Report Card: General Hospital

With high profile cast changes, popular couples being ripped apart and a riveting courtroom drama, what did Lee think of GH? Find out below...

The story so far: After being convinced by Dante to confess to killing Claudia, Michael was sent to prison. Jason managed to get arrested and become his cellmate and had a sneaking suspicion that Michael's bruises masked a far darker incident. Sonny and Johnny's feud escalated, culminating in Sonny shooting Johnny in self-defense. After losing Shirley and giving birth to Aiden, Liz left town to visit sister Sarah while Lucky went undercover in Ireland. Robin learned of Patrick's one night stand with Lisa while Lisa slowly unraveled, threatening to harm Robin and Emma, and Brenda Barrett slowly began to return to the fold...

What works: 2010 has been a good year for the show so far. The murder trial was riveting and showcased the talented Dahlia Salem as federal prosecutor Claire Walsh. The judge calling Sonny and his posse out as careless and irresponsible criminals was a long time coming, while Michael's stay in prison laid the groundwork for a potentially riveting story of what really happens to people in prison. Lucky has gotten his groove back now that he's temporarily out of Nikolas and Liz's orbit, while the potential pairing of Nikolas and Brook Lynn is adorable and a breath of fresh air. The long-gestating "Fatal Attraction" story featuring Robin, Patrick and Lisa finally kicked into high gear, with Brianna Brown finally getting to showcase her talent as Lisa continues to lose her mind.

What needs work: Vanessa Marcil's heavily publicized return to the show has yet to match the hype. When Brenda returned to town eight years ago, she immediately burst onto the scene in a major story focusing on Sonny, Jason, and Jax. This time around, Brenda is a supermodel hanging out in Rome with a rather irritating Adrienne Barbeau as her manager and Brad Rowe as her movie star boyfriend. Both Barbeau and Rowe are talented actors, but why should we care about them? It took nearly a month for Brenda to see Sonny and their encounter was dullsville compared to their rainy encounter at the church all those years ago. Back in Port Charles, the formerly charming Maxie and Spinelli have totally fizzled out as a couple, while Brook Lynn returned to town a trashy slut, unrecognizable from her former run. What happened to the funky, mature girl with the guitar we all used to like? Luckily, her dud of a story with Dante and Lulu is over and she's finally in a fun story with the usually boring Nikolas. Most infuriating is the fact that Claire recently slept with Sonny, making the tough lawyer just another in the long line of women not strong enough to stand the mobster's charm.

Suggestions: Get Brenda back in Port Charles. STAT. Decide what to do with Maxie and Spinelli once and for all. Find a way to salvage what's left of Claire and stop changing characters to fit the current story. Port Charles is a compelling place to visit every day; just stop sacrificing women at the altar of Sonny Corinthos.

Grade: B

Report Card: One Life to Live

Hey soap fans! In the second of our report card series we take a look at One Life to Live. Read to see what Lee thinks of Bennett Thompson, the army of new characters and the exits of longtime fan favorites.

One Life To Live

The story so far: After spending the greater part of the year watching Eli 'Bennett Thompson' Clarke terrorize half of Llanview, the show seems to finally be moving into new, more interesting territory. Clint seems to be plotting against everyone who's ever wronged him, manipulating Matthew into a mini-Asa, romancing humble and beautiful Inez, kidnapping David and ruining Dorian's life. Elsewhere, the teens have gone to college, Tea's still alive and being nursed back to health by Greg, and Todd is once again feuding with Ross.

What works: We're finally onto the next, hopefully less redundant chapter in the Eli Clarke saga and for that I'm grateful. Hopefully the town will find out that Tea is alive soon so the story can finally end. The 'veteran' set finally seems to have a real story, with Clint coming back with a vengeance and Kim Zimmer returning to the show to tussle with Viki and Dorian. Tea being alive is genuinely suspenseful, giving her inevitable return some great emotional weight.

What needs work: While 2009 saw the introduction of several new characters, they were for the most part connected to the canvas in dynamic and interesting ways. This year, on the other hand, has seen the introduction of a host of characters that are not only not connected to the rest of the canvas in any interesting or meaningful way, but we've also seen the exits of extremely likable and interesting characters. The beginning of this year started with so much promise; Kyle and Oliver, Kim, and Schuyler had fascinating and compelling stories and yet were all written off by April (Amanda Setton left on her accord but the role could have been recast). The show has tonally shifted from heartfelt and emotional to too-cool and (I use this term loosely) hip, with the introduction of the Ford/Salinger family, unrealistically headed by Inez, played by the talented but too-young Jessica Leccia. Jessica and Natalie have a shockingly trite paternity story brewing, while Christian and Layla have withered immensely from their promising romance last year thanks to the departures of costars Brett Claywell and Scott Evans and an atrocious and tasteless attempt at reuniting Chris with a brain damaged Jessica, who thought she was still in high school. Lastly, smarmy, slight Billy Warlock is totally miscast as Ross Rayburn, formerly a big, muscular hunk with anger issues played with much charisma by Michael Lowry.

Suggestions: Reign in the Fords, bring back the warmth and pathos the show has been lacking since the birth of Sierra Rose, and bring back the great payoffs the show has done so adeptly since Ron Carlivati began his tenure in 2007. Doom and gloom is okay, so long that the end result is the beauty and elegance this show was once known for.

Grade: C
--Lee

Primetime Spotlight: Desperate Housewives

The fall 2010 television season is in full swing, and over the next few weeks we’re going to be giving our opinions on some of the soapier shows on during primetime! We kick off our coverage today with a spotlight on returning favorite Desperate Housewives!

I have always been a fan of Desperate Housewives. It had a sterling first season, proving that the nighttime soap was far from dead. The mystery of why Mary Alice Young committed suicide captivated audiences and tied the entire cast together, while the trials and tribulations of the four central housewives were both relatable and over-the-top. Unfortunately, the show endured a rather upsetting sophomore slump and though it recovered in successive seasons, it never captured the magic of that incredible first season - until last Sunday, when its seventh season premiered.

Beginning with the surprising return of villainous Paul Young and kooky Felicia Tillman, the season premiere wisely kicked off several juicy and compelling stories that could carry us through the entire season. Finding good stories and mysteries has always been a struggle for the show - too often the season-long mystery has not involved enough of the central characters, and too often the four housewives have not had much to do. Sunday’s episode showed Bree once again without companionship, Gabrielle and Carlos lying to each other about two explosive secrets, Lynette scrambling to impress college friend Renee Perry, and Susan resorting to desperate measures to make some money. The final scene revelation that someone on Wisteria Lane was working with Felicia set up a fabulous twist - this season’s mystery isn’t a whodunnit but a “who will do it?”

The season premiere wasn’t perfect. Vanessa Williams’ new character Renee Perry has a little too much in common with her Ugly Betty character Wilhelmina Slater, while Susan and Mike’s romance has completely withered with their money problems to the point where I’m actually rooting for them to break up. All in all, though, this looks to be the season to beat for Desperate Housewives. Tune in Sunday nights for the best soap primetime has to offer!

--Lee

Report Card: All My Children

School is back in session, the soaps' fall story lines are in full swing and it's time for their grades! In the first of our Report Card series, you'll hear our thoughts and evaluations for All My Children. Find out which actors are doing A+ work, which stories need a change of attitude and which character needs a sweater.

All My Children

The story so far: In a surprising turn of events, Pine Valley's dastardly Dr. David Hayward was murdered at Caleb's fundraiser in front of the entire town. Whodunnit? Was it Ryan, our favorite anger-prone do-gooder? Was it Greenlee, the tortured and blackmailed wife? Was it someone else entirely? Time will tell, but in the meantime much of AMC is focused on its latest murder mystery.

What works: Compelling performances by Michael Nouri, Bobbie Eakes, Melissa Claire Egan and many other actors have elevated the decidedly generic material to a much more watchable final product. Nouri and Eakes have a very easy chemistry, one that I hope will be explored further in the coming months. Egan's Annie is a joy to watch, even when she's stuck in a story with three costars who aren't quite up to snuff. The quieter, more character driven stories are a hit as well; Debbie Morgan is doing the work of her career as the suddenly blind Angie, and the entire Hubbard clan continues to shine. Christina Bennett Lind is a find as Bianca, stepping into an enormous role with grace and elegance. I hope this sparkling newcomer gets a chance to shine on the front burner very soon.

What needs work: Enough with the murder mysteries already! It's quite clear that the writers have no idea who killed David and honestly, it is hard to care when there are so many other, more compelling characters without a story who are much more interesting than the forever tortured Ryan, Greenlee and Kendall. Speaking of things that aren't interesting, the Chandler family melodrama needs a big change, and soon. JR, Scott and Marissa are three very unlikeable characters for three very different reasons - JR is portrayed by Jacob Young as a wannabe tycoon without any redeeming qualities. Marissa, an ill-conceived character from the start, has become more milquetoast than ever, with quirky actress Brittany Allen not standing a chance against the extremely likable and fun portrayal of Annie by Melissa Claire Egan. Scott may as well be wearing argyle sweaters and picking flowers, because I don't buy Adam Mayfield's performance one bit as a smart, competent businessman.

Suggestions: Focus on the more relatable and interesting characters - Tad, Angie, Jesse, Damon, even Liza - and stop propping Ryan and Greenlee five days a week. Wrap up the murder quickly, cut the dead weight and bring the show back to basics with family and romance.

Grade: B-
--Lee

Crystal Chappell on Dayplayer Dish!

Hey soap fans! Make sure to listen to Dayplayer Dish this Sunday, September 18 at 6pm EST for an exciting interview with the fabulous Crystal Chappell! We're very excited to chat with Crystal about her extensive soap resume, Venice, and tons more! Be sure to listen at http://blogtalkradio.com/dayplayerdish and join us in the chatroom!

Colleen Zenk Stops by Dayplayerdish

Hello Soap fans! Be sure to tune in today at a special time(4PM EST/1PM PST) as we talk with As The World Turns star Collen Zenk.Hear her thoughts on ATWT ending, classic ATWT stories, favorite storylines, James Stenbeck memories, and her favorite Barbara moments. Only at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dayplayerdish/2010/09/05/dayplayerdish-31-with-colleen-zenk

Upcoming Interviews

Hey guys! We're excited to announce some amazing new interviews coming up on Dayplayer Dish. First up is Robert Newman, known for his role as Josh Lewis on Guiding Light, on August 29. Following Mr. Newman will be Colleen Zenk, the devious Barbara Ryan on September 6 (special time - 4pm EST). On September 12, we will be looking back at Guiding Light a year after its cancellation. Last but not least is Crystal Chappell, known for her various roles including Olivia on Guiding Light and Gina on Venice on September 19. Join us for an exciting month on Dayplayer Dish!

Dayplayer Dish Schedule

August 29 @ 6pm: Robert Newman

September 6 @ 4pm: Colleen Zenk

September 12 @ 6pm: Looking Back at Guiding Light

September 19 @ 6pm: Crystal Chappell

The Bay The Series Stops By Dayplayerdish

Hello Soap fans!(And Websoap fans!) Love. Sex. Lies. The Bay has it all, and we're going to learn all about it as Lee and Lauren talk with series creator Gregori J. Martin as well as soap veterans and The Bay stars Mary Beth Evans and Lilly Melgar. Learn all the juicy information on one of the most intriguing web soaps yet on Sunday, August 22!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dayplayerdish/2010/08/22/dayplayer-dish

This Sunday: Victoria Rowell!

Dayplayer Dish is pleased to announce that this Sunday, August 15 at 6pm Lee and Lauren will be interviewing the fabulous and talented Victoria Rowell! Known for her immensely successful run as Drucilla Winters on The Young and the Restless, Ms. Rowell will discuss her time on the television's #1 soap, her popular new novel Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva, her charity work and what's in store for her in the future! Join Lee and Lauren for this exciting interview at http://blogtalkradio.com/dayplayerdish!

GH Brenda Promo ~ The Three Men In Her Life ~ 8/3/10

Okay Lee! You win. I am officially excited about Vanessa's return to General Hospital. If her return to Port Charles ends up being a complete dud, I will at least tune in for the time being. I have to give it to the General Hospital/ABC Daytime promo department, they do know how to make one good ass promo.

As a former die hard Brenda and Sonny shipper, this promo just made my shipper heart swoon a little bit! Can't wait to see what Guza has in store for his favorite girl! From a fashion standpoint, Vanessa? Those boots are straight fiyah! Work it diva! ~Lauren

Top 25 Soap moments!

Here is the complete listing of our picks for Daytime's top 25 moments. To hear our commentary on these moments, you can check out our show :http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dayplayerdish/2010/07/25/dayplayer-dish


Lee and Lauren's Top 25 Soap Moments...
1. Luke and Laura's Wedding ~General Hospital
2. Bo kidnaps Hope on her Wedding Day~Days of Our Lives
3. Karen Wolek's testimony~One Life To Live
4. Stone dies of Aids~General Hospital
5. Reva baptizes herself the slut of Springfield ~Guiding Light
6. Luke and Noah's finally kiss~As The World Turns
7. BJ's heart~General Hospital
8. Phillip and Olivia too hot for TV love scene that leads to daytime censorship~Guiding Light
9. Marlena's Possession ~Days Of Our Lives
10. Luke rapes Laura at the Campus Disco ~General Hospital
11. Cassie's death~Young and The Restless
12. Ann's death~Bold and The Beautiful
13.Maura West's debut on ATWT ~As The World Turns
14. Bianca comes out of the closet~ All My Children
15. Olivia professes her love for Natalia ~Guiding Light
16. Aids Quilt storyline~One Life to Live
17.P&G cancels AW, GL and ATWT
18. The climax to the Paris,Texas storyline ~One Life To Live
19. Todd Rapes Marty 1992~One Life To Live
20. Rapemance(Todd and Marty) 2008 ~One Life To Live
21. Maureen dies ~Guiding Light
22. Sonny and Brenda confrontation over the wiretap (*Click Boom also*) ~General Hospital
23. Mary Ryan dies ~Ryan's Hope
24. Carly's buried alive~One Life To Live
25. Susan Lucci finally wins her Emmy! ~All My Children

Saving Soaps: Why it's time to break the rules!

Don't put two new characters in a room together. Don't kill off any legacy characters. Don't go against the grain. Simple is better.

Out of those four statements, which do you agree with in terms of soap operas? A "purist" may say that all of them are relevant, which I believe is true. However, I'm going to be bold (and maybe a little Beautiful) and say that simplicity is always better, but sometimes it's necessary to put two new characters in the same scene, kill off a "legacy" character and go against the grain in order to grow and thrive. So many times I've read that putting unfamiliar characters together alienates the viewer, that killing off legacy characters drives away longtime fans, and that trying new things and experimenting always leads to disaster. I don't think that's true at all. Here's a few moments where soaps broke rules... successfully.

Don't put two new characters together: OLTL's Kyle and Fish

Kyle was an unlikable med student who seemed destined for a quick exit to the show when he blackmailed Natalie, Jared, and Roxy. Fish was a minor cop whose sole purpose was comic relief. Then, out of nowhere, we learned that Kyle and Fish had a past with each other and were very much in love. By connecting these two random characters, the show created the best love story of 2009. That they were written out in 2010 is not a testament to success but a poor decision by network executives convinced the reason for low ratings was not a mixture of murder, rape and mayhem but a gentle, timely story of identity, family of choice, and love.

Don't kill off any legacy characters: GH's BJ Jones

Killing off a legacy character always leads to controversy, but killing off a CHILD legacy character is even riskier. GH pulled this off to stunning effect when they made the shocking decision to kill innocent, young BJ Jones in a bus crash. Written with grace and tragic beauty by Claire Labine, BJ's death led to the eventual end of Tony and Bobbie's marriage, saved Maxie's life through a heart transplant and brought the community of Port Charles together. Tony never fully recovered from his daughter's death, and on his eventual deathbed Tony gasped with happiness and comfort as he saw his daughter before passing on. In this case, the character's death changed the show forever and brought GH much acclaim and success.

Don't go against the grain: ATWT hires Hogan Sheffer

Soaps continue to hire from within, and time after time it has failed. Look at the countless runs of Megan McTavish, Jean Passanante, Chuck Pratt, Leah Laiman and many more. They are all talented writers in their own right, but they have burned out over the years and haven't delivered. When ATWT hired Hogan Sheffer, he revived the show and redefined it for a new era. Soaps need to continue to use new blood, look at Jill Lorie Hurst and Ron Carlivati! Both revitalized their soaps (GL and OLTL) and brought much acclaim to each soap.

What do you guys think soaps should be doing differently? Sound off in our comments section, we really want to hear from you!

--Lee

Top 10: The First Half of 2010

The year sure is flying by, isn't it? We're halfway through 2010 and the year in soaps have been incredible so far! Here's my top ten moments from 2010 so far...

10. Kim leaves her boots at the lake, OLTL
One of the most understated moments this year, Kim's goodbye to Stacy was poignant, powerful and showed the strength of Amanda Setton's acting ability. Whereas Stacy's actual death was ridiculously melodramatic and silly, we got to see another side of Kim when she broke down at the lake and took off the boots Clint gave her. It was Amanda Setton's best moment on the show and one of the best moments of OLTL this year.

9. Lulu and Dante finally hit the sheets, GH
It took long enough, but the-powers-that-be finally found a good love interest for Lulu. The slow burn, from their friendly banter to the romantic opera date really built rooting value for Lulu and Dante and when they finally made love this year it was sexy, romantic and a great payoff. That we've had one great love scene after another is icing on the cake for fans of this fun, dynamic and committed couple.

8. Adam leaves Pine Valley with Brooke, AMC
After a year of miserable, dark stories involving nothing but death and despair, All My Children remembered that soaps are about love in the afternoon and gave us an incredibly romantic reunion between Adam and newly returned Brooke. After his superficial romance with Annie and the accidental murder of Stuart, Adam found redemption in his former wife and the two left Pine Valley together to start a new life together. It was a great payoff and left the door open for either character to return somewhere down the line.

7. Luke and Reid kiss, ATWT
After years of running around with cardboard boyfriend Noah, Luke finally found passion in the icy Dr. Reid Oliver. Their kiss came out of nowhere to Luke, though not to fans who had been waiting for the moment for months. Bringing Reid in as a spoiler for "Nuke" proved to be controversial, but the kiss proved that for Luke, there could be life after Noah.

6. Kiefer beats Kristina and promptly becomes roadkill, GH
Though it had been building for months, we were stunned when Kiefer brutally beat Kristina - TWICE - until she passed out. It was not easy viewing, but the shocking twist made it all worth it when Alexis accidentally ran Kiefer down while rushing her daughter to the hospital. The ramifications of the event are still resonating today; Kristina has projected her anger and distrust onto Sonny, and Alexis has incurred the wrath of Kiefer's diabolical father, Warren.

5. Chance loses his virginity to Chloe, Y&R
It was a slow-burn love story with a twist - the male half of the couple, Chance, had never had sex. When they finally consummated their relationship, it wasn't filled with cheesy, romance novel paraphernalia, it was just fun and playful. There's not another couple like Chance and Chloe on soaps today, which is a shame, because they are just adorable and fun to watch.

4. Stacy gives birth to Sierra Rose, OLTL
The culmination of a year-long story arc involving most of the younger cast, OLTL wisely chose to redeem Stacy in her final moments on the show by having her reconcile with Gigi after giving birth to her and Oliver's baby girl. The story of the girls' dolls leading up to the naming of Sierra Rose was poignant and sad, which helped us feel sorry for Stacy after she drowned in the lake.

3. Markko learns of Langston and Ford's affair, OLTL
It had been months in the making when Markko finally walked in on Langston in the throes of passion with Ford. Devastated, Markko cried, "I would never do that to you!" as Langston wasn't sure whether to tell the truth or keep lying. In all his years on the show, Jason Tam was never given such powerful material and it was wonderful to see the talented actor show his stuff.

2. Michael is sentenced to five years in prison, GH
In a devastating turn of events, Michael was sentenced to jail after confession to killing Claudia to save Carly and Josslyn. The ruling devastated everyone involved and served as a sobering moment to both Sonny and Dante, both of whom were indirectly responsible for the ruling. The moment also wrapped up the trial, which was GH's best story all year.

1. Sonny shoots Dante, GH
"My God, Sonny! You just shot your own son!" Olivia cried as she fell to the ground in a desperate attempt to save Dante. Sonny's horrified and devastated reaction to the realization that Dante was his son was years in the making and Olivia's scream set to the church music as Josslyn was baptized made for riveting watching. It was another brutal story, but the writing was so sharp and the acting so raw that it was all worth it.

Tell us your top moments so far this year in the comments section!
--Lee

Upcoming Interviews

Hey everyone! Hope you guys like the fabulous new blog design! Here's a schedule of our upcoming interviews!

July 11: SOW's Mala Bhattacharjee
July 18: Writer Jim McCann

He said/She said... Brenda Returns to GH

He said...

After almost seven years, Vanessa Marcil is coming back to General Hospital as Brenda Barrett. We last saw Brenda leaving for Europe after a failed wedding to Jax and haven’t heard from her since (unless you count the mysterious burned girl from season one of Night Shift). This August, we’ll finally find out what the fabulous model’s been up to since she left Port Charles, and from what I’ve heard, it’s a doozy. I think that Brenda’s return is a great move for the show. Brenda’s got connections everywhere - she’s been married or involved with Jason, Sonny and Jax, she’s Robin’s best friend and Carly and Skye’s enemy. There’s a ton of potential with Brenda returning to Port Charles and I can’t wait.

Unlike my gal Lauren, I think Brenda’s last return was gangbusters (no pun intended... maybe). She came back to town in the midst of a mob war and found herself torn between Sonny and Luis Alcazar, the man who saved her when she was presumed dead. She unintentionally broke up the marriages of Sonny and Carly and Jax and Skye, was forced to marry Jason so they wouldn’t have to testify against each other in court and participated in one of my favorite scenes in GH history, the “Amazing Grace” montage.

Do I think the powers that be will capitalize on Vanessa Marcil’s immense talent and give her the meaty story she deserves? It depends. I have a feeling (a STRONG feeling) that her return will connect with James Franco’s story, but hopefully more will come after that.

She said...

So the industry is buzzing over the impending return of Vanessa Marcil's return to General Hospital Everyone should be happy, jumping for joy, after all, Bob Guza has been dreaming for her return to General Hospital forever! I don't count her botched return(in my opinion in 2003)as a "real return" So why am I so meh on her impending arrival?I always have this love/hate relationship with General Hospital. This is where I set the bar for General Hospital, and then, they come back and disappoint me over and over.. So with Vanessa's return, I will show you what I mean..

What Lauren wants: Brenda And Sonny circa 1993
What GH will give her: Brenda following Sonny around like a sick love puppy, complaining about the mob.

What Lauren wants: Brenda modeling for Crimson, interacting with Kate(after all their paths should have crossed since Kate was such a high profile person in the fashion industry, mentoring Maxie and Lulu, actually having storylines involved around the magazine.
What GH will give: Maxie and Lulu sabotaging Brenda's modeling career, and Kate still off screen.

What Lauren Wants: Brenda to engage into a younger affair with Johnny, thus having a great cougar triangle involving Olivia
What GH will give her: Brenda, Olivia and Johnny sitting around talking about how great Sonny is.

Do I think that Vanessa's return will be a booster? Yes.

Do I have faith that Bob Guza will give Marcil a meaty storyline to sink her teeth into?(think Brenda sitting up Sonny with the Wire tap) probably not.

The problem with these "BIG" returns such as Marcil's, is that a lot of the time the writers will try to recreate that storyline magic, or go back to the hype of years past. With the soap industry barely hanging on, nowadays it's hard to have a great build up storyline. It's usually either the viewer has grown accustomed to the fast pacing of the storylines, and thus will not wait around for the buildup, or the writer will give up easily, or make the storyline so tedious and ridiculous, that both the writer and the viewer eventually gives up.

While Lee loved Vanessa's previous return(in which she won a Emmy) I personally think it wasn't all that great. I guess, I fell into that category of trusting the writers to recreate the magic of Sonny and Brenda, Brenda's friendships throughout Port Charles, making her an umbrella storyline character.

Unfortunately for me, it fell flat and I was actually glad Brenda left town, yet once again. Don't get me wrong, I was a hugggge Brenda and Sonny shipper back in the day, but I feel the hype of Vanessa Marcil will be sadly placed on wishful thinking. I just don't trust the writers to give her a storyline that will give the character justice. I would love to be proven wrong<>span>

New Blog Design

Please excuse the mess while The Posh Box re-designs our blog.

Empire Season Two Review

For those of you that are bored with your daytime soaps, I strongly suggest checking out Empire: The Series (www.empiretheseries.com). The little web soap aired its second season finale tonight, and I thought I'd take a few moments to give my thoughts on the show's excellent run so far.

Season Two of Empire was like the second seasons of Dynasty and Knots Landing in that we had scheming interlopers connected to the rest of the canvas in dynamic ways (think Joan Collins and Donna Mills). In this case, we had Guiding Light stars Tina Sloan and Orlagh Cassidy join the cast as Theodora Grant Haven and Colleen Lively. Sloan's Theodora schemed her way into the family fortune while Cassidy's Colleen desperately tried to gain fame (or infamy) through exploiting her troubled teenage daughter Lucy (played by promising newcomer Afton Boggiano). Colleen and Lucy brought new depth to the show as Marin's (Kate Forsatz) mother and sister, adding a fun second family to the show.

Ryan Clardy (who we interviewed a few weeks back!) had more to do as Cane Haven, the gay black sheep of the Haven family, finding himself the unwitting guardian of last season's underage hooker Jake (Toby Levin). We also met Cane's boyfriend, Alex (Fabio Tallercio), a nice guy with a slightly insincere edge. Also expanded were the roles of Haven patriarch Cubbie (Richard Flight) and matriarch Sandra (Kathryn Neville Brown), as Sandra took desperate measures to hold on to the ideal life she wanted with her husband and kids. Cute, sweet maid Katherine Valentine (Annalisa Derr) also found herself thrust onto the front burner in a story too fun to spoil.

Not faring so well this season were last season's pivotal players, Marin, Thomas (Chris Douros) and Evan (Nick Lewis). Last season's central love triangle, this story absolutely fizzled this year with Thomas spending most of his time in jail and Marin and Evan's romance falling flat. Without having Thomas around to bother Evan and control Marin, the story felt forced, labored and an afterthought to the fun stories going on around them.

The highlight of the season, in my opinion, was the rivalry between Sandra and Katherine. Though Annalisa Derr often slips into camp, she and costar Kathryne Neville Brown had crackling chemistry in their scenes and perfectly summed up what Empire is - a fun, frothy, campy soap that aims to simply entertain. The season finale was fun, too, although the acting in the funeral scene (not saying who died! You'll need to watch for yourself) needed to be reeled in a bit. Make sure you watch past the credits for a fun final twist.

All in all, I give Empire: The Series' second season a B. It's still rough around the edges, with the acting occasionally ridiculous and the production values still at odds with the good storytelling, but this beats the hell out of any other web soap out there right now. I recommend you watch it now!

Live Blog: The 2010 Daytime Emmy Awards

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES ABOUND... WE'RE STOPPING THE LIVEBLOG BUT STAY TUNED FOR OUR THOUGHTS THIS WEEK!

9:50: Lauren: Did I spy with my little eye Martha Byrne in that tribute? And that's it?

9:48: The Hensleys are about to give the ATWT tribute I think.

9:47: Lee: DREW TYLER BELL WINS BEST YOUNGER ACTOR!!!! OH. EM. GEE. FOOT IN MOUTH.

9:45: Lee: This is like a Las Vegas infomercial. Congrats to The Doctors (not the soap...)

9:43: Lee: ...Blue Man Group. I'm failing to see the Daytime connection...

9:36: Lee: Okay, so Julie and Billy deserve the awards, despite my preferences.

9:34: Outstanding game show... CASH CAB!

9:33: Lauren: BILLY MILLER!
WHOOHOO! I got 1

9:32: Supporting Actor... BILLY MILLER!!!

9:31: Lee: I get that you need an interesting show but cut the production numbers and announce the awards!

9:25: We're off to an interesting start. Lauren: Wow that was a shocker for Julie Pinson to win, I thought she should have won for Port Charles, but happy for her, and that was a long tribute to Dick Clark, loved Susan getting her boogie on!


It's the biggest night of the year for soaps! Lauren and I will be updating this post throughout the night as we watch all the shenanigans unfold, so keep checking back to hear our latest opinions!

Molly Burnett Stops By DayplayerDish

Hey Days of our lives fans, join us tonight at 6pm EST/ 3pm PST, when Molly Burnett(Melanie) stops by to dish on her fabulous role as Melanie on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, What's it like working with some of the show's biggest stars? How does she feel about her Emmy nomination and her guest spot on True Blood. Find out only at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dayplayerdish/2010/06/06/dayplayer-dish

Weeds Promo

I know this is a soap opera dedicated blog, but I can't help but to plug one of my favorite nighttime "soapy" dramedy Weeds. This season looks deliciously, soapy. Weeds returns this August, only on Showtime. Trust me, it's worth DVRing right next to ATWT or DOOL. ~Lauren

It's a June Jamboree!

Hey all! It's been a rough week for soaps but that's not stopping us from marching on and bringing you exciting and unique guests for our podcast! This month's guests include a young Emmy nominee, a dashing web soap hunk and an up-and-coming starlet who DAYS fans may recognize!

June 6: Molly Burnett (Melanie, DAYS)
June 13: Jillian Clare (ex-Abby, DAYS)
June 20: Ryan Clardy (Cane, EMPIRE)

Get ready for a fun and exciting month, only at Dayplayer Dish!
-Lee and Lauren

Genuine Shocker: ABC Daytime Replaces SOAPNet with Disney Junior?!

Not sure what to say about this, really. Read all about it HERE.

We'll talk about this sad news later this week. For now, leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Dream Summer Preview: One Life to Live

Hey guys! Hope you liked the All My Children stories I concocted! I had so much fun doing them that I went ahead and did some for One Life to Live. Hope you enjoy these! Don't forget to comment on your favorites/least favorites!

One Life to Live
It's a Summer filled with healing, romance and redemption for the citizens of Llanview after a dark first half of the year. Look for love, friendship and family to come to the forefront.

John/Natalie/Jessica/Brody: Natalie and Brody decide to keep their tryst a secret for the time being, not wanting to hurt John or Jessica. Brody's guilt begins to eat at him, though, and he eventually gathers the courage and decency to tell her. Jessica's reaction is a turning point for her; rather than hide from her problems via a different personality, she decides to take charge of her life, which leads to her diving into her job as a journalist. Natalie and John begin a heated romance, but a shocking twist will forever change Natalie's life. Brody, meanwhile, tries to get Jessica back, and it is slowly revealed that his mental state may be more fragile than he thought.

Viki/Charlie/Dorian/David: David wants to get back together with Dorian, who is more than happy to have David as her boy-toy once again. Viki and Charlie are happy and married, but Viki begins to worry about Charlie when he claims he got a phone call from Jared! Thinking it's another one of Mitch's cruel schemes, Viki and Charlie try to get to the bottom of things and may end up in peril. When Dorian and David try to help, the four end up on a ridiculous adventure that lands them back in Paris, TX where Dorian encounters a man from her recent past that will shake things up even more.

Starr/Cole/Langston/Markko: Hannah is ultimately revealed to be the one who pushed Marty down the stairs and beat up Ford. After she's hauled off to a mental hospital, Hannah makes a friend with connections to the teens and the two girls begin a dark and devious plan. Langston breaks things off with Ford and tries to fix things with Markko, who moves back in with his parents. Starr and Cole decide living together isn't a good idea and both go back to live with Blair and Marty. The older teen set generally takes a back seat this summer, but with Hannah and the mystery girl scheming, things explode in August. Maybe literally.

The Younger Kids: Danielle breaks up with Matthew and starts dating Nate, who has a stunning connection to Blair and Marty. His mother Inez clashes with Todd, Tea, and Blair. Destiny gives up on her ongoing crush on Matthew and volunteers at a nursing home, where she meets someone from Llanview's past. It's a very touching and heartwarming story. Matthew, meanwhile, meets Isabella, Markko's younger sister, and falls hard for her.

Blair/Marty/Todd/Kelly/Eli/Tea/Greg/Rachel/Inez: Why did Inez and Nate move to Llanview? The reason is stunning and changes Blair and Marty's lives forever. Tea is able to have brain surgery and begins to grow closer with Greg, but Rachel returning to town will throw a wrench in things. Todd and Rachel find themselves inadvertently thrown together one stormy night and the two find a new appreciation for each other, but things take a turn for the worse when Tea and Greg catch them in a strange position. Inez will become close with Marty, who is healing from her miscarriage. Blair is unhappy to find an easy chemistry between Eli and Kelly, and is distracted when Ross Rayburn returns to town.

Christian/Layla/Kyle/Fish: Look for the return of Kyle and Fish as Christian and Layla prepare for their wedding. These two couples are really going to show that soap couples can be fun, exciting and filled with drama without breaking them up. The four represent the more stable side of Llanview adults, but that doesn't mean they are without story. Kyle grows worried when Fish and the Llanview PD start investigating a series of kidnappings. When one of the four vanishes, the others unite to find the truth.

What are your thoughts, soap fans? Does my OLTL sound any better than the real OLTL? Let us know!
--Lee

Dream Summer Preview: All My Children

Bored by this year's Summer previews from all the magazines? Dayplayer Dish has your tonic! Here's my (Lee) dream "Summer Preview" for my favorite soaps. Be sure to comment on YOUR dream Summer previews!

All My Children

It's a Summer of familiar faces and new beginnings for the citizens of Pine Valley as various crises bring back Pine Valley's younger generation.

The Kane/Montgomery Family: Bianca returns to Pine Valley to deal with her mother's disappearance. Bianca's not the only Montgomery returning, though; a surprise visit from Reggie delights a heartbroken Jack, but Reggie's got more on his mind than helping Jack cope. He wants to find his biological family, and another streetwalker-turned-Pine Valley-ite may be the key to finding his mother. Bianca, meanwhile, clashes with Greenlee, who learns a secret about Reese that will blow Bianca out of the water. Also look for the late-Summer return of Sean Montgomery in a story that audiences will really enjoy.

The Hubbard Family: Angie is stunned when she is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Rather than turn to Jesse for help, Angie grows reclusive and withdraws from everyone who loves her. And Jesse and Angie's marriage fall apart when Jesse meets a mysterious woman connected to another Pine Valley citizen. Randi and Frankie decide to try and have a child, but a new woman in town will make Randi very insecure about her relationship with Frankie. Natalia and Brot finally embark on a relationship and are happily "in like" with each other, but when Cassandra returns to town to deal with her mother's illness, a new sibling rivalry beings to heat up.

The Chandlers: Annie loves Scott. Scott loves Annie. Annie lusts for JR. JR lusts for Annie. JR loves Marissa. Marissa? SCORNED. Look for Marissa to grow a backbone as she takes on Annie with the help of David and Greenlee. Gas-lighting takes on a whole new meaning as Marissa slowly begins to make Annie question her sanity. Greenlee and Marissa develop a friendship. JR's conflicting emotions drive him back to the bottle, while Scott begins to drift into a depression. Someone surprising will provide emotional tonic for him towards the end of the Summer. Colby begins a romance with Damon, but is shocked when Petey Cortlandt returns to town a dashing hunk!

The Martin and Colby Families: Tad and Damon slowly begin a father/son relationship. Krystal and Tad grow closer, as Liza resorts to scheming to take Damon down. Look for the return of Marian from the psychiatric ward, but will her return prompt Liza to come to her senses or enable Liza to scheme even further? At the end of the Summer, Liza does something drastic that will forever change the dynamic between the Martin and Colby families.

That's all I got for now, folks! Tune in later this week for more dream summer previews!

--Lee

Why General Hospital is Like an Abusive Relationship (or, why Judge Carroll deserves an Emmy)

Hey, soap fans! Sorry the blog's been kind of stagnant lately. Between my (Lee) getting a (paying) job and Lauren working hard to secure all our great guests, we've had no time to dish out new content. Well, the drought is over now, and you have General Hospital to thank for it.

If you watched GH at all this month, you have seen the Port Charles trial of the century as Sonny went on trial for Claudia's murder. As we all know, Michael was the real killer and Sonny and Co. have been trying to cover it up since November. I initially HATED the story. I resented the fact that Michael murdering his step-mother was being treated like a heroic act and that Sonny arrogantly told him, "Ya did good!" I also resented Michael devolving into a brat, running around town spouting orders at people and threatening everyone with violence. For months, changing the channel to Dr. Phil was my only escape from the Heroic Murderers show.

...then came Sonny's trial. It began with a bang (literally) as Sonny, in cold blood, shot Dante as Josslyn was being baptized. Olivia's scream and infamous line "My God, Sonny! You just shot your own son!" immediately got me hooked again. For the first time in YEARS, the amoral attitude of the show's main characters was being addressed. The trial, led by incredible guest star Dakin Matthews as Judge Carroll, incorporated the show's best actors, including Blake Gibbons' Coleman on the jury and Dahlia Salem as the rabid and ruthless prosecuting attorney Claire Walsh. For the first time, Sonny was getting his comeuppance and couldn't do a thing about it. I literally laughed out loud when Sonny quietly threatened Claire. Her response, loudly: "Did you just threaten me in open court?!" It was BRILLIANT.

Of course, the trial ended in dramatic fashion after Dante convinced Michael to take the stand, resulting in Michael being sentenced to two years in prison. After Judge Carroll delivered the speech I've been waiting years to hear, condemning all the adults in Michael's life and blaming them for Michael's behavior, tears were shed, threats were issued, Carly got put in her place by Tracy, and my life was complete.

Until Sonny and Carly had their 800th round of grief sex.

In one horrible decision, the show is back to square one. Carly should know better than to sleep with Sonny at this point! What, does she want to bring ANOTHER doomed child into this world? Does NOTHING get through that woman's head?!

That, ladies and gents, is why GH is like an abusive relationship. They deliver Emmy-worthy story of the year, only to revert back to the same old tricks and plot devices that get them into these slumps in the first place. I hope when Jax finds out Carly slept with Sonny - again - he dumps her and goes for Claire Walsh (if she and Sonny don't do the nasty first).

What do you guys think? Is GH, or any of your soaps, treating you like royalty one minute and spitting on you the next? Let us know in the comments section!
--Lee

May Day! May Day! Days promo is on fire!

If you listened to the podcast last Sunday, then you know that my pick for most anticipated soap for May Sweeps is Days of Our Lives. The promo is on fire! I am so glad NBC (for whatever reason) started to invest in DOOL again! The scene with Victor and all of his ex-wives? Classic! Can't wait. ~LA

The Stereotypes of Soaps Are Dying, Has Run Its Course!

We Love Soaps posted an article this morning from Cincinnatitoday.com, which interviews P&G global marketing officer Mark Pritchard. Mr. Pritchard offers his opinion on why “daytime dramas have run their course.” I find it funny that in the same article, it discusses how instrumental P&G is working to help bring back the dynamics of watching television together as a family. Mr. Pritchard states that “People tell us that they want more shows to watch together as a family, or appealing to all family members." Well, Mr. Pritchard, let me tell you a little bit about my family. My grandmother started out as an avid soap opera watcher, she would listen to Guiding Light on the radio, and later, when it made the transition to television, she followed. When she had her children, they became avid soap watchers. I would be told countless stories on how they would all would sit around the small black and white television, and watch the soaps right along with my grandmother. My uncles included. My mother went onto to college, and when she would come home, she would sit around, and discuss soaps with my grandmother. Flash-forward to when I was born, I followed in my family’s tradition, and became addicted to soaps (that and the reason I was told to either shutup or take a nap when my grandmother’s stories were on). Once a week, my grandmother, my mother, and I, would all get on a three way telephone call and discuss the latest on soaps.

So you see Mr. Pritchard, I disagree, daytime dramas haven’t run their course, it’s all about adapting, and reinventing yourself(this means those who are in charge of these dying soaps) to the audiences. I’m sure my grandmother was hesitant in making the change to watch Guiding Light on television, but she did it. Why? Because she believed, and loved her soaps. She would follow the Bauers, and the Hughes anywhere. When my mother went into the workforce, she was hesitant that a VCR would not record her soaps, but she taped them anyway? Why? Because she remembered the good times she had watching the soaps with my grandmother. Today, I DVR, watch soaps online, and try to watch the soaps at their scheduled broadcast time, Why? Because I remember how we would all come together as a family, and discuss our soaps.

Mr. Pritchard, you are wrong. Daytime dramas haven’t run its course. Tell that to Martha Byrne, Michael O’Leary, and Crystal Chappell, beloved soap opera veterans who love, and support this genre so much, that they are reinventing the wheel so to speak, by taking the successful formula of old school soap story telling to the web. Coincidentally, they were all former employees of Proctor and Gamble, the company in which Mr. Pritchard works for.

I hate when these once a year articles come out, where we get these quotes by the people in charge, who offer their “wisdom”, in one sentence that always speak doom and gloom to the soap genre. When we interviewed Martha Byrne, I learned more about how to market, creative ways to reach your audience, and what executives think in terms of marketing to the audiences, in that one hour, than I have learned from the powers that be in my twenty plus years of watching soaps. You say Daytime dramas have run their course? Show me, don’t tell me. Show me on Twitter, where there are millions of fans tweeting in 140 characters or less, about their soaps day in and day out! Show me at a So Long Springfield event, where thousands of fans show up, and support the cast of Guiding Light. Tell me where you are losing viewers, when myself, and millions of others DVR, or tape their soaps,yet the Nielsen ratings is what you look at, and conclude that daytime is dying. I leave you with the wise words of my grandmother “ if you want it dead, than you will have to kill it yourself!” Of course she was talking about a spider at the time, but it’s so fitting for the daytime genre! :) ~Lauren

OLTL Just Got Kate Howard'ed

It's been a bad week for soaps, mainly One Life to Live. In case you haven't heard, notorious show-killer Jean Passanante has been hired as Associate Head Writer of the show. Ron Carlivati will continue as head writer but rumor has it that he'll be out when his contract is up in June. This is particularly bad news for the show, which has been going through a lot of negative changes the past few weeks. As the entire soap world knows, OLTL has seen a casting bloodbath the past month, with fan favorites Brett Claywell, Scott Evans and Scott Clifton being fired, and talented newcomer Amanda Setton quitting. What is going ON over there?

Some people have blamed Ron Carlivati for the show's sudden nose-dive in quality the past few weeks; I am going to disagree and blame it on the "higher-ups" at ABC. The ratings have been low, the budgets are getting smaller, and rumors of the show's cancellation have gotten louder and louder. What I can't understand, though, is the decision to bring on JEAN PASSANANTE, known for her sub-par work on a variety of soaps and known for being the head writer of Another World when it was cancelled. Passanante's had a long run on As The World Turns, the end result being... CANCELLATION. I'd say someone should prepare the death knell for OLTL, as this cannot be a good thing.

Listen to next week's Dayplayer Dish for our thoughts on the show's sorry state, in addition to the sinking ship that is the entire soap industry. Be sure to leave us some comments about what your thoughts on all the latest soap crises.

--Lee

Appealing Soap Stars #2 General Hospital's Megan Ward

This past Sunday we had the privilege of interviewing the fabulous Megan Ward. Our interview with Megan was nothing short of awesome. Not only did Megan provide her take on the Kate character, and the relationship with Sonny(and Coleman), but she also provided a window into what it's like working in a soap, and why things come across to viewers the ways they sometimes do. So why is Megan Ward so damn appealing? The answer is simple. Megan Ward is sophistication personified. Let’s look at her character Kate for example. When Megan embodies the role of Kate, the physical transformation begins. She wears her clothes, they do not wear her, and her hair should rule the world.

The pairing of Sonny and Kate became popular in a heart beat; many people fell in love with Skate, and endured the many plot contrivances keeping the couple apart. Then something tragic happened, the words nobody wants to see, MEGAN WARD BUMPED to recurring status. Trust me, this was devastating to us, but in the back on your mind you rationalize, you say to yourself, “Well at least she is free to pursue other projects.” While you hope that the powers to be come to their senses, and realize Kate/Megan should not be recurring.

Kate is truly a fascinating character, and it’s great to have an actress who is all about subtlety, and portraying emotions through facial expressions to get her point across, when the dialogue isn’t always there. I like when my actors show me, and don’t tell me the story. Seriously, go back and watch Megan’s early scenes. Like when Kate reacted when Carly threatened to sleep with Sonny, and told her how inadequate Kate is. There is a shadow of pain, then she comes right back with the inner knowledge that SHE has known Sonny longer than Carly, Megan totally rocks those types of scenes.

It’s a shame that TPTB fail to realize what a gem they have in Megan. Her fan base is huge, and they are behind her 100%, and like I said before, Megan Ward is a major find for General Hospital. She is just terrific; she adds so much nuance to every scene and with her impressive resume, she has only tipped the iceberg! You never know what to expect from her next. Keep an eye out for her; she will never cease to amaze you!

If you are a fan of Megan Ward, be sure to sign this petition http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/meganward/ and check out these sites: The Heart and the Hope board:
http://z4.invisionfree.com/sonnykate/index.php?
The Megan Haven board:
http://z8.invisionfree.com/themeganward/index.php?
The ColKate board:
http://z6.invisionfree.com/colkate/
Here you will find various campaigns on how to get Megan back on our screens five days of week, where she rightfully belongs.--Lauren

General Hospital's Next Superstar: Lexi Ainsworth as Kristina Davis

WOW. That's the one word I have to say after watching this week's riveting General Hospital. I take that back. WOW is the one word I have to say after watching the riveting Lexi Ainsworth SLAM DUNK a story that could have been extremely stereotypical and trite. In the shocking and uncomfortable climax in the Kristina/Keifer relationship abuse story, we watched the beautiful Ainsworth brutally beaten by Keifer (played with an unnerving accuracy by Christian Alexander) after being manhandled by an angry Ethan (the charming Nathan Parsons). Left barely conscious by her monster of a boyfriend, Ainsworth didn't hold back, allowing the audience - no, forcing the audience - to witness the tragic and heartbreaking aftermath of a beautiful young girl whose innocence was unfairly beaten to the ground. The sobs of pain, sorrow and fear Ainsworth let out went right through me.

The amazing performance continued when Ethan delivered Kristina to the hospital. Reacting like any teenager would, Ainsworth was uninhibited in Kristina's tenuous emotional state as Kristina cried and cried, letting us know that she was in pain and that she was very scared. Completely outshining her older costars (namely the scenery-chewing Maurice Bernard), Ainsworth made sure that the story was about HER pain and anguish, NOT her narcissistic father's. The scenes in which Kristina begged Sonny not to kill Ethan (it was Keifer who hit her, after all) not only rang true but showed us the shameful effect Sonny's lifestyle has had on his children.

This story is one of GH's finest in years. While some have said that the story is too focused on the men and Kristina's lies, I see the story from Kristina's perspective, all thanks to Lexi Ainsworth and her outstanding performances. Not since Becky Herbst's Emmy-winning rape story have I been this invested in a teenager on a soap. Props must also go out to Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis) for smacking down on Sonny when he tried to assert his power concerning putting a hit out on Ethan. Her seething "damn you" will not soon be forgotten.

The story is not easy viewing; watching a beautiful young woman being brutalized and tormented at the hands of a sadistic man does not always make for good soap, but in this case, the performances have elevated it to something much more exciting, and much more relevant.

--Lee

The rainbow just hit the fan.

Warning: This blog entry contains major spoilers regarding a major story on One Life to Live. While Dayplayer Dish is not the first to break the story, it is advised you stop reading here if you don't want to be spoiled.

Here's what you do when you don't find the rainbow's end: write off the most groundbreaking and realistically written couple on the show. In what has got to be the most ridiculous and pathetic move made by the executives at ABC Daytime in a good long while, One Life to Live has announced that at the conclusion of the Sierra Rose saga, Oliver Fish and Kyle Lewis will be written off the show.

Devastated? Wait until you hear the reasoning: the ratings were down in November, when Dorian orchestrated a mass gay wedding. Because of the low ratings, Frank Valentini believes that Kyle and Fish never really caught on with the "mainstream audience" and need to be written off.

According to Valentini, "Kish" will get a happy ending as Fish claims Sierra Rose as his own and starts a family with Kyle. Part of me is glad that the show isn't backpedaling and making Rex the true father of the little girl, but this development reminds me of last year's baby switch resolution in which Marcie and Michael left the show after returning baby Hope to Starr and Cole. Marcie, a beautiful but overweight woman, could be considered a "minority" in the world of soaps, and once her story wrapped up she and her husband left town with little fanfare. Now in Ron Carlivati's THIRD baby saga (first with Tommy/Sam, then Chloe/Hope and now Sierra Rose), the minority couple will actually get the baby but also fade in the background so more "important" characters like self-involved Rex and Gigi can once again claim the front burner.

And let's face it - Fish and Kyle were never actually front burner characters. At the height of their story we got maybe three episodes of them a week. Clearly they couldn't have been the ONLY reason the ratings were so low in November. Are we forgetting Mitch Lawrence's umpteenth return? Jared dying a horrible and cruel death? Endless episodes of Nigel and Neville on the phone with one another? Nope, it must have been the offensive and immoral reconciliation of two college lovers who just happened to both be guys.

I'm not being unrealistic here; I know that middle America is still behind the times when it comes to gay visibility, or any visibility for that matter. But in the past, soaps were used to educate audiences on topics that were otherwise taboo or considered untouchable; let's not forget Carla Gray turning out to be the black Clara, Wanda Wolek leading a second life as a prostitute, Marty overcoming a brutal and cruel gang rape at the hands of three fraternity brothers, or even Reverend Andrew forcing Llanview to face their own homophobia by helping Billy Douglas come out of the closet and bringing the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt to town.

With Kyle and Fish off the show, the producers are not only letting two talented young men go (both Brett Claywell and Scott Evans have Emmy pre-nominations) but are taking away a piece of Llanview's colorful and diverse community. Last year, we were introduced to several new minority characters, including the return of Nora Buchanan's biracial daughter Rachel. With recent confirmation of Rachel's exit, along with Kyle and Fish fading into the background, the show is sadly closing off the Llanview community to anyone whose name isn't Buchanan, Lord or Morasco.

What are your thoughts on Kyle and Fish exiting the show? Let us know in the comments section, and please keep it respectful and calm.

Since when do we really only have One Life to Live?

--Lee

If Janet Ciccone were on Twitter!

Poor As the World Turns Janet. What a rough week for her. First, she performed her daily routine of me, me, me, why, why, why, and then, she finds out that she is pregnant. I wonder if Janet were on twitter, what would some of her tweets look like? Now for all you twitter fans out there, you know you must keep all tweets under 140 characters, and you sometimes get creative with a hashtag. So without further adieu, I present Janet Ciccone’s twitter account. (Disclaimer: I’m actually a fan of Julie Pinson/Janet this is just some silly fun!)

Dusty is following me around like a little lost puppy. U would think I would get a kick out of it, since he is talking about my fav subj #ME
6 minutes ago via Uber Twitter

#Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me #Me
5 minutes ago via Uber Twitter

Liberty is sick. Me. Me. Jack. Me. Me. Carly how could you. No. Me. Baby. Liberty is sick. Me. No. Dusty. Liberty is sick. Dusty. Jack #ME
4 minutes ago via Uber Twitter

Jack really needs to make this baby with me. Who cares about Carly and if he is not in love with me. Liberty is sick. #Letsmakeababy
3 minutes ago via Uber Twitter

Liberty is sick. Carly will never win! #IWillNotLose
2 minutes ago via Uber Twitter

I’m Pregnant!!?!?!?!?! Fu…… #Who’sTheDaddy
1 minute ago via Uber Twitter

March Madness on Dayplayer Dish!

What's up, soap fans? We've got some exciting stuff coming up on the podcast! Here's our March schedule:

February 28: General Hospital's Brandon Barash

March 14: Gotham's Lisa Peluso

March 21: General Hospital's Megan Ward

Stay tuned for more excitement as we get into March Madness and beyond!

Five Questions About Steamboat With Michael O'Leary!

After the launch of Steamboat we got in touch with Michael O'Leary to ask him some followup questions. Here are five "important" questions about the breakout web series!

Q: Is Michael and Dirk's friendship based on a real-life friendship or relationship derived from your experiences at GL?

A: Dirk and Michael are based on experiences rather than a specific person. The attitude of Dirk is a mix of several people.

Q: What has the experience been like working on this project with so many of your friends and colleagues?

A: The experience has not been unlike GL! The same fun! But the good news is that people I rarely work with i.e. Kim Zimmer now I do!

Q: If Steamboat was a real soap opera, would it have been created by Douglas Marland, Agnes Nixon, or Irna Phillips?

A: That is a good question. All three had great humor in their writing. I think if they did attempt it they would be successful.

Q: What is Dirk's most famous storyline from Steamboat?

A: Famous? Not sure that has yet to happen. One of the next stories will be a paid appearance at a Foodline grocery store that doesn't go well.

Q: What would Rhonda LIKE to be doing instead of running the sinking ship that seems to be Steamboat?

A: Rhonda likes to travel. She loves Italy and like's the best Hotels.{Hassler in Rome} So she has to keep that budget down! It is amazing how much money you safe with a few less bagel's for the crew.

Thanks to Michael for the great answers!

Now THAT'S how you do a web soap: Michael O'Leary's Steamboat

In a surprising move, Michael O'Leary's new web series, Steamboat, was released on YouTube this morning. I wish there had been more fanfare surrounding the debut, but I have a feeling this show is going to succeed on word-of-mouth buzz alone. Steamboat is the latest in a string of web series created by soap vets, and its debut episode was easily the most solid first episode a web soap has seen since Karen Harris' Life in General (which unfortunately never saw a second episode). With hilarious writing, great acting and solid directing, Steamboat has made an excellent first impression that has left me excited for the second episode!

Following "Most Loved Soap, Steamboat," a desperate, last-place soap in a documentary (or is it mockumentary?) format, the first episode of Steamboat brilliantly lampooned product placement, line memorization and backstage cynicism, introduced a great cast, and ended with an excellent punch-line that neither actor involved will soon live down - nor will they want to!

Congratulations to Michael O'Leary and his cast and crew on a triumphant first episode. We can't wait to see what's in store for Episode 2!

Steamboat Episode 1 on Youtube

Dayplayer Dish's Michael O'Leary Interview

Love Makes the World Go 'Round - Gotham: The Series Review

If you listen to our weekly podcast, you know that Lauren and I can't get enough of the web soap craze currently going on. I have wanted to formally review one, but hesitated because these small nuggets of soap are really works-in-progress and often leave a lot to be desired... at first. Now that Gotham: The Series just released their 7th episode, I think it's fair to review the show and see what works and what doesn't.

Gotham: The Series was created by Martha Byrne, known for her role as Lily Snyder on As the World Turns. Byrne, who left the role of Lily in a cloud of controversy, writes and stars in the series, which focuses on the burgeoning rekindled romance of Catherine Prescott (Byrne) and Richard Manning, played by As the World Turns' Michael Park (Jack). Catherine, recently divorced from husband Jon (General Hospital's Kin Shriner), runs into high school sweetheart Richard at a party at her friend Tina's (Anne Sayre) mansion. Richard, in the midst of a divorce with Veronica (soap vet Lisa Peluso), is happy to see Catherine, which is in contrast to the rest of his life; his daughter has a drug problem (Carolyn Byrne), his mother is overbearing (Anna Stuart), he's having an affair with his slutty secretary (Brianne Moncrief), and he's gotten in over his head with shady Domninic (Paolo Seganti).

What Works

Familiar Faces: One thing Gotham has going for it is the cascade of familiar soap faces that appear in each episode. Actors from a range of soaps appear, and each is playing a role that sets them apart from their characters on their network soap. With proven, professional actors playing these roles, the show already has a leg up on its more amateur competition.

Great Backstory: Byrne clearly created a universe of characters and stories when developing Gotham: The Series and it shows. From the slowly unfolding story of Catherine and Richard's high school romance to Richard's shady business dealings, there is a gold mine of story opportunty here.

Great Music: It took a few episodes, but Martha Byrne's "Love Makes the World Go 'Round" has been solidified as the show's theme song and each episode opens with someone new singing it. It sets a very classy, New York tone to the series, which is fitting given its Manhattan setting.

What Needs Work

Questionable Casting: Gotham, like several other web series (and TV series, for that matter), employs the use of a sassy gay black man to give commentary to the goings-on of the show. Also questionable is the casting of Brianne Moncrief as Samantha. Moncrief didn't give the most striking impression as Colby on all My Children and her southern accent on Gotham should have been excised. I think there's potential there, so here's hoping Ms. Moncrief grows in the role.

Shaky Beginnings: The first four episodes of Gotham were rocky. The theme song wasn't employed, nor was the show's stylish logo. But the show has rectified these two issues and I commend Ms. Byrne on that.

The Verdict

When all is said and done, Gotham is a fun, frothy soap worthy of your ten minutes a week. I recommend it highly and hope the show gets the sponsors and publicity it needs to succeed.

Two thumbs up!