Tag Archives: Edge of Night

May 12, 2022 – Esme Visits Ryan, Celebration, Reunion, Harmonizing, Time Off, Trip Clip, It Hurts, Insensitive, Social Pets & West

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Spencer goes to Britt’s office, and says, my hero. She tells him, hold on a moment. What’s this going to cost her? He says, only a minute of her time and expertise. He promises he’ll make it worth her while. She says she doesn’t need his money, and he says, then his sparkling wit and companionship. She says she’d love that, but won’t his little Esme be jealous?

An orderly puts Ryan on his cot, but he falls over sideways. Esme comes running in like she’s a helpful person.

On the phone at Maxie’s apartment, Felicia says, Mac was giving her clear and present baby vibes… Yes, she took biology in high school. She didn’t really know what to tell him. She was completely taken aback and surprised. There’s a knock at the door, and she says, she doesn’t really know if it’s an issue; it hasn’t come up since. If she and Mac wanted to make their family bigger back in the day, they lost their shot… For some – she opens the door – it’s just not in the cards. She sees Nina standing there.

Carly sneaks back downstairs with Willow’s toothbrush in a plastic bag. Far be it for me to tell Carly how to be sneaky, but won’t Willow miss her toothbrush? Is there something about her hygiene I don’t know? As they’re about to leave, Michael and Willow walk in. Michael asks what they’re doing here, and Carly slips the bag into her purse. Willow wonders if they forgot to lock the door, but Michael says, it was locked. Drew says, sorry to break barge in. He’d like to say it was his fault, but it’s all on Carly.

On the phone at the hospital, Finn says, just because Elizabeth never spoke to Nikolas, doesn’t mean she’s not staying there. It’s a big place. Isn’t there a west wing where no one would even see her… Okay. No… They’re right. He’ll let them know when he finds her. Laura comes in and asks if he’s seen Elizabeth, but he says, he was about to ask her the same thing.

Chelsea tells Elizabeth, this presence is very clear. They don’t want this new family to be formed in this house. Elizabeth refuses to believe that. The Franco she knew and loved would want to see her happy. Is he here now? Can he hear her? Tell him that she believes he’s here. Tell him she’s ready to listen. She sees there’s a call from Finn, but ignores it, and Chelsea gets up, saying, there’s so much turbulence. Elizabeth says, she’s here, and Chelsea tells her to be careful. Elizabeth says she didn’t believe it before, but she’s listening now. Send her a sign. The door blows open, and the wind blows out the candles.

Carly says she’s pretty sure they came in together, and Drew says, if she’s not going to come clean, he will. He was walking up the driveway, and saw Carly messing with the door. If he didn’t know any better, he’d have thought she was a burglar, but it turns out she wanted what can’t be stolen. She just wanted face time with them. She knows there going through it and wanted to help. Carly says, she couldn’t get through, and just wanted to be here. Drew says, he had the key, so he thought she’d be more comfortable waiting there than in the main house. Willow says, that’s sweet of her, and thanks her. Carly says, of course (🍷), and Willow says, they were just at the cemetery, visiting Jonah’s grave. Carly says she hopes it brought Willow some solace, and Michael says, it would have if they hadn’t run into dad and Nina.

Felicia says she’ll call them later, and Nina says she was on her way home from work, and thought she’d pop by to see Maxie and the kids. Felicia says, Maxie is burning the midnight oil at Deception and the kids are asleep, and Nina says, as they should be at this hour. She didn’t realize how late it was; she’ll come back at a more appropriate time. She’s sorry; kiss the kids for her. She starts to leave, but Felicia asks if she likes popcorn. Nina says, who doesn’t like popcorn? and Felicia says, with real butter, not the fake kind. Nina says, like the only kind? and Felicia invites her in.

Spencer says, Esme has no issue with their friendship, but even still… Britt says, just don’t tell her about this conversation. Secrets and lies, the hallmark of a healthy relationship. Spencer says, come on, and she says, you come on. It’s just so Cassadine. She supposes he comes by it naturally. He asks if she’s finished, but she says she doesn’t think so. This is the most fun she’s had all day. He says, he needs her help, and she says, she’ll help him, but only if… He groans and says, oh my God, and she says he has to ask her nicely. Three words, and the voice. She takes out her phone and holds it out, and he says, pwiddy pwease, Bwitt? She laughs hysterically, and says, he was so darn cute, and almost as bratty. He says, she’s wicked, and she asks if he wants to hear it. He says, no, but she plays it anyway. He says, awesome, great, and she says, perfect. Her new ringtone. So what does he need? He takes out the pill he swiped from Esme, and asks if she can tell him what this is.

The orderly says, Esme wasn’t on the schedule tonight, but she says she had an hour. He says he has it from here, and she asks what the mess is in the hall. Is one of the inmates sick? She hopes the supervisor isn’t making rounds. He says he’ll be right back, and leaves. She closes the door, and says, not with that mess he won’t. Ryan sits up and laughs, saying, well played, my sweet child.

Finn tells Laura, Elizabeth gave him the impression she’d spoken to Nikolas about staying at Windymere, but when he talked to Nikolas, Nikolas said he hadn’t spoken to her. Ordinarily, he wouldn’t be concerned… Laura says, under these circumstances, he’s right to wonder. She just spoke to her brother Martin, and he said, Elizabeth has been looking for answers from an unlikely source. Apparently, Lucy gave Elizabeth the name of her medium. He says, and that’s where Elizabeth is. She says, shall we? and he says, we shall, and they leave.

Chelsea seems to have the chills, and Elizabeth tells her, say something. Chelsea says, so cold, and Elizabeth closes the door. She asks if Chelsea is all right, and Chelsea says, she’s not Chelsea. Elizabeth says, Franco?

Britt asks what Spencer is doing, walking around with loose meds, and he says he found it. She says, just lying on the ground? He asks if it really matters, and she says, it could, depending on what it is. He says, that’s where she comes in, and she says, give it to her. He asks if she can tell him what it is, and she says, yes, you just research the code. He says, no way. It’s really that simple. She asks what they taught him in that fancy French boarding school, and he says, Latin, Greek, table manners, conversation. She says, he has so much to learn, and scrolls on her tablet. She stops, and he says, what is it? She says, no more messing around. Whose is this?

Esme says, she thought she could finagle seeing Ryan more often, but his brother is like a human roadblock. Ryan says, Kevin is a wart. The good news is, warts can be treated. Besides, they have other priorities. How are things proceeding? She says, they’re definitely coming along. Ava and Nikolas are on the rocks, and she brought Spencer back into the fold, as promised. He says, then why is she here? and she says, she just wanted to keep him abreast. He says, rule number one, and she says, she knows the rules. He says, prove it, and she says, no unplanned, no uncontrolled communication.  He says, no unplanned communication because it increases the risk of him being found out. No one can know he’s in fighting form. So he’s asking her again, why is she here? How badly did she screw things up for him?

Felicia brings out the popcorn, and sprinkles something on it. Nina asks what it is, and Felicia says, parmesan garlic. Nina approves, and says she didn’t learn much about cooking growing up, but at take-out, she’s a master. Not so much in the kitchen. Felicia says, first of all, she should know this is snacking, not cooking, but she’s happy to share her tips. She doesn’t get it when people have secret recipes and they don’t want to share. If it’s so delicious, why not share it with the world? People are funny. Nina thanks her, and Felicia says, it’s just popcorn, but Nina says, thank you for inviting me in. The Invader is set to run a huge story on her soon. Felicia says, she heard, and Felicia says, Bobbie Spencer is one of her best friends. Nina says, Carly’s mother, and Felicia nods. Nina says, and Michael’s grandmother, and Wiley’s… Felicia says, two more times. That’s who she was talking to when Nina got here. Nina wonders why Felicia didn’t slam the door in her face.

Carly says, Jonah’s grave? Is anyplace sacred to Nina? Willow says, Nina was at the cemetery to visit her daughter, and Michael says, Nina’s still clinging to this fantasy that she would have had a beautiful relationship with Nelle if she’d just been there in time to save her. Carly says, as if Nelle could have been saved, and Michael says, that ends the whole nature versus nurture debate, because Nelle clearly inherited her crazy from Nina. This conversation is creepily gossipy in tone, and it’s making me uncomfortable. Drew seems like he’s not comfortable either, and says, that’s one way to look at it. He’s just saying, if Michael is right, and it doesn’t matter by whom you’re raised, then Wiley would have inherited the crazy gene too, and he knows Michael doesn’t believe that. Michael says, no, he doesn’t.

Elizabeth says, Franco, and Chelsea touches her face, saying, as beautiful as the day I laid eyes on you. Elizabeth asks if it’s really him, and Chelsea/Franco says, no matter how many times he puts the brush to the canvas, he could never capture all of her. He could never show the world what she meant to him. Elizabeth says, she’s missed him so much, and Chelsea touches her face again, saying, don’t cry. She needs to be strong. Elizabeth says, for what? Why is he doing these things? Chelsea/Franco says, Elizabeth can’t move on until she’s at peace, and Elizabeth asks how she can be at peace without him. He says he’s always with her. Believe in herself. No matter how hard she tries, don’t look away. Elizabeth says, don’t look away from what? What does that even mean? Talk to her. Finn and Laura walk in, and Chelsea sits down on the couch, asking, what happened? Elizabeth says, Franco, come back, and Finn asks, what’s going on? Laura says, Chelsea? and Chelsea says, Mayor Collins; it’s been a long time. Elizabeth asks why they’re here, and Finn says, she never showed up at Windymere, and he got concerned. Laura mentioned she’d hooked up with this… person, so they came here looking for her. Elizabeth says, they came at the worst possible time. She was just communicating with.. Finn says, Franco’s spirit? and Elizabeth says, he was here.

Drew says he’s not defending Nina, and Michael says he knows. Drew says, but Nina is Wiley’s grandmother, and of course (🍷) they can keep him from her right now – that’s their right – but when Wiley gets older, he might want to know Nina. Michael says, when that happens, if that happens, Wiley will be armed with the knowledge of Nina’s history; what she’s done, and what she’s capable of doing. And here’s another fact, Nina is a horrible person and no amount of PR can change that. Carly says, that’s right, and suggests Michael and Willow can use some time to decompress. Michael says, that’s a good idea, and Carly says, sorry for just showing up. She promises to be in touch next time. Willow says she has an idea. Why don’t they make this easier? She gives Carly a key, and says, Carly can let herself in next time. Michael says, but still call, and Carly says, she will. She hugs them, and she and Drew leave.

Britt asks, whose is it? and Spencer says, what is it? She says, she asked him a question, and he says, he asked a question first. Answer his and he’ll answer hers. She says, it’s an opioid analgesic, and he says, so it’s like heroin? She says, not quite, El Chapo. It’s a controlled substance and it definitely can become habit forming. It shouldn’t be rolling around on the ground for a teenager to find or swipe from someone’s medicine cabinet. He asks if it’s for pain, and she says, severe pain management. Now it’s his turn. He says, it’s Esme’s, and Britt asks if she gets headaches. Does she complain about indigestion or a dry mouth, because those are some of the side effects. She hands it back to him, and he says, are there others? She says, yes. It can make you tired, nervous… He asks, what happens when you mix it with alcohol?

Keeping her wrist being her back, Esme says, everything’s fine. She hasn’t failed Ryan, she swears. He says, she could never fail him. She’s his one and only. But something’s clearly amiss. Come on. Tell daddy what it is. She says, Spencer has been behaving strangely, and he asks, in what way? She says, he’s been reluctant to be with her, and Ryan asks how long it’s been. She says, they haven’t been intimate since Spencer got out of Spring Ridge. Spencer says, it’s because they’re learning to trust each other again, and he wants it to be special. Ryan says, and it’s unusual for Spencer to be distant? and she says, yes. He says, it’s unusual for any man of his age and appetites, especially with such a willing partner. He supposes it’s possible Spencer has a romantic streak. What else? She says, it’s probably nothing, but he says, spit it out. She says she went to find Spencer at Kelly’s today, but he wasn’t there. Cameron said he was running an errand for work, but she found him at Windymere, and he was going through her things. Ryan asks if Spencer found anything, and she says, the meds she used to drug Trina were in there, and her nanny Maggie’s letters. He gets up, and says, you fool. Spencer is on to her.

Chelsea says, Franco was here? Was she his vessel? That would explain why she lost time. Elizabeth says, it’s true. She reached out to him and he came. Finn says, that’s wonderful, and Elizabeth says, she spoke with him through Chelsea. He told her to be strong and believe in herself, and not look away. Finn says, and that means something to her, and she says, it just happened. Doesn’t he see? All the strange things that were happening; it was Franco sending them a message. He was here. He’s been here all along.

Britt wonders why Spencer is asking about mixing the pill with alcohol, and he asks if that would be a problem. She says, a very big problem. Just one of those on top of booze would make a person very sloppy. He says, sloppy how? and she says, they’d stagger. They’d fall behind in conversation. They’d just not be themselves. Think of it like this. Take normal drunken behavior and amplify it two or three times. It could even give you a seizure. He asks if it could make you forget things, and she says, it can cause short term memory loss, like blacking out after drinking. She asks if he’s seen this in Esme, and he says, no, not in Esme. Britt says, enough of this – she closes the door – pharma consult he has her doing. This is serious. What’s going on?

Esme doesn’t see how Spencer could know anything, and Ryan says, he’s sleeping alone. He’s drawn to another girl; he’s looking through her things. She says, there was nothing to find. She got rid of the prescription label, and Maggie’s letters don’t refer to him. He says, it doesn’t matter what Spencer did or didn’t find; he looked. He’s as false as she is – worse. He shared his suspicions with Elizabeth Baldwin’s whelp. She says, they don’t know that, but he says, of course (🍷) they do. Otherwise, Cameron wouldn’t have lied about where Spencer was. It was right in front of her, but she was too arrogant to see it. He warned her about that boy. He told her to remain on task, but she just couldn’t give up her little toy. Now here they are, and everything they’ve built is in danger of crashing down. She says, wrong. Everything he’s built. There’s still time for her.

Nina says, as Bobbie’s best friend, she’s surprised Felicia didn’t sic the police on her, or at the very least, her husband. Felicia says, Mac has bigger fish to fry, and as James’s grandmother, she has a responsibility to uphold. Maxie loved Nathan, and Nathan loved Nina. Nathan was Nina’s brother, and James is Nina’s nephew. That makes them family. Nina says, that acknowledgement could cost her, and Felicia says, with Bobbie? She thinks they’ve gotten past that. They have their differences, and they’ve gotten down in the mud now and then, but there’s a bond there. The sacrifice Bobbie and Tony made is always just under the surface. Some ties just can’t be cut. Nina says, including the tie with her? and Felicia says, she knows the pain of motherhood when it’s staring her in the face, and she’d be a liar if she didn’t say that in looking Nina in the eye, she doesn’t see a bit of herself.  

Michael asks Willow, what’s wrong, besides the obvious of course (🍷)? She says she was glad to see he and Drew could have a civil conversation about Nina. He says, he and Drew have a solid relationship. They respect and trust each other, and Willow says she can tell. He says, even though Drew has more grace where Nina is concerned, he knows Drew is just looking out for Wiley. She says she got nervous when the subject came up, and he asks, why? She says, after what happened with his father, she didn’t want the same thing to go down with him and Drew.

At the hospital, Drew asks if Carly wants to tell him why she didn’t talk to him the whole way home. She says, because that was some stunt he pulled back there, and he says, here he thought he came to her rescue – twice. She says, if she has some explaining to do, let her explain, and he says, she was like a deer in the headlights; he had to come up with something. She asks if he had to sing Grandma Nina’s praises, but he says he didn’t. She says, he knows what she means. What was the point of that? He says he believes it’s in her purse right now; DNA from a stolen brush and a glass, that together might prove Nina is Willow’s mother. If that’s the case – she says, it’s a big ifisn’t it better that Michael and Nina aren’t in a battle right now?  

Elizabeth says, she’s telling Finn, Franco was here. He doesn’t believe her. He says, that’s not it. He gets that she wants to believe it. She says, he thinks she’s losing it, and Laura tells her, no one said that. Finn says he thinks she’s frustrated and angry after months of searching for answers and coming up empty. Laura says, she thinks Elizabeth is considering some solutions that are… Elizabeth says, crazy, but Finn says, unorthodox; that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Laura tells Elizabeth to come home with her, but Elizabeth says, there’s nothing to be afraid here of anymore. It was Franco all along.

Britt says, if Esme is in any way misusing these drugs, Spencer needs to help her put a stop to it. He says he doesn’t know anything for sure, and she says, even if he suspects it… He says, he’ll take care of it, okay? She asks, how? and he says, he’ll take care of it. He starts to leave, but she grabs his arm, saying, they’re not done. She can’t stand by in good conscience and not do anything. He says, it’s a little late in life for her to grow a conscience, and she says, ouch. He says he’s sorry, but he came to her for information, not a lecture. Now that he knows what’s what, he’s good. She says, enabling Esme does no good. If he wants his girlfriend to be healthy and be in a healthy relationship, he can’t let this go on. He wonders what the hell she would know about a healthy relationship.

Ryan asks if Esme is threatening him, but she says she’s just exploring her options. She’s sure the authorities would rather learn about his status update than come after her. He says, she’d sacrifice him just like that? and she says, if that meant saving herself, in a heartbeat. He says she reminds him of her mother, and she says, how so? He says, he learned early never to turn his back on her. He’s glad see she inherited her mother’s instinct for self-preservation. Now let’s start over, shall we? They’re all each other has; they have to stick together. He pats the spot on the bed next to him, and she sits. She says, she can’t believe Spencer would do this to her. It hurts so much. He says he knows the feeling. You give yourself so much to someone. You lay yourself at the mercy of another person and they just exploit it. She says, manipulate it, and he says, crush it between their forefinger and thumb. He flashes back to a physical fight with a woman (presumably Esme’s mother), who’s about to stab him with a kitchen knife. He says, pure agony. There’s only one thing to do in return; make them all pay.

Nina asks what Felicia sees of herself in her, and Felicia says, a gorgeous, badass woman with feet made for kicking butt. She sees a woman who’s made a lot of mistakes; the kind not easily lived down. Nina says, Felicia did, and Felicia says she didn’t have a choice. Nina says, there’s always a choice, and Felicia says, not a good one. It was either spending the rest of her days in the shadow of her mistakes, and watch her daughter walk away, or facing her and fixing things. The only real shame is in giving up. Nina wonders what she’s going to say to James if he comes to her with a fist full of Invader newspapers, demands answers. Felicia jokes, they’ll be dead then, and Nina asks what she tells him. Felicia says she imagines Nina will tell him the same thing she’ll tell Wiley when he asks the same questions. That day is coming too.

Michael says he thought Willow was on the same page about his dad. She said she was behind him 100%. She says she meant it. She completely supports his decision, even if she’s not sure it’s the right one. He loves his father. Can he honestly say it doesn’t hurt? He says, of course (🍷) it hurts, and she says, when he hurts, she hurts too, and so does Wiley. Their son is sensitive; he knows when something is wrong. They can’t shield him from every bad feeling, every loss – they wouldn’t want to – but they can shield him from some of them. It takes sacrifice and compromise on their part, but isn’t Wiley worth it? He asks who she wants him to compromise with – his dad, Nina, or both?

Drew asks Carly to think about it one second. If Michael goes too far with Nina, and she turns out to be Willow’s mother, it will change things for Willow, whether she wants it to or not. He’s just trying to turn down the temperature. She says she appreciates that, and appreciates his help, but his services are no longer needed. He says, so he’s dismissed now? and she says, it doesn’t involve him, but he says he begs to differ. He can’t unknow what he knows. They’re in this together. She asks what that means. Is he going to blow this whole thing wide open? He says, no; is she? She tells him, she’s certainly not going to say anything right now. If Nina turns out to be Willow’s mother, it’s going to be a huge problem for Michael and Willow. What if the whole thing turns out not to be true? She’ll have set a hideous chain of events in motion for no reason. He asks, what if it is true? What if what Harmony said turns out to be legit? What is she going to do?

Laura tells Elizabeth that she and Doc have been trying to keep Jake and Aiden well entertained, but she thinks it would help if they saw their mother tonight. Elizabeth says it would help her to see them too, and Laura says she’ll get Elizabeth’s purse. Elizabeth says she’ll call Chelsea; they’ll do this again. Chelsea says she’s sure Elizabeth has a lot of questions. The answers are there for the taking. Elizabeth asks if she’ll see Finn later, and he says, absolutely. He’ll make sure everything is locked up. She thanks him, and leaves with Laura, and I wonder why they’re leaving two people who don’t live there to lock the door. And why is Laura treating Elizabeth like a psychiatric patient? Chelsea gets her purse, and Finn says, leaving so soon? She says she’s parched, and he says, I’ll bet. Channeling spirits must drain you. She says, it does actually, and he says, what about lying to a vulnerable woman. What does that do to you? She says she wouldn’t know, but he would.

Esme asks, is that even possible, if Spencer is on to her? and Ryan says, he is, but he hasn’t found anything useful yet, or he would have used it. She got rid of the evidence that would implicate her in the video scheme, yeah? She says she did, and he says, then the best Spencer can hope for is to exonerate Trina. That doesn’t mean Esme can rest on her laurels. Time’s running out; she needs to recommit herself to the task. She says, destroying Ava and Nikolas, and he says he knows she’s disinclined, but sacrifices have to be made. The only way to truly break their bond is to seduce the prince. She can do that, can’t she? For him? She says, if only to see the look on Spencer’s face when he finds out, and Ryan says, good. She says, and when that’s done? He says, then they turn their attention to the rest of their enemies. Each and every one.

Spencer says, he and Esme have been together a long time, and Britt says, so? He says, so what about her? What’s the longest relationship she’s had? She asks what he’s doing, and he says, just pointing out facts. She had that weird obsession with Emma’s dad, and the blink-and-you-miss-it engagement to his father. She says, wow. So much for Spencer wishing Nikolas realized what he had in her. Spencer says, he was trying to be nice, and she says, noted. He says, has she ever been in love, and had that love returned? She doesn’t say anything, and he says he didn’t think so. She says, he’s right. She knows nothing about love, and at this rate, she never will. He asks what that’s supposed to mean, and she says, good luck with his girlfriend. And when it explodes in his face, don’t come crying to her.

Finn says, Madame Nutjob, or whatever her name is, he’s not the one lying to Elizabeth. Chelsea says, really? Elizabeth asked if he thought she was crazy, and he did everything in his power to dodge the question. He says, she can’t flip this around; she’s not smart enough to do that. She’s preying on a very fragile human being. She says, she gave comfort and support to someone who asked for it. Can he say the same? He tells her, don’t ever contact Elizabeth again, and opens the door. Chelsea says, Elizabeth said she’d call, and when she does, she’ll save him a seat. Who knows? Maybe this time he can come with an open mind and actually help the woman he claims to care about find the answers she so desperately craves. She walks out.

Willow says she’s nowhere near entertaining a truce with Nina, but she won’t give up on him and Sonny, and hopes he doesn’t either. He says, his father put someone who actively hurt his wife and children ahead of his family. He can’t act like that didn’t happen or ignore that. He’s Sonny’s son, but first and foremost, he’s Wiley’s father. She and Wiley will always be his priority. And he’ll never let anything come between them.

Nina says, if Wiley asks about the things she’s done, she’ll own them, and Felicia says she sees no reason to treat James any differently. Just make sure she sticks around to answer those questions. Nina takes Felicia’s hand, and says, don’t worry. She’s not going anywhere.

Drew asks if Carly is going to tell Willow and Nina what she knows, but she says she doesn’t know anything. He says, when she does know, and she says, if the unthinkable happens, if Nina turns out to be Willow’s mother, she’ll do the right thing. She sees Britt, and runs over to her. She asks who she sees about a DNA test, and Britt looks at Drew.

Tomorrow, Ned tells Brook, they’re planning for a future with no place for him; Martin tells Valentin, if the family remains a united front, he doesn’t stand a chance; Jordan asks if TJ has something to report; and Sonny says he’s got to put a stop to that.

👩‍👧‍👧 Soap Moms Day…

Mother’s Day in Soapworld.

🧼 On the Edge Again…

I have vague memories of my mother watching this. It was never one of my staples, but gets my respect for being a classic.  

🙋🏻 Her Truth…

Inga Cadranel talks about Harmony’s end, both on and off the screen.

https://daytimeconfidential.com/2022/05/09/inga-cadranel-discusses-general-hospital-departure-and-harmonys-death

🎄 Break Time…

After the Greek prison, off-season Christmas should be a breeze.

✈️ Not Making It Nice…

Dorinda tells us who she would have liked to clip from the Girls Trip.

👗 I Get Her…

Sutton defends her fashion choices. I love her outfits. It’s like the wacky things we wore in the 80s.

🧱 Apology Tour…

While I am Team Sutton, her insensitivity was pretty shocking.

🔦 Missing Housewife…

It still doesn’t exactly explain things, but it sounds like she’s in a lose-lose situation. Will she go the way of Carlton, and be a one season Housewife?

https://screenrant.com/rhonj-why-fans-dont-resonate-traci-johnson/

https://meaww.com/where-traci-lynn-johnson-rhonj-real-housewives-new-jersey-reunion-s-12-trailer-axed-fans-say

🐕 More Famous Than You…

I’d be willing to bet these pets have more followers than all of us put together. Times one hundred.

🚚 Movin’ Out…

Whether winding up a work week or enjoying your part in the Great Resignation, stop by tomorrow for some soap, tea, words to take note of, and a musical selection. Until then, stay safe, stay taking in your local culture, and stay remembering the only real shame is in giving up.

February 15, 2021 – GH Is Catching Up, a Pandemic Halts the Deck, Behind the Real, Another AMC Reunion, Reuniting On Edge, Valentine’s Soap, Daytime Goodbye, Real Take Two, a Different Stand, Fashion Break, Today’s Fact, Two Holiday Quotes & Respect

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

There don’t seem to be any new episodes out there, and today ABC aired this one:

https://tvwiththeresa.wordpress.com/2021/02/10/february-9-2021-not-preempted-4u-phyllis-gives-nina-a-confirmation-will-they-or-wont-they-all-about-alex-unmasked-a-goodbye-new-wonder-dead-news-globe-list-today/

I’m guessing we’re done with preemption… for now.

Below Deck

Jolly Harbour. Francesca tells Elizabeth that every charter, she’s been putting in her energy, and checking up on her. Elizabeth sleeping in the guest cabin was the final straw. She’s been super disrespectful of the interior, and Francesca has come to a decision that she’s going to have to let Elizabeth go. Elizabeth looks panicked, and says, what? Francesca says, sorry, and Elizabeth asks if they can’t stick it out. Francesca says Elizabeth has exhausted her chances; sorry. Captain Lee says Francesca will help Elizabeth get her stuff together, and Elizabeth tells him, sorry. He says, sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Elizabeth tells Izzy that she’s been fired, and Izzy says, what the sh*t? Rachel asks Izzy if Elizabeth just said she got fired. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says she’d be the first to admit if she was wrong or she sucked, or she did anything to deserve it. It feels like it’s not even real. She says she can’t believe Francesca is doing this, and Francesca says Elizabeth’s behavior toward her is bullsh*t. It’s not nice, and she’s disrespectful. She’s been chatting to everyone about Francesca, and it’s coming back to her. Really? How come we never saw that? Elizabeth asks if Francesca will talk to the captain, but Francesca says she made the call. Rachel tells Izzy that sh*t rolls downhill. The only person actually keeping it together is Ashling. In Rachel’s interview, she says she understands Elizabeth’s foibles, but Elizabeth is close to her heart. We flash back to them having fun together, and Rachel says, it sucks, and it’s unfair. Francesca tells Elizabeth that she’s given her chances, and when Elizbeth reaches for Francesca’s arm, Francesca says, please don’t touch me, which is just a little overdramatic IMO. In Francesca’s interview, she says she doesn’t want to be a bad chief stew. Elizabeth was given chances. We flash back to Francesca calling Elizabeth out, and Francesca says Elizabeth shouldn’t be surprised. Elizabeth tells Rachel that Francesca doesn’t respect her, and wants her to go. Rachel says, stay calm, and just pack. Francesca tells Ashling about firing Elizabeth, and in James’s interview, he says he’s going to miss her. Izzy asks if James is okay, and he says he’s fine. In his interview, a producer asks if a part of him is relieved, and he asks why they said that to him. God, I’m an a-hole. At least he admits it. Elizabeth wails that now she has to go back to New York, and deal with the virus. She doesn’t want to go.

James tells Izzy that it shows how bad Elizabeth and Francesca got on, and Izzy says she thinks it’s personal. She tells James that she and Rachel had plans to get Elizabeth a birthday cake. Ashling the snake hugs Elizabeth, and in her interview, Ashling says, in some ways, she feels guilty. It should have happened three or four charters ago, but it never did. She doesn’t think yachting is for Elizabeth. Izzy tells Rob something about rinsing down the side of the boat, and he walks away, saying, just smile and nod. Francesca starts carrying Elizabeth’s bags downstairs. In Eddie’s interview, he says Francesca was looking for an ultimate reason to fire Elizabeth. It’s pretty evil, but it’s what’s best for the crew. Elizabeth tells Rachel that she’s okay. She says goodbye to everyone, and tells them that she loves them. James tells her, keep in touch, and she says, this sucks. He says he knows, and in her interview, she says, when an opportunity closes, it’s like a compass for her, and sends her in a better direction. She feels wronged, but believes in karma. What goes around, will come around for Francesca. She decides to call her energy healer.

March 13, 2020. Rachel says, it’s the eighth charter, and she’s so frustrated. In her interview, she says, Elizabeth is gone; who is going to be blamed now? Francesca’s done nothing to fix the problem. She tells Eddie, everything will come out in the wash, and become clear as day. In Francesca’s interview, she says it’s like a huge weight has lifted from her shoulders. Rachel is pissed about Elizabeth, but at this point, Rachel can jump off the boat. Rob tells Ashling, they’re going to nail it, and the crew gets ready to go out. The captain says, the whole goddam world has gone mad. James’s mother calls him, and tells him about all kinds of things being canceled, and how they can’t get hand sanitizer or soap. She thinks it’s going to get worse before it gets better. He wonders if he’s going to be stuck in Antigua, but she says it’s better than being stuck in the house.

They get in the taxi, and James says, Elizabeth was his drinking partner, and now he has no one. I play my violin. Ashling announces that it’s traumatic in Italy; all the shops are closed. Francesca says, it’s mental, and they all scroll their phones for news. Eddie thinks it will get bad for two weeks, then probably get better. Ha-ha-ha! That’s what we all thought. The birthday cake comes out, topped with sparklers, surprising Rachel. Francesca stupidly toasts to Elizabeth’s birthday, and everyone starts grabbing at the cake. The waitress says they started before she brought the knife, and Rachel says, it’s already in somebody’s back. BA-DUM-CHH! In Rachel’s interview, she says she ordered the cake, but then canceled it, and the sh*t showed up anyway. Francesca seems super stoked that Elizabeth isn’t there. Let’s celebrate. That’s f***ed up. Izzy tells the rest of them that she and Rachel assumed this wasn’t happening. Rachel leaves the restaurant, and Francesca suggests they go back to the boat. Outside having a smoke, Rachel says, tasteless as sh*t. Francesca sees Rachel sitting on a bench, and asks if she wants to come, but Rachel says she’s good. She thought what happened with the cake was distasteful, and not appropriate; she needs a moment. In Francesca’s interview, she says, Rachel is a ticking time bomb. She feels like if she says anything wrong, Rachel will explode. In Rachel’s interview, she says she was upset that the cake came. She thought that it was distasteful and handled wrongly. In the taxi, James says, Rachel is just using it as an excuse to be mad. Rachel takes a separate taxi back by herself.

Francesca feels she should talk to Rachel, but Eddie says he wouldn’t. Rachel comes back to the boat, and says it was the most distasteful thing she’s seen. Eating someone’s cake on their birthday when they’re gone was the wrong move. In her interview, Rachel says, there’s a pandemic, and these a-holes are celebrating Elizabeth’s departure. She doesn’t think it’s right. Rachel walks through the crew mess, and says, fine, whatever, and as she’s walking, she tells Francesca to shove the cake up her ass. Go Rachel. On deck, Rob tells James, it was the icing on the cake. Groan.

Rachel calls Vincenzo, who tells her that it’s 5 am. She says her friend got fired, then her birthday cake showed up at dinner. The crew cut the cake and celebrated, so she walked off. Vincenzo says, he’s happy to hear her voice, and in Rachel’s interview, she says Vincenza is her confidante. He makes everything better. She says she’s glad to see his face, and in her interview, she says he takes her away from a sh*t situation. Francesca whacks her head on the top of her bunk, and I laaaugh.

March 14. A newscaster says, they don’t know much, but it might just be the tip of the iceberg. In Rachel’s interview, she says, last night was a huge deal. Francesca is a super bully. She had to fire someone because she’s inept and incapable of training them. She effing sucks. Eddie tells the crew that the goal is to put things away, and leave them better than they found them. James says, the UK has been shut down. Rachel radios the captain, asking if he’s available, and Francesca wonders what she’s going to say. She knows Rachel is upset about Elizabeth, but what else might she say to the captain? She’s been trying hard to maintain a relationship, and not say anything. Rachel tells Captain Lee, this isn’t okay. She has issues with service. Captain Lee says they have two more charters; six effing days. He could do them standing on his head. He sees her frustration, but Francesca had to pick up the slack for Elizabeth. She’s been going to bed too late, and getting up too early, like Rachel. In his interview, the captain says, both Rachel and Francesca care about what they do, and want the same end result, but they each take a circuitous route. It’s a sh*t sandwich. Time to take a bite.

HA-HA-HA! Francesca hit her head on an open cupboard door. In Izzy’s interview, she says she’s starting to think she’ll have to talk to Rob. That sh*t brings up anxiety in her. She tells James that she doesn’t want to act like an a-hole, but she has to point out her authority. In her interview, she says Rob takes pleasure in bringing her down. She doesn’t know if it’s insecurities that he needs to talk to a therapist about, or he’s genuinely a d*ckhead. Eddie says he hates this effing island. Rachel radios Francesca to talk in the galley, and in her interview, Francesca says the last thing she wants to do is have a meeting with Rachel, but they have two charters left, and have to sort something out. Rachel says when Francesca is on service by herself, and needs help, she understands. Elizabeth wasn’t the best stew. Francesca says she gets where Rachel is coming from, but don’t take it out on her. Rachel apologizes (!), and says, they should make a good go of it, and kill it. In Rachel’s interview, she says, there are certain people you can’t bark at. If she gets aggressive with Francesca, she can’t get the end result she needs. Francesca says, if something isn’t working, they’re both proactive enough to fix it. In her interview, Rachel says, opening the communication barrier will help them be cohesive. They have two charters left. Then Francesca can s*ck her effing d*ck. Alrighty then.

Rob points out that James is using half a jar of peanut butter on his sandwich, and James says that’s because he’s on a diet. The captain looks at his phone, and tosses it down. He says, Jesus Christ, and ponders heavily. He says, the world is going to hell in an effing handbasket. He radios the crew to be in the main salon in five minutes. Rachel wonders what happened, and Eddie says, something’s not right. The crew gathers, and the captain says they have a situation. Their last two charters have been canceled, and effectively, their season has ended. In his interview, the captain says it’s something he’s never experienced, and it’s scary as hell, and frustrating. There’s not an effing thing he can do about it, and he’s not used to that. He tells the crew they’ll make their exit tomorrow. He’ll take care of the travel arrangements. In Francesca’s interview, she says she can’t believe this is happening. Her family isn’t well, and she’s afraid of what she can bring back. It’s a situation she doesn’t want. The captain says they’re done; they’ll wrap up tonight. Carry on. Rob says, that escalated quick, and Eddie goes to the bridge. He and Captain Lee agree that it got real, and in Eddie’s interview, he says he never thought this would happen. He’s worried about his family. He’s hearing there’s no toilet paper, and he doesn’t know what’s going on. Captain Lee tells him, it’s been a pleasure.

James calls his mom, and Izzy calls sister Tory. In Izzy’s interview, she says she’s not ready to leave. She’s not ready to go out and face the world in a pandemic. James tells his mom to fill the fridge, and put on an apron. There’s cooking that needs to be done. Ugh. I think he’s joking, but coming from him, it rubs me the wrong way. Rob whines that they lost five grand. I seriously doubt two more charters would have netted them five grand. More like  three. Rachel texts Vincenzo, and in her interview, she starts to cry, saying, she can’t see her boyfriend. She loves him, and he can’t come to the US. She just wants to see him. Vincenzo tells her, don’t stress. They’ll organize tomorrow In her interview, Rachel says she just wants to go home. The crew gathers in one of the lounges, and Eddie says he’s disappointed to have it end this way. They pour drinks, and the captain walks through. They offer him something, but he says he’s not in a celebratory mood. Francesca wonders why he’s not in a celebratory mood, since she’s such a moron, and Eddie says they might as well celebrate what they did this season. Francesca pops some champagne, and they toast. They put on some music, and take pictures, dancing and jumping around like idiots. Eddie finally decides to go to bed.   

Francesca says going to Australia means quarantining for 14 days. In Rob’s interview, he says he was just setting up there. He feels nervous. He commanded boats to escape the rest of the world, but he can’t this time. He tells Eddie that his dad messaged him from Canada, and he thinks he has to go there. In Francesca’s interview, she says she has a 30 hour flight back, and doesn’t know what to expect. I break out my violin, and think, at least Elizabeth got a head start.  

March 15, 2020. To top things off, it’s raining. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says, when he woke up, for a brief moment, he thought he had to get up for charter pick-up. Then the realization hit him, and he sat there going, WTF? He needs to be home with his family to take care of them. The engineer and delivery crew will take the boat back to the owners, and they’ll see how everything shakes out.

Francesca asks Eddie what his rose and thorn of the season were, and Eddie says his rose was charter one. We flash back to those very entertaining gay dudes, and he says his thorn was the entire goddam deck crew. Izzy tells James the way Rob acts toward her is rude, and we flash back to Rob being extremely disrespectful to her. James texts Rob, telling him, heads up. He thinks Izzy wants to have a chat with him about his rudeness. In his interview, James says, he likes them both, but Rob’s his boy. Izzy says, Rob has locked himself in the bathroom, so no one can speak to him. In Rob’s interview, he says he thinks it’s time for him to get back into the science swing of things. He likes mixing it up. Rob sees Izzy, and says he’s been meaning to talk to her, weirdly turning the tables. He wants to say he’s sorry for giving her a hard time. If anyone deserved to be lead deckhand, it’s her, and he’s glad. She says the way he treated her, and his passive comments were disrespectful, especially to someone in a new management position. It’s not appropriate, and a 32 year old shouldn’t act like a 12 year old. He says he’s sorry he made her feel that way, but she says she knows he doesn’t give a f***. He says, sometimes you see the error of your ways, and she asks if he has. She doesn’t think so, but hopes he has a safe trip home. He  thanks her for taking the time to talk to him. Ashling and Francesca eavesdrop like they’re 12 years old, and Francesca says she didn’t know the extent of the issue.

In Ashling’s interview, she says she sums up the experience as fun, vibrant, interesting, and weird. She says goodbye to Francesca, and in her interview, says, it’s goodbye for now. Who knows what the future holds? She might not be able to leave the country. Rachel goes to the bridge to say goodbye to Captain Lee. He tells her that she’s a talented chef, and he enjoyed working with her. In his interview, he smiles, and says, Rachel is a piece of work. She’s brilliant at her job, but there’s no doubt she’s wound up a little tight. He doesn’t mind. She wanted a shot at redemption, and she did him proud. Now that he knows which buttons not to push, he’d work with her again. In Rachel’s interview, she says she has no regrets, but she’s happy to get off the boat, and deal with what’s happening in the real world.

Francesca passes around a shammy for everyone to sign. Izzy tells James that she knows he tipped Rob off. In her interview, Izzy says, James is infatuated with Rob; they have a bromance. But she’s disappointed in him. It was a d*ck move. She tells him that he’s a sh*tbag. In her interview, she says she’s disappointed that James didn’t have her back, but it’s such a bromance, she’s not surprised. In James’s interview, he says he wants to go back to complaining about the English weather, going to the gym, and winding his parents up. The season was a muddled blur of work, arguments, and drama, with a sprinkle of fun. He and Izzy hug, and in her interview, Izzy says, they’re not divorced. They’re separated and taking a break separated. It’s a conscious uncoupling. James leaves, and Eddie tells Francesca, everything is nuts. Izzy goes to see Captain Lee, who tells her that she was a pleasure to work with. She says she learned so much, and has so much more to learn. She wants to prove she can do it. He says he thinks she’s capable of more than she realizes. He’s proud of her. They hug, and in Izzy’s interview, she says, the season ended much how she imagines sex with James would be – abrupt and unsatisfying. She started as third stew – she and Eddie clink beer bottles – and she’s ending the season where she deserves to be. She has a good feeling. She thanks Eddie for encouraging her to be an effing legend. He says if she keeps going the way she is, she’ll be bosun in no time. They hug, and she thanks him again. In Eddie’s interview, he says, it gets him choked up.

Francesca tells the captain goodbye, and gives him the shammy signed by the crew (sans Elizabeth), to remember the season by. He tells her, it’s sweet, but he won’t forget it any time soon. In his interview, he says that Francesca had big shoes to fill, but she’s very bright, and genuinely loves to please people. In Francesca’s interview, she says she had a lot to manage this season, and it was exhausting. It will be nice to go home, and see her family. Especially in times like these, that’s what’s most important. I wonder what the hell Francesca is wearing. She has a huge infinity scarf hanging over a nude top, and it looks like she’s wearing no top except the scarf.

Eddie goes to the bridge, and tells Captain Lee, the time has come. He has a flight to catch. The captain says, they made it – sort of. Eddie says, it sucks that it ended like this, but it was a wild ride, and the captain says he’s proud of Eddie. He made progress, and handled his team well. There were a few speed bumps, but there always are. The captain gives him a set of stripes, making him a first officer. Eddie says, it’s the second pair the captain has given him, and we flash back to seven years ago, when Eddie was made bosun. Captain Lee says he appreciates Eddie, and Eddie says, it was a good season. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says Eddie made the season easier. He worked tirelessly, and made the season for him. Eddie is what he would have wanted his son to turn out like… had he lived. He tells us, that’s all he can say, and I want to cry, looking at his face. He quietly says, he’s a great kid.

In Eddie’s interview, he says he’s honored to be given another stripe from Captain Lee. The captain is someone he holds to a high standard, and considers a good friend. It means the world to him. He walks down the dock, and says, that’s it, rounding the corner.

Captain Lee packs. In his interview, he says, it really sucks. He started the season in a hospital – we flash back to him telling Eddie that he has broken ribs – it didn’t start well – we flash back to Shane being let go, and Rachel walking off – and it didn’t end well – we flash back to the firing of Elizabeth, and news of the coronavirus, the announcer saying, this just may be the tip of the iceberg. The captain says, this year was tough. You have tough years, but don’t toss in the towel. You pick yourself up keep going because there are people who depend on you. It’s not the end of the world. We’re tougher and better than this. He hopes everyone gets home safe, and maybe to a better place than the one they left. As always, he tells us that he has the best goddam job in the world. He tells the boat, thanks, old girl.

Next time, I assume The Reunion.

😈 That evil mastermind of reality television, Andy Cohen, is premiering a new show. For Real: The Story of Reality TV will begin on March 25th, on the E! network.

🙌🏽 Reunited Again…

Join some of the Pine Valley residents on Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 3 p.m. EST.

🌃 On the Edge…

And somewhere in Monticello, another reunion will be happening on Thursday, February 18, at 3 p.m. ET.

💘 Celebrities, They’re Just Like Us…

Except they get Godiva instead of Dove.

🧛🏻‍♀️ From the Shadows…

A sad farewell to a vet of the soap world.

🗽 More Real In NYC…

I’m not sure how I feel about the fact that they were all available. Have they been held in suspended animation since the show ended? Don’t they have jobs? Since Eric will be around, can we get The Grind back too?

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/the-real-world-returning-to-paramount-with-original-new-york-cast

🎡 A Stand-Up Ending…

The Stand has concluded on CBS All Access. Apparently, it met with Stephen King’s approval, and mine too. Alexander Skarsgård was especially impressive as devil incarnate Randall Flagg. WARNING: SPOILERS IN THIS ARTICLE.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-stand-finale-differences-stephen-king-book/

👗 A Moment of Fashion…

What does that even mean, broke the internet? Mine’s still working just fine. And please. Since when does fashion have a moment with a seven-year-old?

https://www.eonline.com/news/1235524/from-jennifer-lopez-to-north-west-these-are-the-fashion-week-moments-that-broke-the-internet

📌 That’s a Fact…

Phillis Wheatley was the first African American to publish a book of poetry, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, in 1773. Born in Gambia and sold to the Wheatley family in Boston when she was 7 years old, Wheatley was emancipated shortly after her book was released.

Bars Fight, written by poet and activist Lucy Terry in 1746, was the first known poem written by a Black American. Terry was enslaved in Rhode Island as a toddler, but became free at age 26 after marrying a free Black man.

Clotel; or, The President’s Daughter, was the first novel published by an African American, in 1853. It was written by abolitionist and lecturer William Wells Brown.

– from Oprah magazine

🔥 Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell.Joan Crawford (My contribution to and acknowledgement of Valentine’s Day.)

🏛 Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. – Thomas Jefferson (My contribution to and acknowledgement of President’s Day.)

⛸ Time To Skate…

Since tomorrow is a heavy work day, it’s time for me to slide over to another lane. See you tomorrow with whatever I can come up with, but until then, stay safe, stay evolving, and stay not tossing in the towel. You have people depending on you.