By Marlena De Lacroix
Every week for months, there have been rumors that Stephen Macht’s tough mob lawyer character, Trevor Lansing, is about to be whacked on General Hospital.   So, while there’s still time, I’d like to say that I’m really enjoying Macht’s performances in the role this season.  Yes, Macht, the 60ish actor with the […]

Posted on March 26th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: General Hospital, MARLENA, Yearning for Yesterday | 13 Comments »

By Patrick Erwin
I confess I  was glued to my TV last week for the soap opera that was The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer. The governor, once praised as a smart, brave man, was stripped of his title in a very public and humiliating way. And the reaction reminded me of  “schadenfreude” – a German word […]

Posted on March 20th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: PATRICK, Young and the Restless | 9 Comments »

By Marlena De Lacroix
It’s hard to watch daytime soaps chip away piece by piece, and of course no one actor is daytime TV.  But watching Martha Byrne leave As the World Turns (because of a contract disagreement  with P&G) is really painful.  If ATWT can be looked at as a truly American, heartland soap (as […]

Posted on March 17th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: As the World Turns, MARLENA, Yearning for Yesterday | 12 Comments »

By Marlena De Lacroix
I never liked the character of Todd Manning on One Life to Live.  I never understood him.   After he was introduced in 1992 as one of three gang rapists of college coed Marty Saybrooke, the character skyrocketed to become one of most popular characters on OLTL, if not all of soaps, and […]

Posted on March 11th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: MARLENA, One Life to Live | 32 Comments »

By Patrick Erwin
Three weeks ago, before it even debuted, I recommended giving Guiding Light’s new production style a chance. After a week or so of shows, here are some first impressions: 
THE GOOD:  Some of the new sets read very nicely on screen. In particular, the outdoor sets and the larger sets look great. Many of the outdoor […]

Posted on March 10th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Guiding Light, PATRICK | 15 Comments »

Douglas Marland:  May 5, 1935 - March 6, 1993

By Marlena De Lacroix
In 1981 I was the editor of a soap magazine which had a great reputation and no budget.  Every year we gave out awards, but we had to do it in small ceremonies on the set.  My head was whirling from the first one […]

Posted on March 6th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: MARLENA, Yearning for Yesterday | 11 Comments »

 Douglas Marland:  May 5, 1935 - March 6, 1993
By Patrick Erwin
It’s been fifteen years since Douglas Marland’s death. That seems impossible to me, but then again, maybe that’s because I still see aspects of his work and his characters on screen every day.
Certainly, his body of work has had a big impact on me. I was eagerly […]

Posted on March 5th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: PATRICK, Yearning for Yesterday | 4 Comments »

Douglas Marland:  May 5, 1935 - March 6, 1993 
By Patrick Erwin
We continue our celebration of the life and work of Douglas Marland with some more memories from the people who performed Doug’s work on a daily basis — the actors. Today we’re featuring comments from two gifted performers who worked with Doug on As The […]

Posted on March 4th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: PATRICK, Yearning for Yesterday | No Comments »

  Douglas Marland:  May 5, 1935 - March 6, 1993
By Patrick Erwin
As an actor:
– Doug appeared in a 1956 episode of Playhouse 90 called Forbidden Area (as Marland Messner, his real name).
– In 1973, he appeared on As The World Turns, playing Lisa’s doctor, Eric Lonsberry, during the infamous “phantom fetus” storyline.
– Doug also appeared

Posted on March 4th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: PATRICK, Yearning for Yesterday | 1 Comment »

Douglas Marland:  May 5, 1935 - March 6, 1993
By Marlena De Lacroix
Can it really be 15 years since the light was turned off? 
 
Those were the words of my friend, soap historian Leona Barad when I wrote to her  telling her we were planning a special week of articles here at marlenadelacroix.com to commemorate the 15th anniversary of […]

Posted on March 3rd, 2008 by admin
Filed under: MARLENA, Yearning for Yesterday | 12 Comments »