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...]
ABC’s Misguided “Sweeps” Tries to Feed Off of Guiding Light’s Death
September 11, 2009 by 12 Comments
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...]
A Soap Shrink Interview: James DePaiva’s Ultra Candid Look Back at One Life to Live — and His Own Life
May 29, 2009 by 12 Comments
PART TWO OF TWO PARTS In Part Two, James DePaiva talks about being Max, then not being Max; about the joys of family life; about being angry for a long time, and about dealing with those destructive "shoulds." By Damon L. Jacobs D: Now, you mentioned being terribly shy. But I remember when Max came back One Life in 1992, the promotional ads … [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: What Happened? Start Your THINKING Long Ago
April 8, 2009 by 45 Comments
Thinking Fans savor vintage Guiding Light: Mike Goldberg says, "It seems to me that Guiding Light has had so many magical periods and then so many dreadful periods. The era you describe was magnificent" ... while from Italy, Giada declares, "I don't want to be a 'laudator temporis acti,' someone who praises the past for its own sake, but I do … [Read more...]
Soaps March: When a House Is Not a Home
March 30, 2009 by 18 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update: Ann demands to know, "Why is Guza doing this to Robin? It kills me to see people on the GH boards calling wonderful brave Robin a slut and a cheat because this PPD is being used to destroy her character" ... while Elvira rejoices, "Guiding Light's creative resurgence (headed by the old-school Otalia story, which is … [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...]
