Okay, so I was on the train today, allegedly grading papers. I had just given a lecture on the Classical Hollywood Studio System and the changes that happened when they had to move from silent to sound. I brought up how they later had to deal with an upstart new technology when television arose, and then cable, and then- gleefully- I mentioned that now another new day is firmly dawning. Traditional television networks on traditional platforms are over. They're dead. It's time to relinquish the content to the internet. It's time to say "when", People, it's over.
I was trying to grade those papers but I was distracted as I was also trying to watch AMC on Hulu Plus on my phone. How nice, I thought, to not only get to see AMC again, but to see it on my phone, on a train, whenever I want. This does present a new problem for me, though. You know how much grading I got done on that train? Oh well, who cares about students. I have Viki and Todd and Dorian and David and David and Adam...........you see my point.
But, back to the topic at hand. This new medium allows for oodles of fun. I can't even begin to tell you how great it was to see Todd call Tea a "shitty" mother. It was the best thing ever. I think Blair calling him an asshole was great, too, but Todd needs to swear. He needs to swear a lot. He is an asshole. Blair's right. And assholes swear. It always bugged me when he'd say "Buzz Off" or something. That was stupid. He should tell people to "FUCK OFF", as I'm sure he will be doing very soon.
OMG, how great was that fight between Todd and Slow Vic? Okay, I know I said I'd back off calling him that but I changed my mind. He's been back for two days and I already hate him again. Not the actor, mind you, but the character. I find he and Tea nauseating although I dig FL the most. I think they're self-involved freaks. Listening to him whine about having a year of his life taken from him by Todd made ME want to kick his puny ass. Really, I wanted to become imaginary, get on a plane, go to the studio, enter Nimnut's time machine, and punch his lights out. But I digress from my digression.
I loved it when Todd recovered from the shock and then went nuts on him, punching him in the gut and then really letting him have it. It was all kinds of fun. Next time, I want Todd to take things from area and use them for weapons. I see coffee machines flying in his face, bottles being broken over his head. Anything. GET HIM, TODD!! He sucks.
But I digress.
These shows are so fucking superior to the crap being played on traditional networks, it's not even amusing. You can't compare them as it's like comparing The Sopranos to Saved By the Bell. One is for grownups, the other for slow people or kids under the age of six. The only thing more pathetic is Nimnuts' tweets about how exciting GH is and what we should watch for.....now that's sad. I wouldn't laugh as it's so ridiculous and they're such losers, but I can't help it. The "creative team" on GH has become their invention- they are Slow Vic. They're "special" as they look retarded trying to even compete with these superior programs.
Look, it took Nimnuts about 18 months to do nothing with his Grand Opus, The Two Todds. In two days, PP ended it, made it interesting, and is moving on. Guess what, Moron, THIS is what people want. I have to admit it was amusing to see no one flinch that he was back, or care, besides Tea. Even Jack was pleased but it seemed almost to be as much of a show for Mean Old Daddy Todd as his showing affection for Slow Vic. Really, no one cared. Know why? Because we don't care!! We just want it done.
I think it's so funny how my funnny recapper is still recapping for GH but now, no one comments. Know why? NO ONE CARES!!! GH SUCKS!! I look because she cracks me up with the commentary. She claims that poor Robin will still be stuck away, with random bad dudes using her in a giant game of Hot Potato, when Slow Vic is back and Tea's having his next kid. It just shows how BAD that team is when we see how it can work. Sure, there should have been more reaction to the dead guy's return, but does it matter? Nope. Know why? We're sick of it. Let's move the fuck on!!
So, they did. And they're leaving the past in the dust. And I, for one, couldn't be happier. These characters are back to who they should be- every one of them- and I love it. Just comparing Eddie Haskell Manning to Todd Manning now shows you how incompetent those losers are. And, guess what, Howarth remembered how to act. Whodathunkit?
Tell me again when those alleged characters are appearing on GH because, according to Alderson, they've been delayed due to the "sad events of the past week" or some such nonsense. HMMMM. That was one day of pre-emption. Should there be this much confusion when they'll air? I'd say, logically, one day later. Why isn't that being announced? I hear Easton is on on the 18th. What about Boris and his kid, Natasha, Jr.? When are they airing?
I'm not saying they won't but I'm curious why they aren't being promoted as they will, undoubtedly, save that show..........only not. Maybe because the NYT reported that PP now owns GH....when ABC cancels....which is not happening now, right?
HMMM. Look, I'm not saying it's happening and I'm not saying it isn't. All I'm doing is drawing some connections. If PP now OWNS GH, when they are cancelled, that means that they probably have some say in what happens there, right, as this cancellation is probably imminent. They did last time. Maybe they don't want their OLTL star on another show that they also now kind of control? Or maybe that injunction made it's way to GH's door before the "dark week", conveniently scheduled during the premiere of PP's other shows. Nice time to close up shop, huh, when everyone's gone.
I'm not saying it's happening. I'm not saying producers and writers may be fired. I'm not saying footage may end up on the cutting room floor with certain actors in it. I'm not saying any of that. All I'm saying is it's interesting. And GH is not.
Do yourself a favor, GH fans, boycott. Then you'll get a real show. And maybe Robin. On the first day.
Deal with it, Old Guard. You've been outdone. You're dinosaurs and you're being bested. Give it up, move on, and thank you for your years of service. We wish you luck in future endeavors....as long as they have nothing to do with our shows.
And can both Todd and Slow Vic kick their asses on the way out? I'd like to see that. And use that Vodka bottle- they look like bleeders......
with all that I have going on, I haven't been able to comment, but again you hit it out of the part.
ReplyDeleteOLTL:
-Not even gonna get into the T&B thing, as I would be here ALL day. I will say this...after all that they've been through, but actors and characters, 20 years later, they are still T&B. Oh and R&K
-That was not Vicki talking about how she missed her brother, that was ES talking about how she missed her loved one, HER BOY! LOL
-Love their diss of Port Charles, and THAT women, THAT's gotta sting.
1. I want to like Vic, as he really is a new character. I would love to see him form his own life and personality. But that will only happen IF the actor is wiling to commit, and we've seen when he just want to dial it in. Also, totally glad they did prolong his reveal...unlike someone else we won't mention.
2. Vic really needs to leave him not being with his family for a year alone, and stop blaming Todd for that. And also Todd did't steal anything. Actually it's the other way around.
3. Jack- Man it's so much storytelling there, where do I start. I understand where he is coming from, and I understand how he feels about Victor. But as you said, I think he is sticking it to Todd. I think alot of it has to do with hurt, and not exceptance of Todd. If he felt hurt for being left by Todd AGAIN, he would have every right. I think that he sees for all the crap that Victor has done, he was more or less there. We as adults know that Victor wasn't THERE for Jack, but as a child, Jack doesn't see it that way. I think that all will be good between the two of them, at least from the opening it looks that way.
3. Dani- I can't stand the girl, and wish she never exists, thanks Ron. As a matter of fact the only reason she does is because he was such a fan of FL/Tea. Moving on......I think her daddy issues are easier to fix, unlike Jacks. I think she needs to acknowledge and except the fact that Todd is her bio dad, but Victor will always be her father. If she wants a relationship with Todd, great, but it doesn't have to be a father/daughter relationship. I also think that someone needs to bring it to Teas attention that having 3 dads in 21 years, will f*ch up any child's life, and isn't exactly good parenting.
5. Todd....oh my Todd. I can't say anymore..just Todd. He's back! For me RH is the one and only Todd, and man have I missed him. Even though he is the LAST person to be talking about parenting, gotta love the line he gave to Tea. He is such a hypercrit, and asshole, but that's Todd. Oh, and even a hypercrit can be right, which he was.
6. Jeffery/Matt/Des...I love Jeff the most. Matt is a ass, but I can live with that. The story that I want told for Des, I'll write about later. But I'm willing to say, for now I'm willing to stick with her story line and the actress. I just wish we weren't introduced to her as she was going into the club. The couldn't find a shorter Des or taller Matt.
FrankenRon:
I have been dreaming of them throwing things at the wall in CA, of course I'm laughing as I dream this up. They HAVE got to be having the worse week of their lives, has to be.
And to know that you PROBABLY won't have a job if/when your show gets cancelled, that's just the icing on the cake. I would have thought that that would have been their first thought, but as has been said before, they aren't that bright.
My last thought....a certain GH (formally OLTL) writer has been promoting and praising OLTL all over tweeter. And because I know you like a good conspiracy like I do, could that certain someone be a certain leak that contributed to the lawsuit.
sorry about the length.
Hi Sunshine! Someone just alerted me to that writer- if it's the same one- SSSSS is all I'll say but it's a bit shocking to me. That's all.
DeleteThe 'mole' I'm thinking of is someone else. Someone working both sides if the fence....I mean working on both sets.
That's all I'll say and it's simply my conspiracy theorist opinion. No info just my thoughts.
KA chatting about cereal today. LOL!
Well, Jack must have found out that Todd gave him away shortly after birth and lied to Blair that he had died, because he thought Jack was MaxHole's son. The one thing that stood out to me on Broadcast OLTL when everyone assumed Victor was Todd was that Jack (who was further hurt over the way Victor basically ignored Starr, Sam and Jack to play with his bright new shiny daughter, Danielle)only believed that Todd loved him when Todd covered up his "murder" of Gigi by bribing his friend's father to get his friend to confess to it. Then he morphed into VicTodd's adoring little puppy dog.
DeleteYou know what gets me about the stupidity of Cartini fighting PP for the OLTL 3? GH doesn't even NEED them. Never did, or not in the fashion that Cartini used them.
ReplyDeleteAll the GH fans wanted was for Cartini to limit the Gummy Bear Mob, and restore the canon families, like the Quartermaines, etc. Really, after Port Charles got canceled, if ABCD had simply dropped the vampire shtick, and merged the PC cast back with the GH cast while limiting the Sopranos Shtick, GH wouldn't have been in such dire straits.
I can understand PP wanting to keep ME and RH in reserve as OLTL characters while they were trying to reboot by keeping them employed for another year at GH, but not at the expense of GH characters. Let's face it, the overrated (but popular) SBu left GH in a snit, because Cartini threw Jason under the bus to resurrect Caleb and Livvie. And Brandon Barash did not need to lose his job so that RH's Todd could be Carly's purse-holding David Vickers.
The only way I thought a OLTL crossover could have worked for a year was if Todd hired a GH lawyer, like Alexis or Diane, to represent him and they had arranged for a change of venue for his murder trial. Have Judge Scott Baldwin preside. The mystery microchip that Irene was after could have brought Robert Scorpio, Anna Devane, Sean Donnelly, Frisco Jones, Cesar Faisson, and the Cassadines back into play.
Had Cartini used the OLTL crossovers to generate returns and storyline for GH and then wrapped them up in time for the reboot, there would be no lawsuits or ill will between the fans of GH and OLTL. They'd be lauded as the heroes who saved the genre and probably get to hold onto their GH positions if PP ever took over that show.
They're idiots.
Yep. And now, their futures look bleak. PP probably isn't interested. LOL!
DeleteThe question is this- when will they be fired? There's been a change. I heard PP had rights of first refusal. Niw the NYT says they own it upon cancellation. That means they've taken up that option....and that's recent. Since the lawsuit? Is it part if a settlement?
We'll see.
Wait a minute KA referred the lawsuit as a "sad turn of events"? Oh grow the hell up! Toughen up cream puff, no one cares about Starr Manning anyway.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog, love your commentators. As AJ said on the first day AMC aired on Prospect,"Watching television online is the future." Indeed. Now I understand what Ron and ABC have been so afraid of. They knew it was going to be this good. Somehow, they just knew. This is the now cool place to be. Be there, or be square. GH just looks like the party everyone abandoned so they could attend the cooler one down the street. It's so Peter Brady in a suit and tie waiting in an empty house for the surprise party which never comes. But no, that's not "sad" Starr Manning, so stop your sniveling.
And it's easy to boycott GH. As I posted before, if someone can tell me a good story which features interesting and compelling characters who drive the plot, I am going to watch regardless of ABC's/Frank's shitty behavior. I am selfish in that way--most people are. But they aren't, so I won't(watch). And I am not even looking back.
And on another note, I became teary when Joe Martin showed up at Jesse's and Angie's house. It was like seeing your long lost grandfather who you dreamed had died. And the doctor looks robust and healthy!
I got teary, too, and I was on a train. LOL!! I needs me some Tad and Joe, though. I never bought Fake Ruth, so none of that is needed. RIP MF!! I loved Tad and Ruth.
DeleteLoved the Peter Brady ref, BTW.
I was referring to KA's tweet when she had to back off the date of her characters arrival. She claims, I'm assuming, that the "sad events" where Boston as they were pre-empted or one day. But that would just push everyone back a day. Not hard to see that. But she seems to feel the need to keep people updated. It's stinks of Bullshit to me. It's PR. They're on hold until this gets hashed out...or it has been already.
Newsflash: GH and OLTL got Emmy noms today- It's 1:04 in Chicago, where's Frank's comment congratulating his shows? Nowhere to be found..........
Interesting. If we don't hear soon, I'd say there's hijinx afoot.
(whacking head) My bad. I thought KA was calling Prospect Park's legal action " a sad turn of events." Oh, and did you hear that KA is dating the actor who plays Michael from GH? This would be the character whom she dumped with a quick phone call and he couldn't even say her name. This is worse than when Burger broke up with Carrie on a Post-it.
DeleteHarryLime:
Delete'Oh, and did you hear that KA is dating the actor who plays Michael from GH?'
Are you serious, I knew something was up when it was announced he just got an annullment from his wife of about a year. I called it.
Man is she ever following along the same lines of the TV parents...supposadly
D, I cannot stop humming the new themes to AMC and OLTL. We have had three straight days of Julia Barr! Can life get any better than this???? Her scene yesterday with Cady McClain made me cry. So much rich history between these two, and knowing how Cady advocated for Julia when AMC didn't fight to keep her just makes it all the more sweet.
ReplyDeleteOLTL today, with Victor vs. Todd, was through the roof! It was very bizarre how Viki didn't hug Victor when she saw him. She was being tentative, cautious. Something is going on in the subtext of the story, because this is not like Viki. Does she sense resentment from Victor? Hmmmm.
Adored the Nora and Matthew scenes! Hillary B. Smith is just soap perfection.
OLTL is nommed for Best Daytime Series--for only nine episodes! Count em, nine! That's historict! Take that, ABC!!!
xox
M
Dude, I was walking out of the train station listening to AMC and when I heard Angie and my boy, Dr. Dave, I had to stop and watch it! It's a good thing that it's beautiful out today and the plaza outside Union Station at the river is so nice.
DeleteWhat a treat! The Angie/David lovefest continues!! They're the Todd/Viki of AMC. Love them.
Viki tolerates Slow Vic. It's so obvious. What a great show. Did you see Nora/Tea rivlary being set up? Over Matt/Dani? I totally saw that.
Should be so much fun.
D, loving Angie and Dr. Evil! Compelling and charming. Two great actors who connect with us. Can't wait for Nora vs. Tea: The Main Event! Still smiling thinking about the time Nora clocked her in the courtroom over Matthew's lawsuit. GOOD TIMES.
DeleteI cannot believe what PP has accomplished. They really look like our shows, but mostly, they FEEL like our shows! I truly feel like old friends have come back to me. I'm finding myself excited in the morning just to turn on HuluPlus! xox
I'm shocked by how perfect OLTL is but I'm trying so hard not to be disappointed in AMC. I can't get into the kids as you have. But I won't stop watching for the rest. I like the kids on OLTL better but maybe because they're familiar.
DeleteI need more vets on AMC but I love what we've got.
OLTL is amazingly good, though. Nora/Tea is going to be epic!!! Love them both.
I've watched AMC as well to support the new venture. I like Angie and Jessie, but I don't want to watch their daughter be ... assaulted? The older I get, the more squeamish I become. PP's freedoms are awesome, but I'm also afraid I might walking into a rape story. I'm exhausted from those--especially the badly done "not really rape rape" stories Ron likes to throw at the audience.
DeleteIs Dixie living with Brooke and Adam? I haven't watched AMC in almost 20 years, but I seem to recall Dixie messing with Tad when he was with Brooke. Guess their friends, the way Blair and Tea are friends? Puhlease. If Tad comes back -- belly, gray hair, and all -- I'm IN, though. Always loved him. Always will.
I've never liked Thorsten Kaye in any roles. Surly vibe, IMO. If he's this show's lead, I'll definitely won't enjoy it. I do like Vincent Irizarry, however, and since he appears to be a bit of an extra dark gray hat, I'll follow his story a little bit. Don't care about Opal's kid or the rest of the children. Shallow of me, but they're not a terribly photogenic bunch, are they?
Addison, AMC was not as fast-paced as OLTL, but they didn't get to keep as many of their vets as OLTL did, either. That said, I'm impressed with how they worked with what they had. They did not do a bad job in casting the younger actors. AJ reminded me of a young Scott Chandler (when Forbes Nash played him). Miranda looked like she could be Bianca's daughter (and I thought AMC dealing with Miranda having to cope with being the daughter of such an out and out lesbian and in a small town, too was genius). The actor who plays Peter Cortlandt LOOKS like Palmer Cortlandt could have sired him. OMG, he looks like a young James Mitchell.
DeleteZach ... meh. He nearly ate the show along with Kendall, Ryan and Greenlee. I hope they limit his screen time. But I was thrilled to see Adam and Brooke because I've shipped them from jump street. Never could stand her with Tad, but loved her with Edmund until he slipped into the Purgatory that was Maria Santos. And I was pleased to see Jesse and Angie again. I had forgotten how much I missed Debi Morgan and her darling dimples.
Comparing AMC to OLTL is like trying to compare apples to oranges. Yes, AMC could pick up the pace a little, but OLTL would be even better if they slowed it down a little, too.
But both of them are a helluva lot better than any soap we are watching on broadcast television.
The 'mole' I'm thinking of is someone else. Someone working both sides if the fence....I mean working on both sets.
ReplyDeleteThe mole I have in mind does a woobie face like no other. It's that face, more than any over-the-top villany or quip, that's kept him in a career. It's the woobie face that makes us all forgive him.
I keep imagining him and Jeff K. gossiping together over Prospect Park pancakes.
"Dude, they TOTALLY made it sound like it was dead in the water, you know? Like they purchased the characters outright, and that there were no worries! Shit got bad fast, but I always leave myself an escape hatch, you know? The other two aren't so lucky." (i.e. they don't have Mole's awesome management team). . .
"Jeff, I'm totally willing to play the role I was born to play. I'm absolutely willing to look silly in a recreation of a Cosby Show intro. It's my destiny! Yet, you must be aware that I'll be simultaneously hamming it up on the last remaining Afternoon Television Program on that network. I'll probably even dye my hair some ridiculous color and use an accent to amuse myself."
Jeff K smiled knowingly. He then mussed Mole's hair, gave him an extra helping of pancakes, and sent him outside to box with Tuc Watkins.
And get paid from ABC even if they can't air his stuff? That's how those contracts roll. Pay or play. But I know nothing. Speculation.
DeleteExactly. I can't believe ABC is going through with the new characters. Yet I'm intrigued because if they do show up, I have no doubt that Roger Howarth's character will be ridiculous. I hope he takes it so over the top, no one will be able to bring him back down. I want him to do Rod x 10. Maybe someone can lend him his Dash Dunning wig. That'll get hearts racing, no doubt.
DeleteI so love this exchange is TOOO funny..........
DeleteThe only thing that I can say is that THIS MOLE usually doesn't get involved with bts stuff. THIS MOLE is ususlly known to keep their mouth SHUT! So if THIS MOLE is THE MOLE...I would laugh my ass off. That's so what they would get.
And I have pictures of THIS MOLE talking to the two most important people in ther life on set. One listens and eases THIS MOLE soles. The other one strokes his hair, and says "shushhhh I'm here everything is going to be ok" "were back and we'll show them what it should be like"..
ok I gotta stop now, lol
Ok so IF I was watching OLTL today (twice already and probably a another thrice because the show really started to fire on all cylinders today. They've added some color and warmer lighting and tone to the sets and are fleshing them out...oh and speaking of flesh was Victor getting vaginal? I do believe I saw Tea getting the five fingers of manos. Though the hottest thing was Todd simply embracing Blair from behind and blowing in her ear. Snap crackle pop tesla! Oh just give the show all the emmy’s now. Michelle's bangs Pelosi's lips - regular daytime just can't be this current or hip) but anyway, so if I was watching today would I have seen THIS MOLE and also a woobie face?
ReplyDeleteThe MOLE and his infamous woobie face were in effect today ... and my life is GOOD. I've already forgiven the bastard.
DeleteIt’s May 3, it’s 41 degrees, and I don’t care. My heart is warm. Because an actual, bona-fide, real-life, no BS miracle occurred this week. My two soaps came back from the dead.
ReplyDeleteSoap folks returning from the grave happens all the time, no big whoop. Resurrecting two cancelled network dramas that ABC did everything in its power to kill? Now that’s saints-talking-to-you, harmonic-convergence kind of stuff. A few times in your life, if you’re lucky, the universe turns out to be exactly as it should be. That’s what happened Monday.
The online premieres of All My Children and One Life to Live show that Prospect Park knows exactly what it’s doing. The sets, camerawork, editing are all polished and professional. These look like our shows, and more importantly, they FEEL like our shows. Yet these are edgier, more realistic dramas. The dialogue has been “opened up” so that Blair can call Todd an asshole. Which he is, so I have no problem with that. The love scene between Victor and Tea was pure steam heat. It pushed the envelope, but then these actors have never held anything back.
All My Children, which had suffered from too much network micromanagement, has a fresh start online but went back to the past, and cleverly built a multilevel mystery around the five-year-old shooting at the Chandler Mansion. My favorite Brooke was seen in the very first shot, awaking from nightmares of that night. The show wasted no time pulling us in by dropping scintillating clues as to how that chaotic event affected everyone in Pine Valley.
That other grand drama, One Life, picked up its story several years later with the opening of Blair’s new nightclub, Shelter. Ironically, that’s just what Todd might need after Victor revealed himself to be alive, sending shock waves through the burb of Llanview.
The new cast is good. I especially like the new Matthew and Peter, whose romance with Celia, a new character, brings echoes of the iconic Cliff and Nina story of years ago. My worries about the veterans being back-burnered proved false, as we got plenty of Brooke, Nora, Angie, David, Dorian, Tea, Jesse, Victor and Todd. Dr. Joe is here, as he has been from Day One. His first house call online. Now we know we’re back home.
Michael, love your commentary. Do you happen to know if Billy Cylde Tuggell is coming back? The brilliant actor who played him was seen at the premier and he was dressed as if he were in character.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I heard Michael Nadar was there which makes me wonder if he is Celia's mysterious guardian. Dmitri liked to take young wards under his wing--he was the guardian of both Anton and Jillian.
OMG, I would love it if Dmitri came back! I know a lot of people loved Mike, but I thought Dmitri was Erica Kane's best husband! Loved MN and SL's chemistry. That would be so awesome.
DeleteHi Harry, I haven't heard anything about Billy. What an iconic character! I didn't see that pic, I need to Google it. I would always crack up when he called Dixie his Dixiebird. Yikes. I like your theory about Dimitri. I always liked him. He was my favorite of all of Erica's husbands. And I loved both Anton and Gillian...must be something about Hungary. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteGillian, not Jillian--thank you for the polite name correction. I loved Dmitri when he rode around his estate on his black stallion like Mr. Rochester. He was my favorite of Erica's husbands as well, but I did like him with Natalie.
DeleteAnd Billy Cylde Tuggell was genius! Who else could make you shudder both with fear and laughter? What other villain could come off so sinister while still wearing his heart on his sleeve? He always remained fleshed out and did not descend into one dimensional, villain, cartoon land. Apparently Cowles was given artistic license by the very wise Agnes Nixon (who always knew when to take a step back) and was allowed to write his own dialogue.
This week was AMAZING! They were perfect, just perfect. I can't get over how much I LOVED all of it. My vets acting like themselves! Viki vs Dorian, Viki trying high ground, but always falling a bit short, Dorian blaming everything on Viki. Bo and Nora being all lovey and adorable, RC never did know how to write these two, he never got they never need extreme drama to be entertaining. Todd and Blair push and pull perfection. David not being a complete doofus! I am seeing a bit of old David returning! Our younger actor who can actually act!!! I mean really!! We had such a horrible teen scene for so long on ABC I forgot many younger actors can act, not to mention they are acting appropriate to there age group!!
ReplyDeleteSuck it ABC!
I agree with your every word. I am a pessimist, some might call me a negative thinker. So OLTL and AMC exceeded my expectations.
Delete