Tag Archives: Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

February 21, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Cyrus Meets His End, This Week’s Reality, Weekend Watching, Watching Soon, Last Release, Those Who Merit, Turning It Around, Pithy Quotes Of 8 & Christmas

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

🛁 The Weekdays…

General Hospital

Sonny told Carly about the shared custody. She asked if he was going to tell her what was really going on. Kai texted Trina asking if she was free tonight. Laura was meeting with Drew about eminent domain and asked Curtis to sit in. Laura felt Drew was using the esplanade plan to retaliate against Jason through Sonny. Anna told Mac that while Jason was at the station, he couldn’t kill Cyrus. Elizabeth snuck into the interrogation room to see Jason and told him that she and Lucky found evidence against Cyrus.

Curtis gave a bunch of reasons Drew’s idea was a bad one, including a lawsuit from Sonny. Laura said Drew wanted to bring in Sidwell. Mac said with Cyrus gone, he couldn’t hurt anyone, but Anna said she’d rather bring Cyrus to justice. She felt they were getting closer. Elizabeth told Jason that they didn’t know Cyrus’s motives and she wasn’t sure the PCPD was up to the job. Cyrus consulted the Bible.  

Trina said it was Josslyn’s first Valentine’s Day without Dex, and she missed Spencer, but Josslyn told her to go with Kai. It was time for her to get back out there. Carly thought there was a reason behind Sonny’s reason for the compromise and he said he had to find where the threat was coming from and wanted to help Michael when he came home. She asked if Jason had mentioned Sasha. Sasha went to see Jason at the station. Martin told Willow that Elaine was out of commission, and he still needed dirt on Michael. Willow didn’t want to blame Michael or hurt him. Laura said Jordan would be at the meeting and Curtis said he’d seen her with Sidwell. When Jordan arrived, she said Sidwell could be legit, but they needed more information. She was going to get it. Drew showed up and said he could tell it was going to be a tough room. Elizabeth told Anna how she and Lucky collected evidence against Cyrus.

Carly said Drew accused Jason of fathering Sasha’s baby, but she didn’t know if it was true. Willow said maybe there was a way to make peace, when Nurse Mindy called her. Her car had been impounded. Laura said Drew gave her a lot to think about and he said there would be matching federal funding. He said if Sonny using piers for criminal activity was the priority rather than the esplanade, let it ride. Elizabeth told Anna about everything that happened at Turning Woods and GH with Cyrus, and said Anna had the authority to exhume the bodies. Sasha went to see Jason, and he said Anna was just trying to keep him away from Cyrus. She said she thought Willow suspected Michael was the father of her baby. Kai told Trina to meet him at The Savoy dressed to impress.

Willow told Mac that Tracy had her car towed after she’d put it in the street. She was starting to see how much she’d lost in becoming a part of Michael’s family and was done letting the Quartermaines run her life. Sasha told Jason about Elaine and said she didn’t want her child raised in the Quartermaine environment. Letting people draw their own conclusions wasn’t enough. She wanted Jason to come out and say the baby was his. Jordan said it could cost jobs, and the project could get tangled up for years, and Curtis said the city shouldn’t get entangled in Drew’s personal vendetta. Drew asked if the potential benefits were worth the risk. Elizabeth brought Anna a bag of stuff and said they’d gone through Cyrus’s trash in the dumpster. Anna saw an order of syringes from Paul Damascus, and Elizabeth said it was a biblical reference. It made sense for Cyrus to use it as an aka. Elizabeth thought digitalis had been in another box, but they couldn’t find an invoice. Meanwhile, Cyrus readied a syringe.

Carly said, if it was true, she needed to support Jason, but Sonny suggested they stay out of it. Anna said Elizabeth was good as an amateur detective, but they couldn’t link Cyrus to anything. Laura said it would be easier if she didn’t have to consider Sonny. Sonny said Jason would tell them if they needed to know, and Carly agreed to wait until Jason said something. Trina left to meet Kai and Josslyn brought out a box with a gun in it. Cyrus put the syringe in his pocket and called GH. He asked to talk to Elizabeth, but she was gone for the day. He said he was sure he’d run into her later. Drew brought roses to the hospital, but Willow wasn’t there. Willow saw Jason and Sasha talking, and Sasha said go with her on this and kissed him. Anna told Mac that they might have a new lead. He saw Sasha and Jason kissing and said, no, no, no!

Tuesday:

Valentine’s Day was happening at The Savoy and Curtis said they had a special surprise performer, when Trina walked in with Kai. On the phone, Spinelli told Maxie that he’d play cupid for Lucas since she was under the weather. He told Lucas that he was pinch hitting for Maxie, and she’d found him the perfect guy. Carly was cleaning up the cookie baking mess in Sonny’s old kitchen, saying, it’s the memories, not the mess. Jack came in bearing roses. Lulu was leaving Eckerd’s Valentine’s Day cupcakes for Rocco in the nook, when Dante came down. TempLucky went to Elizabeth’s, and she said Anna listened to her and was going to arrest Cyrus. She thought they should celebrate, and they discovered Aiden had made a cake. Mac had a migraine, and Anna was working on one. She told Jason that she had to release him, but wanted to convince him not to kill Cyrus the minute he left.

Portia said Trina seeing someone was a big deal, and Curtis said it was one they’d have to watch from afar. Trina asked if Kai had to pull strings to come, and he said, a few. Spinelli introduced Lucas and Gunther the model, and Brad saw them sit together. Carly’s faucet went nuts, spraying water everywhere. Dante told Lulu that Rocco was ice skating and crashing at a friend’s, but he’d barely touched the cupcakes Dante brought home years ago because they reminded him of Lulu. Aiden introduced Tobias to Elizabeth, and she asked if they wanted to join her and Lucky. Aiden said they were going to the Valentine’s Day skate and asked to talk to Elizabeth in private. Mac didn’t buy that Jason was the baby’s father, but then he saw Sasha kiss him. He thought Jason took advantage of her hurt over Cody, but Felicia said, the heart wants what the heart wants.

Anna asked for a BOLO on Cyrus and told Jason. She had enough evidence to connect him to multiple murders, including Sam’s, and hoped the judge would sign off on it right away. She could get justice, but only if Jason let her do her job. She asked him to stay away from Cyrus for her sake. Jack turned the water off and said luckily for Carly, her knight in sopping wet armor had arrived. Spinelli told Maxie that the chemistry between Lucas and Gunther was palpable, and Trina told Kai that she had a confession to make. The owner of The Savoy was her dad. Elizabeth told Aiden that she liked spending time with his dad and to go enjoy himself. Lulu said she didn’t know their son, but Dante said she did and told her to ask questions. She asked about Rocco’s first crush, if he was hard to wake up, how was he doing in school, and did he have friends. He knew about Rocco, and she didn’t. He said she’d catch up, but she said she’d neglected the child she had and was failing as a mother. he said that wasn’t true. Aiden left with Tobias, and Elizabeth said he’d offered to be their chaperone. Anna said she and Jason were friends and people noticed. If Cyrus disappeared, it would perpetuate the idea that there were people above the law who got away with it because of their friendship with her. Jason said he understood, but it didn’t matter when she was talking about the sick bastard who murdered Sam.

Kai complimented Curtis on the club and Curtis said they had to stick around for the surprise musical act. Anna asked Jason to trust her that they’d get justice. She’d taken chances on him, and she was asking him to take one on her and have faith. He wouldn’t regret it. Felicia said she and Mac had their ups and downs over the years. Mac had even left once, but he was her happily ever after. It wasn’t for them to decide who Sasha’s was. They’d make sure the only way Scorpios could. Lucky wondered if Aiden was worried that he and Elizabeth were getting too close, but she said Aiden just wanted to make sure she was treated well. She’d make it clear that she didn’t need protection from him. Dante said Lulu was a good mom. He shouldn’t have made it seem like she was choosing between Charlotte and Rocco. She said she didn’t know what Rocco needed, and Dante said, his mom. She’d made his pain and sadness disappear.

Lucas said the only reason he was on the date was because of Maxie, and Gunther said he understood Lucas wasn’t ready. Get his number from Maxie and tell him when he was. Gunther left and Brook and Chase showed up. Jack fixed Carly’s sink, which surprised her, and he said his father was a plumber. She said she’d envisioned him descending from a long line of super spies, but he told her that his dad always said, even if the world ends, you’re always going to need a plumber. She asked if anyone else knew. She liked knowing something about him that no one else did. He said, knowledge is power. Anna said the trust she and Jason had was unexpected, but real, and also obvious. No one would believe she hadn’t looked the other way, or worse they’d think she helped him cover it up.

Lucas asked if Brad wanted company. Spinelli told Brook that Gunther ditched Lucas, then saw Brad with Lucas. Chase left to check on Brook’s surprise. Curtis told Portia that he loved The Savoy, but Aurora presented a challenge, and he felt like he was growing there. N’neka said it was time, and Curtis introduced Chase. Dante promised to guard the cupcakes with his life, but thought he should take a couple off of Rocco’s hands. Lulu said, don’t you dare. Jack said he’d learned to expect the unexpected with Carly. Lucky said Elizabeth was as beautiful as the day he met her, and they kissed. Anna found out the warrant couldn’t be signed until the morning, and Jason said whatever happened to Cyrus, her office would respect her for the same reasons he did – her strength, courage, and willingness to put herself on the line. He knew she understood why he wanted to kill Cyrus, but didn’t think anyone else did. She said it was because they were alike, and he agreed. She asked him, as her friend, please don’t kill Cyrus, and he said she was a good friend, and he appreciated her friendship. She said that wasn’t an answer.

Chase told the audience that his singing career had been brief, but he’d met his wife through it and was grateful. He said the song was for her and sang one she’d written (Won’t You Stay with Me). As he sang, Lucky left Elizabeth’s, Jack and Carly had champagne, Felicia fed Mac Valentine cookies, and Lulu smushed a cupcake on Dante’s face, then helped wipe it off. Jason left the station. Elizabeth noticed that Lucky left the piece of cake he was taking home. There was a knock at the door, and she assumed it was him, but it was Cyrus.

Wednesday:

Cyrus told Elizabeth that he had an urgent matter that couldn’t wait and walked in. She’d been asking around about him and now had the opportunity to ask questions to his face. Emma asked Josslyn to be part of the benefit. Lulu was rude to a client on the phone in Helsinki and said he’d specifically asked for Brook or Maxie. It was Maxie and Spinelli’s first Valentine’s Day together and she didn’t want to ruin it. Brook said Lulu had no problem ruining it for her and Chase. Drew showed up at The Savoy with Willow, and Portia said, that’s a choice, but Curtis said it was beyond disrespect. It was a throwdown. Portia wondered how Willow couldn’t see through Drew (me too), but thought they should let it go. Willow wondered why Lucas was with Brad. Seeing Willow with Drew, Brad told Lucas that he was in no position to judge, but… and Lucas said it wasn’t their call. Cyrus asked what Elizabeth was trying to find out, and she said, fine. She’d start at the beginning. Why did he try to kill Lulu?

Donna called for Carly, interrupting a kiss with Jack. Emma wanted Josslyn to be an underwriter, but Josslyn said she had no time. She was going through a lot, but she’d be more than happy to donate. Emma argued with her, but Josslyn was unrelenting. Chase told Dante that he couldn’t give Brook the family she wanted to have. Curtis told N’neka that Drew was no longer welcome. Willow said she’d never forgive Brad (wow), and Curtis told Drew that he didn’t want him there. Cyrus said there was no sign of Lulu having an improvement. Just because someone could be kept alive didn’t mean they should be. Elizabeth said she’d watched families make that decision and it was awful, but in the end, it’s a gift. He said she understood, and she asked, what about the others? He said they were all God’s children, and she said, so from one family. He said he’d seen people trapped in their own hell and God gave him a mission to free imprisoned souls. He wept as he asked if Lulu wasn’t entitled to that, and she said, that’s why he turned off the ventilator, but he said, no, that was much later.

Brook said, the client threatened to cancel the shipment of the key ingredient in their cream. Lulu couldn’t talk to people that way. Lucas said he wasn’t sorry for Willow, but they all made mistakes. Curtis told Drew that Michael’s wife was more than welcome to stay, but he reserved the right to refuse service. They were playing the same game. Brad said, once the denial goes away, Willow will be miserable. One thing he’d learned was, lonely is lonely, whether deserved or not. Drew told Willow that he had a surprise for her, and they left. Donna asked why Jack was out so late and suggested he go to bed. She wondered why we have bad dreams, and Jack explained dreams to her. He said when we had bad dreams, something was bothering us. Cyrus told Elizabeth, in his first attempt to free Lulu, he used the wrong medication and drew unwanted attention. She said, that’s why Lulu’s liver failed. He freed Lulu, just not in the way he intended. She understood that, but why kill Sam? He said, Sam got in the way of him carrying out the Lord’s. Her donation would keep Lulu going, but not free her from her prison. Elizabeth asked if it was punishment, but he said it was a consequence of obstructing the Lord’s will. He also discovered that digitalis was the best way to free everyone else. She said it was fast, effective, and relatively painless. But what about Dex? He’d been young and healthy.

Cyrus said, Dex had been in the vicinity of Sam’s room and seen him, and Elizabeth said, it sounded less like God’s will and more like something the old Cyrus would do. He said Dex almost killed him on Sonny’s orders, but he had no malice in his heart. Cyrus flashed back to taking Dex’s hospital wristband when Dex was in the morgue. He said he had to remove Dex, and Elizabeth said, because of his mission. What would happen to the souls that needed to be freed? He said she understood, and she said he was able to help try to free Michael. He said he wanted to liberate Michael from his physical suffering, and she asked if there wasn’t another reason. He’d spoken about how his mother was suffering. He said, that’s what awakened him to his purpose. Martin had her living what barely qualified as a life. If he could set her free, he would. She said, it was a different type of healing, and he thanked her for understanding the importance of his mission.

Emma thanked Josslyn for her donation, but pressure her again for her presence. A worker came in to relieve Josslyn and she left. Gio told Emma that her approach needed work, and Emma said, friends speak the truth. He said she was a great salesperson, and he appreciated her passion. Chase told Dante that it wasn’t Brook, it was him, but Dante said there was more than one way to have a family. Chase said Brook deserved to be a mom and he’d do anything to be a dad.

Elizabeth said Cyrus’s purpose was not unlike hers, to help and heal, and he said nothing was going to jeopardize his mission. She should understand why he had to do this. He brought out the syringe and came toward her, when Lucky burst in. He told Cyrus, get away from her!

Lucas left and Brad sighed. Curtis told Portia about asking Drew to leave. There were no threats, but he wanted to make it clear whose club it was. He didn’t need Drew to ruin his evening. Drew showed Willow his new house and she said she loved it. Brook said it was part of Lulu’s job to answer the phone and be warm and courteous, especially to those who had a rare ingredient that was impossible to get. Lulu said she was at first, and Brook asked if she ever thought of anyone besides herself. Lulu said Brook got everything she wanted. She had the perfect life, job, and husband, and would have the perfect children. If she wasn’t getting what she wanted, it was her own fault. Dante walked in and asked, what’s going on?

Cyrus told Lucky not to get in the way, and Elizabeth broke free. Cyrus tried to stab Lucky with the syringe, and they struggled.

Dante told Brook where Chase was, and she left. He asked what Lulu said, and Lulu told him that she’d said Brook’s life was perfect. If she wasn’t getting what she wanted, it was her own fault. Dante suggested she back off, and Lulu said, all Brook did was complain about her perfect life. She woke up after four years in a coma to a life she didn’t recognize. By comparison, Brook’s life was heaven. Dante told her to cut Brook some slack. She found out she and Chase couldn’t have children. Emma thanked Gio for his patience, honesty, and commitment to the cause, and he said he enjoyed her company too. Portia asked if Brad had a nice Valentine’s Day and he said, better than expected. She said she was glad to hear it and would see him at work. She told Curtis that she wanted to put the bad stuff behind her and was focusing on what was right in front of her. Willow said she was sure Drew wanted to find a home for Scout, and he said, also for you and our kids, and asked her to move in with him.  While Carly put Donna back in bed, Jack’s phone rang. By the time Carly returned, Jack had his coat on. She asked if something was wrong and he said, unfortunately, something came up at work. They agreed to another time and kissed.

Lucky got the better of Cyrus, but Cyrus stabbed Lucky in the leg with the syringe. Elizabeth called 911 as she came down the stairs and saw the syringe sticking out of Lucky’s leg.

Thursday:

 Brook came home to find Chase, rose petals, and champagne. Dante told Lulu that there was a fertility issue with Chase.

Lucky slugged Cyrus and got a syringe in the leg for his trouble. Cyrus jumped up, tried to strangle lucky, and fled, while Elizabeth called 911. Jordan met with Laura, who wanted to make the esplanade happen, but still protect the city. Anna joined them and Laura said, in a potential battle between Sonny, Drew, and Sidwell, who was the biggest threat? (It’s like, Superman vs. the dinosaurs.) Drew asked Willow to move in with the kids. Jason went to Sam’s grave and said he needed to make a choice between what he wanted and what he thought she wanted. Josslyn snuck around Cyrus’s apartment and looked through his stuff.

Stella came to The Savoy to have a nightcap with Curtis, who had a special Valentine’s Day cocktail for her. Portia left and Stella asked if there was something else going on. He said there may be a favor only she could provide. Lucky was unconscious and Elizabeth did chest compression. Brook and Chase kissed, but she pulled away and said she couldn’t believe she was so lucky. He said, but he couldn’t give her a baby. Lulu felt terrible for Brook and Chase, and Dante said Brook had been nothing but supportive. He said being a father was one of the greatest joys of his life and Lulu said, the same for her with being a mother. Laura asked if Anna would bring Sonny down if she found evidence to do it, and Anna said, Drew was encouraging it. Jordan said that worried her because Drew wanted to align himself with Sidwell. Anna and Laura agreed and said he wanted the port to move his illegal merchandise. Jordan said Drew had a lot of influence, but she’d rather deal with the devil she knew than Sidwell. Willow thought the kids had been bounced around enough and Drew said he wanted all the kids to have stability. He tried his best to talk her into moving in.

Jason told Sam that he could kill Cyrus and get away with it, and he wanted to kill him. One thing held him back. He knew Sam wanted him to put their son before his need for vengeance. Josslyn continued to toss Cyrus’s place. Lulu said Brook knew things about Dante that she didn’t and it was hard, but he said, it shouldn’t be. Carly used their history to break them up, but Brook knew it was wrong and still felt terrible. It was a long time ago and time to let it go. They were friends and that was it. Brook said she meant their vows from the bottom of her heart, but Chase said she couldn’t have expected this. She said it was hard, but sometimes plans changed. It didn’t mean they still couldn’t be parents. Willow told Drew that nothing about their situation was perfect. For one, she was still married. Drew said Michael had filed for divorce and was out of the country, and Willow said he was fighting for his life. Drew said she was alone with the kids, and she said Wiley adored his father. She hadn’t told Wiley that they were splitting up, so moving in felt wrong. Jason promised to always put Danny first.

Josslyn almost left, but kept looking until she found an envelope with hospital wristbands in it, particularly Dex and Sam’s. Laura said they couldn’t have Port Charles in a territory battle and Jordan said Drew was different and not in a good way. Anna said Drew’s willingness to align himself with Sidwell was worrisome, and Laura asked if they could no longer trust him. Anna left to take a call about Cyrus, and Laura got a call from Elizabeth, who told her to get to the hospital right away. Lucky was in trouble.

Curtis said he understood Stella was friends with Congressman Douglas Henderson and she said they went way back. They agreed he was a good man and influential in Washington. Curtis said he needed Stella to introduce him, and he needed to develop a relationship before Drew destroyed everything he was building. Willow said she cared about Drew so much and he said he didn’t want to pressure her. They had the rest of their lives. He thought when she was ready, they should tell the kids about their relationship together, but she said she didn’t want to talk to them while Michael was recovering. Lulu said part of her was threatened by Brook. Not because of Dante, but she lost four years, and it was like Brook stepped into the important parts of her life. Dante suggested she felt like Brook took her place in all their lives and she said, maybe. She was starting to wonder if she had a place there at all. Chase said Brook was a natural at being a mom and she said, however they brought a child into their lives, it would be together, and it would be a part of both of them. Anna arrived at Elizabeth’s where an officer filled her in on what happened and said Cyrus fled the scene. They had an APB out on him and Lucky was in the hospital. Elizabeth told Isaiah that Lucky had been given digitalis and Laura showed up at the hospital. Josslyn said, Dex didn’t deserve this, and took photos. Cyrus walked in.

Lulu said she sounded selfish, but Dante said she wasn’t. She said it was hard to realize the family you wanted wasn’t going to happen and wanted to apologize, but he said Chase told him in confidence. Her phone rang and she told Dante that it was Lucky and ran out. Anna said they’d waited too long to arrest Cyrus and now Lucky could die. On his way in, Aiden overheard. Elizabeth told Laura about Cyrus attacking Lucky because she and Lucky suspected him of killing people, including Sam. He’d said it was a divine calling, saving them from their suffering, and he was the reason Lulu’s liver failed. Cyrus got an ax and said Josslyn shouldn’t have come. Josslyn said he’d killed Sam and Dex and wasn’t getting away with it. He said they’d gotten in the way of his mission, and she had too. He came after her and she shot him.

Cyrus said now Josslyn was the murderer and died (I think). Anna brought Aiden to the hospital and talked to Elizabeth. Chase said if they adopted it wouldn’t be fair to Brook, but she said she didn’t look at it that way. Families were created all different ways, and none was better than the other. He said he was robbing her of the experience. Curtis said Drew was gunning for him and wouldn’t hesitate to stop projects from going through at the federal level, even if they helped his constituents. He’d changed and become vindictive. Stella said he’d backstabbed Curtis and Curtis said Drew would bring the same dark energy to Washington. Would she help him?

Drew came home and Jason was there. Lulu and Dante arrived at the hospital, and Lulu went to see Lucky. Dante wanted in on finding Cyrus and Anna said okay. Josslyn moved the ax, then checked Cyrus’s pulse. She looked at Jason and Jack’s numbers, then made a call. She said, I need your help.

Stella said Drew was gunning for Curtis and she needed to let Doug know what a snake Drew was. There were few people she held in as high a regard. Curtis could count her in, but a word of advice. Drew didn’t like a mirror held up to him. She asked why he was coming after Curtis. Drew said he wasn’t in the mood for another battle, but Jason said he was here to make peace. Drew asked why the hell he would want to, and Jason said, for Sam. Chase said it was because of him that Brook wouldn’t experience a miracle growing inside her and she cried for him to stop. She’d had a baby. She’d been pregnant before. Isaiah came out and Laura asked if her son was alive. Anna found out Cyrus was heading southeast in his car. Josslyn paced the apartment when someone came in. It was Jack. 

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada:

Chase says, what does Brook mean, she had a baby? Is she talking about Bailey Lou, when she pretended to be pregnant? She says she wasn’t pretending. She got pregnant in high school and had a baby. She gave the baby up and never told anyone except her ma, not even the father. Chase asks if Ned knows, but she says, no. She knows it’s a lot to take in. He says, she got pregnant when she was a teenager and has been carrying the secret ever since.

Tracy wants to go over the menu for the library board dinner with Sasha and asks for some tea. Sasha asks if she wants her special blend, and Tracy says, yes. Sasha says, but first, she thought Tracy should know a P.I. has been snooping around. She’s pretty sure it’s to get dirt on Michael. Tracy asks, what makes her say that? and Sasha says she had an encounter with a woman named Elaine and her dog outside Bobbie’s and then in the park. Eventually, Elaine told Sasha herself that someone was looking into her. Tracy asks what Sasha told Elaine before she knew.

Drew says, Jason, of all people, walks into his house demanding peace, and Jason says he wants to respect Sam’s wishes that Danny and Scout stay together, but it’s never going to happen when they’re at each other’s throats. So he’s here about a truce for the kids. Drew says, now he wants to honor Sam’s wishes? He’s just asking because Jason clearly didn’t care when Jason ambushed him the night before the funeral and he’s trying to figure this out. What changed?

Isaiah tells Laura and Lulu that they were able to stabilize Lucky, but he’s in guarded condition. Aiden asks what that means, and Isaiah says he gave Aiden’s dad medication to counteract the digitalis. Since they don’t know how much digitalis is in Lucky’s system, it’s too soon for a definite prognosis. Aiden asks if that’s bad, but Elizabeth says, they can’t say yet. Aiden says, dad might not make it, and she hugs him.  

Portia tells Lucky, hang in there. He made it all the way home from Africa in one piece. Now he has to make it through this.

Anna tells Dante that they tracked Cyrus’s car to Route 41, and Dante wonders why he’s headed in that direction. There’s nothing out there. Does she think Lucky will be okay? She says she doesn’t know. She hopes so. She’s just grateful Elizabeth wasn’t hurt. Dante wonders, why go after Elizabeth, of all people? and Anna says, Cyrus found out that she and Lucky were asking questions at GH and Turning Woods. He didn’t want them to connect him to the murders. He says, did they? and she says, they found evidence that proves it, and he admitted to Elizabeth that he killed Dex and Sam, among others. She asks if Dante is all right, and he says, yeah, because they got him. Anna says, they did, and Cyrus knows that. If he doesn’t want to spend the rest of his life in prison, he’s going to disappear. Dante says, he can run, but there’s no way that bastard can hide.

Jack walks into the cabin and tells Josslyn to hand him the weapon. Josslyn gives the gun to him, and he checks it over. He checks Cyrus’s pulse, and Josslyn says she already did that. He’s dead. Jack says, yes, he is, and she says, Cyrus tried to attack her. He was going to kill her. Jack says he knows. He was outside when it happened. Did she call anyone else? She says, no, just him, and he says, good. They still have a small window in which to clean up. She asks if they shouldn’t call the police, and he says, they could. Or they could take care of it themselves.

Brook says she’s so sorry she never told Chase. It was a strange time. When she realized she was pregnant, she was terrified. She didn’t know what to do. She wasn’t ready to be a mom. Chase says, of course (🍷) not. She was just a kid. He can’t imagine how scared and alone she felt. She says, at least she had her mom, and he asks if Lois stepped up. Brook says, big time. She was incredible. She wasn’t thrilled Brook got pregnant in the first place, but once the shock wore off, Lois was in her corner 100%. He says he’s glad, but not surprised. Was it hard to decide? She says, terminating the pregnancy didn’t feel like an option at the time. She knew she’d be having the baby and the decision not to keep it came to her pretty quickly. There was just no way she could be a mom. He says he gets it, and she says, when it came down to it, she knew the rest of the family could never find out. She was already so overwhelmed, the last thing she needed were the judgements and opinions of the family. So she went on tour with her mom for five months, had the baby, and went back to her life. Her mom made all the arrangements. He says he assumes it was a closed adoption, and she says she never even saw the baby. She was afraid if she did, she couldn’t give it up. He says, so she doesn’t know if she had a boy or a girl? and she says, no. He says, it must have been insanely hard, especially at that age, and she says, he isn’t angry with her?

Isaiah says he wishes he could promise Aiden’s dad was going to be okay, but they just don’t know. He’s in ICU and being closely monitored. Elizabeth says, they’re doing everything they can, and Isaiah says, they know how strong Lucky is. Lulu says, the absolute strongest, and Aiden says he’s sorry for freaking out. Isaiah says he gets it. Lucky is the best friend he’s ever had. Laura asks if it’s possible for someone to sit with Lucky now, and Isaiah says, absolutely. Laura tells Elizabeth and Aiden to go first and tell Lucky that his mother and sister love him. Aiden and Elizabeth leave to go to Lucky’s room, and Lulu says, Lucky is going to be okay. Laura says she knows. He’ll survive Cyrus like Lulu just did. They hug.

Jason says, Scout and her siblings just lost their mom, and Drew says he’s aware. Jason says, they need to be together, so he and Drew need to work together. Drew says, Jason doesn’t play well with others, and Jason says, Drew doesn’t like how he lives. He doesn’t like how Drew lives. But it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that it’s okay for the kids because they’re family. Drew says, and Jason knows all about family.

Sasha says she told Elaine her approximate due date. That’s it. She’s not sure what Elaine was looking for, but she assumes Willow’s lawyer hired her. Tracy says, good guess, and Sasha says she just thought Tracy would like to know that somebody is being investigated. Tracy thanks her for the intel, and Sasha says she’s welcome… Tracy is holding something back. She can tell. Tracy says she’s been known for that, and Sasha tells her, say it. Tracy says she promised not to ask invasive questions, and Sasha asks if she has one. Tracy asks, if Jason is the father, are they planning on getting married? and Sasha says she gets it. Tracy wants to know what she’s looking to make off the Quartermaine name.

On the phone, Anna says, let her know if they turn up anything, and Dante says, it was smart of her to contact Pentenville. Cyrus was in there a long time. He must have made connections. Anna says she was thinking a former associate could tell them where Cyrus might go. The longer they’re without a lead, the less likely they are to track Cyrus. He asks if Elizabeth said why Cyrus killed the patients, and Anna says she thinks it was some kind of divine mission to release them from their suffering. From what he told Elizabeth, he’s been doing it since he got out of prison. Dante says, it doesn’t make sense. Dex and Sam were healthy. Why target them? She says, they got in his way.

In Lucky’s room, Elizabeth asks how he’s doing, and Portia says, he’s holding his own. Elizabeth says, that’s good news, and Portia says she’ll let them have time alone with him. Portia leaves and they go over to the bed. Elizabeth says she’s here. So is Aiden. He needs to hang on and come back to them. She’s going to say it again when he opens his eyes, but she thanks him for saving her life tonight. Aiden says, mom’s safe now and he has to wake up.

Jack says, they don’t have to call the police, and asks where Josslyn got the gun. She says, it’s Dex’s. Everybody knows how much she hates Cyrus and that she thinks he killed Dex. Now she killed him with Dex’s gun. Who will believe it was in self-defense? Jack says, coming in the cabin with a gun does imply intent, and she says, he knows what happened. He says he wasn’t in the room. Technically, people could say he didn’t see what happened. She says, he doesn’t believe her, and he says he does, but it won’t hold up in a court of law. He can take care of it, but once the WSB is involved, no one can know what happened, not even her mother. Can she do that? If not, they’ll call the police right now. She looks at Cyrus’s body and nods. She says she can do it. Stay quiet. Jack says, they’re leaving… and she says, but her fingerprints… He says, now. If anyone asks her, she was never at the cabin. Does she understand? She nods and they leave.

Drew says, ever since he found out he and Jason were twins, his whole life hinged on one moment. What if Susan Moore had brought him back to Port Charles instead of Jason? He would have grown up with Monica and Alan and would have lived the life of luxury as a Quartermaine. Instead, he got Betsy Frank, a group home, and he was on his own at 18. Jason says he had no control over that, and Drew says, they loved Jason, despite his never having appreciated it and hurting their parents, breaking their hearts over and over. He had no need of anything Quartermaine. Jason says, they’re done, but Drew says, it’s his house. He’ll tell Jason when they’re done. Jason wants to come back home? Now that Drew has made a place for himself and took the Quartermaine name. Now he wants to come back? That’s perfect. He and the Quartermaines can have each other. He’ll be over here with his daughter. Jason says, he’s okay with Scout losing Sam, Danny, and Rocco all at once? and Drew says, what Scout is going through breaks his heart, but as her father, he’ll do what’s best for her – always.

Jordan asks if Anna had any luck, and Anna says she had them run the name Paul Damascus and Cyrus never used it before, but when they were running the DEA list of Cyrus’s associates, a name jumped out – Gatlin. Jordan says, Cyrus has a connection to a Gatlin family based in Pautuck, and Anna says, a deep connection? Jordan says, decades, and Anna says, a doctor at GH was shot dead in 2023 who was from Pautuck. Dante says, the murder was never solved, and Jordan says, the doctor had several properties in Pautuck. Anna makes a call, and says she’ll need a list of properties southeast of Port Charles rented or owned by a Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt.

Josslyn walks into Jack’s office, and he asks if anybody saw her come in. She says, no, and he tells her to go to the bathroom and shower. Wash away all the evidence. Leave her clothes, jewelry, and phone, anything she brought to the cabin, in the bathroom. There’s a change of clothes for her in there. Can she handle that? She says, yeah, and when she leaves, Jack takes out the gun, wipes it, and puts it on his desk. Colette comes in and says she got his message. Jack says, Cyrus Renault is dead, and she asks, what the hell happened?

In the bathroom, Josslyn flashes back to Cyrus coming at her and her shooting him. She throws up.

Jack tells Colette that Josslyn had a gun he wasn’t aware of, but it’s fine. She only called him. She says, still, the clean-up might not be as easy as he thinks. Renault attacked Lucky Spencer and Elizabeth Baldwin tonight. Lucky is in the hospital and there’s an APB out on Renault. Who knows how long it will take Anna to find the cabin?

Laura says, does Lulu remember her saying how Cyrus visited her? and Lulu says, it was too creepy to forget. Laura says, Cyrus told Elizabeth that he had plans to free her from her coma, and Lulu says, aka kill her. Laura says, something went wrong, and it only affected her liver, and Lulu says, Cyrus caused her liver failure? Laura says, yes. She’s very sorry. Lulu says, why? and Laura says, because Cyrus is her brother. Lulu says, it’s not exactly her fault, and Larua says she knows that, but in retrospect, she can see that strange fascination he had in her. Lulu says, no one could predict he would do this, and Laura says, he’s a very sick man, but if Lulu hadn’t woken up when she did… Oh my God. Laura hugs her, cries, and says, they would have lost her.

Aiden says, it’s been cool having Lucky home. It made him realize how much he missed him. Thanks for showing up and being on his side. And grandma and Aunt Lulu want him to know they love him. Elizabeth says, they all think he’s had enough beauty rest now. Come out of this. Aiden says, he has to wake up. He just has to. Suddenly, an alarm goes off.

Jason asks if Drew is really going to keep Scout from her brothers, and Drew says, Scout’s got him. And they’ll have Willow and her kids. It’s all the family they need and she’s going nowhere near the Quartermaines. Jason says, because Drew got his feelings hurt? but Drew says, because the Quartermaines are terrible people. He did all he could to fit in. He did everything he could to keep the family going. The second he does something for himself, they can’t turn their backs fast enough. Because he fell in love with the wrong woman. Compared to what they’ve done? To a murderer hitman, it’s always home. Jason says, Drew is making a huge mistake, but Drew says he doesn’t think so. The Quartermaine name, he’s got it. The Quartermaine money, it’s in the bank. He doesn’t need the people and headache that go along with it. We’re done. He opens the door and says, get out of my house. Jason walks out.

Sasha says she is not discussing her personal life, and Tracy says, good. Just listen. She didn’t get knocked up by some random guy at a bar, a one-night stand with a Quartermaine. Sasha says, allegedly, and Tracy says, allegedly a Quartermaine, but not just any Quartermaine, a family favorite. Sasha says, not hers, and Tracy says, absolutely not. She’s wanted nothing to do with him for years, but her mother adored him, as did Monica. He could do no wrong in their eyes. Sasha asks how many times she has to say it. She doesn’t want or expect anything from the family. Tracy says, what does the family expect from her? and she asks, what happened to her right to make decisions for her own baby? Tracy says, she does, but she can’t keep going ahead like the baby is exclusively hers. Not if it’s a Quartermaine.

Chase tells Brook that he’s not angry with her. Just the opposite. He hates that she had to keep the secret for so long. She says she hated keeping it from him, when she let herself think about it. She trained herself not to. He says, she compartmentalized, and she says she put it in a box and rarely took it out. He says, it makes sense. How is she supposed to move on? She says, the baby was with her for 9 months technically. She loved him or her so much. She wanted to give them the best life possible. He says, she has no idea where they went? and she says, no. She trusted her mom, who worked with the agency to find a good home. She’s so sorry for lying. He says, show him the lie. All she did was keep part of her past private. Just because they’re married, she doesn’t have to share every little thing. She says, it’s not little, and he says, maybe not, but she gets to choose who she shares it with and who she doesn’t want asking questions. He does want to know one thing.

Josslyn wipes the steam from the bathroom mirror. She flashes back to looking at dead Cyrus and leans on the sink.

Jack says, Anna’s not aware of the cabin, and Colette says, not yet, but it’s just a matter of time. He asks if they’re monitoring the PCPD radio, and she says, Renault was spotted on Route 41. The police know his direction and it’s not a densely populated area. He says, the cabin is one of the few options, and she asks if he honestly thinks Josslyn can keep quiet. She’s just a kid. She’ll want to tell someone. He says, let him worry about Josslyn. It’s her job to get a team to the cabin before Anna finds it. She says, a total clean-up? and he says, with one exception.

Isaiah runs into Lucky’s room and Elizabeth hustles Aiden out. Isaiah uses the defibrillator on Lucky.

Lulu tells Laura that Dr. Gannon said her body’s reaction to the liver transplant could be why she woke up after four years. If Cyrus hadn’t tried to kill her, she probably wouldn’t have woken up. Laura says she guesses Lulu is right, and Lulu says, if she hadn’t needed a liver transplant, Sam would be here. Laura says, they’ve been through this. She can’t let herself think like that. She’s not responsible for Sam’s death. That’s on Cyrus. She doesn’t care about his crazy savior story. He’s been killing people. If she needs to point a finger, put the blame where it belongs, on Cyrus. And the people he paid off or blackmailed to get out of prison. He never should have been let out.

Elizabeth and Aiden come out and Elizabeth says, Lucky’s heart stopped. He’s in defibrillation. Aiden says, his dad is dying.

They continue to use the paddles on Lucky, and Isaiah says, come on. Don’t do this to me. He begins chest compression.

Jack puts the gun in a bag, then in a bin. Josslyn comes back and he tells her to have a seat. She asks, what happens now? and he asks if she told anyone where she went. She says, no, and he asks if she told anyone the address. She says, no, she didn’t tell anyone. Why did Colette give her the address? He says, she set everything in motion when she asked to see the footage from Rice Plaza, and she says, when she was finding out who killed Dex? He says, it was strategic thinking on her part, and she says, it got her nowhere. The footage was gone. He says, no, it wasn’t, and shows her a still shot of Cyrus. He says, it shows her instincts were spot on, and she says she doesn’t understand. He knew the whole time and didn’t go to the police? He says he wanted to see what she’d do.

Brook says, ask anything, and Chase asks if she’s okay. She says, that’s his one question? and he says he can’t imagine going through something so huge. In high school, his biggest stressor was if he’d make varsity or not. She had to choose a future, not just for her, but her child. She’s amazing. He was already thinking she’s so strong and he didn’t know the half of it.

Isaiah says, Lucky never quit on him before. Don’t quit now.

Anna suggests Dante go see Lulu and find out how Lucky is doing. He says, she put him back on the case, and she says she told him that he could work on the case, not personally apprehend Cyrus. He asks if she thinks he’d go rogue and kill Cyrus. He’s thought about it and death is too easy an out. He’ll follow protocol. Anna’s phone rings and she asks, what’s the address?… Send units. She’ll be right there. Dante says, that’s off Route 41, and Anna says, let’s go now. Dante asks Jordan to keep them posted on Lucky, and she says, will do. Good luck.

Portia says, they got him back. Lucky is stable. Aiden says, he’s going to be okay? and Portia nods. Lulu says, his dad is strong and hugs him. Elizabeth hugs Aiden and Laura hugs Lulu.

Sasha says, privacy is starting to be impossible in this house, and Tracy says, starting? Too funny. Sasha can keep playing the who’s-the-daddy game all she wants, but she’s inclined to believe Cody. Sasha says, fine. Jason is the father. Happy? Tracy shrugs, when Jason walks in. Sasha says she is so done with this day and walks past him and out. Tracy says she guesses congratulations are in order.

Josslyn says, Jack knew Cyrus killed Dex and did nothing? but he says, on the contrary. He fed her clues and followed her. She asks if he’s playing some game because he’s into her mom, but he says, it’s got nothing to do with Carly. It’s clear Josslyn is special. She’s got all the qualities necessary to make a great agent – ingenuity, initiative, willing and able to do what’s necessary. She asks, necessary for what? and he says, for the WSB. He wants her to become one of them.

Brook says, truly, Chase isn’t upset? If he were, she would understand. He says, stop and think. Would she be? She says, so many of their past problems were because of her lying, and this is another one of those times, but he says he doesn’t consider this a lie. He’s curious. Why tell him now? She says, he was beating himself up about her not getting pregnant naturally. She couldn’t stand it. He says, once it had a bearing on their relationship, she told him. She can tell him anything. She says she kept it buried so long, and he thanks her for sharing such an intimate part of herself. She says she loves him and trusts him with her life, and he says, right back at her. They kiss.

Laura says she can’t thank them enough, and Portia says, Lucky is still being monitored closely, but the danger has passed as of now. Aiden thanks her for saving Lucky’s life, and she says she had a lot of help. Isaiah says, Lucky refused to give up, and Aiden says he wants to thank Isaiah too.

Isaiah goes into Lucky’s room and says, it’s not cool making him sweat like that. He guesses it wouldn’t be Lucky if he wasn’t a colossal pain in the ass. He thanks Lucky and says he doesn’t know what he would have done if he’d lost him.

Tracy says, Jason isn’t planning on moving out. This is Danny’s home, and he needs stability. Jason agrees he does, and he’ll do whatever it takes to give that to Danny. Tracy says she knows the living situation is not his first choice – or second or third – but she’s glad his priority is Danny. It shows his loyalty is to the family, because they are family. Despite the past, he’s one of them. Jason says, just not one she wants around. Drew is coming for him.

Josslyn says, Jack set her up to kill Cyrus so he could hold it over her head to join the WSB, but he says he didn’t know she had access to a gun. Did anyone else know? She says, no, and he asks why she brought it. She says, to protect herself – obviously – which does not make her a spy. He says, it does. She shields herself not by hiding, but by acting. What happened in the cabin? Tell him. Josslyn says she found the patients’ ID bracelets and saw how many Cyrus killed. There was one for Dex. Cyrus was going to attack her with a hatchet and she shot him in self-defense. He says, if Cyrus hadn’t attacked her, would she have not pulled the trigger, and Josslyn cries and says she doesn’t know. He says, good thing they didn’t call police then.

Anna’s team approaches the cabin. Anna nods and Dante kicks in the door.

Brook says, it was stupid not to tell him sooner, but Chase says, she told him when she was ready. He wonders if she’s judging herself for her decision, and she says, a decision that shouldn’t have happened in the first place. What if she gave up the baby and it didn’t give them a better life? He asks if she wants to try and find her child, but she says she doesn’t know. He asks if she ever tried, and she says, no. He asks if she thought about it, and she says, of course (🍷), but wouldn’t it be unfair to crash into the child’s life after letting them go? He says, having Brook in their life could only make It better. Trust him. It’s 100% her decision, but if she decides to try to find them, he’ll help in any way he can.

Tracy says, Drew is coming after all of them. She assumes he’s the one who convinced Willow to hire a P.I. to find something that she can use against Michael in the divorce. Jason says, Drew blames the whole family for turning against him, and she says, they’ve made Drew the enemy. She can’t believe she’s saying this, but she’s so glad he’s here. They need him. Welcome home. She pats his shoulder and leaves.

Aiden says, they’re all here. Laura and his mom are here. Lulu says, hey, big brother, and Aiden says, they love him and can’t wait for him to wake up. Lulu tells Lucky, hurry up. Patience is not her strong suit.

Jordan says she heard Isaiah saved another life. Congratulations. Isaiah says, it was a close one and he’s not responsible. It was difficult and he thought he’d lose Lucky. Jordan says she speaks for all Lucky’s loved ones. She’s grateful he fought so hard for his friend. Isaiah says, he’s grateful to Lucky. He’s too stubborn to die.

Inside the cabin, an officer tells Anna, the surrounding area is clear, and Anna says, expand the radios. She tells Dante, aside from everything being completely dust free, no one has inhabited this cabin lately. Dante says, there’s no sign of anything, and Anna tells the officer, get forensics here asap. He leaves, and Anna says, if Cyrus was in the cabin, he left something behind. They have to find what it is.

Josslyn says, what about the evidence in the cabin? and Jack says, it’s been taken care of. Josslyn says, even if she doesn’t accept the offer? and he says, even if. But he strongly urges her to consider it. She’d make one hell of an agent. As far as tonight goes, she needs a story. He hands her some cash and says, buy herself a new phone. Say she lost hers. Her car was driven here. Can she drive home? She says, yes, and he says, be in touch. She leaves, and Colette comes in. Colette says, she gets to walk out, just like that? and Jack says, yes. When she comes back, it’s better if she thinks it’s her idea.

On Monday, Anna needs someone at the station right now; Kai says Trina is the only reason he’s not losing his mind right now; Kristina tells Molly that she’s never going to believe in the system again; and Brook tells Lois that she told Chase everything.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

I was kind of surprised they didn’t go the whodunit route, but it was still a great end. Loved him pouring his heart out to Elizabeth. We’ll miss you, Jeff Kober!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/behind-the-scenes-of-cyrus-death-with-eden-mccoy

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jeff-kober-says-goodbye-to-gh-with-the-best-death

Maybe Lucky will be waking up a different man.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-temporarily-recasts-lucky-with-guy-wilson

Finally, we meet Tobias.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/charlie-besso-cast-as-tobias-on-general-hospital

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/colin-cassidy-thought-he-blew-his-audition-for-aiden-on-gh

It does really sound like a goodbye.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/tajh-bellow-shares-a-special-message-for-his-gh-fans

Picking up the pieces.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/cameron-mathison-shows-off-his-new-house

She left behind a body of work to be proud of.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-and-oltl-alum-alice-hirson-dead-at-95

Beyond the usual soap.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jon-lindstrom-and-cady-mcclain-join-the-cast-of-beyond-the-gates

How they celebrated with their sweeties.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/see-how-the-stars-and-their-sweethearts-spent-valentines-day

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

While I didn’t watch this, I did read about Harry’s accident. Yikes!

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The trip to see Sutton’s mom ended, and Sutton finally heard I love you from Reba. In Sutton’s interview, she said she hadn’t felt like this with her mother since her sophomore year in college on Mother’s weekend. Dorit was having a 4th of July barbecue, per tradition with her kids, but adding the women. In Dorit’s interview, she said it felt like there was definitely something missing because PK wasn’t there, and she wanted to have fun with her friends and kids. Good luck with that first one. Sutton got there first, and there were zero people to greet her, a huge party faux pas, no matter who you are. You don’t just leave people to wander around on their own. Kyle came next, Dorit still nowhere to be found, and they noticed a table of framed photos that they dubbed a shrine to PK. It was 40 minutes before Dorit made her appearance. Although she still couldn’t be bothered to greet Sutton. When she finally did, she snatched Sutton’s bag and insisted Sutton give it to her, literally not giving it back. In her interview, she said it was about Sutton interrupting her talking about Jagger – we flashed back, and Sutton had good reason – but giving her the bag would equal forgiveness. It was a hard no.

The spread was amazing, and things were good for like, five minutes, until Dorit made a jab at Sutton about drinking alcohol. What is wrong with that woman? Sutton said she was a bitch, which caused Dorit to spiral because Sutton had called her a bitch in her own home. Here’s a hint. If you don’t want to be called a bitch, don’t be one. In her interview, Sutton said Dorit had never apologized for insinuating she had a drinking problem, and we flashed back to Dorit’s various comments about it. Sutton decided she was going to jet, and in the bitch’s Dorit’s interview, she intimated that there must be something to it if Sutton was making such a big deal. No. She’s just sick of you calling her an alcoholic. In Kyle’s interview, she tried to compare her tirade and walking out of Boz’s spa day, even though it was not at all the same thing. Boz thought Sutton leaving was rude, and Garcelle told Boz to quit being Dorit’s spokesperson. Kyle was also irritated with Dorit agreeing with everything Boz said, but they ended up hugging it out. For now.

Where are they now?

Let’s talk about the husband.

Summer House

They toasted to how mature they were. Here’s where I would look at the camera if there was one. Ciara brought up West’s New York Times article at dinner, which is where sensitive, anger inducing topics are always broached. Lindsay broke the tension by needing to run to the bathroom. West kinda sorta apologized to Ciara, Paige avoided getting together with Craig, and it was the same old except for Lindsay being pregnant.

This picture is so weird. It’s like they were suddenly plopped in from different climates.

Southern Charm

Molly, Taylor, and Rodrigo did flamingo yoga, which is like goat yoga but with flamingoes. Biggest reveal? Craig watches a lot of 90 Day Fiancé. Me too! The biggest non-surprise? Sienna is so not interested in a relationship with Shep. I would say it was painful to watch, but seeing him get a taste of his own medicine was too delicious.

Southern Hospitality

It was back from Vegas and back to reality after Maddi and Joe’s fake wedding by Elvis impersonator. She seemed to be wearying of Joe’s attention. The best quote: I’m the bitch that runs the bitches who think they run the bitch.Michols Peña

Random Reality Items

Now there will be no let up about him proposing. Not from Dolores, but everyone else.

Do we really need another branch of the franchise? They’re always intriguing in the beginning. Then they degenerate into a screaming match.

In a surprise twist, Lady Gaga has time to watch TV.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Cassandra. Netflix. My favorite horror genres are in this order: Zombie apocalypse, any zombies, any apocalypse, technology is evil, large monsters like Godzilla and/or dinosaurs, and sharks. This imported miniseries from Germany falls under technology being evil, but with a twist. Cassandra is the face behind a smart house and she’s out of control. The surprise is, she has a backstory, that’s told parallel to the nightmare of the family who moves in.

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End. Amazon Prime. And in my favorite genre, reveled clearly in the title, this was one exciting zombie romp. A Spanish thriller based on a book, the story revolves around a man and his cat who are trying to make it to a safe place. The action and the special effects were impressive. It wasn’t 2 hours of my life I wanted back and it gave me the zombie fix I so desperately needed. No spoilers here:

Lots of spoilers here. Turn back if you do not want to be spoiled.

https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/i-watched-amazons-new-zombie-movie-holy-cow-i-have-things-to-say

👍One To Watch…

While the words love story aren’t usually in my viewing queue, these two make it look like it will be a fun time. This show also looks like an enriching learning experience about those who are different. One of the things reality TV should foster more.

🌁 Upcoming Watch…

It’s been decreed. The second season of The Last of Us will premiere on April 13th.

https://winteriscoming.net/the-last-of-us-season-2-release-date-revealed-and-we-called-it

🏆 Awards Corner…

BAFTA winners.

https://deadline.com/2025/02/bafta-film-awards-winners-list-conclave-emilia-perez-2025-1236291491/

Warming up for the Academy Awards on March 2nd.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/oscars-2025-red-carpet-events-parties-pictures-1236141330/

https://people.com/oprah-selena-gomez-and-ben-stiller-and-more-announced-as-2025-oscars-presenters-11682130

A new addition to the Daytime Emmys. Actually, it’s more of a pivot.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/daytime-emmys/the-daytime-emmy-awards-adds-a-new-category

It’s definitely her year. You’ll have to wait until June to see her Tony hosting skills though.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1413663/cynthia-erivo-set-to-host-2025-tony-awards

🐶 It’s Not How You Start…

Dog makes better than good.

https://people.com/abandoned-puppy-left-to-die-makes-finals-most-prestigious-dog-show-uk-crufts-11681282

🍯 Quotes Of the Week

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. – Laozi

I pay no attention whatever to anybody’s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings. – Mozart

Freedom from desire leads to inner peace. – Lao Tzu

You’re only as young as the last time you changed your mind. – Timothy Leary

Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going. – Sam Levenson

The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it. – Niccolò Machiavelli

If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not making decisions. – Catherine Cook

You know what they say, candy is dandy, but yay weed. – Victoria Flynn (Katy Mixon), Mike & Molly

🧊 Colder Than a Well-Digger’s…

Until next week, stay safe; stay dressing for the weather, not the runway; and stay remembering, friends speak the truth.

February 14, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Sidwell Meets an Ex-Wife, Soap Suds, Reality Corner, Weekend Watching, Coming Soon, Next Fallout, Winning, 10 Whole Quotes & Endless

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

Monday:

While Cyrus stared at Elizabeth, Ric came into the hospital bringing her flowers. At the Grill, Felicia said Cody owed someone an apology. Carly told Nina that she’d do anything to help Wiley and Amelia, but was concerned about pushing Drew and Willow closer together. Maybe the best thing to do was nothing. Sasha wondered if Willow had moved in with Drew, and Tracy asked Jason about his newest baby mama.

Ric told Elizabeth Cyrus’s parole terms and asked her to take a walk with him to pay him for his legal expertise. She said the last time they walked, they saw Alexis toss a gun off the bridge and they would ignore any crimes in progress. Josslyn asked Kristina to take the girls to the park because she had something to do that was now or never. Ava and Trina took a walk, and Ava said Trina was spending a lot of time at the gallery. Why wasn’t she at the hospital?

Tracy told Jason about Carly confronting Drew and Drew’s announcement that Jason slept with their cook and impregnated her. Willow told Sasha to mind her own business. Sasha hunted down Cody and said, thanks to him, she was the town’s topic of conversation. Felicia asked her to join them. Nina wondered if the kids would call Drew daddy, and Carly said they had to do something, but Drew couldn’t see them coming.

Trina said Kai’s injury crushed his dreams and she’d split his focus pushing him to do the project. She’d overstepped at the hospital and Kai told her to back off. Kai showed up and Ava made herself scarce. Nina said Maxie would be their way into Drew’s new house, and Carly asked how far Nina was willing to go. Nina said, as far as necessary. Martin reminded Willow that they hadn’t responded to the divorce petition. Did she really want a divorce or to work toward reconciliation? Cody admitted it wasn’t his place, and Sasha added, or sharing his conclusions. He said he cared about her and wanted the father to step up. Jason said he owed Tracy no explanations and she thought that meant the baby was his. It wasn’t fair to stonewall his mother and son.

Kai said he owed Trina an apology. She had been the only bright spot even when she was bossing him around. He was grateful their paths had crossed and wanted to know her better. Felicia said Cody was misguided, but cared about Sasha. Sasha said he was showing concern in the wrong way, and she wanted to raise the baby on her own. Respecting her choices was the best way to show he cared. Carly said she and Nina had to define their goals. She didn’t want Drew to be factor or obstacle in Michael and Willow figuring things out. Nina said Drew was the worst thing to happen to Willow. She knew Willow genuinely loved Michael. Carly said Michael loved her and their family, and Nina said, one other variable needed to be dealt with, but Carly was the only one who could deal with it. Elizabeth told Ric that the hospital was the safest place for her since Cyrus had been banned, but promised to keep her eyes open. She wasn’t on her own, but had Lucky. Cyrus went to Bobbie’s and Josslyn apologized to him. Ava saw Avery at the park. She asked if Avery wanted to see her new apartment.

Josslyn said she wanted justice for Dex, and it had clouded her judgment. The police didn’t think Cyrus was the killer and she was letting the professionals handle it. Cyrus got so flustered, he left. Trina said she’d fight her impulse to fix things and not micromanage. Kai said he didn’t know how many people cared about him if he couldn’t play. Willow said her marriage was definitely over, and Martin said he’d file a response asking for full custody, alimony, and full spousal and child support. Her custodial position wasn’t secure, but Diane would fight it. Nina joined them and was concerned about making things messier. Felicia said they were family and to stay united, they had to forgive. Jason walked in. Tracy started to leave a message for Diane, but Carly hung up the phone and said they needed to have a chat. Kristina said the girls had a project to finish and homework, but Avery asked if she could go with her mom, then Donna wanted to go too. Ava said Donna needed her mother’s permission, when Rick and Elizabeth showed up. Ric asked for a word with Ava.

Jason wanted to talk to Sasha, and Felicia suggested he sit down. Carly said confronting Drew was a mistake, and it just pushed him and Willow closer together. Tracy was just as guilty and if she continued to interfere, they might never see the kids again. Nina asked Martin to stall, but Martin said Michael had hit hard and they needed to respond. Nina said it could be handled in a calmer, more civil way when Michael came back. Don’t aggravate the Quartermaines more than they already had. Collette went to Bobbie’s with an envelope for Josslyn from Jack. Ric told Ava that Avery was under Sonny’s care and her desperation would cost her everything. Kristina told Elizabeth, first Ava killed her baby, then tried to make off with her little sister. If Kristina didn’t get to have her baby, Ava couldn’t have hers.

Collette told Josslyn that the address in the envelope was the location of a property Austin Gaitlin-Holt bought one month after Cyrus was released. Trina said she was sorry if she contributed to Kai getting hurt, but he told her that he’d been playing his best game ever and had never been more focused. Trina said social media had played with her head, and he suggested they go somewhere warm. Ava said she couldn’t lose Avery and Ric said, the only way was to go to court. Ava said she couldn’t afford to, and he said he’d take her case pro bono. Her best and only chance was to get out of her own way and let him do it. Ava kissed him and it looked like they were going to get busy. Carly said, going after Drew got them the opposite of what they wanted. They should trust that Michael was going to come home and get custody. Willow would feel guilty, see Drew for who he really was, and they’d find a way to compromise. Tracy said, wherever Drew goes, chaos follows, and Carly said leave Drew to her. Tracy told her, play it her way, but just make it hurt.

Martin said Willow wasn’t on equal footing with Michael. It wasn’t about money, but ammunition. Willow had cheated and Michael hadn’t. If it got nasty and the video was shown, it could impact her position. They needed to find something to use as leverage against Michael. Sasha said Cody started all this. Cody said Jason and his brother were entitled bastards and loudly told the room that Jason needed to step up, take responsibility, and say Sasha’s baby is his.

Tuesday:

Trina brought Kai to Charlie’s and introduced him to Emma and Gio. Sasha threw a drink in Cody’s face, said the conversation was over, and stay out of her life. Willow said, unlike Jason and Sasha’s relationship, Drew actually loved her, and she didn’t think anything could be found to use against Michael. Cyrus interrupted, saying he needed Martin’s help. Kristina told Lucky that Elizabeth stopped Ava from kidnapping Avery. Ric and Elizabeth showed up at the right moment. Thanks to her, Sonny might beat Ava at her own game. Sonny told Natalia that he didn’t need a pacemaker, but would need surgery to repair damage from the bullet wound in three months. Kristina called while he was on the plane. Emma told Kai about the benefit SAAC was hosting and she wanted him to join the committee. Isaiah talked to Lucky about Sidwell, and Lucky suggested they steer clear. Isaiah said not everybody was going to take that advice. Curtis asked Jordan if there was news about the esplanade, and she said there might be an 11th hour rescue. Martin said Lulu was afraid of her and Martin said he must have done something. Cyrus wanted Martin to go with him to talk to Lucky. Nina suggested Willow be discreet until the divorce was settled. Michael would be humiliated. Martin said he had to leave, but wouldn’t respond to the divorce petition yet. Willow thought the best thing she could do was be open and honest about Drew.

Jordan introduced Curtis to Sidwell. Sidwell said he could help bring things back on track with the esplanade. Sasha went to see Jason at the boathouse and asked about Michael. Jason said so far the treatment was working and Michael was determined to come home. Sasha said they had to let everyone believe Jason was her baby’s father. Isaiah said everyone was glad Elizabeth was back at the hospital an no one believed she’d done any wrong. Martin and Cyrus walked into Charlie’s. Kristina whined to Sonny about Ava, and Sonny suggested they talk when he landed.

Nina said people lied to protect themselves and the people they love but they end up serving the lie rather than living their lives. Cody talked to Felicia about Sasha. Sasha said if it came out that Michael was the father, it wouldn’t be good for the custody hearing. Jason said he was willing to go along with it for Michael and the kids. Sonny said even if he won, he couldn’t cut Ava out of Avery’s life, and Natalia reminded him that he needed to avoid stress. Lucky told Kristina to let Cyrus stay. Elizabeth said not many doctors were as brave as Isaiah, and he said it was like solving a mystery. Kai agreed to help Emma and took a photo, tagging it #savePCUFurryFriends. Danny pumped Rocco for information on Cyrus, and Rocco told him that he couldn’t do anything about Cyrus. He saw Kai’s photo with Cyrus in the background and said he knew where Cyrus was.

Jason agreed to Sasha’s plan, but said he wouldn’t let Danny think he was the father. Martin asked what Cyrus thought he was doing, saying he was in charge of Lulu’s medical care, and Cyrus said no one else was there for her. Isaiah introduced himself to Kristina who thanked him for saving her brother. Sidwell said they should move the esplanade to Pier 55 and Curtis said he had to get Drew involved. Sidwell said Drew was good with using eminent domain. When Sidwell stepped away to take a call, Curtis told Jordan, whatever Sidwell wanted, just say no.

Willow said if she’d been honest, everything would be different. She could be honest with Drew because she knew he’d be honest with her. Cody said he’d been on a tear lately, and Felicia said he was mostly hurting himself. He said he still wanted to be Sasha’s hero. Curtis said Sidwell was in bed with Drew and must have an angle. It was asking for trouble with Sonny. Jason wondered where Danny was, and Rocco said he told Danny about Cyrus. He went to confront Cyrus and wouldn’t listen that he was a dangerous guy. Jason took off for Charlie’s. Kai asked if Trina was down to save some bunnies. Cyrus said his actions had been misinterpreted. Danny came into Charlie’s.

Cody said he’d step back and let Sasha live her life and Felicia thought it was for the best.  She asked if he could be someone else’s hero. Nina said she understood how Willow fell for Drew because she… Sidwell wanted to set up a meeting with Aurora, and Curtis said call his office. He left and Sidwell was impressed with how Jordan and Curtis got along. Natalia suggested Sonny use his advantage over Ava to compromise. Do it for his kids before he couldn’t. He wasn’t sure that was possible. Rocco was worried, but Sasha said Jason was good at what he does. Danny confronted Cyrus, who assured him he had nothing to do with Sam’s death. Danny said he knew Cyrus killed his mother and Cyrus wanted to pray with him. He put his hand on Danny’s shoulder, when Jason came in and told him to take his hand off his son.

Wednesday:

Jason said if Cyrus touched his son again, he’d kill Cyrus, and they’d never find his body. Lulu saw Josslyn working at Bobbie’s and was surprised to see a Spencer behind the counter. Tracy saw Willow with Nina at the Grill, and said Willow living with Nina was all the better to commit adultery. Lucas and Maxie went to Charlie’s, and so did Carly and Jack.

Maxie asked if it wasn’t time that Lucas got back on the horse and Jack wondered why Lucas was giving him the stink eye. Carly said what Jack had done for her was above and beyond, and she liked that his softer side was all hers. Tracy ordered Willow to take off her mother’s ring, but Alexis walked in and ran interference. Chase told Anna that Cyrus had a visitor – a blonde in her 20s – and Anna told him to bring in Josslyn. She was going to get herself killed. Jason took Danny home, and Trina filled Gio in on Cyrus. Kai told Cyrus to go before there was another incident and Cyrus left with Martin.

Nina told Willow not to let Tracy get to her; it made her too happy. All of this would pass. Willow said it was hard not to think of herself as a horrible person. Chase asked Josslyn to come to the station and Lulu said she could cover Josslyn’s shift. It would give her a chance to have the Bobbie’s experience. Outside, After Emma changed the topic to her fundraiser, Gio told her to read the room and be less self-involved. Martin told Cyrus to file a complaint against Jason, but Cyrus said he was choosing peace.

Jason said confronting Cyrus was reckless, and Danny thanked him for showing up. He needed to know why Cyrus hurt his mom. Sasha came in and Jason wanted them to talk to Danny together. Lucas said he had a family and one great love, and Maxie said he could have it again. She wanted to set him up with a model from Deception. Jack said if there was something or someone he wanted, little could stop him, and Lucas asked for a word with Carly. Nina said everyone made mistakes and not to let anyone change the way Willow thought of herself. Hold her head up high. Alexis told Tracy to back off. Tracy said she was trying, and Alexis said try harder. She wanted what was left of her family to stay together. Tracy owed her and she needed to collect. Anna asked Josslyn about volunteering at the mission. Kristina told Isaiah that Elizabeth saved her from punching out her sister’s mother. Ava had caused the accident that made her lose her daughter. Isaiah said any friend of Lucky’s was someone he wanted to know. Emma said she redirected because Trina didn’t want to relive her trauma situation and Gio apologized. Kai asked how Trina could be calm, and she said she didn’t want to let the bad things define her. Lucky was worried about Cyrus knowing who was onto him.

Dante saw Lulu struggling and asked if she needed help. She said maybe a little and he pitched in. Sasha told Danny that Jason wasn’t the father of her baby, but Jason said a lot of people assumed he was. For certain reasons, he wanted people to continue to believe that. Danny asked, who was the real dad? Chase said the custodian ID’d a photo of Josslyn and Anna told her the game she was playing could cost her life.

Alexis said the only reason Tracy wasn’t in prison was because she didn’t pursue it and she didn’t want Tracy pursuing Drew and Willow. Tracy said she’d keep her observations to herself and her passions in check. Willow said she felt like she truly had a mother for the first time. She couldn’t have gotten through this without her mom. Maxie said she had something to discuss with Jack and Carly told Lucas not to worry about her and Jack. Lucas said it was Jack’s literal job to lie and don’t lie to herself. Lulu burned the toast and she and Dante laughed about her ineptitude. He said he hadn’t been able to laugh since Sam died and he felt guilty. Lulu said he’d always miss Sam and always grieve her, but Sam wouldn’t want him to wallow in it forever. Kristina told Isaiah that she didn’t know what she’d do without Sonny. Trina told Kai that she couldn’t control the actions of other people, but she could control how she reacted. She was taking back control. Kai said those were good words to live by. Lucky and Elizabeth were afraid Cyrus would skate, and Lucky thought they should go to Anna. Anna said Josslyn placed herself in Cyrus’s crosshairs and he was dangerous when cornered. She was arresting Josslyn for trespassing for her own good. Sasha said she had to respect the father’s privacy, but he was supporting her choice. Danny went to find Rocco and Sasha told Jason to stay away from Cyrus. it was the worst thing he could do for his son.

Willow thought Nina was seeing Drew the way she did, and Nina said that was it. Willow gave her blessing for Martin to look for dirt on Michael. Alexis said she’d figure something out and Maxie told Jack to stay away from Carly. It wasn’t fair for him to get involved with anyone when his job wouldn’t allow it. Carly told Lucas to wait for disaster before panicking and he told Maxie to set him up. Carly told Jack that he’d passed her test. Emma and Gio passed out flyers at Bobbie’s. Martin told Anna about Jason, but wanted to talk to someone else. Chase said they’d make Cyrus pay asap, but Dex wouldn’t want Josslyn to put herself in harm’s way. Let them handle it. Sasha said Danny idolized Jason and if he killed Cyrus, Jason would throw that away. Ask himself, what was more important, revenge or his son’s love and respect? After Charlie’s closed, their song came on and Lucky suggested he and Elizabeth finish their dance. Cyrus watched through the window.

Thursday:

Sasha ran into Elaine and Mavis outside Bobbie’s, and Elaine said Mavis was drawn to pregnant women. Ric came by the hospital to check on Elizabeth after the park incident, but she said it had been no big deal. Ric said Kristina would use it in the custody hearing. At Bobbie’s, Sonny updated Jason on his condition. Molly picked up some documents that the DA’s office requested at the hospital and ran into Cody. Kristina went to Alexis’s office and said Danny found out who killed Sam. Anna told Dante to get out of the station.

Sasha admitted she was pregnant and was due July 23rd. Sasha saw Jason and Sonny inside, but sat elsewhere. Jason didn’t want Sonny to wait on his surgery, but Sonny said the cardiologist said it was okay if he took his meds and avoided stress. (Hell, I can’t even avoid stress and he’s a mob boss.) Sonny said, like Natalia told him, something’s got to give. Felicia met Sasha, who told her about Mavis. Felicia told Sasha that Elaine was a P.I. and probably working on a case. Nina saw Ava’s new apartment and thought it was great. Ava said it was a shoebox that could fit in Nina’s bathroom, and she forgot they were having breakfast. (The apartment is actually very nice and spacious.) Anna said Dante was put on leave for a reason. He asked what she would do if someone she loved was murdered and she said if he wanted a job to come back to, he needed to leave. She wasn’t going to compromise the case. Chase said he’d told Dante that Cyrus was a suspect. Kristina told Alexis what happened at Charlie’s and how Jason threatened Cyrus. Chase said he thought Danny knew also and must have heard them. He told her what happened at Charlie’s. She said she couldn’t afford to lose another detective and she needed Cyrus to be alive to arrest him. Dante joined Alexis and Kristina and Dante admitted Cyrus was a suspect, but there was no proof or motive. He said Danny found out from him. Felicia said Elaine didn’t reply on technology and had a notebook. She used Mavis as a distraction. Martin met Elaine in the park. Nina told Ava that they were looking for dirt on Michael. Ava said there was something Nina could do to make Willow see the light, and Nina said she’d almost told Willow about sleeping with Drew, but Willow said she couldn’t have gotten through without her. Their relationship wouldn’t recover. Ava said willow needed Nina more than the truth. Elizabeth told Ric that Kristina was blowing things out of proportion, and she wouldn’t be testifying at the hearing – it wouldn’t help either side. Jason said Chase wanted to see him at the station, but he didn’t need Diane. He had Sonny’s back.

Cody apologized to Molly, and she accepted. Elaine said she’d found nothing on Michael, but he’d asked for Sasha in the hospital and Sasha was pregnant. Martin said it was Jason’s problem, and she said Sasha may have heard Quartermaine dirt. It was always the long shot that paid off big. Ric showed up to talk to Ava and Nina left. Ava asked if Ric didn’t want anyone to know about them. Dante told Alexis and Kristina that he’d pressured a friend to tell him who the suspect was. Kristina said Jason had threatened to kill Cyrus and she’d be surprised if he lasted a week. Anna called Jason to the station and said she hoped Martin was exaggerating about Jason’s threat. Jason had nothing to say. Cody found Molly on the roof, and he said clearly she was freaked out about something, but she asked him to leave her alone. He tried to leave, but the roof door was locked.

Molly’s phone battery was dead, so they were stuck. Sasha called Elaine’s office and pretended she was meeting her but forgot where. Ric said if anyone found out about them, it could compromise Ava’s case. He said Elizabeth wouldn’t confirm she’d tried to kidnap Avery, and he’d show Sonny to be an unfit parent. Nina joined Sonny at Bobbie’s and said he and Michael were in her prayers. He wanted to let her know what was going on, but everybody she was close to, he was up against.

Molly admitted the door was already locked, but she didn’t know it. Sasha found Elaine, when Martin called her. When Elaine stepped away, Sasha eyed her purse. Chase asked Elizabeth if she saw or heard Jason threaten Cyrus. Anna said Jason should let them handle it, but Jason said he wanted to make sure Cyrus knew not to come near his son again. He would protect his son no matter what.

Molly said she’d used the DA’s influence to get documents from GH and hadn’t wanted to draw attention to herself. Ava told Ric about the trip to Puerto Rico where Sonny was shot at and how Avery was there. Ric said he’d get Sonny to admit he felt guilty about Michael, and he’d break Sonny. Sonny knocked at the door. Elizabeth said she couldn’t hear, but Chase said other people did. She suggested he talk to them. Alexis said she’d talk to Jason, and Anna said they had information not released to the public. She needed the suspect to be alive, so she arrested him for threatening Cyrus’s life. Mavis got away from Sasha and Elaine chased after her. Sasha started digging in Elaine’s purse and heard tires screeching.

FYI, the preview shows Mavis as being okay. Who cares about Elaine?

Friday’s Enchilada:

Sonny yells for Ava to open up. They need to talk – now. Ava wonders what Sonny is doing here, and Ric says, he can’t know about them. She says, not if she wants to keep him as her lawyer and win custody, and Sonny knocks again. He says he’s not going to leave until she opens up.

At the hospital, Sasha tells Mavis that she’s so sorry. Truly she is, but she needed to look in Elaine’s bag. She didn’t want anyone to get hurt. She’s so sorry. Mavis barks.

On the phone, Maxie says, no ego issues… Yes. He’s very hot and kind and sweet. She’ll see if he’s available. Brook comes in and Maxie asks if Brook is ready for the meeting. Brook says she is. Natalia is on the phone and Lucy is coming up, but guess who’s not ready? Maxie says, who? and Brook says, Lulu is late again.

Kristina hears someone come into Charlie’s and says, we’re closed. She turns and sees it’s Lulu, who says, hi. Lucky mentioned Kristina was working, and she hopes it’s okay that she dropped by. The place looks amazing. Kristina thanks her and says, she looks great too. It’s so good to see her. Lulu says, her too. She would have come by sooner, but she’s been working up the nerve. She’s been trying to figure out the kindest way possible to thank Kristina and say she’s sorry. Kristina’s sister saved her life at the cost of her own.

Cody says, let him get this straight. He and Molly are trapped on the roof, freezing their butts off and Tracy is probably ready to fire him because of some documents? Papers with words on them? Molly says she’s not supposed to have them, and he says, they’ll probably bring back the electric chair for this. She says, it’s not just paperwork. It’s a murder victim autopsy, her sister’s. Is he happy now?

Jason is taken to the interrogation room and asks what Alexis is doing here. Alexis says she’d like a moment alone with her client, without handcuffs. The officer takes Jason’s cuffs off and tells him to sit. He leaves and Jason asks, where’s Diane? Alexis says she lied. She’s not here as his lawyer. She’s here as Sam’s mother.

Ava asks what Sonny wants. She’s in a meeting with Ric. Sonny asks if he can come in, and Ric tells him, whatever he has to say can wait for the courtroom. Sonny says he’s come to make her an offer concerning Avery. She can deal with it now or lose in court. It’s up to her.

Elaine comes out wearing a neck brace, and Sasha says, oh my God. Are you okay? Elaine says, one can only hope. The car just came speeding out of nowhere. She could have been roadkill. Sasha says, thank God she’s not. Other than missing her, Mavis is fine. Elaine says, Sasha doesn’t know her. Mavis may be hiding it well, but she can tell Mavis is traumatized. (Mavis does not look traumatized.)

Maxie suggests maybe Lulu needs an adjustment period. Their schedule isn’t easy. Brook asks if she’s going to defend Lulu forever. Does she need an adjustment period too? Maxie says, if Brook has a problem with Lulu, take it up with Lulu, when Natalia comes in. She asks if they got her report on the LA trip, and Maxie says, so many west coasters are on board with Deception. Brook says, and their new overnight rejuvenating cream… if they ever get it out. Maxie says, production and marketing cost money. So does the rare mineral in it. Brook says, it is rare, and they’ll need a lot to mass produce the cream. Lucy walks in and says, never fear. Their pesky problem was solved by none other than yours truly.

In an examining room, Lucas asks when Sidwell found the tick, and Sidwell says, 5 hours and 23 minutes ago. Lucas says, he’s precise. As was his job removing the tick and cleaning it out. Sidwell says, when you travel to the remote places he does, survival hinges on expertise and diligence. He hasn’t experienced any body, muscle, or joint aches. Lucas asks if he’s had the chills, a headache, or fever, and Sidwell says, no. And he’s taken his temperature every five minutes since he discovered the tick. Lucas says, he’s vigilant, and Sidwell asks if Lucas is going to test for Lyme. Lucas says, it’s highly unlikely he has it due to the short window the tick was present, but he’ll prescribe some antibiotics to be on the safe side. Sidwell asks if he should take any other preventative measures, and Lucas says, don’t walk in tall grasses. It’s winter, but the ticks are still out there. Sidwell says, sadly, his property is full of tall grasses. He’d have it sprayed, but Spoon Island is larger than it looks. Lucas asks if he lives at Windymere, and Sidwell says he’s just getting settled. Lucas says, he lived there as a child. It’s been in and out as a family property for years.  

Sonny tells Ava, it’s now or never. Take it or leave it. Ric says, the offer is one of Sonny’s intimidation tactics. Don’t fall for it. Sonny says he’s talking to Ava, and Ava says, Sonny took the time to come by. She’d like to hear what he has to say. Ric says, listening to him is a mistake, and Sonny says, Ava knows he doesn’t trust her. He never will. Ava says, the feeling is mutual, and he says, as far as Avery goes, they’ll put their differences aside. He knows Ava loves Avery and would do anything to make sure she’s not hurt. Ava says, of course (🍷) she would. She would die for Avery. He says, so would he. He knows Avery misses her, She needs both her parents and he’s willing to make her an offer. He’ll abide by their original agreement of shared custody. This fighting has to end today. Ric says he thinks that’s supposed to make them believe Sonny is a nice, reasonable guy. It doesn’t. It makes him think that Sonny knows Ava’s case is better than he’d like it to be, and he knows they’ve got a legit shot at full custody. Sonny says, he’s not even close, and Ric says he can do better. Send Sonny packing and they’ll take him to court. Sonny says, if they do that and he walks away, Ava will get nothing.

Lulu says she thinks of Sam and Sam’s family when she wakes up every morning. The fact she can do that is because of Kristina’s sister, who will never be able… She doesn’t know how they’re getting through it. She can’t think about Kristina’s poor mom. She’s losing her mind without Charlotte. Kristina says, it’s hard, and Lulu says she prays for Sam and Charlotte every day. She pictures Sam this badass guardian angel, looking down and keeping an eye on the people she loves. She never expected Sam… Kristina says, they never had to. Sam never hesitated. If she had the chance to help someone, she did. Lulu says, taking that chance cost her, and Kristina says she sees what happened to Sam and what she did for Lulu as completely separate. One had nothing to do with the other. Lulu says, it’s hard for her to reconcile that. Every day she’s reminded of how much so many lost. She sees it in Scout, in Danny, in Rocco, and Dante too.

Alexis says she heard about the incident at Charlie’s between Danny and Cyrus, and Jason says he ended the conversation and got Danny home. Alexis says, Danny confronted Cyrus. He believes Cyrus killed his mother. Does Jason believe that? Jason says he does, and she asks, what makes him so sure? He says, Anna. She’s focused solely on Cyrus, and he trusts her instincts. He never believed Cyrus’s redemption act. Alexis asks if Anna is close to an arrest, and he says he doesn’t know, but he knows Cyrus wouldn’t think twice about hurting Danny if he could get away with it. Until he’s arrested, he wanted to let Cyrus know he wouldn’t think twice about hurting him. Alexis wonders why he’d kill Sam. They barely had an interaction. He says he doesn’t know, and like he told Danny, knowing why doesn’t bring Sam back. Alexis says, Jason wants Cyrus dead, right? So does she.

Isaiah holds Mavis, and Elaine asks if Sasha minds staying with Mavis and keeping Mavis company while she gets her prescription. She doesn’t want Mavis to be alone at a time like this. She tells Mavis, be a good girl, kisses her, and leaves.

Cody says, of course (🍷) he’s not happy. He’d say he’s sorry, but he and Molly both know how much she loves his apologies. She asks if he wants to look at the documents. It’s her own sister. He says, no, and she says, the only reason she took it is because she needs to figure out what happened and find the person who did it. Cody says, please don’t hate him more than she already does, but what does she think she can do that he cops and everyone else can’t? She says, nothing. Sam was the P.I., not her. All she managed to do was take a file, risk her job, and get stuck on the roof to freeze to death. What made her think this was a good idea? What’s wrong with her? He says, absolutely nothing. When you’ve lost someone you loved, there’s no seeing it clearly or thinking it through. He doesn’t care what anyone says. She says, it’s obvious this is the universe’s way of telling her to stay in her lane, and he says, or it’s the universe’s way of telling GH’s maintenance department that they need a new lock on this door. Or maybe the universe was too busy and took a pass and there’s no message. Getting stuck was just an accident. She’s being way too hard on herself.

Alexis tells Jason that when she wakes up and remembers her baby is dead, she’s filled with so much rage, she feels like she can’t go on. Then finding out she was murdered in the hospital… It’s just too much. He says, it’s hard to reconcile, and she says, her beautiful, gentle girl was murdered after saving someone’s life. It’s just not fair. He agrees, and she says, when she lost her law license, she worked like hell to get it back because she loves the law. She believes in it. She believes the system works, most of time. He says, what about the other times? and she says she’s not willing to take the chance that it’s one of those times. She wants him dead and wants to be the one to kill him. She wants her face to be the last face he sees before he leaves this earth. Jason says, she can’t kill Cyrus. That’s not who she is. She says, no. That’s who he is.

Kristina tells Lulu, everyone is struggling with Sam’s death, especially Dante. They really loved each other. Lulu says she’s glad Sam made him happy. It’s all she wanted for Dante. From what she’s heard, their love was pretty epic. Kristina says, it was her favorite love story. She’d be happy to share it with Lulu if she ever wants to hear it, but she doesn’t want to cause unnecessary hurt. Lulu says she appreciates that, but she feels like she won’t be honoring Sam properly without knowing what everyone lost when she died. The last thing she wants to do is impose on Dante, because he can barely say Sam’s name around her. Kristina says, okay, and they sit. She says, where to begin… Sam had her kids and Dante had Rocco, but when they first met, they were essentially alone and hurting. She thinks because they each knew what the other was going through, that made it hurt less, and they spent more time together. They confided in each other and built each other up. In the beginning, it was a sweet, quiet love. They had eventually figured it out. Lulu’s phone dings and she says she’s late for a meeting. She’s sorry. She’s got to run. Thanks. She jets. (That’s not the way I remember Sam and Dante. They couldn’t stand each other in the beginning, and she flattened his tire when he was following her.)

Lucas tells Sidwell that he’s all set. The pharmacy is on the 7th floor. Sidwell wonders if he can ask a personal question. He understands that Windymere belonged to the Cassadines. How did Lucas live there? Lucas says his mother married a Cassadine. They were long time residents of Spoon Island. Sidwell says, small world, and Lucas asks if Sidwell is liking it there. When he was a kid, it creeped him out. Sidwell says he’s hoping to change that and make it more welcoming. He’s working with a local gallerist to give it a refresh – the Jerome Gallery. Lucas says, the world gets smaller yet. Ava Jerome is his aunt. She has a great eye. Sidwell says, she does, and Lucas has an excellent bedside manner. He thanks Lucas for seeing him.

Ava says she’s glad Sonny realizes how much she loves their daughter. She appreciates him offering to share, but he’s already trampled on the agreement they have by keeping Avery away from her. What’s to stop him from doing it again? Ric says, exactly. That’s why he’s telling her to fight. Avery isn’t even staying with Sonny. She’s staying with Carly while Sonny deals with the penthouse firebomb. It’s not safe for Avery to be with him any more than it was for his son. The judge knows that and so does Sonny. Sonny says, Ric doesn’t know about it. All he does is yap a lot. All he wants is to get Sonny on the stand so he can come for him, but the thing is, Diane will come at Ava. Ric says, don’t try to intimidate his client, but Sonny says he’s not. He’s telling the truth. Somebody has to. It’s not about them. It’s about Avery. Ava says, it only ever has been, and Sonny says, if Ava loves Avery the way she says she does, she’ll act in Avery’s best interest.

Sidwell walks into Deception’s meeting in Maxie’s office and says he hopes Lucy doesn’t mind that he let himself in. His schedule is tight. Lucy says, not at all. Welcome. She introduces him, and Lulu says, did she say, Jenz Sidwell? Sidwell asks if they’ve met, and she says, no, but she’s sure he knows her brother, Lucky Spencer.  

Sonny says he and Ava need to be honest with themselves. Their little girl isn’t little anymore. She’s intuitive and can feel the animosity between them. The other day, Avery came to him and asked, how come him and her mom can’t be in the same room? He didn’t know what to say, He felt bad, but if the custody battle continues, it will get ugly. The therapist will keep asking their daughter questions she’ll have to answer and it’s not fair. Ric asks if Sonny is sure it’s not about protecting Kristina from testifying, and Ava tells him, please. Sonny says he doesn’t want any of his children to be forced to testify. He’ll agree to 60/40. Ava says, 50/50, and Ric says, Ava! Sonny says, okay. He’ll have Diane write up the paperwork. He leaves.  

Alexis says she appreciates Jason not calling her a hypocrite, especially after she’s judged him for the violent way he lives his life. Jason says, they’re different people, and Alexis says, they’re not as different as she wants to believe. She wants retribution. She wants retribution for the life Sam would have had and wants it for Sam’s children who won’t have a mother. She wants it for Dante and wants it for herself. He says, now she understands how he feels, and she says she does. She wants vengeance so bad, she can taste it. If she didn’t have to think about the consequences, she’d put the gun in his hand. Now he knows how she feels, but she’s not going to hand him the gun. It doesn’t matter how she feels or what she wants or what he wants. The only thing that matters is what Sam wants. He says, Sam was supposed to be here to tell them, and she says, Sam isn’t. It’s up to them to do the right thing, what Sam would want. She would want Danny to heal over the loss someday, but he’ll never be able to do that if Jason kills Cyrus.

Molly says she appreciates Cody trying to make her feel better, but he says, it’s the truth. It’s too cold to think of anything to make her feel better. She says, thanks anyway, and he says, it’s human to want to find answers, find the evil person who killed Sam. When all is said and done, what Molly did was human. Don’t beat herself up about it. He would have done the same thing if he was her.

Sasha tells Elaine to get some rest, and Elaine thanks her. Sasha says she’d be happy to give Elaine and Mavis a ride home, and Elaine says, Mavis goes out 3 or 4 times a day. She’s so stiff and achy, she doesn’t know how she’s going to do that. Sasha suggests Elaine let her take care of Mavis while she’s recuperating, and Elaine says, it would be such a relief. And Sasha and Mavis have already bonded. Sasha says, they have, and starts to head out, but Elaine says, wait. She thinks this has gone on long enough. She thinks it’s time they were honest with each other.

Ric asks why on earth Ava would believe anything coming out of Sonny’s mouth, and Ava says she wanted her child. Ric just want to tear his brother apart. Ric says, that’s not fair. No matter his personal feelings, he wouldn’t jeopardize her getting her daughter back. He knows he could have done better. She says, for whom? Not Avery. She needs her father. And Sonny admitted for the first time that Avery needs her too. Ric says, so she didn’t need him, but she says, that’s not true. She was solely focused on getting her daughter back before he came along, and hurting Sonny as much and however she could, using John Cates and Kristina to do it. She’s ashamed of that. He says, she never told him that, and she says, it’s not something she’s proud to admit. She’s past it, especially since Ric was able to prove in court what happened to Kristina’s baby was an accident. He was the first person to believe her. And whatever Kristina believes, she doesn’t want Kristina to have to get on the stand and relive it. Ric says, she’s actually more generous than people give her credit for.

Sonny goes into Charlie’s and says, it looks amazing. Is Kristina up for a visitor? She says, of course (🍷). If it’s him, anytime. He says he has news, and she asks if it’s about Michael. Is he okay? He says, Michael is as good as he can be. It’s about her sister. She doesn’t have to testify at Ava’s custody hearing. She says, he doesn’t have to worry. She’s not afraid of Ava and Ric. He says, there’s no trial. They’ve settled the custody arrangement with Avery.

Lucas says, Sasha got a dog, and Isaiah says, show some respect. Her name is Mavis. Lucas apologizes and says he got a guy who got a tick bite on Spoon Island. Isaiah asks if he said Spoon Island, and Lucas says, he lives in Windymere, the big mansion. Isaiah says, a friend told him that Windymere’s most recent occupant is Jenz Sidwell. Bald with an accent. Lucas confirms it was Sidwell and asks how Isaiah knows him. Isaiah says, Lucas might want to ask Lucky about his experience with Sidwell, and Lucas says, it sounds like Isaiah had his own experience. Isaiah says, yeah. Sidwell is the bastard who kidnapped him in Africa and tried to kill him in the hospital when he escaped. He’s not a good man.

Molly says, just when she was starting to think Cody was halfway decent and being supportive. The guy who drinks too much and punches his way through his problems thinks she did the right thing. What does that say about her? He says, okay Little Miss Not-So-Perfect, it happened twice. She made a mistake, and he didn’t judge. She says, he’s got no moral code and she’s trying to hang onto hers, and he says he was trying to be nice. It’s not worth it. He starts to take his pants off, and when she protests, he says he has long johns on. She asks why he’s taking his pants off, and he says, because it’s cold and windy. He ties the legs of his jeans together and balls them up, walking to the edge of the roof. He says, there are people down there and they’ve got enough wind for the pants to make it down. It’s his version of a flare. If it doesn’t work, he’ll throw himself off. He tosses the pants.

Isaiah tells Lucky, watch out! and they step aside as Cody’s pants hit the sidewalk. Lucas says, is that a pair of jeans? and Isaiah says he thinks it’s a cry for help. They look up, and Molly and Cody yell for help.

Alexis says, if Jason kills Cyrus, he’ll make Danny complicit, but Jason says he’d never compromise Danny morally. Alexis says, it will make Danny feel responsible. They’re adults and know that he’s not. He’s a teenage boy. Don’t make him carry the burden of Cyrus’s death with him for the rest of his life.

Kristina says she would have bet money Ava would battle to the death before she gave up custody of Avery. Congratulations to Sonny and her sister. Sonny says, she didn’t just give up. They settled – a 50/50 split. She asks why he’d do that, and he says, Avery misses her mother. She needs both of them. Kristina says, Ava just tried to kidnap Avery, and they know what she’s capable of, and Sonny says he knows how she feels. It’s not fair that Ava is getting access to Avery, especially after Kristina lost Adella. They’ve both been through way too much, so it’s settled. She says, okay then, and goes behind the bar. She says, funny. She never thought she’d see her father take the easy way out.

Elaine tells Sasha that she’s a P.I. They didn’t meet by chance. She set Sasha up. The party she’s working with is investigating Sasha. Sasha says, why her? Who would do this? Elaine says she can’t break client confidentiality, but Sasha has been so kind to her and Mavis, she feels like she needs to warn Sasha. Watch her back. Somebody is looking into her. Sasha thanks Elaine for telling her, and Elaine says, she’s welcome. In her line of work, she doesn’t make many new friends. She tells Mavis, right? and Mavis barks. Elaine says, that’s right.

Isaiah and Lucas come out to the roof, and both Cody and Molly yell, don’t close that door! Cody says he thought he’d freeze, and Isaiah tosses his pants to him. Molly tells Cody that she can’t believe she’s uttering these words. Thank you for taking off your pants. You might just have saved our lives. Cody says he thinks she should just admit he’s right, and they all leave.

Sidwell says, she must be Lulu. A pleasure. He’s met her mother. He extends his hand, but she doesn’t take it. She says, if he met her mother, he knows her brother Lucky is the one he held hostage. Lucy apologizes and says, obviously, there must be a mistake. Lulu says, because Jenz Sidwell is such a common name, and Sidwell says, he has indeed met Lucky and found him aptly named. He doesn’t need to remind her that there are two sides to every story. He tells Lucy, the last thing he wants to do is create discord among her staff, and she says, Lulu is inconsequential. She doesn’t count. The one who counts is her beautiful partner, Maxie Jones. He tells Maxie, a pleasure. However, he feels he should take his leave. If after discussing it internally, they find his involvement too disruptive, call him. Lucy says she’ll keep the phone by her side and tells Lulu, he’s the one person who can throw a lifeline to Deception and she chased him off. Brook asks if it couldn’t wait until after the meeting, and Lulu says she’s sorry she wasn’t more polite to the man who tried to kill her brother. Lucy tells her that she doesn’t have a say, and Maxie says she does. And she wants to know everything about that guy before taking him on. Lucy says she’s seen his finances. She’s just going to tell him that these things happen, and they want to talk more. This was an aberration, and she guarantees it will not happen again. She leaves.

Alexis says, it’s Jason’s job to make sure Danny gets the future Sam would want him to have and he deserves without the burden of guilt. Which means – as much as she hates it – they have to leave Cyrus to the police. Jason says he understands, and she says she knows he does.

In the parking lot, Natalia asks a man if he has a cigarette. He says he doesn’t and gets in his car. Sidwell says he thought she gave up that filthy habit years ago. She says she gave up a lot of things that were bad for her back then, and he says, including him? Seeing how she slipped out of the meeting, he takes it she hasn’t told them that they were married once upon a time.

Ric says he’s going to grab the paperwork so he can approve the language. He’s got to get going. It’s going to take forever. Ava says he doesn’t have to rush to the office right this second, does he? and he says he supposes it will take Diane some time to get the paperwork together. She says she’s sure of it, and they move closer. She asks, however shall we pass the time? and he drops his bag. They kiss.

Kristina says, obviously, Sonny is trying to do the right thing, but Ava must have forced him. He asks if she thinks he’d let her. They have a difference of opinion and that’s fine, but he’s doing this for Avery. She needs her mother and father like Kristina does, like Donna does. She says, Ava’s not mom and she’s not Carly. She’ll never be a good role model. He says, okay, maybe not, but does she know how many years they’ve been fighting over Avery’s living arrangements? And who pays the price? Avery. He knows she doesn’t understand his decision, but he hopes one day she’ll figure out why he did it. He leaves and Kristina takes out her phone. She looks at the photo taken through the hotel room window that shows Ava with her hand on Kristina’s shoulder.  

On Monday, Anna tells Mac that she feels they’re getting closer; Elizabeth tells Jason that she thinks they found the evidence to put Cyrus away; and Carly asks if Sonny is going to tell her what’s really going on.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

First, the sad news. I don’t know why I thought she was older. Probably because she’s been around forever. I hope they don’t wait as long as they did for Bobbie’s memorial. That got weird.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/leslie-charlesons-cause-of-death-revealed

And the happy news. Well, roll me up and call me curly. I didn’t know he was married.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-alum-anthony-geary-celebrates-his-anniversary

A flashback from the 80s.

https://people.com/john-stamos-and-demi-moore-have-general-hospital-reunion-9732736

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

I thought about watching this, but got sucked into a TLC rabbit hole.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Sutton’s visit to her mother continued. We flashed back to Sutton telling Garcelle that she never felt her mother was proud of her. Garcelle tried to impart this wisdom to Reba, but Reba told her to mind her own business. Garcelle took it with grace, and in her interview, she said Reba had been hurt somewhere along the way and thought there was jealousy because Sutton had been a daddy’s girl. In Sutton’s interview, she said there may have been some pent-up resentment on her part, since her mother had been home when her father shot himself. It wasn’t something they talked about.

Erika must be doing okay since she was spending over $60K on a decorator. She said she was slowly getting back to a person she recognized. As part of her healing journey about her father, Sutton went with Garcelle and Kyle to the house where she grew up, and the new owners were gracious enough to allow her as much time as she needed. Sutton wanted the last years of her mother’s life to be happy and peaceful, which I guess included accepting her mother’s denial of pretty much everything. It was quite emotional. Boz talked to her daughter Lael about Keely and having another baby, and Lael was incredibly thoughtful and mature for age 15. Kyle had to remind Kathy not to put the phone to her ear when they were FaceTiming. I sometimes wonder how Kathy exists in the world, but I guess she pays people to do that for her.

In her ever-continuing apology tour.

And in the too little too late and no one cares category.

Summer House

Apparently, West broke up with Ceara through a New York Times article. More shocking was how desperate the Times must be for readers. Or maybe they forgot they’re not the Star. Many of the housemates made a big deal of two newbies being younger at 26 and 27, but when everyone acts 14, who cares?

It ended with Carl’s arrival, and it would be the first time he’d seen Lindsay since finding out she was pregnant.

Southern Charm

It was time to go to the Bahamas, and no surprise there were ads for Bahamian tourism during the commercial breaks. Once they got there, Shep called Sienna who said she’d meet them at the hotel. Craig acted like big baby Ramona when he didn’t want to share a room in an amazing suite. Craig lived in the Bahamas for two years? Surprise to me. In Craig’s interview, he got the vibe Sienna wasn’t really into Shep. I got that vibe too. She didn’t greet him like someone she hadn’t seen for months and missed. She also didn’t want alone time with him, which says everything.

Next time Shep tells Sienna that he’s wildly in love with her and Craig wonders why Austen hates him so much.

Southern Hospitality

While I can’t stomach the middle school antics on this show, I do like watching Maddi’s career as a DJ evolve. It’s also refreshing to see a boyfriend being as supportive as Joe is. Maddi is for sure living her best life. And soberly, no less. No surprise, Emmy had another weepfest at a dinner. I wouldn’t believe Will either, but I do feel sorry for her. Group dinners are a bad idea all around. Reality casts either want to start a fight about something at this inappropriate time or they want to play a game no one should ever play, involving negative comments about the others. Tonight, it was, who is the person at the table you trust the least? Like Heather’s worst texts about someone else on RHOSLC, no good can come from a game like this.

Random Items

VanderTease.

Is there any amount of money this guy can’t make? Admittedly, he does work hard for it.

The world has become her oyster.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Apple Cider Vinegar. Netflix. This is a kinda sorta true-ish miniseries. There are three intersecting stories about different forays into natural cancer treatment. One woman fakes having cancer and cons the world into thinking she’s found the answer in a healthy diet. Another woman actually diagnosed with cancer finds a real cure in a healthy diet, also becoming a guru of sorts, only to find it wasn’t such a cure after all. A third woman is a cancer patient in search of a cure. A lot of food for thought – no pun intended.

https://www.techradar.com/streaming/netflix/netflixs-new-crime-drama-apple-cider-vinegar-is-the-latest-female-fraudster-series-that-i-cant-get-enough-of

Baylon Out Loud. TLC. I like this show more every time I watch it. It shows there are still decent people in the world

https://collider.com/baylen-out-loud-tic-con/

These two. I’m rooting for their relationship to win.

https://people.com/tiktoker-baylen-dupree-is-engaged-to-colin-dooley-exclusive-8789450

⌚️ Upcoming Watches…

SNL50: The Anniversary Special, February 16th on NBC, E!, and Peacock, the red carpet beginning at 7 pm ET.

https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/snl-50-days-of-fandom-events-specials-episodes

This looks intriguing. Premiering February 23rd at 10 pm on NBC and streaming on Peacock February 24th.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/nbc-s-grosse-pointe-garden-society-reminds-us-of-wisteria-lane-review/ar-AA1yuVSx

And at the cinema, coming this July. Dinosaurs! Flying dinosaurs! Dinosaurs popping out of the water like a prehistoric Jaws! What more do you need?

https://www.jurassicworld.com/

🎰 Vegas Here We Come…

Walton Goggins talks Fallout’s new season.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/fallout-season-2-new-vegas-walton-goggins

🐕 And the Winners Are…

The Puppy Bowl.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10154197-puppy-bowl-2025-recap-mvp-highlights-and-twitter-reaction

The Westminster Dog Show.

https://people.com/westminster-dog-show-2025-best-in-show-winner-8789581

🥁 Quotes of the Week

The plan is to fan this spark into a flame. – Lin-Manuel Miranda

If you get up one more time than you fall, you will make it through. –Chinese proverb

A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t. – Jack Dempsey (Apparently, I’m a champion every morning.)

There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, there are no limits. – Michael Phelps

A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body. – Benjamin Franklin

My size is tedious. – Juan, My 600-Lb. Life

No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world. – Robin Williams

Reading butts. – a job requirement to keep the Puppy Bowl dogs calm and the field accident-free

That wasn’t karaoke. It was you, a jukebox, and a bar full of angry people. – Mike (Billy Gardell), Mike & Molly

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

💖 Valentine Mode Activated…

Until next time, stay safe; stay being your own Valentine; and stay not hesitating. If you have the chance to help someone, do it.

February 7, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Cyrus Finds a New Target, Soap Suds, This Week’s Reality, Weekend Watch, Rebirth, Coming Soon(ish), Nixed, Wins, Two Different Bowls, A Half-Dozen Quotes & Dust

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

Monday:

Laura told Jordan that Sidwell was charming and cordial and was going to be a big problem for her and the city. Elizabeth and Lucky discovered a Turning Woods patient who had dementia, but was otherwise healthy, had died of heart attack. Lulu said Dante owed her no explanations and he told her about Anna not letting him near Sam’s case.

Laura was worried about Lucky going after Sidwell and told Jordan that Anna thought Sidwell was behind the fire. At the Surf Lodge, Maxie gave Emma advice on living with Anna, but when Sasha came in, she told Emma to find another table. Alexis told Sonny that nothing helped, but pain helped fuel her rage of injustice over Sam’s death.

Trina asked for Curtis’s help in talking to Kai, and Kai told his friend/ teammate Quinn that he wouldn’t be coming back. Lulu apologized to Dante for what she did in Prague and for seeming ungrateful for Sam’s sacrifice. She said he could talk to her about anything. He said he felt badly about not being home much in the weeks before Sam died, and Lulu said it was because he’d been by her bedside. Laura told Lucky about Sidwell being in Port Charles, and Jordan told Isaiah. Emma eavesdropped on Maxie and Sasha. Maxie said some people thought Jason was Sasha’s baby daddy.

Kai asked Quinn to step up because he could lead. Brook met with Lois and said the last thing Dante needed was to find out he’d fathered a child in high school. She wondered if the child even knew they were adopted. Dante told Lulu about proposing to Sam. Sonny said he was there for Alexis, and they hugged.

Sasha wondered why people couldn’t just leave her alone to live her own damn life, and it was no one’s business but hers who the father was. Emma told Gio about what she’d overheard, and Quinn blamed Trina for splitting Kai’s focus. Curtis told Kai his story and said Kai had to live his. He was never going to know if he could fully recover unless he went through the process. Lulu said she was happy Dante had a love like Sam, and he said he didn’t blame her for anything.

Trina told Quinn to check himself. Looking for something to blame wasn’t going to help Kai, and maybe he was the one giving up. Kai said everything he’d planned for was gone and Curtis said Kai’s bravery against the defensive blitz told him who Kai was as a person, and it extended beyond the field. Laura asked what Alexis knew about Sidwell, who showed up at the MetroCourt. Jordan introduced herself and asked what brought him to Port Charles and what he planned to do there. Elizabeth asked Lucky what it was like to be Sidwell’s prisoner, and he said, it was hell.

Curtis suggested Kai accept help and Kai said he couldn’t face the disappointment of his family. Curtis said, focus on healing his body and mind, and Kai said Curtis had given him a lot to think about. Curtis left his number and Kai texted Trina to come by. Emma wanted to tell Anna that Jason was the baby’s dad and Gio had a bad feeling. Maxie said, the more Sasha stonewalled, the more people would talk, but Sasha said she owed no one any explanations. Laura filled Alexis in on Sidwell and said Anna had opened an investigation about Sam. Sidwell told Jordan that he was an importer of gems and rare earths. He knew how to find things of value. Lulu said she got why she couldn’t be the person Dante turned to right now, but if that changed, he knew where to find her.

Tuesday:

NuJack (Pfft! He looks like Nathan Lane and has no accent – very disappointing) and Carly took a private plane back to Port Charles. Anna called Josslyn into her office. Drew got busy with Willow after jumping the fence to get to the gatehouse, and he said nothing could keep him from seeing her. Cody continued to pay off his debt to Selina and she told him she had a proposition for him. Lucky told Elizabeth that he’d stopped Jason from killing Sidwell in Somalia, and Isaiah went to the MetroCourt and saw Sidwell with Jordan. He asked if Sidwell was back to kill him personally. Brook set up a table at the MetroCourt for a Deception meeting.

Sidwell said he and Isaiah had an unfortunate misunderstanding while working together, but Isaiah said, it was no misunderstanding, and Sidwell had sent someone to kill him in Port Charles. Jordan said Isaiah was interrupting and Isaiah told her about Lucky being held prisoner. Lucy came over, having sensed tension, and asked if they all couldn’t get along. Drew said he and Willow shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to see each other, and Willow said everyone was just biting their tongues, but she didn’t want to cause more pain. Selina said she was setting up a high stakes poker game and wanted Cody to play with house money. She would also cancel his remaining debt. He asked for a cut of the winnings and reminded her that Mac was his father. She said anything could be negotiated and his discretion would be honored. He said he’d think about it. Lucky told Elizabeth that Jason killing Sidwell would have been purely about revenge, and he didn’t want to carry that burden. Anna told Josslyn about Dex and Sam being murdered, and that Dex had listed only Josslyn as family. Josslyn asked if Anna said they suspected Cyrus. Collette called Jack on the plane and said there was something he needed to see when he got back.

Lucky told Elizabeth about the poker game and how it had unlocked something in Sidwell, who became fixated on beating him. He’d been infuriated that Isaiah escaped, and when Lucky lost, he would die. Anna told Josslyn that they didn’t have proof, but Portia had banned Cyrus from the hospital. She knew Josslyn wanted justice, but to get it, they’d need evidence. Willow told Drew that she wanted to make things work. The kids adored Monica and this was their home. She also still cared about Michael and thought this would help his recovery, but the toughest person to deal with had been Sasha. Even though she was pregnant by a random guy, Willow felt constantly judged. Drew left, but forgot his tie on the couch. Sasha met Felicia at the MetroCourt, and Isaiah told Jordan, whatever money Sidwell brought in was blood money. Jordan told him to handle the conflict on his own time. Lucy joined the Deception meeting, and Jordan asked what Isaiah’s issue was with Sidwell.

Sidwell said that Isaiah had been his personal physician, but didn’t like the conditions and departed. He wanted to buy Jordan dinner to make up for interruption, and she said, call her office. He left and she texted Isaiah to meet her. Brook told Tracy that Natalia and Sonny went to LA to handle financing. The sales had dropped because of Lois losing her accent. Drew went to see Selina and asked about her previous association with Curtis. He asked if she was a silent partner in the club. She said she could provide interesting insight, providing their exchange was mutually beneficial. Cody came back and asked if Drew got lost helping blind orphans, Seeing Drew there confirmed that Drew was exactly who Cody thought he was.

Lucky told Elizabeth it had been like his dad was guiding him during the poker game, and Elizabeth had helped him too. Josslyn told Anna that she’d volunteered at Turning Woods and Cyrus had everyone there fooled. Anna told her that she was interfering with the investigation and don’t go back. Carly visited Willow, bearing gifts for the kids from Germany. She told Willow that Michael started treatment and wanted the kids to know he loved them. He also wanted to thank Willow. Willow asked if Carly wanted tea and Carly said she did, but when Willow went to the kitchen, Carly found Drew’s tie sticking out of the couch cushion.  

Selina said it was none of Cody’s business, and Drew said he was addressing a constituent’s concern. Cody asked if Willow knew and said Drew and his brother were alike. Drew was sleeping with his nephew’s wife and Jason got Sasha pregnant. Selina told Cody to get out and had her bodyguard escort him.  

Collette showed Jack a cabin where Cyrus had been hiding out, but she hadn’t wanted to go inside without his authorization. Josslyn told Anna that she’d do whatever it took to stop Cyrus and get justice for Dex, but Anna said, the more Josslyn entangled herself in the investigation, the more likely Cyrus was to get away. They needed proof and he already knew he was being watched. If he found out, he’d cover his tracks. She told Josslyn to let the PCPD take it from there. Jordan met Isaiah at the Surf Lodge. He said Sidwell was dangerous and hired assassins to take out those who crossed him.

Lucky told Elizabeth that he’d been close to escaping, but guards caught him and worked him over. He thought it was the end, then he saw her, and she told him that he shouldn’t quit. He should get up off the floor and fight. Jordan said, it was like Sidwell’s crimes had never happened, and Isaiah said it was because he’d committed them in war torn regions where there were no laws. She said she was going to spend time with Sidwell and find evidence to put him away. She’d had experience going undercover and Sidwell was interested in her, so she’d take the opportunity. When Willow came back, Carly was gone, and so was Drew’s tie. Drew went to the MetroCourt to meet with Anna, who had a wish list from the PCPD for federal support. Drew said he’d be happy to suggest funding as long as organized crime was the top priority – i.e. arresting Sonny and Jason. Carly came in and called out Drew for leaving his tie while he was having sex with Michael’s wife.

Jack said they’d tail Cyrus, and Collette asked if he wasn’t curious about the cabin. She wanted to insure their special project wasn’t put at risk. He said it wasn’t their objective to catch a killer, but to see what action Josslyn would take if she found the cabin. Lucky said, Elizabeth had gotten him through a lot, and she said she was glad, but she couldn’t be anybody’s angel. He said he just needed her to be her. He told her about a song he’d heard on a jukebox in Mogadishu that reminded him of dancing with her at Luke’s. He played it on his phone, and they danced.

Isaiah said he thought Jordan liked the rush better than pushing papers, and she said she’d need his help. He’d have to stay away from her because Sidwell couldn’t know about their connection. He said, no way in hell was he staying clear of her. Their connection would also go undercover. Willow left a message for Michael, saying, the kids loved him and talked about him all the time. They couldn’t wait for him to get home.

To add insult to injury, Carly said she’d bought the tie for Drew and found it in the couch. He wanted to talk privately, but she said, no. His nephew was fighting for his life while Drew was sleeping with his wife on property he’d been banned from. She wanted everyone to know he was pathetic. He wasn’t half the man Jason was. Drew said the joke was on her. Jason had knocked up Sasha – the family cook. Wow. He’s outdone himself at being an ass on so many levels.

Wednesday:

Brad confronted Cyrus at the hospital. He said Cyrus was trying to convince the world he was a changed man, but was considered a danger to the patients. Josslyn convinced the custodian at Turning Woods to let her in Cyrus’s room. Willow told Nina about Carly disappearing on her. At the MetroCourt, Sasha told Drew to make a disaster of his own and Willow’s life, but leave her and her baby out of it.

Ric told Elizabeth that she was back to work immediately. Carly told Drew that he had no right to get involved with Sasha’s private life. Tracy said she was going to warn Willow that if it Drew showed up again, she’d be out on the street without her children, but Brook said she’d convince Willow to do what was best for everyone. Anna told Drew that it was inappropriate for him to influence a case against Sonny and Jason. Kristina wanted to wait to tell Danny that Sam was murdered, but Alexis said if he found out from someone else, they risked losing him. Cody told Molly that he was sorry to hear about Sam and that he and Sam were kindred spirits, and she took Danny to see Alexis. Cody told Dante that he should be there for Danny since Danny’s dad was worthless, when Sasha walked in.

Brook told Willow about what happened at the MetroCourt and asked what she was thinking. Lucy said she didn’t see it coming that Jason was Sasha’s baby daddy, but didn’t hate it. She loved spectacles when she wasn’t at the center of them. Drew asked to talk to Maxie. Lucky asked Ric to find out Cyrus’s parole terms and Elizabeth said it would be a personal favor to her, so he agreed – on the house. At the hospital, Lucas told Carly that Jack had been there as his patient and asked if she was dating him. She said, maybe, and he asked if she’d slept with him, but she said they hadn’t crossed that line yet. Valentin had tried to kill Jack, and she’d saved his life. Sasha asked where Cody got off telling everyone Jason was the father and Cody asked if he wasn’t. Josslyn searched Cyrus’s room and noticed a pressed flower in his Bible. The custodian came back, and she said she found what she was looking for.

Sasha said it was none of Cody’s business and asked where he got the idea. He said after seeing them at the boathouse, and she told him to let it go. Brook asked, why wave a red flag at Tracy? and Willow said this was her home, but it was an easy fix, and asked to move back in with Nina. Drew asked Maxie to share her opinion, and she said she felt sorry for Michael. She didn’t think it was cool for him to pull Sasha into the drama. He said he needed a mother’s advice. Lucy pumped Felicia for information, and Lulu asked Anna where Jack was. Lucas said Carly didn’t want to be with somebody who didn’t tell her the truth.

After Ric left, Lucky said, if they got specifics, he could find a way to get Cyrus busted, and Elizabeth said he meant frame Cyrus. Tracy said everything was Sasha’s call. She could fight and would with Tracy’s support. Brook told Willow to take a step back and that Drew was the problem. When she got involved with him, her life fell apart. Nina suggested Willow take some time alone to figure out the direction of her life. Drew asked Maxie to speak to a decorator about his new house. She said he sounded like a great dad, and she’d help him. Anna suggested Lulu call Jack’s office. Lulu said she already had with no luck, but she’d get Carly to intervene. She asked if Anna had heard anything about Charlotte.

Tracy said every woman had the right to live life on their own terms and she’d do her best to watch out for Sasha. Sasha needed to have a game plan. Nina said Willow could stay with her as long as she needed, but Brook said that wasn’t the agreement. Willow said she didn’t care. Anna said she didn’t know where Charlotte was and neither did the WSB. Lulu said Jack was lying because of some spy reason and a lot of people would be sorry when she got her daughter back. Carly said Jack wasn’t like Sonny, but Lucas told her to walk away while she could. It was Jack’s literal job to keep secrets, and she shouldn’t make the same mistake twice. Elizabeth said Cyrus needed to be stopped no matter what. If they had to frame him, so be it. Cyrus noticed his Bible had been touched and the pressed flower was moved.

Thursday:

Brad asked to leave early, and Portia said okay, but Curtis wondered what was up with that. Brad showed off his muscles, and Lucas said, whatever training program he was on was clearly working. Jack met with Josslyn at Bobbie’s, and she said that she was going to prove Cyrus killed Dex. Lois went to see Martin and told him that she really needed a lawyer. Willow told Nina that deep down, she knew Brook was right. She shouldn’t have been in the gatehouse with Drew. Alexis told Danny that the authorities believed his mom’s death wasn’t an accident.

Brook blamed herself for Willow leaving. Willow said when Drew left, all she could think about was Michael, and Nina said the accident robbed her of closure. She could now focus on her next steps. Then like a bad penny, Drew showed up. Portia told Curtis that Stella seemed to like Brad, so she was willing to give him a second chance, and Curtis thought it was time for him to have a chat with Brad. Josslyn told Jack about getting into Cyrus’s apartment, but not finding anything. He said that might indicate Cyrus had a second location. While Rocco listened in, Dante asked Chase who the person of interest was, but Chase wasn’t talking. Alexis told Danny that the police and hospital believed Sam was murdered.

Molly said, Sam wasn’t the only victim, but it was being kept quiet to not alert suspects. Chase made Dante promise not to do anything reckless and told him the suspect was Cyrus. Jack said, even the best criminal left a trail and evidence would surface, and Josslyn asked him not to tell her mom, when Carly and Lucas walked in. Gio told Brook not to blame herself for the actions of others. Tracy showed up and Brook told her it didn’t go as planned. Tracy said it was time to call the lawyers.

Curtis asked if Brad was still working with Selina, but Brad said they’d cut all ties. He would never do anything to jeopardize Portia and Terry’s faith in him. Carly and Jack shared a table, and he asked her not to tell Josslyn about them. Lois told Martin that Brook had a baby with Dante and she needed to make sure no one found out. Danny agreed Scout shouldn’t know about Sam being murdered and asked if his dad knew. Chase said, circumstantial evidence pointed to Cyrus, but Dante said it made no sense. Tracy interrupted and asked Chase and Dante to check for security flaws on the property, and Rocco snuck away. Nina said Drew had put Willow in a position to lose her children, and suggested he move to DC, but he said he’d take Willow and the kids with him. Nina said if he wanted a fight, she was ready to oblige.

Alexis said it wasn’t their job to get involved in the investigation. When Danny left, Alexis said she found it unsettling that he’d brought up his father. Lucas said it looked like Jack and Carly were getting close, and Josslyn said, as long as it wasn’t Sonny, she was on board. She asked if Lucas had ever heard of Austin Gatlin-Holt. Lois told Martin that the baby had been placed with a member of her extended family, but Brook didn’t know. (Is it Gio???) She asked if Brook could find out, when Tracy knocked at the door. She asked why Lois was there.

Stella told Curtis that she believed Brad had turned a corner. Brad asked if Curtis knew about their arrangement, but Portia said, no and don’t tell him. Josslyn said Austin had testified for Cyrus at his parole hearing, and Lucas told her to stay out of it. Lois told Tracy that she’d heard what happened with Willow and that was why she was seeing Martin. Martin said the deal wasn’t legally binding and the blame lay with Tracy. Lois suggested they leave. Brook told Chase and Dante that Willow moved out. Nina told Drew that Willow still cared about Michael and Willow told Drew it was a mistake for them to meet at the gatehouse. She was still processing the end of her marriage. Drew said it would be unfair to deny their feelings, but they were free to be together since it had been made public – if that’s what she wanted.

Willow said of course (🍷) she did. They kissed and Nina saw them. Alexis was worried that Jason would seek vengeance, and Kristina said, some people didn’t look at vengeance the way Alexis did. Rocco talked with Danny and told him that Cyrus was a suspect. When Carly took a call, Josslyn asked Jack to help her find out if Austin had leased or bought a place nearby. Nina called Carly and said they had to end a problem once and for all. After seeing Tracy to her car, Lois came back to see Martin again. He said there were two ways the truth could come out. If the child came of age and requested their birth certificate… Lois said there was no way they knew they were adopted, and he said, also, if Brook met with whoever handled the adoption and asked to meet her child. Lois said it would blow his world apart, and Martin asked if she was in contact with them. She said, Brook’s son was her grandson Gio. (Ha! I was right.)  

Friday’s Enchilada:

Lulu thanks Laura for meeting her at Bobbie’s and Laura says she’s always happy to meet her beautiful daughter, but what’s so urgent? Lulu says she met with Jack Brennan, and she has news, and Laura asks if Charlotte and Valentin have been found. Lulu says, no. Valentin surfaced briefly in Germany, but disappeared before they could track him. Jack wouldn’t give her any other details. Laura says, of course (🍷) not. It’s Jack and it’s classified. Lulu says she’s got to find Charlotte soon. She knows something bad will happen if she’s with Valentin. Laura says she’ll do what she can, but Lulu says, there may be another path she can follow.

Carly brings a folder to Lucas at the hospital because he left it at home, and he says he’s glad she didn’t come to him for dating advice. He sticks by his assessment that dating a spy is a bad proposition. She says she has more important things to deal with than taking the time to point out Lucas’s questionable taste in men. Nina called and wants to see her. She needs him to convince her that it’s not a good idea to work with Nina.

Nina gives Maxie two tickets to the NYC Winter Fashion Formal and tells her that she can take who she wants. Maxie asks what Nina wants, and Nina asks what she means. Maxie says, Nina only gives her stuff when she wants something, but Nina says, that’s not true. Maxie says, Nina gave her Chanel boots when she wanted Maxie to get a million Christmas gifts for Wiley, and Nina says, fine. She needs help. It might sound crazy, but she needs advice on how to convince Carly to work with her. Maxie asks what she wants to work on, and Nina says, breaking up Drew and Willow.

Willow tells Elizabeth, happy first day back, and hugs her. She says, the doctors and nurses missed her and every one of her patients asked about her. Elizabeth says, it feels good to be back and be missed more than she should admit. Portia joins them and welcomes Elizabeth back. Elizabeth says, it’s good to be back, and Portia asks to speak to her before her shift. Portia heads for her office and Elizabeth makes a face at Willow.

At the Grill, Sidwell thanks Drew for meeting him, even if he’s interrupting Drew’s breakfast. Drew says he’s happy for the company and to welcome a new constituent to Port Charles, and Sidwell says, this constituent doesn’t want to waste more of his time than necessary, so he’ll get to it. Drew may not know, but he imports rare gems from around the world. One of the reasons he chose Port Charles was the pending development of the esplanade. He asks what the status is on its progress, and Drew says, unfortunately, it’s being held off because of environmental concerns. Sidwell says, forgive him for being blunt, but did Sonny Corinthos have anything to do with the delay?

At a hospital in Los Angeles, Sonny says he doesn’t like waiting, and Natalia says, it shouldn’t be much longer. Sonny says he owes her for coming to California with him, and she says she was just thinking, how is Sonny going to pay her back?  

Jordan asks if Anna remembers the microdot recorders she bought for the department, and Anna says, they’ve used them successfully already. Jordan says she needs to borrow one, and Anna asks, who will be wearing the device? Jordan says she will.

In her office, Portia says, as Co-Chief of Staff, she wanted to apologize to Elizabeth for suspending her, and Elizabeth thanks her for saying that. She admits it was a relief, and Portia says she never believed Elizabeth would harm her patients. Elizabeth says she knows Portia had to follow protocol, and Portia says she did, but she hated it. As much as she’s not a fan of Ric’s, in watching him fight for Elizabeth, she never realized he was such a good lawyer. He didn’t give the hospital lawyer half a chance and she came to win. Elizabeth says she’s grateful for everything Ric’s done for her, and wonders if she’s allowed to ask the status of the hospital investigation. Portia says, Elizabeth can, but she doesn’t have any new information. Everything they had on the three, almost four, deaths was turned over to the police. It’s officially a criminal investigation. Elizabeth asks if she’s sure it was only three, and Portia says, they had the lab techs go over all the deaths in the last few months and didn’t find any others. Elizabeth says, that’s good to hear. Does Portia know if the police have a suspect? Portia says she hasn’t touched base with them, but prays they catch whoever is responsible, so they don’t destroy any more lives.

Nina says, it’s ridiculous for Drew to be sneaking in behind everyone’s backs, but Maxie says, Willow is an adult. Even if they think her choices are stupid, she has the right to make them. Besides, she doesn’t think Drew would do something to hurt her. Nina says, sorry. She didn’t realize Maxie was a fan of Drew’s. Maxie says, she’s neutral. She’s Switzerland. Nina asks how she can be when Drew’s over-the-top romantic gestures and horrible advice drive Willow to make disastrous decisions? Like moving out of the gatehouse and back in with her. Maxie says she thought Nina would be happy having Willow and the kids living with her, and Nina says, of course (🍷) she wants them with her, but if the entire Quartermaine security staff can’t keep Drew and Willow apart, how can she? Maxie says, she probably can’t, and Nina says, if Drew didn’t live in a hotel room, he’d probably have Willow and the kids move in with him, and that would be a disaster… What’s wrong? Maxie says she has the feeling Drew won’t be in the hotel much longer, and Nina says, because…? Maxie says, because he’s in escrow on a new house… and she told him that she would help him find a decorator. Nina says, Drew is buying a new house and Maxie is helping him with it?

Lucas asks why Carly is considering working with Nina, and Carly says, to break up Willow and Drew. Drew wants to keep Willow to himself, and his schemes are so obvious, even Nina noticed. Jason brokered a living arrangement with Willow and the Quartermaines, and Drew blew it up. He asks, how? and Carly says she visited Willow at the gatehouse and when Willow went to the kitchen, she saw a tie she’d given Drew sticking out of the couch. Part of the arrangement was that Drew wasn’t allowed on the property, and he snuck in like they were star-crossed lovers. Of course (🍷) she loudly confronted him in public at the MetroCourt. He says, of course (🍷). He guesses it didn’t go well. She says, it was a disaster, and Lucas says he can’t talk about being on the moral high ground. He lit into Willow at Christmas, and it was a disaster. Ava had to talk him down. She says, clearly, they’re people who act first and think later, and he says, maybe it’s time they learn from their mistakes.

Natalia asks if Sonny is worried about what the doctor is going to tell him, but Sonny says he tries not to think about it. He hopes it’s not serious, but right now he has to focus on finding who put the firebomb in the penthouse.

Lulu says, it occurred to her to search in a different way, and Laura says, how so? Lulu says she and Rocco were talking about how Charlotte loved riding, and she knows Valentin let Charlotte have a phone. So she started following popular equestrians on social media. It’s a longshot, but she might find a follower with an account that belongs to Charlotte. Laura says, so her focus has changed from where Valentin could be to where Charlotte would want to go, and Lulu says she’s also looking at the best stables and riding facilities in Europe. Valentin wants Charlotte to be happy, so maybe he’ll let her take lessons. Laura says, it sounds promising. She might get a real lead. Laura’s phone rings, and she says, tell her that she got a meeting with Congressman Quartermaine… Ugh. Okay… They’re saying they think he’s there now?… Good job. She thanks them and tells Lulu that she’s got to get to a very important meeting, but keep her in the loop. Lulu says she promises. Fingers crossed it works. Laura says she’s proud of Lulu. She’s smart. Good job. Lulu thanks her, and Laura leaves.

Elizabeth calls Nurse Gail at Turning Woods and thanks her for her help when she and Lucky were there. She hopes she didn’t get Gail in trouble with her boss. Gail says, not at all. Director Furner had no issue with it. Besides, she knows the head nurse at GH wouldn’t ask her a favor if it wasn’t important. Elizabeth says she knew Gail would understand, and Gail says, they’ll talk soon. Cyrus walks in and asks how Gail is. She says, fine, and himself? He says, the same. He was about to visit Mrs. Brown. How is she doing? Gail says, the same, and he says, the poor dear. He’s going to pray with her. Gail says she’s sorry, but he can’t see patients. Not until he talks to Director Furner.

Furner thanks Cyrus for his help and says, they’re grateful for the time he’s devoted to the patients, but feel its best he not visit them going forward. Cyrus says, the decision is sudden, and Furner says, there was a complaint lodged by Mayor Collins about him misrepresenting himself as Lulu Spencer’s medical proxy. Cyrus says he couldn’t help overhearing Nurse Gail talking to Elizabeth Baldwin earlier. Might she have influenced his ban? Furner says, all he knows is Miss Baldwin was here with Lulu’s brother Lucky, and they were upset about his access to Lulu. He was also informed that Cyrus has been barred from volunteering at GH. Cyrus says, it’s a big misunderstanding, but Furner says, that’s not what he heard. Cyrus says, from whom? He’d like to know who’s spreading these lies. Is the source Elizabeth Baldwin? Furner says, Turning Woods is a private facility, and they have the right to decide who they allow to see patients, but Cyrus says, the patients need him. He refuses to abandon them. Furner says, sorry. He’s afraid they’ll have to make do without him, and Cyrus leaves.

Lucas says, the reason he let Wiley go was to make peace and he knew Michael would be a great father, but when Willow took him away from Michael, he had to confront Willow. Carly says she understands that kind of anger. When she found the tie, she lost it. It was in the house Michael shared with Willow and the kids, and it was like a slap in the face. Drew was there having sex with Willow, and she felt she needed to speak up for him. Lucas says he gets it, but don’t do anything to give Drew an excuse to come swooping in like Willow’s knight in shining armor. Carly says she can’t stand that Willow thinks he’s her hero. She’s sure her confronting him just solidified their us against the world thing. He says, they need to stop making an already bad situation worse, and Carly asks what she should do about Nina. He says, if her goal is to stop escalating the conflict with Willow and Drew by working with Nina, do the opposite of that.

Maxie tells Nina that she’s jumping the gun. Drew hasn’t even purchased one piece of furniture yet. Nina says, she’s right. They still have time. Maxie needs to do what she needs to do to delay Drew moving in. Pretend she can’t find a decorator or distract him with terrible color swatches. It will give her time to come up with something to keep them apart. Maxie says she’s not going to be Nina’s underhanded minion on this one. She doesn’t like what Willow and Drew did because it hurt Michael, but they’re adults and they can do what they want, questionable choices and all. Nina says she’s not going to sit by and watch Drew take advantage of her vulnerable daughter, and Maxie asks if she’s doing it because she thinks Drew is bad for Willow or because Willow is now with the man Nina once wanted for herself?

Drew says, Sonny has no sway in the decision. It has to do with his constituents. Sidwell asks if Sonny Corinthos isn’t one of his constituents, and Drew says he could argue that Sonny is a resident, but his business doesn’t necessarily help make Port Charles better. Sidwell asks if he’s considered Pier 55 and the surrounding area as a new location, and Drew says, Sonny owns the building there and has a legal coffee company. Sidwell asks if that isn’t what Eminent Domain is for. (Don’t even get me started on that, Jenz.) Can’t the government claim land if it’s to help revitalize the city? Drew says he’s explored moving the location, but it costs money and time, and Sidwell says, as a future businessman and tenant, he’d be willing to make a large financial commitment if it solves the funding issue. Drew says he’ll keep it in mind, when Laura walks in. She says, just the man she was looking for, and Sidwell says, how nice to see her again.

Anna asks why Jordan wants to wear a wire, and she says she met Jenz Sidwell a few days ago. Anna says, lucky you, and Jordan says, Laura was talking to her about how dangerous he is and not long afterward, he walked into the MetroCourt, so she introduced herself. They talked, and she got the idea he was interested in her, interested in a way she could use to her advantage. Anna says she’s sure Sidwell is interested in Jordan, and Jordan says, apart from what Anna’s already told her, does she have any information that would be useful to get closer to him? Anna says she doesn’t and asks what outcome Jordan is looking for. Jordan says, no law enforcement agency can connect him to his crimes, and Anna says, unfortunately, that’s true. He’s clever and has resources. He was running a small army in Somalia. Jordan says she needs to figure out why he came to Port Charles and what he plans to do, and Anna says, no one has established a real reason. Jordan says, if she can get close… and Anna says, she’ll find a way to catch him.   

Nina says she had an ill-advised short-lived fling after getting caught up in the spell Drew wove over his admiring constituents. That’s all it was. Maxie says, so Nina is really over him, and Nina says, absolutely. 100%. She saw the terrible effect he’s had on Willow, and she’s done. Willow is kind, gentle, and sweet, but with Drew’s help, she’s made one bad decision after another. Drew has a talent of bringing out the worst in people. He did with her. Maxie says she never thought she’d hear Nina say that, and Nina says she should have listened to Maxie. It was a horrible idea, trying to distract Drew from Willow by sleeping with him. Maxie tells Nina that she hates to say I told you so, but Nina tells her, say it. Maxie says, it’s not as much fun when Nina agrees. There’s only one real reason Willow is so out of character and crazy. She’s in love with Drew. Nina says she keeps telling herself it’s infatuation or hero worship thing, but she thinks Maxie is right. It’s something deeper. Maxie says, in all fairness, they’re not in a position to judge what someone will do for a person they love. Nina did stupid stuff when she loved Sonny. How is it any different with Willow and Drew? Carly stands in the doorway.

Drew says, it’s nice to see Laura, and starts to introduce her to Sidwell, but Laura says, they’ve met before. Drew says he didn’t realize they knew each other, and Laura says, that must mean Sidwell didn’t tell Drew that he held her son captive and nearly killed him in Somalia. Drew says, is that true? and Sidwell says, once again, he has to point out that his version of events differs greatly. Laura says, her son has no reason to lie about the man Sidwell really is, and Sidwell says, a more sensitive person might react to the mayor making negative accusations in public with a defamation suit, which would be terribly costly to the city. Thankfully, they have cooler heads, don’t they? Laura says she hears the threat, and Drew suggests it might not be the time or place to discuss it. Sidwell says, nonsense. He’s sure if the mayor joins them, she’ll have plenty to add to their conversation. He’d love to show her that his goal is to contribute to her fair city.

Cyrus walks over to Lulu’s table at Bobbie’s and says, it’s truly a miracle to see her back on her feet. He knew she’d woken up, but to see it for himself fills him with great joy. His prayers have been answered. She says, God does work in mysterious ways, and he asks if she’s fully recovered. She says, nothing about her is any of his business, and he says he didn’t mean to upset her. He just came in for a bite to eat. She says she doesn’t care why he’s here. Her family has a restraining order against him, and if he takes one step closer, she’ll call the cops.

Carly says, Maxie poses a good question, and Maxie thanks her and says she thinks she’ll go now. Please don’t break anything. She leaves, and Nina says, Carly will probably think she’s a hypocrite and she wouldn’t blame her. Carly says she wants to sit for this, and Nina says, watching Drew bulldoze his way into Willow’s marriage was incredibly eye opening. Because it’s what she did to Carly with her marriage to Sonny. Carly says she never thought she’d hear Nina admit she did wrong, and Nina says she did. She can’t go back and change what’s done, but at the end of the day, she’s just a mother like Carly. And like Carly, she loves her child with everything she has. She can’t sit by and watch her daughter destroy her life for a man who’s not worthy of her.

Willow asks if Lucas needed a nurse, and he says he needs to order tests, and he’d appreciate it if she’d deliver the folders. And if they could rush the results, that would be great. She says she’ll see what she can do, and Lucas says, wait. He needs to say something. She says, if it’s about Drew or her relationship with the kids, she’d rather they keep things professional. He says, actually he wants to apologize for what he said the last time they saw each other. He had no business judging her choices or telling her how to live her life. He’s very sorry. She thanks him, and he says, if she or her kids need anything, he’s here for her. No strings attached. He promises. She says she appreciates that very much, and leaves.

Laura says, actually, she’d love to hear what they were discussing, and Drew says, in light of the environmental concerns, Mr. Sidwell proposed they relocate the esplanade to Pier 55. Sidwell says, transforming a blighted area to an esplanade full of shops, restaurants, and new housing developments would be beneficial to Port Charles. Laura says, if he has a proposal, submit it to her office. She’s sure he’s only concerned with what’s best for Port Charles. Drew says he’s looking forward to working toward that end, and she says, that’s part of the reason she voted for him. He says he’s thrilled to know he earned her vote. He’ll do everything in his power to justify her faith. She says, good, because he should know that she doesn’t believe a partnership with Sidwell is the solution to making Port Charles a better place. Sidwell mimes clutching his pearls, and she says, the drama, and leaves. (Sidwell is always a good time, but I want my husband Jack back.)

Anna says she never told Jordan the full extent of what happened when she and Jason were in Somalia to rescue Lucky. Jordan says she knows they barely got out alive, and Anna says, they were almost killed. It’s clear how dangerous Sidwell is, because she believes he’s behind the firebomb at Sonny’s apartment. Jordan says, so she believes Sidwell’s arrival in Port Charles so close to the attack on Sonny is too much of a coincidence not to mean something, and Anna says, exactly. Jordan says, Anna isn’t going to lecture her on how she’s no longer a cop and using a wire undercover isn’t in her job description as Deputy Mayor? Anna says, no. She’s giving Jordan the equipment. If she needs to go undercover to bring Sidwell down, Jordan has her full support. Anna leaves to get the recorder.

Natalia asks if Sonny is going to tell his kids, but he says, they’ve been through too much already. Kristina and Dante are still mourning Sam. Michael is in Germany fighting for his life. He doesn’t want to worry them. She says she understands, and Sonny says, if his business rivals hear about it, it will give them an invitation to come after him and his family. That can’t happen. The nurse says, the doctor is ready for Sonny, and Natalia asks if he wants her to go with him. He holds out his hand, she takes it, and they walk in together.

Maxie tells Willow that she needs help with her son, and Willow asks if he’s sick. Maxie says, no. He’s great, but he’s driving her nuts. He wants her to plan a playdate with Wiley. Willow says she would love that, and Wiley would too. She’ll check her schedule, and they’ll make it happen, Maxie says, it will get James off her back. Nina told her that Willow and the kids moved back in with her. How is Willow doing?

Carly says, the only reason she’s here is because Nina convinced Willow to let her and Sonny see Michael in the hospital. Nina says she thinks they need to work together to keep Willow and Drew apart, and Carly says, okay. Don’t get her wrong. She despises them as a couple, but she doesn’t see how tearing them apart will help. The damage is done. If they find out, Willow will never let them see the kids again. Nina says she thought about that, but thinks it’s a risk worth taking. If they do nothing, that’s a worse option. Carly says she’s not sure about that. She confronted Drew in public at the MetroCourt about how he snuck onto the Quartermaine property to see Willow. It didn’t go over well. Nina says, Willow moved back in with her. At least when Willow was at the Quartermaine’s, Drew didn’t have free reign. Now that Willow is back, she can’t keep them apart. She needs help. Carly asks if they won’t be making a bad situation worse, and Nina says, worse than Drew moving Willow and the kids in with him? How would Carly feel then?

Elizabeth tells Lucas that she talked to Portia about the investigation, but she never said anything about Cyrus. That means Lucas never said anything to Portia about Cyrus being a suspect. He says he didn’t, but Cyrus was banned from volunteering at Turning Woods, and Elizabeth says she did hear that. She was wondering if his name was off the suspect list. He says he doesn’t know, but he does know they want him caught. Some people have lost too much because of him. Elizabeth says, some more than others. She and Lucky are close to finding something that will prove him guilty.  

Lulu says, Cyrus is violating the restraining order. Stay away from her. Cyrus says, it pains him that her family jumped to terrible conclusions about him. This is all a misunderstanding that’s kept him from doing his good work at Turning Woods. She says, the place where he lied about having power over her medical care, and he says, she was alone, and he cared for her. She says, when she woke up, she didn’t hear him caring. She heard him talking to the doctor about transferring her to another state where she’d be far away from the people who love her and truly alone. He says, she’s confused, but for good reason. He’s not the man he used to be. She missed his transformation from his past circumstances. He wants only the best for her. She says she sees him clearly when she opened her eyes at Turning Woods. He’s the reason she had to run away while she was still weak and recovering. She knew she had to get away from him and his sick plan for her. Cyrus says he sat by her hospital bedside. He read the Bible to her and prayed for her. She has no concept of the devotion he showed her. No one has done for her what he has. Lulu starts digging in her bag for her phone and calls Anna’s office. She says she’d like to speak to the Commissioner. Her family has a restraining order on… She looks around and Cyrus is gone.

Natalia says, getting a pacemaker and on a medical regime is no small thing. Sonny needs to do this. Why put it off? Sonny says he needs to find who put the bomb in the penthouse. It’s all he can focus on right now. He doesn’t find out who’s responsible, his family isn’t safe. After that, he can focus better. She says she hopes he can do it in the next three months. She can come with him for support when he gets it done. He says he’d appreciate the company. It has to be done. She suggests they get out, and they leave. A guy in the waiting room follows and, in the hallway, he takes out his phone. It’s the man who tried to kill Isaiah at the hospital.

Nina says, Drew is in escrow for a new house and wants there to be enough room for Willow and the kids, and Carly says, no. Even if he did, that doesn’t mean he would ask Willow to move in already. Nina says she wouldn’t put it past him, but Carly says, no. Nina says, whether they like it or not they’re connected because they’re Wiley and Amelia’s grandparents and want what’s best for them. Michael is out of the country receiving medical treatment, so for now, Carly is his proxy. As much as she loves Willow, she’s not blind to how easily Willow was convinced to go along with Drew. Carly asks what she suggests, and Nina says, what if she told Carly that they could have access to Drew’s new house. It could be useful. So what does she think? Is she in or out? Will she help do whatever it takes to protect their grandchildren?

Willow says, Maxie is one of the only people to ask how she’s doing. She’s getting lectures on her relationship with Drew and Maxie isn’t judging. She didn’t realize until now how lonely it’s been. Maxie says, they’ll schedule a playdate, and the boys can run around while they catch up, and Willow says, it will be nice. Maxie asks, who’s place? and Willow says, Maxie’s. Nina’s isn’t the best play space for kids. Maxie says she hopes the kids exhaust themselves to the point where they pass out, and Willow says, it sounds amazing. She’s grateful having a place to stay, but she needs to look for her own place with a kid friendly backyard.

Sidwell says he has no control over how people choose to see him, but hopes Drew sees him as an ally. His phone rings and he says he should take it. Drew says he’s got to get going anyway. Sidwell has given him a lot to think about. Sidwell says, that’s all he can ask, and Drew leaves. Answering the phone, Sidwell says, so? The man at the doctor’s office says he followed Natalia to a medical office. The man who she’s with is seeing a cariologist. Sidwell asks, who would that be? and the man says, Sonny Corinthos. (Rut-roh.)

Lulu goes to Anna’s office and says, Anna’s not going to believe what she saw. Cyrus was at Bobbie’s and violated the restraining order by talking to her. Anna asks Lulu to tell her exactly what happened, and Lulu says, he claimed he was just there to get a bite to eat. She was told he was banned from volunteering at Turning Woods, and she told him to leave her alone, but he just kept talking. Anna asks what he said, and Lulu says, he told her that he spent a lot of time with her when she was in a coma. It really freaked her out. Then he said, no one has done for her what he has. What does he mean? What does that lunatic want from her?

Elizabeth tells Lucas, if they find irrefutable evidence against Cyrus, they’ll hand it over to the police. Until then, it’s important that as few people as possible know he’s a suspect. Lucas says, Cyrus already knows. Josslyn ran into him at the PCPD and accused him of killing Dex. Anna must be aware or at least suspicious about Dex’s death. Elizabeth says she knows it sounds easier said than done, but he needs to keep Josslyn away from Cyrus. If he feels cornered, he’ll get more dangerous. Cyrus walks into the hospital and sees Elizabeth talking to Lucas. He flashes back to finding the flower in the Bible moved and gives Elizabeth a nasty look.

On Monday, Kristina asks Ava where she thinks she’s going; Martin asks if Willow really wants a divorce; Jason asks why Tracy would believe anything Drew says; and Carly asks how far Nina is willing to go to get Drew out of the picture.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

I would never put down Chris McKenna’s acting skills, but he’s no Jack Brennan. If it was a matter of money, they should have given Charles Mesure whatever it took to keep him. And really, not even an accent? Come on. They could have done better here.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-recast-shocker-mesure-out-mckenna-in-as-brennan

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/laura-wright-on-ghs-brennan-recast

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/chris-mckenna-opens-up-about-taking-over-as-brennan-on-gh

This is for the G’s and this is for the Hustlas.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/donnell-turner-on-snoop-dogg-guesting-on-gh

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

I didn’t watch this since I’m Below Deck-ed out, but here you go.

Deck OG Kate parlays her Traitors money into real estate.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/kate-chastain-new-florida-house-exclusive-photos-interview-details

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Sutton asked Garcelle to go with her to Agusta to visit her mother, and Mauricio took Kyle to a shooting range. She cried because everything was different, and in her interview, she said she was grieving the loss of someone who was still here. Kyle joined Sutton and Garcelle, while Boz, Erika, and Dorit went to Kathy’s for dinner. Kathy called PK PJ which was pretty funny. Erika told Dorit that she had to be proactive. If she didn’t make decisions, life would make them for her. Everything Dorit had told them indicated that PK didn’t want her back.

The Real Housewives of New York City

While on break, Brynn told Jenna that everyone hated her, and she was afraid of everyone. Janna said she was apologizing but not acknowledging what she’d done. Rebacca joined the group, and Brynn said she didn’t share her real life the way the others did. Erin said Rebecca was the most self-involved human she’d ever met. The topic of Scientology was bandied about, and we flashed back to Brynn basically calling Rebecca a snake oil salesman. I don’t know what they have against Rebecca. I like her and I actually thought the prank was funny. For being New Yorkers, this is one sensitive bunch. The Brynn/Ubah situation was rehashed and it’s another drain I didn’t think had to be circled so hard. To quote Erin, it was f***ed up, but Brynn corrected herself pretty quickly. Ubah said she forgave Brynn, but they would never be what they were. Two seconds later though, they were hugging it out, so who knows? These girls hate and love each other in the same breath. If I had to pick a best dressed – they’re all beautiful, even Jenna in her robe, turban, and sunglasses – it would be Racquel. Andy said he hoped it was the first step forward. Yeah. Until next season.

Apparently, Rebecca has had enough.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

Britani joined the Reunion Part 3000. She’d been wearing the same dress as Angie, but graciously changed. She probably didn’t want to be included in a Who Wore It Better? list. She said she’d broken up with Jared, who sounds like a real piece of work. After their break-up, he’d gotten on social media and talked quite a bit of smack about the women. He called Bronwyn a low vibrational human being, whatever that means. Britani followed that topic with saying Bronwyn’s flying monkeys spread smack about her to her estranged daughters and Bronwyn had things to pay for.

Andy said he never thought he’d be talking about slut shaming at a Bat Mitzvah, and there was much ado (again) about Britani bringing the wine to Angie’s prayer meeting. I honestly thought it was more of a place and time thing, but I guess not. It was about the Mormon rule of not drinking alcohol. So then why does Angie say she stays pretty sober. (See below.) What does that mean? Just a glass of champagne at weddings? Just weed? So much is just overreaction. Bronwyn’s dog bite was revisited, and not only did she not sue over it – it was a rescue whose owner she knew in a dog park – she paid for the dog to be checked out. There had been a medical issue, and he was now healthy and living where he has room to run. Having dealt with this issue myself, not only do I commend Bronwyn, I suggest anyone who has an overly aggressive dog have it thoroughly checked out by a vet. End of PSA. There was a lot of talking over each other. At the end, they all said nice things about each other and toasted with Mary’s favorite, Miller High Life.

Southern Charm

Venita told Leva about JT having a girlfriend, and Leva said he was a jerk. Agreed. Craig wanted to be a farmer, but his community wouldn’t allow chickens, so he went for the next best thing – bees. FYI: Bee suits are white because dark colors remind bees of a bear. How anyone knows what bees are reminded of is beyond me, but I wouldn’t test that theory. They went to a bee ranch or whatever it’s called, and Craig was pumped. Paige was not as thrilled, but said, if he liked it, she loved it. They checked out the goats and Craig fantasized about living on a farm. Paige said she loved making up fake scenarios in her head – she was a girl – but she had a realistic streak and Craig was more sentimental. She told him that she was only 31, but he sometimes made her feel like she was 75. Yeah, she’s a New Yorker and not ready for waving from the porch in a rocking chair. I honestly think Paige just needs someone closer to home, although Craig might have moved if she’d stuck it out. Throughout the conversation, it really seemed like she was unhappy, but didn’t want to admit it. Shep was still insecure about Sienna and expressed concern in his interview that she was on a higher level than him. Aw, poor Shep. It must be tough being on the receiving end for once.

Patricia had the annual gentlemen’s dinner. Whitney’s hair looked like he’d stuck his finger in a light socket, and he didn’t find it amusing that Patricia had taken the car out with Shep when she hadn’t driven in 40 years. She told the guys that they were using Napoleonic china and Craig said he shouldn’t touch any of it. We flashed back to his previous mishaps, like spilling red wine on a white sofa. She suggested Craig propose, and in Patricia’s interview, she said, in her day, you met, dated, got engaged, and got married. With these guys, it seemed very murky, and they had a schedule with no end to things. The back broke on Whitney’s chair, and Patricia said they never had a dinner where a chair didn’t get broken. And no matter what theme she chose, the dinners turned into arguments, accusations, and breakage. Whitney said the overriding issue with Sienna was that Shep wasn’t rich enough, he was boring, and not famous enough. Ouch. Craig said it was like having dinner with your granddad who had no filter.

The JT plot thickens.

Aww! She’s ready to show her bump. As much as I’ve disliked Madison, I do like Brett, and they deserve some happy news.

Southern Hospitality

I tried to pay attention, but only a few things stood out. They went to Vegas for Maddi’s DJ gig and her face was on the side of a building, which both freaked her out and pumped her up. I’m not sure if it’s because of the cameras, but reality stars seem to get overexcited about hotel rooms. Like they’ve been living in huts and never seen one before. Except for Ramona (RHONY OG), who always complains. This group is obsessed with Will’s cheating and looks like there’s more crying from Emmy to come.

Random Reality

The two Lisas have spoken.

I really hope this works out for her. I loved It’s Complicated.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

I’m still losing myself in Lost, plus doing a Swedish I’m-Not-Dead-Yet house cleaning, so the only extra thing I watched was The Menu on Netflix. It was horror, it was humor, it was surprise after surprise. A group of wealthy diners is taken to a remote island to have a meal at one of the most exclusive restaurants on earth, paying $1200+ a person. Each course becomes increasingly odd, and the final course is a nightmare. It’s detailed – a text describing each course pops up on the side – and was like nothing I’d ever seen before.

In simple terms.

A review without spoilers.

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/the-menu-netflix-review

The particulars.

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-menu-release-date-news

Obviously major spoilers.

https://ew.com/the-menu-ending-explained-8783965

🦕 Can’t Wait To Watch…

I never care about the plotlines. I just come for the dinosaurs.

https://people.com/jurassic-world-rebirth-trailer-scarlett-johansson-8712343

🦥 Awaiting New Seasons…

Coming February 16th.

https://www.cbr.com/yellowjackets-season-3-release-date-and-delay-reason/

Coming in April.

https://ew.com/the-last-of-us-creators-set-stage-dense-episodes-season-2-exclusive-8783868

https://ew.com/the-last-of-us-season-2-premiere-month-2025-8769682

Remember them? Coming this spring.

https://undeadwalking.com/walking-dead-dead-city-season-2-features-the-return-characters-villainous-ways

No date set yet.

https://www.cbr.com/everything-we-know-about-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season-3/

Coming never.

https://winteriscoming.net/agatha-all-along-won-t-get-a-second-season

🚫 Boo Hiss…

Mean parole officer. She should still host. I haven’t watched it in years – too busy streaming – but I’d watch that one.

https://ew.com/martha-stewart-reveals-snl-hosting-opportunity-was-nixed-by-parole-officer-8781521

🏆 For the Win…

The full Grammy winners list.

https://www.grammy.com/news/2025-grammys-nominations-full-winners-nominees-list

The best, worst, and WTF? moments. Note to Rolling Stone: Not everything has to be political. Maybe people are poliweary right now.

The fashion.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/37508/grammys-2025-red-carpet-fashion

🏈 Bring On the Bowl…

Who’s performing.

https://people.com/all-about-the-2025-super-bowl-performers-8784892

Breakout shark.

https://people.com/left-shark-from-katy-perry-super-bowl-halftime-reflects-on-performance-exclusive-8779782

The commercials.

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/best-super-bowl-commercials-2025

🐕 A Bowl Of Puppies…

Everything you need to know.

https://people.com/everything-to-know-puppy-bowl-2025-8785179

Everything you need to know and more.

https://www.discovery.com/shows/puppy-bowl

☄️ Quotes of the Week

Happy accidents are real gifts, and they can open the door to a future that didn’t even exist. It’s kind of nice sometimes to set up something to encourage or allow happy accidents to happen. – David Lynch

If you want to succeed, double your failure rate. – Thomas Watson

You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. – C.S. Lewis

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. – Dale Carnegie

Advice is like snow – the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind. – Samuel Taylor Coleridge

You can roll manure in powdered sugar, but it still ain’t a jelly donut. – Berta (Conchata Ferrell), Two and a Half Men

🧉 Sticking To the Punchbowl…

Until next Friday, stay safe; stay remembering, it’s just a game (unless you bet money on it, then cry if you lose); and stay not acting first and thinking later.

January 31, 2025 – Lulu Confesses Her Love For Dante, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Performing, Animal Tales, An Even Number Of Short Quotes & Mountain

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

Monday:

Tara from Turning Woods had info for Elizabeth, but when she and Lucky showed up, Tara was out sick. Natalia told Lucy that she could land an account in LA, but the contact only wanted to meet with her and the silent partner – i.e. Sonny. Kristina went to see Sonny and asked him if everything was okay since he didn’t show up at Charlie’s. She said they had to keep Avery away from Ava and she’d decided to testify at the custody hearing. Anna told Jason about Sidwell being in Port Charles. She asked if he or Sasha were willing to go on record about Sasha’s kidnapping.

Curtis told Nina that Drew was going to undermine the company in congress if he didn’t get his stock back. Chase visited Willow, who whined about Drew being ostracized by his family. Drew met with Martin and told him that Monica wasn’t speaking with him. He was her first truly lost cause, and he wondered if he’d ever really been a part of the family. Anna told Jason not to go after Sidwell on his own. Lucky told the Turning Woods rep that Cyrus wanted a list of his patients who had died so he could send condolences to the family. Curtis told Nina that things had a way of getting out and encouraged her to tell Willow that she’d been sleeping with Drew. Drew told Martin, if they thought banning him from the Quartermaine grounds would keep him from Willow, they had another thing coming.

Jason told Anna that he couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Mr. Furner came in while Lucky and Elizabeth were there. Lucky distracted him by threatening a lawsuit while Elizabeth waited for the printout. Chase told Willow that he and Brook were trying to have a baby.  Nina told Curtis that she’d made the devil’s bargain with Drew. She couldn’t tell Willow about Drew, nor he about her. She hoped with time, Willow would trust her more than Drew. Curtis said he had a plan and needed Nina’s help. Anna said the best way of getting Sidwell was to get criminal charges that would stick, but Jason said he had to do it for Michael.

Natalia conferred with Sonny about the LA trip. Anna asked if Jason could guarantee he would be the only target for retaliation. He could break the cycle of violence by not retaliating. Curtis told Nina that he wanted to sabotage Drew’s connections in DC. Chase showed Willow his lab results and she told him to see his doctor. According to the results, he couldn’t father a child.

Tuesday:

Ned told Tracy to show some respect to Willow or she’d be out on her high-class derriere. Tracy said two fingers of bourbon for everyone, and no one was leaving until they figured out what to do.

Felicia took Anna for a manicure and told Anna that she’d seen Emma clubbing. Emma joined them and Anna questioned her. Emma said, it wasn’t a spa day; it was an interrogation. Carly couldn’t figure out Jack’s angle. He said when he first came to Port Charles, he was on a mission. He had no intention of pursuing her until she visited him in prison. He considered her a friend, not an asset. Kai told Trina that his vertebrae was cracked, and he couldn’t play football because he’d risk a spinal injury. She suggested he talk to her mom. Portia told Alexis that Sam had been murdered and how they came to that conclusion. It had been a pattern. Alexis said she wasn’t leaving it to the police and was going to find answers.

Ned said the mess was all on Drew and they should give Willow a chance to create distance. Tracy said they had to make rules and asked what Chase thought. Brook told Lois that she was able to have a baby. Lois asked if she regretted giving her baby up, and Brook said it was the hardest choice she ever made, but she never regretted it. Chase said Willow was a good person and they should respect her. Tracy said Drew would use Willow to his own ends, but Ned said, if they pushed things, Willow would run back to him. Sasha said Tracy was being dramatic, then Tracy screamed because she saw a mouse. She said Sasha was out if she didn’t climb up and get it (like the mouse wasn’t in Chicago after Tracy screamed), but Sasha said she wasn’t climbing anywhere because she was pregnant, quickly adding, it’s not Cody’s.

Sasha said if anyone had complaints or judgements, oh well, and Gio said he didn’t grow up with a father and turned out fine. Alexis talked to Isaiah about Sam. Trina asked Portia to talk to Kai. Anna said Emma was allowed a social life, but not allowed to lie to her and sneak around. Emma said she’d been to a fundraiser and wondered, since when was Anna so uptight? Jack offered to have Michael’s cultures forwarded to Germany from the WSB to expedite things for Carly.

Tracy wondered why they offered daycare to everyone, and Ned said she’d just kidnapped two more. Portia said Kai wasn’t necessarily sidelined. Anna said there was a difference between uptight and responsible, and she was the latter. Emma said she never saw Anna because she worked so much. Carly called Felicia about the cultures, and Felicia told her to proceed with caution when it came to Jack.

Emma made a deal that if she got straight A’s, Anna would go clubbing with her. Jason asked Sasha if Michael knew about the baby. Chase told Brook that his tests came back, and he couldn’t get her pregnant. Portia suggested Kai get a second opinion from a specialist in sports medicine. Kai said Trina’s mom was amazing and he knew where she got it from. Alexis said she wasn’t going to stop until she found the killer. Jack went to the hotel spa and Felicia warned Carly that Jack had an agenda, but Carly said Jack was intriguing and she wanted to know more. Valentin showed up at the spa to kill Jack.

Wednesday:

Chase told Brook that he was sterile and couldn’t be a father. Olivia and Lois took Tracy for a manicure to destress. Sasha told Jason that Michael knew she was pregnant, and he was the father, but they had a deal that he’d stay out of it. At the hospital, Anna told Lulu that she was glad no one was hurt in Prague. Lulu said she was glad her daughter didn’t get shot a second time. Valentin pretended to be a masseuse and tried to strangle Jack while he was on the table.

At the Quartermaine mansion, Emma told Gio that she wanted to do a fundraiser to stop animal testing. She wanted him to play at it because something classic and boring would get the old people and boomers to contribute. Olivia said asking invasive and intrusive questions was Tracy’s love language, but she should let up on Sasha. Martin came into the beauty salon and said, good luck with that. Sasha said it was none of Jason’s business, but he said Michael had a right to know. Anna said she didn’t have the words to tell Lulu how sorry she was, but Lulu said she could see how it was an accident because of the circumstance. She thought Valentin was dangerous and bad things happened when he was around. Carly went looking for Jack at the spa.

Anna said she had an eye open for Valentin, and Lulu thanked her. Gio agreed to play at Emma’s fundraiser, but wondered if it was a scam to get extra cash. Jason told Sasha that Michael had asked for her and thought it was because he knew she was carrying his child. Sasha said if he wanted to help Michael, make sure no one else found out. Chase didn’t want Brook to miss out on the experience of being pregnant, but she said she loved him more than anything and they’d get through it together. Tracy said Martin would defend anyone and she’d been trying to protect the kids. He said she had a bad habit of rolling over people’s lives and just wanted to hurt Drew. Lulu told Dante that she was the best judge of what she could do, but he said, obviously not. Carly heard a noise in Jack’s room, but an employee said it was nothing.

Jack was lying on the floor when Carly came in and cracked something over Valentin’s head. Chase said he didn’t deserve Brook, but she said he was stuck with her. Emma said she was sick of people treating her cause like it was a joke, and Gio said he was only kidding. She said she’d volunteered for a shelter when she was younger. Some puppies were bought by a lab, and it stayed with her. Cody showed up looking for Tracy. He wanted to apologize for missing their ride, but Gio said she was pretty upset, so Cody should wait on that. Martin said just because Tracy disliked someone didn’t make them disreputable, and Brook called Lois, asking her to come home. Portia told Anna about the pattern of suspicious patient deaths and that someone had injected the patients with a large, unprescribed dose of digitalis that resulted in a heart attack. Carly told Jack to wake up or she’d tell the world he died wearing his bathrobe, and told the employee to call an ambulance.

Brook told Lois about Chase and said she felt like her soul was broken. Gio told Cody about Sasha being pregnant and Jason promised not to tell anybody that Michael was the father. Sasha had no doubt Willow would use her pregnancy against Michael, and she’d do what it took to keep her baby away from the Q’s. She also wanted Sonny to be kept in the dark. Anna told Portia about the Angel of Death syndrome, but Portia said two of the cases involved healthy patients, Sam and Dex. Lulu said she was no longer helpless, but Dante said she was human and had limits. She said he focused on someone else to ignore his own pain and didn’t want to think about losing Sam. Jack said he was fine and the WSB would handle Valentin. Carly asked what he was going to do now, but he said, that’s classified.

Jack made a call to have Valentin killed on sight. Tracy asked what Martin’s problem was with her, and he said she had an obnoxious misguided sense of entitlement. She felt entitled to judge him and Willow and had prevented him from having a relationship with Lucy. Tracy said he should thank her instead of ruining her zen. Lois said Brook and Chase could be as sad as they wanted for as long as they wanted. Brook said Chase suggested IVF, but he was just sacrificing his feelings for her. She thought she should tell him that she’d been pregnant before. Dante said he didn’t blame Lulu for Sam’s death and she asked what he was doing for himself. She knew her presence was a complication in his life. He said he’d never be sorry she was here. Anna asked to talk to Dante. Jason said Sasha didn’t have to do it on her own and he was on her side.

Anna told Dante that Sam was murdered. Sasha let Jason feel the baby move. Carly and Jack kissed.

Thursday:

Hitting the heavy bag, Chase flashed back to his and Brook’s baby journey. Brook told Lois that Chase was mourning the life he’d imagined for them. She wanted him to know the pain and anguish she’d felt giving her baby up so he didn’t feel so alone. Alexis told Diane that Sam had been murdered, while Lulu told Maxie. Cody listened in on Sasha talking to Jason about the baby, but slipped away before he heard Michael was the father. In Baden Baden, Jack went to Carly’s suite and kissed her. She said she needed a minute, and he apologized if he’d read things incorrectly, but she said he didn’t. She just didn’t want to do something she regretted. He said he wasn’t there to sleep with her and had something much different in mind.

Molly visited Cody at the stables to drop off his paperwork from the station. He was less than hospitable. He said his feet were held to the fire while career criminals got away with everything. Jason wanted Michael’s side of the story, but Sasha said she didn’t owe Jason anything. He said she owed Michael. Lulu said she owed Sam everything, but Maxie said, feeling guilty over something she had no control over would go nowhere. Lulu admitted still being in love with Dante. Brook said she’d have to tell Chase the whole truth, that Dante was the father of her child. Dante told Chase about the murders at GH and that Sam was one of the victims. Alexis didn’t know what to do with her feelings about Sam being murdered, and she threw stuff around the office.

Jack brought Carly to the rooftop, where he had a fire going and they had champagne. Carly said, it was cozy, beautiful and private. He toasted to her changing her mind about coming to the spa. Jason told Sasha that he’d back off the second he talked to Michael. Sasha said they were done, but if he talked to Michael, tell him that she was thinking of him and praying for his recovery. Cody said, clearly Molly had an agenda, but she said she was there as a favor to Mac. He said he appreciated it and she left. Diane wanted to say the right thing, but Alexis told her that there was no right thing to say. Diane said, whatever Alexis wanted, she was all in – whatever she needed, whenever she needed it. Alexis said she had to tell Molly and Kristina, who were on their way there. Diane got a text from Jason and promised she wouldn’t tell him anything. Kristina came in and wondered what had happened.

Brook said if she told Chase, she’d have to tell Dante, and she felt sick. Dante told Chase about the digitalis murders, that Dex was one of the victims, and Michael had been saved by Isaiah’s quick thinking. Maxie said she was surprised Lulu admitted she still loved Dante, but it would be weird if she didn’t. Jason met with Diane and told her about Sasha’s pregnancy. Alexis told Kristina and Molly that Sam was murdered. Carly wanted to know what was going on between Jack and Valentin. She thought it was crazy that Valentin tried to kill him. Jack said, Valentin had been a friend, but after tonight, he wasn’t protecting Valentin any longer. He figured Valentin assumed he was the one who fired the shot in Prague. He hadn’t, but he was at that point now. It was a winding, complicated story. Carly told him to order another bottle of champagne.

Dante unloaded on Chase about Lulu and said she had to stop taking risks and be careful for her sake and Rocco’s. He was happy she was there, but Sam was gone because of it. Every time he looked at Lulu, he’d think of Sam and what they’d all lost. At the MetroCourt, Cody saw Diane with Jason. He apologized to Maxie about the other night and told her that Sasha was pregnant. Then he realized she knew already. Jason said Carly couldn’t know anything about this. He was going to the clinic to see Michael, but wanted Diane to keep an eye on Sasha. Jack told Carly that he wanted to rise in the ranks at the WSB and an alliance with Valentin was a smart move, so he sought out Valentin’s friendship. Valentin was the iron fist, and he was the velvet glove. Valentin needed him as much as he needed Valentin, and they became true friends.

Diane promised to keep an eye on Sasha and let her know when Jason got clarity. The fact Michael never told her spoke to Sasha’s credibility. Jason said if he was wrong, he’d gladly admit it, and she said she wanted a ringside seat for that. Maxie asked how Cody found out, but he said it didn’t matter. Maxie said Sasha was clear that she had no plans to tell the father, and Cody said the father was Jason. Sasha told the baby that they could do this on their own and promised she’d always be there. Lois said she didn’t want to influence Brook’s decision, but Brook said she needed Lois’s advice. Lois said Brook was a grown-up now and it was only her choice to make. Brook said she and Chase had to be open and honest and she had to tell him. Dante asked Chase what was up, and Chase said he’d talk when he was ready. Alexis promised they’d find out who did this to Sam. They were going to shield the truth from Scout and wanted to wait for more information to tell Danny. She’d ask Anna to keep it away from the public for as long as possible. They’d have to stay strong and present a united front for Sam.

Carly said there was more to Jack than met the eye. She admired his loyalty. He said there was a big difference between them. She was a good person. She said he wasn’t the bad guy he wanted people to think he was. To her, he was the guy who’d done awesome things for her and expected nothing in return. They kissed by the fire.

Friday’s Enchilada:

In his hospital room, Kai struggles to put on a brace belt and Trina walks in.

Jordan is surprised to find Drew at Volonino’s, and asks if he’s allowed through the doors of Aurora these days. He asks if she means his company, and she wonders if he’s trying to drive away anyone who ever thought they knew him.

Curtis meets Portia at Beradino’s and says, Aurora’s new CEO is looking fine. He says he aims to please, and she asks, what’s with the good mood? He says he’s at breakfast with his beautiful wife. Why wouldn’t he be? She says she saw on the news that there’s a holdup with the McConkey esplanade. It was a big project for him and Aurora. Curtis says, it still is. Don’t worry. He’s steps ahead of it. Since no one eats at home, at another table, Ric says, even though it was gruesome, the fire strengthened Ava’s case. She asks if it’s strong enough to rescue her daughter, and he says he thinks it should. Given her present financial situation, he has a proposal to present to Diane. With any luck, it will convince Diane to wrap things up with her and Sonny. Ava says, that would be ideal, and thanks him. His generosity had been so helpful. He says, what generosity? and she says, him representing her pro bono. He says he’s not doing her case pro bono, and she says, he’s not? Since he stopped hounding her to pay, she assumed… He says, that his service was gratis? Why? Because they kissed?

Lulu meets Laura at the bistro and apologizes for being late. Everything she does seems like something she has no chance with. She was here with Rocco and her baby boy is now a coffee drinker. Laura says, he’s a coffee snob, and Lulu says, he gets that because of Sonny. Dante is so good with Rocco. He’s a great dad, but… Laura says, she’s still in love with him, isn’t she?

Dante bursts into Anna’s office and asks, what the hell is going on? Mac said she ordered him locked out of Sam’s murder investigation. She says, he’s correct, and he asks, why?

Brook goes to the stables and asks Cody if they’re alone. He says, yeah, and she says, good. She needs to talk to him. He says, about what? and she says, the summer romance she had with Dante, and he asks if she means the summer she got pregnant.

In Diane’s office with Kristina, Sonny says he’s going to LA on business for Deception, and she says, that’s a long way to go for a silent investor. He says, Natalia wanted him to go and he wants to go over some things before he leaves. Diane says, that’s why Kristina came, and he says, there are things they all need to discuss.

At Volonino’s, Brad does push-ups, and his trainer suggests a break, but he says, no breaks. The trainer hands him some water and says, he needs to hydrate. Brad takes a drink and says, if he’s going to hit his goal before Miami, he can’t afford breaks.

Ava asks if Ric thinks she kissed him in exchange for legal fees, and he says he hopes not. It was a good kiss, but hardly covers his retainer. He’s attracted to her, but business is business. He’s extending her grace in deferring his payment. She says, he’s a beacon of charity. At this juncture, it’s like the kiss never happened and it’s not likely there will be another. He says, ever? and she says, not until she gets her daughter back. After that, they’ll see what’s on the table. He says he guesses he should be going then, and leaves.

Curtis tells Portia that Drew is stalling the project, and she says, that’s so sad. He says he can think of two other strong words, and she says, Drew is using his office to exact petty revenge. She’ll stick with sad. Tell her about his next steps. He says he’s going to need an ally on Capitol Hill who has more connections than Drew. Nina is setting up something, but if it doesn’t work, he has a back-up. Meanwhile, his focus is on the next step with Aurora, and it involves her, him, a beach, and daquiris on a tropical island.  

Drew says he understands that Jordan is upset about the esplanade, and she says, he brought the project to her, and they worked on it together. Now he’s stalled it. He’s damn right she’s upset. He says, for what it’s worth (🍷), he’s sorry, and she says, explain why he’s doing this. He says he’s just trying to hold onto what’s his.

Brook says, of course (🍷) she’s referring to that summer, and Cody says he thought the subject was verboten. She says, it was, and it is. Did he ever tell Dante? He says, she swore him to secrecy, and he drove her to the bus station. She left and he didn’t see her again until he started working here. She asks if he ever told Dante, but he says, no. He hasn’t even thought about it since then. She says, thank God, and thanks him, and he says, no problem. She says she’s sorry to make a big deal out of it, but she had to be sure. He says he gets it, but it was like, a million years ago. Why bring it up now?

Anna says she wants to reiterate how sorry she is, but Dante says he doesn’t want her sympathy. He wants Sam’s file. She says, he barged into her office and asked for access to a case… He says, because Sam  was his fiancé and he loved her, and Anna says, that’s precisely why she can’t let him get anywhere near the case.

Trina offers to help Kai, but he says he’ll do it himself. He struggles some more, and she says, it will be easier when his arm isn’t in a sling. He finally asks her to help him, and she puts the belt on him. As she wraps it around him, they gaze at each other for a moment.

Lulu tells Laura that she loves Dante, but not… He’s still grieving Sam… They were already divorced, but she ended things with Dustin. She was planning on telling Dante that she never stopped loving him, but unfortunately, she never got the chance. Now she’s finally awake, but Dante is grieving Sam… He totally should. Laura says, good to know, and Lulu says, it’s probably better. Things between them are worse. Laura asks, how so? and Lulu says, they fight all the time. When she went to Prague, Dante brought it on himself to follow. It’s a habit and they know how she doesn’t like being handled. Laura says, they do indeed, and Lulu says she wants to try and get along, but he makes it impossible. Laura says, maybe she’s pushing him away, but Lulu says, it’s not that. If anything, she thinks she’s holding herself back.

Sonny tells Diane that he’s concerned Charlie’s is going to be scrutinized. The business is clean, but he did sell it to Kristina. Diane says, she’ll stay ahead of it and tells Kristina to call if there’s a problem. Kristina says, if the Feds tap her phone, she’ll ask for a copy of the recording to help her keep track of things. Sonny says he doesn’t want what he’s done to interfere, and Diane says she’ll make sure of it. She’s about to leave when there’s a knock at the door. She opens it to Ric and Ava, and Ric says, good. They’re already here. That makes it easier.

Brad kisses his bicep (he’s pretty jacked) and says, woo!

Kai thanks Trina for her help and says he’s sorry for snapping. She says she gets it, and he says he appreciates her coming, but he’s not in the mood. He’s still trying to rap his head around what he’s going to do with his life. She says, that’s why she’s here. Since he was injured in a game, PCU can’t revoke his scholarship. She brought him some catalogs for inspiration. He says he can’t think about classes. He’s barely managed to schedule his rehab. She asks if that means he got a second opinion that was positive, and he says, they told him, no promises.  

Drew tells Jordan that he’s the ultimate team player. He’s dealt with Tracy, navigated Ned’s fragile ego, and sat through his fair share of family squabbles disguised as ELQ board meetings. He does one thing the family doesn’t approve of… Jordan says, he had an affair with his nephew’s wife, and Drew says, and the rest of the Quartermaines are saints compared to most people. Monica banned him from the grounds, and he was pushed out of his own company. Jordan says she gets it. His life as a rich congressman is in shambles. Welcome to politics. They’re not here to talk about Quartermaine infighting. He’s stalling the progress for the good of the city he’s been chosen to represent. He says, it could still happen. That depends on what Curtis chooses to do with Aurora.  

Portia says, Curtis’s plans for Aurora involve them on a beach? and he says, not just any beach. St. George Island, potentially the first site of Aurora’s new resorts. Portia says she loves it, and he says, of course (🍷) he wants to experience the island before moving forward and he can’t without her. What does she say? She says she can feel the sand between her toes, when Curtis’s phone rings. Jordan says she’s calling in a favor, and Curtis says, which one? She tells him to meet her at Volonino’s as soon as he can.  

Anna says, when she told Dante that Sam was murdered, she was speaking to him as a private citizen. That’s why he can’t be involved. He says he can help find out who killed her, and she says she’d let him if the victim was anyone else. He says, because it’s Sam, and she says, imagine if he finds the killer and it goes to trial. What does he think the defense is going to do? He says, object because of his conflict of interest, and she says, they won’t need to. We won’t have a case. It will be thrown out because he was involved in the investigation. He asks if that’s what she wants, but she says, no, but she has to look at it. What if he finds the killer and decides to take the law into his own hands? He asks if she thinks he’d do that, and she says, in this instance, she doesn’t know. He asks what she means by in this instance. Does she have a suspect?

Brook says she’s sure everybody knows she and Chase are trying to start a family, and Cody says, word got around. She says, it’s bringing up a memory for her, living in the same house with Dante. She needs to be sure. He says he never told Dante. He hasn’t even thought about it in years. If she had told Dante back then, he’s sure Dante would have stepped up, unlike other guys. She asks what he means, and he says, it’s an obligation and the guy has to step up. He can’t leave the woman hanging. Brook asks what he’s talking about, and he says, Sasha is pregnant and she shouldn’t be in it alone.  

Drew works out with the weights, when Curtis comes in. He asks if this is why Jordan needed him, and she says, Drew told her that the future of the esplanade depends on Curtis. Care to elaborate? Curtis says, Drew wanted to push Michael out of Aurora, and Jordan says, while he’s in Germany, recovering from third degree burns? Curtis says, yeah. And if Drew doesn’t get what the wants, he’s more than willing to sabotage Aurora. Hence the delay on the esplanade. Jordan says, is that right? and Drew says, Curtis couldn’t be more wrong.

Kai tells Trina that the doctors told him to manage his expectations and set reasonable goals. Don’t get ahead of himself. She says, that’s good advice, and he says his teammates’ doctors said the same thing. She asks if they played again, and he says, one did. The rest never set foot on a field again. She says she’s sorry, and he says him too. He knew it was a possibility, but he told himself that it would never be him. How could he be so stupid?

Lulu tells Laura that Dante would jump in to save any chance he got, whether she needed him to or not. Laura says, Dante just lost someone he loved and maybe he doesn’t want to lose someone else. Lulu says, maybe… probably. She hates seeing him and Rocco in pain and not be able to help. Dante sees her as the woman his fiancé died trying to save. What is it going to be like for the rest of their lives? Laura says she knows what Lulu thinks, but unless she’s spoken to Dante directly, she doesn’t know how he feels.

Anna says she has no suspect yet, but there’s a person of interest, and Dante asks, who? She says, it’s not his case and she’s not disclosing more information. He says, she hasn’t told him anything. Dammit! She needs to tell him… She says she thinks he should go home. She’s placing him on one week’s paid leave and would like him to see the department psychiatrist. He asks if he can say no, but she says she thinks he knows the answer to that. He says, fine, and leaves.

Diane tells Ric to come back when he’s made an appointment, but he says he has an offer regarding the custody hearing. Sonny says, let’s hear it, and Ric says, the recent incident at his domicile caused the destruction of property and injury to his son. Ava says, it was obviously an attempt… and Ric says, it’s obvious Sonny can’t provide a safe home for Avery. At best, Sonny is going to lose. He’s made an effort to save them time and expense. He gives Diane the paperwork and she laughs. She says, visitation every other weekend and Ava has sole custody and all major holidays? Ava says she’s willing to give up Arbor Day, but Diane says she won’t even entertain it. Ric says, then they’ll go to court, and Sonny says, let’s do it. Ric says he’s going to call Kristina to the stand, and Kristina says, no problem. He asks if she’s sure. He’s going to ask about her father’s brutal assault on Dex Heller and his long list of mental and emotional instabilities. He’ll also bring in her impulsiveness and hot-headed temper that led to the attack on Ava and also the death of Kristina’s child. Sonny says, that’s enough, and Kristina says she looks forward to making sure Avery ends up with the right parent. Ric says, it’s impressive, but her keeping it together in her attorney’s office for five seconds doesn’t hold a candle to keeping it together on the witness stand… which she knows. Ava tells Sonny to spare the agony for both him and his daughter and take the deal. Sonny leans on his desk and asks, when’s the date? Diane says, February 25th, and Sonny tells Ric, see you there. Ric says, it’s their final offer, and Sonny shrugs. Ric says, it’s over, and he and Ava leave. Diane says she knows one thing, and Sonny says, they’re desperate. Diane says, right, and he says, Ava’s funds have dried up. Kristina says, Lucy mentioned to her the other day that Ava took a place far below her standards, and Sonny says, Ava wouldn’t trade down if she didn’t have to. Kristina says, that’s good news. If Ava can’t afford it, all they have to do is wait, but Diane says, they can’t rely on that. Ric and Ava’s argument is stronger than theirs.

Dante sees Brook at the stables and asks if Cody is around. She says, he was, then he wasn’t. She doesn’t know if he’s coming back. Is Dante okay? He says, obviously not, and she asks if there’s anything she can do. He says he doesn’t know. Sam was murdered and Anna won’t let him find the bastard who did it.

Lulu says she knows Dante loved Sam, and Laura says, and Sam loved Dante. She’s grateful they gave a good home to Rocco. Lulu says her too, but she’s a little jealous. And by little, she means really jealous. Laura says, Sam is gone now, and Dante has to find a way to live with the loss, and Lulu says, it’s a big loss and here she is, swooping in. Laura says, Lulu is entitled to be here, and Lulu says, Sam is too, but she can’t be. Laura says, but Lulu can, and Dante is afraid he’s going to lose her too. He practically camped out by her bedside and fought like hell for her. She says she knows, and Laura says, from her own life, she knows it’s possible to love two people at the same time. Dante absolutely loves Lulu. Maybe not in the same way she loves him right now, but there’s definitely a place in his heart for her. Lulu says she knows it’s not rational, but she feels like it’s her fault Sam died. If she feels that way… Laura says, maybe Dante does too?

Trina says, Kai isn’t stupid. He doesn’t know how rehab is going to turn out. His first orthopedist told him that he’s never play again. He says he doesn’t feel like a lecture. He needs to figure out rehab now. As for class, he doesn’t know if he wants to go back. She says, why? Even if he never plays again, he’s been given an amazing opportunity. A scholarship most kids would kill for and PCU is an amazing school. He says he knows Trina thinks she’s helping, but she’s not.

Drew says, when he pitched the esplanade, he did it on behalf of his company. Now he’s pitching for his constituents. Jordan asks, then why hold up the project that will give his constituents jobs? and he says, the environmental report was of concern, so it’s been put on pause for review. She says, it’s going to die because he has an ax to grind, and he says, it’s Aurora’s project. Curtis is the CEO and it’s up to him to clear up the issues. Curtis says, Aurora will be fine without the esplanade, and Drew says, there you have it. Curtis says, Drew is screwing them over, and Jordan says, it was a project for the constituents that was supposed to carry on the name of the man who gave Drew a seat in congress. (Good point!) Drew says, Curtis seems tense. What does he say to them working it out in the ring?

Diane says she hates to admit it, but Ric had good points. It’s of public record that the penthouse fire was deliberately set. Sonny says, Avery was at Carly’s, and Diane says, that’s the only reason Sonny still has custody. As for Kristina, she was magnificent back there. Kristina thanks her and says, hate is a powerful motivator. Diane says she has to advise Kristina, no matter how cool and calm she is on the witness stand, Dex’s assault is going to count in Ava’s favor. Sonny says, Ric is all about money. The only reason Ric is representing Ava is to hurt him. He’s going to use Kristina to do that. Kristina says, let him try. She can’t allow Ava to have Avery. Diane says she knew Kristina would say that. She’s going to let them talk. Take all the time they need. She leaves and Sonny says, Diane is right. Ric is going to hammer her on the stand like last time. Kristina says, let him. Ava’s not going to win this case. She doesn’t get to have her daughter back after she took Kristina’s from her.  

At the MetroCourt bar, Ava says, Sonny is itching to take them to court, but Ric says he’s not so sure. Ava says, he has enough money to drag this on forever, and Kristina, with her hair trigger temper, didn’t take the bait. Ric says, no matter. It comes down to Sonny. If he doesn’t want to move forward, it’s all over. She says, too bad he and Diane are determined to do that, and Ric says, maybe he’s wrong, but he thinks something is going on with Sonny.  

On the phone, Anna says, come back to my office and we’ll go over your allegations about Cyrus. There’s a knock at the door, and she says, it’s open. Cody comes in and asks if she’s seen Mac, but she says, he’s out on a call. Is everything okay? He says he needs to get a message to Mac’s brother and doesn’t have a way to reach him, and she says she can reach him. He says, it can wait, and she says, is he sure? It seems urgent. He says, it is… It isn’t important. It’s not like they need to contact international law enforcement. Anna tells him, just say it, and he says, Sasha is in trouble and it’s Jason Morgan’s fault.  

Brook tells Dante that she’s sorry, and he says, the minute he found out Sam was murdered, he wanted to hunt down the piece of garbage who did this. He’s a cop. She says, the best, and he says, Anna told him under no uncertain terms that he’s too close to the case. She says, maybe he is, and he says, obviously. He went to Anna’s office to show her how he’d handle it, and instead, he proved her right. He lost it on her. He yelled at his boss, and she sent him home. Brook says, Anna made the right call, and he says he knows that. For Sam to die like that, in a hospital bed, confined, unable to fight… If she could have gotten up, she would have fought tooth and nail. Brook says, damn straight, and he says, Sam was there because of him, and she’s gone because of him. He doesn’t know how to live with that.

Lulu asks Laura, how does she not feel responsible? The only reason Sam was in a hospital bed was because of her. Laura says, it’s human to feel like it’s her fault, but it’s completely untrue. She’s not responsible for Sam’s death. Only one person is – the murderer. Lulu says she knows that. It’s just so hard to silence the voice telling her that it’s her fault and to think about how Dante sees her. Laura says, he’s grieving, so she can’t assume to know how he feels, but she could ask, and Lulu says, just like that. Laura says, with the connection they have, yeah. It may not be the best time to tell him the full breadth of her feelings, but she can love him as friend.

At the hospital on his phone, Brad orders the deluxe spa package, while Portia tries to quietly go past him. He trots after her and asks if she has any idea where Dr. Jones is. She says, he switched his shift. She can imagine why. He says, speaking of schedules, is there any chance he can get an extra vacation day in Miami?

Curtis says, Drew wants to see him in the ring? and Jordan says, she brought them together hoping they could compromise like the adults she assumed they were, and Curtis says, it was a noble thought. But they both know Drew makes decisions based on what Drew wants. Drew says, and Curtis never misses the opportunity to get on his high horse. Curtis says, it must be real difficult for Drew to see that high up, being so damn lowdown, and Drew asks what Curtis says when the common denominator of the people keeping secrets from him is himself.

Anna asks how Jason is involved with Sasha, but Cody says, forget it. She says, he doesn’t barge into her office saying Robert’s daughter is in trouble and then drop it. He says he wants to talk to Robert directly, but she says, they’re close. What happened? Is Sasha in danger? He says, no. It’s not a crime or a legal thing. She tells him, just say it, and he says, Sasha is pregnant, and Jason is the father.  

Ric tells Ava, the thing about having a brother as an enemy is, they can read each other. He has a strong feeling something was off with Sonny just now. She asks how he can tell, and he says, Sonny may talk tough, but he has the sense Sonny doesn’t want to see this through. She says, when he dreams, he dreams big. Sonny doesn’t give up. He says, Sonny knows cutting her out will hurt Avery. Maybe he’s starting to care a little. She says she hopes he’s right. She needs to have Avery with her. The sooner he can make that happen, and the sooner she’s back on her feet, the sooner she can pay him. Once he gets paid, maybe after that they can see where things stand between them.

Kai tells Trina that he figured out how to put the brace on and it’s an accomplishment. He appreciates Trina coming, but he needs time to himself. She says, okay. She’ll leave him to it. She goes to the door and says, just so he knows, he doesn’t need to do this alone. She leaves, and he gets on the bed with his phone. He puts on an old game, and the announcer says, PCU is down three and going for a Hail Mary pass… They win, thanks to the golden arm of quarterback Kai Taylor! He puts the phone down, and Trina sees him through the window. She takes out her phone and makes a call. She says, when you get out, come and meet me at GH. Nothing is wrong. I just need help.  

Portia says she’s made accommodations for Brad, and he knows why. Brad says, just because he forced her doesn’t mean it’s not appreciated, and she says she does have limits and if she sticks to them, they shouldn’t have a problem. He says, understood… That said… She says, if he starts asking too much too often, people will start to notice. Don’t push his luck any further than he has. He says, so… is that a yes? and she says, enjoy your vacation day. She jets, and he says, thank you.  

Curtis says, his friendship comes with loyalty and wonders if it’s too much to expect in return, and Drew says, so his friendship is transactional. He’s not applying undue influence to sink Aurora. They’re not in court. Curtis says, let him remind Drew that he’s brand new to congress. He’s alienated his backers by seducing his nephew’s wife. He overextended himself and left himself wide open. Curtis and Jordan walk out.

Sonny asks what Kristina wanted to see him about. Is everything okay? She says, actually, no. The hospital investigated Sam’s death, and it turns out it’s not an accident. Sam was murdered. He asks if they know who, and she says, no, but they know how. She was given a drug she wasn’t supposed to have. Digitalis killed her. He says he’s going to ask a question she might not be able to answer. Does Dante know? She says, probably. The police are looking into it. Should she worry? He says he doesn’t want her to worry. Let him worry. Everybody has a breaking point and she’s carrying too much.

Brook says, it’s not Dante’s fault. She knows he can’t see it, so she’ll let him get there on his own, and he will. He says, she’s right, and she says she knows he’s saying that to get her off his back. She’s here if he needs anything. He says, she’s a pretty good friend when she tries, and she says, don’t tell anyone. He says, they wouldn’t believe him anyway, and they hug. Lulu walks in.  

On Monday, Laura tells Lucky that she has some news; Gio tells Emma that he has a bad feeling about something; Maxie tells Sasha that the more she stonewalls, the more it looks like she has something to hide; and Lulu tells Dante, nothing can be further from the truth.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Looks like a good time. Especially for that random dog who’s probably been stealing food all night.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/gh-star-tabyana-ali-celebrates-her-birthday-see-the-party-pics

Sage advice for any condition you might be suffering from: If you are suffering, you have to be your own advocate to keep going… If your doctor doesn’t get it, find a new doctor that listens to you and believes in you, and doesn’t just want to stick you on an antidepressant.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/gh-star-tabyana-ali-celebrates-her-birthday-see-the-party-pics

Side gig. I still say Adam Huss was the best Nikolas and they should bring him back.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/adam-huss-wraps-a-movie-with-tuc-watkins

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

In making a sushi dinner for multiple people who don’t eat fish, Cloyce said he had nothing to do but laugh, bang his head against the wall, and innovate. It must be tough for any woman who dates Cloyce to get past him giggling like Anderson Cooper. Captain Glenn joined the guests for dinner and was impressed. Glenn said he still believed in Gary, which is beyond my scope of understanding. In his interview, the captain said, if Gary wanted to step up the ladder, he’d have to grow and mature. Good luck with that. Mixing his metaphors, Captain Glenn said, the crew knocked it out of the park and suggested they put this baby to bed. He’d seen growth and thought they finished the season on a high. The tip was $21K or 2000 euros each, and they’d made a total of $188K for the season. Gary told Daisy that he wanted them to live a fairytale life. She was like, hard no, and wondered why they couldn’t get to a level they could agree on. After the crew night out, Gary waited alone at the jacuzzi while everyone else went to bed. He had a lightbulb moment in his interview, where he said if he was going to be in Glenn’s position, he’d have to start taking more responsibility for his actions. I still can’t figure out what the problem was with the stews and Daisy, except that she wanted them to work. Gary thought there was still hope for him and Daisy, and we flashed back to them over the years. He was intrigued to see what the future held. Glenn said, it was a crazy season and it was done. Margarita time.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

In Kyle’s interview, she said she was alone in the house more often because the kids wanted more time away from her. Um… yeah, that’s how it works when kids get older. Boz and Dorit have gotten tight, which surprises me, since Boz doesn’t seem like she’d suffer fools or rambling talkers gladly. Garcelle pointed out that Kyle saying she’s never shared anything PK has said to her sounded like it was more than memes, but Kyle insisted that they’d never discussed PK and Dorit’s marriage. Kyle apologized to the group for yelling and leaving, but in Sutton’s interview, she wanted Kyle to apologize for acting better than everyone else and not being accountable. Kyle used the old it’s not who I am backpedal. I hate when people say that because, if not you, who? It was who you were in that moment and to say that is distancing yourself from accountability.

Dorit and Kyle went for a walk on the beach, and Dorit asked where Kyle’s loyalty lay, with her or PK. Dorit wanted the same respect from Kyle that Kyle would expect from her. In her interview, Kyle said she understood and if it was what Dorit needed, she’d do it, but IMO, she should have understood it without Dorit having to tell her. Dorit was also wrestling with Jagger having asked if she and PK were divorced, since he’d gleaned it from social media. In Erika’s interview, she said it was impossible to shield children in this day of the internet, but I wonder if you even should in the first place. By all means you should explain things at their level and make sure they know you’re there for them (and your partner too, if that’s a factor), but I’m not so sure kids should be shielded from negative situations entirely. God forbid they hear it from someone else like this poor kid. The show ended on an up note for once.

Real Housewives of New York City

It was the Reunion Part 1, so… There’s never a lot to say about these, since it’s just a rehash of the season’s arguments and them getting mad all over again. There was Jenna coming out in robe and turban, which was… original. Brynn spoke more about her assault, and sad to say, it’s someone she’s required to inhabit the same space with on a regular basis. It seemed hard for Erin to understand how difficult it is to out someone like that when it’s a he said/she said situation. There was a big deal with Brynn having said Pavit wasn’t the love of Jessel’s life, when they’d been talking about crazy hook-ups. Jessel was pretty upset about her family seeing the show. It looks to be a lively Part 2.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

Ugh. The Reunion Part 2. In a word, tedious. Meredith almost walked off because… Okay, I lost track of the whole thing, but it had to do with something she said or didn’t say and who said she said or didn’t say it. You see how I could get lost, right? Angie said that for a new Housewife, Bronwyn put herself out there and that’s why everyone loved her. Agreed. Seth was a jerk, trying to explain away why he called Whitney a bee-yotch during a dinner. No excuse for that, dude. As NeNe so succinctly put it, stay out of women’s business. Period. End of story. With the exception of RHONJ, where the men should have their own show, the husbands need to stay quiet. It’s not called Real Househusbands. Still this season’s MVP, Mary was the exception. Lots of tears over Robert Jr.’s story, even from Andy. And it shut the other women up for once. That’s quite a feat. Whitney said it helped her kids understand why they didn’t have a grandpa as she hasn’t spoken to her (addicted) father since Season 1.

Southern Charm

Poor JT. I almost have to feel sorry for him. Almost. He’s so clueless as to how he’s going wrong. Although Venita doesn’t see it. She admitted to having a crush on him and I thought, oh, just do it already. Craig called Austen and wanted to hang out, which surprised me, but it didn’t seem to surprise Austen. Shep hadn’t heard from Sienna, who texted that she needed a moment. It made Shep nervous, which made me laugh. He said he wanted beautiful babies and a Bahamian house, making me laugh harder. Patricia and Madison had a pajama party, complete with caviar in bed, making me rethink my friend group, and Patricia said Sienna had approached Whitney on Raya before meeting Shep. Venita invited JT for dinner, and he told her that he was seeing someone. It wasn’t the answer either one of us was hoping for. I don’t like him, but she does, so I felt bad for her. He professed faithfulness, but IMO, he’d been leading Venita on. Not a gentleman.

I don’t remember this guy from Summer House, but I’m not always paying attention.

Southern Hospitality

I tried to watch this. I really did. But it’s just a bunch of relationships that are more complicated than they need to be. I’ve seen enough to know Emmy is a drama queen, so I can just imagine when she finds out her boyfriend has been cheating on her. Red flags have been thrown her way before, which she’s put her fingers in her ears and gone la-la-la about, but this seems to be irrefutable evidence. Rut-roh.

There was this priceless quote though: Even though I’m 33, that’s like 50 in gay years, so I’m basically dead. – TJ

I feel the opposite. While the diversity is commendable, the personalities aren’t so diverse. We even have Maddi being James Kennedy 2.0. Sans the alcoholic rants. Wait for VPR’s reboot if you want to relive the glory days. Or actually watch the original glory days on several streaming services.

Random Reality

The latest in Atlanta. Twirl on, Kenya. Twirl on.

Why not? And I actually don’t mind Slade. They seem to be a good match. Maybe he’ll marry her on his deathbed.

Get your lemons ready.

I’m sporadic in watching this, and like with Survivor, I get lost with the challenges, but when I see it, I enjoy it. Alan Cumming is the best host, all theatric and Scottish.

Take the tour.

https://ew.com/the-traitors-host-alan-cumming-season-3-castle-tour-exclusive-8766966

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Sleep. Hulu et al. I was a fan of Korean cinema long before it was popular, and Netflix had a Korean for beginners category. While this wasn’t one of my favorites, that didn’t make it less intriguing. A story of possession masked as a sleep disorder, it has creepiness a plenty. I wasn’t thrilled with the ending, which left me kind of hanging, but the style and atmosphere were worth the time spent. I hadn’t thought of it as a metaphor for a deteriorating relationship, but there’s that too. Those of you who feel, if I want to read, I’ll get a book, be forewarned; this one has subtitles.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sleep-korean-film-review

https://nofspodcast.com/sleep-review-new-korean-horror-is-a-methodical-slow-build-of-simmering-scares

Saturday Night. Netflix. This is the telling of the story of the first episode of SNL, and how no one thought it would get on the air, much less stand the test of time it has. A dramatization for sure, but the real-life drama may have seemed heightened since there were so many roadblocks. From John Belushi refusing to sign his contract while ice skating in a bee costume to Milton Berle flashing his legendary junk, it’s a fun watch.

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/saturday-night/

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/saturday-night-netflix-review

The truths and the nots.

https://people.com/how-much-of-saturday-night-is-true-8725801

Some of this is a stretch to connect to SNL, but six degrees and all that.

🎸 Who’s Playing For Who…

The Super Bowl performers.

https://ew.com/super-bowl-2025-performers-kendrick-lamar-halftime-sza-jon-batiste-8779483

The Grammys performers.

https://ew.com/everyone-performing-at-2025-grammys-charli-xcx-sabrina-carpenter-more-8779877

🐾 Send In the Furbabies…

🐶 It’s always nice to see a celebrity using their powers for good. This must have been incredibly rewarding. I’ve loved Paris since Tinkerbell wrote her book.

https://people.com/paris-hilton-reunites-her-foster-dog-from-l-a-fires-with-the-dog-s-family-8781373

🐎 What would the Super Bowl be without the Budweiser Clydesdales?

https://people.com/super-bowl-2025-budweiser-clydesdale-horse-commercial-8780322

🐕 And don’t forget the best Bowl of all.

https://www.discovery.com/shows/puppy-bowl/see/2025/pb-xxi-gallery

https://www.discovery.com/shows/on-tv/puppy-bowl/see/2025

🐐 Quotes of the Week

Anyone who wants to achieve a dream must stay strong, focused and steady.Estée Lauder

A dead end street is a good place to turn around. – Naomi Judd

Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read. – Groucho Marx

If your dreams don’t scare you, they are too small. – Richard Branson

Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working. – Pablo Picasso

You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old. – George Burns

Words are the clothing of our thoughts.Jonathan Swift

A ship in a harbour is safe, but it’s not fulfilling its potential. – Susan Jeffers

If you carry joy in your heart, you can heal any moment. – Carlos Santana

I don’t know why they say alcohol is a depressant. It fixes everything. – Joyce (Swoosie Kurtz), Mike & Molly

🍫 Like a Box Of Chocolates…

Until next week, stay safe; stay being adaptable in social and professional settings; and stay managing your expectations, setting reasonable goals, and not getting ahead of yourself.

January 24, 2025 – Sidwell Meets Laura, Soap Suds, Not My Reality, Weekend Watching, Nom-Noms, Animal Endeavors, 10 Concise Quotes & Freeze-Out

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

Monday:

No soap, inauguration.

Tuesday:

Kristina waited at the launch with Alexis who was going to Spoon Island to meet with Sidwell about Windymere. Drew wanted to charge Tracy with kidnapping because she wouldn’t tell them where the children were even though Martin had a court order. Anna looked like she had a headache when Tracy feigned innocence, and Tracy asked if she looked like a nanny, but Anna said, only one in a Grimm’s fairytale. Tracy told her that Yuri had taken the children and nanny out for the day. Maxie met with Natalia about a new testing facility for Deception. She wanted the closing pushed back to give Sonny time to be with Michael and told Natalia that it wasn’t safe to be in Sonny’s orbit.

Michael was brought to consciousness and told Carly that he wanted to go to Germany. He also wanted to see Sasha. Drew horned in on Anna talking to Tracy, and Jack showed up at the station with info about the incendiary device. Ava was also going to Spoon Island to see Sidwell and badgered Alexis about the settlement money.

Jason went to track Sasha down and Carly told the others that Michael wanted to go to Germany, but Willow wanted to speak to him to confirm and apologize. Tracy claimed they were taking the kids from Monica, but Drew said it killed Tracy that Alan gave the house to Monica, and it was just a power play. Jack told Anna that the WSB was familiar with the device, and it had probably been developed for black ops. She asked if he ever used it and if he was the one who planted it.

Willow went in to see Michael and confirmed he wanted to go to Germany. She apologized for everything, and said the kids missed and loved him and he had to get better for them. She said she’d always love him, and he suddenly clutched in pain.

Ava said her daughter wasn’t safe with a man whose enemies tried to incinerate him and wanted Kristina to testify at the custody hearing. Alexis told Ava to stay away from her daughter or Ava would answer to her. Jack told Anna that he’d be more discreet than setting a luxury high rise on fire. She said the attack was sophisticated and not a usual mob hit.

Carly freaked out about Michael, when Jason arrived with Sasha, but Portia had to sedate Michael again to ease the stress on his system. Carly blamed Willow, but Jason told her not to take out her anger on Willow and focus on Michael. Carly said she’d be going to Germany with him, and Anna called Jason, telling him to get to the station.

Alexis said that Ava didn’t ask, but taunted and badgered. She wondered if Ava would want anyone treat Avery the way she treated Kristina, and Ava left since the truth is hard for her to hear. At the station, Anna told Jason that it was his family, so deal with them. Sasha told Maxie that she’d had a prenatal checkup and thought of Liam. Drew horned in at the hospital and told Willow that he thought Carly had finessed the situation. Sonny advised him to leave, but Willow wanted to talk to him.

Sidwell met Alexis at the dock, and she said she didn’t need to see Windymere again. The Cassadines weren’t known to be sentimental. Maxie offered to go to appointments with Sasha, who said she wasn’t ready to tell the world, but she was glad Maxie and Felicia were there for her to talk to. Maxie asked if Sasha was allowing herself to be happy.

Drew told Willow that he’d had Tracy arrested, but they didn’t know where the kids were, and they didn’t have Michael to use as leverage this time. Willow didn’t like the thought of using Michael as leverage, but was worried she’d messed up in cooperating with Sonny and Carly.

Tracy didn’t want Drew near the kids, but Jason said it was Willow’s call. Tracy said, Willow no longer had a mind of her own and was Drew’s puppet, but Jason said, Michael would want them with their mother. Tracy told him that she wouldn’t go to jail because she had too much money. Ava went to see Sonny and said if Avery had been where Michael was standing, she would have been killed.

Anna said she didn’t have time for the Quartermaines’ petty feuds and had real crimes to deal with. Alexis gave Sidwell the title to Spoon Island and told him that if isolation and excess were what he was looking for, he found his perfect dungeon. He said valued his privacy. Carly thanked Jack for getting Michael into the clinic and arranging for a medical jet. He told her to focus on her son and he’d take care of everything else. Anna told an officer to take Tracy to booking and told Tracy that sometimes the best way to win was to bend.

Drew convinced Willow that Sonny and Carly had been manipulating her. As he chatted her up in the chapel, Jason walked in. Sonny said he wouldn’t let Ava poison his daughter against him, and she said she was going to show the judge the charred remains of the penthouse and photos of Michael’s burns and she was going to get her daughter back permanently. She left and Sonny tried to take his heart meds, but keeled over.

Wednesday:

Charlie’s was reopening and Kristina and Lucky toasted to their dads who were great partners back in the day. Natalia found Sonny, got some medication in him, and called 911. Jason thought there was a compromise if Willow stayed in the gatehouse with the kids and Monica could have access. Lulu wanted to speak to Tracy, but Dante said, no. Lulu said she was fluent in Tracy Quartermaine and asked to have a crack at her.

Spinelli said they might have lost a gastropub, but gained the essence of cool in the new Charlie’s. Willow said if Jason could get Tracy to agree, she’d move back to the gatehouse, even though Drew told her not to negotiate. She had all the power she needed. Felicia told Sasha that the q’s thrived on toxic shenanigans and not to get caught up in it. Lucky told Elizabeth that he may have found a lead in their case.

Brick hit on Jordan going into Charlie’s, but she was meeting Isaiah. Kristina told Brick that him being there officially made it the coolest place in town. Sonny came to while Natalia was on the phone with 911, but he insisted no help. Jason asked to speak to Tracy who asked what the catch was. Drew said Tracy was using Monica to bully Willow. She said her kids were traumatized enough and she wanted to bring the kids back to their home. Jason said it was Tracy’s only chance to make a deal that would keep the kids close to Monica, and Lulu agreed he was right. Would Tracy rather be right or free? It was her turn to be strategic and play the long game. Be smart and take the win.

Sonny asked Natalia to call Isaiah and ruined his date with Jordan, but Brick took his place. Lucky told Elizabeth to follow his lead. Sasha told Felicia that she didn’t even recognize Willow anymore and she’d used Michael as leverage. Felicia suggested they show her some grace. Cody acted like an ass at Charlie’s and told Spinelli that if he wanted to stay out of prison because of Society Set-Ups (which none of us even remember anymore), he’d pony up some $75K. Brick asked if he should be jealous. Isaiah went to Sonny’s, and Sonny explained what had happened with Ava. Isaiah said the pills were just a stop gap measure and Sonny needed to see a cardiologist. Drew tried to talk Willow out of living at the gatehouse, no doubt for his own selfish gains, but Willow wasn’t having it. He said if the Quartermaines saw a way to get her children, they’d do it. Tracy agreed to take the deal.

Lucky talked to Martin about Cyrus, who said it was their mother who inspired Cyrus’s vocation. Isaiah said Sonny couldn’t be there for those he cared about if he didn’t take care of himself. Natalia said she’d stay with Sonny. Jason let Willow know that the kids were waiting at the gatehouse. Martin’s mother said if it had been up to Cyrus, she would be gone, but Cyrus just hadn’t wanted her to suffer. Lucky said they were still missing something because neither Dex nor Sam were terminal. Spinelli said Cody was the same sketchy grifter he’d always been. Lucky told him to take a walk, and Cody told Lucky to take a nap and punched him. Brick intervened, and Maxie thought she’d have to save Cody from himself.

Drew told Martin that Willow needed to be freed from the Quartermaines and Martin asked if Drew meant free to be with him. Drew said he’d do anything to protect Willow. Cody was brought into the station as Tracy was being released. Kristina said bar brawls weren’t the vibe she was going for. Willow came home and all was right with the world. For now.

Thursday:

Both Cody and Lucky were arrested, and Elizabeth tended to Lucky’s wounds in the interrogation room. Mac wondered what the hell was going on with Cody. The more he tried to get through, the more Cody pushed him away. Molly went to see Cody, who thought Lucky should have to pay for damages too, since he’d also been arrested. Molly said he was the only one throwing punches. Ava went to see Laura and Brick went to see Sonny. Kristina told Alexis about the fight, and Jordan said Brick had to step in to stop the fight, but the police thought Lucky was involved. Laura told Ava that a lot had changed and she couldn’t be Ava’s character witness. It was better if she wasn’t involved.

Josslyn told Lucas that she knew Cyrus had stabbed Dex and how she’d messed up at the station. Lucy brought Sidwell to Charlie’s and the thought it was distinctive and inviting. Lucy paved the way for a meeting with Laura.

Molly said no charges would be filed if Cody paid for the damages, but he said he had no money. Mac asked what the hell was wrong with him. Mac asked if Cody’s drunken fights were part of a bigger problem. Ric showed Ava an apartment since she had to establish a permanent residence, but she thought the square footage was lacking. Natalia told Brick what was going on with Sonny’s health, and Sonny filled him in on the rest. Brick said they had to make sure a close call like this never happened again.

Sidwell had to jet. Kristina said he seemed nice, and Alexis said nice and peculiar, since he thought Windymere was charming. Jordan went to see Laura and told her about Sidwell being in town. Cody promised he was done with booze and bar crawling. Mac said Cody was in a spiral that was getting worse, and he wanted to know why. Molly told Felicia that Cody was being a five-star ass. Lucky wanted to talk to Felicia about Cyrus, and Lucky discussed Cyrus with Josslyn. He said all they had were theories and suppositions and they needed evidence.

Lucky and Elizabeth talked to Felicia who said she thought it was the right choice to ban Cyrus from the hospital. Cody told Mac it wasn’t about Sasha. He trashed things when they were good. Mac said he had a family to rely on now and couldn’t push them away. Natalia went to Charlie’s and told Kristina that Sonny and Brick were discussing business. Brick arranged for Sonny to see the best cardiologist in the country in Los Angeles, to keep the diagnosis from the Five Families (marinara sauce). Ric said Ava didn’t have the means for a long-haul custody battle.

Kristina said she was worried about Sonny as she’d gotten a new date for the custody case. Anna said there were no outstanding warrants on Sidwell and even Interpol’s tag had been dropped. Laura got notice of the meeting and said it might be time to give Sidwell what he wants. Ava told Ric that Laura backed out of being a character witness and he told her to never doubt he was on her side, then they kissed. Josslyn said she was going to find the tie between Cyrus and the murders.

Mac left Cody in jail to think. Ava agreed to take the apartment. Laura called Sidwell and made a date to meet. Molly said, as long as people like Cody were saved from the consequences of their actions, there would always be a next time. Lucky wanted to talk to the Turning Woods staff and check their records, but Elizabeth said he’d stepped on a lot of toes there, so he agreed to let her do the talking. Lucas asked Josslyn to promise she’d stay away from Cyrus.

Friday’s Enchilada:

Baden-Baden, Germany. Carly goes into her hotel suite breathing heavy. She almost throws a bottle, but decides against it. Instead, she sits down and cries.

Willow leaves a message for Drew telling him that she’s back at the gatehouse and just wanted to hear his voice. There’s a knock at the door, and Nina says she brought breakfast. She asks how it is being back, and Willow says she’s afraid she made a huge mistake.

Drew asks if Curtis has a second to talk, but Curtis says he doesn’t know what Drew could say that he’d want to hear.

Trina sees Josslyn at the hospital and asks what she’s doing here. Josslyn says she’s trying to stop a murder.

Stella visits Kai, who’s watching a game tape. She says she came to check on him and see if there are any more flowers or gifts that he wants her to distribute. He says, the volunteers took care of it, and she asks if he’s sure he doesn’t want to keep some of it. He says he won’t be here long enough to enjoy it. He’s getting out soon.

Lulu goes to Maxie’s office, but Maxie’s not there. The phone rings, and she answers it. Maxie comes in and mouths, who is it? and Lulu mouths back, Blair Cramer. Maxie says, no, and Lulu asks if she can have Maxie return the call. Maxie says, Lulu has improved since she worked at Crimson, but she’s overqualified for the Deception job and wouldn’t be happy. Lulu says, happiness is overrated, but Maxie says, Lulu isn’t into beauty or cosmetics and needs to be challenged to keep her interested. Lulu says she just wants to earn her own money on her own terms and not rely on what Tracy and her mom decide, but Maxie says, she’d be miserable if she took the job. Lulu asks, what’s going on? Is Maxie trying to get her to withdraw her application, so she doesn’t have to turn her down? Brook walks in and asks what Lulu is doing here. Didn’t Maxie tell Lulu that they’re not hiring her?

Sidwell knocks on Laura’s office door and tells her that he’s looking forward to their meeting. Laura invites him in, and says she thinks he knows Anna. Anna certainly knows him. Anna says she and Sidwell met when he tried to have her killed while she was in Africa. He also tried to have Laura’s son killed.  

There’s a knock at Carly’s door, and she opens it to Jack.

Sidwell says he feels terrible about the situation with Lucky in Africa, and Laura asks if by situation he means holding Lucky captive and forcing him to play poker in order to stay alive. Anna says, he tried to execute her and Jason, but he says, the incident differs vastly from his perspective. His business was threatened. Anna and Jason lied about who they were, as did Laura’s son, and Holly stole from him. Laura asks if that justified holding them captive and torturing them, and he says, when his livelihood was threatened, he took any steps the law of the land allowed to protect it. He was in a country that had no law and nothing he did was illegal. Anna says, they have a fairly strong law here. He abducted Sasha, held her for ransom, and blew up a building – a trifecta of illegality. Sidwell asks if someone accused him. Is there a witness or evidence? He has no idea what she’s talking about. Anna says, they have nothing at this time, and he asks them to allow him to explain why he asked for a meeting. He’s an exporter based in Europe, but wants to expand to the North American market. Laura asks, why Port Charles? Llanview, Pine Valley, or even New York City would be a better choice. To be clear, they don’t want him in Port Charles.

Lulu says, this isn’t about the job, and Brook says she’ll handle it. She’s an officer of the company and has an interest in its success. The job at Deception is to be her assistant. Lulu says, they already established that, and Brook says, given a choice, she wouldn’t choose to work with Lulu. She’s uncomfortable to have around and it makes for a difficult work environment. Lulu says she gets that Brook doesn’t like her, but doesn’t understand why. She’s not the one who came between Brook and her boyfriend. Brook was the one who did that to her.

Willow tells Nina that she didn’t think moving back to the gatehouse would be that big a deal. She’s lived here for years, and it was great, but that was before this ugliness. Tracy walks in, looks at Nina, and asks why she’s not surprised. Nina says, nice to see her too, and Tracy says she saw Wiley getting on the bus to school and Amelia is out for a walk with the nanny. She thought it was the perfect time to go over new ground rules.  

Drew says he didn’t like the way he and Curtis left off. They’ve been friends for a long time, and he didn’t intend to double-cross Curtis. He thought he was doing right by him and Michael, but he failed. He should have handled it differently. Curtis says, ya think? and Drew says, things are different now. Michael is out of the picture, and they can use the opportunity to pivot from his mistake and do something that will work for them both. Curtis says, given what Drew’s done, whatever he’s thinking isn’t going to work, and Drew says he had that coming. He understands why Curtis is angry, but he never meant for it to come to this point. They’ve known each other a long time and go way back. They’ve been through so much together. He’s just asking Curtis to hear him out.

Josslyn tells Trina that she’s trying to see if anybody has any information on Dex, but she’s not getting anywhere. Trina says she gets that Josslyn wants answers and doesn’t blame her for being frustrated, and Josslyn says she had to do something to honor Dex’s memory. She asks if Trina is here to see her mother, but Trina says she’s here to see Kai.

Kai tells Stella that he’s had an MRI and every scan possible. He wishes they’d hurry with the results. The sooner they do, the sooner he’s back on his feet. She says she knows patients who would enjoy a break from enormous men chasing and tackling them, but Kai says he loves football and wants to get back as soon as possible. She says, he still has a lot of work ahead, but first he needs the paperwork. He thanks her for taking care of everything, and him, and she says she’s happy to, but he doesn’t want to push too much too soon, or he’ll set his recovery back. Listen to his doctor. He says he’s not going to do anything to jeopardize his full recovery. He wants to be back for next season.

Carly asks what Jack is doing here, and he says he had a meeting in London. He swung by to see how she’s doing. She says, normally, she’d ask him to wait downstairs so she can pull herself together, and he says he’ll wait wherever she wants. Or if she’s not up to a visit, he can leave. She tells him, come in, and asks if they can order room service. He says, yeah.

Nina says, Tracy can’t barge into her daughter’s house, but Tracy says, it’s Monica’s house because Alan gave it to her and Monica wants her great-grandchildren close by. It’s for her sake Tracy agreed to Willow living here. Willow says she agreed to the compromise because of the kids and Monica, not Tracy. Tracy doesn’t even like her kids. She kidnapped them and kept them from their mother, convincing herself that it was in their best interest, but it wasn’t. Willow withdrew the charge because it hurt too many people, but she could easily change her mind and have the charge reinstated.  

Curtis says, because of the friendship he and Drew used to have, he’ll hear Drew out, and Drew thanks him. He sits down and says he doesn’t like that he’s not in control of a company he started, and he wants it back. He suggests they set up a stock sale so he can get that back. He’s not going to throw his weight around. All he wants is ownership of his own company back. Curtis says, Michael is out because he’s recovering from third degree burns, but Drew tells him that he’s not saying that. Curtis says, it sure as hell sounded like it, and Drew says, Michael has wealth beyond belief. Curtis has a contract to be CEO for five years and he’ll honor that. Curtis says, he’s suggesting the orchestrate a stock sale, Drew gets controlling interest, then steps back and lets him run it without interference. Drew says, Michael did what he did to get back at him for Willow. It had nothing to do with the business. He’s seen the incredible things Curtis is doing and knows he cares about Aurora. Curtis says, of course (🍷) he does, and Drew says, as a courtesy, he wants it acknowledged that he founded the company and it’s running successfully. It makes sense since he’d be the majority shareholder. Curtis says, Drew makes good points, but he’d rather resign than take the deal.

Trina says, she wants Kai to know, if there’s anything she can do, he can count on her, and Josslyn says, it must be rough for him. She thinks it’s good for him to see Trina. Kai’s identity and everything in his life revolves around football. She’s not in that world and brings a different perspective to the conversation. She’s a good friend. She asks, what’s in the bag? and Trina says she went to the wellness center and got power bars and electrolyte water. (I drink that!) It’s good to stay hydrated while in the hospital. It was no big deal. Josslyn says, Trina could have done it later, but Trina says, sometimes later is taken away. They both know that. Josslyn says, that’s why they’re best friends. They get each other. Trina says, they really do, and Josslyn says she’s heading out. They hug, and Josslyn says, let her know how it goes with Kai.

Stella tells Kai to take time to heal. He has his whole life ahead of him and needs more than an arm and shoulder to throw a football. He says, ironically, he’d been debating whether to enlist in the draft or play his senior year. The decision’s been made and he’s glad he has another season at PCU. Stella says, that’s a good way to look at it. And she has one more season to watch him. He asks if she likes football, and she says she loves it. This season was the first time she followed PCU. Their quarterback is a phenomenon. He says, if she wants tickets, just say the word, and that goes for when he’s in the NFL. She says she’s always wanted to go to the Superbowl, and he says he likes the way she thinks. They laugh, when the doctor comes in. He asks if now is a good time to talk, and Kai says, perfect. Stella leaves, and Kai says, so what’s the good news?  

Brook says she feels like Lulu is just waiting for her to mess up and it’s stressful. Nothing kills creativity more than criticism. Lulu says she doesn’t sound critical all the time, but Maxie says, they both do it. Lulu says she doesn’t intend to be critical, and Maxie says, maybe it’s a habit, but it’s not fun to be around and she doesn’t like it. She loves them, but she’s just being honest. Deception has had a lot of ups and downs. Hiring her to work as Brook’s assistant when it’s obvious they don’t like each other seems like there would be complications.

Jack asks how things are with Michael, and Carly says, the doctors at the clinic say he’s doing fine, but they won’t let her see him. She understands that it’s cutting edge and intense. He needs to be isolated because he’s injured and in a lot of pain. But they’re in a foreign country and she has no control. He says, she can leave and go to Johns Hopkins where she’d be allowed to visit, but she says, Michael needs to be here. She’s hoping he comes out like Ava and won’t need surgery or skin grafts. She gets it. He needs to be here. Jack says, even if it means following their rules? and she says, it’s what Michael needs and what she wants. It’s the first offer of hope, and she wants that for Michael. More important, Michael wants that for himself.  

Curtis tells Drew that he wouldn’t betray Michael if he was completely healthy and down the hall in his office. He’s not going to do it while Michael is recovering. Drew says, he had no problem seizing the company Drew co-founded, but Curtis tells him not to rewrite history. Michael gave him the score about Drew double-crossing him. Drew asks why Curtis doesn’t see it from his perspective, and Curtis laughs. He says he’s not going to try and explain it to the man used to know. This Drew in front of him, he doesn’t recognize him. What the hell happened to him?  

Tracy asks if Willow was so dazzled by Drew’s faux hero persona that she had to have him at any cost or was she more conniving than Tracy gave her credit for. Was she trading up from Michael to Drew when he went to congress? Willow says, that’s not what she was doing, but Tracy says, either way, she’s proved untrustworthy. She thinks Willow is little more like Nelle than she realized.

Jack says he respects Carly’s decision to leave Michael where he is, and she says, it’s the right call. She’s been emotional since she got here. He says, if there was ever a time, this would be it, and she says she feels like it’s her fault. He says, she’s Michael’s mother and it’s normal to feel responsible, but she says, it’s more than that. Michael was burned because he was at Sonny’s, and it was her decision to bring Sonny into Michael’s life.

Stella sees Trina and says, what an unexpected treat, and Trina says she came to see Kai. How is he doing? Stella says, he’s in good spirits and getting ready for next season, and Trina says, he’s staying at PCU and she’s not sad about it. Stella says she doesn’t think Kai is sad either. He’s missing out on the draft, and she’s impressed with his attitude. It will get him through tough times. Trina says, Kai surprised her. She prides herself on not making snap judgements and she did with him. He wasn’t what she thought. Stella asks what she thought, and Trina says she thought he was a shallow arrogant jerk who only cared about football. Stella says she’s glad to know that. She’s really liked him ever since his terrible downward dog in yoga class. Trina being in his corner will do him a world of good.

Lulu says, the last thing she wants is to cause complications at Deception. She’s sorry she imposed on her and Maxie’s friendship. It won’t happen again. Brook says she knows they’ve all been through hell. Being in a coma for four years and having liver failure must be a complete nightmare. Maxie says, they wanted to do anything if it would help Lulu get better. They were all tested for compatibility, even Chase and Brook. Lulu says she didn’t know, and Brook says, there are a lot of things she doesn’t know. While all of that was happening, Maxie was running Deception and managing Lucy, which is a full-time job, and dealing with the lawsuit that almost took them down. Lulu asks who sued them, and Brook says, her grandmother. Lulu says, Tracy? and Brook says, the details don’t matter. Her point is, Deception survived in large part because of Maxie’s creativity and hard work. Lulu has no idea how much Deception means to Maxie.

Sidwell says he didn’t choose Port Charles randomly. He’s invested in property. Laura says, he’s an intelligent guy. He must know she’s going to keep a close eye on the man who hurt her son. Anna says she’d think he’d cut his losses and leave, but he says he prefers to prove that he’s a law-abiding citizen, and Laura and Anna laugh. He says he’s sure Anna and the PCPD will be checking up on him on a regular basis, and Anna says, he can count on it. And they’re not the only agency who will be keeping tabs on him. He says he welcomes all the attention and knows in time they’ll decide he’s an asset to this fair city this. He thanks Laura for the meeting, and she says, he may find it difficult to do business in a town where he’s not welcome. He says he looks forward to proving them wrong, and leaves.  

Drew tells Curtis that when he was given the opportunity to go to congress, he thought he’d have a chance to achieve something he didn’t believe possible. The more he was around politics, the more he wanted it. At the time, he and Willow’s relationship changed. Curtis says, Willow is his nephew’s wife, and Drew says he knows. It just happened. They weren’t trying to hurt Michael. Willow saw what he was trying to achieve, and they developed a connection. One she doesn’t have with Michael. Curtis says, whatever he has to tell himself to feel better, and Drew says he’s not the first person to be in this position. Not all marriages last forever. His didn’t and neither did Curtis’s.

Nina tells Tracy, enough. It’s not right for her to use Nelle’s name. Tracy says, Nelle cut a wide swath of damage and that one is the same. If she sees the opportunity, she’ll step in on the children’s behalf. Willow asks what she means, and Tracy says, act responsibly or she’ll lose them. Nina says, they belong with their mother, and Willow says she’s made a genuine effort to compromise. If that doesn’t work, she’ll take the kids back to her mother’s apartment and Tracy can explain to Monica and the rest of the family why they’re gone. Tracy says, fine. However, there’s one condition and it’s non-negotiable. Willow’s boyfriend may not visit on the property. If she’s compelled to look into Drew’s lying eyes, she’ll have to do someplace else. Drew is banned from the property permanently. She leaves.

Carly tells Jack that she and Michael’s biological father didn’t get along… except once. He laughs, and she says, his family, the Quartermaines, didn’t like her very much. She had feelings for Sonny at the time, and he helped her get custody of Michael. She got what she wanted and ignored the very real danger of making Michael a part of Sonny’s life. Their kids have been paying ever since. Jack says, she’s being too hard on herself. Michael is strong and capable and an excellent businessman. Carly says, he wouldn’t have been at Sonny’s except for her choices, and he says she can’t let herself think that way. Hindsight is always 20/20. There’s no point in dwelling on past mistakes. That way, madness lies.

Lulu says she would never do anything to hurt Maxie. Maxie is one of the most important people in her life and she loves her. Maxie says she knows and loves Lulu too, and Brook says she knows how much Lulu cares about Maxie, but she needs to realize what Maxie has been through and how far she’s come. Lulu says she knows things have changed and she’s got a lot to catch up on. She’s trying as fast as she can. She’s been focused on getting a job, so she can gain independence and search for Charlotte on her own terms, but she’s only been seeing things from her perspective. She didn’t take a second to look at it from Maxie’s. It’s not fair and she’s sorry.

Jack tells Carly that early in his career a mission went wrong and an agent, a friend, was killed. One colleague left the WSB and wallowed in guilt. It destroyed his marriage. Jack didn’t outwardly react, so people assumed he didn’t care. Carly says she’s sorry for what he went through, and he says he lost a good friend that day. He tears up and says, there’s nothing he could do to change that. The only way forward was to learn from what went wrong. You can’t life according to what if. You never know what a different decision would have brought. She says, you can’t change the past. She’s been down that road when she lost her son Morgan, and it leads nowhere good. He says, it never does.

Drew tells Curtis, what happened with Michael’s marriage and his injuries are two very different things. He didn’t cause Michael’s burns, and he didn’t help push Willow away. Curtis says, right, and only the doctors can help Michael’s physical injuries. Drew says he made a mistake in placating Michael because he felt guilty. He knows what’s best for Aurora, and if he’d stuck by Curtis, they’d be in a different place. Curtis says, Drew had to do what was best for himself. So does he. When Michael recovers – and he will – he’ll actually respect Michael’s business sense, maybe better than Drew’s. Drew says, wow, and Curtis says, if Drew’s ultimate success is in stealing Willow from his nephew, he’ll have got what he wanted and will find a way of life for himself.

Nina says she’s proud of Willow. Few people can say they stood up to Tracy Quartermaine. Willow says she couldn’t have done it without her mom by her side, and Nina says, it’s where she belongs. Willow says, Drew is right. The Quartermaines treated Michael terribly. She saw how they hate Drew. She should probably do what Drew said and move back in with Nina. (What is wrong with this woman?)

Lulu says she knows Maxie and Brook got close over the past four years and she guesses she felt threatened. She saw the opportunity to have Maxie on her side. Maxie says she doesn’t want side either one of them. They’re both her friends. She can’t force them to like each other, but she does reserve the right to love them both. Brook says she’s worked hard not to be the person she was. Part of her issue is that Lulu reminds her of her past regrets. Lulu says she’s not alone. They all have regrets. Tracy walks in saying, she’s had a bad day, so don’t… Lulu! What is she doing here?

Anna tells Laura, according to her search, Sidwell has no outstanding warrants, and the property transaction was legal. Laura says, what if Anna, Lucky, and Jason submitted an international complaint to the court? but Anna says, that’s no good. Sidwell was doing business in an area that’s completely lawless with zero authority to back them up. Laura says, what about Sasha’s kidnapping? Maybe she can tell them something they can use against Sidwell. Anna says, unfortunately, for various reasons, it wasn’t reported. There’s nothing on the books and nothing tying Sidwell to the property that blew up. Laura says, a man like Sidwell doesn’t change overnight, and Anna agrees. Laura asks what Anna is thinking, and Anna says, Sidwell’s arrival coincided with the fire in Sonny’s apartment. Laura asks if Anna thinks Sidwell was behind the fire, but Anna says she doesn’t know. It’s too soon to say. She’ll have the CID check the warehouse that blew up after Sasha’s abduction. If there’s a match, they might be able to pin it on Sidwell.

Drew tells Curtis that a freshman in congress is a good friend to have, but he has no reason to help the company succeed. Curtis says, he’d rather sink his own company that see it succeed without him, and Drew says, Curtis has one final chance to reconsider his offer. Curtis says his answer stands and opens the door. Now get the hell out. Drew leaves and Curtis slams the door.

Nina says she saw Willow stand up for herself in a way she hasn’t seen before. She compromised with Carly and Sonny because it was the right thing to do. She could tell Willow was more at ease. She has to continue to trust herself and her instincts. The Quartermaines and Monica appreciate the effort she’s put into the kids and Michael will appreciate it when he gets back. Willow says she hopes so. She doesn’t want to hurt Michael more than she already has. Nina says, the effort she’s making is a huge step toward an amicable resolution for them both in the future. Willow wonders if she should stay here. She’s going to miss Nina. Nina says, not a chance. She’ll be here all the time. Willow says, good, and they hug.

Maxie says, Lulu was thinking about applying for the assistant position, and Tracy says, she’s hired. Lulu says, they were just talking and she’s not sure she’s a good fit, but Tracy says, of course (🍷) she is. Lucy says the company is run on beauty and creativity, and Lulu has a boatload of both. Lulu says she thinks she’ll go see if Carly will hire her at the MetroCourt, but Tracy says, absolutely not. She’s the majority shareholder and the final decision is hers. She wants Lulu here. Lulu says, that’s nice of her and thanks, but she’s good. Tracy says she’ll pay Lulu double what the last assistant made, and both Maxie and Brook say, what?! Tracy says, Lulu is worth twice what Gladys Corbin was, and Brook says, Wade was her last assistant. Tracy says, Lulu is worth double what Wade was making. What does she say. Lulu says, it’s a great environment and it would give her a chance to work with people she respects and loves. She guesses she has to accept it. Tracy says, woohoo! Welcome to Deception. The phone rings and Tracy asks what Lulu is waiting for. Lulu answers the phone. Maxie Jones’ office…  

Trina goes into Kai’s room and says her Aunt Stella told her that he was impatient for rehabilitation. She brought him some power bars and electrolyte water. He thanks her, but his tone is flat, and she says she knows it’s silly. He probably has tons. He says, it’s not that, and she asks if something is wrong. He says he saw the orthopedist and he’s never going to play football again.  

At Turning Woods, Josslyn tells the reception nurse that she has a light load this semester and was looking to do something more meaningful with her time. She was hoping there were extra slots for volunteers. The nurse checks and says, there’s one slot not covered. It’s all hers if she wants it. Josslyn says, absolutely. Sign her up.

Jack asks if Carly wants him to find out why she’s being denied access to Michael, but she says she can handle it herself. He says he’s disappointed that she doesn’t need him, but not surprised, and she says she’ll get in to see her son whether they like it or not. He says he doesn’t doubt it for a second, and she says, but she would like a ride. He says, done. Consider him her chauffeur.

(Mrs. Jack Brennan… 💘)

On Monday, Laura says, Lulu might be headed for trouble; Drew tells Martin that they have another thing coming if they think he’s not seeing Willow; Kristina asks if Sonny thinks it’s really the best time for him to be traveling right now; and Jason needs Anna to do something more for someone now.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Good news! And a reminder that mental illness and addiction don’t discriminate.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/vinessa-antoine-shares-her-brothers-been-found

She must get tired of fielding this question.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/is-carly-leaving-general-hospital-laura-wright-speaks-out

So did he take the subway? Nothing says NYC like that smell.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/steve-burtons-weekend-to-remember-in-nyc

Too bad they didn’t get much of a final scene.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-katelyn-macmullen-says-goodbye-to-chad-duell

This is a better tour than you get from the adults.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/go-backstage-at-general-hospital-with-gary-james-fuller

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Gary acted like someone held a gun to his head to drink so much, when Captain Glenn was being nice. The punishment was forfeiting 500 euros of the tip, which was $23K, so they still got $2055. Gary apologized, and he and the captain hugged it out. The charter was 8 women, all with a different food restrictions, which made Cloyce’s head explode. Next time, the finale.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Boz told Dorit that she thought there were more than memes between PK and Kyle, but Erika told her that it was nothing. When cornered into sharing her text with PK with the group, Kyle read it and then stormed out saying, I’m done! Memegate lives on.

Yeah, I never thought for a moment LVP was coming back to RHOBH. She’s a busy woman what with all her restaurants, a hotel, and single-handedly ridding the world of the dog meat trade.

The Real Housewives of New York City

Ubah is a real disappointment, suggesting Brynn slept her way into the Housewives. That in itself is an insult. If I was going to sleep my way into something, it would not be this show. This is where the big kerfuffle happened. The women were all upset, since Ubah saying such a thing was beyond insensitive given Brynn’s history. Then Ubah got super upset and claimed she never knew Brynn’s history, or she never would have said it. The fourth wall was broken all over the place – although I did question whether or not that was some kind of ratings Hail Mary pass – and Brynn suddenly wasn’t sure if Ubah actually knew her history. It literally took me the rest of the show to follow this, so don’t feel bad if you’re lost. Apparently, this was some kind of friendship breaking point, but TBH, I didn’t think it was all as big of a deal as they were making it, especially since the only two people involved should have been Ubah and Brynn.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

It was the Reunion and literally ten minutes in, everybody was talking over each other and Andy was yelling. However, kudos to the women for their gorgeous outfits – the ladies in shades of red. Whitney said Bronwyn didn’t claim her publicly as a friend, which I thought was really weird. Do we need to confirm friendships on Instagram now? A viewer suggested Heather had become a mean girl when she lost weight, but I don’t think that’s quite it. Heather was always a mean girl (to which she concurred), but IMO, she lost her authenticity along with the weight and becoming a Housewives clone, like Jen in RHONJ. It ended with Todd and John looking like they might get into a battle royale.

Southern Charm

Whitney said the coffeemaker was so complicated, you needed a Ph.D. in astrophysics to run it. Highly doubtful. You probably just need to not have a hangover. It was much of the same, the usual if you’re friends with them, you can’t be friends with me. Austen was sour grapes over Craig wanting to move on from their friendship and podcast, but hey, sometimes it just isn’t forever. I have plenty of friends I’m no longer friends with for various reasons, but that just means we went in different directions. It’s not an insult. I think if Paige had really wanted to make it work with Craig, she could have been bi-state or however you put it. But again, sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Shep wanted to be Jimmy Buffet without the guitar, living in the Bahamas with Sienna, and in his interview, he said, you don’t have those fantasies if you’re not serious about it. I dunno about that. Molly is the MVP so far, playing the euphonium – i.e. tuba – in the Charleston Concert Band, coincidentally directed by her high school band teacher. Imagine. An actual interesting person with an interesting focus. Or even any real focus. She said, music changes you, as all art should. She also thought tantric sex was too much work. Same. JT tried to tell Taylor some truths about Gaston, but she wasn’t having it. I get covering her ears and going, la-la-la, but I’d want to know. JT wasn’t understanding that there’s a time and place and that wasn’t it.

Southern Hospitality

Emmy had another breakdown and I’m over it. Although she did bring Tammy Faye raccoon eyes, which I applaud.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night on Peacock. This is an interesting foray into what goes on behind the scenes of a sketch comedy show that’s been on since the beginning of time. Or at least the mid-70s. A four-part miniseries, it’s not the most exciting thing in the world, but it’s interesting to see how a show with that kind of longevity works. Personally, I think I’ll enjoy Saturday Night – which I’m hoping to catch this weekend – more, but this still held my interest. I’m there for a documentary, and the third episode focusing only on the More Cowbell sketch is well worth it.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/snl-50-beyond-saturday-night-secrets-cast-writers-cowbell-1236110501/

https://www.thewrap.com/snl-50-beyond-saturday-night-ep-morgan-neville-interview-peacock/

Wicked at the movies. Yes, I actually ventured out in the world to see it, since I’d won a ticket in some instant win internet contest. There was no way I was battling children for a seat, so I skipped the first weekends after it opened. Then I got whatever was going around as a Christmas gift, but I managed to squeak in before it was gone entirely. I’m glad I did, since this really should be seen on a big screen. As I’m sure you already know, it’s magnificent. I’d never seen the Broadway play and the score isn’t my favorite, but the story is bittersweet, the casting is perfection, and it’s beyond lavish with the special effects. One of my favorite parts was the reunion of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, the original Elphaba and Glinda on Broadway, and I wondered how it felt after all those years. My only question was, in a world where there are bears who are nannies, a goat who’s a professor, Munchkins, peacocks who wear hats, flying monkeys, and a place literally called Emerald City, why is a green woman considered strange?

https://collider.com/wicked-oscar-nominations-best-original-score-john-powell/

https://deadline.com/2025/01/cynthia-erivo-best-actress-wicked-oscar-nomination-interview-1236266022/

https://deadline.com/2025/01/ariana-grande-best-supporting-actress-oscars-interview-1236265006/

🏆 Awards Corner…

It’s that time again. The Academy Awards will be airing March 2nd.

https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/2025-oscar-nominations-see-full-130201914.html

🦁 Four-Legged News…

🦛 Yet another pygmy hippo influencer.

https://people.com/how-to-watch-pygmy-hippo-poppy-livestream-8773741

🐩 I never thought about this. It’s kind of weird.

https://www.cuteness.com/1737908/dog-breeds-dont-exist-why/

🐶 Best Bowl in town.

https://people.com/puppy-bowl-2025-record-breaking-142-puppies-8772392

🐕 I love a special needs pup.

https://people.com/11-puppies-with-special-needs-puppy-bowl-2025-8772912

🥠 Quotes of the Week

We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams. – Jimmy Carter

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. – Jim Rohn

When someone tells me no, it doesn’t mean I can’t do it, it simply means I can’t do it with them. – Karen E. Quinones Miller

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. – Thomas Edison

He has all the integrity of a coat rack. – Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot), General Hospital

All progress takes place outside the comfort zone. – Michael John Bobak

It is far better to light the candle than to curse the darkness. – William L. Watkinson

I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions. – Stephen Covey

The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge. – Thomas Berger

Don’t be a Gino. – Jasmine Pineda, 90 Day Fiancé: The Last Resort

🐻 Hibernation Mode…

Until next week, stay safe; stay driving extra carefully in weather you’re unfamiliar with; and stay not waiting for later, since sometimes later is taken away.

January 17, 2025 – Michael Gets the Final Say, Soap Suds, Not My Reality, Weekend Watching, Plus One, Getting There, Gate in the City, Exit Interview, Good Guy, Awards, The Players, Hebodomad Quotes & Things

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

Monday:

Willow said she was in charge of Michael’s medical care, and Michael went into cardiac arrest. Portia said Willow had the right to make decisions about Michael’s medical care, and Drew told Carly and Sonny, hand over the kids and they’d have access, like the trashbag he is. Carly said, Drew was pushing things to point of no return, so Willow would have no one to turn to but him. Nina finally talked Sonny into giving the kids back, and Willow thanked Drew because she’s an idiot in love with a trashbag.

Cody wanted to invest in crypto, but Tracy said it would be better to set his money on fire. Alrighty then. But later, Cody told Brad to call his Aunt Selina because he had a sure thing bet on football after he’d talked to Kai for 3 minutes. Later, Portia said she wanted to use Brad’s talent for bending the rules to find out what patients had gotten digitalis without it being prescribed. Brad was a busy guy this week.

Lulu told Laura about what happened in Prague and asked when Laura was going to tell her that Anna had shot Charlotte. She said she thought Dante was right in that she’d led the shooter to Valentin. Laura promised to help Lulu find Charlotte again.

Isaiah told Lucas that they could choose to do something, and risk Michael dying, or do nothing, and Michael would definitely die. He chose to do something and gave Michael a medication that counteracted the digitalis. Isaiah told Portia what happened with Michael, and they came to the genius conclusion that, someone in this hospital is killing people with digitalis.

Tracy and Stella talked about Monica, which was like a knife to the heart knowing that Leslie Charleson had passed away.

Tuesday:

Lucky talked to a woman from the Port Charles Redemption Mission and found out Cyrus’s focus was on patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Lucas told Elizabeth about Michael and how Isaiah had given him digoxin immune FAB to counteract the digitalis. Lucky said they had to figure out what connected all the digitalis victims and why Cyrus would want them dead. Jason told Sonny that whoever planted the bomb in the penthouse would try again.

Willow told the kids that Michael was in the hospital. Dante told Sonny what happened in Prague. Josslyn conferred with Lucky about Cyrus.

Drew showed up at Nina’s and after she slammed the door in his face, she let him in.  She said he’d moved Willow away from what she loved and valued with the sick hold he had over her and gave him the business. She said Drew wouldn’t know love if it jumped up and bit him in the ass.

Tracy said she’d help Lulu if she had a solid lead, but Lulu needed to be more strategic and less emotional. Jason suggested the clinic in St. Petersburg where he’d been held hostage for Michael’s treatment, since Ava had her burns treated there. Sasha helped trick Willow into letting the kids go to the main house, and Tracy said, they weren’t leaving. Martin argued with Tracy about letting the kids go with Willow. Felicia said Jason and Carly had to leave the ICU, and Nina told Sonny that he had to go to the Quartermaines and get the kids from Tracy.

Wednesday:

Lucky and Elizabeth went to Beradino’s where Cyrus works. Josslyn went to Anna about Cyrus stabbing Dex. Alexis spoke to Drew about Sam’s wishes for Scout. Drew decided to commute to DC rather than live there. Carly wanted to call a press conference and out Drew, but Felicia told her not to make it worse than it already was.

Sonny talked to Tracy, who told him that Drew was the enemy and to handle him accordingly. Trina and Gio watched the game at The Brown Dog, and Emma showed up. (Since she was nuEmma, I didn’t realize she was also the pickpocket in Rice Plaza.) Cody was also at the bar. Alexis said Scout needed consistency and stability, and Drew said, maybe Willow was what she needed. Alexis wondered if it was less what Scout needed, and more what Drew needed. Tracy reminded Sonny that Michael was AJ’s son.

Felicia needed a drink, and Sasha was her designated driver. Elizabeth chatted Cyrus up while Lucky was in the bathroom, then suggested to Lucky that she volunteer at the mission. Carly asked Jack about the Boronsky clinic, and he said it no longer existed, but the burn expert was now in Germany. Carly badgered him about getting Michael into the German clinic. Jason showed up at the Quartermaines and asked Tracy to please give the children back. Tracy said it was the first time he’d ever said please, but then pulled the Monica card. Alexis suggested Scout move in with her, but Drew wasn’t having it. Anna questioned Cyrus, but Josslyn blew everything and alerted him to the investigation. Tracy said, for once in Jason’s life, don’t choose Sonny, choose his family, and he did.

Thursday:

Chase got checked out and Brook went to see Dr. Navarro. She told the doctor about her teenage pregnancy, and Dr. Navarro told her that it should have no impact on her trying to get pregnant now. Nina suggested Willow compromise, but Willow was all about what Drew said. She thought Nina was asking her to bow down to Carly and Sonny, but Nina said Willow needed empathy. Lay down her weapons and maybe they’d lay down theirs. Tracy said using the kids as bargaining chips wasn’t going to fly. They were where Monica wanted them and that’s where they were staying. (Keep twisting those knives.)

Kai ended up in the hospital and Cody had to pay off his bet. Carly told Tracy about transferring Michael to the burn expert, and asked how far Tracy would go if it was Ned. Tracy said, as far as she had to. Nina told Ava what was going on and that Willow’s life was in shambles because of Drew. Dante talked to Cody about Lulu, and Cody said, Dante could keep doing what he was doing and get shut out, or do things Lulu’s way.

Trina visited Kai in the hospital. Tracy sympathized with what Carly was going through as a mother, but it was about what Carly had put the family through for years. Tracy suggested Carly and Sonny find another way. Nina discussed the Willow/Drew situation with Ava. Selina tried to get Cody back in the game, and Dante wondered what was up, but Cody told Dante that he was okay. Alexis talked to Curtis about Drew. Nina wanted to get Willow thinking for herself again, and Ava said, tell Willow who he really is. When they were falling in love, he was having sex with her mother. Chase told Tracy that she couldn’t keep Wiley and Amelia from Willow and this had to stop. Willow asked to see Carly.

Friday’s Enchilada:

In her office, Brook leaves a voicemail for Chase that she’s done with her appointment and Dr. Navarro was super positive. She should get her test results soon, but maybe they should do something to relax, like spend a weekend in New York City. Have dinner and see a show, just them, and they can have baby making time. They’ll figure it out tonight. She loves him. Lulu comes in and asks if she’s interrupting.

Chase says, Tracy can’t keep the kids from their mom, and Tracy says, not him too. He has no idea how many times she’s had this conversation today. She was hoping for a break. He says, they’ve been through a lot, and he’d like to think they could be honest with each other. She says she’s going to stop him. He makes her granddaughter so happy, and she holds his entire family in the highest regard, so she’s going to put this as nicely as she can – butt out.

At the gallery, Lucas shows Ava a video on this phone, and she says, look how well Avery is dancing. Her costume is perfect. Lucas says, Avery was so proud. She wanted to make sure he recorded the rehearsal for Ava. She thanks him for bringing it, and he says he wanted to return the favor for her talking him down on Christmas Eve. She says, of course (🍷). She can’t stop thinking about the fire at Sonny’s. She’s so grateful Avery wasn’t there. She asks if they know the cause yet, but he says, all he knows is that the police are looking into it.

At Beradino’s, Cody looks at a cashier’s check and says he was so close to making his dreams come true. He sees Drew and walks over to him. He says he’d tell Drew that it’s nice to see him, but he’s far too sober to lie.  

Jordan starts a conversation with Martin near the bar, but then sees Drew and Cody and says she’s needed over there. Drew asks if Cody is disappointed that there’s’ nothing left to blackmail him with, and Cody says, you smug… Jordan tells him, don’t even think about it.

Outside Michael’s room, Willow says she’s glad Carly is here. She was hoping to talk with her and Sonny. Sonny joins them, and Willow thanks them for getting here so fast. Sonny says, it sounded important, and Willow says she knows they’re upset, and she understands why. She’s hoping they can find a way forward that works for them both. Carly asks if that means she’s going to let them see their son.

Chase tells Tracy that he’s had a front row seat for everything that happened with Michael and Willow because he’s friends with them both. He’s begging her not to make it more difficult. She says, it’s not difficult; it’s simple. The children are going nowhere. He tells her that everyone says she’s acting out of spite, but he doesn’t believe that. He saw how she helped his dad and Finn. Through all the snarky and sarcastic comments, he knows nothing means more to her than family. He knows she thinks she’s helping protect the kids, but he promises she’s only causing more drama.

Brook asks if Lulu needs help, and Lulu says she was looking for Maxie, but she can hang out in the waiting area. Brook says, she’s better off texting. Maxie is meeting with a vendor, and her afternoon is booked solid with interviews. Lulu says, that’s why she’s here. She was hoping to be one of them. Brook asks if she’s applying for a job at Deception.

Ava tells Lucas that she knows firsthand what Michael is going through. It’s a horrible, painful ordeal. Have they arrested anybody for setting the fire? Lucas says she doesn’t think so. Anna and Chase were at the hospital to question Michael, but he was in no shape to talk. Ava says, he was injured because of Sonny, and Lucas says she knows what she’s thinking, but Avery is completely safe. He sees her all the time. If he had doubts about Avery’s safety, he’d tell her. She says, of course (🍷) she worries about her little girl. She’s glad Lucas gets to see Avery so much and came to show her the video. Will he do one little favor for her? He says, it depends, and she says, give Avery a hug and tell her how much her mama loves her. He says he’ll do it tonight after work. He’s headed there now. She asks him to send her the video and he says he will. He leaves, and Ava makes a call. She says, I need to see you right away.

Cody tells Jordan that he has no beef with the congressman, but it seems the congressman might have one with him. Drew says he does, but Jordan says, neither of them need to get into anything in a public place. Cody should go. Cody says, gladly. He’ll see Drew around. Have a terrible day. He hopes Jordan’s day is a pleasant one. He leaves and Drew says, nice to see Jordan’s got his back, and she says, it looked like he was the one escalating things. What was it about and what did he do?

Willow says, the situation between her and Michael is being made more difficult with everyone getting involved. Michael wouldn’t want her separated from their kids. Carly says she had the kids and sent them to the Quartermaines, and Sonny says, she did what she thought was right at the time. Carly says she had no idea Tracy would hold them hostage, and Willow says, the kids are worried sick about Michael. Carly says, Wiley called her. He’s wondering what happened. Willow says, he called her too and asked when daddy was coming home. Carly says, Sonny made a good faith effort, and Sonny says, but Tracy refuses to let them go. Carly says, Tracy has no right to keep them and can’t legally. They’ll figure out a way to get them back. Willow says she hopes Carly is right. She needs to trust her own judgement about what’s best for her children and Michael and she’s come to a decision.

Ric walks into the gallery and asks, what’s so important? Ava says, Avery’s life is in danger. He needs to petition the court for an emergency custody order for her to have Avery full-time. Ric says he thought Carly had Avery, and Ava says she assumes he heard about the fire. It was no accident. Ric says, of course (🍷). Any time there’s a catastrophe in Sonny or Jason’s vicinity, it’s some attacker seeking retribution. She says, what if Avery had been there? She could have been burned like Michael. It’s terrifying. He says he’s sorry. As a father, he understands, but the court won’t see it as a reason for an emergency change in custody. Avery was nowhere near there at the time of the fire. She was with Carly and Donna where she has a bedroom and where she’s lived most of her life. Ava says, if he won’t file it, maybe she should find herself a lawyer who will. He says, that’s her right, but they’ll tell her the same thing. Wait until the right moment to make her move. She tells him, says the absentee father, and he says, it’s no reason to get personal. She says, sorry, but she could never understand how he could stay away from Molly for so long. It kills her not seeing Avery every day. He says, one of his biggest regrets is not being able to be a presence in Molly’s life, and she says, what if he was in her place and Molly was in danger? What would he do? He says he’d move heaven and earth to keep her safe, and she asks why he’s telling her the opposite. He says he wants her to fight, but be smart. Her current custody battle with Sonny is going to be very long and very expensive. She says she may be overextended at the moment, but it’s not like she’s living in the street, and he says, then why hasn’t she paid him?

Lulu says she’s here to apply for the job, and Brook says, it’s an assistant position. Wasn’t Lulu’s last job as a reporter at The Invader? Lulu says, that was four years ago. Deception needs an assistant, and she needs a job. They don’t all have trust funds. Brook says she doesn’t care what Lulu thinks, but every job she’s had, outside the music industry and in, she’s stood on her own and earned her own paycheck, Lulu says, like when Brook was paid to seduce Dante? (very mature) and Brook says she did that and it was a lapse in judgement. She and Dante have moved past that. Lulu says she didn’t get the memo, and Brook says she lives in her family’s home with her husband. Dante and Rocco live there too, and they all get along great. They let go of something that was a lifetime ago and they’ve moved on. Lulu says, Brook is being condescending, when Maxie comes in. She says she sees they’re getting along as great as ever, and Brook’s phone dings. After reading a text, she says she needs to go home and talk to her husband. She leaves Lulu in Maxie’s capable hands. She trusts Maxie will make the right decision. She leaves and Maxie asks Lulu what they were arguing about this time.

Tracy says she didn’t realize Chase had a psychiatric degree to go with the police badge, but he says he doesn’t need a degree to read her. She says, since he’s an expert in her behavior, what is she going to say next? and he says, she’s going to argue that Willow can’t be trusted because she cheated on Michael with Drew. Drew will never be a real Quartermaine, and even though she doesn’t like Michael, he’s a real Quartermaine. Family’s got to stick together. How did he do? She says she’s delighted they’re on the same page. Now drop the entire thing. He says, there’s one more thing. She left out something important. Wiley and Amelia are Michael’s kids, but they’re also Willow’s kids, and they need their mom.

Willow says, Michael would want both Carly and Sonny to be with him during this and she won’t stand in their way. Carly thanks her and looks through Michael’s room window. Sonny thanks Willow and says he knows how difficult the decision is. She says she’s not sure how it got so messy, and he says, they’re both grateful she’s letting them see Michael. She says, Michael has done so much for her. He gave her the gift of family and supported her dreams even when they changed. All she wants is for him to get better and be with the kids again. Portia joins them and says she needs to discuss the next step in Michael’s recovery with Willow. Willow looks at Carly.

Tracy says, Chase is disposed to favor Willow, seeing her as a well-meaning angel led astray, but Chase says, that’s not true. She says she watched the congressman’s hubris in taking Willow and Wiley to the inauguration. She saw the pictures. Willow, Wiley, and Scout, the perfect readymade family. He had no concern whether Michael or Monica would see the photos. Chase says, Michael and Monica are adults. This is about two kids who need their mom. Tracy says, their mother does not put them first. She does.

Lulu says, a miracle recovery doesn’t pay the bills. She needs a job. Maxie says, at Deception? and Lulu says she saw the ad, but she didn’t want to put Maxie on the spot, so she tried other places. The Invader is under new management, and nothing else panned out. Maxie says, she’s overqualified, but Lulu says she just needs to make money. Maxie asks if she’s interested in cosmetics, and Lulu says, not really, but she wasn’t into fashion and she was still good at her job at Crimson. Maxie says, what about the Brook factor? and Lulu says she promises to be on her best behavior working with Brook. Maxie says, she’d be working under Brook, and Lulu asks if she’d be Brook’s assistant. Maxie says, since they hate each other, she doesn’t see it going well, but Lulu tells her that she wouldn’t say hate. It’ll be fine, but it’s weird that Brook and Maxie are BFFs now. When did that happen?

At the hospital, Cody says, just the man he didn’t want to see, and Brad pulls him aside. He says he told Cody that he’d text. Coming to where he works is not cool. Cody hands him the check, and says, it’s most of the money he owes Selina. Brad says, most of it? He placed a bet with his aunt for Cody and not he can’t pay up? Lucas sees them.

Ava says she’s working to secure funds. She’ll get the money. Ric says, she could work harder, and she says she’s good at what she does. She’s in communication with some long-term clients who are experienced collectors. She just wants her daughter with her. He says, she needs to dig in for the long haul. They both know how Sonny is with his kids. He’s territorial and had his share of custody battles and won. At least Avery is close by and safe. Watch and wait. Patience is the key. Sidwell walks in and asks if someone can assist him. Ava says, of course (🍷), and introduces herself as the owner of the gallery. She asks what she can do for him, and he says he’s brand new to Port Charles and stumbled on her lovely gallery. He’s Jenz Sidwell. She says, it’s nice to meet him, and Ric introduces himself, shaking hands with Sidwell. Sidwell says, since Ava owns this fine establishment, perhaps she can guide him to which painting is worthy of his attention.

Jordan asks what Drew was trying to accomplish starting a fight, but Drew says, Cody approached him. She tells him, stop looking innocent, and he says he just doesn’t trust Cody. She asks who he does trust. Look around. Is there anyone currently talking to him who isn’t on his payroll? He says he’s guessing Curtis filled her in on what happened at Aurora, and she says she’s aware of the issue. He says he hopes she’s aware that he was giving Curtis a promotion, a huge raise, and complete control of the wellness division. She says, that’s his problem. It’s not about the money. It’s about how he treats his friends who were always loyal. Curtis values honesty and Drew lied. Drew says he never lied, and she says she stands corrected. He misled Curtis. He let Curtis think he was going to be CEO. It’s less betrayal in his books, but in hers, it’s semantics.

Portia says she’d like to speak with Willow in private, but Willow says, Carly and Sonny can hear too, so they can all discuss options. Portia says, good. They got Michael a bed in the Johns Hopkins burn unit. It’s the best hospital in the country and vacancies are rare. Willow says, he’ll be close enough to visit, but Carly says she might have a better option.

Chase says, Tracy can get herself in trouble if she doesn’t turn over the children, but she says she’s not afraid of litigation. He says he’s talking about criminal charges, and she laughs. She says, the carrot didn’t work, so now he’s bringing out the stick and threatening her. Good luck with that. She’s faced down worse. Brook walks in and asks why Tracy is picking a fight with her husband.

Maxie says she’ll have to fill Lulu in on her relationship with Peter August another time over a bottle of wine. And when she says, bottle of wine, she means several shots of tequila. Lulu asks what that has to do with Brook, and Maxie says, Brook was there for her in a big way. Lulu tells her, if you say so, and Maxie says, Lulu may not want to hear it, but Brook is a good person. She’s flawed and made questionable choices, but who hasn’t? Brook has been a good friend. Lulu says she’s glad Brook was there when Maxie needed someone, but something about Brook always rubs her the wrong way. She plays at being Bensonhurst, but has the Quartermaine name and fortune to fall back on. Maxie says she’s not buying that. Lulu is obviously upset, but she doesn’t think it’s about Brook. What’s really going on? Lulu says, Charlotte.

Ava says she’ll show Sidwell around. Ric was just leaving. Ric says he’d like to stick around and watch her work, and she says, art is subjective. What speaks to someone depends. She asks Sidwell to tell her something about himself so she can steer him in the right direction. He says he’s an importer looking for a North American base, so he moved to Port Charles. Ric asks, where’s his house? and Sidwell says, it’s an old, gothic residence on Spoon Island. Ava says, he bought Windymere? And he asks if she’s familiar with it. She says she used to live there, and Sidwell laughs.

Cody says he thought he had luck, but it was not his lady, and Brad says he’s $5000 short. Cody says he’s good for it, and Brad says he’ll tell his aunt. Maybe they can work out something. Cody says he’s never going to use the term sure thing again. He jinxed himself. Brad says he’s sorry, and Cody says he’s got to go. Brad walks over to Lucas and says, it’s not what it looks like. What he saw isn’t what he thinks.

Jordan tells Drew that she’s the last one to cast stones. TJ’s father was her husband’s best friend. The issue isn’t how he chooses his relationships. It’s how he treats the people in his life. Drew asks if she realizes that Curtis was just as deceptive in stealing Aurora, but she says, he led Curtis to believe he’d be permanent CEO, then went behind Curtis’s back and promised the job to Michael. Drew says he was trying to make peace, but it was a futile effort, and she says, stop. She doesn’t want to hear his explanations. He dug a hole for himself and if he doesn’t start making amends, he’s going to be alone and isolated. She believes he’s a better man than his recent actions indicate, so she’s going to give him some advice. Start mending fences. She leaves, and Martin joins Drew. He says he guesses it’s safe to assume the appropriate amount of rain has gone down on him from his constituents.   

Carly explains there was a groundbreaking procedure to remove scar tissue in a burn unit used by the Boronsky Clinic in St. Petersburg, Russia. It’s now closed, but the doctor is working in Germany. Willow asks if she wants to send Michael to Germany and asks if Portia has heard of the procedure. Portia says, no, never, but Carly says, the results are incredible, and Jack Brennan was able to secure a space in the clinic. Sonny asks if they can talk privately, and they step away. He asks why she didn’t tell him before, and she says she wanted to make sure it was possible. Michael can make a full recovery with no scars. He says he’s not sure, it’s so far away, but she says, you can’t even tell Ava was burned. She wants that result for Michael and Sonny has to trust her that this is the best thing. She’ll be there every minute of every day. She gets that he doesn’t trust Jack, but doesn’t he trust her?  

Carly tells Willow that the clinic has had incredible results, but Willow says she doesn’t think it’s best for Michael. He needs to be nearby so they can visit. Portia says she has no information, so she has to advise against it, and Willow says she’s not comfortable with Michael so far away and the doctors not having vetted the procedure. Carly says, he’ll make a full recovery, but Portia says, his burns are quite severe. Carly says, they’ve already seen the results. No one is able to tell that Ava had third degree burns. Willow says, Michael won’t have his family, and she knows Johns Hopkins is a great hospital. It’s her preference. Sonny says he thinks Michael should make the decision, and Willow says, that means waking him up. Portia says, it will cause immense pain, but Sonny says, it’s Michael’s life and he should make the call. Carly says she knows Michael wouldn’t want them to make the decision for him, and Willow says, she’s right. Michael has to decide for himself. Wake him up and let him choose. Portia says, okay, but only one of them can go in and talk to him, and Sonny says, that would be Carly. Willow says she agrees.

Sidwell says, it’s nice he and Ava have Windymere in common. How was her time there? Ava says, it was eventful, and he asks, what made her leave such a magnificent home, if she doesn’t mind him asking. She says she was living there with her husband and they split up, and he says he’s sorry to hear that. She says, he’s being kind, but she’s moved on, and he says he’s glad to hear that. He’s a firm believer in second chances and kismet. How else could you explain him wandering into her gallery? He sees she has the taste and expertise he needs to help him choose the right art to make his new home his own. Ava says she happens to have the perfect painting in mind and steers him to a large modern art canvas. She says, this painting is by talented Greek artist from Crete. He’s a marvelous painter and a talented sculptor. Sidwell says, the light in the study will make this a vibrant addition to his collection, and she says she loves the artist and would love to show him more of their work. They walk to the next room and Ric follows.

Tracy tells Brook that she and Chase disagree. He believes she should give Wiley and Amelia back to Willow and she refuses. Brook says, because of Monica, and Tracy says, the children are Monica’s only saving grace. They put a smile on her face and they’re going to take that away? Brook says, they all love Monica, and Tracy says she’s glad they agree. The last thing Monica needs is more stress. Brook wonders, if Monica asks, is Tracy going to tell her that she needs to be their mother, especially if their father can’t be there for them?

Maxie says she’s happy that Dante brought Lulu home safe, but she’s sorry Valentin ran off with Charlotte. If it was one of her kids, she’d be going crazy. Lulu says she needs to find Charlotte and it’s going to take a lot of money. Maxie says, good thing her stepmom is an heiress who loves her, and Lulu says her mother and stepmother agreed to help her, but they want to wait and see what Valentin’s next step is. She needs Charlotte home now. Maxie says, Lulu never liked waiting, and Lulu says, Maxie knows her well. Maxie says, she can’t galivant across the world when she doesn’t even know the country, and Lulu says she doesn’t know where her daughter is. Charlotte lost four years of life living without her mother. She needs something she can control and the only thing she came up with was getting a job. Maxie says she gets that, and Lulu says, it’s not just the money. She wants to get a place where she and Rocco can live, and Charlotte when she finds her. Maxie says, it makes sense. Lulu was always Miss Independence, eager to get on with life. Lulu says, life has moved on and she’s racing to catch up instead falling farther back.

Drew says he’s not discussing his personal life with Martin, but Martin says, as a survivor of three divorces, does Drew mind if he offers some unsolicited advice? The heart wants what it wants, and you can’t help who you fall in love with. Drew says, exactly. He’s not going to apologize for how he feels about Willow. Martin says, as long as he stays true to his feelings, and does the best he can for himself and for the woman he’s involved with. Drew thanks him and says, that’s actually what he wanted to talk about. They sit down, and Drew says, Willow is in the hospital with Michael, as it should be, but the situation with the children is up in the air. They need to get Wiley and Amelia away from the Quartermaines and back with Willow where they belong. Martin tells him, easier said. Tracy is holding them, and he wonders if there’s a more amiable opponent he could be set up with. Like Stalin or Vlad the Impaler. Genghis Kahn comes to mind. Drew says, Tracy has no legal rights, and Martin says, she’s well-connected with deep pockets and knows how to work the system to her benefit. It’s one hell of a combination to go up against. Drew says, she thinks she’s safe behind the walls of privilege and money, but she’s wrong. He’ll do anything to reunite the children with Willow.

Wearing a sanitary jumpsuit, Carly goes into Michael’s room and says his name. He looks at her, obviously in pain.

Sidwell gives Ava a check and says he’s thrilled with his new painting. He enjoyed their talk on art. Perhaps she can come over and help him with the placement. He’d also love any suggestions on future purchases. She says, it’s her pleasure, and he says, it’s lovely to meet them both. He’ll see them soon he hopes. He kisses Ava’s hand and leaves. Ric says, it was enlightening to watch her work, and she says she barely lifted a finger, but she knows how to close a deal. Ric says, yes, you do, and takes the check from her. She says she just earned it, and he says he appreciates her first payment for his services.

Brad tells Lucas that Cody wanted him to place a bet on the PCU game with his aunt. He didn’t want to, but Cody was persistent, so he called his Aunt Selina. Cody lost and this is his payment to her. Lucas says he sees, and Brad says, once he delivers it to her, he’s not going to see her again, he swears. Lucas says, thanks for telling him, but Brad doesn’t owe him any explanations. Brad says he knows he doesn’t, but Lucas taught him that telling the truth is important, so he wanted Lucas to know. Lucas says he appreciates that.  

Maxie says she knows what Lulu is going through. She’s been there. Lulu says, now Maxie has it all – an amazing career, her children together under one roof, and a wonderful relationship with Spinelli. Maxie says she went through a lot of trial and error. No one trusted her to make her own decisions since she was shown to be flaky. She thinks Lulu is already taking the right steps to ensure the life she wants, and Maxie believes she’ll make it happen. Lulu says she needs to have a job if she really wants to make it happen. Maxie says she needs to know that Lulu can put her history with Brook aside and get along working together. Does she think she can do that?  

Chase says he gets that Tracy has the best intentions, but at the end of the day, it’s not her call. Tracy says, Brook’s husband is brave standing up to her, but she doesn’t understand why he’s defending Willow. Brook says, he’s trying to keep the peace, and Tracy should listen to him. Martin and Drew walk in along with an officer, and Tracy says, back so soon? Holding out a paper, Martin says, it’s an official order signed by a judge. They’re allowed to take Willow Corinthos’s children back to her. Drew tells Martin to ask the nanny to get the kids ready, but Tracy says, it’s a waste of time. She can’t comply. They’re not here. Drew asks where they are, and she says she hasn’t the foggiest. He says, the officer knows what to do, and the officer takes out handcuffs. Chase tells him to put those away, but he says he’s sorry. The congressman wants her arrested. Tracy pulls away and says, don’t touch her, and Drew says, resisting arrest. The officer says, she did touch him, and Tracy says, he’s so going to regret this.

Sonny says he’s glad they were able to come together to do what’s best for Michael, and Willow says, Michael is going through something terrible. He’s lucky that he has Sonny and Carly to fight for him. Not everyone has that kind of unconditional love in their life. Sonny says, they’re the lucky ones to have Michael as their son.

Michael says, mom? and Carly says she’s here. And his dad is out there. They’re here to do everything they can to help him get better, but they need his help. Tell them how to make the choice he needs.

On Tuesday (see below), Willow asks Drew if she ruined her chance of getting Wiley and Amelia back; Anna asks if someone is the one who planted the device in the penthouse; and Ava asks Sonny to do what’s best for their daughter before it’s too late.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/daytime-soaps-preempted-on-monday-january-20-2025

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

The most important story.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-alum-vinessa-antoine-asks-for-help-finding-her-brother

She will be greatly missed. After all, Alan gave her the house. It’s so weird how they must have filmed in advance, yet they’re talking up a storm about her on the show.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-star-leslie-charleson-dead-at-79

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/daytime-stars-remembers-leslie-charleson

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/wally-kurths-heartfelt-tribute-to-leslie-charleson

You never know. On All My Children, Bobby Martin came back after 40+ years of polishing his skis upstairs.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/chad-duell-opens-up-about-his-gh-exit-and-return-plans

Don’t do it. It’s not him.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/cameron-mathison-warns-do-not-donate-to-a-gofundme-in-his-name

💉 A Dose of Reality…

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Once again Gary proves himself to be an idiot. The guests wanted some of the crew to join on a night out, and Captain Glenn, being the decent soul he is, told Daisy, Gary, Keith, and Chase, two drink maximum. And if they came back drunk, they’d forfeit their share of the tip. Gary had 10 drinks. 10. Then got pissed off when the captain called him on it. Classic Gary.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The episode focused a lot on PK and Kyle’s friendship, and Dorit’s reaction. Of course, Kyle is never wrong and while I often think Dorit is wrong – and her reactions are over the top – I can’t disagree with her on this one. If one of my close friends was texting with my estranged husband, they would no longer be my close friend. Kyle whined that Dorit made it sound like she was being inappropriate. Doubtful anyone thinks she’s got it going on with PK, but it is inappropriate for her to be buddy-buddy with her friend’s almost ex. Let’s just call it what it is now – Memegate. Garcelle, Kyle, and Sutton took Erika to Chuck E. Cheese for her birthday. A good time was had by all. It actually looked a lot more fun than any of their formal parties.

Real Housewives of New York City

If I was on a trip to Puerto Rico, I wouldn’t have the bandwidth to argue about a dead pigeon. I’d be too busy swimming in the possibly-less-than-blue water and eating local cuisine. The women did synchronized swimming at Jenna’s instruction. Apparently, she’s quite a fan of it, and it was pretty amusing until Raquel got whacked in the forehead by Jenna’s elbow. That Jenna, always full of surprises. Ubah was out of control, and Erin can’t win. If she fights back, she loses. If she walks away, she loses. As usual, Jenna and Raquel were the voices of reason. Next time, the finale.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake CIty

Heather suggested a fun dinner party game where the women pulled out the worst thing they had said about one of the others on their phone and shared it with the group. As you might have guessed, this didn’t go over all that well, and resulted in tears and Lisa running from the table after someone read something about John. Oh, horrors.

Bonus scene.

Southern Charm

Once again, two men acted like middle school girls – that would be Austen and Craig – while Whitney pretended to be the voice of reason. In her interview, Madison said she and Brett thought that Austen and Craig would be the couple least likely to break up, but it looks like they did. Craig dared to meet with JT, and Austen wasn’t having it, but it was just the opening Craig needed to scrape Austen from his shoe. As little as I like JT, I don’t get why some of them keep harping on him calling Patricia a bitch, when the footage shows clearly that he didn’t, and most of them don’t believe it anyway. Even a broken clock is right twice a day, and sometimes an a-hole is right too.

Southern Hospitality

I just couldn’t even this week, but here you go.

Random Events

BTW, Bill was not happy.

https://people.com/rhonj-star-jennifer-aydin-uninvited-from-housewives-cruise-after-viral-outburst-jersey-mikes-8771411

Amazing timing.

https://people.com/karen-huger-enters-rehab-skips-real-housewives-of-potomac-season-9-reunion-after-dui-8772200

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Borderlands. It was hard to find something that was at least partially positive. There are plenty of worse films, although I actually enjoyed this. Perhaps because I’m unfamiliar with the games. I’m definitely in agreement with the writer that Night Swim was a total waste of time.

https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/movies/borderlands-isnt-the-worst-movie-of-the-year-despite-what-the-internet-wants-you-to-think

Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action. A fascinating look at a man who began as someone I admired, but chose to serve money and ratings rather than the greater good. I’d known about the coaching, but not about the murder connected to the show. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish, and this was just sad.

https://screenrant.com/jerry-springer-fights-camera-action-tv-review/

https://screenrant.com/jerry-springer-documentary-netflix-shocking-reveals-list/

The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin. I’m there for a cult story, but missed this somehow. While this documentary has been around a while, they’ve been showing it recently on TLC, so I caught it. I have some vague memory of her in the news, but had no idea how messy this got. And the hair… What’s with the hair?

https://people.com/human-interest/what-to-know-about-gwen-shamblin-lara-hbo-max-the-way-down/

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/the-way-down-hbo-max-review

🔍 One To Watch…

IMO, Baylen Out Loud is what reality TV should be about. I’m rooting for this girl, and with a supportive family like she has, I think she’ll make it after all.

https://people.com/baylen-dupree-struggles-with-boyfriend-upcoming-air-force-relocation-in-new-tlc-series-8773525

https://www.etonline.com/media/videos/baylen-out-loud-season-1-trailer-tiktok-star-takes-on-adulthood-while-tackling

🤹‍♀️ Upcoming Awaited Seasons…

The latest on The Last of Us.

https://deadline.com/feature/the-last-of-us-season-2-cast-release-date-everything-to-know-1235940502/

While you wait.

https://collider.com/grounded-last-of-us-part-2-documentary-youtube/

An understandable pause for Fallout.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/fallout-season-2-production-pause-la-fires

An Squid Game accident? Really? Highly doubtful.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/squid-game-season-3-release-date-2025-netflix

👠 They’re Not Wrong…

Sex and get away from my front door in the City.

https://ew.com/carrie-sex-and-the-city-apartment-iron-gate-tourists-8774330

☕️ His Final Thoughts…

I never did understand Eraserhead, but he did some fine work.

https://people.com/david-lynch-expressed-hope-over-divided-country-in-one-of-last-interviews-exclusive-8776098

🥇 A Mighty Fine Man…

It’s such a shame about his health issues, but he’s blessed to have such a wonderful family to support him.

https://people.com/bruce-willis-seen-in-public-dementia-diagnosis-la-police-officers-8775698

🏆 Awards Corner…

No surprise, GH is in the running.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/2025-writers-guild-awards-daytime-drama-nominees-announced

The BAFTA noms.

https://ew.com/2025-bafta-awards-nominations-full-list-8774808

🐕 No Gutter Balls Here…

I want them all.

https://ew.com/puppy-bowl-2025-meet-adoptable-dog-players-8773005

https://paradepets.com/pet-news/puppy-bowl-players-2025-super-bowl

☃️ Quotes of the Week

Just because my heart is beating doesn’t mean I’m alive. – Ish Williams (Alexander Ludwig), Earth Abides

There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man (and woman) which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus. – Blaise Pascal

You don’t break habits, you replace them. – Coach Mike Bayer

If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan (Or kick it down.)

Make failure your teacher, not your undertaker. – Hilary ‘Zig’ Ziglar

Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people. – Spencer Johnson

She took every bit of power I had and left me with household appliances. – Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), Agatha All Along

🌉 Taking a Sentimental Journey…

Until next week, stay safe, stay warm, and stay valuing honesty.

January 10, 2025 – A Killer Is Revealed, Soap Suds, Reality Recaps, Weekend Watch, Award Corner, Great Moments In New Year’s Eve, Best Bowl, Cardinal Number Of Quotes & You

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

Monday through Thursday bites and whole enchilada Friday.

Monday:

Portia confirmed that Elizabeth was suspended and told Cyrus that he was no longer welcome at the hospital again. Trina helped Josslyn pack up Dex’s apartment. Jack was pissed at Colette because she was supposed to tail Valentin, not take a shot at him. He looked at the Rice Plaza footage and saw Cyrus stab Dex.

Michael filed for full custody after seeing that Willow was with Drew in DC. Willow told Drew that Michael was punishing her for being with him. Lucy welcomed Sidwell to Windymere after he bought Spoon Island. They flirted, had champagne, and she gave him some gifts, including her book. Both Laura and Willow separately talked to Martin, and Martin told Laura that Willow would have to be smarter if she wanted to keep her kids.

Carly was supposed to have dinner with Carly at the MetroCourt, but had to cancel. Jack ended up joining her instead. Sidwell literally skipped through the Windymere living room to the terrace and watched as Sonny’s penthouse exploded. Sonny and Jason were in the hallway, and the only one inside was Michael, who turned into a fireball.

Tuesday:

No soap, funeral.

https://abc7ny.com/post/general-hospital-new-episode-tuesday-preempted-abc-news-special-report-former-president-jimmy-carters-state-funeral/15765536/

Wednesday:

Drew and Willow got busy while Jason told Sonny to call 911 and smothered the fire on Michael with a blanket. After Michael got to the hospital, Isaiah worked on him with Lucas assisting.

Carly enjoyed her time at the MetroCourt with my husband… I mean, Jack.

Josslyn wanted to stay in the place her and Dex were happy, but Trina told her that she wasn’t just grieving; she was angry. After Trina left, Josslyn looked at Dex’s gun a lot. Curtis told Nina that taking Wiley over state lines was a federal crime. She wanted to bring Willow and Wiley home, but he advised against it.

Brook was upset because she wasn’t pregnant yet, even though she was doing all the right things, including eating pineapple which she didn’t like. (Who doesn’t like pineapple?) We found out Brook had been pregnant before and given the baby away. She thought God was punishing her, but Lois said, God didn’t work that way. Chase discussed things with Sasha, who told him that he and Brook should just relax.

Lucas told Carly, Sonny, and Jason that Michael had 3rd degree burns over 40% of his body. He was critical and they didn’t know if he would live. Nina called Willow with the news.  

Thursday:

Drew showed up at the hospital since he’s an idiot and a creeper. Curtis advised him to get lost. Martin wanted Willow to petition the court for sole custody, but she said, absolutely not. Diane advised Carly to get the kids away from Willow. Nina told Willow that she shouldn’t show up at the hospital, but she went anyway. She and Josslyn got into it.

Jason said the explosion was like nothing they’d ever seen, and Sonny said they had to find the culprit and stop them dead in their tracks. Anna and Chase investigated the penthouse. Anna called Jack to come and help. Jack said, the Bureau had come across the same type of incendiary device before and thought he could be of assistance. Sonny said they’d find who did this and retaliate, and Jason said he was all for that (me too), but he also wanted to get Danny out of the line of fire.

Sonny and Kristina had a father/daughter moment on the roof of GH. Molly showed up at the hospital to offer support. Carly prayed in the chapel that God spare her son. Drew walked in to give his sympathies, but she wasn’t having it. He whined about what he’d done for her, and she hit the nail on the head telling him that he had a hero complex.

Michael opened his eyes.

Friday…

On the roof at GH, Sonny looks up and tells Morgan that he’s worried. Can he watch over his brother? Please help him. Isaiah comes out and joins him.  

At Beradino’s, Alexis sees Ric and says, her bad day just got worse. He says, nice to see her too. Despite her many flaws, she has great taste in restaurants. We see Cyrus puttering around, and Alexis asks if Ric can eat somewhere else, but he says he’s meeting a client. However, if she feels compelled to leave, don’t let him stop her. He encourages it. He tells the hostess, Lansing, party of two.  

Lucy brings Sidwell to Bobbie’s and tells him that there are other charming spots, but for an authentic Port Charles meal, this is the spot. They have the best burgers, chili, and everything in between, but no matter what, always, always, always order the fries. He says he’ll remember that and tells her that her energy is contagious. She suggests having made such a charming new friend has made her happy, and he says he appreciates that. She says, now back to the tour. Bobbie’s is named after a special, dear friend of hers, the late Bobbie Spencer. He asks if she said Spencer, and she asks if he knows the Spencers. He says, no, but he’s sure they’re lovely people, and she says, unfortunately, Bobbie passed away not long ago. She was influential in the community. She was a nurse at GH, owned this place, and was a leader for charitable causes.

Colette asks if there’s any new business, and Jack says he just spoke to Anna. She asks if it was about Valentin, but he says, no. It was about the fire that put Michael Corinthos in the hospital. The WSB may bear some blame.

At the MetroCourt, Felicia says she’s glad she was available to take Maxie and Sasha to lunch, and Maxie asks to what they owe this unexpected treat. Felicia says she needed a break from the hospital stress, and Sasha says she can imagine. Felicia says she loves her job. It’s rewarding, but it’s also difficult and draining. She sees people during the hardest times in their life and it’s challenging. She witnesses their pain, not just the physical pain, but the emotional pain. Maxie says, the patients are lucky to have her and so are they, and Felicia says, sometimes it’s hard for her to leave work behind, especially if she knows the patient. Like now, with Michael Corinthos. Sasha asks, what happened with Michael?  

Portia tells Jason that Michael is in shock. He has severe burns, and the main issue is to manage his pain. He’s on the highest dose of morphine and they can’t bring him to full consciousness for too long. It’s too much. Jason says, Michael came to, and he’s sure Michael knew it was him, and Portia says, good. That’s a great sign. He’ll likely be heavily sedated or unconscious for the next few days and it’s absolutely the best thing for him right now.

Carly tells Drew that her son is upstairs in excruciating pain fighting for his life. Does that even matter to him? Drew says, she came at him when he was speaking the truth. She needs to go make a list of the things Sonny’s done to harm Michael, but he can see it on her face that she already knows. Does she have any regrets about way back when she decided to let Sonny raise Michael instead of AJ? Was it worth Michael’s life? She says, nothing is worth Michael’s life, and he says he knows she loves her son, but none of what she did was what was best for Michael. It was all about what she wanted.

Jack tells Colette that the incendiary device left almost zero evidence. It was a unique weapon like a device the WSB designed years ago. He knew what the hardware looked like even before Anna described it. Colette says, it’s highly classified, and he says, it was meant for Sonny, not his unfortunate son. They need to find out who wanted Sonny eliminated and had access to the weapon. She says, there could have been a security breach. Maybe the specs were leaked and sold to the highest bidder. He says he’s making it top priority, and she asks if it has anything to do with the Rice Plaza footage, but he says, that has to do with his other project.  

Willow tells Josslyn that no matter what’s happened between her and Michael, she loves him. He’s the father of her children and she’s praying he recovers quickly. Josslyn says, did she forget she cheated on Michael with his uncle, and they had sex in the nursery? How skeevy can you be? Nina joins them and says, that’s enough. Leave her daughter alone.

Sitting with Ric, Ava says, it’s not like she’s destitute. The gallery is doing well, and she had money of her own before she married Nikolas. She was planning on moving the gallery to a new location and purchased a building. She was going to renovate it and have it up and running before she sold the building the gallery is in now. He says, she’s paying for mortgages on two commercial properties? and she says, unless the divorce settlement money is returned to her, she’ll have to sell the building and finding a buyer won’t be easy. He says he’s sorry, but the only way she’ll see any of the money is if the estate grants it, and she says, by estate, he means Alexis. He says, as trustee, Alexis is the only one who has the power, and Ava says, the money isn’t even Alexis’s. It’s in trust for Ace. He says, until Ace is of age, Alexis can decide how it’s spent. Considering Ava was involved in Alexis’s disbarment and Kristina fell out Ava’s hotel room window causing the death of her baby, the chances of Alexis gifting her are pretty slim.

Diane joins Alexis and says she’s represented Michael’s family for most of his life. What happened is unimaginable. She can’t stop thinking about it. Alexis says, Michael has always been so good to her girls over the years. She respects him for that. Diane says, he’s a wonderful man, and Alexis says, Kristina adores him and she’s reeling. She’s had so much loss lately. Michael has to pull through. Cyrus listens in.

Felicia says she assumed they heard, and Sasha asks why Michael is in the hospital. Felicia says, there was a terrible accident at the penthouse. Michael is in the burn unit and in critical condition. Sasha says she needs to go see him, and Felicia says, of course (🍷). Maxie asks her to text or call if there’s an update, and as she leaves, Sasha says she will.

Sonny says he comes up here to think sometimes, and Isaiah says, it’s good for that. Sonny thanks Isaiah for everything he did for Michael when he brought Michael in, and Isaiah says, of course (🍷). He has a lot of experience with burn victims from his time in Africa and he’s glad to help. Sonny asks about the percentage of recovery and tells Isaiah to be straight with him. Isaiah says, it’s serious, but GH is doing everything in their power to treat Michael and alleviate the pain. How is Sonny feeling? All the stress could complicate his condition and possibly make it worse. Sonny thanks him for his concern, but says he can’t think about himself. Isaiah says he understands that Michael is the only thing on Sonny’s mind, but he has to take care of himself too. Sonny asks if Isaiah has kids, and Isaiah says, not that he’s aware of. (Ha-ha!) Sonny says, when he does, he’ll know the love for his kids can get him through anything.  

Carly tells Drew not to preach to her about selfishness. He had sex with Michael’s wife in the nursery where his daughter plays. Did he think about Michael? Or did Willow’s hero worship give him such a high that he couldn’t control it? Drew says she can’t understand his and Willow’s relationship. What’s between them is real. She asks if that’s what he tells himself, and he says, it’s more real than what they had. (Ugh. I hate people who argue like this. Like all of a sudden it was never a good relationship to begin with. It’s so immature.) Carly laughs and asks if that was supposed to hurt her. It didn’t. He had sex with her daughter-in-law, the mother of her grandchildren. Now she sees him for who he really is. He did her a huge favor when he dumped her. He says, good. He’s a lot happier away from her too. He walks out of the chapel. (Quick. Get that man a bonnet, diaper, and baby bottle.)

Colette asks about Jack accessing the Rice Plaza footage, and he says, Josslyn asked him to because she wants to find the person responsible for stabbing Dex. Thanks to the footage, now he knows who it is. She says, mystery solved, but to what end? He can’t use top secret footage to solve a civilian case. He says, of course (🍷) he can’t. But now that he knows who Josslyn is looking for, he can leave a trail of breadcrumbs and see how well she follows them.

Nina says, Josslyn has no right to speak to Willow that way. Her husband was just in a horrible accident. Josslyn says, Michael is her brother, and nothing she said was anything less than the truth. Was there anything Willow didn’t use Michael for? Nina says, Josslyn is just like her mother, and Josslyn says, thanks. She could say the same thing about Willow right now. Nina can’t stand to be called out on her crap. On the surface, they’re both so sweet and friendly, but underneath, they’re lying liars who lie. Stay the hell away from her brother. She walks away.  

Lucy says she and Sidwell had sort of discussed Mayor Laura Collins. She’s actually a former Spencer and has two Spencer children. Sidwell says, there are a lot of them in Port Charles, and she says, quite a few and very notable. He says, she knows everything and everyone in Port Charles really well, and she says, she seems to be doing all the talking. She knows she’s doing all the talking. He has to share something about himself. He says, she handled his purchase of Spoon Island skillfully. What else does she need to know? She says she hardly thinks the transfer of information captures a person. From what she read, he’s not currently married, but does he have a couple of former Mrs. Sidwells running about? What do she and Port Charles need to know about the newest resident? He laughs.

Maxie tells Felicia, it’s awful. Michael has always been good to her. She can’t imagine what the family is going through. Spinelli is going to be devastated and poor Jason. He’s got to be losing his mind. Felicia says, Michael’s injuries are severe, but it’s still possible for him to recover, and Maxie says she’s going to send every positive thought his way. Felicia says she hopes Sasha is okay. She seemed upset and stressed after she heard the news. (Well, of course. < 🍷>) Maxie says she knows Sasha and Michael were together at one point and stayed good friends, but her reaction did seem out of proportion. It’s probably pregnancy hormones. Felicia says she wants to tell Maxie how much she loves her, and Maxie says, why? Is there something wrong? Felicia says she’s fine. Don’t worry. Her work as a patient advocate has given her a new perspective. Working with people who are grieving and people in hospice who don’t have much time left, they all say the same thing over and over. Their biggest regret is not telling the people in their lives how much they love them. Her and Maxie’s relationship hasn’t always been easy, but she’s glad they’ve moved past it. She doesn’t want a day to go by that she doesn’t let Maxie know how much she loves her. Maxie says she loves Felicia too, and takes her hand.

Sasha looks into Michael’s room window and cries. Jason arrives, and she asks, what happened? All she heard was that there was an accident. He’s going to be okay, right? Jason says, they don’t know yet.

In the chapel, Carly says, please let Michael recover. He’s such a good man and has so much to live for and so many people who love him. Sonny comes in, and she asks if there’s an update. He says he went by Michael’s room to talk to Portia. Jason was with him and Michael woke up, but they had to sedate him because he’s in so much pain. Carly covers her face with her hands, and he says, the doctor said hopefully they’ll find out something soon. She asks how it happened, and Sonny says he doesn’t know any more than he did last night, but whoever planned this is after him.

Willow thanks Nina for defending her, and Nina says, Josslyn is a bully and a hypocrite. Don’t listen to a word she says. Willow says she thought that they’d come together to support Michael and the kids through this tragedy, but Nina says, Josslyn is a lot like her mother. Their first instinct is to lash out. No empathy, no compassion, just rage. Willow wonders if she can get some alone time with Carly, but Nina says she doesn’t think it’s a good idea. Willow says, they were close once. Carly walked her down the aisle when she married Michael. She cares… Nina says, cared, past tense, but Willow says she doesn’t know. Nina says, unfortunately, she does. Carly sent Diane and a social worker to the apartment and took custody of Wiley and Amelia. Willow says, how? and sees Drew come out of the elevator. She runs to him, throwing her arms around him. She says he has to help her. Carly has taken the kids. Drew looks at Nina.

Josslyn literally bumps into Jack at the hospital, and says, sorry. He says, it’s fine, and asks how Michael is. She says, the same. He’s in pain and it’s horrible. He says he’s very sorry, and she thanks him for bringing her to GH last night. He says he was glad to help, and she says she’s headed to grab some air. He says, before she goes, he has an update to share with her about who stabbed Dex.

Ava says, Ric is a fantastic lawyer. He got Heather Webber set free and got her cleared of any wrongdoing in Kristina’s accident. There’s got be something he can do. He was married to Alexis and knows her so well. He has to be able to use that to his advantage somehow.

Martin comes into the Baradino’s and says hello to Cyrus. Cyrus says he’s grateful Martin came to see him, and Martin says, that’s because when Cyrus calls, he picks up the phone. Cyrus should try it sometime instead of dodging his calls. Cyrus says he’s been doing the Lord’s work. The holiday season has been busy. He needed to see Martin because GH is trying to restrict his access to patients. Martin asks what that has to do with him, and Cyrus says he wants Martin to put a stop to it. His patients need him. Martin says, there are plenty of places Cyrus can do the Lord’s work if GH doesn’t want him there, and Cyrus says, if the law won’t help, the Lord will provide a path for him to continue his work. The Lord has ways the legal system knows nothing about. Diane comes by and asks if Martin has a moment to discuss the Corinthos custody case, and Martin says, when he’s done with his brother, they can have a chat. Cyrus says, it’s fine. They’re done. He’ll leave them to their business. He moves along with his non-Lord’s work.

Ric goes over to Alexis’s table and says, may I? He sits down, and she says, you may not. Seeing he’s not moving, she heaves a sigh.

Josslyn tells Jack that she wants to hear everything, but she’s confused. She thought there was no footage from Rice Plaza. Jack says, it’s true they have no footage, but he has a lot of resources. He called in a favor from the PCPD and got the witness list from Rice Plaza on the day of the assault. She says, that would help immensely, and he says he’ll forward it to her right now. She thanks him, and he says he suggests she speak to the witnesses. Ask questions and piece the scene together. Unless it’s too much for her to handle. Then she can always hire a private investigator. She says she’s going to do it herself. It’s what she owes Dex. She looks at her phone and says she received the list. She even knows some of the people. He says he hopes one leads to the answers she’s looking for, and she sees Felicia at the reception desk. She says she thinks she already knows where to start.

Carly says, Drew was just here and said what happened was her fault for bringing Sonny into Michael’s life, and Sonny says, Drew has no business judging her. Don’t listen to him. She made the best choice she could for Michael at the time. She tells him that he’s saying that with such confidence, and he says, it’s not like he doesn’t know the feeling. It’s not the first time he’s put Michael in danger or Michael has been fighting for his life because of what he does. He was supposed to protect him from all this. She says, he didn’t know what would happen, and he says, neither did she. She says she just wants Michael to be okay, and he says he does too.

Sasha tells Jason, it’s horrible to see Michael like this. She and Michael never had a real break-up. Everything that happened with Willow, Wiley, and Chase took their lives in different directions, but the love is still there. Jason says he gets it. Sometimes life doesn’t work the way we plan. She says, Michael stood by her when everyone else hated her. When her mother told her that Robert was her dad and she and Cody broke up, he found time to comfort her when his own marriage was falling apart. He’s such a good man. Jason says, the best, and Sasha looks in the window again and cries.

Willow asks how Carly can take the kids, and Nina says, Diane brought Chase and a social worker and this court order. She shows Willow the paperwork, and Willow says she thought even though Michael filed for divorce, they’d figure it out through mediation. Drew says he just had his head ripped off by Carly because she found out they spent the night together in DC. Clearly, she wants revenge. Willow says she can’t believe they’re talking about Carly taking revenge through her kids, and Drew says, it’s a valid order. Nina says, they need to petition the court for an emergency custody hearing, and Drew says he can call in a favor, but in the best case, it won’t happen until next week. Willow says she can’t be without her kids until next week. Michael will be in the hospital a long time and the kids will be scared without either of their parents. Nina says she understands what it’s like to be without your baby. There’s no worse feeling. But they can’t defy the court order. It will work against them in the long run and there’s no recourse at the moment. Drew says, maybe there is.

Sidwell tells Lucy that his last love left him feeling wounded. It seems she was using him to get her hands on inventory. Lucy says, that’s absolutely horrible, and he says, it’s a hazard of his profession. He doesn’t think she needs to hear more detail.  She says she loves details and nothing he could say would bore her. He says she’s too kind and he’s happy to repay her hospitality with lunch. And the knowledge she imparted about Port Charles will prove invaluable in helping him acclimate. She says, it’s been a pleasure. If there’s anything else he needs, don’t hesitate to ask. They clink coffee cups.

Diane asks Martin when she can expect a response to the divorce petition, and he says he assumed it would be put on pause after last night’s events. She says she understands, but unless instructed otherwise, she’s going to proceed with her client’s wishes. And if his client thinks she can be galivanting up on Capitol Hill with her son and her husband’s uncle, she needs to think again. He says, they’ll have to see how it shakes out at the custody hearing, and she says, or they can spare the upset if his client makes a compromise now. He says, a brave attempt. Now if she’ll excuse him, he thinks he should get back to his brother. He looks around, but Cyrus isn’t there.

Ric tells Alexis that the money belongs to Ava. She’s entitled to pain and suffering for the emotional duress she suffered when married to Nikolas. Alexis says she knows a thing or two about emotional duress having been married to Ric. Ava has mistaken her for an ATM. It’s not her money. She’s just the trustee. Ric says, she knows the Cassadine money ruins lives, like with Stephan and Nikolas. Even if Ava got all of what Nikolas gave her, Ace wouldn’t miss it. Alexis says, despite her reservations in giving it to Ace, Ava is not going to see a penny, and he says, if it was anybody but Ava, she’d be singing a different tune. She says she’d like him to leave. She enjoys the food here, and staring at him is making her lose her appetite. He leaves.

Carly tells Sonny, hindsight is a funny thing. You look back and see everything clearly and it’s easy to question your decisions. He says, they’re just torturing themselves here and can’t change the past. She says, it would be nice if they could. She was thinking about if she had to do it over, knowing what she knows, would she do it differently? He says, of all the wrong turns they made, there’s one thing they did right – their kids. Michael, Morgan, and Donna, they’re amazing kids. She says, Michael is special, and Sonny says, he is. She says, they have to present a united front. Their strength will be Michael’s strength. Sonny says he’s going to check on the doctors. They’re going to go through this. Hit it face on as a family. He takes her hand, and she says, yes.

Willow asks what other recourse she has, and Drew says, even though she filed for separation and Michael filed for divorce, they’re still legally husband and wife. If Michael made her his healthcare proxy, that’s still valid. She’s holding the cards. Michael is badly injured, a lot of decisions will need to be made about his healthcare, and Carly and Sonny think they’re in charge. Nina asks if he’s suggesting using the fact that Willow is Michael’s wife as a bargaining chip to get the kids back, and he says, exactly. She can deny Carly, Sonny, or anybody else access to Michael. Willow says she would never do that. Things weren’t great between her and Michael, but Michael is a good person and an amazing dad. Even after everyone saw the video, he let her take the kids so they could be with her. She’s not going to pay him back by keeping his family from him. Drew says, it’s Sonny and Carly that she’s up against, not Michael. Carly is angry about them being together, and it could be the only leverage she has to get her kids back.

Jason tells Sasha that Sonny and Carly are on their way back from the chapel and suggests he give her a ride home. She says she probably shouldn’t drive this upset and thanks him. They leave.

Sonny asks, how’s Michael? and Portia says, his condition remains the same. Carly asks if there are any long-term burn recovery units she recommends. They’d like to get him set up as soon as possible. Willow pops out and says, there’s nothing to worry about. She’s Michael’s wife and she’ll be making the decisions about his care. She’s the only one the doctors will be talking to. (Wow. She nasty.)

Felicia tells Josslyn that she’s sorry. That’s all she remembers. She wishes she was more help. Josslyn says, even small details matter in cases like this, and Felicia says she did tell Chase there was something weird that she can’t put her finger on. She’s done everything she can to remember why she feels that way, but it still escapes her. Josslyn says, if she recalls it from beginning to end, it might come back. She was at Rice Plaza, picking out a tree with Georgie and James. There were holiday lights and carolers, the college kids fighting before Dex and his partner ran them off. The elevator dings, and Felicia says she sees what it is. It’s the bell. Josslyn asks, what bell? and Felicia says, that’s what she was trying to remember. Cyrus was at Rice Plaza taking donations and he had a bell he was ringing the entire time. Jack listens from the other side of the desk, and Felicia says, when Dex was stabbed, there was no sound. Cyrus had stopped ringing the bell.  

We see slippered feet walk into Michael’s room and gloved hands closing the door and the blinds. Standing next to Michael’s bed, Cyrus says he knows Michael is in terrible pain, but it will soon be over. He’ll be at peace. God will call him home. He puts his hand on Michael’s forehead and says, may your soul be surrounded by divine light. He takes out a syringe and prepares it. He checks Michael’s IV bag, plunges the needle in, and we see that it’s digitalis.

On Monday, Tracy tells Cody that if he invests, that money will be gone; Laura says, Dante did the right thing by going after Lulu; Nina tells Sonny not to waste precious time on this fight; and Isaiah says, Michael will die either way.

I have to say, I didn’t see another digitalis death coming. As much as I hate all these characters being killed off, it is one hell of a storyline.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

This is just horrific. I had to turn off the news the first night. While I know I’d cry over losing my stuff too, if everyone and their pets gets out alive, that’s the most important thing.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/soap-stars-share-wildfire-updates

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/cameron-mathison-opens-up-about-losing-everything

They read the room.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/daytime-emmys/2025-daytime-emmy-awards-rescheduled-to-october

In happier news. Hopefully, this gets enough viewers to stay on the air. Many a decent show has been cancelled because it wasn’t given enough time to build up an audience.

https://ew.com/beyond-the-gates-trailer-first-black-daytime-soap-in-35-years-8762458

💊 A Dose Of Reality…

Here’s what happened all week on…

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Another group of demanding, immature guests, who were – of all people – drag queens, who I would expect more empathy from even on a superyacht. TBH, Cloyce’s consistent inconsistency leaves something to be desired, but they didn’t have to make fun of him. Shame on them!

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Love Boz and her boyfriend Keely. They seem like the perfect couple and it’s nice to watch. Erika and Dorit can both go pound sand. PK blindsided Dorit, saying he wanted a divorce during a 4-hour therapy session. Who has a 4-hour therapy session? I’d be done after 4 hours too. In an actual real non-screaming moment, Garcelle talked about the years she had to give Oliver tough love and how it killed her to not even let him in the house. She did it right though, because look at him now. That’s what reality TV should be about. Seeing the changes. Some of these women also need to get a vocabulary. Erika debuted her new single, Dominos, and it sounded like all her other singles. Like Jennifer said, it’s not going to win any awards for lyrics, but it’s catchy.

Real Housewives of New York City

While I do think Brynn has some good qualities, girlfriend needs to mature. She’s way too into stirring the pot and it’s not a good look. She picked on Jessel for having a penchant for glam. Really? Like she doesn’t?

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

I could barely sit through this. Meredith freaked out when she discovered out Britani was recording the back of a seat during a bus trip, screeching about how sneaky it was. I guess she forgot that Bravo recording them is actually the whole point and there are cameras on all the time. These women do nothing but find things to argue about, and they’re best response to an insult is, no, you. It didn’t sound any better when Heather had to explain what the word nefarious meant. Someone please get them a dictionary. They give me a headache. Except for Mary, who is still the MVP.

I also watched a little of Sold on SLC, and I think the crux of all their problems is the church. No judgement, to each his own, but if it isn’t lifting you up, get out. These people are all adults and feel they have to pretend to be a certain way just so they don’t get excommunicated. It’s doubtful they’re fooling anyone, so I’m guessing as long as they put their share into the collection plate or whatever, it’s all good. Seriously, if it’s making you hate yourself and everyone else, get out.

Southern Charm

Taylor’s picker still seems to be off, but hey, sometimes you need something in the moment that won’t be in your future. I’m more looking forward to next week when JT meets with Craig. Mostly because I want to see how JT makes an ass of himself this time.

This made me feel sad, but I get it.

Southern Hospitality

I still maintain that this show wants to be Vanderpump Rules 2.0, but misses it entirely. For every real moment, like the discussion between Michols and TJ about being gay in Charleston, there’s a ton of screaming, yelling, and heightened drama that belongs in a middle school.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

A Mother’s Instinct. I love the 60s time period, which is why I chose to watch this. But I stayed for the twisty-turny plot and the incredible acting.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mothers-instinct-neon-film-review-2024

Smile 2. I know a lot of people liked the first one, but I wasn’t one of them. It was okay, but I wasn’t thrilled with the ending. I’d seen the trailer for this when I saw Red One, and thought it looked promising. I was right. I actually thought this was better than the first one. This article pretty much sums up why. The costumes were also quite fabulous.

https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/i-watched-smile-2-i-need-to-talk-about-why-horrors-of-fake-smile-got-to-me

The Deliverance. More of a straight on horror film, based on so-called true events. Like both Lovecraft Country and Them, real life horror parallels supernatural horror. It was a captivating ride, capturing the truth of trying to escape poverty, along with the terror of living in a haunted house. Lee Daniels is a master and he snagged Glenn Close. It was definitely worth the time.

Nightbitch. I was looking forward to seeing this and it didn’t disappoint. You don’t need to be a mom to relate either. It gave me all the feels – it was funny, sad, poignant, and joyous. And there was an apology at the end that every man should watch. A bonus for me was seeing Jessica Harper, Janet from one of my favorite films, Richard O’Brien’s Shock Treatment. It was also nice to see an actress aging like a normal human.

🏆 And You Get an Award…

Golden Globe winners.

https://ew.com/2025-golden-globes-winners-full-list-8769343

Golden Globe fashion. Holy! Zendaya looks just like Elizabeth from GH.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/37442/2025-golden-globes-red-carpet-fashion

https://pagesix.com/2025/01/07/style/melissa-rivers-on-the-best-and-worst-golden-globes-2025-looks/

Awards to come. The SAG nominations.

https://ew.com/2025-sag-awards-nominations-full-list-8770586

🎉 Bravo For the New Year…

Including one of my all-time favorite New Year’s Eves – the night Giggy married Grandma Wrinkles.

🐕 Bowling For Pups…

Coming February 11th. Be there or be a cat.

https://www.discovery.com/shows/puppy-bowl/see/2025/get-ready-for-puppy-bowl-xxi-

🪂 Quotes of the Week

Your journey has molded you for your greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. Don’t think that you’ve lost time. There is no short cutting to life. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time. – Asha Tyson

It’s never too late to never give up. – Pamela Anderson

Youth has no age. – Pablo Picasso

If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door. – Milton Berle (Or kick one out.)

It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not. – Andre Gide

Things just tend to accumulate after Labor Day. What can I tell you?Little Edie Beale, Grey Gardens

My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference. – President Jimmy Carter

❄️ Kisses From Heaven…

Join me again next Friday for soap, recaps, what to watch (or not), and other entertainment nonsense. Until then, stay safe; stay helping a neighbor shovel after a snowstorm; and stay telling the people in your life how much you love them. Don’t let that be a regret.

December 31, 2024 – No Soap Football, This Year’s Losses, New Modern Family, Squid Quest, Celebrating Now, Times Square, Back Home, Inclusive Night, Next Year & Just Another

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

No soap. Not even a rerun. Football.

🎭 Roll Call Of the Celebrity Dead 2024…

Those who made their final bow this year.

https://people.com/celebrity-deaths-in-2024-8423852

https://ew.com/celebrity-deaths-2024-stars-who-died-this-year-8421621

🎅 Ho-Ho-Huh?…

I don’t even want to know why, but apparently, LeAnn Rimes is an angel.

https://people.com/brandi-glanville-spends-modern-family-christmas-with-leann-rimes-eddie-cibrian-amid-face-parasite-crisis-8766851

🐙 Quest Of Player 456…

I watched the second season last weekend and it was everything. Well, half of everything. We’ll have to wait for the rest.

https://extratv.com/2024/12/26/squid-game-star-lee-jung-jae-on-gi-hun-s-guilt-and-quest-for-justice-in-s2-exclusive/

🎉 Before the Ball Falls…

Some people are already in celebration mode.

https://extratv.com/photos/image_jpg_20241231_386a66d4c9eb4708a8ba0c4046780bad/

🗽 Drink In the Crazy…

Everything you need to know about Times Square on New Year’s Eve. This is one thing I’ve never done. Probably because my first roommate decided to go, and she said it was a nightmare. Someone spilled beer on her, someone else peed on her shoe (where do you go to the bathroom anyway?), and she said, when the crowd moved, you moved. No thank you very much.

https://www.timessquarenyc.org/nye/nye-landing

🎁 Best Gift Ever…

Even better than a Hallmark movie.

https://people.com/missing-dog-returns-home-christmas-eve-rings-doorbell-8767083

🐕 New Year’s Eve Is For Pets Too…

Pet safety and ways to include them in the celebration.

https://www.petplay.com/blogs/tips/top-pet-friendly-ideas-to-celebrate-new-year-s-eve-with-your-dog?srsltid=AfmBOooEdcuZFsNlMHx5Fc58vTFHaYyv0T8WkfWloLASzCOf32IumO9t

https://www.zoetispetcare.com/blog/article/dog-friendly-new-years-eve

🌅 New Day New Way…

As fun as it’s been to do this every day, the time has come to cut back and move on to some bigger projects. Starting in 2025, on Fridays only, I’ll give you an overview of the GH week, all of Friday’s General Hospital, what to watch (or not), and words of wisdom. It’s not you, it’s me, but I don’t love you any less. And as always, if there’s anything you particularly want covered, let me know.

El Wray sez: Happy New Year!

🎊 In the Days of Auld Lang Syne…

Have a happy and safe New Year’s Eve and join me on Friday for soap and all of the above. Until then, stay safe; stay remembering that you are enough; and stay making every year better than the last.

December 17, 2024 – Port Charles Gets an Unwelcome Visitor, Coming Home, Oscar, Dorit Is An Insufferable Twit, NYC Goes to San Juan, Boy Bye, Simply the Best & Good

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada on Fridays; the other days, who knows?)

General Hospital

Sonny goes to All Saints and tells the pastor that he wants to make his Christmas donation in person. The pastor says, as always, Sonny’s generous donation is appreciated. God bless him and his family. Sonny says, one more thing. He wonders if he can ask a favor.

Martin meets Laura at the café and apologizes for being late. She’ll never guess what happened. She asks if he’s okay, but he says he’s not. Because her Police Commissioner has not only gone rogue, she’s out of control.

On the phone in her office, Anna says, someone saw something that should give them insight into Officer Heller’s stabbing. Keep her posted. Jason comes in and asks why she wanted to see him. She says, once again, she has to ask for his help.

Maxie goes to the stables and tells Cody that she has a gift delivery from his favorite nephew. It’s a holidaygram. Cody takes out a construction paper card decorated with candy canes, and says, it’s an invitation. She says, to his first Scorpio Christmas. and he says he appreciates it, but he can’t make it. She says, he’s ditching them because of Sasha.

In the nook, Sasha says, it’s her first Feast of the Seven Fishes, and Olivia says, if Sasha gets swamped, let her know. Tracy comes in and asks how one can get eggs wrong. These are scrambled and she specifically requested eggs benedict. It’s her stepdaughter’s favorite. Sasha says she’s sorry. It slipped her mind. Tracy says, that’s not acceptable, but Olivia says she’s sure Lulu doesn’t care. Tracy says she cares. She wanted Lulu’s favorite meal, and her request was completely ignored. Sasha says she didn’t ignore it, she forgot, but Tracy says, it’s her job to remember and serve what’s been requested. Sasha says, if Tracy wants eggs, go lay them herself, and walks out.

Brook is looking for Tracy and finds Lulu. Lulu says, no Tracy, just her, and Brook says, surprise.

Lucky brings coffee to Elizabeth’s house and says he remembered that she loves Perks holiday blend. He sees Ric is there, and Ric says he has coffee covered, but it’s good to see him.

Olivia says, Tracy Angelica Quartermaine. If she cost them a cook today of all days… Tracy says, Sasha was derelict in her duties, but Olivia says, it was a miscommunication. Tracy asks if she’s not allowed to give feedback, and Olivia says, she’s not allowed to give abuse. Tracy says, Sasha’s not the only cook. She’ll call the agency and get another one like she wanted to in the first place. Olivia says, during the holidays? It’s crazy hard enough. The kids don’t need more loss. The seven fishes in the other room can’t cook themselves, so make nice with Sasha or she’ll tell Monica, and Tracy and the fishes will be on the curb.

Brook says, Dante told her that Lulu was staying at her mom’s, and Lulu says she is. She was here going over old times with Tracy and Tracy insisted she stay. Brook says she’s glad they were able to catch up. She knows Rocco is happy. Dante too. Lulu says, it’s been great considering their history, and Brook says, it must be crazy to drop back in after all this time. Lulu says, nothing turned out how she expected. Sam and Dante… Brook says, Dante was adrift before they got together. They were a great couple. Lulu says she’s surprised it wasn’t Brook with Dante.

Martin says, Anna has a strange association with Jason, and Laura asks if he’s implying that they did a criminal act. He says he’s not implying. He has a first-hand account from an unimpeachable witness by the name of Martin Grey.

Anna says, as Jason knows, Dex Heller was stabbed and killed. She has to focus on finding out why he was targeted and track the killer. Jason says, she thinks Dex was targeted, and she says, apparently, and she owes the department and the citizens of Port Charles to find out who did it. He was isolated, so she doesn’t think it was a part of something bigger. He asks if she has any leads, but she says, that’s why she’s talking to him. She can’t give this her full attention if she’s chasing Valentin. She’d like him to take the lead in finding Charlotte.

Elizabeth says she told Ric about the situation at the hospital, and he insisted on helping, and Lucky says, of course (🍷). Ric says, it’s clear Elizabeth needs an attorney. She needs to be protected. The hospital’s investigation is going to get messy, and he has to make sure they don’t railroad Elizabeth. Elizabeth says, their legal team is ruthless, especially DeeDee Clark. Ric says, Portia and Terry will be supportive because they’re her colleagues and friends, but the hospital is going to look out for their best interests, and it’s his job to look out for hers. Lucky says, it started with Sam’s death, and Ric says, he doesn’t want the details to get muddled, so he’d like to complete his interview with Elizabeth alone. Lucky can come back later.

Sonny asks the pastor to choose families in need and he’ll cover their holiday meals, presents, trees, and decorations, the whole thing. The pastor thanks him, when Sasha comes in. The pastor asks if he can help her, but she says she just wants to light a candle. The pastor leaves, Sasha lights a candle and sits down. Sonny sits next to her and says he knows why she’s here. He knows what day it is.

Sonny says, today is the anniversary of Sasha’s son’s death, and Sasha says she can’t believe he remembers. He says, Liam was family. Brando was family, as is she. He spoke to the father about saying a mass in Brando and Liam’s memory. She thanks him for remembering.

Cody says he doesn’t want to carol around the Christmas tree with Cousin Sasha, and Maxie says, instead, he’s going to run away, which just prolongs the weirdness. Get over it. He says, and embrace the weirdness? and she says, he and Sasha grew up without families. Now they have one that loves them. Please just consider coming. Tracy comes in and asks if anyone has seen Sasha. Maxie says, hello to her too, and Cody says, Sasha doesn’t come around here much anymore. Tracy says, the cousin thing. Something is off with Sasha. She became irrational because Tracy asked her to remake some eggs. Cody says, asked or demanded? and Tracy says she asked politely. Maxie says, it’s not the eggs, and Tracy asks if she was there. How does she know? Maxie says, today is the anniversary of Sasha’s baby’s death.

Lulu tells Brook not to look surprised. She’s been gone for four years. Did she and Dante never… Brook says, no. And she’s now happily married. Lulu says she heard. Congrats. Chase is sweet and so handsome. Brook says, Lulu’s time is out of whack. Maybe she’s confusing 2010 with 2024. It was years ago that she tried to come between Dante and Lulu… Lulu says, for money, and Brook says, it was not her finest hour, and it blew up in her face. Lulu says she kind of enjoyed that, and Brook says she’s been through a lot and grown a lot. She has a family and husband. She has a life and so does Lulu. Lulu got her life back and should be grateful instead of stuck in the past.

Laura asks, what kind of criminal act? and Martin says, one where Jason forcibly accosted and escorted him to the coffee warehouse. She says, at gunpoint? but Martin says, Jason doesn’t need one. She asks how Anna fits in, and he says, she showed up and he thought it was to rescue him, but it turns out she had Jason round him up. Laura says, if Anna wanted to question him, why not bring him to the police station? and Martin says, because she couldn’t zip tie and threaten him. She wanted to know if he had a lead on Valentin. She asks if he gave her one, but he says he doesn’t know where Valentin is. If he did, doesn’t Laura think he’d have told her? She says she does. He’s here and okay. They didn’t make good on their threat. He asks if her point is, no harm, no foul, and she says, what they did was wrong, but his argument isn’t with them. It’s with her.  

Jason tells Anna to focus on Dex and he’ll track Valentin. She asks, how’s Josslyn? and he says, confused. She wants answers. Anna says, when she first recruited Dex, Josslyn was against him joining the PCPD. She was afraid Sonny would kill him. Jason says, Anna doesn’t think… but she says, no. Josslyn told her that if Dex died in the line of duty, she didn’t want Anna handing her the flag at his funeral. She thinks Josslyn was aware of the worst case, but she’s become numb to all that. He says, she’s doing it again. She’s blaming herself. She says, at least she’s consistent, and he says he was with Josslyn and Josslyn didn’t blame her because she’s not to blame.

Elizabeth says she’d like Lucky to stay. She’d appreciate his help. Ric says, fine. He needs a statement leading up to Dex’s death. Elizabeth says she made a report to the hospital, but he says, if he doesn’t file it, they can’t go forward. Lucky says, he’s acting like Elizabeth has been charged. That won’t happen once he clears her. Ric says, he wants to make sure she doesn’t land in jail, and Lucky says, he wants to be Elizabeth’s hero. Ric says, it’s not cops and robbers. Two patients are dead. Can they focus on that?

Sasha says she thinks she quit her job, and Sonny asks, what happened? She says she was planning a meal when Tracy stormed in, railing over nothing, and she snapped. Sonny says, good for her. Tracy has a habit of going off and she doesn’t like it when someone stands up to her. Sasha says usually, she lets it slide, but today… She loves her job, and she’s used to the Quartermaine eccentricities. She loves to cook, but Tracy’s tantrum seemed pointless, especially today. It reminds her of how precious and fragile life is. She touches her belly and says, no matter how much you plan and are careful, nothing is promised. She wanted to give her baby the perfect life, but she couldn’t.

Maxie says, so Brando and Sasha made the unimaginable decision to take their baby off life support. Maybe Tracy could cut her some slack. She has more on her mind than breakfast. Tracy thanks her for the information and leaves, Maxie says, it makes her appreciate her family. Christmas Eve is for spending time with the people you love and who love you. Think about it. She leaves and Cody sighs.

Anna says she thought Dex was an exceptional cop. She could see his potential. Jason says he’s sure Dex appreciated the second chance post Sonny, and she says, he proved himself. He was at the top of his class, and he wanted it. Jason says, she made him an offer and he made the choice. She knows that and Josslyn does too. Don’t dishonor Dex’s choice by trying to make him a mistake. He’ll let her know if he finds out anything about Valentin and Charlotte. She thanks him and he leaves. She brushes her tears away and makes a call. She says she wants to know if there’s been any progress with the footage from Rice Plaza.

Laura says she’s been pressuring Anna to find Valentin. This goes back to before Lulu woke up. She thought Charlotte should be there when they were going to operate. Then Lulu did wake up and all she wanted was to see her daughter. So she went back and insisted Anna find Valentin. She thinks Anna is feeling the pressure from her. He says, so she kidnapped him. He guesses he should be grateful that Jason didn’t gag him and put him in the trunk of his car. She says, they went too far. She’ll definitely talk with Anna. She’s sorry. She disagrees with how they handled it. She wishes they understood how badly she wants to find her granddaughter. He says, what if someone else could help? and she says, who? He says, their brother.  

Elizabeth says, Lucky was with her when they heard the alarms. Sam died from a lethal dose of digitalis. Lucky says, it likely happened with Dex, and Ric asks why they think that. Elizabeth says, Dex was perfectly healthy. He’d just had a physical for the PCPD. It was a stab wound and a routine surgery. He was in full recovery and there was no reason for him to go into cardiac arrest. Ric asks if anybody else ordered or administered medication to Dex, but Elizabeth says, she’s head nurse, and they have to go through her. She oversees the drug dispensary. Ric tells her that his expert legal advice is to steer clear of General Hospital.

Lulu says, her child is missing and that’s her focus now, and Brook says, Lulu has her sympathy. So go find her. Lulu says, Brook hasn’t changed. She’s self-absorbed and insensitive. Brook says, time stood still for Lulu, but they’ve all moved on. Ask Maxie. Dante comes in and asks if everything is okay, and Brook says, peachy. Lulu says, Brook was catching her up on how much things have changed around here. She needs to take a walk. Tell Tracy that she lost her appetite. She leaves, and Dante asks what that was about. Brook says she tried. She’s glad Lulu is awake and healthy, but she never liked Lulu and Lulu doesn’t like her. Lulu may be the heroine in his story, but she’s still the snarky, self-righteous Spencer she’s always been in hers.

Sonny says, Sasha was Liam’s mother and loved him. She did the best she could for him and in the end, made the best decision for him. Sasha says, Sonny helped her to see that, but he says, she would have gotten there because she loved Liam. She says she still does, and Sonny says, Liam is at peace, and she did that for him with Brando. He’s proud of her. She tears up and thanks him, and he says he hopes she gets the chance again to be a mother. Whoever gets her will be the luckiest kid in the world. He takes her hand.

Brook tells Dante that she showed restraint, and he says, she’s a good person. They’re two good people who don’t necessarily like each other. Brook says, they never will. Lulu can’t forgive her for trying to break them up. God knows how she’d act if she found out about that summer… He says, it’s ancient history. Lulu is having a hard time with reentry after a four-year absence and her daughter is missing. Maybe they should give her grace. Brook says she has sympathy for Lulu and asks if Dante really thinks she’s a good person. He says he does, and she says she’s really happy for him and Rocco.

Lulu goes to the stables and Cody says, hello. She says, oh my God. It’s you. He says, Lulu Spencer, as I live and breathe. Cody Bell at your service. She asks how he knows her name, and he says he’s an old friend of Dante’s. He didn’t recognize her, but it might have been the hoodie. She thanks him for the ride, and he asks what she was thinking getting in a car with a strange man. She says she wasn’t worried. She knew she could take him.

Elizabeth says, there’s no way she’s staying away from the hospital, but Lucky says, this is no time to be stubborn. She says, her staff needs her, and she can still keep an eye on her patients, and Ric says, if the autopsy comes back and they found digitalis in Dex’s system, that’s two improper dosages. It’s not a mistake; it’s a pattern of active harm. If it continues and another patient dies, the open culpability is on her. Does she understand? Elizabeth says, yes, and Ric says he hopes she considers what he said. He’s going to go ahead with this before things go any further. He leaves, and Lucky says, wow. He feels like he needs a shower.

Maxie tells Brook to steer clear of the kitchen. Tracy is in a tizzy. Brook says, that’s going around. Lulu was here one night, and she’s overstayed her welcome. She’s still a lot. Maxie says, so is Brook. So is she. They should start a club. Lulu knew her on the bad side of the Georgie situation. Georgie and Bailey Lou were a surprise. James was planned, but his delivery was dramatic… Did she say something wrong? Brook sits down.

Sonny says, Sasha knows where to find him, and tells Tracy, play nice. He leaves, and Tracy asks if she may join Sasha. Sasha says, if she must, and Tracy sits down. She says she owes Sasha an apology. She’s sorry about the way she spoke. It was rude and insensitive, and she wants Sasha to know she has Tracy’s deepest sympathy. Sasha thanks her and says she accepts the apology. But it doesn’t excuse Tracy’s behavior. They’ve been here before and she gets that she’s not Tracy’s favorite person. Tracy isn’t hers either, but she won’t be Tracy’s punching bag. Tracy needs to understand that if they’re going to move forward.

Lulu says, Cody and Dante are old friends? and Cody says he’s hurt Dante never mentioned him. She says, Dante has a big family and lots of friends. Maybe he’s not memorable. He says, they went to summer camp together, and she says, he went to Camp Cooper? He’s the one who taught Dante to ride a horse. He says, that’s generous. Dante still can’t stay on one. Dante walks in.

Spinelli gets into Jason’s car and Jason thanks Spinelli for meeting him. He’s taking the lead on finding Valentin. Is there any news? Spinelli says, unfortunately, no. Valentin was in Zurich, but after that, he’s evaded Spinelli’s track. Jason asks about the withdrawal from Valentin’s account, and Spinelli says, the account was closed shortly afterward. Jason says, he’s gone dark, and Spinelli says his fear is, now that Lulu’s awake, Valentin has been warned, and he’s gone deeper into hiding. Jason says, then they’ll have to step up finding him.

Martin says he’s reached out to Cyrus, but he’s gone radio silent. He wants to take Cyrus to task about surreptitiously trying to be Lulu’s medical decision maker. Laura wonders, why the secrecy? Did Martin know Cyrus had plans to transfer Lulu to a different facility in South Carolina? Lulu told her. Their brother has a lot to answer for. Martin wonders if there was a way for Cyrus to help out and make up for his past behavior, would he go for it? Like it or not, he’s a powerful man with powerful friends, which tends to come with an extensive reach. Maybe a former contact could lead them to where to find Valentin. He knows Laura wants little to do with Cyrus, so he doesn’t blame her if she doesn’t want his help, but if he can help track down Valentin, it’s worth a shot.  

Sonny shows up at Anna’s office and says he’s saving her a trip. He assumes she wants to talk to him about Dex’s death.

Lulu says, it’s a good thing Dante showed up or she would have to call a Ride Share. They still have those, right? Cody says, they do and that reminds him, she owes him $20. She asks Dante to give Cody $20, and Cody says he could collect it at their next poker game. Dante says he can’t believe Cody was the one who found Lulu, and Cody says, it was one of those rare occasions he was in the right place at the right time.  

Brook tells Maxie that she’s sorry. She’s been trying to get pregnant. She’s monitoring her cycles and doing everything possible, but nothing works. Maxie says, it takes time. She can’t stress about it. Brook says, it’s been months. For the last month, they’ve been very dedicated and she’s starting to worry something is wrong.

Lucky says, there are plenty of lawyers, but Elizabeth says, no one is more invested in taking care of her legally than Ric. She hopes there’s not a court battle. He says he can ensure her that he’ll find out who’s responsible, and she says, someone is accountable. He says, but not her. She didn’t do it. Something is going on at GH and they’re going to figure out what.

Anna asks if Sonny is going to risk not having an attorney present, but he says he doesn’t need Diane. He figures she thought he’d go after Dex. She says, he did threaten to, and he says, that’s up for interpretation. She says, when Dex joined the force, she didn’t think Sonny would kill a cop, and he asks if she still feels that way. She says, a knife in the back in the middle of Rice Plaza isn’t Sonny’s style, and he says he’s glad they’re on the same page. She says, he’s only free because Dex refused to press charges for assault. She’d say Sonny owes him a debt. Sonny says he wants whoever is responsible for Dex’s death found. Let him know if he can help. He leaves.

Laura tells Martin, it’s just a bridge too far. She thinks their best shot is through Anna. She trusts Anna’s motives a lot more than she does their brother’s.

Spinelli says, Lulu was his first friend in Port Charles and introduced him to Jason and Sam. All the years people have counted on him as The Jackal, the assassin of cyber space. This is when it matters. When he finds Charlotte, what is Jason going to do? Jason says he’ll get her and bring her home and make sure Valentin isn’t a problem for anyone again.

Tracy says, Sasha has come out the other side stronger and she respects her. Sasha says, Tracy respects her? Tracy is her employer, and she can accept constructive criticism and direction, but she won’t tolerate disrespect. Does Tracy understand? Are they good? Tracy says, they’re good. Be well. She leaves and a man comes in wearing a cap similar to the one Mike wore. He sits in the back, and from the front pew, Sasha says, thank You for getting me though this day. Please continue to bless Liam and Brando with Your love. Please ask them to watch over this baby. I appreciate all the people You’ve brought into my life, even if I’ve had to let them go. I trust You have a plan. Please keep me and my baby safe. The man looks up and we see that it’s Sidwell.

Tomorrow, Curtis says, it’s his one condition, take it or leave it; Ava says, Nina has to tell Willow before it’s too late; Josslyn tells Trina that she’s the reason Dex became a cop and she’s the reason he’s dead; and Carly says, Jason has had his shot at Drew. Let her have hers.

☃️ Winter Break In Port Charles…

Christina isn’t the only one coming home for Christmas this year.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/william-lipton-returns-to-general-hospital-again

🩺 Catching Up On History…

In case you didn’t know who Oscar was or want to refresh your memory.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/general-hospital-oscar-garren-stitt-136301

💎 Bright Like a Diamond…

I only half paid attention to this, but I saw enough to know Dorit has become a nasty piece of work. Maybe Sutton raises her voice (or yells as Dorit interprets it), but she’s right. Dorit is unhappy with her life and blaming the easiest target. At Kyle’s Denim & Diamonds party, Dorit through the c-word around like it was monopoly money. First at Sutton and then revisiting the time she called Camille Grammer a stupid c-word. Not a f***ing c-word, as Camille had claimed. Since Camille was actually at the party, it seemed to fuel Dorit’s c-word meter even more. Kyle said it felt odd not to have Mauricio as a party co-host, but I’m not sure why. He was always floating around high anyway. The best part was Sutton saying she was trying to get Dorit to listen, and Erika telling her that Dorit hadn’t listened in all these years, so why would it happen now? Truth!

🗽 Top Of the Heap…

I didn’t see much of this (and there were no recaps yet), but the women took a trip to San Juan where Racquel saw her mother after six years. And there was also this.

https://people.com/rhony-erin-lichy-sparks-debate-after-sharing-husband-extraordinary-penis-photo-exclusive-8763047

Andy’s take on the upcoming Reunion.

🍸 No Surprise Here…

Ally has officially packed her bags and is letting James sit in his own sh*t.

🐕 Their Best Lives…

Pets with more followers than you.

https://www.revolt.tv/article/10-celebrity-pets-with-their-own-fan-bases

Golden Retrievers on a better vacation than you.

https://people.com/golden-retrievers-meet-cute-moment-airbnb-scottish-countryside-vacation-exclusive-8761437

❄️ Freeze the Day…

Join me tomorrow for soap, a little reality, and what to watch (or not). Until then, stay safe; stay knowing when to leave the party (if the host is cleaning up, that’s a definite signal); and stay never being abusive under the guise of giving constructive criticism.

December 11, 2024 – Jason Kidnaps Martin, Salty Talk, Parasite, She’s Got It Made, All About Those Globes, VanderNews, Transformed & Wonderland

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada on Fridays; the other days, who knows?)

General Hospital

Curtis asks Jordan the status of the esplanade, and she says, they have to wait until after the new year to get approval. He tells her to hold off. He has a better location and will be able to make it happen when he’s officially CEO of Aurora.

Outside on the phone, Martin leaves a message for Cyrus to call him back. He’s been hearing some disturbing things about him. A hand clamps down on Martin’s shoulder.

Nina tells Maxie that Lulu is rushing to return to the land of the living. Lulu had a meltdown in her office, and insisted she knew where Valentin is. Maxie says, it makes sense to Lulu, and Nina says, time stood still for Lulu, but not for her. She has no idea where Valentin is. Maxie says she’ll talk to Lulu if she can find her. Lulu is a mother desperate to find her daughter. Nina says she understands, but she hopes Lulu understands she’s not the enemy.

Carly says, Jack knows how to get in touch with Valentin, and Lulu says, good. Start dialing. Jack says, her cousin understates his reach, but Lulu says, don’t give her WSB doubletalk and make the damn call. She hasn’t seen her daughter in four years. Jack makes the call. (He’s probably scared. If she’s this feisty immediately upon coming out of a coma, he can’t imagine what she’s like when she’s in top shape.)

Anna tells Dex that he and Loren did everything by the book, but she needs his account. He says, things are blurry because of the anesthesia, but some drunk frat guys got into it over the game. He and Officer Jackson deescalated the situation and he was pouring out the alcohol he confiscated. The next thing he knew, he felt a sharp pain in his back, and he was on the ground. She tells him that Chase said he didn’t see his assailant. Did he hear anything? Dex says, the Christmas fair. Does she think he was targeted because he’s a cop? Josslyn runs in and asks if he’s okay. He says, he’s fine. He was talking to the Commissioner. Josslyn apologizes, but Anna says she’s got everything she needs. She tells Dex, get better, and leaves. Dex asks how Josslyn is doing, and she tells him, don’t tease his way out of this. She’s glad he’s okay. She kisses him.

Maxie says, four years feels like a lot, and Nina says she woke up to a changed world too. She searched for her child and has a lot of sympathy for Lulu, but she can’t help find Charlotte. Maybe Maxie can help Lulu understand that. Maxie says she’ll do her best, and goes to the door, running into Drew who’s coming in. He asks if Nina has a minute, and Maxie lingers in the doorway. Nina thanks her, and she leaves. Drew says he’ll make it quick. He’s making Michael CEO of Aurora. Nina asks, what happened to Curtis? and Drew says, Curtis is out. Michael is in. (Ugh.)

Jordan asks if Drew is keeping Curtis on as CEO. Did he make Drew see the light? Curtis says he talked to Drew and Drew lied to his face. She says she’s sorry. She thought he had a change of heart. Curtis says he gave Drew every opportunity, but he wouldn’t commit, and Jordan asks if Curtis is teaming up with Michael. Curtis says he is, but not the way Michael thinks.

Martin sees that it’s Jason and asks if this is necessary. He does know it’s technically kidnapping and Martin’s sister the mayor may be upset… Okay. Why is he here? Jason says he’ll ask the questions.

Lulu asks why Valentin isn’t picking up, and Jack says, he doesn’t always pick up and there’s no voicemail. She says, Jack could have called anyone, and he says, she has to trust him. She tells him to track it, but he says, it’s a burner phone. She says, he works for the WSB, so she doesn’t believe he can’t, and he says he understands she’s upset, but he had nothing to do with Valentin taking off. She asks why he has the number, and he says, Valentin contacted him. They worked together a long time no and he has no idea where Valentin is. Lulu says she’s finding her daughter if she has to burn the WSB to the ground, and takes the phone. Jack says, the family resemblance is unmistakable. Good evening. He leaves, and Carly tells Lulu, that was the wrong move. Lulu says, don’t tell her that Carly thinks he’s telling the truth, but Carly says she actually does.

Jordan asks if he’s doing it his way, and Curtis says he’s protecting himself and Aurora. He’s not sure Michael cares about Aurora’s success. If she can hold off on the esplanade, there will be a tremendous opportunity for Aurora and the city. She asks if Michael is on board, and he says, yes. She says she’ll slow walk it until she hears from him. She needs to do some last-minute shopping, and Curtis says he appreciates that he knows who he can count on. She says, always, when Portia comes in. She asks if she’s interrupting.

Josslyn says, it’s crazy that Dex got stabbed, and he says, it’s better than being shot and treated with stolen medical equipment. She agrees that it’s better that he’s in a hospital, and he says, not that he didn’t love the twin bed dorm room experience. She asks, how is he? Who did this to him? There’s a knock at the door, and Isaiah says, it’s good to see him awake. He’s here to discuss Dex’s surgery. Dex says, it’s okay that Josslyn is here. She’s his girlfriend. Isaiah says, her boyfriend was born under a lucky star. He’s going to be just fine.

Carly says she’s dealt with Jack a lot and he’s come through every time, and Lulu asks if she thinks he’s honest. Carly says, hell no. He works for the WSB. She thinks he’s being honest about not knowing where Valentin is and the burner phone being the only way to contact him. Lulu says she needs to get the number, and Carly tells her not to go after the WSB singlehandedly. Lulu says, it’s hard to wrap her head around. She went to sleep and woke up to a world she barely recognized. Her dad is gone, and Spencer. She has new relatives, Cyrus being one of them. Her daughter is missing, and she can come to terms with everything except that. Carly says she wants to help. That’s why she brought Lulu to Jack. But he won’t help if she goes after the WSB or calls him a liar. Nina can’t help. She’s gotten and lost a whole new husband since then. Lulu asks, who? and Carly asks if she’d believe Sonny. Lulu says, Carly is holding back bad news, and Carly says she’s sorry to tell Lulu, but when Lulu was in a coma, her mom passed away.

In Jack’s office, Colette says she still thinks they could have utilized the bug to their advantage. They could have given disinformation that led them away from Valentin. Jack wonders what they’d do then, since they desperately want to find him.

Anna asks if there’s been any progress, but Spinelli says, not yet, but he wants to find Charlotte. She says she appreciates his help. She tells him to keep his distance, and goes into the room where Martin is. She asks, what’s going on? and Martin says, Jason just kidnapped him. Arrest him. Anna asks Jason why Martin’s not restrained.

Isaiah says he expects Dex to make a full recovery in a few weeks, and Dex thanks him for everything. Isaiah says he’s happy to deliver good news. He’ll be checking in until Dex is released. Enjoy their evening. He leaves, and Dex says he has a clean bill of health. Why isn’t Josslyn smiling? She says, he still hasn’t told her why it happened, and he says, he was pouring out booze that he’d confiscated when he was stabbed. They snuck up behind him and that’s all he knows. She asks if he hasn’t once thought that Sonny might be behind it.

Curtis tells Portia that he and Jordan were just finishing up. There are exciting possibilities for Aurora’s future. Jordan says she looks forward to it, when her phone dings. She says, Dex is out of surgery and awake. She should head over there. She leaves, and Curtis thanks Portia for coming by. She says she was happy to do it. What does he want to talk about? He says he’s about to take Aurora from Drew and wants her to know why.

Drew tells Nina that Curtis will still be the head of Wellness and he’s going to give Curtis a big bump in salary to show his appreciation. Nina asks if something happened for him to lose faith in Curtis, but he says, it’s a business decision. Michael is the better choice. Nina wonders if he’s trying to assuage his guilt. Curtis is his friend and she’s sure he’d make an excellent CEO. He says, Michael has already proven he can run the company. He’s surprised she’s not on board. She asks why she would be, and he says, for Willow. Doesn’t she want her daughter to be happy?

Lulu tells Carly that she’s so sorry. When did it happen? Carly says, almost a year ago, New Year’s Eve. She’s bracing for this one. Lulu says she can’t imagine a world without Aunt Bobbie, and Carly says she’s sorry to give Lulu another shock. Lulu says, Carly’s mom was a rock for all of them, and Carly says, if she was here, Bobbie would be telling Lulu the same thing she is. Hold tight. They’re going to find Charlotte. She’s a Spencer and Spencers don’t give up on each other. Lulu says, never, when Maxie walks in and says, here she is. Was she ever going to call? She and Lulu hug.

Colette says she thought Jack wanted Valentin to stay away, but he says, circumstances have changed. Lulu desperately wants to find her daughter. Anna, Jason, and Carly are helping her, and now that they found out he can contact Valentin, the proverbial cat is out of the bag. She asks if he wants them to find Charlotte, and he says, out there, Valentin is a liability to the WSB and to him. She asks if they can rely on outsiders, and he says, they have resources and are highly motivated. There’s a good chance they’ll succeed. She says, there are no guarantees, but he says, she knows there are no guarantees in this business. She says she’s concerned he’s not taking the matter as seriously as he should. He should have taken a step back and allowed Valentin to take the fall for Pikeman. He should never have let Valentin get away in the first place.

Jason tells Anna that he thought he would do it the easy way. He didn’t want to make a mess. Anna says, they don’t have time for the easy way, and Martin asks if she’s working with Jason. Why are they threatening him? Anna says, they want to find Valentin, and one way or another, Martin is going to help them.

Portia says, Curtis and Drew are close. How could he go behind Curtis’s back and make Michael CEO? She’s so sorry. He says he’ll deal with that later, but right now he wants to protect himself and the future of Aurora. She says, it’s Drew’s company and Curtis can walk, but Curtis says he founded the Wellness Center, and he’s invested in the company. She asks if he thinks he can trust Michael. Doesn’t he think Michael wants to be CEO? Curtis says he doesn’t know if he trusts Michael entirely, but he can work with him. She asks when he’s going to tell Michael, and he says, in a few days. She asks if that’s why Jordan was here. Is she helping with his plan?

Jordan asks for Dex’s room at the hospital, and Isaiah says he was just in with Dex. She asks how Dex is, and he says, Dex is going to be just fine. She says, that’s great news. Did he do the surgery? He says he did. He can take her to Dex’s room, but he should give her a heads up. His girlfriend is with him. She says she’ll give them a moment and they can talk about him. Since he performed the surgery, she takes it that he decided to sign the contract. He thanks her for her help, and she says she’s happy to be of service. She guesses he’ll be sticking around, and he says he’s now in official residence of her lovely city. She says, on behalf of the mayor’s office, welcome to Port Charles.

Josslyn says, Dex was with Anna when they raided Sonny’s house and there was a gun missing. Maybe Sonny is ticked off about that. He says, if Sonny wanted to get him, it would have been sooner and successful, but she says, maybe he’s biding his time. He says, Sonny gave him his word that he wouldn’t come after him, and Sonny’s word means a lot to him. He doesn’t think it’s Sonny. She says she thought when he left Sonny’s organization and was on the right side of the law, she wouldn’t have to worry about him getting hurt and he’d be safe. (Clearly, she doesn’t know what a cop does.)

Lulu says she was going to call, and Maxie says, they have a lot to catch up on. Lulu says she has a lot to ask. She saw James. He’s adorable and so grown up, like the little man of the house. Maxie says, she should see Georgie. She’s an actual teenager and reminds her of them. Lulu says she and Carly were talking about how much has happened in four years, and Maxie says she didn’t mean to interrupt. Lulu says, Carly is going to help her find Charlotte. She said Nina married Sonny. Fill her in. Maxie says she will, but speaking of Nina, she said Lulu stormed into her office and asked if she knew where Charlotte was. Nina would tell her if she knew. No matter what, they’re going to find her. Lulu says she’s sorry it took her so long to see Maxie. They have so much to catch up on.

Jack says he’s not the one who let Valentin get away, but Colette says, he didn’t stop Valentin either. He says he owed a debt, and it’s paid in full. Unfortunately, Valentin drawing attention to himself is on him. She says, if he hadn’t taken his daughter… He says, Valentin is no stranger to life on the run, but to Charlotte, it’s a lifestyle challenge. She asks if he’s up to something, and he says he may have a way to improve their chances. How long does she think a teenager can go without a phone?

Martin says he doesn’t know where Valetin is, and Anna says, he’s Valentin’s lawyer. He says, they haven’t spoken in months, and she asks how he was paid. He says he’s on retainer and Valentin set it up. He’s the last person who can get in touch with Valentin. Anna says, he knew all of Valentin’s dealings not long ago. She finds it hard to believe he could lose track. He says, that’s the way it is. He can’t give them what he doesn’t have. Charlotte is his grandniece. Doesn’t she think If he knew where they were, they’d have heard by now? Anna says, maybe Valentin made it worth his while, but Martin says, he didn’t. He and Valentin aren’t in touch, and he’d like to get out. He gets up, but Jason stands in front of him, and he sits back down. Anna says, he doesn’t realize the level of desperation. They’re going to do what it takes to find Charlotte. She tells Jason to jog Martin’s memory.

Nina says, Drew framing his betrayal with benefitting Willow is a new low for him, and he says, it will lower the temperature and might save Willow’s marriage. She says she thinks he believes that and he’s betting the company on it. He says he thought they could have an adult conversation where they acknowledge the mistakes they’ve made. He crossed the line, but he wants to put his indiscretion behind him and avoid splitting up the family. She says, he thinks he can buy Michael off, and he says, Michael agreed and knows he’s making amends. Nina says, the only person losing is Curtis, and Drew says he’s just not handing Curtis the keys to the entire company. She says, Curtis believes he’s going to be the next CEO. He’s worked his tail off for months. He says, that’s where she comes in, but she says, oh no. She doesn’t think so. He says, oh yes. She needs to soften the blow.

Curtis says, Jordan is working on McConkey’s esplanade, and he told her what’s going on, and Portia says, before he told her? He says he wanted all the facts before he said anything. It’s hard accepting that Drew would pull this on him, but today confirmed it. He wanted to let her know what’s going on. There will be many late nights, and he needs support. She says, he has it. No matter what. He says he’s not holding anything back and needs people he can trust by his side if he’s going to pull this off. And there’s no one he trusts more than her. They hug.

Lulu says she’s touched that Maxie named Bailey Lou after her and she was meant to be with Spinelli. Thank God she dumped Peter. Maxie says, there’s more to tell her about that, but it’s always been Spinelli. She realized how much he loves her, got out of her own way, and realized how much she loves him too. Lulu says she knows the feeling of true love. One day it’s, that’s the guy I love, and everything snaps in place. She felt that with Dante. Maxie says, felt, past tense, and Lulu says, when she saw him, her heart flipped, but he loved Sam and she’s gone. She can see he’s grieving. Sam’s whole family is. Maxie says, the funeral was heartbreaking, and Lulu says she’s sorry Sam is gone. She owes Sam her life and never got to say thank you. Maxie says, Sam was proud and happy to be able to help. She never hesitated. Lulu says she feels blessed and honored to have a forever connection with Sam. She doesn’t know how Dante can look at her. She knows he’s happy she’s alive, but the woman he loved is gone. Sam would be here if Sam hadn’t been her donor. Maxie says, Lulu’s not to blame, and Lulu says, maybe not, but it was a mess when she went under and it’s a mess now. Some things never change.

Martin says, wait. He doesn’t know anything, and he can prove it. Grab his phone. It’s in his coat pocket. All of his contacts with Valentin are stored in there, all the bank accounts. Anna asks why he didn’t tell them that, and he says he shouldn’t have to. He’s not the one working with an assassin. Does she have any idea how far over the line she is? Anna says, if he doesn’t like her methods, she doesn’t care. Her priority is to find Charlotte and bring her back to her mother, no matter what. She hopes there’s a number on his phone that leads them to Valentin. He says, and if there isn’t, what is she going to do to him?  

Jack says, Charlotte is going to go online, especially when she finds out her mother is awake. She’ll post, like, text, any activity that can lead them to her. Colette says, Valentin isn’t going to let her or they’re both at risk, but he says, Valentin has more than a few blind spots. Charlotte loves horses. Find the names of the people who are caring for them. She also speaks French, so she may use Colette’s language. Have IT comb the accounts to see if they can come up with a location. Colette says she sees the wisdom in allowing Anna and Jason to continue, but why Carly? Anna is a pro and Jason is a recruit, but Carly is a civilian. What does she have to offer? He says, she’ll be useful, and she asks if he’s sure that’s not what he’s telling himself. Doting fathers aren’t the only ones with a blind spot.

Carly comes in where Spinelli is working and says she has news. Brennan found the bug and confronted her. He admitted he’d been in touch with Valentin on a burner phone. Jason says, that’s helpful. She did good. Now it’s time to go. She asks if Spinelli is trying to find Charlotte. She’s not going anywhere. Lulu is her cousin. Charlotte is family. Jason says, Carly should be with her family and not here.

Dex tells Josslyn, most cops go their whole career without being injured in the line of duty. He got it out of the way. From here on in, he’s golden. She says she’s going to keep believing that, and he says he has a few weeks off and she’s finished with finals. Maybe on a beach somewhere, her and him. She says she’s mentally packing her bags, and they kiss. In the doorway, Jordan says she doesn’t really need to talk to Dex now, and Isaiah closes the door. In the hallway, Jordan says, as Deputy Mayor, she wants to make sure her constituents feel safe at the Christmas fair. She’s heading over to the plaza to show her support and prove that it’s still safe… and do some last-minute shopping. He asks if she’d care for some company, and she says she’d love that.  

Drew says, Nina can help smooth the way with Curtis, so he can keep Michael happy. She asks if making him CEO will make him happy, and he says, happy Michael, happy Willow. She says, and he can sweep his betrayal under the rug, and he says he wants to move on. She says, he wants her to help stab Curtis in the back, and he asks, what’s more important? Curtis’s happiness or Willow’s happiness?  

Portia thanks Curtis for bringing her up to speed on what’s going on. She’ll support him with whatever he needs. He says he’s counting on her and Jordan, and she says, what about Michael? He says, Michael could be useful, but from now on, he’s running the show.

Anna tells Martin to pray something is on his phone to help them track Charlotte down, and he says, or else what? She’s going to hurt him? That won’t change anything. It won’t help find Charlotte and won’t change the fact Anna shot her. Anna says, it’s a fact she faces every day. She owes Charlotte and will do what it takes to bring her back to her mother, to her family, and hopefully a decent life.

Jack tells Colette, advice given and received. He’ll take it from here and handle the personnel. They have one chance to intercept Valentin.  Once Lulu finds Charlotte, it’s over, and Valentin will be in the wind and impossible to track.

Maxie tells Lulu, you know what else hasn’t changed? Them. They can do anything if they do it together. She’ll tell Lulu a secret. Spinelli is also working on finding Charlotte, and she knows he’ll find her. Lulu is getting her daughter back.

Carly asks why Jason is dismissing her. She’s the one with the connection to Jack. He listens to her. Jason says, Jack wants her to think he does because he has an agenda, and she says, he delivers when it counts. He saved Jason’s life. Jason says he owes Jack, but he’s not a good guy. Stay away from him. Carly says she trusts Jason’s instincts, but this time, she trusts hers more. Spinelli says he found an account that was accessed 32 hours ago in a Swiss bank. Jason asks if it couldn’t be accessed from anywhere, and Spinelli says, it could, but it wasn’t. Valentin is in Zurich.  

Tomorrow, Tracy says, it’s a Christmas miracle; Carly asks Olivia, what’s going on with Michael and Willow; Nina says, whatever Willow decides, she’ll support her; Michael tells Sasha, that is going to cost him dearly.

🧂 My Lost Shaker Of Salt…

So, no recaps available yet, but this show is getting painful to watch with the same arguments circling the drain and everybody talking yelling at once. Of course, most of it happened at a dinner party in a restaurant. They also tend to argue by just repeating what the other one said, with a minor tweak. For example, Meredith claiming Angie said something-or-other, Angie saying, is that what I said? and Meredith returning with, is that what you said? I swear this went on for ten minutes. The best part of that whole scene was waiter Carlos interrupting to take their drink orders. Like these women need drinks. Once again, I wondered how the waiter felt, but from the look on his face, I’d say, amused.

Bronwyn also got severely bitten by a dog at a dog park. Apparently, the owner was in his car making a call. Unreal. Britani told her, Chanel heals all wounds. I don’t know if that’s true, but I wouldn’t mind finding out.

There was also another chapter to Mary finding out her son was a drug addict. Mary is bringing it as a Housewife this season. She’s been open and focused, as well as funny, a far cry from seasons past.

https://people.com/real-housewives-of-salt-lake-city-mary-cosby-reveals-son-robert-jr-tried-heroin-amid-addiction-struggle-8760172

👠 Maybe It’s Karma…

While it could have been from the food, my guess is that it’s from all the fillers she’s pumped into her face, Botox injections, having fillers removed, more fillers put in, and so on. Something’s got to give at some point.

https://people.com/brandi-glanville-face-parasite-8759671

💎 Here Comes the Bride…

I love her and think she’s the perfect addition to RHOBH.

🏆 They’re Golden…

The nominations.

The snubs and surprises. I was more surprised at the snubs than the actual surprises.

https://people.com/golden-globes-2025-nominations-snubs-surprises-8757516

https://ew.com/2025-golden-globes-nominations-snubs-surprises-movies-tv-8757359

🍸 VanderLatest…

Yeah. I don’t see it happening.

She’s probably looking forward to shaking Schwartz & Scandoval.

🐕 Her Alter Doggo…

I can’t wait to see this.

The feelings.

https://collider.com/nightbitch-motherhood/

The transformation.

https://ew.com/amy-adams-nightbitch-dog-transformation-no-american-werewolf-in-london-moment-8754844

The real puppin’ deal.

https://ew.com/how-nightbitch-team-trained-rescue-dog-named-amy-play-amy-adams-8756459

📜 Making a List…

Drop by tomorrow for soap and whatever sticks. Until then, stay safe, stay being respectful of others’ beliefs about the holiday season, and stay knowing that some things never change.