Soaps for The Thinking Fan
Join us, Thinking Fans, as we continue our first anniversary celebration! Our Soap Shrink Damon Jacobs, Patrick Erwin and I will be guests Friday night, 10 PM EST, on the In the Zone Blog Talk Radio Show . We’ll be talking about our site and reviewing the many events of the last, tumultuous soap year. We’ll all be pleased to speak with you on the air and answer your questions. The call-in number for the 90-minute show is (347) 996-5978. Let’s talk soaps!
Marlena
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Thinking Fans Comment Update: Jonnysbro can’t imagine Salem without Dr. Marlena Evans … while Christine thinks Deidre’s “many fans would follow her to the ends of the earth” … and more. See Comments below.
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To mark executive producer Ken Corday’s ver-ry curious decision to fire Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn from Days of Our Lives, we here at Marlenadelacroix.com figured we’d pull out all the stops to honor both Dee and one of the most popular characters in history, let alone daytime history, namely Dr. Marlena Evans – 32 years in Salem, 32 years as a daytime superstar!
Yes, it’s our own Farewell Dee-A-Palooza. On successive days our Soap Shrink Damon L. Jacobs, Patrick Erwin and moi will examine why both actress and character were so mega-popular over the years. And we’ll reflect on what they mean to us personally. Day One: a man whose life was profoundly influenced by Dr. Marlena Evans — Damon L. Jacobs.
Marlena
XXXOOO
By Damon L. Jacobs
I must begin discussing Deidre Hall’s portrayal of Marlena Evans with a confession: I announced to my parents at age five that I intended to become a therapist, and forced everyone who came through the house to tell me their problems. During graduate school people often asked how I knew I wanted to study psychology so early in life. I made up answers about [Read more...]
Thinking Fans on the passing of beloved soap characters: BL says, “Feelings are feelings, and if someone did something magnificent in their career or touched you emotionally, it should be honored” … while renee says, “I know they’re not physically real, but if we’re blessed they’re emotionally real” … and more. See Comments below.
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By Damon L. Jacobs
This is not an easy time to be a soap fan. Already we are coping with declining ratings, pre-emptions, time changes, and signs of behind-the-scenes instability. But this week the Thinking Fans are coping with not one, not two, but three significant creative and artistic losses. What’s worse, the NAW’s (Non-Addicted-Watchers) in our lives usually have a limited ability to relate to our pain and sorrow.
Unlike stars of prime time TV shows or movies, soap actors/writers form unique relationships with us viewers. They are in our homes several times a week, sometimes for decades at a time. We often go through school and college
Respect your relationship with the person who has died … Appreciate the values they brought into your life.
watching our favorite character go through similar struggles. We may enter and exit relationships; we may give birth to children and watch them grow up, all with that comforting surrogate family member entering into our homes during the day. They come to symbolize [Read more...]
Thinking Fans Comment Update Sept. 30: Matthew Cormier wonders why Stephanie is so jealous of Brooke … jefhamlin says it all started with Beth Logan … and Cherry Ames says the marvelous Susan Flannery almost makes her want to watch B&B, but not quite. See Comments below.
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By Damon L. Jacobs
Soap operas are unique in their ability to slowly portray a character’s bad behaviors, tragic downfall, and ultimate redemption. But lately I’ve been troubled by the vehemence of the anger, blame, and finger-pointing OFF screen. We have all recently seen actors, producers, anonymous bloggers and even journalists engage in attack, blame, and judging. My feeling is that many are ignoring the most consistent and essential thread in the soaps’ history: Good people do messed up things when they are afraid. If someone is in pain or insecure, they are more likely to lash out at others than to ask for help. They deserve empathy and understanding, not attack. Case in point: Stephanie Forrester.
When we first met Stephanie in 1987, we were introduced to a stylistic, calm, rational business woman (played from the start by Susan Flannery) who had a tendency to meddle a bit too much in her children’s love lives, especially [Read more...]
Thinking Fans Comment Update Sept. 4: Matthew Cormier suggests a no sex vow might help Blair heal … Johnny, however, can’t fathom the randy Blair in therapy … and more. See Comments below.
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By Damon L. Jacobs
You’ve got to hand it to Blair Cramer. She may have grown up in foster homes, she may have a nasty temper, she may soon be one of they youngest grandmothers on daytime. But she has more than proven her capacity to be resourceful, resilient, and to have a seriously good head for business.
Unfortunately, most would say that’s not the part of the body she’s usually thinking with.
That is because very few soap vixens match the sexual tenacity of our dear Ms. Cramer (played by Kassie DePaiva). When it comes to notches on the bedpost, she has most of them beat. Young or old, poor or rich, liar or upstanding citizen, these labels matter little to Blair. She is best known for her on again / off again shenanigans with Todd Manning and Max Holden. But her conquests also include Asa Buchanan, his grandsons Cord and Kevin, as well as heroic Patrick Thornheart, murderous Spencer Truman, virtuous Sam Rappaport, struggling Christian Vega, and now uptight John McBain.
On a sociopolitical level, I find Blair’s sexual attitude refreshing. Male characters such as Max, John, and Christian have a new woman in their bed every year or few months, and no one seems to finds this outrageous or offensive. Heck, Asa had at
I would encourage her to take a honest look of how she has used sex to distract herself from painful emerging feelings.
least eleven wives and was considered a Texan stud. But when a woman sleeps with a man for no other reason than seeking sexual gratification, this sets off moral alarm bells. It seems to me [Read more...]
Thinking Fans Comment Update Aug. 22: norn sees Adam as a fierce competitor … while Trey thinks Adam is driven by love. See Comments below.
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By Damon L. Jacobs
“If I don’t take care of this, no one will.”
Does this sound familiar to you? Have you ever known someone who thought that way? Or, dear Thinking Fans, have YOU ever been the one who believed you had to solve everyone’s problems, handle every issue, and be in complete control of every situation?
If so, you can understand how the twisted and tortured mind of Adam Chandler (played by David Canary) operates. Born from humble beginnings in Pigeon Hollow, Adam became a self-made business man early in his career. He has been driven his entire life by [Read more...]
Thinking Fans Comment Update August 5: Ryan offers kudos to the bigger but still sexy Kim … esther wants to see more age appropriate attire … Aaron says the issue isn’t pounds, it’s Reva’s “white trash” look … and more. See Comments below.
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By Damon L. Jacobs
There has been a lot of discussion on the boards about Guiding Light these days. The shrinking budget, the shrinking ratings, the shrinking cast list. Yet there is one thing obviously not getting smaller in Springfield: Reva Shayne’s waistline.
And for this the Soap Shrink couldn’t be happier!
Personally, I am exhausted by the pressure in daytime (and all media) for women to stay skinny and unhealthily thin. It alarms me to know the lengths some of these great actresses will go to in order to [Read more...]
Thinking Fans Comment Update July 30: Kim wants Marlena and John to fall in love … Casey thinks John is having a middle-age crisis … but Angela thinks Carrie can help. See Comments below.
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By Damon L. Jacobs
OK, Thinking Fans, Pop Quiz:
Which couple’s problems are most like the kind the Soap Shrink would treat during the day:
A. The Young and the Restless‘ Niki’s growing fears around David’s criminal background;
B. One Life to Live‘s Clint’s anger at Nora for blasting the truth about her ex-husband fiancé’s crimes in the middle of their wedding; or
C. Days of Our Lives‘ Marlena’s aggravation and disappointment that her husband John 
has permanently changed into someone she’s not sure she even likes.
ANSWER: C
What? Days Of Our Lives portraying a realistic problem? Does the Soap Shrink need treatment of his own?
Not so fast, TFs. Hear me out. Although it is not common for me to deal with brainwashed patients coming back from the dead, it IS quite normal for couples to struggle when one person has gone through a life altering change. If one person is happy with that change and the other isn’t, then there is potential for much sadness and resentment.
Marlena (Deirdre Hall) likes to [Read more...]
Thinking Fans Comment Update: CeCe says Dorian should leave Llanview … cher wonders if Dorian is ready for therapy … Dale tries to imagine a “good” Dorian. See Comments below.
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Part 2 of a 2-part OLTL 40th anniversary appointment!
By Damon L. Jacobs
When we left off on Friday, we discussed Dorian’s symptoms which are consistent with Paranoid Personality Disorder. As a Thoughtful Fan pointed out on this page last Friday, Marlena herself wrote a wonderful column back in 1998 about how the Dorian facing-her-past storyline of ‘97-’98 accurately illuminated the tenants of traditional Freudian psychoanalytic therapy. She faced her painful history, gained insight, and literally killed the mother that had been perceived as a source of so much dysfunction. But I submit, did this insight make Dorian happier? Did it help her gain peace? Did it improve her relationships? Change her behavior? I’d say no, especially based on her behavior in the last six weeks, which is arguably worse than it’s been for a very long time.
In order for Dorian (played by the cherished Robin Strasser) to truly heal, I would recommend [Read more...]
Thinking Fans Comment Update: cher shares on Dorian and respect … norn on Dorian and revenge … and more. See Comments below.
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Part 1 of 2-Part OLTL 40th Anniversary Appointment!
By Damon L. Jacobs
Each week the Soap Shrink tries to offer a glimpse into a soap character’s history, symptoms, and hopefully suggest an optimistic view of how, growth, change, and development are possible.
This week his hands are full. Because Dorian Lord, perhaps the most brilliant, yet self-destructive, person in Llanview has been very naughty lately. How can someone so smart, with such great wardrobe choices, make SO many of the same mistakes over and over? Let’s take a look and find out.
Dorian, played with timeless mastery by the inimitable Robin Strasser, grew up in an environment that can best be described as chaotic. Throughout her childhood she witnessed domestic violence between her mother and father, and she herself was physically and psychologically abused. This in and of itself can lead to rage, distrust, and [Read more...]
