Tag Archives: Real Housewives of Dubai

Jul20

July 19, 2024 – Lulu Has Visitors, Wave Hill, She’s a Legend, Previewing Dubai, Considering It, He’s the Worst, Arrested Mom, New Dance, Almost Here, Fur ‘N’ Fins, Just Over 8 Quotes & Time

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Carly says she would have lost her mind if she’d seen Jason jump from the footbridge, and he says, then it’s a good thing she wasn’t here. She says, nothing’s better than having him back home. Did she tell him how grateful she is? He says, yeah, and she says, two and a half years for her. She’s never going to be able to repay him for that. He says, there’s no debt, and she says, he gave up his freedom so she could have hers, but he says, no debt. Not ever. Not between them.

Tracy says, no, and we see James standing in the stable doorway. Cody asks what he’s doing here. It’s a little late for him to be out, isn’t it? James says, Grandpa Mac says he can’t take riding lessons from Cody anymore. Mac says he has to go to Two Trees Ranch now. Cody says he’s heard good things about that place, but James says he hates it there. Cody asks if he’s even been, and James says, no. Tracy says, let her ask the obvious question, where’s his mother? James says, at home, and Tracy asks, where’s Spinelli? James says, home too, and she asks how he got here. James says he took a Ride Share.

Josslyn meets Trina at the pool and says, it’s so good to get out of her uniform. Trina says she bets. Is Josslyn ready to head out? Josslyn says, in a minute, and sets her bag down. She has something for Trina. She’s been meaning to give it to her for the last few days. She found it when they were moving. Trina asks, what is it? and after digging in her bag, Josslyn says, it’s this little bird guy. She shows Trina the dove Spencer gave to her, and Trina takes it and says, it’s a turtle dove. Josslyn says she guesses she has to brush up on her ornithology. She can’t believe she knows that word. (I can’t believe I spelled it right on the first try.) She asks if Trina is all right.

Laura sits at Lulu’s bedside and says, her kids are doing beautifully. Charlotte is the happiest she’s seen her in months. She’s just gallivanting all over the globe. And Rocco continues to school her in video games – his words. She laughs and says, little does he know she lets him win half the time. But they’re growing up, and fast. And beautifully. She thinks Lulu would be really proud of the people they’re becoming. As for her – she massages Lulu’s hand – she’s really been missing Lulu a lot lately. She could really use Lulu as a sounding board. She’s got so much going on in her life, she’s got a lot of reasons to need her sweet, thoughtful, receptive daughter. Dante stands in the doorway, and Laura says, sweet girl. That’s got to feel better, doesn’t it?

Cody says, what does James mean, he ordered a Ride Share? He doesn’t even have a phone. He says, Georgie does, and Tracy says, the benefit of having an older sibling. Cody says, or the curse. Georgie ordered a car for him? James says, no. He stole her phone and got one himself. Tracy tries not to laugh, and Cody asks how James physically got out of his house without his mom or Spinelli knowing. James says he climbed out the window, and Cody says, from his bedroom? Tracy says, tell her it’s a one-story house, and Cody says, it is. James says, but it would be cool if it wasn’t, and Cody says, James knows he’s going to have to call his mom, and she’s probably not going to be happy. Tracy says, probably? and James says he’s not happy either. He wants to take riding lessons with Cody, not some stupid ranch. Cody says he knows, and James asks if he did something wrong. Was it too annoying having him here? Cody says, no, not at all. He loves every minute he gets to spend with James. James says, then why? and Cody says he wishes he could answer that, but where James rides and who he rides with isn’t up to him, as much as he wishes it was.

Carly says she just can’t get over Jason doing this for her, and he says, she’s going to have to try. Please. She says, he sacrificed everything, relationships with everyone, and he says he’d do it again. She says, he means that, and he says he does. Because the alternative would have been her paying the price for something she never would have been involved with if it wasn’t for him and Sonny. She asks if he’s saying she’s not cut out for gangster life, and he says, she’s a lot of things – she says, careful – but mob boss should not be one of them. She says she missed him so much, and he says he missed her too, and takes her hand. She says, now they don’t have to anymore.

Josslyn says, that was a gift from Spencer, wasn’t it? (why doesn’t she know this?) and Trina says, it was a set of two. He has… He had the other one. Josslyn says, Trina never told her, and Trina says, it was just their little thing. She just doesn’t understand why. Josslyn says, why what? and Trina says, why it’s still like this. Why it’s still so hard. Why Josslyn giving her a figurine is so upsetting. Josslyn says, because she’s still grieving, and Trina says, but when does it end? Josslyn says, it doesn’t, and Trina says, good pep talk. Thanks. Josslyn says, it’s true. Grief is a ride that you don’t get off of, but the ride morphs. It can change and eventually, it’s not going to be so painful. It can even be beautiful. Trina says she just wants to get there so badly, and Josslyn says, she will.

Dante knocks at the door, and Laura wipes her tears away. He says he can come back, but she says, don’t be silly, and hugs him. He goes over to Lulu and smooths her hair, saying, hey, you. Laura says she was just catching Lulu up about Charlotte and Rocco, and he asks if there were any Ace stories in there. She says, they didn’t get there yet, and he asks how Ace is doing. She says, he’s good. He’s meeting all his milestones, and she thinks he’s settling into life with her and Doc really well. Dante says, he should. He kind of won the lottery with them. She says she doesn’t know about that. They were pretty rusty, but they’re finding their way now. He says he didn’t get a chance to tell her how incredible he thinks what she’s doing is, being a mother to her grandson. She says, it’s not exactly what she saw for herself at this stage, and he says he bets not. She says she loves Ace and he’s family. She’ll take care of him as long as she’s able. He says, it sounds like it’s a no-brainer for her. He doesn’t know if it would be for everyone. She says she doesn’t know about that, but he says he does. She says, who knows? Maybe Lulu will wake up just in time to meet her newest nephew. He says he prays for that every day, and takes Lulu’s hand.

At the stable, Maxie says she can’t believe James snuck out of the house, and James says, she’s the one who took out the screens from the windows. Spinelli says, that was in case of a fire or another emergency, and James says, this was an emergency. Maxie says, seeing Cody was an emergency, and James nods. She says, he cannot, A, leave their house alone without telling anyone; B, steal his sister’s cellphone; C, use it to order a Ride Share. She’s sure there must be a D. Spinelli says, exiting their home via the windows, and Maxie says, there you go. Tracy and Cody must think they’re the worst parents. Cody says he doesn’t think that, and Maxie says, Tracy can refrain from answering that. Tracy says she’s headed back to the house, and Maxie says, speaking of, does she hang out at the stables often? Tracy says, goodnight, and leaves. Maxie says, now that they have the answer to how, let’s focus on why. Why was it so important for James to see Cody tonight? James looks at Cody, who says, it’s okay, buddy. Just tell his mom what he told him. James says, Grandpa Mac says he can’t do riding lessons here anymore, and Cody says he’ll abide by whatever the family says, but he needs James to know the decision isn’t coming from him. He loves teaching James. Maxie says she knows he does, and tells James that nobody loves Grandpa Mac more than she does, but he’s not in charge of where James takes riding lessons. James says he is? but Maxie says, no. She is. James asks if he can keep on taking them here, and Maxie says, that’s a conversation for another day. That is unless she’s decided he’s grounded for life. Spinelli says, then said conversation would be moot, and James asks what moot means. Spinelli says he’ll explain it on the way to the car, and guides James out, patting Cody’s shoulder as he passes. Maxie thanks Cody for calling her. She doesn’t even want to imagine the heart attack she would have had if she went to check on him in his room and his bed was empty. He says he’s glad they avoided that scenario, and she says her too. And she’s glad he’s still here. He says, a promise is a promise, and she says, make sure he keeps it, and leaves.

Trina tells Josslyn that she asked Spencer why he wanted her to have turtle doves. He said, because every time she saw them, she would be reminded of him. So she told him that she was keeping one and gave the other one to him for the same reason, because she wanted him to know she was always thinking of him. Josslyn says, that’s because they’re a pair, a perfect match, and Trina says, yeah, a perfect match. Josslyn sits next to Trina and puts her arms around her.

Laura asks, how are the kids? and Dante says, they’re good. Busy. Everyone’s busy, right? Scout was just saying she wanted to have a visit with Ace. She says she’s sure Ace would like that, and he says, she’s really into this babysitting thing. Not that she’s old enough to be left alone with the kids, but she’s really good at entertaining little kids. Laura says, then she’d be welcome any time, and they laugh. He says, it must be cool having a little one running around the house again, and she says, it’s exhausting. But it’s more fun than she could have imagined really. (I identify, having recently got a new puppy.) He says, it probably gives her an excuse to throw one of her kitchen floor country music tea parties, huh? and she says, he knows about that? He says, Lulu told him all about it. It was one of her favorite things as a kid, coming home from school and seeing everything set up, and Laura says she forgot about that. He tells her that Lulu always said she was the best, most creative mom, and Laura says, she made it easy. He says, now Ace gets to experience that, right? and she says she hasn’t thrown a tea party for him. Who knows? Maybe she should. He says he does have one question though. Why the kitchen floor? She says, easy clean up, and he says, it all makes sense why Lulu is such a great mom. She takes after her own.

Carly asks if Jason has decided how he’s going to get through to Sonny, but he says he’s not sure. Up until now, he hasn’t been able to tell Sonny anything. It just makes him angrier. She says, which is completely unfair, and he says, not completely, but she says, yes, it is. She gets that Sonny wanted answers – they all did – but the fact that Sonny refused to give him the tiniest benefit of the doubt after all Jason’s done for him… Jason says, it wasn’t like him, and she says, nothing Sonny’s been doing lately is like him, but this is good, right? Jason gets to explain everything to him. Where he’s been, what he’s been doing, and why he’s been doing it. Jason says, you know what’s funny about this whole thing? and she says she doesn’t think anything is funny about it. He says, all this talk about transparency and him being able to tell Sonny the truth… It’s going to come down to two words. She says, John Cates. Thank God he’s not going to be a problem anymore. Jason says, John may not be his problem, but he’s Sonny’s.

Maxie and Spinelli bring James home, and Georgie says, what took them so long? And why does James have to be such a brat? Maxie thanks her for staying here in case Bailey Lou woke up. She didn’t wake up, did she? Georgie says, no, and Maxie says, great. And don’t talk to her brother like that. Spinelli says, that tone is reserved for them, and gently pushes James toward Georgie. Georgie says, steal her phone again and he’ll be sorry, and Maxie asks what she just said. Georgie says, it slipped out, and James says he still doesn’t get why everybody is so mad. Maxie says, because it’s not safe to go out alone and get in a stranger’s car, but James says, she uses Ride Shares all the time. Maxie says she’s a grown-up, and Spinelli says, please tell them that he knows what he did was wrong. Maxie says, and that he will never ever do that again. James says he knows, and he won’t, and he’s sorry. She thanks him, and he asks if he’s grounded, but she says, undecided. Georgie says, if she did that, she’d never see the outside world again, and James says, okay, but he really did need to talk to Cody. Georgie says, about riding lessons? and he says, it’s more than that. He thought Cody might tell him the truth. Maxie says, about what? and James says, something weird’s going on, but nobody’s saying. He can tell. Spinelli says, smart boy, and Maxie says, you know what? James is right.

Sasha says she came as soon as she got Cody’s text. What’s wrong? He says, everything.

Tracy walks into the nook to find Gio eating a sandwich. She says she thought Sasha was done for the night, and he says, she is. He made this. She says, really? He just made himself at home in the kitchen. He asks if that’s a problem, and she says she doesn’t know. Did he make a mess? He says he always cleans up after himself. The kitchen’s spotless. She says, it better be, and he asks if she’s hungry. He can make her one too. She says, no. She already had her dinner. He says, so did he, but that was over an hour ago, and she laughs. She says, he must be ravenous. No sandwich, but a cup of tea sounds good. He says, she should have chamomile. It will help her sleep. She says, thanks for the tip, and he says, she’s welcome. She makes her tea and says, he would be smart to be afraid of her. It is her house after all. He says he thought it was Monica’s house, and she throws up her hands. He says, didn’t Tracy’s brother Alan give it to her? and Tracy smiles.

Dante says, Rocco told him how wonderful Laura was with him when he was in the hospital. She was a real comfort to him. She says, he was trying to be strong for Scout. It was so sweet, but he was terrified. Why wouldn’t he be? He says, Rocco told him that she went to the Quartermaines and sat with him and stayed with him. She asks if he told Dante about the video games, and Dante says, he certainly did, about a thousand times. He was very appreciative. As is he. She says, honestly, Rocco is a very special kid. He’s very perceptive and very sensitive. Dante says, thankfully, he doesn’t have that flying off the handle Falconari gene, and she says, or the brash Spencer gene. He’s quiet, she thinks, and treads lightly. He clearly thinks and feels things really deeply. He says, you know who Rocco reminds him of? Her.

Maxie tells James, when Grandpa Mac came home, something happened that upset him. It’s not a secret, but it’s private. Georgie says, that clears things up… Sorry. James asks if Grandpa Mac is mad at him, but Maxie says, no, not at all. Sometimes when people are upset, they don’t want to talk about it. Spinelli says, or they don’t know how to, and Georgie says, Grandpa Mac isn’t sick like Violet’s grandpa was, right? Maxie says, no. Grandpa Mac is fine. He’s just going through something and the best thing they can do is be patient. Georgie says she’s headed to bed, and Spinelli says, sweet dreams. She leaves, and Maxie says, it’s time for James to go to bed too – again. Spinelli says, and stay there this time, and James says, but it doesn’t make sense. What does any of this have to do with his riding lessons? Spinelli says, he can still take his riding lessons. They just might be in a different location. James says, but he wants to do his lessons with Cody. He’s the best. Maxie says she knows. They just have to take a break from the Quartermaine stables for a little bit. James says, until when? Until he’s back in school, the summer’s over, and it gets dark before 5 o’clock? Spinelli says, the timing isn’t ideal, and Maxie says, they know he’s disappointed. Spinelli says, James must be very confused, and James says, very. Maxie says, just give her a little bit and she’ll figure it out, okay? and James says, this stinks. He walks to his room, and Maxie tells Spinelli, yet another thing he’s right about.

Sasha says, James really ordered a Ride Share and came here by himself, and Cody says, he sure did. She says, Maxie must have been so freaked out, and he says, she definitely wasn’t pleased, but luckily, he called her before she realized James was missing. Sasha says, but why? What did James need to see him about? He says, apparently, Mac told him that he couldn’t take riding lessons here anymore. So James was obviously upset, but he’d thought he did something wrong. It killed him. It’s one thing for Mac to take his anger out on him, but to drag James into all of this? Although he can’t really blame Mac. If he was Mac, he wouldn’t want his grandson hanging around him either. But James keeps borrowing this hat. He picks up a black cowboy hat and says, it’s way too big for him. It keeps falling down over his face, covering his eyes; he’s riding blind. But James keeps insisting it’s perfect. She says, because it’s Cody’s, and he says, yeah. He just loves that kid. James is like family to him. She says, James is his family. He’s Maxie’s son, he’s Mac’s grandson, which makes him Cody’s nephew. Cody says, and now James is hurting and it’s totally his fault.

Josslyn asks if anyone knows what happened to Spencer’s turtle dove. Did anyone find it in his things? Trina says, when they were in Paris, he saw that she brought hers and showed her that he brought his too, and Josslyn says, that is beyond sweet. Trina says, he pulled it out of his pocket and told her that he brings it everywhere. Josslyn says, you know how people are always telling you that grief is bittersweet? and Trina says she’s heard that more than once. Josslyn says, Spencer being gone, that’s the bitter part, but he’s also still with Trina, and Trina says, that’s the sweet.

Jason tells Carly, Cates is fixated on Sonny. Cates came to his room, pressuring him for information. She says, about Sonny? and he says, there was nothing about Pikeman at all. It was all about taking Sonny down, and now Cates is using Ava. He thinks she’s Sonny’s next victim and wants to help her keep custody of Avery. Carly says, this is a problem, and he says he knows it is. She says, Cates has already proved he’s like a dog with a bone. If Sonny… He says, that’s why he has to get Sonny to let him back in, so they can figure this out together.

Dante says, Rocco wanted to visit, but his buddy Charlie got tickets to the Woodchucks game, and Laura says, just as well he’s there and not here. He says, is it? and she says she thinks so. It’s hard enough for him to see his mother like this. Dante wouldn’t want him to miss something fun because of it. He says he guesses so, and she asks how often Rocco visits. He says, often enough he guesses, whatever that means, and she says, it means whatever he needs it to mean. He says he doesn’t know what Rocco needs anymore. This just gets harder and harder. She says, for Rocco? and he says, yeah. He just knows his mother being in this bed than he does of her being out of it. He wants Rocco to know Lulu like he does. Strong and funny and energetic. He tells Rocco stories about her all the time, but it feels like he’s talking about some long, lost relative, not his mom. She says she gets that. She doesn’t like that for him either. He says, it gets to the point where, by Rocco coming to see her, he’s doing more harm than good.

Trina says, sometimes she feels so guilty, and Josslyn asks, why? Trina says, because of course (🍷) she loves and misses Spencer, but there are times she’s so mad at him. Josslyn says, for leaving her, and Trina says, he told her that he’d never do that to her. That whatever happened, they’d face it together. Now he’s gone and she’s alone. Josslyn says, she is not… and Trina says, Josslyn knows what she means. She just feels like Spencer lied to her and she knows that sounds insane. Josslyn says, she’s not insane, and Trina says, really? She’s mad at her dead boyfriend. Josslyn says, does she know what Spencer would say? You should be mad at me. I’m an idiot. Trina laughs and says, he would say that, wouldn’t he? (Yes, and he’d be right. I don’t really miss Spencer, and I’m all for Trio.)

Gio suggests Tracy join him, at least while she’s having her tea. She says, all right, and sits down. How’s his sandwich? Besides large. He says, delicious. All that’s missing are the amazing roasted red peppers he used to get on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. She says she thought he was a Brooklyn boy, and he says, through and through, but he went to college in the Bronx. She asks, where? and he says, Fordham University. She says, that’s a good school, and he says he loved it. She asks why he transferred to PCU, and he says, the music program’s better and when they offered him a scholarship… She says, they made him an offer he couldn’t refuse, and he says he’s so happy he’s here, but he does miss the city. She rolls her eyes, and he says, what? She says, New Yorkers call New York City the city, as if there are no other cities around (she’s right, but the whole tri-state area does it), and he says, well, it’s the best one (he is also right). She says, since he’s from Bensonhurst, she’s going to assume Brooklyn is the best borough, and he says, it depends on what you’re looking for. She says, concert halls, and he says, Manhattan. Lincoln Center. She says, really? Better than Carnegie Hall? He says, for him personally, yeah, and she says, huh. Pizza. He says, that’s a tough one. Luigi’s in Brooklyn is hard to beat though. She says, sports stadium, and he says, Citi Field, hands down. She says, and with that goes baseball teams, and he says, the Mets (agreed). He doesn’t look good in pinstripes. She says, so they’ve covered four of the five boroughs. She knows nothing about Staten Island. She’s never gone there. He says, don’t worry. No one does. (Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! I love this conversation.)

Carly says, it’s ironic, and Jason says, what is? She says, by isolating himself and pushing everyone who cares about him away, Sonny’s getting it from all sides. He put his trust in Ava. Shockingly, a bad move. Now he’s about to be consumed with a nasty custody battle. And Agent Cates is willing to use anything to take Sonny down. Jason says, what’s scary is, Cates has hated Sonny for a long time and he’s never had an opening before. Now he does.

Maxie asks if everyone is accounted for, and Spinelli says, accounted for and fast asleep. She hands him a glass of wine, and they clink glasses. She says she still can’t believe James climbed out his window, and Spinelli says, he was a man on a mission and wouldn’t be deterred. She says, that is a very generous and Spinelli way of looking at it, and he asks how she’s doing with all this. She says she’s frustrated… sad… happy… excited... Did she say frustrated? He says, she did, and she says she knows she and Cody don’t share DNA, but he’s family. He says he’s sure Mac will come around, and she says she knows he will. She just wishes he would speed up the process. Not just for himself, but for James too. He says, and for her? and she says she lost a sibling once already. She’s not going to lose another one. He says, she had no control over what happened to her sister, and she says she knows, but she has control over this. She at least has sway over Mac. Think of all the kajillion times he forgave her when she lied to him. He can forgive Cody for this one.

Sasha says, so Maxie shows up… Cody says, with Spinelli, and she says, and they collect James. Did he tell them why he came here? Cody says, he did, and she asks what Maxie said. He says, basically that while she loves Mac, it isn’t up to him to decide where James takes his riding lessons. She says, or with who, and he says, pretty much. She says, that’s good, and he says, how is any of this good? She says, Mac is angry, and he has every right to be, and he says, absolutely. She says, but it doesn’t sound like Maxie feels the same way. And James obviously still thinks Cody hung the moon or he wouldn’t have come here. He says, but it’s Mac’s opinion that matters, isn’t it? and she says, to an extent. He’s having the reaction he’s having. Don’t overreact in response. She really doesn’t think he’s about to be banished from James’s life. Maxie and James clearly have faith in him. And for the record, she does too.

Tracy says, okay, last one. Parks. Gio says, Central Park is amazing for sure, and she says, but he prefers Brooklyn Botanic Garden. He says he’s a bigger fan of the one in the Bronx actually, and she says, New York Botanical? He says, it was right next to Fordham, and he used to go all the time. It’s enormous. So much to offer. But if you’re looking for gardens specifically, Wave Hill is out of this world. She says, never heard of it, and he says, it’s in the Bronx actually, but it overlooks the Hudson River. The view is – he kisses his fingers – and it might be one of the most relaxing places in the city. Sorry. New York City. She laughs and says, there are beautiful gardens here. Her mother gifted them to Port Charles. He says, really. Maybe she could show him sometime. She says, maybe I can.

Trina thanks Josslyn for letting her talk about Spencer and just being patient and understanding. These feelings have her feeling completely confused. Josslyn says she remembers that well. She remembers feeling so all over the place, but they can talk about Spencer whenever Trina wants. She misses him too. A lot. Trina says she hopes she’s not making Josslyn feel like she can’t talk about Spencer. She knows she’s not the only who lost him. Josslyn says, Trina doesn’t make her feel like that at all. She hesitates sometimes to bring him up because she doesn’t know if it’s going to make Trina feel better or worse. Trina says, that changes by the hour, and Josslyn says, how about this? If she brings up Spencer and Trina doesn’t like it, just tell her to stop talking and she will. Trina says, deal, but today is not one of those days. Josslyn hugs her and says she loves Trina. Trina says she loves Josslyn more, but Josslyn says, not possible.

Dante says he sounds like a jerk, not wanting to bring his kid to see his mom, but Laura says, he doesn’t. He says, it feels pretty awful, and she says, of course (🍷) it does. It’s an awful situation, but he’s handling this with grace and strength, like he does everything. But she thinks the question he raised is actually quite important. He asks if she’s got any answers for him, but she says she doesn’t think she has answers. She could offer some advice though, if it’s welcome. He says he’ll take whatever he can get, and she says she thinks Rocco is at an age where he knows what feels right and what doesn’t. She thinks when it comes to visiting his mom, she would leave that decision up to him. Dante hugs her

Carly says, if Jason wasn’t here, she’d be going through this on her own. Watching Sonny spiral, worrying about him, worrying about her kids, and she wouldn’t have him to bounce things off of. They make a good team. He says, they always did, and she says, nobody wants to be in a situation like this, but if she has to be in one, she’s so, so grateful she’s in one with him. He says, him too, and they clink beer bottles.

On Monday, Laura asks Anna to please tell her that she knows some way to get in touch with Valentin; Carly asks if somebody is having John Cates go after Sonny; and John says, Jason’s days as his informant are far from over

🌊 Ride the Wave…

TBH, I’d never heard of it either, but now it’s on my radar. It looks gorgeous.

https://www.wavehill.org/

🍻 Quite a Pair…

Everyone should have a Tracy in their life. I love her character and Jane Elliot sounds wonderful to work with.

Exclusive: Josh Kelly (Cody) On GH Legend Jane Elliot (Tracy)

🐪 Camel Extra…

For whatever reason, I don’t mind these Housewives as much. Besides loud fights being frowned upon, it’s just fun to look at the richest of the rich places. RHOBH have nothing on these women.

RHODubai Season 2, Episode 8 Preview: Will Everyone Go on the Girls’ Trip?

🍑 Too Bad They Haven’t Asked…

Kenya’s character may be flawed, but is Kim really the one who should be pointing that out?

Kim Zolciak Would ‘Seriously Consider’ RHOA Return

🍸 Most Awful and Most Lowest IQ…

He should have done his due diligence? How about just reading the room. Seriously, are we being punked or is there a human being really this stupid?

https://people.com/tom-sandoval-drops-lawsuit-against-ariana-madix-8680565

Where do I sign?

Petition Launched to Ban Tom Sandoval From Bravo

🍹 Dancing In the Drunk…

Why does no one remember Uber when they’re drinking? Better yet, how about taking one there if you’re going to be drinking?

https://www.eonline.com/news/1405011/dance-moms-christi-lukasiak-arrested-for-dui

https://people.com/dance-moms-alum-christi-lukasiak-arrested-dui-charge-8678992

🩰 A New Set Of Moms…

This looks promising. The teacher seems kinder and gentler than Abby Lee, but a lot of dance teachers are kinda mean.

https://people.com/hulu-dance-moms-a-new-era-official-trailer-exclusive-8679808

🐺 Counting Down Now…

The final trailer, Easter eggs, a yellow suit that makes grown men weep, a joke, and of course, Dogpool.

https://comicbookmovie.com/deadpool/deadpool-wolverine/deadpool-wolverine-final-trailer-spoiler-breakdown-lady-deadpool-a-shock-return-and-some-big-easter-eggs-a212194

https://comicbookmovie.com/deadpool/deadpool-wolverine/deadpool-and-wolverine-get-serious-in-emotional-final-trailer-as-spoiler-makes-their-mcu-debut-a212193#gs.bv8le5

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/deadpool-wolverine-hugh-jackman-yellow-suit-b2582775.html

https://people.com/blake-lively-jokes-husband-ryan-reynolds-is-trying-to-get-me-pregnant-again-8677044

🐼 Bringing Joy To the World…

I saw pandas in person (or bearson as it were) years ago when they were here on loan. They are unbelievably cute and don’t look real.

https://people.com/san-diego-zoo-shares-first-video-of-its-2-new-pandas-from-china-8680830

🦈 Sharks get a bad rap. Fish are friends, not food.

https://people.com/shark-facts-for-shark-awareness-day-8677521

🐕 A little more Messi.

https://www.filmwendy.com/post/hollywood-s-top-dog-of-2024

🐦‍🔥 Quotes of the Week

If you just go with the flow, no matter what weird things happen along the way, you always end up exactly where you belong. – Tom Upton

To be nobody but yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. – e. e. cummings

A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. – Colin Powell

Those boos were from the heart. – Terry Moran, Republican National Convention

It isn’t what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about. – Dale Carnegie

Today is a new day. Hiding from your history only shackles you to it. We can’t undo a single thing we have ever done, but we can make decisions today that propel us to the life we want and towards the healing we need. – Steve Maraboli

Forever is composed of nows. – Emily Dickinson

Wrong turns are as important as right turns. More important, sometimes. – Richard Bach

You and I are like oil and vinegar. Oil and vinegar don’t mix. – John McManus, 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?

🧸 Gummi Bear’s Picnic…

Be adventurous this weekend, or at least switch up your streaming genre. Then join me on Monday for soap and troublemakers on Deck. Until then, stay safe; stay enjoying the great outdoors, even if it’s just your backyard; and stay not overreacting to someone else’s reaction.

Jul18

July 17, 2024 – Jason Gives the FBI What It Wants, Dubai In the House, Selling LA, You’re It, Still VanderMessy, Horrible People, Are They Done Yet, Sanctuary Please & Hold ‘Em

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Sonny says, if Nina can bury the hatchet with Drew, maybe she can do the same with him. She says, absolutely not… There’s no hatchet to bury. Everything that went wrong is on her. He says, not everything, and she says, almost everything. When she finally told him the truth, it was too late. Their relationship was founded on a mirage named Mike. Mike never really existed. Sonny says, he did and he cared, and Nina says, she can’t forgive and forget because there’s nothing to forgive and she doesn’t want to forget. He says, there are a few things he can forget, and they laugh. She says she wants him to be happy and he says he wants the same for her. She says, he’s happy being a father, and if Ava and Scotty are stupid enough to approach her, she’ll tell them that she’ll testify against him, then blindside them with examples of how great a father he is. He asks if she’s trying to make him fall in love with her again, and she tells him, good luck with Ava. She hopes he gets custody for Avery’s sake.

At the pool, Josslyn finds Gio daydreaming and tells him that people are waiting for towels. He runs to assist them, while Carly brings a pina colada to Lois. Lois says, Carly and Sonny… she can pretend nothing is going on and it’s none of her business… Carly says, she could accept it’s none of her business, but it’s good to see her. She thanks Lois for bringing Gio to Port Charles, and Lois says she asks him to play one wedding and he falls in love with the entire town. Carly says, Olivia hired him, but she thinks he’s a great kid, and Lois says she wants to make sure his future is bright. Gio comes back and tells Josslyn that it won’t happen again, but she says, her mom doesn’t care. She asks if everything is okay, and he says, it’s fine, except he may have overstayed his welcome.

Valentin asks Anna to come with him. They belong together. She says, they have no time to talk. He needs to take Charlotte and disappear. He says he’s ready to go except for her. He knows she wants to. She just put her life on the line to warn him. She says, for Charlotte. She needs her father in her life. If it was just him, she’d let Cates take him. He says, she wouldn’t. She’d face charges too, but she’s here because she loves him almost as much as he loves her. She can disappear as easily as he can. Come with him and they’ll start a new life together.

John yells, open up or he’s coming in, and Jason opens the door. John asks, what took so long? and Jason says, this is where he lives. They should talk at the warehouse. John (who’s becoming more of an a-hole every time he opens his mouth, which is a shame since he’s sooo good looking) says, they’ll talk where and when he wants on whatever subject he chooses. Jason forgets he holds all the cards. Jason says, how can he when John reminds him every ten minutes? and John says, Jason will do what he says, or Carly pays the price.

Nina says, she was warned about Ava over and over again. She should have listened. Sonny says he should have taken his own advice. Why did he think he could rely on Ava and let her in? Nina says she wonders why too, but he doesn’t owe her any explanation. He says, because of Avery. He’s very protective of his children’s mothers, even Ava. She says, it’s a very Mike thing to do, and he says, Mike is a great guy. She says, Mike has great taste in women, and Sonny says, the other reason was because he was so messed up over losing her. She says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she was messed up too. She’s better now. He says he’s glad to hear it. He’ll see her later. She says, what about him? How’s he feeling? He says he’s ready for anything, and she says, such as? He says, not letting anyone take advantage of him, and she says, there he is. She wants all the best for him. He says he wants all the best for her too, and leaves.

Josslyn asks if someone said something unwelcoming, but Gio says, it’s nothing like that. Don’t look. His Aunt Lois… She says, Lois is always going on and on about how great he is, and he says, she’s always been his biggest fan, but she suggested he go back home. She says, that makes no sense. Lois brought him to Port Charles.

Anna says, Valentin wants her to leave her life and be a fugitive, but she doesn’t want to live like that. He says, but it’s okay for Charlotte, and she says, it’s not ideal, but she’ll have her father. He’s her entire family. She left Robin once and won’t again. She’s not sacrificing her time with Noah and Emma for – she tears up – any reason. So unless he’s planning on turning her in… He says he’d never do that. When the FBI comes, he’ll be long gone, but they’re going to connect the dots. She says, dots aren’t proof, and there won’t be any proof, but he says, prison is no place for a cop, especially an ex-WSB agent. Don’t throw her life away. Come with him. She kisses him and says she’s sorry. She loves him, but can’t go with him.

Natalia is waiting for Sonny at the penthouse and says she’s sorry. His housekeeper said she could wait. He asks what she’s doing here, and she says she knows he’s upset with her and has every reason to be. Her comments did nothing but cause trouble for Allison and Kristina. Sonny says he doesn’t like what she said, but Ava was the one who used it and made it national news to get back at him. She, Allison, and Kristina are collateral damage. She says, that’s why she’s here. For Allison… Blaze rather.  

Geo tells Josslyn that Lois lined up a gig for him as a session musician in Manhattan. He knows. First world problems. She says, what a monster. Maybe she just wants to get him back to New York. She was a music manager and knows what she’s talking about. Maybe she thinks it’s a nice opportunity. Gio says, that has to be it. Why else would she want him to leave?

Lois tells Carly that there’s nothing Gio can’t play. He once played a slow version of AC/DC’s Back In Black for her and had her sobbing. Carly says she heard Sonny paid for Gio’s music education, and Lois says, he did. Camilla was a cousin of the Cerullos from Italy. She was a violinist like Gio and came to America to play with the New York Philharmonic. She was there 6 months and fell in love with Francis Palmieri. He was as handsome as Gio, but was already scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan. They had a whirlwind romance and eloped. It wasn’t until after he left, she found out she was pregnant with Gio. But before she was able to tell Francis about the baby, she found out he was killed in action.

Valentin asks if there’s nothing he can say, and Anna says, don’t even try. He asks if she’s afraid he’ll convince her, but she says, no. It was just hard to say no once. What’s Charlotte’s ETA? He says, she’ll be here soon, and Anna says she has to ask. Does he have contingencies in place? Money, cash, new IDs? He says, they’ll be fine, and they both wipe tears away. She says, he was always going to be fine. He was set financially with ELQ and enjoyed the work. Charlotte was happy in school, and he built a good life. Why risk it all for Pikeman? What happened? He says, she did.

John says he needs Jason to turn over any and all information about Sonny, but Jason says, that wasn’t the deal. The deal was to get information about Pikeman, not Sonny. John says, Sonny is in the purview of the investigation because he was involved with Pikeman, and Jason says, let him make this clear. He’s not answering any questions about Sonny. John sighs (because it’s catching) and asks how Jason can be loyal when Sonny tried to kill him. When Jason came back and didn’t fall in line and assume his place in Sonny’s organization, Sonny tried to take him out. Jason asks, then why is he still here? and John says, because the guys Sonny hired aren’t as good as him. Sonny is only about Sonny. He uses people and discards them. He used Jason and discarded him. He literally destroyed Jason’s life. Jason says, Sonny didn’t destroy his life. John did. (Truth!)

Maxie goes to Nina’s office wanting to discuss the timetable for Deception’s ad campaign. She wonders if they should continue with No One Cancels Love campaign or put it behind them and move forward. Thoughts? Nina says, Sonny was just here, and they had a good conversation. He was like his old self. Maxie asks what he wanted, and Nina says, to bury the hatchet. Maxie says, in who? (ha-ha! that’s actually what I’d say) and Nina says she told him there was no hatchet to bury. It’s not like they want to fight anymore. Maxie says, not to open old wounds, but does Nina want Sonny back? and Nina says, she’ll always have feelings for Sonny and always love him, but she’s not hopelessly, desperately in love with him. She’s stronger now and she’s finally ready to move on.

Carly says, it’s so sad. Gio’s parents had such little time and Francis never got to know his son. Lois says, the family was heartbroken and rallied around Camilla. Sonny was in town and wanted to make sure Camilla was okay. She went back to playing after she had Gio, but just when they thought Gio and Camilla would finally get their happy ever after, Camilla died. Gio was ten at the time and had already started his musical education. It was expensive, so Lois reached out to Sonny. Of course (🍷) he agreed, and paid for everything, even Gio’s two years at Fordham. Then Gio got a scholarship at PCU. Carly says she gets that Sonny is generous, but she doesn’t understand why he never mentioned Gio to her.

Anna asks how long Valentin has been involved with Pikeman, and he says he’s always been aware of them, even in the planning stages, which included the head of the WSB. They wanted her on the ops team so they could look legit. Anna says she had questions, but wasn’t in a position to know, and Valentin says, they just wanted to get the ten million to form a money funnel for the weapons. He resigned as a traitor, but kept in touch with Pikeman. They liked his expertise, and he liked the money. When Anna busted Brennan, it created a vacuum. She says she knows why he couldn’t, but she wishes he’d told her, and he says he does too. She asks when he was going to that, and he says, maybe during the brief window when they were openly in love and said they trusted one another.  

Jason says he’s been risking his life. He lived in hell when the people he loved thought he was dead. John says, he could have let Carly take her chances, but Jason chose to be an informant the way Carly chose to present herself as mob leadership. The only one who never had to pay was Sonny. He destroys lives and right now, he’s using his money and power to take Avery away from her mother. The woman is terrified. Jason says, Ava Jerome? He’d think twice about believing anything that woman has to say.

Natalie says, they worked so hard on Blaze’s career, and she trashed it in an instant by saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. Sonny says, it’s what she meant, and she says she’s painfully aware of the effect of her words on their daughters. Kristina made her thoughts on the subject spectacularly clear. She can see both Kristina’s mom and Sonny in her, and she had it coming. Even though she may not join a parade anytime soon, it’s clear Blaze and Kristina love each other. He says he’s happy she’s seeing clearly, but she says, too little too late. The damage is done, and she can’t say she blames them if they never speak to her again. He asks if she wants him to be a go-between, but she says, there’s not much she can do about her relationship with her daughter, but she can save her career.

Maxie asks, what happened? Nina was hellbent on getting Sonny back. Nina says she hates to say it, but Ava was right about her and Sonny. She was so desperate to hold on to their relationship, but their lives don’t fit. They never did. Maxie says, wow. Forgive her, but it’s about time Nina realized. She wanted to be wrong. It’s been known to happen. Nina says, the worst part is, Carly was right. They’re not special, and she feels like an idiot. The worst part was that she was turning herself into the perfect woman for Sonny, instead of holding onto who she is. Although a lot of people consider her the worst. Maxie says she’s not one of them.

Sonny asks if that’s why Natalia is here. She wants him to help save Blaze’s career. She says, Sonny was in the music business and owned L&B records in the 90’s, and he says he invested. The founder was an old friend, someone he was in love with. Natalia says, so for personal reasons, not unlike now for Kristina. If he invests in Blaze’s career, they’ll put the money toward releasing a new album and new material on a private label. There are so many indie labels now, it will take money to get noticed. She’d put every dime she has into it, but it’s not enough. That’s why she’s here. He says, she wants him to bankroll a brand-new record label?

Valentin looks out the window, and says, it crossed his mind to tell Anna, and she says, before or after he took over? He says, before, when they were in love and claiming to trust each other. She asks why he didn’t, and he says he didn’t want to force her into a position to arrest him. She says, yet here we are, and he says, she’s not arresting him and she’s letting him go. She says, before he does that, Cates got ahold of five years’ worth of correspondence between her and Brennan, all fabricated. Valentin says, that was him, but he was careful. So careful not to say anything that would hold up as evidence. Just red herrings to make John believe they were talking about Pikeman. Just a diversion. He’d never incriminate her. She says, he loves her, but still couldn’t resist using her.

John asks if Jason is so far gone that anyone who speaks out against Sonny is lying, but Jason says, trust him. Ava can take care of herself. John says, he sounds like Sonny. Jason got his and the hell with the rest of the world. Jason tells him, that’s not what he said at all, and John says, the Jason he knew was a good guy. Do the right thing and give him something he can use to bust Sonny so Ava can keep her kid. Jason asks, since when does the FBI concern itself with custody battles? And John says, Sonny has to be stopped before he wrecks his daughter’s life like he’s wrecked other lives. Admit Sonny tried to kill him. Jason says he has nothing on Sonny, and he looks at the clock. He gets the phone from the fire escape, and says, but he does have this. It’s Valentin’s phone and proof he’s the one running Pikeman. John asks if he’s sure it’s Valentin and not Anna, and he says, it’s Valentin. There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of recordings, including the facilitation of illegal arms transports. John asks where he got it, and Jason asks if he really wants to know. John asks how long he’s had it, and Jason says, a few hours. John asks why Jason didn’t tell him sooner, and Jason says, John was so busy trying to get him to flip on Sonny, he couldn’t talk. John makes a call and says he wants all units at 2100 Belleforest Drive now.

Gio tells Josslyn that maybe he should go home and take the gig. Lois went through a lot of trouble and it would be rude to turn her down. Josslyn asks what he wants to do. The people who love them and want what’s best for them can still be wrong. He says, what if they’re the ones who are right? but she says, nobody learns from the right decisions. It’s up to them to figure out their own lives and what makes them happy.

Sonny says he doesn’t know anything about the music business, but Natalia says she does. He says, it’s risky, but she says, his investment will make a hundredfold when Blaze is touring. He says, if she’s successful, and Natalia says, she will be. She knows she can run a new label. He asks what Blaze thinks, but she says, Blaze doesn’t know yet. Even if Blaze never forgives her, she believes in Blaze’s talent and knows she’s a star. If Sonny says, no, don’t worry. She’ll accept it and no one will ever know he turned her down. He says he’s in.

Maxie says she’s proud of Nina. She wanted a relationship with Sonny, but realized there was no future in pretending she was the Nina that Sonny wanted. Nina says, she couldn’t swing it. It’s all on her. Maxie says, so much for girl power. Even though she’s sorry it happened, Nina got some wisdom. Nina says she’s not sure about that, and Maxie asks if she’s talking about the Drew situation. Nina says, they’ve gone through so many stages. From loathing to not exactly mutual respect, but they’re able to help each other now.

Valentin says he’s sorry he used her, and Anna says, he’d do it again. He says, that doesn’t mean he’s not sorry. The problem is, any good in him is because of her. She says, that’s not true. He has a good heart. She’s been here too long. As soon as Charlotte gets back, he has to take her and leave. He takes her hand and says, she can’t go with him, he knows that, but tell him that she wants to even if it’s not true. She says, if she could, she would go with him in a heartbeat. She cries a little, and he asks if she means that. She says, he’ll never know, when the door opens. Charlotte says she came as soon as she could… What’s wrong?

Natalia asks if Sonny just said yes, and he says, absolutely. They laugh, and she says she can’t thank him enough. He says, one condition. No one is to know he’s doing this. She says, okay, but she’s used to working with people who want credit, and he says he wants Brook to have credit. Brook is in charge. That’s his offer. Take it or leave it.

Nina says, being a good citizen, she’s giving it her all to make sure Drew is elected, and Maxie says, how civic minded. Nina says she does believe in Drew, and he’s helping her with Willow. Willow reached out and wanted to talk to her, mother and daughter, for the first time. Maxie says, that’s amazing. She’s happy for Nina. Nina says, there’s a chance Willow might let her be a part of her life. She can’t mess it up. If Willow is convinced Drew needs to be elected, she’ll support him for her.

Jason goes to the pool and asks if Gio is the one who played the violin at Brook’s wedding. Gio says he did, and he’s Jason Morgan. Is he looking for Miss Spencer? She was just here. Can he get Jason something while he looks for her? Jason asks how Gio would know, and Gio says, Josslyn said to treat him like a VIP, but Jason says, only Joss and her mom do that. He enjoyed Gio’s playing. Gio thanks him and says he’ll find Carly, but Jason says, it’s okay. He sees her right now. It was nice to meet him. Jason goes over to Carly, who asks, what brings him here? He says, it’s done, and she says, what? He says he gave the FBI what they wanted. If Cates keeps his word, they’re freed.

John shows up at Valentin’s house with some men. They draw their guns, and he says, 3… 2… 1… mark! They bust in, and John yells, FBI! Down on the ground! One of the men says, the bedrooms are clear, and John says, fan out and search. (I say, wah-wah.)

Outside in her car, Anna smiles.

This kinda, sorta brought tears to my eyes. I rarely invest in the couples, since most of the time there’s zero chemistry, but I love Anna and Valentin together.

Tomorrow, Blaze says, any hope of reviving her music career is gone; Carly asks Jason to promise her something; and Sonny tells Brook that his and Natalia’s plan depends on her.

🐪 There’s a Camel In My Soup…

What happened in Dubai. It was pointed out in an interview that you could get arrested for arguing in public, but it didn’t stop Taleen.

Real Housewives of Dubai Season 2, Episode 7 Recap: Beggars and Badass B*tches

https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/hollywood/the-real-housewives-of-dubai-episode-7-recap-everything-you-missed-1328945

As NeNe once said, stay out of women’s business. At least when you’re the husband of one of the Housewives.

Taleen Marie Defends Husband After RHODubai Drama: ‘He Walked Away’

💰 Spiraling LA…

Tracy says, the market is sh*t, and JoshA says, in this market, you don’t sleep. Closets to die for, bigger than my first apartment. JoshF dressed as a shark. Read on for this week’s Listings.

Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles Season 15, Episode 2 Recap: Hate To Say I Told You So

🍊 Tag This Line…

Tamra works being rude like it’s a second job.

RHOC Season 18 Taglines Revealed: Stormy Weather, Terrible Form and a Middle Finger

🍸 VanderWTF…

What is wrong with this guy? The average sociopath has better social skills.

How Tom Sandoval Ruined Any Chance of Redemption After Suing Ariana Madix

To make it even creepier.

Tom Sandoval’s Attorney for Ariana Madix Lawsuit Is Rachel Leviss’ Lawyer’s Brother

Not surprising that he backpedaled. Dude. Cut Sandoval loose already.

Tom Schwartz Deletes Tom Sandoval Birthday Post After Ariana Madix Lawsuit

👿 The Internet Is Evil…

This is exactly what I hate about the internet. I can’t fathom what’s in people’s heads to justify this sort of behavior. I don’t care if she’s the freaking Elephant Man. There’s just no reason for it. The only conclusion I can come to is that they hate themselves and are taking it out on someone who is making the most of what they have and doing well with it.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1404738/my-big-fat-fabulous-life-star-whitney-way-thore-reveals-the-cruel-insults-that-led-to-panic-attacks

💒 Cringing In Plathville…

This was just so uncomfortable. As usual, he whined and she was stone cold, her big blue eyes filled with tears.

Welcome to Plathville’s Season 6 Trailer Teases Ethan and Olivia Plath Reunion Following Split

Seriously, I was shifting around in my chair.

https://people.com/welcome-to-plathville-recap-ethan-plath-pleads-with-olivia-to-make-it-work-8679099

🦍 Furred and Feathered Fringes Of Fame…

All I can think of when I see things like this is the woman who got her face ripped off by the pet chimp. By no means does this make the chimp bad. He’s just being the animal he is and proving he is not a pet, but belongs in the wild or a sanctuary. Tiger King was eye-opening, as well as trainwreck entertaining, so I’ll be watching this for sure.

https://people.com/tonia-haddix-subject-of-tiger-king-director-new-series-chimp-crazy-8678996

An interesting tributary.

https://people.com/pets/alan-cumming-missing-chimpanzee-costar-found-moved-to-rescue/

🦜 Hottest new couple.

https://people.com/zoo-tries-to-save-endangered-macaw-species-with-love-match-8679024

🤷🏽‍♀️ Summer Of Ambiguity…

Stop in tomorrow for soap and less than nine oranges in a bowl. Until then, stay safe, stay steering away from political discussion at get togethers of all kinds (my neighbor recently had a near fistfight at a family party), and stay knowing that the people who love you and want what’s best for you can still be wrong. Even if they’re right, nobody learns from the right decisions.

Jul17

July 16, 2024 – Anna Gives Jason the Evidence, Soap Bubbles, No Cringe Here, Jersey Shakedown, Charm To Come, Agatha, Feline Fatty & Heat

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Dex comes to the pool in his uniform and tells Josslyn that he’s here on his lunch break. She says she likes his blues, but he says, his unform is nothing compared to hers (i.e. her swimsuit).

John goes to Ava’s hotel room, and she says she’s been looking forward to their meeting all day. She’s sleep deprived though, between hearing the elevator and the people at the pool and being without her daughter and knowing if she’s safe, she’s awake most of the night. He thanks her for being willing to help, and she says she’s at her wit’s end trying to get Avery away from Sonny. He says, the best way to protect Avery and herself is to build a case against Sonny.

Willow goes to the penthouse and asks Sonny if she’s interrupting. He says, she and the kids are welcome any time. What’s wrong? She says, maybe she’s being presumptuous, but she decided to come after she had a conversation with her mother. Sonny asks, since when are she and Nina talking? and she says, since she decided let go of her anger.

Nina slaps Drew and says, you son of a bitch. You kissed my daughter. He says he deserved that, but calm down. (Apparently, Drew doesn’t know that he should never say that to a woman.) He knows there’s no excuse and knows it was wrong. She says, he doesn’t look remorseful, and he says he got lost in the moment – the applause, the congratulations, and the fireworks. He was there with a beautiful woman who was happy for him, and it just happened. Nina wonders how Willow missed his rampant narcissism. Willow is an idealist and can’t see the real Drew Cain… She means, the real Drew Quartermaine. It’s time she broke through that and told Willow that her hero is sleeping with her mother.  

Anna asks Jason to hear her out, but he says he has been hearing her. It’s been nearly three years, and he needs the phone. She says, it’s too soon, but he says, it’s the only way to get Carly out from under the FBI. She says she can’t let Cates take Valentin away.

John says, Ava was living with Sonny and has a past with him and the Jerome family. She must have insight into his organization. She says, it all happened so fast, and offers him some wine, but he says, not while he’s on duty. She pours a glass for herself and says she’s feeling unsettled. She’s used to a juggling act with the gallery and scheduling all of Avery’s activities. Without it, she’s felt so out of sync and alone. He says, that’s why she needs to build a case against Sonny to get her daughter back. He puts his phone on record, but she turns it off and says, his help means so much, but to be honest, she’s afraid of Sonny. If she lets him record her, it could make its way back to Sonny, and he’s harsh when it comes to betrayal. It’s the ultimate sin. He says, they have ways to protect her, but she says she’s not going into hiding while Avery is still with Sonny. He’s erratic and dangerous. He’s pushed his family away, except for his daughter Kristina. He actually blames her for outing Kristina’s girlfriend. As if she cares; it’s not her business. John says, his job is to put Sonny away, and if she helps him, it’s to both their advantages. She says, it’s not that simple. Many have tried and failed to put Sonny away, and who among them is still breathing? He gives her his word that he doesn’t give up his sources, and she says she’ll think about it. Knowing she has his support makes her feel more at ease. He leaves and she closes the door.

Willow tells Sonny that seeing Drew give up his grudge against Nina when he had the right to hold onto it forever, made her realize that hanging onto her pain and resentment was only hurting her. She gained nothing by depriving her kids of someone who truly wants to love them. Sonny says, all Nina wants is to love them and be a part of their lives, and Willow says, they’re taking it slow, but she realizes there’s room in her life for her mom. All she wants is for all of them to be happy. He asks if she’s lobbying for him and Nina to get back together, and she says, no, but they’d genuinely seemed happy, and she knows Nina loves him. He says, he wants Nina to be happy, and with Willow and the children in her life, she will be.

Drew says, if Nina was going to tell Willow about them, she should have done it when Willow told her about the kiss, but Nina says she thought it was more important that Willow confide in her than exposing his feet of clay. What was he thinking? Willow is married to his nephew, and they have small children. He should have better control of himself. He says, something happened in that moment, but it was a mistake and won’t happen again. He respects Willow and cares about her happiness and family. It was an isolated moment, like Nina and Sonny in Nixon Falls. He’s not throwing it in her face, but he understands it was a bad impulse and Nina got carried away. Nina says she knows Drew thinks it was just a moment, but Willow is drowning in guilt. She’s agonizing about telling Michael, but she told Willow to make the choice to move on. She hopes Drew allows it. He says, of course (🍷) he will. Whatever she thinks, he has not and will not pursue Willow.  

Jason asks if Anna wants Valentin to go free. Did she tip him off? She says, it’s about Charlotte. She’s back from school and home with her father. Think about Danny and Jake. If Valentin goes down, he’ll be gone a lot longer than three years. What happens to his daughter then? He says he can’t believe they’ve been working together, and he finally got what he needed… She says, he will get it. She almost took Charlotte’s life. He says, she keeps punishing herself for that, and now she’s going to punish him. She says, Valentin is all Charlotte has. Her mother is in a coma and Laura is already raising one grandchild. She refuses to separate Charlotte and Valentin. Charlotte forgave her. Her voice breaks and she says she can’t repay that by damaging Charlotte more and leaving her fatherless and alone. She won’t do it.

Josslyn asks if Gio will make sure no one drowns in the pool, and he says, no one is in the pool. She says, even better. She needs to have a word with Dex. They step away and kiss in the hallway. She asks if he remembers how upset she was when he first joined the PCPD, and he says, of course (🍷). She says, because she was so focused on the downside, she forgot the upside – his uniform. He asks if anyone could be wearing it, but she says, the uniform is great, but it’s him in it, confident and sure of himself. It makes him so hot. They kiss again.

Lois comes to the pool and says she has exciting news for Gio. A friend of hers who works in the city lost a violinist for a string quartet used on Broadway soundtracks. The violinist broke his arm, and she talked Gio up. Her friend is going to hold a spot for him. What does he say? Does he hear that? It’s opportunity knocking. Is he ready for the bright lights?

Drew says, what he did was awful, but he’s not so awful that he’d take advantage of Willow, and Nina says she needed to hear him say it. He says he’s seen Nina work to reconcile with Willow and he admires the fact she didn’t give up. He knows it’s good for both her and Willow that Willow confided in her. Nina says, it felt nice, but the details weren’t, and Drew tells her not to worry about the details. It won’t happen again. She says she’s choosing to believe him. Don’t make her regret it. She believes in him and will make sure he has The Invader’s endorsement. He thanks her, but says, it’s not a quid pro quo. She says, her main concern is Willow’s peace of mind, and he says, maybe it’s time they came to a new understanding.

John asks what Ava can tell him about Sonny’s organization, and she says, not much. Julian kept her out of all that. Julian and Sonny’s world is brutal. He says, she must have heard things, and she says she and her brother were close. She was exposed to things, but didn’t want to involve herself. She preferred to focus on beauty, art, and her gallery. And of course (🍷) her daughter Kiki. She was raising Kiki alone, but she’s no longer with them. He says he’s sorry for her loss, and she says, Julian made more than his share of mistakes, but she loved him anyway. He asks why she turned up with Sonny at Selina Wu’s warehouse the night of the sniper attack, and she says, Sonny insisted she go. Maybe as a human shield, maybe to intimidate Selina. The Jerome family name still holds weight. She was in no position to refuse. He says, she seemed defensive and protective of Sonny, and she says she supposes she was. They were getting along better then, and she was trying to appease him for her and Avery’s sakes. On one hand, Sonny was offering protection, but on the other, he was often a target himself.

Jason says he feels for Charlotte. She’s just a kid and doesn’t deserve this, but that’s on Valentin. He made his choices. Charlotte won’t be alone; she’s got family. Anna says, it’s not the same thing, and Jason says he understands. He’s heard the pain in his sons’ voices asking where he’s been, why he didn’t reach out, and wondering if he cares for them. He won’t let them down again. She says, that happened with her and Robin. She won’t ask him to sacrifice his relationship with his sons. She’s just asking him to trust her for two hours more.

Gio tells Lois that he appreciates the opportunity, but he already promised Ava and Trina that he’d play at a gallery opening and he’s committed to PCU’s summer concert series. Lois says she’s sure someone can cover for him at PCU, and she knows Trina and Ava won’t mind. This is professional work. It’s Broadway, baby. Think of the exposure. And once you’re in, you’re in. He says he supposes they could find a replacement, but his scholarship at PCU is contingent on the concert series. She says, they can talk to the head of the department and explain the situation. College is supposed to prepare you for the real world, and this is a real-world professional opportunity he’s being offered on the road to stardom. No one deserves it more.

Willow says she has a confession. She didn’t come here to talk about Nina. It’s about Michael. Sonny protests, but she says, just hear her out. Michael is her everything. They have a beautiful life and he takes good care of her and their children. She knows Michael is in pain over their estrangement. Michael loves Sonny; he still does. Sonny says, some things just can’t be forgiven, and Willow says, they both know what it feels like to be lied to in order to be protected. The insult and betrayal are hard to get past. Michael did both to her in the name of love, but she got over it. Look at her and Nina now. The healing feels so much better. Sonny’s phone rings, and he picks it up. He says, Diane… Where is she? He’s been trying to call all morning… He doesn’t give a damn. She’s on retainer. Tell her to call him back immediately. He hangs up, and tells Willow, sorry. She says, upsetting news? and he says, Diane is annoying. He pays her a lot of money. She can call him herself, not have an associate do it. Ava is trying to take his daughter away and he’s going to fight tooth and nail to make sure Avery stays with him.

John asks about Sonny’s connection to Anna, and Ava says she’s wondered about that herself. They go way back and are thick as thieves. She suspects that’s why Sonny has remained a free man. They bonded over Robin, and John says, Ava was a captive audience when he and Sonny faced off, dredging up that history. Sorry. She says, it explained a lot about both of them. John is still grieving his brother and his wife. He says, that’s all for now. He’ll let her think on things, and he’ll come back when she’s ready to talk. Give some thought to making a statement. He thinks that’s the best way to go. She says she’ll think about it. May she call him John? He says, of course (🍷), and she says, it’s comforting having him around. They’ll talk soon. He leaves, and in the hallway, his phone rings. He says, no. It wasn’t for him. The champagne was for a source he’s grooming… Yemen? This is the first he’s hearing about a shipment… It does seem Pikeman is still in play. He’s narrowing down a person of interest, but needs time …. He understands. He expects information soon…

Anna says she’ll go to Valentin and warn him that he’s done. The FBI is coming for him. He’ll take Charlotte and run. Jason says, the FBI wants the head of Pikeman, but she says, they just needed him identified to let Jason go. They’ll cast global nets, but she bets they won’t find him. But it won’t matter. Jason will have fulfilled his end of the deal. Jason says, she’s asking that he trust Cates will honor his end of the deal without having Valentin in custody, but she says she’s asking him to trust her. It would have taken a lot longer without her help. He has the evidence because of her and all she’s asking is that he wait two hours before turning it over. Please. She’s running out of time. he says, she’d better be right, and she says she’ll do everything in her power make sure he doesn’t regret it. She promises. She gives him the phone and says she’s trusting him now. He sighs and says, okay. He has what he needs. Do what she wants with Valentin. She dashes out the door.

Willow says she’s sorry that Sonny is going through this, and he says, they’ve been down this road several times. Willow says she’s happy to help, and he says he appreciates the effort, but doesn’t want Michael involved. Michael had someone spy on him. It’s not easy to swallow. She says, Michael knows he made a mistake. At least consider forgiveness. He says, she’s sweet and tenacious. He always liked that about her. He’ll think about it. She thanks him, and says she needs to follow her own advice. She’s in no position to judge anyone. They all make mistakes, and she needs to focus on making amends for what she’s done. He says he’s sure she’ll fix it, and she says she hopes so. For him and Michael too. She thanks him and leaves.

Josslyn says she and Dex can’t do this here. She has to work. He says his lunch break isn’t the way he pictured it. It’s way better. She says, it’s his fault for showing up looking handsome, and he asks if he should steer clear from now on. She says, don’t you dare, and they kiss.

On the phone, Ava says, they’ll talk tomorrow at the gallery, when there’s a knock at the door. She opens it to Natalia and asks what Natalia wants. Natalia says, clarity. She regrets her remarks, but she can’t figure out Ava’s endgame in recording her secretly and releasing what she said.

Nina says she thought she and Drew already had an understanding, and he says, instead of mutual loathing, they’ve moved to mutual cooperation. She says she hasn’t been completely mercenary. She admires Larry McConkey and values his friendship with her father. She wouldn’t have introduced him to Drew if she didn’t think Drew had something worthwhile. Drew says, and he never would have facilitated a reconciliation with Willow if he thought Nina would hurt her. His faith in her has been justified. She says she never thought he’d apply those words to her, and Drew says, same. She says, they’ve come a long way, and he says, it’s time to put the contempt behind them. Which begs the question, what – if anything – is left? Nina’s phone rings, and Madison says, Sonny is here to see her.

Sonny goes to Nina’s office and says he doesn’t mean to interrupt, but Nina says she and Drew have reached a stopping point. He tells Drew, congrats on his candidacy, and Drew says, that means lot, but his vote means more. Drew leaves, and Nina asks if Sonny wants something to drink, but he says he doesn’t have too much time. He doesn’t know what Ava told her, but he’s moved her out and he’s filing for sole custody. Avery belongs with her father. Nina says, good, and he asks if she’s seen through Ava. If not, Nina can’t trust her. Nina says her eyes have been opened regarding Ava, and Sonny says, he imagines Nina’s wake-up call was no more pleasant than his.  

Ava says, believe it or not, she didn’t intend to record Natalia. She was in the middle of something for work and didn’t realize until after Natalia left. When she listened to the conversation, she thought the world deserved to know what Natalia’s poor daughter had to endure, her judgement about the right to love who she chooses. It was appalling. Natalia says, Blaze’s reputation and career were shattered. She was dropped by her label. Ava says, Blaze is talented and will win out in the end. Natalia has shown herself to be an awful person and a worse mother. Not even Sonny is going to have anything to do with her. Natalia says, Sonny is furious about the recording, but not with her.

Gio tells Lois that he appreciates the offer to play on the album, but doesn’t see how he can take it. She says she just doesn’t want him to miss out on this incredible opportunity, but if it’s not the right gig, no pressure. He says, it would be fantastic if he was still in the city, but he doesn’t like going back on commitments. She says, no Cerullo does, and he says, more important, he likes living here. He likes PCU and the music department, and he likes his job. He likes the people he’s met. Lois says, even the Quartermaines? and he says, especially the Quartermaines. She says, even Tracy? and he says, he doesn’t know Tracy well, but she can be… Lois says, intimidating? but he tells her that he was going to say standoffish. She’s letting him stay at the house. Lois says, it’s not up to her. The house belongs to Monica. Gio says, somebody gave it to her, and Lois says, Alan, God rest his soul, was a wonderful man. He’d love Gio staying there, just like Monica. If… When Tracy decides to bully him, be polite, but don’t let her push him around.

There’s a frantic knock at Valentin’s door, and he lets Anna in. She asks where Charlotte is, and he says, she’s with friends. Anna says, call her and tell her to come home immediately and that he’ll explain when she gets here. She’s still packed, right? Does he have a have go bag? He asks, what happened? What has she done? She says she turned him into the FBI as head of Pikeman. He has to leave the country immediately.

Nina says she was naïve to think Ava was capable of having a female friend. She’s never known Ava to have one. She doesn’t know why she thought that would change, especially given their unique history. They were doomed to fail. Sonny says he’s sorry, and Nina says, it was nice to have someone to rely on, until they became a lying backstabber. Ava played her. Never again. Why did Sonny come to her? He says, Ava filed a custody suit and means to say he’s mentally unstable. He knows he and Nina have been through tough times, but wants to know, when they ask her to take the stand, what will she say? She says she doesn’t think Ava is foolish enough to subpoena her, but she’ll tell the truth. Sonny is an exemplary father and Avery adores him. He says, it didn’t end well with them. He could have done things differently and he’s owning up to that, not just saying it. She thanks him and says she loves Avery and wants the best for her. He says, life goes on. They’re trying. She asks what he’s trying to say, and he says, she buried the hatchet with Drew. Can she do the same with him?

Valentin dumps the books off the shelf where the phone was and asks if Anna did this. She turned him in? She says, they don’t have time to talk about their feelings right now. He has to be ready to go. Listen to her. He asks if any of it was real. Them finding each other, their nights together. Anna cries and says, he knows it was. She’s risking everything to warn him. He’s got to get away. He asks if she wants him to thank her, but she says, it’s not about him. It’s about Charlotte. She needs him in her life, and he needs her in his. He takes out his phone, and calls Charlotte. He asks if she’s on her way home… Good. He’ll see her when she gets here. Anna says, take Charlotte and go and… don’t contact her again. He says, there’s another plan. Come with him.

John knocks on Jason’s door, but there’s no answer. He tries the doorknob, but it’s locked. He yells, open up! Inside, Jason sits looking at the laptop, and John yells that he wants full disclosure. Everything Jason knows or he loses the deal and so does Carly. Jason looks at the clock.

Tomorrow, Gio tells Josslyn that he may have overstayed his welcome; Anna asks Valentin why he risked it all for Pikeman; and Jason tells John that he should think twice before listening to anything that woman has to say.

🧼  All the Soap News Fit To Print…

What they did on their summer vacation.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/dex-and-the-city-evan-hofer-shares-his-big-apple-adventure

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/inside-jonathan-jacksons-intimate-concert

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/adam-harrington-shares-his-epic-surfing-vacation

It’s not inconceivable. Some characters have died several times.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kelly-thiebaud-reveals-she-tried-to-come-back-to-gh

More sad stuff.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-alum-james-b-sikking-dead-at-90

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-james-patrick-stuart-mourns-the-loss-of-his-mother-in-law

Scheduled for the fall.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jacklyn-zeman-honored-with-special-episode-of-the-bay

Happy Anniversary!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/abc/one-life-to-live-anniversary-171600

🐪 Camel Me This…

As of this posting, there was no RHODubai recap available, but there was this. Apparently, she spoke too soon, since it was pretty cringeworthy tonight, Taleen in particular.

RHODubai’s Taleen Marie Teases ‘Cringe’ Future Episodes

🪄 Putting the New In Jersey…

IMO, the whole state could use a rebrand.

Andy Cohen Agrees RHONJ Needs a ‘Rebrand’ for S15
Andy Cohen Agrees There Should Be a Major ‘RHONJ’ Shakeup

But alas, neither Kathy nor the sprinkle cookies will be making a comeback.

Andy Cohen Reacts to Rumors Kathy Wakile Will Make RHONJ Comeback After WWHL Appearance

🍹 Meanwhile, Down South…

The latest on the latest Charm.

Everything to Know About ‘Southern Charm’ Season 10: Who Is Returning, More

Either that selfie is Photoshopped, or her arms are strangely big for her body.

Olivia Flowers Confirms She Was Fired From Southern Charm, Shares Why She Was Let Go & Dishes on Phone Call From Production

🧙🏻‍♀️ It Was Her…

Hopefully, this is as good as WandaVision. Premieres September 18th.

https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-debuts-trailer-for-marvel-televisions-new-series-agatha-all-along/

https://ew.com/agatha-all-along-trailer-kathryn-hahn-joe-locke-aubrey-plaza-8674666

🐱 Biggest Kitty Loser…

Next on his bucket list, to be a catnip influencer.

https://people.com/canadian-cat-becomes-tiktok-star-weight-loss-journey-documented-8673846

☕️ Pouring a Cup Of Ambition…

Join me tomorrow for soap, tea, LA and (hopefully) Dubai talk. Until then, stay safe, stay not wearing out your welcome as a guest, and stay not going back on commitments, especially if you like it where you are.

Jul11

July 10, 2024 – Cody Makes a Promise To Sasha, Dubai In the House, New Listings, What’s Cookin’, For the Senior Pets (!) & America

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

In the nook, Sasha gives Drew some coffee, and flashes back to seeing him kiss Willow. She tells him that his speech was inspiring, and he says he’s given other speeches before, but this one was different. She says, last night was full of surprises, when Willow walks in. She asks if Willow wants coffee or a beignet, and Willow says, yes, to both. Sasha says she doesn’t want to brag, but Wiley says these are his new favorites, and Willow says, he calls them bayonets. Sasha tells them to help themselves, and she leaves to see Cody at the stables. Willow and Drew look at each other.

Felicia says she always felt there was a connection between Mac and Cody, and Maxie says, Felicia’s Spidey senses have always been borderline terrifying. She asks if something could have happened to the DNA sample Felicia sent in, but Felicia says, the lab is the best. Even if the sample was contaminated, it would only add to the sample, not take away from it. Maxie says, they’ve all spent a lot of time with Cody, and he’s been wonderful, and Felicia says, that’s why she doesn’t want Maxie to be mad when she says this. He’s lied before, so why should they believe him now?

Scotty goes to Ava’s hotel room, and she checks the hall for a certain FBI agent who’s having her followed because she’s spent time with Sonny. He asks if she means John Cates, and she says, that’s the one. He says he’s known John since high school. He’s a good guy. She asks what Scotty is doing here and is he billing her for it, and he says, oh yeah. He has Diane’s countersuit. Sonny wants sole custody of Avery. He hands her the papers.

Sonny visits his old kitchen and the moss bowl🎍, and Carly says, Avery and Donna are doing crafts with Pilar. Don’t be surprised if they’re covered in glitter. He asks if she doesn’t think Donna is growing up too fast, and she says, that’s why they have to enjoy these glitter filled days. He says, now that Ava’s moved out, would Carly reconsider having Donna spend the night? He and Avery would love it. Jason walks in, as he’s another member of the moss bowl🎍fan club and can’t stay away.

Willow says she wasn’t looking for Drew, but she’s glad she ran into him. She loves Michael with all her heart, and it was wrong of them to kiss. It never should have happened. Drew says, it was an accident. (Yep. He accidentally fell into her lips.) The result of too many drinks and too many fireworks. He loves Michael too and would never hurt him. They did something impulsive and stupid, but one kiss doesn’t have to change anything for anybody.

Maxie says she doesn’t think Cody is lying, but Felicia says she saw the DNA result with her own two eyes. Maxie says, those were the results from the top secret don’t-tell-anyone test. Cody claims the results from the original test prove he’s Mac’s son. Felicia asks if Cody could be working an angle, but Maxie wonders where the big payout would come from. When she talked to Cody last night, she could tell he wanted to bolt. She knows the look of someone wanting to run from the mistakes they’ve made. He was trying to say goodbye without actually saying it. She practically had to threaten him into staying. He can’t leave town after telling Mac that he’s his son.

Sasha goes to the stable and tells Cody that she was going to keep this to herself, but last night… He says, last night he told Mac that he’s his son. He kept thinking about what she’d said. He hated lying to Mac and it just came out. He should have kept his mouth shut. It was worse than he thought. Mac’s furious with him. He said, Cody had plenty of chances to tell him the truth, but he didn’t. He also told Mac about the whole Taub/WSB stuff with Scotty. She asks if Mac understood, and Cody says, what Mac understood is that he betrayed Mac’s family. She says, it was a lot to take in for both of them, and He says, Mac stormed out, so it seems he took in enough. The only person he was madder at than Cody was himself. For believing Cody could be anything but a grifter. She says, that’s harsh and wrong, but give him time. He’s probably in shock. For what it’s worth (🍷), she’s proud of him. He must feel better having that secret off his chest. He says he feels like garbage, and there’s still a weight on his chest. It’s just for a different reason. She asks what he wants to do now, and he says he wants to get the hell out of town.

Ava says, it’s no surprise Sonny is suing for sole custody, and Scotty says, after reading Diane’s filings, he thinks Ava’s expectations should be lower. He doesn’t like the facts of this case. She says, Avery’s father is a dangerous man working in a dangerous business with other dangerous people. What other facts does he need? He says, she was living with Sonny with Avery, but she says she was living there to keep Avery safe and be a loving touchstone for her in a stressful time. He says, judges like stability and don’t like seeing kids ping-ponged around, and she says, that’s why she wants Avery with her full-time, but he says, she’s in a hotel. At Sonny’s, Avery has a routine, and she likes living with her father. Does Ava think a judge will want to take her away from that? She asks if he didn’t tell her that if Sonny had a public meltdown… He says, all bets would be off, but he doubts that’s going to happen during a custody hearing. Sonny’s not that stupid.

Sonny tells Jason that he and Carly are talking on a private matter, and Carly says she and Sonny are discussing the kids. She tells Sonny that Avery is welcome to be there with Donna any day, and Sonny says he has to take care of something, showing her the papers. Ava thinks she deserves to have sole custody of Avery. Carly says she’s happy she doesn’t have to wade into this mess, but he tells her that she might be called to testify because they share custody of Avery’s sister. He needs to know what she’s going to tell the judge about his suitability as a parent.

Sonny says he knows he and Carly have had their problems. He wants to know she’s not going to say he’s a terrible father. She says, it’s no secret they’ve had their issues – he says he’s sorry – but if she’s going to walk in a courtroom and trash anyone, it’s going to be Ava. He says, that’s not what he wanted to hear, but he’ll take it. He heads for the door, but then asks if Jason and his FBI buddy found anything on him.

Sasha asks if Cody is leaving, but he says he told her that he wanted to leave. It would be easier to just disappear, but no. Maxie made him promise he wouldn’t leave, but she’s not the reason he’s not leaving. Sasha is. At least for now. He moves closer, but she stops him and says, he has to stop doing this. He wants a connection with someone, but every time he gets close, he thinks of a reason to bolt. They’re building something. She kisses him and says, he can’t go. If he does, he’ll have a lot more than Maxie to worry about. She’ll hide Tracy’s secret cash box and say he took it. Tracy will have anyone with eyes and a badge looking for him. He says, Tracy has a secret cash box? and she says, not a very well-kept secret. Promise her he won’t go. He hesitates, and she says, how about this. He talks to her first if he decides to go. He says he can do that, and she says she should get back to the house, and leaves.

Ava goes to see Clemont the pharmacist, and he says he has a staff meeting in 15 minutes. He’s going to have to ask her to leave. She says she can sit in. She’s sure his staff will find it fascinating the way he refills Sonny’s bipolar medication. He says he knows she’s not Sonny’s wife. He doesn’t even have a wife. She says, give him time, but it doesn’t matter. She knows he’s been filling Sonny’s prescription with less than a quarter dose and thinks that’s frowned upon in his profession. She’s sure he has his reasons and doesn’t care what they are, but she cares about Sonny’s dosage. He says he’ll change it back to the proper dosage, but she says, he’ll change it to zero. He says, she wants him to give Sonny placebos? and she says she does. Unless he wants Sonny to know what he’s been doing, he’ll do what she wants. He says, it’s dangerous, but she says she’s willing to take that risk.

Drew (who now looks like a creeper) says, they kissed and regretted it and agreed it won’t happen again, and Willow says, absolutely not. He says, the worst thing they can do is dwell on it and let it interfere with their friendship and working together. She tells him that she doesn’t want to compromise her and Michael’s happiness for any reason, and he suggests they put it behind them. It won’t feel as big of a deal in the future. They probably won’t remember it in a year. Michael comes in and says he knew he smelled beignets.

Michael wants to talk to Drew about the wellness division, particularly the budget for Curtis. Willow says, the conversation sounds too exciting for her, and goes out on the patio.

Felicia says, maybe Cody is just mistaken about the DNA results, but Maxie says, they’re pretty conclusive. There’s no real room for interpretation. Felicia says her results were zero, when there’s a knock at the door. It’s Sasha, who asks if it’s a bad time, but Maxie says, no. Sasha says she’s sorry to come by without calling, but this is important. She knows Cody is Mac’s son. If they’re mad at Cody, they should be mad at her too. Cody told her the results months ago.

Clemont says he understands, and he’ll take care of it, and Ava says she knew she could count on him. She asks if anyone’s been asking about her, but he says, no. She says, if anyone does, tell them she was here for a consultation. Make it believable. She hopes he doesn’t do anything to make her come back. She leaves and Clemont looks pretty nervous.

Jason says he’s not working against Sonny, and Sonny says he hopes it stays that way. He’ll be back to pick up Avery. He leaves, and Carly says, he’s not wrong. Jason is working with Cates. Jason says, it’s not to take Sonny down, and Carly suggests he tell Sonny that the only reason he’s working with Cates is to protect her.

Michael and Drew go over the budget, and Michael says he assumes Drew is going to be campaigning to take advantage of the momentum. Drew says he was thinking about that, and Michael says, before he starts shaking hands and kissing babies, did Willow seem off to him?

Willow goes to the stable and asks if Cody is good with her being here. She was wondering how the horses were doing after the fireworks. Cody says, they’re fine. He kept the lights on and gave them extra hay. Some people say you should play classical music to soothe them, but these guys are metalheads. She flashes back to kissing Drew, and says, fireworks are beautiful, but kind of disorienting. You get so distracted, you kind of lose your bearings. (Okay. If you say so, Willow.)

Sasha says she knew Cody lied about the DNA test and that Mac was Cody’s biological father, but it didn’t feel like her secret to tell. Felicia asks how Sasha can be so sure. Her tests results came back negative, and Sasha was there when she told Cody. Sasha says she was also there at the Home & Heart set, when Felicia ordered the DNA test. She saw Felicia take hair from Cody’s brush and she replaced it with her own.

Carly asks why Jason can’t tell Sonny the truth, and Jason says, if Sonny finds out Cates is threatening him, who knows what he’ll do? She agrees, especially with how volatile Sonny’s been, and he asks about the meds. Carly says she checked. He’s taking them. Despite all his faults, he’s always been disciplined with his medication. Jason says, something is off, and she says she agrees, but just now, Sonny seemed like his old self. It was a relief. It seemed like the old Sonny was still in there. Jason says, until he walked in, and she says, that’s when the Sonny she doesn’t recognize showed up. He says he can’t tell Sonny the truth. Not yet. What if he goes after Cates again and kills him?

Holding an ice bucket, Ava opens her door, and Sonny is there. He asks what this garbage is. Is she alleging he’s emotionally unstable? She says she’s not talking to him like this and asks if she should call security. He says he took a page out of her book, and puts his phone on record. Just in case something is misinterpreted later on. Don’t do it.

Willow and Cody have coffee, and she says, he should have come up to the house last night, but he says he wanted to make sure the horses were okay. Did he miss a good time? She says, he was in better company, but people are upbeat about Drew running for congress. Even Tracy is on board. He asks if Willow is going to campaign for him, but she says she’s not a savvy campaigner. He says, she was a teacher, and she says she taught children, not town meetings full of would-be voters. He says, children are people too. If Drew is running as a Quartermaine, it might help if the Quartermaines supported him. Get the family involved. Aside from the kids, Willow is one of the more appealing family members.

Sasha tells Felicia and Maxie, Cody has been wrestling with this decision to tell Mac. She thought, if he had more time, he would get there, so she switched the samples to buy him more time, but she hated lying to them. Please believe that. Felicia says she does, and Maxie says she doesn’t understand. Mac’s a great guy. Sasha says, Cody knows that, but has an issue with not being good enough. He’ll have to tell them the rest. She owed them an explanation and apology. Maxie says she accepts and so does her mom. Felicia says, they appreciate her honesty, and Sasha asks, what happens next? Felicia says, it could turn out to be a good thing for Cody and Mac, and Sasha agrees, but says, Cody told her Mac was really angry and hurt. Felicia says, he was, and it will take time for him to trust Cody again. Sasha says she was trying to help, but by delaying the inevitable, she just made things worse.  

Sonny says, no wonder Scotty is the only lawyer Ava could get, and she says, it’s the strength of the case that matters, not the strength of the lawyers. He asks if that’s what her slip-and-fall guy told her, and she says, defenseless mothers seem to do well in family court. He asks if she’s going to have a stand-in, because that’s something she’s not, and she says, he’ll look good in court unless somebody says something he doesn’t like or looks at him funny. Then all bets are off. He says, Diane can find 20 witnesses to say she’s an unfit mother, and she asks if he thinks his reputation is off limits. What judge is going to give custody of an innocent child to a notorious mobster who used to run a strip club?

Maxie tells Sasha not to be so hard on herself, and Sasha says she doesn’t know what to do. Cody is devastated and talking about leaving Port Charles. Maxie says she made him promise he wouldn’t, and Sasha says, so did she. Maxie says, Cody’s promise to Sasha carries more weight, although she threatened him and she’s more dangerous. Sasha says, not really, and Maxie says, Sasha is so sweet, Sasha could be related to her mom. For all they know, maybe she is. Felicia says she would know. Mac is devastated too, but neither one of them is going to approach the other. It seems like they share the same stubborn gene. Maxie asks what they’re going to do about it.

Cody tells Willow that he likes all the Quartermaines, but some of them are more approachable than others. Can she picture Tracy on the campaign trail? Willow says, not so much, and he says, all kidding aside, he thinks Drew should run as part of a family, because that’s the dream. To be surrounded by people that love and care for you and want the best for you. Sometimes when you don’t deserve it. She says, he’s right about being part of a family. The Quartermaines have done that for her, especially Michael. He’s given her everything.

Drew asks what Michael means by Willow being off. Did she say she wasn’t feeling well, because she seemed fine to him. Michael says, nothing like that, but Willow doesn’t always tell him. She just muscles through. Maybe he’s being oversensitive, but whenever she comes down with something, he gets worried that the cancer came back. Drew says, that’s a normal human reaction. Michael witnessed the person he loves going through a terrible disease and has to give himself a break. Michael says, last night, she was tossing and turning, and he doubts she got an hour’s sleep. Drew says, maybe she just had a tough time winding down, and Michael says, he’s right. It was a big day. If Drew says she seems fine, he’ll stop worrying. It’s probably nothing. He leaves.

Jason asks, what happens to Donna and Avery if Sonny’s in prison for killing a federal agent? and Carly says, especially since there’s a possibility of her going to prison, but he says, that’s not going to happen. He’s not going to let it happen. She says she knows he believes that, and if anyone could stop it from happening, it’s him, but it may not be up to him. Or the moss bowl🎍.

Ava says she’s glad Sonny is recording this. Keep talking. Howl at the moon for all she cares. Then go home and listen to himself and judge how suitable he sounds as a parent. He says he’s not going anywhere, when Cates is suddenly at the door, and asks, is there a problem here?

Tomorrow, Ava proposes a deal with John; Heather makes a plea to Laura; and Portia tells Jordan her plan.

🐪 Better Camel Than Never…

I’m on Taleen’s team about the dog. Even if I hate you, I’ll send you condolences on the passing of your pet. It’s a sadness that’s universal and transcends beef.

Real Housewives of Dubai Season 2, Episode 6 Recap: Shut Up and Burn

🌆 LA Is Back…

As usual, there were fabulous houses with views to die for that all our combined incomes could never afford. The market in LA wasn’t great, and the Joshes were at odds over a co-listing, while Tracy tried to bridge the gap with them. JoshA listed a 7200 square foot house at 9000 square feet to get more eyeballs on it, since it had been on the market for 18 months. He played fast and loose with the definition of living space, saying the extra footage was a concrete area that could be a living space. It seemed shady to me, but so do a lot of things in real estate. JoshA appeared on Days of Our Lives as an aggressive businessman with an affinity for cocaine. They thought he resembled his character in real life – an arrogant a-hole – and he was asked back. I tried watching Days for a while, but I just don’t have the time for another soap. They showed clips though, and I’m hoping they have his scenes on YouTube.

Next time, the Heather and Terry Dubrow, and JoshF dresses up as a shark.

Tonight’s full recap here:

Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles Season 15, Episode 1 Recap: Just When You Think You’ve Seen It All…

🍳 Leaving the Stove On…

I watched this tonight and really enjoyed it. I think Lisa and Gordon are a great fit, and it’s a little different from the usual cooking competition.

Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars Season 2, Episode 7 Recap: Which Team’s Demonstration Backfired?

Also saw this, and ditto on the enjoyment factor. The new generations spin on it keeps it fresh.

‘MasterChef’ season 14 episode 6 recap: Who was eliminated in ‘Age is Just a Number’? [LIVE BLOG]

🐯 No Judgement…

I don’t think the word furries means what they think it means, but even if it did, more power to them. Senior pets need extra love. My oldest Peke just turned 17½ right now, June 11th.

https://people.com/furries-raise-over-100k-for-homeless-senior-pets-at-pittsburgh-convention-8676313

🪭 It’s Getting Hot in Here…

Join me tomorrow for soap and a peek at the OC. Until then, stay safe, stay keeping anything breakable away from pools and pool decks, and stay not delaying the inevitable. It just makes things worse.

Jul10

July 9, 2024 – Cody Tells Mac That He Lied About the DNA Test, Sudsy Newsflash, Just a Preview, Messy New Jersey, Shocking, Have Some Brisket & Born

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Sorry, I missed the beginning, but it’s always just a bit of a rehash. Basically, Drew told Willow that in another time and place, they might have meant something to each other.

Nina tells Michael that, more than anything, she wants a relationship with her daughter and grandchildren. If they continue to be at odds, that won’t happen. That’s enough motivation, but she also loves her job at Crimson, especially after being at The Invader. She’d be an idiot to continue to antagonize Aurora’s CFO. Curtis says, they share family, but they also have a similar work ethic. They’re professionals and damn good at their jobs. Their work is interdependent, they need each other, and Aurora needs them both. Michael says he’s starting to believe that, and he’s willing to put down the past and focus on the here and now. Curtis says, and hopefully, the future, and Michael says, and not just at Aurora. He’s a husband and father, and doesn’t want Willow feeling torn. Whatever she decides, he’s on board. Willow’s happiness is his top priority.

Portia says, while Laura is defending Heather’s rights, how does she know Heather won’t come after Portia’s family? Laura says, the law is for everyone, including the people they hate, but Portia says, it’s not about the law. It’s about Laura feeling bad for a family member who’s locked up. It’s uncomfortable, and sitting in discomfort is hard, but so is fearing for her daughter’s life. Elizabeth comes in and asks if they’ve seen Aiden… Clearly, she’s interrupting. Portia says, Laura’s got backup. Elizabeth came just in time to take her side.

Drew says, that was a rotten thing for him to say, but Willow says, that they might have meant something to each other under different circumstances doesn’t sound rotten. Drew says, it’s a trap when you think of things that might have been. You don’t mess up, and everyone does and says the right things. You don’t doubt your choices. When they met, Willow was already in love with Michael. Willow says she loves Michael so much, she can’t believe she did that, but Drew tells her not to put it all on her. They had a couple of drinks and got caught up in the fireworks and the proximity, and probably a little bit of election enthusiasm. Things happen. She says, it’s not the end of the world, and he says, it’s not even the end of the day. It happened, it’s over, and it will never happen again. Willow says, ever, and Drew says, they’re on the same page. Michael, Curtis, and Nina come in, and Michael says, coincidentally, them too.

Gio joins Trina and Josslyn at the boathouse, and Josslyn asks how the concert was. Gio says, good, and tells them there’s food at the house, but Josslyn says, they’re still full. She offers him a beer, and he asks, how was the barbecue? Josslyn says, eventful. Drew Quartermaine announced he was running for congress. Gio says he thought it was Cain, and Trina says, it was, 24 hours ago. Her dad said Quartermaine has a higher recognition factor. Josslyn says, Drew brought back the mayor and the congressman, but it wasn’t all business. There were friends and family there. Gio asks why Sonny wasn’t here and wonders why he wasn’t invited. Josslyn says, maybe he was and didn’t come. Gio would have to ask the Quartermaines.  

Cody says he wants to be part of Mac’s family, but Mac says, he has an interesting way of showing it. Cody says he didn’t know how to tell Mac, and Mac says, so he actively lied. Cody says he’s not proud of it, and Mac says, what upsets him most was that Cody felt he couldn’t be honest. The worst part is that he lied to Felicia. He lied to Maxie, Georgie, James, and Bailey Lou. Everyone he claimed to give a damn about. Cody says he loves them, but Mac says, if he did, he wouldn’t treat them like that. Cody asks if it helps that it was killing him. He’s eternally sorry. Mac says, it doesn’t help. He doesn’t trust Cody. For all he knows, it’s just another lie. He walks away.

Portia says, Heather was Elizabeth’s mother-in-law. Of course (🍷) she agrees with Laura. Laura says, this conversation is over, and Portia says she’ll leave them with this. Heather Webber is a serial killer, and she has every reason to believe Trina was her target. If Laura thinks she’s going to allow Trina to be at risk again and continues to try and set Heather free, the next conversation they have will be in public. She walks out.

Drew says, he and Willow were just watching the fireworks and talking politics. What’s up? Curtis says, they had an impromptu meeting about Aurora, and Nina says, they’re putting aside their differences and moving forward. Michael says, it’s time to move forward, and Nina says, everything is aboveboard, and their agendas have been put to bed. Willow says, it’s a relief to hear that, and Drew says, it feels like a new beginning, a new era, a clean slate. Nina says, with endless possibilities, and Drew asks how this came about. Curtis says, in order to move smoothly, the CFO of Aurora and the Editor-in-Chief of Crimson need to be in the for same room more than two minutes. Portia runs in and tells Curtis that she needs to go home.

Elizabeth says she doesn’t think she’s ever seen Portia so angry, and Laura says she understands. She went through hell with Heather, then Esme, and is genuinely concerned about her daughter. Elizabeth says, Esme is gone, and strange as it is, Heather’s situation has changed. Laura says, thank God she can see that. Portia can’t and it surprised her. Elizabeth says, why? Because she’s a doctor? Laura says, Portia knows Heather was sick and knows the medical ramifications. She was there when they were figuring it out, but she won’t consider the possibility that once the poison left Heather’s body, she’s no longer as dangerous. Elizabeth says, it’s easier for Laura to see. All Portia sees is a monster who tried to hurt her child. It’s like her experience with Franco. She could look past the tumor, but his victims couldn’t and never forgave him. Laura says, she thinks Portia is the same way, but Elizabeth says she hopes not. She hopes Portia realizes she’s asking questions only the court can answer. It’s not up to them. That’s why they have laws. It’s supposed to be justice for all. Laura says, that’s all she’s been saying, and thanks Elizabeth for hearing it. Elizabeth hugs Laura and says she’s proud of her, and so are her grandkids. She leaves, and Laura wipes tears from her eyes.

Maxie goes to the stable and asks if Cody has seen James’s riding gloves. He needs them for his next lesson. He’s obsessed and keeps asking everyone to watch. He even asked the grocery bagger. Cody says he doesn’t think he should keep giving James lessons, and she asks, why not? Did he say or do something? Cody says, it’s nothing like that, and Maxie says, he can’t take the lessons away from her. It’s her only leverage. He says, Mac is furious with him, and she says, her Mac? That doesn’t sound like him. Cody says, he’s our Mac, and Maxie says, explain please. Cody says he’s been lying to all of them. He’s Mac’s son. Maxie says, but the DNA test… and Cody says he lied. Maxie says she can see it, and he says he totally lied and now Mac knows the truth. She says, now Mac is unhappy, but Cody says, that’s a massive understatement.

Gio says, it’s his first boathouse party, and Trina says she hopes not his last. He tells them, keep inviting him and he’ll keep showing up, and Josslyn asks what they do in Bensonhurst on the 4th. Gio says, they have a huge block party. Everyone within 10 blocks is a Cerullo or a Falconari. They’re big Italian families. Trina asks if his mom was from Italy, and he says, she was. It was her proudest moment to officially become a citizen. She told him to never take it for granted and he never does. Neither do his relatives. That’s why the 4th is a big deal. Trina says, it means something to his family.

Curtis asks if everything is okay, and Porta says she just needs to go home. Curtis tells Drew, congrats again, and Portia says, if he wants her vote, he needs to pledge to keep Heather Webber in prison, no matter what the mayor has to say. She and Curtis leave, and Willow says, Portia is a mom and entitled to her feelings. She tells Michael that she’s exhausted and suggests they round up the kids, but Michael says, the kids are staying here, so they can head back to the gatehouse when she’s ready. Willow says she’s happy Nina and Michael made up and Nina is helping with the campaign. It’s nice being on the same side again. Nina says she couldn’t agree more, and Willow leaves with Michael, glancing at Drew on her way out the door.  

Felicia says she’s been looking everywhere for Mac. What’s wrong? Mac says, Cody is his son, but she says, no, he’s not. He says, yes, he is, but she says, he can’t be. She did her own DNA test. She’ll explain the details later. Mac says, Cody must have doctored the results and lied the first time. She asks how he knows, and he says, Cody confessed to him. She says, he’s known all this time? and Mac says, and he never said a word. Cody gave him some convoluted excuse, but he was barely listening. She asks how he feels, and he says he’s furious. He has a son. Cody knew it and lied about it on purpose. She was right about him. He’s nothing but a grifter and must have some agenda for it coming to light now. She says, he really doesn’t think Cody needs a kidney or points removed from his driver’s license, but Mac says he can’t think of another reason. Can she?

Mac says, maybe Cody doesn’t need an internal organ, but he’s coming from some kind of angle. Felicia says, Cody is his kid, but Mac says, on paper only. Felicia says, it’s Cody’s loss. It’s sad really. Mac says he would have welcomed Cody to the family, and Felicia says, he did. Mac says, it would have taken adjusting, but he would have found a way to love him. Felicia says, of course (🍷), and Mac says, now it’s too late for that.

Maxie says she feels her brain melting. Why did Cody lie? Mac is the best father in the whole world. Cody says, at first, he thought he wanted money more than family. Pathetic, he knows. By the time he changed his mind, he didn’t know how to take back the lie. Maxie says, tell the truth? and Cody says he was afraid Mac would hate him, and guess what? He was right. Maxie says, Mac is upset. He doesn’t hate Cody. Cody says he wants her to know that he’s sorry he messed this up. They’re all a terrific family. She says, especially her. She’s a fantastic sister. He says, they’re not related, but she says, Mac is her father and that makes Cody her brother, and her kids his nieces and nephew. Cody says he loved teaching James, and Maxie says, when James finds out Cody is Mac’s son, he’s going to be over the moon. He tells her to hold off telling him until she talks to Mac. James is a good rider, and you can’t beat his enthusiasm. He wants her to know that he’s grateful for all their time together. She says she sees what he’s doing. If he thinks he’s going to get rid of them that easily, think again.

Gio says, it’s not just patriotic. It’s a reason for everyone to get together. Thanksgiving and Christmas are the same, but it’s cold. On the 4th, they’re all hanging out in the street. Josslyn asks if he’s been to the soft serve truck, and Trina says, it’s easy to overlook, but there’s nothing like it. Josslyn says, it’s usually parked by Rice Park. All they have is chocolate and vanilla in cones, but there’s nothing like a classic cone on a hot day. Trina says, it’s her afternoon treat when she’s at work, and Gio asks if there are any other Port Charles traditions he should know about. Josslyn says, one is about to start, the Country Club fireworks. Now that he’s done playing, he can relax and enjoy the view. He says, the company’s not bad either.

Curtis asks, what’s going on? and Portia says she had a chat with Laura. As long as Laura continues to help Heather to go free, she’s the enemy. And so is anybody who supports her, including Drew and the Quartermaines. (Ugh. I hate when Portia puts her self-righteous hat on. She also has a habit of what my dad called, crying before you’re hurt, and it’s annoying.)

Curtis says, to be clear, he wants Heather to stay locked up until the end of time and he’ll advocate for that, but it’s not his call. No more than it is hers. Portia asks why he’s not angry, and he asks, what good would it do? He’s on her side, but regardless of how they feel, it’s the court’s decision, not theirs. She says, that sounds like spin. Trina is his daughter. Doesn’t he care? Curtis says, it’s one thing for her to fight Heather. It’s another thing to fight him. She knows he wants his daughter to stay safe. She says, he’s not the one she’s mad at. She’s sorry. They hug.

Gio, Trina, and Josslyn watch the fireworks, and Gio says, beautiful. Trina asks how they rate compared to Bensonhurst, and he says, these are tame. She asks if he misses home, and he says he misses his family of course (🍷) and his neighborhood, where he knows everyone, and everyone knows him. But he needed a change, to try something new. He likes Port Charles. It’s the perfect fit. Josslyn lifts her beer bottle and says, to finding your place. Trina says, and making new friends, and the three of them clink beer bottles.

Maxie says, admit it. In Cody’s mind, he’s packing and saying his goodbyes. Don’t do it. He says he doesn’t see what choice he has, and she says, stay. She’s had lots of experience with huge lies and life wrecking mistakes. Running just makes it worse. She once pretended to be pregnant to get a guy to be in a relationship with her. She’ll tell him about it sometime. He needs to stay and process. Give Mac time and them time to adjust. Don’t leave, for Mac and Sasha and mostly himself. Promise. He says, okay, but she says she needs him to say the words. He says he promises, but she says, too vague. What exactly is he promising? He says, not to leave, and she says, he won’t regret it. He gives her James’s riding gloves and she leaves.

Nina asks Drew if she was dreaming just now. She never thought the day would come. He says he’s happy for her, and she says, maybe she’ll get to spend time with Wiley and Amelia, be part of the family, and he says, it’s looking that way. She thanks him with tears in her eyes, and says, he built a bridge between her and her daughter. She’ll be forever grateful. He says, she’s welcome and they kiss. (Wow. Is this getting messy or what?)

Sasha is having a glass of wine and sees Michael and Willow outside on the patio. Willow says, it’s a beautiful night, and Michael tells Willow that she’s gorgeous. They kiss, and Sasha watches, flashing back to seeing Willow and Drew kissing.

Tomorrow, Sasha says, if Cody leaves, he’ll have a lot more than Maxie to worry about; Felicia wants to be wrong; and Ava says she’ll do what she wants.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

He might be gone, but he’ll never be forgotten. I still live in hope that he’ll be back. It’s happened before.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/michael-easton-pays-tribute-to-his-gh-leading-ladies

A super soap spy couple reunites.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ian-buchanan-and-finola-hughes-reunite-in-london

Sad news.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-star-doug-sheehan-dead-at-75

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-ryans-hope-and-loving-producer-joseph-hardy-dead-at-95

Happier news.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-kate-mansi-is-engaged-to-matt-mcinnis

🐪 No Camel, Preview…

As of this posting, there was zilch on tonight’s RHODubai, but here’s a taste.

RHODubai Season 2, Episode 6 Preview: Caroline Stanbury Tells Sara Al Madani to ‘Shut Up’

👠 They’re Not Wrong…

For once, Andy is not to blame… totally.

Jackie Goldschneider Blames RHONJ Cast for ‘Destroying the Show’
Melissa Gorga Thinks ‘Toxic’ RHONJ Needs ‘Changes’ After ‘Dirty’ Cast Tactics

Me too.

Why RHONJ Fans Yearn for the Good Old Days

Case in point.

Rumored Details About RHONJ Finale Fight Revealed: ‘Beyond Explosive’

Just for fun.

Why Teresa Giudice’s Photoshop Fail With Larsa Pippen Is So Annoying

⛵️ Over the Bounding Reef…

Well, he isn’t exactly known for keeping to the rule book.

Revealed: Below Deck Sailing Yacht Captain Glenn Shephard’s Shocking History

🐕 The Lassie Of His Generation…

Meet Brisket.

https://paradepets.com/pet-news/glen-powell-rescue-dog-brisket-twisters

Oh, there’s a dude in the photo? Seriously though, no on the pants like that.

https://people.com/glen-powell-shares-steamy-photo-instagram-post-about-dog-brisket-8674643

🥏 Tell Me More, Tell Me More…

Join me tomorrow for soap, and the latest in Listing and Dubai (I hope). Until then, stay safe; stay not bringing uninvited guests or pets to someone else’s event or party without asking permission; and stay being willing to put down the past and focus on the here and now, and hopefully, the future

Jul4

July 3, 2024 – Adrian Outs Ava Everywhere, Overjoyed, Bonsai In Dubai, Kim Talks Jersey, Still Missing, Dragon Eggs, BET Awards, A Farewell, Just Married, History Lesson, Another Pet (!) PSA & Anybody

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

On the phone, Carly says she knows if anyone can keep her from prison it’s Diane, and thanks her for the update. Josslyn says, don’t make her ask, and Carly says she wants to protect Josslyn, and wishes she was still little. Here’s the deal. The only way to get Jason out from under the FBI is her risking going to prison.

Maxie says she agrees with Lucy. Deception needs to be clear that they don’t stand with Natalia’s views, but not fire Blaze. Keeping her on shows the world that they stand with a person’s right to define themselves and come out on their own terms in their own time. Lois says she agrees 100%, and Lucy says, she’s a spokesperson, not a partner. Lois says, then make that 200%, and Lucy says, Maxie is right. She’s been thinking like a corporation, not a person. Scotty says, now that they’re on the same page, they need to talk damage control. Nina comes in and says she heard about the disaster. She feels horrible for Blaze and Kristina. Maxie says she thinks they need to discuss damage control, and Nina says, then she got here just in time.

Kristina tells Blaze to stop blaming herself. People are garbage. Blaze says she’s a coward. She wanted to come out and tell the world about them. She’s a grown woman, a badass rock star, and she let her mom pressure her into staying in the closet. Now her weakness ended up hurting Kristina. Kristina tells her to stop apologizing and listen to her.

Alexis tells Ava that they need to have a conversation. One that won’t be recorded. Ava tries closing the door, but Alexis breezes past her. Ava says, Alexis already scolded her for telling the truth about Alexis perjuring herself, but Alexis says, DeWitt gave Ava up when she threatened him with a lawsuit that would leave him destitute. She knows Ava turned over the recording to The Invader. Hurting her is one thing. Hurting her daughter is another, and a big mistake.

Natalia tells Sonny that she thought it was a private conversation. Ava edited out her part. Ava used her words to ruin Blaze and Kristina’s careers. Sonny says, Kristina created her foundation, and because of what Natalia said, the activists don’t want her near what she created. They think she’s ashamed to be gay. Natalia says she’s so sorry, and Sonny tells her that she said the words, but Ava delivered the recording. Now she’s going to pay for it.

Kristina says, Blaze’s life is her own. She’s not obligated to share her personal business. She owes her fans great songs and great shows, nothing else beyond that. Neither does she. The public doesn’t have to know who she’s dating. People think she’s unworthy to run the center she built from the ground up and are saying she’s a hypocrite. They’re the ones in the wrong. She and Blaze have nothing to be ashamed of. The person who should be ashamed is the one who violated their privacy and leaked the recording. Blaze struggles with her words and says, she knows that, but still wishes she’d come out the minute she knew it was real between them. Kristina says, she didn’t. Now they can only move forward. There’s a knock at the door, and Blaze wonders if it’s a reporter.

Nina says, Crimson has a two-page ad featuring Blaze. She can’t imagine they want that on the newsstand this week. Maxie says, they 100% support Blaze, but she’s right. It would be a disaster and draw more outrage. Lucy says, they support Blaze, but it will take away from the products, which is what the spread is about. Nina wonders what they should run instead, and Lucy suggests a brief history of Deception. Of course (🍷) she’d be more than willing to give an interview. Maxie says she’s surprised Lucy isn’t suggesting a two-page transcript of her Home & Heart appearance, and Lucy says she was so good that day, but Maxie says, she was a walking test pattern. Lois says, the lowly employee has a suggestion.

Ava says she heard the recording. The internet is abuzz, but she had nothing to do with it. Alexis asks why Adrian would lie, and Ava tells her to connect the dots. Nina decided she hates her and is conspiring with Adrian to frame her. Alexis says, prove it. She’ll subpoena Ava’s cellphone provider. She’s sure the audio file is hefty. Ava says, subpoena it based on what? Alexis has been gone so long, she forgot how this works. Alexis says, nobody told Ava. She got her license back. Ava asks, how long before she hangs out her shingle? and Alexis says she’ll be working with Diane, but she has no clients yet. Ava says, baby steps, and Alexis says she’ll be so busy with a big case, a huge, brutal bloodbath. Does Ava care to guess what it is?

Carly explains that Agent Cates and his superiors took two and a half years from Jason because they have a recording of her. When Sonny was in Nixon Falls and they thought he was dead, she went to a meeting and announced she was running Sonny’s organization. Josslyn says, tell her that she didn’t.

Sasha says she’d ask if it’s a bad time, but that’s why she’s here. The reporters and paparazzi are outside, and they recognized her, but not before their doorman did. He’s doing an amazing job. How are they doing? Kristina says, better, and Blaze says, but not great, and Sasha says she gets that they’re not in the mood for company. She’s just doing a drive by. She was out shopping for the Quartermaines when the story hit. As someone whose life was blown up by the press, she wants to give them the benefit of her hard-won experience.

Lois says, instead, why don’t they do a feature on Blaze and have her give a statement, get her truth out? Maxie says she likes the spirit, but Nina says, the timing’s not ideal. Lucy says, they’re supposed to sell products, not be wading into scandal, and Nina says, they have no time for an elaborate photo shoot. The magazine needs to go to print. Maybe they have some old shots of Sasha… Maxie says, they don’t want it to look like they’re dropping Blaze. A single message in bold type – no one cancels love – with Deception’s logo underneath. A black page with white lettering, nothing else. Nina says, it’s perfect, and Lucy says, it’s genius, if she does say so herself. Lois says she doesn’t like it… she loves it. It takes the pressure off and turns the conversation in the right direction. Maxie thought of everything. She’s on it. Lois leaves, and Scotty asks, what’s next? but Nina says, who’s next? Adrian has to answer for what he’s done.

Natalia says, when she brought Sonny the scotch, Ava invited her in. That should have been her first clue. They made small talk, and she told Ava about Brook’s wedding. Then Ava talked about Kristina, and how comfortable Sonny was with Kristina’s sexuality. She admitted she was struggling with Allison’s, which they talked about. She should have known better than to talk to a relative stranger, but how would she know Ava was recording it? Who does that? Sonny says, there are no limits to how far Ava will go. He should have told her. Natalia says she should have trusted her gut instinct. To be honest, she thinks she was too arrogant. She was sure she could handle anything anyone threw at her until this morning. She doesn’t know why Ava would do this. Sonny says, he never thought she’d come after his daughter like this.

Natalia tells Sonny that she was blindsided. Her private thoughts were out there, and then to see the pain, shock, and betrayal on her daughter’s face, and the realization of what she’d done. How she ruined her daughter’s career. All their hard work up in flames. Sonny asks if she thought about how Blaze felt about the recording, and she says, of course (🍷). She never wanted her discomfort to ever distract or hurt her daughter, so she kept it to herself. Sonny says he went through something. Kristina saw something she wasn’t supposed to see. A side of him he never wanted her to see. He was terrified he’d never see her again. Natalia says, exactly.

Adrian comes into Maxie’s office, and says, Nina and ladies of Deception. It’s gratifying to see how the web traffic has picked up. He assumes that’s what this tête-à-tête is all about. Nina says she’s not pleased, and Adrian says he’s not sure this is the appropriate venue to air The Invader’s dirty laundry, but Nina says, it’s the perfect place. His absence of judgement will affect the bottom line of Crimson’s favorite ad sponsors. They deserve an answer. He asks what the question is, and she asks where he got the recording and why did he run it without consulting her? He says, she’s been a champion of his society journalism, but she says, it was inflammatory and doctored. Adrian says, it was edited. Only Natalia’s part of the conversation was relevant. Nina says, what about Kristina and Blaze? She’s sure he knows Kristina is Sonny Corinthos’s daughter and Sonny is her ex-husband. Did it occur to him that running a hit piece that was detrimental will make it look like she was using the paper to lash out at her ex? Adrian says he assumed her reputation was above reproach, and Nina says, even she knows it’s far from sterling. And he didn’t answer her first question. Where did he get this recording? Tell her this instant or he can clear out the office he hasn’t even occupied for 24 hours. He says, Ava Jerome. (Ha-ha-ha! He’s just singing like a canary all over the place.)

Ava says, even if she did it, it’s not illegal for one person to record another, and Alexis agrees, it’s not. Ava says, it’s an open and shut case then, but Alexis says, not really. Has Ava heard of reasonable expectation of privacy? Blaze is a public figure, so hers is limited, but Natalia is not a public figure. Ava says, it’s still not illegal, and Alexis says, that’s the fun part of the challenge. Case law is made based on judicial rule and opinion. She’ll be going on intention of malice, and Ava tampered with the recording, negating all legal protection. Ava says she’d think it was a public service exposing Blaze’s mother as a bigot. People deserve to know. Alexis says she never pictured Ava as a homophobe, and Ava says she’s not. She’s encouraging the truth. Alexis says, good. She looks forward to Ava’s confession of a certain murder.

Carly tells Josslyn that she didn’t really run the organization, but she had to convince them she was to maintain the balance of power. If they’d been seen as weak, the other families would have tried to expand into Port Charles, and she would have been seen as a threat, as well as Michael. She couldn’t take the risk. Someone at the meeting was wearing a wire, and apparently, she was convincing. If the FBI chooses to charge her, there’s a good chance she’ll go to prison.

Lucy thanks Scotty in advance for washing his hands of Ava. He’s going to drop the court case that Ava wants him for. Maxie asks Nina what Lucy is talking about, and Nina says, Ava is trying to take Avery away from Sonny. Scotty says he told Lucy in confidence, and Maxie says, like Ava told him. Adrian says, the people deserve to know, but Nina says she doesn’t think shoes come in designer cement. Adrian says he supposes the parties involved have reasonable expectation of privacy, and Lucy says she reasonably expects Scotty to drop Ava. Or no you know what with you know who. Maxie suggests they take it out of the office, and on their way out, Scotty says he doubts Lucy can hold out. Lucy says she doubts Scotty is going to be holding anything, and they leave. Maxie says she can’t believe her life, and Nina says she’s so sorry. By the way, Adrian is fired. Adrian says he told her who his source was, and she says, no good journalist would do that. Pack his things and get out. Maxie says, wait.

Natalia says she’s never seen her daughter that upset, and Sonny says, they both know how difficult it is to watch their children suffer. They have a tough road ahead. She says she wants him to know, despite what she said, she does think Kristina is a lovely young lady, and he says if she treats Kristina with respect and courtesy, that’s all that matters. Natalia thanks him, and says, as for what Ava did, she knows Ava wasn’t standing up for gay rights, so why? Sonny says, Ava knows he loves his daughter and wants to protect her. She did it to hurt him and get back at him. Natalia and Blaze are just collateral damage. Natalie asks what they do now, and he says, she doesn’t do anything. He’ll take care of Ava.

Ava says she never killed anyone, but Alexis says, Connie Falconari’s relatives might not agree. Ava hurt her daughter to get back at her. Ava says, Alexis thinks everything is about her, and Alexis says, speaking of daughters, where’s Avery? Not here. Ava says, she’ll be here soon, where she belongs permanently, and Alexis says, Ava shouldn’t put her one remaining egg in her empty basket. She’s alone with no friends. She wreaks havoc, but never considered the life she would ruin was her own. Ava says, it’s time for Alexis to leave, and Alexis agrees. She got what she came for, and she’s sure their conversation will prove useful in court. Ava says, she recorded it? and Alexis says, it’s not illegal. Ava says, it won’t help her, and Alexis says, she’s right. That’s why she didn’t record it. Or did she? Alexis leaves.

Sasha says she’s so sorry Blaze was outed. At least there are no viral videos of three public breakdowns, one where she vandalized a car. Not that she’s saying that’s worse, but it was more embarrassing. Blaze has nothing to be ashamed of. Kristina thanks her, and Sasha says, her advice is to stay in tonight. Don’t go online. Don’t pay attention to the angry mob with torches and pitchforks. It feels like forever, and then, poof! It’s gone. Blaze says she hopes Sasha is right, and Kristina says, they’ll try to remember. Sasha says, as loud as the haters are, they have a lot of people on their side.

Josslyn asks what they have on Jason, but Carly says, it’s all evidence against her. Josslyn says, it makes perfect sense. Jason went to prison for Michael, then gives up his freedom to save Carly. Carly says, when she found out, she wanted to turn herself in, but Josslyn says, she can’t go to prison. Carly says she doesn’t want to, but if she turns herself in, Jason would be free, and Diane could help get her out of the charges. Josslyn asks what Jason thinks, and Carly says, he’s furious. He said if she does that, he’ll have wasted his time. Josslyn says, he’s correct. If she does this, he’ll have given up his freedom for nothing. Carly says, there’s a possibility Jason can do whatever the FBI wants, and they’ll still prosecute her.

Carly says she and Diane are trying to come up with a defense strategy, but it’s not going well. Josslyn says, it’s not worth the risk, but Carly says she can’t stand that Jason is doing this. Josslyn says she understands how Carly is feeling. Carly and Jason have known each other longer than anyone else and been through things together that no one else understands. If she was Carly’s youngest child, she’d probably say, do what you need to do, but she’s not, and Carly doesn’t want to leave Donna in Sonny’s care. Carly says, it’s something Jason doesn’t want her to do. That’s why she’s stuck. Josslyn says she did the same thing. She asked Anna not to let Dex join the PCPD, but Anna didn’t listen. Now she’s glad.  

Maxie says she doesn’t think it’s best for Nina to fire Adrien. He still has so much to offer. Adrian says, indeed, and Maxie says, complete obedience. If Nina keeps Adrian on, he has to print what she wants. And if he disobeys her, everyone will find out his role in this horror show. When they know he lacks ethics, he won’t get a job with a supermarket circular. Nina says, sounds like a plan.

Scotty goes to Ava’s room, and says he just met with Nina. Ava says she hopes he told Alexis that she didn’t break any laws and a lawsuit is a waste of time and money, mainly Alexis’s. She and Scotty are friends, right? He says he hasn’t talked to Alexis in years. He’s a practicing attorney. Alexis Davis, Esquire isn’t. Ava says, so she’s not the last to hear. Alexis claims she’s getting her license back. He says, that’s not good.

Alexis comes into the restaurant, and Natalia says she doesn’t suppose there’s anything she can say. Alexis says, there’s isn’t. She’s surprised to see them together. Sonny tells her, Natalia said what she said. She thought it was a private conversation. Alexis asks if that justifies bigotry, and Natalia says she regrets that everyone heard her, but she can’t help how she feels. Alexis says she thinks Natalia can. Perhaps by opening her mind. Sonny reminds Alexis that Natalia is his guest, and Alexis says she could come back, but it was important they talk now. Natalia says she’ll get going, but Sonny says she doesn’t have to. Natalia says she does, and leaves. Sonny says he knows what Natalia said and hates it, but she’s not the one who released the recording. Ava did. Alexis says, so he knows that. That’s why she came to talk to him, to make sure he knew. The question is, what are we going to do about it?

Carly says, Josslyn was upset about what Dex was willing to do for Sonny, and Josslyn says, she’s not excusing that, but Dex has changed. Carly asks, what changed? and Josslyn says, they just started and now they’re here. Carly asks, where’s here? and Josslyn says she doesn’t know, but things are different now and she likes it. They’re close and they’re friends. They’re at the point where they decide what they mean to each other, instead of thinking about everybody else. Carly says, she seems happy, and Josslyn says she is. Carly says she’s happy for her.

Natalie leaves a message for Blaze to call her back. She wants to be able to explain.  

Kristina thanks Sasha for coming by, when Nina knocks on the door. She says she thought she’d stop by to check in, and as publisher of The Invader, she needs to apologize to them. Kristina asks, what happened? and Nina says, to be clear, she just found out. She was appalled about the recording. Her recently promoted Editor-in-Chief got ahold of it and thought it would make good clickbait. It never should have happened and she’s absolutely furious. Blaze asks where he got the recording, and Kristina wants to know who edited out their own voice like a coward. Nina says, Ava Jerome. (Adrian was right. Ava Jerome is the answer to every question.)

Ava asks, what’s the difference if Alexis is back to being a practicing attorney? and Scotty says, she’s a tough opponent. Ava says, he’s supposed to be tougher. That’s why she’s paying him to build a case against Sonny. He says he hates to break the news, but it isn’t going to make getting custody any easier with the stunt Ava pulled. She says she exposed the truth about a bigot. Sonny has done worse, beating Cyrus within an inch of his life. Scotty says, that’s ancient history. It was on the local news. The public outing of Kristina and Blaze is out there everywhere. Ava says she didn’t intend for that to happen. What are they going to do? She won’t let Sonny take her daughter. He says, she’s kind of screwed unless Sonny kills somebody on camera. She says, that’s not going to happen, and he says, or has a nervous breakdown in public.

Sonny says he’s going to get revenge on Ava by taking her to court. If anybody can make Ava suffer in court, Diane can. Natalia says she’ll settle for Ava’s reputation being decimated, and Sonny says, just so she knows, he’s not going to settle. She says, dare she ask? and he says he’s going to make Ava’s life not worth living. And Diane will make sure Ava never lays eyes on Avery again.  

No GH tomorrow. On Friday, Jordan tells Drew, it’s a unique opportunity for both of them; Kristina tells Natalia that she’s never been so serious about anything in her entire life; and Dante tells Sonny that if he goes after Ava, he’ll lose Avery.

🍀 She’s Feeling Lucky…

It’s going to be quite the summer of reunions.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/genie-francis-is-overjoyed-about-jonathan-jacksons-gh-return

🐪 They’d Walk a Mile For a Camel…

Stanbury’s new house is beyond amazing, especially the giant bonsai tree they had lowered in with a crane. I’m enjoying this one because, while I don’t mind a bit of cattiness, they don’t throw things at each other, curse each other out at top volume, or fist fight because, Dubai. I also don’t mind seeing how the 1% lives, and I’m pretty sure most of them live here.

Real Housewives of Dubai Season 2, Episode 5 Recap: A New Man and a Familiar Fight

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13594605/caroline-stanbury-sergio-carrallo-fertility-doctor-rhod.html

Caroline’s house… and the tree.

https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/culture/interiors/caroline-stanbury-al-barari

👠 The One With the Square…

Striving to be relevant since 2010.

https://okmagazine.com/p/kim-depaola-rhonj-reboot-season-15/

https://okmagazine.com/p/kim-depaola-rhonj-my-life-with-the-big-boys-book/

🪣 There’s a Hole In His Bucket…

Well, he got Cher and Mariah Carey, so who knows?

https://okmagazine.com/p/andy-cohen-celebs-bucket-list-watch-what-happens-live/

🐉 Eggs Of the Dragon…

Isn’t the whole thing really a big Easter egg?

https://ew.com/house-of-the-dragon-director-confirms-game-of-thrones-easter-egg-in-episode-3-8672332

https://ew.com/house-of-the-dragon-season-2-milly-alcock-harrenhal-cameo-exclusive-8670246

🏆 Simply the Best…

The BET Awards winners.

https://ew.com/bet-awards-2024-winners-list-8669253

Moments in time.

https://ew.com/bet-awards-2024-top-5-moments-usher-lauryn-hill-keke-palmer-8671843

And of course, the fashion.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1404438/2024-bet-awards-see-all-the-celebrity-fashion-on-the-red-carpet

🥀 Goodbye Russell…

While I’m late in posting this, I’ll miss him. With sitcoms, he was literally everywhere all at once.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/martin-mull-dead-funnyman-fernwood-2-night-star-1235935445/

👰🏻‍♀️ There Went the Bride…

She looks amazing in that dress. I wish they’d bring The Culpo Sisters back, one of the kinder, gentler reality shows.

https://people.com/olivia-culpo-christian-mccaffrey-married-8553355

📜 Not a Moment But a Movement…

All about our Day of Independence.

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/july-4th

https://www.mcall.com/2024/07/03/facts-about-july-fourth/

🐶 Harping On It…

More pets get lost on the 4th of July than any other time. Don’t let yours be one of them.

https://people.com/how-to-keep-your-pet-safe-on-the-fourth-of-july-8672745

🎆 Baby, You’re a Roman Candle…

Tomorrow’s a free day, but join me on Friday for the usual soap, tea, tidbits, and quotes. Until then, stay extra safe; stay enjoying the celebration, but remembering why we celebrate; and stay standing with a person’s right to define themselves, and come out on their own terms in their own time.

Jul3

July 2, 2024 – Natalia Causes a Backlash Tsunami, Lots About Soap, Just Caroline, Stirring the Jersey Pot, New New York, Deck Doings, Keep Them Safe & Party

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

I missed the very beginning, but that’s usually just a rehash anyway. So…

Diane tells Sonny that it’s her job to plead his case and provide counsel. It’s steep hill he’s going to have to climb. Avery isn’t a baby anymore, and if she sees him trying to take her from her mother, it could permanently alter her relationship with him. He says he’d rather she hate her father than become her mother, and Diane says, it’s his call. She records some notes for herself on her phone, and her phone beeps. He asks, what’s the problem? and she says, it’s a big one. Does he mind if she makes a phone call?

Alexis says, Kristina is in the homestretch of her pregnancy. The last part is challenging, physically and emotionally, and she wants Kristina to know she’s here for her no matter what. Kristina says she knows, but it never hurts to hear. Alexis’s phone rings, and Diane says she saw The Invader alert. What is Alexis doing? Alexis says she’s with Kristina celebrating quitting her job. She’s left the tabloid life behind. She doesn’t know what’s in The Invader, unless they’re running a picture of her face on a dartboard. Diane says, it’s not about her, but it’s bad. Go to the website now. Alexis asks what she’s looking for, and Diane says, she’ll know when she sees it. And turn up the audio. Alexis and Kristina listen to the file from The Face of Deception’s Daughter, and Diane says tell Kristina that she’s sorry.

Sonny asks if everything is okay, and Diane plays the audio file for him.

Everyone in Maxie’s office listens to the audio file, which includes Natalia talking about her fear that someone will take a picture of Blaze and Kristina holding hands. She’s scared it will be sold to the tabloids and there will be a scandal. Blaze glares at Natalia and says, don’t hold back. Tell us how you really feel.

Alexis and Kristina listen, and Kristina says, turn it off. She gets the gist. Alexis asks if she’s okay. Her blood is boiling, so she can’t imagine how Kristina feels. Kristina says she’s not the one who was just outed. Blaze was discriminated against by her own mother in public. She’s angry, but she’ll be fine. Alexis wonders if Kristina has heard from Blaze, and Kristina says, they usually text constantly, but no. Alexis says, maybe she hasn’t seen it, but Kristina says she doubts it. Deception is probably coming up with PR strategy for a response. She’ll call when she can. Alexis says she doesn’t understand how a mother could talk about her own daughter that way, and Kristina says, that’s why she’s grateful. She can forget about maternal leave from the center. After this, they won’t let her in the front door.

Ava says, her phone is blowing up, and Adrian asks if she wants to celebrate with him. She calls him a little worm and tells him to forget he knows her. Her name isn’t to cross his lips, not anytime to anyone, especially not Nina. Adrian says, sounds like a story. Does she care to dish? She says, she’ll see to it that he’s typing with his toes. Men have killed for her for a lot less. They’ve never met. They’ve never spoken. Take down the recording. There’s no reason for it to be online anymore. He says he can’t do that. It will just draw more attention to it and people will ask questions, to which every answer would be Ava Jerome. Besides, wire service has already picked it up. It’s everywhere and there’s no going back now.

Natalia says she doesn’t know what that was, and Lucy asks if Natalia is denying that’s her voice, but Natalia says, it’s obviously her. Scotty asks if Deception doesn’t have a PR master, but Lucy says she let them go when they had to save money. Lois says, that wasn’t a good idea, but Lucy says she had no idea this would happen. Scotty says he knows a guy… but Maxie says, stop. She tells Lucy to talk to the regular PR people. She’ll coordinate with Brook and have her lock down the social media. No comments. And she wants Scotty to guard the door from Tracy, who will be there soon, because the stock is going to take a nosedive. She asks Natalia where this took place, but Natalia says she never spoke to a reporter and doesn’t remember who she said it to. Blaze wonders if it’s because she says things like that so often.  

Sonny says he knew Natalia was uncomfortable with her daughter being gay, but didn’t think she’d spew that kind of garbage. He asks Diane if it could be fake, and she says, possibly, but she doubts The Invader would run it without authentication. They’d be opening themselves up to a huge lawsuit. Sonny says, it makes no sense, but she says, he’d be surprised how easily some people hide their ugliness in polite company. He says he thought she’d be smart enough not to talk to somebody who was recording it, and Diane says, sometimes hated gets the better of people. He wonders why Alexis would run such a thing, but Diane says, Alexis didn’t. She quit this morning. Sonny says, whoever did this hurt his daughter, and that means there’s a target on their back

Diane tells Sonny to take this lesson seriously. Even things said in privacy behind closed doors run the risk of exposure. Sonny says he knows the danger, and she tells him, things said in anger can work against him in a custody fight. The court needs to see him as a reliable and stand-up parent who they can trust. He asks how he can be a good parent if he doesn’t do anything about the garbage being said about his daughter? Diane says, activists on social media are calling for Kristina to resign from the center she founded. They don’t think she should be running an outreach if she’s dating someone who’s in the closet. They’re saying she has too much internalized homophobia to be trusted. People get worked up about things they know nothing about. Sonny throws his phone against the door.

Alexis tells Kristina not to jump to the worst case, and Kristina says, people are already saying ugly things. Alexis says, Natalia robbed Blaze of coming out on her own terms. She’s not going to interfere between Blaze and her mother, but she is going after the person who made this public. Alexis leaves.  

Ava says she didn’t set out to hurt Kristina, Blaze, or herself. Adrian will keep his mouth shut and she’ll have plausible deniability. If anybody asks him to identify where he got the audio file… He says, it came via the anonymous tip line. Ava tells him, get out, and he heads for the door. She asks if he’s learned nothing, and she checks the hallway. She says, okay. Go.  

Natalia says she keeps going over it in her mind, but has no memory of saying that to anyone. Maybe her phone was tapped. Lois says, it doesn’t sound like a bad connection. It sounds like it was in person, but she doesn’t think that’s the real issue. Lucy says, it’s not about the how and why. It’s about, what the hell do we do now? Blaze says she’ll need to respond. Not so much because she’s the Face of Deception, but there’s so much more. It’s going to impact her music career. Natalia says, they’ll put together a joint statement and give it to a friendly outlet, but Blaze asks why she’d publicly associate with Natalia when the whole world heard what Natalia thinks of her. Natalia says, it wasn’t specifically about her. It was more a generalization. Blaze says, Natalia mentioned both her and Kristina, but would it matter if she’d left their names out? Which gays are disturbing and offensive to her fragile sensibilities? Do drag queens on a Pride float make her angry? Do her and Kristina holding hands make Natalia sick to her stomach? Or is the problem that any two women in love disgust her? She’s quiet now. She has nothing to say now that they’re in private. Why? The whole world has heard her words by now. She should have known something like this would happen. She talks about gay people dismissively or with pity, reducing them to how they look and talk, and who they love. They’re not real people, herself included. Lucy says, it’s ironic that the same person who locked Blaze in the closet is the same person who just outed her, and Maxie tells her that she’s not helping. Natalia says she’s the victim. She was used to damage her daughter’s career. Blaze says, Natalia hasn’t heard what she said. She let Natalia convince her to portray a straight person, and now Natalia’s words are going to destroy any hope for her future life in music. Blaze walks out.

Natalia says she’s sorry. Her daughter is emotional. Lois says, she has a right to be. Does Natalia want to go after her? Natalia says she doesn’t think it would do any good, not when Blaze is in this frame of mind. She knows her daughter. Maxie says, does she? and Scotty says he has nothing more to contribute. He’s going to leave. Maxie tells him to stay. They might need legal advice. Lucy says she thinks a lawyer should be here to finalize the last addendum to Blaze’s contract, and she rips it up. Natalia says, she can’t do that. Blaze is known everywhere as the Face of Deception. If they try to get rid of her, they risk backlash in the press and in court. Maxie says she thinks they’re within their rights to change their relationship with Blaze.

Blaze knocks at Kristina’s door, and when there’s no answer, she lets herself in. Kristina is on the sofa, looking at her phone, and Blaze asks if Kristina didn’t hear her knocking. Kristina says, sorry. She was zoned out on her phone. Blaze says she’s guessing Kristina read The Invader article. She was hoping Kristina hadn’t seen it, but then she’d be the one giving the bad news. Kristina says she’s definitely seen it. The comments are awful. Instagram is particularly brutal. It looks like she’s canceled. Blaze says she thinks they both are.

Adrian goes to the pool and asks for a margarita pitcher and the guac trio, extra salty chips. And put it on Nina Reeves’s tab. He lies on a chaise lounge and closes his eyes. Someone approaches his chair, and he says, they’re in his sun. Alexis says, it’s better than being all up in his business. Which she will be if he doesn’t agree to play ball. She had to harass his assistant until he cracked to find out where Adrian was. Adrian says, note to self, fire assistant, and tells her, whatever it is will have to wait until tomorrow. She’s intruding on his hard-earned afternoon off. She says, good, since he published that loathsome recording in The Invader, and intruded on her daughter and her girlfriend. He asks if that’s what’s snapping her brassiere (really? have we been transported to the 1950s?), and she says, it will be fun to sue him and him and The Invader into oblivion.

Natalia asks if they’re saying her daughter is no longer good enough to be the Face of Deception since she’s been outed. She can’t sell their products because she’s gay? Maxie tells her that she’s saying the exact opposite. What they can’t afford to have is someone ashamed to be gay. They have a diverse clientele that they’re proud of, a lot of whom are gay and have a large social media presence. What they can’t do is align themselves with someone who’s ashamed. They’re proud to be a gay friendly company, so they need Natalia and Blaze to either get with the program or kick rocks. Lois says, they’re all parents and love their kids. A difficult situation is evolving, but it’s less about a contract than about a mother and daughter finding their way back to each other. They should be a little careful with hurtful words. Maxie says she’s telling the truth, and Lucy says, they love Blaze, but they can’t sacrifice their reputation for her. Lois agrees, but thinks they should put the negative aside for now and work on their PR response. Give Natalia a chance to try and make peace with her daughter. Natalia says, her relationship with her daughter is none of their business, but when it comes to Blaze’s contract, if they do anything to hurt Blaze, they’ll deal with her. Natalia leaves.

Blaze says she’s so sorry. People are saying horrible things and it’s her fault. Kristina says, it’s not. It’s her mother’s fault. Blaze says, they wouldn’t be having this conversation if she’d been truthful, but Kristina says, Blaze did what she thought best. Blaze says she did what was easiest. She didn’t want to rock the boat and tried to have it both ways. Now it might cost her everything, including Kristina. She knows how much the center means to her, and if Kristina can’t forgive the damage that she and her mom caused, she understands. They can go their separate ways and no hard feelings. Kristina doesn’t have to decide now. She’ll leave and let her figure it out. Kristina says, don’t you dare. She’s not going anywhere. She’s hadn’t caused any damage in Kristina’s life. She was already planning on handing over the reins of the center. The only thing she lost was the title of undercover girlfriend. She was already out and had nothing to hide. Blaze says, there might be nothing left to salvage. What if she loses everything? She hid, and people hate liars. Kristina says, Blaze is breaking her heart. She’s beating herself up when it’s not her fault. It’s going to be okay. They’re going to be okay. They’ll get through this. She has faith in them. Does Blaze still feel the same way? Blaze says she’s sorry, but she doesn’t.

Adrian tells Alexis to do her worst and laughs. If her legal skill is on par with her ability to publish a newspaper, he’ll be just fine. He has the Bill of Rights on his side. Alexis says, even the Bill of Rights has its limits. She remembers warning him to be cautious about how deploys secret recordings. He says, if Natalia didn’t know she was being recorded that’s too bad. New York is a one-party consent state. Perhaps Alexis should consult her law books before returning to court. She says, perhaps he should seek legal counsel. Nina is going to cut the tightrope he’s walking on when she finds out. There’s reasonable expectation of privacy. Adrian says, Blaze is the Face of Deception and a famous singer. Public figures don’t get to claim privacy. She says, Blaze’s mother isn’t, and he monetized and commercialized a private citizen without consent. He left a big softball hanging left for her hit out of the park. He says he wants to consult a lawyer, and Alexis says, he has one right here. She’ll even waive the retainer. She’ll make it go away in exchange for one small thing. She wants him to name the person who supplied him with the recording.

Natalia gets in her car, crying, and breathing heavily. She listens to the recording on her phone, and wonders who she was talking to. Why the hell did they record it and send it to the media? Suddenly, the lightbulb comes on.

Maxie wonders, what’s next? and Lois thinks she should cool her appearances, but Lucy says, they need her. She’s the only Face they have left. They need to show they have nothing to hide or be embarrassed about. Scotty says, Lucy is right. They have to deal with it head on. Lucy says, this might not be a popular opinion, but they can’t afford another stumble. They can’t put out that they’re not going to associate with Blaze. Maxie says she didn’t mean that part. She just said it to prompt Natalia to sacrifice herself. She underestimated Natalia’s self-absorption. Lois suggests they take a day to think, but Lucy says, they have no time. They need to make sure the public knows that’s not how they feel, or they could be inundated with candlelight vigils and marches and be canceled on social media. Scotty asks if he should draw up a statement. Is Blaze in or out?

Blaze tells Kristina that she’s not saying they should break up, but she doesn’t see a way to move forward. Kristina says she does. She’ll guide both of them. Blaze says, it’s a huge responsibility, but Kristina says she doesn’t care. Blaze is worth it, and she loves her. She refuses to accept that Blaze’s enormous talent can’t override the ugly things being said. She’s not saying that out of love, but out of love she’ll continue to say it until Blaze believes it.

Sonny tells Diane that they’ll talk again after she comes up with a strategy, when Natalia walks in. Sonny turns his back to her, and Diane says she’ll be in touch. She leaves and Natalia says she can tell Sonny heard the recording. He says he has, and she says she knows he’s pretty upset and doesn’t have a high opinion of her. He says, obviously, and she says she’s not going to force her presence on him. She’ll go, but first, she wanted him to know where the recording came from. He says, she insulted his daughter, and she says, unfortunately, those are her words, but they were said to someone close to him who secretly recorded her. He says, who? and she says, it actually took a while for her to remember who she had that regrettable conversation with. She realized the person who edited out their part is the same person who supplied the recording to The Invader – Ava Jerome.

On the phone, Ava wonders where her room service is. There’s a knock at the door, and she says, there it is now. She opens the door, and Alexis is there. Alexis says, they need to have a conversion. One that won’t be recorded.

And I laaaugh because Adrian folded like a cheap suit.

Tomorrow, Sasha wants Blaze and Kristina to benefit from her hard-won experience; Lois has a suggestion; Sonny says, there are no limits to how far Ava will go; and Carly tells Josslyn there’s a good chance she could go to prison.

🧼 All  the Soap News Fit To Print…

Blaze and Kristina’s storyline today brought tears to my eyes. It almost softened the blow of Finn’s departure. Almost.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-jacqueline-grace-lopez-shares-why-representation-matters

Life imitating art.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-kin-shriner-is-recovering-from-surgery

He’s got a better perspective on his being let go than I do.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/michael-easton-puts-his-gh-exit-into-perspective

I’ll have what he’s having.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-chad-duell-shares-an-important-message-with-fans

So cool how they stay in touch. Soap stars are a different breed of actor.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-kimberly-mccullough-and-brooklyn-rae-silzer-reunite

GH won’t be on July 4th. You get the whole day off.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/soap-opera-soaps-holiday-schedule

🐪 No Camel For You…

Sorry. As of this posting, there was no recap for Real Housewives of Dubai. Stay tuned for it tomorrow, and in the meantime, there’s this. Discuss amongst yourselves.

https://www.realitytea.com/2024/07/02/caroline-stanbury-sergio-carrallo-might-not-make-it-rhodubai/

👠 What Happens In Jersey…

What happened.

Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 14, Episode 9 Recap: A Wedding and a War

What’s going to happen.

RHONJ Season 14, Episode 10 Preview: Margaret Josephs and Dolores Catania Sit down for Serious Conversation

And what the Marge hopes will happen.

Margaret Josephs Suggests She Will Be ‘Vindicated’ With RHONJ Finale

🗽 If They Can’t Make It There…

RHONY used to be my favorite of the franchise because, NYC, but I found the new cast to be mind-numbing, city or no city. Maybe the latest additions will make a difference. Or not.

Erin Lichy Teases RHONY Season 15: ‘Highly Entertaining and Pretty Shocking’

🛟 Random Topics On Deck…

The perfect guest.

Why Trishelle Cannatella Was the Perfect Below Deck Med Charter Guest

The feud.

Below Deck Med Feud Ends: Captain Sandy and Hannah Ferrier’s Relationship Explained

And the fans.

Below Deck’s Biggest Celebrity Fans

🐕 Knowing the Drill…

It’s that time again. Actually, that time started here on Sunday night when I was wearing my chihuahua on my head after he heard the first firecracker.

https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/article/10-easy-tips-happy-safe-pets-july-4th

⛲️ Summer Mood: On…

Join me tomorrow for soap, tea, and entertainment news. Until then, stay safe, stay wearing sunscreen whether you think you need to or not, and stay never reducing anyone to how they look and talk, and who they love.

Jun27

June 26, 2024 – Finn Meets With Chase, Why Goodbye, Best Yet, Twirling Out, Lighter, New VanderStaff, Calling It Off, Celebrations, World’s Ugliest & Freedom

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Trina knocks on Sonny’s door, and says she was asked to grab Ava’s day planner. Sonny tells her to check Ava’s room, and Trina tells him that Ava said… He says, Ava told Trina that he threw her out because he did.

Kristina startles Alexis, who’s snoozing on her sofa next to her open laptop. Kristina says she knocked, and Alexis says, and when she didn’t answer? Kristina says, naturally, she let herself in. What is Alexis working on that she was so focused? Alexis slams her laptop shut, and Kristina says, not too suspicious.

Trina says she also wanted to give Sonny Ava’s suite number at the MetroCourt, but he says, that’s not necessary. She asks if he wants her to tell Ava anything, and he says, tell her that she’ll be hearing from his attorney soon. He and Ava aren’t of the same opinion that it’s not suitable to raise a child in a hotel, even part time. It was good seeing her. He opens the door, and Trina leaves.

Finn sees Chase on Gregory’s memorial bench, and Chase says he can take off, but Finn says, it’s his bench too. Good thing he came. It might be the only way to get Chase to talk to him. He doesn’t remember the hill being so steep. Another reason to stay sober. Chase says nothing, and Finn says, he remembers when Chase was furious at him for not communicating with their dad. Chase asks what Finn wants him to say, but Finn says, Chase knows exactly what he wants to hear. He’s left messages and texts. He’s desperate to know how his daughter is, and Chase couldn’t even call him back.

Chase and Finn sit on the bench, and Finn asks, how’s Violet? Chase says, confused and worried about him, and Finn says, because she walked in, and it scared her seeing him passed out. Chase says he reassured her that Finn was okay, but she’s more concerned he’ll think she abandoned him or doesn’t love him anymore. Finn says he would never think that, and Chase says, that’s what he told her. Brook’s been great with her; everybody at the Quartermaine’s has. Finn says he hopes Violet isn’t mad at him, but Chase says, he’s Violet’s hero. They have that in common. Finn says he’s a lot of things, but not a hero, and Chase says, that’s not true. He’s looked to Finn for guidance. He didn’t mean to come here, but it’s where he ended up. Finn says him too, and Chase says, that has to count for something.

Brook says she’s not sure how much Violet slept, and Tracy says, if Violet is like her, not much. Brook says, she’s playing a board game with Leo. He seemed to intrinsically know she needed distracting. Tracy says, he’s a special boy, and Brook says she’s scared about what comes next. Tracy asks if she means the big picture, and Brook says, what if Violet asks to call her father? Tracy says, Brook will think of something. She always does. Brook wonders, what if Violet asks when she’s going home? She’s like their little adorable prisoner. Tracy says, in an enormous, gilded cage, and Brook says she gets that they’re lucky. Tracy asks if she’s considered the possibility that this could be a permanent situation.

Sasha tells Cody that she feels bad for Violet. She’s not her usual boisterous self. She barely at breakfast and picked at her lunch. Cody suggests the food was subpar, and she says, excuse you. Violet looked tired too. She’s worried there’s something serious going on. Cody says, Violet just lost her grandpa. She’s probably still sad and still processing it. Why is she here and not home with her dad? Sasha says, that’s the thing. Whatever is happening has to do with Finn. She overheard Olivia and Tracy talking about Brook, Chase, and Violet moving in here permanently.

Trina delivers Ava’s planner, and Ava thanks her. She couldn’t bear the thought of facing Sonny again. She asks if there was any hint of him being upset or remorseful, but Trina says, he was cold. All about business. She wanted to get out of there. Ava asks if Natalia was there, but Trina says, Sonny was alone. She offered him Ava’s suite number… Ava says, let her guess. He didn’t want it. That’s fine. If he wants to know, he can ask the front desk. Trina says, he did have a message for her. She’ll be hearing from his attorney about whether a hotel is an appropriate place to raise Avery, even part time. He definitely was making a point. Ava says, that son of a bitch is planning to take away her daughter.

Ava says, Sonny kicked her out before she could find a place, and Trina says, it’s not fair. Ava says, it’s criminal. This isn’t a permanent solution. Him going after Avery is a payback thing. He wrongly thinks she’s responsible for his friend losing her law license, but she brought it on herself. Sonny is violent, impulsive, vindictive, and selfish. She did what she could to co-exist, and now he’s paying her back by taking her daughter. Trina asks what she’s going to do, and Ava says, fight back. Sonny isn’t the only one who knows a thing or two about threats.

Tracy tells Brook that she had a long conversation with Olivia and Monica about when and if Finn goes to rehab. She and Chase can’t move into Finn’s apartment. That’s where Violet lost her grandpa and saw her father drunk and bleeding on the floor. Chase’s apartment is a one-bedroom and they’re newlyweds. She’d like to think they’ll eventually get back to that. Brook says, they can get a bigger place. They have the money, and the situation warrants extra spending. Tracy says, Violet needs stability and consistency right now, and she’d like to offer Violet a home for as long as she needs it, provided Brook and Chase come with her.

Josslyn is cleaning the new apartment, when there’s a knock at the door. Gio says he thought he’d check in, and wonders why she’s cleaning. Josslyn says, it’s what people do, and he asks if he didn’t do enough. She says, this is a me thing. Trina was supposed to help, but she has to run errands for Ava. Gio says he gathers Josslyn isn’t a big fan, and she says she respects Trina’s relationship with Ava, but she more than dislikes her. She does have one redeeming quality. She created Avery. Although she probably shouldn’t badmouth the woman who hired him to play at the gallery. Maybe Ava has two redeeming qualities. She has great taste in musicians.

Kristina says she looked up the information from the link Alexis gave her and drew up a petition. Can Alexis look it over? Alexis asks what the gist of it is, and Kristina says, if Molly and TJ split up, the baby stays with them.

Finn says he’d do anything to change what happened and be the father Violet deserves, and Chase asks if Diane served him with the papers. He didn’t have a choice, and it wasn’t easy. Finn says he knows. He’s been so angry at Chase, Elizabeth, and the hospital, when the person he really hated was himself. He’s found himself back where he started, unable to control the urge to anaesthetize. Chase says, that’s the first step. He’s sorry Finn is here, but thankful he’s still alive. Finn says he doesn’t deserve to be, but Chase tells him, don’t say that. Finn says his daughter found him unconscious on the floor in their home and she was scared. He did that. Chase says, he didn’t mean to, but Finn says, it doesn’t matter. The choice he made caused Violet pain and it makes him want to die. Something broke in him. He’s broken.

Alexis says, us meaning? and Kristina says, the Davis family. Alexis says she thinks Kristina should ask Molly, but Kristina asks her to please look it over. Alexis says she distinctly remembers saying she wouldn’t advise Kristina, lest it look like she’s choosing sides, and Kristina says, if they split, Molly has no legal claim. Alexis says, the last time she saw them, they were fine, and Kristina says, they’ve been annoyingly agreeable since high school, but stress breaks some couples. She has to be prepared. Alexis wonders if subconsciously, deep down, Kristina wants TJ and Molly to break up, but Kristina says, no. Why? Alexis says, she just has a feeling Kristina might… There’s a knock at the door, and Alexis says she hopes it’s not Kristina’s sister. She opens the door to Sonny and says, thank God. (I’ll bet that’s the first he’s heard that in a long time.)

Josslyn asks how much Ava is paying Gio, unless it’s none of her business. He doesn’t have to answer if it’s private. He says, 100 bucks, and she says, an hour? He says, for the whole thing, and Josslyn calls Ava a cheapskate. Gio says he’s telling himself it’s good exposure. He’s living at the Quartermaines, so he has no living expenses. She says, Ava should pay him what he’s worth, and he says, she should be an agent. She says, and deal with demanding talent like him? He starts to help her, but she says, his hands are his meal ticket and he’s got to protect them at all costs.

Tracy says she knows this isn’t how Brook envisioned married life, but they have the perfect set up; a suite with adjoining rooms that’s bigger than Chase’s apartment. No offense. Brook says, none taken, and Tracy says, and this place is crawling with maternal energy. Brook says, her? but Tracy says, no. Monica, Olivia, Lois, Sasha, and Willow in the gatehouse. There are also plenty of father figures and tons of children coming in and out. Brook says, all the reasons she told Chase, and Tracy says, and he told her yes to it temporarily, but she’s offering the possibility of something more permanent. Brook says she’ll have to talk to Chase. He’s the one with emergency custody. Tracy says, they need to consider the possibility that it may become more permanent.

Ava says, separating her from her child is not happening, and Trina says she gets that Ava is upset, but fighting Sonny? Ava asks what choice she has, and Trina asks if Ava wants her to open the gallery, but Ava says, it’s Trina’s day off. Go enjoy what she has planned. The gallery will survive being closed one day. She has to get situated. Trina says, let her know if she needs anything, and Ava hugs her and thanks her. When Trina leaves, Ava gets on the phone.

Sasha says she hopes everything is okay with Finn, and Cody says him too. For Finn’s sake, but mostly for Violet’s. Sasha says she knows what it’s like growing up without a father. It’s not easy. Cody says, luckily, he had a lot of stand-ins. It helps a lot, but it’s not… Sasha says, it’s not the same as having a dad. Mac comes in and asks if it’s a bad time.

Chase says he just wants to help Finn, and Finn says he knows. Chase says he’ll give Finn whatever support he needs, but he has to take the first step. Finn takes out his phone and calls Sky Meadow Lodge. He says he believes their holding a bed for him, and the woman says, they are. He says he’ll be checking in tonight, and she says, glad to hear it. They’ll see him then. Chase says he’s proud of Finn, but Finn says, he might want to wait until he’s there. Chase says he has faith, and Finn says, 90 days. Chase says, he’s got this, and Finn asks if Chase can give him a ride. Chase says, he’ll also give him a ride home when he gets out, and Finn says he has one more favor. Chase says, anything, and Finn says he wants to say goodbye to his daughter.

Alexis asks to what she owes this visit, and Sonny says he found out Ava was the reason she was disbarred and he’s furious. She says, join the club, and he says, she had him fooled. He doesn’t know why he let Ava live with him. Alexis says, he got to spend time with Avery, and he says, if he would have known… He’s glad he knows now. He told Ava to pack her bags and move out. He should have listened to what people were telling him. Alexis says, he didn’t have the information. None of them did. Sonny says he knows they don’t see eye to eye on everything, but as far as Ava goes, they’re on the same side.

Mac says, after Cody left, Maxie went on about how Cody stepped up for the family and he wanted to thank him. Cody says he loves them, and Mac says, they love him too, especially James. He keeps asking when Mac is going with him to his next lesson. Cody says, he’s welcome any time, and Mac says, Sasha has made some new decisions too. She’s gone from the Face of Deception to a private chef. She says, Cody also lets her help out, and Mac says, she’s a welcome addition. He’s sorry for having suspicions about Cody once upon a time. He had Cody pegged as a con man who couldn’t be trusted, but that’s obviously not the truth. Cody is Superman to his family. Will he accept Mac’s apology?

Trina shows up at the apartment and says she’s sorry she’s late. Josslyn says, Trina is so late, she got a new roommate. She’s kidding. Gio is helping. Is Trina okay? Trina says she had a strange interaction with Ava. Ava went off about Sonny. Josslyn says she thought they were getting along, but Trina says, he threw her out and she was full of rage, all directed at Sonny. Josslyn says, it’s not their first showdown, and Gio asks if Ava could be a threat to Sonny. Josslyn says, physically? She doesn’t think so. Trina says she disagrees. This afternoon, Ava seemed capable of anything.

Brook looks at a photo of Edward and Lila, and Tracy asks how she’s doing. Brook says, overwhelmed but grateful Tracy is in a position to help Finn if he chooses, and that they’re collectively in a position to help Violet. She thinks Violet will be okay. Tracy says she does too, but she was talking about Brook. Taking on a child is an enormous responsibility, especially this early in a marriage. Brook says she’ll think of it as training for when she and Chase have kids of their own, and Tracy says, she’s proud of Brook. She’s handling this with enormous grace, compassion, and patience. She’s supposed to be on her honeymoon. Florence, this is not. Brook says, she hopes they get there some time, but home is just where they belong right now, and Tracy says, Brook is handling it better than she would, but Brook says she thinks under the bravado, Tracy’s got a big heart. Tracy says, don’t tell anyone, and Brook thanks her for saying all the right things, the things she needed to hear. Tracy hugs her and says, this too shall pass.

Cody says, there’s nothing to forgive, and if there were, it would be done. He loves Mac’s family. Mac says, and he fits right in, and Cody says, it feels that way to him. Mac says, it makes sense, considering Cody, Sasha, and Maxie were working together at Deception. They got to know each other. He means Cody and Maxie, and now Cody gets to spend time with Sasha. Sasha says she lives in the kitchen, but she’s here now because she’s in between meals. Cody says, they’re just co-workers, and Mac says, sure. He tells Cody to expect an observer at James’s next lesson, and leaves. Sasha says she can’t take it anymore. What’s wrong with him?

Scotty says, her favorite lawyer at her service, and Ava says, she and Sonny hit a rough patch. She has every reason to believe he’s going to go for sole custody of Avery, and she can’t let that happen. She won’t. She can’t lose another daughter. He asks if she thinks Sonny will argue that she’s unfit, and she says, most likely. He asks if she is, and she says, of course (🍷) not, but it doesn’t matter. Sonny will do what he always does. Pay someone off to get the result he wants or lie on the stand. Scotty says, either strategy could work.

Chase comes back to the Quartermaines, and tells Tracy and Brook that he saw Finn. They had a long conversation on their father’s bench. It was dicey at first, but they’re in a good place. Finn is obviously upset that they kept Violet from him, but he understands, and he said it was the right thing. Tracy asks if he’s going to rehab, and he says, Finn called to confirm it in front of him, and he’s taking Finn tonight – on one condition. Tracy says, his or Finn’s, and he says, Finn’s. He wants to see Violet before he goes.

Alexis says she was going to wait, but she can’t. She has news, and since Sonny brought up Ava – she shows them the document – she’s no longer disbarred. Her disbarment was vacated and her two-year suspension has already been served. Kristina hugs her, and Sonny says, congratulations. Alexis says she has to catch up on her continuing education, but after that, she’ll be reinstated. Sonny says, justice prevails, and Alexis says she’s joining Diane’s law firm. Sonny says, the dynamic duo, and Alexis says, Diane is still his lawyer, not her. He says, good, because he’s about to have a legal battle on his hands.

Tracy wonders, what if Finn manipulates Violet? but Chase says he’ll be observing the conversation. Finn has one chance and if he observes Finn going off the rails, he’ll shut it down. Not to give him a chance to see her when he’ll be gone for three months… Brook says, it would be cruel, and Tracy agrees. She says, Chase is Violet’s guardian, so it’s his call. Chase says he appreciates the support, and she asks, where and when the meeting will be. He says, here and now. Finn is waiting outside in his car.

Sasha says, Cody had the perfect opportunity to come clean. He obviously loves Mac’s family and wants to be part of it. She would too. Cody says he has to wait for the timing to be right. If it’s off, he might lose everything he has. It’s too big a risk. Sasha says she wants him to be happy, and he says he is. She says, the happiest he could be, and he says, it’s new territory for him, wanting to be part of something. It’s usually been me, myself, and I. Until he found out Mac was his father, he was fine with things the way they were. She says she thought they were trying a better way, and he says, old habits die hard. He almost told Mac. She says, maybe next time, he will.

Josslyn says she knows Gio loves his uncle, and Gio says, she doesn’t. She says she used to once upon a time, and he asks, what happened? Or is it none of his business? She says, family stuff. Her mom was married to Sonny, more than once. They had and have a volatile relationship, and their last breakup was pretty bad. Gio says, and she sided with her mom, and she says she did, but she made a mistake getting involved. It was none of her business. Her mom is more than capable of taking care of herself. She has the right to live her own life, and so does Sonny. She and Sonny don’t agree on pretty much anything, but she doesn’t want anything to happen to him. Gio asks if Trina thinks it’s possible that Ava poses a real threat, and Trina says she doesn’t know, but she wouldn’t rule it out.

Scotty says, Ava and Sonny both have a spotty past with the PCPD. Family court is going to look at it like bad versus even worse. Ava says, Sonny is a mob boss, but he says, allegedly. It’s not on his tax return. She says, plenty of people know he’s violent and impulsive, going from one mental health crisis to the next, and he says, they could testify or not. She has to protect herself. In cases like this, it’s usually a mutual disaster for everyone. She says she’ll take her chances. There’s no way she’s leaving Avery with Sonny permanently. Is he going to be her lawyer or not? He says he’s in, and they shake hands. He says, since he’s going up against Killer Miller, he’s going to need stunt pay.

Tracy hugs Finn and cries. He thanks her for letting him do this, but she says, it was Chase’s idea. He felt it was good for Violet, and that’s all that matters. Brook comes down the stairs and says, Violet is ready. Tracy asks Finn, is he?

Tomorrow, Jason asks someone if they’re sure they’re ready to do this; Violet begs Finn to take her with him; and Dante tells Sam that she can’t tell anybody about this.

😕 WTF Over and Over…

It doesn’t say for sure, but the wording makes it sound like he was let go. Are they kidding? He’s just done some of the best work of his career. I hate when they change writers. There are always casualties.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/michael-easton-says-goodbye-to-general-hospital

🍊 If He Says So…

Yeah, okay, we’ll see. Premieres July 11th.

Andy Cohen Says RHOC Season 18 Is ‘Possibly the Best Season Yet’

🍑 Gone With the Wind Minus Fabulous…

No surprise. What a shame. You’d think she’d have had enough sense to understand it was crossing the line. Which is probably pretty hard to do in the Housewives franchise.

Kenya Moore Officially Exits RHOA Following Suspension, Before Thanking Fans on Social Media

https://people.com/kenya-moore-exits-real-housewives-of-atlanta-after-suspension-for-explicit-photos-scandal-8669281

🐪 Walking On Air…

I’ve always liked Caroline. I’d love to see her and LVP together… or maybe not.

https://okmagazine.com/p/caroline-stanbury-life-real-housewives-dubai-lighter-ladies-london/

🍸 Changing the Rules…

It’s not like any of the cast we know still works there.

https://okmagazine.com/p/vpr-fans-go-wild-lisa-vanderpump-new-sur-staff-show-hiatus/

📑 What’s Mine Stays Mine…

I don’t blame her. I can understand why there might be some hurt feelings at having it sprung on him – they should have had this conversation earlier – but what’s the big deal with signing a prenup unless you’re in it for the money? Especially a dude. Come on. And why is everyone getting three wedding dresses? I swear, all you need is one per wedding.

https://extratv.com/2024/06/26/kelly-bensimon-calls-off-wedding-to-scott-litner-4-days-before-ceremony/

🪅 Nobody Does It Better…

No one will ever top PUMP/SUR for Pride Day. I’ve been to quite a few celebrations in NYC, but I only did the march once. It’s a looong walk.

Bravo’s Best Pride Celebrations

🐶 He Makes My Heart Sing…

There are no ugly dogs, just dogs that are cute in a different way. Although I’m pretty sure if they’d combed his hair, he might not have come away the winner. Congrats, you Wild Thang!

https://people.com/a-pekingese-named-wild-thang-wins-the-2024-world-s-ugliest-dog-contest-8668102

🧘‍♀️ Watching the Tide Roll Away…

Stop in tomorrow for soap, a little tea, and a little music befitting the month. Until then, stay safe, stay using your headphones when listening to music at the beach, and stay taking the first step if you need to.

Jun26

June 25, 2024 – Anna Finds a Secret Phone, Two For the Return, A Chat, Reuniting, Sergio the Gnat, Island Auditions, New Listings, Owning It, Real Sad, Parading Mermaids, Sharks & Home

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Jason sits in his car outside somewhere and makes a call.

Spinelli plays with the kids, while Maxie waits at an outside table. His phone rings, she sees it’s Jason, and picks it up. She says, if he called to talk to Spinelli, he’s off with the kids, but he says he called to talk to her. He wants her to call Anna just to say hi and check in. Then call him back and tell him if she picked up. She wants more information, but he asks her to just call for him please, and she agrees.

Anna is in bed with Valentin, watching him sleep, when she hears her phone buzz. She picks it up, and Maxie says she called to see how Anna is doing. Anna asks, why? and Maxie says, because Jason asked her to call, say hi and see how she’s doing, and call him back. Anna says she’s fine, and Valentin takes the phone out of her hand. He tells Maxie that Anna will have to call her back, and he and Anna get busy.

Carly goes to visit Jack in Pentenville. Jack says, her visit almost makes his incarceration worth it.

Finn leaves a message for Chase, saying, do not do this. Chase is his brother. Stop avoiding him. He wants to talk to his daughter. He’s the only parent Violet has left, and they need each other. Do not escalate this more than he already has. Call him back. There’s a knock at the door, and Finn opens it to Diane.

Ava tells Sonny, dinner must have gone late last night. She didn’t see him before she went to bed, and he wasn’t around this morning either. He tells her to get used to it. She’s going to be seeing less of him. She asks, why is that? and he says, she’s moving out.

Ava asks where Sonny is coming from. When she offered to leave, he told her it wasn’t necessary and asked her to stay. She took it to mean for as long as she wanted. He says, that was then, this is now. Things change. She says, overnight? (like she doesn’t remember what she just did) and he says, the arrangement no longer works for him. All she needs to know is, it’s over. She says she’ll be out when she finds a place, but he says he wants her out now. Avery will stay with him, and he’s not discussing it further. She can stay at the MetroCourt or with whatever friends she has left, but she’s not staying here another night. He doesn’t want her in his presence. They’re done.

Valentin asks if he’s dreaming or did that happen again, and Anna says, it happened. She’s happy to be here, but she can’t spend the day. Valentin tells her not to go. They’re not done with each other yet. He kisses her.

Jack tells Carly that this is the highlight of his day, but he doubts she came for the pleasure of his company. She says she didn’t, and he says, don’t leave him in suspense. She says, he used to work for the WSB and knows how intelligence agencies work, and he says he’s been on both sides of the law. She says she needs his expertise, but doesn’t know if she can trust him, and he says, she can’t.

Jason asks if Maxie got Anna, and Maxie says she did. Anna sounded annoyed at being woken up. She told Anna that he made her call. What’s going on? Why is he checking on Anna? Why is he worried and why didn’t he call himself? He tells her that he’s got to go. Thanks. He hangs up and she says, rude. Jason gets a text from Anna: I’m fine. V is up. Go before he sees you.

Diane gives Finn some paperwork, and says, while she’s here, she’s happy to answer any questions. Her advice is that he discuss it with someone not involved in the case. He says he doesn’t understand, and Diane says, this document is an emergency court order granting his brother temporary custody of the minor child Violet Finn. The other document is a restraining order barring him from being 500 feet from said minor child. He says, she’s helping Chase steal his daughter.

Anna snoops around the living room again, and Valentin calls from the kitchen that breakfast is almost ready. She looks behind some books and finds a satellite phone.

Ava says she and Sonny share custody. He can’t keep Avery and kick her out. Avery is happy with them under the same roof. It’s going to hurt and confuse her. He says, they lived separately for years. It won’t take Avery that long to adjust. She asks him to think it through, but he says he’s already given it all the attention it needs. She has five minutes. Last night, he felt generous. She’s lucky he didn’t humiliate her in front of everyone. She says she thought she was the only one he could trust, and he says he was wrong, but she says, he’s wrong now to cut ties. Everyone has either betrayed, played, or judged him. He can’t rely on anyone. He says, but he can rely on her, and she says she’s proven she has his back. He asks why she’s fighting so hard to stay. What’s her angle? She says she doesn’t have one, but he says, everybody has an angle – money, power, revenge. Is that why she went after Alexis, for revenge? Ava says, this is about Kristina’s temper tantrum. God forbid Alexis should take responsibility for losing her law license. He says, Alexis lost her license because of Ava, but Ava says, Alexis broke the law. It’s not her fault. Sonny says, Alexis screwed up, but Ava didn’t have to sneak around and turn her in, but Ava says she followed legal procedure. Alexis committed perjury. He asks, who is she to judge? She killed Connie. Maybe he should sign an affidavit against her.

Finn says, Diane is taking a child from her father, but Diane says, not according to the law. They wouldn’t be able to get a court order if there was no proof the child was unsafe where she was, and the father could no longer be trusted to be responsible for her. Finn says, it’s lies. He’s been taking care of her for the last five years. Diane says, they have photographic evidence to the contrary. The court takes the parent/child relationship seriously, and you can’t get a court order without good reason. Finn asks, what about her? What’s her reason for tearing apart a family and taking a child from her sole parent? None of that matters because she gets billable hours. Diane says she was asked to pass along a message. Violet is doing great. She loves and misses him and can’t wait until he’s healthy again. She’s waiting to break her own record for holding her breath under water until he can watch. Finn cries and says, they can’t take his daughter. They can try, but he’s not going to let them. She says, if he comes within 500 feet of Violet, he’ll be arrested. Think about what watching that would do to his daughter. She leaves, and Finn takes out his phone.

Jason finds Elizabeth at the hospital, and says he thought he’d check on her. She looks worried. She says, Finn has gotten worse. He’s spiraling and out of control, and it’s affecting his daughter. Luckily, there are a lot of people who love her and are worried about her. He says he’s glad Violet has a support system, but who’s looking out for her and the boys? She says, they’re doing okay. She’s going to Al-Anon and it’s definitely helped. The boys are hanging in there. He asks if Jake is all right, and she says, he’s gotten better. She doesn’t think he’s as angry with Jason anymore. It made a difference when he called Jason for help and Jason came through.

Calling from the kitchen, Valentin says, breakfast is served, and Anna puts everything back and sits down on the sofa. He brings in two plates and says, it’s not much. It was the best he could do. She says she’d like to see what it looks like when he goes all out, and he says he’d like to spend the rest of his life trying to impress her. She says, it’s not because she doesn’t want to or doesn’t love him. Last night answered that question. Their lives don’t fit together. He says, they did once, but she says, that’s debatable and things changed. It’s impossible for her to imagine a life together after what she did to Charlotte. He says, impossible in Port Charles, but maybe not elsewhere.

Carly says, maybe this was a mistake, but Jack tells her not to be hasty. He told her not to trust him because she can’t. The only person she can rely on is herself. Don’t put her faith in someone else. Carly says, there’s someone in her life who’s never failed her, and he asks, why not talk to them? He advises her to think carefully about who she confides in. Calculate the risk and the reward. What is the reward? She says, if she tells him, he’ll use it against her, but he says, not unless he has something to gain. Pentenville is dark and dreary. She brings in the light. She says, the FBI has evidence, a recording, that she committed RICO violations and was involved in criminal conspiracy.

Finn tells Scotty that Diane shoved these papers at him, and he shows Scotty the paperwork. He says he didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye. Tell him this isn’t real. Scotty says, there seems to be an incident involving Tracy and Violet. What happened? Finn says he had a bad night. He’s ashamed, but it’s been greatly exaggerated. Scotty says he thought Finn and Tracy were friends, and Finn says he did too. She’s also Brook’s grandmother, and Brook and Chase have had their eyes on Violet. Violet must be scared and confused. Who knows what other lies they’re telling her. He needs Scotty’s help. Scotty says, he needs somebody to go to bat with the judge. Maybe one of his NA people or possibly another doctor. Finn says he resigned. He had no choice. He wants to sue the place because they want to slander him and ruin his reputation. To a good lawyer it would be a great lawsuit. Scotty can keep the money. He just wants his daughter back. What does Scotty say?

Carly says she was doing it to protect her family when Sonny was presumed dead, but Jack says, none of that matters. She says, the FBI blackmailed Jason into being an informant, and in return, they won’t charge her. He asks if Jason told her that, and she says, a hacker discovered the file and tried to delete it. He says, that’s impossible from the outside. She’s gotten herself into quite a situation. What does she need to know from him? She says, will the FBI honor their agreement? and he says, not a chance.

Sonny says, Morgan would still be alive if Ava hadn’t messed with his medication and her psychotic sister hadn’t planted a bomb. If her family didn’t exist, Morgan would be alive. Ava says she’s truly sorry about what happened. She loved Morgan. What happened was a tragedy, but she doesn’t need a lecture on morality from him. She admits she’d done bad things, but Sonny needs to take responsibility. She’s not the reason his family is broken and in shambles. All of his children’s problems have one thing in common – him.

Valentin says he couldn’t bring himself to leave Port Charles. He didn’t want to give up the chance see Anna or give up the idea they’d find their way back to each other. Anna says, there are a lot of things to consider. How will it affect Charlotte? Valentin asks her to just consider it. Think about it, for him. She says she has to go, and he walks her to the door. He asks if they can talk tomorrow, and she says, yeah. He kisses her and she leaves. He watches her from the window.

Jason says he wants to keep trying to make sure Jake knows he’s here for him, if it’s okay with Elizabeth. She says she appreciates it, but Jake is his own person now. He’s got strong opinions and Jason doesn’t need hers for Jake to decide if he wants to build a relationship with him. He needs Jake’s. Jason thanks her for not standing in the way and reminding him that it’s not going to be easy. She says, it will be worth it, and he asks if Jake is still into baseball and if the Woodchucks are still his favorite team. She says, yes, and she thinks they have a game coming up with their main rivals, the Red Wings. Jason says he’ll see if Jake wants to go, and she says she’s not going to tell Jake what he should do. She needs to allow him to come to his own terms, but she hopes he goes for his sake, and Jason’s.

Finn says he thinks he has a good case against the hospital. They made wild accusations against him. He asks if Scotty shouldn’t be taking notes, and Scotty says he would if he was taking the case, but he’s not. Finn asks, why? He’ll get his daughter back and Scotty will get rich. Scotty says he doesn’t think a jury is going to be as sympathetic to Finn as he thinks, and Finn asks if he believes what’s in the papers. Scotty says, they’re just papers. Does Finn love his brother? Finn says, even with everything Chase is doing to him, he does, and Scotty asks if Chase loves him. Finn says he’d like to think so. He can’t understand why Chase is doing this to him. Scotty says, Chase is doing what he has to, not what he wants, and Finn says, he’s doing what he’s being told. He wasn’t here. Chase is being manipulated by Tracy into thinking he’s a danger to his daughter. Scotty says, Finn has been barred from seeing his daughter. He’s not in control of anything. He can’t fix this legally. He has to fix himself. He knows how hard it is, but Finn has to open his eyes and see he’s not as alone as he thinks.  

Jason and Anna meet outside for coffee. She says she appreciates him looking out for her, but he didn’t have to stay all night. Jason says, Valentin is dangerous, but she says, not to her. He says, better safe than sorry, and she asks why he didn’t leave when the light went out. He says, it still could have gone sideways, and she suggest they coordinate next time. Valentin is trained in surveillance. It would have been a royal disaster if Jason had been discovered. She’s surprised he didn’t discover Jason. He’s usually more careful. Jason says, it sounds like he was preoccupied, and Anna says she was able to search the house. She found a satellite phone hidden in a bookshelf. She was unable to pull any information from it before Valentin came back, but obviously he uses it to conduct business with Pikeman. Jason says, they’ll have to turn it over to Cates. Then he can shut down Pikeman and put away Valentin for good.  

Jack tells Carly, Jason is too useful for the FBI to let him go after a single job. They’ll use him until they’ve tapped him out or he’s dead. And as soon as the Jason stops being useful, they’re going to put her in prison. She says, so the deal they made is a lie, and he says, they may drop the ball in a myriad of ways, but they never leave it on the table.

Scotty asks why Elizabeth didn’t tell him how bad Finn was, and she says she didn’t want to talk to more people than necessary and turn Finn’s pain into gossip. He says he could have helped her and the boys, and she says she appreciates it, but they’re okay. How was Finn? He says, Diane filed a restraining order and Chase has temporary custody of Violet, and she says, Chase has been updating her. She’s guessing Finn wanted Scotty to represent him. Scotty says, he does, and he also wants to sue General Hospital for defamation. He tried to get Finn to see he’s in no position to be suing anybody and needs to get a different kind of help. Elizabeth asks if he thinks he got through, but he says, no. If he knows anything about hitting bottle, Finn has to hit rock bottom. Then maybe he’ll turn himself around. She asks if he thinks Finn is there yet.  

Finn holds a stuffed bear and cries. He picks up phone and makes a call. He says he’s wondering if they deliver… Good. He’d like a handle of vodka… Make it two.

Scotty says, every addict’s rock bottom is different, and Elizabeth says she heard that at Al-Anon. He says, it’s going to be just as hurtful for her to watch, and she says, it’s killing her to watch Finn destroy his life. He says, whatever happens, he’s here for her and her boys.

The delivery comes, and Finn takes two bottles out of the bag. (I guess a handle is a large bottle? I’ve never heard that term before.) He opens one of the bottles and smells it. He looks at the papers, then looks at the bottle. His hand shakes as he brings it to his mouth, but instead of drinking it, he throws it at the door, smashing it. He throws the other one against the door too, and says, no. He picks up his jacket and leaves.

Jack says he knows how Carly feels, but she has one thing going for her that he didn’t. Time is on her side. She needs to prepare herself while Jason continues his job. She says, prepare for what? and he says, court. She needs to find the best lawyer and come up with a strategy. As sure as their sitting here, one day she’ll have to defend herself in front of a jury. She thanks him for the advice, and he says he’s got plenty. Come back anytime. She leaves.

Jason asks if Anna thinks she’ll get back into Valentin’s house, and she says, the way they left things, she’s welcome back whenever she chooses. He asks if she’s okay with that, and she says, part of her feels like she’s betraying Valentin. She’s done a lot of things she’s not okay with in her career. The job is the job. He says, this means hurting someone she cares about, and she says, it’s not the first time she’s done that either, but she can’t allow Valentin to get away with his crimes. It has to be done, so she’ll do it.

On the phone, Valentin tells someone, move the shipment through Port Charles as we discussed. Sonny won’t be a problem. He’s isolated and coming apart. All it takes to push him over the edge is one last shove.

Ava tells Sonny that she packed a few things and will send for the rest, and he says, fine. Get out. She walks out the door, turns, and says, she’ll be back for her daug… He slams the door.

Tomorrow, Chase tells Finn that he has to take the first step; Sonny says, they’re about to have a legal battle; and Ava tells Trina that Sonny isn’t the only one who knows a thing or two about threats

☔️ It’s Raining Returns…

I guess this squashes my theory it might be Frisco.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jonathan-jackson-returns-to-general-hospital

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jonathan-jackson-opens-up-about-his-return-to-general-hospital

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/lucky-general-hospital-jonathan-jackson-151164

Think Ava will move in with him?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/bryan-craig-returns-to-general-hospital

🎤 Locher Room Chat…

While this was live earlier today, you can still catch it on YouTube. He does excellent interviews.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/chat-live-with-greg-rikaart-adam-huss-and-adam-bucci

👯‍♂️ Keeping In Touch…

This is so sweet, and says a lot about them as human beings.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/finola-hughes-and-kimberly-mccullough-reunite

🐪 Through a Camel’s Eye…

Not loving Lesa. In her interview, she made fun of Caroline Stanbury being an example to 50-year-old influencer. Jealous maybe? Since at last count, Caroline had more followers. And news flash. We’re all going to be 50… and 60… and 70… and so on. At least we hope so. My other takeaway from this episode was, Sergio is a handful. Or as Caroline said to him, you’re like a gnat.

Real Housewives of Dubai Season 2, Episode 4 Recap: The Queens Are Fighting

🚣 The Love Boat Has Landed…

Imagine my surprise to see this in my local news. Again, this is one of those shows that I find embarrassing for the contestants even if they don’t. You can smell the desperation, and I just can’t look. Unless someone I know gets on it, but even then, it’s debatable.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/across-nj/love-island-usa-auditions-coming-jersey-shore

💰 Millions Coming Your Way…

Already buying that mansion in my head. Premiers July 10th.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/million-dollar-listing-los-angeles-season-15-trailer-premiere-date-cast

🗽 Ryan Takes Manhattan…

I’ll definitely be checking this one out. Premieres June 28th.

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/owning-manhattan-season-1-ryan-serhant-release-date-news

https://okmagazine.com/p/ryan-serhant-teases-not-everyone-makes-finale-owning-manhattan/

🥀 Too Real…

This is so sad. It sounds like she had a lot going for her.

https://people.com/mtv-the-real-world-miami-alum-sarah-becker-dead-8667895

🧜‍♀️ Bringing Out Your Inner Mermaid Since 1983…

For some reason, I’ve just never gone to one of these. If I had a bucket list, this would be on it.

https://www.coneyisland.com/mermaidparade

Fabulous pictures of some very clever costumes.

PHOTOS: 2024 Coney Island Mermaid Parade

🦈 Dun-Dun Dun-Dun Dun-Dun…

Shark Week is coming – July 7th – 14th.

https://people.com/shark-week-2024-schedule-8662632

👏 An Audience Member In My Own Life…

Join me tomorrow for much of the same, but a day later. Until then, stay safe, stay swimming where there’s a lifeguard even if you’re a strong swimmer, and stay never turning someone’s pain into gossip.

Jun19

June 18, 2024 – Sam Asks Carly For Help, His Return, Studio Photo, Growing Up, See You In Dubai, Rotten Peach, Update, Yikes, All the Thrones, Vampires Now, Juneteenth, Here Kitty & A Place

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Both Cody and Sasha couldn’t sleep and found each other on the patio. He wondered if it was the excitement of the party keeping her awake, but she said, maybe it was him.

Valentin brought Anna champagne and she said it was unnecessary, but he said, there was no such thing as unnecessary champagne. She told him that his apology was also unnecessary, and he said they’d had plans for dinner, and he bailed. She said, work was a valid excuse, but it cast doubt on his claim that he could compartmentalize his life. He said he was getting the hang of it.

John went to the coffee warehouse and told Jason that he was finally free. John knew who was running Pikeman – Anna Devane. Jason said, it wasn’t possible, but John said, it was and he had proof.

Carly saw Sam at the pool and said, Sam was too late for the party. It had been fabulous, mostly. Sam said, Dante had to work, and Danny was out with his friends. She’d wanted to stay home in case he needed her, but he hadn’t. Now Danny was home with Scout and Rocco, and she wanted to ask Carly, mother to mother, to help her son.

At Bobbie’s, Lucy told Scotty that she hoped the umpteenth revision of Blaze’s contract was the charm. When they gave Natalia what she wanted, then she’d find something else she didn’t like. They’d been bending over backwards. Scotty said, they still had no final contract, but Lucy said she thought he liked it. He was loving the billable hours. He said, working with her was enough. He saw it as a collaboration. She asked if that meant he wasn’t charging her, but he said he wouldn’t go that far.

Sam told Carly that Jason posed a physical danger to Danny. When he came back after he was shot, he held up in the Quartermaine boathouse. Danny found him, and Jason got Danny to help him. Carly said, Danny was Jason’s son and Jason had a bullet wound, and Sam asked, what son should help his father with a gunshot wound? On top of it, Jason asked Danny to promise not to tell her. If Carly was in her place, and he’d done that to her kid, how would she feel? Carly said, if it was anyone else, she’d be furious, but she trusted Jason. She might not like it, but she had to trust it. He’d never let harm come to their kids. Sam said, it was Jason’s line of work and would always happen with his lifestyle. He followed danger and didn’t even try to avoid it. He was the last person who could guarantee Danny’s safety. Carly said, Jason would take a bullet for Danny, and Sam said, it sounded heroic, but Jason was why he’d be in the line of fire in the first place. She was asking as a friend. Carly asked if they were friends, and Sam asked if Carly couldn’t accept that she felt differently, that her concern was real, and help her.

John said he’d gotten into Anna’s email account, and there were emails back and forth with Jack dating back five years. Jason asked if John would be able to shut Pikeman down, and John said, soon. Jason said, then John didn’t need him.

Anna said, Valentin could have called, emailed, or texted, and he said, next time, he’d send a singing telegram. The problem with those methods of communication was, they were from a distance, and he liked being next to her. She told him that dinner was up to him, since he was a busy man, but he said, other than Charlotte, she was always his priority. She asked if he’d choose her over the nefarious schemes he had going, and he said, no contest. She asked if they should be playing at this, and he asked if they were playing. She said they both knew it hadn’t worked for a reason, and she was wondering if it was wise. He said he didn’t know, but it wasn’t something he’d change, and kissed her.

Cody asked if Sasha was saying he kept her up at night, and she said, he’d been on her mind. He asked what he was wearing, but she said, not like that. She’d been thinking about his smile. He said he did some thinking about hers too, and she said, it was sad sometimes. Not all the time, but after James came back from his riding lessons or when the kids grilled him. He would be all smiles until there was a breather, then it went away. Not entirely, but in his eyes. He seemed lonely. The kids adored him, and the grown-ups trusted him. Even Tracy relied on him. He was surrounded by a family he didn’t have, except of course (🍷) the one he belonged to. He said, a big part of him wanted to come clean, and she asked what was stopping him, while I got distracted by her earrings. He said, Mac was still out of town, and he didn’t know how to admit he’d lied in the first place. It wasn’t for a noble cause. He lied to protect himself from getting arrested and prosecuted because he tried to defraud someone. Sasha said, the worst case, Mac would be disappointed and angry. How long did he think it would last? Cody said he didn’t want to find out. That’s why a big part of him was relieved Mac was still gone. As long as Mac was away, he didn’t have to decide. He was a coward. She said she thought that sometimes we got comfortable in our own discomfort, living without the thing we were missing, even though it’s what we really needed. He asked how he moved forward, and she said, if what he was doing wasn’t working, try something new.

Sam said she needed Carly to ask Jason to leave Danny alone and keep his distance, and Carly asked, why do that to Danny? Sam said she had to, and Carly said, Danny adored Jason. He was just like him. Sam said, that was the problem. Danny had no idea how dangerous Jason’s life was. He thought his father was smart and cool and got him. He wanted to be just like Jason, which was the worst possible thing that could happen to him.

Valentin said he’d make dinner for Anna tomorrow, and she wondered how she could say no. He said he’d see her tomorrow, but she said she hadn’t told him yes. He said he liked his chances.

John told Jason that the email was circumstantial. There were no details or direct mention of Pikeman. Jason said, then he got nothing, but John said it pointed to Anna and Brennan being collaborators. Clearly Jack was out of commission, so Anna was running the show. She’d been pointing him in the wrong direction. Jason said, clearly, somebody was, and John said he’d put too much faith in his brother’s connection to Robin. Anna had been obstructing him at every turn, keeping him out of the loop and away from the evidence. If she was running Pikeman, it made sense. Anna trusted Jason, so he needed Jason to get him clear proof of the connection between Anna, Brennan, and Pikeman. Jason said, the sooner he got out from under the FBI, the better, and John said, if Jason warned Anna and she was able to cover tracks, Carly would go to prison.

Lucy thought the reason Natalia bothered her was that she was so damn smart. She was intelligent, organized, and laser focused on getting every advantage for her daughter. She wished Natalia worked for Deception. Natalia knew they had to formalize the contract before they could launch the campaign. Scotty said he thought he found something that would work.

Cody asked how Sasha knew where to find him, and she said he wasn’t in his room. Maybe he wasn’t the only one who was lonely. Maybe she wanted to try something new too. And she kissed him.

Sam said, it was one thing for Jason to live the life he did, but she didn’t want that for Danny. Carly said, it’s not like Jason was going to recruit Danny into the mob, but Sam said, it would still be something dangerous, and Jason wouldn’t protect Danny unless someone else got through to him. He wouldn’t listen to her, and it had to be Carly. Carly said, Sam wanted her to ask Jason to break his own heart, sending away a boy who loved and needed him. And what about Danny? The rejection and abandonment would break his heart. Sam said, Jason just got back, so it was better to do it now, and Carly said she got that Sam was doing this out of love, but it would devastate Danny. Sam said, at least he’d be alive. He was in more danger around Jason than not being around him. Carly said, if Sam didn’t want Jason to be her kid’s father, why had she made such a big deal about having baby with him?

Jason told Anna that John thought she was running Pikeman. How close was she with Brennan? She said, not close. They trained together and worked together on a failed op Jack sabotaged to pocket the money for Pikeman. He asked if she was sure it was Jack, and she said she wasn’t positive enough to prove anything. He asked if they’d kept in touch, but she said she’d barely seen or spoken to him in decades until he turned up in Port Charles. Jason said, the emails indicated they’d been meeting in secret for the last five years.

Lucy asked what her genius, sexy lawyer had come up with, and Scotty said he was working on Heather’s case. Lucy said, none of his hours would be billable now, and Deception wasn’t paying for his pie and coffee. He said, back to Heather… and Lucy said, Heather had murdered people and attempted to murder several others. He said, there were mitigating circumstances, and she said, he sounded like Laura. But Laura was a goody two-shoes do-gooder, and reopening cases was just the naïve, stupid thing good people tended to do. She expected worse of him. She relied on him to be the lesser person. He told her that cobalt poisoning was real and there were documented cases, and she wondered if people with faulty hip replacements were running around slaughtering people. He said, it affected behavior, and he thought he could convince a jury that’s what made Heather so violent. She said, so Heather would get a new trial and be released to kill again? and he said, there could be a lot of money in this for Heather.

Carly said, Jason hadn’t been sure he wanted to have a baby with Sam, for all the reasons she just said – the risks, the danger, the life he was leading – but Sam wanted it, so he gave in, and Sam got what she wanted, a boy like Jason. She didn’t get to change her mind now. Sam said she was in love with Jason then, but she grew up, and Jason didn’t turn out to be the man she thought he was. He disappeared on them, on his children, twice. Carly said, so there it was. Sam wasn’t doing this to protect Danny. She was doing it to punish Jason.

Anna told Jason that she hadn’t spoken to or emailed Jack in decades, not until she arrested him. Jason said, John had gotten into her personal email account, and she asked if he had a warrant. Jason told her, he said he did, and Anna said, it was a WSB tactic. Doctoring or forging emails, then planting them to divert attention or incriminate. In this case, both. Valentin did this. Jason said, Valentin was framing her.

Sasha and Cody kissed their way to the boathouse. They heard someone plucking a violin, and Cody said, wasn’t Gio just at the party? And now’s the time to practice? Sasha thought Gio probably didn’t want to wake anyone, and Cody said, the property was the size of Rhode Island, and he picked this spot?  

Scotty told Lucy, think product liability. If Heather’s faulty hip caused her behavior, the company was responsible. Lucy said, so maybe Heather would be entitled to compensation, and he said, Heather’s pain and suffering and everything she was going through when she wasn’t in her right mind. Lucy said, Heather was never in her right mind, but Scotty said, Lucy didn’t know her back then. She said, what about the victims and their families? and he said, the manufacturer was liable for that. Lucy said she got that he had a soft spot for Heather. Their relationship had resulted in a son who he’d lost, who was allegedly not responsible for committing murder because of a medical condition. Like mother, like son. He said, those were different circumstances, and Lucy said, the tumor that was removed from Franco was real, and once it was removed, he became a decent, albeit flawed and complicated, human being. What if before Heather’s stint as The Hook, she also committed murder? He said, Heather did a lot of horrible things in her day and had a lot of half-baked ideas. Kind of like Lucy back in her day.

Anna asked if Jason had seen the email, but he said, no. John had said there was nothing concrete, just references to meetings and things discussed. She said, so it wasn’t enough to build a case, and he said, not really. She said, so Valentin wasn’t framing her per se. He was using her as a decoy. Jason asked if she was making excuses for Valentin, and she said, no… maybe. Valentin knows pointing Cates toward her with no solid evidence to incriminate her was something she could handle. Jason asked if it didn’t bother her, and she said, it did, very much, but how she felt was irrelevant. Valentin loved her and would never risk sending her to prison, but he wasn’t above using her as a pawn, so she’d get investigated while he was doing things. It was a win for him. Jason said he understood where she was coming from all too well, but Cates was a real problem. Anna said, it would only keep Cates busy. The emails would impede the FBI’s investigation of Pikeman. She wasn’t in any danger of prosecution because there was no real evidence. Jason said, John ordered him to get the evidence to indict her, and if he didn’t, Carly would be prosecuted. Anna wasn’t in danger, but Carly was. He was going to have to tell John that Valentin was head of Pikeman.

Lucy asked how Scotty dared compare her to Heather, and he admitted he shouldn’t have said it. Lucy said she’d run schemes and scams a lot with him. Heather proved invaluable when she helped Lucy and Franco escape from Ferncliff, but Lucy never killed anybody… Victor Jerome swallowed her locket on his own; she didn’t force him. She never killed anyone and never switched, stole, or did anything to anyone’s baby. Scotty said, if Lucy needed a hip replacement and it poisoned her and made her do weird stuff, would she like to be written off and locked up with no one to help her? Lucy said, of course (🍷) not, but did he really believe it turned someone into a different person or just magnified who the person was? If Heather was a dangerous person, was it fair to the people she harmed to let her go free? He said, no one was talking about Heather going free, and she asked if it wasn’t a possibility. He said, everything was a possibility, and she asked, what about the person who murdered Franco? If they weren’t responsible because of a condition, would he believe it was justice? He said, she had a point, but put her hat on it and cover it up. She said she loved that he saw dollar signs, but let someone else make bank from Heather. He had to steer clear of her. He said, maybe she should be charging him, and she said, maybe she’d take it out in trade. He took a bite of her pie.

Gio continued to play, and Cody wondered if they could politely ask him to leave, but Sasha said, Gio was family, and they were staff. He said he just thought they were going to finally… and she said, that was the plan. He said, she had a plan? and she said, Brook’s cousin was 20 feet away, but it was actually nice, romantic even. A private concert just for them. Not bad. Cody said, maybe even perfect.

Sam said she wasn’t trying to punish Jason. She was keeping her kid safe. Carly said, it wasn’t like Jason was in the Bahamas. The first time he disappeared, he was shot and nearly died. The second time, he was taken into custody. Sam said, that was what happened in Jason’s life, and Carly said, Sam knew about his life before. She didn’t get to change her mind. Sam said, of course (🍷) she did. She didn’t want her son to end up like Morgan, end up dead. Carly said, it’s not about that. Sam was doing this to Jason because he didn’t devote his life to her and didn’t change who he was to fit in the life she wanted once she grew up. She was taking away his son to punish him. Sam said she knew she shouldn’t have come to Carly. Carly didn’t want Jason to change because he might not put her first. If anything happened to her son because his father wouldn’t stay away, Carly was just as responsible as Jason. Sam walked out. (Um… I think Sam and Jason are the ones responsible for their own kid.)

Anna said, Jason couldn’t tell John about Valentin. They had no evidence to prove he was running Pikeman, and she didn’t trust Cates to do the job right. He’d arrest Valentin prematurely, Valentin would escape, Pikeman would stay in business, and Cates would never let Jason loose. She was having dinner at Valentin’s house and would get the evidence he needed to hand over to Cates. Valentin would be arrested, and Jason would get his life back. Jason said, okay, but he wanted to make something clear. He was going to take Valentin down himself before he’d let Cates hurt Carly.

Tomorrow, Josslyn can’t believe Gio is worried about taking advantage of Sonny; TJ tells Felicia that she thought of everything; Diane tells Alexis, the future awaits, handing her an envelope; and Chase tells Brook that he knows exactly who to talk to.

🚨 Mac Is Back…

But will Cody ‘fess up?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/john-j-york-opens-up-about-returning-to-gh

🔥 Fanning the Flames…

It’s not like we didn’t know it could always be a possibility. No body, no dead. Sometimes even when there is a body. I’m still expecting Faison to show up again, even though his brain is in a jar somewhere.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/bryan-craig-shares-a-photo-from-the-general-hospital-studio

🎀 A Bigger Bailey….

The latest on Maxie’s youngest.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/riley-and-miley-plonski-are-playing-bailey-on-general-hospital

🐪 Send In the Camels…

So, I’m kinda sorta watching this. I’ve liked Caroline Stanbury since Ladies of London (RIP), and I’m enjoying her friendship with Ayan. Here’s hoping it lasts and they don’t go middle school on me. I figure we’re also safe from fistfights, since they don’t go for that stuff in Dubai. This week, from out of the blue and probably because she was drunk, Brook called Caroline a see-you-next-Tuesday for no apparent reason. This caused a disinvite to a party by Caroline’s husband, but probably really Caroline. A lot of the cast was like, you can’t disinvite someone, but you’d better believe if someone called me that, they’d get a disinvite and possibly a smack in the face. Are you kidding?

Real Housewives of Dubai Season 2, Episode 3 Recap: Closing Time for C-Bombs!

🍑 Unsavory In Atlanta…

Ugh. Why? I liked her too.

https://www.etonline.com/kenya-moore-suspended-from-rhoa-production-may-lose-spot-on-show-227456

https://people.com/kenya-moore-addresses-rhoa-suspension-after-oral-sex-poster-scandal-brittany-eady-8663908

🗽 Her Million Dollar Listing…

$4.45 million to be exact, which is cheap. Hard to believe, I know, but NYC isn’t for the thrifty anymore.

https://okmagazine.com/p/sonja-morgan-life-update-auctioning-new-york-townhouse/

🚴‍♂️ What’s Cooking…

He got banged up pretty bad.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2024/06/16/gordon-ramsay-bike-accident/74116685007/

Some advice from Gordon. Besides, wear a bike helmet.

https://www.ladbible.com/community/gordon-ramsay-soft-boiled-eggs-perfect-yolk-576152-20230703

🐉 Dragons In the House…

Warning: Spoilers ahead if you haven’t watched yet.

https://ew.com/house-of-the-dragon-season-2-premiere-recap-team-black-vengeance-8663084

In case you watched and need an explanation.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/house-of-the-dragon-season-2-episode-1-ending-explained-blood-cheese

What’s different in the book.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/house-of-the-dragon-blood-and-cheese-book-differences-maelor

Even if you don’t plan on watching the show, check out the credits. They’re amazing.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/house-of-the-dragons-season-2-opeinng-credits-bayeux-tapestry

New Games coming up.

https://ew.com/game-of-thrones-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-first-look-cast-confirmed-8665658

https://ew.com/george-r-r-martin-game-of-thrones-prequel-series-ten-thousand-ships-alive-again-8662533

All the spinoffs.

https://ew.com/game-of-thrones-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-first-look-cast-confirmed-8665658

⚰️ Second Interview…

Recapping the first six episodes of Season 2.

https://www.theringer.com/2024/6/17/24178944/interview-with-the-vampire-season-2-the-sneaky-best-show-on-tv-right-now

https://slate.com/culture/2024/06/interview-with-the-vampire-series-season-2-anne-rice-amc.html

⛓️‍💥 Because It’s Juneteenth…

All about the holiday.

https://nmaahc.si.edu/juneteenth

Juneteeth.com

Home

What’s open and closed tomorrow.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/06/18/open-closed-juneteenth-2024/74126117007/

🐈 Give It a Whirl…

She needs her kitten named. Go for it.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/emme-rylan-needs-your-help-naming-her-adorable-new-kitten

🧘‍♀️ Resting Beach Face…

Join me tomorrow for soap and finding out what Chef ends up on Top. Until then, stay safe, stay getting permission before taking pictures inside someone else’s house, and stay trying something new if what you’re doing isn’t working.