Tag Archives: Zager and Evans

January 2, 2024 – It Can’t Get Worse, TempSam, His Fave, Soapy New Year, Salty Talk, Worst In Real, Upcoming Vampire, Roll Calls, Star Celebrations, Furry Resolutions & 2525

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

In bed with Drew, Carly says, she thought this was going to be a horrible New Year’s Eve, that she was going to be spending it all by herself, but here he is. She must be dreaming. He says, it’s no dream; it’s real. She says, no way. She must still be asleep. This is too good to be true. He says, let him convince her that he’s really here, and they kiss.

TempSam (see below) and Dante stand on the terrace watching the fireworks. Dante says, and just like that, it is 2024, and Sam says, time goes so fast. She’s sorry their plans got stalled tonight. He says, is she kidding? It wouldn’t be any fun at The Savoy knowing Scout’s at home sick with a sitter. Besides, does she really want to get dressed up and celebrate with a bunch of people? Because he doesn’t. He’d rather celebrate it right here. She says, he really doesn’t mind? and he says he really doesn’t. He’s right where he wants to be. She says she is too, and they kiss. He picks her up and carries her inside.

Brook and Chase go into the Quartermaine mansion, and Brook says, let’s make it quick. Get in and get out. They make a beeline for the living room.

At Pier 54, Michael’s phone rings. He asks Willow if everything’s okay. She’s supposed to be here for the fireworks. She says, everything’s fine, but she got held up, and asks where he is now. He says he’s at the pier. The fireworks are almost over. Does she want to meet at The Savoy? She says, sounds good. She’ll see him there. Ned and Olivia arrive at the pier, and Olivia asks Michael if Sonny’s here, but Michael says he hasn’t seen Sonny. Olivia says, Lois didn’t make it back here either, and Ned says, maybe they’re still at the club. Olivia says, they have to get back there – now.

In her office, Nina fingers her engagement ring, and flashes back to marrying Sonny. She remembers him telling her that he loves her and always will. She says she has to tell Sonny, and gathers up her stuff. She opens the door and Willow is there.

Sonny asks, who’s lying to him? and Lois says she’s sorry she has to be the one to tell him, because they’ve been friends for a really long… He says, she hasn’t told him anything yet, and she says she knows who really ratted out Carly and Drew to the SEC. And his family knows too.

Carrying in a bottle of champagne, Brook tells Chase that they’re going to ring in the new year with the good stuff. He says, all right. Come on. Let’s go. He heads for the door, but she sits down, and he asks what she’s doing. He thought their plan was to get it and get out before anybody else shows up. She pops the cork and says, too late. The cork’s out of the bottle. He knows her motto: It’s better to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission. He says, or they could not get on Ned’s bad side, and she says, look at him, trying to score points with his future father-in-law. Trust her. Dad will get over it. He says, there was champagne at the club, and she says, it was great to see Blaze perform, but that place was a dive bar. It is a well-respected dive bar where many a future rock star has appeared. It was a solid booking. He says, and Blaze did amazing, and Brook says, she did, but that champagne was swill. He says he wouldn’t know; he stuck to the ginger ale. She says, good for him. She has to cleanse her palate. And tonight is their first New Year’s Eve as an engaged couple. What’s a more special occasion than that? His phone dings, he looks at it, and says, whoa.

Dante and Sam kiss, when Scout walks in. She says she had a bad dream.

Drew and Carly clink champagne glasses and kiss. She says, if this is any indication of what’s going to happen in 2024, this is going to be a damn good year, and he tells her that he couldn’t have said it better himself. She says, he just got off a plan from Australia. Isn’t he jet lagged? He asks if he seems jet lagged. He is a little hungry though. She says she has tons of food in the kitchen. She can make him something. He says, if she doesn’t mind, he’ll take the lead on that. He knows how she is in the kitchen. She tells him that her kids say she makes the best brownies on the planet, and he says, those brownies from the box are really good, and they get out of bed.

Nina invites Willow in, and Willow says she took a chance that Nina would still be here. She remembers Nina mentioning she had to work New Year’s Eve. She’s sorry. Did she catch Nina on her way out? Nina says, she’s just in time, but she thought Willow would be at the New Year’s Eve party at The Savoy with Michael. Willow says, that was the plan, but then it hit a snag… Really. She shows Nina a rip in her dress, and says she got dressed at the hospital. She decided to check on a patient before she left, and her dress got caught on the door. She thought Nina could maybe help her out. Nina says, of course (🍷) she can.

Sonny says he doesn’t know why Lois is making a big deal about this. He knows Ned turned Carly and Drew in to the SEC. So what? She says, it wasn’t Ned. He’s been letting everyone believe it was him because it works to his advantage. He says, why would it work to Ned’s advantage? Why would he take the fall? Maybe she misunderstood what she heard. She says, no. Trust her. She’s the only one with her head on straight. If he doesn’t believe her, ask his son. Michael comes in with Ned and Olivia.

Chase says, it’s his dad, and Brook says, oh no. Did he get hurt? Is he at the hospital? He says, just the opposite. His dad sent photos of him skydiving. She says, what? and he says, how crazy is this? showing her the photos. She says, look at Gregory smiling; he’s so happy. Chase says, he really is. The way he looks in this photo is how his dad is to him. That’s who he was when Chase was growing up. He thought when his dad started using a cane, he’d never see him like this again. He’s really happy that his dad can jump out of an airplane. She asks, what’s wrong? and he says, it’s just that, before the ALS, it would never have occurred to his dad to go skydiving. He’s really making the most of the time he has left.

Dante hands Scout a glass, and says, when he was little and not feeling well, his mom always gave him ginger ale and that did the trick. Sam asks if Scout wants to tell her about the dream, and Scout says she had a dream about going to her new school. The teacher was a monster. She tried to get away, but she couldn’t. It was too fast. Sam holds her and says, it’s okay. She doesn’t have to go to that school if she doesn’t want to. Scout says, daddy will get mad at her, but Sam promises he won’t. Because she and Scout’s father just want what’s best for her. Scout says she thought they told her that school was the best, and Sam says, it’s a good school, but the best school is the one where Scout feels comfortable, and she enjoys learning. Scout says, so she doesn’t have to go? and Sam asks if that’s what she wants. Scout nods and says she wants to stay with her friends. Sam says, then no, she doesn’t have to go, and Scout thanks her.

Drew says, that hit the spot. Carly has to thank Josslyn for the leftovers. Carly asks what he’s talking about. Her name wasn’t on that box. He asks if they were hers, and she says, no. He says, Donna’s? The moss bowl’s🎍? and she says, no. He says he rests his case. If she complains about it, tell her that he owes her a yummy meal. She says, okay, and hands him a glass of champagne. He asks if they’re toasting the New Year, but she says, no. They already did that. They’re toasting his return. They clink glasses and kiss, and Carly asks, what happened? She thought he was extending his stay so he could negotiate more joint ventures. He says he got a little impatient with some of the board members in the company he was dealing with. He wasn’t quite as skillful as he thought he’d be. He figured it would be best to let a colleague finish the deal. She says, Drew Cain lost his patience, and he says, it was more like he kind of got out of there before he lost his patience and blew up the deal altogether. She says, wow. That’s not like him at all.

Michael asks, what’s going on? and Sonny says, that’s what he’d like to know. Lois says she told Sonny that it wasn’t Ned who pointed the SEC at Drew and Carly, and Olivia says, stop it. Lois says, he deserved to know. Michael, Olivia, and Ned (who Lois seems to think is Sonny’s whole family) know who’s really responsible. Olivia looks like she has a migraine, and Ned says, Lois is right. He didn’t go to the SEC. He wouldn’t hurt Carly that way. Sonny says, what about Drew? and Ned says, he and Drew have had their issues, but he’d never expose Drew to Federal scrutiny. Olivia says, Ned is telling the truth. He’s not the one who tipped off the SEC. Sonny says, Michael is very quiet over there. Is what Lois is saying true? Did Michael keep this from him? Michael flashes back to almost telling Sonny, but deciding not to, and Sonny saying, Michael can come to him with anything. Michael says, yeah. He did.

Chase tells Brook that he’s not going to keep bringing their whole night down. He’s not a doctor. His dad could be around for a long time. Brook says, okay, and hands him a glass of champagne. To her incredible fiancé, the best man she knows. They clink glasses and drink, then kiss. She says, okay, it’s his turn to toast something amazing about her. He says he doesn’t know what he’d toast about her, and she says, thank you. He says, there’s just so much. He wouldn’t know where to start. But he’ll start with her beauty, her kind heart, and her generous spirit. She’s wildly talented, and the way she makes him feel like he can do anything. So he’s toasting to all of the above. He loves her. She says she loves him too, and they’re about to kiss when his phone rings. She says, he really has to turn that off, but he answers, Detective Chase… No, they were right to call him. He’ll be right there. He says he’s sorry; he has to go. She asks if everything is all right, and he says, police business. He kisses her and leaves. She drinks down her champagne and picks up his glass, saying, no sense in wasting good champagne.

Sam says she just checked on Scout, and she’s out like a light. Dante says, poor kid. She’s really stressed out about this school. She says, it’s heartbreaking to be so afraid of changing schools and feel like she couldn’t say anything about it. He agrees and asks what she’s going to do, but she says she doesn’t know. She didn’t press the issue with Drew because she thought Scout was warming up to the idea of going to Westwood. Really, she was just saying what she thought he wanted to hear. Dante says, it’s tough. You want to get them out of their comfort zone so they can grow, but at the same time, you’ve got to respect their feelings. She says, yes, and that’s what she’s doing now. When Drew first brought the idea of Scout going to Westwood to her, she was totally worried about Scout going there; transferring her away from her friends at her current school, and right in the middle of the school year. Now that she sees how upset Scout is, she’s not going to make her go. He says he respects her position and her decision, but how does she think Drew’s going to react?

Drew asks if Carly thinks there’s something about the New Year that makes you want to make changes in your life, but she says she’s not good at New Year’s resolutions. If she makes a big, sweeping change, it usually blows up in her face and she backslides by February. The moss bowl🎍considers all the resolutions Carly has broken, and Drew says he just had a lot of time to think about things when he was in Australia. Some things he’s happy with, and some things he’s not. She says, like what? and he says he just kind of fell into a role he’s not comfortable with. He was just so grateful to be home after being held overseas that he fell into this role of peacekeeper with the Quartermaines. He felt it was his duty to get along with everybody, to calm the waters at ELQ, and that’s just not working for him anymore. Where was Ned’s loyalty to him? Ned’s the reason he got sent back to prison. She says she understands what he’s saying about Ned, and she agrees with him, but the rest… She loves how kind and generous and forgiving he is. He tells her that he’s just saying he’s not a choirboy. He’s a grown man and he’s got his limits. And he’s got an extended family that knows how to play dirty. Where has that forgiving nature got him other than months in Pentenville?

Sonny says, Michael knew? and Olivia says she thinks they’ve done enough damage for one night, looking at Lois. Lois says she hopes Sonny knows she only wanted to help, and Ned suggests they give Sonny and Michael some privacy. He leaves with Olivia and Lois, and Michael says he’s sorry, but Sonny says he doesn’t want to hear Michael’s apologies. Why didn’t Michael come to him as soon as he found out who turned Carly and Drew in? Michael says, there’s no clear-cut answer… and Sonny says, it’s very simple. Just tell him the truth. Michael says, it was best for everyone involved if Ned took the fall, and in the end, Ned agreed. Sonny asks why he would do that, and Michael says, because they made a business arrangement that worked out in Ned’s favor. Sonny says, it works out for Ned, yeah. He wheeled and dealed, and Michael kept his mom in the dark? Michael says he thought it best for everyone, including Sonny, and Sonny asks how lying is best for him. Michael says, because sometimes the truth can do more damage than a lie, and Sonny asks how long he’s known. Michael says, since October. He found out right after Sonny and Nina got married.

Willow comes out in a new dress – black, sparkly, sleeveless, and low cut – and Nina says, she looks lovely. Willow says, Nina’s Crimson closet of dresses sure came in handy. What does Nina think? Is this a good look for New Year’s Eve? Nina says, it’s almost perfect. She needs a necklace. Nina takes off the one she’s wearing and says, take hers, putting it on Willow. Yes. Much better. Willow says, this is so generous. Thank you. Nina says, anything for her, and Willow takes Nina’s hand, saying, she knew she could count on Nina. Nina’s eyes fill up with tears, and Willow asks, what’s wrong?

Sam tells Dante that Drew is just going to have to accept the fact Scout isn’t going to Westwood Academy, because this is about what’s best for their daughter, not what he wants. Dante says, he’s a reasonable guy. He’s going to understand Sam’s decision, and if he doesn’t, he’ll come around to it when he hears her side. She says she knows. He’s a terrific dad. She just thinks she’s going about this all wrong. He says, how so? and she says, isn’t she doing what Drew did? Making a unilateral decision without consulting the other parent? He saw how upset Scout was. She doesn’t know what else she’s supposed to do.

Carly says, they haven’t talked much about Drew’s time in Pentenville, and he asks, what is there to talk about? She says, for one thing, he’s different. She noticed a change when he got out. He’s coming down much harder on Ned, whereas before, he would have tried to keep peace in the family. He asks if that’s unreasonable, but she tells him that she didn’t say unreasonable; she said different. There’s the whole situation with Scout’s school. He asks if Sam told her that he got Scout into Westwood Academy, and she says, Sam told her that he announced it to her and Scout, without any discussion. He says, she’s going to have a lot more opportunities at that school than the one she’s at now, and Carly tells him that she’s not saying if it’s good or bad if Scout goes to that school. He asks what she is saying, and she tells him that she’s saying she loves him, and she’s concerned about him. He says, because he wants his daughter to go to an excellent school? and she says, because he went through hell, and it’s changed him. She just wants him to know that whatever he’s going through, he doesn’t have to carry it alone. She’s here.

Nina says, it’s nothing, and Willow says she knows they’re still figuring out their relationship, but she hopes one day they get to the point where they’re able to tell each other anything. Nina says she does too. She needs to tell Willow something… Looking at Willow, she’s reminded how they were robbed of the moments they didn’t get. Brushing Willow’s hair before school, looking at a million pictures from Willow’s prom, and helping her pick out her wedding dress. The list goes on. She was so happy when she found out she was pregnant, and she dreamed about all the things she would do if she had a daughter, and she had a daughter. But they never got to do those things. Willow says, the important thing is that they have each other now – she takes Nina’s hands – and there will be many more moments for them in the future.

I don’t know about you, but I feel sick.

Brook is about to leave, when Ned, Olivia, and Lois come in. Olivia asks what she’s doing here, and Brook says she was picking something up. Ned asks, how was Blaze’s show? and Brook says, it was great. She was phenomenal. Everybody loved her. She’s going to be a star. Lois says she thought Brook was spending tonight with her fiancé, and Brook says, they were. Chase got called into work. How was their night? Olivia says, Brook can direct that question to her mother, and Brook asks Lois if something happened. Lois says she’s sorry, but she and Olivia need to talk, privately. She steers Olivia into the living room and closes the door. Brook says, obviously, something happened, and asks Ned to tell her everything.

Lois says she knows Olivia is upset, and Olivia says, damn right she’s upset. What the hell was Lois thinking? Lois says she was thinking that Sonny is her good friend, and Olivia says, well, congratulations. She just ruined her good friend Sonny’s life.

Sonny says, Michael has known for over two months who tipped off the SEC about Carly and Drew? and Michael says, yeah. Sonny says, so Michael is telling him that he found out after his wedding. Michael knew how important it was for Sonny to have him at the wedding. So the whole reconciliation is a lie? Michael says, he loves Sonny. That’s not it… Sonny says, Michael loves him. So why didn’t Michael tell him the truth? Michael says he tried. He went to Sonny to tell him, and Sonny was just so happy, the happiest he’s seen Sonny in a long time, and Michael didn’t want to take that away from him. He also thought if he told Sonny the truth, something might be broken, maybe between them. Sonny says, Michael knows he loves him. He would never let anything be broken between them. Michael says that he knew if the truth came out, it would hurt Sonny more than anyone else.

Carly takes Drew’s hand and says, if he wants to leave what happened at Pentenville in the past, that’s fine. She just wants him to know that she loves him. She’s here for him, and if he ever needs her, all he has to do is ask. He says he just wants her to know that he hears her and appreciates her. He hugs her and tells her that he appreciates everything she’s saying so much. Just knowing she loves him and is here for him is all he needs. She says, if he changes his mind, ever, that’s okay, and he promises if he ever needs any support, he’ll come to her. Now what does she say he gets in the living room and makes a nice fire? They can finish that bottle of champagne and make some New Year’s resolutions they can actually keep. She says, like what? and he says, like taking long walks together. Like leaving their phones at home. She says she could do that, and he says, like Saturday morning donuts, and she says she could really do that. He says, like spending way less time with business when they could be in bed, and she says, these are some resolutions she can definitely get behind. They kiss, and he says he’s going to get started on that fire. He leaves, and she says, he’s definitely going to be okay. Her phone rings, and since the moss bowl🎍doesn’t answer phones, she picks it up.

Sam tells Dante that this is all relatively new to her. She’s basically been a single parent to both Scout and Danny, and she’s used to making all the big decisions on her own. He tells her that he’d say she’s done an awesome job because she has two awesome kids, and she thanks him. She says, when Drew first came back to Port Charles, they were basically in lockstep on how to parent Scout, until he came back from Pentenville. Dante says, maybe he’s just trying to put it behind him too fast. He knows he did the same thing. Drew probably wants to prove to himself and to Scout that he’s a good dad. What better way to prove that than to get your kid into some elite school? She says, but why not come to her first, so they could talk it over and see if it was appropriate for her? She knows Westwood is just one decision, but it’s a big one, and there are going to be so many more, bigger decisions the older she gets. He says, right. That’s why they have to get on the same page now, so down the line, they can make these decisions together. She says, right, but she just told Scout that she didn’t have to go to the school, without including Drew in the conversation. Did she just make a big mistake?

Lois says, Olivia can’t guilt her. Sonny had a right to know. Olivia says, but she told Lois in confidence, but Lois says, Olivia didn’t tell her anything. She figured it out on her own. Olivia says, whatever. She begged Lois not to say anything because this affects so many more people than just Sonny. Lois says, it affects Ned’s deal with Michael to get control of ELQ, and Olivia says, but it affects more people than just Ned. Since they’re on the subject of Ned, why don’t they talk about Ned? ELQ is his family company. He loves it. It means something to him. Just because Lois can’t stand it, she had no right to mess this up for him. Lois tells Olivia, what can she say? If she sees something, she says something. You know something funny? Olivia used to be the exact same way. Olivia says she thought Lois was her friend, and Lois says, she is Olivia’s friend, but she’s also Sonny’s friend. Olivia says she can’t even trust Lois now. She begged Lois not to say anything, but she had to go run her mouth and ruin everybody’s life. Lois says, the way she sees it, Olivia knows better than anyone what it means to keep secrets from Sonny. Olivia says, wow, and Lois says, Livvy… Olivia says, Lois said what she said because Olivia kept it a secret from Sonny that her child was his son? So that when Dante grows up and becomes a cop and goes undercover, he doesn’t realize he’s going after his father? That when Sonny finds out and doesn’t realize the cop that he’s shooting is his own son? Is that what Lois is talking about? No. Is that what Lois is throwing in her face right now? Her good friend?

Michael says he didn’t want to hurt Sonny, especially after getting him back, but Sonny says, the only way this would hurt him is if the person who turned Carly and Drew in to the SEC is someone he cares about. He knows Michael didn’t do it because Michael wouldn’t do that to his mother. Michael says, it wasn’t him, and Sonny says, so he must have good reason to withhold this information from Carly and Drew. What is it? Michael says, the informant wasn’t close to his mom or Drew, but exposing them would hurt someone else he loves very much. Sonny says, Willow, and Michael nods.

Willow tells Nina, it’s New Year’s Eve. How did they get talking on such a heavy topic? Tonight is all about new beginnings, right? Nina tells her, that’s what people say, and Willow suggests they head over to The Savoy. She thinks they’ve kept their husbands waiting long enough. Nina says, okay, and they get their bags. Willow says she’s not sure what to do with her dress, and Nina says, Crimson has a person that does alterations on the model’s dresses. She can make sure that is as good as new. Willow thanks her and says, that would be amazing. It’s a brand-new dress. She was going to wear it for the first time tonight. It would be great if it didn’t go to waste. Nina says, it just occurred to her that Willow could have gone to the Quartermaines to change, but she came here. Willow says, the Quartermaine house is so far away. Why go all the way home when she has a mother who works in fashion? She thanks Nina again for loaning her the new dress and fixing the old one. It really means a lot to her. Willow hugs Nina, and says, shall we? Nina says, after you, and follows Willow out. She closes the office door and leans against it for a moment, wishing she could cry, then leaves.

Dante says, it seems to him, the only mistake Sam would be making is forcing Scout to go to a school she strongly doesn’t want to go to. Sam says she knows Drew didn’t mean to put her in a rough spot, but Scout did feel like she has to change schools because it’s what he wants. Dante says he thinks Drew is a great dad, but he did put Scout in a rough spot and also put Sam in a tough spot. He thinks Sam should trust her instincts and try to make it right. She thanks him for having her back, and he says, she always has his. That’s what makes them so good together. They kiss, wish each other a Happy New Year, and get busy.

Brook says, let her see if she has this straight. Ned let everyone think it was him who tipped off the SEC about Carly and Drew’s insider trading? He says, actually, he was on his way to tell Drew who was really to blame when he slipped and fell and lost his memory. She says, them when he got his memory back, he made an agreement with Michael to keep quiet in exchange for Michael’s stock proxy? He says, that’s right, and she says, and people wonder why this family scares her sometimes. Olivia bursts out of the living room, and Lois begs her to wait. Olivia asks if Lois has some more helpful advice. Someone else’s secrets that she feels entitled to announce to the entire world? Lois says she went too far, and she knows it, and Olivia cries and says, the night Sonny shot Dante was her worst nightmare coming true. That moment haunts every quiet corner in her mind. Just tell her. How long has Lois had that locked and loaded and ready to throw in her face? Olivia runs outside, and Lois calls after her. Ned follows Olivia out, and Brook asks Lois, what did she do? Lois says she opened her big mouth, and she may have started the new year by losing her oldest friend.

Sonny says, what about Willow? and Michael says, Drew’s out of Pentenville. Mom’s happy running Kelly’s. She and Drew are happy together. Please, let this go. Sonny says he doesn’t want to hear that. Who is it? Nina and Willow come down the stairs, and Sonny asks again, who is it? Who turned his mom and Drew in to the SEC? Michael says, it was Nina, and Sonny turns around to see her.

Carly looks stunned, when Drew comes back and says, the fire’s lit… She stares at her phone, and he goes over to her, asking, what is it? She says, it was the embassy in Amsterdam. My mom’s dead.

Geez, can this day in Port Charles get any worse?

There was no preview. Just the full credits with Deck the Halls sung in the background. Which seems weird since we’re past New Year’s Day.

🚑 Sliding Into GH Like…

The latest in quick change artists.

🧮 Except For the Wig…

This was a favorite of mine too. And I’m with him on the wig. They’re annoying.

Easton Rocket Sweda Reveals His Favorite GH Episode of 2023

🥂 Soap Celebrations…

Like Christmas, it’s probably not much different from what we all do.

🧂 Salt This…

Biggest revelation – if we want to call it that – Jen gave Heather the black eye. But there weren’t any details. I want details. I kind of liked Monica after half-watching this season, and don’t think she’s necessarily the bad guy. She just suffers from the same boredom and lust for screen time that all the other Housewives do. And here’s a thought. If things are dark, dirty, and scandalous, don’t do them. Because Monica was right about one thing, nothing stays in the dark forever. Not in today’s society.

While I don’t do resolutions, I’m honestly rethinking watching any of the Housewives more than peripherally. They seem to start off with promise, but slide downhill faster than my local K-Mart did when it was new. I had the Salt Lakers on while I was doing something else, and there were so many bleeps I couldn’t even hear the conversation. While I was raised by a sailor and enjoy a colorful adjective, come on. These are adults with children and jobs… sort of. It just boggles my mind that they act like age five to middle school on any given day. Dropping huge bombs and grilling people on personal issues at parties or group dinners, who does that? And the mean girl ganging up that happens, like on RHOBH. While that behavior should never be acceptable, if you’re doing it after college, what are you doing? Go sit in the corner. I’ll get off the soapbox now, but they all might be reduced to a link next season. Here’s the salt.

https://people.com/rhoslc-recap-monica-garcia-trolling-account-exposed-season-4-finale-8421154

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/rhoslc-season-4-finale-recap-cast-updates-reunion-details

📺 Worst Of the Worst…

I can’t understand how they missed The Littlest Groom. I watched about half of one episode and couldn’t stomach the voyeuristic nature of the show. Since it was yanked off the air pretty quickly, I’m guessing other viewers felt the same.

https://ew.com/gallery/worst-reality-tv-shows-ever/

⚰️ Interview Times Two…

Season One was pretty impressive, so I’m sure it’s worth a watch.

https://ew.com/interview-with-the-vampire-season-2-jacob-anderson-interview-8417770

🌠 Stars That Dimmed…

Andrea Evans, Jackie Zeman and Treat Williams were big shockers for me. Norman Lear, not so much. I couldn’t believe when I saw the headline Cause of Death Revealed. At 101, what do you think it would be?

https://www.avclub.com/remembering-the-stars-we-lost-in-2023-1849997910

🎊 Ringing It In…

What the stars did for New Year’s Eve. Some of these celebrities are just like us; others, not even close.

https://extratv.com/photos/image_jpg_20240102_9942c23e11d14fc5be4388de302d5d12/

https://www.eonline.com/photos/36751/stars-celebrating-new-years-eve-2023

And some stars didn’t have such a great New Year’s Eve. I have no doubt he got slammed for this, and maybe even had his reasons, but why did he leave the car when his daughter was in it?

https://people.com/ian-ziering-thankful-to-be-unscathed-attack-bikers-8421158

🐕 Resolutions Aren’t Fur Everybody…

I didn’t see any resolutions mentioning cats. I assume cats just refuse to make them.

https://www.thewildest.com/dog-lifestyle/dog-new-years-resolutions

🍾 Not Forgetting Auld Acquaintances…

Come on by tomorrow for soap and cringing through Beverly Hills. Until then, stay safe, stay looking forward to the days ahead, and stay never feeling entitled to announce anyone’s secrets to the entire world.

January 3, 2020 – A Reveal Before the Vows, the New Q Manse, Stanbury Split, Change Brews In the OC, The Countess Moves On, a Reminder & Wrong Year

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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Nina tells Jax, she’s sorry, but she has no time to talk. He tells her, just listen. Whatever she’s planning, don’t. The only option that will leave any of them standing is for her to walk away – now.

In bed with Chase, Willow says she can’t believe he got a hotel room. They have a perfectly good bed. He asks if it’s a complaint, and says they can go, but she pulls him back, and says, don’t you dare. She likes the hotel and the bed, and loves the guy in the bed. Chase says that guy loves her too.

Sam tells Jason that this is the last time she can see him, and he asks, what happened? She says the only way she can stay free, is if she stays away from him.

Ned and Brook sit with Diane at the MetroCourt. Brook says she knows Diane is a master. If anyone can find a way out of her contract, it’s Diane. Diane asks if Brook consulted an attorney before signing it, and Brook says, no. Diane says she should have.

Michael asks if he’s told Sasha how good she looks. She says when she got there, and when they took their first drink, and he says, it’s not enough. He tells her to hit him with her New Year’s resolution, and she says she’s so excited to start over. She’ll be leaving Nina and Charlotte behind, but she’s grateful to have him. He says she’s stuck with him, and she says, promise? They kiss.

Maxie tells Obrecht that she looks beautiful; Maxie loves her dress. Obrecht thanks her, and drains her glass. Maxie asks if everything is okay, and Obrecht says she’s anticipating the festivities, whatever they may be. Peter says he thinks it’s called a wedding. Obrecht tells them that despite her sordid history with Valentin, he makes her niece happy. She hopes Nina chooses happy, and Maxie asks if that isn’t why they’re there. Obrecht says, from her lips, and moves on. Peter asks, is it him, or is Obrecht stranger than usual? Maxie says she’s not and never will be a Valentin fan, but obviously, Nina loves him. If a liar like Valentin can turn things around, maybe there’s hope for the rest of them.

Up on the tower balcony, Valentin tells Ava that he doesn’t change plans. He acts with precision, and she gave him an opportunity he can’t pass up. She asks, what opportunity? and he says she’s been drinking heavily, she’s in a fragile emotional state, and it’s icy up there. He pushes her over the parapet, and Charlotte appears. She asks what he’s doing out there. I am so angry about the turn this took. Why must Valentin continue to be a jerk?

Valentin asks Charlotte what she’s doing out there, and from behind her, Lulu says they came to look at the moon. Valentin says, it’s cold. Why don’t they look from the conservatory inside? Lulu says, that’s not a bad idea, and Valentin says he has a job for Charlotte. He tells Lulu that he’s glad she came, and asks Charlotte to check on the bride. He’ll see Lulu downstairs. Charlotte tries to look over the edge, but Valentin pulls her along.

Laura tells Doc, she tried to convince Charlotte that her bodyguard wasn’t real, but Charlotte insisted she saw him, and he was wearing the Cassadine crest ring. She compared it to her father’s tattoo, and described it perfectly. Doc asks if she’s certain it was a ring, and if there’s any chance Charlotte had seen it before. Laura says she’s never seen Valentin near one, and Nikolas was dead long before Charlotte came to town. None of it makes sense.

Sam tells Jason, it’s all her fault. If only she hadn’t gone undercover to take Shiloh down. Look what it’s done to them. Jason says, back it up for a second, and asks the officer’s name. Sam gives him Delores’s card, and he asks if she came in hostile at all. Sam says Delores was definitely expecting her to make a mistake. Jason says Sam didn’t do that. She just showed Delores the house. Sam says, yeah, but Delores got fixated on the stockings. She asked about Danny, and knew Jason was his father. Then she asked if Jason was living there. Jason says, first, Sam needs to understand it’s not her fault. Nothing could have been done to stop it. The officer saw his file, and knew he was Danny’s father. She came to the house gunning for him, not her. Sam asks if there’s any way to fight it.

Willow tells Chase, it’s been an amazing year, and Chase says, except for going to jail. She says, apart from that, she met him, they fell in love, and moved in together. He says, it’s been a pretty good year, and Willow says, she has the feeling 2020 will be even better. Chase thinks they both have that feeling, and they kiss.

Diane tells Brook, the contract is tightly written, and gives little wiggle room. Brook asks if it isn’t Diane’s job; she’s gotten Sonny out of worse. Diane says, not really. All of her clients are well-advised not to sign anything unless it’s been reviewed by her or another competent attorney, which Brook neglected to do. Her manager has exclusive rights to everything, until she provides her obligation. Ned asks if they have any options, and Diane says, if it was anyone else, she’d say there are none, but since they’re Quartermaines, the only straightforward solution would be to buy him out. Her phone dings, and she says she has to run, telling them, happy New Year. Brook says they’re in the middle of something, but Diane says she got a call to consult with a client who has her on retainer. As she leaves, Brook says, it was a text; not a call.

Sasha tells Michael that she keeps telling herself that Lucy is a good businesswoman, and she made the right choice. Is she boring him? He says, no; he’s interested. She says, if he’s so interested, why has he been looking over there the whole time? He apologizes, saying he’s close to his cousin Ned, who’s hands down the most Quartermaine of all of them; whatever good and bad that entails. Ned was distracted before, when he was mayor, but now that Ned’s daughter is back, Michael has the feeling they’re gearing up for some Quartermaine infighting. Sasha asks if that’s a thing, and he says, it is in their family. If he’s right, he could use favor from her. She says, anything, and he says he needs help keeping his perspective. He needs to appreciate the good things around him, and once in a while, she can make him smile. She kisses him, and says, like that? He says, yeah; just like that.

Jax tells Nina that she has two options; marry Valentin or destroy him, and neither is worth it. She says he doesn’t know that, but he says he does. Valentin is dangerous. He’s lied so many times already, does she want to marry into a dysfunctional situation because Valentin is a good father, and there have been a few moments he made her feel good? To be honest, plan B, her big revenge, is probably worse. Charlotte will get caught in the middle. Nina says she thinks about that constantly, and Jax says she should. Charlotte is on cloud nine about Nina marrying her father. If she takes Valentin down, she’ll take Charlotte too, and she doesn’t want to do that. She says, no, she doesn’t.

😠 There was a brief interruption here for remarks about the airstrike in Iraq. Sorry, I just didn’t have time to backtrack later, but I didn’t miss much.

Laura tells Lulu that Charlotte could end up resenting her, and Lulu says, true, but it’s hard. Laura gets it. She knows, no matter what else Valentin has done, he’s the father of someone they love. She’s not saying they should turn a blind eye to it, but Lulu needs to let go of some of the rage, at least around Charlotte. Not long ago, Charlotte blurted out that she knew they hated each other. Lulu says she hasn’t done a good job of hiding it, and Laura tells her to do better, for Charlotte’s sake. Inch toward the middle. She’d like to think, if Nikolas lived, it’s what he would want them do. I laugh, knowing how wrong that is.

Charlotte asks what Jax is doing in Nina’s room, and he says he came to talk to his friend. It’s an exciting night for her, so he’ll leave them to it. Nina tells Charlotte how beautiful she looks, but Charlotte says there’s no one prettier than Nina. She’s excited for Nina to be her forever stepmother. They hug, and Charlotte says she needs Nina. Papa needs her. It will be his happily ever after once Nina marries him.

Jason says he’s never been convicted, but Diane says, one nolo contendere is all that’s needed. He knew when he took the plea bargain, that it was going to follow him, and someone might use it as ammunition. He says, they let him out, and Diane says, because the police needed his help to apprehend Franco. In the eyes of the law, he’s a felon, and the officer is within her rights to make it a condition of Sam’s parole. Sam says, it’s fine. It’s nothing they haven’t dealt with before. They’ll deal with it again.

Martin tells Valentin, it’s almost midnight. Is he ready? Valentin says he never thought he’d be getting married in a room of his enemies. Martin says, it’s a humdinger, and Valentin says, if anyone had made the guest list other than Nina, he’d be worried. Charlotte runs in, and Jax isn’t far behind. They both sit.

Brook asks if Ned heard what Diane said about the option they have. Ned asks if she wants him to pay the guy off, and she says, yes. He says, no, and she asks, why not? He says she had a manager; her mother. It was her choice to leave, and go out on her own, signing with a supposed brilliant producer. Brook says he hit on her. After she signed. She realized it was less about her being a recording artist than arm candy. Ned asks if the producer forced himself on her, and she says, no, but he made it clear there were terms not specified in the contract that he wanted met. Ned calls him a pig, and Brook says, now he understands why she needs him to give the producer the money. He says, sorry. His answer is still no.

Sasha asks Willow what it’s like having someone head over heels in love with her. Chase is obsessed with her, in the most sincere way. She has the feeling when the time it right, they’re going to make the best parents.

Chase says Michael and Sasha seem good. Michael says it’s crazy, after all that happened, and Chase says he’s relieved that he didn’t have to testify in the fraud thing. Michael must be glad it’s over. Michael says, the lies are done, and Sasha has the Deception thing going on. The sky’s the limit for Sasha, and it’s all he wants for her.

No Nina yet. Martin looks at his watch. Everyone waits. Nina stands outside the door for a moment, and walks in. She and Valentin smile at each other.

Diane says she’s speaking not only as an attorney, but someone who has a vested interest in Sam and Jason’s happiness, and that of their children. In all these years, it hasn’t sat well with her that Sonny’s children have paid in a million different ways for the choices he made. If they’re going to do this, sneak around, and try to circumvent the stipulations of parole, Sam could be locked away for the full two years, possibly more. She has to ask if that’s a risk they’re willing to take.

Michael, Sasha, Willow, and Chase clink glasses at the MetroCourt, saying, happy New Year. Michael says, it really is, and kisses Sasha. Chase says, get a room, and Sasha says, like they did? Michael says Chase is making him look bad. Sasha asks what he and Chase were talking about, and Michael says, lies. He’s happy the drama is behind them. They clink glasses again, and Sasha says she has enjoyed so much of her time there though. She obviously fell in love with Nina as a maternal figure; she’s an amazing mom to Charlotte. But the whole time, she kept thinking, it’s not real; she can’t trust it. Willow says she gets it. Giving up Wiley was hard, but the second hardest thing was the lying and covering up, especially with Michael. When they would meet at the grief group, and she wasn’t telling him the truth, she hated every minute. They all turn to Chase, and he says, don’t look at him. He’s a cop; honesty is always the best policy. Michael says neither one of them would last in his families. The Corinthoses lie about facts, and the Quartermaines lie about everything, but the love is real.

Ned tells Brook and Olivia, happy New Year to the two most important women in his life. Brook says the countdown isn’t going to make her forget. She asks if he doesn’t believe that the guy was inappropriate with her, but he says he does. She can’t work with him again, but he doesn’t think throwing money at him is the solution. Now, he has the leverage, and can set the price, if he knows she’s desperate to get out. If she’d just read the fine print. Brook says it sounds like he thinks she asked for it, and Ned says, of course (🍷) he doesn’t think she wanted sexual harassment by a loser. She says, why not then? and he says if thought she was in danger, they’d figure something out. What happened was inexcusable, but she can stay there and regroup. Brook asks why she should give up her dream, but Ned says, the contract will eventually expire. Brook says, years from now, when she’s dead, or worse, married. Ned says the uncomfortable truth is, they’re Quartermaines, and there’s a world full of people who want to take advantage of them. If they give in just once, everyone knows they can be taken advantage of. Brook asks if he can’t just do it one time, but he says, that’s not how it works. Sorry. She leaves, and Olivia looks at Ned.

The Wedding March plays, as Nina walks down the aisle, which doesn’t take long since they’re in the living room.

Diane says she doesn’t want to know how good Sam and Jason are at avoiding surveillance. They only need to be caught one time. The parole officer is gunning for Sam, probably to get at Jason. The best option is to get Spinelli involved. Have him do a deep dive on the parole officer, and see if he can come up with something, like a conflict of interest. Get Sam assigned to someone new. It has to be done behind-the-scenes, or the officer could get more combative, or make a worse report. Sam says, so Diane is telling them the officer has total control. Diane says, for the moment, and Jason says, the best way to beat her, is to make her think she’s winning.

Ned asks Olivia what she thinks, and Olivia says, it was an amazing speech, but not one word landed. Ned asks, why? and she says, because Brook may have a tough exterior like Lois, but the Quartermaine who Brook is most like is Ned’s mother.

Martin officiates, but Valentin tells him, before the official stuff, he’d like to say a few words. He tells Nina, in this world, two things changed his life forever. First, his beautiful daughter, and then there’s her. He wasn’t certain she and Charlotte would ever meet; he thought they’d be separate parts of his life always. But then Charlotte came to live with him, and the most remarkable thing happened. He met the side of Nina that loved his daughter. She introduced him to a new level of happiness. She’s a wonderful mother, and he can’t imagine sharing his daughter with anyone else; like he can’t imagine sharing his life with anyone else. She’s it. She’s the one.

Ned says, it’s amazing how clearly Olivia sees his family. Does she want out? Olivia asks if he thinks his family drama is going to scare her away. He hugs her, and says she’s still getting her feet wet when it comes to the Quartermaines, but Olivia says she thinks she’s waist deep. Ned says they have a lot of flaws, but the one virtue in the midst of the chaos and backstabbing, is that they can take a moment to enjoy themselves, and see the big picture. He’s glad Brook is back in his life, and he can spend time with her. And he has Olivia, her love and acceptance, and her kicking him in the ass when he needs it. Olivia tells him, don’t ever forget it, and they kiss.

Jason asks how Diane got there, and Diane says, an Uber. Jason tells her, they’ll openly leave together. Sam says, it’s the last time, and Diane agrees. She says they can’t come face to face unless accompanied by their attorneys. Sam says, it’s not fair. This is how they’re supposed to bring in the New Year? He’s Danny’s father. Jason says, if there’s a fix, Diane will find it. He hates it, but they can deal with it. What they can’t deal with, is the kids missing her. He’d go prison for her, but they can’t risk her going back. They’re parents, and what’s right for Scout and Danny is to be with her, which means… He kisses her, and tells her that he loves her so much. She says she loves him too, and they hug. He leaves with Diane, gesturing to Sam with his index finger and pinky on his way out the door, which I assume means he loves her, and not that he loves heavy metal. Sam cries. In the hallway, Diane asks if Jason is okay, but he says, no.

Nina guesses she’ll say something too. Valentin has made her happier than anyone else in her life. She didn’t know what love was until she fell into it with him. What they learn when they’re kids, they think love is a fairytale. A happily ever after, permanent state of bliss, but that’s not love. Love has its ups and downs; beautiful transcendent moments alongside heart wrenching ones. But the happiness is worth the pain. On thing she’s learned, and knows for sure, happiness with him is so sweet. So no more secrets between them, right? He says, no, and I feel sick. Martin says, on that note, and reads the vows.

Just as Nina is about to say, I do, the door is kicked open. Nikolas stands there with Ava in his arms. Everyone is shocked, including me. I have to admit, that was good.

On Monday, Cameron says Trina should have stayed out of it, Lulu accuses Jax of being behind everything, and Nikolas tells Valentin that he loses everything.

🏰 To The Mansion Reborn…

To be honest, I didn’t even notice until Tracy mentioned it. I just thought it was a different part of the house.

https://www.abc.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital-quartermaine-mansion-remodel-174316?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=8191

👒 A Shame… I Guess…

They seem amicable, but who knows? I’m still waiting on Ladies of London to come back. I loved Caroline.

https://extratv.com/2019/12/26/reality-couple-caroline-stanbury-and-cem-habib-split/?adid=extra_eme_27326_2019-12-28_rightnow1

🍊 But I Like Braunwyn…

At least she makes it so one of these things is not like the others.

https://radaronline.com/photos/in-the-doghouse-kelly-dodd-walks-pups-amid-talk-rhoc-stars-could-be-axed/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

Oddly enough, in this article, she sounds like the only one not on her way out.

https://radaronline.com/photos/rhoc-bravo-may-fire-entire-cast-vicki-gunvalson-tamra-judge-kelly-dodd/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🍹 Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That…

Hey, as long as they’re not nasty or sloppy, if someone wants to drink to excess, that’s their business. Although LuAnn seems to be both. Just sayin’. I was surprised when she got brought back to court after outing herself about those two mimosas. I’ll bet she was surprised too.

https://pagesix.com/2020/01/02/luann-de-lesseps-leaked-drinking-admission-to-people-to-dodge-other-outlets/

https://pagesix.com/2020/01/02/luann-de-lesseps-says-shes-drinking-alcohol-again-after-completing-probation/

❗ Don’t Forget…

The Haves and the Have Nots begins a new season this Tuesday, January 7th. As does Vanderpump Rules. I’ll have to see how I’m going to finagle that, since they’re both on at 9 pm. I’ll be glad to see HAHN again, and just as glad to stop seeing the ad for it on OWN every five minutes.

👂 A Yearworm…

I know it’s way off, but every time I hear 2020, this song pops into my head. Somebody make it stop.