Over the last four decades, Marlena has written many, many stories on “General Hospital” (which premiered in 1963). Now that NBC is moving “Days of Our Lives” to its streaming service, Peacock, as of next month an alarming question arises: Will ABC send its soap standard bearer “GH” to streaming as well? Marlena certainly hopes not! So perhaps … [Read more...]
Michael Malone: A Loss of Llanview’s Best
August 22, 2022 by 8 Comments
This past weekend came the tragic news that former One Life to Live and Another World headwriter Michael Malone passed away in Clinton, Conn. at age 80. He’s remembered lovingly for his Emmy-winning work on OLTL, recognized with the Best Writing award in 1994 and nominations in that category in 1992, 1995 and 1996. He was also a prolific … [Read more...]
Anne Heche: In Memorium
August 16, 2022 by 12 Comments
In my many years watching and writing about daytime soap operas, I can’t remember any time — other than Luke and Laura’s wedding on General Hospital in November 1981 — when the national media paid more attention to our daytime world than it did on Friday when Anne Heche (who played twins Vicky Hudson and Marley Love on Another World) passed away at … [Read more...]
Sob! The End of Broadcast Network “Days of Our Lives”
August 4, 2022 by 22 Comments
Wednesday night brought the alarming news that NBC is relocating Days of Our Lives from its familiar broadcast berth to the network’s streaming service Peacock on Sept 12. At first, it felt like our beloved Days, a soap mainstay since it premiered in 1965, was being cancelled. Horror of horrors! Well, no such thing, thank heaven. But this … [Read more...]
Marlena’s Personal Recollections of Soaps’ Greatest Headwriters, Part Two
July 29, 2022 by 7 Comments
Marlena is ecstatic about the warm reaction to the recent Part 1 of this column. I’m thrilled you liked what I wrote about three great headwriters: Agnes Nixon, William J. Bell and James E. Reilly. This week, I humbly present my recollections of three more: Claire Labine (1934-2016): Co-headwriter (with Paul Avila Mayer) of Where the Heart Is … [Read more...]
Marlena’s Personal Recollections of Soaps’ Greatest Headwriters, Part One
July 16, 2022 by 12 Comments
I got my start as a soap opera journalist in 1979. There were so many shows to watch and write about then — 13, such a feast! For me, the best part of the job was (and still is) meeting, interviewing and getting to know the people who make them: actors, producers, directors, daytime network executives, etc. As a writer, though, I always gravitated … [Read more...]
Daytime Emmys 2022: A Class Act
June 30, 2022 by 4 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman It seemed like old times. After two years of diminished Covid-mandated online ceremonies, the Daytime Emmys, our Daytime Day of Days, returned to network television. And what a class act it was! Kudos to NATAS (National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences) for staging such a … [Read more...]
The 2022 Daytime Emmys: Live and In Person
June 23, 2022 by 3 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a Connie Passalacqua Hayman As the day of days for all soap aficionados approaches -- the Daytime Emmys will be broadcast at 9 tonight on CBS – there is reason to rejoice. Coming out of the shadow of Covid, for the first time in two years, members of the daytime industry will gather live with a live audience (no … [Read more...]
The Sad Passing of Ray Liotta, Soap Alumnus
June 14, 2022 by 8 Comments
The stunning news of the death of megastar Ray Liotta on May 26 came more than three weeks ago, yet the outpouring of grief in the press and on social media continues unabated. The label “beloved” has been appended to the names of many stars. But few deserved it more than Liotta. He radiated a deep sense of authenticity that enabled him to … [Read more...]
Still “Bold and Beautiful” After All These Years
February 1, 2022 by 7 Comments
Not many people can say they were present at the creation — but I was. Early in 1987, I was interviewing the late William J. Bell (co-creator and headwriter of “The Young and the Restless”) in his office at Studio City, Calif., when the phone rang. It was the powers-that-be at CBS calling with big news: They had just canceled the Washington, … [Read more...]
