TV, movies, music, celebrity in general - LOVE! Moreover, I love to rant and rave about them. Why not share my rants and raves with like-minded (or not) souls and see what kind of discourse we can start?
First, no judgement...it's my Mom's fault...I have watched all the ABC soaps since I was in the womb. And, as much as I realize they have little to no redeeming value, I continue to DVR them 30+ years later.
Now, in my humble opinion, the genre is probably, sadly for many, on its way out. How many years can a show run? How many plotlines can be repeated? In short, soaps just ain't what they used to be.
Once in a while though, the real sudsiness of the "Golden Age" of soaps reappears...
For the past few months, we have watched as Sonny - the mobster-with-the-dimples-that-can-melt-any-woman's heart (even a usually rational woman, like ex-flame Alexis) - and Brenda - the sweet, vulnerable supermodel waif - rekindled their first love.
Sonny and Brenda, circa late 90's
When Brenda followed her heart (and Sonny) back to Port Charles from Rome, after a break of many years following his leaving her at the altar (for her protection), we knew The Game Was On. And, when Sonny proposed, the romantics among us hoped they'd finally find their happiness.
Sonny and Brenda 2010/2011
Of course, love is never simple on a soap opera. Among the many obstacles to the wedding: Brenda being stalked and her capture and death elaborately planned, down to the last detail, by The Balkan - the father of ex-lover, Alexander, whom she killed in self-defense - an international criminal whose identity is unknown to all except those closest to him. Trust me, The Balkan is no joke, and he is determined to see Brenda suffer the worst fate imaginable.
The Balkan plots Brenda's demise for killing his son, Alexander
An even more formidable foe than The Balkan, perhaps? Sonny's attention-seeking ex-wife four times over, Carly Corinthos Jax.
Carly Corinthos Jax
Now, here's where GH shined this week in a way it hasn't in a LONG time. Two major plot twists, plus something we pretty much knew was coming, but which was presented in an unexpectedly clever way.
First, Carly's plan to bust up the wedding went bust when it turned out that Brenda's miscarried baby was not Sonny's long-lost son Dante's child after all, but, rather, Alexander's child (i.e., The Balkan's descendant) whom Dante had claimed paternity of to protect Brenda from Alexander. Sorry, Carly, no dice. A nice, unexpected twist after months of hearing Carly plotting to spring the news of Dante and Brenda's supposed love child in order to throw a wrench between Sonny and Brenda.
Plot twist #2. The Balkan kidnapped mob enforcer Jason Morgan's long-suffering girlfriend, Sam McCall who, coincidentally, bears a striking resemblance to Brenda with her dark hair and eyes, model good looks and super-petite frame.
Kelly Monaco, aka GH's Samantha "Sam" McCall
Wasn't quite sure where this kidnapping bit was going until, just as newlyweds Sonny and Brenda were about to say their post-wedding goodbyes, the limo that Brenda had entered just moments before blew to smithereens. It didn't take a rocket scientist to fit the pieces together and surmise that the body eventually pulled from the charred wreckage would turn out to be Sam's, not Brenda's. (Now, likeable as she may have been, Sam's character had been going nowhere fast for a looooong time. But, why did GH need to throw in the "maybe she could get pregnant" after all stuff the past few weeks? To me, that was wasted time and detracted from what, otherwise, was a nicely played switcheroo.)
Third - we knew James Franco would be back in his guest spot as Jason-obsessed artist/serial killer, Franco, and he was back - in all his gorgeous glory, wearing black tie and tux - Friday.
James Franco, dressed to kill, on GH
While the connection and/or whether there even exists a connection between Franco and The Balkan is unclear, Franco took responsibility for the post-wedding "fireworks." Franco's quip to Jason (see clip below), that he had to run, as he had "a big event to attend, a VERY, VERY big deal," a nod to his Oscar hosting gig tonight, was classic and made Friday's GH worth the price of admission. Franco also joked, in a nod to his Oscar-nominated role in "127 Hours," that "that's what [he] got for spending [his] spring caught between a rock and a hard place."
The best stuff of GH in a long, long time. Bravo, GH! Bravo, James Franco, for livening things up with your best serial killer sass! I just hope you and Anne can pull this hosting gig off tonight...
Never let it be said that sex crimes can't be humorous. Law and Order: SVU drew a hearty laugh from anyone familiar with Bravo's Real Housewives of New York this week. In a brilliant, tongue-in-cheek cameo, Countess LuAnn de Lesseps played an art patron, praising a newbie's painting (one that turned out to be a canvas dripping with blood, not a painting) that, in her words, represented "the death . . . of white privilege." Comical to anyone who's had a glimpse into LuAnn's privileged life. Bravo, SVU!
Countess LuAnn de Lesseps of Bravo's Real Housewives of New York
If you want another laugh with (or at) LuAnn, have a listen to the pop single she released last season:
First of all, how much does The Bachelor suck this season???
Bachelor Brad Womack - douchebag to the nth degree (who ditched not one, but two potential brides at the altar during a few seasons back) - gets another chance at love...awww, warms my heart.
Bachelor Brad Womack gets a second chance at finding love
Yes, I admit watching it despite the fact that it is the lowest common denominator on TV. It's kind of like the trainwreck you just can't turn away from.
ABC producers sunk to a new level of low this season though. Dear, sweet Emily - pageant queen and single Mom, nice Southern girl with the twang to match. We learn early on that her NASCAR-driving fiance died in a plane crash on the way to a race that Emily - by chance - did not attend because she was not feeling well. (Of course, she was preggers, but didn't know it yet.)
Girl-Next-Door Emily
On Emily's first one-on-one date with Brad, he takes her flying in a prop plane, the type fiance died in on the way to the race. Just a little cruel, methinks?
It gets even better though (and, by better, I mean worse) when, a few weeks later, Emily is part of the ladies' NASCAR group date and is forced to drive a racecar on a Vegas track where dead fiance previously crashed. Seriously, ABC? Is this what you need to do to get ratings because Bachelor Brad is just so boring and unsympathetic? Pathetic is what I have to say.
NASCAR date
Then, there's producers' baby, Drama Queen Michelle. Michelle proved herself to be boil-your-bunny crazy (a la Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction) early on. Yet she remained safe, drama-infused rose ceremony after rose ceremony...until tonight.
"Bunny Boiler" Michelle Money would make Glenn Close proud
Now, I can't be the only one who saw this, but, "coincidentally"...
During the second hour of the show tonight, a commercial for Android aired in which a girl, who looked much like Bunny Boiler Michelle and, unless my ears deceived me, referred to a guy named Brad, plotted ways she could cyber-stalk her prey with her new Android. I thought it was hilarious.
