she apologized, and Denise says, after the backlash on social media. Denise says she was defending Dorit about being glam when Kyle got upset. It was like, how dare Denise defend her when she looks like a ragamuffin? Either they’re not glam enough or too glam. Andy asks, where’s the middle ground?  

Dorit’s phone keeps repeating low battery over and over, and everyone is like WTF? Andy says Caleb in Topeka asks how Lois is, and LisaR says she misses Lois. She hasn’t seen her in five months. Lois is in assisted living though, and doing great. Andy says LisaR loves the spotlight, like this is news. Her daughter opened up about her anxiety on social media, and she was judged as a mother. He supposes it was attention she could do without. We flash back to everything Amelia, and Andy asks if LisaR thought about what she does on Instagram. She says, as a mother, she’s always aware. Garcelle tells LisaR, what she said wasn’t about shaming; it was just a reality check. Andy asks Teddi if she relates to the issue, and Teddi says as parents, they’re already coping with the struggle, and already feel guilty, so it shouldn’t be made part of a light conversation. Garcelle says she wasn’t being flippant, but Teddi says she said it in front of all of them; it was a low blow. Garcelle has no response. I’m not surprised, since this is stupid even for Teddi. Andy says, Sutton said LisaR’s dancing on Instagram was weird, and Sutton says, that’s not a bad thing. Dorit says, it had a negative connotation. I see she’s been reading again, and is using big words. Sutton says Dorit is making it into something bigger than it is, and LisaR says, it is weird. Dorit says if her daughter didn’t like her doing it, would LisaR continue, and LisaR says, of course not. She’d never do anything to hurt her kids. Andy asks if there’s an update on Amelia’s $6000 a month apartment, and LisaR says, $5700, but who’s counting,? and explains it’s all Amelia’s money from modeling. She’s doing well (apparently), and some days aren’t as much of a struggle, but she’ll always have issues. Charlotte from Birmingham says Denise looked horrified when LisaR said she’d taught her daughters the right way to do a BJ in her book. Did she think LisaR went too far? Denise says she doesn’t think they should judge each other (mic drop). Erika says, it was a lovely bomb LisaR’s daughters dropped on her in Tokyo, and we flash back to that. LisaR says her daughters could care less about reading any book, but one of their friends brought it out. Andy mentions LisaR’s latest nakey picture, and LisaR admits that she loves attention and pushes boundaries, like we didn’t know, and Kyle says, nobody owns it better. I choke on a cookie.

Garcelle asks if anyone is drinking yet. Jordan from Austin asks how Teddi’s baby is, and Teddi explains about how the baby’s head wasn’t formed right in utero, and she needs neurosurgery. She says, everyone says she’ll be fine, but Teddi is obviously distressed about it. Not that I blame her. I might not like Teddi, but wouldn’t wish that on anyone. FYI, baby Dove had the surgery since then, and everything turned out fine. Andy says Teddi’s pregnancy seemed to be an afterthought to the women. We flash back to Teddi’s interview where she says, apparently, she’s proceeding in this friend group as though she’s not pregnant. They talk about the name Dove, which Teddi wanted, but Edwin wouldn’t agree, until she pitched it by telling him that it was an emoji. Erika says, while Teddi ate a lot of Tums, she never used her pregnancy as an excuse for anything. Erika was freaked out more than Teddi was. Andy points out that the bunny is behind him, having made the trip to the Hamptons. Kyle says, it went to Bravocon and Watch What Happens Live in L.A. The bunny gets around. Andy says, the bunny is legendary, and asks if it’s LisaR’s go-to baby gift. LisaR says it is, and even though she acts like she’s not still upset about Kim giving it back to her, I think she is. She says the company went out of business though, so now she’ll have to get a different bunny. Zzzzzzz… What I said before about Denise. They talk about Teddi’s daughter Slate, and how she severed the tip of her finger when a door closed on it. Teddi says she put it on ice, and when she called 911, the first thing they told her was not to put it on ice. Good to know. She says she took it off, wrapped it in gauze, and put it in a Ziplock bag. She called several people, and Dr. Nassif met her at the ER. Andy asks if Teddi was as boring as Sutton thought she’d be, but Sutton doesn’t take the bait, and says she doesn’t think Teddi is boring.

Here it comes, in 3… 2… 1…

Andy says, Brandi dropped a bombshell that was like throwing a glass of wine at Denise. I guess he couldn’t come up with anything more clever, having pandemic brain. He says, the truth is everybody and anybody’s guess, and we flash back to all the Brandi bullsh*t. I shove cookies in my mouth. My husband decides to sit down and watch for a moment, and I tell him not to talk, and expect me to yell at the TV. Denise doesn’t even flinch as we stroll down Brandi’s Memory Lane. Andy says Denise claimed she barely knows Brandi, but Brandi showed the women a year’s worth of texts. There seemed to be a deeper connection. He asks if she has an explanation, and she says for every ten texts Brandi sent, she had one response. He asks if Denise has contacted Brandi, but Denise says she never did. Brandi was an acquaintance, and Denise was always nice to her. LisaR asks why Denise didn’t call Brandi from Rome, and Denise says Brandi isn’t a friend of hers. LisaR says Denise can’t keep lying, and Denise says LisaR can’t keep playing the same card in this game. She’s not friends with Brandi. Kyle says, not now. Andy says when Denise was asked about Brandi at Bravocon, she’d said they were friendly. We see a clip of Denise saying just that, and Denise says she had no reason to say anything negative. Andy is trying to discredit this, and it’s not cool. Andy says Denise called Brandi a friend. Will someone get that man a dictionary? Being friendly toward someone and being their friend are two different things. Denise says she didn’t, and they never socialized. With the exception of Garcelle, every single one of these twats twits asks, where is Brandi? and LisaR says, this is bullsh*t. Yes, it certainly is, and she heads the bull herd.

LisaR says Denise isn’t being upfront, and runs from the truth. Garcelle says LisaR didn’t like that Denise didn’t give her a satisfactory answer. Erika asks if Denise stopped Brandi from being at the reunion, and I say, she’s not on the show. Denise says, Brandi’s not on their show, and my husband marvels at my ESP abilities. Andy says there was a meeting, and they didn’t feel Brandi had anything else to add. After Brandi said she licked bleepity-bleep-bleep, there was nowhere else to go. They’d heard enough. What more was there to add? Denise says, they don’t know about the stuff Brandi sent her; it was so inappropriate. It was harassment. Dorit says if she was in this situation, she wouldn’t want to be around Brandi, and LisaR says Denise shouldn’t have done it. Denise says, done what? and LisaR says what she did with Brandi. Dorit says she believes Denise, but the problem is Denise giving them little bits, like when she said Brandi claimed to have slept with someone in the group. We flash back to that, and Kyle says it wasn’t her. I wonder why Kyle keeps assuming it was her, and again think if it’s anyone, it’s Kim. Andy asks why Denise wouldn’t say who it was, and Denise says, it’s not just one person. Brandi said there was one in the group, but also someone on the outside, who the group knows. She’s not saying who it is, and everyone – again minus Garcelle, since she’s actually a decent human – goes, say it! say it! like they’re five. Denise says it has nothing to do with her, and she doesn’t care what people think. She doesn’t give a sh*t. Kyle says, you can’t have a friendship without honesty. Andy asks, what about Denise talking sh*t about the women? and Denise says Brandi called her after she did Teddi’s podcast, and Denise said she thought Teddi was a sh*t stirrer. She never called Erika a cold bitch, but said Erika was condescending. She brought up LisaR, and Brandi asked why Denise’s friend had turned on her, and that was pretty much all she said. Teddi brings up how, in Denise’s interview, she said she’d called Teddi way worse things. Either say it and own up to it, or lie. Denise says, likewise, and beating a dead horse until it’s dead a second time, Andy asks what’s the worst thing Denise said about Teddi? Denise repeats, that Teddi is a sh*t stirrer, and LisaR says, after Rome, she said she didn’t like Teddi. Denise says the women are vicious, and LisaR says she thinks the cover-up is worse than the crime. Like this is some kind of high espionage and not a load of nonsense.

Next time, more rubbish. The cease and desist is discussed, Denise says don’t ask her husband questions they don’t want the answers to, and Denise is asked if she’s willing to show the text messages.

🎃 After this show, I had to watch Tyler Perry’s Boo! A Medea Halloween just to cleanse my mind. I was surprised to see the dude who played Brady in Too Close to Home in a blink-and-you-miss-him part.

👠 The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City debuts on November 11th. It looks promising, and I hope it’s not just another mean girl fest.

🙋🏻 She’s Gone, Girl…

Apparently, Denise has had enough. Will Garcelle honor her end of the pact?

https://people.com/tv/denise-richards-is-leaving-rhobh/

https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/rhobh-denise-richards-leaving-housewives-beverly-hills.html/

The wise and powerful LVP wants to give Denise an audience.

https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/rhobh-lisa-vanderpump-wants-to-talk-denise-richards-rough-time.html/

⚰️ Let’s Talk About Dead, Baby…

Releasing the Dead.

https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-walking-dead-season-11-finale-end-release-date/

Spinning the Dead off. Please, they picked the two people who have the least dialogue? If anyone deserves a spin-off, it’s Ezekiel, Eugene, and Princess.

https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-walking-dead-daryl-and-carol-spinoff/

The text heard round the graveyard.

https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-walking-dead-origin-of-the-zombie-outbreak/

✂️ Cutting Out…

For the first time in what feels like forever, I’m getting a haircut tomorrow. I haven’t been this excited about something since I got my last haircut, and thought someone would actually see it. Until RHONY reunites, stay safe, stay bold, and stay owning it better than LisaR.

September 7, 2020 – Rerunning Violet’s Party, Ibiza on Deck, Reunion For a Cause, New York’s Brunch, the OC’s Return, and a Hurry

Standard

What I Watched Today

one life(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

General Hospital

Today’s GH was from April 14th, 2020. If it was Friends, it would be called The One Where Violet Has a Birthday Party.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Jess comes out of the water, and says her heart is palpitating bad. She sits, and Alex goes to get her some water. The brood of vipers Malia tells her to take deep breaths, and suggests a hot shower. Jess stands under the guest shower on deck, and Malia calls Captain Sandy, saying, there’s a medical issue with Jess; she’s having heart palpitations. The captain tells Malia to have Jess come see her. Rob asks if Jess is okay, and she asks if he’ll walk with her to the shower. he tells her everything is going to be okay.

At the O Beach closing party in Ibiza, Michelle straddles Aesha, pouring something from a plastic cup into Aesha’s mouth. In her interview, Aesha says Michelle has been trying to do everything to get alcohol in her. She’s not resisting much, but Michelle is strong.

Tom asks, what’s wrong with Jess? and Bugs says, she’s not feeling well. Rob tells Jess, clearly what he said made her anxious, and she’s putting on a show. A-hole. Jess gets dressed, and Captain Sandy calls her to the bridge to check things out. Jess tells her about the heart palpitations, and says that it freaked her out. She’s never had that before, but feels better now. The captain takes Jess’s blood pressure, and says she takes her own every day. She tells Jess, it’s 154/102. She’s not sure about the numbers, so she texts a friend who’s a cardiologist. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says she had that issue, and the end result was a heart attack. She says, as captain, she wants to stay on this, and make sure Jess is okay. Jess says heart disease runs in her family, and the captain says, hers too; both of her parents died from heart attacks. In her interview, Captain Sandy says she was in a cycle class when it happened. She gets a text back, and her friend says Jess’s blood pressure is not that bad. Jess says she feels fine now. She thinks riding the jet ski was too much, and Captain Sand tells her to go and rest. Alex asks if Jess is feeling better. In Jess’s interview, she says the relationship is taking a physical toll on her. Her worst fear is to be completely vulnerable, fall in love, and have it deteriorate. She tells Rob that she’s going to lie down.

In Ibiza, acrobats fling themselves in the air, while dancing girls with headdresses shimmy through the crowd. Michelle puts her crotch in Johnny’s face, and in Aesha’s interview, she says, Johnny is f***ed. Back at the boat, Bugs puts up string lights, and decorates the table for the Great Gatsby themed dinner. She asks if Captain Sandy is joining the guests, and the captain says she is. Aesha radios, saying the guests are ready to come back, and Bugs tells Malia, who bangs her head on the ceiling getting out of her bunk. No surprise, I laugh. Bugs attaches sparkly suspenders to Alex’s pants, and discusses the menu with Tom. Alex picks up the guests, and Michelle says they need to make their way back to Great Gatsby. Johnny makes an attempt to bat at some balls Alex is throwing, and strikes out twice, but gets a hit on the third try. In his interview, Alex says Johnny is in a good state of mind. He’s wasted. Johnny says he’s the best two strike hitter in baseball.

The crew gets ready, the deckhands and Malia in sparkly suspenders with bowler hats, and the stews in flapper outfits. Bugs tells Jess that she doesn’t have to be on service, but Jess says, it’s okay. Alex takes a picture of Bugs, and tells her the table looks great. The guests get ready.

Tom puts an apron on Malia that has a picture of cats and says Mallorca on it. Why? Michelle says, the tablescape is out of this world, and Johnny toasts in Spanish, saying, health, love, money; long time the tree of fruit. He announces that kids are easier than dogs, since you can’t take dogs everywhere like you can with kids. Um… never mind. In Tom’s interview, he says, in the galley, you try to do everything right, so if the guests don’t like it, it’s hard because you’ve invested yourself. You want to wow people, and that’s what hurts. Bugs brings Johnny’s steak back to be cooked a little more, and I guess Tom must be hurting. Upon return though, Johnny pronounces it perfect. Michelle says the food is fabulous, and even Captain Sandy says it’s delicious. The captain asks if the food is hot, and Johnny squeezes Michelle’s boob. I’m not sure what that means. Is that a yes? Malia tells Rob that he can turn in early and get an extra hour. Jess says she’s on early shift too, and they cuddle. Jess is worried about how much things have been changing in the last few days. He says he’s sorry about today, and she says, her too. Aesha calls Bugs a sh*t stain, and says it’s a term of endearment, but Bugs isn’t so sure. In Aesha’s interview, she says she doesn’t see bantering much with this group. Johnny, Michelle, and Adena (the one who got drunk and hurt herself last week) dance on the couches. Michelle yells, Ibiza! for no particular reason. Aesha says, they’re so fun, and the guests toddle off to bed at around 2:30 am. Johnny lingers on deck, and finally goes to the cabin. He tells Michelle, they do need not to have more babies [sic].

The early shift is up at 7 am, except for Rob. Jess tells him, it’s 7:20, and he ends up being 23 minutes late. He asks if Alex is pissed off, and apologizes, but Alex says it’s okay. In Rob’s interview, he says, it’s not okay, because it transfers to someone else’s hours of rest time. Malia sees Jess and Rob kissing, but keeps walking. Jess does the breakfast table, and Malia grumbles, the boat looks like sh*t. Rob gets coffee, and Malia radios him, saying, seriously? What the hell? She tells him that she doesn’t want to come out and see him and Jess kissing when things aren’t done. The boat looks like absolute sh*t, and he’s asking for coffee.

Malia rants that the morning is the most critical time, so they can prep the area before the guests get up. She points out various chores on a list hanging up, and says the morning people have to bust ass. In Rob’s interview, he says he knows better, but got totally lost in his romance with Jess. He’s not thinking clearly. Tom cooks breakfast, and Bugs tells Jess that the table is pretty. Jess says she’s feeling better, and Bugs says the laundry is looking great too. In Bugs’s interview, she says, the more time you invest in someone, the better they do. She’s happy she’s taken the time with Jess. She tells Jess that she’s doing really, really well. In his interview, Rob says, there’s a lot of sh*t with him and Jess, and it’s affecting his work. It’s not okay. Bugs tells Captain Sandy that Jess is doing great this charter.

The captain calls Jess to the bridge, and says she sees her clothes hanging in her closet. She thanks Jess, and tells her that Bugs says she’s killing it. Jess thinks she was never allowed the time to do her job effectively, and now she’s realizing it. in her interview, she says a compliment from Bugs and Captain Sandy. Did she die today? She tells Malia that the captain called her up for a compliment. Rob hears, and asks if it’s her first one, and congratulates her. Jess admits the structure is better, and in her interview, says she’s doing better at her job, but her relationship is getting worse. Alex asks Bugs for coffee, and she says, a special treat for a special boy. Johnny says he slept too good on the boat. The guests are just getting to breakfast, and it’s an hour before they disembark.

Jess asks Rob if he’s in his head, and he says he doesn’t want to think too much anymore with them. They should understand one another. Jess says she won’t ask anymore, so don’t think she’s ignoring him. The guests pack, and the captain gets ready to dock. Rob keeps missing throwing the stern line out. In Malia’s interview, she says, it’s like amateur hour. Losing the stern line is a disaster.

In her interview, Malia says they’re docking terribly, and are going to look like absolute fools. Malia tells Rob to do it quickly, and in her interview, she says, Rob is killing her. She tells him, it’s not locked off, and he finally gets it. Malia tells Bugs, she’s about to lose her effing mind. Rob says, everyone is allowed to make mistakes; it’s a bit rude. Malia tells Alex, from now on, she needs him on whichever side is critical.

It’s time for the guests to say goodbye. Johnny says, it was incredible, and Michelle says the food and service were amazing. The last charter was good, but this was way better. Johnny gives the captain the tip envelope, and the guests leave. Captain Sandy tells the crew to get out of their whites, and into their reds. Malia wants to talk to Rob, and tells him that the stern is super critical when they’re coming in. Once is a mistake, but he did it three times. Then they had to hustle, correcting the time he took with the line. In his interview, Rob says he’s trying to be present in the situation with both Jess and the boat, and needs to compartmentalize better. While they’re cleaning the cabins, Jess asks what happened with Aesha’s last relationship? and Aesha says, it was the same situation as Jess is in. It had been years since she’d had a boyfriend. We flash back to her and Jack, and she tells Jess, when they got back, Jack went back to his ex. Jess asks if they were at the I love you stage, but Aesha says they weren’t even at the sex stage. In Jess’s interview, she says that’s probably why Aesha doesn’t have a boyfriend.

Captain Sandy tells the crew, well done. Having Aesha on board is like a breath of fresh air. She tells Jess that the laundry situation is better, and thanks her. She says the food was so good, she was blown away, and tells them, cheers. The tip was $18,000, or 1500 euros per person. They clink glasses, and Bugs thanks Tom for a great charter. Aesha poses the question to Jess, if she fell in love, and found out the guy had a micro-penis, would she still love him? Is she trying to tell us something about Jack? Jess says, of course. Rob asks Aesha if the main export of Tunisia is sarcasm, but she says she thinks it’s sheep, or wool, or something to do with farming. Jess tries to get Rob’s attention, but he’s too busy talking sheep or whatever, so she asks if Alex wants to go shopping on shore. In Alex’s interview, he wonders if Jess is jealous. Jess asks why Rob isn’t talking to her, and he says she was having a conversation with Alex. She says, he was having one with Aesha.

Jess asks if she can talk to Rob, and they go outside. She asks if he’s looking for things to get upset about at this point, and he says sorry he was caught up in conversation and so involved. He wonders if she feels threatened, and she tells him not to get mad. She was trying to figure out how to get him some clothes, and he was ignoring her. He says, sorry he wasn’t seeing that. He was in a conversation, and there was a time crunch. She asks, WTF is this? and he says he was in a surface conversation, detaching from everything that was happening. She says she doesn’t want to bring drama into his life, and she’s sorry she’s not bringing him detached fun conversation. Geez, how old are we? It shouldn’t be this hard, or dramatic.

Alex and Bugs go shopping in Old Port Ibiza. On the boat, Rob says Jess feels like arguing, and he doesn’t want to. She says sorry she’s not bringing fun conversation to his life. Malia and Tom fool around, and he asks if she wants to have a sunset drink. Alex tries on a shirt, and Bugs says she might have to date him if he wears it. On deck, Aesha calls her brother Jared, and tells him, most of the crew are Americans. They’re lovely, but last year, there was good banter. We flash back to that, and she says, this crew is harder to get going so far. Jared tells her, give it time, and she says they’re going out drinking. He tells her to have fun. The crew gets ready to go out.

Rob tells Jess that they need to try to get better at communicating, so this doesn’t happen. In his interview, he says he thinks there’s jealousy because he was having playful conversation with someone, but it doesn’t mean anything. They apologize to each other, and Rob asks if they’re good. Malia and Tom watch the sunset, and Tom says he thinks the more prepared he is, the more ready he is for the next trip. That makes it easier, or the standard of food goes up. The last boat he worked on had three chefs; it’s a big difference. In his interview, he says he’s never had so much stress. Being the sole chef makes it three times harder. Alex tells Bugs, he wants to have a good night, and Bugs says they have to. Bugs puts glitter around her eyes.

Bugs, says, Ibiza, baby, and Aesha says she’s excited to go out. In Aesha’s interview, she says she was told she had a good time in Ibiza, but doesn’t know for sure. They go to a restaurant, and Bugs tells Alex that she’s the boss. He says, no, and Malia says, let’s get f***ed up. They order, and a mime comes by, doing some kind of illusions with a ball. In her interview, Aesha wonders how he’s doing that. The ball is literally floating. WTF? The crew applauds, and Jess asks Alex if he remembers when they worked together, and she was talking about the sexy South African who was with another guy. She thinks it was Rob, and says, it’s crazy. Rob, who seems to have lost all sense of humor and whimsy, says he’s there now, and she says, sorry. She’s just piecing it together, and realized she had a conversation about him before she knew him. In his interview, Rob says she can’t expect him to remember everything. He’s not an elephant. She asks Rob to respect it a little, and he says he does; he’s here. In her interview, Aesha says it’s the stupidest sh*t she’s ever heard. If they’re fighting this early, no way is it going to last. It is really stupid. I’m not even sure what it is they’re fighting about exactly. I look in my bag of vanilla wafers, and decide if a cookie is broken, it doesn’t count.

Jess asks if he can respect that (what? what is he supposed to respect? I’m not getting this), and he says, he does; he’s there. She asks if they can stop arguing, and he says he’s not; he’s there. She asks him to stop making her feel like this, and I want them both to stop making me feel like changing the channel. In Jess’s interview, she says, stuff happened before she got there, and he’s missing her point. Bugs announces that she’s putting face paint on everyone, and puts glitter on them. They move on to more serious drinking. In the taxi, Malia tells Tom that she doesn’t know if Rob and Jess are the best match, and he says, they’re the worst match. Rob is spiritual. Malia says, Jess is sweet, but the background on her phone is herself. That’s rich, coming from someone so completely self-centered. Tom says, Rob’s is probably spring flowers or something. They get to a club, and Rob tells Alex that Jess is acting weird. Is it me? Rob seems like the one who’s acting weird.

Rob says he can’t do anything right, and Tom asks what the actual problem is. He says he doesn’t know, and Tom suggests he have some beers and chill out. Jess is circumspect, and goes off by herself, while everyone else gets crazy. Rob sticks a beer can to Aesha’s hand. In her interview, Jess says she’s annoyed. Now she has to watch Rob flirt with Aesha. What the hell? Alex tells Bugs that he’s really into her. He’s never met a girl who made him nervous. She asks why he’s nervous, but he can’t explain. She’s the first thing he thinks of in the morning, and the last thing at night. They’re both effing weirdos. They kiss, and everyone starts dancing. In his interview, Alex says, buh-bye, friend zone.

Rob says he doesn’t like how Jess is being hot and cold. Jess thinks he’s done, and just looking for an excuse. In Malia’s interview, she says, it sucks to go out with them. It changes the mood. Rob tells Jess that he changed his ticket to go to Bali, and to stop being hot and cold; she keeps doing this to him. In his interview, Rob says he feels broken, and I roll my eyes so hard, my sister in Ohio can feel it. He asks if Jess is mad, and she asks him to get out of her face. She’s done. He says, for f***’s sake, and tells Alex, I’m an idiot, bru. No argument from me.

Next time, a guest wants cucumbers when Tom is busy giving his cucumber to Malia, Tom gets nasty with Aesha for no reason, Alex tells Rob and Jess that they have to figure out if it was real or a moment that went too far, Rob says maybe he and Jess aren’t meant to be, and the boat loses power before docking.

👠 Vicki and Her Men…

On September 17th, One Life to Live’s Erika Slezak (Vicki), Jerry verDorn (Clint), and Mark Derwin (Ben) will be having a special reunion to raise money for autism.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/one-life-to-live/one-life-to-live-reunion-raising-money-for-autism

🗽 New York New York…

I had no idea Tiffany Pollard had a chat show. It was digital, but now you can catch it on VH1. I think she’s a lot of fun.

http://www.vh1.com/shows/brunch-with-tiffany

🍊 Uno Amiga This Time…

The Real Housewives of Orange County will be back on October 10th.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-orange-county

🚴 Rushing As Usual…

It’s Monday night crunch time, while I get tomorrow’s article ready for https://mupoentertainment.com/theresa-krakauskas/, so bidding you a quick goodnight. Hope your Labor Day weekend included some fun, such as it is these days. Until next we meet, stay safe, stay keeping your boundaries, and stay not being an idiot. Or at least making sense.