By Marlena De LacroixIt's hard to watch daytime soaps chip away piece by piece, and of course no one actor is daytime TV. But watching Martha Byrne leave As the World Turns (because of a contract disagreement with P&G) is really painful. If ATWT can be looked at as a truly American, heartland soap (as do my friend Sam Ford and his … [Read more...]
Marlena to One Life to Live: “I Hate Todd”
March 11, 2008 by 33 Comments
By Marlena De LacroixI never liked the character of Todd Manning on One Life to Live. I never understood him. After he was introduced in 1992 as one of three gang rapists of college coed Marty Saybrooke, the character skyrocketed to become one of most popular characters on OLTL, if not all of soaps, and has stayed that way until … [Read more...]
Remembering Douglas Marland: A Week-long Celebration
March 3, 2008 by 12 Comments
Douglas Marland: May 5, 1935 - March 6, 1993 By Marlena De LacroixCan it really be 15 years since the light was turned off? Those were the words of my friend, soap historian Leona Barad when I wrote to her telling her we were planning a special week of articles here at marlenadelacroix.com to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Douglas … [Read more...]
All My Children’s Angie and Jesse: Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing!
February 20, 2008 by 20 Comments
By Marlena De LacroixAll My Children's newly revived characters Angie and Jesse are causing me pain. At the end of every scene they are in, I start to hurt, because I have to watch so many scenes of the rest of the storylines on AMC until I see them in their next scene. These characters (and actors Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams) are so … [Read more...]
Days of Our Lives’ Glorious Sweeps Event
February 18, 2008 by 6 Comments
By Marlena De LacroixMy readers know what disdain I usually have for stagey sweeps stunts, so imagine my shock at being sucked into the very beginning of last Friday's episode of Days of Our Lives and then spit out an hour later thoroughly entertained ... and even thrilled!The plane carrying various members of the Brady family returning … [Read more...]
A Tribute to General Hospital’s Shell Kepler
February 12, 2008 by 5 Comments
By Marlena De LacroixNurse Amy Vining was a supporting character on General Hospital, but she was omnipresent throughout the fabled Luke and Laura/Gloria Monty years. After all, she was Laura's sister! As Amy, Shell Kepler, who died last week in Oregon, always had a quick quip or a giggle for anyone who hung around the nurse's station. My … [Read more...]
10 Sweet and Soapy Valentine’s Day Questions
February 10, 2008 by 11 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix1. 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...]
General Hospital: Kids with Guns for Sweeps
February 1, 2008 by 44 Comments
By Marlena De LacroixI've never lost sleep over a soap opera before. But when I saw Michael buying a gun on General Hospital, the thought of what most likely will come next so disgusted me I couldn't calm down. Now that Michael -- at approximately age 12 -- is packing heat, either he or his little brother Morgan is going to get shot, or one … [Read more...]
