By Connie Passalacqua Hayman aka Marlena De Lacroix In the effort to salve our wounds this summer, the canceled All My Children and One Life to Live sacrificed an essential element of soap opera: believability. All these people back from the dead simultaneously! Dixie! Leo! Zack! How are we supposed to buy any kind of reality behind it? … [Read more...]
Au Revoir, All My Children and One Life to Live
April 18, 2011 by 26 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix Last week I had a nightmare that All My Children and One Life to Live were canceled. And then the bad dream came true. But before we wallow in our own grief, let's take a moment to remember all the jobs that are being lost -- and all the acting careers that are now ending. So many people out of work! They are the … [Read more...]
“General Hospital” Madness: Why Kill Jake? And What Have They Done to Luke?
March 30, 2011 by 11 Comments
By Ed Martin Anyone who is still wondering why broadcast soap operas are disappearing before our eyes need only review recent episodes of ABC's General Hospital. Don't blame shrinking audiences. (Viewers aren't really going away. They're just harder to count.) Don't blame competition from other media. (Overall media consumption is on the The … [Read more...]
Winter Thoughts and a Book Review
February 14, 2011 by 11 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix Bonjour, everyone. Still watching. I've particularly enjoyed One Life to Live's sweeps, with the downfall of Clint, and his acid confrontations with that bitch Aubrey. Pine Valley seems to be emptying out and you have to ask yourself how long Alicia Minshew can carry the show on her boney shoulders. I'm rooting for … [Read more...]
When All Soaps Are In Lockstep, Is Improvement Possible?
November 16, 2010 by 20 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix What's a soap critic to do? There are only six soaps. I have a long memory and remember the very early 90s, when Bill Bell originated the homeless storyline with Stephanie, which way proceeded the current one. Ken Corday is an enemy of free speech; he sought to destroy the critical arm of Soap Opera Weekly years ago. But … [Read more...]
Wrong is Right
October 8, 2010 by 9 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix I have to say I almost choked when I heard that Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati were re-signed to One Life to Live. Isn't this show dead last in the ratings and going even further south? Aren't they the duo that made Dorian a Valley of the Dolls shrew, had Todd sleep with Marty his prior rape victim, exiled the only gay … [Read more...]
As the World Turns Stops: Sobs! All Those Afternoons!
September 8, 2010 by 17 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix When I was in high school I was noted for spending my afternoons watching soap operas and eating cole slaw. Decades later, I am sobbing ... and I mean real big salty tears ... into my slaw as As the World Turns is drawing to a close, heading to With the end of As the World Turns, let’s celebrate soaps. Our memories of … [Read more...]
Ban James Franco from Daytime!
August 11, 2010 by 12 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix Publicity whores! Marlena hates them! I'm so sorry that my otherwise carefree, wonderful summer was interrupted by my rants to friends visiting our summer cabin about how James Franco has taken over the daytime world this year. Not just with his repeated visits to General Hospital as Franco, but his egotistical appearances … [Read more...]
What’s a Daytime Emmy Year Without Complaining? Or Even Watching?
June 30, 2010 by 10 Comments
For a full report on the Viva Las Vegas Daytime Emmys, read the post following this one by Marlena's friend, TV columnist Ed Martin. But first ... ____________________________________ By Marlena De Lacroix Due to a car malfunction, Moose, Nigel and I had to stay away an extra day this past Sunday, (delightfully) stranded in … [Read more...]
