Tag Archives: James Franco

April 16, 2021 – Cyrus Meets Anna, Good Report, a Tribute, New Project, Glory Days, Her Reaction, Tiffany’s Closet, No Way, Old Feud, Thrones On Stage, Bad Hosts, an Invite, Not Quite Twelve Quotes & Sunshine

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sasha brings take-out coffee into the garage, and Brando asks if she got one for him. She says she got him a latte, and he thanks her. She says she thinks she left her phone there, and he says she did. He found it in the car after she left, and he put it in the back. She says she wants to tell him something, and he says, that it shouldn’t have happened, but she says she was about to say she’s glad it did, and Brando smiles.

Sonny asks if Nina is okay, and Nina says, yeah, wrong number. He says he made coffee, and she says she’s desperate. He says she’s not desperate. All she has to do is take her time, and it’s up to her to pick and choose where she goes from here. She asks if he’s talking about Eli, and he says she barely knows Eli. She says, Phyllis and Lenny are fond of him, and Sonny says, but Eli is a stranger to Nina. As a matter-of-fact, so is he.   

Valentin asks Anna if she has any news about Chase, and she says Finn is keeping her up to date. They haven’t made a diagnosis that it’s poison yet, but she and Valentin can’t tell them. Peter will take off with the antidote. He says, so they honor the agreement, and wait while Peter reconciles with Maxie, and she says, they have to fix this.  Jason is in prison, thanks to Cyrus, and Peter is going to take off. Valentin says, not if he can do anything about it. Carly meets them at the door of her house, saying, the guards let her know they were there. She invites them in, and says, no more waiting around. They have to act now.

At Perdino’s, Laura leaves a phone message for Nikolas, saying, she doesn’t know what’s worse. Him being in league with Cyrus, or him going radio silent. Please call her back. Martin comes in, and says he couldn’t help overhearing her leave a message for her son. She asks why it’s his business, and he says he was hoping Nikolas kept his promise. Laura asks what her son promised him. More to the point, what did Martin offer Nikolas in return?

On the phone, Nikolas says he’s narrowed the search to a bakery in Stowe, Vermont where he thinks Martin ordered a hummingbird cake for his mother’s birthday. He knows it’s a long shot, but he needs to know if Martin, or anyone else, ordered a hummingbird cake from the bakery, and he needs to know any corresponding address. Call him as soon as they have some names. Ava asks if he’s really doing this; finding Cyrus’s mother, despite the fact that she and Laura advised against it. He says, if bringing Florence back to her son means keeping Alexis safe, then she’s right, he’s doing this.   

Alexis’s cellmate Maggie brings her to the gym/yard area, and says, they have an hour of the yard, and then do the work they’re assigned. You don’t learn to survive by lessons some advisor gives you. If you’re tough, you survive. If not… A large, disappointingly stereotypical inmate walks over to Alexis, who asks if she can help her. The inmate pushes her.

Maggie says, this one is new, Elda. Don’t worry. She’ll keep her in line. Elda walks away, and Alexis asks Maggie what the hell Elda’s problem is. Maggie tells her, steer clear. If Elda takes a dislike to her, compared to what she can do, incarceration will seem like a day at the spa. Alexis asks if the guard just watches, and Maggie says Alexis has a lot to learn. Alexis says that’s what Sam warned her about, and Maggie asks who Sam is; Alexis’s husband? Alexis says, her daughter. She said being locked up would seem like a foreign land, with its own rules and languages. She’ll have to be more careful if she’s going to survive another day, let alone three years.  

Ava tells Nikolas, once Cyrus’s mother is back, Cyrus will have no incentive to help Alexis. Not to mention he’ll have free reign to get even with Jason and Carly for taking Florence in the first place. Nikolas says, all that power and money won’t give Cyrus the one thing he’ll want after he gets his mother back. Ava says, Cyrus has money. Sonny is gone, and Jason is in prison, so Sonny’s territory is ripe for a takeover. What more could Cyrus possibly want? He asks what means more to them than money and power, and she says, love and family. Cyrus thinks Nikolas can convince Laura to accept him as part of the family. He says, it worked with Martin. He offered to repair Martin’s relationship with Laura, and Martin offered him a clue that might lead him to Florence. Ava says, the bakery where he got Florence the cake, and Nikolas says, Cyrus will come back to him sooner or later, and ask him to build a bridge to his sister. Ava says Nikolas is actually kind of sexy when he has things figured out, and they kiss.

Martin tells Laura, he gave Nikolas nothing; he has nothing to give. Laura says Nikolas can manipulate with the best of them. Is Martin sure he didn’t tell Nikolas where to find Florence? He says, of course (🍷) not. He has no idea where she is. She asks what Nikolas promised, and he says, to intercede with her on his behalf. Nikolas volunteered to mend fences between them. Martin knows how angry Laura is with him for his contribution to Julian’s escape, but please believe him, he had no idea Julian was responsible for what happened at The Floating Rib. Laura’s daughter is his niece, and now Lulu… He swears on his soul, if he knew about the death and destruction Julian created, he would never have helped. She says, despite the blackmail? and he says, for all the good it did him? Even though he gave into Julian’s blackmail, in a few short weeks, everyone knew Cyrus was his brother. And now he and Laura are on the opposite side of something, and any progress they’ve made as brother and sister seems to have vanished, which is exactly what Cyrus wanted. Cyrus is afraid he and Laura will end up on the same side, allied against him. When Cyrus walked in on Laura giving Martin a birthday cake, Cyrus’s instinct kicked in, and his bag of tricks. He exaggerated Martin’s guilt in the hope of obscuring his own. She tells him, don’t worry. No matter how disappointed she is in Martin, she’ll never forget that Cyrus gave the orders to plant the bomb in The Floating Rib. Cyrus approaches their table, and says Laura never ceases to amaze him. He didn’t think she and Martin would be on speaking terms after what she learned about him. Maybe there’s hope for him and Laura.

Brando says he didn’t know if he’d see Sasha again… in that way. Last night was all about… She says she’d just ended the relationship with Michael, and he thought she was on the rebound. He asks if she can blame him, and she says, not really. She and Michael were pretty serious, until they weren’t, but even when she still hoped she and Michael would pick up where they left off, Brando was always there. He says, stalking her? and she says she never minded. He says he figured that out when she didn’t call the cops, and she says, as much as she tried to ignore it, something was between them. He says, internal combustion, and she says he’s comparing her to a car; how romantic. Can she at least let her have an eight-cylinder engine with turbo charging? He says he’s been meaning to ask her how she knows so much about cars. She asks, why wouldn’t she? Did he think the face of Deception has no life beyond the glamorous shoots? He says he was hoping to hear more about it.

Nina tells Sonny that Eli doesn’t trust him either, and Sonny says, tell him something he doesn’t already know. She says, for the record, she’s not in the market for a new relationship, and he says, if she were… She says the perfect man has to make her fall in love with him, and then completely break her heart. He says she’s too hard on herself. She doesn’t deliberately choose these guys; she’s much better than they are. She says, is she? and he says didn’t she come there to get away from her bad choices. She’s way too smart not to know she’s in an unhealthy relationship is like. She says, is she? the thing is, it doesn’t stop her from missing the person she ran away from. Maybe she should just write the article and move on. He says, maybe, but when you move on, you take yourself with you. She says he doesn’t know who he is, does he? and he says, look what happened to him, and she says, what if he could get himself back?

Carly asks if Valentin and Anna have made any progress with Gladys, and Valentin says, Gladys is a shallow, selfish, greedy beggar with a huge interest in self-preservation, like Carly said. Anna says she’s sure Cyrus has put the fear of God in Gladys, and she knows if she changes her story, Cyrus will kill her. Valentin says, not to mention what Peter is capable of doing to her, and Carly asks what Peter has done now. Anna says,  nothing, but he insists on being in Maxie’s life, and had to be escorted out of the hospital. Carly is sure it’s a nightmare for Maxie, but thinks Peter is less of threat to Maxie than Cyrus is to all of them. The only thing that’s stopping him from burning Port Charles down is that she has Florence – for now. Anna asks what she means, and Carly says Cyrus tried to offer her a deal; Florence, in exchange for Gladys changing her story so Jason could go free. He didn’t seem disappointed or angry when she turned him down. It sounded like he had another deal in place.

Sonny asks what makes Nina think he can find out who he is? She says, no one is completely anonymous. If he really wants to uncover his past, he can reach out on social media. He says he’s not sure he wants to find out what happened to him before Nixon Falls, and she asks, why not? He says he likes it there. He likes the people and the pace. He likes the fact that the highlight of the season is a dance at the firehouse. Nina says, it sounds like a lot more fun than the Met Gala, and he asks, what’s that? She says, a ball where people dress up to impress each other and raise money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She admits it’s a worthy cause, and he says, it’s her world. She says she could show him pictures of her and her friends dressed up on the red carpet outside the museum, everyone smiling, but no one is actually happy. He says she seems happy there, and she says, he does too. He says, why go somewhere else to find happiness? I expect them to break out in a song from Oklahoma! any second.

Brando says, so Sasha had a summer job in high school? She says, working at a garage. It was mostly in the office, but she occasionally helped with repairs. She had spending money, and discovered she liked the work. He says he pictured her playing with Disney princess dolls, and she says she did that too, but she’s not a stereotype any more than he is. He’s Cyrus’s driver-slash-bodyguard; the one Cyrus keeps around to clean up his messes, but it’s just a front. He says, don’t go calling The Invader, and she tells him, don’t worry. She likes him better alive than dead. She admires his bravery; walking a tightrope to protect Carly and her family. He says he’s more like an idiot, and she says, you don’t win medals for being an idiot. She has to get going. She has a photo shoot, and grease on her face is not a good look for the face of Deception. He says he thinks she looks great, but he’s not being very objective. He wipes her face with a clean rag, and they almost kiss, but he says he almost forgot; her phone. He leaves to get it, and she smiles.   

Cyrus sits at the table, and says, the three of them breaking bread. He asks Laura if this isn’t better than their petty squabbles. Maybe one day, his mother will join them. Laura says she thought Florence was happy where she is, and Martin says, she is. Wherever she is, mama makes the best of things. Cyrus says, she’ll be happier back in the loving arms of her family, and Laura asks what he’s planning. Cyrus says he gives her his word that he’s not planning anything. Mother’s fate, as she well knows, is out of his hands.

Ava tells Nikolas, don’t distract her, and he says, he’s distracting her? She says she’s concerned about his involvement with Cyrus. Why is he certain he can find Florence when Cyrus’s own people couldn’t? He says the man he was talking to is Colonel Jackson. He served in various hot spots around the globe. He’s retired from the military, and opened his own company. She says, a mercenary? and he says, security consultant. His people can be anywhere at a moment’s notice. They’re infiltrating the bakery to find out if hummingbird cakes or any other Southern desserts have been delivered to a nearby address. Ava asks what it’s costing Nikolas, but he says, it doesn’t matter. If he finds Florence, Alexis is safe. She says, one does not guarantee the other, and he says he can’t leave his aunt in Pentenville with no resources. He has to make sure she’s protected. She says she loves him for wanting to protect his aunt, but doesn’t think this is the way to do it. Think about Cyrus, look at his history. Think of all the people he’s betrayed, including her brother. If Nikolas thinks he can trust Cyrus to keep his word, he’s making a big mistake.

Carly tells Anna and Valentin, if Cyrus gets his mother back, they lose leverage. Gladys is going to keep following Cyrus’s orders, and lie to the cops. Peter stays free, and Jason stays in prison, at least until the trial. Anna says, that would be the case, and Carly says, then they have to put more pressure on Gladys. Valentin says he’s not kidnapping Gladys, and holding her in Anna’s basement, and Carly says, why not? It’s a start. Anna says, a coerced confession won’t hold up in court, and Carly says, Anna is worried about what’s legal now, after she covered for Peter for months? After Jason warned Anna, and told her to come forward? What is going on here? Where is the help Anna promised her? Is she going to get Jason out of prison? Anna says she understands Carly’s frustration, but Carly has to trust her. If Carly goes after Gladys, she’ll make Jason’s situation worse. Carly asks what Anna is telling her. Better luck next time? Jason is just going to rot in prison? Valentin tells her, that’s not what they said, but Carly says, that’s what it sounds like. They said they wanted to stop Peter from killing someone else, to stop insinuating himself into Maxie’s life. So what are they going to do about it? Anna says, nothing. And neither is Carly.   

Alexis wonders what she did to get on Elda’s bad side; she just got here. Maggie says, Elda has no other side; it’s all bad. Did Alexis defend her and lose? Alexis says she’s never seen Elda before, and Maggie says maybe Elda was her mortal enemy in another life. She has to go back inside and prepare for her parole hearing. The tips Alexis gave her are really going to help. Alexis says she was told not to trust anyone there, but… Maggie says she gets it. It’s tougher without someone to talk to. She thought a smart woman like Alexis could have fancy-talked her way out of Pentenville. Alexis says she could have plead guilty and gone to trial, and Maggie asks why she didn’t. Alexis says it’s a long story, and Maggie says she’s got the time. She sits on a bench, and Alexis says, come to think of it, she does too, and sits next to her.   

Ava says all Nikolas has done is give Cyrus an opening to threaten Alexis any time he wants something. It’s what Cyrus did to her brother. He threatened Julian’s family to get him to cooperate. It’s just a manipulation. Nikolas says, he’s not Julian. Nobody manipulates him. He needs to know they’re in this together. If one of them feels threatened, they have to set aside their doubts and questions, and come together. Isn’t that the kind of marriage they’ve created, despite the odds? She says he doesn’t play fair, and he says he’s not playing. He needs to know she’s with him. Today, tomorrow, always. She asks if he needs proof, and he says, always. They kiss, and he picks her up in his arms.

Gladys comes to the garage, and sees the tools around the car. She asks if Brando doesn’t have the morning off. Why is it always all work and no play with him? Sasha’s head pops up, and she says, it’s nice to see Gladys again. Gladys asks what Sasha is doing there, and I’m hoping they weren’t doing it under the car.

Laura says Cyrus might try to make his fingerprints invisible, but it’s clear to her that he’s pressuring someone else to find his mother. Someone who loves his Aunt Alexis very much, and wants her to be protected while she’s in prison. Martin says, Nikolas was concerned about his Aunt Alexis when they last spoke, and Laura says she thought Martin didn’t tell Nikolas anything. Martin says he didn’t. For the last time, there was nothing to tell. He doesn’t even know his mother’s current location. Cyrus says, don’t blame, Marty. They rarely agree, but they both want the best for their mother. Laura laughs, and says she doesn’t think so. Martin loves his mother for who she is, but Cyrus needs his mother to validate his life. She didn’t approve when Jason took Florence, but it was the only way to contain Cyrus’s violence and greed, and it worked. Since Jason’s had Florence, there have been no shootouts. Cyrus wants his mother back because he doesn’t want Jason to have that leverage over him. She say she’ll be damned if she’ll let Cyrus use her son to make it happen, and walks out.

Carly says, they expect her to do nothing. Why? What aren’t they telling her? Anna says, Peter took steps to protect himself. It’s probably his first step in his strategy for leaving Port Charles. Carly asks what the hell Peter has done, and Valentin says they can’t tell her that, but they’re working hard to fix the situation. Anna says, if Peter even gets a hint they’re working against him, someone innocent will die. Carly asks if this innocent person has a name, and Anna says Carly isn’t the only one who wants Jason free, or Peter to be brought to justice. If she goes for Gladys, she’s going to escalate an already dangerous situation. So can she take a deep breath, and let them handle Peter? Carly says she was only working with Anna because Jason wanted her to, but Jason is in prison, so she has to follow her instincts. If they can’t tell her why she should give them time, she can’t promise them she will. Anna says, then Peter won’t be the only one with blood on his hands. He can live with it. Can Carly?   

Sonny tells Nina, he’ll throw in a danish if she tells him what’s on her mind. She says, what if she told him that she did something selfish that might hurt a lot of people? He says he wouldn’t believe her. He’s seen her with Lenny and Phyllis, and she’s not a selfish person. She says, she is, but the weird part is, she believes she’s doing the right thing, a good thing; not just for herself, but for someone who will never know. Sonny asks if it’s someone he knows, and she says, it’s someone who deserves to be happy. Someone who deserves a fresh start. She’s making sure they have both of them. He says, that’s a good thing, not a selfish thing. She says, that’s what she tells herself, and sometimes she even believes it.

Sasha says she was helping Brando fix the carburetor, and Gladys says Sasha would risk her manicure to help out at the shop? Brando comes out from the office, and says he charged Sasha’s phone; it was losing juice. He sees Gladys, and asks what she’s doing there. She says she just came to check on her boy. It sounds like he had an interesting evening.

Martin says, he was hoping he and Laura could find a way past what happened on his birthday, but once again, like the Angel of Death, it takes Cyrus one minute to ruin everything. Cyrus says, relax, Marty. As soon as mother comes back, Laura will get over her anger. Martin says, do him a favor. Let’s review, shall we? In one way or another Cyrus is responsible for putting Laura’s daughter in a coma. Now Cyrus is trying to coopt her son. In what universe would Laura look at Cyrus with anything other than loathing?

Walking into Perdino’s, Valentin says, how much does Anna want to bet that Carly doesn’t wait around long enough for them to take down Peter? She says she doesn’t want to take that risk, and they go inside. They see Cyrus and Martin, and Valentin asks if Anna wants to go to the MetroCourt. She says, no. She wants to say hello. She goes over to their table, and Valentin follows. She says Valentin has been telling her how helpful Martin has been in establishing parental rights for Brook’s baby. She doesn’t think she and Cyrus have been formally introduced, and says she’s Anna Devane, Peter’s aunt. Cyrus smiles.   

Ava and Nikolas bask in the afterglow, and Nikolas says he needs Ava to believe that he’ll protect the ones he loves; his mother, Alexis, Spencer, especially her. Ava says, her whole life she had to protect herself, and he says she doesn’t have to anymore. He’s here for her, like she’s here for him. If he was in danger, wouldn’t she do everything in her power to save him? She says, in a heartbeat, and they get busy again.

On the phone, Carly tells Bobbie to put the guards on extra alert, and do it without scaring Florence… All right… She loves Bobbie too. The doorbell rings, and she says she has to go. Call her if there are any signs of trouble. She opens the door to Laura, who asks if something happened. There are more guards than usual. Carly says she’s just taking extra care. What did Laura want to see her about? Laura asks what it would take for Carly to surrender Florence, before someone gets hurt.

Cyrus says he’s pleased to finally make Anna’s acquaintance; her reputation precedes her. She tells him, don’t believe everything you hear, Mr. Renault. He tells her to call him Cyrus, if he may call her Anna, and she says, of course (🍷). Cyrus says he hears congratulations are in order. Valentin is going to be a new father again. Valentin says, how about that? Cyrus’s brother takes care of a lot of his interests, and will tell Cyrus that family means a lot to him. Cyrus says, as it does to all of them. Anna tells Valentin that she’s suddenly famished, and they go to their table. Martin asks, what the hell was that? All the pointed looks going back and forth, the least Cyrus could do for his brother is shout duck. Cyrus says, just marking their territory.

Valentin asks if Anna would like to explain that interaction, and she says, sometimes you just have to look your enemy in the eye to figure out your next move. He asks if she has, and she says, most definitely.

Carly asks if Laura has noticed that Port Charles has been fairly calm since Florence started her extended stay with friends, but Laura says, it’s not going to stay that way. Carly knows that already. Carly asks why Laura is saying that, and Laura says she was just talking to her brothers. Since they’re all family now, they feel free to share with her whatever is on their dysfunctional little minds. Carly says, which is? and Laura says, Martin was way too eager to make her believe he’d kept Florence’s location a secret, and Cyrus was too self-assured, even for him. Carly asks if he knows where Florence is, and Laura says she doesn’t think so – not yet – but she thinks Nikolas does.

On the phone, Nikolas asks if they found the find bakery… Excellent. Did they have subsequent orders for Southern desserts?… Bobbie Spencer? She’s the mother of one of the parties involved in Florence’s kidnapping. Does he have an address?… Terrific work, Colonel, thank you. When they arrive at the address, he wants them to establish a parameter, reconnoiter the area, but don’t make a move until he gets there. Understood?  Ava asks if Nikolas found her, and he says he’ll know soon enough. Ava asks why not order Colonel Jackson to take Florence the moment he finds her. Is Nikolas having second thoughts? He asks if he hasn’t convinced her to change her mind, to understand why he’s doing this, and she says, if she tells him that he hasn’t, will he call it off? He says, no, but he’d rather do this with her than without her.

An inmate suddenly plops between Alexis and Maggie, and they get up. Alexis says, it was the combination of a lot of booze and a lot of bad decisions that got her into this lovely location. Maggie says, and a few bad men? and Alexis says, one or two contributed. In the end, it was on her. Maggie says Alexis obviously knows how the parole board thinks. They want to hear inmates take responsibility for their actions, basically saying what they did was wrong, but they learned their lesson. Alexis says, it will be a while before she sees a parole board. What’s crazy is, she chose to plead guilty because she wanted to be accountable for the things she’d done. Not just for other people, but for herself. As naïve and insane as it sounds, after three years, she wants to walk out of this place a better woman. Elda approaches them, and tells Maggie, take a hike. Alexis says, it’s okay. Three’s a crowd. Maggie leaves, and the guard leaves with her. Alexis and Elda face each other.

Nina tells Sonny, thanks, but she’s going to the library to research the early days of Nixon Falls for the article. He says, since they’re both going to the firehouse dance, they should go together. Nina says she’d love to go with him, but Eli already asked her, and she said she’d go with him. He says he’s not surprised Eli beat him to it, and she says she’ll save him a dance. He says there are things she doesn’t know about Eli, and she says there are things Mike/Sonny doesn’t know about himself, and there are things he doesn’t know about her. He says, true, and she asks if he’s trying to tell her something. He says, will she save that dance? and she promises she will.  

Sasha thanks Brando for finding her phone, and Gladys tells her, next time, be more careful. She goes to the other side of the room, and Brando says, but not too careful. You might miss out on something good. He apologizes for his mom, but Sasha says, in her own way, Gladys is just trying to look out for him. She has to run, and he asks, who’s looking out for her? She says, she thought he was, calling him Mr. Stalker. He says, so his stalking is welcome now, and she says, maybe because she’ll also be stalking him. Unfortunately, I can see the Twitter reaction now being right up there with Baby, It’s Cold Outside. <heaving a heavy sigh over people being offended too easily and in any context>

Anna tells Valentin, it wasn’t until she was face to face with Cyrus, that she realized they weren’t entirely powerless. He asks if she wants to share what’s on her mind, and she says, poisoning an innocent, and holding on to the antidote for ransom is classic Faison (ha-ha! Faison Classic). It’s appalling, but not surprising that his son would follow his example. What Peter doesn’t realize is, the same tactics that brought down Faison, can bring him down too.

Martin says if Cyrus is grimacing at Anna, he advises him to stop. Cyrus says he’s smiling, and Martin says, Valentin is very protective of Anna, and he’s also very dangerous. Not in the hairy back, knuckle-dragging, let’s-break-their-knees way, familiar to the garden variety simians Cyrus employs. The last place Cyrus wants to be is on Valentin’s bad side. Cyrus says he’s counting on Martin to keep the peace between him and his client. As to Anna, what does Martin know about her? Martin says, he’s an attorney, not one of Peter’s muck-raking journalists, and Cyrus asks if Martin doesn’t find it fascinating. First, Anna was Peter’s mother; now she’s his aunt, and they’re not good terms. Apparently a lot of dirty laundry was spilled at the wedding that didn’t happen. It might prove useful as leverage. Martin says, to who? Against who [sic]? Cyrus’s new friend Peter? Why does he care about the man anyway? Cyrus says he doesn’t. Peter is merely a means to an end. And if it goes well, the end may soon be in sight.

Carly tells Laura, now it makes sense. Now she knows why Cyrus wasn’t upset when she rejected his offer to trade Florence for Jason’s freedom. He already had a plan in place with Nikolas. Laura says, she’s right then. Martin let something slip to Nikolas, so Cyrus is getting his mother back, but through her son. Carly asks if Nikolas doesn’t know he’s walking into a trap. Cyrus has all the power. This is what he does; creates danger, then offers to erase it. Laura says, and before you know it, he owns you, and Carly says, he did the same thing to Julian, and Nikolas is married to Julian’s sister. Can’t Nikolas see where this is headed? Laura says she’s not defending Nikolas, but Carly has taken risks to protect the people she loves. Carly says she knows; they both have. Even if Cyrus keeps his word, and protects Alexis in Pentenville, that’s great for Alexis, but it leaves Jason in an even worse position. Laura says, and it gets Nikolas in even deeper with Cyrus. Carly asks how they stop Nikolas.   

Nikolas talks to the Colonel again, and asks if he can overcome the Corinthos guards. Ava tells Nikolas, whatever he decides, she’s with him. He tells the Colonel to wait for his signal.   

Alexis tells Elda, crazy weather, huh? Elda asks who Alexis is calling crazy, and pins Alexis against the wall.  

On Monday, Curtis asks how bad someone wants to find out, Cyrus wants Martin to celebrate with him, Anna visits Jason, and Elda says she’s going to make sure Alexis remembers. And I don’t think Elda means her birthday.

🩺 By the way. John Stamos (ex-Blackie) was on Watch What Happens Live this week, and had nothing but wonderful things to say about the cast of General Hospital. No surprise.

💣 The Spy Who We Loved…

An upcoming tribute to John Reilly will include his real life daughter.

https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/general-hospital-john-reilly-tribute-caitlin-reilly-casting-1234951545/

https://www.tvinsider.com/995144/general-hospital-john-reilly-tribute-episode-caitlin-reilly/

🎥 The Other Kendall…

Life beyond Pine Valley.

🕶 It Was the Bomb…

Emma Samms revisits my favorite soap time period. I loved all that spy stuff.

🖐🏽 Kardashian Kast-Off…

I have no doubt she didn’t hold back.

https://extratv.com/2021/04/13/lisa-rinna-s-unfiltered-reaction-to-daughter-amelia-dating-scott-disick/

👠 Look Out Imelda Marcos…

Spoiler: Tiffany has shoes that have never been worn, but just make her happy to look at.

https://pagesix.com/2021/04/13/rhod-star-tiffany-moon-gives-us-a-tour-of-her-closet/

😱 Can’t Blame Them…

I wouldn’t want my mother on RHOBH either.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1257794/why-paris-and-nicky-hilton-didnt-want-mom-kathy-to-join-rhobh

🐇 If Anyone Still Cares…

I watched The Girls Next Door. I read Holly Madison’s book. Like Kendra said, Dude, it’s 2021.

🎭 Broadway Game…

A mishmash of New York-ish entertainment news, including Game of Thrones coming to Broadway. I have mixed feelings.

https://pagesix.com/2021/04/06/game-of-thrones-headed-to-londons-west-end-in-2023/

🏆 Good Times…

Remember when life was maskless? Before we had to social distance? When at the Academy Awards meant people accepting awards in person? Remember when Anne Hathaway and James Franco screwed that up?

https://nypost.com/2021/04/15/why-anne-hathaway-and-james-franco-bombed-as-2011-oscars-hosts/

📜 You’re Invited…

But will there be an open bar?

🎺 Quotes of the Week

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind. – Bernard M. Baruch

The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. – Confucius

The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible. – Arthur C. Clarke

You cannot change anyone, but you can be the reason someone changes. – Roy T. Bennett

Rejection is an opportunity for your selection. – Bernard Branson

You’re going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it’s always their actions you should judge them by. It’s actions, not words, that matter.Nicholas Sparks

There has never been a time in my life where I have experienced deep grief and have not come out the other side of it completely new and fresh and wiser. – Glennon Doyle

Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.Marilyn Monroe

The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. – Amelia Earhart

We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology. – Carl Sagan

Science and technology revolutionize our lives, but memory, tradition and myth frame our response. – Arthur M. Schlesinger

🧳 Packing It In…

Putting on my copywriting hat, until I switch to Dead mode on Sunday night. If you want to check out my interrogation skills, my copywriting is featured on Mupo and Friends, at 2 pm on Sundays. This week’s guest is Han Soto from Cobra Kai, and you can catch it on YouTube or MupoEntertainment.com. Change up your weekend, or whatever you might call it these days, and until we next meet, stay safe, stay encouraged, and stay doing it for the right reasons if you must do something selfish.

June 27, 2020 – A Rewedding For JaSam, Here’s Johnny, Double the Franco, Soap Starts, Sad News, Brittany’s Mom, TV Wedding, Gus Hosts, Looking Back, Musical Stream, Six Hardy Quotes & Educated

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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Survey says, today’s GH Flashback is from September 22nd, 2011.

Dante (who practically looked like an infant) proposed to old Lulu. At first, I didn’t realize it was Lulu, and for a moment, wondered who else Dante proposed to. James Franco playing Franco (which is endlessly amusing to me) spied on Maxie and Spinelli in the park, as they planned Sam and Jason’s wedding. Maxie said everything could be fixed with a few clicks on the Jackal’s computer board. Jason showed up at Sam’s while she was trying on her dress, and said he’d broken the rule by seeing her in it. She said there were so many rules, she didn’t think she could go through with it. At the hospital, Robin told Patrick they had a mandatory engagement tomorrow – Sam and Jason’s wedding – but Patrick said they weren’t going.

Sam said it wasn’t that she didn’t want to marry Jason, but he’d just gotten out of the hospital. She wanted to dance right then and there with him, even though he hated dancing, but there was a knock at the door. Dante told Lulu that he was a work in progress (ugh), but he was still a good investment, and he wanted them to invest in each other and share a future. Being with her made him feel like being a better man. Lulu said he’d gone from it being over to shut up and marry me without a break, and she needed to breathe and think. Johnny (Zacchara) asked his father Anthony (Bruce Weitz) what he had on Tracy, but Anthony said, a gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell. After Anthony left, Johnny got on the phone with henchman Cole, and said he had a job for him.

Robin told Patrick that they’d gotten married partly because of Jason, and she was still Jason’s friend. Patrick didn’t want her risking her life being around Sonny, but she said she’d go alone. A courier picked up Sam’s dress because Maxie didn’t trust her with it, and Sam told Jason, the wedding was out of control. Jason suggested she just say no to Maxie, but Sam didn’t want to hurt Maxie’s feelings. She told him, besides Maxie, everyone had their own ideas for the wedding, including Spinelli, her mom, and her sisters. She didn’t even know what kind of flowers or reception they were going to have, but guaranteed it would be over-the-top. She said she didn’t need flowers, a ceremony, or the complications that came with it. Jason told her to forget what everybody else wanted, and focus on what they wanted. All that mattered was that they loved each other. Sam said she had a rock Molly had given her to keep her grounded, and a love nut; what else did she need? Jason took her hand, and said, come on.

Jason and Sam got on his bike, and ended up at a closed Chinese restaurant. The owner Mr. Li and his grandson Robert let them in anyway, and they confessed they were running from their wedding. Lulu went to see a too skinny Maxie at Crimson for advice, while Dante went to see Lucky (the Jonathan Jackson version). He told Lucky about proposing to Lulu, and how she was hesitant. Lucky asked if Dante was sure he wanted be part of this family. Sam explained to Robert that her head was spinning; she didn’t even know if she wanted roses or lilies. Robert’s grandmother Mrs. Yi (who only spoke Chinese, so Robert had to translate) said lilies should be her flower, since they represented unity in spirit and 100 years of love.  She and her husband were halfway there, having been married 50 years. Sam said their problem wasn’t commitment, but the ceremony, and Jason said if it was up to him, he’d marry Sam right there. Robert said they could do that, since he was ordained. Jason pulled out the marriage license that he just happened to have with him. Mrs. Yi said fate had brought them there, and Sam agreed.

Dante pumped Lucky for insight into Lulu, but Lucky said the Spencers were an unpredictable bunch. He told Dante not to play it safe and run from his feelings. They should love the people they were given in life while they had the chance. Anthony went to the hospital where Lisa was in a coma. (Lisa had injected herself with drain cleaner during a struggle with Patrick in June 2011.) Anthony told the doctor that he had power of attorney, and gave the hospital a lot of money. He hoped his generosity counted for something. He gave the doctor a check, and even though the doctor said the protocol was still in the early stages, and thought Anthony should get a second opinion, Anthony said he trusted the doctor, and to shoot her up. Patrick told Robin that she should respect his feelings toward Sonny, the same way he respected hers for Jason. Robin suggested they go to the wedding and get a hotel room for the night, making it a second honeymoon. Patrick said she was playing dirty, but agreed, and told her that they couldn’t let anyone come between them. Johnny got together with Cole, and told Cole to offload a boat containing drugs at the harbor. He was going to put them in Sonny’s coffee warehouse, and then give an anonymous tip to the cops. Cole worried that Sonny would figure out it was Johnny, but Johnny said there would be no proof; just make sure the drugs were unloaded. When Sonny was toasting the happy couple, Johnny would be taking him down.

At the restaurant, Robert took Sam and Jason to the back terrace, where it was romantic and lit by Chinese lanterns. Mrs. Li said something to Sam, and Robert said, loosely translated, it was that Sam’s shoes rocked. (Maxie had meant to send Sam a pair of blue shoes, but a pair of leopard boots had come instead, which Sam insisted on wearing.) Robert said Jason stood under the symbol of the dragon, and Sam stood under the symbol of the phoenix, and the union of the dragon and phoenix symbolized the union of the bride and groom. The dragon stood for strength; he scared away evil spirits, protected the innocent, and blessed the house with safety. The phoenix was the goddess of winged creatures, and brought luck, success, and prosperity, turning bad luck to good. Together, they were the ultimate sides of yin and yang, male and female, strength and beauty. Alone, they brought happiness, but together brought double happiness. Jason had his grandmother’s ring that she had worn for over 50 years. His grandfather had given it to him to give to Sam. Sam had a ring that had belonged to Jason’s father, who wanted him to have it. His parents had a love that lasted a lifetime, and so would theirs. They exchanged rings, and said their vows. Mrs. Li gave them glasses of red wine, and they drank it, doing that twisty thing with their arms. Robert said red was the color of happiness, and tonight, they were joined in happiness. Drinking the wine and honey would make life sweet and rich. From that moment forward, they were one world; earth, water, air, and fire together for all eternity. He pronounced them husband and wife. I’m not big with the romance stuff, but this was actually kind of cool.

Spinelli managed to find some wedding music for Maxie. Dante told Lucky that the moment he met Lulu, he was hooked; there was no one else like her. Lucky suggested he be patient, and let her get used to the idea. Johnny told Cole that his father knew nothing about what was going on, and while Sonny was distracted, it was perfect time to make a move. Unbeknownst to Johnny, Anthony was listening in. Sam gave Mrs. Li her leopard boots, which Mrs. Li said were too cool to refuse, and wondered what they were going to tell Maxie.

Johnny said everything was going down tomorrow night. Jason told Sam they would tell Maxie tomorrow night, and they kissed. Franco set up some Tinker Toys on the statues at the church, and said, see you tomorrow. Okay, they were really cameras, but they looked like Tinker Toys.

💣 Johnny Got His Gun…

I barely remember him, so here’s a refresh.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/johnny-zacchara

🎨 He Was a Busy Guy…

All about Franco, going back to when he was James Franco.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/franco-general-hospital-roger-howarth-155402

🧼 Someday My Soaps Will Come…

According to Soap Opera Digest, Young & Restless will resume taping on July 6th, and Bold & Beautiful has already begun production. No word on GH yet.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/06/16/bold-and-beautiful-resumes-taping-after-coronavirus-shutdown/3198891001/

😥 She Can’t Catch a Break…

Poor Scheana. 2020 hasn’t treated a lot of people well.

https://pagesix.com/2020/06/26/vanderpump-rules-star-scheana-shay-reveals-she-suffered-a-miscarriage/

🏥 I Just Know It’s Jax’s Fault…

Because he’s the worst human being on earth, and all of the world’s ills lead to him.

https://pagesix.com/2020/06/19/vanderpump-rules-star-brittany-cartwrights-mom-out-of-icu/

💒 Andy Officiates…

Because we’re starved for entertainment.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1164644/andy-cohen-to-officiate-a-wedding-on-watch-what-happens-live-for-pride-month

📺 Better Call Gus…

Along with some fun TV programming, AMC is releasing a new digital docuseries.

https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/giancarlo-esposito-to-host-new-breaking-bad-better-call-saul-inspired-docuseries-1020063/

https://www.amc.com/shows/better-call-saul/talk/2020/06/new-better-call-saul-and-breaking-bad-programming-is-coming-including-new-doc-series-hosted-by-giancarlo-esposito

🧛‍♂️ He’s Ba-a-ack…

You can’t keep a good vampire down.

https://www.bbcamerica.com/shows/nos4a2/video-extras/nos4a2-sneak-peek-season-2-episode-2

🎧 Early Aughts Interviews…

A trip down Memory Lane with entertainers from the early 00’s.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1164673/2000s-rewind-watch-early-e-interviews-with-britney-spears-destiny-s-child-more-up-and-comers

🎸 Just Sayin’…

Isn’t it funny how The Dixie Chicks are suddenly switching their name to The Chicks to disassociate themselves from racism, but it’s five seconds before they release their first album in a zillion years? Must just be a coincidence.

💖 I Heart Tyler…

But you knew that.

https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/womens-charity-that-hands-out-love-bags-homeless-has-new-van-thanks-tyler-perry/LDMV45QBTFE5NAB3LZJDOOYQB4/

🎶 You Can’t Stop the Beat…

Some live streams coming up. The 13th Annual Roots Picnic Virtual Experience (today – June 27th) looks good.

https://floodmagazine.com/78894/live-from-the-living-room-6-22-6-28-2/

🦜 Quotes of the Week

That’s the trouble with your whole MTV, microwave dinner generation. You want it all now. You think you deserve it just because you want it? It doesn’t work like that. You have to earn it, you have to take it, you have to make it yours. but before you do that, Guy, you need to decide what it is you really want. – Buddy (Kevin Spacey), Swimming with Sharks

Life is painful and messed up. It gets complicated at the worst of times, and sometimes you have no idea where to go or what to do. Lots of times people just let themselves get lost, dropping into a wide open, huge abyss. But that’s why we have to keep trying. We have to push through all that hurts us, work past all our memories that are haunting us. Sometimes the things that hurt us are the things that make us strongest. A life without experience, in my opinion, is no life at all. And that’s why I tell everyone that, even when it hurts, never stop yourself from living. – Alysha Speer

The most fundamental aggression to ourselves, the most fundamental harm we can do to ourselves, is to remain ignorant by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly and gently.Pema Chödrön

Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world better than when you found it. – Wilferd Peterson

Take wrong turns. Talk to strangers. Open unmarked doors. And if you see a group of people in a field, go find out what they are doing. Do things without always knowing how they’ll turn out. You’re curious and smart and bored, and all you see is the choice between working hard and slacking off. There are so many adventures that you miss because you’re waiting to think of a plan. To find them, look for tiny interesting choices. And remember that you are always making up the future as you go!Randall Munroe

The four hardest tasks on earth are neither physical nor intellectual feats, but spiritual ones: To return love for hate; to include the excluded; to forgive without apology, and to be able to say, I was wrong.Author Unknown

📰 Searching and Researching…

Sometimes when you’re writing about something, it turns into something else. Like what happened with that journalist in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. In working on a piece about what’s going on in the entertainment world, i.e. apologies and cancelations, I’ve learned a great deal. Not about myself – I have that one pretty much down – but about other perspectives. Woken long ago, my horizons are broadening. Coming soon, but for today, stay safe, stay engaged, and stay open to changing direction.