Tag Archives: Real Housewives of Orange County

Feb15

February 14, 2020 – Nina Takes a Leap, Kandi Wants Her Own, Joe’s Tribute, Gina Says Next, Lisa Identifies, Bong Shares, Stars Remember, Eight Valentine(ish) Quotes & Wishing You Love

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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Nina throws a folder on Jax’s desk, and says it’s all his fault. She has to choose between Aruba and St. Martin, but she can’t look at the sand and water, or conceptualize the shoot. All she hears is his voice inside her head saying, come to the fun side of the island. He says, maybe it’s her subconscious talking. Nina asks what it’s telling her, and he says, come to the fun side of the island. She asks if that’s still an option.

Valentin looks at the Cassadine crest ring. He says he never had a use for it, and never even bothered to put it on. Now he’s learned it was never his to begin with. He looks up, and says, how did you do it, Helena? How did you pull off such a horrible lie? Helena is suddenly there, and says, Valentin, my son. Surely you’re smart enough to figure out there was no lie. It’s all the truth.

Sam and Alexis have dinner at the MetroCourt. Alexis remarks on how good the food is, and Sam asks if they’re not talking about the elephant in the room; Neil. Alexis says, is he here? and Sam says, he is. Alexis asks if he’s alone, and Sam says, he was, but not anymore. Alexis looks, and sees Neil sitting with Obrecht.

Sasha tells Michael that some Italian chain stores are interested in Deception. It would be great to branch out from the American market, but that’s as far as her expertise goes. Michael says if she steers clear of Brexit, a lot of the market is set up for expansion. The good news is, he has lawyers who can help set it up for her. She says, and the bad news? He wonders if Lucy will be okay with it.

Willow says, she must have expensive taste; the wine is good. He says, the wine guy comes through again, and she says, the wine guy is a legend. He asks if she’s leaving him for the wine guy, and she says, that depends. Are they still going climbing? He says she asks that like they’re climbing Mt. Everest. It’s at the Y, and they’ll be on harnesses with mats underneath them. She says, it’s kind of the same thing, and he says, it’s not, and she’s going to love it. They’ll have a great time. There’s a knock at the door, and Chase opens it to find Nelle there. She says she needs his help, and throws her arms around him. Chase says he thinks she just assaulted him, and Willow asks if it isn’t a violation of her parole. Nelle says they should be thanking her. Brad and Lucas are thinking of leaving town, and taking Wiley with them.

Sasha tells Michael, Lucy does like things just-so, but she’s made enough mistakes that if someone has a contribution, she wants to hear it. She thinks European distribution is making a contribution. Michael thinks she should go for it, and Sasha says it’s interesting how he honed in on the potential difficulties of working with Lucy. Is something going on at ELQ? He says, with his family, there are always difficulties, and she says, talk to her. He says, it’s funny. He never wanted to be CEO. Ned had a crisis, and threw the company in his lap. Sasha says, it must have been overwhelming, and Michael says, he made mistakes, but as he went along, he learned how everything works, and now he’s pretty good at it. But with the Quartermaines, being good is never good enough.

Brad visits Lucas, and asks how he’s doing. Lucas says, better by the minute. He wants to get out, and be with Brad and Wiley. Tell him about outside world. How was Brad’s day? Brad says, eventful, and Lucas asks, what’s up? Brad says, an opportunity fell into his lap out of the blue. Lucas asks if it’s a job, and Brad says it is. It’s in Portland. Lucas says, as in Oregon? and Brad says, that’s the one.

Alexis tells Sam, not that there was any relationship with Neil, but any implication of one has to be put in the rear view. Does he look interested? Sam says, no. He’s barely listening to Obrecht. She thanks Alexis for dinner, and jets.

Valentin tells Helena, he doesn’t remember much of his childhood in Greece. Living on the island, he doesn’t remember calling anyone mother. She says, his mother lived at the main house. He says he remembers getting the tattoo, and Mikkos dropping him off at boarding school. If he was a bastard, why was he provided for? Why would Mikkos draw up a will leaving him everything? She says, it’s simple. Mikkos believed Valentin was his.

Jax says he enjoyed kissing Nina. He could have gone on kissing her all year. She says, that would have been a long kiss, and he says, but she seemed uncertain. Given the world we live in, he didn’t want to seem like he was pressuring her or taking advantage. She asks if her job hinges on sleeping with him, and he says, the exact opposite, but they do work together. Nina says he is her boss, and he says he didn’t want it to look like he was taking advantage of his position. She says, funny he mentions that, and she closes the door. She says she consulted a lawyer, and as long as neither one of them are married, there’s no quid pro quo, and they’re both consenting adults – Jax says, check, check, and double check – it’s completely legal to do whatever they want. He smiles, and says it seems like with all the research she did, she wants to date him. Unless he’s wrong.

Neil tells Obrecht, he was hoping to get some work done, but she says, no one likes to eat alone. He says he’s a fan, and he only consults with his patients at work. She says she needs help now.

Alexis’s assistant calls, and she says she’s going out where she can hear better. She passes Neil’s table, and Neil says hi. He says he saw Alexis having dinner with Sam, but didn’t want to interfere with mother/daughter time. Alexis says she didn’t want to interfere with his… whatever it is.

Brad tells Lucas that Spinelli and Ellie are moving back to Port Charles, freeing up Ellie’s position. Lucas asks if it was offered to Brad, and Brad says he just got done with a marathon phone conversation. They’re willing to sweeten the pot, and make room for Lucas at the same hospital. Lucas says they must really want Brad, but Brad says, it’s not a promotion. The title is the same, although there’s more money. At first glance, it looks amazing. Lucas asks if Brad is excited, and Brad says he knows the timing is crazy. Lucas just woke up and is still recovering. Lucas says, the timing is perfect. Let’s move to Portland.

Nelle asks if she’s interrupting, and Willow asks, what business is it of Nelle’s what Brad and Lucas do with their son? Nelle says Wiley is her dearly departed husband’s flesh and blood; the only connection she has left. Willow says there’s no proof that Shiloh is Wiley’s biological father. Chase tells Nelle, it’s time to go, and if she comes back, he’ll contact her parole officer. She says he wouldn’t dare, but he thinks, given the nature of their past, it qualifies as stalking. Go. He slams the door behind her, and Willow asks if he’s okay. He says he doesn’t know, and she says she doesn’t know what pissed her off more; that Brad and Lucas are leaving, or that Nelle is taking an interest in it.   

Helena says Mikkos would amuse himself with the island girls, and stay away for months with his ridiculous mistress, the opera singer. Valentin says, so it was easy for her to conceal her pregnancy, and by the time he came back, it was easy to convince Mikkos that the baby was his. She says Mikkos surprised her, being more interested in Valentin than she thought he would be. Valentin wasn’t like the rest of them. He says, the Cassadines have tendency toward insanity, obsession, and megalomania, and she says, their appetites led Mikkos astray. Valentin was her son. He says, brilliant, and not crazy at all. Helena says, the perfect combination. He says, bravo. She managed to trick Mikkos into raising him as one of his own, branding him with the family crest, and leaving him his fortune. She says she was surprised when Mikkos changed his mind.

Nina asks Jax to look at it from her perspective. He’s probably the most stable guy in the world. He’s trustworthy and straightforward. He’s handsome and stable. He’s like an alien in the dating world. Every guy she’s been attracted to has been messed up. She doesn’t have a great track record with sanity, and all of this is different. Jax says, like trying on a new look, and Nina says, a whole new look. He asks, is the look right for her, or does she want to stick with her side of the island? She asks if his side is really fun. What if she goes to his side, and all she sees are spiders and snakes? He says he thinks she can dot every I and cross every T, and call a lawyer to get the green light, but eventually, it’s on her. She’ll have to take a chance, and he sincerely hopes she does.

Nelle sees Sasha and Michael at Kelly’s, and asks if she can’t have a night on the town without them following her. Sasha asks Michael if they should tell her that they were there first, but he says, don’t bother. He asks Nelle what he can do for her, and she says it’s really what really what she can do for him. It’s his last chance to make an offer for her ELQ shares, and it better be good.

Chase says Nelle is looking for a way to mess with their heads. She’s using Willow to get to him, and Wiley to get to Willow. Willow says, like at the hospital, where Nelle almost tricked her into letting her hold Wiley. Chase asks what happened, and she says Michael was trying to find Brad, and she had Wiley. A woman in a wheelchair showed up. She seemed nice, and told Willow about how she lost her baby, and Willow got the impression it had been recently. She asked to hold Wiley, and it was unsettling, but Willow felt bad for her. How stupid was she? Chase says, if she wants to talk stupid, allow him to introduce himself.

Brad asks if Lucas is serious, and Lucas says he’s had a lot of time to think. Julian is an ongoing problem that will only get worse. The only way to go about it might be to create physical space between them. Brad says, in Portland? and Lucas says, why not? It’s a great city, with a great climate. Brad adds, and great schools for Wiley, but won’t Lucas miss his family? Lucas says, especially his mom, but if it’s between that, and Julian always knocking at the door, she’d agree. Lucas doesn’t want it to sound like a complaint. Everyone was awesome, helping with Wiley while he was in a coma, but he wants to get back to their little family; just the three of them. He thinks he needs that right now. Brad completely agrees, and can’t believe they’re doing this. Sam walks in, and Lucas says he was literally just texting her. She says she was literally just pulling up to pay him a surprise visit. Lucas says, fate, and tells her that he needs a second opinion.

Alexis tells Neil to enjoy his evening, but Neil says, it’s not an evening. It’s not even dinner. Well, it’s his dinner. He blurts out, she’s a patient. Alexis says, if there was anything going on, it’s none of her business. She excuses herself, and goes out in the hallway. Obrecht asks if it’s something she said.

Valentin says, Mikkos was an egomaniac, obsessed with his bloodline. He couldn’t stand the thought of the woman who loved his grandson not being his, so he left his estate to Valentin. Helena couldn’t stand that, so she told him the truth. Valentin wasn’t his son. She must have relished having that conversation. She says she did; revenge was sweet. Valentin says, the most Cassadine of the bunch wasn’t even a Cassadine. Helena says that’s when he wrote the codicil, and Valentin says, but Mikkos died before he could publicly disinherit him, leaving the document in her hands. Helena says he’s doing well. Finish. Valentin says she hid the codicil in her portrait as a test. Nikolas had to set aside his hatred for her long enough to find the missing ingredient. She says the fortune was always meant to go to Spencer; that was the goal. He says, that explains how his daughter came to be. He never fully understood, but it wasn’t about Stavros’s child. It was about Helena having an heir from her line, and Luke Spencer. Helena says, my son. Congratulate her. She’s succeeded beyond her wildest dreams. She laughs, and he throws his glass at her, but she disappears, and it hits the wall. He storms out.

Nina tells Jax, before she takes a chance, she has to know why. He says, why what? and she says, there are less neurotic women out there. Why is he interested in her? Jax says he likes how he feels when he’s with her. They have fun together, and he likes being around her. She says her baggage is intense, but he says he likes a challenge, and it would be a challenge to show her that she’s not her baggage. She says he always knows what to say, when to say it, and how. Can he give her a guarantee? He says he can’t do that. He doesn’t know if they’re a match made in heaven, but they’ll never know if they don’t try. It takes a certain amount of risk. Nina says he’s never had his heart broken, but he says he has. He just chose not to shut down, and learn from his mistakes; acknowledge what went wrong, and embrace the good. He’s a believer in it, but he can’t make her believe. It’s not his leap to take. It’s hers. She kisses him.

Michael says Nelle thinks she’s won already, but the ELQ shares haven’t been probated. He’s in a much better position to weigh things out. He offered her money to go away, but if she doesn’t choose to, no biggie. He’ll sit things out. She says the stock is hers, but he says, there’s a 50% chance it will be found that Oscar was misled by a known criminal, and the bequest will be invalid. It could take up to ten years, but he has all the time in the word. Her, on the other hand… Nelle says he’s just like his mother; smug and superior. He thinks he knows everything, but he doesn’t. He’s about to lose Wiley forever.

Chase tells Willow, Nelle was compelling, and he felt bad. So bad, he let her play him. He went to Florida, and let her seduce him. If he’d just shoved her out of his hotel room and slammed the door, but he didn’t. He blames himself.

Lucas tells Sam, Brad got a great job offer, and Brad says, Lucas too. Lucas says, it means relocating to Portland. Sam says, wow. She thinks it’s awesome, and says, if she had a chance or a prayer of convincing Jason to move away, they’d be gone in a second. Julian is a pain, so they should get out while they can. Lucas says, his thoughts exactly. Sam says they might want to reconsider her as Wiley’s designated guardian. Brad asks, why? and she says she’s on parole. It’s not like she can hop on a plane if something happens to them. She asks Lucas to think about it, and he says he will. She says he’ll miss them, and tells them to promise to come home once in a while, since she can’t visit. Lucas promises, and she hugs him. She says she loves him, and thinks it will be good for all of them. Brad hopes so.

Valentin stomps past Alexis, and she follows. He goes out on the terrace, and babbles about the sun, moon, stars, villains, and fools. He says he has a compulsion, and leans on the railing. Alexis asks what he’s doing.

Jax tells Nina, this is his bedroom. She says she sees; it’s gorgeous. He asks if she wants champagne, and she says, again? He says, some things have to be celebrated, and pops the cork. He pours both of them a glass, and says, cheers. They clink glasses, and drink. He says, don’t worry. He has her. They start to get busy.

Nelle tells Michael, Brad and Lucas are moving to Portland, and Wiley will be on the other side of the country. Michael says, if that’s true, it’s their choice, and he’s happy for them. ELQ has an office in Portland, and he can visit every weekend if he wants. It’s good they’ll be far away from her. She tells him, go to hell, and walks away. Sasha says, that was fun.

Willow tells Chase, maybe she didn’t want to see Nelle that way, but he’s right. She’s exactly like Shiloh. She swears she knows the difference between someone too good to be true, and someone who’s just good. He shows her that every day. He says, funny. He was going to say the exact same thing. They kiss, and he says obviously she’s the real deal. He knew from the second they met. Even if she made him work for it. She says, maybe a little. Was it worth it? He says, every second, and they kiss some more. She pulls back a little, and he asks, what is it? Wiley? and she asks if he thinks Nelle said what she did just to get under her skin, or does he think it’s true, and Brad and Lucas are leaving? Chase says he doesn’t know, but say it was true. How does she feel about it?

Valentin tells Alexis, he’s enjoying the view. Is that a problem? She says, no, and tells him, congratulations. He’s not related to Mikkos and the rest of that dysfunctional bunch. It’s a win. He says, being Helena’s son is a step up? and she says he has none of the Cassadine crazy. Trust her, he got off easy. He tells her, have a good night, and leaves.

Sasha tells Michael, she’s impressed. Nelle was working so hard to get under his skin, but he gave her nothing. She has no idea how hard it hit him about Wiley moving. He says he’d like to think Nelle is lying, but she’s not dumb enough to lie about something so easily proven. Sasha says, Wiley won’t be in Port Charles, but Michael says he thinks it’s for the best. Sasha says he’s going to miss Wiley, and he says he will, and they hug.

Willow tells Chase, she wants to spend as much time as she can with Wiley while they live in the same town. She’ll cherish every minute, even though she knows it might not be the best thing for either of them. Her original intent was to never see Wiley again, but life happened, and she’s suddenly allowed to spend time with him. Chase says, it was a gift, and she says, completely, but every time she does, it’s hard not to see herself as his mother. She’s not, so maybe it’s better. Chase says, a good parent makes decisions based on what their kid needs, not what they need. She’s an incredible parent. They kiss, and Willow’s phone rings. It’s Lucas. She asks if everything is okay with Wiley, and he says Wiley is great. He was wondering if she could come see him in morning. There’s something important he need to fill her in on. She says she’ll be there.

Neil comes out on the terrace, and says he thought Alexis could use this, and puts his jacket on her shoulders. He asks how Valentin is, and she says, he’s having a rough time. How’s Obrecht? He says, gone, mercifully. She says he’s a brave man doing therapy with that one, and he says he’s realizing that. She tells him, goodnight, and gives back his jacket. They smile at each other.

Valentin looks at the broken glass, and throws the ring back in the bod. There’s a knock at his door. It’s Nelle, and he says he’s glad she could make it. She assumes he got her message. She’s ready to sell her ELQ stock. He says he’s ready to negotiate, and invites her in.

Jax and Nina bask in the afterglow. He says he’s really glad she took the leap, and she says, it’s the best leap she’s taken in life. His side of the island is really fun. He says, it gets more fun. He’s going to teach her to surf. She asks if she has to wear a wetsuit, and he says, he prefers she wear as little as possible. He tells her, they’re just getting started, and they kiss.

On Monday, Valentin tells Lulu that they can fight or compromise, Nina asks Jax if he has any regrets, Nelle tells Michael that she’s going to leave him and his family in the dirt, and Brando tells Sonny to tell him what he needs to know or he’ll blow everything sky high.

🍑 I’d Watch It…

I love the cast photo, although I’m sure it was photoshopped to death.

https://radaronline.com/photos/rhoa-kandi-burruss-desperate-spinoff-housewives-fired/

💘 Valentine Joe…

I don’t care how many tributes he posts, he’s not going to get Teresa to move to Italy any time soon.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2020/02/joe-giudice-posts-valentines-day-song-talks-changing-habits-teresa-split/

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2020/02/joe-giudice-valentines-day-tribute-ex-wife-teresa-rhonj-cheating-scandal/

🏡 As She Moves On, He Moves In…

It sounds kind of tight in that three bedroom house though.

https://radaronline.com/photos/rhoc-gina-kirschenheiter-moving-in-boyfriend-travis-mullen-after-divorce-matt/

🌨 A VanderBond Moment…

This is when my TV went wonky during Vanderpump Rules.

https://starmagazine.com/photos/vpr-ariana-madix-driving-car-off-cliff-depression-lisa-vanderpump/

🏆 You Go, Bong…

Again, so pleased the awards were given to someone who so deserved it.

https://hellogiggles.com/news/bong-joon-ho-2020-oscars-parasite-mean-girls/

🥊 Not Forgotten…

While I only watched Y&R for a moment when Marc Singer had a stint as a villain, Kristoff St. John was in one of my favorite workout videos, Kick Butt.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/stars-remember-yrs-kristoff-st-john/

👩‍💻 Quotes of the Week

Love is taking a few steps backward maybe even more…to give way to the happiness of the person you love. – Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milne

Sometimes what we want isn’t what we need. – Gena Showalter

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. – Lao Tzu

The real danger is not that computers will begin to think like men, but that men will begin to think like computers. – Sydney J. Harris

Love is, above all, the gift of oneself. – Jean Anouilh

Music is life. That’s why our hearts have beats. – Unknown

Love is the hardest habit to break and the most difficult to satisfy. – Drew Barrymore

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13 (NIV)

💝 Summing It Up…

Whether you’re loving the one your with, think love is a many splendored thing, can’t help falling in love, or you’re all out of love, I hope the day dedicated to love was everything you wanted, or at least not too hard on you.

Feb7

February 6, 2020 – Lucas Has Visitors, Tuxedoed Runway, Afterward, a Bit O’ Live, Chefs Back, Parry’s Pup, Wife Ban, a Revelation, Over It & Bad

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Taggert comes by Jordan’s office, and says he’s glad he caught her. Her phone rings, but she doesn’t answer. Curtis leaves a message for her to call him.

Anna brings Emma home, and asks if she’s happy to see snow. People say there are no season in California, but the seasons there are just gentler. They get real winter in Port Charles. She asks if Emma remembers the ice rink, and thinks they should go. They can rent skates. Emma asks if everything is okay. I have to add, Emma has grown into a gorgeous young woman now.

Finn tells Sam, he supposes a person can get desensitized. They’re used to risks to themselves, and don’t perceive how they can bring a risk to others. How do you get someone to listen who doesn’t want to? Sam supposes the person making the big mistake is Anna, and the mistake she’s making is about Peter.

Brad wants to see Lucas, and Carly tells him, take a deep breath first. He goes into Lucas’s room, and sees Bobbie by the bed. Lucas’s eyes are closed, and Brad says, oh no.

Laura opens her eyes, and Doc says, there she is. She says, sorry. She was so worn out from the visits from her children, she needed a nap. He asks if she wants visit restricted, but she says, no. Her kids needed her. They needed her reassurance. She can’t say she blames them.

Jason tells Michael, the shootout came from a drug trafficker with a long reach and a bad reputation; Cyrus Renault.

Sonny picks up the prison phone, and Cyrus says, Mr. Corinthos, we meet at last. Sonny says, Mr. Renault, and Cyrus tells Sonny, please call him Cyrus. Sonny leans forward and says Cyrus made a big problem for himself, and he’s not sure Cyrus can solve it.

Doc asks Laura, who wore her out more; Lulu or Nikolas? She tells him, it’s hard to say. Lulu is falling in love with Dustin, and isn’t sure what she wants to do. Nikolas is up to his neck in dysfunction with Ava, and doesn’t want to admit it. She didn’t have the heart to tell them that their mother had been shot, and was too tired to listen. Doc says, so she listened anyway. Jason walks in, and says he hopes he’s not interrupting. Laura says, not at all, and invites him in. She asks what she can do for him, and he says he’s just checking in to see how she’s doing. She says she’s fine, and Doc says she shouldn’t have been in that situation to begin with. Jason says, Sonny had no idea there was going to be an attack, and deeply regrets her involvement. Doc says, not as much as Laura does, and Laura asks if Sonny knows who’s responsible. Jason says, he’s working to address the situation, and Laura says, tell Sonny that she appreciates his concern. As his friend, she’s happy he and his family weren’t hurt, but as mayor of the city, she’s not about to allow Port Charles to be ground zero for a mob war. Whatever Sonny is doing to address the situation better not include violence or retaliation. Jason says she’ll pass on his message. He leaves, and Doc says he guesses she told him.

Cyrus tells Sonny, his only problem is with the Feds. They sentenced him to life without parole for something he didn’t do. Sonny says the Feds must like him. Why was he transferred to Pentenville? Cyrus says, bureaucracy works in mysterious ways, and Sonny says, not for him. He keeps what’s his. Too bad Cyrus didn’t think about that before he tried something stupid.

Brad says he knew it was too good to be true, but Bobbie says, Lucas woke up about an hour ago. Carly says, he’s sleeping, and Bobbie says, it’s part of the recovery process. Brad hugs her, and says he was so scared he’d lost Lucas. Bobbie says, when he was in a coma, Lucas wasn’t sleeping. His body was actively fighting to get better, and he’s exhausted. He’ll be in and out for the next few days. Brad says he’s not leaving Lucas’s side. He’s going to be there until he wakes up. Julian asks how long it will be, and Bobbie hopes not much longer. She’s going to check with the neurologist on his tests. Carly says she’ll take Wiley, and give them time together. She looks at Julian, and coughs, then says, or not. Brad tells Lucas, wake up, and Julian asks what he thinks he’s doing. They need to get their story straight. He told Lucas the truth before the accident. What is Brad going to say when Lucas brings it up?

Anna thanks Emma for taking the guest room. Violet saw Emma’s room, and it was love at first sight. She’s generous. Emma says she’s so excited to meet Violet in real life, and Anna says she’s just like Emma was at that age. She’s precocious, and loves to read, draw, do crafts, and play make believe. This morning, they were playing Avengers, and Violet was Captain Marvel. She was Nick Fury, and Peter was the bad guy. Anna tears up.

Finn tells Sam, he’s just talking; don’t take what he says literally. Sam is aware they don’t know each other well, but assures him that she can be trusted. He’s not the only one who thinks Peter is bad news. Robert is on his side. Finn says, that would be a first, and Sam says she promises Robert is determined to put Peter away.

Emma asks Anna if everything is okay with Uncle Peter. Anna wonders why she’s asking, and Emma says Anna seems like she’s trying too hard to be happy. She seems sad underneath, and there are tears in her eyes when she talks about him. Anna says Emma is perceptive. She should know better than to try and fool her. Emma says she doesn’t need to; what’s wrong? Anna says, it’s convoluted, with a complicated history that really should stay in the past, and not be dredged up. Emma asks if she’s talking about Peter, and Anna says she is. When Peter was younger, he didn’t always make the best decisions, but he’s done everything possible to make amends, and turn himself into a better person and make better choices. He’d prefer his mistakes were left in the past, but some people won’t let him. Emma asks, who?

Sam tells Finn, Robert offered to broker a deal. A new parole officer who’s less strict, so she can spend more time with Jason, providing they give him something big, something incriminating. Finn says, on Peter? and she says, yeah. She wants her family back together, and thinks they can help each other. If he has any damning information, he has to tell her. At least before Peter hurts Anna.

Sonny says he understands Cyrus’s strategy – go big or go home – but this time, it was a very public attack on Sonny and his loved ones. There was an attack in Brooklyn, and two in Port Charles. If it had worked, Cyrus would have been able to take over, but guess what? It didn’t. Sonny is still standing and Cyrus is twisting in the wind.

On the phone, Laura asks someone to have Jordan call her back asap. Curtis comes in, and says he’d offer to pull some strings to get her call through, but shouldn’t she be recovering? Doc says he made that point, and Curtis says, no luck? Doc says, not even a little. Laura says she has responsibilities, and asks what she can do for Curtis. He says he was about to ask her the same thing. She says she doesn’t know who’s behind the shooting that landed her there, but she intends to find out. Curtis says he knows she has her own security detail, but he’s more than willing to provide backup. She says, as much as she appreciates it, it’s not necessary. She has information that she wasn’t the intended target; she was collateral damage. Curtis asks how she can be sure, and Doc says, it was confirmed by an inside source. Laura says that’s why she needs to speak to Jordan. She saw Jordan and Marcus Taggert conferring the other day, and bets it has something to do with the latest flare up of mob violence.

Jordan says it’s good to see Taggert, and he asks how she’s holding up. She says, if he stopped by to get Sonny’s statement, they’re going off of what they received from the NYPD. He says he’s not there to bring Sonny to justice, and she says, sorry, Captain Ahab. Has he abandoned his quest for the great white whale? Spill. Why is he there? He says he got information on their friend Bob.

Chase finds Willow outside of Kelly’s, and she asks, how’s work? He says, pointless and frantic. Everyone is rushing around, but there’s been no resolution. They know the target, but don’t know who’s responsible. So far, they have no leads. What about her? He’s not so stressed she can’t tell him about it. He asks if she’s heard from Brad, but she says, not since he told her that he doesn’t want her taking care of Wiley. Chase says Brad’s husband is in a coma, and it’s probably misdirected anger. Give him time to cool down, and he’s sure Brad will reconsider making Willow Wiley’s nanny. If that’s what she wants.

Brad asks Julian, what’s wrong with him? and closes the door. Julian says, his son woke up, and he’s worried about something Brad said. Brad should be as well. He told Lucas that Wiley is Michael’s son. There’s no way in hell Brad is bringing Julian down with him. Lucas says Brad’s name, and Brad jets to Lucas’s side. He says, you’re awake. Apparently, Julian isn’t so concerned that he’s not willing to talk about this right in front of Lucas, asleep or no. What a jerk. I sometimes wonder if the actors ever tell the director, no; I refuse to even say this. It’s too stupid.

Curtis asks who Taggert is, and Laura says she thought he knew. Taggert was a detective at the PCPD a long time ago. He was actually in the trenches during the last mob war. Doc says Taggert left more than fifteen years ago, and Curtis says that explains why he doesn’t know him. Does Laura think the shooting brought him back? She says, possibly. She doesn’t know what other connection he’d have to Port Charles. Maybe Jordan. Curtis says, what about her? and Laura says, they knew each other from work; she bumped into them at the PCPD  the other day. Curtis says he’s headed there now. He’ll tell Jordan that Laura is trying to reach her. He suggests Laura try to pencil in recuperation between work. Doc says he hears that, but she says, no promises. Curtis leaves, and ponders a while in the hallway.

Jordan asks how Taggert got his hands on Bob’s records. They had to have come from Bob’s personal physician. Taggert tells her, don’t ask questions if she doesn’t want the answers. She looks through the folder, and says, just like Bob. He had two check-ups a year, and was a total hypochondriac. There’s no shortage of bloodwork, but no traces of drugs on his last visit. It was less than a month before he died, so he got addicted in a couple of weeks? It’s a stretch. Taggert says, there’s definitely been foul play.

Cyrus looks at the guard, who makes himself scarce. He asks Sonny if he follows football. Sonny says he loves it, and Cyrus says, then Sonny will understand his perspective. A preemptive strike is like a hail Mary pass. If the team scores, the player is a hero. If the ball is intercepted, he’s benched or fired. Sonny says, it’s not a game, and Cyrus says, it’s a negotiation.

Jason tells Michael that they’re doing research on Cyrus; how he works and who he knows. All they know is he’s in Pentenville for a Federal drug crime. Michael says he was running his operation from prison, and Jason says, that’s for Sonny to worry about. Michael says he wants to know what they’re dealing with. His phone rings, and he says he has to take it; it’s his grandmother. He listens, and says, wow. Thanks. He tells Jason, Lucas woke up from his coma.

Brad says he didn’t know if Lucas would come back to him, but he did. He loves Lucas so much. Lucas starts to sit up, but Brad tells him, take it easy; he’s been through hell. Lucas asks if his mom is there, and Brad says she’s talking to the doctors. Lucas says, they were in an accident? and Brad says, they were driving on Thanksgiving when the brakes went out; they don’t know what happened. He asks if Lucas remembers anything about being in the car or the accident.

Sonny says, Cyrus wants to negotiate? Cyrus says Sonny gets 10% of everything he moves through Port Charles. He guarantees no merchandise will be sold in Sonny’s location; he can keep the market to himself. Sonny says he’s not interested, but Cyrus says he should be. Every day Sonny refuses to allow Cyrus’s produce to move, it costs him money. He doesn’t care about himself; he’s rich enough. But if you don’t change with the times, the times will destroy you. So do they have a deal?

Willow tells Chase, she’d love to be nanny again, but she doesn’t want to get her hopes up. She was almost embarrassed at how important the job was to her. Chase says she has no reason to be embarrassed. She says, being a part of Wiley’s life is a big deal, but seeing him every day, maybe it was too much. He says, how so? and she says, maybe she was so happy being close to Wiley, she blurred the lines she put up when she chose adoption. Her phone rings, and she says, it’s Michael. She takes the call, and tells Chase, good news. Lucas woke up. Chase says, Wiley’s got his dads back. Willow looks at him.

Lucas tells Brad, he doesn’t remember being in the car, and Brad asks, what does he remember? Lucas says, he came home from work. Elizabeth got Terry to cover for him, so he could see Brad; he wanted to hash things out between them. That’s all he remembers. Brad says, that’s okay. None of it matters now. Lucas sees Julian, and says, dad? Julian says Lucas knows how to scare someone. He understands Lucas is still pissed at him about Halloween. There was no excuse. Brad says Julian has been his rock the whole time. He doesn’t know how he would have gotten through this without Julian. Lucas asks about Wiley, and Brad says he’s there, and lets Carly in. Carly says Wiley thought he’d never ask. She brings Wiley over to Lucas, and puts him on the bed.

Finn tells Sam, there’s something he wants to say. Her phone rings, and he tells Sam, she should take that. Sam says nothing is as important as what he was about to say. Finn says he’s sorry about her parole situation, but he’s got nothing to give her on Peter. He gets up, and her phone rings again. It’s Jason, and she asks, what’s up? He says he just heard her brother is awake.

Anna asks if Emma is sure she’s all right on her own, and doesn’t want Anna to drive her to see Epiphany. Emma says she likes the walk to the hospital, and wants to see the park, the library, Rice Plaza, and her old school. Anna says she’s a little young for nostalgia, but Emma says she likes to see places that were important to her. She can stop by the MetroCourt and say hi to Uncle Peter. Anna says they’ve become good friends, and Emma says, even though he’s miles away, he’s been a good uncle to her and Noah. She tells Anna not to listen to anybody. They don’t know Peter like she and Anna do.

Jordan says she knew Bob’s death was suspicious. They need to get the investigation reopened. Taggert says, it’s circumstantial, but she says if they give them Bob’s background, they’ll see it too. Unless… What if this has to do with what they did? They said they’d take it to their graves. He says, it looks like Bob kept his end of the bargain, and Curtis walks in.

Anna thanks Emma, who says the people who are judging Peter don’t know him like they do. They have to keep believing in him; he deserves their faith. Finn comes in, and says it’s a nice surprise. He’s impressed how Emma got there on her own. She says, it’s no big deal, and he says she’s a seasoned traveler. Anna says, she’s independent now. She’s going to see Epiphany on her own. She tells Emma to be back by dark, and if it starts to get late, call, and she’ll pick Emma up. Emma says she’ll give them plenty of time to… talk.

Lucas says, let him get this straight. He was in a coma longer than Sam served time for manslaughter? Sam says, funny. She’s glad he still has his sense of humor. Lucas says, it’s fully intact. Michael says, they’re happy he’s back, but not more than Brad is. Sam asks when he can go home, but Bobbie says they don’t want to risk moving him yet. They’ll keep an eye on him for a few days before he’s discharged. Julian asks Brad to step outside with him. They need to take care of some administrative work. In the hallway, Brad asks Julian, what’s up? Julian says they need to get their story straight now. Brad asks if he didn’t hear Lucas say he doesn’t remember, but Julian says, what if he does? Then what? Brad says, that’s a big if, and Julian says, it’s a big possibility. Brad thinks Julian should calm down and chill. For once, Brad feels like everything will be okay.

Jordan hugs Curtis, saying she didn’t know he was stopping by. He says he was visiting Laura, who’s been trying to reach her. Jordan guesses she’s been busy, and Curtis says, this would be…? She introduces Taggert, and says they go way back. They were colleagues during her stint at the DEA. Curtis asks if Taggert is still in law enforcement, but Taggert says he’s retired. Curtis wonders what brings him back to Port Charles, and Taggert says, coincidence. He used to live there, and he’s visiting old friends. He didn’t know Jordan was Commissioner. They just ran into each other today. (D’oh!)

Cyrus tells Sonny, he’s offering an olive branch, but Sonny says he doesn’t want peace; he wants Cyrus gone. Cyrus says Sonny is going to be disappointed. He has personal reasons for moving to Port Charles, and he’s there to stay. Sonny says, you never know. Cyrus is far from his base of operations. Accidents happen.

Finn tells Anna, Emma is great. Anna says she should have been more patient; she’s sorry. Finn says he should be apologizing. He was wrong. Anna says, okay, she accepts. She thanks him, and says things are a little strained between them. He says he can’t pretend they’re not, but he doesn’t want to be the guy who runs out when things get tough. She says, that’s not like him, and they kiss. He says there’s something he needs to tell her. He ran into Sam at Kelly’s. Sam and Jason are determined to find a link between Peter and the attempt on Franco and Andre’s lives. Anna says, Jason is relentless, and Finn says, Robert knows, and he’s working with them.

Cyrus tells Sonny, it’s true; prison is dangerous. But he has supportive friends. Sonny says he has friends in Pentenville and Port Charles too. He doesn’t trade in Cyrus’s merchandise, but he knows people who do. Unfriendly people, who can be expected to go against Cyrus. It could cost Cyrus his life. Sonny hangs up, and Cyrus smiles.

Jordan tells Curtis, today is the first time she’s seen Taggert in ages. (Double D’oh!) She can’t believe it’s been so long. She wishes he’d come at a better time, but maybe they can catch up before he leaves. He says he bets TJ is bigger than he is now, and she says TJ could give him a run for his money. Taggert says the three of them should do dinner, and Curtis says, that sounds nice. How long is Taggert there for? Taggert says he’s there for the time being. It was nice meeting Curtis. They shake hands, and Taggert says he’ll see them around.

Sonny calls Jason at the hospital, and Jason asks how it went. Sonny says they’re in for a fight. The son of a bitch isn’t backing down.

Doc supposes he can’t hide Laura’s phone and pretend it’s lost. Laura asks what kind of mayor she would be if she dodged the phone during a mob war. He says, Sonny is an old friend. Is she going to reach out personally and ask him to keep the peace? She says she’s sure Sonny would avoid it if he could, but she’s afraid whoever is responsible is forcing his hand. That means there could be more collateral damage.

Chase says, amazing, and hugs Willow. She says she’s thrilled. Lucas’s family must be over the moon. He asks if she wants to see them, but she says she doesn’t think it’s a good idea. She doesn’t want to intrude. Chase doubts it would be an intrusion, but she says she doesn’t want to cross the line. Lucas is out of his coma, and God willing, will recover, and things will get back to normal. He says, doesn’t she want that? and she says, of course (🍷), but she won’t have a role in Wiley’s life anymore.

Carly asks if Lucas is okay, and Lucas says he’s fine. She says she’ll take Wiley, but Lucas repeats, he’s fine, just tired. Bobbie says his body is exhausted, and Carly suggests they leave, and give the two men some time. She’ll bring Wiley back in the morning. Michael says he can take Wiley for the night, as long as his dads sign off on it. Lucas thanks him, and Carly gives Wiley to Michael. They all leave, except for Julian, who stands there like the jerk he is, with his arms folded. Lucas flashes back to vague memory of Brad telling him Wiley is Lucas’s son. Brad asks, what is it?

Tomorrow, Nina tells Valentin that they have to move on from each other, Lucas says Brad was working up to a confession, and Nelle accuses Michael of bringing her there to kill her.

🎩  On Project Runway, Victoria decided she wanted and deserved to be there. I didn’t get a vote, so there she stayed. We found out the tuxedo was named in 1886 after Tuxedo Park, a place for the rich and elite. No surprise, Billy Porter’s tuxedo gown was talked about as modern, innovative, and a reinvention of the tux. The designers were challenged to show a modern take on an old classic. They were told that use of satin was what made the difference between a tux and a suit. That was news to me, so now I’m going to have to check that out. Christian said they weren’t monsters, so help had been brought it – the designers who’d already been eliminated. The eliminated contestants chose who they wanted to work with, in order of how their names were drawn. Jenn chose Brittany; Tyler picked Delvin; Melanie wanted Geoffrey; and Veronica went with Sergio, after saying in her interview that she’d never work Victoria. Chelsey selected Nancy; Alan had a mental blackout, and went with Victoria; and Shavi was left with Marquise. Since there was one extra eliminated designer, Asma was left to go get a cab home. (Not really. I don’t know where she went.) The designers had their choice of male, female, or non-binary models, since tuxedos are for everyone. Sorry, not me. I can’t imagine a tuxedo on my short self. I would look like I was playing dress-up. In his interview, Alan said Victoria was a solo designer, and didn’t work well with others. She barely works well with herself. For the two-day challenge, they were given a $600 budget, and 30 minutes at Mood. By the first commercial, Victoria was telling Alan to shut up. Delvin went for powder blue material until Christian was like, um… and he switched to an emerald green with a print for the lining. Geoffrey decided on a jumpsuit, saying the judges vibed on them. Victoria went with a gown, and Sergio, a backwards tux, saying he was thinking outside the box. This was a puzzling statement, since even I know that’s been done before.

Everyone got a night out at a rooftop bar, and the next morning Sebastian, winner of season 17, brought breakfast. He said the competition had changed his life, with the CFDA helping him launch his first collection, and finding him buyers. His advice for everyone was not to look at the other designers – in other words, don’t compare – and to go with their first idea. Geoffrey was very weepy during his interviews, and unsure of what his next move would be. Victoria said she only wanted Alan for moral support, and wouldn’t really let him help. He mostly did things like get water for her. Christian told Geoffrey to reassess the details, and he decided to streamline. After sleeping on it, Brittany decided she didn’t like the grey color scheme she’d chosen, and opted to change the design rather than make something she wasn’t proud of. For the outside of the jacket, she used the print she’d originally meant for the lining, and created black shorts to go with it. Nancy poached Tyler to use as a model, since he was the same size as hers, making Delvin extremely irritated. In Victoria’s interview, she groaned that Nancy kept doing the same silhouette, even though that’s exactly what Victoria does. Asymmetry mean anything to her? Marquis said he was getting his inspiration from the military – he’d been in the ROTC in high school – and wanted his design to be crisp and clean.

Delvin, Brittany, and Victoria were trashing Nancy, saying her tux looked like a glamorous garbage bag. Unbeknownst to them, she wasn’t far away, and heard every word. I laughed when Delvin realized; his face was priceless. Sergio told her that it was their problem, not hers. In Sergio’s interview, he thought all they saw was her age, but she would sneak up on them. While Nancy was on the buttonhole machine, it broke down, and Delvin said that was the second time Nancy had been in his way. That’s like the millionth time he’s been a jerk. Christian said they didn’t have buttonhole machines in his day, and he did okay. In her interview, Brittany pointed out that Sergio’s backward tux was a direct copy of Celine Dion’s iconic look.

The guest judge was Thom Browne, three time CFDA designer of the year. Brittany was a stand-out, but for all the wrong reasons. She should have stuck with the grey palette. The jacket wasn’t awful, but the lapels were weirdly thin, and the shorts were horrifying. At this point, I figured she was on her way out, even though I desperately wished it was Victoria. I don’t like her, and wouldn’t want to work with her, or even know her. Unfortunately, Victoria somehow whipped together a gorgeous jacket with a long, asymmetrical skirt that revealed a sparkly garter – the one thing she let Alan do. Karlie said the model looked like a sexy villain in a Bond film, and thought the whole show was amazing.

The judges felt Geoffrey’s jumpsuit was minimalist, and he stayed true to the challenge. On the other hand, Nina said she didn’t get tuxedo from Delvin’s look, and Brandon said it looked like a leprechaun in a corset. Personally, I didn’t think it was that bad, but I agreed with Sergio, when he leaned over and told Nancy, karma. Thom said the look was too safe. Victoria got high praise for combining feminine and masculine details, boosting confidence and power, while still embracing femininity. Everyone loved the open back that had a satin strip running down the middle. Nina thought Marquise’s tux made his male model look regal and powerful – I have to add here that his model was super-hot with a bangin’ bod – and Brandon said Marquise let his ideas fly; he just needed help anchoring and executing them. Thom said he loved male cleavage, by which he mean a show of the ankles. I actually thought, flood pants, when I saw it, but okay. His tux had a horizontally pleated jacket, with a pant/skirt combination, and Thom said he would have pleated the skirt. I agreed, nodding my head, like Thom cares. Brittany was mortified from the jump, and said she’d never done menswear. Karli’s face was like, WTF? and Elaine said, it was hard to look at; there was so much wrong. She was shocked it was Brittany’s design, and said, it was like a douchey Hamptons party look. (Ha-ha-ha! They probably would wear that on Summer House.) Brandon said, it was a mess, and I thought the whole thing was just sad. Thom said the proportion was the hardest thing for him to take, and if she was going that way, she should have gone even shorter, and pushed the limit. Sergio – who needs to either get it together with his causes or stop throwing them in there – said he went with the backward thing because of the state of the country. Everyone thought they knew where he was going, but he did a 180 by saying we should go back to the 1950s, when everything was better; a house was affordable, and a family could live on one income. Granted, he’s right there, but Elaine pointed out that the 50s wasn’t a great time for people of color. She told him that his messaging was frequently off, and he should stick to fashion. Because somebody had to, Nina brought up John Galliano’s backward tux that Celine Dion wore to the Academy Awards. Sergio claimed he’d never seen it, and absolutely no one bought that. Nancy got all excited about her sleeveless print tux, and babbled endlessly. Brandon said he wished he could do interviews that way. People asked what his inspiration was, and he’d say he didn’t know. Thom said it didn’t speak tuxedo to him, and thought she was playing it safe. Nobody seemed to like it very much, which surprised me. It wasn’t anything I would wear, but I thought it was something different, and looked terrific on the model. The judges were so negative, at this point, I worried about Nancy being out.

The judges deliberated, and Sergio, Marquise, Geoffrey, and Victoria were on top; while Delvin, Nancy, and Brittany were at the bottom. Brittany’s placing was obvious (they were all like, what the hell?), but the judges said Delvin had too many things going on, and Nancy’s tux wasn’t anything they hadn’t seen before. Karlie thought the brocade was overwhelming, and she was underwhelmed with the design.

Marquise was the big winner, the judges saying his garment was well-tailored, and that he’d reinvented the tux. He had the confidence and ability to extend and challenge himself. He said it was an honor to be able to come back and prove his worth. In his interview, he was especially honored by Thom’s approval, and was thrilled he got to show the judges why he shouldn’t have been eliminated. It is pretty cool that he got brought back, and then won a challenge.

The judges said the bottom three missed the mark for different reasons, but one look was a clear failure. I knew then, Brittany was out. She looked miserable. Delvin was crying, but I’m not so sure it was for her. I’d hoped it was because he was humbled after trashing Nancy, but it was probably because he just escaped by the skin of his teeth. Brandon told Brittany, it was painful to see her go, but sometimes a devastating thing brings you back to life. He suggested she use it to propel herself to other great things he knew she was capable of. Through her tears, she said it had been an honor to be there, and she looked up to all of them. It had been a crazy ride. She got a Karlie hug, and in her interview, said she disappointed the judges and herself. She had thought she’d be in the finale. I thought Sebastian was right in saying you should go with your first idea.

While backstage, Brittany bemoaned there being nothing to be happy about or proud of with her tux look, Christian made his usual appearance to gently tell the loser it was time to clean up their space. He told Brittany, he was so sorry. She’d have to endure this a little longer. It was the Siriano Save, used at last. He said he thought she’d lost her way, but she was talented and her work was amazing, so he wanted to save her. We saw a clip of Christian telling the judges about his decision to save Brittany, and the judges being all happy. In her non-exit interview, Brittany said she had to show she was worthy of Christian’s save, and not let him down.

Next time, a tie-dye challenge, and Leslie Jones is the guest judge. I love her!

👓  After the Runway…

See Christian interview Sergio, and a dog in a bowtie.

https://www.bravotv.com/project-runway/season-18/episode-9/videos/christian-siriano-sits-down-with-a-surprise-guest-in-the

🕵🏻  Omg, I guessed the secret word on Watch What Happens Live – fashion – before they showed it. True story. Christian was on, and inferred he didn’t buy Sergio’s political statements.

🍳  Top Chef All Stars will begin cooking on Thursday, March 19th.

🐕  Good Brad…

Another happy ending for a rescue pup.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/parry-shen-family-rescue-dog-roxi?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9844&recip_id=5057&list_id=9

🍊  Two Amigas Down…

So you think Vicki is going to get married now? Or will she just wait until the ban is over?

https://radaronline.com/photos/rhoc-vicki-gunvalson-tamra-judge-banned-tv-one-year-non-compete-clause-bravo-exit-show/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🛥  A Surprise For the Captain…

Methinks there might have been one or more terminations had Captain Lee really known what was going on.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/kevin-dobson-kicks-sand-kate-chastain-captain-lee-rosbach-reacts?cid=soc_tw_Bravo_BelowDeck_Dish

🖤  He Felt Nothing…

I doubt she cares very much, but he is freaking rude. Good riddance, I say.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2020/02/rhonj-joe-giudice-said-he-felt-nothing-for-teresa-before-split/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🧨  Valentine Flipside…

She knows the struggle is real.

Feb1

January 31, 2020 – Some Dust Settles in PC, Salt Lake Parties, VanderSuit, Bachelorette Breakdown, Freeing the Juice, an Engagement, More Mud, a Breakup, Close To a Dozen Quotes & Groundhog Tune

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What I Watched Today

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

 

🌞  And we’re back.

General Hospital

At the warehouse, Carly asks if Jordan can get the ambulance there faster, and Gladys tries to comfort Brando. Jason has shown up, and Jordan asks if he can tell her what happened.

Josslyn is at the hospital, where Chase asks if she can retrace her steps for him. Josslyn says she went to the pier because she’d left her journal behind. That’s when she saw the shooter. Chase asks if he was headed for Sasha and Michael, and Josslyn says he was, but she thinks it was really Michael he wanted, and she had to warn him. If she hadn’t, the shooter would have killed him. Chase says Michael is lucky to have such a brave sister. She saved his life.

Michael arrives at Sonny’s, and asks a guard how everything is. The guard says, no sign of trouble, and Michael says Sonny is taking Mike back to Turning Woods. He wonders how things are at the warehouse, but the guard says Tony hasn’t checked in. Michael says he hasn’t heard from his mom either. Dev comes in, and asks, what’s going on? The place is crawling with guards and he can’t go anywhere. Michael tells him, something bad went down.

Finn tells Nikolas that it’s terrible to have forced Hayden to abandon her child. Nikolas says he never intended it to go there, but Finn says, he did. His greed cost Violet her mother. Nikolas says, temporarily; Hayden will come back. Finn asks if he’s supposed to take Nikolas’s word for it because he’s a prince. Finn says Nikolas thinks he’s gotten away with it, but promises he won’t.

Jax thanks Elizabeth for taking care of his daughter, but she says she didn’t do much. He says he appreciates it anyway, and he’s sorry for what Nikolas did to Hayden. Jax regrets enabling him. Elizabeth asks what Nikolas did, but Chase interrupts. He thanks Jax for letting Josslyn answer questions, and says he might have some follow-up. Jax tells him to call any time, and he says Jax’s daughter is a brave young woman. However, Jax should have a talk with her about the difference between brave and reckless. He moves on, and Elizabeth tells Jax that whatever he has to say can wait; Josslyn needs him. He says it kills him that Hayden can’t be with Violet, and she says, thanks to Valentin. He says, Valentin isn’t the one who forced Hayden into hiding.

Ava tells Valentin that criminals who get off on bail often go on to convictions. He says she inspires him. How many times has she been charged with murder, and beat the conviction? Nina says, enough, and Valentin says he’s made mistakes, but loving her isn’t one of them. He’s not stopping until he gets back everything he lost.

Gladys tells the EMTs, please help. They can’t let her son die. An EMT says they’re ready to move, and Gladys says she’ll ride with him. Jordan tells her, go ahead; an officer will take her statement later. Carly says she’s going too, and asks Jason to tell Michael that she’s okay. Jordan tells Jason that she got an update from the NYPD. Sonny was the intended target in the Brooklyn shooting. On the pier, it was Michael, and then they have the warehouse. The coordinated attacks begin with him.

Dev asks if Josslyn is okay, and Michael says, she’s fine. Dev asks why she didn’t come back, and Michael tells him, she’s at GH; her father wanted her checked out. Dev says, thank God no one was hurt, and Sasha thinks Michael should tell him the rest. Dev says, there’s more? but Michael’s phone rings. It’s Jason, who asks if Michael is okay. Michael says, he, Sasha, and Josslyn are fine, but Laura was shot; she’s in the hospital. Jason tells him about the warehouse being targeted, and Michael says his mom was there. Jason says she wasn’t hit, but she went with Gladys to hospital. A guy was shot, and they’re riding with him. but he doesn’t have any more details. Michael says he’s got it, and Jason says the police are there. He’ll call when he knows more. Jordan says Jason might express his gratitude by cooperating for once.

Valentin tells Nina that he misses her. All he thinks about is that they belong together. Ava tells Nina not to humor this nonsense. Valentin doesn’t know what she needs. Nina says, everyone thinks they know what she needs today, and asks what Valentin wants. He says, her. He always wants her, and deep down, she feels the same way. They can work it out. She says, it’s over, but he says he doesn’t believe that. They had a life at Windymere; her, him, and Charlotte. She says the life they had there is long gone. Doesn’t he get it? She was in it with Ava. Valentin needs to get it through his head that she helped them take him down.

Jax tells Elizabeth that Nikolas recruited him to help get him back to Port Charles, where he knew there was a document that could reinstate him as heir. He recruited Hayden as well; her job at Aurora was just a front. They were both helping Nikolas. Valentin caught on, and targeted Hayden, pressuring her for information. Elizabeth says Hayden must have thought she had no other option than to leave Violet. Jax says, it’s not that simple. Valentin offered Hayden money for information. Nikolas found out about it, and wanted to get her out of town before she talked. Nikolas staged the attack that forced Hayden to leave. Elizabeth says, he wouldn’t do that, but Jax says, he did. Hayden was an impediment in his plan, and he moved her out of the way. Elizabeth says Jax knew? and Jax says he found out after Hayden disappeared. He confronted Nikolas, who told him everything. He tried to reach out to Hayden, but her phone is off, and he has no way to trace her. Elizabeth says she can’t believe Nikolas would do this to Hayden and Violet. Separating a mother from her child is despicable. Nikolas approaches, and Elizabeth cracks him one across the face. He’s been getting a lot of that lately.

Jason tells Jordan, the Brooklyn shooter is dead, and she says, Jason killed him. She talked to the NYPD, and knows what happened. Surprisingly, Jason wouldn’t talk without his attorney being present, but the waitress exonerated him, and the NYPD is satisfied it was self-defense. She is too. She knows there’s no way Jason wanted a gunfight in the middle of a restaurant. Jason says, no, he didn’t, and she wonders who targeted them in Brooklyn. Who knew they’d be there?

Elizabeth asks Nikolas what he did to Hayden, and Nikolas supposes he has Jax to thank. Jax wisely says he’ll give them some space, and jets. Nikolas says he was going to tell Elizabeth, and she says Hayden helped him pull off his plan, and this is how he repays her? How could he do this to her? Him, of all people. Valentin tore him away from Spencer, and forced him into hiding, and he did the same thing to Hayden. Nikolas says he never intended for it to be more than a few days. He thought Hayden would check in. He didn’t know she was going to make herself unreachable. Elizabeth says Violet means everything to Hayden, and he convinced Hayden to leave to protect Violet. He knows Hayden doesn’t do things halfway. She’s disappeared without a trace, and they have no way of finding her to tell her it’s all a lie, staged by her friend Nikolas. She says he has to go find Hayden. Her daughter needs her.

Jax lets Finn know that he told Elizabeth the truth. Finn asks if he wants a thank you, but Jax says, no. He regrets his part in it. If he’d known what Hayden was going to do, he would have stopped Nikolas. He asks how Violet is, and Finn says, it’s hard coming up with excuses when Violet asks for her mother. What would Jax tell Josslyn if Carly disappeared? Elizabeth tells Finn that he’s needed in the ER. A second shooting victim has been brought in.

Several of Sonny’s guards are in the hospital waiting area, and Chase asks if one of them is visiting a patient. The guard says nothing, and Chase says he didn’t think so. The PCPD is providing security, so they can go. The guard doesn’t move, and Chase says if he and his boys don’t leave voluntarily, he’s going to arrest them. He thinks Mr. Corinthos has had enough trouble today, and sure as hell doesn’t need more. Sonny’s security team leaves.

Dev is obviously upset, and Michael tells him that he needs to calm down; it will be okay. Dev asks how he knows, and Michael says he doesn’t, but Dev can’t imagine the worst. Josslyn, Carly, and Sonny are safe. Dev asks what they do now, and Michael says, wait it out. If Dev wants to do something to help, he can be with Avery. Michael suggests Dev watch a movie with her; make sure she feels safe. Dev says he can do that, and goes upstairs. Sasha asks if Michael really thinks that will calm Dev down, and Michael says, it will make him feel less afraid. He and Morgan used to do it with Josslyn. She says, comforting Dev seems like second nature, and wonders how many times he’s done it before. He says, calm someone down? and she says, or explain away someone trying to kill him.

Ava says she’s confused as to why Valentin is still there. He heard Nina; there’s nothing left there for him. He says Ava doesn’t speak for Nina, and Ava says, nor does he. He’s deceived her time and time again. Now beat it. She and Nina have important things to discuss. Valentin asks Nina to hear him out, and she asks, what’s left to say? He says he loves her. Nothing he’s done was with malice. He can still make her happy. Ava says he’s delusional. He thinks if he says he acted out of love, it will absolve him of the lies and betrayal. In reality, the sad truth is, he doesn’t know the first damn thing about love.

Josslyn comes out of the ER with Jax, and sees Gladys, who says, it’s nice to see a familiar face. Jax asks, what’s going on? and Gladys says, it’s such a disaster. She doesn’t know what to do or how to help. Josslyn says she’s helping just by showing up; it will be okay. Gladys tells her, that’s sweet to say, but she can’t relax until she hears it from the doctor. She saw her boy, lying there shot and bleeding. Jax asks who she’s talking about, and she says her boy Brando. He got shot saving Carly’s life. Carly joins them, and hugs Josslyn, saying she was so worried, and asking if Josslyn is okay. Jax says Josslyn got the all clear, and Josslyn says she’s allowed to leave. Carly says, thank God no one was hurt, and Josslyn says she didn’t hear. Carly says, hear what? and Josslyn says, Michael was with Laura on the pier, and Laura’s been shot. Gladys says, this night is getting worse and worse. Carly tells Jax and Josslyn that Gladys’s son saved her life. They had to stop by the warehouse, and suddenly some guys started shooting. The bodyguard got Gladys into the office, but Carly was stuck outside with bullets flying. A guy showed up, and pulled her to safety. Gladys says her boy is a hero, but he got shot. Carly says, it’s not bad; he’ll make a full recovery, but Gladys says, he lost a lot of blood. She can’t lose her son; he can’t die. Josslyn says, he’s in great hands, and Jax says he’s glad he’s okay, but what’s going on? Carly says, it’s all a mess, and he asks where Sonny is. He saw Sonny’s bodyguard there. Carly says he’s getting Mike settled back in Turning Woods. There were two attacks out of town. Obviously, someone is making a move against Sonny, and Jason is talking to the cops at the warehouse.

Sasha tells Michael, she’s not naïve. It’s not like she hasn’t heard who Sonny is. Michael asks if it’s a problem now, and Sasha says, after he nearly got killed, it might be. He says he knows it’s awful, and wishes she didn’t have to go through this. She says she’s terrified, and he says she has a right to be. He’s experienced things like this before, and learned how to handle a crisis like this. She asks if there will be more, and he tells her, it’s hard to say. His father is a powerful business man, and gets unwanted attention from time to time, but it’s Sonny’s business, not his. Sasha says either the gunman didn’t know that or didn’t care. He didn’t see Michael Corinthos, the head of ELQ; he saw a target. If not for Josslyn coming back, he could have died in front of her. She doesn’t think she can go through that again. He holds her, and says, it’s okay. She won’t have to.

Chase joins Jordan at the warehouse, and she says Tony was just taking her through what happened. She asks Tony to tell her again, and Tony says, it was a normal afternoon. A shipment of beans had just come in. They were offloaded, and the workers were gone. Carly stopped by to drop off some paperwork, and brought Dev’s grandmother with her. Gladys wandered off, and Tony went after her; that’s what the shooting started. Jordan says, he saw it begin? and he says he put Gladys in the office, and returned fire. Carly was pinned down, and there was no way for him to reach her. Chase asks if it occurred to them to call the police, and Tony says they were a little busy. Jordan tells Tony, continue, and Tony says, the gunfire came closer, and was about to reach Carly, when this guy swooped in to cover her. Jordan says, Brando, and Tony says he didn’t recognize the guy, but he must be a professional the way he covered Carly and got her to a more secure location. The gunmen shot at them until they ran out of ammunition, then took off. Jordan says, they shoot up a warehouse that’s the property of a powerful alleged mob kingpin, and just leave?

Tony says he doesn’t know what to tell her. The gunmen were shooting, then they were gone. Chase arrives, and she asks if Tony minds retracing his steps again with Chase. Tony says, no, and Jordan tells them to get started while she talks to Jason outside. She and Jason step out of the warehouse, and Jordan says, hypothetically speaking, if there was an attack on a warehouse, would the shooters run out of ammunition and leave? Either they’re the most incompetent gunman ever, or Tony isn’t telling the whole story. Jason says he wasn’t there; he can’t say. She says, of course (🍷) not. She admires him on some level. He’s raised non-incrimination to an artform. Taggert shows up, and says he knows from past experience how uncooperative Sonny and his associates can be. She says tell her about it.

Jax tells Carly that he’ll take Josslyn to his place, but she asks him to take Josslyn back to Sonny’s. It’s well-protected, and Michael, Dev, and Avery are there. It will make Josslyn feel better – and her. Jax says, Brando saved her life; impressive for a supposed dead guy. Carly tells him that she doesn’t know why Gladys lied, or if it really is Brando, but she’s sticking around. She wants to find out why Brando got dragged in, or if he was involved with the whole thing.

Valentin tells Ava, before Nina, he didn’t know trust or love. He thought love led to misery and unhappiness. He supposes he wasn’t far off, but he didn’t know the big picture; the joy and connection of knowing someone completely. Of having someone love him back, without judgement. He didn’t know what it was like, but he does now. Ava says he’s just wasting his breath. He says Ava doesn’t know a thing about love. That’s why she’s easy to manipulate. Ava asks what he’s talking about, and Nina says she’s trying to do a job. Both of them need to leave. Ava says she has some redecorating to do in her castle, and Valentin says, good luck with that. Ava says Valentin’s taste is ostentatious and pretentious, which makes sense, since he was pretending to be a Cassadine. Not to worry. She’ll have the place spruced up in no time. Nikolas walks in, and she adds, with the help of her husband. Nina says she has to make a change in security. She can’t take anymore. Nikolas says he figured Valentin would weasel his way out of jail, so he took the liberty of drawing up some paperwork. He hands Valentin an envelope.

Valentin takes the papers out, and says, it’s a restraining order. Nikolas says to keep him far away from Windymere, and adds, keep reading. Valentin says, nice of Nikolas to arrange a DNA test. Nikolas says Valentin can refuse, and he’ll petition the court for an order, but that will be a clear indication that Valentin is not a Cassadine. Valentin says Nikolas doesn’t see it; he’s so caught up in revenge. Helena is playing him. She set him up from beyond the grave. She left a trail of breadcrumbs to what he wants most – to be the prince – but Valentin is the rightful heir. Valentin Mikkosovich Cassadine. Nikolas is the punchline to Helena’s last pathetic joke.

Gladys tells Carly that she can’t stand waiting, but Carly is sure Brando is having excellent care. GH has the best doctors in the state. Gladys says, Brando has always been brave, with no thought to his own safety. Carly says she’s grateful Gladys’s son saved her life… Gladys says, but? Say what she’s thinking. Carly says Gladys told them that Brando was dead. Why say that when she knew he was alive? Finn comes out, and Gladys says she’s Brando’s mother. She asks how her son is, and Finn says, he’s stable. The bullet passed clean though. Gladys says, prayer is working, and he tells her, keep it up. The bullet missed all key organs and arteries. Gladys asks if she can see him, and Finn says, of course (🍷). Gladys goes inside, and Carly thanks Finn. Finn says he was just doing his job. Whoever bandaged Brando on the scene did good. Carly says, thanks, and he says he’ll make sure she gets updates.

Elizabeth leaves the bag with Brando’s personal effects at the reception desk.

Josslyn goes back to Sonny’s, and Dev hugs her, practically knocking her over. He says Michael told him what happened; he was worried. Michael says he told Dev she was all right, but Dev says he had to see for himself. Jax says Sonny has enough security guards to start a football team. Sasha tells Josslyn that she didn’t get a chance to thank her. If she hadn’t called out, things could have ended differently. She saved Michael’s life. Michael agrees she did, and Josslyn says he owes her big time. Jax tells her to get some rest, but she says she’s not doing anything until her mom gets home. Jax says Carly and Gladys are fine, but whatever happened at the warehouse was bad; they could have been killed. Dev says, a shooting at the warehouse and pier at the same time must mean something, and Jax says, nothing good.

Chase tells Jordan the preliminary findings match Tony’s story – to a point. There were two shooters outside, and three inside; Brando, Tony, and Brent, who worked there. An associate chased the gunmen, and didn’t return. Taggert says, he probably grabbed a gunman to hold for Sonny. Jordan introduces Taggert to Chase, and tells Chase they worked in the DEA together. Taggert says it was after his tenure at the NYPD. He and Sonny worked different sides of the same street in Brooklyn. He’s not there in an official capacity, but asks Jason, if he was, who might try to take over Sonny’s territory? Jason says he’s not answering any questions without his attorney present. Taggert says, some things never change. Sonny must have pissed someone off. Jordan says, Sonny is at Turning Woods, getting Mike settled. Tagger says, Mike was involved? It must have been pretty traumatic for him. Jordan is glad Sonny is taking care of Mike, but when he’s done, she has plenty of questions.

Carly sees Brando’s stuff, and noses around. She slides something out of the bag.

Elizabeth sees Finn, and tells him that Jax told her about Nikolas. She’s still in shock. He tried to justify his actions, but keeping Hayden from Violet is unforgivable. Finn says Violet misses her mom very much, and Elizabeth asks how he’s doing. He says he loves Violet, and wants to be the father she needs. Elizabeth hopes he doesn’t feel alone in this. He has Anna for support, but she doesn’t want him to forget that he’s officially part of her family now. Violet has a lot of people who love her, including three cousins who’d like to see more of her. Finn says it’s kind of her, and suggests arranging a playdate. He can’t believe he said those words, and she tells him, get used to it.

Valentin tells Ava and Nikolas, enjoy their brief stay. Don’t go crazy redecorating. Ava married his nephew, and thinks she married a prince, but he’s nothing. Nikolas tells Valentin to stay away from his home. Valentin says he still has his true love, and Ava says, too bad it’s not reciprocated. She imagines there are a lot of fine-looking upstanding men who will be lining up to treat Nina better than Valentin did. Valentin says, maybe she’s right, but they can’t love her like he does. Nina says, goodbye, and he says, for now. He leaves, and Nina smiles at Ava.

Josslyn tells Sasha, a random guy showed out of nowhere to help, and he was shot. Her mom insisted on waiting at the hospital with Gladys. It’s was Gladys’s son Brando who saved her life. Jax says, Dev’s father.

Carly looks at a photo of Dev and Gladys.

Jordan says, three shootouts going down at the same time is no coincidence, and Chase says, if it’s connected to Sonny’s truck getting stolen, it’s a huge escalation. Taggert says, they wanted to get rid of the competition fast and final, but Jordan says, the good news is, they failed. Jason and Sonny are still standing, along with their families. She tells Jason that when he talks to his lawyer, he might want to think about all they stand to lose if this blows up into a mob war. She doesn’t mean territory, but their families, and innocent bystanders. What’s coming for them has no code. It’s going to be public and ugly, and she’s going to stop it if she has to take him and Sonny along with them.

On Monday, Willow tells Brad to manage Nelle or she will, Gladys asks Brando what he’s doing in Port Charles, and Carly asks Sonny why they’re doing this to him.

🧂 Some Non-News…

It’s not very exciting, but there’s not much on the new Wives yet.

https://pagesix.com/2020/01/26/real-housewives-of-salt-lake-city-cast-parties-during-lil-jon-performance/

https://pagesix.com/2020/01/25/vanderpump-rules-stars-hang-with-hopeful-housewives-of-salt-lake-city/

👎🏼 Bad Employee…

I guess the law of averages says into all businesses, some d-bags must fall.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2020/01/lisa-vanderpump-dog-foundation-sued-sexual-harassment/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

👰🏻 Just Can’t Get Enough…

Ariana breaks down the breakdown.

https://www.eonline.com/shows/pop_of_the_morning/news/1117046/ariana-madix-discusses-kristen-s-role-in-vanderpump-rules-bachelorette-party-breakdown

👙 Yeah, Well…

It’s not like he probably wasn’t doing this all along.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1116974/joe-giudice-spotted-partying-with-women-in-mexico-after-teresa-giudice-split?source=email&medium=emn-content-6&cmpid=evening&content=emn-news

💍 Moving On…

Eternity meaning, until someone better comes along.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2020/01/rhoc-shannon-beador-ex-husband-david-engaged-new-girlfriend-lesley-cook/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

⚾️ It Never Ends For Meghan…

I’ve noticed that taking ownership is the new not taking responsibility.

https://radaronline.com/photos/jim-edmonds-meghan-king-edmonds-threesome-feud-podcast-intimate-knowledge/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

💔 Kinda Saw It Coming…

Their relationship had it’s ups and downs, and I was rooting for them, but it’s not a surprise. What is a surprise is that they’re being publicly nasty.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1117148/90-day-fiance-s-tiffany-franco-and-ronald-smith-announce-split?source=email&medium=emn-content-1&cmpid=evening&content=emn-news

🛎 Quotes of the Week

It’s almost time to die. – Judge Judy upon finding out how many people in the courtroom didn’t know who Rip van Winkle was.

Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense. – Gertrude Stein

So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great, good fortune. – Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Artistic growth is, more than it is anything else, a refining of the sense of truthfulness. The stupid believe that to be truthful is easy; only the artist, the great artist, knows how difficult it is. – Willa Cather

I had to learn who I was again through animals, because animals know who you really are. – Kim Novak

Sometimes when you least expect it, the tables turn and that scary feeling that has taken hold of you for so long somehow turns into hope. – David Archuleta

It turns out, nature is more imaginative than we are. – Abraham Loeb, a theoretical physicist at Harvard (I’d say God is, but okay.)

Putting a guy who’s in the closet in the closet? It’s like gay nesting dolls. – Max (Kat Dennings), 2 Broke Girls

Let me start with anger management. Don’t piss me off. – Pao Mayfield, 90 Day Fiancé: Pillow Talk

It feels like a summer camp for drunk third graders. – Kate Chastain, Below Deck, referring to unruly guests

My mother always used to say: The older you get, the better you get, unless you’re a banana. – Betty White

🦡  To See Or Not To See…

Just please don’t drop the groundhog. (That was the closest thing to a groundhog emoji I had.)

Jan31

January 30, 2020 – GH Catch Up, Sheer Runway, Beyond Plus, Adios Amiga, For Laughs & Billy’s January

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

It looks like ABC will have caught up to me tomorrow. FYI, they are showing new episodes on their site (ABC.com) and on their app after 8 pm EST. The shows will also be aired on HULU and On Demand the following day. Why not at 8 pm? Who knows?

In case you’re not caught up, and just want to read all about it, here are the links to the transcripts recaps for the past two episodes not aired on regular TV. They’re in order – i.e. the oldest is first.

https://tvwiththeresa.wordpress.com/2020/01/22/january-21-2020-no-trial-soap-for-you-jims-kidnap-plot-thickens-tom-rains-on-stassis-book-signing-morning-gibberish/

https://tvwiththeresa.wordpress.com/2020/01/27/january-27-2020-extra-extra-a-new-gh-episode-has-appeared/

👗 Project Runway

This week’s challenge was to create an editorial look using sheer fabric; editorial meaning it told a story. Brandon told the designers there was nothing more important than making a woman feel good, and they were to celebrate the female form using a provocative trend; a barely there editorial look. He emphasized that it wasn’t about exposing a woman, but about getting creative in a sexy, but not obvious, way. Since last week’s winner was Brittany, she got first pick of the models. Nancy chose the same model, wanting to redeem herself from having swallowed the model with fabric the previous week. It was a one-day challenge, and they were to work with the models during sketch time, to make sure they were comfortable and confident with the designs. It would also be the last challenge where immunity was given. The designers were cautioned that the finishing had to be spot-on because everything would be shown with a sheer fabric. A medic had to be called early on for Dayoung, who still wasn’t well. She said her mind was saying keep going, but her body said she’d done enough. She decided she was a human before being a designer, and chose to leave the competition, saying it was the most difficult decision she’d made in her life. She was grateful for everyone who’d helped her, and told us that her story wasn’t done. She’d be designing up until her last day.

Because Dayoung left, Marquise got a save, and came back to the competition. He said it would be his revenge moment, when he proved why the judges shouldn’t have sent him home. The contestants were given $300 and 30 minutes at Mood. Victoria mulled over disappointing herself last week, and got pouty in the store, claiming she didn’t understand what sheer meant, even though Christian explained it to her. The designers started working, and Christian interrupted, asking, who’s ready for a twist? striking fear in their hearts. But there was no twist. He said he wasn’t that evil, just a little. As he walked around giving encouragement and advice, he told Victoria that she couldn’t keep doing the same dress over and over. She insisted what she was designing was different (it wasn’t), and acted like a big baby. Sergio said it was a tough competition, and sometimes made you question who you are as a designer and person. Victoria again insisted she didn’t understand sheer, and walked out, Brittany following. Victoria told her that it was better to leave than be on the bottom, and grabbed her bag, ready to jet, basically wanting to quit before she was fired. Brittany was pissed because there were talented people who had been eliminated, and Victoria was trashing her opportunity. She told Victoria that they still had four hours, but Queen Victoria said she was tired. As she reclined on a chaise lounge with her water bottle, Chelsey promised her that they were all tired. Personally, I wanted to kick her ass. She decided to stay for her husband, who had always been super supportive. It’s probably easier than listening to her complain.

Paloma Elsesser, an extremely accomplished plus-size model, was guest judge. Victoria whined that she didn’t want to look at her own design, saying there was nothing of her aesthetic in it, and she was embarrassed. It wasn’t horrible – a yellow asymmetrical (no surprise) number using a lot of lace – but it wasn’t sheer either. Christian remarked that it was the worst fabric ever. Karlie said, overall, it was clear it was a one-day challenge.

Brittany and Delvin were deemed safe, and I was surprised neither one was in the top. Although I guess it’s getting to be a pretty small pool. Brittany had designed the cutest pink romper with humongous puffy sleeves, and Delvin concocted a black crop top and maxi skirt ensemble. The top was unmemorable, but I thought the skirt was fantastic, kind of prairie style. Rather than just being grateful they were still in the game, they both seemed annoyed, and exchanged a lot of commentary backstage during the critiques.

Having scrapped her original design of a blue baby doll dress, Chelsey had designed a long, fitted, trench coat style jacket. This might have been okay, but she chose to hang on to sleeves that hadn’t matched the baby doll dress either; a series of horizontal loops, held together by a vertical strip running down the outside of the arm. Frankly, they didn’t look like they’d match with much of anything, they were just plain odd. Nina asked why she’d used a nude slip underneath, rather than matching the blue, and Brandon remarked that he kept waiting for a nip slip from the demi-bra on top. Elaine said the fabric choice was just wrong; there was no fluidity. So, it was in the bottom three for Chelsey.

On the opposite end, Nancy designed a prom dress for her model who had never been to prom, black and silver, with a dramatic stole/collar that exposed one shoulder. Nancy said it was also zero waste, which impressed the judges. Nina thought the shoulder drama was everything, and Elaine liked the glamour – it was taking her someplace she wanted to be. Karlie remarked that she loved a pocket in a ball gown, and I said, me too! I think there should be a law requiring at least one pocket in all garments. Marquise also designed a stunning black and silver gown, taking it a step further by making a matching, but more low-key, T-shirt for himself with the extra fabric. Brandon said he loved a comeback story.

Joining Chelsey in the bottom were Geoffrey and Victoria. While it was no surprise about Victoria, I’d liked Geoffrey’s dress, a sheer blue above-the-knee creation, with a black and white trim at the waist, collar, and cuffs. The judges were in agreement that it was too sheer at the bust (the model was fine with that, and had fleshtone nipple covers). They also felt that the cinched waist was too much. When they got to Victoria, she blamed her bad English and started crying, saying she was ashamed she’d done so poorly. Paloma suggested she put her big girl panties on, and Nina said she didn’t want any more excuses. My thoughts exactly. Nina told her to find the lesson in a difficulty. It’s when she should look deep within herself, and find her inner strength to accomplish her dream. They’d all had failures, but you don’t quit. Brandon told her that sh*t days were when you found out what you were made of.

Rounding out the top three was Sergio, who’d designed a gorgeous sleeveless gown – another in black and silver – with fringe adornments. His inspiration was his model and her husband, German and Chinese respectively, and a story about them meeting in the rain. Nina said the fringe was so strategically placed, you couldn’t even tell the model was naked underneath. Paloma said it was a dress that all of the models could have worn.

While the designers went backstage, the judges deliberated, Elaine saying that Nancy had already proven her chops as a technical designer, and had now added a cool (i.e. relevant) factor. Sergio’s tailoring was also praised, and Nina said his piece was highly editorial. Paloma said Victoria’s sob story left a bad taste in her mouth; the humility was lacking. She hit the nail on the head with that comment. Nina said she was scared Chelsey’s model was going to lose her underpinnings, and everyone agreed. Backstage, Nancy thought none of them were going home, and Christian would use a save.

When the designers came back out, Karlie reiterated the challenge was about creating an editorial look that celebrated the female form, and embraced sheer fabric. Sergio was the big winner, and the last one who will get immunity. Moving on to the bottom three, Geoffrey was deemed safe. The consensus was that Chelsey had made poor design choices, and there were flaws in Victoria’s construction and attitude (ouch!). Chelsey was out, surprising me, and pissing me off. Elaine told Victoria that she was safe today, but she needed to save herself. Brandon said it was like two women they love both had a bad day, and they had to pick the worst of two evils. He told Chelsey that it didn’t take away from her talent. She thanked them for the opportunity, got a hug from Karlie, and told her compadres, it’s not a cryfest. When Christian came to gather her, he said everyone is so good at this point, it’s hard to judge. In her interview, Chelsey said she wasn’t 150% proud of what she’d done, but was surprised she was going home. Again, me too. She wasn’t mad that she fell short, and was leaving with her head held high. She believed the women in her family would be proud, and she was a shining example of a strong Black woman. She planned to do what she does best; make everyday clothes for not so everyday people.

Next time, the designers are challenged to reinvent the tux. Sebastian (last season’s winner), and Alan (too cool for school, and voted out this season) pay the designers a visit.

💋 She’s Got It Goin’ On…

Meet Paloma, model extraordinaire.

https://www.businessoffashion.com/community/people/paloma-elsesser

🍊 I’m Shocked, Pleased, and Slightly Annoyed…

Shocked because she brought on the drama; pleased because I can’t stand her; and slightly annoyed because the reason might be ageism. If they’re judging by her character though, I’m 100% behind it. Bye, Felicia.

https://radaronline.com/photos/andy-cohen-confirms-tamra-judge-quit-rhoc-refused-film/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

https://www.eonline.com/news/1115766/tamra-judge-is-leaving-real-housewives-of-orange-county?source=email&medium=emn-content-2&cmpid=evening&content=emn-news

🍸 And Now For Some Snark…

I love the Betches’ Vanderpump Rules recap.

https://betches.com/vanderpump-rules-seaon-8-episode-4-recap/

📌 Saving It Up…

I’ll finish the tea party tomorrow, hopefully, with a new episode of GH. Until then.

Jan23

January 22, 2020 – When Will It End, Changes, You Can Dress Them Up, Soon To Come, Nora, Deckwads, More Goodbyes, Yet Another, Breaking Meghan, AMC News & Hazy

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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

GH was once again preempted for what I like to call, oh my God is this guy still talking? At this point, I have no clue what’s going on with this it, and don’t think they do either. While yesterday’s episode was supposed to shown today, it was noticeably absent. The magic of the internet failed as well, since it was stuck on yesterday’s episode. If anything pops up before I go to bed, I’ll post it, but if not, here’s the link to yesterday if you didn’t catch it:

https://tvwiththeresa.wordpress.com/2020/01/22/january-21-2020-no-trial-soap-for-you-jims-kidnap-plot-thickens-tom-rains-on-stassis-book-signing-morning-gibberish/

Here’s a kind of, sort of, not really explanation:

https://www.celebdirtylaundry.com/2020/general-hospital-spoilers-trial-preemption-schedule-what-gh-fans-can-expect/

🤷🏻‍♀️ I am no good with a spontaneous change in schedule, especially if it involves free time. Not that there is ever any free time – it’s like extra money, always absorbed by a need. Since I went to bed at the crack of dawn, when I realized GH wasn’t happening, I figured I’d catch it online later, took a nap, and overslept. Then I made my uneventful attempt to find it, and realizing for a second time that it wasn’t going to happen, watched a documentary about Courtney Love. Very productive.

🏖 On The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Teresa tried to guilt Marge about not inviting her to the Mother’s Day brunch. Jackie’s house in the Hamptons is gorgeous, and reminds me of some of the houses here. Not mine. Jackie talked to Teresa, saying Marge didn’t expect her to drop Danielle, but at least have her back about Danielle trying to yank out her ponytail. Marge told Teresa that Charles Manson never did anything to her, but she’s not bringing him into the friend group. This might have been a good analogy had Teresa known who Charles Manson was. In her interview, Melissa informed us that historical figures were not Teresa’s thing. I’m not so sure there’s much world knowledge that is her thing. When Marge demanded to know why Teresa didn’t tell Danielle to knock it off, it was too much for Teresa’s brain, and she had to walk away. It always amazes me how much these women pack for a weekend, but then again, I used to bring at least five pairs of shoes for a weekend at the Shore because you never know. Now I live here because I’m destined to live in tourist traps. But I digress.

The women went out to a fancy restaurant for dinner. Not-so Juicy Joe called, and suggested Dolores find Teresa a doctor, so he and Teresa could have a relationship like Dolores and Frank. Teresa told the women that he’d also said she had too much baggage for any man to want her. Jackie talked about her husband signing a prenup because she has family money, which led to Jennifer pumping Jackie for financial information. The next day, they went shopping, and Jennifer split off with Marge to find a gift for Marge Sr. Jennifer told Marge she thought Jackie was stingy, based on the fact Jackie didn’t throw ostentatious parties for her children, and just had pizza like a normal mom. The group reconvened for lunch, and as soon as Jennifer went to the bathroom, Marge had to tell Jackie about the stingy comment. When Jennifer came back, after she got over being blindsided, she told Jackie to take the stick out of her ass and enjoy life. She felt Jackie wasn’t making her children’s experiences memorable. In her interview, Jennifer said if she was getting thrown under the bus, she was taking Marge, and pointed out that Marge said Jackie doesn’t eat. Marge immediately apologized, which Jackie said was the difference between a friend and an a-hole, but Teresa felt a friend should speak their mind. Jackie suggested Jennifer not come to any more of her parties if she was so bothered. Melissa said Jackie was a saver, and to watch whose kids were nicely set up years from now. Of course this was in a restaurant where people were watching, and ended with Jennifer tossing glassware, and Melissa getting to her feet. To be continued…

📺 On last night’s HAHN, an ad for the new season of If Loving You Is Wrong said, coming soon. Whatever that means. I suppose it all depends on your definition of soon. The definitive word on The Shahs of Sunset is that returns on Sunday, February 9th at 9 pm. You can read all about the coming drama here:

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/shahs-of-sunset-season-8-premieres-february-trailer-spoilers

🗽 I caught Awkwafina’s Nora from Queens, and loved it. Reminiscent of Margaret Cho’s All American Girl, but grittier and with more weed.

🛥 A Nail Gets Hit On the Head…

I couldn’t believe what an accurate description this was of the d-bags dudes on Below Deck. Not Captain Lee – it’s never Captain Lee. The best quote: Kevin’s back went out because his skeleton can’t even support all the sh*t he talks. Sounds about right.

https://decider.com/2020/01/20/below-deck-guys-are-the-worst/?utm_source=twitter_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site%20buttons&utm_campaign=site%20buttons

🌠 Because It’s Hard To Let Go…

Another roll call. I don’t know why, but I can never get enough of these.

https://parade.com/969159/samuelmurrian/celebrity-deaths-2019/?utm_source=paradenewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=homepage_newsletter_December%2022,%202019_08_30_27

👋🏽 And So It Begins…

One for the coming roll call. Blessed are the cheesemakers, and RIP Brian’s mom.

https://extratv.com/2020/01/22/terry-jones-of-monty-python-dead-at-77/

👠 Lookin’ Bad As Hell…

Girlfriend needs to pull herself together, eat something, and dust her shoes of this guy for good.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1113898/meghan-king-edmonds-says-she-feels-like-a-target-against-jim-edmonds?source=email&medium=emn-content-4&cmpid=evening&content=emn-news

🎭 Like It’s Not Crowded Enough…

It’s like feast or famine with the programming. Right now, Tuesday is a battlefield, and it looks like Sunday will be joining it soon. Fans of the Dead will be thrilled, but AMC has some great entertainment to come in general. I am wondering how NOS4ATU got another season though. Not that it wasn’t good, but I thought that was the end of the story.

https://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/2020/01/06/the-walking-dead-three-shows-2020-trailer/?utm_source=Comicbook.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=200106_152048_Comicbook.com%20Daily%20Newsletter&utm_content=Link

❄️ Still Waiting…

I feel like Charlie Brown on Halloween, everyone gets snow, and all we get is a lousy bag of rain.

Jan17

January 16, 2020 – Nikolas Apologizes, Heritage Runway, Too Much, Looking Good, New Laughs, Gina In the OC, Creepy Snacks & Closed

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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Michael tells Tracy that she thinks she’ll have a say in Leo and Olivia’s shares, but Olivia has her own mind, and he trusts her judgement. Brook says Michael is either naïve or masterful at sucking up. Pascal says, yay or nay on giving Olivia and Leo the shares, and Brook tells him, hold on, Fish and Chips. He says she’s delightful, and Tracy says, she’s all Ned’s. Nelle comes in and says there must be a mistake. There’s no way they started the meeting without her. Michael says he couldn’t stop her from having a memorial for Shiloh, but now she’s trespassing, and violating her parole. One call to the police… Martin joins her, and says she has every legal right to be there. Tracy asks, who are these people, and how do they keep getting in? Did they adopt an open door policy while she was away? Olivia says the door leads out too. Nelle says the housekeeper let them in, and introduces Martin, who was parking the car. Martin says Nelle inherited Shiloh’s ELQ shares. Ned says if he was Nelle, he would take his smooth talking lawyer and turn around. This will not end well.

Jason tells Carly, there were two wills. One bequeathed Oscar’s shares to start a foundation. Carly says she heard it was up and running, and Jason says that’s because it was funded by the Quartermaines, and the shares should be returned to the family. The other will left the shares to Shiloh. My dogs start a ruckus, so I have to get up, and miss what Carly says about Nelle, but it’s not complementary. She says she wishes someone would run Nelle over with a truck, and Jason says, maybe somebody will.

Alexis finds Sam at the MetroCourt, and Sam tells Alexis to brace herself. Nelle is out of prison, but wait, there’s more. Nelle is Shiloh’s widow.

Lulu opens the door, and Nikolas asks if he can come in. He knows it’s late, but he owes her an apology. She steps aside, and he walks in. She says he does, but he owes a bigger one to Charlotte. He says he understands, but she says, he doesn’t. He told Charlotte that he was her secret bodyguard. He says, Charlotte found him searching Windymere, and he didn’t want to alarm Valentin. Lulu says he told Charlotte that he’d always protect her. She believed him, and trusted he’d keep her safe. When Rocco doubted her, Charlotte jumped into the harbor to prove it. She could have drowned or died from hypothermia, and it’s his fault.

Someone is banging like crazy on Brad’s door. The apartment is in total disarray, and Brad stumbles over all the toys and baby supplies, opening the door to Julian. Julian says, good. Brad’s alive. He’s not answering Julian’s calls or texts. Brad says he’s stretched little bit, and Julian tells him, shut the hell up and stop whining. He says Brad is losing it, and if he’s not more careful, Sonny will figure out why.

Carly tells Jason, she can’t let Nelle drive her crazy. There’s too much going on. She arranged for Stella to fly in. Sonny had no idea, but she believes Stella is the best, most objective person to talk to. Jason says she’s right, and Carly says she’s not hoping Stella will sway Sonny, but she doesn’t want him to make things worse. Jason says they’ll do everything they can, but his best advice in the end is that Mike is Sonny’s father, and Sonny has to decide. Sonny walks in, and says he’s come to a decision about his dad.

Nelle asks if Ned just threatened her, but Brook says he’s too smart to do that in a room full of people and two lawyers. Martin says, they’re not people? Ned says, no threat. The family company owns the stock, and the underhanded way Nelle’s murdering husband got his hands on it is still an issue. Olivia says they’ll tie her up with court fees and appearances until she’s old and grey. They’ll make her life a living hell. If she jaywalks, they’ll revoke her parole. Nelle says the stock is hers, and everyone tells her, shut up, in unison. Martin says, there’s no need for hostility. There’s a temporary injunction while the will is in probate, and Nelle gets to vote. Tracy tells Pascal to earn his keep, and  tell them why the injunction doesn’t apply.

Alexis tells Sam, the hits keep on coming from Shiloh. Talk about not resting in peace. Does Sam want to talk about what it means for her? Sam says, it’s nothing they can’t handle. Michael is another story. Nelle was her cellmate. She knew Nelle had something up her sleeve, but she wasn’t there long enough to figure out what. Alexis says, marrying Shiloh for starters, but Sam bets she’s still after Michael. Alexis says she knows Sam has handled worse, but please be careful.

Sonny says he’s decided to get the evaluation. He knows it’s not what they want to hear, but he’d appreciate support. Carly says she’ll tell him what she just told Jason. She brought Stella, not to talk to Sonny about what she wants, but to help Sonny with what he’s going through, and do what she does best. She’s objective, and can be a sounding board. If Sonny feels this is the best option after talking to Stella, she’ll absolutely support him. Sonny says, that means everything, and Carly says she wants what’s best for him and Mike. He thanks her, and says he knows Jason has a lot going on, but if he’s up for it, Sonny needs his help.

Julian tells Brad that Sonny heard their conversation on the docks. Brad wonders how, and Julian says, hell if he knows. Maybe he was having Carly tailed. They need to be more careful. Brad asks what Sonny knows, and Julian says, nothing yet, but he just needs one push to investigate. He explained to Sonny that he was warning Brad to keep Wiley away so he could finagle time with his grandson. Brad needs to keep Carly at arm’s length, and make an excuse as to why Julian is spending time with Wiley. Brad says, no, and Julian asks, what does he mean, no? Brad says he’s out of excuses. He can barely take care of himself, and has no interest in taking care of Julian.

Sam thinks Neil getting his license revoked is extreme, and Alexis says, those are the rules. You have to wait two years before seeing a former patient socially. Sam says she’s sorry, and Alexis says, typical. She finally meets a smart, thoughtful, funny, intriguing guy, who’s not a criminal, and he’s being punished for a relationship that barely exists. It’s absurd. That’s why she needs a meeting. She tells Sam, she’s sorry to cut this short, but Sam says, it’s okay. Sam tells Alexis to take care of herself, and Alexis says, if Sam does. Sam says, deal, and Alexis heads out.

Sonny tells Jason that they’ll stay the night. While Mike is in the clinic, he’s going to call a meeting. He’ll let everyone know the situation is stable. Everyone is doing business, and  getting along with their neighbors. Get what he’s saying? Carly says Sonny is planning a business trip? Mike is having a hard time, and he needs the energy to focus. How is Sonny going to do business? Sonny asks what the alternative is, and she suggests he not go to the clinic. She or Stella could go. She knows he wants to do this for his dad, but he has a lot on his plate, and has other people who can do this for him.

Nikolas tells Lulu, he’s sorry. He saw Charlotte the night Cassandra tried to kidnap her, and couldn’t afford for Valentin to find out. She says, so he lied, like he lied to everyone. Then he showed up at the wedding, and took away everything that matters to Charlotte; her home, and her security. Nikolas says, like Valentin did to Spencer, and Lulu says, is that what they’re doing now? Comparing him to Valentin? Charlotte is family, and family is supposed to protect each other, not rip each other’s lives apart. He’s not sorry. He has everything he wants, including a bizarro marriage to Ava. Obviously, it’s about money. He was never like the other Cassadines, greedy and selfish. That wasn’t him. What happened? Nikolas says she told him all that mattered was that he was alive, and they’d figure out the rest later. She says, welcome to later. He says his goal is to make things right, starting with Spencer. She asks how he thinks Spencer is going to react. He says he doesn’t know, and she says she prays that after the dust settles, Spencer fares better than her daughter.

Pascal says, Edward Quartermaine made provision for all of his heirs. When it was determined that Oscar was Alan’s grandson, he was given shares. Tracy says, get to the good part, and Pascal says, Oscar suffered from a brain tumor, compromising his judgement. Tracy says, that’s the good part? Pascal says, Oscar left conflicting wills. One done with Alexis, where he bequeathed the shares to Shiloh. Nelle says, which belong to her, and again everyone tells her, shut up, in unison. Pascal says, prior to Oscar’s death, he made a handwritten will bequeathing the shares to a non-profit of his own creation. Nelle says, what? and Pascal says it’s for disadvantaged travelers to climb a mountain Oscar always dreamed of doing. The two wills are at odds with each other, but the foundation was already funded by the Quartermaines, in expectation that the shares would revert to them to divide as they saw fit; hence the transfer to the ELQ board. Martin says, the former will claims the shares go to Shiloh, and should now be transferred to his widow – Nelle says, that’s her – until the final determination. Which bequest takes precedence might be premature. He’s obtained a temporary injunction which allows his client to vote the shares. Tracy asks if that’s legal, and Pascal says, it appears to be. Unless it’s a forgery… Nelle says, they belong her. She told them so.

Lulu tells Nikolas, she watched their mom grieve for three years. Lulu was devastated, but Nikolas is Laura’s son. It’s different when a parent loses a child. He put her through that. He says he hated every second, and she says he didn’t hate it enough or needed revenge more. He knows his mother battles mental illness, and could have reached out, but he didn’t. She doesn’t care how awful Valentin is – and she knows how evil he is. Nikolas could have handled it a hundred different ways. She’ll never understand why he chose the one that caused his family so much pain.

Brad tells Julian, he’s overwhelmed. His husband is in a coma, and taking care of their son is all on him. Julian says he gets it. However, if Sonny gets wind of what they did, they’re toast. Brad says he’ll go along with Julian’s cover story, and Julian says, their cover story. Julian asks, what about Nelle? and Brad says he can’t think about that right now. Julian asks, what if she reaches out? and suggests Brad ignore her. Brad says, Nelle doesn’t like to be ignored. Julian doesn’t care, and tells Brad to let him know if it happens. It’s coming in from all sides. They have no more room for error, and need to do this for as long as they need to. Brad says he just wants it to go away. He wants Lucas to wake up. He wants to see his husband’s face, and hear his laugh. If he thought telling Sonny would bring Lucas back, he’d march over now, and spill the whole damn story.

Ned tells Martin that it’s helpful they understand the situation, since they’re all shareholders, but Martin isn’t, and this is private. He asks Pascal to show Martin to the den, and they leave. Tracy asks who wants to do the honors, and Michael says he started this mess, so he will. He’ll pay Nelle to go away. He’ll send a wire transfer to the bank of her choice. He writes a figure down, and gives it to her, saying, take it or leave it.

Sonny says he gets what Carly is saying, and she has the right to be concerned, but the reason he wants to go to Brooklyn, is because it’s where Mike lived. It’s where he grew up, and where his father fell in love with his mother. Carly says, not all the memories are happy ones, but Sonny says Bensonhurst was a big part of his father’s life. He wants Mike to be calm and focused when he goes for the evaluation. They said familiar surroundings are helpful, and he’s bringing Jason as back-up, so he can focus on his dad. Carly asks what Jason thinks. Jason says he thinks they all agree it’s a long shot, but it’s Mike’s last shot, and Sonny has the right to take it.

Nelle crumples the paper, and says she’s not taking it. It’s spare change for them. Ned looks at it, and says, it’s a very generous offer. Nelle says that’s what they think of her; they can pay her off and she’ll go away. She tells Michael, she had his baby. They created a life together. He crashed the car and their baby died. Does he think she’ll just take the money, and they can retreat into their family fortune while she says thank you and drops a curtsy? Hell no. She has a say. Do they think she wanted to marry skeezy Shiloh? She worked hard to get what she wanted, and they need to get used to it. She’s not going anywhere. Brook says Nelle is as dumb as she looks, and the worst kind of gold-digger. A waif who shows up with a sad story. She got herself pregnant – points for that – but the baby is gone. She thinks she can get her hands on their money, but she should take the offer. If she doesn’t, she’ll end up with nothing. Nelle says Michael wouldn’t let that happen, and Brook tells her to enjoy her pretend power while it lasts. Soon, her greed is going to get the best of her. She’s going to mess up, and get caught, and it’s goodbye Nelle, back to Pentenville. Nelle grabs Brook’s arm, and Brook shakes her off, saying, that’s a parole violation. Nelle calls for Martin, who says, she bellowed? She tells him, this is no longer a safe space, and Olivia says, she has no idea. Martin says, play time is over; they’ll be in touch. When they’re gone, Tracy says Brook’s great-grandfather would be proud.

Nikolas tells Lulu that she wasn’t in his shoes, but she says she thinks she’s capable of putting herself in his position. Nikolas says she can’t imagine what it was like to get shot, fall out the window, and watch Valentin walk away with everything. She says she watched that too, but he says it wasn’t hers. She can’t know what it felt like. Valentin took his home, fortune, and family legacy. It was like he never existed. Is he supposed to be okay with that? She says, of course (🍷) not, but there were other ways. He says, what ways? and she says she doesn’t know, but he could have come home and they could have fought Valentin together. He says, and give Valentin the opportunity to kill him again, and maybe take one of them as a bonus? He’s seen good intentions smack into the real world. His only chance to stop Valentin is to play by his rules. He regrets hurting his family, but he won. He got his life back; how can he regret that?

Carly asks if Sonny has to call a meeting. What if something goes wrong? Sonny says he and Jason can handle it. Jason says, the best thing that can happen is, Mike will be his old self again. Carly says they know there are no guarantees, but maybe she’s been looking at it wrong. She’s been trying so hard to protect her family. Maybe she needs to accept that it’s a difficult situation, and there are no good choices. Whatever choice Sonny makes is the right one for him.

Sonny says he’s going to call Turning Woods, and check on his dad. He tells Jason, it will be good to take Mike back to where he grew up; the old neighborhood is half Cerullos and half Falconaris. Sonny goes to make the call, and Carly asks how Jason is dealing with the separation from Sam. He says he’s okay, but she says that’s not enough for her; talk to her. He says, it’s hardest on the kids. They’re not able to see each other all that much, but he calls a lot and they video chat before bed. Carly is surprised Jason video chats, and he says, whatever it takes. She says she’s sorry. She thought the nightmare was over, now this. How long do they have to be apart? Jason says, two years, unless… until they find a way around it. She asks if there are any possibilities, and he says they’re working on it. She tells him, be honest, and asks if the trip is bad timing, but he says he thinks it’s a good distraction. She tells him that if he has to go home, go. Sonny comes back in, and Carly ask how his dad is. Gladys appears, and says, not so great. She just came from visiting him. Sonny says, it sounds like Mike is having a bad day, and Gladys says, he was agitated, and more out of it. Sonny says, the clinical trial is tomorrow, and Gladys asks if it’s the one she told him about. Carly says, that’s the one, and Gladys says, good. She’s glad they’re going. It sounded promising. She tells Sonny, if she can be of any help, she’d be happy to tag along.

Julian sits in the chapel. He says he messed up, and nearly killed his own son. What if his son doesn’t survive? What if he… He hears someone come in, and sees it’s Alexis. Julian asks what she’s doing there, and she says she had an AA meeting. She guesses she doesn’t need to ask who he’s praying for. Julian says, not that God is going to listen to him. She says, she would listen, and he says he doesn’t know where to turn anymore. He doesn’t know how to fix this. Alexis says the meeting isn’t starting for a while, and asks if he wants to talk.

Michael apologizes, but Olivia says it’s not his fault. Tracy says, it is, a little bit. What was he thinking, getting involved with a murderous psychopath? The others list all the men Tracy has been involved with, and Olivia says, it’s quite a roster. Tracy points out this is coming from the woman who got knocked up by Julian, but Olivia says, it was a one-night stand; Tracy married them. Ned tells Tracy, admit it. She doesn’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to lousy spouses. She says, enough. They’re not talking about her past; they’re talking about the present. Michael says, she’s right. He appreciates them defending him, but he screwed up. He brought Nelle into their lives, and he’s going to do everything he can to get her out. Tracy asks, how? She sits down, and says, she’s waiting.

Jason calls to let Sam know he’s going out of town for a couple of days. He’s going to the city with Mike and Sonny, and thinks it might make it easier to stay apart. She wishes she could see him before he leaves, and he says he does too. She says she misses him, and he says he misses her. He’ll call when he gets there. She tells him, be safe, and he says they’re going to figure the Peter thing out. She says she knows.

Pascal says he’ll notify the other shareholders of the recent developments, and Tracy says, be sure to say they’re temporary. Pascal says, of course (🍷). As he’s leaving, they find Sam on the porch, and Pascal says he was about to call her. She asks, why? and Tracy says they have a lot to catch up on. She’ll fill Sam in.

Sonny says he thought Gladys went back to Bridgeport. She says it’s a long drive, even in her new fancy car, and she stayed so late at Turning Woods, she was hoping he’d let her stay another night. Sonny says he knows she’s working this to get every penny. He doesn’t like it, but he’s not really judging her because she’s done so much for his dad. He appreciates it, and he’s grateful. Gladys says Mike is a sweetheart, and she loves spending time with him. Sonny says he’ll let her stay until they figure out what’s wrong with his father (um… isn’t it Alzheimer’s?), assuming his wife is okay with it. Carly wants everything in the open, and says the way Gladys is leveraging being Dev’s fake grandma is obvious and despicable. She’s not going to pretend she’s putting up with it. For Mike’s sake, Gladys can stay, but if she steps out of line, she’s gone. Sonny says, and the second they don’t need her… Carly says she’s out of there. I honestly don’t understand why they’re so hostile toward Gladys.

Nikolas tells Lulu that he’ll find a way to make it up to everyone. He hopes she never has to see the people she loves pay for her choices, and ask herself if it’s worth it. She asks if it was, and he says the truth is, he doesn’t know. All he knows is, he couldn’t let Valentin walk away with everything. He had to get back and show Valentin that he’s the true Cassadine heir, and Valentin is nothing. Lulu says she’s glad he’s alive, but she hopes he comes to his senses, and she gets her real brother back.

Olivia asks if Ned thinks this is a good thing or a bad thing, and he says, it could go either way. Oscar’s last request was made in their favor. Olivia says, but it was when he wasn’t mentally competent. Michael says, there’s no way in hell they’re handing the shares over to Nelle. Sam has come in, and she says, what? Michael says Nelle married Shiloh, and now that he’s dead, the 5% of ELQ Oscar left him goes to her. Brook says, it’s temporary, and Tracy says she hopes so. Tracy thanks Brook for what she did, saying, she was amazing. Ned says he thinks it’s his proudest moment as her father. Brook says, it was her pleasure. She might not always agree with them, but she can recognize a gold-digging crazy person trying to get her mitts on their money. Michael says, too bad she wasn’t there when he got involved with Nelle. Brook says, the bottom line is, they’re Quartermaines, and when push comes to shove, they protect their own.

Alexis looks at her phone, and says she should have seen this coming. She tells Julian that Lucas is more important than anything, but she has to talk to Ned. She’ll be back. He asks if everything is okay, and she says, Nelle was released from Pentenville, and she’s wasting no time in wreaking havoc on Port Charles again.

Again there’s mad banging on Brad’s door. He flings it open, saying, what? and Nelle asks if that’s any way to treat his baby’s mother. She comes in, lugging her suitcase and vision board. She tells him not to worry; she didn’t escape. Brad says she can’t stay there, but she says, of course (🍷) she can. It’s only temporary. She has oodles of assets, and after her legal hassles have been cleared up, she’ll find her own place. She sets up her vision board, and says she has a beautiful home, a glorious life, and people who love her. She’s finally going to have everything she’s ever wanted.

Tomorrow, Michael asks Sasha to move in, Cameron tells Trina that he has feelings, Willow discovers Nelle at Brad’s, and Sonny asks why Taggert is back.

👘 Tonight on Project Runway, Victoria said she felt guilty, and hoped nobody was mad because she’s been on top so many times. I translated this to mean she doesn’t really feel guilty, but doesn’t want anyone to sabotage her, so she’s saying she does. The challenge was to incorporate their personal history and cultural heritage in a design of their choosing. They were to create any look they wanted to, using their heritage and unique background. You’d think this would be fun, but it was like when I had to buy all new furniture after Hurricane Sandy. It sounds like heaven, unless you’re being forced to do it. Delvin said it probably sounded like freedom to the others, but he preferred direction, since he’s all over the place. It was a one-day challenge, and Christian said the makeup and hair would be an important factor in the look. Not to miss an opportunity for produce placement, he added, Maybelline believes beauty comes from diversity and individuality.

Everyone got FaceTime calls from a family member, mostly parents, but for Victoria, it was her husband, and Nancy, her sister. Delvin found out his paternal grandfather was Mexican, which was a big surprise, and didn’t help his mental block, but he started to envision his French Creole side mixing with French couture. The designers got $300 and 30 minutes at Mood. Being a seamstress isn’t in my wheelhouse, aside from a few costumes I whipped up for high school plays, but I love this store. It’s on my list of places to visit the next time I’m in NYC.

Christian’s advice was to make it about then, but what girls want to wear now. Sergio refused to show Christian his design because it was so personal. In his interview, Sergio said he knew the struggle, while Christian didn’t, and he felt it wasn’t something he could explain to everyone. Christian told everyone he loved surprises, and had one for them. This would also be a flash sale challenge, and the fan and judge favorites would be sold on Bravo’s site. I’ve noticed I get very tense when it gets close to time and the designers don’t have enough done. Shavi was using some kind of lamé material that he didn’t realize was so sheer. He had to make do with what he had as a lining, and felt it was doable in the two hours they had left the next day. He made me a nervous wreck, since he obviously was not accounting for something unexpected. Chelsey came up with an awesome varsity jacket, celebrating her mom and grandmother. Sergio did a red and white design, with the names of children who had died in custody at the border embroidered on it. He enlisted the help of any model available to do the embroidery, and I wondered why this wasn’t considered cheating.

My personal favorites were Dayoung, with an Asian-inspired jacket and long skirt – Brandon thought the skirt and jacket would have two different kinds of customers – Nancy’s pants and top ensemble that included an awesome coat; Chelsey’s varsity jacket; and Brittany’s flouncy skirted take on Western wear. While Delvin turned himself inside out, hating his own dress, he’d added some handwriting on the bodice that was actually pretty cool. Sadly, the zipper buckled, as did Shavi’s entire garment.

Karlie said the show was compelling. Brandon gave the advice that a bold color will draw attention to imperfections. Guest judge Fernando Garcia, co-creative director for Oscar de la Renta (one of my favorites!), said the designer should listen to the fabric. Everyone agreed that Chelsey was on challenge, and the lamé wasn’t Shavi’s best work. Sergio got pretty emotional when he told his creation’s backstory, but Nina said despite his moving narrative, at the end of the day, it was about the fashion, and for one thing, they couldn’t read the names, so the message got lost. Elaine said the usage of cotton cheapened the garment. Dayoung’s design was pronounced polished and sleek, and Brandon said any and all women would wear her jacket. In another pearl of wisdom, he told her that a good designer speaks across ages.

The top three were Victoria, who’d had an incredible fitted jumpsuit, Chelsey, and Dayoung. At the bottom were Shavi, Delvin, and Sergio. Everyone got accolades for taking big risks. Chelsey was the big winner. I’d definitely buy that, although I’m sure it’s going to be out of my price range. Sergio squeaked by, and Shavi was out. Brandon said he’d done exceptional work, and it was just a small part of his greater story. Christian said that Shavi had passion and worked hard, and not everybody had those qualities. In his exit interview, Shavi said that he came there to be him and show his talents, but he didn’t think he accomplished that. He still hoped he made his grandmother proud.

Next time, a collab with Ashley Longshore, and another medical emergency for Dayoung.

🎓 Yep, I Was Right…

I had to find out. Chelsey’s varsity jacket is out of my price range at $385. If it’s within yours, here you go:

https://nineteenthamendment.com/products/mills-guy-letterman-jacket

🍸 Noted: Kristen (Vanderpump Rules) was on Watch What Happens Live this week, and she looked the best I’ve ever seen her. Positively glowing, along with some nice hair extensions. Apparently, she and Carter have called it quits for real, so it must be all that extra weight she lost.

🗽 Nora from Queens with Awkwafina looks hilarious! It’s on Wednesdays at 10:30 pm on Comedy Central.

🌴 Is She Or Isn’t She…?

Divorced, still on the show, Matt’s side piece? But most of all, we want to know what Gina’s done with her hair lately.

She’s mad at Matt.

https://radaronline.com/photos/rhoc-gina-kirschenheiter-court-ex-husband-matt-drug-alcohol-testing-deposition-criminal-case/

Her Housewife status is shaky.

https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/rhoc-season-15-is-gina-kirschenheiter-out-after-just-2-seasons.html/

She’s mad at Matt.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2020/01/rhoc-gina-kirschenheiter-slams-ex-hubby-divorce/

🐟 Is anyone else creeped out by Goldfish crackers? I don’t want a snack that smiles back, and goes on vacation, and has a family. It’s right up there with Charlie begging you to eat his mother.

🎉 Alert the Media…

It’s before 3 am. Meet you at the hospital tomorrow.

Jan14

January 13, 2020 – Tracy Admits Her Angle, Captain Lee Makes a Decision, Brandi Hides, No Crown For Kyle, Not So New Cast, CZ Tells All & Some Elton

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Tracy says, no surprise she finds her granddaughter with her nose in her phone, and Brooklyn says she got some good news. Nikolas Cassadine is alive. Tracy says, so? and Brook says, maybe Tracy should text Luke. It’s just a suggestion. Tracy asks why Brook is so touchy. Brook says she’s a little emotional because a guy she thought was dead just called to say hi, and ask how she’s doing. It’s kind of crazy that no one in her family asked. Tracy says if Brook is looking for those kinds of feelings, she’s in the wrong family. Ned comes in with Michael, and says Michael didn’t text him back about not coming to the shareholder’s meeting. Tracy asks why she wasn’t informed about a meeting, and Michael says, it’s for… She knows, the people who hold shares, but as long as Dillon is out west, she has his proxy vote. Michael says they’re voting on what to do with Oscar’s shares. Brook says they can go back to their corporate infighting in a minute, but she has a big announcement.

On the phone, Sam asks where Jason is. He says he’s at the MetroCourt. He’s meeting Michael before the memorial service. Sam can’t believe they’re going, but it’s weirder that Willow wants to go. He says Willow wants closure, and Sam hopes she gets it. She’s thinking of going over to Crimson to visit Maxie. Maybe she’ll stop by the MetroCourt, and they can grab a bite. No one said there’s a rule they can’t bump into each other. Alexis walks in, and asks what Sam thinks she’s doing.

At the MetroCourt, Franco tells Elizabeth that he loves date night. She says she loves having him back, and he asks if she’s okay. She says, it was quite a bombshell. She can’t believe Nikolas is alive. He says he’s thrilled that she’s tickled to death her ex-boyfriend is back. She says, she’s thrilled Nikolas is back, but she’s in love with Franco. She missed him every minute. He says, it’s weird that another person was living in his body, but no time passed for him. He keeps wondering what he was like. Would he want to get to know himself? She says, funny he should ask, because… They see Jason standing there.

Maxie tells Peter, far be it from her to judge when a friend is in the midst of an emotional tsunami, but when Nina was deciding whether or not to destroy Valentin, she was running the magazine herself. Then Nina comes back, and squashes a potentially huge advertising deal, and wants to micromanage. Maybe she should see what Lucy has to offer. What does he think? He apologizes, saying, it’s been a draining day at the office, but he does want to talk. What if they go get dinner instead? She likes the idea, but has some things she needs to finish, and says she’ll meet him there. He watches her as he waits for the elevator, and flashes back to admitting to Anna that he worked for Faison’s company at the same time as David Black.

Robert goes to Anna’s house, and asks if it’s a bad time. She says, it depends on what he’s there for, and he says he wants to tie up some loose ends. She says, regarding? and he says, would-be assassin David Black, who almost killed her friend Andre. He went to get the PCPD file on him, and Mac said she’s got it. Anna gives the file to him, and he says he’s surprised she took a second look, since her would-be son looks like a hero. Unless she’s having second thoughts about him too.

Maxie hears the elevator, and says, back so soon? Spinelli says they couldn’t stay away, and Maxie looks up to see him and Georgie. She thanks him for bringing their daughter with  him.

Brook says she’s been at the courthouse all morning; the lines were awful. Michael asks why she was there, and she says she did something that she should have done a long time ago. As of today, she’s no longer Brook Lynn Ashton. She’s officially and legally Brook Lynn Quartermaine. Ned tells her, congratulations; her great-grandparents would be thrilled. Tracy asks, what’s the angle? Ned asks why there has to be an angle, and, Tracy says, Brook just changed her last name to Quartermaine. Of course (🍷) there’s an angle. Michael wonders if it has anything to do with her gig at The Floating Rib tonight.

Lulu says she warned Dustin. Between the wedding and her brother showing up alive, it was quite a scene. He asks how she’s holding up, and she says she’s trying to wrap her head around it. She’s beyond happy that Nikolas is alive… He says, but she’s pissed he left the family in the dark? She says, really pissed. He’s been missing for years, and now he’s back. She’s conflicted emotionally, but hasn’t had enough time to focus on any of her emotions.

Maxie asks why Spinelli didn’t tell her that he was bringing a special guest. He says Ellie decided to come back, and they’re joining her. Maxie says it’s a welcome relief from her dumpster fire of a day. It’s a long story; she’ll explain later. She asks how long they’re in town, and he says, if all goes well, forever.

Sam ask if Alexis was eavesdropping. Alexis says, it’s her house; sue her. Sam says, fair, and Alexis says they talked about this. Sam has to be careful. Outside of visitation with Danny, Sam shouldn’t communicate with Jason. Sam says she’s not cutting Jason out of her life completely, and Alexis says, as long as she knows she’s playing with fire. Sam says she and Jason live in the same city. No one can stop them from bumping into each other. Alexis says she’d be impressed by the loopholes Sam found, if her anxiety wasn’t skyrocketing. Sam says, if all goes according to plan, they won’t have to be discreet much long. Alexis asks, what’s that supposed to mean?

Elizabeth tells Franco that she needs to speak to Jason about Jake for a moment. She thanks Jason for Jake’s Christmas gift, and apologizes that he had no holiday time with his son. It’s been crazy busy since Franco came back. Franco says, hi, and tells Jason that he heard they bonded. Monica told him that he helped Jason build a treehouse. Jason puts his jackass hat on, and says, they didn’t bond, and Franco didn’t help him. Franco says, cool. Elizabeth says, Jason helped change Drew’s mind. She and Scotty did everything they could, but whatever Jason said convinced him. It made Drew realize that it wasn’t his life, and it belonged to Franco. Franco thanks Jason, and says he guesses he owes Jason his life. He sees Peter, and says, just about as much as he owes that guy. He tells Peter, hi.

Anna tells Robert that his bias against Peter is showing. It’s not a good look. He says she’s deflecting, and she says she’s concerned that he’s investigating an innocent bystander. He says, Peter shot the shooter, and she says, he didn’t know anything about the assassin. Robert says, it’s too convenient, and wonders if she has questions about Peter’s story too.

Alexis asks how exactly is Sam expediting her and Jason’s reunion, and Sam says they have a deal with Robert. Alexis says, Jason is working with the DA? Sam asks if she doesn’t think Jason is credible, and Alexis says she thinks Jason’s intentions might be good, but it’s a Federal conviction and Robert is the local DA. He has no pull with the Feds. Sam says, not necessarily. Robert is brokering a deal between her and the Feds. Alexis asks, how? and she says Robert thinks he can get her parole reduced if they offer up a bigger fish. Alexis asks if she’s caught anything.

Peter tells Franco, hey, and Franco says it’s good to see him. The man of the hour is here. He heard about Peter’s heroics at GH. He saved Franco’s life, and Andre’s too. Peter brushes it off, and Franco tells him, don’t be so humble. Elizabeth asks if he’s meeting someone, and he says he’s meeting Maxie. Elizabeth says she’s been meaning to get in touch. They’d like to have her and Peter over for dinner. Peter says, that’s not necessary, and Franco says he’s a bonafide hero; they should celebrate. Peter says, he’s really not.

Robert tells Anna, now they’re getting somewhere. How long as she been suspicious of Peter? Anna says, Jason saw her at the hospital the day Franco was going through the procedure. He believes Peter was more involved with Faison than he admits, and with what was done to him and Drew. Robert says, the procedure and Drew’s death are connected, and asks if she’s come up with any evidence linking Peter to the assassin. She flashes back to Peter admitting that he worked at Faison’s company at the same time David Black did. Robert asks if Jason had any hard evidence, and she says, no. That’s why she was reviewing the file. He asks if she found anything.

Lulu says she’s sorry to unload on Dustin, and he says she has a lot going on. She says she’s glad she hasn’t scared him off, but just wait. He says, there’s more? but she says she actually thinks her life is about to get calmer. Nikolas’s return will have fallout, but Charlotte is home safe with her. She thinks they might actually have a chance to spend more time together. He says, it’s not fair that she’s getting his hopes up. She says she knows every time it looks like they can get to know each other more, something gets in the way. A disastrous wedding… He says, teenagers, and she says, Charlotte jumping off the pier. He says, her mother, and they laugh. He says he’s glad to hear her laugh, and she says it happens a lot with him. He says he’s good at other things too, and she asks if he wants to get out of there. He asks where they’re going, and she says Rocco is with his grandmother, and so is Charlotte. They could go back to his place.

Ned says, Brook has a gig? and she tells Michael, thanks, narc. Michael says The Floating Rib had a big PR blast, and Ned wonders how Brook got out of her contract. Tracy tells Ned to fill her in, and Ned says, Brook is stuck in a contract with a predatory music producer. Brook says, he’s a skeeze, and Ned says, a skeeze with an intimidating angle. Brook says now that she’s a Quartermaine, she can sing wherever she wants, but Michael says that won’t get her out of her contractual obligations. Ned says they have to talk, but Brook says she has to go, and jets. Tracy says, Brook’s first day with the Quartermaine name, and she’s already disgraced it.

Alexis says, so Robert is willing to broker a deal with Sam if she has someone big to offer? Who is it? Sam says, it’s confidential; sorry. Alexis says that’s hardly comforting. The doorbell rings, and Alexis says Sam was saved by the bell. She hopes Sam knows what she’s doing, and tells her to be careful. Sam says, always, and Alexis opens the door to find Neil. He asks if it’s a bad time. Alexis says, it’s perfect timing, and invites him in. Sam says she’ll give them space, and tells Neil, hello and goodbye. She leaves, and Alexis says, welcome home. He thanks her, and says, it’s been a minute. She says, a couple. It’s nice see him. Did he just come to say hi, or is it something else?

Maxie tells Spinelli, hold up. They might be in Port Charles permanently? Spinelli says, it’s possible. Ellie is in the running for a desirable position heading up a lab in Queens Point. She’s going to her final interview, and they’re expressing cautious enthusiasm. He and Georgie came along in case she’s presented with an offer; they’ll have to find a place to live. Maxie says she’s cautiously excited. She knows how it can be when an expected chance comes along, and you’re afraid to go for it, but if you do, something incredible might happen. He asks if she’s talking hypothetically or is she leaving Crimson?

Ned tells Tracy that ELQ is under control. Tracy asks Michael, what’s more important than being CEO of ELQ? and he says, a memorial service. She says, her condolences. Who passed? Michael says a man who he despised.

Dustin tells Lulu, there’s nothing he wants more than to spend the night with her, but only if she wants to. She asks why she wouldn’t, and he says she’s had a lot of emotional upsets lately. He wants to make sure she’s ready to have sex again. She laughs, and says she appreciates him asking for consent. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t have family drama going on, but a girl has her wants. She wants to be happy, and she’s happy with him. He says he can’t argue, and they kiss. He goes to settle the check, and she says she’ll wait outside; don’t keep her waiting. As she gets up, Brook runs into her, spilling her drink on Lulu. Brook says, sorry, but then sees who it is, and says, or not.

Robert says Mac told him that Anna has had the file since before Christmas. She must have found something. She says, nothing that links Peter to the assassin. He asks, what about Jason’s theory? and she says, it’s a theory. There’s no evidence to support it. He wonders if she didn’t look too close, and says she has a Peter-sized blind spot. If she’s not careful, she could be in a lot of trouble. When Peter goes down, he doesn’t want her going with him. Things are in the works that are going to show her what her would-be (Robert’s WOTD) son is really like.

Peter tells Franco that he appreciates the complement, but he’s uncomfortable being the center of attention. Franco says he’s a hero, and Peter says that’s kind of him to say, but he prefers to publish the news rather than be the news. He and Maxie would love to have dinner. He tells Elizabeth, pick the date, and let him know; they’ll be there. He says, it’s good to see them, and starts to leave. She asks if he’s not meeting Maxie, but he looks at his phone and says, she’s craving Noodle Buddha now. He leaves, and Franco says, awkward. What’s up with that guy?

Spinelli tells Maxie, he doesn’t mean to pry, but this could be a watershed moment. She’s not thinking of leaving Crimson, is she? She says, forget it, and he says, it’s forgotten. Sam comes out of the elevator, and hugs Spinelli. Maxie asks him to tell Sam the good news, and he says, it’s not good news yet, but it might be. It’s possible Ellie might get a local job in Queens Point, but nothing is set in stone. Sam hopes Ellie gets the job. They need him there.

Neil hope he didn’t interrupt Alexis and Sam, but Alexis says Sam was on her way out. She asks when he get back, and he says, a few hours ago. She says he came right over? and he says he tried to call, but got voicemail. She says her phone was on silent, and asks how Montclair was. Did he spend time with his brother and family? He says, it was nice, and she says, just nice? She’s glad, but she should have gotten him a thesaurus for Christmas. She forgot to thank him for saving her life before he left. She missed him. He seems distracted, and she says, okay. Just tell her what’s going on.

Tracy says Michael is going to skip the shareholders meeting for a memorial service for a sociopath? Why give that twisted guru a second of his time? Michael says Shiloh’s followers will be there for closure, and he wants to be supportive. In particular for Kristina and Willow. Ned explains that Willow is Wiley’s birth bother, and Tracy says Michael is so consistent, making nice with a sweet single mother. Shocking. Michael says, fun as this was, he needs to hit the road. Ned tells him, good luck. After Michael is gone, Tracy tells Ned to drop the cool and collected act. He asks her, why the sudden revitalized interest in ELQ?   

Lulu tells Brook to watch where she’s going, but Brook says Lulu hit her drink. This is where Lulu offers to buy her another round. Lulu says she knew Brook would ruin this. Brook sees Dustin, and says, oh my God. Is she on a date? There are peanut shells on the floor; she should practice better self-care. Lulu says, if it’s such a dive, what is Brook doing there? Brook says, performing, and Lulu asks how it feels going from Webster Hall to this? Brook says she has to go, and tells Lulu, enjoy her date. Lulu joins Dustin at the bar, and he asks, what happened? she says she was just showered with Sex on the Beach. Brook tells herself she’s got this. No one can stop her. A skeevy looking dude walks in, and says, want a bet?

Alexis says Neil is clearly distracted and distant. He says he’s here, and happy to see her. She says she can tell. He’s been off the radar, which is understandable because of the holidays. She understands. Neil says he kept in touch, and she says they texted nightly and he came straight there, but it’s awkward. He says he didn’t mean to give mixed-up signals, and she says, talk to her. He can tell her anything. He gets up, and says, something happened while he was away.

Spinelli tells Sam and Maxie, the possibility of moving back is exhilarating; he’d love to be close as a family again. Peter comes back, and Maxie says, look who’s here. They exchange pleasantries, and Spinelli, who looks uncomfortable, says he has to go check in and get settled. He hopes to catch up soon. Maxie hugs him and Georgie, and tells Spinelli, thanks.

Franco says now he knows Peter is uncomfortable with praise, and Elizabeth says, it’s a sign of insecurity. Franco thinks it’s weird, and wonders if Peter is socially awkward like Jason. Elizabeth tells him, if he gets in the habit of complaining about Jason, he might slip in front of Jake. Franco says he’ll change the subject. What was he like as another person? Was he cool or stone cold like Jason? She says he can judge for himself. He recorded a video message for Cameron. She hand him a phone, and says it’s his to watch when he wants.

Michael meets Jason at the MetroCourt bar, and apologizes for being late. He says, Tracy finally made her move, and Jason asks, how bad? Michael says he thinks she’s after ELQ.

Ned asks Tracy to tell him what her angle is. She says she’s concerned for the family, and he says her time away with Luke has made her soft; she used to be a better liar. She asks why she would lie, and he says she hasn’t shown a scintilla of interest in the family. Now she drops in out of the sky to take pot shots at Michael and his daughter. She says she wants to make sure ELQ remains in the family’s hands, and he says, she’s making a play for ELQ again, isn’t she?

Brook asks what he’s doing there, and I think we can assume he’s her producer, Zak. He says he had a meeting with a Canadian hip-hop artist who’s supposed to be the next Drake. He thought he’d stop in before he went back to civilization. Imagine his surprise when he saw that Brook Quartermaine was preforming. She says, it’s a two drink minimum; enjoy the show. He says if she does this gig under any name, she’s breaching her contract, and he’ll sue her. She says she’s sure he has more successful clients; why won’t he leave her alone? He says he sees her potential, and grabs her. He pulls her to him, and says he doesn’t care. He doesn’t give up on talent, and wants further collaboration. She whacks him in the mouth, and steps away from him.

Alexis says she’s thinking Neil must have met someone, and that’s fine. He says, it’s nothing like that . He’s losing his medical license. She asks how that’s possible, and he says, because of her.

Zak says, there she is. The diva he’s always wanted. He moves toward Brook, who says, don’t touch her. Lulu comes out of nowhere, and pulls him back, calling him an SOB, and telling him to get his hands off of Brook. Dustin slams him up against the wall, and asks if he was never taught not to put his hands on a woman. Brook says, teach? and Dustin says, Brook?

Ned says Tracy has a sudden interest in voting Dillon’s shares, and in Michael directing the company. She wants to push Michael out as CEO and chairman, and put herself in his place. She says, not her. Someone else.

Michael tells Jason, Tracy had a field day talking about Shiloh’s memorial. It wasn’t her usual snark. She said he was neglecting the company. Jason says Michael doesn’t have be there, and Michael says Jason doesn’t either. Jason says he thinks whoever is behind this memorial has an agenda, and Michael says he does too.

Elizabeth asks if Franco doesn’t want to watch. He says he does, but doesn’t think he’s ready to see himself. He’s kind of terrified, and guesses that makes him a coward. She says, far from it. Whenever he’s ready, it will be there. He smiles.

Maxie tells Peter that she’s almost finished. She asks if Sam wants to join them for dinner, but Sam says, sorry. Olivia just texted her. The kids were spending the night, and now they don’t want to, so mom to the rescue. She’d like a raincheck though, and Maxie says she’ll hold Sam to it. Sam leaves, and Maxie asks if Peter made reservations. He says he changed his mind, and asks if Noodle Buddha on the sofa and a move sound good. She says, it sounds like heaven, and goes to get her purse.

Anna asks what Robert means by things in the works. Is the PCPD launching an investigation, or is he calling in favors from the WSB? He asks her to promise that when the truth comes out, and it’s not to her liking, she’ll stand clear. If he’s right… She says, what if he’s wrong, and there’s no proof. Will he admit Peter is innocent? He says, no proof; no case. She says if that’s the best she can get, she’ll take it. She tells him, it’s kind of late, and he tells her, goodnight. He leaves, and she goes to her desk. She finds the papers that point to the connection between David Black and Peter, and hides them inside a book.

Tomorrow, Brook has a show to do, Neil doesn’t want to make the same mistake again, and Laura says she loves Nikolas no matter what he may have done.

Below Deck

The boat is cleaned up for the next charter. Captain Lee calls Rhylee to the Sky Lounge. Kate tells her, go in, and take responsibility for everything. The captain says he’s talked with Ashton and everybody else, and they have a situation – and it’s unpleasant. She’s probably one of the hardest working people he’s worked with, but this ain’t Alaska. It’s a yacht, and they behave differently. As with all unpleasant situations, he had to come up with a solution, and he’s come to the conclusion they’re going to make it work. It’s going to take change on Ashton’s part, and a lot on hers. Sometimes, the only way to change the way people treat you, is how you react to how they treat you. In the captain’s interview, he says Rhylee is a hard worker, but her edges are about as rough as they come, and it’s the end of the charter season. He tells Rhylee that he wants them to do better, and expects it. In Rhylee’s interview, she says, Ashton tried to get her fired, and it hurts. They genuinely don’t like her. Where does she go from here? Late tells Rhylee that she needs a break, and hugs her.

The captain radios Ashton. He tells Ashton that he could have dealt with it the way Ashton wanted to, which is just make it go away, but that’s not managing. (He listened to Kate!) Ashton says he can’t change Rhylee, and Captain Lee says he’s not asking Ashton to do that. He’s asking him to try and make it work. He asks if Ashton said he’s just tolerating her, and Ashton admits he did. Ashton says, it’s the truth, but the captain says, sometimes the truth isn’t the best management skill. Ashton is retaliating, and it’s not a role he can’t afford to take when he’s in management. Ashton says he respects the captain, and will respect his wishes. He’s willing to do it. Captain Lee tells him, do it with an open mind because his isn’t. In Ashton’s interview, he says he’s shocked at how it turned out. When a decision needed to be made, the captain went with the third deckhand. He respects Captain Lee, and is going to do what he said, but hopes it’s for a good reason. What just happened? He radios Rhylee. I laugh my head off. Poor Ashton. He didn’t get what he wanted – the easy way out.

Rhylee meets with Ashton, and he says, what happened last night is past. This morning, they need to make it work, and respect each other and the situation. They need to put in the effort, and it will be okay. He asks if there’s anything else she wants to say or add, but she shakes her head. He leaves, and she says, it’s an effing joke.

Ashton tells Brian, Rhylee isn’t going anywhere. Molly texts Ashton, and asks if he wants to meet up. In his interview, he says he doesn’t want to cause sh*t among the crew, but when guests are off the boat, they’re fair game. He tells Molly that they can meet.

Kate asks if Rhylee would be offended if she and Tanner hooked up underneath her (referring to the bottom bunk, not anything kinky). In Kate’s interview, she says, Kevin is mean to her, and Ashton is mean to her; she needs consolation. The crew gets ready to go out. Rhylee likes when they have separate taxis for the girls and guys, since she’s with the guys all day. Ashton tells Kevin, by the time the ex-guests arrive, he’ll be sleeping. Rhylee says all the guys are pissed at her, so that just leaves the three girls to hook up with. They laugh.

They hit The Library, and in his interview, Tanner says he was out of commission when they went there the last time. Ashton hooked up with Kate, and Brian kissed Courtney; who is Tanner going to kiss? Apparently, Tanner has a pretty loose definition of hooking up. He asks Kate if she’s going home with him, and she says, yes. Molly and Justine (from the last charter) walk in. Kate says, it’s ridiculous. The bartenders do the Tom Cruise/Kokomo/Cocktail thing behind the bar. In Tanner’s interview, he says they’re sexual tension between him and Kate, and now Justine has been thrown in the mix. He’s just going to get drunk and see what happens. No comment. Ashton says, the other girls aren’t happy. Kate steps out with Kevin for a smoke, and tells him they’ve spent all this time listening to these women and catering to them, and now the one time they don’t have to… In Kevin’s interview, he says it’s as annoying for him as it is for Kate. It’s their time. Molly says she’s moving n three weeks, and Ashton kisses her. Tanner asks if he can slide into Justine’s DMs. In Kate’s interview, she says she’s been the one working all season. She should get to screw a deckhand. Ashton says nothing surprises him with Kate. He doesn’t want to make drama. He tells Molly that he’ll see her in five days, and the crew gets in the taxis.

Rhylee tells the other girls that Ashton was asking Molly out. Kate says she’d rather do it with a Vienna sausage. They’re pale, yucky, sit in coagulated fat, and nobody knows what to do with them. They get back to the dock. Brian says Courtney is beautiful, and she says he’s drunk. In her interview, she says when she gets to know someone, it’s usually a day by day progression. She likes him a lot, and thinks they have a genuine connection. She doesn’t know what to say. They jog the rest of the way to the boat.

Everyone goes to bed, and in her interview, Kate says she admits she’s had a few drinks and she’s bored. Tanner has been flirting with her all season. Now she’s cashing in her ticket. She goes to his cabin, saying, Tanner, Tanner, Kate. Pajama party. He’s barely conscious, and she asks if he’s okay. In Kate’s interview, she thinks it’s a good learning lesson for him. Drink less, hook up more. She goes back to her own cabin, and says, so rude.

Everyone forces themselves out of bed in the morning. Kate asks Tanner if he’s okay, telling him that she went to invite him to her room, but he wouldn’t even flip over. In his interview, he says, is she kidding him? He blew it. Rhylee folds towels, and says, they can’t fire her even if they try. She helps with the towline, and Captain Lee watches her and Ashton work together. In his interview, Captain Lee says he’s not a fan micromanaging, and he’s not starting now with Rhylee and Ashton. They’re adults. They don’t have to like each other, but they have to work together. Neither one of them is going anywhere. He told them what he expects – deliver. Simone tells Courtney that Tanner is standoffish, and Courtney says he’s been canoodling. In Courtney’s interview, she says, Tanner is a playboy for sure. He’d said he wanted to hook up with other people, but she’s not telling Simone that he wants to hook up with other people who are her boss. Brian’s not mature, but he’s more mature than Tanner. In Brian’s interview, he says he doesn’t know where he and Courtney stand after the season is over. As far ask his daughter is concerned, he’s been single all her life. He needs to be confident about who he introduces to her, and can’t bring women in and out of her life.

Tanner tells Ashton that Kate was going to invite him to her room, and they laugh. The captain calls Kate, Ashton, and Kevin to the mess for the preference sheet meeting. The new primary is Alexis Bellino (former cast member on The Real Housewives of Orange County). She’s recently divorced, and her boyfriend Andrew is looking forward to a romantic vacation. He says, she’s obviously moving on. In Kate’s interview, she says her only concern about a Housewife on a charter is they tend to be dramatic. The good news is, they can’t flip over tables since the tables are nailed down. The captain says they’re not coming until late afternoon, so Kevin doesn’t have to be concerned with lunch. They want a green, Irish theme party, and a cave/island excursion. He suggests the Pilah Lagoon, and says Alexis wants to celebrate her independence day. Kate says, as long as the guests have the most drama, they’re doing okay. She loves charter eight.

Five hours before charter. Ashton has a deckhand meeting. In his interview, he says he’s had issues with Rhylee, but he’s stuck with her. He’s going to treat her like a third deckhand. Just keep quiet, and take orders. The provisions come in. In his interview, Kevin says he’s put a lot of hours into the charter season, and it’s catching up. His back is giving him a hard time. Captain Lee tells the crew to be on the aft deck thirty minutes.

Walking to the boat with her crew, Alexis says, vacation starts now. Kate says she sounds like a dolphin, and a guest asks if anyone brought their airhorns. Captain Lee says, there’s always one d-bag. In her interview, Kate says, they look like they’re from Orange County. Tanning beds and gym memberships. She’s scared. The captain welcomes them to Thailand, and says they have a busy few days planned. So let’s get to it, get underway, and off the dock. Kate does the tour. Alexis and Andrew kiss. In Kate’s interview, she says, eww! She wonders if Alexis is proving to her ex or to her friends that she’s doing fine, but she can prove she’s doing fine without having a tongue down her throat.

The guests unpack. Courtney makes mojitos. Alexis jumps on Andrew. Anchor is dropped and locked in. Andrew dives of the side of the boat, and Captain Lee says it looks like that hurt. Ashton gets ready for the excursion, and gives Rhylee the sh*t work, like cleaning out the hot tub. In her interview, she says it’s blatantly obvious that she’s not part of the team in their eyes. She feels defeated, and is questioning what and why she’s doing what she’s doing. Kate tells Simone and Courtney that they’re handling dinner service. In Simone’s interview, she feels like she’s come a long way. Kate is still condescending though. She can’t stand the insult to her intelligence. Bye, Felicia. Rhylee eats in her bunk while the jerkface deckhands high-five each other.

Kate tells Kevin, it’s going to be freaking Dublin. Kevin says he’s just going to spice up the Irish thing. If he makes something green and puts Guinness in something, he’ll be okay. Brian texts Courtney that they haven’t spoken about the end of the season, and asks what her thoughts are. She asks what his are, and he says they’re just having fun, right? In her interview, she says, it’s insensitive to have an important conversation through text. He’s being a d*ck. It’s not that hard. Courtney tells Kate about it, and says, it’s awkward. In Courtney’s interview, she says, nobody wants to hear that a person they like is just having fun. It sounds like it’s not that important. Kate says she’s surprised. In Kate’s interview, she says she feels bad. It must be Courtney’s first boatmance. Now she’s spinning out about Brian. An excursion is perfect. Courtney can get off the boat, clear her mind, and take her misery elsewhere. The captain asks who Ashton is taking, and Ashton says, Tanner. Simone wanders around with a drink, looking for the guest it belongs with.

The guests get in the tender, and they cruise around the island. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking. Ashton says, it’s called Pilah Bay, but that’s as much as he can tell them. Clearly, he didn’t do his research. Alexis and Andrew go for maximum PDA. In Courtney’s interview, she says, are you kidding? It’s the last thing she wants to see, especially now. Kate asks if Rhylee was reading a magazine in the bathroom, and Rhylee says she was eating dinner in there. In Kate’s interview, she says she’s never seen this side of Rhylee before. She’s a strong woman who’s been beaten down by an ex-Chippendale.

Kevin tells Brian that Courtney is going around saying sh*t about him messaging her. In Brian’s interview, he says he’s pissed off. She’s speaking about their personal relationship, and he’s respected her. He’s seeing a different side of her, and it’s not a good side. Brian thanks Kevin for the heads up, and the guests return.

Kevin puts on a sparkly green top hat, and sings and dances. He says he’s back. Kevin is kind of an idiot, but I’ve also enjoyed him this season. Ben will always be the best though. The guests come back, and Brian says he wants to talk to Courtney. She says, maybe. He says, after dinner? and she says, maybe. In her interview, Courtney says she doesn’t want to have this conversation at work. He’s already upset her at work. Brian tells Ashton that Courtney has issues. He tries to cover his ass by saying he wanted to have a conversation with her, but thought he’d text first before they spoke. She’s acting like he broke up with her on messenger, but he just wanted to see if they were on the same page. Courtney says he’ll probably make her cry, and she’ll have puffy eyes. Brian says she’s talking sh*t behind his back. What gives her the right? It’s hard to believe three of the most insensitive, clueless d-bags ever ended up on the same boat.

Alexis and Andrew continue on the PDA trail. Courtney and Kate decorate for the Irish theme. Kate says, there’s slim pickin’s with décor in Thailand. Considering what she had to work with, it looks pretty darn good. There are green metallic streamers hanging from the ceiling, and the table is decorated with sparkly green hats, coins, and other green stuff. The guests arrive for dinner wearing flashing green horns, which are really annoying. Alexis says she’s told everyone that she’s never getting married again, and Andrew says now she’s asking when they’re getting married. Kevin does a nice spin on corned beef and cabbage, and Kate says it’s the sexiest Irish food she’s ever seen. It does look good. Simone tells Kevin the main word she’s hearing is delish.

Tanner asks if Kate wants to go for a smoke, and they go out on deck. He asks what she thinks about hooking up. In her interview, she says, don’t tell her about it, just do it. She says she believes he’s over-thinking it. If it happens, it happens, but he should probably wait a day or two. It’s awkward right now. Brian texts Courtney that she shouldn’t have brought up their conversation to Kate; it’s going to be all over the boat. He texts that she took him the wrong way. Courtney tells Kate that Brian is still texting her. Kevin makes shortbread with chocolate pudding and double cream for dessert, and I want some so badly. Captain Lee is annoyed to find no toilet paper in whatever bathroom he’s using. The guests go to bed, Simone asks Kevin if he’s okay, and Courtney cries in her cabin. In her interview, she says she thought Brian genuinely liked her, and she’s taken comfort in him through the majority of the season. Now she questions the legitimacy of how much he likes her. She can’t handle that emotionally.

The sun rises. Kevin makes meatballs and breakfast. Kevin takes the breakfast orders, and Rhylee asks if the guests are ready to see more of Thailand, and tells them to enjoy their breakfast. Rhylee tells Ashton that the guests like her. Ashton says they only have her in small doses. In the galley, Kevin falls to the floor. Simone asks him why he’s down there, and he tells her to get him some painkillers. He can’t straighten his back. Ugh. I know what that’s like, and it’s horrible. A dude we’ve never seen helps him up, and says he’ll get an ice pack. In Kevin’s interview, he says it’s the worst pain he’s ever had. He doesn’t know how he’s going to get through the charter. Simone gets his meds, and gives them to him.

Rhylee goes to her cabin. In her interview, she says it’s the hardest work scenario she’s ever had. She’s still trying to learn yachting industry. Throwing in a bunch of drama with a meathead who can’t control his temper, and boys following suit because it’s bro code; it’s hard. Courtney tells Kate that Kevin can’t move. Ashton tells Tanner to pull anchor. Brian sighs in his cabin. He asks if Courtney wants to talk, and says she took what he said the wrong way. She says he texted that he was just having fun, and she thought he liked her. He says he does. Why can’t they sort this thing out? He doesn’t want whatever they have to end this way. He says he’s never talked to anyone else about it, and she doesn’t know what he’s upset about. He says he doesn’t want other people to know his business, and she’s telling them. She’s sorry he feels that way, but it’s distracting while she’s working. He gets indignant, saying, she’s sorry he feels that way? and she says she’s sorry she didn’t realize it was that private, and it’s a big deal. He says he didn’t want to hurt her, and asks for a kiss, but she says she doesn’t know. Ashton radios for Brian, and he and Courtney agree to speak later.

In his interview, Captain Lee says all they need is for their chef to be down. Every other area, he can fix himself, but he’s just an old line cook. If the chef can’t cook, the guests don’t eat. They’re in the middle of nowhere, and he doesn’t think he can get someone to bail them out.

Next time, Tanner asks Kate when the next invite to her room is, Rhylee calls Ashton a misogynist pig, and Captain Lee says they’re all acting like a-holes and he’s madder than a pissed on chicken.

🐮 Oh Please…

I didn’t mention her discretion much in my Friday night diatribe, but this is rich. Five minutes ago, she was throwing down chairs and demanding LeeAnne stand trial. I guess she can dish it out, but she can’t take it.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1110664/real-housewives-brandi-redmond-checks-into-wellness-center-over-racism-allegations?source=email&medium=emn-content-6&cmpid=evening&content=emn-news

👑 She Will Never Wear the Crown…

I don’t care who says it’s Kyle’s show, she’ll never replace LVP.

https://radaronline.com/photos/kyle-richards-turns-51-amid-rhobh-uncertainty/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🌴 Everything Old Is New Again…

The cast doesn’t seem much different from last season. I wonder if Vicki, who swore up and down she was done with friend status, will accept a new contract. Could she really stand not getting married on TV?

https://radaronline.com/photos/rhoc-cast-revealed-whos-in-whos-out/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

👾 Come Out, Come Out, Citizen Z…

TBH, I never even thought about it. And now I’m thinking about how much I miss Z Nation. He and Doc were my favorite characters too. Now I’m sad and pissed all over again.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1110784/dj-qualls-comes-out-as-gay-onstage-at-comedy-show?source=email&medium=emn-content-2&cmpid=evening&content=emn-news

📅 Halfway Through Another One…

My New Year’s Resolution is to make no resolution. It’s better that way.

Jan11

January 10, 2020 – Sonny’s Truck Is Found, Nearly Ruined, Baby Mama Drama, Wife Feuds, VanderCrash, Vicki Frets, Danielle Quits, I Vent, Quotes Helen Ends & Begins, Pup Birthday & No Waiting

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

We get another rare glimpse of the outside of the hospital. Elizabeth is straightening up an examining room, and stops to look at her phone. She frowns, and makes a call. She leaves a message for Laura, saying, she noticed Laura has called, but she’s not leaving messages. She hopes everything is okay, and asks Laura to give her a call. She hears someone say her name, and she says she’ll be right with them. She turns around to see Nikolas.

Jason goes to Jordan’s office. She asks if a truck from Corinthos Coffee is missing. They found one abandoned and torched. Does he happen to know if they made themselves an enemy?

Lucy shows Maxie a portfolio, and says, it’s just a sample to get the conversation started. She thinks Deception is going to be absolutely fabulous once it’s up and running. Advertisers are going to be lining up beside them. Maxie says, it’s impressive, but that’s just her opinion. Lucy has to run it by Nina. Nina says, run what by her? and Maxie says, Deception’s pitch to be a Crimson’s partner. Lucy tells Nina, picture it; Crimson and Deception, the perfect marriage. Not that anyone needs marriage to be perfect. They’re strong, independent women, and perfect unto themselves. Nina says she’d like to see a proposal. They go to Nina’s desk, and Lucy hands her a mock-up of a Crimson cover featuring Sasha.

Sasha finds Michael in the empty ELQ boardroom, and asks if she’s interrupting. He says she is, and thanks her. She said he mentioned he’d be there, and he says the meeting finished early. He was looking over resumés for a part-time nanny for Wiley. In between work, and going to Turning Woods to see Lucas, Brad is drowning. Wiley was fussy at daycare, and when Brad didn’t answer, they had to call him. A nanny is the obvious solution, but none of the candidates seem right. She says, nobody is good enough for Wiley? She wonders why.

Brad asks who took his lab results; he needs them back now. Willow comes by, and asks if this is what he’s looking for, handing him some paperwork. He asks where she found them, and she says, where he left them. In the breakroom near the coffee maker. She tells him, Lucas being at Turning Woods, and returning to work is a lot for anyone, and he has Wiley on top of it. Brad says he can handle it. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks.

At Charlie’s, Sonny says Carly saw Julian and Brad at the pier. He knows what they talked about after Carly walked away. Julian asks what they were allegedly talking about, and Sonny says, him, his wife, his son, and Wiley.

Elizabeth says Nikolas hasn’t changed, and he says she’s as beautiful as ever. She says he’s supposed to be dead, and he says, it was a very close call. She says, it’s been three years; where has he been? Does his mom know? Laura has been calling, probably trying to warn and prepare her. However she wants to look at it, he’s back. It’s not a dream. She touches him, and says, it’s him. She promises not to faint, but Nikolas says he might. They hug.

Jordan tells Jason, the truck was found by the side of the road. There was no cargo or driver; just the burnt frame. Were they aware the truck was missing? Jason says they knew the shipment never arrived, and she asks if they were concerned. He says they were, and thanks her for locating it. She asks if he has any idea where the driver could be, and he says the employees were canvased, and everyone is safe and accounted for. She asks him to have a seat, and says what if she requested the manifest and interviewed the driver? He says he doesn’t know how much the driver could tell her. She says, so the driver pulled over to stretch or get some fresh air, an unknown party stole the truck and drove off, and they never saw anything?

Nina looks at the mock-up cover, and says she thought Sasha turned down Lucy’s offer to model. Lucy says she has an extreme knack for persuasion. She’s prepared to offer Nina 5% of the equity, priority placement, and integration. Like Maxie said, it’s a win-win. Maxie says it’s a high end brand, but Nina says, no. Lucy says they’re already a high placement brand, and it’s a golden opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Nina thanks her, and says she’ll definitely consider it, as long as Lucy finds another model to represent the brand. Lucy says, that’s not an option. Sasha isn’t just a brand ambassador; she’s an equity partner.

Sasha wonders if Michael is looking for a degree in psychology and nutrition, as well as training in CPR, mountain climbing, and gourmet cooking skills. He says he forgot to add that. He asks if he’s being too protective and involved, and she says, maybe, but in the sweetest, sexiest way. He says he knows what he’d like to do. Pull back from ELQ, let Ned pick up the slack, and block extra time to spend with Wiley. Sasha asks, what’s stopping him?

Sonny ask if Julian hasn’t learned by now to stay away from his family. Does he have to keep reminding Julian? Julian says Wiley is his family as well. He comes up in conversation. Sonny says Julian warned Brad to be careful around Carly so he wouldn’t get wind of something about Michael, because Sonny protects his son. He tells Julian, if he’s got something brewing, think twice. He knows Sonny always protects what’s his. Julian says he hears Sonny, and when it comes to his family, he feels the same way.

Jason says Jordan will have to call Diane for the manifest. Jordan says Diane will ask for a warrant and probable cause. It’s sketchy, but without witnesses, all they have is a missing truck that was found. It’s already annoying enough. She asks if it’s possible the driver went rogue, and someone else got the delivery. Jason says all the employees are vetted, and have years of experience. Jordan wonders if it’s a calling card from Sonny’s rival. If there’s a turf war brewing, she needs to know.

Lucy tells Nina, it’s business, not personal. Deception would be good for Crimson, and vicey versey. Nina wishes her luck. She’s sure Lucy will find another publication to promote Deception, but she passes. She’s sorry, and wishes Lucy the best of luck. Lucy thanks her for her time, and leaves. Maxie sits down, and says she wishes Nina would reconsider. Nina asks why she should invite Sasha back into her life, and Maxie says, Lucy’s partnership proposal has merit. They can find a work-around. She’ll do everything, and Nina can just sit back and rake in the revenue. How does that sound? Listening outside the door, Lucy smiles.

Sasha tells Michael, it’s possible to do both, especially when you have enough money. He’s been a daily presence in Wiley’s life, and he can add a few extra hours. Michael says he can set it up coordinating with Brad’s schedule. When Brad goes to work, he can spend the mornings with Wiley, and drop him off at the hospital daycare or at his grandmother’s with the nanny. Later, he can pick Wiley up, and get him to Brad for dinner. Sasha says he’s already got a strategy, and he says, thanks to her. It will cut into his free time with her, but she says, it’s a worthy cause, and she happens to like Wiley. They kiss. Sasha’s phone rings, and she says, it’s Lucy. He tells her, the first rule of business is, always answer your partner’s call. Lucy says, she’ll make it quick. Nina said no. Sasha says she tried to warn her, but Lucy thinks maybe there’s a little crack. She needs to kick the door open. She tells Sasha, get there pronto, and Sasha says she’ll be right there. Michael asks where she’s going, and Sasha says, to kick open some doors.

Willow brings Brad some coffee, saying she thought he could use it. He says, yeah. His nerves are just jangled. Everyone is doubting him all of a sudden, and Lucas’s whole family is against him. Willow says, that can’t be true, and he says Bobbie has called fifty times, Carly thinks he’s overwhelmed, and Julian agrees. Michael wants to hire a nanny. She says that’s not a bad idea.

Julian says he has no beef with Michael, Carly or Sonny. He thought they turned a corner the night Sonny offered to let him visit Wiley. He’d like to keep that going. Sonny ask why he warned Brad about Carly, and Julian ask if Sonny has seen Brad lately. He’s in completely over his head, raising Wiley alone, and Julian doesn’t want people to see him fall apart. He might be nervous, but Julian thinks Brad will be fine. He was just helping. Sonny says maybe Julian was helping himself. Lucas wants nothing to do with him, and with Lucas out of the picture, Julian has a chance to swoop in and get close to his son. This actually sounds stupid, since Julian just brought up Sonny offering to let him see Wiley.

Julian says he and Lucas have had their differences, but it doesn’t matter now. All he cares about is his son waking up. Until he does, Julian has to do right by Wiley. Sonny has his family, Carly is busy, and Michael has his girlfriend and work, but Julian has free time to devote to his grandson. Sonny asks how he thinks Lucas will feel if he wakes up and finds out that Julian took advantage of his accident. Julian says Sonny doesn’t speak for his son, but Sonny says he’s speaking for himself. Julian asks how Sonny knows about the conversation anyway. Carly left, and he and Brad stayed there. He’s curious who Sonny’s associate was following; him or Sonny’s wife? Sonny suggests Julian take the same advice he gave Brad; steer clear of his wife, and anything Corinthos related. He leaves.

Michael tells Brad, Wiley has a strong support system. The Quartermaines and Corinthoses; two houses with nurseries and full-time nannies, with room in both. When Brad is working, Michael can put him down at night. Willow asks if Michael will really be able to pull back at ELQ, and Michael says he has someone to step up. He wants to do this, and gives Brad his word that he can carve out the time. Brad says, absolutely not.

Maxie tells Nina to take the personal part out of it. It’s possible to have a business relationship with someone you dislike. Lucy pops back in, and says, Maxie is right. Nina says she thought Lucy left. Lucy says, think classic. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger; Simon and Garfunkel; Abbot and Costello. Maxie says, who? and Nina and Lucy both say, ‘s on first. Nina says it’s better if she doesn’t force a relationship. It’s her prerogative. She made a mistake, and she’s not doing it again. She’s going to focus on moving forward. Sasha walks in, and says what Nina calls moving forward, she calls just plain stupid.

Elizabeth asks where Nikolas has been, and he says, Europe mostly. He was rescued by a yacht crew sailing past the island. He pursued some leads, and started to reclaim what’s his. Last night, he was able to do it. Nina walked out on Valentin; the wedding didn’t happen. Elizabeth says Nina gave her the impression that she was going to stick by Valentin no matter what. He says, apparently, she reached a breaking point, but there was still a wedding – his.

Jordan says she thought she and Jason had come to a place where they understood each other. Maybe he’s reconsidered in the light of Sam’s conviction, but it was a Federal prosecution, and removed from her jurisdiction. Jason says when  they’re done with the truck, Sonny will have a towing company haul it away. She’s sure the taxpayers will be happy, and says, there’s one more thing. The truck was abandoned in a no parking zone. She hands him a ticket, as Curtis walks in. Curtis asks if everything is okay, and Jordan says, Jason was just leaving. When Jason is gone, Curtis asks what that was about. She says, it was about her wasting her breath. Jason could give a master class in stonewalling. He’s every defense attorney’s dream come true. He’s never nervous, and never discloses anything. And he’s had plenty of practice since he’s been arrested so many times. She says, now that she’s vented, why is he there? He asks if it’s not a good time, but she says, it’s fine. He says he did a follow-up on her friend Bob’s death. He knows how busy she is, and he has a connection in DC. He wanted to learn a little more, and get her closure. Jordan knows he meant well, but hopes he didn’t intrude on the family’s grief. He says he was careful not to, and she asks what he found. Cancer? A heart attack? He says, no. A drug overdose.

Elizabeth says, Ava? and Nikolas says he sees her Ava, and raises her a Franco. She says, Franco has completely changed. She can’t say the same for Ava. He says he can’t either, but each of them brings something the other can’t live without. Elizabeth is pretty sure it’s not love. How did he get with Ava? He says, that’s the hard part. He’s been in Port Charles since September. She says, four months, and he never thought to contact anyone who loves him?

Sasha says she admires Nina’s business savvy; her creativity, and ability to think outside the box and take risks. She saw how stubborn Nina can be; determined and pragmatic to a fault. Nina says she’s wasting her time, but Sasha says she’s not finished. The partnership has nothing to do with their history; it’s what’s best for their businesses. Deception’s target audience is the youth and wellness market, a major opportunity that Crimson can be a part of. If Nina is the savvy businesswomen Sasha thinks she is, she’ll jump at it. If she doesn’t, she can watch from the sidelines while they become a major success without her.

Brad says he can’t let Michael compromise being CEO of ELQ to babysit. Michael says he’s choosing to give up his time to help Lucas. Brad says Lucas wouldn’t want him to do it. He’s proud of Michael, and admires his position on the ELQ and hospital boards. Michael says, Lucas would want Wiley to have all the support he needs. No one can do it all, and Brad shouldn’t try to be a superhero. Take the help. Brad says he didn’t think about it until now, but he knows the perfect person take care of Wiley. Wiley already knows them, and there should be no problem with them stepping in. Willow always said she’d do anything to help. Now he’s asking for help with his son. Julian stands behind Brad, listening.

Jordan says, an OD? Did she hear wrong? Curtis knows it’s a shock, but Bob died from an OD. She asks if something went wrong. He got the wrong prescription, or a bad interaction with medications? Curtis says, it was opioids; a straight-up OD. She says, Bob wasn’t even much of a drinker. She never saw him have more than a beer, and never saw him using. Curtis knows it’s hard to hear, but as someone who has more experience than most, he can tell her, once you become an addict, you become an expert in hiding it.

Sonny asks Jason, what’s the damage? Jason says they lost a truck and a shipment of beans. Diane is handling the driver’s severance pay, and his relocation to Tennessee. Sonny asks if the driver was injured, and Jason says, just shook up. He followed company policy, and took off. Sonny says to tell Diane to be generous with the severance pay. He asks if the truck was impounded, and Jason says, what’s left of it. They also got a parking ticket, since it was left in a no parking zone. Sonny laughs, and says, make sure it gets paid. He wants the Commissioner to see they’re good citizens. Jason wonders who would target a coffee truck, and Sonny says, someone who  has no idea how he does business.

Sonny says, maybe someone thinks they’re using the coffee warehouse as a front. They didn’t do their research. Jason suggests maybe they tried to send a message. Port Charles is a valuable asset. It’s close to the border, and near international waters. Sonny limits what moves, and some people want him to share. Sonny says, sharing is overrated.

Curtis tells Jordan, the cause of death was an OD; it was on the police report. She says forensics would look at the chain of evidence, tracing where it came from, and who sold it. He says he called his friend on the force in DC and got a copy of the report. There’s not a lot there. On the outside, it looks squeaky clean, all legit. Everyone who knew him had the same reaction that she did; he wasn’t that type of guy, and basic disbelief. Jordan asks if she can talk to his friend, but he says the friend has already stuck his neck out. He doesn’t want to put them on the spot, or lose them as a contact. She appreciates that, and says, it’s such a shock. Curtis asks if there’s anything else he can do, and she says, maybe later. He says, sure, and leaves, but Jordan is obviously distressed.

Lucy thanks Nina again for her time. Maxie looks at package Lucy brought, and says, it’s generic. Lucy needs to underline the brand, to prepare for when she’s ready to reveal what they are. Her proposal is too conservative. Crimson needs at least 15%; Maxie will adjust it accordingly. Lucy is going to have to step up her opening foray if she wants involvement increased. Nina tells Lucy, leave her proposal, and she’ll consider it.

Brad says, it’s a perfect solution. He and Willow both work at the hospital, and she’s great with Wiley. Michael says she has a full schedule at the hospital, and doesn’t have the luxury of delegating. Butting into the conversation, Julian agrees it’s unfair, and Brad shouldn’t put Willow in an awkward position. He knows Brad is under stress. Brad says, don’t remind him. Willow agreed that she wanted to help Wiley. Willow says maybe she could adjust her schedule, but Julian thinks it’s asking too much. End of discussion. Oh, okay. Everyone will listen to the guy who just arrived to the party, who no one wanted there in the first place. Brad says Lucas wanted Willow to be a part of Wiley’s life, and he thought Willow wanted to spend more time with Wiley. Michael says they have plenty of options, and not to put Willow in an uncomfortable position. Brad says, who better to give Wiley the care he needs until they get Lucas back, which he prays is soon. Willow says, of course (🍷). How could she say no? Ugh. Julian needs to ditch that turtleneck look he’s been sporting lately.

Elizabeth asks if Nikolas wasn’t tempted to tell anyone he was alive. Nikolas says he can’t begin to tell her how hard it was. His mom came by Jax’s place while he was there. Everything inside him wanted to embrace her, but he couldn’t. He had to bide his time, and put his plan in place, or it would have undone everything. Elizabeth gets it intellectually, but emotionally, he has so many people who love him who were devastated. Hayden has a little girl, Violet; she’s the cutest. Hayden left Violet in Port Charles while she’s away, but wait until she finds out he’s back. Valentin is no longer a threat, so Hayden can come back be and be with her. He promises to do all he can to bring Hayden home. Elizabeth says, if anyone can do it, he can. She doesn’t know whether to slap or hug him, and he says he’ll take the hug. He’s already had smacks. They hug.

Maxie tells Lucy and Sasha they’ll be in touch. She’ll go over the proposal in depth. Lucy says, fingers crossed, even though she doesn’t need it. She has a kick-ass partner who was spectacular. And she can’t believe Maxie was so convincing without making her boss look bad. She hopes Nina knows what she has in Maxie. Come to think of it, if Maxie ever wants to talk about some work, here’s her number. Lucy gives Maxie her card, and Maxie says she already has it. Lucy says that’s Lucy as a realtor; this is Lucy as a potential partner. Think about it. They leave, and Maxie looks at the card. I think Deception should launch their own magazine.

Nina looks at the mock-up cover. She opens a jewelry box containing the half-heart pendant, and takes it out.

Brad thanks Willow, and says he’s so grateful. Julian grabs Brad’s arm, says, excuse them, and steers Brad away. He asks if Brad has lost his damn mind. Sonny already knows something’s up.

Michael asks if Willow is sure she’s okay with this. Brad isn’t sensitive on a good day. She knows it’s challenging, and will have to protect her heart, but Brad is in a jam and she can help out. Michael says, so can he, but she says, for whatever reason, Brad isn’t comfortable with him. He’s intimidated by Michael. Michael is the kind of person everyone loves, and Brad probably feels Michael will overshadow him. He says, Wiley is more important than Brad’s ego, and she says she’ll do her best not to intimidate anyone. He’s not sure about that. He thinks Wiley likes her more than him, and he’s jealous. She says she can’t help it if Wiley has great taste. Dreams come true. She’s going to spend time with Wiley, and savor every moment. And when it’s over, she won’t look back.

Brad tells Julian, if he had walked in five minutes later, Michael would have been taking care of Wiley, and when he was busy running ELQ, the Quartermaines and Sonny would come around. Julian is second guessing him, and he knows what he’s doing. Julian says, he’s right, and Julian is going to see that he gets all the help he needs.

Jordan looks at her computer, and makes a call. She says she needs them to do her a favor. Drop whatever they’re doing, and get to Port Charles as soon as possible.

Jason says, if they get an overture, how does Sonny want to respond? Sonny says, same deal. They can move through Port Charles; no drugs, no guns, and they have to pay double for torching his coffee truck. It was rude. (I literally LOL.) Jason says, what if there’s no offer? Doesn’t Sonny want to figure out who it is? Sonny says if so, they made a mistake, and he’ll make them regret it.

On Monday, Brook has a big announcement, Tracy asks Michael what’s more important than ELQ, Spinelli asks if Maxie is leaving Crimson, and Franco says he owes Jason his life.

🍑 Meanwhile, In Hotlanta…

There’s always someone who almost spoils the surprise.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/12/cynthia-bailey-slams-kenya-moore-after-she-nearly-ruin-proposal/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🌎 Only If You’re Worse At Geography Than I Am…

I’m wondering how anyone would confuse being on RHOA with a big Hollywood dream.

https://radaronline.com/photos/nene-leakes-son-baby-mama-slams-buying-house-wants-rhoa-bryson-bryant/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🔫 The New Hatfields & McCoys…

More on them feudin’ Wives.

https://starmagazine.com/photos/real-housewives-top-feuds-2019-new-york-beverly-hills/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🚗 It’s Not a Drive Thru…

Someone really wanted their food to go.

https://radaronline.com/photos/ferrari-crashes-lisa-vanderpump-restaurant-west-hollywood-cops-no-arrests-injuries/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🚤 Someone Is Thirsty…

A bit of a rehash with vacation photos added.

https://radaronline.com/photos/vicki-gunvalson-and-fiance-end-cruise-amid-rhoc-axe-rumors/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🚫 She Said Of New Jersey…

I saw the Watch What Happens Live when Danielle quit, but she chose her words carefully. She was very specific saying she’d never be on The Real Housewives of New Jersey again. My guess is, she’s moving.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2020/01/danielle-staub-quits-real-housewives-of-new-jersey/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🙎 I Don’t Usually Get Personal, But…

While I throw in an opinion here and there, it’s rare for me to write something based solely on my view of a show, but I feel strongly about this one.

I’m not sure what it is. Whether it’s because the Housewives are thirsty for screen time, or they’re just getting meaner, but I was disturbed by Wednesday night’s Real Housewives of Dallas Reunion: Part Two. My being troubled by the Real Housewives in general is nothing new. Beverly Hills certainly left a bad taste in my mouth last season, and the screeching in the OC is working my last nerve. Regardless of the branch of the franchise, what bothers me most is when several, or all, of the Wives gang up against one. Wednesday night’s Reunion, bothered me so much, I had a nightmare that I’m sure it was the source of.

I rarely have nightmares, and when I do, they’re not the conventional kind. This isn’t to say I don’t dream about zombies taking over, or other dangerous situations, but those are more like full-color action films, with Marc Singer often fighting alongside me. My real nightmares are more Dean Koontz than Stephen King, and involve genuine fears, and I usually wake up crying. This time, I roamed a large place that was a mix of a hospital and library. I was in emotional anguish, and no one would even look in my direction. I walked through crowds of people, and tried talking to some, but they were dismissive. On a humorous note, Perry Shen (Brad, General Hospital) and Jane Lynch were there. I often cast random actors in my dreams. Anyway, I woke up crying, and I knew Dallas was at the root of it.

In what could have ended with a teachable moment,  the whole show was nothing but an attack on LeeAnne from start to finish. Including her wedding vows. WTF? In talking about being human, Kameron was the only one who acted like a human. I don’t think any of them, including Kary, cared nearly as much about the racism issue, as they did about pummeling LeeAnne and feeling self-righteous. Racism is a huge hot button issue, and there is no one, except a racist, who would feel it was okay. They had no concern that most of the world wouldn’t have their back in rising up against LeeAnne. It was a safe bet, and kept reminding me of what Bernadette (Terrence Stamp) said in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: You know, my girlfriend used to be a boyfriend. It’s always good for a supper invite. It was less about the issue than it was about them using it for something, with the exception of Kameron. It was like teaching a kid not to hit by hitting them. Although I don’t think they were interested in teaching anybody anything. It was an opportunity to be mean, and they used the issue. It didn’t even begin there.

From the beginning, they were gunning for LeeAnne, as well as putting a halo on Kary. They harped on LeeAnne’s wedding – everything from the food, which looked adequate to me, to the vows she had written herself at the last minute. Even her waiting so long to write them was suspect. Rich must be a saint, not because he puts up with LeeAnne, but he also puts up with this sh*t. Yes, the woman has some deep-seated problems, which will probably take a lifetime to overcome, but this was an important day – her first marriage, at age 50, no less – why drag it all over the place? It just went on and on and on. And to her credit, LeeAnne took it. Ever the diplomat, Kameron pointed out that it was LeeAnne’s day, so wtf? LeeAnne was right in saying, that no matter what she said, it was never going to be good enough for Kary. This is a bunch of mean girls, except for Kameron, who gets called out for being more concerned with what’s right, rather than who’s right. As much as we’d like them to be, things aren’t always black and white, and there’s the human factor.

I have a desire to take care of tiny things, protect the underdog, and things that are alone or small in the world. LeeAnne looked that way Wednesday night. She’s done stupid things from the jump, and lashed out because she hurts, but they finally found something they could grab onto that was acceptable and other people would care about. Except there is a difference between evil and stupid. Between sincerely hating a race, and saying dumb sh*t. Instead of helping LeeAnne be a better person, Brandi threw down a folding chair, where she thought LeeAnne should sit facing her jury. After that, the women became the bullies. A questionable video of Brandi’s surfaced recently, which is also insensitive, but not racist, yet she thinks LeeAnne is alone in being stupid.

There’s proof positive it doesn’t have to be like this. Three of my favorites in the Bravoverse are Below Deck, Southern Charm, and Shahs of Sunset. Oh, they fight, and they can land low blows, and do the occasional hair pulling, but there’s a difference. Somehow, they’re more like family. When Golnessa lashes out, we know it’s because she’s in pain, and so does her crew. While they might even freeze her out for a moment, at the end of the day, they’re there to support and love her. There might often be an undercurrent of snark on Deck, and Kate does get away with more than the others, but she’s put in her time. Captain Lee is like a really good parent, who knows how to use discipline, but fiercely protects and loves his children. He’s also indulgent with his favorite daughter. Shep is an elitist a-hole much of the time, yet if there was an emergency, he’d be the first one there. To watch Kathryn grow from a rebellious child to a responsible mother has been nothing less than amazing, and to have Patricia admit she was wrong about Kathryn – albeit because she listened to Thomas – was a true miracle. Maybe a Wife would throw a bag of old Vuittons in your direction, but they’ll tell everyone about how self-centered you were, yapping on about your house burning down, or your horrifying childhood.

With the first episode of the OC, I said it was the future of television. There had been reality TV before, starting with An American Family, a series filmed for PBS. It was rerun one year in the 90s, and I caught it. It was fascinating. Just cameras following a family. And The Real World started off strong. Giving us people with real jobs and interests, and Pedro Zamora who eventually passed away from AIDS. Somewhere along the line, it degenerated into mostly a lot of drunken hot tub sex, and I drifted away. I’m not a prude by any stretch of the imagination, but it wasn’t what I signed up for. My guess is that alcohol played a big part. As is my guess about a lot the Wives problems. Just the other day, my husband was just walking past when one of them (ha-ha – I can’t remember which one) was on, and he said, they drink too much. And he doesn’t even pay attention. He could probably pick NeNe or Teresa out of a line-up – LVP for sure – but he doesn’t watch them. Alcohol isn’t the only problem, but it exacerbates whatever else is going on. But the Wives were different, and paved the way for all the others. Until Andy Cohen became King of the World. Or at least reality TV.

There are kinder, gentler shows on other networks, TLC being a mainstay. Born This Way was one of the sweetest shows I’ve ever seen, watching young people with Downs Syndrome begin to navigate the world on their own. More recently, Welcome to Plathville introduced us to the Plath family, who live off the grid, but some of the kids were looking to branch out. In a variety of series about the Amish, Mary Schmucker became my favorite reality star of all time. A woman we would all love to be our grandma, baking cookies and dispensing wisdom, but also down for kicking back and doing shots at an NYC bar. That’s my kind of Amish.

It was enjoyable to watch the Wives at first. There was some table-flipping and leg-tossing, but it seemed like all harmless fun. Sometimes it still is, but more and more, it’s screeching and finger-pointing, and not owning up to their own sh*t before casting stones. Mob mentality has taken over. This isn’t to say there aren’t exceptions, like Kameron and Camille, but they’re accused of being wishy-washy because, even if they didn’t like a behavior, they still cared about the person. NYC as a whole seems to be fair, except for Ramona, who’s only out for herself, but I could be biased. Back to LeeAnne.

What she said was wrong, but it really wasn’t any worse than things she’d said in previous seasons. The others just finally found something they could publicly call her out on, and knew they’d be backed by the world. I doubt they cared much about racism before LeeAnne called Kary a chirpy Mexican (I’d actually thought chirpy was a really odd choice of word, and figured she wasn’t thinking). And Kary laughed about it with the others at the time. Again, Kameron came out ahead here. Not on that particular issue, but she made it her business to research what LeeAnne had said about sex workers in Thailand. In other words, she cared about those things called facts.

Fact: LeeAnne definitely made excuses for not reaching out to Kary, some of which were lies, or at best finagling of the truth. Like when she said they weren’t supposed to talk to each other before the Reunion. That was true, but there were several months prior to that when they could have talked. I do think she was telling the truth when she said things like that were hard for her, especially since she believed she’d be met with hatred. Also possibly true. Kary was receptive to zero of what LeeAnne had to say, no matter what the topic was.

Fact: LeeAnne said she latched on to a word Kary herself had been using a lot, and had she used a different word repeatedly, LeeAnne would have used that. I believe this is true. Even I was getting tired of Kary saying it. I was like, all right already, I get it. You’re from Mexico and it’s cool. We all have things we’re proud of, and probably talk too much about. LeeAnne made a piss poor choice, but I don’t think it was with a racist attitude. It was with an I’m-sick-of-Kary attitude. Whether LeeAnne thought it would air or not, who knows? But it’s hard to believe anyone would think that, considering what has been aired in other seasons, and how easily information gets out today. I also find it difficult to believe the others would have been intimidated by this thought.

Fact: LeeAnne was truly sorry. We’ve yet to see if she backs up her words with actions – i.e. stops saying stupid sh*t when she’s angry – but she was sorry. That these women continued to berate her while she sat there crying and taking it, was depressing. If the goal is to change the world, and bring light to the darkness, how does drumming someone into the ground accomplish that goal? Someone who is suicidal, no less. It’s hard for someone to change their ways when you keep kicking them.

Unfortunately, this seems to be the way of the world now. It’s less about teaching what’s right than being right.

🌋 Quotes of the Week

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

Life is an awful, ugly place to not have a best friend. – Sarah Dessen

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough. – Oprah Winfrey

I have the attention span of a meerkat. – guy on Blind Date

How do you fold an egg? It’s impossible. It’s witchcraft. – Carrie Heffernan (Leah Remini), King of Queens

Mantras are a powerful tool that can help us be aware of our own power, goals, strengths, and resilience. – Dr. Jennifer Newman (I am rich. I am rich…)

When things break, it’s not the actual breaking that prevents them from getting back together again. It’s because a little piece gets lost. – John Green (I’m sure he was referring to people as well.)

Valor is a gift. Those having it never know for sure whether they have it till the test comes. – Carl Sandburg

Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands. – Anne Frank

I take craps bigger than him. – Jerry (Scott Bakula), Two and a Half Men

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. – Helen Keller

🎉 A Happy 13th Birthday…

To dogs I still call the babies.

Juliet'sBabies4 (2)

👐 Wait No More…

Your weekend is here. See you at the hospital or on deck.

Jan4

January 3, 2020 – A Reveal Before the Vows, the New Q Manse, Stanbury Split, Change Brews In the OC, The Countess Moves On, a Reminder & Wrong Year

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Nina tells Jax, she’s sorry, but she has no time to talk. He tells her, just listen. Whatever she’s planning, don’t. The only option that will leave any of them standing is for her to walk away – now.

In bed with Chase, Willow says she can’t believe he got a hotel room. They have a perfectly good bed. He asks if it’s a complaint, and says they can go, but she pulls him back, and says, don’t you dare. She likes the hotel and the bed, and loves the guy in the bed. Chase says that guy loves her too.

Sam tells Jason that this is the last time she can see him, and he asks, what happened? She says the only way she can stay free, is if she stays away from him.

Ned and Brook sit with Diane at the MetroCourt. Brook says she knows Diane is a master. If anyone can find a way out of her contract, it’s Diane. Diane asks if Brook consulted an attorney before signing it, and Brook says, no. Diane says she should have.

Michael asks if he’s told Sasha how good she looks. She says when she got there, and when they took their first drink, and he says, it’s not enough. He tells her to hit him with her New Year’s resolution, and she says she’s so excited to start over. She’ll be leaving Nina and Charlotte behind, but she’s grateful to have him. He says she’s stuck with him, and she says, promise? They kiss.

Maxie tells Obrecht that she looks beautiful; Maxie loves her dress. Obrecht thanks her, and drains her glass. Maxie asks if everything is okay, and Obrecht says she’s anticipating the festivities, whatever they may be. Peter says he thinks it’s called a wedding. Obrecht tells them that despite her sordid history with Valentin, he makes her niece happy. She hopes Nina chooses happy, and Maxie asks if that isn’t why they’re there. Obrecht says, from her lips, and moves on. Peter asks, is it him, or is Obrecht stranger than usual? Maxie says she’s not and never will be a Valentin fan, but obviously, Nina loves him. If a liar like Valentin can turn things around, maybe there’s hope for the rest of them.

Up on the tower balcony, Valentin tells Ava that he doesn’t change plans. He acts with precision, and she gave him an opportunity he can’t pass up. She asks, what opportunity? and he says she’s been drinking heavily, she’s in a fragile emotional state, and it’s icy up there. He pushes her over the parapet, and Charlotte appears. She asks what he’s doing out there. I am so angry about the turn this took. Why must Valentin continue to be a jerk?

Valentin asks Charlotte what she’s doing out there, and from behind her, Lulu says they came to look at the moon. Valentin says, it’s cold. Why don’t they look from the conservatory inside? Lulu says, that’s not a bad idea, and Valentin says he has a job for Charlotte. He tells Lulu that he’s glad she came, and asks Charlotte to check on the bride. He’ll see Lulu downstairs. Charlotte tries to look over the edge, but Valentin pulls her along.

Laura tells Doc, she tried to convince Charlotte that her bodyguard wasn’t real, but Charlotte insisted she saw him, and he was wearing the Cassadine crest ring. She compared it to her father’s tattoo, and described it perfectly. Doc asks if she’s certain it was a ring, and if there’s any chance Charlotte had seen it before. Laura says she’s never seen Valentin near one, and Nikolas was dead long before Charlotte came to town. None of it makes sense.

Sam tells Jason, it’s all her fault. If only she hadn’t gone undercover to take Shiloh down. Look what it’s done to them. Jason says, back it up for a second, and asks the officer’s name. Sam gives him Delores’s card, and he asks if she came in hostile at all. Sam says Delores was definitely expecting her to make a mistake. Jason says Sam didn’t do that. She just showed Delores the house. Sam says, yeah, but Delores got fixated on the stockings. She asked about Danny, and knew Jason was his father. Then she asked if Jason was living there. Jason says, first, Sam needs to understand it’s not her fault. Nothing could have been done to stop it. The officer saw his file, and knew he was Danny’s father. She came to the house gunning for him, not her. Sam asks if there’s any way to fight it.

Willow tells Chase, it’s been an amazing year, and Chase says, except for going to jail. She says, apart from that, she met him, they fell in love, and moved in together. He says, it’s been a pretty good year, and Willow says, she has the feeling 2020 will be even better. Chase thinks they both have that feeling, and they kiss.

Diane tells Brook, the contract is tightly written, and gives little wiggle room. Brook asks if it isn’t Diane’s job; she’s gotten Sonny out of worse. Diane says, not really. All of her clients are well-advised not to sign anything unless it’s been reviewed by her or another competent attorney, which Brook neglected to do. Her manager has exclusive rights to everything, until she provides her obligation. Ned asks if they have any options, and Diane says, if it was anyone else, she’d say there are none, but since they’re Quartermaines, the only straightforward solution would be to buy him out. Her phone dings, and she says she has to run, telling them, happy New Year. Brook says they’re in the middle of something, but Diane says she got a call to consult with a client who has her on retainer. As she leaves, Brook says, it was a text; not a call.

Sasha tells Michael that she keeps telling herself that Lucy is a good businesswoman, and she made the right choice. Is she boring him? He says, no; he’s interested. She says, if he’s so interested, why has he been looking over there the whole time? He apologizes, saying he’s close to his cousin Ned, who’s hands down the most Quartermaine of all of them; whatever good and bad that entails. Ned was distracted before, when he was mayor, but now that Ned’s daughter is back, Michael has the feeling they’re gearing up for some Quartermaine infighting. Sasha asks if that’s a thing, and he says, it is in their family. If he’s right, he could use favor from her. She says, anything, and he says he needs help keeping his perspective. He needs to appreciate the good things around him, and once in a while, she can make him smile. She kisses him, and says, like that? He says, yeah; just like that.

Jax tells Nina that she has two options; marry Valentin or destroy him, and neither is worth it. She says he doesn’t know that, but he says he does. Valentin is dangerous. He’s lied so many times already, does she want to marry into a dysfunctional situation because Valentin is a good father, and there have been a few moments he made her feel good? To be honest, plan B, her big revenge, is probably worse. Charlotte will get caught in the middle. Nina says she thinks about that constantly, and Jax says she should. Charlotte is on cloud nine about Nina marrying her father. If she takes Valentin down, she’ll take Charlotte too, and she doesn’t want to do that. She says, no, she doesn’t.

😠 There was a brief interruption here for remarks about the airstrike in Iraq. Sorry, I just didn’t have time to backtrack later, but I didn’t miss much.

Laura tells Lulu that Charlotte could end up resenting her, and Lulu says, true, but it’s hard. Laura gets it. She knows, no matter what else Valentin has done, he’s the father of someone they love. She’s not saying they should turn a blind eye to it, but Lulu needs to let go of some of the rage, at least around Charlotte. Not long ago, Charlotte blurted out that she knew they hated each other. Lulu says she hasn’t done a good job of hiding it, and Laura tells her to do better, for Charlotte’s sake. Inch toward the middle. She’d like to think, if Nikolas lived, it’s what he would want them do. I laugh, knowing how wrong that is.

Charlotte asks what Jax is doing in Nina’s room, and he says he came to talk to his friend. It’s an exciting night for her, so he’ll leave them to it. Nina tells Charlotte how beautiful she looks, but Charlotte says there’s no one prettier than Nina. She’s excited for Nina to be her forever stepmother. They hug, and Charlotte says she needs Nina. Papa needs her. It will be his happily ever after once Nina marries him.

Jason says he’s never been convicted, but Diane says, one nolo contendere is all that’s needed. He knew when he took the plea bargain, that it was going to follow him, and someone might use it as ammunition. He says, they let him out, and Diane says, because the police needed his help to apprehend Franco. In the eyes of the law, he’s a felon, and the officer is within her rights to make it a condition of Sam’s parole. Sam says, it’s fine. It’s nothing they haven’t dealt with before. They’ll deal with it again.

Martin tells Valentin, it’s almost midnight. Is he ready? Valentin says he never thought he’d be getting married in a room of his enemies. Martin says, it’s a humdinger, and Valentin says, if anyone had made the guest list other than Nina, he’d be worried. Charlotte runs in, and Jax isn’t far behind. They both sit.

Brook asks if Ned heard what Diane said about the option they have. Ned asks if she wants him to pay the guy off, and she says, yes. He says, no, and she asks, why not? He says she had a manager; her mother. It was her choice to leave, and go out on her own, signing with a supposed brilliant producer. Brook says he hit on her. After she signed. She realized it was less about her being a recording artist than arm candy. Ned asks if the producer forced himself on her, and she says, no, but he made it clear there were terms not specified in the contract that he wanted met. Ned calls him a pig, and Brook says, now he understands why she needs him to give the producer the money. He says, sorry. His answer is still no.

Sasha asks Willow what it’s like having someone head over heels in love with her. Chase is obsessed with her, in the most sincere way. She has the feeling when the time it right, they’re going to make the best parents.

Chase says Michael and Sasha seem good. Michael says it’s crazy, after all that happened, and Chase says he’s relieved that he didn’t have to testify in the fraud thing. Michael must be glad it’s over. Michael says, the lies are done, and Sasha has the Deception thing going on. The sky’s the limit for Sasha, and it’s all he wants for her.

No Nina yet. Martin looks at his watch. Everyone waits. Nina stands outside the door for a moment, and walks in. She and Valentin smile at each other.

Diane says she’s speaking not only as an attorney, but someone who has a vested interest in Sam and Jason’s happiness, and that of their children. In all these years, it hasn’t sat well with her that Sonny’s children have paid in a million different ways for the choices he made. If they’re going to do this, sneak around, and try to circumvent the stipulations of parole, Sam could be locked away for the full two years, possibly more. She has to ask if that’s a risk they’re willing to take.

Michael, Sasha, Willow, and Chase clink glasses at the MetroCourt, saying, happy New Year. Michael says, it really is, and kisses Sasha. Chase says, get a room, and Sasha says, like they did? Michael says Chase is making him look bad. Sasha asks what he and Chase were talking about, and Michael says, lies. He’s happy the drama is behind them. They clink glasses again, and Sasha says she has enjoyed so much of her time there though. She obviously fell in love with Nina as a maternal figure; she’s an amazing mom to Charlotte. But the whole time, she kept thinking, it’s not real; she can’t trust it. Willow says she gets it. Giving up Wiley was hard, but the second hardest thing was the lying and covering up, especially with Michael. When they would meet at the grief group, and she wasn’t telling him the truth, she hated every minute. They all turn to Chase, and he says, don’t look at him. He’s a cop; honesty is always the best policy. Michael says neither one of them would last in his families. The Corinthoses lie about facts, and the Quartermaines lie about everything, but the love is real.

Ned tells Brook and Olivia, happy New Year to the two most important women in his life. Brook says the countdown isn’t going to make her forget. She asks if he doesn’t believe that the guy was inappropriate with her, but he says he does. She can’t work with him again, but he doesn’t think throwing money at him is the solution. Now, he has the leverage, and can set the price, if he knows she’s desperate to get out. If she’d just read the fine print. Brook says it sounds like he thinks she asked for it, and Ned says, of course (🍷) he doesn’t think she wanted sexual harassment by a loser. She says, why not then? and he says if thought she was in danger, they’d figure something out. What happened was inexcusable, but she can stay there and regroup. Brook asks why she should give up her dream, but Ned says, the contract will eventually expire. Brook says, years from now, when she’s dead, or worse, married. Ned says the uncomfortable truth is, they’re Quartermaines, and there’s a world full of people who want to take advantage of them. If they give in just once, everyone knows they can be taken advantage of. Brook asks if he can’t just do it one time, but he says, that’s not how it works. Sorry. She leaves, and Olivia looks at Ned.

The Wedding March plays, as Nina walks down the aisle, which doesn’t take long since they’re in the living room.

Diane says she doesn’t want to know how good Sam and Jason are at avoiding surveillance. They only need to be caught one time. The parole officer is gunning for Sam, probably to get at Jason. The best option is to get Spinelli involved. Have him do a deep dive on the parole officer, and see if he can come up with something, like a conflict of interest. Get Sam assigned to someone new. It has to be done behind-the-scenes, or the officer could get more combative, or make a worse report. Sam says, so Diane is telling them the officer has total control. Diane says, for the moment, and Jason says, the best way to beat her, is to make her think she’s winning.

Ned asks Olivia what she thinks, and Olivia says, it was an amazing speech, but not one word landed. Ned asks, why? and she says, because Brook may have a tough exterior like Lois, but the Quartermaine who Brook is most like is Ned’s mother.

Martin officiates, but Valentin tells him, before the official stuff, he’d like to say a few words. He tells Nina, in this world, two things changed his life forever. First, his beautiful daughter, and then there’s her. He wasn’t certain she and Charlotte would ever meet; he thought they’d be separate parts of his life always. But then Charlotte came to live with him, and the most remarkable thing happened. He met the side of Nina that loved his daughter. She introduced him to a new level of happiness. She’s a wonderful mother, and he can’t imagine sharing his daughter with anyone else; like he can’t imagine sharing his life with anyone else. She’s it. She’s the one.

Ned says, it’s amazing how clearly Olivia sees his family. Does she want out? Olivia asks if he thinks his family drama is going to scare her away. He hugs her, and says she’s still getting her feet wet when it comes to the Quartermaines, but Olivia says she thinks she’s waist deep. Ned says they have a lot of flaws, but the one virtue in the midst of the chaos and backstabbing, is that they can take a moment to enjoy themselves, and see the big picture. He’s glad Brook is back in his life, and he can spend time with her. And he has Olivia, her love and acceptance, and her kicking him in the ass when he needs it. Olivia tells him, don’t ever forget it, and they kiss.

Jason asks how Diane got there, and Diane says, an Uber. Jason tells her, they’ll openly leave together. Sam says, it’s the last time, and Diane agrees. She says they can’t come face to face unless accompanied by their attorneys. Sam says, it’s not fair. This is how they’re supposed to bring in the New Year? He’s Danny’s father. Jason says, if there’s a fix, Diane will find it. He hates it, but they can deal with it. What they can’t deal with, is the kids missing her. He’d go prison for her, but they can’t risk her going back. They’re parents, and what’s right for Scout and Danny is to be with her, which means… He kisses her, and tells her that he loves her so much. She says she loves him too, and they hug. He leaves with Diane, gesturing to Sam with his index finger and pinky on his way out the door, which I assume means he loves her, and not that he loves heavy metal. Sam cries. In the hallway, Diane asks if Jason is okay, but he says, no.

Nina guesses she’ll say something too. Valentin has made her happier than anyone else in her life. She didn’t know what love was until she fell into it with him. What they learn when they’re kids, they think love is a fairytale. A happily ever after, permanent state of bliss, but that’s not love. Love has its ups and downs; beautiful transcendent moments alongside heart wrenching ones. But the happiness is worth the pain. On thing she’s learned, and knows for sure, happiness with him is so sweet. So no more secrets between them, right? He says, no, and I feel sick. Martin says, on that note, and reads the vows.

Just as Nina is about to say, I do, the door is kicked open. Nikolas stands there with Ava in his arms. Everyone is shocked, including me. I have to admit, that was good.

On Monday, Cameron says Trina should have stayed out of it, Lulu accuses Jax of being behind everything, and Nikolas tells Valentin that he loses everything.

🏰 To The Mansion Reborn…

To be honest, I didn’t even notice until Tracy mentioned it. I just thought it was a different part of the house.

https://www.abc.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital-quartermaine-mansion-remodel-174316?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=8191

👒 A Shame… I Guess…

They seem amicable, but who knows? I’m still waiting on Ladies of London to come back. I loved Caroline.

https://extratv.com/2019/12/26/reality-couple-caroline-stanbury-and-cem-habib-split/?adid=extra_eme_27326_2019-12-28_rightnow1

🍊 But I Like Braunwyn…

At least she makes it so one of these things is not like the others.

https://radaronline.com/photos/in-the-doghouse-kelly-dodd-walks-pups-amid-talk-rhoc-stars-could-be-axed/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

Oddly enough, in this article, she sounds like the only one not on her way out.

https://radaronline.com/photos/rhoc-bravo-may-fire-entire-cast-vicki-gunvalson-tamra-judge-kelly-dodd/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🍹 Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That…

Hey, as long as they’re not nasty or sloppy, if someone wants to drink to excess, that’s their business. Although LuAnn seems to be both. Just sayin’. I was surprised when she got brought back to court after outing herself about those two mimosas. I’ll bet she was surprised too.

https://pagesix.com/2020/01/02/luann-de-lesseps-leaked-drinking-admission-to-people-to-dodge-other-outlets/

https://pagesix.com/2020/01/02/luann-de-lesseps-says-shes-drinking-alcohol-again-after-completing-probation/

❗ Don’t Forget…

The Haves and the Have Nots begins a new season this Tuesday, January 7th. As does Vanderpump Rules. I’ll have to see how I’m going to finagle that, since they’re both on at 9 pm. I’ll be glad to see HAHN again, and just as glad to stop seeing the ad for it on OWN every five minutes.

👂 A Yearworm…

I know it’s way off, but every time I hear 2020, this song pops into my head. Somebody make it stop.

Dec28

December 27, 2019 – Port Charles Celebrates Christmas, Teresa Teams Up, Uncoupling, True Prediction, Tori Wants In, Trying Too Hard, a Loss, Ringing In 14 Quotes & This One Is It

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Curtis plays Santa in Rice Plaza. Jordan tells him the traditional drink is hot cocoa, but he says he could use something stronger. She says she’ll have everything he needs after his shift, and he ho-ho-hos back to work.

Gladys wants to pack up some cookies at Turning Woods, but Sonny says they’re for the residents. She says, Mike is a resident, but he didn’t eat any, and Sonny pays them to keep Mike there. Carly arrives, and Sonny asks how Lucas is. She says, he’s just lying there. He looks like he’s asleep, but it’s not the same. It’s like how Michael was; you can just tell. Michael woke up, so they have to believe Lucas will. It’s Christmas, so it’s the right time. The time when they’re supposed to believe good things happen.

Josslyn tells Dev, if he liked Thanksgiving, he’s going to lose his mind over Christmas. Santa comes down the chimney, and leaves presents for all the good boys and girls. Dev says, Santa was born in Turkey, and has been dropping money down chimney’s since the 1400s. They celebrate Christmas in Turkey, just not like they do in America. She says, the first thing America kids learn is that Christmas isn’t something you can buy. The presents are great, but the true meaning of Christmas is in your heart. It’s about being a little kinder, and having more patience, and if you’re lucky enough to have people in your life who love you, taking the time to let them know you love them back.

Cameron tells Trina that she can stop with the pictures. Trina says he looks handsome. What’s wrong with him? He should be in a good mood. Franco is home. Cameron says, he’d like to be home, but instead he’s there finishing his community service in a Christmas tie. Trina tells him to embrace it and own it, but he just wants to get it done.

Leo sits on Curtis’s lap, and Curtis tells him that he’ll get his crew on it. Right, crew? Cameron hands Curtis a candy cane, and says, right. Curtis tells Leo, don’t ever forget the true spirit of Christmas. It’s better to give than receive. Leo hugs Curtis and says he loves him. Jason asks Scout (who’s made a bit of an age jump) if she’s ready to talk to Santa. He wonders what she’s asking for, and she says it’s a secret she’s only telling Santa.

Nelle tells the guard she should be in the infirmary, but the guard says she’ll be fine, and puts her back in with Sam. She asks if Sam missed her, and sees that Sam got cards from her kids. She bets Sam misses them like crazy. She knows what that’s like.

Tracy asks Monica what possessed her to obliterate years of memories? Monica says they still have them, but Brook says, granny is having difficulty with hers. Maybe Monica could prescribe something. Tracy tells Brook to call her Tracy. She wasn’t advised that Monica was redecorating. When she left, Monica said it was her house too. Monica tells Tracy, she said because Tracy was leaving, and she was in the grips of sentiment. Of course (🍷) the house is all hers. Alan gave it to her. Tracy says that’s because her brother was an idiot, and Brook says, ouch.

Brook and Monica look at the tree. Brook likes it, and Monica agrees. Tracy says, it’s better than the rest of the room, and Brook says, resistance to change is a precursor to dementia. Monica says it’s just Tracy’s personality, and asks if Brook thinks Olivia will be disappointed. Tracy asks why she cares, and Brook says, they have a deal. Monica says Olivia gets all of the other holidays, including Arbor Day. The house was filled with flowers. Tracy says she’s wandering from the subject, and Monica says she gets Christmas. It’s her house; her tree. Olivia decorates the nursery, and it’s a gingerbread fantasy, but the kids love it. She’s sure Olivia would prefer a shiny silver tree, but don’t they think, in the spirit of Christmas… Both Brook and Tracy say, absolutely not. Monica says they agreed on something. It’s a Christmas miracle. Michael and Sasha come in. Michael ho-ho-hos, and stops when he sees Tracy. He says he didn’t know she was coming, and she says she’s questioning the wisdom of her visit.

Scout sits on Santa Curtis’s lap. He says he knows her; Scout. What can he give her for Christmas? She says she wants her mommy to come home.

Nelle asks if Sam heard about her brush with death. Ryan nearly plunged a scalpel in her one remaining kidney. It was just a millimeter away. Sam says, amazing, and Nelle says she could have died. She wonders how Josslyn would feel. She’d have to live with the guilt. She got lucky. Sam wonders how Ryan got a scalpel, and says if he’d wanted Nelle dead, she’d be dead. Nelle says, too bad she didn’t run into Josslyn at GH; she ran into everyone else. Michael was there with Wiley. She guesses he was watching Wiley after the accident. Poor Lucas. He’s not doing so hot. Too bad Sam is in there for killing Shiloh; she could be helping. Nelle is sure Christmas will be melancholy for Sam’s kids. She imagines how Christmas would have been with Michael if their little boy had lived. They’d all be gathered around the Quartermaine Christmas tree. But sadly, Jonah is gone. Her baby is dead, but Sam still has hers, even if can’t see them until who knows when.

Curtis tells Scout that Santa might not be able to bring her mommy home, but he can give her some magic. Cameron gives Curtis a candy cane, and he gives it to Scout. He says he knows it looks like every other candy cane, but this one is magic. Whenever she when licks it, it will remind her of every happy and fun time she had with her mommy. At the same time, her mommy will remember too, and it will make them both feel better until her mommy comes home. Danny suggests they finish up, so they can wrap mommy’s presents. Jason thanks Cameron for assisting, and Cameron says he’s just doing his job. Curtis asks Jason to tell Sam that Santa says hi.

Trina asks Josslyn if Cameron doesn’t look great, and Josslyn says she loves it. It’s very Christmas choir boy. Trina says, it’s part of his community service. Just one more week, and he’s a free man. Dev says they should celebrate; drinks are on him. Trina wants an espresso, and Dev says she’d love Turkish coffee. He knows to get a hot cider for Josslyn. Cameron says he has to get back, and he’ll see them later. Dev goes to get the drinks, and Trina asks if Josslyn is going to make Dev’s Christmas wish come true. Josslyn says she got him a wireless speaker, and Trina asks if she’s blind. Can’t she see Dev is crushing on her?

Carly hopes Sonny doesn’t mind that she invited Brad for Christmas dinner. Whatever his faults, no one can deny he loves Lucas. Sonny says, technically, Brad is on her side of the family, so he’s putting up with Brad for her sake. She guesses so; why? He says that means he can ask her to put up with a guest from his side. Gladys tells Carly, merry Christmas, and Carly asks if she came to visit Mike. Gladys says she did, but Sonny was kind enough to invite her to stay for Christmas.

Michael asks if Brook knew her grandmother was coming to visit, but she says she had no clue. He explains to Sasha that Tracy was living in Amsterdam, and swore she was never coming back. Yet here she is. Brook says, Tracy does nothing without an ulterior motive. Either she screwed up in Amsterdam, and has to lie low, or she’s planning some shenanigans; a double-cross or a takeover. She tells Michael, watch his back.

Tracy tells Monica that she heard they lost Oscar and his father. It’s a lot to handle; she’s sorry. Monica says she takes consolation in that they got to know and love each other. Oscar also left a wonderful legacy to the Kilimanjaro Foundation. Tracy says she heard there was a problem with probate, but Monica says, Ned and Michael are taking care of it. The good news is, the foundation has been funded, and kids are already making their way up the mountain. Ned comes in with Olivia and Leo, and says, merry Christmas, every… Hello, mother. Olivia says, merry Christmas, and Tracy says, this must be Leo. She introduces herself, and Olivia says it’s nice to have her home for the holiday. Ned says, it is indeed. What is she doing there? Tracy says, Amsterdam was too tranquil. She needed a good dose of family. Monica says, lucky them.

Nelle tells Sam, you’d think they’d let her recuperate in the infirmary. She nearly paid with her life to prevent Ryan from escaping. Her lawyer says they’re calling her a hero. What if she gets pardoned, and sent home? She’d get out before Sam, but she’d be happy to help Jason. Sam’s children must be missing her. Scout is too young to know what’s going on, but Danny is old enough. Sam tells Nelle to shut her mouth before she shuts it for her.

Jason thanks Santa’s assistant for watching the kids while he got hot chocolate. He tells them that they’re grandma is going to be there shortly, then they’ll decorate the tree and hang their stockings.  He’s going to need help, since he’s terrible at both. Danny laughs, and says Jason does so many cool things. Why is he so awful at decorating? Jason says he just is, but he’s good at following directions.

Alexis tells Jordan that she doesn’t feel merry, and doesn’t think she can be happy, but she’s hanging on. Jordan is sorry Sam is still in Pentenville. They took the case out of her jurisdiction. Alexis says she’s sorry about all of it. Between Sam’s situation and hers, it’s been quite a year. Jordan says, there are some things to be grateful for, and Alexis says they had an exceptional blessing, but it was at the expense of Lucas, who’s still in a coma.

Josslyn asks if Trina thinks Dev is into her because he knows she likes hot cider. Trina says she asked him, and Josslyn asks what he said. Trina says, something lame and incoherent, like boys do when you call them out on their feelings.

Cameron tells Dev that his family got their Christmas wish; he shouldn’t complain. Dev says his happy family is complete, and Cameron asks about Dev’s home in Turkey, and Dev says Christmas came for him too. Sonny welcomed him into the family, and he became friends with them, but Cameron says, what about back home? Dev says everything he needs is there. He has no complaints. Trina and Josslyn join them, and Josslyn tells Dev that her mom is expecting them. Trina says she’ll stay and be moral support for Santa’s assistant. Josslyn tells them, merry Christmas, and Trina says watch out for the mistletoe. Dev asks what that is, and Josslyn tells him, come on.

Sonny tells Carly that Gladys was keeping his father company, and at the end of the visit, his dad wanted him to ask her to stay over. Gladys says, Sonny was kind enough to make it an official invite. Sonny says he couldn’t say no, and Carly says looks like Gladys is joining them for Christmas. Gladys asks if Carly wants a cookie.

Monica wants to try a new Quartermaine tradition – wassailing. Sasha says she’s read about it. It was a medieval precursor to caroling. Monica says, absolutely right (soon to become my new drinking game phrase, along with absolutely not). Alan always wanted do it. Tracy says, Alan was too sentimental for his own good. Monica says, in spite of the tragedies that have befallen them, they’re all together, some from near and far. It’s the perfect time. She passes out the wassail, saying, Alan would want to wish them good health; that’s what wassail means, and what their family needs. Tracy says, Monica didn’t poison it, did she? and Monica says Tracy’s visit was unexpected. She didn’t have time. Maybe next year. They toast to a merry Christmas. A friend of mine brought wassail over one Christmas Eve. It’s pretty tasty.

Alexis tells Jordan that she has to get going. She and Jason are wrapping presents once the kids are asleep. Jordan says she remembers those days. Alexis goes over to Jason and the kids, and Danny tells her about the magic candy cane. She says they’ll have to put it in a place of honor. Jason says he needs to take off, and asks if Alexis minds taking the kids home. She says, even Sonny takes Christmas off, and he says, everything he’s doing, he’s doing for the kids.

Gladys admires the decorations at Sonny’s house, and Carly asks Sonny if there are any other surprise guests. He says, Michael and Sasha, and Gladys says she’d love an Old Fashioned. Carly says she’s going to check on Donna and Avery. Gladys asks who they are, and Carly says, their children. She goes upstairs, and Gladys says, isn’t it wonderful to have a house full of kids? Sonny says, bourbon or rye? And she says they’re both from the old school. If it’s not rye, it’s not an Old Fashioned. Sonny laughs, but says they’re not both from anything. He pays her for a service. Dev and Josslyn arrive, and Gladys tells Dev, look what Santa brought; his nana. She hugs him.

Jason tells Danny to get started, and he’ll be there in a while. Be good. Danny asks if Jason will be home before his bedtime, and Jason says, definitely, and before Santa gets there.

Nelle tells the guard that Sam attacked her, and could have busted open her stitches. The guard calls Sam to come out. Nelle says, what about her? but he says only Sam. Under her breath, Sam calls Nelle a bitch as she goes past.

Brook asks how Leo’s visit to Santa was, and he says he asked for everything from his list. Brook says Santa might not bring everything he asked for, so he should ask for more than he’ll get. Sasha says negotiating seems to be a Quartermaine family trait. Michael is a master and was kind enough to handle a negotiation for her today. Brook asks if he’s becoming an agent, but he says he was just doing Sasha a favor. Leo suggests Michael negotiate for him, so he can get everything on his list, and Brook says, spoken like a true Quartermaine. Tracy asks Michael how things are going at ELQ.

Curtis continues to ho-ho-ho, and Jordan says, it’s almost over. He says things are winding down. He’s thinking of saying to all a good night. Would she care to take a ride on his sleigh? She says, gladly, but they see another kid waiting. Jordan’s phone rings, and he asks if it’s police business. She says, no, but she has to take it, and steps away.

Trina tells Cameron that she has some cocoa for Santa’s personal assistant, per North Pole etiquette. They clink paper cups.

Dev says if he’d known Gladys was coming, he’d have gotten her a present. He goes upstairs, and Carly says she made up the guest room. Sonny tells Carly that after Christmas, he’ll send Gladys away. Josslyn calls Gladys Mrs. Corbin, and she says to call her Aunt Gladys, since they’re practically family. Josslyn says, they’re not. She knows Gladys is part of the deal to keep Dev in the country. Gladys says, still, she appreciates them sharing their home. Otherwise, she’d be all alone, looking at old photos of her son. She remembers it like yesterday, how excited Brando was, thinking he heard Santa’s sleigh. She tears up, and says she needs some air. She goes out on the terrace, and Sonny tells Josslyn, a word of advice; the less she says to Gladys, the better. Josslyn says she can’t stand the phony acting, but Sonny says they don’t want Gladys to know how much they’re protecting Dev. Carly says, it gives her too much power. Josslyn says she’s sorry; she hates this. Carly says, her too, but it’s temporary. Out on the terrace, Gladys is on the phone. She says she can’t tell them how much she misses them. She said terrible things she regrets. Now, at this time of year, she can’t stop thinking about them, and wishing it was all different. Sonny comes out, and asks who she’s talking to. She says, Brando.

Nelle asks the guard if Sam is in solitary, and he says, not exactly.

Alexis gives Danny and Scout their stockings to hang up. Danny picks up one that says mom, and wonders if they should hang it up. Jason comes in, and Danny asks where he went. Jason says he was working on a Christmas surprise. Sam is behind him, and asks, who wants a merry Christmas? She hugs the kids, and everyone is all happy.

Trina tells Cameron that he does look handsome. Once she posts his picture, every girl in school is going to show up. He says she’s not posting that, and chases her. On the phone, Jordan says she appreciates it, and thanks them for letting her know. Curtis asks if everything is okay, and she says, an old friend just passed. He asks if it’s someone from their Baltimore days, but she says it’s no one he knows. He asks if she’s okay, and she says, just shocked, but she’s not dwelling on it. It’s Christmas, and she’s going to cherish what’s in front of her; starting with Santa. He hugs her.

The guard tells Nelle that Sam made parole. She’s surprised, and he says he is too.

Sam says she’ll have to give Santa a thank you note, and Alexis says, her too. She got her gift. She tells Sam, welcome home. Sam tells her, merry Christmas, and thanks her. They hug, and Alexis says she’s going home and letting Sam be with her family. She loves them – even Jason. She won’t question him about his errands again. Sam asks who’s going to help mom find her stocking, and Danny gives it to her.

Nelle takes a big piece of cardboard out from under her mattress. It says, Nelle’s Aspirations 2020, and is covered with pictures cut from magazines, most of them of little boys.

Brook says she can tell Tracy that ELQ is doing great. She read the shareholder report, and they’re in the black. Michael says it’s nice to make money, and be kind to the environment. Tracy thinks they should care less about the environment, and more about the bottom line. Michael says they’re doing great. Ned thinks they need to table the discussion for today, but Tracy says Brook needs to be more realistic. She’ll never get rich singing, and needs to look to her stock in ELQ. Couldn’t the family company use another junior executive? Michael says his mom and dad are expecting them, and asks them to film the caroling. They jet, and Olivia tells Ned to get his guitar. Ned calls Jason, and asks if he’s coming by to wassail and carol, but Jason says staying there with Sam. He thanks Ned for that, but Ned says, all he did was tell them that Sam was an excellent candidate for parole. He’s glad they agreed. He tells Jason, merry Christmas to you and yours. Hold them close tonight. Tracy says Ned isn’t doing a favor for Jason, is he?

Jason picks up Scout, so she can hang up her stocking. Danny tells Scout, she did it. She told Santa that she wanted mom home, and he did it. He doesn’t want another present. He tells Sam that they have to help Jason decorate the tree, since he’s terrible at it. Sam and Jason kiss.

Carly brings out cookies, and asks if Josslyn is okay. Josslyn say she’s just writing her thoughts, and Carly says maybe she should try that. Dev comes down with some presents, saying, he’s not the best at wrapping, but he tried. He puts them under the tree, and asks how the carolers get past the guards. Carly says they don’t have those, and Dev says, another iconic American myth shot down. Josslyn says, at least Santa will make it.

Gladys tells Sonny, it’s pathetic really. She’s been paying phone bill since Brando died, so she can hear his voice on the message. Sonny probably thinks she’s a sentimental kook, and maybe she is, but she misses him so much. He died thinking she was mad at him. Sonny tells her, come inside. He’ll make her another Old Fashioned with rye.

Tracy tells Ned, Jason made it clear he doesn’t consider himself a Quartermaine. Dealing with him will only get Ned into trouble. Ned says a lot has happened since she’s been gone. He’ll leave it at that. He suggests they get on with Christmas, and she says, by the looks of things, she got there just in time. Ned brings his guitar into the sitting room, and Olivia thinks they could all use some tidings of comfort and joy.

Brook, Ned, Olivia and Leo sing The First Noel. Monica gives Tracy a drink, and they touch glasses. Tracy hugs Monica.

Finally out of his Santa suit, Curtis takes Jordan’s hand, and they kiss.

Cameron tells Trina, his picture can’t get out. She says she’s deleting it. She already posted it… Psyche! She says she’d never do that. She’s always got his back. They leave the plaza.

Josslyn and Dev go out on the terrace, and Josslyn says, there he is. Dev asks, who? and she says, Santa, pointing to the sky. Doesn’t Dev see him? He looks up, and says, she’s right. He sees him too. He tells her, wait. Something is moving, and Josslyn says, oh my God. You’re right.

Michael and Sasha get to Sonny’s, and Carly tells them, merry Christmas. Josslyn and Dev run in, and Josslyn says they saw the sleigh. Carly tells her, the kids are asleep, but she says she’s serious. There’s a light moving through the sky. They all go out, and gather on the terrace, Gladys hanging back a little. Dev points, and everyone looks up. Sonny says, merry Christmas.

The tree is finished, and Sam watches her family, dabbing at her eyes. Jason puts the lights on. He puts his arms around Sam and the kids, and they all look at the tree.

On Monday, Carly asks Sonny if it’s another interrogation, Sonny says he wants the truth, and Carly says it’s time to tell him exactly what’s going on. It’s looks like it will be a new episode on Monday, Tuesday (New Year’s Eve) is a repeat encore episode, and Wednesday (New Year’s Day) is football.

👯 Super Frenemies…

This article wasn’t exactly a font of information, so I’m skeptical. What could these two possibly be advertising?

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/12/teresa-giudice-and-caroline-manzo-film-super-bowl-commercial/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

😴 No Surprise…

In case you were living under a rock.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/12/rhony-teresa-giudice-joe-giudice-separate-20-years-marriage-divorce-rumors/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

👍 I Haven’t Heard Anyone Say It Yet…

Vicki was right.

https://radaronline.com/videos/jim-edmonds-daughter-hayley-says-meghan-king-ruined-family-divorce/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🌴 Better Than Brandi…

I would love to see Tori Spelling on RHOBH. I don’t see how her money situation has anything to do with it. Bethenny Frankel couldn’t pay her rent when she started on RHONY.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/12/tori-spelling-begs-real-housewives-90210-flop/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🍹 I Thought He Was In Jail…

Frankly, I think the show is doing just fine without him.

https://radaronline.com/photos/southern-charm-thomas-ravenel-kids-thriving-custody-battle-kathryn-dennis-filming-delayed-photos/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🎭 A Light Goes Out On Broadway…

He composed several of my favorite musicals – Mame, Mack & Mabel, and La Cage aux Folles. He was also a true man of the theater, evidenced by this quote:

I said, I can absolutely do it. I know all about Israel, recalled the composer much later. And I knew nothing about Israel.

http://www.playbill.com/article/jerry-herman-composer-of-tuneful-broadway-hits-dies-at-88

🎊  Quotes of the Week

I never worry about being driven to drink; I just worry about being driven home. – W. C. Fields

Ring out the false, ring in the true. – Alfred Lord Tennyson

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. – William E. Vaughn

Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man. – Benjamin Franklin

Come, gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkindness. – William Shakespeare

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. – Oprah Winfrey

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. – C.S. Lewis

It is never too late to be what you might have been. – George Eliot

Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction. – Germany Kent

Life’s not about expecting, hoping and wishing, it’s about doing, being and becoming. – Mike Dooley

Many years ago, I made a New Year’s resolution to never make new year’s resolutions. Hell, it’s been the only resolution I’ve ever kept! – D.S. Mixell

Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. – Carl Bard

Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one. – Brad Paisley

Get the f*** out of my house, Kenny G. – Amy (Mila Kunis), Bad Moms Christmas

🎈 We Can Hope…

Still waiting on that Christmas miracle too.