By Marlena De Lacroix I've had a lot of problems with One Life to Live over the last two years, but Kish (Kyle and Fish) was never one of them. The shocking write-off of these characters is wrong, wrong, wrong on so many levels. Of all the ways this failing soap could be improved, dumping Kish NOW isn't one of them. Goodbye Kish: Scott Evans … [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...]
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...]
Daytime Emmys 2009: The Beginning of the End?
August 31, 2009 by 2 Comments
By Ed Martin Watching the 36th annual Daytime Emmy Awards on The CW during the dog days of August confirmed what I already knew: These are dark days indeed for the daypart overall and for soap operas in particular. It's not that the telecast was all bad: I actually prefer smaller venues for the Daytime Emmy celebration (the Orpheum Theater … [Read more...]
Ten More Marlena Summer Questions
July 24, 2009 by 30 Comments
Thinking Fans' summer thoughts on this, that and the other: Esther is happy Holly is making an appearance on Guiding Light, and wishes Monti Sharp would come back, too ... Steve finds, "The acting from the new younger set on General Hospital is good, but I'm horrified by the misogyny and thug worship in their stories" ... while Roger Newcomb is … [Read more...]
Marlena’s Midsummer Night’s Questions
July 14, 2009 by 30 Comments
Thinking Fans' summer thoughts on Destiny et al.: JTG says Shenell Edmonds' Destiny is no stereotype. "It's obvious OLTL's writers are positioning Destiny as Matthew's first girlfriend. Most of the time, the stereotypical 'mammy' character is either sexless or oversexed. That is not the case with Destiny" ... while Mike Goldberg confides Destiny … [Read more...]
Soap Shrink at Sea: On Deck with All My Children’s Melissa Claire Egan
May 1, 2009 by 1 Comment
By Damon L. Jacobs When I interviewed Melissa Claire Egan (Annie Novak Lavery on All My Children) on SoapNet's "Rock the Soap Cruise," all I kept thinking was, "courage." This young woman has the courage to reach inside herself and expose the deepest parts of her soul every day in front of her audience and in front of her peers. She was … [Read more...]
