Me Thinks the Maximista Doeth Protest Too Much

Maxie is saying one thing, but her behavior strongly suggests something else. Are Maxie's feelings for Spinelli truly just those of a friend and brother, or is there something more?

Historically, Maxie is not one to send mixed signals. Maxie is one of the most direct characters on GH, and for the most part, her words match her actions. Maxie's words matched her behavior perfectly when she told Spinelli she didn't think of him as a toy, and then kissed him full in the mouth.

After Ian tried to kill her, Maxie ran into Spinelli's arms and held on to him as if her life depended on it. She perceived Spinelli as her hero, and her words matched her actions when she told the PCPD "Spinelli did most of the saving."

So, how shall we reconcile Maxie's behavior over the past couple months with her words this week indicating she sees Spinelli only as a friend or brother? Atypical for Maxie, but there appears to be dissonance between her "words" and her "behavior." Which should we believe express Maxie's true feeling for Spinelli what she says or what she does? Maybe, that is part of the story.

Sadly, Maxie told Robin she cares too much for Spinelli to have sex with him. Apparently, Maxie has had at least a passing thought about a sexual relationship with Spinelli and discarded the notion. Is Maxie's clear understanding of her own track record holding her back?

Much has been made of Spinelli's "physical make-over." Perhaps some attention should be directed to Maxie's need for an "emotional make-over" before she can grasp the depth of her feelings for Spinelli.

Dig below the surface of what we are seeing and hearing from both Maxie and Spinelli. Could we find the hallmark of a profound, deep love story…dare we hope, told, over the long-term as only the soap genre can?


Vixenella's Video of the Day: Song "Best Friends" by Pearl Baily - From the Disney movie Fox and Hound. Clips courtesy of the Opposite Attraction Fan Forum. Thanks to Soapfankatie for this lovely reminder... regardless of where the road takes Spixie...both Maxie and Spinelli have found "best friends."

Geek Meets Chic...First Spixie Promo Debut

*Que the drumroll* Spinelli & his Maximista (Spixie) now have their own 20 second promo running on SoapNet. Geek Meets Chic can be pure SUMMER GOLD for GH!

There are a number of extraordinarily positive aspects about the pairing of Spinelli and Maxie, but the one I would like to most highlight is the unique opportunity General Hospital has to tell a powerful, meaningful long-term story that will resonate with many. While I enjoy many of the GH characters, there is something very special about Spinelli. He is probably emotionally more like the average teenager or young adult than anyone on the GH canvas.

This summer with Spinelli, GH has an important opportunity to demonstrate that brains and sincere goodness are every bit as sexy and attractive as the "hunky bad guy with a chip on his shoulders." Spixie's brilliance is not only might the geeky, nice guy get the girl, he just might get one of the most beautiful young women in Port Charles.

At a time when young people suffer with low self-esteem issues and are literally dying to improve their looks. GH has an important opportunity to make a long-term commitment to a positive, honest, mutually respectful relationship Please General Hospital, do not underestimate the importance and the social impact of a simple story like this.

Jason Cook...Moose or Skink

The countdown has begun for the arrival of General Hospital's newest hunky doctor, Jason Cook, formerly Shawn Brady on Days of Our Lives (DOOL). On DOOL, Cook was half of one of the most popular young couples in DOOL history. The other half of this popular couple, you ask? None other than GH's own Kristen Storms (Maxie Jones) who played Belle Black to Cook's Shawn. Together, Shawn and Belle were affectionately referred to as "Shelle," or "Classic Shelle," to distinguish them from other actors who subsequently took over the roles.

The GH public relations department promises a "re-teaming" of Cook with Kristen Storms (GH, Maxie Jones). According to Soap Opera Central (www.soapcentral.com) "Cook's character will be crossing paths with bad girl, turned fashionista-in-training, Maxie Jones. That could spell doom for another fan favorite pairing; Maxie and quirky private detective, Damien Spinelli."

What fans of the tenuous, fledgling romance between Spinelli and Maxie (Spixie) want to know: will Jason Cook's character be "skink" or "moose"? Will the new doctor in Port Charles be a tiny, undetectable bump on the road to Spixie romance or will he be a huge moose in the road destined to wreck Spixie? For the growing number of Spixie fans much is riding on the answer to the skink versus moose question.

Will Spixie fans continue to tune in to General Hospital and endure a "chemistry test" between Jason Cook's character and Maxie? How will Spinelli fans react if their favorite is once again cast aside by a "Blonde One"?

Why the character of Damien Spinelli inspires so much loyalty and fierce protection from his fans is a subject for another day. Suffice it to say, in a very short time, Spinelli has become one of the most popular characters on General Hospital with a fanbase boasting broad demographic appeal. Spinelli is the quintessential "underdog," and his deep, visceral connection with fans would be under-estimated at GH's peril.

Speculation is rife if Kristen Storms (Maxie) and Jason Cook's old DOOL "magic" does not translate to GH, Maxie could simply be put back into Spinelli's orbit. Not so fast. Much fan dissatisfaction with the character of Lulu Spencer can be traced almost precisely to the point in time when she chose Logan Hayes as her love interest, casting aside her faithful friend Spinelli. Would Maxie experience that same fan backlash if she treats Spinelli as Lulu did? It seems entirely possible she might, and this dynamic should not be ignored.

Maxie and Spinelli (Spixie) have been slowly, beautifully building a solid friendship that seems naturally and logically progressing to love. Their relationship is healthy and built on a growing understanding of who the other really is…both the good and the bad. At this moment, Spixie is the most fun, honest, healthy, mutually respectful, caring couple in Port Charles.

At a time when General Hospital has so few functional couples and so little "love in the afternoon," it seems unfathomable the GH brass would deliberately jeopardize a fan-favorite like Maxie and Spinelli for the vague hope that a former popular DOOL coupling will translate to GH magic. Hasn't GH tried this before with another wildly popular former DOOL super-couple? Remember Stephen Nichols and Marybeth Evans, both extremely talented actors who played super-couple Patch and Kayla on DOOL. The pairing of Stefan Cassadine (Stephen Nichols) and Katherine Bell (Marybeth Evans) on GH never approached the popularity of Patch and Kayla on DOOL. Same actors…very different characters. There was just no correlation whatsoever.

No soap couple in history has ever had a straight, smooth path to everlasting love. Spixie fans understand there will be bumps along the road to romance. Here's hoping the bump on the road to Spixie love caused by Jason Cook's character is merely the size of a skink, not the proverbial moose, many fear.


Enjoy this hauntingly beautiful Spixie mvid by NewEnglander as you contemplate the question skink vs. moose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbwlqtvt3uk

Spinelli, Don't Go Changing, To Try To Please Me...

Spinelli, Don't Go Changing, To Try To Please Me...

"You never let me down before. I could not love you any better; I love you just the way you are." When Mr. Damien M. Spinelli "swaggered" up to the bar at Jake's today clad in black leather jacket with turned up collar, I knew we were in for a treat. Grasshopper Spin was all up at the bar trying to act cool and "channeling" his master, chick magnet Jason. Then Spin orders an orange soda which Coleman just so happens to have chilled, and Spin throws a pocket full of change up on the bar, telling Coleman to keep the change, literally.

When Spin found out his wondrous Maximista was in NYC on Crimson business, staying with a famous designer, Spin feared Maxie may be attracted to this urbane chic fashion powerhouse. So, Spinelli goes to work on his inner "Rico Suave," (a sexy, hot guy with a cool tude toward everyone and everything, a real man's man with irresistible magnetism.) According to the Urban Dictionary, Rico Suave is the term for "a ladies man who enjoys fast cars, hot woman, and pool hustling. Rico Suave is what every man wants to be, but 99.7% of men never live up to."

In a few short minutes, Spin had poked a biker in the butt with a pool stick he was twirling like a majorette's baton, spewed a liquor drink all over the bar, and solicited advice from both Coleman and Patrick on how to impress a woman. It was wonderful fun, brilliantly played by Bradford Anderson, but through the laughter, you could feel the pain of Spinelli's social insecurity.

How can someone so smart, be so lost when it comes to interpersonal interaction? That is a part of Spinelli's story GH must eventually tell. In "real-life" there are millions of people with similar social and emotional insecurities. Let's face it, many people, particularly teens or young adults, are much more like Spinelli in terms of their social interaction than they are willing to admit.

While many in Spinelli's shoes might crawl further into their isolated shell, Spin is out there trying, seeking advice, putting it on the line for what he wants. Always acutely aware of his social isolation and limitations, Spinelli, to this point, has functioned capably, even contently, within his limitations. Enter Maxie Jones.

Spin's growing feelings for Maxie bring into sharp focus his difficulty with interpersonal relationships, and he fears this deficiency will once again prevent him from establishing a romantic relationship with a woman he has grown to care for deeply. Even with Spin's humorous brand of imperfection, he poignantly demonstrates if there is something you want to change about yourself, get out there; put one foot in front of the other, and go for it.

Maxie already understands Spin has trouble believing someone could love him. So, the real opportunity for GH is to showcase for Spin and the audience, you don't have to change who you are to be loved, you are worthy of love just the way you are. Maxie loves Spin exactly the way he is, and I am glued to my TV screen to watch both Maxie and Spinelli discover that most beautiful of truths.

Featured Blog References:
"Just The Way You Are" – performed by Billy Joel in Tokyo 1998 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9A2wf9wMlU

"Rico Suave" is a 1991 single by Ecuadorian rapper and singer Gerardo. It appeared on his album Mo' Ritmo. The track peaked at 7 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart on April 13, 1991, and reached 2 on the Hot Rap Singles chart a week earlier. In the song, the narrator tells of his luck with women and his lady-loving lifestyle. The song ranks 100 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s and 9 on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders. It also ranked at 37 on Blender's list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever". (From Wikipedia)

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx64_N4AA04&feature=related

Lyrics to Billy Joel's "Just The Way You Are"* (a song dedication from Maxie to Spinelli )

*Spin's Vixenella highly recommends this for a Mvid done from Maxie's Point of View. If anyone does one, please let me know!

Don't go changing, to try and please me

You never let me down before

Don't imagine you're too familiar

And I don't see you anymore

I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble

We never could have come this far

I took the good times, I'll take the bad times

I'll take you just the way you are

Don't go trying some new fashion

Don't change the color of your hair

You always have my unspoken passion

Although I might not seem to care

I don't want clever conversation

I never want to work that hard

I just want someone that I can talk to

I want you just the way you are.

I need to know that you will always be

The same old someone that I knew

What will it take till you believe in me

The way that I believe in you.

I said I love you and that's forever

And this I promise from the heart

I could not love you any better

I love you just the way you are.

Chasing Spinelli

Many General Hospital fans are enjoying the growing relationship between Maxie Jones and Damien Spinelli. On the surface, this seems to be the story of a geeky guy falling for a beautiful girl that is well beyond his romantic reach. In truth, Maxie has been the pursuer all along.

Let's review: Initially, Spinelli and Maxie bonded over their shared grief over Georgie's death. Maxie went to Spinelli to help her find the Text Message Killer (TMK), even though computer skills were not initially required. WHY? She could have confided her concerns to any number of people, including Robin, Lucky, Cruz, Sam, or even Nik.

After the TMK was caught, Maxie still kept coming back for more Spinelli, and when he cold busted her on it, she got up and left in a huff...only to CALL HIM later that same day. In fact, even when Spinelli is busy with someone else or doing something else, it is Maxie approaching him, sitting down at his table, tagging along, etc. And, on Valentine's night, she sat at a table alone in Kelly's waiting on Spin to come back from helping Jason.

Recently, Maxie literally hunted Spinelli down at the hospital, and the first words out of her mouth were, something about all the many messages she had been leaving him, and why hadn't he returned her calls. She wasn't just passing through the hospital and ran into Spin, she was actively hunting him down because he had not been returning her calls. All these years Maxie has managed her life and affairs without technical computer assistance 24/7, and now she can't seem to get enough of it.

How many times has Spinelli called Maxie? Twice that we can confirm. The first time Spin took the initiative to call Maxie was when he got rolled and stripped naked. And, she quickly came to his rescue, and told him how "cool" he looked in his new suit, and she couldn't keep her hands off his hair. The second time we know Spinelli called Maxie was shortly after Michael was shot, and Spin was trying to establish a timeline involving Kate.

Maxie has been vulnerable with Spinelli, opening up and telling him things about herself we have never heard Maxie say to anyone...friend or lover. Physically, Maxie was the one who started moving in closer and closer until Spinelli has gradually become more comfortable with having his "personal bubble" invaded. You can see the progression of this physical proximity in scene after scene, including when she got on her knees in the chapel with him. Now Maxie is exchanging sips of Spinelli's orange soda and quite regularly initiating hugs and little kisses with little or no provocation or warning.

Consciously or not, Maxie uses hypotheticals to find out how Spinelli really feels. Anybody who has had a few rides on the "young love" merry-go-round knows darn well those questions Maxie was asking Spin in the sewer about what Spin would do if he were with someone and Lulu wanted him...those were questions Maxie wanted the answer to for herself.

As "take charge" as Maxie is, neither Maxie nor any woman for that matter, likes to be shut down or rejected by a guy. Maxie has been unsure of what Spinelli feels for her. For example, in a scene at Kelly's, Maxie told Spinelli she thought he "hated her guts." Plus, Maxie must be aware that she has been the one making the majority of the overtures both before and after the TMK was captured. Maxie may also be concerned that Spin still has feelings for Lulu. She has raised that issue to Spin on several occasions and has demonstrated possessiveness of Spinelli in front of Lulu, including planting a huge kiss on Spinelli right in front of Lulu. As upfront about her feelings as Maxie is, I can't imagine Maxie would put it all out there for Spin if she had a moment's concern that he still had feelings for Lulu.

Finally, Maxie may not yet realize the depths of her own feelings. This has all happened in a way that Maxie may not even realize what she feels for Spinelli. However, on at least a base level, it has become clear to Maxie, she not only needs, but wants Spinelli around her...alot. Maxie knows that Spin doesn't think someone could love him, and she also knows that when he gives his heart it will be totally. So perhaps Maxie is still figuring all this out for herself and understands Spin's vulnerabilities, so Maxie may be taking it slower with Spinelli than she would under other circumstances.

But make no mistake, wake up and sniff the love in bloom, Maxie is CHASING SPINELLI...