By Ed Martin One Life to Live showed me something last week that I haven't seen in 30 years of soap viewing: A mass wedding of two dozen gay couples. This show has pushed the envelope in a number of crazy ways since the ‘70s, sending its characters to heaven, to an underground city and careening through time. What a pleasure it was OLTL's … [Read more...]
General Hospital: Making Michael a Monster
November 9, 2009 by 20 Comments
By Ed Martin Everything about General Hospital that I have come to loathe during the last ten years was on proud, pungent display last week, to such a degree of extreme outrageousness I could not look away. I must admit that there was an infectious lunatic energy to it all, which could account for my deep fascination with what I was watching. … [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...]
How Helena Cassadine Can Save General Hospital
April 14, 2009 by 12 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update: James speculates, "My own preference for bringing back the vets would be a storyline where it is revealed that they all joined a witness protection program and are brought back to testify against Sonny" ... while Melanie declares, "The good think about the outrageousness of soaps (and characters like Helena) is that … [Read more...]
Guiding Light Cancelled! After 72 Years Does It Have to Stay Dead?
April 1, 2009 by 22 Comments
Thinking Fans share their grief: Skylar laments, "I want to call my great grandmother and tell her the news, as I'm sure she doesn't know. But I really don't want to be the one to deliver the news: a friend of 72 years is set to disappear forever" ... while BL says, "I'm glad for all the people I've met and become pals with over the years due to … [Read more...]
One Life To Live’s “Tarty” Controversy: It’s Not Over Until It’s Over
November 17, 2008 by 13 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update: Melanie isn't buying the "poor Todd" routine ... Jenn misses the days when "soaps relied on love and chemistry" ... and more. See Comments below. ________________________ My friend, television journalist Ed Martin called me last week to congratulate me on my Todd and Marty: Way Beyond Merely Disgusting column, … [Read more...]
Night Shift 2 Served Up that Old General Hospital Magic as its Sublime Second Season Came to an End
October 23, 2008 by 17 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update October 26: Dianne says NS2 was a gift to long-time GH fans ... Suzette applauds the celebration of GH history, though she missed Genie Francis ... Mike agrees, mostly, but wonders, where was Holly? ... and more. See Comments below. ________________________ By Ed Martin Sri Rao and Lisa De Cazotte are my … [Read more...]
A General Hospital (Bang Bang!) Double Header
October 1, 2008 by 21 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update October 2: Lois chronicles soaps' long history of bloody brides (who knew?) ... Cat complains that The Shooting was ripped off from The Godfather Part III ... while Cyber is just tired of bad, repetitive writing ... and more. See Comments below. ______________________________ The occasion of yet another … [Read more...]
A Descent into Prime Time: 90210 and Gossip Girl
September 17, 2008 by 10 Comments
Marlena has always looked down her nose at prime time soaps (at least those post-Dynasty and Knots Landing.) Years ago at SOW I even wrote a column called "Who Needs Beverly Hills 90210?" and to my surrpise, thousand of young fans wrote in and said, "We do! We do!" So although the new 90210 and Gossip Girl are not theoretically fodder for my … [Read more...]
General Hospital: Night Shift 2 Is a Monty Man’s Dream Come True
August 21, 2008 by 8 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update August 22: Bonnie likes GH:NS2 much better than "General Mob" ... MontyFan is desperately seeking Holly ... Chris says even Gloria would be proud ... and more. See Comments below. ________________________ So many readers responded to my two earlier columns on General Hospital: Night Shift 2 that I've decided to … [Read more...]
