The Chew

Recently stayed home on a weekday and left ABC on after the news was over. Back in the day that meant hours of soap operas but I forgot those days are over. Recently ABC replaced the soaps with The Revolution and The Chew, months later only one show survived.

The Revolution was almost immediately canceled since it had to do with exercise and a healthy lifestyle change.  The Chew on the other hands celebrates foods and crafts which everyone loves. Another plus for The Chew are the hosts.

Daphne Oz, ‎Carla Hall, ‎Mario Batali, ‎Clinton Kelly and Michael Symon make up the co-hosts. Michael and Mario are like feuding brothers. Carla is the cool kid. Daphne is a sweetie pie. Clinton is the main host and is like the older brother who occasionally gets no respect. The cast works well together and they seem to be having fun.

That is the good but the bad is they play to many games with the audience, that is a new thing among talk show. Even Katie Couric plays games in her show. They also make a lot of comfort foods. They try to balance the cooking with healthier alternatives and remind people this should not be everyday food. Still all that food make me full. I am not a foodie but I see why many enjoy this show.

Granted I prefer soaps when I am sick at home but watching a show with fun people is always good.

P.S. I have no plans to make any of their recipes but I may order out.

Oh brother!

Soap operas were always filled with drama but that is on screen for General Hospital it has also been behind the scenes. When One Life to Live was canceled some characters went to General Hospital.

Then came the lawsuit.

Apparently One Life to Live (OLTL) and All My Children found a home online at Hulu. This meant the characters were still in rotation on their original shows. So on General Hospital all the characters from OLTL were literally recalled. Yet the actors are still under contract. What to do?

Make them brothers! Of course some have become long lost family members while the girl has just been recast as a new girl that no has noticed looks just like the old girl. Oh and she was sleeping tih one brother and is doing the other brother.

The world of soaps is collapsing but the crossovers are getting ridiculous, this time I do not blame the writers since they had no other options.

50th Anniversary of General Hospital

It has been 50 years of soapy goodness. This year long celebration included 50 hours of episodes on Soapnet . Many of the key and older characters have been making an appearance. The apex should be the Nurse's Ball this week.

While I have not watched it from the beginning I have seen most episodes since 1991 when Luke & Laura made their original comeback. I wanted to see what the big deal was and became hooked. Mostly with the young character at the time. It was not until years of watching hat I appreciated the older characters.

Drama and ridiculous situations are common place but it is a fun entertaining show. The other alternatives like games show and talk shows all are horrible in comparison for daytime viewers. I know eventually this too will end as cheap low brow TV takes over.

My suggestion is to watch at least a weeks worth of episodes before passing judgement but keep in my this is about fantasy not reality.

Redacting History

I noticed something odd during the flashbacks on General Hospital. It happened during the tribute to Edward Quartermaine (John Ingle) on November 22, 2012. Take a look at the background actors.

They were blurred out.

Now that video software is cheap and easy to use a person can re-edit anything. These actors were likely not extras since the storyline in that flashback had mostly main characters interacting at a Quartermaine party. I think that woman in the second picture was the originally Carly.

Is it right to change the past? Do these actors get paid when the footage is used? Do these actors get paid if they are pixelated or erased?

Postponed

Due to the shooting in Connecticut some shows were cancelled or postponed.

Haven: Reunion 
Originally took place during a high school reunion and had some violence. The SyFy channel left these statements: "In light of today’s tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, Syfy will not be airing the new episode of #Haven tonight at 10/9C.", "At this time, no decision has been made as to when the episode will air."

General Hospital: 12.14.2012
The episode was postponed both on ABC and Soap Network due to the coverage of ABC news. They plan to air the non-controversial episode on Monday.

Most of ABC and the rest of networks pre-empted their daytime shows but since they are horrible it didn't really matter.

Over at the laist they have a great article of other shows and events that were pulled, I helped out a bit with one tip.

John Ingle R.I.P.

John Ingle passed away 2 days ago from cancer. He had melanoma and wore a hat in his later career to cover a scar and bandages on the top of his head. Married for 58 years his wife died earlier this year and is no surprise that he passed away so shortly after the love of his life.

Made famous on General Hospital Ingle worked on nearly every top show during the 1980s and 1990s. Original a acting teacher he only started film and TV work after retiring in the 1980s. He often played a priest/father and I remember him on the Drew Carey show very well.

84 is a full life but he seemed so full of life and a great actor. Ingle also did lots of voice over work including the Land Before Time movies and TV show. He will be missed and I look forward to the dedication on General Hospital.

All My Children: Series Finale

They did it on purpose.

The ending of All My Children ended on a cliffhanger. Erica got dumped, JR is about to shoot someone, and David does not reveal which dead person he brought back to life.

Disappointing, yes but this was done in the hope that enough outrage and support from fans is generated to start on a new network or a web series. Unfortunately by air time all the deals fell through as few cast members agreed to continue.

All My Children Cancelled

All My Children  along with One Life to Live have been cancelled by ABC.

Soaps were a great form of entertainment, a place to speak out on social issues, and a stepping stone for young actors. Unfortunately the trend for the cheap will kill off all scripted TV until all that is left is reality-fiction like Jersey Shore, American Idol, and Oprah. (yes I'll rant about these later)

Soaps like most scripted shows gives you a story with a specific meaning. Unfortunately the narcissism of most people along with the increasing narrow minds makes audiences more fractured. The days when you just sit back and accept the premise of something as a work of fiction for fiction's sake is over.

Most audiences rather see "real" situations and the judge them and then contribute to it until they force some sort of reaction. The Oprah Syndrome for short. The problem is most people are cattle and not smart enough to make the right decision, just abbreviated from old books like the bible and such. Just look at any major event and then see how many people ignore logic, commonsense, and science instead going for simplistic and ridiculous conspiracy theories.

Back to the soaps.
All My Children is being replaced by The Chew a show about food and food trends.
One Life to Live is being replaced with The Revolution a show about fatties and how they will keep up their denial about exercise and blame food.

As the World Turns was replaced with The Talk, a better version of The View thanks to Leah Remini but on the edge of flooding the airwaves with misinformation thanks to Sara Gilbert. Did we need another talk show? Maybe but that won't save CBS.

So what have I've been watching as the TV death-spiral continues? I'll see if I can start sharing soon.

Oprah gets soapy

Just watching some commercials with Oprah annoucing her next show. She will have various <b>soap legends</b>.

Okay I don’t really care but I'm testing a new blogger <i>phone app</i>.

The Day World Stood Still

Image via Wikipedia

September 17, 2010 will be the last episode of As The World Turns a 54 year old soap opera that spawned more great actors than every reality show put together.


I enjoy stories, well written or otherwise.

I hate reality shows but apparently I'm the only one. These aren't stories they are narcissistic trips into damaged peoples live. Plus they are poser since they are aware of the camera yet they claim to not notice them.

Slowly I'm getting away from TV but not because of me, it is them. I know when I'm being pushed towards cell phone/social network/internet lifestyle and the TV producers are moving their money to that scheme and want us to follow.

I will enjoy good shows wherever I get them, hell I still listen to radio dramas on WBAI 99.5 in NYC.

SOAP

SOAPnet, Channel #64

Drama, drama, drama. This channels does a lot of repeats with three chances everyday to see ABC soap operas that aired the previous afternoon plus on CBS soap. The rest of the repeats are either much older canceled soaps, primetime shows like the original 90210 and Melrose Place, or old interviews with soap stars.

Original spin-off General Hospital: Night Shift boosted the ratings but a new onslaught of reality shows looks to bring it down.

I don't mind getting soapy once in a while especially since there is a good chance that actor struggling on a soap will one day be making $20 million per film. That and often writers steal storylines from soap operas to use in movie or TV shows.

This is Not Spring

Andy Hallet was great as the thin green Lorne on Angel and wondered why he never worked much. Apparently he got sick shortly after the final episode and after years of struggle died this past week. This is sad and one of a number of tragedies to follow the cast and crew of Angel.

The guy was 33, seriously messed up. If your wondering no I don't believe in the jinx or on set curses.


Another loss is the oldest soap opera ever has been canceled.
Guiding Light has been going on for 72 years, that is before TV for you young ones.
Starting as a 15 minutes serial on radio in 1937 it made the successful switch to TV in 1952 but alas the internet will not see graceful transition. The hour of TV is now free for some awful talk show or daytime reality crap.
Not that I can ever recall seeing any episodes I will watch it sign off on September 18, 2009.

Kids, Cops, and U.K. Stereotypes

90120: We're Not in Kansas Anymore
So was it me or did that kid from Degrassi have some odd conversations with her adopted brother. I mean in a bikini, on his bed, and about naughty sex. They do make a cute couple.
The show was slightly interesting but typical of a soap. The acting was one of the worst I've seen in years. Okay now I can just wait for the series finale to see how it ends.

The Shield: Coefficient of Drag
Intense acting plus tons of blood equals series finale.
It was good but the names of the bad guys are incomprehensible.

• Zadofian
• Luis Aramboles
• Beth Insardi
• Ellis Rezian
• Cruz Pezuela

Autumn Chiklis is the actual daughter of the star of the show and plays his daughter on the show, freaky.


Bones: Yanks in the U.K.
Bones goes to speak at Oxford University and wouldn't you know someone dies. The first half of this two hour episode was nice and sweet with love blooming and life amongst death. Then the second half started and every lovely moment from the first half was destroyed.

The shows jokes consisted mostly of the rude Americans running around making fun of the British. It was funny plus I learned a truck is called lorry??? Who knew...well maybe some British people knew.

Daily Show: September 3, 2008
I'm not watching the political conventions since it's just hot air blowing used to elected. What was great were all the hypocritical moments shown on today's episode.
Nice to see so many quotes directly contraindicating themselves just because of the new VP candidate.

Kathy's back

Yes a new season of Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List just started and it featured an even more potty mouth Kathy with her boyfriend/man-date/arm-candy Steve Wozniak.

The scene where he ignores her and attempts to hack her Ipod is bound to be a reality show classic. Kind of reminds me of the guys from Big Bang Theory.



All in all it was a funny start because her last season was just too damn depressing. Although this season the scene around the producers awards show were hilarious.


As the World Turns
Odd in late December 2005 I saw Debra Jo Rupp of That 70s Show fame appeared on All My Children and now she was on As the World Turns playing very minor characters.



This time she was a camp counselor, last time she was a drunk.

At Least 3 Care

Only two mentions of 9/11 on shows that air, not counting news.

On All My Children they had a group in a bar watching the names being read on 9/11 then a moment of silence.

Of course on Rescue Me it was the season finale and they mentioned and showed flashes of that day.

Also MSNBC did a recast of that days live coverage. Great for them at least one network cared.

I don't include other news show( or Oprah) because their angles have been tainted with time.




Okay enough of the depressing here is a laugh....

Hospital Cloning

General Hospital: Night Shift: Frayed Anatomies
They make no bones about it, this is a Grey's Anatomy rip-off. They have a black chief, a big black sassy woman and an ER full of hot young inexperienced nurses and doctors. What's different? The janitor...Billy Dee Williams.

Helping a new doctor with elevator buttons Billy Dee throws out a classic, "You'll have to be gentle, or she'll decide to quit on you.". Yes he's no mere janitor he's Sexy-Janitor.

This is the second spin-off from General Hospital, the other being Port Charles which started similarly but ended up in a supernatural mess. This is a SOAPnet venture that is only meant to last 13 episodes every Thursday at 11pm.

Verdict: Bigger budget but still a soap.

Todd Is Kinda Creepy

As The World Turns
Ralph Maschio better known as the Todd from Scrubs has started a 16 episode guest spot on this CBS soap opera. He is playing the brother-in-law of sexual assault victim Maddie Coleman. Is he a bad guy, is he a rapist, is he a good guy. Well we don't know but it's nice to see him after also seeing him last year in Veronica Mars.

Here is his website where he describes his role that he filmed in July.
http://robertmaschio.com/

Kyle Nothing Solved

Kyle XY: Blame It On The Rain
I sort of remember that last week they said all our questions would get answered, I must have amnesia.
Kyle has a dream/memory of some guy. He then gets a visit from Declan who is running away from hit and run. It's Lori's birthday and everyone is gathered at the Trager house as a storm goes over and the lights go out.
Kyle guesses one wrong thing about the weather but predicts eveything else. He later gets upset when Josh doesn't stop making fun of him.
Only toward the end do we see the guy in Kyle's dream is a missing professor which leads Mom Trager to contact the police.

Is it me or do Kyle and the mother make a cute couple they are always hugging.

Treasure Hunters: Founding Fathers
Miss USA is out and there is one more episode until the big prize.

Attack of The Show: 7/31/06
Oliva Munn quote of the day: "..as friends...I'll take a picture of me in stir-ups." trying to justify sending pics of her at the gyncologist office getting examined. One was shown and was only of her tanned legs the other was not suitable for TV.


Daytime Dollar Codes-7/31/06
Guiding Light-6O4BHX-Older guy.
As The World Turns-3ODV45-Jack

Someone's Connected

I keep losing my cable connection which is dumb because the heat wave just started and I and the rest of New York City have been spending time unplugging stuff just to avoid the 10 day blackout in Queens. When I lose cable I have no TV or internet but since my phone is separate then I always have it, too bad I tend to avoid most calls.

Back to TV.

Stargate SG-1: The Pegasus Project

I like when they combine two shows and they did for this episode. The crew of SG-1 visits the crew of Atlantis to rig a blackhole between the Ori supergate.
The problem they are getting surrounded by the Wraith and the Ori which are superior in every way.
But like good renegades they destroyed both enemies and manage to establish a black hole gate.
Very funny episode and the two crews really got along great it wasn't awkward at all.


Stargate Atlantis: Irresistible
Richard Kind guest stars as a man that can make anyone fall for him. Everyone who meets him gradually becomes addicted to him. Except for Shepard who has a cold, yet still is going out on missions. Eventually they isolate the cause of his charming ways and cure the whole village and Atlantis. They return Kind's character to the village for an unkown fate but I wouldn't be surprised to see him again.

Damn it happened again no sevice for twenty minutes.

I couldn't record Monk and it was getting good.

I can get older Daytime Dollars code if they are needed.
Today July, 24 2006
Guiding Light
WVM73K
Dark hair girl.

As The World Turns
NS7OG0
"Mike"

Time Away From TV

I do go out almost every day.
I just watch a lot of TV when I get home.

Here are some nice pics of a cemetary I went to. It is the one located across the World Trade Center Site in Lower Manhattan.

A nice pic of a headstone with the death date of September 11, 1796. I know it is just a coincedent but an eerie one.


Here some guy as he takes a leak in this centuries old historic landmark.
And then getting back on the ridiculously hot subway stations I took some pictures of sculptures.Ther little birds made of bronze that look so real.

Okay now I'm tired and must get some rest in front of my Precious TV.




I can get older Daytime Dollars code if they are needed.
Today July, 25 2006
Guiding Light
DHDIF1
Some blond chick.

July, 26 2006
Guiding Light
6T8453
Old Guy.


As The World Turns
Q6L6KE
"Jack Synder"

July, 26 2006
As The World Turns
9WCV5D
Katie