Tag Archives: Kristian Alfonso

Apr23

April 22, 2022 – Harmony Wants the Story Killed, Salem Return, a Split, a Suit, a House, Please Leave, New Wives, Dating, Angry Mike, Beloved, New View, Disco This, Quotes Sprinkled With the Earth & Taxi

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At a closed Savoy, Curtis looks at a chip in his hand, and N’neka says she’s glad the private party brought their own staff. She could have never cleaned up and then come in early. Not for a party that went until four in the morning. Jordan comes in and says, four in the morning. That must have been a helluva party.

Marshall waits on Pier 54, where they’ll soon be putting a 7/11, when Trina comes along, wearing an orange top that looks dynamite on her. She sees his bag, and asks if he’s going on a trip.

Ned thanks everyone for coming, and says, it’s days like today that remind them of the importance of family. A family, he’s glad to say, is expanding. He’s always thought of Leo as his son, but as of today, it’s official; it’s legal. The adoption of Leo has come through. Everyone is like, yay, and Olivia says, Leo wanted to have the same last name as his mom and dad. Ned says, without further ado, let’s have a toast to my son, Leo, and Leo says, Leo Quartermaine, hugging Ned.

Harmony comes downstairs, telling herself that she shouldn’t have had anything to drink last night. She sees Brendon’s bag and runs over to it, checking the files inside, when Alexis comes in with coffee. She says, Harmony looks like she’s been to hell and back. I laugh because Harmony looks better than me on my best day.

Sam says she didn’t think Carly was going to make it, and Carly says, Olivia isn’t just her partner, she’s one of her closest friends. She’s happy to be here. She’s just upset that Monica had to go to that convention, and couldn’t be here to celebrate Leo becoming a Quartermaine. Thank you, because I was wondering where she was. Dante says he needs a refill, and leaves, and Carly says she deserved that. Are things any better with Sam and Dante? Sam says they still have to hash some things out.

In the foyer, Leo tells Drew, adoption isn’t just for humans. Drew says, of course (🍷). People can adopt dogs and cats. Leo says, and animals can adopt other animals, especially animals that live by the water, like seagulls and elephant seals. Drew says he didn’t know that (me neither). That’s so cool. Brook says, her little bro is on his way to being a marine biologist. Leo says, he read it in the book Chase gave him for Christmas, and asks where Chase is. He promised he’d be here. Brook says, that’s a really good question. She doesn’t know where Chase is.

Chase is at the hospital, getting dressed. He tries to use his phone, but the screen is smashed and nothing works. He says, dammit. Portia comes in, and says, wow. He’s not going to waste any time getting out of here. He says he has somewhere to be this morning, and he’s already late. She says, he had a concussion. He’s not going anywhere until she signs off on it.

Elizabeth sees Finn, and says, she was just checking on Cameron. Finn asks how he is, and she says, if he wasn’t already 18, he’d be grounded forever. She thanks Finn for bailing Cameron out, and says, Cameron is worried about Chase after finding him unconscious in their living room. How is he? Finn says, awake and alert, and she says, thank God. She’s been a nurse way too long not to know accidents like these can be way more serious. He says, if it was an accident, and she says, let’s hope. The alternative is kind of freaking her out. He says, that the person who’s been stalking her family has now turned violent.

At the door to Chase’s room, Finn asks if it’s okay if they come in, and Portia says, patient’s decision. Chase says, please, come in, and Portia says she can confirm Chase’s concussion has passed. She’ll make arrangements for him to be discharged, but do her a favor and have somebody else drive him home. He thanks her, and she leaves. Finn says, a concussion? Really? Chase says he guesses he knocked something off the shelf when he was checking the cameras. Either that, or Aiden was onto something with his Ouija board. Elizabeth says, Ouija board? What is he talking about?

On the phone, Brook leaves a message for Chase, saying, she has a very special guest of honor who’s wondering where he is. She’s wondering too. She tells Leo that she’s sorry; she just got Chase’s voicemail. She doesn’t know where he is, but he’ll be here soon. Olivia says she knows Ned gives Chase a hard time, but he was so great with Leo, especially when he was with Brook and Bailey. That’s how she convinced Leo to participate in the whole theater therapy thing. She reminded him that Ned, Chase, and his big sister Brook Lynn are all performers. Brook says, Chase isn’t loving performing lately, and Drew asks what theater therapy is. Olivia says, it’s an after-school program for kids on the spectrum that uses theater skits to help them learn about speech, taking turns, or eye contact, that kind of thing. Ned says, and the whole thing culminates with a performance for the families for Autism Awareness Month. Drew says, that’s really something, and Olivia says, Leo’s been loving it. He’s making a lot of new friends, and he’s going to recite a poem for the show. She asks why Leo doesn’t recite his poem for everyone, but Leo says, the show isn’t until next week. Olivia says, she knows, but kind of like a sneak peek for family and friends. Why doesn’t he get his notecards? Leo says, okay, and goes upstairs.

Carly says she’s so sorry she put Sam in that position with Dante, but Sam says she’s a big girl. She chose to forward that email to Carly, so she could prove that Esme is behind that video of Joss and Cam. Carly says, she knows, but Sam has enough going on with her own family. Has she talked to Alexis this morning? Sam says, not since last night. Does Carly know what’s going on with Harmony? They’re not friends by any means, but she was a little concerned that Harmony was so drunk, she couldn’t stand. Carly says, Harmony said something really strange last night, and flashes back to saying, Willow’s her family, and Harmony saying, she wishes Willow was hers. She tells Sam, it was probably nothing. Harmony was so drunk she wasn’t making any sense. Willow asks what Carly is saying about her mom.

Alexis gives Harmony some coffee, and Harmony says she’s sure she owes Alexis an apology from last night. She was so drunk, she doesn’t even remember everything. Alexis says she doesn’t really expect anyone to abstain because she has to, but Harmony really did cross a line last night. Harmony says, she did? She’s so sorry. What did she do? Alexis says, Harmony bought her a drink and told her to drink it. Harmony says she didn’t know what she was thinking. She’s so, so sorry. It’s never going to happen again; Alexis knows that, right? She doesn’t drink. She’s not a drinker, except for the occasional glass of wine. Alexis asks why Harmony thinks she was kicking back double shots of whiskey? It’s very clear something’s bothering her. Harmony says she thinks the thought of Nina taking Willow to court, the whole situation’s going to snowball, and she’s all tied up in knots. Alexis says, she was hoping to break it to Harmony first, but she had the feeling Smoltz had gotten to her. Harmony asks what she means, and Alexis says, he’s a freelance reporter for The Invader, and he’s doing an in-depth piece on Nina’s quest to get visitation with Wiley.

Marshall tells Trina that he’s just waiting for his boat to arrive. He thought it would be a good idea to get out of town. She says, sounds great. With everything happening in her life, she wishes she could get away too. Missing school and her job and everything else is just… He says he has faith in her. All this is going to work out for her. Stay strong. He makes a fist, and she bumps it and thanks him. She looks at his bag, and says, he’s not a light packer, is he? How long is he going to be gone for? He looks at her, and she says, oh. Is he leaving for good? He says, it’s complicated, and she says, try her. He says, he had hoped to rejoin his family as if nothing had ever happened. That was foolish on his part. He has too many ghosts chasing after him. It would be easier if everyone just forgets he was here.

Curtis says, he didn’t know Jordan kept such close tabs on his nightclub. He assures her, everything was on the up and up, and he knows nightclubs can stay open for private parties well after 2 am. She says she was just teasing him. She’s really happy that the club is booming. She just stopped by to see how he and Portia were doing. He says, they’re fine. The rest is between her and Portia. She says, that was a little abrupt. She thought they were in a good place yesterday. She’s trying her best. She knows he has a lot on his plate. He says, she doesn’t know the half of it, and she asks what he means by that. Selena comes in, and says, apologies. She didn’t know he had company.

Michael tells Drew, it’s a good strategy. It’s aggressive; it’s unexpected. He can see why it would be good for business. Drew says, that’s probably why she gets paid the big bucks. Ned asks if they’re talking about Aurora, and Drew says, in a sense, but they’re also talking about ELQ. He got in touch with his lawyer, and he can reclaim Scout’s shares, which is great, but Valentin is still in control of Danny’s shares, which means he will control nearly half of the voting stock. All it’ll take is one disgruntled Quartermaine to flip, and they’ll be back in the same situation. Michael says, and they all know how easy it is for one of their family members to turn, and Ned says, that’s true, but what’s the alternative? Drew says he met with an executive business coach last night. She thought the best strategy would be for ELQ and Aurora to merge.

Elizabeth says, Finn told her that Aiden stopped by the house while she was sleeping? and Chase says, yeah. He was going to mention it this morning, but… He touches his head, and Elizabeth asks, but why did he come home? Chase says, he said he had a school project about ghosts. He had a Ouija board with him. He thought it was kind of strange, but maybe Aiden had a a project for science class. She says, he doesn’t have a project like that, and Chase says, eventually he figured that out, but not before Aiden tricked him into trying to contact someone specific. She asks if it’s who she thinks, and he says, Aiden was trying to contact Franco.

Selena asks if this is a bad time, and Jordan says, The Savoy isn’t open for business yet. Isn’t that right, Curtis? Curtis says, he and Miss Wu had a previously scheduled appointment. She wants to rent the club out for a private party. Selena says, yes. She has a family birthday coming up, and they want to celebrate in style. She tells Curtis that she can come back later, but Curtis says, this is a good time. Just let him wrap things up with Jordan. Selena goes over to the bar, and Jordan’s phone dings. She checks it, and says she has to go. She knows he can handle himself, but it would be prudent if he’s previously booked on the nights Selena wants the place. He says, duly noted, and she leaves. Selena asks if his ex-wife is always going to be hanging around, and he says, that’s why she chose this place, right? Because of his connections. He’s more than delivered on his end of the bargain. Her event was a success last night, well into the morning. Now does she have what he wants? She says, as agreed. His father’s sealed arrest record. She takes a file out of her bag, and he holds his hand out, but she pulls it back, and says, now that she’s delivered on her word, she expects him to deliver on his.

Carly says, she’s sorry. She doesn’t want Willow to think she and Sam were gossiping about her mom. She was just asking about Alexis. Willow tells her, don’t apologize, but if she could just clarify. Her mom was really drunk? Sam says, she and Carly saw Harmony at the MetroCourt, and she was definitely overserved. Willow says she saw her mom yesterday at the MetroCourt. She had a drink, and she did seem distracted, but not drunk. Sam says, sorry. She doesn’t know what to tell Willow. Maybe this happened after Willow saw her. Carly says, she did check with the bartender, and Harmony had three double whiskeys. That’s a lot of liquor. Willow says, she can’t remember the last time she saw her mom drink hard alcohol, and she’s never seen her drunk. Sam says, it definitely wasn’t just the whiskey. Harmony was upset about something. Willow says, now she’s really worried. Her mom’s been acting out of sorts for weeks now. Carly says she thinks she knows why.

Harmony says, this man is writing a feature on Nina’s petition? and Alexis says, a five-part feature, and Michael and Willow have given him an exclusive. Since Harmony is Willow’s mother, he wanted to reach out to her for a comment, and do a deeper dive into Willow’s background and family. Harmony jumps up, and says, absolutely not!

Elizabeth says, Aiden wanted to contact Franco? and Chase nods. He says, he knows it’s hard to hear, but with all the strange happenings at the house, Aiden has it in his head that Franco’s ghost is trying to reach out to her. Elizabeth says, maybe Franco doesn’t want her to move on, and Finn says, he’s just a kid, looking for an explanation. It’s probably easier for him to believe that Franco’s ghost is reaching out, rather than accept someone’s breaking into their house. Elizabeth says, maybe. It just seems like every time she and the boys start to move on, there’s another reminder of how traumatized they still are.

Jordan sees Portia at the hospital, and says, she understands Chase was brought in last night. Portia says, he’s right in there, indicating one of the rooms, and Jordan starts to go, but Portia says, wait a second. She wants to apologize for her behavior yesterday. Jordan didn’t deserve to be chewed out in that way. She knows Jordan was just doing her job. Jordan says, Portia wants to protect her kid. She’s been there, and doesn’t blame her. Portia says, Jordan can blame her for making it personal, making it about her history with Curtis, especially when he told her that Jordan is working behind the scenes to find out who really filmed Josslyn and Cam. Jordan says she can’t comment on an ongoing investigation, but for what it’s worth (🍷), she knows the type of young woman Trina is. She has a good moral compass, and a good heart, just like her mom.

Marshall says he has places to go, but Trina says she doesn’t understand. He was just getting closer to TJ and Curtis. And isn’t Epiphany fond of him too? Won’t he miss them? He says, of course (🍷) he’ll miss them. Of course (🍷). More than they will ever know, but sometimes the truth hurts so much, it’s better left buried. She says, but he told her the truth is worth fighting for. He also said it’s okay to take care of yourself. If he’s leaving because he thinks it would be easier on his family, he’s ignoring his own advice. He says, maybe he is doing it for himself. Maybe he realized it’s bad for him to be around his family again. She asks, why?

Curtis says, Selena needed a venue and he provided one. Her even was a success. She says, the first of many was their arrangement, and he says he’s not sure who she’s used to dealing with, but he doesn’t break his word. Her gambling operation may continue from time to time, as long as that’s all it entails. She says, well, it’s a start, and puts the file on the bar. She says, before she goes, let her give him some advice. Although she hasn’t read the file herself, she knows a thing or two about trust in a family. If you look for skeletons in the closet, you’re likely to find them, for better or worse. But once he crosses that line and opens that file, there’s no going back.

Elizabeth says she still can’t wrap her head around this. Aiden believes Franco is haunting them? Chase nods, and Jordan comes to the door. She asks if it’s a bad time, and Chase says, of course (🍷) not, and asks her to come in. She says she heard what happened, and wanted to follow up with him. He says, it was probably just a clumsy accident, and she says she hopes that’s all it is. He was injured in a house that was recently broken into. She’d like to rule out anything criminal. He says, it might be easier than she thinks. He staged cameras all over the house.  

Harmony says, Alexis knows how messy her past is. She’s not going to let some reporter go digging around in her private life. Alexis says, Michael and Willow are key to the story; Smoltz has to do background on them. If Harmony doesn’t want to participate, fine. She’s sure Smoltz can find another way to do the interview without interviewing her. Harmony says, no. The article isn’t going to run in Alexis’s paper at all.

Carly says she thinks it’s clear the whole Nina situation has taken a toll on Harmony, and Willow says she hates to think what Harmony’s reaction to the article will be. Carly says, it’s going to be tough on Harmony, but she’ll get through it, because Willow is her daughter and Willow needs this. Willow thanks Carly for the nice words, and leaves. Carly asks if Sam will give her apologies to Olivia; she has to take off. Sam asks if everything is okay, and Carly says she just wants to follow up with Alexis. She didn’t want to worry Willow, but she has the feeling Harmony knows more about the Nina situation than she’s letting on. Sam tells her, good luck, and Carly leaves.

Alexis says, she can’t publish the story? Where’s this coming from? Harmony says, Alexis of all people should understand, the more it’s investigated, the more likely it is that someone will make the connection that Willow isn’t her biological daughter. Alexis says, Willow isn’t her biological daughter. Just tell Willow the truth. If anyone can understand how you can mother a child, and not give birth, it’s Willow. But it’s Harmony’s secret to keep, not The Invader’s. She’ll make sure nothing is said about the commune, Harmony, and Willow. She’ll make sure it’s not published. Harmony says, once it’s out there, there’s no way to control it. You don’t know who will start digging or what they’ll find. Her relationship with Willow is so fragile as it is. This article is trouble for everyone involved. Alexis asks what Harmony would like her to do; kill the story? Harmony says, yes. It’s the least Alexis can do after all she’s done for Alexis. Alexis owes her that.  

Michael says, in addition to increasing ELQ’s value, and creating a new revenue stream, Valentin’s shares will be diluted, making it nearly impossible for him to have the majority again. Ned says, but that would leave Drew with the overwhelming majority of interest in the company. So where does that leave him? Drew says, they haven’t gotten that far yet. Things aren’t sorted. Why are they talking about this on Leo’s big day? They have a lot of time to work things out; talk strategy before it’s all figured out.

Olivia claps her hands, and says, all right, everyone. It’s her great pleasure to introduce the newest member of the Quartermaine family. Brook says, they’re loud, they’re crazy, but they’re very loyal, and everyone laughs. Olivia tells Leo to show everyone what he’s been practicing. Leo says, no! throws the file cards down, and runs upstairs.

Finn tells Jordan, he asked Chase to stay at Elizabeth’s to provide some security. To that end, he installed cameras in the entrances and hallways. Chase says, the plan was to pull up the footage on his phone, but – he shows her the phone – it broke last night. She says, the object that knocked him out also busted his phone? and he says, or maybe he broke it when he fell. She asks if the footage can be accessed by another device, and he says, yes, but you have to log in the first time on the home network. Jordan asks Elizabeth if they can look at the footage at her house, and she says, of course (🍷). If it gets them answers, that’d be great. Chase says he’ll come back later to sign the paperwork, and Jordan says, she appreciates his enthusiasm, but she needs him to keep his distance. He says, but he set up the cameras, and she says, if there was a crime committed, they can’t afford to corrupt the investigation. He’d be the victim, and he’s also a suspended detective. She needs him to respect the line between civilian and cop. Is that understood? He says, understood, and she says she’ll talk to him later. She and Elizabeth leave, and Finn says he’ll be back in a minute to drive Chase home. Stay put.

Trina asks why it’s bad for Marshall to be around his family, and  he says, there are things a girl like her couldn’t possibly understand. She says, try her, and he says, they were raised in different eras. She says, what does that even mean? and he says, forget it. She says, whatever he’s running from, it can’t be worse than never seeing his family again. He tells her, if she’d said that a few weeks back, he might have agreed with her, and she says, what changed? He says she’s given him a lot to think about. He doesn’t want to keep her. Doesn’t she have a gallery to get to? She says, that’s not fair using work against her, and the ferry horn blows. He says, she’s an ambitious young lady. If she wants to find her dreams, remember, it’s important to prioritize. She says she’ll see him around… she hopes. He says, if he doesn’t see her again, it’s been a privilege getting to know her.

Curtis says, he appreciates Selena’s advice, but his issues with his father are none of her concern. She says she supposes not. They’ll talk soon. She leaves, and he picks up the folder. He opens it, takes out a photo and document, and looks distressed

Harmony says, when she saw Alexis was alone at Spring Ridge, and saw she was struggling, she supported her. When Alexis got out, and made sure Harmony knew she wasn’t worthy to be her friend, she still supported Alexis. So she’s asking for Alexis’s support now. If Alexis is truly her friend, she’ll do this for her; no questions asked, Please kill this story. Alexis says, if Harmony is truly her friend, she woudn’t put her in this position, She’s going to go to work. When she gets back, they need to have a serious conversation. Maybe it’s time they reevaluate their arrangement. She leaves, and Harmony picks up a vase, smashes it on the floor, and says, dammit!

Brook, Olivia, and Ned find Leo sitting on the steps, and Brook asks, what’s wrong? He says he doesn’t want to read the cards, and Olivia says, he doesn’t have to. She didn’t want to put any pressure on him. She just wants him to know how proud she is of him. He can save it all for the big show. Leo says, no. He’s not going to be in the play anymore. He runs upstairs, and Olivia tells Ned, she messed this up, but he says, he’s got it. He follows Leo upstairs, and Olivia tells Brook, she doesn’t know what happened. The counselors are all saying he’s making such great progress. She hopes he’s not regressing. Brook tells her not to jump to conclusions. This may not have anything to do with Leo being on the spectrum; a lot of kids get stage fright. Olivia hopes she’s right, and Brook says she’s been known to get stage fright herself; she recognizes the signs. Olivia says, she’s going to check on him. Maybe if it turns out to be that, Brook and Chase could give him a little pep talk, since they’re both performers. She goes upstairs, and Brook says, if Chase ever shows.

Portia tells Chase, good news. She’s got his discharge paperwork. All he needs to do is sign, and he’s out of here. He says he has to wait for his brother for a ride. Finn is playing detective with his boss. He signs, gives her back the clipboard, and asks if she happens to have any of the Quartermaine’s phone numbers. He has to reach out to Brook. She says, he doesn’t have their numbers? and he says, not memorized, no. That’s the downside of having everything stored in your phone. It’s great until it breaks. She asks why he needs Brook, and he says, the Quartermaines are having a big family day, and he promised her that he’d be there. She says she thinks Brook will understand once she finds out he was in the hospital, and he says, it’s been tricky with them, trying to out their friendship without Bailey between them. He feels like he keeps disappointing her. He guesses that bump on the head shook him up more than he realized. He doesn’t usually open up to people he doesn’t know. She says, in her experience, she’s found a little effort can go a long way, and he says, since his phone is busted, can she help him order a Ride Share?

At Elizabeth’s house, Finn points out where they found Chase, and says, that was on the floor beside him. We see a metal giraffe sculpture on the floor, and Jordan says, no one saw what hit Chase, right? Elizabeth says, she was upstairs, asleep, and Finn says he was bailing out Cameron. Jordan picks up the sculpture (wearing gloves) and asks Elizabeth if she can download the app, so they can see the security camera footage. Elizabeth says, sure, and Jordan says, while Elizabeth is doing that, does she mind if Jordan looks around? Elizabeth says, of course (🍷), and Finn says, he gave the place a once over. All the doors and windows were locked. Jordan says, that didn’t stop the intruder before, so let’s cover all our bases. Jordan goes upstairs, and Elizabeth tells Finn, the app might take a few minutes to download, She sees the Ouija board, and says, she didn’t think anything of it until Chase said something. How could she have missed that? He tells her, don’t be hard on herself. She’s had a lot going on. She’s been a parent long enough to know when things get confusing, or sad, or a little scary, kids latch on to a fantasy to make sense of everything.

Curtis says, dammit Marshall, and hears Trina come in. He says, they’re not open, and she says, Curtis. He shoves everything back in the folder, and asks what she’s doing here. She says she was on her way to work, and had the feeling he might want to know, and he says, know what? She says, she saw his dad at the pier, and he had a bag with him. He said he’s leaving town.

At the pier, Marshall looks at a ticket.

Sam asks Dante if she can please take another second to apologize for putting a wedge between them. She’s trying to find the boundaries in this relationship is, and it’s been a really long time since she’s been with someone who… He says, it’s cool; she can tell him anything. She says, someone who plays by the rules. He says he’s sorry too. He feels like he came down harder on her than he needed to. She says she understands he needs to feel that he can trust her, and she fully intends to prove he can. He says he does trust her. He was disappointed that she looked at privileged information. He knows she has this impression that he’s Johnny Follow-the-Rules, but he has been known to break the rules from time to time. He’s also finding the line in the relationship. She says she thinks it’s good news that they have all the time in the world, because she doesn’t plan on going anywhere. He says, him either, because he loves her. She says she loves him too, and they kiss.

Brook opens the door to Chase, and says, he’d better have a good excuse. He brings a huge bouquet of flowers out from behind his back, and she sort of smiles.

Jordan says, she did a sweep of the entire house. There’s no sign of forced entry. She suggests they take a look at Chase’s footage, Elizabeth says, it’s ready. Jordan says, let’s see what happened last night, and Elizabeth asks if it’s fair to say she’s a little nervous, and Jordan says, of course (🍷). They’re all just trying to find answers. They see Chase reaching for the camera, and the screen goes black. Elizabeth asks, what happened? and Jordan says, it looks like the file is corrupted. Finn asks, how is that possible?  

The ferry horn blows again, and Marshall gets up. He says, time to go, and picks up his bag. Curtis says, running away again, huh? and Marshall turns to see him on the pier.

Harmony takes the file folder out of Brendon’s bag. She looks at the fireplace, and says, she’ll burn it, and that will be the end of it. She pulls out all the papers, and puts them in the fireplace, but there are no matches on the mantel. She goes out of the room, and Carly knocks at the door. She calls to Alexis, knocks, and calls again. She starts to leave, and says, she knows  that’s Harmony’s car in the driveway. Harmony returns with the fireplace matches, and is about to light up the papers, when Carly walks in and says, Harmony?

On Monday, Curtis asks why Marshall didn’t just tell him; Michael says he wants nothing to do with someone; Diane asks Alexis, why would she even think about that; Sonny needs to ask Willow a favor; and Carly asks Harmony, what’s going on with her and Nina?

🧼 Reunited…

A fan favorite couple is joining Beyond Salem.

https://ew.com/tv/peter-reckell-kristian-alfonso-return-days-of-our-lives-beyond-salem/

🏛 Huge Surprise, Not…

I’m thinking, him grabbing other men’s butts might have had something to do with it.

https://people.com/tv/trust-issues-inconsistencies-led-rhop-ashley-michael-darby-split-source/

🍑 Boop…

I’m staying out of this one. Only she knows for sure, but why now?

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ellendurney/nene-leakes-lawsuit-real-housewives-andy-cohen

🍊 House Of Insecurities…

I just thought this was funny.

https://pagesix.com/2022/04/21/grace-and-frankie-star-heather-dubrows-house-built-by-insecurities/

👠 You Can’t Fire Me…

I’m sure they did ask her to leave. No one wants a lawsuit, least of all Bravo.

https://pagesix.com/2022/04/15/margaret-rhonj-producers-asked-teresa-to-leave-nashville-house/

💳 Two New Wives…

The new season of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills begins on May 11th and the latest in the franchise, the Real Housewives of Dubai, premieres June 1st.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/the-real-housewives-of-beverly-hills-season-12-cast-premiere-date-trailer

RHOA’s Phaedra Makes ‘Real Housewives of Dubai’ Trailer Cameo, Cast Revealed

🍸 Good For Her…

Raquel gets back on the horse after a very bumpy and long ride.

https://pagesix.com/2022/04/03/vanderpump-rules-star-raquel-on-dating-after-james-kennedy-split/

🍹 He Should Be ShahShamed…

I can’t believe MJ said she’s never seen him angry. Funny. I have. Are we watching the same show?

Mercedes Javid Defends Mike Shouhed Following His Arrest For Domestic Violence
https://pagesix.com/2022/04/15/shahs-star-mike-shouhed-vacations-with-fiancee-after-arrest/

🥀 Sad Men…

His dimples will live on forever. I just loved him.

‘Mad Men’ Actor and Broadway Star Robert Morse Dead at 90

🎊 Unseen Festival…

Parties at Coachella.

https://people.com/music/coachella-2022-what-you-didnt-see-festival-parties/

💃🏽 Studio Gems…

Some fun tidbits about Studio 54. I would have liked more pictures of the animals though.

https://nypost.com/2022/04/16/how-rikers-became-an-iconic-part-of-studio-54/
https://nypost.com/2022/04/16/animals-were-life-of-the-party-at-nycs-legendary-studio-54/

🌎 Quotes of the Week

Land really is the best art. – Andy Warhol

People are frugal guarding their personal property, but as soon as it comes to squandering time they are most wasteful of the one thing in which it is right to be stingy. – Seneca

Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn’t know it so it goes on flying anyway. – Mary Kay Ash

To leave the world better than you found it, sometimes you have to pick up other people’s trash. – Bill Nye

Confidence comes not from always being right, but from not fearing to be wrong. – Peter McIntyre

For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver. – Martin Luther King Jr.

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

If a woman can change her mind, she can change her life. – Jennifer Allwood

Nature does not hurry yet everything is accomplished. – Lao Tzu

If my answers frighten you, Vincent, then you should cease asking scary questions. – Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson), Pulp Fiction

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof. – Richard David Bach

Look after the land and the land will look after you, destroy the land and it will destroy you. – Aboriginal Proverb

Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose the former and have seen no reason to change. – Frank Lloyd Wright

I think it would be great to be born on Earth and to die on Mars. Just not on impact. – Elon Musk

The Earth is what we all have in common. – Wendell Berry

🌱 To Everything There Is a Season…

Enjoy whatever the next two days are to you, and I’ll see you when it’s time for some Fear. Until then, stay safe, stay applauding small achievements, and stay not drinking three double whiskeys when you have a several huge secrets to hide.

Feb3

February 2, 2021 – Dante Has Some Visitors, Amazon Allies, New Andrews, Abrupt Exit, She’s the Topic, Ashton’s Oops & Change

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Laura is talking on the phone about Rocco at the MetroCourt, when Cyrus approaches. He says he didn’t mean to eavesdrop, and she says, of course (🍷) not. He says he heard about her former son-in-law. It’s a dangerous world, although with their family, it seems to be the rule rather than the exception, doesn’t it?

Sam visits Dante, who asks what he’s doing there. She says, he doesn’t remember? and he says he feels like he was hit by a truck. She says, close. He was stabbed with a loaded syringe. He says, by who? and she says, her mother.

Martin meets Alexis in Jordan’s office, and tells her, it’s just a formality. Bail was posted, so she’s now a free woman. She says it hasn’t been that long since she was disbarred; she knows the drill. He says he’s sure she remembers extenuating circumstances as well, and she says she appreciates the effort, but she wants one thing no defense attorney can give her – a drink.

At the MetroCourt with Maxie, Peter tells someone on the phone that every word he printed is the truth. It’s a first amendment issue, and as his attorney, they need to fight any attempt to suppress the story. He hangs up, and asks Maxie, what’s wrong? Is it the baby? She says both she and the baby are fine, and he says, then what? She says, nothing. She just can’t help thinking if it wasn’t for his big scoop… Never mind. He says if she wants to say something about the article, go ahead. She says if he hadn’t written it, Alexis wouldn’t have gone after Franco, and accidentally stab Dante.

Franco knocks on Scotty’s apartment door, and says, dad, open up. Obrecht grabs him and drags him into the apartment. She asks if he was followed, and he says, other than the usual villagers with torches and pitchforks, probably not. She says, good. It would complicate the situation if she were discovered. He asks when she’s going to get the voices out of his head like she promised? She says she’s working on it, and he says, so was Dr. Kirk, and he wound up with a knife in his chest. She says, with a man like that, it was bound to happen sooner or later. He says, Dante didn’t deserve a syringe in his sternum, and she asks how that’s relevant when the syringe was meant for him. Peter has convinced everyone he’s a homicidal lunatic. He says he noticed, and she says, they have to access Drew’s memories while there’s still time.

At the hospital, Anna tells Doc, not only were Dante and Obrecht being treated by Dr. Kirk, she has reason to believe Obrecht is no longer in WSB custody. She could be anywhere. Doc asks if she thinks Obrecht came back to Port Charles, and she says, it’s as good a place as any. She asks how Dante is, and he says, almost fully recovered. She says, thank God. It’s probably too soon… He says she wants to talk to him, and she says she feels that somehow he’s at the center of all this. Maybe if she talks to him… Elizabeth interrupts, saying, she wanted to let Anna know, her husband is lucky to be alive, no thanks to her son.   

Laura tells Cyrus, they may be related, but they’re not family. He says, wow. And she accuses him of being cold. She says her daughter is in a coma she may never recover from, so forgive her, but where he’s concerned, she’s all out of warmth. He says she thinks he’s unfeeling, but if he were this unfeeling monster, would he keep this reminder of the family who turned their backs on him? He puts an envelope on the table.

Martin says he won’t remind Alexis that it was her drinking that got her into this mess. She thanks him for not reminding her, and he says, the state of her intoxication at the time of the alleged attack, as well as the intended victim’s history of violence, more than qualifies for extenuating circumstances. She should walk. Jordan comes in, and asks if his defense is really throwing his client under the bus as a hopeless drunk. Alexis asks if that isn’t what Jordan, and everyone else, is telling her that she is?   

Maxie says she doesn’t blame Peter, but has he seen the social media reaction? People are scared to death. He asks if she thinks he shouldn’t have printed it, and she says, no… She doesn’t know… Maybe. If Franco becomes a danger, yes. Alexis is a level-headed person when she’s sober, and she tried to kill Franco. Part of her feels that if Peter had sat on the story, Dante wouldn’t be in the hospital. He says, Dante is fine, and knowing Franco’s history, who knows how many people were saved by him warning the public?  

Franco asks where his dad is, and Obrecht says she and Franco have the opportunity to discuss what needs to be done, and Franco says, what needs to be done is he should be getting some body armor, now that Peter turned him back into Public Enemy #1. She says, he’s fine; Alexis missed. He says, and Dante saved his life. Explain that to him. Dante hates him. Why would that guy do that? Obrecht says, once a cop, always a cop. Who knows? The important thing now is regaining Drew’s memories. Her duplication of Kirk’s methodology is taking longer than she thought, but since Doc is treating him, why not turn that to their advantage? Maybe hypnosis will help him regain the memories, and they can find out why he’s hearing Peter’s voice. He says he’ll give it a shot, and she says, he needs to do it as soon as possible, before someone else comes after him who might not miss.  

Doc tells Anna that he has to return some calls, and escapes. Anna says she understands Elizabeth is upset, but she doesn’t think it’s fair to blame Peter for Alexis’s actions. Alexis has been struggling with her drinking lately. Elizabeth agrees that Alexis’s judgement was impaired, but Peter decided to plaster Franco’s private medical information across The Invader. Anna says she respects Elizabeth, but what does she expect Anna to do? Peter is a grown man. He’s not going to listen to her. Elizabeth says the reason she wanted to talk to Anna was, she appreciates the wedding invitation – she loves Finn and Violet – but Peter declared open season on Franco. It’s no longer safe for them to attend. Anan says, Peter had an obvious error in judgment, but didn’t Peter save Franco’s life when Obrecht tried to have him killed? Elizabeth says, it makes you wonder who the real Peter is. The guy who rescued Franco, or the guy who put Franco’s life in danger to get ahead. 

Sam tells Dante, her mother had been drinking when they heard the news about Franco, and was terrified Franco would come after her again. Sam wanted to confront Franco herself, so she came to GH. Her mother insisted on coming along, and kind of snapped. She disappeared, and found a loaded syringe. She lunged for Franco, but Dante jumped in front of him. Dante says, and here he is. She says, the syringe was loaded with lidocaine, and it’s really bad when it’s injected close to the heart. She’s sure Portia will fill him in on the details, but the good news is, he’s going be okay. He asks, what happened to Franco? and she says, her mom missed, so he’s fine, but she doesn’t get why he would risk own life to save Franco.

Anna tells Elizabeth that she’s sorry about the article, and Elizabeth says, Franco is experiencing none of the same symptoms he had before; they’re entirely different ones. Peter didn’t even bother to investigate. He just twisted facts that he never should have had access to, and now Franco is a target.

Franco tells Obrecht, he has a few problems. One is going to kill him, and one will make him crazy before it kills him. Obrecht says, normally, she wouldn’t recommend talk therapy, but Doc and his homicidal twin were also involved with the memory transfer experiment. That could be useful. Franco says, until she can help him, maybe Doc is their best hope; here goes nothing. He gets his coat, and she tells him, be careful. They have to assume Anna is working closely with Doc. If the scarecrow realizes that Drew’s memories could incriminate Peter, ask himself, who would Anna rather see go down? Him or her son? Franco leaves, and Obrecht sits and thinks.    

Peter tells Maxie, he knows it was a very controversial decision. His legal department agrees with her, but it’s his obligation to tell the truth. She says, yes, but he could have thought of a little less of a ripper strikes again headline. He says, The Invader is also in the business of making money, and she tells him, she hated the man that Franco was, and has no interest in knowing the man he’s become. He asks, why defend him? and she says she knows what it’s like to defy people’s expectations of you. From what she’s seen, Franco is nothing but a devoted husband and stepdad. Peter says he’s sure Franco is – until the ticking time in his head goes off, and Franco becomes the city’s worst nightmare.

Laura asks Cyrus what it is, and he says it’s a photo from his childhood – yes, he had one. Now let him ask her if she has the courage to look at it, and risk seeing her sworn enemy in a different light. She looks at the photo, and says, Gordon. Of course (🍷). They look so happy. Cyrus says he’s the one making rabbit ears over his baby brother’s head. She says, making trouble behind Martin’s back; she’s not surprised. He says, this is his family, and Martin’s, and hers. They’re all each other’s flesh and blood. She puts the picture on a table. 

Martin says, in case the news hasn’t graced Jordan’s desk already, Alexis already entered a plea of not guilty. Jordan says she’s happy to hear it, but she didn’t ask Alexis to come to her office as the Commissioner. She wants to speak to her as a friend. Alexis asks if Jordan warned Molly and TJ. She started to call them about 12 times, but she doesn’t suppose they want anything to do with her. Jordan says they’re worried about her; they all are. How is she? Alexis says she’s sober, and Jordan says, good. Alexis says she doesn’t like it. She didn’t like it when she looked in the mirror. She took a good long look, and didn’t recognize herself. She realized she’s used up her get-out-of-jail-free cards, and there’s not much left. Why doesn’t she just face what she’s done, and change her plea to guilty, and face the consequences.

Dante tells Sam, if he knew why, he’d tell her, and she says, Robert told her that Dante’s cop instincts kicked in. Dante says he doesn’t think he has any, but thanks for checking in on him. Anna comes by, and Dante says he’s surprised she doesn’t want to give him hell for saving Franco. She says she did want to ask him about that, and Sam says, she just did. Anna says, and? Dante flashes back to Obrecht clicking the pen, and saying, Franco is the key to Peter’s guilt. It’s up to Dante to protect him at all costs. Anna asks if there’s something Dante wants to tell them.

Dante says he’s the type that runs into trouble, when anyone with good sense would run away, and Anna says, that’s the definition of a hero. She’s glad he’s okay. He thanks her, and she says she’s sorry. He says, for what? and she says, for the reason Alexis got so… Sam says, crazy? and Anna says, excited. It was because of an article Peter ran on Franco. He says, it’s not her fault, and she thanks him for that. She says she just wanted to check in on him; they’ll catch up later. He says, he looks forward to it, and Anna tells Sam, it’s good to see her, and leaves. Sam guesses that leaves only one person to blame.

Martin tells Jordan, his client was speaking hypothetically; there’s no way she should plead guilty. Alexis says, right now it’s 70/30 against, but that could change. Jordan says, her concern isn’t Alexis’s plea right now. Her concern is that Alexis stop self-destructing. Jordan’s phone rings, and she says she’s on her way. She tells them, she needs to see someone in the squad room, and they can use her office for as long as they need to. She leaves, and Martin says, Alexis has been on a collision course with herself for some time. She asks why he’s acting like he knows her; he doesn’t. He’s just Valentin’s hired gun. He says he wouldn’t be so dismissive of Valentin; he posted her bail. She suggests he ask for a refund, and throw her back in jail where she belongs. Martin tells her, get over herself. Does she have any idea what some people would give to be reunited with their loved ones? And she’s throwing it away with both hands. It would serve her right if he threw her to the wolves. She asks why he doesn’t, and he says, unlike her, he’s proud to be an attorney, and he’s going to do his damnedest to defend her, whether she likes it or not.

Cyrus tells Laura, the photo is hers to borrow. She can’t keep it, but he can have it scanned if she likes. She says she knows what he’s doing; he’s incredibly transparent. He says, be all means, enlighten him. Explain his sinister ulterior motive. She says he knows how much family means to her, and he’s playing on that to get her to do more to get his mother home. He says he knows she feels she has no reason to help him, and blames him, however wrongly, for taking her daughter from her. She says, then why the nostalgia? and he says, it’s her father. She says, they never met, but he says, the connection is still there. There’s nothing she can do to change it. She says, there’s nothing she needs to do, and he says, true, but have another look at the picture. This is their family, before everything went wrong. She takes it from him, and he walks away. She looks at it again.

Peter tells Maxie, they’re so close to the wedding and welcoming their daughter into the world. He would never do anything to spoil that. She says she knows, and he asks if she ever thinks about how far they’ve come to get to this moment. She says, all the time. What hits her is how three years ago, they were strangers. She was married to Nathan, and in a moment, everything changed. Faison shot Nathan, and not long after that, Nathan died.

Elizabeth apologizes to Doc for barging in on his conversation with Anna, but he says, it’s quite all right. Franco comes into the hospital, and says, this is convenient. He was about to beg Doc for a session. Doc asks why he needs one, and Franco says he keeps hearing Peter’s voice in his head, talking to Drew, and he has a lot to say. Anna listens from around the corner.

Anna joins them, and says, sorry. She didn’t mean to… Franco’s been hearing voices? Are those the symptoms Elizabeth was talking about? Elizabeth says, yes. Not dark, homicidal impulses. Voices. Anna asks how Franco can be sure it’s Peter, and he says he knows Peter’s voice. Anna asks if it’s because of the tumor, and Elizabeth says, they thought so at first, but Dr. Kirk thought it was something else. Franco says, Kirk thought it didn’t have anything to do with the brain tumor; that it was Drew’s implanted memories.

Maxie tells Peter, when Nathan died, she wanted the world to stop, and there he was, refusing to let her give up. He was a real pain in the ass. He says, he knows what Nathan meant to her. He sees it in her every time she’s with James, and of course (🍷), he wonders if he’ll pale in comparison. Nathan was a genuine hero; someone you could look up to. He hopes he’ll never let Nathan down. Maxie says, she knows he won’t.

Martin approaches Laura at the MetroCourt, and asks where on earth she found the photo. She says, his brother, and he says, pulling at the old heartstrings? Pure manipulation, meant to spur her to action, in the hopes of her tracking down their poor mother. She says she told Cyrus that he was being ridiculously transparent. Martin says, utterly. So, did it work?

Cyrus goes to Jordan’s office, and says they need to talk. She says, if it’s about the search for his mother, there’s nothing she can do. And thankfully, nothing she has to do. There’s nothing he has on her. He says she’s broken free from him, so she can reclaim her integrity and the love of her husband. How is that working out for her?

Dante tells Sam, he’s not exactly happy that her mom plunged a syringe in his chest, but if anyone understands the desire to kill Franco, it’s the two of them. Sam says, true, but it wasn’t them; it was her mother. Her mother is starting to worry her – a lot. She’s inclined to take the kids and run as far and as fast as she can. Dante says she doesn’t mean that, but she says part of her does. He says he’s on to her. She came there last night and today, because she wants to make up for what her mom did. She tells him that he’s a detective. Don’t do that shrink stuff with her. She just wishes she could help her mom in a way she’d accept. They hear the guard telling someone they can’t go in; he knows who she is. Alexis walks in, and the guard says he’ll escort her out, but Dante says he’s got this. He has a bodyguard in case things get crazy. The guard closes the door, and Sam tells Alexis, she shouldn’t be there. Alexis says she knows. She’s practically begging to be arrested again. Sam asks if that’s what she wants, but Alexis says, no. She wanted to see if they were both okay.

Alexis says she just wanted to tell Dante how sorry she is, and how much she regrets what she did. Dante says he was cop for a long time. He knows good people, and decent people do stupid things. Things they wish they could take back. He’s not the one she has to make it up to. Sam says he doesn’t have to do this, but he says he wants to. He thinks they should fix it before it’s too late.

In a wig, glasses, and mask, Obrecht looks at the Patient Services Directory on the GH server. She puts in Dante’s name.  

Anna asks about the time Franco was in Geneva, and he says he saw Dr. Kirk once. He had one consultation before Kirk ended up on the wrong side of a knife. She asks if Dante had left by then, and Franco says, Dante was a patient? That’s a pretty big coincidence. Doc says, probably, and Anna says, what about Obrecht? She was also a patient. Kirk decided to treat her after she was released from Steinmaur. Did he not know any of that? Franco says, as far has he knows, Obrecht is still in Steinmaur, and as far as he’s concerned, she can stay there. He thought she was his friend, and she tried to kill him. Can he have that session now? Elizabeth says she wants a conversation with him first. They step away, and she says she’s going to ask him a question he needs to answer honestly. He’s seen Obrecht, hasn’t he? Alive and well, and out of prison. Franco reluctantly says, yeah… and she asks how he could have seen Obrecht and not told her.   

Drying her eyes, Maxie tells Peter, they need to stop having meaningful conversations for a while. It’s hard to tell if it’s regular hormones or third trimester hormones. She doesn’t want Dante to see her like this. He asks if she’s going to the hospital, and she says she owes it to Lulu to check on him. Peter says to give Dante his best, and she leaves. Peter makes a call, and says they have something he needs, and he needs it now.

Laura tells Martin, she wishes she’d never seen the picture. She didn’t need see her father with his happy little family. Martin says she’s part of that family too, should she so choose, even if she’s not in the photo. Laura says she’ll tell Martin what she told his brother. Martin says, their brother, and she says, to her, family is much more than flesh and blood. It’s more than DNA. It’s definitely something she won’t share with Cyrus. Martin asks if she’ll share it with him. Because if there’s the slightest chance, he needs to know what she’s doing to put mama back in the picture.

Jordan tells Cyrus, not that it’s any of his business, but… Wait. It isn’t any of his business. He says, never wait until tomorrow to atone for your mistakes, for tomorrow may never come. She says she can’t tell if it’s a veiled threat or he’s sincere. He says, in the past, he’s used the stick to get what he wants, but today he’s using the carrot. She asks what the carrot would be, and he says something she wants nearly as much as he wants his mother back.

Alexis says she appreciates what Dante is trying to do, but he says, don’t tell him; tell Sam. Alexis says she knows there’s nothing she can say. She’s burned every bridge, and she doesn’t think there’s any earth left to scorch. She tells Sam to stay and take care of her friend and herself. She’s just going to go. She leaves, and Sam thanks Dante for trying. He tells her not to give up on her mom.

Alexis gets in the elevator, and Sam follows her. Sam says, going down? and Alexis says, it certainly seems that way. Sam says, it’s her call.

Obrecht goes to Dante’s room, and congratulates him for saving Franco’s life. He tells her, he’d like to say it’s his pleasure, and she says, however, the mission is not yet completed. There is more they must do to stop Peter, and he’s the man to do it.   

Dante says, Obrecht was exonerated, and there’s no smoking gun. There’s no evidence suggesting Peter framed her. He covered his tracks too well. She tells him, keep looking, and he says he plans to. He wants Maxie and James away from Peter as much as she does. He’s digging. Obrecht says, dig faster. Anna already suspects she’s out of prison, and mustn’t know she’s back in Port Charles, if they’re to stop this wedding. If Maxie walks down the aisle, she and Peter will be bound in ways that can never be undone. I guess Obrecht has never heard of divorce. She clicks the pen, and tells Dante he’s to do what he must to complete the mission. It’s up to him, but Peter and Maxie must never be allowed to say I do.

At the reception desk, Maxie asks what room Dante is in. Because this is GH, where there are no visiting hours, and anyone can just wander around where and when they feel like it.

Peter thanks a man for meeting him at the MetroCourt, and the man says he wishes all of his clients were as discerning as Peter. He shows Peter a set of wedding rings, saying they’re the ones Peter selected. Do they speak to him? Peter says, fluently. They say, ‘til death do us part.

Maxie goes to Dante’s room. She finds him sleeping, and says she’s not going to wake him. She just wants him to know how happy she is he’s okay. Lulu really needs him, and she needs him too, as her friend; her once and hopefully future bestie-in-law. She needs him at the wedding. She kisses his forehead, and Obrecht looks in through the window.   

Laura tells Martin, Cyrus’s attempt at manipulation backfired. All he did was remind her of what was taken from her. Martin says, Lulu, and she says, of course (🍷); he understands. On the other hand, she understands him to be a completely innocent bystander. He asks what she’s saying. She won’t help Cyrus, but she’ll help him? He’s completely comfortable with that. She laughs, and says, Florence is his mother too, and neither one of them deserves to get caught up in this mess. She can’t make any promises, but she’ll do what she can to bring his mother back to him.

Sam and Alexis go into a room where there are chairs placed in circle. Alexis says she remembers this feeling; the feeling of not wanting to be there, and desperately wanting a drink. She doesn’t think she can do this. She’s sorry. Sam asks if she actually has not hit rock bottom yet. How many people does she have to hurt before she realizes she needs help?

Jordan tells Cyrus, she can’t just snap her fingers and get his mom back. He tells her to consider it a hostage negotiation. Let Jason know, if he returns Cyrus’s mother, Cyrus will see that Taggert goes free.  

Franco tells Elizabeth, here’s the skinny. Obrecht was exonerated, and she had nothing to do with trying to kill him. Elizabeth says, Obrecht told him so, and he believed her. He says, of course (🍷) not, but there’s proof. The WSB believed her and released her. They’ve been working hard to find who framed her, and she’s been really helpful to him since Kirk died. Elizabeth asks when he’s going to learn that Obrecht is only out for Obrecht. If she’s helping him, he has to ask himself, what’s in it for her? They’ll deal with Drew’s memories later, but right now, they need to focus on treating the tumor and saving his life.

Anna tells Doc, first they find out, Franco was referred to Kirk as a patient. Then the find out Dante was also his patient. Doc says, then Obrecht. She asks, what’s the common denominator? and he takes it that there wasn’t enough unredacted in the files for her to crosscheck. She says, no. She does know that Obrecht is free, Dante is still suffering from PTSD… He says, and Franco is hearing Peter’s voice in his head. She says, they’re getting closer to understanding how it all fits together. They just have to keep looking. He says, no matter where it leads? and she repeats, no matter where it leads. 

Tomorrow, Portia asks why Trina is buttering her up, Maxie asks Dante if he can forgive Peter, Laura asks if she and Carly can’t compromise, and Jason says Cyrus’s fear is their leverage.

📌 That’s a Fact…

Heard on the internet: This month, AV Club is going to highlight some of the programming from various and sundry networks and streamers that are tied to Black History Month. First up is Amazon. Prime Video’s Amplifying Black Voices page will, beginning today, feature a curated collection of titles to honor Black History Month across four weekly themes- Black Joy (week 1), Black Love (week 2), Black History Makers (week 3) and Black Girl Magic (week 4). All titles will celebrate the voices of Black actors, producers, writers, and filmmakers. There’s also a watchlist from One Night In Miami director Regina King, which naturally includes One Night In Miami.

🧼 Adding Some Soap…

A soap star and two V.C. Andrews films? My head might explode. V.C. Andrews’s All That Glitters and Hidden Jewel, starring Kristian Alfonso (ex-Hope, Days of Our Lives), will premiere on Lifetime on Saturday, March 27th and Sunday, March 28th, respectively at 8 pm ET.

⛷ He’s Just Not Gonna Be There Anymore…

So will he be going upstairs to polish his skis?

https://people.com/tv/donny-boaz-announces-exit-from-the-young-and-the-restless/

👠 How She’s Doing…

Looks like Wendy is the hot topic lately.

https://pagesix.com/2021/01/31/wendy-williams-documentary-the-9-biggest-revelations/

https://www.essence.com/articles/wendy-williams-interviews/

🛌🏻 For Your Amusement…

Good thing she wasn’t watching The Haves and The Have Nots.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1233786/ashton-kutcher-mistook-bridgerton-for-porn-after-catching-mila-kunis-watching-a-nsfw-episode

🐑 Time To Count Sheep…

I can’t seem to keep track of the Dallas Wives. I have a Tuesday night Zoom meeting at the same time, and for whatever reason, Bravo doesn’t rerun it. Although they do run endless episodes of Chrisley Knows Best. Again, why is that guy famous? While you’re figuring that out, stay safe, stay changing it up when you can, and stay using neither the carrot nor the stick. We’re not donkeys.

Jan16

January 15, 2021 – Tracy’s Story Gets Shaky, Reilly Farewell, a Hoax, Double the Fun, Shannon Compares, Two Wives Down, Stalled Awards, OLTL Memories, Broadway On Soap, OctoQuotes Plus Three & I Know

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Phyllis tells Sonny, welcome to the Tan-O, the best place town. Not that there’s much competition. Sonny says he likes it, and she says she thought he would. She made him an appointment with a neurologist tomorrow, a specialist in memory loss, but for now he needs a warm place to stay, and some friendly faces. He says he appreciates her kindness, but he’s got no money. She says she covered him at the clinic, and as for this place, the bartender has a soft spot for her; he’s her husband. Sonny laughs, and Phyllis introduces her husband Lenny. Lenny tells Sonny not to let the door hit him on his way out.

Tracy sees Finn, and says, hello stranger, but Finn says he’s not the stranger. He’s been there the whole time. She’s the one who skipped town on him. She says she’s back, and taking him to dinner, and he says he’d love that, but… She says she has the feeling a paltry excuse is coming. Finn says he’s monitoring a critical patient. He heard she’s been busy since she got back, and she asks who’s been telling tales about her. He says, Alexis.   

Alexis looks over Julian’s photos again.

Sam tells Olivia, if Alexis doesn’t remember disarming the alarm, maybe it’s possible they didn’t come to the house. Olivia says she realizes she dragged Sam there to listen to Alexis’s story, and Sam asks if Olivia is having second thoughts. Olivia says she doesn’t want to believe that Tracy deliberately lied, and Sam says, then quit. Olivia says, without knowing the truth? and Sam tells her, then she has to be willing to follow where it leads, even if it’s to her own family.   

Chase sits at the MetroCourt bar, and Michael asks if the seat next to him is taken. Chase says be his guest, and Michael tells the bartender, he’ll have what Chase is having.  

Willow opens the door to Sasha, and says she wasn’t sure Sasha would come. Sasha says, to be honest, she thought about bailing a thousand times, and Willow says, since they’re being honest, part of her wished Sasha would. She asks what convinced Sasha to show up, and Sasha says she tallied the reasons to stay away, and avoid what her counselor calls emotional complications. That took time. On the other side of the ledger, she could only find one reason to come. Willow says, and that was? Sasha tells Willow that she didn’t have anything better to do.

At Pozzulo’s, Cyrus asks, how about that nightcap? and Brick says, they have hemlock and arsenic. Name his poison. Cyrus laughs, and says it’s good to see Brick again, and Jason asks what he wants. Cyrus says he wants to celebrate the life of their fallen comrade. His deepest condolences to both of them about Sonny. In this moment, he’d like nothing more than to set their differences aside – and there are many – and raise a glass to their friend. Brick says, as if Sonny was ever Cyrus’s friend, and Cyrus says all their friction is in the past. He almost said water under the bridge, but that would have been in poor taste. Now is the time for them to join together before the wrong people fill the void left behind be Sonny. May he rest in peace.

Olivia says, before she commits to anything, she wants to know how Sam is going to prove Tracy lied. Sam says the security company that installed the alarm also monitors it 24/7, and Olivia says, so they’d be able to tell her if anyone activated the alarm that night. Sam says, or if it was disarmed the night the car went off the road. Olivia says, which supports the theory that the two of them were never at the house, and Sam says, leaving Tracy’s story up for grabs. Olivia asks if they shouldn’t get Alexis involved, and Sam says, normally, she’d say yes, but her mom is walking an emotional tightrope right now. If they get her hopes up… Alexis comes downstairs, and Sam asks if she’s okay.

Tracy and Finn go into his office, and Tracy says they were talking about Alexis. Did Alexis tell him that she was with her the night she got hammered and drove her car off the road? He says, Alexis swears she never got behind the wheel. He guesses she’s in some pretty deep denial. Tracy says, they both know from bitter experience, denial can be your worst enemy. He says, tell him about it, and she says, maybe he should tell her about it. He’s about to get married, and suddenly has this grim look on his face. What’s that all about?

Chase asks if Michael is just a guy having a beer, or is this a cover for a sneak attack? Michael tells him not to worry. He thinks he made his point at the gym. Chase says, something tells him, they’re not even. He hasn’t seen Michael since the authorities called off the search for his father, and he wants Michael to know how sorry he is. Michael thanks him, and says he knows the PCPD did what they could. Chase says, what they could inside their jurisdiction. Michael says he went there, and saw what was left of the bridge. He saw where his father went into the river. It was surprisingly still on the surface, but the water is cold, and deep, with a strong current. The more he looked for a way out for his father, the more he searched for a sign of hope, it became clear that nothing short of a miracle could have saved him. Chase says, as his friend – or at least his former friend – Michael and his family have his condolences. As a cop, he’d be remiss not to caution Michael to please, watch his back. He and everybody close to him could be in immediate danger.

Willow says she was glad Sasha was there for Michael the night he found out about Sonny. She knows it meant a lot to him. Sasha says, it goes both ways. Michael was there for her too. He visited her when she was in the hospital. Willow says he told her, and Sasha says he encouraged her to go to counseling; drug counseling. Willow asks how it’s going, and Sasha says, so far, so good. She’s not doing drugs, and she’s learning a lot about herself. Before they go off on a tangent about counseling, she needs to clarify something. The night they called off the search for Sonny, she wasn’t there at the house for Michael. She was actually there for Carly. She wanted to thank Carly for lighting a fire under her when she needed help. She just happened to be there when Michael got the news, but she’s not the one who’s supposed to be comforting him. Willow asks, what if she’s wrong? What if she is supposed to be the one?

Phyllis says, Lenny Caulfield, where are your manners? Mike showed up at the clinic, half frozen to death. Lenny says he’s not in the mood for another one of Phyllis’s strays. She tells him, the Tan-O has a reputation for hospitality. So stop being a grouch, and be hospitable. She tells Sonny, don’t worry. He talks tough, but her Lenny is a puddy-tat. Lenny says, and she’s always picking up strays. He asks Sonny what line of work he’s in, and how he ended up in the woods. Sonny says Lenny isn’t going to like the answer, and Lenny says, try him. Sonny says he doesn’t know.

Cyrus tells Jason and Brick, he’s been trying to track down his mother. He doesn’t suppose they have any information as to her whereabouts. Brick asks if Cyrus tried looking for her the last place he saw her, and Cyrus says, apparently Jason hasn’t kept Brick apprised. His mother is an invalid. She was receiving the best care possible, until someone removed her from the facility. The Vermont police are looking into this, but Jason already knew that. Jason says Cyrus mentioned it in a previous conversation, and Cyrus says, and he’s still not received any reassurance. How does he know she’s all right, and hasn’t met a terrible fate? Jason says, like the Novaks? and Cyrus says, the who? Brick says, the Novaks are one of the five families. They were bringing a shipment of their product through Port Charles. Cyrus says, that’s distressing, and Brick says, it was for them at the warehouse down by the docks. Everybody dead, and the place turned upside down. Does Cyrus know anything about it?

Alexis says, everything is not okay, especially with the photo album. It’s just begging her to get hammered for its own amusement. Olivia offers to take it off her hands, but Alexis says she has a better idea – the fireplace. Olivia says, what if Sam or her grandkids want to look at it? but Sam says, go ahead; throw it in. Think of it as purging. Alexis says, it’s more like an exorcism, and Sam says it might make Alexis feel better. Alexis says Julian bought the house. Maybe they should burn that down too. Olivia says it’s a nice idea, but it’s called arson. Alexis says, okay, let’s do this, and Sam says she’s going to check on the kids. Olivia says she has Sam covered, and asks Alexis where she wants to start. Alexis takes out a picture of her and Julian, and says, this one, putting it in the fire. Taking out another, Olivia says they look so happy in this one, but Alexis says, all lies. She rips it up, and Olivia asks if she’s sure. Alexis throws it in, and Olivia says, arrivederci.  

Outside, Sam phones Forrester Home Security. She explains that she has a question about one of their alarm systems, and hopes they can help.

Finn tells Tracy, they scaled back from the big top circus event to something more manageable. She says it sounds like it’s up his alley. What’s the problem? He says, just when it got good, things got complicated. She says, it’s a wedding, and he says, it was a wedding. Now it’s a double wedding with Maxie… and Peter. Tracy makes a face, and he says, exactly. His father is planning on staying for the wedding, and maybe indefinitely. She says she knows how complicated fathers can be, and Finn says, it’s not just him. His step mom is coming. Did he mention they were separated? Tracy asks if she’s invited or has to crash it, and he asks which she prefers. She says, crashing it, and she wants the chicken. He says, good choice, and she tells him to start with his stepmom. Does she know her? Finn says she’s Jackie Templeton, and Tracy says, Jackie Templeton is his stepmother? He says, and Chase’s mother. She asks how come he never mentioned his father was married to Jackie? He doesn’t like her? he says, that’s not what it is, and she asks, then what is it?   

Michael tells Chase, it’s not the Corinthos family’s first rodeo. Jason will make sure they’re protected. Chase says he respects Jason, but there was an incident in the warehouse district. He says he can’t talk about an ongoing investigation, but Michael says he gets the picture. Was it his dad’s warehouse? Chase says, it was leased through a holding company; they haven’t ID’d the exact tenants. Michael says he’s guessing the owner is in Panama and untraceable, and Chase says, probably. He tells Michael, be careful. He’d hate if anything happened to Michael, or anyone close to him. Michael says he’ll make sure Willow is protected too. Chase wonders if Michael needs safety protocols, and Michael asks if Chase and Willow talked safety protocols when they had dinner.

Willow says she knows how much Sasha cares about Michael. Even though he’s strong, he needs someone to turn to. Sasha says he has Willow, his wife. Willow says, of course (🍷) he does. They’ve always been friends, and she’s sure they always will be. Sasha says, hold on. Willow is talking like still it’s still a marriage of convenience, but it’s not, right? They got married to keep Wiley safe from Nelle. Nelle is gone now, and Wiley’s safe, but they’re still together. Willow says, yes, but… and Sasha says she doesn’t have to pretend. She knows they’re sleeping together. Willow sits down.

Brick says, what happened at the warehouse was strictly amateur, and Cyrus says, fascinating. In what way? Brick says, it was sloppy and unprofessional, an open invite for reprisal. Jason says, the Novaks are one of the five families, and when you attack one, the others unite against you. Cyrus says, then he’s glad he’s not the one who’s set to incur their collective wrath.  

Lenny says Sonny doesn’t remember what he does for a living, or how he ended up in the woods? Sonny says, both are a mystery, and Phyllis says, the doctor thinks his injury messed with his memory. Lenny says, so he could be anyone; a grifter or a criminal. Sonny asks if Lenny has a Marine tattoo, and Lenny says, he remembers what the tattoo stands for, but not his name? Phyllis says, that’s how memory loss works, and Lenny says, fine. What about his tattoo? Sonny says he thought the Marines never leave any men behind. Lenny says, they don’t. Did Mike serve, or doesn’t he remember? Phyllis suggests Lenny shut up and give Sonny some coffee already, and Lenny says, why not a four-course meal? She says she already fed him the bolognaise. Just give him some coffee, and friendly conversation. Lenny says, no, and Sonny says he’s not there for a handout. If Lenny gives him some coffee, he’s willing to work in the kitchen. Phyllis says, sounds like a good offer, and Lenny tells Phyllis, fine. Inform the kitchen they have a new dishwasher. Phyllis goes to the kitchen, and Lenny says, listen up, Mike. If whatever he can’t remember brings them trouble, he’ll have to answer to him.

Sam asks if Alexis feels better, and Alexis says she actually does. It felt good to purge. She thanks Sam for encouraging her, and Sam says, it’s later than she thought. Maybe Alexis wants to head up to bed. She and Olivia can clean up and lock up. Alexis says she appreciates that, and tells Sam the security code is Scout’s birthday. She thanks them, tells them goodnight, and goes upstairs. Olivia asks what Sam found out, and Sam says, according the security company, it was set in the early evening, probably before Alexis left for the MetroCourt. It wasn’t disarmed until days later. Olivia asks if there’s any other way Alexis and Tracy could have gotten inside without setting it off, or if it was set off in error, but Sam says, no. And Olivia clearly saw the coffee on the counter? Olivia says, all it needed was a neon sign saying caffeine. None of Tracy’s story holds up. Sam says, they have her, and Olivia says, except for one thing; motive.  

Finn tells Tracy, his mom had just died, and his dad remarried in a couple of months. She asks if things smelled rotten in Denmark, and he says he had a hard time accepting it. He acted immaturely, and did things he wished he hadn’t. Right now, he should feel like the luckiest guy in the world, but all he can think about are the things he should have done differently. She says, what a spectacular waste of time, and he says he knew she’d be sympathetic. She asks, what’s the point in second guessing himself now? and he says he’s thinking of coming clean and telling the truth. She asks, why now? All of the people involved are grown-ups, and his brother wasn’t even born. He says, Chase came along later, and she says he needs to ask himself, would he be helping the people he loves by easing his burden, and putting it on their shoulders? He says he knows how to answer, and she says, does he?

Chase asks how much Willow told Michael, and Michael says, they agreed to be honest, but it’s no secret she still cares. Chase says they talked about that, and decided… He doesn’t really want to hear this, does he? Michael says, no, but he probably should, and Chase says, it felt good talking with her, as if nothing had happened. Even though everything has. Michael says, things got more complicated than expected, and Chase says, some things are more clear. Willow is married, and she’s not that kind of girl… Michael says, okay. He knows what happened.

Willow says Sasha isn’t wrong. Something did happen between her and Michael that they didn’t expect. Sasha says, they consummated the marriage. Good for them. She knew it was a possibility. She and Chase pushed Willow and Michael together for Wiley’s sake, but they figured sooner or later the marriage would become real, and it has. Willow says, it’s not that simple, and Sasha asks, why? Willow says, when she’s with Chase, the feelings come back like they never left. Like how Sasha’s feelings for Michael come back when she’s alone with him. Because they never left either, did they?

Cyrus guesses he’s not getting that drink, and heads for the door. He says, look on the bright side. Regardless of whoever did the housekeeping, the problem was corrected. He thought what happened tonight might be considered a good will gesture for the unfortunate misunderstanding on the pier. Jason says he thinks they understood each other perfectly.

Lenny says, Sonny had no ID? and Sonny says, they checked his pockets, but there was nothing, and his wallet got lost. Lenny asks if he checked his wedding ring or watch, and Sonny takes off his watch, telling Lenny, it has an inscription. Check it out. Lenny reads, Mike, never enough time, Love, A. He says, that’s how they came up with Mike, huh? He’s one lucky s-o-b if he survived a winter night like this. Phyllis says, someone is looking out for him, and Lenny says, she’s always thinking there’s a guiding light looking out. She says, that’s because there is, and he says, some medical professional. Phyllis sits down with them, and says she’s had patients who thought they’d lost everything. One even lost her precious child, but the child was taken away from her, and there was nothing any of them could do about it. Sonny asks if they found the child, and she says, not yet, but as long as there’s life, there’s hope. Lenny says, see what he means? and Sonny says, there should be a lot more Phyllises in the world. A guy walks into the bar, which is not the start of a joke. He looks like a troublemaker.    

Olivia asks Sam why Tracy would frame Alexis with a DWI. What is she trying to get? Sam has no idea. She can’t think of a reason, but knows how they can figure it out. They’ll go to Tracy. They’ll be calm and firm, and just ask for her side of the story. See if she’s honest. Olivia says Sam is Leo’s half-sister, and she loves Sam, but it’s a terrible idea.   

Finn looks at his phone, and tells Tracy, duty calls. Tracy says, just as she was about to solve all his problems. Too bad. He says he’s glad she stopped by, and she says, of course (🍷) he is. Dinner and backgammon soon. He says he hopes she makes the wedding, and she asks if he doesn’t mean weddings, plural. He says he’ll be glad to have a friendly face on his side of the aisle, and she says she wouldn’t miss it. He tells her, the whole family thing is a work in progress. Violet is the best thing that ever happened to him. If he let her down, he doesn’t think he could live with himself.   

Chase tells Michael, he never intended… Just talking felt so familiar, and it happened. He’s sure Willow explained. Michael says, he’d found out they might be calling off the search for his dad; there was no time to explain. Chase says he thought Michael knew, and Michael says, he knew they’d find a way past the hurt and the lies, and it sounds like they did. Chase asks if Michael is mad, and Michael says, he’s not sure, but what he is, is late. The beer is on him.   

Sasha tells Willow, she’s never denied still being in love with Michael. She doesn’t get why Willow is telling her this. Wait. Willow has feelings for Michael and Chase, and she wants Sasha to be the reason she gives up Michael. Willow admits she doesn’t know. She hopes not. Sasha says, nothing would please her more if Willow got back with Chase, and she got back with Michael, but she doesn’t know what Michael wants. She knows she wants Michael to be happy, even if it’s not with her, and Willow says she wants that too. Sasha says, Willow and Michael need to figure out if they belong together. She’s not going to make the decision for Willow. She did that once, and look how it worked out.

Sonny asks if Phyllis knows that guy, and she says, no, but she knows the type. They come in occasionally to stir up trouble. Sonny asks what they do, and she says, Lenny used to toss them out on their ear, but he’s got a bad heart now, and worries about her. She looks at Lenny, and says, so maybe it’s best to try and get along. Lenny gets up, and goes to bar. He asks what he can get the guy, and dude takes out a gun, saying, he’ll give Lenny one guess.

Olivia tells Sam, the worst thing would be to come at Tracy too strong and too fast, and for Sam to let Tracy know she’s on to her. Sam says, doesn’t Olivia doesn’t mean we. Olivia is the one who came to her with the suspicion. She’s just doing this because of Olivia, and she’s right. Why would she want to back out now? There’s a knock at the door, and Sam wonders who it could be at this hour. It’s Tracy.  

Willow thanks Sasha for coming by, and Sasha says she knows Willow is confused and conflicted. Willow says, an understatement. Sasha says she’s sorry she didn’t help, but Willow says she did. She’s not sure how, but she’s knows Sasha helped. Sasha says she knows Willow pretty well, and knows Michael. She doesn’t think the two of them would have become as close as they did if they didn’t have something real. Willow needs to figure out if she wants to fight for it. Michael walks in.    

Cyrus says, it seems Jason’s differences with the Novaks have been addressed, yet his mother is still missing. Jason says, that’s not his problem, and Cyrus says, his problems are Jason’s problems. If he does something for Jason, he expects the favor to be returned – with interest. Brick opens the door, and Cyrus squeezes past him. Brick closes the door, and tells Jason, sorry, but he has to ask. Since when has Jason been in the business of snatching old ladies from nursing homes to use as leverage? Jason says, sometimes bad things happen to bad people.

Lenny says he doesn’t want any trouble, and dude says that makes two of them. So why doesn’t Lenny open the cash box and show him how generous he can be? Sonny looks at dude, and dude asks if Sonny has a problem.

Alexis wakes up, and looks through some documents.

Tracy is surprised to see Sam there, and Sam says Olivia was helping her out with her mom. Tracy asks how Alexis is, and Sam says, she’s not doing that well. She hasn’t been great since she ran her car off the road. Tracy says, that’s why she’s there. She was with Alexis that night, and thought she’d stop by to check on her. Sam says she’s surprised. She didn’t think Tracy cared. Tracy says, she does. Is Alexis available? Sam says, no; she’s in bed. Olivia says, after everything that’s happened, Alexis isn’t up to visitors. Tracy says, give Alexis her best, and asks if she can give Olivia a ride. Sam says they still have things to do, and Olivia says, it won’t take that long. Sam tells Tracy, she’ll drop Olivia off, and Olivia says, they’ll lock up when they leave. Tracy asks, why wouldn’t they? and Olivia says she assumed if Tracy cared enough to come by, she obviously wants Alexis to be safe and sound. Sam asks if Tracy knew that her mother got a state of the art alarm system, and Tracy says, good to know. Tell her mom she said hello. Sam closes the door, and Olivia says she’s absolutely certain Tracy never laid eyes on that keypad in her life. Sam says, another indication that she was never there. More and more her story doesn’t add up.

Finn phones Anna, saying he’ll be home soon and he loves her. Chase tosses some money on the reception desk, and Finn says, billing is on another floor. Chase tells him, take it anyway. Doesn’t he recognize it? Finn says, currency? and Chase says it’s Finn’s money from poker night. Finn asks why Chase is giving it back, and Chase says, it’s a symbol. His luck is changing. He has a chance to get Willow back. Finn says he likes the odds, but keep his winnings. Chase says he owes it to Finn. He couldn’t have gotten better advice from their dad.

Sasha tells Michael, hello and goodbye. She was just leaving. He tells her, she says that every time they run into one another, and she says, maybe next time, she’ll say something else. She jets, and Michael says, what was that? Willow says, can’t a girl be in a good mood? She asks how his meeting went, and he says, it ended early. He tells her, they need to talk, and she says she thinks so too.

Brick tells Jason, Cyrus made it sound like quid pro quo. It sounds like if his mom is safe and sound, Port Charles will have peace. If not, he thinks the message is clear. What is Jason going to do? Jason says, nothing. If Cyrus gets what he wants, he’ll just start taking more, and he’s not letting that happen.  

Dude sees Sonny looking at him, and asks if Sonny’s got a problem. Sonny says, no problem, and dude says, that’s what he thought. He’s not going to tell Lenny again; open the cash box. Phyllis gets up, and asks why he doesn’t leave them alone. They’re hard working people. He tells her to shut her mouth, and Lenny says leave his wife alone. Dude asks what he’s going to do about it. We see the gears whirring in Sonny’s mind.  

On Monday, Ava gets a terrific idea, Jax asks if someone has second thoughts, Josslyn asks why Cameron would think she’d throw away her journal, and the gunman tells Sonny, now would be a good time to shut up.

🎐 Saying Goodbye…

John Reilly’s comrades in arms pay him tribute.

Stars React To John Reilly’s Passing

So will GH.

GH To Air John Reilly Tribute

👕 Swickard Swindled…

Apparently, someone has been using his likeness on their side hustle.

GH Star Josh Swickard Victim Of Digital Hoax

💓 Be Still My Heart…

A soap vet plus a V.C. Andrews movie times two? My head might explode. Watch V.C. Andrews’s All That Glitters and Hidden Jewel, premiering on Lifetime on Saturday, March 27th and Sunday, March 28th, respectively, at 8 p.m. ET, starring Kristian Alfonso (Hope, Days of Our Lives).

Kristian Alfonso’s Lifetime Films Set Release Date

💏 He Really, Really Likes Her…

It might not be the fairytale she thought, but it’s better than that hell she had with David.

https://pagesix.com/2021/01/06/shannon-beador-compares-new-relationship-to-divorce/

😷 In Covid News…

Another two Housewives were hit with the virus.

https://pagesix.com/2021/01/06/dandra-simmons-grateful-to-be-alive-after-covid-19-hospitalization/

https://people.com/tv/rhonjs-dolores-catania-says-family-contracted-covid-19-over-the-holidays/

🎶 In Case You Were Going…

The Grammys have been postponed.

Report: Grammy Awards Postponed

🏘 Llanview Memory Lane…

Who the blip were Fish and Kyle?

On the Anniversary of ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s Final Episode, Relive Some Classic Moments

💃🏽 Tap Your Troubles Away…

This sounds like a fun time. Streaming one night, February 11th, at 8 pm, ET.

Don’t Miss ABC Daytime: Back on Broadway!

🦉 Quotes of the Week

I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light. – Helen Keller

Life is not so much about beginnings and endings as it is about going on and on and on. It is about muddling through the middle. – Anna Quindlen

If you want to become a real New Yorker, there’s only one rule: You have to believe New York is, has been, and always will be the greatest city on earth. The center of the universe. – Ellen R. Shapiro

I’m no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I’m changing the things I cannot accept. – Angela Davis

The reason I talk to myself is because I’m the only one whose answers I accept. – George Carlin

People will do anything, no matter how absurd, to avoid facing their own souls. – Carl Gustav Jung

Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. – Carl Gustav Jung

People get addicted to feeling offended all the time because it gives them a high; being self-righteous and morally superior feels good. – Mark Manson

📜 And Three From Dr. King

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

The time is always right to do what is right. – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

📍 In Conclusion…

Wrapping it up for this week in television, but I’ll see you when it’s time to be Below Deck. Congrats if you have a long weekend, a smaller congrats if it’s the usual two days off, and my sympathies if you’re just X’ing more days off the calendar. Or the biggest congrats if you’re happy about that. Regardless, there seems to be real light at the end of what seems like a never-ending tunnel, so think good thoughts. And while you’re at it, stay safe, stay emboldened, and stay not opening any invite for reprisal when it comes to the five families. I still say that sounds like a spaghetti sauce brand.

Jul17

July 16, 2020 – When Nikolas Heard From Spencer, a Seven In the Berkshires, GH Events, a Movie For Erika, Catch Up With Ricky, Days Restart, Goodbye Hope, an Interruption, This Makes Twice, Hero’s End, Creating the Child & Feelin’ It

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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Even though the guide tries to convince me this GH Flashback is from May 12th, 2020, I know it’s from May 4th. Refresh yourself below, or go here for the full monty:

https://tvwiththeresa.wordpress.com/2020/05/05/may-4-2020-spencer-agrees-to-see-nikolas-adam-wants-to-drive-away-literally-a-list-for-santa-here/

Jason saw Brando at the gym, and Brando wondered if there had been some kind of cease fire; the kids were off house arrest. Sonny told him that he was free to go back to Chicago, but he’s decided to stay. Ava called Franco to confirm her last portrait sitting. She sent out the invitations, and wanted to make sure there was something to unveil at the unveiling. He assured her the portrait would be finished. At Windymere, Nikolas walked in, and told Ava this had to stop. Franco poured over the bills at his hospital studio, and Elizabeth saw Ava’s invitation on his desk. She started reading it, saying it sounded swanky. The smile left her face, and he asked, what is it? Molly, Kristina, and Sam sorted clothes for the clothing drive, which Molly said was to give professional wardrobe options to women in challenging situations. Neil showed up at Charlie’s, grabbed Julian by the collar, and asked if Julian had any idea what he’d done to Alexis.

Brando said Sonny was okay with him staying, and told Jason that he liked Port Charles and running his own place. Jason asked if he could use another customer. Alexis was late, and Molly stressed about sleeping with someone else when TJ was literally tied up. Sam wondered if Molly shouldn’t tell TJ the truth. Julian asked Neil what the problem was, and Neil said Julian had made his and Alexis’s personal business public. Julian accused Neil of taking advantage of Alexis, and driving her to drink. Because of Julian, the medical board got word that he had lied about their relationship, and it cost Neil his career. On the phone with Diane, Alexis said she’d lied at the hearing, and asked if Diane thought the bar would see it as perjury. Franco asked Elizabeth what was wrong, and Elizabeth read from the invitation that Ava’s portrait had been painted by notorious bad boy Franco, ten years after his fall from grace. She said Ava was dredging up Franco’s past for her vanity party. He said his past was no secret, and it’s what people thought about when they heard his name. Nikolas told Ava that the adolescent games had to stop. She’d given instructions to have trees cut down, but she didn’t get to change the house or grounds. Ava accused Nikolas of putting the snake in her purse at Violet’s party, but he said he didn’t do petty revenge. Ava noticed a letter from Spencer had arrived. Neil said Julian made a public spectacle of him and Alexis, and Julian said Neil had abused his privilege as Alexis’s therapist, doing damage to her. Neil said what Julian had done was worse.

Sam asked Molly what happened after she left Charlie’s, and Molly said she’d decided to tell Brando about her decision not to tell TJ that they’d slept together. When she got to the garage, Sam was there. Sam said she wanted to know where Brando stood, which Molly thought was inappropriate and unnecessary. Sam said she didn’t want Brando taking advantage of Molly, but Molly said she didn’t need Sam running to her rescue. Alexis showed up, and asked what they were fighting about. Jason told Brando that he needed a stabilizer for his Fatboy, and Brando said he’d thought Sam was Jason’s mechanic. She’d been at the garage, and seemed to know a lot about bikes. Jason asked why Sam had gone there. Elizabeth told Franco that Ava knew he’d changed his life around, and just because her life was trainwreck, it was no reason to expose Franco. Franco said a producer had reached out to him about participating in a documentary about Ryan, since he’d been involved in Ryan’s capture. It had also been ten years since his Francophrenia show, the night tried to frame Jason for pushing him off a roof. Nikolas read Spencer’s letter, and told Ava that Spencer was willing to accept him back in his life if he left Ava. Spencer hadn’t forgiven her for selling out to Valentin, and said Nikolas’s turncoat wife had to go. Ava said Spencer needed someone to blame and focus his anger on, but it was wonderful that he wanted to give Nikolas a second chance. Spencer deserved to have his father in his life. She assumed Nikolas would be wanting a divorce. He said, sorry. He’d do anything to reconcile with Spencer. She said she understood, and asked when he was moving out.

Molly told Alexis that they weren’t fighting, and Sam said it was just a spirited debate. Alexis asked what the debate was about, and Kristina said it was about Molly and TJ. Molly had news. Julian said his relationship with Alexis didn’t concern Neil, but Neil said what Julian had done to her was very much his concern. Julian asked if Alexis confided to Neil in therapy or in bed, and Neil said Julian was in denial about holding a knife to Alexis’s throat, and terrorizing a woman he’d said he loved. Then Julian had made their private business public. Julian said Alexis had a reason to be angry at him, but he didn’t know why Neil wasn’t thanking him. Elizabeth told Franco that ten years ago seemed like a lifetime; Franco wasn’t the not same man he was today. Franco said it was because of her. He’d been put in the spotlight, and asked for his side of the story. He was being offered a lot of money, and it was an incredible opportunity. Elizabeth said, absolutely not. She knew it was painful, and didn’t want Franco to relive it, but these were strangers. Ava was supposed to be his friend. Franco said, like or not, scandal sells, and there had been an uptick in purchasing his old artwork. His old paintings had become more valuable. He taught sick kids, had kept the hospital afloat with donations, and single-handedly stopped Ryan, but his past would always be there. Nikolas asked if Ava thought he was giving her Windymere. She said, and the island as well. It was part of the 90% she’d get if they divorced. He said there had been no failing on his part, and it was because of his son. Why was she doing this? He thought she’d wanted him to have a relationship with Spencer. She said she did, but the terms were clear and binding. Nikolas said she was about to overplay her hand, and if she tried to keep his son from him, it wouldn’t end well for her.

Ava told Nikolas, threats were unnecessary. She wasn’t standing in the way of his reconciliation, but a deal was a deal. She wasn’t walking away without her fair share. He accused her of trying to steal Spencer’s inheritance, but she said the remaining 10% was more than enough for Spencer to live on, and Nikolas had agreed to the terms. He said she only cared about herself, and had proved it by driving her daughter away. Ava slapped him, and told him not to talk about her child. He said to stop using his child as a pawn. Ava said now was his chance to prove he loved Spencer. Give up his fortune, and give Spencer the father he wanted – or not. He could stay married to her and keep the money. He insisted she’d fooled him, but she told him not to kid himself. It was his choice – his money or his son. Franco told Elizabeth that they should cash in on the publicity before it crashed. He didn’t think anyone had bought any paintings because of his talent in a long time. It was about his reputation. He didn’t care, and neither did the college fund. Elizabeth said, not at the expense of his art’s integrity; she preferred her art speak for itself. Franco said she wasn’t a real artist. Julian told Neil that he’d treated Alexis like a dirty secret, but now it was out in the open. Neil said Julian was being simplistic and selfish. Alexis had been hurt. She’d lied to the medical review board, and was looking at disciplinary action and possible disbarment. Julian said they were the ones who’d jumped into bed together and lied about it. Neil got what he deserved, but Julian was sorry it was coming back to bite Alexis. He asked if Alexis had kicked Neil to the curb, and Neil said, no, but maybe she should. Brando told Jason about fixing Molly’s car, and said they were on good terms, but Kristina and Sam couldn’t stand him. Molly told Alexis about how TJ had suggested a domestic partnership. Alexis asked if Molly was happy, and Molly said it was more than she’d hoped for. Alexis didn’t buy it, and asked what was really going on.

Realizing what he’d said, Franco told Elizabeth, of course (🍷) she was a real artist. She just didn’t have a lot of experience with the idiots who were in charge of professional work. He wasn’t trying to offend her. Elizabeth said he was right; she had no idea how the art world worked like he did. He told her that it was Ava’s last sitting, and there had to be something to unveil at the unveiling, and she told him not to keep the gravy train waiting. Neil told Julian that Alexis deserved a clean slate, and he’d done more harm than good. Julian asked if Neil was walking away after what Alexis had gone through. She’d risked everything for Neil, now he was going to disappear? It wasn’t about helping Alexis, but about Neil. He was running away to protect himself. Jason asked Brando why he had a problem with Kristina and Sam, and Brando said he’d offended Kristina, and Sam was offended on Kristina’s behalf. He’d been talking to Sam about how she’d helped take down Shiloh, and said people who join cults are idiots. Then Sam told him about Kristina being involved with DoD. He tried to apologize, but the damage had been done. I still fail to see why this was so horrible. Didn’t Kristina think she’d been an idiot? Molly told Alexis that she was sorry she’d kept quiet about it, and Alexis said it was her fault. She’d been too focused on her own thing, and hadn’t been there for Molly. Molly said Alexis had nothing to feel bad about, and Alexis said she thought the domestic partnership was a great idea. Molly was very sensible, and Alexis was proud of her. Molly said Alexis was making her out to be perfect, but she’d jumped in bed with someone when TJ disappeared.

Nikolas went to the hospital to see Elizabeth, who snapped at him, saying she was working. He said she seemed upset. He’d come looking for a friend, but was there any way he could help? Franco went to Windymere, where he found Ava crying, martini in hand. He asked, what happened? but she said she was fine. Franco told her that he was feeling down, and could use a hug. He held her while she cried. Julian told Neil to try and put Alexis first. Use his shrink intuition, figure out what she needed, and act accordingly. He didn’t need to bail. Neil asked if Julian wanted him to be with Alexis, and Julian said, hell no, but Alexis wanted to be with him. He wanted Alexis to be happy. Neil said he couldn’t make up for Julian’s failings, and Julian said he could try not to add to them. He told Neil to fight for her. She was going to need his help. She didn’t let a lot of people in, and had laid herself on the line for him. Julian didn’t know what Neil’s issues were, but told him to conquer them. He’d be a fool to walk away. Brando said Sam was protective of her sisters, and Jason agreed. Brando said he’d apologized, and hoped they were good now. Jason asked if he’d fixed Molly’s car, and Brando said he did. Molly’s boyfriend had come to pick it up. Sam said she was there for the same reason, but it could have just been an excuse to chew him out. Jason suggested Brando not mess with Sam or her sisters, and Brando said he’d learned his lesson.

Molly told Alexis that she’d slept with Brando, who was Sonny’s cousin, but they weren’t related. Alexis said, thank God for small favors. Molly said she’d just had a fight with Jordan, who’d said TJ was done and it was Molly’s fault. She felt frustrated and angry. She’d thought TJ had bailed on a ten year relationship, and let his mother deliver the news. She ran over a curb, damaging her car, and Brando’s was the closest garage. They got to talking, and one thing led to another. Molly flashed back to kissing Brando, and told Alexis that Brando didn’t even know she had a boyfriend. When she explained, he couldn’t have been more decent. Nothing he did was wrong; it was her. Kristina said, it was one night. There was no good reason for Molly to tell TJ and risk the relationship. Molly didn’t think she could swallow her guilt, and Sam told Kristina that Molly didn’t handle her problems the same way Kristina did. Kristina handled them or not until they blew up in her face. Kristina said Sam had been pushing Jason to meet her in secret, and Sam said Kristina was the reason she was on parole in the first place. Kristina asked if Sam was blaming her, and Sam said, yes.

The Real Housewives of New York City

Ramona says, earlier, the energy was bad. She’s hoping that tonight, everyone will be lighter and in a better place. Restaurant guy Ben delivers a load of food. Dorinda pops out in a sequined number with huge angel sleeves that looks like it’s from Danceteria in the 80s. In the time it takes for Ben to put the bags in the kitchen, Ramona tells him that she looks good, but she’s sloppy, and she looks thin, but likes to eat. Nothing like giving herself a couple of compliments. She puts the food into bowls. Dorinda says she doesn’t know why Sonja puts up with LuAnn, and Ramona says Sonja loves LuAnn and likes to perform. Dorinda thinks maybe Sonja should do her own show, and Ramona says Sonja was doing cabaret before anyone else. LuAnn has supersonic ears, and asks what Ramona is talking about. Ramona repeats herself, and LuAnn says, it was caberlesque, and not the same thing. We flash back to Sonja’s show, and LuAnn tells Ramona, she didn’t think Sonja was that good. In the kitchen, Sonja mumbles that she knows the Countess is a major cabaret star. Dorinda tells LuAnn to stop it; she’s being nasty. In LuAnn’s interview, she says Dorinda was trying to protect Sonja, but Sonja was capable, and didn’t need defending. Sonja says she doesn’t care what Lu Ann is saying. She loves LuAnn. LuAnn explains to Sonja that the show is called Countess and Friends; it’s about her, but she brings Sonja in because she loves her. Don’t tell her what to do.

Sonja sits at the table, and says she’s done with LuAnn and her show. In the kitchen, LuAnn tells Len that she has a professional show because that’s what she does. Len says, eat. Sonja says LuAnn disrespected her, and LuAnn asks, how? Sonja says LuAnn thinks she sucks, and LuAnn tells her that she didn’t say that. She said she didn’t want her to be in the show. Ramona says LuAnn isn’t paying Sonja, and it’s insulting. Dorinda says Sonja was with LuAnn when she was down and out. In Ramona’s interview, she says LuAnn is using Sonja for laughs, and not paying her, when LuAnn could afford it, and Sonja could use the money. Dorinda gets weepy, and says, shame on her, and repeats that Sonja was with her when she was down and out. LuAnn says she doesn’t know what going on, and Dorinda leans over the table. They start yelling, fingers in each other’s faces. Dorinda says LuAnn has a mugshot of her drunkenness, and she’s an effing fool. In Leah’s interview, she says, it sucks to hear that coming from Dorinda. All of  them are one drink away from a mugshot. Ha-ha! I want that on a T-shirt – I’m one drink away from a mugshot. LuAnn walks out of the room, and Ramona tells Dorinda that she’s being aggressive. In her interview, Ramona says Dorinda is like a dragon, and she’s after whoever’s in front of her. When she’s drinking, she’s vicious. She went after Tinsley, then her, and now LuAnn. Who’s next? LuAnn hiccup cries as she packs. Ramona tells Dorinda that she’s shocked, and Dorinda says, karma’s a bitch. She doesn’t want to fight, but LuAnn uses them. She used Jovani, which Dorinda gave her. LuAnn continues to pack, and says no way is she staying in this house. Dorinda says Ramona is making her feel ashamed and bad, and that’s not what a girlfriend does. Dorinda sees the Jovani logo on LuAnn’s bag, and starts singing Feelin’ Jovani.

LuAnn tells Dorinda, get over it. Dorinda follows her out, but then comes back without incident. She says, LuAnn never says thank you. What’s wrong with her? Leah goes outside, and tells LuAnn to stop. Dorinda announces that her dress cost $400, and LuAnn says, she’s drunk. In Leah’s interview, she says you would think Dorinda owns stock in Jovani, the amount of times the word has come out of her mouth. It doesn’t make any sense. LuAnn suggests going to pub, and Leah says, they’ll hang out with the locals. Sonja falls over backward in her chair, hitting the floor. LuAnn cries, and Leah hugs her. LuAnn says Leah is so drunk, and Leah says, no, LuAnn is. Leah goes inside and calls for Ramona. She finds Ramona on Sonja’s lap, and tells her that LuAnn is outside hysterically crying. Ramona agrees to come with them – no doubt wanting to look for new men – but Sonja wraps her arms around Ramona’s waist. Outside, LuAnn says she’s not staying, and Leah tells Ramona, LuAnn is in a bad place. LuAnn keeps repeating, I need to go. In Ramona’s interview, she says she’s never seen LuAnn like this. She’s in pain. Dorinda went for the jugular, and it’s not cool. Ramona says she has no phone, money, or card, and LuAnn says she’s got her. They get in a cab, and drive away. Sonja decides to go to bed, and the others follow, even though it’s 8 pm. Len is left to clean up, although it could be worse. It could be the Hamptons.

In the morning, Dorinda finds Ramona in the kitchen. Ramona asks how she’s feeling, and Dorinda says she shouldn’t have gotten involved. She could tell Sonja was drunk; they were all drunk. The rosé gets you every time. She felt defensive of Sonja. In Ramona’s interview, she says Dorinda doesn’t realize how nasty she gets. She used to go from 0 to 60, and it lasted a second or two. Now she goes from 0 to 100, it lasts 30 minutes, and she gets vicious and evil. Sonja sits in bed reading, and Elyse comes in. Sonja says LuAnn is at a hotel, and Elyse asks, what’s the issue? Sonja says, LuAnn is back on her high horse. In Sonja’s interview, she says, all is forgiven because they were partying, and it doesn’t bother her. But LuAnn thinks Sonja’s time isn’t as important as hers, and that bothers her. Ramona tells Dorinda, she she saw the old LuAnn come out. Leah tells Sonja and Elyse that they went to an old school bar that had a jazz band. In her interview, she says, LuAnn was dancing, and she thought LuAnn wanted to sing, but they weren’t interested. In Leah’s interview, she says she had some martinis, flirted with the bartender. Ramona did nothing. What? Sonja says, at least they had fun, and Leah says there were a bunch of 90 year olds there; it was geriatric central. Sonja says she should have gone, and Leah says she would have loved it.

Dorinda decides she has to call LuAnn. Surprisingly, LuAnn answers the phone, and Dorinda says she loves her. LuAnn says she loves Dorinda too. She doesn’t know what happened. Dorinda says, rosé happened. Another T-shirt I want. Dorinda says she woke up, and ran to LuAnn’s room, wondering where she was. She loves LuAnn, and wants them to stay good place. She was feeling defensive of Sonja, and she doesn’t use liquor as an excuse, but can she do it this time? LuAnn says she was also over-served. In her interview, LuAnn says she’s not going to let one night ruin their relationship, but this behavior is hurtful to Dorinda’s friends, and she hopes Dorinda wakes up and smells the roses. Dorinda tells LuAnn, they peaked too soon. She loves LuAnn, and wants her to come back. LuAnn says she just ordered room service, and suggests meeting them shopping. They’ll chalk it up to bad… Dorinda says, rosé. Ramona says Dorinda always knows how to make it nice. In Ramona’s interview, she says she doesn’t understand it, but it’s not worth fighting the battle. It’s easier to just say, okay, and bury it under the rug.

Sonja, Elyse, and Leah join them in the kitchen, and Sonja says she heard a lot of laughing. Dorinda tells the others that she spoke to LuAnn. She got in trouble defending Sonja, even though she had no skin in the game. Leah asks, what happened? and Dorinda says she doesn’t remember. In Sonja’s interview, she says Dorinda is off the hook. Dorinda lost it, but Sonja knows where it’s coming from. They visited Richard’s grave. We see a clip of them in the cemetery, and Dorinda talking to Richard. Dorinda tells the others, Richard is good, and unfortunately, that was his journey. Sonja tells us, it takes a while to get over pain like that. She’s still grieving her ex. I love how Sonja compares her divorce to Richard’s death. Dorinda tells the women, it’s a beautiful little town. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, being stuck in the house isn’t a good thing for these women. They need something fun and different. They need to change it up. Ramona talks to Sonja, saying LuAnn and Dorinda made up after two seconds; what about them? Sonja says she’ll always love LuAnn, but she’s not doing her show; she’s too busy. Dorinda says they were all in the same mindset – rosé. Leah says she’s happy she was the least drunk, and she’s not getting yelled at. The women applaud. Dorinda says Leah was the best behaved, and Leah says she can’t be the psycho bitch forever.

Dorinda points out The Red Lion Inn, a restaurant she worked at, telling Elyse and Sonja that she was Senator and Mrs. Fitzpatrick’s favorite. She brownnosed her way to the top. They pick up LuAnn, who gets in the other cab with Ramona and Leah. LuAnn says she’s glad they get over things quickly and move on. It’s how they roll. She says, now she knows how Ramona feels. Ramona says Dorinda doesn’t realize how she gets; it’s hurtful. In her interview, LuAnn says, Dorinda pushes resentments down, and doesn’t deal with them. Then it rears its ugly head. She should have played dead like Ramona did at the Halloween party. When they all get out, Dorinda, LuAnn, and Sonja hug. LuAnn says it feels like she had a lovers quarrel. They go to Annie Selke. I love their stuff, but I so can’t afford it. LuAnn tells Sonja that she wants her in the show, and if she gets a bigger venue, she can pay Sonja. Sonja says she wants LuAnn to know that she enjoys it. LuAnn says she didn’t mean to act like Sonja was doing her a favor. It’s good for both of them. It’s a creative thing they can do together, and it’s fun. In Sonja’s interview, she says she can’t help but move forward. It’s not a big deal. She just wants LuAnn to know her time is valuable, and that was accomplished. Leah says she and LuAnn made out. LuAnn says, they did? That’s hot.

Dorinda leads the women to a wine and cheese shop. Dorinda mention for the 47th time that she grew up there, and says she has to pick up some cheese. Ramona says, it smells delicious, and they taste various cheeses. In Dorinda’s interview, she says Colin Cowie is a friend of hers – we flash back to them together – and he’s an incredible host, entertainer, and event planner. She was looking to have a fabulous dinner party, and he’s at her stove cooking right now. The cheese guy says the triple cream is from Burgundy, and Sonja says her lover is from there. In her interview, she says, Frenchie has always been in the picture, and we see a clip of them together. She says, ideally, he’d like her to live in France, but she has too much going on where she is. She tells everyone that Frenchie is an amazing intellect, and a jet set guy. Leah talks about going out with a prince, and peeing on him. In her interview, she says she doesn’t normally pee on people, but when would she have another chance to pee on a prince? I can’t say that one is on my bucket list. LuAnn says she’s had prince boyfriends, but has never peed on one. Leah says, don’t judge her, and LuAnn says she’ll give Leah a trophy. In Sonja’s interview, she says she has other ideas about what she’d like to do with a prince.

Dorinda’s taxi gets to Bluestone Manor first, and she says, let’s take our shoes off. Ramona and Elyse go, ahhh. I know the feeling. Sonja tells Leah that she tried to be real, and got in trouble, and Leah says, when keeping it real goes wrong. The table is set, and everything looks amazing. Upstairs, Ramon has clogged the toilet, and works at it with a plunger. I wonder why she doesn’t roll up her sleeves. In her interview, she says she doesn’t want Dorinda to get upset and rage on her. Sonja relaxes in a bubble bath. Not in the same bathroom. Ramona tells the toilet, please flush, but it doesn’t. Leah comes in, and Ramona tells her about the toilet being clogged. Leah says she’ll do it, but it flushes on Ramona’s next try. In Leah’s interview, she says she saw the nastiest little sh*t she’d ever seen in her life. Dorinda comes in, and asks what Ramona did to the toilet. Apparently, the clog is still going on, and Dorinda works at the toilet with the plunger. She tells Ramona, let it sit, and Leah says Ramona can use her bathroom. Why? So she can clog that too?

Ramona brings out a breathalyzer, and LuAnn shows her how to use it. In Ramona’s interview, she says she thought it would be fun to bring. They can get toasty, and now they can’t yell at her about having another drink. The breathalyzer doesn’t lie. LuAnn calls Ramona a bad blower, and says she’s a pro. Everyone gets ready for dinner. Dorinda’s sister Melinda arrives, and Dorinda hugs Colin for doing the dinner. In her interview, Dorinda says Colin has planned weddings, and done events for Oprah and Michelle Obama, so she’s appreciative that he did this because he’s her friend. She welcomes Melinda, and everyone gathers in the living room for cocktails. Leah says she wants to text the bartender; she’s thinking of inviting him. Melinda asks what’s up with that? and Leah says she’s desperate for d*ck. In Leah’s interview, she says she loves a hot bartender. They’re a therapist, eye candy, and get you drunk. What’s not to love? She asks Dorinda if it’s okay for him to stop by, and Dorinda says, no problem. She has a long history as a waitress and hostess there, and how can she say no to a fellow Red Lioner. Dorinda’s friends Sam and Lyle come in, and Leah asks Elyse if Erica is coming out to play. In Elyse’s interview, she says Erica was the nickname she had when she was on Wall Street. It’s her alter-ego, who would come out when she drank. Erica is a party girl. Leah hopes to meet Erica, and Leah says she can’t handle Erica. Leah says, bitch, yes I can. Heather Thompson and husband Jon arrive. In LuAnn’s interview, she says she hasn’t seen Heather in ages, and she’s looking hot. Sonja hits on Colin. In her interview, Dorinda says Heather lives close by, and when you live in the Berkshires, you all know each other. It’s that kind of environment. Everyone sits for dinner, and Dorinda says Colin has graced them, not just with a meal, but a fantasy. Even the salad is impressive. Elyse asks for straight vodka, and Leah tells Ramona that Elyse is wasted. Colin brings out the lamb, and Heather says, what a rack. BA-DUM-CHH! In her interview, LuAnn says, a rack of lamb and a hot man. What more can a girl ask for? I can think of quite a few things, but okay. Dorinda asks Sam if he can help her with online dating. Ramona tells Sam that it doesn’t work for her. If the woman is more successful, the man can’t get it up. In her interview, she online dating is difficult for her. Because she’s just so special. Okay. I added that last part.

Dorinda says she loves Leah because she’s unfiltered, but confident. Leah understands and owns her sh*t, and she’s a good mother and businesswoman. Dorinda is impressed by her. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, once Tinsley was out of the picture, she realized she loves Leah. Leah is her mini me. She tells Leah that she has chutzpah, and Leah says she’s slightly edited. She gets up, and says she’s a work in progress, and feeling herself. She’s honored and humbled, and doesn’t know what to say. She’s happy to be the only one with her period. Everyone cheers. Heather says, everybody take your pants off. Leah hugs Elyse, and in Elyse’s interview, she says, Leah is the type of girl Erica would have a crush on. They kiss. LuAnn asks Leah about the bartender, and Leah tells her that he said he was into casual living. She doesn’t know what that means. Probably that he doesn’t have any money.

Bartender James shows up, and Leah introduces him. In her interview, she says, it’s a good thing to have one available straight guy around, adding to the vibe. Dorinda tells James that she was The Red Lion Inn. She finds out James also grew up there, and says they’re true Berkshireites. She waitressed her way out. Leah asks for more vodka. Dorinda says Leah is amazing. LuAnn thanks Dorinda for a wonderful time. She slept with the fishes, and swam with the saints. She’s happy they’re together. They’ll always have each other’s backs, and LuAnn will always love her. They hug, and Leah tells James that he’s brave to come there; it’s crazy. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she never expects a perfect trip in the Berkshires, but gives it a seven out of ten. They’re like sisters, and have to work stuff out, but the fun outweighs the lingering issues. Ramona and Sonja kiss.

Next time, LuAnn speaks at a meeting, Ramona has her party, Sonja dances on a mirror, and Ramona wants to shut down the party.

🎉 Now the Party Can Start…

GH has some virtual fan events coming up. At least you won’t have to fight the crowd for a good seat.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/virtual-fan-events

📽 One More Life To Live…

Check out Vicki’s latest effort.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/one-life-to-live/erika-slezak-movie-guest-artist

💡 I Actually Remember Him…

Considering my brain deadness of late, it’s a miracle.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/all-my-children/ricky-paull-goldin-catching-up

🏎 Start Your Engines…

Hopefully, this one sticks.

https://deadline.com/2020/07/days-of-our-lives-september-production-restart-date-greg-meng-out-1202976808/

🛩 Hope Moves On…

What she said:

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/kristian-alfonso-opens-up-about-days-exit/

And what they’re saying:

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/stars-react-to-kristian-alfonsos-days-exit/

🤸 Made You Laugh…

It made me laugh anyway. I love the whole Ryan Reynolds/Hugh Jackman thing. Deadpool 2 is one of my favorite movies.

https://people.com/movies/ryan-reynolds-crashes-x-men-reunion-global-citizen/

🥀 Double the Sadness…

I’d forgotten John had a great love before Kelly. Seriously, 2020 hasn’t been a good year for anyone.

https://nypost.com/2020/07/13/john-travoltas-first-love-diana-hyland-also-died-of-breast-cancer/

🤰🏽 No Greater Love…

Not to belabor a celebrity death, but it touched my heart that they think Naya died after saving her son.

https://extratv.com/2020/07/14/naya-riveras-cause-of-death-revealed/

🧙🏽‍♂️ Finishing On the Lighter Side…

Who doesn’t love Baby Yoda?

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/star-wars-the-mandaloiran-vfx-supervisor-explains-how-baby-yoda-created/

🤷🏽‍♀️ TGIWhat…?

I hope you’ve been able to keep some structure in your life, even if you don’t know what day of the week it is. I had that problem prior to the pandemic (how’s that for alliteration?), so nothing new there. Do everything you can, or do nothing; it’s your weekend. Stay safe, stay gracious, and stay using SPF, even if it’s just on the top half of your face.

Jul8

July 7, 2020 – When Michael Was On Trial, Judge Of All Trades, Tracy Lands the Big One, a Sudsy Goodbye, Not Adapting, Bachelor Flavor, Crashing, At Last, Upcoming TV, Shop For Good & Sitting

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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Today’s final answer for the GH Flashback was May 4th, 2010.

Michael was on the stand, and Judge Carroll asked if he’d killed his stepmother. Michael said nothing, and the judge asked if he was incapable of answering or refusing to answer. He told Michael that he understood Michael was coerced to cover it up, but he was in court now, and it was a direct question; not answering wasn’t an option. Did he kill her? Michael said he did; on November 4th, he killed his stepmother Claudia. The judge asked Michael to explain in his own words how it happened, and Michael said Claudia had lost it. Sonny had confronted Claudia, who then kidnapped Carly. Michael had convinced himself that everyone would be better off if he wasn’t around, and was going to drive to Canada, but when he saw a wrecked car, he checked it out. It had a valet ticket from the MetroCourt, and he realized it was the car Claudia had used to take his mom. He followed their trail through the woods to the cabin, and when he got closer, could hear his mom screaming, and begging Claudia not to take her baby, Josslyn. Michael grabbed an ax handle off the porch, ran in, and saw Claudia trying leave with Josslyn in a basket. He hit her, and she fell and died. Judge Carroll asked what Michael was thinking, and Michael said he needed to stop her. He realized she was dead right away, and had gotten blood on himself, and later, on his dad’s shirt. The judge asked at what point Sonny arrived, but Michael said Sonny was never there. Jason and Sam took Carly to the hospital, and they were going to wait for Sonny there. Judge Carroll asked if anyone at any time suggested calling the police, and Michael said no. His dad came and drove him home. The judge commended Michael on his cooperation, and his clear, concise testimony. He asked if Michael was trying to kill Claudia when he hit her, but Michael said he didn’t care what happened to her. He just wanted to protect his mom and baby sister. The judge said Michael had confessed to taking Claudia’s life, was in full possession of his faculties, and truthful. He commended Dante on his diligence and commitment to the law, unlike other parties in the case, and remanded Michael to await sentencing. He asked Dante to formally place Michael under arrest, so for once in this case, they would follow the letter of the law. Dante read Michael his rights, and the charges against Sonny were withdrawn, the judge saying he was free – for the time being. Judge Carroll reamed out Diane, and anyone else who wasted the people’s time, money, and patience by conspiring to cover-up this crime. He said the country was founded on the rule of law, and they’d spit on that principal. If it was up to him, he’d send them all to prison for the next twenty years. They disgusted him. Diane said this was a first. She went from defense counsel to defendant in one fell swoop.

Olivia told Lulu that Dante had found his conscience, and she should be proud. Lulu said they had to support him, and Olivia wished everyone felt the same way. Jax asked the prosecutor what the worst case scenario was, and she said she couldn’t predict what Judge Carroll would do, but thought the rest of them were in more trouble than Michael. Jax said he was trying to figure out how he could help, but she said it was in the judge’s hands. There wasn’t enough evidence to back up Michael’s justification; Carly had lied so many times, the judge probably wouldn’t believe her. On a positive note, Michael’s records showed brain damage. She imagined he’d get a suspended sentence and mandatory counseling. Carly wouldn’t be so fortunate. Sonny told Carly that their son was stronger than she thought, and would be okay. Carly said she just saw her son being handcuffed by Sonny’s bastard. Dante said he was taking Michael to be booked, and Michael asked why Dante had turned him in. Dante said the short version was, the truth had to come out, and Michael said, so he was just doing his job. Dante said he was doing it for Michael. Michael’s whole life, Sonny taught him that he could do whatever he wanted, and get away with it. That people died in the process was unacceptable, and Michael didn’t have to live with that hanging over his head. Michael asked what if the judge didn’t buy that it was an accident and he ended up in prison, but Dante pointed out he had brain damage, and thought it would be a suspended sentence and mandatory therapy. He’d have the chance to build a better life.

Sonny told Carly that he’d read Dante wrong. He thought Dante wanted him in prison more than he did Michael. Carly didn’t care, saying Sonny had a chance and trusted Dante. Now she and Jason would focus on Michael. Sonny said Dante never planned on Michael going to lockup, but she said Dante performed the arrest, and got a pat on the back for it. It had turned out the way he’d wanted, and now Sonny could bond with Dante, and the hell with Michael. Carly told Lulu that Dante had betrayed Michael, and when Lulu got horizontal with him, make sure she thought of Carly’s son, since she was standing by her man. Tracy asked why Carly was blaming Lulu. Carly had stolen Michael from the Quartermaines, and had no one to blame but herself for all this misery. Lulu didn’t need to fight Dante’s battles; she was just stating the facts. Carly said her priorities were twisted, and that’s why Michael was in lockup. Tracy said a lifetime of damage came with the territory when Michael’s father was a mob kingpin. Carly had chosen to marry Sonny, and chosen for him to adopt Michael. Did she think he’d grow up to be a choirboy? Tracy told Carly that she had no use for Dante – he was just as manipulative as his father – but Lulu chose to be loyal to the man she loved, like Carly was loyal to Sonny, and she had no right to criticize. Carly wondered, if Dante had busted Luke, would Tracy be as quick to defend Lulu. The jury, with Alice as foreperson (!), continued to hang around, griping that they’d wasted their time. Judge Carroll said the case had been dismissed, and thanked them, saying they were dismissed as well. Diane congratulated Sonny on being a free man.

Spinelli told Jason, the Jackal was ready to assist, and Jason asked him to hack into the PCPD’s system, find out who was on the payroll, and make sure someone was on duty all the time, and Michael was treated well and protected. Spinelli found it hard believe Dante turned Michael in, and Jason said Sonny wanted to believe in Dante that he’d do the right thing, but he was blind. Now Sonny knew what Dante was capable of doing, but Michael was paying the price. Olivia told Sonny to swear he wasn’t going after her kid, and Sonny said she’d raised Dante to hate him. She said Dante being a cop was his own choice, and he was doing his job. Sonny said Dante was sticking it to him, but Olivia said Dante was upholding the law he believed in; honor, justice, right and wrong. Sonny said it wasn’t about the law; Dante was spitting in his face. Olivia kept showing Dante that Sonny wasn’t a good father, but she’d never given him a chance to know Sonny.

At the station, Carly told Dante that she wanted to see Michael. He said he couldn’t imagine what his mother would be going through, if he was in the same position. Carly said he had no idea what she was feeling. He wasn’t a parent; he was a liar and vindictive. He said he did what he thought was best for Michael before he followed in Sonny’s footsteps. The cover-up would have given him the seal of approval. Carly said Sonny would never allow Michael to be in the mob, but Date if Michael had kept the secret, he would have traded education and opportunities for a life of crime, and end up dead. Carly said Michael could die in prison, but Dante said he wouldn’t have prison time. Olivia told Sonny that he was willfully blind to the way his life effected his kids. He said there was nothing he wouldn’t do for his kids, and she said the damage was already done. Look how Michael was raised, and what he’d seen; the lying, the violence, a bullet in the head. She knew Sonny’s intentions were good, but he was toxic to his children. Sonny said he’d made mistakes, but he’d done the best he could with his children. Olivia said he couldn’t keep them from the violence in the world, and Sonny agreed that he couldn’t guarantee their safety. Olivia said he could do one thing; keep Dante safe and call Jason off. He had a chance to turn things around for all his children. Which is funny, since Maurice Benard started off on All My Children. Carly hugged Michael, and told Dante he could go; she didn’t have a file or anything. He left, and she asked Michael if he was in a cell by himself. She didn’t agree with what he’d done, but agreed with why he did it, and they’d get through this. He shouldn’t be there, and they’d get him out.

Spinelli said he unobtrusively checked out the roster, and someone was on duty now to keep a sharp eye on Michael. Jason told Spinelli that Bernie was in Puerto Rico, and he wanted Spinelli to join him; to help move the money so there would be no red flags. Spinelli asked if it wasn’t more pressing to be in Port Charles, but Sam said Jason couldn’t trust just anyone. Spinelli thought Jason wanted him out of town for an unspecified amount time, so he’d have deniability. He took it that Jason was about to embark on the disposing of Dante. Carly told Michael that the judge believed Michael was protecting her and his sister, and she thought he’d get a suspended sentence. He said Dante told him the same thing, but she told him not to trust Dante. If he wants to talk, or says he wants to help, don’t believe him. She said Michael would be out by Friday, and his life would be back to normal. Michael said he hated going back to a life where everyone knew he killed Claudia, and Carly said he was  a hero. The guard came, and Michael asked Carly to tell his siblings that he loved them and he was all right. Jason said he needed to have things ready, and Spinelli said that was an indirect answer. Jason said Michael wanted to tell the truth, and Jason said to trust him, so Michael didn’t do it. It was on him, and no one else. Spinelli said Jason would face life for murder, and he was tied to Sonny. Michael would never forgive the impact on his new sibling, Morgan, and Kristina. Michael would blame himself, and violence in the wake of violence just perpetuated the tragic cycle. He told Jason not to kill Dante, and if the plan was in motion, stop it before it was too late. Johnny told Olivia that Sonny was a free man, but Olivia said, not really. He’d been tied in knots since the beginning, and since Dante blew the whistle, Sonny had been ripping himself apart. Johnny said in a couple of weeks, it would be business as usual. They wondered if Sonny was going to go after Dante, and Johnny said he’d go after Sonny if that happened. Dante found Lulu waiting at home for him, and they hugged.

Sonny visited Michael in his cell, and Michael told Sonny not to avenge him. Someone had to stop the violence, and he still had that chance. Johnny told Olivia that he was a fool to think he’d get justice from the system; he’d have to make his own. Sonny was vulnerable and distracted, and there was no better time to crush him like he deserved. Back home, Carly told little Morgan that Michael told the truth, the judge believed him, and she thought the judge understood. Because Michael had been sent out of the country so he couldn’t testify, the judge considered him a flight risk, but he’ll only be in jail until Friday when the judge decides his punishment. Morgan asked if she’d seen Michael, and she said he was okay. He told her to tell Morgan that he loved him and would be home soon. Morgan said he could tell Carly was scared, and Carly said she was okay; she just wanted it over. Morgan cried, and said Dante promised it would be. Lulu asked Dante how it went, and Dante said he walked Michael through the process. Michael held it together, but she thought he was scared underneath. Dante said, it’s not how he wanted it to go, and Lulu said, he told the truth, and it was the best thing for Michael. Dante agreed, and said Michael would spend a couple of days in lockup; it’s better than life in the mob. He thanked her for having faith in him, and apologized for leaving her with Carly. Lulu said she couldn’t fault Carly for feeling the way she did, but it was hard to listen to her say how he betrayed the family. She went from raging to insulting, and wouldn’t listen. She didn’t know how Carly could be so intolerant. They were like sisters, and suddenly Carly can’t trust her. Dante said Carly can’t trust him, and Lulu was getting the fallout. Lulu said she loved Dante, and he did what was right. She asked if the judge would go easy on Michael, and he said the judge saw Michael had remorse. He’d probably get probation and be free in a few days.

Michael apologized to Sonny, but Sonny said he was sorry. He never thought Michael’s brother would turn him in. Michael was just protecting his family, and Sonny never wanted him to pay. Michael said he didn’t want Sonny to pay. He knew Sonny wanted him to let it play out, but he felt like he was being a coward. Sonny said he had respect for Michael, and Michael said he was honored. Sonny went through a trial, and was willing to go to prison to save Michael, but he was the one who did it. Sonny said he didn’t like Michael in there, even for a day; he hated it. Michael said he would make Sonny proud, and he’d he okay. Jason listened in.

😎 Oh, That Guy…

You know them. Those guys who are in everything, but most of the time, you don’t know their real name. Judge Carroll is one of them.

https://general-hospital.fandom.com/wiki/Peter_Carroll_(Dakin_Matthews)#:~:text=Judge%20Peter%20Carroll%20was%20a,was%20portrayed%20by%20Dakin%20Matthews.

He’s done a lot of stage work. If not for pandemic, you could have seen him in Shakespeare in the Park’s Richard III.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Dakin-Matthews/

He’s done it all, but judge and priest was on repeat.

https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/dakin-matthews/credits/145740/

Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles

We flashed back to last week, when JoshF showed buyer Heather (who looks a lot like Brooke Elliot from Drop Dead Diva) some houses. She was in a time crunch, had a tight budget (tight in L.A. meaning $5 million), and was being particular. This time, she brought her son Simon along. In his interview, Josh said it was hard finding a home that met her criteria. I’m wasn’t sure what she wanted either. He took Heather to Little Holmby Hills, telling us that Holmby Hills is known for the Spelling house and Playboy mansion, but Little Holmby was more affordable. Heather liked the school proximity, and they met with broker Sam. Built in 1936, the house was 5000 square feet, with 5 bedrooms and 5 baths, and priced at $4.995 million. It wasn’t staged – i.e. it was empty – which Josh said made it more difficult to sell, since the buyer can’t imagine themselves living there. Apparently, people don’t have much imagination. The backyard was tri-level, with a pool and a guest house that was nicer than my house. Josh said it checked all the boxes. Heather fretted that she’d sold her house already, and Josh told her to think it over for 24 hours.

Tracy drove through Malibu, talking about the fires and evacuation. (Side note: Denise Richards and Camille Grammer Young from RHOBH had to evacuate. Denise was able to go back home, but eventually moved, and Camille lost everything.) Tracy said it was clean again, and people were building. No one was leaving, and there had been a massive recovery. Developer/owner Scott Gillen wasn’t content with his current representation, and had asked for her. He also had an entire portfolio of properties, and she was looking to the future. Scott’s advisor Robert met Tracy, explaining that she couldn’t use the driveway, since Scott wanted to keep it pristine. Red flag of difficulty number one. The house was expansive, but not for me; it was very boxy. I say this like I could afford even a foot of it. Scott made Tracy take off her shoes before she came inside, another red flag. He told her it had been purchased for $9.5 million in 2011, and he wanted $75 million for it. When Tracy asked to put her purse down, Scott thought for quite a while before telling her to put it on the carpet. Flags were now flying wildly, and I’m not talking about Josh. In her interview, Tracy said her purse possibly cost more than the carpet. He gave Tracy a tour of the house; 14,800 square feet, a Bulthaup kitchen (the most high-end you can get) with Gaggenau appliances, a cigar room, a wine tasting room, closets you wouldn’t believe, an ocean view, and a canyon view. Outside, there was a guest house as big as my house. Scott said it was all about quality, as he showed Tracy the walnut tub he’d had custom made. Scott said she had to understand the house. He told Robert that she was nervous, but she assured him that she wasn’t. In her interview, she said he was testing her, but she wasn’t intimidated; she spoke his language. He told her, with his properties, the agents just opened the door; he did the showing, and he’d already sold 21 homes. In Tracy’s interview, she said, no buyer wants to feel watched. She’d have to figure out a way he could be part of it without doing the actual showing. He took her to New Castle’s sister house, The Case, and said it was 24 acres in the center Malibu, and in her interview, Tracy said there were no neighbors, and never would be. He told her it had been $85 million, but he’d had to lower it to $75 million. He said the view and the privacy were epic, but he thought the problem was when a broker showed one house, they would say there was another one, confusing the buyer. She asked if the chosen one would get the entire portfolio, and he said it was all or nothing. Tracy figured on $500 million, she’d be getting $10 million in commission. She told him there was no one better than her at finding a buyer, but he wanted to know how she was going to attack, not who she was going to pitch it to. He gave her five days for getting together a marketing proposal, but she said she’d need a full week. He said if she failed, she’d get fired, and she told him, she didn’t fail.

JoshA told us, the Altman Brothers were doing a million a week in business, had ten agents, and five employees. They needed their own space. It was a risk, but if you’re going to grow as a brand, you have to take a leap. We saw the space, still under construction, and the marble walls in the reception area alone were $75K. Josh said the offices had felt walls, so when the agents banged their heads against them, it didn’t hurt as much. We saw clips of them looking at properties. Josh said they settled on something in Beverly Hills, near the luxury shopping district, not far from Chanel and The Ivy. Josh told brother Matt that Fredrik (Million Dollar Listing New York) was moving to LA. In Josh’s interview, he said, under different circumstances, he would love it that Fredrik was moving there. He and Heather were tight with Fredrik and Derik, and took them to look at vacation homes last year. The next he heard from Fredrik was on an email blast that he was moving there to open a business. He told Matt that Fredrik had invited Josh and Heather to an open house he was having, but only Heather was going.

While Heather was interested in the Holmby house, JoshF said he couldn’t push the seller too hard, or they could lose the house to the open market. He made an offer of $4.750 million, cash, closing in one week. He said the buyer was qualified, so it would be a quick loan with no bullsh*t.

Tracy told her team that they needed to come up with creative ways to convince Scott that he needed to hire her because she could find his buyer. Rob suggested a yacht party near The Case; very exclusive and VIP. Another team member thought of customized swag, like slippers and a robe. One more thought of a custom tasting experience, and the last idea was a promotional film that could be put inside a book the buyer could take home. Tracy loved all of it, and said they could send a questionnaire to both brokers and potential buyers that would give them a backdoor entrance to see who qualified, and also make sure they had the best experience possible. They would use all of the ideas, and make each showing personalized. They needed to tell an entire story. She wanted Scott to experience what they were talking about, and how they wanted the client to experience it. In her interview, she said the best way to show a buyer a house was to show them how to live in it. She wanted to show Scott the house as though he was a buyer. It had to be perfectly curated, and she needed to find out what she could about Scott so that the tour would impress him, and she meant CIA level research. If Rob had to dig in Scott’s trash to see what he had for dinner, so be it. She told the team there were no second chances, and to think of the amount of the commission check. It would keep them up and motivated. She wouldn’t be sleeping all week.

Heather told JoshA that she hadn’t slept because she was upset about Fredrik’s open house. The second she got there, Fredrik came for her. We flash back (we saw this from Fredrik’s end last season) to Heather telling him that she and Josh found out he was opening a business in L.A. from a company email blast. Fredrik insisted that he’d told them, and Heather told Josh that he’d asked if they were afraid of the competition. She’d lost all respect for him. Josh was annoyed that Fredrick didn’t come to him, and said he’d put Fredrik in his place. In Josh’s interview, he said, on a friend level, it’s beyond. He told Heather that he didn’t care about Fredrik opening a business there, it was how he approached it. All the fake sh*t. He said he wasn’t cool with what went down, and was going to deal with Fredrik.

JoshF met Heather at the park, where Simon was playing soccer. She asked if Josh was ever a child, and he said, never. He told her that the offer was rejected, and the seller countered with $4.825 million. He thought they should accept it, and it was worth what they were asking. She said she loved the neighborhood, and her kids had friends there, but she didn’t want to spend that much. She asked if he believed it was the best deal, and he said, 100%. She asked Simon if he liked the house, and Simon replied in the affirmative, saying it was big and you could play everywhere. Heather said, let’s do it, and she and Josh headed to Gucci to celebrate. He said he’d get her a keychain.

In Tracy’s interview, she said she worked crazy hours, preparing her listing pitch. We saw her Instagram story where she said she was stressed out, hadn’t slept in a week, and it clearly showed. In her interview, she said she was exhausted. She could barely keep her head screwed on straight. At New Castle, she met with party planner Nicole. Scott had been reluctant to let her team in without him being there (I’ll bet), but as long as they didn’t touch any surfaces, it would be fine. She told them she wanted them to be in position when Scott got there, like they’d been there all day. She knew he loved sushi, was obsessed with a smoothie called Mango Madness, and loved a good cigar, which she was having hand rolled. She said, none of it was easy or cheap, but she was looking at a $500 million portfolio. If she dropped $10K to get it, so be it (which seems to be her catch phrase). Call it a marketing expense. When Scott arrived, she told him that he was going to play buyer, and she was giving him a tour. Before they went inside, she gave him a pair of slippers, and explained they were going to do personalized showings. She asked who he’d like to be, and he said, call him Joe. She lead him to the cigar room, where a team member met him with the hand rolled cigars. In the master bath, Tracy presented Joe/Scott with a robe, and he said it was pretty great. In Tracy’s interview, she wondered if that was a compliment. Outside, he was given a Mango Madness smoothie, and a personalized cap. He took a sip, and said he might sign her up just for the smoothie. In her interview, Tracy said she wanted him to recognize that it won’t be at the same level, but every buyer would have this experience. They sat down for some sushi, and Scott said, awesome, but how could she find people who can afford it? Now he was suddenly interested in that. She asked a team member to bring the key to The Castle. She gave him a key, and said this was part of the digital marketing plan. He would create a film where he talked about the individual properties, and the properties as a whole. A sushi chef prepared dishes for them, and Tracy said she’d host an event for agents from around the world and high net worth buyers, and give them the presentation. They were intrigued by Malibu, but didn’t get that it’s about connecting with people. She showed him a mock-up of the book, saying it would be a showcase for the film, and it could go home with the buyer. That was her pitch. He said, that’s it? and told her that he had some ideas. He was going to give Robert a call, then let her know. She said she’d take five, and he told her to take ten. As she walked away, she said she wasn’t leaving without the listing. In her interview, she said it was worth it. With the help of her team, she had executed the perfect listing pitch. If he didn’t choose her, screw him. On the phone, Scott told Robert that Tracy had all the right ideas, and understood their vision. He gave her the portfolio, and she smoked a cigar, then coughed, while he took a picture with his phone. In her interview, she said she was never sleeping again.

Fredrik stopped by JoshA’s office. After talking about the weather for a millisecond, Fredrik stammered a little, then said Heather had come to his open house party. She was upset, and he’d tried to say his piece and discuss it, but she stormed out. Josh said he’d heard differently. Heather was upset and stormed out, but the reality was, she came to support Fredrik, and Fredrik went aggressively at his wife, who’s eight months pregnant, with issues that were between them. Fredrik said he took accountability for things he should have done differently, but he had the right to expand, and didn’t need an okay from them. Josh said he didn’t care where Fredrik did business, but it was the way he’d approached Heather. They were family. Fredrik said things had changed because he was moving to L.A., but Josh said that wasn’t the point. He’d shown Fredrik and Derik houses because they said they wanted a family vacation place. The next thing he heard, in a company email blast, is that Fredrik is opening a branch in L.A. It’s shady. In his interview, Josh said, clearly, Fredrik didn’t want anyone to know he was moving to L.A. He asked Fredrik, how about calling him, and asking him to show them houses because he’s opening a business in L.A.? Fredrik said he was their friend, but he couldn’t update everybody personally. Josh told him, be real, and in his interview, he said it hurt his feelings that Fredrik didn’t call, but he got pissed when Fredrik went around telling people he was intimidated; that’s bullsh*t. He told Fredrik that he approached this in a sh*tty way, and he knows it. He’d said that Josh was intimidated. Fredrik said that’s how it looked to him, like Josh felt territorial or threatened. He didn’t think he was being shady. Josh said Fredrik didn’t make it to the top by being stupid. Fredrik said he did it by hard work, and Josh said he’d gotten an email saying Fredrik had done $700 million in business in L.A. He’d closed seven listings in L.A. through Josh, but he didn’t exist there. Fredrik whined that he made more money than Josh, and Josh said if he thought it was about money, how shallow he was. Fredrik got all animated, and stood up, saying he’d protected Josh because he was Josh’s friend. People had been saying things about Josh, and he was Josh’s friend. Josh told him, just sit down. He was asking for Fredrik to be real, because they were family, not competition. Fredrik was the new guy, and needed to stop fronting. There was no reason to do it. In Josh’s interview, he said he was known for telling people what he thought, in business and in life, but it was harder, because Fredrik is a friend; he expects more from friends. Just be honest. Fredrik said he understood, and should have included them every step of the way. He didn’t like fighting. At this point, he got choked up, and said he was upset with himself. Derik told him, don’t cry, but he always does. Josh said Fredrik was good people, and suggested they move past it. It was the most real Fredrik had been in a long time. Fredrik said he was coming from a good place, but it was his fault how they were seeing it, and he was sorry. They were in the same office and company, and lived in the same town. They also had kids, and it would be foolish to throw the friendship away over something like this. Josh thought they could build from where it was, and even make it better; they could do deals together. Fredrik apologized for being emotional, and asked if he could have a hug. He and Josh bro hugged, slapping each other loudly. Fredrik put on an Altman Brothers hat to hide his tears. In Fredrik’s interview, he said he had a lot of love for Josh and Heather, and didn’t want to upset them. He valued them as friends, and should have done it differently – as a friend. In Josh’s interview, he said he’d gotten a glimmer of hope. They’d gotten through this, but it was how Fredrik acted moving forward; what he’s going to do to repair the friendship. He was hopeful, and wanted to leave it at that. He asked for a tissue, since he had Fredrik’s tears on his suit.

Next time, David and James have difficult clients with a time crunch; there’s an offer on the Razor House; JoshA tells JoshF that their buyer is well-know, but the caveat is that he represents the buyer; Scott interferes in Tracy’s brokers open, saying it’s unacceptable that someone dared to touch something.

🧼 After All These Years…

A soap vet exits the stage.

https://parade.com/1059365/paulettecohn/kristian-alfonso-leaving-days-of-our-lives-after-37-years/

📽 Yeah, No…

While I loved both Chicago and Hairspray, some musicals don’t translate to film as well, and nothing is better than seeing it on the actual stage.

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/06/lin-manuel-miranda-says-movie-adaptation-of-hamilton-unlikely/

⏰ Most Contrived Show Ever…

Or as I called him, big-ass clock man.

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/06/vh1-tossed-around-idea-of-flavor-flav-as-the-black-chelor/

🎊 Crashing a Culture…

This guy literally wrote the book on gatecrashing.

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/07/we-hear-episode-98-the-evolution-of-celeb-culture/

🏺 Finally…

I was really starting to think maybe I made the show up in my head, but the Shahs reunion is finally on the horizon. I heard tell it was July 19th, but haven’t seen written confirmation.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/shahs-of-sunset-season-8-reunion-details-announced

https://pagesix.com/2020/06/16/shahs-of-sunset-to-tape-wwhl-special-reunion/

https://www.realitytea.com/2020/06/17/shahs-of-sunset-gets-reunion-episode-months-after-season-ended/

📺 The Whole Shebang…

What’s coming back and what isn’t. When is still up in the air.

https://parade.com/1037437/alexandra-hurtado/fall-tv-schedule-2020-canceled-renewed-new-shows-abc-fox-nbc-cbs-cw/

👛 You Can Blackout Anytime…

While Blackout Day is over, that doesn’t mean you can’t still shop. New York Magazine’s list of black owned businesses to support.

https://nymag.com/strategist/article/black-owned-businesses-support-shop.html

And In Style’s list of black owned beauty brands. You didn’t think I was going to direct you to where you buy tires or something, did you?

https://www.instyle.com/beauty/black-owned-beauty-brands

🤺 Pushing On…

We’re moving toward another weekend, or that thing you used to stop work for, depending, and continue to be on the yo-yo that is the pandemic. Until we’re not, and even after, stay safe, stay keeping it real, and stay relaxed as best you can.