Ready, Set, Watch!

Vivian (Paige Rowland) comes home early to celebrate her son Noah's (Thomas King) engagement party. His fiancée, Mia (Paulina Cossio), mistakes her for his mistress, resulting in Vivian's public shame and abuse. Title: Mistaken as the Mistress Release Date: 2025 Platform: Reelshort Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐ / 5 My Review: I have discovered the joy of watching vertical dramas, folks! Vertical dramas - AKA microsoaps - are live-action series, usually consisting of 50-64 mini episodes, all about two minutes in length, and ending with a shocking cliffhanger that compels you to keep watching. They are called vertical dramas because you watch them on your phone, in the 9:16 aspect ratio. After Variety announced that the creative minds at Procter & Gamble had created a microsoap called The Golden Pear Affair, I became intrigued by the idea of short operas and had to see for myself what the fuss was all about. I sampled several vertical dramas, including the outrageous Baby Please! Don’t Com...

With 2025 quickly winding to a fateful close, many entertainment bloggers, far and away more successful than I can ever hope to be, are busily posting 'Top 10' lists spotlighting the best (and the worst!) in television this year. It's always exciting when a favorite character, actor, or couple pops up on the "hit" list, and upsetting AF if they end up on the other list, AKA the "miss" list. We've all had faves appear on one list or another at some point, right? Sometimes you get bragging rights. Sometimes you get to hide your head in shame! These "Top 10" lists are completely subjective, written by an author or authors with their own opinions on things, and my little list is no different. Every character on here is a personal favorite. I did try to take into consideration fan fervor, return potential, and the replies I received on X about the topic, but ultimately, the final decision is mine. And now, without further ado, here are soap...

My favorite time of the year has finally arrived! Ahh, I love the holidays (I actually start listening to Christmas carols in September!). I enjoy spending time with the fam, singing along (very off-key) to Christmas songs on the radio, driving around town looking at the twinkling lights, dropping off goodies in the local  Toys for Tots  bin, and wrapping and unwrapping presents. However, this is also a busy and stressful time, so, if you’re like me, you probably get a little tired running around trying to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list, scrubbing every nook and cranny to prepare for the arrival of friends and relatives, and hanging up decorations (how is that the tree lights never seem to work from one year to the next and take ever-so-long to string?). At the end of a long day of rush-rushing, I know I just want to put up my feet and enjoy a giant mug of hot cocoa while I lose myself for an hour and 27 minutes in a cheesy holiday movie. There are many hu...

  Winter is my favorite season of the year, not just because the weather gets cooler (I can’t stand being hot! Sweating is so gross!), but also because it’s Christmastime. I love everything about Christmas: hanging ornaments, eating cookies, eating pie, just eating period, wrapping presents, unwrapping presents (!!), shopping for gifts, listening to carols, taking a trip down to the neighborhood ‘Christmas Street’ to look at all the pretty decorated houses, Hallmark movie marathons, sitting by the beautifully scented tree as the lights twinkle, spending time with my family, and of course, the fact that people are generally nicer at this time of year! All that said, I am not so Christmas-minded that I am unaware that there are other holidays to celebrate. I know a bit about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and, of course, New Year’s, but I still have a lot to learn about those holidays, as well as others that are celebrated around the world at this time of year. What do you say we d...

Title: A Royal Christmas Ballet Summary: A retired ballerina is pressed into service working with a visiting team of royal ambassadors to put on the season's performance of "The Nutcracker" and finds herself center stage in an unexpected Christmas romance. Stars: Brittany Underwood, Jonathan Stoddard, Daniela Couso, Allen Guy Wilcox Platform: Tubi Rating: 2.5/5 My Review: Take one bright-eyed and bushy-tailed young heroine, a middle-aged prince from an ambiguous European country, add in a scheming temptress, some ballet dancing, a dash of humor, and set it amidst a small-town production of “The Nutcracker”, and you’ve got the basic premise for this cheesy Christmas movie. This definitely is not Shakespeare, but then none of the sappy Hallmark and Hallmark-esque movies I love to watch are ever going to win any Academy Awards. And I don’t need them to. I am honestly just looking for a sappy love story, two cute leads with halfway decent chemistry and some acting skills...

Like sands through the hourglass So are the days of our lives It feels right that this inaugural post on my blog is about  Days of Our Lives  since we just celebrated the 60th anniversary of the many triumphs and travails of a little town called Salem. I have loved the venerable soap opera ever since I was in high school, sneaking clandestine peeks at episodes with my fellow classmates on the big clunky TV set whenever our lackadaisical teacher wandered off for a coffee break (or to do God only knows what). Even during the times when I've lapsed in my viewing for whatever reason, something always brings me back to Salem because it's home. I can't imagine my days without Days. This legacy soap is best known for its larger-than-life plotlines (Marlena possessed twice, anyone?), iconic characters (Bo Brady, where you at?), and beloved supercouples (Steve & Kayla and Jack & Jen get my votes). Days has built up a large and loyal fanbase over the years. The dedication ...