The first time I went to the Daytime Emmys was in 1981, when I was the editor of Afternoon TV magazine. I had never seen a soap opera star in the flesh. That year Douglas Watson (Mackenzie Corey on Another World) won for Best Actor and Judith Light (Karen Wolek, One Life to Live) won for Best Actress. Both were brilliant and I was absolutely … [Read more...]
A Bit of Marlena Soap History: Joan Crawford on The Secret Storm in 1968
April 26, 2023 by 4 Comments
With this week’s news that Dick Van Dyke will guest on Days of Our Lives next fall, it’s time to remember other screen stars who have guested on soaps. Yes, real stars, like, for example, Elizabeth Taylor, who played the original Helena Cassadine on General Hospital in 1981. I was fortunate enough to interview her at the time. She was giggly, … [Read more...]
CBS Wisely Puts a Spotlight on Y&R’s 50th Anniversary
April 3, 2023 by 2 Comments
Fifty years ago (March 26, 1973), I was a college newspaper editor at a prestigious state university. At lunchtime, I stopped what I was doing and ran back to my dorm for lunch. I prepared a sandwich and sat down to watch the premiere of the CBS soap The Young and the Restless. (Yes, my classmates thought I was weird for watching soaps. Even … [Read more...]
General Hospital: Holly’s Return — Redux!
March 20, 2023 by Leave a Comment
We’re entering into a special period in soaps. Two of our shows will be celebrating significant anniversaries. General Hospital, the longest running scripted show on all of television, will be 60 years old on April 1. And The Young and the Restless will be 50 on March 26. Both shows plan to celebrate with special appearances by alumni … [Read more...]
Days of Our Lives’ Robert Clary and John Aniston: Warmly Remembered
November 26, 2022 by 1 Comment
Days of Our Lives’ Robert Clary and John Aniston: Warmly Remembered By Patrick Erwin, a contributor to this column for many years on As the World Turns and Guiding Light (Patrick says: I’m honored to be a contributor to Marlena’s column once again.) It’s a bittersweet memory for today’s visit. We’re remembering the sad recent passing of … [Read more...]
All My Children’s Kelly Ripa — She Won the Lottery
November 17, 2022 by 9 Comments
This is a review of Kelly Ripa’s autobiography, Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories, published by HarperCollins: In 1990, a fresh, exciting character played by a phenomenal new 20-year-old talent named Kelly Ripa debuted on All My Children. The character was Hayley Vaughan, the illegitimate teenage daughter of Arlene Vaughan (played by Olivia … [Read more...]
Suicide Is Not Painless, Part Two: Y&R’s Chelsea Tries to Kill Herself
November 4, 2022 by 4 Comments
Last Friday on Young and the Restless, Chelsea Lawson (Melissa Claire Egan, in an excellent performance) heard voices in her head (a la a bad 50’s movie), went onto the balcony her apartment and looked down at the traffic way below on the street—contemplating committing suicide. Thankfully Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) arrived in time and talked … [Read more...]
In Memorium: David Johnson, Distinguished and Beloved Soap Journalist
November 1, 2022 by 2 Comments
As I write this, my heart is breaking. David Johnson, my closest colleague and ally in the soap opera journalism business for 40 years, passed away Saturday, Oct. 29, in Los Angeles, following a long battle with cancer. He was 87. David was born in Manhattan in 1935, the child of a single mother, his father having returned to England. At an … [Read more...]
Days’ Despicable (and Desperate) Storyline Move
October 21, 2022 by 11 Comments
There I was last week, reading Kelly Ripa’s new autobiography, Live Wire, which I plan to review, and a scene aired on Days of Our Lives that truly shocked me. Two women — Allie Horton (played by Lindsay Arnold) and Chanel Dupree (played by Raven Bowens) were having sex with Alex Kiriakis (played by Robert Scott Wilson). A threesome on daytime! … [Read more...]
Do You Still Watch Soaps?
October 10, 2022 by 5 Comments
Since I began to post here again, it has been my pleasure to reunite with so many long-time Marlena fans. You’re still watching — and so am I. I’m shocked, however, that so many of my soap press colleagues — who are or were in the business for decades —just don’t watch soaps anymore. And they’re not alone. A lot of fans have quit, too. Of … [Read more...]
