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...]
Soap Opera Legend #1: Genie Francis
Many years ago, Blackgama, an association of mink ranchers, started a print advertising campaign that became a cultural touchstone: “What becomes a legend most?” The answer: featuring a star like Lauren Bacall or Barbra Streisand modeling one of its coats. In our daytime soap world, there are numerous legendary performers — both alive and dead. I … [Read more...]
Marlena Says: “Save General Hospital”
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...]
Maurice Benard: The Gangster with a Heart
On ABC’s General Hospital, mob boss Sonny Corinthos has killed many people. But Maurice Benard, the actor who makes his tight-lipped menace so convincing, has a bigger heart than the character he plays. In his new autobiography, Maurice Benard: Nothing General About it, Benard, a soap superstar, chronicles an actor’s life of love and pain in … [Read more...]
An Open Letter to Jean Passanante and Shelly Altman
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman Congratulations, Jean Passanante and Shelly Altman, co-headwriters of General Hospital. Marlena loves your GH! I’ve been watching since 1981, the year of Luke and Laura’s wedding. GH hasn’t been this good in eons. Why do I love the new GH? Let me count the ways. Foremost, it is ultra … [Read more...]
Marlena Is Back – And Needs A Little Help From Her Friends
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman Bonjour, mes amis! Je suis retourné! Marlena was ill for a while, but I’m recovering and happy to report for duty. The only problem is, I took a short hiatus from watching soaps during my down time. Now, I’m reemerging with many questions. It’s amazing how much soaps can change in just … [Read more...]
Six Important Characters on General Hospital That Should Return from the Dead
By Ed Martin As General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini, head writer Ron Carlivati and their team proved last week with their remarkable 52nd anniversary episode – arguably the most creatively ambitious hour of daytime drama ever produced – nothing is impossible in the soap opera arena. They somehow managed to expand the collective … [Read more...]
That Was the Week That Was
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman I can barely remember a daytime soap week that had as much breaking news as this one. Here’s a peek into Marlena’s reporting notebook: Monday I am stunned that General Hospital (Frank Valentini, executive producer; Ron Carlivati, headwriter) has fired Ian Buchanan (Duke … [Read more...]
The Bold and the Beautiful: Maya/Myron is a Transgender Person
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman To commemorate The Bold and the Beautiful’s 28th anniversary last Wednesday, executive producer and headwriter Bradley P. Bell staged a daytime soap cliffhanger that is the shock of the soap century: revealing that Maya Avant (Karla Mosley) is really Myron, a transgender person. … [Read more...]
Big Changes at Marlena and Five More Passover Questions
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman We’ve made some changes here at marlenadelacroix.com in an effort to upgrade our service to you, our Thinking Fans. We’ve added a search box, all the better to help you locate what we’re had to say in the past about your favorite soaps and their characters, casts and storylines. And we’re … [Read more...]