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Soap Opera Reviews

Hard to Say Goodbye
It is sad and unavoidable that I must retire from writing this column. But me try to explain why I must go, share some parting thoughts before I leave, and the future of the column.
Emmy Roundup
The highs, the lows, the winners, the losers, and blindly judging the panel's choices.
Swept Away
A busy sweeps month, an Emmy controversy, and everything in between.
Storyline Roulette
There is an increasing element of surprise about which storylines are focused on from day to day … and it's slowing killing soaps.
Small Town State of Mind
Do soaps really get away with the paradoxical small town feel of a soap town while lining the scenery with skyscrapers?
What's the Frequency?
Soaps are no longer in balance. The days where a soap writer knows how to utilize his entire canvas are behind us. But even if we had the choice of which characters should be focused on more, what if the problem isn't who is used and how often, but how they are used.
The Punishment
It's a difficult road to achieving character redemption should a writer attempt it. But one very popular route to take is punishing that character. Whether illness, rape, or false accusations, these villains are made to suffer, realize the error of their ways due to that suffering, and then start fresh. But is this a smart way to have bad guys and gals transition or just cruel and ultimately ineffective?
The Age Factor
Soap characters rob the cradle on soaps all the time, but when is it a clever twist, a pairing with future potential, or just plain disgusting?
Crossover Crisis
Having characters travel from one soap town to another may have been a harmless idea in the beginning, but it may have gotten out of control.
On Life Support
While the other ABC soaps have managed to stay afloat, nothing One Life to Live tries seems to be able to give it another chance at life.
Erica Kane Syndrome
She was once a unique character, constantly getting into scrapes, going from man to man with a boundless energy and immaturity. But now those selfish antics of Erica Kane have not only grown stale, they've been thrown into serious situations. And she's not the only soap character whose "me, me, me" act causes the audience to want to strangle them.
The Numbers Lie
While executives and networks stare at the ratings, the popularity of a soap clearly can not be measured that way. Just what is the reason behind the apparent discrepancy in what general public adores and what a Nielsen family turns on?
The Balance of Emmy Power
The second year of this new voting process begins to really show cracks as the nominations are announced.
Soaps in an Instant
Instant couples, instant murder mysteries, everything in soaps is happen much quicker. But is telling stories slowly like in the past even possible in today's world?
The Family Feuds
Soaps used to be dominated by families holding grudges for decades. But what makes them such a successful storyline direction and what makes them a risky venture should definitely be considered before any writer attempts to create or revive one.
Cluttered Canvas
Is what makes a soap feel too crowded really as black and white as how many characters are on the show?
Let's Go Crazy
The mental illness storyline is getting almost as much airplay lately as murder mysteries. It's a tricky subject to do successfully, but is more often done irresponsibly.
The Trouble with Triangles
Creating the right pairing is a delicate process, so adding a third wheel is even trickier and yet given less thought.
Spooks, Sci-Fi, and Soaps
Ghosts, goblins, and clones, oh my, can science fiction and supernatural storylines really fit into "mainstream" soaps?
Let's Talk About Sex
Shirtless guys, raunchy love scenes, and sexuality over sensuality have taken over soaps today. Does the increasing focus on sexiness take away from other essentials to soaps?
Rewritten Rogues
Guiding Light has blown their alleged gripping mystery in every way possible.
A Fresh Start?
Which soaps are poised for success or disaster in this year? And more importantly, will the genre dig itself a deeper grave or get a last minute reprieve?
The Best and Worst of 2003: Soaps
It was the best of soaps; it was the worst of soaps. The third and final column in this year-end review examines which soaps made the grade and where other soaps missed the mark.
The Best and Worst of 2003: Romances
The love, the lies, the lust of soap couples gets examined in the second part of this three-part year end review. Which couples made us sigh, which ones made us wince, and which ones are going down the tubes?
The Best and Worst of 2003: Characters
It's that time of year again, time to analyze soaps' hits and the misses of 2003. This week in the first installment of a three-part column, we take look at the characters that arrived, grew, changed faces, and disappeared for better or for worse.
Holiday Sneer
With soaps missing their warmth, family, and friendliness, having a happy holiday is a bit of stretch lately.
Trial and Error
With so many legal based shows on television, how come daytime dramas so rarely get it right?
The Couple Loop
Over and over and over again couples suffer pain with very little breaks. Just what can be done about the lack of time couple's have to be happy?
Married to the Mob
Nefarious characters skulking in the dark wearing long leather coats carrying guns with silencers (but of course loud enough for the audience to hear the shots) have been in daytime for thirty years. So why on earth has the Godfather rip-offs gotten so tired?
Character Identity Crisis
Characters are constantly doing 180s in their personalities. But is that always a bad thing?
Soaps' Big Bang Theory
In an attempt to inflate ratings quickly, soaps are trying anything and everything. But even if ratings surge, how long will it be before they collapse?
Coming to a Slow Burn
Why does it feel like all the things that made soap couples interesting are gone? What do writers need to do to restore the magic of soap romance?
One-Note, One-Minute Characters
Some characters that originally had a very narrow purpose have unexpectedly had their time extended. But how long before he or she becomes one-note and annoying? Can that character ever gather any extra dimensions to stall the character's exit?
The Irresponsible Party
Suicide, serial killers, abortion, homosexuality, and psychopathic behavior are all happening across the dial. And yet, am I the only one who thinks these writers have crossed the line with the irresponsible way these stories are being told?
Set in One Mood
Soaps have the daunting task of encapsulating all of life's emotions, but do they really strike the right balance?
Spineless Ladies
Soaps creating strong and independent women have never been a strong suit, but is every woman being struck with the dumb stick?
Something Positive
If you have something nice to say, seize the opportunity. Who knows when it may come again?
Mystery Most Foul
Recently, when soap writers attempt to do a mystery it falls flat, but why?
Young Adult Angst?
The problem of aging kids to teen age seems to have escaped current writers' attention; what happens once they graduate high school? Does rapidly aging a teen only make the transition from teen story to adult story more difficult?
Reality Bites
Reality game show contestants making cameos, taking contract roles, and reality contests aiding the casting department. Is this an innovative way to help soaps enter the 21st century or will it hasten the deterioration of soaps?
Too Many Cooks in Oakdale's Pot?
With As the World Turns veering wildly every day from classic soap to absolutely awful, just exactly where does the blame lie?
What's Old is New Again?
Could bringing old favorites back to soaps reinvigorate the genre or has too much damage been done?
You've Gotten Under Our Skin
Annoying and cantankerous characters are a necessary part of a soap canvas. But most of soaps recent attempts to add that component to the show have fallen flat. Just what makes an annoying character work?
Summer Heat Brings on Delusions
Bad stories, overrated importance on the teen audience, and executives in denial are bringing soaps even further down in the summer.
Living in Villainy
Have writers' lost their way when it comes to writing good villains?
To Die or not To Die
Death must happen on soaps, but should some characters be off limits?
The Balancing Act
Soaps are supposed to be an ensemble drama and yet more and more soaps are getting fixated on one age group, one storyline, one couple, or worse yet, one person. This has got to stop!
Another Soap Bites the Dust
One soap down, nine more to go? Just when is it time for us to let our beloved soaps go? Is there a way to determine when a soap has reached the point of no return?
Precious Purse Strings
The cast, the sets, the clothes, just what should a soap producer's precious budget being spent on?
When Quality Doesn't Matter
Why are viewers sometimes willing to ignore the stupidity of a pairing or story?
The Scheme Rut
Those ladies on soaps who spend constantly get themselves into trouble with their latest lie, scheme, and far-fetched plan are in a rut and we need to get writers to get them out of it.
Not Suitable for Adults
Soap executives more and more are trying to reel in a specific demographic. But never mind the narrow-minded strategy, is it even working?
The Bold Ones
The Bold and the Beautiful has always focused on the nastiness of the fashion industry, but now it may be crossing over into being just plain nasty…
Emmy Turns 30
Some rambling on this year's Daytime Emmys from the ultimate peanut gallery.
Giving Up the Galas
Those big ritzy and glitzy events that appear out of nowhere only to move a plot along are wearing thin with this soap fan.
Sticks and Stones Aren't the Only Things that Hurt
The old adage that names can never hurt you is a load of malarkey. Names can hurt and we all know it, so when it comes to fans of soaps on the Internet, when does criticism go too far?
Biting the Hand that Feeds Them?
The battle between fans and writers over popular couples rages on. Should fans be the ones to get over popular couples being split apart or do writers only have themselves to blame when they create an outcry?
Missing in Action: The Good Guys
Remember the days when soap towns had upstanding people who were full of wisdom or were the town's constant hero? Why do soaps now feel the need to tarnish every character for fear they'll be labeled boring?
Pitiful Pairings
Sometimes despite best efforts, sometimes because of no effort, there are a few soap couples that are simply pitiful because they don't make sense.
Taking Writers Back to School
There are simple steps writers no longer go through when writing a storyline. Here is a helpful reminder…
The Road to Redemption
…is definitely paved with good intentions. But constantly making "bad" characters "good" is not only tiring, but needs boundaries.
Extra, Extra!
Read all about the importance of recurring characters and extras on a soap and how soaps suffer without them.
The Lazy and the Jobless
Whatever happened to the corporate scandals, the hospital politics, and the stock-market tragedies? Whatever happened to people on soaps working?
Emmy Shame
My thoughts on this year's Emmy nominations are in and you are hereby warned that if you have a favorite actor you are thrilled got nominated, chances are I'm not.
A Diva Dilemma
In the 21st century, soaps are having a lot of trouble figuring out to do with their 20th century divas.
The Search for the Right Surroundings
From the music soaps use to the sets, sometimes the surroundings hurt or help soaps just as much as the dialogue and acting.
A Hospital in Need of Repairs
Tinkering for several years has only caused more problems. It is time for General Hospital to be renovated.
As the Social Issue Turns
Are social issue stories really done to raise awareness or are they nothing more than a ratings ploy?
Too Close for Comfort
It has been happening practically since soaps inception; family swapping partners. There is always a reason, always an excuse, always a last minute discovery of an adoption or secret paternity swap to make a pairing palatable. But in the long run, it's usually just gross.
Body vs. Talent
Soaps have always cast actors who are easy on the eyes, but now the trend of talented actors being fired to be replaced by models who are easy on the acting ability has gotten out of hand.
All My Cliches
Once a biting and enterprising family soap, All My Children has become an unrecognizable mess dependent on tired and tired stories.
God is in the Details
Whether it is a key scene being left on the cutting room floor or a touching heart to heart, the detail that soaps used to revel in are now clearly crippled without them.
The Third Degree
We often complain about the lack of character driven storylines, but first perhaps we need to recognize current soap writers don't know how to sustain characters.
Should Old Habits Be Forgot ...
Not resolutions per se, just a list of things I wish, hope, pray, and look forward to this year in soaps.
The Best and Worst of 2002: Soaps
From behind the scene decisions to new storyline directions, most soaps have gone through major changes this year. When it all comes down to it, which soaps have improved, which soaps have completely gone off the tracks, and which soaps have risen to the top? This week, we pass out the blue ribbons for the best soap, and the dunce caps for the worst.
The Best and Worst of 2002: Couples
In part two of this three-part column, we hold a magnifying glass up to the romances of the year. Which new couple has gotten off to a fantastic start? Which couples have run out of steam? Which supercouple was rejuvenated? Which teen couple was the most tolerable? Which triangles have given us migraines?
The Best and Worst of 2002: Characters
With three more weeks left, before the year is over, it's time to begin to sort out the good, the bad, and the ugly of soaps this year. The first of a three-part column dissects how individual characters faired. Who changed for the better, who changed for the worst, which new character shone, which recast livened up a town, which recast brought the show down, etc. The real question is, do my choices match your own?
We Aren't a Family?
During the holiday season, another important ingredient is family, but has anyone else noticed that soap families, once institutions and the building blocks of every soap, have disintegrated?
It's a Cold World After All
Not enough warmth on your favorite soap this holiday season? Should that really surprise us based on the lack of warmth year round? Isn't it time the cold front in daytime ended?
The Man Behind the Curtain
The heads of daytime at any networks, the head of the production company, and do not forget the executive producer of the soap. At any given time, one of these people in power can directly change everything we see on our soap, from who's dating whom to who gets the most screen time. But who on earth gave them this power? It's time for these power hungry executives to come from behind the curtain.
Pacing Problems Lead to Sleepy Sweeps
Once upon a time not only were soaps engaging and entertaining year round, thing would heat up especially during sweeps. What happened?
A Disturbing Trend Returns
After years of irresponsible writing about rape on soaps, it is making a disgusting comeback. What can be done to get writers to realize this trend is one that should die a quick and painful death?
The Death of the Supercouple?
Supercouples are an endangered species as of late. But is there no hope for their future or is this a trend that should have been taken out back and shot a long time ago?
Destroying a History
There is a difference from moving on from the past and trying to forget the past ever existed. Unfortunately, most soap writers don't know it.
I Need an Anti-Hero
Where have all the bad guys gone with their good hearts buried deep down inside? Where are the men who race to the rescue and then disappear after the damsel in distress is safe? Where are those complex soap men of old? Apparently complexity is out in daytime television…
The Dye is Recast
It's second nature with soaps; roles have to be recast now and again. Some of our favorite characters have gone through different heights, shapes, hair colors, and ages within five years. But is there a way to ensure that more of the recasts are hits instead of misses?
I'm Torn to Pieces...
It's Port Charles recently finished book and the only relationship to the song "Torn" I could find, was good storytelling torn to shreds…
Out With the Old, In With the New
When veterans are shoved into the background newer characters begin to dominate airtime and that is a problem in and of itself…
The Good, the Bad, and the Restless
It's actually one of the newer soaps and it dominates the ratings, but really, should it?
The Whys and Wherefores
There are several reasons soap stories are contrived, plot device messes and I've already mentioned many. But one of the most major problems has yet to be tackled, the lack of character motivation. I can't be the only one who often scratches their head and wonders why a character is doing something a certain way although it is clear the writers certainly don't.
The Vets Vent Part Two
The second part of this column addresses the problem that characters no longer in their roaring twenties are either being slowly shoved into the background or into stupid stories. I happen to think that is ridiculous.
The Vets Vent Part One
The family unit that soaps are built on seems to be missing something these days, the adults. Part one of this column deals with the oldest generation of soaps today and how they've put out pasture. Is it just a given now that characters that are senior citizens should be relegated to baking cookies off screen and spooning out wisdom once a month? Am I the only one who wants it to stop?
To the Victor Goes the Spoils
Once upon a time you had no idea what was happening on your favorite soap. But now you can get the details of a future episode lickty split. Perhaps that is why you can miss a week and not miss a lot.
Coloring Outside the Lines
There seems to be a quota that soaps need to fill to give off the appearance of diversity, but who do TPTB think they're fooling with their token characters?
The Insta-Couple Plague
They eventually found a cure for polio; they eradicated the black plague, but does a cure exist for those instant couples that are forced fed to fans of every soap on the air?
Soaps Get No Respect
It used to be a given, soaps were promoted and had their place in the entertainment industry. Even the most bizarre stories were treated no less plausible then ones in the number one primetime drama. Now they are being treated like the ugly second cousin not invited to family reunions. The networks and the industry have to answer for their snobbish attitude.
The Curse of the Selected Lobotomies
It's been a growing disturbing trend; idiots are infesting the towns of daytime and there seems to be nothing to stop it. That doesn't stop me from complaining about it.
Like Sands Through an Hourglass … so is the deluge of soap theme changes
For their 50th television anniversary, Guiding Light updated their theme song and opening and now As the World Turns has turned out a new opening. But am I the only one that hates taking the only class soap operas have left and destroying it by trying to make it "hip"?
The Guiding Light's Shining Moments
In better shape than it has been for several years, this second part of this two-part anniversary column focuses on the great strides the show has recently made.
The Guiding Light's Dark Corners
The show is celebrating 50 years, but in the first part of this two-part column, we focus on the things currently not worth celebrating.
The Writers, The Actors, and You
Just how important is it for the writers to listen to the fans and to the actors?
Passion Filled or Passionless?
Is Passions a delicious guilty pleasure like a reality show or just like the Wizard of Oz, smoke and mirrors?
The Teen Scene
It's summertime and years ago someone got the bright idea to use the summer to feature teens. But instead of bringing viewers in, I suspect viewers tune out. Why does the infestation of teens in the summer begin to feel like locusts?
Cleaning House - Good Idea or Bad Idea?
In an attempt to resurrect the genre, some cast members are being pushed out, some old favorites are being shoved back in, some "fresh blood" is clogging up the fictional towns, but TPTB seem to have no method to their madness.
Days Resurrected?
The soap that brought you demon possession, submarine sex, and computer chips in the brain, tries to get itself out of the gutter.
One Life to Live ... Live
Daytime's first one-hour drama to go live for an entire week gets praise from an unusual source ... me.
Emmy Rants, Raves, and did I mention Rants?
A rundown of the 29th Daytime Emmys. The winners, the losers, and the telecast.
The Emmy Countdown
A rundown of some of the talented actors who put blood, sweat, tears, and hours into stories who somehow were forgotten when ballots were filled out.
Something Positive
A rundown of the positive aspects of each soap on the air

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