Think of where daytime soaps were in 2023, when “Days of Our Lives” went to Peacock and the only three network soaps left were CBS’s “The Young and the Restless,” CBS’s “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and ABC’s “General Hospital.” No new soap operas had been created since “Passions” in 1999, and ABC had canceled “All My Children” in 2011 and “One … [Read more...]
How Creator/Headwriter Michele Val Jean Brought Hope Back to Soap Operas with “Beyond the Gates”
August 6, 2026 by 11 Comments
Michael Malone: A Loss of Llanview’s Best
August 22, 2022 by 8 Comments
This past weekend came the tragic news that former One Life to Live and Another World headwriter Michael Malone passed away in Clinton, Conn. at age 80.He’s remembered lovingly for his Emmy-winning work on OLTL, recognized with the Best Writing award in 1994 and nominations in that category in 1992, 1995 and 1996.He was also a prolific … [Read more...]
Marlena’s Personal Recollections of Soaps’ Greatest Headwriters, Part Two
July 29, 2022 by 7 Comments
Marlena is ecstatic about the warm reaction to the recent Part 1 of this column. I’m thrilled you liked what I wrote about three great headwriters: Agnes Nixon, William J. Bell and James E. Reilly. This week, I humbly present my recollections of three more:Claire Labine (1934-2016): Co-headwriter (with Paul Avila Mayer) of Where the Heart Is … [Read more...]
Marlena’s Personal Recollections of Soaps’ Greatest Headwriters, Part One
July 16, 2022 by 12 Comments
I got my start as a soap opera journalist in 1979. There were so many shows to watch and write about then — 13, such a feast! For me, the best part of the job was (and still is) meeting, interviewing and getting to know the people who make them: actors, producers, directors, daytime network executives, etc. As a writer, though, I always gravitated … [Read more...]
