Wishing all soap fans a Happy New Year! May there be NO! more soap cancellations this year. May your favorite character get everything they want!
Lauren and Lee!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Wishing all soap fans a Happy New Year! May there be NO! more soap cancellations this year. May your favorite character get everything they want! 
Top Ten: Character Edition
It’s that time of the year, folks. You know that time – the time when every single blog/website/podcast on the net posts their Top Ten lists for everything under the sun. Well, Lauren and I are no different! In the first of our top ten lists for the end of the year, we are going to list our top ten soap characters of all time. Some of them may surprise you!
LEE'S PICKS:
10. Mary Ryan Fenelli, RYAN’S HOPE
They say only the good die young, and this was most certainly the case for Ryan’s Hope ingénue Mary Ryan Fenelli. Fiercely loyal to her family and stunningly resilient, Mary (played by the incredible Kate Mulgrew) stood her ground as a strong, independent woman through her rivalry for sister-in-law Delia, her overbearing father Johnny, and her rocky but loving marriage to Jack, who never fully recovered from Mary’s murder at the hands of the mob. The “ingénue” role on RH eventually went to Mary’s sister Siobhan, but the show was never the same after Mary’s death.
9. Lucy Coe, GENERAL HOSPITAL/PORT CHARLES
How many soap characters can you list that have gone from gold-digging librarians to sexy vampire slayers? One? Yep. Lucy Coe was a remarkable character that unfortunately didn’t get a proper conclusion. Lucy was that rare character that went through a great, consistent evolution from scheming vamp to caring friend to great mother to… vampire slayer extraordinaire. Who can forget portrayer Lynn Herring’s heartbreaking performance when Julie kidnapped baby Christina? The character lost her way towards the end of PC’s run, with her signature humor being sidelined for vampire slaying antics, but Lucy is a character that I would totally welcome back to General Hospital.
8. Luke Spencer, GENERAL HOSPITAL
What soap Top Ten list would be complete without a mention of soaps’ greatest tragic hero, Luke Spencer (Tony Geary)? What started out as a short-term role as a con-man turned into an epic character that weathered everything from a weather machine looming over Port Charles to trying to settle down as a family man with little success. Today’s Luke is sad to watch, in a good way; Tony Geary has made sure that we always see the burden of guilt Luke carries for the way he shaped his family’s lives. Luke is the ideal soap character: a faded hero whose repeated attempts of self-sacrifice have left him a sad, cynical man who has one weakness: the beautiful and glowing…
7. Laura Spencer, GENERAL HOSPITAL
The other half of the greatest super-couple of all time, Laura Vining Webber Spencer Cassadine Spencer represents a class of characters not seen in today’s soaps: the princess in peril who is much stronger than anyone thinks. Genie Francis has taken Laura through rape, countless kidnappings and adventures, and more tragedies than anyone should have to endure. Like Luke, Laura was eventually undone by her inability to keep her family together and eventually broke down after being unable to handle a dark secret from her past. Now healed and living a fabulous life in Paris, Laura is the epitome of what the best soap heroines should be: a graceful, beautiful survivor
6. Bianca Montgomery, ALL MY CHILDREN
Bianca is one of those soap characters that is almost untouchable; no producer would dare recast the role that Eden Riegel made her own nearly ten years ago. Even before the amazing Riegel took over the role, Bianca played the important role of making Erica Kane grow up. From overcoming anorexia to the quiet, profound moment in which Bianca came out as a lesbian to Erica on Christmas Eve, Bianca has been through it all. Her brutal rape at the hands of Michael Cambias and her ensuing struggle to reclaim her identity and find the power to love the daughter born of the violent incident solidified Bianca as one of the most powerful women in daytime history.
5. Lucky Spencer, GENERAL HOSPITAL
The first child of the legendary Luke and Laura, Lucky epitomized the greatest parts of his parents; his father’s sense of adventure and heroism, and his mother’s warmth and compassion. Jonathan Jackson created the role of Lucky when he was a little boy, and we had the opportunity to watch him grow from a happy-go-lucky child to an angry but gentle young man who couldn’t get past his parents’ past mistakes. Lucky’s tender treatment of rape victim Elizabeth still resonates to this day, and although the character has been battered by less and less competent writers (and actors), Lucky has remained a good, decent man; an unfortunate rarity on soap operas.
4. Erica Kane, ALL MY CHILDREN
You knew it was coming. However overrated some may feel she is (I’m looking at you, Lauren!), no one can deny that Erica Kane – and fabulous portrayer Susan Lucci – is the epitome of a soap opera leading lady. Growing from a spoiled, bratty teenager to an international superstar, Erica represents the glamorous fantasy of so many, but has also become relatable to many, from a victim of rape to a substance abuser to a mother of a gay child. Erica may be larger than life, but when she comes down to earth, the world is waiting with baited breath to see what she’ll do next.
3. Delia Reid, RYAN’S HOPE
Before there was Susan, Bree, Lynette and Gabrielle there was the original Desperate Housewife, Delia Reid. All Delia ever wanted was to have love and family, and she found both of those things in the Ryan family. Married to Frank but madly in love with Patrick, Ilene Kristen took what could have been a grating, annoying nuisance into a complex, troubled woman plagued with feelings of codependency and abandonment. That Delia eventually came out of her needy shell and became a fun, feisty anti-heroine by series end. (Honorable mention goes to Ilene Kristen’s other soap character, the nutty, fabulous Roxy Balsom!)
2. Dorian Cramer, ONE LIFE TO LIVE
At once a villainess and heroine, Robin Strasser’s Dorian Cramer has gone through an awful lot, most of it out of insecurity and jealousy. Whether declaring revenge on Viki for ruining her various marriages or calling a Cramer girl family meeting, Dorian has emerged as a Llanview citizen to be reckoned with. That she can be hilariously funny with boy-toy David Vickers and tragically lonely in the wake of true love Mel Hayes’ death – and back again – shows how significant and powerful Dorian is and how integral she is to OLTL. And who could forget her rivalry with…
1. Victoria Lord, ONE LIFE TO LIVE
Viki’s been through it all – rape, countless husbands, vicious rivalries, multiple personalities, defying death (twice!), and much more. Viki is the ultimate soap character; in 2009 we are still learning what makes her tick and we are still waiting with pins and needles to see if her latest marriage will last. From her exciting trips through Heaven to the crushing, devastating revelation that her father had molested her as a child to her finally finding happiness as a waitress in Paris, Texas, Viki has been through it all and will definitely be through much more as the years go on. Who can forget Viki’s meltdown in the Lord mausoleum last year? It’s moments like these that we see how stunning and powerful soap operas can be.
LAUREN'S PICKS
10. Sonny Corinthos, GENERAL HOSPITAL
In 1993, this cutie pie, dimpled faced, mobster by the name of Michael "Sonny" Corinthos, Jr. arrived to Port Charles, and the town would never be the same. In fact, Sonny’s life, and his involvement with the mob has been a front burner story for over sixteen years. While I’m in no way endorsing the current state of General Hospital fascination with the mob, Sonny Corinthos is definitely a soap character that will go down in the history books. From his countless relationships with many women, his abusive past with his stepfather, mother issues, and finally his tumultuous relationship with Carly Roberts, Sonny’s life is filled with so much drama, your dying(pun intended) to find out what happens next. Did I also mention that he is bi-polar? Phew. It’s no wonder, that no matter how many times he tells his current woman(Brenda, Lily, Angel, Reece, Carly , Emily, Kate, Claudia, and Olivia) he loves them, and wants to get out of the mob, you can’t help but to believe him every.single.time. Call it the Corinthos charm, women everywhere(sometimes I catch the Corinthos charm also Hi Skate!) swoon when Sonny puts his heart, and connection to the mob on the line for the woman he is currently in love with.. (LA side note: will save the misogyny of Sonny for another blog )
9. Carly Snyder, AS THE WORLD TURNS
Thank you Rosanna Cabot for allowing your sister to search for you in 1995. Carly Tenney Snyder arrived in Oakdale, with a mission. It seems the central theme in Carly’s life is looking. Whether she was looking for a one night stand(Hi! Mike Kasnoff) or looking for “love” in all the wrong places(Brad Snyder, John Dixon, Hal Munson) Carly found true love with Jack Snyder. Every Carjack shipper knows the trials and tribulations of their relationship, However it’s Carly’s ambition, through her schemes, her quest to be successful, that has fans tuning in day in and day out, to see how Carly is going to get out the latest mess, that she most likely created. Carly is easily one of those characters that you love to hate, but you can’t help to root for her when she succeeds, and cringe for her, when she usually is about to mess the best things in her life. Oakdale would never be the same without her.
8. Kate Howard, GENERAL HOSPITAL
Connie Falconeri aka fashionista icon, Kate Howard, arrived to Port Charles in 2007. On her very first day, she sparked/fought with Sonny. While fans grew weary of the newest addition to Sonny’s ever evolving love life, Kate was different. She was smart, funny, classy, and had a believable childhood history with Sonny. Kate had a special kind of chemistry with Sonny, in a way that most of his previous women (sans Carly and Brenda) did not. Skate became a popular pairing in a short amount of time, and sadly died in such a short amount of time. At a time, when General Hospital was consumed by the mob stories, it was refreshing to see Kate take on the Devil Wears Prada persona at the workplace, introduce Sonny to things such as art, and when Sonny said he was going to leave the mob for the 8,531 time, you actually believed him. Plus, Kate had a haircut that could offer peace in the Middle East! Today Kate is regulated in the background, making guest appearances; it’s shame because Kate Howard had so much potential to becoming a soap heroine. Please Bob Guza and TPTB, bring Kate back!
7. Drucilla Winters, THE YONG AND THE RESTLESS
Drucilla “Dru” Barber Winters is definitely a one of a kind character. She started out as an illiterate teenager, who ran away from her mother, and later became a permanent resident of Genoa City. Dru learned how to read, with the help of Nathan Hastings, and became a powerful force in GC. With her fierce loyalty to her family and friends, her witty and quick put downs, Dru was definitely soap character not one to mess with. It was great to see a front burner African American woman on daytime, since they are so little (Hi Angie and Lexie!) Although sometimes I despise this phrase, it fits so perfectly. Dru was the definition of “ghetto fabulousness” which sometimes could help or hurt her in different situations. With the drama that Sharon, and her daughter Lily is going through right now, they (and the citizens of GC) could use some Dru in their lives. Victoria Rowell definitely played this character so honestly and earnestly. She is missed in daytime.
6. Reva Shayne, GUIDING LIGHT
You might have never in your life watched Guiding Light, but somehow, someway, you know who Reva Shayne is. Maybe you saw a blurb in a magazine, maybe you had a friend or family member who watched GL, but trust me when I say this, Reva Shayne is definitely a household name. In the 80s, Reva was best known for one of my top soap moments, in which she baptized herself the slut of Springfield! Another soap stopping moment, Reva drives off the bridge in Florida, yelling “I’m coming Bud!” These are definitely soap defining moments. Reva was a larger than life, brassy, (cloned!) woman. A great soap character and a force to be reckoned with, Reva Shayne will go down in the soap books as one of Daytime (and mine) greatest characters.
5. Lila Roberts, ANOTHER WORLD
During the final stretch of Another World, one of my favorite soap vixens, turned soap heroine (isn’t that how it always goes?) Lila Roberts arrived to Bay City. Lila Roberts tried to reclaim her former husband Bobby Reno, but what she ended up doing is capturing the heart of widowed, all around good guy Cass Winthrop. Lila also bedded Matthew Cory, and ended up having his baby. Lila possessed a classic southern belle beauty, a classy, yet a scheming demeanor, but behind that southern sass, was a little girl who was just looking for love. In the classic tale of boy meets girl, boy and girl fight, sparks fly and boom! They fall in love. In the end, Cass and Lila became one of Bay City most beloved couples. While no one could replace Frankie, Lila showed and proved to Cass that he could love again. Their wedding was showcased in the final episode of Another World, and along with Carolyn the gorilla, millions watch as this bad girl gone good finally found true love.
4. Vivian Alamain, DAYS OF OUR LIVES
“Paradise to hell, Paradise to hell, Come in Carly.” At age eleven, there was nothing more awesome then Vivian taunting Dr. Carly Manning, as she took her “last breaths” in the coffin. The whole buried alive storyline made Vivian Alamian a legend in my soap opera world. I was fascinated how she was just so evil, how she claimed she was doing these evil things out of love for her beloved nephew Lawrence, and his son Nicky. From her classic witty remarks, her intense hatred of Carly Manning, Vivian is the type of character you can’t help but to laugh with. Vivian has a way of getting under people’s skin (Hi Kate) and as a viewer; you know you are in for a treat, when you have Vivian in a room with people she perceives as her enemies. While her exit in the early 2000s, was shaky at best, today, Vivian is back to avenge her nephew death, and the fact that Carly was the one who killed him, is so deliciously soapy because sparks fly when the two of them go at it. It’s so good having Vivian back in town.
3. Blair Cramer, ONE LIFE TO LIVE
Blair Cramer is the only character, who has changed from two different races in a blink of an eye. Remember Asian Blair? Its okay, I don’t either! What I do know is that Blair is an act first, think later type of girl. She will do anything for her kids, and hell hath no fury, like Blair scorned. Todd Manning knows a little something about Blair’s fiery passion, and her manipulations to get what she wants. Blair never backs down from a challenge, in fact, she welcomes them. Blair, deep down is afraid of being hurt, and like all soap characters, she just wants someone to love her unconditionally. Blair’s complexity doesn’t quite make her a soap heroine, but it doesn’t make her a soap vixen either. Blair’s determantion, her love for family, definitely makes her an interesting character, and no matter what she does, I find my self rooting for her. Now let’s see if Todd will finally come to his senses and realize that Blair is the one.
2. Olivia Spencer, GUIDING LIGHT
Olivia “I love sex” Spencer comes in at number two on my list. Olivia isn’t your typical poor little rich girl looking for love; it’s her complexity, her bitchiness and her vulnerability that made her a character that you could never forget. Olivia loved power, men, sex, and later, Natalia. She didn’t apologize for who she was; she plotted, schemed, in order to rise to the top. Although she had many lovers, and came between the ultimate super couple, Josh and Reva, it wasn’t until she had her baby girl Emma (fathered by Phillip Spaulding) that she learned to love someone more than herself. Olivia would later experience real, true, selfless love, with Natalia. Watching Olivia for ten years was fascinating; no one could ever deny that special vulnerability that Crystal Chappell brought to the character, a character that most people could have probably hated a lot more. You might have cringed at Olivia’s manipulations, but you could not help but admire her go getter attitude towards life. Olivia Spencer is definitely missed in daytime.
1. Hope Williams Brady, DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Hope Williams Brady is my number one, all time favorite character. She is the definition of the soap heroine. She is feisty, cute, fun, and a part of one of daytime’s all time greatest couples, Bope. In the 80s, Hope’s was the ultimate, spoiled, daddy’s little rich girl. Poor Bo Brady, he should have never offered to give her a ride home on his motorcycle that night. Hope Williams would change his life forever. So why Hope as my number 1? Easy. Let’s start with her bad traits. Hope is selfish, judgmental, and doesn’t give a damn about what she says or how she says it. It’s okay, though because those traits in her make her human. She is also fiercely loyal to her friends and family. Hope is also the first character; I fell in flove (fake love peeps! I only love family and friends!) with. Bo and Hope’s 2,000 plus fights, breakups and reconciliations later, and I still want these two crazy kids to work it out. All because Hope believes in love, so I want her to be happy. Plus, she is the only character in daytime that has died over a vat of acid thus giving her street cred on all these soap bitches in daytime.
LEE'S PICKS:
10. Mary Ryan Fenelli, RYAN’S HOPE
They say only the good die young, and this was most certainly the case for Ryan’s Hope ingénue Mary Ryan Fenelli. Fiercely loyal to her family and stunningly resilient, Mary (played by the incredible Kate Mulgrew) stood her ground as a strong, independent woman through her rivalry for sister-in-law Delia, her overbearing father Johnny, and her rocky but loving marriage to Jack, who never fully recovered from Mary’s murder at the hands of the mob. The “ingénue” role on RH eventually went to Mary’s sister Siobhan, but the show was never the same after Mary’s death.
9. Lucy Coe, GENERAL HOSPITAL/PORT CHARLES
How many soap characters can you list that have gone from gold-digging librarians to sexy vampire slayers? One? Yep. Lucy Coe was a remarkable character that unfortunately didn’t get a proper conclusion. Lucy was that rare character that went through a great, consistent evolution from scheming vamp to caring friend to great mother to… vampire slayer extraordinaire. Who can forget portrayer Lynn Herring’s heartbreaking performance when Julie kidnapped baby Christina? The character lost her way towards the end of PC’s run, with her signature humor being sidelined for vampire slaying antics, but Lucy is a character that I would totally welcome back to General Hospital.
8. Luke Spencer, GENERAL HOSPITAL
What soap Top Ten list would be complete without a mention of soaps’ greatest tragic hero, Luke Spencer (Tony Geary)? What started out as a short-term role as a con-man turned into an epic character that weathered everything from a weather machine looming over Port Charles to trying to settle down as a family man with little success. Today’s Luke is sad to watch, in a good way; Tony Geary has made sure that we always see the burden of guilt Luke carries for the way he shaped his family’s lives. Luke is the ideal soap character: a faded hero whose repeated attempts of self-sacrifice have left him a sad, cynical man who has one weakness: the beautiful and glowing…
7. Laura Spencer, GENERAL HOSPITAL
The other half of the greatest super-couple of all time, Laura Vining Webber Spencer Cassadine Spencer represents a class of characters not seen in today’s soaps: the princess in peril who is much stronger than anyone thinks. Genie Francis has taken Laura through rape, countless kidnappings and adventures, and more tragedies than anyone should have to endure. Like Luke, Laura was eventually undone by her inability to keep her family together and eventually broke down after being unable to handle a dark secret from her past. Now healed and living a fabulous life in Paris, Laura is the epitome of what the best soap heroines should be: a graceful, beautiful survivor
6. Bianca Montgomery, ALL MY CHILDREN
Bianca is one of those soap characters that is almost untouchable; no producer would dare recast the role that Eden Riegel made her own nearly ten years ago. Even before the amazing Riegel took over the role, Bianca played the important role of making Erica Kane grow up. From overcoming anorexia to the quiet, profound moment in which Bianca came out as a lesbian to Erica on Christmas Eve, Bianca has been through it all. Her brutal rape at the hands of Michael Cambias and her ensuing struggle to reclaim her identity and find the power to love the daughter born of the violent incident solidified Bianca as one of the most powerful women in daytime history.
5. Lucky Spencer, GENERAL HOSPITAL
The first child of the legendary Luke and Laura, Lucky epitomized the greatest parts of his parents; his father’s sense of adventure and heroism, and his mother’s warmth and compassion. Jonathan Jackson created the role of Lucky when he was a little boy, and we had the opportunity to watch him grow from a happy-go-lucky child to an angry but gentle young man who couldn’t get past his parents’ past mistakes. Lucky’s tender treatment of rape victim Elizabeth still resonates to this day, and although the character has been battered by less and less competent writers (and actors), Lucky has remained a good, decent man; an unfortunate rarity on soap operas.
4. Erica Kane, ALL MY CHILDREN
You knew it was coming. However overrated some may feel she is (I’m looking at you, Lauren!), no one can deny that Erica Kane – and fabulous portrayer Susan Lucci – is the epitome of a soap opera leading lady. Growing from a spoiled, bratty teenager to an international superstar, Erica represents the glamorous fantasy of so many, but has also become relatable to many, from a victim of rape to a substance abuser to a mother of a gay child. Erica may be larger than life, but when she comes down to earth, the world is waiting with baited breath to see what she’ll do next.
3. Delia Reid, RYAN’S HOPE
Before there was Susan, Bree, Lynette and Gabrielle there was the original Desperate Housewife, Delia Reid. All Delia ever wanted was to have love and family, and she found both of those things in the Ryan family. Married to Frank but madly in love with Patrick, Ilene Kristen took what could have been a grating, annoying nuisance into a complex, troubled woman plagued with feelings of codependency and abandonment. That Delia eventually came out of her needy shell and became a fun, feisty anti-heroine by series end. (Honorable mention goes to Ilene Kristen’s other soap character, the nutty, fabulous Roxy Balsom!)
2. Dorian Cramer, ONE LIFE TO LIVE
At once a villainess and heroine, Robin Strasser’s Dorian Cramer has gone through an awful lot, most of it out of insecurity and jealousy. Whether declaring revenge on Viki for ruining her various marriages or calling a Cramer girl family meeting, Dorian has emerged as a Llanview citizen to be reckoned with. That she can be hilariously funny with boy-toy David Vickers and tragically lonely in the wake of true love Mel Hayes’ death – and back again – shows how significant and powerful Dorian is and how integral she is to OLTL. And who could forget her rivalry with…
1. Victoria Lord, ONE LIFE TO LIVE
Viki’s been through it all – rape, countless husbands, vicious rivalries, multiple personalities, defying death (twice!), and much more. Viki is the ultimate soap character; in 2009 we are still learning what makes her tick and we are still waiting with pins and needles to see if her latest marriage will last. From her exciting trips through Heaven to the crushing, devastating revelation that her father had molested her as a child to her finally finding happiness as a waitress in Paris, Texas, Viki has been through it all and will definitely be through much more as the years go on. Who can forget Viki’s meltdown in the Lord mausoleum last year? It’s moments like these that we see how stunning and powerful soap operas can be.
LAUREN'S PICKS
10. Sonny Corinthos, GENERAL HOSPITAL
In 1993, this cutie pie, dimpled faced, mobster by the name of Michael "Sonny" Corinthos, Jr. arrived to Port Charles, and the town would never be the same. In fact, Sonny’s life, and his involvement with the mob has been a front burner story for over sixteen years. While I’m in no way endorsing the current state of General Hospital fascination with the mob, Sonny Corinthos is definitely a soap character that will go down in the history books. From his countless relationships with many women, his abusive past with his stepfather, mother issues, and finally his tumultuous relationship with Carly Roberts, Sonny’s life is filled with so much drama, your dying(pun intended) to find out what happens next. Did I also mention that he is bi-polar? Phew. It’s no wonder, that no matter how many times he tells his current woman(Brenda, Lily, Angel, Reece, Carly , Emily, Kate, Claudia, and Olivia) he loves them, and wants to get out of the mob, you can’t help but to believe him every.single.time. Call it the Corinthos charm, women everywhere(sometimes I catch the Corinthos charm also Hi Skate!) swoon when Sonny puts his heart, and connection to the mob on the line for the woman he is currently in love with.. (LA side note: will save the misogyny of Sonny for another blog )
9. Carly Snyder, AS THE WORLD TURNS
Thank you Rosanna Cabot for allowing your sister to search for you in 1995. Carly Tenney Snyder arrived in Oakdale, with a mission. It seems the central theme in Carly’s life is looking. Whether she was looking for a one night stand(Hi! Mike Kasnoff) or looking for “love” in all the wrong places(Brad Snyder, John Dixon, Hal Munson) Carly found true love with Jack Snyder. Every Carjack shipper knows the trials and tribulations of their relationship, However it’s Carly’s ambition, through her schemes, her quest to be successful, that has fans tuning in day in and day out, to see how Carly is going to get out the latest mess, that she most likely created. Carly is easily one of those characters that you love to hate, but you can’t help to root for her when she succeeds, and cringe for her, when she usually is about to mess the best things in her life. Oakdale would never be the same without her.
8. Kate Howard, GENERAL HOSPITAL
Connie Falconeri aka fashionista icon, Kate Howard, arrived to Port Charles in 2007. On her very first day, she sparked/fought with Sonny. While fans grew weary of the newest addition to Sonny’s ever evolving love life, Kate was different. She was smart, funny, classy, and had a believable childhood history with Sonny. Kate had a special kind of chemistry with Sonny, in a way that most of his previous women (sans Carly and Brenda) did not. Skate became a popular pairing in a short amount of time, and sadly died in such a short amount of time. At a time, when General Hospital was consumed by the mob stories, it was refreshing to see Kate take on the Devil Wears Prada persona at the workplace, introduce Sonny to things such as art, and when Sonny said he was going to leave the mob for the 8,531 time, you actually believed him. Plus, Kate had a haircut that could offer peace in the Middle East! Today Kate is regulated in the background, making guest appearances; it’s shame because Kate Howard had so much potential to becoming a soap heroine. Please Bob Guza and TPTB, bring Kate back!
7. Drucilla Winters, THE YONG AND THE RESTLESS
Drucilla “Dru” Barber Winters is definitely a one of a kind character. She started out as an illiterate teenager, who ran away from her mother, and later became a permanent resident of Genoa City. Dru learned how to read, with the help of Nathan Hastings, and became a powerful force in GC. With her fierce loyalty to her family and friends, her witty and quick put downs, Dru was definitely soap character not one to mess with. It was great to see a front burner African American woman on daytime, since they are so little (Hi Angie and Lexie!) Although sometimes I despise this phrase, it fits so perfectly. Dru was the definition of “ghetto fabulousness” which sometimes could help or hurt her in different situations. With the drama that Sharon, and her daughter Lily is going through right now, they (and the citizens of GC) could use some Dru in their lives. Victoria Rowell definitely played this character so honestly and earnestly. She is missed in daytime.
6. Reva Shayne, GUIDING LIGHT
You might have never in your life watched Guiding Light, but somehow, someway, you know who Reva Shayne is. Maybe you saw a blurb in a magazine, maybe you had a friend or family member who watched GL, but trust me when I say this, Reva Shayne is definitely a household name. In the 80s, Reva was best known for one of my top soap moments, in which she baptized herself the slut of Springfield! Another soap stopping moment, Reva drives off the bridge in Florida, yelling “I’m coming Bud!” These are definitely soap defining moments. Reva was a larger than life, brassy, (cloned!) woman. A great soap character and a force to be reckoned with, Reva Shayne will go down in the soap books as one of Daytime (and mine) greatest characters.
5. Lila Roberts, ANOTHER WORLD
During the final stretch of Another World, one of my favorite soap vixens, turned soap heroine (isn’t that how it always goes?) Lila Roberts arrived to Bay City. Lila Roberts tried to reclaim her former husband Bobby Reno, but what she ended up doing is capturing the heart of widowed, all around good guy Cass Winthrop. Lila also bedded Matthew Cory, and ended up having his baby. Lila possessed a classic southern belle beauty, a classy, yet a scheming demeanor, but behind that southern sass, was a little girl who was just looking for love. In the classic tale of boy meets girl, boy and girl fight, sparks fly and boom! They fall in love. In the end, Cass and Lila became one of Bay City most beloved couples. While no one could replace Frankie, Lila showed and proved to Cass that he could love again. Their wedding was showcased in the final episode of Another World, and along with Carolyn the gorilla, millions watch as this bad girl gone good finally found true love.
4. Vivian Alamain, DAYS OF OUR LIVES
“Paradise to hell, Paradise to hell, Come in Carly.” At age eleven, there was nothing more awesome then Vivian taunting Dr. Carly Manning, as she took her “last breaths” in the coffin. The whole buried alive storyline made Vivian Alamian a legend in my soap opera world. I was fascinated how she was just so evil, how she claimed she was doing these evil things out of love for her beloved nephew Lawrence, and his son Nicky. From her classic witty remarks, her intense hatred of Carly Manning, Vivian is the type of character you can’t help but to laugh with. Vivian has a way of getting under people’s skin (Hi Kate) and as a viewer; you know you are in for a treat, when you have Vivian in a room with people she perceives as her enemies. While her exit in the early 2000s, was shaky at best, today, Vivian is back to avenge her nephew death, and the fact that Carly was the one who killed him, is so deliciously soapy because sparks fly when the two of them go at it. It’s so good having Vivian back in town.
3. Blair Cramer, ONE LIFE TO LIVE
Blair Cramer is the only character, who has changed from two different races in a blink of an eye. Remember Asian Blair? Its okay, I don’t either! What I do know is that Blair is an act first, think later type of girl. She will do anything for her kids, and hell hath no fury, like Blair scorned. Todd Manning knows a little something about Blair’s fiery passion, and her manipulations to get what she wants. Blair never backs down from a challenge, in fact, she welcomes them. Blair, deep down is afraid of being hurt, and like all soap characters, she just wants someone to love her unconditionally. Blair’s complexity doesn’t quite make her a soap heroine, but it doesn’t make her a soap vixen either. Blair’s determantion, her love for family, definitely makes her an interesting character, and no matter what she does, I find my self rooting for her. Now let’s see if Todd will finally come to his senses and realize that Blair is the one.
2. Olivia Spencer, GUIDING LIGHT
Olivia “I love sex” Spencer comes in at number two on my list. Olivia isn’t your typical poor little rich girl looking for love; it’s her complexity, her bitchiness and her vulnerability that made her a character that you could never forget. Olivia loved power, men, sex, and later, Natalia. She didn’t apologize for who she was; she plotted, schemed, in order to rise to the top. Although she had many lovers, and came between the ultimate super couple, Josh and Reva, it wasn’t until she had her baby girl Emma (fathered by Phillip Spaulding) that she learned to love someone more than herself. Olivia would later experience real, true, selfless love, with Natalia. Watching Olivia for ten years was fascinating; no one could ever deny that special vulnerability that Crystal Chappell brought to the character, a character that most people could have probably hated a lot more. You might have cringed at Olivia’s manipulations, but you could not help but admire her go getter attitude towards life. Olivia Spencer is definitely missed in daytime.
1. Hope Williams Brady, DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Hope Williams Brady is my number one, all time favorite character. She is the definition of the soap heroine. She is feisty, cute, fun, and a part of one of daytime’s all time greatest couples, Bope. In the 80s, Hope’s was the ultimate, spoiled, daddy’s little rich girl. Poor Bo Brady, he should have never offered to give her a ride home on his motorcycle that night. Hope Williams would change his life forever. So why Hope as my number 1? Easy. Let’s start with her bad traits. Hope is selfish, judgmental, and doesn’t give a damn about what she says or how she says it. It’s okay, though because those traits in her make her human. She is also fiercely loyal to her friends and family. Hope is also the first character; I fell in flove (fake love peeps! I only love family and friends!) with. Bo and Hope’s 2,000 plus fights, breakups and reconciliations later, and I still want these two crazy kids to work it out. All because Hope believes in love, so I want her to be happy. Plus, she is the only character in daytime that has died over a vat of acid thus giving her street cred on all these soap bitches in daytime.
Monday, December 21, 2009
What a Tangled Web We Weave, Three Minute Edition
LEE:If you’ve been keeping up with the soap industry via the Internet (or the magazines, for that matter), you’ve probably heard about this new craze that has the world-wide-web on fire: the web series. Web series are a relatively new addition to the ‘net, and they typically target a small niche group of fans. I don’t know who it was, but someone let out-of-work soap actors in on the web series fad and all of a sudden every soap actor is producing, writing and starring in their own series. This is great for hardcore fans of these actors and of soaps in general, but judging from the current crop of web soaps, there are still some major kinks to work out.
Let’s start with the big one. Crystal Chappell (Lauren’s gal) clearly knew she had a great thing going when her lesbian love story with Jessica Leccia created a huge following for both women and Guiding Light. Chappell decided to capitalize on the success of the “Otalia” story by creating a web soap centered around two lesbian women living in Venice, California. It was a great idea; fans of Otalia would have somewhere to turn when GL ended, and Chappell would gain more exposure as an actress, as would her cast of soap vets from various other shows. Unfortunately, good ideas don’t necessarily translate to good entertainment, and the first episode of Venice felt like several things: a) a teaser for the real show, and b) professionally shot fan fiction. The first episode was too short to get any sense of what was to come, and the characterizations were vague at best. Speaking of short…
Martha Byrne’s Gotham was announced and debuted within a very short amount of time. Unlike Chapppell’s relationship drama, Gotham seemed to be more along the lines of an 80s primetime soap a la Knots Landing. That’s all well and good, but the first episode was THREE MINUTES LONG. The first two minutes were opening credits interspersed with Michael Park listening to voicemails, and the third minute was Martha Byrne chatting with Anne Sayre about their big party. Whereas Venice was a bit short at seven minutes, Gotham left NO time for any sort of development in regard to story and character. Byrne should call Chappell about borrowing Venice’s light and sound crew, because the production values were rough (understandably so).
This all sounds pretty negative, but I’m sure there will be improvements as time goes by. My suggestion for both shows is to try to tell more self-contained stories in each episode, so that the viewer feels like they’re watching a complete show. It worked really well with Eden Riegel’s (ex-Bianca, AMC) Imaginary Bitches and even better with geek-chic diva Felicia Day’s The Guild. Hopefully they’ll take a cue from those shows and work on making the Internet the future of soaps.
There’s one other web show I totally neglected to mention, and I only have nice things to say about it: Wed-Locked, created by and starring Guiding Light’s Lawrence St. Victor and Karla Mosley (Remy and Christina). It’s simple, funny and at times touching. You can find it on YouTube.
LAUREN:Okay so I admit, I’m a Crystal Chappell fan; I admire her hustle, her determentation, her soap connections (Hi Jessica Leccia, Tina Sloan, Jordan Clarke and Hilary B. Smith) plus fellow DOOL castmates Galen Gering and Nadia Bjorlin who all jumped on board. Chappell wanted Venicetheseries on the web, and she succeed in that part. Girl was the hardest working player in the soap world in 2009. However,I have to call out the fact that when one usually has a web series, one might want to make sure that the website is actually up and functioning, before going live. Plus the fact, she has a devoted fan base who decided Venicetheseries was going to be “THE BEST THING EVER, OMG its SOO GOOD” before it even premiered. Really? Who can live up to hype like that? Apparently Crystal Chappell can, because she kept on hustling. She raised funds through selling clothing items out of the Venice shop, but overlooked one major detail, the website. It’s sad when I see Tina Sloan or Hilary B Smith tweeting that they could not get onto the website to watch episode two.
This is no way a diss to Crystal Chappell, however if you are a paying customer, then you have the right to give constructive criticism. I’m giving Chappell and all the people involved the benefit of the doubt, because web series are definitely in its infancy, but you have to work out these kinks before charging for a product. It’s marketing 101. I would definitely suggest she postpone any future episodes until she gets all the website kinks worked out. I want her to succeed, because I’m a fan. I’m not an Otalia based Crystal Chappell fan, so I’m really don’t care if Jessica Leecia or Crystal Chappell don’t share so much screen time in Venice. I was a fan of the Otalia story, on Guiding Light, which is gone. So I am able to separate the two, when watching a performance. Crystal Chappell is a great actress, no doubt about that, but watching the first episode, the first thirty seconds clearly was to give the Otalia fans want they wanted. Nothing is wrong with that, they deserved it, but I need to see how the characters were different from Natalia and Olivia, and thankfully, Jessica Leccia came through and showed me through her non verbal communications that Gina was clearly not feeling the closeness or intimacy of their history. As a fan of cinematography the product values on Venice are absolutely stunning.
Gotham the series: Martha Byrne is another veteran in the soap genre. She knows how the business works, she is a student and fan of the late, great, Douglas Marland, and she is forever in my soap loving heart, for bringing the awesome Lisa Peluso out of obscurity. Seriously, Lila on Another World is one of my top ten soap characters. I also commend Byrne on her excellent sponsorship of famed designer Nicole Miller, and hey, her website worked! However it seems like Gotham’s biggest problems so far is plot development, and editing values. Seriously, I was watching and wondering why Margaret Reed would would all of a sudden, make out with Michael Park, while the fabulous Maeve Kinkead is speaking at some charity function. I’ll give Byrne credit, she wants,(as the rapper Jay Z said in his song I Know) “That old thing back” meaning, good old fashioned, over the top soapy moments...You know dramatic eye stares, when an old flame walks to the room, but unfortunately if you aren’t a fan of soaps, you would be wondering “WTF was that all about.” As Lee mentioned above, it does have that Knots Landing campy feel to it, however it’s Martha Byrne, and she seems like she knows what she is doing, having written for Bold and Beautiful earlier this year, so I am curious to see, as time goes by, how she handles and fixes Gotham. Gotham does have potential to be really good. I cannot wait for Lisa Peluso to arrive.
Wed locked by GL’s alums Karla Mosley and Lawrence St Victor, is very cute, basic, and to the point. No fancy production values, just simple situations that newlyweds deal with on a daily basis, proving that you don’t have to go all out, to get your point across on the web.
We are fascinated by web soaps, and cant wait to see were they go from here.
Let’s start with the big one. Crystal Chappell (Lauren’s gal) clearly knew she had a great thing going when her lesbian love story with Jessica Leccia created a huge following for both women and Guiding Light. Chappell decided to capitalize on the success of the “Otalia” story by creating a web soap centered around two lesbian women living in Venice, California. It was a great idea; fans of Otalia would have somewhere to turn when GL ended, and Chappell would gain more exposure as an actress, as would her cast of soap vets from various other shows. Unfortunately, good ideas don’t necessarily translate to good entertainment, and the first episode of Venice felt like several things: a) a teaser for the real show, and b) professionally shot fan fiction. The first episode was too short to get any sense of what was to come, and the characterizations were vague at best. Speaking of short…
Martha Byrne’s Gotham was announced and debuted within a very short amount of time. Unlike Chapppell’s relationship drama, Gotham seemed to be more along the lines of an 80s primetime soap a la Knots Landing. That’s all well and good, but the first episode was THREE MINUTES LONG. The first two minutes were opening credits interspersed with Michael Park listening to voicemails, and the third minute was Martha Byrne chatting with Anne Sayre about their big party. Whereas Venice was a bit short at seven minutes, Gotham left NO time for any sort of development in regard to story and character. Byrne should call Chappell about borrowing Venice’s light and sound crew, because the production values were rough (understandably so).
This all sounds pretty negative, but I’m sure there will be improvements as time goes by. My suggestion for both shows is to try to tell more self-contained stories in each episode, so that the viewer feels like they’re watching a complete show. It worked really well with Eden Riegel’s (ex-Bianca, AMC) Imaginary Bitches and even better with geek-chic diva Felicia Day’s The Guild. Hopefully they’ll take a cue from those shows and work on making the Internet the future of soaps.
There’s one other web show I totally neglected to mention, and I only have nice things to say about it: Wed-Locked, created by and starring Guiding Light’s Lawrence St. Victor and Karla Mosley (Remy and Christina). It’s simple, funny and at times touching. You can find it on YouTube.
LAUREN:Okay so I admit, I’m a Crystal Chappell fan; I admire her hustle, her determentation, her soap connections (Hi Jessica Leccia, Tina Sloan, Jordan Clarke and Hilary B. Smith) plus fellow DOOL castmates Galen Gering and Nadia Bjorlin who all jumped on board. Chappell wanted Venicetheseries on the web, and she succeed in that part. Girl was the hardest working player in the soap world in 2009. However,I have to call out the fact that when one usually has a web series, one might want to make sure that the website is actually up and functioning, before going live. Plus the fact, she has a devoted fan base who decided Venicetheseries was going to be “THE BEST THING EVER, OMG its SOO GOOD” before it even premiered. Really? Who can live up to hype like that? Apparently Crystal Chappell can, because she kept on hustling. She raised funds through selling clothing items out of the Venice shop, but overlooked one major detail, the website. It’s sad when I see Tina Sloan or Hilary B Smith tweeting that they could not get onto the website to watch episode two.
This is no way a diss to Crystal Chappell, however if you are a paying customer, then you have the right to give constructive criticism. I’m giving Chappell and all the people involved the benefit of the doubt, because web series are definitely in its infancy, but you have to work out these kinks before charging for a product. It’s marketing 101. I would definitely suggest she postpone any future episodes until she gets all the website kinks worked out. I want her to succeed, because I’m a fan. I’m not an Otalia based Crystal Chappell fan, so I’m really don’t care if Jessica Leecia or Crystal Chappell don’t share so much screen time in Venice. I was a fan of the Otalia story, on Guiding Light, which is gone. So I am able to separate the two, when watching a performance. Crystal Chappell is a great actress, no doubt about that, but watching the first episode, the first thirty seconds clearly was to give the Otalia fans want they wanted. Nothing is wrong with that, they deserved it, but I need to see how the characters were different from Natalia and Olivia, and thankfully, Jessica Leccia came through and showed me through her non verbal communications that Gina was clearly not feeling the closeness or intimacy of their history. As a fan of cinematography the product values on Venice are absolutely stunning.
Gotham the series: Martha Byrne is another veteran in the soap genre. She knows how the business works, she is a student and fan of the late, great, Douglas Marland, and she is forever in my soap loving heart, for bringing the awesome Lisa Peluso out of obscurity. Seriously, Lila on Another World is one of my top ten soap characters. I also commend Byrne on her excellent sponsorship of famed designer Nicole Miller, and hey, her website worked! However it seems like Gotham’s biggest problems so far is plot development, and editing values. Seriously, I was watching and wondering why Margaret Reed would would all of a sudden, make out with Michael Park, while the fabulous Maeve Kinkead is speaking at some charity function. I’ll give Byrne credit, she wants,(as the rapper Jay Z said in his song I Know) “That old thing back” meaning, good old fashioned, over the top soapy moments...You know dramatic eye stares, when an old flame walks to the room, but unfortunately if you aren’t a fan of soaps, you would be wondering “WTF was that all about.” As Lee mentioned above, it does have that Knots Landing campy feel to it, however it’s Martha Byrne, and she seems like she knows what she is doing, having written for Bold and Beautiful earlier this year, so I am curious to see, as time goes by, how she handles and fixes Gotham. Gotham does have potential to be really good. I cannot wait for Lisa Peluso to arrive.
Wed locked by GL’s alums Karla Mosley and Lawrence St Victor, is very cute, basic, and to the point. No fancy production values, just simple situations that newlyweds deal with on a daily basis, proving that you don’t have to go all out, to get your point across on the web.
We are fascinated by web soaps, and cant wait to see were they go from here.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Soap Discussion #1 Week ending 12/19/2009
Alright Soap fans! Let's get this party started! This week was an interesting week, in the land of daytime. Lots of stories are heating up, lots of stories are wrapping up(Hi baby switch on DOOL) so let's get into it!
PERFORMER OF THE WEEK:
LEE:PERFORMER OF THE WEEK: STEVE BURTON (JASON, GH)I’m biting my tongue as I write this, mainly because I don’t want to encourage the powers that be at GH to continue to have the mob front and center, but it needs to be said. Steve Burton ROCKED it this week! I’ve been waiting for someone to stick it to Michael since ever since he called Kristina a babe back when he first came out of the coma. You could tell that Steve really felt the material; it’s hard to imagine the actors not frowning when they constantly see scripts glorifying violence and misogyny. As Jason TORE into Michael, I saw half a year of frustration and anger bubble to the surface of Jason’s temper and spill over! “Little bitch” is officially my favorite soap moment of December, and there have been some good ones this month. The moment was so compelling to watch; we’ve seen Jason be so gentle and good to Michael since he was a baby and you could tell this wasn't’t easy for him. Kudos go to Laura Wright as well, for totally showing the look of “oh no, Jason’s going to pull out his gun!"
LAUREN: Sigh. I didn't want to reveal my shameless fan crush on Crystal Chappell so early on because let's face it, she is freaking everywhere. It's almost overkill to talk about how awesome she is, but after careful consideration, and going back and forth between ATWT's Trent Dawson's Henry for coming alive in that ridiculous Brad/Trent Ghost story, or ATWT's Maura West's Carly, for the bachelorette party from hell, and later her scenes with Jon Lindstrom's Craig. It was a tough decision in deciding my performer of the week but, I'm going with Crystal Chappell. When Crystal announced her return to DOOL, it was a smart move, she had a history on the show, long term viewers know her, her huge and devoted fanbase, and anyone who is a fan of soap operas, knows that Carly got buried alive. However, I was less than impressed with her return. Now we all know about the horrors of Guiding Light's filming in Peapack, New Jersey, so Crystal looked like a deer in headlights, while she was trying to get readjusted to real sets! real wardrobes! and real lights! However, it was her scenes with Wally Kurth and later the ever so awesome Louise Sorel, that Chappell came alive(no pun intended) from the mocking of Justin's dimples, to sparing off with Vivian, Chappell's energy came across on the screen. I've always said Chappell is at best, when she is allowed to use her physical comedy, and facial expressions. DOOL is finally realizing that fact. Whether she was raising an eyebrow at Vivian bringing the flowers, or calling Justin out on being "passive aggressive" Chappell was on fire, a fire that I hope to continue to see on our screens. Random fact, I went to the same high school as Crystal Chappell. Shameless hometown pride plug.
HIT OF THE WEEK: MELPHINA REUNITES, OLTL
LEE: I don’t know what the OLTL writers are smoking right now, but someone get them a lifetime supply! I had read the spoilers ahead of time, but when Delphina and aMELia reunited, I was in awe of the sheer sweetness of it all. With the teens acting as the Greek chorus and Dorian trying to mediate, I suddenly cared about a couple I had never seen on-screen before. The scenes also had some hidden meaning, as now I am wondering if Delphina channels Mel and somehow places him in Amelia’s body to torture Dorian at inopportune moments. I hope the show doesn't’t drop the Amelia/Mel connection; it’s a gold mine for hilarity.
LAUREN: ROSANNA AND CRAIG'S BACHELOR/BACHELORETTE PARTIES FROM HELL:
Okay so I couldn't give Maura W, performer of the week, doesn't mean I can't talk about the excellent scenes that were given to us from ATWT this week. Of course, ATWT gets canceled just as it's becoming my can't miss soap. My second runner up is Nut!Meg but more about that later. Starting with Craig's party, the toasts to Craig were comedy gold. It provided one of those juicy soap moments, where you put all the characters who don't like each other into one setting and viola! magic appears. Same with Rosanna's party, Janet and Carly's underlying tension was surely going to come to a boil, as well as the pink elephant in the room..Craig and Carly's relationship which did not go unnoticed by Rosanna. Maura's deliciously delivered line "He ain't married to her yet" was icing on the cake. If ATWT has to leave us, then they might as well do it with a bang!
MISS OF THE WEEK: ELIZABETH RAPES THE PAST, GH
LEE: Just when I was about to commend GH for its improved writing and newfound nuance, the powers that be had to go and taint my all-time favorite soap story. I get that we’re supposed to root for Liz and Lucky to get back together, but having Elizabeth recall her rape to garner sympathy from Rebecca was downright offensive. Forgetting the fact that the show hasn't’t mentioned her rape since Megan McTavish left the show in 2002, the idea of Elizabeth using her rape as a way of diffusing a bad situation really upset me. It didn't’t just miss the point – it made me hope that when Lucky finds out about her affair with Nikolas, he dumps her on her ass. Thanks, GH – you just destroyed another piece of rich history.
ALL MY CHILDREN'S GOODBYE ON THE VIEW, AMC
LAUREN:Now I should be as happy as an actress getting her first daytime Emmy nomination, that The View devoted a whole hour to send off All My Children to California. It was cute, corny, and I loved seeing Agnes Nixon(soap goddess)on the show.I should also be happy that it brought press, which at a time when daytime is dying, soap operas need all the love that they can get. The reason why it gets my miss of the week is because I have to wonder if The View, or more importantly, ABC Daytime would share the same sentiment if the ratings challenged, but oh so good soap, One Life To Live, would get the same love. Right now One Life to Live needs our support, now more than ever. From what I heard about Brian Frons, I have to wonder, is the View going to welcome it's new neighbors once they get settled into AMC's old digs? I need to see more press and love poured into what I liked to refer OLTL as the "bastard child" of ABC daytime. I love this show, and I don't want the fans to suffer what I went through on September 18, 2009 with Guiding Light.
MOST ANTICIPATED STORY OF THE WEEK: NICK GOES GLENN CLOSE ON KYLE, OLTL
LEE: I’m half kidding here. I don’t think for one second that hate crime victim Nick is going to become a psycho stalker, but I do think that he’s going to feel the need to cling to Kyle in the aftermath of his attack. I find Nick to be a compelling character; he’s totally needy and totally a typical gay guy for his age. I find Nick to be relatable; we’ve all been where he’s been in terms of losing a boyfriend, and from his perspective it’s totally unfair for Kyle and Fish to have a storybook romance while he sits and watches the rest of gay Llanview get married from the bleachers. I am really psyched for Fish’s reaction to Nick’s schemes; I think he’s going to be the bigger person and not start trouble, but I hope he stands his ground and lays down the law. Figuratively. Maybe literally.
OH BO I KILLED MY HUSBAND AND OH, I LOVE YOU, DOOL:
LAUREN: As I said before, I am a big Bo and Hope shipper, but I am also a big Carly fan. Damn the plot(really Carly calm your ass down, you just came back to Salem)I want to see Peter and Crystal recreate that magic from the past. We all know Crystal can deliver on a love confession(graveyards anyone?) but to see it with Peter is going to be something. I know Bo and Hope are endgame or a OTP(one true pairing) but with Carly's arrival, Justin's I'm Hope's ride or die boy, and problems in their marriage(real legit stuff, not Billie round 3,402)the Bo and Hope storyline looks promising for the first time in a few years. For a minute there, I was scared Bo and Hope were quickly becoming Tom and Alice Horton of DOOL. I saw the previews on NBC.COM for Monday's show, and like a good little shipper girl, I went "awwww" when Bo called Carly "princess". This is good soapy stuff because Hope is Bo's one true love, but Carly showed Bo that there can be love after someone dies, or an adult love as Peter referred to it in a interview. Can't wait to see all of this unfold.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
LEE: Well, it’s finally time to address the elephant in the room. And no, I’m not talking about Danielle aging at twice the speed of Jack despite him being born first. I’m talking about the cancellation of As the World Turns. Soaps are officially an endangered species, folks. Proctor and Gamble seem to be out of the game completely, leaving the Bell soaps, DAYS, and the Agnes Nixon shows. DAYS seems to be on an upswing, the Bell soaps are pretty stable (barring the schizophrenic storytelling on Y&R), and the ABC soaps are creatively unstable. AMC is in a major transition, both physically and creatively, and will hopefully return to its former glory. GH is an anorexic skeleton of its former self. OLTL is like a pink rose in the middle of a landfill, but it’s the lowest-rated soap on the air. TUNE IN TO YOUR SHOWS, people! It doesn’t matter if Rianca or Zendall aren’t featured five days a week; if you don’t tune in, someday they’ll disappear forever!
It’s been swell getting all my soap thoughts out for you guys to read. Feel free to comment, email me, flame me, praise me, ask me on a date, etc. Until next time,
Lee <3
LAUREN: And then there were six. When the cancellation of ATWT was announced, I was shocked and saddened, but not surprised. Proctor and Gamble seemed like they wanted to be out of the soap business completely, and ATWT just didn't stand a chance. I also had a realization that soap operas might not be around for the next generation, and that makes me sad. My household is a three generation soap watching household, and I hate the fact that it's ultimately going to stop with me watching the last soaps standing. Although we have modern technology of DVR'S, watching soaps online, and youtube, Daytime is still being counted by an old fashioned, needs to be updated ASAP ratings system. I know for a fact that 1/2 my college class watch soaps online, but yet we are still using the Nielsen ratings system. I concur with Lee, we as fans, are the ones that's going to keep the genre alive. So please try your hardest to watch your soap at least once, seriously! So what if GH's Sonny is running the same, tired game on Olivia, that he has ran on Kate, Carly, Brenda, Angel, Reece, etc, just keep tuning in. I'm not saying this to give the writer's a pass, but as a fan who loves the genre no matter what and wants to see it survive, shitty storytelling or not. Until next time. Thanks for reading, and comment please :)
PERFORMER OF THE WEEK:
LEE:PERFORMER OF THE WEEK: STEVE BURTON (JASON, GH)I’m biting my tongue as I write this, mainly because I don’t want to encourage the powers that be at GH to continue to have the mob front and center, but it needs to be said. Steve Burton ROCKED it this week! I’ve been waiting for someone to stick it to Michael since ever since he called Kristina a babe back when he first came out of the coma. You could tell that Steve really felt the material; it’s hard to imagine the actors not frowning when they constantly see scripts glorifying violence and misogyny. As Jason TORE into Michael, I saw half a year of frustration and anger bubble to the surface of Jason’s temper and spill over! “Little bitch” is officially my favorite soap moment of December, and there have been some good ones this month. The moment was so compelling to watch; we’ve seen Jason be so gentle and good to Michael since he was a baby and you could tell this wasn't’t easy for him. Kudos go to Laura Wright as well, for totally showing the look of “oh no, Jason’s going to pull out his gun!"
LAUREN: Sigh. I didn't want to reveal my shameless fan crush on Crystal Chappell so early on because let's face it, she is freaking everywhere. It's almost overkill to talk about how awesome she is, but after careful consideration, and going back and forth between ATWT's Trent Dawson's Henry for coming alive in that ridiculous Brad/Trent Ghost story, or ATWT's Maura West's Carly, for the bachelorette party from hell, and later her scenes with Jon Lindstrom's Craig. It was a tough decision in deciding my performer of the week but, I'm going with Crystal Chappell. When Crystal announced her return to DOOL, it was a smart move, she had a history on the show, long term viewers know her, her huge and devoted fanbase, and anyone who is a fan of soap operas, knows that Carly got buried alive. However, I was less than impressed with her return. Now we all know about the horrors of Guiding Light's filming in Peapack, New Jersey, so Crystal looked like a deer in headlights, while she was trying to get readjusted to real sets! real wardrobes! and real lights! However, it was her scenes with Wally Kurth and later the ever so awesome Louise Sorel, that Chappell came alive(no pun intended) from the mocking of Justin's dimples, to sparing off with Vivian, Chappell's energy came across on the screen. I've always said Chappell is at best, when she is allowed to use her physical comedy, and facial expressions. DOOL is finally realizing that fact. Whether she was raising an eyebrow at Vivian bringing the flowers, or calling Justin out on being "passive aggressive" Chappell was on fire, a fire that I hope to continue to see on our screens. Random fact, I went to the same high school as Crystal Chappell. Shameless hometown pride plug.
HIT OF THE WEEK: MELPHINA REUNITES, OLTL
LEE: I don’t know what the OLTL writers are smoking right now, but someone get them a lifetime supply! I had read the spoilers ahead of time, but when Delphina and aMELia reunited, I was in awe of the sheer sweetness of it all. With the teens acting as the Greek chorus and Dorian trying to mediate, I suddenly cared about a couple I had never seen on-screen before. The scenes also had some hidden meaning, as now I am wondering if Delphina channels Mel and somehow places him in Amelia’s body to torture Dorian at inopportune moments. I hope the show doesn't’t drop the Amelia/Mel connection; it’s a gold mine for hilarity.
LAUREN: ROSANNA AND CRAIG'S BACHELOR/BACHELORETTE PARTIES FROM HELL:
Okay so I couldn't give Maura W, performer of the week, doesn't mean I can't talk about the excellent scenes that were given to us from ATWT this week. Of course, ATWT gets canceled just as it's becoming my can't miss soap. My second runner up is Nut!Meg but more about that later. Starting with Craig's party, the toasts to Craig were comedy gold. It provided one of those juicy soap moments, where you put all the characters who don't like each other into one setting and viola! magic appears. Same with Rosanna's party, Janet and Carly's underlying tension was surely going to come to a boil, as well as the pink elephant in the room..Craig and Carly's relationship which did not go unnoticed by Rosanna. Maura's deliciously delivered line "He ain't married to her yet" was icing on the cake. If ATWT has to leave us, then they might as well do it with a bang!
MISS OF THE WEEK: ELIZABETH RAPES THE PAST, GH
LEE: Just when I was about to commend GH for its improved writing and newfound nuance, the powers that be had to go and taint my all-time favorite soap story. I get that we’re supposed to root for Liz and Lucky to get back together, but having Elizabeth recall her rape to garner sympathy from Rebecca was downright offensive. Forgetting the fact that the show hasn't’t mentioned her rape since Megan McTavish left the show in 2002, the idea of Elizabeth using her rape as a way of diffusing a bad situation really upset me. It didn't’t just miss the point – it made me hope that when Lucky finds out about her affair with Nikolas, he dumps her on her ass. Thanks, GH – you just destroyed another piece of rich history.
ALL MY CHILDREN'S GOODBYE ON THE VIEW, AMC
LAUREN:Now I should be as happy as an actress getting her first daytime Emmy nomination, that The View devoted a whole hour to send off All My Children to California. It was cute, corny, and I loved seeing Agnes Nixon(soap goddess)on the show.I should also be happy that it brought press, which at a time when daytime is dying, soap operas need all the love that they can get. The reason why it gets my miss of the week is because I have to wonder if The View, or more importantly, ABC Daytime would share the same sentiment if the ratings challenged, but oh so good soap, One Life To Live, would get the same love. Right now One Life to Live needs our support, now more than ever. From what I heard about Brian Frons, I have to wonder, is the View going to welcome it's new neighbors once they get settled into AMC's old digs? I need to see more press and love poured into what I liked to refer OLTL as the "bastard child" of ABC daytime. I love this show, and I don't want the fans to suffer what I went through on September 18, 2009 with Guiding Light.
MOST ANTICIPATED STORY OF THE WEEK: NICK GOES GLENN CLOSE ON KYLE, OLTL
LEE: I’m half kidding here. I don’t think for one second that hate crime victim Nick is going to become a psycho stalker, but I do think that he’s going to feel the need to cling to Kyle in the aftermath of his attack. I find Nick to be a compelling character; he’s totally needy and totally a typical gay guy for his age. I find Nick to be relatable; we’ve all been where he’s been in terms of losing a boyfriend, and from his perspective it’s totally unfair for Kyle and Fish to have a storybook romance while he sits and watches the rest of gay Llanview get married from the bleachers. I am really psyched for Fish’s reaction to Nick’s schemes; I think he’s going to be the bigger person and not start trouble, but I hope he stands his ground and lays down the law. Figuratively. Maybe literally.
OH BO I KILLED MY HUSBAND AND OH, I LOVE YOU, DOOL:
LAUREN: As I said before, I am a big Bo and Hope shipper, but I am also a big Carly fan. Damn the plot(really Carly calm your ass down, you just came back to Salem)I want to see Peter and Crystal recreate that magic from the past. We all know Crystal can deliver on a love confession(graveyards anyone?) but to see it with Peter is going to be something. I know Bo and Hope are endgame or a OTP(one true pairing) but with Carly's arrival, Justin's I'm Hope's ride or die boy, and problems in their marriage(real legit stuff, not Billie round 3,402)the Bo and Hope storyline looks promising for the first time in a few years. For a minute there, I was scared Bo and Hope were quickly becoming Tom and Alice Horton of DOOL. I saw the previews on NBC.COM for Monday's show, and like a good little shipper girl, I went "awwww" when Bo called Carly "princess". This is good soapy stuff because Hope is Bo's one true love, but Carly showed Bo that there can be love after someone dies, or an adult love as Peter referred to it in a interview. Can't wait to see all of this unfold.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
LEE: Well, it’s finally time to address the elephant in the room. And no, I’m not talking about Danielle aging at twice the speed of Jack despite him being born first. I’m talking about the cancellation of As the World Turns. Soaps are officially an endangered species, folks. Proctor and Gamble seem to be out of the game completely, leaving the Bell soaps, DAYS, and the Agnes Nixon shows. DAYS seems to be on an upswing, the Bell soaps are pretty stable (barring the schizophrenic storytelling on Y&R), and the ABC soaps are creatively unstable. AMC is in a major transition, both physically and creatively, and will hopefully return to its former glory. GH is an anorexic skeleton of its former self. OLTL is like a pink rose in the middle of a landfill, but it’s the lowest-rated soap on the air. TUNE IN TO YOUR SHOWS, people! It doesn’t matter if Rianca or Zendall aren’t featured five days a week; if you don’t tune in, someday they’ll disappear forever!
It’s been swell getting all my soap thoughts out for you guys to read. Feel free to comment, email me, flame me, praise me, ask me on a date, etc. Until next time,
Lee <3
LAUREN: And then there were six. When the cancellation of ATWT was announced, I was shocked and saddened, but not surprised. Proctor and Gamble seemed like they wanted to be out of the soap business completely, and ATWT just didn't stand a chance. I also had a realization that soap operas might not be around for the next generation, and that makes me sad. My household is a three generation soap watching household, and I hate the fact that it's ultimately going to stop with me watching the last soaps standing. Although we have modern technology of DVR'S, watching soaps online, and youtube, Daytime is still being counted by an old fashioned, needs to be updated ASAP ratings system. I know for a fact that 1/2 my college class watch soaps online, but yet we are still using the Nielsen ratings system. I concur with Lee, we as fans, are the ones that's going to keep the genre alive. So please try your hardest to watch your soap at least once, seriously! So what if GH's Sonny is running the same, tired game on Olivia, that he has ran on Kate, Carly, Brenda, Angel, Reece, etc, just keep tuning in. I'm not saying this to give the writer's a pass, but as a fan who loves the genre no matter what and wants to see it survive, shitty storytelling or not. Until next time. Thanks for reading, and comment please :)
Who are these people? The standard about me information entry
Thank you for stopping by Dayplayerdish blog! So why are you here? And more importantly, who the hell are Lauren and Lee?
Lee will start this blog off with a little bit about himself:
What’s cooking, rational soap fans? My name’s Lee, and I’m your typical soap fan… who’s a guy. Before you ask – no, I am not a Nuke fan. In fact, I find Nuke to be the worst couple on ATWT at the moment... wow, two sentences and I’ve already gotten onto my soapbox! I’ll hold back for now. A little bit more about me… I recently graduated from college with a degree in cinema studies, meaning I watched a whole bunch of movies and wrote papers on them. I’ve interned at Soap Opera Weekly and All My Children and found both to be an incredible experience. I can’t wait to share with you my opinions, beliefs, and random musings on soaps! Where to begin… well, I was raised on ABC soaps, namely General Hospital and Port Charles but when both went sour (two words: mafia vampires) I turned to All My Children and One Life to Live, which is now my favorite. I’ve dabbled in NBC and CBS soaps, but they just don’t grab me like the ABC soaps !
And now here's Lauren:
What’s up rational soap fans! So here I am blogworld! Why am I here? The answer is simple, I love soap operas. Yes it’s true, I love soap operas. I majored in Communication studies, with a minor in journalism. I’ve had the amazing experience to intern at Soap Opera Digest/Soap Weekly magazine for two years. I’ve worked as a talent runner for the Daytime Emmys for the past three years. People always look at me twice when I say I love soaps. Why? It’s simple. I’ve been a fan of the genre since I was six years old. So as the years progressed, and the stories got bizarre (hello GL’s Reva being cloned wtf!) or touching (GH’s BJ Heart) to amazing love stories (Hi GL’s Otalia fans! Hello my Bo and Hope shippers going 26 yrs strong baby!) I love this genre through thick and thin. This year we lost Guiding Light(and in 2010 we are losing ATWT and possibly more soaps)one of the longest running programs in television history! That’s right television history, no other show, on television, will be able to accomplish what Guiding Light did in 72 years! As a fan of the soap opera genre, this makes me proud to brag to people, who like to look down on the genre.
So here we are blog world, with my soap brother from another mother, Lee. We plan on tackling all your soap news, shows, gossip.. one blog, one podcast at a time. A he said/she said type of blog. So sit back and read, and as always, please leave comments. We appreciate hearing from all you soap fans out there. Be sure to check out our soap podcasts, once we have it up and running. Thank you for reading.
Lee will start this blog off with a little bit about himself:
What’s cooking, rational soap fans? My name’s Lee, and I’m your typical soap fan… who’s a guy. Before you ask – no, I am not a Nuke fan. In fact, I find Nuke to be the worst couple on ATWT at the moment... wow, two sentences and I’ve already gotten onto my soapbox! I’ll hold back for now. A little bit more about me… I recently graduated from college with a degree in cinema studies, meaning I watched a whole bunch of movies and wrote papers on them. I’ve interned at Soap Opera Weekly and All My Children and found both to be an incredible experience. I can’t wait to share with you my opinions, beliefs, and random musings on soaps! Where to begin… well, I was raised on ABC soaps, namely General Hospital and Port Charles but when both went sour (two words: mafia vampires) I turned to All My Children and One Life to Live, which is now my favorite. I’ve dabbled in NBC and CBS soaps, but they just don’t grab me like the ABC soaps !
And now here's Lauren:
What’s up rational soap fans! So here I am blogworld! Why am I here? The answer is simple, I love soap operas. Yes it’s true, I love soap operas. I majored in Communication studies, with a minor in journalism. I’ve had the amazing experience to intern at Soap Opera Digest/Soap Weekly magazine for two years. I’ve worked as a talent runner for the Daytime Emmys for the past three years. People always look at me twice when I say I love soaps. Why? It’s simple. I’ve been a fan of the genre since I was six years old. So as the years progressed, and the stories got bizarre (hello GL’s Reva being cloned wtf!) or touching (GH’s BJ Heart) to amazing love stories (Hi GL’s Otalia fans! Hello my Bo and Hope shippers going 26 yrs strong baby!) I love this genre through thick and thin. This year we lost Guiding Light(and in 2010 we are losing ATWT and possibly more soaps)one of the longest running programs in television history! That’s right television history, no other show, on television, will be able to accomplish what Guiding Light did in 72 years! As a fan of the soap opera genre, this makes me proud to brag to people, who like to look down on the genre.
So here we are blog world, with my soap brother from another mother, Lee. We plan on tackling all your soap news, shows, gossip.. one blog, one podcast at a time. A he said/she said type of blog. So sit back and read, and as always, please leave comments. We appreciate hearing from all you soap fans out there. Be sure to check out our soap podcasts, once we have it up and running. Thank you for reading.
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