General Hospital’s 50th Anniversary Episode: Some Classy and Surreal Nostalgia

By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman I just finished watching Tuesday’s General Hospital 50th anniversary episode (which was supposed to air yesterday on the actual April 1st anniversary but was delayed a day because of a pre-emption for a news event preemption earlier in March).  All I can say is -- wow!  Was the episode … [Read more...]

Sunday Reflections 20: General Hospital’s Farewell to Edward Quartermaine … The Pleasures and Pains of Soap Reruns

By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman General Hospital:  Wasn’t the death of Edward Quartermaine nicely handled?  As visiting grandson Ned said in a toast:  “There will never be another Edward Quartermaine.” This  was also a tribute to the late John Ingle, the great actor who long played the role (originated by David Lewis.)  … [Read more...]

When All Soaps Are In Lockstep, Is Improvement Possible?

By Marlena De Lacroix What's a soap critic to do?  There are only six soaps.  I have a long memory and remember the very early 90s, when Bill Bell originated the homeless storyline with Stephanie, which way proceeded the current one.  Ken Corday is an enemy of free speech; he sought to destroy the critical arm of Soap Opera Weekly years ago. But … [Read more...]

What’s to Watch Now?

By Marlena De Lacroix As the World Turns was over on Friday and at least two dozen of my old soap pals all called or wrote. But what to watch now? If you are still around to watch afternoons, it's slim pickings. Days is way too juvenile even to contemplate. Young and Restless is very competent soap opera. But someone help! We're left with the … [Read more...]