Comfortably Numb

Comfortably Numb
By Pink Floyd

Hello?
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone home?
Come on, now.
I hear you're feeling down.
Well I can ease your pain,
Get you on your feet again.

This is my brain on soaps these days…

Katrina had to knock from the other side of my computer screen to see if anyone was home. To be honest, since sweeps for me AMC has been “up and down”, I’ve gone on OLTL hiatus and GH has left me waiting for them to tell a good story. But, soaps like everything else in life, peak and ebb and it’s normal to feel a let down after the extra efforts put forth for sweeps. Trouble is, even the highlighted stories this sweeps were a bit of a let down for me. Hmmm…

AMC’s Satin Slayer Mystery had promise in the beginning. However, too soon it became obvious that it was Cambias related and unless they figured out a way to thaw Michael it wasn’t much of a stretch as to WHODUNNIT. (Hell, they did manage to bring the Stavroscycle out of the deep freeze on GH. It can be done!)

Day in and day out we watched the remaining women of fusion “standing strong together” while their men became all paranoid about their safety. Josh was the leader of the pack constantly obsessing about Babe followed by Zack, Tad, Aidan, Jackson and JR (Whose theme song should have been “I Used to Love Her But I Had to Kill Her” by Guns N’ Roses, but that’s a tune for another column!)

The murderer was, of course, Alexander Cambias Sr. and his reason’s for killing all those innocent women was to get back at his son for walking away from his legacy? To get him to “do as he was told”? Not sure that these were good enough reasons for me to sit through weeks of mediocre suspense. In the end, daddy’s revenge proved rather anticlimactic.

Then there was the long awaited Krystal/Tad/Adam baby reveal explosion. Well, the minute Tad slept with Krystal that night months ago baby Charlotte’s paternity was a sealed deal. Adam’s been the wonderful doting, loving husband and expectant father (basically a total alien) so what did we think he’d do when he found out? If he did burn down Tad’s house that’s the Adam I know and love to loathe! Now Krystal’s gonna stand by her man? Given the scenes I saw with Krystal and Tad the other day, (copping the old belly feel) I wish she’d just let Adam rot in captivity with Janet.

GH’s “24” style sweeps episodes did spark the ratings and in NYC, faithful actors Greg Vaughn and Rick Hearst (I didn’t see Ted King and now he’s leaving – bummer!) touted how hard everyone worked, the long hours and how Sebastian Roche (Mr. Craig) entertained fellow cast members between scenes. I must admit the actors’ enthusiasm made me step back and re-evaluate a bit. My first instinct was to say, “Awe, guys, I appreciate all the hard work but…”

Relax.
I need some information first.
Just the basic facts,
Can you show me where it hurts?
There is no pain, you are receding.
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're sayin'.
When I was a child I had a fever.
My hands felt just like two balloons.
Now I got that feeling once again.
I can't explain, you would not understand.
This is not how I am.
I have become comfortably numb.

AMC:

“Where does it hurt?”

Erica and Jack breaking up. If they’d go with something with Jeff, I may be okay with it.

The millionth “end” to JR and Babe. YAWN! Is the show over yet? I’ve seen this one.

The loss of David Hayward, Dixie Martin and Brooke English. It will never be acceptable.

Ryan’s sudden obsession and proposal to Annie … I mean Greenlee wannabe. Whatever…

Josh obsessing over and over and over and over and over and over again about Babe. If it’s about getting laid dude, there are others in town.

The whole Wild Wind Posse.

GH:

“Where does it hurt?”

Sonny who loves Carly who loves Jax who loves her who loves Sonny who runs to Jason to “count to ten” AGAIN.

Lucky who loves Liz who loves Lucky AND Jason and is lying about the Morgan child. Angel Elizabeth’s halo just exploded.

Lulu, Dylan, Milo, Spinelli, Lulu, Dylan, Milo, Spinelli, Lulu, Dylan, Milo Spinelli, Lulu, etc.

SAAAAAAAAAAM! Destroy her soon, please? I want to see Alexis’s face when she learns who her long lost spawn really is.

Robin and Nikolas layin’ on the couch K-I-S-S-I-N …OUCH! This is one of the dumbest story lines I’ve ever seen.

Ok.
Just a little pinprick.
There'll be no more ...Aaaaaahhhhh!
But you may feel a little sick.
Can you stand up?
I do believe it's working. Good.
That'll keep you going for the show.
Come on it's time to go.

AMC

“What keeps me going?”

Bianca loves Zoey!!! Okay, maybe she didn’t use the “L” word, but these two have mesmerized me. Kudos to the scenes with Bianca and Zoe’s Mom. Bravo to those scenes between “Freddie” and mom when she finally accepted her as Zoe. I was partying in Joyville!

Barbara Montgomery. LOVE to hate her. I’m so glad to see someone on the canvas that can throw it back at Erica with equal velocity. And she bagged Jack so soon after the divorce? Wow. Ten points!

Lily’s “twin”. It’s very early in the story but what a way to see Leven Rambin’s range! More please.

GH

“What keeps me going?”

Maxie and Coop. Okay, they threw them into bed waaaay too soon but these two have potential.

Logan. If this isn’t Scotty Baldwin’s son I’ll eat my hat! That kid has ALL of Scott’s mannerisms!

Spinelli. He actually makes me like Jason. “Like Jason”. I’ve got to practice saying that.

Alan’s ghost. This is the best material Stuart Damon’s had in years. WHY did he have to die for us to get this?

Tracy. Kudos to Jane Elliot for bringing it home! I can’t wait for Luke’s “exorcism”.

Mr. Craig. Sebastian is a wonderful actor and it’s nice to see a new villain in Port Charles. (Sure gives Ric and Lorenzo a rest!) Still, let’s hope that they break from the mad man inflicting pain on innocents for amusement routine. It got old in sweeps and it’s getting old now. Case in point below:

True story. My husband walked in when I was watching the show and said, “Isn’t that the same guy who held everyone hostage at the hotel?”

“Yes,” I answered.

“Aren’t those the same people he was holding hostage before?”

“Yes.”

“How original.” He mumbled sarcastically and left the room.

There is no pain, you are receding.
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're sayin'.
When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse,
Out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to look but it was gone.
I cannot put my finger on it now.
The child is grown, the dream is gone.
I have become comfortably numb.

The fleeting glimpse I’d like to catch is ABC soaps telling complete and compelling stories between sweeps periods. It feels like this time is intermission between games and it’s been tough to muster much enthusiasm.

I read that GH’s spin off Night Shift was supposed to be “fast paced and grittier” than its parent show. Why not pick up the pace on the daily soaps? I get that they are serial dramas but I honestly WANT to stay interested instead of comfortably numb.

Until next time, put in a good CD, kick back and enjoy the music!

Pink Floyd