By Marlena De Lacroix I have grown so tired of the soap opera convention known as the multiple-suspect murder mystery storyline. Of late, they've become meaningless, predictable or, even worse, totally incomprehensible. The multiple-suspect murder plot was only done to perfection on the old full-time soap mystery show Edge of Night. But the … [Read more...]
Marcie Surrenders Her Son on One Life to Live: A Rare Soap Opera Grand Slam
January 20, 2008 by 21 Comments
By Marlena De LacroixWhile we were all bitching and moaning about Budig, I for one almost missed the soap opera story of the year. This is the denouement of that Marcie-on-the-run story on One Life to Live, in which Marcie had fled Llanview with her "adopted" son (newly handed over by the court to Tommy's biological father, rapist Todd), … [Read more...]
All My Children’s Over-hyped Return of Rebecca Budig
January 13, 2008 by 42 Comments
By Marlena De LacroixA member of our family has been ill, so it's been hard enough to post. And so at the end of tough days, I turn to where I have always turned since I was a teen for a bit of relief, comfort and a sense of belonging: to daytime soaps. Right now -- late Saturday afternoon - what's going on is SoapNet's "Welcome Back … [Read more...]
Soaps’ Scab Scripts: Seinfelds They Ain’t
January 4, 2008 by 13 Comments
By Marlena De LacroixWe've just passed New Year's, and a certain ennui has set in this week on soaps. This winter of Marlena's discontent is made worse by the arrival of scab-written scripts. Are they here so soon? On General Hospital and The Young and the Restless, this would seem to be the case. Are there more? Perhaps. I'm listening … [Read more...]
Happy New Year! Thinking Soap Fans Pick B&W of 2007
December 31, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Happy New Year, mes chers!Marlena toasts you with a glass of champagne, wishing only soaps that are good this year. Speaking of, so many of my Thinking Fans sent in their own Best and Worst picks for 2007, there's barely room to post them all! I love the intelligence of them and appreciate how discerning all of you are when writing about a … [Read more...]
Marlena to Thinking Fans: You Get the Last Word in 2007!
December 27, 2007 by Leave a Comment
By Marlena De LacroixYou've read my soaps "Bests" list for 2007 in the post immediately below this one. Now, it's your turn! Send moi your own picks for soaps Best and Worst 2007. Five choices total in any combination of Bests and Worsts, or 5 Bests or 5 Worsts would be about right. Try to have your say in 500 words or less. Submissions … [Read more...]
Marlena’s “Only the Bests” List 2007
December 26, 2007 by 4 Comments
By Marlena De LacroixI no longer do "Best" and "Worst" lists for soaps. After all, there have been so many "worsts" this year, why would I want to re-inflict the pain on you again? Moi loves mon readers. So, only the "bests" for you, darlings. … [Read more...]
As The World Turns’ Unique Christmas Gift to Us
December 24, 2007 by 3 Comments
By Marlena De LacroixOn the very pre-Christmas Friday when ABC stabbed us in the eye with Georgie's funeral on General Hospital, As the World Turns showed us that it remembered what Christmas, family, hope -- and soaps -- are all about. The ATWT holiday show was purely a gift to us -- the fans! We, the people, who really count! It was a … [Read more...]
Marlena’s Hope: Merry Christmas!
December 21, 2007 by 8 Comments
Cher Thinking Fans:I wanted this Christmas message to be merrier, but alas, I've been sick for the last five days. Ever the trendsetter, I am the first among my friends and family to be downed by what the local newscasts have dubbed "Vicious Virus," a miserable stomach flu that is sweeping New York City just prior to Christmas. Isn't it … [Read more...]
Apocalypse Now: General Hospital’s Murder of Georgie
December 17, 2007 by 50 Comments
By Marlena De LacroixToday Georgie Jones becomes the victim of a serial killer on General Hospital. We mourn not just because we're losing a very intelligent, good-hearted teenager we've known from birth who could have grown to be a major heroine show anchor, like Jessie or Bobbie were in their day. We mourn because we're losing a delightful … [Read more...]
