Category Archives: Master Chef

Mar3

March 2, 2017 – Nelle’s Dirty Deed is Exposed, Small Chefs, Mark Twain & My Dad

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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Tracy is treating Finn and Hayden to dinner. Hayden seems annoyed, and Tracy asks them to postpone their lovers’ spat. She has no one else to celebrate with, so they’re stuck with each other.

Laura wakes up at JFK. Long term parking?

At the hospital, Elizabeth stops Jason from scuffling with Franco.

Carly tells Sonny the whole time he knew about Nelle, and he could have stopped it any time. He asks if she would have forgiven him, and she says he didn’t give her that chance, so they’ll never know. That hurts worse than him sleeping with Nelle to begin with. I totally understand this, since I’ve been on the receiving end of someone making an assumption that I won’t understand, and in doing that, not even giving me a chance to. Carly says there’s nothing she wants him to say or do at this point. She opens the door, and Michael and Nelle are standing there. Michael asks if something happened, and Carly says you could say that

Laura hears the car alarm go off. She sees the car door opening and screams, but it’s Doc.

Finn asks if anyone has heard from Laura. Tracy says not since she said she’d be early to the meeting, and left Obrecht to decide their fate. She tells Finn and Hayden that they’re as much fun as a spoonful of botulism.

Carly wonders where to begin. Michael says he’s in a hurry, since he’s going to Atlanta with Nell; she has to see a sick friend. Carly asks if it’s the friend who talked to Felicia, and if Nelle was going to keep Michael away so Carly couldn’t tell him. Michael asks what’s going on. Sonny steps in. He says that last Thanksgiving, he got so drunk he couldn’t see straight, and he slept with Nelle.

Robin asks Franco what happened, and he says he wasn’t doing anything except helping with Sam. He tells Jason he’s welcome, and walks away. Jason says it’s not his fault,and tells Robin what happened. She’s shocked Olivia-J is alive. She asks if the police know. Jason says yes, but doesn’t know if they’ve caught her yet. He says she pushed Sam off the footbridge, and Sam fell down the incline. She was out in the snow all night, and when he found her, she was in labor. Elizabeth comes out with an update on Sam.

Hayden says it’s been a long day, and she’s still shocked that Finn would sell his patent without legal counsel. She can’t help but wonder what part of his soul he had to sell to save the hospital. He says the contract included arranging for a low cost generic version of the drug to be made, so that the people in underdeveloped countries will be able to acquire it. Hayden asks how he managed that, and he tells her that he advised the pharm guy how to repurpose the drugs, and it allowed him to get what he wanted in the end. He says it’s given him a reason to stay in Port Charles, which has grown on him. Tracy makes a toast to the both of them. She says if two such flawed and unusual people can find love, there’s hope for all of us.

Elizabeth tells Jason that Scout should be fine. She says she heard he performed miracles. Jason says it wasn’t easy, but Scout finally came around. Elizabeth says that Sam’s issues are more complicated; there appears to be internal bleeding. She says she’ll keep them posted. Franco overhears. Jason and Robin leave, and Franco asks Elizabeth if Sam is going to be okay. Elizabeth says she doesn’t know, and asks for help with some nurse stuff. He says he can’t believe he’s saying this, but he feels badly for Jason. He knows how he would feel if it was Elizabeth.

Sonny says he’s not proud of this. He was drunk and grieving. Nelle came by to check on him, and the next thing he knew, she was in his bed. It was a mistake on his part, but she knew what she was doing. He wanted her to keep the secret, since the family was in pain already. She said she would, and she recorded their conversation. He asks Nelle if she was going to blackmail him. Michael says it doesn’t make sense, and Carly agrees. She came to think of Nelle as a daughter, and Nelle ended up in Sonny’s bed. She asks if Nelle felt good about getting over on her. She can’t understand how she got things so wrong, and says Nelle is one hell of a blackmailer. Nelle starts to leave, but Michael stops her, and says she has one chance to explain.

Michael says he believes his parents. Carly says the recording is right there. Nelle can’t believe that Carly went through the trash, but Carly says she’ll do a helluva lot more when someone messes with her family. Michael asks why Nelle did it. Nelle says she’s sorry, and he asks if this is why she was talking the way she was about being a bad person. She tells him she’d already set something in motion and tried to stop it. Carly says she listened to every word, and Sonny says she planned this all along. She saw he was in a dark place, and helped him get more drunk. It was a plan to get him in bed and record the conversation; then she left a trail with the flowers and the bra. Nelle says she decided not to go through with it. Carly asks if blackmail was on the agenda. She’d already slept with Sonny; what was she planning? Nelle says Michael deserves to know what happened.

Laura tells Doc that she doesn’t know how she got there. He asks what’s the last thing she remembers. She tells him she was supposed to meet Lulu at the MetroCourt, but she canceled. She drove to the hospital, and the last thing she remembers is being in the garage, and then she woke up at the airport.  Doc asks if she was unconscious, but she’s not sure. She panics about the meeting, but Doc tells her the hospital is up and running. He says she lost some hours, and she wonders what happened to her. She has no idea why she’s there.

Finn tells Tracy and Hayden that he has to discuss a case with someone in California, and needs to make a call. Harden says, nice euphemism. When he’s gone, Tracy tells Hayden that she’s very edgy for someone who just emerged victorious from a hospital takeover. Hayden says she’s worried and scared. Finn is addicted to Zen Zen. Why? Why did they have to give it a name that sounds like it’s either a mint or the latest fast food sandwich? Or maybe a cartoon cat.

Franco talks to Jake. I think it’s Jake anyway. What happened to that other Jake who seemed like the girl in The Bad Seed? Franco tells Jake that he has a little sister. Jake wonders why Jason didn’t call him. Franco says he’s still at the hospital, and it’s complicated. Jake thinks Sam and the baby aren’t okay.

Jason calls Alexis, and tells her that Sam is in surgery. Robin brings him some coffee. He tells her that he was calling Alexis and needs to call his partner. He’s been working with someone on finding out who killed Morgan. Robin asks if he thinks it’s Olivia-J, and he says he’s had enough of her name for now. Robin tells him that she was at the hospital to see her mom, and heard about the hospital save. She says Anna is improving, but she doesn’t want to tell her about Olivia yet; it would just have a negative impact. Elizabeth returns, and tells Jason they’re doing everything they can, but Sam is critical.

Doc tells Laura her pulse is fine, but her pupils are dilated. He thinks she was drugged, and asks if she remembers anything out of the ordinary before she woke up. She says she talked to Alexis at the MetroCourt. After Alexis left, there was a guy who knocked her purse over, and he was nice, but did say said something about her coffee. Why light bulbs aren’t going on all over the place, I’m not sure. She wonders why anyone would drug her, and Doc says there was a lot at stake with the hospital vote. Maybe somebody didn’t want her voting. Laura asks how he found her, and he tells her that she texted him.

Tracy tells Hayden that Finn’s behavior has been erratic, and it did occur to her. Hayden says she talked to him, and he used the ELQ jet to get drugs in Canada. Tracy says she should string him up. Hayden says he’s been altruistic and caring one minute, and the next he’s crazy. She asks how she can have a relationship with someone she doesn’t know. Tracy says the real issue is that it will kill him. He won’t face it, so they have to.

Elizabeth says Sam coded, and Robin explains to Jason that her heart stopped, but that doesn’t mean she’s dying. She tells him that patients code more than people know, but he has to trust the doctors. He has to trust Sam too; she knows her kids and Jason need her. Jason says his wife might not make it. He couldn’t protect her, and nothing is helping. Robin says he could pray. He can imagine them happy and whole – what some people call a visualization, she calls faith. It’s been her most valuable ally, and given her a future. It will give him one too. She takes his hand and says they’ll do it together.

Michael asks Nelle to explain. Carly wants to play the audio. Nelle says she threw it away. Michael says he saw the flowers, and he knows his father would never send flowers to a woman he was having an affair with, and this wasn’t even an affair; it was only once. Carly says there’s no question that Nelle set Sonny up, but Sonny left them vulnerable. He did that. Sonny says he was out of his mind when Morgan died, consumed with finding who killed him. Nelle was the least of his problems, and by the time he paid attention, it had already been put in motion. Carly says every day he looked at her and kept quiet, so what Nelle wanted, he helped her to get.

Michael says it’s Nelle’s last chance. If she has anything to say, say it now. Maybe she would if anyone would give her a chance. I’d like to know too.

Finn comes back all chatty. He wants to make a toast. Tracy says what they’re going to do, is talk about him and Zen Zen.

Franco tells Jake that Sam is sick, but she’s a strong woman. Jake looks out the window, and Franco asks what’s on his mind. Jake says that all last year, he was mean to Sam. Franco says she forgave him, and knows he was just going through a tough time. Jake says maybe she’s going through a tough time too; she has a bad curse on her.

Jason and Robin check out Scout. At least she looks like a newborn. I hate when someone has just had a baby and it looks like it’s about 25 pounds. Robin says Sam will make it, and Jason has to trust her. He says when he’s holding Scout, he starts thinking about their life, and can’t figure out how he got there. He was alone, no memories, nothing to lose, and now he has everything to lose. Robin tells him everything to love and fight for, and that it takes courage to love and open your heart. He says he loves Sam so much, but not long ago, he thought he was incapable of those feelings. A new world opened up. Sam held it together, and made him a better man and father, and now he’s afraid.

Michael asks Nelle if any part of their friendship was real, and to tell him now. She says that’s why she didn’t want them to get close, but he was caring and kind, and she found herself wanting to spend time with him. At the cabin, he made her believe she didn’t have to be bad and angry. She wanted to stop what she had in motion, but Bobbie had already told Carly, and it was too late. So she decided to run, but when he wanted to come along, she thought she would have the chance to make him understand. She starts to cry, and says she’s sorry. Carly says, tears, right on time. She says Nelle is good up until someone figures out her game. Sonny wants to know the point. Carly doesn’t want crap excuses, and calls Nelle a scheming piece of trash, whose kidney ended up in her daughter, so she decided to ride gravy train. She wishes that Josslyn didn’t have Nelle’s cold blood running inside of her. Wow.

Doc tells Laura that she told him to come to JFK, and then he tracked her with an app. She says he’s a genius. He says no, but he’s touched; even in her stupor, she reached out to him. They kiss. Because now is the perfect time to be goofing around, and not getting the hell out of there.

Finn asks why Hayden would do this to him. Tracy says she’s worried and doesn’t want him to die. He says he told her he’d get help. Tracy asks when that was going to happen; when he got stopped at the border? She tells him that he won’t be using the jet again either. He says he’s never been that far gone, and she wonders how he knows. He tells her that he’s got it under control and will quit. He says he promised Hayden, and wants her to tell Tracy that he’ll be fine. He tells them both to back off. Tracy asks if she seems like the back off type. She tells him that if he doesn’t quit immediately, she’ll make his life a living hell, and Hayden says she will too.

Carly says Nelle kept saying she would never choose to give up a kidney. The truth is that whether she’s deeply damaged or psychotic, whatever her parents did to her, this isn’t their fault. Nelle says she doesn’t blame her parents. She blames Carly.

Franco asks Jake why someone would put a curse on Sam. He tells Franco that it was Helena. Helena said that if she died, Sam would have problems, and it looks like she was right.

Elizabeth tells Jason that Sam is out of surgery and in ICU. She urges him to go see her.

Tomorrow, Monica tells Alexis that Sam is in a coma, Griff crosses paths with Olivia-J, and Nelle tells Carly what goes around comes around. And hopefully explains this whole thing.

🍗 MasterChef Junior continues to amaze, delight, and make me wish I could cook as well as an eight-year-old. Mayim Bialik paid the kids a visit tonight, and they created vegan burgers for her. Dammit! Maybe I should have had kids. These dogs won’t even boil an egg for me.

🎉 A Spontaneous Mardi Gras Quote

 It has been said that a Scotchman has not seen the world until he has seen Edinburgh; and I think that I may say that an American has not seen the United States until he has seen Mardi-Gras in New Orleans. — Mark Twain  I have the feeling that Mark did not possess any talent of foreseeing the future, since it pretty much looks like a drunken nightmare covered in beads. I’m also fairly certain that a lot of the locals hide the way New Yorkers hide from Times Square on New Year’s Eve.

🎊 True story: When my father was in the Navy in the 1940s, he went to Mardi Gras when he was on leave. He told me he went into a bar, and the next thing he knew, they were sweeping the streets. So much for Fat Tuesday.

 

Feb10

February 9, 2017 – Sonny Backs Ava into a Corner & the Kid Cooks are Back

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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Jordan tells Curtis about Buzz coming to Port Charles. She stops Curtis from leaving, saying that the only reason Buzz came back was because of his note, and she appreciates his faith in her. He says he’s trying to exonerate an innocent man, and guesses they’re done now. Jordan says, no, they’re not.

Andre confronts Hayden about the layoffs. He says he doesn’t envy her position, and tells her letting rumors swirl among the staff isn’t a good idea. He tells her that if she needs his help, to come and see him, unless he’s in line to be laid off. I liked Andre at first, but he’s been coming off as a baby lately.

Sam visits Alexis. Sam tells her that everything was good with the doctor’s appointment, but Alexis wonders what Sam’s not telling her. A bunch of mind readers, these Port Charlesians.

Julian sees Jason at the hospital. He says as much as he wants to find out who killed Morgan, he’s not willing to risk his family. He tells Julian that he’ll leave him and his sister alone.

Carly goes to Sonny’s place, but Dante tells her that he’s gone.

Ava asks Sonny what he’s doing out, and if the police won’t be alerted to his absence. He says the police won’t help her now, not after what she did to Morgan.

Curtis says he’s not going to stay while Jordan insults him. Jordan apologizes, and says what she told him wasn’t right. He asks which part, and she says he deserved none of it. She says on some level he’s right. She doesn’t want them working in the same place, because it complicates her life, and could ruin everything she and Andre have been building. She’s hoping they can put it behind them. He says she wants to get warm and fuzzy now, and she’s got to be kidding.

Sam tells Alexis about the stress test, and how Scout’s heartbeat should have increased, but the doctor thought she was probably sleeping. She asks if Alexis is ready for tonight. Alexis says no, but she has to be honest with her daughters. She gives Sam a gift for Danny. Kristina and Molly bust in with champagne to toast to Alexis getting her license back.

Dante tells Carly that he couldn’t get anything out of Max. He wonders how Sonny got out of an ankle monitor, and thinks they should ask Jason.

Julian tells Jason that Ava isn’t involved, and not to say anything to Sonny. If he gets the wrong idea, he’ll go after an innocent person. Julian has to jet, and Jason’s phone rings.

Ava doesn’t know what Sonny’s talking about. He says Morgan is dead because of her, and she flashes back to switching the pills. She says she never meant for it to get that far. Sonny says what did she expect from planting a bomb in a car? Ava is confused, and says that wasn’t what she was talking about. He asks what she meant then.

Jordan tells Curtis to let her explain. She says not long ago he stole evidence, but he amends that, saying he only took a few pictures. She says he more than made up for it, and before the kiss, she was enjoying working with him. She says it reminded her of back in the day, and she doesn’t have many friends in Port Charles. She tells Curtis that if he can respect the boundaries, she’d like to be friends.

Jason arrives at Sonny’s and finds out Sonny is gone. He wonders how Sonny got out, and Carly says it doesn’t matter; what matters is where he’s going. She asks if Jason found out who killed Morgan. Jason explains that things didn’t add up, and Carly asks if he told Sonny that. Jason says no, but maybe he figured it out. Dante tells them he came there to let Sonny know he was off the hook. Jason wants to find him before he makes things worse.

Ava tells Sonny that his imagination is running wild. She didn’t have anything to do with the bomb, and would never hurt Julian. Sonny says that she wanted the power, and wanted him to take the fall. She tells him after Kiki was shot, she got out of the business. He says something about a secret club, and that he heard Julian on tape talking about being afraid of his sister. He says his son is dead because of her, and he can’t stand for it.

Julian finds Olivia-J at the hospital surveying her new kingdom. He says she’s going to get what she wants, so why is she following him? She says she doesn’t trust him.

Kristina and Molly go on about Alexis getting her license back, and how it’s going to be the year of the rebound. Kristina hands Alexis a glass of champagne, but she says she didn’t go in front of the review board because she isn’t ready; she needs more time to recover. They ask from what, and she says a disease. Sam tells her just say it, and she tells them that she’s an alcoholic.

Curtis calls Jordan a cold piece of work. He says she mocks his feelings, and then denies there’s a connection between them. He says he’s not interested in being friends, and they’re done.

Alexis explains that she was drinking all the time and blacking out. She says a glass or two of wine every night turned into a bottle or two, until eventually she was putting vodka in her coffee. She tells them about going to the bar on Thanksgiving. Kristina wonders why she never saw it, and Alexis says because she didn’t want her to. She says she’s ashamed of herself. Kristina says she thought Alexis would miss her, but she was probably relieved when Kristina moved out. Alexis admits that she was. Molly says it’s because of Julian, but Alexis says that’s not true.

Olivia-J suggests to Julian that Jason might change his mind. She wanted him gone. Julian says she still has him where she wants him, so he can threaten his family to manipulate him. She says she didn’t force him to put a hit on Duke. That’s why she can’t forgive him – he killed the only man she’ll ever love.

Dante tells Jason that it’s his responsibly to find Sonny. Jason promises to bring him back. Dante asks Carly if he’s supposed to look the other way again. Carly says Sonny won’t listen to her or him, so let Jason go before they lose someone else they love.

Ava says if she’d been responsible for Morgan’s death, she could never live with herself. She misses him, and she knows that Sonny does too, but it’s not her fault. She tries to get her gun, feeling around on the table behind her, but Sonny beats her to it.

Andre goes to Jordan’s office. She wants to talk about taking a vacation. He says he feels like something is happening between her and Curtis that has nothing to do with police work. She says she needs to tell him what happened in Baltimore.

Curtis sees Hayden at the bar. They agree they’re both having bad days. He asks if it’s Finn, and does he need to talk to him, but she says they’re fine. It’s the hospital budget that’s the problem. He tells her that someone made a clumsy attempt to put him in the friend zone.

Alexis tells Molly that no one would like to blame Julian more than her, but what good would it do? Sam says Alexis has a history with him and it’s complicated. Alexis says the mess she made of her life was because of her choices, and it’s all on her. She was trying to distance herself from her problems and her family. She didn’t want to hear about their problems because she had so many of her own. Molly asks how she realized she was an alcoholic. Alexis tells her that Julian caught her drunk a few times, and said the right thing at the right moment. He helped her detox and go to AA. Molly is worried about them getting back together, but Alexis says that won’t happen, and she needs to be honest with them. She says she’s sorry, and hopes they can forgive her. Sam says she’s had more time to process it, and forgives her, but Kristina looks pretty pissed.

Dante tells Carly that he should go before it costs him his badge. She says she knows he’s really worried about his father, but every time he’s interfered with Sonny, it’s turned out badly. She says they have opposite views of the world, and the best thing to do is leave it alone. He says Sonny looks at the law as an inconvenience. Carly says he has good reason for revenge.

Sonny points the gun at Ava. She says what about Avery? and Sonny says he’s going to tell her that Ava killed her brother. She says she had nothing to do with it. Sonny tells her that he was going to kill her after Connie, but let her live because of Avery. She says it won’t be justice, but murder. He tells her that what you do, you pay for. Jason arrives, and tells him to put the gun down.

Hayden asks Curtis who the friend zone woman is. He says someone he’s known a long time. She asks if the woman knows how he feels, and he says she’d better. They made out and it was hot, but she’s dating someone boring and uncomplicated. Hayden says some people like boring and uncomplicated, but Curtis thinks the woman is lying to herself.

Andre asks Jordan what happened in Baltimore. Jordan says she and Curtis kissed. He says he guesses it was significant. She says she realized how much she loves Andre, and explained to Curtis that she’s with him. Andre says he doesn’t think she is.

Sonny tells Jason that Brick showed him the tape. He saw the photo, and Julian said he’s in fear of his sister. Jason says it doesn’t add up or make sense. He tells Sonny that he’s been cleared, and Dante is at his house, but he’s here. What’s Dante supposed to do? Carly talked him into not reporting it, but if he kills Ava, he’ll go to prison and lose everything.

Carly tells Dante that she told Sonny revenge won’t bring Morgan back, but she wants the person who killed him to pay. She says if she were in Sonny’s position, she might do the same thing.

Alexis tells the girls that she tried to control everything, but couldn’t control anything. Kristina is angry, and Molly says it wasn’t personal. Kristina says it is with her. Alexis judged her about Parker, so it is personal. She reminds Molly about Alexis catching her and TJ at the hotel. She calls Alexis self-righteous, and says she’s not going to forgive her. Molly says she does, and asks Alexis to promise not to let Julian back in her life.

Sam approaches Kristina and asks her to go to lunch. Kristina thinks she wants to talk her out of being mad. Alexis says she’ll do what she can to make it up to her, but Kristina storms out. Sam tells Alexis that she’ll come around. Alexis thanks Sam for being there for her. Sam tells her to call her sponsor, and she’ll be there if she needs her. Alexis is left alone with the bottle.

Curtis tells Hayden that the woman slapped him, and then wanted to be friends. Hayden says it sounds like genuine passion, and maybe it’s the real thing. He says there are plenty of smart, attractive women out there, and he’s getting his flirt on. Hayden is skeptical.

Andre says Jordan is running full speed trying to stay present with him. He doesn’t want to be the other guy, and won’t pretend to be blind to what’s going on. He says they need to break up.

Sam, Kristina and Molly get together at the bar. They talk about baby names, and Molly says they’ll need to know the sex. Sam is evasive, and says Scout is going to be a great soccer player. They feel her belly.

Olivia-J visits Alexis, and Alexis tells her about Kristina’s reaction. Olivia asks about the new baby, and Alexis tells her about the test results.

Dante asks if Carly is all right with Sonny killing someone. She says no, but she understands. She doesn’t think he’ll risk it, because he knows she won’t stay with him if he does.

Sonny wants justice for his son. Jason says they don’t know if Ava is guilty. He knows Sonny is angry, but he needs for him to think. He’s in the clear, Carly’s waiting for him, and if he pulls the trigger, he’ll lose her. He asks if Sonny wants to be alone for the rest of his life. He tells Sonny to hand him the the gun go home to his wife.

Tomorrow, Sam walks in on Olivia-J and Alexis, Tracy says everyone on the list needs to go, and Jason tries to get Sonny to give him the gun.

🍳  MasterChef Junior is back and impressing me already. My friends all know that my husband didn’t marry me for my cooking in the kitchen. I’m not a bad cook, and can be creative when I put my mind to it, but after years of living alone and working nine to whenever they let me out of office prison, I’m an impatient cook. I just want to eat it now, and the microwave is my best friend. If I cooked 24/7 every day for my entire life, I couldn’t hold a candle to these kids. I love how Gordon Ramsay, in kinder, gentler mode, deals with them. It can’t be easy to tell a nine-year-old to hand over their apron, but there are surprisingly few tears on this show. The praise isn’t held back either. Tonight, he told one little girl that she could easily work the line in his restaurant. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t even let me take out the garbage. Starting off, they’ve pared it down to twenty contestants, and I can’t wait to see what these kids cook up!

Sep16

September 15, 2016 – GH’s Killer Strikes Again & Z Nation is Coming!

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What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

Normally, I recap both Thursday’s and Friday’s GH on Friday, but since Z Nation is having a two-hour season premiere tomorrow, I figured I’d drop off Thursday’s GH now. I couldn’t be more excited about Z Nation coming back, although this means I’ll have to catch the MasterChef finale On Demand. I think the blond chick is going to win.

General Hospital

Julian asks Scotty if he changed the plea. Scotty says no, and he has a better deal for Julian in the envelope he’s holding. It’s Julian’s ticket to freedom.

Alexis thanks Sonny for trying to convince Julian to do the honorable thing, but tells him that he was wasting his time. Paul comes running in, making up an excuse for being late.

Tracy threatens Monica that she’s going to put compromising photos of her online if she doesn’t wake up. She adds that she’s going to correct all the hideous decorating mistakes Monica has made over the years too. She waits for Monica to tell her to put a sock in it.

Lulu tells Dante it’s confirmed that there’s no record of Daphne living at the address she gave them, but obviously Daphne is a real person. Dante says they have no proof of anything and can only assume she worked for Valentin. Lulu asks if he’s giving up.

Sam and Alexis talk before the trial. Ava walks in, all dolled up in a chic, black, body-hugging number. Alexis says once Julian is behind bars, they’re rid of the Jerome family once and for all. Sonny tells Jordan funny how they’re on the same side this time. Ava calls Paul a bastard and says he’s railroading Julian. She’s putting on a show, but tells him quietly if Julian doesn’t go free, he goes to prison.

Michael runs into Jason at the hospital. He tells Jason that he has a surprise for Sabrrrina. I think maybe he’s the one who’s getting the surprise, since she’s unconscious in Monica’s office.

Lulu says no one said it would be easy to find the embryo. Dante says the logical explanation is that it was destroyed in the explosion. Lulu says if Helena got out, she took it with her. She says if she has a shot at finding out what happened to it, she’s going to take it.

Michael says he was inspired by Jason’s wedding. He tells Jason about Carly’s protests. Jason says no woman is going to be right for him in his mother’s eyes, but everything will go well if he sticks to plan. A doctor comes out and asks Jason if he’s there to visit his mother, confusing him. The doctor tells him Monica has been admitted as a patient.

Tracy tells Monica she didn’t get better just to have her check out. and she can’t do this alone.

Michael talks to Felix. When he sees the ring, Felix jokes around like it’s for him, saying he could get used to being a Quartermaine. Michael tells him that he’s going to ask Sabrrrina to marry him.

Ava and Paul continue to pretend argue. Paul tells her to take a seat. Alexis tells Jordan not to worry, that she’s got it under control. Julian is led in. Sam tells Alexis that he’s just another criminal. Judge Lasser takes the bench. She asks if Paul is ready to proceed, and tells him to give the opening statement.

Felix tells Michael that he didn’t know they were thinking about marriage and wonders why now? Michael says he didn’t want to wait another minute for them to become a family, but Sabrrrina can have as long an engagement as she wants. Felix tells him to go for it and make an honest woman of her.

Dante says if there’s an embryo out there and she gives birth to it, it will be Stavros’s child. She says that’s not the baby’s fault. Dante wonders why she would want to raise a child with Stavros’s DNA. She says it’s the last embryo that has her DNA. She asks Dante if he can love the child. He says he would, but there is no child, and they don’t even know if there’s an embryo.

Doc interrupts Dante and Lulu. He asks if he can talk to Lulu about her mother.

The doctor tells Jason about how Monica was attacked and says she’s in the ICU. Jason runs off to see her.

Paul makes his opening remarks. He’s going to prove Julian is guilty of murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy, because he values money above life. He says Julian has already convicted himself with his confession, and he’s confident the jury will see that justice is served by finding him guilty. The judge asks Scotty if he’s ready, but he says he wants a meeting first, since some evidence has come to light.

Michael has a plan where he’ll propose as a violinist plays. Probably the same invisible musician that played at Jason’s wedding. He wants Felix to take pictures, but Felix is still on duty. Felix goes into Monica’s office and finds Sabrrrina on the floor. Note: If you’re going to have someone take pictures of a surprise event, make sure the surprisee knows enough to dress well and put on makeup. This tip doesn’t apply to Sabrrina however, since no amount of makeup is going to fix this.

Dante says he has to make a call anyway, so he’ll let Lulu and Doc catch up. Doc asks if she’s heard from Laura. She says just an email here and there, while she gets Spencer settled in school. She says after that, Laura will probably be in touch with him. He says he hopes so. He tells her right when things were going well, he did something stupid and hurt her. He says he wants to make it up to her, but it’s difficult when she’s thousands of miles away.

The medics try to revive Sabrrrina, but she’s dead. I gotta say, they surprised me with this one.

Jason asks Tracy how Monica is doing, and Tracy says holding her own. She tells him the doctors say it could go either way, and the only thing they can do is wait.

Lulu tells Doc that she’s sure they’ll work it out. He says please tell Laura I love her…I mean, that he’s thinking of her. Dante comes back and tells Lulu he has to get to work. Lulu asks Doc if he wants to stay and have dinner with her, since Dante bailed. He tells her he’s a shrink and can’t help but have observed they were talking about something serious and asks if there’s anything she needs to talk about.

Scotty wants a meeting in chambers, but the judge says since he waited until the last minute, she’ll do it right there. She tells everyone they’re in recess, but don’t wander too far. Scotty gives her a request for the wire tap that got the confession. It was requested for Alexis’s home, but the address number was typed wrong, so the evidence was illegally obtained. He requests the evidence be thrown out. Puh-leeze.

Lulu tells Doc about how she believes someone lives at the address on Cassadine Island. He jokes with her and says she reminds him of Laura. He reminds Lulu about how she discouraged Laura from doing the same thing, and she says okay, she’s a hypocrite. She says now that she’s in Laura’s shoes, she understands, and won’t rest until she finds out what happened to the embryo.

Tracy says she could have let the board close the hospital, but Jason says none of this is her fault. She says she knew there was a risk. He says she kept a hospital open so that people could get the medical treatment they need.

Hey, does no more Sabrrrina mean no more Joe? I wonder if there will be a custody battle with Michael for Teddy. Dante asks Felix for a list of who has access to the area. Felix says it’s not restricted, so pretty much anyone could be there. Dante asks where Felix was, and Michael steps in and tells Dante what they’d been doing. He says he was texting Sabrrrina and ran into Felix, they talked for a while in front of the office, but no one came in or out. He says when Felix went in, he found Sabrrrina on the floor. A detective tells Dante that Sabrrrina was strangled. Dante says that the theory is Elizabeth was pushed by the killer and they have a picture from her phone.

Paul says the request is a copy that could easily have been doctored. Judge Lasser says she’ll send for the original, and when she gets it, she’ll make a ruling as to whether it’s admissible. Sonny asks Jordan if there was any problem, but she says Scotty is grasping at straws. Scotty taunts Paul, but Paul says it will be thrown out.

Ava tells Julian to have patience and she’ll tell him everything when he’s out and treats her to a martini.

Alexis tells Paul to please tell her this isn’t going to fall apart.

Dante asks Michael if Sabrrrina had any conflicts with anyone. Michael says it was her first day back and she was excited about it. He tells Dante to find out who did this and asks to see her. Dante leaves him alone with Sabrrrina’s body.

Doc says best case scenario, Lulu finds the embryo and has a child, but what happens when the day to day comes in. He says it wasn’t conceived in love. The child will be a product of her and her attacker, and would be a constant reminder. He asks what happens if she looks down at the child and sees Stavros looking back at her. Lulu says she and Dante already discussed it. Doc says reality might be different and asks if she’s ready to face that.

Michael sits next to Sabrrrina’s body, saying he doesn’t know how to say good-by. He says he just got her back and their time together meant everything to him. He thought they’d have forever, but he’s glad they didn’t waste what they did have.

Jason talks to unconscious Monica. He talks about how she dealt with him after his accident. All he wanted to do is be left alone, and she let him, and then he realized how alone he was. At the time he didn’t understand because he didn’t have kids of his own, but now he gets it. He tells her there’s another one on the way and he’d do anything for his kids, just like she would do for him. He thanks her for that and for how much she loves him. He calls her mom.

The judge tells the court about the typo. She reviewed the original and says Alexis’s address was incorrect. They can’t use the taped confession. Jordan says she filed the warrant herself and knows it was correct. The judge says no more speaking out and let’s proceed. Scotty says he moves that the case be tossed out because of insufficient evidence.

Lulu says Doc is right; they have no idea how this will affect them, but Nicholas was Stavros’s son and she loved him, and has no doubt Dante will love the baby. She also wants to give Rocco a sibling. She says the bottom line is that part of her is out there and she needs to find it. Then she’ll decide what to do.

Jason says family means everything to his kids and he expects Monica will continue to spoil them and spoil the new one. He needs her to stick around. His kids need her and he needs her. He keeps calling her mom while he’s talking. Monica opens her eyes.

Paul says despite the loss of the wire tap, the prosecution wants to proceed. The judge says if the people think they can make their case, she won’t stand in the way. She tells Scotty to make his opening statement.

Scotty says Julian isn’t guilty. He’s innocent. That’s it? That’s Scotty’s opening statement? The judge says the people can call their first witness. Paul calls Alexis.

At the hospital, Tracy sees Dante and asks who it is this time? She sees Felix and knows. She sees Michael through the window. He puts the ring on Sabrrrina’s finger. Ok, I won’t make a joke about this, but it’s killing me not to, no pun intended. He says he’ll always love her.

Tomorrow, Jason wonders if Sabrrrina’s death is connected to Monica’s attack, Carly introduces Nell to Nina, and the trial continues.

😱 And Tomorrow is Z Nation!

Sep10

September 9, 2016 – A Double Helping of GH, a Side of MasterChef & Quotes for Dessert

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What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital – Thursday

Maxie meets Lulu at The Floating Rib. Lulu asks if all of Maxie’s problems are in the rear view mirror now. Maxie says she and Nathan talked things out, but Claudette hanging on is the problem. Lulu suggests she leave it alone. Maxie tells Lulu they had to push the wedding date up again and Lulu be in her second trimester. Lulu starts to cry.

Robert meets Dante at Perks and tells him that he and Lulu will be interested in what he found.

Hayden’s bail has been denied. Valerie tells her that a cell will be ready soon. Hayden says she’s innocent, but Valerie says that’s up to a jury to decide.

Jason meets Jake in the park. He tells Jake that his mom is in the hospital and that she got hurt.

Griff tells Franco that Elizabeth is still in surgery, but there’s a serious problem. There was more hemorrhaging than expected, and she needs more blood than they have on hand.

Curtis calls Finn, asking him to hurry up with the ID so he can pose as a visiting doctor. He says he’s going to check on Hayden. She needs to know she’s not alone so she doesn’t do something stupid like cut a deal.

Franco asks Griff how it’s possible they don’t have enough blood and Griff tells him that the blackout wiped out some of their supply. Franco suggests a blood drive, but Griff says Elizabeth has a weird blood type and it might be hard to find a match. Yeah, type BTCH.

Jason tells Jake that Elizabeth is in surgery, explaining her injuries. I can’t believe it. That kid already knows what a spleen does and I just found out the other day from a soap opera. Jake asks how she got hurt, and Jason says she fell. Jake asks if it was an accident.

Valerie tells Hayden that she had a public confrontation with Elizabeth before Elizabeth fell down the stairs, and Elizabeth made a statement that Hayden pushed her. Hayden says she found Elizabeth unconscious, so how could she possibly know that, and for all she knows Elizabeth threw herself down the stairs. Valerie says she had the means, motive and opportunity, and her best option is to admit it and take a deal. I have to add an IRL comment here. It’s doubtful that they would have taken Elizabeth’s statement that Hayden pushed her as anything except speculation on Elizabeth’s part, since yeah, she didn’t see who actually pushed her.

Valerie sees Curtis at the station. She thinks he’s there to see her, but he says he’s working on a job. Valerie realizes he’s working for Hayden.

Lulu tells Maxie that she just got a little emotional, and asks if Maxie wants to go over some wedding details. Maxie says if she’s uncomfortable being a pregnant matron of honor, they can change the date. Lulu says she’s not getting pregnant because the remaining embryo was no longer viable. She cries and Maxie says she’s sorry. She says it sounds cliche, but time and love will heal her. Lulu says she believes that, and Maxie says she and Dante are here for her always. Lulu says she’s blessed to have Rocco and not every dream is meant to come true.

Robert gives Dante a folder that contains everything about the explosion, including an inventory of what was found. Dante sees something that might be what they’re looking for

Maxie asks what she can do to help. Lulu says if she starts to wallow, remind her how lucky she is. Maxie thinks Lulu needs retail therapy. They start to leave, and Dante calls needing to see Lulu. He doesn’t want to talk on the phone and asks her to meet him at Perks. She tells Maxie she has to take a raincheck.

Valerie says she thought Curtis respected her position. He says he does, but Hayden is his friend and deserves a defense just like anyone else. Valerie says all Hayden has ever done is pay him for his services. Curtis says if he turned his back, is that the kind of man Valerie would want? Valerie says Hayden has been dodging charges for years and if this doesn’t stick, another one will.

Griff tells Franco that Elizabeth’s doctors are the best and they might be able to pull her through. Franco asks about the blood, and Griff says they have to go to her family to find a match.

Curtis walks into the interrogation room. He asks Hayden how she is and she gives him a laundry list of all her problems, including being sleep deprived. She says she’s never felt more scared and alone. He asks her to walk him through what happened and tells her no detail is insignificant. She thinks he’s wasting his time and she can’t get out of this.

Jason tells Jake that Elizabeth fell down some stairs at the hospital and was hurt, but she’s in surgery and she’ll be fine. He says the other kids are with their grandmother, but he’s going to take care of Jake. Jake asks if they can visit Elizabeth. Jason says he doesn’t know if they can see her right away, but they can go to the hospital and say some prayers. Because the hospital is always where you go to pray.

Naomi stops Finn and introduces herself. She says she was there to see Elizabeth, but she’s not family and the staff isn’t very forthcoming. Finn tells her that Elizabeth is in surgery. He asks how Hayden is. Naomi fills him in and says Haydn didn’t attack Elizabeth. Finn says he knows she’s not a would-be killer and she’ll be exonerated. Naomi says she’s glad to know that there’s someone besides herself who cares.

Griff says his shift is over, but he told the staff to keep Franco apprised of the situation. Franco asks about the kids giving blood, but Griff says they’re too young. Franco asks what if there was another family member no one knows about and Griff tells him to get them in there.

Lulu joins Dante and Robert at Perks. Dante gives her the folder and she asks what she’s looking at. Robert says it’s something no one is allowed to look at, but he’s bending the rules for the daughter of his dearest friend, and it’s an inventory of everything found after the explosion. Dante shows her something in the folder.

Sitting on a bench outside, Maxie talks to herself about wanting a cake that makes a statement. Griff comes along and asks if she wants to bounce any ideas off of him. She wonders how many weddings of his are invalid because of his unpriestly ways? He says he deserved that, but none of his failings invalidated any marriages. He asks if he can sit because it’s not a stellar day, and tells her about Elizabeth.

Franco flashes back to his conversation with Naomi telling him that sometimes a clear conscience only helps the person who’s keeping the secret. The elevator opens. Jake and Jason come out. Jake tells Franco about Elizabeth, but Franco says he already knows. Jake asks if Franco wants to come to the chapel, but Franco says he’d like to talk to Jason, and gives Jake the keys to his studio. Franco tells Jason about the hospital not having enough blood supply, so he has a heads up if he needs to tell Jake.

Naomi says she’s surprised that Hayden has a friend. Finn says that’s a little harsh coming from her mother. Naomi says that Hayden was raised privileged, but has rough edges that have come to the surface lately. She says she’s glad Hayden isn’t as alone as she thought, and leaves.

Hayden tells Curtis what happened. He says just because there was an altercation and she found Elizabeth doesn’t necessarily mean she’s screwed. He says he hasn’t begun to dig yet, but he has to get back to his partner, Finn. He tells Hayden that she has friends, but she needs to trust them. He calls her “cupcake,” and says everything will be okay. I just love Curtis.

Franco stops Naomi, saying they need to have a chat about Hayden and her sister Elizabeth. Franco grabs her arm, steering her around the corner. He says Hayden has to have the same blood type as her sister.

Valerie says they’ll have a cell for Hayden soon. Hayden says she might get out sooner. Valerie says one talk with Curtis and she’s free? She tells Valerie that he’s come through for her before. She lists all of Curtis’s great qualities and says how highly he regards Valerie. Hayden says if he’s right about that, maybe Valerie should consider that he’s right about her too.

Finn gives Curtis the ID and says it should keep people from asking questions, except for the ones who know him. Curtis says he’ll keep a low profile. A nurse comes by and Finn asks about Elizabeth. The nurse says she’s still in surgery, but she has Elizabeth’s personal stuff to deliver. Curtis says she’s probably busy, so he’ll do it. The nurse asks if she knows him.

Maxie tries to leave and Griff asks her not to. She says after asking her to trust him, he was dishonest with her for months, so what would she get out of the conversation? He says an apology and that he should have trusted her and Nathan with the truth. Even worse, he gave Claudette an opening to cause more damage. He says maybe one day he can make it up to them. Maxie says she has an idea about how he can do that now.

Lulu sees a fireproof freezer listed that was still intact. Robert says it was empty, but there was a key in the lock, meaning someone might have taken out what was in it prior to the explosion. Lulu puts two and two together, saying maybe their embryo was inside. Good luck finding that a million years later. Lulu thinks Helena might have taken the embryo.

Jake asks Jason if he’s seen Franco. Jason says he had something to do and he’ll leave the keys at the nurse’s station. Jake shows him some pictures he drew for his mom. He asks what if she doesn’t get better?

Franco says that Naomi wants to help Hayden, and he wants to help Elizabeth. He says maybe they can do both without the secret coming out. He says no matter what, he’ll get Hayden to cooperate.

Curtis shows his ID as Dr. Ashford to the nurse. Finn tells her that he’s been recruited from another hospital to help out during the staff shortage. Finn takes Elizabeth’s things from the nurse and she leaves. Curtis tells Finn he would make a great PI, and wonders who would want Elizabeth dead. He says maybe there’s something in her belongings that will tell them.

Maxie tells Griff that she thinks Claudette has another agenda with Nathan and she wants to know what it is. She suggests Griff seduce it out of her. Griff is like, excuse me? She says it’s not like he hasn’t done it before, and she saw them kiss. She tells him to use it to get information.

Dante tells Lulu they’re getting ahead of themselves. She says no way Helena would allow a potential heir to be destroyed. She can’t believe they were just on Cassadine Island and could have searched. Robert says it’s all speculation. Lulu says if there was any chance of a child from Helena’s beloved Stavros, she wouldn’t have let that go. Robert says Helena is dead. Lulu tells him that there’s an entire lab compound under the house and it could have been stored there. They have to go back.

Griff tells Maxie it’s dishonest and against his vows. Maxie says it’s not like he hasn’t done it before. Griff says there has to be another way. Maxie says fine, she’ll do it herself, but don’t pretend he cares. She says the only one he’s ever protected is himself, and he’s not the pious man he pretends to be; he’s just a man.

Jake says he doesn’t want to leave his brothers. Jason says that won’t happen. He says he doesn’t know what lies ahead, but he loves Jake. They hug.

Valerie calls Curtis, who’s at the hospital going through Elizabeth’s things with Finn. Valerie asks if he’s free, but he says he’s going to be stuck for a while. She tells him if he gets off early, she’ll be at The Floating Rib. Franco walks into the station.

Finn looks through Elizabeth’s phone. Curtis tells him to check the browser history and maybe they can retrace her steps. Finn says even better would be to follow the person who pushed her.

Franco goes in to see Hayden. He tells her the doctors are worried, but she can save Elizabeth’s life.

Tomorrow, Griff talks to Sonny, Dante asks Lulu if it’s worth risking their lives, and Franco tells Hayden there’s something she needs to know.

General Hospital – Friday

Morgan wakes up late. Carly tells him to get going and he calls himself a loser. She says it’s not that big of a deal and asks what’s going on with him, since he’s been sluggish and moody. He says he’s taken all of his doses, but it must be just one of those days.

Griff meets with Sonny at TFR. He wants to know what the chances are of Julian getting convicted. He says with Anna out of town, Sonny is the only one he trusts to be truthful.

Robert tells Lulu that Cassadine Island isn’t a resort. She says if her embryo is there, they have to find it. I’m totally aware of how ridiculous that sounds if you don’t watch the show. Maybe even if you do.

Finn says it looks like Elizabeth’s phone took a picture when she put on the flashlight. He says it’s definitely a man who pushed her down the stairs.

Paul asks Jordan why Hayden isn’t in cell. He gives her some ridiculous reason as to why he cares. He gets snippy with her and tells her to do her job.

Franco tells Hayden that Elizabeth will make it out of surgery with her help. He says there’s something about the two of them she needs to know.

Morgan keeps apologizing, but Carly says she only wants to understand. He says he’s just tired. Nell comes to the door. Morgan answers and gets all excited. He tells her to come on in and give him some relief from the interrogation. He leaves for work. Nell asks Carly about the job leads she mentioned, and Carly says she has the perfect one – working for her.

Sonny tells Griff about Alexis wearing a wire and getting the confession, and how Julian tried to kill her afterward. Griff asks if Sonny thinks it’s enough to sink Julian. Well, I’d hope so.

Lulu says they’ve been to Cassadine Island twice and survived, adding that Helena is dead and Valentin is in prison. Dante thinks it might be a set up and reminds her of the will. Robert asks what he’s talking about and Lulu tells him about the empty envelope that Helena left to her.

Curtis says they don’t have much, but it clears Hayden. Finn suggests they blow up the picture. Curtis snatches the phone from him, so he doesn’t do something stupid like delete it. Curtis calls Jordan and says he’s coming there with something major.

Franco tells Hayden that the hospital is running out of blood and Elizabeth’s body will only accept her blood type. Hayden says she has a rare one and she’s never known anyone else to have it. Franco says, now you do, but she knows he’s not telling her something.

Carly wants to hire Nell as her personal assistant. Carly tells her it’s not a made-up job and the job requires no formal training or education. Nell says thanks and all, but she has to turn Carly down.

Griff says he saw the picture of Alexis and Kristina. Sonny says Alexis is ragged (ha-ha! funny word for Sonny to use) and she’s been drinking a lot. He says her confidence has been shaken because she believed in Julian. He tells Griff that she can’t admit Julian didn’t really love her, and it might affect her testimony.

Curtis and Finn bring the phone to Jordan, who doesn’t even want to know why they have it. They show her a picture of the bottom of a man’s pants legs and his shoes.

Franco insists that Hayden pushed Elizabeth and now she has a chance to save her, so it might look good for her. She says she’ll do it. Franco is like let’s go, and she says she’s still in police custody, showing him she’s cuffed. He starts to mess with her cuffs using a paper clip and Jordan walks in. She wants to know what’s going on, but I think she should understand by now that everyone just comes and goes and does what they want here, like they do at the hospital.

Griff asks if Sonny tried talking to Alexis. Sonny says she thinks he’s just gloating, telling Griff that Julian has been gunning for him since he came to town. In the beginning, he hid behind Sonny’s grandson, Danny, knowing Danny needed his bone marrow to live. Sonny says Alexis thought she was protecting the man she loved. Griff says Alexis seemed fine with everything until she got dragged into it, and wonders how he can trust her to do the right thing. Sonny asks if Griff isn’t the one always preaching forgiveness.

Nell says Carly doesn’t owe her anything .Carly says she wants to help her because of what happened, but she’s not so grateful she’d entrust her business to her if she didn’t think Nell was capable. She says her last assistant ran off to Niagara Falls with a guest and she needs to fill the position immediately. She gives Nell a job description and goes to take a call. Morgan comes downstairs and Nell asks if he knew Carly’s last assistant. Morgan says yes, and he says it’s important to be organized. Nell tells him about Carly’s job offer. He says she just got offered a job and he just got chewed out at his.

Lulu tells Robert about Daphne said she lives at the return address on the envelope. Robert says it sounds like a trap. Dante doesn’t want to risk going back. Lulu says there’s no other way to get answers. Robert says maybe there is.

Franco tells Finn about Hayden having the same blood type as Elizabeth. He wants Finn to check the records to make sure. Finn wonders how he would know this. Franco avoids the question, saying Elizabeth is in the ER and if she runs out of blood, they run out of time. Finn makes a call.

Franco goes back into the interrogation room. Curtis says Hayden won’t be a prisoner much longer. Paul walks in and wonders what’s going on. Jordan says there’s evidence that Hayden didn’t do push Elizabeth and shows him the phone. GET THAT OUT OF HIS HAND! NOW! He sees his own shoes and makes soap opera faces. Paul says he wanted to be kept posted, but didn’t want any tin foil hat theories. Curtis says he used the GO locator to find out the picture was taken on the hospital stairs. Paul says just because it looks like Elizabeth’s phone doesn’t mean it is and the photo changes nothing, because he’s desperately grasping at straws. Very thin paper ones that go flat after a few sips. He says Hayden needs to go to her cell. Franco says she’s going to give blood. Paul starts yelling that she’s not going anywhere and totally overreacting.

Sonny gives Griff a run down on what happened to Alexis and says he’s no one to judge. Griff says him neither and Sonny says Griff’s father made his share of mistakes, even though in the end he wanted out. He was going down a bad road and changed direction because he wanted to be a better man. Sonny thinks Duke would have been compassionate with Alexis.

Nell tells Morgan that bosses can suck. Morgan says if he was his own boss, he’d fire himself, but Aaron isn’t like that. He tells her he hopes she wasn’t put off by him and his mom is tough, but fair. He says the money is good, but she’ll work for every penny. Nell says she wants to be a teacher though, and doesn’t know if she can pursue it at the same time. She doesn’t want it to get in the way of her true goal. Morgan asks when she figured out what she wanted to do, and she says she just always knew. She wonders if she could use the job as a stepping stone to becoming a teacher and end up with the best of both worlds. Morgan says going to school was great, although he didn’t appreciate it at the time. It helped him to focus.

Carly comes in and Morgan says he has to go deal with something. Nell asks Carly again if the job isn’t charity. Carly says if she sucks, she’ll fire Nell’s ass. Nell says okay, she’ll do it.

Robert says there was a complete sweep of the island, including Daphne’s address, which has been abandoned for years. Dante says they never saw the house, Daphne just said she lived there. Robert says there’s no record of her anywhere.

Finn comes bursting into the interrogation room, and despite Paul’s protests, Hayden gets hustled off to the hospital. Jordan talks about getting her released. She says the photo isn’t great, but it obviously wasn’t Hayden. Paul makes a bunch of noise. Jordan says she’s not okay with sending an innocent woman to jail. Curtis says this could lead them to exactly who pushed Elizabeth down the stairs. Geez, they’d better make a print out and several thousand copies so this evidence doesn’t get “lost.”

Griff tells Sonny that he’ll try to follow his fathers example and give a the benefit of the doubt. He wonders if Julian will be convicted and Sonny tells him not to worry about the trial. Griff says it’s not justice if you take the law into your own hands. He’s good with those little pearls of wisdom. He probably took a class in it at priest school. Griff sees Robert walk in and asks for an introduction. Sonny says that Robert hates his guts, but okay, and introduces them. Robert says they saved him a trip, since he wanted to talk to both of them. I’m intrigued.

Nell thanks Carly for the advance so she can get her stuff. They thank each other and hug. Hmm…Nell’s face. Nell leaves and Carly asks Morgan, who’s working on his laptop, if he’s working from home. He says Aaron got someone to cover for him and you can’t sell a latte from home. He tells her that he’s enrolling in school full time.

Curtis says the picture is good for Hayden, but not so good for finding the criminal. Jordan says she found out that the phone is Elizabeth’s and they need to let Hayden go. Paul whines and stomps his foot, but she says they can still consider her a person of interest. If they’re wrong, they can get her back later. She says it doesn’t look good for the department if they don’t look for the real criminal. Paul finally agrees and says they need to talk about how everything is going to proceed from here on out.

Hayden asks how Franco how he knew about the match. She says Finn was saying something that Franco kept interrupting. She asks again how he knew her blood type was a match. Finn walks in.

Carly tells Morgan to back up. She says ten minutes ago he thought he couldn’t do anything, and now he wants to go to full time school? He says he’s majoring in marketing and realized he’s not there to serve coffee, but to get people to buy something. He said he got everyone to think, including Nell. He says he felt a little jealous at the passion she has that he doesn’t have, but then he discovered he did have it, and all his ideas led straight to going back to school. Carly asks if he’s sure. He gets all excited and hugs her. Definitely getting manic.

Robert joins Sonny and Griff at the table, telling Griff that he looks like Duke. He says Anna would have come back for the trial, but got convinced to stay in Berkeley a while. She wanted Griff to know she didn’t abandon him, but Griff says he didn’t think that. The three of them toast to justice for Duke.

Lulu says it doesn’t add up, and Dante says it’s not supposed to. She says there’s no trace of Daphne living at the address and the place is empty. Helena said she owed Lulu the most, and left her the most valuable thing. What would be more valuable than an heir? She wants to go back to Cassadine Island and thinks if the WSB digs deeper, they’ll find something. Maybe the embryo is at the address? That seems awfully simple, but come to think of it, why wasn’t this address investigated earlier? Like five minutes after Helena died.

Paul tells Jordan to keep him apprised. She says he seems awfully invested in a simple assault case. He says he wants justice done. Today’s theme.

Hayden starts to ask Finn about the blood type and he gets a call that the charges against Hayden have been dropped. He says there’s no time for celebration though; he has to check on something. Hayden tells Franco that she told him so. For a moment, she pretends like she’s not going to give her blood now, but then tells him that she will. However, he needs her blood and she needs something from him.

On Monday, Sam needs to check up on something, Julian tells Scotty that he’s doomed as doomed can be, and Hayden says she wants freedom in exchange for Elizabeth’s life.

MasterChef

I don’t usually recap this, although I’ve been known to dabble in MasterChef Junior. But there was something that stood out tonight.

They’re down to the final four and break into teams of two, cooking for a restaurant of food critics. David is on the losing team, which ends up having to do a pork pressure test, using pork belly, chops and tenderloin. I thought it was amazing when he owned up to his mistake in the team effort, saying he was the reason that his teammate and friend had to endure this. But then when they had to critique each others dishes, he didn’t exactly make nice and deflated my balloon. She was also the one who ended up making an exit.

They’re down to the final three, but I don’t really have a favorite. While I’ll watch anything with Gordon Ramsey in it, and love watching a cooking competition and lusting after the food, I can never seem to invest in the competitors much.

Quotes of the Week

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. — Oscar Wilde

I love my body, and I would never change anything about it. I’m not asking you to like my body. I’m just asking you to let me be me. Because I’m going to influence a girl who does look like me, and I want her to feel good about herself. — Serena Williams, Self, September 2016

Listen, I’m engaged to this man and I’m going to marry him, so back off. Just back off.  — The Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, Real Housewives of NYC Reunion Part Two

Aug15

August 14, 2016 – The NJ Wives & Some Complaints

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What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

All I have to say about this season of MasterChef is, if by some fluke, Nathan wins, I’m never watching this show again.

This summer, TV watching has felt somewhat like when I worked in accounting and cash management. Most of the time, it was non-stop work, but there were always those couple of days out of the month where there wasn’t much to do and I’d catch up on personal phone calls. Most of the summer has been that couple of days.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey

I have no idea what’s going on with this show. It was supposed to air at 8 pm and tennis was on. I repeatedly checked throughout the hour and it was still tennis. Or talking about tennis. Now I put it on at 8:50 and the show is already in progress and I don’t have a clue how long it’s been on. I’m also annoyed because this messes up my watching Return to Amish and Mary is hosting Christmas dinner. I could use a little Christmas, since it’s 110 degrees out.

Ok, I was able to catch the beginning the next time they aired it, and Dolores’s dog is having kidney issues. She gives ex-husband Frank a list of house reconstruction demands. She’s hoping to be able to pay him back for the years of his support by opening her own gym. They’ve owned gyms together before, but this time it’s all on her. He tells her to come by later so they can talk over the plans.

Melissa’s kids get ready for a fashion show at NY Fashion Week. In her interview, Melissa talks about how hard it is juggling work with the family. She tells Joe #2 that she invited Teresa to the show. They discuss how the Melissa/Teresa relationship is going. Melissa says she’ll feel like they’re really friends when she can disagree with Teresa without ducking. Joe tells her to just tell Teresa that she’s being a pita when she is because that’s what he does. She wisely responds that he can get away with it being Teresa’s brother.

Boring Jacqueline family stuff, with Siggy co-starring. In her interview, Jacqueline talks about how she’s glad Ashley is living at home. They talk about Melissa’s store opening and the rebuilding of Jacqueline and Teresa’s friendship. Siggy suggests she take baby steps and I think of Bill Murray in What About Bob?

Jacqueline visits Chris at work. He tells her to remember what Teresa and Joe #1 are going through when they get together. He says they might have underlying stress, so just forget the past and blow off anything weird. She says it will be interesting to see if the friendship chemistry is still there. What I don’t get is why everything has to be such a big deal? I have a lot of friends, but only several close friends. It’s not like you have to be conjoined twins with everyone.

Siggy has to take her daughter’s phone away. It’s the second time she’s gotten in trouble with it at school. She gives Sophie a lecture on responsibility and rules and how you need good grades to get a decent job. Here’s where I came in the first time.

Teresa, Melissa, Joe #2 and a passel of children go to a fashion show that some of the kids are involved in. They go out to eat afterward and discuss how we should all support and lift each other up.

Dolores meets Frank at the gym. They discuss getting more members and the class schedule. She says the ew gym isn’t just a hobby, but her independence.

Siggy and her kids sit down for some diner food. The kids talk about the difference between staying with their father and with her. They complain that she treats them like slaves. She says she’s the one who has to take care of the important stuff and their dad gets fun weekends. It sounds like it’s the same as most normal households where the parents live together. They try to talk to her, but she keeps interrupting and then starts to cry when her son tells her she can’t last a minute listening to him.

Joe #1 chases around with Milania (or one of those girls with an “a’ at the end of their name). Teresa tries to hurry him up because they’re going to Jacqueline’s house. Teresa is hesitant about the whole thing and we flash back to the last fight between Jacqueline and Teresa. Milania is now busy goofing around with a Sumo wrestler costume and can’t get up from the floor. Finally, Joe and Teresa make it to the car.

Joe #1 gifts Jacqueline with what looks like an entire case of his homemade wine. Teresa is excited to see Jacqueline’s kids. Joe and Chris talk while Teresa helps in the kitchen. Teresa says she just wants peace and to keep toxic people out of her life. Jacqueline says that Teresa had her own thing going on with both her and Melissa, but Teresa thinks they ganged up on her. Jacqueline talks about Teresa not talking to her about the tabloid articles, and how some of them were true. Teresa says she had no idea about it at the time and is surprised Jacqueline would think she did. I can tell that Jacqueline is gearing up to be an insensitive a-hole.

Teresa says her real friends believed she didn’t know what was going on and there must have been a disconnect between them. In her interview, Teresa says this is the last thing she wanted to rehash. Teresa tells Jacqueline that she’s hurt about her lack of trust. Teresa tells her that her brother told her not to trust Jacqueline. Jacqueline calls Joe #2 and asks him what he said. Joe is like, this was a million years ago and it’s up to you two so-called adults to work things out between you. Jacqueline hangs up and Teresa tells her that she’s not interested in anyone who’s not loyal.

Teresa reminds Jacqueline that she never questioned her when she was going through some legal issues. Jacqueline says hers wasn’t a federal bankruptcy fraud case. Teresa says that was a low blow and it’s time to leave. Teresa recaps what was said to Chris. In his interview, Chris says the girls always ruin things with some emotional nonsense. Joe says the girls always f-things up.

Jacquelie keeps going on about how you can’t compare the two cases they went through. Teresa says she did her time and took responsibility for it. Jacqueline says she doesn’t own it and had blamed her brother. Teresa says now Jacqueline is nuts, let’s go. I actually don’t remember Teresa blaming her brother for anything, but that also might have been something in the tabloids and I don’t read them often. Jacqueline insults her all the way out the door. Joe guzzles his wine before he leaves.

Chris asks what the trigger was. Jacqueline says Teresa was the one who brought up the past first and when she “came back at her,” she couldn’t take it. So much for Chris’s advice in the office. I don’t like Jacqueline. I feel badly that she has the pressure of raising an autistic child, but she’s nasty. I don’t know if she’s bored an likes to stir the pot or what, but she definitely has a ratchet attitude and looks for problems.

Teresa tells Joe #1 about Jacqueline calling Joe #2 and how insulting she was. I’m totally with her, and calling Teresa’s brother was out of line. It’s like she wanted to cause trouble between them. Joe says if you can’t repair what’s broken, sometimes it’s better to walk away. Teresa is like, I just got home, and I don’t need all this. Joe agrees that Jacqueline is a bitch.

Next time, Jacqueline babbles to Melissa, Teresa explains what happened with Jacqueline to Joe #2, and Siggy gets all weepy about family and tradition.

Jun2

June 1, 2016- GH & NYC in the Berkshires

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What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & recaps from today’s real time TV watching)

No Little Women tonight due to the Roots extravaganza. MasterChef has started up again though, as well as Wayward Pines, which for some reason I want to call Wandering or Whispering Pines. Not all of the critics are thrilled with Pines taking the story three years into the future when the kids have taken over, as well as changing most of the cast, but so far, so good with me. Moving on.

General Hospital

Lulu and Dante look over properties while they sit in the park. He thinks one place is perfect for the three of them and she asks what about the four of them? Dante wonders if she’s ready to move forward with that, and she says if you wait until you’re ready for anything, it will never happen. Truth! She says since they’re looking for a house, they might as well plan ahead. Both their phones ring at the same time with news about Nicholas and Lucas. They both leave for Windemere.

Kiki is on break, so she sits down with Dillon. He asks if someone recorded their Nurses Ball performance because it felt like a dream. She says she had a great time with him. He apologizes for moving too fast, but says it felt right to kiss her. She says it’s the best thing that’s happened to her in a while. I’m in. I’ve thought it was time for her to shake Morgan for a while.

Carly talks to Bobbie on the phone and tells Sonny that Lucas is in a coma.

Hayden and Laura talk about finding Nicholas. Spencer is back. I missed him! He has a cute spiky haircut and glasses now. He asks what’s up with all the police and if somebody died. Laura explains that they found a broken window and now they can’t find Nicholas. She says the police are there to help figure out what happened. Spencer says foul play must be suspected if the police are there. Hayden mentions Jason and Elizabeth picks right up on that.

Jason insists on having his lawyer there for questioning. Jordan says that implies guilt, but Diane walks in and says not having a lawyer implies stupidity. Jordan’s first question is how Jason ended up in Nicholas’s bedroom around the same time Nicholas crashed through the window. Diane gets Jordan up to speed about the ELQ lawsuit. Jordan asks Jason what he was doing at Windemere.

Sonny wants to talk to Carly before she leaves for the hospital, but the doorbell rings. It’s Ava who’s there to pick up Avery per the agreement. Carly is surprised, and Ava makes a snarky remark about Avery being her and Sonny’s daughter, so Carly doesn’t need to know everything. Carly wants to talk to Sonny privately. Sonny wants Ava to apologize to Carly for being rude.

Hayden tries to comfort Spencer. Laura says it’s easy to go to the worst case scenario, but they have a lot of reason to be hopeful. Spencer says he knows he should’t jump to conclusions without evidence and asks about DNA and some other stuff no other kid of that age would know about. He says they’ve covered all they collectively know, so he’s going to find the detectives for an update. Laura wants to go with him. Spencer thinks it’s a good idea in case the detectives stonewall him because he’s a kid. He cracks me up.

Elizabeth says Hayden tried to kill Nicholas and wants to pin it on Jason. Probably plenty of people know she was still at the ball at the time, so that seems stupid even for Elizabeth. And like Elizabeth didn’t have her beady little eyes on Hayden the whole time they were in the same place.

Jason says he went to Windemere to talk to Nicholas about the lawsuit. He says they never talked though. He found the door open and walked in. He called out for Nicholas and then heard noises and went to investigate, finding a broken window and wrecked room. He says he heard the window break when he was in the hallway and saw a body on the rocks below. Jordan asks if it appeared that Nicholas had fallen to his death. Jason says he doesn’t know, but Jordan says he knows more than he’s saying and she thinks he pushed Nicholas.

Sonny tells Ava that if he can’t trust her to be civil to his wife, how can he trust her with his daughter? Ava apologizes and says she hopes they can make peace for Avery’s sake. Carly goes to get Avery. Ava thanks Sonny, but he says if she screws up again, it’s over.

Hayden is like, I’m half Nicolas’s size, how could I push him out a window? Elizabeth says maybe she caught him off guard. Hayden says she wasn’t even there when it happened, but Elizabeth says maybe she had someone else do it.

Diane says Jordan isn’t asking questions, just making baseless accusations. After finding out that Diane is also representing Sam, Jordan asks her about Nicholas and Jason’s conversation about the lawsuit. Sam acts like she came in right behind Jason and Jordan asks if Sam heard the same noises. She says she has surveillance footage that belies what they’re both telling her.

Jordan shows the video in which Sam arrived seven minutes after Jason.

Hayden says Elizabeth looks paranoid and unreliable. Lulu and Dante come running in looking for Laura. Elizabeth tells them she’s with the detectives, so they leave. Now that I think of it, maybe Elizabeth pushed Nicholas out the window. What’s she doing there anyway?

Dillon says he was afraid Kiki would think she made a mistake. She asks if he feels that way and he says no. She says she finally feels like she can breathe. She says she likes spending time with him a lot, but she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t on the rebound. He says that’s not necessarily bad and they can take things at a snail’s pace. He wants to take her on a date. She says what about the concert, but Dillon says she’ll be more of an assistant there. She says he makes her life uncomplicated and he says he hopes that isn’t code for boring, but she tells him it’s just what she needs.

Ava says she got the message loud and clear. Carly brings Avery down and Ava takes her. Um…we hear crying sounds, but Avery isn’t crying. Note to director: I get that kids don’t always do what you want, but try to make it somewhat believable – like maybe don’t show us her face at that point. She leaves and Carly is like, what’s up with that? Sonny tells her to calm down and explains about how they’d cut AJ out of Michael’s life and made a mess of things. He says Ava might manipulate Avery during visits, but she’ll come home to them, and when she starts rebelling as a teenager, who knows about rebelling better than them? He says this way everything will be up front.

Ava takes Avery to visit Kiki at the MetroCourt.

Diane tells Jordan the interview is over. Jordan tells Sam to rethink her statement. Diane says the PCPD has a history of bias against her client and Jordan needs to stop running to a rash judgment. Jordan says Diane’s assurances are the best that money can buy, but are meaningless to her. She leaves and Jason asks how much trouble he’s in. Diane says seven minutes is a lot, especially combined with their previous altercations. She says she believes him, but a jury might not. She says she’d have to convince them that he wanted to make peace because of his late sister, but hopes it doesn’t come to that. She says now that he’s starting to remember things, to remember that he’s always been her favorite client, and not just because he paid on time.

Ava explains that she and Sonny came to an understanding. Kiki says she’s proud of her and takes Avery to the kitchen for “something yummy.” Dillon congratulates Ava. She says ditto for helping Kiki get over Morgan.

Carly says it sucks when your worst mistakes come back to bite you, but they can’t let the same thing happen to Avery that happened to Michael. Sonny thanks her for getting the video, since now it’s all on his terms. She leaves for the hospital.

Hayden asks if Elizabeth thinks she has Nicholas stashed away playing pinochle with Jimmy Hoffa and Amelia Earhart. Elizabeth brings Hayden’s father into it and says she’s responsible for what happened to Nicholas and is going to pay.

Dante tells Spencer it’s still being considered a search and rescue. Spencer says considering all the factors, it’s doubtful his father is still alive. Laura says he’s in denial, but I think he’s being the way he always is – precocious. He tells Hayden that even if Nicholas is gone, she still has him. Precocious, but cute.

Elizabeth wants Jordan to arrest Hayden for Nicholas’s murder. On no grounds whatsoever.

Jason tells Sam he’s not sticking around to get arrested.

Tomorrow, Nathan talks in his sleep, Finn visits Hayden, Sam decides to go with Jason.

The Real Housewives of New York City

The Countess insists that she and Bethenny came up with the Skinny Girl idea together. We flash way back and no, they didn’t. The Countess changes the subject to Bethenny’s love life. Bethenny says that when the Countess asks you about who you’re dating, you enter the witness protection program.

Bethenny goes over to talk to Ramona. The Countess can hear her and says Bethenny is basically a bully and goes on to say Bethenny copied her haircut. In her interview, Dorinda says Bethenny is like a sniper once you get in her sights. Carole arrives in the middle of this and thinks Bethenny is arguing with John at first.

Carole says if she’d known the Countess was coming, she would have stayed home. She talks privately to Dorinda and says she doesn’t want to hang out with the Countess, but she’s not going to a hotel. In her interview, Dorinda swears she told Carole the Countess was going to be there and I thought she had too.

Ramona talks about the Countess breaking girl code by not checking if Ramona was done with dating Tom before she swooped down on him. The Countess won’t let her finish a sentence, and this is probably the first time I’m on Ramona’s side in thinking that she should be heard.

Bethenny talks to Jules about the Countess and hears the Countess talking about the hair thing. Bethenny interrupts and somehow drags Grey Gardens into it, which make me laugh. Bethenny says the Countess pretends to be something she’s not. The Countess says she’s been nothing but gracious, and wonders what Bethenny’s problem is. Bethenny says their friendship hasn’t evolved because the Countess isn’t a girl’s girl and she’s a hypocrite. She says the Countess sleeps with everyone and pretends she doesn’t. Whoa. Bethenny calls her a slut, a liar and a snake. Double whoa. In her interview, Bethenny says even she can’t believe the words that are coming out of her mouth.

Ha-ha! The housekeeper is trying to remain unobtrusive, moving things around in the kitchen while she’s really listening. In her interview, Dorinda says Bethenny isn’t being very respectful of her as a hostess and I agree. She just keeps going on and on, and says Sonja told her the Countess brings home a million guys. The Countess brings up the haircut again. SMH.

Bethenny tells everyone she’s lost her mind and needs to lie down. Dorinda asks why she’s being so crazy and Bethenny says she can’t take bullshit. Jules goes outside to call her father and the rest of the girls congregate in Bethenny’s room. The Countess approaches Jules and says she can’t stay here. Jules tells her there are bigger problems, like her father having pneumonia. The Countess doesn’t listen at all and just keeps talking about being called a whore and how Dorinda didn’t defend her.

Dorinda comes out and the Countess says thanks a lot. She talks about what both Bethenny and Ramona said. Dorinda says she didn’t hear all of it and in her interview says it’s not her job to defend the Countess. The Countess says she’s leaving if Bethenny can’t back up what she said. Um…she kind of did that.

Meanwhile, Ramona and Bethenny are going over the haircut business. Bethenny says poor Dorinda can’t have a normal party. She says Ramona must be thrilled she’s not at the center of the drama. Although she is a part of it. Jules comes in and repeats what the Countess told her and how unaware she was of Jules’s immediate need.

Everyone is hanging out on the bed when the Countess walks in and says she’s leaving. She says she thought they were there to have a good time. She talks to Ramona in the kitchen. She keeps saying she’s leaving, but doesn’t go anywhere. She goes on about how Dorinda says it wasn’t her birthday celebration even thought there’s a birthday cake on the counter. Well, if she’d listened, Dorinda said the cake had been around for a while.

Dorinda comes in and tells her to get a grip, because her mother bought the cake. She thinks everyone is acting poorly when she put in so much effort. On top of it, she didn’t invite Sonja, hoping to avoid drama. She says they should have all just kept their gripes to themselves; she’s ashamed and if they can’t behave, they need to go home. I can’t say that I blame her one bit. This wasn’t even like they’d been there a while and were maybe drunk and/or sick of each other. They started out of the gate this way.

Dorinda tells them they’re adults and this is her home. She brings up the cake again and tells them to drop the subject because she looks at it like a personal affront to her mother. The Countess can’t seem to shut her mouth about her feelings. She’s wearing one of those leather vests with fur trim and it looks like she’s trying to dress too young.

Everyone gets a grip and they open presents. They all get games. In her interview, Bethenny says she doesn’t like that side of herself, and she’s no stranger to people trying to claim what’s hers. In her interview, Carole says she agrees with Bethenny, but her delivery stinks. To break the mood, it’s discovered that Ramona’s dog has made poopy all over the place.

In Sonjaland, Sonja is having some things tightened, while she thinks the other girls are off having a fabulous dinner. I go ♫ la-la-la ♫ when they go over what’s being tightened. The doctor starts talking about a probe and I la-la louder. OMG – they’re doing the procedure right in front of us and nobody wants to see this.

Bethenny says she always goes back to compassion and regret with the Countess. but it’s been a decade of nonsense. We go down Memory Lane with some clips. Carole and Ramona talk about the Countess. Dorinda joins them, followed by the Countess. Carole thinks everyone feels uncomfortable except the Countess, which is ironic since she’s the one causing the friction. Dorinda decides to take a nap and Carole talks to Jules in the hallway, but they end up eavesdropping. Ramona asks if the Countess is sorry she called Carole a pedophile for dating her niece’s 28-year-old ex. Ramona tells her that she has to apologize.

The Countess decides to send a marginally funny text and asks Jules how to spell pedophile when she comes in to pick up her bag, which Carole does not find amusing. The Countess and Ramona play pool, while Jules and Carole have drinks and mess around on the laptop. Ramona asks if Carole has gotten a text from her recently because she wants her to see what the Countess sent, but she hasn’t. It would be really funny if the Countess sent it to someone else. Particularly a male friend.

Dorinda and Bethenny talk relationships, while Ramona tries to explain why Bethenny is upset to the Countess. In her interview, Ramona says the Countess never wants to own up to anything and the Countess keeps saying it was just a misunderstanding. Much like people use the word “miscommunication” when they’ve screwed up. The Countess texts Bethenny because no one can actually talk face to face when it involves an apology.

Both Bethenny and Carole get the texts. Bethenny tells Carole that hers is the weirdest text she’s ever heard. Carole says the Countess can’t be trusted. Bethenny is still astounded at her own tirade. Ramona joins them.

The Countess tells Dorinda the bottom line is that Tom likes her better than Ramona. Maybe so, but she should have talked to Ramona first. She asks who is Bethenny to be judging her. She thinks Bethenny is unhappy and jealous of her happiness. Suddenly, Bethenny is standing there and asks if this is part of the apology. D’oh!

Next time, the argument continues, more holiday festivities and apologies, and Sonja goes off like a rocket.

Jan30

January 29, 2016 — GH x 2 + Chefs x 2 + 1 Unfriend + 3 Quotes

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What I Watched Today

(random, rambling thoughts on today’s TV)

 

General Hospital – Thursday

Sam comes into the hospital. Franco is at the desk and asks her if she’d like to go for coffee.

Elizabeth is trying to get Jake to do something normal, but since he’s gone to the darkside, he doesn’t want to. Jason stops by. Elizabeth says it was an uneventful night.

Morgan wants to move out of the friend zone with Kiki, but she says she’s working and doesn’t want to talk about it right now.

The hospital commissioner tells Anna and Robert she’s never met the couple who was scheduled. She tells them the fake names that Carrrlos and Sabrrrina gave the hospital. Since they weren’t too creative, the last name is Rivera and Anna and Robert know it’s them immediately. They ask for any information the commissioner has.

Sabrrrina says that after what happened to Gabriel, she’s not getting in a car. Carrrlos has to take a call. It’s Paul, who tells him that he’d best not call, write or send smoke signals, because if Anna doesn’t catch him, Sonny will.

The commissioner says she can’t give out patient information or the clinic can get into trouble. Anna and Robert tell her that Carrrlos is a murdering fugitive who has Sabrrrina as a hostage.

Paul says Carrrlos needs to disappear now. Carrrlos says Sabrrrina can’t travel and he’s not going without her. He says that Paul had better hope Anna doesn’t catch him, or he won’t be the only one going to prison.

Sonny’s steps weren’t exactly legit. He was just holding himself up. He gets all stupid and feeling sorry for himself. Carly says she knows he’s impatient, but it’s still fantastic that he can stand. Sonny tells Carly not to tell anyone, especially the kids.

Morgan says he and Kiki share a bond. She says they do, but it’s better as friends. He says he’s dug deep in therapy and he knows what he wants and it’s her. That’s right. What it takes most people years to do, he’s done in only two sessions. Now I want to ask him if he’s taking his meds.

Sam says the courts might have given Franco a free pass, but she never will. She says she has bigger problems than him, and he says yeah, like Elizabeth.

Jake gives Jason a picture he drew and says Jason should hang it above where he and mom sleep. Jason is like, we’ve been over this already, and Jake asks him if he’s moving back in.

Sonny makes Carly promise not to tell what she thinks she saw. He says she takes something she wants to happen and makes it a reality in her head. He says a whole bunch of ridiculous things about people encouraging him because he’s weak. He tells Carly she has to respect his choice.

Jason once again tells Jake that he loves him, but he and Elizabeth aren’t getting married and he’s not moving in. Jake wants to know the details, but Elizabeth says it’s a grown-up thing.

Franco says Sam should be more gracious in her victory and cut Elizabeth some slack. He also tells her that she doesn’t have a monopoly on redemption. He says he’s trying to help Elizabeth. Sam suggests he’s the one breaking in.

The commissioner says all they have is the couple’s name. She says the appointment was made through their online booking system. Anna says she needs the IP address and Robert wants to talk to the clinic’s IT guy. Anna’s phone rings and it’s Paul asking if she misses him.

Carrrlos says Sabrrrina is his hero. He admires how she left everything to go with him and says they’re going to have an amazing life. He says he’s put away some money over the years in a Grand Keys account. He says they can go there and make a personal withdrawal. He says it’s warm, tropical and beautiful and they can stay there as long as she wants. I’m totally ready to go.

Anna asks if everything is ok. Paul says, you tell me. He asks if she’s in Berkeley right now and she says yes.

Sabrrrina says she realizes love is all that matters.

Carly says she won’t tell anyone on one condition. She wants to know if his pride is keeping him from accepting help. She doesn’t want his progress impeded because he wants to do it himself. He says Epiphany is up to speed.

Morgan says he’s just poured his heart out and deserves an explanation as to why Kiki is blowing him off. She says she doesn’t know him anymore. She says whenever she sees him, she has to wonder which Morgan she’s getting that day.  She says she has enough uncertainty in her life and can’t be with a stranger. Is he going to get stupid now? He takes disappointment about as well as Sonny does.

Jason asks Elizabeth if therapy is helping Jake at all. She says it seems to be and he asks if he should come in for the next session. Elizabeth says not until the doctor thinks it’s time. Jason says he’ll just concentrate on his own therapy right now then.  He says he’s about to start hypnosis. Elizabeth asks why, and Jason tells her he had another memory. She’s pretty disappointed to find out it was about him and Sam.

Franco doesn’t know what Sam is talking about. Sam tells him about Jake’s New Year’s Eve scare and the break-in. He says that kind of stuff is beneath him and Sam says maybe Elizabeth was behind him doing it.

Franco asks exactly what she’s accusing him of. He says he likes his life and doesn’t want Jason or anyone else to screw with it. He adds that Elizabeth wouldn’t terrorize her own children and Jake has enough problems.

Elizabeth gets nosy about Jason’s memory. He tells her about it and she says it sounds like he’s making progress. He says he hopes the hypnosis will push him through. She says even though she didn’t want him to remember before, but she does now. Not for his sake of course, but she wants him to know that she’s not all bad. She says despite what’s happened, she’s his friend. With friends like that, etc.

Sonny says he has to do things on his own terms. Carly says she won’t tell anyone. She says that he’s too arrogant for her to pity him. He says thanks for believing in him and Carly says she always has. Max has to talk to Sonny, so Carly leaves. Sonny tells Max he lied to Carly about not getting his legs back, when he is.

Paul tells Anna that they need to talk about her future. She says she realizes she took some personal time, but is she doing that badly at her job? He says it doesn’t seem to be working for either one of them, but he wants to arrange it so it does. When Anna hangs up, she tells Robert that Paul is on to her.

Sabrrrina says Carrrlos must want a boy, but he says wrong, he’s just hoping for a healthy baby, but if he had his wish it would be a daughter. He could love and spoil her and she’d never have to be lonely or afraid and would never know the mistakes he made. Sabrrrina says it will be fine until she’s a teenager and they make some silly things up about the boys she’d date. Carrrlos says maybe when she’s in her 30s, she’ll meet someone who’s almost good enough for her. Sabrrrina asks what if it’s a boy? Carrrlos says he’ll learn that character is the most important thing and his life will mean something. Sabrrrina says she thinks it’s time to push.

Morgan says Kiki is right and that he doesn’t even know himself. He says he’s learning to live with his illness day by day and is starting to feel like a normal person. He says they can be friends, but he thinks they’re just hiding their true feelings.

Sam asks Franco what’s up with Jake. He says if Jakes parents want to tell her, that’s one thing, but he’s not telling her anything. He says she has issues to work out but making a scapegoat of Elizabeth isn’t going to help

Elizabeth says she’s really not a terrible person and she doesn’t want Jason to hate her. He says he doesn’t; she’s the mother of his son and that’s who they need to focus on right now. Elizabeth has to go to work, but the sitter is late. Jake says he’ll stay until she gets there.

Boom! The baby’s here. Sabrrrina asks if it’s a boy or a girl, and Carrrlos doesn’t say anything. She asks for the baby and when he still doesn’t respond, she knows something is wrong.

Anna says she knows what Paul is implying and she has to go back and do damage control. Robert says the phone was traced to a hotel and they’re getting Carrrlos once and for all.

Sonny says the only ones who know are Max and Epiphany. Max says that’s not fair to Carly. Sonny says he doesn’t want his enemies to know he’s improving. He says he doesn’t want Carly involved in the business, even in keeping secrets. Max asks what the plan is. Sonny says when he’s on his feet, he’s taking back the city and getting rid of the unsavory elements, which sounds funny coming from him. He says to let them think he’s helpless, weak and trapped in the chair, and one day they’ll be in for a surprise.

Kiki says she’s proud of Morgan and can’t wait to see which Morgan he becomes. She says she’s not ready for a relationship, but she’ll go on a date with him. No expectations.

Max tells Sonny about that the guns Raj is moving are high grade military weapons.  Sonny wonders why Ava is involved. He says she’s putting Avery in danger and he’s not letting his baby girl get hurt.

Anna and Robert bust into the hotel room, but Sabrrrina and Carrrlos are gone.  As they’re about to leave, two cops barrel in with their guns drawn.

Jason looks at Jake’s drawings. They all seem normal until he gets to the last one, which is the drawing of Sam. Franco is also looking through Jakes drawings in his medical folder. They’re all weird. Jason trips down Memory Lane in his head and realizes the drawing is of Sam. Jake asks if he likes the pictures.

Tomorrow, Jason questions Jake about the picture and Lulu asks for help getting Dante back.

Random Thought

I don’t know what it is, but I’m just not into American Idol this time around. Did it start happening when we lost Simon? Randy? Stephen Tyler? Did it happen when they stopped showing us the worst of the worst? That was actually the best. Was it that they just couldn’t top season 10? Scotty McCreery for the win, Haley Reinhart who I loved to hate, and Lady Gaga playing at the part where they bring in the celebrities. Maybe it was all downhill from there. Or maybe since I know it’s the final go around, I just don’t want to invest any more time.

Regardless, although I’m only half-watching, it’s always hard to say good-bye to an institution. Idols, we salute you.

Unfriended

Occasionally, I’ll write about a movie I’ve seen that’s exceptional. This is one of them.

The title is somewhat unfortunate. When I first heard it, I figured the movie would be some kind of cheap stalker film like Swimfan. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. I’d previously read that it was better than its title, and had been shown at Sundance under the title Cybernatural.

This is a real ghost story in every sense of the word. What makes the film unique is that It all takes place on a computer screen, there’s no action outside of that. For some reason, this makes it even more frightening. Maybe because I spend so much time on here.

A group of friends is video chatting and a stranger joins them. A stranger with only an icon for a face. Our POV is that of the main character, Blaire, and we go through her discovery that the stranger is a dead friend, one that committed suicide because of cyber-bullying.  It’s eventually revealed that this ghost is going to pick them off one by one.

What I really loved about this film was how real the computer screen seemed. It’s totally plausible how Blaire is going through her social media — Facebook, video chat, YouTube and text chat – as well as clicking on links she receives through them. No Twitter is used. I’m guessing because that’s such a public forum, and we’re made to feel that the characters are trapped in their private world. Even the way Blaire’s cursor moves around is incredibly real, and the way she writes messages, changing her mind about what she’s going to say and hesitating to hit send.

There’s a minimal amount of gore, again seen only on the computer screen. It’s made all the more creepy because we rarely see anything clearly with pixels breaking up.

So much better than I thought it would be, Unfriended captured and held my attention all the way through. The premise is unique, the story is intense and the acting is superb. It’s on HBO rotation now, and I highly recommend giving it a look. Although you might not want to get online for a while afterwards.

 General Hospital – Friday

Dante is about to sign the divorce papers, when Mayor Lomax knocks on the door. She wants to have a conversation away from the public. She insists on Dante getting Olivia to drop the lawsuit.

Alexis is going over the case with Olivia. She says she expects a lot of supporters, and she hopes the mayor doesn’t fill the audience with her lackeys. Olivia is surprised that people watch a trial because she lives at the MetroCourt and has no clue as to how the outside world works.

Lulu asks Maxie to help her get Dante back.

Christina is packing her suitcase to fake going back to school. Sam tells her she should tell Alexis she’s been suspended and that she isn’t going to be able to keep it up forever. Christina says she’ll get an apartment and a job and go back next semester. Sam tells Christina she had a distressing conversation with Franco. Christina asks why she’s even speaking to Franco, and Sam says she had to talk to him because of Jake.

Franco tells Elizabeth that art therapy might help Jake with his feelings. He suggests they start today. Elizabeth asks why it’s so urgent.

Jason asks Jake who the woman in his drawing is supposed to be, although he has a pretty good idea already that it’s Sam.

Dante tells the mayor he knows all about what happened and he supports Olivia 100%. She says that she’s had her mind on budget cuts. He asks if she’s threatening him with his job. She says that would be unethical, but she was looking over his folder and sees that he’s involved with the Big Brother program. The one for kids, not the reality show. She says a lot of the funding comes from the city, and that protecting the program would be quid pro quo. He says she can’t buy him and to get out before he reports her. She wonders how his wife stays with him. How is she totally out of that loop?

Lulu says Dante thinks there’s no way back because of what they’ve discovered about themselves – he cheated and she sought revenge – and doesn’t want it spilling over on Rocco. Lulu tells Maxie about how Valerie called it quits before the whole Johnny debacle happened. She says she came to realize that one act doesn’t define their marriage. Lulu tells Maxie she has a plan to surprise Dante at the loft, but she stupidly threw away her key when she got mad.  Maxie says she’s on thin ice with Nathan , but she would still borrow the key if she knew where it was. She says she knows someone else with a key though.

Olivia says everyone is staring at her and they are. She says they’re not looking at her face either. She says when she gets a cancelation, she wonders if it’s because of the lawsuit. She thinks maybe she didn’t think things through and that she s not sure if she wants to be the poster child for public breastfeeding.

A woman, who obviously recognizes Olivia, approaches their table. Alexis tries to stop her from speaking, but she says Olivia needs to know something from her.

Franco tells Elizabeth that someone else was concerned about Jake’s artwork. She asks who and if he spoke to the therapist.  After hemming & hawing, Franco tells Elizabeth he talked to Sam about the drawings.

Christina asks why Sam was discussing Jake with Franco. She says she thought maybe Franco was in cahoots with Elizabeth, but they ended up talking about Jake. Franco let slip Jake is in therapy, but wouldn’t tell her why. Christina tells Sam to mind her own business and not get involved with Elizabeth’s kid drama.

Jake waffles on who the woman in the drawing is and settles on it’s just a bad woman he made up. Jason says Jake can always tell him anything and asks again who it is.

The stranger says what Olivia is doing is wonderful. She says she would have liked to do the same in her day and thanks Olivia for standing up for a basic right for all mothers. The entire place applauds, and we see where Dante got his jumping to conclusions from. Alexis says they’ll get support, but there will also be antagonists. Olivia realizes the lawsuit isn’t just for her, because she lives in the same bubble that Glinda the Good Witch of the North lives in. Alexis says they’ll win, assuming Olivia is still on board and Olivia says hell yes.

Alexis leaves and Lulu sits down. She tells Olivia she needs help in saving her marriage. Olivia says she’s disappointed in her.

Dante says he knows what the mayor is doing and that she’d like him to do something stupid, but his mother’s lawsuit is going to take care of everything. He tells her again to get out and she’s says he’s a lousy husband and a rotten son, because she doesn’t know he’s really a cheating, waffling loser.

Jason asks again about the picture. Jake now insists it’s a bad woman from a video game. Jason asks to see the game and Jake says he doesn’t remember which one it is. Jason says again that Jake can tell him anything and asks if he can take the picture. Jake asks if he’s mad. Jason says no, the picture is just interesting and if Jake remembers more, to tell him. Someone is at the door. It’s the sitter, and of course Jake whines for Jason to stay.

Elizabeth asks if Sam told him she suspects that Elizabeth broke into her own house. Franco tells her she suspected him too. Franco keeps trying to tell her something about Jake, but she won’t hear it. She says she’s not discussing Jake with him and he’d better not discuss her son with anyone else.

Christina says Sam is just going to make trouble for herself. Sam asks if Christina thought she was treated unfairly with being suspended and is there something she’s not talking about. Christina says Sam knows everything , and repeats what happened to catch everyone up. Sam isn’t buying it that’s all there is to the story.

Olivia says she tried to tell Dante that they should work things out. Lulu tells her about the key. She says if Olivia wants to help save their marriage, she needs the loft key.

Sam tells Christina to call her if she needs anything and that Sam has her back. She adds she’s going to take Christina’s advice. She says Elizabeth is so manipulative, it will backfire; she’ll hold it against Sam and try to get Jason to do the same. Christina says Elizabeth is the type of woman who acts all helpless when they’re really yanking the guy’s chain. Sam says she’s going to talk to Elizabeth. Like that’s ever helped before.

The sitter is covered with silly string. She goes to the bathroom to clean up and Jake examines a marble coaster carefully.

Jason comes to the hospital and says he needs to talk to Elizabeth. He shows her the drawing. He says Jake told him at first it was a real person, and then said it was a video game character. He thinks Jake lying to him is cause for concern and they need to get him help right away. Franco hears him and seconds the motion.

Dante tells Olivia that she and Alexis must be doing a good job, because the mayor tried to get him to talk her out of the lawsuit. He also wants to know if she’s been bothering Olivia. Olivia says no, and asks what else is up. Dante asks if she’s seen Lulu.

Lulu and Maxie go to the loft. Lulu asks Maxie to set a romantic stage. Maxie says she could do that herself, so why is she really there? Lulu wants her opinion about a red slip dress she has on under her coat. Maxie says it’s beautiful even if it isn’t this season. Lulu says it’s the dress she was wearing when she told Dante she was pregnant. She says they went through a lot of heartache trying to have a baby, but finally got Rocco. She wants to remind him of the good in their lives and how they achieved something when they worked together. Maxie says Lulu definitely has a chance. They start getting the candles out.

Maxie opens a drawer and the divorce papers are there.

Alexis gets home before Christina leaves. She says it makes her sad when Christina to see her go. She says she wishes it was like when Christina was little and they were close. Alexis tells Christina she can always tell her anything

Jason asks Franco if he’s been eavesdropping. Franco says he knows Jake needs help. Jason tells him to butt out and he says fine, he tried. Elizabeth stops him from leaving and the three of them go into a private room. She asks Franco what he was trying to tell her. Franco shows them the folder with the morbid drawings.

Jake is looking out a broken window. I assume he used the coaster. He deliberately (?) cuts himself on the jagged glass. Or maybe he’s just stupid and wanted to check how sharp it was. There’s a knock at the door and it’s Sam. She asks him what happened to his hand.

Olivia tells Dante that Lulu was there with Maxie earlier. She asks if he has any thoughts on what they’d discussed earlier. He says he had the divorce papers drawn up. Olivia says she meant for him to think about it for more than 10 minutes. He says he didn’t do anything with them yet and Olivia says give it time.

Lulu says Dante hasn’t signed the papers, so there’s still a chance for him to change his mind. She tells Maxie to work her magic on the atmosphere.

Christina tells Alexis some baloney about how she supports Alexis’s marriage to Julian and she’s happy for her even if her dad isn’t. Alexis says she knows something else is going on. Christina says no, that’s it, and she hopes Alexis’s good luck rubs off on her in the love department. Alexis tells her she can bring a date to the wedding.

Jake says someone threw a rock through the window. Sam asks if he saw someone throw the rock. He says yes, but Sam says there’s no rock and there’s no glass on the floor, so it came from inside the house.

Franco says it doesn’t take an expert to see Jake is upset about something. Jason says he’s not a doctor. Franco says no, but he’s an artist and he knows that Jake is in distress. He says pictures that show this much anxiety and rage mean he’s already acting out.

Sam tries to talk to Jake and he runs downstairs to the basement.

The mayor approaches Olivia and Olivia asks how she dare shake Dante down. The mayor says she was merely visiting a city employee, and by the way, all city functions in the hotel are canceled until the lawsuit is settled. Olivia is like, you can’t do that, and the mayor says, you want a war, you got one.

Dante comes in to the loft. Lulu, standing there in her red dress, asks him if he remembers that night in August. He says yes, he does, and what is she doing there. She tells him trying to save their marriage.

Alexis says good-bye to Christina and leaves. As Christina opens the door, a woman is standing there. She addresses the woman as Parker and I go, oooh.

Jason says there’s never been an intruder; it’s Jake. He says Franco is right and that Jake needs a lot of help. I’m impressed that he got it this quickly. He’s no dummy.

Sam follows Jake, saying that no one will be mad at him. She falls down the stairs and lies unconscious at the bottom.

On Monday, Nina wants to help Olivia and Jake looms over Sam’s unconscious body. As much as a kid can loom anyway.

MasterChef Junior

It’s the finale and we’re down to 9-year-old Addison (Addy, who’s won more challenges than anyone else) and 9-year-old Avery. Family and friends are there to cheer the girls on. Brava, young ladies!

The first challenge is to make a 3-course dinner. I take a last, longing look at the pantry. Addy is going the pan Asian seafood route and Avery has chosen a Creole creation. They have 90 minutes. The heartland versus the bayou.

Uh-oh, Addy gets cut. I mean cut with a knife, not cut from the competition. She’s cool though. She falls a little behind, but sucks it up and soldiers on. When the girls get to creating their desserts, I almost go out of my mind because everything looks so fresh and delicious. OMG – Avery is “elevating” a strawberry rhubarb shortcake. I wouldn’t even know what to do with the rhubarb. These kids are just amazing, especially since the people in the gallery cheering them on are really boisterous.

Of course all the dishes are fabulous – even more so for 9-year-olds – and Gordon says it’s the closest it’s ever been.  Once again, it’s down to details I wouldn’t have a clue about. The judges switch places with the girls so that they can get some well deserved applause. I love how they never talk down to the kids and treat them with respect. They made the show fun for the junior contestants, but the challenges were just as tough as with the adult MasterChef.

MY GIRL ADDY WINS!!! I feel so proud. She gives props to Avery and says that either one of them would have deserved it today. I hope Avery takes that to heart. I’m sure she’s disappointed, but she’s already further ahead in her culinary skills than most of us could ever hope to be, even if we lived forever.

Well played, junior chefs!

Quotes of the Week from The People’s Couch

This whole thing is a nerdgasm. Blake referring to the return of The X-Files.

It’s never good when a guy’s holding his junk walking in. Joe Resnick, referring to an episode of Sex Sent Me to the ER.

Think of every great person on the planet. If they didn’t get yelled at they’d be average as hell. Lamont Zeno, referring to a contestant on Pitch Slapped.

 

Jan19

January 18, 2016 — GH, SUR in Hawaii & Some Chefs

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What I Watched Today

(random, rambling thoughts on today’s TV)

 

General Hospital

Sonny, Alexis and Christina are having lunch at the MetroCourt because no one cooks at home anymore. Alexis and Sonny are commending Christina on her great semester in school. She must want the floor to swallow her up right about now, and she deflects the conversation to Alexis’s wedding.

Sam knocks on Jason’s hotel suite and Elizabeth answers. Elizabeth acts like he’s there, and says they’re getting ready to go to bed. Then Jason comes up behind Sam with Jake and I laugh my head off.

Dante goes through the pictures of Johnny and Valerie, but I don’t think he’s buying what Johnny had wanted them to convey. He tells Jordan that he thinks there’s some connection between Johnny’s sighting and Valerie being MIA.

Valerie struggles against her bonds and knocks over a candle, which starts burning trash on the floor.  Lulu drives up, calling for Johnny. Valerie is still struggling, but apparently that candle is one of those trick ones, because now nothing is burning, and then we see the candle light everything up again. Hello? Editing department?

Sonny brings up Christina and Johnny, which was at a time when I wasn’t watching. Christina promises not to contact him and also promises not to marry Ryan Gosling, since she says there’s about as much chance of that. Sonny says his check for the next semester was returned uncashed.

Jake acts like the bad seed he is, insulting Sam, and Elizabeth acts like the good soul she’s not and tells him that’s rude. Jake goes to bed, and Sam tells Jason and Elizabeth about Dr. Sheinberg, and how he’s going to come forward. Elizabeth acts like she’s grateful that Sam got involved and Jason kills all her hopes by telling Sam he’s staying down the hall. Ah-ha! in Nelson voice.

Dante tells Jordan about the conversation with Dillon and how he saw Johnny. Jordan wonders why Johnny was in Lulu’s company as far back as Christmas. Dante says Johnny wasn’t necessarily in her company. Jordan wants to talk to Lulu, but Dante says he can’t get her on the phone. He shows Jordan the photos.

Lulu keeps beeping the horn, while the flames get closer to Valerie who is yelling her head off. As much as you can with a gag anyway.

Elizabeth asks Jason how Jake was when they were out. Jason says that he’s a kid and he wants things he can’t have. Elizabeth says she can’t stop thinking about what Jake went through with Helena. Jason says thanks to Sam he might be able to avoid jail. Jake pops in and says Sam isn’t as good as Jason thinks she is.

Alexis wonders why the check would be sent back. Christina makes up something about it being an electronic error and that other students got checks back. She tells Sonny to just give her the check and she’ll deliver it personally. She leaves to talk to Sam, and I don’t think Sonny or Alexis are believing her.

Jordan and Dante look at the photos. Dante judges the dates by what Valerie is wearing. Jordan says it looks like Valerie was on the take. Dante says he doesn’t believe that. Jordan says she doesn’t want to either, but he’d better figure out how to prove that’s not the case.

Lulu decides to leave, but sees the fire. She jumps out of the car and runs to the cabin. Don’t call 911 or anything.  No, that would be too easy. She goes inside and sees Valerie unconscious with flames dancing around her. Let her burn and all your troubles will be over. Just turn around now.

Jason and Elizabeth grill Jake about brushing his teeth. I ask again, how old is this kid??? Jason asks what Jake meant about Sam. He says she’s greedy and wants everything for herself. Jason says that’s not true and Jake says she broke the picture of their family.

Christina tells Sam her parents are being intrusive. Sam asks her what’s going on. Christina asks her not to tell her parents, and when Sam promises not to, she tells Sam she’s been suspended.

Alexis tells Sonny his clashes with Christina are probably because they’re so much alike. He seems to think there’s something going on, and suggests maybe she’s embarrassed having a father who didn’t finish school and is a crime lord. I suggest that if this was a problem, they would have known by now.

No progress has been made at the PCPD. Jordan asks Dante how he thinks Lulu might be involved. Bobbi comes in and Dante asks for her help. He tells her about the photos. Bobbi asks if they think Valerie is in cahoots with Johnny. Jordan says not necessarily, but both of them are missing. Bobbi says she knows Valerie wouldn’t throw in with Johnny and that if Valerie is missing, it’s probably foul play.

Lulu runs to Valerie. She puts her jacket over Valerie’s head and gets the ropes untied. Lulu tries to wake up Valerie, but no luck. She pulls her out of the chair and starts doing CPR. Is she not breathing or does Lulu think this is how you wake up an unconscious person? Lulu screams at Valerie to wake up. Finally, she sits up and Lulu gets her outside.

Dante and Jordan ask Bobbi if Valerie has been stressed lately. Bobbi says yes, but she was concentrating on her career. She says that Valerie was used to money being tight, but she was looking for a job and she wouldn’t have taken money from Johnny. Jordan says that’s it for now, but they might have more questions later. Jordan tells Dante this doesn’t explain the pictures

Elizabeth asks Jake if he saw Sam break the picture. He says no, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t do it. Ha-ha! Jason tells him he shouldn’t make up stories and that Sam didn’t break the picture. Jake asks how he knows that. He says he knows Sam and that she knows lies are a mistake and that they never take you where you want to go. Jake says maybe she didn’t break the picture, but she wants to steal his family. I still say that kid broke the picture himself.

Alexis says Christina loves Sonny and that if she’s irritated, it has nothing to do with him. At the bar, Christina says her last break up was bad and she skipped class for a while. By the time she went back, she was failing. She tells Sam that she didn’t tell her parents because she thought she could catch up, but it never happened. Sam says she should talk to her professor. Christina says she tried, but she didn’t ask him “the right way.” When Sam asks what she means, Christina says she asked him if there was anything else she could do to pass the class.

Jason lectures Jake on what a good person Sam is. Jake says that Sam is bad because she took Jason away from them. Elizabeth tells him to go to bed, but he says he can’t sleep. Jake goes wherever, and Jason tells Elizabeth they’re not going to panic, he’s going out to get ginger ale and he’ll be back later.

Christina adds that the professor is hot, and Sam assumes she slept with him. Sam gives her a run down on why this is a bad idea. Christina says she didn’t have sex with him, but she offered it. Instead of taking her up on it, the professor turned her in and she got suspended. This sounds ridiculous, and I seriously doubt it would happen in real life. Christina says she can’t tell her parents. Sam says she’ll ultimately have to.

Alexis and Sonny confer on what’s up with Christina. They rule out love life. Alexis tells Sonny that she has better communication with Christina and she hasn’t heard a peep. She also suggests that Sonny go back to school if he wants to speak Christina’s language and thinks it’s creating a wedge between them.

Dante tells Jordan being on the take isn’t like Valerie and she knows it. He says whoever sent the photos was setting her up. Jordan says if she was being set up, then by whom? Johnny doesn’t make any sense and who else would do it? Think hard, Dante.

Lulu and Valerie are outside. Lulu realizes she left her phone in her jacket inside the cabin. She wants to walk for help, but Valerie says they’re in the middle of nowhere and she’s going to freeze. And if they stay here, they have this huge fire to keep them warm. She really didn’t say that last part, but I thought it was funny.

Sam tells Christina she can’t wish the problem away, and that if she doesn’t tell her parents, Sam will. Christina says she’ll get a crappy apartment and work a crappy job and go back later. She also doesn’t want to burden Sonny with something else. She begs Sam not to tell and Sam relents. She gives Christina the keys to her place and tells her to keep it clean. She makes Christina promise to give her weekly updates and stay away from the professor.

Sonny tells Alexis that Julian is a snake. Alexis says they almost made it through a conversation without arguing about him. Sonny reminds her that Julian had Duke killed. Alexis leaves.

Christina gets a text from Parker. Who?

Jason comes into the bar and sees Sam. Jason explains about why Elizabeth is in his room. Sam says she appreciates it, but he doesn’t have to explain anything to her. He tells her about telling Jake how she searches for the truth. She says she wasn’t always that way; that he taught her to be like that. She leaves.

Jake asks Elizabeth if they’ll ever be together as a family again. She says anything can happen.

Dante keeps trying to get Lulu on the phone. He leaves a message saying he knows she’s in the middle of the Johnny/Valerie mess and wants to know what the blip is going on.

Valerie and Lulu huddle under a towel. I’m assuming the car won’t start? Even if that’s the case, why don’t they get into the car? At least their weather is on point with the real world. It’s freaking freezing out.

Tomorrow, Scotty is back! Valerie wonders how Lulu found her and Paul wonders how long before Ava disrobes.

Vanderpump Rules

After a plane ride I’m glad I wasn’t a passenger on, the gang arrives in Hawaii. It’s absolutely beautiful, and I can just imagine what a waste this trip is going to be on this group. Of course someone says they got laid when presented with a lei upon landing. Sigh.

The rooms are spectacular and the drinking begins immediately. That’s if it ever stopped. Lala tells Faith that James thinks he’s going to get with her, but he’s not. Ariana shows Tom a series of texts between Scheana and Ariana’s mother discussing Tom in a negative way with Scheana as the instigator.

More drinking before dinner. Max is still recovering from his surgery. Tom announces tomorrow’s activity, a hike with him as guide. There are also upcoming surf lessons. Ariana is stressing over the Scheana texts and isn’t fully enjoying herself. I guess I’d be pissed too.

Ariana makes a toast to the birthday boys, Tom and Jax, using the word “awesome” a lot. Lala has said PDA is James’s thing and she’s right. Jax says something stupid about people who aren’t here who should be and people who are there who shouldn’t be. Lala says Britney needs to “control her man” and I wonder what planet she’s from. What is wrong with that woman? An argument starts between James and Jax. A-hole awards all around.

More drinking. James is bending Max’s ear and complaining about Jax. The rest of the crowd joins them at a very NYC looking bar. Scheana says she and Shay are going to have alone time while everyone else is going on the hike. Tom brings up the texts. Scheana tries to act like it was Ariana’s mom who initiated the conversation, but Ariana got the texts straight from her mom. Tom reads them out loud. Scheana acts like she didn’t do anything wrong and says Tom has a superior attitude.

Ariana can’t figure out the motivation, but I’m wondering if it’s because they don’t want to be friends with Kristen. Tom says he’s been a stand up guy with them. Scheana says she sticks by her words, what’s done is done, and she’s going to bed. Tom tells Shay that if it was him, he’d be pretty angry too. If this was me, I’d ignore them for the rest of the trip and have a good time.

Giggy! Lisa is worried about Max. Aww, we see pics of Ken with Max as a baby. Lisa isn’t thrilled that James is on the trip because he’s erratic and unpredictable. I don’t blame her.

Katie has jet lag. Schwartz tells her he recreated Justin Bieber’s nakey pic on their balcony while she was sleeping. Yep, he did. And he Instagrammed it. Lisa sent them flowers and they give her a call. She asks how Max is doing and she tells them how worried she is. Katie says she’s as tough as a mother as she is as a boss. Lisa says she gets concerned when the bunch of them goes somewhere together. Again, I don’t blame her.

Scheana, who is totally disappointing me, is gossiping about Ariana and Tom to Jax.  Britney is tired of Lala flirting with Jax and says she’s going to talk to her.

The group, minus the Shays and Katie, goes on a hike. This is the kind of thing I would love. They go swimming in a place that has a waterfall. We flash back to some of Stassi’s birthdays and her control issues. Tom promises not to act like that. Lala and Faith take their tops off. Jax says he’s going to look, but the trick is looking without Britney seeing. Schwartz has the opposite reaction in that they’ve seen so many, it’s no big deal.

Scheana hopes Shay can master moderation on this trip because she can’t grasp that he should not drink at all. Don’t come whining to me when he disappears for days again.

The hikers stop at a clearing. Schwartz asks what’s up with Ariana and Scheana, and Ariana explains. Schwartz says he doesn’t think Scheana is right, but Tom has been a little snippy lately.

In the meantime, Scheana is telling Katie how she’s her best friend now, and Tom and Ariana act like they’re on a pedestal. Because we’re all 14.

Britney confronts Lala about having no respect for her and Jax’s relationship. Lala says she’s crossed the line flirting and she apologizes. She says she didn’t know they were together. Jax says no way he said that. Lala says at first she thought he was just leaving out details, but now she knows he’s a liar. This is true, but she’s also a sleazebag.

Jax goes humana-humana and Lala tells Britney she does respect relationships. In her individual interview, Lala says she could say a lot that Britney doesn’t want to hear, but sees no point, and Jax says he dodged a bullet.

James asks Max if he supposed to be drinking right now. Max says no, but James justifies it by saying it’s a disinfectant. Okay. Lisa calls Max to check up on him. He thinks he assuages her fears, but probably not. Lala and Faith join them and Lala tells James about Britney’s confrontation.

Schwartz tells Katie about their day and says he saw Lala’s boobs but didn’t look at them. Katie thinks it’s wrong for the girls to be taking off their tops around other people’s boyfriends and I agree. Schwartz tells her about the texts. Katie disagrees about Scheana being in the wrong and says Schwartz isn’t being supportive.

Even more drinking! This time it’s those drinks in pineapples. Ariana brings up Lala’s toplessness and says it wasn’t appropriate. Lala says she encourages every woman to go topless. Scheana says she totally understands Katie’s side, but what did she expect? Lala says what It really means is she doesn’t trust her man. Boys would probably be a more accurate description for the males in this group.

Now that she’s had a few pineapple drinks, Lala decides Britney should hear the truth . She takes Britney aside and tells her about Jax playing a part in their flirting, and that he said he wanted to get with her. Britney says she’s confused, since Jax has acted innocent. Britney tries to pin a little on Lala, but somehow Lala turns it around. Lala says she’s not going down with the ship anymore. Britney says she’s going to talk to Jax. Way to have fun on vacation. I don’t know who’s a bigger d-bag, Jax or Lala. Probably James will trump the both of them.

Britney takes Jax aside. I think he knows what’s coming. Britney tells Jax what Lala said. He repeats her words, which usually tells me that the person is thinking about what answer they’re going to fabricate. Jax says Lala was drunk and is just reaching. Britney calls Lala over. Lala insists she told the truth. Jax repeats that she was drunk and insists he never said it. Scheana sticks her nose into it, but says she didn’t really hear anything. In her individual interview, Scheana says she has her suspicions, but didn’t want to rock the boat. Lala starts getting animated and Jax continues to insist he did nothing. Lala says she’s only been honest and she’s done.

She walks away to be alone.

Next time, more drinking! Stassi and Kristen get together, and Jax gets arrested.

MasterChef Celebrity Showdown

If they rerun this, I highly recommend watching. As well as having celebrities compete, a trio of MasterChef winners compete against the final three from this season of MasterChef Junior, which includes my girl, Addy. Christine, winner of MasterChef’s season three, was also a favorite of mine, as she’s blind. Everyone was surprised that she ended up the winner, but it was logical to me, as I thought her other senses would be more keen. All of the entrants got a donation to their charity of choice, and the big winners get an extra donation.

Best of all, it’s food porn at its finest.

Jan16

January 15, 2016 — GH, Little & Big Chefs, & a Couch

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What I Watched Today

(random, rambling thoughts on today’s TV)

 

General Hospital

At the hotel, Elizabeth asks Jason if there’s been any news. He says the police haven’t made any discoveries yet. Elizabeth says she doesn’t want to stay in the hotel any longer.

Tracy is on an island somewhere getting a massage. I wish I was there too.

Nicholas is back home and Hayden is fussing over him. Nicholas says they seem to be working things to their advantage. He tells her about the deal he proposed to Jason and that Jason didn’t take him up on it.

Sam shows up at a hotel room. A large, bald man answers the door. He tells her she must have the wrong room. She asks if he’s a Dr. Sheinberg and says he’s her only hope. Because he’s secretly Obi Wan Kenobi.

Dillon asks for Valerie at the station since they’re supposed to meet there and go out to dinner. The desk cop says she’s not there. Dillon hears him say something about Johnny being on the loose and mentions that Maxie saw him today.

Lulu answers the door to Laura. Laura says she saw Johnny is back in town and Lulu says she’s shocked.

Valerie calls for help, but Johnny says don’t bother.

Jason suggests that Cameron come and stay with them. Elizabeth says having the whole family together will confuse Jake even more. Jason says it doesn’t make sense for her to go back before the case is wrapped up. Jake pops in and is thrilled “daddy is home.”

Dante runs into Dillon and asks what’s going on.

Lulu tells Laura that Dante told her about Johnny and that Johnny had contacted Maxie. Laura says Luke’s daughter should be a better liar and asks if she was hiding Johnny on The Haunted Star.

Johnny ties Valerie up inside a ranger cabin. Valerie asks why Johnny is doing this. He says she should be asking what she can do to get out of it. She thinks it has something to do with Luke, but Johnny tells her to keep her mouth shut and let him think. He’s actually a little scary here, but I don’t like Valerie, so I’m okay with it.

Nicholas wonders why Jason would risk prison and being separated from his sons for ELQ. Hayden says her statement had some inconsistencies and asks if Nicholas thinks their case is iron-clad. He says considering Jason’s background, it shouldn’t be a problem,

Sam says she knows Dr. Sheinberg is meeting someone other than his wife at the hotel. He thinks she’s there to shake him down, but she says he was there the night of the fight and she wants her suspicions confirmed. He says they were at the window checking out the view. He keeps talking about the dark haired man, meaning Nicholas, and the light haired man, meaning Jason, but don’t they have pretty much the same hair color? He says the dark haired man threw the first punch and was the aggressor, and that the dark haired man’s momentum carried him over the balcony. Sam asks if he’ll tell the police. He says he can’t do that. She says then they’ll hear it from the recording she just made.

Elizabeth says the longer they stay, Jake is going to think they’re getting back together. She says being there with Jason is difficult for her as well. She say the nicer he is, the more she regrets what she did and the love they shared doesn’t just go away. Please, Jason, do not fall for this.

Johnny freaks a little when he hears a siren in the distance, but it passes. Valerie says the next one will be for them. Johnny says no one will be around at least until morning. Valerie tells him sooner or later someone is going to find them and Johnny should turn himself in. Johnny says she’s more trouble than he expected, but he has a solution. I don’t think it’s a good one for her, since he used the word “unfortunately.”

Tracy says she can’t relax. The masseuse asks if there’s anything he can do to help. Is he hitting on her?

Nicholas says because of the fall, he sees how much Hayden cares for him and she has a loving, generous heart. The phone rings and Hayden answers. It’s Tracy, telling her it’s the voice of doom calling. Tracy says she probably prefers Hayden to Rachel, and calls her Rachel throughout the rest of the conversation. She asks how Nicholas is doing. Nicholas asks who’s on the phone and Hayden tells him it’s a medical follow-up. He says he’ll handle it.

Johnny sees the text from Lulu and Valerie asks who he’s calling.

Lulu tells Laura that she hasn’t seen Johnny and doesn’t know where he is. Laura asks who she was in the stateroom with. Lulu says she was by herself and when Laura came she was cleaning up. Laura says she’d buy that if Lulu hadn’t tried to keep her away from a duffel bag that was there. The phone rings and Laura asks if it’s Johnny.

Johnny whispers into the phone not to call him back, but bring the bag with his money in it.

Dante and Nathan say Dillon is being “weird” about Johnny. Dillon says okay, he does have something to tell them, but he wants to do it privately and they’re not going to like it.

Dr. Sheinberg is all how dare you and says Sam can’t use the recording. Sam says au contraire, in the state of New York, she can. She says it would be better though if he would back it up. Dr Sheinberg says he’ll say he was lying. His girlfriend walks in.

Dillon says anything he tells them is off the record. He says he wants anyone who was helping Johnny to have immunity. Dante says no way, and Dillon says good-by then. Dante says he’ll charge him with aiding and abetting, and Dillon says fine, his lawyer is the DA.

Laura wants Lulu to show her the phone. She says she’s working too hard to be evasive and no one shows that much righteous indignation who’s an innocent. Lulu says okay, it was Johnny, but he’s gone and it’s over with. Laura asks why she would do this. Lulu says if it wasn’t for Valerie, she wouldn’t have.

Valerie says she had dinner plans, so they’ll be looking for her. Johnny tells her to shut up and wonders where his bag is.

Jason asks when Jake’s appointment with the therapist is and says they should stay in the hotel at least until then. Jake pops in again, asking about the ice cream Jason promised him. Elizabeth tells them to go, even though it’s late, because how know where they’ll be tomorrow. Please, stop with the dramatics.

Dr. Sheinberg  tells his girlfriend, Veronica, it’s nothing and says don’t talk because Sam will record it. Sam tells them Jason is innocent and will go to prison if they don’t tell what they saw. Dr Sheinberg says it will cost them dearly and there must be some other way. Sam says there isn’t and tells them the backstory. Dr Sheinberg asks how fair is it for them to screw themselves to help her. She says it isn’t fair, but she’s asking them to do the right thing.

Hayden says she’ll handle the call. Tracy says she’d better get it together by the time Tracy gets home or she’ll spill the Rachel beans.

Nicholas tells Hayden he needs her and asks if his vulnerability is sexy. They start to kiss.

Veronica says she’ll support whatever the doctor wants to do, but adds he knows what they should do. He says he doesn’t want to lose her, and that maybe it’s time to go public. He says that if a man’s freedom is at stake, they should help him.  Sam shows them a bunch of paperwork, and it turns out the doctor is the one who ran the DNA test for Carly.

Jake asks if they can go out for ice cream every night. Jason says they’ll be doing lots of things for a very long time.

Dillon says he saw Johnny weeks ago before Christmas on The Haunted Star. He says Lulu said it was just for one night, but Dante puts two and two together and realizes that Johnny was hanging around longer than that. Dillon says Lulu told him there was nothing going on.

Laura says she knows how much Lulu has been hurt, but how is Valerie responsible for anything with Johnny? Lulu starts to say if it wasn’t for Valerie, she wouldn’t have…and stops.

Johnny puts a gag in Valerie’s mouth since she won’t shut up. He says he’s leaving and she freaks.

Hayden and Nicholas are going at it. For someone who was in a lot of pain a few minutes ago, he seems to be doing pretty well.

Tracy is back to her massage and feels more relaxed after the phone call.

Dr. Sheinberg and Veronica see Jason at the MetroCourt and the doctor tells him they’re going to the authorities tomorrow to clear his name. Veronica tells Jason not to thank them, but to thank his wife. Dr Sheinberg says he’s a lucky man.

Sam knocks on the door to Jason’s suite and Elizabeth answers. I’d love to wipe the stupid smirk off her face.

The desk cop shows Dante pictures of Valerie taking money from Johnny and also of them in a car together.

Johnny says it’s bad business to leave witnesses. He says luckily there’s gasoline so he can make a clean getaway. Valerie totally freaks.

Lulu says if she and Dante were together, she never would have considered helping Johnny, so it’s all Valerie’s fault. Laura says that’s a bit of a stretch and I have to agree. Laura goes to tend to Rocco, and Lulu gets the message about Johnny’s bag.

Valerie tries desperately to get out of Johnny’s Boy Scout knots and knocks over a candle.

Tomorrow, Elizabeth gives Sam the wrong impression and it looks like Lulu might be the one to save Valerie.

MasterChef Junior

Down to six. The kids have to cater a lunch at Gordon’s place for culinary world luminaries. Whatever that means to you. They’ll be working in two teams of three each. My girl, Addy, is one of the team captains.

Of course Gordon has a fabulous property, but the best thing about it is his little French bulldog, King George. Gordon gets a headache pretty early on. These kids crack me up though. So sophisticated one minute, and the next, claiming they don’t know what to do because they’re only in elementary school. When I was in elementary school, I was lucky I could make peanut butter on toast.

This is great! I finally know how you say gnocchi.

Holy! One of the kids spills a hot pan full of venison and butter onto Gordon’s leg and into his shoe. He handles it a million times better than I would. I didn’t hear one bleep.

The red team wins and Addy is the only one from the blue team who is safe. My money is totally on her. The two going home take it extremely well and they have a lot to be proud of. One is twelve and one is eight, and they’re cooking 3 Michelin star meals. I can’t even imagine how much they’ll accomplish by the time they’re grown-ups.

Hell’s Kitchen

I always love how they do the opening titles. This season, the chefs are trekking through snowy mountains. The show itself is stationed in Las Vegas this time around.

With way too many contestants and it being too early to care about any of them, the first challenge is making a signature dish. There’s an audience, which is weird and I’m not so sure I like it. We learn a little about the contestants as Gordon tastes the dishes. Nope. Don’t like the audience. Whether it’s enhanced or natural, their reactions to Gordon’s critiques are too loud. He gives each dish 1-5 points.

The men get slightly more points, so they get to have fun, while the women get to peel 50 pounds of shrimp and 1000 pounds of potatoes for a buffet. Woohoo. Welcome to Vegas.

During the first Hell’s Kitchen dinner presentation, some chick named Vanessa is wigging out. She says she’s on the app station where most people die. I’m not sure if she means die as in fail, or a lot of accidents happen there. She can’t seem to make the pizza appetizer without burning it. My first job was making pizzas, so this is something I can actually do. It’s probably the first time I’m saying that in the history of my watching chef competitions. The men can’t cook a pizza either, so I’m extra stoked.

Uh-oh. Risotto is involved. That never goes well. You can tell who’s going to be leaving quickly by the way they react to the first scolding from Gordon.

The men’s blue team totally screws up and Gordon kicks their sorry asses out of the kitchen completely. I guess that means they lost this round. Deer-caught-in-the-headlights guy goes home.

Next week, the chefs drink too much and are hung over. There are also Sumo wrestlers.

The People’s Couch

I don’t really recap this, but it’s one of my favorite shows. This season they’ve added The Haves and the Have Nots to the mix, and I’m excited about that. I’m really glad this show has done well. What makes it so much fun is that they’re having fun.

I can’t say I ever thought I’d be watching a show about watching people watching TV.

It also gives me the quotes of the week:

Oh my God, I wanna drive through a house. Julie referring to a scene in The Haves and the Have Nots.

There’s always one drunk on every show. Teddi while watching The Bachelor.

Jan12

January 11, 2016 — GH, 10 Little Chefs & the Scent of a Stassi

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What I Watched Today

(random, rambling thoughts on today’s TV)

 

General Hospital

Elizabeth says someone must have broken in, since the picture was fine when she went upstairs.

Maxie freaks after seeing Johnny. She says she’s going to get the police, but Johnny stops her.

Sonny sees Lucas at the hospital and asks if he can be Sonny’s new doctor, but Lucas says no can do.

Nicholas says the lawsuit is going to be a real pita. Hayden says she’s got an idea to prevent that, and asks him to marry her. She says it will protect ELQ. I can’t wait to hear the logic for this.

Sam is moving back to the apartment and tells Alexis that she and Julian will finally get some privacy. Kristina looks at a letter saying she’s on academic suspension because her grades totally blow. Alexis startles her, so she eats the letter. Not really. Just seeing if you’re paying attention.

Kristina stashes the letter and talks nonsense about how great Alexis and Julian’s privacy will be when everyone leaves. Kristina makes up some story about why her classes aren’t starting next Monday. When Alexis asks just when they’re going to start, Sam saves the day by walking in and diverting attention. Kristina asks Sam what’s going on and Sam says Jason remembered kissing her.

Jake pops downstairs and asks if “the bad man” broke the picture frame. How old is he supposed to be? He certainly looks older than a kid who would use the phrase “the bad man.” And he spent his formative years with Helena. You’d think he’d be reciting Shakespeare. Jason tells him everything is going to be okay and he says he agrees because his dad is here now.

Nicholas says the court case will hurt the Quartermaines as much as it will hurt him. Hayden says she saw it happen all the time when she worked in finance, that most of the time, companies were hit the hardest in a lawsuit among the individuals in them. She says the Qs might pull a Medea and destroy ELQ entirely. Her bright idea is to get married and put some of the shares in her name. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! She’s good.

Lucas recommends Dr. Maze, who is highly skilled, but doesn’t have e a great bedside manner. How convenient – here he comes! Nathan introduces Dr Maze to Sonny and Carly, but he says he just needs to meet the patient. Sonny isn’t too happy about that.

Johnny has Maxie’s phone. Lulu reminds Maxie of the time she helped Johnny out, and they go down Memory Lane to get everyone up to speed. Maxie asks where he’s been all this time. Johnny says no one has really been looking for him and that it’s a cold case. While Maxie distracts him with this question, she grabs her phone back and says she owes it to Nathan to call him.

Johnny asks Maxie to give him the phone. She says Nathan has been working a super secret case and maybe it’s him. He says hardly, and I tend to think he’s telling the truth. Lulu interjects that she would be in trouble too. Maxie says she can lie and Lulu says she won’t.  Maxie sees some flowers and asks where they came from. When Johnny says from him, she jumps to the conclusion that Lulu and Johnny are sleeping together because that’s a sure sign of it.

Dr. Maze is certainly abrupt. He says he’s not a family doctor so he doesn’t have to be nice. He reminds me of some doctors I’ve worked with. Sonny says he’s had movement in his legs and Carly says how great that is, but already obviously a wet blanket Dr. Maze says he’ll decide if it’s great after he examines Sonny.

Kristina suggests maybe his environment helped jog Jason’s memory. Sam says they were in his apartment, and Alexis asks if they’re moving in together and looks like she’s about to panic. Sam says no, Jason just said she and Danny could live there. Sam says something about Kristina studying law, and Alexis gets all excited. When she has to answer the phone, Kristina tells Sam to let her tell Alexis about her plans.

Elizabeth acts all weird, saying it’s her fault that Jake is a loony toon. Jason tells her to get a grip and the police knock on the door. He suggests maybe they can figure it out.

Hayden says that when it’s all over, she’ll give Nicolas back the shares. Nicholas says it’s his and Spencer’s future and he’s not letting it go. Hayden says he won’t have to if he marries her. He counters with what if she’s up to no good?

Sonny says the doctor doesn’t get to tell him whether his wife can be involved with his treatment. He says he wouldn’t be where he was today if it wasn’t for Carly. That probably wasn’t the best way to put it, considering where he is today. Dr. Maze says he’s the only doctor on staff who can treat him. And there are no other hospitals anywhere in the world.

Alexis says it was Diane on the phone and she’s going to take a trip with Max. Sonny’s Max? Are they an item? Alexis says Diane wants her to take over Jason’s case while she’s gone. Alexis says it’s going to be rough because both Nicholas and Hayden are saying the same thing, that Jason deliberately pushed Nicholas over the balcony.

The police tell Elizabeth that since it’s the second incident, they’ll send in CSI to take fingerprints. Jason has to tell them that he has a record and he’s out on bail now. He says he had nothing to do with what’s going on here, and the way Elizabeth jumps to second that, if I didn’t know better, I’d think he did. The police ask if he has any enemies. How much time do they have?

Hayden says trust is trust, but Nicholas says trusting emotionally and financially are two different things. He says that she was a shark once before, and he’s not willing to take the risk. She suggests a pre-nup.

Sam says it was an accident. Alexis says Sam wasn’t there, but Hayden was . Alexis says she’s surprised Jason even got out on bail. Sam says someone else must be in their corner and she’s going to find out who else might have seen the fight. Isn’t that something Alexis should be pursuing? Like right now?

Dr. Maze says he wants to focus on the patient, not field questions and feelings from their loved ones. Sonny says too bad. Carly takes him aside and says it’s fine with her that she wants Sonny to concentrate on getting better and she has work to do anyway. Dr. Maze tells Sonny it’s really the best way and let’s get going.

Nicholas says Hayden lied to him for a long time, saying she’d lost her memory. Hayden says she thought they were past that. Nicholas says she does enjoy his money. Hayden says of course she does, but that she’s made money for other people and for herself and she’s seen it destroy families and love, and she doesn’t want to be part of that.

Jason says he didn’t see anything weird in the neighborhood. The officer asks him if he thinks there’s any connection to what he’s out on bail for. Jason says he doesn’t think the incidents are related. He asks if they can keep a patrol car outside, but the officer says they can’t exactly waste a man on that. Jason is like, oh come on, and the officer says he can’t promise anything, but he’ll see what he can do. When the police leave, Jason tells Elizabeth to pack up the boys and they’re spending the night somewhere else. Ah-ha! in Nelson voice. Elizabeth thought he was going to move in there. I’ll bet she gets around this somehow though.

Maxie says Johnny is who Lulu was with on New Year’s Eve, and how can she do this? Lulu says, to Dante? And Maxie says no, to her. How could she do this and not let her in on it? Lulu says she’s not sleeping with Johnny, but she was in the stateroom with him when Dante came by and Dante assumed she was sleeping with Dillon. Maxie says that things with Dante will be over if he finds out Johnny is there for whatever reason and he has to go.

Maxie says she’s not keeping another secret from Nathan. Johnny says she wasn’t directly involved, so it’s no big deal. Maxie says she and Lulu have to think about their children. Johnny asks how Georgie is and she tells him how Spinelli brought her to Port Charles for Christmas. Johnny says Spinelli is one of the good ones. Somehow, Johnny gets the phone again. They’re going to go back and forth like this until someone else, probably Dillon, walks in.

Dr. Maze says he’s the best doctor on earth. Sonny says he doesn’t care because he’s also an a-hole and to move along to his next patient. Lucas comes by and Sonny asks if he has a plan B. Because, even though they’re not far from NYC, they can’t travel to see any other doctor. Maybe Port Charles is like Brigadoon and they’re not allowed to leave.

Sam meets Carly at the MetroCourt and they discuss who might have been able to see the fight. Carly goes to get the guest list from that night.

Jake asks if it’s safe now and if the bad man is coming back. How come the police didn’t talk to him? Jason says they’re going to sleep somewhere else tonight and Jake asks if he’s coming. Elizabeth says no, and that he doesn’t have to because she’s a fake witch.

Nicholas says he believes Hayden, but he has a team of fabulous attorneys who will get him off the hook, so she doesn’t have to enter into a charade. Hayden says she really loves him and she thought her feelings mattered to him. Nicholas says they do. Hayden says they’re happier together than apart and isn’t’ that a good enough reason to get married.

Johnny says he wasn’t planning on staying long and he’ll be gone before Maxie knows it. She gets her phone back again and runs off. Johnny says she’s bluffing, but Lulu says she’s right about Dante. Johnny says she doesn’t deserve the way Dante treats her. Lulu says getting rid of Valerie is her only hope, but after they’re finished with that, Johnny has to leave.

Lucas phones another doctor for Sonny. Because no one has a car.

Alexis says she can’t believe Kristina is taking pre-law and didn’t tell her. She says she must have had a really tough semester. Alexis tells her that when she’s arguing in front of the Supreme Court, she’ll come and watch. Kristina looks guilty as all hell.

Nicholas says he thinks marriage would be a huge burden so early, and he doesn’t want to sacrifice what they have for ELQ. Hayden says she can’t believe he’s putting them before the business. He says that they should explore their relationship more and Hayden says cool.

Jason says he wants to set Elizabeth and the boys up at the MetroCourt. Elizabeth says thanks for looking out for them.

Carly asks Sam about Jason. She says it has to be hard on him because he doesn’t understand why they love him so much and he must feel pressured. Carly checks to see what guests had a view of the terrace that night. I guess we’re assuming these people were all at a window or balcony at just the right moment. Carly recognizes a name and says they would have had a perfect view, but they’re someone she knows would not want to get involved. Elvis is alive!

Tomorrow, Michael wants to get back with Sabrrrina, Anna thinks there’s a break in the Carrrlos case, and Morgan sees a shrink. That guy is going to have a field day.

MasterChef Junior

We’re down to ten contestants. Immediately starting with a Nickolodeon moment, Graham is dressed like a chicken and the kids have to crack eggs on his head to find out which team they’re on. I want to know how they got the coloring inside the eggs because these sure seem like real eggs. It’s a deviled egg challenge and Graham and Gordon are the third team. I would think they’d be automatic winners, but maybe not.

Graham and Gordon end up being the big losers, but needless to say, every single deviled egg made is better than any I would make.

The elimination challenge has the kids making their signature dish from their future cookbook. One kid says he’s been working on his signature dish since he was four. Another one talks about taking a cupcake to “the next level,” when I haven’t taken one to the first level. . I throw out everything in my kitchen except the microwave.

Uh-oh. The cupcake idea did not go over well as a signature dish. Because it’s a cupcake. At least she doesn’t cry. I would. The next mistake is infinitely worse. Raw chicken. Now that’s one thing I’ve never had a problem with. I cook the crap out of chicken because I’m so afraid it will come out raw.

My favorite and my pick for the win, Addy, barely squeaks by. The cupcake and the chicken go home. Raw chicken aside, these kids have every reason to be proud of themselves. The top ten in what’s essentially an adult competition is extraordinary.

The next challenge involves a mystery box put together by Christina’s mother. It’s a box of Christina’s favorite childhood foods. What these kids are going to do with Fruit Loops and chicken breasts is definitely a mystery to me. The kids also get to make a Skype call to their best friend for inspiration. I wonder who they pal around with? Guy Fiery?

Another team challenge, this time in teams of two. The winner of the last challenge pairs up the teams. The kids have to make international street food. This is not to be confused with a dirty water dog on the street in NYC. They’re making three different dishes at once and switch team leaders every couple of minutes. This seems confusing to me, I can’t imagine how pressured these kids are feeling.

Gordon says pressure is good, and when we’re at our weakest, we find our strongest parts. Thanks, Kahill Gibran.  I don’t know what this is on a bun with a pickle, but I’d like one right now. Especially since my dinner is kale and quinoa soup due to too much holiday food cheer. When Gordon examines something that looks like lamb on a stick, he says the only thing missing is the wool, it’s so raw. Ouch! I’m glad the judges make it fun for the kids, but aren’t patronizing. Might as well learn about the world now.

Good-by little girl with the braids and kid with the mowhawk. Just remember, even if we lived to be 100, most of us won’t cook as well as you on your worst day. You put us all to shame.

Vanderpump Rules

Katie and Schwartz are having a picnic in a gorgeous park. They’re all happy and in love and just engaged. I hope it lasts for them. Katie reads a text from Stassi. Stassi says she’s thrilled with the engagement. Schwartz says Katie has been more relaxed with Stassi out of her life (no surprise), and Katie says she’s not really interested in that friendship anymore (understandable).

The girls fawn over Katie’s ring at work. Lisa says she’s almost as excited for Katie as she was for Pandora. I think Lisa just likes a diamond ring and a good party.

Jax has this huge quandary about who’s coming to the Hawaii trip, because thought processes are hard for him. He says James is definitely out, and although Kristen is out too, he’s inviting her to his birthday lunch. He invites Ariana to the lunch, but warns tells her Kristen will be there. Ariana says maybe she should take a pass. Scheana says she’s creating something where there isn’t anything. Ariana says Scheana is always talking over her and putting words in her mouth and that’s not a real friend. Scheana says that she’s not having this conversation and walks away. Because rainbows and butterflies.

Katie and Scheana are taking a break outside. Scheana tells Katie that Ariana doesn’t think they’re true friends because they keep throwing Kristen in her face. Scheana says Ariana is being like Stassi, although I disagree. Geez, let Ariana have some space from Kristen.

These guys steal so much liquor from the bar, it’s disgusting. Lisa comes in and says Stassi is back in town, and she doesn’t want her being “enabled” hanging out there again. Lisa says Stassi was seriously disrespectful and she doesn’t need to be giving her free drinks when she’s done enough for her and it wasn’t appreciated. Jax concurs that they’ve been getting along just fine without Stassi.

Max and James discuss James not being invited to Hawaii. Max seems to think it’s some passive aggressive thing about Kristen. And maybe James’s drinking has a little to do with it. Yeah. Maybe it has a lot to do with it. James says he’s just going to kiss Jax’s ass, and because Jax is so stupid, he’ll invite him.

Jax tells James he’s a liability. He brings up James acting like a d-bag when Jax was talking to Lala. (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, who names their kid Lala? It’s a lot easier to type than Scheana though.) He says if he wanted to sleep with Lala, he would. James begs like a dog (not to insult dogs) and Jax says he doesn’t want to be sorry about it. Jax says if he didn’t forgive James, he’d be a hypocrite and tells James he can go. James calls him a dumb ass in his individual interview. That says it all about James. I like him even less than I do Jax.

Katie says Kristen did some f-ed up things, but she’s apologized and is doing better now, so she thinks they can be friends again. Katie tells Kristen about Stassi’s text. Kristen is still friends with her, and she says that Stassi is heartbroken over the loss of Katie’s friendship. That’s funny, since she’s the one who didn’t want to be friends anymore.

James tells Lisa that Jax told him he can come to Hawaii. James says that Lala is going to be there too, and his tongue hangs out, which ticks Lisa off. She says Lala is a human being, not a trophy. Lisa isn’t thrilled about Max coming along either. Lisa astutely points out that if Max is with Faith, that opens up the door for James with Lala. Lisa tells him not to do anything stupid, which she knows are futile words.

The girls go bikini shopping. Faith and Lala are going to be rooming together on the trip. Scheana says she wants to renew her vows in Hawaii. Didn’t they just get married? Lala comes out modeling pasties and a thong, and Scheana thinks this might be a bad idea, since there are a lot of other girls coming along. Scheana predicts Lala will sleep with James on the trip, but Lala says she can’t stop flirting with Jax. Ugh! I’m starting to really not like her. She acts like this is okay on days when he’s not with Britney. Of course he thinks it’s okay too, but I already can’t stand him.

Britney is moving in and Jax says they’ve hit a good stride, whatever that means. Jax asks if she’s okay with Lala going on the trip, even though he’d originally said he wasn’t inviting her. Britney tells him Scheana told her what Lala said when they were out shopping. Britney adds that he doesn’t help any. Jax asks if Britney is going to make things awkward and Britney says she’s going to have to speak with Lala. This makes Jax cringe, but this is his own damn fault.

It’s time for Jax’s birthday lunch! He’s 29 for the 7th time, which means he shouldn’t be hanging out with this crowd. Ariana and Tom show up, and Kristen says she’s not going to waste any more of her time trying to be friends with them. She makes a toast starting off with “since I’m not going to Hawaii” and in his individual interview, Tom says Kristen can’t help but be passive aggressive.

Lala, Faith and James visit Max at Lisa’s house. Max was in an accident and has a mess of dental work that needs to be done, so he doesn’t know if he’s making the Hawaii trip. James was some kind of hero in this because he’s the one who got him to the dentist. He’s probably the cause of it in the first place. Or Lisa arranged it rather than seeing Max vacation with these cretins. James goes on about how selfish Max is, since this blows his plan of hooking Max up with Faith so he can get to Lala.

At the birthday lunch, they discuss James’s…size. Why? Then they move on to Lala being man hungry.

Back at Lisa’s, Lala and Faith are topless in the pool and cavorting with James. What is this? The Playboy mansion? BTW, it’s up for sale, but you have to take Hugh Hefner with it. I’m not kidding. Google it.

When Tom gets up to have a smoke, Kristen follows. For God’s sake, leave that guy alone. Kristen asks for a light and Tom sets her on fire. Not really, but I wish he did. Kristen tells him she’s not going to Hawaii and wants to know what it’s going to take for him to stop being so hard on her friends. Using like about 12 times in a sentence, he says she makes him and Ariana uncomfortable. He says this is about her and not her friends.

The others notice they’re gone and Ariana says Kristen is on her Apology Tour 2015. Ha! She says it’s really about Kristen wanting to go to Hawaii. Kristen tells Tom she’s tired of the tension because she’s not going anywhere. She says she’s going to be helping out with Katie’s wedding too. Tom says she has to understand how truly horrible she was and sometimes actions have consequences. She says she respects his feelings but she’s going to be around. Thanks for the warning.

Scheana asks Ariana to meet her at the bar. Katie comes along. Schwartz says they keep losing people from the lunch. Scheana says that Ariana is being mean and unreasonable, and Katie days she feels like she’s being backed into a corner. Scheana says that Ariana and Tom act like Kristen holds a grudge, when really it’s the other way around. In her individual interview, Ariana says that they’ve all hated Kristen at one time or another, and that she’s never been friends with Kristen for a reason. Scheana says she spoke to Ariana’s mom, who thinks Ariana has been in a bad mood, so it’s not just them. Ariana finds it hard to believe her mom would prompt something like that. She says she’s not going to put herself in a situation where she feels uncomfortable and I don’t blame her. She says she’s now going to have to get on a plane with a bunch of a-holes who look like people who used to be her friends. Man, I’d keep my distance from Kristen too. This bunch is living in unicorn-bunnyville.

At the airport. Jax isn’t thrilled with James being there. James is thrilled because he wants to get with Lala. Scheana says it’s too bad Kristen isn’t there, but Tom and Ariana got their way. All these people claim to be such good friends, yet they all seem to have forgotten it’s Tom’s birthday too, and this is supposed to be a joint effort.

The plane takes off.

Next week, we’re in Hawaii and Jax gets arrested. Looks like lots of Stassi crying this season too.