In the last week of June1989 I wrote a cover story for TV Guide called “The Joys of Summer: The Hottest Stories on Daytime Soaps.” On the cover were two popular romantic couples of the day, Robert Scorpio, and Katherine Delafield (Tristan Rogers and Edie Lehmann) of “General Hospital” and Max Holden and Megan Gordon (James DePaiva and Jessica Tuck) of “One Life to Live.”
Back then, the networks were smart enough to acknowledge that summer, when kids are home from school, offers a golden opportunity to spike ratings. Young love stories richly stoked the network bottom line.
Well, that was a long time ago, when soaps were still about love. And today? Well, as our soap summer began last week, we faced a deluge of violence and nasty betrayals on three of our remaining soaps. Let’s take a look at these unfortunate doings and recall the bygone days of summer love instead of hate.
“The Young and the Restless” — As we know, the unbalanced Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) is hellbent on getting back her one-time husband Jack (Peter Bergman) one way or another — seducing him at every turn, and if that goes nowhere, plotting to exact her long held grudge. At the start of one of their lovemaking sessions, which Patty evidently judged to be going nowhere, she pulled a big knife and plunged in into Jack’s side. That’ll teach him how not to treat a lady who loves him, eh? I couldn’t believe it! Since “Y&R” was created by the late Bill Bell in 1973, it has always been daytime’s classiest show. What’s with the sudden outburst of blood and gore? The story telling may have been a bit thin, but there was no stinting on the fake blood.
On GH, Carlo Rota’s Sidwell
“General Hospital” – “GH” was beyond manic as several storylines peaked at once. Lengthy scenes of loquacious gun waving and angry speechifying led to rambling gunplay. Sidwell (Oh, how we love Carlo Rota!) roamed Port Charles and was finally arrested. And Cullum (farewell, dear Andrew Hawkes) met a very ugly end as a newly freed and injured Jocelyn picked up a rifle and shot him dead. It also appears that Cassius was killed in this big fire fight, too. John Oliver, that adorable talk show host, made his “GH” debut as the much talked about Z, the head of the WUSB. He entered Port Charles in a real helicopter — so glad the show didn’t opt for A.I.!
I know a lot of “GH” fans find the headwriting by Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte fresh and daring. Darlings, so do I, sometimes. And of course, “GH” has a history of being an action-adventure soap going back to the days of Luke and Laura and Gloria Monty. But weren’t these multiple outbursts of violence in Port Charles last week more than a bit over the top? As I’ve already said, in the summertime, I for one much prefer to see boys like Gio and Cody topless at the Metrocourt pool. I don’t like that this “GH” summer seems more like an imitation of “Mission Impossible” than a daytime soap.
On Y&R, Stacy stabs Jack
“The Bold and the Beautiful” — Over at “B&B,” the writers were all over the place, too. As you know, Brooke’s daughter Hope decided to desert Forrester Fashions. She appeared in an all get out showstopper dress at the conclusion of the Logan fashion show that showcased her new design line. Watching a videocast of this event, our Miss Brooke almost had a nervous breakdown over being betrayed by her daughter, and by sister, Katie, who owns the new Logan Fashions. Brooke raced over to the Logan showroom to confront them and what followed was Katherine Kelly Lang at her finest as Brooke (or as the late Stephanie used to call her, “the Slut from the Valley”). Crying and screaming, she accused Katie of stealing her flesh and blood daughter, her shrillness so alarming she caused Hope to pass out on the runway floor.
And so, the summer kicked off on “Y&R,” “GH” and B&B” in headline fashion last week, not with a smooch but with a bang. Lots of them. The days of summer loving might be passe on soaps, but why should the rather sadly declining networks have to stoop so low as to use shocks and awe to attract an audience? How can they afford to misunderstand that daytime soap operas have always been popular with faithful audiences because they are all about the universal search for love?
Oh, no, so sorry Dearie, but I have to disagree with your take. GH is currently my favorite of the 5 soaps on the air & IMO Korte & Frank are red hot! From a Nielsen point of view, sweeps no longer have a function but the shows keep programming as if Sweeps are just as valid as ever & I am down with that. Regular GH is like Sweeps used to be & GH Sweeps is like UberSweeps! Now I am seriously in love with Carly & Val as Caradine and with Gio & Emma as Gemma. Plus, Ethan & Ava are tempting & ADA Justine is the best Brenda Bot we’ve seen in many years & she & Sonny are even heating the place up!! Back to Action Sequence Soapiness, I loved last week. Jenz Sidwell has been a delightful villain but it had to come to an end. Mean Director Ross Cullum has been living on borrowed time & Joss hitting him with a shotgun blast was perfection. Cassius, is he dead or is he alive? Apparently this is going to be unknown for a period of time. Yes, I know the official record says he died, but, there’s reason to think that might be a smokescreen. I do not approve of the RetCon of Britt’s Fatal Disease but it was well-written. I thought the writing allowing Joss to be the Heroine of the day & to get both Jason & Val out of lock-up was brilliant & clever.
Thanks Donna. I love GH now too–it’s exciting soap opera. But in the summer I want love, not violence. Remember Luke and Laura were in great adventure stories–but at the base of them all was true love. This column has certainly stirred up a lot of reaction already.
Excellent column. I agree with everything you said, Marlena.
Thank you!