Tag Archives: The Real Housewives of New York City

August 6, 2020 – Sam Thanks Carly, Temp Brook, Another Camel Ride, Return Of the Pirate & Climbing

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At the WSB facility in Geneva, Dante does push-ups while remembering his mission. Complete the mission plays in his head.

Lulu tells Brando to text her when her car is ready, but he says it was just a flat, and it’s finished. She tells him that she got a lead on a story, and didn’t even realize she had a flat. She’s glad his garage is there. Cyrus walks in and says, that makes two of them.

Lucy looks over Sasha’s photos, and loves them. She asks what Maxie’s secret is, and Maxie says, fear of failure and a good photographer. She asks which photo Lucy is going with, and Lucy pulls one out. Sasha asks if it’s weird to like her own picture. Maxie and Lucy both say, no! and Sasha says she likes it too. Valentin asks if he gets a vote.

Curtis goes to the hospital to take TJ to lunch, and TJ apologizes, saying he should have texted; they have to postpone. Curtis asks if TJ is supposed to live at the hospital, and TJ tells him it’s an unwritten rule for med students. Curtis says it’s the only place he gets to see TJ, and TJ says it’s the only place Molly gets to see him too. He did take off last night so they could be together though.

At the MetroCourt, Sam wants to talk to Carly about Jason’s power of attorney. Carly says Jason is her best friend, so of course (🍷) she said yes, but she doesn’t want to get in the middle of them. Sam says she wants to thank Carly.

Chase finds Jason outside the courtroom, and asks why he’s there. Jason says he’s picking up some permits, and Chase asks if he doesn’t have an assistant for that, but Jason says he wanted to follow-up in person. Chase says Jason saved him a call. He doesn’t have to answer, but at the risk of repeating himself, where was Jason on the night of February 19th when the warehouse exploded? Jason says he’s not saying anything without his attorney present, which is never a surprise to anyone. Chase says, he’s not asking in an official capacity, but he can. Jordan walks in, and asks what Chase is doing.   

Dante looks at the pencil and paper. He gets up from the floor, picks up pencil, and puts it down again. A doctor comes in, and asks if Dante doesn’t take a day off, and Dante says, it’s something to do. The doctor says they have activities if he’s bored, but Dante says he’s good. He likes it. The doctor says he’s concerned about Dante. What does Dante think the WSB will say when they find out he refuses to engage in therapy? Dante says, nothing good, and the doctor says, they’re patient, but not indulgent. They’ll decide Dante is a lost cause, and consign him to the doctor’s care for the rest of his life. Dante says he’s fine with that.

TJ tells Curtis, last night was about putting Molly first, and reconnecting. Curtis says TJ has had a lot to deal with. TJ says, first, he was abducted, his abduction was never solved, and now he’s at the hospital full time. Curtis asks if he has to be, and TJ admits he doesn’t. Curtis says TJ didn’t just get abducted, he was injured; he’s still doing physical therapy. TJ says the hospital offered to accommodate him, but he turned them down.   

Brando tells Cyrus, he’ll just be a minute, and Cyrus says, of course (🍷); the mayor’s daughter takes precedence. Lulu tells Brando, this is Cyrus Renault. He may have heard of Cyrus. He just came out of doing hard time. Cyrus says, for a crime he didn’t commit. Lulu says he was involved with the shooting where Brando and her mom got hurt. Cyrus says his connection is unfounded; he was in prison. He hopes the needless violence is a thing of the past, with Laura and the Commissioner at the helm. If anyone can keep the peace, they can.  

Lucy says Valentin’s opinion is welcome, and Maxie asks, since when? Lucy says they couldn’t have relaunched Deception if Valentin hadn’t invested, but Maxie thinks that’s a stretch. Valentin says he doesn’t need gratitude; he needs collaboration. Maxie says she thought he was a silent partner, and he says he may not know about beauty and skincare, but he knows a good business move. The face of Deception needs a voice, and he’s found the perfect one. Lucy says, do tell, and he says he’s introducing Deception’s new voice. Brook comes in.

Carly asks if Sam is sure she’s okay with this, and she says she is, but when Jason told her, she was surprised. Carly imagines she must have been angry too, but Jason did it to spare her from being the one responsible, if the day came when he was unable to make his own decisions. He made it clear, he’d want to die, but didn’t want Sam to have to make that choice. Sam says she went home and did some thinking. She thought about the children, and what happened when she thought Jason died before. It would be worse for them to lose her. They love him, but she’s the parent they know and live with. They need their mom.

Jordan says she needs a word with Chase, but asks Jason to stick around. She takes Chase aside, and tells him that she’s doing him an enormous favor, before Jason’s barracuda of a lawyer barges in. Chase says they have reason to believe Cyrus was linked to the warehouse, and Jason blew it up in retaliation. She says there’s no evidence, and he’s becoming carelessly close to losing objectivity. She’ll take it from here. The last thing they want is a lawsuit. Chase leaves, and Jordan says she’d appreciate it if Jason didn’t unleash Diane; Chase was just doing his job. Jason says he knows. They’re on the same side on this, and he’d like to keep it that way.

Dante tells the doctor, he turned himself in because he can’t control his actions. When and if he picks up a weapon, who will be his target? It makes him dangerous. The doctor says Dante was traumatized by his indoctrination, and suffered a near-crippling physical injury. Dante says, the doctor read his file. The last time he had a visitor, he freaked out, and hurt a guard. It’s better to safeguard him in this facility. The doctor says it’s not the staff he’s worried about.

Cyrus tells Lulu to give her mother his regards. The hospital is fortunate to have her support. Lulu says, not just hers. The Quartermaines have supported GH for years to help it remain independent, and they’ll continue to support it. Cyrus says, that’s wonderful news. He wants to make sure the hospital is financially sound, and patients remain confident. That’s why he’s having a conversation with the board later. She says, he’s meeting with the board? and Cyrus says he’s sure they’ll find another use for his good intentions. Lulu thanks Brando, and leaves. Brando asks what’s the problem with Cyrus’s car? but Cyrus says his car is fine. He’s there to discuss another matter. 

Valentin says Brook is going to write and perform a tune synonymous with the brand, and Maxie says, like a jingle? Valentin says, if she wants to call it that, and Maxie says she doesn’t like jingles. Brook says she doesn’t either, but Sasha says, it’s not a bad idea. Lucy says she would have preferred someone like Lady Gaga, but this is the next best thing. Maxie says ELQ is having nothing to do with the company.   

Sam says, holding the family together is Carly’s top propriety, and the children. Carly says, it wasn’t always that way. When Michael was a baby, she never stayed out of anything, but as time went on, she saw that her kids needed to depend on her. She stands by Sonny, but only to a point. There’s nothing more important than being a mom. She can’t afford the luxury of being arrested or shot at; she’s working on the second one. The kids suffer when she’s not around, and she has to put them first. She had to take a step back against her instincts. Sam says, she wanted to go in swinging? and Carly says, when Donna was born, she knew this little baby was 100% dependent on her, and had every right to expect all her time and devotion. There was no option of running headfirst into danger. Sam says she wishes they’d had this conversation before she decided to go after Shiloh.

Jordan tells Jason that she threw her partners under the bus for Cyrus, but he says she did it for TJ. She says Cyrus’s sentence was vacated, and now, he not only operates with impunity, he has leverage; threatening her loved ones, and having knowledge of the crap she’s already done. She sees no way of getting out from under his thumb. Jason says, it will happen, and she asks, when? She doesn’t know how much more she can take. How much more damage she can stand by and let this man cause.

TJ tells Curtis that he wants no special treatment. If he can’t handle adversity, he’s not much of a doctor. Curtis says, if TJ burns out, he’ll be no good to anyone. He’s been there. TJ says he’s driven to be the best, passionate about his job, and loves helping people, and Curtis says, that’s how he was when he was a cop. He lived and breathed his job until it consumed him. He’s trying to prevent that happening to TJ.

Lucy tells Maxie not to be hasty, and Maxie says she’s not hasty. She doesn’t think it’s a smart business move. Brook says Maxie is predictable. Maxie knows it’s a smart decision because she’s a smart businesswoman. Having music synonymous with the brand makes sense. She’s just hesitating because of her BFF Lulu, who judges them from her lofty pedestal, since they’re not up to her standards. The simple fact is, Brook sees through Lulu, and Lulu can’t stand it. Maxie admits Lulu is less than perfect, but Lulu is still her friend. Brook says, that’s her choice, if she likes constant judgement, but don’t stand in the way of the rest of them. Maxie says Brook has one thing right – Lulu is her friend.

Sam tells Carly, she was focused on taking out Shiloh, and saving Kristina. Carly says, Kristina is her sister; her intention were admirable, but Sam says if she’s being honest, she was getting back to herself, if that makes sense. Carly says, who she was before she had kids? Sam says, she ran con after con then, and she wanted to do the things she did well. She got so caught up in it, she didn’t think about the consequences, and how she could make things worse for her kids.   

Jason tells Jordan, the question she needs to ask is, what good it would do to fight back without leverage? She says, so they wait while the drugs pile up? Jason says, Cyrus can’t afford to break his truce with Sonny. He’s going to pretend to be an upstanding citizen while laying the groundwork to push Sonny out. As long as she plays along, she’ll have the option to bring Cyrus down.

Maxie says Valentin and Brook are acting righteous, and like Lulu is the problem, when Brook’s been flirting with Lulu’s boyfriend, using her old pet nickname for him. While they’re off collaborating, and bringing up the good old days, didn’t Brook think it would trigger Lulu after what she tried to do with Dante? Brook says, the husband Lulu dropped like a hot rock when he got sick? Lucy says Lulu has flaws; they all do. Maxie says, some more than others. She refuses to apologize for being considerate of her best friend. Lucy drags Maxie out into the hall, and Sasha says, that went well. Lucy asks Maxie, what on earth is wrong with her, reacting without thinking; why? Maxie says, Deception is her baby, and Lucy says, excuse me? Maxie says, yes, it was Lucy’s first, but Lucy brought her in and gave her a piece of the action. She’s never had that. She loved Crimson, but it wasn’t hers. She brought her talent and creativity, but the editor had the final say, and the publisher reaped the rewards. Deception is theirs about to be a reality, and she feels something momentous is going to happen. Lucy says she understands, but Maxie has to get ahold of herself or Deception will be over before it starts.

Sam tells Carly, the worst part was the kids missing her when she was in prison. Danny was trying to be brave, but underneath, he was scared, and Scout was just confused. She didn’t get why Sam was staying away. Carly says, thank God for Jason, and Sam says, it was a huge comfort. He was there for them, and the Quartermaines, and Carly. Carly says, it’s no substitute for a mother, and Sam says she was supposed to be there, but she wasn’t; she was on parole. It’s been frustrating, and a huge obstacle in her life, but not like she’s used to. She feels like she’s in quicksand. Carly understands, but since Sam brought it up, what happened with her parole officer?

Curtis tells TJ, not to be all Zen master, but life is about balance. You need to make a place for yourself and your loved ones first. If you don’t, they could slip away one dark night. You’ll look in the mirror, and your job is all you have. TJ says Curtis needs to have that conversation with his mom; she’s out of balance with work. Feel free to play the mom guilt card. Curtis asks, how? and TJ says he just called to check in. Jordan didn’t answer, but no call back and no text. Six months ago, that never would have happened, but it’s happening more and more lately. Curtis says he thinks he can use that – for Jordan’s own good. He thanks TJ for the ammo, and leaves.

Jordan says, so Jason is suggesting she go undercover as a corrupt Police Commissioner, which is true, but he wants her to use it to her advantage. Jason says, the more Cyrus thinks he has control, the more likely he is to make a mistake. Eventually, he’ll make one that gets him eliminated, but she won’t be involved. Jordan’s phone rings. It’s Cyrus, reminding her of her appointment to meet him at his new residence. Don’t be late. Jason asks if everything is okay, and Jordan says Cyrus wants her to meet him at his new home. Jason asks if she’s going, and she says he just made an excellent case as to why she has to. Jason says maybe he’ll take a ride out there, and she says, if he does, that would be his prerogative. She’s done her research, and has a good idea of how he came to work for Sonny. He survived an accident, and had cognitive issues. He was looking for a mentor, Sonny was there, and it worked well for him. Too bad. He’d make an excellent cop. Jason says he’ll try not be offended.

The doctor asks if Dante had the dream again, and Dante says he has it every night. Sometimes, he has it when he’s awake. He thinks about what he’s done to his wife – his ex-wife. He could hurt her, and if he stayed in Port Charles, she’d never stop thinking that one day he could recover, unless she faced what happened. The alternative is living there. 

Lucy comes back with Maxie, and says, after a spirited conversation with her wonderful partner, she has something to tell them. Maxie says, fine. She’ll work with the two of them, but not while Brook has that smug smile and makes snarky comments about Lulu. Brook tells Maxie, she has nothing bad to say about Lulu; Lulu speaks for herself. Valentin asks if they’re back in business, and Maxie says, yes. Lucy welcomes Brook to the Deception family, and Brook says she’s super excited to be there. Lucy says, on that note, she’s going to skedaddle out of there. The Nurses Ball isn’t going to organize itself. Ta! Maxie follows her out, saying she wants a word with Lucy. Valentin tells Brook, they did it, and she says, they sure did. Does he want to have a celebratory drink? He says he’ll meet her upstairs. After she leaves, Valentin thanks Sasha for her support. Sasha says she didn’t say much, and he says she didn’t say no. How is she? She says she’s trying to throw herself into the life she has left, and he says, her work? He does that. Unfortunately, no amount of success will fill the void Nina left. Maybe she’ll have more luck.

Sam tells Carly that she was trying get leverage over her parole officer; something she could use to get Delores to back away. So Spinelli tailed her. They good news was, she was having an affair; the bad news was, she caught Spinelli getting blackmail photos. Delores told Spinelli if anyone found out about the affair, she’d throw him in jail. Now Delores hates her more than ever, and Delores controls her more than ever. She can’t believe she took that kind of risk. She says Carly can laugh if she wants, but Carly asks if anyone ever told Sam how she and Sonny got married the first time. Sam doesn’t think so, and Carly says she wanted to help Sonny, so she disguised herself, wore a wire, and went after an enemy of Sonny’s. Sonny busted in where she was, and wanted a meeting. She was the only material witness in a racketeering charge, and the only way to stop them calling her to testify… Sam says, was to marry him. Carly says, wives can’t be forced to testify against their husbands. She helped, but not in the way she thought she would. Sonny married her five times, so she must have done something right. The marriage was the best thing to happen to her. Sam says, some things work out for the best in ways they never anticipated.  

Jason goes to the garage, and asks Brando if the stabilizer came in. Brando knows Jason wanted to put it in himself, and says he hopes he didn’t overstep, but he enjoys working on Harleys, and did the installation. Jason asks what he owes Brando, and Brando says, nothing. Jason already paid for the stabilizer, and the work is free. Jason says he won’t stay in business long that way, and Brando says, it’s a nice bike. He was glad to work on it. Jason says, you’re welcome. Brando says he had two visitors today. Lulu had a flat tire, and Cyrus showed up. He made a point to mention Lulu’s mother to her, and there was a weird vibe. Jason asks, who left first? and Brando says, Lulu. Jason says, if Cyrus comes back, he wants to know. Brando says, he will.

Curtis goes to the PCPD, and asks Chase if Jordan is back. Chase says, no. The last time he saw her she was at the courthouse, talking to Jason. He’d been questioning Jason about a case, and she stepped in. She asked Jason to wait, but he’s not sure what that was about. Curtis says he’ll track her down, and thanks Chase. Chase leaves, and Curtis takes out his phone.

Cyrus wanders around his new place. Jordan arrives, and he says, right on time; he’s pleased. Jordan says his guard frisked her, and he says, that’s the way of the world now. If only it was like when they first met, but then it wasn’t the way it seemed then either. She tells him to make it quick. He wants her help to get control of GH. He says he hasn’t told her how, and she says, he didn’t say why either. What does a man like him want with the hospital?

At the hospital, Maxie tells the reception nurse that she doesn’t have an appointment, but she’d like to see her OB/GYN. Lucy runs into Lulu, who says she’s there to interview some board members about  GH’s finances. Lucy says she hopes Lulu realizes what an amazing, loyal friend Maxie is. Lulu says, Maxie is the best, and Lucy says, Maxie nearly jeopardized the launch of Deception defending Lulu against some admittedly snarky remarks. Lulu says, by who? Don’t tell her. Brook said something about Dante. Lucy says, his name was brought up, and Lulu says, unbelievable. Brook is constantly throwing Dante in her face, when she knows nothing about the end of their marriage. Obviously, it gets to her more than she’d care to admit. Lucy says, if it helps, Maxie had her back, and Lulu says, it does help. Lucy says she didn’t know Dante all that well, but she can say with confidence, he’d want Lulu to be happy – whatever that means to her.

The doctor says he can help Dante get better, but he has to trust the process. Dante says he can’t risk it. He has a ticking time bomb in his head. The doctor has seen it go off, and Dante never wants anyone to see it again. This way, they’ll be safer. The doctor refuses to give up hope, and says Dante hasn’t given up on himself. Why else would he keep a pad and pencil. There must be someone he wishes to reach out to after all. Dante flashes back to Lulu telling him that she’ll wait forever; it’s no life without him there. He remembers saying goodbye, telling her that he loves her, and walking out. Dante says if the pencil and pad is causing the doctor to have false expectations, take it out of there. The doctor says he’s leaving it. He sincerely hopes Dante changes his mind before it’s too late.  

Chase sees Sasha outside the courtroom. She says she was hoping to run into him. Has he heard anything? He says he hasn’t, and Sasha says imagine if they broke their hearts for nothing. Chase says, as crappy as it sounds, it helps on some level to know she’s as miserable as he is. They really did this for the right reason, but it’s easy to forget. Sasha agrees, and Chase says he knows Michael and Willow are the best parents for Wiley. Sasha says, if they found a way to prove it to the judge, it will have worked, so it will be worth it. I’m thinking, Sasha is high. She just has that vibe.

Curtis calls Jordan, but she doesn’t pick up.  

Cyrus tells Jordan, he’s demonstrated that he’s a good person. Jordan says, he’s not; he’s a drug trafficker. He says the board will learn that he deserves grace, and the best insurance policy was a friend in law enforcement. That’s why they’re going to spend time together. Jordan tells him, he finally said it. He called because he can, and she showed up. He says she has a gift of seeing to the heart of the matter.

Brook and Valentin sit at a table in the MetroCourt. She says, if they’re going to work together, she needs to know one thing. Will he be as good for ELQ as he is for her? He says, even better.

Sam tells Carly that she doesn’t want to ever struggle with those questions. God forbid the worst happens, she doesn’t want to tell Danny she chose to let his dad die. Carly is glad Sam sees it that way, and Sam says she’s glad Jason chose Carly. Carly says, don’t worry, and Sam says, there’s nothing to worry about. Nothing is going to happen to Jason.

Jason lies on the road, unconscious, his bike laying next to him.

Tomorrow, Robert is sure he’ll find an empty grave, Carly wants Peter’s full attention, Sonny knows Mike is close to the end, and Cyrus tells Jordan to make sure something doesn’t happen.  

🎤 Filling In…

For a while, Brook will be a different Brook. Who’s next? Carly? What’s Tamara Braun doing these days? Might as well make it totally confusing.

Briana Lane Is the New Brook Lynn on GENERAL HOSPITAL

The Real Housewives of New York City

LuAnn says Leah can’t do this in front of other people, and Leah asks if LuAnn means lifting her skirt up so they could see her bodysuit. In Leah’s interview, she can’t believe anyone would think she’d purposely show her vagina to Ramona’s friends. It’s disgusting. She says, Ramona needs to keep my vagina out of her mouth. LuAnn wonders what Sonja’s drink tastes like, and takes a sip. She makes a face, and says she has no idea what it is, but it’s disgusting. Dorinda tells them that she got Sonja to bed. Now she’s going to see where Ramona is. LuAnn says, okay, Mama Dee.

Dorinda finds Ramona on an outside lounge chair, and asks if she’s okay. Ramona says, Sonja is a mess. Dorinda has been a mess. Dorinda says she hasn’t, but Ramona has, and she’s put Ramona to bed. Ramona tells her not to scream (she wasn’t). She can’t be around them anymore. She gets up, and tells Dorinda, drink some water. In Ramona’s interview, she says whenever Dorinda hears something she doesn’t like, she deflects. She’s full of sh*t. Ramona says Leah, Dorinda, and Sonja should go to AA. Dorinda says Ramona should be ashamed. She came to talk as a friend. She goes back to the table, and tells LuAnn and Leah that Ramona told her that she was drunk, when strangely, she’s not. She told Dorinda to go to AA. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, there’s a difference between being concerned, and telling someone to go to AA. It’s totally patronizing, and to say that to Dorinda is a low blow. Dorinda says Ramona also accused her of being drunk at the Halloween party. We flash back to that, and Dorinda tells them, you don’t say that to a friend. LuAnn says she’s been to AA, and she wouldn’t say that. She’s known Dorinda for twenty years, and would never say she’s a drunk. Dorinda says, not tonight. In her interview, LuAnn says she’s not touching that with a ten-foot pole. Ramona should know if you play with fire, you’ll get burned. Dorinda asks for another drink.  

LuAnn finds Ramona, still lounging, and drinking water. Ramona says she’s the only one who’s straight, and LuAnn says she knows how Dorinda gets, and told her to go to AA. Ramona says she thinks Dorinda drinks too much. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, stop name calling. Tell Sonja that she has a problem, and Dorinda had to put her to bed. Back at the table, Dorinda starts to cry, and says Ramona hurt her feelings. Leah says, don’t let her; it’s not worth it. LuAnn tells Ramona, they’re serving tequila. Ramona says Dorinda has a problem, and doesn’t want to admit it, but Sonja has a problem too. And Leah. Ramona says she doesn’t want to drink anymore. LuAnn says Ramona claimed Leah was on medication, and she’s fine. Ramona says Leah had a problem before, and Dorinda plays holier than thou. Ramona admits she’s not perfect, but Dorinda is bitter and angry. LuAnn says they’ve seen it before, and Ramona says the two of them are normal in comparison to everyone there; it’s scary. In her interview, LuAnn says, normal is not a word that comes to mind when she thinks of Ramona. Ramona says she’s going to bed. At the table, Leah says she wants to enjoy the trip, and Dorinda says she’s afraid to be judged. Leah says Ramona crossed the line, saying she was on medication. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she wants to tell Leah not to pay attention, but at the same time she’d be pissed. LuAnn comes back, and asks, what’s happening? and Dorinda says her feelings are hurt. LuAnn says, it’s been a long day, and they can’t be trying to make it right. Leah asks, what happened? and Dorinda wonders if LuAnn asked Ramona about judging her on her drinking. LuAnn went to jail. Ramona doesn’t judge her, and LuAnn almost went back to jail again when she broke parole. In her interview, LuAnn says, it was literally fifteen minutes ago when Dorinda said you don’t shame a friend. It’s hypocritical. We flash back to Dorinda shaming LuAnn a few times, and LuAnn says, since she’s locked up with Dorinda, she’s going to make it nice. For the moment. Dorinda says Ramona accused her under false pretenses. She didn’t go to jail or break probation, and LuAnn tells her, this isn’t nice. Why is Dorinda getting angry at her? Don’t kill the messenger. In her interview, Dorinda says she can’t have a conversation with Ramona. She deflects, and it’s your fault; you’re the problem. She doesn’t need this bitch to tell her where she is on her journey. Dorinda says, Ramona is the one who comes home at 4 am, and LuAnn tells her, like her mother said, nothing good happens after midnight.

Leah uses a roller on her face, and calls her sister Sarah. Dorinda comes into Leah’s room, and Leah asks if Dorinda remembers what she said to LuAnn. Dorinda says LuAnn was the one who went to jail, so don’t be endorsing what Ramona said. Leah says LuAnn was just the messenger, and just telling her what Ramona said. Dorinda tells her, LuAnn has said it in the past. She wasn’t drunk then, and she wasn’t drunk last night. She only had three spritzers. That’s like when the defendant says they only had a couple of beers on People’s Court, and you know they had a whole case. In Leah’s interview, she says she was the most sober last night, and LuAnn said nothing like that. Dorinda can’t be wrong ever, but she’s wrong. Dorinda says she’s not letting this turn into something about her; it’s deflection. Ramona was saying she should go to AA. Leah says she doesn’t want to talk about AA on this trip. She actually went there.

Sonja tosses her shoes into a pile. Ramona comes in, saying, it’s a gorgeous day. Sonja says she went to take one of her water pills, and she googled it. It’s also called a drunken sailor pill. It dehydrates you, and if you drink, makes it worse. Ramona says she doesn’t care what medication someone is on. If you take alcohol with it, the medication makes it worse. In her interview, she wonders what Sonja was thinking, and tells Sonja that she doesn’t need them. In Sonja’s interview, she says, of course she was walking like a drunken sailor. It said the pill was a diarrhetic. Ramona says, at dinner, it got uncomfortable. She wants a one-on-one with Leah. Sonja says, Leah didn’t do anything, and Ramona says she needed to feel out her feelings. What?

LuAnn works out on a treadmill, while Leah does free weights. She asks Leah how it went, and Leah says she told Dorinda that LuAnn was just relaying what Ramona said. Ramona is deflecting from the real situation. LuAnn says it’s not about Ramona; it’s about her. Dorinda can be mad at Ramona, but don’t it take out on her. Leah says, it needs to be nipped in the bud. In LuAnn’s interview, she says she wants Dorinda to understand she’s hurt. It’s a sore subject, and she’s got to get to Dorinda at the right time, in the right place. When she’s not drinking. They talk about their upcoming camel ride. In LuAnn’s  She hasn’t been on a camel since the hiccup in Marrakech. She’s scared, but she’s getting back on that hump. Leah doesn’t want to be in the sun LuAnn sees Ramona and Sonja in the kitchen, and Ramona says, it’s a new day; it’s like nothing happened. The chef is making omelets, and LuAnn says, they’re in Mexico, and have to have huevos rancheros. LuAnn tells Ramona let thing with Leah go; there’s another issue with Dorinda. After Ramona left, Dorinda called LuAnn out, saying she’s the one who went to jail, and tried to make her ashamed of herself, like she didn’t suffer enough. She doesn’t think Dorinda remembers. She knows it’s not about her, but it’s still hurtful. Ramona says, it’s an anger management problem, and in her interview, she says, Dorinda doesn’t realize how much she’s hurting her friends. We flash back to Dorinda’s nastier moments. Ramona says, when Dorinda drinks, her anger accelerates; anger plus drinking equals a really mean Dorinda.

Leah joins them, and Ramona eyeballs her. She sidles over, and says when Leah’s ready, she’d love to have a conversation. Leah suggests they do it now, and they go outside to sit. In Ramona’s interview, she says she’s not going to change Leah, and doesn’t want to harbor anger. It’s time they moved on. Ramona says she thinks she holds Leah to a higher bar. She believes in Leah as a person, and sees she has potential. There’s a side she adores, but one there’s one she doesn’t. She talked to Leah about the party, and had asked her to put her 30 year old self away, and be more demure, so she was hurt and disappointed. Those are her feelings. Leah says, feelings aren’t facts. She wants to know what she did. Ramona must have been angry to talk about mental health issues. Ramona apologizes (yawn), saying she’s sorry she made Leah uncomfortable, and that she let her feelings and expectations color things. Leah suggests they go forward, and says when it comes to the perception of Ramona’s friends, who gives a sh*t? Ramona says she let her own head get in the way. In Leah’s interview, she says Ramona knows she’s wrong deep down, and won’t admit it, but she’s not wasting her energy and time dragging it out of her. She’s letting it go. Leah says, let’s eat, have fun, and enjoy the day. Ramona admits she made a mountain out of a molehill.

Ramona says, it’s a new day; they should all celebrate. Dorinda says, she doesn’t care about last night. She wants to put it behind her and have fun. Sonja threw out pill explains that her water pills are also called drunken syndrome sailor because they exacerbate the effects of drinking. In her interview, Dorinda says she just wants Sonja to be happy, and have no more of these episodes. It worries her. Leah says they’re doing a reset, and LuAnn is thrilled with her attitude. In her interview, LuAnn says Dorinda can try to sweep things under the rug, but they’re still there. They’re not under the rug .Leah goes to take a shower. LuAnn asks if they’re wearing bathing suits under their clothes for the camel ride. Dorinda says they have a cabana on the beach for afterward. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, today is about Mexico, not about what happened yesterday. She doesn’t care. LuAnn tells Dorinda that she talked to Ramona, and Dorinda says she’s over it. LuAnn says, Ramona should let it go, and Dorinda says Ramona listens to LuAnn. Leah is a nice girl. They’re all different, and that’s what makes it good.

They get in limo, and Sonja says her stomach is sloshing. Ramona is worried that Sonja has gas, but Sonja says, it’s a different thing. Dorinda is excited about tonight. She heard the food at the restaurant is delish. It’s a nice place, and they can dress up. Ramona says, they can be festive. In Dorinda’s interview, she says Sonja doesn’t realize, they’re not going on a local outing. They’re celebrating Sonja’s birthday. Drinking, dancing, and laughter; she deserves it. The limo stops at Moroma Beach, and they get out. In her interview, Leah says she’s had a camel ride before, and didn’t feel the need to do it again, but since the others want to, let’s do it. LuAnn says she’s having flashbacks, and we see a flashback of LuAnn being bounced around by a camel. Dorinda wants the one that’s lying down. Leah says she has a camel toe right now, and it’s killing her. Dorinda tells the guide, it’s not Leah’s first time, and asks if they have to date them a little first. When Sonja sees Ramona’s shorts, she tells Ramona, no more macramé. They get on the camels, and the guide tells them to hold on and lean back. Leah says, Dorinda is a natural, and Dorinda says she’s ridden a camel or two in her day. In Dorinda’s interview, she says this is nothing compared to the beasts she’s ridden. She even married a few. Ramona refuses to ride. After she saw LuAnn in Morocco, she said never again. Ramona takes pictures, and Sonja says, she doesn’t want the feisty one. In Sonja’s interview, she says, she and camels just don’t go together. She’s getting on a camel that doesn’t seem to want to know her. Sonja calls for someone to take her down. She’s sweating, nervous, and going to fall. Leah warns her that the camel senses her energy. Dorinda is proud of LuAnn for getting back on the hump. LuAnn says, it feels good.  

Sonja screams she’s getting off. Dorinda is happy, and likes it. Leah says, time to get off, and jumps down. Even though these are very tall camels, and at least six feet. She says she’s not screwing around. LuAnn says they’ve lost a couple. In her interview, Leah says she thought camel riding was something you do in Dubai, not Mexico. Never again. Ramona, Sonja, and Leah head for the beach. Leah says she’s all about getting out of situations; she’s not waiting for help. Dorinda is camel proud, and says Ramona is being snobbish. Sonja tells Ramona, they got ones the others didn’t want to be on. In LuAnn’s interview, she says she got back the on hump, and lived to tell the story. She fist bumps the camera. Dorinda suggests they go to the cabana.  

The cabana is beautiful; sort of like a round wooden birdcage. Inside, there’s an exquisitely set table waiting for them. Sonja says the camels are behind her. Look at the gorgeous table, flowers, and view. That’s what she’s here for. She says LuAnn looks like a Bond girl, and she does. They have lunch, and the salad is served in bottles that have been halved. LuAnn wants to talk to Dorinda, and in her interview, she says the camel ride was a good bonding experience for her and Dorinda. It’s a good moment for them to talk. She’s nervous, but needs to do it, and Dorinda is open to it. LuAnn says she doesn’t know if Dorinda remembers what she said last night. You can see by Dorinda’s body language that she’s immediately defensive, and she tells LuAnn, stop. She had three spritzers. Honestly, I always wonder if these women know they’re being recorded. She might have had three spritzers, but that was in addition to tequila and God knows what else. They’re not talking about her drinking. LuAnn says Dorinda brought it up. Ramona is still upset about Halloween. Dorinda says LuAnn made a comment that she’d gotten drunk in the past. Come on now. Is she saying she’s never been drunk? Again, does she know we’re watching her life on TV? In LuAnn’s interview, she says, that never happened. Dorinda is making sh*t up to make herself feel better, and putting it on her. She tells Dorinda that she didn’t bring up drinking. Dorinda asked her, what happened? she told Dorinda what Ramona said, and Dorinda attacked her. Dorinda says, that’s LuAnn’s truth. See? That’s exactly why I don’t like that your/my truth business. While it can be colored by perspective, there’s the truth, and there isn’t. LuAnn tells Dorinda that what she said was hurtful. Dorinda says, don’t talk about her drinking. LuAnn went to jail, and said it could happen to anybody. Is Dorinda drunk now? Because she’s not making any sense. LuAnn says, then why does Dorinda keep throwing it in her face? They agree not talk about each other’s drinking. Dorinda says she always supports LuAnn, and LuAnn says she supports Dorinda too. She doesn’t want to keep thinking about going to jail. She’s suffered enough. In her interview, LuAnn say she just wants Dorinda to give her a little something, but she won’t budge. It’s hard to have a relationship with someone like that. LuAnn asks if the women want to skedaddle, and that’s the second time I’ve heard that word today.

LuAnn and Ramona check out a bunch of dudes playing a volleyball game. LuAnn wants to play, but Ramona says she’ll just watch. LuAnn says she’s good at volleyball, and then proceeds to stink. When she hits the net the second time the ball bounces back and hits her, knocking her down. Everyone laughs. She finally gets one over the net, and Ramona says she got him flustered. LuAnn says, it’s the bikini.

The women go back to Vila casa del mar, and get dressed for dinner. Leah shows everyone the pictures she took. Dorinda is excited, saying Sonja usually stays in the background, but tonight she’s going to be recognized, and know that they see her and love her. When they get to the restaurant, Dorinda tells Sonja, if she thought today was fun, it’s her birthday! In her interview, Sonja says she’s blown away. Being with the girls means more than a big party. They dance around, and Sonja says it comes from the heart and she’s feeling it. A guy comes out balancing a bottle of tequila on his head, while carrying a tray of shots. In LuAnn’s interview, she says she’s been served tequila in some strange places, but never off a man’s head. She dances with him, and he comes up to about boob height on her. Sonja says, LuAnn is going to swoop him up like King Kong, and take him home.

Dorinda announces, it’s a special night for a special girl. They love Sonja, and 2020 is going to be her year. Ha! That’s what we all thought. They toast to happiness and freedom. In Sonja’s interview, she says it’s nice of Dorinda to plan this. She doesn’t need 50 girlfriends. Ramona, take notes for next year. Leah says LuAnn’s dancing partner is the size of a puppy. He takes their orders, and brings back a stack of Margaritas on his head. Leah wonders how they get them off, and he squats down so they can take them one at a time. LuAnn says she’s never had a Margarita off a man’s head, and Dorinda asks if she’s sure about that. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, these women have been all over the world, but this restaurant holds joy. Sonja is smiling ear to ear, and this is what life’s about. Leah says a guy at the bar is giving her Pablo Escobar vibes, and Dorinda tells her not to assume he’s a criminal. Ramona and Leah discuss online dating. Ramona says she tried it a year ago, but it didn’t work. Dorinda says, it shouldn’t be so complicated, and Leah says she’s the same way. She and Ramona shake hands. Leah says they can’t meet their equals; they’re too unique and different. Ramona says they all have emotional insecurities. Leah wonders how Ramona could have forgiven Mario, and Ramona says she thought of her daughter, and realized the worst thing would be to harbor hate. Leah says Ramona loved her daughter more than herself, and knew it was the best thing. It’s still hard, and a lot of people can’t do it. In Leah’s interview, she says, a lot of women who’ve been cheated on, never want to look at the guy again, and rightly so. She says she respects Ramona. She was willing to forgive Mario for the betterment of the family. Ramona wonders what’s next for her; she doesn’t know. Leah says it’s an exciting time for Ramona. She has all the money she needs, and can do what she wants. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, everybody thought the guy with the five drinks on his head was the highlight of the evening, but just wait. She and Dorinda slip off to the bathroom. Leah tells Ramona, there’s something powerful about being a mother. Ramona says she’s always been a caregiver. Sonja says, she’s not. LuAnn comes out, wearing a jacket that lights up, and a sombrero. She says Sonjarita is her friend, and sings Happy Birthday. Dorinda comes out wearing a fake big boob top and a gold turban, bearing a cake with sparklers. Sonja motorboats Dorinda’s shirt, and a mariachi band plays.

Sonja says she’s loving it. Leah thinks the waiter is an amazing man. He might be only three feet tall, but has the aura of someone six foot seven. Leah tells Sonja, happy birthday, and talks about Sonja’s tight p*ssy. Ramona tells Leah, that she doesn’t want to talk about body parts; she wants to get along. Leah promises to only talk about her perfect p*ssy. Ramona gets up, and Leah follows her. In Ramona’s interview, she says, this is the Leah she doesn’t enjoy, but she can walk away, and it will diffuse. At her birthday, there were 70 women, and she couldn’t ignore it. Ramona tells Leah, don’t talk body parts, and Leah says, stop it right now. Ramona says she’s a good Catholic girl, and she doesn’t talk about that. Then a spaceship comes down to get her. It might as well, since she’s on another planet. Leah tells Ramona, she can try and hide, but her turtle times are liked. In Leah’s interview, she says, Ramona isn’t some delicate virgin flower. When she wants to talk about sex, she does. We flash back to several times where Ramona did talk about that, and Leah says, but if she talks about anything related to sex, she’s treated like a serial killer. Leah goes back to the table, and says, she understands she embarrassed everyone. LuAnn asks what Ramona said, and Leah tells her, Ramona claims to be a prude. Dorinda says, that’s bullsh*t. Leah says once again, she’s held to a different standard. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she’s not supporting Ramona, but she does think Leah is poking the bear.

Ramona comes back, kisses the top of Leah’s head, says she loves her, and they’ll talk tomorrow. Dorinda says she’s proud of Ramona. In Ramona’s interview, she says she thinks Leah looks to her for approval, and wants to test boundaries. So she gave her a kiss to disarm her. LuAnn says that a dish is spicy, and Leah says, she likes spicy… d*ck. LuAnn says, she can’t help herself, and Ramona says, God help her.

Next time, LuAnn finds a guy, Dorinda isn’t well, more sparklers, LuAnn tries to hook up Sonja, the women attend some kind of ritual, and Ramona and LuAnn discuss Dorinda’s drinking, then confront her. I’m sure that will go well.    

💿 For the Record…

On Watch What Happens Live, LuAnn was the sole (remote) guest, and the 200th episode of RHONY was celebrated. Various people from days gone by made appearances, and one of them was Tomas, the pirate LuAnn may or may not have slept with. According to Tomas, they did not sleep together. I’m not sure if he was just being a gentleman, but case closed.

🧗‍♀️ Almost Made It…

After two days of the power going in and out, we lost it altogether tonight. Somehow, I was still able to get this post together, but tea time will have to wait until tomorrow. To top it off, WordPress has introduced a new editor that I haven’t had time to investigate fully. As far as I can tell, only links are done differently, but I’m so sleep-deprived, I could be hallucinating. Don’t let this happen to you, and stay safe, stay fit, and stay getting enough sleep.

July 30, 2020 – When Michael’s Side Testified, Ramona Feels Hurt, Free Party, More Award Noms, Sad Honor & Going On

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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Today’s GH Flashback was from May 20th, 2020. Here’s the shortened version, but if you want to take the long road, go to:

https://tvwiththeresa.wordpress.com/2020/05/21/may-20-2020-the-custody-hearing-begins-an-astrological-evening-goodbye-basement-artie-farewell-to-the-best-child-reunion-togetherness-king-costume-tnt-train-raining/

At Turning Woods, Sonny told Jason, the disease takes away everything you are, and leaves you an empty shell. When he asks what Mike wants, Mike doesn’t say anything or doesn’t want to. If Elizabeth was wrong, and Mike wanted to stay and fight, he had every right to. Then again, what was he fighting for? He has nothing look forward to. Sonny looked at Mike, and said his heart was still beating, but his brain couldn’t hold memories . He’d lost his appetite, and they’d have to put tubes in him. Sonny was confused as to what to do, and Jason said he knew Sonny wanted answers, but he could only say what he’d want in Mike’s place. Lulu stormed into Laura’s hold the invitation to Windymere for Ava’s portrait unveiling. Laura said she’d gotten hers yesterday, and Lulu said she could send regrets for them both, but Laura said that’s not what she wanted. Nikolas found Ava at the MetroCourt bar, and told her Avery was quite the artist. Ava said she couldn’t wait to show Avery’s work at the gallery, and he said he’d run into her favorite painter at the gym. She hoped he didn’t use Franco as a punching bag, and Nikolas wondered if there was something – or someone – he and Franco should be fighting about. Elizabeth told Franco that Nikolas was trying to be the person she used to know, one who valued honor and integrity. If he became that person again, she’d accept him back as a friend. Franco said Nikolas had run her sister out of town. Was that someone she wanted to be friends with? Diane told Michael and Willow to go ahead into the courtroom; she wanted to talk to Carly. She asked if Carly was prepared for Martin cross-examining her. It wasn’t going to be pretty. Carly said she was going to present herself as a loving grandmother, which was true, and convince the judge that Nelle should never get custody. Willow asked Michael if he still had photographs of him and Sasha, but he said he’d deleted them; he was a married man. She said she was a married woman, and deleted her pictures of Chase. She told Michael, she knew he was grateful, but he was also hurting like her, and it made it more bearable knowing they were going through it together. Michael said when he needed a reminder of why they were doing this, he looked at a picture of Wiley. Nelle practiced her testimony for Martin, who said it was too saccharine; not enough sincerity.

Lulu told Laura that the unveiling was just an excuse for Ava to patronize the little people. Nikolas had brought her into their family, but didn’t see why he should inflict her on the rest of them. If Laura went, she wouldn’t just be going as his mother, but as the mayor. She’d be giving Ava her stamp of approval, knowing she’d coerced Nikolas into marriage, and Spencer would rather stay in France than be there. Was Laura prepared for that?  Ava told Nikolas that Franco was ruled by powerful emotion, and she was promoting his art. Nikolas suggested she was promoting his past, and she said Franco didn’t mind. He said, Elizabeth did, and Ava asked if he’d shown Elizabeth the letter from Spencer. How was he going to respond? Was he going to choose his son, or his fortune? Nelle asked if Martin had any more unwanted advice, and he said, just tell truth, and let stand up to Michael, Carly, and Willow’s version. Julian came in, and Martin asked if he’d been drinking. Julian said, just one shot for courage, and Martin gave him some mints. Martin left, and Nelle said if she won custody, Sonny would never have to find out that Julian knew about the baby switch. Julian said he’d stick to the script; losing wasn’t an option. Diane asked Carly if Sonny was going to be there, but Carly said, no. Diane said it was probably best. His presence might be construed as intimidation. Michael asked if Willow was ready to go head to head with Nelle’s attorney, and she said she had nothing to be ashamed of. Michael told her that he couldn’t say the same. Martin was going to drag him and his family through the mud, and some would splash on her. Willow said for better or worse, and he said they were starting with worse. She asked if the honeymoon was over, and he said when the trial was done, they’d go somewhere fun with Wiley.

Jason said when he’d had surgery the first time, he’d said he didn’t want tubes and machines keeping him alive. Sonny said he didn’t have kids then, but Jason said he’d never want his kids to go through what Sonny was going through. He wished Mike hadn’t put it on Sonny. Sonny said there was a lot he and Mike hadn’t talked about; a lot they hadn’t shared. And now it was too late. Ava took Nikolas’s silence to mean he hadn’t talked to Spencer, and Nikolas said, what if his son didn’t want him without his money? Ava said Spencer was still young, but if didn’t care, he would have been indifferent when Nikolas returned. Spencer loved him, and wanted to be with him, money or no. Nikolas said Ava would like that. She would get it all, but guess again. He walked out. Elizabeth told Franco that she knew Nikolas could be selfish, but he was also sensitive and kind. He’d been patient with Mike. Franco said it sounded like she was halfway to forgiving Nikolas. She said she was trying to understand why one minute, Nikolas was a stranger, and the next, he was her old friend. Franco said he was sorry he’d brought it up, but she said they couldn’t pretend their feelings didn’t exist. Her feelings for Nikolas were complicated, like Franco’s feelings for Ava. Diane put Carly on the witness stand, and asked about Carly going to Ferncliff. Carly said Nelle had claimed Carly pushed her down the stairs, and she was forced to plead temporary insanity Diane said she eventually escaped, which was criminal, and Carly said, when the truth came out, she was exonerated, and her sentence vacated. Diane asked if Nelle ever visited, and Carly said she had, when she’d become engaged to Michael. Nelle had told Carly that she was trapped. She was going to marry Michael, and in time, everyone would forget her, and she’d be left to rot. She’d wanted Carly to know she’d won. Martin objected, saying it was inflammatory, and Diane said, withdrawn.

In his cross-examination, Martin asked about Sonny’s businesses, illegal or otherwise, and Diane objected because Sonny wasn’t there. Martin said, withdrawn, and asked Carly, what happened in court in April of 1998? She said Tony Jones had kidnapped Michael, received a suspended sentence, and she’d shot him. He asked what sentence she received, and she said she’d gone to Shadybrook. He asked if she believed Wiley would be safe in her less than stable care, and Diane objected. Martin said, withdrawn. Diane said it was a matter of public record that Nelle had perjured herself – in other words, Nelle lied – because she’d wanted to cause Carly grievous harm. Had Carly ever retaliated? Carly said, never. She loved her son and grandson too much to stoop to Nelle’s level. Diane called Michael to the stand. Laura thanked Lulu for her concern, and Lulu said, but she was going anyway. Laura said someone had to look out for Nikolas, and Lulu said he had a wife for that. Laura said she would love if Ava was the person to bring the good out in Nikolas, but it wasn’t going to happen. Lulu asked if she thought there was still any good to bring out, and Laura said Nikolas just needed a chance to show it. Lulu said Laura was his mom. What if he’d become a Cassadine, through and through, and was just as deceitful as the rest of them? Laura said she’d never give up on Nikolas, like Lulu would never give up on her own kids. There was a knock at the door, and it was Nikolas, bearing flowers. Franco told Elizabeth that his feelings for Ava weren’t complicated; she cared about his career. Elizabeth said Ava was more concerned about herself, when Ava appeared, saying Elizabeth sounded like Nikolas, and she wouldn’t put much stock in someone who’d pretended to be dead for two years. She gave Franco the check for the balance on the portrait. Diane asked Michael about when he first met Wiley, and Michael said Brad and Lucas had asked him to be Wiley’s godfather. He’d felt honored, but also had a connection; an instinct that Wiley needed him. Diane asked what happened when he found out Wiley was his son? and Michael said the bond became stronger. He made a vow never to let Wiley down or let anyone hurt him. Martin said no one doubted Michael’s love for Wiley, and submitted Michael and Willow’s marriage license as evidence; dated just before midnight. Diane asked if there was a question, and Martin said, given the timing, did Michael love his wife? Michael talked about how wonderful Willow was, and that he loved her, and Martin asked why he hadn’t married her earlier. Was he in love with her?

Michael admitted he loved Willow, but wasn’t in love with her. Martin said Michael hadn’t married for love, but to put on a show for the court, and project the image of a loving, stable couple. Michael said Willow’s love for Wiley was equal to his own, and Martin said he wasn’t asking if Michael loved his son. Mutual love was the bedrock of genuine marriage, and absent that, it was a marriage of convenience. I’m seriously surprised that Martin opened this door, since Nelle and Julian barely knew each other. Sonny wondered if Mike was listening to music, listening to something in his head, or nothing,  and told Jason they hadn’t gotten a lot of time after Mike left him and his mom. Jason said he’d gotten Mike back, and Sonny said he was grateful. Not everyone got a second chance. Michael was fighting for his son, and he was there, fighting for his father, and losing him more every day. Nikolas asked Lulu how Charlotte was, and said of all the mistakes he’d made, pretending to be Charlotte’s secret bodyguard was the worst. He asked if Lulu had a court date for custody, and Lulu said she and Valentin had agreed to continue with their 50/50 agreement. Laura said she was proud of Lulu for putting Charlotte’s needs first, and Lulu said she hoped Nikolas wasn’t intending on giving her advice about raising children. He said he’d come there to get advice. Spencer was more than willing to welcome Nikolas back in his life if he dumped Ava. Lulu asked if Nikolas had answered him, but Nikolas said, not yet. She asked what he was waiting for; it was a no-brainer. Laura asked what was stopping him. Franco got excited about the check, and Ava said the portrait was going to be a huge success; he’d be swamped with commissions. Elizabeth said, along with a reminder of the past he’d worked hard to put behind him. Ava said there was no such thing as bad publicity, and Elizabeth asked why Ava didn’t work to bring out the best in Nikolas. Ava asked why Elizbeth thought it was there, and Elizabeth said she’d seen it. Michael told the court, he and Willow would work to provide a loving, stable home for Wiley, but it wasn’t a marriage of convenience. It came at a cost, but Wiley was worth it.

Willow was put on the stand, and she said putting her baby up for adoption was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do, but she had to protect him from Shiloh. Diane pointed out that Nelle had married Shiloh in prison, where he’d been convicted of numerous crimes, including drugging and raping women. Now his widow wanted sole custody. She asked how Willow felt when she learned her son was dead, and Willow said the grief was unbearable, but at the same time, she was happy for Michael. He’d asked her to stay in Wiley’s life because Wiley had been through so many changes already. Michael knew the best thing he could do for Wiley was give him a real family. Martin asked if there wasn’t another side to the story; a darker side involving her. Nikolas told Laura and Lulu that if he and Ava divorced, he’d lose everything, and it was Spencer’s legacy. Lulu said Ava was a lot of things, but she was no dummy. Spencer was a good kid, but had expensive taste, and a long list of necessities. Laura said all Spencer needed was his father. Spencer felt betrayed by Ava when she’d backed Valentin, and would do anything to punish her. Nikolas didn’t need her to tell him what to do. Be a father to his son, and everything else would take care of itself. He thanked her, and left. Lulu asked Laura, what was that about? Ava asked Elizabeth to put aside her misgivings, and join them at the unveiling, for Nikolas. Elizabeth left, and Ava told Franco she thought she was doing something good, but he felt exploited or it would have a negative impact on the boys… He said he’d been honest with the boys, and hoped one day they’d forgive him for who he’d been. She said, what about Elizabeth? Martin said Willow had been a teacher, and asked if she still worked at the school. She said she’d been terminated because parents had complained she was inserting herself in her student’s lives, and disregarding their wishes. He asked if that’s how she intend to care for Wiley. Would she ignore the wishes of the mother who gave birth  to him? How did they know she wouldn’t eventually ignore the wishes of Wiley’s father? Who would be there to protect Wiley from her?

Diane asked if Willow had gotten no letter of recommendation from the school, and Willow said she had gotten one. Diane submitted her glowing recommendation letter, and Willow said she was now working in a teaching program at GH. Diane had Willow read her perfect evaluation, and submitted that as well. Diane said she rested. Jason told Sonny, when Mike was bartending at Luke’s club, he’d always try to connect with Sonny. He can see now that Mike was trying to win back Sonny’s trust, and trying to be someone Sonny counted on. Then he’d get in trouble, lie, Sonny would shut down, and the disappointment was like a wall between them. Then the cycle would begin again, with Mike trying to tear down the wall. Sonny said he should have been forgiving, and Jason said Mike never gave up, knowing it was his fault in the first place. He kept trying because he was Sonny’s dad. Mike loved him, and wanted him to be okay. Whatever Sonny wanted to do – if he wanted to keep Mike or let him go – he’d be doing what Mike wanted. Sonny teared up, and said he appreciated it, and Jason left. Sonny asked Mike if he wanted to watch TV. Maybe the Yankees were continuing their home run streak. He knew Mickey Mantle was looking down, cheering. He still has the signed card Mike had given him as a kid. Mike had said it would be worth more than gold. Did he remember? Laura told Lulu that she was reminding Nikolas not to underestimate Spencer. If Nikolas was open and honest, Spencer wouldn’t disappoint him. Lulu said she was in awe of Laura’s capacity for forgiveness and understanding. Laura said she was in awe of Lulu too. She hoped Nikolas had learned his lesson, and was willing to change. Nikolas called Spencer, and left a message. He said he’d gotten Spencer’s letter, and was ready to respond. Ava told Franco that she looked forward to seeing him at the party, and Nikolas was hoping to see Elizabeth as well. She left, and Franco asked if Elizabeth was ready, and not to forget her flowers. They got into the elevator, and Elizabeth seemed really weird, kind of distant.

Martin called Nelle to the stand.

This episode was especially poignant to me, since at the time it was first aired, I had a very sick older dog, and wasn’t sure how much should be done for him. Jason’s words resonated with me, and I knew whatever I did would be what Casey wanted. I did do everything I could, and unfortunately, he passed away anyway, but, silly as it sounds, Jason was very helpful to me as well as Sonny.

The Real Housewives of New York City

Salon owner Angelo greets LuAnn goes at the David Salon. WTH happened to Ramona’s party? She tells Angelo, the ladies from the Fortune Society are on their way for a fun spa day. In her interview, she says, it’s a small thing, but if makes them feel good about themselves, that makes her happy. She picks out a wig to wear for the day. It’s a brunette bob with bangs, and she looks good, but I can’t imagine LuAnn looking bad. Well, maybe in that mug shot. Ramona comes in, and says she didn’t recognize LuAnn; she looks like Kathrine McPhee. Leah gets in a limo with Dorinda. LuAnn tells Ramona that she looked great at her party, and Ramona says she felt great. She was in her element, and people afterward, saying they felt the love. In Ramona’s interview, she says it was the party of the century. The only snafu was Leah, but nothing is perfect. Leah tells Dorinda, it was a creepy crowd. Dorinda tells her that Ramona asked someone for a hundred dollar donation toward her bag, and we flash back to Ramona screeching about the bag she got. Unreal. While I’m trying to come up with money for vet bills. LuAnn says, Mexico is going to be something. Ramona says the girls were drinking and not eating. She doesn’t want to talk about it. LuAnn says Sonja broke the glass on a mirror by dancing on it, and Ramona says she could have blinded someone. (You’ll shoot your eye out!) Ramona tells LuAnn, Sonja has become a liability. It’s like when they were in Miami. We flash back to Sonja screaming at Bethenny, and falling off her chair. LuAnn says, that was bad. In LuAnn’s interview, she says Sonja isn’t ready to listen about her drinking, and she doesn’t want to help someone who won’t help themselves. Ramona says, Leah was an embarrassment, and LuAnn says Leah is going to be there today. Ramona says she’s not even going to look at Leah. She’s disgusted. Leah asks Dorinda, who invites someone to a party, and gets angry because they’re dancing? Dorinda says, they were all dancing, and Sonja destroyed some property. Dorinda has glass in her foot now. Leah wonders why she’s the only one in trouble. In her interview, she says, once again she’s singled out by Ramona. Ramona must be living with a lot of shame to try to make her feel ashamed, but she doesn’t. Dorinda says, Leah has the one thing Ramona can’t have – youth. By God, I think she’s right.

The women from Fortune Society start arriving. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, seeing how excited they are, it gives her pleasure to be able to give this to them. Ramona asks one of them how long she’s been out of the slammer, although she fumbles around for the words. The woman says, three years. She was in prison for 38 months, having been incarcerated at 17; she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Dorinda and Leah come in. In Ramona’s interview, she says when she’s upset, and doesn’t know how to deal with it, she pretends nothing happened. Dorinda shows Ramona her foot, and sure enough there’s a piece of glass imbedded in it. She should really get that looked at. Sonja says she remembers, sorta, kinda. Ramona tells LuAnn, glass was flying all over. After LuAnn gets the women situated, Leah asks to talk to her. She says she’s disturbed and disgusted, and LuAnn tells Leah that she tried bringing up Ramona singling her out. Leah says Ramona is acting like she did something wrong, and treating her like sh*t. She can barely look at Ramona without throwing up. Sonja asks Ramona, what happened? and Ramona tells her how she danced on the mirror. Sonja says she wasn’t the only one dancing. True, but she was the only one dancing on a mirror. Leah says she needs to talk to this bitch. Dorinda tries on a brunette wig, and I vote no. Ramona says she doesn’t want Sonja to end up like LuAnn. She has to figure out how to control her drinking. She asks if she can help, and Sonja says, no more vodka. She’s going back to champagne. In Leah’s interview, she says Ramona’s act is totally bullsh*t. She’s seen  Ramona’s nasty side firsthand, and she’s let things go, but acting like someone is invisible is the worst thing to do to them. Sonja whines to Ramona that her friend’s mother died. LuAnn says, Ramona is deliberately ignoring Leah, and Leah turns the volume up a little, and says, that’s because Ramona is a terrible person, and everyone knows it. She’s a bitch, and doesn’t support women like she claims to. She’s a phony, and singles Leah out. She says, Sonja is Ramona’s best friend, and Ramona treats her like sh*t. Leah grabs her coat, and says she’s leaving. She’s out. She’s not here for it.

LuAnn tells Leah, don’t worry, and Leah asks why are they came there if Ramona is acting like this. Sonja asks why Leah is upset, and Leah tells LuAnn, Ramona wants to be a bitch for no reason. Leah was dancing like everyone else, and Ramona’s sister said she cheapened the group. She elevates this sh*t. Sonja laughs, and Ramona gets all involved with the make-overs. Sonja stuffs her face from a buffet that’s there, and puts something back after biting into it, when she realizes she doesn’t like it. Ew. She’s not a hot mess; she’s just a mess. In Sonja’s interview, she says, does she think it’s correct to ostracize someone from the group? Not really. Dorinda tries talking to Ramona, who says she’s so disappointed. She’s not going there now; she’s so upset. Dorinda asks if they can’t work it out, and Ramona says, no. In her interview, Dorinda says she doesn’t know how Ramona expects not to talk to Leah. They’re going to Mexico together. One of the Fortune Society women tells LuAnn that she loves her. We see before and after shots, and everyone looks great. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, it’s heartwarming. To see the women pampered, and feeling beautiful and shining, gives her more than she can give them in one spa day.

Sonja goes to Century 21 to see her new display. In her interview, she says she didn’t know they’d had enough clothing to fill the space. Who knew there was so much Sonja Morgan New York? Dorinda joins her, and says, it’s amazing. In Sonja’s interview, she says she’s having a huge launch party, but can’t resist showing Dorinda and Ramona first. Dorinda says she has goosebumps In Dorinda’s interview, she says Sonja is like the little engine that could. I think I can, I think I can. Sonja finally let the cat out of the bag. Or the rabbit out of a hat. She pulled something out of somewhere. Ramona comes in, and squeals that Sonja is front and center. That means she’s important. In Ramona’s interview, she says she’s happy for Sonja, and tells Sonja, this is major. She has not one, but two floors. Dorinda says it’s more than she’d expected. She tells them that she found an incredible house in Mexico – sun, beach, and fun. In her interview, she says, they’ll have it all. She knows Ramona doesn’t want to talk to Leah, but she’s going to have to. Ramona says she’ll be civil, and not ruin the vacation. She’s a lady. In her interview, Dorinda says Ramona avoids things like a thief in the dark. Put a spotlight on her ass, and she’s done. Ramona says she found out Leah is bipolar and on meds. She shouldn’t be drinking, and it makes her not respect Leah. In her interview, Ramona says she has no time for the internet, but one of her girlfriends read Leah’s blog. Leah said she’s bipolar, and she’s not acting responsibly. In Sonja’s interview, she wonders where Ramona is getting her information. Sonja is getting along with Leah, and doesn’t want to change that. Ramona says Leah trashed her home in the Berkshires, went crazy in Newport, and now the party. Three strikes.

Everyone packs for Mexico, and meet at Newark airport for a 6:30 flight to Cancun. In Leah’s interview, she says it’s hard to ignore Ramona, but they haven’t said a word to each other. The women pick up their bags. LuAnn’s bag is vibrating, and LuAnn says, it’s a thing to mix juice. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she thinks it mixes some other juice, and I laugh. One time, my husband’s electric razor started up in his suitcase, and he quickly said, it’s not a vibrator! way too loud. Sonja tells Ramona, at least have a shower before she picks up guys. In Leah’s interview, she says, obviously, they need to talk about what’s gone on, but she’s in Mexico for the first time, and wants to enjoy herself. They take a limo ride to the house, Vila Casa del Mar. Ramona reads, 12,000 square feet of paradise. Alcohol awaits, as well as personalized towels. I go, ooh! and think Below Deck should consider that. A mariachi band plays, and the waitstaff lines up. Ramona says she likes to check out the house immediately. Sure she does. She wants to score the best room. Manager Cesar greets them. In Ramona’s interview, she says she’s been to a lot of beautiful places, but never saw a staff treat people at this level. She’s so excited. The pool has the conventional floaties, like the unicorn, and there are also floating armchairs and a floating table. Everyone marvels at the pool, and Ramona wants to go in immediately. She gets on a floatie, and falls in. They check out the beach, and LuAnn says, it’s the bomb. Dorinda says, there are no bad rooms. Ramona and Sonja talk outside, and Ramona says she’s hurt and disappointed. She told Leah that she was having a party, and would like to include her, but please act mature. Now she’s hurt. Sonja says she’s not being mad or judgmental. Are these women in the same show that I’m watching? LuAnn visits the kitchen, and chats with the staff, while sneaking a snack. Sonja says Leah claimed she never lifted her skirt, and Ramona says she had to pull it down. This was in front of 50 of her closest girlfriends. Number change alert! It was a celebration of her, not Leah’s body. Ah, there we have it. Ramona is jealous. Ramona gets weepy, which is borderline insane. She says, it’s different here, but it was her birthday party. Sonja says Leah should have been on her best behavior. In Sonja’s interview, she says, you can’t go in, pull up your dress, and show your hoo-ha. Ramona says Leah hurt her and embarrassed her.

The women gather in the living inside. Sonja wonders why Ramona has no camel toe in her jumpsuit, and says she has a chubby p*ssy. In Leah’s interview, she says, if she said that, Ramona would beat her like a piñata. Dorinda tells them that they’re playing a game for the room choices. Whoever presses the buzzer first, and gets the correct answer, can have the room of their choice. She reads, if Sonja had a large meal, what would she most likely do in the car? LuAnn says, farting, and wins. Number two is, what is LuAnn’s favorite word? and Leah answers, cabaret, getting second choice. Either we don’t see any more questions, or only two of the rooms are different from the rest. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, it’s an occasion. She never gets first choice of room. Sonja and Ramona are rooming together, and they choose a room near the kitchen and bar. It also has an incredible view. Dorinda asks Leah if she wants to sit on the terrace. Leah says she’s hurt (word of the night). Ramona is going around saying she showed her vagina, and it’s demeaning and a lie. Then she told Sonja that Leah was on pills because she was depressed. It’s a line you don’t cross. In Leah’s interview, she says, before the trip, Sonja let it slip that Ramona was gossiping that she was bipolar. It’s repulsive AF. She must have been doing some digging. She was diagnosed as bipolar on her 30th birthday, and she became dedicated to getting it under control, and getting herself in a good place. She’s not on meds, and to be talking about it is despicable. Dorinda says, Ramona’s got to quit it. Leah’s a wonderful girl, and Dorinda loves and respects her, as a person and as a mother. In her interview, Dorinda says Ramona has two methods to get to someone; narcissism and a smear campaign. Leah says Ramona loves her one day, and the next she’s saying crazy sh*t. Her way of treating people is less than zero.

Ramona unpacks, and Sonja models her swimsuit. Dorinda comes by, and tells Ramona, they won’t come to a solution if Ramona doesn’t talk to Leah. Ramona says she’s not shunning Leah, and not being mean or sending out bad vibes. Again, are we in the same show orbit? Dorinda says Ramona is avoiding Leah, and Ramona says, let Leah come to her. She should apologize. In Ramona’s interview, she says Leah can do what she wants; just not on her dime. For the fiftieth time, Ramona tells Sonja that Leah hurt her. In Sonja’s interview, she says Ramona just wants an apology. Leah’s got to own it. Leah confers on the phone with Kier about her hairdo. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she wants Leah to confront Ramona, and she wants Ramona to have no opportunity to judge what Leah is wearing. She gives Leah a sheer leopard caftan, and Leah puts it on over a black bodysuit. It looks gorgeous. LuAnn sees her, and says she loves when women dress for their girlfriends. Sonja tells the on-staff beautician that she wants her hair to look amazing. BTW, she’s naked, and just holding a towel on her frontside. In Ramona’s interview, she says Sonja hasn’t had that much to drink. She must be on meds. She’s like Mr. Hand, thinking everyone is on dope. Dorinda tells Leah that Ramona expects an apology, and Leah says, Maria told Elyse that she’d been showing her vagina at the party. LuAnn comes into Ramona and Sonja’s room, and wonders what Sonja is drinking. Sonja says, coffee, and LuAnn says, thank God. Dorinda looks for the others, and says, everyone is waiting. LuAnn says, Sonja is half in the bag, and Dorinda says Sonja claimed she was drinking Coke. LuAnn says, spiked Coke, and in LuAnn’s interview, she says Sonja thinks she was born yesterday. She’s three sheets to the wind, and LuAnn doesn’t want a repeat of Miami. Leah says, it’s déclassé, and LuAnn racks the billiard balls on a pool table nearby.  Sonja stumbles around naked. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, the hypocrisy is incredible. She’s confused and mad. LuAnn says Ramona wants to avoid this, and that’s why she’s hiding. Ramona babbles to Chef Eduardo, and LuAnn continues to play pool by herself. LuAnn asks Dorinda what the hell Sonja’s been drinking, and Dorinda says, Coke with rosé. LuAnn says, first of all, that’s disgusting. Barrelling down the hallway, Sonja yells that she has an unstoppable p*ssy. Ramona babbles to the bartender about tequila, and in her interview, Dorinda says she hears the ring of avoidance with a tinge of fear. Ramona will do anything to avoid Leah. Someone get a taser, and calm her ass down. Ramona babbles some more about wine.

The woman are seated outside, and Sonja asks Chef Eduardo what he’s going to teach them. He tells her that they’re making ceviche. Sonja takes her hat off, and tosses it on the ground. She says she can’t deal; she’s reached her limit. In her interview, Leah says, Sonja is sloppy and Ramona doesn’t give a flying f***. Sonja insists she’s had nothing to drink. She says Leah never said anything to Ramona, and Leah says she’s right there. LuAnn says they need to address the fish in the room, and Dorinda says they’re back in the Berkshires. Sonja tells Leah to say what’s on her mind in a kind manner, and Leah says she doesn’t have that much to say. She’s disappointed that Ramona would talk about her depression issues behind her back, and belittle her, when it’s something she’s overcome. Ramona says maybe she’s trying to excuse Leah’s behavior, and Leah says, what behavior? Ramona says, never mind, and LuAnn says she missed something. Ramona says she doesn’t want to talk about it, and Leah says Ramona has been talking about her vagina to half the Upper East Side. Ramona says she doesn’t even like that word. Chef Eduardo looks pretty dumbfounded. He’s certainly getting an earful. Ramona asks what Leah is talking about. In her interview, Leah says, Ramona is clearly trying to deflect and gaslight her, but can’t seem to say how she hurt her. Ramona moans that she took Leah in, and Leah hurt her. Leah asks, how? She’s not explaining. Ramona says, if Leah doesn’t get it, she’s not explaining, and Leah says Ramona is manipulating like crazy. Ramona says Leah acted crazy at her house, and Leah says, that was months ago. Sonja says, if you’re drunk, you don’t get invited. She wants to protect Leah, and says, when you come into the group, you can’t do certain things. Dorinda says Leah can do whatever she wants, and Leah says she never did anything, and no one saw her vagina. Ramona needs to stop talking about it. Ramona stomps off, saying she’s not. It’s disgusting. She slams the door behind her.

Next time, a cake with a sparkler, Sonja motorboats Dorinda, Dorinda tells Ramona that she’s terrible and should be ashamed of herself, and LuAnn has camel flashbacks.

🎊 On Watch What Happens Live tonight, Ramona was a guest, and said Larry Scott gifted her with the party. I should hope so. He certainly got some major advertising.

👨‍🚀 Bring On the Moon Men…

The list of nominees for the MTV Video Music Awards.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1175082/2020-mtv-video-music-awards-see-the-complete-list-of-nominees

😔 Covering Breonna…

This particular case saddens and angers me, but I’m glad it’s getting some attention.

https://extratv.com/2020/07/30/oprah-honors-breonna-taylor-on-the-cover-of-o-magazine/

🤯 Spent…

It’s been one long week, so I’m calling it a night… or is that morning? We’re almost caught up on GH, and they’ll have new episodes starting money. Tomorrow’s post will have the last flashback, the Shah’s reunion, and a spot of tea. Until then, stay safe, stay sound, and stay making your mask a fashion statement.

July 29, 2020 – When Jason Heard the Truth, Roman Tragedy, Another Soap Angel, Real Reunion, Stunned Bethenny, Stars Take Over, the Festival Is On & Climbing

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Moving right along, today’s GH flashback was from May 19th, 2020. You can grab a couple of feet here, or go for the whole nine yards at:

https://tvwiththeresa.wordpress.com/2020/05/20/may-19-2020-waiting-for-sonnys-permission-vanderfinale-dont-knock-buzzard-shower/

At the MetroCourt, Diane said Nelle tanked her case by marrying the least reputable man in Port Charles. Willow wondered what Nelle was thinking, and Carly said it wasn’t about Nelle; it was about what was right for Wiley. Back at the courtroom, Sonny asked Julian why he married Nelle. Julian said he didn’t answer to Sonny, and started to leave, but Jason blocked his way. Sonny said Julian wasn’t leaving. The conversation wasn’t over. Nina found Nelle in the Crimson office, and said she thought Nelle would be in court. Nelle said they were on break and she stopped to change. She also wanted to double-check about Nina testifying for her as a character witness. Nina said thinking about it caused her to reexamine her own situation. She believed her daughter was alive, and was going to find her. Nelle said she was thrilled, and Nina’s daughter would see that she was the gold standard for moms. Elizabeth called Franco at Charlie’s, and apologized for bailing. He said he hadn’t had a chance to apologize properly, and thought it required a bigger gesture. Elizabeth said she’d talked to Nikolas, who gave her perspective on her art and the value of her work. Franco asked if Nikolas had found her sister yet, and Elizabeth said she’d see him later. Scotty came in, and asked Franco if the flowers were for him, and said Franco must have done something stupid. Franco said he wanted to make it up to Elizabeth, but Nikolas had beat him to it. Nikolas visited Mike at Turning Woods. He showed Mike pictures of Spencer, and asked if Mike remembered his grandson, but Mike was unresponsive.

Scotty told Franco that Elizabeth and Nikolas went way back to when they were kids. If Elizabeth needed reassurance, it was natural she turn to Nikolas, especially if Franco botched it. Franco said it was ancient history and had no bearing on the present, but Scotty said he wouldn’t trust Nikolas, especially when it came to Elizabeth. Nikolas talked to Mike about Spencer, saying Spencer was unforgettable, like Mike. Spencer had developed a finely tuned sense of right and wrong; now Nikolas was the one with questionable ethics. He hoped Spencer came back. Spencer would want to see Mike, and he told Mike to hang in there. In the hallway, Elizabeth said she overheard Nikolas, and he said he was hoping to spark something. It was worth a try. She asked if he hadn’t heard from Spencer, and he said he couldn’t bring himself to tell Spencer that he would lose the estate if he ditched Ava. He didn’t want to disappoint his son. Elizabeth said the estate didn’t matter, but he said it did, more than she knew. He was trying to look at the part of him worthy of her friendship, and she said she could see he was trying to be a better person, and reconnecting with the people he cared about. Even if Mike couldn’t appreciate it, she could. Diane went to the MetroCourt, and Carly asked if there was any chance she’d been negotiating an out of court settlement. Diane said she called to tell Alexis that her sleazebag of an ex married Nelle. Michael said it seemed to be a bad strategy, and Diane said Nelle thought it would level the playing field. Michael suggested it would hurt Nelle’s case, when Martin walked in, and told them not to count their chicks before they hatched. Nelle was making a nice nest for Wiley, like Michael and his newly wedded wife were. Sonny asked Julian what Nelle had on him, and Julian said, nothing. Sonny said he couldn’t have married Nelle for love, and Julian said he missed Wiley, and wanted Wiley back in his life. Sonny said he bought that, but it didn’t explain why he married Nelle. Julian said Nelle loved Wiley in her own way. She’d come into the bar, they’d talked about Wiley, and they clicked, so they decided to form a team. Sonny told him, undo it. Annul the marriage now. Nelle told Nina that she had to change out of her wedding dress. Since Michael had married Willow, she needed to fight fire with fire. Nina asked who Nelle married, and Nelle said she knew him; Julian.

Nina said Julian had originally hired her to run Crimson. She had no idea he and Nelle had a relationship. Nelle said Julian was Brad’s father-in-law, and when Brad stole her baby, Julian thought he was Wiley’s grandfather. Nina asked if they were dating, but Nelle said it wasn’t like that. When she found out about Michael, she went to Charlie’s. She and Julian got to talking, and realized they were both terrified Wiley wouldn’t be in their lives, so they decided to get married. Nina said, so it was a ploy. Diane told Martin that she was curious. Julian’s rap sheet was longer and more colorful than his client’s. Why choose him to marry? Martin said love operated in mysterious ways. He was sure Michael and Willow could attest to that. Willow said she and Michael had been friends for a while, and been taking care of Wiley most of his life, Diane interjecting that she had a photo gallery to prove it. Michael said Willow went to jail to protect Wiley from Shiloh, the psychopath Nelle married in prison. Carly said Willow had proven she’d do anything for Wiley, and Martin said, including marrying Michael. I love how he says this like Michael isn’t the best catch in town. Sonny told Julian, annul the marriage, but Julian told him that he didn’t get a say. Sonny said if it swayed the judge, he’d hold Julian responsible. Julian asked if he spoke for Jason too; he was still Danny’s grandfather. Jason gave his usual response by staying silent, and Sonny told Julian that he needed to do what had to be done before it was too late. Elizabeth told Nikolas that Mike was like this a lot, and Nikolas said he should have visited sooner. There were so many things he didn’t do. She said he was doing them now, and he’d made her feel better about the art thing with Franco. Nikolas asked if she and Franco had made up, and she said, kind of; Franco was super sorry. Nikolas said, not bad for someone once incapable of remorse. She said that reminded her of Ava, and Nikolas said, touché. He asked if she wasn’t bothered by Ava exploiting Franco’s past, and she said they had a history; why shouldn’t Ava exploit his past? It could be the start of a new venture for them. Nikolas agreed, and Elizabeth said he had a tone like something was up. Nikolas said he sensed Ava and Franco were getting closer in their sessions. Franco asked Scotty was saying he shouldn’t trust his wife, but Scotty said, no; he  shouldn’t trust Nikolas. Franco asked if he thought Nikolas was trying to win Elizabeth back. Scotty said Elizabeth adored Franco, but when Franco had to keep an eye on Nikolas. Nikolas was in over his head with Ava. She was going to make him nuts, and guess where he was going to go? Who knows? Franco said it wouldn’t lead anywhere. Even if he and Elizabeth weren’t fine, she wouldn’t fall for Nikolas’s act. Scotty said, it wouldn’t be the first time. It happened to him with Laura. Who thought letting her work with Luke would go wrong? He told Franco, verify things.

Nikolas said he was hanging onto the hope Spencer would forgive him, and Elizabeth told him, leave Ava. Nikolas said 10% of the estate had been earmarked for Spencer, and she said, just sacrifice his money for his son. Sonny and Jason came to see Mike. Jason went into Mike’s room, and Sonny told Nikolas that he’d heard from Spencer. Spencer was wondering why he hadn’t heard from Nikolas since he’d given Nikolas an ultimatum. Why didn’t he cut Ava off? Nikolas said it wasn’t that simple, but Sonny said Nikolas had dug his own grave when he married Ava. Martin said if Nelle’s marriage was suspect, so was Michael and Willow’s, perhaps more so. Willow would do anything to stay close to Wiley. Willow said Julian was putting Wiley at risk. Nelle had gone to prison for letting her fiancé drown, and trying to kill her baby’s father. Martin accused her of slander, and Willow said, take her to court. She’d love an independent expert to prove her wrong, but didn’t think he could find one. She wondered how he could even consider representing Nelle. Martin said she had a marvelously maternal temperament, and Michael said it was time to regroup. Carly said Julian wouldn’t marry Nelle unless she had something on him; he was obviously miserable. Martin asked Diane if the hypocrisy in the room wasn’t staggering, and she said they weren’t the ones getting a fat retainer to help Nelle use an innocent child. He wondered how it was different Nelle was, hooking up with a humble pub owner to be close to her son. Nelle told Nina that her marriage was no different than Michael’s, but Nina said Willow and Michael had a deep bond, and Willow had a strong bond with Wiley. Nelle said Willow wasn’t Wiley’s mother, and had no right to him. Nina asked if she wasn’t concerned Wiley would sense tension in the marriage, but Nelle said there wouldn’t be any. All that mattered was that Wiley was with her, and not Michael. Nina said she’d married one guy to spite another, and it didn’t work out. He’d teamed up with her mother, and tried to steal her money. She didn’t want that to happen to Nelle. Nelle said, Julian would never do anything like that. If he did, it would seriously backfire. Nina asked what she meant. Jason came out of Mike’s room, and Elizabeth said Mike had been sleeping most of the day. Sonny went in to see Mike, and Jason asked what was really going on with Mike. Sonny talked to Mike about the Yankees. He said they’d won, and maybe Mike could bring the same luck to Michael for the custody hearing . When Mike insisted Wiley was Michael’s son, they thought he was confused, but he turned out to be right. Wiley was Michael’s son, and Mike had to stick around.

Sonny said he wanted Michael to share his life with Wiley, the way he couldn’t with Mike. Sonny cried a little, and said he thought they’d have more time to make up for their lost years. Didn’t Mike want that? Elizabeth told Jason that Mike was done fighting, and wanted to let go. She thought he was holding on for Sonny’s sake. Nina told Nelle that Julian presented himself as a changed man, but he was dangerous, and in it for himself. Nelle said Julian valued his life too much not play by her rules. Nina asked how Nelle got him to agree, and Nelle said Julian knew the marriage was best for everyone, especially Wiley. Carly told Martin, the difference was, Michael and Willow wanted to provide a safe, happy environment for Wiley, while Nelle wanted to use him. Kids sense these things. Diane said Carly was right. Everyone knew it, and so did he. Save his theatrics for court, or he might run out of hot air. Martin asked for a to-go order, but Carly suggested he just go. He asked if he could quote her in an online review, and she said it wouldn’t be the first time. Diane told Martin that if he wanted to use Julian as a surprise witness, she had questions she’d wanted to ask him for years. Was Martin aware he’d threatened to kill Alexis, a woman he claimed he loved? If he could do that to a wife he loved, imagine what he’d do to one he’d rather not have. Nikolas punched the boxing bag at the gym, when Franco came in. Nikolas said he just saw Elizabeth at Turning Woods, and Franco asked if she forgave him. Nikolas said they were getting there. It wasn’t a problem, was it? Elizabeth told Jason, everything Sonny wanted to do to keep Mike with him, like the feeding tube, was just prolonging the inevitable, and in her experience, would just make Mike miserable. Jason thanked her for giving him a straight answer, and Elizabeth said if Sonny wanted to spare Mike pain and ease his passing, he had to give Mike permission to go. Sonny told Mike, he didn’t know what Mike wanted him to do, but he’d ask again tomorrow. Sonny left, and Mike’s hand moved. Sonny said Mike seemed more tired than usual, and Elizabeth said she had to go. Sonny thanked her for being there, and asked Jason what he missed.

Franco asked why Nikolas thought he had a problem with Elizabeth forgiving him. Nikolas said some men didn’t like their wives having male friends, but Franco said he trusted her; they had a solid marriage. Nikolas said, of course (🍷) they did, and Franco asked what he meant. They were nothing like Nikolas and Ava. The only not phony thing about their marriage was their post-nup. Nikolas asked how that was Franco’s business, and Franco said Ava was a dear friend. Nikolas said like him and Elizabeth, and Franco said, yes and no. Ava had been through a lot. Nikolas said Ava had a hard time opening up to him, and he was grateful she had Franco to lean on. Nina asked if Nelle was blackmailing Julian, and Nelle said they’d made a deal. She’d resorted to desperate measures to ensure being a mother to her son. She knew Nina understood what they do as mothers to keep their children safe. Nina’s daughter was hers, and Wiley was Nelle’s. No one should be able to take them away. Martin said Julian’s past had nothing to do with case, and Diane wondered who the judge would choose; a woman willing to go to jail to protect a child, or one who tried to murder two fiancés because they didn’t leave enough money on her dresser. Nelle was a gold digger. He told her, people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Carly had reminded them just this morning of who her husband was. Sonny put earbuds on Mike, and said maybe his memories would come back. In the hallway, Jason said he was sorry, and Sonny asked what Elizabeth said. Nikolas told Franco that he was looking forward to the unveiling, and Franco asked if Nikolas wasn’t going to burn it like Ava did with Helena’s portrait. Nikolas said, never. He was sure they’d created something beautiful together. Franco said, for someone who wasn’t a fan of his previous work, Nikolas sounded confident. Nikolas said it was a new Franco, a new Ava, and a new day. It would be a painting for the ages, and a party to match.

Carly said if Martin used Sonny against Michael, it would be his funeral. Diane said Carly was speaking figuratively, and Carly asked, how else would she be speaking? Martin said she could have meant it literally, and Diane said it was literally a figure of speech. She told Carly that they were due back in court, and Martin said, what pity no one ate lunch. He hoped it didn’t make anyone cranky. He left, and Diane suggested Carly not issue death threats against opposing counsel. Trust her, and let her do the talking. Diane found Willow and Michael, and told them it was time to go back. Carly heaved a huge sigh, and followed. Nelle asked if she and Nina were good. Nina was her only friend, and she’d like to count on her. Nina said she could do this for Wiley. Franco brought the flowers to the hospital, and asked Elizabeth to forgive him. She said there was nothing to forgive. Nikolas had helped her get over her insecurities about her art. Franco said he ran into Nikolas, who was confident he and Elizabeth were friends again. She said they had a long way to go, and he asked how she categorized her relationship with Nikolas. Elizabeth ignored the question. Sonny told Jason, music was good for cognitive function. When Brook did a concert at Turning Woods, it jolted Mike’s memories. He asked again what Elizabeth said; he respected her opinion. Jason told him, she said, when Alzheimer’s patients get to the place where Mike is – sleeping more than awake, not responding, and unable to eat – she said that usually means that they’re ready to go. She thought Mike was just waiting for Sonny to give him permission.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The women arrive in Rome, minus Denise, Garcelle, and Sutton, who are going to be late. LisaR, Teddi, and Kyle ride in one car, while Dorit and Erika ride in the other. Teddi tells LisaR that Denise said negative things about LisaR, Erika, and her. Brandi also visited Denise on her set, and… things happened. The next day, Denise told Brandi to never tell her husband. LisaR asks if they f***ed. In the other car, Erika asks what they’re going to do, and Dorit says, definitely shopping. Teddi tells LisaR that Kim had come over when they were at Kyle’s, and brought Brandi along. A lot of things were said, and she doesn’t know Brandi that well, but she seems like someone who says it like it is. In LisaR’s interview, she says she has conflicted feelings. She knows Brandi is friends with Denise, and Denise knows how she feels about Brandi. We flash back to a reunion where LisaR and Brandi had words. How is she supposed to know what’s true when it comes to Brandi? Teddi says she doesn’t know where to put this. LisaR says it’s a lot of information to process. Kyle asks what LisaR would do, since it’s her trip and Denise is her friend. LisaR says, great. Erika and Dorit marvel over how beautiful the city is. Erika says they’re lucky to be there. They are. Too bad they never really appreciate anything since they’re so busy being mean girls. They pull into the parking lot of the hotel, Gran Melia.

In Erika’s interview, she says Rome is one of her favorite cities in the world. She’s spending her last minutes with these women before she’s shipped off to Broadway. They’re shown to their suites, and in her interview, Erika says, Rinna’s room is gorgeous and spacious. Like the others aren’t. Erika wonders if she shouldn’t have the best suite, since the trip is in her honor. They can see the Vatican from the terraces, and are excited to be there. Dorit unpacks, and in her interview, she says, Italy is the place to dress up. She brought a few options, but went too far. In LisaR’s interview, she says her stomach is in knots as to how to approach Denise. It’s a no win situation.

Kyle phones Dorit, asking what to wear, and Dorit says she’s opting for casual. Dorit gets her makeup done, and says tomorrow she’s getting dolled up. Kyle hadn’t wanted glam on the last trip, but there are no restrictions this year. Dorit gets individual pearls glued to her hairline. Kyle sees Dorit, and in her interview, she says, this is casual?

Garcelle calls Sutton, who says she has a flight tomorrow; she needed to get her passport. LisaR tells Teddi that she’s reeling, and Teddi says she has anxiety about sharing. You’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. In her interview, she says she’s not in a position to give Denise a heads up. Denise is LisaR’s friend. Here’s the information; do what you want with it. She wishes the conversation would go away, but she has to address the situation. LisaR says, Denise has some explaining to do.

In Dorit’s interview, she says she spent most of her twenties in Italy, where fashion girls live their best lives. They look at Colosseum. Kyle says Sutton is on her way, and Garcelle and Denise should be there soon. They go to a restaurant that Erika calls magical. They sit in the lounge area to have cocktails, and LisaR asks Erika if they can come to Chicago opening night. In Erika’s interview, she says, no. It’s not all nailed down; give her a minute. You rehearse for a month, then they put you in. Let her get the kinks out, then come. The waiter brings appetizers, including cheeseburger sliders with little American and Italian flags stuck in them. Erika says her drink is exquisite, and LisaR says she’s not responsible for anything that comes out of her mouth after this drink. They call Denise and Garcelle, who have just arrived, and tell them they’re at a restaurant in the Colosseum. Denise says she and Garcelle will see them in the morning. Garcelle says she’s so excited. LisaR wants to go around the table, and ask questions. She asks, what was the worst trouble they got in as teenagers? Kyle says when she had sex for the first time, her mother called a family meeting. She won’t say how old she was, but it was uncomfortable and the worst thing ever. Her sister Kathy asked, how was it? Kim caught her and told everyone. In her interview, she says Kim looked gleeful, ripped the blanket off, and she knew Kim was going to tell. Denise and Garcelle show up.

Garcelle wonders if she should invite chocolate Michael to Thanksgiving, since ex-husband Mike always comes. Erika says, Thanksgiving is loaded, and people are always going to jail on Thanksgiving. Really? That’s a new one on me. Garcelle says she doesn’t want it to be messy.

In the morning, LisaR calls Garcelle, saying they’re going to the Spanish Steps and doing some shopping. They wander around, taking in the sights. LisaR tells them, in 1975, when The Exorcist came out, Italy was against having it shown there, and on the premier date, one of the twin churches was hit by lightning. In Denise’s interview, she says she found out her house was built on a burial ground, and her kids see and hear things, and think there are bodies under the beds. The spirits want them out, and people might think she’s nuts, but there’s some truth to that. In her interview, Erika says it’s not her first time there  in this lifetime or any other lifetime. We flash back to Erika saying she was a Spanish boy in another life. She thinks she was a Roman citizen, having a good time with the gladiators. They walk up to a statue of King Tut, and it turns out to be a person in costume, who moves, and freaks them out.

Sutton calls, and they tell her to meet them at the Spanish Steps. She says she got her passport quickly, so she could fly commercial. In her interview, she says if she’d had to charter a plane, it wouldn’t have stopped her, but it would have hurt. They go to where the high-end stores are, and walk inside Fendi. In Erika’s interview, she says, it’s the headquarters of the legendary House of Fendi. They have things you can’t get anywhere else. In Sutton’s interview, she says, in the world of shopping, Italy might be the best place. Garcelle tries on a $30k coat. She asks what it costs, and the clerk says it doesn’t matter. Garcelle says, if you have to ask, you can’t afford it. Denise tells Teddi that she can’t do the fur thing, and Teddi barely acknowledges her. In Teddi’s interview, a producer asks if she’s subconsciously steering clear of Denise. Teddi says she’s trying to steer clear but not be a jerk. It’s a thin line. LisaR says she’s going to be hiding some credit card bills from Harry. The women go to the Trevi fountain, and they all throw coins in at the same time.

Dorit loves Rome’s go big or go home vibe. It’s fun for her. They get ready for dinner, and Kim calls Kyle, saying she’s on her way to the dentist. Kyle says she’s excited. Kim got new boobs, and now new teeth. Kim asks how Teddi is feeling, and Kyle says, she hasn’t said one word to Denise. Kim thinks it’s going to be weird, and Kyle says Teddi can’t even have a drink. In Teddi’s interview, she says she’s tired, she’s been on her feet all day, and knowing she has to go to dinner with Denise isn’t appealing when she has these horrible feelings. Erika tells her glam squad that she’s going to channel someone fierce. In her interview, she says, Rome is the place to be expressive. She wants to embrace the old Italian film stars and luxury.

Everyone meets for dinner. In Garcelle’s interview, she says, Dorit and Erika are having a fashion show for dinner in the hotel. In Kyle’s interview, she says she has the feeling Dorit will have a new accent when they come back. Erika says she likes real Italian pasta, not the sh*t that’s served at home. Sutton doesn’t like the wine, and gets something different. Garcelle jokes that Sutton’s not happy, and Sutton says she enjoys their friendship, but she was put off by Garcelle asking how she got her money. Erika announces she married hers, like we don’t know. Kyle says, it’s a weird question, and Garcelle apologizes. She asks if they’ve gotten all their issues out. My stomach lurches. I hate this stuff.

Teddi tells them that she needs to say something. Somebody told her that Denise said terrible things about her. Denise says, like what? and Teddi says, like she’s pathetic, that Denise can’t stand her, and she tries to fit in with the group because she’s lived in her father’s shadow her entire life. Denise tells Teddi, she never said that, and Teddi says she couldn’t choose her parents; the same way Denise’s kids couldn’t choose theirs. WHAT?! Nasty. I can’t believe Teddi said that, and on top of it, there’s no reaction. Denise asks who told her this, and Teddi says, Brandi. In Denise’s interview, she says, Brandi is the source? and rolls her eyes. She tells Teddi that she never said anything like that to anyone. She hardly talks to Brandi. Teddi asks if she didn’t talk to Brandi before the party. In Dorit’s interview, she says, when she met Brandi, Brandi told her that her boobs were effed up. Denise says she did Brandi’s podcast, and Teddi says, that was six months ago. She asks again if Denise didn’t have a conversation with Brandi before and after the party. Denise says, no, and we flash back to Bravocon, where an interviewer asked Denise if she’s still friendly with Brandi. Denise says she is, and she appreciates Brandi; she’s a straight shooter. LisaR asks if Denise has said negative things about Erika, and Denise says, no. Erika asks what was said about her, and Teddi looks at Kyle, saying she was there too. Kyle tells them, Brandi said Denise called Erika a cold bitch, and said she didn’t like her. Denise tells them, she never said that. Dorit asks if it’s possible Brandi made it up, and Teddi says she doesn’t know why she’d do that, but she was specific and upset. Denise says, for what? and Teddi says for what happened when Brandi came to see Denise for the podcast. Denise says Brandi interviewed her and her cat. She never said anything about anyone. LisaR wonders why Brandi would lie, and Denise tells them, if she had something to say, she would say it. In LisaR’s interview, she says the Denise she knew before was open, honest, and funny. We flash back to Denise talking about her sex life, and LisaR says, Denise now seems more concerned with her image, and being right and perfect. We flash back to Denise saying she didn’t want sex talk in front of her kids, and Denise repeats that she hardly talks to Brandi. Kyle says what’s between Denise and Brandi has nothing to do with them. In her interview, LisaR says the reason she’s not saying anything is one word – Munchausen. We flash back to that because we will never, ever get away from it. She’s not taking the bait. She paid dearly for it, and learned her lesson. LisaR says they’re not trying to hurt her, and Teddi insists it’s going to be on camera already, and there’s going to be a lot more. Denise says, there’s no truth to it. Teddi says, then she already knows what it is, and Denise says, to anything. Garcelle tells Teddi, just say it, and Teddi says, it’s really bad. Dorit asks why she’s torturing Denise, and Teddi says, Brandi said she and Denise had sex.  

Honestly, I felt my blood pressure rise at the beginning of the show. Whether it’s true or not, the only people who know are Denise and Brandi, but Brandi has the reputation of being a liar. She apologized to Adrienne for a huge lie last week, so why are they so quick to believe this?

Garcelle says, it’s one quiet table, and Teddi says she didn’t think it was her place to bring it up. Garcelle asks Denise if it’s true, and Denise says, no. Kyle tells her, Brandi said she and Aaron have an understanding, and Denise says Aaron was there at the podcast. Kyle says Brandi claimed that the next day, Denise told her not to tell Aaron, and freaked out. We flash back to the lying liar who lies, and Denise asks if they’re effing kidding her. Garcelle asks why Brandi would be out to get her, but Denise has no idea. In Garcelle’s interview, she says, whatever happened is Denise’s business, but she wants to get to the bottom of it, and laughs. Teddi tells Denise, say whatever she needs to say, and Denise walks over and knocks Teddi off her chair. No. Wait. That was just in my mind. Denise says she’s going through so much stuff, but it has nothing to do with this or the show. She says, Bravo, Bravo, Bravo. (There’s an old falsehood that if someone says that, filming stops.) She says she doesn’t want to be that person who leaves. She’s floored by the information, and asks the producer, please don’t air it; it’s not true. Teddi says she’s sorry for whatever Denise is going through, but she doesn’t know what to believe. In Teddi’s interview, she says what’s frustrating is, Denise is so concerned with her image. When she doesn’t want to talk, she says, Bravo, Bravo, Bravo. We flash back to another time that happened, and Teddi wonders why Denise is yelling at the camera and crew because she’s going through personal issues. It’s what she signed up to do. Erika says Denise has to straighten this sh*t out with Brandi, and Kyle says, whatever the story is, they don’t care. Denise says she’s very married, and loves her husband. Erika says she doesn’t have to explain herself, and Denise tells them, anything she’s felt, she’s said. Kyle doesn’t think that’s true. Sutton wonders if they care more about what was said about them than what was said about Denise. In Sutton’s interview, she says, a month ago, a friend told her Denise slept with Brandi, but why bring up a rumor about who slept with who, especially at the dinner table? She thinks Teddi is feeling hurt, and retaliating. Dorit says Teddi had a lot of anxiety about it, and got it off her chest; it’s been a burden. She starts to talk, but Kyle interrupts her, and Dorit says, let her finish her thought. She cares about Denise more than Kyle. Kyle interrupts again, and Dorit says Kyle isn’t letting her finish. Teddi says the can’t wrap up this conversation with a bow, and won’t get closure now. Garcelle says, it’s a quiet group right now, and Dorit gets up, saying, goodnight. Garcelle says they have bigger things to worry about, and everyone starts to leave. LisaR says Denise has to talk to Brandi, but Denise says she doesn’t want to do this here. If they want her on the show, it needs to be cut.

It was all like some bizarre intervention.

Next time, racing on the Audubon, Dorit confronts Kyle about always cutting her off Denise says Brandi told her that she’s had sex with someone in the group.

😥 I Totally Missed This One…

Another untimely death in the soap world.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/all-my-children/john-callahan-dead-at-66

Even worse. Thieves don’t leave you alone, even after you’re gone.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/all-my-children/eva-larue-struggling-to-recover-john-callahan-stolen-identity

🗽 Not Up Close, But In Person…

I can’t wait to see what kind of masks they come up with.

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/28/real-housewives-of-new-york-set-to-reunite-in-person-on-long-island-next-month/

🙌 They Like Her, They Really Like Her…

Things aren’t the same without the skinny girl.

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/28/bethenny-frankel-stunned-fans-want-her-back-on-rhony/

🕶 Virtually Taking Over…

News from the Comic-Con front.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1173880/see-all-your-favorite-stars-taking-over-2020-s-virtual-comic-con

🎶 You Can’t Beat Free…

Lollapalooza finds a way to bring music to the people.

https://abc7chicago.com/lollapalooza-lolla-lineup-2020-schedule-chicago/6340944/

🧗🏽‍♀️ Uphill Climb…

We made it to the middle of the week, or Wednesday for those still paying attention. I was going to watch the Shahs reunion tonight, but RHOBH gave me all the angst I could handle for one night. It’s coming though. Meanwhile, stay safe, stay out of the heat, and stay looking forward to the day you can retire your mask.

July 24, 2020 – When Mike Had a Moment, As the Reunion Turns, New Kelly, Dead News, Two Different Cons, Apocalypse Watching, Empire Spin, Loving New York, a Lesson, an Artist, Two Big Fat Quotes & Another

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

As the gap continues to close, today’s GH Flashback is from May 13th, 2020. Enjoy a mind refresh here, or if you’re detail oriented, go to:

https://tvwiththeresa.wordpress.com/2020/05/14/may-13-2020-sonny-asks-what-mike-wants-blind-defense-vandernews-impressing-nema-free-happy-hour-upcoming-freedom/

Chase dreamed about Willow, but woke up alone. Willow woke up alone too, at the Quartermaine mansion. She saw her rings on the nightstand, and remembered getting married to Michael. Michael came downstairs for breakfast, and Brook asked if he’d gotten any sleep. He said he felt ready, and she said he’d done what he could for Wiley, and even gotten married. They’re not all so lucky. Michael said it would happen for her too, when she was old and grey. She threw a bagel at him, insisting she would never go grey. She said Willow was sweet, kind, and gorgeous; the perfect wife for him, and the perfect stepmom for Wiley. Ava brought Avery to visit Mike at Turning Woods. Sonny watched from the doorway as Avery showed Mike her drawings. Carly went to the MetroCourt, and told Olivia she was worried about the hearing, and figured she might as well come in. Olivia asked if there was anything she could do, and Carly suggested dropping a house on Nelle, but Olivia said she was fresh out of tornados. Carly said she could use some advice, and asked if Olivia had any words of wisdom regarding mother-in-law-hood. Olivia saw Lulu come in with Dustin, and said, bite your tongue, exercise patience, and slap on a smile. Robert woke up on Laura’s couch, wondering where he was. Laura asked if she should be offended that he didn’t remember.

Michael told Brook that he’d hit the jackpot with Willow, but she had to give up everything, and was in love with Chase. Brook said that was Chase’s fault, but Michael said Willow had to sacrifice a lot. He didn’t want her regretting it. Brook said Chase was a giant tool, but even if he walked on water, Willow was trading up. Michael being loaded was a plus, but he was an amazing guy, and Willow had enough sense to appreciate how fabulous he was. Seeing Willow in the doorway, Brook said, right? Still in bed, Chase scrolled through pictures on his phone of himself and Willow. Mac called and told Chase that he was late, and Chase jumped out of bed, saying he’d be there in ten minutes. Laura gave Robert some coffee, and asked if he wanted to pick up where they’d left off. He asked where that was, and she said, where you’d expect old friends with history and chemistry to be. He put his head in his hands, and she laughed. She said he came to her house drunk. She managed to get him on the couch, settled him in, and went to bed. He said she was a vision of true evilness, and she asked why he came to her doorstep. Carly asked if Olivia wasn’t a fan of Mr. Phillips; that’s how she knew him, since he was Josslyn’s teacher. Lulu and Dustin walked over to the bar, and Lulu said Dustin was there to meet Brook. Dustin said he and Brook were checking out the venue, since they were performing at the Nurses Ball, but he also wanted Olivia’s culinary expertise. Lulu said Rocco needed cupcakes for school, and Dustin volunteered to oversee the baking. Olivia asked what the occasion was, and Lulu said it was Take Your Dad to School Day. Avery continued to show Mike her artwork, and Ava told Sonny that she hoped bringing Avery there was okay. Sonny said Avery never needed permission to see her grandfather, and asked how Mike had been. Ava said it took him a while to warm up, but he’d been smiling ever since. He wasn’t talking much though. Sonny asked if Avery was scared, but Ava said she was fine. Avery had experience from when Ava was in Shadybrook. She didn’t understand, so it didn’t make her sad. She was just spending time with her grandfather, and loving him.

Carly asked to talk to Dustin about Josslyn’s curriculum. Lulu asked Olivia if something was wrong. Olivia said Lulu had barely known Dustin a year, and she was trying to erase Dante from Rocco’s life. Ava asked Sonny if Mike’s good days were becoming fewer and farther between, but Sonny said he’d stopped measuring. He was trying to stay in the moment. He wondered if Mike had coherent thoughts and couldn’t voice them, or if he had no coherent thoughts at all. He said, once in a while, Mike made a precise observation, and Ava said that showed Mike was still in there. She told Sonny that she owed him an apology. Robert said he couldn’t believe Holly was dead, and Laura said she was so sorry. Robert said he was sorry for dragging her out of bed. He knew she and Holly didn’t have the greatest relationship. She said, it was a long time ago, and people important to her cared about Holly, him topping the list. She asked, what happened? Was she ill? He said it would have been easier that way, but she was on a ship that went down in a storm, and it was no ordinary ship. Laura said, of course (🍷) not, and Robert said Holly did contract work for the WSB; another one of her secrets. On the phone with Anna, Mac looked at the report on Holly’s death, and said, there’s nothing here. Chase came in, apologizing for being late, and Mac asked if Chase needed a day off. Even though he was there, he wasn’t, and if he needed to take care of something, do it. Brook told Willow and Michael that she had a meeting, but good luck in court. She didn’t think they’d need it though. The judge would take one look at them, and know Wiley belonged with them. She left, and Michael said Brook had a flair for the dramatic. Willow said she hadn’t noticed, and Michael said everyone was talking them up to each other. Willow said you’d think they defied gravity, and Michael said he already knew she was incredible.

Carly didn’t think Dustin understood how fraught the situation was. It was hard on Olivia, seeing Lulu move forward, and not reserving room for Dante in Rocco’s life. She wasn’t judging; she thought it was the right decision in Lulu’s mind. It was great for Lulu, but she didn’t think Lulu understood how it was affecting Olivia. Maybe Dustin could see it from Olivia’s perspective. If Carly was in her position, her daughter-in-law would have been out on the street with half her hair ripped out. Rocco was bringing a new man to Take Your Dad to School Day, but it’s not like Dante was a deadbeat. He had severe PTSD, and it was hard for Olivia. Lulu told Olivia, no one was erasing Dante. She was sending Dustin in his place to make Rocco happy. He didn’t want to feel left out, and had asked for Dustin. They’d all decided together to make Dustin and honorary uncle, and he’d be wearing a Yankees hat to represent Dante. It’s what Rocco wanted, and what Dante would want too. Robert told Laura, when he and Holly saw each other, it wasn’t always under the friendliest of circumstances. Laura said Holly had broken Robert’s heart, and ran away with a piece of it. Part of him had thought he’d get it back, but now that would never happen. Michael told Willow that it was important they tell the truth to each other. He admitted that if he was going to court without her, he’d be nervous, but going with her, he knew he was going to win. Maybe not today, and it wouldn’t be easy, but he was going to get custody of Wiley. She said she’d heard what he’d said to Brook, and she regretted nothing. Ava apologized to Sonny for having Mike arrested for kidnapping Avery. Sonny said he appreciated it, and appreciated her bringing Avery. They went back in Mike’s room, and Avery showed them a drawing she and her grandpa made; he’d told her what to do, and she did it. Ava asked who the boy riding the bike was, and Mike said, his son. Ava asked if he’d taught his son to ride a bike, and Mike nodded. Avery said her daddy had taught her, and Ava said, all the best dads do that. She had to take Avery to school, and Sonny suggested they put the picture up on Mike’s wall. In the hallway, Avery asked if Ava would ever forget her like her grandpa forgot her daddy, and Ava said, no. Even if it did happen, by then Avery would be grown up with her own family. Avery asked if she’d ever forget Ava, and Ava said, just try.

Dustin thanked Carly for the advice. Brook came in, and Dustin headed back to the bar. Carly asked Brook how the newlyweds were, and Brook said, calm and focused. She couldn’t figure out Chase though; she’d never have pegged him as a cheater. He’d broken Willow’s heart, but was walking around with puppy dog eyes like he was the wronged one. Brook told Carly about Chase arresting her because she’d had the audacity to call him out, and accidentally bopped Sasha in the nose. She’d ripped up the ticket – like any sensible person would – and Chase hauled her to the station. Carly said she needed to go, and Brook wondered if it was something she’d said. Lulu told Olivia, the Dante she knew before everything happened, would want his son to feel safe with a man as good and kind as Dustin. Sonny gave Mike an iPad already loaded with his favorites, and put the earbuds on him. Mike said it was loud, and Sonny said they’d do it some other time. He asked what Mike thought of Avery, and Mike laughed, looking at her artwork. Sonny said he needed to know what Mike wanted; the next time he might not be able to say. Did he want help? Did he want to stay or go? The doctor asked if he could speak to Sonny, and it was back out to the hallway. Chase told Mac that he didn’t need time off, and Mac read from Brook’s police report. Chase said she was combative and belligerent, and Mac said all the Quartermaines were. Chase had arrested Brook three times in three months, and the Civilian Review Board might see it as an abuse of power. Robert told Laura he must have given the wrong address to the Ride Share guy, and she said if he didn’t want it straight, he wouldn’t have come there. He had to grieve Holly, and say goodbye.

Dustin told Olivia that he’d never try to take Dante’s place. He had respect for Dante putting himself on the line for justice. He said he was in a strange position, and Olivia said that’s the way it was. Lulu went to see Laura for advice and calming down. She thought she’d blown her relationship with Rocco’s other grandmother. The doctor told Sonny that Mike had stopped eating. They could give Mike a feeding tube, and keep him as comfortable as possible, but the greater challenge was that it might further disorient Mike. Sonny asked what he recommended, and the doctor said some patients made provision that they don’t want life extending measures, but Mike had left it to Sonny. Sonny said he needed time, and the doctor left Sonny with his thoughts. Michael showed up, and said he wanted to tell Mike that he got married. Sonny told him that they wanted to put a feeding tube in Mike, but he didn’t know what Mike wanted. Michael said he should ask Mike if he could, but Sonny said, what if he couldn’t? Michael said Sonny knew what his dad would want more than anyone, and to trust that. Sonny said he wasn’t ready for Mike to go, and didn’t think Mike was ready. What if he wanted to stick around and see his grandchildren? What if he didn’t want to die? Mac told Chase to make peace with Brook, and Chase told him, if you say so. Robert came into the station, and Mac said, interrogation room – now. He’d thought he put Robert in a Ride Share; what happened? Robert said he washed up on Laura couch. He’d thought work would get his mind off of things, but it didn’t. He was going to take the day off. Mac told him, take a look at this, handing him a folder, saying it was a heavily redacted report from the WSB on Holly’s death. Willow walked in, and went over to Chase’s desk.

Robert said it was black; there was nothing there. He told Mac that he had a headache, and asked what he was missing. Mac told Robert to look at it some more, and Robert would see what he and Anna had. There was more to Holly’s death, and they weren’t convinced the ship went down in an accident. Lulu asked Laura if she was supposed to run her parenting decisions by Olivia, and Laura said, absolutely not; but Olivia was Dante’s mother, and mothers didn’t move on the same way. Sadly, Olivia might be waiting the rest of her life for Dante to recover, and Lulu should have compassion. Olivia told Dustin that she wasn’t going to pretend it was easy. It was hard on Lulu too, but she was happy Lulu had found someone like him; a decent person. It meant a lot, but just so they were clear, she was never going to give up on Dante, and would be hoping, praying, and doing everything in her power to get him back home. He said Rocco and Lulu would never stop hoping either. Brook joined them, and Dustin left with her to look at the ballroom.

Michael asked Sonny how long Mike hadn’t been eating, and Sonny said, a few days. It wasn’t like he was starving on purpose; it was like he’d forgotten how to eat. Mike had been happy with Avery. Sometimes Sonny thought it would be easier to let it be over, but it wasn’t what he wanted. It was what his dad wanted. Mike had a moment with Avery, more like a connection. If keeping him alive for five more months gave him five more moments like that, who was he to say Mike couldn’t have that? Chase asked why Willow was there, and she said there was something she had to tell him that couldn’t wait. She and Michael had gotten married. She didn’t want him to hear elsewhere. She thought it would hurt less coming from her. He asked if it hurting him mattered to her, and she said she thought it always would. Goodbye. He told her, good luck in court. Carly watched their exchange.

🧼 Here Comes Another One…

The soap world has definitely kept fans busy with virtual reunions. This one’s for you, ATWT lovers.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/new-as-the-world-turns-reunion-scheduled

🏝 Kelly 2.0 Is Here…

She’s come a long way from Scary Island.

https://www.cottagesgardens.com/get-to-know-broker-and-former-rhony-star-kelly-killoren-bensimon/

⚰️ Bring Out Your Dead…

Things are coming alive in the world of The Walking Dead. The premiere date of October 4th was announced:

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-season-10-finale-premiere-date-announced-comic-con-2020/

A clip from the finale. It looks very promising.

https://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/news/walking-dead-season-10-finale-clip-comic-con-2020/

There will also be extra episodes to make up for all the hell we’ve been through.

https://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/news/the-walking-dead-season-10-new-episodes-comic-con/

And Fear the Walking Dead will be returning October 11th.

https://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/news/fear-the-walking-dead-season-6-comic-con-trailer/

🎟 Comic Conned…

It’s already started, but you can still get in on the virtual fun.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1172203/2020-comic-con-at-home-your-guide-to-getting-the-most-out-of-sdcc-s-first-virtual-event

🛸 Beam Me To My Favorite Chair…

Alien-Con virtually begins July 28th. Since you can enjoy this free event from the comfort of your home, there’s a lot less chance of your getting probed.

https://www.thealiencon.com/

🌋 If You Haven’t Had Enough IRL…

Freak yourself out more with apocalyptic entertainment.

https://www.tvguide.com/news/the-best-apocalypse-tv-shows-and-movies-to-watch/?ftag=NLS-04-10aaa2i

✈️ Cookie Spins Off…

It sounds good, but I’m still mad about Star being canceled.

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/23/taraji-p-henson-to-star-in-empire-spinoff-focused-on-cookie-lyon/

🗽 Only In New York…

Cindy Adams gives a bird’s eye view from the world’s greatest city in this year of upheaval.

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/20/cindy-adams-i-still-%E2%99%A5%E2%80%8Athis-helluva-town/

🤷🏼‍♀️ Who Knew…?

I actually did know about some of these, but you might be using words or phrases you don’t even realize are offensive.

https://redtri.com/racism-words-and-phrases/slide/1

👸🏽 A Pioneer For Princesses…

A woman ahead of her time, whose last pandemic was in 1918.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-animation-pioneer-ruthie-tompson-turns-110-1303663

🎙 Quotes of the Week

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.Teddy Roosevelt, speaking at the Sorbonne in 1910

You have a right to experiment with your life. You will make mistakes. And they are right too. No, I think there was too rigid a pattern. You came out of an education and are supposed to know your vocation. Your vocation is fixed, and maybe ten years later you find you are not a teacher anymore or you’re not a painter anymore. It may happen. It has happened. I mean Gauguin decided at a certain point he wasn’t a banker anymore; he was a painter. And so he walked away from banking. I think we have a right to change course. But society is the one that keeps demanding that we fit in and not disturb things. They would like you to fit in right away so that things work now. – Anaïs Nin

⚾️ Rounding It Out…

It’s Friday again, or another in a long line of when-is-this-pandemiconium-going-to-end? days, depending. But you know the world is still spinning when the Dead series are given premier dates, and the Shahs reunion finally rears its ugly head (part 2 on Sunday – July 26th). So stay safe, stay strong, and stay knowing one day you’ll be griping about your job again.

July 23, 2020 – When Michael Married Willow, Getting There, Ramona’s Most Important 50, Tea For Sonja, Melting, Damages, Good Business, Hmm, Movie King, Material Return & Forever

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Inching ever close to something new, today’s GH Flashback is from May 12th, 2020. Here’s a quick look, or if you want more details than you can handle, go to:

https://tvwiththeresa.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/may-12-2020-nelle-discovers-a-secret-jax-has-a-sprained-brain-alex-goes-home-late-or-early/

At Charlie’s Brook told Julian, as long as he accommodated the occasion favor, she wouldn’t have to tell anyone that he’d tampered with Brad’s car and caused the accident. He asked if that was her idea of gratitude, and she said he’d helped pass off a stolen baby as his grandson. When Brad got squirmy, Julian had tried to silence him, and Lucas ended up in a coma. He should be grateful someone worse didn’t know his secret. Someone worse Nelle listened in from the back. Michael went to the MetroCourt with Willow, and told Sonny and Carly that Willow had agreed to marry him. Carly welcomed her to the family, and Willow said it was best for Wiley. Carly said it was best for all three of them, and Sonny asked when it was happening. Michael said he hoped tonight, and Sonny asked to speak with him privately. Lucy was making Sasha keep ice on her nose at The Floating Rib, saying Sasha had to be camera ready for the photo shoot tomorrow. The photographer was expensive, and already booked and paid for. Sasha said her cheeks were numb, but Lucy said they’d thaw. She hated that she’d agreed to a non-airbrushed shoot, and said she’d sue Brook if they had to reschedule. She told Sasha that she’d been where Sasha was, and understood what it was like to be labeled the town tramp. On the phone, Ned told Tracy that he was trying to salvage the Med Tech deal. He intended to carry on as CEO, but he couldn’t force Michael out. Monica came in, and asked what was going on. At the hospital, Trina told Portia that she felt better, but it was because Portia was a great mom, not because she despised Jordan any less. Portia said Jordan wasn’t responsible for what happened to Trina’s father. Trina said, no – he is. Cyrus came by, and Trina got in his face, saying she knew who he was. Cyrus said he was sorry about her father, but Trina wasn’t having it, and said someone had to stop him. Cyrus said there must be a misunderstanding, and Curtis appeared, telling Cyrus, back off. Stay the hell away from her. Cyrus said they hadn’t been introduced, but Curtis said Cyrus knew good and damn well he was Jordan’s husband, and he knew everything about Cyrus. He told Cyrus to play his game somewhere else, and stay the hell away from Trina and Portia. Cyrus said, for the record, Trina had come to him, and he thought there was no harm in offering his condolences. Jordan told Cyrus that they needed to discuss some things. Trina wondered why Curtis was butting in now when he’d left her father to die.

Monica asked if Brook had been arrested again, and Ned said she’d reached out to him, but he’d refused to rescue her. Monica told him, tough love could have unintended consequences; look at his mother and Edward. What if leaving Brook fend for herself made it worse? Sasha asked Lucy if she was being called a tramp, and Lucy said, who cares? People cheated all the time. Lucy said she was there for Sasha, and understood how a good person could find herself cheating. She’d hurt Doc, and it took time, but now they were friends. Doc was happy and she was successful. All’s well that ends well. Martin waited for Nelle, and mumbled that she was trying his patience. Where is that nut case? Brook asked if Julian would take her home, but he said he’d done enough for one day. His phone rang, and it was Leo calling from Olivia’s number. He said, Ned did what? and told Leo he’d be right there. He told Brook that she’d be getting a ride after all. Leo was upset, and said Ned had done something. They left, and Nelle called Martin. She said she was on her way, and he hoped whatever kept her was important; he was charging her for his time and his dinner. She said she had the feeling it would be useful. Carly told Willow that she was grateful Willow had agreed to marry Michael. She knew Willow wasn’t Wiley’s birth mother, but she’d been every bit his mother by her actions. She’d put Wiley first, and Carly couldn’t have picked someone better, but was it what Willow wanted? She knew Willow loved Chase. Willow flashed back to her and Chase moving in together. Sonny asked Michael if this was what he wanted, and Michael said Willow was the perfect stepmother for Wiley. Sonny said the marriage would last beyond the court date. Was Michael willing to live in a loveless marriage? Michael said love hadn’t worked out that well for him. He and Willow had been friends for some time. He liked and trusted her, and they both loved Wiley. Sonny asked if Michael thought that was enough, and Michael said he was doing what he had to for his son. Cyrus told Jordan, her husband was protective, and Jordan said, that was Curtis, but she didn’t need protecting. He said he remembered how capable she was, and thanked her for seeing justice had been served – even if it was years late. She told him that they were alone, and he didn’t have to keep up the act. He said he looked forward to her acting on his behalf, now that he was a resident of Port Charles.

Portia told Trina, it wasn’t Curtis’s fault her father had died, and she was grateful Curtis had saved her. Michael told Sonny that Willow had made sacrifices too, and Wiley was the most important thing. Nelle was a priority, but they could give Wiley stability, and a happy home with parents who respected one another. He was taking it as a win. Sonny said he’d make some calls to get a license. Monica told Ned that he’d done a wonderful job, and thanked him for stepping in while Michael cleared up the mess up with Wiley. Ned said, family looked after family; it was the Quartermaine way. Brook came in with Julian, who wondered where Leo was. Ned said he was sleeping upstairs, and Julian asked for Olivia. Monica said Olivia was also sleeping; she’d had a migraine, and Monica had given her something. Julian said Leo had called him all upset, saying Ned was being mean. He was sobbing. Ned said Leo was playing Julian. He and Olivia had told Leo that he couldn’t have a pet snake. Julian asked to have a chat with Leo, and went upstairs. Ned asked what the hell Brook was doing with Julian. Nelle joined Martin, who said she was just in time for the bill. She said they needed to talk strategy. She saw Sasha, and bugged her about cheating on Michael, saying poor Willow couldn’t catch a break. Jordan said Cyrus was right to say she served all the people in Port Charles, and he said he was sure their paths would cross again soon.

Trina told Portia, she’d begged Curtis to go back, but he refused, and now his wife was trashing her father’s reputation. Portia said she was glad Curtis had rescued Trina, and as much as they wished it wasn’t true, her father had crossed the line. Curtis said Jordan hadn’t wanted to do it, but Cyrus was dangerous, and Trina needed to steer clear of him. Trina said Jordan was the reason Cyrus was free in the first place. She and Curtis were just as bad as he was. Lucy said Sasha needed to brace herself; Michael was marrying Willow. Sonny just called her to officiate. Nelle said Michael couldn’t marry Willow, and Lucy said he could. He was from two families who were pillars of society, and a Spencer too. He could do whatever he wanted. Sasha flashed back to telling Chase that she thought Michael and Willow would get married, and in time, Willow would fall in love with Michael and be the happiest woman in the world. Lucy said, it must be important, but like it or not, Michael gets what he wants. She suggested Sasha go home and rest; she didn’t need the aggravation. Nelle stomped over to Martin. Brook told Ned, a loving father wouldn’t have hung up on her and left her to rot. He said, so she called Julian? and she said, he was the only one available. Ned wondered if Brook being arrested was going to be a regular occurrence, and she said she was defending Michael’s honor, when her boxing mitt accidentally collided with Sasha’s face. We flashed back to that, and Ned asked if Sasha was pressing charges and was it online already. Brook said, no and no. It would have been over, but Chase got on his high horse and wrote her a ticket. The doorbell rang, and it was Josslyn. Brook asked what was up, and Josslyn said Michael and Willow were getting married there tonight. Nelle told Martin, it was obvious what Michael was trying to do, but he said no one could object to Michael marrying a lovely woman he’d known for over a year. Nelle said they needed a counter move now, and told him to earn his money. Monica said she couldn’t be happier, and Ned said he could see it as a legal strategy, but didn’t see how it could work. Brook said Ned wasn’t in a position to give advice, since Tracy had blackmailed him into marrying Katherine Bell. Josslyn said Willow loved Wiley, and just might be good enough for Michael. Sonny, Carly, Michael, and Willow arrived, and Michael asked if they were ready for a wedding.

Curtis agreed that Cyrus should be in prison, but said Jordan had been serving the greater good. Jordan said she was sorry, and Portia told Trina that she had to calm down. She’d just tried to do battle with a dangerous criminal. Portia asked her to promise to stay away from Cyrus, and Trina said she would, if Portia promised Curtis and Jordan would stay away from her. Brook welcomed Willow to the family – God help her – and went to look for a dress for Willow to wear. Sonny thanked Monica, and she asked who was going to officiate. He told her, Lucy, and she asked if he couldn’t find anyone other than Alan’s ex-bimbo. Sonny asked why Julian was there, and Julian said his son lived there. He told Sonny to give Michael and Willow his best wishes. He loved Wiley, and Wiley deserved to be with them, not Nelle. Martin told Nelle that he’d present the best possible case, but Nelle said now Michael was marrying Snow White. He said he couldn’t prevent that any more than he could conjure up a husband for Nelle, and she called him a genius. He said he wasn’t going to marry her, and she said he didn’t have to. Michael asked how Willow was holding up. She told him that she wasn’t a fragile flower, and he said he knew that. He thanked her, and she said she loved Wiley. Now he’s going to be her son again, and she was the one who was grateful. He said mutual gratitude wasn’t a bad foundation, and gave her his great grandmother’s ring. He said he hadn’t known Lila well, but she was generous, kind, and saw the good in people, but was nobody’s fool. The bickering and fighting never touched her. She was a better wife than Edward deserved, and an amazing mother. Michael put the ring on Willow, and of course it was a perfect fit.

Sasha met Chase at the pier. She said it was hitting her hard; Michael and Willow were getting married tonight. Lucy brought the license to the Quartermaine mansion, and told Sonny the judge sent his best wishes. She told Sonny that there was a one-day waiting period, and Sonny said he loved a midnight wedding; technically, at midnight, it would be tomorrow. Carly brough Wiley down to join them. Sasha told Chase that Lucy got the call, but the toughest part was seeing Nelle. If not for her, this wouldn’t have to happen. Chase asked if Nelle knew about the wedding, and Sasha said Nelle overheard, and went zooming over to her lawyer, then left. She doubted Nelle could get past the gate, but thought Michael should be warned. Chase wondered who would take a call from them. Josslyn came downstairs with bouquet she’d miraculously whipped up. Carly’s phone rang, and she told Sasha that it wasn’t a good time. Sasha said Nelle knew Michael and Willow were getting married, and she thought they should have a heads up. Carly said, nothing was getting in the way of the wedding tonight.

Jordan told Curtis that Cyrus hadn’t left the hospital yet. They saw him come by, and Curtis told him visiting hours were over. Cyrus said he was on his way out, but asked if Jordan’s son didn’t work there. He believed TJ was working tonight. Curtis said it was none of his business, but Cyrus said his interests were far-reaching, and that shouldn’t be underestimated. Nelle banged on Charlie’s door. Julian said they were closed but she was insistent. When he answered, she told him that he’d want to hear what she had to say.

The ceremony started, Willow coming down the stairs in a gorgeous gown, that again fit her perfectly. Sasha and Chase had a beer, and Sasha asked if Chase knew where the phrase a far, far better thing came from. He didn’t, so she explained the plot of a Tale of Two Cities. She told him how Sidney had taken his lookalike’s place at the guillotine, and that as he went to his death, he said, it’s a far, far better thing I do than I have ever done before, and it’s a far, far better rest I go to than I have ever known. Chase said at least their heads weren’t being chopped off, and they toasted to Sidney

Michael and willow exchanged vows, and Lucy pronounced them husband and wife. They kissed, and everyone applauded.

👨🏾‍⚕️ It’s Only a Matter Of Time…

How much is still up in the air, but TJ is back at the hospital, wearing a mask off-stage now.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/stars-go-back-to-work

The Real Housewives of New York City

Ramona checks out Scarpetta, the venue for her party. She’s brought Leah along, and says she wants the room totally transformed. She has sixty girlfriends who don’t like set tables. At the townhouse, Sonja finds water in the basement, and says she’s starting from scratch. She’s looking for a new renter. LuAnn gives her pup a bath, and says he’s feelin’ Jovani. Ramona asks Leah what she’s wearing to the party, and tells her not to be too revealing or flash anyone. In Ramona’s interview, she says a lot of her girlfriends are petite blonds, and she wants to stand out. The dress code is all black, and she’s going to wear read. Larry says, it’s going to be amazing. In her interview, Ramona says, normally, she’d have Dorinda and Sonja do a walk-through with her, but the way they acted at Larry’s was embarrassing. She tells Leah that she’s psyched, and she’s going to avoid drama. She wants Leah to shield her from déclassé. In Leah’s interview, she says if Ramona is scared of being embarrassed, what kind of women are coming? The Upper East Side facelift crowd? Leah suggests giving Dorinda and Sonja water instead of vodka.

LuAnn meets Sam, director of the Fortune Society, who helps people who just got out of prison get acclimated to society. LuAnn tells Sam that they do good work. In her interview, she says, after she was incarcerated, her eyes were opened to the plight of people who have been incarcerated for many years. They don’t have a job or a place to live. The Fortune Society helps and advocates for them. She says she can’t imagine what it’s like to be incarcerated for more than twenty years. She can’t compare her story, but she doesn’t want to have gone through the experience and not help others. Founder David tells her that he’d gone to the juvenile section in Rikers and it was an exercise in futility. Coming back to society, they had to be better. Sonja joins LuAnn, and in her interview, she says she wants to support LuAnn, who has been giving back in a big way. It’s not just about her; it’s about everyone else who’s had the experience in a bigger way. The former inmates gather, and sit in folding chairs. Sam asks how they got there, and what they want to get out of the group. One woman says she wants serenity, and a guy named Eric says he was in prison for thirty years. He’s 54 now, and has kids; it’s priceless. It was like he lived in a bathroom, since he was in solitary confinement, and he was never living in his bathroom again. Alumnus Rodney says they can do it, and LuAnn gets weepy. In her interview, she says, it’s a beautiful thing to see people who have suffered so much, and hear them be optimistic and look forward to the future. Sam says LuAnn seems emotional, and asks her to introduce herself. She tells the group that she got in trouble In Palm Beach. She got intoxicated, assaulted a police officer, and resisted arrest. She got charged with three felonies, and knows the pain of wearing shackles and handcuffs, and the pain of shame. It happened for a reason, and she learned and grew from it. She had to look at herself, and prays for all of them. LuAnn says she’s happy to be there, and Sam says she’s offered to work with them, and take some of the women for a spa day. In LuAnn’s interview, she says a spa day makes you feel good, and the women deserve to feel good about themselves. She does a group hug with the women.

Avery and Ramona go out to dinner, and Mario joins them. In Ramona’s interview, she says they’ve always loved an Italian restaurant, and follow manager Salvatore wherever he goes. She says people don’t get her relationship with Mario. He lives in Florida full time, and when he comes to New York, they plan nights as a family. She and Avery love it. Mario tells Avery that he just got a flashback. Her mom was pregnant with her, and went to the ladies room, and her water broke. She came out, and said she thought they had to go, but Mario didn’t realize what was going on, and said they hadn’t had their entrée yet. Salvatore pours their wine, and says he remembers; he was in the kitchen when Ramona said she was having a baby. In her interview, Ramona says people don’t get it, and wonder how she can talk to Mario after what he did, but she had to let it go. Mario was angry at her after the divorce, but she worked on it for Avery’s sake, and they came together as a family. Ramona talks about her party, and says there aren’t going to be any men, since she’s not in a relationship. She asks Mario if he’s in a relationship, and he says, define relationship. She says someone you go out with every Saturday night, talk to every day, and look forward to seeing. Mario says, dating is a bitch, and Avery says, he’s working on his golf. In Ramona’s interview, she says Mario squirms when she asks if he’s seeing anyone, and says they’re just a friend. Men. Who can figure them out? Avery toasts to spending time together as people. She loves them. Ramona tells Mario to tell Avery that he loves her too, and he does.

Leah and sister Sarah go to Spa88. Leah says it’s one of the top best three places in the world for people watching. There are a lot of kooks, but it’s interesting. Sarah asks how the Berkshires was, and Leah says, Dorinda went above and beyond. Tinsley is gone, and it breaks Leah’s heart, but she’s getting her castle in the sky. We see a picture of Tinsley and Scott dressed up like a fairytale couple; the sisters can’t decide which one. In Leah’s interview, she says she needs to take notes. She needs a guy with money. She has to take care of a kid already, and can’t take care of another one. She needs a man to take care of her. She tells Sarah that she had a sweet moment with Ramona. We see a clip of Ramona telling Leah that she has to heal the relationship with her mother. Leah tells Sarah that wants to get closer to Bunny, and stop acting like a teenager around her. Sarah says, even when Bunny says something that seems nice, it’s coming from an internal projection. She’s screwed up, and can’t give Leah what she needs. In her interview, Leah says it’s time to take things into her own hands and put in the work. Sarah says Bunny doesn’t like them, and Leah asks if she said that. Sarah blesses herself, and says God forgive her; she’s so mad. Bunny said Leah was looking fake in the face, and wondered how it was going to affect poor Kier. Leah says she only had her lips and Botox done, but now she’s getting a whole overhaul. In her interview, she says she thinks an apology is not on the table anymore. Bunny has some explaining to do. She asks if she can say Sarah told her, and Sarah says she’s all for full transparency.

Ramona weeps with joy when she sees Scarpetta fully transformed. Leah visits Dorinda. Sonja tells assistant Matthew that she’s stressed. She rented out her apartment, and is paying the overhead on the townhouse, where the toilet doesn’t work, and the elevator is still broken. It’s costing $50K a month, and she can’t get ahead. Dorinda tells Leah, something is going on with Sonja. She was kicked out of a bar in Philly. Leah says she saw Page Six. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she and LuAnn went to Philadelphia to hear Sonja speak at Wharton. We see a clip of Sonja telling the students to be themselves. Go for their passion, and they’ll find their way if they follow their heart. Dorinda says they went home, and Sonja stayed. Sonja got kicked out of a gay bar, and she wishes they’d stayed. Leah says, after the Berkshires, she felt she and Sonja were in a good place. She feels bad that Sonja is going through some sh*t. Sonja says she can’t afford live there, and tells a guy named Mike that she put in cheap rugs, so it can easily be redone. In her interview, she says she’s looking to redo everything in white, black, and brass; it’s what renters want. She’s filling house the house with tsotchkes again, and getting ready for a potential renter. It’s never-ending stress. Elyse drops by Dorinda’s, and Dorinda says they were talking about Sonja. Leah tells Elyse that Sonja got thrown out of a gayborhood bar Philly, after singing Hello Dolly. Geez, was it that bad? Sonja tells Mike, she’s a fan of, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but was told the place looked dated and old lady. The toilet starts running, and she says this is the third time she’s fixed it. Elyse says she took Ramona out to lunch for her real birthday, and Leah says she’s sick of Ramona’s judgement. Ramona told her to make sure to wear something where not everything was falling out. Elyse suggests she wear something with everything falling out. Dorinda says she has exactly what Leah should wear, and goes into her bedroom. Elyse tells Leah, everyone is supposed to wear black, and she’s sure Ramona will be in a bright color. In her interview, Leah says she can’t believe Ramona is concerned about what she’s wearing. Who cares? Dorinda brings out a pair of lacy tap pants and matching bra, and gives them to Leah. In Leah’s interview, she says she’s wearing what she wants to; she’s not listening to Ramona. She says she heard Ramona stopped following Elyse, and says that’s being a mean girl. Ramona has the mean girl juvenile side, and then there’s the amazing Ramona side. Elyse says, Ramona doesn’t mean to be hurtful. Dorinda says Ramona knows exactly what she’s doing, and Elyse is giving an excuse for Ramona sh*tting on her. She’s an unaccountable bitch. In Dorinda’s interview, she says Elyse has Stockholm Syndrome. She likes to be battered by Ramona. Dorinda goes back into her bedroom, and comes out wearing a cocktail dress with a fake front that has humongous boobs. Leah says Dorinda has to wear it.

Ramona arrives at Scarpetta in what she calls red, but I call bright pink. Her sister Tanya is with her. In her interview, Ramona says she’s excited about the party. Everyone who’s important to her is there, including her sister, who lives upstate, so it’s difficult for her to visit. Sonja picks up LuAnn, and asks why Ramona tries to be cool by having her parties downtown, when everyone lives uptown? I wonder, if you can afford a limo, what difference does it make? Sonja says she didn’t want to come, since she wasn’t invited to last year’s party. We flash back to mutual friend Lucia asking Ramona if she wants to invite Sonja, and Ramona saying, no. Sonja says they were all at her baby shower, and her kid is 19 now. They were her longtime friends. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, Sonja has been agitated lately. Ramona saying she has 50 friends is a trigger. We flash back to Ramona telling Sonja, without these 50 women, she wouldn’t be where she is today, and Sonja saying, STFU. Sonja tells LuAnn that these are Ramona’s social friends.

The text at the bottom of the screen counts Ramona’s friends as they appear. Sonja has a price tag hanging from her dress, and LuAnn suggests she take it off. Sonja says she never has time, and then can’t find the scissors. She asks one of the staff for a knife. In Ramona’s interview, she says her so-called real friends didn’t pay attention to the dress code, and the friends who they said weren’t her read friends wore black. She can feel the love in the room, and she’s tickled red. Leah shows up in a sheer black number. Sonja is in rainbow sequins, and in her interview, she says, who wears black to a party? Not at her age. She’s sparkling. At this point, we’re up to #32. Leah says they’re off to a great start to a probably amazing evening. She leaves her coat on, and waits for Ramona to notice her, but Ramona is too busy babbling to her not friends social friends. In her interview, Leah says, bitch, where‘s the bar?

We hit #50. Leah tells Elyse, all she’s hearing about is people who are on the board of some foundation; it’s like Dynasty. She stood near Ramona to say happy birthday, but Ramona isn’t acknowledging her. Ramona tells Dorinda. Larry pulled it together. Leah tells Ramona, happy birthday, and Ramona makes a fuss over Leah’s dress. She tells Leah how hot she looks, and says if men were there, she’d tell Leah to put on a slip. In Leah’s interview, she says it’s a Norma Kamali dress with a body suit attached to it. It’s form fitting, not revealing. Ramona wonders why Sonja’s been so quiet, and LuAnn thinks maybe she’s embarrassed about getting kicked out of the piano bar. Dorinda says Sonja hasn’t spoken a word to her in days, and she’s worried about her. LuAnn says Sonja has some kind of sadness going on. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, Sonja is going off the rails with her drinking. Normally, she can reel it in, but the string on her fishing pole is going way out, with no fish in sight. Ramona jumps on Sonja, who spins her around. Sonja swears that she didn’t know about the black thing, and Ramona says she wants Sonja to look however she wants. It’s her birthday soon too. Let’s shine. In Sonja’s interview, she says the birthday Ramona is talking about will never be celebrated. She doesn’t even know the day. Dorinda tells the women that she thought it would be a great idea for them to take a week in Mexico; they need a girls trip, and Leah has never been on one. I guess Rhode Island didn’t count? LuAnn reminds everyone of the gift that keeps on giving – her falling in the bushes on their last trip to Mexico. Ramona tells Leah not to throw any torches. We flash back to that, and in Leah’s interview, she says she wishes Ramona would let it go. She already has to deal with her real mother not liking her. Now she has to deal with mommy dearest.

Ramona takes the mic, and says all the women there have helped her in so many ways. She sold her apartment in June, and was getting depressed. On Sunday, she would think, oh my God, I’m alone, and that she’d never have a man in her life. Because of them, she realized she loved herself. Dorinda interjects that she gave Ramona a dildo for that. Ramona pretty much ignores the remark, and says the party is a celebration of all of them. They mean so much to her. She gets weepy, and in Sonja’s interview, she says, it’s the same old speech every year. Now can they get back to drinking with the 99 other women? Dorinda takes Sonja aside, and says she feels like they’ve gotten close. She thinks Sonja is a strong beautiful woman, and a deserving soul; her kindness abounds. She thinks Sonja is suffering, and worries about her. When she doesn’t hear from Sonja in four days, she wonders what’s going on. Sonja says she’s stressed, and Dorinda says the townhouse is a burden. LuAnn sits with them, and Sonja says she hides when she’s going through something. LuAnn says she’s worried about Sonja too. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she and Sonja have developed a good relationship, and there’s something Sonja isn’t communicating. It’s not criticism; she’s concerned. She can’t help Sonja if she doesn’t know what Sonja needs. Sonja starts to cry, and Dorinda says that’s good; she’s letting it out. Ramona comes over, and Sonja asks if she embarrassed Ramona by what she’d said. Ramona ignores the question, and shows off her new purse, saying her girls got for her.

Sonja tells Ramona, the purse is ugly as sh*t; exchange it. In her interview, Ramona says, it’s not like she hasn’t thrown Sonja a party before; she’s thrown her two of them. We flash back to the surprise parties that Ramona threw for Sonja. Ramona says today is about her. She’s allowed to throw a party just for her, isn’t she? Leah asks, what’s going on? and Sonja tells Lucia that Ramona disinvited her last year, and she knew Lucia before Ramona. Ramona tells Dorinda that Sonja is starting an argument, and she doesn’t want to argue. It’s her birthday. Sonja yells, it’s actually her birthday. In Leah’s interview, she says she doesn’t often agree with Ramona, but let her have one night. Leave the drama at home for one night. Ramona tells the keyboardist to play a dance song. Whatever he plays, doesn’t sound like dance music to me, but everyone starts dancing. LuAnn takes a selfie with Dorinda and Ramona, and says, photo bomb, apparently not understanding what that means. In Leah’s interview, she says she’s all about girl power, but with all the palm trees and reds, it looks like the beginning of MILF porn. Leah starts giving LuAnn a lap dance, and pulls up her dress. Dorinda and Elyse grind along behind her. Tanya tells Ramona, it looks like they’re having sex, and LuAnn puts a giant flower on Leah’s head. Ramona tells them to stop, pulling Leah’s dress down, saying she’s dancing like a stripper. Leah says she was just joking around, and Dorinda says, it’s funny. Ramona tells Leah that she has a run in her stocking. I don’t know if that’s supposed to be code or a euphemism for something, since Leah isn’t wearing stockings. In Ramona’s interview, she says Leah is embarrassing her, and she’s embarrassed for her. She tells Leah, calm down; 100 women are there. I knew that number would end up changing. Leah says she was just having fun, and Ramona stomps off, looking for the producer. She wants this shut down. Leah yells that Ramona is being effing psychotic. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, Leah can’t do anything right. Ramona is just waiting to pounce on her for anything. Sonja jumps on a table, and dances on a mirrored tray, shattering it as she dances. Leah squeals, wooooo! Ramona barks at the producer, saying she’s quitting the show. She’s done.

Next time, Ramona says Sonja is becoming a liability, Leah says Ramona is a terrible person, Ramona says someone is bi-polar, LuAnn’s luggage vibrates at the airport, and the Cancun vacation begins.

🎤 Goodbye Dolly…

A bit more information on Sonja getting the boot. But why does she look like Terence Stamp in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert?

https://pagesix.com/2019/11/18/sonja-morgan-gets-kicked-out-of-piano-bar-in-philadelphias-gayborhood/

https://www.advocate.com/people/2019/11/19/rhnys-sonja-morgan-booted-gay-bar-after-singing-hello-dolly

But at least her neck looks great.

https://extratv.com/2020/07/20/rhony-star-sonja-morgan-shows-off-face-lift-and-neck-lift-with-before-and-after-pics/

🌪 Ramona Is Done…

It was a short road to a meltdown.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1173120/watch-rhony-s-ramona-singer-give-a-teary-speech-before-her-big-birthday-party-meltdown

🦈 In the Berserkshires…

It’s the shark – do-do-do-do-do-do.

https://realityblurb.com/2020/07/21/photos-luann-de-lesseps-shows-damages-to-dorinda-medleys-home-in-the-berkshires-following-aftermath-of-the-wild-rhony-weekend-at-bluestone-manor/

👍🏾 There’s Always An Upside…

I don’t know if I’d brag about it though.

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/22/phaedra-parks-says-her-business-as-a-mortician-is-booming-as-a-result-of-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

💡 Just a Thought…

On RHOBH last night, Kyle said Brandi was a lot of things, but not a liar. Well, besides Kyle being dumb as a box of rocks to begin with, wasn’t Brandi talking earlier about how she spread the rumor that Adrienne used a surrogate? And what about the time she insisted Kim was on crack? Yeah. She definitely has the reputation of telling the truth.

👑 Ranking the King…

I went to a seminar where Stephen King spoke, and in regard to The Shining, he said he gave Stanley Kubrick a live grenade, and Kubrick threw his body on it. I’m not sure what that meant exactly, but I got the distinct impression King wasn’t happy.

https://parade.com/1045940/npond/stephen-king-movies-ranked/

🐒 Season Two Is Coming…Eventually…

James McAvoy and CGI animals. What’s not to like?

https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/his-dark-materials-season-2-trailer/

🌘 Phase This…

Here we are again. That day everyone used to look forward to, for many now a dim memory. But they’re going back to work on GH, so all is not lost. Stay safe, stay responsible, and stay looking forward to something new.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrnFIZybDpg

July 21, 2020 – When Curtis Said Back Off, Eventful, a Resort Feel, a Wall, No Wives, Emmy App, Soap Legend, a Wedding, Another Rosé, Gia’s Choice, Bunny Speaks, Dancing Changes, New Reality, Learn Something, a Cake & Alright

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Moving slowly toward new episodes, today’s GH Flashback was from May, 7th, 2020. Read the condensed version here, or for the whole deal, go to:

https://tvwiththeresa.wordpress.com/2020/05/08/may-7-2020-the-plan-is-in-motion-the-curse-is-lifted-warring-restaurants-beverly-hills-drama-breaking-the-wall-a-surprise-for-jax-tuccis-negroni-happy-dog-loafs-light/

At the hospital, Finn apologized to Willow, saying Chase could be a knucklehead, but suggesting she cut him some slack. Chase wasn’t an expert at relationships. Laura was having lunch at the MetroCourt, and asked Carly to join her. Carly said Michael’s custody case was tomorrow. She’d done everything she could to strengthen the case, but there was no way to be sure. Trina showed up at the hospital to see Portia, who’d thought Josslyn’s driver was bringing her home. Sonny and Jason met Curtis at the pier. Sonny asked about TJ’s memory of the kidnapping, and Curtis recalled when he’d talked to TJ. He told Sonny that TJ didn’t remember much, and Sonny said that was a good thing. The less TJ remembered, the safer he’d be from Cyrus. Mac talked to Jordan about the kidnapping, and flashed back to TJ telling him that he remembered water being nearby, and possible construction.

Carly told Laura that Nelle was a nightmare, and remembered all of her interactions with Nelle. Laura said it seemed Nelle wanted to bring down GH, and Carly said Bobbie and Monica were collateral damage; Nelle wanted to force Michael’s hand in the custody case. Laura said she didn’t think insurance was going to cover it, when Cyrus walked into the MetroCourt. Curtis told Sonny, he didn’t think anyone at the PCPD had found a link between TJ and Cyrus, but Mac was getting close. Curtis flashed back to Mac showing him and Jordan where he thought TJ had been held. He told Sonny that Jordan didn’t know about their meeting. He wasn’t sure she was ready to talk about what needed to happen next, but he was. Mac told Jordan that he didn’t understand why TJ’s phone was used to text her. Jordan remembered getting false messages from TJ, saying he just needed time away to think. Finn told Willow, he wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t want to see Chase again, but did Chase explain things to her? She said Chase apologized, and she knew he was sorry, but that didn’t change anything. Sasha and Michael came out of the hospital elevator. Laura told Carly that Nelle was saying they’d conspired to give Wiley surgery without her permission, and Carly flashed back to Nelle insisting she didn’t sign the consent form, Michael saying she did, and Bobbie telling Nelle that it was in Wiley’s chart. Laura told Carly that she didn’t think the insurance covered that kind of thing, but even if they paid Nelle off, she didn’t think they could survive the negative press. Cyrus approached their table, and said it sounded dire.

Mac wondered why there was no ransom demand, and Jordan said maybe the kidnappers were biding their time. He asked, why? but she said she didn’t know, and asked if TJ remembered something more. Mac told her, no, and she said it sound like he had a theory, so lay it on her.  Curtis told Sonny, the less he knew about Sonny’s methods the better, but Jordan couldn’t be near what happened next. It was his understanding that once Cyrus’s sentence was vacated, Sonny was supposed to handle him. Wasn’t it how he maintained peace and protected his loved ones? With all due respect, Curtis wondered what was taking so long. Trina said she wanted to spend extra time with Portia, but Portia wondered if Trina was there because she didn’t want to be home alone. Trina admitted that was it, and Portia told her what happened was the exception, not the rule, and the town was kept safe by the PCPD. Trina said the Commissioner had thrown her father under the bus, and she remembered Jordan explaining that Taggert had tampered with evidence. Trina asked how Portia could trust anything to do with Jordan.

Carly told Cyrus that it was a private conversation. He said he didn’t mean to intrude, and she said, but yet he had, after eavesdropping. He told her that after being in prison for so long, he was drawn to the female siren song. They’d been talking about the future of GH, which he thought concerned everyone in the city. Laura assured him that everyone would be kept posted, and he said that erased his concerns. Carly said she must have missed the part where he’d said what he wanted, and Cyrus asked for her and Sonny’s address, saying he wanted to send them an invitation to his housewarming. They’d graciously welcomed him to Port Charles, and he wanted to return the gesture. Jason told Curtis that they couldn’t rush things, and sometimes you had to let things play out. If you forced them, they could go sideways quickly. Curtis said he had a family now, and all he could think about was how one bullet separated Trina and Cameron from life and death, and Trina calling out for the father they couldn’t save. Sonny said it couldn’t happen at a worse time, and Curtis told him that Stella had filled him in on Mike’s condition. Sonny said he was doing what he could, and he was going to solve the problem. Curtis had his word. The plan was already in motion. Mac told Jordan if the kidnapping wasn’t financially motivated, the only other reason would be to use TJ as leverage, but TJ’s only connection was to her. Jordan said TJ had been returned, and Mac asked if there had been no demands. Jordan flashed back to visiting Cyrus in prison, Cyrus taunting her, using doublespeak without actually admitting he’d kidnapped TJ, and being sent a picture of TJ in captivity. She remembered the visit from Harmony where Harmony told her that Cyrus wanted to bring a shipment through, and she was to preoccupy the police. Jordan asked Harmony what guarantee she had Cyrus would release TJ, and Harmony said the only guarantee was what Cyrus would do to him if Jordan didn’t do what he’d asked. She thought about Sonny telling her that she couldn’t stay silent, admitting to Sonny that Cyrus had her son, and Sonny saying he took Cyrus’s personal reasons for being in Port Charles to mean her. Jordan told Mac that she’d heard nothing, and Mac said he thought of her as a friend, not just a boss. She said the feeling was mutual, and he told her that if she wanted to talk, he was there.

Finn asked Sasha, what happened? and she said it was no big deal; just a bloody nose. Finn took her to an exam room, and Willow asked Michael if he wanted to talk about it. He said he and Brook were at the boxing gym, and ran into Chase and Sasha. Then Brook accidentally punched Sasha in the nose. Willow wondered why Chase hadn’t driven her there. Carly told Cyrus it was thoughtful, but their calendar was booked. Cyrus said he wanted to send the invite anyway, and she said he could send it there, or to the coffee warehouse; he knew the address. Carly flashed back to the shooting, and Cyrus asked why he would. She said it was as easy to find as a pub in Brooklyn (where there had been a parallel shooting). Cyrus hoped Laura’s schedule was more accommodating, but Laura said a major crime wave was keeping her busy; she had to pass. Cyrus was sure Sonny didn’t like to burden Carly with the details of coffee importing, but they’d reached an understanding. Laura asked, about what? and he said, a conflict of interest, but they’d cleared it up. He was planning a memorable Port Charles debut, and said Laura could expect an invite; he knew where she lived. Carly said he made it sound ominous, but he said it wasn’t intentional, and he’d put them both on his Christmas card list. He left, and Laura followed shortly after, having been put off her lunch. Curtis asked Sonny what he should do, and Sonny said, just live his life. The best thing to do was put on a normal front. What he had in mind took time. Curtis asked, how much time? and Sonny said it depended. Jason said if they attacked now, while Cyrus was parading around as the wronged party, it would draw unwanted attention. Sonny said that was the last thing he or Jordan needed. He and Cyrus had reached a truce. He needed to dig in and play nice, until he found the right moment. Curtis flashed back to Jordan wondering how she could stop Cyrus without risking the lives of her loved ones, and if she should confess that she was in on the frame. Curtis told Sonny, while he threaded this narrow needle, Jordan was stuck on a tightrope with a killer. Jordan told Mac that she appreciated his loyalty and friendship, but there was nothing she wasn’t telling him. She knew how it looked. Mac said he had to ask, and she said she was glad the right man was on the case. She had confidence he’d get to the bottom of it. Mac said he said stay on it until he did.

Curtis came by Jordan’s office, and asked if she wanted to join him in a late dinner. She said she would, but wanted to check on TJ first. Mac watched them leave. Finn examined Sasha, and said, the good news was, her nose wasn’t broken, but he wanted her to keep ice on it. She said, so much for the new face of Deception; they hadn’t even launched yet. She was grateful no paparazzi were around. She said Chase told her that Finn knew everything, and Finn said he wanted Chase to walk away from their well-intentioned disaster before it got worse. He flashed back to telling Chase to let Willow decide. Find her and fix it. Sasha said, so they should come clean, and then what? Everyone would be happy? He said it would be better than what they were doing now, and she said it would be for her and Chase, but Michael and Willow could never be happy if Nelle got Wiley. Portia told Trina that she didn’t like what Jordan had done, but Trina’s father had trusted Jordan. Even if they didn’t know his reasons, his opinion should count for something. He would have wanted Trina to move forward, and focus on her future not his past. Trina said he would have wanted to watch her grow up, and it wasn’t fair. Portia held Trina while she cried a little. Carly told Sonny that he’d just missed Cyrus pretending to be nice, and denying he was threatening. He’d wanted their address to invite them to his housewarming, She’d said  he already had it, since he’d tried to gun them down in three different locations, and then he made it clear that he knew Laura’s address. She wondered how much longer Port Charles would have to endure him. Trina told Portia that she felt better; because she had a great mom, not because she despised Jordan any less. Portia said Jordan wasn’t responsible for Taggert’s death, and Trina said, no – he is. As Cyrus walked by, she confronted him, saying she knew who he was. He said he was sorry about her father, and she said he didn’t sound sorry. He told her there must be a misunderstanding, when Curtis showed up, and told him, back off. Stay the hell away from her.

Finn told Sasha there would be some bruising, but no scar. He said he’d noticed how she’d looked at Michael. She loved Michael, and Chase loved Willow, but they thought the best solution was to play God with everyone’s lives. Michael told Willow that Chase was busy reading Brook the riot act, so he brought Sasha to the hospital. It was hard turning off the feelings. Tomorrow was the hearing, and they had to be ready. Willow assured him that they would be. Sonny went to the MetroCourt, and Carly asked him if he remembered the time they got married so she could spy on him. He said, which time? and she said, either one.  She told him everything stayed between them, and asked if there was anything she needed to know. Sonny said for now it was best to wait until she needed to know. She asked him to promise that he was going to end the craziness with Cyrus, and he promised. She said, when? and he flashed back to telling Cyrus that he could live in Port Charles, but had to conduct business elsewhere. He couldn’t move his merchandise through Sonny’s territory, and it couldn’t touch Sonny or his associates. Cyrus said they had a deal. Sonny also recalled telling Jason that he was biding his time, and when Cyrus stopped looking for Sonny out of the corner of his eye, he was going to take Cyrus out. Sonny told Carly, sooner than Cyrus thinks. Laura went to the PCPD looking for Jordan, but Mac said she’d left. He asked if he could help Laura, and she said, not unless he could get rid of Cyrus. Cyrus told Curtis they hadn’t been introduced, and Curtis said Cyrus knew good and damn well he was Jordan’s husband. Curtis knew everything about Cyrus, and told him to play his game somewhere else, and stay away from Trina and Portia.

🏥 In Case You Missed It…

GH has some virtual fan events going on. There are no crowds, and you don’t have to wear a mask. Unless you want to.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/virtual-fan-events

Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles

JoshF was forty-five minutes late to see a house in Long Beach, an hour and a half outside of Beverly Hills on a good traffic day. His problem wasn’t traffic though; it was fighting with the GPS on Bobby’s car. The house hadn’t been on the market in nearly fifty years. Seller Julie, whose parents had bought the house after she left for college, met Josh, and showed him around. Casa Oceana was 7,692 square feet, and had spectacular unobstructed views. Built in 1928, it was designed by Roland Coate, who’d done a lot of Spanish revival, which included courtyards. They not only gave a house an indoor/outdoor feel, but prior to air conditioning, it was a place to cool off. Although renovations had been done in 1977-79, the owners kept the original wood beamed ceilings. The most interesting feature was in the chef’s kitchen, a 1970s ceramic induction cooktop, where the heating elements were in the tiles. There were 3 bedrooms and 7 baths, a chauffeur’s quarters that had been turned into a guest suite, and a 56,000 square foot lot. Julie was a stickler for time – I thought, geez, at least Josh had been honest; he could have said it was traffic – but she loved how Josh noticed details other brokers hadn’t, as well as being in agreement with her price point of just under $12 million. Julie gave him the listing, and he thought there would be a ton of interest because no one had seen it, but that didn’t mean it would sell. The buyer would probably have to put $5-6 million into renovations, especially since there were only 3 bedrooms. BTW, Josh’s commission would be $300K. I know they put in a lot of work, but it must be nice to make several years’ salary for most people in one shot.

Tracy’s own house was being sold, but she’d stepped away, since she couldn’t be objective. This didn’t stop her from reminding team member Gina about her house’s special features a million times. She met with Douglas/Elliman agent Tim, along with other investors at La Mirada, their property in Pasadena. Like Tracy with her own home, Tim felt he was too close to the property to be the broker, and wanted to keep it at arm’s length. The group had sunk several million into renovations, the imported tiles alone costing $10K. The house had 4 bedrooms and 3½ baths, engineered white oak flooring, and was on nearly 2 acres. Tracy told Tim, it was $10 million just for the dirt. In her interview, she said mid-century modern sold well because of its simplicity in design, making it easier to renovate, and Pasadena was on fire because of the value. They agreed on a price of $3.325 million.

JoshA and Heather had a new baby boy, Ace, and Josh said Lexie was being the best older sister. He drove to an area of Hollywood Hills that was populated by new money, and attracted young entertainment buyers. He met with seller Ken to look at a 7,456 square foot home with an open floor plan. The seller had put in $2.1 million in renovations, putting in Viking appliances, custom Italian cabinetry, and imported stone countertops. The master suite was huge, 1500 square feet, along with a 300 square foot closet. The house was 4 bedrooms and 6 baths, had a salt water pool, and was on a 26,791 square foot lot. Josh thought it was the epitome of Hollywood Hills, and perfect for someone looking for super clean and modern. Ken needed to go back to New York, and had no choice but to sell it. He wanted to build something for himself in New York, and wanted to move quickly. Josh said it was about comps and the market. The house had been on the market for four months; the listing was stale, and the market was uncertain. He thought Ken should ask for $13 million, but Ken said he’d talked to other agents who agreed with him that he should ask for $15 million, and he’d get back to Josh. In Josh’s interview, he said brokers told sellers what they wanted to hear to get the listing.

JoshF walked into his staff meeting with a bag of panama hats. He told his team about Casa Oceana, and said it had a resort feel, making him want to throw a party. There was something inspiring about it. He thought the party should be daytime casual, and planned on using airplane banner advertising to promote it.

Tracy and Gina went to a high-end vintage clothing store called Timeless Vixen, looking for outfits for the La Mirada open house. Tracy decided she would use a theme, and wanted to pattern it after photographer Slim Aarons. She said his photographs were quintessential of mid-century architecture, with pops of color, perfect for an older house. Tracy zeroed in on a piece of Balenciaga couture, a jacket once owned by Mick Jagger, going for $22K. She told Gina that she needed to sell her house quickly. Gina said she’d gotten an offer of $19 million for Tracy’s house, and Tracy said she didn’t want to play hardball, but wanted to be aggressive with her first counter offer. Her asking price was $23 million, and she countered with $21.9. She thought it was surreal talking about the sale of her own house. She was excited, but used to being on the other side. Gina said Tracy couldn’t buy the jacket yet, and Tracy asked if it could be put on layaway.

JoshF, Bobby, Wilie, and Hilary (Director of Operations) went to Casa Oceana to set up for the party, and watched Josh’s plane go by. In his interview, Josh yelled, da plane! Da plane! then told the group that he’d always wanted his name in the sky. We found out that the plane cost $2500 to rent. Good to know. Josh said they had booze, panama hats, and booze, and someone was going to buy the house for the land and view, not because it was staged. Afterward, he told us, on paper the event went wonderfully, but there were about 290 looky-loos who weren’t even qualified to buy it.

For Tracy’s La Miranda open house, she’d gotten models in full mod wardrobe and makeup, lots of yellow flowers, and fondue in the kitchen. It was a whole moment, and she was into it, even wearing a yellow outfit to match the flowers. She told potential buyers that it was one of the most stylish, functional homes in the area. When she pointed out the Jack and Jill bathroom, I had to go, ugh. Why? Why would you want to brush your teeth next to someone else? It’s not a competition. At the open house, Gina said she knew it wasn’t the ideal time, but the potential buyer for Tracy’s house had come up to her counter of $21.9 million. Tracy said she knew she would miss it, but a new chapter was exciting. She looked forward to something different.

Street artist Gregory Siff did a wall mural outside of the Altman Brothers office building. In his interview, Josh said when people took selfies, his name would be behind them. The mural was really cool – a wall of icons depicting Josh, Matt, and everything that was in their orbit. Josh had one request, that Gregory include his dog Diego, who he’d just lost. Josh got choked up, so I did too, having just lost my oldest dog in May. In Josh’s interview, he said that he’d rescued Diego fourteen years ago, and he was the first dog Josh had lost. In good times and bad, Diego had always been happy to see him. Ken called, and told Josh that he’d talked again to other brokers who thought he could get more for his house. He wanted the most money, and needed to move. Josh said he was a straight shooter and knew the area best. People were telling Ken what he wanted to hear, and it wasn’t the truth. In his interview, Josh said the house would be marketed incorrectly, and would end where it was going to end anyway. It was frustrating. He told Ken that he hoped he was proven wrong, but he wasn’t wrong often. He told Matt that it was bad for the market. It would have a domino effect, where other people would think their houses were worth more. Matt told him to focus on the future. Boy, do I understand this. I’ve gotten into arguments with people wanting me to sell there stuff on eBay for more than it’s worth, and I tell them the same thing, good luck with that.

JoshF said that Casa Oceana needed quality buyers, not just traffic. He decided to have private showings at dusk, when you could hear the ocean waves. While the house needed a facelift, he would steer the potential buyers toward the positives, like the historic character. Most of the people invited were interested in more bedrooms, and wanted to push back the price. Josh was concerned the listing was going to get stale. People just didn’t have the imagination for the property, and it was unfortunate.

Tracy had five days to find a rental, but didn’t seem too concerned. She spoke with Curt, a long-time agent at Douglas/Elliman in Beverly Hills, who said he had a celebrity client wanting to relocate to Pasadena because they wanted more space. They liked La Mirada, but the outside needed to be adjusted. They wanted a $100K landscaping job that would give them more privacy. Tracy thought $100K seemed steep to privatize, and she had other showings coming up. They’d have other offers. Curt said he was there now, and the privacy was a deal breaker. Tracy thought they had a bit to go before they got there. She called Tim, who she knew wasn’t going to spend that much landscaping to privatize the property. She suggested they cap it at $30K. He could sell the house today, and it was a good offer in record-breaking time. She told Curt $30K, Curt said $60K, and she said the maximum without uncertainty was $30K, and she was comfortable with his client walking. Curt told her, his authority was to get as much as he could, and he took the deal. Tracy told Curt, we get sh*t done.

Next time, and intuitive astrologer senses a presence in a 1920 Mediterranean. JoshF’s client is former glee cast member Becca Tobin, Becca says a red room feels like murder, and JoshA has a difficult client

MillionDollarListing-AltmanWall

The Altman Brothers Wall

🚫 After seeing an ad for RHOBH going to Rome, I started to think maybe the Housewives should be banned from entering all other countries. Make that cities too. Hell, can we keep them in quarantine forever?

🏆 More Emmys Than You Can Handle…

Yes, there’s an app for that.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/daytime-emmys/download-the-emmys-app

🌟 Goodbye To a Legend…

Phyllis Somerville did it all, and then some.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/veteran-actress-and-soap-alum-phyllis-somerville-dead-at-76

👰🏾 Jordan In Quarantine…

She’s definitely keeping busy.

https://extratv.com/2020/07/16/briana-nicole-henry-talks-quarantine-wedding-plus-general-hospital-production-rumors/

🍷 Everything’s Coming Up Rosé…

Is it me, or is everybody coming out with one?

https://floodmagazine.com/79563/yeah-yeah-yeahs-karen-o-and-napa-valley-winery-ashes-diamonds-collaborated-on-a-rose/

🔪 Under the Knife…

Have we learned nothing from Jennifer Grey?

https://extratv.com/2020/07/17/teresa-giudices-19-year-old-daughter-gia-undergoes-plastic-surgery/

👠 Putting Her Heel Down…

Lady Bunny is not having your cancelation.

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/18/drag-queen-icon-lady-bunny-isnt-worried-about-cancel-culture/

💃🏾 Dancing With Tyra…

She’s ready to rumba.

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/16/we-hear-episode-103-tyra-makes-moves-as-the-new-dwts-host/

And Tom takes it like a gentleman.

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/16/tom-bergeron-jokes-about-tyra-banks-quickly-replacing-him-on-dwts/

🪓 A Reality Show To Die For…

It gives a whole new meaning to the word eliminated.

https://www.tvguide.com/news/the-cw-killer-camp-eliminations-slasher-movie/

📖 Read All About Her…

Much of bigotry comes from lack of knowledge about those different from us, so in an effort to broaden horizons, I give you Stagecoach Mary.

https://www.history.com/news/meet-stagecoach-mary-the-daring-black-pioneer-who-protected-wild-west-stagecoaches

And a journey in modern self-acceptance.

https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/gay-black-woman-self-acceptance-journey

🎂 A Peacock Lays a Cake…

And here I thought terms of use contained just that. I’ll have to start actually reading them.

https://www.tvguide.com/news/theres-a-cake-recipe-hidden-in-peacocks-terms-of-use-so-we-baked-it/

🌃 Another Day Done…

Hopefully, it’s another day closer to whatever phase you want to be in. Regardless, stay safe, stay discovering new things, and stay open to changing your viewpoint because of them.

July 16, 2020 – When Nikolas Heard From Spencer, a Seven In the Berkshires, GH Events, a Movie For Erika, Catch Up With Ricky, Days Restart, Goodbye Hope, an Interruption, This Makes Twice, Hero’s End, Creating the Child & Feelin’ It

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Even though the guide tries to convince me this GH Flashback is from May 12th, 2020, I know it’s from May 4th. Refresh yourself below, or go here for the full monty:

https://tvwiththeresa.wordpress.com/2020/05/05/may-4-2020-spencer-agrees-to-see-nikolas-adam-wants-to-drive-away-literally-a-list-for-santa-here/

Jason saw Brando at the gym, and Brando wondered if there had been some kind of cease fire; the kids were off house arrest. Sonny told him that he was free to go back to Chicago, but he’s decided to stay. Ava called Franco to confirm her last portrait sitting. She sent out the invitations, and wanted to make sure there was something to unveil at the unveiling. He assured her the portrait would be finished. At Windymere, Nikolas walked in, and told Ava this had to stop. Franco poured over the bills at his hospital studio, and Elizabeth saw Ava’s invitation on his desk. She started reading it, saying it sounded swanky. The smile left her face, and he asked, what is it? Molly, Kristina, and Sam sorted clothes for the clothing drive, which Molly said was to give professional wardrobe options to women in challenging situations. Neil showed up at Charlie’s, grabbed Julian by the collar, and asked if Julian had any idea what he’d done to Alexis.

Brando said Sonny was okay with him staying, and told Jason that he liked Port Charles and running his own place. Jason asked if he could use another customer. Alexis was late, and Molly stressed about sleeping with someone else when TJ was literally tied up. Sam wondered if Molly shouldn’t tell TJ the truth. Julian asked Neil what the problem was, and Neil said Julian had made his and Alexis’s personal business public. Julian accused Neil of taking advantage of Alexis, and driving her to drink. Because of Julian, the medical board got word that he had lied about their relationship, and it cost Neil his career. On the phone with Diane, Alexis said she’d lied at the hearing, and asked if Diane thought the bar would see it as perjury. Franco asked Elizabeth what was wrong, and Elizabeth read from the invitation that Ava’s portrait had been painted by notorious bad boy Franco, ten years after his fall from grace. She said Ava was dredging up Franco’s past for her vanity party. He said his past was no secret, and it’s what people thought about when they heard his name. Nikolas told Ava that the adolescent games had to stop. She’d given instructions to have trees cut down, but she didn’t get to change the house or grounds. Ava accused Nikolas of putting the snake in her purse at Violet’s party, but he said he didn’t do petty revenge. Ava noticed a letter from Spencer had arrived. Neil said Julian made a public spectacle of him and Alexis, and Julian said Neil had abused his privilege as Alexis’s therapist, doing damage to her. Neil said what Julian had done was worse.

Sam asked Molly what happened after she left Charlie’s, and Molly said she’d decided to tell Brando about her decision not to tell TJ that they’d slept together. When she got to the garage, Sam was there. Sam said she wanted to know where Brando stood, which Molly thought was inappropriate and unnecessary. Sam said she didn’t want Brando taking advantage of Molly, but Molly said she didn’t need Sam running to her rescue. Alexis showed up, and asked what they were fighting about. Jason told Brando that he needed a stabilizer for his Fatboy, and Brando said he’d thought Sam was Jason’s mechanic. She’d been at the garage, and seemed to know a lot about bikes. Jason asked why Sam had gone there. Elizabeth told Franco that Ava knew he’d changed his life around, and just because her life was trainwreck, it was no reason to expose Franco. Franco said a producer had reached out to him about participating in a documentary about Ryan, since he’d been involved in Ryan’s capture. It had also been ten years since his Francophrenia show, the night tried to frame Jason for pushing him off a roof. Nikolas read Spencer’s letter, and told Ava that Spencer was willing to accept him back in his life if he left Ava. Spencer hadn’t forgiven her for selling out to Valentin, and said Nikolas’s turncoat wife had to go. Ava said Spencer needed someone to blame and focus his anger on, but it was wonderful that he wanted to give Nikolas a second chance. Spencer deserved to have his father in his life. She assumed Nikolas would be wanting a divorce. He said, sorry. He’d do anything to reconcile with Spencer. She said she understood, and asked when he was moving out.

Molly told Alexis that they weren’t fighting, and Sam said it was just a spirited debate. Alexis asked what the debate was about, and Kristina said it was about Molly and TJ. Molly had news. Julian said his relationship with Alexis didn’t concern Neil, but Neil said what Julian had done to her was very much his concern. Julian asked if Alexis confided to Neil in therapy or in bed, and Neil said Julian was in denial about holding a knife to Alexis’s throat, and terrorizing a woman he’d said he loved. Then Julian had made their private business public. Julian said Alexis had a reason to be angry at him, but he didn’t know why Neil wasn’t thanking him. Elizabeth told Franco that ten years ago seemed like a lifetime; Franco wasn’t the not same man he was today. Franco said it was because of her. He’d been put in the spotlight, and asked for his side of the story. He was being offered a lot of money, and it was an incredible opportunity. Elizabeth said, absolutely not. She knew it was painful, and didn’t want Franco to relive it, but these were strangers. Ava was supposed to be his friend. Franco said, like or not, scandal sells, and there had been an uptick in purchasing his old artwork. His old paintings had become more valuable. He taught sick kids, had kept the hospital afloat with donations, and single-handedly stopped Ryan, but his past would always be there. Nikolas asked if Ava thought he was giving her Windymere. She said, and the island as well. It was part of the 90% she’d get if they divorced. He said there had been no failing on his part, and it was because of his son. Why was she doing this? He thought she’d wanted him to have a relationship with Spencer. She said she did, but the terms were clear and binding. Nikolas said she was about to overplay her hand, and if she tried to keep his son from him, it wouldn’t end well for her.

Ava told Nikolas, threats were unnecessary. She wasn’t standing in the way of his reconciliation, but a deal was a deal. She wasn’t walking away without her fair share. He accused her of trying to steal Spencer’s inheritance, but she said the remaining 10% was more than enough for Spencer to live on, and Nikolas had agreed to the terms. He said she only cared about herself, and had proved it by driving her daughter away. Ava slapped him, and told him not to talk about her child. He said to stop using his child as a pawn. Ava said now was his chance to prove he loved Spencer. Give up his fortune, and give Spencer the father he wanted – or not. He could stay married to her and keep the money. He insisted she’d fooled him, but she told him not to kid himself. It was his choice – his money or his son. Franco told Elizabeth that they should cash in on the publicity before it crashed. He didn’t think anyone had bought any paintings because of his talent in a long time. It was about his reputation. He didn’t care, and neither did the college fund. Elizabeth said, not at the expense of his art’s integrity; she preferred her art speak for itself. Franco said she wasn’t a real artist. Julian told Neil that he’d treated Alexis like a dirty secret, but now it was out in the open. Neil said Julian was being simplistic and selfish. Alexis had been hurt. She’d lied to the medical review board, and was looking at disciplinary action and possible disbarment. Julian said they were the ones who’d jumped into bed together and lied about it. Neil got what he deserved, but Julian was sorry it was coming back to bite Alexis. He asked if Alexis had kicked Neil to the curb, and Neil said, no, but maybe she should. Brando told Jason about fixing Molly’s car, and said they were on good terms, but Kristina and Sam couldn’t stand him. Molly told Alexis about how TJ had suggested a domestic partnership. Alexis asked if Molly was happy, and Molly said it was more than she’d hoped for. Alexis didn’t buy it, and asked what was really going on.

Realizing what he’d said, Franco told Elizabeth, of course (🍷) she was a real artist. She just didn’t have a lot of experience with the idiots who were in charge of professional work. He wasn’t trying to offend her. Elizabeth said he was right; she had no idea how the art world worked like he did. He told her that it was Ava’s last sitting, and there had to be something to unveil at the unveiling, and she told him not to keep the gravy train waiting. Neil told Julian that Alexis deserved a clean slate, and he’d done more harm than good. Julian asked if Neil was walking away after what Alexis had gone through. She’d risked everything for Neil, now he was going to disappear? It wasn’t about helping Alexis, but about Neil. He was running away to protect himself. Jason asked Brando why he had a problem with Kristina and Sam, and Brando said he’d offended Kristina, and Sam was offended on Kristina’s behalf. He’d been talking to Sam about how she’d helped take down Shiloh, and said people who join cults are idiots. Then Sam told him about Kristina being involved with DoD. He tried to apologize, but the damage had been done. I still fail to see why this was so horrible. Didn’t Kristina think she’d been an idiot? Molly told Alexis that she was sorry she’d kept quiet about it, and Alexis said it was her fault. She’d been too focused on her own thing, and hadn’t been there for Molly. Molly said Alexis had nothing to feel bad about, and Alexis said she thought the domestic partnership was a great idea. Molly was very sensible, and Alexis was proud of her. Molly said Alexis was making her out to be perfect, but she’d jumped in bed with someone when TJ disappeared.

Nikolas went to the hospital to see Elizabeth, who snapped at him, saying she was working. He said she seemed upset. He’d come looking for a friend, but was there any way he could help? Franco went to Windymere, where he found Ava crying, martini in hand. He asked, what happened? but she said she was fine. Franco told her that he was feeling down, and could use a hug. He held her while she cried. Julian told Neil to try and put Alexis first. Use his shrink intuition, figure out what she needed, and act accordingly. He didn’t need to bail. Neil asked if Julian wanted him to be with Alexis, and Julian said, hell no, but Alexis wanted to be with him. He wanted Alexis to be happy. Neil said he couldn’t make up for Julian’s failings, and Julian said he could try not to add to them. He told Neil to fight for her. She was going to need his help. She didn’t let a lot of people in, and had laid herself on the line for him. Julian didn’t know what Neil’s issues were, but told him to conquer them. He’d be a fool to walk away. Brando said Sam was protective of her sisters, and Jason agreed. Brando said he’d apologized, and hoped they were good now. Jason asked if he’d fixed Molly’s car, and Brando said he did. Molly’s boyfriend had come to pick it up. Sam said she was there for the same reason, but it could have just been an excuse to chew him out. Jason suggested Brando not mess with Sam or her sisters, and Brando said he’d learned his lesson.

Molly told Alexis that she’d slept with Brando, who was Sonny’s cousin, but they weren’t related. Alexis said, thank God for small favors. Molly said she’d just had a fight with Jordan, who’d said TJ was done and it was Molly’s fault. She felt frustrated and angry. She’d thought TJ had bailed on a ten year relationship, and let his mother deliver the news. She ran over a curb, damaging her car, and Brando’s was the closest garage. They got to talking, and one thing led to another. Molly flashed back to kissing Brando, and told Alexis that Brando didn’t even know she had a boyfriend. When she explained, he couldn’t have been more decent. Nothing he did was wrong; it was her. Kristina said, it was one night. There was no good reason for Molly to tell TJ and risk the relationship. Molly didn’t think she could swallow her guilt, and Sam told Kristina that Molly didn’t handle her problems the same way Kristina did. Kristina handled them or not until they blew up in her face. Kristina said Sam had been pushing Jason to meet her in secret, and Sam said Kristina was the reason she was on parole in the first place. Kristina asked if Sam was blaming her, and Sam said, yes.

The Real Housewives of New York City

Ramona says, earlier, the energy was bad. She’s hoping that tonight, everyone will be lighter and in a better place. Restaurant guy Ben delivers a load of food. Dorinda pops out in a sequined number with huge angel sleeves that looks like it’s from Danceteria in the 80s. In the time it takes for Ben to put the bags in the kitchen, Ramona tells him that she looks good, but she’s sloppy, and she looks thin, but likes to eat. Nothing like giving herself a couple of compliments. She puts the food into bowls. Dorinda says she doesn’t know why Sonja puts up with LuAnn, and Ramona says Sonja loves LuAnn and likes to perform. Dorinda thinks maybe Sonja should do her own show, and Ramona says Sonja was doing cabaret before anyone else. LuAnn has supersonic ears, and asks what Ramona is talking about. Ramona repeats herself, and LuAnn says, it was caberlesque, and not the same thing. We flash back to Sonja’s show, and LuAnn tells Ramona, she didn’t think Sonja was that good. In the kitchen, Sonja mumbles that she knows the Countess is a major cabaret star. Dorinda tells LuAnn to stop it; she’s being nasty. In LuAnn’s interview, she says Dorinda was trying to protect Sonja, but Sonja was capable, and didn’t need defending. Sonja says she doesn’t care what Lu Ann is saying. She loves LuAnn. LuAnn explains to Sonja that the show is called Countess and Friends; it’s about her, but she brings Sonja in because she loves her. Don’t tell her what to do.

Sonja sits at the table, and says she’s done with LuAnn and her show. In the kitchen, LuAnn tells Len that she has a professional show because that’s what she does. Len says, eat. Sonja says LuAnn disrespected her, and LuAnn asks, how? Sonja says LuAnn thinks she sucks, and LuAnn tells her that she didn’t say that. She said she didn’t want her to be in the show. Ramona says LuAnn isn’t paying Sonja, and it’s insulting. Dorinda says Sonja was with LuAnn when she was down and out. In Ramona’s interview, she says LuAnn is using Sonja for laughs, and not paying her, when LuAnn could afford it, and Sonja could use the money. Dorinda gets weepy, and says, shame on her, and repeats that Sonja was with her when she was down and out. LuAnn says she doesn’t know what going on, and Dorinda leans over the table. They start yelling, fingers in each other’s faces. Dorinda says LuAnn has a mugshot of her drunkenness, and she’s an effing fool. In Leah’s interview, she says, it sucks to hear that coming from Dorinda. All of  them are one drink away from a mugshot. Ha-ha! I want that on a T-shirt – I’m one drink away from a mugshot. LuAnn walks out of the room, and Ramona tells Dorinda that she’s being aggressive. In her interview, Ramona says Dorinda is like a dragon, and she’s after whoever’s in front of her. When she’s drinking, she’s vicious. She went after Tinsley, then her, and now LuAnn. Who’s next? LuAnn hiccup cries as she packs. Ramona tells Dorinda that she’s shocked, and Dorinda says, karma’s a bitch. She doesn’t want to fight, but LuAnn uses them. She used Jovani, which Dorinda gave her. LuAnn continues to pack, and says no way is she staying in this house. Dorinda says Ramona is making her feel ashamed and bad, and that’s not what a girlfriend does. Dorinda sees the Jovani logo on LuAnn’s bag, and starts singing Feelin’ Jovani.

LuAnn tells Dorinda, get over it. Dorinda follows her out, but then comes back without incident. She says, LuAnn never says thank you. What’s wrong with her? Leah goes outside, and tells LuAnn to stop. Dorinda announces that her dress cost $400, and LuAnn says, she’s drunk. In Leah’s interview, she says you would think Dorinda owns stock in Jovani, the amount of times the word has come out of her mouth. It doesn’t make any sense. LuAnn suggests going to pub, and Leah says, they’ll hang out with the locals. Sonja falls over backward in her chair, hitting the floor. LuAnn cries, and Leah hugs her. LuAnn says Leah is so drunk, and Leah says, no, LuAnn is. Leah goes inside and calls for Ramona. She finds Ramona on Sonja’s lap, and tells her that LuAnn is outside hysterically crying. Ramona agrees to come with them – no doubt wanting to look for new men – but Sonja wraps her arms around Ramona’s waist. Outside, LuAnn says she’s not staying, and Leah tells Ramona, LuAnn is in a bad place. LuAnn keeps repeating, I need to go. In Ramona’s interview, she says she’s never seen LuAnn like this. She’s in pain. Dorinda went for the jugular, and it’s not cool. Ramona says she has no phone, money, or card, and LuAnn says she’s got her. They get in a cab, and drive away. Sonja decides to go to bed, and the others follow, even though it’s 8 pm. Len is left to clean up, although it could be worse. It could be the Hamptons.

In the morning, Dorinda finds Ramona in the kitchen. Ramona asks how she’s feeling, and Dorinda says she shouldn’t have gotten involved. She could tell Sonja was drunk; they were all drunk. The rosé gets you every time. She felt defensive of Sonja. In Ramona’s interview, she says Dorinda doesn’t realize how nasty she gets. She used to go from 0 to 60, and it lasted a second or two. Now she goes from 0 to 100, it lasts 30 minutes, and she gets vicious and evil. Sonja sits in bed reading, and Elyse comes in. Sonja says LuAnn is at a hotel, and Elyse asks, what’s the issue? Sonja says, LuAnn is back on her high horse. In Sonja’s interview, she says, all is forgiven because they were partying, and it doesn’t bother her. But LuAnn thinks Sonja’s time isn’t as important as hers, and that bothers her. Ramona tells Dorinda, she she saw the old LuAnn come out. Leah tells Sonja and Elyse that they went to an old school bar that had a jazz band. In her interview, she says, LuAnn was dancing, and she thought LuAnn wanted to sing, but they weren’t interested. In Leah’s interview, she says she had some martinis, flirted with the bartender. Ramona did nothing. What? Sonja says, at least they had fun, and Leah says there were a bunch of 90 year olds there; it was geriatric central. Sonja says she should have gone, and Leah says she would have loved it.

Dorinda decides she has to call LuAnn. Surprisingly, LuAnn answers the phone, and Dorinda says she loves her. LuAnn says she loves Dorinda too. She doesn’t know what happened. Dorinda says, rosé happened. Another T-shirt I want. Dorinda says she woke up, and ran to LuAnn’s room, wondering where she was. She loves LuAnn, and wants them to stay good place. She was feeling defensive of Sonja, and she doesn’t use liquor as an excuse, but can she do it this time? LuAnn says she was also over-served. In her interview, LuAnn says she’s not going to let one night ruin their relationship, but this behavior is hurtful to Dorinda’s friends, and she hopes Dorinda wakes up and smells the roses. Dorinda tells LuAnn, they peaked too soon. She loves LuAnn, and wants her to come back. LuAnn says she just ordered room service, and suggests meeting them shopping. They’ll chalk it up to bad… Dorinda says, rosé. Ramona says Dorinda always knows how to make it nice. In Ramona’s interview, she says she doesn’t understand it, but it’s not worth fighting the battle. It’s easier to just say, okay, and bury it under the rug.

Sonja, Elyse, and Leah join them in the kitchen, and Sonja says she heard a lot of laughing. Dorinda tells the others that she spoke to LuAnn. She got in trouble defending Sonja, even though she had no skin in the game. Leah asks, what happened? and Dorinda says she doesn’t remember. In Sonja’s interview, she says Dorinda is off the hook. Dorinda lost it, but Sonja knows where it’s coming from. They visited Richard’s grave. We see a clip of them in the cemetery, and Dorinda talking to Richard. Dorinda tells the others, Richard is good, and unfortunately, that was his journey. Sonja tells us, it takes a while to get over pain like that. She’s still grieving her ex. I love how Sonja compares her divorce to Richard’s death. Dorinda tells the women, it’s a beautiful little town. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, being stuck in the house isn’t a good thing for these women. They need something fun and different. They need to change it up. Ramona talks to Sonja, saying LuAnn and Dorinda made up after two seconds; what about them? Sonja says she’ll always love LuAnn, but she’s not doing her show; she’s too busy. Dorinda says they were all in the same mindset – rosé. Leah says she’s happy she was the least drunk, and she’s not getting yelled at. The women applaud. Dorinda says Leah was the best behaved, and Leah says she can’t be the psycho bitch forever.

Dorinda points out The Red Lion Inn, a restaurant she worked at, telling Elyse and Sonja that she was Senator and Mrs. Fitzpatrick’s favorite. She brownnosed her way to the top. They pick up LuAnn, who gets in the other cab with Ramona and Leah. LuAnn says she’s glad they get over things quickly and move on. It’s how they roll. She says, now she knows how Ramona feels. Ramona says Dorinda doesn’t realize how she gets; it’s hurtful. In her interview, LuAnn says, Dorinda pushes resentments down, and doesn’t deal with them. Then it rears its ugly head. She should have played dead like Ramona did at the Halloween party. When they all get out, Dorinda, LuAnn, and Sonja hug. LuAnn says it feels like she had a lovers quarrel. They go to Annie Selke. I love their stuff, but I so can’t afford it. LuAnn tells Sonja that she wants her in the show, and if she gets a bigger venue, she can pay Sonja. Sonja says she wants LuAnn to know that she enjoys it. LuAnn says she didn’t mean to act like Sonja was doing her a favor. It’s good for both of them. It’s a creative thing they can do together, and it’s fun. In Sonja’s interview, she says she can’t help but move forward. It’s not a big deal. She just wants LuAnn to know her time is valuable, and that was accomplished. Leah says she and LuAnn made out. LuAnn says, they did? That’s hot.

Dorinda leads the women to a wine and cheese shop. Dorinda mention for the 47th time that she grew up there, and says she has to pick up some cheese. Ramona says, it smells delicious, and they taste various cheeses. In Dorinda’s interview, she says Colin Cowie is a friend of hers – we flash back to them together – and he’s an incredible host, entertainer, and event planner. She was looking to have a fabulous dinner party, and he’s at her stove cooking right now. The cheese guy says the triple cream is from Burgundy, and Sonja says her lover is from there. In her interview, she says, Frenchie has always been in the picture, and we see a clip of them together. She says, ideally, he’d like her to live in France, but she has too much going on where she is. She tells everyone that Frenchie is an amazing intellect, and a jet set guy. Leah talks about going out with a prince, and peeing on him. In her interview, she says she doesn’t normally pee on people, but when would she have another chance to pee on a prince? I can’t say that one is on my bucket list. LuAnn says she’s had prince boyfriends, but has never peed on one. Leah says, don’t judge her, and LuAnn says she’ll give Leah a trophy. In Sonja’s interview, she says she has other ideas about what she’d like to do with a prince.

Dorinda’s taxi gets to Bluestone Manor first, and she says, let’s take our shoes off. Ramona and Elyse go, ahhh. I know the feeling. Sonja tells Leah that she tried to be real, and got in trouble, and Leah says, when keeping it real goes wrong. The table is set, and everything looks amazing. Upstairs, Ramon has clogged the toilet, and works at it with a plunger. I wonder why she doesn’t roll up her sleeves. In her interview, she says she doesn’t want Dorinda to get upset and rage on her. Sonja relaxes in a bubble bath. Not in the same bathroom. Ramona tells the toilet, please flush, but it doesn’t. Leah comes in, and Ramona tells her about the toilet being clogged. Leah says she’ll do it, but it flushes on Ramona’s next try. In Leah’s interview, she says she saw the nastiest little sh*t she’d ever seen in her life. Dorinda comes in, and asks what Ramona did to the toilet. Apparently, the clog is still going on, and Dorinda works at the toilet with the plunger. She tells Ramona, let it sit, and Leah says Ramona can use her bathroom. Why? So she can clog that too?

Ramona brings out a breathalyzer, and LuAnn shows her how to use it. In Ramona’s interview, she says she thought it would be fun to bring. They can get toasty, and now they can’t yell at her about having another drink. The breathalyzer doesn’t lie. LuAnn calls Ramona a bad blower, and says she’s a pro. Everyone gets ready for dinner. Dorinda’s sister Melinda arrives, and Dorinda hugs Colin for doing the dinner. In her interview, Dorinda says Colin has planned weddings, and done events for Oprah and Michelle Obama, so she’s appreciative that he did this because he’s her friend. She welcomes Melinda, and everyone gathers in the living room for cocktails. Leah says she wants to text the bartender; she’s thinking of inviting him. Melinda asks what’s up with that? and Leah says she’s desperate for d*ck. In Leah’s interview, she says she loves a hot bartender. They’re a therapist, eye candy, and get you drunk. What’s not to love? She asks Dorinda if it’s okay for him to stop by, and Dorinda says, no problem. She has a long history as a waitress and hostess there, and how can she say no to a fellow Red Lioner. Dorinda’s friends Sam and Lyle come in, and Leah asks Elyse if Erica is coming out to play. In Elyse’s interview, she says Erica was the nickname she had when she was on Wall Street. It’s her alter-ego, who would come out when she drank. Erica is a party girl. Leah hopes to meet Erica, and Leah says she can’t handle Erica. Leah says, bitch, yes I can. Heather Thompson and husband Jon arrive. In LuAnn’s interview, she says she hasn’t seen Heather in ages, and she’s looking hot. Sonja hits on Colin. In her interview, Dorinda says Heather lives close by, and when you live in the Berkshires, you all know each other. It’s that kind of environment. Everyone sits for dinner, and Dorinda says Colin has graced them, not just with a meal, but a fantasy. Even the salad is impressive. Elyse asks for straight vodka, and Leah tells Ramona that Elyse is wasted. Colin brings out the lamb, and Heather says, what a rack. BA-DUM-CHH! In her interview, LuAnn says, a rack of lamb and a hot man. What more can a girl ask for? I can think of quite a few things, but okay. Dorinda asks Sam if he can help her with online dating. Ramona tells Sam that it doesn’t work for her. If the woman is more successful, the man can’t get it up. In her interview, she online dating is difficult for her. Because she’s just so special. Okay. I added that last part.

Dorinda says she loves Leah because she’s unfiltered, but confident. Leah understands and owns her sh*t, and she’s a good mother and businesswoman. Dorinda is impressed by her. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, once Tinsley was out of the picture, she realized she loves Leah. Leah is her mini me. She tells Leah that she has chutzpah, and Leah says she’s slightly edited. She gets up, and says she’s a work in progress, and feeling herself. She’s honored and humbled, and doesn’t know what to say. She’s happy to be the only one with her period. Everyone cheers. Heather says, everybody take your pants off. Leah hugs Elyse, and in Elyse’s interview, she says, Leah is the type of girl Erica would have a crush on. They kiss. LuAnn asks Leah about the bartender, and Leah tells her that he said he was into casual living. She doesn’t know what that means. Probably that he doesn’t have any money.

Bartender James shows up, and Leah introduces him. In her interview, she says, it’s a good thing to have one available straight guy around, adding to the vibe. Dorinda tells James that she was The Red Lion Inn. She finds out James also grew up there, and says they’re true Berkshireites. She waitressed her way out. Leah asks for more vodka. Dorinda says Leah is amazing. LuAnn thanks Dorinda for a wonderful time. She slept with the fishes, and swam with the saints. She’s happy they’re together. They’ll always have each other’s backs, and LuAnn will always love her. They hug, and Leah tells James that he’s brave to come there; it’s crazy. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she never expects a perfect trip in the Berkshires, but gives it a seven out of ten. They’re like sisters, and have to work stuff out, but the fun outweighs the lingering issues. Ramona and Sonja kiss.

Next time, LuAnn speaks at a meeting, Ramona has her party, Sonja dances on a mirror, and Ramona wants to shut down the party.

🎉 Now the Party Can Start…

GH has some virtual fan events coming up. At least you won’t have to fight the crowd for a good seat.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/virtual-fan-events

📽 One More Life To Live…

Check out Vicki’s latest effort.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/one-life-to-live/erika-slezak-movie-guest-artist

💡 I Actually Remember Him…

Considering my brain deadness of late, it’s a miracle.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/all-my-children/ricky-paull-goldin-catching-up

🏎 Start Your Engines…

Hopefully, this one sticks.

https://deadline.com/2020/07/days-of-our-lives-september-production-restart-date-greg-meng-out-1202976808/

🛩 Hope Moves On…

What she said:

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/kristian-alfonso-opens-up-about-days-exit/

And what they’re saying:

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/stars-react-to-kristian-alfonsos-days-exit/

🤸 Made You Laugh…

It made me laugh anyway. I love the whole Ryan Reynolds/Hugh Jackman thing. Deadpool 2 is one of my favorite movies.

https://people.com/movies/ryan-reynolds-crashes-x-men-reunion-global-citizen/

🥀 Double the Sadness…

I’d forgotten John had a great love before Kelly. Seriously, 2020 hasn’t been a good year for anyone.

https://nypost.com/2020/07/13/john-travoltas-first-love-diana-hyland-also-died-of-breast-cancer/

🤰🏽 No Greater Love…

Not to belabor a celebrity death, but it touched my heart that they think Naya died after saving her son.

https://extratv.com/2020/07/14/naya-riveras-cause-of-death-revealed/

🧙🏽‍♂️ Finishing On the Lighter Side…

Who doesn’t love Baby Yoda?

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/star-wars-the-mandaloiran-vfx-supervisor-explains-how-baby-yoda-created/

🤷🏽‍♀️ TGIWhat…?

I hope you’ve been able to keep some structure in your life, even if you don’t know what day of the week it is. I had that problem prior to the pandemic (how’s that for alliteration?), so nothing new there. Do everything you can, or do nothing; it’s your weekend. Stay safe, stay gracious, and stay using SPF, even if it’s just on the top half of your face.

July 10, 2020 – When Valentin Was Theo, Jill’s Advice, Just Say No, Sit Stay, Dead Return, Join the Morgans, Shore Twinning, Big Idiots, Upcoming Union, a Dozen Grade A Quotes & Dream

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Round, and round, and round it goes. Where it stops is a GH Flashback from July 26th, 2016.

At the MetroCourt bar, Nina showed Carly the progress Crimson had made in finding Josslyn’s kidney donor, by using their website to reach out. Kristina asked Sonny if he could accept and deal with her being gay. Could he accept her? Sonny said it was a lot of information to take in. At Perks, Alexis was freaking out because Kristina hadn’t come home last night, and hadn’t called. She left a message for Kristina, saying she knew Kristina was an adult, but as long as she was under Alexis’s roof, she had to call and say she was all right. Paul showed up, and told Alexis that Julian was being arraigned, and she said she’d be watching while Julian was remanded without bail. Julian was in the hospital, griping about how all of this was driving him and Alexis apart. He said he wasn’t giving up or going to the arraignment, and ripped up his divorce papers. Julian’s henchman came in, and Julian asked about Ava, but the orderly said no one had heard from her. Julian told him to get a dose of the medication that would make him sick, since he needed to stall.

On Cassadine Island in Greece, a load of people – Ava, Laura, Doc (who’d been shot), Lulu, Dante, Sam, and Jason (really Drew who still thought he was Jason) – were being held prisoner by Valentin, who at the time called himself Theo. Nikolas had been with them, but Theo had already shot him and he’d fallen out a window and disappeared (he was later presumed dead until he showed up for Valentin and Nina’s wedding, two years later). Lulu had gotten away through a secret door which led to underground tunnels. Sam and Jason were in a separate room with a guard, and Jason was chained to a chair. They woke up the guard, who told them to be quiet or he’d shoot them. Sam got up to get some water, felt dizzy, and fainted. In another room, Theo told the rest of them that he’d like to let them go, but it was unlikely they’d keep their mouths shut. He asked who wanted to be the first to die, and Lulu showed up with a gun, saying she voted for him. She told him to drop his gun, and order his guard to do the same.

Paul told Alexis that she should concentrate on her own situation. The Bar Association was going to charge her with a violation, as she’d refused to take a deal for Carrrlos in exchange for him testifying against Julian. She hadn’t been acting in the best interest of her client. He suggested she do herself a favor, call Diane and work on a defense strategy. She was looking at disbarment. Kristina told Sonny about her attraction to Parker, but Sonny said he’d known gay guys from his club days in Brooklyn, and they’d all known they were gay early on. Nina read one of the responses to Josslyn’s story to Carly, who said they weren’t a match for Josslyn’s blood type. Even though it wasn’t Josslyn’s donor, Carly still wanted to contact the parents, and tell them how grateful she was for what they’d done.

Lulu said if Theo thought she couldn’t or wouldn’t pull the trigger, he’d be wrong. Theo said if she pulled the trigger, so would he, and asked if she thought she could kill him before he killed her mother. Would she bet Laura’s life on it? Jason told the guard to help Sam, and swore if something happened to her, he’d kill him. Like the Hulk, he broke the arms off the chair, and the chains holding him to it.

Carly told Nina it was a huge undertaking, and Nina volunteered to help her with the follow-ups. Carly said they had a bond, since they’d both made the mistake of dating Franco, but wondered why Nina wanted to help. Nina said it was good for business, and driving traffic to the website, but Carly didn’t buy it. Nina said her chance at being a mom came and went when she was asleep, so it made her feel good to help. It made her feel motherly. Paul went to Julian’s hospital room, and suggested he save the taxpayers some expense, but Julian wanted to prove he was innocent. Paul said he was going to personally oversee Julian’s hospital release, and escort him to the courthouse. Julian would be doing a perp walk, and Paul arranged for press photographers. Julian said his next show with the press would be an apology. Paul said this was just the preliminary round. The main event would be when he took Sonny down. Kristina told Sonny that she’d never felt this way before Parker, who’d helped her after her break-up. Sonny asked if Parker reciprocated, and Kristina said she thought so. Sonny said when Kristina propositioned Parker in exchange for a better grade, Parker had turned her into the administration. Kristina said she’d broken the rules. This was all new to her, and she wondered if they could talk about it. Sonny said if he hadn’t seen Kristina and Parker kissing, would she have told him the truth?

Alexis called Diane, and told her the Ethics Committee and the ABA was coming after her. Diane had to come up with a strategy. Julian was being arraigned, and she needed to be there. She told Diane to send her an email with the precedents on ethics violations. She saw Parker getting coffee at Perks. Sam opened her eyes, and Jason told her that she’d fainted, and gave her some water. She asked how he got free; what happened? He said the chair was old, it broke, and he got free, which didn’t exactly explain how he broke those chains. He told her to stay there, but she said they were in this together. He said she  was the most stubborn person he’d ever met in his life. Theo told Lulu, put the gun down, or watch her mommy die. Lulu lowered the gun, and the guard took it from her. Dante had gotten the guard’s gun, and Theo said that went for him as well. He told Dante and Lulu to hold hands so they could die together. It showed he was merciful.

Paul said he’d gotten Julian dead to rights, and was going to send him to prison. Julian said Paul had obtained his confession illegally, and he was going to get his attorney to suppress it. Paul said Julian was going to answer for his crimes. Julian’s thug, dressed as an orderly, said he needed to check Julian’s vitals. Paul said, it was time for Julian to face justice afterward. Paul left, and the orderly showed Julian a vial. Alexis asked Parker why she was at Perks, and Parker said she was attending a conference at PCU. Alexis said she was at Kristina’s workplace, but Parker said she didn’t know Kristina worked there; she was just there to get coffee. She had no idea why the hostility, and thought they’d found common ground. Alexis told Parker that she’d said she’d stay away from Kristina, yet here she was. Kristina didn’t come home last night, and hadn’t called home. Parker said Kristina was fine, and Alexis asked if Kristina had been with Parker. Parker said they’d spent the night together.

Kristina admitted that Alexis knew months ago, and Sonny asked why she didn’t tell him. Kristina said Alexis had encouraged her to be honest with him, but she didn’t think he’d understand. He was Sonny Corinthos; the real deal. She was his seriously messed up kid, and they couldn’t manage a relationship. She’d been suspended from school, and was constantly questioning who she was. She was scared. He said, of what? Did she think he wouldn’t love her or he would turn his back on her? She told him, yes. Nina told Carly that she had to get back to Crimson before their publisher went to jail. Carly said it would be great to have Julian behind bars, and Nina said she wasn’t going to miss him. Josslyn came in, and on her way out, Nina said Josslyn’s story was an inspiration to her readers – and to her. Carly told Josslyn that Nina was referring to the response to her transplant, and Josslyn said she knew they meant well, but she wanted them to stop the search for her donor.

The orderly told Julian that he could only get one dose, so make it count. Nina came in, and Julian said he couldn’t catch a break. He assumed she was there to gloat, but she said he assumed wrong. It was a document giving her full autonomy over Crimson, in exchange for her silence about acts of corporate sabotage. If he was convicted, she had to protect the magazine. He said he wasn’t going to prison, but she said he couldn’t be too sure. He signed, and she was almost out of the room, but turned around, saying he missed a spot. She bumped into the orderly, and he dropped the vial, spilling what was inside. She said good thing they were at the hospital, and he could get more medication. Kristina told Sonny that she loved him, but sometimes he could be intimidating. He told her, everyone said that, but it wasn’t about him; it was about her, and them together, trying to make it right. She could tell him anything. He might not understand, but they’d work together to figure out where to start. He’d been under the impression that she was more than friends with Aaron. But then she met Parker? Kristina said she liked Aaron, but their relationship was on the surface. She connected on another level with Parker, and never felt a deep connection like this. Sonny said Parker had been Kristina’s professor and mentor, which put Kristina at a disadvantage emotionally. If she wanted to go out with women, fine, but Parker wasn’t right for her. Alexis told Parker that she’d taken advantage of Kristina, but Parker said she hadn’t; Kristina had sought her out. Kristina wanted closure, they talked, and it led to something else. It was innocent. Alexis said, it wasn’t innocent. Parker was an adult in a position of power, and seduced a young, questioning girl. Parker said she and Kristina were both adults and willing participants, and Kristina couldn’t find her identity without exploration. Alexis said it was nice of Parker to take time away from her marriage to be Kristina’s guide. Parker said she was getting a divorce, and Alexis said now she didn’t know if Parker was rebounding, or had convinced herself she cared. Parker said she cared very much about Kristina, and Alexis said she cares about her intern, but doesn’t sleep with him. She wondered if Parker could see a future with Kristina, because Kristina did. She thought Parker should put an end to that fantasy.

Carly told Josslyn it was important to complete her medical records, and Josslyn said it was more important to protect her privacy. Carly was making her life story public. Carly said she didn’t know it was a problem, and Josslyn said it got worse every day. It was bad enough she had a scar, now everyone knows how she got it. Carly said the transplant saved Josslyn’s life, but Josslyn didn’t see why it had to be public knowledge. She hated that kids were talking about her behind her back. Carly said she was sorry people were so stupid and ignorant, and Josslyn said she wanted to go back to when it was normal. Carly said they needed the information, but Josslyn said the longer she went without a recurrence, the longer it was certain she’d be fine. She said if Carly didn’t stop the search, the next time she visited her dad, she was staying and never coming home again.

Sam and Jason came in, and overtook Theo and the guards. Theo took off, and Jason and Dante disarmed the guards, then Jason went off to find Theo. The guards were tied up, and locked in a room. Lulu hugged Dante, and said she’d gotten scared when the guard took him away. He asked where she’d gotten a gun, and she said she’d knocked out a guard, but he could be awake by now. She flashed back to going through the tunnel, and finding remains. Laura said Doc saved her life. Theo was going to shoot her, and Doc got in the way. Ava suggests they get the hell out of there, but Sam wanted to wait for Jason. Lulu said, he’d saved their lives, but Ava said they didn’t want to give that maniac a chance to do to them what he’d done to Doc and Nikolas. Jason tore through the house, looking for Theo, but he was gone.

Carly said she needed to safeguard Josslyn’s health, but Josslyn said her dad was on her side. Carly said there were no sides, and Josslyn said, her privacy versus Carly’s public quest. Carly said she almost lost Josslyn once, she wasn’t losing her again, but Josslyn asked if Carly every thought about how it affected her. Carly said she did, but she was the adult, and had to make decisions Josslyn might not like. That was a parent’s job. Josslyn said it wasn’t fair. Carly was so afraid of losing her that she was hurting her. Julian put the final signature on the document, and told Nina, go. Nina said he was rude, and not to expect her to visit him in Pentenville. Julian told the orderly that he needed to get another vial, but the orderly said he didn’t know where they were kept. It was too late, because Paul came in, and said Julian was cleared to leave the hospital. His arraignment awaited. Carly called Nina, and told her to call off the search, and remove it from the website. She couldn’t get into it; just do it. Parker told Alexis, she couldn’t break things off with Kristina just like that, and Alexis told her, do right thing and save Kristina hurt down the road. If she cared about Kristina, walk away. Parker said she didn’t want to hurt Kristina, and Alexis said she should have thought about that before she set this in motion. She needed to end it, and Alexis would help Kristina pick up the pieces. Kristina told Sonny that he didn’t have to worry, but he said he always would. She was his little girl, and he’d never give up on her – ever. She said he didn’t answer when she asked if he could accept a gay daughter, and Sonny said she was his daughter. There was no question – no matter what.

Carly apologized to Josslyn, and said her story would be removed from the website, and Josslyn thanked her. Josslyn went off to get some ice cream, and Sonny came in, followed by Nina. Nina said she’d concluded her business with Julian. She passed Paul on the way out; he was there to slap the cuffs on Julian personally, and roll him out the door. Sonny said that was good news. Nina told Carly that she’d thought some more about how they could zero in on the donor, but then Carly called off the search. Carly said Josslyn felt her privacy was being violated, so it would be removed from the website, while they discreetly continued. Nina left, and Sonny asked if Carly thought that was a good idea. Carly said she knew what was best, and Josslyn would come around when they found her donor.

Josslyn called Jax and said he was wrong. Her mom got why she was upset, and promised to drop the search. She handled it. Carly asked why Sonny was so blue. Kristina saw Alexis at Perks, and apologized for not calling; she’d gotten busy. Alexis said she was worried, but she knew Kristina had been with Parker. Kristina asked if Sonny told her, and Alexis was surprised that Sonny knew. Kristina said he saw her with Parker. Alexis asked how it went, and Kristina said, better than she thought it would. Sonny told Carly that he’d talked to Kristina, and she’d come out to him. Kristina told Alexis that she was glad she’d told Sonny the truth. It was a lot for him to process, but he still loved her. Alexis said, of course (🍷) he did, and Kristina asked how Alexis knew she was with Parker. Alexis said she ran into Parker at Perks, and Kristina said they made each other happy, and they were going to figure out what happened next together. Meanwhile Parker was writing a letter to Kristina saying, I’m sorry. I can’t.

Jason told the others that Theo was gone. He’d barricaded himself in a room, and by the time Jason broke in, Theo had disappeared. He said they were getting out, and they started to leave. Lulu didn’t want to leave Nikolas, but Laura said Doc needed help, and they had to get back to Spencer. In the tunnel, Theo made a call, and said the guests weren’t leaving alive.

🗽 So Says Jill…

Interesting how Jill thinks Kyle should leave a franchise she so desperately wants to go back to.

https://people.com/tv/kyle-richards-responds-to-jill-zarin-comments-about-her-marriage/

📍 Can’t Say I Blame Her…

Mo’Nique was smart enough to never go there in the first place.

https://www.essence.com/entertainment/monique-addressed-rumors-she-might-replace-nene-leakes-on-the-real-housewives-of-atlanta/

💵 Positive Reinforcement…

It’s come to this. The same kind of training I use with my dogs.

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/07/networks-offering-reality-tv-stars-good-behavior-bonuses-to-not-slur-feud/

⚰️ When There’s No More Room In Hell…

When will The Walking Dead return is still anybody’s guess, but Negan has a few thoughts.

https://ew.com/tv/walking-dead-season-10-finale-showrunner-angela-kang/

👩🏽‍💻 This Might Be Old News…

I hadn’t heard about Friday Night In with the Morgans, but I’ve been a little busy. It looks like fun, and you can stream full episodes from AMC’s website.

https://www.tvinsider.com/936393/friday-night-in-with-the-morgans-jeffrey-dean-morgan-hilarie-burton/

🏖 Attack Of the Shore Clones…

I don’t know if it’s me or what, but all these meatballs girls look alike.

https://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/jersey-shores-angelina-slams-deena-over-wedding-and-baptism-drama/

🏡 Oh Happy Day…

That was sarcasm. I don’t know if bringing this show back is a good idea. And I don’t mean because of the pandemic.

https://tvdeets.com/full-production-on-big-brother-to-resume-this-august

💍 Where Reality Meets Talk…

Mazel Tov!

https://tvdeets.com/rich-kids-of-beverly-hills-morgan-stewart-engagement

And apparently, Jordan isn’t doing too badly.

https://www.inquisitr.com/6149800/morgan-stewart-engagement-ring-cost/

https://www.brides.com/story/rich-kids-of-beverly-hills-morgan-stewart-engagement-ring

Since they didn’t really give you a closer look.

MorganSRing

📡 Quotes of the Week

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

Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of creative alternatives for responding to conflict—alternatives to passive or aggressive responses, alternatives to violence. – Dorothy Thompson

He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life. – Muhammad Ali

You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist. – Indira Gandhi

Ideologies separate us. Dreams and anguish bring us together. – Eugene Ionesco

We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated. – Maya Angelou

The bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep. – E. Cossman (Or sometimes a good stiff drink…)

You never know how or when you’ll have an impact, or how important your example can be to someone else.Denzel Washington

I would put on my old uniform and go to war all over again to protect the right of Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump to say offensive things on TV and Twitter. – Sen. Tammy Duckworth, responding in The New York Times to Carlson and Trump’s attacks on her patriotism

There’s not enough wine for this show. – Cynthia Decker, Pillow Talk: 90 Day Fiance Happily Ever After

Those French fries are so old, they’ve had birthdays. – Robert Springs, Pillow Talk: 90 Day Fiance Happily Ever After

One day our descendants will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human beings. – Franklin Thomas

🤿 Here We Go Again…

Get your mask on and do something different, whether or not you call this a weekend. It’s been another long week for me, waiting on test results for one of the dogs, and hoping for a (technically) negative outcome. I have several who are the same age, and they all seem to be reaching that age. See you on Monday-really-Tuesday, and meanwhile, stay safe, stay hoping for the best, and stay holding your fluffballs close.

July 9, 2020 – When Sonny Hired Theo, GH Bios, Berkshires Redux, Returning, Robin Goes Blonde, Too Many Goodbyes, Pandemically Effected, 21 Years, Latest Bat & You

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

The Flashback hand we were dealt today was January 6th, 2011. I was on a phone call for the first half, but I’ll piece that together as best I can.

A bit of the backstory. Because of a mix-up, Maya and Ethan were married, but they didn’t live together, and Edward had offered them a million dollars on their first anniversary. Steven Webber had organized a ski trip, and the bus had an accident. Olivia and Morgan were badly hurt; Kristina was hurt; Michael had been slightly injured; and Kristina’s friend Ali and the driver had been killed. Brenda had killed Anton/Aleksander an international crime lord’s son, and Dante helped cover it up. The crime lord Theo was also a lawyer, and had weaseled his way into working for Diane. Not coincidentally, Sonny ended up hiring him for Dante and Brenda. D’oh! Which brings us to today’s Flashback.

Diane thought it should be a slam-dunk that Brenda shot Anton, but Theo said her ties to Sonny cast doubt on her. Spinelli came into the office and sneezed, freaking Theo out. Spinelli said his hygiene was above reproach, and Theo said that kind of thinking led to pandemics. (Did they search through every episode to find this reference?) Diane hustled him out, saying she’d check in with him later at his office. (He was working with Sam at the time.)

OG Edward talked to Maya and Ethan about their future, and Maya thought Edward was planning on roping Ethan into the family business, which Ethan wasn’t keen on. He told them they’d have to live together though, and they planned to move into the Quartermaine mansion. Edward said Tracy and Luke were on their honeymoon, so they’d have the run of the place. That was not to be, as Tracy came back, saying, Luke decided to skip the honeymoon and go straight to grand larceny.

Terrell Jackson saw Robin at the hospital, and said he had an appointment with Steven Webber. Robin said they’d been swamped because of the bus accident, but Steven came by with Patrick, introducing Patrick to Terrell. It turned out Terrell was a pediatric doctor who had helped with the bus crash. Terrell said he was there to interview for a position at the hospital. When Steven left with Terrell to do the interview, Terrell and Lisa gave each other the soap eye from across the room. Patrick told Robin that he was frustrated because he wasn’t able to save Ali. Robin told him that he wasn’t God, and Patrick said he respected what she had to say. She wondered why he was being so nice (they were separated at the time). Patrick asked Robin out on a date, but she took a raincheck because she wanted to be cautious.

Kristina was still in the hospital, and Sonny came by her room. She told him that she felt responsible for Ali’s death, since she’d pressured Ali to go on the trip. Sonny said he knew what it was like to lose a friend, and told her about Stone. Kristina admitted that she’d wanted Ali to come because she wanted Michael to see that Ali was better for him than the girl he was seeing, who was too old for him. Michael visited Morgan, who had a broken leg, and Morgan wanted Michael to help him get Carly to stop worrying. Carly overheard him and said that wasn’t going to happen. Morgan thanked Michael for saving him, and Michael was all humble. Carly said they should let Morgan get some rest. In the hallway, Carly said she sensed there was more to Michael and Abby’s relationship than being friends. Michael accused her of being judgmental, and said she didn’t get to choose who he hung around with.

Theo went to Morgan’s hospital room, introducing himself as the lawyer who was going to protect Dante and Brenda. He intimated that Sonny was ignoring Morgan’s present situation of a broken tibia. He told Morgan that his son had been killed, and it opened his eyes to the temporary nature of life. He said, no one has as much time as they think they do, and no one’s loved ones are safe. Morgan said his father spent a lot of time and money keeping his kids safe, and Theo said it was fortunate Morgan didn’t get hurt worse in the bus accident. He was sure Morgan’s father would be devastated if he lost Morgan.

Edward said Luke was up to his old tricks, and Maya said, Luke and Tracy’s marriage barely lasted a week. Tracy said she wasn’t divorcing Luke, she just wasn’t saving him. She thought Prague was a perfect place for a honeymoon, but he’d thought it was the perfect place for a diamond heist. He tried to steal a fortune without warning her, and she hoped he got caught. Edward said you could steal scotch and diamonds, or pursue a lucrative legal way get what you want. He suggested he teach Ethan, who said he’d think about it. Dante was at an unconscious Olivia’s bedside, when Theo showed up. He told Dante that he was the lawyer who was hired to defend him and Brenda. They would have to answer for killing a man. Sonny arrived and told Theo, not now, and to leave Dante alone.

At the hospital, Steven Webber hired new doctor Terrell on a trial basis. He could see if he liked the position, and it would give him time to think. Robin introduced herself, and welcomed him. He asked for a lay of the land, and who to avoid, but Robin said she couldn’t be objective. He said, no matter where you went, somebody was bad news, and Lisa walked in. Theo told Sonny that Dante and Brenda would be charged for wrongful death, but Sonny said Dante’s mother might die, and Theo’s timing wasn’t good. Theo said they didn’t have the luxury of time. Things would proceed regardless. Sonny said he paid Theo to do what he needed him to, and he said he was the man who could save Sonny’s son and fiancé. Gratitude might be in order. It smelled of collusion and a cover-up; like Dante had used his badge to help Brenda get away with murder. That was the case the other side would make, and Dante needed to cooperate. Sonny said Dante was wondering if his mother would live or die. He paid Theo a fortune to do what he needed done, and unless they were dragging Brenda off in chains, leave his son alone. Theo understood, and said they had more in common than Sonny realized.

Patrick congratulated Terrell, and Terrell said he was going to be in pediatrics. Maybe Patrick could give him a rundown of the staff. Patrick suggested he not mess with head nurse Epiphany. He told Terrell that Robin was a researcher extraordinaire, and don’t mess with her family. Robin said Patrick never met a patient didn’t want to cut, but his skills surpassed his ego. Terrell thought it was cool that they were married and on staff together, but Robin said they were separated. Terrell apologized, but she said he had no way of knowing.

Michael came into Kelly’s and saw his more-than-a-friend Abby. She said she’d heard about he bus crash, and that it had people from GH on it. She felt bad because she’d convinced him to go. She said she ran to the hospital, since she couldn’t rest until she knew he was okay. He told her Ali didn’t make it. When Abby showed up at the hospital, he’d just been thinking about her, and there she was. She said she needed to know he was alive. She hadn’t realized it, but she sat next to Michael’s father. She hoped it was okay that she told Sonny they were friends.

Carly said she and Sonny needed to talk about Michael. He asked if she was worried about how Michael had handled the crash, but she said it was his new friend Abby. Abby was ten years older than Michael, and he was tutoring her in math. She saw them hug in the ER, and it was a hug hug. She was older, and she was serious about him. Johnny came by, and wondered why Olivia had been going on a ski trip, and Carly said she’d been asked to go at the last minute.

Lisa told Terrell to follow her, and when they were alone, he said she wasn’t winning at being Miss Popularity. She said she’d made mistakes, but there was plenty of blame to go around. He asked why he was there, and Lisa said she wanted him to seduce Robin. Not that she’s not lovely, but the words seduce and Robin just don’t fit in the same sentence for me. Diane went to Spinelli’s office, and asked why she was there. He said he was haunted by her prose; she was a dynamic wordsmith. He couldn’t imagine she was content doing legal briefs. She said she’d shelved her creative writing since college, and he said he had an offer where she could fully express herself. She could chronical The Jackal, PI. She laughed, and asked if he was serious. Johnny came by Olivia’s room, and Dante asked if he wanted to spend time with her. Johnny told Dante that Olivia had broken up with him because of the life he’d chosen to lead. When she woke up, she’d be happy to see Dante. They shouldn’t take their mothers for granted. Dante told Olivia that her ex didn’t appreciate her, and he hoped she didn’t think her son was like that. He cried, and Olivia patted his head. She asked him what was the matter, and he said, nothing.

Abby told Michael that his father was a nice man. She was worried and nervous, and he’d asked who she was waiting for, and she told him, Michael. Small world. Michael said he was glad she got to meet Sonny. She said he figured out that she was a dancer quickly; he told her that he’d run a strip club. Michael said Sonny understood, and wanted Michael to do what made him happy. Abby asked what that was, and he said, right now, it was sitting with her. Having breakfast would be even better.

Carly told Sonny that Michael and Abby were more than friends, and Abby was the last person Michael should be friends with. She must be after his money. Sonny said she wasn’t; she had a job. He met her at the hospital when they were both waiting, and she seemed nice. Carly couldn’t believe Sonny was okay with it, and he said what he wasn’t okay with was Michael hanging out at Bond’s. Carly asked if Abby was a stripper, and Sonny said she was a dancer. Carly said, this is not happening.

🔎 Giving You a Clue…

Some of these characters haven’t been around in ages, and made their appearances at times I wasn’t watching the show. If you’re like me or need a refresher course, here’s Theo:

https://www.soapcentral.com/gh/whoswho/theo.php

Lisa:

https://www.soapcentral.com/gh/whoswho/lisa.php

And Abby:

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/abby-haver-andrea-bogart

The Real Housewives of New York City

Dorinda is at her house in the Berkshires. She calls Sonja, and gets voicemail. She tells Sonja she’s at Bluestone Manor; it’s all done. It’s cozy, and Sonja can have her own room. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, it’s the start of a new life. In the Berkshires, she has the opportunity to exhale. She’s excited to show the girls. It’s her house, and she made it through. She tries Leah next, and the mailbox is full. She calls LuAnn, gets voicemail; ditto Ramona, and she says she’s feeling like a loser, She calls Elyse and again gets voicemail. She says, loser. It’s official. Elyse visits Sonja, and says she needed to regroup after the Halloween party. She’s surprised Sonja remembered it. In her interview, Elyse says, it’s a small town, and Sonja was one of the wild girls running around the East Side. She was a wild girl running around on the periphery, and that’s how they met. Sonja shows Elyse some old pictures, and her Blue Book. We flash back to the night of 1985 is over, and in her interview, Sonja explains that there’s a Blue Book for every major city, and no one can take that away from her. I actually had one of those once. My sister and I snuck into an abandoned house, looking for treasures – well, she was actually looking for old doorknobs – and that’s what I came away with. Elyse asks what Sonja remembers best about the Halloween party. Sonja says she was home with her glam team, it had been a busy week, they had a kiki, and she came in hot and on fire. Elyse wonders what was going on with Ramona, and Sonja says, Dorinda blocked her. Elyse says someone told her Ramona was crying, but Ramona wouldn’t let Elyse sit next to her, and she had to leave; Elyse wasn’t her friend. In Elyse’s interview, she says she feels horrible, but she doesn’t understand it, so she’s angry now. Ramona is not her friend. Sonja says she knows what Ramona has been through and she’s reactive, but Ramona has to understand not to treat people like that. Elyse tells her about Ramona coming over, and making a show of taking her swim cover-up off in front of Elyse’s husband, and then giving him a shoulder massage. Elyse says if she did that to Ramona, Ramona would punch her out. Sonja says she’s getting creepy curly sensations.

Leah meets LuAnn for shopping, and in her interview, she says she’s hungover AF, and LuAnn looks like a fresh flower. Ramona joins them, and LuAnn asks, what happened last night? We flash back to Dorinda calling out Ramona. Ramona says she loves Dorinda, and loves having Dorinda in her life, but Dorinda is mourning her husband’s death for the first time. She went straight to John, and she’s mad at Richard for dying. LuAnn thinks Ramona rubbed her the wrong way, and Leah thinks it was the Larry Scott thing. LuAnn says, Dorinda thought Ramona wanted them there for pictures, so she could get a party for free. Leah says, it looked like Ramona was using them, and ignoring that possibility, Ramona says maybe Dorinda was mad because it wasn’t her birthday party, and she didn’t have friends to invite to one. In Ramona’s interview, she says she has a whole world without them, and they resent it. The women try on jackets, and Leah says Rob is under the weather, so she’s keeping Kier at her house. In Leah’s interview, she says, it’s hard to keep up with these women. LuAnn says she wants to have a good time in the Berkshires, and suggests they make the trip about having a good time. It was a disaster last night; they were at each other’s throats. Ramona says, not her, and LuAnn says she was pushing Dorinda’s buttons. Ramona says, Dorinda is a loose cannon, and she doesn’t know what sets Dorinda off. It’s scary. LuAnn tells her that Dorinda says the same thing about her, and Ramona brought Missy to the party, which hurt LuAnn’s feelings. She needs to work it out with old friends.

Dorinda tells housekeeper Len not to wait on the women. She makes Len practice, using roleplaying. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, Ramona always has an agenda. She figures out how to look her best while making everyone else look worse. The end point is me, me, me. She tells Len not to smile. She’s the soldier in charge. Sonja and Leah arrive, but the door isn’t open and there’s no answer. Dorinda is busy inside, telling Len she found an oyster plate, and there’s so much stuff she could open up her own store in the house. She says when she goes, it will probably all get thrown away. Sonja and Leah go through the back door, and surprise Dorinda, who’s in the kitchen, and happy that they’re early. In Leah’s interview, she says, the Upper East Side way of country living is not the way outsiders rough it. Dorinda said she’d moved all of Rich’s stuff downstairs when he died, and it was all filled with water when she was flooded. It feels like a different energy now. She used to be afraid to be there by herself at night, but now she’s more alive and awake. Leah tells her, everything is beautiful, and Dorinda says she loves the kitchen; it’s her retreat. We flash back to her making it nice. When she shows them the dining room, we return to Sonja screaming, don’t touch the Morgan letters! Dorinda says she got a new rug, and we revisit Coco pooping on the old one. She says Leah is in the Moroccan room, and in her interview, Dorinda says she doesn’t even go in there. She might as well keep it locked. Must be nice to have a house that big. As long as you have a Len.

In the car, Ramona tells LuAnn that she doesn’t know why Dorinda is angry. She loses it for no reason. In Ramona’s interview, she says, Dorinda gets angry, blows up, feels bad about it, and then pretends nothing is wrong. She’ll give Dorinda some beautiful flowers, and move on. She tells LuAnn that she’s really hurt, even though Dorinda didn’t mean it. LuAnn says she should have a separate birthday party for Dorinda, and Ramona says she and LuAnn think alike. Hardly. Even LuAnn isn’t that self-centered and man hungry. LuAnn says Ramona is getting sharper in her old age. Her vocabulary needs work, but what would they do without Ramonaisms? As they come toward the house, LuAnn remarks on what a gorgeous day it is. Ramona calls the foliage, foilage. When they get inside, LuAnn says she loves the carpeting, and Ramona says, it’s so rich looking. Ramona gives Dorinda the flowers, and says she wants to make peace. In her interview, Ramona says she’s willing to let it go. Dorinda is going through something, and she’s mad at life. She feels like life has cheated her. Ramona gets very excited at having thought of this theory. Dorinda says she’ll give them a quick tour, then they’ll have a great lunch. LuAnn is once again put in the fish room. It’s been totally redecorated, but Dorinda has put the shark in the bed. LuAnn says she gets to sleep with sharks, then makes out with it. In LuAnn’s interview, she says Dorinda has done a lot of work to make it look new and improved. It’s Bluestone Manor on steroids. Dorinda says she has a friend for Ramona too, and the swordfish has been placed in Ramona’s bed. In Ramona’s interview, she says she believes in positive energy. If she’s positive, Dorinda will be positive back. Yeah. Until the alcohol is brought out.

In the kitchen, Leah shows LuAnn a social media post from Elyse. She’s posted her picture, writing, it’s all fun and games until someone pisses me off. Leah wonders what she means, and LuAnn says, Ramona. Dorinda says, Ramona blocked Elyse, then corrects herself, saying Ramona unfollowed her. LuAnn says, those are two different things. In her interview, LuAnn says, Dorinda knows Elyse has an issue with Ramona, and she’s one more pawn in Dorinda’s game of chess. Leah says, with friends like Ramona, who needs enemies? Dorinda gets ready to serve Asian chicken for lunch, and the women sit at the table. Elyse arrives, and in Dorinda’s interview, she says, Ramona has a rule book Elyse has to follow, and she’s not following it, so she’s out. Leah announces that she slept with a guy who had one ball. It was a one and done. In her interview, Dorinda says, it feels like a release. The women have heard about what she’s been doing with the house, and now they can see she actually did it. She asks Elyse if she’s talked to Ramona, and Elyse says she will at some point. Ramona wants to pretend it didn’t happen, but it did. She felt betrayed. Dorinda says she would have been heartbroken. In her interview, LuAnn says, Dorinda won’t miss an opportunity to watch Ramona squirm. Elyse says she wasn’t invited to Omar’s (the party Ramona left LuAnn’s party for).

Ramona says she was going out with other girls she hasn’t seen in twelve years. Elyse says, it’s a club. What difference would it have made if she’d joined them? In Elyse’s interview, she says, Ramona has a reputation of blowing up friendships, and making people feel insignificant. That was accomplished. Ramona tells Elyse to lower her voice, claiming it triggers her about her father, even though Elyse isn’t talking that loudly. She suggests she and Elyse have a conversation in the other room. In Leah’s interview, she says Ramona played the victim in Rhode Island. We flash back to Ramona accusing Leah of triggering her. Ramona tells Elyse that she should be on her own, and develop friendships organically. In her interview, Leah says she doesn’t like gaslighting, and she’s not letting Elyse be another victim. She sits with Elyse and Ramona, and the other women follow. So much for privacy. Ramona says if she has a conflict, she prefers dealing with it one on one. She doesn’t get involved, or take sides. Elyse says they talk all the time, and now Ramona has a problem with her friendship. In Dorinda’s interview, as LuAnn predicted, she says she’s enjoying watching Ramona squirm. She has nowhere to go. Ramona says she’s sorry Elyse feels this way, and Elyse says she isn’t sorry. Ramona says it’s not her job to make Elyse comfortable. Nice. Elyse says it’s Ramona’s job to treat her with respect. She couldn’t even answer when Elyse asked if she was a good friend. Ramona says she’d had a major altercation with Dorinda, who’s narcistic. Dorinda corrects her, saying, narcissistic, for which I’m grateful. Elyse says Ramona compartmentalizes, and Ramona says she’s not talking in front of everyone. She starts to leave the room, and Elyse says she’s running away, but Ramona says she doesn’t want to have a conflict in front of everyone. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, Ramona is the queen of scene, and we flash back to several of those. Ramona and Elyse end up in the kitchen, and Ramona says they don’t need an audience. She was disappointed at the Halloween party. Dorinda is going through sh*t, and went off. She wanted to cry, so she left the room.

Dorinda tells LuAnn and Leah about Ramona saying she was drunk. In LuAnn’s interview, she says it’s weird for her to back up Ramona, but she’s been on the other side, and Dorinda needs to understand that she went too far. LuAnn says she wants to be honest, because she loves Dorinda, and Dorinda tells her, be careful. In Leah’s interview, she says she loves Dorinda, but she’s not speaking the truth to her. She’ll get her head chopped off, like in a communist regime. LuAnn says she’s far from perfect, but it felt dark. We revisit Dorinda’s diatribe at the table, telling Ramona that she’s not nice. Dorinda tells LuAnn, don’t go there, and LuAnn says she’s not defending Ramona. Dorinda says Ramona was yelling in front of the group, you’re drunk! In the kitchen, Elyse says she’d thought they were close, and Ramona says she has fifty close friends. Elyse says, maybe Ramona is naïve. She has a lot of social friends. Yeah, it’s more like Ramona has friends who are over fifty. Ramona says she appreciates what Elyse has done for her, and jets out of the kitchen. Elyse says she’s running away again.

LuAnn says, Ramona is in the hot seat. Elyse and Ramona come back, and Leah asks what Ramona said to Dorinda. Ramona acts like she didn’t say anything. Dorinda says Ramona doesn’t seem to feel happy with them anymore. She didn’t even care that they were with her at Larry Scott’s warehouse. Ramona says she was on a sugar high. In Sonja’s interview, she says, that’s a lame-ass excuse. Ramona wanted a group photo to get LuAnn and Sonja’s Instagram followers for Larry Scott. Dorinda says the group loves Ramona, and Ramona tells them that she has nothing to say. Somehow, things are suddenly okay, and she and Dorinda hug. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she’ll give Ramona a break, but maybe Ramona will think twice before calling her drunk or trying to pull the wool over her eyes. Doubtful. In Ramona’s interview, she says she was aggressive with Dorinda, but didn’t regret it. Told you. Elyse hugs Ramona, and Ramona says she’s sorry she made Elyse feel that way.

LuAnna says Dorinda gave in quick, and Dorinda says she doesn’t want to fight. She wants a fun girls weekend. In her interview, she says they keep having the same fight over and over, with no resolution. Dorinda tells Ramona, be peaceful. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, Ramona has a different personality for each occasion, and she’s all Mrs. Posh now. Ramona says she’d been spending weekends alone in the Hamptons, and she’s good with it. Dorinda says Ramona needs someone to love her for her. They’re financially independent, and a strong man says, you do you. She tells Ramona, there are very few strong men, and Ramona says she’s come to terms with it, and choses herself. Dorinda says, all you need is one. In Ramona’s interview, she says she doesn’t know how not to need a man. She met two men at the party who sort of meet her criteria, and they called to ask her out. Sonja suggests ordering pizza and going to bed early. LuAnn says, what about Chinese? and Dorinda gets out Twister. Leah says she won’t throw anything tonight. In Leah’s interview, she says they’re confined to a house with a lot of glass and breakables. She knows herself. If she turns it up, sh*t will get broken, and she doesn’t want to do that. Everyone comments on how great Sonja’s ass is. Sonja says, with an ass like this, why should she have to work? In Sonja’s interview, she says her ass is better than the townhouse. Nobody can take this away.

LuAnn tells the women that she and Sonja are doing a show. Sonja whines that LuAnn never pays her. In her interview, Sonja says, it’s not that she doesn’t have a good time doing the show, but she has a family to support. People depend on her. Besides LuAnn. LuAnn says she wants Sonja to be part of the show because she loves her, and Sonja says LuAnn wants to exploit her. LuAnn is taken aback, and says she doesn’t need Sonja. She can go screw herself. She says Sonja gets $225, and Sonja gripes that the other people in the show get more. LuAnn says she loves Sonja, but she’s not a Broadway actor. In LuAnn’s interview, she says she has Broadway actors and comics. She’s not paying Sonja more to take off her dress. Sonja says LuAnn is being mean, and LuAnn says she loves Sonja. Sonja says she doesn’t, and LuAnn wants her for free. LuAnn says if Sonja loves being in the show, great, but she doesn’t need her. Sonja whines that LuAnn made her feel unappreciated, and LuAnn has enough, saying she doesn’t want Sonja in the show. LuAnn walks out of the room, mumbling that she has her own cabaret show, it’s huge, and Sonja is not going to be a part of it. She tried to include her, and Sonja made her feel bad about it. She’s done. Ramona follows her, and LuAnn adds, bitch. In Dorinda’s interview, she wonders where the good time went. In Leah’s interview, she says that’s the diva she’s heard about, but hasn’t seen. Sonja cries, while Elyse, Dorinda, and Leah comfort her.  LuAnn tells Ramona that Sonja doesn’t understand. She loves Sonja. Ramona says LuAnn is missing the point, and LuAnn says she doesn’t need Sonja in the show. She does a great job on her own, and she’s successful. Does Sonja think LuAnn needs her? Ramona says she’s seen the show, and LuAnn almost seems drunk. She says she’s giving Sonja a chance because she loves her. She wanted to make it fun, but if Sonja thinks she’ll be the star, she’s sadly mistaken.

Dorinda tells Sonja that LuAnn doesn’t love her right now, and Sonja continues to cry. Dorinda says she’ll stand up for Sonja. She’s a warrior, and Sonja is weak. Sonja says she’s not, and Dorinda strides off. In Leah’s interview, she says she knew Dorinda was a white witch, but she needs to sage the sh*t out of Bluestone Manor. LuAnn says Sonja is being horrible right now, and Dorinda finds her. She says Sonja is crying. Shame on her. LuAnn asks, why? and Dorinda says Sonja is her friend. She stood by LuAnn on her journey to sobriety. We flash back to Sonja being supportive, and LuAnn asks if Dorinda is saying she owes Sonja, and Dorinda says she’s saying to stand by her. Be nice. LuAnn suggests Dorinda not get involved. Sonja wails that she was just asking for money. Elyse asks why Sonja is so upset, and in her interview, she says, it’s officially what you call off the effing rails. LuAnn says she never wants to see Sonja even at the show. She’s worthless. She’s not coming to the show ever. Now there’s a real threat.

Next time, Dorinda calls LuAnn a drunken fool, Ramona deals with a clogged toilet, Heather Thompson makes an appearance, and Leah announces she’s the only one with a period.

🥂  The Real Housewives of Potomac begin their new season on August 2nd, and it’s confirmed that the Shah’s of Sunset will be reuniting on July 19th. I’m thrilled. Obviously, I have no life.

👩🏼  Fun fact. Even though I’ve seen it a dozen times – it was a favorite of kids I used to take care of – I never noticed that Kimberly McCullough (Robin, GH) was in Legally Blonde.

☄️ Fallen Stars…

This is weirding me out. Over 90 already. The Roll Call of the Celebrity Dead is going to be long this year.

https://www.tvguide.com/galleries/celebrity-deaths-2020/?ftag=NLS-04-10aaa2i

📺 Anything But the TV…

Although this opens the door to a whole new reality franchise.

https://www.theringer.com/tv/2020/7/7/21315197/pandemic-tv-coronavirus-effects-2020

💋 Posh As Hell…

I love Victoria Beckham. She has a wicked sense of humor. And face it, if she could snag David, she’s got something going on.

https://www.instyle.com/celebrity/david-beckham-victoria-beckham-21st-anniversary-instagram-posts

🦇 The Latest In Bat News…

A new Batwoman is in town.

https://www.instyle.com/celebrity/javicia-leslie-batwoman-ruby-rose

🎁 That’s a Wrap…

More tea tomorrow, taxes took time today. How’s that for alliteration? Hopefully, yours were done pandemic ages ago. Stay safe, stay rolling with the punches, and stay gathering no moss.

July 8, 2020 – When Michael Got Sentenced, About Claire, a Bit of Shirley, A Night In Capri Turns Stormy, Pressured, Ramona’s Test, New Digs For Vicki, Caroline Speaks, Concert Redo, Tavern Survival, Phaedra Directs, a Puppy, a Career & Odd

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

As Ferris Bueller said, GH moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and flash back once in a while, you could miss it. Today, what we didn’t miss was May 7th, 2010.

Prosecutor Claire said Jax knew Michael was innocent, and if she went down, she was dragging him with her. She didn’t have much sympathy for the man who almost torpedoed her career. He asked if she didn’t think the judge would go easy on Michael, and she said she didn’t see why not. Judge Carroll was a lot angrier with them than with Michael. She thought it was realistic to expect a suspended sentence, but it was a felony conviction, and Michael would have it hanging over him for the rest of his life. Her phone rang, and she told Jax that the judge was ready to sentence Michael.

At Crimson, Maxie told Lulu that she didn’t know what it was like to be a pariah. Maxie did, and she didn’t recommend it. Lulu stuck by her boyfriend, and now Michael was in lock-up. Lulu thought he judge was just trying to scare Michael, and Maxie said she was sorry she hadn’t called Jason before Dante talked to Michael. Lulu said Dante was only doing the right thing; the secret had been killing Michael. Maxie said he could end up in Pentenville, but Lulu insisted that he would get a suspended sentence. Dante had said Michael would be able to start a new life away from the mob and Sonny. Maxie said the opposite of what Dante wanted could happen, but Lulu said Dante was saving Michael, and one day everyone would understand why she took his side, and be grateful to him. At the courthouse, Carly told Jason that Morgan wanted to have a party for Michael’s homecoming, but she’d told him that they’d have to wait and see. Morgan thought Michael was coming home right away, thanks to Dante. Jason said Dante shouldn’t have promised that Michael would come home. Dante arrived, and asked Carly to hear him out about Michael.

Outside of Kelly’s, Morgan, Kristina, and Molly were conferring about Michael, and Molly asked if they thought he was getting out. Kristina thought it was unrealistic to think he would right away, but Morgan said, Dante promised. Olivia and Johnny came into Kelly’s, but Johnny’s phone rang as soon as they sat down. He said he’d be right there, and told Olivia that he would be allowed to speak before Michael was sentenced. Maxie told Lulu that she was being too optimistic. Maxie had ended up in Shadybrook because she went along with a cover-up, and let someone she loved take the fall. She had to own up to it, and Michael will have to also. Olivia phoned Lulu, and told her Dante could use her support. Dante told Carly, he hoped when this was over, they’d understand he was right. Carly said he gave snitch a whole new meaning, and had turned it into an art. He lied to her kids when he was working against their father. He lied when he said Sonny didn’t shoot him, and if he’d told the truth, they wouldn’t be there. Dante said the guilt had been tearing Michael apart, and Carly asked why Dante didn’t give him time to come forward himself. Dante said it was his job as a police officer to tell the truth, and Carly said, he told the truth when it was convenient or it made him look good. She said Michael would have turned himself in when he came back, but Dante couldn’t wait to grandstand. Dante said she could have saved Michael all this trouble, but he thought the judge would see Michael as a victim, and give him a chance to build his life again. It was the best thing that could have happened to him. Sonny told Dante, stop talking now. He asked Dante why he was lecturing Carly about what Michael needed; he didn’t know Michael, and had been too busy proving Sonny wrong to protect him. Maybe Sonny didn’t deserve a better son than Dante, but Michael deserved a better brother. Morgan, Molly, and Kristina snuck into the courthouse. Morgan wondered if they could get take-out pizza tonight, and Molly said she thought they were overlooking that everyone hated Dante. Morgan said they wouldn’t after today. Lulu joined Dante, and said she believed in what he was doing. He told her, when the judge gave Michael a suspended sentence, they’d see, and she said it was the right thing for her to be there to take his side, especially with Carly there. She wasn’t going to apologize for loving him. Everyone went into the courtroom, and Carly said it was so wrong. Sonny said, no matter what, they wanted Michael to know they were there to support him.

Elizabeth went to Shirley’s (Michael Learned) hospital room, and Shirley said Elizabeth was looking good. She thought it was the ex-husband. Elizabeth said she was glad Lucky came by and stopped Helena from harassing her; it was like old times. Shirley said, from what Elizabeth had told her, Lucky was a rescuer, and they all dream of someone swooping in to make it right. Elizabeth said sometimes it happened. Lucky had saved her when they were teenagers. They’d caused each other pain, but there had been good times, and she was glad he was still out there. She thought he still cared. Shirley said she always believed the bright side, but sometimes there was a case to be made for reality. Elizabeth said it was the first time she’d seen a glimpse of hope for her and Lucky, and it came from Helena of all people. At the MetroCourt bar, Helena told Tracy she felt sorry for Spencer. He was the son of a stripper, and the nephew of a professional criminal; hardly Cassadine material. Tracy said he was good enough for Helena to kidnap, and Helena said she didn’t expect Tracy to understand the traditions like honor and respect. She wanted to raise her grandchildren to be proper Cassadines. Morgan said he felt like a spy, as the kids snuck around, and listened in from a hallway near the courtroom. Sonny asked Diane how Michael was, and she said Michael wanted to make him proud. Sonny asked if she had any idea what sentence the judge would give Michael, and she said, none, but Judge Carroll had the reputation of being fair and thorough. She told him that Johnny was probably there to make a statement for Claudia, and Carly couldn’t believe Jax was there with Claire, and he was sitting on that side of the courtroom. Judge Carroll came to the bench, and reminded everyone that he was not going to tolerate any interruptions or outbursts. Michael was brought in, and the judge asked if the victim’s family cared to speak. Johnny said he would, and got on the stand.

Johnny said that he and Claudia were very close. She was the one person he could come to if he needed anything. Sonny had tried to have killed, and she sought retribution, but she hadn’t intended on hurting Michael. She’d had guilt and remorse over being responsible for Michael getting shot. That, and losing her baby were the worst things that ever happened to her. Sonny deliberately and relentlessly whittled away at Claudia’s sanity, and by the birthday party, she had gone over the edge. She could have killed Carly and the baby, and Michael had no choice but to stop her. The judge asked if he was aware that Michael killed his sister; he’d sworn Sonny had. Johnny said he’d testified that Sonny was responsible for her death, and he was. Sonny built her up, then humiliated her. If not for Sonny’s actions toward her, she never would have ended up at the cabin, and never would have kidnapped Carly. Michael should be considered a hero for saving his mother and baby sister’s life. Claudia wouldn’t want to see him punished. If she could, she would forgive Michael. He wasn’t responsible; Sonny was.

Helena told Tracy that her role as matriarch was to provide guidance and continuity to the next generation. She was looking out for her own, and Tracy might want to do the same – meaning our Luke. Tracy said he was her Luke, and Helena said she and Luke went to dark places Tracy wouldn’t understand. Luke was thrilling when properly stimulated. Tracy told Helena, stay away from her husband. She left, and Helena said Tracy was too smart. She couldn’t have Tracy figuring out that Elizabeth was really carrying Lucky’s child. Shirley said she was dying, so she might have memory lapses, but hadn’t Elizabeth said there was no hope for her and Lucky? Elizabeth said she didn’t see how Lucky could forgive her for sleeping with his brother. He was hurt and angry, and couldn’t see his way back. He’d looked at her differently, but what brought them together was still there. It was funny that Helena had spent so much time pulling them apart, and now might bring them back together. She wasn’t jumping to a happy ending, but if there was a chance, that was enough. Shirley asked, what about the baby’s father, Nikolas? Lucky showed up at Crimson with some flowers from a guy in the lobby, and Maxie said they were from a photographer who’d had to cancel at the last minute. Maybe she’d invite him back if a free portrait was in it; fashion publishing was her calling. She told him Lulu was at the courthouse, standing by her man.  On the stand, Johnny said Claudia wasn’t evil, and wouldn’t want Michael to suffer for what she or Sonny had done. He understood the judge was upset with all of them, but hoped he didn’t take it out on the kid, and was lenient. Michael was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and never meant to kill Claudia. He was acting on instinct, and saved two lives. Judge Carroll said Johnny was bright and articulate, and hoped Johnny turned his life around before they met there under different circumstances. He told Michael to stand.

The judge said Michael had pleaded guilty, and waived his right to trial. He had admitted killing Claudia, but there was no malice or premeditation, so was charged with involuntary manslaughter, which carried a sentence of five to twenty years. He’d also had brain damage, but the judge wanted him to understand the seriousness of his action without completely sacrificing his future. He gave Michael five years, with the opportunity for parole in two years. Everyone went nuts, and the judge banged his gavel, telling them to take their seats. There was still an uproar, with Dante and Carly yelling the loudest. Dante said Michael didn’t belong in prison, and Judge Carroll told him it was past the point of argument. Dante said he brought Michael there to save him, and get him away from the violence and corruption, but the judge said it was too late to negotiate a deal. Michael’s sentence would give him time to turn his life around. Dante argued that Sonny had a lot of enemies in prison, and Michael could be pulled further into it. He asked the judge to please reconsider, give Michael the help he needed, and give his brother a chance to build a better future. Maxie put Lucky to work, toting boxes for her. She said his sister was crazy in love with Dante, and asked what he thought. He said he never figured his sister for the law and order type. He didn’t agree with turning Michael in, and hoped it had nothing to do with him. Maxie said Dante thought the judge would be lenient, but she thought Dante should have given Michael the opportunity to turn himself in. She was afraid he’d end up with a harsher sentence because he hadn’t. Lulu had gone to be with Dante, since she was in the first stages of love, when you have no thought of hooking up anyone else.

Tracy sat in an examining room, waiting for Epiphany. She told Epiphany that she wanted to see the lab tech who did Elizabeth’s paternity test, but Epiphany said, not a chance. Tracy said her family’s money kept the hospital afloat, and Epiphany said it was Lawrence Bailey. Tracy wanted his number, but Epiphany told her that he used to swim laps before work, had slipped, hit his head, and drowned. In court, Judge Carroll said he didn’t tolerate an outburst, but Dante respected the law and his brother, so he’d allowed it. There was no worse crime anyone could commit than taking a human life. Michael had been part of the cover-up, although he’d had terrible guidance from the people who claimed to love him, and extreme emotional pressure. However, he hadn’t been restrained or threatened, and could have come forward. Michael said Mac hadn’t believed his confession, and the judge said it had been off the record. He asked if Michael had shown Mac the bloody shirt or if he’d made any other attempt at a confession. Diane said Michael had been following legal advice, and the judge said they’d go down that road later. Michael was surrounded by a group who flaunted the law the rest of them had to obey. He’d been systematically exposed to violence and mayhem. He’d awoke after being in a coma for a year, and the judge had reservations about how he was living the life he’d miraculously been given back. Dante said, prison wasn’t the goal; Michael should get counseling sessions and guidance. Judge Carroll said Michael was of legal age, and they were all treating him like a child, when in the eyes of the court, he was an adult. He hoped to teach Michael to respect the law, and that his actions had consequences, and he’d be getting Michael away from the adults in his life. He’d keep them away if he could. He said it was an extremely light sentence. He hoped Michael used the time to plan a better life, and that it left him with an aversion to being locked up, so he never broke the law again. Carly cried, and Dante looked like he had a headache.

Maxie said she wasn’t talking about Lucky, and he said he’d been in love with Elizabeth, but once he moved on, he was done rescuing her. Maxie asked how that was working for him, and he said he’d been known to backslide, especially when Helena was involved, but he wasn’t going to keep trying to make the fantasy work. Maxie was glad he’d outgrown Elizabeth. Those who’d had their hearts trampled, would live to love another day. Epiphany admitted that she’d seen Larry talking to Helena, and Tracy suggested Helena had paid Larry to change the test, then killed him. Epiphany said, or she just wanted to see the result early, and Larry slipped. Tracy wondered why Helena would want a Spencer baby appear to be a Cassadine. Michael was remanded to the PCPD to await transfer, and Sonny said it wasn’t justice. The cover-up was his idea. The judge said, it having a less than satisfying outcome wasn’t his problem. Sonny said he told Michael that he was proud he’d saved his mother and sister, and because of him, Michael had lost a year of his life. Because of him, Michael had been in the cabin. Michael had made a bad choice, but he didn’t mean kill Claudia. He was devastated, and had practically been in shock. The judge asked if they’d sought medical attention, but Sonny said he’d brought Michael home, the only place he thought was safe and they could take care of him. He didn’t want Michael punished anymore for saving Carly and Josslyn. Judge Carroll said Sonny had destroyed evidence that would have proved Michael didn’t want Claudia harmed. Sonny said Claudia wasn’t a tragic misguided soul, like Johnny had said. She was 100% evil, and poisoned everything she touched. The judge said, yet Sonny married her. Sonny said the fact was, he’d brought Claudia into Michael’s life, and he was responsible for her death. He begged the judge not to punish Michael, but to punish him. While the judge agreed that Sonny was indirectly responsible, he said Michael was of legal age. While he’d suffered emotional violence, it wasn’t against the law. Sonny was a selfish irresponsible father, and he was getting Michael out from under Sonny’s influence for two to five years.  Sonny was not a person to admire or emulate, and Michael could take this opportunity to turn his life around. The rest of them broke so many laws, he didn’t know where to start; including perjury, wasting his time, and the time and money of the taxpayers. He had a backup of real cases, so it would have to be punishment enough, knowing they’d helped put Michael in a jail cell. He hoped Michael would think about it tonight, and every night, until he was released. He said he was going to personally pray that Michael never came home. Carly hugged Michael. In the hallway, Molly said they were taking Michael to prison. Morgan said, but Dante promised, and she said, Dante was wrong. They watched as Michael was taken away. Court was adjourned, and Carly hugged Jason. Everyone was bummed.

👩🏻‍💼 She’ll Drag Jax Down With Her…

Meet DA Claire.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/claire-walsh

🏥 You Can Call Her Shirley…

The Waltons mom guest starred for a hot minute.

https://general-hospital.fandom.com/wiki/Shirley_Smith_(Michael_Learned)

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

When picked up where we left off, with Denise and Aaron jetting from Kyle’s barbecue, and Denise telling him not to say anything with the cameras on them. Kyle said Denise didn’t want to be honest, and LisaR said whenever there was an issue, Denise ran. Not allowing such a thing, LisaR flew after her, but Denise said they’d talk in private. In Denise’s interview, she said if all these women were coming for LisaR, she’d defend her because she’s her friend, but LisaR wasn’t going to bat for her. Kyle told the others that she didn’t like Aaron getting involved, and in Garcelle’s interview, she said, either Aaron was being chivalrous, defending his wife, or it was a bitch move, getting involved in a woman’s conversation. Or women business, and NeNe would say. In Erika’s interviewDenise told LisaR it was time to move on to something else. LisaR had hurt her feelings in Santa Barbara, and she didn’t want the others’ opinions. While walking back, LisaR said it was the effing Twilight Zone. LisaR joined Garcelle, Kyle, Erika, and Sutton in a large tent, and told them that Denise and Aaron were going to have a steak and go to a strip joint. I didn’t catch that part, so I don’t even know if they were being sarcastic or that was their real plan. Erika said that it was hypocritical because Denise was judgmental about the threesome business. Holy! When will these morons get that she just didn’t want to talk about it in front of the kids? In her interview, Garcelle said Denise wasn’t being hypocritical. If the kids weren’t there, they could be as free as they wanted. In Dorit’s interview, she said Denise should have stayed and worked through the situation, so they could move on. In the limo, Denise told Aaron that she wasn’t trying to make them look bad, they made themselves look bad. LisaR said she found it ironic, and Kyle swung around a pole in the middle of the tent, turned upside down, and said, namaste, MF’ers. They all acted like idiots, and honestly, I almost turned it off right there.

Teddi brought her kids along for her sonogram, so they could see their little sister.  LisaR went to Sutton’s store, which was called Sutton. So original. I wondered if her dog was named Spot. In Sutton’s interview, she said she was having a trunk show – A Night in Capri – and sent proper invitations, not some weenie text message. Dorit met with a closet specialist, and we found out she has 229 pairs shoes. At least she did when it was filmed. Who knows now? People have had a lot of time on their hands, and shopping on the internet never closed. Dorit said she needed something to fit all her clothes, but it sounded like she was still going to infringe on PK’s closet space. Kyle almost had a heart attack when she thought she was going to get pulled over while in the car with Kim. In Kyle’s interview, she said, when she and Kim were bad, they were really bad. We flashed back to several of those times, including the limo/alcoholic scene. She added, but when they were good, no one made her laugh harder. They went to see a plastic surgeon about Kim’s implants, since she’d noticed a change in one. Dr. Handel said they were like tires, and it had gone  flat. In her interview, Kyle said Kim already had a lumpectomy. The tumor was benign, but they’d lost their mom to cancer, and she was freaked. The doctor thought it would be enough to remove the implants and give her a lift.

While Aaron was driving, Sami asked if what he was doing wasn’t illegal, and he told her, don’t do what I do – ever. He took for a driving lesson, along with Denise, who said she was a nervous effing nelly. We learned that because of their shape, the break was the hamburger, and the hotdog meant go. Denise said Aaron had the patience she didn’t, and when she watched him, she was reminded of why she fell in love with him. She felt safe and protected with him, and had never been with a man who took care of her.

LisaR and Erika went to a place called EMsculpt, where they stick electric paddles on you to tighten you up. LisaR said she’d done everything, and this was great. In Erika’s interview, she said it wasn’t a replacement for exercise, but it was important. In her business, there was a line out the door to judge you. Erika said Dr. Kinney was her next husband. She was going for a plastic surgeon. In her interview, LisaR said he was Erika’s type; rich and bald. Erika had her stomach zapped, while LisaR did her butt. Erika asked LisaR about Chicago, since she’d also been in it. LisaR said her hardest moment was Roxie’s monologue about fame; it’s who she is. In her interview, she said, it was all about her. She told Erika that they all come from a place of need, and can relate. They’re tough bitches.

Kim checked in to the hospital, and Dr. Handel said the plan was to remove her implants, and remove any abnormal tissue for a biopsy. In Kyle’s interview, she said she hated doctors and hospitals – they made her whole body go numb. It terrified her, thinking something might be wrong, and all she could think about was her mom. Kim was worried that she hadn’t talked to her kids that morning, but the doctor said she’d be fine. In her interview, Kyle said she went back to hearing that her mom had breast cancer, and she was scared to die. She would tell Kyle that she was terrified, and still had so much to teach her. I’m not so sure that’s something you should tell your child, especially if they have anxiety. When the surgery was over, Dr. Handel told Kyle that Kim had done extremely well.

Garcelle was moving into her new home. In her interview, she said she’d been planning and building for close to a year. It was two stories, with a grand entrance; 3200 square feet, with five bedrooms and five baths. She said she didn’t realize she had so much sh*t. I know the feeling, and hate moving. After the divorce, building the house was huge for her. She had a date on Friday night, and said she didn’t introduce the kids to many guys. She didn’t want the kids to go through too many changes, and didn’t want them think mom was a ho. Some women have daddy issues, and she picked men who weren’t emotionally available. She never really had a relationship with her father. She thought he must have known he was dying, and wrote her a letter. He sent it to mom who never gave it to her, then it had been misplaced, so she never knew how he felt or what he thought of her; if he was proud of her. The boys walk on the outside of the banister on the grand staircase, giving Garcelle agita.

The women went to Sutton’s trunk show, where she had some dynamite jewelry. In Dorit’s interview, she said when she’d been offered a job in Italy, she stayed ten years. After a broken engagement, she returned to Manhattan, and met PK. Teddi rolled in, looking unkempt as usual. In Sutton’s interview, she said maybe she could help Teddi. Probably not. Kyle talked about how she and Mauricio were having a black and white party. In her interview, she said they threw a lot of parties, and thought it looked prettier in pictures than a white party. Sutton had a fabulous buffet spread that spanned a few tables. Kyle was uncomfortable when she heard Denise was coming with Aaron. Dorit said she’d learned from that experience, and we flashed back to PK butting into one of the arguments. In Dorit’s interview, she said she knew how Denise felt; thank God for my husband, but it backfires. In Denise’s interview, she said she kept hoping the ladies would put it to bed, and say, let’s have a great night. HA-HA-HA! Good luck with that. Dorit met Denise and Aaron in the reception area. Erika said it wasn’t that deep, but now it was a thing and uncomfortable. My sentiments exactly, but they’re the ones making it a thing and uncomfortable. Teddi said, awkward energy. Denise and Aaron approached their table, and Aaron asked if he was the only husband. Denise said they had a dinner, so he had to come, but in Kyle’s interview, she said she didn’t buy it. Denise dragged Aaron there because she didn’t want to get into anything. He’s her watchdog. Actually, I think if that was the case, he’d be the last one she’d bring. Kyle said she was sorry about what happened that they’d left. In Denise’s interview, she said it was okay for Kyle to leave, but she can’t, and we flashed back to Kyle leaving her own chem trail at a party. Denise said she had to use the bathroom, leaving Aaron to deal with the women. Kyle said she felt weird about how they left, and felt weird not acknowledging it. Aaron thought they should wait until Denise was back, but Erika couldn’t do that, telling Aaron that he’d said they were bad people, they should look in the mirror, and were they happy with themselves. He did tell them to look in the mirror, but he never said they were bad. Aaron said he never called people bad, and Erika said he’d talked down to them. He said if they can live with themselves, okay, and Erika said she could. He said, great. Then she solved that problem. Here’s where I realized I’m Aaron. He’s just not having their phoniness under the guise of honesty, or owning it, if you will. I have the feeling, were I around them for any great length of time, I’d be telling them to look in the mirror too. No. Scratch that. I’d be telling them that if I’d just met them. Denise doesn’t want to talk about some things, and I don’t see what the big deal is. I find it hard to believe all of them are open about everything, and despite what they say, no one has to on a reality show. It’s not a social experiment. They’re Housewives, not the Loud family.

Teddi said Aaron had been belittling, and he said, okay; if that’s how she felt. She said he knew what he was doing, and he asked her to spell it out. Erika said he’d been mansplaining and got heated. He told her that he speaks directly, and she said, so did they. He asked why they were nitpicking people then, and Teddi accused him of being the moral high ground. He asked if she wanted to go there, and Erika said she did; did he? Aaron said he’d go anywhere; he’d go up, down, and all around. Denise came back, and in her interview, she said she’d stupidly left him there with those women. Aaron said if they wanted to talk negatively, they could. He was done with the conversation, but they kept poking the bear. Kyle said he was the one who made it negative. Denise told them she’d said all she had to say about it. Teddi said Denise had called her a sh*t effing stirrer while daughter Phoenix was there. Denise said she hadn’t known Phoenix was there, and this was the dumbest thing ever. Find something else to fight about. She and Aaron walked away, but Dorit couldn’t let that happen. She walked alongside them, yammering. Denise said it was toxic. Dorit told Denise not to say she wasn’t upset when they were storming out. Denise said they weren’t storming out; they were walking away. Back at the table, Kyle suggested Denise just say how she felt. She did. She said she was done. That’s pretty direct. Dorit said Denise was obviously upset, and Denise said it was Sutton’s event, and she didn’t want to cause a scene. In Dorit’s interview, she said Denise was clearly upset and storming out, and that was causing a scene. These people are insane. Storming off is creating a scene, as they’ve all done many times, but Denise and Aaron just said goodnight to Sutton, and walked toward the exit. With Dorit bouncing alongside them, babbling. Causing the scene. Dorit asked why Denise shut it down, and Denise said she had nothing else to say. Erika told the other women that she didn’t give a f***. Dorit said Aaron was being protective, but it wasn’t helpful. In her interview, Dorit said she felt bad for Denise. Now she’d have to blindly defend her husband. Dorit did, and it had sucked for her. Sutton’s boyfriend had the right idea, standing at the buffet and chowing down.

Denise told Dorit that she was past it, but they weren’t. There were paparazzi and people taking pictures; it wasn’t her thing. In Dorit’s interview, she said she didn’t see anyone. Obviously, Denise and Aaron weren’t listening; they were just looking for an excuse to leave. Kyle said she’d felt bad when they left her house, and wanted to talk about it, but they didn’t. They didn’t want to talk about anything when it involved them. She wondered if they’d have to pretend, and Teddi said that wasn’t healthy. Erika said maybe they shouldn’t have any conversations with Denise.

Next time, Garcelle sells a script, Kyle throws the black and white party, Denise and LisaR go to lunch, and Camille, Brandi, and Adrienne show up.

👠 Under Pressure…

Garcelle might have felt the pressure, but she’s kept her cool, and IMO, outshines the veterans.

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/01/garcelle-beauvais-felt-pressure-to-be-the-first-black-rhobh-star/

💉 Queen of Corona…

We will never hear the end of this, since Ramona loves talking about herself.

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/01/rhonys-ramona-singer-says-she-and-daughter-tested-positive-for-covid-19-antibodies/

🧉 Adios, Uno Amiga…

I love how pensive Vicki looks in the photo. Like I think that’s a candid snap.

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/04/rhoc-star-vicki-gunvalson-moves-into-puerto-vallarta-condo/

🎤 A Sister Speaks

Although she really didn’t say a whole lot.

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/02/caroline-manzo-speaks-out-after-arrest-of-sister-dinas-ex-husband/

🎼 Thinking Ahead…

Rescheduling is the new optimism.

https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9386776/concerts-rescheduled-coronavirus-list

🥂 Looks Like They Made It…

Even before the pandemic, it was sad how so many landmarks had closed their doors in NYC. Not only is Neirs Tavern a Black-owned business, it’s one of the oldest bars in the United States. And it’s survived.

https://nypost.com/2020/07/08/190-year-old-nyc-bar-neirs-tavern-survives-covid-19/

😥  A Wife Does the Honors…

I’d forgotten Phaedra was also a funeral director.

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/02/phaedra-parks-talks-about-directing-rayshard-brooks-funeral/

🐶 Something Sweet…

Who doesn’t love a puppy?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/bradford-anderson-new-puppy

🧹 A Brush With Celebrity…

Years ago, I did a reality show about fantasy camps, and met Ilene Kristen at a soap opera workshop. She was the best! She was very honest about getting into soap operas, how difficult the work was, and how you could get taken advantage of. Her basic advice was: Don’t. I have a picture of us somewhere…

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/ilene-kristen-amazing-career

🛸 Phasing On…

Don’t worry. We’ll be at Phase 475 before you know it. Meanwhile, stay safe, stay keeping it together, and stay ready for anything.