Cheers and Jeers (Friday’s Episode - 12/16/11)

What a great episode it was!

John brought Tea to the hospital (some religious figure died in my area and I missed a bit of the opening.) He was there for her, in what seemed like a rather intimate moment. The doctor wanted to do an ultrasound and Tea wanted John to stay. (I’m sensing something between them, but I guess we’ll never get to see it.) The doctor finally said the baby was fine. She just had cramps. The doctor wondered if she was under any stress. Poor Tea! She could’ve avoided the doctor visit. I could’ve told her all that stress wasn’t good for her or the baby. But all was well. They were going to keep her overnight just to be sure.

Oh, Christmas decorating with the Mannings! How delightful it was. Jack only barely contained his punk attitude. But, Sam greeted Todd with the welcome he deserved. That kid is going to be good! He is adorable, too. In a quiet moment, Jack muttered that Todd had blackmailed him into inviting him. Todd responded that he had blackmailed him into playing father and son. And he expected to see Jack smile or Todd would tell John McBain what he did. They had forgotten the stand! Starr send her mom and the boys to find it. So she could remind Dad he promised to give Blair some space. Well, it was Christmas . . .

Such fun they had! Todd asked Blair if she wanted a kiss. A chocolate kiss. Todd asked if it was okay for him to be there. Sam said he had presents for everyone, including his Uncle Todd.

All was sweetness and light until Jack asked his Dad about the Christmas when he brought baby Jack back to Blair. (How can this kid be so twisted because of that?) We had a short flashback of it. Todd hustled Jack out by asking him to get some wood – he knew how to do that . . . Todd got down on the floor and explained to Sam that he’d done some things wrong. Very nice scene. I always maintain that Roger is spectacular with children. He was great on As the World Turns with Parker and Faith. They took a wonderful family picture. Talk of putting up the star, brought up the story of how Todd named Starr and a flashback. Afterwards, Blair said she was going to see how Tea was doing. Todd swallowed hard.

My question in all this fun was where is Dani? Last we saw she went to get some hot chocolate. Her mom is in the hospital with John and when she finished her hot chocolate, Blair and Starr must have left. Where is she now? Why doesn’t Todd think anything about her?

Not far away, Natalie and Jessica were decorating the tree at Llanfair. (I suppose they’re the only ones interested in doing it - Nigel was too busy butlering to be on Blanco’s set with the gang.) Seemed rather a tame scene. They talked like sisters about Natalie and John. Jessica was very sweet in encouraging her. Natalie said she was most hurt by the rift she’d caused with Jessica. And finally admitted that she never should’ve come to the altar with Brody (no pun intended.) I was most relieved to hear her say that. As if a great sigh was let out. Jessica thought it was ridiculous that Natalie loved John and John loved Natalie and yet they weren’t together. You and me both, sister! Natalie still thought John couldn’t forgive her. Jessica convinced her that the best thing she could do is talk to John.

They had a sweet moment. Natalie remembered her first Christmas at Llanfair when she had broken Jessica’s first ornament. The flashback revealed that little Starr had burst in on her, scaring her and the ornament fell to the floor. It was an accident. Natalie had a first ornament made for Liam and for Ryder, too. Choked me up. Seems the sisters are healing. On Jessica’s insistence, Natalie called John, only to find him still embroiled with Tea at the hospital. (Though I really didn’t understand why he was still there.)

Matthew and his parents were at home arguing about Destiny and the decisions that were made while Matthew was out of it. Bo calmly explained that someone had to make them. You go, Bo! Matthew wanted to watch David before he becomes a teen dad.

David was such fun acting like the “bona fide star” Blanco called him in her introduction. He came onto the set with Blanco and gave her a big kiss. Blanco wanted to know what his wife would think of that. David retorted they were even now. Seems a certain Republican from Arizona showed Dorian his stimulus package in the coat room. These writers sure are on fire!

David went on to say that being in Llanview was giving him a reality check. The Sun, he said, is required reading. And in his down time on the movie set he’d discovered that writing was . . . easy. (Some really great lines today. I surely haven’t captured them all. I hope this means the writer’s have hit their stride and we’re in for some good stuff to come!)

Backstage, Destiny was complaining to Roxie and Shaun about what a jerk Matthew was to her. Roxie assured her he would pay for the “terror of his ways.” Yes, indeed. Then, presenting an “ignited front” Roxy and the crew were all on camera, interrupting David talking about his movie being filmed in Sweden. Roxie was telling everyone that David’s “high wattage” fame is just what Fraternity Row needs. Franco, the crazy puppeteer, had saved Southwest General. David stumbled, but then said that he couldn’t do it because of nepotism. His paw had been the producer once and David didn’t think that would be right. So they called Bo on the air and asked him. Bo didn’t see any reason why he couldn’t. He could play Derwood. Roxie thought that was a great idea!

Just so happened that Fraternity Row was filmed in a nearby studio. So, Roxie and David went there. They were in the “incestual home” of the King family, Kingdom. But there were sheets over all the furniture. (Looked a lot like Vicki’s drawing room.) Only to find that they had wrapped up the last day of filming. The show was done. Roxie passed out. She woke up as a character in Fraternity Row with David as Derwood.

Check out Serial Drama for more exciting lines and pictures from Friday’s episode.

By Alexandra Coulter

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