Marlena says: Soaps are not designed to go into reruns. We viewers are so hungry for good entertainment, we want a new episode every day. However, this Monday, Labor Day, ABC offers a real treat: a repeat of the very fine memorial episode dedicated to Tony Geary (1945-2026), broadcast originally Feb. 21 of this year. Here is my review, published … [Read more...]
“General Hospital”‘s Strange Summer: When Plots and Characters Don’t Make Sense, It’s Not Viable Soap Opera
August 31, 2026 by 12 Comments
We all love “General Hospital.” I watch it every day in real time and I don’t accept phone calls or let anyone bother during that important hour. “GH” is a show that has delivered us wonderful entertainment over the years—for me personally, since Luke and Laura’s glorious and first romantic summers in the early Eighties. That’s why I’m so shocked … [Read more...]
In Memoriam, Lance Jackson: Conservator of Historic Soap Opera Theme Music
August 22, 2026 by 4 Comments
Marlena says: Today I am saddened to hear of the passing of my dear friend Lance Jackson. Close friends reported that he died in Atlanta of cancer at 67. I profiled Lance, a church organist and fervent soap fan, last year. Here is a reprint. His husband Richard passed a year ago, also a cancer victim. I was always grateful for Lance's support. … [Read more...]
“Young and Restless”‘ Joshua Morrow: State of the Art Soap Actor
August 18, 2026 by 2 Comments
In 80s and 90s, many debuting soap actors used their roles as steppingstones to primetime and further fame. Good examples include Alec Baldwin (Billy, “The Doctors”), who went on to “Knot’s Landing,” and John Stamos (Blackie, “General Hospital”), who went to “Full House.”At the same time, there was a cadre of talented actors who weren’t … [Read more...]
How Creator/Headwriter Michele Val Jean Brought Hope Back to Soap Operas with “Beyond the Gates”
August 6, 2026 by 11 Comments
Think of where daytime soaps were in 2023, when “Days of Our Lives” went to Peacock and the only three network soaps left were CBS’s “The Young and the Restless,” CBS’s “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and ABC’s “General Hospital.” No new soap operas had been created since “Passions” in 1999, and ABC had canceled “All My Children” in 2011 and “One … [Read more...]
Stop It! Excessive Spoilers Are Ruining Our Soaps
July 29, 2026 by 10 Comments
Last Friday, I experienced something as a soap viewer that I had not felt in decades: a genuine surprise. No, correct that, a shock. At the close of Friday’s “General Hospital,” Nina (played by the divine Cynthia Watros) shoved her paralyzed and wheel-chair-bound son-in-law, Drew — into the water, where his daughter, Scout, had just demonstrated … [Read more...]
The 2026 Daytime Award Nominations: Surprise! They Are Not Bad at All!
July 19, 2026 by 8 Comments
The Daytime Emmy nominations, which usually usher in a period of bitching and complaining among fans and journalists, were announced this week, and I was shocked. Many of the nominations are quite good.As you know, this is the first year that the relatively new soap “Beyond the Gates” qualified for the Emmys, and it did wonderfully — seven … [Read more...]
Shock and Awe! Our Soap Summer Begins
July 5, 2026 by 4 Comments
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 … [Read more...]
“Young and Restless” Peter Bergman: A Leading Man’s Proud Journey
June 30, 2026 by 4 Comments
Marlena has complained that lately the networks have been restricting their promotional efforts to two or so favored soap opera press outlets. I am a veteran soap journalist who has written hundreds of stories about the network soaps for decades and have been fully supportive of these profitable shows. Excluding long-time loyal soap journalists … [Read more...]
A Salute to Deidre Hall on her 50th Anniversary on “Days of Our Lives”
June 22, 2026 by 7 Comments
Last Friday, Deidre Hall, who is celebrating her 50th anniversary on “Days of Our Lives” as beloved psychiatrist Dr. Marlena Evans, was a guest on NBC’s “Today” Show. Right off, reporter Craig Melvin asked Deidre, who is still gorgeous at age 78, to demonstrate a soap opera slap on him.“OMG!” I screamed. “Do you know who you are talking to? … [Read more...]
