Soaps By Remote

How’s your incredulity level?

Higher than Marty’s I suspect.

I am beginning to become incredulous that Marty is not becoming incredulous at Todd.

I have made no secret of the fact that I have enjoyed the set-up and most of the execution of the Todd and Marty story to date. However, over the last two weeks I am beginning to become concerned that Marty is entirely too trusting, and therefore OLTL is losing me with the story.

She started out questioning everything, and now she’s questioning nothing even though her own dreamtime subconscious, “Jessica” and, frankly, Todd himself with the stupid Starr-related statement at the end of Friday’s episode, are all telling her that something is wrong here.

I’m also having a problem with Tess/Jess. I certainly like that they threw Tess and Todd into the same mix, but I still have two major issues. First, Tess is so obvious that someone other than Todd should be noticing. I thought Bo and John were going to make the leap and then they didn’t. Tina is more understandable because she doesn’t really know Jess and is so self-centred, though at least she appreciates that something is off, which no one else is yet doing. Hopefully Bo will make a break-through on that next week, but I suspect not before Natalie winds up stuck in a basement in time for Jared to return from Colombia with A Martinez (I hope and assume).

Second – and honestly probably informing a lot of this for me – is that Tess is an exceptionally annoying character. Obvious, out of control, with little attempt at impulse control even though she’s supposed to be pretending to be someone else. I certainly prefer the bitchy side, but the wide-eyed crocodile innocence when playing around Natalie and Jared in particular is grating.

Moving away from that this past week also brought to an end, or close to an end, the two anniversary stories that dragged on too long. I didn’t mind the 1968 story as much as some people, it delivered enough in the little pieces to let me enjoy chunks of it, but it went on far too long. So I was pleased by the sudden snap back to 2008.

I really do like Rex and Gigi as a couple - the actors have a very easy chemistry - and I’m glad Gigi rather than someone else told Rex about Shane, but I’m somewhat disappointed that he didn’t have a larger reaction to the lie. Over the entire time I’ve been watching they’ve built up Rex’s understandable trust issues with the lies by his wife, his mother and his “father” all as a lead-up to the biggest reveal. And now that they’ve made the reveal he doesn’t appear to care. I wouldn’t want it to go on forever, but I think they are doing a disservice to the great groundwork they laid by just brushing past it. Yes, they’ve set up the next part of the drama with Shane finding out and Brody’s fake DNA test (though they did that recently with Jared, right?), but the first step didn’t deliver the drama it could so easily have done.

Then there’s Mendorra. I didn’t really care for the Mendorra story and would have preferred that they left it behind a few weeks back with everyone coming back to Llanview at the same time so they didn’t have to go back again. However, putting that and the utterly lax palace security to one side, the set-up of Carlo and Jonas did give me cause to chuckle a few times, especially the “not that there’s anything wrong with that” tone of the impromptu press conference.

All in all, not the most satisfactory almost couple of weeks in Llanview, however I must note that this is still far and away the first show I’m coming home to watch, and aside from the blah Shane/Brody scenes, I’m not tempted to use the fast-forward button, so they’re still doing a pretty good job.

Join in the Chorus

I've been slightly distracted in recent days with birthday celebrations, unpacking half a dozen giant boxes of childhood memories my mother cleared out of her garage and delivered into my living room, and working as we start pre-production on the new season of the series I get to play actual as opposed to imaginary Executive Producer on. Plus watching the Food Channel. A lot.

I do have three quarters of a Night Shift post done, half a OLTL post and the beginnings of a Days post, and I still haven't decided whether I'm going to watch Genie's return. But before I get to those, I have to just add my dumbstruck praise to that of many others at ABC's new promo which includes its soaps with all its other shows.

Everyone else has already noted why this is more likely on ABC as opposed to the other networks - they own the shows - but nevertheless, between this and the rampant if slightly misguided daytime only "celebrity" ad campaign, I really couldn't be more thrilled to see actual, genuine promotion going on.

And if Days can sustain some of its Olympics-related ratings boost...

Juicy

It might, on first appearances, appear like I have gone off One Life To Live based on that fact I haven’t posted about it in two weeks. Nothing could be further from the truth. The failure in posting is simply a combination of (a) I have a cold = grumpy, in no mood for posting; (b) really wanting to get that Days post out; and (c) holy hell, how fast is this year going by, it can’t possibly have been two weeks!

In fact, generally, but even more over the last week, OLTL is the soap I am watching first. The one I’m watching as soon as I get home and have a glass of wine in hand, and not waiting until the weekend to get around to catching up with.

There are a number of things I’m enjoying about it, especially over the last week (getting rid of, or at least reducing down the Mendorra story really helped with that), but I’m going to start at the end with yesterday’s (Monday’s) episode.

I’d heard Susan Haskell was good, and I know she has an Emmy from the days when they still counted, but I’ve not really seen much of her prior to this bed-ridden stint beyond the rape scenes themselves. But wow, Monday. She made that nightmare/flashback so real and raw. So, so impressive.

As you know, I’ve liked what they’ve been doing with Marty and Todd to date, but having seen her work on Monday I really, really can’t wait until Marty pieces it all together or otherwise finds out that Todd was one of her rapists and is, among other things, keeping her separated from her son. And on the other hand I'm kind of sucked in to the bond they've formed. Which means the writers and actors are doing a spectacular job. Cannot, cannot wait.

More Sands Through That Old Hourglass

Right, so, Roscoe Born is gone at Days and Gary Tomlin is the new co-EP.

I’m very disappointed that Born is gone. I never expected him to be super long term, but that’s a real shame.

As for Tomlin, I know he’s been through a few shows, but I don’t think my viewing has crossed paths with his writing at any point (perhaps at Another World during the 80s?), so I don’t have a great deal to weigh in with there. All I can hope is that under this new (and apparently ever-changing) regime, they take the good of the Ed Scott era advances and move forward, rather than sweeping a broom through the place or going back to old, bad, habits.

As always, we shall see.

(via Tripp, Daytime Confidential and We Love Soaps)

Promotions

I see that ABC Daytime/Soapnet is sponsoring Jezebel today, keeping up their rather odd celebrity endorsement program.

I find the whole campaign odd, but I'm glad they're actually promoting their shows.

I See Story Progress

I know I’m behind, but between having cable hooked up again and the Olympics, I’ve been distracted. Plus I’ve had a never ending cold which has progressed from just annoying me to making me downright grumpy, which is no state in which to be posting. Especially not for this, my 500th post(!).

So, Days, the two weeks before the Olympic break/one-offs. An imperfect but quite enjoyable couple of weeks I think. Enjoyable for the most part because there was progress made in pretty much all the stories.

First, I liked the revelation that Trent and Nicole are still married. It explained her paranoia, without being outrageous or ridiculous. From the beginning they’ve made their relationship clearly abusive, and it’s good to get some further background to it without that background being anything totally mad. I know it’s wrong to say I’m liking a story involving some sort of spousal abuse, but given that otherwise Nicole could be such the caricature, where instead with this she gets to play drama and comedy and a variety of layers, makes for a great story. I’m also pleased that she told EJ, because it brought their relationship up to the next level, and gets to show another side of him too.

Also moving forward was the revelation that Paul was still alive. Even if I hadn’t been spoiled that still wouldn’t have been a surprise, but in this case that’s a good thing. They set it up so he could be dead or alive, and therefore don’t have to turn back-flips of incredulity to bring him back. Which, let’s face it, is refreshing on this show.

They also progressed the other side of the story with Hope working out what Bo was hiding and calling him on it appropriately. I loved Hope over this fortnight. Especially when she noted that Bo was acting liking a Kiriakis. Speaking of which we also had Philip “confessing” to Morgan and Bo being taken downtown. You know what we call that? Story progress. Again. Remarkable.

We also had Lucas getting out of jail, which I actually thought was too fast. They’d set up the fact he was doing something dangerous for Roman in order to get out – which was perfectly fine as a soap device to get a character out of jail – but the beat up happened too fast. That being said, Lucas was never going to work as an undercover operative in any circumstances, let alone maximum security prison, so maybe this was realistic. That said, I thought the scenes between Lucas and Maggie were great.

Then there was Ava’s departure, which again I thought was handled fine given the circumstances. I just don’t understand the point of the character in the first place, given how little they did with her.

Stefano’s return provided plenty of DiMera family goodness and bad Lexie doctoring. Who could ask for more? My favourite moments were Anna threatening to stab Stefano with a crucifix before she found out he was awake, and EJ and Tony practically dancing with discomfort while Lexie tested Stefano’s reflexes and John looked on with glee. Drake Hogestyn has that expression of sadistic glee down pat.

Finally we got to meet Melanie, who is great fun. I love that she’s entirely shameless, but not stupid, and the actress is doing okay so far.

In terms of the bad, the flashbacks are relentless. Sure, Bo and Hope’s random renewal of vows was rather sweet but it was really hard not to see it as (a) just an excuse to pad two episodes with old material; and (b) a fake set up for Bo’s “dramatic” arrest. I liked a genuine flashback as much as the next person, but I really don’t think an episode plus of them is worth it unless there’s a proper anniversary or reason to celebrate.

Also bad, the relative lack of Steve and Kayla. Though at least we saw Kayla being, shock horror, a doctor! That said, she never wears scrubs in the hospital, so why was she wearing them to hang out at Hope’s?

Now, the random and fashion-related comments.

- Thankfully, way too late, someone called EJ on the fact he could claim dual citizenship. Nice one Marlena. I’m liking her at the moment. Away from John, standing up to Trent, toying with EJ. However, was anyone else having flashbacks of a different kind when this happened?

- Yay, more Nicole and Chloe bonding. I’m pleased to see that wasn’t just a one-off, and that it’s not all easy as, but still a bit tense. I just wish they weren’t wearing such clashing outfits.

- So Lucas is back to being a Roberts now, is he? And how does a random nurse know that Philip Kiriakis and Lucas Roberts are brothers? Lucas might be pushing it to suggest that he and Chloe are in a relationship just yet though.

- Why does the Java Café only serve coffee in takeaway cups even to all the people drinking in?

- Did Chelsea just say she would never have picked Nick as a blog surfing type? Even though a rather large obstacle in their relationship involved a blog? Also, the party girl wouldn’t be Nick’s type? What, precisely, was Chelsea when he met her if not at least a wannabe party girl? With a video blog? It was nice to see non-pod Chelsea for the best part of a week though. Even if she did wind up wearing this inexplicable monstrosity to the wedding.

- I’m kind of sad they abandoned the map of France in favour of the over the top music to introduce the French scenes.

- I know Steph left Salem in sort of a hurry, but why was she wearing the same dress two days in a row? Did she only take the going away beret Chelsea and Morgan gave her and that dress with her? I bet she would have got changed if she knew she was going to jail.

- The golden wedding dress was a nice idea, but Kristian Alfonso is just too skinny. And over-tanned.

I don’t ever want to see her shoulder blades again. I did like, however, that Hope wasn’t instantly transformed, but rather that they actually brought the hairdresser to the house. Just like normal people.

- I’m glad to see Victor recovering so quickly that he goes from “no visitors” – albeit an order by the patronising doctor – to weddings and home in the blink of an eye. However why was Kate invited to the wedding? As Bo’s ex’s mother, as his father’s ex? And yet Bo’s brother Philip is not invited? Or Sami? I don’t understand.

Oh, and Victor, I agree, I couldn’t look at that jacket either.

Decent caps courtesy Days2 and NBC.

Please be upstanding...

In this Olympic season, when anthems are heard on continual rotation, an anthem of a different type popped randomly into my head. And it called for an obvious adaptation to create a new anthem for General Hospital:

Out of the history
Out from the drama
They make the same mistake this time

We are the viewers, the last generation
We are the ones who clung on tight
And I wonder when they are ever going to change
Creating the fear til no viewers remain

We don’t need another mob war (bud-da-dumb!)
We don’t need to the see the same over
All we want is what we came for: the Hospital

Looking for something, we can enjoy
There’s got to be something better out there
Mmmm, romance and drama
Is that day coming?
All else is darkness repeated again

And I wonder if things are ever gonna change
If the good guys will win, and all else is sane

All the viewers say
We don’t need another mob war
Can’t you do something original?
All we want it what’s normal: a soap opera

So what do we do with our lives?
We have only fast forward
Will our “story” shine like a light?
Or end in the dark?
It’s not all or nothing

We don’t need another “hero” (“hero” “hero”)
We don’t need to see the same over
All we want is what we came for: the Hospital

All the viewers say
We don’t need another mob war
We just want something original
All we want is what we came for: the Hospital

Oddly Enough, Time Doesn't Stand Still

This post is solely a demonstration that:

(a) I am old;
(b) Things do not freeze in time the way I sometimes think/wish they do/would; and
(c) I didn’t pay that much attention in the first place.

The news that Matt Borlenghi has been cast on Days as Salem’s Mayor had me going “but that’s little Brian from All My Children, he can’t be Mayor of anything!”

I’ve been an irregular viewer of AMC at best, but back in the early 90s when I was at college in LA I watched pretty regularly. (My memories of college in LA are mainly (a) lots of drinking; (b) lots of movies; (c) lots of TV; and (d) creative writing class. You will note that none of those things is studying. You will also note however that all of these things are actually relevant to my grown up life, and three of them to my career even.)

Anyway, this was during the period with Sarah Michelle Gellar as Kendall – being fabulous but not at all convincing as a 20-something or however old she was meant to be – and of the Tad/Ted Orsini stuff. Which means that for part of that period Dixie was married to Matt Borlenghi’s Brian. Little Brian, Hayley’s boyfriend, who wasn’t exactly meant to be old and who I perceived as extremely young, especially to be married to the already multiple-married Dixie.

And therefore he cannot be the Mayor of Salem.

Except of course that:

(a) that was 15-16 years ago;
(b) time does not stand still; and
(c) the actor is now in his forties, making him both old enough to be Mayor and half a decade older than me which I didn’t realise 15-16 years ago. It also makes him older than Cady McClain. Maybe I was just so distracted by the obvious age difference between SMG and her character that I couldn’t pay attention to anyone else’s age differences.

So, there you go.

What? I never said this was going to be a profound post.

Night Shift Season 2, Episode 3

Best episode so far.

For several reasons.

First, there was far less of Leo and Saira, and if they hadn’t gone back to them and their clichéd anti-chemistry vortex at the end, the episode would have been even better.

Second, there were some nice scenes between Robin and Jagger, and Epiphany and Toussaint. Just quiet little scenes, but often its when they’re not trying so hard that things work best.

Next, of course, charming scenes between Robin and Patrick. Whether it’s bantering over the name of their daughter(!) to be, or dealing with her father’s illness, they’re just so easy together when they’re allowed to be without stupid, repetitive arguments.

As for Matilda, that might originally be French, but really, these days, it’s an Australian name, which they should have pointed out the appropriateness of given that Robin is half Australian. That said, the poor girl is going to wind up with some combination of Scorpio and Drake as a surname, so maybe they should go with something animalistic. Sparrow Drake Scorpio? Turtle Scorpio Drake? Joking. Joking.

Then, of course, we have the return of Robert Scorpio.

Ah. Robert in a giant muddled flashback, wonderful. Reference checking Sean, Luke, Faison, DVX, Anna. I don’t care if it’s just the writers showing off some knowledge of history to no particular ends. In fact, I’m kind of thrilled that the writers are showing off knowledge of history to no particular ends. It’s entirely refreshing.

Robert raiding the supply closet for makeshift explosives and trying to escape through ducts with a broken arm were pretty classic. And Kyle improvising spy dialogue was also amusing.

“He’s got enough morphine in him to knock out a small horse. I’m surprised he can get out of bed, let alone put a sentence together.”
“So you think he’s just high?”
“I hope so. Either that or he’s got one hell of a tolerance.”

I’m not quite sure how Robert having a seizure immediately gave him back his medium term memory, but it’s nice to have him back. And it was nice to let him have a proper, if brief, conversation with Robin pre-surgery. His interaction with Robin having discovered she was pregnant was of course in stark contrast to the way regular GH has Anna reacting. (I’m guessing they’re going to skip the grand opportunity of having Robert and Anna in town together by having Anna cross over to Night Shift, aren’t they? Okay, I take that bit back. And say yay! But I do not the next bit: So disappointing what they’ve done with those two – one of my all time favourite soap couples whether as friends, as partners or as an actual couple – when they’ve actually had the opportunity to interact over the last few years. Plus I’m getting Mac’s not going to show up either.)

Aside from that likelihood that the rest of his family won't show up to visit, I have no problem with the tumour diagnosis, by the way. One thing Night Shift (even series 1) has hands down over Day Shift, is that it’s about the hospital and I’d much rather Robert have a proper reason for being there than being sentenced to community service as a janitor or some such.

Other relatively minor points that I enjoyed more than I should just because I’m so used to the opposite on regular GH:

1. Jagger and Robert being portrayed as loving and doting, if flawed, fathers.

2. A “pregnant” patient appearing on the show and having no interaction whatsoever with Robin.

3. Robin did not try to scrub in on an inappropriate surgery as she usually would, and even admitted she would have been useless trying to operate on her father.

Though, of course they did have Leo the cardiologist treating an OB/Psych patient, and Jagger the vacationing FBI agent able to observe surgery as and when he pleased. So we can’t have everything.

Also, they really,really don’t know when to quit with the glaringly obvious patient/doctor parallels. When they have the patients as bickering roommates and the doctors as bickering roommates and then have them all bickering in the same room, there’s really a problem.

Oh, and fianlly, the editing was much better this week than the previous two weeks and that helped too. As I suspected and noted last week, they do much better telling a story over one night instead of trying to squeeze a week-long story into one episode.

So, the show is hardly perfect, but there was further improvement this week and I rather enjoyed it. And, unlike last year, all signs point to me making it beyond episode 3 of this season.

Bring on the Executioner

OLTL Week and a Day in Review

This week and a bit was quite the mixed bag. Which leads me to an equally mixed bag of mainly unconnected comments and questions.

1. They burned down the diner? I did think David burning cheques and the waiter carrying matches in his pocket was a bit much, but is it actually going to mean anything? So far it just seems to be an excuse for Gigi and Brodie to wind up in a bar, and Carlotta doesn’t even seem to have noticed that both her sons are missing.

2. Viki and Charlie, love ‘em. Love that she was honest and happy to see him but not falling into his arms.

3. Loved Addie skewering Dorian over behaving like Todd.
To quote David: “That is so insightful.”
I also rather enoyed Dorian on the verge of hyperventilating at the thought of Addie and David role-playing…

4. Marty and Todd walked a fine line most of the week, but stepped over to the wrong side on Friday when mega manipulative Todd met too trusting Marty again, something they’d been avoiding earlier in the week and the previous one. Marty asking Todd to stay the night with her felt contrived, but even including that I was really enjoying the interaction, with every line being so charged. Todd making statements like “They don’t have lives” and “Don’t ever apologise to me” which were layered with multiple meanings, counter-balanced with Marty not buying her rapist being alone as punishment enough. I really appreciate all of that, but not nearly so much when he reverts to type and she gets too fawning as they did on Friday. Him reverting to type is fine, it’s got to happen to make the story workable, but she doesn’t have to be fawning in turn. And look, I have to say, the actors have great chemistry, which just makes everything all the more gloriously messed up.