Apparently SoapNet has a "greatest hits" feature for every show each week. I did not know that until just yesterday thanks to The Beth Ehlers Board. For All My Children's Greatest Hits last week Jake & Taylor got a nod for funniest moment, and Beth Ehlers received the Performer Of The Week commendation. There's just one simple word for that: Yay!
Funniest Moment: Hands down, the exchange between Adam and Erica after she called a press conference to announce she would be running Fusion. Erica delivered the following completely straight-faced -- incredulous, with just a hint of confusion:
Erica: "Did you see those reporters? They hardly batted an eye when I announced my plans for a new cosmetics line." Adam: "Erica, this town was ravaged by tornadoes. A change in management in a company that sells lip liner is hardly breaking news." Erica: "Are you out of your mind? I'm Erica Kane. Everything I do is breaking news."
Like, it's just a statement coming from her. Viva La Kane! A close second place goes to Jake and Taylor watching telenovelas, and Jake making up his own English translation. You know you do the same when you see them on TV. OK, maybe you don't, but you know someone who does.
Performer of the Week: Beth Ehlers as Taylor Thompson. Here's why: She made us respond in a bunch of different ways this week -- and to us, that's a hallmark of a good actor. First, we wanted to smack her when she was throwing stuff at Jake and bitching and moaning. Then, after Jake shook some sense into her, Taylor took a turn. As she revealed her deep, deep grief over losing Brot, you could see just how lost and alone she felt. After Jake admitted his own feelings, you could see her whole demeanor turn giddy. Almost like a girl with her first crush, all shaded with a slice of optimism -- and hope that her life wasn't over.
Jake: This patient's having a freaking miracle. MRI, stat.
Nurse: Ok.
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Jake: The swelling has gone down, so your nerves aren't being, you know, crushed anymore. That's why you're getting feeling in the legs.
Taylor: Well, I don't know if I'd call it feeling, but it's definitely tingling.
Jake: Right, well, that's more than you had last week, right? Just want you to be patient.
Taylor: Patient -- you know, patience is not my strong suit. I set my mind on something, and it's 0 to 60 until I get it. Thank you.
Jake: Oh, you don't have to give me credit.
Taylor: Don't give you credit? This is all you, you pushing and pushing and pushing. This wasn't a miracle. All I needed was you believing in me.
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Taylor: I haven't used this muscle in weeks.
Jake: Well, who's fault is that? You've had every opportunity in the world. Therapists were coming by here. What were you doing? You were throwing them -- you were throwing them out. Why don't you just forfeit?
Taylor: And let you win? Game on.
Jake: All right, challenge -- good, accepted. Ladies first, go ahead. You got to at least try.
Taylor: I am trying.
Jake: Well, I don't think so, soldier. Otherwise, the leg would be moving. Ready?
Taylor: You can be such a jerk sometimes.
Jake: Well, I think it's better than being a right-wing warmonger.
Taylor: It's called being a patriot, ok? And it's better than being a -- a bleeding heart, head-in-the-sand pacifist.
Jake: Taylor --
Taylor: I am so tired of people in this town treating me like I'm some over-the-top, gung-ho psycho zealot --
Jake: Taylor, Taylor --
Taylor: Just because I believe that one should serve their country, you know? I only believe that --
Jake: Taylor, can you shut your mouth for a second? Look. You're doing it. You're doing it.
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Jake: For your first session, that was incredible.
Taylor: What are you doing? Add some weight.
Jake: No, no, no, no, I don't want you to burn out. I need you to rest it up now.
Taylor: Rest? How -- how could I rest? I finally see light at the end of this dark, miserable, airless, bleak tunnel. What?
Jake: It's just good to have you back amongst the living.
Not much happened today... Jake does more physical therapy with Taylor. Taylor gets frustrated and doesn't notice her leg pushing up the weight that's on it. Jake shuts her up, and they rejoice in her leg movement. Taylor's ready for more therapy.
Taylor: More than ok. Hmm. For a second there, i forgot about these. Hmm. And I forgot about that thing.
Jake: Mm-hmm.
Taylor: And the accident. And it was just you and me.
Jake: What's wrong? What is it?
Taylor: I just can't make me forget what happened over there. Memories like that, they grab hold when you least expect it.
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Taylor: In case you hadn't noticed, I have a little trouble relinquishing control.
Jake: Oh, no, I never noticed that.
Taylor: So, when these memories hit, I, um, I just wish I was a little more prepared instead of being ambushed without warning.
Jake: Yeah, whole different kind of war, isn't it, when your mind turns against you? What, what, just because my wife ran off with mr. Unibrow-truck-driver-guy, you don't think I think about it all the time?
Taylor: Do you think about it when you're with me? Because that's when mine hit, when I'm happy, when I'm laughing for just a second, when I'm with you. It's like as soon as I forget, for just a second, I have to get a warning or, I don't know, maybe it's -- maybe it's punishment from god.
Jake: It's punishment for what? For trying to move on? Trying to push forward? Trying to find happiness? Then what else are we supposed to do?
Taylor: I know. This is quite a challenge for me. At least now I can't run away.
[Knock on door]
Jake: Just excuse me for one sec.
[Taylor chuckles]
Jake: I'm sorry, what's up?
Tad: I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I hope I wasn't interrupting.
Jake: Well, you were but what's up?
Tad: Well, how's she doing?
Jake: She's good. She's good. She's pig-headed, ornery, stubborn, don't know how I ever lived without her. What's up -- talk to me, what?
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Jake: I need to talk to this guy just for one second. Uh, Eric? Eric, sorry, yes, uh, Lieutenant Thompson, she's ready to stop throwing things now and then she's ready for you, so you, you know, some physical therapy anytime that you say so.
Eric: Right now I have an appointment with another patient. I'll swing through when I'm done. You'll still be here?
Tad: He'll be here.
Jake: Another appointment? He's been doing, uh -- just want to make sure about one thing, you're not -- you're not making fun of me, right?
Tad: No, when's the last time you were outside this hospital? When's the last time you were off this corridor?
Jake: I'm -- I'm -- I'm helping her.
Tad: You're sure it's not the other way around?
Jake: We had a --
Tad: Don't give me the cheesy stare with the super combo, ok? The last time I saw the two of you together, it was like a bus accident.
Jake: It's what they call a breakthrough.
Tad: Well, I'm glad to hear it.
Jake: Mm-hmm.
Tad: I'm serious. I'm glad to hear it.
Jake: What happened with the guy that was calling and wanted to know some stuff about her?
Tad: I don't know.
Jake: You hear back from him?
Tad: I -- no, I don't know what happened with that.
Jake: Probably for the best.
Tad: Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. So, not to put too fine a point on it, things with the lieutenant -- it's all good?
Jake: I said they're good, they're fine, they're good. I look in her eyes and I, you know, I see hope there.
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Jake: All right.
Taylor: So, what do we do now?
Jake: Well, it's time for what they call in the business physical therapy.
Taylor: Oh, jake, I don't -- I don't think that I can --
Jake: No, no, no. Look, you want to walk again, this is something you're going to have to do. Ok? Ready? Good. Very good. We'll start with the left -- left foot.
Taylor: You know I can't feel that.
Jake: I know.
Jake: Ok. You ok? Yeah? Very good. Good. All right. Now I'm going -- on the count of three, I'm going -- I want to put you on your right side, ok?
Taylor: Great. Roll me over like a beached whale?
Jake: You're a lot cuter than a beached whale and easily 10 to 15 pounds lighter. You ready? One, two, three. Ok, very good.
Taylor: What are you doing now?
Jake: Just more of the same.
Taylor: Good to know.
Jake: You're going to get through this, ok? You're going to get through this.
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Jake: Ok? There.
Taylor: Thank you.
Jake: You have to do your physical therapy.
[Taylor chuckles]
Taylor: I meant for just sitting here with me and always challenging me and putting up with me, really.
Jake: It's not a chore at all.
Taylor: I think you must be some kind of saint Jake: Yeah, St. Martin.
[Taylor chuckles]
Jake: Well, whenever you're ready.
[Taylor chuckles]
Jake: I just want you to know that I never put myself any place I don't want to be. I want to be right here with you, and I meant what I said. You know? I meant it just as long as you don't go giving up.
Taylor: I can't wait to kick your butt again.
Jake: Is that right?
Taylor: Mm-hmm.
Jake: Well, what part of -- or what activity, exactly?
The kissing didn't continue, but Jake & Taylor both seemed to feel good afterwords. They continued talking, and Jake talked to Tad for a bit. Taylor was finally willing to have physical therapy on her legs, and Jake proved again that he can do practically any kind of medical procedure, lol. Also, Frankie was reunited with Brot and tried to convince him to see Taylor.
The journey of Ricky Paull Goldin and Beth Ehlers on All My Children is now over since the show moved to Los Angeles and Beth was let go. This blog serves as an archive of their time from 2008 through 2009 as Jake Martin and Taylor Thompson.
