Jamey - We'd all be surprised if the "legendary" character being killed off turns out not to be Stuart. I hate to say that Stuart is the most expendable character on AMC b/c how infrequently this character appears in plot/story lines and that he's played by David Canary. All I am saying is none of us out here are fooled into thinking it's going to be Erica Kane, Joe Martin, or James Mitchell's Palmer Cortlandt (the other legendary characters) simply b/c he hasn't been on screen in several years although he's still on contract I believe at 89 years of age.

ATLn30318, as much as I am complimented by the confusion, I'm J. Bernard, not Jamey. 

J Bernard Jones a/k/a Captain Benjamin Lafayette Sisko: my apology and great post (I love your writing) and I love listening to you and all on the Podcasts. You are on the Podcasts aren't you? Hey I had the pleasure of meeting Avery Brooks when I worked at the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Cultural Olympiad. He was in town and I got introduced to him.

Last year's "Who Cares Who Killed Trent" story on Days has to be right up there with worst.

Who killed Michael Canbias was pretty good. Kendall really had great stuff with that.

How can you say that Thorsten Kaye is monotonous and then turn around and kind of compliment Jacob Young's performance? Jacob Young has been playing the same character (on 3 different soaps)for years. He is always arrogant, angry boy/man.

I specifically tuned in to watch Thorstan's performance. The scene in the hospital where he grabbed David by his shirt and then kind of cupped his face and told him to save his boy, the look in his eyes (brimming with real tears) after Ian flat-lined and Jesse was holding keeping him from leaving, and then the slight nod to Kendall that showed they were on the same page and she could go kill Adam.

No, TK is not an over-the-top, chewing-on-the scenery actor like CM or JY. He is subtle like a fine wine (and not bad to look at either). Where you see monotony, I see subtle nuances.

 PSpencer, 

I can say that Thorsten Kaye was monotonous and give Jacob Young a compliment because I was commenting about today's show specifically, not either actor's entire canon of work.

Today's performances were, by and large, stiff and zombie-like by just about everyone as I — fairly — pointed out. As for Jacob Young, like the other actors cited, there was a specific scene that merited mention vis a vis the rest of today's episode. Thorsten Kaye has a particular style of acting and can be very, very good when he wants to be; today he and almost everyone else was as wooden as the ever revolving anchors on CBS This Morning.

I guess we weren't watching the same show then. Every time JY is on the screne he is chewing the scenery. His performance today was the same performance that I saw yesterday, last month, last year...

I'm pretty sure that many people can say the same about Thorsten's performances, as well.

I complimented Jacob Young for one scene that lasted all of 3 minutes and some change wedged in a 42 minute episode out of 350 some odd shows a year. I don't see how that puts him in "competition" — for good or for ill — against Thorsten Kaye or any other actor on today's hilariously bad episode.

Wonderful post, Bernard J. I couldn't *stand* AMC today and thanks for mentioning those stupid garegoyles, don't you think we would've noticed garegoyles on the Chandler masion's roof before now? Come *on,* Pratt!

For some reason, I actually enjoyed today's episode (please don't shoot me, I know there are at least 6 guns pointing in my direction). Compared to the mess that I've been seeing on One Life and GH lately, The David Hayward Show has been keeping my attention...

Please...the writing, directing and acting on this show has veered between monotonous and scenery-chewiness for years. Thorsten and Jacob are just the most egregious offenders. How anyone cares about any of these people anymore, I'll never understand.

AMC "murder mystery" is bad it not even funny and Pratthole needs to be canned, ASAP. But GH is worst because I am so sick of Sonny show that I turn it off.

Some people enjoy AMC.
I've Been Watching AMC for 10 years.

Yeah, it was dull up to when Angie & Jesse came back. But since early 2008 AMC has gotten better for the most part.

Out of all the soaps I watch (AMC, GH, & Y&R), AMC is the most enjoyable right now.

In my dreams Stuart is the one that dies and not Adam.
Adam is the reason AMC works for me!

PS:
The Most Funny Part This Week:
Zach and Kendall "thought Ian died" and Zach rushed out, then Jesse stopped him. Then it shows Zach giving Kendall that Nod to head over to Adam's to Kill Him.

I was cracking up it was so unreal.

I had to say that I enjoy a good murder mystery. How about instead of trashing AMC- we try to figure out who did shot Adam? Why not have fun instead of constant bashing about wooden characters and bad acting? We all know that 3 out of 5 days totally stink in Pine Valley. But I think this could be an exciting plot point.

Everyone else notice the womans legs with black high heels running through the house past Kendall that seemed to fit none of the ladies on screen? I think there must have been a fourth shooter - either Erica or Liza. Probably Liza cause the writers have a hard on for her.

I say lets just have fun with this and if you need to watch it for the sheer comedy of it all- than to each their own. I watch for those few subtle moments - Marissa telling JR shes Babes twin, Krystal and David making up at the gravesite, Annie and Aidans weird but wonderful love story, Zachs strong but subtle emotions at the hospital, and Erica finally freaking out on Adam. There have been great moments where the actors take the stupidest situation and can bring a tear to my eye. I'll keep watching for those.

If they kill Adam or Stuart-- its clear one of them will be getting the boot--- do they plan on having Brooke, Ross, Hayley, Skye and Gloria in for the funeral??
Has there been any word on a funeral for whomever they kill next week-- and if so-- will previous AMC stars be coming back for it?

 GiJoe8,

Since we both love a good murder mystery, let me make a two points about my review.

The first is a repeat of a previous point made earlier: I only reviewed yesterday's episode, not the mystery of who shot Adam/Stuart itself.

The second point is directly related to the first: as you no doubt know, any mystery worth its salt is almost directly predicated on the solidity of its setup. A mystery's setup is not merely a by-the-numbers setup of having a group of suspects showing up at the right place at the wrong time as an act of plot convenience. A good writer is the only magician necessary to pull off the central conundrum of who-did-what, pulling sleight of hand right in front of our eyes. In a visual medium like movies or television, direction and production are the equivalent of the magician's assistant, diverting our attention over here from what's going on over there without being obvious or clumsy about it.

A good mystery, regardless of medium, is properly constructed so that all or the vast majority of the pieces of the puzzle line up in the end for a logical conclusion, not merely an Entertainment Weekly-style guessing game among potential suspects. A badly constructed mystery allows for someone to pull a rabbit out of someone's ass and call it a doberman.

I do not believe there is a single great or even basically good soap mystery that can be cited where there was not only economy in writing but also in direction or production of the elements contained in that mystery. There was nothing economical about the garish, ham-fisted, corny, cliche-ridden, unintentionally hilarious pile of shit I witnessed on Friday's AMC. The magician, Chuck Pratt, just may have written a great murder mystery or he may not, but the magician's assistants failed miserably in the that particular show's setup and execution.

Friday's episode — which is what I reviewed, not the mystery itself — was a sloppy French farce coupled with a bad 80's horror movie. In my opinion it was a huge disservice to the legendary (ABC's word) characters of Adam or Stuart (whichever may kick the bucket) and I call bullshit. I stand by every single word.

Bernard, I agree with your post.

IMO, I thought it was awful and campy. I thought the the writing and directing were a terrible disservice to all involved. I don't know how these performers do it, as of late anyway, with the material they get. It seems mostly everyone has monotonous, repetitive material. As for the performers, I'm not going to trash/bash anyone (not that you did, it's just that isn't my goal here)I just think it was a bit over the top, on most concerned. We all have performers we watch for-I'm not a fan of TK- however I respect his talent and I don't think either he or Jacob (whom I watch for) are scenery chewers, but that's just me. But I think much of yesterday did them, their characters, along with nearly everyone else a disservice. Like you say, some had their moments and I see your take on it.

of the characters we saw at the mansion, as they likely aren't suddenly letting anyone go, I wonder if they're simply going the easy way out, and one of the pairs of heels was Nurse Gayle, and she did it.

Yeah, it was a bad whodunit and Pratt needs to be fired, asap.

I so agree! I am sick of how everyone bashes AMC. I do not like Pratt, but come on do you remember this show in 2007, before Angie & Jesse??? It was unwatchable. Now almsot everyday there is at least a reason to watch AMC, the stories are there and right now AMC is the only soap along with GL I can stand to watch. (And Right now its the only soap that is any good on ABC) OLTL has just been terrible anymore... which is sad because of how amazing it was for the last year or so.

As to who did it, it's probably Erica or Kendall, though I'm not sure what Erica's motive would be and it would be kind of pointless as just been in prison.

I'm a GL fan and I was so curious after reading your review that I set my DVR for this episode and watched it...I'm quite familiar with many of the older AMC characters. I have to agree with you J Bernard that this was horrible...GL even at it's worst last year wasn't this bad!!!! OMG it was terrible and I can't believe this show recieved all those emmy nominations this is a joke dude....oh well just my opinion. It was so bad I don't even care who did it....now that's bad.

Poor Stuart will probably end up being killed by the nurse that is helping David. She does seem to worship him and will do anything for him. Maybe she thought this would help David in his quest for Little A and he will thank her with a romp in the hay or by making her his new wife.