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....

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.

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

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

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

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

Help! Call the Soap Police! I’ve been Carjacked (again!)

I normally can keep my shipper feelings in check, I know how the whole shipping a couple works: They sneak you in by the chemistry, you love the love-hate relationship they first have, you squee when they share their first kiss, and you double squee, when they have their first love scene. Fast-forward to a couple months (or years!)later, they are married. Meanwhile, TPTB notices that people are tuning in; a fanbase is growing, and poof! contrived plot devices start happening to keep your couple apart. You say to yourself, “It’s cool, I watch soaps, and I know they are going to be together in the end.” But after ten or more years, a couple of children later, your super couple becomes boring. You start welcoming love interests into the storyline. This happened to me with Carly and Jack. I am huge fan of Maura West/Carly, so in my mind, I always subscribe to the “If Carly’s happy with whoever, then I am happy with whoever.” Twelve years later, and I’m so back on the Carjack train. So where did it come from? When did my girl decide to make adult decisions? Like going to A&A, when she felt that being around Jack was just as painful as an addiction? Or, that she wasn’t going to be sloppy seconds in Jack’s life anymore? Carly is the type of character that needs to have all or nothing, and I don’t blame her! I cheered when she decided that she was going to be #1 in somebody’s life. Go Carly go! My girl is finally growing up.

I have had my fair share of problems with Jack, mainly his hero complex, but damn it, if Jack/Michael doesn’t kill me with those puppy dog eyes every time Carly shoots him down. Don’t even get me started on Maura’s ability to make me feel Carly’s pain. She absolutely kills me with her trademarked move: The water in the eyes, but not quite tears. Sigh. As frustrating as this love story has been, and seeing how they are dragging this current one out, it’s going to be a long ride, but guess what? CarJack? I’m back on the train. Even better news? I don’t wanna get off! Seriously, how many of y’all yelled at the TV today? “Just do it already!?! No one? Just me? Alrighty then. ;)

Appealing Soap Stars- #1 Guiding Light'sTina Sloan

Every once in a while, we will blog about soap stars who just stick out amongst the many in the daytime world. You know the type, it could be your favorite, the one you love to hate, but most importantly, this actor always make you wonder why they are so damn appealing on screen and off. In honor of our first interview guest, we will start with Ms. Tina Sloan.

Appealing Star #1 Tina Sloan:
While Guiding Light is no longer shining on CBS, do not count Tina Sloan dimming her light anytime soon. Currently she is a guest communist at the popular blog, The Huffington Post. She is also starring in her one woman show, Changing Shoes. Did I mention the fact that she is also on the hit web series Venice, and she has an upcoming role on the web series Empire. Still trying to keep up ? She is also writing a book due out later this year. I also can't forget about the couple of movies she is currently working on. Whew! So what makes Ms. Sloan so damn appealing? Easy, her charisma on screen and off.

Since 1983, Sloan has portrayed nurse Lillian Raines, a character that could often been a second thought in viewer’s minds, but Sloan brought vulnerability, a special allure that made viewers hope that one day, she would get married(she did!). The first time, Sloan really stood out for me was in 1991-1992; when Lillian found out she had breast cancer. Through Sloan’s acting choices, non verbal communication, you felt Lillian’s pain as she struggled with her breast cancer. The mirror examination scene was powerful because of the range of emotions that Sloan expressed without words. Eventually the breast cancer storyline lead up to the affair with Ed Bauer.

In 1993,(in what will go down in soap opera history as one of the moments that changed daytime forever), Maureen’s death, allowed Sloan to showcase her acting talents. To be blunt, Ms Sloan acted her ass off in one of daytime’s greatest triangles and saddest television moments. As the years went on, Lillian remained as the emotional compass of the show, whether she was giving advice to her daughter, granddaughter, Phillip, or even Olivia, you could always count on Lillian’s eternal optimism.In the final week of Guiding Light, Sloan proved once again, why she has been in the daytime industry for over 25 years. Before her wedding to Buzz Cooper, Lillian went to Maureen's grave. A tearful Lillian admitted that Maureen’s death changed the town forever and expressed regret at her part in causing it. Lillian admitted that for many years, guilt kept her from moving on with her life and in that brief moment, Sloan allowed Lillian as well as viewers have permanent closure with that storyline.

I had the privilege of talking to Ms. Sloan at the Guiding Light Paley Event, and trust me when I say; she is definitely one of the nicest people in Daytime. She has a rich knowledge of history, and she is quite the storyteller. While we only engaged in a ten minute conversation max, at the end, I felt like I made a friend for a lifetime. Looking forward to interviewing Ms. Sloan. Truly an appealing actress. -Lauren

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 :)

Who are these people? The standard about me information entry

Thank you for stopping by Dayplayerdish blog! So why are you here? And more importantly, who the hell are Lauren and Lee?

Lee will start this blog off with a little bit about himself:
What’s cooking, rational soap fans? My name’s Lee, and I’m your typical soap fan… who’s a guy. Before you ask – no, I am not a Nuke fan. In fact, I find Nuke to be the worst couple on ATWT at the moment... wow, two sentences and I’ve already gotten onto my soapbox! I’ll hold back for now. A little bit more about me… I recently graduated from college with a degree in cinema studies, meaning I watched a whole bunch of movies and wrote papers on them. I’ve interned at Soap Opera Weekly and All My Children and found both to be an incredible experience. I can’t wait to share with you my opinions, beliefs, and random musings on soaps! Where to begin… well, I was raised on ABC soaps, namely General Hospital and Port Charles but when both went sour (two words: mafia vampires) I turned to All My Children and One Life to Live, which is now my favorite. I’ve dabbled in NBC and CBS soaps, but they just don’t grab me like the ABC soaps !


And now here's Lauren:
What’s up rational soap fans! So here I am blogworld! Why am I here? The answer is simple, I love soap operas. Yes it’s true, I love soap operas. I majored in Communication studies, with a minor in journalism. I’ve had the amazing experience to intern at Soap Opera Digest/Soap Weekly magazine for two years. I’ve worked as a talent runner for the Daytime Emmys for the past three years. People always look at me twice when I say I love soaps. Why? It’s simple. I’ve been a fan of the genre since I was six years old. So as the years progressed, and the stories got bizarre (hello GL’s Reva being cloned wtf!) or touching (GH’s BJ Heart) to amazing love stories (Hi GL’s Otalia fans! Hello my Bo and Hope shippers going 26 yrs strong baby!) I love this genre through thick and thin. This year we lost Guiding Light(and in 2010 we are losing ATWT and possibly more soaps)one of the longest running programs in television history! That’s right television history, no other show, on television, will be able to accomplish what Guiding Light did in 72 years! As a fan of the soap opera genre, this makes me proud to brag to people, who like to look down on the genre.

So here we are blog world, with my soap brother from another mother, Lee. We plan on tackling all your soap news, shows, gossip.. one blog, one podcast at a time. A he said/she said type of blog. So sit back and read, and as always, please leave comments. We appreciate hearing from all you soap fans out there. Be sure to check out our soap podcasts, once we have it up and running. Thank you for reading.