By Marlena De Lacroix 1. Is it my imagination or did bravura actress Sarah Brown return to General Hospital (as Claudia Zacchara) with a little something extra under the signature slutty red wrap dress? And isn't fierce mob princess Claudia very similar to Maerose Prizzi (Oscar winner Anjelica Huston) the fierce mob princess who wants to take … [Read more...]
On Soaps, Multiple Suspect Murder Mysteries are So-o-o Done!
January 28, 2008 by 21 Comments
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...]
Rape Stories: Days of Our Lives Shows That “No” Really Means “No” This Time
January 17, 2008 by 6 Comments
By Patrick Erwin For 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...]
From Hank to Luke and Noah: A Personal Journey
January 7, 2008 by 13 Comments
By Patrick Erwin Most 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...]
Marlena’s “Only the Bests” List 2007
December 26, 2007 by 4 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix I no longer do "Best" and "Worst" lists for soaps. After all, there have been so many "worsts" this year, why would I want to re-inflict the pain on you again? Moi loves mon readers. So, only the "bests" for you, darlings. … [Read more...]
As The World Turns’ Unique Christmas Gift to Us
December 24, 2007 by 3 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix On the very pre-Christmas Friday when ABC stabbed us in the eye with Georgie's funeral on General Hospital, As the World Turns showed us that it remembered what Christmas, family, hope -- and soaps -- are all about. The ATWT holiday show was purely a gift to us -- the fans! We, the people, who really count! It was a … [Read more...]
As The World Turns Returnee Scott Bryce: Why is ATWT Wasting This Multifaceted Talent?
December 5, 2007 by 8 Comments
By Patrick Erwin My soap habit was initially formed, as many of our habits were, through hand-me-downs. My mother diligently watched Days of Our Lives, Search for Tomorrow and Another World. My sisters loved Young and the Restless and were part of General Hospital's Luke and Laura craze. Even my Guiding Light habit came from a neighbor who … [Read more...]
Can Guiding Light and As The World Turns Survive The Big Change?
October 18, 2007 by Leave a Comment
By Marlena De Lacroix There's nothing soap fans hate more than change. Whether a show's longtime leading teen is recast with a skinnier actress or the show suddenly changes dramatic style with the entrance of a new headwriter, viewers freak out because what they have always prized about daytime drama is its continuity and constancy. Now, in … [Read more...]
