What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Scotty asks Willow if Sonny touched on the nature of his relationship with Nina, and she says, he did. Sheridan objects, but Judge Milford says, overruled, and Scotty asks if Willow can be more specific. She says, she overheard Sonny say, whatever happened between us in Nixon Falls has to come from me, and it will. Scotty asks, and what was that? What went on between the alleged victim and the accused? Willow says, love, and Scotty asks if she’s saying Sonny and Nina fell in love in Nixon Falls. She says he’d have to ask them that question.
Brook asks if Chase thinks she wants space, and he says, what else can he think? Sometimes she’s happy that he’s around, but other times, it’s like he’s annoying her or in the way. Olivia comes in with Leo, followed by Ned, and tells Leo that Brook and Chase are in charge; they’re going to be watching him. She seats him at the counter, and Chase asks what he’s got there, looking at Leo’s fidget spinner. Brook asks how Olivia and Ned are feeling, and Ned says, they’re ready for whatever they have to learn. Olivia says, whatever Leo needs, and asks if Brook is okay with being in charge. The last time… Brook says, lose a kid once, you can never live it down, and Olivia says, Leo has two sets of eyes on him today. It’s nice having Chase around. She and Ned leave, and Brook says, too nice.
Obrecht goes to Britt’s office, and Britt says she’s early for lunch. Obrecht says she couldn’t wait one more minute for Britt to open her Christmas present, and hands Britt a thick envelope. Britt thanks Obrecht for understanding why she wanted to work on Christmas, and Obrecht says, she tried not to be offended that Britt would rather be there than celebrating the holiday with her mutter. Britt says, with Obrecht and Scotty practically fused at the hip, she would have been a total third wheel. Obrecht says, Britt could be in love too. In fact, once she opens her gift, she’ll never have to spend another holiday alone.
TJ thanks Shawn for showing him around The Invader, and Shawn says he’s determined to reboot The Invader as a reputable, credible resource for inquiring minds. TJ says, it’s a great new beginning for the paper and Shawn. Now that the PCPD has cleared him of shooting Hayden, nothing can hold him back. Shawn says, what about TJ? Did he forget about their plans to enjoy the game? He didn’t return Shawn’s texts. He’s either crazy busy or something has him preoccupied. Is there something he’s holding back?
At the Bistro, Stella wonders what Curtis wanted to ask her, and he says he just discovered something unexpected about Marshall. It occurred to him how little he knows about the man. She says, that’s not surprising, considering his father hasn’t been in his life since he was a child. So what did he discover? He says he discovered his dad is a musician, and she says, a fine one too. He says, that’s why he called her here, so she could fill in the blanks about his father. Tell him everything there is to know about Marshall Ashford.
Sheridan asks where the relevance is in this line of questioning, and Sonny tries to get Carly to leave, but she says she wants to hear every word. Sheridan asks what bearing this has on the charges, and Scotty says, there is relevance, and he can explain. Sheridan says, it’s not a trial, the witness hasn’t been deposed, and there’s been no appropriate discovery related to her testimony. Scotty says, hell. Sheridan put her on the stand, and he has every right to question her.
Ned and Olivia sit on a bench at the hospital, and she says, the waiting is making her crazy. Ned says he’s nervous too, but they’ve done the research, asked the questions, and observed Leo’s behavior. They’re as prepared as they can be. She doesn’t think any amount of preparation can really prepare a parent for the possibility they can’t… that she can’t provide for her child’s needs. He says, the diagnosis doesn’t change how they feel about their son, and she says, of course (🍷). It doesn’t change how much they love Leo, but Leo needs something she can’t give him. Dr. Newman comes out and says, it’s time to talk about Leo.
TJ says he has something to tell Shawn, but it’s a tricky topic. It’s about someone who makes his Uncle Curtis incredibly uncomfortable, and TJ didn’t feel it was his place to announce his arrival. Even though he wants to reconnect with family, TJ doesn’t want to get to know him without telling Shawn. Shawn says, so some distant family member resurfaced? but TJ says, not so distant. Marshall Ashford is here in Port Charles. Shawn says, Tommy and Curtis’s dad is alive?
Stella asks how Curtis realized his father was a musician, and Curtis says, a group of volunteers was playing for the patients at GH, and there was Marshall playing the clarinet. She says it sounds like his dad, and he says, that’s an example of what he’s talking about. He has no idea of what sounds like Marshall. He doesn’t know the guy, but Stella does. She says, when Curtis was growing up, he never asked about Marshall, and Curtis says, that’s because when his name came up, they saw how much it hurt her and their mom. So he and Tommy made a pact. They weren’t going to cause her and mom anymore grief by asking a bunch of questions about dad. She says, it breaks her heart. She and Irene never wanted them to feel they couldn’t ask questions about their daddy. He says, he and Tommy just decided to go another way, and she asks what he means. He says, it means they made up stories. In their imagination, their dad was courageous and brave; he was a hero. Then Curtis met him, and he was just a man, but he has no idea who that man is. Does she?
Scotty asks how Willow knows Sonny and Nina were in love, and she says, Nina said so. He asks what exactly Nina said, and Willow tells him, she said their love was the purest thing she’s ever known. He asks if she thinks Sonny reciprocated that, and she says, Nina told her that Mike felt the same way. He says, Mike being Mr. Corinthos, and she says, yes, but Nina also said it ended once he got his memories back. Scotty says, once he got his memories back, he decided Miss Reeves wasn’t legally at fault. How telling. No further questions. Sheridan asks for a redirect, and Judge Milford tells him, proceed. Sheridan apologizes that his colleague put Willow in this position. He only has two more questions for her. First, has she ever asked Mr. Corinthos about his alleged romantic relationship with Miss Reeves? Willow says, no, and he says, so they’re taking the defendant, a woman who’s been charged with fraud, at her word. Scotty objects, and the judge tells Sheridan, less editorializing. Sheridan says, final question. Does Willow believe the feelings Miss Reeves had for Mr. Corinthos motivated her to fraudulently conceal his identity? Scotty objects, saying, the DA is asking the witness to speculate what was going on in his client’s head at the time, but the judge overrules, and says, Scotty opened this door. The witness will answer the question.
Brook asks if Leo is ready for some breakfast, but Leo says he had breakfast hours ago. She says, they can’t all be such early risers, and asks what he wants to do today. Does he want to go to the movies, or visit the aquarium? Maybe play with some super nifty action figures his cool stepsister got him? Leo doesn’t say anything, continuing to play with his fidget spinner, and Brook says, okay. She knows what to get him next year. Chase says he thinks they’re pretty cool, and she says now she knows what to get him too. He says, going back to that boundary conversation. How much of it is her dad, and how much is her? Is he getting on her nerves? If he’s around too much, just say the word. Maybe that’s why she’s so grumpy. She flashes back to her dream, and says she’s not grumpy; she’s frustrated.
Britt says, Obrecht signed her up for a matchmaking service? and Obrecht says, not just any matchmaking service. Society Setups is an elite service catering to upwardly mobile professionals. Britt says, uck. Could this be more pretentious? Obrecht sits down, and says she knows Britt is struggling, and for good reason. For all his flaws, Jason Morgan was a remarkable man, but he’s gone; there’s no use pining. Learn from her example instead. She and Scotty bonded while mourning the loss of Franco. If she can find love in the midst of grief, who’s to say Britt can’t too?
Sheridan asks if Willow believes Nina’s personal feelings for Sonny motivated her to fraudulently conceal his identity, but she says she’s not in Nina’s head. She couldn’t tell him what Nina’s motive was, and he says, fair enough. Let him ask a less speculative question. Is it true, the man who called himself Mike in Nixon Falls was single and available to Miss Reeves, while Sonny Corinthos has a wife and a family? She says, yes, and he thanks her, saying, he appreciates her honesty. He has no further questions, and the judge tells Willow to step down. She makes a beeline for the hallway, and Michael follows her. He asks if she’s okay, and she says she never meant for him and his family to find out this way. She didn’t want them to find out at all. He says he’s having a hard time understanding this.
Shawn says, Tommy and Curtis thought that man was dead. Now he shows up? Where’s he been? TJ tells him, he won’t say. He just wants to move forward, but Curtis isn’t having it. He thinks Marshall can’t be trusted. Shawn says he completely agrees with Curtis. Showing up after all these years without any explanation? They both know the past can be complicated. TJ asks if he means like his complicated past with Tommy, and Shawn asks if Marshall knows. TJ says, Marshall knows he’s not his biological grandfather. He saw the Father’s Day post TJ dedicated to Shawn on social media, but he loved Tommy as a father, and Tommy considered TJ to be his son. Marshall knows that too. He still wants to get to know TJ, but if that makes Shawn uncomfortable… Shawn says, it’s up to TJ. He’s a grown man. Curtis is entitled to his feelings about Marshall, but so is TJ. Just be cautious. There’s a knock at the door, and Marshall comes in, saying, he’s looking for the arts and culture… TJ? What is he doing in a newspaper office? TJ says, him first, and Marshall says, he’s putting together a band, and was hoping to generate some interest from an arts and culture reporter. TJ says he’d have to talk to the publisher, who happens to be standing right here; his father, Shawn Butler. He tells Shawn, this is Marshall Ashford, and Shawn holds out his hand, saying, nice to meet him. Marshall says he has no intention of shaking hands with the man responsible for his son Thomas’s death.
Scotty would like the court to note, for the record, the DA questioned the voracity of what his client said to Miss Tate, but he didn’t recall Mr. Corinthos. Judge Milford says, so noted. While it’s the prosecution’s right to call the witnesses they deem appropriate, it’s also within his discretion to call the witness he feels are pertinent. Given there are some questions as to the nature of the relationship between the accused and the alleged victim, he recalls Sonny to the stand. Sonny gets up, and Carly looks like she might explode.
Willow tells Michael, she wishes to God she’d never heard Sonny and Nina. She was in the wrong spot at the wrong moment. He says he’s not blaming her for happening on a private conversation, but why didn’t she tell him? She says, Nina convinced her not to say anything. That keeping quiet was somehow protecting him and his family. He says, she was wrong.
The judge asks if Sonny had a personal relationship with Nina in Nixon Falls, and Sonny says he had many personal relationships when he knew himself as Mike, the bartender. He forged friendships; he built a life. Judge Milford says, they just heard Willow testify under oath that she heard him and the defendant allude that they had a prior romantic relationship. Did she perjure herself? Sonny says, no, she did not. Willow told the truth. The judge says, that truth being what? and Sonny says he and Nina had a relationship, and they ended up falling in love.
TJ tells Marshall, that’s not fair, but Shawn says, it’s okay. He can understand why Marshall feels the way he does. Marshall says, Shawn understands because it’s true. Shawn shot his son, after he slept with his wife. Shawn says he’s made mistakes in his life, and his last encounter with Tommy is something he’ll always regret, but Marshall doesn’t have all the facts. Marshall says, fact: Shawn had an affair with his son’s wife. Fact: he fathered a child with her. Fact: when Tommy confronted him about his betrayal, Shawn shot him in cold blood. Now if he’s missing something, please enlighten him. TJ says, it was in self-defense, and Shawn says, he had no choice. Tommy wasn’t in his right mind.
Curtis asks what he doesn’t know about Marshall, and Stella says, what she knows about Marshall is limited to a few years, decades ago. He says it’s still more than he knows, and she says, Marshall was a very private person, but Curtis’s mom Irene was the center of his world. He waited on that woman hand and foot, unless he was playing that darn clarinet. Curtis will never believe this, but Marshall loved that old thing so much, he gave it a name. Curtis asks what he called it, and she says, Henrietta. He carried it everywhere he went. Irene used to scold him for leaving the case on the kitchen table. Curtis says, then what? and she tells him, like she said, Marshall was very private, but he was also very generous. It seemed Curtis and Tommy would get a pair of new shoes, and barely break them in before Marshall was donating them to the local group home. It drove his mama crazy, but Marshall would just smile and say, his sons have a daddy who can pay for a new pair of shoes with just one gig, but those other boys don’t have nobody.
Chase asks if Brook is saying he’s frustrating her, but she says, it’s not him; it’s the situation. The uncertainty is overwhelming. He says, because she doesn’t know how long it’s going to last, and she picks up an action figure. She says, even though the bad guy is out of commission, it’s only temporary, and they’re stuck in limbo. Chase says, what if the bad guy wakes up, and starts fighting the good guys again? They may have to play these roles indefinitely. She says, yes, and in a perfect world, the villain would retire forever, they could take down the bat signal, and Krypton could return to normal. He says she doesn’t know much about the superhero multiverse, does she? and she says, who cares? The point is, there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, bat signal or not. He says, that’s not true. If the bad guy loses his powers, then a woman can get her child back. She says, and another woman has to let go.
Dr. Newman says, when it comes to developmental disabilities, they can’t use straight forward diagnostic tools, like blood tests or X-rays. They rely on history and behavior for diagnosis. Based upon the recent developmental assessment, language evaluation, and the social screening he conducted recently, as well as the supplemental information they provided, it’s his diagnosis that Leo has autism spectrum disorder. Ned takes Olivia’s hand, and she asks if that’s conclusive. The doctor says they’re always free to get a second opinion, but he believes other physicians will concur with his findings. Ned asks, so what’s the next step? and the doctor says, for Leo, they talk about the many state and hospital resources available. For them, he recommends they take some time to process this diagnosis and all emotions it may bring.
Britt tells Obrecht that she doesn’t know how to say this, but she’s not interested. Obrecht says, fine, but people in control of their own romantic destiny often make ein Durcheinander (I’m guessing – it means a mess). Look at Nina. She pinned her hopes on an unavailable man, and her life is unraveling as a result. Britt asks if it’s the guy Nina was seeing in Nixon Falls, and Obrecht nods. Britt asks if Obrecht knows him, and Obrecht says, they both know him. Nina fell for Sonny Corinthos.
Judge Milford tells Sonny, should this case go to trial, the defendant may be found guilty of a crime. In the eyes law, he’d be the victim. Does he consider himself the victim of a crime? Sonny says, no, and the judge tells him, step down. Carly fumes.
The judge asks for closing statements, and Scotty says his client does not stand accused of fraud for monetary benefits. His client is charged with deliberate deception to damage a victim. In his own testimony, Mr. Corinthos, the alleged victim, claims he wasn’t one. No victim, no crime. That’s why he’s asking that the court dismiss the charges today. Sheridan says, whether or not Mr. Corinthos considers himself the victim of a crime isn’t relevant in their system of jurisprudence. This circus today doesn’t negate an undisputed fact; Nina Reeves committed a criminal and civil infraction when she deceived Sonny Corinthos and all who knew him. The state has met its burden of proof. The fact that Miss Reeves deceived a man, who we now know she was in love with, only emphasizes the depth of her depravity.
Willow says Michael parents must be devastated, and he says, Nina claims to love his dad, yet she let this happen? Willow says, she’s not sure Nina knew it would come out, but he says, of course (🍷) she did. Willow might not realize it, but in keeping Nina’s secret, she played into Nina’s hands. Nina got exactly what she wanted.
Marshall asks what Shawn is implying, and Shawn says he’s not trying to cast aspersions on Tommy; just the opposite. Tommy had every right to be angry with him, but that day, he went so far beyond anger. He’s sure PTSD was part of it, but Tommy was in crisis and out of control. He pulled a gun on Shawn. He had a black eye coming. It was completely justified and he owned that, but he never expected Tommy to try and kill him. And he never thought he’d have to stop Tommy the way he did. TJ says he fully believes if Tommy had gotten help for his PTSD, it never would have ended that way. It’s not Tommy’s fault, and it’s not his dad’s fault. Marshall says, he’s right. It was his fault.
Chase says he gets it. Brook has been able to keep Bailey safe for months, despite negative attitudes and assumptions coming her way, and however long this lasts, there will come a time when it’s over, and things will go back to their natural state. She’ll have to make yet another huge sacrifice; it’s heroic. She says she’s not calling herself a hero, and he says, maybe not, but he is. Whatever she needs to keep this going, he’s here to help, and when the time comes to say goodbye, he’ll be by her side. She says she appreciates that, but doesn’t want him to feel obligated. He says, they’re not just co-parents to Bailey, she’s his friend. She says, even when she’s grumpy? and he says, yes; the friendship goes both ways. She’s seen him at his worst, and didn’t give up on him. She says, she’s also seen him at his best, and he says, like the time she saw him n-a-k-e-d? Leo says he can spell, and Brook says, of course (🍷) he can, so he needs to w-a-s-h up for lunch.
Olivia gets up and says, processing emotions? It’s not about them, it’s about Leo. Dr. Newman says, learning your child is going to have lifelong disabilities can be challenging. They’ll have to readjust their expectations about how Leo will grow into adulthood, and his diagnosis will likely change what they thought their parenting experience was going to be. It’s okay to be emotional about it. Ned puts his arm around Olivia, and says, they just want to give Leo all the support and opportunities possible. Olivia says she agrees with Ned. They can handle their emotions together. She’s just afraid this will make Leo’s life so much more difficult. The doctor says, it’s an understandable fear, but the good news is, this diagnosis means they can offer appropriate intervention programs for Leo right away. Programs that will help them engage with their son, and help their son engage with the world. It may be helpful to think of raising a child with autism like a road trip. They won’t reach their destination in a straight line; there will be detours, but those detours will lead to discoveries along the way. Ned says he likes that analogy, and asks the doctor to be honest with them. Does that journey lead to Leo having meaningful relationships and living independently as an adult? Olivia says, please tell them it’s possible, and the doctor says, it’s definitely possible for Leo to lead a happy and fulfilled life. GH has extensive resources, and can work with Leo’s school to implement a plan. Ned says, so Leo will be able to remain in school? and the doctor says, every case is different, but many children on the spectrum benefit socially and developmentally from learning I non-ASD classrooms. Olivia asks, what happens next? Does Leo come in to see him again, or…? Dr. Newman says he’d like to check on Leo periodically. He’s also going to refer Leo to a geneticist for further testing. It won’t change the diagnosis, but it might help diagnose medical conditions associated with symptoms of ASD. Just for a complete picture. Do they have any other questions for him? Olivia shakes her head, and Ned thanks the doctor, saying, he’s been very helpful. Dr. Newman says, there’s no reason Leo can’t live his best life. The journey may look different now, but the goal is still the same.
TJ asks how it can be Marshall’s fault; he wasn’t even around. Marshall says, that’s his point. Perhaps if he’d been present to guide his son, Tommy might still be there. TJ says, that’s a lot to carry, but Marshall says, it’s his job to carry it, and he’s been off his job for a long time. He’s glad TJ has a dad to do what he couldn’t – protect his son.
Curtis asks if Stella thinks Marshall even wondered who bought their shoes after he left, but she says she can’t answer that. He asks what Marshall did, outside of his music gigs. Who were his friends? Did he have any other family? She says, he’s asking the wrong person; he needs to ask Marshall. He says he tried. Marshall doesn’t tell him much. She says, could it be he’s asking the wrong questions? Maybe going about it the wrong way? Nobody appreciates being interrogated. Curtis says, Marshall abandoned him, now he wants Curtis to let him back in his life. Doesn’t he deserve answers? She says, of course (🍷). It’s natural for him to be curious, but Marshall is within his right to keep his own counsel. He asks where that leaves them, and she says he should know she met privately with Marshall. She told Curtis that she won’t let anyone agitate this family, and she had to be sure of his motives. He says, and? and she says Marshall wants to get to know Curtis, and it sounds to her like Curtis wants the same thing. So talk to the man. Start small and build from there.
Michael says, Nina swore Willow to secrecy so she could use this as a bombshell, and play it to her best advantage, but Willow says she doesn’t know. Nina seemed grateful that she was keeping her secret; she seemed eager not to cause any more pain. He says, Nina played all of them. Judge Milford says they’re going to take a recess. He’s going to weigh the testimony and evidence presented, and consider the charges. Carly flies out of the courtroom, and Nina says, she didn’t want this. She’s so sorry. Sonny follows her, and Michael wonders what’s going on. Sonny says, he’s going to make this right. Don’t worry about it.
Obrecht tells Britt, Nina’s only hope of avoiding a trial is for Scotty to get someone on the stand to admit Sonny and Nina were in love. Britt says, that would explain why Nina kept going back to Nixon Falls, and what Peter was holding over her head. She wasn’t just trying to protect James, she didn’t want to lose her boyfriend. Obrecht says, now she’s in legal jeopardy, and Britt says, she’s also going to face the wrath of Carly when this comes out.
Chase says he’ll help Brook clean up. Today was a lot of fun, but he never wants to be a source of stress in her life, Maybe her dad is right. Maybe they should set some boundaries. She says. no boundaries. She wants him here.
Marshall leaves, and TJ says he’s sorry for the way Marshall treated Shawn, but Shawn says he has nothing to apologize for. He can’t blame Marshall for wanting to protect his son. He’d do the same thing, forever, if he knew someone hurt TJ. TJ says he knows his uncle has questions about all the years Marshall’s been gone, but everything he’s seen leads him to believe Marshall just wants to be part of this family. He hopes Curtis comes to see that too.
On the phone in his hotel room, Marshall talks to someone he calls Chief, and says he thought he’d be done by now, but he has some unfinished business in Port Charles. The last thing he wants to do is set their progress back… He’s following protocol. There’s a knock at the door, and he says he’ll be in touch. He opens to door to Curtis.
Chase says, he wants to be here too, but after everything Brook has given up, he also wants to respect that she’s entitled to a life of her own. She says, then they’re on the same page. He’ll be there just for appearances. He says, to co-parent Bailey, for as long as it takes. He’ll stay out of her way otherwise. She says, great. Deal. He says, deal, and she asks if there’s anything else. He says, tell their daughter he’ll see her soon.
Olivia says, the doctor seemed nice, and Ned says, yes, and very knowledgeable. Leo will be fine. She cries, and thanks him for bringing her to her senses. She asks where they go from here, and he says, home to be with their son. She tells him, like Dr. Newman said, they start their road trip today, as a family, and she hugs Ned.
Britt says, Obrecht still hasn’t heard from Scotty? and Obrecht says, nein. She has no idea if Nina’s going to get out from under the charges. Britt says, if she does, she might find out that freedom can be worse.
Nina asks what Scotty has done, and he says, he kept her out of a hamster cage. No thanks necessary. She walks out, and sees Willow and Michael. Willow says, Nina used her.
Sonny tells Carly, wait, and she stops. He tells her to just let him explain. Will she listen to him? She says, listen to who? Mike? Sonny? Or someone else completely?
Tomorrow, Stella is afraid the reality will crush Curtis, Curtis asks if Marshall intends to play house in Port Charles, and Carly asks Sonny how he can say that to her.
Vanderpump Rules
Schwartz and Katie worked out, and in Schwartz’s interview, he said he missed working out in Sandoval’s state-of-the-art gym. Katie asked if he was going through withdrawal, but he claimed he wasn’t. He said, you can mix business with pleasure, but not pleasure with business. Although I’m not sure what the difference that makes. Raquel’s sister Kate paid a visit to Raquel, and James told her about his plan to be totally sober. She said, if he felt his good not without alcohol, imagine how he’d feel quitting everything, Raquel talked about getting Sunstone Villa and Winery for their engagement party, and Kate asked about a bachelorette party. Raquel said that was down the line, but she didn’t want any penis straws. James agreed and added, no strippers, saying, he didn’t want it to be trashy. In his interview, he said strippers were tacky, old, and boring, and we flashed back to someone’s bachelorette, maybe Scheana’s. After James left, Kate asked if he was always overprotective and stern. It sounded like he wasn’t giving Raquel opinions, but making decisions. Raquel said James thought he knew what was best for her, but Kate wasn’t cool with James’s controlling side.
In Lala’s interview, she said, Scheana needed a lot of reassurance in a friendship. Rather than telling Scheana that she had her back, she wanted to show Scheana that she was her friend. She invited Scheana over for a spa day, while a whiskey sommelier catered to their men, since Brock had said he drank scotch. In Brock’s interview, he said he was really more of a tequila guy, but scotch had sounded good at the time. Lala told Scheana about getting an assistant, and in her interview, she said it was time to elevate her brand’s game. She wanted to target an audience she hadn’t tapped into yet. Brock told Randall that he was going to propose to Scheana, and in Brock’s interview, he said, this summer, he realized this could be a thing. By a thing, I assume he means serious. He said he was getting a rooftop place, and telling everyone it was a movie premiere of one of Randall’s movies, so they’d come dressed up. His double-surprise was, they were going to get married right then and there. In his interview, Brock said, he and Scheana had both been married before, and a big wedding wasn’t for them. The surprise factor and quirkiness spoke to them both. Randall was honored and excited.
Katie came by Sandoval and Ariana’s house. Sandoval asked how Schwartz was (remember? they were taking a break), and Katie said he was a little mopey. In Schwartz’s interview, he said he was trying to look at the break as a positive thing. He’d have an opportunity to get things done, but he still missed Sandoval. Katie told Ariana, you’d think someone went off to war. Ariana asked about the sandwich shop, but Katie said Schwartz kept saying, eventually, or telling her that she should do it. Ariana said she was game, and in her interview, she said she wasn’t into owning a bar. She preferred starting and finishing early, and not dealing with stinky alcohol and people puking. In Katie’s interview, she said she was ready to move on from the Schwartz and Sandy mess. They agreed to open a shop together, and clinked glasses.
In her interview, Lala said she was grateful for the women who were helping her raise Ocean. Otherwise, there was no way she could be a mother and have a brand at the same time. James came by, and they discussed James DJ’ing Lala’s launch party. She told him that the party was from seven to ten, and he misunderstood, thinking it was seven to ten hours long, which was pretty amusing. Lala said she’d seen James step into a position of control with Raquel more than once, the latest when he shut down the bachelorette discussion. He told Lala that he wasn’t saying Raquel couldn’t have it, but he was entitled to his feelings.
Lala and Randall met with Brock in Lala’s new office space, and went over the plans for the surprise engagement. He said he had everything for the wedding, including a dress. In Lala’s interview, she said, Scheana loved surprises and a man sweeping her off her feet, but she thought Scheana was going to be shocked. Brock said the rooftop rental hadn’t worked out, and Randall suggested using an actual movie theater. In her interview, Lala said, Brock wanted to make this happen in two days, and that wasn’t doable. Even though it was a half-baked plan, she still wanted Scheana to enjoy it. And nothing would stop her from making it happen. Randall told his assistant and Lala’s that they were on wedding duty.
In Charli’s interview, she said her feet pics were still for sale. They didn’t raise enough money for Raquel’s nose job, but she loved making money, and wasn’t ashamed of her game. Raquel was concerned about future employment. See You Next Tuesday had begun again, and there was a party for Schnookie’s birthday. In Lisa’s interview, she said she liked to do things for the men in her life. On Ken’s birthday, she did something special, and on Schnookie’s birthday, she did something incredible. Outside, behind SUR, Brock said he’d heard from Lala about James not wanting Raquel to have a bachelorette. James said he was kind of pissed that everyone was nitpicking, especially about something as petty as a c*ck straw. We saw a clip of James saying he thought Raquel liked him making the decisions, and her saying it was the one thing she couldn’t stand.
Lala invited Sandoval over to get glam before the party. Scheana met Charli for lunch, and they were both glad to end their beef. Charli said she’d gotten exhausted, having the same conversation over and over. She asked if Scheana and Brock were getting married, and Scheana said Brock had been planning a surprise, which apparently wasn’t very good as surprises go, since she knew about it. Lala told Sandoval that she was shook; Brock was talking about getting married. Sandoval said he venue fell through, and Lala said, forget the venue. He’d had nothing else planned. In Sandoval’s interview, he said he couldn’t plan a birthday party in two days. James and Raquel’s engagement took him over a month to plan. In Lala’s interview, she said her assistant reached out to Brock for his credit card number, and got radio silence. She told Sandoval that Brock wanted the James Kennedy discount, meaning for her and Randall to pay. In her interview, she said she felt bad that she’d told everyone about Brock’s past, but not bad enough to pay for a wedding. Charli asked if Scheana was down for a surprise wedding, and Scheana said she’d already gotten a couple of dresses. In Charli’s interview, she said she didn’t know the definition of surprised in the dictionary, but she was pretty sure you weren’t supposed to know about it. She asked Scheana if Brock’s visa was ending, and Scheana said he didn’t have a green card, but he’d told her mom he was marrying Scheana because he loved her. The green card was just a bonus. Lala asked if Sandoval was doing Brock’s Homebody shoot, and Sandoval said he was, and he’d signed up for tumbling lessons. He’d always wanted to do an amazing backflip. She said James had told her that Raquel couldn’t have penis straws at her bachelorette. In her interview, Lala said James was insecure when it came to Raquel. Her theory was that one day Raquel would grow a pair of hefty ovaries when she couldn’t deal with the control anymore.
Everyone came to Lala’s Give Them Lala launch party, and in Schwartz’s interview, he said it was weird seeing Sandoval. He suddenly felt self-conscious about the boundaries in their friendship. In Lala’s interview, she said tonight was a party, but it was still business. She had to work the room, and form relationships. GG and Reza from Shahs of Sunset were there, and Lala said she had to be on her effing game. James DJ’d, and Katie and Ariana talked to Lisa about opening the sandwich shop, since the boys wouldn’t let Katie in on the new bar. Lisa told them, don’t get mad, get even. Brock said the venue wanted $20K, and he just started paying child support. In her interview, Lala said, anything to do with payment, Brock drops the ball. Sandoval told James that Lala claimed he’d put a damper on Raquel’s bachelorette, and James said it had just been a suggestion. He thought penis straws were tacky and lame. Sandoval said, sometimes they were funny, and in his interview, he wondered why James was so against c*ck straws. Did he have a bad experience with one? Did he think it was a gateway drug to real c*cks? James admitted he’d been controlling in the past, but he wasn’t now. In James’s interview, he said, Lala had an opinion on literally everything. Everyone had problems, but Lala loved talking about his problems. He told Tom that he didn’t give a f*** what Lala thought of his relationship.
Surprisingly, people actually bought some feet pics. Ariana had sold two to someone she thought was called foot lover in French. She only knew two people who spoke French, and one of them was Lisa. Lisa admitted it was her, saying the phrase was lover of feet. In her interview, she said she didn’t want the girls to be embarrassed that no one bought their feet. She felt like a heel, and didn’t want to toe the line. She wanted to help them get a foot in the door, so she bought the pics. James confronted Lala, saying, Brock and Sandoval told him that she’d thought he was controlling. Lala said she wasn’t worried about anyone’s relationship other than her own, and James said, she was either worried or talking sh*t, but she said it was more casual conversation within the friend group. He seemed to accept this, and in James’s interview, he said that he wasn’t lashing out at Lala proved he wasn’t controlling, angry, and crazy. Everyone needed to mind their own business.
Randall brought out a gorgeous cake, much like a simple and elegant wedding cake, white with gold accents, a giant flower on the side. In Lala’s interview, she said, life was perfect, and wondered, how did she get here?
Next time, Schwarz and Sandy’s gets a sign, Sandoval is ignorant about what things cost, Scheana’s engagement ring comes and it’s huge, and James gets controlling, angry, and crazy at Brock.
🕶 Meet Celina Selena…
Okay, so I’ve been spelling her name wrong. What else is new?
🎄 Ghosts Of Christmas Passed…
How the soap stars did the holiday.
📜 A Holiday Message…
Erika Slezak brings tidings of great joy.
🚶🏽♀️ Slipping Out the Back, Jack…
No OC tomorrow, but I’ll be here for soap and perhaps a drop of tea. Until then stay safe, stay not bothering with those pesky resolutions, and stay knowing that on every road trip, even if there are detours, there will be discoveries along the way.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 