By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a Connie Passalacqua Hayman Sunday is a great time to reflect on what's happened during the week on soaps. So Marlena happily presents the first of a feature called "Sunday Reflections. General Hospital: Leave it to this regime at GH to bring in a GQ mobster, Joe Scully Jr., as played by the mighty fine looking … [Read more...]
Introducing “Sunday Reflections”: General Hospital, The Young and the Restless, Days of Our Lives
July 15, 2012 by 11 Comments
The Mega-successful, Classy World of Bill Bell
July 5, 2012 by 2 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passlacqua Hayman When I was a girl soap reporter, I called him "Mr. Bell" during interviews because of Bill Bell's exalted status in the soap industry. And Bill Bell (1927-2005) would just laugh and go ahead to speak about what one always talked to him about: the work. He was the only person I ever … [Read more...]
When All Soaps Are In Lockstep, Is Improvement Possible?
November 16, 2010 by 20 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix What's a soap critic to do? There are only six soaps. I have a long memory and remember the very early 90s, when Bill Bell originated the homeless storyline with Stephanie, which way proceeded the current one. Ken Corday is an enemy of free speech; he sought to destroy the critical arm of Soap Opera Weekly years ago. But … [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...]
Our Soap Shrink Wonders: Why So Many Bloody Brides?
March 6, 2009 by 7 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update: Jason laments, "I think the problem with soaps these days is they try to distance themselves from what they should be centered upon, which is love and romance, and turn to violence" ... while Deep Dish, favoring balance, suggests, "I think there's room enough on soaps for both the traditional romantic weddings as well … [Read more...]
Soap January: Bombs Away!
January 29, 2009 by 22 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update: Steve's take on AMC's "January stunts" is "I don't know if I can think of a more blatant example of the type of heartless sickness that has wounded soaps" ... and S. Woods adds: "The crud on offer from these soaps is giving tastelessness a bad name" ... while Twb6y optimistically doesn't believe John and Marlena are … [Read more...]
Marlena’s “Only the Bests” List 2008
December 29, 2008 by 18 Comments
Thinking Fans' picks and pans for 2008: Cherry Ames pans Todd/Marty as "the foulest story ever" ... DSO816 picks the Angie/Jesse reunion ... while Marlene agrees GHNS2 set the bar higher for all soaps ... and more. See Comments below. ________________________ By Marlena De Lacroix Last year I decided I will no longer do "Best" and … [Read more...]
Dee-A-Palooza Day Three: Searching for the Real Deidre
November 26, 2008 by 13 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update: John says "Deidre's Marlena is imo the greatest soap heroine ever" ... though Alan Ryan prefers the Dr. Marlena Evans of the 70s and 80s ... and more. See Comments below. _________________________ By Marlena De Lacroix In 1986 I was given an assignment by a major women's magazine to interview Deidre Hall, … [Read more...]
Dee-A-Palooza, Day Two: Days’ Marlena’s “Cool Intelligence and Warm Sensuality Hard to Ignore”
November 25, 2008 by 5 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update: James sees Deidre's departure as another nail in Days' coffin ... and more. See Comments below. _________________________ By Patrick Erwin I've watched Deidre Hall as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives since Marlena came to Salem in 1976. By some miracle of good living and genetics, Hall looks almost the … [Read more...]
Farewell Dee-A-Palooza Week, Day One: Soap Shrink Says, “I Wanted to Be Dr. Marlena!”
November 24, 2008 by 8 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update: Jonnysbro can't imagine Salem without Dr. Marlena Evans ... while Christine thinks Deidre's "many fans would follow her to the ends of the earth" ... and more. See Comments below. _________________________ To mark executive producer Ken Corday's ver-ry curious decision to fire Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn … [Read more...]
