Baby, it's just you and me. - Tamilu
GH Commentary 11.01.2024
Dear readers, Sam McCall is gone, and I have all sorts of real feelings about the death of a fictional character. It had to happen right after Dante proposed, and right after, they were so happy planning the future and sharing their celebratory news. Ugh.
I'm sad for the loss of this character who has been so interwoven into many storylines. I'm mad at ABC for firing a beloved 20-year veteran of the show to save money and then, inexplicably, hiring a dozen unknown actors that we don't care about. I'm perturbed because Kelly Monaco hinted that her abrupt dismissal was retaliation against something. When she finally tells her side of the story, I will believe her.
But all that being said, the storyline this created and the power of the acting I have seen this week has been superb. When Alexis learned that her daughter was gone and wanted a blanket to warm her up, I started crying. I didn't stop until the end of next week's previews when Jason tells Spinelli it's because of Sam that he has him as a friend.
Nancy Lee Grahn, Steve Burton, Dom Zaprogna, Genie Francis, Maurice Benard, Kate Mansi, Kristen Vaganos, and even our GH kids, Finn Carr as Rocco, Cosette Abinante as Scout, and Asher Antonyzyn all turned in moving performances.
Watching each character hear the news of Sam's death and react to her loss in their own way was so true to life. When someone dies, and you have to make one horrible phone call after another to family and friends to inform people about the loss, the wave of grief is overwhelming.
I think about Nancy Lee Grahn as Alexis, who should 100% submit her scenes for Daytime Emmy consideration…When Alexis, who just lost her firstborn child, has to tell Dante and Rocco, Sonny and Laura, and Molly and Kristina before she even catches her breath, it gutted me.
Imagine if the writers hadn't sent Finn off to Seattle. Imagine if Finn, Alexis's AA buddy, was around. It would be a perfect time for Finn to step in and support Alexis, but no, he's been banished to the Pacific Northwest (which, in truth, is preferable because the West Coast is the best coast, IMHO.)
Something else made me sad, but I hesitate to bring it up… perhaps some of you thought about this, too. Isn't it sad that Jax can't be here to say goodbye to Sam? Jax and Sam had a relationship during the "Dead Man's Hand" mystery. I was watching old YouTube videos – here's part one of 39 parts for your entertainment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgABEhuBGs0
I know that Ingo did this to himself and will most likely never be back on GH, but I miss Jax being part of the storyline. When you have been watching this show as long as I have, the history of two characters matters. Sometimes, I miss Jax, the character, and they should recast him.
But back to Sam. Can you believe the Powers That Be fired Kelly and then made Fair Samantha lay there dead for days while people wept at her bedside? That seems somewhat cruel. Can you imagine how she felt laying there in her fake hospital bed, knowing it was her last day on the job after two decades? Can you imagine being able to show NO emotion while castmates filed in one after another to cry over her? I bet a lot of those tears were genuine and heartfelt.
There were so many gut-wrenching scenes today. I turned GH on in my bedroom, closed the door, and got a new box of Kleenex because I knew I would need them. I teared up so many times! Watching Jason explain to Scout about the essence of a soul vs. a lifeless body. Watching Laura gently instructing Rocco how to pray. Watching Rocco crying to Laura about his regrets from being envious of Scout and Danny for having their mother. Watching Alexis with Molly's and Kristina's heads in her lap as they cried together. Watching Dante telling Sonny he was to blame for Sam's death and how he abandoned her to sit beside Lulu's bed. Watching Sonny pull Dante into a deep hug and not letting him go. Readers, I was bawling.
But yesterday, when Alexis crawled into bed with Sam, snuggled up next to her, and tucked the blanket in? Oh, my Lord, I couldn't breathe. When she yelled up at the sky to God, "Bring her back!" There was lots of sobbing going on. I have experienced loss, grief, and heartache, and those scenes were so spot on that they reminded me how that felt.
When Jason went in, they played that montage of old JaSam scenes, which hurt my heart! When he said, "I remember it all." I cried, "ME TOO!" at the TV. Ugly cry time! When Steve Burton cries, I cry. I tried explaining this phenomenon to my husband, but he just looked at me like I had three heads.
One thing I always think about is that whoever does GH's casting is superb. This new batch of young actors is all so promising. Today was the most emotional scene we have had from Rocco since he was cast, and he absolutely nailed it.
As to the title, back in the Jason and Sam heyday, they had a few songs to use as their theme song. One was "Just You and Me" by Jayson Belt, which they played during the flashbacks, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBlo-MT0nGU
Another song that was used for both JaSam and Lante around that time was Smile by Ryan Webster. That song landed me a friend! I wrote about his song in my GH column, and he wrote to thank me. We stayed in touch, and then, when he played in San Diego, we went to see him and shared some beers. (Bonus- the handstamp for the bar said, "F*cktard," and my husband, who pretends he doesn't watch GH, still calls that place the F*cktard Bar. J Ryan Webster is a genuinely lovely person and a fantastic musician. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSSHqsNYvlc
I am glad today is Friday because I need two days to recuperate before we watch Spinelli find out, Joss and Michael find out, and Lucas find out and fall apart with Brad's support. (I am trying to will this into existence.) And, of course, I want to see how Carly makes it all about her and volunteers to raise all of Sam's kids. LOL. It's just a joke. You know I love Carly.
While this crisis is going on, another crisis is unfolding at the Q house; Cody's drunken outburst caused Willow's secret to escape, and guess who was there? The P.I. Ned hired. But sadly, sans dog. Ned got the video he needed to blackmail Drew and Tracy, and Ned giggled with glee at their good fortune. To Drew's credit, he did the thing I always say every time a blackmail story comes along- you're better off just confessing. "Yeah, I kissed my cousin's wife. You got me." So now, Ned and Tracy have no leverage; they have made a mortal enemy of Drew, and he's never going to vote with them again.
But speaking of Drew, while I love Cameron Mathison in general, it was Billy Miller's Drew who had the grand love affair with Sam, and in my mind's eye, I imagined that version of Drew getting the news of Sam's death. He was so soulful and expressive. It's not fair to compare actors; everyone has different gifts. Just like this week, the day the secret came out, Chad Duell was away, and they had Robert Adamson filling in. I love the actor; he was great, like Noah on YR, but I was peeved that GH broke this big secret on the day Chad Duell wasn't on the show. Thankfully, it was just a one-day absence, and we got to see Chad's reaction the next day: to get hammered and sleep with Sasha as I predicted.
Michael knows Willow is still lying to him about a second kiss. Still, he has to lie about sleeping with Sasha, too, so apparently, he was willing to pocket the second kiss for a later date. Will this marriage survive, or will Michael go back to Sasha, and Nina and Willow fight for Drew? Nina conveniently left that part out of the story.
As to Sasha, if that girl starts on the pills again, I will fast forward every scene she is in until she retires. I honestly can't take another round of her and drugs. I keep feeling like either Sofia Mattson or Josh Kelly is leaving the show because I can't see another reason to break up this up-and-coming couple. Maybe Cody will take Holly up on her offer to move some illegal diamonds. My guess is that she stashed them in his room. It was odd that she was up there snooping around when he wasn't there.
I loved Robert and Holly back then, but frankly, now I prefer him with Diane Miller. I know Holly is the love of his life, and he may not be able to resist her siren song, but I hope he tries.
Speaking of sirens, did Olivia leave town? Why is she not at the hospital and all up in Dante's grill? She's been gone since Lois came back, and I prefer Lois with Ned, so I'm not complaining; I'm just curious.
GH is definitely on a house-cleaning spree. We have had a lot of people leaving for good lately, including Blaze, Finn, Violet, Marshall, and Sam, but also people missing, like Valentin, Charlotte, and Olivia. We know Leslie Charles is not coming back in real life due to health issues, but at the Q house, Monica is always upstairs, and somehow, that comforts me. Heather got out of prison and is off to live with Steven Lars, -oh Scott Reeves was such a welcome sight, and he didn't stay long enough. But getting Heather out of town seemed right. She whispered to Ace that she would be back, and I don't doubt it, maybe next sweeps period. We had so much drama with Portia about Heather getting out, and then she left town the next day. A bit anticlimactic.
I always enjoy the GH holiday episodes, so despite the sad week, I liked seeing the kids trick or treating, and costumes and especially Spinelli's skeleton suit and Georgie's Zenon costume, a nod to Kirsten Storms old character! So fun.
Another relationship I want to mention is Maxie and Cody. They are delightful onscreen together, and their banter seems so natural. I hope the relationship between these two cousins grows and that they find a way to add Sasha to the family.
What will happen tomorrow, dear readers? Will they make us cry every day up until the Quartermaine Thanksgiving Pizza? Will Drew ask Willow and Nina to be sister wives? Will Sasha end up pregnant with a Q/Corinthos baby because Michael has potent sperm like Sonny? Will Ava and Ric have a fling? Will we find out that Laura's brother Cyrus is responsible for Sam's sudden "heart attack" just like I am convinced he's the reason that Lulu's ventilator suddenly went off right after he "prayed with her?" Will GH be preempted all week for endless election updates? Will I put up a little Christmas tree tomorrow?
Only tomorrow knows, dear readers, and I will tune in tomorrow as long as there are tomorrows.
Comments
Post a Comment