Lee’s Top 5 GH Moments of 2012

Lee’s Top 5 GH Moments of 2012

What a difference a year makes. Had someone tried to convince me last year that anemic, running-on-fumes General Hospital would be experiencing a stunning creative renaissance at the talented hands of OLTL dream team Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati, I’d have laughed and written some fan fiction. But since their work started airing early in the year, GH has been must-see TV. Not every “Cartini” move was a stroke of brilliance - has there been a more obvious blunder than the “love story” of Kristina and Trey? - but from the moment Johnny shot out Anthony’s tires, leading to a car crash that took the lives of an innocent young man and his daughter (One Life to Live’s Cole and Hope), I’ve been hooked. Here are five moments I felt really stood out among the many stellar stories.

#5 - Sam Meets With Heather Webber, Opens Pandora’s Box
It seemed like a one-off guest appearance: Sam met with mental patient/legendary Port Charles psycho Heather Webber to discuss Jason’s biological mother Susan Moore and learned that Susan gave birth to twins. Heather asked Sam to deliver a letter to estranged son Steven Lars, but Sam was horrified to learn that Jason and serial killer Franco were twins and ran out without the letter. When Heather was declared mentally fit enough to come home and live with Steven, she immediately began a new reign of terror that, in the end, all came down to Sam not following through on delivering the letter. By the time Heather was thrown back into the loony bin, she’d already murdered Steve’s ex-girlfriend Maggie, goaded Todd into switching Tea and Sam’s babies, kidnapped Luke and attempted to throw a baby off a cliff. Sam may have gotten her baby back in the end, but all this could have been avoided if she’d simply kept up her side of the bargain!

#4 - Patrick Scatters Robin’s Ashes As We See Her Alive
I had trouble choosing just one great moment that stemmed from Robin’s presumed death, but the revelation that she was alive - a reveal that hadn’t been spoiled beforehand! - was shocking and signaled the return of the true soap cliffhanger. The viewers were given renewed hope for the beloved character and immediately began to theorize: How did Robin survive the explosion, and who was behind whole scheme?

#3 - John Ingle’s Final Appearance
The campiness of the “poisoned water” saga delivered a surprisingly poignant and sobering climax. As Sonny and Co. rushed to get the cure from Jerry, a very ill Edward offered the only available serum to Emma. “I love you too,” he told Tracy, who then delivered a quiet yet powerful speech about family and love. Edward’s appearance, which was reportedly at the request of a very ill John Ingle, would be his last, as Ingle passed away not long after. The image of Edward giving a “thumbs up” to Patrick and Emma will give me goosebumps for years.

#2 - Elizabeth Confesses All To Jason
Carlivati silenced months of fans complaining that he didn’t like or “get” the character of Nurse Elizabeth Webber with one immensely moving scene that showcased the talent of portrayer Rebecca Herbst and finally opened the character up for redemption. After confessing that she switched the DNA results of Sam’s baby, Elizabeth broke down and admitted to Jason that she’d been slowly falling apart since Jake’s death. No longer hiding her pain with self-righteousness and judgment, Elizabeth was finally able to explain how angry she was with Sam, with Jason, with everyone. With rumors of an exciting new year for Elizabeth, this scene was simply perfect.

#1 - Fondue Foils Faison’s Fun
Was there a more satisfying moment this year than John and Robert hurling fondue in “Duke’s” face, melting his mask and ruining Faison’s dastardly plans? The scenes showcased the talents of GH favorites Finola Hughes, Tristan Rogers, Ian Buchanan and Anders Hove, with OLTL transplant Michael Easton fitting in seamlessly. There were a ton of “OMG!” moments this year, but this moment was a creative and brilliant payoff to viewers who were screaming and throwing things at their TVs for months for Anna to come to her senses.

What were your favorite GH moments this year? Sound off in the comments or on Twitter @dayplayerdish or @leemeyer26, and have a happy holiday!

Confessions and Catharsis For GH’s Liz

Elizabeth never mourned Jake properly. Okay? I said it. The girl didn’t have a chance to mourn the loss of her little boy in between dodging murder allegations and other assorted disasters. And though we’ve been told that she’s been successful and living on and being a good mother to her living children, we have really only seen otherwise. Life hasn’t been good to Elizabeth Webber, and October 2’s episode finally brought all of her stifled pain and frustration and anguish that she’s been feeling up to the surface. As Rebecca Herbst delivered Liz’s powerful confession - that she lied about the baby’s DNA test to keep Jason and Sam apart - we got to see the real Elizabeth Webber.

“I didn’t deserve to have my child taken away from me, either!” Elizabeth cried out as she finally admitted that she never forgave Sam for watching Jake get kidnapped years ago. Herbst’s performance was incredibly raw and honest and made me remember why I fell in love with the character back in the 1990s. Elizabeth survived a violent rape. She survived failed marriages. She survived the loss of family and friends. But who really survives the loss of a child? “Ever since we lost Jake, I’ve been trying to recover on my own, trying to let time heal. But It’s only gotten worse. And so I really thought … I thought you would make it better. That you would fix it. That’s not fair of me to ask that of you,” she whimpered. Who hasn’t felt that way at some point? Elizabeth’s pain was so real, so incredibly potent, that I understood where she was coming from for the first time in a decade.

Credit should also go to Ron Carlivati, who managed to take one of my least favorite stories ever and create an incredibly strong throughline for all the characters involved. I was going through my Twitter feed and was astonished at how many complaints were targeted at Carlivati for “not liking” the character of Elizabeth! Because the way I see it, Carlivati not only likes the character, he gets the character. He’s the first writer to get the character since Michele Val Jean, and that’s no small feat. I’m not sure where Elizabeth goes now- I’m going to suggest lots of therapy - but I am confident that with Herbst and Carlivati steering, the journey will only get better from here.

Lee’s Two Cents

Lee’s two cents - one positive, one negative


General Hospital: Don’t Drink The Water! (But please do.)

Ron Carlivati took a while to get into the right rhythm and groove at General Hospital. Sure, the show was infinitely easier to watch than the trainwreck that was Garin Wolf’s tenure and more entertaining than longtime Head Writer Bob Guza’s never-ending mob epic, but overall the show lacked a consistent tone or direction. All of that changed, though, with the return of fan fave villain Jerry Jacks and new baddie Joe Scully, Jr. Jerry’s plot to poison the water of Port Charles and demand a ton of money for the antidote made for absolutely fantastic viewing. Weaving in old stories, such as the Dead Man’s Hand cards, and involving the entire cast, the month-long umbrella story reminded us exactly why we fell in love with GH in the first place. It was full of thrilling action and adventure (I won’t forget the climactic confrontation between Jerry and Sonny on the docks any time soon), romance (Dante and Lulu’s strong devotion and love for one another, Alexis and Shawn’s epic kiss following her rescue, the growing triangle between Jason, Sam and Liz), humor (Todd rounding up the “1 Percenters”) and riveting emotional moments (Edward’s selfless act of giving little Emma the only available antidote proved to be a powerful moment for fans of John Ingle, who unfortunately isn’t looking very healthy). In the end, the story was not only a throwback to the swashbuckling adventure of GH’s past, but a sign that this creative team knows what they’re doing and that for the first time in years, General HOspital is in very good hands.


Days of Our Lives: Listen To Your Mother, Sonny

Sonny was upset with his mother for not approving of his burgeoning relationship with Will, but I wanted to hug the woman. I get that Will and Sonny are being positioned as the next gay soap supercouple, but Adrienne really has a point. Sonny is a happy, well-adjusted guy with a nice family and good looks on his side; why settle for some constantly embattled, irrationally angry guy who is still not quite okay with being gay? Sometimes we look beyond the baggage to see a wonderful person worth fighting for, but so far, Will has only proven to be selfish and absolutely dysfunctional. Sonny should go with his heart, yes, but he should also be practical. There’s a reason Sami hasn’t been able to nail down one guy, and Will has definitely shown many of her negative, self-destructive traits. Run while you can, Sonny. You’ll only regret this in the future....

“I love you, too” - John Ingle Passes Away

“I love you, too” - John Ingle Passes Away

There was something very powerful about the September 11 episode of General Hospital, in which a very ill Edward Quartermaine selflessly gave the poisoned water antidote to little Emma and gave Patrick a smiling “thumbs up.” His only spoken line in the entire episode to his on-screen daughter Tracy, “I love you too,” showed that Edward, who put on a tough-as-nails act as Quartermaine family patriarch, was just as compassionate and nurturing as his late wife Lila. Sadly, the episode was John Ingle’s last; he passed away on September 16, surrounded by his family.

It would be easy to list all the accomplishments John Ingle has accrued over the years; a beloved teacher and actor, Ingle made a lasting mark in show business, but to me, his greatest accomplishment was portraying a character that was not only endlessly entertaining to watch but also one that reminded us of what soaps are about: love in many shapes and forms. His devotion to his dear Lila (played by the lovely Anna Lee, who passed away several years ago), his unfulfilled desire to do right by the family of his illegitimate child, Bradley Ward and his unspoken love for Mary Mae (the late, great Rosalind Cash), along with his biting, yet loving relationships with his children made Edward relatable and often comforting to watch.


General Hospital’s creative team would be wise to honor Edward and Ingle’s legacy by building a story around Edward’s mission to rebuild his dwindling family from beyond the grave; I can just see Tracy having to welcome the rest of the Ward family into the Quartermaine mansion at Edward’s final request, or Monica’s shocking discovery that Edward had been secretly nursing Emily back to health since her death in 2007. It’s all wishful thinking on my part, but John Ingle’s portrayal of Edward should be celebrated, and what better way to celebrate the life and career of a great man by creating something new and wonderful in his honor?



Ingle’s wife passed away earlier this year, and I can only hope that he has reunited with her, wherever they are, just as Edward has hopefully reunited with his beloved Lila and made peace with Justus and Mary Mae. I’m going to miss you, John Ingle, but thank you so much for the memories and may you find health and good fortune wherever you are.

Dive In: Revenge

You don’t have to wait until the Dallas sequel starts airing this summer to get your primetime soap fix. ABC’s scorching Hamptons soap Revenge returns this Wednesday, and if you haven’t watched, here’s everything you need to dive in and enjoy the most dramatic and surprising soap on TV!

Who’s Who

Emily VanCamp as Emily Thorne/Amanda Clarke
Amanda Clarke, our (anti?)heroine has returned to the Hamptons years after the wrongful arrest of her father, David, for a heinous crime he didn’t commit to get revenge on those who wronged him. Now going by the name Emily Thorne, the cold young woman ingratiates herself into the lives of the Hamptons-royalty Graysons, the family primarily responsible for her father’s arrest. Emily courts and becomes engaged to handsome-but-clueless Daniel Grayson and sets out to take down the Graysons one by one, but her plan hits a snag as she actually begins to fall for Daniel, all the while developing feelings for her childhood friend, Jack Porter, now a handsome bar owner.

Madeleine Stowe as Victoria Grayson
Cold as ice, the confident and cruel “Queen” Victoria is Emily’s primary target, believing her to be most responsible for ruining her father’s life. Victoria had an affair with Emily’s father the summer of his arrest, and shortly after became the most revered (and feared) socialite in the Hamptons. Now the matriarch of the Grayson family, Emily’s schemes have exposed wrinkles in Victoria’s perfect life, which have led to her taking drastic action and stooping to horrific lows to maintain the life she worked so hard to create.

Gabriel Mann as Nolan Ross
The foppish young technology billionaire is Emily’s one confidant and only true friend. Having considered her father a mentor, Nolan is 100 percent loyal to Emily and often makes sure her manipulations and schemes don’t backfire. Insecure with no family and few friends, Nolan once fell for Tyler Barrol, who seduced him before trying to blackmail and extort him. Nolan has also tried to sway Emily toward Jack Porter, who he has recently befriended.

Nick Wechsler as Jack Porter
A would-be world traveler, Jack’s plans to leave Montauk via boat to travel the world hit a snag with the surprise death of his father. Now taking care of both the bar and his little brother Declan, Jack has fallen hard for Emily, not knowing that she is really childhood friend Amanda’s Clarke, who he’s carried a torch for since she gave him her puppy to take care of following her father’s arrest. When Emily realizes that her dog Sammy is still alive and well and living with Jack, she is slowly pulled toward him. Following Emily’s engagement to Daniel, Jack meets and falls in love with the real Emily Thorne, who claims to be Amanda Clarke!

Josh Bowman as Daniel Grayson
The handsome, booksmart, completely naive son of Victoria and Conrad, Daniel is the quintessential golden boy. After a drunk-driving accident that left his waitress girlfriend paralyzed the year before, Daniel walks right into Emily’s trap and falls hard for her, much to Victoria’s chagrin. Emily’s manipulation of Daniel leads to him dissenting from his mother and father’s grasp to become his own man, not realizing that Emily has him wrapped around her finger. Daniel inadvertently brings his college roommate Tyler Barrol into everyone’s lives, and is now charged with his murder!

Henry Czerny as Conrad Grayson
Victoria’s husband is the mastermind behind David Clarke’s framing and shows no remorse for those whose lives he’s ruined to get ahead. Conrad’s marriage to Victoria falls apart when Emily exposed his affair to Lydia Davis, Victoria’s best friend, and Victoria blindsides him by filing for divorce. Expecting too much from son Daniel and showing a soft spot for daughter Charlotte, Conrad’s life is further turned upside down by the revelation that David Clarke is Charlotte’s biological daughter.

Christa B. Allen as Charlotte Grayson
Charlotte is an impressionable teenage debutant who develops an intense young romance with Declan Porter, which neither Victoria or Conrad approve of. Charlotte’s world falls apart when her parents announce their divorce, and she begins to spin out of control after learning that she is the biological daughter of suspected terrorist David Clarke. After being blackmailed by her grandfather into not going to therapy (he was afraid of family secrets getting out), Charlotte’s begun popping pills to cope, which is bound to produce disastrous results.

Connor Paolo as Declan Porter
Jack’s younger brother becomes involved with the Grayson family after starting a relationship with Charlotte. While his working class background initially doesn’t mix well with Charlotte’s delicate lifestyle, Declan eventually becomes a rock for the young girl as her life begins to fall apart. Declan has trouble listening to his Jack, resenting that his older brother didn’t sell the family bar after their father’s sudden heart attack and death (which Declan witnessed and felt partly responsible for). Declan is the first person to come across the dead body of Tyler Barrol at Emily and Daniel’s engagement party and suspects his brother of the murder.

Ashley Madekwe as Ashley Davenport
An ambitious event planner and Emily’s supposed best friend, Ashley yearns to have the riches and lifestyle Emily and the Graysons enjoy. Ashley struggles to impress Victoria, who treats her like her personal assistant, and ends up compromising her friendship with Emily to gain the acceptance and respect of the Graysons. After Tyler Barrol’s murder, Ashley secretly sells photos of the family to the tabloids, which Nolan discovers, prompting him to question her motives.

Supporting Cast

James Tupper as David Clarke
David Clarke was framed by his associates at Grayson Global for assisting a terrorist organization that caused a terrible plane explosion. Before dying in prison, David left his young protege Nolan Ross a box filled with diaries, pictures and other evidence that incriminates the Graysons and everyone else who helped incriminate him, hoping that Emily would find peace knowing that he was innocent (not thinking she’d decide to avenge him). David was in love with Victoria and knew that her baby Charlotte was his daughter.

Margarita Levieva as Amanda Clarke/Emily Thorne
The real Emily Thorne met Amanda Clarke in juvenile detention, where they were roommates. After Amanda came into money following her father’s death, Amanda paid Emily in exchange for switching identities. After a sequence of events that result in the real Emily murdering the Grayson family lawyer, the real Amanda brings her to the Hamptons for damage control, where she ends up falling hard for Jack Porter, who thinks she’s Amanda from his childhood! Following the murder of Tyler Barrol, “Amanda” disappears, prompting Jack to try to cover up what he thinks she did.

Ashton Holmes as Tyler Barrol
Tyler is a sick, mentally unstable grifter who worms his way into the Grayson family through Daniel, who knows him as a friend from college. Tyler’s pathological ways are revealed when he seduces Nolan Ross for his money while supposedly dating Ashley Davenport. After Emily discovers Tyler’s true identity, she arranges for Tyler’s older brother to have him institutionalized (after Tyler holds the Graysons hostage at Daniel’s birthday party). Tyler escapes the mental institution just in time for Emily and Daniel’s engagement party, where he partially reveals Emily’s true nature to Daniel before trying to kill him. Daniel shoots Tyler once in self-defense, but is shot dead by Mr. Takeda, Emily’s mentor, in a plot to put Emily’s plans back on track.

Hiroyuki Sanada as Satoshi Takeda
“Mr. Takeda” is Emily’s mentor, who’s trained her both physically and mentally for avenging her father’s death. When her Emily’s plans hit a snag, Mr. Takeda comes to the Hamptons to help her, all the while expressing his disappointment in Emily’s apparent weakness for falling in love with Daniel Grayson. Takeda shot and killed Tyler Barrol and framed Daniel for the crime, hoping that it would set Emily back on track. Takeda was last seen driving off with “Amanda Clarke,” who he believed was causing too much trouble for Emily.

The Story So Far....

This is not a story about forgiveness. Emily Thorne came to town with one thing on her mind: revenge. But after actually developing feelings for Daniel Grayson, she considered toning down her plans - until Victoria let Daniel believe that David Clarke had raped her. Now, Emily is caught in a tangled web of lies and murder, struggling to maintain her strong outer shell while things begin to fall apart.

It was Takeda. On the beach. With Daniel’s gun. Psychotic Tyler Barrol planned to expose Emily’s lies at her and Daniel’s engagement party. After showing Daniel a photo that Emily was hiding with a list of her targets, he and Daniel struggled, resulting in Daniel shooting him in self-defense. Before Daniel could make his next move, Satoshi Takeda knocked him out and finished Tyler off - with Daniel’s gun. Now, Daniel’s been considered a flight risk and is being held without bail at Rikers Island prison, while Takeda has disappeared with the real Emily Thorne, who was causing too many complications for the real Amanda.

We’re all family here. Charlotte Grayson was devastated to learn that she is the biological daughter of David Clarke, long thought to be the accomplice in a terrible terrorist attack that claimed many lives. When Emily learned of her half sister, she was conflicted as to how to handle the situation. Charlotte’s boyfriend Declan suggested Charlotte talk to a therapist about her problems and stress, but Charlotte’s grandfather Edward Grayson was leery of his family secrets being exposed and blackmailed her out of it, threatening to make sure Declan wouldn’t be able to attend school with Charlotte in the fall. After finding Declan’s older brother Jack’s painkillers, Charlotte’s begun using drugs and falling apart at the seams.

2012: We are back,Rating the Soaps!

It's 2012 is in full swing and it’s time to rate the soaps!

The Bold and the Beautiful
The Story So Far: After months of waffling back and forth between the feuding Steffy and Hope, Liam has seemingly settled down with Hope, while Steffy finds herself in Rick’s orbit once again, much to Amber’s chagrin. Brooke and Ridge have been focused on their daughters, while Taylor and Thorne have grown closer.
What Works? I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again - B&B is a blast to watch. It’s funny, it’s fast-paced and it has an extremely talented cast. Audiences who tune into B&B every day know what they’re getting: frothy, light romance with characters they love. Great character moments, like Liam and Bill’s recent falling-out, serve as great chasers to the often-campy stories.
What Needs Work? For a show that’s got such a strong cast of women, the stories border on misogynistic. Hope and Steffy shouldn’t be fighting for Liam! He’s hurt them both and hasn’t exactly proven himself to be a catch. Other characters like Jackie and Owen, who are interesting and fun, don’t get nearly enough airtime. And stories often start and stop with little to no warning.
Grade: B

Days of Our Lives
The Story So Far: Love and family is the name of the game in Salem, as couples come together and fall apart and families crumble as buried secrets and resentments come to the surface. Sami’s family has all but fallen apart after Will revealed that he caught her and EJ having sex, while Rafe and Carrie gave in to their attraction with a passionate kiss - witnessed by their spouses. Months after discovering that Alice was keeping secrets from her loved ones, Hope learned the terrible truth that Alice had tried to hide: she and John are still married! The next generation of Salem has had its own turmoil, as Abigail’s issues with her father have led to an unhealthy obsession with compassionate Austin, and Will’s sexual confusion has led to volatile and rash behavior. And Brady and Madison’s carefree romance has been rocked by the surprise entrance of Madison’s much older, devious husband Ian, who seems to have connections to everyone in Salem.
What Works? DAYS has delivered on its promise of romance and family drama in spades. Watching Sami’s family fall apart before her very eyes has been riveting, and seeing seemingly solid couples John and Marlena and Bo and Hope rocked by the revelation of John and Hope’s marriage has made for great drama. Brady and Madison’s bland romance has surprisingly become the springboard for a new umbrella story with new character Ian, which is finally going to give Kate and Stefano something to worry about. Will’s coming of age story has been exciting to watch, as well, and the overall use of vets and fan faves have made for easy viewing.
What Needs Work? The constant shuffling of couples, especially with the teens (Melanie, Chad, Gabi, Abigail), has made it hard to invest in any new pairings. Sonny, a compelling new character, has been relegated to being Will’s sounding board and seems to exist in his own after school special. Jack’s return has been less than stellar, with his trademark humor being replaced with upsetting anxiety and trauma. And where are faves like Justin and Adrienne?
Grade: B+

General Hospital
The Story So Far: Fates are about to collide as a tragedy rocks Port Charles to its core and changes the course of everyone’s lives.
What Works: As usual, the cast is uniformly excellent.
What Needs Work: The whole show, but the new creative staff knows that, so it’s okay!
Grade: N/A, as the show is in transition and rating it in its current state would be unfair.

You're a weak man, Charlie Banks

Hey, remember when ONE LIFE TO LIVE was must-watch soap and every day had you on the edge of your seat? Yeah, it was a long time ago. I thought things would be different this year, but so far, 2011 has not been kind to my favorite show. There are plenty things going wrong right now - the continued focus on the Ford family, the dumbing down of characters for plot purposes, recycled plot devices - but the thing that's disappointing me the most is the complete ruination of one of my favorite characters, Charlie Banks.

Back in 2007, OLTL was focused on revitalizing the iconic Viki Lord and the results were nothing short of magical. Viki found herself waiting tables in small town Paris, TX, becoming a mother figure to Gigi Morasco and most importantly, falling in love with fellow lost soul Charlie B. Free of the baggage left behind in Llanview, Viki was able to start anew with Charlie, who was also looking for redemption by searching for the son he abandoned when his alcoholism was at its worst. The early Viki/Charlie scenes were some of the most romantic scenes I've ever seen on a soap. (Watch the above clip to see what I mean) Eventually, Viki and Charlie found their way back to Llanview and, despite some rocky moments, have remained in love and there for each other.

Thanksgiving 2008 was my favorite Viki and Charlie moment of all time. As Viki broke down at her evil father's grave blaming him for her family's constant struggles with mental illness and abuse, Charlie rushed in and promises her things would change and that he'd never leave her or hurt her the way so many others had in the past. He solidified his promise by showing her the redesigned diner in Angel Square, now identical to the diner where they met in Texas. Beautiful stuff...

...Which is why I'm SO upset with how pathetic Charlie's become. Losing his son Jared after only a few happy years with him devastated Charlie and sent him back to the bottle. After finally letting himself grieve the healthy way, he and Viki reconciled and things looked to be back to normal. Unfortunately, the writers seem to love using Charlie as the show's resident victim and put him through the wringer thinking Rex was his son, only to learn Clint had set it all up. His constant emotional flirtation with former drinking buddy Echo DiSavoy was completely out of character. That he actually SLEPT WITH ECHO SOBER was absolute character assassination, and spoilers indicate that things are about to get much worse in Charlie and Viki's marriage, with Charlie doing something completely unforgivable in the coming days and weeks.

Those of you who frequent twitter and the other soap websites know that the fantastic Brian Kerwin has been let go from the show. This comes as no surprise, but why do the writers insist on ruining of all their male characters before shipping them out of town (think Schuyler, Eli and Cole)? If it was time to end the beautiful love story of Charlie and Viki, why do it this way? And why ignore all the great buildup and payoff the characters have had over the past four years? It's such a shame, and unfortunately other stories on OLTL seem to be headed in the same, odd (mis)direction.
-Lee

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

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>

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

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

Dayplayerdish episode 2

Join us this week as we ring in the new year with more soap talk! Hear Lee's thoughts on the groundbreaking "Kish" moment on OLTL and Lauren's latest thumbs up on DAYS! Callers are always welcome! Only at www.blogtalkradio.com/dayplayerdish.

Sundays 6PM EST/3PM PST Call in number 347-215-7590

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.

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 :)