I figured Brenda wouldn’t sleep with Michael, but she sure had no problem making it look that way! Her multiple confrontations with Carly were full of awesome.

Playing mind games with Carly entertained Brenda more than anything else she’s done during her last two stints in town. And AJ was so thrilled about Michael getting it on with a supermodel! His sheer delight over Carly’s dismay was adorable. I could have done without Carly squeezing his balls in retaliation, however. Anybody else completely forgot, like me and AJ, that Jocelyn had a kidney transplant from Jake a few years back? I can’t blame Carly for being annoyed over that mess up, but I haven’t enjoyed her overreactions this much in years. Her amazement that Sonny had not and would not kill Brenda over it was hilarious. When the time came for Brenda to fess up, I admit I was sad it was over.

Yes, Michael shouldn’t have been led to believe he’d slept with Brenda. But I can’t be mad about her using him. It was too delicious! And Michael came out of it smelling sweeter than anyone else. I’m so proud of him for taking responsibility over what he thought were his actions. He’s becoming so much better of a person than any of his parental figures. Chad Duell also deserves props for breaking up with a phone!

It’s not easy to act that distraught with no acting partner to spar with. Alas, I will miss Starr and Michael’s sweet, young relationship. I always like a few drama-free couples to offset all the ones with far too much angst. Sadly, Dante and Lulu’s formerly stable marriage is now one of the latter.

They are overdue for marriage troubles, and giving Lulu amnesia is a surefire way to bring those about. I felt so bad for her when Dante spurted out everything about her infertility and their baby in one fell swoop. Could you imagine having to take all that in? Too bad Jason’s not around so they can compare notes on the experience. Bringing in recasts with an amnesia storyline is nothing new, but Lulu thinking she’s in love with Stavros was a curveball for me. Ah, brainwashing—just part of life on Cassadine Island! I recall Lucky having his share of it when Jacob Young took over the role. Regardless, having three separate death scenes for Lulu—one each with Luke, Laura, and Dante—seemed rather indulgent when she was obviously coming back to life. And then we sped right past the revelation that she remembered no one and nothing but Stavros and ended up on a plane back to Port Charles. I can’t help but feel that leaving the island and convincing Lulu to come deserved a few more scenes.

Having Katie Couric on the show was also indulgent. But I don’t think she was half bad!

Nik knew something was up right away because no one in General Hospital calls him Prince. Those nurses have seen him through all sorts of trauma: explosions, brain tumors, monkey viruses—I could go on. After all that, there’s no prince left for someone like Epiphany to see when she looks at Nik. This exchange between Nik and Katie/Kelly cracked me up–

Katie/Kelly: Well, you’re infringing on my First Amendment rights!

Nik: Trust me; I can afford to do that.

I should note that rich men using their money to trample other people’s rights only amuses me in fiction. My level of amusement is also directly related to the abs the man displays.

When did you get all those, Nik?! I guess he worked out his frustrations while pretending to be buddy buddy with his unfrozen, and now refrozen, father.

Finally, I have something to say to Olivia. Girl, we are no longer friends. No one who encourages Connie to remain with Sonny can stay in my good graces.

There is no storyline I’ve hated more this past year than Sonny’s pairing with Connie/Kate. The past month without it has been blissful. I will give the new Connie a chance, but Olivia, if you keep pushing her back to Sonny, we are through.

Prescription for Better Soap: The antagonism between Carly, Brenda, and AJ has been beautiful. More conflicts like that one please, and if Carly’s head literally explodes, I won’t complain. Keep letting Michael be the most mature of the bunch. Take your time working through new Lulu’s new mental problems. I’m worried they’ll be breezed through as fast as that trans-Atlantic flight. And please, please, let Connie/Kate move on from Sonny. When she said her love for him had doubled, I shuddered with fear of what was to come.

See you in two weeks for my next prescription!

Becca

Buy my romance novella, Maya’s Vacation, at Astraea Press,  Amazon, or Barnes and Nobles. Follow me on Twitter @thegourmez or on Facebook at my author page!

It makes it easier for me to when Jax is the only pairing for Carly I’ve truly enjoyed, and that’s even after I spent the beginning of their romance horrified they were stealing Nikolas’s child. They won me over, in large part because Carly is tolerable when she believes a good man like Jax loves her.

I believe he does, too. I was shocked he’d get engaged to Brenda again because it’s so obvious she’ll always return to Sonny no matter whether it’s healthy to do so. That couple’s angst-filled past appeals to Brenda in the same way it does to this viewer—I can’t let it go, even if it’s in my best interests. The end of the episode engagement reveal was classic soap, especially because both pairs had mature conversations until then. I resigned myself to accepting Jax and Brenda’s ride into the sunset that night, but lo and behold! The next day’s episode made it absolutely clear Brenda would prefer Sonny if she could get him!

But, we would be together if…if…right?

It was hilarious listening to Carly perfectly break down Brenda’s motives for being with Jax—I didn’t think she’d be right about them! Yet Brenda took up with Jax again just to provoke Sonny because she’s knows it’s a surefire way to rile him up. And once Jax entered their conversation, it was a vintage Sonny and Brenda fight, tongues lashing in just the right ways to hurt each other. Like I said, I know their relationship isn’t healthy, but it’s sure fun for me to watch. Poor Jax must feel like such a putz.

I am proud of him for walking out that hotel door and hopefully leaving Brenda behind for good. He doesn’t deserve to be played for a fool. But all things considered, this storyline is a welcome revisit from the past for me.

And so is the Spencer-Cassadine affair, although I wished the actual action part lasted longer. All their other scenes of constantly shifting gun ownership are so worn at this point. Helena always has the upper hand. I laughed when Ethan begged for someone to shoot him just so he didn’t have to listen to her threats any longer. And I cheered when Luke finally shot her instead.

Ding, dong the witch is dead! I love Constance Towers. She’s a beautiful woman and a great talent of an actress, but Helena’s curse needed to be broken. Of course, that makes finding Lulu that much more difficult, and I’m not sure how much more of despairing Dante I can handle.

Scratch that. When he’s that hot, I can handle a lot. What was almost too much to handle, however, was the fake-out confrontation between Lulu and Maxie.

I knew it had to be a dream, being as Lulu is kidnapped and all, but it was so heartbreaking. It cut Maxie deep when Lulu yelled, “I wanted my baby, not your baby.” So many tears, and such a deep well of feelings for them to come from. The Maxie and Lulu friendship has been one of the great successes of Julie Marie Berman’s time on the show, and I’m glad she had the chance to act out that emotionally resonant scene with Kirsten Storms.

Maxie’s scenes with Felicia last week were also welcome, mainly because watching long-absent mothers and daughters bond makes me happy in so many ways.

They look so much like family, and Felicia has a convincing maternal quality when she’s allowed to use it. She’s one of those characters that shines when she remembers to be the mature character she should be by now rather than the flighty one who’s still considering a return to Frisco. Yes, I realize it makes me a hypocrite to cheer on Brenda’s enduring fixation on Sonny while chiding Felicia for hers—different strokes for different folks? I like what I like and I can offer no good explanation for it. I also like that Mac’s standing up for himself and not talking to Felicia once she admitted she’s not 100% his. But he’s also more confident than he has been in the past that she’ll choose him in the end, and that’s attractive.

Mr. Marbles? Not so much.

I sincerely hope John J. York doesn’t consider himself a ventriloquist, because there is no time when his lips aren’t moving while speaking for that dummy. But Mac’s enthusiasm for the incredibly dorky act charms me as well. I think Mac can do no wrong with me right now.

Then again, that applies to all things Nurses’ Ball. I have no words to describe what happened during Richard Simmons’s appearance, but I loved every minute of it.

Where can I get one of those Nurses’ Ball hoodies? I’ve already called for a Pickle Lila t-shirt. Get on both, ABC merchandising!

Prescription for Better Soap: Let that old-time angst-roller of Sonny and Brenda keep running as long as Jax isn’t flattened beneath it. More scenes of Maxie and Felicia bonding would be appreciated, especially because that dream with Lulu was only a taste of how bad it may be when the truth comes out and Maxie will need all the support she can get. And while you’ve built up much goodwill with me for the Nurses’ Ball, don’t press your luck too hard. Okay, I can’t even laugh my way through that last recommendation. The truth is, as long as Lucy’s naked by the end of the show, I’ll be happy.

See you in two weeks for my next prescription!

Becca

Buy my romance novella, Maya’s Vacation, at Astraea Press,  Amazon, or Barnes and Nobles. Follow me on Twitter @thegourmez or on Facebook at my author page!

LIVE FROM LOS ANGELES ON SUNDAY, JUNE 16

2013 Telecast To Celebrate America’s Favorite Daytime Programming including Talk, Food, Children’s, Courtroom, Game Shows and Daytime Dramas    

Awards show, now in its 40th year, presented live from The Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 16, 8-10 p.m., ET/PT, it was announced by Scot Safon, Executive Vice President & General Manager, HLN, and Malachy Wienges, Chairman, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

“Last year, HLN’s first-ever presentation of the Daytime Emmy® Awards was the #1 most-watched, regularly-scheduled non-news broadcast in the network’s history, and received terrific viewer feedback both on-air and online.   Our audiences thanked us for tapping into that vital part of American pop culture,” said Safon. “HLN is the news channel that focuses on stories at the forefront of the American conversation, and daytime programming often tackles those same themes and stories. We are so happy to again present the program that honors the best work in daytime.”

“The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is very excited to partner again this year with HLN and LocoDistro on our 40th anniversary of the Daytime Emmy Awards,” said Wienges.  “The outcome of this partnership will be a creative show honoring all the genres that make Daytime Television part of our daily lives.”

Wienges also noted that Game Show Icon Monty Hall and Legendary Producer Bob Stewart with be honored with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Viewer integration will be part of the presentation with featured segments on air and online at HLNtv.com. Presenters and additional program information will be announced within a few weeks. The 40th annual daytime Emmy Awards is produced by LocoDistro; Gabriel Gornell is founder and the show’s executive producer.

“Daytime TV doesn’t have fans—it has personal relationships between hosts and viewers five days a week.  And because of this five days-a-week relationship, there is no stronger connection with audiences in all of entertainment—And we’re going to celebrate 40 years of it from Talk Shows to Soaps,” said Gornell.

Credit: Heidi Gutman/ABC-Disney

50th Anniversary Cast Photo

As part of General Hospital’s Golden 50th Anniversary on April 1st, ABC is offering special prints representing some of the most notable romances, heartaches and jaw-dropping events spanning across the decades. An iconic 50th Anniversary Cast Photo is part of the limited edition offering, which includes fan-favorites from past and present commemorating the occasion. 1963 of these prints are available, referencing the year the show began.

Remember when?
Photo ABC

The View”

ABC’S “THE VIEW” CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF “GENERAL HOSPITAL” 

WITH GUEST ANTHONY GEARY, LIVE, MONDAY, APRIL 1

ABC’s “The View” returns live MONDAY, APRIL 1 (11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, ET) with actor Anthony Geary as ABC celebrates the 50^th anniversary of its popular drama “General Hospital.” Geary’s visit falls on the show’s actual anniversary date. “General Hospital” hit the airwaves on April 1, 1963 and has been entertaining audiences for five decades. A seven-time Emmy ® award-winner, Geary is expected to discuss his career portraying the wonderfully unpredictable Luke Spencer since 1978, and what to expect all this week on “General Hospital” in celebration of the show’s Golden Anniversary.

Honoring 50 historic years on ABC, “General Hospital” is the longest running scripted drama currently in production and the third longest-running drama in American television history. To mark the show’s Golden Anniversary, ”General Hospital” reprises the immensely popular Nurses Ball, a fictional charity event complete with musical performances from the illustrious citizens of Port Charles dedicated to HIV/AIDS awareness. The celebration begins on April 1. “General Hospital” airs at 2:00 p.m., ET / 1:00 p.m., PT/CT, on the ABC Television Network.

“The Chew”

“THE CHEW” CELEBRATES THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF “GENERAL HOSPITAL” WITH GUEST GENIE FRANCIS ON APRIL 1

“The Chew” marks the 50th anniversary of its daytime sibling, “General Hospital,” when beloved ABC star Genie Francis visits the show to talk about her return to the show in the role she made famous, that of Laura Baldwin Spencer. “General Hospital” celebrates its Golden Anniversary on April 1. Honoring 50 historic years on ABC, “General Hospital” is the longest running American soap opera currently in production and the longest running scripted drama on television currently in production. Based on the West Coast, the show has aired over 12,000 episodes and has received the prestigious Emmy Award for Outstanding Daytime Drama a record 11 times.