Tag Archives: Dark Side of Reality TV

Nov7

November 6, 2024 – Carly Goes to Jack For Help (Again), Saying Goodbye, Salty Talk, Weekend Watching, Just Like Us, Family Project, A Few More & Summer

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Robert asks, what kind of trouble is Holly in? and she says, when she left Africa, she didn’t exactly leave empty handed. He asks what she took, and she says, Sidwell’s diamonds. And now he wants them back.

Carly goes to see Jack, and he asks, what’s wrong? She says, a woman named Sasha Corbin was just abducted at the Quartermaine estate. The man who kidnapped her said to tell her mother that he wants his diamonds back.

On the phone, Anna says, Robin is taking the idea of having a half-sister better than she did… How does she feel? Worried because wherever Holly goes, trouble seems to follow.

Portia asks how Lucas and the family are doing, and he asks if there’s been an update on Sam’s autopsy.

Alexis sleeps on the couch. She sits up and picks up a photo album. She looks at pictures of Sam, when there a knock at the door. It’s Curtis.

Brook hugs Michael and asks how he’s doing. He says he’s still in shock. He can’t believe Sam is gone. It doesn’t feel real. She says, losing someone never does, and he asks if she’s seen Willow. She left him a message and he texted her, but she’s not responding. She says she hasn’t seen Willow, and he wonders where she is. He went to the gatehouse, but she’s not there.

Willow and Drew do no basking in the afterglow. They just lie there breathing heavy.

Dante comes home and wanders around. He hears a key in the lock and runs to the door, but it’s Sonny. Sonny asks, what is it? and Dante says he thought for a second that Sam was home.  

Holly says, don’t be angry, but Robert says he’s not. She just told him that she stole millions of dollars in diamonds. She says, hundreds of millions. She was trying to keep him out of it, but now she needs his help. He says, of course (🍷) she does. He’ll do what he can. Has Sidwell been in touch with her? She says, not directly, and he says, has he been in touch indirectly? She says, her hotel room was ransacked, and he asks if the diamonds were there. She says, no. When Sidwell was spotted in Miami, she took them to a secure location. He asks, where?

Carly says, the man said he’d kill Sasha if she went to the police, and Jack says, so she came here. She says, he’s not the police, and he says, definitely not. He asks her to describe the man, and she says, bald, muscular build, about 6 feet tall, and English. Jack shows her Sidwell’s picture and asks if it’s him, and she says, yeah. He says, she had the distinct misfortune of meeting Jenz Sidwell, and she asks what Sidwell is doing in Port Charles when the WSB is looking for him. He asks what Sidwell said, and she says, tell Sasha’s mother that he wants his diamonds back. It makes no sense because Sasha’s mother is dead. Jack says he thinks he knows who can shed some light on this mystery.

Lucas asks if there are any preliminary findings, but Portia says, they want to be thorough. He says, it’s hard having unanswered questions, and she suggests he get some rest, but he says he’s covering for Dr. Welch, whose baby is sick. She asks if he thinks extra work is a good idea, but he says he wouldn’t do it if he thought he couldn’t handle it. Portia says, they’re here if he needs them, and Lucas leaves. Brad watches from around the corner.  

Sonny says he wanted to check in, and Dante says he got lost all over again walking into the apartment. It’s quiet and empty in here. It was full of love and laughter because of Sam. Now there’s a deafening silence and it’s not going to be the same home it was. Sonny says, it’s going to be different, and Dante asks him to stop trying to fix it. No one can fix it. This was Sam’s home. Sam was the reason it was a home. Who the hell decorates for Groundhog Day? Every year, he and Rocco couldn’t wait to see what she’d done. She gave his son a home again and gave him a mother when he lost his. She treated his kid like one of hers and gave him the same love she gave her kids. She invited them into her home and made them part of her family. Now she’s gone and he doesn’t know what that means. What happens to their family?

Brook tells Michael that Danny wanted to be alone, and Scout was exhausted and fell asleep. He says he hopes they get answers, and she says, Sam was young and healthy. He says he was thinking about how brave she was. When she found out Lulu needed help, she didn’t hesitate. Brook says, when she saw trouble, she stepped up, and Scout comes in. She says she had a bad dream and daddy wasn’t there. He’s gone like mommy. Brook says, he’s not gone, and Scout asks where he is. Find him.

Drew says he knows this shouldn’t have happened. He was blindsided by Sam’s death. Willow says, they both were, and he says, he shouldn’t have let it get that far, but he says, they’re both responsible. They can try to lay blame, but they’ve been fighting this attraction for months. He asks what they do, and she says, nothing. It was a one-time thing and can never happen again. (🍷) She loves Michael and loves their life. She doesn’t know what she was thinking. It was a horrible mistake, and no one can ever know about it. He says, it’s got to be their secret, and she says she’ll take the back stairs and come in the front. It will look like she’s just coming in. He thanks her for seeing that he was okay, and she leaves. We see an earring on the floor.

Brad asks, how’s Lucas? and Portia says, he’s anxious about the autopsy. Is it in yet? He says, no, not yet, and she says, let her know. Isaiah comes by and she says she’d love to speak with him.  

Curtis says he wanted to check on Alexis and say how sorry he is. She thanks him, and he says he knows when they’re in pain… She says, they make bad decisions, and he says he knows she’s not up for a meeting, so he brought a meeting to her. She says, it means a lot, and he says, she’s dealing with a lot. That’s usually when addicts go off the rails. He knows how easy it is to get lost in a bottle. Her sobriety matters, more so at times like this. She says she thought about having a drink a thousand times. She’d do anything to numb the pain, but absolutely not.

Sonny says, Dante is entitled to his anger, sadness, and confusion. It’s normal to have those feelings for a while, but don’t let himself drown in grief. Dante says, Sam was the glue that held them together, and Sonny says, they both made their family what it is. It’s a tragedy that Sam is gone, but Dante is here, and the kids need him. Dante says, what if that’s not enough? and Sonny says, they’re all here for him. Everybody is going to get him and the kids through this. He knows what Dante is going through. The whole world is dark. He doesn’t want to get out of bed, but he has to because that’s what Sam would want for him. They hug.  

Brook says, bad dreams are just dreams, and Scout says she misses mommy. Brook says she has the best cure to forget a bad dream – hot chocolate, and Scout says, with whipped cream? Brook says, of course (🍷), and takes Scout to the kitchen. Willow comes in, pretending like she just got here.

Carly tells Anna that she was at the Quartermaines, when Sidwell stormed in and kidnapped Sasha. He told her to tell Sasha’s mother that he wants his diamonds back, but Sasha’s mother is dead. He must have made a mistake. Anna says, no. Holly Sutton is Sasha’s mother. Carly asks if she’s sure. She’s known Sasha a long time. Anna says, people have been known to lie, and Jack says, Holly stole Sidwell’s diamonds, and he followed her to Port Charles. Anna says she knew it, but when she confronted Holly, Holly denied it. Carly says, just have Holly give them back. Sasha’s life is at stake. Anna says, Holly can’t always be counted on to do the right thing.

Holly says she can’t tell Robert until she has a plan. Until then, the diamonds will stay in a secure location. He says, the diamonds have put her in the crosshairs of a dangerous criminal. The best thing to do is give them back. She says, the diamonds are just as much hers, and he asks how she figures that. She says, they were mined illegally, and he says, they were stolen. Neither of them deserve the diamonds. She says she has a better purpose for them, and he says he’ll only help her if she’s honest with him. Tell him where the diamonds are and what her plan is. She says she can’t, and he says, can’t or won’t? Neither works for him.

In her office, Portia thanks Isaiah for doing Lulu’s transplant, and Isaiah says he was about to check on her. How is she doing? Portia says, they’re going in the right direction, and he says he’s glad to hear that. She says she wants to ask him about Lulu’s donor. She’s not sure if he’s aware, but her donor, Sam McCall, was stable after surgery, then passed away a short time later. He says he had no idea. What happened? She says, they don’t know. She was hoping he could help. He says, Sam wasn’t his patient, and they had little contact. He can submit his post-surgery notes… She says, she’s more interested in getting his insights. Was there any indication that Dr. Jones made any mistakes?

Lucas searches for post-surgery cardiac arrest on his laptop.

Olivia arrives at Dante’s apartment and asks Sonny how Dante is doing. Sonny says, he’s not doing too well, and Olivia says, Sam seemed healthy. What the hell went wrong? Sonny says, they don’t know. He told Dante that he’s got to get it together for the children. He’s worried he can’t handle things without her. Olivia says, all Dante thinks about is everybody else, when Dante comes downstairs. Olivia hugs him and asks what she can do. Did he eat? He says his stomach is too messed up. It’s like Sam’s still here. He can smell her perfume. Olivia suggests he stay with the kids, but he says he’s where he needs to be. She says, whatever he thinks is best, and he says, having Sam back is what’s best. She says she’d do anything to give him that, and he says, but she can’t. He feels like he’s drowning and can’t see a clear path forward.

Willow says she’s so sorry about Sam, and Michael says, where was she? He called and texted, but she didn’t answer. She says she had put her phone on silent and fell asleep on the couch. She forgot to turn it back on. She knows he’s struggling, and she wants to be there for him. She hopes he lets her. Creeper Drew comes in, and Willow says she heard about Sam. She’s sorry for his loss. She hugs him.  

Isaiah tells Portia that Sam’s liver was in excellent condition and Lucas performed a perfect procedure. She says she doesn’t doubt Lucas’s ability, but she has to follow up. It’s her responsibility to find out how a healthy patient had such a serious complication. He says, things like this happen, and she says, but this is a unique situation. Sam was Dr. Jones’s sister. It’s not something they normally do, but an exception was made. He asks if Sam signed releases, and she says, it’s crucial to the hospital’s reputation that they get to the bottom of this. He says, he’s getting the feeling that’s not the only reason. Is she asking because she wants answers or a scapegoat?

Lucas closes his laptop and looks through a book. Brad watches through the door window.

Alexis says she was in the same position Curtis is not long ago, and Curtis says, Finn when Gregory died. She says, Finn let go of his sobriety because he couldn’t handle the grief. She didn’t blame him. She would have done the same. He says, they’ve all been there, and she says she’s already had one relapse. He says, they’re all one slip away, and she says, Sam stepped in and saved the day. She staged an intervention and said she wouldn’t lose Alexis without a fight. And while she’s more tempted than ever to drink, she won’t, because she won’t dishonor Sam’s memory by using her death as an excuse to dive into a bottle. He says he sees where Sam got her strength, and she says she considers that memory to be Sam’s last gift to her. He says, if she needs anything, he’s there for her, day or night, and she thanks him. She says she has to start making decisions about the funeral. She wants Sam to be proud of her. He tells her to call anytime, and leaves. She looks at the photo album and cries.

Michael tells Drew that he’s sorry about what happened earlier. He didn’t know about Sam. Drew says he understands. Michael had other things to worry about. Have they seen Scout? She’s not in her room. Michael says, she had a bad dream, and Brook took her to the kitchen. Brook comes back with Scout, who tells Drew that she’s scared. He says, it’s important for her to know it’s okay to feel sad. Promise she’ll always remember how much Sam loved her. Scout says she will, and they hug. Michael looks at Willow.

Portia tells Isaiah that she’s not looking for a scapegoat. She’s looking for an explanation. Isaiah says, Lucas did a textbook job, and she says, Sam still died. Isaiah says, there are a million decisions only made by the surgeon. Not everyone is cut out for that responsibility, but he wouldn’t have agreed if he didn’t think Lucas was. He spoke to Lucas’s colleagues in Boston. He’s a first-class surgeon with a stellar reputation. Portia says, but Lucas had a whole other level of pressure, and Isaiah says, he operated on his sister.

Lucas showers and goes to his locker. He opens it and sees a photo of him and Sam.

Anna says, they have to focus on getting Sasha away from Sidwell, and Jack says, make sure her involvement and that of the PCPD is discreet. Carly says, Sidwell threatened to kill Sasha if she involved the police, and Anna says, then they have to make sure he doesn’t find out. Their number one priority is to get Sasha out safely. She thinks she knows where to start.

Robert says he refuses to remain in the dark, and Holly says she wants to stop Sidwell from coming after him. Robert says, he’s dangerous and after her. Anna is worried too. Their lives are complicated enough. Add Sasha to the mix, and they become more tangled. He’d be lying if he said he hadn’t thought about them having a child. He wants to know his daughter and wants Holly to be a part of that. He’s lived through losing her before and doesn’t want to again. Tell him everything so he can help her. She’s got to be honest with him.

Olivia says, whatever Dante needs, she’ll be happy to do it, and he says, taking the kids was a big help. They can’t imagine how it felt coming in. Sonny says, they would have helped him through it, and Dante says he remembers how long it took him and Sam to talk about moving in together. The day it happened, he freaked out. He thought for sure it would be the reason they broke up, but they got along like they were already a family. He and Sam never fought. Their lives combined perfectly. It was amazing. He should have known it was too good to last.

Scout wants to stay with Drew, and he suggests they watch a movie. Willow says, that’s a great idea. She’ll help Scout look for something. Michael says he missed some calls and has to check his voicemail. Willow says she’ll be here if he needs anything, and he goes into the foyer. His phone indicates there’s a video of movement on the baby monitor. He looks at it and sees Willow and Drew in the nursery. (This is beyond rut-roh.)

Anna leaves to find Jason, and Jack tells Carly not to worry. Anna is very good at what she does. If anyone can take care of it, she can. He’s curious. She couldn’t go to the police, but she has other resources – Sonny, Jason, and he’s sure she has others. Why him? She says, Sonny and Jason just lost someone close to them. They’re all shook up and he’s the next best thing. He says he’s flattered, and she says she decided to trust him. Don’t make her regret it.

Holly says, it’s her turn to protect Robert, but he says he can take care of himself. Anna walks in and says she has bad news. Jenz Sidwell is in Port Charles. Robert says, they know, and Anna says, and he wants his diamonds back. What they don’t know is, he’s kidnapped their daughter to make sure he gets them.

Lucas gets dressed and closes his locker. He turns around and sees Brad.

Alexis looks at the funeral website on her tablet, when there’s a knock at the door. She opens it to Sonny, who says he got here as fast as he could. How is she? She says she’s glad he’s here. Look at this. The funeral home expects her to make a thousand decisions. He says, it can wait, but she says, it needs to be prefect. She doesn’t think a traditional coffin is appropriate because Sam wasn’t traditional. She’s thinking of modern, but doesn’t want to make the wrong choice. There’s the service… She’ll need a picture for the church, but what picture? She needs to find the right one to represent Sam… He says, stop, and she says she wants someone to tell her it’s not true. How can her daughter be dead? How is it even possible that it happened?   

Dante comes downstairs and opens the closet. He sees Sam’s leather jacket and takes it out, holding it to him and smelling it.  

Michael watches the video, seeing Willow and Drew get nakey. Willow comes out and says, Scout is tired. The movie is off. What is he looking at? Drew comes out with Scout and says, Scout is looking for Willow. Scout asks if Willow will tuck her in with daddy, and Willow says, of course (🍷). She tells Michael that she’ll be back in a little while, and Michael says, take your time. She and Drew go upstairs, and Michael looks at the video of Willow and Drew getting busy.

Tomorrow, Portia says she never should have let Lucas operate on his sister; Alexis doesn’t want to picture a world without her daughter; and Holly tells Jason that she needs her diamonds back.

💔 Double the Goodbye…

Yeah, none of us are exactly happy about it.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-dominic-zamprogna-says-goodbye-to-kelly-monaco

🧂 Too Much Salt…

Heather didn’t waste any time telling Lisa and Meredith that Bronwyn was mean to her and didn’t invite her to Palm Springs, not quite what really happened. Someone always seems to be processing something or wanting an apology from someone. If I had their money, all I’d need to process is payment for the cashmere sweaters I’m buying, and I’d only want an apology if they didn’t have my size. Bronwyn’s husband Todd was over the drama and didn’t want it on the trip. Good luck with that. Lisa blew her nose over being called a bad mom, and said it was the worst thing she could be called. Has she seen Bad Moms? It’s not. Lisa talked about going to Europe, but said she didn’t want to stay in Italy for too long. She didn’t like the food. It was too fresh. What? Whoever heard of such a thing? Ten seconds after he got to Palm Springs, husband Seth told Meredith that he had to make a U-turn back to Ohio, which didn’t sit well with her.

Lisa missed Heather and felt the need to call her while the group was hanging at the hot tub and Bronwyn wasn’t there. Bronwyn was annoyed that the second she got up to take a leak, Lisa was on the phone. Lisa got loud, causing the husbands to dog paddle over from the pool. One of them suggested the women call Heather, but Angie said, they had and that’s why they were fighting. The husbands slunk back out of the women’s business, and Lisa said, Bronwyn and Heather needed to work it out. She didn’t want to get involved. That was where I looked at the camera like Jim from The Office. Todd finally told Lisa’s husband John that either Lisa takes it down a notch or they could leave. He’d had a weekend’s worth of drama in three hours. John relayed the information to Lisa, who again embellished a new story where she had zero fault.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 5, Episode 8 Recap: A Trip to Palm Springs or “A Living Hell?”

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

I love Vice’s Dark Side series, and the Reality TV season has been well worth watching. Part exposé and part Memory Lane, they’ve bared it all. In this episode, Aviva Drescher was more of a pragmatist, explaining that even though they were prodded by producers, what made the show was the drama, and the drama was what brought the paycheck. On the other hand, Vicki Gunvalson came off as quite bitter, but after hearing how the show handled her mother’s death, I really couldn’t blame her. I remembered that episode well as it was so heart wrenching. Jeana Keough was another interviewee, and seemed to take everything in stride, saying she’d do it again if offered.

https://people.com/vicki-gunvalson-real-housewives-of-orange-county-deal-with-the-devil-dark-side-of-reality-tv-8736542

Au revoir, Daryl. Again, I don’t know why they have to explain everything to us, but I actually didn’t read this since I haven’t seen it yet.

https://ew.com/walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season-2-finale-ending-explained-8738006

https://www.cbr.com/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season2-episode6-recap-spoilers/

And of course, my favorite. I am officially fangirling now that I bought a T-shirt that says Fromily.

FROM Season 3 Episode 7: A Breakdown of Madness and Mystery

🗳 Stars Rock the Vote…

Is it me or does Lady Gaga look like a young Courtney Love?

https://extratv.com/photos/image_jpg_20241105_f499556a0b794aa7882f384f8ac3d4eb/

🧟‍♂️ The Family That Films Together…

What fun parents!

https://ew.com/kevin-bacon-kyra-sedgwick-making-comedy-horror-movie-with-their-real-kids-8739590

👻 Halloween Hangover…

The Bob costume just kills me.

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Living/video/nyc-dogs-show-off-halloween-costumes-115344940

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/halloween-ideas/g23653854/best-halloween-costumes-of-all-time/

🍎 Crisp and Golden As an Apple…

Join me tomorrow for soap and messiness in the OC. Until then, stay safe, stay away from the topic of politics if it’s just going to start a fight, and stay checking for nannycams if you’re going to get busy in the nursery.

Oct10

October 9, 2024 – Elaine Tails Carly To Jack’s Room, Back Again, Another Casualty, Final Bow, Salted Milwaukee, More Villains, Surreal Darkness, WWDD, Touchdown, Saluting Service & Watching

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Anna asks Jason, are we going to talk about that kiss or what? and he asks if she wants to talk about it. She says, no, but she thinks they should.

Josslyn walks into Bobbie’s and asks if Lucky is hurt. Were they robbed? He says, no, and she says, who did this… He did this? Why? He says he got some bad news, and she says, so he trashed her mom’s business? The family business? He says, Joss… and she says she’s glad he recognized her, because she sure as hell doesn’t recognize him.

Kristina tells Alexis that she had to pull some strings to see her after hours, and Alexis asks if she’s okay. Kristina says she’s good. She moved back home. Dante helped and Diane came by. She wanted to make sure Alexis was okay. Alexis says she had a lot of visitors today. She and the guard bonded, and she has an entertaining cellmate, Heather Webber. Kristina says, she’s a psycho, but Alexis says, Heather gives her cred with the other inmates. Is Kristina really okay? Is she seeing her postpartum counselor? Kristina says she filled out the paperwork, but she’s having trouble focusing because of Alexis being here.

At Pozzulo’s, Natalia says, the roll out projections are doable and within budget, but Sonny says, not now. Sit down and relax. Natalia says she doesn’t have much time, and he asks if she’s got a date. What’s going on? She seems stiff. She says she’s being professional. She thought they agreed to leave it that way. He said his personal life was complicated and she thinks it’s best if they stick with business. He says, the last thing he wants is for her to be uncomfortable, and she says, that’s the problem. When she’s around him, she’s too comfortable.

Carly checks herself in her compact mirror and knocks on Jack’s door. He says, the lady is prompt, and she asks if this is her raincheck. He says, indeed it is, and invites her in. Elaine approaches, taking a photo with her phone and says, gotcha.

Josslyn asks, what’s going on? Is Lucky drunk or something? He says, not yet, and she says, her mom could have him arrested. He says he doesn’t care, and she asks if he sees the sign. It says, Bobbie’s. They renamed it after her grandmother and his aunt. He says he knows who she is, and she says, this place was renamed to honor her, and this is what he does. He says, add it to his family’s tab, and she says, if this is how he treats his family, she wants nothing to do with him. Jason risked his life to bring him back. Why isn’t he helping Lulu instead of throwing a tantrum? Lucky says, it was a wasted trip, and leaves. She says, nice. Leave her here to clean up the mess.

Anna tells Jason that the kiss stays in Africa. It was an isolated incident and will never happen again. Jason says, understood. Anything else? She says, yes. Brennan had so many questions about him. Brennan was surprised she trusted him as much as she did. He asks if it scored him points, and she says, unfortunately, yes. Brennan was impressed and wants to recruit Jason. He does not want to get involved with the WSB. He says, it’s not going to happen, and she says, he should probably get some rest. He says, like her? and she says, yeah, like her. She goes to the door, and he tells her to take care of herself. She says she will. She’ll see him around. She leaves.

Carly thanks Jack and says, he went above and beyond for her family, and he suggests they keep it on the DL. She says she won’t forget everything he did – the intel, the plane, the drone strike.  Jason and Lucky are alive because of him and she owes him big time. He says, her gratitude is all the thanks he needs, and she says, comping the dinner is the least she can do, but he says, that’s unacceptable.

Natalia tells Sonny, forget she said that, and he says that he likes that she’s comfortable around him. What’s the problem? She says she works for him, and it blurs the lines, and he says he respects any boundaries she sets. She says, there’s that old world charm. His personal code, honor and respect. He says he respects her, and she says, he’s a decent guy. She knew that from the beginning. Any other time under different circumstances… He says, if she waits for the perfect time and circumstances, she’ll be waiting forever, and she says, he might be right. He says he’s always right. What would her perfect circumstances be? She says, probably spending more time with him and getting to know him better, and he says he would like that.

Alexis asks if Kristina is sure nothing happened. She’s here late. Kristina says, nothing happened. She’s just been walking around, going through the motions, and thinking it isn’t fair. She has to do something. Alexis says she has a good attorney and together they’ve come up with a strategy she thinks will get her out. Kristina asks what it is, but Alexis says she can’t tell her and needs her to not be concerned. Kristina says, that’s difficult. Alexis is in here with a serial killer roommate and she’s getting advice from Diane that she needs to get her own lawyer. Alexis asks what Diane said, but Kristina says, nothing. She doesn’t want to upset Alexis. She just wants Alexis to focus on herself and not protecting her. Alexis says she’s a mother and protects her girls, but Kristina says she created this situation and needs to be the one to take responsibility for it.

Josslyn hears someone come in, and she says, sorry. They’re closed. Dex walks in with Officer Matthews, and Matthews says, they got a call that a crazy guy busted up the diner. What can she tell them about that?

Lucky goes to the coffee warehouse and Jason asks, what’s going on? Lucky says he needs Jason’s help getting back to Africa, and Jason says, when? Lucky says, as soon as he can arrange a flight. He needs a passport. Sidwell took his. Jason says, Lucky can’t be donor? And Lucky says, he’s a perfect match, but the choices he made caused him to not be viable to save his sister.

Carly says, Jack is refusing to let her comp the meal? and he says, she heard correctly. Her phone rings and she sees that it’s Felicia. She ignores the call and says she didn’t mean to offend him. She just wanted to say thank you. He says he accepts her thanks, but doesn’t accept that she owes him anything. She says, he saved Lucky and Jason at her request and he doesn’t want anything in return, and he says, he doesn’t want them to be a transactional relationship. He has plenty of those. She doesn’t owe him anything. He pours the champagne and hands her a glass. She says, he did an extraordinary thing for her family, and all he wants is her gratitude? He says, gratitude is overrated. There’s so much more to her that he’d rather have. (I swoon.)

Alexis tells Kristina, don’t do anything to interfere. It will just complicate things. Kristina says, doing nothing doesn’t work for her, and Alexis says, do it anyway. Kristina says, fine. She’ll do it Alexis’s way.

Sonny asks what Natalia’s perfect scenario of them spending time together involves. Reading spreadsheets or something more personal? She says she’s fine with both. They’re both adults and capable of communicating what they need personally and professionally. He asks, what’s wrong then? and she says, he’s a man with specific business connections and affiliations. He says, she’s not referring to coffee or cosmetics, and she says, no judgement, but his complicated connections come with a lot of trouble. He says, and she doesn’t want trouble, and she says she should know better, but she guesses she doesn’t.

Josslyn says, her mom owns Bobbie’s, and Matthews says, the guy did a number on the place. Is she okay? She says, it was just a misunderstanding, and Matthews says, destruction of property is against the law. She says she’s embarrassed to admit it, but it’s a family thing, and he asks if she wants to file a report, but she says, no. They’re not pressing charges. Dex says, if they don’t, they can’t file an insurance claim, and Matthews says, the rookie needs the practice. Josslyn says she’s sure he’ll catch on. There’s not much damage. Dex asks if she’s sure, and she nods. Matthews says, if she changes her mind, stop by the station. He tells Dex, let’s roll, and Josslyn thanks them.

Lucky says, a parasite, some microscopic organism he didn’t know about, is keeping him from saving his sister. Now she’s going to die because of him. Jason says he’s sorry, and Lucky says, he and Anna nearly died getting him back and it’s all for nothing. Jason says, he’s not doing anybody any good by jetting. Doesn’t he want to see Laura? Lucky says he doesn’t want to see the look of disappointment in her eyes. He was never good at goodbyes. Jason says he understands, but the people in Lucky’s life need them – Aiden, Elizabeth… He can get Lucky the cash and passport, but take it from someone who just got back, both times he left his family, there was no chance to say goodbye and it devastated them. Lucky says, now they’re good, but Jason says, anything can happen. Lucky says, he’ll only cause pain, but Jason says, he’ll hurt them more not saying goodbye. Elizabeth, Aiden, and Laura are strong. They’ll survive. The question is, can he?

Molly goes to Anna’s office, and Anna asks what case she wants to discuss. Molly says, John Cates, but Anna says, Molly knows she can’t discuss it. Molly is an ADA, and her mother is the defendant. Molly says she’s not asking Anna to share details. She needs Anna to reopen the investigation and arrest the real killer – Sonny Corinthos.

Sonny says, it’s Natalia’s call. He’s not going to push her to do what she doesn’t want to. Where they go from here is up to her. His phone rings, and he says he’s got to get this. It’s his lawyer. He’ll be right back. He goes into his office.

Carly and Jack clink glasses when her phone rings again. She says she has to get this. Her friend Felicia keeps calling. The doorknob rattles, and outside Elaine pretends to be trying to open the door with her keycard. Felicia peeks at her from around the corner, and Jack tells Carly that he needs her to move right now. She goes to the suite hallway, and Jack opens the door. He asks if he can help Elaine.

Kristina walks into Pozzulo’s and asks if her dad is here. Natalia says he’s in his office on the phone. How is she doing? She looks well. Kristina says, looks can be deceiving. She’s hanging in. Natalia says she supposes that’s all they can do. She and Kristina’s dad can finish tomorrow. She needs to get going. Please let him know she left him the paperwork. She thought Kristina would want to know that Allison is doing great on tour. She’s spoken mostly with her tour manager and Brook, but the audience attendance is fantastic, and she’s hit her stride. Kristina says she’s not surprised, and Natalia says she’s seen clips from the tour, and Allison has blossomed. She’s a star. Kristina says, she always has been, and Natalia says she thought Kristina might want to know. Kristina thanks her and says she wants Allie to be happy. Natalia says, Allison wants the same for Kristina. Good to see her. Take care of herself. She leaves and Sonny comes out. He and Kristina hug, and she tells him that Natalia said she’d talk to him tomorrow. She left these. She hands him the paperwork, and he asks if she ran Natalia off. She says, actually, they had kind of a nice moment, and he asks what brings her by. She says she saw her mom in Pentenville and they’ve got to get her out.

Anna says, Molly knows this is inappropriate, but Molly says, not more than arresting her mother for a crime she didn’t commit. Where’s the justice in letting her take the fall for Sonny? Anna says she has no evidence and the evidence they have points to Molly’s mother, who did herself no favors by not being forthcoming. Molly says, that doesn’t mean she’s guilty, but Anna says, the FBI is prosecuting the case. She doesn’t think she could stop it even if she wanted to. Molly asks if she’s saying they won’t look at Sonny if there’s concrete evidence, and Anna says she doesn’t have any and Sonny has an alibi. Molly says, when Sonny was charged with Claudia Zacara’s murder, Carly perjured herself. Doesn’t Anna think she’d do it again? Sonny assaulted Dex and when Cates provoked Sonny’s hated by attacking Kristina, he signed his own death sentence. Sonny was at the Quartermaines when Cates was murdered and has the motive, means, and opportunity. There’s got to evidence. They can’t rely on the FBI, and she needs Anna to find it.

Carly says she can’t talk, and Felicia says, she’s being tailed. That elegant older woman with the pint-sized pooch is a P.I.

Jack tells Elaine that she’s got the wrong room, and slams the door. He tells Carly, that Park Avenue doyenne is a P.I., and she asks how he can tell. He says he can always tell, but is she here for him or for Carly? Carly says her. That’s the reason she can’t be seen with him right now. He says, the WSB is at her service.

Lucky says, before he left, he was destroying his life. He was shredding Elizabeth, and he could see he was destroying her. Jason says, so he stepped back, and Lucky says he stepped off. He remembers Luke used to disappear sometimes. He said it was his time to reflect and get in tune with himself. He didn’t understand when he was a kid, but now he realizes Luke wanted to keep his own demons away from them. It worked, so he followed suit. He tried to convince himself that by doing good in the world, he could maybe make up for the wreckage he left here. Jason asks if it worked, and Lucky says he thought so until Jason and Anna showed up. They told him about Lulu, and then that’s all that mattered. He was hoping maybe it would be the redemption he was searching for, but he already made his choices, and now Lulu is going to die because of him. Jason says, he doesn’t know that for sure, and Lucky says he let everyone down and it impacted the family. He saw Rocco’s eyes and he’s not wrong. He doesn’t deserve to be here. Jason asks if he thinks his family deserves a hasty exit, and he takes an envelope out of a desk drawer. He puts it on the desk and says, there’s 10 grand. It should do for now. Lucky is the only one who can make the decision. If he thinks it’s really the best thing, then go. Lucky asks what Jason thinks he should do. Should he stay?

Anna says, Molly just wants Sonny to be guilty because she’s angry with him, but Molly says she wants justice. Anna says, for Cates or her baby? Molly is human and can’t not hold Sonny responsible for some part in the baby’s death. Molly says, because Kristina went to Ava because she didn’t want to testify against her father. She probably wouldn’t have gone if she hadn’t seen him attack Dex. Maybe Anna can file charges for Sonny’s assaults on Dex and Cyrus. Anna says, Molly was reluctant to follow through on that, and Molly says, she’s right. She’s just as complicit, but they can use that now to establish a pattern of Sonny’s violent behavior. Anna says, the FBI took the case, and Molly says, to hell with the FBI. Take back the case and investigate Sonny. Or is all of Anna’s talk about justice and the law just talk? She walks out.

Kristina tells Sonny that Alexis tried to convince her that she’s fine in Pentenville. Heather is her roommate, and she considers the guards her friends. She’s getting too comfortable. Sonny says he understands that she’s worried, and Kristina says, of course (🍷) she is. She’s going to come forward to the police. Sonny says he doesn’t think that’s a good idea, and Kristina says she won’t involve him, but he asks if she’s going to tell them where she found the gun. She says she can’t be helpless like this, but he says he and her mom agree on it. She says, the only time they agree is about her and cleaning up her mess. Not this time. She’s going to take accountability. He says, Diane called. Her mom’s trial is in three weeks. She says, that’s not enough time to prepare, but he says, a lot can happen in three weeks. She asks, how, if she doesn’t do anything, and he says, her mom appreciates her loyalty, but Kristina can’t fix this, or they’ll have to clean up that mess. They’re going to fix this, but it’s going to need time to fix. Kristina says, this is because of her. It’s her fault. Sonny says, it’s not. Jagger did this to himself. She didn’t do it. Kristina says, okay. He’s right. Cates and Ava did this.

Jack asks if he can have a raincheck, and Carly says, if he can get her out without being spotted, she’ll give him all the rainchecks he wants and her undying gratitude. Jack says, deal. Give him a two-minute head start. He leaves and sees Elaine. He asks if she still can’t find her room and says he’ll escort her to the lobby, and they’ll take care of it. He steers her down the hall, saying, he had a dog when he was a child. A border collie named Perceval… Felicia calls Carly and says she’s in the clear, and Carly says, meet her at Bobbie’s and she’ll tell Felicia what’s going on. Felicia says, see her soon, and Carly leaves.  

Dex comes back to Bobbie’s and asks if Josslyn needs a hand, and she says, aren’t you supposed to be working, rookie? He says he told Officer Matthews that it would be a contribution to society if he helped her clean up, and she asks if it worked. He says, no. Matthews knows they’re together. Off the record, who did this? She says, her cousin Lucky. He just got back from Africa, and she was so pissed, she didn’t realize that Anna and Jason brought him back to help save Lulu. She needs a liver transplant, and he was her best bet as a donor. Dex asks if she thinks it had to do with that, and she says, based on his reaction, she doesn’t think going happen anymore. She was horrible to Lucky, and she didn’t have to be.

Jason says he can’t tell Lucky whether to stay or go. It’s not his call. His circumstances were different. Lucky says, he has insight, but Jason says he can’t give Lucky the answer he’s looking for. Lucky says, understood, and takes the envelope. He thanks Jason for the loan and says he’ll pay him back someday. He leaves.

Dex says, Josslyn must be some kind of saint not to be upset, family or not, and she says, it was a shock. But she realized as she was cleaning, she was right about Lulu. Lucky was devastated and needed a release. This was the only safe place for him to do that. Any place else, he’d be arrested. Dex says, there’s still time, and she says, thanks. Molly comes in and says she didn’t realize they were closed. Josslyn says, they had a little accident, but it’s fine. Come in. She can’t cook anything, but she can get Molly a drink or a sandwich. Molly says she’d kill for an iced tea, and Josslyn says, she’s got it. Molly sits down and Dex says, long day? She asks if there’s any other kind. Don’t worry. It’s not a crying on his shoulder day. He says he’s got two. Everyone needs a friend sometimes. She asks why they’re closed, and he says, long story. Josslyn comes back with three iced teas and says, on the house. To better days. Molly says, cheers to that.

Carly meets Felicia and thanks her for the save. How did she know that woman was a P.I.? Felicia says, they go way back. Elaine is old school, but she’s good, and that dog will outlive us all. Carly says, thank God Felicia spotted her, and Felicia says, Elaine asked about Carly, and she realized Elaine was tailing her. Carly says she owes Felicia big time, and Felicia says, for the record, Jack Brennan’s not worth it. (Oh yes, he is.) Carly says, he’s a high-profile guest of the hotel and needed assistance, and Felicia says, don’t say she didn’t warn her. Carly says, thanks, but it’s not necessary, and Felicia says, Carly has a bigger problem. They need to figure out why someone is having her tailed in the first place.

Jason goes to Sonny’s office and says, Sonny wanted to see him? Sonny says, Alexis’s trial is in a couple of weeks. If she goes to trial, Kristina won’t be able to handle it and he’s afraid she’ll do something to protect her mother and hurt herself, unless they find the gun Alexis got rid of. Jason says, it doesn’t look good, and Sonny says, then he’ll have to take the fall. Jason says, okay. Somehow, the cops have to come into possession of the gun Alexis tossed. (Yeah. I never thought of this before, but why don’t they just throw another gun in the river?)

Anna looks through the file on John Cates’s murder, when there’s a knock at the door. Kristina come in and Anna asks if she can help her. Kristina says she wants to help Anna. She has information about the night John Cates was killed.

Lucky kneels in the chapel and says, it’s been a while since he’s talked to God like this. He doesn’t know why. He guesses he doesn’t like to call on Him for the small stuff, but this isn’t small. It’s his sister. I’m begging You, please Lord, just save my sister. And if You can’t for some reason I don’t understand… I’m going to need help to live with it. He’s made so many mistakes and hurt so many people. He just wants it to stop. He doesn’t want to cause any more pain. So if You’re listening, I could use some guidance right now. And I’m pretty desperate, so I’ll take whatever You’ve got. Laura walks in and says, Lucky?

Tomorrow, Kristina wonders why she’s getting the feeling Anna doesn’t want her to talk; Martin says he has the key to Alexis’s salvation; Carly tells Sonny that she’ll go down with him; and Jason says he should have killed Cates when he had the chance.

🤹‍♂️ Here Comes Another One…

They’re loading up the returning characters wagon this fall.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/scott-reeves-returns-to-general-hospital

🎼 On the Road Again…

This is a real shame. I’ve loved the scenes with Marshall and Curtis. It’s always like watching a play. And when he had the scenes with fantasy Irene, it was magic. I’m just going to say it, as much as I love GH, they do a disservice to both the Black and gay communities. Their roles always start off strong and then are minimalized, and there’s rarely a follow through in the romance department. Actually, as far as gay characters go, there’s never been a follow through. I’m still bitter about Kristina and Blaze. And I’m straight. I can’t imagine how gay fans feel.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/robert-gossett-out-as-marshall-on-general-hospital

🥀 Farewell To Joel’s Father…

I don’t remember him from the soaps, but I can still hear him saying, there’s a preponderance of base, to Tom Cruise in Risky Business.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/port-charles-alum-nicholas-pryor-dead-at-89

🧂 Salty Not Sweet…

My takeaway points, followed by the link to a full recap below – including a photo of Bronwyn as a hot dog! Heather and Whitney were in some kind of Laverne and Shirley world being in Milwaukee. Meili, Britani, and Lisa went ice curling, while the others went to the beer caves, which looked like a lot less work. Mary never had beer before and discovered she liked it, calling Miller High Life regal. Frankly, I prefer Molson or Corona, but TBH, I don’t think I’ve ever had Miller. Britani said she was done with Jared after she found out he’d been texting her brow girl. I continually forget that Jared is an Osmond. Not that it makes a difference to me, but it’s like dating Prince William in MormonWorld.

Laverne and Shirley stayed at the caves to crack open some Blue Moon, while the others went to the Milwaukee Inn to hear about Milwaukee hauntings. Mary talked about her dad’s association with Dahmer again, and in Bronwyn’s interview, she said, nothing could top Mary’s stories. In Mary’s interview, she said she hoped her dad wasn’t making it up. Heather told Whitney that people were saying she was white labeling jewelry from China, and in Whitney’s interview, she said there was a social media account saying she got her jewelry from Alibaba. It was f***ed up that Meredith had gone back to her old tricks, digging up dirt, and instead of calling her, Meredith was going to everyone else. We flashed back to Meredith spreading gossip about Angie being in the Greek mafia, and Heather suggested Whitney talk to Meredeth at a better time, like, maybe not at dinner, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen.

They took a party bus to the Harley Davidson Museum, and Whitney decided the bus was the better time. After a dust up on the way there, they had dinner at the museum, which had been opened just for them. IMO, this seemed like a really stupid idea. I wouldn’t want to eat sushi while gazing at the dinosaurs in the Natural History Museum. Seeing the first motorcycles from over 100 years ago was pretty cool though. In Bronwyn’s interview, she said, it took the Harley Davidson Museum to bring out the classy side in these ho’s. No surprise, it didn’t last long, since Whitney brought it up again at dinner. Lisa insisted on getting involved under the guise of helping out, no matter how many times Whitney told her to stay out of it.

After that, it was on to Trixie Mattel’s bar, This Is It! The women dressed for the occasion, but Bronwyn outdid herself in a Moschino hot dog that Mary said was not fashion, but a costume. Mary might be right there, but it wasn’t out of line for a drag queen bar. The place looked super crowded, like, literally wall to wall people. As much as I’d love to go there, my idea of fun doesn’t include standing in a long line to stand in a crowd. And how the hell do you get to the bar? Hopefully, it was just like that because the Housewives were in town, although I don’t think I’m going to find myself in Milwaukee anytime soon. The group got onstage and had a dance off, but I didn’t see much dancing. In Heather’s interview, she said, they made all of their Milwaukee dreams come true and did it their way. Laverne and Shirley would be proud. I’m not so sure about that.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 5, Episode 4 Recap: Laverne and Shirley Would Be Proud

💣 Outlaws In the House…

I’d started watching the first season of House of Villains and was surprised at how much I liked it, but I drifted away before the end. I decided to give it another go, mostly because there was nothing else going on in that time slot, and I do love host Joel McHale. Teresa Giudice leads the pack, and while I’m not a fan of her on RHONJ, she’s going to make a great villain. Although, according to her, she’s not a villain. She’s just a loud Italian and passionate. In her interview, she said she’d done a lot of competition shows and listed all of two – The Apprentice and Dancing with the Stars. There were two beds in the rooms, and I’ll be damned if I’d share a room as a grown-ass woman. One of the greatest villains of all time, Richard Hatch, is also a cast member, and I wondered why I thought he was dead. Even more shocking was Larissa Lima from 90 Day Fiancé, who looks nothing like herself anymore with a totally new face and gigantic – and I mean gigantic – boobs. New York is in the house as well, and I’m definitely a Tiffany Pollard fan. The best quote of the night came from Safaree (Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta, which I’ve never seen). Upon hearing there would be ten people in the house, he said, if there’s ten people and four of us, eight more are coming. I hope his day job isn’t in finance.  

https://ew.com/house-of-villains-season-2-cast-contestants-revealed-exclusive-8620820

📺 Speaking Of Villains…

The Dark Side of Reality TV strikes again.

https://ew.com/the-surreal-life-alum-janice-dickinson-talks-feud-with-omarosa-8718631

https://www.lyndsanity.com/media/lyndsey-parker-on-vices-dark-side-of-reality-tv-the-surreal-life/

⚰️ This Week In Daryl…

If you haven’t seen episode 3, there will be spoilers. I was pretty surprised at the ending.

https://ew.com/walking-dead-daryl-dixon-norman-reedus-kissing-scene-exclusive-8720896

The Walking Dead Daryl Dixon Just Broke a 14-Year Daryl Rule

Could he be the next Murphy?

https://screenrant.com/walking-dead-laurent-immune-daryl-dixon-ritual/

The recap.

https://www.cbr.com/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season1-episode3-recap-spoilers/

🎭 He Actually Can Quit His Day Job…

When he decides to hang up his jersey, he definitely has a career in acting. He’s surprisingly good. I’m really enjoying this show.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1408144/travis-kelces-role-in-horror-series-grotesquerie-revealed

And no surprise, Swifties are looking for hidden clues.

https://www.purewow.com/news/travis-kelce-tribute-taylor-swift-grotesquerie

🐕 New To the Festival…

I think it’s more the owners hoping for a win, but who knows what’s in a dog’s fuzzy head?

https://people.com/ny-dog-film-festival-service-dog-salute-finalists-8725632

🧙‍♀️ Resting Witch Face…

Join me tomorrow for soap and what’s shading in the OC. Until then, stay safe, stay having a little something to eat before a party, and stay not waiting for the perfect time and circumstances, or you’ll be waiting forever.

Sep18

September 17, 2024 – Alexis Is Arraigned, Soap Suds, Goodbye Dubai, VanderNew, Canceled Vows, Pieces Of Emmy, Watch These, Different Strokes & Skyline

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Trina meets Stella at the Surf Lodge, and Stella tells her about a secret menu for the nightclubbers, so they can restore themselves before crawling home. She suggests Trina memorize it for when she’s out all night, but Trina says, that’s not going to happen. Stella says, she might be surprised.

Nina discusses a catering job with Sasha, a fashion event for Drew’s campaign with high dollar donors. She’ll pay for the staff to help. Sasha says, Tracy is unhappy with her right now, and she thinks she should keep her head down and be available for the family. Nina says, Drew is a Quartermaine, and she thinks he’s going to make a fantastic congressman. Sasha says, Nina has turned into an ardent supporter, and Nina says, Drew has made quite an impression on her.

Willow is doing yoga outside the boathouse, when a shirtless Drew comes by. She almost falls, and he catches her. (Please.)

Michael lets Sam into his office, and asks, what brings her by? She says, their sister Kristina, and he says, what about? Sam asks him to tell her Kristina’s whereabouts and actions the night John was killed, but he says he wasn’t with her. Why would Sam think he knows? She says, because they’ve been joined at the hip since Cates’s murder, and he says, she’s been struggling. Sam says she thinks he knows what Kristina’s been struggling with. Did she kill Cates? he says, of course (🍷) not, and she says he seems pretty sure. Is that because he knows who did?

On the phone, Sonny says, Alexis needs help and whatever it costs, he’ll pay it. There’s a knock at the door, and he tells them to just take care of the situation. He opens the door to Molly, and says he’ll call back. He invites her in and asks if it’s an official visit or personal. She says, her mother is being arraigned today, and he says he knows. He’s going there to support her. Molly says, that’s absolutely the worst thing he could do.

Kristina comes into the interrogation room, and Alexis asks what she’s doing here. They hug, and Kristina says she’s sorry. Alexis says she’s fine, but Kristina says, nothing about this is fine. Alexis asks again why Kristina is here, and Kristina says she’s going to do what she should have done when they brought Alexis in. She’s going to confess.

Molly says, if Sonny is in the courtroom, he’ll tank Alexis by association. He says he’s going to pay her bail, but Molly says, that’s not necessary. He says he knows he’s not her favorite person, and he and Alexis have had their ups and downs, but they come together when it comes to Kristina. They both want to be there for her. Molly says, this is for her mother, and he says, Kristina needs to see that her father shows up for her mother. Molly says, it’s not about Kristina. It’s about their mother.

Alexis asks what Kristina has to confess, and Kristina says, she got home, and when Alexis went to the kitchen, she took Alexis’s keys and took her car. Then she went to her dad’s and got his gun. She’d overheard John telling Anna that he was going to the Quartermaines, and she went to kill him. She pulled into the driveway and sat. She couldn’t get herself out of the car. She couldn’t do it, so she went to Adela’s grave. Alexis knows the rest. She wishes Alexis hadn’t found the gun, but if she tells the police, they can retrace her movements. Alexis says, she can’t do that, but Kristina says, it will let Alexis off the hook. Alexis tells her, it will do the opposite. It will make her look guiltier.

Nina tells Sasha that she admits Drew surprised her. She thinks he’d be great and thinks he can actually win this. Sasha says, with Nina in his corner, she doesn’t see how he can’t, and Nina says, Sasha can make up and amazing menu and supervise the catering. If Tracy has a hard time with it, she’ll talk to her, or Tracy can take it up with Drew. He’ll convince her. He can charm the pants off of anyone. (Interesting choice of words.) Sasha says, they’ve really come far, but Nina says, not far enough.

Willow says, the yoga centers her before work, and Drew asks, how’s it going? She says she’s busy, good busy. She loves being back at the hospital. Then there was the back-to-school flurry, which is thankfully over. She should get going. She drops her water bottle, and when Drew reaches for it, she says she’s got it. She retrieves her bottle and jets.

Michael says he’s not a cop and doesn’t know any more than anyone else, but Sam says she’s been putting the pieces together. Kristina had a messy night. Cates charged her in the death of her own child, and she was a wreck, emotionally driven with the potential to be unstable. And she was probably mad as hell. He knows how impulsive she is, and she’s worried their mother is protecting her, so she framed herself for a murder she didn’t commit. Michael asks if anyone would believe Alexis would kill someone, and Sam says, the evidence has been piling up and a lot of convictions are based on circumstantial evidence. The one way to free Alexis is to find the person who killed Cates and bring them forward. Michael says he just found body, and she says, they both know Sonny killed Cates or paid for it. Which one is it?

Stella says, it’s clear Trina has an eye for art and the passion to go with it, and Trina says, it’s coming back. Stella says, don’t let it blind her to the bigger picture. Her appreciation for art is impressive and she’s great at sales, but she can’t live her life in the gallery. She needs to get her butt back to school.

Sasha asks if Nina and Drew are seeing each other on the downlow, but Nina says, it’s not about romance. They’re focusing on the campaign. Sasha says, all those long hours into the night? Nina is invested. Nina says she’s dedicated to getting him elected, but Sasha says, there’s more to it, isn’t there? Nina says she feels they could definitely pick things up after Drew wins. Willow hears them from outside on the patio.

Michael tells Sam that Sonny wouldn’t discuss that with him. Her mother is an exceptional attorney. Outside of Diane, there’s no one better, and she’s innocent. Cates hasn’t been dead long, and evidence will surface. If the gun is still in the water, the police will do a ballistics check. She says, they haven’t found it, and he says, they need the gun to prove their case. Trying to track down the guilty party isn’t the way to go. They need to find evidence that clears Alexis. Everything else is a waste of time.

Sonny says he knows what Alexis is facing, and Molly says, then focus on her. Sonny says, the truth can’t change the fact that Kristina went through something horrible. He needs to be there to support his child. She says, Alexis is not his child, and his support drove Kristina all the way to Ava’s suite.

Alexis says, it will look like Kristina is crafting a story to cover for her, but Kristina says she can’t let Alexis take the risk. If they come forward together, they can make it right. Alexis says, they need to let it play out. Neither one of them killed Cates, but if Kristina comes forward it will either make her look guiltier or Kristina will inadvertently incriminate herself. She doesn’t have an alibi, she stole the gun, took Alexis’s car, and went to the Quartermaines. She had the means, motive, and opportunity. Kristina asks how the police can do an investigation if they don’t know the truth, and Alexis says, it’s their job. Kristina’s job is to not incriminate either one of them. She said she hated Cates and wanted to kill him. Don’t let anyone else hear her say that. Kristina says she just wants to help, and Alexis says she’s begging her, do not take this further.

Willow comes in and says she could smell Sasha’s scones, and Nina says she hasn’t seen Willow for a while and misses her. Willow says she’s getting back to her routine, but thinks she has time for tea. Sasha goes to get the tea, and Willow asks why Nina is here. Nina says she asked Sasha to cater a donor event for Drew, and Willow says she saw him at the boathouse. Nina says she’ll try to catch him. She wanted to say how proud she is about everything Willow is doing at GH, but they need to make time to see each other. Willow says she would love that and will get back to her. Nina leaves, and Sasha comes back. She asks where Nina went, and Willow says, she left to find Drew at the boathouse. Congratulations on her catering job. Sasha says, Nina just offered it to her, but she’s still unsure. Willow says, there’s a lot of that going around, and Sasha asks if she’s okay.

Alexis tells Kristina to promise her, when Dex comes in and says, Alexis will be leaving for her arraignment soon. He leaves, and Alexis asks Kristina if they have an understanding. This probably won’t go to trial. The police will find real evidence and the charges will be dropped. She has an arraignment to work on and can’t be worrying about Kristina. When she makes bail, she’ll come home, and they’ll talk about it. Kristina says she’s sorry about everything she’s put Alexis through, and Alexis says, she wasn’t thinking clearly. Now let her fight the battle for both of them. She’s a mother and that’s what they do. Kristina would do the same thing.

Sonny says, there’s no way Kristina could have known what would happen, but Molly says, she went to Ava looking for fight. Sonny says, Kristina wanted to persuade Ava not to make her testify, but did she think she’d lose her child’s life? No. Molly says, if Kristina hadn’t gone at all, her child would still be alive, and he says, she knows Kristina is suffering. She says, what about her and TJ? and he says, they’re all suffering, but it’s Ava’s fault, not Kristina’s. She says, Kristina should have known there was no way she was going to change Ava’s mind. She was reckless and impulsive like always. She was there when Kristina got the subpoena and coached her through it, but Kristina wouldn’t listen. They need their mom to make bail more than seeing him offer support. That’s what’s best for his child. He says, she’s made her point. He won’t go. She thanks him, and he says, one more thing. Since he can’t be there for Kristina, he needs Molly to be there for her. He knows Molly is hurting, but she needs to put her anger away for her sister and be there. He doesn’t think Kristina can handle it otherwise. She says she can’t make any promises, and leaves.  

Michael says he’s not losing sleep over Cates’s death. Is Sam? Sam says she’s glad he’s gone, and Michael says he’s sure the Feds aren’t shedding any tears. She says, even though he went rogue, he’s still an agent and they’ll close ranks to catch the killer. She hopes they find evidence to clear her mom, but if they don’t, will he let an innocent woman go to prison? She leaves.

Stella says, it looks like Trina is maintaining, but she thinks Trina is stalling. Trina says, maybe that’s all she can manage, and Stella suggests she’s afraid taking the next step will mean losing Spencer. She said if she stopped grieving, she would lose him, but he wouldn’t want her to put her life on hold forever. It’s time to take the next step and reach for her dreams. Trina says, the last time she reached for her dreams, she went to Paris and Spencer died, and Stella says, but she didn’t. She still has her whole life ahead of her. How is she going to spend it? Hiding at the gallery or is there something bigger she wants to accomplish?

Nina knocks at the boathouse and tells Drew that Willow said he was here. She was talking to Sasha about the fashion fundraiser. It’s not the celery and carrot stick crowd. They’re serious foodies. Drew says, this is not working for him.

Willow says she’s finding a balance with her schedule, and Sasha says, Willow doesn’t have to talk to her, and if Willow tells her to mind her own business, she will. When she was cleaning up during the 4th of July celebration, she saw them kissing. She’s not judging, but she gets the sense that what happened is weighing on Willow, especially with what she just said. If Willow ever needs to talk to someone, she’s here. Willow says, there’s nothing to talk about. It was just a kiss. They got caught up in the moment. Sasha says, no big deal, and Willow says, it wasn’t… then it… happened again.

Michael asks if Sonny was able to dispose of the gun that killed John, and Sonny says, Jason handled it. Michael says, Alexis is being arraigned today, and Sonny says, Molly was here, but he knew already. Michael says, Sam came to see him. Does he think it was coordinated? Sonny says he thinks they’re worried about their mother. Molly was adamant about him not going to the arraignment. She made some good points, so he’s not going. Michael says he thinks it’s for the best. Sam is suspicious. She’s got no proof, but she’s doing the math. Sonny asks if Michael thinks she’s going to push this, and Michael says, she’ll do what it takes to clear Alexis. He encouraged her to find evidence that Alexis didn’t do it instead of focusing on who did. The problem is, Kristina has time not accounted for. Sonny says he knows. If Kristina talks, it won’t be good for either of them. Michael says, if things start going bad, Kristina won’t let her mother take the fall, and Sonny says, they need to do something that can ensure that won’t happen.

Sam and Kristina meet outside the courtroom, and Sam asks how Alexis seems. Kristina says, she’s confident that she’ll make bail, and the case will be dropped before it goes to trial. Has she seen dad? She thought he’d be here. Molly joins them and says, he won’t be. It’s for the best. Kristina says, Molly told him not to come, didn’t she?

Molly says she spoke to Sonny. He’s doing what’s best for their mom, and Kristina should too. Kristina goes into the courtroom, and Sam and Molly follow. Sam sits with Kristina, and Molly sits behind them. A man walks in, and Sam asks if Molly knows him, but Molly says, no. Alexis is brought in and the guard takes off her handcuffs. She nods to her girls and sits down. The bailiff says, all rise. The Honorable Henry Otis presiding. The judge tells them be seated. He’s unfamiliar with the man who walked in and asks him to present his credentials. The man introduces himself as Noah Reynolds, representing the FBI. He’ll be prosecuting the murder of one of their own.  

Willow tells Sasha that she doesn’t want to have feelings for Drew, but she does. Sasha knows she loves Michael, their kids, and the life they’ve built together. How could she do something so reckless? Sasha says she’s sure Willow’s feelings for Drew didn’t happen in a vacuum. Maybe something isn’t working with her and Michael? Willow says, no. They’re happy and they will be as long as she keeps her distance. Sasha says, Drew isn’t pressuring her? and Willow says, not in the least. He respects Michael and understands how important family is to both of them. Sasha asks how she’s going to keep her distance when they both live here. They’re bound to run into one another, like at the boathouse. Willow says she supposes they could move out, but if Drew is elected, he’ll spend most of his time in DC. She’s doing everything she can to keep away from him. She even went back to her job at GH, so she didn’t have to work with him. She thought that would make her remember what matters most and stop her before she stupidly destroys her life, the life she dreamed of and fought hard to have. She feels out of control and wonders what’s wrong with her. Sasha hugs her and she cries.

Drew wonders if he’s uprooting his life and putting everything on the line for his ego, and Nina says, he wanted to get into politics to do good. He asks if it’s worth it. His private life is a mess and he’s four points down in the polls. Nina says, there’s a four-point margin of error, and Drew says his opponent is a mom with a husband and kids she totes around. She’s got the family values thing locked down. He can’t compete. She says, he has Scout, and he says he thought about it, but he can’t use Scout as a prop. Nina says, then use me.

Sonny says he doesn’t regret killing Jagger. The bastard deserved to die, but he didn’t want Michael to witness it. He didn’t want Michael to carry the weight of the secret and lie or cover for him. Michael says, Sonny never asked him to, and Sonny says, the night he killed Jagger and saw Michael standing there, for a split second he thought, he’s got me. Killing a federal agent point blank is going to put him away forever. Michael says, but he didn’t, and Sonny asks, what stopped him?

Judge Otis says he understands Alexis is defending herself, and she says she’s a fully accredited attorney. He says if she thinks she’s laying the groundwork for an appeal or mistrial, she’s not. She says, that’s not her intention, and he says, she’s being charged with a felony count of murder in the first degree. How does she plead. She says, not guilty. She asks that bail be set, and because she’s an officer of the court, be released on her own recognizance. Noah asks that the request be denied. Alexis has proven she’s a danger and threat to the community, and the prosecution requests she remain in custody.

Stella says, Trina used to talk about being an art curator or an art professor. Has she given those up? Trina says, not really, and Stella asks what kind of degree she’d need. Trina says, a Bachelor’s, an MSA, and eventually a doctorate, and Stella asks if there’s anything else she’s interested in. Going back to school will broaden her options. She can just take a few classes to start moving forward. Trina says she doesn’t know if she’s ready. It scares her. Stella says, it feels scary now, but don’t do it for herself today. Do it for herself ten years from now. Give herself some options and opportunities, so she doesn’t have to remain stuck. She has the day off, so they’re heading to campus to get Trina registered for the fall semester. Trina says, Stella seems sure registration is still open, and Stella says she may have called and asked. Trina says she’s not surprised. Okay. Let’s do it. Let’s get unstick. They hug.

Sasha says she can see how Willow would have feelings for Drew. He saved her life. Willow says, that’s gratitude. These feelings snuck up on her. Sasha asks if she’s clear that she loves Michael, and Willow says, yes. It never went further than a kiss. Sasha says, so it was a mistake. They all make mistakes. Willow says, that goes for Drew too. He’s not a sleaze. He loves Michael too, and doesn’t want to hurt him. Sasha says again, everyone makes mistakes, and Willow thanks her for not judging. Sasha says she’s far from perfect. So what is Willow going to do about this? Willow says she doesn’t know what to do.

Nina says, if she and Drew are together, they can push the campaign over the top. If she’s front and center on his arm supporting him, people will jump to conclusions about their status. He asks if they’re supposed to do the no comment thing, and she says, there’s nothing wrong with potential voters perceiving that they’re the country’s newest power couple. He says, she’d do that for him? and she says she thinks she owes him one. He says, she kind of does.

Sonny tells Michael that he killed Jagger for the family. He came after Kristina and kept coming after her at the worst time of her life. He knew Jagger wasn’t going to stop and Jagger would go after all the people close to him because of his stupid vendetta. He had to be stopped. Michael asks why Sonny is telling him this, and Sonny says he never wants to put Michael or any of his children in a position to cover for him. Michael says, all that matters is protecting Kristina, and Sonny says, if Michael had called the cops, he wouldn’t have stopped him. Michael had all the power in that moment and chose him. He’ll never forget that. He touches Michael’s chest and says he loves him. Michael says he loves Sonny too, and he will always choose their family. They hug.

Noah says, it’s not the first time the defense was sent to prison for a serious assault, but Alexis says, that has no bearing on this case. Noah says, she procured a firearm, and multiple witnesses saw her illegally dispose of it, and Alexis says, alleged disposal. She thought this was a bail hearing, not a trial. Noah says, she’s a flight risk, and Alexis says, he’s reaching. Noah says, the defendant shares a child with Sonny Corinthos, who has unlimited resources, and Judge Otis says, enough. Does Alexis have anything to say on her behalf? Alexis says, plenty. The prosecution’s laundry list is rife with innuendo, speculation, and condemnation. She’s not perfect, but she’s not a cold-blooded killer. Beyond the courtroom, which she holds in the highest esteem, she’s a mother. She has three adult children and grandchildren who need her. She’s not going to risk that. She served her time honorably and with humility, and it’s with humility she asks that bail be set. The judge says he appreciates her impassioned response. She’s a gifted and talented lawyer, but he’s made his decision. The defendant is to be held without bail and remanded to Pentenville while awaiting trial.

Tomorrow, Elizabeth tells Ric that it almost sounded like an apology; Heather says, it’s a compromise she’s not going to have to make much longer; and Natalia tells Sonny that they’re going to find the actual murderer.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Apparently, Lindsay Hartley (Temp Sam) filmed this week’s scenes at the same time she filmed Irene/Adela’s funeral scenes.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/lindsay-hartley-fills-in-for-kelly-monaco-on-gh-again

His untimely death was so sad, but I have to ask. Were they an item?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kelly-monaco-remembers-billy-miller

There’s not too much information here. So do they get together on the regular?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jophielle-love-reunites-with-her-gh-parents

Our Southern gentleman returns. I love him in this role.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/michael-e-knight-returns-to-general-hospital

Exclusive: Michael E. Knight Opens Up About His Return To GH As Martin Grey!

🐪 Two Camels and a Priest Walk Into a Bar…

As Reunions go, this one was pretty mild. While there was plenty of finger pointing, some lackluster receipts, and Lesa calling Stanbury the Wicked Witch of the Middle East, the women managed to stay seated, not fling any Solo cups, and no one called anyone a see you next Tuesday. The best part was when Andy ran a video compilation of the group’s lack of athleticism. It was especially fun to revisit the golf game.

The question of Sergio wanting a baby came up, and we found out that Sergio had never googled dealbreaker, so he didn’t actually understand what Stanbury mean when she asked if not having a baby would be one. Andy suggested Sara be a surrogate, and said it would be a Housewives first, as we could hear the cash register ringing in his head.

At the end, there was a weird gift exchange where Brooks acted like a total a-hole, refusing to open Taleen’s gift or card. Maybe she smelled the one worthy receipt of the night. The card was a copy of a Twitter post – excuse me X (can Elon Musk not spell or something?) – that Brooks made, saying, said blah-blah-blah, Taleen had a crappy wardrobe, and she wanted Taleen to show her one article of clothing that Taleen had lent to her. Inside the box was a dress of Taleen’s that Brooks had worn for sure, since Taleen also produced a photo of her in it. D’oh! Lesa made Stanbury the president of her fan club, gifting her with a starter pack, the ID showing a photo of Stanbury post facelift surgery. Stanbury took her gift with her usual good British humor. She can dish it out and she can take it. Andy said these were like gifts at a red wedding, yet no swords were really drawn.

Sara closed things out by saying if they didn’t have empathy for each other, what were they even doing here? Good question.

I hate to admit it, but I might miss this show. I don’t think Bravo has technically renewed it, but I can’t imagine them not.

Real Housewives of Dubai Season 2 Reunion, Part 2 Recap: The Beggars and the Borrowers’ Final Battle

🍸 VanderSpinning…

Presumably, this is a spinoff, not a reboot, but who knows? Maybe the old cast should be the ones who do a spinoff. No Rules For You.

Report: Vanderpump Rules Spinoff Filming With New Cast

🛟 Yachtie To the Core…

Chef Ben cannot be tied down.

Below Deck Alum Chef Ben Robinson Reveals His Wedding Is Canceled

🏆 Just One More…

I never watch awards shows. Rather than sit through hours of mind-numbing monotony, I’d rather just read stuff like this afterward.

https://ew.com/emmys-2024-best-and-worst-moments-8712955

💻 Last Weekend’s Watches…

I love nothing more than a dystopian post-apocalyptic film, and Uglies delivers. It’s a shame it wasn’t on the big screen though, since the action and special effects sequences are big. Another streaming selection taken from a YA novel series, there were moments when it seemed like an After School Special, but overall, I loved it. Of course, now I’m reading the books.

https://people.com/joey-king-uglies-trailer-8692521

Definite spoilers here.

https://people.com/uglies-ending-explained-8713501

The Dark Side of… is a great series, and reality TV is as dark as it gets. I never watched The Swan, as I found the premise of a plastic surgery competition disturbing. I did see a couple episodes of Kid Nation, but it just didn’t seem like a situation children should be in. Sure enough, I was right.

‘The Swan’ Was a Plastic Surgery Reality TV Nightmare, Say Contestants and Coaches

https://ew.com/chicago-fire-actor-daniel-kyri-recalls-drinking-bleach-on-kid-nation-8707380

🐕 They’ve Got the Look…

By God, they’re right.

https://www.dailypaws.com/pet-news-entertainment/celebrities/goldendoodle-layla-looks-like-will-ferrell-goes-viral-on-twitter

Normally, I prefer pets to have human names, but Milkshake is perfect for this one.

https://www.dailypaws.com/pet-news-entertainment/celebrities/milkshake-the-pink-pug

However, her life is never a drag.

https://www.dailypaws.com/pet-news-entertainment/feel-good-stories/meet-miss-pickles-the-drag-pug

🧘‍♀️ Of Crickets, Crows, and Retrospects…

Come by tomorrow for soap and what’s Listing in LA. Until then, stay safe, stay continuing to wear sunglasses even during the colder months, and stay giving yourself options and opportunities, so you don’t remain stuck.

Aug23

August 22, 2024 – Irene Marie’s Funeral Ends Badly, For Real, Cast List, Gloves Are Off In the OC, Disturbing Dance, Dark Reality, New Dead, Coming Soon, Tribute, Cutest & Lobster

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Cody tells James, no more riding without a helmet, but James says, Cody’s hat is cooler. Cody says, James can’t even see with it on, and gives him a smaller version of the hat. Excited, James runs off and Cody takes the helmet and follows him.

Maxie tells Natalia that Lois has been making the rounds as Deception spokesperson, but this will be her first time as an on-air presence on Home & Heart. Natalia says, Lois does have the gift of gab, and Lucy says, they’ll see if she can pull off selling on camera to the home audience.

Lois asks Brook if she looks too demure, but Brook says, she looks beautiful. Is she nervous? Lois says she’ll be talking to people already interested in the product. It’s in the bag. She goes to get her earrings from the makeup artist and overhears her saying that Lois’s Brooklyn accent gives her a headache.  

Molly puts a spray of flowers on the casket, and people begin to come into the church. Kristina comes in with Sam (played by Lindsay Hartley) and Alexis on either side. TJ asks if Molly is okay, and she says, yeah. Him? He says, yeah. Stella lights a candle, and hugs TJ. Molly runs out of the church. Outside, Ric arrives and hugs Molly.  

Sonny says, Ava deserves to pay for what she’s done, and his face should be the last thing she sees, but he’s not here to take her life. He’s here to save her life. Let’s go. Ava says, he assumes she’s going to walk out with him no questions asked? Does he think she’s that gullible? He says, she’s not seeing the whole picture, and she tells him to give her the layout. He says, Jagger Cates wants to end her life, not him.

Molly says she didn’t know Ric was coming, and he says he and Alexis agreed he needed to be here. He’s so sorry. It’s a horrible loss. She says she’s glad he’s here. She feels so alone. He hugs her.

Kristina says, they shouldn’t have to make coffins so small, and Alexis gives the minister the baby’s name. She warns Sam that Ric is coming for Molly. Kristina says she called the baby Adela. She knew it was going to be a girl, but she didn’t tell anyone. When she was lying awake at night, thinking of the baby’s future, that’s what she called her. Dante says, Sonny’s mother’s name.

Tracy says, Maxie can’t be happy about Sonny being a part of Deception, but Maxie says, he’s just investing. Tracy says, he’s forcing them to take on Natalia as CFO, and Maxie asks how many meetings she sat in on where Natalia negotiated Blaze’s contract. She went over everything and was never satisfied. Isn’t that what they’re looking for in a CFO?  

Brook reminds Lois to hold up the product and asks, what’s wrong? She has weird energy. Lois says, last minute stage fright, and Brook asks, since when? Lois says, since she heard her accent gave someone a headache.

Sonny tells Ava that Jagger is going to try and frame him for her murder. The only thing Jagger wants is her dead.

Josslyn sees Trina at the church and keeps walking. Stella asks Trina if everything is okay.

Jordan says, TJ is bearing up well, and Curtis asks how she’s doing. She says, it’s hitting her harder than she thought it would. Portia says she’s sorry for their loss. If there’s anything she can do, she’s here.  

Sam asks, where’s Sonny? and Alexis says, Molly had a meltdown and blamed him for everything. Out of respect and to avoid a scene, he stayed away. Sam says she wishes he was here for Kristina’s sake, and the minister says they’re going to begin the service. Sam says, they have to wait for Molly, and the minister asks if Kristina isn’t the mother. Alexis says, she’s the surrogate. The parents are Molly and TJ. Ric brings Molly back in, and Alexis says, that’s Molly.  

Brook asks, who’s talking smack? She’ll make sure they’re transferred to late night. Lois says she doesn’t want trouble, but be honest. Is it that bad? Brook says, it’s part of her charm. Their different dialects are what makes them cool. Just focus on her and remember everyone in Bensonhurst is watching. She called them.

TJ thanks Ric, and Sam tells Alexis, it’s nice of him to come for Molly. She hopes they don’t regret it. She can’t remember a time when he didn’t make things worse. Alexis says, good thing Sonny’s not here.

TJ and Molly sit down, and Ric tells Alexis that he came as soon as he could. Good thing he was late, since he met their daughter outside.  

The minister says, they gather to celebrate a life and honor the memory. This life was too brief, but Irene Marie loved, gave love, and had an impact. They grieve not just for what was lost, but for what could have been. They mourn Irene Marie and the life she could have had.

The director (Debbie Matenopoulus) asks if Lois is ready, and Lois asks if she’s ever worked in the music business. Was she in music videos? The director says she’s been on TV for years, but prefers the view from behind the camera. Is Lois ready for her debut? Lois says, as ready as she’ll ever be, and Brook tells her, break a leg.

Sonny says he’ll take Ava where Jagger can’t find her. Doesn’t she want to be around for Avery? She says, that’s why she’s not going with him, but he says, if he wanted to take her out, would he be here today trying to convince her to go with him? She says, it’s the baby’s funeral, and he says he needs her alive to do the right thing when the time comes. She says, Scotty would never go for it, and he asks if she’s talked to Scotty lately. She says she and John are closer than he knows. John would never hurt her. He says, Jagger just put handcuffs on Kristina when she was in a wheelchair. Ava gave her statement and now she’s a liability. She says, John is protecting her, but Sonny says, he’s using her. She asks why she should believe him when she knows for a fact that he’d kill her if given half a chance.

The minister asks God to hold Irene Marie in His everlasting love and light. Amen. Now Irene’s grandmother will give a reading. Kristina says she has something to say and goes to the front.

Coming back into the stable with James, Cody says, he looks great. He’s a real natural. His grandparents are horse people and will be super proud. Is he okay? James says, yeah, and Cody says, James knows he can tell him anything, especially now that he’s James’s uncle. James wonders why Grandpa Mac was so mad at Cody, and Cody says he thinks Mac was more mad about the time they didn’t get to spend together when Cody was a kid. James says, that’s not Cody’s fault, but Cody says, Mac has a good reason to be mad at him. James asks what he did.

Haven meets Lois, and Tracy asks if Maxie is sure Lois can do this. Maxie says, if Tracy had seen any of Lois’s trunk shows, she wouldn’t ask. Lois is popular wherever she goes. Tracy says, success in one venue isn’t necessarily success in another. Maybe Lois is too much for TV, from her shoes to her fingernails. Television magnifies things, and she’s not sure if a magnified Lois wouldn’t overwhelm the audience. Maxie says she doesn’t agree, and if Tracy was concerned, she should have said something weeks ago, not just before Lois gets on camera.

Brook tells Lois to imagine she’s talking to the same people that she does at department stores, and Lois says she’ll try. Brook tells her that she’s got this, and looks at Lois’s hand. She says she told Lois to break a leg, not a nail, and Lois says she can’t go on. Her nails are her brand. Brook says, no one will notice, but Lois says she will. Brook says, take a breath. It will be okay.

Haven says, their favorite brand Deception Cosmetics is introducing an exciting new product. She welcomes Lois, and Lois says she’s so… happy to be here, but then just stares at the camera.

Sonny says, let’s go, but Ava says, no deal. She doesn’t need Sonny to save her. She’s a wealthy woman and can disappear on her own. He says, not really, because she’s damn sure not going to take Avery. Jagger’s got her cornered. He doesn’t care where she runs. She can’t hide unless she’s with him. He’s her way out.

Kristina tells everyone that the minister said something that resonated with her, and she wanted to share that. Even though Irene’s life ended just as it was starting, she had impact. He’s so right. She did, and even though none of them had a chance to meet Irene, they knew her. Anyone who felt her kick knew she was destined to be a US Women’s Olympic champion. She laughs, then starts to cry and says, for eight months they shared every second together. She felt her move and watched her grow. They breathed together and she learned about her, what she liked and didn’t like. She used to love walks in the park and was so peaceful after. She liked pastilles and peanut butter, not together, but liked when Kristina ate them. She liked being sung to. Now everyone is crying, and Kristina touches the casket. She says, even though Irene isn’t physically with them, her memory is. The feeling, the weight of her, her impact will stay with Kristina and she hopes with them forever.

Stella says, her wish is for TJ and Molly to find strength and comfort in each other, and she prays they have the family they so deserve. She tells Kristina that she knows Kristina doesn’t have the same connection, but she carried Irene in love and felt her loving spirit, and that makes them eternally grateful. They can’t know what Irene would have become, but with the support of her loving parents, it’s not hard to imagine she would have been a happy girl and gone far in life. She takes comfort in knowing Irene is in the hands of her namesake, Stella’s sister.

Cody says he didn’t tell Mac the truth about something important, and James says, he lied? What about? Cody says, something that wasn’t fair to Grandpa Mac and he regrets it. James says, you’re not supposed to lie, and Cody says he wishes he hadn’t. James says he’s lied before. He said he brushed his teeth when he hadn’t, and he got caught. His toothbrush was dry. Cody says, rookie mistake, and James tells Cody that he said he was sorry, but he’s lied about other dumb stuff. Sometimes it’s easier to lie, but he feels bad and regrets it. Cody says he knows exactly how James feels.

The minister says, they’re going to move to the gravesite, Irene’s final resting place. Kristina begins to sob, and TJ tells Molly, we can do this. Willow says she doesn’t think she can go, and Michael suggests they see Jonah instead. Josslyn sees Trina sitting alone, and Portia asks how Trina is doing. Does she want to ride with them? Trina says she’s okay, but she wants to sit for a while. Portia says, let her know if she needs anything, and leaves. Josslyn asks if she can sit with Trina.

Dante finishes with a phone call, and Sam asks if it’s the station, but Dante says, it’s Laura. He’s got to go. She says, Lulu? and he says he’ll let her know when he gets there, and leaves.

Haven says, the new serum used with the Deceptor is a game changer. She can’t believe all the money she’s wasted on serums that don’t do half of what this does. She asks Lois to tell them how to get firmer, younger looking skin, and Tracy says she guesses Lois isn’t going to overwhelm the viewers after all. Brook nods to Lois, and Lois says, everyone watching should take out their cellphones and credit cards before this product runs out – Deception’s newest serum, The Deceiver. Brook encourages her to smile, and she asks if the viewers have spent a small fortune on their neck, eyes, and lovely faces. Is their bathroom counter covered with half-used products they tried, but didn’t cut it? Haven asks if Lois has sneaked into her house and checked out her bathroom (same), and Lois says, clear that clutter because this product does it all. It plumps and rejuvenates the skin from below the surface. Deceive your skin one drop at a time with Deceiver serum. Haven says, they’re offering it at a special price which will be gone at the end of the day, but she has the feeling they’ll be sold out before then. Lucy tells Maxie, kind of a rocky start, but Lois is watchable. Lois explains how to use the product, and Lucy looks at her phone says, Scotty is out of town on a lucrative, promising new case. She has to call him. If he leaves them high and dry, they’ll need a new lawyer. She leaves, and Maxie says she heard an earful from Tracy about Natalia joining Deception. Now she’d like to hear from Natalia. Natalia says, ask her anything, and Maxie says, Sonny was willing to invest to secure her a position and she’s more than qualified, but what’s in it for her? What did he promise her?

Sonny says he’s glad Ava came to her senses, but she says she’s not going with him. Unless he’s planning to shoot her in the back, why doesn’t he go so she can lock up. She can find a place to hide herself. He says, she’s playing into Jagger’s hands, and she says, he needs to work on his sales pitch. She’s not buying. He tells her to do it for Kristina and the baby. She needs to recant her statement. They don’t have time. Ava tells her to leave him alone and pseudo hero John comes in and tells Sonny, get away from her.

Josslyn says she hates the way they left things, and Trina says, her too. She apologizes for being so defensive. Ava is her friend, but Josslyn is her best friend. She doesn’t know what she’d do without her. Josslyn says, her neither. She’s sorry too. She has no right to tell Trina who she can be friends with, even if she doesn’t like them. Trina says she understands why Josslyn feels the way she does, and why Spencer felt the same way. Ava is complicated, but they’ve always been honest with each other. Maybe she still has hope for Ava. Josslyn says, Ava is lucky to have a friend like Trina, and Trina says she wouldn’t ask Josslyn to change her mind, but don’t ask her to change hers. She puts her head on Josslyn’s shoulder.

Sonny says, Ava isn’t going anywhere with John, and John asks if he thinks she’s better off with a dangerous criminal. Sonny says, she’s safer with him than Jagger, and John says, let him guess. Sonny offered Ava his protection. Funny how the how the ones he claims to protect are the ones who end up suffering the most. Like Karen, like his brother, even Sonny’s own children. Sonny is toxic and radioactive to anyone he gets close to, and no one knows that better than Ava, right?

Natalia says, Sonny just gave her a chance, that’s it. After her incredibly regrettable words that ended up being run in The Invader, she wanted to run, but Sonny wanted to help her just because they’re friends. To be honest, she thinks it’s a convenient excuse for him to be able to back Brook because he really cares about her. Maxie says she appreciates Natalia’s candor, and Natalia says she’s spent some time going over the books and one thing is abundantly clear. Maxie is the beating heart of the company, the one constant that keeps this business going. She has no interest in challenging that. She’s here to help support Maxie and thank Sonny by giving him a good return on his investment. She looks forward to working with Maxie. Maxie smiles.

Michael says he’s glad they came to Jonah’s grave, and Willow says she feels terrible for Molly and TJ, but Kristina’s speech was touching. The little details rushed back and how she felt, even though she was giving Jonah up for adoption. It’s hard loving someone you know you can’t have. Michael says he understands because of the time he believed Wiley was Jonah, but now they have two healthy happy kids. Maybe Jonah brought them together. Willow leans on him, and he says, she can share anything with him. Her memories, fears, ideas, whatever it is, good or bad. They’re in this together. Willow looks troubled and says she wants Michael to know something… Jonah liked Mozart.  

Each person places a pink rose on the grave, and TJ puts a teddy bear that says for a special boy with them. He says, daddy loves you, and Molly says, mommy loves you too. She hugs Ric, and Kristina puts her rose last. She says, I love you my sweet Adela, and Molly says, what did you just call my daughter?

Haven answers a call from Myrna in Indiana, and Myrna says, she’s been using Deception for years and she’s been watching Home & Heart for even longer. She has some advice for Lois. Lose the accent. She had to mute her television. If Deception wants to sell their product, they need a spokeswoman who can speak properly. (I wonder if it’s Lucy on the phone.)

Kristina says she had to call the baby something, and TJ and Molly just named her this morning. Molly says, Kristina didn’t. It was her baby, and Kristina says, the baby was a part of her and she was part of the baby. She knows Molly can’t know what it feels like… Molly says she knows she’ll never feel what it’s like to carry a child, but she refuses to watch Kristina’s grieving Madonna act for the rest of her life. Kristina says she’s not playing anything. She’s devested. Molly says she hopes so. Kristina is the reason the baby is dead.

Ava tells John and Sonny, let’s keep a cool head. There’s expensive artwork to consider. John calls another agent to come in, and she introduces herself as Linda Boyle. John says he’s sure she recognizes Sonny and tells her to take Ava to the car. He’s bringing her into protective custody. Sonny tells Ava, don’t do it. She knows he’s right. Ava asks if John is sure this is necessary, and John says, trust him, it is. She goes with Agent Boyle, and John tells Sonny that he’ll take it from here, and follows them.

Kristina asks how Molly can say that, and Molly says, it’s true. Kristina never should have gone to that hotel room. Kristina says she had to talk to Ava. Ava was making her testify against her own father. Molly says, she had a choice. To protect her unborn child or her criminal father, but Kristina says, it’s not like that. Molly says, it’s exactly like that. In order to protect her father, Kristina sacrificed her baby’s life.  

Tomorrow, Lois says she needs Brook to be honest; Jordan tells Curtis that Kristina and Alexis were planning on stealing her son’s child; and when Maxie asks Dante what he’s doing here, he says, it’s Lulu.

🪞 Life Imitating Soap…

First a MetroCourt beach towel. Next, the Deceptor

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-deception-beauty-products-are-real-and-on-sale

🕵🏻‍♀️ Follow the Port Charles Road…

I’ve always wondered if the writers have one of those big bulletin boards like detectives do, with strings going all over the place.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-cast-list

🍊 Orange Is the New Blackmail…

Every week, I watch this again, and every week, I wonder why, since it just aggravates me. While there are some close seconds, the most aggravating thing is the return of Alexis. I barely remember her from the seasons she was on previously, although I remember Tamra picking on her ad nauseum and feeling badly for her, as well as her husband being no prize. This time around, she’s making up for it, coming fast and hard for Shannon from the jump. It’s no secret that I’m not a Shannon fan, but this is bordering on harassment. She keeps talking about how Shannon is doing Johnny J. wrong, but other than fighting the lawsuit, there’s no clarification as to what it is she’s doing. Yet Alexis is doing plenty and threatening more, kicking someone who is clearly down. Not exactly the Christian she claims to be.

Tamra follows closely behind, saying she’s coming from a place of love, yet her words about Shannon’s drinking are nothing but loving. Tough love doesn’t mean badgering and cruel words. I, too, think Shannon has a drinking problem. I’m not saying she’s an alcoholic – only Shannon can make that judgement – but her drinking has definitely been problematic. So has Tamra’s, but one thing Tamra is right about is that she hasn’t drove her car into a house. Shannon’s problem with alcohol mirrors her problems in general. She can’t seem to take responsibility for anything. Her issues are always because of someone else. That being said, apparently, Tamra is unaware that hassling a supposed alcoholic does nothing to lead them to help. She needs to put her time where her mouth is and attend a few Al-Anon meetings if she’s that concerned.

As for the videos Alexis is hanging over Shannon’s head, while Alexis has remained not at liberty to disclose their content, Katie claimed that Shannon had nearly run over Johnny J.’s daughter while drunk. Yeah, that’s bad, but why is he hanging onto this as a blackmail item? Hasn’t it been a while now? Shannon may have done something more than stupid in a blackout, but extortion is never a good look, and Johnny J. is looking more rotten by the minute, while he hides behind the jugs of Alexis.

Real Housewives of Orange County Season 18 Episode 7 Recap: Shannon Melts Down – Again

If someone even has to ask why it’s wrong, there’s something wrong with them. Again, I’m no fan of Shannon’s, but I’m not liking what Alexis and Johnny J. are doing one bit. And maybe he should pay for her facelift since he took quite a few years away from her.

Why It’s Wrong for Alexis Bellino to Threaten Shannon Beador DUI Video Release

🩰 New Level Of Cringe…

Is she trying to top Abby Lee’s talent for being insensitive? Or is she that out of touch with human emotion? Even worse is the how the viewers didn’t even get the connection.

https://ew.com/dance-moms-a-new-era-disturbed-viewers-with-a-jonbenet-ramsey-routine-8699661

🌌 While We’re On the Subject…

The Dark Side series is excellent, and I can’t wait to see this one.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/dark-side-reality-tv-trailer-174927225.html

While I was looking for that, I came across this related article.

https://www.cracked.com/image-pictofact-7747-29-reality-tv-shows-with-very-dark-downsides

⚰️ A Different Walk…

This sounds intriguing. One of the reasons I love zombie films/shows is because they’re never really about zombies. The zombies are nearly always an allegory for something else, and ultimately, they’re about us being our own worst enemy.

https://www.cbr.com/walking-dead-fans-will-love-handling-of-the-undead/

🎬 Posh, Becks, and Gordon Ride Again…

I’m very much looking forward to checking both of these out. I loved Victoria’s other reality shows and there’s no one more real than Gordon.

Victoria Beckham and Gordon Ramsay Land Docuseries Deals at Netflix

I’ve yet to see this one, but it’s on my short list.

https://ew.com/david-beckham-says-making-docuseries-helped-him-forgive-himself-8699550

🦸 Deadpool’s Softer Side…

Sad, but sweet.

https://ew.com/ryan-reynolds-explains-deadpool-and-wolverine-tribute-to-rob-delaney-s-late-son-8697791

🐶 Best In Rescue…

You can vote daily from August 21 to September 20.

https://people.com/worlds-cutest-rescue-dog-contest-2024-8661021

Mine isn’t entered because it wouldn’t be fair to the other contestants.

El Wray the Rescue Chi

🎣 Keeping It Reel…

Join me tomorrow for the usual soap and Friday mixed bag. Until then, stay safe, stay using what you’ve learned to help others going through similar struggles, and stay never making fun of someone’s accent. Our different dialects are what make us cool.

Jul13

July 12, 2024 – Sasha Tells Cody What She Saw, NYC OG Reunion, Fired, New Knight, Real Darkness, Those Brats, 1½ Weeks To Go, Red Carpet Ugly, Quotes Numbering Nine & Summertime

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Maxie tells Cody that they’re just about to have dinner. He should join them. Felicia says, great idea, and Cody says he appreciates what they’re trying to facilitate here. Their hearts are in the right place, but Mac knows where to find him if he wants to talk. Maxie says, sorry… not sorry. She knows this wasn’t the best way to get the two of them in the same room, but she and her mom thought he and Mac needed to talk face to face. Then they can all have a conversation as a family. He says, that’s just it. We’re not a family; you guys are. He’s just the guy who gives her son riding lessons. Maybe it’s better they keep it that way. He leaves, and Mac says, care to explain the point to that humiliating exercise?

Michael meets Sasha in the stable doorway, and she says she was just on her way to the gatehouse. She hands him a picnic basket, and he says he didn’t expect her to be his delivery service when he put out the SOS, but she says, no problem. She was bringing a basket to Cody anyway. There’s fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans with garlic inside. He thanks her and says he didn’t know he’d have the kids for the evening. She says, there’s enough for Willow too. Where is she tonight? He says, she’s working late with Drew.

Doc says, one book, and Ace was out. He asks if Laura is reading that article, and she says, yeah. He asks what she thinks, and she thanks him for sending it to her. She’s not sure if it’s a good comparison to Heather’s case, because this guy got cobalt poisoning from industrial exposure. He says, true, but he suffered from extreme neurological disorders, dementia, and uncontrollable rage. She says, that’s exactly how they would have described Heather not too long ago. She wonders if this article could help people understand how Heather could have changed.

Curtis comes home to find Trina there, and asks, who is this stranger in his house? Kind of looks familiar. Kind of like someone who used to live here. She asks what he’s doing home already. Mom said they’d both be working late and Marshall’s at the club. He sees a beautifully set table, and says, so she thought she could have a romantic dinner at the house? Is there something he should know? She says, it’s actually a surprise dinner for him and mom. It was from the MetroCourt and the sommelier said he recommended the wine, which he didn’t sell her. It was a gift from the hotel owner. He says, she’s adorable, but she didn’t have to do this. She says, it’s an occasion that needs to be marked on the calendar. It’s been a year. He says, since he was shot and almost lost everything, and she says, it’s been a year since his family rallied around him and he found everything. And look at him now.

Jason lets Anna into his apartment, and she says she doesn’t have a lot of time. She’s on her way to Valentin’s right now. She’s going to drop by unannounced and walk out with the satellite phone he uses to communicate with Pikeman. Jason says, assuming it’s still there, and she asks why he’d move it. He doesn’t know she found it. It’s the best way they have to prove that Pikeman is trafficking illegal arms, and that Valentin is in charge of them. So where is she going to find Jason once she’s secured the evidence? He says he’ll be parked two cars down from Valentin’s house, but she says, no. She’s going it alone this time.

Doc says, the patient in the article was restored to baseline behavior. No more decrease in mental functions and no more rage. That’s a good indicator for recovery and it seems to be what’s happened with Heather. Laura says, ironically, the best argument for Heather’s transformed state of mind is that she doesn’t want her case reopened, and he says, based on what he’s learned from a medical and legal standpoint, a strong argument could be had that there was a rush to judgement and the case should be opened. If that were to happen, Heather could even get a new trial. Laura says, maybe she could, but that’s not what Heather wants.

Curtis says he thought he was the only one that kept track of his shooting at the MetroCourt, but Trina says, no. The whole family’s aware. She asked Aunt Stella if she should mention it to him or not, and she said, the heck with mentioning, we should celebrate. So, ta-da! She’s celebrating not only him being alive and well, but standing and walking. He hugs her and says, thank you, baby. Being able to walk again means everything, but what he’s most grateful for is spending time with his family. But he noticed there are only two place settings. She’s not joining them? She says, nope. She just wants her mom and dad to celebrate privately. The way they just pulled together was inspiring, so they deserve this. He says, it’s very thoughtful of her, but they are putting a dinner or cookout on the schedule, so it doesn’t matter how busy she is. She says, he had her at cookout.

Michael tells Sasha, the meeting came up suddenly, but it’s for the New Tomorrow Institute, so Willow could hardly say no. Sasha says, for sure. So how’s it been for him with Willow’s new job? He says he’s happy as long as Willow’s happy. He knows she was pretty conflicted with the long hours she was working at GH and not having the valuable time to spend with the kids, but luckily, Drew came up with a solution. He pitched Willow as spokesperson for the New Tomorrow Institute and got her on board. So Willow can now spend time with the kids and still do work she can be proud of. She says, a win-win, and he says, the kids sure think so. So does Willow. She does seem happier, doesn’t Sasha think? She says, no question, and he says he should get this to the troops. Thanks for dinner and have a good evening.

Jason says, the last time Anna went to Valentin’s alone, she came out empty handed, and she says she was searching the place. Now she knows where the evidence is. He asks if she meant to spend the night last time, but she says, it just happened. It’s none of his business and it won’t happen again. He says he’s not trying to call her out, but he is a little concerned. He knows how complicated this is. She says, noted. She still doesn’t want him there. Valentin has security cameras. He’ll notice if the same car with the same diver is parked outside each time she visit, so no. This is a solo operation. She’ll meet him back here once she’s acquired the phone. He gives her the key to his place, and she says she’s on her way then. She’ll be back when she has the phone. She leaves and Jason loads his gun.

There’s a knock at Jason’s door, and he opens it to Elizabeth. She says, sorry for just dropping by, but he says, it’s okay. Is everything okay with Jake? She hands him an envelope and says, see for himself. He starts reading something in Spanish and asks if it’s Barcelona Academy of Arts. He takes out a letter and says, his Spanish is not good, but is this an acceptance letter? She says, Jake has been accepted into the drawing and painting program.

Valentin opens the door, and Anna asks if he’s surprised. He says he is, but it’s his favorite kind of surprise. He invites her in and she presents him with some wine. He asks if she’d like to stay for dinner, and she says she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t hoping he’d ask. He’s a wonderful cook and she’s just a lowly small town Police Commissioner in need of a hot meal and some good conversation. He says, then she’s come to the right place, because he’d never want her to waste away or be bored.

Sasha is unpacking a picnic basket, when Cody walks in. She says, he didn’t come up to pester her about dinner, so she figured he might be busy and brought it to him. Has he eaten? He says, no and thanks, but he really doesn’t have an appetite right now. She says, that’s impossible to believe. What’s going on? He says, nothing he wants to get into right now, but he’s glad she’s here. He could use the distraction. She says, there’s a lot of that going around, and he says, so keeping him fed isn’t what drove her out of the kitchen and down here. She says, of course (🍷) she’ll always care for his nourishment, but no, and he asks, what’s going on? She says, if she tells him, she has to swear him to secrecy. This has to stay between them.

Felicia says she’s not going to apologize for scheming to bring Mac and Cody face to face. She was hoping Mac would let reason take hold in that stubborn brain of his, and maybe, just maybe, he and his son could actually talk with each other. Maxie says she thinks stubbornness is an inherited trait, because Cody’s really digging in now, and Felicia says she doesn’t get it. Mac and Cody liked each other just fine before Cody told him the truth. Cody is the one who had to live with the secret and now it’s out in the open. He came to Mac of his own volition. Nobody forced him to do that. No one was twisting his arm. Why can’t Mac let it bring them closer together instead of driving them apart? Mac says, maybe he liked the liar better, but she says, don’t you do that. Don’t play this off like you don’t care. What you like better is your own pride. And Maxie’s right. Cody is just like him. Too proud to beg to be accepted as his son, and maybe deep down, Mac wants him to as penance for lying, until Mac can forgive him. He says, Cody jerked all of them around with his lies. He’s not letting anyone do that to his family. Not a relative, not anyone. Maxie says, funny. Now he’s the one that’s lying.

On the phone, Doc says, send her up, when Laura comes in and says, bad dream. Ace is down, then she stayed a while to watch him sleep. It’s just so beautiful, like an angel. Then she realized that Heather is never going to see that unless she takes a photo of it, and she will. She’s made a decision. She’s going to honor Heather’s request and let this go. It just feels like such a shame though. Now they’ll never know whether or not she could have gotten a reduced sentence. There’s a knock at the door, and he says, the doorman called. Trina is here to see her. Laura opens the door, and Trina says she’s sorry to just show up, but it’s important.

Portia comes home and sees the table. Curtis puts on some music, and she asks if he did this, but he says he can’t take credit. This is 100% their beautiful daughter’s idea. When he got home, she was putting on the finishing touches. The food, this amazing bottle of wine, it’s all from the MetroCourt. Trina thought that after the year they’ve had, they needed some time with each other. Portia says, she is so incredibly sweet. She has to call Trina right now and thank her. He says, she can call Trina tomorrow. Tonight is about them. She says, that’s perfect, because she’s been thinking about him all day. How happy she is that he’s here and that they’re still together. She was so afraid of losing him. He says, why don’t they celebrate what’s ahead, and they can leave all the pain and fear behind. She says, the pain maybe, but she’s having a hard time leaving the fear behind. She hates to admit this, but it’s hard for her to celebrate when she’s worried about the safety of her family.

Elizabeth tells Jason, it’s such a prestigious school, she didn’t want to discourage Jake, but she had no idea he’d actually get in. Not because she doesn’t recognize his talent. He’s amazing and his teacher references are glowing, but you never know if someone else is going to see your kid the way you see them. (Truth! Or your pets.) He asks if Jake is excited, and she says, he’s trying to be lowkey about it, but she can tell he’s over the moon. She actually made a point of not talking about it after he applied because she didn’t want to get his hopes up, but she guesses she worried for nothing because they think he’s the real deal. Jason says, that’s great, but he’s going to have to take her word for it. Does Jake even speak Spanish? She says, he’s had six years. Two years in middle school, then all through high school. This is a dream come true for him. Their son is going to study art in Spain. He thanks her for letting him know and asks if she thinks Jake would mind if he reached out to him about this. She says, that’s why she’s here. He might want to spend whatever time he can with Jake before he leaves. It’s sooner than he thinks. He says he’d like to do one more thing. Let him cover Jake’s tuition and expenses.

Laura says, Trina is always welcome, and invites her in. What’s going on? Trina takes a stuffed horse out of her bag and says, it’s an Ace emergency. She found this in her car. She was at her mom and dad’s house, trying to grab some clothes to take to her place, and this must have been there from the last time she babysat Ace. She hopes he hasn’t missed it too much. Laura thanks her and says, it’s so thoughtful. She’d have Trina give it to him herself, but he’s already gone down. Trina says, that’s okay, and Doc says, it’s good to see her, but he has some cases he still has to review tonight. He leaves, and Laura asks if Trina would like to sit down. She’d love the opportunity to catch up. She heard Trina moved onto the Quartermaine grounds. She thought maybe she would have seen Trina at the 4th of July. Trina says she’s been keeping a low profile. She thinks it’s important to vote and all, but she’s just not into the political scene these days. It’s just a little too chaotic and overwhelming. She knows what she’s for and what she’s against. She’s not saying she’s not interested in those issues, but she’ll make sure she’s up on them before she votes in November. Laura says she’s sure Trina will be. Her mother’s very invested. Trina says, yeah, because of Heather Webber. Has she said anything to Laura?

Portia tells Curtis that for years she lived in apprehension because Taggart was pursuing his career in law enforcement. She was so happy Curtis had left that job when they got together because she knew he would be safe. No risk of life or death every time he walked out the front door. Then this mad woman who was fixated on their daughter was finally captured and put in prison where she belongs. She thought she could actually have some peace and was doing real good for a while there, but now this mad woman might just be casually walking their streets again. He says he seriously doubts that will happen again, and she says she knows he thinks she’s being paranoid, but she thinks the lesson over the past few years is, maybe she hasn’t been paranoid enough. Because she didn’t listen to that scared inside voice; she tried to quiet it. And what happened? Trina almost died in France. Spencer did die. That’s why she’s sounding the alarm about Laura trying to reopen Heather Webber’s case. She just fears the worst… She knows it. The worst is yet to come. (This woman. There are so many layers as to why she’s overreacting. The first of which is, highly doubtful Heather would just be put back on the streets. At best, she’d be moved to Spring Ridge. It’s annoying how Portia is an intelligent doctor, yet doesn’t know basic facts. We’ve been here before.)

Valentin says, Anna is in luck. He just made a caprese salad and was about to sauté some filet of sole he picked up earlier. She asks why he enjoys cooking so much, and he says, it relaxes him. Charlotte’s gone now and he’s not used to cooking just for himself, so he almost always has too much. Open the wine and he’ll finish dinner. He’s really glad she’s here. She says, her too, and he kisses her. He says, one dinner for two coming up, and goes to the kitchen. She sets down the wine and goes to the bookcase behind the desk. He comes back with wine glasses and a corkscrew and asks if he can help her find something. She says, he found it, taking the corkscrew from him. He says he’s sorry, but he has to get back to the fish, and tells her to open the wine to let it breathe. She opens the wine, and he brings in their dinner.

Maxie says, nobody’s lied more to this family than her, but Mac says, that was different. She says, it was different because he forgave her. And when it was her turn, she wasn’t so quick to forgive. She remembers clinging to some sort of misguided pride and pushing her mother away, saying she didn’t want Felicia in her life. Even though it didn’t happen overnight, she realized her pride wasn’t nearly as comforting as her mother’s love. The moral of this story is, Mac never turned his back on her. Why can’t he do that for Cody? Mac says, they’ve been over this. He raised her. He always knew her intentions were good. Cody is a stranger who he happens to share biology with. He doesn’t know what she expects, that he suddenly forgives and forgets? Felicia says, they’re not suggesting that, but they’re also not letting him give up on his only child – his son.

Sasha says, Cody knows she and Michael dated, right? and he says, yeah, and they managed to be friends afterwards. She says, right. They’re better off actually. Now she’s stumbled into something that might blow up Michael’s life, not to mention his business with Aurora and ELQ. He says, sounds ominous, and she says, he promised to keep this between them, right? He says, yeah. What is it? She says, the other day, Nina confided in her that she was having an… affair isn’t really the right word. More like a situationship with Drew. He asks why that would bother Michael. Because they all work together? Oh, because him and Willow have bad blood with Nina. She asks if she’s telling this story, or does he already have it figured out? and he says, no, proceed. She says, during the fireworks on 4th of July, she walked into the solarium and saw Drew and Willow kiss, and Cody says, no, but she says, yes. He asks if she’s absolutely sure, and she says she wishes she wasn’t, but it was Drew and it was Willow, and they were lit up by the fireworks and they were too into the kiss to even notice she was there. He says, whoa. That’s a curveball. She says, right? She just had a conversation with Michael, and she was squirming the entire time. He clearly has no idea, and Drew and Willow are working together, and they’re out tonight at a meeting. She doesn’t know what to do.

Elizabeth says, it’s very generous of Jason, but she’s already looking into loan applications. He says, they’re going to forget the loans. Please just let him do this for Jake. It’s something he can do, and she’s been carrying the load for way too long. She says, okay, and thanks him. That’ll be a really big help. She’s still paying for Cameron, and she’s got Aiden coming up, and she’s looking at a lot of expenses for Jake with traveling. He’s got to go there for orientation and got to update his passport and get a student visa and the books and art supplies. He says, that’s fine. Does she think Jake will be okay with him helping? She says she guesses that will be up to Jake, but she got the impression that when they went to the game, things went well. He says he thought so.

Laura says, Heather inspires fear and rage in people and rightly so. If she were Trina’s mother, she would also be very protective of her. After all, Heather did target her. Trina says, but when she came to see Laura in the office, she was so great, and she understands why Laura feels the way she does. Laura says she appreciates that, but she has to tell Trina something. She just came from visiting Heather today, and Heather made it abundantly clear to her that she would like her to drop the whole thing. Trina asks if she’s going to, and Laura says, it’s Heather’s life. It’s her decision and she thinks she has to respect that. Trina says she’s glad to hear that, but Laura does raise an important question. If Heather wasn’t in her right mind and she wasn’t in control of her actions, should she be locked up for the rest of her life? Laura says she honestly doesn’t know what the right thing is here, but she does know she’s going to respect Heather’s wishes. She’s curious though. What does Trina think should have been done with Heather?

Portia says she needs to find out how many names she needs to have on a petition to have Laura recalled as mayor, but Curtis says, that’s been tried before. It didn’t work then, and he doubts it will work now. She says, then she’ll just have to make it an issue. She doesn’t think the public would take too kindly to their mayor’s attempts to try and overturn Heather’s conviction. He says he gets it. She’s fired up about this. She says, and he’s not. She gets that Laura’s his friend and hopefully, that woman will come to her senses, but she can’t afford to take that chance. And more importantly, Trina can’t. He says he hadn’t told her this before, but he went to Pentenville to visit with Heather. He had to see for himself. She says, so they’re just not telling each other things. Is that what’s happening now? He says he was still processing the whole thing and he didn’t know how to talk to her about it until he had. She says, why? Was it that bad? He says, it’s not that bad. After talking with Heather, he can see what Laura sees. From a legal standpoint, maybe Heather doesn’t deserve to be behind bars for the rest of her life.

Felicia says, when Mac thought Cody wasn’t his son, even afterwards he couldn’t let go of the connection he felt with him. Don’t even deny that. Mac says he’s not denying he likes the guy, but Cody lied to him and kept up that lie, every interaction they had, every conversation. Every laugh they shared, Cody was lying to his face. How does she expect him to accept that? Maxie says, Cody grew up with people he wasn’t close to. They never treated him like a son. Is Mac going to continue that and not treat him like one either? He says, the two of them are ganging up on him, but Felicia takes his hand and says, no. (Yes.) They’re loving him. They know how difficult it is for him to welcome Cody with open arms. Because he’s angry, and for good reason. Cody lied to him. He cost them a year of their lives. But ask himself, how much time is he willing to let his anger cost him now?

Sasha says she doesn’t know what Willow is thinking. Michael loves her so much and she knows Willow loves him. They have two small children. He says, all she saw was a kiss, so maybe that’s all it was. They were probably drinking, fireworks were going off. Maybe they just got carried away. She says, so it was a one-time thing? and he says, she knows these people better than he does. Do Willow and Drew seem like people to sneak behind Michael’s back? She says, absolutely not, and he says, okay. His advice is that she forgets that she saw it. Unless she wants to blackmail. His recommendation would be, Drew’s got deeper pockets. She says she needs to go finish cleaning up. Forget she said anything. He says he’s sorry, and takes her hands. He was just joking. He was just trying to lighten things up for her in his own clueless way. She says, he really is clueless, isn’t he? and he says, about most things, but with this, he sees pretty clearly. She asks, how is that? and he says, people can be reckless and crazy. He totally includes himself in that, but that doesn’t really matter right now. One of the hazards of working in someone else’s home is that sometimes you’re going to find out things you wish you hadn’t (been there). And the fact that the Qs are stinking rich only magnifies that problem.

Portia says, no, but Curtis says, she’s still Heather, but not cruel or violent. Nothing like the maniac he remembers. She says, it just makes her crazy to sit here and think he was sitting across from someone who’s an absolute threat to their family. He says he had to see it for himself and he’s glad he did. Because if Laura makes some kind of effort to free Heather – and he’s not saying she has, because she hasn’t – but if she does, they don’t have to fight her. Portia asks why he’s even saying this, and he says, because Heather made it clear to him that she doesn’t even want her case reopened. She told him that she’s right where she belongs, and she would tell that to any judge or parole officer who reviewed her case. She says, Heather said that, so… He says, she did, and she was adamant about it. So no matter what Laura does, he’s 100% confident that Heather Webber will stay right there in that cell where she is for the rest of her days.

Elizabeth tells Jason that Cameron is loving California, and she would never deprive Jake of this opportunity. Does he remember when she wanted to be an artist? He says he does remember. She was good. She says, but she gave up on it. She kind of went back to it a little bit after she met Franco. She knows how Jason feels about him, but he did a lot for those boys and for her. He says, she gets the credit for the boys. She’s done an amazing job raising them. She thanks him and tells him, like she said, it’s going to be up to Jake if he allows Jason to pay for Barcelona. She does want to say that she sees he’s trying to make up for lost time with Jake and Jake sees it too. He’s making good on his word to be a better father. She appreciates that.

Sasha says, Cody is right. The best thing she can do is ignore that it ever happened. And whatever is going on between Willow and Drew will work itself out. Just don’t try to blackmail them. He asks what it’s worth to her and laughs.

Mac says, Cody wanted him to believe he wasn’t his son, and now Cody wants him to know that he’s his son. If the circumstances have changed, that’s on Cody, but he doesn’t have to automatically fall in line and neither does Maxie. Cody can go through whatever he’s going through, but that has nothing to do with them.

Laura says she has to tell Trina that to a degree, she has compassion for whatever Heather is going through right now. As she becomes more lucid, maybe she can get some counseling. Maybe she can arrange for Heather to have a psychiatrist see her in Pentenville, somebody who can help her deal with the things she’s done. Because she believes Heather is truly remorseful. Trina says she’s been thinking about this a lot. Is it fair that someone who’s mentally ill gets punished for something they have no control over? Should they be treated the same as someone who knew what they were doing? She doesn’t think so. Heather couldn’t help that she was sick. She didn’t choose it. Laura says, it’s easy for her to see why Spencer loved Trina so much. She has a very loving, compassionate heart. Trina says, Laura asked what she thinks should be done to Heather, and she thinks Heather should get justice according to the laws of this country, because that’s what she’d want anyone to get. Laura says, her too.

Portia says she wishes she could believe that Laura will do what Heather asks and just let this whole thing go, and Curtis says he still believes in Laura’s integrity. She will do the right thing. Portia says she thinks they’ve talked about Heather Webber enough for one night. She certainly doesn’t want Heather to derail this absolutely lovely celebration that their daughter planned for them. He says, before the first course – he puts on some music – may he have this dance? He holds out his hand and she takes it. She says, it would be her absolute pleasure, and they kiss as they dance.

Valentin asks if Anna has given any thought to his proposition, and she says, leaving Port Charles with him and going… He says, wherever they feel like, and she says she’s thought about how hard it would hit her if he were to disappear without her. He sets down his wine and says, then don’t let him. They kiss and it looks like they’ll be getting busy.

On Monday, Jack tells Carly that he doesn’t like those odds, but maybe they can improve them; Willow tells Nina that she did something terrible; and Elizabeth says, the only way to know is to make the offer.

🗽 Reunited and It’s Not So Good…

Oh for Pete’s sake, Countess. Put on your big girl panties and don’t be all uncool.

https://people.com/bethenny-frankel-luann-de-lesseps-reunite-hamptons-party-8674417

Luann de Lesseps ‘Hurt’ After Bethenny Frankel Reunion: ‘Used Her Daughter To Get to Me’

🚣‍♂️ Bound To Happen…

That’s probably why most of them have their own businesses. Would you want a perpetually hung over 35 going on 14-year-old working for you?

Jesse Solomon Fired From Finance Job After Summer House Debut

⚔️ Spinning Off the Throne…

The latest look at the latest GoT spin-off.

https://ew.com/game-of-thrones-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-first-look-cast-confirmed-8665658

📺 Reality In the Dark…

The Vice channel’s Dark Side series is the best, and this sounds like it won’t disappoint.

https://www.ebosscanada.com/news/new-dark-side-series-from-vice-tv.html

Dark Side of Reality TV Trailer: Vicki Gunvalson ‘Will Never Forgive Bravo’

Excellent article about reality TV.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/dype9v/is-reality-tv-too-scared-to-be-reality-tv

🍻 Back To the 80s…

If you’re a fan of the 80s youth quake in film, this documentary is for you. I watched this last weekend and loved it. I’m reading his book now.

https://people.com/andrew-mccarthy-hulu-brats-documentary-biggest-bombshells-8660143

🏊 Diving Into the Deadpool…

Just one more week and a half.

https://okmagazine.com/p/deadpool-and-wolverine-everything-to-know/

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/deadpool-wolverines-teaser-footage-ryan-reynolds-hugh-jackman-tva-cassandra-nova-mcu/

https://movieweb.com/the-history-of-deadpool-and-wolverines-relationship/

🐕 From Contest To Carpet…

I love this dog so much.

https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/ugliest-dog-photo-contest-winner-stars-in-deadpool-and-wolverine-movie

https://ew.com/dogpool-gets-its-day-deadpool-and-wolverine-london-premiere-8677127

💡 Quotes of the Week

But instead of spending our lives running towards our dreams, we are often running away from a fear of failure or a fear of criticism. – Erina Wright

The only thing standing between you and outrageous success is continuous progress. – Dan Waldschmidt

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. – T. S. Eliot

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. – Steve Jobs

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. – George Bernard Shaw

Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance. – Will Durant

A bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you fail to make the turn. – Helen Keller

The man used to have to get naked to count to twenty-one. – Dorothy (Bea Arthur) when asked if her ex had a head for numbers, The Golden Girls

The bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep. – E. Cossman (Or sometimes a good stiff drink.)

🪺 Time Of the Season…

Try doing something you’ve never done before this weekend, then meet me on Monday for soap and misbehavior on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay planning your road trip route in advance to avoid unnecessary delays, and stay letting reason take hold over stubbornness.