By Damon L. Jacobs Ilene Kristen is an actress famed for a having both enormous acting talent and an idiosyncratic sense of humor which helps her to steal every scene she's in. But behind the wisecracks is a wise soul with unique understanding of human psychology. She's used that understanding to create two iconic daytime characters: Delia on … [Read more...]
The Soap Shrink Interviews Ilene Kirsten On Her Insightful Creations — Ryan’s Hope’s Delia and One Life to Live’s Roxy
December 8, 2008 by 4 Comments
Norn on One Life to Live’s Starr and Blair: Victims of Todd’s World of Hurt
November 19, 2008 by 5 Comments
Illustrator/Thinking Fan Norn Cutson wrote me that he was so sad for One Life to Live's Starr and Blair after they found out Todd had planned to kidnap Starr's baby and had gotten involved with Marty, he had to "do something." So he drew this illustration. Here's Norn's heart-wringing interpretation of the sad mother and daughter. I think … [Read more...]
He’s Back: Paul Rauch for Real!
September 19, 2008 by 26 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update Sept. 20: Christian in Boston loved Rauch's OLTL except for the lighting (bring sunglasses!) ... James expresses respect ... but Cherry Ames lists Rauch's soap sins, chapter and verse ... and more. See Comments below. ____________________ By Marlena De Lacroix Paul Rauch. That name may send you screaming … [Read more...]
From Bad to Good or Good To Bad: Seven Soap Characters Who Changed Before Our Eyes
September 8, 2008 by 15 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update Sept. 9: Sina nominates Maxie Jones ... Greg would include Vanessa Chamberlain ... Aaron misses Annie Dutton ... and more. See Comments below. ________________________ By Patrick Erwin It's been interesting to watch recent scenes with Melissa Claire Egan as Annie on All My Children. Once a good girl, Annie … [Read more...]
Soap Shrink: Is One Life to Live’s Blair Cramer a Tramp or an Icon of Female Empowerment?
September 3, 2008 by 13 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update Sept. 4: Matthew Cormier suggests a no sex vow might help Blair heal ... Johnny, however, can't fathom the randy Blair in therapy ... and more. See Comments below. _________________________ By Damon L. Jacobs You've got to hand it to Blair Cramer. She may have grown up in foster homes, she may have a nasty … [Read more...]
One Life To Live at 40: That’s Entertainment!
July 15, 2008 by 18 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update July 18: EricMontreal22 recalls OLTL 1980 ... Dale salutes Phil Carey ... norn calls Llanview home away from home ... and more. See Comments below. ____________ By Marlena De Lacroix Happy 40th birthday, One Life to Live! I've been wracking my brain for weeks, trying to come up with an overall through-line … [Read more...]
On the Soap Shrink’s Couch: One Life to Live’s Dorian Cramer Lord, Part One
July 11, 2008 by 5 Comments
Thinking Fans Comment Update: cher shares on Dorian and respect ... norn on Dorian and revenge ... and more. See Comments below. _________________________ Part 1 of 2-Part OLTL 40th Anniversary Appointment! By Damon L. Jacobs Each week the Soap Shrink tries to offer a glimpse into a soap character's history, symptoms, and hopefully suggest an … [Read more...]
Why Today’s One Life To Live Reminds Me of the Glory Days of Guiding Light
July 2, 2008 by 20 Comments
By Patrick Erwin I've been writing about soaps for a while, but I am a relatively new daily fan of One Life To Live. Yes, as Marlena has observed, some of us soap viewers are boarding the OLTL lifeboat, and I, for one, have bought my ticket! I watched OLTL a bit here and there (especially during the first Malone years), but I am really … [Read more...]
Is One Life to Live Daytime’s Lifeboat? And a Word About Addie …
June 30, 2008 by 23 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix Have you boarded the One Life to Live lifeboat yet? Judging from the letters I've received in the last three weeks from readers like Esther, Cherry, Marilyn and DSO, even the most discerning and stubborn of Marlena's Thinking Fans seem to be boarding. They're in hope it's the one show that can keep their long-term love of … [Read more...]
