wonderwoman

Scheduling a project of this size is tricky, particularly since the broadcast networks are kicking off the Fall Season (such as it is). But, scheduling issues aside, and gut-wrenching as the material is, I'm not sure that spreading out the pain over five weeks is the answer. It was such a divisive time (and disturbingly prescient, given this country's current state of affairs), that there's something to be said for just sucking it up and plowing through -- kind of like lancing a boil or ripping off a bandaid. I have Roku, and while I certainly had no intention of binge-watching, last week I watched the first five episodes over the course of two days. I watched episode six as it aired last night, then seven and eight today. i'll finish up the rest tomorrow. Not sure if the music, which has been a blast from the past in so many ways, has been discussed. The standout for me, thus far is episode eight, which ends with Kent State, and opens with the haunting strains of George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

I had always known that some people on the inside had reservations both about our being there, and whether or not the war was winnable. But, something Ken Burns mentioned something last night on Charlie Rose that I had forgotton about (there was a lot of information in the five episodes I watched over two days:) is beyond comtempt. Don't remember which episode, but a memo from either Defense, State or the CIA quantified the reasons for staying in Vietnam: 70% to protect our standing in the world (paraphrasing here), 20% to contain China and 10% to aid the Vietnamese people.

When she was at CBS Daytime, word is that she was the driving force behind the final horrible years of As the World Turns. But, according to what I've read, she's going to be writing breakdowns, not a place to inflict any real damage. And I guess she's got to earn a living:)

As with many of Ken Burns's projects, the sheer magnitude can overwhelm -- sometimes it feels like homework:) I was in high school and college during the war, and thought I knew a lot. But, while I knew the French had occupied Vietnam, I was amazed, and fascinated, at the detail Burns and Novick were able to reveal, in particular, what happened during WWII.

Way upthread, someone commented on the straps on Rachel Bloom's dress. Apparently, Gucci wasn't willing to dress a normal-sized woman for an awards show, so she bought it herself for $3500. Last year, Leslie Jones went public with the same issue and Christian Sirano stepped up, as he did again this year. Rachel Bloom's dress Leslie Jones dress

And we're out: only 2 minutes over:)

Seemed as though it took a long time for them to play Elizabeth Moss off...

I won't be alive to see it, but I hope she looks at good @ 92 as Cicley Tyson.

Interesting that Nicole only mentioned her children with Keith Urban. Wonder what her relationship is with the two she and Tom Cruise adopted.

They ignored Claire Labine, though. Proving my point... Next to As the World Turns, Ryan's Hope was my favorite soap.

Mixed feelings on the In Memorium: I get that it's one more opportunity to showcase a network performer. And I don't mind if the performer is off to the side or in the shadows. But, this one really irked me. But, props to including Agnes Nixon. Too often those from the soaps are ignored.

You really have to appreciate the irony here: CBS is the least diverse of the broadcast neworks. And when they had a show with a racially and trans diverse cast, Doubt, they dumped it after two episodes.

Love, love, love this dress. IMHO a big improvement over what she wore to the Creative Emmy show. http://www.eonline.com/photos/22262/creative-arts-emmys-2017-red-carpet-arrivals/792185 And yes, she did seem wooden. But I think she's basically a very shy person.

Looks like some misguided effort to attract the "younger demographic." Beyond annoying!

Just came across this on Roku (can't remember if I saw this when it first aired). Binged all 11 episodes and really wish ABC hadn't been so quick on the trigger. Nothing earthshaking; but, intelligent, engaging, reasonably complex characters (although the cast did lack color).

Just saw the pilot. YAY! No cartoon characters. Loved the relationship between mother and son. Looking forward to seeing how that develops down the road.

Was watching "The Hours," and it took me a minute to realize who was chopping meat as Virginia Woolf's cook: Linda Bassett (Nurse Crane).

Donald and Melania Trump to Skip Kennedy Center Honors How considerate of them...

I called it in the pilot episode... Granted, it wasn't a bone marrow transplant, but the same idea. "There was an episode on Law and Order (I think it was SVU) where a doctor inserted a tube with someone else's blood in his arm to evade a paternity test. So, maybe... Just a thought. "

I get that a show like this demands a certain amount of hand waving. However... Billy's trial spans the entire run of the show and the trial of the sleepwalker took place -- opening statements to verdict -- IN A SINGLE DAY?!

I'm only posting this because it includes updates on Mary, Sue and Mel. Oh, and the possibility that PBS will eventually air one of the early season. update on gbbo

Not everyone agreed with Heilbut's take on Irna Phillips: https://www.wattpad.com/62353047-irna-and-me-two-authors-in-search-of-a-character/page/2

This has been an issue for soaps since the early '80s, when shows (though, ironically, not Y&R) rushed to replicate the success of General Hospital's Luke and Laura. While new viewers liked what they were seeing, longtime viewers were alienated and over the years, the audience became fragmented, which made it difficult for any headwriter to get the necessary numbers to keep the network happy. Things only got worse post-OJ. Of course, the network tries to "help" the headwriter, which only exacerbates the situation. And so the downward spiral continues.

For anyone's who's interested: the final 2 episodes will air on Wednesday, 9 August @ 9 and 9:30.

While this piece on the lack of diversity @ CBS doesn't mention Doubt, it me to thinking. Given the network's well-documented lack of diversity, why they didn't give this show a shot rather than canceling it after airing two episodes? Aside from Heigl, who will always get on my last nerve, and Drema Walker, who also annoys me, the cast was stellar, the stories timely -- some even compelling -- and some fascinating relationships. A real shame.