Tag Archives: The Real Housewives of New York City

January 24, 2025 – Sidwell Meets Laura, Soap Suds, Not My Reality, Weekend Watching, Nom-Noms, Animal Endeavors, 10 Concise Quotes & Freeze-Out

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

Monday:

No soap, inauguration.

Tuesday:

Kristina waited at the launch with Alexis who was going to Spoon Island to meet with Sidwell about Windymere. Drew wanted to charge Tracy with kidnapping because she wouldn’t tell them where the children were even though Martin had a court order. Anna looked like she had a headache when Tracy feigned innocence, and Tracy asked if she looked like a nanny, but Anna said, only one in a Grimm’s fairytale. Tracy told her that Yuri had taken the children and nanny out for the day. Maxie met with Natalia about a new testing facility for Deception. She wanted the closing pushed back to give Sonny time to be with Michael and told Natalia that it wasn’t safe to be in Sonny’s orbit.

Michael was brought to consciousness and told Carly that he wanted to go to Germany. He also wanted to see Sasha. Drew horned in on Anna talking to Tracy, and Jack showed up at the station with info about the incendiary device. Ava was also going to Spoon Island to see Sidwell and badgered Alexis about the settlement money.

Jason went to track Sasha down and Carly told the others that Michael wanted to go to Germany, but Willow wanted to speak to him to confirm and apologize. Tracy claimed they were taking the kids from Monica, but Drew said it killed Tracy that Alan gave the house to Monica, and it was just a power play. Jack told Anna that the WSB was familiar with the device, and it had probably been developed for black ops. She asked if he ever used it and if he was the one who planted it.

Willow went in to see Michael and confirmed he wanted to go to Germany. She apologized for everything, and said the kids missed and loved him and he had to get better for them. She said she’d always love him, and he suddenly clutched in pain.

Ava said her daughter wasn’t safe with a man whose enemies tried to incinerate him and wanted Kristina to testify at the custody hearing. Alexis told Ava to stay away from her daughter or Ava would answer to her. Jack told Anna that he’d be more discreet than setting a luxury high rise on fire. She said the attack was sophisticated and not a usual mob hit.

Carly freaked out about Michael, when Jason arrived with Sasha, but Portia had to sedate Michael again to ease the stress on his system. Carly blamed Willow, but Jason told her not to take out her anger on Willow and focus on Michael. Carly said she’d be going to Germany with him, and Anna called Jason, telling him to get to the station.

Alexis said that Ava didn’t ask, but taunted and badgered. She wondered if Ava would want anyone treat Avery the way she treated Kristina, and Ava left since the truth is hard for her to hear. At the station, Anna told Jason that it was his family, so deal with them. Sasha told Maxie that she’d had a prenatal checkup and thought of Liam. Drew horned in at the hospital and told Willow that he thought Carly had finessed the situation. Sonny advised him to leave, but Willow wanted to talk to him.

Sidwell met Alexis at the dock, and she said she didn’t need to see Windymere again. The Cassadines weren’t known to be sentimental. Maxie offered to go to appointments with Sasha, who said she wasn’t ready to tell the world, but she was glad Maxie and Felicia were there for her to talk to. Maxie asked if Sasha was allowing herself to be happy.

Drew told Willow that he’d had Tracy arrested, but they didn’t know where the kids were, and they didn’t have Michael to use as leverage this time. Willow didn’t like the thought of using Michael as leverage, but was worried she’d messed up in cooperating with Sonny and Carly.

Tracy didn’t want Drew near the kids, but Jason said it was Willow’s call. Tracy said, Willow no longer had a mind of her own and was Drew’s puppet, but Jason said, Michael would want them with their mother. Tracy told him that she wouldn’t go to jail because she had too much money. Ava went to see Sonny and said if Avery had been where Michael was standing, she would have been killed.

Anna said she didn’t have time for the Quartermaines’ petty feuds and had real crimes to deal with. Alexis gave Sidwell the title to Spoon Island and told him that if isolation and excess were what he was looking for, he found his perfect dungeon. He said valued his privacy. Carly thanked Jack for getting Michael into the clinic and arranging for a medical jet. He told her to focus on her son and he’d take care of everything else. Anna told an officer to take Tracy to booking and told Tracy that sometimes the best way to win was to bend.

Drew convinced Willow that Sonny and Carly had been manipulating her. As he chatted her up in the chapel, Jason walked in. Sonny said he wouldn’t let Ava poison his daughter against him, and she said she was going to show the judge the charred remains of the penthouse and photos of Michael’s burns and she was going to get her daughter back permanently. She left and Sonny tried to take his heart meds, but keeled over.

Wednesday:

Charlie’s was reopening and Kristina and Lucky toasted to their dads who were great partners back in the day. Natalia found Sonny, got some medication in him, and called 911. Jason thought there was a compromise if Willow stayed in the gatehouse with the kids and Monica could have access. Lulu wanted to speak to Tracy, but Dante said, no. Lulu said she was fluent in Tracy Quartermaine and asked to have a crack at her.

Spinelli said they might have lost a gastropub, but gained the essence of cool in the new Charlie’s. Willow said if Jason could get Tracy to agree, she’d move back to the gatehouse, even though Drew told her not to negotiate. She had all the power she needed. Felicia told Sasha that the q’s thrived on toxic shenanigans and not to get caught up in it. Lucky told Elizabeth that he may have found a lead in their case.

Brick hit on Jordan going into Charlie’s, but she was meeting Isaiah. Kristina told Brick that him being there officially made it the coolest place in town. Sonny came to while Natalia was on the phone with 911, but he insisted no help. Jason asked to speak to Tracy who asked what the catch was. Drew said Tracy was using Monica to bully Willow. She said her kids were traumatized enough and she wanted to bring the kids back to their home. Jason said it was Tracy’s only chance to make a deal that would keep the kids close to Monica, and Lulu agreed he was right. Would Tracy rather be right or free? It was her turn to be strategic and play the long game. Be smart and take the win.

Sonny asked Natalia to call Isaiah and ruined his date with Jordan, but Brick took his place. Lucky told Elizabeth to follow his lead. Sasha told Felicia that she didn’t even recognize Willow anymore and she’d used Michael as leverage. Felicia suggested they show her some grace. Cody acted like an ass at Charlie’s and told Spinelli that if he wanted to stay out of prison because of Society Set-Ups (which none of us even remember anymore), he’d pony up some $75K. Brick asked if he should be jealous. Isaiah went to Sonny’s, and Sonny explained what had happened with Ava. Isaiah said the pills were just a stop gap measure and Sonny needed to see a cardiologist. Drew tried to talk Willow out of living at the gatehouse, no doubt for his own selfish gains, but Willow wasn’t having it. He said if the Quartermaines saw a way to get her children, they’d do it. Tracy agreed to take the deal.

Lucky talked to Martin about Cyrus, who said it was their mother who inspired Cyrus’s vocation. Isaiah said Sonny couldn’t be there for those he cared about if he didn’t take care of himself. Natalia said she’d stay with Sonny. Jason let Willow know that the kids were waiting at the gatehouse. Martin’s mother said if it had been up to Cyrus, she would be gone, but Cyrus just hadn’t wanted her to suffer. Lucky said they were still missing something because neither Dex nor Sam were terminal. Spinelli said Cody was the same sketchy grifter he’d always been. Lucky told him to take a walk, and Cody told Lucky to take a nap and punched him. Brick intervened, and Maxie thought she’d have to save Cody from himself.

Drew told Martin that Willow needed to be freed from the Quartermaines and Martin asked if Drew meant free to be with him. Drew said he’d do anything to protect Willow. Cody was brought into the station as Tracy was being released. Kristina said bar brawls weren’t the vibe she was going for. Willow came home and all was right with the world. For now.

Thursday:

Both Cody and Lucky were arrested, and Elizabeth tended to Lucky’s wounds in the interrogation room. Mac wondered what the hell was going on with Cody. The more he tried to get through, the more Cody pushed him away. Molly went to see Cody, who thought Lucky should have to pay for damages too, since he’d also been arrested. Molly said he was the only one throwing punches. Ava went to see Laura and Brick went to see Sonny. Kristina told Alexis about the fight, and Jordan said Brick had to step in to stop the fight, but the police thought Lucky was involved. Laura told Ava that a lot had changed and she couldn’t be Ava’s character witness. It was better if she wasn’t involved.

Josslyn told Lucas that she knew Cyrus had stabbed Dex and how she’d messed up at the station. Lucy brought Sidwell to Charlie’s and the thought it was distinctive and inviting. Lucy paved the way for a meeting with Laura.

Molly said no charges would be filed if Cody paid for the damages, but he said he had no money. Mac asked what the hell was wrong with him. Mac asked if Cody’s drunken fights were part of a bigger problem. Ric showed Ava an apartment since she had to establish a permanent residence, but she thought the square footage was lacking. Natalia told Brick what was going on with Sonny’s health, and Sonny filled him in on the rest. Brick said they had to make sure a close call like this never happened again.

Sidwell had to jet. Kristina said he seemed nice, and Alexis said nice and peculiar, since he thought Windymere was charming. Jordan went to see Laura and told her about Sidwell being in town. Cody promised he was done with booze and bar crawling. Mac said Cody was in a spiral that was getting worse, and he wanted to know why. Molly told Felicia that Cody was being a five-star ass. Lucky wanted to talk to Felicia about Cyrus, and Lucky discussed Cyrus with Josslyn. He said all they had were theories and suppositions and they needed evidence.

Lucky and Elizabeth talked to Felicia who said she thought it was the right choice to ban Cyrus from the hospital. Cody told Mac it wasn’t about Sasha. He trashed things when they were good. Mac said he had a family to rely on now and couldn’t push them away. Natalia went to Charlie’s and told Kristina that Sonny and Brick were discussing business. Brick arranged for Sonny to see the best cardiologist in the country in Los Angeles, to keep the diagnosis from the Five Families (marinara sauce). Ric said Ava didn’t have the means for a long-haul custody battle.

Kristina said she was worried about Sonny as she’d gotten a new date for the custody case. Anna said there were no outstanding warrants on Sidwell and even Interpol’s tag had been dropped. Laura got notice of the meeting and said it might be time to give Sidwell what he wants. Ava told Ric that Laura backed out of being a character witness and he told her to never doubt he was on her side, then they kissed. Josslyn said she was going to find the tie between Cyrus and the murders.

Mac left Cody in jail to think. Ava agreed to take the apartment. Laura called Sidwell and made a date to meet. Molly said, as long as people like Cody were saved from the consequences of their actions, there would always be a next time. Lucky wanted to talk to the Turning Woods staff and check their records, but Elizabeth said he’d stepped on a lot of toes there, so he agreed to let her do the talking. Lucas asked Josslyn to promise she’d stay away from Cyrus.

Friday’s Enchilada:

Baden-Baden, Germany. Carly goes into her hotel suite breathing heavy. She almost throws a bottle, but decides against it. Instead, she sits down and cries.

Willow leaves a message for Drew telling him that she’s back at the gatehouse and just wanted to hear his voice. There’s a knock at the door, and Nina says she brought breakfast. She asks how it is being back, and Willow says she’s afraid she made a huge mistake.

Drew asks if Curtis has a second to talk, but Curtis says he doesn’t know what Drew could say that he’d want to hear.

Trina sees Josslyn at the hospital and asks what she’s doing here. Josslyn says she’s trying to stop a murder.

Stella visits Kai, who’s watching a game tape. She says she came to check on him and see if there are any more flowers or gifts that he wants her to distribute. He says, the volunteers took care of it, and she asks if he’s sure he doesn’t want to keep some of it. He says he won’t be here long enough to enjoy it. He’s getting out soon.

Lulu goes to Maxie’s office, but Maxie’s not there. The phone rings, and she answers it. Maxie comes in and mouths, who is it? and Lulu mouths back, Blair Cramer. Maxie says, no, and Lulu asks if she can have Maxie return the call. Maxie says, Lulu has improved since she worked at Crimson, but she’s overqualified for the Deception job and wouldn’t be happy. Lulu says, happiness is overrated, but Maxie says, Lulu isn’t into beauty or cosmetics and needs to be challenged to keep her interested. Lulu says she just wants to earn her own money on her own terms and not rely on what Tracy and her mom decide, but Maxie says, she’d be miserable if she took the job. Lulu asks, what’s going on? Is Maxie trying to get her to withdraw her application, so she doesn’t have to turn her down? Brook walks in and asks what Lulu is doing here. Didn’t Maxie tell Lulu that they’re not hiring her?

Sidwell knocks on Laura’s office door and tells her that he’s looking forward to their meeting. Laura invites him in, and says she thinks he knows Anna. Anna certainly knows him. Anna says she and Sidwell met when he tried to have her killed while she was in Africa. He also tried to have Laura’s son killed.  

There’s a knock at Carly’s door, and she opens it to Jack.

Sidwell says he feels terrible about the situation with Lucky in Africa, and Laura asks if by situation he means holding Lucky captive and forcing him to play poker in order to stay alive. Anna says, he tried to execute her and Jason, but he says, the incident differs vastly from his perspective. His business was threatened. Anna and Jason lied about who they were, as did Laura’s son, and Holly stole from him. Laura asks if that justified holding them captive and torturing them, and he says, when his livelihood was threatened, he took any steps the law of the land allowed to protect it. He was in a country that had no law and nothing he did was illegal. Anna says, they have a fairly strong law here. He abducted Sasha, held her for ransom, and blew up a building – a trifecta of illegality. Sidwell asks if someone accused him. Is there a witness or evidence? He has no idea what she’s talking about. Anna says, they have nothing at this time, and he asks them to allow him to explain why he asked for a meeting. He’s an exporter based in Europe, but wants to expand to the North American market. Laura asks, why Port Charles? Llanview, Pine Valley, or even New York City would be a better choice. To be clear, they don’t want him in Port Charles.

Lulu says, this isn’t about the job, and Brook says she’ll handle it. She’s an officer of the company and has an interest in its success. The job at Deception is to be her assistant. Lulu says, they already established that, and Brook says, given a choice, she wouldn’t choose to work with Lulu. She’s uncomfortable to have around and it makes for a difficult work environment. Lulu says she gets that Brook doesn’t like her, but doesn’t understand why. She’s not the one who came between Brook and her boyfriend. Brook was the one who did that to her.

Willow tells Nina that she didn’t think moving back to the gatehouse would be that big a deal. She’s lived here for years, and it was great, but that was before this ugliness. Tracy walks in, looks at Nina, and asks why she’s not surprised. Nina says, nice to see her too, and Tracy says she saw Wiley getting on the bus to school and Amelia is out for a walk with the nanny. She thought it was the perfect time to go over new ground rules.  

Drew says he didn’t like the way he and Curtis left off. They’ve been friends for a long time, and he didn’t intend to double-cross Curtis. He thought he was doing right by him and Michael, but he failed. He should have handled it differently. Curtis says, ya think? and Drew says, things are different now. Michael is out of the picture, and they can use the opportunity to pivot from his mistake and do something that will work for them both. Curtis says, given what Drew’s done, whatever he’s thinking isn’t going to work, and Drew says he had that coming. He understands why Curtis is angry, but he never meant for it to come to this point. They’ve known each other a long time and go way back. They’ve been through so much together. He’s just asking Curtis to hear him out.

Josslyn tells Trina that she’s trying to see if anybody has any information on Dex, but she’s not getting anywhere. Trina says she gets that Josslyn wants answers and doesn’t blame her for being frustrated, and Josslyn says she had to do something to honor Dex’s memory. She asks if Trina is here to see her mother, but Trina says she’s here to see Kai.

Kai tells Stella that he’s had an MRI and every scan possible. He wishes they’d hurry with the results. The sooner they do, the sooner he’s back on his feet. She says she knows patients who would enjoy a break from enormous men chasing and tackling them, but Kai says he loves football and wants to get back as soon as possible. She says, he still has a lot of work ahead, but first he needs the paperwork. He thanks her for taking care of everything, and him, and she says she’s happy to, but he doesn’t want to push too much too soon, or he’ll set his recovery back. Listen to his doctor. He says he’s not going to do anything to jeopardize his full recovery. He wants to be back for next season.

Carly asks what Jack is doing here, and he says he had a meeting in London. He swung by to see how she’s doing. She says, normally, she’d ask him to wait downstairs so she can pull herself together, and he says he’ll wait wherever she wants. Or if she’s not up to a visit, he can leave. She tells him, come in, and asks if they can order room service. He says, yeah.

Nina says, Tracy can’t barge into her daughter’s house, but Tracy says, it’s Monica’s house because Alan gave it to her and Monica wants her great-grandchildren close by. It’s for her sake Tracy agreed to Willow living here. Willow says she agreed to the compromise because of the kids and Monica, not Tracy. Tracy doesn’t even like her kids. She kidnapped them and kept them from their mother, convincing herself that it was in their best interest, but it wasn’t. Willow withdrew the charge because it hurt too many people, but she could easily change her mind and have the charge reinstated.  

Curtis says, because of the friendship he and Drew used to have, he’ll hear Drew out, and Drew thanks him. He sits down and says he doesn’t like that he’s not in control of a company he started, and he wants it back. He suggests they set up a stock sale so he can get that back. He’s not going to throw his weight around. All he wants is ownership of his own company back. Curtis says, Michael is out because he’s recovering from third degree burns, but Drew tells him that he’s not saying that. Curtis says, it sure as hell sounded like it, and Drew says, Michael has wealth beyond belief. Curtis has a contract to be CEO for five years and he’ll honor that. Curtis says, he’s suggesting the orchestrate a stock sale, Drew gets controlling interest, then steps back and lets him run it without interference. Drew says, Michael did what he did to get back at him for Willow. It had nothing to do with the business. He’s seen the incredible things Curtis is doing and knows he cares about Aurora. Curtis says, of course (🍷) he does, and Drew says, as a courtesy, he wants it acknowledged that he founded the company and it’s running successfully. It makes sense since he’d be the majority shareholder. Curtis says, Drew makes good points, but he’d rather resign than take the deal.

Trina says, she wants Kai to know, if there’s anything she can do, he can count on her, and Josslyn says, it must be rough for him. She thinks it’s good for him to see Trina. Kai’s identity and everything in his life revolves around football. She’s not in that world and brings a different perspective to the conversation. She’s a good friend. She asks, what’s in the bag? and Trina says she went to the wellness center and got power bars and electrolyte water. (I drink that!) It’s good to stay hydrated while in the hospital. It was no big deal. Josslyn says, Trina could have done it later, but Trina says, sometimes later is taken away. They both know that. Josslyn says, that’s why they’re best friends. They get each other. Trina says, they really do, and Josslyn says she’s heading out. They hug, and Josslyn says, let her know how it goes with Kai.

Stella tells Kai to take time to heal. He has his whole life ahead of him and needs more than an arm and shoulder to throw a football. He says, ironically, he’d been debating whether to enlist in the draft or play his senior year. The decision’s been made and he’s glad he has another season at PCU. Stella says, that’s a good way to look at it. And she has one more season to watch him. He asks if she likes football, and she says she loves it. This season was the first time she followed PCU. Their quarterback is a phenomenon. He says, if she wants tickets, just say the word, and that goes for when he’s in the NFL. She says she’s always wanted to go to the Superbowl, and he says he likes the way she thinks. They laugh, when the doctor comes in. He asks if now is a good time to talk, and Kai says, perfect. Stella leaves, and Kai says, so what’s the good news?  

Brook says she feels like Lulu is just waiting for her to mess up and it’s stressful. Nothing kills creativity more than criticism. Lulu says she doesn’t sound critical all the time, but Maxie says, they both do it. Lulu says she doesn’t intend to be critical, and Maxie says, maybe it’s a habit, but it’s not fun to be around and she doesn’t like it. She loves them, but she’s just being honest. Deception has had a lot of ups and downs. Hiring her to work as Brook’s assistant when it’s obvious they don’t like each other seems like there would be complications.

Jack asks how things are with Michael, and Carly says, the doctors at the clinic say he’s doing fine, but they won’t let her see him. She understands that it’s cutting edge and intense. He needs to be isolated because he’s injured and in a lot of pain. But they’re in a foreign country and she has no control. He says, she can leave and go to Johns Hopkins where she’d be allowed to visit, but she says, Michael needs to be here. She’s hoping he comes out like Ava and won’t need surgery or skin grafts. She gets it. He needs to be here. Jack says, even if it means following their rules? and she says, it’s what Michael needs and what she wants. It’s the first offer of hope, and she wants that for Michael. More important, Michael wants that for himself.  

Curtis tells Drew that he wouldn’t betray Michael if he was completely healthy and down the hall in his office. He’s not going to do it while Michael is recovering. Drew says, he had no problem seizing the company Drew co-founded, but Curtis tells him not to rewrite history. Michael gave him the score about Drew double-crossing him. Drew asks why Curtis doesn’t see it from his perspective, and Curtis laughs. He says he’s not going to try and explain it to the man used to know. This Drew in front of him, he doesn’t recognize him. What the hell happened to him?  

Tracy asks if Willow was so dazzled by Drew’s faux hero persona that she had to have him at any cost or was she more conniving than Tracy gave her credit for. Was she trading up from Michael to Drew when he went to congress? Willow says, that’s not what she was doing, but Tracy says, either way, she’s proved untrustworthy. She thinks Willow is little more like Nelle than she realized.

Jack says he respects Carly’s decision to leave Michael where he is, and she says, it’s the right call. She’s been emotional since she got here. He says, if there was ever a time, this would be it, and she says she feels like it’s her fault. He says, she’s Michael’s mother and it’s normal to feel responsible, but she says, it’s more than that. Michael was burned because he was at Sonny’s, and it was her decision to bring Sonny into Michael’s life.

Stella sees Trina and says, what an unexpected treat, and Trina says she came to see Kai. How is he doing? Stella says, he’s in good spirits and getting ready for next season, and Trina says, he’s staying at PCU and she’s not sad about it. Stella says she doesn’t think Kai is sad either. He’s missing out on the draft, and she’s impressed with his attitude. It will get him through tough times. Trina says, Kai surprised her. She prides herself on not making snap judgements and she did with him. He wasn’t what she thought. Stella asks what she thought, and Trina says she thought he was a shallow arrogant jerk who only cared about football. Stella says she’s glad to know that. She’s really liked him ever since his terrible downward dog in yoga class. Trina being in his corner will do him a world of good.

Lulu says, the last thing she wants is to cause complications at Deception. She’s sorry she imposed on her and Maxie’s friendship. It won’t happen again. Brook says she knows they’ve all been through hell. Being in a coma for four years and having liver failure must be a complete nightmare. Maxie says, they wanted to do anything if it would help Lulu get better. They were all tested for compatibility, even Chase and Brook. Lulu says she didn’t know, and Brook says, there are a lot of things she doesn’t know. While all of that was happening, Maxie was running Deception and managing Lucy, which is a full-time job, and dealing with the lawsuit that almost took them down. Lulu asks who sued them, and Brook says, her grandmother. Lulu says, Tracy? and Brook says, the details don’t matter. Her point is, Deception survived in large part because of Maxie’s creativity and hard work. Lulu has no idea how much Deception means to Maxie.

Sidwell says he didn’t choose Port Charles randomly. He’s invested in property. Laura says, he’s an intelligent guy. He must know she’s going to keep a close eye on the man who hurt her son. Anna says she’d think he’d cut his losses and leave, but he says he prefers to prove that he’s a law-abiding citizen, and Laura and Anna laugh. He says he’s sure Anna and the PCPD will be checking up on him on a regular basis, and Anna says, he can count on it. And they’re not the only agency who will be keeping tabs on him. He says he welcomes all the attention and knows in time they’ll decide he’s an asset to this fair city this. He thanks Laura for the meeting, and she says, he may find it difficult to do business in a town where he’s not welcome. He says he looks forward to proving them wrong, and leaves.  

Drew tells Curtis that when he was given the opportunity to go to congress, he thought he’d have a chance to achieve something he didn’t believe possible. The more he was around politics, the more he wanted it. At the time, he and Willow’s relationship changed. Curtis says, Willow is his nephew’s wife, and Drew says he knows. It just happened. They weren’t trying to hurt Michael. Willow saw what he was trying to achieve, and they developed a connection. One she doesn’t have with Michael. Curtis says, whatever he has to tell himself to feel better, and Drew says he’s not the first person to be in this position. Not all marriages last forever. His didn’t and neither did Curtis’s.

Nina tells Tracy, enough. It’s not right for her to use Nelle’s name. Tracy says, Nelle cut a wide swath of damage and that one is the same. If she sees the opportunity, she’ll step in on the children’s behalf. Willow asks what she means, and Tracy says, act responsibly or she’ll lose them. Nina says, they belong with their mother, and Willow says she’s made a genuine effort to compromise. If that doesn’t work, she’ll take the kids back to her mother’s apartment and Tracy can explain to Monica and the rest of the family why they’re gone. Tracy says, fine. However, there’s one condition and it’s non-negotiable. Willow’s boyfriend may not visit on the property. If she’s compelled to look into Drew’s lying eyes, she’ll have to do someplace else. Drew is banned from the property permanently. She leaves.

Carly tells Jack that she and Michael’s biological father didn’t get along… except once. He laughs, and she says, his family, the Quartermaines, didn’t like her very much. She had feelings for Sonny at the time, and he helped her get custody of Michael. She got what she wanted and ignored the very real danger of making Michael a part of Sonny’s life. Their kids have been paying ever since. Jack says, she’s being too hard on herself. Michael is strong and capable and an excellent businessman. Carly says, he wouldn’t have been at Sonny’s except for her choices, and he says she can’t let herself think that way. Hindsight is always 20/20. There’s no point in dwelling on past mistakes. That way, madness lies.

Lulu says she would never do anything to hurt Maxie. Maxie is one of the most important people in her life and she loves her. Maxie says she knows and loves Lulu too, and Brook says she knows how much Lulu cares about Maxie, but she needs to realize what Maxie has been through and how far she’s come. Lulu says she knows things have changed and she’s got a lot to catch up on. She’s trying as fast as she can. She’s been focused on getting a job, so she can gain independence and search for Charlotte on her own terms, but she’s only been seeing things from her perspective. She didn’t take a second to look at it from Maxie’s. It’s not fair and she’s sorry.

Jack tells Carly that early in his career a mission went wrong and an agent, a friend, was killed. One colleague left the WSB and wallowed in guilt. It destroyed his marriage. Jack didn’t outwardly react, so people assumed he didn’t care. Carly says she’s sorry for what he went through, and he says he lost a good friend that day. He tears up and says, there’s nothing he could do to change that. The only way forward was to learn from what went wrong. You can’t life according to what if. You never know what a different decision would have brought. She says, you can’t change the past. She’s been down that road when she lost her son Morgan, and it leads nowhere good. He says, it never does.

Drew tells Curtis, what happened with Michael’s marriage and his injuries are two very different things. He didn’t cause Michael’s burns, and he didn’t help push Willow away. Curtis says, right, and only the doctors can help Michael’s physical injuries. Drew says he made a mistake in placating Michael because he felt guilty. He knows what’s best for Aurora, and if he’d stuck by Curtis, they’d be in a different place. Curtis says, Drew had to do what was best for himself. So does he. When Michael recovers – and he will – he’ll actually respect Michael’s business sense, maybe better than Drew’s. Drew says, wow, and Curtis says, if Drew’s ultimate success is in stealing Willow from his nephew, he’ll have got what he wanted and will find a way of life for himself.

Nina says she’s proud of Willow. Few people can say they stood up to Tracy Quartermaine. Willow says she couldn’t have done it without her mom by her side, and Nina says, it’s where she belongs. Willow says, Drew is right. The Quartermaines treated Michael terribly. She saw how they hate Drew. She should probably do what Drew said and move back in with Nina. (What is wrong with this woman?)

Lulu says she knows Maxie and Brook got close over the past four years and she guesses she felt threatened. She saw the opportunity to have Maxie on her side. Maxie says she doesn’t want side either one of them. They’re both her friends. She can’t force them to like each other, but she does reserve the right to love them both. Brook says she’s worked hard not to be the person she was. Part of her issue is that Lulu reminds her of her past regrets. Lulu says she’s not alone. They all have regrets. Tracy walks in saying, she’s had a bad day, so don’t… Lulu! What is she doing here?

Anna tells Laura, according to her search, Sidwell has no outstanding warrants, and the property transaction was legal. Laura says, what if Anna, Lucky, and Jason submitted an international complaint to the court? but Anna says, that’s no good. Sidwell was doing business in an area that’s completely lawless with zero authority to back them up. Laura says, what about Sasha’s kidnapping? Maybe she can tell them something they can use against Sidwell. Anna says, unfortunately, for various reasons, it wasn’t reported. There’s nothing on the books and nothing tying Sidwell to the property that blew up. Laura says, a man like Sidwell doesn’t change overnight, and Anna agrees. Laura asks what Anna is thinking, and Anna says, Sidwell’s arrival coincided with the fire in Sonny’s apartment. Laura asks if Anna thinks Sidwell was behind the fire, but Anna says she doesn’t know. It’s too soon to say. She’ll have the CID check the warehouse that blew up after Sasha’s abduction. If there’s a match, they might be able to pin it on Sidwell.

Drew tells Curtis that a freshman in congress is a good friend to have, but he has no reason to help the company succeed. Curtis says, he’d rather sink his own company that see it succeed without him, and Drew says, Curtis has one final chance to reconsider his offer. Curtis says his answer stands and opens the door. Now get the hell out. Drew leaves and Curtis slams the door.

Nina says she saw Willow stand up for herself in a way she hasn’t seen before. She compromised with Carly and Sonny because it was the right thing to do. She could tell Willow was more at ease. She has to continue to trust herself and her instincts. The Quartermaines and Monica appreciate the effort she’s put into the kids and Michael will appreciate it when he gets back. Willow says she hopes so. She doesn’t want to hurt Michael more than she already has. Nina says, the effort she’s making is a huge step toward an amicable resolution for them both in the future. Willow wonders if she should stay here. She’s going to miss Nina. Nina says, not a chance. She’ll be here all the time. Willow says, good, and they hug.

Maxie says, Lulu was thinking about applying for the assistant position, and Tracy says, she’s hired. Lulu says, they were just talking and she’s not sure she’s a good fit, but Tracy says, of course (🍷) she is. Lucy says the company is run on beauty and creativity, and Lulu has a boatload of both. Lulu says she thinks she’ll go see if Carly will hire her at the MetroCourt, but Tracy says, absolutely not. She’s the majority shareholder and the final decision is hers. She wants Lulu here. Lulu says, that’s nice of her and thanks, but she’s good. Tracy says she’ll pay Lulu double what the last assistant made, and both Maxie and Brook say, what?! Tracy says, Lulu is worth twice what Gladys Corbin was, and Brook says, Wade was her last assistant. Tracy says, Lulu is worth double what Wade was making. What does she say. Lulu says, it’s a great environment and it would give her a chance to work with people she respects and loves. She guesses she has to accept it. Tracy says, woohoo! Welcome to Deception. The phone rings and Tracy asks what Lulu is waiting for. Lulu answers the phone. Maxie Jones’ office…  

Trina goes into Kai’s room and says her Aunt Stella told her that he was impatient for rehabilitation. She brought him some power bars and electrolyte water. He thanks her, but his tone is flat, and she says she knows it’s silly. He probably has tons. He says, it’s not that, and she asks if something is wrong. He says he saw the orthopedist and he’s never going to play football again.  

At Turning Woods, Josslyn tells the reception nurse that she has a light load this semester and was looking to do something more meaningful with her time. She was hoping there were extra slots for volunteers. The nurse checks and says, there’s one slot not covered. It’s all hers if she wants it. Josslyn says, absolutely. Sign her up.

Jack asks if Carly wants him to find out why she’s being denied access to Michael, but she says she can handle it herself. He says he’s disappointed that she doesn’t need him, but not surprised, and she says she’ll get in to see her son whether they like it or not. He says he doesn’t doubt it for a second, and she says, but she would like a ride. He says, done. Consider him her chauffeur.

(Mrs. Jack Brennan… 💘)

On Monday, Laura says, Lulu might be headed for trouble; Drew tells Martin that they have another thing coming if they think he’s not seeing Willow; Kristina asks if Sonny thinks it’s really the best time for him to be traveling right now; and Jason needs Anna to do something more for someone now.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Good news! And a reminder that mental illness and addiction don’t discriminate.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/vinessa-antoine-shares-her-brothers-been-found

She must get tired of fielding this question.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/is-carly-leaving-general-hospital-laura-wright-speaks-out

So did he take the subway? Nothing says NYC like that smell.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/steve-burtons-weekend-to-remember-in-nyc

Too bad they didn’t get much of a final scene.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-katelyn-macmullen-says-goodbye-to-chad-duell

This is a better tour than you get from the adults.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/go-backstage-at-general-hospital-with-gary-james-fuller

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Gary acted like someone held a gun to his head to drink so much, when Captain Glenn was being nice. The punishment was forfeiting 500 euros of the tip, which was $23K, so they still got $2055. Gary apologized, and he and the captain hugged it out. The charter was 8 women, all with a different food restrictions, which made Cloyce’s head explode. Next time, the finale.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Boz told Dorit that she thought there were more than memes between PK and Kyle, but Erika told her that it was nothing. When cornered into sharing her text with PK with the group, Kyle read it and then stormed out saying, I’m done! Memegate lives on.

Yeah, I never thought for a moment LVP was coming back to RHOBH. She’s a busy woman what with all her restaurants, a hotel, and single-handedly ridding the world of the dog meat trade.

The Real Housewives of New York City

Ubah is a real disappointment, suggesting Brynn slept her way into the Housewives. That in itself is an insult. If I was going to sleep my way into something, it would not be this show. This is where the big kerfuffle happened. The women were all upset, since Ubah saying such a thing was beyond insensitive given Brynn’s history. Then Ubah got super upset and claimed she never knew Brynn’s history, or she never would have said it. The fourth wall was broken all over the place – although I did question whether or not that was some kind of ratings Hail Mary pass – and Brynn suddenly wasn’t sure if Ubah actually knew her history. It literally took me the rest of the show to follow this, so don’t feel bad if you’re lost. Apparently, this was some kind of friendship breaking point, but TBH, I didn’t think it was all as big of a deal as they were making it, especially since the only two people involved should have been Ubah and Brynn.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

It was the Reunion and literally ten minutes in, everybody was talking over each other and Andy was yelling. However, kudos to the women for their gorgeous outfits – the ladies in shades of red. Whitney said Bronwyn didn’t claim her publicly as a friend, which I thought was really weird. Do we need to confirm friendships on Instagram now? A viewer suggested Heather had become a mean girl when she lost weight, but I don’t think that’s quite it. Heather was always a mean girl (to which she concurred), but IMO, she lost her authenticity along with the weight and becoming a Housewives clone, like Jen in RHONJ. It ended with Todd and John looking like they might get into a battle royale.

Southern Charm

Whitney said the coffeemaker was so complicated, you needed a Ph.D. in astrophysics to run it. Highly doubtful. You probably just need to not have a hangover. It was much of the same, the usual if you’re friends with them, you can’t be friends with me. Austen was sour grapes over Craig wanting to move on from their friendship and podcast, but hey, sometimes it just isn’t forever. I have plenty of friends I’m no longer friends with for various reasons, but that just means we went in different directions. It’s not an insult. I think if Paige had really wanted to make it work with Craig, she could have been bi-state or however you put it. But again, sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Shep wanted to be Jimmy Buffet without the guitar, living in the Bahamas with Sienna, and in his interview, he said, you don’t have those fantasies if you’re not serious about it. I dunno about that. Molly is the MVP so far, playing the euphonium – i.e. tuba – in the Charleston Concert Band, coincidentally directed by her high school band teacher. Imagine. An actual interesting person with an interesting focus. Or even any real focus. She said, music changes you, as all art should. She also thought tantric sex was too much work. Same. JT tried to tell Taylor some truths about Gaston, but she wasn’t having it. I get covering her ears and going, la-la-la, but I’d want to know. JT wasn’t understanding that there’s a time and place and that wasn’t it.

Southern Hospitality

Emmy had another breakdown and I’m over it. Although she did bring Tammy Faye raccoon eyes, which I applaud.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night on Peacock. This is an interesting foray into what goes on behind the scenes of a sketch comedy show that’s been on since the beginning of time. Or at least the mid-70s. A four-part miniseries, it’s not the most exciting thing in the world, but it’s interesting to see how a show with that kind of longevity works. Personally, I think I’ll enjoy Saturday Night – which I’m hoping to catch this weekend – more, but this still held my interest. I’m there for a documentary, and the third episode focusing only on the More Cowbell sketch is well worth it.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/snl-50-beyond-saturday-night-secrets-cast-writers-cowbell-1236110501/

https://www.thewrap.com/snl-50-beyond-saturday-night-ep-morgan-neville-interview-peacock/

Wicked at the movies. Yes, I actually ventured out in the world to see it, since I’d won a ticket in some instant win internet contest. There was no way I was battling children for a seat, so I skipped the first weekends after it opened. Then I got whatever was going around as a Christmas gift, but I managed to squeak in before it was gone entirely. I’m glad I did, since this really should be seen on a big screen. As I’m sure you already know, it’s magnificent. I’d never seen the Broadway play and the score isn’t my favorite, but the story is bittersweet, the casting is perfection, and it’s beyond lavish with the special effects. One of my favorite parts was the reunion of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, the original Elphaba and Glinda on Broadway, and I wondered how it felt after all those years. My only question was, in a world where there are bears who are nannies, a goat who’s a professor, Munchkins, peacocks who wear hats, flying monkeys, and a place literally called Emerald City, why is a green woman considered strange?

https://collider.com/wicked-oscar-nominations-best-original-score-john-powell/

https://deadline.com/2025/01/cynthia-erivo-best-actress-wicked-oscar-nomination-interview-1236266022/

https://deadline.com/2025/01/ariana-grande-best-supporting-actress-oscars-interview-1236265006/

🏆 Awards Corner…

It’s that time again. The Academy Awards will be airing March 2nd.

https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/2025-oscar-nominations-see-full-130201914.html

🦁 Four-Legged News…

🦛 Yet another pygmy hippo influencer.

https://people.com/how-to-watch-pygmy-hippo-poppy-livestream-8773741

🐩 I never thought about this. It’s kind of weird.

https://www.cuteness.com/1737908/dog-breeds-dont-exist-why/

🐶 Best Bowl in town.

https://people.com/puppy-bowl-2025-record-breaking-142-puppies-8772392

🐕 I love a special needs pup.

https://people.com/11-puppies-with-special-needs-puppy-bowl-2025-8772912

🥠 Quotes of the Week

We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams. – Jimmy Carter

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. – Jim Rohn

When someone tells me no, it doesn’t mean I can’t do it, it simply means I can’t do it with them. – Karen E. Quinones Miller

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. – Thomas Edison

He has all the integrity of a coat rack. – Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot), General Hospital

All progress takes place outside the comfort zone. – Michael John Bobak

It is far better to light the candle than to curse the darkness. – William L. Watkinson

I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions. – Stephen Covey

The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge. – Thomas Berger

Don’t be a Gino. – Jasmine Pineda, 90 Day Fiancé: The Last Resort

🐻 Hibernation Mode…

Until next week, stay safe; stay driving extra carefully in weather you’re unfamiliar with; and stay not waiting for later, since sometimes later is taken away.

January 17, 2025 – Michael Gets the Final Say, Soap Suds, Not My Reality, Weekend Watching, Plus One, Getting There, Gate in the City, Exit Interview, Good Guy, Awards, The Players, Hebodomad Quotes & Things

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

Monday:

Willow said she was in charge of Michael’s medical care, and Michael went into cardiac arrest. Portia said Willow had the right to make decisions about Michael’s medical care, and Drew told Carly and Sonny, hand over the kids and they’d have access, like the trashbag he is. Carly said, Drew was pushing things to point of no return, so Willow would have no one to turn to but him. Nina finally talked Sonny into giving the kids back, and Willow thanked Drew because she’s an idiot in love with a trashbag.

Cody wanted to invest in crypto, but Tracy said it would be better to set his money on fire. Alrighty then. But later, Cody told Brad to call his Aunt Selina because he had a sure thing bet on football after he’d talked to Kai for 3 minutes. Later, Portia said she wanted to use Brad’s talent for bending the rules to find out what patients had gotten digitalis without it being prescribed. Brad was a busy guy this week.

Lulu told Laura about what happened in Prague and asked when Laura was going to tell her that Anna had shot Charlotte. She said she thought Dante was right in that she’d led the shooter to Valentin. Laura promised to help Lulu find Charlotte again.

Isaiah told Lucas that they could choose to do something, and risk Michael dying, or do nothing, and Michael would definitely die. He chose to do something and gave Michael a medication that counteracted the digitalis. Isaiah told Portia what happened with Michael, and they came to the genius conclusion that, someone in this hospital is killing people with digitalis.

Tracy and Stella talked about Monica, which was like a knife to the heart knowing that Leslie Charleson had passed away.

Tuesday:

Lucky talked to a woman from the Port Charles Redemption Mission and found out Cyrus’s focus was on patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Lucas told Elizabeth about Michael and how Isaiah had given him digoxin immune FAB to counteract the digitalis. Lucky said they had to figure out what connected all the digitalis victims and why Cyrus would want them dead. Jason told Sonny that whoever planted the bomb in the penthouse would try again.

Willow told the kids that Michael was in the hospital. Dante told Sonny what happened in Prague. Josslyn conferred with Lucky about Cyrus.

Drew showed up at Nina’s and after she slammed the door in his face, she let him in.  She said he’d moved Willow away from what she loved and valued with the sick hold he had over her and gave him the business. She said Drew wouldn’t know love if it jumped up and bit him in the ass.

Tracy said she’d help Lulu if she had a solid lead, but Lulu needed to be more strategic and less emotional. Jason suggested the clinic in St. Petersburg where he’d been held hostage for Michael’s treatment, since Ava had her burns treated there. Sasha helped trick Willow into letting the kids go to the main house, and Tracy said, they weren’t leaving. Martin argued with Tracy about letting the kids go with Willow. Felicia said Jason and Carly had to leave the ICU, and Nina told Sonny that he had to go to the Quartermaines and get the kids from Tracy.

Wednesday:

Lucky and Elizabeth went to Beradino’s where Cyrus works. Josslyn went to Anna about Cyrus stabbing Dex. Alexis spoke to Drew about Sam’s wishes for Scout. Drew decided to commute to DC rather than live there. Carly wanted to call a press conference and out Drew, but Felicia told her not to make it worse than it already was.

Sonny talked to Tracy, who told him that Drew was the enemy and to handle him accordingly. Trina and Gio watched the game at The Brown Dog, and Emma showed up. (Since she was nuEmma, I didn’t realize she was also the pickpocket in Rice Plaza.) Cody was also at the bar. Alexis said Scout needed consistency and stability, and Drew said, maybe Willow was what she needed. Alexis wondered if it was less what Scout needed, and more what Drew needed. Tracy reminded Sonny that Michael was AJ’s son.

Felicia needed a drink, and Sasha was her designated driver. Elizabeth chatted Cyrus up while Lucky was in the bathroom, then suggested to Lucky that she volunteer at the mission. Carly asked Jack about the Boronsky clinic, and he said it no longer existed, but the burn expert was now in Germany. Carly badgered him about getting Michael into the German clinic. Jason showed up at the Quartermaines and asked Tracy to please give the children back. Tracy said it was the first time he’d ever said please, but then pulled the Monica card. Alexis suggested Scout move in with her, but Drew wasn’t having it. Anna questioned Cyrus, but Josslyn blew everything and alerted him to the investigation. Tracy said, for once in Jason’s life, don’t choose Sonny, choose his family, and he did.

Thursday:

Chase got checked out and Brook went to see Dr. Navarro. She told the doctor about her teenage pregnancy, and Dr. Navarro told her that it should have no impact on her trying to get pregnant now. Nina suggested Willow compromise, but Willow was all about what Drew said. She thought Nina was asking her to bow down to Carly and Sonny, but Nina said Willow needed empathy. Lay down her weapons and maybe they’d lay down theirs. Tracy said using the kids as bargaining chips wasn’t going to fly. They were where Monica wanted them and that’s where they were staying. (Keep twisting those knives.)

Kai ended up in the hospital and Cody had to pay off his bet. Carly told Tracy about transferring Michael to the burn expert, and asked how far Tracy would go if it was Ned. Tracy said, as far as she had to. Nina told Ava what was going on and that Willow’s life was in shambles because of Drew. Dante talked to Cody about Lulu, and Cody said, Dante could keep doing what he was doing and get shut out, or do things Lulu’s way.

Trina visited Kai in the hospital. Tracy sympathized with what Carly was going through as a mother, but it was about what Carly had put the family through for years. Tracy suggested Carly and Sonny find another way. Nina discussed the Willow/Drew situation with Ava. Selina tried to get Cody back in the game, and Dante wondered what was up, but Cody told Dante that he was okay. Alexis talked to Curtis about Drew. Nina wanted to get Willow thinking for herself again, and Ava said, tell Willow who he really is. When they were falling in love, he was having sex with her mother. Chase told Tracy that she couldn’t keep Wiley and Amelia from Willow and this had to stop. Willow asked to see Carly.

Friday’s Enchilada:

In her office, Brook leaves a voicemail for Chase that she’s done with her appointment and Dr. Navarro was super positive. She should get her test results soon, but maybe they should do something to relax, like spend a weekend in New York City. Have dinner and see a show, just them, and they can have baby making time. They’ll figure it out tonight. She loves him. Lulu comes in and asks if she’s interrupting.

Chase says, Tracy can’t keep the kids from their mom, and Tracy says, not him too. He has no idea how many times she’s had this conversation today. She was hoping for a break. He says, they’ve been through a lot, and he’d like to think they could be honest with each other. She says she’s going to stop him. He makes her granddaughter so happy, and she holds his entire family in the highest regard, so she’s going to put this as nicely as she can – butt out.

At the gallery, Lucas shows Ava a video on this phone, and she says, look how well Avery is dancing. Her costume is perfect. Lucas says, Avery was so proud. She wanted to make sure he recorded the rehearsal for Ava. She thanks him for bringing it, and he says he wanted to return the favor for her talking him down on Christmas Eve. She says, of course (🍷). She can’t stop thinking about the fire at Sonny’s. She’s so grateful Avery wasn’t there. She asks if they know the cause yet, but he says, all he knows is that the police are looking into it.

At Beradino’s, Cody looks at a cashier’s check and says he was so close to making his dreams come true. He sees Drew and walks over to him. He says he’d tell Drew that it’s nice to see him, but he’s far too sober to lie.  

Jordan starts a conversation with Martin near the bar, but then sees Drew and Cody and says she’s needed over there. Drew asks if Cody is disappointed that there’s’ nothing left to blackmail him with, and Cody says, you smug… Jordan tells him, don’t even think about it.

Outside Michael’s room, Willow says she’s glad Carly is here. She was hoping to talk with her and Sonny. Sonny joins them, and Willow thanks them for getting here so fast. Sonny says, it sounded important, and Willow says she knows they’re upset, and she understands why. She’s hoping they can find a way forward that works for them both. Carly asks if that means she’s going to let them see their son.

Chase tells Tracy that he’s had a front row seat for everything that happened with Michael and Willow because he’s friends with them both. He’s begging her not to make it more difficult. She says, it’s not difficult; it’s simple. The children are going nowhere. He tells her that everyone says she’s acting out of spite, but he doesn’t believe that. He saw how she helped his dad and Finn. Through all the snarky and sarcastic comments, he knows nothing means more to her than family. He knows she thinks she’s helping protect the kids, but he promises she’s only causing more drama.

Brook asks if Lulu needs help, and Lulu says she was looking for Maxie, but she can hang out in the waiting area. Brook says, she’s better off texting. Maxie is meeting with a vendor, and her afternoon is booked solid with interviews. Lulu says, that’s why she’s here. She was hoping to be one of them. Brook asks if she’s applying for a job at Deception.

Ava tells Lucas that she knows firsthand what Michael is going through. It’s a horrible, painful ordeal. Have they arrested anybody for setting the fire? Lucas says she doesn’t think so. Anna and Chase were at the hospital to question Michael, but he was in no shape to talk. Ava says, he was injured because of Sonny, and Lucas says she knows what she’s thinking, but Avery is completely safe. He sees her all the time. If he had doubts about Avery’s safety, he’d tell her. She says, of course (🍷) she worries about her little girl. She’s glad Lucas gets to see Avery so much and came to show her the video. Will he do one little favor for her? He says, it depends, and she says, give Avery a hug and tell her how much her mama loves her. He says he’ll do it tonight after work. He’s headed there now. She asks him to send her the video and he says he will. He leaves, and Ava makes a call. She says, I need to see you right away.

Cody tells Jordan that he has no beef with the congressman, but it seems the congressman might have one with him. Drew says he does, but Jordan says, neither of them need to get into anything in a public place. Cody should go. Cody says, gladly. He’ll see Drew around. Have a terrible day. He hopes Jordan’s day is a pleasant one. He leaves and Drew says, nice to see Jordan’s got his back, and she says, it looked like he was the one escalating things. What was it about and what did he do?

Willow says, the situation between her and Michael is being made more difficult with everyone getting involved. Michael wouldn’t want her separated from their kids. Carly says she had the kids and sent them to the Quartermaines, and Sonny says, she did what she thought was right at the time. Carly says she had no idea Tracy would hold them hostage, and Willow says, the kids are worried sick about Michael. Carly says, Wiley called her. He’s wondering what happened. Willow says, he called her too and asked when daddy was coming home. Carly says, Sonny made a good faith effort, and Sonny says, but Tracy refuses to let them go. Carly says, Tracy has no right to keep them and can’t legally. They’ll figure out a way to get them back. Willow says she hopes Carly is right. She needs to trust her own judgement about what’s best for her children and Michael and she’s come to a decision.

Ric walks into the gallery and asks, what’s so important? Ava says, Avery’s life is in danger. He needs to petition the court for an emergency custody order for her to have Avery full-time. Ric says he thought Carly had Avery, and Ava says she assumes he heard about the fire. It was no accident. Ric says, of course (🍷). Any time there’s a catastrophe in Sonny or Jason’s vicinity, it’s some attacker seeking retribution. She says, what if Avery had been there? She could have been burned like Michael. It’s terrifying. He says he’s sorry. As a father, he understands, but the court won’t see it as a reason for an emergency change in custody. Avery was nowhere near there at the time of the fire. She was with Carly and Donna where she has a bedroom and where she’s lived most of her life. Ava says, if he won’t file it, maybe she should find herself a lawyer who will. He says, that’s her right, but they’ll tell her the same thing. Wait until the right moment to make her move. She tells him, says the absentee father, and he says, it’s no reason to get personal. She says, sorry, but she could never understand how he could stay away from Molly for so long. It kills her not seeing Avery every day. He says, one of his biggest regrets is not being able to be a presence in Molly’s life, and she says, what if he was in her place and Molly was in danger? What would he do? He says he’d move heaven and earth to keep her safe, and she asks why he’s telling her the opposite. He says he wants her to fight, but be smart. Her current custody battle with Sonny is going to be very long and very expensive. She says she may be overextended at the moment, but it’s not like she’s living in the street, and he says, then why hasn’t she paid him?

Lulu says she’s here to apply for the job, and Brook says, it’s an assistant position. Wasn’t Lulu’s last job as a reporter at The Invader? Lulu says, that was four years ago. Deception needs an assistant, and she needs a job. They don’t all have trust funds. Brook says she doesn’t care what Lulu thinks, but every job she’s had, outside the music industry and in, she’s stood on her own and earned her own paycheck, Lulu says, like when Brook was paid to seduce Dante? (very mature) and Brook says she did that and it was a lapse in judgement. She and Dante have moved past that. Lulu says she didn’t get the memo, and Brook says she lives in her family’s home with her husband. Dante and Rocco live there too, and they all get along great. They let go of something that was a lifetime ago and they’ve moved on. Lulu says, Brook is being condescending, when Maxie comes in. She says she sees they’re getting along as great as ever, and Brook’s phone dings. After reading a text, she says she needs to go home and talk to her husband. She leaves Lulu in Maxie’s capable hands. She trusts Maxie will make the right decision. She leaves and Maxie asks Lulu what they were arguing about this time.

Tracy says she didn’t realize Chase had a psychiatric degree to go with the police badge, but he says he doesn’t need a degree to read her. She says, since he’s an expert in her behavior, what is she going to say next? and he says, she’s going to argue that Willow can’t be trusted because she cheated on Michael with Drew. Drew will never be a real Quartermaine, and even though she doesn’t like Michael, he’s a real Quartermaine. Family’s got to stick together. How did he do? She says she’s delighted they’re on the same page. Now drop the entire thing. He says, there’s one more thing. She left out something important. Wiley and Amelia are Michael’s kids, but they’re also Willow’s kids, and they need their mom.

Willow says, Michael would want both Carly and Sonny to be with him during this and she won’t stand in their way. Carly thanks her and looks through Michael’s room window. Sonny thanks Willow and says he knows how difficult the decision is. She says she’s not sure how it got so messy, and he says, they’re both grateful she’s letting them see Michael. She says, Michael has done so much for her. He gave her the gift of family and supported her dreams even when they changed. All she wants is for him to get better and be with the kids again. Portia joins them and says she needs to discuss the next step in Michael’s recovery with Willow. Willow looks at Carly.

Tracy says, Chase is disposed to favor Willow, seeing her as a well-meaning angel led astray, but Chase says, that’s not true. She says she watched the congressman’s hubris in taking Willow and Wiley to the inauguration. She saw the pictures. Willow, Wiley, and Scout, the perfect readymade family. He had no concern whether Michael or Monica would see the photos. Chase says, Michael and Monica are adults. This is about two kids who need their mom. Tracy says, their mother does not put them first. She does.

Lulu says, a miracle recovery doesn’t pay the bills. She needs a job. Maxie says, at Deception? and Lulu says she saw the ad, but she didn’t want to put Maxie on the spot, so she tried other places. The Invader is under new management, and nothing else panned out. Maxie says, she’s overqualified, but Lulu says she just needs to make money. Maxie asks if she’s interested in cosmetics, and Lulu says, not really, but she wasn’t into fashion and she was still good at her job at Crimson. Maxie says, what about the Brook factor? and Lulu says she promises to be on her best behavior working with Brook. Maxie says, she’d be working under Brook, and Lulu asks if she’d be Brook’s assistant. Maxie says, since they hate each other, she doesn’t see it going well, but Lulu tells her that she wouldn’t say hate. It’ll be fine, but it’s weird that Brook and Maxie are BFFs now. When did that happen?

At the hospital, Cody says, just the man he didn’t want to see, and Brad pulls him aside. He says he told Cody that he’d text. Coming to where he works is not cool. Cody hands him the check, and says, it’s most of the money he owes Selina. Brad says, most of it? He placed a bet with his aunt for Cody and not he can’t pay up? Lucas sees them.

Ava says she’s working to secure funds. She’ll get the money. Ric says, she could work harder, and she says she’s good at what she does. She’s in communication with some long-term clients who are experienced collectors. She just wants her daughter with her. He says, she needs to dig in for the long haul. They both know how Sonny is with his kids. He’s territorial and had his share of custody battles and won. At least Avery is close by and safe. Watch and wait. Patience is the key. Sidwell walks in and asks if someone can assist him. Ava says, of course (🍷), and introduces herself as the owner of the gallery. She asks what she can do for him, and he says he’s brand new to Port Charles and stumbled on her lovely gallery. He’s Jenz Sidwell. She says, it’s nice to meet him, and Ric introduces himself, shaking hands with Sidwell. Sidwell says, since Ava owns this fine establishment, perhaps she can guide him to which painting is worthy of his attention.

Jordan asks what Drew was trying to accomplish starting a fight, but Drew says, Cody approached him. She tells him, stop looking innocent, and he says he just doesn’t trust Cody. She asks who he does trust. Look around. Is there anyone currently talking to him who isn’t on his payroll? He says he’s guessing Curtis filled her in on what happened at Aurora, and she says she’s aware of the issue. He says he hopes she’s aware that he was giving Curtis a promotion, a huge raise, and complete control of the wellness division. She says, that’s his problem. It’s not about the money. It’s about how he treats his friends who were always loyal. Curtis values honesty and Drew lied. Drew says he never lied, and she says she stands corrected. He misled Curtis. He let Curtis think he was going to be CEO. It’s less betrayal in his books, but in hers, it’s semantics.

Portia says she’d like to speak with Willow in private, but Willow says, Carly and Sonny can hear too, so they can all discuss options. Portia says, good. They got Michael a bed in the Johns Hopkins burn unit. It’s the best hospital in the country and vacancies are rare. Willow says, he’ll be close enough to visit, but Carly says she might have a better option.

Chase says, Tracy can get herself in trouble if she doesn’t turn over the children, but she says she’s not afraid of litigation. He says he’s talking about criminal charges, and she laughs. She says, the carrot didn’t work, so now he’s bringing out the stick and threatening her. Good luck with that. She’s faced down worse. Brook walks in and asks why Tracy is picking a fight with her husband.

Maxie says she’ll have to fill Lulu in on her relationship with Peter August another time over a bottle of wine. And when she says, bottle of wine, she means several shots of tequila. Lulu asks what that has to do with Brook, and Maxie says, Brook was there for her in a big way. Lulu tells her, if you say so, and Maxie says, Lulu may not want to hear it, but Brook is a good person. She’s flawed and made questionable choices, but who hasn’t? Brook has been a good friend. Lulu says she’s glad Brook was there when Maxie needed someone, but something about Brook always rubs her the wrong way. She plays at being Bensonhurst, but has the Quartermaine name and fortune to fall back on. Maxie says she’s not buying that. Lulu is obviously upset, but she doesn’t think it’s about Brook. What’s really going on? Lulu says, Charlotte.

Ava says she’ll show Sidwell around. Ric was just leaving. Ric says he’d like to stick around and watch her work, and she says, art is subjective. What speaks to someone depends. She asks Sidwell to tell her something about himself so she can steer him in the right direction. He says he’s an importer looking for a North American base, so he moved to Port Charles. Ric asks, where’s his house? and Sidwell says, it’s an old, gothic residence on Spoon Island. Ava says, he bought Windymere? And he asks if she’s familiar with it. She says she used to live there, and Sidwell laughs.

Cody says he thought he had luck, but it was not his lady, and Brad says he’s $5000 short. Cody says he’s good for it, and Brad says he’ll tell his aunt. Maybe they can work out something. Cody says he’s never going to use the term sure thing again. He jinxed himself. Brad says he’s sorry, and Cody says he’s got to go. Brad walks over to Lucas and says, it’s not what it looks like. What he saw isn’t what he thinks.

Jordan tells Drew that she’s the last one to cast stones. TJ’s father was her husband’s best friend. The issue isn’t how he chooses his relationships. It’s how he treats the people in his life. Drew asks if she realizes that Curtis was just as deceptive in stealing Aurora, but she says, he led Curtis to believe he’d be permanent CEO, then went behind Curtis’s back and promised the job to Michael. Drew says he was trying to make peace, but it was a futile effort, and she says, stop. She doesn’t want to hear his explanations. He dug a hole for himself and if he doesn’t start making amends, he’s going to be alone and isolated. She believes he’s a better man than his recent actions indicate, so she’s going to give him some advice. Start mending fences. She leaves, and Martin joins Drew. He says he guesses it’s safe to assume the appropriate amount of rain has gone down on him from his constituents.   

Carly explains there was a groundbreaking procedure to remove scar tissue in a burn unit used by the Boronsky Clinic in St. Petersburg, Russia. It’s now closed, but the doctor is working in Germany. Willow asks if she wants to send Michael to Germany and asks if Portia has heard of the procedure. Portia says, no, never, but Carly says, the results are incredible, and Jack Brennan was able to secure a space in the clinic. Sonny asks if they can talk privately, and they step away. He asks why she didn’t tell him before, and she says she wanted to make sure it was possible. Michael can make a full recovery with no scars. He says he’s not sure, it’s so far away, but she says, you can’t even tell Ava was burned. She wants that result for Michael and Sonny has to trust her that this is the best thing. She’ll be there every minute of every day. She gets that he doesn’t trust Jack, but doesn’t he trust her?  

Carly tells Willow that the clinic has had incredible results, but Willow says she doesn’t think it’s best for Michael. He needs to be nearby so they can visit. Portia says she has no information, so she has to advise against it, and Willow says she’s not comfortable with Michael so far away and the doctors not having vetted the procedure. Carly says, he’ll make a full recovery, but Portia says, his burns are quite severe. Carly says, they’ve already seen the results. No one is able to tell that Ava had third degree burns. Willow says, Michael won’t have his family, and she knows Johns Hopkins is a great hospital. It’s her preference. Sonny says he thinks Michael should make the decision, and Willow says, that means waking him up. Portia says, it will cause immense pain, but Sonny says, it’s Michael’s life and he should make the call. Carly says she knows Michael wouldn’t want them to make the decision for him, and Willow says, she’s right. Michael has to decide for himself. Wake him up and let him choose. Portia says, okay, but only one of them can go in and talk to him, and Sonny says, that would be Carly. Willow says she agrees.

Sidwell says, it’s nice he and Ava have Windymere in common. How was her time there? Ava says, it was eventful, and he asks, what made her leave such a magnificent home, if she doesn’t mind him asking. She says she was living there with her husband and they split up, and he says he’s sorry to hear that. She says, he’s being kind, but she’s moved on, and he says he’s glad to hear that. He’s a firm believer in second chances and kismet. How else could you explain him wandering into her gallery? He sees she has the taste and expertise he needs to help him choose the right art to make his new home his own. Ava says she happens to have the perfect painting in mind and steers him to a large modern art canvas. She says, this painting is by talented Greek artist from Crete. He’s a marvelous painter and a talented sculptor. Sidwell says, the light in the study will make this a vibrant addition to his collection, and she says she loves the artist and would love to show him more of their work. They walk to the next room and Ric follows.

Tracy tells Brook that she and Chase disagree. He believes she should give Wiley and Amelia back to Willow and she refuses. Brook says, because of Monica, and Tracy says, the children are Monica’s only saving grace. They put a smile on her face and they’re going to take that away? Brook says, they all love Monica, and Tracy says she’s glad they agree. The last thing Monica needs is more stress. Brook wonders, if Monica asks, is Tracy going to tell her that she needs to be their mother, especially if their father can’t be there for them?

Maxie says she’s happy that Dante brought Lulu home safe, but she’s sorry Valentin ran off with Charlotte. If it was one of her kids, she’d be going crazy. Lulu says she needs to find Charlotte and it’s going to take a lot of money. Maxie says, good thing her stepmom is an heiress who loves her, and Lulu says her mother and stepmother agreed to help her, but they want to wait and see what Valentin’s next step is. She needs Charlotte home now. Maxie says, Lulu never liked waiting, and Lulu says, Maxie knows her well. Maxie says, she can’t galivant across the world when she doesn’t even know the country, and Lulu says she doesn’t know where her daughter is. Charlotte lost four years of life living without her mother. She needs something she can control and the only thing she came up with was getting a job. Maxie says she gets that, and Lulu says, it’s not just the money. She wants to get a place where she and Rocco can live, and Charlotte when she finds her. Maxie says, it makes sense. Lulu was always Miss Independence, eager to get on with life. Lulu says, life has moved on and she’s racing to catch up instead falling farther back.

Drew says he’s not discussing his personal life with Martin, but Martin says, as a survivor of three divorces, does Drew mind if he offers some unsolicited advice? The heart wants what it wants, and you can’t help who you fall in love with. Drew says, exactly. He’s not going to apologize for how he feels about Willow. Martin says, as long as he stays true to his feelings, and does the best he can for himself and for the woman he’s involved with. Drew thanks him and says, that’s actually what he wanted to talk about. They sit down, and Drew says, Willow is in the hospital with Michael, as it should be, but the situation with the children is up in the air. They need to get Wiley and Amelia away from the Quartermaines and back with Willow where they belong. Martin tells him, easier said. Tracy is holding them, and he wonders if there’s a more amiable opponent he could be set up with. Like Stalin or Vlad the Impaler. Genghis Kahn comes to mind. Drew says, Tracy has no legal rights, and Martin says, she’s well-connected with deep pockets and knows how to work the system to her benefit. It’s one hell of a combination to go up against. Drew says, she thinks she’s safe behind the walls of privilege and money, but she’s wrong. He’ll do anything to reunite the children with Willow.

Wearing a sanitary jumpsuit, Carly goes into Michael’s room and says his name. He looks at her, obviously in pain.

Sidwell gives Ava a check and says he’s thrilled with his new painting. He enjoyed their talk on art. Perhaps she can come over and help him with the placement. He’d also love any suggestions on future purchases. She says, it’s her pleasure, and he says, it’s lovely to meet them both. He’ll see them soon he hopes. He kisses Ava’s hand and leaves. Ric says, it was enlightening to watch her work, and she says she barely lifted a finger, but she knows how to close a deal. Ric says, yes, you do, and takes the check from her. She says she just earned it, and he says he appreciates her first payment for his services.

Brad tells Lucas that Cody wanted him to place a bet on the PCU game with his aunt. He didn’t want to, but Cody was persistent, so he called his Aunt Selina. Cody lost and this is his payment to her. Lucas says he sees, and Brad says, once he delivers it to her, he’s not going to see her again, he swears. Lucas says, thanks for telling him, but Brad doesn’t owe him any explanations. Brad says he knows he doesn’t, but Lucas taught him that telling the truth is important, so he wanted Lucas to know. Lucas says he appreciates that.  

Maxie says she knows what Lulu is going through. She’s been there. Lulu says, now Maxie has it all – an amazing career, her children together under one roof, and a wonderful relationship with Spinelli. Maxie says she went through a lot of trial and error. No one trusted her to make her own decisions since she was shown to be flaky. She thinks Lulu is already taking the right steps to ensure the life she wants, and Maxie believes she’ll make it happen. Lulu says she needs to have a job if she really wants to make it happen. Maxie says she needs to know that Lulu can put her history with Brook aside and get along working together. Does she think she can do that?  

Chase says he gets that Tracy has the best intentions, but at the end of the day, it’s not her call. Tracy says, Brook’s husband is brave standing up to her, but she doesn’t understand why he’s defending Willow. Brook says, he’s trying to keep the peace, and Tracy should listen to him. Martin and Drew walk in along with an officer, and Tracy says, back so soon? Holding out a paper, Martin says, it’s an official order signed by a judge. They’re allowed to take Willow Corinthos’s children back to her. Drew tells Martin to ask the nanny to get the kids ready, but Tracy says, it’s a waste of time. She can’t comply. They’re not here. Drew asks where they are, and she says she hasn’t the foggiest. He says, the officer knows what to do, and the officer takes out handcuffs. Chase tells him to put those away, but he says he’s sorry. The congressman wants her arrested. Tracy pulls away and says, don’t touch her, and Drew says, resisting arrest. The officer says, she did touch him, and Tracy says, he’s so going to regret this.

Sonny says he’s glad they were able to come together to do what’s best for Michael, and Willow says, Michael is going through something terrible. He’s lucky that he has Sonny and Carly to fight for him. Not everyone has that kind of unconditional love in their life. Sonny says, they’re the lucky ones to have Michael as their son.

Michael says, mom? and Carly says she’s here. And his dad is out there. They’re here to do everything they can to help him get better, but they need his help. Tell them how to make the choice he needs.

On Tuesday (see below), Willow asks Drew if she ruined her chance of getting Wiley and Amelia back; Anna asks if someone is the one who planted the device in the penthouse; and Ava asks Sonny to do what’s best for their daughter before it’s too late.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/daytime-soaps-preempted-on-monday-january-20-2025

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

The most important story.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-alum-vinessa-antoine-asks-for-help-finding-her-brother

She will be greatly missed. After all, Alan gave her the house. It’s so weird how they must have filmed in advance, yet they’re talking up a storm about her on the show.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-star-leslie-charleson-dead-at-79

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/daytime-stars-remembers-leslie-charleson

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/wally-kurths-heartfelt-tribute-to-leslie-charleson

You never know. On All My Children, Bobby Martin came back after 40+ years of polishing his skis upstairs.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/chad-duell-opens-up-about-his-gh-exit-and-return-plans

Don’t do it. It’s not him.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/cameron-mathison-warns-do-not-donate-to-a-gofundme-in-his-name

💉 A Dose of Reality…

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Once again Gary proves himself to be an idiot. The guests wanted some of the crew to join on a night out, and Captain Glenn, being the decent soul he is, told Daisy, Gary, Keith, and Chase, two drink maximum. And if they came back drunk, they’d forfeit their share of the tip. Gary had 10 drinks. 10. Then got pissed off when the captain called him on it. Classic Gary.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The episode focused a lot on PK and Kyle’s friendship, and Dorit’s reaction. Of course, Kyle is never wrong and while I often think Dorit is wrong – and her reactions are over the top – I can’t disagree with her on this one. If one of my close friends was texting with my estranged husband, they would no longer be my close friend. Kyle whined that Dorit made it sound like she was being inappropriate. Doubtful anyone thinks she’s got it going on with PK, but it is inappropriate for her to be buddy-buddy with her friend’s almost ex. Let’s just call it what it is now – Memegate. Garcelle, Kyle, and Sutton took Erika to Chuck E. Cheese for her birthday. A good time was had by all. It actually looked a lot more fun than any of their formal parties.

Real Housewives of New York City

If I was on a trip to Puerto Rico, I wouldn’t have the bandwidth to argue about a dead pigeon. I’d be too busy swimming in the possibly-less-than-blue water and eating local cuisine. The women did synchronized swimming at Jenna’s instruction. Apparently, she’s quite a fan of it, and it was pretty amusing until Raquel got whacked in the forehead by Jenna’s elbow. That Jenna, always full of surprises. Ubah was out of control, and Erin can’t win. If she fights back, she loses. If she walks away, she loses. As usual, Jenna and Raquel were the voices of reason. Next time, the finale.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake CIty

Heather suggested a fun dinner party game where the women pulled out the worst thing they had said about one of the others on their phone and shared it with the group. As you might have guessed, this didn’t go over all that well, and resulted in tears and Lisa running from the table after someone read something about John. Oh, horrors.

Bonus scene.

Southern Charm

Once again, two men acted like middle school girls – that would be Austen and Craig – while Whitney pretended to be the voice of reason. In her interview, Madison said she and Brett thought that Austen and Craig would be the couple least likely to break up, but it looks like they did. Craig dared to meet with JT, and Austen wasn’t having it, but it was just the opening Craig needed to scrape Austen from his shoe. As little as I like JT, I don’t get why some of them keep harping on him calling Patricia a bitch, when the footage shows clearly that he didn’t, and most of them don’t believe it anyway. Even a broken clock is right twice a day, and sometimes an a-hole is right too.

Southern Hospitality

I just couldn’t even this week, but here you go.

Random Events

BTW, Bill was not happy.

https://people.com/rhonj-star-jennifer-aydin-uninvited-from-housewives-cruise-after-viral-outburst-jersey-mikes-8771411

Amazing timing.

https://people.com/karen-huger-enters-rehab-skips-real-housewives-of-potomac-season-9-reunion-after-dui-8772200

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Borderlands. It was hard to find something that was at least partially positive. There are plenty of worse films, although I actually enjoyed this. Perhaps because I’m unfamiliar with the games. I’m definitely in agreement with the writer that Night Swim was a total waste of time.

https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/movies/borderlands-isnt-the-worst-movie-of-the-year-despite-what-the-internet-wants-you-to-think

Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action. A fascinating look at a man who began as someone I admired, but chose to serve money and ratings rather than the greater good. I’d known about the coaching, but not about the murder connected to the show. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish, and this was just sad.

https://screenrant.com/jerry-springer-fights-camera-action-tv-review/

https://screenrant.com/jerry-springer-documentary-netflix-shocking-reveals-list/

The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin. I’m there for a cult story, but missed this somehow. While this documentary has been around a while, they’ve been showing it recently on TLC, so I caught it. I have some vague memory of her in the news, but had no idea how messy this got. And the hair… What’s with the hair?

https://people.com/human-interest/what-to-know-about-gwen-shamblin-lara-hbo-max-the-way-down/

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/the-way-down-hbo-max-review

🔍 One To Watch…

IMO, Baylen Out Loud is what reality TV should be about. I’m rooting for this girl, and with a supportive family like she has, I think she’ll make it after all.

https://people.com/baylen-dupree-struggles-with-boyfriend-upcoming-air-force-relocation-in-new-tlc-series-8773525

https://www.etonline.com/media/videos/baylen-out-loud-season-1-trailer-tiktok-star-takes-on-adulthood-while-tackling

🤹‍♀️ Upcoming Awaited Seasons…

The latest on The Last of Us.

https://deadline.com/feature/the-last-of-us-season-2-cast-release-date-everything-to-know-1235940502/

While you wait.

https://collider.com/grounded-last-of-us-part-2-documentary-youtube/

An understandable pause for Fallout.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/fallout-season-2-production-pause-la-fires

An Squid Game accident? Really? Highly doubtful.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/squid-game-season-3-release-date-2025-netflix

👠 They’re Not Wrong…

Sex and get away from my front door in the City.

https://ew.com/carrie-sex-and-the-city-apartment-iron-gate-tourists-8774330

☕️ His Final Thoughts…

I never did understand Eraserhead, but he did some fine work.

https://people.com/david-lynch-expressed-hope-over-divided-country-in-one-of-last-interviews-exclusive-8776098

🥇 A Mighty Fine Man…

It’s such a shame about his health issues, but he’s blessed to have such a wonderful family to support him.

https://people.com/bruce-willis-seen-in-public-dementia-diagnosis-la-police-officers-8775698

🏆 Awards Corner…

No surprise, GH is in the running.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/2025-writers-guild-awards-daytime-drama-nominees-announced

The BAFTA noms.

https://ew.com/2025-bafta-awards-nominations-full-list-8774808

🐕 No Gutter Balls Here…

I want them all.

https://ew.com/puppy-bowl-2025-meet-adoptable-dog-players-8773005

https://paradepets.com/pet-news/puppy-bowl-players-2025-super-bowl

☃️ Quotes of the Week

Just because my heart is beating doesn’t mean I’m alive. – Ish Williams (Alexander Ludwig), Earth Abides

There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man (and woman) which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus. – Blaise Pascal

You don’t break habits, you replace them. – Coach Mike Bayer

If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan (Or kick it down.)

Make failure your teacher, not your undertaker. – Hilary ‘Zig’ Ziglar

Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people. – Spencer Johnson

She took every bit of power I had and left me with household appliances. – Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), Agatha All Along

🌉 Taking a Sentimental Journey…

Until next week, stay safe, stay warm, and stay valuing honesty.

January 10, 2025 – A Killer Is Revealed, Soap Suds, Reality Recaps, Weekend Watch, Award Corner, Great Moments In New Year’s Eve, Best Bowl, Cardinal Number Of Quotes & You

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

Monday through Thursday bites and whole enchilada Friday.

Monday:

Portia confirmed that Elizabeth was suspended and told Cyrus that he was no longer welcome at the hospital again. Trina helped Josslyn pack up Dex’s apartment. Jack was pissed at Colette because she was supposed to tail Valentin, not take a shot at him. He looked at the Rice Plaza footage and saw Cyrus stab Dex.

Michael filed for full custody after seeing that Willow was with Drew in DC. Willow told Drew that Michael was punishing her for being with him. Lucy welcomed Sidwell to Windymere after he bought Spoon Island. They flirted, had champagne, and she gave him some gifts, including her book. Both Laura and Willow separately talked to Martin, and Martin told Laura that Willow would have to be smarter if she wanted to keep her kids.

Carly was supposed to have dinner with Carly at the MetroCourt, but had to cancel. Jack ended up joining her instead. Sidwell literally skipped through the Windymere living room to the terrace and watched as Sonny’s penthouse exploded. Sonny and Jason were in the hallway, and the only one inside was Michael, who turned into a fireball.

Tuesday:

No soap, funeral.

https://abc7ny.com/post/general-hospital-new-episode-tuesday-preempted-abc-news-special-report-former-president-jimmy-carters-state-funeral/15765536/

Wednesday:

Drew and Willow got busy while Jason told Sonny to call 911 and smothered the fire on Michael with a blanket. After Michael got to the hospital, Isaiah worked on him with Lucas assisting.

Carly enjoyed her time at the MetroCourt with my husband… I mean, Jack.

Josslyn wanted to stay in the place her and Dex were happy, but Trina told her that she wasn’t just grieving; she was angry. After Trina left, Josslyn looked at Dex’s gun a lot. Curtis told Nina that taking Wiley over state lines was a federal crime. She wanted to bring Willow and Wiley home, but he advised against it.

Brook was upset because she wasn’t pregnant yet, even though she was doing all the right things, including eating pineapple which she didn’t like. (Who doesn’t like pineapple?) We found out Brook had been pregnant before and given the baby away. She thought God was punishing her, but Lois said, God didn’t work that way. Chase discussed things with Sasha, who told him that he and Brook should just relax.

Lucas told Carly, Sonny, and Jason that Michael had 3rd degree burns over 40% of his body. He was critical and they didn’t know if he would live. Nina called Willow with the news.  

Thursday:

Drew showed up at the hospital since he’s an idiot and a creeper. Curtis advised him to get lost. Martin wanted Willow to petition the court for sole custody, but she said, absolutely not. Diane advised Carly to get the kids away from Willow. Nina told Willow that she shouldn’t show up at the hospital, but she went anyway. She and Josslyn got into it.

Jason said the explosion was like nothing they’d ever seen, and Sonny said they had to find the culprit and stop them dead in their tracks. Anna and Chase investigated the penthouse. Anna called Jack to come and help. Jack said, the Bureau had come across the same type of incendiary device before and thought he could be of assistance. Sonny said they’d find who did this and retaliate, and Jason said he was all for that (me too), but he also wanted to get Danny out of the line of fire.

Sonny and Kristina had a father/daughter moment on the roof of GH. Molly showed up at the hospital to offer support. Carly prayed in the chapel that God spare her son. Drew walked in to give his sympathies, but she wasn’t having it. He whined about what he’d done for her, and she hit the nail on the head telling him that he had a hero complex.

Michael opened his eyes.

Friday…

On the roof at GH, Sonny looks up and tells Morgan that he’s worried. Can he watch over his brother? Please help him. Isaiah comes out and joins him.  

At Beradino’s, Alexis sees Ric and says, her bad day just got worse. He says, nice to see her too. Despite her many flaws, she has great taste in restaurants. We see Cyrus puttering around, and Alexis asks if Ric can eat somewhere else, but he says he’s meeting a client. However, if she feels compelled to leave, don’t let him stop her. He encourages it. He tells the hostess, Lansing, party of two.  

Lucy brings Sidwell to Bobbie’s and tells him that there are other charming spots, but for an authentic Port Charles meal, this is the spot. They have the best burgers, chili, and everything in between, but no matter what, always, always, always order the fries. He says he’ll remember that and tells her that her energy is contagious. She suggests having made such a charming new friend has made her happy, and he says he appreciates that. She says, now back to the tour. Bobbie’s is named after a special, dear friend of hers, the late Bobbie Spencer. He asks if she said Spencer, and she asks if he knows the Spencers. He says, no, but he’s sure they’re lovely people, and she says, unfortunately, Bobbie passed away not long ago. She was influential in the community. She was a nurse at GH, owned this place, and was a leader for charitable causes.

Colette asks if there’s any new business, and Jack says he just spoke to Anna. She asks if it was about Valentin, but he says, no. It was about the fire that put Michael Corinthos in the hospital. The WSB may bear some blame.

At the MetroCourt, Felicia says she’s glad she was available to take Maxie and Sasha to lunch, and Maxie asks to what they owe this unexpected treat. Felicia says she needed a break from the hospital stress, and Sasha says she can imagine. Felicia says she loves her job. It’s rewarding, but it’s also difficult and draining. She sees people during the hardest times in their life and it’s challenging. She witnesses their pain, not just the physical pain, but the emotional pain. Maxie says, the patients are lucky to have her and so are they, and Felicia says, sometimes it’s hard for her to leave work behind, especially if she knows the patient. Like now, with Michael Corinthos. Sasha asks, what happened with Michael?  

Portia tells Jason that Michael is in shock. He has severe burns, and the main issue is to manage his pain. He’s on the highest dose of morphine and they can’t bring him to full consciousness for too long. It’s too much. Jason says, Michael came to, and he’s sure Michael knew it was him, and Portia says, good. That’s a great sign. He’ll likely be heavily sedated or unconscious for the next few days and it’s absolutely the best thing for him right now.

Carly tells Drew that her son is upstairs in excruciating pain fighting for his life. Does that even matter to him? Drew says, she came at him when he was speaking the truth. She needs to go make a list of the things Sonny’s done to harm Michael, but he can see it on her face that she already knows. Does she have any regrets about way back when she decided to let Sonny raise Michael instead of AJ? Was it worth Michael’s life? She says, nothing is worth Michael’s life, and he says he knows she loves her son, but none of what she did was what was best for Michael. It was all about what she wanted.

Jack tells Colette that the incendiary device left almost zero evidence. It was a unique weapon like a device the WSB designed years ago. He knew what the hardware looked like even before Anna described it. Colette says, it’s highly classified, and he says, it was meant for Sonny, not his unfortunate son. They need to find out who wanted Sonny eliminated and had access to the weapon. She says, there could have been a security breach. Maybe the specs were leaked and sold to the highest bidder. He says he’s making it top priority, and she asks if it has anything to do with the Rice Plaza footage, but he says, that has to do with his other project.  

Willow tells Josslyn that no matter what’s happened between her and Michael, she loves him. He’s the father of her children and she’s praying he recovers quickly. Josslyn says, did she forget she cheated on Michael with his uncle, and they had sex in the nursery? How skeevy can you be? Nina joins them and says, that’s enough. Leave her daughter alone.

Sitting with Ric, Ava says, it’s not like she’s destitute. The gallery is doing well, and she had money of her own before she married Nikolas. She was planning on moving the gallery to a new location and purchased a building. She was going to renovate it and have it up and running before she sold the building the gallery is in now. He says, she’s paying for mortgages on two commercial properties? and she says, unless the divorce settlement money is returned to her, she’ll have to sell the building and finding a buyer won’t be easy. He says he’s sorry, but the only way she’ll see any of the money is if the estate grants it, and she says, by estate, he means Alexis. He says, as trustee, Alexis is the only one who has the power, and Ava says, the money isn’t even Alexis’s. It’s in trust for Ace. He says, until Ace is of age, Alexis can decide how it’s spent. Considering Ava was involved in Alexis’s disbarment and Kristina fell out Ava’s hotel room window causing the death of her baby, the chances of Alexis gifting her are pretty slim.

Diane joins Alexis and says she’s represented Michael’s family for most of his life. What happened is unimaginable. She can’t stop thinking about it. Alexis says, Michael has always been so good to her girls over the years. She respects him for that. Diane says, he’s a wonderful man, and Alexis says, Kristina adores him and she’s reeling. She’s had so much loss lately. Michael has to pull through. Cyrus listens in.

Felicia says she assumed they heard, and Sasha asks why Michael is in the hospital. Felicia says, there was a terrible accident at the penthouse. Michael is in the burn unit and in critical condition. Sasha says she needs to go see him, and Felicia says, of course (🍷). Maxie asks her to text or call if there’s an update, and as she leaves, Sasha says she will.

Sonny says he comes up here to think sometimes, and Isaiah says, it’s good for that. Sonny thanks Isaiah for everything he did for Michael when he brought Michael in, and Isaiah says, of course (🍷). He has a lot of experience with burn victims from his time in Africa and he’s glad to help. Sonny asks about the percentage of recovery and tells Isaiah to be straight with him. Isaiah says, it’s serious, but GH is doing everything in their power to treat Michael and alleviate the pain. How is Sonny feeling? All the stress could complicate his condition and possibly make it worse. Sonny thanks him for his concern, but says he can’t think about himself. Isaiah says he understands that Michael is the only thing on Sonny’s mind, but he has to take care of himself too. Sonny asks if Isaiah has kids, and Isaiah says, not that he’s aware of. (Ha-ha!) Sonny says, when he does, he’ll know the love for his kids can get him through anything.  

Carly tells Drew not to preach to her about selfishness. He had sex with Michael’s wife in the nursery where his daughter plays. Did he think about Michael? Or did Willow’s hero worship give him such a high that he couldn’t control it? Drew says she can’t understand his and Willow’s relationship. What’s between them is real. She asks if that’s what he tells himself, and he says, it’s more real than what they had. (Ugh. I hate people who argue like this. Like all of a sudden it was never a good relationship to begin with. It’s so immature.) Carly laughs and asks if that was supposed to hurt her. It didn’t. He had sex with her daughter-in-law, the mother of her grandchildren. Now she sees him for who he really is. He did her a huge favor when he dumped her. He says, good. He’s a lot happier away from her too. He walks out of the chapel. (Quick. Get that man a bonnet, diaper, and baby bottle.)

Colette asks about Jack accessing the Rice Plaza footage, and he says, Josslyn asked him to because she wants to find the person responsible for stabbing Dex. Thanks to the footage, now he knows who it is. She says, mystery solved, but to what end? He can’t use top secret footage to solve a civilian case. He says, of course (🍷) he can’t. But now that he knows who Josslyn is looking for, he can leave a trail of breadcrumbs and see how well she follows them.

Nina says, Josslyn has no right to speak to Willow that way. Her husband was just in a horrible accident. Josslyn says, Michael is her brother, and nothing she said was anything less than the truth. Was there anything Willow didn’t use Michael for? Nina says, Josslyn is just like her mother, and Josslyn says, thanks. She could say the same thing about Willow right now. Nina can’t stand to be called out on her crap. On the surface, they’re both so sweet and friendly, but underneath, they’re lying liars who lie. Stay the hell away from her brother. She walks away.  

Lucy says she and Sidwell had sort of discussed Mayor Laura Collins. She’s actually a former Spencer and has two Spencer children. Sidwell says, there are a lot of them in Port Charles, and she says, quite a few and very notable. He says, she knows everything and everyone in Port Charles really well, and she says, she seems to be doing all the talking. She knows she’s doing all the talking. He has to share something about himself. He says, she handled his purchase of Spoon Island skillfully. What else does she need to know? She says she hardly thinks the transfer of information captures a person. From what she read, he’s not currently married, but does he have a couple of former Mrs. Sidwells running about? What do she and Port Charles need to know about the newest resident? He laughs.

Maxie tells Felicia, it’s awful. Michael has always been good to her. She can’t imagine what the family is going through. Spinelli is going to be devastated and poor Jason. He’s got to be losing his mind. Felicia says, Michael’s injuries are severe, but it’s still possible for him to recover, and Maxie says she’s going to send every positive thought his way. Felicia says she hopes Sasha is okay. She seemed upset and stressed after she heard the news. (Well, of course. < 🍷>) Maxie says she knows Sasha and Michael were together at one point and stayed good friends, but her reaction did seem out of proportion. It’s probably pregnancy hormones. Felicia says she wants to tell Maxie how much she loves her, and Maxie says, why? Is there something wrong? Felicia says she’s fine. Don’t worry. Her work as a patient advocate has given her a new perspective. Working with people who are grieving and people in hospice who don’t have much time left, they all say the same thing over and over. Their biggest regret is not telling the people in their lives how much they love them. Her and Maxie’s relationship hasn’t always been easy, but she’s glad they’ve moved past it. She doesn’t want a day to go by that she doesn’t let Maxie know how much she loves her. Maxie says she loves Felicia too, and takes her hand.

Sasha looks into Michael’s room window and cries. Jason arrives, and she asks, what happened? All she heard was that there was an accident. He’s going to be okay, right? Jason says, they don’t know yet.

In the chapel, Carly says, please let Michael recover. He’s such a good man and has so much to live for and so many people who love him. Sonny comes in, and she asks if there’s an update. He says he went by Michael’s room to talk to Portia. Jason was with him and Michael woke up, but they had to sedate him because he’s in so much pain. Carly covers her face with her hands, and he says, the doctor said hopefully they’ll find out something soon. She asks how it happened, and Sonny says he doesn’t know any more than he did last night, but whoever planned this is after him.

Willow thanks Nina for defending her, and Nina says, Josslyn is a bully and a hypocrite. Don’t listen to a word she says. Willow says she thought that they’d come together to support Michael and the kids through this tragedy, but Nina says, Josslyn is a lot like her mother. Their first instinct is to lash out. No empathy, no compassion, just rage. Willow wonders if she can get some alone time with Carly, but Nina says she doesn’t think it’s a good idea. Willow says, they were close once. Carly walked her down the aisle when she married Michael. She cares… Nina says, cared, past tense, but Willow says she doesn’t know. Nina says, unfortunately, she does. Carly sent Diane and a social worker to the apartment and took custody of Wiley and Amelia. Willow says, how? and sees Drew come out of the elevator. She runs to him, throwing her arms around him. She says he has to help her. Carly has taken the kids. Drew looks at Nina.

Josslyn literally bumps into Jack at the hospital, and says, sorry. He says, it’s fine, and asks how Michael is. She says, the same. He’s in pain and it’s horrible. He says he’s very sorry, and she thanks him for bringing her to GH last night. He says he was glad to help, and she says she’s headed to grab some air. He says, before she goes, he has an update to share with her about who stabbed Dex.

Ava says, Ric is a fantastic lawyer. He got Heather Webber set free and got her cleared of any wrongdoing in Kristina’s accident. There’s got be something he can do. He was married to Alexis and knows her so well. He has to be able to use that to his advantage somehow.

Martin comes into the Baradino’s and says hello to Cyrus. Cyrus says he’s grateful Martin came to see him, and Martin says, that’s because when Cyrus calls, he picks up the phone. Cyrus should try it sometime instead of dodging his calls. Cyrus says he’s been doing the Lord’s work. The holiday season has been busy. He needed to see Martin because GH is trying to restrict his access to patients. Martin asks what that has to do with him, and Cyrus says he wants Martin to put a stop to it. His patients need him. Martin says, there are plenty of places Cyrus can do the Lord’s work if GH doesn’t want him there, and Cyrus says, if the law won’t help, the Lord will provide a path for him to continue his work. The Lord has ways the legal system knows nothing about. Diane comes by and asks if Martin has a moment to discuss the Corinthos custody case, and Martin says, when he’s done with his brother, they can have a chat. Cyrus says, it’s fine. They’re done. He’ll leave them to their business. He moves along with his non-Lord’s work.

Ric goes over to Alexis’s table and says, may I? He sits down, and she says, you may not. Seeing he’s not moving, she heaves a sigh.

Josslyn tells Jack that she wants to hear everything, but she’s confused. She thought there was no footage from Rice Plaza. Jack says, it’s true they have no footage, but he has a lot of resources. He called in a favor from the PCPD and got the witness list from Rice Plaza on the day of the assault. She says, that would help immensely, and he says he’ll forward it to her right now. She thanks him, and he says he suggests she speak to the witnesses. Ask questions and piece the scene together. Unless it’s too much for her to handle. Then she can always hire a private investigator. She says she’s going to do it herself. It’s what she owes Dex. She looks at her phone and says she received the list. She even knows some of the people. He says he hopes one leads to the answers she’s looking for, and she sees Felicia at the reception desk. She says she thinks she already knows where to start.

Carly says, Drew was just here and said what happened was her fault for bringing Sonny into Michael’s life, and Sonny says, Drew has no business judging her. Don’t listen to him. She made the best choice she could for Michael at the time. She tells him that he’s saying that with such confidence, and he says, it’s not like he doesn’t know the feeling. It’s not the first time he’s put Michael in danger or Michael has been fighting for his life because of what he does. He was supposed to protect him from all this. She says, he didn’t know what would happen, and he says, neither did she. She says she just wants Michael to be okay, and he says he does too.

Sasha tells Jason, it’s horrible to see Michael like this. She and Michael never had a real break-up. Everything that happened with Willow, Wiley, and Chase took their lives in different directions, but the love is still there. Jason says he gets it. Sometimes life doesn’t work the way we plan. She says, Michael stood by her when everyone else hated her. When her mother told her that Robert was her dad and she and Cody broke up, he found time to comfort her when his own marriage was falling apart. He’s such a good man. Jason says, the best, and Sasha looks in the window again and cries.

Willow asks how Carly can take the kids, and Nina says, Diane brought Chase and a social worker and this court order. She shows Willow the paperwork, and Willow says she thought even though Michael filed for divorce, they’d figure it out through mediation. Drew says he just had his head ripped off by Carly because she found out they spent the night together in DC. Clearly, she wants revenge. Willow says she can’t believe they’re talking about Carly taking revenge through her kids, and Drew says, it’s a valid order. Nina says, they need to petition the court for an emergency custody hearing, and Drew says he can call in a favor, but in the best case, it won’t happen until next week. Willow says she can’t be without her kids until next week. Michael will be in the hospital a long time and the kids will be scared without either of their parents. Nina says she understands what it’s like to be without your baby. There’s no worse feeling. But they can’t defy the court order. It will work against them in the long run and there’s no recourse at the moment. Drew says, maybe there is.

Sidwell tells Lucy that his last love left him feeling wounded. It seems she was using him to get her hands on inventory. Lucy says, that’s absolutely horrible, and he says, it’s a hazard of his profession. He doesn’t think she needs to hear more detail.  She says she loves details and nothing he could say would bore her. He says she’s too kind and he’s happy to repay her hospitality with lunch. And the knowledge she imparted about Port Charles will prove invaluable in helping him acclimate. She says, it’s been a pleasure. If there’s anything else he needs, don’t hesitate to ask. They clink coffee cups.

Diane asks Martin when she can expect a response to the divorce petition, and he says he assumed it would be put on pause after last night’s events. She says she understands, but unless instructed otherwise, she’s going to proceed with her client’s wishes. And if his client thinks she can be galivanting up on Capitol Hill with her son and her husband’s uncle, she needs to think again. He says, they’ll have to see how it shakes out at the custody hearing, and she says, or they can spare the upset if his client makes a compromise now. He says, a brave attempt. Now if she’ll excuse him, he thinks he should get back to his brother. He looks around, but Cyrus isn’t there.

Ric tells Alexis that the money belongs to Ava. She’s entitled to pain and suffering for the emotional duress she suffered when married to Nikolas. Alexis says she knows a thing or two about emotional duress having been married to Ric. Ava has mistaken her for an ATM. It’s not her money. She’s just the trustee. Ric says, she knows the Cassadine money ruins lives, like with Stephan and Nikolas. Even if Ava got all of what Nikolas gave her, Ace wouldn’t miss it. Alexis says, despite her reservations in giving it to Ace, Ava is not going to see a penny, and he says, if it was anybody but Ava, she’d be singing a different tune. She says she’d like him to leave. She enjoys the food here, and staring at him is making her lose her appetite. He leaves.

Carly tells Sonny, hindsight is a funny thing. You look back and see everything clearly and it’s easy to question your decisions. He says, they’re just torturing themselves here and can’t change the past. She says, it would be nice if they could. She was thinking about if she had to do it over, knowing what she knows, would she do it differently? He says, of all the wrong turns they made, there’s one thing they did right – their kids. Michael, Morgan, and Donna, they’re amazing kids. She says, Michael is special, and Sonny says, he is. She says, they have to present a united front. Their strength will be Michael’s strength. Sonny says he’s going to check on the doctors. They’re going to go through this. Hit it face on as a family. He takes her hand, and she says, yes.

Willow asks what other recourse she has, and Drew says, even though she filed for separation and Michael filed for divorce, they’re still legally husband and wife. If Michael made her his healthcare proxy, that’s still valid. She’s holding the cards. Michael is badly injured, a lot of decisions will need to be made about his healthcare, and Carly and Sonny think they’re in charge. Nina asks if he’s suggesting using the fact that Willow is Michael’s wife as a bargaining chip to get the kids back, and he says, exactly. She can deny Carly, Sonny, or anybody else access to Michael. Willow says she would never do that. Things weren’t great between her and Michael, but Michael is a good person and an amazing dad. Even after everyone saw the video, he let her take the kids so they could be with her. She’s not going to pay him back by keeping his family from him. Drew says, it’s Sonny and Carly that she’s up against, not Michael. Carly is angry about them being together, and it could be the only leverage she has to get her kids back.

Jason tells Sasha that Sonny and Carly are on their way back from the chapel and suggests he give her a ride home. She says she probably shouldn’t drive this upset and thanks him. They leave.

Sonny asks, how’s Michael? and Portia says, his condition remains the same. Carly asks if there are any long-term burn recovery units she recommends. They’d like to get him set up as soon as possible. Willow pops out and says, there’s nothing to worry about. She’s Michael’s wife and she’ll be making the decisions about his care. She’s the only one the doctors will be talking to. (Wow. She nasty.)

Felicia tells Josslyn that she’s sorry. That’s all she remembers. She wishes she was more help. Josslyn says, even small details matter in cases like this, and Felicia says she did tell Chase there was something weird that she can’t put her finger on. She’s done everything she can to remember why she feels that way, but it still escapes her. Josslyn says, if she recalls it from beginning to end, it might come back. She was at Rice Plaza, picking out a tree with Georgie and James. There were holiday lights and carolers, the college kids fighting before Dex and his partner ran them off. The elevator dings, and Felicia says she sees what it is. It’s the bell. Josslyn asks, what bell? and Felicia says, that’s what she was trying to remember. Cyrus was at Rice Plaza taking donations and he had a bell he was ringing the entire time. Jack listens from the other side of the desk, and Felicia says, when Dex was stabbed, there was no sound. Cyrus had stopped ringing the bell.  

We see slippered feet walk into Michael’s room and gloved hands closing the door and the blinds. Standing next to Michael’s bed, Cyrus says he knows Michael is in terrible pain, but it will soon be over. He’ll be at peace. God will call him home. He puts his hand on Michael’s forehead and says, may your soul be surrounded by divine light. He takes out a syringe and prepares it. He checks Michael’s IV bag, plunges the needle in, and we see that it’s digitalis.

On Monday, Tracy tells Cody that if he invests, that money will be gone; Laura says, Dante did the right thing by going after Lulu; Nina tells Sonny not to waste precious time on this fight; and Isaiah says, Michael will die either way.

I have to say, I didn’t see another digitalis death coming. As much as I hate all these characters being killed off, it is one hell of a storyline.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

This is just horrific. I had to turn off the news the first night. While I know I’d cry over losing my stuff too, if everyone and their pets gets out alive, that’s the most important thing.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/soap-stars-share-wildfire-updates

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/cameron-mathison-opens-up-about-losing-everything

They read the room.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/daytime-emmys/2025-daytime-emmy-awards-rescheduled-to-october

In happier news. Hopefully, this gets enough viewers to stay on the air. Many a decent show has been cancelled because it wasn’t given enough time to build up an audience.

https://ew.com/beyond-the-gates-trailer-first-black-daytime-soap-in-35-years-8762458

💊 A Dose Of Reality…

Here’s what happened all week on…

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Another group of demanding, immature guests, who were – of all people – drag queens, who I would expect more empathy from even on a superyacht. TBH, Cloyce’s consistent inconsistency leaves something to be desired, but they didn’t have to make fun of him. Shame on them!

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Love Boz and her boyfriend Keely. They seem like the perfect couple and it’s nice to watch. Erika and Dorit can both go pound sand. PK blindsided Dorit, saying he wanted a divorce during a 4-hour therapy session. Who has a 4-hour therapy session? I’d be done after 4 hours too. In an actual real non-screaming moment, Garcelle talked about the years she had to give Oliver tough love and how it killed her to not even let him in the house. She did it right though, because look at him now. That’s what reality TV should be about. Seeing the changes. Some of these women also need to get a vocabulary. Erika debuted her new single, Dominos, and it sounded like all her other singles. Like Jennifer said, it’s not going to win any awards for lyrics, but it’s catchy.

Real Housewives of New York City

While I do think Brynn has some good qualities, girlfriend needs to mature. She’s way too into stirring the pot and it’s not a good look. She picked on Jessel for having a penchant for glam. Really? Like she doesn’t?

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

I could barely sit through this. Meredith freaked out when she discovered out Britani was recording the back of a seat during a bus trip, screeching about how sneaky it was. I guess she forgot that Bravo recording them is actually the whole point and there are cameras on all the time. These women do nothing but find things to argue about, and they’re best response to an insult is, no, you. It didn’t sound any better when Heather had to explain what the word nefarious meant. Someone please get them a dictionary. They give me a headache. Except for Mary, who is still the MVP.

I also watched a little of Sold on SLC, and I think the crux of all their problems is the church. No judgement, to each his own, but if it isn’t lifting you up, get out. These people are all adults and feel they have to pretend to be a certain way just so they don’t get excommunicated. It’s doubtful they’re fooling anyone, so I’m guessing as long as they put their share into the collection plate or whatever, it’s all good. Seriously, if it’s making you hate yourself and everyone else, get out.

Southern Charm

Taylor’s picker still seems to be off, but hey, sometimes you need something in the moment that won’t be in your future. I’m more looking forward to next week when JT meets with Craig. Mostly because I want to see how JT makes an ass of himself this time.

This made me feel sad, but I get it.

Southern Hospitality

I still maintain that this show wants to be Vanderpump Rules 2.0, but misses it entirely. For every real moment, like the discussion between Michols and TJ about being gay in Charleston, there’s a ton of screaming, yelling, and heightened drama that belongs in a middle school.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

A Mother’s Instinct. I love the 60s time period, which is why I chose to watch this. But I stayed for the twisty-turny plot and the incredible acting.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mothers-instinct-neon-film-review-2024

Smile 2. I know a lot of people liked the first one, but I wasn’t one of them. It was okay, but I wasn’t thrilled with the ending. I’d seen the trailer for this when I saw Red One, and thought it looked promising. I was right. I actually thought this was better than the first one. This article pretty much sums up why. The costumes were also quite fabulous.

https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/i-watched-smile-2-i-need-to-talk-about-why-horrors-of-fake-smile-got-to-me

The Deliverance. More of a straight on horror film, based on so-called true events. Like both Lovecraft Country and Them, real life horror parallels supernatural horror. It was a captivating ride, capturing the truth of trying to escape poverty, along with the terror of living in a haunted house. Lee Daniels is a master and he snagged Glenn Close. It was definitely worth the time.

Nightbitch. I was looking forward to seeing this and it didn’t disappoint. You don’t need to be a mom to relate either. It gave me all the feels – it was funny, sad, poignant, and joyous. And there was an apology at the end that every man should watch. A bonus for me was seeing Jessica Harper, Janet from one of my favorite films, Richard O’Brien’s Shock Treatment. It was also nice to see an actress aging like a normal human.

🏆 And You Get an Award…

Golden Globe winners.

https://ew.com/2025-golden-globes-winners-full-list-8769343

Golden Globe fashion. Holy! Zendaya looks just like Elizabeth from GH.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/37442/2025-golden-globes-red-carpet-fashion

https://pagesix.com/2025/01/07/style/melissa-rivers-on-the-best-and-worst-golden-globes-2025-looks/

Awards to come. The SAG nominations.

https://ew.com/2025-sag-awards-nominations-full-list-8770586

🎉 Bravo For the New Year…

Including one of my all-time favorite New Year’s Eves – the night Giggy married Grandma Wrinkles.

🐕 Bowling For Pups…

Coming February 11th. Be there or be a cat.

https://www.discovery.com/shows/puppy-bowl/see/2025/get-ready-for-puppy-bowl-xxi-

🪂 Quotes of the Week

Your journey has molded you for your greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. Don’t think that you’ve lost time. There is no short cutting to life. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time. – Asha Tyson

It’s never too late to never give up. – Pamela Anderson

Youth has no age. – Pablo Picasso

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

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

Things just tend to accumulate after Labor Day. What can I tell you?Little Edie Beale, Grey Gardens

My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference. – President Jimmy Carter

❄️ Kisses From Heaven…

Join me again next Friday for soap, recaps, what to watch (or not), and other entertainment nonsense. Until then, stay safe; stay helping a neighbor shovel after a snowstorm; and stay telling the people in your life how much you love them. Don’t let that be a regret.

December 19, 2024 – Curtis Confronts Drew, New Girlfriend, Missed New York, Charming Dog Party, Little Craig’s First Birthday & More Wrapping

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada on Fridays; the other days, who knows?)

General Hospital

Isaiah is in the steam room when Jordan comes in. She asks what he’s doing in here.

Brook and Gio wrap gifts, and Brook wonders if she went overboard, but Gio says, there’s no such thing as too many presents. And no matter how many presents Scout and Danny get, they’ll still miss their mom.

Sasha is at a table in the nook, when Jason walks in with a plate. Without looking up, she says, put it down. Does he like it when someone does his job? Leave the plate. He wisely puts it down and asks if she’s coming up with new stuff. She says, she’s figuring out how to repurpose leftovers so she can serve the same food twice and no one thinks she’s slacking. He says he doesn’t think anyone would, and she asks if he’s met Tracy. He says, point taken. He wanted to thank her for having snacks available for the kids. Danny and Scout don’t have much of an appetite. Sasha says, they lost their mom. It’s the least she can do. Since he’s here, she wants to say thank you. He says, for what? and she says she owes him her life.

Willow comes into Nina’s apartment, and Nina says she probably over did it with the decorations. Willow says, she can’t believe Nina did this for the kids, but Nina says she did it for Willow too. And that’s not all she did.

Tracy opens the door to Martin, who says he’s here for Michael. She asks what business he has with Michael, and he says, confidential business. She says, Michael’s not here. He can leave the paperwork with her. He says he can’t do that.

Drew goes into his office and finds Curtis there. Curtis asks, what brings him by? and Drew says, the stock is plummeting. What is Curtis doing about it? Why doesn’t he seem concerned that Drew’s company is in trouble?

In the Wellness Center gym, Michael looks at the press release from Aurora Media on his tablet. Chase comes in and asks if Michael is okay. Michael asks why he wouldn’t be, and Chase says, what happened at the party was rough. Michael says, it wasn’t the happiest Quartermaine gathering, and Chase says he’s sorry for what Michael is going through. Michael says, Chase is being generous considering Michael did to Chase what Drew is doing to him.

Josslyn sees Cameron in Rice Plaza.

Isaiah says he didn’t expect to see Jordan, and Jordan says she didn’t expect to see him in the women’s steam room. He says, oh my God. He swears he saw the sign… He’s just going to go. He tries to open the door, but it’s stuck. Jordan says, you’ve got to be kidding me.

Tracy asks if Martin is trying to save money on a process server. She figures he’s here to serve Michael papers. He says he’s sorry, but he’s not at liberty to discuss it, and she asks if she can make a guess. She thinks Michael’s faithless wife retained him, along with her barracuda of a mother. He repeats that he’s not at liberty to discuss it. Tracy tells him to take a message back. Going against Michael is going against the entire Quartermaine family. Martin says, she sounds over rehearsed. Does she say that to the pizza delivery boy on Thanksgiving? She says, a word of advice. Tell the harlots he’s working for to raise the white flag. He asks why he would do that, and she says, because smarter and richer people have gone against the Quartermaines and they always end up victorious.

Michael says he guesses turnabout is fair play, but Chase says he doesn’t see it that way. He never did. Michael says, he loved Willow and supposes that’s why he justified her being with Drew, and Chase says, what he did was misguided, but he’s a good guy and no one deserves to go through what he’s going through. If Michael wants to talk, he’s here. Michael says he might take Chase up on it, but now he has to figure out what’s next.

Curtis says, the stock price is already stabilizing, and Drew says, the quarterly report was released early. How could Curtis let that happen? Why isn’t he doing something? Curtis asks why he should do anything, and Drew says, it’s his job. Curtis says, sounds like a job for a CEO. Isn’t Drew replacing him with Michael?

Nina says, it might seem like she overstepped, but she retained Martin Grey as Willow’s attorney. He filed for a legal separation from Michael. Willow says she wishes Nina had talked to her first, and Nina says, they’re talking now. They have to be proactive. No one knows better than she does that Michael’s family will be. Time is not on their side. Willow says, it’s been one day, and Nina says, a lot can happen. Michael will be represented by Diane Miller and she’s the best. He’ll probably want full custody. Willow says, no. Michael knows the children belong with her. When it comes to the kids, they’ll find a way to compromise. Nina says, Michael is a Quartermaine and a Corinthos, and they never compromise.

Josslyn asks when Cameron got in, and he says, today. He’s just passing through to wish everyone a merry Christmas. His mom nearly hugged the life out of him. She says, if he’s just passing through, where is he spending the holidays? He says, Key West, and she says, after all the times he grumbled at her about going to Puerto Rico. He doesn’t deserve a warm Christmas. He says, how about her and Dex? Are they doing anything?…  Is she okay? She says, obviously, he wouldn’t know, but Dex just died.

Brook says, Gio must miss his ma, and he says, she loved to play Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle every year. It’s an Italian Christmas Carol. Brook asks what it means, and he says, you come down from the stars. He’ll play it for her sometime. She says she’d love that. He can tell her that it’s none of her business – not that she doesn’t appreciate the help, which she clearly needs – but why is he home? Doesn’t he have any holiday plans with friends?

Isaiah says, the was fine when he came in, and Jordan says, something must have happened when she shut it. They can’t just stand here like lobsters in a pot. He says, technically, they’re being steamed, not boiled, and she says, help her find something to open the door. He says, they have towels, his workbook, and their hands, and she says, now what? He says, they call for help. They start pounding on the door and yelling.

Jason says, sorry she got caught up with Sidwell, and Sasha says, that was because of her mother. He asks if she’s heard from Holly, and she says, usually she would answer, are you kidding me? but Holly and Robert have been texting her. Sometimes she texts back. He says, they seemed driven to find her, and she says, it’s less trouble to believe that about Robert, who she just met, then her mother, who she’s known her whole life. Her mother had her reasons. He says, parents are human too, and she says, her mother had the good sense to send him to rescue her, so she guesses Holly can’t be all that bad.

Chase says, so Michael doesn’t want to end his marriage? and Michael says he doesn’t. He’s still angry, but the video popped up and his whole family saw it. He never wanted that to happen. He didn’t want Willow to ever know about the video. Chase says, why not? They both have to be honest with each other. Michael says he didn’t want to confront Willow. He was afraid it would blow up his marriage. Now, it may be too late to save it.

Nina tells Willow that Michael has his family – Carly, Sonny, and all the Quartermaines – and they’re all protective of each other and extremely possessive about their children. Willow says she can’t think, but Nina says, that’s what she’s here for and Martin is here for. No matter what it takes or costs, she’ll do everything to make sure the children stay with Willow. She has to remember, she can’t count on anyone in Michael’s family to help her. Willow says, that’s not true. Drew is on her side. Nina tells her that she hates to say it, but Drew really isn’t a man Willow should rely on.

Drew asks what Curtis is talking about, and Curtis asks if he was misinformed. Drew says he was going to put Curtis back in Wellness with a big bump in salary, and Curtis says, that’s generous, especially since Drew knows Aurora thrived under his leadership. Drew says, until today. The stock dive put the company in jeopardy and Curtis did nothing to stop it. Curtis says, so Drew has had zero complaints about his performance until today. Interesting. Drew says, he let it happen on purpose. Was it payback? He’s got to let Curtis go. It’s what’s best for the company. Curtis says, it’s not and Drew can’t do that. In fact, he’s just been promoted.

Cameron tells Josslyn that he’s so sorry. He had no idea. Josslyn says, it just happened last night, and he says he can’t imagine how she’s feeling. She says she wouldn’t want him to, and he says, she’s probably sick of people asking, but how is she doing? She says, right now, she’s putting one foot in front of the other. Dex just graduated from the police academy. He was on duty when he was stabbed. He hugs her and says he’s so sorry.

Jordan and Isaiah continue to bang on the door, and Jordan yells, we’re stuck! Can anyone hear me? On the other side of the door, a woman asks if they need help, and Isaiah says, the door is stuck. It won’t open. She asks if he’s aware he’s in the women’s steam room, and he says, yes. He’s new… Jordan says, they can discuss it later. The woman tries the door and says, yep, it’s stuck. She’ll get help. Jordan says, please turn off the steam… More steam comes in, and Isaiah asks if it’s getting hotter. Jordan says, of course (🍷).

Martin tells Tracy that no one is going to side with a spoiled billionaire against a beautiful, young mother who has survived a cult and cancer. Tracy asks if they’re going to tie her to a railroad track, and he says he supposes a woman as bitter as she is doesn’t understand that optics matter. She says, Willow slept with her husband’s uncle. What jury will find that more sympathetic than a loving father who would do anything for his children? He says, good question, but you know what they say, marriage is complicated. They both know that since they have eight between them. She’s got him beat by two. She says she used to feel sorry for him, but he’s nothing but a vulture, feeding off broken relationships and misery. How does he look in the mirror? He laughs and says, all that from a woman whose only source of joy is to make life miserable for everyone else, and he leaves.

Chase asks why Michael thinks he and Willow don’t tell each other the truth, and Michael says, they’re always trying to protect each other. Chase asks what he’s protecting Willow from, and Michael says, ELQ, Aurora, him going after his dad, him dealing with Nina… Chase says he’s not seeing why it’s worth it to keep secrets, when they could share their burdens, and Michael says he wants Willow to think the best of him. He can’t be honest, and he can’t know for sure, but when Willow sees Drew, she sees someone who won’t lie to her. It’s the one thing that draws her to him.

Curtis tells Drew that there will be a press release soon saying the company has a new majority shareholder, Michael Corinthos, and Michael has named him new permanent CEO affective immediately. Drew says, he and Michael teamed up against him, but Curtis says, they saw an opportunity and took it. Drew says, they manipulated the stock to steal the company from him, but Curtis says, the preliminary report being released was an accident. Drew says he was Curtis’s friend. How could Curtis do this to him? Curtis says, they were friends, until Drew decided to lie to him. Drew says he’s going to find a way to get Curtis removed from the office and the company, and Curtis says, good luck. He already made the mistake of trusting a Quartermaine once. This time, Michael has signed a legal and binding contract to insure he remains CEO of Aurora for five years. It’s in the best interest of the company. Drew says, if it wasn’t so despicable, he might be impressed (yeah, it’s always despicable when it’s not you), and Curtis says, there’s no way he’s letting a Quartermaine take advantage of him again. He refuses to be a pawn in the Quartermaine family games.

Nina says, Diane will use any contact Willow has with Drew to exploit that she slept with him, and Willow says, they didn’t plan it. It happened once. Nina says, that helps, but only if she doesn’t see Drew again. Willow says she and Drew aren’t seeing each other, and Nina says, she can’t see him socially and not privately. She doesn’t want to seem insensitive to Michael’s pain. Willow says, he’s not the only one in pain, and Nina says she knows Willow is hurting. Willow says she meant Drew. (Ugh.) He’s away from his daughter. Nina says she feels bad for Scout, but Drew did this to himself. Willow says, he’s going to be alone on Christmas, and Nina says, maybe he deserves that. Willow says, no one does. That’s why she invited him and Scout over on Christmas Eve.

Cameron says, for what it’s worth (🍷), he’s happy Josslyn and Dex found each other and had the time they did. Josslyn says she appreciates that, when Gretchen joins them and kisses Cameron on the cheek.

Jordan laughs and says, so this is how they die. Isaiah asks if she’s really worried, and she says, no…  mostly. Isaiah says, she saved him from an assassin, and she says, maybe someone’s trying to take out both of them. Two birds with one steam room. He says, she was a cop and this is how she goes out? and she says she wasn’t just a cop. She was Police Commissioner. He says, his point is, she’s been in more dangerous situations, and she says, how about him? He could say the same, working in war torn countries. This must be a walk in the park. A sweaty, disgusting park. He laughs.

Brook says, Gio is young. He should be out enjoying life. Gio says he is, but between moving here, practice, school, and practice, he doesn’t have much time for friends. She says, change is hard. She’s sure it was hard for his mom, moving to Brooklyn from Italy, but then she met his dad. He asks if she’s saying that he’s going to meet his future wife, and she says, he’d better before her mother finds her for him. She’s not trying to force him, but fair warning, she’s going to be on him. He’s got to get out there. He has a good heart and should share it with others. Corny? He says, yeah, but she sounds just like his mom.

Sasha tells Jason that it would be nice if she could forgive Holly, but she doesn’t know if she’ll ever get there. He says, families are complicated. His is complicated. She says she’s seen photos of him around the house and he looked like a different person. He says he was. That’s part of the reason he keeps his distance. He wouldn’t be here if Danny wasn’t here. She says, one more question. It’s a tough one. She saw a photo of him in a reindeer sweater. Any chance of him wearing it this year? He says, it doesn’t fit, and she says, it stretches. He says he heard, and she says, he’s not going to change his mind. He says, those days are long gone. (I would pay money to see Jason in a reindeer sweater.)

Chase says, Willow is beautiful and trusting and has a big heart, and Michael says, she’s practically perfect. Chase says, she’s not perfect. She’s suffered trauma. She was raised in a cult. Michael says, it took strength to run away from Dawn of Day, and Chase says, people who escape cults don’t trust easily. They put their trust in a rescuer like Drew. It’s easy to forget what she’s been through and put her on a pedestal. Michael says he did put Willow on a pedestal, and Chase says he thinks she did the same to him and Drew. Michael says he thought she was perfect and learned the hard way how wrong he was.

Drew says he brought Curtis in and handed him the Wellness division, and Curtis says, Drew trusted him. Drew says he never stopped trusting Curtis or being his friend, and Curtis says, they see friendship differently. Friends don’t lead each other on and don’t hide the truth. Drew asks why Curtis didn’t talk to him, and Curtis says he tried to, and Drew put him off like a lackey. Like he’s doing now, but refuses to see. Why did he offer Michael the CEO position? Drew says, Michael ran Aurora before and has more C-suite experience, but Curtis says, that’s not the reason. They both know what Drew can’t say aloud, so allow him. Drew offered Michael the job because he was sneaking around with Michael’s wife.

Isaiah tells Jordan that he was in medical school and had no time to eat or sleep. One night, he went to a megastore to stock up on some junk food. He went past the furniture section and saw a comfy recliner. Jordan says, and he was exhausted, so he took it for a test drive, and he says he closed his eyes for one minute and woke up at four in the morning. He was locked inside and had a final the next day. She says, and he had no phone, and he says he did, but… She says, it was dead, and he had to charge it, didn’t he? He says, maybe. He thought about calling the police, the fire department, his med school buddies, anyone who could help. The doors finally opened. She asks how he did on the final, and he says he aced it of course (🍷). She says, of course (🍷).

Cameron introduces Josslyn and Gretchen, and Gretchen says, Cameron told her about Josslyn, Trina and Spencer. Josslyn says she’s lucky she’s got great friends. She assumes they’re going to Key West together. Cameron says, Gretchen’s family has a house on the water. They were getting some last-minute gifts for her parents. Gretchen says, they need to head to the airport. She’s going to go call a Ride Share. She tells Josslyn that it was nice to meet her, and Josslyn says, her too. Gretchen leaves.  

Tracy asks for a word with Jason, and he says, sure. What does she need? She says she’s never made a secret of her dislike of him. He’s a thug, a murderer, and an ingrate. He says, okay, and she says, despite his rejecting the family at every turn, Monica, Alan, and her father loved him. He dismissed that love, and it meant nothing to him. He asks if there’s a point, and she says, yeah. He had no use for the family, but all of a sudden, he feels entitled to live here like nothing happened. He says he’s not entitled. Danny is. Danny needs his family and he’s here for him. And he’s trying to make it work with everyone, even her.

Curtis says, if Drew doesn’t mind, he has a company to run, and Drew says, Curtis may not trust him, but he can’t trust Michael. He has his own agenda. Curtis says he knows. Michael told him. He wanted to bring down the man who seduced his wife. That means he was the only person who had Aurora’s best interest at heart.

Nina tells Willow that when Diane hears she invited the man she committed adultery with to spend Christmas Eve with Michael’s children… Willow says, they’re her children too, and Nina says, they are, but they won’t be much longer if she keeps Drew in her life. Willow says, Scout will be here. Nina will be here. She’ll make sure she’s never alone with Drew. Nina says, she’s trying to think strategically. Willow is in for a very long, brutal battle. Willow says, it is Christmas. Leave the strategies to the lawyers. What she needs from Nina is to be her mom.  

Michael tells Chase that he wants to work things out. Despite everything, he still loves Willow. Chase says, he’s a good father and a loving husband if he chooses to forgive Willow and move past it. Michael says he might forgive Willow someday, but Drew, no. Never. Drew went after his wife, and he’ll never forgive him. Drew is going to pay for blowing up his marriage.

The steam room door opens, and a fireman comes in. He says, they’re free. The wedge was stuck in the door… Deputy Mayor. Jordan says, in the flesh. She thanks him for his help and leaves. Isaiah smiles.

Tracy says, for all her complaints about Jason, she’ll say one thing. He’s exactly who he says he is and never pretends to be anybody else. He asks, why would he? and she says, he’s a hitman and he’s asking, why would he? She vastly prefers his presence to that of his brother’s. He says, thank you? and she says, Drew made a big display of taking the Quartermaine name. Jason rejected it. Irony of ironies, between the hitman and the congressman, Jason has shown himself to be the true member of this family. He says he never thought of it that way, and she says, of course (🍷) he didn’t. He says, now he’s here for Danny. She’s right. He is.

Drew tells Curtis, this is not over. There’s no way he’s letting Curtis steal the company he built from the ground up. He goes out the door, and Curtis says, Drew forgot something. He takes off Drew’s nameplate and hands it to him. He says, Drew is still a minority shareholder and under his leadership, they’ll make great money. Aurora will be booming for the next five years.

Nina says, if Willow really wants it, okay. Drew can bring Scout over for Christmas Eve. Willow says she’ll make sure he knows the ground rules, but Nina says she’ll do it. And they’re going to keep Martin. Once Michael finds out, they’ll need him. Willow says, it will be fine for now, and Nina says she wants to let Willow know that she likes having her here. She’ll always be Willow’s mom and always be her for her. They hug.  

Martin finds Michael on the treadmill, and Michael asks what he’s doing here. Martin hands Michael an envelope and says, he can consider himself served. Martin leaves and Michael looks at the paperwork. It’s a filing for a legal separation.  

Cameron says, have a nice Christmas, and Josslyn tells him the same. They hug, and he tells her, take care. He leaves and Josslyn’s phone dings. She looks at it and says, 24 hours. My first full day without you. She looks up and closes her eyes. When she opens them, she sees Dex in full uniform. He smiles, and she looks around. When she looks back, he’s gone and she’s alone in the Plaza.

Tomorrow, Jack tells Carly that it’s a Christmas miracle; James says he finally has an uncle, so shouldn’t he be here for Christmas; and Willow tells Drew that she’s beginning to feel like she doesn’t know Michael at all.

💝 The Girl Behind Gretchen…

I actually remember Kids Bop. I’m just not sure why.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/who-is-camerons-girlfriend-on-general-hospital

🗽 Back To New York…

Since this wasn’t posted on the night of. TBH, I’ve already forgotten what happened. Except I keep getting reminded about Abe’s d*ck.

👒 Putting On the Dog…

The highlight of this episode was the 13th birthday party for Bella, Rodrigo and Tyler’s dog. Watching them shop for the party made me wish I had a gay best friend. The theme was Doggy Parton and cute dogs in outfits abounded. JT, however, was not invited, even though he could be considered a dog.

It was pretty much unanimous that he did not call Patricia a bitch, as Craig inferred. He also wrote Patricia an apology letter for his cluelessness at the Carolina Cup. In her interview, she said he was like an annoying gnat – agreed! – but letter writing was a lost art, and he did apologize. I’m sure it’s doubtful she’ll be inviting him to her next gentleman’s dinner though.

Madison asked JT to join her for coffee, and in her interview, she said, the last thing she needed was some little weasel in the middle of all this life. Again, agreed. She didn’t mince words, but asked if JT had ever seen her husband and made it clear that there was no world or lifetime in which she and JT would be lovers.

🐶 Little Craig Turns One…

The best thing about Shep.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/shep-rose-dog-lil-craig-first-birthday-southern-charm

❄️ A Woman Made Of Snow…

Join me tomorrow for soap and other matters of importance. Until then, stay safe; stay not overdoing the alcohol at holiday gatherings; and stay being exactly who you say you are and never pretending to be anybody else. Be like Jason.

December 17, 2024 – Port Charles Gets an Unwelcome Visitor, Coming Home, Oscar, Dorit Is An Insufferable Twit, NYC Goes to San Juan, Boy Bye, Simply the Best & Good

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada on Fridays; the other days, who knows?)

General Hospital

Sonny goes to All Saints and tells the pastor that he wants to make his Christmas donation in person. The pastor says, as always, Sonny’s generous donation is appreciated. God bless him and his family. Sonny says, one more thing. He wonders if he can ask a favor.

Martin meets Laura at the café and apologizes for being late. She’ll never guess what happened. She asks if he’s okay, but he says he’s not. Because her Police Commissioner has not only gone rogue, she’s out of control.

On the phone in her office, Anna says, someone saw something that should give them insight into Officer Heller’s stabbing. Keep her posted. Jason comes in and asks why she wanted to see him. She says, once again, she has to ask for his help.

Maxie goes to the stables and tells Cody that she has a gift delivery from his favorite nephew. It’s a holidaygram. Cody takes out a construction paper card decorated with candy canes, and says, it’s an invitation. She says, to his first Scorpio Christmas. and he says he appreciates it, but he can’t make it. She says, he’s ditching them because of Sasha.

In the nook, Sasha says, it’s her first Feast of the Seven Fishes, and Olivia says, if Sasha gets swamped, let her know. Tracy comes in and asks how one can get eggs wrong. These are scrambled and she specifically requested eggs benedict. It’s her stepdaughter’s favorite. Sasha says she’s sorry. It slipped her mind. Tracy says, that’s not acceptable, but Olivia says she’s sure Lulu doesn’t care. Tracy says she cares. She wanted Lulu’s favorite meal, and her request was completely ignored. Sasha says she didn’t ignore it, she forgot, but Tracy says, it’s her job to remember and serve what’s been requested. Sasha says, if Tracy wants eggs, go lay them herself, and walks out.

Brook is looking for Tracy and finds Lulu. Lulu says, no Tracy, just her, and Brook says, surprise.

Lucky brings coffee to Elizabeth’s house and says he remembered that she loves Perks holiday blend. He sees Ric is there, and Ric says he has coffee covered, but it’s good to see him.

Olivia says, Tracy Angelica Quartermaine. If she cost them a cook today of all days… Tracy says, Sasha was derelict in her duties, but Olivia says, it was a miscommunication. Tracy asks if she’s not allowed to give feedback, and Olivia says, she’s not allowed to give abuse. Tracy says, Sasha’s not the only cook. She’ll call the agency and get another one like she wanted to in the first place. Olivia says, during the holidays? It’s crazy hard enough. The kids don’t need more loss. The seven fishes in the other room can’t cook themselves, so make nice with Sasha or she’ll tell Monica, and Tracy and the fishes will be on the curb.

Brook says, Dante told her that Lulu was staying at her mom’s, and Lulu says she is. She was here going over old times with Tracy and Tracy insisted she stay. Brook says she’s glad they were able to catch up. She knows Rocco is happy. Dante too. Lulu says, it’s been great considering their history, and Brook says, it must be crazy to drop back in after all this time. Lulu says, nothing turned out how she expected. Sam and Dante… Brook says, Dante was adrift before they got together. They were a great couple. Lulu says she’s surprised it wasn’t Brook with Dante.

Martin says, Anna has a strange association with Jason, and Laura asks if he’s implying that they did a criminal act. He says he’s not implying. He has a first-hand account from an unimpeachable witness by the name of Martin Grey.

Anna says, as Jason knows, Dex Heller was stabbed and killed. She has to focus on finding out why he was targeted and track the killer. Jason says, she thinks Dex was targeted, and she says, apparently, and she owes the department and the citizens of Port Charles to find out who did it. He was isolated, so she doesn’t think it was a part of something bigger. He asks if she has any leads, but she says, that’s why she’s talking to him. She can’t give this her full attention if she’s chasing Valentin. She’d like him to take the lead in finding Charlotte.

Elizabeth says she told Ric about the situation at the hospital, and he insisted on helping, and Lucky says, of course (🍷). Ric says, it’s clear Elizabeth needs an attorney. She needs to be protected. The hospital’s investigation is going to get messy, and he has to make sure they don’t railroad Elizabeth. Elizabeth says, their legal team is ruthless, especially DeeDee Clark. Ric says, Portia and Terry will be supportive because they’re her colleagues and friends, but the hospital is going to look out for their best interests, and it’s his job to look out for hers. Lucky says, it started with Sam’s death, and Ric says, he doesn’t want the details to get muddled, so he’d like to complete his interview with Elizabeth alone. Lucky can come back later.

Sonny asks the pastor to choose families in need and he’ll cover their holiday meals, presents, trees, and decorations, the whole thing. The pastor thanks him, when Sasha comes in. The pastor asks if he can help her, but she says she just wants to light a candle. The pastor leaves, Sasha lights a candle and sits down. Sonny sits next to her and says he knows why she’s here. He knows what day it is.

Sonny says, today is the anniversary of Sasha’s son’s death, and Sasha says she can’t believe he remembers. He says, Liam was family. Brando was family, as is she. He spoke to the father about saying a mass in Brando and Liam’s memory. She thanks him for remembering.

Cody says he doesn’t want to carol around the Christmas tree with Cousin Sasha, and Maxie says, instead, he’s going to run away, which just prolongs the weirdness. Get over it. He says, and embrace the weirdness? and she says, he and Sasha grew up without families. Now they have one that loves them. Please just consider coming. Tracy comes in and asks if anyone has seen Sasha. Maxie says, hello to her too, and Cody says, Sasha doesn’t come around here much anymore. Tracy says, the cousin thing. Something is off with Sasha. She became irrational because Tracy asked her to remake some eggs. Cody says, asked or demanded? and Tracy says she asked politely. Maxie says, it’s not the eggs, and Tracy asks if she was there. How does she know? Maxie says, today is the anniversary of Sasha’s baby’s death.

Lulu tells Brook not to look surprised. She’s been gone for four years. Did she and Dante never… Brook says, no. And she’s now happily married. Lulu says she heard. Congrats. Chase is sweet and so handsome. Brook says, Lulu’s time is out of whack. Maybe she’s confusing 2010 with 2024. It was years ago that she tried to come between Dante and Lulu… Lulu says, for money, and Brook says, it was not her finest hour, and it blew up in her face. Lulu says she kind of enjoyed that, and Brook says she’s been through a lot and grown a lot. She has a family and husband. She has a life and so does Lulu. Lulu got her life back and should be grateful instead of stuck in the past.

Laura asks, what kind of criminal act? and Martin says, one where Jason forcibly accosted and escorted him to the coffee warehouse. She says, at gunpoint? but Martin says, Jason doesn’t need one. She asks how Anna fits in, and he says, she showed up and he thought it was to rescue him, but it turns out she had Jason round him up. Laura says, if Anna wanted to question him, why not bring him to the police station? and Martin says, because she couldn’t zip tie and threaten him. She wanted to know if he had a lead on Valentin. She asks if he gave her one, but he says he doesn’t know where Valentin is. If he did, doesn’t Laura think he’d have told her? She says she does. He’s here and okay. They didn’t make good on their threat. He asks if her point is, no harm, no foul, and she says, what they did was wrong, but his argument isn’t with them. It’s with her.  

Jason tells Anna to focus on Dex and he’ll track Valentin. She asks, how’s Josslyn? and he says, confused. She wants answers. Anna says, when she first recruited Dex, Josslyn was against him joining the PCPD. She was afraid Sonny would kill him. Jason says, Anna doesn’t think… but she says, no. Josslyn told her that if Dex died in the line of duty, she didn’t want Anna handing her the flag at his funeral. She thinks Josslyn was aware of the worst case, but she’s become numb to all that. He says, she’s doing it again. She’s blaming herself. She says, at least she’s consistent, and he says he was with Josslyn and Josslyn didn’t blame her because she’s not to blame.

Elizabeth says she’d like Lucky to stay. She’d appreciate his help. Ric says, fine. He needs a statement leading up to Dex’s death. Elizabeth says she made a report to the hospital, but he says, if he doesn’t file it, they can’t go forward. Lucky says, he’s acting like Elizabeth has been charged. That won’t happen once he clears her. Ric says, he wants to make sure she doesn’t land in jail, and Lucky says, he wants to be Elizabeth’s hero. Ric says, it’s not cops and robbers. Two patients are dead. Can they focus on that?

Sasha says she thinks she quit her job, and Sonny asks, what happened? She says she was planning a meal when Tracy stormed in, railing over nothing, and she snapped. Sonny says, good for her. Tracy has a habit of going off and she doesn’t like it when someone stands up to her. Sasha says usually, she lets it slide, but today… She loves her job, and she’s used to the Quartermaine eccentricities. She loves to cook, but Tracy’s tantrum seemed pointless, especially today. It reminds her of how precious and fragile life is. She touches her belly and says, no matter how much you plan and are careful, nothing is promised. She wanted to give her baby the perfect life, but she couldn’t.

Maxie says, so Brando and Sasha made the unimaginable decision to take their baby off life support. Maybe Tracy could cut her some slack. She has more on her mind than breakfast. Tracy thanks her for the information and leaves, Maxie says, it makes her appreciate her family. Christmas Eve is for spending time with the people you love and who love you. Think about it. She leaves and Cody sighs.

Anna says she thought Dex was an exceptional cop. She could see his potential. Jason says he’s sure Dex appreciated the second chance post Sonny, and she says, he proved himself. He was at the top of his class, and he wanted it. Jason says, she made him an offer and he made the choice. She knows that and Josslyn does too. Don’t dishonor Dex’s choice by trying to make him a mistake. He’ll let her know if he finds out anything about Valentin and Charlotte. She thanks him and he leaves. She brushes her tears away and makes a call. She says she wants to know if there’s been any progress with the footage from Rice Plaza.

Laura says she’s been pressuring Anna to find Valentin. This goes back to before Lulu woke up. She thought Charlotte should be there when they were going to operate. Then Lulu did wake up and all she wanted was to see her daughter. So she went back and insisted Anna find Valentin. She thinks Anna is feeling the pressure from her. He says, so she kidnapped him. He guesses he should be grateful that Jason didn’t gag him and put him in the trunk of his car. She says, they went too far. She’ll definitely talk with Anna. She’s sorry. She disagrees with how they handled it. She wishes they understood how badly she wants to find her granddaughter. He says, what if someone else could help? and she says, who? He says, their brother.  

Elizabeth says, Lucky was with her when they heard the alarms. Sam died from a lethal dose of digitalis. Lucky says, it likely happened with Dex, and Ric asks why they think that. Elizabeth says, Dex was perfectly healthy. He’d just had a physical for the PCPD. It was a stab wound and a routine surgery. He was in full recovery and there was no reason for him to go into cardiac arrest. Ric asks if anybody else ordered or administered medication to Dex, but Elizabeth says, she’s head nurse, and they have to go through her. She oversees the drug dispensary. Ric tells her that his expert legal advice is to steer clear of General Hospital.

Lulu says, her child is missing and that’s her focus now, and Brook says, Lulu has her sympathy. So go find her. Lulu says, Brook hasn’t changed. She’s self-absorbed and insensitive. Brook says, time stood still for Lulu, but they’ve all moved on. Ask Maxie. Dante comes in and asks if everything is okay, and Brook says, peachy. Lulu says, Brook was catching her up on how much things have changed around here. She needs to take a walk. Tell Tracy that she lost her appetite. She leaves, and Dante asks what that was about. Brook says she tried. She’s glad Lulu is awake and healthy, but she never liked Lulu and Lulu doesn’t like her. Lulu may be the heroine in his story, but she’s still the snarky, self-righteous Spencer she’s always been in hers.

Sonny says, Sasha was Liam’s mother and loved him. She did the best she could for him and in the end, made the best decision for him. Sasha says, Sonny helped her to see that, but he says, she would have gotten there because she loved Liam. She says she still does, and Sonny says, Liam is at peace, and she did that for him with Brando. He’s proud of her. She tears up and thanks him, and he says he hopes she gets the chance again to be a mother. Whoever gets her will be the luckiest kid in the world. He takes her hand.

Brook tells Dante that she showed restraint, and he says, she’s a good person. They’re two good people who don’t necessarily like each other. Brook says, they never will. Lulu can’t forgive her for trying to break them up. God knows how she’d act if she found out about that summer… He says, it’s ancient history. Lulu is having a hard time with reentry after a four-year absence and her daughter is missing. Maybe they should give her grace. Brook says she has sympathy for Lulu and asks if Dante really thinks she’s a good person. He says he does, and she says she’s really happy for him and Rocco.

Lulu goes to the stables and Cody says, hello. She says, oh my God. It’s you. He says, Lulu Spencer, as I live and breathe. Cody Bell at your service. She asks how he knows her name, and he says he’s an old friend of Dante’s. He didn’t recognize her, but it might have been the hoodie. She thanks him for the ride, and he asks what she was thinking getting in a car with a strange man. She says she wasn’t worried. She knew she could take him.

Elizabeth says, there’s no way she’s staying away from the hospital, but Lucky says, this is no time to be stubborn. She says, her staff needs her, and she can still keep an eye on her patients, and Ric says, if the autopsy comes back and they found digitalis in Dex’s system, that’s two improper dosages. It’s not a mistake; it’s a pattern of active harm. If it continues and another patient dies, the open culpability is on her. Does she understand? Elizabeth says, yes, and Ric says he hopes she considers what he said. He’s going to go ahead with this before things go any further. He leaves, and Lucky says, wow. He feels like he needs a shower.

Maxie tells Brook to steer clear of the kitchen. Tracy is in a tizzy. Brook says, that’s going around. Lulu was here one night, and she’s overstayed her welcome. She’s still a lot. Maxie says, so is Brook. So is she. They should start a club. Lulu knew her on the bad side of the Georgie situation. Georgie and Bailey Lou were a surprise. James was planned, but his delivery was dramatic… Did she say something wrong? Brook sits down.

Sonny says, Sasha knows where to find him, and tells Tracy, play nice. He leaves, and Tracy asks if she may join Sasha. Sasha says, if she must, and Tracy sits down. She says she owes Sasha an apology. She’s sorry about the way she spoke. It was rude and insensitive, and she wants Sasha to know she has Tracy’s deepest sympathy. Sasha thanks her and says she accepts the apology. But it doesn’t excuse Tracy’s behavior. They’ve been here before and she gets that she’s not Tracy’s favorite person. Tracy isn’t hers either, but she won’t be Tracy’s punching bag. Tracy needs to understand that if they’re going to move forward.

Lulu says, Cody and Dante are old friends? and Cody says he’s hurt Dante never mentioned him. She says, Dante has a big family and lots of friends. Maybe he’s not memorable. He says, they went to summer camp together, and she says, he went to Camp Cooper? He’s the one who taught Dante to ride a horse. He says, that’s generous. Dante still can’t stay on one. Dante walks in.

Spinelli gets into Jason’s car and Jason thanks Spinelli for meeting him. He’s taking the lead on finding Valentin. Is there any news? Spinelli says, unfortunately, no. Valentin was in Zurich, but after that, he’s evaded Spinelli’s track. Jason asks about the withdrawal from Valentin’s account, and Spinelli says, the account was closed shortly afterward. Jason says, he’s gone dark, and Spinelli says his fear is, now that Lulu’s awake, Valentin has been warned, and he’s gone deeper into hiding. Jason says, then they’ll have to step up finding him.

Martin says he’s reached out to Cyrus, but he’s gone radio silent. He wants to take Cyrus to task about surreptitiously trying to be Lulu’s medical decision maker. Laura wonders, why the secrecy? Did Martin know Cyrus had plans to transfer Lulu to a different facility in South Carolina? Lulu told her. Their brother has a lot to answer for. Martin wonders if there was a way for Cyrus to help out and make up for his past behavior, would he go for it? Like it or not, he’s a powerful man with powerful friends, which tends to come with an extensive reach. Maybe a former contact could lead them to where to find Valentin. He knows Laura wants little to do with Cyrus, so he doesn’t blame her if she doesn’t want his help, but if he can help track down Valentin, it’s worth a shot.  

Sonny shows up at Anna’s office and says he’s saving her a trip. He assumes she wants to talk to him about Dex’s death.

Lulu says, it’s a good thing Dante showed up or she would have to call a Ride Share. They still have those, right? Cody says, they do and that reminds him, she owes him $20. She asks Dante to give Cody $20, and Cody says he could collect it at their next poker game. Dante says he can’t believe Cody was the one who found Lulu, and Cody says, it was one of those rare occasions he was in the right place at the right time.  

Brook tells Maxie that she’s sorry. She’s been trying to get pregnant. She’s monitoring her cycles and doing everything possible, but nothing works. Maxie says, it takes time. She can’t stress about it. Brook says, it’s been months. For the last month, they’ve been very dedicated and she’s starting to worry something is wrong.

Lucky says, there are plenty of lawyers, but Elizabeth says, no one is more invested in taking care of her legally than Ric. She hopes there’s not a court battle. He says he can ensure her that he’ll find out who’s responsible, and she says, someone is accountable. He says, but not her. She didn’t do it. Something is going on at GH and they’re going to figure out what.

Anna asks if Sonny is going to risk not having an attorney present, but he says he doesn’t need Diane. He figures she thought he’d go after Dex. She says, he did threaten to, and he says, that’s up for interpretation. She says, when Dex joined the force, she didn’t think Sonny would kill a cop, and he asks if she still feels that way. She says, a knife in the back in the middle of Rice Plaza isn’t Sonny’s style, and he says he’s glad they’re on the same page. She says, he’s only free because Dex refused to press charges for assault. She’d say Sonny owes him a debt. Sonny says he wants whoever is responsible for Dex’s death found. Let him know if he can help. He leaves.

Laura tells Martin, it’s just a bridge too far. She thinks their best shot is through Anna. She trusts Anna’s motives a lot more than she does their brother’s.

Spinelli says, Lulu was his first friend in Port Charles and introduced him to Jason and Sam. All the years people have counted on him as The Jackal, the assassin of cyber space. This is when it matters. When he finds Charlotte, what is Jason going to do? Jason says he’ll get her and bring her home and make sure Valentin isn’t a problem for anyone again.

Tracy says, Sasha has come out the other side stronger and she respects her. Sasha says, Tracy respects her? Tracy is her employer, and she can accept constructive criticism and direction, but she won’t tolerate disrespect. Does Tracy understand? Are they good? Tracy says, they’re good. Be well. She leaves and a man comes in wearing a cap similar to the one Mike wore. He sits in the back, and from the front pew, Sasha says, thank You for getting me though this day. Please continue to bless Liam and Brando with Your love. Please ask them to watch over this baby. I appreciate all the people You’ve brought into my life, even if I’ve had to let them go. I trust You have a plan. Please keep me and my baby safe. The man looks up and we see that it’s Sidwell.

Tomorrow, Curtis says, it’s his one condition, take it or leave it; Ava says, Nina has to tell Willow before it’s too late; Josslyn tells Trina that she’s the reason Dex became a cop and she’s the reason he’s dead; and Carly says, Jason has had his shot at Drew. Let her have hers.

☃️ Winter Break In Port Charles…

Christina isn’t the only one coming home for Christmas this year.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/william-lipton-returns-to-general-hospital-again

🩺 Catching Up On History…

In case you didn’t know who Oscar was or want to refresh your memory.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/general-hospital-oscar-garren-stitt-136301

💎 Bright Like a Diamond…

I only half paid attention to this, but I saw enough to know Dorit has become a nasty piece of work. Maybe Sutton raises her voice (or yells as Dorit interprets it), but she’s right. Dorit is unhappy with her life and blaming the easiest target. At Kyle’s Denim & Diamonds party, Dorit through the c-word around like it was monopoly money. First at Sutton and then revisiting the time she called Camille Grammer a stupid c-word. Not a f***ing c-word, as Camille had claimed. Since Camille was actually at the party, it seemed to fuel Dorit’s c-word meter even more. Kyle said it felt odd not to have Mauricio as a party co-host, but I’m not sure why. He was always floating around high anyway. The best part was Sutton saying she was trying to get Dorit to listen, and Erika telling her that Dorit hadn’t listened in all these years, so why would it happen now? Truth!

🗽 Top Of the Heap…

I didn’t see much of this (and there were no recaps yet), but the women took a trip to San Juan where Racquel saw her mother after six years. And there was also this.

https://people.com/rhony-erin-lichy-sparks-debate-after-sharing-husband-extraordinary-penis-photo-exclusive-8763047

Andy’s take on the upcoming Reunion.

🍸 No Surprise Here…

Ally has officially packed her bags and is letting James sit in his own sh*t.

🐕 Their Best Lives…

Pets with more followers than you.

https://www.revolt.tv/article/10-celebrity-pets-with-their-own-fan-bases

Golden Retrievers on a better vacation than you.

https://people.com/golden-retrievers-meet-cute-moment-airbnb-scottish-countryside-vacation-exclusive-8761437

❄️ Freeze the Day…

Join me tomorrow for soap, a little reality, and what to watch (or not). Until then, stay safe; stay knowing when to leave the party (if the host is cleaning up, that’s a definite signal); and stay never being abusive under the guise of giving constructive criticism.

December 10, 2024 – Dex Is Stabbed In Rice Plaza, Soap Suds, Double the Wives, Weekend Watching, Two Seasons & Permanent

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada on Fridays; the other days, who knows?)

General Hospital

Josslyn comes into the apartment and sees Trina on her laptop. She asks if Trina is still working on her art history presentation. She was up all night… Earth to Trina. Trina says, Josslyn isn’t going to believe what just happened.

Felicia, Georgie, and James look for a tree in Rice Plaza. James and Georgie argue, but Felicia promises they’ll find a tree that can all agree on, and that Maxie will be happy with. Georgie says, Maxie is happy that Lulu is back, and they’ll be spending their first Christmas with Aunt Sasha. James says, and Uncle Cody, when Dex comes by. He introduces them to his partner Loren Jackson. Cyrus’s voice is heard saying, good people of Port Charles, remember the less fortunate during the season of giving. Anything they have to spare will be appreciated.  

Carly finds Jack in her office, and he says he came to tell her that she’s disappointed him. He puts the bug on her desk.

Maxie comes into the nook, where Sasha is making a gingerbread house. She asks if Maxie wants to help. It’s going to be the main decoration at the Quartermaine Christmas party. Maxie says she can’t. She’s here to see Lulu and she can’t wait.

Lulu walks into Nina’s office and says she needs to know where her daughter is right now.

Curtis listens to Michael’s recording, when Drew comes into his office. Curtis says, just the man he wants to see. They need to talk. Drew asks, what’s on his mind? and Curtis says, Drew’s first day in DC. Drew says, the swearing in is in January, and Curtis says, they need to finalize his placement as Aurora’s new CEO today, but Drew says he thinks he owes Curtis an explanation. There’s been a change of plans.

Sasha asks why Maxie thinks Lulu is here, and Maxie says she thought Lulu would want to be close to Rocco. Sasha says, Lulu is staying with her mom, and Maxie says she can’t believe they haven’t seen each other yet. Sasha says, Lulu has been super busy (as one is after a four-year coma), and Maxie says, maybe she should give Lulu space. She can’t believe she missed Lulu coming to her house the day they found out Sasha was pregnant. How is she feeling about everything?

At the hospital, Brad gives Lucas a report he thought Lucas would want right away. He knows Lucas has been having a rough time and must be looking forward to getting away to the symposium in Miami. Lucas says he can’t wait, and Brad says him neither. Lucas says, Brad is going too? and Brad says he guesses he’ll see Lucas there.

Josslyn says, Kai bailing sucks, but Trina says, he didn’t. He sent his half of the presentation in the middle of the night. She’s shocked because not only did he do it, it’s great. His writing is really good, and he went above and beyond. Not just quick facts, but references and in-depth analysis. Josslyn asks if she isn’t happy, and Trina says she is, but she’s also annoyed. His work might be better than hers.

Felicia asks if they agree on the tree, and James says, it’s the best one. Georgie says she thinks mom will like it, when a bunch of loud college guys come into the plaza. They argue about the upcoming game between PCU and Llanview, and Georgie asks if they’re drunk. Felicia tells her to go with James to get some cocoa. She’ll meet them later. The guys start pushing each other.  

Nina says she was so happy to hear Lulu woke up. It’s good to see her. Lulu says, save it. The only thing she wants to hear is where Charlotte and Valentin are. Nina says she has no idea, but Lulu says she doesn’t believe Nina. She doesn’t have amnesia, and she remembers Nina loves to lie. Nina says, then Lulu should remember how much she loves Charlotte. She’s not lying. Lulu says, don’t tell her that Nina has no way to contact them. She loves Valentin. Nina says, Lulu missed a hell of a lot. It might come as a shock, but the world didn’t just stop and wait for her to wake up.

Jack tells Carly that they do regular sweeps for bugs. Imagine his surprise when they found one in his office, planted by someone who’d recently been there, a person he trusted. Carly says she didn’t want to do it, and he says, yet she did. She says, now she knows she can’t trust him. She heard him call Valentin. He says he did it as a favor to her. If she remembers, he’s done a few. She says, he knows where Valentin is. He lied. He says, that’s half true.

Sasha says, physically, she’s fine, and Maxie asks if she’s made a decision about her plans. Sasha says she’s given it a lot of thought, and she’s going to keep the baby. Maxie says, that’s amazing news. She knows Sasha wanted to be a mom and she’ll make incredible mother. What made her decide? Sasha says she asked herself what she’d do if she wasn’t afraid, and the decision became crystal clear. She wants a baby and she’s choosing to be fearless. Maxie says, now she’s going to pry. Sasha said the dad was a one-night stand. Is there any way to track him down? Sasha flashes back to getting busy with Michael, when Willow comes in.

Curtis asks, what changed? and Drew says, Sam dying made him Scout’s soul guardian and with the chaos of the holidays, he hasn’t had a second to plan. Curtis says he’ll handle everything, and Drew says he appreciates that, but it’s something they can do together later. They can figure out a time closer to when he’s leaving. Curtis doesn’t have to worry. He’s going to make sure Curtis is taken care of. Curtis says he trusts Drew. He knows Drew is a man of his word. He’s sure all the blood, sweat, and tears he put into Aurora will pay off.

Lulu asks, what happened to Nina and Valentin? but Nina asks why she should tell Lulu. She came barging in, called Nina a liar, and had the nerve to demand Nina fill her in on the last four years. They’re not girlfriends. Call Maxie. Lulu says, Nina is still the same selfish Nina. She doesn’t care about anyone but herself. Madison tells Nina that Erica Kane is on the phone, and Lulu grabs the phone out of Nina’s hand. She says, Miss Reeves will call back, and hangs up. Nina says, that was an important call. How dare she? Lulu says, Nina spewed lies about her to get custody of Charlotte with Valentin. If she loves Charlotte, prove it. Tell her where Charlotte is.

Jack tells Carly that he lied when he said he had no way to reach Valentin, but it’s a burner phone. He has no idea where Valentin is. She says, Jason and Anna think he’s not being honest about Valentin, and he says, so that’s where she got the idea to plant the bomb. She says she insisted they were wrong. She knows there’s good in him. He says, she still did it, and she says, to prove them wrong. Now she realizes she was wrong. Why should she believe a damn thing he says? He tells her that she listened to the call. If he was hiding anything, she’d have heard that too. She still doesn’t believe what she heard with her own ears.

The guys at the plaza start fist fighting, and Dex tells them to get out before he arrests them for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace. Pick up their cups too, or he’ll cite them for littering. They leave, and Dex stops one of them, looking in his backpack. He takes out a couple bottles of booze, and says, he won’t need these. Don’t let him see them again. Loren says she thinks he scared them, and he says he’s going to pour these out. He leaves as Felicia watches.  

Dex pours out the liquor and someone watches him. They come closer, taking out a knife. They plunge the knife in his back, and we see it’s covered with blood. Dex reaches behind him and his hand comes back with blood on it. He keels over.  

Loren asks Felicia if Dex came back, but Felicia says, no.  

Loren finds Dex, and he says, someone stabbed him. She radios for help, saying, officer down.

Trina tells Josslyn that she used every plagiarism tracker and not a single red flag. Josslyn says she told Trina at the beginning. Trina thought he was a slacker, but he’s an elite athlete. She thinks he knows discipline and hard work. Very few college athletes perform at that level. He would have passed the class, but he put in the work. He’s a smart, genuine, good guy, and wanted to earn his grade and give Trina the grade she deserves.

Felicia asks, what happened? and Loren says, Dex has been stabbed.

Nina tells Lulu that she and Valentin parted ways a long time ago. They’re not close, but she’s still close to Charlotte and hopes she and Lulu are reunited. She can’t help Lulu, but Lulu should find and talk to Anna. Valentin was dating her when he left. Lulu says she doesn’t care what Nina tells her. She knows where Valentin is. There’s a knock at the door and Madison comes in with security guy Nick. Nina says, it’s fine. Lulu was just leaving. Lulu says, the hell she was, and Nina says, Madison will make sure she finds her way out. Lulu says she’s not going anywhere. Call her cousin Carly, their boss.

Carly says she has no idea what Valentin said and it’s making her reconsider her and Jack being friends. Jack says, she’s a civilian. He’s a spy. She knew the day they met that he couldn’t be fully transparent. He didn’t think she was the kind of person to play him, so she planted a bug. She could have breached national security. He should have her arrested. She says, he wouldn’t do that, and he says, she’s disappointed him. He never thought he had to protect himself from her. She says, if he reached out to Valentin for her, there’s a possibility she’s wrong, and if she is, she’s sorry. Her phone rings, and she says she’ll be right there. She tells Jack, stay here. They’ll finish the conversation when she gets back. He says he might, or he might not. He doesn’t take orders from her.

Curtis says he’s glad he and Drew talked. He knows Drew has his back. Michael comes in and says, good. They’re both here. He has a document for Curtis to sign about a last-minute addendum to the Japan deal. Drew says he’ll have his assistant set up a meeting on the 22nd. They’ll talk soon. He leaves, and Michael asks, what happened? Curtis says, Drew planned to blindside him about Michael being the new CEO. That actually could be the day Drew realizes he should have never tried to double-cross him.

Dex is in an examining room, and Chase asks if he’s sure he’s okay. Dex says, yeah. He and Loren were patrolling and there were a lot of drunk kids. They broke it up and let them go. He was pouring out the alcohol he’d confiscated and felt a pain in his back. Next thing he knew, he was on the ground. Chase asks if he saw who did it, but Dex says, they snuck up behind him. Chase tells him to take it easy. He’s going to the scene to help with witness statements. Dex will be okay.  

On the phone, Felicia talks to Mac about Dex and tells Loren that Dex will be okay. She wonders, who would take this beautiful day and ruin it with violence?

Lucas says he thought the symposium was for doctors, and Brad says, he’s the first lab technician to go. Dr. Robinson insisted. He wanted to make sure Lucas knew so there would be no awkward surprises. Lucas says, no heads up necessary. They’re colleagues. Brad says, Little Havana is a few miles away. Remember the trip to Cuba they’d planned? Lucas says, it was canceled because of a hurricane, and Brad says, they could go to Little Havana on their day off. A nurse tells Lucas that there’s a stabbing victim, and he says he’s on his way.

Trina says she thought Josslyn was only a fan of Kai on the field, and Josslyn says she doesn’t know him well, but it’s incredible how passionate and dedicated he is to something at their age. Like Trina with art and Dex with being a cop. They know what they want to do with the rest of their lives. Trina says she thinks Josslyn was right. Kai is a hard worker. Josslyn says she told Trina that he was more than just football, and Trina says she judged who she thought he was, not who he actually is. Josslyn knows how she hates to admit she was wrong, but in this case, she definitely was.

Sasha asks if Willow and Michael are staying for dinner, but Willow says she came to grab Amelia’s medicine, and Maxie asks if she has an ear infection. Willow says, she does, and leaves. Sasha asks if Maxie has time to help, but Maxie says, they’re not talking about anything else until Sasha tells her about the obvious chill between her and Willow. Spill it.  

Lucas says, Dex’s wound is clean and there’s no tissue damage or internal injuries. If you’re going to get stabbed, it’s the best-case scenario. They’ll get him prepped for surgery. Dr. Gannon will do the operation and he’ll be recovered in time for his holiday parties. He’s sorry Dex was attacked and hopes they find out who did it.

Cyrus tells Chase, that’s terrible. How’s his fellow officer? Chase says, he’s fine and they intend to catch who did it. Is there anything Cyrus can tell him? Cyrus says he doesn’t have much to offer. Chase asks if he heard or saw anything suspicious, but Cyrus says he was enjoying the plaza and focusing on his mission of charity work. Chase says, right, and Cyrus says, despite the abundance of Christmas spirit, sinners are all about. All of them are sinners. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Felicia tells James and Georgie to stay with Officer Jackson. She goes over to Chase and says she can tell him everything.

Sasha says, maybe she shouldn’t have told Cody about Willow and Drew kissing, but they were dating. She told him everything. But Willow isn’t mad at her. She’s mad at herself because God forbid Miss Perfect makes a mistake. Maxie wonders if that’s not a little harsh. She knows what it’s like to be judged by someone of even a higher moral standing than Willow. Sasha asks if that’s possible, and Maxie says, it is, and Sasha knows her – Elizabeth. Sasha asks, why? and Maxie says she’s not proud of it, but she may have slept with Lucky when he was still with Elizabeth. Then Elizabeth slept with Jason, got pregnant, and told Lucky that it was his son. Then Elizabeth thought the whole thing was her fault. Sasha says, she did sleep with Elizabeth’s husband, and Maxie says, they’re talking about Sasha. Before Willow came in, Sasha was about to tell her something about the baby’s father. Sasha says, it doesn’t matter. She couldn’t tell him if she wanted to. He was a stranger she’ll never see again, but it’s okay. The baby will be hers and hers alone. Maxie says, Sasha forgets she’s a Scorpio now. She has a whole new family, and they’re a pushy, intrusive bunch.

Michael asks if Curtis believes him now, and Curtis says, Drew had every opportunity to explain and come clean, but he didn’t. Michael tells him that he can’t say he’s shocked. He can’t trust Drew. Curtis says he knows that now, and Michael asks if Curtis is accepting his offer to help take down Drew. Curtis says he thought a lot about it, but the answer is no.

Carly goes to the Crimson office and says she heard something about a disturbance. Lulu says, that’s a bit harsh, and Carly hugs her. She says she’s happy to see Lulu, and thanks Nick. She asks for a minute, and Nick and Madison leave. She asks how Lulu looks this good after four years in a coma, and Lulu says, to be fair, she had a lot of beauty sleep. Carly says she missed Lulu. She has a lot of regrets. Lulu says, none of that matters now. They have a chance to start over. Everything is so different. She’s missed so much. Carly says she can fill Lulu in, but Lulu says, the most important thing is Charlotte. No one knows where she is. She was hoping to get an answer from Nina. She can tell Nina knows something even though she claims not to. Carly says she’d never defend Nina, but she doesn’t think Nina is lying. She doesn’t think Valentin shared his location with Nina. She’s sorry. Lulu says she was hoping to get a lead from Nina. Somebody has to know something. Nina listens in, and Carly says she knows exactly who can help. They leave and Nina comes out.

Felicia tells Chase, six male college students came to the plaza intoxicated. They were from PCU and Llanview and were arguing about the game. It led to personal insults and then a fight. Officers Heller and Jackson stopped the boys, and they left. Dex poured out the alcohol he confiscated, but then she lost sight of him. She texted Maxie at 3:35, so she estimates Dex was stabbed at 3:55. She’s spent a lot of years with cops, so she knows detail is important. Chase asks if she thinks the stabbing had anything to do with the fight, but she says, it was over by then… Dex was off to the side, pouring out the alcohol, and he was alone. He was isolated and she thinks he was targeted.

Felicia tells Georgie and James that the tree is loaded on the car. She suggests they get going. (Cyrus’s bell ringing is going to make me nuts. It’s been going on since the beginning of the show.) James asks if he can have a dollar to put in the bucket, and Felicia gives him one, but says, be quick and don’t talk to him. She tells Georgie to stay with James. Georgie and James leave, and she asks if there’s anything Chase needs. He says he’s good, and she says, something is bothering her. She can’t put her finger on it. A part is missing, but she doesn’t know what it is. He says he’s sure it will come back to her. When it does, let him know. He leaves.

Josslyn says she’s glad Kai finished his presentation. Now Trina will figure it out and finish strong. Trina says, now she has to make a decision. Kai isn’t going to be there to present with her, and she wonders if she’d be a total fraud if she presented both of their work and took the grade. Josslyn’s phone rings, and she asks Lucas, what’s going on? Lucas asks her to get to GH. Dex is stable and will be fine, but he’s in surgery because he got stabbed.  

Curtis says he’s given everything he has to Aurora and isn’t going to tank it just to stick it to Drew. But Drew can’t get away with it. Michael asks what he’s saying, and Curtis says, there’s a way to turn the tables on Drew without tainting Aurora. He wants to take Drew down, but he’s going to do it his way.   

Willow thanks Drew for meeting her at the plaza, and he asks what he can do for her. She says, hear her out. She’s going to tell Michael that she slept with him. He says, do whatever she feels she has to do, and she says she’s going to wait until after Christmas. If they split up, she wants the kids to have one last good Christmas to remember with them all together. He says he understands, and she says she knows there will be fallout, but he says, don’t worry. Make the choice that’s best for her and the kids. He wishes it had worked out differently. She says, so does she, and he watches as she leaves.

Carly comes back to her office, and Jack asks, what was the emergency? She says she’d like him to meet her cousin Lulu, and he says, so he finally meets the infamous Lulu everyone’s been making a fuss about. Welcome back. Carly says she brought Lulu for a reason. Jack knows how to get in touch with Valentin. Lulu says, good. Start dialing.

Tomorrow, Curtis tells Portia that he’s about to take Aurora from Drew; Anna tells Spinelli to keep his distance; Lulu doesn’t believe Jack is telling the truth; and Jason says he’ll ask the questions.

🧼 A Little Bit Of Soap…

I pegged him early on, but I can’t figure it out. At first, I thought he was  trying to pave the way for Lulu to be with Dante, but then there was that whole thing about him wanting to move her, so beats me.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/why-did-cyrus-kill-sam-on-general-hospital

Sorry, ladies. He’s off the market.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-sawandi-wilson-is-married-to-anna-eilinsfeld

Good for her. I used to run, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. I could tell how well it was going to go by how quickly I started thinking about the cup of coffee I was going to have when I was done.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-risa-dorken-completed-her-first-race

The old TJ gets a new movie role.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/watch-gh-alum-tequan-richmond-in-brewsters-millions-christmas

👠 A Tale Of Two Cities…

I’ve had one helluva busy day, so I wasn’t really paying attention, but the Kyle/Dorit feud raged on. My takeaway points were Jennifer saying she didn’t know what was going on, but hoped it was over soon so she could have her dinner; and Boz saying she was trying to figure out the layers. Good luck with that.

Meanwhile, in NYC, Ubah might have been giving Ramona vibes, but at least she’s not Ramona. I do not miss that woman one bit.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

This was our theme for Halloween this year. I didn’t like it as much as the original, but I loved the sandworms and the extended glimpse of the underworld. Lots of Bobs too.

https://screenrant.com/beetlejuice-2-tim-burton-sequel-movie-streaming-max-recommendation/

https://screenrant.com/beetlejuice-2-original-priest-replace-species-mystery-unsolved-explainer/

Fun fact.

https://screenrant.com/why-brad-pitt-is-in-beetlejuice-2-opening-credits-explainer/

This was slow to start, but I’m in. Unfortunately, it’s another one where they dole out episodes like methadone once a week.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/earth-abides-review-mgm-plus-apocalypse-sci-fi

https://comicbookmovie.com/sci_fi/earth-abides-stars-alexander-ludwig-jessica-frances-dukes-on-their-excellent-new-sci-fi-series-exclusive-a214923

https://www.dexerto.com/tv-movies/earth-abides-mgm-tv-show-plot-cast-release-schedule-2995998/

Beetlejuice Goes to the Dogs

🐕 Change of Seasons For Doggos…

I had a German Shepherd who loved to walk through leaf piles. She also liked to walk on bubblewrap, which is totally weird.

https://people.com/dog-bolts-out-of-house-every-fall-to-jump-into-leaf-pile-exclusive-8752978

Nothing better than watching dogs play in the snow.

☃️ In Winter, Enjoy…

Join me tomorrow for soap, a little reality, and a little who-knows-what. Until then, stay safe, stay avoiding the use of sensitive information on public Wi-Fi, and stay not judging who you think someone is instead of who they actually are.

December 4, 2024 – Jason Throws In With Anna, Salty Talk, Big Apple Bite, Two Movie Watch, Parade Pix, The Tree, Unconventional & Hazy

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada on Fridays; the other days, who knows?)

General Hospital

Ric and Ava meet at the PC Grill for a drink. Ava tells the server to put it on her tab, but Ric says she may want him to pay for his own drink, and she asks, why?

Molly goes to see Alexis, who tells her that Kristina is back in her own place. Molly says she’s sure Alexis is worried about Kristina, and Alexis says, before she was thrown out of the courtroom, it was excruciating to watch. She believes the jury will go for convicting Ava, and Molly asks if they were in two different courtrooms. There’s no way the jury is going to convict Ava.

Jordan meets Curtis in his office, and he says, Drew is going to double-cross him with Aurora. Jordan asks if he’s sure. Aren’t they friends? He says he thought so, until he heard Drew offer Michael the job.

Dante brings a six-pack of beer to the stables, and Cody asks, what’s up? Dante says he’s stupefied and stumped, and Cody asks if that’s why they’re drinking. Dante says, they’re going to drink to Lulu, and Cody asks if she’s still improving. Dante tells him, you could say that. She’s awake.

Anna tells Jason, now that Lulu is awake, they have to find Charlotte. She knows it’s on her that Charlotte went into hiding with Valentin, but she thought it was the right thing. She felt guilty about the shooting and was reckless. Jason says, she has to stop.

Laura goes into the apartment, sees Lulu, and drops all of her stuff on the floor. Lulu says, hi, mom, and they hug.

Dante tells Cody, it was classic Lulu. She wakes up from a coma, breaks out of Turning Woods, and hitchhikes here. Can he believe that? Cody says, yeah, he thinks he can. He picked up a hitchhiker, a petite blonde in a hoodie. He swore there was something familiar about her. Dante asks where he picked her up, and Cody says, when he was coming back from Beecher’s Corners. Dante says, that goes past Turning Woods. Didn’t Cody realize it was her? Cody says he thought she was still in a coma, and Dante asks what she said. Cody says, she told him some story about a fight with her boyfriend. She was quick, funny, and not entirely trustworthy. Dante says, a Spencer through and through, and Cody asks how he’s taking it. Dante says he’s figuring it all out. Lulu was asleep for so long, and now she’s awake and talking and Lulu again. It feels like some kind of miracle.

Lulu and Laura snuggle on the couch, and Laura says she knew Lulu would come back. She never gave up on her. Lulu says she can’t remember much, but she felt Laura’s presence when she was there. She still smells like mom. Laura says, good thing she remains loyal to her brand of perfume, and Lulu says she can’t believe it’s been so long. Laura says, she has a lot to absorb, but don’t get overwhelmed. She’s so happy Lulu is safe. Lulu says, maybe not. When she woke up, Cyrus was talking to her doctors. Laura says she’s sorry. He’ll never get close to her again. She’s taking out a restraining order. Lulu tells her that Lucky said Cyrus was her uncle, and Laura says, Cyrus is her half-brother. She made it clear that doesn’t give him the right to have a relationship with Lulu. Lulu says, so much has changed. She went to her house and found a little boy demanding to know what she was doing in his house. Laura says, Maxie lives there now, and Lulu says she knows now, but Laura is right. She’s missed out on so much. Like her dad. Laura says she’s so sorry, and Lulu cries. Laura says, her dad loved her so much.

Alexis says, Molly has a different view of how the trial went. She’s sorry she was removed. What happened after she was ejected? Molly says, the defense dad presented was masterful, and Alexis asks if she thinks he convinced the jury Ava was innocent. Molly says she doesn’t know, but he convinced her.

Ava asks Ric if she’s missing something. The jury saw that Kristina was unstable and she fell apart on the stand. That’s a good thing, right? He says he took a calculated risk. The jury may decide Kristina is an unstable, out of control liar or they might decide to go after the ruthless defense attorney who made a devastated, grieving mother cry.

Curtis tells Jordan that he’s not saying Drew owes him the position, but he wasn’t given a chance to show that he’s the best choice. Instead, Drew went behind his back and is closing him out. She says she doesn’t get it. Not only are they friends, Curtis has done a great job. Is it a family loyalty thing? He says, complicated Quartermaine stuff, and she asks what he’s not telling her. He says he doesn’t know why he’s protecting Drew. Something is going on between Drew and Michael’s wife. He said they just kissed, but Michael hinted at something more. Drew is trying to make it up to Michael. She says, by offering him Aurora, and Curtis says, and leaving him out in the cold. She says, collateral damage; unappreciated and undervalued.  

Jordan says she didn’t see that coming. She got the impression there was something between Drew and Nina. Curtis says, there’s something going on there too, and she says, and he’s involved with her daughter? It’s beyond messy. She’s sorry he got pulled in. He says, when Drew told him that he and Willow kissed, he said there were feelings involved. He warned Drew to back off, but Drew didn’t listen and he’s suffering the consequences. Michael wants him to help get revenge. She says, tread carefully and don’t trust Michael. He has his own agenda. Curtis says, Quartermaines playing Quartermaine games, and she says, if he wants to win, he needs to play them both. He says, she has a beautiful mind, when TJ comes in. He says, it looks like they’re in the middle of something, and Curtis asks if he’s okay. TJ says, it’s not a big thing, but he needs a place to stay tonight. He and Molly are taking a break.

Molly says, Ric used her testimony to establish how angry Kristina was when she got the subpoena. Then Ava spoke to Kristina’s state of mind. Alexis wonders why anyone would believe a word out of that woman’s mouth, and Molly says she’s no fan of Ava’s, but her story made sense. Kristina came there enraged and looking for a fight. Ava grabbed her arm, she tripped, and fell. Alexis says, maybe they had the wrong prosecutor, but Molly says, she did the best she could. The only reason it even went before a judge is because a child died and they want someone to pay. They’re not looking for justice. They’re blinded by revenge.

Cody says he’d be freaking out, and Dante says he was. He thinks he’s in shock. Lulu is alive and Sam is gone. Cody says, one can’t replace the other. He wishes there was something he could say or do. Dante says, it’s good to chat and have a beer. Brook runs in and tells Cody that she and Chase finally got some alone time. The next time her grandmother calls him, pick up, or there will be hell to pay.

Lulu tells Laura that she heard someone say, mom, and it was Rocco, her little boy instantly grown up. Laura says she knows it was a shock, but Rocco must be over the moon, and Lulu says she is too. Laura says, he’s grown up. They spend a lot of time playing Fortune Quest. She’s a gamer now and she’s pretty good. Lulu says she needs a minute to process and asks if Laura would mind calling Valentin. She wants to talk to Charlotte.  

Jason says, Anna let get Valentin get away, but she’s not responsible for his actions. He could have left Charlotte with Laura or stayed and faced the charges, but he chose to run. Anna says, Charlotte is missing because of her. She would have moved heaven and earth to find Robin, and now she put Lulu in her own position. Jason says he’s as much to blame as she is.

Laura says, there’s something she has to tell Lulu, when Doc comes in. He and Lulu hug, and he says, Laura told him that she was awake, but he wasn’t sure he believed it. They’ve been waiting so long. Lulu says she loves to make an entrance, and he asks how she feels. She must be overwhelmed. If there’s anything he can do, let him know. Laura asks, where’s Ace? and Doc says, he was having a good time with the nanny, so he said Ace could spend the night. That way, she and Lulu will have more time together. He goes to the kitchen to get something to eat, and Lulu asks, who’s Ace? Laura says, Nikolas’s son, her nephew, and Lulu says, Nikolas has another son and he’s living here? Laura says, sadly, Nikolas is in prison, and Lulu says, Lucky told her. What about Ace’s mom? Laura says, she died, and Lulu says, that’s awful, but Laura took him in. It’s amazing. How is Spencer coping with his new baby brother?

Ava asks, what happened to the lawyer she had coffee with this morning, who said they were going to win? Ric says he wanted her testimony to be confident and steady in contrast with Kristina’s, and she asks if he lied. He says he took an optimistic view, and she asks if it’s waned. He tells her to ignore him. He doesn’t like waiting for verdicts. There’s nothing to do but question every call he made. She says, it should lift his spirits that he got two of his desired outcomes already. Her testimony was confident and steady, and Molly has forgiven him for defending her.

Alexis asks if Molly is sure she’s not preparing herself in case Ava is acquitted, but Molly says she’s accepted it was an accident. If Kristina wants to blame Ava for the rest of her life, she’ll have to do it alone. She can’t anymore. Alexis says she hopes whatever the outcome, everyone is able to accept it and turn the page, and Molly says, that’s her plan. For so long she’s been angry, defensive, and bitter. It was time to realize that sometimes bad things happen and sometimes you lose the people you love. Alexis says she admires Molly, and if Molly is able to find peace, she’s glad. Molly thanks her for accepting that. TJ couldn’t.  

TJ says, Molly thinks he’s pushing her to feel grief like he is, and Curtis says, is he? TJ says he thought they could help each other, but Molly shut down, and Jordan asks if they’re growing apart. TJ says he doesn’t want to admit it, but the grief was too much. Where does that leave him? Jordan says, Irene was his baby girl. Don’t feel guilty for grieving however he needs to. Curtis says, grief is personal, and TJ says he tried to help. Curtis says, he stepped up, going to the courtroom with Molly, and TJ says, Aunt Stella convinced him to go. Not for Molly, but for himself. But hearing it was an accident, he wishes he hadn’t. Curtis asks if he blames Ava or Kristina, and TJ says, Kristina never should have gone to Ava’s hotel room. She’s been reckless and irresponsible her whole life. He didn’t want her to be their surrogate in the first place. Because of Kristina’s decision, their baby is dead. Molly decided it was a tragic accident. Jordan says, he doesn’t agree? and TJ says he doesn’t, and he told Molly, but he had to tell the truth. He doesn’t see how they can possibly find a way back, they’re so far apart.

Lulu says she can’t believe Spencer is gone without a trace, and Laura says, he loved Ace so much. Lulu says, Nikolas… what a turn of events, and Laura says, he gave into all of his worst instincts, but in the end, he did the right thing and turned himself in. He’ll be happy to hear from her. Lulu says, first she wants to call Charlotte, and Laura says, to the best of her knowledge, Charlotte is well and safe, but Valentin got into trouble and disappeared in July. Unfortunately, he took Charlotte with him. She’s so sorry.

Brook says, Tracy is blowing up her phone because Cody won’t answer, and Cody asks why she’s calling. Brook says she’ll just call Tracy back and say he’s too busy drinking beer, and Dante says, that’s Brook’s speed, ratting them out like in the old days. Cody says, like when she threatened to tell the camp counselors if they didn’t put the canoes back in the boathouse, and Dante says, they were just borrowing them. Brook says, they were stealing them, and looking at his phone, Cody says, Tracy has texted, called, and emailed. He suggests Brook take a beer back to Chase, but Brook says, Cody is going to need it when granny chews him out. Dante says he doesn’t know if she will when she hears the news, and Brook asks if everything is okay. Dante says, Lulu’s awake.

Laura says, Valentin did something illegal, and the FBI was going to arrest him, but he disappeared before they could. Lulu asks if the FBI or WSB are looking for Charlotte, and Laura says, both of them are and she’s using all her resources. She reached out to Anna and Anna is doing everything in her power to locate Charlotte. Lulu says she doesn’t know what Anna can do, since she and Valentin hate each other, but Laura says, that’s another thing. They were actually involved. Anna knows his patterns and habits. She’s the best person to track him down. Lulu says, Valentin is on the run again and putting Charlotte at risk. Charlotte doesn’t even know she’s awake. Laura says, they will get Charlotte back, she promises. She never gave up Lulu and she won’t give up on Charlotte. Charlotte will come back to Lulu.

Anna says she involved Jason. She asked him to hold up on giving Cates the phone so Valentin could escape. Jason says he takes responsibility for his own choices, but Anna says she took advantage of him and put Charlotte at risk. She has to make this right. He says she has to get past this guilt. She has to stop beating herself up. She needs to think clearly about what needs to happen next. She asks if he’s still in, and he says he’s in. They’re going to find Charlotte together.

Ava says she saw the look on Molly’s face during Ric’s closing argument. He convinced his daughter that her baby’s death was an accident. Ric says he wanted to give Molly peace, and Ava says she thinks he has. Please be straight with her. What is she looking at if she’s convicted? He says, maximum, 20 years, but a failsafe dropped in his lap. He suggests they raise a glass to it. Here’s to Ava’s real savior champion – Alexis Davis. Ava puts her glass down.

Molly tells Alexis, at least she and Kristina are communicating. Not like her and TJ.  

TJ tells Curtis and Jordan that they wore themselves out and stopped talking about anything that mattered. It was easier that way.

Molly says, they used to share everything. Something wasn’t real until she talked to TJ. She doesn’t know when that stopped being true.

TJ says they’d do anything to avoid a fight. Things got better the closer they got to Irene’s due date.

Molly says, they couldn’t wait to meet the baby. Once they held the baby in their arms, she thought it would close the distance between them.

TJ says he thought they’d be back where they started, as a family, being parents.

Molly says, but it didn’t happen.

TJ says, their world exploded. He doesn’t recognize them. He doesn’t know how to be Molly’s partner right now.

Molly says she wants to, but she can’t make TJ happy. She thinks the best thing to do is let him go. Alexis holds her.

Jordan hugs TJ.

Brook says she was not expecting great news, and Dante says, that’s why they’re having a couple of beers. Brook asks if Rocco knows, and Dante says, he had a nice reunion with his mom. She says she’s happy for him, and Dante says, the whole family. Brook’s phone rings, and she says, it’s granny again. She’ll call and let her know Hades is fine. Did they tell her about Lulu? Dante says he thinks they should let Lulu talk to Tracy, and Brook says, in that case, call Tracy back. She has business to attend to. She leaves, and Cody says he thought Brook would be happier, but Dante says, she and Lulu weren’t close. For one thing, back when he and Lulu were dating, Brook tried to break them up. Cody asks if Brook still wanted Dante back after all those years at camp.

Ric says, Alexis’s expulsion might give them grounds for an appeal or a mistrial, and Ava says she never thought she’d be grateful for that woman’s big mouth. They clink glasses, and she asks if Ric knew that would happen. He says he knows his ex-wife. He’s hoping an appeal is unnecessary and the jury goes their way. She says, he had the courtroom in the palm of his hand. The jury believed everything he said. So did she. Is he that good or does he finally believe in her?

Molly says, they wanted a baby so badly, without her, there’s nothing left, and Alexis says, sometimes grief brings people together; sometimes, it pulls them apart. Molly says, that’s exactly what happened. TJ thinks she’s rushing past it. Just because she’s not throwing herself on Irene’s grave like Kristina doesn’t mean she’s not feeling it. She’ll never stop grieving their baby and her last chance to be a mother. Alexis asks what she’s saying, and Molly says, this loss, this sadness changed her. She’s not the same person she was before. Alexis says, give it time. Feelings change as the pain lessens. Molly says she doesn’t want another child. She’s done.

TJ says he can’t force motherhood on Molly. She felt betrayed by her own body, but instead of processing that reality, she had her mind set on having a child by any means necessary. After they lost their first baby, he wanted to pause, but Molly was so determined and despondent. Enter Kristina. He just wanted to make Molly happy. He saw them together forever, raising a family, growing old. He never imagined a future without her. Curtis suggests maybe counseling, but TJ says he knows they can’t go on like this, so they’re taking a break. That’s what they’re saying, but it feels like the start of a separation. Jordan says she’s sorry, and TJ says he tried, but he feels hopeless. Jordan asks if there’s anything she can do, but TJ says, there’s nothing anyone can do. Curtis says he gives TJ credit for trying, but there’s something to be said for it being time to take a break from all that trying. TJ says, Aunt Stella told him to share his feelings with Molly. He wonders, what if he’d tried harder? Jordan asks if he believes that, but TJ says, no. He realizes how much he wants a family and Molly doesn’t. It’s a lot to overcome. He guesses they both have to start over.

Cody says, Carly paid Brook to break up Lulu and Dante? Did it work? Dante says, no, and Lulu has a very long, mean memory. He’s going to check on Rocco. Good luck with Tracy. Cody hands Dante a lollipop and says, if he sees Lulu, give her this and tell her that she owes him 20 bucks. Dante leaves and Cody laughs.

Ava says, Nina warned her about Ric, and he says, enlighten him. She says, Nina told her that he was a user, but she defended him. He says, for the record, he believes her, and she thanks him. She says, not a lot of people in this town do. It’s nice to hear it from time to time. He says he believes her.

TJ says he still wants the best for Molly. He wants her to be happy, but he doesn’t think he can make her happy. Curtis says, he did everything right. He was honest with himself and Molly. Jordan says, it will be painful because they still have love, and Curtis says, TJ has to figure out where he’s going to go. He’ll have to run it by Portia, but TJ is more than welcome to stay with them. Jordan says, or her, and TJ says he loves them. Jordan says, he’s not alone. Remember that.

Molly thanks Alexis for not telling her that she might change her mind, and Alexis says she trusts that Molly knows what she wants. She wishes she could take the losses from her. Molly says she knows Alexis is grieving too. Sam was the strong one, the one holding them up. She misses Sam. Molly cries, and Alexis says she misses Sam too. Molly says she needs Sam so much, and Alexis holds her as she cries.

Lulu puts on her shoes, and Laura asks where she’s going. Lulu says she’s going to find her daughter. She’s not letting Valentin take her again. She’ll start at Windymere. Laura says, there’s no one there. It’s been abandoned for over a year. (Um… Didn’t someone buy it from Ava for a skabillion dollars?) Lulu clutches her side, and Laura asks if it’s her incision. She calls to Doc, and Lulu says she needs to find Charlotte. Laura says she promises they will, but now she has to get Lulu to GH to make sure she’s all right. Don’t argue. She’s taking care of Lulu tonight.  

Anna thanks Jason, but he says he hasn’t done anything yet. She says, for having her back even when she’s in the wrong about something, and he asks if anyone’s ever told her that she’s too hard on herself. She says, it doesn’t matter. She hopes he has a new angle to pursue. Every lead she’s had goes to the same dead end. He says he has an idea, and she asks, what is it? He says he’s going to give Valentin an incentive to bring Charlotte back, and he leaves.

Tomorrow, Jordan says she can’t let Isaiah sigh that contract; Carly asks if Anna is saying Jason helped Valentin escape; and Jason offers someone an out.

🧂 You Got Salt In My Pepper…

I didn’t pay a lot of attention to this tonight, but I’m growing weary of people being kicked out or storming out of parties. Tonight it was Angie’s turn to get the boot from Meredith’s bas mitzvah for slut shaming Britani’s hair and then Britani. As Bowling for Soup so eloquently put it, high school never ends. Angie practically had to be physically extracted from the building, and in Lisa’s interview, she said, Angie remembers the reaction, but not what she did to provoke it. I absolutely know people who do this, although I call it, skipping over their part which started it. But my main question for tonight was, how is hair a little porn-ish? What does that even mean?

https://people.com/rhoslc-meredith-marks-has-angie-k-escorted-out-of-her-bat-mitzvah-8756319

Mary was also on Watch What Happens Live tonight.

🗽 Traveling Back In Time…

In case you wanted more of the skinny on last night’s RHONY.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

In addition to the too many series I have going on, I caught up on a couple of films I wanted to see. Civil War wasn’t the movie I thought it was from the clips I’d seen. It was less about the war than it was about the journalists covering it, but I wasn’t disappointed. I’d always identified most with Al on Fear the Walking Dead, how she kept filming for posterity, and I’m intrigued by journalists who get down in the trenches by choice. The thought of a civil war in the US is a scary one, and this film doesn’t explain the details, but we do know there’s a rogue president who’s in the White House for a third term and is doing whatever he likes, the Constitution be damned. One faction is out to kill him and another out to protect him. A lot of the war scenes are brutal, but the cinematics are brilliant, and the cast is stellar.

No spoilers.

Definitely spoilers.

https://screenrant.com/civil-war-movie-what-started-war-explanation-wish/

Excellent interview.

https://deadline.com/2024/11/civil-war-kirsten-dunst-interview-1236188167/

On the other hand, I was glad I only lost an hour and a half out of my life to watch I Saw the TV Glow. If you like artsy coming-of-age allegories, this one is for you. It wasn’t for me. Like We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, this had a great premise, but I wanted… more?… something else?… more horror, less allegory?  Was it too YA for me? I understand Martin Scorsese loved it and that it’s up for several Spirit awards, but I think better can be done to get the point across. The main characters, Owen, who’s on the spectrum, lonely, and neglected, and Maddy, who’s in the closet, lonely, and neglected, are obsessed with a TV show called The Pink Opaque. I actually loved the show within the show and would have liked to see more of it, especially the villain Mr. Melancholy, who was decidedly creepy. I was also moved by a poignant and telling scene where Owen sees the show again years later and it’s not what he remembered. It was a beautifully sad illustration of how we look at things with excitement and magic when we’re young, but when we’re older, we see how mundane they really are. So yeah, it had some great moments, but there were also stretches of nothingness that could have shaved a good twenty minutes off of the film. It might have been better served as a Black Mirror episode. I was a little unsettled when Maddy disappeared and all they found was her TV set. I’m hoping that won’t be me.

Oh, I’m also convinced that a lot of more recent shows/films take place in the 80s or 90s just so they can have a fabulous soundtrack.

https://www.avclub.com/i-saw-the-tv-glow-movie-review-1851326195

There will be spoilers.

https://gamerant.com/i-saw-the-tv-glow-ending-explained/

https://www.avclub.com/martin-scorsese-i-saw-the-tv-glow

☔️ Don’t Rain On My Parade…

Highlights from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I half-ass watched it, since I was cleaning up my email before the food commenced. My main takeaway point was, Ariana Madix needs to learn how to lip sync if she’s going to do this kind of thing. It was not a good look.

https://people.com/2024-macys-thanksgiving-parade-best-photos-8753195

https://macysthanksgiving.fandom.com/wiki/The_98th_Annual_Macy%27s_Thanksgiving_Day_Parade_(2024)/Gallery

🎄 No Escaping It Now…

If Black Friday didn’t do it, the holiday season has officially begun with the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. This is another event you’re better off watching on TV. I used to work in one of the buildings in Rockefeller Center, so I decided to stick around after work one year to watch. It’s nearly as crowded as Grand Central the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which – take it from me – is as crowded as it gets. And good luck if you have to go to the bathroom.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/rockefeller-christmas-tree-lighting-2024-live-updates-rcna182186

This year’s tree.

https://people.com/sweet-story-behind-2024-rockefeller-center-christmas-tree-8756156

🦬 It’s Raining Orangutans and Bearded Dragons…

For the most part, don’t try this at home.

🐺 Winter: It’s Not Just For Starks Anymore…

Join me tomorrow for soap and whatever the airwaves bring. Until then, stay safe; stay making a holiday shopping list and staying committed to it; and stay never feeling guilty for grieving however you need to.

December 3, 2024 – Lulu Learns a Lot, Soap Suds, Kathy Orchestrates a Weekend, New York Minute, OG Argument, Their Thanksgiving, Showing Off & Back

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada on Fridays; the other days, who knows?)

General Hospital

In the boathouse, Carly says she expects the truce between Jason and Drew to last, and Jason says he’ll keep his part. She says, it’s affecting his relationship with everyone. Tell her what’s going on. He says he’s not telling her.

Molly looks through her old journals from back in 2012 and finds entries about TJ. There’s a knock at the door, but she ignores it. There’s another knock, and she opens the door. It’s Ric, and she says she can’t, then closes the door.

Sonny visits Natalia in her office and she asks if he’s here on Deception business. He says he stopped by to discuss personal business.

Maxie asks if James is sure he saw Lulu in the house, and he says he is. He swears she was here, and suggests they call Mac to solve the mystery. Maxie says she is going to call Mac. There’s something shady going on.

Lulu thanks Dante for bringing her to Laura’s apartment. She can’t wait to see her mom. They knock and Lucky answers. She asks how he’s been, and they hug. Lucky says he’s so glad she’s okay, and she says, it’s been an adventure. Where’s mom?

Anna comes into Laura’s office, and Laura asks if there’s any word on Lulu, but Anna says, no one’s responded to the BOLO yet. Laura says, on the other subject… and Anna says, he just arrived. She opens the door, and Dex comes in with Cyrus in handcuffs. Cyrus asks if Lulu’s been found, and Laura says, that’s none of his business. Unless of course (🍷) he knows where she is already. He says his nephew is misguided. He had nothing to do with Lulu’s disappearance. He’s committed no crime. Why is he in handcuffs? She says she’s having him arrested for stalking her daughter.

Ric asks Molly to let him explain. He took the case to help her, not Ava. He’s not denying Kristina’s fall and Irene’s death were a horrible tragedy, but nobody’s to blame. He knows that’s not something she wants to hear, but let him talk. She says she doesn’t want to hear what he has to say. Thanks to his help, TJ is staying somewhere else tonight.

Sonny says, Natalia’s description on the stand of the car accident didn’t match Kristina’s, and Natalia says, Kristina was upset. Her memory is probably fuzzy. He says, she perjured herself. It’s a serious crime. She risked a lot. She says, the testimony she gave is the least she owes his daughter.

On the phone, presumably with Mac, Maxie says, Lulu’s awake? and James says he told her that Lulu was here. She says, James saw her. She was probably confused by the strange boy scarfing down cookies. They have to find her. Call her as soon has he knows anything. She calls Dante and asks if he knows Lulu is awake.

Carly tells Jason that the kids are going to feel the tension. What about Danny and Scout? Don’t make them pick their fathers over each other. Danny comes in, and Jason asks, what’s wrong? but Danny says, nothing. He starts to leave, but Jason says, hold on. Something is obviously bothering him. Let’s talk about it. Danny says, Rocco got his mom back.

Lulu tells Lucky, long story short, she went to the Quartermaines to look for Tracy and found Rocco. Then Dante showed up. Dante says he needs to go and tells her to call if she needs anything. He leaves, and she says, something’s off with Dante. Lucky says, one minute, she’s in a coma, and the next, she’s on Dante’s doorstep. It’s a lot. Lulu says, it’s a lot for her too. She’s still trying to process, including Lucky being here. He says he thinks the last time they saw each other… It was when they were helping bring Jake back from Cassadine Island. She says, the last big Spencer family adventure. So far anyway. It’s good to see him, but she knows Port Charles isn’t his natural habitat. He says he came when he heard she was in trouble. She needed a liver transplant. She says, he came to be her donor? What about Nikolas? He says, Nikolas was a match, but there were other factors involved, and she asks if Nikolas is at Windymere. He says, no. Nikolas is in prison. She says, they’ll revisit that later. So with Nikolas out… Lucky says he was her best bet. That’s why he rushed back. She says, her family rallied around her in a time of crisis. Is dad back too?

Laura says she asked Cyrus not to visit Lulu without her permission and he falsely represented himself as someone who could make Lulu’s medical decisions. Anna says, as a paroled felon, it will land him back in Pentenville, but Cyrus says he’s not stalking Lulu. Laura says, she’s missing because of him, and he says he didn’t take her. Laura says, she left on her own, and he says, she’s awake? Laura says, yes, and she’s on the run thanks to him.

Dante arrives at Maxie’s, and she asks, where’s Lulu? Who’s more important for her to see? He says, she’s at her mom’s, and Maxie says, fair point. Laura must be overjoyed. He says, she’s not there, and Maxie says, so why didn’t he bring her? He says he left her with her brother, and she asks, how far down the list is she? How is Lulu doing? She’s awake? He says, yes, and she hugs him. She asks how Lulu escaped Turning Woods. Did she tell him that she came here? Tell her something. Dante says, it’s like she didn’t miss a beat. She’s smiling and talking like her old self. Maxie says, it’s a miracle, and he says, it really is.

Lucky tells Lulu that he doesn’t know how to say this, but dad died. Lulu says, he didn’t. Call him and he’ll be here faster than you can say Ice Princess if he knows she’s awake. He says, dad can’t, and he won’t. He died in a cable car crash in Austria. They recovered his body. (Since when?) It was him, no question. Lulu says, he can’t have died from a random accident, but Lucky says, it wasn’t. Victor Cassadine sabotaged the cable car. Victor finally succeeded where Helena failed. He’s sorry. She asks when it happened, and he says, December 2021. She says, he’s been gone three years, and she didn’t know, and Lucky hugs her. He says he’s so sorry.

Ric asks, what happened with TJ? and Molly says, Ric won. She decided he was right, and that Ava never intended to hurt Kristina or Irene. It was just an accident. He says he’s glad she can see that, but what does it have to do with TJ? She says, he thinks her accepting the verdict (which hasn’t been reached yet) is a way to avoid her grief. He thinks she wants to forget Irene like she never existed. He says he’s sorry, and she says she’d like him to leave, but he says, not before they talk about him putting her on the stand.

Natalia tells Sonny that when she waits for a call from her daughter that never comes, she thinks about how terribly she treated Allison and Kristina. She’s so ashamed of her behavior. She hopes her testimony at least begins to make up for the pain she caused his daughter. He says, what happened with Kristina, it’s all good with her, and he thinks the same way. What Natalia did doesn’t compare to what Kristina’s uncle did to her today. Natalia says, he was so brutal, and he says, Ric is using her to hurt him, just like Jagger Cates did.

Jason asks Danny to tell him what happened, and Danny says he saw Rocco and Dante talking to a lady. It was Rocco’s mom. Carly asks if he’s sure, and he says he’s seen a picture. And he could tell by the look on Rocco’s face. She’s the only person who could make him that happy. Carly says she needs to go to the house, but Danny says, she and Dante left. Rocco is still there, but he didn’t know what to say. Jason says, tell Rocco that he’s happy his mom is back, but Carly says, Danny misses his mom, and Danny nods.

Ric says, if he’d thought it would harm Molly, he would have never done it, and Molly laughs. She asks if he thought forcing her to testify against her sister would be harmless, and he says he knew she’d tell the truth. She says, he weaponized her ethics to hurt her sister, and he says, she’s all about justice. He remembers her defending her friends from bullies on the playground. He’s hoping he doesn’t look like a bully. She says, what he put Kristina through was more savage than what a playground bully could come up with. But who is she to judge when she’s said that to Kristina herself?

Dante tells Maxie that he was staring at Rocco, who looked like he couldn’t believe it. He was really happy, but the sad part was him realizing how much he missed his mom and how long she’d been gone. Maxie asks how Dante is doing, and he says he’s doing fine. He’s happy Rocco’s mom is back. She says, but the joy doesn’t outweigh his grief at losing Sam.

Cyrus says, their prayers have been answered. Lulu is awake. How… Anna says, the security footage showed that she left alone, and he says he’s so happy. Why is Laura angry at him? Laura says, he went against her wishes and continued to visit Lulu. She thinks Lulu heard him talking to the medical staff and thought he’d abducted her. She ran out of there in a weakened state. If anything happens to Lulu, she’s going to hold him responsible.

Lucky gives Lulu something to eat, and she says, their dad could turn anything into an adventure. She was always jealous of him being on the run with him and mom. Lucky says, they would have taken her if she’d been born, and she says, he got the good years, when their parents were together. After she was born, mom got sick, and she was raised by Grandma Lesley. He says, she’s still living happily in Italy with Marcello, and she says, what about Tracy? She knows Tracy lives at the Quartermaine mansion, but she didn’t see her. He says, fierce and formidable as ever, and Lulu says she couldn’t believe when dad married her. Making Tracy her stepmom was one of the best things he did for her. She can’t imagine life without him. He says him neither.

Natalia asks how Kristina is doing, and Sonny says, hanging tough. She’s like her dad. He doesn’t have a lot of faith in the legal system. He hopes it doesn’t fail them, but if it does and Ava walks, he’s going to be there for his daughter.

Danny says he remembers what hugging his mom was like, and Carly says, and when he saw Rocco… Danny asks why Rocco gets to have his mom. He knows it’s not Rocco’s fault, but his mom saved Rocco’s mom’s life. They should both be here. Why did his mom have to die?

Ric tells Molly, for what it’s worth (🍷), her mom had plenty to say to him about Kristina. Molly says, that was the worst part, him tormenting Kristina with her own words, what she said when she confronted Kristina at Irene’s grave. He says he regrets it, and she says she should have never claimed Kristina didn’t love Irene. She knew how much Kristina loved that baby. She never meant to hurt Irene. She just can’t get out of her own way. She feels, then reacts. Kristina doesn’t think. She was always the opposite. She approaches things rationally and logically. Maybe TJ is right and she’s cold and unfeeling.

Lucky says he didn’t go to Luke’s memorials. There was one here and one in Amsterdam. Lulu asks, why not? and he says his excuse was that he was doing humanitarian work, but if he’s being honest, he couldn’t face listening to a room full of people reminisce about dad. She says, he wouldn’t have wanted a memorial. At most, he’d want them to have a drink. Lucky says he did that. He got blind drunk. She says, dad wanted them to live life to the fullest, and he says, never take life for granted, cowboy. She says she certainly won’t, thanks to his liver, but Lucky says he wasn’t her donor. That’s why he came back, and he was a match, but apparently a parasite he picked up in Africa made the transplant too risky. She says, if it wasn’t him, Nikolas, or mom, who was it? Do they know? He says, they do. It was Sam McCall. She says, that’s generous. She’ll have to thank… What now? He says, Sam’s part of the surgery went great, but afterward, she was given the wrong medication, and she went into cardiac arrest. She didn’t make it. Lulu says, Sam died because of her.

Laura says, her daughter knew Cyrus was dangerous, even if she didn’t know he was the one who was behind the bomb that put her into a coma. She’s getting a restraining order. If he tries to approach her daughter or any member of her family, he’ll be arrested. Get him out of here. Anna says she’s not quite done with Cyrus yet.

Ric says, Molly isn’t cold. She feels things deeply. TJ is wrong. She says, don’t start on TJ, and he says he doesn’t like seeing her in pain. She says, it’s not TJ’s fault, and he asks if these are her old journals. She says, TJ is in every one since they met – all the celebrations, arguments, plans, and dreams. It’s wild to think he might not be in the next one. First, she lost her daughter and her sister, and now TJ. What does she have left? He says he loves her and always will, and she says she appreciates that, but she doesn’t want him here right now.  

Anna tells Dex to take Cyrus to the station and hold him until someone from Turning Woods arrives. See if they want to press charges. She thinks it will probably be in the morning, but they’ll make sure he’s comfortable. Dex takes him out, and Laura asks if that’s legal. Anna says, it’s not illegal, and Laura thanks her. Anna says, my pleasure, and they hug. Anna looks like she’s worried about something.

Lucy says, Sam’s death had nothing to do with Lulu’s transplant. It was in the results of the autopsy. Don’t blame herself. Lulu says, Danny and Scout lost their mom. Why would Sam risk her life? He asks if Dante has said anything about Sam, and she says, no. Why? He says, when Sam died, she and Dante were in a relationship, and she asks if it was serious. He says, they’d been living together for a while, raising their kids together, and she says, while she was in a coma, Sam was Rocco’s mom? He says, not officially, but for all intents and purposes, and she says, Sam saved her life and Dante lost her.

Maxie asks if Dante told Lulu about Sam, but he says, it wasn’t the right time. She says, if he wants to talk about Sam, she’s here to listen, but she’s going to give him some unsolicited advice. He asks, what took so long? and she says, don’t hide his grief from Lulu. He says he has no reason to. Before the explosion, Dustin proposed. She was moving on. Maxie says, well… and we flash back to Maxie with Lulu in the hospital after the explosion. Lulu says, Dustin just died, and Maxie wants her to confess her love for Dante? Maxie says, not this minute, but soon. If she loves Dante – and she’s admitted that she does – she has to say it. She almost died and Dante would have never known how she felt. In the present, Dante is like, hello? and Maxie says she was thinking. Lulu would want him to be happy. She would understand his relationship with Sam. Don’t hide his feelings because he thinks Lulu can’t handle it. They’ve all made that mistake and it’s always a disaster. He says he’s done that and he’s going to do better for Rocco’s sake. (I don’t remember Lulu telling Maxie this, but in the article – see below – about Dustin, it says she told her mother.)

Danny’s phone dings and he says, Rocco is looking for him. What does he say? Jason tells him, say he’s happy for Rocco, and Carly says, he can still be sad and angry about his mom. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. Life is complicated. We can have many emotions at the same time. Danny says, what if Rocco sees that he’s jealous? and Carly says, it’s okay. Rocco knows he’s still processing losing his mom. He says he misses her so much, and Carly hugs him. She says she’s not going to lie. Some days will be awful, and eventually the pain won’t go away completely, but the good stuff – the love and the memories – are what you’ll think about. Jason says, it’s okay to be sad and angry and confused. Just remember, he’s not alone. His dad is here and always will be.  

Molly says she wants to be alone, and Ric says he’ll always be here for her, if she wants him in her life. She says she wants him in her life, but not right now, and he says fair enough. He’ll call her tomorrow. She says she might not answer, but he says he’s still going to call, and he leaves.

Natalia says, it’s clear Sonny’s support is what’s getting Kristina through, and he says he gives Alexis credit. She says, of course (🍷), but Kristina knows he’ll be there, no matter what. Meanwhile, both of her kids think she’s incapable of giving them what they need. He takes her hand and says, don’t give up. Fight for your kids. That’s the most important thing.

Lulu asks how long Dante and Sam were together, and Lucky says he thinks it’s been a couple years. She says, so they were really in love. That’s it. That’s what she saw in Dante. She couldn’t name it because she’s never seen him in love with anyone else, but that was it. The look in his eyes was grief over losing the woman he loved.

Maxie tells Dante that she can’t wait to see Lulu, to talk to her and hear her talk back. She’ll wait until tomorrow. Don’t worry. Dante says, remember, she’s been through a lot. His son has his mom back and he’s so thankful for that.

Laura tells Anna, the dock situation has been dealt with. The Cyrus situation has been dealt with. Her phone rings, and Lucky says, Lulu is here at her apartment. She asks if Lulu is all right, and he says, Lulu’s impatient to see her. Otherwise, she’s perfect, like always. Laura says she’s on her way, and tells Anna, she’s home. She’s got to go. Anna says, go… go, and she jets.  

Jason tells Danny that he knows it’s not going to be easy. There will be a lot of ups and downs. He knows Danny’s mom would want him to live his best life. If he can do that, he’ll make her so proud. Danny thanks him and says he should go find Rocco. He leaves and Carly says, he’s such a good kid. And Jason is such a great father. Jason’s phone rings, and Anna says she needs to see him. Can he come to her apartment? He asks, what’s going on? and she says, they have to find Valentin right now.

Tomorrow, Laura sees Lulu; TJ says he and Molly are taking a break; and Jason says he’s as much to blame as Anna is.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

In case you wondered who Dustin was. Or forgot. TBH, he was kind of forgettable.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/general-hospital-mark-lawson-dustin-phillips-171529

In case you wondered where Scotty is. Geez, are the kicking Laura out next?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kin-shriner-shares-an-update-on-his-status-at-gh

Meet Robin in The Locher Room, on YouTube, Friday, December 6th at 3 pm ET.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/catch-up-with-gh-alum-kimberly-mccullough

Ditto for ex-Parker, but on December 3rd, 3 pm ET.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/the-bold-the-beautiful/chat-live-with-soap-star-ashley-jones

I don’t really know/remember them, but I doff my cap, since they were soap legends.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/general-hospital-phil-brewer-martin-west-dead-82-174370

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/days-of-our-lives/days-of-our-lives-star-wayne-northrop-dead-at-77

Celebrities, they’re just like us. They probably celebrated about the same, except for that Thanksgiving Eve bowling thing.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/see-how-the-stars-spent-thanksgiving

💎 Girls’ Weekend Out…

I’m loving Boz. Are they going to be fighting? Are different people going to be fighting? Am I going to be fighting? Kyle consistently works my last nerve, with Dorit coming in a close second. The two of them clashing on a weekly basis is giving me a headache. Mauricio paid a visit to Kyle, who showed him some updates she was making to the house. I swear he was high. Dude just wants to party, and Kyle lives under the delusion that they’ll be getting back together when his six-month lease is up. I actually think, unless he finds some other unsuspecting soul to take care of him, he’ll want Kyle to look after him in his old age. Hopefully, by then she’ll have gotten a clue and moved on.

Erika wondered why Garcelle didn’t marry Eddie Murphy, Will Smith, or Sean Penn since she dated them, and also made it clear that she was envious of Jennifer Tilly’s high-end luggage. Methinks she’s missing the accoutrements that came with being married to Tom. Maybe she should learn to play poker. Or marry someone involved with a hit TV show. Speaking of Toms, Kathy had a girls’ weekend where the hotel was next to a house where Top Gun was filmed, and they had a photo op with a Tom Cruise lookalike. Good times…

How Jennifer can afford that Vuitton boat.

https://people.com/rhobh-recap-jennifer-tilly-reveals-she-got-a-piece-of-the-simpsons-in-her-divorce-from-co-creator-8754939

🗽 They Want To Be a Part Of It…

Once again, dog poop was the great leveler, as Sai discovered, stepping in some inside her home. Yep. Been there. They don’t care who you are or how much money you have.

For whatever reason, the recaps for RHONY seem to come out the day after, but the second half of the episode revolved around Racquel and Mel’s engagement party, which was a lavish affair with a ballroom theme. Not the waltz kind, but the queer culture kind, originating from drag balls hosted by Black men. I can’t think of a better theme to center a big party around.

The first half had a more somber note, and I have to admit that I feel a little guilty for not liking Brynn after hearing her sexual assault story. It made me remember that people usually have a reason for behaving the way they do. She’s certainly a better woman than I would be in this situation.

https://people.com/rhony-star-brynn-whitfield-opens-up-about-surviving-sexual-assault-exclusive-8754876

There was also this out there. But what are Housewives without a feud?

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/ubah-hassan-goes-on-the-record-about-rhony-feud-exclusive

🎤 Dropping Their Mic…

I don’t know how much he’s at fault, but Jeff Lewis does seem to be a drama magnet.

🦃 The Other Half’s Holiday…

Non-soap stars celebrating Thanksgiving. Again, the majority do it the way us mere mortals do.

https://okmagazine.com/p/thanksgiving-2024-celebrities-celebrated/?utm_source=mainlineemail

🐩 After the Parade…

To look at a Pug is to put a smile on your face about sums it up.

https://people.com/vito-the-pug-wins-2024-national-dog-show-8752796

I hope they have a weewee station there.

https://people.com/national-dog-show-handlers-stuck-during-show-because-of-this-rule-exclusive-8748136

Groom your dog like the pros do it.

https://people.com/inside-the-grooming-routines-national-dog-show-exclusive-8748199

🏂 Sliding Into Winter Like…

Join me tomorrow for soap and what’s watchable (or not). Until then, stay safe; stay not forcing joyfulness if you don’t feel it; and stay never giving up. No matter what your goal is.

November 26, 2024 – Lulu Comes Home, Exit Response, Two Coasts Of Housewives, Naughty Or Nice, Dogs Of Thanksgiving & Restaurant

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada on Fridays; the other days, who knows?)

General Hospital

First, my bad. Robert is the DA – duh – so the prosecutor here is the ADA.

Ric asks if Kristina needs a moment, but she says she’s fine. He asks why she’s lying. He can see she’s upset and he’s sorry for her loss. He has no further questions, but reserves the right to call her back to the stand. The judge asks Kristina to step down, and Ava asks Ric, what the hell is he doing? Dante walks in.

Elizabeth meets Lucky at Bobbie’s, and she asks if he’s not leaving town. He says, that depends on her. Lucas said she was in trouble, and he wants to help. She says, there’s nothing he can do, but he says, try him. She says, the results of Sam’s autopsy confirm there was no surgical error, and he says, that’s good news for Lucas. He’d never forgive himself. She says she’s happy for Lucas, but now that he’s in the clear, the inquiry is focused on her.

A car stops and Lulu says she could use a ride. A man says, hop on in, and she gets in the car. He asks if she’s okay, and she says she’s good and thanks him for stopping. We see it’s Cody, and I’m glad to see that Lulu puts on her seatbelt.

Sasha goes to see Maxie and says she needs to share something that’s a big deal. Maxie promises she doesn’t shock easily, and Sasha says she thinks she might be pregnant. Maxie says, she wasn’t expecting that, but tell her that Cody’s not the father. Sasha says, they never got that far, and Maxie asks her, who’s the dad?

Ric tells Ava, trust him, and Kristina sits down. Everyone tells Kristina what a great job she did, and Sonny says he doesn’t trust Ric. Alexis says, he shouldn’t, and Sonny wonders what the hell Ric is up to.

Maxie asks how this came about, and Sasha says, after she told Cody that they had to stop seeing each other and why, he didn’t take it well. He walked out and she was devastated. She wound up at the Brown Dog Bar drinking too much and sitting next to someone else who was having a bad night. It just happened. Maxie asks if it’s someone she has an interest in, but Sasha says, absolutely not. They were two people who were hurting and found comfort in each other. That’s it. Maxie says, unless she’s pregnant. Did she take a test? Sasha says she bought one, and Maxie asks if she feels pregnant. Sasha says she definitely feels off, but life has been stressful lately. This never crossed her mind. Maxie asks how it would make her feel if she was pregnant, and Sasha says, scared.

Lucky asks if they’re trying to pin Sam’s death on Elizabeth, and she says, of course (🍷) not, but they’re reviewing all the staff who interacted with or cared for Sam. She’s the head nurse, so she’s at the top of the list. Lucky asks if they said how Sam died, and she says, it was a massive dose of digitalis. It’s prescribed to heart patients and stabilizes the heart rate and blood flow. He asks if Sam needed it, but she says, no, and there was no mention of it on her chart. The current theory is that someone grabbed the wrong drug by accident, since morphine and digitalis are kept in the same locker. He wonders if it’s possible someone made that mistake, and she says, her nurses are among the best in the country, but at the end of the day, they’re human and make mistakes. He says he’s the last person to argue that.

Cody asks where Lulu is headed, and she asks where he’s going. He says he just picked up some horse feed in Beecher’s Corners and he’s heading home. She asks, where’s home? and he says, Port Charles. She says she lives in Port Charles, and he says, then it worked out good. Whereabouts does she live? She says, a few blocks south of Rice Plaza, and he asks if she’s hurt. Does she want to go to the hospital? She says, no. She’s just cold. He says, she has no coat, and she says she and her now ex-boyfriend got in a fight. He kicked her out of the car and she left her coat. He says, he left her by the side of the road? Jerk. She says, he always has been, and he asks if she’s sure she’s okay. She says she will be once she’s home, and he says, home makes everything better. Most of the time. Does she have a phone? She says, it’s with her coat, and he says she can use his, but she says, the only number she knows by heart is her own. She finds a lollipop wrapper and he says he forgot to tidy up. She asks if he has kids, but he says he likes them and keeps a stash in the car. If she wants one, help herself. She takes one and asks, what flavor is this? He says, watermelon. She got a good one. She says, hardly. Does he have any real flavors like cherry, grape, or orange? He says, boring, and she says, classic. He says he’ll take it if she doesn’t want it, and she puts it in her mouth. She says, it’s starting to grow on her.  

On the stand, Dante says, his partner received a report that there was an accident at the MetroCourt pool and there was an injured party. ADA Turner asks if he knew who it was, but he says, not at the time, but at the scene, he found out it was Kristina. She asks what their relationship is, and he says, Kristina is his half-sister; they share a father. She asks what he did then, and he says, questioned witnesses. One had seen someone at the window, so he investigated, knocking on the door. Ava answered, which didn’t surprise him since Trina had said she saw Ava standing in the window. The ADA asks if he and Ava were acquainted, and he says, she’s the mother of his half-sister Avery. She asks if he noticed anything unusual, and he says, she was acting suspiciously. Ric objects, saying, it’s speculation, but ADA Turner says, Dante is qualified to do so. The objection is sustained, but the judge tells the ADA to lay a foundation. ADA Turner asks for an example of how Ava was acting suspiciously, and Dante says, she changed her story. When he asked if she’d closed the curtain, she said she hadn’t. Then when he told her that a witness said she did, she admitted it.

Ric asks why Dante questioned Ava. Why not his partner? Dante says, his partner was busy questioning witnesses, and Ric asks if Dante’s father isn’t in a heated custody dispute with Ava. Is he supposed to believe it was a coincidence that Dante was the only one who could do it and that it might not be a conflict? The ADA objects, saying, it’s argumentative, and the judge says, sustained. Ric withdraws the question and asks why Dante took Ava to the PCPD. Dante says, to question her further, and Ric asks if he believes Ava is a good mother to his sister. ADA Turner asks how Dante would know, and Ric says he’s asking Dante’s opinion. The judge allows it, and Ric asks again. Dante says, no, and Ric says, if Ava is found guilty, won’t Dante’s father be granted full custody? The ADA objects, and it’s sustained. Ric says he has no further questions, and the judge instructs the jury to disregard the last question.

Elizabeth says, they all make mistakes – that’s life – but Lucky says, not all mistakes are created equal. She says, the hospital is examining every second Sam was there. If a mistake was made, they’ll find it. He asks if she’s worried, and she says, not for herself, but someone did give Sam digitalis. If it’s one of her nurses, they’ll lose their license. Lucky says he’ll ask around and see what he can turn up. Sam was his friend and saved Lulu’s life. It led to her death and now Elizabeth is involved. The sooner they have answers, the better. He’s solved a mystery or two. She says, he was a good detective back in the day, and he says, challenge accepted. He’s going to figure out what happened to Sam. There has to be a record of the drugs given to her. Elizabeth says, it’s logged into the patient’s chart, along with the initials of the person who administered them, and he asks, who was the last person? She says, it was her.

The ADA asks if there were any other misstatements, and Dante says, Ava told him that there was a pair of shoes on the floor causing Kristina to trip and fall. Later, she changed that to luggage. ADA Turner asks if there was a reason, and he says, she was trying to not disclose the identity of a male visitor. The ADA asks if that was more important than the truth, and Ric objects. Turner withdraws the question and brings out photos of Ava’s suite after Kristina’s fall. She says, the curtains were closed when Dante arrived. Why would Ava close them after the fall? Ric objects, and it’s sustained.

Lulu asks what day it is, and Cody says, Tuesday. She says she meant the date, and he says, the 26th of November. Is it her lucky day? She says her brother’s birthday is on the 27th and she was worried she missed it. He asks if she’s hoping her brother will keep her ex from hassling her, but she says, he would, but she doesn’t need him to. She can take care of herself. She’s tougher than she looks.

ADA Turner says, the people rest, and the judge gives a 10-minute recess.

Lucky asks if the chart showed morphine was administered, and Elizabeth says, yes. He says, so it wasn’t swapped out, and she says, that’s a point in her favor. She gave the correct medication at the correct time, and it was proven by Sam’s bloodwork. Lucky wonders if the wrong drug was given to the wrong patient, when his phone rings. It’s Mr. Furner from Turning Woods, who says, Lucky is listed as a contact for Lulu. He tried to reach out to Laura, but her assistant said she was dealing with city emergencies. Lucky asks if something happened to his sister, and Furner says, she’s missing.

Cody notices Lulu’s hospital bracelet, but says nothing as she pulls her sleeve down. She says, he told her that he picked up horse feed. Does he drive a carriage in the park? Cody asks what makes her think he doesn’t own horses, and she says, when he owns this car? He says, he uses it to pick up the feed, so he doesn’t get his Ferrari dirty. His imaginary Ferrari. He asks if she rides, and she says she used to. He asks, what kind? Western or English? She says, English, much to the dismay of her father and brother who road Wester. He says, the family rebel, and she says, something like that.

Sasha tells Maxie that when she lost Liam, she wasn’t sure she was going to get through it. Maxie says, give herself credit. She survived. Sasha says she had Brando. Now she’s all alone. Maxie asks if she’s talking to herself. She’s here for whatever Sasha needs. She also has Nina, Felicia, and Willow. They’re all big baby lovers. Her friends and family will be there to help. She knows it’s not the same. Sasha says she could be a single mother if it came to that, but what if what happened to Liam happens again?

In the hallway, TJ asks how Molly is holding up, and she says, okay. She’s glad he’s here. He says him too, and they hug.

Alexis tells Kristina to just keep doing what she’s doing. Don’t let Ric get to her. Kristina wonders why Ric didn’t ask her any questions, and Alexis says, he’s performing so it looks like waiting was an act of kindness. Next time, he’s not going to look like Saint Ric. Be ready for anything.

Ava asks if Ric is planning on defending her at any point or is he hoping the jury falls in love with his Mr. Rogers act. He says, the jury needs to think he’s compassionate in finding the truth. It was the prosecution’s show. Now it’s his turn. And when he’s done, the jury will believe that if anybody is to blame for the baby’s death, it’s Kristina.  

Ric recalls Kristina to the stand, and the judge reminds her that she’s under oath. Ric says, Kristina was surrogate for her half-sister Molly and TJ, and ADA Turner says, they’ve already established that, but Ric says, the line of questioning is to establish state of mind. The judge says she’ll allow it, but get where he’s going. Ric says, Kristina became pregnant so she could have a child for Molly and TJ, per their agreement. Kristina says, yes, and Ric says, then she decided to raise the baby on her own. Kristina says, it was her baby, and he says, also TJ’s baby. She says, yes, but the baby was part of her and she couldn’t give her up. Ric says, she was going around saying what a great thing she was doing and decided not to do it after all. Her word must not mean much.

Cody asks if Lulu is close to her family, and Lulu says, sometimes they lose track of each other, but they can count on each other for anything. He says, she’s lucky, and she says, what about him? He says his family is a recent acquisition, but they’re close. He finally has people he can depend on. She says, family is everything, and he says he’s learning that. She says she can’t wait to see her kids, and he asks if she’s been away. She says, kind of, but it hasn’t been that long, and he asks how many kids she has. She says, two, a boy and a girl. She loves them more than anything. It hasn’t been that long, but it feels like forever. (The explosion happened earlier in November 2020, so apparently, she thinks it’s been a few days.)

Sasha says she can’t lose another child, and Maxie says, she’s getting ahead of herself. Life happens. They have to deal with it. James calls out, mom! and Maxie says, if you don’t, it just comes looking for you. James comes in and says he fell. She says, he was in bed, so she knows he was trying to get to the door without touching the floor. The floor is not lava. He says, it is and it’s super-hot. She says, he’ll never make it. His legs are not long enough. He says he was close, and she examines his arm and says, he needs a band-aid.

ADA Turner objects, and the judge says, sustained. She tells Ric that the ice beneath him is already thin. TJ asks Molly, what is Ric doing? and she says, his job. Ric says, when Kristina went to the hotel, how far along was she? and Kristina says, 38 weeks. Ric says, yet she initiated a confrontation, and the ADA objects, saying, it’s argumentative. The objection is sustained, and Ric asks if Kristina was invited to the hotel room. Kristina says, no, and he says, then she had a choice. Kristina says she wanted to talk to Ava about the subpoena. She warned Ava that if she was forced to testify, she would tell the court the horrible things Ava had done. Ric asks what Ava has done, and Kristina says, she killed Connie Falconari and tampered with her brother Morgan’s medication. She’s the reason Morgan is dead.

Maxie puts the band-aid on James, and he runs off. Sasha says, Maxie is telling her not to hide from reality. Let’s find out the truth then.

Ric asks that the record reflect Ava was not convicted. Despite Kristina still blaming Ava for her brother’s death, why is she accusing Ava of the baby’s death? Kristina says, Ava is guilty. Ava pushed her out the window. Ric asks if she hates Ava, and Kristina says, yes. He asks if that’s why she threatened Ava, and the ADA objects. Kristina says she didn’t threaten Ava, and Ric reads Kristina’s statement where she uses the words or else. She says she doesn’t remember saying that, and he says, so she has a faulty memory. She says she remembers Ava pushed her out the window, and he tells her that she said she didn’t remember. She says she was lying in a hospital bed. She almost died. Her baby did die.

Mr. Furner introduces himself as the Administrator of Turning Woods, and Lucky says he wants to see his sister’s room. Tell him how they managed to lose her. His sister is in a coma. She didn’t leave on her own initiative. Somebody moved her. Furner says, the staff is searching for her. After the fire alarm, things were hectic… It was a false alarm. Lucky asks which alarm it was, and Furner says, the one by the nurses’ station. Elizabeth says she’s not following. The fire alarm was false, and that’s when they realized Lulu was missing? Furner says, they do an inspection to make sure all the patients are accounted for, and Lulu wasn’t. Lucky says, walk him through everything that happened.

Cody says he can drive Lulu home, but she says she’s not giving her address to a stranger even though she’ll take a ride with one, even one as nice him. He says, hi. I’m Cody. Now they’re not strangers. This is the part where she tells him her name and says, nice to meet him. She says, thanks for the ride, and he says, before she goes… He takes some cash out of his wallet, but she says she doesn’t need money. He says, she doesn’t have a purse or wallet, and she asks how she’d pay him back. He writes down his address and says, or if she gets in a jam, give him a call, like if her ex shows up. He hands her a grape lollipop for the road, and she thanks him.

Ric says, Kristina is emotional, and Kristina says, sorry. She’s talking about the death of her child. Because Ava pushed her through a window and it killed her daughter, it makes her emotional. Ric asks if she lets her emotions get the better of her, and ADA Turner objects. The judge says, sustained, and Ric says, on October 17th, when Kristina accosted Ava and himself at the PC Grille, did she let her emotions get the better of her? The ADA objects, and it’s sustained. Ric asks if Kristina has a temper, and again, the ADA objects and it’s sustained. Ric says, on October 17th, when Kristina accosted Ava and himself at the PC Grill, does she remember threatening Ava? Kristina says she doesn’t remember what she said, and Ric says he’ll refresh her memory. He reads, you’re going to prison and I’m going to make sure of it. That’s when he’d told Kristina that it wasn’t up to her if Ava was exonerated. She said – and again he quotes – then I will find another way to make you pay. He has three sworn affidavits from diners and staff who overheard Kristina threaten Ava. Kristina says she never touched Ava, and Ric asks if she didn’t smash a glass. Kristina asks if he’s implying her baby’s death was her fault, and he says, by her own admission, she sought out Ava and demanded she withdraw the subpoena. She made threats and her actions led to the fall that caused her baby’s death. That makes her responsible. ADA Turner objects.

Lucky asks a nurse, when was the last time she saw Lulu? The nurse says, it was around seven when they asked Lulu’s visitor to leave so they could do a routine check. He asks who was visiting, and she says, Cyrus Renault. Elizabeth and Lucky look at each other.

Ric asks if Kristina’s anger got the better of her the same way it did when she accosted him and Ava at the PC Grill. How can she claim such deep maternal instincts and risk confronting someone she says is so dangerous? Let him rephrase that. Was she thinking about the baby she pretended to love when she accosted (WOTD) Ava? Kristina says she did love her baby. She still does. She would have never gone if she thought… He says, she didn’t think. She let her emotions get the better of her and accosted Ava. Kristina almost cries and says, no. The ADA says, objection. Badgering the witness. Ric says, that’s why she went through the window. That’s why her baby is dead. It’s not because of Ava. It’s because of her. ADA Turner says, this is outrageous, and the judge says, enough. Kristina says she didn’t kill her daughter.  

Maxie asks if Sasha has heard from her parents, and Sasha says, Maxie makes it sound normal. She hasn’t. Maxie asks if she’s worried, but Sasha says, of course (🍷) not. Her mom is in trouble, which is the standard, and Robert has experience in international intrigue. She thinks he enjoys saving her mother and her mother enjoys being saved. An alarm beeps, and Sasha looks at the pregnancy test. She says she’s pregnant.  

Lulu goes to her old house and tries the door. It’s locked and she looks underneath a rock, finding the spare key. She unlocks the door.

Tomorrow, Spinelli tells James that he has a way to solve this mystery; Molly tells TJ, if Kristina’s testimony gets Ava acquitted, she’ll never forgive herself; Sasha says she doesn’t know if she can do this; and Lucky says he’s calling the cops.

🫧 Vaya Con Dios…

Like what are they going to say? You stink? Glad you’re leaving?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-stars-respond-to-chad-duells-exit

🦃 No Turkey For You…

GH will be showing a rerun from last summer on Thanksgiving. Why they couldn’t come up with an old Thanksgiving episode is beyond me. They will also be given the day off on Friday when there’s football.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/find-out-if-your-favorite-soaps-are-airing-on-thanksgiving-2024

👠 Twice the Housewives In Half the Time…

💎 What happened in Beverly Hills. It looks like PK wants out of the marriage and Kyle needs to forget about Mauricio. Apparently, he replaced a picture of the two of them with one of him and his Dancing with the Stars partner in the home he and Kyle share(d). He’s that guy. He’s not the worst, but he’s never going to try to be the best. Forget him, Kyle.

🗽 What happened in New York City. A lot of this episode revolved around Erin having had an abortion when she was 18. She decided to talk about it in an interview with Glamour magazine and also told her father, before he could hear it from someone else. Much to her surprise, he was amazingly supportive. Having been raised by my father, I can vouch for the fact that dads can be very caring and compassionate.

🎅 You’d Better Watch Out…

Despite all the crappy reviews, I knew I’d love Red One and I did. From Santa’s fabulous leather coat to the talking polar bear to the magnificence of Krampus. The intricacies of the North Pole were fascinating, as was the revelation of how Santa gets it done every year. And who knew the sleigh pulling reindeer were female? When Santa called them ladies, at first, I thought he was being a hard-on, like a drill sergeant saying, you’re slouchin’, lady, to a recruit. Nope. It’s girl power pulling that sleigh. Not to mention, I love me some Duane Johnson and Chris Evans.

One of the reviews said the film had no substance. Seriously? If you want substance, watch The Whale. And it does have some life lessons, as well as a short trip to the cornfield with Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans) and his son. The special effects are well-worth seeing on the big screen and the casting is spot-on. If I could roll this movie in a ball and carry it in my pocket, I’d take it out whenever I was feeling down. Plus, it was funny. Not a knee-slapper like Deadpool & Wolverine, but filled with chuckles throughout. There’s plenty of action, and Lucy Liu kicks ass just as well as she did back in her Kill Bill days. The cherry on this Christmas Yule Log is that the story is original and clever. And while the critics might have panned it, it doesn’t look like the audience cares. All of the showings were sold out and at the one I went to, the audience applauded at the end. So don’t let the Scrooges prevent you from this holiday gift.

The basics.

An actual good review.

The villains. I learned about Krampus when I was in school, but GH fans might remember Dr. Obrecht telling the story one holiday season years ago.

https://ew.com/red-one-villain-gryla-krampus-explained-8749285

A salute to the most non-Christmas Christmas movie ever.

https://screenrant.com/red-one-die-hard-vent-scene-tribute/

🐶 Going To the Dogs…

My dogs are just lucky that I’m too lazy busy to put much effort into this holiday.

🏡 No Place Like Home…

Set a spell tomorrow for some soap and a Thanksgiving sendoff. Until then, stay safe, stay giving thanks always, and stay never accosting a lawyer in a public place.

November 19, 2024 – Sam’s Funeral, His Star, Get Well Soon, Returning Wives, New York Minute, Reboot Reproach, Canine Cruise & Serenade

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada on Fridays, but the rest of the week, who knows?)

General Hospital

Ava sees Lucas at the cemetery. They’re both visiting Julian’s grave.

The minister concludes the funeral ceremony and invites everyone to talk about Sam. Nina gripes about Jason being there, and Molly gets up. She thanks everyone for being here to honor Sam.

Molly talks about them being the Davis girls turning Davis women, a force to be reckoned with, especially together. Sam was patient, open, and the best listener. She listened with no interruptions and never had any judgement. She commanded a room, and her advice was spot on, but she only gave it if asked. Growing up, Sam needed to find her own way, and Molly can’t put into words how much she misses her sister. There will now only be three sets of arms for a Davis girls hug, but Sam is still with them, holding, supporting, and loving them, and always will be. They’ll always be Davis women, no matter what.

Kristina says, when came to support, Sam offered it to everyone, and no one needed it more than her. She has a special knack for getting herself in trouble and Sam was always there to ride to her rescue and get her back on her feet. Sam would tell her that she was strong and capable, but she’d be there in case Kristina needed her, her own personal safety net. The special thing about Sam was, she never judged. She believed in second chances and taught Kristina, no matter how big you mess up, you could always pick yourself up and keep going. You could do better and be better anytime you wanted. You’re not your mistakes. She was the ultimate big sister and protector. Kristina says she’ll love and miss Sam forever.

Josslyn wonders where Lucas is, but Carly says she doesn’t know.

Ava tells Lucas that Julian was not always a good man. He made terrible, life altering mistakes, but he loved his children. She wishes she could go to his daughter’s funeral, but out of respect for the family, she chose to stay away. Why is he here?

Spinelli says, Sam was one of the first people to befriend him, and through Sam, he met Jason. When he was younger, he related to fantasy and computers better than people. Back then, tech nerds were at the bottom of the pecking order of life, while cool chicks like Sam were at the top. She never used that status. He’s not certain she knew she had it. Sam took people as they were. She took him as he was. We flash back to Spinelli telling Sam that he likes Maxie, and Sam telling him to put himself in her hands. He says, Sam offered genuine friendship and respect, and he treasured that. She gave him the confidence to fall in love with the woman of his dreams, and he hopes when Sam saw them together, she knew. He looks at her picture and says, fair Samantha, what a dear friend. You will forever be missed.

Carly says, Sam was strong and a fighter. She could pack a punch… figuratively speaking, of course (🍷). We flash back to Carly telling Sam to hit the road and Sam saying, no problem. But before she goes… She slugs Carly. Carly says, when life knocked Sam down, she came up swinging. She admired that. They had a complicated relationship. It took them a while to be friends, but she’d always respected Sam. What impressed her most, was that Sam loved with her whole heart – her sisters, her mom, her partner, and most importantly, her children. She looks at Danny, Scout, and Rocco and says, their mom was amazing and strong. So are they. Carry the strength she gave them and she’ll always be with them.

Lucas tells Ava that he was at the church before the service. Danny came in and when Danny saw him, he got upset. Danny thinks it’s Lucas’s fault that his mom is dead. Ava says, is it?

Elizabeth says, like Carly, she and Sam had highs and lows. Back in the day, mostly lows. We flash back to Elizabeth telling Sam that Jason knows she’s trash, and Sam saying, it’s a fair trade. Elizabth got Jason’s kid, and she got Elizabeth’s husband. Elizabeth says, they clashed, but she doesn’t regret it because it made the place they got to that much sweeter. Sam taught her the lesson that if you’re not getting along with someone for whatever reason, maybe you don’t understand them and need to look deeper. Ultimately, they ended up respecting each other. They went from bitter rivals to co-parents to friends. She hopes Sam knows that she’s grateful for where they landed. She looks at Sam’s picture and thanks her.

Lucky says he’s known Sam for a long time. They were always good friends. Sam called like it like it was, and he liked that. You were never unsure of where you stood with her. She was fun and fearless, but he didn’t know how heroic she was. His sister Lulu was dying and only a liver transplant could save her. He and his brother hoped they could help, but it didn’t work out. Lulu was running out of time, and they needed a miracle. Enter Sam. When she found out she could give Lulu a fighting chance, she didn’t hesitate and agreed to donate. Sam saved Lulu’s life, and he hates that in the process, she lost hers. He can’t tell them why Sam was taken from them, but his family will forever be in her debt. Alexis cries.

Dante says he hit a rough patch. It was a dark time in his life, and he couldn’t see his way out of it. Then Sam showed up and stepped in. She saw him struggling and wanted to help. She said he could rebuild his life, but he couldn’t take the bad things and use them to give up. He needed to take that stuff and use it to propel himself forward and keep going. He doesn’t know when they changed from being friends to something more, but ultimately, they began to fall in love. We flash back to Sam saying, they need to control their own fate, and them deciding to move in together. Dante says, they threw their beautiful kids together, a mashup of a family, a home. She was the best mom and the most incredibly supportive partner, but also a badass, hardnose, in your face outfielder. She gave them the best and was always honest and fair. Kristina said she was big on second chances, and she was his. He wanted her to be his third, fourth, and fifth chance. He knows she’d tell him to be grateful for what they had. He became a better man, loving and being loved by her, so he’s going to do what she told him and take what happened and keep going. She’ll always have his heart, and he loves her.

Lucas says, it could be, but they won’t know until the autopsy is in, and Ava says, even if he thinks differently, he’ll still carry the guilt. He says, he’ll always wonder if he could have done more for Danny, Scout, Alexis, Dante, and anyone who loved Sam. He performed the surgery, and he takes the hit. Ava says she knows about guilt, and he says, it runs in the family. She says, maybe he should change his name.

Rocco says, Sam was his stepmom, but she was always Sam to him. Also, a mom who understands, leads, is annoyed when you leave towels on the floor, and gives you popsicles when your throat hurts. She didn’t treat him differently because they had the same DNA, but because she thought he was special. They had their own handshake. He hopes she doesn’t mind, but he’s going to teach Danny and Scout before he forgets. He doesn’t want to forget anything. She gave him a lot, but the best thing was a brother and sister. They got a family when they needed it. They never got to make it official, but that’s what they’ll always be – a family.

Jason says, Sam knew better than anyone he’s not big on public speaking, but he admired her so much, he’s up here, one of those who loved her. He’s grateful for the years they spent together and grateful for their son, who they both love. He’s grateful for Sam. She taught him a lot about life and was one of the bravest, toughest people he’s known. He’s up here because he wants her kids to know how special she was. She mattered to so many people, including him. He tells Danny, there was no one like his mom – no one – and they hug.

Danny says he wasn’t going to speak. He thought it was too hard, but it’s important they know who Sam was and what she meant to him. He asked his dad what to say and he said to just talk about the things she loved. His mom loved to go fast, no matter what she was driving. She loved leather jackets, black obviously. She said, a good one lasts a lifetime. They’re going to keep hers for Scout to wear when she’s older. She loved Chinese food, especially from Noodle Buddha. She made them read their fortune cookies when they went out to dinner. He thought it was lame, but he did it because it made her happy. He loved to see her happy. Most of all, she loved them – him, Scout, and Rocco. He’s going to miss hearing her say it, but he knows it and that’s what counts. Jason hugs him.

Ava says she’s been where Lucas is. She’s there now. He says, it’s not the same, and she agrees, it’s not. His stay is temporary, but today, in this moment, he’s feeling isolated and misunderstood. Know he’s not alone. She’s here for him like her brother would want her to be.

Alexis says, usually, she doesn’t need notes, but these are not normal times. She was worried she’d forget because she’s so sad, and she doesn’t want to forget anything. Her exceptional daughter deserves that. They weren’t always in each other’s lives. They didn’t meet until Sam was an adult. She was shaped by heavy, serious circumstances, and transcended into fierce self-determination and strength and kind heartedness. She regrets missing Sam’s childhood. She wishes she’d been there to raise her. Her two greatest joys are them finding each other, and then choosing each other. They say you can’t choose your family, but they did. 

Ava tells Lucas that her brother met his end too soon, but in one way, he was a lucky man. He died before his daughter did. To bury a child is a pain she would not wish on anybody. Lucas says, by the time he came back, Julian was of no use to him. He’d made toxic decisions and burned too many bridges. He was grateful for Sam though. Julian gave him one hell of a sister. She says, he has one hell of an aunt too, and he says he knows. She kisses her fingertips and places them on the gravestone.

Alexis says she and Sam had a dicey beginning, but mother/daughter relationships are complex under the best of circumstances. We flash back to Alexis wanting Sam to induce labor (not sure what that was about), and Sam screeching that she will, then doubling over in pain.  Alexis says, they hung in there, walked through it, and got to the other side. She didn’t just love Sam. She really liked her. Not just as a daughter, but as a friend. She knew Sam would have her back at any given time. She doesn’t know if she could have raised Molly and Kristina without her. Sam was their anchor. There were times she was completely unmoored and Sam grounded her. Sam put her arms around her and held on until she steadied herself. Sam’s love for her love was unflappable, unshakable. She doesn’t know if Sam understood how powerful it was. Having an adrenaline junkie for a daughter is scary, but after every exploit, she was impressed with Sam. She was so proud. She was proud to be Sam’s mother and decided the only way to honor her beautiful, brave girl is to be brave like she was. She’s decided not to grieve long or get lost in sorrow. She will hold Sam in her heart and move on, cheering Sam on to her next great adventure, which no doubt, will be the best one ever. She looks at Sam’s picture, and says, thank you for choosing me, my angel.

The minister says, as they prepare to leave, ask for the Lord’s comfort and let the memories of Sam that surround them sustain them in the days ahead. Let God’s presence be felt in their hearts as they grieve. Gio plays his violin as everyone leaves, and Alexis sits alone. Molly and Kristina walk back in, and Molly says, it’s time. Alexis says, one more minute. Sit with her. She wants one last moment with all her girls. Molly and Kristina lean their heads on Alexis’s shoulders, and Alexis tells them, they say love and grief are forever intertwined. She knows that’s true because her heart feels like it’s breaking and bursting. We flash back to Sam with Sonny, Alexis, and Jason. Sam and Jason in an explosion, Sam with Maxie, and with Carly, who realizes they’re having a girlfriend moment. Dante rolling his tire into her apartment and asking if it looks familiar. With Elizabeth, with Carly and Olivia at the hatchet range, and officiating at Maxie and Spinelli’s wedding. We see the Davis girls together, and hear Alexis’s voice says, sometimes we have to fight for every scrap of joy, so we need to cherish every moment. To the Davis family, past, present, and future. We flashback to Sam with Dante and their new family.

Lulu opens her eyes and rubs them.

Tomorrow, Elizabeth tells Lucky that he has to make a decision; Portia says, the results of the autopsy are in; Jason tells Danny that what happened between him and Drew stays between him and Drew; and Cyrus tells Lulu that he’s going to take care of her.  

⭐️ Receiving His Due…

I’ve never heard of this, but he seems excited and honored, so kudos!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/tristan-rogers-receives-a-star-on-the-palm-springs-walk-of-stars

❤️‍🩹 You Gotta Have Heart…

Gives a whole other meaning to having a big heart.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/marcus-coloma-is-recovering-from-heart-surgery

💎 Bitches Are Back…

In a nutshell. PK became sober and asked Dorit for a separation. Coincidence or can he now actually hear her talking non-stop? Love new Housewife Bozoma aka Boz, a very accomplished and beautiful woman who seems like she’ll give the others a run for their money. Jennifer Tilly is also now a Housewife Friend, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about that, since I’ve loved her forever. Sutton had a Surrealism party inspired by Salvador Dali. While most people are familiar with his paintings, I also remember him from Art History class because he and his wife lived in separate castles. When he wanted to visit her, he had to send a note first. That’s the secret to a long lasting marriage, my friends. No surprise, the party was fabulous and there was no end of things to look at, including the guests’ costumes. Dorit and Kyle were on the outs, and it ended with Dorit saying she wasn’t going to put up with Kyle’s sh*t anymore. Alrighty then.

🗽 Start Spreading the News…

Much of the episode was focused on reactions to last week’s prank, otherwise known as Erin’s test for leaky pigeons. For whatever reason, Brynn claimed to have been in on it, but Erin said after they’d had a drink – which she wasn’t doing ever again with Brynn – Brynn asked her if Rebecca really slept with other guys, and she gestured, I don’t know… no. I’m not sure how you decipher that from a gesture, but that’s what Erin said. Several of the others deemed the prank f***ed up, but I think more f***ed up was Brynn’s eagerness to go the extra mile, calling around to see if she could get more dirt on Rebecca. Last week at the dodgeball game, Brynn had beaned Jenna, and Jenna said she thought Brynn was a little bit of a bitch. I was like, a little bit? And she’s just realizing this now? Speaking of Brynn, she approached ex-fiancé Gabriel about fertilizing one of her eggs on ice and he thought it was a great idea, which surprised the hell out of me.

https://people.com/rhony-recap-housewives-accuse-erin-lichy-gaslighting-rebecca-minkoff-pregnancy-prank-goes-wrong-8748404

And I don’t get this at all. I thought it’s been the best episode all season. I get that a couple of the Wives have fertility issues, but does that mean everyone needs to walk on eggshells. (No pun intended.) It was brilliant and showed how many in the group were willing to spread a story or even just listen to it.

What’s to come this season.

https://people.com/rhony-season-15-midseason-trailer-new-accusations-are-thrown-nudes-exchanged-8747574

🚽 Trash Talk…

Wow. I’m not crazy about these girls, but even I think this is harsh. I agree with her that the OGs should be brought back, but in a separate, parallel show. Bethenny also said she’d never seen the reboot, so calling it a piece of trash is a little unfair.

https://pagesix.com/2024/11/17/entertainment/bethenny-frankel-slams-piece-of-trash-rhony-reboot/

🐕 Ahoy Puppy…

This looks fantastic. I’d be afraid to take one of my dogs on a cruise though. There would be no living with them when it was back to, here’s some Fresh Pet, after having a butler waiting on them.

https://people.com/margaritaville-at-sea-first-dog-friendly-specialty-cruise-8747081

🍂 Falling Into Autumn Like…

Stop by tomorrow for soap and who knows? Until then, stay safe, stay waiting for everyone to be served before you eat, and stay not using the bad things to give up, but using them to propel yourself forward and keep going.