What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Methinks we’re getting closer to the goal of seeing new episodes, since today’s dart landed on April 28th, 2020 (even though the guide said May 6th – wth?), which was like, five minutes ago, and after quarantine started. You can find the short version below for a catch-up, but If you want the whole shebang, it’s at:
🎥 The Latest…
What’s up with GH.
https://www.soapcentral.com/gh/news/2020/0626-general_hospital_plans_mid-july_resumption.php
⏱ The Short Of It: Today’s Rerun Flashback Recap
Nina’s fashion shoot on a tropical island got rained out, so she got permission to shoot at the fine arts museum. Jax showed up at her office, saying she seemed like she was in crisis mode, and she told him that she’d had to go with Plan B. He asked if he could help, and she asked for a hug. He wondered why her assistant Nelle wasn’t helping, and asked if Nina had taken his suggestion and fired her. Nina said she’d sent need on some errands because she didn’t want her telling tales, especially to The Invader. Sasha had cheated on Michael, and since he was Sonny’s son, it was going to be news.
Alexis saw Valentin in the MetroCourt bar, and said he looked like he’d lost his best friend. He said he did, but they were better off without him. Lulu asked Laura why she thought Valentin gave up on Charlotte, and Laura flashed back to Valentin telling her that she was a good person, and he needed her to teach Charlotte to be good, since clearly he couldn’t. Lulu thought he was being manipulative, but Laura thought something was different after Violet’s birthday party. Lulu asked if Laura meant when she was advocating for Valentin, and Laura said she’d been advocating for Charlotte. Charlotte listened in on their conversation, and Laura said it sounded like Valentin was walking away from Charlotte for her own good. At the garage, TJ wanted to pay Molly’s bill, but told Brando there was something wrong. Molly, Kristina, and Sam were at Charlie’s, where Molly told her sisters about the accident she’d had. She said they’d just met the mechanic; it was Brando.
On the pier, Sonny told Cyrus to crawl back in the hole he came from, or there would be a war. Cyrus said he couldn’t go back to Seattle, and Sonny said that left only a nuclear option left. Cyrus said he had an offer that would work for both of them. Chase came home to an empty apartment, and flashed back to happier times with Willow. Finn showed up, and wondered why Chase wasn’t his annoyingly upbeat self. Chase said he’d cheated on Willow, she found out, and he’d lost her. Valentin told Alexis that he wasn’t planning on challenging Lulu for sole custody. Charlotte wasn’t little anymore, and had witnessed some regrettable behavior on his part. He was walking away, and not looking back.
Nina told Jax that the scandal could affect Michael’s custody fight for Wiley. Jax said, Sasha and Michael were happy together and crazy about each other. Nina said she’d warned Michael, but he’d been determined to believe Sasha was a fallen angel who needed him. She said Sasha was weak at best, and an opportunist at worst. Cyrus said he and Sonny could both do business, and not interfere with each other. After being in prison, he wanted the opportunity to put down roots. He enjoyed the fresh air and sunlight, and Port Charles was a friendly place. Jason asked if it was friendly of Cyrus to have a sniper on the roof watching them, and Sonny asked if this was how Cyrus wanted it to go down. Molly told her sisters that she’d slept with Brando, and Sam said she’d go pick up Molly’s car. TJ told Brando, the price seemed low, but Brando said it was a discount for first time customers; it kept them coming back. He said Molly had told him TJ had been in the hospital, and asked how TJ was doing. Laura told Lulu that Valentin thought Charlotte was better off without him, and Charlotte flashed back to telling Valentin that she’d seen what he did to Ava (he’d pushed her off the parapet before the wedding). Lulu was skeptical, but Laura thought Valentin was putting Charlotte’s well-being before his own. Alexis asked why Valentin had come to his decision, and remembered Sam calling her out about Neil, and saying she didn’t look up to Alexis anymore, and how she had a drink afterward. Nina told Jax that she didn’t miss Sasha, but missed who she’d thought Sasha was. Jax said if she wanted to look for her daughter, he’d be happy to help, but Nina said she’d put a lot of time and effort into standing on her own two feet. It was tempting, but it was like he was always offering her the best dessert, and she could only have it on special occasions.
Chase lied to Finn, telling him that Willow was baby-obsessed, and Sasha was actually present when they were together; she gave him her full attention. She felt the same way, and they’d slept together, and kept sleeping together. Finn said it was the biggest load of crap he’d ever heard, and to tell him what really happened. Lulu asked what Valentin had told Laura to convince her that he was putting Charlotte first, and Laura said it was the state he was in. She felt that he’d changed. Lulu said he was the same guy who had shot Nikolas, and Laura said, the brother Lulu couldn’t forgive for surviving. Lulu told her to stay on topic, and that it made no sense. Valentin would do anything for Charlotte. Laura said maybe he loved Charlotte that much, and was willing to walk away. Jax tried to get Nina to take the afternoon off, but Charlotte showed up. She screamed at Jax to get away from Nina, and said Nina had to get back together with her papa – today. Cyrus told Sonny, it was just a precaution in case Sonny had his own guy on the roof, but Sonny said he had all the back-up he needed, indicating Jason. Cyrus called his man off, and Sonny said he had an offer. Take it or leave it; one time only.
TJ said Molly had the accident before he’d gone to the hospital, but Brando said he’d run into Molly at Charlie’s that morning. Sam came into the garage, and TJ told her about the special discount Brando had given Molly. Lulu told Laura that she didn’t doubt Valentin loved Charlotte, but it was the way he showed it that she disagreed with. He ran off with Charlotte after the wedding didn’t happen, intending on kidnapping her. Laura said they didn’t know that, and he might have just wanted to get Charlotte away from what was going on. She thought he’d had a life-altering experience. Lulu said when Valentin came off as wise and compassionate, it was time to count the silverware. Laura wondered how they were going to tell Charlotte. Charlotte said Nina and Valentin belonged together, and Valentin wasn’t fighting for her anymore. Jax told her, dads were forever. Alexis told Valentin that she tried to help someone, and might lose her license because of it. Valentin said it wasn’t the end of the world; she was more than her job. She said now that they found out they weren’t related, she almost liked him. Who was he? He said he’d like to know that too. His phone rang, and it was Nina, asking him to come to her office. Charlotte was there, and needed her father. Chase acted offended, and Finn said his story was a doozie. He wasn’t so good with feelings and emotions, but even he could see Chase loved Willow. Normally, Chase was a walking Valentine’s Day card with a candy heart attached that said something embarrassing. He said Willow had seen what Chase wanted her to, and Chase asked why he’d do something like that. Finn told Chase to clue him in; why had he pushed Willow away? Kristina told Molly not to be hard on herself, but Molly wondered how she and TJ could have a future, when she fell into bed with the first person who came along when she didn’t hear from him. Kristina said Molly hadn’t known if TJ was out having wild and cray sex too. Molly said she wasn’t going to rationalize having a one-night stand, and knew what she had to do.
After TJ left, Sam said she didn’t know Brando, but knew why he came to Port Charles, and that he’d brought baggage with him. She told him, forget about Molly; it never happened. Jax told Charlotte that her dad loved her, and explained that dads had a special handbook for daughters, since daughters had special powers over them. Valentin arrived, and Nina told him Charlotte was afraid he didn’t want her anymore. Sonny told Cyrus that he could live in Port Charles, but had to conduct his business elsewhere. Cyrus couldn’t move his merchandise through Sonny’s territory, and couldn’t touch Sonny or his associates. Cyrus said Sonny had a large territory, and such deference would be expensive. Sonny said, take it or leave it; it wasn’t his problem. Cyrus said, fine, they had a deal, and they shook hands. I’d forgotten how much I like Jeff Kober in this role.
Lulu and Laura hunted for Charlotte. Nina called Lulu, and told her that Charlotte was at her office. Charlotte was physically fine, but she was upset. Valentin was with her now. Lulu said she’d be right there. Valentin told Charlotte that he loved her, and Charlotte said she’d heard Laura and Lulu saying he wanted to leave her. Valentin said he never wanted to leave her, but wanted her to know the difference between right and wrong. She said if he loved her, he would take her away, and begged him take her wherever he was going. Jax went to the MetroCourt bar, and sat with Alexis, saying he needed her level head. Charlotte had seemed afraid Valentin was leaving her. Alexis said Valentin had made a decision about his and Charlotte’s future. His life had been knocked off course, and he wanted to do right by Charlotte, even if he suffered. Finn said Chase was laying it on thicker than Violet put hot fudge on ice cream at a sundae bar. Chase said he’d tell Finn the truth if Finn promised to keep it between them. Finn said he would, as long as it was the truth. Chase said he needed Willow to think he’d cheated on her so she’d marry Michael. Molly told Kristina that she needed to be completely honest. She was going to tell TJ everything. Brando told Sam that he hadn’t even known Molly had a boyfriend until after they’d slept together, and she hadn’t done anything she hadn’t wanted to. Sam asked he wanted, and he said to run his garage, if she’d leave and let him do it. She said if he tried to make trouble for Molly, he’d have a world of trouble with her.
Cyrus and his bodyguard went to the MetroCourt, where Cyrus had been thrown out recently. Cyrus said it had been too easy. Sonny thought he’d lowered his guard, and was going to kill him, but he didn’t play by Sonny’s rules. He was going to start by getting rid Jason. At the pier, Sonny told Jason that he was going to let Cyrus get comfortable, and when Cyrus stopped looking for Sonny out of the corner of his eye, he would take him out.
Below Deck Mediterranean
I got confused for a second. I saw Bugs and thought, is this a rerun?
When we last left, Jessica had smashed her finger in a door the day before charter.
Jessica tells Bugs what happened, and hopes it isn’t broken. Bugs asks if she felt a snap, and Jessica says, yeah. Bugs radios Captain Sandy, who tells her to send Jess to the hospital, and Bugs puts her in a taxi.
It’s time for the preference sheet meeting, and Captain Sandy says primary Bernardo is a real estate mogul from Miami, who’s bringing along some entrepreneur and model friends for one of their birthdays. There are also some vegans in the group, and in his interview, Kiko says he hates cooking vegan. He misses the protein. He’s from Brazil, and likes meat and fish. Bernardo wants a mariachi band, who plays as they approach in a tender while the guests are having dinner. Kiko says, they look chill, but Captain Sandy says, they’re from Miami; they’re not chill. Jess returns, and tells Rob her finger is fractured. They hug. In Jess’s interview, she says she doesn’t know if she’ll be able to keep her job, but she hopes so. Her other fingers work good. She shows Hannah and Malia her splint. She tells them when she’d gotten breast augmentation, she still worked, and Hannah says she hopes Jess’s hand heals as quickly as her boobs. Jess tells the captain, it’s a hairline fracture. Captain Sandy tells her to talk to Hannah, and see if she can figure it out. They may have to bring someone else in, but she’ll see how it goes. In Hannah’s interview, she says she needs a third stew with two hands, but Jess will have to do this charter. Bugs tells Malia she thinks Pete says things for shock value, but it’s gotten inappropriate. Malia says he crossed the line, and suggests Bugs chat with the captain. Jess tells Rob, she hopes this doesn’t affect her job, but if it does, the captain will have to find someone else. They kiss.
In the crew mess, Kiko looks at the sheets and sees dairy/gluten free, and dairy/gluten free vegan. He says he needs to be confident, or he’ll mess up. The captain calls Hannah to the bridge. She says it’s obvious they have to get through next charter, and Hannah hasn’t had a fair shake. She tells Hannah to let her know how it’s going. At least she’s got Bugs. Hannah says, yeah, and her lack of enthusiasm is obvious. Hannah tells Kiko that she doesn’t want Jess fired. She’s afraid she’ll get another effing Lara, and she doesn’t trust Bugs. She asks if Kiko has her back, and he says, don’t worry.
Four hours before charter. Hannah has a pre-charter meeting with the stews. She says, obviously, the charter is going to have some challenges, and Bugs says she doesn’t mind helping. In Hannah’s interview, she says, one good thing about Bugs is, she knows what she’s doing. Hannah can let Bugs pick up the slack and manage Jess. They don’t need more drama. She tells Malia, obviously, Jess can’t do service, and asks if she could help. Bugs tells the captain that she had a strange encounter with Pete. She thought he said certain things for shock value, like how he talks about women, but after the charter in the crew mess, he was rude in a sexual way. We flash back to him telling Bugs about how he likes to bang stews. She says he was slightly threatening, but she’s not accusing him of anything. He did nothing physically, but they live in close quarters, and she’s concerned for the girls. Captain Sandy tells Bugs, for her to say she’s uncomfortable means something. She asks if Bugs is all right with the next charter, and Bugs says she just doesn’t want it to happen again. The captain says she’ll speak to Pete, and calls him to the bridge.
The captain tells Pete that she’s seriously considering letting him go because of what she’s heard. The way he talks about women and treats them is not okay. She tells him, this is serious, and he admits he might have said inappropriate things. He’s too much of an open book. Apparently, Pete doesn’t understand what that expression means. Captain Sandy says, it’s not okay out in the world, much less on the boat. He needs to get his head on right, and consider what comes out of his mouth. He’s lucky she’s not leaving him on the dock. She tells him, just do your job.
Jess forgets to turn on the vacuum cleaner before vacuuming. Hannah calls for the mariachi band, explaining they need to be playing as they approach the boat while the guests are having dinner. Maliah calls Pete to meet her on deck. She tells him, this isn’t going to be easy, but he’s no longer the lead deckhand. She needs to put her foot down. It’s impacting the whole crew. They have a professional code, and the things he says are vulgar. He has a female captain, a female bosun, and a female chief stew, and he’ll have to respect that. His ego and cockiness are putting the safety of the vessel in jeopardy, and she’s baffled as to why she has to explain this to someone who calls themselves a captain. In her interview, she says, from the beginning, he talked back and didn’t listen. This is the next step. She tells Pete consider this his one, two, third warning. She’s not putting up with it. He says he understands, but we’ll see. The provisions come in.
Pete asks Bugs to meet him on the bow. Malia tells Rob and Alex that Pete is no longer lead deckhand. She thinks it’s the best decision for the team, and Rob agrees. She says she doesn’t want Pete to feel left out, but he needs to learn a lesson. Pete apologizes to Bugs, saying if he came at her any way, he didn’t mean to make her uncomfortable. Bugs says, in the beginning, she thought it was shock humor, but it got extreme. He’d said he felt she was flirting with him, but she’s just a friendly person. They can move past what happened. In her interview, she says she’s all about second chances. The chance to redeem yourself is important. Thank you. Fairness is key, even if it’s Pete. Captain Sandy calls the crew to the dock. Jess fumbles at buttoning her shirt, and asks Rob to help her. He says, damn, girl, and she says it’s the first time he’s buttoning it, instead of unbuttoning it. Hannah puts Jess’s deodorant on her. Everyone gets on dock.
Captain Sandy says she can tell already the guests will be so much fun. She welcomes them, saying there’s going to be great weather, and the crew is going to show them an amazing time. In Hannah’s interview, she says, they look interesting and fun. She’s hopeful that she won’t have to bring out any of her non-existent Spanish. She gives the guests the tour. In Malia’s interview, she says she needs someone else to step up. She’s giving Alex the responsibility, and hopes he can run with it. It’s a broken hope. Hannah says they’ll have lunch on the water, and set up the beach club. Guest Joel admires Kiko, and Hannah tells Kiko, somebody has a crush on him already. They’re off the dock, and Captain Sandy says, amazing job. Malia gives props to the deckhands as well. Jessica is looking for lemons, and asks Kiko if he has any. Bugs says, that’s Hannah’s responsibility, and wonders if Hannah ordered them. She tells Kiko not to give them any of his; they need to take care of themselves. They’ll use limes. Bernardo asks Hannah if he can get some mushrooms on the side, and if someone can unpack for him. Alex tells Pete, be a man about it, and Pete says, it’s all good. Watch out for Professional Pete. It’s a side they haven’t seen yet. The guests take loads of picture for social media. Hannah asks Jess to unpack Bernardo’s suitcases, and asks Kiko for the mushrooms. Bernardo goes to his cabin, and tells Jess to just unpack the one suitcase. Hint: it’s not the one she’s already unpacking. In her interview, she wonders how he doesn’t feel guilty. She’s got a broken finger, and she’s unpacking for him. Is it really necessary? She tosses his stuff on bed.
In his interview, Pete says he got kicked in the teeth a little bit; he needed it. All he can do now is bring out Professional Pete. It’s not always Party Pete. I gag. This guy could give Jax a run for his money in a few years as worst human being on earth. Hannah calls the yacht provisioner, and asks for lemons. Bugs brings Bernardo his mushrooms. Ron kisses Jess in the laundry. Hannah says, these people are going to be a nightmare. Kiko tells Hannah about Bugs claiming she was responsible for the lemons. In Hannah’s interview, she says it’s Bugs’s second charter, and already Bugs is throwing her under the bus. Kiko tells her to open her eyes, and she says she sleeps with one eye open. Malia tells the deckhands, once they have anchorage, get everything out in thirty minutes. Guest Giancarlo is picky about his juice, and Bugs concocts something for him. Giancarlo pronounces it amazing. They drop anchor in an unbelievably beautiful cove. In Malia’s interview, she says Pete is taking his demotion well. She doesn’t know if it’s genuine or he’s playing the long game. She’ll see how he holds up. She tells the guests the rules for the jet skis. No surprise, they don’t listen, and get way too close to some paddleboarders. Jess does some ironing. In her interview, Hannah says Bugs’s over-enthusiasm drives her up a wall. If Bugs thinks she can do Hannah’s job, then do it. The deckhands have the usual struggle with the slide. In Kiko’s interview, he said he hates cooking vegan; it’s not his style. He’s going to try his best to make the guests happy. They guests are served ceviche tropical, with quinoa salad for the vegans. It all looks good to be. Bugs says she’ll just keep feeding them. Bernardo wants more mushrooms, and Kiko says vegan cooking is a challenge. He makes a pan of mushrooms, but Bugs, a vegetarian, says they’re too chewy. He says it’s the quality of mushrooms, but it’s all he has.
Bugs makes up something about the mushrooms not coming in. In the galley, Kiko says, pressure, pressure, pressure. One of the guests asks Jess about her injury. Having had the same thing, the guest says it pains her to see Jess like that. In her interview, Bugs says, Kiko is a hot mess. She feels bad, but it’s just the job. The yacht provisioner calls, and says she can deliver mushrooms today. In the crew mess, Bugs tells Malia, what a day, and Malia says, it’s only up from there. Bugs says the thing with Pete turned into the biggest drama, and Malia says maybe he’ll recognize he has a problem. They need to give him a chance. Hannah asks Kiko about the vegan main course, and he says, the mushrooms need to get there on time. If they don’t, he’s screwed. Everyone gets ready for dinner. Guest Edwin asks Hannah to press his jacket, which is a rumpled mess. Hannah buttons Jess up for dinner. Captain Sandy tells the crew, good job; they worked hard today. The guests gather in the lounge, and everyone makes a fuss over Bernardo’s suit, but I don’t see it. I guess he’s paying for the trip. In Jess’s interview, she says she can’t dress herself, and has to figure out how to hold drinks, but she has Rob. She’s got this. Rob brings the drinks upstairs for her. Pete tells Malia, he’s sorry they started off wrong, and she says, it happens; learn from it. I don’t know what Bugs has going on with the table décor, but it has fairy lights, so I love it. A guest gripes about the time, and Bugs’s interview, she says Kiko is under a lot of pressure, but he brings some of it on himself. She’s keeping the drinks flowing and the party going. It’s part of what they do. The mushrooms arrive, and Kiko gets to work. It’s nearly 10 pm by the time the guests are seated, when dinner should have been served at 9:30. In her interview, Bugs says there was a set time, but it’s come and gone. It’s hard to cover this up. In Kiko’s interview, he says, timing is hard on the galley. His mind is messed up over the mushrooms, and he feels like sh*t. Everyone except the vegans get their meals, and Kiko works frantically. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says she’s confused. The last dinner was 72 plates, and it was incredible. Now she’s at a loss. Kiko says mushroom teriyaki is an art, and comes up personally with the vegan meals. The guests chant his name, and the food is declared delicious. Malia puts Pete on anchor watch, and explains the monitor. In his interview, he says he needs to be professional. He let the crew down, and he needs them to believe in him again.
The guests are anxious for the next course, and Hannah asks Malia for help serving. Everyone says the fish entrée is perfect, but Bernardo says his is raw, and asks for it to be cooked more. Bugs brings it back to the galley, and Kiko says, f***, aye, aye, aye. He asks her to apologize for him, and she says she already did, but she’ll do it again. In his interview, Kiko says he messed up. He knows Bugs is helping him, but everything is on him. Jess cleans the cabins. Joel says, Kiko, my pal. Jess and Rob kiss, and she says she wants to snuggle. Rob says he’ll ask Kiko, since they share a cabin.
The guests are still hungry, and guest Victor says they want more food. Hannah goes back to the galley, and says he needs to work on portion sizes; the guests are still hungry, and want more everything. Some of the guests start jingling some kind of doodad they have like they’re ringing a bell for the help. In Kiko’s interview, he says he feels like sh*t. It’s like he’s not good enough. He tells Bugs, he doesn’t understand it. He just served 72 plates, and today is the worst day of his life. Bugs says, we all have those days, and tells Hannah that Kiko is down. In Hannah’s interview, she says she hopes he pulls himself out of his funk. He’s the chef, and they kind of need him.
Next time, Rob says there’s tension on the boat, the food is late again, Captain Sandy says she doesn’t see Hannah leading, Jess and Bugs argue, and Captain Sandy talks to Kiko.
😥 Two Sad Farewells…
This is starting to get just a little weird. Is it me, or are there an inordinate amount of people dying? And I don’t mean just from the virus. I only knew her work on Glee, but I liked her outspokenness.
https://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/naya-rivera-dead-glee-star-dies-at-33-after-body-found/
Tributes:
https://www.tvguide.com/news/glee-cast-reacts-to-naya-rivera-drowning/
She also seemed like a decent human being. And this after living through her son passing away. Poor John Travolta.
Tributes:
🚝 It’s Not Just a Movie Anymore…
I love the film Snowpiercer, and from what I’ve seen of the series (which hasn’t been much, two episodes), it’s captured the same spirit.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/snowpiercer-review-1294195
💍 I Love His Mum…
It’s no secret I love The Spice Girls, and Posh is my second favorite (after Ginger). Victoria Beckham not only is a fabulous designer and has a wicked sense of humor, she seems to be a wonderful mother. And these two seem like a lovely couple.
https://pagesix.com/2020/07/11/brooklyn-beckham-confirms-engagement-to-nicola-peltz/
🛸 Trekking On…
When there’s no more room for live action, animation will rule the earth.
https://www.space.com/star-trek-lower-decks-animated-series-1st-trailer-premiere-date.html
👩👧 Feeling sMothered…
I found out the New York Post co-produced this show. I’m not surprised. And in case you didn’t know, Alexander Hamilton founded the newspaper. Again, I’m not surprised.
https://nypost.com/2020/07/13/smothered-recap-mom-gets-plastic-surgery-with-daughter-to-bond/
🎭 The Show Must Go On…
You know the really sad part? A friend of mine from high school lives in the city, and every once in a while, we go to the theater together. He’s the Best. Date. Ever. He pays for everything, and wants nothing but my scintillating company. We had just been planning on seeing Patti Lupone in Company when the pandemic hit. …sniff…
https://nypost.com/2020/07/09/broadway-may-be-dark-but-people-are-working-hard-to-bring-it-back/
🍳 This is Your Brain On Quarantine…
While it’s quite the roller coaster ride right now, don’t give up hope. If Samuel Pepys made it through the bubonic plague – better than a lot of people are dealing now – you can get through this. Stay safe, stay out of trouble, and stay looking out for one another.