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General Hospital - The Best Supporting Characters in Daytime
I have to say, General Hospital has the most interesting supporting characters in daytime - hands down!
Actually, my friend, Sheri (who happens to be the best hairdresser on the planet) and I had this conversation weeks ago and I’m just now getting around to writing about it.
First of all, I am so-o-o-o tired of Sonny and Carly and their endless machinations together and apart.
I am tired of the Zaccharas.
I am tired of Lulu and her pursuit of Johnny.
I am tired of Robin pushing away Patrick and their endless conversations about whether or not he’s ready to be the baby daddy.
And I am tired of Jason being Sonny’s doormat.
Okay.
Rant ended.
Here’s what I LOVE about GH and what keeps me watching.
Top of the list - Bradford Anderson as computer geek Damien Spinelli and Carolyn Hennesy as super-smart, lady lawyer, Diane Miller.
Those two alone keep me watching.
Anderson and Hennesy both have an amazing talent for playing funny.
And one other great thing about these two.
They really go above and beyond for their fans. How great is that?
Anderson plays the assasin of cyberspace “The Jackal” and talks about himself in the third-person.
He has these weird - albeit appropriate - nicknames for everyone and he talks so fast that it constantly amazes me how he can remember, let alone speak, the complicated dialogue.
Check out this video. It features Spinelli and his Jackal-speak.
Hennesy commands attention every time she is onscreen.
She has this bigger-than-life presence and her attention to detail in every scene is remarkable.
No matter who she is paired with, Hennesy never fails to entertain. She has chemistry with everyone.
Diane’s friendship with fellow lawyer Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) has breathed new life into Alexis’ comical side.
The two are absolutely hysterical together.
Think Lucy and Ethel.
The thing about Hennesy is that she does serious really well too.
Remember that scene with Diane and Max (Derk Cheetwood) bonding over their sorrow about Michael’s shooting? It was touching and wonderful.
And speaking of Cheetwood as Max - I have yearned for a long time to see more of him - to see him in a real storyline and to see him in a relationship.
The Diane/Max pairing is so much fun and I absolutely love Hennesy and Cheetwood together.
Diane and Max
One other supporting character who I really enjoy is Nurse Nadine Crowell (Claire Coffee).
Coffee has a very natural way of acting. She is believable and real.
And Nadine is nice…really, really nice and that’s hard to find in soap opera land. She’s so nice that she’s a bit naive in some ways - sort of like Spinelli.
When she first came on the GH scene, I was hoping that Nadine would find love with Spinelli.
After all, the two went to the Black and White Ball together.
Instead, Nadine has fallen for Prince Nikolas Cassadine (Tyler Christopher) - who, in my opinion, is too dark and moody for her.
Nikolas is still pining away for his dead fiancee, Emily, anyway.
I guess you never really know where the romantic pairings will end up.
That’s just the nature of soaps.
And that’s why we crave them.
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Days’ wisely bringing Stefano back
So The Phoenix is rising again on Days of Our Lives.
Well, it’s about time.
As most Days fans know, Stefano DiMera (aka The Phoenix) disappeared from the Salem canvas several months ago after his portrayer, the delightfully devilish Joseph Mascolo, was stupidly let go.
Yeah, that’s right. I called the Days’ head honchos stupid. ‘Cause they were.
But someone, somewhere, wised up and realized the show has no better villain than Stefano … and hired Joseph back.
Finally.
Sometimes I really do wonder what the people running soaps are thinking.
Don’t you?
I know I can’t be the only one shaking her head at some of the decisions being made.
Anyhow, Stefano’s return is guaranteed to add some spark. He always does.
They don’t call him The Phoenix for nothing.
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GH’s Jason, just say ‘no’ to Carly
Oh, no, she didn’t!
Someone please tell me I did not just see General Hospital’s Carly tell Sonny that Jason is the father of her maybe-baby.
Did that self-absorbed, needs-every-man-in-her-life-to-adore-her-and-no-other hypocrite (no offense to portrayer Laura Wright, who is doing a fabulous job) actually drag Jason into one of her ridiculous dramas once more? (Check out the preview below of her asking Jason for her latest “favor.”)
I pray to the soap gods that Jason tells her, “Heck, no,” as he’s slamming the door on her behind.
OK, I know the latter part won’t happen. Jason and Carly have an extremely strong, bordering on strange, bond that can’t be broken come Robin or Sonny or Sam or Jax or Elizabeth or fake paternities … yada, yada, yada. It’d take something really big for him to actually kick her out (even though I think that’s exactly what she needs from him sometimes).
But please, Jason, for the love of all things relatively sane on GH, don’t say yes to her farfetched plan.
You did it once with Michael, and you’ve been moaning about the consequences of that ever since he was shot. Don’t throw all that character growth out the window for Carly.
As for Carly, I don’t really expect much character growth from her. She did have sex with Sonny … again … while in a relationship with Jax (only this time Jax and Carly were married, which makes it even more egregious in my book). So I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that she would concoct some absurd cover story … once again involving Jason. It’s what she does.
I just hope Jason has the sense this time to tell her what she needs to hear: NO!
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AMC’s Angie needs to let her fear go
I love all things Hubbard on All My Children.
Truly, I do.
But lately … and this is really hard for me to admit … Angie is getting on my nerves.
It’s not that I don’t appreciate what a loving, intelligent and competent woman she is. ‘Cause I do.
It’s not that I don’t appreciate her marvelous portrayer, Debbi Morgan. ‘Cause I do.
And it’s not that I don’t appreciate Debbi’s chemistry with Darnell Williams (Jesse), Cornelius Smith Jr. (Frankie) or Yaya DaCosta (Cassandra). ‘Cause I do.
What I’m not appreciating is her unwavering objection to Jesse joining the police force … in any capacity.
I get why she has reservations, why she fears the possibility so much. She just got Jesse back, after years of thinking he was dead. She blames his work as a police officer for the hell she and Frank and Jesse went through, and she’s not ready to take the chance that Jesse’s job will put him in danger again.
I get it. Really. And I keep reminding myself of her valid concerns.
But it’s starting to bother me that she’s letting fear run their lives.
Can’t she see how Jesse lights up at the notion of being on the force once more? (Check out the scenes below.) Telling him he can’t … or shouldn’t … be a cop is kind of cruel. The guy has put his life on hold for too long. He’s had to give up so much already to protect the ones he loves. Now he deserves a chance to truly live and do the things he enjoys, even if it means a little peril and excitement here and there.
Plus, it’s not like Jesse’s looking to become a flatfoot on patrol. He’s been offered the opportunity to be the police chief, which is usually more desk than danger.
Besides, Angie pressuring him to give up his passion for policing would be like him telling her she can’t work on people with infectious diseases anymore. I know that her job hasn’t put their family in danger the way Jesse’s has, but it could. Does that mean she needs to find some cushy teaching job, as well?
I recognize this is just a bone of contention thrown Jesse and Angie’s way to cause a little friction. We wouldn’t want them to be too happy, eh? This is a soap, after all.
But Angie’s bordering on selfish and whiny. And, frankly, I don’t think it’s a fitting trait for this otherwise remarkable heroine.
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Soaps should have another awards show
I am finally starting to emerge from my Daytime-Emmy-induced stupor, and something hit me.
I miss the televised Soap Opera Digest awards.
Anyone else feeling the void about now?
I used to love seeing all the soap stars dressed to the nines and actually enjoying themselves because a) every soap had a chance in Hades to get something and b) the categories were so much fun.
Remember best villain and villainess? Or best comeback? Or best supercouple (see clip below of my all-time faves Jack and Jennifer from Days of Our Lives.)
It was like the MTV or Kids’ Choice or (insert some other fun-loving, viewer-selected) awards just for soaps.
Why don’t we have that anymore?
Yeah, I know. Probably something about budgets and declining viewership. Blah, blah, blah.
But why do soaps seem to be the only genre affected by a cutback in awards events? As far as I can tell, the number of these “self-congratulatory” shows mushrooms every year, so, really, what’s one more?
And as for the argument that the SOD awards are simply a popularity contest … well, duh. But at least they didn’t pretend to be otherwise.
With all the drama and disappointment that seems to surround the Daytime Emmys nowadays, I could use something that is nothing more than fun … for both the stars and the fans.
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‘Got milk?’ These three actresses do
I was thrilled when I flipped through the pages of Soap Opera Digest recently and saw three soap actresses featured in a national advertising campaign.
Kassie DePaiva (Blair on One Life to Live), Bobbie Eakes (Krystal on All My Children) and Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth on General Hospital) were hamming it up in a “got milk?” ad, complete with the ubiquitous milk mustache.
How cool is that?
As a longtime soap fan, it always tickles me when the genre’s actors and actresses get a little extra recognition. I would say being part of a major ad campaign qualifies, wouldn’t you?
Not only that, but whoever selected these three particular actresses was right on target.
I’m not a big fan of AMC’s Krystal, but I have always appreciated Bobbie’s talents as a performer. She has a way of connecting with her characters, displaying true vulnerabilities that viewers can relate to.
As for Blair on OLTL, I think she is poised to be the “Viki” of her generation. She already has proven her staying power as a character, and Kassie’s portrayal continues to be the right mix of satin and steel. Plus, the actress is so warm and open with her fans.
Then there’s Rebecca. Michele likes to pick on me for my blatant “girl crush” on the woman. But really. Look at her. Can you blame me? Becky is one of the few women I let my husband say nice things about, so that must tell you something. I love GH’s Elizabeth and I admire how well Becky brings her to life. And the actress is always so gracious in person.
So all in all, I think the milk industry got some worthy women to hawk their product.
And the soap world once again shows it has plenty of substance to go with the froth.
(Photo courtesy of got milk?)
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Viki, Charlie, Antonio, Jessica, Natalie - Kudos All Around on OLTL
I don’t know where to begin.
There were so many really good performances Tuesday on One Life To Live.
Okay, I’ll start with Erika Slezak (Viki), because Viki IS One Life To Live.
And Slezak draws you in every time she’s onscreen.
She is so believable.
So genuine.
And when she’s paired with Brian Kerwin as Charlie - well, the sky’s the limit.
Kerwin also gives it all he’s got when paired with Slezak.
Together - perfection!
As was the case on Tuesday, as Charlie is begging Viki for forgiveness.
And Viki wants to forgive him - so badly.
I mean, you can feel how badly she wants to forgive him.
And I think she might, if not for her loyalty to her daughter, Jessica (Bree Williamson).
Because, as Viki says, even if she could get past Charlie’s lies, Jessica would never forgive her if she went back with Charlie.
And Viki can’t do that to Jess.
Speaking of Williamson, she’s been absolutely phenomenal in her grief over Nash’s death as Kara attested to in a previous blog.
And Tuesday was no exception.
But it was Antonio (Kamar de los Reyes) who really moved me in his scenes with ex-wife, Jessica.
It was the gentle side of Antonio - the side that I really adore - that came out as he offered comfort to Jess.
It was magnanimous of him, considering that Jess trashed her marriage to Antonio by her affair with Nash.
Antonio was so giving and so kind in Jess’s hour of need.
What I like about de los Reyes; Antonio is that he has such a great range of emotions and does them all very well.
He plays the rough and tough side of Antonio as well as he plays the tender, caring side.
As for Melissa Archer as Natalie - she got in touch with her forceful, assertive side…the Asa Buchanan part of her.
And, for me, I’m loving it.
Natalie, calmly - but firmly - issued her ultimatum to the shocked trio of Clint, Bo and Nora.
She will offer up the name of the real Buchanan heir if all of the charges against Jared are dropped.
Natalie played hardball, insisting that all civil charges be dropped too.
AND she insisted on having everything in writing!
I LOVE it!
A true tribute to her grandfather.
It’s something Asa would definitely be proud of!
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What’s AMC’s plan for Beth Ehlers?
The latest scuttlebutt about All My Children in that Beth Ehlers will be joining the cast.
This is major news for three major reasons:
No. 1: Beth is the mucho-beloved actress who created the role of Harley Cooper on Guiding Light.
No. 2: On the above-mentioned Guiding Light, her character was paired with Gus Aitoro, played by Ricky Paull Goldin … whom AMC viewers now know as Jake Martin.
No. 3: Although uber popular, Gus and Harley broke up on GL, inexplicably drifted farther and farther apart and then he died, leaving fans of the couple bitter and broken-hearted.
Hmmmmm … do ya think the AMC higher-ups might just capitalize on that?
Well, if they’re smart, they will.
And I like to think that the upper echelons of soaps still have a little intelligence floating around.
Anyhow, early rumors had her coming on as Liza Colby, which I found particularly interesting considering I’ve been championing the return of that character for months and months and months. Of course, that was back when it looked like the show might be pairing Colby and Frankie. But since they recast Colby … and she barely has any screentime anymore … and they brought on a new love interest for Frankie in the form of the stunning Randi. Well, I just don’t see as much of a fit for Liza as I did before.
Apparently I’m not the only one. Now rumors say Beth will not be playing Liza. However, there has been no official word either way.
In any case, it’ll be interesting to see how the Ricky and Beth redux plays out. And it’ll be nice to have them both on the Pine Valley scene.
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GH’s Lulu needs to get lost
I cannot stand Lulu on General Hospital. Can. Not. Stand. Her.
And it’s not one of those “love to hate” relationships, like I’ve had with Carly or Faith or Ric or A.J.
No, this is full-blown disgust. I don’t find her remotely entertaining or endearing or engaging.
What a waste of a talented young actress (Julie Marie Berman) … and an almost-complete ruination of a legacy character to boot.
The daughter of iconic supercouple Luke and Laura should be more likeable than this, right?
So what am I missing?
The show seems to think viewers want to see Lulu in every episode, sneering her way through dialogue and telling everybody else what to do with their lives.
Well, let me give you a head’s up, GH. Lulu is beyond annoying.
Don’t believe me? Here’s my latest strike list for Miss Lewww-lewwww (as Anthony would say):
She rarely shows up to work because she’s traipsing around town, getting into other people’s faces about stuff she has no business talking about, usually because she’s “protecting” wittle Johnny-kins. Strike 1.
She can’t be bothered to be with Nikolas during his recent brain surgery, yet she feels like it’s perfectly OK to get on his case about his relationship with Claudia … which is jaw-droppingly hypocritical because she has chosen to ignore everyone’s warnings (including Nikolas’) about getting involved with Claudia’s brother, Johnny. Strike 2.
She thinks she knows Johnny so well, yet she insists on insulting his sister every chance she gets. I’m not saying Claudia’s a saint, but … really …. Lulu barely knows the woman. What she does know is that Johnny loves his sister; he’s shown that in words and by action. That alone should earn Claudia some sort of respect from Lulu, at least to her face. Strike 3.
And, believe me, there’s more.
I just want someone to knock that selfish, Johnny-centric smirk (see below) off her face.
Speaking of Johnny (Brandon Barash), his character has been all but ruined for me, thanks to Lulu. Just when I think I’m liking him, he has a scene with her and I wonder what I ever saw in him in the first place.
He validates her stupidity and her insolence, making her even more intolerable to watch on my screen.
Lulu only truly cares about Lulu … and Johnny, of course. It really is infuriating and insulting to watch.
I keep thinking my complete loathing of her will pass, that it’s just some sort of phase and she’ll actually become the young heroine that her soap bloodline promised she’d be.
But I’m truly starting to lose hope.
So, GH? If you insist on making Lulu this obnoxious, can you do me a favor? Stop putting her on my screen every single day. There are plenty of other less-annoying, more-deserving characters who could use the air time.
Plus, I’m really getting tired of yelling at my TV.
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Keep up the Ava/Nicole friendship, Days
I am absolutely loving the newly formed friendship between Ava and Nicole on Days of Our Lives.
What a fabulous idea to pair these two as pals. Two women who, for obvious reasons, are severely lacking in the buddy department. It makes sense that they would form a bond.
Watching these two “girl talk” is a riot. Yet it’s sad at the same time as they discuss the reasons why no one likes them.
And therein lies the beauty in this connection.
The bond between Ava and Nicole showcases their vulnerabilities. It gives them humanity to temper some of their more conniving and downright dastardly deeds. Otherwise they’d just be a couple of meanies with no rooting value.
Perhaps what really makes Ava and Nicole’s scenes work is the fact that these characters are portrayed by two formidable and charismatic actresses.
Not to mention entertaining.
Arianne Zuker is so vibrant as Nicole. (Doesn’t the actress just seem like the kind of gal pal you’d like to hang with on a Saturday night? All lovable kookiness and such?) I am glued to the screen whenever she’s on. She has the ability to make me laugh one moment and then have me tearing up the next. It’s sorcery, I tell you.
And, of course, there’s Tamara Braun as Ava. This actress had the terribly difficult task of coming onto the Days canvas as a crazed woman causing having for the uber-uber-uber-uber-to-infinity-beloved supercouple Patch and Kayla. And now the show’s throwing her in between John and Marlena?
Talk about a thankless job.
But Tamara has been more than up to the task. With the things Ava has done, I should completely hate her. But lately, especially in her scenes with Nicole, she’s shown heart and remorse and humility and … dare I say? … likability.
It’s amazing what a little good-old-fashioned female bonding can do, eh?
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Rex Balsom, How Far You’ve Come
There are so many riviting performances lately on One Life To Live lately, that I must give kudos all around.
But there’s one person who never fails to entertain, whether it’s a light-hearted moment or a serious situation…
John-Paul Lavoisier as Rex Balsom.
Rex came onto the scene as a kind of a scammer…a bad boy always looking to make a quick buck….a younger version of David Vickers (Tuc Watkins).
But over the years, he has grown and matured into a loyal, do-the-right-thing kinda guy…
This, in large part, due to his close friendship with Bo Buchanan (Robert S. Woods), who has always been one of my favorites.
Bo is the epitomy of do-the-right thing.
I also think Jen’s murder turned a corner for Rex on a path to being a better person.
He really loved Jen and her murder was devastating for him.
He also bonded in grief with Marcie and Lindsay - friendships that have lasted and flourished over the years.
In fact, his friendship with Marcie led to his pact with her husband, Michael, keeping the secret that their adoptive son, Tommy, was really Todd Manning’s lost son.
And, boy, was Rex ever loyal to Michael during that entire situation.
But it really struck me just how far Rex has come during the past few weeks and particularly during Monday’s episode, when he told Adriana that their days-old marriage is over.
Rex - who was known to lie and scheme during his early days in Llanview - tells Adriana he can’t overlook her scheme to bring Brody to Llanview in order to keep Gigi Morasco (Farah Fath), Rex’s high school sweetheart, away from him.
He also is brutally honest - telling Adriana (Melissa Fumero) that he was having doubts about marrying her before the wedding.
Rex and Adriana have gone through a lot to be together, that’s for sure.
Remember when Dorian set up that whacko stalker and made it look like Rex? She almost got Adriana killed that time.
Rex and Adriana talked through their tears Monday as they neared their final split.
I’m sure part of the sadness was real…
Fumero is leaving the show and these were some of her last scenes.
Much luck to Melissa in her new endeavors.
As for Rex, he still needs to find out that Shane is his son - A.S.A.P.
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Jessica’s grief gut-wrenching on OLTL
I’m not much of a Nash and Jessica fan on One Life to Live.
The way they got together … basically steamrolling over Antonio … always tainted their union, in my eyes.
You can imagine my surprise, then, at how moved I was watching Jessica dealing with the news that Nash was not going to survive the injuries he sustained from his fall. (Check out some of the scenes below.)
Bree Williamson was A-MAY-ZING. She practically hyperventilated her dialogue, and as I watched her, I thought, “Oh my. That’s exactly how I would expect to react in the same situation.”
Pretty soon, I was bawling, too.
Wow.
Those scenes made me really care about Nash and Jessica for the first time. I felt the love, the history, the connection.
In fact, there were powerhouse performances all around. Michael McBain (Chris Stack) stoically giving the difficult news. Clint (Jerry verDorn) and Viki (Erika Slezak) desperately wanting to help their daughter, but knowing there was nothing they could do. Jared (John Brotherton) and Natalie’s (Melissa Archer) guilt cutting through their shock.
And Nash. Well, what can I say about Forbes March except that it’s almost unfathomable to me that the show has let him go. After all the time and effort OLTL took building him into a leading man, creating a strong pairing (complete with a solidifying child) and tearing down another significant couple in the process … and now this?
I really don’t get soap casting sometimes.
But I guess it’s moot now.
I’ll just try to be thankful that Nash’s death at least offered some great material for other cast members.
And that looks to continue. The previews show Jessica lashing out at Natalie for her part in Jared’s ruse.
Amen!
I simply loathe Natalie’s decision to protect her latest “true” love by lying to her family. (Even if she claims it was to benefit the Buchanans. Yeah, whatever.) And Jared holds no appeal for me at all. (I didn’t feel one iota of pity for him as he wrung his hands by Charlie’s bedside.)
I have lost a lot of respect for Natalie because of this, and while I don’t think she was to blame for Nash’s death, she definitely didn’t help matters. She deserves whatever anger Jessica throws at her.
And considering the way Bree has been nailing her scenes lately? I truly expect nothing less than fireworks when these two sisters butt heads.
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Welcome Back Monica Quartermaine!
Monica’s Back!
As in, Monica Quartermaine.
It’s been awhile since we’ve seen Monica (Leslie Charlson) on the General Hospital scene.
Monica, after all, is in rehab.
I believe the last time we saw Monica was when Jason (Steve Burton) went to tell her that Michael had been shot back in April.
Now Jason goes to tell his mother that he is taking over as head of the mob from Sonny.
As usual, Monica doesn’t hold back and tells Jason exactly what she thinks.
She also figures out why Jason agreed to take over as mob boss - in exchange for Sonny signing over all his paternal rights to Carly so that the boys will be safe.
I have watched Leslie Charleson as Monica since she came to Port Charles in 1977….back in those days Monica was a bit more devious - and scandalous!
One of my favorite Monica moments was when she went to a spa and slept with a much-younger worker - which later turned out to be Alan’s nephew, Ned Ashton.
Monica is one of my all-time favorite GH characters and Leslie Charleson is always wonderful onscreen.
I used to watch her back in the day on “Love Is A Many Splendored Thing” and loved her on that soap. Does anyone remember that one? It went off the air in the early 70’s.
I was glad to see when Leslie joined GH and am glad that she is still there, although she could use a lot more screentime in my opinion.
And, if you don’t already know it, Leslie is a horse person - something she and I have in common. Leslie rides and shows in the equestrian discipline of dressage.
She shows her horse, Romero, in California, according to photos on her website - but maybe some winter she’ll venture east to our winter circuit here in Wellington, Fl. It’s a must stop for all the top riders in the world and I happen to cover it.
Something to think about Leslie.
But for now….
It’s so good to see Monica back.
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Oh, AMC’s Greenlee. Grow up!
I’m a Greenlee fan. I freely admit it.
I think the All My Children character (played by Rebecca Budig) is cute, fun, sassy and smart. She’s a great gal to have on your side. She fights for the ones she loves … and isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with the ones she doesn’t.
I’ve stuck with her through many heartaches, even the ones she brought upon herself.
But lately? She’s been getting on my nerves.
It’s not that I blame her for being upset about Aidan and Kendall sleeping together. I think it would be a blow to anyone to learn her best friend and her boyfriend did the horizontal mambo, even if they did think she was dead.
I expect Greenlee to be mad. Really, I do. And I expect her to take time to get over it.
But I think her treatment of Kendall, in particular, has been hypocritical and juvenile.
Kendall, as many viewers recall, forgave Greenlee for running off with Spike (albeit momentarily), getting into an accident (although it was an accident) and injuring Spike (even though it turned out his hearing loss had nothing to do with the car wreck).
As a Greenlee fan, I cut her some slack through all that because I knew how much junk had been thrown her way through the years by Ryan, Kendall and Zach. I may not have liked or approved of her actions, but I understood the pain, loss and disappointment that drove Greenlee to her breaking point.
But this? Vowing to never forgive Aidan? Working to ruin Kendall’s life? Trying to seduce Zach as payback? Threatening to dismantle Fusion (see below)?
I don’t know. It’s just too childish, even for Greenlee. She’s acting more like Erica Kane’s daughter than Kendall is.
It’s not like Aidan faked his death or ruined her chance to have a child. No, that was Ryan and Zach … and Greenlee eventually forgave them.
It’s not like Kendall pulled a switcheroo and used her egg to create a baby with Greenlee’s husband’s sperm. Well, OK, she did do that, but that was before …. and Greenlee eventually forgave her.
If Greenlee can forgive these significant grievances, then why can’t she at least try to forgive this one (which really seems minor in the scope of Greenlee and Kendall’s history)?
And even if she can’t forgive, why does she have to make WWIII out of it?
It seems to me that if Zach is able to embrace his wife in spite of her indiscretion, then Greenlee should at least give Aidan a shot at redemption, especially considering the circumstances of the “betrayal.”
It’s called being an adult, and I think it’s high time Greenlee tried it.
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One Life To Live - Simply Stupendous All Around!
One Life To Live has been so captivating and so action-packed over the past two weeks - I don’t know where to begin - it’s been that good!
On Friday, I wrote about Blair finally standing up to Todd and Todd beginning to get his comeuppance. (See blog below).
There was so much more to be said….However, writing when you’re jet-lagged is never a good combination and I was exhausted.
I had just returned from a week in Ireland - and kudos to Kara for her brilliant musings and for carrying the blog single-handedly in my absence.
And, of course I get back and begin to watch all the back eppys of OLTL - and each one better than the next!
So here goes - although late I feel the need to discuss.
First of all - there was Rex and Adriana’s wedding and “the punch heard ‘round the world’ - not to mention the appearance by Brody.
A video is worth a thousand words. Watch below for all the fireworks.
There were lots of really good performances and side scenes leading up to the Bridezilla moment by Adriana (Melissa Fumero) - especially when it looked like Rex (John Paul Lavoisier) wasn’t going to show.
In addition to Fumero and Lavoisier being at their best - there were many other enjoyable, wonderful performances.
Loved the scenes with Talia (BethAnn Bonner) and Antonio (Kamar de los Reyes) sneaking off to be together and the priest finding them in a lip-lock in church.
And then there was Robert S. Woods as Bo trying to keep everything together in the face of impending disaster…Woods always delivers.
It was fun watching the many mood changes of Dorian (Robin Strasser) when at first she thought her plan to stop the wedding had worked - and then watching her as she realized it didn’t.
Kathy Brier is consistently good as Marcie McBain, and I particularly liked her scenes with Gigi (Farah Fath) as she tried to convince Gigi to tell Rex the truth - that he is Shane’s father.
And how about after the wedding - the Bo and Lindsay kiss? Finally!
But that was followed by the Bo/Lindsay and Nora/Clint confrontation, where Bo learned that Lindsay (Catherine Hickland) had fed Clint (Jerry Ver Dorn) the negative info about BE’s enemies.
Also good stuff!
Will Bo and Lindsay survive a second chance?
Or will Nora (Hillary B.Smith) get the revenge she so wants?
Some of the funniest and most entertaining scenes revolved around - who else, but David Vickers, Llanview’s most lovable scoundrel.
With Natalie (Melissa Archer), Jared (John Brotherton) and Nigel (Peter Bartlett) desperately trying to keep secret that Jared is not a Buchanan from the rest of the family, Vickers (Tuc Watkins) finds out the secret and - what else - blackmails them.
What Vickers doesn’t know is that he is the lost Buch heir.
To keep him quiet for awhile, Jared clocks Vickers on the head with a glass and carts him out to the stable to hide him until they figure out a plan.
Some really funny scenes in the living room, before Jared and Nigel are able to get Vickers to the barn.
Clint and Nora enter the room, with Vickers stowed behind the couch.
This is really funny! Check out when Nora sits on the couch and Vicker’s hand appears next to her! The comedic sides from all of the actors really shines in these scenes.
More good scenes with Natalie bringing breakfast to a hog-tied Vickers.
Even Whiskey weighs in on the scene.
Check out Whiskey’s ears as the horse looks at Vickers and tries to figure out what the heck he’s doing in her territory. Being a horse person and having owned horses, I know how funny horses can be with their expressions.
I think some of my favorite Melissa Archer scenes occurred in the barn as she tries to hide Vickers from Clint. She puts a horse blanket around the bound and gagged Vickers and puts him next to Whiskey. Then Natalie tap dances with words as she discourages Clint from going for a ride on the mare.
And there’s so much more going on….What about the jewel heist from Lindsay’s gallery? Will Ramsey finally get his due?
And then there’s Dorian….drugging Charlie (Brian Kerwin) and then pouring alcohol down the recovering alcoholic’s throat? I’m really not liking that twist, particularly because it’s going to bring Viki (Erika Slezak) heartache.
I guess we’ll have to tune in this week to see.
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Blair Finally Got Her Fire Back on OLTL
Well it’s about damn time, Blair!
I have been waiting - impatiently I might add - for Blair to take control, stand up to Todd and fight for Starr’s rights on One Life To Live.
I waited while she allowed Todd to beat up teenagers Markko and Cole and terrorize young Langston.
I waited while she sat passively by as Todd made Starr a prisoner in her own home.
And finally, FINALLY, Blair snapped out of it after watching Todd cause Starr to tumble down a flight of stairs.
And Kassie DePaiva as Blair did not disappoint.
DePaiva ran the gamut of emotions beautifully.
From the scenes when she found out 16-year-old Starr (Kristen Alderson) was pregnant, Blair went from tender moments with Starr to fierce and protective in taking a stand for her daughter against Todd (Trevor St. John).
What was most surprising to me was the scene in the hospital when Todd starts roughing up Cole and the police come.
Todd immediately looks at John McBain (Michael Easton) and blames him for calling the police.
But Blair stops Todd in his tracks, telling him it was she who called them.
Check out these scenes.
You gotta love it!
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Julia’s death simply sob-worthy on AMC
Alright, All My Children. You did it. You made me cry.
Are you happy now?
I was doing fine until I watched a dying Julia telling Krystal about the things Kathy likes. Her favorite color. How she prefers creamy peanut butter, not chunky.
Such simple, mundane tidbits, but man, did they hit me hard.
It’s especially strange because Julia has been such a peripheral character since she returned to the canvas a few years back. I often wondered why she was even on anymore.
That’s not a knock on portrayer Sydney Penny. No, not at all. That lovely woman helped bring to life the beauty that was Noah and Julia. She also was one-half of the wondrous Warren and BJ on the now-defunct Santa Barbara.
But even if Sydney hadn’t managed to make such an indelible mark on my soap-viewing experiences, she would (and will) always hold a special place in my heart for her portrayal of a young Meggie in the sweepingly romantic 1980s miniseries The Thorn Birds.
Yeah, Sydney has a permanent spot as one of my favorites. (Check out another fan’s video tribute below.)
But, honestly, her latest run in Pine Valley was a waste. A waste of her talent and a waste of story-line potential.
I guess the writers just could never figure out where to fit her in this last go ‘round. Instead, they let her die … figuratively and now literally.
She went out with an emotional bang, though.
How heartbreaking was it to see her stoically refusing surgery? Smart cookie that she is, she realized her wounds were mortal. And she realized that Kathy didn’t need a front-row seat as yet another caregiver, another “mother,” slipped from this earthly realm.
The piece de resistance? The scene that still gives me chills, even as I type? Ghost Dixie leaning close, thanking Julia for taking such good care of “Kate,” and telling her that the little girl would be fine.
Julia smiled slightly and you could see the peace that washed over her as she repeated Dixie’s whispered reassurances. Then she let go.
And so did I.
I cried, AMC. Big time. And although I’m sad to see such a gem as Sydney fade from my screen, I’m glad her final scenes showcased what an effective and moving performer she truly is.
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Is GH trying to make me hate Sonny?
Can you remember the last time General Hospital’s Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) actually did something decent and selfless? Something that required sacrifice from him for the sake of someone else?
Yeah. Me neither.
It’s a shame, really, what Sonny has become. He used to be one cool cat. Tough but tender. The ruthless mob boss with a soft spot for women and children. The lover, the mentor, the friend.
Now look at him. Actually, don’t. It’ll just make you seethe with anger.
I should know. I yell at the TV pretty much anytime he’s on anymore.
Did you happen to catch the past couple of shows? You know, the episodes where he basically demands that Jason (Steve Burton) take over the business so that Sonny can have a life. So that Sonny can be with his yellow-bonnet-wearing, paper-doll girlfriend and frolick with his remaining comatose-free kids.
Erg.
It just makes my blood boil that he’s once again asking Jason to clean up his mess, cater to his whims without question, while never giving a single thought to what Jason might want or need.
He hasn’t been a friend to Jason since … wow, I don’t think I can recall exactly when.
In fact, I’m having trouble recalling much of anything likeable about Sonny these days.
Certainly not his snooty, mothering girlfriend, Kate (Megan Ward), who has been an absolutely emasculating influence on him.
And certainly not the way he treats Spinelli (Bradford Anderson). Did you see the way he bullied the Jackal, knocking the young cyber genius into a wall for daring to talk about Sonny’s kids?
Wow.
There was a time when Sonny would have taken Spinelli under his wing. He would have recognized the Jackal as someone who wants to be valued, someone who wants a place to belong. And Sonny would have nurtured and guided Spinelli’s potential, rather than belittle and abuse as he does now.
Remember Stone (See above)? And a young Jason? Both are examples of the heart and soul that once inhabited Sonny.
Good luck finding those now.
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Cain Rogan coming back to OLTL
It seems like every other blog I write lately has been about another high-profile return to daytime.
I almost feel like I should apologize to my readers.
But … nah.
I mean, when the news has been so good, it’s impossible not to be excited.
The latest casting tidbit comes from One Life to Live. No surprise, really, since the show seems to be digging into its treasure chest of intriguing characters from the past.
Just who is the latest announced return, joining the likes of Tuc Watkins as David Vickers, Andrea Evans as Tina Lord, Susan Haskell as Marty Saybrooke and Thom Christopher as Carlo Hesser?
Christopher Cousins as Cain Rogan, that’s who!
What a wonderful move, OLTL. I always enjoyed the scheming rogue with a penchant for disguises. (And he really has the most deliciously romance-novelesque name, eh?)
He and David Vickers always kind of reminded me of each other. And now they’ll both be in Llanview, offering up plenty of entertainment, I have no doubt.
Christopher is supposed to start airing in July. And with Cain’s former wife, Tina, on her way back, as well, I dare say we should have quite an adventure on our hands at OLTL.
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Will Carly’s danger rule apply to Jason on GH?
I can see both sides of the Sonny/Carly custody impasse on General Hospital.
One the one hand, Carly (Laura Wright) has a point. Sonny (Maurice Benard) lives a dangerous life, he has plenty of enemies and everyone close to him gets hurt. Michael is the most recent and glaring example. I can’t blame her for wanting to distance her sons from Sonny now.
On the other hand, Sonny is Morgan’s father. And Michael’s, too, due to the fact that he (ironically, no?) forced biological father A.J. to sign over his parental rights. He wants to be in their lives. His connection to these boys isn’t just going to disappear even if he legally separates himself from them. A signature on a piece of paper isn’t necessarily going to keep them from being a target because Sonny’s enemies know Michael and Morgan are important to him.
Morgan has already lost a lot. Is it really fair to pull his father away, as well? Then again, keeping him alive and well has to be the top priority.
Who will win out? It should be interesting to see.
Perhaps what has me most intrigued by all this is where exactly will Jason (Steve Burton) fit in?
I mean, if Sonny’s too dangerous to be near the kids, shouldn’t the same apply to Jason? Especially if the mob enforcer becomes the new mob boss.
Something tells me, however, that Carly’s going to somehow “Carly logic” her way around it, like she always does.
But we’ll see.
This could be one of those rare moments when GH … and the character of Carly … actually surprise me.
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Dramatic weddings never get old
Dontcha just love big, splashy weddings on soap operas?
After more than 25 years as a viewer, I still get excited to see all the pomp and circumstance. The pretty dresses. The stylish tuxes. The flowers. The vows.
Oh, yeah. And the inevitable glitch. Usually in the form of a presumed dead spouse … or a jealous ex hell-bent on revenge … or a huge secret finally revealed.
Talk about drama.
Recently, One Life to Live pulled out all the stops with the wedding of Rex/Adriana.
How absolutely stunning did everyone look? Which is apropos considering how absolutely stunned everyone was when Gigi (Farah Fath) stood up and declared her love for Rex (John-Paul Lavoisier).
Yee. Haw.
It doesn’t get much better than that, folks. That’s classic soap, right there.
Now, All My Children is gearing up for some nuptials of its own. Jesse and Angie will be tying the knot in a big to-do that promises some fireworks, especially with smarmy Robert Gardner still lurking around targeting the Hubbards.
The previews of the wedding already have me feeling giddy with anticipation. Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams look amazing. What an incredibly beautiful pair they make.
Oooh, and Greg Nelson (Laurence Lau) has returned to Pine Valley for the occasion, bringing back so many great memories. In fact, there’s already been some more flashbacks with Jenny and the rest of that 1980s crew.
It’s wonderful to see AMC actually honoring its history, particularly such a pivotal time for the show.
It’s that kind of stuff that I like to call the icing on the soap-wedding cake.
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Latest comments
Hi, Amy and zaleefan.
Honestly, I wouldn’t be entirely opposed to a Zach/Greenlee pairing, although I do believe Greenlee and Kendall have shared enough men. LOL. However, I’m enjoying the special connection Greenlee and Zach
... read the full comment by Kara | Comment on AMC's Zach, Greenlee should stay just friends Read AMC's Zach, Greenlee should stay just friends
hi i love zach and greenlee they are the perfect couple and have perfect chemistry i am sick of kendall acting like a dumb 2 year old
GO ZALEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
... read the full comment by Amy | Comment on AMC's Zach, Greenlee should stay just friends Read AMC's Zach, Greenlee should stay just friends
Yeah, Sally. How ‘bout that? It almost makes me look like I know what I’m talking about. LOL.
It was nice to see Angie step up and be the woman I know she is, although I totally understood where she was coming from. I just didn’t
... read the full comment by Kara | Comment on AMC's Angie needs to let her fear go Read AMC's Angie needs to let her fear go
Well, you got your wish Friday! Was that a great scene or what?! I just love Angie & Jesse and the way she gave in to him being chief was so sweet…tears in the eyes sweet.
I was feeling the way you were too, that Angie was going overboard
... read the full comment by SallyV | Comment on AMC's Angie needs to let her fear go Read AMC's Angie needs to let her fear go