Tag Archives: Real Housewives of Orange County

Jan16

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

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

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

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

Alexis looks over Julian’s photos again.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alexis wakes up, and looks through some documents.

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

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

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

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

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

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

🎐 Saying Goodbye…

John Reilly’s comrades in arms pay him tribute.

Stars React To John Reilly’s Passing

So will GH.

GH To Air John Reilly Tribute

👕 Swickard Swindled…

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

GH Star Josh Swickard Victim Of Digital Hoax

💓 Be Still My Heart…

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

Kristian Alfonso’s Lifetime Films Set Release Date

💏 He Really, Really Likes Her…

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

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

😷 In Covid News…

Another two Housewives were hit with the virus.

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

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

🎶 In Case You Were Going…

The Grammys have been postponed.

Report: Grammy Awards Postponed

🏘 Llanview Memory Lane…

Who the blip were Fish and Kyle?

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

💃🏽 Tap Your Troubles Away…

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

Don’t Miss ABC Daytime: Back on Broadway!

🦉 Quotes of the Week

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

📜 And Three From Dr. King

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

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

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

📍 In Conclusion…

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

Jan14

January 13, 2021 – Sasha Calls Cyrus Out On His Mommy Issues, Emily Ends the Season With a Beach Party, Whitney Apologizes For Her Appalling Timing & Good Kyu

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What I Watched Today

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

🕶 Even though GH was preempted today, using the magic of the internet, I was able to watch it. Probably because the site really wasn’t supposed to post it, there were times when the sound and camera angles were funky, so I missed a sentence here and there, but nothing important. Enjoy.

General Hospital

Amy walks in on Brando changing, and says, he’s not Dr. Hollis. She asks if he’s okay. I have the feeling she just wanted to see his abs.

Laura breezes into the hospital, and sees Curtis. She says she needed to check in with him, and he says he needed to check in with her too. Whatever happened with Florence? He asks if Laura found a connection between her and Cyrus, and she says did she ever. She tells him, prepare himself for a shock.

On the phone, Cyrus says, it helps, but not enough. Keep him posted. He sees Sam at the bar, and asks where her boyfriend stashed his mother. She tells him, first of all, back up. Second of all, tell her what he’s talking about. He says, so Jason didn’t tell her. Jason kidnapped his mother. Sasha is all ears, pretending to read a magazine at a nearby table.

Olivia leaves a message for Alexis, asking if she got home all right.

Alexis finds a shopping bag on her porch, and brings it inside. She reads a note from Ava, saying they’re her brother’s possessions, and she thought Alexis should have them to do as she sees fit.

Brick meets Jason at Pozzulo’s and says he can’t believe it. Jason says Brick was a really good friend to Sonny, and Brick says they talked once a week. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for that guy, and it hasn’t changed. Jason is glad he’s there then. The family needs a favor. Brick says, name it. Whatever needs to be done.

In a hospital room, Sonny is buttoning up a flannel shirt, when a nurse comes in with a tray of food. It’s Phyllis! She says Dr. Brown wanted to make sure he was taken care of. How do the clothes fit? She got them from the lost and found. Don’t worry they’re clean. He says, they’re just fine, and she introduces herself, saying she’s Nurse Caulfield. She tells him that he’s looking fine, and he says, it was a helluva shower. She laughs, and asks if he’s made any progress in remembering who he is.

Curtis says, Cyrus is Laura’s half-brother? and she says she was as surprised as he is. He says he’s sorry, and she says, it will take some getting used to. After she was over the initial shock, she started to notice things about Cyrus. As far as she can see, everything he does is to win over the approval of his mother. He says, not his father, and Laura says, no. Cyrus’s father is her father, and Gordon Grey has been dead for years. She never met him and never missed him. She had kind of a complicated start to life, but it’s okay; she was loved. By the time her biological mother Lesley came into her life, she became the driving force in it. Gordon Grey was just a name to her. He ask where it leaves her with Cyrus, and she says, as far as she’s concerned, nowhere, but Cyrus seems to think otherwise. He keeps trying to draw comparisons between them. Curtis says, there are none, and Laura says she’d like to think so, but Cyrus keeps insinuating they’re cut from the same cloth. He says, how so? and she says, by throwing certain incidents from her past in her face. She hasn’t always colored within the lines, and made a lot of mistakes. She’s done foolish and harmful things. He says he can only think of one reason Cyrus would do that. He wants something. Any idea what? She says, find his missing mother.

Sam says, Cyrus has a mother. Will wonders never cease? He asks if she expects him to believe Jason doesn’t confide in the mother of his children. She says she doesn’t care what he believes, and if he has accusations about Jason, go directly to him. Don’t use her as his go-between. Olivia comes along and says if Sam is through there, they have something to discuss. Sam leaves with her, and Cyrus shakes his head, smiles, and orders a scotch. Sasha puts down her magazine, and walks over to Cyrus. She says, problem? and he says, not that he can’t handle. She asks if she can be honest, and he says, she needs a fix? Don’t expect to come up to his apartment and search for a stash that isn’t there. Call her dealer. She says she nearly died from the drugs he gave her, and don’t bother denying it. She knows it was him. Drugs aren’t found under plates, or handed over in envelopes by strangers. He says she has celebrity status. It comes with certain benefits. She says, there’s nothing beneficial about winding up in the hospital with a heart attack, and to be clear, she doesn’t need a fix. She needs therapy, which she’s getting. Maybe he should try it, and deal with his mommy issues. Cyrus and I make the same face, like, ooh. Oh no she didn’t.

Amy asks if Brando is all good; nothing broken? He says he’s fine, and she guesses TJ didn’t do too much damage. He says, wow. Word travels fast around here. She says, like a rocket. This was so much a nothing scene. I’m wondering why. Are they setting something up with Amy and Brando? Am I missing something?

Sam asks if Olivia took her away from Cyrus because she actually needed to talk, or just to get her away from him. Olivia says she’d always want to get Sam away from that dirtbag, but she’s concerned about Sam’s mother. Sam says she is too. Her drinking is out of control, she refuses to get help, and she’s been arrested for a DWI. Olivia says, that’s the thing. There’s something about the story that doesn’t add up. Sam asks if Olivia is talking about the part where Alexis said she wasn’t behind the wheel. Alexis tried to tell her that too. Olivia knows it’s conventional wisdom, but sometimes thinks the whole tough love thing is overrated. Whatever happened, Alexis is still Sam’s mom, and she desperately needs someone on her side right now.

Alexis looks through a photo album, seeing her past with Julian. She slams it shut, reaches for the generic vodka bottle, and pours herself a drink.

Phyllis says they’re waiting on Sonny’s test results, but the doctor said he didn’t think Sonny would require surgery. Sonny takes that as good news, and she says she’d hoped being in a safe place and getting cleaned up might have cleared his head. He says his head is killing him, and it’s still murky. She tells him to have some dinner. Maybe it will rev him up. He takes the food cover off, and says his appetite just got revved. She laughs ,and says she made some bolognaise. In the cold winter months, she likes to cook. It’s her therapy. He’s sure she’s a helluva cook, and she laughs again, telling him, eat it while it’s still hot. She says she’s been a nurse her entire adult life. She’s compulsive about taking care of people. He says he knows what she means.

Brick says he supposes Jason will be stepping into Sonny’s shoes, and Jason says he’s just doing what he’s gotta do right now for Carly and the family. At some point, he’s going to have to meet with the five families. The last time Sonny was gone, some people put a move on his territory. He put out some feelers to see if anybody is going to try anything. Brick says, no need. They already have. That’s why he’s there.

Olivia tells Sam, she’s not quite copacetic about Tracy’s story. The whole, she drove Alexis home, she was looking for the coffee and couldn’t find it… something seems off. Sam says, why? Because Tracy isn’t normally so decent and selfless? Olivia says Sam said it; she didn’t. But it’s worth thinking about. Alexis swears she didn’t get behind the wheel. Sam says her mother is an alcoholic. She’s trying to get herself out of a DWI. Olivia gets that Sam doesn’t want to be an enabler; neither does she. They want Alexis to take responsibility and get help, but what if Alexis isn’t responsible for this? Sam says her mother was blacked out drunk, and it’s not the first time. Oliva says, it’s something to think about. Ned told her that Alexis told him, the coffee was out in plain sight. Sam says, it is, in a cannister with the word coffee on it. Oliva asks, how does Tracy miss that? She’s just saying it might be worth looking into Alexis’s version of the events.

Cyrus tells Sasha, he has to say he’s disappointed. He always thought the two of them shared a special rapport. Now she’s just sniping at him, the way everyone around there does. She says their special rapport took a hit when she went into cardiac arrest, and he says, so she feels justified in kicking him when he’s down. She asks if that’s what she’s doing, and he says his mother was kidnapped from her assisted living facility. That concerns him greatly. She probably doesn’t understand. After all, she got paid to pretend some stranger was her mother. She says she told him why she did it, and he says because she wanted to pay her grandmother’s medical bills. Sometimes they do bad for the sake of their loved ones. It’s the same with him. His intentions have always been good for the sake of his mother. Now she’s gone, and he doesn’t know if she’s being cared for at all. He would think that Sasha, of all people, would be able to find a hint of compassion for him.

Sonny cleans his plate, and Phyllis says he has a healthy appetite. He says she makes a helluva mean bolognaise. Red or white? She says, white of course (🍷). It sounds like he knows something about cooking. Maybe he was a five-star chef. He says, maybe he just likes to eat. She says she saw the clothes he was wearing. They were dirty, but they were top-notch. She tried looking for something to identify him, but all she could find is that he has a tailor and he has good taste. His shirt comes from a store on Fifth Avenue she used to pass when she worked in New York City. Maybe he liked to shop there. He asks if anyone is looking for him, and she says she’s sorry. She checked with the local authorities and missing persons. There have been no reports of anyone matching his description. He thanks her for trying, but she says, it’s not over. He’s wearing a wedding ring. Maybe someone is waiting for him to come home. Maybe they don’t know he’s missing yet. He looks at his ring.

Curtis asks Laura if Jason confirmed he has Cyrus’s mother, but she says, no; of course (🍷) not, but she’s sure he does. He needs some kind of leverage against Cyrus, now that Sonny is… dead. It’s the first time she’s said it out loud. She’s going to miss him a lot. Curtis says he respected the man. Sonny was always cool to him, and he admired Sonny’s loyalty to his family and friends. Friends like her. He’s sorry about her loss. She thanks him, and says she saw Carly a few days ago. She was trying hard to hold on to some kind of hope. She must be devastated. She should really go over to see the family. He’s sure it would mean a lot, but she’s been through a lot too. It’s all right if she wants to take time for herself. Laura hugs him.

Brick tells Jason that product is going to be moved through Port Charles (I cannot decipher if he says it’s someone specific); they started laying the groundwork last week. Jason asks where they are, and Brick says, a warehouse; 46 Allen Street. Jason sighs, checks his gun, and thanks Brick. He says he’ll take it from here, but Brick says he’s coming along. Jason says he doesn’t have to get involved, but Brick says, it’s not about him; it’s about Sonny.

They get to the warehouse, and Jason asks if Brick is sure this is the place. Brick says there was traffic in and out when the shipment landed, but it shouldn’t be this quiet. Jason listens at the steel gate, and says he can’t hear anything. Brick says he smells gunpowder, and Jason agrees. They start to lift the gate. Seriously, is that wise?

Alexis drinks and looks at photos. There’s knock at the door. It’s Sam who asks her to open up. Alexis asks what Sam is doing there, and Sam says, it’s really cold; open up. Alexis opens the door to find Sam and Olivia. She asks if they joined forces. Olivia’s jurisdiction ends at her front door. She can do it at the MetroCourt, but not there. Olivia asks if they can come in, and Alexis says, no. Sam says she’s not there about Alexis’s drinking. She’s over it. Olivia says Sam is there because she cares about Alexis, and so does she. Alexis says Sam could barely look at her at Sonny and Carly’s. Who is she lying to?

Sasha says Cyrus is so misunderstood. She wonders why that is. Maybe it’s because he has no empathy or consideration for anyone other than himself. She strides back to the table, and starts gathering up her stuff. He follows her, and says, that’s just not true. She asks if he has any regret or remorse for the bomb that was planted at The Floating Rib; for the people that were hurt, terrorized, and killed? Or was it just business as usual. He says, forget him for a moment. What about his mother? A helpless, frail old woman at the mercy of Jason Morgan. Sasha says she’s spent time with Jason, and he wouldn’t harm an old woman, especially one who’s sick. Cyrus laughs about the nobility people ascribe to Jason, and she says, by his own standards, Cyrus will stoop to any level to get what he wants. He’ll go after people’s families, no matter their age, even people’s children. He says, everybody always believes the worst about him, and she asks why he doesn’t change his ways. Brando flies in and grabs Sasha, asking what she thinks she’s doing. He told her not to bother Cyrus. Cyrus says she’s not bothering him. And where the hell was Brando? He expected him at least an hour ago.

Phyllis tells Sonny, the brain is a remarkable organ. She’s seen people come back from the worst injuries. It might take some time, but his brain has the power to heal. Just give himself time, and don’t lose hope. He says she’s a wonderful cook and a nice lady. She says, and he has a killer smile.

Laura thanks Curtis, and says she needed that. He says, of course (🍷). Whatever she needs, he’s there for her. She says, that’s what she loves about him. He says he hates to bring it up, but Sonny’s death leaves a vacuum in the city, and he’s not talking about donations to the Nurses Ball. She says she’s very concerned about Port Charles. Is Jordan concerned about it too? He says he’s sure she is, and Laura says she knows Jason is working hard to make sure no one takes over Sonny’s territory. God only knows what would happen. He says, it’s a double edged sword. Cyrus could retaliate against Jason. Go all scorched earth, and plough over anything and everything in his way.

Brick and Jason enter the warehouse, guns drawn. They find a bunch of dead guys. Brick says, damn.

Laura says, the possibility that Cyrus could start an all out war keeps her up at night. Now that Sonny is gone, he has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Curtis asks if she’s spoken to Jason directly, and she says she has. He can imagine how fruitful that was. She says, just between them, she feels responsible because she’s the one who told Carly about Florence in the first place. He tells her, don’t go there. Carly is responsible for telling Jason, and Jason acted on it. Curtis says, he chased down Florence before; he’ll do it again. She asks if Jordan has any more information on Sonny’s death, but he says he’s not sure. She says, this is the second time she’s asked about Jordan and he gave her a non-answer. What’s going on? He says, he’s been non-committal because he doesn’t know what Jordan thinks anymore… and he hasn’t been home since before Christmas.

Jason says, someone out there before them and Brick asks, who’d stand to gain? Jason doesn’t know, and Brick wonders if anyone is angling for a promotion. Jason says, that’s not how their guys do business, and Brick says they’ll reassess, but they should get out of there now. They back away, and leave.

Cyrus asks if whatever happened to Brando’s face has to do with why he’s late. Brando says, it’s a personal matter. He got mixed up with the wrong woman, and didn’t know she had a boyfriend. Now he does. Sasha asks if he’s okay, and he says he’s gotten worse. Besides, he deserved it. Cyrus thanks Sasha for her concern over Brando’s well-being. Now if she’ll excuse them, they have business to discuss. She says she does too. She has homework to do for her drug counseling. She tells Brando, feel better, and leaves. Brando sighs, and Cyrus says they have to find his mother.

Sam says she knows Julian’s death must be affecting Alexis, and she doesn’t want Alexis to be alone right now. Alexis tells them to come in before the alarm goes off, and Sam says she didn’t know Alexis had an alarm. When did she get it? Alexis says, recently. Olivia says she’d like a cup of coffee, and asks if Alexis minds if she makes a pot. Alexis says, help herself; it’s on the counter. Sam looks at Olivia, who goes to the kitchen. Sam sees all the photos, and asks, what’s all this? Alexis says, Ava dropped them off; they were Julian’s things. Alexis drains her drink, and says the only good thing Julian did was make Sam. She stops thinking about him, and then he comes back. She thinks he’s going to haunt her for the rest of her life. Sam hugs her.

Olivia comes back and says, the coffee was right where Alexis said it would be. Right on the counter. Olivia gives Sam a cup, and Sam says she’s surprised Alexis didn’t set off the alarm the night Tracy brought her home. She was coherent enough to put in the code? Alexis says she doesn’t remember being there, no matter what Tracy says.

Curtis tells Laura, Jordan’s lie affected a lot of people, starting with Portia and Trina. Trina put herself directly in Cyrus’s sites because she believe he was responsible for killing her father. She says, that’s why Jordan had to keep the fact that Taggert was alive a secret, to protect them. He says he didn’t need her to protect him, and he didn’t need her not to tell him, but for some reason she didn’t. She tried claiming she was keeping her police business separate from her marriage, but that’s bull. Lies by omission seems to be a pattern Jordan has, with him in particular, but guess what? It’s played out. He’s over it. She asks if he’s at the point of giving up, and he says he doesn’t want to be. There’s something fundamentally wrong with his marriage, and he doesn’t know how to fix it; neither does Jordan. So where does that leave them?

Cyrus tells Brando, somehow Jason forged a transfer, got his mother released from her long-term care facility, and spirited her away to God knows where. Brando says, and Cyrus went to Jason, and he admitted it? Cyrus says, not in so many words, but he can tell when he’s being played. Brando says he’s sorry, and asks what he can do. Cyrus says Brando was close to his family once; close enough to pose as Dev’s father. Maybe he can shake some information loose. Brando says he told Cyrus, they don’t trust him. They know who he works for. Cyrus tells him, use your imagination. Go pay your respects for Sonny’s death. Do whatever it takes to squeeze information out of them. Brando says, what if he comes up empty? and Cyrus says, he might have to deploy his leverage. His lawyer can go to the Feds at any time, and inform them that Brando, the Corinthos clan, even Brando’s own mother, conspired to keep Dev in the country illegally. God knows he’d hate for that to happen. He has to go, but tells Brando to stay there and nurse his face. I laugh. I love the way Cyrus talks. He says, he’ll be in touch. Sasha and Brando look at each other.

Brick tells Jason, the guys he knows are completely in the dark about who did this. Which brings him to his brilliant conclusion. It’s got to be somebody who knows Sonny wouldn’t want them running this kind of product in Port Charles. Somebody shut it down as a favor to Sonny’s organization.

Phyllis says Sonny’s vitals are all good. Whatever he did, he kept himself in good shape, and she thinks his good instinct and strong will helped him survive. She asks if he has any memory about what happened to him, and he says he’s trying, but he’s got nothing. She says, one of the patients in the long-term care facility she told him about, was in a coma for 20 years, but now she’s thriving in Port Charles, New York.

Sam tells Alexis, no matter what she remembers from that night, the most important thing is for her to figure out how to handle her DWI arrest. Alexis pours another drink, and says she knows Sam thinks she should be in rehab, but as far as the allegations about the DWI, she didn’t do it. She didn’t drive drunk. She knows what can happen. Sam tells her, go upstairs, take a shower, clear her head, and they can make a plan as to how she’s going to fight this DWI charge. Alexis thinks a shower will do some good, and agrees with Sam. She’s going to take some control here. She goes upstairs, and Olivia tells Sam, one thing they know for sure. The coffee is right out on the counter where Alexis said. She doesn’t know how Tracy could have missed it. Sam thinks there’s a way to figure out if Tracy was telling the truth – she touches the alarm – or flat out lying.

Curtis tells Laura, Jordan isn’t the only one with trust issues. She suggests he and Jordan talk to each other about how they’re feeling. He says they’ve talked, and she promises to do better, but she doesn’t. Then he believes her, and he’s disappointed over and over, and he keeps wondering what his wife is hiding from him now. Or what she’s going to lie about next. Laura says she knows she’s a shrink’s wife, but have they considered marriage counseling? Doc can find them someone great. Curtis says he doesn’t know what he wants, and Laura says, it’s worth a try. Don’t give up on his marriage yet. She knows how much the two of them love each other. He says, love isn’t the problem. What good is it without trust? She says she’s there for him, whatever he decides.

Brando says the last time he saw Sasha she was mad at him for working with Cyrus, now she’s provoking Cyrus? She says she heard Cyrus talking about his mother, and thought it would be a teachable moment about how he’s treated others. He says, it’s a dangerous game, and she tells him, don’t worry about her; worry about himself. Considering his split lip, he has to make better life choices. Like working for Cyrus. He says she doesn’t approve of his job, and she says she doesn’t approve of him being under Cyrus’s thumb. He says she’s not wrong.

Jason says he has an idea about who’s responsible. Is there any way Brick can pull up the footage from the warehouse? Brick says something I can’t hear, and Jason says, It’s better if no one knows they were there. Brick says Jason doesn’t have to tell him that. They will get to the bottom of this, no matter what it takes. For Sonny. Someone knocks at the door, and Brick looks out to see Cyrus. He says, three guesses as to what that bastard is there for. Jason opens the door, and Cyrus says he’s glad to find him there. He could really use a nightcap. He walks past Jason, and into the restaurant

Phyllis tells Sonny, it’s in Western New York, closer to Pennsylvania. Ring any bells? Sonny says, no bells, and she says, he has a beautiful vintage watch. Does he recognize it? There might be an inscription on it. He says, she’s not only kind, but she’s sharp. She says, she didn’t just come out of the woods, did she? Sonny takes off his watch, and looks on the back. He reads, Mike, Never enough time. Love, A. She says, his name is Mike, and Sonny smiles. She says, nice to meet him, and they shake hands.

They didn’t have a preview of tomorrow, which I’m assuming will be this episode.

The Real Housewives of Orange County – Finale

Emily planned a beach party. In her interview, she said she’d planned parties for years, and it allowed her to use other parts of her brain that she didn’t normally use. Gina stopped by, and Emily said she had a vison of a beautiful beach party, with low tables. The first thing I thought was, we saw how well that worked on Southern Charm last week. Emily thought Shannon was mad at Gina. She’d talked to Kelly, who said Shannon was upset that Gina wasn’t checking in with her. In Gina’s interview, she wondered if she was supposed to call every 15 minutes. She told Emily that Shannon was a roller coaster of emotions, and called with a lot of different versions of what was going on. It sounded like she had a lot of tequila. Not to mention, Shannon never checked up on her. In her interview, Gina said relationships with Shannon tended to be one-sided. Even though she was the one side, Shannon accused her of not doing well enough. Everything she’d done was out of concern for Shannon, despite Shannon not giving a sh*t about her.

In Shannon’s interview, she said Sophie had grown up in a bubble, and had to learn how to take care of herself. Then she gave a laundry list of what Sophie needed to learn before shipping off to college. She had a family dinner in Sophie’s honor, and John joined them. Shannon toasted to Sophie, saying she was proud of her. She’d overcome a lot of obstacles, and hadn’t enjoyed her senior year. There had been no prom, debutante ceremony, and no graduation, but she’d still gotten a partial scholarship. Shannon couldn’t wait to see what the future held, and said Sophie was going places. In her interview, she said Sophie was the one most similar to her. She was a handful, and a lot of drama. We flashed back to Sophie over the years, and Shannon said she was now venturing out, despite the hardships, with a positive attitude. She couldn’t wait to see what Sophie did. Sophie told Shannon that she’d done a great job, and she felt prepared. She was going to miss them.

Kelly and Rick discussed the upcoming wedding. Rick was thinking something intimate. In Kelly’s interview, she said she’d been married twice, and knew that she needed emotional chemistry. You could buy or manufacture it, but she got it at 45. She told Rick that Braunwyn hadn’t responded to the beach party invitation, and was getting on her nerves. Rick suggested she actually talk to Braunwyn. In her interview, Kelly said, sober Braunwyn was angry and volatile. She didn’t want to be friends with someone she felt she had to watch her back with.

Elizabeth’s therapist Stacey made a house call, and in Elizabeth’s interview, she said it was terrifying to tell to a professional. She knew she needed to do it in order to grow, and it was going to be hard, but she had nothing to lose. She told Stacey that her divorce had brought her childhood back up. It was something she’d never dealt with, and would compartmentalize. Stacey said our bodies remembered sexual trauma, whether we remember or not. Elizabeth said people didn’t believe she lived like she did, and was f***ed up. She explained to Stacey that she was told to never write anything down, and she was uncomfortable talking about it, but she wanted good friends. In her interview, she said her relationships with women were complicated. When she was married, women wanted to know her because they wanted to know her ex’s wallet, and she had a shield around her. Stacey asked what Elizabeth wanted from them, and she said, acceptance. She didn’t know how to meet people, and not have them think she’s weird. I suggested she stop acting weird then, but Stacey said she was worth accepting, and Elizabeth broke down. Stacey told her, it gets worse before it gets better. Elizabeth said it was going to be a long, hard journey.

Braunwyn said she and Sean needed some big conversations. He was the love of her life, and her life partner. They were committed to having a future together. I was creeped out at how she snuggled with her girlfriend Shari in front of him. And wanted to kick his ass for tolerating it. This isn’t a throuple situation, and I can’t imagine it makes him feel too good, so why?

Emily had the party at Elizabeth’s beach house, with Elizabeth’s brother playing bartender. Shannon brought masks for everyone, with appropriate tags on them. Elizabeth’s said, richest bitch in Newport Beach; Gina’s, not sad or depressing; Shannon’s, una amiga; Kelly’s, foot in mouth; Emily’s, very fun Emily; and Braunwyn’s, cheers to good choices. In Emily’s interview, she said they needed a party after such a rough year, and needed some normalcy again. Braunwyn told Gina that she was going to be an alcohol/drug therapist, and in her interview, said she wanted to learn as much as she could, and give back. Gina said she had a school already set up in her garage if Braunwyn needed it.

Elizabeth wondered what was up with Shari, since Braunwyn wouldn’t talk about it. She also questioned Braunwyn saying John had been pulled out of a golf tournament when he was drunk (sorry, Sean, I thought she’d said you last week). In Shannon’s interview, she said John didn’t play golf, or even watch it. No one was going to believe her. Emily said there had been conversations about Shannon’s relationship when they were in Arrowhead, but Gina said she’d been coming from a place of concern. Shannon whined that she didn’t hear from Gina, and Gina told Shannon that she hadn’t wanted to overstep. When Shannon vented, it came across worse than it really was. Emily said perhaps Shannon was sharing too much when she drank, and didn’t feel so great about the relationship. Then she regretted it, because she wanted it to look perfect. Shannon said, when you were with someone 24/7, it was different. We flashed back to Shannon apologizing to John. Emily said Shannon could go to a dark and awful place, and would make things sound awful. They didn’t have to be perfect. Shannon said her life had gotten so bad, she didn’t know if she could get back to a happy place again. When she met John, her life became great. They started bickering during covid, and she was devastated that it wasn’t a perfect fairytale. In Shannon’s interview, she said she put a label on the relationship, and it was too much pressure, but they loved each other, so it was a win-win. Kelly said Braunwyn was wishy-washy. She talked sometimes, but then didn’t. Braunwyn said Kelly never called her, and Kelly said she didn’t make sense. Elizabeth shouted that there was no alcohol at the table.   

Braunwyn claimed she was an open book, and Emily pointed out that Elizabeth had sent a heartfelt text to Braunwyn, who only replied, thank you. Braunwyn said that Elizabeth had said she used her children when it was convenient, and in Elizabeth’s interview, she said when she saw Braunwyn doing what her sister, it was a trigger. Braunwyn said she had boundaries, and Emily reminded her that she’d dug up dirt on Elizabeth. Shannon said Braunwyn told her last year was a lie, and she didn’t dig up dirt on her. Emily told Shannon that Braunwyn had said she was the one who suggested investigating Emily, and Shannon acted shocked. In her interview, Braunwyn said Shannon was like a Mafia boss, dropping tidbits; it was her M.O. She had someone else do the dirty work, so her hands were clean. The women got momentarily distracted by dolphin pod, and Elizabeth tried to call Vince Neil, but it was another dude’s number. In Gina’s interview, she thought that was representative of Elizabeth overall, but didn’t know who Vince was anyway. Emily asked Braunwyn if Shari was causing a problem at home, and Braunwyn said she and Sean had made a commitment to fight for their marriage. Gina asked what that meant, and Braunwyn said Sean would go to therapy and Al-Anon, and get off his cell phone. Emily asked if it wouldn’t work better if Shari wasn’t there 24/7, but Braunwyn insisted she needed Shari around her, and needed to be selfish right now. In Emily’s interview, she thought every decision Braunwyn made was to better Braunwyn. It sounded like Sean was going to continue to pay the bills, so Braunwyn could live the same lifestyle, and do what she wanted. She asked Braunwyn if she thought the end point was being without Shari there, and Braunwyn said she wasn’t in a rush. Emily asked if Gina wanted to pee in the ocean – what we in NJ call a Shore pee – but Gina wanted to take the long walk.    

Shannon asked Braunwyn about hating Newport Beach, and Braunwyn said she had a hard time living in a conservative town; it killed he soul. She’d thought it was like Laguna, which is more liberal. Kelly said Braunwyn had lived in the area her whole life, and wondered how she didn’t know. She asked why Braunwyn continued to live there, and Braunwyn said she thought she could be a beacon of light for the other liberals. Kelly suggested she live in Laguna if she hated it there. They lived in America, where you’re allowed to have different points of view. Braunwyn said she was full of sh*t, and Kelly said, the people who said they were tolerant, were always the most intolerant. Emily said this was ruining her dinner, and Shannon suggested changing the subject. She showed them the electrical tape she was using in lieu of Spanx, and said someone has to cut her out of it. The women agreed it was a whole other level of Spanx. Shannon said Braunwyn had been making sh*t up about John, but the dudes arrived before another brawl broke out.   

Emily gave a toast, and said they had so many things to be thankful for. She could see Gina really loved Travis, and was genuinely happy. On the finale text, it said Gina was committed to giving her impact statement, celebrating being with Travis a year, and not going overboard on her hair styles. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said she was an amazing mom, a good friend, and big old lesbian. This was the real her. Her paragraph said she was starting school, and had a new girlfriend, Kris. She and Shari were no longer speaking, but Sean was standing by her side. In Elizabeth’s interview, she said she knew she was a survivor, and could go forward wherever she wanted to go. We read that she was continuing to work through her past with her therapist, and due to her substantial divorce settlement, she was officially one of richest women in Newport Beach. Shannon’s text said that her relationship with John was going strong, and although the una amiga still enjoyed time on beach, she was leaving the electrical tape at home. For Kelly, it said she was officially Mrs. Leventhal, and despite the pandemic, got married on 10-10-2020, but none of the women were in attendance.

In Emily’s interview, she said she’d learned that family and relationships were important. Shane was alive, and it was all good. She realized she was stronger than she gave herself credit for. She’s one strong bitch. She toasted to a positive life, but negative covid results. We read that after she got her new hip, she removed her old implants. She’d lost over 20 pounds, and gained a fun Emily. The women toasted to 2021.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

Jen said she was hurting. She’d busted her ass for Sharrieff’s surprise party, so she could show him how she cared, and it had been ruined. She got pissed off, and the whole thing went to sh*t. We flashed back to Jen making a total ass of herself, and she said she was embarrassed, sad, and disappointed. She’d lose self-control because it had meant so much to her. Now she was alone and depressed, because Sharrieff wasn’t talking to her. It was one of the worst things to happen for her. Her rock wasn’t there.  

Whitney went to Beaty Lab to talk to Heather. In her interview, Whitney said the party was a disaster. Her intentions were good. She wanted to be a good friend, and let Jen know the others were talking behind her back, when the other women jumped in and ruined it. It turned into an epic failure. She chastised Heather for jumping in, but Heather said she was backing Whitney up. Whitney said it wasn’t received that way. She’d wanted to avoid a blow-up, but Heather said there was no way to avoid it. In Heather’s interview, she said that Jen was doubling down on her friendship with Meredith and Lisa. She told Whitney that Jen wanted to discount the negative information because Meredith and Lisa validated her role in the upper echelon of women in Utah. Heather wondered why Jen was thirsty for their love, when they didn’t care about her. She and Whitney took a risk, and got annihilated. Whitney wanted Heather to share that with Jen. Because the first explosion wasn’t enough.  

Meredith said her separation from Seth made her realize how much she truly loved and needed him in her life Seth asked about the birthday party. She said Whitney told Jen that she and Lisa were afraid of her. Someone was lying. She said she didn’t want to be around Whitney anymore. In her interview, she said Whitney had dropped the bomb that they were afraid of Jen, and on top of it, told her that Jen was spreading rumors about her marriage. She and Seth had reconciled, and were on a positive path. The last thing she needed was false rumors.

Lisa told John that she was uncomfortable with Whitney twerking at the party. She thought it upset Jen. In Lisa’s interview, she said it was bizarre that Whitney picked the birthday party to throw her, Meredith, and Mary under the bus. Maybe she should work less on her dance moves, and more on being an adult. She was like a chihuahua.

Jen told assistant #2, Crystal, that she was upset. It had caused a problem in her personal life. It was embarrassing for Sharrieff, and she was embarrassed too. In the meantime, Mary played dress-up in one of her many closets, with Charlinda assisting. In her interview, Mary said her closet was like a department store, and she was running out of space. She was going to need to buy a place just for her clothes. They were a mental escape. Whitney called and told her about what happened at the party, saying, Jen flipped out. In Mary’s interview, she said, a birthday party? Even she wouldn’t do that. Mary thought Whitney needed to call Jen.  

Heather met with business partner Dre, and they checked out the progress on the new construction for Beauty Lab. Heather said there was no way she could have owned her own business when she was married. Her job was to make her husband feel like a man; support him, and nurture the children. Dre wanted them to be able to draw a salary, and Heather said Billy would be excited. She didn’t want double dip, or not be beholding to anyone. In her interview, she said she wanted to apply what she did at Beauty Lab to every area of her life.

Seth and Lisa met John and Meredith for dinner. Meredith said she and Seth were starting their new beginning. They were back together, and very happy, 90% of the time. In Meredith’s interview, she said Lisa had been there for her, and it had been life changing to have her to lean on. It had been a long time since she and Seth were fully together, and could say they were married. In Lisa’s interview, she said, it shook her a little. If it could happen to Meredith and Seth, it could happen to anyone. She had a sense of relief. Meredith brought up Jen’s party, and Lisa thought Whitney was sophomoric. Seth thought it sounded like a lot of dysfunction and toxicity. Lisa said, there’s only so much water in your well, and when it came to these people, she was dry.

Whitney told Heather that she wanted to apologize to Jen, and Heather said Jen might come in blazing, or might not. We saw a clip of Whitney on the phone, telling Jen that she wanted to apologize, and inviting Jen to a spa. In Whitney’s interview, she said Jen seemed frustrated and angry. She hoped Jen could find her zen, humble herself out, and have a conversation. The spa was in the middle of nowhere, so Jen couldn’t get up and leave.

The spa was incredible. They drove to a cabin that screamed artistic. Besides the check-in desk, the cabin housed an amazing gift shop, with all kinds of handmade stuff, along with natural products, and things like crystals. A dog wearing a handmade vest was snoozing in the front of the shop, and the lady at the desk had a chihuahua tucked in her sweater. It was totally weird and amazing. In Jen’s interview, she said the spa had better be 24-carat. Driving up with Crystal, the second she saw it she said it was bullsh*t, and looked like the movie set of Saw. The tubs were on the middle of a mountain, which Jen was less than thrilled to climb, and she nearly freaked getting in the tub. In her interview, she said Whitney was going to have two apologies to make. She’d actually be funny if she didn’t really feel she was so entitled. They got in the tubs, and Whitney said she felt bad that he party went sideways, and Heather said it was her fault. Jen said Whitney brought up the topic, and I agree, Whitney was wrong, wrong, and more wrong to have brought this up at Jen’s party. Whitney insisted she hadn’t blown it up, and Jen said she’d told Whitney specifically how important it was. Heather said Jen did what she did, and Jen said her marriage was f***ed up now. Sharrieff hadn’t been home since Saturday. Heather said they hadn’t wanted that to happen, but they all needed to take responsibility. Jen started flipping out, and splashed the camera, telling the cameraman, that’s what happens when you film her in an effing bathtub. Then she stomped off past the film crew.

Whitney said Jen just wanted to be mad and point blame, but in Heather’s interview, she said it was clear Jen was hurting. She suggested to Whitney that they apologize, and in Jen’s interview, she said the only reason she was there was because of her friendship with Heather. Heather told Jen that she was concerned Jen wanted be friends with Meredith and Lisa more than her, and that Jen would end the friendship. In Heather’s interview, she said she had PTSD from her marriage. She was a put up and shut up girl, and the first time she said how she felt, Billy left. She assumed Jen would leave he too. Jen said she accepted their apologies, but she wasn’t over it because her marriage was not okay. She said if Sharrieff divorced her, she was moving in with one of them.

Lisa set up an intimate dinner party at Blue Sky Yurt, which was, no surprise, a yurt. In her interview, she said she loved to have people who would appreciate the experience. Every woman on the guest list was a powerhouse, and great at building up other women. A group of women arrived who owned various businesses, and they schmoozed and then ate a fabulous dinner.

Sharrieff finally came back, and Jen asked why he wouldn’t talk to her. He said he was upset, and it wasn’t the best time to talk. That’s pretty smart on his part. He asked what she was doing drinking. When she drank, it heightened her emotions. He didn’t know what was going on, but alcohol wasn’t helping. Jen told him that she was numbing the pain. She was depressed and sad, and still sad about her father, but she was supposed to suck it up and be okay. She said she wasn’t strong enough, and he asked what she needed him to do. She said she needed him to be there more. She’d needed him when her father passed away. She had to make all the decisions, like to take her father off life support, and he wasn’t even there. He didn’t even go to the funeral. He said he understood, but he never understood it like this, because she hadn’t opened up. He said it could get better from there. He wasn’t disappointed in her. He got it. When he’d hurt his neck, he went to a dark place, including alcohol, and other things. She wouldn’t be ashamed of him for that, so he wasn’t ashamed of her. In her interview, Jen said she wanted to make a change. There may be hope for her yet.

Next time, Whitney wants to go on a girls trip to Vegas, drag racing, a Mormon girls taste of the dark side, and Jen confronts Heather.

🎸 Gotta Jam…

I’m guessing the GH that I gave you today is the GH of tomorrow. What’s next in this topsy-turvy world we live in? A reality TV show about aimless, but charming dudes in the South? Whatever flipside you’re living on, stay safe, stay gaining momentum, and stay knowing family and relationships are important.

Jan9

January 8, 2021 – Sonny’s Rescue Becomes Recovery, Who They Are, Julian’s Exit, Shiloh’s New Gigs, Salt Lake Unity, a Warning, a Scandal, a Reveal, a Baby, UK Update, a List, Muppet Surprise, Three For the Holidays, Two Kinds of Goodbyes, Quadteen Quotes & Future

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Taggert hears someone come into the jail, and says, Trina? But it’s Portia.

On the phone, Jordan thanks someone for the update. Diane knocks on the door, and comes in with Jason, saying she thinks Jordan was expecting them. Jordan says she was expecting Jason, but she isn’t surprised. Diane asks, where else would she be when her client is being questioned by the authorities? Jordan says, when she initially asked Jason to come, Diane’s presence wasn’t necessary. Jason says, now it is? and Jordan says, that depends. Cyrus’s mother is missing. Any thoughts?

Cyrus tells Laura, if it was her mother, would I’m sure she’s fine be acceptable? Because it isn’t to him. Laura says she doesn’t give a damn. Why doesn’t he send his complaints to her daughter, and when she’s well enough to pass them on to her, then she’ll listen. He says he’s telling her for the last time, he had nothing to do with it. She says she’s sick of hearing him say that. He had everything to do with it. He killed two people, and left her daughter comatose. He says at least he’s concerned about Lulu’s welfare. She doesn’t seem to care at all about his mother’s condition. She says of course (🍷) she cares about Florence, but if Florence is with the people he says she’s with, she’s fine.

On the phone, Michael says, so instead of search and rescue, it’s search and recovery… He knows what that means. He thanks them, and says he’ll let his mother know. Willow comes in, and he tells her that she looks really good. She thanks him, and says she has dinner plans at the MetroCourt… with Chase.

Dante sits at the MetroCourt bar having a beer, one eye on Peter. Chase comes in, and says, the conquering hero returns. Welcome home, partner.

Peter makes a call, and says he’d like to speak to Dr. Arthur Cabot… He knows the doctor is in solitary, but this is an emergency medical consultation regarding a procedure he developed. Dr. Cabot is literally the only person who can answer his questions… He knows that, but there must be something… Fine. He gets it. Thanks anyway. He hangs up, and says, for absolutely nothing. He gets up, and nearly runs into Sam, who asks where he’s going in such a hurry.

Carly looks at the Christmas stockings and takes Sonny’s down. She sits on the sofa, looking at it, and sees him come in. She says, Sonny? and wakes up.

Michael says, it makes sense for Willow and Chase to figure everything out, and she says she can reschedule. With everything that’s happening with his father, if he needs her to stick around… He says, that’s okay. She should go. She asks if he’s sure, and if he’s heard anything from the authorities in New Jersey about the search. He says he has, and there’s nothing any of them can do right now.

Dante says it’s good to see Chase, and Chase says he’s glad Dante is back. Dante says, him too, and Chase says he was going to reach out, and it’s not an excuse, but he had some pretty heavy cases, and there was a lot going on in life. Dante says, sorry. He heard Chase looked after his family while he was gone. Chase says, it was an honor and a pleasure. Dante says it’s what good cops do. Chase is one of the best. He pats Chase on the shoulder, and Chase says he was sorry to hear about Lulu. Everyone at the station is pulling for her. Dante thanks him, and says, she was a fixture there. Chase says, she will be again. Soon. He tells Dante that he needs to get a table, but they should catch up some time. Dante says he doesn’t think so, but then tells Chase, he’s just kidding. Chase asks if he’s going to be in Port Charles for a while, and Dante says he is. He needs to look after his family, and  tie up some loose ends. He glances surreptitiously at Peter.

Sam tells Peter, she’d like to coordinate Maxie’s bachelorette party and his bachelor party. Peter says he’ll be in touch, but Sam says she’d like to pin down a date. The wedding is only a few weeks away. He says he knows when his wedding is, and also knows she’d be more than pleased if it didn’t happen. She says, Peter… and he says he knows she can’t stand the thought of him marrying Maxie.

Carly opens the door to Sasha, and asks her to come in. She says, Michael isn’t there, if that’s who she’s looking for. Sasha says, actually, she’s there to see Carly.

Portia says Taggert wasn’t expecting her. What surprises her is, he actually thought it was going to be Trina. He says it’s more hope than expectation, and she tells him, it’s a lot to hope for, considering how furious Trina was that he lied to her about his death. He broke her heart. Losing him… He says, she didn’t lose him; he’s right there. Portia says, she did, and that loss changed her in ways she doesn’t think Taggert fully comprehends yet. He says he’s so sorry for the hurt he caused her, and Portia. He knows how it must have felt, but that lie kept Trina alive. He can live with his daughter hating him, as long as she’s alive to do that.

Diane says, Jordan didn’t just ask her client to confess, and Jordan says she has no intention of dragging Jason through a pointless interrogation, but Cyrus came to her, saying his mother was kidnapped from Vermont, and leveling all kinds of accusations. Diane says, against Mr. Morgan? With what proof? Jordan says she has to do her due diligence regardless. Diane says, correct her if she’s wrong, but the PCPD has no jurisdiction over an incident that happened in Vermont. Jordan says, Harvard Law paid off, and Diane laughs. Jordan says, that’s exactly what she told Cyrus, but if he’s telling the truth, and his mother was moved against state lines against her will, the Feds will get involved. And none of them want that.

Cyrus asks Laura, is this the kind of caustic repartee they missed out on not growing up together? She asks, why? Does he want more? He says, what he wants, dear sister, is for her to find his mother. He knows she’s more than capable of crossing certain lines to get what she wants when she’s so motivated. For example, the night they met. She says, when she threw him in solitary. She remembers. Good times. He says, exactly. She knows how to work the system, and he also knows exactly what she’s capable of when she’s backed against the wall. David Hamilton. Theresa Carter. Rick Webber. She says if she hears anything, she’ll let him know. Now if he doesn’t mind, she has a city to run. She starts to walk away, but he grabs her arm, saying, he does mind. He minds very much. A voice yells, get your hands off of her! It’s Lesley (Laura’s mom).

Carly asks how Sasha is; is everything okay? Carly takes down the Christmas stockings, and Sasha says, it is, and a lot of it is due to Carly. She owes Carly a great big thank you, and an apology. Carly asks why Sasha owes her an apology, and Sasha says, she started going to out-patient therapy after her… overdose. Carly says, that’s very brave, but Sasha says, she doesn’t feel very brave. Carly says she’s seeking help for something that almost killed her. She’d say that’s very brave. Sasha says she only started going because Maxie threatened to kick her out of Deception, and Carly says she bets Sasha wasn’t the only one there who was strongarmed into going. Sasha says, once she started going, she learned a few things. There were people she pushed away, or worse, dismissed. People who were trying to help her when she was in a bad way, and Carly is one of them.

Sam says Peter isn’t her favorite person, and she’s sure she’s not his either, but they could put their differences aside for Maxie’s sake. He says, nothing would make him happier, if it were true, but he knows it’s not. He knows Spinelli was trying to railroad him. She says she thought Spinelli was over that, and he says, Spinelli changed his tune for the sake of Maxie and Georgie. Sam says, so has she, and Peter says he hopes that’s true. If she really cares about Maxie – she says, of course (🍷) she does – he says, then she’ll stay out of his way, and brushes past her. Dante watches.

Lesley says she doesn’t know who Cyrus thinks he is, but grabbing at women is illegal. He says she’s absolutely right; he was out of line. Laura asks what Lesley is doing there. She was going to meet Lesley in New York on the weekend, when she went to visit Lulu. Lesley says she knows, but she was thinking about how much Rocco and Charlotte need to have their family around them. So she figured a trip up north was what she needed. Laura says she’ll get Lesley settled in at her house, and Lesley says Laura hasn’t even introduced her to her assailant. He must be Cyrus Renault. Cyrus says his reputation has preceded him, and Lesley says, his reputation and his rap sheet. He says, she must be Lesley Webber, and she says Dr. Lesley Webber to him. As she’s sure he knows, she’s an emeritus member of the hospital board. They’re going to be spending time together. He says, how delightful. He’s really looking forward to spending time with the tramp who slept with his married father.

Portia tells Taggert, she doesn’t understand why he would turn himself in for falsifying evidence against Cyrus. He says, his cover was already blown. Jordan thought the safest thing was to take him off the board, keep his head down. At his arraignment, he’ll plead guilty, and get a lighter sentence. She says, he could do that, but he could also fight to get his life back.

Diane leaves, and Jason closes Jordan’s office door. He says, Cyrus was there? Jordan says, he tried pressuring her, but she shut it down. The only leverage he had over her was her secrets, and she’s fresh out. He says, congratulations, and she thanks him, admitting it feels good. She asks how things are with Cyrus on his end, and he says, it’s been handled, for now. She asks if it has anything to do with Florence Grey, and Jason doesn’t say anything. She says, dammit, Jason. She wishes he would at least say no. She says she appreciates this… alliance they’ve formed, and he says he does too. She tells him, then don’t put her in a position where she has to investigate Cyrus’s allegations against him. There’s a knock at the door, and an officer gives Jordan a big envelope. Jason asks if that’s all, and she tells him to wait. This also concerns him.

Laura tells Lesley that she doesn’t have to listen to Cyrus, but Lesley says she’s curious. Cyrus says she slept with his married father. He has to narrow it down. Laura says, mom! and Lesley says, what? She was a tramp. She probably conquered hundreds of married fathers. Cyrus says, this was a special conquest. It’s what binds them together. Lesley doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about, and he says his father was Gordon Grey. She says, oh, that married father, and Cyrus says, he passed away a long time ago. As he remembers, Lesley and his mother were friends, then Lesley betrayed her. She asks how Florence is, and he says, apparently, fine, but his sister is doing her damnedest to keep her away from him. Lesley says, sister? That would make Lulu his niece, and he just about killed her. He says he had nothing to do with what happened at The Floating Rib. Julian was the culprit. Lesley says she’s sure Julian had nothing better to do than set off a bomb in a restaurant full of people for no reason. He says, as he understands it, there’s a good chance Lulu will recover, which is more than he can say for his father, whose death Lesley set in motion when she educed him. Lesley looks at Laura.

Taggert tells Portia, he lost a year in the shadows. Not to mention the two years he lost undercover, trying to convict Cyrus. She says, he’s earned the right to his life back, and he says, except for one thing; he’s guilty. He knows Trina doesn’t want to believe it, but he planted the evidence that sent Cyrus to prison. She says, Cyrus was responsible for countless murders, and they’re going to work together to expose him for the man he truly is.

Chase meets Willow at the MetroCourt, and pulls out her chair for her. She thanks him, and he says he was in the neighborhood… of her chair. He’d convinced himself that she was going to cancel, and she says she almost did. He says he would have understood, but he’s glad she’s there. She says, she is too, and Chase says he’s really happy they’re doing this. She says, so is she.

Sasha says she’s finally come around to telling Carly, her attempt to give Sasha a swift kick in the right direction was appreciated. Carly says she’s welcome, but doesn’t owe her an apology. Sasha was struggling because of the sacrifice she made for Carly’s family, and she’ll always be indebted. Michael comes in, and Sasha says she was just leaving. Michael says it was good to see her, even if briefly. She says, her too, and Carly asks if he has news about the search. Sasha says, search? and he says, she hasn’t heard? Carly says, Sonny was in an accident, and he’s missing. The police are searching, and they’re going to find him. Michael says he heard from the New Jersey State Police, and Sonny’s status has changed. It’s gone from search and rescue to search and recovery. Carly says, but they’re still searching, right? and Michael says he doesn’t think she understands. She says she does understand. She doesn’t know what they expect to find, but what they’re going to find is Sonny, alive and well.

Sam asks if she can join Dante at the bar. She sits down, and says she noticed he’s keeping a close eye on Peter. Why? He says, apparently marrying your half-brother’s widow, the brother who was killed by their crazy father, doesn’t violate bro code. Sam says if he finds anything interesting, pass it her way. They might have aligned interests. He says, will do, and Sam orders a beer. She says, about Sonny. How’s the family holding up? He says, they’re just waiting for the official word from the search parties, but she says, it’s Sonny. If anything, they have hope. Dante guesses they’re supposed to convince themselves, but to be honest, he feels like the hope for Sonny surviving gets smaller with each passing day.

Carly tells Michael, his father has survived worse than a bridge collapse. Sonny is coming home. She says she’s making coffee, and asks if she can get him anything. He says, that’s okay, and Carly says she’ll be in the kitchen if he needs her. Sasha tells Michael, she’s so sorry, and he thanks her. She says she knows it’s a ridiculous question, but… He says, is he okay? He is for someone whose father is missing and presumed dead. Sasha asks if she can make him a drink, or does he want her to go? He says he wouldn’t mind her staying.

Willow says, he retired just like that? and Chase says, he went from the K-9 unit to a well-to-do couple, and he’s living his best life in Niagara. Even though he ruined his cake at the retirement party. He remembers how the kids went crazy when Chase brought him to the classroom, and his brother hated being upstaged. She says, the kids were excited… Why are they pretending there isn’t a giant elephant in the room? He says, they’re just talking, but she says, they didn’t come there to make small talk, and pretend things are the way they were before. So why are they? He says, it’s what he wants more than anything.

Sam tells Dante that she’s sorry, and he says, Sonny could show up, and Lulu could wake up at any moment. Forget he said anything. He should offer condolences. Sam just lost her father. She says she’s not going to pretend to grieve. The world is a better place without that man it. He says he doesn’t disagree, but there’s one person hurt by Julian being dead, their brother Leo. She says she thinks Leo is better off not knowing Julian existed. She’s glad it’s not up to her. He says, the wheels are already in motion for Ned to officially adopt Leo. It’s crazy; he just lost his father. She says, that’s all the more reason for them to step up for Leo as his brother and sister.

Lesley tells Cyrus that she has no idea what lies Gordon fed him over the years, but she never seduced anyone… Well, not him. Cyrus tells her, like she said, there were probably hundreds. Lesley says she should have been so lucky. She and Gordon had an affair. He was her professor, and should have been more conscious of the emotional differences between them in the relationship. Cyrus says, it’s fortunate she can pass it through a modern lens, and absolve herself of responsibility. Does it also hold true for his father’s decision to leave Port Charles? He convinced Cyrus’s mother to start fresh down south. She didn’t realize the exodus was at Lesley’s urging. Lesley says, on that point, he’s right, and Cyrus says, and here we are. Who knows how different their lives and destinies would have been in Port Charles. Laura says he has no one to blame but himself, and asks Lesley if she can have a moment alone with Cyrus. She’s not afraid. She wants to talk to her brother. Lesley gives them privacy, and Laura shakes her fists at him. She says she’s not about to let him use her mother as a scapegoat for his lifetime of horrible decisions. Do they understand each other? He says they do, but understand this. He’s trusted her to resolve the situation with Jason promptly. How would she feel if something happened to her mother? She says, spoken like an innocent man.

Laura finds Lesley crying, and asks if she’s okay. Lesley says, not really. Cyrus said some horrible, untrue things, but there’s one thing she can’t shake. Her recklessness when she was young is what led them down the path to the pain they’re all feeling right now. Laura holds her, and says, it’s okay.

Portia tells Taggert, neither was a good plan, and he says he’s exhausted. He just wants it over with. She says, then get a good night’s sleep. Stop thinking about himself, and think about his daughter. Be the man she thinks he is, and fight so she doesn’t lose her father a third time. Jordan comes in and say she didn’t know Portia would still be there. Portia says, Dr. Robinson, and she was just leaving. When she’s gone, Jordan asks if Taggert is okay, and he says, for a man who just got his ass handed to him by his ex, he’s not too bad. She says, Portia is good at that, and asks why he looks so wistful. He says Portia is good at calling him on his crap. That’s why they got married, and why they got divorced, and why they’re still friends. What’s the good word? She says, Cyrus no longer has a hold on the department. He says, what about TJ and Trina? and she says she’ll explain later, but for now, she does have bad news.

Carly stands in the kitchen, and tells herself, stop it. He’s coming back. Sonny’s coming back.

Peter runs into the hospital, and says he hopes the reception nurse can help him. It’s important that he contact a former staff member – Andre Maddox.

Willow says Chase let her believe he slept with her friend, and he asks if it matters that he did it to save Wiley. She says she appreciates what he did, but not being kept out of the loop. He says he had to focus on Wiley. He misses her, and wonders if she misses him too. She says, of course (🍷) she does. From the moment she left the apartment she was missing him every moment of every day for months, until… The pain they made her feel is still real, even if the betrayal wasn’t. They can’t wish it away overnight. He says, give him a chance to show her that he’s the guy she thought he was; a guy she can trust with her heart, and that their love is worth fighting for. He loves her; he never stopped. He knows in his heart and soul she loves him too. She leans in toward him…

Willow says, she can’t; sorry. Chase says he thought she wanted him to, and she says she can’t. She’s married to Michael. She wanted him to kiss her, but she has to go. He asks if she can take a second, but she says, this is too complicated right now, and runs out. Maybe not runs, but she walks really, really fast.

Sasha asks if she should check on Michael’s mom, but he says, she’s probably trying to face what happened. Or she’s doubling down on her denial. It’s best to stay out of her way. She says, it’s obvious which Carly is doing, and he says he’s afraid her not facing reality is setting her up for more pain. She says, Carly is right. Just because the authorities stopped the search and rescue, doesn’t mean Sonny won’t be alive. He says, it’s the not knowing anything that’s the worst. Hearing that it’s changed to search and recovery… Only living things need rescue. His dad is no longer someone to them, just someone they need to… She hugs him, and he thanks her. She asks if he wants some air. She’s missed the walks they used to take to the boathouse. Of course (🍷) it’s freezing. He says, a walk sounds good.

Portia comes out of the elevator, and Cyrus says, it’s good to see her. He knows she has a lot going on with discovering Trina’s father is alive and well. She says, is there something he wants to ask her? but he says he’s just sharing her good news. She says, they’re done here, and walks away.

Jordan tells Taggert, Sonny was in an accident. A bridge he was on collapsed. He says, how the hell…? and she says they’re still gathering details, but Sonny is presumed dead. He doesn’t know what to say, and she says she thought he should know. He thanks her, and says he and Sonny had a complicated history. It’s strange that someone he dedicated his life to bringing down, bent over backward to make sure he was safe. He was a complicated man. She says, he was.

Sam and Dante sit at a table. Sam says, Sonny had the bright idea for a dinner with Carly and himself, and her and Jason. Carly thought it was part of his big plan. Dante does an impression of Sonny saying, we’re all here right now for the summit, and Sam laughs. She says, she and Carly started cracking up, and realized this was part of Sonny’s plan. Dante says they’ve spent the last 20 minutes telling stories about Sonny like they’ve started his wake. Like maybe this time, he could actually be gone for good. They clink beer bottles, and say, to Sonny.

Jason goes into the house, and looks at a picture of Sonny and Carly. Carly says she didn’t hear him come in. He looks grim, and she asks if he saw Michael and Sasha. He says he didn’t, and she says she didn’t mean for them to see each other, but she’s glad they did. Sasha wanted to apologize, and she left the room to give them time alone. Jason says he was at the police station, and has an update. She says she doesn’t want to know, and he says, waiting isn’t going to change anything. They sent a search team into the wreckage from the bridge, and they didn’t find Sonny’s body, but they found this. He hands her a necklace, and she says, Sonny’s St. Christopher medal. He says, it was snagged on the wreckage. They think Sonny was pinned when the bridge collapsed, and his body was dragged down river. He knows Sonny would have gotten out if he’d gotten clear of the wreckage, but he didn’t. Carly starts to hyperventilate, then starts to cry. She says, he was arrogant, and he was selfish. They couldn’t stand each other. She doesn’t know what made them fall in love. She cries, and Jason holds her. She says, I don’t know.

In the woods, we see someone lying in the snow. We don’t see their face, but gee, think it’s Sonny?

On Monday, Chase asks if Finn can possibly relate, Carly asks if they can’t touch Cyrus, Molly wonders if she and TJ have a future, and Brando warns Jason about the Feds.

🏥 What Cyrus Said…

We’ve covered David Hamilton, but Theresa who?

https://general-hospital.fandom.com/wiki/Theresa_Carter#:~:text=Nurse%20Theresa%20Carter%20is%20a,an%20unknown%20actress%20in%202006.

And in case you didn’t know Rick either.

https://soaphub.com/general-hospital/general-hospital-wayback-remember-rick-webber/

🐶 He’s An Animal Lover Too…

I wasn’t Julian’s biggest fan, but I don’t think they should have killed him off. Especially since they finally got his hair right.

https://torontosun.com/entertainment/television/exclusive-william-devry-sounds-off-on-his-shocking-gh-exit

🏃🏻 Shiloh Strikes Again…

And he’s pulling double duty.

Coby Ryan McLaughlin Reveals He’s Going To Be on DYNASTY!
Coby Ryan McLaughlin Stars in The Nanny Murders!

💏 But She’s Not Moving To Ohio…

All is well in the Marks household.

https://pagesix.com/2020/12/30/rhoslc-star-meredith-marks-reconciles-with-husband-seth/

⚠️ A Warning From Candiace…

I don’t know how seriously I could take someone whose hair looked like hers at the RHOP reunion. What was that?

Candiace Dillard Says Porsha Williams “Should Be Careful About The Lies She Tells” After Defending Monique Samuels

👠 For Those Who Can’t Get Enough…

All about the scandalous scandal.

https://nypost.com/2020/12/23/the-scandalous-divorce-of-erika-jayne-and-tom-girardi/

📡 Full Disclosure…

I have to admit, I was surprised. It’s going to be a while before she’s off the shrink’s couch.

https://pagesix.com/2020/12/31/rhocs-elizabeth-lyn-vargas-opens-up-about-childhood-in-cult/

🙌🏼 Her Reality Goes On…

I actually think Stassi was growing as a person on Vanderpump Rules. It’s a shame cancel culture is so narrowly focused.

https://extratv.com/2021/01/08/stassi-schroeder-and-beau-clark-welcome-first-child-find-out-her-name/

📮 News Of a London Lady…

The good news.

https://pagesix.com/2021/01/03/ladies-of-london-alum-caroline-stanbury-is-engaged/

And the bad news.

https://pagesix.com/2021/01/07/ladies-of-londons-caroline-stanbury-positive-for-covid-19/

🎈 I’ve Got a Little List…

Pop culture from the past four… whatever that was.

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/01/02/pop-culture-trump-era-2020-analysis-449495

🧸 Mixed Message…

Well this must have put a damper on many a family’s holiday season.

https://news.avclub.com/remember-when-a-broadcast-of-muppet-family-christmas-en-1845903062

🎉 That Holiday Glow…

More celeb celebrations.

https://extratv.com/photos/image_jpg_20201226_89c768c0b2c54d3da1e806c6c7b16039/

🗽 In Case You Missed It…

And you may as well have. Although it was amusing to see an empty Times Square.

https://nypost.com/2021/01/01/small-crowd-in-times-square-rings-in-new-year-with-low-key-celebration/

🍾 I Can’t Say I Disagree…

The best part was when Anderson Cooper was like, hey dude, slow down, it’s early yet.

https://pagesix.com/2021/01/01/andy-cohen-drunkenly-rips-mayor-bill-de-blasio/

🥁 Roll Call 2020…

Those celebs we lost, and it’s probably not even a full list.

https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/celebrities-who-died-in-2020-47084634

From across the pond.

https://news.sky.com/story/celebrity-deaths-2020-the-famous-faces-and-notable-figures-we-said-goodbye-to-this-year-12128650

🧻 A Different Kind Of Roll Call…

Celebrities, they’re not like us.

https://nypost.com/2021/01/02/2020-taught-us-one-good-thing-celebrities-are-meaningless/

🎙 Quotes of the Week

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6, NLT

Do one thing every day that scares you. – Eleanor Roosevelt

Playing dress-up begins at age five and never truly ends. – Kate Spade

You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life? – Rumi

A good education is not so much one which prepares a man to succeed in the world, as one which enables him to sustain a failure. – Bernard Iddings Bell

Sun is like God calling you an alcoholic. – a hungover Jenny Harper (Amber Tamblyn), Two and a Half Men

Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you. – Anne Lamott

Whoever you are, whatever your dream, you have to be strong in your head and strong in your heart. Be strong. There’s no quitting in the person who wants it bad enough. – Carly Patterson  

Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action. – Benjamin Disraeli

The unique ability to take decisive action while maintaining focus on the ultimate mission is what defines a true leader. – Robert Kiyosaki

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

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

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

You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins. – Jim Stovall

🌜 Goodnight, Moon…

Even before the pandemic, my weekends weren’t much different than my weekdays. Every day is a work day in one way or another. But whether your days are all workdays, all days off, or a combination, stay safe, stay innovative, and stay on the road less traveled. It’s easier to keep your social distance that way.

Jan7

January 6, 2021 – What Just Happened, Today’s GH For You, Shannon Wants No Toxicity, a Hip-Hop Golf Party, Goodbye For Real & Imagine

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

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

GH was preempted for the insanity going on at the Capital. For once, I can agree it was something people needed to see. I don’t talk politics almost ever, but it was awful, embarrassing to our country, and frankly, kind of frightening. Still, the soap must go on if I can find it.

General Hospital

Obrecht waits for the elevator. Anna sees her from behind, and says she’s looking for Dante. She wonders if the doctor has seen him. She was told he was on this floor. Obrecht ignores her, and Anna says, wait. Do I know you?

At the MetroCourt, Maxie tells Peter, she’s proud of Robert for not choking on his disapproval. She asks if Peter thinks Robert is going to show, and Peter says, for her, yes; for him, no. She says while she’s excited for the double wedding, especially since it’s Anna and Finn, there are some things she didn’t think of. Like the shared guest list. She looks over at Elizabeth and Franco at another table.

Franco asks if Elizabeth is having a good time, and she says she always has a good time with him. He says they have to do date night while they can, and she says they have good reason to believe the tumor isn’t causing his issues, so they can treat it aggressively. He says the tumor is probably treatable, but Peter is still in his head. He really doesn’t know what to do about that.

Doc and Britt look in on Ryan, and Britt tells Doc, she trusts the diagnosis; Lucas knows his stuff. She’ll leave the legal aspects to the lawyers. All she knows is, General Hospital did their part. What happens to Ryan next is out of their hands.

Nikolas brings in some boxes from the back of Charlie’s and tells Ava, they’re almost finished. Ava says he can go home, but he says he’s not going without her. She says, it’s not his job to help her clean up the remnants of her brother’s life. She doesn’t even want him to. God knows what Julian left behind. He says, that’s exactly his point. She’s not facing any unwanted surprises on her own. She asks if that’s really why he’s staying, and he asks, why else? She says, maybe to prove to Alexis, or her, that their marriage is conventional. He says their marriage is anything but conventional. That doesn’t mean it isn’t real. She asks who was on the phone, and he says, his mother; she’s on her way over. Ava asks if everything is all right, and he says he thinks so. She didn’t say much. Only that it was a family matter.

Valentin finds Martin at the MetroCourt bar. He says he has some billable hours for Martin. He needs to hire a private investigator. Someone dependable and discreet, although he thinks that goes with the job. Jax is acting suspiciously. He says he cares about Nina, but he’s up to something, and Valentin wants to know what it is. Martin tells him, keep his money. Right now he could care less about Valentin’s obsessive and ridiculous hijinks. Valentin asks if he has something better to do, and Martin says, damn right he does. He has to rescue his mother.

Jordan looks at the PCPD files from the victims of the bombing. Cyrus walks in and says it’s good to see their esteemed Commissioner back in action. She takes out a gun, and shoots him. Sorry. I made that up. It’s been a long day. She asks what he wants, and he says, Jason Morgan, and he expects her to deliver.

Ava looks at a paper, and Nikolas asks what it is. She says, it’s a letter from Julian’s lawyer. He named her executor of his estate. He says, it’s not surprising, and she says, but it’s jarring. She supposes Charlie’s will be the big ticket item. Laura comes in, and says she heard about Julian. She’s sorry for Ava’s loss. Ava says she appreciates it, and Nikolas asks, what’s going on? It’s not Lulu, is it? Laura says, her condition is the same. She wanted to let him know about some new additions to the family. It’s going to be a  shock. She has a couple of half brothers she didn’t know about. He says, who are they? Where are they? She says, they’re in Port Charles. They’re Martin Grey and Cyrus Renault.

Cyrus tells Jordan, it’s time to prove her worth. She says, by dealing with Jason? and he says she’s up to the task, isn’t she? She ought to be refreshed after her treatment and convalescence.  She says she’s back in fighting form, and he says, good. Jason has overstepped, and he needs her to reel him in. She asks what Jason did, and he says Jason kidnapped his mother.

Anna introduces herself to Obrecht’s back, and says she’s a patient there sometimes. Have they met? Using a fake accent, Obrecht says, sorry; she’s very busy. Dante calls to Anna, and she says she was looking for him. She just asked this doctor to track him down. He says, what doctor? and Anna turns around to find Obrecht gone. Anna says, she was just there, and Dante asks if something’s wrong. She says, there’s just something about that woman. She seemed familiar.

Peter tells Maxie, he didn’t know there was history there, but she says, that’s all it is; history. Their wedding is going to be great. He says, it’s going to be perfect. He would have done anything to arrive at this moment with her. Anything to have her love him, with their child on the way, and Georgie and James as big siblings. It’s truly been worth anything to have this life with her. She says, all he had to do is trust himself, and get out of his own way. He says, and love her. She says, especially that. With love, anything is possible. Hasn’t she been telling him that?

Elizabeth asks if they can talk about something else, and Franco says they can talk about how much he loves her. She says she loves him too. He looks at Peter and Maxie, and says they don’t have to go to the wedding. It’s nice they were invited, but they won’t be missed. Maxie gets up, and Elizabeth says, not an option. She excuses herself, and follows Maxie.

Obrecht gets out of the elevator, and walks smack into Britt, causing her to drop a bunch of folders. Obrecht stands there, and Britt tells her to help clean it up. She won’t tolerate rudeness from her staff. She gets enough lip from the nurses. She doesn’t need it from the doctors too. Obrecht picks up the folders, hands them to Britt, and says, late for surgery. She starts to walk away, and Britt says, hold up. There’s nothing scheduled for the OR, and she recognizes that perfume. Obrecht says, it’s very common, and Britt says she’s only known one person who wears it. She pulls down Obrecht’s mask, and says, her mother. She asks what Obrecht is doing there, and Obrecht tells her to keep her voice down. Britt says she’s supposed to be in Steinmaur behind bars, and Obrecht says, Britt is supposed to be loyal to the woman who gave her life, but daughters have a way of falling short of expectations. She puts her mask back on, and Britt says, so do mothers. She’s calling security. Obrecht says, no, and hands her a paper. She says it’s an official notice from the WSB, asserting her innocence and release. She was cleared of all charges from the WSB. And an apology. Britt says, this is real? and Obrecht says it is. If Britt offers her an apology, she’ll refrain from saying I told you so.

Dante asks how Anna found him, and she says, luck. She had an appointment with Doc, and was told she could find him there. She asks if there’s any word on Sonny, but he says, no. The Coast Guard and Harbor Patrol are still searching the Hackensack River and North Bay. Sonny’s odds probably aren’t that good, but he saw Carly, and there’s no scenario in her mind where Sonny doesn’t come back to her in one piece. Anna says, and he didn’t tell her any different? He says, it’s not his place to tell her to lose hope. He went along and agreed with her. She says, lying can be hard sometimes. No matter how good the liar or how well-intentioned the lie. He knows that as well as she does.

Jordan says Jason kidnapped Cyrus’s mother. That’s a shame. He asks if she’s making light of the situation, and she says, she would never. He says Jason stole his mother from her home in Vermont, where people care for her. He doesn’t know what she needs, or what medications she’s on. She’s probably so scared, she can’t see straight. Jordan assumes he spoke to Jason, and he says, and Sonny’s harpy of a wife. Neither of them will admit to anything. Surprise, surprise. She says, they gave him no indication of where she might be? and he says, what does she think? She says she thinks Vermont is way out of her jurisdiction. Nothing she can do from there. He says, wrong answer.

Martin says he has to go, but Valentin says, wait. Rescue his mother? Martin says, it may be a foreign concept to Valentin, but not all mothers eat their young. He loves her, and she’s in a lot of trouble, so forgive him if he doesn’t want to jump on Valentin’s I’ve-got-to-find-a-P.I. train right now. Valentin tells him to calm down, and says he’ll leave when Valentin is good and ready for him to leave. Martin asks when that will be, and Valentin says, when Martin gets a grasp on the nature of their relationship.

Nikolas says, this is insane, and Laura says, tell her about it. He says, she’s related to Cyrus? and she says they share a father. His name was Gordon Grey. Nikolas says, he’s known? Before he came to Port Charles? Laura says, before the bombing at The Floating Rib, and Nikolas says, he sent Julian anyway. She says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she doesn’t think Cyrus knew Lulu was in there. He says, in that case… and she says she’s not defending him. She intends to do everything in her power to bring him to justice. Ava says, it was monstrous, and Laura says she agrees, but Cyrus isn’t a monster. He’s a human being with wants, needs, and motives. The sooner they grasp what they are, the sooner they can stop him. Her phone rings, and it’s Doc, who asks where she is. She tells him, Charlie’s Pub with Ava and Nikolas; why? He asks if she can meet him at the hospital, and bring them with her. She asks, what’s going on? She listens, and says they’ll be there. She tells Ava and Nikolas that Doc wants them to meet him at General Hospital. It’s about Ryan.

Anna asks if Dante’s job hadn’t been infiltrating Sonny’s organization, and he says, look how well that turned out. He gave up undercover work a long time ago. She says, other than what he took from the Bureau taking down Raj. The leadership holds his skills in high regard. She’d be surprised if they didn’t want to keep him in the fold. He says he doesn’t think they have a lot of patience for head cases, and she laughs, saying, they’ve forgiven a lot worse. He wouldn’t have been released without a clean bill of health, mental or otherwise. He says, unless he snowed them, being a skilled liar. She says, it would have been quite a feat, including a WSB doctor. He guesses they’ll never find out. The doctor is dead, but that’s not news to her.

Obrecht and Britt go into an office, and Obrecht says Britt can call the WSB to confirm; they have a 1-800 number and everything. Britt says she’ll be hugely relieved if it’s true, and Obrecht says, it is. Britt says, what about the evidence? and Obrecht says, fabricated. Just like she said at the time of her arrest. If only Britt had believed her. Britt asks if Obrecht blames her, and Obrecht says, yes. She has no idea what it’s like to be wrongly accused and falsely imprisoned. It was torture. Britt says, so she’s not guilty of arranging a double would-be assassination, but why is she sneaking around the hospital with a mask on? If she’s innocent, why not shout it from the rooftops? Obrecht says, if the wrong people get wind of her presence, her mission will be jeopardized. Britt says, what mission? and Obrecht says, saving her life. Britt says, from Cyrus? and Obrecht asks, who’s Cyrus? Britt says, then who is she talking about? and Obrecht tells her, her treacherous brother Peter.

Franco brings Peter a beer, and says he hasn’t properly congratulated him. Peter holds out his hand, but Franco sits down, ignoring it. He says he thinks the way of thanking Peter for saving his life is not coming to the wedding. Peter asks if he didn’t already RSVP, but Franco says he can fake a migraine pretty easily. They both know Maxie doesn’t want him there. Peter says, it’s very thoughtful, but Maxie knows Finn wants Elizabeth to be there, and he wouldn’t mind having a friendly face himself. Meaning him. Franco thanks him, and says he knows what it’s like. At his wedding reception, everyone was there for the bride. Peter asks how long Franco has been in Port Charles, and Franco says, seven years. He doesn’t have many friends to show for it. There’s Ava, who recently tried to get Nikolas to sleep with Elizabeth, and Obrecht… Well, Peter knows. There’s Drew, but he died. Here’s hoping Peter has a better track record. They clink beer bottles.

Jordan says she’d help Cyrus if she could, but he asks, or would she lie about it? Like she did with Taggert. She says she’s sensing he has a complaint to lodge, and he says, February 18th, 2020, 11:43 pm. She says, good memory, and he says, Taggert’s death pronouncement. So imagine his surprise to find that Taggert is currently cozied up in a cell downstairs. She doubts it was that much of a surprise. Considering before Taggert went to that cell, Cyrus tried to have him killed – again. He says she helped Taggert fake his death, and she says if he wanted her to do otherwise, he should have said so. He calls the shots right? He says, it doesn’t matter. Taggert is going to be charged with Perjury and obstruction of justice, while she’ll face immediate consequences of betrayal, unless she produces his mother. She says, he wants his mother back? Get her himself.

Doc talks to Anna, Nikolas, and Laura about Ryan’s condition. He says, it happens when a part of the brain called the pons is damaged because a blood clot has prevented blood flow to that part of the brain. Nikolas says, so it happened because of the stabbing, and Doc says, the pons is made up of nerve fibers that relay information to different parts of the brain. When it isn’t functioning properly, the patient suffers near complete paralysis. Ava says, so what he’s really telling them is, Ryan is a vegetable. Doc says, not quite. He can move his eyes, he can hear, he can think. he’s still Ryan, but he’s trapped.

Ava looks in on Ryan, sitting motionless in a chair.

Obrecht tells Britt, she thought Peter had changed. He hired her to work at The Invader. She made peace with Maxie and James. She should have known Peter was just lulling her into a false sense of security, preparing her for his death blow. Britt asks if she has proof, and Obrecht says, that’s what she came back to collect, but Peter can’t know she’s free, lest he cover his tracks and lay blame elsewhere. Britt says, like on her, and Obrecht says, it’s in the realm of possibilities. Peter is the worst of his father and Anna combined. Nathan would be alive today if it weren’t for his machinations. Britt says, that was Faison and she knows it. Peter really seems to love Maxie and the kids. Obrecht says, he just may, but them, and only them. Britt underestimates him at her own peril. Peter would  think nothing of sacrificing her if it meant giving up his picket fence life.

Dante says Anna came around asking questions about his mental state, but obviously the answers weren’t good enough, or she wouldn’t have come back for round two. She admits to digging into his case, but says she ran up against a wall. He says he can’t help her there, and she says, neither can his doctor. He says he doesn’t know anything about Kirk’s death, and she says forget what he knows. What does he think? What does his gut tell him? WSB employees don’t fall prey to random acts of violence, especially in Switzerland. He says he thought it was strange too, and she asks how he found out. Was Kirk still treating him, or were they in touch? He says he wasn’t Kirk’s only patient, but she says he’s the only one that matters to her. She cares about him, and doesn’t think he’s well. Her instincts are screaming that Kirk’s murder can’t be chalked up to a mugging gone wrong. She asks if he doesn’t want to know what happened, and he says, there’s nothing he can do about it. The only thing he can do is make sure Port Charles is safe for Rocco and all the other kids in the city. Can she say she’s doing the same thing?

Martin  tells Valentin, he might be used to his employees prostrating themselves when he shows a glimmer of dissatisfaction, but he’s not like Valentin’s other lackeys. There are certain things more important than money. Family is one of them. If Valentin could step outside himself for a second, if he could muster a shred of curiosity, a few words wondering about someone else’s well-being other than his own, he might be worthy of the loyalty he amasses with his checkbook. Valentin says, can he help? and Martin says, exactly. Valentin says, if Martin’s mother is in trouble, how can he help?

Cyrus says, what did Jordan just say to him? and she says, go find mommy yourself. I laaaugh. He says her flipping attitude is uncalled for, but she says she’s done doing his bidding. He says it’s not her choice, and she says she’s done protecting him and lying for him. He says he hopes she’s prepared to face the consequences, and she says, bring it on. Go tell everyone that she put him away using false evidence, because all the people she cares about have already heard it from her. Taggert is going to lie and say she had nothing to do with it. So goodbye leverage, she’s out of secrets. He asks if she thinks secrets are the only leverage he has, and she says no. He has bullets, and bombs, all the things he swore he wouldn’t use as long as she stayed in line, because he knew how desperate she was for peace. He knew how desperate she was not to lose her son, but guess what? She lost him anyway. Along with her husband, and all the other lives cut short. So no more. Never again. He says, they’re talking about a frail, innocent woman, and she says, TJ wasn’t frail, but he was innocent. Horrible, isn’t it? Knowing your family is in the hands of somebody who doesn’t care about them. The worst part is not knowing. Not knowing where they are, what they’re thinking, if they’re scared, or if they’re warm. And if they’re scared, if they’re calling out for you. If they’re wondering why you haven’t come for them yet, or if you ever will. It tears you up inside. She knows the feeling.

Laura says, Ryan isn’t going back to Pentenville, and Doc says, they don’t have the resources to care for an inmate with Ryan’s condition, but now that he’s not in control of his body, he’s been deemed low risk. Nikolas says, they’re letting him go, and Doc says, they’re moving him to a low security facility until a decision can be made about his long term care. Nikolas says, he doesn’t need care. He needs to be wheeled into heavily chummed waters. Laura says, Nikolas… and Nikolas walks away. Doc says he needs to circle back. Felicia needs to know. Laura says, of course (🍷), and he says, maybe Mac could have a talk with security about Ryan’s protocols. He starts to leave, but she grabs his arm, and asks if he’s okay. He says he is, and thanks her for coming. She says, always.

Ava tells Ryan she just heard the news. A vacant husk. Or not so vacant, they tell her. He can still think, he can still feel. She puts her hand over his, and asks if he can feel it. She leans in closer and says, how about this? He blinks, and she says, yes he can. Let’s level up shall we? She digs her nails into his hand.

Anna approaches Doc, and he asks how she’s doing. She says she’s good, and asks about him. He says, getting through it. He tells her that he should have followed up. Did she get what she needed from Faison’s DNA tests? She says she did, and thanks him. She wonders if he can help her with another matter. She promises it won’t put him in an ethically questionable position. He says, shoot, and she asks what he can tell her about Dr. Warren Kirk. Doc says, he’s a professional acquaintance. She asks if he knew, until recently, Kirk worked for the WSB, and he says, until recently? She says, he was murdered a few days ago. Doc says he didn’t know, and she asks what kind of work Kirk did. Doc says, he was a neuropsychiatrist; it’s a bit of a catch-all term. She says, a garden variety therapist? but he says, far from it.

Obrecht tells Britt, believe her or not, please don’t tell anyone she’s back in town. If she’s wrong, or her efforts yield no evidence, nothing will change. But if she’s right, Britt will have done her part to keep Peter from inflicting more heartbreak on Maxie and their beloved James. Britt asks if Obrecht stopped at the spa after she was released. She looks good. She’s the first person to leave Steinmaur looking better than she did when she went in. Obrecht laughs, and asks if Britt got bangs. Britt says she’s growing them out, but maybe she gave up on them too soon. What does Obrecht think? Obrecht makes a face, and Britt says she’s never short of an opinion. Obrecht says she’s more impressed with Britt’s professional advancement than her tutorial mishaps. She’s following in her mother’s footsteps. Britt says, hopefully not the getting fired part, and Obrecht says she’ll toast to Britt’s long and celebrated reign, assuming it’s not cut short by Peter or this Cyrus person. Tell her about him. And tell her where to find him.

Cyrus says, Jordan is relishing his misfortune, but she says, just enjoying a moment of respite. He says, it’s only a moment, but she doubts that. They both know she’s his last resort. He came to her for help, because his only other play is to take a hostage of his own. but Jason was a step ahead, and his people are under guard. He’s not going to snatch a Corinthos unless he wants to risk never seeing his mother again. She moves closer to him and says, the field is even, and she’s no longer wearing handcuffs.

Franco tells Peter, that settles it. He and Elizabeth will be at his wedding. He doesn’t think they have time to get a gift, but Peter says, just show up they’ll call it even. Franco says, for saving his life? and Peter says he just did what anyone would do. Franco says he’s got to stop doing that; dude, take the credit. If he went all action hero like that he wouldn’t let anyone forget it. Peter wishes he would. Franco says Peter has this on his side. He was barely conscious, so there’s only Peter’s account to consider. Mostly anyway. Peter says, mostly? and Franco says, maybe the rest of it will resurface before the treatment takes hold. Peter asks what he’s talking about, and Franco says, Drew’s memories. They’re coming back.

Britt tells Obrecht to focus on Peter. She can handle Cyrus. Obrecht says, so she has Britt’s word that she’ll keep her secret? Britt says, yes, but if she gets the slightest hint Obrecht is out to hurt Peter… Obrecht says she won’t. Britt makes sure the coast is clear, and Obrecht says, it’s truly so good see her. She missed Britt. Britt says she missed her too, and they hug.

Doc tells Anna, Dr. Kirk was a brilliant analyst, but dabbled in a host of disciplines related to neurology. She says, such as? and Doc says, he was developing a means of deep brain stimulation. It’s the idea that a certain tool or technique can alter brain function. She asks, for what purpose? and he says, to treat brain disease or disorders for starters. She says, it doesn’t sound like something the WSB would be interested in, but he says, it does if you know Kirk’s background in the military. Rumor is, he cut his teeth on CYOPS. She says, psychological warfare, and he says, indoctrination, auto-suggestion, which, if you ask him, falls under the rubric of conditioning.

Dante goes into the MetroCourt, and sits at a table, staring at Peter. Peter asks if Franco remembers the man he tried to stop from killing him, and Franco says, not exactly.  He tells Peter, don’t freak out, but he hears Peter’s voice in his head. Like, a lot. At first, a doctor told him it was the result of the tumor, but he saw another doctor who said it was probably the result of the memory transfer. Bits and pieces of Drew’s memories still in his brain, or maybe they never left. It’s really trippy. It’s not so much that he’s hearing is stuff he remembers, but it’s Drew’s memories. Maxie and Elizabeth come back, and Maxie asks if everything is okay. Peter says, everything is fine.

Laura tells Nikolas, promise her that he’ll steer clear of Cyrus and Ryan. She has enough on her plate with his sister. Don’t make her worry about him too. Please.

Nikolas tells Ava, they’re taking Ryan now. She walks over to him, and several guys come in to take Ryan. He asks, what was that? and she says, just a test to make sure the doctors got the diagnosis right. She stuck her nails in hard, and he didn’t flinch, so it’s true. Nikolas says, he has no control over his body, and she says, that, or he developed a masochistic streak. Ryan is taken away. At the elevator, he smiles ever so slightly.

Jordan’s office phone rings. She thanks them for the update, and says, don’t say anything. She’ll take care of it. She throws the folder from the bombing across the room.

Valentin tells Martin that he’s been insensitive, and Martin says, that’s one word for it. Valentin says he’d like to believe there’s an element to their relationship that’s beyond professional; a friend element. He’s disappointed that Martin didn’t think he could come to him first. He hopes Martin knows he can. Martin looks around like maybe Valentin is talking to someone else, and says, he appreciates it? Valentin asks if Martin’s mother is ill, or in financial trouble, but Martin says, she’s been kidnapped. Valentin says he didn’t see that coming, and Martin says, neither did he. Valentin asks, by whom? and Martin says, Jason Morgan, in retaliation for actions by his brother Cyrus. This help Valentin mentioned? He’s all ears.

Laura comes out of the elevator, and sees Cyrus. She says she’s made some inquiries, and he says he hopes they bore fruit. She says she doesn’t know where his mother is, but has reason to believe she’s safe. The best thing he can do is not escalate this. He says, that’s the best she can do? and she says, it’s all she can do. He says, that’s not good enough.

There was no preview for tomorrow. Technically, ABC is showing this in the U.S. tomorrow.

The Real Housewives of Orange County

Braunwyn explained AA chips to the kids, and Elizabeth had signed the final divorce papers. Shannon got organic headboards for Sophie and her roommate at Baylor. She didn’t want any toxicity, and had her tailor making Sophie’s bed-skirt. Sophie tried to explain that it was her dorm, and not Shannon’s. Sophie was leaving in nine days, and in her interview, Shannon said they lived in a privileged community, but the girls needed to know how to take care of themselves. It was time to let Sophie fly. Even though she was still teaching Sophie how to do laundry. I have no clue why doing laundry is so hard for these kids. You throw it in a washer. It’s not like you have to beat your clothes on a rock or something. Sophie told Shannon that she needed to learn her own lessons, and make her own mistakes.

Braunwyn said quarantine was effecting her marriage. It put everything under a microscope, and they were both miserable. Since she became sober, she wasn’t as dependent, and things that were acceptable before, weren’t acceptable now. She told Sean that she didn’t know much about him since he didn’t talk about his feelings. He said it was difficult building a bond as friends, when all they did was parent the kids, and there were no fun moments. He was becoming more of a roommate. She told him that their home life wasn’t romantic, and that’s why they had the condo. There was nothing sexy about home. He’d promised to put their relationship first, take time to plan activities, go to therapy, and get off the damn phone. His resolve lasted two days, and since she was becoming a better version of herself, she needed him to work on himself. Good luck with that. Sean said she’d rather do anything else than hang out with him. She said he checked out on the phone, and her friends actually engaged with her. In her interview, Braunwyn said instead of addressing issues, she pushed Sean away. Then he would become needy and grab tighter, and she pushed harder. They were back in a weird co-dependent circle, trapped with the kids.  

Elizabeth and brother Andrew discussed their dysfunctional childhood. She said she and Andrew were close, and he always talked her down from the ledge. He was basically her in a man. She told him, Arrowhead sucked balls. Her story of abuse came out, and it seemed unbelievable to people. Andrew said he was dyslexic, and had been beaten almost to death when he was four, because they said he was possessed by demons. An aunt had died in front of them due to an allergic reaction. God was supposed to save her, but she must not have been worth it. In Elizabeth’s interview, she said their mother tried to get them out of it, but every time they escaped, they ended up back there. She told Andrew that she’d never discussed it with their mom; she was afraid it would crush her, but their mother had to face her own truth. Andrew said it took him until his mid-30s, and he couldn’t allow it to affect him any longer. Elizabeth said she had a therapy appointment with a specialist.

Emily went to Gina’s, and wanted the skinny on Arrowhead. Gina said, it was a sh*t show. Braunwyn stayed at a hotel, but Gina thought it was a good decision, since there was booze everywhere. She told Emily that Braunwyn came in hot, and got all annoyed when they were discussing Shannon and John, saying she refused to talk about anyone behind their back. Gina said they’d had a concern, but Braunwyn had definitely talked sh*t behind Shannon’s back. In her interview, Gina said that Braunwyn told them it seemed like Shannon and John were fighting a lot, and that Shannon was drinking too much. She wanted Shannon to have her happy-ever-after, but it didn’t seem to be happening. Emily said she heard Sean got drunk at a golf tournament, and Gina said it was confusing. She got mixed signals from Braunwyn. Emily said if Braunwyn was concerned, she should have called Shannon. Gina said Braunwyn did the exact thing she said she didn’t want to do.

Kelly tried to bond with Jolie during a trip to the beach. In her interview, she said it was good to get out and be free. There was nothing worse than watching Jolie on her phone 24/7; she was on that thing non-stop. We saw clips of Kelly dong the same thing. She told Jolie it made her nuts. Jolie said home was like a prison, and Kelly was strict for no reason. She got no money for chores, but did them anyway, and got straight A’s. She tried so hard. In Kelly’s interview she said she’d grown up in a strict family. Her mom gave her boundaries on the phone, and she had a strict curfew. You had to put parameters on a child in order for them to grow. Kelly told Jolie that she wanted her to succeed, and was hard on her because she knew Jolie could do it. Jolie said Kelly was yelling at her every day, and Kelly promised to work on it. She asked if Jolie liked Rick, and Jolie said he made everything more normal. She’d felt like she was in a bad place, but now she was happier, and in a nice house. She could hang with her friends. Kelly thought Rick was a good influence on both of them. In Jolie’s interview, she said Rick was like a mediator, and balanced them both out. She said her past experiences had given her wisdom, and she wouldn’t change anything, because those were the things that shaped her into the person she is. As crazy-ass as Kelly is, I’ve always thought she must be a decent person because Jolie seems very mature and together. Probably more than me.

Shannon went over to John’s place, and in her interview, she said she hadn’t seen John for two weeks. She was nervous. She asked him to make her a teeny bopper beer pong drink, and I have no idea what that is. She said she was having sleep issues. She’d spent 5 months in quarantine (I think she was confusing the word quarantine with sheltering in place), and thought she was overrun by fear. She’d been drinking a lot, and wasn’t proud of it. She’d been taking things out on John, and felt bad. John said it was hard being together 24/7. In Shannon’s interview, she said when she was married, she’d been reactive, and we flashed back to some of that. She said she was working on it, but still struggled sometimes. During the pandemic, she learned John was committed to the relationship. He could see the positive in a horrible situation, and made her feel loved and wanted.

Gina told Travis about Elizabeth reaching out, and in her interview, she said she didn’t know what to do with what Elizabeth told them. She was shocked and horrified, and felt for her. Travis asked if she was nervous about the kids starting school, and she said she felt bad about Luca starting kindergarten. She was also trying to negotiate a reasonable situation with Matt, but didn’t know what was going to happen after his hearing. He was being charged with a felony. In her interview, she said Matt not taking the plea deal showed he wasn’t accepting responsibility. He wasn’t thinking about the impact it could have on their children in a positive way if he stood up like a man, and took responsibility. She told Travis that Matt rewrote history, and she didn’t think it was going to be over. Travis said the more he wanted to fight, the longer it would take, and Gina said she thought Matt didn’t want it to be true. In more positive news, she was getting back on the road soon.

Apparently, Emily was making the rounds, and visited Elizabeth next. Elizabeth said she felt bad about Braunwyn having her investigated. She could forgive and forget, but she knows she’s weird, so just asks her. She told Emily about how she ended up talking about her childhood trauma in Arrowhead, explaining she’d been raised in a cult, and was sexually abused. Emily thanked Elizabeth for trusting her enough to share. Elizabeth said that was what made her weird, but Emily said they were all weird, and had past things that shaped them. In Emily’s interview, she said, as a child, you don’t know it’s wrong, and psychologically bring it into adulthood. She couldn’t fathom what Elizabeth was dealing with. Elizabeth said she was blessed that they were there to help her. She appreciated what Braunwyn had done, even though Braunwyn confused her. She told Emily that Braunwyn hadn’t been very responsive when they’d FaceTimed. In her interview, she said, that’s why she didn’t open up to anyone, especially women. She said Braunwyn was a hypocrite, and Emily thought Braunwyn was in a selfish place right now. In her interview, Emily said Braunwyn put people down to make herself feel better. Look over there, not at me who’s an effing mess. Elizabeth told Emily that her divorce was final, and Emily asked the $64,000 question – were Elizabeth and Jimmy having sex? Elizabeth said they were, but I’m not so sure what the story is, since they weren’t acting like a couple who finally had sex after waiting a million years.

Shari laughed about Braunwyn’s cup that said, not to brag, but don’t need alcohol to make really bad decisions. I need one of those. In her interview, Braunwyn said Shari was a single mom, and did everything on her own terms. She wanted to be like that. It was easier to talk to Shari, because Shari got her. Sean tried to fix things when she wasn’t asking for help. She just wanted someone to listen. Another friend, Luella, joined them, and in Braunwyn’s interview, she said Luella was the life of the party; unapologetically herself. Sean existed in the place where they were the perfect couple with seven kids, but she needed to move forward. She was surrounding herself with like-minded women, going to two AA meetings a day, working the steps, and had a sponsor.

Shannon and Sophie discussed Sophie going to college, and in Sophie’s interview, she said the culture where they live is more focused on superficial things. She thought it would be beneficial for her overall well-being to be away from it. In Shannon’s interview, she said Sophie was her first born. She couldn’t imagine Sophie not being in the house. She was Shannon’s only child for three years. Sophie was trying to cut the cord more quickly than she anticipated.

Kelly went over to Shannon’s house, and Shannon said she couldn’t believe Sophie was headed for college. Kelly said Jolie was starting high school, and she didn’t know what do. Shannon suggested tequila. Kelly saw a check on the counter that Shannon had casually left out, and Shannon said it was her final payment for 17 years of marriage – $1.4 million. In Kelly’s interview, she wondered why Shannon would show her private business. Golden Retriever Archie, stood in the Jacuzzi, which Shannon said he did all the time. While that isn’t crucial to the recap, it’s worth mentioning because dogs are the best. Kelly asked how Shannon was feeling, and Shannon said covid was hard. She and John had been together 24/7. She was fear driven, and drank a lot. In Kelly’s interview, she said, Shannon goes off on people when she’s drunk. She was Shannon’s punching bag for years. We flashed back to some of that, including Shannon’s plate throw at The Quiet Woman. Kelly said Shannon didn’t recognize she got like that. Kelly told Shannon that Gina was concerned about her and John, but Shannon said, for being so concerned, Gina never picked up the phone once. Kelly told Shannon about Braunwyn maybe divorcing Sean, and how Shari had moved in. In her interview, Kelly said, what is it? She couldn’t get a straight answer, and it was irritating. Braunwyn is always criticizing everybody. It was hypocrisy at its finest, and she couldn’t take it. She told Shannon that it didn’t add up.

Next time, Emily has a party, Elizabeth goes to therapy, Kelly asks Braunwyn what’s going on with Shari, and Shannon is devastated that her relationship isn’t a perfect fairy tale. I guess she didn’t get a clue from the first time around that it doesn’t work that way.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

Meredith told son Brooks that she and his dad had gone to therapy. They learned how to communicate, and not attack each other. Brooks said, too bad they had to go to therapy to find that out. Out of the mouths of babes. Jen was planning a surprise party for Sharrieff’s birthday. In her interview, she said in one of her self-help books, she learned you had to give love to get love. Something I’m sure Brooks would be sad to find out had to be book-learned. She said she’d see if the party brought back a return. I’ll bet she’s one of those people who sends Christmas cards only because she wants to get them. The party was a hip-hop golf theme, which I don’t actually think is a thing. She said she missed Sharrieff, and wanted him to see that they have fun. She told Whitney that she wasn’t inviting Mary. They were cool, but she didn’t need filler people.

We saw all of the fabulous homes Mary and Robert own, and Mary called him to cry about not being invited to Jen’s party. He told her, jealousy is a cruel mistress. In Mary’s interview, she said her other friends were afraid to say something, since they’d seen Jen go off. I still don’t see why their friends with someone who’s such a huge, attention-seeking baby.

Heather’s ex, Billy, crashed her Galentine’s Day with their daughters. In Heather’s interview, she said when she’d  married Billy, all that mattered was that he was Mormon royalty. They married three months in, and when they had to live together, it was apparent they weren’t compatible. He’d asked her to change the time of their daughter’s baptism to suit his sister, and it was the first time she’d said no to him. He moved out. She’d married him because she wanted an eternal family. She was glad they ultimately divorced, but she was still ostracized from the community and totally alone.

Whitney visited Mary, and we saw Mary’s fantabulous closet. Then found out she had clothes in every closet of their 20,000 square foot house. Mary asked Heather what she thought about Jen not inviting her. She said no one had her back. In Mary’s interview, she said she thought the others were scared of Jen. In Whitney’s interview, she said it was uncomfortable being put in the middle, but she wasn’t being a good friend to Mary, and it was making her feel terrible. She told Mary, because they’d ignored it, they created a monster. Well, yeah. If no one ever calls Jen on her behavior, it’s only going to get worse. Duh.

In his interview, Brooks said he found the love stuff with his parents revolting. Inside, he knew they were soulmates, and was glad they were working through their issues, but still, eww! In Meredith’s interview, she said she and Seth had always worked it out for the kids, but this time, there were no kids involved. So they either made it work or not. She thought they would.

Whitney went to visit friend Sarah, who she’d known since high school. They have kids the same age, and both of them left the Mormon church. Whitney said they’d done adulting together. Whitney told Sarah about how her in-laws still had a wedding picture on display of John and his ex. She and John had been married seven years before her in-laws put their picture up, but not only did they still keep the other picture out, the included a picture of his ex with her new husband. She told Sarah about Mary, and Sarah thought she should talk to Jen. Whitney said Jen terrified her, but Sarah said it would just get more toxic if she didn’t say something.

In Lisa’s interview, she said one of her and Seth’s goals was to spend more time with the family. The family went to an aquarium, where they got to personally feed the penguins, which was really cool, no pun intended. While having penguin-shaped pastries afterward, they discussed the line of men’s grooming products the kids came up with – Fresh Wolf. Must be nice to have money.

No surprise, the party was over-the-top. Heather said it was the type of party where she’d be the last to go home. I never want to be that person. Along with a hip-hop stage, a golf green was also available. Whitney and Jen had a dance-off, which Jen won. Whitney thought the right thing to do was talk to Jen so they could move forward, and proceeded to down liquid courage. Heather somehow decided to come along, and she wanted to let Jen know that Meredith and Lisa were talking behind her back. They’d told Mary that they were scared of Jen. In Whitney’s interview, she said when she asked to talk to Jen, she became a deer in headlights. Her words were gone. She babbled nonsensically for so long – at one point, actually starting her speech again from the beginning – that Heather finally just jumped in, and said Lisa and Meredith were afraid of her. This caused Jen to go off, which should be no shock to anyone. Meredith and Lisa wondered what was going on, and joined them.  

Meredith said she’d never had a conversation of significance about Jen with Mary. Since Whitney was on a liquid courage roll, she told Meredith about Jen’s insinuations about her marriage. Meredith said she was done engaging, but in her interview, she said it made her angry. It was no one’s effing business. In Heather’s interview, she said her intention was to be a good sh*t stirrer friend, but she decided to abort the mission and hide in a corner. In Jen’s interview, she said Whitney was 100% drunk trying to mess with her at her husband’s birthday party. Jen finally smashed a glass in the street out front, and said they were out of there. In Lisa’s interview, she said she was surprised Jen didn’t throw Whitney. Stomping up the stairs, Jen took jabs at the balloons tied to the bannister, much like a three-year-old throwing a tantrum. She grabbed son Omar, and they went out to the car, where Omar tried to calm her down. Afterward, Omar went back to the party, and asked Sharrieff what was up with that. In his wisdom, Sharrieff hit the nail on the head, saying, stupid sh*t happens because mom is drinking and doing dumb sh*t.

Next time, Meredith and Lisa go on a double-date with their husbands, Lisa says Whitney is creating a problem, Whitney tells Mary what happened at the party, and Jen splashes the camera in her anger.   

🥀 Sadly, It’s Real This Time…

And sadly, no mention of The Beastmaster. Farewell, Kiri.

https://people.com/movies/tanya-roberts-dead-at-65/

🐎 And I’m Off…

There are no words, so I’ll just leave you with, stay safe, stay keeping it peaceful, and stay not trying to read someone after you’ve had too much liquid courage.

Dec31

December 30, 2020 – Cyrus Has a Really Bad Day, Elizabeth Tells All, Salt Lake Snowmobiling, Soap Skinny, Celeb-rations, New Love, Leaving, Fan Of a Fan, an Update, a Look Back, Confetti, Happy New Year & Just Another One

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Why not? It’s the last post of the year. I missed the before credits action, but this is what happened. Jackie showed up at Anna’s, and asked how Finn was after his injury. Anna said he was with Gregory in Rice Plaza, watching the Polar Bear Dive. Finn came close to spilling everything to Gregory, but a drunk Alexis came by, wishing them a happy new year. Finn noticed she was bleeding, but she brushed it off, saying she’d broken a glass. Laura told Carly that she thought she was Cyrus’s weakness. Ned, Olivia, and Tracy had lunch in the MetroCourt, and Tracy said Ned was a lucky man to have Olivia. Olivia wondered, since when was Tracy her biggest fan? Jason met Cyrus at the pier, and then…

Jackie tells Anna, she still can’t believe Chase went swimming in the freezing cold. Anna says Jackie must not be a polar bear, and Jackie says, no. She says Anna has a lovely home, and Anna thanks her. Jackie says, it must be fun having a little girl running around, and Anna says, Violet brings the place to life. Jackie asks if Violet is home, but Anna says, she’s napping. She got up at the crack of dawn to play with the dollhouse Finn got for her. Can Jackie believe Finn is a father? Jackie says, yes and no.

Alexis tells Finn, she broke a glass and nicked herself. It’s not like she’s bleeding out. He says, it’s not big, but it’s deep; she’ll need stitches. Why don’t they go to GH, and he’ll stitch her up himself. She tells Gregory, his son is a wonderful friend. He’s just generally a wonderful person in general. Gregory says she gets no argument from him. She says they slept together, and Finn didn’t die. Imagine that? Finn says they should probably get going. Did she drive? She says, no. A, she wouldn’t, and B, her license was taken away because of Tracy. Didn’t he feel a shift in the cosmos? The bitch is back. He says she can tell him about it on the way. She says he can’t make her go, and he asks if she’s going to walk around to spite him. She says, maybe, and laughs, telling him, lead the way. She leans on him, and says, such a gentleman. He really is. They leave, and Gregory follows them.

Laura tells Carly, she and Cyrus have the same father, and Carly says, Rick Webber? Laura says, no. Rick is her adoptive father. Her biological father was Gordon Grey. Cyrus is her half-brother, along with Martin Grey. Carly asks how she found out, and Laura says she was doing the same thing Carly was, trying to find a way to stop Cyrus. She did some digging, and found that Cyrus was paying all the medical bills for a woman named Florence Grey. Obviously, she meant a lot to Cyrus, but Laura couldn’t figure out the connection. She started to wonder if Florence was the same one who was married to her father, so with a lot of help, she found the long-term care facility where Florence was, and managed to get in. Carly says, of course (🍷) she did, and Laura says she was only in Florence’s room a minute, when Martin came in, with Cyrus not far behind. It all just came out. Florence is their mother, and they share Gordon as a father. Carly says, wow, and Laura says, that’s the word. Carly says Cyrus went from being an island to having an entire family, and Laura says, an entire family she’s a part of. 

Cyrus says Jason strikes him as less inclined than Sonny to be influenced by pride and family concerns. He deals in facts, not emotions. That’s why Cyrus doesn’t hold it against him that Jason blew his warehouse to smithereens, and cost him a substantial amount of money. He was acting on Sonny’s orders, but now he has the opportunity to think for himself and make his own decisions. Imagine how much better his life would be, and the people in his circle. Instead of this tedious and costly stand-off, they can finally cooperate. Jason asks, how?

Finn tells Alexis, he’s giving her an antibiotic just in case. She says, thanks, buddy, and he says, got it, pal. She asks if she chased his dad away, but he says Gregory is getting coffee. He heard about Julian, and he’s sorry. She grabs him in a hug, and starts crying, saying, she wants to go home. He asks who he can call. Sam? Molly? She says she’ll take a taxi, and he says he’ll drive her. She insists on taking a taxi, and says, go, be with his dad. He says it will take him ten minutes, but she says she wants to go alone. He says he’s not letting her. Come up with somebody, or he’s her ride. It’s up to her. She tells him to call Ned.

Tracy says Olivia is right. She wasn’t always Tracy’s favorite, but she has to understand Tracy is extremely protective of her family. The Quartermaines have dealt with their fair share of gold-diggers in the past. Monica and Lucy come to mind. Olivia says, Monica is not a gold-digger, and Tracy says, not now. She grew into the role of a Quartermaine, but not in the beginning. Why does Olivia think Alan gave Monica the house? He wanted to buy her love. Olivia says she can’t speak for their history, but Monica loved Alan. Tracy says, when she wasn’t cheating on him, and Ned says Tracy is one to talk. Tracy says she was worried Ned would follow suit, and he did at first. That’s why all of his marriages failed. Olivia is different, and she’s finally opened her eyes to that. Instead of seeing Olivia’s Brooklyn accent, she sees a matriarch in the making, and she’s good for Ned and the Quartermaine family. Olivia fights for her own, like her. She lets Ned be who he needs to be, for himself and the family. Olivia completes him, the same way Luke completes her. Ned asks if Tracy is comparing her relationship with his an Olivia’s, and she says, laugh all he wants. Luke turned out to be the person she’s been looking for her whole life, and Olivia is that person for him. She was glad Ned found Olivia. Olivia says, her too.

Jackie says, Anna doesn’t like her, does she? and Anna asks if she’s giving that impression. Jackie says, just the opposite, but she thought because she’d been spending time with Robert… Anna says she wasn’t aware of it, and Jackie says Robert has been attentive since she’s been there. Anna says they have a history, and Jackie says, as does Anna with Robert. Anna says she loves Robert as a friend, but that’s all they are. Jackie says the times she spent with Robert were the most fun she ever had, and Anna laughs, saying, he is a lot of fun. Jackie says, meeting Anna explains a lot. Holly was great, and Robert loved her, but there was something else going on that he never said; a missing piece. It was Anna. Anna says, having a child bonds you like nothing else, and Jackie says, there they have it. She’s ready to get it out in the open. Anna isn’t sure what Jackie is referring to, and Jackie says Anna knows about her and Finn.

Laura tells Carly, it was eye-opening how desperate Cyrus is for his mother’s acceptance and forgiveness. She saw  a different side of him, and thinks he’s transferring his feelings onto her; the sister who finally accepts him when his mother rejected him. He’s been estranged from the family since he was a teenager, but she doesn’t think it bothers him as much as the rift with his mother. Clearly, he loves and misses her. Carly asks if she’s been in Port Charles all this time, but Laura says, no. She’s in Mountain Landing Long-Term Care in Vermont. Carly says, that’s random. Did they let Laura in as a visitor? Laura says, not exactly. She admitted herself as a patient.

Cyrus tells Jason, he’d like to do what he originally proposed to Sonny; it will be beneficial to both sides. Jason opens the pier so he can bring his product through, but Jason will have nothing to do with it. No distribution. No dirty hands. Although he’d appreciate security being provided to keep the competition out. He’ll give Jason 30% of he profit; gross not net. There will be no risk to him, while he’ll get a sizable return. As an added benefit, they won’t be at each other’s throats, so Jason could either maintain the import business, or focus on the legitimate coffee empire, while he collects the profits Cyrus will shower him with. Come on. Be smarter than Sonny.  

Carly says she can’t believe Laura had herself admitted, and Laura says, it was dicey for a minute, but Curtis was looking out for her. She needed answers. Carly asks if she thinks she got them, and Laura says, she thinks it’s a good start. Carly says, so she’s Cyrus’s soft spot, and Laura says, she’s not kidding herself. She’s not going to tell Cyrus to play nice, and he will, but she thinks it’s an opening. She can capitalize on his vulnerability, and point him in a better direction. If she does it right, she can neutralize Cyrus. Carly thanks her, and they hug. Carly thanks Laura for coming by, and says she appreciates Laura’s words; they mean everything. Laura says she’ll keep Sonny in her prayers, and leaves. Carly gets on the phone, and says, listen to her every word. This is so important.   

Anna tells Jackie, Finn confided a number of things, and Jackie says she appreciates Anna being discreet, but she knows Jackie slept with Finn. Anna says Jackie assured Finn that he wasn’t Chase’s father, and Jackie says she did. It was the best outcome for all concerned, but things were left conflicted. She takes full responsibility for what she chose to do, but what Finn chose afterward is on him. Anna says, no judgement on her part, and Jackie says, it was fine when Harry was a baby, but as he got older, he asked more questions about why his brother wasn’t in their lives. Now they’ve bonded, and those questions are more pressing than ever. Out of curiosity, what camp is Anna in? Should Chase be told or not? Anna says, it’s not her place. She can understand both sides. Resurrecting the issue might cause pain for Chase and Gregory, but doing nothing is causing Finn pain. He’s responsible for the predicament he’s in, but the secret has poisoned his relationship with his father, and now Violet. They deserve to have Gregory in their lives. What is Jackie going to do about it?

Olivia wonders if they should hug it out, and Tracy says, let’s not go overboard. Finn calls Ned, and says he’s with Alexis at the hospital, and she’s asking for him. Ned asks, what happened? and Finn says, she cut her arm on some broken glass, and he put in a few stitches. But they both know that’s not the problem. Ned asks if she’s been drinking, and Finn says, yeah. He doesn’t want to let her take a cab. Ned says he’s on his way. He tells Tracy and Olivia, Alexis hurt herself and needs a ride home. Tracy asks what that’s got to do with him, and he says she asked for him. Tracy tells him not to enable her, and he says he’s not showing up with a martini, just a ride. Tracy says, she’ll go, but Olivia says Alexis isn’t going to want to see Tracy. She’ll go with Ned. Ned says, no. They’re having a lovely time at lunch, which is rare in this family. So sit and enjoy this rare opportunity to have his mother’s approval. He leaves, and Olivia says, poor Alexis. She’s having a hard time. Tracy says, when someone self-destructs, there’s always collateral damage

Jason says Cyrus is making assumptions, but Cyrus says, Sonny’s not coming back. His sources at the Secaucus PD told him the bridge collapsed. Jason was there. No body was found and Sonny hasn’t been in touch. Clear indications that the man is dead. He admires Jason holding out hope, but the time has come for him to shift his perspective. Now all this is for his taking. Jason says, no deal. Cyrus isn’t moving his product through Port Charles ever. It’s Sonny’s territory – Cyrus says, was – and he’s going to run it the way Sonny will want to find it when he comes home. Cyrus says Jason disappoints him. Not just his foolishness in turning down the deal, but more so for convincing himself of something he knows isn’t true. So be it. If he can’t persuade Jason, he can’t. He thanks Jason for taking the time to meet him. Jason says if waiting he’s waiting for Walker to take him out from his sniper nest, he’s not there. Cyrus says he guesses he’ll have to do it himself, and draws his gun.

Cyrus shoots, and Jason ducks behind some crates. He tells Cyrus, drop the gun, or he’ll put one between his eyes. Brando comes in behind Jason, and says, drop it. Jason drops it, but two other guys come on the scene with Carly, who says, drop it or they’ll both be dead. Brando puts his gun down, and Jason tells him to get on the ground. Jason fires a shot missing Cyrus, and says he has one chance. He’s going to put the next one in Cyrus’s head. Cyrus puts his gun down, and gets on the ground. Jason tells the men to get Carly back to the car. She tries to argue, but he says, right now. He tells Cyrus, there will be no escalation. Come after him again, and he’s dead. Jason walks away, and Cyrus pounds the ground. Not his day.

Alexis is snoozing when Ned comes in. He asks, what happened? Does she even remember? She says she’s sorry she asked Finn to call, but he wouldn’t let up. He says she can always call him. Is she all right? She says, it was a small cut, but he says, big enough to require stitches. It’s only a matter of time before she truly hurts herself or someone else. She drove her car off the road, and now this. She says she broke a glass, and what Tracy said happened, didn’t happen. The coffee. He asks what she means, and she tells him, Tracy said she was searching for coffee. It’s right there on the counter, front and center. He says Tracy isn’t familiar with Alexis’s kitchen; she must have missed it. Alexis says, impossible, unless you’re blind. Tracy drove them off the road.

Anna tells Jackie, she has no plans to alter the status quo. What happens next is between Jackie and Finn. Jackie thanks her, and Anna says, but she’ll support Finn in whatever decision he makes to tell Chase the truth or not. Jackie feels the truth would be more harmful than good. They’ve stayed silent this long. Anna says, but it hinged on keeping their distance. That’s not the case anymore. Finn and Gregory walk in.

Ned says Alexis isn’t making sense. His mother drove them off the road? She says she knows it seems strange, and he says, it seems like she’s confused. Tracy drove Alexis home, and Alexis took the car off the road. She says she doesn’t think that’s what happened. He says Tracy and Chase found her, and she admitted she didn’t remember getting in the car. She says, it feels wrong. She doesn’t know how else to say it.

Olivia wonders what happened with Alexis, and tells Tracy, she should have gone with Ned. Tracy says, no, and Olivia asks, why? Tracy says, too many cooks in the kitchen. Alexis might feel overwhelmed or ganged up on. Olivia says, maybe if she was upset with Alexis, but they’re friends. She just wants to help Alexis get through this. Tracy says, trust her. It’s better this way.

Gregory tells Jackie that she looks well, and she says, so does he. Finn says he’s sorry they’re late; Alexis needed help. Anna asks if everything is all right, and Finn says he hopes so. Gregory says Finn’s bedside manner has improved. Anna has been good for him. Anna asks if Gregory wants tea, and Finn says he’ll help her.  

Gregory says Finn invited him to stay for dinner, and Jackie says Finn and Anna make a good couple. He says, they do, and asks if she’s met Violet yet. She says, no; Violet was napping. He says, she’s the most wonderful little girl; full of joy and curiosity, and excited about the wedding. He says, sorry, and she says, don’t be. He shouldn’t be. She might be there. Robert invited her as his date.

Cyrus tells Brando, Jason didn’t hit him because he didn’t want to. As for Brando, he doesn’t know whether he’s an ally or a hidden enemy. Brando says, Cyrus’s meeting was supposed to be done at 3:10, so he came to check. He saved Cyrus’s life. Cyrus asks why Brando didn’t shoot, and Brando says he didn’t know what was going on. Cyrus says, if he’d died, the first thing his lawyer would do is send what he knows about Dev’s identity being falsified straight to the Feds. He wanted to use it to nail Sonny, but there’s more than enough to incriminate all of them. It will be ironic if Jason has walked away from how many murders, including Walker’s, and ends up back in prison for forging Dev’s ID, and Brando will be in the cell next to him. He’ll think about that the next time he wonders where Brando’s loyalty lies. He didn’t shoot when he had the opportunity.

Jason tells someone on the phone, he wants no evidence of what happened, and zero evidence Carly was there. Make sure the guards are with who they’re assigned to. Carly says good thing she was there; she knew it was an ambush. He says, of course (🍷) it was an ambush. He took the guy out. He knew what he was doing. Carly says, apparently not. Brando had a gun on him. He says, next time, send the guards. Don’t get in the line of fire and leave her kids without a mother. She says she had protection, and he says, so what? If bullets start flying, there’s no guarantee. She says he was walking into a trap. What if he’d been hit? He says, then he would have survived like he has every other time. What he can’t survive is losing her. I think, why don’t they just do it already?

Gregory says, Robert Scorpio, Anna’s ex? and Jackie says, that’s the one. He says he’ll finally get to meet Robert. She’d told him about their adventures back in the day. She says, back in the day, before she settled down, and her dreams came true. He’s surprised Anna invited Robert to the wedding, and Jackie says he and Anna are friends., and Finn tolerates him for her sake. Finn and Anna have come back in, and Finn says, it’s a secret, but he likes Robert. Why are they talking about Robert? Jackie says she’s his plus one, but she’ll only say yes if it’s all right with Gregory. Gregory says, Chase would love to have his mom there, but it’s Finn’s day. Finn says, it’s okay with him. It’s going to be a real family affair. Anna pours the tea.  

Cyrus and Brando go to the MetroCourt, and Cyrus says he needs a drink. He tells Brando, wait over there, clearly still pissed. He orders scotch on the rocks, and sits. Laura comes in, and asks if he’s all right; he doesn’t look well. He says, it’s a business complication, and she hopes nobody died. He says it was touch and go, and she says she’s glad she ran into him. She’d like to talk to him about Sonny. He can’t see how that’s relevant, and she says, with Sonny’s disappearance, peace could be destroyed. She’d like to work with him to keep the streets safe and the violence down. He asks what that would entail, and she says, meeting regularly to discuss health and safety issues. She doesn’t believe biology alone bonds people, but as mayor, it’s her duty to keep the people safe. So meet her halfway. He says he appreciates her reaching out, and he’d be happy to work with her on this matter. She says, good. She looks forward to their first meeting. She’ll be in touch. She starts to go, and tells him, she’s really happy no one was hurt at his meeting, and smiles at him.  

Tracy stomps back to table, and finds Olivia gone. She says, dammit. Leave you alone for five minutes, and look what happens.

Ned tells Alexis that she needs to pull herself together. She asks if he’s afraid she’ll drag him down with her, and he says, that’s not what he meant. She says she’s sure he’s thinking it, and he asks if she blames him. She’s doing things she doesn’t remember, it’s not a stretch to think she might say things. She says she has no intention of hurting anyone else, and he says, just herself. Go back to AA. She promises to avoid Olivia at all costs, and Olivia comes out of the elevator. Ned tells her, he said he had this, and Olivia says she knows. she just thought Alexis could use a female friend. She tells Alexis that they love her and want help her through this. Alexis says, that’s sweet, but no help is needed. Olivia says she can’t mean that after what just happened. Alexis says, she’s fine. The only reason she called was because Finn wouldn’t get off her back. She tells them to have a lovely afternoon, and she’s going to do the same. She walks away.  

Carly says, she can’t die, but Jason can? He says he brought her in. She would have had nothing to do with business if not for him. She helped Sonny for his sake, and now she’s in power and doesn’t know how to handle it. She shouldn’t know. If she dies because of it, he couldn’t stand it. She says she’s not sorry, and she’d do it again; alone if she had to. He says they don’t know if Sonny is alive – she says, he is – and he doesn’t want to lose her too. She says she’ll always catch him. Always. He says she blew his shot. He would have killed Cyrus if she hadn’t shown up. She asks why he didn’t take it, and he says, because she was there. If there was a witness, or things went sideways, or she was an accessory… He can’t have it. He had to let Cyrus live, and now things are going to escalate. Cyrus isn’t stupid. Cyrus knows he didn’t kill him because of her, and it makes them more vulnerable. Her phone dings, and she looks at it. She says she thinks things aren’t going to escalate, and he asks, why? She says, things have been solved.  

On the phone at the bar, Cyrus says, what?… How?… When? He yells, son of a bitch! wiping all the glasses onto the floor. Brando runs over, and asks, what is it? He says, they have his mother.   

Next week, Portia needs to speak to Taggert, Jax wants to take Josslyn away, Laura needs leverage from Martin, and Carly says, now they have leverage. Tomorrow, ABC will air a rerun from September 17th, 2020, and on Friday, college football.

The Real Housewives of Orange County

When Braunwyn and Elizbeth took a walk, Elizabeth ended up having a panic attack. Braunwyn asked her to name five things she could see, two she could smell, and one she could feel, and I’ll be damned if she didn’t calm down after those activities. In her interview, Elizabeth said, from 0 to 13 she was raised in a religious environment. Her grandma was the head of the church, and her father one of the main preachers. They couldn’t wear or eat what they wanted, or leave the compound. They knew how to control everyone. Elizabeth told Braunwyn that she didn’t know how to move on, but Braunwyn said she was doing it right now. In Elizabeth’s interview, she said she needed to hide the sadness, and found laughter attracted people to her. It was easier to live in a fantasy of happiness than her reality of depression. She was worried if she started talking about it, everything she’d built would disappear. She said she’d carried the burden of feeling she’d done something wrong, but Braunwyn said she was free now. Elizabeth asked if Braunwyn thought less of her, but Braunwyn said it was the opposite. Now she had context. In Braunwyn’s interview, she admitted she hadn’t been a good friend, and regretted the petty stuff, and would have to make amends. The group went catch and release fishing, and Gina’s first catch of the day was herself.  

John told Shannon that he thought he should stay at the house, because it was inevitable he’d have covid. In Shannon’s interview, she said she’d tested negative when the girls were positive, and had quarantined with John. She had strict rules, but they weren’t necessarily followed.

Shane was still in the hospital, and FaceTimed with Emily and the kids. In Emily’s interview, she said the kids knew he was sick, but didn’t understand the gravity of the situation. It was hard, since she couldn’t imagine a time she and Shane hadn’t been together during something difficult.

Shannon said, on the positive side, she was coming home to take care of the kids. Two seconds in the door, she started bitching about all the laundry, dog sh*t, and dishes in the sink. She said the girls were healthy enough to lay in lounge chairs getting sun, so they were healthy enough to wash a dish. Her WOTD was un-flippin’-believable.

Gina said it was hard to get to know Elizabeth. She didn’t understand her. Elizabeth said she was embarrassed about who she is. She’d told a neighbor what was happening, and the FBI shut down the church. She was vague, but it sounded like there had been sexual abuse going on. She told Gina and Kelly while they were at the lake, and Gina said it was horrifying. Elizabeth told them that when the FBI came, her dad said she’d lost a father. This is why she wants to live for herself now. Gina wondered why they were all so f***ed up.

Elizabeth said had been a trip for cleansing, but she didn’t know it was going to happen for real. In her interview, she said, opening up opened her mind to having real friends, and it was a wonderful feeling. Gina asked if it bothered Braunwyn for them to drink around her, but Braunwyn said it didn’t. Kelly made enchiladas, and in her interview, called her father for a breakdown of their Mexican heritage, then spaced out while he was talking. Shannon called to say she was positive, and John was still negative, so they had to separate. It added another layer to the whole thing, since they were always together. She wondered if it would go to her lungs, and Kelly told her, just get it over with. Gina said this is why she took it seriously, and people who were compromised should be careful. Both Braunwyn and Kelly were concerned, since they’d seen Shannon recently. Braunwyn had been in the house, and called Sean to let him know. He told her it had been seven days since they’d been there, and she said she was feeling dizzy. He told her that wasn’t a symptom. She had him google the symptoms, and go through them, but she didn’t have any. Kelly thought it was crazy that she hadn’t gotten it, since she’d been asking for it by going out. She told the women, a group of Marines told her that type O blood was bulletproof, but in Gina’s interview, she said she didn’t think that’s how it worked. I wondered where Kelly ran into a group of Marines that she discussed her blood type with. Kelly was glad Shannon hadn’t come. Gina said Shane had tested negative, and woke up with a 105 fever. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said she thought she’d take a break, and escape from reality, and now she was scared for her kids and herself. She didn’t want to be in the woods if she got it.

Kelly said there were a lot of roadblocks to her getting married on 10-10-2020, but she wasn’t letting anything get in the way. By hook or by crook, she was going to make it happen. She called Rick, who said they had planning to do, and they talked about a trip to Napa. Elizabeth said she’d slept like a rock, which was no surprise. Gina told Braunwyn, they had to take the virus more seriously; she knew Braunwyn had been going out. Braunwyn talked about her friend Shari, who she calls her wife since they quarantined together. In Gina’s interview, she said when she and Braunwyn first met, Braunwyn told her that she preferred women sexually. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said she and Shari kept each other sane. They traded off. The women called Shannon before they left, and she told them that Sophie came home sick. Kelly remembered John meeting her at the door maskless, and in her interview, she said it was killing her vibe. Maybe she shouldn’t go to Napa.

Kelly spoke with Lisa, the covid test nurse, who told her she might been in contact with someone who had the virus. In Kelly’s interview, she said she had been laisse faire about the virus, but it was hitting close to home, and making her think this was a real thing now. She was getting worried. The nurse suggested Kelly isolate for 14 days in her home away from others. Kelly said, no Napa now.

Emily’s kids made cards and a welcome home sign for Shane. Emily said it had been a long eight days. In her interview, she said she’d actually thought what she would do if he didn’t come home. As a mom, she had to allow her mind to go there. She never wanted to be in that situation again, thinking about taking care of the kids on her own. She appreciated Shane more than she ever had before. She picked Shane up from the hospital, and he said he just wanted to shower and lie down. In Emily’s interview, she said she was looking forward to a normal family life with him back home. It sounded simple, but when you go through the depths of despair, you don’t wish for more than that. It’s all you need.

Gina called Emily, who said Shane had been back a week, and seemed normal now. To verify, she asked Shane how he was feeling, and he said she was annoying him. She told Gina, she had to get in a headspace to enjoy his commentary. Braunwyn called Elizabeth, and said what she’d done was awesome. Braunwyn was happy Elizabeth was taking her power back. She did nothing wrong. Kelly told Shannon that Braunwyn claimed Shannon had brought the information about Elizabeth to her on a silver platter. We flashed back to Braunwyn saying that, but Shannon denied it. In Shannon’s interview, she said Braunwyn could be nice, but she was also a big effing liar. Just tell the truth, people.

In Kelly’s interview, she said dealing with a teen was the hardest. She had zero patience as is. Jolie, who is a young woman now, went over the courses she had to take remotely with Kelly and Rick. In her interview, she said she and Rick got along well; they were really similar. She didn’t like or know Kelly’s past boyfriends, but Rick was a normal person, and if her mom was happy, she was happy. In Kelly’s interview, she said, living in the ‘burbs was the right decision. She’d seen a change in Jolie. It was a great family atmosphere, but as soon as Jolie was out of high school, she was going straight back to the beach.

Elizabeth told jimmy that Arrowhead was crazy. Braunwyn got her open up, and was cool about it. In her interview, she said she took the time to talk to Jimmy about what she’d gone through. He understood her more now, and didn’t shun her. He just loved her. It was the first time she’d been accepted for her weakness. She told him that she was having a hard time. She’d spent her life hiding from the shame, and creating a façade. Jimmy wondered if she was healed now enough to move forward, and put the pieces together. It was important that she show people it’s not the end of the road. In Elizabeth’s interview, she said she’d never had this kind of support.

Emily visited Braunwyn, who told her that she looked good, and Emily said she had that covid glow. She told Braunwyn that she’d lost her sense of taste and smell, but once she got it back, she’d gotten someone else’s. In her interview, she said she still loved tacos, but healthy tacos. She told Braunwyn that she was lucky her symptoms had been manageable, so she could take care of the kids. Shane was at about 80% and looked healthy. She gave Shannon credit, telling Braunwyn that Shannon reached out every day. It gave her the opportunity to get to know Shannon better. Braunwyn said it had been a heavy trip. She thought she’d be getting a break from everything that was going on, but she felt lucky that she was staying at a hotel. She wasn’t there yet. Emily suggested a sober companion, and Braunwyn said Shari was living with her and Sean now. Emily asked how Sean felt about that, and Braunwyn said he got jealous because she spent more time with Shari, and went to her about the hard stuff. Emily suggested if Sean didn’t like it, maybe she shouldn’t do it. She didn’t want Braunwyn to put herself in a situation where she had more than she could handle. Braunwyn said when she and Sean had gone away, it looked like a romantic getaway on her Instagram, but they were deciding whether they should stay married or not. Her not drinking changed the dynamics. Emily said she had questioned what it was Braunwyn was trying to suppress and push down, so it didn’t come up. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said she’d created this perfect life, but she wasn’t feeling it. When she had a fantasy, Sean didn’t have a starring role.  

Next time, Elizabeth’s divorce is finalized, Shannon wants no toxicity in her household, Elizabeth talks to her brother about their childhood, and Kelly tells Shannon that Gina is concerned about her.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

Mary spoke with Robert Jr., and called him out for buying his girlfriend a Prada purse with her credit card. She said the purse would outlast the relationship, and not to buy something expensive like that again unless he’s going to marry her.

Heather met with contractor Travis, who was working on expanding Beauty Lab & Laser. In Heather’s interview, she said her personal life wasn’t so great, but she was killing it at Beauty Lab. She’d had side gigs when she was married, but her husband said it wasn’t worth it because they had limitless money. She said it wasn’t about that. It was about her skills and fulfillment. It was like the full circle of redemption. It reminded her of who she was, and how she felt about herself before she was married. She wasn’t all the way there, but it was a huge step forward.

Meredith was on the phone with Brooks when Seth came back. Brooks thanked Seth for missing his show. The runway walk of one athletic ensemble. In Meredith’s interview, she said she felt guilty and responsible, since she was the one who asked for space. Seth said he was sorry he missed, and couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t happen again, but he’d try. He told Meredith he thought it was a good idea for him to come back and try to repair the damage, and Meredith said Brooks was disappointed he wasn’t there, but she knew why. Seth told her, not knowing what direction their relationship was going in would have overshadowed Brooks’s big day. Their relationship shouldn’t impact the one with their kids. He’d realized he was so focused on his career, he hadn’t grown emotionally as a husband. He asked her to give him another chance. The last weeks were brutal, and if she would put in the work, he’d put in 10 times the amount, He couldn’t stand being without her. Meredith said it had probably been positive for them not to communicate, but she missed him. She wished they could have shared Brooks’s show, and she got a taste of what life would be like without him. She was willing to put the work in. In her interview, she said it was an incredible relief that they’d come to the same realization. They needed to be together. It wasn’t going to be smooth sailing, but they were on a positive path. She told him that she wanted to make it work.

Lisa met John for dinner, and in her interview, she said one of the perks of owning a liquor brand was that she knew every restaurant, bar, and club owner in the state. It was easy for her to get a reservation anywhere. They continued their discussion about working too much, and Lisa said she wasn’t giving up anything, and if a killer opportunity that fit in their portfolio came along, she didn’t want to pass it up. He thought they needed to work at not working. If an email came in at 11 pm, it could wait until the morning. In Lisa’s interview, she said she could get things done while still engaging. While she was messing with her phone, a producer asked if she had a nice dinner with John, and she was like, what did you say? totally disproving her statement. John wondered what it was all for. It was work first, then the kids, then them, with enjoying themselves at the bottom. Lisa suggested they include the kids more in what they were building. In her interview, she said she heard him, and there wasn’t one night where she didn’t go to bed wondering if the kids felt loved. There was guilt.

Whitney and Justin headed to the sober living facility, where they were going to mediation with Steve. Justin said Whitney’s dad thought he’d been there long enough, but they had a different opinion. In Whitney’s interview, she said she’d received an SOS text from Steve, saying he was going to be receiving a roommate, and he was freaking out. She needed to get there before he packed and ran away. She wondered what the real issue was, and said Steve wanted her to make it better, so he wasn’t being 100% accountable and responsible. She understood that he was older and didn’t want a roommate, but thought it was just an easy excuse to leave the program. He thought he was on vacation at the Four Seasons, but he was in sober living. He was there to work at getting better, not acting entitled. Justin told Whitney she had this.

They met with Steve and counselor Elsie. Steve said he felt anxious, and had been clear about not wanting anyone else in the same room. He said he wanted to get back in the game and be productive; pick up his career. Whitney asked if he’d looked for job. Where was he going to get money? The plan she was hearing required someone helping him. In Whitney’s interview, she said the first time her father went to rehab, he wanted her to pay for it. He’d made a list of everything he’d paid for in her life. Since he chose to have her as a child, now she owed him $30K for rehab. She was like, f*** you, but she still paid. She told him that they didn’t want him thinking they didn’t want to help, but he couldn’t expect her to take care of him, whether it was giving him money, a place to live, or a car. She wanted to get away from that pressure and burden; it made her resent him and close herself off to him. She wanted to help him because she wanted to, not because he felt entitled since she’s his daughter. Steve claimed nobody wanted to be as self-reliant as he did, and Whitney said being there was helping him. Their goal was for him to do it on his own, not because it was given to him. She said he should figure out a way get money while he was in there, so he had something to start with. Steve said they’d saved his life, and admitted they had been a security blanket, but he wanted to do it for himself and on his own. Elsie told everyone, good work.

The entire group met for snowmobiling, and in Jen’s interview, she said she didn’t know what was going on. Seth missed the fashion show, but showed up for snowmobiling. Lisa wanted to portray a perfect family, but no one was perfect. The guide said they’d be going 21 miles up a mountain, and having lunch at the top. In Heather’s interview, she said she didn’t mind being a single rider. It was like sex; more fulfilling if you do it on your own. This looked like fun, but I like the snow and cold. I don’t think I could live in the mountains though. It looks pretty, but makes me feel claustrophobic or something. In Whitney’s interview, she said she was confused. Meredith and Seth were being lovey-dovey, but Jen said Meredith was possibly seeing someone else. It didn’t add up.

During lunch, everyone chit-chatted, and in Jen’s interview, she said she was happy when Sharrieff could be there, especially when they were with their friends. She wished she had what the others did. Their significant others were with them all the time. Sharrieff told a story about Jen’s whole family going on their first date with them. In Lisa’s interview, she said Jen and Sharrieff were like yin and yang. Sharrieff talked about how sweet Jen was, and in Whitney’s interview, she said, do you know your wife? and we flashed back to the many tirades Jen’s had within a few episodes.  

Whitney told Heather that Jen claimed she’d heard something about Meredith and Seth, but if Whitney wanted to know anything, she’d have to ask Meredith. Heather said Jen had mentioned it to her, but she wasn’t interested. In Heather’s interview, she said, Jen clearly didn’t keep her word. She’d shown Heather a picture of Meredith with another man, not Seth. It looked like they were in a relationship, and Jen acted like it was a secret they’d never speak of again. Realizing she was getting nowhere, Whitney said if Meredith and Seth had some kind of arrangement, she supposed it wasn’t for them to judge. Heather didn’t take the bait, and said it wasn’t for them to say, judge, or even ask. If it didn’t come from Meredith, she wasn’t interested.

After snowmobiling, Meredith, Seth, Lisa, and John went to Jen and Sharrieff’s place. The guys compared the Mormon and Muslim religions, which are both pretty strict. Sharrieff said they were allowed multiple wives, but Jen said, oh no he wasn’t, and in her interview, she said one Jen Shah equaled 45 wives. In Lisa’s interview, she said she and John weren’t cultural Mormons. People focus on the cultural side, and forget what’s important – a relationship with God. She didn’t think God cared if she owned a tequila company. TBH, me neither. In Jen’s interview, she said what Lisa was following wasn’t the Mormon church. It’s the church of Lisa Barlow.

Jen, Lisa, and Meredith got in the hot tub, while the guys played foosball. Jen said she was lonely when Sharrieff wasn’t there, and was concerned about Omar going to college. Inside, John said he thought he could set goals personally just fine, but doing it together was a different story. The guys discussed their various marriages, and Sharrieff said Jen was super reactionary, which was an understatement.

Jen kept prodding at Meredith to spill something, but in her interview, Meredith said she was feeling confident and positive about her marriage, but she didn’t need to tell anyone. What if it went wrong? She’d let them know when the time was right. She told Jen and Lisa that she and Seth were committed to their marriage, and they were headed in a positive direction. In Jen’s interview, she said Meredith was acting like her life was perfect.

Next time, penguins! Mary isn’t invited to Jen’s party, and Jen pitches a fit at the party.

📺 Is This Thing On…?

A holiday schedule for the soaps.

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

🎄 Just Like Us…

The soap stars celebrate the holidays too.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/see-how-your-favorite-soap-stars-celebrated-christmas

And so do other celebrities.

https://www.essence.com/celebrity/celebrity-holiday-photos-2020/

👫🏻 The Second Time Around…

Teresa gets a new man for Christmas.

https://pagesix.com/2020/12/25/teresa-giudice-spends-christmas-eve-with-new-boyfriend-family/

Not to be outdone, Juicy Joe’s new main squeeze.

https://pagesix.com/2020/12/24/joe-giudice-reveals-new-girlfriend/

👠 Gone Girl…

Monique is no longer having it. Scroll down for Robyn calling Michael a creep.

https://people.com/tv/monique-samuels-not-returning-to-rhop/

https://www.thewrap.com/monique-samuels-quits-real-housewives-of-potomac-im-over-it/

Karen has hope for Candiace though.

https://pagesix.com/2020/12/27/rhops-karen-huger-hopes-candiace-will-learn-and-grow/

🏵 Kudos For Karen…

I have to admit, this is pretty interesting.

https://pagesix.com/2020/08/06/rihanna-says-shes-proud-of-rhop-star-karen-huger-during-instagram-live/

💎 I Can’t Keep Track…

Looks like Tom might have really cheated.

https://pagesix.com/2020/12/19/erika-jayne-reveals-california-judge-is-tom-girardis-alleged-mistress/

Looks like Erika is done. With the jewelry anyway.

https://pagesix.com/2020/12/22/erika-jayne-photographed-without-wedding-band/

🗽 Memories…

A stroll through Times Square Memory Lane.

Vintage Photos: The Evolution of Times Square from 1898 to Today

🎊 Something For Next Year…

Did you know the confetti used in Times Square on New Year’s Eve is made up of wishes? Me neither. You, too, can be a part of the celebration. It’s too late for this year, but why not get a head start for 2022?  No one will be there this year anyway.

https://www.timessquarenyc.org/whats-happening/nye-wishing-wall#.VoNmw5MrKgQ

Happy New Year!

Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect. – Alan Cohen

🍾🥂🥡  See You Next Year…

It’s finally time to say goodbye to the year that looked so promising. To the year we thought would be ours. To the number we thought looked so cute. While the light is getting brighter at the end of the tunnel, don’t be disappointed if you wake up on 1/1/2021 and it’s not just a bad dream. It’s going to take a while, but you’re still here. We made it this far, and one day it will seem like it was just a bad dream. Enjoy the New Year weekend however you can, but remember to stay safe, stay smart, especially with your alcohol intake, and stay knowing that there will be an end to this madness before long.

Dec24

December 23, 2020 – Christmas Eve Without Sonny, Shannon Tests Positive, Jen Alludes To Some Hanky Panky & Merry Christmas

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

No surprise, I missed the beginning, even though I had extra time. I’m not sure why it always works that way, but what I missed was, Brando was waiting for Sasha when she came out of the hospital, and she said she wasn’t his problem anymore. He said she kind of was, but she told him to get lost. She ran into him again at the park. Sam identified Julian’s body, and told Lucas she felt sadness, relief, and regret that Julian could never get out of his own way. Lucas said Julian hadn’t deserved to be in their family, and Sam said Julian never got what he wanted, but he got what he deserved. Jason and Carly got back home, and Jason promised he’d keep searching. Josslyn saw them, and pulled them into the living room. Molly brought Alexis to Jordan’s for Christmas dinner, and told Alexis not to make her regret it. TJ thanked Jordan for including Alexis, and Jordan said she was family. Trina and Portia ran into Curtis coming out of Kelly’s, and Trina jumped on him for not telling her Taggert was alive. And then…

Josslyn says she and Willow are making cranberry garland for the bannister, and Michael says Willow is a natural. Josslyn says she wanted to surprise Wiley, and Willow says, but Wiley heard the commotion. Michael says his son has discovered the joy of wrapping paper. Carly says seeing him was the best thing for her, and Michael asks if she was surprised. Josslyn says, was she ever, and Carly says, it’s been a long day. Coming home to family, so much love, and more cranberry garland than they need is what she needed; it’s perfect. Michael says, it’s not perfect until dad’s traditional Christmas Eve dinner. When is he coming home?   

Portia tells Trina, Curtis didn’t know what was going on. Curtis says, all that time he watched them mourn, and he was beating himself up, wondering if he could have done more to save Taggert, and keep Trina’s father with her. Then he finds out Taggert is alive. Trina says, his wife is the Police Commissioner, and she knew. She can understand how Jordan could keep it from them, but how could she keep it from Curtis? Trina blamed him; how could she? Curtis says, excellent question, and Portia sends Trina inside to get the pies. She tells Curtis, she’s so sorry, and he asks, why? She didn’t lie for months, and she suffered more than he did. Be angry, be furious, but not sorry.

Alexis sniffs the steam from what Jordan is cooking, and says, chestnut and rosemary? Jordan says, very good, and Alexis says she’s not a good cook, but she’s got a good nose for sniffing out secret ingredients. Molly goes over, and asks to speak to Alexis for a second. She tells Alexis, she gave her word she’d behave. Alexis says she is, and Molly asks, what’s that about sniffing out secrets? Alexis says, secret ingredients; she was talking about food. What did Molly think… Oh, Molly thought she was going to mention… Molly says, the thought crossed her mind. Alexis isn’t at her best. Alexis says her decades of being an attorney made her good at keeping a confidence, but Molly still doesn’t trust her. Molly says she doesn’t. How is she supposed to trust Alexis with her life, when Alexis is willing to destroy her own? TJ tells Molly it’s her turn, and Molly goes back to their backgammon game. Alexis sneaks vodka into her coffee cup, from what looks like a generic brand.   

Trina sits inside Kelly’s, and Portia tells Curtis, she’s thankful Taggert is alive, but she could kill him herself with her bare hands for toying with Trina’s emotions. Curtis says, let him help, or at least watch, and Portia says, she doesn’t like what Taggert and Jordan did, nor does she approve. But she does recognize, as misguided as they were, they thought they were doing the right thing. They needed to stage Taggert’s death to protect them from Cyrus. He says, maybe. He gets that, but that’s not what pisses him off. Jordan was keeping the secret, knowing what it was doing to Portia and Trina. Early on, he gets it, but after the target was off their backs, he doesn’t understand. Portia says, Taggert and Jordan have a private code, and only they understand the lines they can can’t cross. He says, but it should have stopped at his doorstep. Jordan’s work life is Taggert, but she’s married to him, and that has to come first. Honesty is part of their unbreakable code, and the lies are ruining their marriage.

At the hospital, Laura thanks Doc for stepping up. The Christmas celebration in pediatrics is a tradition. He says it’s his pleasure, and thanks her for being his elf. She says she just had to put a hat on and hand out gifts, but he says she secured the future. The kids recognized her as mayor, and she just nailed the under ten constituency. She says, in eight to twelve years they can vote for her, and he says, it doesn’t hurt. She sighs, and says, sorry. She can’t help thinking of Lulu at that age. Lulu loved this time year. She would read the Christmas classics to Lulu, even after Lulu had memorized them. Santa never had a bigger fan. Doc says, she’ll get through this. They’ll see her tomorrow. Laura says she knows it’s wishful thinking, but it would be a great Christmas miracle if they were there and Lulu woke up. He says, it would be. He wishes he could make it happen. They sit together, and she leans on him.

Sasha asks Brando why he’s stalking her, but he says he’s not. They’re just going in the same direction. She says, he’s a man following her without her consent. She could scream for the cops and tell them the man Brando works for gave her drugs that almost killed her. He says she’d be signing her own death warrant. He’s making sure she doesn’t do anything that leads to that happening. She says he’s handling her for his boss. Thanks to him, she can’t stop Cyrus. He says, she wins; he believes her. She thanks him, and says, now leave her alone. He asks if he can make it up to her, and give her a ride, and she says, now he’s getting her permission to stalk her? No thanks. She can get back to the MetroCourt on her own. He asks if she really wants to go back there, and she says she lives there. He says, nobody should be by themselves on Christmas Eve in a hotel room, but she says, it’s a nice hotel room. He says, it’s not going anywhere. In the meantime, does she want to get some hot chocolate?

Michael asks if something is going on with his dad. Jason hasn’t said a word. Jax says, that’s not unusual, and Jason says, it’s just been a long day, like Carly said. Carly says their dad is caught up with business, and won’t be home, and Josslyn says, but it’s Christmas Eve. Jax says, people need their coffee, and Michael suggests they order pizza. Willow says, they’re not open, but they could get Chinese food, and Michael says, the Noodle House it is. He tells Wiley, they’ll make the tree perfect for grandpa, and Jax suggests they put the garland on. Carly tells Jason, it’s so empty. It’s Michael’s first Christmas as a father, and he wanted it to be special. She wants that for him. From the look on Jason’s face, he’s thinking he’s going to have to go looking for Sonny on Christmas Eve.

Jason tells Carly not to do this to herself. It’s not about her; it’s about them. He wonders how she’s going to tell them that Sonny… and she says she’s not going to do it until they comb the entire riverbed, and check every hospital to the Atlantic Ocean. Jason says he knows what it’s costing, keeping it to herself, but she says she’s not keeping it to herself. She’s keeping it from them. He asks what she needs him to do, and she says she needs him to phone Sam. She’s at the hospital to ID Julian’s body. He has to go to her. He says Carly knows they’re splitting up, right? and she says he has to go. He says, what about her? and she says she’s okay. If she needs him, she’ll call. They hug, and he says he loves her. She says that’s what’s getting her through, and goes inside. Josslyn wonders why Carly still has her coat on, and Carly says she doesn’t know, and takes it off. Josslyn says, Jason had to leave? and Carly says, Jason has tons of family, and many people to visit. She asks, who’s baking? and Josslyn says, wait until she goes in the kitchen; they’re on serious cookie overload. Carly asks if there are any gingersnaps, and Josslyn says, and then some.

Alexis slips more vodka into her cup. On the phone, Jordan says, she and Curtis need to talk. It’s Christmas Eve, and they should be together as a family. He needs to talk to her. She’ll be waiting. She tells TJ and Molly that the job Curtis was on was bigger than he expected. Why don’t they have dinner, and she’ll make Curtis a plate to heat up later. TJ says, he’s working Christmas Eve? and she says it was a last minute thing; he thought he’d be home sooner. Alexis says, it’s a mystery where Taggert was hiding all this time, and TJ asks if he isn’t Jordan’s old partner. Molly says, he’s dead, isn’t he? and Alexis says she was visiting (ha-ha) the PCPD, and she heard Taggert waltzed in from the dead. She asks Jordan if it was big surprise, but Jordan says, not really. She knew he was alive.

Portia says it’s not for her to speak on Curtis’s marriage, but if he doesn’t mind her speaking from experience in her own marriage… He says, go ahead, and she says, marriage can start one way, and life bends it another. What counts is the love he and Jordan have for one another. He says she and Taggert loved each other, but she says it wasn’t enough to sustain their relationship. They also aren’t him and Jordan. He says, meaning… and she says, Jordan won’t always live up to her promises to him, and he might not live up to the ones he made to her. He admits he has flaws, and she says, despite the flaws, is he willing to listen to Jordan’s reasons for keeping it a secret, or has he already passed judgements on her reasons, and it doesn’t matter? Curtis says he knows the right answer, but he’s not there yet. She says only he knows if the love they share has room for forgiveness. Trina comes back out with the pies, and tells Curtis that she wants to say… Portia says she thinks Curtis has had enough for tonight. Save it for next time. She tells Curtis, he’s not going find what he’s looking for out there. Go home.

Michael answers the door, and thanks Lucas for coming. Lucas says Michael told him it was important. He thinks they should talk outside or Wiley will see, and Michael says, that’s what he needed to talk about. Doesn’t Lucas think stayed away long enough?

Jordan says, Taggert survived, and she was aware of it, but if people knew he was alive, there would be a target on his family’s back. Alexis says, so Jordan arranged for Taggert to be dead to protect his loved ones. It makes sense. Molly says, it would if they hadn’t mourned him. Alexis says, it wasn’t ideal, but if Trina had known he wasn’t dead, she wouldn’t have mourned. Trust her. She knows from experience that in extreme situations, the fewer people who know, the better. She looks at Jordan, and says, back her up, and Jordan says she was thinking. Now that she’s hearing it out loud… TJ says, how she could lie to Portia’s face and not tell her Taggert was alive?  

Michael tells Lucas, Nelle is gone, and no longer a threat, and Lucas says he’s not too broken up. Michael says Willow is going to adopt Wiley, and they’re staying married. Well, that’s to be determined, but they both decided to stay Wiley’s parents. He knows how much Willow and Wiley love each other, and how much Lucas loves Wiley. Lucas says, from the moment Wiley was placed in his arms, and Michael says, when the truth came out, Lucas gave Wiley back, and stayed away. He can’t imagine how difficult that was. Lucas says, it’s what was best for Wiley, and Michael says, Wiley is a happy boy due to the love and sacrifices on Lucas’s part. If it’s asking too much, Michael understands, but he and Willow feel Lucas and Wiley deserve to be back in each other’s lives. Lucas asks what Michael is saying, and Michael says, be their Christmas gift, and Wiley’s, and be Wiley’s uncle again.   

Martin walks into the hospital, his arms full of little wrapped gifts. He struggles, and ends up dropping them, saying the gravity in this hospital chooses to torture him. Doc and Laura come by, and Martin addresses her as Madam Mayor. She tells him to call her Laura, but Doc says he’s still Dr. Collins. He’s kidding. His newfound brother-in-law can call him Kevin. It’s nice to meet him. Martin says he overestimated the capacity his arms could credibly bear, and Doc thanks him for spiriting his wife back from Vermont. Martin says it was his great pleasure. He’s not accustomed to the sudden appearance of a new sibling, and he had time to get to know his new sister. She says it was nice for her as well. She asks where he was going, and he says he brought a few holiday tokens, and was on his way to see the patients in the geriatric ward. She says that’s nice of him, and he says his mom always appreciated a well-wrapped trinket. Laura is surprised that he’s visiting on Christmas Eve, and he says he’s saddened how the elderly are overlooked. He’d like to think he makes a little difference. Laura says she could help him distribute the gifts, and maybe he could join them for an early dinner. He says he wouldn’t foist himself onto them, but Laura says she has big plans to go to the city tonight so she can see her daughter tomorrow morning. It would be nice to tell her about her newfound uncle. Martin says, indeed. If she’s sure he’s not intruding. She says, not at all; the holidays are for family. She wasn’t expecting to get a brother, but now that she has one, she’d like to get to know him.

Brando tells Sasha the hot chocolate reminds him of his childhood, and she says, watery and instant? He says, sort of. They had the same crappy hot chocolate every year. He thinks it was from the same container the whole time. That would explain why it tasted worse every year. She says sorry, and he says, there’s more to the story. If she thinks that was bad, she should hear about the pajamas. She asks if they were like the bunny pajamas in that movie (a nod to A Christmas Story, for those unenlightened), and he says, worse. They were reindeer, and came with antlers. His mother would buy pajamas every year, but she’d get them after the Christmas before, and guess at how much he would grow. Some years, his arms and legs were sticking out, and other years, he was drowning. She says, he wouldn’t happen to have a picture, and he says he burned them. She says, too bad. She would have liked to see him in the pajamas. He says, trust him. She wouldn’t.   

Jason approaches Sam at the hospital, and she thanks him for meeting her. He asks how she’s doing, and she says she has something to ask him that she couldn’t ask in front of the kids. He says he didn’t kill Julian, and she says, he was there? He says, yeah. He saw Julian on the bridge when it collapsed. He’d been shot, but not by him. Sam says she hates this. She hates the pit she gets in her stomach every time something dangerous happens. He says, it won’t be happening as much anymore, but she says, it’s going to happen whether they’re together or not. It was always easy loving him. If it wasn’t, letting him go wouldn’t hurt so much.

Jason says he’s sorry, and Sam says, don’t be. It’s nobody’s fault. That doesn’t make it easier, even though they’re trying to do the right thing. She gets up, and says Scout and Danny were upset that he wasn’t there when they were hanging their stockings. He says he’d like to stop by and see them, if it’s okay. She says, of course (🍷). It’s more than okay. He should be there. Scout made cookies for Santa, and a card for the reindeer. Kristina bought Scout a Christmas gown, and Danny wants to put his sleeping bag by the tree. She thinks they’d be crushed if he missed it. He gets up, and asks if she wants him to spend the night. She says she does. He can sleep on the couch next to Danny; it would be nice. He says he can do that, and after they open presents… he’ll leave.

TJ asks Jordan if that’s why Curtis isn’t there, and Jordan says, she decided to keep Curtis in the dark. He was so angry, he didn’t come home. She can’t wait. She has to find him. She grabs her coat, and jets. Alexis says, wow. See what she means about secrets between partners? One way or another, they’ll come out and bite you. It’s better to be up front, and take your lumps. Molly says, enough. Alexis is drinking, and she wants her to leave. Alexis says, sorry, and Molly says, it’s Christmas, and she tried to do the right thing. She didn’t think Alexis wanted to celebrate Christmas in the drunk tank. Alexis says she didn’t, but Molly says, all Alexis has done is punish her for it. She wants Alexis to go. Alexis says, don’t be like this, and Molly says, should she be strong, like Alexis used to be, or a mess, like she’s become? She has to go. It doesn’t matter where, as long as it’s away from her. Alexis says she’s sorry, but if it’s what Molly wants… Molly says, what she wants is a sober mother. If Alexis can’t swing that, she doesn’t want to see her. TJ says he’ll take Alexis home, but Alexis says, that’s okay, and leaves.

Michael brings Wiley to Lucas, and says he told Wiley, someone special was coming to visit. Here’s his Uncle Lucas. Lucas says, hey, little man. It’s so good to see him. Wiley says, Uncle Lucas. Seriously, he does. Lucas says he heard Wiley was busy learning new things and talking up a storm. Willow tells Carly that she always wondered what is was like to have a big family, and Carly says she’s sure Willow got more than she bargained for with them and the Quartermaines. Willow says, there are big differences between the two families, but the common denominator is love. They all love each other so much. Carly says, it’s something, and Willow says, it really is. She and Sonny must be very proud. Carly says, they are, and excuses herself. Jax follows her, and she stands on the porch, crying. He comes out, and asks, what’s going on? She says, it’s Sonny. She doesn’t know where he is. She doesn’t even know if he’s alive.

TJ sees Molly with a glass of wine, and says he needs one himself. She says, have this one. She changed her mind. He says, it was a lot, and she says, sure was. He asks if she’s sure she’s okay, and she says she just can’t help thinking about the lies their mothers have been telling, and the damage they caused. She never wants anything like that to happen between them. He says, it never will, and she tells him, don’t say that yet. She has something she needs to tell him, but before she does, she  needs him to know, whatever happens next, she loves him.

Brando says, oh no, mistletoe, and Sasha says, it’s poisonous. He says, don’t eat it, and she says she was thinking of making a jam with it, and giving it to his boss, but he’d rat her out again. She’s kidding. He says, good. He thought they had a breakthrough with the hot chocolate. She says, it wasn’t a breakthrough; it was a bribe. He asks if it worked, and she says, no. She kisses him on the cheek, and says, merry Christmas. She walks away, and he smiles.

While Christmas music plays, Jordan sees Curtis sitting in the park. Alexis walks in the park alone, and takes out her phone, and sees The Invader headline about Julian’s death. Marty, Laura, and Doc laugh over dinner at Kelly’s, and clink coffee cups. Josslyn continues to decorate the tree, and Michael looks at Willow. Jason gives Sam her jacket, and their hands touch. She walks away, and we see a tear in his eye.

Willow tells Wiley that daddy is going to read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Michael tells Lucas, he’s welcome to sit in, but Lucas says he’s due at the hospital. He tells them, merry Christmas, and they go upstairs. Lucas tells Carly, if he didn’t mention it before, she has an amazing son. She says she has a pretty great brother too. They hug, and he says he’s going to grab a gingersnap on the way out. He tells her, Michael mentioned that Sonny was away on business. He thought Sonny would make it home for Christmas. She says, her too.

Lucas leaves, and Carly says, Come home, Sonny. Please come home. The phone rings, and she says, yes?… Now?… They’re here? She goes to the door, and sees flashing lights. And I don’t think they’re Christmas decorations.

Tomorrow, there will be a repeat from September 16th, 2020. It’s the week everyone said goodbye to Mike, so not exactly Christmas cheerful. On Friday, football for you. But next time on GH, Curtis tells Jordan that he doesn’t think he can anymore, Molly tells TJ that she made a horrible mistake, and Chase says he needs to talk to Carly about her husband.

The Real Housewives of Orange County

The women were still at Lake Arrowhead. Elizabeth couldn’t figure out her effing car, and set off the alarm at the crack of dawn. Braunwyn called her friend Shari, and told her alcohol was everywhere. Gina thought Braunwyn seemed nervous and aggressive, and the women kind of made fun of Braunwyn behind her back, which didn’t thrill me. Braunwyn wondered what she was doing, and why she was there. She wasn’t the same person she was the last time she vacationed with the women. Shari said they weren’t being supportive. In her interview, Braunwyn said Shari was her BFF.  

At home, Emily dealt with the kids, while Shane was in the hospital. She talked to him on FaceTime, and he was feeling a little better. They had him on a bunch of meds, and he had to take an oxygen tank with him everywhere. Emily told him that the last text he sent, he told her that he wasn’t going to make it, and then he didn’t answer his phone. In her interview, Emily said Shane annoyed the hell out of her, but he was still her husband, and a good dad. They had a beautiful family.

Kelly seemed to be the only one doing the cooking. Elizabeth let fly that her father was a preacher, and they got away from the church after realizing it was dysfunctional, and moved to Washington. It was one of those bombshells she tends to throw into a conversation, then laugh like a hyena. This is not only incredibly annoying, it makes you wonder what the hell is wrong with her that she finds it amusing. I’m sure it’s a defense mechanism, but it’s getting on my nerves now. In her interview, she said her family wanted her to preach, and her grandmother brought her up to the front of the church, telling her to speak in tongues. She faked it, and they bought it. It was the exact day she realized adults were full of sh*t, and she could lie to get her way. After breakfast, Braunwyn suggested she and Elizabeth have a real conversation. In Elizabeth’s interview, she said she was irked that Braunwyn was digging up dirt on her. She’d been opening up to Braunwyn, who was claiming to be the real deal, and we flashed back to Braunwyn saying just that. Elizabeth said now she found out Braunwyn was trying to discredit her, and it was hurtful. Braunwyn called Shannon, who said she was still feeling achy, and was getting her test results tomorrow. She told Braunwyn that she’d tested negative three times, and she was bummed. She’d had a suitcase of fun packed. In Shannon’s interview, a producer asked if she had FOMO, and then had to explain what it was. Shannon whined that Kelly couldn’t be bothered to come to the phone, and felt sorry for herself in general.    

Gina spoke with her lawyer Michael, who was going to court on Friday, but said Gina didn’t need to be there. Matt was facing two felony counts, with a maximum time of 4½ years. Michael said it was ultimately up to the judge, but Gina’s feelings would be taken into consideration. She said it was a difficult time, but she was thankful for Michael, and he said she had a lot of people protecting her. In her interview, she said she couldn’t help that it happened. It wasn’t her fault, but she felt guilty. She told Michael that she was hard-wired to feel she had to protect Matt. Then she did that waving thing that people think makes tears go away. I guess they think they can fan them back into their tear ducts or something.

Elizabeth told the women that they were taking a van to SkyPark. Gina called Travis to give him the low down on Matt, and said she didn’t know the right thing to do. He said she was just emotional because it was becoming real. In Gina’s interview, she said she wanted them to be family, and didn’t want the children to pay for her past. She wanted them to think that they went through sh*t, and it wasn’t easy, but they figured it out. Travis told her that it would get better. Braunwyn told Elizabeth that what she’d said felt like a bad game of telephone, and Elizabeth called Braunwyn out on hiring a P.I. She said she thought Braunwyn was into building people up, so why target her? Braunwyn said she’d googled Elizabeth’s name, and found out Elizabeth had defaulted on a loan, and rented out her house. Elizabeth said it was all public knowledge, and told Braunwyn to quit talking to her like a child. Braunwyn said Elizabeth’s stories weren’t adding up, and Elizabeth said, who cared if her house was a rental or not? She didn’t lie; they just didn’t know. Braunwyn could have asked, rather than talking smack behind her back. Her life was complicated and sophisticated, and Braunwyn didn’t understand it. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said Elizabeth married an old guy with money. It was the oldest story in the book. Kelly suddenly got involved in the conversation, and said Braunwyn was just trying to figure out who Elizabeth was. She kept getting half-answers. Elizabeth said there was crap going on with her divorce, and gag orders. It was horrific, and when she met them, she was going to trial. She masked her anger and hurt, and didn’t know how to deal. She didn’t want to tell a bunch of women about it. Braunwyn asked if Elizabeth didn’t trust women, and went into a monologue about how it had been hard for her to open up. In her interview, Kelly said Braunwyn was making it about herself, and about her feelings, and Elizabeth didn’t owe Braunwyn an explanation. Elizabeth had no kids, and no husband, and Braunwyn should clean up her own house before digging around Elizabeth’s. Elizabeth cried, and said she was scared of women, since they’d betrayed her. Braunwyn swore she wouldn’t. She said if Elizabeth would have told her, she would have understood, and thanked her for sharing, apparently confusing the conversation with an AA meeting.

Kelly told Gina that she should show Matt mercy, so he could get a job for the kids’ sake. Even though Gina had moved on, she shouldn’t want to ruin his livelihood. In Elizabeth’s interview, she said she thought Kelly meant well, but she should shut up. Braunwyn told Elizabeth that she’d been a bitch to bring up Elizabeth’s business in the first place, and Elizabeth was impressed with Braunwyn owning it. Braunwyn said she’d been newly sober and in quarantine, and looking for something to do. Gina said she’d called it, and Braunwyn said she wished she could take it back. In five months, Elizabeth would be on her list of almonds amends. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said the list was longer than Santa’s naughty list. She admitted Shannon had gotten in her head, and in her interview, Gina said Shannon liked to plant things in someone’s head, then her hands were clean. We flashed back to Shannon sowing seeds, and Elizabeth asked why Shannon would do that. Braunwyn reminded Elizabeth of how she’d told them Shannon went off on Jimmy, and said Shannon told them a different story. We flashed back to Shannon saying that didn’t happen, and Jimmy left because he had to get up for work early. Kelly said Shannon gets in people’s ears, and in her interview, Kelly said that Shannon had gotten everyone to call her an adulteress. We flashed back to the 70s party where Kelly and Shannon echoed, who? you! at each other. Elizabeth said in her process of self-discovery, she’d answer any questions as best she could.   

Shannon’s fourth test was positive, and she wept during her home video, saying she had so many emotions. She was worried because of her lungs, and pissed at the kids for their carelessness. They’d been hanging out with groups of twenty and thirty kids, knowing she was at risk, and she wondered if she’d infected John. Shannon called her mother Pat, and told her about the positive test. She said she was scared, and Pat asked if she had a fever. Shannon said she didn’t, but she was so mad at the kids. So far, John had tested negative. In Shannon’s interview, she said she and John had their ups and downs, and she wondered if he was going to be mad. John said he thought it was inevitable that he’d test positive. Shannon said she was so sorry, and felt so bad.

Kelly said SkyPark was her childhood fantasy come to life. Park manager Michelle explained there was hatchet throwing, archery, and mountain biking. Kelly and Gina went biking, while Braunwyn and Elizabeth went for archery. Braunwyn made a call to Shari, who she called her wife. In Elizabeth’s interview, she said she never heard someone do that. She wondered if Braunwyn was putting it out in the universe, hoping it would happen. She and Braunwyn shot at targets, reminding me of the one A that I got in high school phys ed, since I’d practiced archery practically since I could walk. They moved on to the ax challenge, where Elizabeth claimed she was aggressive, and her ax promptly bounced back at her after she threw it. After doing this several times, she got up close and personal with the target, whacking away at it with the ax. Braunwyn told the instructor that Elizabeth hadn’t had sex in, like, forever.

Shannon called her daughters with the news that she was positive, wailing that she had lung damage, and was supposed to be on a trip. They told her they’d been super careful, but Shannon insisted they hadn’t. She didn’t bring it into the house. She said she thought she’d see more emotion, and they told her they felt horrible. In her interview, Shannon said she was scared that they weren’t all going to get through it.

Emily said Shane was still staying at the hospital. He was getting a five-day dosage of medication, and sounded better. He was also breathing better, but in her interview, Elizabeth said, just because he sounded and felt better, there could still be long-term effects or he could take a turn for the worse. She was fearful for their children, but it was difficult to make a seven-year-old and two five-year-olds stay 6 feet away from their mother. She was paranoid, and doing whatever it took to protect her children.

Elizabeth thought she screwed up friendships by being psycho, and Braunwyn told her just be herself. Gina and Kelly move on to recumbent bikes designed to look like a combination of sports car and tractor. In Gina’s interview, she said she was getting her license back in 20 days, and nothing was effing it up. It looked like fun, but it was a pretty bumpy ride on a dirt road, and Gina ended up walking the bike. Elizabeth told Braunwyn that she avoided conflict, and wasn’t used to handling it. She grew up poor, and saw her husband as a meal ticket. Then she was surrounded by so much wealth for so long, it’s who she became. In Elizabeth’s interview, she said it’s not who she is, and she was desperate to find out who she is; the little girl who met and married that man, and turned into this monster. Braunwyn said everyone had a story, and a lot of them were crazier than Elizabeth’s. Elizabeth said there was something she’d never told anyone. She was raised in very religious situation, and taught not to open her mouth and tell the truth about what was happening. She learned to be good with compartmentalization, and not let people know her. She didn’t want to live that way, and Braunwyn said she didn’t have to any more. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said she had no idea what Elizabeth was talking about, but if she could get Elizabeth to open up, Elizabeth could unburden herself. Braunwyn told her there was no shame in needing help. In her interview, Elizabeth said she grew up in fear, anxiety, and anguish. She’d lived in fear for her life, and had been beaten so bad, she thought she would die. She babbled at Braunwyn, throwing that she’d grown up in a cult, and doing that laughing thing. Then she started crying, and said she’d never talked about it, and didn’t want to. She wasn’t ready. Braunwyn promised not to leave her, and Elizabeth started to hyperventilate. Braunwyn got her to sit down, and told her that she was having an anxiety attack.

To be continued…

Next time, Shane comes home, Elizabeth talks to Gina, Kelly and Gina come in contact with someone who’s positive, and Elizabeth’s perfectness is being shattered.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

Meredith said a huge part of Sundance was networking, and she needed to be there to build her brand. She also really didn’t want to live in Ohio. Nothing against Ohio, she just didn’t want to live there. I’m originally from there, and my sentiments exactly. In Mary’s interview, she said she was glad they were having Fashion Week. It felt good to put on something fierce. She sat next to Jen, who wasn’t too happy about that. I’ve noticed in Jen’s interviews, she often looks like a bobblehead. I don’t know if it’s the way she’s sitting, or what she’s wearing, but it’s distracting. Whitney walked the runway, and said in her interview, if she gave up cheeseburgers, and added six inches to her legs, she’d have a career. Meredith also walked, and son Brooks showed his Brooks Marks collection of one track suit. Afterwards, he FaceTimed with his dad, who was somewhat unapologetic about not being able to make it. In Brooks’s interview, he said Seth should have been there. If it was his kid who had a fashion show, he would have dropped his business meetings and gone. He told Seth that he’d asked him to be a father, and he wouldn’t, so Brooks was hurt. Seth said he was getting anxious from the conversation. In Meredith’s interview, she said she felt partly responsible, since she’d asked for space. Meredith wondered what was next for Brooks, and said he had to go back to school at some point.

At Beauty Lab and Laser, Heather’s schedule was cheeks, lips and a lot of Botox. Whitney had a facial done, and asked Heather how she’d started. Heather said she’d been doing marketing for Botox on Instagram, and was living off of her divorce settlement. She didn’t lack for anything, but wanted her own career. In Whitney’s interview, she said, skeptical as she was, she thought this time her dad would change. She told Heather about her dad being committed to sober living. In Heather’s interview, she said being divorced was a different experience for a man in the Mormon church. It was easier. She was looked at as not being able to keep a man or a family, and waiting for someone to accept her, so she could get into heaven. Whitney said they’d never be good enough because of what they were born into, and being women. In her interview, Heather said you were defined by what you did, and she’d straddled the fence, when either you were in it or you weren’t. Whitney asked if Heather had talked to her children, but Heather didn’t want to deal with it. Whitney said, what if not dealing with it damaged them more?  

In her interview, Jen explained that, after her dad passed, she had to take medication for anxiety and depression. Taking medication was considered a sign of weakness, and Sharieff told her to pray and get her mind right, so that’s what they did, but it didn’t work. Sh*t wasn’t working. It almost cost her marriage, and it was her rock bottom when Sharieff said he was leaving. The family had an intervention, and her son said it was okay take the medication; they wouldn’t think less of her. She was ashamed because she wanted to be Wonder Woman and Supermom at the same time. She wanted to take care of her family, not have her family take care of her.   

Lisa, John, and sons Henry and Jack had a family fun night where they set goals. In Lisa’s interview, she said she wasn’t a board game kind of mom; let’s talk about real money. One of Henry’s goals was to have triplets, and John said he was thinking long-term. In John’s interview, he admitted that 90% of his and Lisa’s relationship had to do with work. He told Lisa that business shouldn’t be their biggest priority. They needed to be together, not on the phone. He asked if she’d ever say no to anything, and she said not if it was a real goal. She wouldn’t be guilted into saying no either. She wanted a billion dollar brand, and asked if John thought it was a problem. He said, a little, and she found that irritating. She said she was good right now.

Meredith met Jen and Heather for dinner, and Meredith asked Heather what was going on with Curtis, the cameraman she’d met at Sundance. Heather said it was a short-lived love affair, since he lives in Atlanta and L.A. She said everybody had a whore phase. Meredith said she and Seth had to resolve some individual issues before getting back together. In her interview, a producer said she was private about the details of her separation, and she said if she was, there wouldn’t be much for people to talk about. Jen wondered what the issues were. Hers was that she was lonely. Meredith thought their biggest issues was learning to communicate. In Meredith’s interview, she said Seth not being at Brooks’s show was a pivotal point for her. She told Jen and Heather that they genuinely loved each other, and that counted for a lot, but they needed to figure out a way to move forward in a positive direction. In Jen’s interview, she said she personally heard more, and Meredith wasn’t telling everything. Meredith said she and Seth were re-finding each other.

Whitney said her dad had become more connected to her and the kids. Her kids had missed out on the fun she’s had with him as a kid, and it meant a lot. He was more positive, fun, playful, healthy, and happy. She’d been scared for a while, and thought her kids would never see the dad she grew up with. They went to one of those trampoline places with the kids, and Whitney’s dad told her that his therapist said he was ready for the next step; an apartment, a job, and building his life back up again. In Whitney’s interview, she said her dad had done 21 days of a program designed to be 90 days. It was a huge red flag, and a vicious cycle he hadn’t broken yet. She was concerned he wasn’t ready, and reminded him that he’d said it was hard on the other side. She was worried that, if he left, he wouldn’t recover.

In Heather’s interview, she said she was happy her daughter was in a good relationship, and wondered what it would have been like. Being divorced labeled her as being a failure, and she didn’t want her moral failings to cause her kids’ lives to crumble. In leading a double-life, she realized she might be leading them down a path they didn’t want to be on. She didn’t want to take them away from the faith and Mormonism. She had never spoken to them about it, and was basically coming out, and saying she wanted to leave the church. She told her daughters she had so much shame and fear, but they said it hurt them to see what she was going through, and they supported her. They had a strong foundation, and they’d be fine. In her interview, Heather said it made her feel like she didn’t deserve her kids. She’d been wrestling with it for so long; she should have come out in the beginning. It was like a huge weight off of her, and she needed to have an honest relationship with them, and be the mom she wanted to be. not the one the church wanted her to be.

Jen visited Whitney, who tried to teach her stripper pole moves. In Whitney’s interview, she said, where she went, the stripper pole went, but she’d never been a stripper. Jen gave it a try, and said she needed Dramamine. Jen asked Whitney what she thought about Meredith and Seth, and Whitney said she thought Meredith was trying to save face for the kids. Jen said if you weren’t getting it from home, you were going to go somewhere else. In her interview, Whiney said Jen was alluding to Meredith having a man on the side. It was a loaded statement, and she’d better be able to back it up. Whitney asked how Meredith would hide it, and Jen said, some people might know. In her interview, Jen said there was always a reason why people got separated, but it wasn’t her place to say anything to Whitney. A producer said Jen was alluding that she knew more. What wasn’t she telling?

Jen said, a few months ago, Meredith was in New York for a trunk show. There was a guy who said Meredith was the love of his life and he was going to marry her. He’d said he’d make sure Meredith got upstairs, and there was clearly something going on. She told Whitney, there was a reason why Meredith and Seth separated. 

Next time, Lisa doesn’t want to give up anything, Whitney tells Heather about what Jen said, and Seth says he can’t stand being without Meredith.

🎅 Not Quite a Long Winter’s Nap…

But a short hibernation until Monday, since it’s all holiday fare from here on in. While it might not be the holiday you imagined this year, remember the reason for the season and celebrate anyway. If you’re not well, take the time to pamper yourself and rest; if you’re alone, that’s okay, embrace it, and do something you’ve been wanting to; and if you’re just peachy, there are plenty of ways to help those who aren’t. While it might sound corny, helping others takes your mind off your own crap, and you’ll feel better for it. And while you’re at it, stay safe, stay making merry, and like Scrooge ended up doing, stay honoring Christmas in your heart, and keeping it through the year.

🌟 If your goal is to enjoy some genuine joie de vivre this holiday season, keep in mind that the simplest acts of generosity, connection, and self-care can offer the biggest rewards. – 11 Ways to Experience Holiday Joy

Merry Christmas!
Dec17

December 16, 2020 – Julian Is Haunted, the OC At Arrowhead, Sundance Commences Along With Fashion Week & Reindeer Run

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Brick meets Sonny and Jason at the Brooklyn bar. He says he heard about Dev’s passing, and gives Sonny his condolences. He remembers setting up a new identity for Dev when he came there from Turkey. He was a smart kid with a lot of potential. Did Sonny find out who was responsible? Sonny says he did, and he’s glad Brick happens to be in Brooklyn. They need his help tracking down Julian.

In Secaucus, New Jersey, Julian sits in a bus station with gunshot wound. He looks at a ticket to Montreal.

Nikolas watches Ryan in his hospital bed, when Britt comes by. She asks if she can help him?

Ava comes into the hospital, and hears Portia on the phone telling Trina to call back the second she gets the message. Ava asks if something is wrong, and Portia says, as a matter-of-fact there is, and she holds Ava personally responsible.

In the park, Trina says, dad? Jordan says, Trina? and Trina says she shouldn’t sneak up on people like that. They might have a heart condition. Jordan says she didn’t mean to scare Trina. She was thinking about Trina’s dad, and came to a place where she could remember him. Trina says she’ll leave Jordan to it, but Jordan says she’s welcome to stay. It would be nice to spend time with someone else who remembers Taggert. Taggert listens from behind the bushes.

Carly says, Cyrus told Trina her dad was alive? How was Trina anywhere near him? Josslyn says, some guy told Trina to hang around the bistro because someone had information about her dad. She did, and Cyrus showed up. Cyrus is obviously messing with Trina’s head… right? Cyrus walks into the MetroCourt.  

The nurse tells Curtis, there’s no need to worry about his patient’s transition there, but he says he’s not worried. He knows they’ll take good care of her. She says, the doctor sedates all the patients on their first night to make them more comfortable.  

Brandishing a pretty large needle, the doctor tells Laura, this won’t hurt one bit. Before she knows it, she’ll be fast asleep. Curtis bursts in, and says, stop!

Britt tells Nikolas, unless he’s next kin, he has no business in Ryan’s room. Nikolas says he wasn’t in the room; he was in the doorway. Britt says, if she hadn’t come along, he would have been at Ryan’s bedside. What’s the plan? And don’t patronize her with a lie. He says he heard Ryan could be coming out of his coma, and Britt says, and…? He says he’d thought he’d keep tabs on Ryan, and Britt asks if he was really keeping tabs, or was he going to take Ryan out himself?

Portia tells Ava, she called the school, and apparently, Trina has skipped the last two days. Trina said she was taking yesterday off, but then said she changed her mind and she was going. Ava says, but she didn’t? and Portia says, no, and Trina’s not returning her calls. Ava asks if she thinks Trina is at the gallery, and Portia says she would understand if Trina wanted to take a few days to cope with Dev’s death, but she needs to answer her calls. Ava tells her, Trina isn’t hiding out at the gallery. She hasn’t seen Trina since Dev was killed. Portia wonders, then where is she?

Jordan gets that Trina is still angry about her exposing Taggert, and Trina says, thanks to Jordan, Cyrus was released, and everyone thinks her dad is a lousy cop who broke the law. How can she call him a friend? Jordan says if there’s any way she could have protected Taggert’s reputation, she would have, and Trina says, she didn’t try. At least she’s doing something about it. She’s trying to prove his innocence. At least she was until… Jordan says, what? and Trina says, it doesn’t matter. She won’t let anyone think her dad is a bad cop. Jordan understands she wants to clear Taggert’s name, but Trina is setting herself up for disappointment. He did fabricate evidence against Cyrus.

Carly says she’s texting someone to pick Josslyn up, and it’s not up for discussion. On the phone, Cyrus tells someone to take care of it, and Carly approaches him. She tells him, stay the hell away from her daughter and her friends. He says he’s had no contact with Josslyn. Is there another friend Carly is talking about? Carly says, stay away from all of them. Stop poisoning their minds with lies. He asks what makes her think he has? and she  tells him, stay away, or he’s not going to like what happens next. He asks why she’s so worked up about something that hasn’t happened?

Brick says, setting a bomb doesn’t seem like Julian’s style, and Sonny says, he owed Cyrus a favor. Brick asks if they have proof, and Jason says Julian is their proof. That’s why they need to find him. Brick asks if he’s in Brooklyn, and Sonny says they tracked him to an old girlfriend’s apartment, but Cyrus’s men beat them there, and tried to kill Julian. He won’t be going back anytime soon, and it made it more difficult to find him. Brick says, there is one way.

Julian hears an announcement that his bus is delayed an hour. He talks to himself, saying he should have taken a plane. Who is he kidding? Airport security would have been all over him. Come on. One more hour. He changes benches, and a man puts his luggage down, and sits next to him, the man’s newspaper in front of his face. Julian tells him, there are other benches; take it somewhere else. The man lowers the paper, and it’s Duke. He says, no Julian. He’s exactly where he needs to be.

The doctor asks Curtis if something is wrong, and he says, the nurse told him about the injection the doctor gives to help the patients sleep through the night. His patient has a severe allergy to the medication. The doctor says, there was no mention about it in her file, and Curtis says, it was an oversight on Dr. Collins’s part. No doubt his grief over his wife’s slip back into psychosis distracted him. He’d like a moment with his patient. He can help her to relax, and get her to sleep through the night. The doctor and nurse leave, and Laura hugs Curtis, and thanks him.  

Nikolas asks what Britt is implying, and she says Ryan will probably never regain consciousness, but he’d like to make that permanent, right? He says, if Ryan dies, he won’t shed tears, but helping Ryan to his final destination in hell isn’t on his to-do list. Although it’s not a bad thing to wish for; one less serial killer in the world. Doesn’t she think so? She says she took an oath to do no harm. The minute she starts placing value judgements on her patients, she’s turning in her stethoscope. He asks how it feels, being on the high road, and she says, it feels really good. How does it feel being on the low road, so he can hold on to his fortune in a loveless marriage to Ava? He says, it feels right. Their relationship has changed.

Ava tells Portia, Trina is a smart, responsible young woman. It could be that she needed to take the time to grieve her friend. Portia says, but it’s Trina’s senior year. Her grades have been spectacular, and her extracurricular is solid. She doesn’t want Trina to ditch class, and blow her chances at a good college. Ava says, perhaps Trina is avoiding a lecture. While it might be justified, maybe Trina’s not picking up for Portia right now.

Carly tells Cyrus, her daughter and her friends are off limits. He and Sonny might have a truce, but Cyrus doesn’t want a war with her. He says he imagines not, and she walks away. He makes a call, and says, there appears to be truth in what Julian told him. Find Trina, and she’ll lead them to Taggert.

Trina says she knows her dad better than Jordan, but Jordan says, falsifying evidence doesn’t make him a bad man. Trina says, really? Tell the judge who released Cyrus from prison. Jordan says, according to the judge, and her, Trina’s dad broke the law. She thinks Trina needs to understand where her dad was coming from. For two years, they watched tons of people die from overdoses, and there was nothing they could do to stop it, even though they knew Cyrus was responsible. Trina says, if Cyrus was guilty, why did they have to make up evidence? Jordan says they couldn’t find concrete proof, so he couldn’t be convicted. Imagine how frustrating it was. Cyrus was free to sell drugs, and bore no responsibility to the rise in deaths. Trina says, they couldn’t find anything that would stand up in court? and Jordan says, exactly. Her dad, Mark, and Bob made a choice, Cyrus went to prison, and the bodies stopped piling up. Trina asks if she’s saying her dad believed the ends justified the means, and Jordan says, even if he knew it could come crashing down on him. He believed falsifying evidence meant saving lives, and he wouldn’t and couldn’t change a thing. Taggert continues to listen.

Brick asks if they’re familiar with facial recognition software, and Sonny says he’s used it in his business. Jason asks if the cops don’t use it, and Sonny tells Brick to enlighten them. Brick says it can be used to cross-reference photos from social media posts and online activity with active security footage. Sonny asks if it’s legal, and Brick says, it’s a grey area. Civil liberties concerns. They know how it goes. Sonny tells Brick to do what he’s got to do to find Julian.

Julian says, Lavery. No, it’s not possible. Duke says, after all this time, the least Julian can do is call him Duke. Julian says he’s not real. He’s dead. Duke asks if he’s a figment of Julian’s imagination, or is he delirious from blood loss? Call it what he likes, Duke is delighted to be there. Julian asks why he’s there, and Duke says, he’s got a front row seat to Julian’s bad deeds catching up with him. Julian has nowhere else to run. No more rocks to crawl under. No more reinventing himself. They all reach the end of road eventually, some sooner than others, and Julian’s time is finally… Julian drops to his knees.

Curtis says Laura was willing to get doped up to keep the operation going? She says she could use a good night’s sleep. Did he find out if Florence is a patient? He says, she is; room two, this floor. Laura says, perfect. She’ll wait until things quiet down, and slip out. She’ll pay Florence a visit, and find out what connection she has to Cyrus. Curtis has a better idea. He’ll sign her out, and they’ll find some other way in tomorrow morning. Laura says, absolutely not. Their plan worked. Curtis had her admitted, and got them to believe she has a mental illness, helped by Doc’s trumped up referral. She’s not leaving until they get what they need out of Florence.

Brick asks if Sonny has no idea who the shooter was outside the apartment, and Sonny says, Cyrus made sure there was no way to connect the shooter to him. Carly calls Sonny, and he asks if everything is okay. She says, Cyrus apparently told Trina that Taggert is alive. Sonny asks how Cyrus found out, and she tells him, Josslyn didn’t say, but she agreed to help Trina find out if it’s true. Sonny says she has to stop it, and she says she has Josslyn convinced that Taggert is dead, but it’s not good. Sonny says, the most important news is that Cyrus knows Taggert is alive, and he’s going to go after Taggert again.   

Jordan tells Trina, her father is dead, and according to law enforcement, he broke the law. He didn’t do it lightly, and knew it might come back to haunt him. Trina says, he knew it was wrong, but needed to make things right, and Jordan says, he was willing to accept whatever punishment he got. She knows it’s a lot to process, and appreciates Trina sticking around to hear her out. Trina says, it doesn’t cost anything to listen, and Jordan asks Trina to tell her what’s on her mind about her dad. Trina’s phone rings, and it’s Ava. Ava says she’s at the hospital with Trina’s mom. Her mom is concerned about Trina avoiding her calls. She’s worried about Trina, and Trina needs to drop what she’s doing and get to GH and see her right now. Trina says, about that… Okay. She’ll be right there. She tells Jordan, she’s got to go. Her mom is worried. Jordan asks if she can call a ride for Trina, and Trina says, like a cop car? Is she crazy? Trina thinks she’ll call a Ride Share. She thanks Jordan for what she said, and Jordan tells her, be safe. Trina leaves, and Jordan sighs. Taggert comes out, and Jordan asks if he’s happy now. He got to see Trina one last time. He thanks her, and she tells him to take her advice. Get out before Cyrus finds him, and tries to kill him again.

Britt says she should have bet on Nikolas falling in love with Ava. She could have bought a yacht. He says she loves being right, and she agrees. She asks if things have changed, and he says he and Ava are figuring it out. She wonders if he could be more vague, and what it means for the post-nup. Is it in the shredder, or is he being cautious, keeping it around just in case? He says, the road to true love isn’t smooth. Ava comes out of the elevator, and says she hopes she’s not interrupting. Britt says, it’s perfect timing. Nikolas told her there’s been an interesting development in their relationship. An alarm goes off in Ryan’s room, and Britt tells them, stay there. She goes in, and Ava looks at Nikolas.  

Julian tells Duke, he may have a one-way ticket to hell when his life is done, but sorry, he’s not dead yet. Duke says, denial won’t work this time. Right now, Julian is a scared little rat, scuttling away to find a hole to hide in. He doesn’t fight; he flees. Julian says, look who’s talking. Duke’s life wasn’t a bed of roses either. Duke was a gangster like him. Duke can blame Julian all he wants for his death, but Julian isn’t the one who killed him. Duke says Julian had someone else do his dirty work. Now he’s afraid. Duke looks at a woman who’s joined them, and asks if she wouldn’t agree.  

Laura tells Curtis, she can slip out, find Florence, and maybe question her, if she’s in a condition to talk. She knows Curtis doesn’t like this, but it’s the plan that makes the most sense. Pick her up tomorrow. She hopes Florence has the information they need to bring Cyrus down.

Taggert thanks Jordan for what she said to Trina, and Jordan says, dragging his reputation through the mud? He says, explaining why they created evidence to put Cyrus in prison, and helping Trina understand, in the kindest way, that he’s not perfect. Jordan says she meant every word. She also explained her own actions. He says he still thinks they did the right thing, and she says, despite the consequences? He says, breaking the law to protect their families, then worrying about the consequences later. She asks if she they had a choice, and wonders what’s so amusing. He says, they’re partners again. Working together to protect Trina. Jordan has his back like she did when they worked for the DEA. She says, and he has hers. They hug, and she tells him to take care of himself. She hears something, and tells him, get down. A gunman pops out, and Jordan draws her gun.

Josslyn says she saw Carly confront Cyrus; that’s what Trina was worried about. She didn’t want Josslyn to tell Carly, and make it worse between the families. Carly says, she also didn’t want an adult to discover what they were doing. Josslyn says, it doesn’t make sense. Why would Trina’s father fake his death? Carly says, Trina is vulnerable. It was a tragedy that Dev was killed, and it makes sense that Trina would want to believe something positive. Josslyn says she guesses. Trina is convinced her dad faked his death to protect her, but what kind of parent would do that, leave their kid to grieve? Carly says, when Josslyn is a parent, she’ll understand. You’ll do anything to protect your child.

Brick tells Sonny, Cyrus could be tracking Julian like he is, but Sonny says, he doesn’t have a Brick. Brick wonders what if the cops take Julian down themselves? and Sonny says he told Diane to reach out to the PCPD. Jason says there’s probably someone waiting to ambush Julian, and Sonny says, make sure they fail. Brick asks if they’re in the business of keeping Julian alive now, and Sonny says, only until he gives up Cyrus.  

Julian says, Connie Falconari? Is this a joke? He’s not responsible for her death. She says, yet here she is. What little conscience he does have, disagrees. He says Ava shot her. Ava is responsible for her death, not him. She says, Ava killed her to protect him. No one knew he was really the boss of the Jerome crime family. He says, it was Ava’s choice, but Duke says, Julian manipulated her. He made her think she had to act to save him. He convinced Ava that without him, she’d have no one. He doesn’t love Ava; she’s just a pawn. Julian says, that’s not true. He loves Ava, and he won’t be made to feel guilty about her choices. Alexis appears, and says, what about his choices? Has he ever owned up to the fact he took a knife to his wife’s throat? She hands him a knife.

Ava tells Nikolas she can’t help thinking what she’s thinking, and he says, either Ryan dies or goes back into a coma. Even if he makes a full recovery, it’s not the end of the world. She says he can’t threaten her with Julian any longer to get her to do his bidding, and Nikolas tells her, think positive, but she says that’s not really in her DNA. Mac shows up, and Nikolas asks what he’s doing there. Mac says he could ask the same thing, and Ava says they were there about another matter, when the alarm went off in Ryan’s room, so they came to check. Britt comes out, and Mac thanks her for notifying the PCPD about the change in Ryan’s condition. How is he? She says, he regained consciousness.

The gunman lies on the ground, and Jordan says he just took a shot at the Commissioner. He says he wasn’t after her. He was after the girl, hoping to draw Taggert out of hiding.  

Trina shows up at the hospital, and Portia says, thank God she’s okay. Trina says, of course (🍷) she is. Portia didn’t have to worry. Portia says, mothers always worry, and Trina says, sorry. Portia says she would have understood if Trina wanted to take a few days off to cope with dealing with Dev’s death. Why did she lie, and say she was going to classes? Trina says, it’s complicated, but Portia doesn’t have to worry. Portia says, rule number five in the Mother’s Handbook, when a child says, don’t worry, you worry more, but Trina says, if she’s wrong, it would only hurt Portia.

Taggert looks at the gunman, and tells Jordan, he’s gone. Jordan says, Cyrus knows Taggert is alive, and he asks, how? and she says, it doesn’t matter. His family isn’t safe if Cyrus knows he can get to Taggert through Trina. She’s going to take him to the one place she knows Cyrus can’t get to. He says, which is? and she says, trust her.

Ava tells Nikolas, of course (🍷) Ryan wouldn’t do them a favor and die. Britt says their presence isn’t necessary. She still needs to consult with the surgeon, but Ryan’s brain was deprived of oxygen for too long. Ava asks if he’s a vegetable, and Britt says she ran an initial test, and he might be in a vegetative state. Ava tells her, like she said. She’d like to see for herself. She heads for Ryan’s room, and Nikolas stops Britt from following her. Britt asks if she should let Ava go, so she can smother Ryan with a pillow. Nikolas says, the last thing Ava wants is to go to prison. Ryan tortured her for too many years for her to be denied the right to see his condition for herself. Ava looks at Ryan.  

The doctor leaves Laura’s room. She looks around, and slips out of bed. She tiptoes to the dresser, and pulls out some clothing. Geez, you’d think she’d wait a millisecond.

Julian tells Alexis, he didn’t mean to hurt her. He told her, his sister was threatening his family. Connie says, here we go again. It’s never his fault. It’s easier and more convenient to blame someone else. Duke says, Ava is the perfect scapegoat. She’s vengeful, but she doesn’t have mind control. How could she coerce him into trying to kill Alexis? Alexis says he wasn’t trying to kill her; he was trying to save her. Duke says, by dragging her to the pier with a dagger at her throat, while his sister was planting a bomb? Anything to make it more convincing. Alexis says she’s asked herself the same thing many times. Does he have an answer? Julian says she’s got to believe him. He was trying to save her. He loved her then, and still loves her. Duke says he’s not hearing violins, and Connie says, they’d only play the same old song. Julian loves his family. Julian would do anything for his family. Blah-blah-blah. Julian says if he could take it back the harm he caused, he would, but he can’t change the past. What else is there to do? Alexis says, he could balance the scale of justice, and die. She holds the knife to his throat.  

Laura slips out, and walks down the hallway to Florence’s room.

Ava tells Ryan, hello? Anybody home? She gets in his face, and sharply says, wake up! but gets no reaction. She says she wanted him dead. She should have pointed the gun directly at his heart and fired until she ran out of bullets for what he did to her; what he did to Kiki. But sometimes you don’t know the perfect gift until you receive it. He’s been given a fate worse than death. Hell for him is this purgatory of nothingness, and she hopes he suffers for a very long time. She puts her face close to his, and says, take one last look, you son of a bitch. It’s the last time he’s ever going see her. Nikolas asks if she’s ready, and she says she is. She’s released Ryan’s hold on her. They leave, and Ryan is motionless. Then just a hint of a smile happens. It’s so slight, we can’t be sure…

On the phone, Brick says he owes them one. He tells Sonny they checked Julian’s photo, and got a hit in the metro area. It shows Julian waiting for a bus to Canada. Jason asks where he is, and Brick says, Secaucus. Jason says, it’s right across the river. They can be there in no time. Sonny says, Julian isn’t getting away this time.   

Alexis tells Julian, he knows the only way to balance the scales is to just pay the debt he owes them. Connie says, release them from the pain, and Duke tells him, accept his fate. This is the end. Alexis says, just let go, and Julian slumps. It’s announced that his bus is leaving, and Julian’s ticket falls to the floor.   

Portia tells Trina, she doesn’t know what to think, and Trina says, please, no more rules from the handbook. Don’t tell her rule number 6 is, be strong enough to handle anything your kid throws at you. Portia says Trina read the handbook. And she’s going to read Trina the riot act if she doesn’t return to class. It’s not Trina’s job to protect her, and even when Portia is 106 in a nursing home, she’s going to be protecting Trina. Trina says she saw Cyrus at the bistro. That’s why she didn’t go to school. Portia says, she did what? What did he say to her? Trina says he told her that her dad is alive.

Mac finds Jordan in the park, and says, she’s barely out of the hospital. Now she’s taking out a perp? She says, it was self-defense. She killed him to protect someone else. Taggert comes out, and says, long time, Mac. Good to see him. No surprise, Mac is shocked.  

Josslyn asks if Carly thinks there’s any truth in what Cyrus told Trina. Could Taggert be alive? Carly says, just speaking from parental experience, a parent’s instinct is to protect their child, even at the risk of their own life… Carly’s phone rings, and she says Josslyn will be downstairs in the lobby. She tells Josslyn that her ride is there, and to call her the second she gets home. Josslyn says she will, but she thinks Cyrus left while ago. She doesn’t think Cyrus is going to approach her. Carly says, he’d better not, and Josslyn wonders where Carly thinks he went.   

Laura goes into Florence’s room, and I wonder if Cyrus is going to catch her. She approaches the bed, and looks at Florence. She’s about to touch Florence’s hand, when she hears someone coming. The door handle moves.

Tomorrow, Portia tells Trina that Cyrus is about to get what’s coming to him, Curtis tells Laura there’s trouble back in Port Charles, Michael says he’s not going to take away Chase’s choices like Chase did to him, and Jason asks Sonny how he wants to do this.

The Real Housewives of Orange County

On her home video, Emily said she couldn’t go to Lake Arrowhead because she tested positive. She had a headache and was tired, but nothing else. She felt like she did what she was supposed to do, and didn’t know where she got it. The kids were fine, but Shane didn’t feel well, and had a cough. In her interview, Emily said it was a lot mentally, and she was scared everyone in her household had it.  

In Braunwyn’s interview, she said she was nervous to be going on a trip with the women. They drink a lot, and her sobriety was new and fragile. She decided to take her own car, and stay nearby. She thought it would be weird, since Shannon and Emily couldn’t go, and told Sean to leave his phone on. If she called, it meant she was having a nervous breakdown.

Kelly arrived first at the Arrowhead villa. She said it was spectacular, and I agreed. In her interview, she said the view was beautiful, but it felt like Camp Crystal Lake. It had a Friday the 13th vibe.

Shannon was quarantined at John’s house, and said she was still achy. All three kids had tested positive, and she was concerned, even though her last test had been negative. Braunwyn stopped by, staying outside while they video chatted. In Shannon’s interview, she says she was worried about the girls being alone, but she couldn’t be in the same house with them. Braunwyn said she had a device that checked your oxygen intake, and asked if Shannon wanted to borrow it. Shannon said she did, and told Braunwyn that the kids didn’t understand how many people were getting this, and how it trickled down. She was getting fearful, thinking, what if she had it?    

Kelly made a video call to Rick, and showed him around the villa. It was his first day at his new job, and he said it was good so far. He knew a lot of people there. In Kelly’s interview, she said Rick’s had moved to Orange County, since his job moved to L.A. permanently. She thought she couldn’t find a better man or better match. He was her best friend and lover; everything she’d hoped and dreamed of. Elizabeth joined her, and said the view was amazing, and I agreed there too. Kelly brought out a whole reusable shopping bag full of supplements, and Elizabeth asked if she was turning into an old lady. Kelly told Elizabeth about Braunwyn pulling up Elizabeth’s financial information on the internet, and we flashed back to that. Gina arrived, and they sat down to chat. Kelly told them that Vegas was open, and she’d been on airplanes. They talked about Shannon, and in Gina’s interview, she said Shannon was over-dramatic, but if there was ever a time to be that way, it was now. Braunwyn pulled in while she was on the phone with Sean, and said she’d just entered bizzarro world. Kelly wanted to have a drink before Braunwyn got there, and said Braunwyn had been the one telling her not to go out, then Braunwyn went out. Elizabeth said a friend called and said she thought they were supposed to be in quarantine because of the trip. Elizabeth said  they were, and her freind sent her a video of Sean and Braunwyn at a pool party. Elizabeth showed them the video, and in Kelly’s interview, she said Braunwyn was a hypocrite. Pot, kettle. Kettle, black. Everyone is drinking by the time Braunwyn comes in.   

In her interview, Braunwyn said she’d been living in a safe bubble with her family, in an alcohol free home. Here, there were bottles everywhere, and triggers. She’d been there one second, and thinks she shouldn’t have come. Kelly told Braunwyn about the video Elizabeth got, and Braunwyn said it was before she knew she was supposed to quarantine. Kelly said Elizabeth got the video after Braunwyn had called and told her about quarantining. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said, Kelly took the truth, and skewed it. Gina said Shannon had called her up, hysterical, but she’d been allowing John and the kids to come in and out. Now the kids have it. Braunwyn got up, said she didn’t want to talk behind Shannon’s back, and went out on the deck. In Elizabeth’s interview, she said Braunwyn was hypocritical, since Braunwyn had talked behind her back.

In Shannon’s interview, she said she and John were taking supplements to keep their immunity high. She was creating a virus immunity wall. At Shannon’s house, Sophie was having a quarantine countdown, and they were having a great time. She said they missed mom, and smiled a smile that said, not really.

Outside, Gina asked Braunwyn what was going on, and Braunwyn said she didn’t feel okay about discussing someone who wasn’t there. Kelly said Braunwyn didn’t tell anyone to shut up when they were talking about her, and we flashed back to Vicki and the whole train thing. Kelly told her, stop being fake. Braunwyn told Gina, she didn’t know why Kelly was mad, and Gina said Elizabeth was mad at Braunwyn for digging up stuff on the internet. She shouldn’t have done that. Braunwyn said that wasn’t true, and Elizabeth told Kelly that she wanted to know real Braunwyn. Kelly said Braunwyn had a professional photographer there when she was in a protest march, and everything was about her image. Braunwyn was full of sh*t. In her interview, Kelly said, a professional photog defeated the purpose of the protest. Kelly gave Elizabeth a clown mask, and put on a pig mask. We flashed back to Vicki and the ongoing pig insult. Vicki: gone, but not forgotten. Elizabeth said she was Braunwyn, reverting to a middle schooler.

Shannon checked in with the kids, and John said they looked good for an infected scourge. Shannon ran through a list of what they should be taking, and asked how they thought they got it. John asked if they’d been kissing anyone. Shannon asked about their symptoms, but the kids were terrified to tell her. Shannon asked Sophie why she was smiling. What was so funny? In Sophie’s interview, she said, does her mom tend to overreact? Is she breathing oxygen? Yeah. Just a little.

Gina said Braunwyn seemed more hesitant, and asked if Braunwyn would be wondering what they were saying about her if she wasn’t there. It must be more challenging for her. Braunwyn said she was staying at a resort, since she’d have a hard time at 4 am, when everyone was up and partying. In her interview, Braunwyn described the arc of partying. So fun, this is great, I love you so much, waaah! She said she wanted to leave at a high point. Gina asked how Braunwyn’s marriage was doing, and Braunwyn said covid was bad for her marriage. They had no sex for a long time, and were passive/aggressive. It wasn’t pleasant. They went in not knowing if it would work, and came out deciding to put in whatever work they could. In Gina’s interview, she said she wasn’t surprised. The vow renewal seemed sterile. Gina said Sean had been there for Braunwyn, and Braunwyn said Sean almost took the kids and left, but he was afraid she would die.  

Emily did her mid-day checking in on Shane. In her interview, she said the irony was that she tested positive, but Shane’s test was negative, yet he felt sick. To his credit, he was keeping his sense of humor. She was taking care of the kids, her husband had covid and she was taking care of him, and she had covid and no energy. It was more than one person should have to deal with.   

The women went to the lake, and Gina said she’d rather camp with bears than find out what was at the bottom of the effing lake. Elizabeth said she found Braunwyn funnier when she was sober, and Kelly said Braunwyn was better when she was hammered. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said, anyone who would say that to someone in sobriety was messed up; Kelly was an a-hole. Elizabeth and Kelly did some paddle-boarding. Elizabeth called Kelly’s name, causing her to turn and fall off her board, and Elizabeth said she deserved it. Gina wanted to be brave and conquer this. Kelly called Shannon from the beach, and complained about Braunwyn, although she said she didn’t think Braunwyn had any ill will. Braunwyn walked past while Kelly was talking, and Kelly said she’d call Shannon later. Elizabeth tried to help Gina with paddle-boarding, but Gina ended up in the water. In her interview, Gina said it didn’t matter if it was a river, a lake, the ocean, or a pool, she thought the kraken was coming. This kind of thinking is foreign to me, since I live by the ocean and think there’s nothing better than swimming in it. I can be skittish about waves, but I’ve never once thought anything was going to rise from the deep, and devour me as a human sacrifice. A lake is even better. No waves.

Emily was crying and scared. Shane wasn’t getting better, and couldn’t breathe. In her interview, she said she was trying to do the best she could, but she didn’t know if she was making the best choices.  

Elizabeth said she was glad Kelly knew how to cook, and in her interview, Kelly wondered how three women could go through life not knowing how to cook. They wore face shields while cooking, and tried to sanitize while they went along, but they shouldn’t have bothered, since what they were doing didn’t seem very affective. Kelly wanted a drink. In her interview, Braunwyn said two months earlier, she’d had to clean out some wine she’d remembered was in the refrigerator. She thought it wouldn’t be bad to keep, but ended up getting rid of it. Social situations were different now. Alcohol was everywhere, and she was out of her comfort zone. It had seemed like a good idea, but it was too much. Braunwyn went on the deck to call Sean, and was pissed when one of the kids had to get him. She said it was the one thing she’d asked, and she shouldn’t have to track him down. She told him that she could feel drama and toxicity coming. She was the weird alcoholic in the room, and a buzzkill. She hadn’t realized how much drinking was a connector.

Emily took Shane to the hospital, but couldn’t go in with him. He’d texted that his oxygen levels were low, and they had him on an IV and medication, as well as oxygen. In Emily’s interview, she said what she heard was, Shane was going to die in the hospital alone. She called Shannon, and said Shane had been coughing up blood and throwing up. He had a gall bladder attack on top of the virus. He’d tested negative the first time, but they’d still been waiting on the second test results. In Shannon’s interview, she said she should be Shane, since she had lung issues, and it scared her. In Emily’s interview, she said Shannon had been a good friend. They were two women and mothers, comforting each other on their way through this. Shannon said there was so much uncertainty. Who it would touch, and who it would effect badly. None of it made sense, which was what made it frightening. She hit the nail on the head there.

Gina said it wasn’t the same without the others, and Kelly talked about Rick’s new show. The subject of taking down historical statues came up, since Rick is a newscaster, and Braunwyn said some of them were offensive to some people. Kelly said they couldn’t rewrite history. Were they going to tear down the Colosseum? In Braunwyn’s interview, she said marginalized people needed to be respected. She told Kelly, statues didn’t educate, and Elizabeth said they should be put in a museum. Kelly thought it should be put to a vote, but Braunwyn said, being nice hasn’t worked. In her interview, Braunwyn said Orange County was conservative, but she was done keeping her mouth shut. Kelly didn’t think Braunwyn was qualified to discuss minority issues, and Gina said, when she was arrested, she was scared of the consequences, but never scared of the cops. In Gina’s interview, she said the system worked for her, but would it have gone that way if she’d been a Black girl, or guy? Maybe or maybe not, but maybe not wasn’t even okay. In Elizabeth’s interview, she said she didn’t get all of it, but thought awareness was what they were striving for, so the cause was working. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said it was an uncomfortable conversation to have, but the only way to change was by having it until it wasn’t uncomfortable.

Elizabeth thought they should do something active and fun the next day, and suggested archery and go-cart driving. Kelly remarked that the alcohol she was drinking was 40%. On the side, Gina asked Braunwyn if they were talking about things. Braunwyn wondered, what things? and Gina said Elizabeth knew she’d been digging up stuff on the internet, and she agreed Braunwyn shouldn’t be doing it. In Gina’s interview, she said Braunwyn had to find a way to channel what she was going through in a more positive way. Kelly asked Elizabeth about confronting Braunwyn, but Elizabeth said she decided to do it tomorrow. Kelly said Braunwyn had two sides. She had a sweet, good side, and another side where she wanted to further her agenda. Gina joined them, and Elizabeth wondered how Sean was dealing with Braunwyn’s newfound sobriety. Gina said they were working through it. Braunwyn was about to call Sean, when she heard Gina freaking out. In Gina’s interview, she said she didn’t realize when she took the master suite, she’d need a full-on beekeeper suit. We saw one corner of the room covered in tons of… some kind of flying creature, but I don’t think it was bees. Elizabeth said there was a big-ass spider in there too.

In Emily’s interview, she said she just got an update from the hospital. Shane wasn’t responding to her texts, and she started to panic. The only information they would give her was that Shane was back in his room and sleeping. He had to give his permission for anything else. That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard, since she’s obviously a pretty close family member. She said she was worn out and worried, and didn’t know how long he was going to be there.

Emily finally got a text from Shane that said she couldn’t imagine what it felt like. It was worse than prison, and every hour was like a fight. Emily told him, please don’t say that, and to let her know he was okay. She loved him.

Next time, ax throwing, biking, Shannon is worried and pissed at her kids, Elizabeth confronts Braunwyn, and Braunwyn helps Elizabeth through a panic attack.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

It was Park City Fashion Week, and Brooks was going to be the youngest designer there. Jen roller skated from her office to her partner Stuart’s office, and told him, it was Fashion Week, so they were getting in party mode. He fanned her with a giant feather fan, while she hula hooped. I’m not making that up. In her interview, she said her cousin Tony Vainuku was a filmmaker, and debuting his documentary. She was going to be hosting the VIPs. She reminded Stuart about when he got drunk at one of the Sundance parties and thought he was a rapper by the name of Stu Chainz, which is actually pretty funny.

Lisa said her company Lux Marketing was at its most busy during Sundance. It was 10 days of non-stop events. Some people said she was the Queen of Sundance, but she thought she was just good at what she does. In her interview, she said she’d learned if she wanted more, she had to work harder. The LDS church promoted being in constant pursuit of being their best selves, and she loved setting standards for herself. In his interview, John said he and Lisa owned everything jointly, but Lisa was the boss. He didn’t mind, since they worked well together. The producer asked if Lisa had pressed him to do the interview, and he said he couldn’t confirm or deny.

Whitney told Justin about Mary’s luncheon, and Jen came over with Stuart. Jen and Whitney had a hot tub party, and discussed Justin’s birthday. In Whitney’s interview, she said his birthday always falls around the start of Sundance, so she goes all out. He’d sacrificed his standing in the church, and his relationship with his family to be with her, and she wants to show him how grateful she is. He deserved it. She said it wasn’t about choosing teams for her, and she liked Mary. Mary was crazy, but also her friend. Jen told Whitney that Mary had attacked her and called her a hoodlum. In Jen’s interview, she said that had been the last straw. Whitney said she wasn’t letting any drama go down at the party; it was about Justin.

Meredith asked Whitney to walk in the show, and said she was a part of history in the making. Jen said she wanted to be drama free at Justin’s party, and wanted no eye rolling from Mary. In Mary’s interview, she explained that housekeeper Charlinda was her grandma’s brother’s daughter. They weren’t close, but at the end of the day she was family. Heather was worried about Jen and Mary being at the same party, but in Mary’s interview, she said, in life, you weren’t going to like some people, but had to get along. Justin began his birthday by taking a body shot off of his wife, and then they got on a party bus. I’d be the party pooper on a party bus, since I’m a huge fan of seatbelts. In Heather’s interview, she said she loves Jason’s birthday parties. It was one of the reasons he married Whitney. She could turn it up. She was decades younger and sexier, and not afraid to show it. In Whitney’s interview, she said, after the bus, the party moves to her friend Kathryn’s house where they get the VIP treatment. In her interview, Heather said Kathryn was well-connected in Park City. She was the Queen of Sundance, but don’t tell Lisa. Whitney made a toast to Justin, saying he was the sexiest MF’er there. Jen wondered where Mary was, since she’s obviously obsessed. Mary said if she had to be around someone, she didn’t want to fight. She wanted to make sure they were good, and approached Jen.

Jen told Mary that she’d tried to explain where she was coming from, and obviously triggered something. Mary told Jen that her grandfather comment was out of line, but Jen claimed she never said that. Mary said Jen had been screaming things at her, and in her interview, Mary said, Jen was straight-up lying, had a twin, or was not in reality.  In Jen’s interview, she said she’d been drinking and didn’t remember what she’d said. She knows she didn’t say that to Mary’s face, but it was possible she’d said it to someone else. Mary suggested they move on, and said she was willing to do that, but in her interview, she said she was done with Jen.

In Meredith’s interview, she said Park City was the cultural hub of Utah. They had Sundance, but this year was the first ever Park City Fashion Week. She was walking, and would be wearing her own jewelry with McKell Maddox’s clothing. She said Brooks had always loved fashion, and had never let her pick out his clothes. She was proud of his ambition. He was debuting some of his track suits, but he was disappointed  that his dad wasn’t there to support him. Meredith said it made her sad that he couldn’t, and in her interview, said they weren’t getting along, and Seth was taking over a new company in Ohio; the combination made it impossible for him to be there for Brooks. Lisa said she was hosting the most amazing event she’d ever put together at Sundance. It was going to be open to the public, and they were giving away prizes. The walls were all peel-away game pieces. The Sundance Queen never disappoints. Sitter Dezi was with the boys, and suggested they call Lisa, but Lisa ignored the call. In her interview, Lisa said, working mothers have to compartmentalize. During Sundance, mommy is MIA. She doesn’t answer the phone unless it’s work related.

Whitney and Heather went to a bar, and Heather said her drink tasted like water. In her interview, she said Mormons aren’t supposed to drink alcohol. The legislature was made up mostly of Mormons, so they made rules to keep their patrons in line, like limiting alcohol access. The drinks are watered down, and you’re not allowed more than two drinks on a table. It made it hard for closet Mormons like her to get a buzz. Heather told Whitney that she wished she had a fairytale relationship like Whitney did. In Heather’s interview, she said she chose faith, religion, and lifestyle over love, and had deep regret over her choices. She didn’t regret her children, but had wanted the whole package. She told Whitney that she wanted to be seen for who she was, and still be loved. Whitney said she had to put herself out there, but Heather said when she showed who she was, she got her hand slapped. In Heather’s interview, she said she was a virgin when she got married, and felt deprived. She was never single, never dated, and never explored who she was and who she found attractive. Whitney said Heather wasn’t going to find it until she made steps toward it, and thought Heather was making excuses. Heather insisted, in their community she couldn’t find someone. In her interview, she said she needed to find someone who didn’t come from a Mormon perspective of what her role should be. She was divorced, drank, and had three kids. No one wanted to take her home to meet their parents for Sunday dinner. Whitney wanted Heather to have the fairytale, and knew Heather could get it.

Jen worked with event planner Mara on the VIP party, and Sharieff actually showed up. Jen was proud of her cousin, and how he was representing Polynesians and Tongans. Heather thought Sundance was a brush with the big life, fun, and fantasy. You could meet men from other areas and cultures. It was the gift of Sundance; no strings attached. In her interview, she says she was always looking for sex, but not for love. Then she said, that sounded horribly vulgar. Could they delete? Nope. Katie and Lala from Vanderpump Rules made an appearance. Crossover! Whitney said she knew Lala through a mutual friend, and had insisted Jen invite them. Tony showed the guests the documentary, which was about a local Utah rap group. In Jen’s interview, she said she the minorities in Utah were the underdogs, and it was important to see their successes. Katie explained she was from Park City, and Jen steered a cute guy in Heather’s direction. She was a bit aggressive IMO, but very funny. In her interview, she said she felt the vibe with Curtis, and wasn’t letting him find another cougar. She left with him, and in Whitney’s interview, she said she wanted to yell, remember who you are and return with honor. Something their Mormon parents had told them growing up.  

Brooks was running late for the show, since he had to do his facial mask. In Meredith’s interview, she said as a parent, it was hard to juggle making kids responsible with their stress level. Suddenly, the smoke alarm went off, and it was so loud, my husband asked me what was going on, and he was in another room. Meredith found a toilet had overflowed, which apparently had something to do with the alarm. To add to the fun, their dog barked incessantly the entire time. Meredith made a call to maintenance while Brooks freaked out, and discovered some dog poopy.

Fashion show coordinator greeted Whitney, who was walking in the show. Brooks ended up being 45 minutes late, and in his interview, he said when he was growing up, his mom made a big deal of Sundance. Now he was part of something he grew up idolizing. Meredith felt badly that Seth wasn’t there, but he’d left a video poem for Brooks. Meredith thought it was sweet, but Brooks said it wasn’t the same as having him there. In Meredith’s interview, she said she’d asked for space, and they needed it, but she wished they’d been more sensitive to what Brooks had going on. She’d tried hard to be a great mom. She teared up, and said it was hard on the kids to see their parents going through hard times. Her parents divorced had hurt her, and she didn’t protect them. She’d screwed up.

I’ve decided I like this show for the most part, but Jen, not so much. I didn’t love how she acted like her drinking was an excuse for supremely insulting Mary.

Next time, the runway shows, Brooks talks to Seth, Whitney’s dad is ready for the next step, and Jen gossips about Meredith.

🥃 Closing Time…

All I have to say is, thank God for Amazon. Without them, I might not have gotten any Christmas gifts. You’d think I’d have been more on top of things this year, but nooo (said in John Belushi voice). All I want for Christmas is a vaccine. Okay, and the annual Holiday Barbie. So whether you’re doing it online or venturing out, stay safe, stay within your budget, and stay out of denial, lest you be haunted later.

Dec10

December 9, 2020 – Martin Reveals a Huge Secret, the OC Shuts Down, Meredith Wants Some Room, New Dallas & 8 Bohemian Nights

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Yeah, yeah, running late again. Here’s what I missed at the beginning. Sasha and Willow ran into each other at the park, and Sasha thought they should get things out in the open. Avoiding Monica, Carly snuck into the Quartermain mansion through the terrace doors when she saw Michael. She asked him to forgive her for lying. At the MetroCourt, Sonny asked Diane to use her skills to get Martin to spill his connection to Cyrus. As Martin tried to leave, they blocked his way. Laura was working on her target practice, when Cyrus went to the stall next to her. Backtracking to yesterday, Sam told Jason, if he left, don’t come back, and here we are.

Sam says she knows Jason has to go, and he says he’ll send Sonny a text, saying he got hung up. He’s not going anywhere until they figure this out. She told him that she can’t keep living like this. Does she mean here with him? Is she asking him to move out? She says, Danny could have died the other night. She can’t stop thinking about it. Standing in the parking lot, holding Danny’s cap. It brought her back to when her brother Danny died. She stood there, holding the one thing she had left of him. Jason says, his baseball cap, and she says it was hard enough to grieve her brother. She doesn’t think she could survive grieving her child. He says he was going to ask her how long she’s been feeling this way, but he guesses he has the answer. Sam says, the bombing was her breaking point. Since then, she’s been thinking about it, and finally realized. There was nothing she could do about her brother then, but there’s certainly something she can do for her son. She can let Jason go.

Sasha tells Willow, she’s so sorry she and Chase hurt her, and Willow asks if she has any idea what it’s like. Chase broke her heart into a million pieces, but so did Sasha. The way she was raised, her parents moved a lot, even before they got involved with DoD. Because of that, she never had a lot of friends; sometimes none. Then came Chase, and Sasha and Michael. The four of them hanging out was so much fun. Sasha was the first true girlfriend she had. The person she could vent to, and go for advice. Then that disappeared. Sasha says, because of something not real. Chase still loved Willow; he always has. Willow says she believes Chase, and believes Sasha, but knowing and trusting are two different things.

Michael says he knows Carly’s intentions were good, and she was justified in not telling him. If she’d told him it was a set-up, he would have had to tell Willow. It would have put her in an impossible position; stay together for Wiley’s sake, or stay with Chase and risk losing Wiley. Carly says if they’d had to make a choice before the custody hearing, it would have been a disaster. He says, thankfully, Nelle is gone, and Willow will know, no matter who they choose, Wiley will be okay. Carly asks, but will he be okay?   

Martin says he was just leaving, and Diane says, but she just got there. Sonny says, he knows Diane, right? and Martin says, she’s quite unforgettable. She says, flatterer, and Sonny says Diane has some questions for him. Martin says he thought he was finished with his Q&A, but Sonny says, not quite. Martin says he can’t talk about any cases that involve any of them, but Diane says he’s mistaken. Sonny, his wife, and his father were the targets in a shooting, and Sonny recently lost a cousin in a bomb explosion. Martin says he’s sincerely sorry for Sonny’s loss, but what on God’s green earth do those appalling acts of violence have to do with him? Sonny says because the man Martin works for caused them – Cyrus Renault.   

Cyrus says Laura is quite the shot, and she says she finds it helpful to visualize. She thinks about someone she’d like to shoot, and boom! pulls the trigger. He says he hopes he’s never in her sights, and she says, he knows what they say about the word never. He says he hadn’t pegged her for a shooting enthusiast, and she says despite his intrusive research, there’s a lot he doesn’t know. He says he’d love for her to fill him in on her history from her own perspective, but she says she’s not there to regale him with stories. Her daughter is lying comatose in a long-term care facility, likely because of him. He says he’d never want to harm her daughter, and she says, if he means that – he tells her that he does – then get the hell out of Port Charles.

Curtis tells Jordan, he wants to go over the information from the medical supply company. Maybe it will lead to how Cyrus knows Florence. Jordan says, the company supplies thousands of facilities, and it’s possible Cyrus just moved her to another house with private care, or changed his plan for all they know. He says, yes to all that, but it’s the only lead they’ve got. Judging from the postcard, Cyrus has a close personal attachment to Florence. They can use that to get leverage on Cyrus, and get Jordan out from under his thumb.

Jason asks if Sam wants to end things, and she says she doesn’t want to; she has to. They both know what happened at The Floating Rib wasn’t an isolated incident. There will always another crisis, another lockdown, and another time they need to take the kids out of bed in the middle of the night to make sure they’re safe. He asks why she didn’t say anything, and she says he hasn’t been around. And what would have changed? For the past several months, she’s been so focused on them being together, living together, she didn’t stop for a second to consider if being with him was right for their family. The hard truth is, it’s just not working anymore.

Jason says he doesn’t want their kids to risk their lives to spend time with him, and Sam says she doesn’t want that either. She knows she said they could make it work, and keep the kids safe. That’s how much wanted be with him; how much she loves him. But she was in denial. She refused to see that the day was coming when it would catch up to him. He says he’d hoped it wouldn’t. When he came back, and they got back together and became a family, everything hit him. He wanted it to last, but she knows him. She says she does, and he says, if she says she wants out, he won’t fight it. She starts to cry.

Laura says she should want Cyrus brought to justice, tried, and convicted for his involvement in the bombing. He starts to say something, but she tells him, don’t deny it; she won’t believe him. She should want those things, and he says, but she doesn’t? She says, she does. She wants that with every fiber in her being, but she wants peace more. She’s the mayor of this town, and puts its people first. She’d rather see him walk free than stay, and watch the damage accumulate. She wants him to go back to where he came from; go anywhere far away. He says he can’t do that, and she says, there are hospitals everywhere. He says while his business investment is a consideration, he has personal reasons for staying.

Diane says they’ve observed Martin and Cyrus talking, and Cyrus paid his tab. Martin says, that’s hardly criminal, but Diane says Cyrus has been involved in a boatload of crimes. He bombed a restaurant that killed three people, and left a mother in a coma. Martin says he believes Julian is responsible, and Diane says, she knows Julian. It would never occur to him to bomb The Floating Rib, unless he was coerced. He has no motive. Cyrus, on the other hand, had motive for days, going by the name of Jason Morgan. Martin says this is far outside his area of expertise, and starts to get up, but Sonny pushes him back into his seat. Diane says, Jason was at The Floating Rib, and was the intended target. The others were collateral damage. Martin says, it’s tragic and monstrous, and Sonny tells him to explain his connection to Cyrus, or he’ll assume Martin is involved with the bombing. Martin says, Sonny would be wrong. He doesn’t know how to say it. He has no idea what his brother has gotten him into. Diane says, his what?

Jordan tells Curtis, they know the file Cyrus had her pull concerns the death of David Hamilton. Maybe they should take another look at the family association. Maybe there’s a connection to Cyrus. He says, he’s thinking Florence is a stronger lead, assuming it’s the Florence who married Laura’s father. Jordan says, for a woman that age, Florence isn’t that uncommon, and Curtis says, they lived in Port Charles for several years. There must be records. He says he thinks he’ll get some fresh air, and she says, if he’s going to call in a favor that’s illegal to call in… He says he certainly wouldn’t tell the Commissioner. Deniability, and all that stuff.

Sam says, part of her wants Jason to fight for her, and wants him to change, but she already knows he can’t. He says he loves her. He doesn’t want to lose her or the kids, but he can’t lie. He’s tried to leave before, and ended up going back. She says she knows. It’s part of the reason why she fell in love with him; his loyalty and his code. It’s why, in the beginning she never questioned how he lived, and never questioned his work or how it could be just anywhere. He says, but kids change things, and she says she doesn’t want Danny and Scout to live in fear. She doesn’t want to live fear for them, and most of all, she doesn’t want them to die the way Morgan did.

Sonny says, Martin’s brother is Cyrus? and Martin says, correct. Diane says she admits she didn’t think at all this was where her line of questioning was going, but it’s bizarre enough to be true. It’s fascinating. Martin is glad to entertain her, and she asks where they’re from, and how estranged they are. Sonny asks how long Martin has been helping Cyrus get his hooks in the town.

Laura says, the way Cyrus presented it, he had no personal reason to be there; no personal connection whatsoever. He tells her that he didn’t materialize fully formed. He had a childhood, and family he cares about. She says, but has no regard for anyone else’s family. Lulu’s children could grow up without a mother. He says he didn’t realize Lulu might not recover. If she’s not satisfied with where Lulu is, he knows of some excellent long-term care facilities in Vermont. She says she’s not interested in his helpful hints. As far as his target practice goes, she thinks he should reschedule. She can’t be sure one of her shots won’t just go astray – he laughs – and hit a bystander. He says, under her civilized façade, she has a wild streak like his own. She tells him, keep pushing, and he’ll find out just how wild a streak it is. He says, always a pleasure, and leaves. Laura makes a call, and says she needs to see them now.

Willow asks if Sasha has thought about what’s next, and Sasha says, Lucy and Maxie have gone above and beyond, and even Valentin has been decent. They told her there’s still a place for her at Deception. She just has to get over her mortification, and show up for work. Willow says, there’s a great counseling group at the hospital, but Sasha says she’s not sure counseling is for her. Willow says she felt that way too, before giving up her baby. The group, and meeting Michael, made a huge difference. Working through it, empowered her, and might do the same for Sasha. She tells Sasha, when she feels embarrassed or ashamed, remember that she helped save a little boy from an evil monster. There’s nothing more important. Sasha says she’ll hold onto that, and Willow says she should.

Carly tells Michael, she was justified in withholding the truth – it was in Wiley’s best interest – but actions have consequences, and she knows that. He and Willow were friends, and watching them lean on each other was a beautiful thing. She gets it. They started as friends, but she senses it’s more than that. Michael says what he and Willow are, is between them, and no one else.

Sam tells Jason, Morgan’s death was devastating, and he says he can’t imagine. She says it put an end to all the lies they told themselves about this life being safe. She thinks that’s when it hit her. She was standing for what felt like an eternity in The Floating Rib parking lot, thinking she should have known better. She should have learned from what happened to Morgan. No matter what the promises, the good intentions, and the guards, it’s not enough. Nothing can ever ease the pain of losing a child because of the choices you’ve made. They have a second chance. Danny is alive, and she’s learned her lesson. She’s also Scout’s mother, and she has to do what’s best for them. He says he wants that too, and she says she knows he does. With tears in his eyes, he says, if what’s best is for him to leave, he will. He’ll hate it and miss her like crazy, but he will.

Martin tells Diane and Sonny, his brother got in touch with him. He wanted to reconnect, but Martin said, no. Diane asks, why? and Martin says his brother is a complicated person; he’s angry. He was wild when he was young, and now he’s an alleged drug kingpin. He wanted no part of that. Then, their mother fell ill, and went through her medical insurance quickly. The level of care she needed would have bankrupted him, so he contacted Cyrus. To his credit, Cyrus answered, and has been paying her expenses ever since. How he makes his money, Martin doesn’t know, and doesn’t want to know. Diane says they’ll be vetting his story, and Martin says, it’s the truth. May he go? Sonny nods, and he tells them, have a good evening. He leaves, and Diane says, well, that was informative. Sonny says, it’s a start. He’s still got to find out what else Cyrus is hiding.

Epiphany shows up at Jordan’s apartment, and asks if she’s alone. Jordan says she is, and asks, what’s going on? Epiphany says Jordan has a problem. The wheels are coming off her cover-up. If she’s not careful, someone is going to figure out Taggert is alive.

Willow says she’s got to go home, and Sasha says her too. It was good to see her. Willow leaves, and Sasha contemplates their conversation.  

Michael says, talking about how they got there won’t change where they are. He and Willow have been married for months, and they went to living directly as co-parents. Carly says, that’s huge, and he says, every decision was based on a lie. They were bonding and getting closer… because isn’t the right word. It lot had to do with Willow thinking Chase didn’t love her anymore, but it turns out the opposite was true. Chase loved her so much, he let her go; let her hate him so Wiley would be safe. It’s so much more confusing right now. She says she knows she said she’d stay out of it, but she has a piece of advice; don’t push it in either direction. They’re all good people with good intentions. Take the time to sort through who they are now, and how they feel now. He says, and where to go next?

Sam asks if Jason remembers when they first met at the PCPD. They were in handcuffs. He says, how could he forget? and she says, at that moment, she had no idea where their lives would take them. that they’d actually fall in love and have kids. Their theme music starts to play, which has been like waiting for the other shoe to fall during this entire conversation. Jason says, now that they do, they have to come first, and Sam says, they just have to. He says he sees how much it weighs on her. The compromises, the restrictions, the secrets. Danny and Scout shouldn’t have to accept those limitations as normal. They shouldn’t have to deal with the fallout of his choices, and neither should she.

Laura shoots, and Curtis comes in. He says, target practice? and she says, Cyrus was in the booth next to her. It took everything in her not to take a shot at him. He says he’s glad she didn’t. He’d hate for her to get locked up for the likes of trash like that. She tells him that she was rewarded for sharing. Cyrus wouldn’t stop talking about Lulu, and volunteered that he knew of some good long-term care facilities in Vermont. Does he think Cyrus moved Florence to one of them?

Epiphany tells Jordan, Trina has been asking questions. Why couldn’t they save her father? Why did they take him away so fast? Jordan says, that doesn’t mean Trina believes he’s alive, but Epiphany says, she suspects. It wouldn’t be a huge deal, but Taggert is hard to miss. He’s been lurking at GH, and who knows where else. Jordan asks what she’s saying, and Epiphany says, he’s been shadowing Trina and Portia. She caught him in scrubs at the hospital. Jordan says she didn’t even know he was back in town.

Jason says he doesn’t want Sam or the kids to live in fear, and he wouldn’t want to put them in danger. She says just because they don’t want something, doesn’t mean it won’t happen. They’ve learned that the hard way, a lot actually. She never wanted to think… He says, they’ve been through so much to be together, it’s not as simple as him walking away. She says, it’s not simple, but it’s something they have to do. Sonny calls, but Jason doesn’t answer. He says he’s thankful for every day they’ve had together. Danny is his son, and the time he’s spent with Danny and Scout… She gave him a family. He didn’t even know if that was in the cards for him. He doesn’t want this be over, but she says, they have no choice anymore.

Jason says, it feels wrong to walk out on her and the kids, but Sam says, it’s not wrong. She’s asking if he’ll go. His phone rings, and she says, Sonny? He says, yeah, but he’ll call back. Sam picks up the phone, and he says, don’t answer, but she does. She tells Sonny, he’s right here, and hands Jason the phone. He tells Sonny that he’s made arrangements; everything is ready. Are they still meeting at his place? Sonny says he’s at the MetroCourt, and tells Jason to pick him up there. Sam says, he has to go? and Jason says, yeah, he has to go. The music swells, and Sam cries. Jason says loves her and always will, and she says she loves him so much that it hurts, but they’re doing this for their kids. That’s something. He says, that’s everything, and walks out without turning around. Sam sits with her head in her hands crying. Outside, Jason leans on the door.

Willow comes home, and asks if Michael is working. He says he’s tying up some loose ends before he goes to bed. What’s going on? She says she just ran into Sasha in the park, and he asks how she is. Willow says, honestly? She seems better than she has in a while. He says, good. They both try to talk at once, and he tells her to go first. She says, things are really confusing right now for the both of them, and he says, a little bit. She says, whatever happens, they were friends from the start. She doesn’t want that to change. He promises it won’t. He’s not going anywhere.  

Jordan wonders what Taggert is thinking, and Epiphany says, he’s thinking he’s a father, desperate to protect his daughter. She blames Cyrus; his influence is growing. Jordan says, it’s not about blame; it’s about restraint. She needs to send Taggert away before it all falls apart, taking her marriage with it.   

Carly tells Sonny, her mind is blown. Cyrus is Martin’s brother? Sonny says it surprised him too, and she says, that’s it? He’s dropping this in her lap like a bomb (bad choice of words, Carly), and he’s going out of town on business? He says he’s following intel from Martin about Julian. Martin had information that’s not good news, but he has no idea how deep his brother is in with Julian. Cyrus walks in, and says he hopes they’re enjoying a peaceful evening. Sonny says he was about to leave, and Cyrus asks Sonny to accept his condolences about his cousin. He knows the loss must be felt deeply. It’s tragic, and he hopes no misunderstandings result from it. Sonny says, no misunderstandings. When he finds out who’s responsible for the situation, he’ll have all his facts straight.

Curtis suggest he upload the records from the medical company, and see if they ship to Vermont. Laura says, it’s a long shot. At the same time, Cyrus was oddly sincere. He says, that is odd, and she says, maybe he was so caught up, he revealed more than he intended. Curtis looks on his phone, and says, the Mexican company only ships to one facility in Vermont; Mountain Landing Long Term Care. He asks if she’s up for a road trip, and she says, Florence Gray, here they come.

Tomorrow, Olivia says she’s got her sights on Alexis, Scotty says they’re going to see the doctor, Tracy tells Monica it’s something not so wonderful, and Anna asks Dante what happened in Geneva.

The Real Housewives of Orange County

Shannon opened the episode with saying, a week ago everything was fine, and they were in Palm Springs. The text told us production closed, and the women filmed themselves. Gina said, if the sun would come out, it wouldn’t feel so much like Armageddon, and it’s possibly the first time she and I have agreed, since it’s been raining here since the fall of 2019.

Quarantine day 4. Shannon and Braunwyn video chatted and talked about appearance being the worst thing, and showing their ever-growing roots. Elizabeth was helping animals, and in her interview, said she had a sincere passion for them because they’re helpless. It’s how she felt in her divorce, and she was hoping to heal the people who adopted rescues as well. Braunwyn said she was doing good. She couldn’t go to meetings, but found a sponsor.

Day 8. Braunwyn had never used a washing machine before. It was the first time she’d been without a housekeeper since she was in high school. I couldn’t even fathom that. In her interview, she said she lived in a smart house, which was great unless you’re not a smart person. She had kitchen hours posted, and said because of her OCD tendencies, the house was spotless. She was up at 6, and in bed at 10, cleaning the whole time. In her interview, she said she was trapped in the house with seven kids, and things that had been kind of annoying were now really annoying.

Day 11. Kelly and Emily met in the park. Emily said, all she knew was that she needed to take her kids somewhere, and drop them off. In her interview, she said, quarantine in Orange County was like upscale house arrest. Her kids were addicted to her, and regardless of how big her house was, she couldn’t get rid of them. Braunwyn joined Kelly and Emily, and said she was over everything. Kelly was going to NYC to see Rick, and in her interview, said it was absurd that the economy was shutting down, and she thought the virus was being blown out of proportion. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said for her, to leave her kids wasn’t an option. She couldn’t understand the risk for a booty call. Braunwyn said she’d seen Elizabeth posting on Instagram that they were lying about the numbers, and they hadn’t done this with the AIDS epidemic. In Emily’s interview, she said she’s no doctor, but she knows AIDS comes from sexual activity. Braunwyn said Elizabeth told a different story to everyone about her situation. Braunwyn didn’t want to be fake, and wanted them to be real women who were open and honest, and supported each other. Emily wondered if Elizabeth and Jimmy were sexually distancing.

Day 12. Shannon said not everyone was following the rules. In her interview, she said John’s son came to stay. She told him that she had a list of rules, and once he came to the house, he couldn’t leave. He decided to leave, and John went too. We saw a clip of Shannon crying about this on Instagram. Kelly filmed herself at LaGuardia Airport, while on her way to see Rick. She said she was scared. She was washing her hands, and staying away from people, but it seemed inevitable.

Day 14. Kelly was in Times Square with Rick, and showed us there was no on the streets. She said it was bizarre, and got a hot dog from a food cart. Rick said she’d been craving one for six months. I totally understood this, since I don’t normally eat hot dogs, but whenever I’m in the city, I’m always compelled to get one from a cart. In Kelly’s interview, she said she wasn’t scared, but she was cautious. She wasn’t letting the virus take her down. She and Rick worked out, and she told him that she couldn’t do pushups because she had fake boobs. He pretended to be shocked at this revelation. In her interview, she said Jolie was taken care of, but Rick was alone. Nothing was going to separate her and her man. Rick gave her a pedicure, which I thought was super boyfriend nice. 

Day 18. Emily said she knew she lived in an Orange County bubble, and could only imagine what other people were going through trying to pay the bills. It was a devastating time. She filmed Shane vacuuming, and said this had never been seen before. In her interview, she said she’d been afraid quarantine would be detrimental to their relationship. Shane still wasn’t getting more sex, since she was tired from no breaks with the kids. Last year, they were fighting in front of the kids, but even though this was a stressful weird time, their marriage was solid, and it was beneficial to the children. Shane continued to clean, and Emily told him it was sexy.

Day 20. Braunwyn said she lived in the real world, but Sean lived where everything was fine. She explained that when she’s unhappy, she lashes out, because it’s easier to project it. Sometimes it felt like she was the only grown-up in the house, and she was so tired. Shannon called Gina, who showed off her new mom haircut. In Gina’s interview, she said salon workers weren’t considered essential, but should be for her. The second time we agreed. Shannon said John was back in the house, and in her interview, Gina said Shannon had called her, and it sounded like she was soused. She was hysterical, and said she’d had a fight with John. Gina thought they were going to break up. Shannon said she’d been beyond devastated. She’d told John that he could stay with his son or her, but he couldn’t do both. He showed up, and was very emotional. He said he understood now. Gina told Shannon, if He was compromised, she has it already, but he shouldn’t go back and forth. Shannon needed to be protected. In her interview, Gina said she was shocked Shannon let him back in. She put her health at risk to hold on to a relationship. She said Shannon was good at following rules, and Shannon agreed. The hunt for toilet paper and paper towels was on, and Kelly told Rick, next time, they were investing in a bidet. Emily hid toilet paper on her back porch for Gina.

Day 24. Kelly called Jolie from NYC, and asked why she was being difficult. Why wasn’t Jolie talking to her? Jolie said quarantine sucked, which about summed it up for all of us. In Kelly’s interview, she said when she came to NYC, she’d intended to just stay for the week Michael had Jolie. She felt guilty, but she got stuck. She didn’t know it was going to be the epicenter; it wasn’t her fault. Jolie said people were freaking out, and Kelly said the virus had been around since December. Jolie insisted it hadn’t, and in her interview, Kelly said, teenagers think they know everything. She asked about school, and Jolie showed Kelly all the homework she’d been given. Kelly said she missed her daughter.

Day 31. Elizabeth pointed out that the liquor store was fully stocked. She said they weren’t drinking since they were trying to be healthy, not drunk and miserable. In Elizabeth’s interview, she said she wasn’t sure if the virus was manmade by Big Pharma, or natural from a monkey, but having to stay home was making her nuts. She wanted to cry, since the lawyers were postponing the divorce. She couldn’t be free or live her life how she wanted to. In her interview, she said she’d thought money would make her happy, but she was realizing it might not make her as happy as she’d thought it would.

Day 39. Braunwyn said she put on makeup and earrings to go one a car ride. When this was over, it was going to be insane. In her interview, she said she’d been angry. Online meetings weren’t the thing she needed. Sean belittled her over not being able to get the vacuum charger to work. She’d been working hard, and she lost it, and smacked him. She’d hit Sean a couple of times, but it was nothing like what happened in Aspen. She hit him hard across the face. She’d wanted to drink, and was lashing out. Looking back, it was a side of her that he’d never seen. She felt trapped. Trapped in her house, trapped in her marriage, trapped emotionally and physically. Everything that was happening was indicative of the headspace she was in. She’d always put a happy spin on her marriage, but things happened she didn’t talk about. She was 89 days sober, and hadn’t wanted a drink in a while. If she had it in the house, she’d drink it. She wasn’t okay.

I suddenly notice, in the part of the credits where they hold out the orange, they’re wearing masks.

May 1. Elizabeth told us, they could do what they wanted now. We saw her at the beach, and people out shopping and in the park. Gina was shopping in Home Depot, and said everyone had the same idea to work on their house. Get it done. Braunwyn, Emily, Shannon, and Kelly went to visit Shannon, who said in her interview, she needed human contact. Maybe not with Kelly, who’d been all over the place. She might need to stand ten feet away from Kelly. Shannon told the women that Tamra had responded to Gina on social media, saying she’d had a good time with Gina, and then Gina canceled coming over today. In Shannon’s interview, she said she didn’t have a friendship with Tamra anymore, but Tamra trashed her and Kelly on a regular basis. Shannon told the group that Kelly said when Tamra came after her on social media, don’t say anything. In her interview, Shannon said she’d sacrificed other friendships to devote time to Tamra. We flashed back to some moments when Tamra was needy, and Shannon said now she had a void in her life. She was a little lost. Shannon told them that Elizabeth had said she’d been belligerent, and screamed at Jimmy, so he left Palm Springs, but he left because he had to go to work early. In her interview, Shannon said, Jimmy had a job to get to. If Elizabeth isn’t telling the truth about this, maybe she’s not telling the truth about a bunch of other things. In Emily’s interview, she said Shannon was like the Regina George of this part of Orange County. You do the dirty work, and she’ll look at it, but she’s got clean hands. In Kelly’s interview, she said Shannon was the puppet-master this time. She thought Elizabeth told half-truths because she was insecure. She was like a blowfish, making herself bigger than she was, but she was a good person, trying to do the right thing. She called the women a bunch of effing Nancy Drews.

Gina called Braunwyn, who said there were no AA meetings. Braunwyn told Gina that Elizabeth said she was alone, but one of her Instagram posts showed her with a friend at her house, and they were drinking. She thought Elizabeth didn’t have the money she said she did. It was public record that she’d taken out loans against her homes for legal fees. In Emily’s interview, she said she’d be pissed if people were digging up documents on her, and telling others, but she’d be happy to read over them, and give her legal opinion.

Apparently, Emily adopted two kittens during the pandemic, who  tumbled around on the table while the kids were eating. Elizabeth called Gina, and Gina said she anticipated more divorces because of covid. Elizabeth said she and her ex went to let’s settle this. She wondered what was wrong with her that she wanted to win. In her interview, she said covid changed her perspective. She didn’t need to buy stuff to make herself happy. She knew it was because of where she came from, but she lost sight of that when she had the money. Braunwyn went over to Shannon’s house, and they talked about quarantine. Shannon told Braunwyn that she cooked up storm, ate like a pig, and drank everything, and she had nothing show for it. Elizabeth told Kelly that she thought it would be cool for them to go on a girls trip to Arrowhead. Everyone would get tested before they go. Braunwyn talked to Shannon about the impending trip, and Shannon asked who was invited. Was Kelly invited? Shannon said, kind of ish, and Shannon wondered why Elizabeth was telling people she’d been belligerent to Jimmy. Braunwyn said she didn’t know Elizabeth, but everything Elizabeth told her wasn’t real. She wanted to get to know Elizabeth. Honesty was the foundation of friendship, but if Elizabeth couldn’t be honest, how could they be friends? Elizabeth said Gina was harsh on her in Palm Springs, and we flashed back to Gina saying the divorce was going to kill Elizabeth. Gina said she understood what Elizabeth was going through; she didn’t know how to shut off advocating for her ex. Braunwyn told Shannon that Elizabeth was telling different versions of the personal stuff she was sharing. She felt like she couldn’t get to know Elizabeth if she was going to be inconsistent. She should just lay it out, and everyone would accept it. Shannon said she heard the divorce was settled, and Braunwyn said she got it; she lied about stuff too. We flashed back to her being called out, and in Shannon’s interview, she said she had no idea what was going on. Elizabeth laughed everything off, and couldn’t give a straight answer, or gave a different one every time. Gina told Elizabeth that she was supposed to get together with Shannon, but she bailed. In her interview, Elizabeth said she was used to women who wanted to discredit her. It had happened her whole life, and she was used to women like Braunwyn and Shannon. But when they start digging about her personally, she gets nervous. There was some dysfunction in her past she didn’t want out there. I’m intrigued.

May 25. We saw clips from protests in Minneapolis, NYC, Los Angeles, and Laguna Beach. Elizabeth said it was so sad. She’d thought as a society, we would have moved forward, but we’d taken 200 steps back. Gizelle (The Real Housewives of Potomac) and Gina, who are friends outside the franchise, talked virtually, and Gina said, the more conversation, the better. If they didn’t talk, nothing would change, and they had an obligation. We saw tweets from various cast members about Black Lives Matter.

May 31. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said, watching George Floyd being murdered changed everything. She’s had no excuse to tune this out for 42 years, and she was sorry. She wondered what she could do now. Orange County was very conservative and white; take your tax breaks and shut up. She said they had a duty to use their white privilege to help everyone. Her kids had a chance to make changes in the world. Standing up for what’s right should be ingrained on their psyche, and they should pass it on to their children.

Things started opening up, and Braunwyn got together with her friend Shari. Elizabeth went to get Botox, so she could wipe the divorce off her face. Kelly called Shannon, who was nearly hysterical. She said Stella had a cold, and they took a swab. She’d tested positive. While they were there, Shannon found out she had a slight fever, and she’d had a sore throat. Everyone was getting tested. She was so careful; she didn’t understand. In Shannon’s interview, she said she told the girls they needed to be safe, and follow the rules, but the twins went to a party where there were no masks, and they were hugging people. Kelly said, oh my God.

Next time, a trip to Arrowhead, Braunwyn wonders if she and Sean should stay together, and Shane gets very sick.  

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

They backtracked a little, and showed Jen explaining herself at Mary’s luncheon. Meredith said she appreciated Jen’s apology, and she was hopeful. Mary said Jen’s words could be deadly, and Jen told Mary that she just said what everyone was thinking. Mary didn’t agree, and when Jen peppered her response with explicatives, Mary told Jen not to curse at her. She asked why Jen was so angry, and Jen said she tried to open herself up. Mary said she never wanted to talk to Jen again, and told her to go. Heather said Mary had invited them to get to know them better. In Whitney’s interview, she said she didn’t know how they got there, when it had been all good. Jen told Mary to quit making faces at her, and Mary asked if Jen was going to whip her butt. Jen told Mary not to have a party and tell people to open themselves up, and walked out. In her interview, Heather said this had to stop. At this point the score was settled. Forgive and move on. In Lisa’s interview, she said she cringed when Jen said Mary was a grandpa f***er. Now Mary thinks that’s what they all think, and that’s not true. In Jen’s interview, she said she was excited to meet Mary. She was another minority female who’d grown up in Utah, and she thought they’d be alike. It was a let-down; she expected more. Mary said she didn’t want to be cursed at, and Lisa said it was hurtful because there had been no apology. Mary said Jen should have acknowledged her hurt. Meredith said there was no reason to speak disrespectfully to anyone. Heather brought Jen back to the table, and said she didn’t think this was Mary’s intention for the lunch. Respectfully and calmly. In Jen’s interview, she said she was going to take Heather’s advice, rise above, and not react. She told Mary that she wouldn’t be there if she didn’t care. It was hard for her to open up, and when she did, Mary took her legs out from under her. Mary said that wasn’t her purpose, and Heather said she seemed dismissive and hypocritical. Mary didn’t like this comment too much, and said Heather was two-faced. Whitney said Jen was just trying to explain, and help them understand why she reacts the way she does, but Mary couldn’t accept it. Mary called Jen a hoodlum, and in Jen’s interview, she said she didn’t use the words hoodlum or ghetto. They were always used in a derogatory way to make people feel less than. Mary had told her that if she goes to the 7-11 and sees Black people, she goes elsewhere. She wondered who Mary was. Jen told them, she tried, and split.

Mary’s housekeeper Charlinda made some mad beatbox sounds in the kitchen. Meredith told Brooks that Jen’s bottom line was that she only got upset because she cared. In Heather’s interview, she said her ex, Billy, wanted their kids to have a mom who was available 24/7, and provided well for them. Her daughter had been dating the same boy for two years, but most Mormons didn’t let their kids go past a second date with the same person. It could lead to a relationship, which would lead to sex, but she wanted her kids to be carefree, young and in love. She didn’t want the divorce to affect her daughters, but they weren’t as connected to being Mormon anymore. Meredith picked Seth up at the airport. In her interview, she said he’d been going between Ohio and Chicago, and she hadn’t seen him in a few weeks. Things were tense and volatile last time, and she was hoping it would be smoother. Seth said he loved Ohio; he was a blue collar guy. He asked if she was going to live with him in Ohio, but she said they weren’t living in Ohio. He asked if where she lived was more important than who she lived with, and she said he’d uprooted the family every couple of years. In her interview, she said they’d gone from Toronto to Chicago, then Seth commuted to Dallas, and they moved to Park City. It caused hostility in the marriage, and when her oldest graduated, they were so busy moving, she didn’t emotional digest it. Asking her to move was a trigger.

Mary told Robert Sr. that Jen kept picking on her, and she didn’t know why. Jen told Sharrieff about the luncheon, and they each told their story to their spouses, putting their own spin on it. Jen focused on the 7-11 thing, but I was surprised any of them would be going to a 7-11 period. Sharrieff said there were Black folks who didn’t like other Black folks, and Jen said she’d kill Mary with kindness, which I expect will last all of three seconds. Mary told Robert about Jen’s grandfather comment, and said it wasn’t like he was a blood relative. She said it was her against them. Sharrieff told Jen it wasn’t about her, and don’t take personally. Robert told Mary it was pagan jealousy. In Mary’s interview, she said Jen’s behavior was toxic. She was like a bad apple on a tree, and Mary was done.

Whitney went to see her brother Will, and in her interview, said they were best friends from the time they could walk. They did a jujitsu workout, and seemed very sweet together. I actually think they may be nice people, which is like finding a unicorn on these shows. Will told Whitney that she had the talent, and he needed to get her in there full-time. She asked if he’d heard from their dad, but he said no. She told him their dad was committed to sober living. He’d gone to a 30 day rehab, and was supposed to do a 5 days a week program, but when he completed rehab, he took off to California. He had withdrawal so bad, he was on the verge of a relapse. It was easy to be sober in rehab. Whitney said he was going back, but this time, he was paying for it. Will said Whitney was the gatekeeper, and in her interview, Whitney said their parents both had children from other marriages, and when they divorced, it was mom’s kids against dad’s kids. When she decided to support her father, it made the divide wider. He wasn’t Will’s biological father, so she appreciated the support.

Lisa had a birthday party for son Henry at a bowling alley. In Lisa’s interview, she said in the Mormon church, marriage was not only sacred, but for eternity. You picked a partner, and chose to make the best of it. It had worked for her and her husband because they had the same core values. They had a core love of God, a core love of Jesus, and a core love of family and building something together. The eternal church, and the eternal family.   

In Whitney’s interview, she said her dad realized he needed structure that she couldn’t provide. He was going back to rehab for 90 days. It had been a struggle, and took its toll on her emotionally, financially, and spiritually. But it was the first time he was being accountable and responsible. He was choosing to go. In the car, she told him that it was the best she’d felt about the situation ever. I think if he’d do something about his Herman Munster haircut, he might feel a little better about himself. We saw him getting checked in, and Whitney hoped he could let go of past bad choices. It was crucial to his sobriety.

Seth asked Meredith what the plan was, but she said she didn’t have one. As much as she wanted him there, she thought they needed room. He said he’d give her room, and  maybe with him out of the picture, it would help her know what she wanted. In her interview, Meredith said you had to work things out individually in order to come back together as a happy couple. Seth said he didn’t want to separate after 25 years.

Mary met with Heather, who thought she could be friends with both Jen and Mary, and also be loyal to both of them. Mary said Jen was angry with her because she resented not being at the top. She explained how her grandmother had wanted her to take her place, and Heather said people didn’t get that Mary’s grandfather wasn’t a blood relative. Mary started crying, and said she hadn’t wanted to marry him, but she trusted her grandmother. In Mary’s interview, she said it took her two years to adjust. She told Heather that she chose what God told her to do. In Heather’s interview, she said she felt deep empathy. She understood about marrying for faith over love, but Mary’s situation was different. Heather told Mary that there was more that brought her and Jen together than tore them apart, but Mary said Jen burnt the bridge. She was done.

Next time, body shots, Whitney on the pole, Meredith says she runs Sundance, and Brooks has a show during Salt Lake City Fashion Week.

🐴 The Real Housewives of Dallas returns for a new season on January 5th. Minus one LeeAnne, and plus a new Wife.

🥊 Gonna Fly Now…

Is it the end of what used to be called a week yet? I don’t know how, but I’m not ready for the holidays any more than I usually am either. But even if you’re floundering as I am, stay safe, stay on the nice list, and stay using whatever privilege you have to help whoever you can.

Dec5

December 4, 2020 – Nikolas Says Ava Is Enough, Two Exits, Intimidated Intimidator, Holidays, a Lawsuit, Coming Out, Breaking Up, Walking Out, Engaged, a Baby, Fashion Fight, New Old Show, Steve’s House, More Than 10 Quotes & McKenzie Twelve

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Going along with how the rest of the week has been, I missed the beginning, so here are the takeaway points. Avery told Carly that her favorite necklace was missing, and Carly reminded Avery that she’d taken it to have it fixed, but didn’t know when she’d get it back. Carly went to Pizzulo’s where Jason and Sonny were talking about Julian. Trina went to see Josslyn, who was in the kitchen where the notorious bowl of moss lives. Britt tried to call Julian at Charlie’s, and was surprised to find out he hadn’t been in all day. Willow told Michael, it was time to face the truth, and here we are…

Nikolas tells Ava, it’s okay. Back up, and tell him what happened from the beginning. She says Ryan threatened to expose Julian’s part in Wiley’s kidnapping, and Nikolas says, Julian helped? She says no one knew about it, but Nelle left a letter tying Julian to the kidnapping. That’s what Ryan was using to blackmail her into divorcing Nikolas. Julian was scared Sonny would kill him, and Jason came looking for Julian. She always knew her brother would meet a violent end, but she was scared Sonny would make him suffer. She starts to cry, and Nikolas says, that’s why she decided to kill him herself; like a mercy killing. She says she wanted it to be quick. She thinks Julian understood, and he understood he was living on borrowed time. She was about to pull the trigger, when Sonny and Jason burst in. She got distracted for a second, and Julian took the opportunity to jump. Nikolas says, from the turret. It’s an extremely hazardous fall, but she survived. Maybe Julian did too. She says Nikolas was there to save her. Julian – God help him – had no one.   

Chase approaches the reception desk, and asks Britt if he can see the toxicology report on Sasha. She asks if he has a warrant. He says he’s not investigating the patient, but needs to know about the substance they ingested. He asks her to please show him the report.

Sasha tells Nina, she didn’t OD; she had a heart attack. Nina says, at her age, that’s hardly normal, and Sasha admits she’s done a few lines to take the edge off. Nina says, Sasha would rather think she had a heart condition than own up to a drug problem? It scared her when she heard what happened. Even though she’s not Sasha’s mother, she still cares about her, and doesn’t want her to throw away her life like this. Sasha asks if Nina really cares, and Nina says Sasha has her whole life ahead of her. She needs to wake up and do better. Please? Sasha smiles, and thanks Nina, and tells her that she really does appreciate Nina’s concern.

Chase opens Sasha’s door, and says he’s sorry to interrupt, but he needs to speak to Sasha. Nina says she has to go anyway. She just wanted to see that Sasha was all right with her own eyes. If Sasha needs anything at all… Sasha says she still feels like Nina’s daughter. Anyone would be lucky to have her for a mom. Nina leaves, and Chase asks how Sasha is feeling. She says, it depends, and he says, on? She says on whether he’s there as a friend or a cop.

Michael tells Willow that he wants to start by saying how much he’s always admired her. He’s thankful Wiley has her for a mother, and like they’ve both been trying to say, they’ve always been good friends, but lately his feelings have deepened and changed. Willow says she’s been feeling the same way. She thinks they were on the verge of something new, but then they found out Chase and Sasha had lied. Michael says she told him that she didn’t regret what happened, and he flashes back to them basking in the afterglow. She says she doesn’t regret anything, and he says, neither does he. She says, but learning that Chase and Sasha never cheated changes things, doesn’t it? and Michael says, does it?

Trina says her father could be hiding, right? and Josslyn says Trina has been spending all her time clearing her dad’s name, and now she thinks he’s alive? Where is this coming from? Trina says, the more she’s been thinking about it, the more it makes sense. Maybe her dad faked his death, and recovered in secret. It sounds crazy, but she’s starting to believe him. Josslyn asks who told her that her father is still alive? and Trina says, Cyrus. 

Carly tells Sonny, Taggert is just as bullheaded as ever. She had to talk him down from going after Cyrus. He’s not going to stay in hiding much longer. Sonny says he has something to tell her too; Cyrus was just there. She asks, why? and Jason says, damage control. Sonny says, Cyrus confirmed Jason was the target, and Julian was responsible for planting the bomb. That much is true. Carly asks, why would Julian want to take Jason out? and Jason says, Cyrus told him to. Carly wonders why Julian would be taking orders from Cyrus, and Jason says Cyrus had leverage over Julian. Carly says, like what? and Sonny asks if she’s ready for this. Julian knew for months that Wiley was Michael’s son. Carly is speechless, a rarity.

Britt sees Lucas, and ask’s to speak to him. Brad told her Lucas saw him. Brad nearly died, and Lucas wouldn’t even give him the time of day. Lucas says it’s none of her concern, but she says Brad is her best friend. She didn’t expect a warm and fuzzy reconciliation, but she also didn’t expect cruelty. He says she knows what Brad did, and she says, Nelle took advantage of Brad’s grief; he wasn’t in his right mind. Lucas says, Wiley lived in a house with people who weren’t his family, and spent his first pivotal year with people who weren’t his parents. Brad watched Michael suffer for a year, and said nothing. He ultimately only looks out for himself. She says, but Brad didn’t. He pled guilty, and took all the blame. He says, Brad was the only one to blame, but she says, that’s not true.  

Chase tells Sasha, he’s a friend above all, and she says she could use one, but he seemed liked a detective when he came in. He says, maybe that’s because he’d just gotten done checking out the toxicology report. She ingested dextrose amphetamine along with the cocaine, a stimulant on top of a stimulant. Britt spoke to the lab technician, who said she’d never seen a combination like that before. Where did she get the drugs? She says, so he is interrogating her, and he says he’s trying to make sense of this situation. There’s bad stuff out there, and he’s trying to track it down. That she’s using anything makes him feel like crap. He should have seen she was struggling. Sasha tells him, don’t. He tried, and it’s her fault she was using. She’s the one who covered it up. She was coping with losing Michael, and falling down on the job at Deception. One line made her feel like she could handle anything – for the moment anyway. She’s weak. He says she’s not weak. She says she doesn’t regret lying to save Wiley. It was the right thing to do, but Chase has been hurting too, and he kept it together. He says, no, he didn’t. He told Willow the truth. He told her that he and Sasha never slept together; it was all a set-up. She asks, how could he do that?

Willow says she knows Michael stayed with Sasha all night when  she was brought into the hospital. Obviously he’s worried about her. Michael says, Willow is too, and Willow asks if he’s been back since. Have they talked? Michael says, no, and she asks, why? He says he doesn’t want to do the wrong thing. He’s so angry, he doesn’t know what would say.

Carly says, Julian knew? He kept Brad’s secret, and watched Michael suffer and said nothing? That’s what Nelle had over him. That’s why he married her. She knew. Sonny says, Julian was probably the one who kidnapped Wiley when they were at the Nurses Ball telethon. Jason says, he chloroformed Monica so he could take Wiley, and Carly says, bastard. All that talk about his love for Lucas, when he was lying to Lucas’s face, and letting him keep a baby that wasn’t his. She says, please tell her Sonny is going to make him pay, and Jason says, maybe he already did.

Carly says she knew something was up when Nelle trotted Julian out as her husband. Sonny tells her, don’t worry. Nelle is dead, and she can’t hurt them anymore. Carly says, that’s not necessarily true. There’s something she has to tell him. Something about Nelle and Nina. Jason makes a really good soap face.   

Nina meets Jax at the bistro, apologizing for being late. He tells her, it’s okay, but she seems scattered. What’s going on? She says she visited Sasha at the hospital. She’s worried about Sasha. She’s been in pain since she and Michael broke up, and has no one to talk to. Jax says, like her, and Nina says, when she brought Sasha to the penthouse, she knew Sasha was suffering and high. She wishes she could have talked to her then. Jax says he hopes Sasha realizes how lucky she is to have Nina care about her, especially after she lied. Nina says, for a time, she couldn’t even look at Sasha, she was so angry, but seeing her alone and lost, with no one to talk to makes the past unimportant. He says Nina has a generous spirit, and sees the good in people, and she says she’s champion of the underdog, or maybe president of the club. They all make mistakes, some more than others. Now that the truth is out, maybe somehow she and Sasha can find their own honest relationship. He says, if she forgave Sasha, does that mean she forgives Valentin as well?

Ava tells Nikolas, she was up all night, searching for any sign of Julian or his body. That’s why he saw her walking on the cliffs. She’d been there for hours. She’s sorry she didn’t tell him the truth. He says he doesn’t care, but he does need to understand. She and Julian were close. She let herself be blackmailed for him. What made her want to kill him? He’s not trying to making her feel bad. She’s probably better off without Julian complicating her life, but he’s family. Ava says Nikolas is her family. He’s her future. She chose him. He says he chooses her. She can trust him. She says she wants to, and wants to tell him everything, but it’s so bad… She swears she didn’t have anything to do with it. She had no idea whatsoever. He says, just tell him. What did Julian do? She says, he’s the one who planted the bomb in The Floating Rib.  

Lucas asks Britt what this is about. His family is grieving, and his cousin is comatose. His plate is full, and he has no time for her games. She says he forgot to mention his husband was almost stabbed to death. He says, ex-husband, and she says he’s so self-righteous. Brad shouldn’t have shielded him. He lost Wiley, and that’s sad. He lost Brad, and it’s ironic, since if not for Brad, he would have lost more.

Sasha asks Chase why he told Willow. Why blow it at this late date? He says he had to be honest even if it caused more pain. He had to tell Willow that he loved her. Sasha says, so he did this for himself? and he says, for everyone. (We’ll leave out the fact that originally, Sasha was the one who told him to tell Willow the truth.) She says, when did he tell Willow? and he says, the night she was brought in. She asks if he thinks Willow told Michael, and he says he assumes so. She says, maybe that’s why Michael was with her when she was unconscious. Does Chase think Michael could forgive her?

Michael tells Willow, he was just so angry at Sasha, being so self-sacrificing that she was willing to throw their relationship over for a lie. He lost her, and the lie worked. Then she turned to drugs and nearly killed herself. What were Sasha and Chase thinking, being so reckless and… Willow says, shatteringly messy, and he says, that sums it up. He can’t unload on Sasha; she’s recovering. So he hasn’t been back. Intellectually, he understands what she did for Wiley, but emotionally, he’s still angry. He doesn’t want to say anything to make things worse. She says she gets it. It blows her away that Sasha and Chase chose to manipulate them, rather than talk openly. Michael says he wants to forgive Sasha, but he doesn’t know if he can.

Willow wonders how they can fault Sasha and Chase for what they did, and Michael says, it’s how they did it. He replayed every conversation they’d had, leading up to Sasha and Chase being together. Willow says, but they weren’t; it was a lie. Michael says, but the pain was real. He questioned everything, wondering how he missed it. She says, they didn’t miss anything. There was nothing to miss. They’d made it up. Pain and hurt aside, that’s the reality, and she and Michael have to figure out what that sacrifice means to them. How they feel about themselves, and Chase and Sasha.

Sasha tells Chase, Michael stayed there all night; it has to mean something. If Michael is worried, maybe he still cares. Chase says Michael was definitely worried, and still cares, but don’t get ahead of herself. She asks if he knows something, and he flashes back to finding Michael and Willow together. He says maybe they can talk another time, and she says, about what? What does he know? Just tell her. He says, Michael and Willow’s marriage… it’s a real marriage.    

Lucas tells Britt, if she has something to say, say it. She says he knows Brad. Does he really think Brad could have kept a secret for so long all by himself? He had help, but he took the fall anyway.    

Josslyn says, Trina talked to Cyrus? She knows he’s dangerous, and shouldn’t have been anywhere near him. Trina says she doesn’t like or trust Cyrus, but when he told her that her father might be alive, something in her soul said he was telling the truth. She believes him. She remembers when she was in the hospital with her father. They were laughing, talking, and planning stuff they were going to do. She went get him some candy, and when she came back, he was gone. It doesn’t make sense. Josslyn asks if Trina thinks maybe she wants it so bad, she’s grasping at straws? and Trina says, maybe, but wouldn’t Josslyn feel the same way if it was her dad? Wouldn’t she do everything in her power to see if he was alive? She has to find out one way or another. Josslyn says, okay; Trina’s got her. She thinks they should talk to Carly and Sonny, but Trina says, absolutely not. She has to promise not to say a word.  

Nikolas says, Julian set off the bomb that left Lulu in a coma, and lying in a hospital in Manhattan? and Ava says, he said Cyrus was threatening his family, even her and Avery. He asks, why bomb The Floating Rib? and she says, to kill Jason. Cyrus said he was going to lure Jason there after hours, and all Julian had to do was drop off the bomb. Nikolas says, it was a crowded restaurant, and she says, somehow Cyrus knew Jason would be there. He says, if Julian was supposed to wait until Jason was alone, why it set off? and she tells him, Julian said Cyrus tricked him. He was supposed to call Cyrus afterward, and the call detonated the bomb. Julian knew not to trust Cyrus, but he was so desperate to save himself from Sonny, he didn’t care about all the people he put at risk. He asks why Ava hid Julian there, and she says she didn’t know the extent of the damage. She didn’t know about Lulu, but as soon as she found out, she knew she had to make a choice. Let Julian drag her down again or choose her own future. She let herself have a moment of clarity, and for the first time in her life, she listened to it. He says, and she chose him. She says, she chose him, and she’d do it again.

Michael says he doesn’t know how he feels about Sasha, and Willow thinks he owes it to himself to find out. Clearly, he still has strong feelings about her. He says, what about them? and she says, whatever they are or could be, they can’t move on until they’re both positive Chase and Sasha are really behind them. He guesses he should take the time to figure it out, after the feelings of anger and confusion are done clouding things. She says she needs to do the same. Clearly (her WOTD), she’s all over the place. At least they know one thing for sure. They’ve always been friends, and she never wants to jeopardize that. He says, it can’t and won’t happen. They’ve been through too much, but they will always be Wiley’s parents, no matter what. She says, no matter what.

Sasha asks if Chase is telling her that Michael and Willow are sleeping together, and he says, yes. They were supposed to get an annulment. Now he’s not so sure. She asks what Willow said when he told her the truth. Did she say it was too late for them? He says, she was mostly stunned. He told her that he loved her, and she had no reply. Sasha says, that’s it then. She knew they’d never recover from this. Michael and Willow will never forgive them. Chase’s phone dings, and he says, it’s Willow. She wants to see him.

Britt says she has to go, and Lucas says she can’t drop something like this on him and take off. She’s telling him Brad had an accomplice other than Nelle? She says, Brad wasn’t Nelle’s accomplice; he was her victim. He had to help. He asks why Brad would take the fall. What was in it for him? She says Lucas doesn’t get it. Everything Brad did, he did for him. Brad loves him, and knew Lucas loved his family. He’d lost Wiley, and Brad wanted him to keep the family he had left. She walks away.   

Josslyn says she certainly doesn’t want to fan the flames of tension between Cyrus and Sonny. She doesn’t understand why he’d bomb The Floating Rib. Trina says there are a lot of reasons not to tell, so please promise her. Pinky swear.

Sonny says, Nelle is Nina’s daughter? and Carly says, it all adds up. When she found out Nelle was dead, Nina felt terrible. She blamed herself for testifying against Nelle at the custody hearing. How is she going to feel when she finds out she testified against her own daughter? Jason has to admit, he didn’t see this one coming, and Sonny asks if anyone else knows. Carly says, Jax. She’s been wanting to tell Sonny, but there was so much going on, she thought it could keep. Sonny asks if Jax is threatening to tell Nina.

Nina asks Jax if he means, is she forgiving Valentin for trying to make her happy by giving her a pretend daughter when he couldn’t find her real one? She doesn’t know. It was wrong, but she understands it a little bit more now. She saw Sasha earlier, when they were saying goodbye to Lulu, and all that pain in Charlotte was in, she would have done anything to take it away. They try to comfort the ones they love, and sometimes go too far. Jax admits he’s guilty of that, and she says, of course (🍷) he is; he’s Sir Galahad. He says, not always. She’s right. Holding on to a lie only hurts the people you love. The truth is always best.

Ava tells Nikolas, she doesn’t know what to feel anymore. She betrayed her brother. She loved him very much, but all she knew was she had to do it for Nikolas, to make amends for what Julian did to his family. But that means, Nikolas is all she has left. Can he accept that? Accept them? And if he could, would that be enough for him? Nikolas says, yes, more than enough. He’s fooled around most of his life, and he’s ready to move forward, together. They’ll build a future together. She says she hopes he doesn’t regret his choice, and he says he loves her too. They kiss, and I breathe a sigh of relief, since I really like them together.

Jason asks how sure Carly is that Jax will protect her secret. If he tells Nina, who knows what else he’ll say. She says Nelle’s fall from the cliff wasn’t her fault, but he says, Nina might not see it that way. She says he cares too much about Nina to tell her that not only is Nelle dead, but Nelle was her daughter. Sonny says, he held Dev’s secret, despite a lot of pressure, and he hopes Jax keeps his mouth shut. Not that I think there won’t be more problems later.

Jax says he needs to tell Nina something, but she says he doesn’t have to. She takes it all back, everything she said about the truth and hope. It’s not that simple. The truth can be brutal, and hope is sometimes the only thing that sustains them. She was dreaming for such a long time that she’d be able to find her child, but the truth is, her daughter isn’t a child anymore. She’s a woman, and Nina prays the family who adopted her loved her and supported her, and gave her the confidence to reach her full potential. Every path to her child led to a dead end. The only thing that comforted her, was that she hoped her child had a good life, even if she doesn’t get to be a part of it. Jax says, maybe Nina’s intuition is right. Maybe it’s time to stop looking.   

Josslyn pinky swears with Trina, and swears she’ll keep the secret. Trina thanks her, and they hug. Josslyn asks what the plan is. She knows Trina has one. Train says they need to find more information – something to prove or disprove Cyrus’s claim – and she thinks she knows where to start.

There’s a knock on Sasha’s door, and Michael comes in.  

Chase goes the Quartermaine mansion and finds Willow. He says he got her text.

On Monday, Willow has something she needs to say to Chase, Violet asks who Gregory is, and Franco says he has voices in his head.

🩺 I Guess It’s Permanent…

A heads up would have been nice. I’m still having to remind myself, this is Lucas, ever time he comes on screen.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/stars-say-goodbye-to-ryan-carnes

👋🏼 Dev, We Hardly Knew Sen…

I’m sorry I didn’t get the young love quadrangle I’d wanted, but I’m sure he’ll be gracing the pages of whatever magazine teens read now for a while.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ashton-arbab-says-goodbye-to-general-hospital

💣 Love To Hate Him…

I loved him as Dodger in China Beach. It’s a shame they made him so bad, he’s going to have to go. Of course, no one ever really dies in Port Charles. I’m still convinced Faison has an evil twin, or will show up without a brain.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jeff-kober-opens-up-intimidating-first-day-as-cyrus

🎁 Celebrate With the Great…

A nice soap opera holiday gallery.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/abc/spend-holidays-with-daytime-favorite-families

💸 Yikes…

I wonder if she still gives zero f***s.

https://people.com/tv/erika-tom-girardi-sued-for-allegedly-using-divorce-to-embezzle-money/

🌈 Let Your Rainbow Fly…

Here’s hoping this brings Braunwyn happiness. I’ve felt badly for her this season.

https://extratv.com/2020/12/02/real-housewives-star-braunwyn-windham-burke-comes-out-i-m-gay/?adid=extra_eme_27766_2020-12-03_features2

☄️ That Was Quick…

At least she didn’t marry this one. Has anyone ever congratulated Vicki on her accuracy in predicting when Meghan’s marriage would end?

https://www.eonline.com/news/1213632/meghan-king-edmonds-and-christian-schauf-break-up-after-6-months-of-dating

👠 Bye Felicias…

I’ve kinda sorta been watching this again.

https://people.com/tv/rhop-karen-huger-walks-out-of-her-own-event-after-monique-samuels-invite-drama/

💍 They Never Learn…

Has she seen Southern Charm? Although there isn’t going to be a prenup. Just saying.

https://extratv.com/2020/12/03/reality-star-thomas-ravenel-engaged-to-heather-mascoe/

🍼 A Baby Situation…

Another guido or guidette is on the way.

https://extratv.com/2020/11/24/reality-star-mike-the-situation-sorrentino-and-lauren-pesce-expecting-first-child/

👗 You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Fashion…

Veronica is a bitch woman who knows what she wants.

https://pagesix.com/2020/12/01/haves-and-have-nots-star-angela-robinson-on-fighting-tyler-perry-for-fashion/

🕵🏾‍♂️ Everything Old Is New Again…

I vaguely remember liking this show the first time around. With Queen Latifah starring, I’m sure I’ll like it equally as well, if not more.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cbs-equalizer-reboot-lands-post-super-bowl-premiere

🐾 Fun Real Estate…

Blue’s Clues’ Steve is selling his pad.

https://people.com/home/former-blues-clues-host-steve-burns-selling-unique-brooklyn-townhouse-for-3-4m-see-inside/

🌬 Quotes of the Week

I’d bet on rabbits if you could get them organized. – Charlie (Charlie Sheen), Two and a Half Men

I love how masks have become face fascinators. – Kate Chastain, Chat Room

No one should be ashamed to admit they are wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that they are wiser today than they were yesterday. – Alexander Pope

There isn’t a shoe size so big my mouth won’t accommodate it. – Rick Legarski (John Carroll Lynch), Big Sky

The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude. – Julia Child

Letting go means to come to the realization that some people are a part of your history, but not a part of your destiny. – Steve Maraboli

A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties. – Harry S. Truman (Or as my friend, Patty, says: Murphy was an optimist.)

If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor. – Eleanor Roosevelt

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. – Bertrand Russell

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. – Thomas A. Edison

Soar with wit. Conquer with dignity. Handle with care. – Criss Jami

Hold fast to dreams. For if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly. – James Langston Hughes

True progress quietly and persistently moves along without notice. – Saint Francis of Assisi

I could iron now for days. I love to iron. – a grandmother after smoking weed for the first time. She inhaled. – from The Daily Skimm

⛈ Is 2020 Over Yet…?

Here we are again, cruising into yet another weekend, or another two days into, what day is it, anyway? Regardless of which side of the week fence you sit, try to change it up a little. Even with yo-yoing restrictions, there’s no restriction on creativity. And there’s always Netflix. No Dead this weekend, due to holiday films, which look like they’re an all-weekend thing on AMC. This is a win for me, since the premiere of 90 Day Fiancé (season 8) is happening, and it looks promising. So until we meet for Monday in PC, stay safe, stay inventive, and stay true to your pinky swears.

Dec3

December 2, 2020 – Cyrus Meets With Sonny, Pandemic In the OC, Mary’s Met Gala Luncheon & Weather

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

I missed the very beginning, but here are the takeaway points. Peter and Maxie surprised Anna and Finn, along with some welcome home signs made by Violet. Peter told Anna that he thought Maxie was glad to get her mind off Lulu, but was spaced out when they all sat down to talk. Cyrus showed up as soon as Curtis and Jordan got back, and encouraged Jordan to get back to work. Curtis wondered if he was on to them, but Jordan said Portia had doctored her medical records perfectly. Josslyn and Trina packed up Dev’s things, and Josslyn gave Brando a bracelet that had belonged to Dev, and said Dev had considered Brando a good friend. Franco told Cameron that he was sorry about Dev, but Cameron didn’t want to talk about it. At Pozzulo’s Jason told Sonny the shoreline had been searched for miles, but there was no sign of Julian. Sonny thought Sam needed to know that Julian was behind the bombing at The Floating Rib. And away we go.

Curtis thanks Jordan for the medical records she so brilliantly copied in Mexico. He tells her, the person Cyrus was housing in Oregon is Florence Gray. The connection to Cyrus is still unclear, but he tracked her back to Port Charles. She and her husband lived there years ago, but there’s not much information online. Jordan says he needs paper records. Does he have any idea how to get them? Curtis says, if anyone got sick while they were there, there would be hospital records, and Jordan says, what a coincidence. She has an appointment later.   

Carly calls upstairs, telling Trina that her mom is there. She tells Portia that Trina will be right down, and Portia thanks Carly for letting Trina stay over. She asks how Josslyn and Trina are holding up, and Carly says, they’re processing. They’re going to be doing that for a while. One minute, they’re crying, and  the next, they’re laughing about something they did with Dev and Cameron. Portia says she’s trying not to hover, and Carly says, Lucas called, and told her how Portia helped with Lulu. The entire family is grateful. Portia wishes she could have done more. She’s sick of telling that people that, and wishes she could actually do it. Trina comes down, and thanks Carly for having her. Carly says, anytime, and they hug. Trina asks Portia if they’re getting breakfast, and Portia says they are, but she needs to make a quick stop on the way.

While Finn and Anna chat with Peter, Maxie suddenly says she wants to talk about Alex. What’s up with her? Why was she obsessed with Maxie and the baby?

Cameron asks Franco what they do to trim the tumor, and Franco says, they took a little bit off the top and sides. Elizabeth says the medical term is debulking. It reduces the size of the tumor. Cameron says, but it’s still there, and Franco says, it’s smaller, but present and accounted for. Cameron asks, what’s next? and Elizabeth says they need to take it a step at a time. Franco needs to recover first. Franco says he’d like to spend some quality time with the people he loves, and Cameron says, it’s great news. Franco tells Elizabeth that he has a sugar craving, and she leaves for the vending machine. Franco says, Cameron’s mom is gone, so… Stepfather to stepson, man to man, he’s scared. He tells Cameron, his turn, and Cameron says he’s more than scared. He’s terrified.

Cyrus opens the door to Brando, and says once again he appreciates Brando coming in despite his loss. Brando says he wants to keep busy, and Cyrus says, perhaps that’s best. If there’s anything he can do… Brando says, actually, there might be, and Cyrus says, name it. Brando says he’d do anything to get his hands on the  bastard who killed his son. Cyrus wouldn’t happen to know who it is, would he?

Cyrus asks Brando how he would know who did this heinous crime, and Brando says, Sonny has a lot of enemies, and he knows Cyrus keeps his ear to the ground. Cyrus says he can’t fault Brando for asking, and he’s glad Brando did. Sonny might assume he had a hand in the situation, and he needs to clear up any unfounded misconceptions. He asks if Brando thinks his cousin would respond to an appeal from him, and Brando says he and Sonny aren’t exactly on the best terms, but if Cyrus wants, he’ll reach out. Cyrus says, that would be ideal. He says, Brando has a phone call to make, and trusts Brando would be more comfortable without him hovering. Brando leaves, and Cyrus’s right-hand guy (whose name I don’t remember) comes out. He asks if Cyrus believes it’s in his best interest to meet with Sonny, and Cyrus says, it’s in his best interest that Sonny believes his hands are clean.

Anna tells Maxie, her sister wasn’t always like this. She’s done terrible things, but years ago, Alex saved her life. Maxie says, wonderful. She’s sure they’re all grateful. Go, Alex. But more recently she tried to kill Anna, and that doesn’t explain why… Anna says, it kind of does, oddly. In her own way, family is important to Alex, but because of her choices and the mistakes she made, it kept her from being a part of one. She knew the WSB would never stop searching for her. Maxie says, so Alex had to pretend to be Anna. It’s so sad, having to pretend to be someone else to others to love you, but it’s not you they love. They love a lie. Peter asks if it wouldn’t make more sense for Alex to stay far away from the people who know Anna well. She was falling all over them at dinner. Maxie says, it was creepy the way Alex wanted all the details of their lives.  

Franco says he wants Cameron to fight; he needs Cameron to fight. He’s going to do anything and everything to be there for Cameron, his brothers, and his mom, and continue being the husband and father he loves being. Cameron says, he’d better, and Franco says he needs Cameron to promise he’ll fight the impulse to look for the worst in every situation, and force himself to expect great things to happen to him. Can Cameron do that for him? Cameron says, okay, and Franco tells him, come here. He hugs Cameron, and says, onward.

Josslyn gets frustrated with the packing tape (been there), and Sam says, let her help. Josslyn says she’d give anything to be putting effort into Dev’s yearbook page, or helping him with his college apps. He was so excited to be going to college in the states. It’s not fair. Sam says, it’s definitely not fair, and Josslyn says, Dev deserved so much better. Sam says, what happened is terrible, and Josslyn says she knows Sonny and Jason do their best to protect her, and she loves them so much. She never wants to complain, but sometimes she has to wonder what life would be like if they were safe, normal people.

Jason puts Brando on speaker phone, and says they’re listening. Brando says, Cyrus wants to meet, and Sonny asks if he said why. Brando says he wanted to clear up any impression Sonny might have about his involvement with the explosion at The Floating Rib. What should he tell Cyrus? Sonny says if Cyrus wants to talk, he’s willing to listen, but he’s got terms.

Martin asks Elizabeth for a word, and she asks if there’s something she can help him with. He says he represented her husband for a time, and she says she remembers he tried to convince the court that Franco was Drew because he had Drew’s memories. He says that brings him to the point. He has Franco’s will. Elizabeth says, when he thought he was Drew… and Martin says, he filed a will, yes. Recent events reminded him that he still had it. It’s technically Franco’s property, and he should feel free to dispose of it as he sees fit. As for him, he’s officially off the case. He hopes she accepts his best wishes for her husband’s speedy recovery.

Anna says, it’s not the first time Alex tried something like this. She had Anna drugged up and locked in a hospital for months, but was eventually found out. Finn says, by Emma, if his memory serves. Anna says, Emma knew who she was, and Maxie says she’s embarrassed to admit they didn’t figure it out. Anna says, Alex was very good at making people believe it. She was convincing enough to insert herself into a family she wasn’t part of. Maxie asks why Alex would bother to kidnap her, and Anna says she was rescued. She’s fine, the baby is fine, Finn is… She looks at him, and he says, not in the traditional sense, but he’s on the mend. Maxie says, but Lulu’s not, and Anna says she’s so sorry. Maxie says she keeps trying to tell herself that Lulu will make it out of this soon. She’s a Spencer. Anna agrees, she’s a Spencer, and she thinks Lulu would want Maxie to concentrate on the good things in her life; the baby, their wedding, Anna and Finn’s wedding. They haven’t told anyone about the changes they’ve made yet.

Jordan and Curtis meet with Portia, and Curtis tells her, they found a lead. Cyrus had someone stashed in a house in Oregon. They don’t know where that person is now, but they lived in Port Charles at one point. Portia says, that’s something. What do they need from her? Curtis tells her not to feel obligated, and she can opt out at any time. She says, it’s not game to her. She wants to bring down a drug dealer and murderer who directly affected her family. What do they need? Jordan says, by the time they got home, Cyrus was knocking on her front door, and Portia says, even a medical investigator wouldn’t be able to tell that Jordan’s documents weren’t true. Jordan says Cyrus is pressuring her to get back to work, and Portia says she’ll refuse to clear Jordan. Anything else? Curtis says, they need access to medical files from 40 years ago.

Cyrus tells his guy, Julian made claims that Taggert is still alive. If he is, they need to drag him out of hiding. Julian is the perfect means of disposal. Brando comes back, and says he got ahold of Sonny. Cyrus asks if Brando was persuasive, and Brando says, yes, but Sonny has one condition. If they meet, Cyrus has to come alone.

Josslyn tells Sam, sometimes, when she’s in Australia, she pretends that’s what her life is like all the time; no lockdowns, no sudden trips to Puerto Rico, no Friday night game with a bodyguard. Sam asks how Josslyn thinks that would make her feel, but Josslyn honestly doesn’t know. It’s not possible. She says, don’t get her wrong. She’d never want to leave. Australia is great for vacations, even long ones, but her life is there. She guesses that’s just the way it is. Over there, life is one thing, and here, it’s this. Carly has been listening outside the door, and comes in. She asks Josslyn how the playlist for Dev’s service is coming, but Josslyn says she put it aside to pack boxes. Carly suggests she and Sam let her get to it. She’ll be downstairs if Josslyn needs anything. Josslyn thanks Sam for listening, and Sam says, of course (🍷).

Trina sees Cameron at the hospital, and he asks if she’s cutting school. She says she’s thinking about it; him? He says he’s not going back today. She asks how Franco is doing, and he says, the brain tumor came back. She says, that’s awful; she’s sorry. She asks what the prognosis is, and he says, they were able to remove some, but not all of it. The rest they’ll treat with radiation. She says, that sounds encouraging, and he guesses it is, but he feels guilty that Dev died because he was in The Floating Rib. Dev’s life is over, and it seems selfish to be happy about the news regarding Franco. She says he can grieve and still be happy. He can be angry and sad about one thing, and feel happy about the other.

Carly says she knows what Sam is going through; she’s been where Sam is. Sam says thinking that Danny and Jason could have been caught in the explosion, is beyond terrifying. If she’s questioning all this, how the hell can she stay with it? Carly says, talk to her, but leave Josslyn out of it, and Sam says she didn’t mean to overstep. Josslyn wanted to talk, and she was just listening. Carly says the kids can’t see that Sam is struggling, but she does because she’s a mom. Sam says she doesn’t know what to do. The information about the explosion, then lockdown. Danny is old enough to understand and ask questions. What is she supposed to say? He’s going ask why daddy is leaving at all hours. Is she supposed to keep saying, great, dad is back again tonight? Carly says she can tell them the truth when they’re older, but Sam wants to tell him now. Carly says she doesn’t owe him a full explanation, and discussing it might make him anxious and afraid. They don’t need to tell their kids the truth if the truth will hurt them. She learned to cope that way, and so can Sam. The kids need to see that she and Jason love each other, and have faith in each other. Sam says their son almost died because Jason took him to play pool. She needs better than that for her kids.

Finn tells Maxie and Peter, they’ve decided to throw in the towel on a formal wedding. Maxie asks if Anna is okay with that, and Anna says it was her idea. Maxie says, okay, continue, and Finn says they decided on something small and intimate, with the people closest to them. Peter asks if he’s still invited, and Finn says he can be Maxie’s plus one. Maxie says she can understand them not wanting to make a fuss, and Peter says, no, she can’t. She says she understands it happens, and Anna says they don’t want to put it off any longer than they have. Peter tells Finn that Violet has some surprises when she comes home from preschool. They involve Roxie and some new dance moves. Finn says his emotional support animal will need an emotional support animal. Peter goes to get their coats, and Maxie tells Anna, one thing Alex said has her freaking out. Alex said she and Peter were alike. What does Anna think she meant? Anan says she thinks Alex was trying to trouble them both because she could. That’s who she was. Her advice is, Maxie needs to let it go. Alex is dead now, and she wouldn’t want Maxie to waste a moment of happiness because of her. Peter comes back, and asks what he missed, but Maxie says, nothing. She and Anna were just talking about how much they love him. He tells Anna, I love you too, mom, and he and Maxie leave.

At the bistro, Trina tells Portia that she thinks she’ll go to school. Portia says it’s understandable if Trina wanted to take a few days off, but Trina says she wants to feel normal, and ancient history will do that. Portia asks what they’re studying, and Trina says, The Iliad. It’s all about justice; what’s not to love? She says she can’t have Portia looking over her shoulder, and Portia says she’s leaving, but come home right after school.  

Cyrus shows up at Pizzulo’s with Brando, and Jason says he was told to come alone. Cyrus says Brando is Sonny’s family. How could he not bring him? Jason tells a guy to put Brando at a table, and Cyrus goes into Sonny’s office. Cyrus asks if Sonny is going to offer him some Corinthos Coffee, but Sonny says he’s fresh out. Brando said Cyrus wanted him to tell him something about the explosion at The Floating Rib. He’s listening. Cyrus says, to begin with, his sincere condolences on the death of Sonny’s cousin Dev. Sonny says he’s running short on patience; cut to the chase. Tell him what he wants.   

Martin sees Jordan and Curtis, and says he heard Jordan was under the weather. He hopes she’s better soon. As he walks by, he says, Mr. Ashford, and Curtis says, Mr. Gray. When he’s gone, Curtis looks at Jordan, and says, Mr. Gray…

Elizabeth goes back to Franco’s room, and Franco says Cameron was showing him some videos. Elizabeth says she smells social media happening, and Franco says Cameron is trying to convince him to do a dance number with his brothers as soon as he’s out of this bed. Elizabeth suggests he sleep on it, and gives him the candy she got, saying, here’s his sugar. She says she loves him, and Cameron says he does too, but he’s never going to admit it. Franco tells him, don’t forget their deal, and Cameron leaves with Elizabeth. In the hallway, Elizabeth asks, what deal? Cameron says, it’s just something they came up with to make their futures brighter. Franco starts to fall asleep, and hears Peter’s voice saying, I’m telling you, I want this to happen.

Finn asks if Anna is okay, and she says, actually she’s fine. Right at this moment, everything is great; at home, with their wedding happening in a few weeks, Peter and Maxie are happy. Everything is looking up for a change.

Peter asks if Maxie has something on her mind; she doesn’t seem happy. She says, Finn almost died. Peter doesn’t think they should concentrate on that, and Maxie says, they’ll concentrate on happy things, like their wedding. She has some ideas she wants to run by him.   

Trina looks at the picture of her and Taggert on her phone. She says, ancient history has been around thousands of years; it will be there tomorrow. A guy approaches her table, and asks if she’s Trina Robinson.

Josslyn looks at Dev’s jacket, and packs it.  

Carly tells Sam, they all want that for their kids; a perfect life with no disappointments and no danger. But that life doesn’t exist. They have a father who loves them, and would do anything to protect them, but doesn’t always tell them everything. Sam asks what she tells them. Scout is too young to understand, but Danny’s old enough to ask questions. Carly says, tell them that she and their father love them, and whatever is happening in the world around them, they have a mother who will always keep them safe.

Brando sits at the table, and looks at Dev’s bracelet. He puts it on.

Cyrus tells Sonny, he’s not there about what he wants. He’s there for Sonny. Sonny asks, how’s that? and Cyrus says he’s there to give Sonny everything he’s looking for.

Tomorrow, Curtis tells Laura they might have a lead, Cyrus tells Sonny to look no further than Julian, and Carly tells someone that all of this is on them.

The Real Housewives of Orange County

Still in Palm Springs, Kelly, Braunwyn, and Elizabeth went to the Frey House, designed by Albert Frey. In Kelly’s interview, she revealed she was a history buff, and loved the mid-century modern that was now hip, funky, and cool. Like her. It wasn’t my style, but still beautiful. It used a lot of natural elements, which I love, and was built around a section of mountain. Kelly thought the house was like Arizona meets Cabo, and in her interview, she said it had a lot of windows. She and Rick could live there and be expositionists [sic]. Seriously, someone needs to get that girl a dictionary. Shannon, Gina, and Emily went on a hike. Shannon wanted to get the toxins out of her body. We flashed back to Shannon talking nonsense when she was drunk at Braunwyn’s vow renewal. The best quote of the night was when Shannon said, you know, the thing about the thing. They discussed Elizabeth’s divorce, and in Emily’s interview, she said she’d met Elizabeth before the other women did, and they’d connected. Now she didn’t know who this emotional chick was. Kelly told Elizabeth that she didn’t think they were getting the whole story, and in Elizabeth’s interview, she said, because of the gag order, she couldn’t discuss her net worth or what she’d be receiving, and she didn’t want to poke the bear right now. I think Elizabeth has some serious money issues, especially since she said she was set for life, but still didn’t want her ex to win. I would assume she’s still going to get a bundle from him too. Braunwyn and Kelly suggested she stop talking about it; it was annoying. Elizabeth said she was glad they told her. She thought she was annoying too. In her interview, Elizabeth said she wanted to be perceived as successful. Old pictures of her were shown, and she was unrecognizable, and certainly not a blonde. Gina told Shannon and Emily that Braunwyn had done a 360, and in her interview, said Braunwyn had opened up and got in her heart. Elizabeth talked about going out after the party, and said she got hammered, and Shannon went off on Jimmy. She was screaming she didn’t like his opinions, but they had no idea what he’d done. She asked if Shannon did that, and got a resounding yes. Elizabeth thought it was the alcohol, and in Braunwyn’s interview, she said it hit too close to home. It goes from drinking is fun, to fun with problems, then just problems. It seems like alcohol is the problem with a lot of them. Maybe we need The Real Housewives of Sobriety.

I have to mention. I didn’t even realize how much Tamra and Vicki brought this show down until they were gone. While there are still arguments, they seem more like normal people, and the show is more enjoyable. I even found myself laughing a few times.

We saw that WHO declared a global pandemic. Gina played tennis with friends Kyle and Tatiana, and boyfriend Travis. In her interview, she said if she got emotional, Travis was good with bringing her back. Braunwyn saw therapist Jamie, and in her interview, she said the AA meetings were good, but she went to therapy to have the one-on-one, and deal with the root issue. She was learning how to deal with life on life’s terms. She told Jamie that she’d started drinking at 14, and when she moved to DC at 30, had a miscarriage, she began drinking and abusing Xanax. She said she was so dark, she couldn’t see around or through it, and contemplated suicide, ending up in the psyche ward. Sean had been managing and protecting her since she was 18. There was a dark side to her that few people saw, but he had.

Shannon shopped with Sophie for a debutante ball gown. In her interview, Sophie explained that a deb ball was an entrance for young women into society. The dress had to be white, not ivory, not strapless, and no flowers or lace. While Shannon had been a surfer chick, Sophie’s grandmother and great-grandmother were debutantes. Meanwhile, Braunwyn took Jacob to Cos Bar, which was like Sephora, to get some makeup for him. He seems like a real sweet kid. In her interview, Braunwyn said she never had support growing up, and thought it was important for children to know they’re accepted the way they are. When she was a kid, she needed to fit in a box, but she could only be boxed for so long. Jacob’s journey inspired her, since she’d never been authentic. She said, at the end of the day, the only thing that mattered was that we be true to ourselves.

Elizabeth met with personal trainer Casie, and in her interview, said that she’d spent $2 million in legal fees with the divorce. She’d just lost 30 pounds, and losing the weight was like losing the stress of her husband. When she lost a pound, it was like shedding him from her body. She called mom Lyn, and said the women were finding it annoying that she talked about her divorce, and felt the pieces of the story didn’t fit. Lyn said they’d never understand because Elizabeth’s divorce was in the 1%, and in Elizabeth’s interview, she said the questioning was why she doesn’t get to know women. Well, it’s called friendship, and they just want to know what’s going on in her life.

Sophie tried on Shannon’s old wedding dress, from when Shannon was like a triple-zero. In Shannon’s interview, she said the dress symbolized hardship, but on the flipside, she had three beautiful children she wouldn’t trade for anything. She loved John, but wasn’t rushing into another marriage. She wanted to make sure the relationship was right, and wanted to be smart about the future. Shannon called John’s daughter Julia, who was at Costco, and Julia said they were out of Corona. Everyone thought this was sooo funny, until Julia said they also didn’t have any chicken. She should have gone to the Italian market Gina and Emily went to, since there seemed to be no shortage of anything there. Gina said the market made her feel at home. She told Emily that Shannon was freaking because Braunwyn’s grandma had gotten up close and personal at the party, and thought the pandemic was the end of the world. We flashed back to when Shannon freaked out about Zika when they were on a trip. Shannon realized that instead of antibacterial wipes, Sophie had ordered baby wipes, which were pretty much useless. In Emily’s interview, she says she didn’t know who to trust, or get information from, and wondered what to do about keeping her kids safe. Shannon got weepy over paper towels, and I felt her pain there. She didn’t want to use them in case she could never buy another one. In her interview, she explained that she had permanent scarring in her lungs, which put her at high risk.     

In Kelly’s interview, she talked about the expo being cancelled, saying it was disheartening, since they were looking for investors to get next Positive Beverage to the next level. She said toilet paper was now like a Birkin bag. You had to be on a list to get some. She told Shannon that she thought things were being blown out of proportion. Shannon reminded Kelly that she was in a high risk group, and Kelly said, there were old people, babies, and Shannon. In her interview, Kelly said Shannon was the biggest hypochondriac in the world. Manager Zach told Kelly they should put everything on hold, since it was costing them $50K a month. Gina called mom Susan, and said the kids’ school was closed for a month, and she couldn’t even get toilet paper on Amazon, but she had enough pasta for three months. In her interview, Gina said it felt like 1700 feet just got a lot smaller. I wondered if it was sadder too. Her victim impact statement was coming up, and she said it was going to affect the dynamic of her and Matt’s relationship, and she didn’t want him to be mad at her. She fretted about having six kids there with no school.

Braunwyn told Sean, when they first started canceling things, she thought it was ridiculous, but now she believed they were in uncharted territory. Daughter Rowan said she was terrified. Not of the illness, but of the older people in her life getting it. Braunwyn found Sean’s optimism annoying, and told him not to give the kids false hope. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said it freaked her out watching Rowan get anxious. She was glad she was sober to deal with it. She explained that when she had her first drink, it wasn’t the being drunk she wanted, but she wanted the anxiety to go away. She told Sean if she was drinking, she wouldn’t be able to handle what was needed. She was afraid she might drink, and said there was a bottle of tequila in the cupboard that she’d kept for company. She wanted to get rid of it. Sean was proud of the fact it was unopened and still sealed. Sean got rid of all the liquor, and Braunwyn said she was 43 days sober. She started talking about a meeting, when Sean interrupted, and she got loud, saying no one let her talk. In her interview, she said that she felt like she needed to escape, but there was nowhere to go, because she wanted to escape herself. Being home with 9 kids scared her. She was afraid she’d get bored, and that’s when she made bad choices. It’s when the little voice told her, you can have a drink. No one will know.

At this point, production on season 15 came to a halt.

Later this season, filming virtually, Shane is sick, Shannon says her relationship isn’t a perfect fairytale, quarantine divides the women, Elizabeth says she has a secret she’s been carrying her entire life, and Kelly and Braunwyn argue.    

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

My jury is still out on this show. I find it somewhat fascinating, since it’s slightly different from the others, but Jen. She’s about as antagonistic on a good day as Dorinda was when she was drunk off her ass.

We were still at Whitney’s 20s party, and Jen questioned Meredith about canceling the sleepover. Let me stop right here. What adult calls staying overnight a sleepover? Meredith suggested they have this conversation not at a party. In her interview, Meredith said she wanted to spare Jen the embarrassment over her kids’ discomfort at Jen’s antics when she visited. Jen then moved on to questioning her about why she was friends with Mary. Meredith wisely said she didn’t engage in other people’s conflicts. She didn’t think it helped to resolve them. Jen asked if Meredith was going to be Switzerland for the rest of her life. In Meredith’s interview, she said Jen was unhinged. Jen wanted her to pick sides, telling Meredith that if someone did something to her, Jen would back her up 100%. In Whitney’s interview, she said there was no point in trying to talk Jen down. When she got pissed, she blacked out, and there was nothing you could do. Jen wanted to know how Meredith could be friends with Mary, and asked if she was okay with this. I guess this being Mary having said Jen smelled like a hospital. She wailed that it hurt her feelings, and in her interview, she wondered where the friendship and loyalty were. Meredith said, as far as she knew, they’d apologized to each other, said they loved each other, and everything was fine. We flashed back to that, and Jen said she’d accepted Mary’s apology because it was Meredith’s birthday. In her interview, Meredith said her birthday was weeks ago. She hadn’t heard anything more, and thought everything was fine. Even if there had been a problem, they’re not ten. No one can dictate who’s friends with who. Lisa came over, and told Jen to simmer down; it was a party. Meredith said she was disengaging, since this was not productive. Jen yelled that Meredith was going with Mary, who f***ed her grandfather. In Mary’s interview, she said she heard it, but she ignored it. Clearly, there’s something about her that Jen finds fascinating, since her name is always in Jen’s mouth. In Whitney’s interview, she said, whether it was true or not, it wasn’t appropriate. Jen told Lisa that it was either her side or Mary’s. Lisa tried calming her down, and said loved them both. Jen screeched f*** you at Meredith, at which point, Meredith had enough. In her interview, Whitney said Jen had a history of freaking TF out. She decided to check on Jen out of fear, since she didn’t want Jen to freak out because she didn’t. Jen wanted to bounce, and called husband Shareiff on the phone, yelling, where are you? and telling him she wanted to leave because she’s ten and can’t take cab. In Heather’s interview, she said, it was a crazy night. Between the pole dancing, drinking, and grandpa comment, it was a good thing their Mormon friends weren’t there. The flesh would have melted off their faces. Apparently, they were serving lollipop drumsticks, which Heather desperately wanted, and demanded be guarded when she got up from the table. I thought if I heard lollipop drumsticks one more time, I was going to find her and throw one at her.

Jen split, and screamed at everyone in street that she wanted to go TF home. In her interview, Heather said the best way of dealing with Jen on a rampage was to not react. Express your love and support, end it, and move on. She told Jen it was going to be okay, she loved her, and put her in Sharieff’s car.

The next day, Mary visited Whitney, who asked if she’d enjoyed the party, and Mary said, until the end of the night. Meredith told son Brooks about Jen getting upset, and Lisa and Heather went to lunch and discussed. Meredith said that no one should speak that way to another human being, and Jen needed to apologize. Mary thought Jen hated her, and Whitney couldn’t understand it.

Meredith went to MAR gallery, and chatted with gallery owner Maren. Lisa joined her, and in Meredith’s Interview, she said she just moved into her house a couple months ago, and didn’t feel settled in. It needed a part of her, and she liked modern, clean lines that were monochromatic, in her wardrobe and décor. Lisa wanted to touch everything in the gallery, which was weird. Meredith told Lisa she dreaded telling her, but she and her husband were separating. In her interview, Meredith said she and Lisa’s families were close, and she’s held off telling Lisa. She didn’t want her feeling that she had to take sides. She told Lisa they’d been kind of regrouping, and dating each other. Lisa felt blindsided, and Meredith said Jen was the only other one who knew. Lisa said she wouldn’t talk to anyone about it.

Meredith visited Mary, and in her interview, said she’d seen her fair share of homes, and Mary’s house was disjointed from her personal style. Mary was always so put together, but her house was eclectic. We saw one room was dedicated to Christmas, and I don’t think it was December. Mary’s son hung out with them for a millisecond, and Meredith asked what he wanted to do with his life. He said he wanted to be a fashion designer, which was news to Mary, since he’d always  wanted to be a brain surgeon. In Mary’s interview, she said her son had gotten his girlfriend a dog and a Prada purse for her birthday, which was more than he’d ever gotten her. The purse would last a lot longer than the relationship. Mary and Meredith discussed the party, and Mary said she preferred intimate gatherings. She wanted to have a formal luncheon where they could be real. In her interview, she said she wanted them to hear each other. They don’t listen, and she was breaking that yoke in a fun, fashionable, her-style way. She wanted the Met Gala feeling of dressing up. Meredith said Jen had gone from zero to one hundred, and Mary said she’d been going back and forth about inviting Jen. She thought it would be better to invite her, but Jen could end up being a downer. In Mary’s interview, she said she’d be doing the right thing if she invited Jen. If she didn’t, then it looked like she was in this with her.

Jen went to Heather’s house, followed by a food delivery she’d initiated. In Heather’s interview, she said she’d never been with Jen when she didn’t order food or bring her own snacks. She was like a toddler who needed her sippy cup and fruit snacks, or all hell would break loose. Heather told Jen to talk to her about the party, while she made green bean casserole for her kids. Was she okay? Jen asked if her lips looked okay, and Heather said, physically, she was a dream, but she was a mess on the inside. In her interview, Heather said she thought Jen was crazy, but Jen was her friend. Jen told Heather that she held it together to be a supportive wife, but didn’t see her husband much. She said it was the one-year anniversary of dad’s death, and we saw a clip of her at cemetery with Shareiff. I’m not loving Jen, but I felt badly for her here, since I’ve been there. Heather asked if Jen felt lonely and/or over it, and Jen said she was lonely. Shareiff couldn’t come to her dad’s funeral because had to go to a game. She sucked it up like a good football wife, and he never knew how much it hurt her. In her interview, Heather said loyalty was everything to Jen, and she expected Meredith to be loyal, but she was putting way too much on Meredith. Jen was frustrated with Shareiff, and didn’t know what to do with her anger. Jen ranted while Heather nodded, and Jen let fly about Meredith’s separation, and subsequent dating of her husband. We saw a clip of Meredith explaining it to Jen, and in Jen’s interview, she said she’d held on to the secret for months, but she felt betrayed, so now she was going to spill it. This girl is so fourteen-years-old; I can’t stand it. Jen told Heather she’d thought Meredith was a better friend.   

Mary set up for her luncheon. She’d decided to invite Jen, since, if she didn’t, there would be negativity. Jen called Sharieff for a morning pep talk, and he told her not to bring up any negative stuff at the luncheon.

Heather and Whitney rode to the luncheon together, and Heather wasn’t sure that Mary knew what the Met Gala was, since she was using it as a theme, and the Met was a location that had a different theme every year. She thought Jen would make an entrance. She and Mary would have to cross paths at some point, and she hoped Jen would move on. She told Whitney about Meredith’s separation, and Whitney was surprised, since Meredith always said everything was okay. So much for keeping that on the DL. Heather thought, whatever happened, Meredith would handle it with dignity. They pulled up to beefeater valets, and in Whitney’s interview, she said, beefeaters and a red carpet at noon in Salt Lake City. WTF is going on here? It doesn’t make sense, but it screams Mary.

I wasn’t all that impressed with the outfits. They were nice, but didn’t exactly bring glamour to mind, and definitely not the Met Gala. There were a lot of pants suits. There was a beautiful journal set, and a box from Louis Vuitton by each place setting, and Heather was all in. In Meredith’s interview, she said she was apprehensive about seeing Jen. She didn’t know what expect, but thought an apology would be in order. Mary told them to write about something no one knew about them in the journal. She asked them to open the gift, which she said was so they could hear each other. Inside the box was a set of LV earbuds. Before lunch was served, Mary they’d be together as one, and have a beautiful lunch. She thanked God for what they had, and got teary, but Jen wasn’t buying it.

The food looked amazing, and Mary asked them to talk – one at a time with no interruptions – about something people didn’t know. Mary started since it was her party, and said she didn’t trust people; she had issues. Whitney said she was working on not caring about other people’s opinions. And for the record, she wasn’t a swinger. Lisa said she set high goals for herself, and started tearing up. Mary asked what was up with Jen, and Jen said her dad grew up in Tonga with nothing, and wanted a better life for his family in the US. She was the oldest, and in their culture, the oldest child carried a lot of responsibility. She was expected to be perfect. Growing up, everyone thought she was Black, she was stood up for homecoming, and she didn’t go on dates. She understood how it was to work, and loved her friends, but needed to have loyalty reciprocated; the kind of loyalty she learned from her father. She explained she had a tough exterior, but wanted them to understand why she behaves the way she does. Mary said Jen could use words as a weapon. Jen apologized to Meredith, who thanked her for explaining where she was coming from. In Mary’s interview, she said, where’s her apology?   

Next time, Mary asks why Jen is so angry with her, Whitney’s dad does rehab, and Meredith doesn’t want to move to Ohio with her husband.

🌅 Another Night Turns Into Day…

See you in the charming South tomorrow, and in the meantime, stay safe, stay of staunch character, and stay being Switzerland your whole life if you want to.