By Marlena De Lacroix Recently I was asked by a fan why I am not posting much anymore. Here's why: Today on One Life to Live I watched a woman who had just delivered a baby graphically fall through ice and drown. Not three months ago I had watched a Does any TPTB on soaps, so desperate for ratings, actually have any moral sense at all, or even … [Read more...]
General Hospital: Making Michael a Monster
November 9, 2009 by 20 Comments
By Ed MartinEverything about General Hospital that I have come to loathe during the last ten years was on proud, pungent display last week, to such a degree of extreme outrageousness I could not look away.I must admit that there was an infectious lunatic energy to it all, which could account for my deep fascination with what I was watching. … [Read more...]
JJ and the Rehabilitation of General Hospital
November 1, 2009 by 13 Comments
By Marilyn HenryThere already have been big discussions on the internet about Jonathan Jackson returning to his role as Lucky on General Hospital. Newer viewers who don’t know his work are jolted; other long-time viewers are thrilled. I don’t know whose bad In the last few weeks, the show seems to have turned a corner. Good grief, did … [Read more...]
The Downward Soap Spiral Accelerates
October 10, 2009 by 20 Comments
By Marlena De LacroixBonjour, everyone. This November will mark 20th anniversary of my becoming Marlena De Lacroix, soap critic. Marlena's mission has always been to write the truth as I see it, no matter how impolitic. But now, for me -- I repeat, for me -- it's clear that we've reached the end stage of network daytime soap opera, a … [Read more...]
James Franco to General Hospital? Marlena’s Top 10!
October 1, 2009 by 16 Comments
By Marlena De LacroixJames Franco to guest star for two months on General Hospital has to be the biggest bombshell news in the decades I've watched and written about soaps. I just heard, and it's fabulous! As much as I love soaps, my mind jumped to wise guy remarks, a la David Letterman's nightly Top 10.And I have no shame: here's my … [Read more...]
ABC’s Misguided “Sweeps” Tries to Feed Off of Guiding Light’s Death
September 11, 2009 by 12 Comments
By Marlena De LacroixI usually don't read a lot of previews or spoilers. But what I've seen this week and what I've read for the rest of the month of September alarms me. The ABC soaps seem to think its sweeps month, staging stunts and attention-getting storylines that are de rigueur in crucial ratings-measuring months. September isn't one … [Read more...]
How Helena Cassadine Can Save General Hospital
April 14, 2009 by 12 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update: James speculates, "My own preference for bringing back the vets would be a storyline where it is revealed that they all joined a witness protection program and are brought back to testify against Sonny" ... while Melanie declares, "The good think about the outrageousness of soaps (and characters like Helena) is that … [Read more...]
Soaps March: When a House Is Not a Home
March 30, 2009 by 18 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update: Ann demands to know, "Why is Guza doing this to Robin? It kills me to see people on the GH boards calling wonderful brave Robin a slut and a cheat because this PPD is being used to destroy her character" ... while Elvira rejoices, "Guiding Light's creative resurgence (headed by the old-school Otalia story, which is … [Read more...]
