(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Today’s GH Nurse’s Ball flashback moved ahead to May 17th, 2018. The nurses opened with Everyday People, a happy coincidence, since it’s what everyone needs to hear today. Olay got the plugs, and Carly was in jail for pushing Nelle down the stairs. Chase did one of my favorite Ball numbers ever with Feel It Still, channeling Dick Tracy. Even better, he’d been fooled into thinking it was a group number, and found himself to be a solo act. Curtis did a magic act, with Nina as his assistant. Old Jordan was his audience volunteer, and he turned a silver dollar into an engagement ring, proposing on stage, and asking her to believe in their magic. She said yes.
Maxie was still pregnant, and was concerned about the baby’s activity, but Kim said he or she probably just wanted to party. Valentin told Peter to calm down about Anna, and Anna got a message to come to Pier 55 at midnight, and come alone. Sam got caught sneaking around Peter’s office, but told the janitor (or whoever he was) that she was there doing work. Maxie told Peter the loss of Nathan was hitting her hard after the proposal, and Sonny thanked Robin for recognizing what was going on with Mike. Dante was still normal and there with Lulu, and said the joke was on him for telling Chase it was a group act. Lulu said it was karmic justice that Chase was super talented, but Dante didn’t want to go that far. Much to everyone’s relief, Mac and Mr. Marbles were stranded out of town, and Lucy moved up the presentation of the first annual Port Charles Pioneer Award. Molly took the mic, and said the first recipient was her hero, role model, and mom, but Alexis was too busy listening in on Finn and Anna backstage to realize it was her cue. Because he mistakenly thought Anna was dying, Finn told her that he still cared for her, and didn’t want anything to happen to her without knowing that. Valentin tried to get Nina out of town for the vacation of a lifetime, really an escape, and Sam found Faison’s lighter on Peter’s desk. I’m hoping they show the episode where Mike and Sonny sing Summer Wind. I could use a good cry.
🌌 Getting Into the Wayback Machine…
A look at the performances in the 2014 Nurse’s Ball, which had some of my favorites.
Kate is also leaving, definitely not fired, and will appear in an episode of Ghosted. I watched a couple episodes of it, but thought it was anticlimactic.
Pursue what catches your heart, not what catches your eyes. – Roy T. Bennett
There’s a great power in words, if you don’t hitch too many of them together. – Josh Billings
I never argue. I explain. – The Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith), Downton Abbey
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe. – Albert Einstein
The past has no power over the present moment. – Eckhart Tolle
Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. – Will Rogers
When people don’t express themselves, they die one piece at a time. – Laurie Halse Anderson
May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house. – George Carlin
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. – Confucius
Let me say as I’ve always said, and I will always continue to say, that riots are socially destructive and self-defeating. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality, and humanity. And so in a real sense, our nation’s summers of riots are caused by our nation’s winters of delay. And as long as America postpones justice, we stand in the position of having these recurrences of violence and riots over and over again. – Martin Luther King
I have decided to stick to love… Hate is too great a burden to bear. – Martin Luther King
🌳 Moving Toward Green…
Here we are, at that point in the week which became muddled for many over the past few months. Along with summer bringing green to our lives again, here’s hoping your county/town/wherever-you-live is beginning to give a green light to more normalcy – i.e. being able to get a haircut. Let this time of weirdness and reflection have made you a better person. Don’t be an idiot. Stay safe, stay informed, and stay being a rebel just for kicks.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Today’s GH flashback would have been from May 25th, 2017, a continuation of the 2017 Nurse’s Ball. However, GH was preempted for the George Floyd’s Memorial Service, which even I have to admit, is important for everyone to see. You can easily find it on YouTube, but here are some highlights:
Leah asks if anyone is freaking out over her behavior, and LuAnn says they didn’t like the Tasmanian Devil. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, they’re not perfect. They all do crazy things, but this is a new crazy. They need to get used to it. Elyse says she wasn’t freaking out, but to be honest, she’s never seen someone so off the rails. Leah says she needed to get it out. She’s been with her kid, holding it together. Tinsley hugs Leah, who adds, it was totally cathartic. In Leah’s interview, she says she’s not in the best place mentally. She had a huge falling out with the guy she was dating. She drank to forget, and drank too much. Elyse says she’s never been with a woman, but if she did, it would be Leah. We flash back to Elyse saying she wanted to sleep with Ramona, after Ramona bragged about a three-condom night. Elyse says after seeing Leah so crazy, she wants that experience in bed. Sarah arrives, and Leah introduces her around. In Ramona’s interview, she says she’s glad Leah’s sister is there to keep her company. They’ll see how it goes. Sarah says it’s her first 24-hours away from the baby. Sarah misses her, but she doesn’t have to wake up suddenly, and do something for someone. Dorinda says she and Leah look like each other (they do), and asks where Sarah lives. Sarah says, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and Dorinda tells her about seeing a special about Williamsburg, and how they have the best macaroons. She was ready to pack her bags and go there.
They go back to where they’re staying, and Tinsley, Leah, and Sarah take a selfie on the terrace. The women get ready for dinner. Sonja tells Ramona that she’s not doing her hair and makeup; she’s just changing her clothes and underwear. Dorinda goes to LuAnn’s room, and says she started without them. In LuAnn’s interview, she says she loves Dorinda, but when she says she’s been drinking all day, and they’re going out to dinner, it’s all kinds of red flags. Dorinda says she talked to John, and LuAnn asks if she’s okay. Dorinda tears up, and LuAnn says, talk to her. Dorinda says she just wants to be left alone for a little while, and LuAnn says just tell John that she needs time. He’ll understand. She feels like Dorinda is feeling bad for John, and that’s not the way to make a decision. Dorinda says she doesn’t want to be a downer, but she’s sad. LuAnn says, of course; they were together a long time. In Dorinda’s interview, she says when she’s not talking to John, she can get through it, but when she talks to him, she realizes they’ve broken up, and he’s not part of her life anymore. She’s sad and emotional. She’s alone again. LuAnn says, let him go, and see what happens. Dorinda says, let the birdcage free, which doesn’t seem quite right, but okay. LuAnn tells her not to worry. She always lands on her feet. In LuAnn’s interview, she says she’s been there, and it’s not easy. Dorinda and John have been together a long time. If you don’t deal with your emotions, it creates negative energy. Dorinda thinks she’s not in a good place, and they drink some wine. LuAnn says now they have to go out with these crazy chicks.
The women meet at restaurant. I wonder what the hell Sonja is wearing; sparkly silver leggings with sneakers or some kind of flats. It’s not a good look. For anyone. Ramona, Sonja, and LuAnn immediately gravitate to the bar, even though their table is ready. In Tinsley’s interview, when the table isn’t ready, you go to the bar, but if it’s ready, you sit at the table. Ramona flirts with some guys, while Elyse sits alone, waiting. In her interview, Tinsley says Ramona is always getting up to talk to men to show she can get attention. She acts like she’s a goddess, but she’s not. She blows off one on one personal time with friends just to prove she’s still got it. It’s not right. In Elyse’s interview, she says, hi, I’m Ramona. Can I feel your muscles? Ramona finds out that the guy she’s been chatting up is engaged, and in Tinsley’s interview, she says, he’s spoken for. Can we now get to the table? She sits, and says, she’s embarrassed. Ramona, Sonja, and LuAnn are still at the bar, when waiter Sean comes by, and Dorinda tells him to come back. In Ramona’s interview, she says, Leah is out of sight, out of mind. The seat at the bar is better than the seat at the table. Tinsley says, they’re cougaring out, and it’s rude. Leah suggests she tell them that their behavior is embarrassing. In her interview, she says she loves Tinsley, but doesn’t think her delivery and communication skills with these women is productive. They need to be communicated with in a special way. She says this like she’s been a real winner in that department. Tinsley goes to the bar, and tells Sonja there’s a nice spot at the table, but Sonja ignores her and talks to another guy. Tinsley tries to get the women to sit, and engaged guy looks annoyed, although I’m not sure who he’s annoyed with, Tinsley, the others, or both. In Sonja’s interview, she says she can’t believe Tinsley is trying to drag them back to the table. She thinks checking the hot guys out is a great alternative. I might think so too, if there were any hot guys there. Tinsley tells the engaged guy to quit talking to them, then decides she’d rather have dinner without them. Sonja and LuAnn eat something Lady and the Tramp spaghetti style. Bleh. Tinsley tells Ramona that she’s rude; Ramona isn’t even looking at her. She asks them to please come to the table. LuAnn goes to the table, and tells Dorinda that Ramona isn’t a good wingwoman. Tinsley sits down, and says they’re rude; they look like cougars. Dorinda babbles to Elyse, and in Leah’s interview, she says she’s thinking the guy will take one look at her and her sister and forget the others. She and Sarah go to the bar, and she tells the guy that they’re trying to get their friends over to the table. He says they’re talking, and Sarah says she doesn’t think his fiancé would like it. Not-so-hot guy says the situation is their effing problem, and walks away. In her interview, Leah says, this is the prize. That tells her everything she needs to know, but mission accomplished. He’s gone. In Ramona’s interview, she says the last thing Tinsley should do is take her away from the man she’s talking to. Man, is this woman some kind of insecure.
Dorinda babbles about having a Black Card to Elyse. In Elyse’s interview, she says Dorinda is over-the-top drunk. Tinsley is escalating, and the ones at the bar are a geriatric version of Girls Gone Wild. Ramona and Sonja join them, and LuAnn suggests bringing it down a notch. Tinsley tells Ramona that if she’d set up the dinner, she’d want them to be respectful. Dorinda wonders what’s going on, and LuAnn says they need to find kindness. Sonja starts yelling, and in Leah’s interview, she says she’s flabbergasted. She knows she was acting like a maniac yesterday, but at least she’s a fun maniac. LuAnn thinks it’s nasty, and Ramona says talk to Leah’s sister, who’s guilty by association. Dorinda gets up, and Leah says Ramona should take a note from her sister, and learn how to behave. Dorinda says she’s going home, and in her interview, she says she should have stayed home. She had Ghost Hunters geared up, and room service, and was going to sleep at 6:30. Sonja burps, Ramona acts like she’s being choked by the decorative flint corn on the table, and Sonja trumps that with using some squash from the same centerpiece to block her ears. LuAnn asks if anybody would like a shrimp, and Leah says she can’t. Ramona and Sonja trash Leah’s sister; Ramona calling her a demon, and Sonja saying she’s a weirdo. LuAnn says she’s made an executive decision; they’re going back to the hotel. In Leah’s interview, she says, go ahead and f*** with her, but not with her family. She sits across from Ramona, throws a ravioli at Ramona’s face, and leaves. In Elyse’s interview, she says Ramona didn’t even flinch. She tells Ramona that it’s all over her face. Outside, Leah tells Tinsley what she did, and Tinsley says, sometimes you just have to throw a ravioli. Truth! Ramona says she doesn’t need people like this in her life. They’re not invited to her birthday party. In Ramona’s interview, she says she’s disappointed in Leah. Disappointment is worse than anger because… it just is. LuAnn comes back in, and says this was upsetting. Tinsley, Sarah, and Leah head back, and Leah says she’s done. She’s over it. LuAnn sets the stalk end of the corn on fire, for the energy. In her interview, Leah says she feels bad, but not bad enough to change who she is. She kisses Tinsley, and they both fall on the ground.
What’s sad is, I’m wondering if I’ll end up hating this show as much as Beverly Hills just because of Ramona. NYC was always my jam, but she’s become an embarrassing snake, who will toss aside her friends for any man or friends higher on the social ladder. She’s always been an embarrassment of some sort, and occasionally the voice of reason, but she’s so worried about dying alone, she’s become the worst kind of friend ever. Some of the others, like Leah, exhibit bad behavior, but Ramona is beyond self-centered.
Dorinda goes to LuAnn’s room, and LuAnn asks if she had breakfast. Dorinda says she had a hamburger from room service; she likes lunch for breakfast. Sarah tells Leah that she’s annoyed. She came so far to have a relaxing 24-hours, but it’s not relaxing; it’s upsetting. Leah says the women treating Sarah like that because of her. It’s not okay, and she feels bad that she invited Sarah and this sh*t happened. In Leah’s interview, she says she doesn’t feel happy. She’s not proud losing her temper to the point where she threw food. She’s also feeling bad that her sister had a sh*tty time. She’s not sure how to move forward with this group, and doesn’t even know if that can happen.
Dorinda tells LuAnn that she likes Leah. She thinks Leah is young and lost. LuAnn says, it’s sad, but it’s one thing to upset someone, and another to be all out aggressive. She threw ravioli at Ramona. (It’s not about the pasta.) Dorinda wishes she’d stayed for that one. LuAnn says, when you push that far, it’s hard to go back. In Ramona’s interview, she says it’s not that Leah can’t be who she is, but if that’s who she is, it’s unacceptable. She needs to act nutty around her other girlfriends. Elyse says, not that it’s justified, but she’s known Ramona a long time, and when they’re in a group, even she finds it hard to break in sometimes. Leah takes things to heart, like what Sonja said about people with tattoos being dirty and diseased. Sonja says Leah is a loose cannon (which is rich, coming from the biggest cannon there). She was arrested, and thrown out of school. Sonja adds that she’s trying to be sensitive.
Sarah tells Leah, all of these women have had a night where they threw ravioli in someone’s face. They’re passive, and it’s hard to get an apology from someone who’s passive/aggressive. They’ll just say they didn’t mean it. Leah says her problem isn’t being passive/aggressive; she’s just in your face. It makes her crazy when she’s told to act in a different way. Sarah says Leah doesn’t understand the game of dealing with people. LuAnn asks Dorinda how they’re going to fix this. Dorinda says they can’t, and LuAnn says, no, the girls have to fix it, but how can they help facilitate it? They can’t let this continue; it’s a nightmare. She thinks, if it can swing that far to the right, it can swing back that far to the left. Elyse asks Ramona and Sonja how can they move forward from this. She promises if they give Leah a chance… Sonja says they don’t know when she’s going to go off; she’s like a timebomb. Ramona says there’s a certain demeanor and caliber; a way of acting with the group. Would that be selfishly? Egotistically? She’s not being specific. In Ramona’s interview, she says, it puts a damper in their dynamic. If Leah can’t act properly, no way Jose. Sarah tells Leah, it’s a pit in the ocean. Dorinda tells LuAnn, they’ll hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.
Back in the city, LuAnn meets with cabaret producer Ben for lunch. He thinks it would be a good idea for her to open with Life is a Cabaret, by which I assume he means Cabaret. He tells her that she put cabaret on the map, and made it popular. I nearly choke on my coffee. Ben is a real ass kisser, and the Countess is just lapping it up. In her interview, LuAnn says, it’s an all new Lu. She wants to do an expansion on Marry-Eff-Kill. Who doesn’t love sex, and who doesn’t want to see her being naughty? Ben says she should include the audience, build on the theme, but include traditional songs. Barbara Streisand always has to sing People. I have no words. LuAnn says they need to include Sonja. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, Sonja loves to be on stage, and was in her original shows. We flash back to when Sonja had a wardrobe malfunction, and her dress pretty much came off of her. LuAnn says Sonja needs to get on stage with her – now. She suggests Sonja sing Jovani with her. Ben wonders if they could get a breakaway outfit for Sonja, and LuAnn says, Sonja loves to lose her skirt. They could reveal one fabulous dress after another.
Leah’s meets her parents, Bryan and Bunny, for lunch. These two could pass for Billy Crystal and Carol Kane in The Princess Bride, albeit better looking. I kid you not. In Leah’s interview, she says things are not resolved with her mother since she’s been trying moderate drinking. Wow. If that’s moderate, I’d hate to see her on a real bender. She wants to get to the point where her mom accepts things, and wants Leah to be happy with the decisions she makes, but she’ll never get that. Bryan orders an old fashioned, and tells Leah that he needs to stay away from anything acidic. The lining between his esophagus and stomach is wearing out. In her interview, Leah says she has the qualities of both of her parents, but she’s more her father’s daughter. Leah asks if Sarah said anything about Newport, and Bully says Leah spills her guts, but Sarah is quieter. Leah says she thought she could blow off some steam with the women. She didn’t do anything different from them – they’re not the ladies who lunch; they’re wild – but then they turned it around, saying they were scared of her. Bunny asks if she got nasty, and Leah says not until the next day, when she was pushed. Bunny thinks alcohol is a slippery slope. In her interview, Leah says she can agree, but she thinks when her mom hears about her drinking, it’s a trigger. It’s like she has PTSD from Leah’s early years. Leah tells Bunny, she likes an escape once in a while, but Bunny says if she has the addiction genes, it’s a slippery slope. Bryan makes a joke about genes/jeans, and Bunny says Leah shouldn’t trade her health and sobriety for stupid reasons.
In the swank space on the rooftop of Dorinda’s building, she wonders where her co-host LuAnn is. We see a clip of LuAnn asking what they’re going to do about the situation. Dorinda suggests a tea party where they can relax and relate, and says the rooftop of her building is perfect. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she came out of the Newport weekend feeling exhausted. They’re gathering, but not connecting. They can have tea, but no alcohol will be involved, which is always a good thing with this group. Dorinda tells Leah to think before she speaks, and Leah says she’ll feel it out. In Leah’s interview, she says she knows if she doesn’t take the high road, there will be no reconciliation, and she was wrong to throw ravioli at Ramona. Everyone is dressed up, with hats or fascinators. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, she doesn’t know what co-host means to LuAnn. Dorinda seats everyone, and in Ramona’s interview, she says, it’s ironic that Dorinda and LuAnn are throwing a tea party with crumpets and scones. Maybe they’re trying to teach Leah a few things. Maybe someone should teach Ramona the meaning of the word ironic. Sonja and Tinsley are (no surprise) late, and LuAnn asks if they should start without them. Ramona says, if you have three or more, it’s allowed. I immediately make a mental note of this, just in case I need to know. Leah says she owes Ramona an apology. She didn’t want it to get to that point. Ramona says Leah disrupted the weekend, but she’s sorry, so it’s okay. She walked away from the weekend emotionally upset, but if Leah is willing, they can put it behind them and reset. Leah says she’s not apologizing for who she is, but for what she did. Ramona says if that’s Leah’s normal behavior, it scares her. Leah asks if Ramona has ever seen her act like that before, and LuAnn says, at Ramona’s house in the Hamptons. Leah says she won’t turn up any more. Ramona says she was exhausted, and Dorinda tells her, don’t get carried away. They’ve all had moments. We flash back to Dorinda in loud drunk mode, Sonja falling on the floor after saying she’d knock Bethenny out, LuAnn in custody, and Ramona throwing a glass at Kristen’s face. I met Kristen once. She was a very nice person, which explains why she’s no longer on the show. Ramona and Leah hug, and Leah says she feels bad, and Ramona says she’s a good girl. They’ve had some great moments, and they can have more. In Ramona’s interview, she says the apology isn’t what she wanted, but has a soft spot for Leah. She doesn’t know why. They both get weepy, and Leah says she’s a cry baby. Dorinda says Ramona is a big softie. In her interview, Leah says she doesn’t know why she’s so emotional. She’s projecting her mommy issues onto this relationship. It’s really weird. Ramona says they’ll get through this; it will be okay. Sonja comes in, with Tinsley not far behind. Dorinda wishes they had clotted cream, and Ramona says they don’t need potted cream. Leah says Tinsley literally looks like Barbie. In Tinsley’s interview, she says, going to a tea party, dressed up, in puffy sleeves. It’s the most exciting thing ever. She loves it. Dorinda has everyone change seats, and Ramona hugs Leah again. She says Leah touches a special place in her. I sit on any and all jokes. Dorinda says she wants to talk to Tinsley privately.
Dorinda tells Tinsley that she doesn’t want to be aggressive in her approach. She knows for a fact that Tinsley was in Niagara Falls with Scott, and Tinsley needs to tell them that she’s seeing him. I just don’t get why this is such a huge issue for Dorinda, especially since no one else seems to care. Tinsley says she’s not seeing him. She ran into him in Toronto, and they flew to Niagara Falls. It was a two day thing. Dorinda says she doesn’t care; it’s deceptive. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she knows someone who knows someone who sent her a picture, and said Tinsley and Scott were spending the weekend together. Why is Tinsley lying about it? Tinsley asks if Dorinda wants every detail of her life, and Dorinda says she’s not after details, but Tinsley claims they’re not together. Tinsley says, they’re not, but she’s hopeful it will turn into something. Dorinda says Tinsley needs to tell them. She tells Tinsley, she’ll leave it to her, and goes back to the table. In Tinsley’s interview, she says she’s a person, and has a life. She doesn’t share every detail; neither does Dorinda. Don’t put her on blast for not being open. She’s very open and honest. She doesn’t think she needs to say it.
Tinsley goes back to the table, and says she didn’t think she needed to tell anybody if she happened to see her ex on the weekend. Ramona asks if she’s back with Scott. It’s a huge move, and Tinsley needs to share it. Elyse says she understands why Tinsley didn’t want to say anything. She doesn’t need their comments. In Ramona’s interview, she says, she understands it’s Tinsley’s private business. She saw Scott for the first time in a long time, and she didn’t want to share it. She doesn’t want to hear their opinions, especially Dorinda. Dorinda acts like she’s a detective, finding out things about Tinsley. Is she really so concerned about what Tinsley does? LuAnn asks if they can know how it went, and Tinsley says, it went well. Dorinda asks why she’s crying then, and Tinsley says she thinks it won’t end up well. Like always. In her interview, Tinsley says she and Scott always break up, but you need to do what you need to do to get what you want. And she wants to be with Scott. She tells the women that she loves him. She tried being away from him, but she can’t. Leah says, just be with him, and Sonja – who wakes up for a second – agrees. LuAnn says Tinsley needs to call the shots, and Leah says, tell him, put a ring on it, impregnate me right TF now, or it’s a wrap. Ramona says Dorinda and LuAnn know how to throw a tea party.
Next time, Ramona whines about her birthday, Dale tells Tinsley that everything is changing, a Haunted House, Dorinda finds the man of her dreams, and Leah makes a toast.
🍜 Top Chef began with Tom talking about Italy, and how Covid-19 had affected things since they’d been there. He sent his good wishes, and hoped things would be back to normal soon, and they could return.
The Quickfire challenge had the chefs making an aperitivo for 30 locals from the town of Lucca; something that paired with Peroni beer. The station they picked would determine the region their ingredients came from, and the winner would receive $10K courtesy of Peroni.
The chefs flew business class to Italy, and it looked beyond fabulous. I would love to be able to fly first class before I die. It just looks like the epitome of luxury. Business class would be okay too. In his interview, Kevin said learned to fight every day like it’s his last, and he was ready. Bryan said he’d studied the Russian language, which was not going to help him here. Padma introduced guest chef Filippo Saporito, who tasted the dishes along with the locals. He told Padma that Melissa’s mussel offering opened your heart and your stomach, which I assume is fairly high praise. Melissa was close, but Kevin won with his polenta.
For the elimination challenge, the chefs would be hunting white truffles for use in a dish for a Tuscan food festival. In Stephanie’s interview, she said it was a chef’s dream to go truffle hunting in Tuscany. They would be guided by employees of the Savini family, who are apparently top-of-the-line procurers of truffles. The only requirement of the dish was that it showcase the truffle. The chefs would have three hours to prep and cook, and be serving 100 diners, including million Michelin star chef Cristiano Tomei. The chefs got together with two guys and two dogs, and the hunt was on. They were surprised to find tons of truffles, and it reminded me of the day it seemed like a truckload of beach glass was dumped on our nearby beach. One of food’s most precious treasures, the white truffle goes for nearly $3K per pound, so I won’t be cooking with that any time soon. The chefs had 45 minutes and 400 euros to shop in Italy’s version of Whole Foods. Gregory was having back problems, and it was seriously interfering with his concentration. I felt badly for him, and totally identified.
Stephanie, whose first anniversary fell on the day of the challenge, was surprised to find Italian radicchio had a stronger flavor than that in the U.S., and thought it was too much for her dish. Rather than take it off the menu, which she’d already established, she did her best to tone it down. When it came time for the judging, Tom said, for the most part, the dishes were good, but not every dish was good with truffles. Melissa had wanted to do some Asian/Italian fusion, and her congee was a unanimous hit. Gail said she might start a congee revolution, and Chef Tomei said she had the courage to do the necessary thing. Whatever that meant. She was the winner, with her dish being declared intelligent, fresh, and harmonious. Bryan was in as well, Gail saying his veal and potato dish was a beautiful way to use a truffle. It was simple and let the truffle do its job.
On the downside, Gregory’s wild boar hid the truffle flavor. Tom said Gregory made a great stew, but it wasn’t good for truffles. Chef Tomei said black truffles would have made a difference, but the white truffles had too delicate a flavor. Kevin also had too much going on with his meatball effort, and the truffles were overwhelmed. Padma said it was courageous of Stephanie to make pasta, but the radicchio obliterated the taste of the truffle filling. Stephanie admitted she had been afraid to take it off the menu when she’d already chosen to include it. Padma said they might have thought the radicchio should have been included, but would have respected her decision.
In the end, Padma said they bottom three had good dishes, but didn’t use the truffle properly, and Gail said they all essentially made the same mistake. Tom said that chefs understand traditions so they can break them, but one dish went to far. Gregory had to pack his knives and go. In his exit interview, he said he’d really wanted to win, but the life lesson he learned was that he can’t always control what happens. It was the wrong dish to serve with truffles. He gave the competition 110%, and had a few regrets, but knew he’d done everything physically and mentally that he could. It was a great start for his next chapter.
Next time, the chefs go to Parma, the home of Parmesan cheese. The chefs will be making their own interpretation of traditional dishes for sixteen Michelin star chefs.
⏰ On Wednesday, June 10th, at 9 pm, Bravo will be airing a special episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills where Garcelle and Dorit will be giving commentary on one of the recent episodes. While I might have picked someone other than Dorit, count me in. The only thing better than watching TV, is watching other people watch TV.
🐱 Lord Tubbington’s Mom Speaks Out…
Fondue For Two was my favorite thing on Glee, and it sounds like Heather Morris has the same good heart that her character did.
You made it to another Friday, which hopefully is gaining more meaning again. See you for tea and words of wisdom tomorrow. Until then, stay safe, stay current, and stay open to learning something new, while respecting the old.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Today’s GH flashback continued with the 2017 Nurses Ball – May 24th, 2017 to be exact. Sonny had found out that the 700 mg of lithium Morgan was supposed to be taking was only 300 mg, but Andre told him everything checked out on the pharmacy’s end. Sonny said he was going to find out one way or the other, and Andre had another test run. There was a fabulous rendition of Brave, and more plugs for Burt’s Bees. Kristina and Valerie did pretty much a full-blown commercial for their lip products. Nina said Valentin couldn’t leave Anna alone, and Valentin told Anna that she’d turned him into a stuttering fool again. Drew (thinking he’s Jason) told Elizabeth about the necklace, but she couldn’t figure out where Jake had gotten it, since he didn’t have money to go out and buy jewelry. Curtis suggested Nina walk away from Valentin, but she wasn’t sure she could. Lucy said Obrecht couldn’t perform, but she had someone just as good, and Valentin sang to Nina, accompanying himself on the piano. Jake told Elizabeth that he didn’t want to do the magic act, but was afraid something bad would happen if he didn’t. Carly wondered why Sonny was there, and what he wanted with Ava; and Andre told Sonny that he thought Morgan might have gotten a placebo, which would explain his erratic behavior and loss of control. Sonny deduced that someone tampered with Morgan’s meds because they wanted him to have a breakdown. Scotty told Ava that he’d covered her tracks, and Sonny would never find out, and Ava insisted she hadn’t wanted anything bad to happen. Morgan had been volatile and erratic, and she’d needed to protect Kiki. He told her none of it mattered, since Morgan was dead and it was over.
Michael was by Nelle’s bedside in the hospital (they were still together), and he spoke to Josslyn on the phone, encouraging her to sing. She did, and he listened in. Nelle woke up, and Michael said, surprise. Jake decided against doing the act, and Franco said Jake could do a command performance at home. Backstage, Emma and Charlotte decided they could do the act themselves, while Anna accused Valentin of wanting his past buried. He said she did it; why couldn’t he? She pumped him for information about the Chimera (boy, did I get the name of that wrong yesterday – it was a DVX bioweapon), and he said the only other person who knew about it was dead. She wouldn’t let it go, until he finally told her that he’d sold it to Helena. Thinking the Chimera had something to do with Jake’s magic act, Charlotte tried opening it, and pressed either the right or wrong button, depending on whose side your on. Carly asked Sonny why he showed up, and he said he was finally getting some answers.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Oh why not? They can’t make the week any worse.
Garcelle was being honored with a Legacy Vision Award for her work with the L.A. Mission. Growing up impoverished in Haiti, she said it’s a cause she identifies with, and she wasn’t passive/aggressive, like Teddi, in asking the women to come. She picked LisaR up, who informed her that Denise said she didn’t want her kids hearing grown-up sex talk. Garcelle told LisaR that she understood how Denise felt. They discussed Kyle’s many inadequacies, and Garcelle said Kyle is always all about Kyle, which I certainly don’t disagree with. At the event, Kyle seemed annoyed that Denise showed up like nothing was wrong when their last meeting hadn’t been a good one. I guess she should have blown into a public event on a broomstick, hurling fireballs (and not the good kind) at everyone. Garcelle thanked her kids, and said her calling was to reach people, and let them know she cared. In her interview, she talked about her oldest son Oliver, who fell in with a bad crowd as a young man, but was doing well now. She also thanked her new best friends, some not so much, indicating the table of Wives and friends. LisaR insisted that Garcelle had locked eyes with Kyle when she said that last part. Erika missed the whole speech, since she was in the bathroom, but Garcelle was gracious about it, telling Erika that she’d better not miss it when she gets her Oscar. In Garcelle’s interview, she said she was glad Kyle showed up, but showing up for charities are what they do in L.A., so was it nice or what Kyle does? In Denise’s interview, she said she didn’t have the energy to deal with bullsh*t tonight, since she had tons of dialogue to learn, and had to be at work at 6 am. Since it’s all about Kyle, Kyle claimed Denise wanted to run away. 6 am? Are you kidding? I wouldn’t have gone at all. In LisaR’s interview, she said there was an issue that needed a resolution, but Denise was avoiding it. LisaR thought part of Denise was regretful about her own openly sexual talk (again, not understanding the difference in audience), and Denise was compensating by being overly protective of her kids – stupid, even for LisaR. As soon as Denise left, they talked about her. Garcelle said she felt uneasy when leaving Erika’s, and felt everything was surface with the group. She also believed Kyle wasn’t present with her, and that she was more interested in what Kyle had to say than vice versa. In her interview, Garcelle said when Kyle is interested in someone, she’s a great friend. Ask Teddi, not Dorit.
Denise and Aaron went out to eat, and Denise told him what happened in Santa Barbara, and how Teddi was saying she’s making them look bad. Aaron suggested Teddi STFU, and in her interview, Denise said her kids already have baggage from being the children of Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen. They didn’t need her friends adding to it. She told Aaron, LisaR calling her a hypocrite hurt the most. In Denise’s interview, she said LisaR never voiced any of her concerns before; why now? We flashed back to LisaR asking if Denise talked to the girls about Charlie’s hookers. Denise wondered why it took LisaR all these years to say it, and why she said all of it in front of the group.
Kyle had a barbecue, where we met Sutton’s boyfriend Michael. On the way there, Denise and Aaron talked in the limo about deciding not to bring the kids, and thought about blowing off Kyle’s altogether and just going to a restaurant. When they got there, Denise said the older kids had sleepovers, and Eloise had a playdate, but she joked to Garcelle that she didn’t want them within earshot. This miffed Kyle, who said in her interview, it was like a slap in the face. Denise said she and Aaron needed to have time away from the kids too, and the last time she was with the group, she was bombarded with questions. Garcelle, who seems to be the only one without a gang mentality, said Denise wasn’t a hypocrite; she was compartmentalizing when the kids were around. Teddi said Denise was making them look bad, like they need any help in that area. Aaron said it was ridiculous, and asked what the issue was, but the conclusion seemed to be, there wasn’t any. In Dorit’s interview, she whined about PK wanting to defend her in the past, and thought Aaron should know his audience. Dorit is too stupid to understand how funny her choice of words is, since the argument is about knowing your audience when it comes to adult conversation. Erika wondered if Denise was more concerned about the kids’ friends being there, and LisaR pumped Denise about Sami’s reaction, which Denise said was between her and Sami. We flashed back to Sami saying she and her friends laughed about it, but that’s not the point. It still might have been embarrassing, and who wants to think about their mother and her friends having threesomes, and my God now my friends know too. Aaron said, so there’s no issue, right? and Kyle said, women handle things differently. Aaron wanted to know why they continue to harp on something, and I wish him luck finding that out. It’s been my question for years, and why I hate reunions. An ongoing stupidity is finally put to bed, and then it gets rehashed and the animosity rekindled. Garcelle said it was Denise’s right to not bring the kids, but Kyle said it felt passive/aggressive. She ought to know since she’s buddies with the queen of it. Aaron asked Kyle to define passive/aggressive, and she said Denise was mom shaming. Aaron said the issue was becoming something it shouldn’t be – again something I’ve said for years – and LisaR decided to go down the blow-up kiddie slide, since she wasn’t dealing with this bullsh*t. Aaron asked what any of this does for them. How does it make them feel? and Kyle said, it’s not comfortable. In Kyle’s interview, she told us Denise was saying she’s above them as a mom, and it’s the thing Kyle is best at, so she’s offended. No. Denise said she doesn’t want her kids listening to adult conversations. She didn’t tell anybody else what to do with their kids, and she had to say something, since the women are involved. Denise told Teddi that she wasn’t upset, and Teddi pointed out that Denise was dropping F-bombs. Aaron said they engage to win, and might as well high-five each other. Denise said Teddi is a sh*t-effing-stirrer, and when they got a facial together in Santa Barbara, she was sh*tting on Dorit. Teddi said, in Santa Barara, when Denise told them she was done talking, that meant she was pissed. We flashed back to Denise saying she was done with the conversation at dinner. Denise told Teddi, that was after two hours of talking about it. She was done. Denise said they’d crossed line, and she and Aaron were leaving. As they walked out, Aaron said the women were off his Christmas card list, and Denise told him not to say anything while they were on camera. Kyle and Sutton trotted after them, and Kyle said she didn’t want them leave like that. Teddi was still complaining that the implication makes them look bad. Denise told Kyle, thanks for having them, as she and Aaron fast walked to the car, and Kyle said she felt bad. Give it a minute, Kyle. It will pass.
Later this season, dancing, falling, falling while dancing; Camille is back, and calls someone an a-hole; a trip to Rome; Garcelle says, they’re going to drop everything negative (hahahahaha!); Brandi makes her presence known by being the disgusting person that she is; Denise disappears; Garcelle calls LisaR the bad guy in this movie; and Denise and LisaR have an ominous looking lunch.
💒 Proud Mama…
I like Garcelle. She has a great attitude, and while she’s already made a difference in this world, I hope she shakes it up good on RHOBH.
The streets of NYC at the beginning of the protests. I would have expected Leah to be less reactive, especially since not much is going on at this point.
Hannah moves on to her dream job of being a wife and making babies. Be sure to take a look at the Reality Check video on Captain Sandy’s heart attack. She called an Uber to take her to the hospital. I understand this, since my father drove himself to the hospital.
I believe the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity, is daring to dare.
Dr. Maya Angelou, 1928-2014
🌱🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌱
🚣♀️ Getting There…
It’s amazing how many problems can be crammed into one week. If what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, I’ll be living forever. Hope all is well in your corner of the world, and you stay safe, stay mindful, and stay keeping your eyes on the prize – whatever that may be for you.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Today’s GH was a Nurse’s Ball flashback from May 25th, 2017. Jake was a magician, Burt’s Bees got the plugs, and old Nina worked the red carpet with Mario Lopez. She also posed with Charlotte, even though she was in the midst of one of her many estrangements from Valentin. Ava made a big donation, and Scotty figured she was trying to buy her way out of her guilt over Morgan. Sonny was still trying to figure out what had happened with Morgan, and refused to go to the Nurse’s Ball, instead working with Brick to uncover the truth. Ava told Scotty that Lucy had put the squeeze on her for her hefty donation in exchange for keeping silent about Morgan’s pills, and Scotty talked Ava into leaving Morgan’s name out of the donation, telling her that Sonny and Carly didn’t need an extra reminder. Brick told Sonny, the only way Morgan could have spiraled so far out of control was if he’d had no lithium at all, and he and Sonny finally connected the dots to Ava. Sam was still with Drew, who still thought he was Jason. Emma and Charlotte signed on to be Jake’s assistants, and unbeknownst to Jake, Helena was in his head, and had planned for his magic act to literally bomb. Drew found the Kamir necklace, and Sonny decided to show up. To be continued…
🧛♂️ When Vampires Ruled the Daytime…
It’s the anniversary of GH’s otherworldly spin-off.
Because life isn’t depressing enough. Although LVP telling Jax to STFU will make it all worth it.
Andy thinks social distancing won’t stop everyone from getting in each other’s faces. We get caught up on what’s been happening with everyone, and Lisa says the pandemic has been emotionally and financially challenging for the restaurants. Stassi and Beau have moved into a new house, and Stassi likes having a view and space to get away from Beau. Andy thanks Jax for letting them be on his show, and thinks they should call it, Jax and Friends. Jax says people say stupid things in anger, but Lisa believes he actually thought it was his show. Dayna is now bartending at TomTom while serving at SUR, and Scheana is quarantining with new love Brock, who looks like he could be related to Jason Momoa. Charli says she’s tried pasta – at Olive Garden – which means she still hasn’t tried pasta.
We go back over Stassi’s book signing party, Tom’s rage texts, and the in person rage that followed. Tom says he was in a bad space and stressed out. I have to add that he looks like Satan with his new facial hair. Max is in the hot seat next, and gripes about how he didn’t like everyone being in his business. We flash back to him telling Dayna that he was interested in her, and Dayna points out that he was keeping Scheana on the back burner. Dayna understands why women are into Max, but lists all the women he’s played with the same line. Max says he hung out with Scheana for two weeks, and she ran with her emotions. Scheana begs to differ on the time frame, and Dayna says, what was between them felt unfinished. Andy asks if there’s anyone else Max wants to confess to messing around with, and we find out he slept with Kristen – twice. Stassi is shook, since Kristen and Dayna were supposedly friends, but Kristen pleads ignorance. James isn’t surprised, and Kristen tells him that he’s lucky he’s on the effin’ show. Which is pretty funny, considering she’s the only one who has no connection to Lisa whatsoever. Stassi says, it’s on brand for Kristen to be shady and have no remorse. There’s a lot of squawking about who is whose friend, ending with James calling Kristen a POS.
Andy asks Dayna how welcoming the group was, and she says TomTom wasn’t bad, but SUR was another story. Stassi says, it’s a right of passage to be bullied at SUR. Jax makes excuses for being jealous of just about everybody. Charli calls Jax a bully, but says she can give two sh*ts about what this fifty year old man thinks. Lala says Charli has to earn respect, but Charli says, she is who she is, and doesn’t give a flying who likes her. Alrighty then.
We go down costume Memory Lane with the guys being made up as old people; Brittany’s tacky wedding dress party; Jax and Brittany’s wedding, with what Tom dubbed, the bizarro characters of Vegas; Tom’s extra themed birthday party; and Jax’s costume birthday party. Andy asks if Jax only likes dressing up if he’s the guest of honor, and Jax says he was pressured by everyone, but Brittany bought the costume and he was humoring her. Everybody takes a break to make fun of Jax’s facial hair, which Stassi thinks looks like Wolverine. Beau says he expresses his inner feminism every Halloween, when he dresses as a woman. Andy asks if Scheana had the dominatrix outfit, which she did, except for the whip, which belonged to Tom. Andy asks if Lala still dresses up for Randal, but she says she’s boring since they got engaged. He asks about Raquel’s ideal costume, and she says she had fairy garden parties growing up, so that would be it. Kristen says Tom has more costumes than actual clothing.
Andy brings up Schwartz losing the marriage license again, and Lisa says it’s her eternal frustration with him. Andy says he wants to address a less happy moment, and we revisit Tom’s fake arrest, and how Schwartz talked to Katie when she voiced her objection. Schwartz says Randall put so much time and effort into the prank, he lost it. Lala says, speak to Katie again that way, and she’ll throw down on his ass. Lisa says it wasn’t like it was just a difference of opinion; it was personal, and he was putting Katie down. Katie says, it wasn’t the first time, and Schwartz jokes that you have to tear the other person down in the beginning of a relationship. That way, when they get a compliment, it’s more meaningful. At least I think he was joking.
Andy moves on to Jax saying Ariana should figure out her sexuality, since it’s ever-changing. Jax says he knew this was coming, and it was just garbage coming out of his mouth; he didn’t mean it. Andy asks what he doesn’t understand, and does it bother him? but Jax says it’s Ariana that bothers him. Ariana says she’s never flip-flopped about who she is, and it’s fun that it bothers him. Jax says they’ve never gotten along, and Scheana says Jax’s behavior isn’t cool; it’s disrespectful to the show. Andy says Lala got heat on social media for not defending Ariana, and Lala says, she wasn’t okay with it, but she feels once she became friends with everyone else, Ariana didn’t care as much about her. Ariana says Lala didn’t invite her on vacations with the others, and it felt like she was the one pulling away. Tom thinks if everyone is mad at him and Ariana, Lala distances herself. Lala says no way their issues with others affect her feelings for them. She didn’t like what Ariana had said behind her back about toughening up after her father’s death. We flash back to Ariana telling some of the group that Lala wants to be tiptoed around, and needs to toughen up. Lala says she carried that comment with her, and never got an apology. Ariana tells Lala, when she said it, she was bitter from her own experience because she wasn’t babied when her father died. Lala says the apology means a lot.
At one point, during a break, Andy says, no gloves or anything, to Lisa. She thinks, as do I, that he’s referring to how she’s dressed, and we both wonder, WTF? since she’s never worn gloves. But he’s referring to whoever’s touching up her hair. Pandora waves to the camera.
Andy says, Jax and Tom have been friends for nearly twenty years, but almost came to blows again and again this season, and we flash back to all of that. Jax’s complaints about Tom not being the best best man, Tom confronting Jax about the pastor issue, Tom being disinvited to the wedding, and then re-invited. Lala looks sad watching it. We see a clip of Jax’s interview where he said it’s easier to shut everyone up by allowing Tom to be at the wedding, even though he’s not over it. Andy asks why Jax was so mad that Tom chose seeing his family over going to one of Jax’s three bachelor parties? Jax says he knows Tom doesn’t text back, but there was no communication. Ariana says it was on the show where Tom pointed out he’d texted Jax, and Jax responded. Yep. There it is. We see it. Are the Betches right? Is Jax a cokehead? Andy asks why Tom didn’t go to Jax sooner about the pastor, and Tom says he thought something had been done, and wanted to find out why it hadn’t happened. Jax says instead of doing it privately, Tom blindsided him at the party. Ariana insists Tom did try to take him to the side. Since I can’t even force my own self to side with Jax on anything, I’ll say I’m siding with Brittany on this one. Tom picked the wrong time and place. Schwartz says Tom was perceived as being smug or righteous, And Jax wonders why they don’t understand. Ariana wonders why Jax didn’t address it sooner. Jax says he was Brittany’s pastor (which I can also believe as a reason – it’s the one part of the wedding Jax couldn’t have cared less about). He asks why Tom didn’t jump on his employee Max’s racial tweets; apparently Tom didn’t care about that, and Jax hopes he reacted the same way. Ariana says he did, and Lisa tells Jax, shut up. At 5% ownership, Tom doesn’t have the right to terminate an employee, and if she’d terminated them for every mistake, none of them would have jobs. Andy asks what Max has to say, and Max says he apologizes. He’s an adult now, and cringe thinking about the things he said almost ten years ago. Lisa says Max comes from a diverse family, and asks how they felt. Max says they live in a generation where saying certain things is frowned upon, even if you’re part of that people. There’s no excuse. Brett – who had a similar issue with his old tweets – asks if it wasn’t okay then or now, and Max says, it’s just dumb, and he’s doing his best to move forward. Lisa says she’s never seen any inkling of anything that would make her believe that’s how they think. If there had been, they wouldn’t be working for her. I did read an article about it at the time, but I honestly don’t remember the details. It did sound like stupid stuff kids will say because they think it’s cool.
Andy moves back to Jax and Tom, and Andy asks if Stassi thought Jax and Brittany were clueless about the pastor’s posts. Stassi says she thought Tom sounded like he was questioning their motives. It’s not something a best friend would do. She thinks Jax and Brittany weren’t paying attention carefully, and have the habit of sticking their heads in the sand. Scheana says she thought Tom was looking out for Jax, since Tom is the most amazing friend ever to her. Stassi says she’s said that about a dozen guys, and Scheana ignores that, and says Tom was trying to get them to nip it in the bud before the public started talking about it. Brittany says it was the hardest time she’s had to go through, and Jax dramatically says, because of them, pointing at Ariana and Tom. Brittany says, it’s not just because of them, and Jax tries to say more, but she tells him, let her talk. She says she didn’t see more than one tweet, and she texted the pastor, telling him that if he’s homophobic, that wasn’t acceptable. He promised he wasn’t that way, but as soon as Lisa called, she cried her eyes out. Lisa agrees that from Brittany’s reaction, she was blindsided, and believes what Brittany is telling her. Jax says he even texted Andy. Schwartz thinks Tom and Jax push each other’s buttons, and Tom goes on a tirade about what a great friend he’s been to Jax, and how he’s had no one – friend or foe – that’s done more things to him than Jax. Jax says Tom still wanted to come to the wedding, and Tom says he had a million restrictions. Jax says he didn’t want tom there; everyone talked him into it. Tom says Jax expected his mom to hit him up after the things he’d said about her. Lala says, don’t mention parents. They don’t want a repeat of last year. Jax says Tom is an awful person, and he doesn’t know Jax’s mom or the situation. Lisa tries to interject.
Next time – the Reunion– Part Two – what the cast is doing in quarantine, Max and Scheana Memory Lane, Kristen yells at James, and says, f*** everyone; I’m gone. SMH.
If Loving You Is Wrong
Esperanza sees a van go past, her kidnapped daughter inside screaming.
Bennett tries get Tanya to come back to the house. Randal says, she needs to get to a hospital, but Bennett says he didn’t ask Randal for help. Lushion asks if Tanya is all right, and Bennett says he’s never seen her this bad. Lushion suggests calling an ambulance, and Randal says, great idea. Lushion tells him, go back in his house, but Randal says, you’re not the boss of me. Brad and Marcie come out, and Natalie asks if there’s anything they can do. Bennett shakes his head, and Lushion says, give her space. Randal says he doesn’t want to do that. They know he can help. It’s really bad. Bennett asks for water, and Kelly goes to get it. Marcie asks, what’s wrong? and Natalie says Tanya had a breakdown. Randal says, like Marcie had, and Marcie says, that’s not funny. Natalie says Randal is the only crazy one around there, and Randal says, it’s Lushion, for marrying her dumb ass. He starts singing (either a spiritual or something by Fats Waller – I can’t tell), and I ask Randal, what’s wrong with you? out loud. Bennett punches Randal out, and goes back to Tanya, trying to give her some water.
Esperanza calls Steven, and says, Mica’s gone. He asks, where? but she doesn’t know. She couldn’t find her, and went outside. She saw a van. He says he’ll be right there, and she tells him, hurry up. Steven blows past Eddie, who asks if Steven is tired of looking at him, but Steven just keeps moving. Esperanza paces, and calls Eddie. She asks if he has Mica, and he asks, why? She says, now is not the time, and he says he doesn’t have her. She says he’d better not be playing games, and he asks what the hell she’s talking about. Mica is supposed to be with her. Tell him now where she is. Esperanza says, she’s gone. He asks where Mica is, and she says, if he’s playing games, he’ll never see his daughter again. He says, he’s not, and asks where his little girl is. He says Esperanza is so stupid, and he’ll be right there. He gets his stuff together, mumbling, great. The bitch has one job, and can’t do it. He gets to the door, and Larry says, going somewhere? Eddie says, go to hell, and Larry says, before he goes. Does Eddie still not care about anything? Eddie asks what the hell Larry is saying. Larry says he asked a question. Does Eddie care about anything? Eddie says he’ll kill Larry; understand? Larry believes it’s called harassment, and Eddie says, it might be, but if he finds out Larry has done anything, he’ll personally put Larry’s ass in the ground. Larry says he has no idea what Eddie is talking about, and Eddie grabs Larry by his collar and lifts him up. Larry says Eddie is assaulting him, and Eddie says, it’s just a warm up. If his daughter isn’t at his ex’s by the time he gets there, it’s going to be real. Larry says Eddie knows his address. Don’t forget his money. Eddie drops him, says, bring it on, and leaves. Larry says, should be fun, and follows Eddie out.
An ambulance pulls up, and the EMTs go toward Randal, who’s lying on a lawn. Natalie says, not him; he’s drunk. It’s her. She points to Tanya. Bennett says, she has a mental illness. She can’t talk, and won’t let anyone touch her. An EMT asks if it’s happened before, and Bennett says, not like this. The EMT asks if they can take her, and Bennett says he knows they have to. He asks who Bennett is, and Bennett says, her husband. The EMT asks if he’s giving them permission to take her, and Bennett says, yes, and Tanya immediately starts fighting with them. Bennett says, it’s for her own good. He’s sorry. The EMTs put her in the ambulance, and I’m surprised they’re not restraining her first. One of them tells Bennett where they’re going, and says, sorry Bennett can’t come. They drive off, and Natalie says she’s so sorry. Lushion asks if there’s anything they can do, and Bennett says, no, thanking Lushion for helping. Lushion says he’ll be right back, and tells Natalie to stay. Marcie says she feel bad; Bennett seems like a nice guy. Kelly says she’s just meeting the new neighbors, and Marcie says, she’s out; congratulations. Kelly says, thanks, but she shouldn’t be congratulated, since a man is dead. She introduces Tyrell, and I say, welcome to the neighborhood. Kelly asks what Marcie is doing there, and Marcie says she’s helping Brad with the kids. Kelly asks where Alex is, and Marcie says, she walked out on them. Kelly says, that’s horrible, and Marcie says she should get back. She goes inside, and Kelly says, hey, to Natalie. She thanks Natalie for taking such good care of Justice, and she wanted to apologize. She’s sure Eddie showed Natalie the video, but she’s not sleeping with Lushion. She wasn’t making a pass at him either; she was just happy. Natalie says, okay, and Kelly says, Lushion is a good man. Natalie says she knows that. Kelly says, Lushion fought for her, and Natalie says she knows that too. She asks if Kelly is ready to get her son, and Kelly tries talking to her. Natalie isn’t having it, and Kelly asks if it’s really going be like that. Natalie says she doesn’t want to deal with this sh*t. No more questions; just get her son. She leaves, and Kelly heads home. Tyrell asks if they’re just leaving Randal lying there like that, and no one says anything, so he goes too.
Tyrell tells Kelly, that’s cold; leaving Randal on the street. Kelly tells him, he’s just saying that because he doesn’t know Randal. He asks if she’s saying Randal’s not a good guy, and she says, not at all. He says he’s only seen that in the jail yard, and Kelly says Randal needs to be in someone’s jail. He says, there’s a lot of drama on the block, and she says if he’d rather not be there… He tells her, he’s not saying that, and she says she can arrange it, but he says he’s not complaining. He appreciates her letting him crash there. He just wants it to go back to like it used to be, when they were in love. She says, that was a long time ago, and he says, maybe it can be that way again. She says she doesn’t know about that. He says he learned a lot about time, and she says, the short time she spent in jail, she didn’t think she was going to make it. He says, it leaves you with nothing except time to reflect on yourself, and she says, it can be painful. He says they got a second chance, but she says she doesn’t know. Give her time; she’s mad right now, and she’s got to talk to Justice. He pouts, and she says she’s so sorry, and fake hugs him. He pushes her back, and says, don’t do that. He hasn’t been around her in a long time, and she knows how she gets him. She tells him, it’s time for him to go for that walk. He says that’s what he was doing, and she says, one hour.
Esperanza calls Natalie, and asks if Mica is there. Natalie says, no, and Esperanza says, she’s gone. Natalie asks, what happened? and Esperanza says they got in an argument, and now Mica is missing. Natalie says she’ll come over, but Esperanza tells her, stay there in case Mica decides to come to her house. Steven and Eddie are coming there. Natalie says, together? and Esperanza says, it’s okay. Steven arrives, and says, anything? Esperanza says, no. She called all of Mica’s friends and looked everywhere. Steven says, calm down. He has everyone at the station looking. It’s not her fault. She says, it is; Mica is her daughter. He says she has to calm down; he’s just trying to help. She says he’s not helping; where’s Eddie? Eddie comes in, yelling for Mica. He searches through the rooms, and Esperanza says she told him that Mica isn’t there. She asks if he’s sure he doesn’t have Mica. He’d be the one to pull some kind of bullsh*t. Eddie says if he had Mica, he wouldn’t be like this. He gets in her face, and she pushes him. He throws her on the couch, and he and Steven fight. Esperanza hits Eddie in the back with a book, and finally throws hot water on them from the coffee pot. She tells Eddie, get out; find her daughter. Eddie goes, mumbling that she burned him. Steven says she burned him too. Outside, Eddie calls Larry, and asks where he is. Larry says he’s in his office. Eddie says he’ll bring the money, and Larry says, all of it? Eddie says, yes, all of it, and Larry says he’d better have the money. Eddie says Larry’s ass had better be there. He gets in the car, and drives off.
Esperanza cries, and Steven asks if she’s okay. She says, now is not the time. The only thing that matters is her daughter. Her phone rings, and she says, it’s Mica. She says she’s sorry, and a man’s voice says Eddie owes them a lot of money. If she wants to see her daughter again, make sure he pays. She asks to talk to her daughter, but he hangs up. She tells Steven, Eddie owes people money. Steven says he’ll find Eddie; he promises. She says they’ll just fight, and it won’t do anything, but he says, now it’s a matter for the FBI. Moving forward, it’s all business. She has to trust him. She thanks him, and he promises he’ll be back.
Alex is in Lalaland, and Johnny asks if she’s good. She says, yeah, and watches a dude on the mechanical bull. She wiggles her fingers, and asks Johnny, what’s this? He says, her hand. It was good, huh?You’re loving this. I’d thought it was heroin, but Alex is acting like she’s on an acid trip. A guy named Guy comes in, and looks at Alex. He says, wow, and Johnny says, she’s not on the menu. Guy says, $300, but Johnny says, no. He can have any of them. Guy says he’s had all of them. He’ll give Johnny a thousand; two thousand. Johnny says, she’s a good girl. She’s just going through something. Guy asks how much his truckers spend there, and Johnny asks if he’s really doing this. Guy says, yes; he is. Johnny says, she’s too out of it, but Guy says he’ll be the judge of that. Johnny says, she’s a good girl, and Guy says he doesn’t give a damn. Three grand. Johnny says he can’t do it, and Guy says, four thousand and he’s out. Johnny takes something off the bar (I presume the money), and walks away. Guy snaps his fingers at Alex, and asks how she is. He suggests they take a little walk; he’ll help her. She says she needs Johnny; he’s her friend. Guy says he’s her new friend, and she asks where they’re going. He says she asks too many questions, and takes her outside. I feel disappointment in Johnny.
Tyrell goes to Leslie’s apartment, and rings the bell. She tells Tyrell, he ain’t getting none, and he says that’s not why he’s there. He says, Kelly… and she says, Kelly got rid of him too? She laughs, and he says Kelly is talking to their son. It’s about his son, and he just needed to take a walk and chill out. She says he’s not coming in. Show her some respect. He says he gets it, and she says, then bye. She asks how he got over there, and he says, don’t worry; he’s got it. She says he needs to worry about it in those slippers, and tells him, walk home.
Ian goes out to the street, and Marcie sees him. He looks at Randal, and asks, what the hell happened? She says Randal got knocked out; he’ll be fine. He asks if Brad is home, and she says, he’s upstairs with the kids. He guesses Alex isn’t back, and she says she doesn’t think Alex is going to be back. Brad comes out, and asks what Ian wants. Ian gives him a DNA sample, and Brad asks if he’s questioning. Ian says he just wants answers, and Brad says he’ll get right on it. Marcie thinks Ian should see the baby, and Ian asks Brad if he can. Brad says, sure, and they go inside. The baby is in the living room in his car seat, and Marcie says the baby looks like Ian. Ian says, it’s crazy, and Brad says that’s what happens when you have sex with a married woman. (News flash for Brad: it can happen with any woman.) Ian says, it’s not like that. He didn’t know Alex was married. She said her name was Jennifer. Brad says they hooked up in the middle of the day at the Maxine hotel. Marcie says she believes Ian, and tells Brad, lay off. Brad guesses she believes Alex too, and she says, no. Brad says he doesn’t believe either one of them. Marcie tells Ian that she’s sorry, but he says, don’t worry about it. He tells Brad that he can swab the baby, and have the results back in a day. Brad agrees, and Ian swabs the baby, then puts the swab in a container.
Outside, Larry pulls up, and sees Randal on the lawn. He tells Randal, wake up, and asks if he’s all right. I was hoping Randal was dead, but he’s not, and he asks where he is. Larry says, in somebody’s yard. Randal complains that his jaw hurts, and Larry asks, what happened? Randal says, go to hell (quickly becoming the standard greeting to Larry), and Larry says, there’s the Randal he knows and loves. Randal says, he hit me; the tall a-hole from across the street. He starts to head toward the street, saying, he’s going to beat his ass, but Larry says Randal can hardly walk. Randal says his head is spinning, and Larry suggests he help Randal inside. Randal says the whole neighborhood was looking at him. He wants Larry to sue Bennett’s ass; take everything he has. Larry says he gets it, and tells Randal, sit. He sees the graffitied wall, and asks, what the hell happened here? Randal says, he did it, and Larry says, the son of a bitch who hit him? Randal says, yes, and Larry asks, why exactly? What did he do? Randal says he didn’t do anything, but Larry doesn’t believe it. Randal tells him, check the tape, but Larry says he doesn’t believe Randal did nothing. Is he sleeping with the guy’s wife? Randal says, no, and Larry asks if he’s sleeping with the guy. He did something. Randal asks why the hell Larry is there, and Larry says he came to celebrate. Eddie, their cop friend, took money that belonged to bad people, and they’re not happy, so Larry took something special from Eddie. Does Randal want a drink? Randal wants Larry to sue Bennett, and Larry says, one problem at a time. Eddie is his top priority. They’re going to be very happy very soon. Randal says he needs some ice.
There’s a knock at Natalie’s door, and Lushion answers. it’s Kelly, who asks where Justice is. Justice comes out, and runs to Kelly, who hugs him tight. He says he missed her, and asks if she has to go back. She says she doesn’t, and he says he loves her so much. He’s glad she’s out, and asks if they can go home now. She tells him to get his stuff, and reminds him to thank Mr. Lushion and Miss Natalie. He does, and runs to the bedroom. Kelly thanks them too, stopping short of hugging them. Kelly leaves with Justice, and Lushion tells Natalie that she can’t be like that. She says she can’t ask him questions, but she and Kelly have something to talk about. She’ll do that when she calms down. He tells her, do that, and goes to bed. Natalie cleans up.
Kelly and Justice go back to their house, and Kelly asks how it’s been. Justice says, not good. He got in another fight; they were talking about her, and he won’t let them. She understands, but says he can’t resort to violence. He says she killed Travis, and she says she knows that, and it was completely wrong. Justice says, Travis was trying to hurt her, and she says that doesn’t mean she can hurt him. She taught Justice better. He says she didn’t do better, and she says he’s right; she should have been a better example. She’s sorry. He says he is too. Can they forget about it, and move on? She says, if he promises no more fighting. He promises, and there’s a knock at the door. Kelly tells Justice that she’s on it, and goes out to find Tyrell on the porch. He asks if it’s time, and she says she told him an hour; this is not a good time. She hasn’t told Justice yet. He says it won’t make any sense if he’s staying there, and she says she knows what best for her son. Tyrell says he’s still Justice’s father, but Kelly says Justice has been through a lot. Can’t he stay at his mother’s for a night? He says he can’t. If he had money, he’d stay in a hotel. She says she doesn’t have any money; she’s still fixing her credit from Travis. He says he’s not asking her for money, and she asks if he can stay with Leslie, but he says he can’t. He’ll give Kelly some time. She thanks him, and goes back in. She tells Justice, it’s just someone she knows. She suggests he shower, and they’ll try to get their life back to normal.
Ian sees Larry, and says, ah-ha, the traitor, but Larry says, that would be Ian. How’s he doing? Ian says he’s filing his lawsuit, and Larry says he’ll keep eye out for it. Ian says, before he does, Larry should read Ian’s report; the one he’s sending to the Florida city and state Attorney. He’s got Larry. Larry says Ian should think about what doing. Ian repeats that he has Larry, and Larry laughs strangely, and leaves.
Kelly messes with a lamp, and Tyrell comes back. He says he tried. She says she knows, and calls Justice out. Justice asks, what’s up? and Tyrell says he’s tall. How’s he doing? Justice asks, who is this? and Kelly says, this is your father. Poor kid. It’s been a lot for him. Justice tells her, he thought she said… She says she did, but this is his father. Tyrrell asks how he is, and Justice says, confused. Tyrell and I laugh, and Tyrell says he’s been away. Justice asks, where? and Tyrell says he’s been to jail. Justice rolls his eyes, and Tyrell says his mother thought it best for him not to know. Kelly says she just wanted to wait until Justice was older, but with everything going on, she wanted him to know everything. How does he feel? Justice tells her, like he said, confused. He thinks he’s getting a headache, and asks if there’s anything Tyrell wants to say. Tyrell says there’s a lot he wants to say to Justice; he loves him. Justice says, he loves Tyrell too? but Tyrell says Justice doesn’t have to say that. Justice says he knows, and Tyrell says Justice doesn’t know him, but if Justice lets him, he’d like to take the time to get to know Justice. Justice says his mom has his schedule. Tyrell could stop by from time to time. Kelly says Tyrell needed a place to stay, and Justice says, it’s too much. He’s going to bed. He leaves, and Kelly says she told Tyrell it would be too much, but whatever. He says he’s sorry, and she tells him the blankets are in the closet, and he can sleep on the sofa. She’s locking her door. He says, fair enough.
Eddie waits in a parking garage. Larry walks through on the phone, telling someone that Eddie said he’d bring the money. When he told Eddie who he was dealing with, Eddie didn’t believe him. Larry unlocks the trunk of his car, and Eddie starts his car. Larry turns around, and asks if Eddie is insane. Eddie slams into Larry, pinning him in between the cars.
Next time – two more episodes – Guy tells Alex that it’s going to happen, Esperanza confesses to Natalie about hitting Mica, Randal grabs Marcie and drags her into her apartment, and Larry refuses to talk.
🛎 Leaving the TV on OWN, I caught the upbeat Girlfriends Check In – which is exactly what it sounds like, some girlfriends virtually checking in with each other. The ringleader is CarlaHall, and joining her are Kim Fields (who looks fabulous!), Anika Noni Rose, and LisaSilvera. Tonight, the girlfriends talked air fryers and made hummus, but there’s more to the show than cooking, and IMO, it’s just what we need right now. There will also be guests along the way. You can read about it here:
And here we are again, at mid-week, day 3,465,119 of quarantine, moving into phase 412 of reopening the states. You guessed it. It’s late and I’m punch-drunk. So stay safe, stay supportive of justice, and stay using common sense.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Today’s GH was another Nurse’s Ball flashback from May 25th, 2016. Emma and Ned channeled Elton John, singing Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, there were more plugs for Aveeno, and Robin was in attendance. Brad and Lucas planned on tying the knot, when Bobbie felt ill, and Lucas took her to the hospital. Carly tried to get Ava to give up custody of Avery, and Ava said Carly was drunk or delusional, Carly showed her the video of her bondage session with DA Paul (remember him? you should), and threatened to post it on the internet. When Ava laughed, Carly sent the video to Paul, who didn’t think it was so funny. Epiphany found Obrecht tied up in a closet wearing a Heidi outfit, and when Jake had a bout of stage fright before making his debut, Franco told him to think of the audience as a bunch of ducks, claiming it worked every time. Jake still froze, but Franco stepped in, playing percussion, while Jake sang a duet of I-don’t-know-what-song with Who-the-hell-is-that-guy? #3. The talent part of the show ended with Magic Milo and his Magic Wands doing a magical dance, that once again finished with Nurses Ball printed on their magical butts. Diane told Drew that he was being sued because he’d purchased Aurora with money allegedly gleaned from organized crime, even though Spinelli was allegedly the best money launderer in the world. There was some hair pulling in the bathroom between Carly and Ava, until Ava got the flashdrive from Carly and flushed it down the toilet. But Carly said it was in the cloud, and Ava just lost custody of Avery. The episode ended with Lucy saying the Nurse’s Ball was about love support for a worthy cause and each other, and announcing the union of Brad and Lucas. However, Lucas didn’t make it, since he was knocked out next to Bobbie’s hospital bed.
Below Deck Sailing Yacht – Reunion (@ Home)
While all of the reunions have been virtual these days, had this been under normal circumstances, I’m certain this would have been what I call a cheap reunion, and taken place in the Clubhouse. Glenn was aboard the Perceval III outside Spain; Paget and Ciara were in Italy, and hadn’t been outside in two months; Parker was back with his true love Kaiti on a ranch in Colorado; Byron was in Majorca; Madison was also in Colorado; Georgia was back at her home base in South Africa; Jenna was in Canada; and Adam, along with dog Tex, was in Oregon. Tex is an absolutely gorgeous (I think) Australian Shepherd, multi-colored, with piercing David Bowie eyes.
Andy asked Ciara if she was bothered by Georgia’s flirting with Paget, and Ciara said, while Georgia should have been more respectful, she wouldn’t have wanted to be with someone who would want someone else. Georgia said she flirted with everyone, and even asked Glenn to marry her so she could get a green card. Ciara should have thrown her overboard. Paget said he apologized to Ciara when he watched it back, realizing how he would feel if the shoe was on the other foot. Madison rolled her eyes during the Reunion just about as much as she did on all season. Andy asked if the threesome ever landed, but that was a no. Did Andy even watch the show? That was a no five seconds after it was a maybe.
Chris joined from England, where he was getting his back issues worked on, and hoped to get back to yachting soon. I’m not sure why they even had him on, unless it was because of contractual obligations. I really liked Chris, and was disappointed that he contributed little to the dialogue other than his status, and it was goodbye. Parker said he regretted his emotions getting the best of him at times, but still thought he did well. He didn’t regret resigning because he got the love of his life back, and Glenn thought Parker’s head was now in right place. Madison whined that Jenna had crossed the line in joking around. She also dropped a hint that she might possibly be dating Luke from Summer House. While Luke is super-hot, they’re about on the same emotional level and deserve each other. If she ends up on the next Summer House season, I’ll definitely pay more attention. Ciara and Paget were downing a lot of wine, and when Andy pointed it out, Ciara said, when in Rome… We revisited the pack of dudes who were nightmare guests, one of them actually bench pressing Madison. Andy asked if any of them ever called to apologize, and while the weightlifter hadn’t, Ciara said Marshall – aka shrimp cocktail guy – apologized for acting like an entitled moron (my words).
Special guest Captain Sandy made an appearance, but it was another case of here’s your hat, what’s your hurry? and she was gone faster than Chris. I’m guessing she was just there to plug remind us that the new season of Below Deck Mediterranean was coming up next.
Andy asked if Adam and Jenna were still dating, and Jenna said the situation on the show was difficult for them. After the show, they’d gone to San Francisco together, where Jenna met Adam’s family. Then they did a lot of traveling in the van, including going to Jenna’s hometown twice, the last time for Christmas. We went back over the whole Adam being a d*ck about Jenna and Georgia having dated the same guy. Adam said it had nothing to do with that, but it was the way they were gloating over it. I don’t think that’s the word I would use, but I understood why he would have been irritated at them joking around about it in front of him. However, since his communication level at the time was zero, I’m still not giving him a pass for that one. Georgia took this to a different level, saying that Adam made Jenna ashamed of something in her past, and you shouldn’t have to break bits of yourself to suit others. She’s 100% right, but in this instance, I don’t think it was that deep. Andy asked if Jenna and Adam would ever get back together, but Adam said it was nobody’s business. Truth!
Madison said Jenna made her life a living hell, and they went on and on and on about this, but nothing seemed resolved. Jenna ended up crying, and apologizing for what seemed like the bajillionth time, and Madison said she was over it. This was the most lackadaisical reunion ever, and barely seemed to have an ending. Andy asked Adam what his biggest regret was, and Adam said he didn’t like answering a question like that. He didn’t like having regrets, and learned from all of his decisions. In this case, he learned that he despises yachting. At that point, everyone waved goodbye.
Below Deck Mediterranean
Mallorca, Spain; 24 hours before charter. A producer asks Hannah if she speaks Spanish, and Hannah says she doesn’t even speak enough Spanish to say she doesn’t speak Spanish. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says Hannah started last season well, but didn’t finish on a great note. We flashed back to the captain telling Hannah that yachting was not her passion. She says she brought Hannah back because she believes Hannah wants to do a good job; she wants to kill it. In Hannah’s interview, she says yachting might not be her career, but she’s passionate about doing a good job until she gets knocked up. Chef Kiko from South Brazil arrives, and Captain Sandy is nervous, considering what she went through with Mila. She doesn’t believe the paperwork anymore. She tells Kiko to make her proud. Malia is back, and in her interview, she tells us that she was promoted to lead deckhand last season, and now she’s bosun. She doesn’t want to get in shouting matches or boatmances; she’s more serious about it now. They have all ladies in charge this time around, and Captain Sandy tells her, dive in. In Malia’s interview, she says the last time, she liked Hannah at first, then they hated each other, and somewhere in the middle of that, they found their way back to being meh.
Deckhand Pete comes on board next, saying, The Unit has arrived. Ugh. In Hannah’s interview, she suggests he get American tattooed on his forehead. Alex is next, and in chatting with Kiko, we find out Kiko went to school in Boston. Hannah is happy to find out stew Lara has six seasons of experience, although she’d also been a chief stew. We flash back to Bugsy (season two), and in her interview, Hannah says, ugh. Are we doing this again? She hopes history doesn’t repeat itself. Deckhand Rob, and third stew Jessica arrive. In her interview, Jessica lists the myriad of jobs she’s had, including waitressing at Hooters. Alex knows Jessica from their last boat, and says she’s like an older sister and wingwoman. Rob thinks Jessica is attractive. The provisions come in, and Pete says he’s ready to be the Italian stallion. As Tanner would say, Jiminy Cricket.
Captain Sandy has a crew meeting, and says they’re all being thrown in head first. It’s a new boat – 185 feet – and she has a high bar and standard. She’s been hardened from her last crew. In the captain’s interview, she says, when you’re faced with people who are insubordinate – we flash back to Conrad – and with no motivation – we flash back to Hannah, et al – it makes you a better leader. She tells the crew, either you bring it home or take it home. She says their collective main goal is to impress the client, but the crew’s main goal is to impress her. If not, someone gets fired. We’re introduced to engineer Martin, first mate David, and second engineer Warren, all of whom, we will never see again. Hannah goes over the stews’ duties with them, and Kiko curses his life in the galley, Malia tells the deckhands to treat her like one of the boys. Pete seems like he belongs more on JerseyShore. Hannah says one of the biggest things they need to put focus on is table décor, and Lara says, it’s one of her favorite things to do. Hannah tells her to be as creative as she can be. Lara jokes around, but Hannah isn’t receptive. In Lara’s interview, she says Hannah seems uptight, and doesn’t have a good sense of humor. Malia makes small talk, asking about everyone’s status, and Pete says he has an 8½ year old. He calls Malia sweetheart, and she’s like, what?
At the preference sheet meeting, Captain Sandy says the new primary’s name is Chris Harris. Based in Seattle, he’s an entrepreneur, with businesses ranging from nightclubs to textiles. His sister Jessica, who works for him, will be celebrating her 29th birthday, and they’re bringing along their closest friends. In Kiko’s interview, he says working on charters is harder than private yachts, since on a private yacht, you know your boss. The captain tells them that she wants the water toys out – every one, every time – whenever she drops anchor. No one can find the beer, and Lara pretends she misunderstood Hannah when she’d asked if Lara had seen it. Either that, or she’s not as smart as she seems. The beer is finally located on the aft deck.
Malia says, it’s a huge boat, and washing it down takes time. When Pete becomes a bit overbearing, she says when she needs him to take over, she’ll let him know. Lara shows Jessica how to make a fancy shape with towels for the guest beds, but it doesn’t hold a candle to Kate’s (Below Deck OG) penis. Sorry, poor choice of words on a couple of levels. In Rob’s interview, he says he was a professional model, and went into yachting to take a step back, and revaluate. He found there’s more to life than what you look like. In Hannah’s interview, she says she met someone when she was home in Australia. It’s the first time she’s seen the potential for longevity; marriage and making babies. If she can’t give 100% to her job, there’s no point in being there. Malia thinks Pete might be tough to work with, and bunkmate Hannah thinks it’s going to be Lara for her.
Everyone is on deck at 7:30 am. Captain Sandy tells Hannah, it’s game day, and Pete says, let’s make today our bitch. In the crew mess, Rob tells dad jokes. He tells everyone that owls are forgetful because they’re always saying, who? He also heard a rumor about peanut butter, but he doesn’t want to spread it. Aw, I like him. The guests arrive, and are met with champagne. Captain Sandy tells them that Hannah will give them a tour of the Wellington, and they’ll head for their first anchorage. I’ve already toured the boat (link below if you haven’t) – it’s amazing, and massive. Kiko starts lunch, and the captain begins to pull out. In her interview, she says, usually the wing station is outside, but she can’t see sh*t here. Alex drops the wrong line, and in Malia’s interview, she says, this is a big vessel. There’s no going slow. They finally move out, and Malia breathes a sigh of relief.
In her interview, Lara informs us that if a man doesn’t treat her right, it’s like a switch flips, and she forgets about them. It’s a gift. Hannah asks Jessica how many shots she’s put in the guests’ drinks, and Jessica says she poured for eight seconds. In Hannah’s interview, she says, at least Jessica has a good attitude. Jessica says either she killed it, or she killed them. The guests seem like a nice group of people; smart, and unusually normal. They’re waiting on lunch, but don’t get rowdy and start pounding the table with the silverware or carting off one of the stews like King Kong. In Kiko’s interview, he says he worked for Putin’s godson, who loved his food. While the deckhands put the jet skis in the water, Malia asks if Pete started the engine, and he calls her sweetheart again. Lunch was scheduled for 1:30 and it’s almost 3. Hannah tries to hurry Kiko, who is babbling about his family life when he was growing up. The guests applaud when the food comes out. Captain Sandy asks how the lunch was, and a few of them thought the fish was gooey. She says they spent a lot of money to be there, and she’ll talk to the chef. She wants to make sure they’re given what they want. She goes to the galley, and says she wants to try the texture of the shrimp. She thinks it’s delicious, but not firm. Kiko explains that’s because it was in a stew. The guests play in the water.
In her interview, Hannah says she initially wanted Lara on service, since she’s first stew, but she needs someone who can back her up and be supportive; not someone with an attitude. She switched them for the first charter, so she doesn’t throw herself off the boat. She tells Lara not to take it personally. Chris and another guest go off on jet skis, and Malia tells Pete and Alex to keep their eyes on them. Lara whines to Hannah about having to start at 6:30 am when she was originally told 8:30, but Hannah says they discussed rotating. Lara says she wasn’t told it was 6:30, and Hannah says she just told her. In Lara’s interview, she says she doesn’t take well to this type of thing, and only takes so much before she gets pissed off.
Jessica wants to get in the water, and Lara says, on the last boat she worked, the owner let them do what they wanted. Jessica says her last boat was like that too, and they take a selfie. Hannah pulls out all the stuff that can be used for décor, and Jessica says, it’s sad. In Hannah’s interview, she says she can only work with what she has. She tells Lara to start setting up the table for dinner. Alex and Pete ogle Lara as she figures out a centerpiece. Malia tells them to bring in the toys, and the slide is the usual pita. In his interview, Kiko describes himself as a lover chef. He presents food with love, and puts his heart and soul into it. Hannah tells Lara to clean the cabins, and in Lara’s interview, she complains that she’s being treated like a third stew. She doesn’t like doing cabins anymore. Uh-oh. Chef Kiko is making risotto, the most troublesome dish on the planet. Hannah tells him that she can be helpful when the chef’s not screaming at her. The guests are presented with truffle risotto and filet mignon. Chris thinks the meat is wrong, but I’m not sure if he means it’s gone bad or is badly cooked. The captain checks on dinner, and suggests he get another steak. She brings it back to Kiko, and says the guest complained it was dry. (Question answered) She tells him, give it more reduction sauce. Talk about a hands on captain.
Lara asks if she can eat, and sits in the crew mess, while Kiko makes another steak for Chris. Chris pronounces it delicious, and much better. Dessert is a chocolate brownie with vanilla bean ice cream and a mixed berry confit. I’ll take six, please. Captain Sandy tells Kiko, good job. In Kiko’s interview, he says the captain is making him more confident, so he knows he can do it. Lara starts to eat, and Hannah radios her to start clearing the main deck. Hannah starts without her, and wonders how long it takes for a stew to eat. Lara tries radioing back, but can’t seem to get the radio to work. Lara finally goes upstairs, and Hannah says she’d like to be acknowledged when she asks Lara to do something. In her interview, Lara says if someone is mean to her, she’s going to be mean back. What is the problem with these people that they don’t understand a job means you have a boss who tells you what to do? Lara gripes about not having time, and Hannah says, if she was Lara, she’d start showing some respect.
This season, fire-eaters, acrobats, a return guest, twelve guests for dinner (hint: that’s big), Hannah hopes history doesn’t repeat itself, Captain Sandy gets mad, Malia confronts Pete about the sweetheart thing, a storm blows things off-course, and Hannah has to explain the pantry to Jessica.
🚣🏽♂️ Meet the Crew…
While the jury is still out, I see Malia having trouble with Unit Pete and Alex down the road. Mostly Pete.
Weekends have gotten like vacations used to be. (I think I remember those…) By the time I relax, it’s over. I hear Five Below is open again, so apparently, civilization is starting to return. When you get out in it, keep it peaceful. Stay safe, stay out of chaos, and stay believing things will be better. And never say, it can’t get worse.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
To round out the week of Nurse’s Ball flashbacks, today’s GH was from May 5th, 2015. Elizabeth had an announcement, and while we all thought she was going to tell everyone Jake Doe was really Jason (although he was ultimately Jason’s twin), when she took the mic, she talked about Robin and Stone, and Robin’s courage. She said she wished she could be that brave. After playing Phantom of the Nurse’s Ball, tiny terrorizing the event, and not impressing Emma (a scene I’d missed yesterday), Spencer’s late mother Courtney paid him an otherworldly visit. Courtney told him that making people feel badly reflected badly on him, and maybe he really felt badly about himself. She encouraged him to go to the Ball, and stop pretending that he had a hideous deformity. She got him to remove his make, and he really didn’t have much of anything.
At the Ball, Elizabeth told Nikolas she wanted the chance with Jake that she never had with Jason, and that she deserved happiness. Jake did a lot of talking to who-the-hell-is-that-guy? and Spinelli sang Stephen Bishop’s It Might Be You, which was my wedding song. Mixed emotions there – ha-ha. Who-the-hell-is-that-guy? #2 talked to Duke about taking Jordan out, and I don’t mean on a date. Felix presented Lucy with flowers, and the show ended with Sabrina and Epiphany singing You’re Not Alone, and everyone joining hands on stage.
I have no clue what the deal is for next week, or whether they’re going to continue the 2015 Ball, which has another episode. The digital guide isn’t showing any episodes as new, so we’ll see.
I’m feeling so bad about my dog, I actually paid full price for the Nook version of The Chiffon Trenches. It’s okay, but not as good as the Bette Davis bio I just finished. Still, both of them had their heartaches.
If she thinks she’s not being promoted, I’d like to know what the endless flashbacks of Good As Gold, and having to watch her new crappy music video (aka, the closest she’s ever going to get to Brett again) was about. And besides, she should know LVP can do no wrong.
Life is problems. Living is solving problems. – Raymond E. Feist
Expectations make people miserable, so whatever yours are, lower them. You’ll definitely be happier. – Simone Elkeles (Or as Kevin James as Doug on King of Queens would say, the lower you go, the happier you’ll be.)
You don’t develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity. – Epicurus
Thank God for wine. – a girl on Blind Date
Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. – Albert Einstein
There comes a point when you either embrace who and what you are, or condemn yourself to be miserable all your days. – Laurell K. Hamilton
Pain is a pesky part of being human, I’ve learned it feels like a stab wound to the heart, something I wish we could all do without, in our lives here. – C. JoyBell C.
Wow. That seems a little late. – an 11-year-old after her mother told her she’s the first Black lead in The Nutcracker
I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back. – Maya Angelou
In every age, the good old days were a myth. No one ever thought they were good at the time. For every age has consisted of crises that seemed intolerable to the people who lived through them. – Brooks Atkinson
🤸🏽♀️ Wherever You Go, There You Are…
Not my greatest week, but we made it to another end of one, and get to do it all over again. Now that there’s been a bit of a tide turn, get out and do something different if you can. Start reclaiming your weekend. Be kind, and don’t be stupid. See you on the Deck side, and meanwhile, stay safe, stay keeping your distance socially, and please, stay rational.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Today’s GH Nurse’s Ball flashback was from May 1st, 2015. Britt and Brad watched the red carpet from home while eating ice cream out of the container. Patrick was with Sam, Hayden showed up with Drew (at the time, Jake Doe), and Michael was with Sabrina. Duke was back from the dead, and Anna showed up with who-the-hell-is-that-guy? Felix arrived with Lucas, but told the interviewer that it wasn’t a love match; he was still single and Lucas was very much in love with someone else. Spinelli accompanied Maxie, and Nathan came with adorkable Ellie. Spinelli accidently tripped Maxie, causing a near nip slip, which Brad and Britt put on heavy replay. Old Nikolas, old Jordan with Shawn, and Dante were there, Nikolas bringing Valerie.
Burned in a fire accidentally started by Cameron, Spencer also spent the night at home, wearing a Phantom mask. Seeing Emma with Cameron on the red carpet, Spencer said, what the fudge? but Britt showed up like a fairy godmother to take him to the Ball to claim his ladylove. Carly had a plan to get Ric run out of town, but told Ric she wanted to put their differences aside, wishing him all the happiness he deserved. This time Aveeno got the plugs, and Obrecht crashed the end of the opening number with 99 Luftballons. After Carly outed Ric and Elizabeth for lying to Jake Doe about who he really was, Brad bailed out the ball with, I Want to Marry You, and a proposal to Lucas. Ending the episode, Elizabeth finally told Jake Doe that he was really Jason. Which he ended up not being, but we didn’t know that then.
The Real Housewives of New York City
We ended last week with a three-way hug between Ramona, Dorinda, and Sonja. We’ll see how long that lasts.
Everyone packs for Newport, Rhode Island. Sonja packs her hormones, telling assistant Matthew that they keep her nice and friendly. In Ramona’s interview, she says, Newport is a chichi place with a lot of atmosphere; like South Hampton, but tinier. Dorinda supervises the work on Bluestone Manor, as they’ve starting doing external stuff like painting.
The women – minus Dorinda who’s going separately – meet at the limo, and LuAnn calls Tinsley a child for bringing her own pillow. I think a lot of people bring their own pillows on trips. In Tinsley’s interview, she says the Newport she knows is Palm Beach as well. Whatever that means. Her mom has a place there, and the people from Palm Beach go to Newport in the summer. Leah tells Ramona that she looks twenty-five, and LuAnn tells her, compliments will get her everywhere. Ramona says they’ll have lunch when they get there, and tonight she’s having a lobster clambake. Wouldn’t that be a lobsterbake? She says, Dorinda has been edgy, and LuAnn says it was the anniversary of Richard’s death, and then it was his birthday. She’s been bitchy to everyone. Ramona says they have to show they care for her. She’s probably there already.
Yes she is. Dorinda checks into the Castle Hill Inn, telling the woman at the desk, she used to stay there with her late husband. In the limo, Leah whines, are we there yet? but it’s another two hours. Elyse says she had a humbling moment. She was passing some construction workers, who started yelling that she was beautiful. She turned around, and realized they weren’t talking to her. There was a six-foot tall blond walking behind her. Leah talks about Pita Guy, and says they had their first intimate moment. There was heavy petting, clothed, and the next day he didn’t even text. She told him she didn’t appreciate his aloof and irreverent attitude toward her time. In her interview, she says, even after seven years of therapy, and trying to hide it, the psycho bitch came out, and he saw it. She tells the women that her sister is a new mom with a seven-month old baby, and she’d like to invite Sarah along. Ramona is like, no, and Leah suggests she relax and think about it. In Ramona’s interview, she says she knows who works off who, and it’s a tenuous rope. Bringing a new personality into an already turbulent group might be a mistake.
They reach the inn, receiving welcome drinks at the desk. Dorinda is waiting for them in what looks like an empty restaurant, and they all go out onto the terrace. The waitstaff brings out trays of food, and Ramona asks for two dozen oysters. In her interview, Tinsley says she doesn’t like fighting. She’ll be happy to get a hello, but Dorinda seems approachable. Leah insists she’s not hungry, and I’m guessing she’s in what I call drinking mode, where the last thing you want is people shoving food at you. In Leah’s interview, she says she doesn’t feel good about herself, but here we go. She says she thinks Ramona would love her sister, and Ramona agrees to including Sarah in their dinner tomorrow. Ramona tells Sonja that she doesn’t want Sarah to come, but Leah talked her into it. Ramona decides they should take a vote, but Leah tells her, she already said yes. Plus, Ramona invited Elyse. Elyse says, don’t even talk to her, and in her interview, says she’s known the women for twenty years. Sonja says, guests can’t invite guests, reminding me of Jessie from NYC Prep giving one of the best quotes ever – guests of guests don’t bring guests. Leah says she’d already asked. In Sonja’s interview, she says the trip was meant for their clique of girls, and it should have been discussed among them. Ramona says she doesn’t want Sarah to come, and Leah says she’s being rude. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she thinks it’s important. Leah is in a new group, and she’s a single mom. Maybe she wants to hang around with her sister. Who cares? Leah tells Ramona, Dorinda and Tinsley said yes. What about LuAnn? LuAnn asks what do they care? and Leah says, it’s agreed. She appreciates it. Ramona says she looks forward to meeting Sarah.
They go to where they’ll be staying; cottage type rooms with terraces and gorgeous views. Dorinda tells the attendant unless he wants to be privy to something scary, she suggests he leave. He wisely takes her advice. Sonja says, the sea air feels good, and tells LuAnn, maybe they’ll get their mojo back. Leah calls Sarah, and tells her that she can come. Ramona tells Sonja, if she likes Sarah, she’ll be happy to have her.
Ramona wonders how Leah got her to say okay, and Sonja says she felt pressured. No one gets a plus-one. In Sonja’s interview, she says Ramona should have thought first. This is what she does; she says yes, then rescinds the invite. Ramona says she’s going to tell Leah tonight that her sister can’t come. In her interview, Ramona grumbles that Leah pressured her like a little girl. The dynamic won’t be good. Drinking like a fish already, Leah goes to Tinsley’s room. In Tinsley’s interview, she says she thinks she’s in for a fun time with Leah, but hopes Leah doesn’t get her naked like in the Hamptons. Leah tells Tinsley, in Newport, they don’t burp, or even pee. They head out to meet the other women for dinner.
In her interview, Tinsley says she hopes Leah doesn’t go off the deep end. Dorinda asks what Leah’s been doing while she was taking a nap all afternoon, and Leah says she started early. Ramona directs them to her clambake, down a path lit with white lights, to a table flanked with sheer drapes. Lagging behind, Leah tells Tinsley, it’s a judgement free zone, and Ramona passes out crowns, saying, they’re all princesses. LuAnn says that reminds her of Feeling Jovani, where she sings about a crown, and everyone is like, all right already. LuAnn tells Ramona, she doesn’t understand. She’d thought the more the merrier, but after reflection, Leah should have asked beforehand. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, when she thought about it, it was kind of rude asking at the last minute. Leah should have given more of a heads up. Ramona tells her, she should have said she’d love to meet Sarah another time. Tinsley and Leah finally catch up, and Tinsley screeches over the crown.
There’s a bar and a small outdoor seating area where the women have a cocktail before dinner. Dorinda and Leah want more vodka in theirs, and Ramona tries to stop Leah. In Leah’s interview, she says Ramona barely knows her, and wants to monitor her in a way she doesn’t monitor herself. Dorinda tells Ramona to leave Leah alone, and Leah says it’s her vacation; she’ll do what she wants. Leah asks the bartender for two shots, while Ramona frets, and mumbles something about Leah being a recovering alcoholic. Tinsley says Leah chose not to drink, and there’s a difference. Leah’s not a recovering alcoholic. Dorinda says they’re in a safe environment, like anywhere around this bunch is a safe environment. She tells Ramona, don’t be quick to judge. In Ramona’s interview, she says, Leah is overconsuming too quickly. What? Leah asks what Ramona is saying behind her back, and Tinsley says she told Ramona that Leah isn’t an alcoholic. Ramona says Leah stopped drinking for seven years. Leah says, it was nine, and while Ramona is her surrogate mother, and she respects that, Ramona doesn’t have to worry. In her interview, Leah says she’s feeling suffocated, and she’s worried if she’s not in Ramona’s good graces, Ramona will blow up.
They sit at a beautiful table, white everything, with white flowers down the middle. Tinsley and Sonja talk on the side. Ramona tells Sonja that she doesn’t want to say anything about Leah’s sister. In Sonja’s interview, she says she understands that Leah’s drinking makes her feel more confident. She’s an unconventional girl in a conventional town. But the strategy isn’t working. Leah sits on Sonja’s lap, and asks Tinsley if she’s going to get thrown out of Rhode Island. She’s having more fun than she’s had in an effing month and a half. In Ramona’s interview, she says she thought Sonja would have her back, but now Sonja is frolicking around, playing with Leah, and encouraging her to act this way. Ramona tells Leah to sit in her seat, and Leah says she’s rude. Leah finally sits, and says, sorry. She didn’t mean to make Ramona uncomfortable. In LuAnn’s interview, she says Leah wants to hang with the girls, but it’s been a while, and she can’t drink as much as she used to. Leah apologizes, calling Ramona mom. LuAnn says, stop freaking her out. While this is going on, Tinsley apologizes to Dorinda. Then Sonja chases Leah around the table. Ramona decides she’s going to tell Leah, because now is definitely the time. Dorinda tells Tinsley that she has so much to give. Dorinda is tough, so she was just trying to toughen Tinsley up.
This is the weirdest scene ever. While Dorinda and Tinsley talk quietly, chaos goes on next to the table. Sonja has now grabbed Leah, who falls to the ground, yelling that she doesn’t want to go on the Morgan yacht. Leah rolls around, and has lost one shoe somewhere. Sonja says Ramona has something to tell her, and Leah says she doesn’t want to go on the yacht. Ramona says she’d love to meet Leah’s sister, but at another time. Leah says, don’t go there, and Ramona says, she’s not coming. I swear, I’d just walk off this show. The paycheck can’t possibly be worth it. Dorinda tells Tinsley, maybe she was wrong. It’s Tinsley’s life, not hers. Ramona says they’ll have a cocktails and conversations party and invite Sarah, and Leah says Sarah is already on her way. Tinsley hugs Dorinda, who suggests they have a reset. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she feels like she’s in Groundhog Day, and she just wants to watch Leah destroy the place. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, bad timing on Ramona’s part. Leah is already bonkers. In Ramona’s interview, she says she didn’t expect a reaction like this. No one was murdered. Leah says she wants to talk to Ramona, but Ramona won’t talk. She says Leah is a little out of control, and Leah says, like no one in the group has been before. Elyse tries hug Leah, but Leah says, get off me. She walks over to the drapes, and pulls at them, and I fully expect the whole thing to come down, but it’s barely disturbed. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she was known as the gangster with blue eyes, but Leah is out of control.
Ramona takes Leah, who has moved on to the crying phase, away from the group. Ramona tells her to pretend like it’s yoga. Breathe in and out. LuAnn thinks Leah was rude to ask if she could invite her sister, and Sonja says Ramona was put on the spot. In Elyse’s interview, she says Leah is taking it personally instead of taking the opportunity to get to know the girls on a deeper level. Asking to bring her sister was a bad idea. Tinsley says, Leah can handle herself, but LuAnn says, clearly she can’t. Dorinda says, Leah’s not used to drinking, and LuAnn says, neither is she. Have they ever seen her behave that way? Yes. We have, and we do again, flashing back to LuAnn falling in that bush, and another clip of her just falling. In her interview, Leah says she’s done crazy in the past. She’s new to the group, and they’re not used to her kind of crazy. Ramona tells Leah that she doesn’t want to change the dynamic. Leah says she’s not staying if her sister isn’t allowed to come. Sonja says she can’t invite someone at the last minute, and Leah says, too late. Ramona can’t say yes, then no. Sonja says, they’ve got her. Sonja joins Tinsley and Dorinda in a hug, and Leah cries some more. LuAnn tells her, these bitches aren’t worth crying for. Sonja tells Ramona, it’s making her upset to see Leah upset. Let her bring her sister. They’re going to push her over the brink. Ramona tells Leah, her sister is welcome, and she’s sorry. In her interview, Ramona says Leah is new to the group, and loves her sister; maybe she’s being ridiculous. She apologizes to Leah again, and hugs her, telling her to stop crying. Ramona says she can be a control freak, but realized it mean a lot to Leah. She had to overlook her own feelings and change her mind.
In the morning, LuAnn does stretches on the terrace. Dorinda goes down to the beach, saying, waves, speak to me. She calls Leah, and asks how it’s going. Leah says she’s alive. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she knows how Leah woke up; the guilt, fear, and embarrassment. All those wonderful things that happen after a night of drinking and losing your sh*t. She’s been there. The Inn hasn’t been burned down; she’s good. Leah says she feels great, and Dorinda says Leah is her kind of girl. She asks if Leah got clarity, and Leah says she found her own clarity; her sister is coming. In her interview, Leah says she didn’t come on the trip in the best state of mind. She doesn’t remember what happened, but she feels like she released a lot of energy. Whatever happened was therapeutic. I like Leah, but it’s pretty selfish to intrude on everyone else’s time with your therapeutic insanity. She really shouldn’t drink. It’s not a good look for her.
Sonja tells Ramona, she feels great. Ramona marvels at Sonja being able to drink up a storm, and wake up fresh as a daisy. Elyse comes by, and says, they’re not dressed yet. Ramona says they like to lounge in the morning. Elyse asks how Ramona is feeling, and Ramona says she knows Leah was a little out of control. Elyse says Leah needed an exorcism. She thought Leah was wrong to ask her sister to come; however, once Ramona said yes, she shouldn’t have rescinded it. In her interview, Ramona says, she likes Leah, but Leah has two sides. The crazy side, and the regular side. She likes the regular side. Save the crazy side for your other young friends. She says, maybe Leah’s sister will be a good influence on her. She tells Elyse that they’re going shopping in town. They can work off what they ate.
The women reconvene, and Elyse asks how Leah is feeling. Leah says, good, and Elyse asks if she’s not hungover. Leah says she’s not, and Elyse says, that’s weird; she’s assuming Leah was wasted. Leah says, that’s the way she is, although alcohol fueled it. That’s how she wants to be all the time. Elyse says, and she wonders why guys think she’s a crazy chick. Ouch. In her interview, Dorinda says, who cares? No one should be judged by one night. Look at the whole group. Ramona asks how Leah is feeling, and Leah says, great. That’s actually a theory I have. Many alcoholics don’t seem to get hangovers. Ramona asks if Leah remembers what happened, and Leah says, of course she does. Bring it on. In Leah’s interview, she says, she doesn’t really want to be like that all the time, but she saw how the women were at the orchard – we flash back to the lunacy at lunch and in the corn maze – and the Hamptons. She thought she was allowed to chug ten martinis and lose her mind.
Leah, Dorinda, and Tinsley take one limo; while Ramona, Elyse, and LuAnn take another. Leah asks if they can believe what Elyse said, and Dorinda says, Elyse isn’t the one who should be giving out relationship advice. Ramona wonders why Dorinda is defending Leah, and Elyse says, Dorinda will give out advice, but everyone else better not. She does an impression of Dorinda calling Tinsley a superficial slut, and then yelling at Ramona not to judge Tinsley. I have to admit, it’s pretty spot-on.
Leah says Elyse was hard on her, but Elyse says she’s Leah’s biggest fan when Leah does normal. Leah says she’d never do that in front of her child, and Elyse asks what if she ends up with a mini me? What kind of message is she sending her daughter? Leah says she can do and say whatever she wants, and effity-eff-eff-effs her way out the door. Outside, she tells Dorinda that she and Elyse haven’t had enough interaction to make it appropriate for Elyse to be in her business. Elyse comes out, and Leah says, her daughter is twelve, and Elyse is asking how she’d feel if her daughter gets wasted? Don’t bring up her kid. Elyse promises not to go there, and Leah says, don’t talk about her daughter. Elyse says, that’s fair, and Dorinda asks why Elyse is in Leah’s business so much.
Dorinda says Elyse thinks she’s some great psychiatrist, prowling around, waiting for someone to make a mistake. In Sonja’s interview, she says she knows Elyse was just trying to be helpful. She suggests instead of breaking bread, they all break Bloody Marys. Dorinda toasts to being judgement free. Ramona says she won’t be embarrassed in Newport, and Dorinda asks what about the rest of the states? In Dorinda’s interview, she says, Leah is twenty years younger; give her a break. They should be guiding, not chastising her. Dorinda says, be inclusive, and Ramona says Dorinda is enabling Leah. Sonja thinks Leah should apologize, and Leah says she’s the first person to say she’s sorry, and take accountability. She got drunk, and enjoyed herself, but she’s sorry. Ramona says it was atrocious behavior, and upsetting to her. In her interview, Leah says, going into Newport, she was angry at herself, but instead of getting support, she got jerked around about her sister coming. Anything she does is wrong to these women. Leah says she thinks she triggered something in Ramona about her past, and it kills her. She tears up. Ramona says she’s blocked it out, and in LuAnn’s interview, she says, that’s a crock of sh*t. Ramona has been coming down hard on Leah, when Ramona is no angel. LuAnn tells Ramon that she’s making Leah feel bad for no reason. Ramona says they don’t know how she feels. In her interview, she says Dorinda and LuAnn grew up in loving homes, while hers was a war zone. She read books, and blanked out her dad and brother’s alcoholic rages. She tells Leah that her intention isn’t to make Leah feel bad. She really likes Leah, and doesn’t want to not like her. Leah says she is who she is, but Ramona says she doesn’t like that behavior. Maybe Leah can curb it; they’ll see. To be continued…
Next time, Dorinda wants to be left alone, Leah throws ravioli at Ramona, and Dorinda and Tinsley are back to arguing.
👩🏼🍳 On Top Chef, Karen unpacked her knives to go against Kevin in Last Chance Kitchen. Winner Kevin picked three chefs to go head to head with, and won against Brian full of Malarkey, the other white Bryan, and Gregory. This put Kevin back into the game. Award winning chef, and pioneer of California cuisine, Jonathan Waxman was the guest judge, and for the Quickfire challenge, the chefs were to create a two-course business class dish for an airline. They had to use ingredients found year round, and make the meal to airline tray specifications. Everyone made fabulous meals, but Brian full of Malarkey forgot you don’t get a steak knife on an airplane, making his entrée difficult to eat. Melissa was the winner, for which she’d get an advantage in the elimination challenge. I don’t know if these advantages are some kind of secret or I keep missing them somehow, but I have no clue what it was. Five chefs would be continuing on to the finale in Tuscany, courtesy American Airlines. For the final elimination challenge, they were to produce a dish inspired by Michael’s in Santa Monica, a restaurant owned by another California cuisine pioneer, Michael McCarty. Jonathan was his first chef, and the restaurant was celebrating its 40th anniversary. The chefs were to meet with Michael, and taste his signature dishes, which would serve as an inspiration. They would literally be serving Mike, Jonathan, and alumni from the restaurant.
Melissa was allowed first choice, and picked quail. For Kevin, it was duck; Stephanie, scallops with angel hair pasta; Bryan, lamb; Gregory, monkfish; and Brian full of Malarkey, veal. The idea was to take the dish, modernize it, and give it their own spin, yet keep an homage to the original. The highlight was when half of Brian full of Malarkey’s dishes went to another table, totally throwing him off his game. He stumbled through the long, stupid story that went with his creation, and was annoyed because he’d wanted the food to be eaten in a certain order. When everything had been tasted, Mike said they all took his dishes up to the next level, and Padma thanked them for glorious meal.
Melissa had her best night ever, winning immunity as well. Gail said there was nothing any of them would have changed, which was high praise. Mike told Stephanie that she was right there, and the race was close. Bryan and Kevin were also in, leaving Gregory and Brian full of Malarkey on the bottom. Malarkey said he’d had a great ride, and Padma asked if he was quitting. In his interview, Gregory said, Top Chef messes with you, and thought it was getting to Malarkey. He wanted to win because he deserved it, not because the other chef quit. Gail assured Malarkey that their judgement had nothing to do with the screw-up of his food going to another table. Malarkey said he was upset with the process, since his dishes hadn’t been eaten right. Everyone was like, what? and Gail said he can’t control the food once it leaves his hands. Tom told him that the duo on the plate didn’t talk to each other; there was a distinct clash. Which basically meant the two things he made didn’t go together. Jonathan said it didn’t evoke what Malarkey had babbled talked about. He told Gregory he’d been expecting more, and Padma said there wasn’t enough richness in Gregory’s risotto. I told you that risotto is always trouble.
Tom said, in the end, it comes down to what’s on the plate, and Brian full of Malarkey was told to pack his knives and go. Yay! In his interview, he said he didn’t want go out that way. He had every intention of winning, but his mind melted. He was still proud of what accomplished.
Next time, Italy, a truffle hunt, and making pasta for Italians
📺 Since Andy Cohen is on another one of his numerous vacations, Watch What Happens Live will return on Monday, June 8th. Although after suffering through much of the RHOA Reunion myself – three parts of it, no less – I can’t say he doesn’t deserve this break.
💃🏼 She’s Movin’ On…
Dorinda dishes on getting rid of the old John and chain.
We seem to be moving closer to a new yet old normalcy, and I’m moving closer to the end of what might possibly be the longest week of my life. See you tomorrow for tea and words of wisdom. Not from me. From other people. Until then, stay safe, stay out of fights (unless it’s the good fight), and stay mostly on the straight and narrow.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Today’s flashback GH brought another day of the 2014 Nurse’s Ball, from May 14th, 2014. Blackie Parrish (aka John Stamos) didn’t show, so Brad took his place. Maxie was dating that Australian dude who was a cast member for a hot minute, but starting to fall for Nathan. Yoplait was mentioned a thousand times as a sponsor, and old Nikolas was there with young Spencer, who was in love with even younger Emma. Mac brought out Mr. Marbles, who Epiphany stomped into oblivion, much to the delight of the audience, and fake Luke was thwarted from stealing Tracy’s ELQ shares by Ned. Emma and Cameron did the tango, as everyone remembered Duke and Anna the year before. Spencer interrupted their performance by introducing Player, who sang Baby, Come Back, his plea to Emma.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Kyle invited the women to a house she’d rented in Santa Barbara. Garcelle had other plans, and Denise was late, due to filming The Bold and the Beautiful, where she was playing a bitch and loving it. In delicate flower Dorit’s interview, she was upset because Kyle had told her to STFU, and she thought that kind of stuff in a friendship made it uneasy. Really? Kyle was annoyed with the couples therapy remark, since what she and Teddi did was more akin to a Yoga class. For some reason, it bothers everyone that Kyle is closer to Teddi than she is to the rest of them. I have no clue why anyone cares, much less why Dorit keeps demanding Kyle admit it. While I never hung out in a large core friends group, I can’t imagine everyone is equally close. Why is this some deceptive affront? When Teddi arrived, she said she had to go potty real quick, and I thought, that’s a woman with children. It’s really hard to take care of kids all the time, and not consistently phrase things like you’re talking to them. In Erika’s interview, she said Kyle had hurt her feelings – we flashed back to Kyle questioning whether Erika had any good friends – but she wasn’t throwing away their friendship over a bad night. However, there were only so many bad nights she was going to tolerate.
Kyle said she had great memories of her dad, who lived in Santa Barbara after her parents divorced, and thought it was one of the reasons she loved the city so much. Manager Kate welcomed them to the house, and they cruised around in some kind of vehicles that looked like golf carts, but were really double bicycles, with pedals on both the driver’s and passenger’s sides. Dorit wondered why she had to get [stuck with] the pregnant one (i.e. Teddi). When it turned into a race, Erika asked why everything had to be a contest in this group. Although I’m not a fan, it was a good point.
Before Denise’s arrival, the women dickered over confronting her, saying her objection to their adult conversation in front of the kids was hypocritical. I actually made a blech noise when I saw LisaR’s face as Denise sat down. It was that duck suck-it face Max made when they opened the cupcake shop on 2 Broke Girls, but without being intentionally funny. When they got back to their crib, Kyle wondered why no one wanted to look at the gorgeous view with her. Probably because they were too busy prepping to be mean old girls. MoronA-holeRidiculousbitch LisaR broached the threesome subject to Denise by asking her about filming Wild Things. In her interview, Erika sarcastically said, thank God there were no children around; tender ears. God help me. If I ever see any of these cretinous wretches on the street, I’ll be going to jail. I’m not a prude by any stretch of the imagination, but it doesn’t take one to understand there’s a difference between being in an adult atmosphere and a home party where there are children present and within earshot. I had to sit on my Twitter impulse through the whole show. Denise said she didn’t think her daughters had seen the film, but in her interview, LisaR was certain they must have. Once again, she couldn’t fathom anything outside of her own experience, saying that her daughters had seen everything of hers, and read the sex manual she’d authored. She didn’t mention that her daughters, especially Amelia, don’t seem nearly as well-adjusted as Denise’s kids. Yes. I went there, since LisaR clearly has a double-standard. God forbid anyone criticizes her parenting, yet she’s very free with advice for Denise. Denise couldn’t figure out why they didn’t get it either. Sutton suggested not inviting the kids if there might be adult conversation. If I had been Denise, I’d have suggested not inviting Sutton, but Denise stayed gracious. She told Sutton, it was her home, and she’d do what she damn well pleased, but in a nicer way.
The not-close friends Kyle and Teddi rehashed everything after the others went to bed. Teddi said, even though Denise claimed she didn’t care and it was no big deal, she’d brought it up multiple times, so she did care. She told Kyle that Denise must be bringing it up to make them feel bad. Since actual facts don’t matter, neither one of them bothered noticing that while Denise did mention it privately to two people, after that, someone else brought it up every time. What is wrong with these women?
At breakfast, LisaR wanted everyone to quit pussy-footing around, and get whatever was bubbling under the surface, out in the open. Dorit brought up something from forever ago, Erika jumped on the Memory Lane bandwagon, and I fully expected the return of Puppygate. Teddi accused Dorit of dragging her into it every time Dorit had an issue with Kyle, and shading her.
Since LisaR’s real goal was to continue haranguing Denise, she told Denise that she was uncomfortable about the conversation that went down, and didn’t like how Denise shut down the threesome dialogue. LisaR said Denise was using the kids to make them feel bad. The one who says kids are off limits. Erika thought Denise was being judgy, and LisaR said she was being contradictory. Erika said Denise inferred they were bad moms, even though she was very free with her own sex talk. LisaR squeaked that Denise had to own it, and asked if Denise talked to her daughters about the hookers in Charlie’s life. In Denise’s interview, she wondered what LisaR’s agenda was, since they’d been friends for twenty years. LisaR knew how fiercely she protected the kids, and it was hurtful. LisaR told the women, there were hurt feelings, and it was good to address it. to which the response was a roomful of crickets. What really creeps me out is, they all act like it’s about honesty and making things right, but their faces tell a different story. After revealing what they deem as truth, but is really an opinion, there’s always this look of triumph, like they’ve won something. So far, the only appropriate prize would be a kick in their Spanxed rear ends.
Next time, Garcelle is honored at the Mission Gala, Denise tells Aaron about the women confronting her, Denise calls Teddi a sh*t-effing-stirrer, and Denise and Aaron leave a party early.
💋 Did She Or Didn’t She…?
I wouldn’t blame Denise if she walked and never looked back. Although I can’t say she wasn’t given fair warning last season, this gang mentality is not a good look.
⚔️ The Reunion for Below Deck Sailing Yacht will air on Monday, June 1st at 8 pm, and the Vanderpump Rules Reunion will begin with Part Oneon Tuesday, June 2nd at 9 pm. The Shahs Reunion? Who knows? (Yes, I’m still harping on that.)
🎱 So We’re Doomed…?
Referring to the coronavirus, according to Ben Carson, people coming together – this is the way that we will win.
🕸 Clearing the Cobwebs…
After a little over a lifetime two months in quarantine, bans are being lifted and things are starting to open up. Whether you’ll be starting over or just starting to roll again, stay safe, stay considerate, and stay believing it will all work out in the end.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Today’s GH was a continuation of the 2014 Nurse’s Ball (specifically, May 9, 2014). Spencer was still practically an infant, Starr was still Kiki, Eddie Maine sang Meatloaf’s You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth, and fake Luke sang I Am What I Am from La Cage aux Folles (one of my favorite songs ever). Fake Luke also asked Tracy to marry him right then and there, and Lucy was happy to officiate. Elizabeth caught the bouquet. They wrapped it up with Magic Milo and his Magic Wands dancing to AC/DC’s You Shook Me All Night Long, ending the song with Nurse’s Ball spelled out on their backsides.
🍸 Tonight’s Vanderpump Rules was a Secrets Revealed special. Hint: there were no secrets. It was basically extended scenes from this season’s episodes, given a boost with interjected videos of the cast in quarantine. Poor Lisa. She’s thinking of bringing the ponies inside. Next week: the Reunion, Part One.
If Loving You Is Wrong
Natalie listens at Kelly’s bedroom door, and hears muffled noises. She bursts in, saying, you MF’ers! and is surprised to see Tyrell and Pat in the bed. Natalie scrambles back out, as Lushion and Kelly are coming in the back door. Lushion asks, what’s wrong? Why is she stuttering? She says she’s been calling him, and he says they’ll talk. He wonders what the noise is, but goes to the living room with Natalie. Kelly investigates, and asks, what the hell is going on? Tyrell, who’s putting on his clothes at this point, says he was… and Kelly says, just leaving. It’s too much. He asks if she’s putting him out, and she says, hell yeah. She asks who Pat is, and Tyrell says, a friend; sorry. She tells them to get their asses out.
Kelly goes into the living room, and says, damn. Lushion asks, what’s going on? and Kelly asks where Natalie is. He says, she’s at the house, and Kelly asks if they can keep Justice a while longer so she can handle this. He says, handle what? and she says, this. Tyrell and Pat come out, and Lushion says, ohh. Pat leaves, and Lushion isn’t far behind. Tyrell says, hey, and Kelly asks why Pat was in the house. He says he and Kelly aren’t together; what’s her problem? She says, seriously? No part of his brain gets it? He just got out of jail, came to her house, and brings a trick to her bed. She asks who it was, and he says, a friend from back in the day. She asks, how far back? Is it Leslie? This totally confuses me, since I swear it was Nurse Pat. Tyrell says, it was nine years ago, and Kelly says, she’s clearly let herself go. He says he’s glad Kelly is out, and Kelly says she is too. He asks how it worked out, and she tells him, the DA dropped the charges. He says he doesn’t have anywhere to go, and can he please stay there. She says, it’s a lot, but let her talk to Justice first. He wants to see Justice, and she tells him, go for a walk. Give her a couple of hours, and let her talk to him. And wash her damn sheets. She wants no trace of that bitch in her house; not a thread of her damn weave. She’s going to take a shower, and he needs to do the same. He asks if she’s saying she wants to… and she says, please. He says he was just asking. It’s good to see her. She says she’ll figure out how good it is to see him when she calms down. He tells her that Natalie attacked them when she came in, and Kelly says, that’s not good. He asks, why not?
Alone in the bathroom, Kelly gets out her phone.
Natalie tells Lushion, he got a text, and hands him his phone. He asks how Natalie is, and she says, good. He tells her something smells good, and she says, it’s the pork chops. He asks if she wants to tell him why she was calling, and she says, Eddie. He was in the house. He just walked in. Lushion says, bastard, and she says, is he? He says Eddie showed her the video, and she says he did. Lushion says Kelly kissed him. She said she was just excited, and he made it clear there was nothing on his end. Natalie asks if there was something on Kelly’s end, but he says she was just happy. Natalie says, and she just happened to kiss him? Why did she text? Lushion says Kelly thought Natalie believed Tyrell and the girl were them. Natalie asks to see it, and Lushion says, no; he’s not going to do that. They’ve been through this about her questioning his love and commitment. Eddie happened to be there, trying to make something of it. She asks if she’s not allowed to have questions, and he says, not when comes to trusting him. She asks if he thinks that’s fair, and he says, yes. Because he knows what kind of man he is, and so does she. She wonders if she can ask one question, but he says, not when it comes to that. She says she’ll just ask Kelly, and he says, go ahead. Lushion types, and she asks if he’s texting Kelly. He says, maybe; maybe not. Let him know when dinner ready. He starts out the door, and she mumbles, a-hole. He says he heard that.
On the porch, Lushion calls Eddie. He asks if Eddie thinks he did something to bring Lushion’s ass down, and Eddie asks how Natalie is. Lushion says, fine. Keep pushing. Bennett drives up, and asks how Lushion is. Lushion says he’s good, and asks how Tanya is. Bennett says, as well as can be expected, and Lushion says he’s sorry. Randal keeps pestering everyone in the neighborhood, so just be aware. He asks why Lushion keeps dropping by Randal’s house, and Lushion says, it’s in his nature; it’s his job. if Bennett sees anything, let him know. Bennett says he has to be careful, or Tanya will think he’s checking on her. Lushion gets it, but he’ll let Randal know that Bennett might do a random stop-by. Bennett says he tried to file a police report on Randal, but he ran into Eddie. Lushion says Eddie is a bit crazy, and asks how it went. Bennett says he didn’t end up doing it, and Lushion says he can help. He tells Bennett to come by tomorrow, and thanks him for being one of the good guys. Bennett says Lushion is too, and drives off.
Ian approaches Lushion, and Lushion says Ian did a great job for Kelly. He wasn’t sure he could trust him. Ian says he told Lushion he could. He tells Lushion that Larry called Carl into his office and offered him a job. Lushion asks what Carl did, and Ian says, the kid held his own. He told Larry, no. Then Larry tricked Ian, and got his phone at the same time Carl was calling, and Ian got fired. Lushion says he’s sorry, but Ian says, it was worth it. He needs to start his own practice anyway… right after he sues Larry. Larry will settle because Ian knows where the bodies are buried. He asks if Lushion has seen Alex, and Lushion says, no; why? Ian says he needs to talk to her. It might be a long shot, but he slept with her around the same time she got pregnant. Lushion says, and he wants to know if the baby is his. Ian says, they met on a dating app, but she slept with a lot of guys. Who knows? Lushion says, just when you think you know someone. It’s crazy as hell. Ian says he’ll talk to Alex later, and Lushion says, sorry about his job. Ian says, it’s all good, and walks back home.
Randal looks on his laptop at a video of Bennett trashing Randal’s house. He says Bennett thinks he’s playing, but he’s got him. He takes the laptop, and heads over to Bennett’s house, where Tanya is painting. He comes up to the window next to her, and she asks what the hell he’s doing. He says he wants to show her something, and she tells him, get away. He shows her the video, and says, that’s her husband. In his house. Tearing it apart. She says she doesn’t know what he’s talking about, and closes the window. Randal yells, open the door, but she won’t, so Randal just walks in. Since no one ever locks their doors in Maxine. He says he’s calling the cops, and she says, please don’t. She needs Bennett. Randal asks, why? and she says Bennett is sorry; he’s just trying to protect her. She told him Randal was looking at her. She says, it’s too stressful, and he says, what’s stressful? He keeps asking, and she says Randal can’t send Bennett to jail. He asks if Bennett is a good guy, and she nods. He says he is going to send Bennett to jail, and she says she can’t breathe. She starts to scream, and Randal smiles. He says, there’s my girl, and she says it’s all her fault. He takes her medication off the coffee table, and switches it with something he brought with him. He tells her, relax; this will make her feel better. He promises it will help. She takes one, and he says he won’t send Bennett to jail. He wants her to rest. She grabs him, and he says, let him go. She keeps asking him to promise, and he gives her another pill, saying, trust him. Randal tells her that if she tells Bennett about this, he will send Bennett to jail. The pills should be kicking in any moment. He tells Tanya, she should probably have one more, and if she’s more anxious, take another one. He leaves, saying, sleep well.
Marcie watches from Brad’s house, and says, what the hell are you up to?
Steven rigs up the bathroom door, and puts a caution wet floor sign outside. He wraps his hand using toilet paper (now more precious than gold), and Eddie comes out of stall. Eddie chatters on about nothing, and Steven stays silent. Eddie tries to open the bathroom door, and gets shocked. He asks what Steven did to the door; it turns him on. Steven suggests Eddie grab it again, and he does. Although it’s obviously painful, Eddie says it just gets him going. Does Steven want to play this game? Steven says Eddie told his daughter lies about him and Esperanza. Eddie asks what the hell Steven wants to do about it, and Steven says, beat his ass. Eddie asks if Steven thinks so, and Steven says he knows so. Eddie takes out his gun, and asks if Steven’s got one, but Steven says he doesn’t need one. Eddie asks if Steven knows who the hell he’s talking to, and Steven asks how Eddie is going to explain this one. Eddie says he doesn’t need an explanation to put a bullet in Steven’s punk ass. Steven tells Eddie to get on the phone, call his daughter, and tell her that everything he’s said about her mother is a lie. Tell her that her mother is a wonderful person. Eddie says, that’s not going to happen, and Steven says he hoping Eddie would say that. An officer walks in, and asks, what’s going on? Steven says, nothing, and Eddie confirms, yeah, nothing. Steven says Eddie was just leaving, and Eddie says, yes, he was.
Larry is waiting for Eddie out in the hallway. Eddie asks what the hell Larry wants, and Larry says he wants the money Eddie owes him. Eddie says he blew it on cocaine. Larry says he’s beginning to get the impression Eddie doesn’t want to give it back. Eddie says he doesn’t, and Larry says, okay. He makes a call, and says, do it now. Eddie asks if that’s supposed to scare him, and Larry says, maybe a little. Eddie says, it doesn’t, and Larry asks if there’s anything Eddie cares about; anything he loves. Eddie says he loves him some Eddie. He’s beautiful. Larry says, yes, he is, and Eddie says Larry saw him naked; he’s a beast. Larry says, he is too. The type of beast who eats their own young. Eddie says Larry is a big pussy cat, and Larry asks if Eddie is sure there’s nothing he cares about. Eddie asks how many times Larry is going to ask. Larry walks away, and Eddie says, that guy is an a-hole.
Johnny rouses Alex, who asks if it’s closing time. He says they reopen at 9, and asks if she’s ready to go home. She stretches, and says, let’s go, but he says he means her home. She says she’s not going back there; she’s staying with him. He says, no. People come there, trying to run away from their lives. She tells him, don’t try to save her soul, but he says he’s trying to tell her the truth. He’s seen it all. You can try to drink your life away, and run away from it all, but when you wake up, the problems will still be there. Go home. She says her home is with him. He kisses her hand, and says she’s sweet, but he’s only known her for a couple of hours. She asks if he doesn’t think she’s sexy; she’s had three kids. He says she’s incredible, and Alex says, so don’t throw her away. Johnny says she just met him. Give herself a chance to sober up, and then come back. She says she’s perfectly sober. She touches her nose, and says, come on, but he shakes his head, and says, go home. She says, please. She needs something. Give her a little something. She just wants a little escape. She can’t go back to that life. He asks if she really wants to escape, and takes a packet of white powder out of his pocket. He says, something to help her escape. She says she doesn’t know if she can do that. Does he do it? He says, from time to time; it’s no big deal. She says, okay, and rolls up her sleeve. She says, if she does it, can she stay with him? He says, forever, and she says she wants it. He says, she’s about to get it.
Marcie cleans up after dinner. Brad says, it was good, and she says he sounds surprised. He says, know what else? It was good how good the kids were. She says, they didn’t seem bothered, and he says he still has to watch them closely. She says he did a good job raising them, but he says, Alex did most of the work. She asks if he’s okay, and he says he’s fine. He has to be. She says, he has her; he doesn’t have to do this alone. He says she hasn’t accepted his proposal, and she says, with all he’s going through, does he really want to talk about that? He says she means that much to him, but she thinks they should take it slow. She kisses him, and says she’s checking on the baby. She goes upstairs, and there’s a knock at the door. It’s Ian.
Brad asks what he can do for Ian, and Ian asks if Alex is there. He’d like to talk to her. Brad asks, what about? and Ian says, the divorce. Brad says, it’s done, but Ian says she still has papers to sign. Marcie comes back, and Brad says Ian is there to see Alex. Marcie says Alex isn’t there; she left Brad with the kids. Ian asks if they know where she went, and Brad says, probably with one of the many guys she’s been dating. Ian asks if she took the baby, and Marcie says she left all the kids with Brad. Brad asks, why? and Ian says he’s just asking. Marcie asks, what’s going on? and Ian says, nothing; he’ll come back. Brad says he thought Ian looked familiar. He shows him the laptop, with a page from Alex’s dating site on the screem. Brad reads, meet me at the Maxine hotel for lunch. How big is he? Marcie is like, Brad… and Ian says, just tell her that he wants to talk to her. Brad says the date is around the same time Alex got pregnant, and he’s pretty good at math. Is that why Ian is there? Does he think the baby is his? If he does, Brad wants a DNA result. Ian says, just tell her that he wants to talk to her, and Brad suggests he call her. Ian says, he’ll do that, and leaves. Brad says, do you believe that? and Marcie says she’s starting to believe anything about Alex. Ian does kind of look like the baby. Brad says, unbelievable. He’s going to help the kids finish their homework. He wants her to sleep upstairs, but Marcie says she’s not going into her room. She asks if Brad remembers the window that looks out to the other house, and Brad asks if she wants to have sex like wild animals. Does she think he’ll see? She says, he will.
Tyrell tells Kelly that she looks beautiful. She says she just got out of jail, and he says, so did he. She says she just wanted to clean up for Justice. She suggests Tyrell go on that walk, and he tells her again that she’s beautiful. She asks if he thought they were going to pick up where they left off. He says that’s not what he was thinking. He needs to get on his feet, and get out of there. She says, good plan; let’s work on that. In the meantime, go for a walk. Tanya walks into the house, and sits in between Kelly and Tyrell on the couch. Kelly says, what the hell? Who is she? Tyrell says he doesn’t know, and Kelly asks if it’s another ho. He says he doesn’t know her, and Tanya says, don’t talk to her or touch her. Kelly asks who she is, and Tanya asks who Kelly is. Kelly says Tanya is in her house. Tanya says she doesn’t like her colors; her colors are angry. Kelly says she needs to leave, and Tanya says it’s pretty there. Tyrell says, she’s off, and Kelly asks her name. She says, Tanya, and Kelly asks if she lives around there. Tanya says, across the valley in the blue canyon. Tyrell says, there’s a blue house across the street, and Kelly tells Tanya that she can’t stay there. Walk back home. Tanya says, Kelly is so rude, and gets up and leaves. Kelly and Tyrell follow her outside, and see her meandering down the street, and swinging around a mailbox. Bennett runs up, and says he was looking for her. She says she doesn’t want to go inside, and he suggests they sit there. She plops herself of the curb, and he sits next to her. She tells him, shut up, but he says he’s not talking. He asks her to come in the house, and she asks what planet he’s from. Randal wanders over. Ugh.
Steven calls Esperanza, and asks if Mica is doing better. Esperanza says, no; she’s been locked in her room all day. He says he’s sorry, and asks if she’s talked to Eddie, but she says, not since she said what she had to say. He’s been quiet, which is really strange, but they don’t need him making things worse. She asks if Steven is okay, and he says he’s fine; why? She says the way Mica spoke to him… and he says she should hear what the kids say on the street. It’s nothing. She says he’s not dating their moms, and he says he’s fine. Go take care of her daughter. They’ll talk later. She notices a pause, and says he was going to say I love you. He tells her, get off his phone. She says she thinks he was, and he says, bye.
Esperanza goes to Mica’s room, and tells her, come on. She opens the door, but Mica isn’t in her room. Esperanza looks through the house, but still no Mica. She hears a scream, and runs outside, as a van carrying her daughter speeds past. She looks frantic.
Next time – three episodes left – Natalie tells Kelly that she doesn’t want to deal with this sh*t, Brad confronts Ian about Alex, Tyrell wants things to be the way they used to be with Kelly, Bennett punches Randal, and Eddie goes crazy.
🏆 Where’s Max…?
While I’m glad to see Jon Lindstrom has been nominated, WTF is Max Gail?
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Today’s GH was the start of the Nurse’s Ball 2014. We were treated to an Obrecht takeover, treating us with KathleenGati singing WIlkommen from Cabaret. It looks like the entire week will be dedicated to episodes from the 2014 and 2015 yearly event.
Below Deck Sailing Yacht
Avlaki, Corfu. Glenn asks to talk to Nicole, and explains that two crew members saw a guest with white powder under their nose. He wanted to speak to Nicole first, but says he’s obligated to get to get to the bottom of it. If there are drugs on board, it will be the end of the charter. He hopes that’s not the case, but says it was confirmed that the crew members definitely saw something. His next step is to talk to Billy; maybe he has a logical explanation. In Glenn’s interview, he says he could easily lose his license, or go to jail. Glenn tells Billy that a couple of crew members saw evidence of white powder under his nose. Billy says his hand to God, on his mother’s grave, he didn’t bring drugs onto the boat. Madison and Jenna listen in, while Georgia sings in the laundry room. Glenn asks if he can see Billy’s cabin, and if Madison will be a witness. In his interview, Glenn says he found a guest smoking a joint once, plucked it out of their mouth, and tossed it into the sea. If the authorities find drugs on board, it’s a big deal.
Glenn looks through Billy’s bags, and asks if there’s anything Billy doesn’t want him to find. Billy says he has nothing to hide. Glenn comes across some Gold Bond powder, and Billy says he’s not snorting that. Nicole tells another guest, this is so uncomfortable. Glenn says he didn’t find anything, and apologizes. In his interview, Glenn says he’s disappointed, but it sent a message. If there’s anything left, hopefully Billy has the sense to get rid of it. It’s not like he tossed the room. He just checked through some semi-packed bags.
Billy tells roommate Nicholas about the search, and wonders who the crew members were. What’s of interest here is, Nicolas immediately asks if Billy had anything. Billy says, no, but why would Nicholas ask if it wasn’t a possibility? Nicole says, it was intense. Jenna tells the other stews to keep them drinking. In Jenna’s interview, she says she made an observation, and was under obligation to tell Glenn. She didn’t relish ruining the guests’ vacation. Nicole says she just wants not to be stressed. In her interview, Jenna says she wanted to go out on a high note, but it’s going to be an awkward note at best. Glenn tells her there’s not much he can do, and she says it puts a damper on the last charter. Glenn tells Chris that he didn’t find anything, so he’s going to leave it there.
Jenna tells Madison there’s a bad vibe after the investigation. Madison brings Nicole a drink, and tells her to just breathe in, breathe out, and enjoy lunch. In Adam’s interview, he says, the guests are pissed, crew morale is in the dumps, and it sucks when the last charter goes sour. He has to kill it. Ooh, ceviche. I’ve never had it, but I’ve been dying to try it since I saw it on Shahs of Sunset (and where is that reunion anyway?) Adam serves the guests. Billy says he’s not hungry, and pouts. Jenna tells the guests, the sailing will be from 3 to 6, and afterwards, they’ll have the Greek party.
In Madison’s interview, she says, it’s an utter disaster. Get them drunk, get them fed, get them off the boat, and get the tip. Glenn asks her how the guests are doing, and she says they’re happy. Not so Billy, who decides to stomp up to the bridge and confront the captain. He says he gets that Glenn is doing his job, and it’s a serious thing, but he’s offended. Glenn apologizes, but says they have a blanket zero-tolerance policy. Just because he didn’t find anything, doesn’t mean it’s not on board. Billy says he was pretty effing drunk last night, but that was it, and his effing luxury vacation is now ruined. Please. First of all, boo-hoo that ten minutes was taken out of his luxury vacation because at best, he was acting stupid. And I don’t believe this guy wasn’t/isn’t on something. I’ve pretty much seen it all, and I’ve never seen anyone act like he does when they’re drunk. That dude was high. Billy says, there’s nothing there, and nothing was. He doesn’t know how to deal with this. In Glenn’s interview, he says he would hate for the season to implode when they’re this close to the finish line. A charter is always remembered by the ending. Billy stomps back to the deck.
Glenn calls Ciara, Paget, and Byron to the wheelhouse to talk about the regatta. He says if they want the charter to be a success, put on a big smile and happy faces. They have to sell it, and have the opportunity to finish on a high note. Glenn shows them the game plan, and they get ready to start. The course is set up, and Byron drives one boat, taking Billy (lucky him); and Paget drives the other boat with Nicholas. In Chris’s interview, he says he spent his childhood racing, and it’s heartbreaking. He wants to be out there. In Byron’s interview, he says, of course he’s stuck with the guy who was searched. He hopes Billy doesn’t get pissed off more. A third watch boat goes out, with a few guests, including Nicole. Paget gets a slow start, and the boats race around markers. Byron’s boat goes totally sideways, and into the water. He manages to right the boat, but team Paget wins. In his interview, Byron says he wants to punch Paget. Glenn says, good race, and Billy says, awesome, apparently forgetting his luxury vacation was ruined.
In Adam’s interview, he says, after the awkwardness, the guests’ vibe is getting better. It’s all about the food, and he has no room for mistakes. The guests put on togas and Greek themselves up. Ciara takes what my dad used to call a Navy bath, basically just splashing water on her armpits. Paget tells Byron that he hasn’t gotten Ciara anything for her birthday yet. In the crew mess, Paget tells Ciara, happy birthday, and Georgia looks at them like she hates them. In her interview, Georgia says she has feelings for Paget (don’t we have feelings about everything? that sounds so stupid to me), and the closer they get to the end of the season, she realizes she has to say something. In Ciara’s interview, she says, the season is almost over, and she’s looking for much needed time away from the crew. Madison and Georgia do a happy dance over their last turndown.
A Greek buffet is served. Adam sings, last meal of the season. Billy deigns to eat. Jenna tells Adam that the guests are happy. Nicole says the only thing that could make it better, would be someone rubbing her feet. I’m surprised a crew member doesn’t pop out and do it. In Jenna’s interview, she says she’s trying to do everything she can to make it better, but under the circumstances, she doesn’t know if it’s enough. It’s not a good way to go out.
Glenn tells Ciara, happy birthday. In Glenn’s interview, he says he sees the finish line. They need to keep it going; keep doing their best. The guests toddle out, and Adam makes breakfast. Nicole says she’d definitely charter the boat again, so evidently she couldn’t care less that Billy’s luxury vacation is ruined. Georgia says she’s going to be getting on an airplane so fast, and Madison says she wants to cry. Georgia tells Madison, if Jenna cries, it’s because she threw a rock at her. Paget says they’re all like old men, limping around the boat. The boat is carrying more dead weight than Byron’s jokes.
It’s finally time to say goodbye. Nicole floats off on a cloud of alcohol after giving Glenn the tip envelope. Glenn honks the horn, per tradition. In Paget’s interview, he says, they did it. And if they can do what they just did, the sky’s the limit. Jenna tells the stews that they need to get the boat fresh and ready for whatever she does next. Adam and Jenna talk about going to Venice. Georgia and Madison eat like madwomen in the crew mess. In Madison’s interview, she says she can’t be happier. Jenna joins them, and Georgia says she’s never worked with this big a crew before. Jenna thinks it went well. There were some things that pushed her over the edge more than usual. She says they joked around, but she doesn’t personally mind. Georgia asks if that’s because Jenna is the one doing the bullying. Jenna asks if Georgia thinks she doesn’t get bullied. In her interview, Georgia gives a surreptitious middle finger. Georgia says Jenna makes jokes at other people’s expense, and was having personal jokes with Adam in the galley. Jenna says, to be honest, it was her frustration coming out. She did think there were a lot of stupid questions, so she’d vent to Adam. Georgia says if there were questions, it was because she wasn’t familiar with the field. There wasn’t one day when she didn’t work her ass off. Jenna says she doesn’t disagree, and Madison says, we made it; it’s over. Let’s have one more good night.
Jenna tells Adam that the girls think she can be mean, and they’re afraid of her. Madison and Georgia eavesdrop, and roll their eyes. In Madison’s interview, she says, it’s how you treat people, how you talk to people, and how you manage a team. She’d never want anyone to feel like she was made to feel. She thinks she knows how it should be run, and could handle the job
Jenna tells Byron, when they started in the industry, it was more cutthroat. In Byron’s interview, he says there’s a level of respect that the younger ones need to learn. Georgia tells Madison, if there was a separation, it was because Jenna made it that way. Paget gives Ciara a gift bag in the crew mess, and she takes out a Leatherman. In her interview, Madison says, how romantic, but in Ciara’s interview, she says she loves practical birthday gifts. Paget says she’s park of the deck team now, and they hug. The crew sings Happy Birthday.
Glenn radios the crew for the debriefing. He says, they got through the final charter, and it was definitely challenging. But even though they had a situation, they still finished on a high note. The tip was $15,000, or $1660 each. Jenna is shocked, along with having a sense of relief. Glenn says they got more than $16K each in tips, and made a total of $143K. It’s a testament to how well they work as a team. He tells them he’s set up dinner at a beach bar; their final night out together. He’s coming along, and tells them to do as much as they can before they head out.
In his interview, Adam says he’s serious about the road trip. Even though it was a terribly emotional time, at this point, Jenna is the closest he’s ever gotten to saying I love you. He doesn’t give his heart easily, and it’s hard to believe sometimes. In Georgia’s interview, she says she can’t ignore her feelings for Paget anymore. It’s been weighing on her for a while, and she has to tell Ciara before Ciara finds out. She has to admit it’s a disloyal feeling, and it’s terrifying. She goes up on deck, where Ciara is coiling a gigantic rope, and asks if Ciara wants help. Ciara says, sure, and Georgia says she kind of has to tell Ciara something before they go. She’s having a bit of a thing for Paget. I honestly don’t get why she feels the need to do this. It’s not like she and Paget did anything but joke around. It seems like she’s just making an idiot of herself. I also don’t get how Ciara would find out otherwise. Does Georgia post her diary online?
Ciara says she already knew that, and it was no surprise. In Ciara’s interview, she says, this is super awkward. Georgia says she hasn’t ever wanted to cross the line, and wanted Ciara to know that. In her interview, Ciara says, let her silence speak for itself. She tells Georgia, you’re fine. In her interview, Georgia says to open up, and have Ciara say she knew, and never thought of Georgia as a threat, is twisting the knife; she wants to jump in [the water]. Again, I’m not getting this. On top of this need to tell Ciara, she wanted a jealous reaction? It’s like some weird mean girl backfire. I thought more highly of Georgia than this. Ciara tells Paget that she was washing the bow, and she and Georgia had a conversation about him. Georgia apologized and admitted she had a thing for him. He laughs, and Byron eavesdrops. Paget says, has or had, and Byron laughs. Paget tells Ciara, if it’s any consolation, he fancies Ciara. She says she hopes so, and they hug. Everyone gets ready for dinner.
The crew gets in the van, and they drive to the beach club. There’s a long, candlelit table near a firepit outside, where they sit. Jenna asks Ciara if they ever initiated the threesome, and Ciara says she wishes everyone would stop bringing it up. Paget says, it’s not happening. Glenn asks what everyone’s high point of the season was. Chris says it was sailing; the feeling of the sea, and the power of the wind. For Paget, it was the regatta, and for Adam, meeting Jenna. Everyone aww-groans. Glenn says the crew blew him away. The people knew, as well as those he just met. He congratulates them on a great season, and they clink glasses. In Glenn’s interview, he says, at the beginning of the season, he was with his core family, but the new crew coming in became like family. They don’t always get along, like you don’t always get along with your siblings, but overall, it was a fantastic family. He goes back to the boat, leaving the crew to their own devices.
Georgia says she’s not going to miss an opportunity to play guitar, taking it out of its case. Paget says he has a request from her number one fan. It’s in his head, but he can’t think of the name of it. He tells her, just play. She plays and sings, and he says, that’s it. I’m pretty sure it’s one of her own songs. In Jenna’s interview, she says, nice of Paget to call himself her number one fan. I think Paget feels a little sorry for her. Paget plays air guitar and sings along. In Ciara’s interview, she says if she never had to hear that song again, it would be way too soon. She cuddles with Paget. The song concludes, and everyone applauds. Georgia asks if they want another one, and there’s a moment of crickets before Madison says she wants to dance. They go to the main part of the restaurant; it’s somewhat enclosed, but has no walls. Byron, Jenna, and Adam stay behind, lounging on a long couch. Chris asks Paget if he thinks they’re falling asleep, and Paget says, they are 30 plus. Paget sees Georgia, and says he wants to tell her something. Oh please.
Georgia tells him, make her night. There’s a brief exchange I can’t really hear, and Paget says, forget about it, and walks away. When he gets back to Ciara, she asks if he loves her. He says, of course, and she asks if he’s happy with her birthday. He says, if she’s happy, he’s happy. Paget rounds everyone up. Chris wants to wait one more song, but Paget suggests they get in the effing van. Back on the boat, Chris writes, it’s over, on the whiteboard.
In the morning, Paget says his head is killing him. Chris complains that he had so many clothes he didn’t get to wear. In his interview, he says it’s scary for him. He started well, but now he’s going to head back to the UK and see a specialist to get his back sorted out. Hopefully he’ll come back better and stronger. In Byron’s interview, he says the crew has been mostly capable, but he’d never pass up an opportunity to work with Glenn. They made great tips, but he can’t wait to see his wife and daughter. He leaves, and wife Hayley meets him on the boardwalk, along with baby Saphira.
In Madison’s interview, she says she learned a lot, and is more sensitive than she thought she was. She takes things too personally, and shouldn’t. She’s going to miss Georgia the most, since she felt like she found a sister. She and Jenna high-five. She tells Georgia, you’re coming with me, and walks out on the dock. Georgia follows, saying she’s been waiting to hear that all season. Georgia and Madison say goodbye, and in her interview, Madison says she knows she’ll be friends with Georgia for the rest of her life.
Georgia asks to talk to Paget. She tells him it was great that she formed a strange, crazy connection, even at the expense of her dignity. She’s glad she met him; no one has gotten her like he has for a while. She gets teary, and says, it’s nice to know someone gets her. It means more than he realizes. Paget says Ciara told him at some point that she thought Georgia had feelings for him, but he couldn’t act on that. In his interview, he says Georgia is a good person underneath all the jokes, and she’s just looking for someone to treat her right. She’s talented, funny, good-looking, and available! Please treat her well. Paget reminds me of the nice college guy who’s gently brushing off the middle school girl who has a crush on him. Jenna tosses her clothes on the bed, wondering how she’s going to fit them in her suitcase.
Paget looks around the boat, and says, it’s a lot of work. Jenna tells Georgia, she knows it was complicated, and Georgia says, that’s the nature of the beast. Jenna says she thought she handled it well, but in Georgia’s interview, she says she thought she’d have team members to rely on. Instead, it was three times more complicated. Just saying. Ciara tells Georgia, it was nice, finding a hardcore bitch like herself.
In Jenna’s interview, she says, she fell in love in this hopeless place. How could she not love this season? Adam tells Glenn that he’s a great captain. He’s had his fair share, and Glenn is one of the few he’d work for again. I notice that Glenn is like, thanks, but doesn’t return that sentiment. In Adam’s interview, he says he’s learned a lot, and being vulnerable may not actually kill him. He asks if Jenna is ready for a road trip.
Glenn, Paget, and Ciara sit in the crew mess. Ciara says, it’s just us again. Glenn says it was a great season, and he’s glad they were there. He’s glad it worked out with Ciara being a deckhand. Ciara says she’s glad Glenn pushed her. In her interview, she says, she realized she’s more capable than she gives herself credit for. Being outside her comfort zone was good for her. She thanks Paget for making it happen.
Meanwhile, on the road… Jenna and Adam, living in a van down by the river. Or at least near the beach. Adam cooks over and open flame, and asks what time the primary wants to eat.
🧼 Leave It To LOGO…
A new soap is born. It’s always a roll of the dice, but if Morgan Fairchild is in, so am I.
While it disturbed my comfort level its first season, this time sMothered actually made me feel a little ill. Returning cast members Dawn and Cher, and Kathy and Cristina, who were not in the first episode, seem relatively normal in comparison to the newbies. And even then, mostly Dawn and Cher.
When the man in black became the man in white, I started feeling lost. By the time JessieAaron Paul came on the scene, I was more lost than I was when I was watching Lost. Another disappointment. When will it end?
Sadly, my buddy dog Casey lost his battle with the infection that attacked his kidneys. Run free, little man, run free. And as for you, stay safe, stay sound , and stay passing the open windows.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 