So Days has been too awesome lately (EJ is a DiMera after all! Stefano is back! Chad knows what Gabi did! Who is Sami going to sleep with next? Why is Will making out with girls? T is going around starting trash and punching people!). As a result, we were so absorbed in watching yesterday we failed to take more than one picture. Luckily we have some spares in our arsenal, because Days being too awesome is a problem I’m willing to have.
I originally had categories for backstabbing, blackmailing AND scheming, but I think after doing the list for scheming they are also probably the winners in blackmailing and backstabbing, so we needed a different category to round things out. To end on a happier note, here are who we believe would take the medals in Friendship!
GOLD
Maggie
Maggie is the kind of friend who will never judge you. Ever. Addicted to drugs? That’s cool. Cheating on your spouse? No problem. She will of course offer you sage wisdom- like get off drugs or fess up to your spouse- but she will do it without the hint of “I’m better than you” in her voice. She is always available for a chat around the kitchen table, or more recently the Kiriakis mansion living room. Most of all, she treats her friends like family, because usually they end up being family. (Shout out to @TLContessa, @MarshaKinderUSA, @Surome & @Karina62874- you were all so right!)
SILVER
Jennifer
Jennifer is the kind of friend that will shower you in cold water when you are ODing on drugs. She will eat a gallon of icecream with a gold sticker on it when you break up with your boyfriend. She will even help rig a debate to give a friend the advantage. She is the kind of BFF every girl- or mayoral candidate- needs.
BRONZE
Sonny
So many people could take this prize. Bo, Hope, Roman, Marlena, John, Lucas (shout out to @Reshie79- he has been an amazing friend to Sami) they all go to bat for their friends. But lately, Sonny has been the BFF that Will needed (shout out to @imcolee, you were so right). He is supportive, practical, and non judgmental. He is wise beyond his years. And he will dig through trash with you. If I were in Salem, gay or straight, I would want to have Sonny in my corner.
This week’s Retro FriDAYS is a salute to the Windy City, a place that occasionally gets name-checked as the biggest town around. Although let’s be honest, this is mostly about the band Chicago.
In my limited time watching I’ve never actually seen a scene set there, but they talk about it from time to time.
Although occasionally the stars pay a visit.
Like in 1993 when New Bo had a big tip.
Or more recently when Morgan caught Chloe and Philip snogging.
And here goes the musical tributes set to Chicago:
Lots of Jack and Jen love out there
Same goes for Bo and Carly. (Barley?)
Or better times for Kayla and Patch.
Victor and Maggie
Need to feel inspired? Here’s a trifecta.
Days may not be able to afford fancy things like pyrotechnics and outdoor sets but that didn’t stop them from working da bombs into da storylines.
Wherever there was evil, there was Lawrence Alamain…
Part 1
Part 2
OhNoBriefcaseBomb!
OhNoPlaneBomb!
OhNoVictor!
OhNoErnestoOnTheCruiseOfDeception!
OhYeaBonusBomb!
Who do you think is the bigger sex bomb? Lucas…
or Elvis?
EJ, Taylor and Nicole
EJ just wants to “talk.” He tries to appeal to that little part of Taylor “that still loves” him. Will she buy it?
Nicole: “Dude, you are way too sold on your powers of persuasion..”
Don't mess with Nicole when she's hung over.
EJ whines about how the woman he loves “detests me” and Samanther wants to take her kids away. Nic tells him to GTFO but Taylor’s all “Wait.” We can’t “wait” until Taylor gets back on that bus with a one-way ticket out of Salem.
EJ says he was desperate but Taylor reminds him he had full custody of the kids.
What’s up with Taylor’s sleeves?
They cloak Taylor in flowy tops so no one will realize her hidden identity: skeletor.
Bo, Roman and Abe
Apparently the DA doesn’t cotton to making a convicted felon the lead investigator on what is apparently the department’s biggest case. Bo is willing to get fired over this for some stupid reason.
Given that Bo hasn’t scored a conviction since Lebron James won a championship, why are BOPE so confident they’ve got this under control?
Producer’s daughter apparently remembers the photo Rafe2 kept staring at when he was hanging at the PD not doing much of anything. OG Rafe2?
Hope & Rafe2
Hope tries to get Rafe2 to talk Fay Walker but no dice. Hope threatens him with Murder 2 but he’s cool “so long as I don’t get the needle.” Hope tries to persuade Rafe2 the DiMeras can sniff out a rat.
Hope tells Rafe2 about the witness protection option.
Then Roman kicks out Hope and Roman comes in. Shows Rafe2 his statement he made while he was all drugged up. Rafe2 says: “In that case, kiss my ass.”
Hope comes back and tells Rafe2 about being in jail, but Rafe2 apparently already knew about Night Hope, taunting her about whether she “brought her matches.” Hope’s all Roman wants to kill you but I’m totally gonna give you a second chance.
Hope is a pro at looking longingly through jail bars.
Adrienne, Justin & Maggie
They talk about how happy they are Sonny’s back in town.
Is PFLAG an NBC sponsor all of a sudden? In all fairness DOOL is taking a progressive look at this issue, complete with Maggie’s scarf of many colors.
Maggie always manages to dress for the occasion, even when she doesn't know what the occasion is yet.
Kate, Chad and Lexie
Kate gives Lexie and Chad a case in constitutional law. Lexie tells Chad this is his familial “baptism by fire” and hopes her father and EJ get caught.
We love Kate but she looks like she got back from Mardi Gras – jangly beads (and lots of them), and appears a bit dissheveled.
It's been a rough morning for Kate. Defending your hubby when you don't know what he did is exhausting.
Kate tries to convince Chad he should be loyal to his father. “Let me remind you you were raised by a law-abiding man who didn’t give a damn about you.”
Victor & Sonny
Victor thinks Sonny’s gay “as pink ink” revelation is a joke. In fairness that meant happy in Victor’s day.
Victor: “Are you sure it’s not a phase, like high-top sneakers with a suit?”
Sonny implies Victor should join PFLAG. Victor says he feels sorry for Sonny. Sonny reminds Victor he’s a serial groom. Victor is apparently well-educated on what gay couples can and cannot do for one another legally. I was really impressed by how Sonny went toe to toe with his uncle and took everything in stride.
Kinsey and Nicole
Kinsey says she’s read a lot about Nicole. We want to read this gossip column. Kinsey apparently talked smack about Nicole once upon a time and tries to apologize and be her buddy. She reminds us how much we miss Nicole the roving TV reporter.
EJ, Stefano, Kate, Chad Nobody better lay a finger on my Butterfinger! Are you listening to the words coming out of my mouth?
Stefano to Kate: “Clarence Darrow reincarnated would find it difficult to keep either me or my son out of jail.” Chad walks in just as Stefano is flipping out on EJ:
Stefao continues to berrate EJ in front of Kate & Chad:
Chad & Kate tell him to chillax, but he is no where near finished. Stefano: “You are no longer my son.” Kate comes in and comforts him. She knows what it’s like to have a son really piss you off.
SAFE
Safe gets some alone time:
Tricking our kids with high fructose corn syrup and Saturday morning cartoons (even though one of them had a major trauma last night) is hilaaaaaarious.
Justin & Adrienne, Victor, Sonny
J&A tell Victor that Sonny is in town, and he is hurt he didn’t know already. Sonny asks his parents why they are so worried about telling Victor, and runs off to talk to his grandfather. Vicor “Not that that’s stopped them from doing whatever they wanted to do with whoever they wanted to do it with whenever they wanted to do it,.. as I’m sure you will.” Sonny takes this chance to come out to Victor.
Beach Crew: Will, Gabi, Sonny, T, Kinsey
Kinsey hits on Sonny, who stops by to play volleyball. This is what Kinsey looks like when she thinks about “sex on a stick.”
Sonny's so dreamy...
Nicole & Taylor
Taylor runs to Nicole to tell her she was right all along about EJ. Taylor says she wants to be punished for what she did to Nicole.
Darn my luck (read: horrible horrible judgment)
Abby & Maggie, Chad
Abby tells Maggie that she saw Chad doing an errand for Stefano. They relate about loving/liking dangerous men.
Abby confronts Chad and says if he wants to be together, he has to be above board. Chad promises not to violate his own personal code. He also says that Stefano needs him right now. She gives the good angel speech to him:
I can't take them seriously when the wide shot emphasizes their comical height difference.
Kinsey: The internet is out? That’s like the sun going out. I can’t believe she is a blogger like me. Not great company. Anyway, apparently the street is closed and everyone is stuck in the pub re-imagining the oscar movies?
Roman is out in Hollywood looking for a killer?
So THIS is why we haven't seen Roman in a while??
Ciara: Mother, a year is forever in this business. Hilarious.
TRUE GRIT:
Melanie plays the plucky youngster looking for the man who killed her father, and Bo is the only man for the job.
Melanie is pretty convincing as the plucky young girl from True Grit.
I didn't realize this was Bo until nearly the end. Maybe he does deserve that Emmy...
BLACK SWAN:
Hope is the Black Swan, Maggie is her overbearing mother.
Maggie was hilarious as the mean/crazy mom.
SOCIAL NETWORK:
The kids start talking in social network style, but Justin isn’t having it. Chad plays Zuckerburg. Will plays the betrayed best friend. Hilarious. Johnny/Johnny’s twin play the Harvard twins. Hilarious. Theo as Justin Timberlake? Adorable. And the wigs in that room are amazing.
I don't remember that many bad wigs in The Social Network...
The Johnny twins as twins! My head is exploding.
THE KINGS SPEECH
EJ, Nicole & Roman… I didn’t see this movie, so I’m not totally sure what is going on here.
Making EJ into an American? I don't THINK that's what that movie was about.
THE FIGHTER:
SHIRTLESS BRADY! Plus Nicole in lingerie if that’s what you’re into.
And OMG the sisters/mom in their blonde goodness.
If only this were their real SL... Bricole!!
My fave blonde fighter sister has got to be Maxine.
More shirtless Brady, plus EJ acting a fool? Maybe spoof day isn't so bad after all.
In conclusion, this filler day was pretty goofy, but I guess I’m glad they tried to change it up. I wonder why Sami, Rafe, Taylor, Victor, Lexie, Abe,Carly, Kate, Stefano, etc. didn’t get to remake movie madness. But they were smart to include Maxine, because if she’s involved I just can’t complain. You could tell the day was probably more fun to film than it was to watch, as the cast explains.
Chad & Abby, Kate
Kate asks Chad to help Marco out with a shipment. Kate then tells Abby that Chad is at the pier. It’s a set up! Chad is pissed at Kate:
Me? Meddle in relationships? Never.
Taylor, Lexie
Lexie tells Taylor that EJ can handle Stefano. Really? Taylor tells Lexie about Rafe killing Faye.
I mean, it's like, you know?
EJ, Stefano, Sami, Taylor
EJ checks himself out and gets down to trying to “eliminate” Rafe. Stefano: “The only thing the police can find is an all night donut shop.” “I was never dumb enough to be on the Salem Police Force.” Stefano says he switched the will for Nicole’s evidence. Sami walks in as EJ says his imposter is about to ruin everything.
Who wouldn't trust these faces.
Barf! But check out EJ's pink blingy cuff links.
“I’m tired of your family thinking you call all the shots. I’m taking charge. BE AFRAID-- BE VERY AFRAID. Your loving creation, Rafael.”
Sami, Bope
Sami is going to wear a wire to the DiMera mansion. Because that has worked so many times before. They listen to the bug, but then Mary knocks it into the vase water. Maybe the flower wasn’t the best spot for the bug.
Victor, Maggie
Maggie wants to give it one lat shot, and kisses Victor!
Oh COME on.
Marco, Bope
Bope comes in right as Marco is counting the money.
I'm sure no one will notice me in this GIANT FLOPPY HAT.
Brady & Nicole, Victor, Bo
Nicole tells Brady she asked EJ for a divorce. Brady: “I never should have gotten drunk and beat EJ up, I should have stayed sober and killed him.” Enter Victor: “Good god, will you two just shut up. Like the drunk repertory theater production of Now Voyager.” Victor gives a reality check to Brady about the DiMeras figuring everything out and coming down on Nicole and Brady. Bo walks in and they respond:
The usual suspects, looking as innocent as ever.
Melanie & Maggie
Melanie begs Maggie to get Victor out of town. Melanie is being kind of being a drama queen here. “People are going to die and it’s going to be my fault.” Really? Maggie: “Love and a buck fifty will get me a bus ride.” But Maggie comes around and agrees to help.
Adrienne & Darlo, Det. McCarthy
Det. McCarthy is kind of a jerko to Darlo, but Adrienne isn’t having it. Darlo tells her he wasn’t at the Cheatin Heart all night, right as Melanie conveniently walks in.
EJ & Taylor, Bo "Who me?? Couldn't be..." I know, I know, but despite what everyone says and for no reason at all I LOVE EJ and trust him over all my friends ad family.
Taylor tells EJ that Rafe killer her mother. Kind of selfish if EJ is supposed to be on death’s door. EJ realizes why Rafe2 killed Faye, and says it was his fault, but backs off and said he shouldn’t have let Rafe be around. Taylor says she thinks EJ is hiding something, he says:
Taylor says that she trusts EJ, Bo arrests Taylor. Taylor should really shut her mouth and respect the people around her, but Bo did a pretty good job of putting her in her place.
Jennifer, Maxine, Hope
Maxine tells Jennifer there is a leak that blabbed about the missing meds:
If only sass could solve the mystery of the missing drugs, Maxine would be all over it.
Everybody's business is OUR business.