By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman It’s been quite an eventful November sweeps so far. Stories built over the course of a year or more usually reach their apexes if not their conclusions over sweeps months (February, May, November) and writers plot their most dramatic action to stretch over these months. This November’s … [Read more...]
Heavenly November Sweeps Performances on The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful and General Hospital
November 8, 2014 by 2 Comments
The Young and the Restless: Can Nikki Resist Falling Off the Wagon Again?
August 11, 2014 by 3 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman The vodka martini stands alone at the bar waiting to be sipped. The well-dressed older blonde woman stands next to it, looking hard at the beguiling beverage. Her face tells us she’s fighting the fight every recovering alcoholic fights countless times. She wins this round, walking … [Read more...]
The Bold and the Beautiful: Matrimonium Interruptus
August 4, 2014 by 3 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman Getting married is easy unless you’re on a soap. In real life, there’s a ceremony in a church or back yard or judge’s chambers, followed by a reception, followed by a honeymoon, followed by living happily ever after (in the beginning, at least, that’s the plan). But in the Soap … [Read more...]
General Hospital: Surprise! A Soap Full of Great Surprises!
December 15, 2013 by 1 Comment
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman One of the great strengths of the soap opera form is the element of surprise. Since we have long lived in a world of spoilers, surprises are few and far between today’s soaps. Thus we rejoice that General Hospital of late has managed to steer around the obligatory spoilers and give us … [Read more...]
General Hospital: Jam-Packed November Sweeps
November 24, 2013 by 9 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman It’s traditional for a soap presents its strongest stories during sweeps, and this November hasn’t been a disappointment on General Hospital. Au contraire, the month isn’t over yet. To paraphrase Bette Davis in All About Eve: “Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy 30 days.” The … [Read more...]
On the Bridge: A Most Confusing General Hospital Dream Sequence
July 27, 2013 by 9 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman It’s a soap’s absolute responsibility to be clear about what’s going on. Last week General Hospital presented a mess of a dream sequence about two possible Francos that was so confusing, I couldn’t figure out what supposed to be real and what was not. I’ve rarely been so bewildered in many … [Read more...]
Why General Hospital Is So Unsatisfying to Watch Right Now
July 13, 2013 by 24 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman We had hope, didn’t we, in those heady days when General Hospital, the leading survivor among network daytime soaps, seemed to be in the ascendancy again. Alas, the good times have faded. These days, watching GH is a very frustrating experience. Many of the storylines are unsatisfying. … [Read more...]
Appreciating Three Wise Decisions – In Soap Land, No Less
June 29, 2013 by 9 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman Soap critics never miss a chance to bash all they dislike. But credit should always be given where credit is due. So this week, Marlena would like to give kudos to three significant decisions: 1. OWN, the Oprah network, picked up the first 40 episodes of All My Children and One Life to … [Read more...]
Franco: Make or Break for General Hospital?
June 1, 2013 by 25 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman So let’s take a survey. How many Thinking Fans think Roger Howarth’s great charm as an actor can overcome the unbelievable maneuvers that have been made to bring back evil Franco as a viable everyday character? Erasing Franco’s responsibility for the rapes of Sam and Michael has taken … [Read more...]
Port Charles is Frustration City
May 25, 2013 by 23 Comments
By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman As noted last week and confirmed by the passionate reaction in the letters section, there seems to be massive dissatisfaction with General Hospital right now. And it’s not only the appearance of three new characters with too-familiar faces (played by Kristin Alderson, Michael Easton and … [Read more...]
