What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
At the hospital, Maxie says Peter doesn’t have to keep her company. Peter says she told him that she wasn’t leaving without the test results. He tells her, it was a brilliant idea. She says it was easy to think of the manicure, but he says he meant Nina, and she says she got a sample from her coffee cup at Crimson. Soon they’ll find out if Sasha is Nina’s daughter, or Valentin manufactured the whole thing. A part of her doesn’t want to know.
At Kelly’s, Valentin says he’s pinching himself over Nina saying yes. She says he suckered her, and has just himself to blame. He gave her the greatest gift – her daughter. And here she is now.
Josslyn and Oscar sit at the counter. Oscar reads a letter saying, due to his medical condition, the DMV is unable issue him a driver’s license at this time. He says, like he has so much time left. Josslyn says she’s sorry.
Cameron reads Pride and Prejudice. Elizabeth is proud of him. He says, for being bored out of his mind? but she says for taking the time to catch up on his schoolwork. She’d be prouder if he stepped up to support Franco. He says, if she believes Franco, he does too. She says she’s on her way to the arraignment. She wants to tell him something she doesn’t want him to hear from anyone else. Last night, she visited Franco at the police station, and they got married. Cameron laughs, then says, oh my God, she’s not joking. She shows him her ring, and says they’re now husband and wife.
Franco fingers his ring. Jordan asks how he’s holding up, and he says, so good. it’s the best day of his life. She knows it’s hard, but trusts him to make the right decision.
On the phone, Ava tells Ryan she thought they were going to meet, and head to the courthouse together. Call her. Julian asks, what’s up? She doesn’t seem happy to see him, and she always is. She says, it’s Doc. They were going to the arraignment together. He’s like, hmm… and she says, what? He says, nothing, but she says, it’s obviously something. He tells her, Doc seems to be taking over her life lately.
Alexis sees Lulu at the courthouse, and asks why she’s there. Lulu wants to see Franco charged with her own eyes. Alexis asks if her mother is with her, but Lulu says she just got a text. Her mother is tied up with mayoral stuff. She knows Laura wanted to be there, so it must be important.
Laura comes to, and she sees Doc lying near her. She asks if that’s him, and they hug. Sitting nearby, Ryan says, that is so touching. Does anybody have a tissue? He walks toward them.
Maxie tells Peter that it feels unfair; vindictive, like she’s out to get them. She doesn’t want Sasha not to be Nina’s daughter. Peter says she just wants the truth. She says she doesn’t want Nina walking into deception again. She wonders why Valentin has to do horrible things, and why he can’t leave Nina alone. She doesn’t get it. Peter does.
Nina remarks on Sasha’s manicure, and she tells Nina that it was Maxie’s idea. She invited Sasha to get her nails done. Valentin says they were talking about the upcoming nuptials.
Josslyn tells Oscar that they can still make the road trip happen. Oscar asks how they’re doing that. Hitching a ride? Taking the bus? She knows what they need, and tells him, come on.
Cameron says Franco is his stepdad, and Jake and Aiden’s. He can’t believe the marriage went down at the police station, but she says it was very meaningful. He asks if she’s lost it. Is she out of her mind? He knows she thinks this guy is great. She says Franco is her husband. She loves him, and she’s not turning her back on him. Cameron says there’s a difference between not turning her back and marrying him. What about Jake and Aiden? She says Franco loves Cameron’s brothers. Cameron tells her, this is life or death important. He asks if she couldn’t have waited, What if she’s wrong? She says, Franco didn’t kill anyone, and he says, that’s not true. Look on the internet. She says Franco worked hard to change. She believes him, and so do Cameron’s brothers. He says, they’re young enough to believe the sanitized version. He hopes Franco doesn’t make bail. He doesn’t want her bringing a potential murderer into their house.
Franco tells Jordan that Elizabeth is his entire world, and he’ll do what it takes to prove he’s worthy of her. The background music is from a Robert Rodriguez film, and it’s not the first time. Scotty tells Franco to tell the truth, and he’ll handle the rest. He knows what to do.
Ava tells Julian that Doc is keeping her sane right now. He’s glad she has someone helping her with her grief, but he wonders, if she hadn’t lost Kiki, if it would be so great. She says he’s not in a position to make that decision. She’s barely hanging on, and Doc is like an anchor. She can talk to him about anything, and that’s what she needs.
Alexis asks if Lulu is sure she doesn’t want Alexis to sit with her. Lulu says she’ll be fine. She’s lucky to have survived. Even if there’s no testimony today, she needs to be in court for those who can’t be. Alexis says she’s a fighter. She’s sure Lulu’s mother is proud.
Ryan wants Doc to tell Laura where they are. Oops, he forgot Doc can’t see. They’re in the basement at Ferncliff. It feels more like a dungeon. He says, back in the day, they brought the ultimate crazies there. He asks if they hear that. Voices from the past welcome them to hell. Hope you enjoy your stay. Laura says it was him the whole time. The perverted half that shouldn’t have been born. Ryan says he’s been resurrected. That should prove he deserves to live. He has the ability to evade the police too. Poor Franco. Laura says, oh my God. It was him. He says her daughter would have been the fourth if he hadn’t been struck blind. She says he’s a sick SOB and monster. He says it’s time for her to have a talk with her daughter. He’s taken the liberty of coming up with a script. No tricks, like with the prenup business. Laura wonders why she would help him when he’s going to kill her anyway. She tells him, get on with it, but he says, make the call.
On the phone, Lulu asks where is she? Laura say she’s still trapped in a meeting. That was an odd word for him to use. Was he being funny, or did he make a mistake? Lulu says, the arraignment is going to start. She wishes Laura could be there, but Laura says she can’t get away. She’ll call later. Ryan is glad she was convincing. It makes it so much easier. Laura says, to kill them? but Ryan says, he won’t; not yet anyway. He can’t take the chance their bodies will be discovered. Doc tells Ryan that he screwed himself. He would have gotten away with his ruse if he hadn’t killed. It was his own lack of self-control, giving in to his demented urges, that put him in this predicament. The only way out, is to get gone. Laura wishes Doc could see Ryan’s face. Ryan knows he’s right, and hates it. It must be hard, accepting that his brother is smarter than him. Ryan says see how smart his brother is when they’re starving and rotting. He leaves, and Doc asks if he’s gone. Laura says he is. She really him missed him so much. He says she has no idea. They kiss.
Ava has to get to the courthouse, and Julian says he’s just a phone call away. She tells him he should concentrate on her relationship less, and concentrate on his own relationship more. He says he and Kim are good. She was talking about Alexis.
Alexis goes into Kelly’s, and Nina calls her over. Valentin asks her how the watch is. She says any watch can keep time, but this one came with a message. Valentin asks if it’s about the power of love, but she says. more like the perils. Nina says they’re getting married, and this time it’s going to be different. She’s going to have her daughter by her side. She wanted to talk to Alexis in a legal capacity. She’s changing her will.
In the courtroom, Margaux asks if everyone is ready. Elizabeth approaches Franco, telling Jordan that they’re married. Lulu asks if Elizabeth is insane. Elizabeth is sorry for what happened to Lulu, and grateful she’s okay, but her husband didn’t attack Lulu. She believes him. Elizabeth and Franco look at each other, and I mentally beg him to give her a signal.
Lulu asks if this was Scotty’s idea. A cheap attempt at sympathy. Scotty tells her, go away. Margaux tells Lulu, don’t engage. It’s just the first step. She’ll get her chance. Jordan says Lulu has her word. Justice will be served.
Ryan gets to the courthouse. Ava says she left messages, and he says he was dealing with a patient. She says – wait for it – in dire straits, she hopes. Come on. They’re making a joke with that phrase now. He says he’s here for her now. Is she ready? She says, not really.
Oscar and Josslyn descend on Cameron, bearing food. Cameron says he and his mom got into it, but it doesn’t matter. Josslyn tells him the DMV won’t issue Oscar a license. Oscar says he has a car he can’t drive. How sad is that? Cameron guesses the trip is off, but Josslyn says, wrong. There’s a knock at the door, and Cameron hopes it’s not the tabloids. Trina walks in, and asks if someone mentioned road trip. They eat.
Peter tells Maxie, by no means is he defending Valentin, but he can see him going to these lengths for Nina, the incredible woman who swept him off his feet. He loves her. What is he supposed to do? Win the girl the way he knows how. Maxie says, by giving her the thing she wants most, because he can, but it’s a lie. Peter says, he doesn’t know how he’d live the rest of his life without this dazzling woman who changed him, and opened his soul. Of course he’ll lie. He has to. Maxie doesn’t know. What’s the point of being loved like that if your heart gets broken anyway?
Nina would like to include everyone in her will; Valentin, Sasha, and Charlotte. Sasha says she doesn’t have to, but Nina wants to. Alexis says her plate is full, but she can draft a copy in a couple weeks, and send it to Crimson. She walks away, and Nina follows. She tells Alexis that she’ll pay double the fee if the papers are drawn up before the wedding.
Sasha tells Valentin that she’s super uncomfortable. Valentin asks if it’s more or less than the prospect of the wedding. He knows she tried to talk Nina out of marrying him.
Laura tells Doc that if his blindness is what Ryan had, it can be cured. He says, since they don’t have to rush, tell him everything that happened to her. She says she came home early to surprise him. As soon as she got there, she felt something was off, but didn’t know what it was. Ryan was pretending to be him. but everything between them was different. He says, like what? and she says, there are too many things to list. He tells her to give him the Cliff Notes. She says, one thing was, when she got back, he wasn’t happy to see her. Then, he conjured up a cold as an excuse for them not to be close. After that, he had a sleep study, and was out all night. He kept finding excuses to stay apart. Then one day, out of the blue, he asked for a separation, so he could be freed up to be with Ava. She says, my God. Ava. Does he thinks Ryan is going to kill her?
The People vs Franco Baldwin. Margaux says there are three charges of first degree murder, and the additional charge of attempted first degree murder. The judge asks Scotty how his client pleads. Scotty tells Franco, you know the drill. Franco looks at Jordan. Elizabeth smiles at him. The judge asks if he needs to repeat the question. Franco pleads guilty on all charges. Everyone looks shocked. Jordan’s face is like, good job.
Elizabeth asks what he said. Scotty tells him that he left out a key word. Franco says he knows, and Scotty asks what’s wrong with him? Ava doesn’t understand what’s gong on. Ryan says, neither does he. I’ll bet. Lulu says, thank God. Scotty asks for a moment with his client. He asks if Franco has lost his mind. Jordan tells Scotty that she knows he’ll invoke New York State vs Pedigrew. It won’t save him. Scotty says he knows exactly what he’s doing. The plea should be viewed in light of the mentally ill, and he refers to New York State vs Pedigrew. I laugh, thinking Jordan said that on purpose to remind him. Margaux says, he pled guilty, and the people agree. Scotty says, if the accused is incapable of assessing their innocence or guilt, their competency has to be evaluated before they’re sent to prison. It’s not just the law, it’s the humane thing to do.
Josslyn says Cameron has a car and a license. He says, a junior license. She wonders where they can go and be back by dark. Oscar says he’s never been to Niagara Falls, and it’s less than a hundred miles away. Josslyn says, if they leave by 7 am, they’ll get there and back, no problem. She knows Cameron is on probation. Trina says, because of her. She hooked him up. He brushes it off, but says he’s kind of grounded for the rest of his life. Josslyn says they’ll find someone else to drive. The last thing she wants is more trouble. She wants to see Niagara Falls. Oscar says, he does too… before he dies, and Trina asks if he really just went there. None of them have been there, and Cameron says, then that’s what they’ll do. I’m excited, since I spent a lot of time there as a kid, but on the Canadian side. It was a three-hour drive from our house.
Alexis tells Nina, if she’s harboring doubts about her once and future husband, maybe she shouldn’t marry him again. Nina says it’s not about doubting Valentin, or marrying him. It’s about committing herself to creating a family – fully. Is Alexis going to help or not?
Valentin says Nina told him what Sasha said. Sasha says she likes Nina. She likes him too. She sees how much he loves Nina. It’s beautiful and romantic, but she sees the likely ending not being happy. He says he can handle it. He can pull this off. He can keep these balls in the air. He has to. She’ll says she’ll see. He likes that she’s concerned about Nina, and glad they’re attached. He doesn’t think he has to protect Nina from her. Sasha says he doesn’t.
Laura says has no idea. None of them did. She actually thought she’d deluded herself about how much he loves her. Doc says, no, and Laura says, he’s still there. He hasn’t changed. Doc says, except for the eyesight. Laura says she kept looking in his eyes, trying to find him. She couldn’t. Now she knows why. She loves him. He says he loves her too, and they kiss some more.
Margaux says, the defense is clearly stalling. The right response is prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. The judge thanks her for the instruction, but he also knows the law. He hereby remands Franco to the state mental hospital – Ferncliff – for two weeks, until his mental competency is determined. Everyone is looking at everyone, and they all look more puzzled than anything else.
Alexis tells Nina that Valentin is her family too. He’s a Cassadine, and lethal. She’d tell Nina to ask her nephew, but she can’t. She doesn’t know how Nina can marry someone who’s done what Valentin did. Nina suggests Alexis tell her. It seems like the pull to Julian is pretty strong. She asks Alexis to put a rush on the papers. Julian comes in.
A lab technician comes out, asking if Maxie is the one who called ahead to arrange a DNA test. Maxie wants to see if it’s a match. The technician says they’re crazy busy. Unless it’s an emergency, it could take up to ten days. Maxie says, that’s too long. What if it is an emergency? The technician asks, what kind? and Maxie suggests giving her a list of what constitutes an emergency, and she’ll pick one. The technician says, that’s not how it works. Maxie says she’ll figure something else out. She tells Peter, now what?
Laura asks when the whole thing started. How long has Doc been in there. He says, the end of August; he regained his memory Labor Day weekend. She says, when he visited her in Paris… and he says it was all him. She says she didn’t come back for another month. It’s when he started missing phone calls, and cutting them short. It wasn’t like him. He says, it wasn’t him. She asks how he did it all this time. He says the memory of her and their love kept him going. He knew sooner or later, she would be the one to figure it out, and find him. She says she almost did. She came so close months ago. She and Carly came, because Carly wanted to make sure no one got abused like she did. She was also adamant about wanting to see the patient in the room next to her. He says that was him. She says she looked in, but it appeared empty. He says he was on the floor, but he heard them. Or thought he did. She says, it was her. She’s so sorry. The staff was there to open the room, but she stopped Carly because Ryan stopped her. He referred to it as a breach of protocol. This could have been done with months ago. She says, she’s here now. He says, they’re here now. They kiss yet again.
Ava is shocked. Lulu thought she’d feel vindicated. Ryan says, she doesn’t? She says, something feels off. Ava feels the same way. He’s going to Ferncliff. Maybe they’ll find the answers they need there. Elizabeth approaches Franco.
Josslyn says, so everyone is in for this weekend. Oscar can’t wait. He wants to kiss her by the Falls at sunset. Trina says they’re making her nauseous. Cameron says he can make everything happen except the sunset. Oscar says they’ll take what they can get. Josslyn says, Niagara Falls, here we come!
Maxie searches on her phone. She tells Peter there’s a lab in Poughkeepsie that can do them in 24 hours. She can make it before they close, and be back just in time to get James. If she says something before she leaves, Felicia will get it out of her, and Mac will give her a lecture. Peter asks if he told her he got a new sportscar. He’ll drive. She says he doesn’t have to. He knows. She thanks him, and says, on the plus side, she won’t be going into labor.
Nina comes back to the table, and Sasha tells her to talk wedding details. If she’s going to be maid-of-honor, she wants to know what she’s getting into.
Alexis is glad she ran into Julian. She wants to clarify what she said about therapy, when she said she was discussing the future. She was talking about the big picture; putting their relationship in the proper place, and not repeating the same mistakes. It’s not about their future. Julian wishes her luck. Just so she knows, even though he moved on and he’s happy, he would never consider what they had to be a mistake.
Laura tells Doc there has to be another way out. She’s going to try and find it. He’s sorry. He took a big chance provoking Ryan. He could have snapped and killed them both. Laura thinks he played Ryan perfectly. For months, he had everyone around him fooled, including her. It was Doc’s turn to be brilliant. He convinced Ryan to leave them there, alive. Now she needs him to use that big brain to help her find a way out.
Elizabeth says, why? and Franco says, because it’s the right thing to do. Interesting how he worded that. She slaps him across the face, throws the ring at him, and walks out. He picks the ring up, and you can tell he wants to cry.
Tomorrow, Cameron asks Elizabeth if she’s completely lost her mind, Harmony gives a warning to Shiloh, Jason says Shiloh is more of a threat than they thought, and Ryan asks Ava to marry him.
🍲 This week, Gordon spent 24 Hours to Hell and Back in LA at Los Toros, a decades old Mexican restaurant. Founded in 1967, the only Mexican restaurant in Chatsworth, they were known for their classic family recipes and strong margaritas. At this point, overworked owner Nick Sr. was in astronomical debt – $450K, including $200K on credit cards – and having health problems. One of them being, no surprise, high blood pressure. Taking over when his dad passed at 63 (!), Nick Sr. wanted to pass it on to his kids, but they didn’t seem very eager to take on the business. His daughter being busy with a family of her own, and his son just not ready. Gordon dressed up as a dad visiting the restaurant with his family. I actually liked the colorful busyness of the décor, but it might have been better suited to a boho patio than an eating establishment. The menu was one of those giant things where you know they can’t possibly do everything well. At Gordon’s meal, there was prepackaged food, rancid beef, and a bad aftertaste. Aware that Gordon would be coming – how long can he keep this secret a secret? – Gordon got out when he noticed how much the employees were looking around for him. The hidden cameras revealed unsafe temperatures, a filthy kitchen, and spoiled food. Nick Sr. immediately started arguing over things that were right in front of his face, and he was one of those, no; you, arguers. It was even pointed out how very many people got sick after eating there. Being a military man, it was also revealed that Nick Sr. was a control freak, and wouldn’t let his general manager daughter handle much of anything. Gordon knew he could fix the restaurant, but wasn’t sure he could fix Nick Sr. In speaking privately with him, Gordon found out that he hadn’t wanted to take over the business, but did it for his father. Now, he felt like his kids didn’t want to be there. Gordon thought the kids needed to step up, and Nick Sr. needed to go, but Nick insisted he wanted to be committed. Gordon created a new menu, smaller, and elevating the flavors. He showed Nick Sr,’s kids the video of their dad’s story, and discovered they were more interested than Nick Sr. thought. Gordon reinvigorated the staff, installed the best kitchen equipment, and toned down, yet turned up, the design. The relaunch had a shaky start, with raw chicken and a lack of communication, but the staff got it together, and Gordon said they now had a team. He said the atmosphere difference was night and day, and when Nick Sr. had doubts, to look at his dad’s picture, now hanging on the wall. At the three month mark, customers were amazed at the changes, and the kids were more assertive. Nick Sr. even went on a vacation with his wife Lucia. He was looking forward to what the future held. Next week, a two-hour, two restaurant finale, with two stubborn families, two daughters in distress, two chefs trying to hang on to their jobs, and two Gordons.
🍸 Andy said The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Reunion Part One looked like a sequin factory explosion, and he was right. There were a lot of sparkles,, jumpsuits, and jumpsuits with sparkles. Still living in her old house, Delores felt making a decision while she was in a vulnerable position (i.e, feeling the empty nest) wasn’t the answer. She isn’t sure what she’s going to do, but said she didn’t have to make a decision now. David’s house had been sold, and Frank was building him a new one, but Dolores made it clear that she wouldn’t be moving in unless David put a ring on it. We also found out that Dolores comes from a Paterson cop family, and once worked as a correction’s officer. In other news, Frank Jr. is single. The mail order bride and monkey’s a-hole comments were addressed, and Jennifer responded by harping that Marge Sr. was an adulteress, carrying on a twelve-year (!!) affair. When the Marge explained how monkey’s show off by displaying their behinds, I thought Melissa would lose it, and Delores did. We also discovered that Marge had been having an affair with Joe #3 for a good year and a half before they left their spouses. Everyone was pretty surprised, but I tried not to pass judgement, since I don’t know these people or what all else was going on. It did sound pretty unsavory, but the only people whose opinions matter, are the ones involved. Of course there was a discussion about (ugh) the necklace, bringing us to our first best quote: tequila doesn’t really help. Teresa called Jackie a stalker because she came to one book signing, and Jackie said she loses brain cells talking to Teresa. Teresa also griped at Melissa for not being on her side of the couch, giving us the next best quote of the night from Melissa – just because you raise your voice, doesn’t mean you’re right. For some reason, Teresa had it out for Jackie most of the night, saying Jackie didn’t even talk to her own sister. I guess Teresa doesn’t watch her own show, since that was resolved at the end of the season. She also wasn’t paying attention at the reunion, since Andy had already discussed this with Jackie. Jackie said she wasn’t on the Teresa Show, but Teresa begged to differ. Then, when Teresa acted like a big shot because she had some best sellers under her belt, Jackie said she didn’t even write her own books and used a ghost writer. I doubt she’s any Carole Radziwill though. As usual, things kept degenerating, and when Teresa brought up Jackie’s comment about Joe #1, it ended with Teresa calling Jackie a cold-hearted bitch, and getting ready to throw something at her. What happened to the Zen and stuff? Throw her back in the pokey. Next time, the eternal question. Will Teresa leave Juicy Joe if he’s deported?
🍅 Just As Juicy As Joe…
Could Teresa have a boy toy?
Or is this the real story?
And is this the real real? Personally, I don’t see her moving to Italy.
😆 Still laughing about the ending of last night’s HAHN episode. Hanna and Candace jumped on Jim like starving dogs attacking a filet mignon. It sure surprised the hell out of me, but Tyler Perry will do that.
😷 Now I Have It…
My husband has the man flu, and now I have… something. I’m trying to ignore it, because I don’t have time for it.
So for no reason other than I can’t think that hard, and yesterday’s tune reminded me of how good the soundtrack is.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 