What I Watched Today

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

 

 

General Hospital

Finn tells Chet that his vitals are better. It’s like he improved overnight. He congratulates Chet on surviving, saying it’s a good day to be alive.

Nathan shows up at the hospital, and Amy asks if he’s going to arrest her brother.

Anna finds Valentin sitting on her couch, and asks if he’s making a habit of breaking in now. He tells her that he wants to help bring Cassandra down.

Maxie babbles at Nina, saying if Nina doesn’t like the article, she can start over from a different angle. Nina says it’s great. Maxie asks if it’s not a problem that she embellished, and made herself the inspiration. She doesn’t want to contribute to fake news. Nina says it’s not like the fate of the nation is hanging in the balance. She’s is impressed that Maxie sounds like the uber confident and uber supportive wife of Man Landers, and she made Nathan out to be amazing. Job well done.

Nelle walks into the Crimson office, and her phone rings. It’s a notice that her account is past due. Maxie is glad to see her, and says they need to get to work.

On the phone, Carly tells Sonny that Diane is seeing the judge. She says Diane will convince them that Real Jason had a reasonable belief that Franco was a threat. She doesn’t think they’ll drop the charges, but he’ll get bail. Sonny says the most important thing is to get him out. Carly adds, and back to his life. At Pizzulo’s, Sonny tells Michael about Diane working on getting Real Jason released. Michael asks if he’s sure it’s Jason.

At the jail, Real Jason stares at Klein. Klein asks what he’s waiting for, and Real Jason says answers. Klein doesn’t have any. There’s been no name attached to anything. Real Jason can’t find his client. Real Jason says yes, he can, and Klein is going to help him.

Valentin tells Anna that he changed his mind. He’s decided to take her offer. He thinks there’s no better way to bring down Cassandra’s operation than from the inside. Anna asks what changed. The last time she saw him, he threatened to expose her. He says he went home and thought about it, and is concerned about protecting his daughter. He wouldn’t wish this on anyone, and he’ll be damned if Cassandra is going to profit from it too. Anna thinks that’s too altruistic to be his motive, and asks what Cassandra did.

Finn tells Chet he’s in Port Charles at General Hospital. Chet asks if they’re done, and Finn says he’s not dying of pneumonia. Chet starts to pull out the IV, but Finn asks him not to. Not only will he have to clean up a mess, Chet isn’t done with the antibiotics. Chet asks why he cares, and Finn says Chet’s not only his patient, but he’s Amy’s brother. Chet doesn’t want to see her, and Finn says she’s been wearing a hole in the linoleum. Chet will have to break it to her himself. Finn says to be honest, he’s afraid of her.

Amy tells Nathan that Chet is the person who OD’d. Somewhere between the rehab center and Port Charles, he got his hands on some painkillers. She had no idea he was addicted. She tells Nathan that he’s been through surgery after surgery with combat wounds; he must be in so much pain. Nathan hugs her.

Maxie tells Nelle that she’s heard a lot about her from Lulu, and Nelle sarcastically says Lulu has always been so kind to her. She’s heard about Maxie too, and they’ve both been the subject of public gossip. Nelle thinks it’s best they don’t believe anything they’ve heard. Maxie asks if it’s true Nelle was a nanny, and Nelle says she also has experience as an executive assistant. Maxie is glad about that, since she’ll be needing Nelle. She’s going to be sharing the space until her office is ready. She tells Nelle to start with hanging up her coat. Nelle goes into Nina’s office, and Nina tells her that she needs Maxie working out there, and there must be a productive way they can coexist. Nelle says that’s not what this is about. She needs a raise.

Sonny tells Michael he should go see Real Jason for himself. Michael says he tried to visit him, but he’d been released already, but he’s back in jail again? Sonny says he beat the hell out of Franco. Michael questions Sonny believing that he’s Real Jason, but Sonny says once he sees him, he’ll know it’s him. Michael is disturbed that Sam married an impostor. Sonny tells him it’s more complicated than that. It’s a set-up. Someone put him in Jason’s place, and now Sam’s husband is trying to hold onto a life that doesn’t belong to him.

Real Jason gets it; it was a job, but the job went wrong. If Klein doesn’t want to take the fall, tell him who’s behind it. Klein doesn’t think Real Jason is in any position to be making ultimatums, but Real Jason says he has friends. A guard comes in, saying Klein made bail. Klein asks who paid it, and the guard asks if he’s particular. Klein says all that matters is he’s free and Real Jason isn’t. Carly comes in and tells Real Jason they’ve got to stop meeting like this.

Nelle tells Nina that she knows Nina said she’ll have to wait, but she’s been an exemplary employee; she spent time in a Moroccan jail for the magazine. It’s embarrassing, but she’s strapped. Nina thought she was getting a roommate, but Nelle says it fell through at the last minute, and although she’s staying in the apartment, she couldn’t get her deposit back from the movers. She’d expected to be sharing expenses, and the holidays are coming up. Nina says Nelle has been perfect and invaluable, but it’s hard with the whole takeover. Crimson has creative autonomy, but financially, they’re still on hold. If she could, she would, but she thinks Nelle will find what she wants in her Christmas stocking. She asks Nelle to go for coffee, and when she gets back, wants her to look at Maxie’s article. Nelle sees that Maxie’s stuff is still all over her desk, and Maxie asks her to bring back a mocha latte with soy and a dusting of cinnamon. Can we collectively smack her?

Sonny says Michael will feel better when sees Real Jason. Michael says if it is Jason, what is he going to say? He was like a second father, a brother, a friend. How can he look him in the face and explain how he thought another guy was him? Sonny says, since he’s Jason, Michael doesn’t need to say anything. There’s nothing to forgive. Michael wonders how he can justify it to Jason or himself.

Real Jason tells Carly that he wasn’t crazy; he was justified. He doesn’t care about Franco having a brain tumor. He just cares about who Franco hurt. Carly gets it, and says his hatred for Franco is a beautiful thing, but Franco is reformed, or at least pretending to be. He’s not going to hurt anyone. Real Jason needs to focus on himself, get out of there, and get his life back.

Valentin tells Anna he’s giving her what she wants; why the resistance? Anna says she’s not just bringing Cassandra down, but the whole operation. She has to trust and rely on him. His motive could be his greatest asset or his biggest liability. She asks if it’s a personal vendetta or what? Valentin gets a call, and steps away. It’s Klein. He says he thought Klein was indisposed, but Klein says that’s no longer the case. He’s calling to thank Valentin for his generosity in posting bail. Valentin says it wasn’t him, and don’t call him again. As he’s hanging up, he hears Klein say, hey, let go of me.

Amy thanks Nathan for the shoulder, and says she guesses it’s time for Man Landers to turn into a cop. Nathan says he’s not taking Chet in, but needs to know where he got the painkillers from. Finn joins them, saying Chet is awake and stable. Amy runs into Chet’s room. She says he scared her, and tells him that he can always call her. Chet tells her if she really wants to do something for him, get out

Real Jason asks Carly how Sam is, but Carly hasn’t seen her. Real Jason doesn’t want her pressured; she’s dealing with a lot. Carly says it’s hard to believe, but they’re friends now. They bonded in their grief over him. If it weren’t for Danny, Sam would have disappeared; that’s how much she loves him. Real Jason says she loves Other Jason too; she’s married, and Other Jason is going to fight him with everything he’s got. He doesn’t want to put Sam through that. Carly says they need to focus on getting him out. Sonny will post bail, and she even went clothes shopping. He can’t look like a fugitive. She tells him that she had the sergeant throw out his old clothes. Great. What’s in the pocket?

Nelle sees Michael at the MetroCourt. She says she’s worried about him. His family is jumping from one crisis to another, with no help from her this time. She’s sure he has questions about Jason, but Michael says he’s working it out. Nelle tells him it helps to work with someone else. Someone who cares. Someone who never stopped caring.

Klein realizes it’s Sonny who has him. Sonny tells the guards that he needs to talk in private. He says Klein kept his friend prisoner, and drugged him to keep him in control. Klein says it was nothing personal, just business. Sonny says he provided a service, and he wants to know who hired him to provide it.

Anna says Cassandra will keep Valentin on a tight leash, and use anything as leverage. Their pasts keep on going, no matter how they outrun them. Valentin says he’s made peace with his past. He has regrets, but nothing that’s stopping him from a better life. Anna asks if Cassandra has gotten to his family, and he says not yet. Anna says he’ll have to get her to trust him, and then betray her. Any lapse in judgement can be fatal. Is he willing to take that risk? He asks if she’s worried, but she says just concerned about the operation. Valentin says he’s her best chance to bring Cassandra and her sordid operation down. Anna says she’ll be watching his every step. He tells her not to threaten him when he’s risking everything. The doorbell rings, and Valentin says someone has awful timing. Or what I like to call, soap timing.

Klein says Sonny is obviously a powerful man, and must have enemies. Sonny says as far as he knows, everyone loves him. Klein says imagine he was paying to keep an enemy alive and sedated; would he want to be defied or get what he paid for? Sonny says it’s a good point, but when Real Jason escaped, he tracked him down. Klein says he doesn’t care; he was glad to be rid of him, but he was ordered to do it. Sonny asks if he always follows orders, and Klein says he’s not unlike Sonny’s men. Sonny asks who gave the order, but Klein doesn’t even know their name; he’s contacted by phone. Sonny has Klein’s phone, and says it’s a burner phone and untraceable. He’s just going to put it on the table, and they’ll wait until it rings, and hear who it is.

Michael says there’s nothing Nelle can do. She says she can listen. She knows she hurt him, and he might not forgive her, but she wants to be there for him. She needs him to know she’ll never stop loving him. Let her be there for him; they can help each other. She puts her hand on his, and Carly sees.

Amy says okay. If that’s what Chet really wants, she’ll go. She leaves, but immediately returns. She says she left, and now she’s back. Chet says he doesn’t want her there. Amy says she got that, but too bad; she’s not leaving him – ever. She knows he suffered and the recovery is painful, but he’s a hero who served the country. He tells her the heroes are the ones who didn’t come back. She says he’s not just a hero, he’s her hero, and she loves him too much to let him quit. Chet tells her that she’s wasting her time; save someone else. She’s says she’ll go, but only because he’s pissing her off and she’s working. She tells him like MacArthur, she’ll be back. He tells her that’s the Terminator. MacArthur said, I shall return. She says she’ll do both.

Amy tells Nathan that all Chet has left is his pride, and he can’t take it away.

Anna answers the door, and it’s Finn. Valentin says he heard they were seeing one another, and Anna says Valentin was just leaving. After he’s gone, Finn asks what that was about, and Anna says spy business; the thing he’s no longer part of. Finn says, what if he wants back in?

Maxie tells Nathan that Man Landers is bigger than ever. Everyone will be looking to him for answers. He says he doesn’t have them; not a single one.

Finn explains to Anna that Roxie’s whole world is her aquarium, and sometimes his room if she gets out. Anna is like, huh? He says he was like Roxie. Since Hayden left, he was hiding out. He has a patient who’s in pain, but can’t hide. He tells her that she was right, adding that he’s a doctor who just admitted he was wrong. She says it’s complicated, and he says it wasn’t when she was blackmailing him. Anna says she’s found another way. Finn says, Valentin? Hell, no.

Michael doesn’t want to hurt Nelle’s feelings, but can’t go back to way they were. He thinks it’s best they went their separate ways. Nelle says he’s right; she’s sorry. She leaves, and Valentin sees her in the hallway. He asks what’s wrong, and she says she’s glad she ran into him. She needs his help, and he might be her only hope.

Carly asks if Michael and Nelle had a lover’s spat. He says they’re not lovers or even roommates. He tells Carly to break out the champagne. He and Nelle are over.

Klein begs to go, saying nothing is being served by holding him. He can make a fresh start, and can help others like Mr. Morgan and Ms. Jerome. Sonny says he’s not a fan of Ava’s, and it wasn’t Klein’s best work. Klein says he wasn’t able to finish. Sonny says as far as second chances, ask his friend if he deserves one. Klein says he’s still in jail. Real Jason walks in, and Sonny says, he’s right here. Real Jason tells Dr. Klein he told him that he had friends.

Anna appreciates Finn’s concern, and he tells her that’s what people say when they don’t appreciate it. She tells him to do what he does best; take care of patients. Do what he’s trained to do, and she will too. He tells her that he has choices; his patient doesn’t. He also has PTSD that’s fueling the cycle. Finn has a network of people now, but he was like this guy. The drugs almost killed his patient, and he’s not losing him. He doesn’t want to just deal with the symptoms; he wants to get the disease – Cassandra and those like her. Anna says he already cut her loose, telling her about the negative test results. Finn says he’s still waiting on one of the tests. Anna says she needs to be clear. She’s not strong-arming him; he’s doing this of his own free will. He could be putting his reputation and career at risk, maybe even his life to bring the organization down. He tells her some things are worth the risk.

Amy goes back to Chet’s room. She says he was always an angel when he was sleeping; he fooled everyone but her. He can’t talk back now, and she wants to set something straight. She loves him, and is never, ever going to give up on him, and that’s an order. She tells him not to give up on himself.

Maxie asks Nathan what happened. He says it wasn’t even in line of duty. A friend needed help, and couldn’t figure out what to do or say; he was useless. Maxie says he was there, and gave a damn; that’s what counts. Nathan tells her how lucky they are. Nina sees them hugging, and smiles, looking at her ring.

Nelle tells Valentin that Nina has been wonderful, and told her she’s in line for well-deserved raise, but Crimson answers to a higher corporate authority. She thinks that during the transition, Nina should assert her independence with the parent company. She might not want to hear it from an assistant, but maybe she would listen to her husband. Valentin asks why he should help. Nelle says if he doesn’t, she’ll blow his marriage out of the water.

Michael says Carly was right and he refused to see it. Carly says the last thing she knew was that they were moving in together. She’s relieved it’s not happening, but can see he’s hurting. She tells him he can talk to her, and he says there’s nothing to talk about. She can rest assured no one is going to sabotage his kayak or steal his money. She says if he can’t talk to her, there is someone he can talk to.

Real Jason says he won’t forget Klein drugging him or keeping him prisoner, or leaving Sam to drown. Klein says it was nothing personal; just a job. Sonny asks if he wants to die for that job. Klein asks what it will take to let him go. Sonny says the name of the person on the other end of the phone. Klein says he would if he could, and they’d both be out of danger, but he doesn’t know. The phone rings, and Klein stares at it.

Tomorrow, Oscar and Josslyn need Sonny’s help, Valentin tells Nelle it’s a mistake to threaten him, and Real Jason asks Klein how much his life is worth.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Teresa gets ready for the trip to Puerto Rico. She’s bringing her dad along. He explains that Speedos are the Italian bathing suit, and everyone wears them. I hope that’s not a foreshadowing of anything.

Siggy gets ready to see the doctor about her hormone levels. Please put a rush on that. She hates Margaret for making fun of her being over-emotional, but admits that she’s having a problem getting control. No surprise, Dolores accompanies her to the doctor. The doctor says she has virtually no numbers, and they’re going to restore them. He says not to blame him if she’s chasing her husband around the block. Why does Siggy always refer to her husband as Michael Campanella? I know that’s his name, but it never seems to be just Michael. She says she agreed to be civil with Margaret. Dolores says they’re claiming her relationship with Frank is weird, yet Teresa visits her husband in jail, and Danielle has been engaged twenty-two times. I thought it was nineteen. Siggy excuses Teresa, because she just lost her mother and has been through a lot, but Dolores isn’t having it. The doctor gives Siggy the pellets, and we’re done.

Margaret gets a visit from her mom, Marge Sr. Margaret tells her about the altercation with Siggy at the Gorga’s party. Marge laughs when Margaret tells her Siggy stuck her tongue out. She says she apologized twice, and Dolores also had a fight with Danielle. Margaret says she gets along great with her ex-husband too, and doesn’t think Dolores should be judged. Marge thinks she should call Dolores, and she does. She tells Dolores that she felt badly about everything going south. Dolores says they need some degree of civility, and they make a date for the next day. Margaret hopes Siggy doesn’t try to blow up her house, since she lives in the same neighborhood.

Puerto Rico looks wonderful, although sadly, this was filmed before the recent hurricanes. It’s day two, and Teresa thinks her daughters are already sick of her. Danielle calls, and Teresa says her father is sunburned and passed out. They discuss the tasting. Teresa says Dolores came at her too; maybe because they’re friends. In her interview, Teresa says that Dolores accuses Danielle of starting sh*t, but she’s the one doing it.

Back in New jersey, Joe #2 and Melissa make dinner and talk with the kids. Little Joey says he has three girlfriends, and Joe gives him a high five. He tells Antonia no boyfriends, and questions her until she finally leaves the room. Melissa thinks he’s too strict. In her interview, Melissa says Joe’s and Teresa’s parenting styles are completely different. Joe tells her that God trusted Adam and Eve, and look what happened. Good point.

Siggy is on her way to meet Margaret, when Siggy calls. She tells Siggy about Margaret suggesting a meeting. Siggy is glad she’s not there. She says she doesn’t want to let her temper get the better of her.

Margaret is already at the restaurant. Neither one of them drink, and Margaret says they’re the lucid ones, which is good. She asks why Dolores was upset, and Dolores tells her it’s about her calling Siggy “Soggy.” Margaret says she thought it was funny, and Dolores says poor timing, poor taste. She says if she was introduced to a new crowd, when things are heated wouldn’t be the time for a joke. Margaret says humor diffuses the situation. She thinks Siggy’s behavior isn’t rational, but Dolores disagrees, and Margaret can’t believe Dolores won’t admit Siggy is at fault. In her interview, Dolores confesses Siggy needs hormone therapy, but says Margaret isn’t hearing it from her. If she has an opinion about Siggy, she’ll share it with Siggy, and only her. Dolores tells Margaret that Siggy felt their questioning of her relationship was a personal attack. Margaret says she defended her; she’s close with her ex too. She thinks it should be emulated, and that it’s impressive. Dolores says she wanted a close family for her kids, so Frank would come over every night for dinner. Instead of being invited out with her friends who were couples, she became the babysitter. For years it was her, the kids, and Frank when he had time. In her interview, Margaret is starting to get why Dolores is friends with Siggy. Margaret talks about her own ex, who had three children that she raised. The marriage fell apart when the kids moved away, and when she fell in love with Joe #3, her stepkids stopped talking to her. She says time doesn’t heal all wounds. Dolores says she can’t imagine the hurt, and says Margaret’s feelings go deeper than they gave her credit for.

Teresa says it’s strange to be on a family vacation without Joe #1. The girls need him, and Milania especially misses him. Teresa has one-on-one time with her, and the eat French fries, the universal food. Teresa talks about missing her mother. Milania says she knows how it is; Teresa was gone and they missed her. Teresa hates that she had to leave them “because of the situation her husband put her in.” Milania doesn’t want to talk about it. Teresa says if anything is bothering her to say something, but she says nothing is. In her interview, Teresa wants them to show emotions, not like when she was a kid, and they were told not to cry.

Melissa takes Antonia shopping. She wants Antonia to talk to her about things like crushes. She wonders what she has to do to get her to talk. Antonia says they’re strict. Melissa says she’s not. Antonia tells her that daddy is, and Melissa says he’s old school. She’s been dealing with daddy a long time. She thinks there’s a middle ground between Joe #2 and Teresa. She promises to talk to him.

Teresa does a professional photo shoot with the girls. She says Joe #1 did one for her when she was in the slammer, so she’s returning the favor. Gabriella doesn’t want to do a photo, Teresa’s father makes noises like a dinosaur, and Milania and Audriana act like toddlers. Teresa tells the photographer not to have four kids.

Joe #2 takes Antonia to a trampoline place. Melissa wants him to spend more time with her. She thinks Antonia is terrified of him, but he’s happy to jump around with her to get Melissa off his back. It looks like fun. They do a bunch of flips and somersaults. Joe says when Antonia was born, he gave her all his athletic ability. He tells her about how he loved her from the moment she was born. He says that Melissa thinks she doesn’t talk because he’s strict, but he just wants to protect her. He says if she would talk a little, maybe he wouldn’t be so strict. In his interview, he’s concerned with peer pressure, and reserves his right to lock her in the house. He tells Antonia he won’t be as strict, but she has to promise to be honest if she thinks a boy is cute. He tells her he loves her, and they have a very sweet exchange.

Dolores and Frank meet Siggy and Michael for dinner. Siggy asks Frank how it is being back at home, and if he sleepwalks (wink-wink). Dolores asks how the pellets are. Siggy says she’s sore, but feels energetic and more sexual. Michael says he paid the pellet guy to put in extra. Some gorgeous seafood platters are served. I should have made note of this restaurant. Dolores says Margaret reached out to her, and they met, and tells them how it went. Siggy says Margaret is allowed to get emotional, but makes fun of her crying. Dolores says she was nice to talk to one-on-one, and she’s not mad at her. There’s no reason they can’t talk and be in the same room, but Siggy says it will never happen. Because even with the pellets, she’s an unreasonable jerk.

Siggy says she’s not going to tell Dolores who she can be friends with. Dolores insists that Margaret was very compassionate and vulnerable; her heart broken over the kids. Siggy understands how that can be painful. In her interview, Siggy says there is a heart in there. She can relate on a mother level, and trusts Dolores. She tells Dolores that she makes sense, and it’s time to move on. The four of them toast to Margaret, and giving her a second chance.

Teresa tells her father the last time they were at the beach was before Adriana was born. Her father says the girls are spoiled. She says they’ve been through a lot. He says she has too. Teresa doesn’t want to fight with them. In her interview, she says her parents raised her and Joe #2 differently. All they had to do was look at them, and they peed their pants. She wants balance, and wants them to open up. Her dad says when she asks something of them, they’re supposed to do it. Teresa thinks they wonder why they’ve lost so much – their mom and dad, and then their grandmother. Her father tears up, and says how much he misses her. Teresa says she does too, and wishes she was there. He says maybe she watches them.

In her interview, Teresa says her father is always so macho. Seeing him cry makes it okay to open up, and cry with him. They’re both without their partners, and need to lean on each other. She wishes Joe #1 had been on top of things more; she would have had more time with her mom. She tells her father that Joe had better be a changed person when he gets back. Her father says she has him now, and she kisses the top of his head. She’s happy he’s moved in with them, and he says he’s always there for advice. Teresa thinks they need a man in the house. Maybe he can help with the discipline. He says maybe he should just take off his belt.

Next time, no belts taken off, but Siggy has a retreat, Teresa asks if Dolores is saying Joe #1 cheated, and Margaret gets emotional about the family dynamics.

🌟 On Star, Ayanna’s father met with her. He told her that he discovered Gigi, and she’ll never get credit for it, but he wishes her well. I’m not trusting Brody at all. Star called him a snake when he showed up at their performance, so we’re on the same page there. Simone’s roommate got transferred to another facility for missing curfew. Derek and Alex broke up and got back together again. Alex had an abortion, and poured her heart out to Carlotta in church. Carlotta told her to believe in God; He believes in her.

Take 3 is the new name of the group, but to be honest, I never knew the group name in the first place. Noah’s best friend Lucky, was not so lucky. He got shot by a cop, who thought he had a gun. Simone wanted to forgive Brody, and Star told him if he messes with her sister, she’ll kill him. He believed her. I would too. After the shooting, Ayanna wanted to “feel something,” and decided to feel Benjamin Bratt. While they were feeling each other, Carlotta walked in.

I’m loving Benjamin Bratt, and the relationships between the characters; the acting is superb. The characters behave and react the way real people would, making them believable and relatable. But of course, the highlight for me is always Queen Latifah’s hair. In addition to an attractive dark bob, Carlotta wore some lovely lilac locks tonight. Definitely one of my favorites among her looks so far.

📜 A Bonus Mid-Week Quote

💪 Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given, than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing. ― Muhammad Ali

💥 Brush with Greatness…

😍 I saw him standing in an elevator once at a hotel I worked in. He smiled at me. He was gorgeous.