Tag Archives: Sergio Carrallo

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

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🍀 She’s Feeling Lucky…

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

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

🐪 They’d Walk a Mile For a Camel…

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

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

Caroline’s house… and the tree.

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

👠 The One With the Square…

Striving to be relevant since 2010.

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

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

🪣 There’s a Hole In His Bucket…

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

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

🐉 Eggs Of the Dragon…

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

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

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

🏆 Simply the Best…

The BET Awards winners.

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

Moments in time.

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

And of course, the fashion.

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

🥀 Goodbye Russell…

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

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

👰🏻‍♀️ There Went the Bride…

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

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

📜 Not a Moment But a Movement…

All about our Day of Independence.

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

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

🐶 Harping On It…

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

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

🎆 Baby, You’re a Roman Candle…

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

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

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And I laaaugh because Adrian folded like a cheap suit.

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

🧼 All  the Soap News Fit To Print…

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

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

Life imitating art.

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

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

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

I’ll have what he’s having.

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

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

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

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

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

🐪 No Camel For You…

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

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

👠 What Happens In Jersey…

What happened.

What’s going to happen.

And what the Marge hopes will happen.

🗽 If They Can’t Make It There…

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

🛟 Random Topics On Deck…

The perfect guest.

The feud.

And the fans.

🐕 Knowing the Drill…

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

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

⛲️ Summer Mood: On…

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