By Marlena De Lacroix I have grown so tired of the soap opera convention known as the multiple-suspect murder mystery storyline. Of late, they've become meaningless, predictable or, even worse, totally incomprehensible. The multiple-suspect murder plot was only done to perfection on the old full-time soap mystery show Edge of Night. But the … [Read more...]
Guiding Light Today: A Few Flickers of Light?
January 23, 2008 by 9 Comments
By Patrick ErwinYou may remember the last time I wrote about Guiding Light, I shared my opinion that the show was "operating at diminished capacity." Those were harsh words for a show that used to be must-see-TV for me. Now, I don't know that GL is out of intensive care just yet, but there're a few additions to the show that I think are … [Read more...]
Marcie Surrenders Her Son on One Life to Live: A Rare Soap Opera Grand Slam
January 20, 2008 by 21 Comments
By Marlena De LacroixWhile we were all bitching and moaning about Budig, I for one almost missed the soap opera story of the year. This is the denouement of that Marcie-on-the-run story on One Life to Live, in which Marcie had fled Llanview with her "adopted" son (newly handed over by the court to Tommy's biological father, rapist Todd), … [Read more...]
Rape Stories: Days of Our Lives Shows That “No” Really Means “No” This Time
January 17, 2008 by 6 Comments
By Patrick ErwinFor all its onscreen and offscreen turmoil, Days of Our Lives seems to have a few stories working for it right now. One of them is Chelsea and Stephanie and the sorority girls dealing with the aftermath of the campus rapist, Ford, who raped Stephanie and Cordy and threatened Chelsea. Initially, the story didn't seem too … [Read more...]
All My Children’s Over-hyped Return of Rebecca Budig
January 13, 2008 by 42 Comments
By Marlena De LacroixA member of our family has been ill, so it's been hard enough to post. And so at the end of tough days, I turn to where I have always turned since I was a teen for a bit of relief, comfort and a sense of belonging: to daytime soaps. Right now -- late Saturday afternoon - what's going on is SoapNet's "Welcome Back … [Read more...]
From Hank to Luke and Noah: A Personal Journey
January 7, 2008 by 13 Comments
By Patrick ErwinMost soap operas are a unique combination of realism and complete fantasy. But every once in a while, there are characters or storylines that transcend the fictional wall, and spill over into real life -- one's own real life -- in a very powerful way. … [Read more...]
Soaps’ Scab Scripts: Seinfelds They Ain’t
January 4, 2008 by 13 Comments
By Marlena De LacroixWe've just passed New Year's, and a certain ennui has set in this week on soaps. This winter of Marlena's discontent is made worse by the arrival of scab-written scripts. Are they here so soon? On General Hospital and The Young and the Restless, this would seem to be the case. Are there more? Perhaps. I'm listening … [Read more...]
Happy New Year! Thinking Soap Fans Pick B&W of 2007
December 31, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Happy New Year, mes chers!Marlena toasts you with a glass of champagne, wishing only soaps that are good this year. Speaking of, so many of my Thinking Fans sent in their own Best and Worst picks for 2007, there's barely room to post them all! I love the intelligence of them and appreciate how discerning all of you are when writing about a … [Read more...]
Marlena to Thinking Fans: You Get the Last Word in 2007!
December 27, 2007 by Leave a Comment
By Marlena De LacroixYou've read my soaps "Bests" list for 2007 in the post immediately below this one. Now, it's your turn! Send moi your own picks for soaps Best and Worst 2007. Five choices total in any combination of Bests and Worsts, or 5 Bests or 5 Worsts would be about right. Try to have your say in 500 words or less. Submissions … [Read more...]
