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THIS IS US: Goodbyes and Connections; Rebecca Passes Away in Penultimate Episode

Courtesy/NBC

Tuesday night’s penultimate episode of This Is Us, brought the long-anticipated moment in the lives of the Pearson family, when their mother, Rebecca (Mandy Moore, the matriarch, the heart and soul of the family, dies due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.  And, if come Emmy time, after all of the performances she gave this season, Mandy Moore, does not take home the Lead Actress in a Drama Series prize, something is amiss in the awards system.

That said, here we go.  I hope those who followed the Pearsons journey over six seasons had the hankies nearby for this.  In story, the focus was Rebecca’s passing, while meeting a new family, and then as viewers trying to figure out how this interconnects throughout the episode; something the show has stayed true to throughout its run; with a payoff of how they tell a themed-story when the sum of its parts is revealed.

Courtesy/NBC

As Rebecca takes her final turn on this earth, everyone is notified the end is near and to say their goodbyes. While Randall (Sterling K. Brown) and Kevin  (Justin Hartley) were present, Kate (Chrissy Metz) was in London trying to get back to her mom.  She then receives a devastating call from her brothers that Rebecca is running out of time.

When Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) goes to say her goodbye to Rebecca, in tears, she tells Rebecca that she does not have to worry.  She will take good care of her son, Randall.  While the family is gathered and trying to just hang and be with each other through tragedy, when all the noise stops and everyone leaves for the night, it’s just brothers Kevin and Randall who go sit with their mother in heartbreaking and realistic scenes for anyone who has gone through the death of a loved one due to this horrific disease.

Courtesy/NBC

To illustrate what is going on in the mind of Rebecca in her final hours, a younger version of herself is on a train, which brings into play how she loved train rides with her own father years ago. Taking her to the afterlife, Rebecca is guided through the cars by none other than William (Ron Cephas Jones).  She also spends time having a drink with the bartender, who turns out to be the doctor (Gerald McRaney) who saved her life and delivered her children. He recounted that fateful night, when Rebecca lost one of her triplets.  As Rebecca and William get to the caboose, back in the present, it’s morning.

Now, Rebecca is still alive but waiting for someone, which, of course, is her daughter, Kate.  As Randall and Kevin look on, an emotional Kate arrives and runs to her mother’s bedside, and holding Rebecca’s hand, tells her how much she loves her.  Cutting back to Rebecca’s journey on the train, she says to William, “This is quite sad, isn’t it, the end?” Willam replies: “That’s not the way I see it, if something makes you sad when it ends, it must have been pretty wonderful when it was happening. You will see that the end is not sad, Rebecca, it’s just the start of the next incredibly wonderful thing.”

Courtesy/NBC

It’s then, that Rebecca lets go and passes away with the Big Three all at her bedside.  Back to the train, Rebecca goes to the caboose lays down on a bed, and is met, in bed, by her beloved Jack (Milo Ventimiglia). In the present, Randall had whispered to his mom shortly before his death, “You tell him, hey”, and so when Rebecca lays down next to Jack, she says “hey”.

The other element to the episode was the new family we had never met before.  After a car accident, one of the sons, Marcus. is taken to the hospital in critical condition.  In the present, we think Marcus is the grown-up boyfriend of Deja, especially after she reveals to Randall that she is pregnant.

In the flashback, Marcus’ father, Kenny played by Dulé Hill, bumps into Jack at a vending machine at the hospital and we realize we are back in time when Jack went to the hospital following the Pearson family home fire.  Turns out, that Jack and Marcus were being treated by the same doctor, Dr. Spencer (Bill Irwin).  While Marcus survived after flatlining, that is when Jack suddenly didn’t, and died.  We later learn Malik turns out to be Deja’s baby daddy and boyfriend, and Marcus grows up to become a top researcher in Alzheimer’s disease and wins an award for his accomplishments.  The person who handed him the award was none other than This Is Us director and executive producer, Ken Olin.

So, what did you think of the penultimate episode of This Is Us? Did you reach for the hankies? Comment below.

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It was such a beautiful and emotional episode. The train journey was absolutely brilliant. It was wonderful to see William again and the children throughout their lives. I was in tears most of the time. Seeing Rebecca finally reunited with Jack was wonderful. They’ve taken every drop of emotion from us already. I can’t imagine what the finale will be. As always, bravo to everyone who brought us this wonderful series.

Brilliant! Mandy Moore deserves every accolade and award for her poignant performances this season.

The absolute best Acting and Writing, just an amazing show – ever.

American Idol

AMERICAN IDOL: Was it Shady of Former Contestant Alyssa Raghu to Sneak in on Best Friend Julia Davos’ Audition and Score a Golden Ticket?

Show business is really cutthroat and it was fully on display on Sunday night’s latest episode of American Idol.  We’re not sure after the dust settled if we should be more upset with the judges: Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry, or former contestant Alyssa Raghu.

But, here is what went down. 20-year-old Julia Davo, auditioned for the judges with a performance of David Bowie’s “Life on Mars?” She also had mentioned that she is best friends and roommates with former ‘Idol’ contestant Alyssa Raghu.

The judges felt Davo needed more work, and should come back and audition again, once she has honed in on her vocals a bit more while allowing for her voice to grow. However, when the judges gave their verdict, Raghu was now in the audition room.  They told Raghu, “When she’s absolutely ready in your eyes, bring her back to us.”

Photo: ABC

It was at the point, there was a swerve by Raghu when she addressed the judges, “I know you said that my voice was going to grow until it was 21. You said that when I was, like, 15. Just for giggles, I’d love to sing you something.”

At the point, Katy Perry gave her the OK to sing. But, while viewers initially thought at home, that she may just be singing for the judges to prove that she has become a better singer, she was actually angling to get in the competition, once again.

Photo: ABC

“I think this was a really weird plot twist,” Perry confessed after Raghu’s performance of Mariah Carey’s “My All.” Katy added,“I think you could go in. Do I think you could win it? No, personally. If you were going to go to Idol one more time, I want to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you could win.” So with that, Katy gave Raghu a “no.”  However, Luke and Lionel were being generous and gave her two votes as “yes.” Therefore, Raghu received a golden ticket right in front of her friend who received a “no.”

Davo tried her best to say how happy she was that Raghu is receiving another chance, because as she said, “She deserves this.” But in the end, it was awkward and uncomfortable to watch.

Alyssa’s previous journey on Idol went something like this: She made it to the Top 50 of Season 16 but was eliminated by the end of Hollywood Week. She returned for Season 17, making it all the way to the Top 8.

Watch the auditions of Davo and Raghu below.

Now let us know, do you think Raghu should have auditioned after her friend did not receive a golden ticket? Should the judges have allowed Alyssa to sing and then vote to put her in the competition for the third time? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Explains Part of Where He Has Been; What Do You Think Will be Revealed as the Rest of the Story?

GH fans received a part of the backstory of just where Jason (Steve Burton) has been for the last two plus years on the Thursday, March 16th episode of the ABC daytime drama series.

In story, as Jason (Steve Burton) is hiding out at the Quartermaine boat house, Michael (Chad Duell) brings him a change of clothes and when Jason lifts up his sweatshirt, and is in then in only a tank-top, his arm is exposed showing his tattoo. Michael is shocked to see that on Jason (in real life, Burton now has that tattoo).

When Michael questions Jason as to where he has been for over two years after the tunnel collapsed on him, Jason explains. He tells Michael he found his way out of the tunnel. However, on his way out there were two gunmen waiting fo him who kidnapped him and he was taken prisoner.

Courtesy/ABC

Next, Jason shares he was flown out of Greece and ended up in a windowless room. He reveals a man wanted him to do a job and had leverage on him to force him to agree to take it.  When Michael asks Jason what exactly was the job, he says he’s been working as a private military contractor, i.e., a mercenary.

On the night of Dante’s (Dominic Zamprogna) shooting, Jason explains he made his way to Port Charles and was working with the other shooter, Hamish. However, he was unaware that the target was Sonny (Maurice Benard).  When Jason realized what was up, he made sure Hamish missed his shot. Michael inquires if Jason would have even come back to Port Charles if Sonny wasn’t the target.

At that point, Jason shared that the job he was given isn’t done, and if he doesn’t finish it, bad things will happen. At the end of the episode, Jason is having a flashback where it’s revealed he is in custody at Quantico and it’s John “Jagger” Cates (Adam J. Harrington) from the FBI who is holding him there. John tells Jason he has a recording proving RICO violations that will carrying a twenty-year sentence. We fade to black.

So, what do you think is really going on here? Jason looks to be working with John Cates and the FBI as part of a deal to bring someone to justice to get out of a 20-year sentence for RICO violations. But, who is the man that Jason and potentially John want to bring down? What did you think of the backstory of Jason’s two-year disappearance thus far? Share your thoughts in the comment section, But first, check out the key scenes from yesterday’s GH below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Carly and Jason’s Emotional Reunion Is Cut Short When John and Anna Arrive on the Scene

If you watch daytime drama and General Hospital you know that there is an unique bond and deep love between the characters of Carly Spencer and Jason Morgan. You also know that when Laura Wright (Carly) and Steve Burton (Jason) get together in scenes with high stakes and high drama, they deliver in spectacular fashion.

On today’s, Friday, March 8th episode of the ABC daytime drama series, Carly is in for quite the shock when her beloved Jason is standing right there in the dark and in her living room. For two years, Carly has grieved Jason’s ‘death’, only for him to be right before her.

With tears in his eyes, and just saying “Carly”, it stops her dead in her tracks.  She runs towards Jason and they share an emotional reunion. You came back,” Carly cries. Jason says he is sorry it took so long to contact her. Problem is, Jason has been shot and is bleeding out and needs her help. Jason obviously had no where to go, and is only letting himself truly be known to Carly, because he can trust her with his life and vice-versa.

Photo: ABC

Carly goes to get a first-aid kit, and tells Jason to promise he won’t leave. He promises. But as he sits down on the couch, he is in bad shape. Carly returns as they clean the bullet wound area. Still in shock, Carly says, “How can you be here?”

Things get very touching when Carly tells Jason she wishes she could call her mom for help. Jason tells her not to call Bobbie. Just then, Carly says she can’t because her mother died. Jason goes, “Bobbie died?” As soon as the two were going to talk about it, there is pounding noises at Carly’s front door. It’s John (Adam J. Harrington) and Anna (Finola Hughes). Jason hides.

Photo: JPI

Anna asks Carly if they can come in. They show her the screen capture of Jason on the roof. Carly plays it very convincingly asking FBI agent Cates and Anna if this image of Jason is real.  Anna confirms Jason is alive and they need to search her house. Carly firmly tells them they cannot search the house, but they tell her they have a warrant and don’t have to have her permission.  Jason listens in from the staircase. We fade to black.

Photo: ABC

So, what did you think of the reunion scenes thus far between Carly and Jason and the performances of Laura Wright and Steve Burton? Share your thoughts via the comment section below. But first, check out the moment Carly and Jason saw each for the first time in two years.

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Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

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