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 4 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...]
Soaps Lately: The Good, the Bad and the Questionable
June 1, 2026 by 3 Comments
It’s been quite a busy couple of soap weeks. There’s lots to write about what’s been happening on our favorite shows. But first, I need to get something off my chest that has been bothering me for some time. Can I bounce this off you? As I have often said, I am proud to have been a soap journalist for the past forty years. Right now, there isn’t … [Read more...]
Movie Stars Who Appeared on Soaps — A Complete History
May 17, 2026 by 18 Comments
Marlena says: Who knows more about daytime soap opera than John K. Read, formerly known as John Kelly Genovese? I met John in 1978 when I was an intern to the late editor/columnist Jon-Michael Reed. John and I discovered a mutual interest in soaps and became fast friends. He invited me frequently to his home In Connecticut to watch kinescopes of … [Read more...]
Jeanne Cooper (1928 – 2013): An Appreciation
May 10, 2026 by 5 Comments
We soap fans love our performers because they come into our homes as our favorite characters for years. In short, fan favorites become members of our own families. When a member of our family passes away, we feel it deeply. Last week I reprinted a memorial column for Beverlee McKinsey (Iris, “Another World” and “Texas,” Alexandra, “Guiding … [Read more...]
Remembering Beverlee McKinsey, Still Singularly Magnificent
May 3, 2026 by 16 Comments
Browsing through my archive late last week, I ran across this piece of soap history that stopped me in my tracks: May 2 was the 18th anniversary of the passing of one of soap opera’s finest actresses, Beverlee McKinsey. This brought back a flood of memories and a few tears. Veteran soap fans will remember her riveting portrayals of two scheming, … [Read more...]
When Soaps Give Great Comfort
April 26, 2026 by 6 Comments
I’ve been writing this column for decades on weekends but today I am having a lot of problems. A neighbor and close college friend named Marty, in the hospital with both cancer and heart problems, passed away early this morning. When we went to visit him yesterday, he was not conscious. His PA told us he was on end-of-life care. I was beside … [Read more...]
Joyce Becker Sugarman: The Passing of a Beloved Soap World Innovator
April 19, 2026 by 8 Comments
Thursday came word that Joyce Becker, an early soap journalist and event impresario, passed away from a stroke at 84. She and her husband Allan Sugarman founded and organized the hugely popular Soap Opera Festivals, a series of mall shows built around soap star appearances. The charismatic Joyce was loved by her journalism colleagues, and the many … [Read more...]
Behind the Scenes: “They Care as Much About Soaps as We Do”
April 13, 2026 by 13 Comments
Marlena says: When I first started writing the “Critical Condition” column in Soap Opera Weekly in 1989, I hoped reader reactions to my opinions would be strong, and I wasn’t disappointed. So early on I decided to make anybody who wrote to me my friend, either by personal reply or later by making you my Facebooks friends. I’ve made many, many … [Read more...]
