Marlena says: Soap fans everywhere are cautiously optimistic that, against all odds, there’s been a hopeful turn in the heretofore bleak fortunes of soap opera. Ratings are strong and even improving for the four network soaps that survived the death watch of the past few years, and Prospect Park is said to be moving full steam ahead to bring two of … [Read more...]
Moose Says: General Hospital Can Snare … the Soon-to-be-Prized Old Guy Demographic?
January 26, 2013 by 6 Comments
Isn’t Downton Abbey Just Like Daytime Soaps? Consider the Similarities …
January 12, 2013 by 5 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua HaymanName me a daytime soap fan who doesn’t watch and probably love Downton Abbey. Even though a lot happened this busy soap week (Genie’s coming back, Prospect Park made a deal with the Writers Guild) what everyone’s talking about is the megahit Masterpiece Theater miniseries. Downton’s third … [Read more...]
On Soaps, We Believe What We Choose to Believe
January 5, 2013 by 12 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua HaymanGeneral Hospital: Soaps or biology -- which do you choose to believe?On General Hospital this week, surrogate mother Maxie had a miscarriage (of the week-old embryo that is Dante and Lulu’s child) and barely noticed it. The same evening, New Year’s Eve, a drunk and apparently rejected … [Read more...]
A “Bah Humbug” Christmas … Plus, The Borg is Back!
December 29, 2012 by 6 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua HaymanOh how I miss soap Christmases the way they used to be. Today, all soaps have been scrubbed of religion. This year only two of the four soaps -- Days of Our Lives and The Bold and the Beautiful -- continued with at least some of the traditions that made the holiday a really special time to … [Read more...]
Merry Christmas, Baby, from Marlena!
December 22, 2012 by 3 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua HaymanThe Young and the Restless: I’m always looking for improvements under the new regime at The Young and the Restless. One of the show’s former problems was loading heroines with too many problems, and I think the current writers have done a nice job these last few weeks in giving Phyllis … [Read more...]
Marlena’s Best of the Best, 2012
December 15, 2012 by 9 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix, a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua HaymanIt’s the end of 2012, time for best and worst lists. Because soaps are in such danger and I’ve already recorded most of the worsts in the weekly column I’m choosing only to do the bests here. And Marlena being Marlena sometimes I have multiple choices in each category.Best Actress: … [Read more...]
Sunday Reflections 21: Two Award-worthy Stories on The Bold and the Beautiful … On General Hospital – Maxie, Forget Being a Surrogate Mother!
December 1, 2012 by 3 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua HaymanThe Bold and the Beautiful: While the rest of us were distracted by the fireworks of General Hospital’s highly entertaining, twist-filled November sweeps (A.J. back from the dead! Duke is Faison!), perhaps the finest dramatic work of the month or even the year was going on over at The Bold … [Read more...]
Sunday Reflections 20: General Hospital’s Farewell to Edward Quartermaine … The Pleasures and Pains of Soap Reruns
November 24, 2012 by 11 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua HaymanGeneral Hospital: Wasn’t the death of Edward Quartermaine nicely handled? As visiting grandson Ned said in a toast: “There will never be another Edward Quartermaine.” This was also a tribute to the late John Ingle, the great actor who long played the role (originated by David Lewis.) … [Read more...]
Sunday Reflections 19: General Hospital’s Faison and the Tale of the Two Dukes — Preposterous, but a Real Soaps Sweeps Thrill Ride
November 17, 2012 by 10 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua HaymanWasn't this week’s General Hospital just awesome November sweeps entertainment? I mean, it wasn’t Doug Marland-esque deep meaningful soap opera but it still was drama that was super exciting, full of shock, suspense and surprise, arising deep out of the soap’s history. With the return of … [Read more...]
