Recaps
THIS IS US Delivers Stunning Episode As The Big Three Meet Their Uncle Nick
If you caught Tuesday night’s episode of This Is Us, you saw television drama at its best, and one of the best installments of this heart-tugging series, doing what it does best – intertwining past and present day storytelling, and revealing a shocking truth that will have a ripple effect for the Big Three and Rebecca.
The episode was a beautifully scripted hour of TV called, “Songbird Road Part 1”. The title refers to the address of where the very much alive Nick (brother of Jack) is living 166 miles outside of Pittsburgh.
In the past, we see Jack receiving postcards from his brother under the alias “Clark Kent” or “C. K.” and reaching out to him over an extended period of time, trying to reconnect. Jack hides all of the postcards. When one of them shows up at his home mailbox, and it reads “Last one”, Jack decides to take a Saturday trip to see his brother, and lies to Rebecca as to where he is headed.
In the present day, the Big Three set out on a road trip to find their Uncle Nick, now that Kevin’s journey to Vietnam and back has revealed that Jack lied to everyone – telling them that his younger brother died, when he is actually alive. Seeking the truth and to locate him, Randall, Kevin and at first a reluctant Kate, set out to the address on the postcard Kevin has. Rebecca does not want to go, obviously, struggling with the fact that Jack never let on during their marriage that his brother was alive.

Courtesy/NBC
As the parallel trips unfold (in the past and the present), the Big Three arrive at Nick’s trailer and are stunned. When they knock, there is no one there, but shortly after that a now older Nick (played by Griffin Dunne) arrives with booze in his hand, The Pearsons tell them they are Jack’s children, but they also let them know that Jack is dead.
Now inside the trailer, Kevin broaches the subject of Jack and the war, asking Nick why Jack told his family that he was dead. Nick gets upset and tells them to leave, but Kate refuses to do so, and demands to know what happened.
We go back in time to Vietnam, and to Nick sleeping on the beach and befriending a young Vietnamese boy, who turns out to be the son of the woman that Jack cared about while in the war. Nick recounts what we have already seen; that there was an explosion on the lake and Jack dives into the water. But, there was more to the story. What actually happened was the young boy and Nick go fishing and Nick’s method of getting the fish to catch is to throw a grenade into the water and wait for the fish to float to the surface.

Courtesy/NBC
Things go horribly awry when Nick hoists a second grenade. It’s at that point the boy tries to grab it and Nick tries to get it from him. B ut, in the scuffle, the grenade ends up on the floor of the boat, Nick screams for the boy to get off the boat, but he sadly doesn’t understand English. Nick quickly dives into the water, but the boy is killed.
In the present, Nick tells the Big Three that he never got the chance to tell Jack that it was an accident. Jack must have believed that based on Nick’s anti-Vietnamese attitude that he set out to kill the boy. After the story is told, Nick asks how Jack died, and Randall tells him that he saved all of them from a fire and died from smoke inhalation shortly thereafter. Nick is overcome and tells them all to leave.
In the past, when Jack shows up to tell Nicky (Michael Angarano) to stop writing to him, he refuses to let Nicky talk about what happened in Vietnam. It is a very emotional moment for the two of them as Nicky wanted to tell Jack what happened. Jack makes the decision to leave his Vietnam past and brother behind, compartmentalize it, and take one direction in his life to not look back. We see Jack at a crossroads. He can turn right to Pittsburgh to be with his family, or turn left to Bradford to help his brother. He chooses Pittsburgh.

Courtesy/NBC
Now in the heartbreaking ending, after their visit to Nick, the Big Three stop at the same convenience store that Jack did all those years ago, (before he left his brother behind for good) to get some snacks. It’s in that moment that Kevin decides to turn the car around and go back to Nick, refusing to leave him alone like his father did. When they return, Nick is mumbling with a gun by his side, contemplating suicide, saying he never go to tell Jack that the explosion was an accident. Randall takes the gun. Kevin puts his hand on Nick’s shoulder. We fade to black,
Kudos to the performances of Griffin Dunne, Michael Angarano, Justin Hartley and Milo Ventimigilia who made this episode soar.
So, what did you think of the episode? Will Nick be integrated into the Pearsons present day life? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
Another winning episode in the series that keeps me glued to the set. Totally agree with your performance kudos.
I love how the show intertwines the elements of the Pearson family. Tess expressed concern about Randall bring home another long lost relative. This time it’s Kevin who’s bringing the find into the family. I hope Nicky is going to live with Kevin. Randall’s wife and children have had to deal with enough change.
an absolutely beautifully written episode the humanizing of jack! our boy from daytime justin hartley was amazing as kevin applause all the way around
Damn I was all set to watch it and I fell asleep.I so wanted to see Justin Hartley he is my favorite.I was so mad that I missed it.Oh well next time
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Cullum’s Got Plans to Keep Brennan Out of His Way
On General Hospital, the Wednesday, May 13 episode saw Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) plotting to keep Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) from ever being a problem for him again, as Lucas (Van Hansis) reveals his hopes for a plan to rid the world of Cullum and his co-conspirator, Sidwell (Carlo Rota) in one fell swoop.
At the hospital, Nina (Cynthia Watros) is still freaked out by what she did by jabbing Jack with the dose of medication meant for Drew (Cameron Mathison). Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) comes to the hospital to try to get her mother to get a grip and then heads out to do damage control.
Cullum arrives and questions Nina about Jack’s medical condition. Nina lies and tells Cullum he should talk to Dr. Lucas Jones about Jack. In a tense exchange, Cullum shows Lucas he has documents that make him Brennan’s medical proxy and wants an update on his condition. Britt stumbles upon the scene and comes up with a fake emergency in another patients room to pull Lucas away from the WSB director.

Courtesy/ABC
STARING MY BOYFRIEND’S KILLER IN THE FACE
Now alone in the hallway, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) warned Lucas that if he acts like that around Cullum, he will get suspicious. Lucas says they should just tell Sidwell that Cullum stabbed Marco, so Cullum will be killed and Sidwell would be sent to prison. Lucas drops the idea realizing if Cullum dies Britt cannot get her hands on her Huntington’s disease medication. However, Lucas warned Britt how everything would explode once Sidwell found out that Cullum killed Marco, so they have to be certain that they have the evidence that Cullum’s the culprit.
Inside Jack’s room, Cullum tells an unconscious Jack that his stroke may have saved his life, because he planned to kill him. Meanwhile, Willow arrived at Wyndemere to see Sidwell. She explains that Jack accidentally got the dose of Drew’s medication and kept her mother’s name out of it. Sidwell is livid.

Courtesy/ABC
TWO MEN HAD “STROKES” AT MY HOUSE!
Willow thinks it’s time to stop drugging Drew so that people would be focusing on his recovery, rather than the odds that two different men had “strokes’ at Drew’s house. Willow threw the responsibility back on Sidwell telling him that he needed to figure out a way to make sure Drew didn’t expose them. Next, Sidwell reminded Willow that he gives the orders around here and not her. For good measure, he threatens that if they were exposed, she would have the most to lose.
At the end of the episode, and at Wyndemere, Sidwell informed Cullum that Brennan had been dosed with Drew’s medication. When Sidwell declared that things would go from bad to worse when Brennan wakes up and out of his locked-in state, then Cullum fired back, “Then he can’t come out of it.”

Courtesy/ABC
Meanwhile, Willow unexpectedly shows up at Michael’s (Rory Gibson) office while Jacinda (Paige Herschell) is there. She demands to talk to her ex-husband now, as the photo of Chase (Josh Swickard) and Willow looking close snapped by the private eye is sitting on Michael’s desk.
So, do you think Sidwell should be the one to kill Cullum and then be carted off to prison … 0r, would you like to see Willow get caught for murdering someone since she got away with shooting Drew? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, check out the threatening exchange between Willow and Sidwell from today’s GH.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Rocco is Coming Apart at the Seams
On the Tuesday, May 12 episode of General Hospital, Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) was at its epicenter and the secret which is destroying him. Previously, Rocco shot WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) in the back to stop him from killing Jason (Steve Burton) and to save Britt (Kelly Thiebaud).
However, the consequences of Rocco’s actions are weighing so heavy on him, that now he is starting to crack, and with good reason! While Rocco has been suffering in silence, he is wracked with guilt over Jason taking the fall for him, being carted away by the WSB, and worse yet, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) losing his father.
While Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) confronts “Nathan” (Ryan Paevey) about how he covered-up and “advised” Lulu (Alexa Havins) to stay quiet about the night on the pier which saw Rocco shoot Cullum, Dante can clearly see that the man in front of him seems off. His responses and demands and insights are not those of the good-natured “Nathan.” Will Dante be the one, or the last to know that “Nathan” is really Cassius Faison?

Courtesy/ABC
STAY AWAY FROM MY SON
In yet another confrontation, Lulu and Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) go at it over Rocco. Lulu blames Britt for Rocco being on the pier at all that night, because Rocco cares about Britt, and she warned her not to get close to Rocco, but Britt did anyway.
Then, at the Quartermaine boathouse, Rocco was shocked to learn that Danny overheard Sonny saying that Jenz Sidwell was responsible for Jason getting taken away, and confided in Charlotte (Bluesy Burke) the intel several weeks ago. Rocco tried to cover his guilt as Danny and Charlotte explained they hadn’t confided in him because he has been so withdrawn lately.

Courtesy/ABC
ROCCO AND DANNY AT ODDS
Next, Danny asks Rocco to help him and Charlotte break into Wyndemere. Danny is determined to get info on Sidwell to try to find Jason. It’s at that point Rocco loses it. He shouts that Sidwell is a dangerous man and Danny needs to stay away from him.
In the most surprising turn of event, Rocco threatened both Charlotte and Danny that if they tried to sneak into Wyndemere he would turn them in.
Danny loses his cool and firmly tells Rocco, that unlike him, he didn’t have parents to clean up his problems for him and told Rocco to stay out of his way. As Rocco walked away, he asks Charlotte if she was coming with him. When she refuses, he tells the both to screw off.

Courtesy/ABC
THE ONLY PERSON I CAN TALK TO
Later, Britt returns to her room at Bobbie’s and finds Rocco waiting for her. He begins to share with her how freaked out he has been feeling over shooting Cullum. Britt hugs him and attempts to comfort Rocco letting him know he is a hero for saving her life and Jason’s. Britt tells Rocco she can talk to her anytime, as the two hug one more time. We fade to black.
Finn Carr delivered another excellent performance within his storyline. It’s clear GH made the right call by giving this young actor the ball with such a high stakes dramatic and emotional storyline to play.
So, do you think Danny will find out what Rocco did and come after him for letting his dad take the fall for shooting Cullum? Do you think Rocco will continue to turn to Britt, further upsetting Lulu? Will Dante get a clue about Cassius? Share your thoughts in the comment section. But first, in case you missed it, check out the emotional moments between Rocco and Britt on yesterday’s GH below.
American Idol
AMERICAN IDOL: Who Won Season 24? Did Your Favorite Take Home the Title?
It all came to Monday night’s three-hour season 24 finale of American Idol, where finalists Hannah Harper, Jordan McCullough, or Keyla Richardson belted out tunes, wowed the audience, judges, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, and of course, America. who controlled the voting to pick the next music superstar.
After two rounds of competition on the May 11 episode, Keyla Richardson came in third place and was eliminated leaving it down to two: stay-at-home Missouri mom, Hannah Harper, or worship director/leader Jordan McCullough from Tennessee.
The evening was filled with music superstars performance as well including guest mentor Alicia Key, even Luke, Lionel and Carrie performed to Richie’s tune. Mötley Crüe also joined Underwood for renditions of their classics “Home Sweet Home” and “Kickstart My Heart.”

Photo: ABC
In addition, Brad Paisley Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms, En Vogue, Jason Mraz, Lee Ann Womack, Nelly, Shinedown and Tori Kelly also performed with contestants that were eliminated earlier in the season. American Idol alums, Clay Aiken and Cameron Whitcomb also took to the stage.
Before the winner was revealed, both Harper and McCullough took to the stage and performed for America’s vote one last time. Hannah chose her own song “String Cheese” which became all the rage on social media about her personal struggle with postpartum depressions after she first performed it in the auditions round, and McCullough reprised, “Goodness of God,” and took everyone to church one last time.
Finally, it was time to find out the winner. Host Ryan Seacrest set the tone, dimmed the lights one last time for the season, gathered Jordan and Hannah centerstage, opened the results envelope and revealed that the winner of American Idol season 24 was… Hannah Harper.

Photo: ABC
After she was crowned the winner, she had to perform a song with all the raw emotions coursing through her veins that she just won the whole competition. She attempted to reprise Chris Tomlin’s “At the Cross (Love Ran Red).” However, tears overcame her and she was joined onstage by all the contestants and the judges who helped her finish the song.
You can watch Harper’s winning moment below.
Now let us know, do you think America chose right? Would you have chosen Hannah over Jordan? Share your picks via the comment section.
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