Connie, Anna and the late real Mr. Moose at the Museum of Natural History (above); The Nige (right) ______________________________ By Marlena De Lacroix Happy New Year 2010, everyone! Hope you had as joyous a holiday season with your family and friends as Moose and I (a.k.a. Connie and Ed) did. My beloved step-daughter Laura and … [Read more...]
As The World Turns: Love and Family in the Heart of America
December 11, 2009 by 24 Comments
My friend Ed Martin weighs in, too, on the loss of As the World Turns in a new post immediately following this one. ___________________________________________ By Marlena De Lacroix I broke into tears when I heard that As the World Turns was canceled yesterday. I'm sure many of you did, too. ATWT has been a part of all our lives for so … [Read more...]
Happy 20th Anniversary, Soap Opera Weekly!
November 16, 2009 by 16 Comments
By Connie Passalacqua Hayman Happy 20th anniversary, Soap Opera Weekly! Congratulations to the generations of writers, editors, production, art and business people who have worked on the magazine over the years. I was lucky to be one of them, from its launch on November 21, 1989 through the magazine's first eleven years. Each week, under the … [Read more...]
The Downward Soap Spiral Accelerates
October 10, 2009 by 20 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix Bonjour, 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 Lacroix James 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...]
Guiding Light’s Last Fade-out: Only Love Can Save the Soap World
September 21, 2009 by 9 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix I thought Kim Zimmer looked absolutely gorgeous in her last scene on Guiding Light set a year after the action, when Reva and Josh pledged their love "always." Clad in a emerald gown, the top of her blond hair nicely swept back, she looked truly amazing. A goddess, indeed. Surprised I wrote this? Well, I m going to … [Read more...]
Celebrating the Glorious Life of Guiding Light: From 1992, Marlena’s Analysis of GL at its Peak
September 15, 2009 by 23 Comments
Don't miss Marlena's farewell to Guiding Light on blogtalkradio's Brandon's Buzz at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16 or later on the network's archive. ____________________________________________________ By Marlena De Lacroix In March 1992, Guiding Light reached the apex of soap quality, that perfect blend of excellence in writing, acting … [Read more...]
ABC’s Misguided “Sweeps” Tries to Feed Off of Guiding Light’s Death
September 11, 2009 by 12 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix I 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...]
