By Marlena De Lacroix 1. Isn't it most curious that two of the most intelligent women characters in daytime -- Dr. Marty Saybrooke on One Life to Live and fashion mogul Jackie M on The Bold and the Beautiful -- have gone from brunette to blonde in the last few months? Fashion, or just another attempt by the networks/shows to "dumb down" smart … [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...]
One Life to Live Insults Women — Again!
August 4, 2009 by 27 Comments
Thinking Fans argue pros and cons of OLTL's Grey Gardens spoof: Marilyn Henry applauds, "It never occurred to me it was anti-woman at all. I was happy to see two of the show's vets get a big chunk of air time in an imaginative bit of spoofiness" ... while Steve says, "This spoof fell flat for me because it wasn't about Blair or Dorian at all. It … [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...]
One Life to Live: Defending Dorian
June 17, 2009 by 17 Comments
Thinking Fans defend Dorian, too: Rebecca demands, "Dorian has always been a great soap villainess. I have a big problem thinking that she actually was in her cups at the party she hosted for Markko -- as we all know, soap villains do not lose control. I want the indomitable, formidable woman that Dorian is back on screen, giving no quarter to her … [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...]
