Like A Ghost in the Night
March 26, 2008

I read the news but I wouldn't let myself believe it. Could it be true? And then it was confirmed by the actress herself. Cady McClain, aka Dixie Cooney, is coming home to the valley.

It's only a brief stint but it is wonderful that she's returning for two reasons. First I love Cady...I miss her as Rosanna on ATWT and secondly, could it be that TPTB are finally understanding the reality of their selfish mistakes.

I see the show rebounding in so many ways, thank goodness. I'm choosing to block out that unfortunate stripper pole at Fusion show. I thought I'd loath the Erica on the run but so far things are good there too. And finally more Latina's on the show. I haven't seen Julia in a while and even then I forget she's hispanic. If they follow through with the storyline of Carmen and Erica this could be fun. This is how Erica and Janet became friends. And I like the exchange with Carmen over "have you ever taken a man's life before?". It would be nice to step away from the killing and see the other side.

So Cady/Dixie's scenes aire in May. Who knows maybe one day we'll discover Dixie isn't really dead but looking for Kate after being skirted away into witness relocation.

As Marah said to Bill back in the 90's on Guiding Light at Vanessa's Memorial. "Maybe your Mom will come back from the dead. Mine Mom did."

Here Endth My Rant.

I Long For The Good Old Days
March 21, 2008

I've wanted to Rant for along time now. Weeks have gone by and nothing has been worth ranting about. Oh don't get me wrong, it's not because of the pefectness of the show or anything. My interest meter is barely registering. And this just pisses me off!!!!

I've been a Soap Fan for so long I don't know anything else but these days when TPTB have no interest in me well I get bored when I'm ignored. I've got favorite couples who are being ignored. I love certain characters (Josh and Amanda) and they are being ignored and for what? Adventure storylines that have left me sour, no thanks.

I've said this before that I get that Soaps are a business but the first rule of business is Know your product...then Know your Target Consumer. I seriously believe after 4 years of being Bi*ch slapped by TPTB they haven't a clue as to either! It's not about what THEY want to see...it's about what WE want to see.

Angie and Jesse started out strong even though there was a writing strike. Now Jesse runs around yelling and shooting stuff. Angie cries all the time with her new BFF Krystal everywhere. Tad asks Adam for help...are you kidding me??? Colby is paired with Frankie who is way too old for her and hello we love Colby and Dre together so where is the kindling of romance? Why isn't Dre being Colby's hero?

I could go on endlessly about Greenlee and Aidan, Kendall and Aidan, Everyone in Love with Ryan and Zach being "whipped". But I just don't care anymore. I'm still reeling from Dixie dying of poisoned pancakes 2 years ago. But I digress. Cady Love...I miss you.

In just 3 short months all those little consumer teenie boppers will be out of school and there is no teen s/l for them to watch. Nope...apparently young Colby has skipped her junior and senior year of high school to work at the Comeback Bar and Grill. Hey Barbara and James I have a suggestion for ya...how about you go back to writing class or make it easy on yourself and give a call to Ron Carlivati. OLTL is off the hook.

Speaking of OLTL is this not the coolest show going right now. Their Teen s/l should be the envy of all the shows. And I love the actors...not too much of one particular actor. Storyline fore everyone.

I've written before that I USED to like Ryan and I feel bad for Cam Mathison because it's not his fault the character is overly exposed using the same old plot devices but a day without Ryan is a day WITH sunshine.

I'm going to let the now ex-Lily from ATWT (Sadness is an understatement) Martha Byrne close this rant because she speaks the truth!

"Doug would always say, "You write a good story. You get good actors. That's all you need." I remember when I joined the show the Oakdale police station was nothing more than a phone, a desk and a window. But you had Benjamin Hendrickson (Hal) and Hillary Bailey Smith (Margo) and Scott Holmes (Tom) and Scotty Bryce (Craig). Man, were they good! And all anyone wanted to do was create great entertainment for the fans. Forget the fireworks and the tap dances and all the stuff we do these days. All we needed back then were good stories. " ~ TV Guide Interview

Here Endth My Rant!

So Ridiculous It's Entertaining!
March 6, 2008
Erica my dear even in jail you've still got it. I think it was perfectly summed up by Greenlee who said "Leave it to Erica to get arrested wearing a ball gown". And those mug shots were so camp how could you not love them. I give you exhibits A thru C.

Or how about Erica in the jail cell explaining she's Erica Kane and doesn't deserve to be in jail...followed by a "Cute shoes" retort to the prostitute sharing her cell. Classic and fun. I thought the fashion show was silly at first but it grew on me once the actual fashion show began. I loved the music and the dresses. I think it's the only time I've actually liked Ava and didn't Aidan look cute in his red and black? I loved the music and the camera work. The one anchor dragging this party down was the "Is Kendall Pregnant". Frankly I'm not that comfortable with Kendall breeding or even having the children she has....Thank goodness the boys have Zach because this Tart is the worse mother ever. Least we forget the gun in the diaperbag. And seriously, Kendall had so little faith in her husband's ability to survive that she had "comfort" sex with Aidan. Has this woman no character? Ha ha...a character with not character...I amuse...well only myself.

Also not loving the "Charmed" storyline either. Kendall writes a trashy novel, is stalked by a skeevy guy who makes her read her book of sexcapades to him. Boo hiss.

There is a lot to love on the show right now. Uncle Rob Gardner being one, Jesse and Angie and snagging Ricky Paull Goldin from Guiding Light. Ricky will be the new Dr. Jake Martin and I'm hoping that he will hook up with Amanda. I really want Amanda to have a storyline because she's so much fun to watch...particularly when she's being bad. And I'd love for Colin Egglesfield (Dr. Josh Madden) to get back to the hospital and go head to head with his new Uncle Jake! On the sad side of the news...Jeff Bransen (Jonathan Lavery) is saying goodbye to Pine Valley. I love Jeff, he's a great actor but honestly, Jonathan's tumor story soured me on the character. If he had just come back bad and with a vengence against Ryan I'm might have had an interest. I'll miss ya Jeff...to bad the writers royal screwed up your character!

Here Endth My Rant!

The Center of the Universe aka Ryan Lavery
February 28, 2008

Can someone explain why we are practically reliving Ryan 2003? I wasn't a fan of the "New" Ryan back then so why would I want to watch the Ryan Show 2008. All the writers have proven to me is that nothing has changed in 4 years. Good move.

I offer examples A-2003, B-2003 and C-2008. These promos prove my point.

And could someone explain to me the Stripper Pole at Fusion? I work in an office and I for one am glad my Boss' have the sense NOT to put in a stripper pole.

So the writers strike is over so there are no excuses why this trite BS is going on. Angie and Jesse are great to watch and I love to watch Tad even though he's wearing that scary Orange Shirt Still. Where are the teens? Did Dre see his dad and take off?

So to sum up my little Rant...Sick of Ryan Re-dos....Not a fan of the Kendall, Greenlee, Aidan, Zach, Ryan and Annie story...are these couples supposed to be the recycled Teen storyline? I guess 30 or 40 is the new 16....YIKES! Stop the madness that is Charm! and Stripper Poles.

Here Endth My Rant!

Jesse and Ryan
February 18, 2008

I'm confused Jesse's been gone for 20 years so why at the train station would he find the need to hide his face from the police and wouldn't the police immediately gravitate towards a man standing with a hat pulled so far down his face, looking guilty, that he couldn't possible see where he was going? Yes I'm being picky. Let me continue picking...

Erica...darling...please grow up! The hair tossing and coy looks were cute when you were forty...get where I'm going with this? She's trying to make Jack jealous with Sam Woods...which normally would be fun but they are writing this like Erica is 16 and Jack is captain of the PVHS Football team. Ewww. Stop the madeness already. Although I give a special High Five to Walt Wiley who is like 6'4" and yet manages to not tower over the 5' Ms. Lucci...I think the man must pay his chiropracters a fortutne because all that slouching and knee bending must be heck on the the spine! But I appreciate his sacrifice to make the scene work!

Kendall thinks she might be pregnant so of course it has to be Aidan's baby? Zach was in the hospital for 1 day and when they got home the first thing they did was get busy...how is it that this slut-a-nutter is 100% sure that she's pregnant with Aidan's baby???? Just a brief recap....she had sex with Aidan....with in hours found Zach and Greenlee and then two days later had sex with Zach. So color me confusion.

Oh and the picky continues...Ryan's new name....Ryan Aloyisous Lavery. Maybe the writers should stop with the re-writing the past and just embrace the past. Ryan's name will always be John Ryan Curry to me! Yes I've mentioned this 1000 times before but it's a craw for me. Moving on...Ryan remembers only Kendall and thinks she would be happier with him than with Zach, okay selfish much? If they are trying to shake things up for Zendall I would think having her sleep with Aidan would be enough. And I didn't like this version of Ryan in 2003 so what makes the writers believe I'll like the 2003 version of Ryan any more in 2008? If they wanted to make us love Rayn again they should have brought back the 1999 version of Ryan, but they didn't. We loved Ryan and Gillian...bad boy meets bad girl. They could have paired Ryan up with anyone but instead choose to rehash the rehashed. No offense but is Dena Higley writing this show???

And last of all....When is someone going to tell Ryan that Jonathan was a homocidal maniac that killed our beloved Edmund Grey? I would think dealing with the pain and suffer of his family would be so overwhelming he wouldn't have time to be obsessed with Kendall.

Here endth my Rant!

The End of the Strike
February 15, 2008

The Writer's strike has finally ended and we all breath a collective sigh and get back to real TV. That said I want to point out that during the Writer's strike AMC actually began to get better. Odd I know.

Every day I take to my computer and begin a Rant but something distracts me and I never complete a post...which is a good thing...I think. My first aggravation was Adam's story of pushing everyone he loved away and his obsession with his children and "betrayal". But yesterday Adam's story took an interesting turn with just one line. JR and Adam were exchanging the same type of dialogue they've been doing since 2003 when JR said something right on the money. "At least I have a chance to be a hero to her (Babe). Who are you a hero to?" I'm so hoping that this was the turning point for Adam and he'll get back to being Adam and not some miser that sits alone all day plotting against his family. We get it...ADAM HAS AN ISSUE WITH TRUST!!! Move on people. If I were writing from this point on I would bring on someone who could spare with Adam...like Peter Cortlandt. Soras'd and ready to rumble. He could be taking over a division of Cortlandt Electronics and maybe Skye could come back and be the CEO of Palmer's corporations with the purpose of training young Peter. If James Mitchell wanted to do more on the show this would give him a reason to jump into the storyline anytime he wanted. Not to mention if they bring back Skye she's got connections to folks all over town...notably her granny Myrtle Fargate.

Now that the horrible mess of Greenlee in a hole now dying saga is wrapped up I'd like to see lots of romance for Ms. Smythe and Mr. Devane before that "Secret" pops out and ruins the mood. That secret is of course Kendall's a big HO! I'm so over that one night stand from hell that I'd like them to gloss over this bit of history and move on! Because really...Greenlee and Aidan have just begun dating and Zach has forgiven Kendall for way worse things than slutting around.

Angie and Jesse have just made the screen pop! I'm L-O-V-I-N' it! But what the writers need to know is you can't stake the entire show on these two people who have probably signed short term contracts. It's a great place to start. Having Angie and Krystal become gal pals is great and of course Jesse/Tad/Angie strolling down memory lane is a hoot too. But what about the rest of the show. Julia needs to hook up with Jackson...Amanda needs a man of her own...maybe psycho Richie/Josh triangle? Chrishell is talented and hot and deserves a storyline of her own. She really showed her stuff during the Janet storyline back in 2005 and needs to get something going of her own. Like she ran away from home because she fell in love with some guy...or a hidden pregnancy or hello how about she thinks she's going insane?

Erica sweetie...it's December in Pennsylvania. Why in the heck aren't you dressed for it...or at least once mentioning how sometimes you have to give up warmth for style? I'm just cold looking at you in your sundresses. The word of the day...SLEEVES.

Kendall, Kendall, Kendall...how far astray could your character have become? I hope you don't go the route of poor Ryan who's become a despised character with the messageboard group. Personally I'm waiting for someone to mention that Jonathan Ryan's beloved little brother is a serial killer. How's that for a final scene Mr. Bransen?

There are things happening on the show but only for a small group of characters. It's time for Colby and Dre to get a S/L...or Amanda and Josh possibly hooking up and causing issues for people. I get that Kendall and Ryan are "front burners" but I love Josh and Amanda more than those other birds so how about a little love from the writers for some of the characters that desparately need a S/L.

Here Endth My Rant!

Angela Hubbard
January 22, 2008

Dr. Angie Hubbard is back in town and already I'm loving her. Maybe it's the dimples or maybe it's Debbie Morgan's acting. Either way it's a wonderful thing. It's weird, the media blitz for "The Real Greenlee" and the return of characters/Actors from the shows Golden days is a blip on the screen in comparison. That's weird to me.

The only thing I haven't like is the fact that the writers always take a wonderful scene and muck it up. Example, Angie and Tad see each other in what has been years and instead of just basking in the moment they offer an awkward account of why they haven't been in touch when Angie and Jacob got divorced and Dixie died. First, Angie didn't call Tad the first time Dixie die so why now and secondly they could have just said...I'm sorry I couldn't come in for Dixie's funeral but you knew I was there in spirit. And Tad could have said, your phone call (or note) meant the world to me but I know you have your hands full in Atlanta and with your teenage daughter. Instead it's brought up again when Tad is talking to Joe.

When Dough Marland was writing ATWT back in the 90's he would introduce new characters that had connections (ie, Caleb and Ellie Snyder) he wrote them as though everyone's been in contact with them all along. Like when Caleb was introduced on the screen and mention was made about him to Emily and Tonio. Emily said she had met him only a couple of times but he seemed nice. See how easy that was and it didn't require some long awkward and drawn out reasons it was simple. Caleb had never been on screen before and rarley if ever mentioned before his arrival but with simplicity he's integrated into the show. AMC could take a page from Doug Marland's play book! Douglas I miss you so!!!!

I'm not sure I'm into "Quentin" aka Frankie's odd reasons for being in Iraq but I'm sure they'll have some long complicated explination for that too.

In the mean time I'm loving Debbie Morgan's return and can only hope she gets loads of scenes with MEK and Ray MacDonald (Dr. Joe).

Here Endth my Rant!

Welcome Home Rebecca Budig
January 15, 2008

I watched the "Back In Pine Valley" Special completely through...finally. With all the HYPE about the return of the "Big Three" I was frankly, burned out! I loved the old episodes...but then again who wouldn't but I finally actually watched the special about the return of the trio.

Rebecca is a fan favorite for the very reason that she is just a real person and doesn't try to be anything else. The opening scene of the show had Rebecca saying "Please welcome me back" followed by a giggle. She knows that this transition won't be easy but apparently Mr. Frons doesn't. She was sweet through the entire show and nothing like this media blitz about the "Real Greenlee" that has turned most fans into angry people.

I was on the boards and noticed they get it too. Rebecca didn't seem comfortable with "The Real Greenlee" moniker. I give her credit with getting only a year's contract down and I hope she's getting tons of money and is prepared to adlib because the next two months are going to be rough.

As for Sabine Singh...we hated nuGreenlee but you won us over in the end. We'll miss nuGreenlee and Aidan and we hope for a brighter future for AMC (because 1.8/Ratings isn't going to cut it). And my last wish for Sabine is to win a Golden Globe or a People's Choice award some day and give her speech saying that " if Brian Frons wasn't a low class creep I wouldn't have had the time off to make such and amazing film."

Here Endth My Rant!

Back in Pine Valley
January 13, 2008

This week Rebecca and Debbie come home to Pine Valley and it should be interesting. I'm wondering if the return of the incredible trio will be able to live up to the media hype/blitz that's been created.

I loved the airing on SoapNet of Classic Episodes of Angie and Jesse. The Shows from 1983 and 1987 were amazing and fun. Mostly because it wasn't just these two but Erica racing Travis' car in the big race and wow Barbara's hair was incredible on it's own. And it was neat to see Carey Lowell trying to remember who she was.

The 1983 shows had Jenny and Tad, Greg and Amanda, Dottie, Edna, Phoebe, Langley and of course our Gal...Myrtle. This was amazing and really took me back to the day. Sure the sets were cheesie and oh my gosh that music but it just reminded me of how AMC used to be and what it's not right now.

Honestly I hope this trio's return brings back the golden days of Soaps but when there's this much hype behind it is still just a masking of the real issue...the Writing. Maybe Debbie Morgan will adlib her role and we'll actually enjoy the scenes.

Here Endth My Rant!


It's A New Year
January 9, 2008

Happy New Year All!

I'm sure you noticed on our favorite show the craziness. Things happening and not making sense well I'm right there with you. But I'm happy to say that I'm cautiously optimistic. There are things happening over at AMC and the wheels are turning.

Could it be that after 3 years TPTB are finally listening? I think the disastrous ratings have helped our voices of discontent be heard.

At first when I saw the silliness happening on the screen I was less than amused and of course regressed to the point of growling but I've since calmed down and watched the shows over. I feel that these scenes that make so little sense are just quick tying up the storylines. Like Hannah's sudden decent into madness and her quickie with Sean as well as Zach and Greenlee being miraculously cured after their month in a hole. Although I could see Zach being healed by Myrtle's visit...weren't we all feeling a bit better seeing Ms. Fargate!

The quick wrap up of Kendall's plot to destroy Greens with her sudden admission and insistence she pay for her crimes regardless of whether it made any sense in the context of the storyline was another flag for me.

So like the counter on the AMC Web page...I count off the days until the "Real" Greenlee returns (Oh by the way...I've grown to HATE/Loath/Be Disgusted By this pitch! The Media blitz for the return of Rebecca Budig is nothing short of Amazing. Hopefully it's not the same type of media blitz used by the people who brought you the Titanic.

This week SoapNet will air the "Welcome Back" extravaganza first with re-airing of Greenlee's most incredible shows to be followed by getting back in the feel for Angie and Jesse on Sunday. I think these are a must see if you have SoapNet.

For now I remain modestly hopeful.