Roundup: Corrie Sex Abuse Scandal! Sons of Anarchy! JaSam Wedding! Bye-Bye AMC & OLTL!

Hey All, it's been awhile! Because of personal, professional and school commitments I haven't had much time for blogging, tweeting or even soap watching. But I'm Baaaaaack!!

So what's been going on?

The Happy:

JaSam Wedding

Finally! Jason and Sam are one of my all-time favorite Soap SuperCouples, so this marriage has been a dream come true for me (even if it was marred by more Franco Bullsh*t). But if JaSam has taught us one thing, it's that Love Always Triumphs. To me, JaSam is all about unconditional love *sigh*

Sons of Anarchy

Damn! This is the best soap I've seen in a long time! After hearing great things about the show, I decided to finally check it out. I was hesitant. Male dominated anti-hero shows can be popular but their a tough sell for me: most of the characters are unlikeable and a sexist perspective is sometimes present (Hello Sopranos!). But as it turns out this wild, testosterone-driven, violent biker show has a lot going for it. It's what Guza-era General Hospital so desperately tried to be. The action is intense, performances are terrific and it's got the soapy elements that I love: hyper-dramatic situations, crazy plot twists, cliffhangers, brilliant at it's best, contrived at it's worst. The thing I like the most? When you take away the Plot Points and the MacGuffins (those damn LETTERS) it's really all about the characters and their relationships with each other. It's their desires, needs, greed, narcissism, fears, betrayals, lovin' and hatin' that really drives the stories forward. Plus, I love the HOLY SH*T! OMG! ICan'tBelieveTheyJustDidThat! moments. I'm going to write more about SOA later, but for now I'll just say this show is Must Watch TV for me. Oh and...they better not kill Clay off!

The Sad:

Good-bye to AMC and the soon-to-be departed OLTL

I'm still kind of in denial about this. I've yet to watch the final few eps of AMC. They're just sitting on my DVR waiting to be watched. And I can't quite bring myself to watch what's left of OLTL. It's just too damn depressing. It's sad to see these beloved shows go and even sadder to know that this is signaling the end of the daytime soap genre as we know it. Saying good-bye to characters we've watched for years, sometimes decades, is like no other feeling. Only other daytime soap watchers really understand how heartbreaking it is for us.

The Shocking:

Coronation Street's Michael Le Vell Arrested For Sexual Assault

This has got to be the most shocking and upsetting soap-related story of the year. On Sept 30, Michael Le Vell (Kevin, Coronation Street) was arrested for rape of a 6-year-old girl (her age at the time of the alleged attack). The Corrie vet (he's been on the show for 28 years) denies the charges. He's currently out on bail until January while the charges are being investigated.

Boy, what do you even say about this? It's absolutely horrific. I'm just hoping that this is some terrible mistake, because the alternative is just too horrible to contemplate.

Ok all. Thanks for reading this rambling mess of a post, lol. I'm glad to be back and can't wait to dive right into the soap world again!

Melanie/daisyclover/SoapOperaBabble

Why Wishing The Chew Dead Doesn't Help Anyone!

The day I thought would never come has finally arrived, I am sorry to say that I am here defending the awful hot mess that is The Chew.

This is not something that I take lightly; I think that the cancelation of All My Children and One Life to Live was premature and mishandled from the top for years! The fact that the shows got in such an awful state that cancelation was even thought about is enough to say that something from the top needed to be changed, but nevertheless the shows are ending on ABC and thankfully rebooting with Prospect Park.

With that said, as the air date for the All My Children replacement draws ever closer the soap opera community has become more and more vicious towards not only the show but the cast and thus indirectly the crew working behind the scenes.

People on twitter are all rallying around PRAYING that the show is an abysmal failure, directly targeting specific host and telling them that their show sucks and that SOAPS RULE!

On one hand I totally get where these twitterers are coming from, these shows that have been touted as “More then just a story, a legacy” are being shoved aside for shows that will never have the cultural impact or resonate with viewers the way the soaps did. However, with that said the way that we have gone about attacking the show is wrong and JUST as bad if not worse then what Brian Frons, Jeff Zucker, etc have done to us in the past.

These shows are so much more than just a panel of talking heads discussing how to properly set a table and fix a meal. They involve interns just breaking into the industry, cameramen that rely on the show as a source of income for their families survival. Single parents who can barely stay afloat with the price of living. So when you are saying “Screw the chew” and wishing that the show tanks after week one you are indirectly targeting these innocent people. YES they should have never canceled your favorite show and yes if the show fails then it in a way proves that soaps are worth salvaging but to directly wish people out of a job is 100% WRONG.

WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS! I know we are, I have seen this community rally around one another and create something amazing and wonderful, but to sit here and belittle and attack a program and wish hundreds of people out of work to join the already increasing number of people without work isn’t right.

So what do I advise we do instead? Support Prospect Park! Every time you feel the urge to bash the chew use that energy to say something positive about Prospect Park! Show ABC that they made the wrong choice by making iAMC and iOLTL the most successful transition from one production company to another and just ignore the chew. It will do what it does. If it succeeds or fails it changes NOTHING for us in the end. If the Chew dies I can promise you that ABC won’t run crying to Prospect Park demanding that they give the shows back. ABC will simply create another talker/ game show to fill the void and when it fails do the same thing over and over again until someone wizens up and the soap opera genera is rebooted.

My point is that we are better than this. We are better than Frons and the rest of the idiot executives. Wish the cast and crew best of luck and vote with the power of your remote and twitter page by just ignoring the series and let nature run its course. Its Darwinism out there in the television landscape and only the strong will truly survive. But really consider what the effect of your message really is on the normal person and what you are really saying if you look at it from someone on the production room floors point of view.

Do you agree with me? Or am I full of it and we just need to tell ABC/ Brian Frons/ ETC that the Chew SUCKS AND DESERVES TO END AND FIRE EVERYONE SCREW THE CONSEQUENCES!? Let me know in the comments bellow or on twitter @soapwikijohn

Our Predictions for the 2011 Daytime Emmys!

Well it's that time again! The Daytime Emmys are set to air on June 19th! Check out our predictions, wishes and wtf reactions to the nominees.
(Judging done by Denial Island Academy of Soap Opera Arts and Sciences members: Brooke, SoapWikiJohn and Melanie/SoapOperaBabble)

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
ALL MY CHILDREN
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
GENERAL HOSPITAL
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

Brooke's comments: Are you kidding? Why is ABC nominated here, if it was outstanding, why is it being cancelled? I only watch B&B out of this list, but I'm picking Y&R.
Melanie's comments: Yeah, AMC stands out like a sore thumb here. I'd be curious to see what they submitted. Maybe scenes involving Palmer's death? If so, I think they've actually got a shot. Otherwise, I'll say B&B because Susan.Flannery.Rocks.
John's comments: General Hospital gets my vote! I agree with Brooke. The only thing outstanding about AMC is how awful it was, but they did hire Lindsay Hartley and gave me a little 'Cake' so I can't say it was all bad.

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES WRITING TEAM
AS THE WORLD TURNS
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
DAYS OF OUR LIVES
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

Brooke's comments: *falls dead* How did Days of Our Lives end up in this category? That has got to be the biggest joke of this year's nominations. Sorry DOOL writers, I know you work hard and I don't disparage that, but seriously? An Emmy? Um. No. I don't care who wins this, as long as it's not DOOL, otherwise I'd demand a recount!
Melanie's comments: My heart says ATWT. I believe they submitted the final episode and boy was that a tear jerker. Could anyone really resist Bob/Don Hasting's "Our Town"-ish narration? And while ATWT's last year on the air was rocky, the home stretch was terrifically written and acted.
John's comments: I like ATWT, I want them to win, but I cannot say they really deserve it because a lot of the show was such a mess. B&B was just dull (even if Brooke slept with her daughter's boyfriend...again) and even though this will make (our) Brooke's head explode I want Days of Our Lives to take it home.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR
CHRISTIAN LEBLANC (MICHAEL, Y&R)
MICHAEL PARK (JACK, ATWT)
MAURICE BENARD (SONNY, GH)
RICKY PAULL GOLDIN (JAKE, AMC)
JAMES SCOTT (EJ, DAYS)

Brooke's comments: Well as a James Scott fanatic, I want James to win! Alas, DOOL never wins best anything (and often for good reason), so I'm going to say hope for James, but predict Michael Park.
Melanie's comments: James Scott is criminally under appreciated. I'd like to think the Academy can get over their prejudice against DAYS actors. The episode where EJ contemplates suicide was great, James knocked it out of the park. I think RPG submitted comedic stuff so we can cross him off the list. I don't know what CLB submitted, but he shouldn't be in the Lead category anyway. And MP won last year. That leaves James and Maurice. My heart says James, my head says Maurice. The Kristina/Keifer story pissed me off (because it served to pimp the men on the show) but Maurice/Sonny's speech by Kristina's bedside was good stuff.
John's comments: I really want James Scott to pull this one off, he has a lot of good material to pick, but it is all in the reel.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS
SUSAN FLANNERY (STEPHANIE, B&B)
MICHELLE STAFFORD (PHYLLIS, Y&R)
COLLEEN ZENK (BARBARA, ATWT)
ALICIA MINSHEW (KENDALL, AMC)
DEBBI MORGAN (ANGIE, AMC)
LAURA WRIGHT (CARLY, GH)

Brooke's comments: How is there no DOOL actress in this category? Surely Ali Sweeney or Ari Zucker should be nom'd? Remind me who the pre noms were again, Ali was there, right? Um, apparently this is the first year Laura Wright has been nominated in like 20 years, so she will probably end up winning.
Melanie's comments: Yeah, it's pretty amazing that this is the first nomination Laura's gotten! While I'd love it to be Susan or Colleen, I'm guessing it's going to come down to Laura or Debbi. I'll go with Debbi. She was saddled with the totally stupid Soap Blindness/I'm 55 and Pregnant story - but managed to make us care anyway. She certainly deserves an award for that!
John's comments: Susan Flannery had the major cancer battle storyline this year and while it is true it's Laura's first time, I don't think it's her year.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR
JONATHAN JACKSON (LUCKY, GH)
JASON THOMPSON (PATRICK, GH)
BRIAN KERWIN (CHARLIE, OLTL)
DOUG DAVIDSON (PAUL, Y&R)
BILLY MILLER (BILLY, Y&R)

Brooke's comments: Cos he's hawt I'd like to see Jason Thompson win this, but I think Jonathan Jackson probably will.
Melanie's comments: Let's just get this out of the way: Van Hansis (Luke, ATWT) should be on this list, but he didn't submit himself. While Brian Kerwin is a personal favorite of mine, he doesn't have a chance. Doug did some great work in the Patti story, but that won't be enough to win. JJ's scene where Lucky goes off on LikNiz and makes his eyes bleed was a showstopper. But boy, Jason T did some amazing work in 2010 (Patrick confessing to Robin was killer soap). Jonathan Jackson will get it, but Jason Thompson deserves it.
John's comments: Jonathan Jackson all the way! Yes, Jason T had some good scenes, but the heartbreaking 'you slept with my brother' scene was brilliant and it allowed him to go all out emotionally and help fans reconnect with his Lucky after the loss of Greg Vaughan.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS
MELISSA CLAIRE EGAN (ANNIE, AMC)
JULIE PINSON (JANET, ATWT)
HEATHER TOM (KATIE, B&B)
NANCY LEE GRAHN (ALEXIS, GH)
BREE WILLIAMSON (JESSICA, OLTL)
TRICIA CAST (NINA, Y&R)

Brooke's comments: I'd like to see Bree win this one.
Melanie's comments: WTF is Heather Tom doing on this list? The other nominees are great. I'm going with Nancy Lee Grahn.
John's comments: Heather 'I did nothing' Tom nominated herself? For what exactly??? MCE is my pick. I think they all did good stuff but Annie was amazing and I would like to see her win.

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTOR
SCOTT CLIFTON (LIAM, B&B)
CHANDLER MASSEY (WILL, DAYS)
CHAD DUELL (MICHAEL, GH)

Brooke's comments: Chad Duell ftw!
Melanie's comments: *Yawn* Chad, I guess...
John's comments: Scott Clifton, only because he might have two soaps voting for him...

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTRESS
BRITTANY ALLEN (MARISSA, AMC)
LEXI AINSWORTH (KRISTINA, GH)
EMILY O'BRIEN (JANA, Y&R)

Brooke's comments: Maybe Lexi. What's with only three noms for the younger actor/actress categories this year?
Melanie's comments: Brittany Allen?? Seriously?? Well, at least Molly Burnett isn't one of the nominees. Not sure what Emily submitted. I'll go with Lexi, who gave a great performance in the Kristina/Keifer abuse story.
John's comments: Emily??? Emily thinks she deserves the nod? What for? Making the world hate Jana even more than they already did? Go Lexi!

Well that's our take on the nominations! What about you guys? Who do you think is going to win? Who are you rooting for? Who's missing? Which nominations are undeserved? Let us know!

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover

Nominations for the 2011 Daytime Emmy Awards Announced!

Well the nominations for the Daytime Emmy Awards have been announced. Here's a quick list of the major categories (courtesy of We Love Soaps - for the full list of categories/nominees head over to their site.)

We'll be posting our comments on the nominations soon, but until then, have a look and let us know what you think!

Outstanding Drama Series
ALL MY CHILDREN (ABC)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (CBS)
GENERAL HOSPITAL (ABC)
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (CBS)

Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (CBS)
GENERAL HOSPITAL (ABC)
ONE LIFE TO LIVE (ABC)
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (CBS)

Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team
AS THE WORLD TURNS (CBS)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (CBS)
DAYS OF OUR LIVES (NBC)
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (CBS)

Outstanding Lead Actor
Christian LeBlanc, as Michael Baldwin THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (CBS)
Michael Park, as Jack Snyder AS THE WORLD TURNS (CBS)
Maurice Benard, as Sonny Corinthos GENERAL HOSPITAL (ABC)
Ricky Paull Goldin, as Jake Martin ALL MY CHILDREN (ABC)
James Scott, as EJ DiMera DAYS OF OUR LIVES (NBC)

Outstanding Lead Actress
Susan Flannery, as Stephanie Forrester THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (CBS)
Michelle Stafford, as Phyllis Summers THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (CBS)
Colleen Zenk, as Barbara Ryan As the World Turns" (CBS)
Alicia Minshew, as Kendall Slater ALL MY CHILDREN (ABC)
Debbi Morgan, as Angie Hubbard ALL MY CHILDREN (ABC)
Laura Wright, as Carly Corinthos Jacks GENERAL HOSPITAL (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor
Jonathan Jackson, as Lucky Spencer GENERAL HOSPITAL (ABC)
Jason Thompson, as Patrick Drake GENERAL HOSPITAL (ABC)
Brian Kerwin, as Charlie Banks ONE LIFE TO LIVE (ABC)
Doug Davidson, as Paul Williams THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (CBS)
Billy Miller, as Billy Abbott THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (CBS)

Outstanding Supporting Actress
Melissa Claire Egan, as Annie Chandler ALL MY CHILDREN (ABC)
Julie Pinson, as Janet Ciconne AS THE WORLD TURNS (CBS)
Heather Tom, as Katie Logan Spencer THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (CBS)
Nancy Lee Grahn, as Alexis Davis GENERAL HOSPITAL (ABC)
Bree Williamson, as Jessica Brennan ONE LIFE TO LIVE (ABC)
Tricia Cast, as Nina Webster THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (CBS)

Outstanding Younger Actor
Scott Clifton, as Liam Cooper THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (CBS)
Chandler Massey, as Will Horton DAYS OF OUR LIVES (NBC)
Chad Duell, as Michael Corinthos GENERAL HOSPITAL (ABC)

Outstanding Younger Actress
Brittany Allen, as Marissa Chandler ALL MY CHILDREN (ABC)
Lexi Ainsworth, as Kristina Davis GENERAL HOSPITAL (ABC)
Emily O'Brien, as Jana Hawkes THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (CBS)

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover

Oprah Winfrey Says Soaps Are Over in YouTube Message

As most of you know, many soap fans have been asking Oprah to help save All My Children and One Life to Live by possibly moving those shows to her newly created network OWN (humbly titled Oprah Winfrey Network.) In a YouTube video she's just released, not only does Winfrey say No, but she essentially tells fans soap operas are dead calling them "an institution that for all intent and all purpose indicates that that time has come for it to be over."

Watch the full video:

DISLIKE! I find it interesting that Winfrey could have just said she wouldn't be able to help, but she decided instead to tell fans that there was no hope for the soap genre. A little strange, no? I've heard people say that OWN is funded in part by Disney, but I'm not sure of that (if someone has a link to that info, please post it in the comments!) But I do know this - Oprah has had a long and profitable relationship with ABC/Disney - they helped make her rich and famous, so with that in mind, this script - oops, I mean message - isn't such a surprise.

I'm certainly not going to let the Big 0 discourage me. She's not right about everything (remember "Beloved"?) Good luck to her and OWN - I hear they have tons of reality shows - oh boy, just what we need more of! I won't be watching...

What do you guys think? Was Winfrey just telling it like it is? Did she go too far in declaring the genre to be over? Do you think Anne Sweeney or Brian Frons wrote that script for her? (I'm only half-joking on that one)

Keep the Faith Soapies!

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover

Will General Hospital Be Cancelled Too?

Ever since ABC announced they were cancelling All My Children and One Life to Live soap fans have been writing, calling, emailing, tweeting, blogging and facebook-ing in protest. Though it's now a cliche to paraphrase Network's Howard Beale, it's still fitting: soap fans are mad as hell and we aren't going to take it anymore! The results have been astounding: Hoover is dropping their ads on ABC in protest (will Hershey soon follow?), the mainstream media has taken notice of our little revolution and even ABC has been forced to acknowledge the uproar (in a condescending and patronizing way, of course.) But amidst all the campaigning, many of us have been asking repeatedly, what about the other soaps? And specifically, what about the last ABC soap standing: General Hospital? I think most will agree, it doesn't look good. Many have theorized (and I agree) that the only reason GH hasn't been cancelled yet is because completely changing that 3 hour block would have been too drastic. The compromise was to cancel AMC and OLTL in two stages, with GH to go later.

Word On The Street:
We don't do much spoiling/rumors/gossip here. We've got some great friends in the know, but for the most part we keep things to ourselves (we don't want to get our friends in trouble!) But I will say this, a friend who is usually right on the money has told us: General Hospital: Sept 2012 - possibly earlier. The decision is not final, some of it depends on how well the replacement shows do. But we can expect a decision/announcement early 2012.

I'm not telling you this to discourage you or to offer a 'scoop' or whatever (like I said, that's not our thing here at Denial Island.) I'm saying it because 1. I believe it to be true and 2. Because we should use this information as Motivation. It really is do or die time and as hard as we've fought so far, we need to fight even harder. My friend says to keep going after the sponsors and to target advertisers that run ads "across the Disney spectrum" - she specifically names Novartis as a good target because they advertise on all Disney networks.

Spoiler Diva Ravenbeauty recently wrote in her column:
Disney needs to feel it the most or it means very little. This means addressing Disney's sponsors as well as ABC's. This means focusing a little more on Disney themselves, and their products. We need to contact the heads at Disney, and tell them that we will no longer take our families to Disneyland or Disneyworld, and will not buy their products or services any longer and why (which is our right). We have been doing some very good work here (and have made progress), but we are only giving them flesh wounds when we need to be aiming for the heart. From what I was told, Disney finds this all very amusing, even though ABC does not. If we get to Disney, it will trickle down to ABC with some real force.

Let's Keep Fighting!
So I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to keep fighting! I will continue to make calls, write letters and emails to the networks, their sponsors and also to soap and mainstream media. If you notice, towards the top of the page on our blog, we've got links for each soap. Click on those links to get their contact info (if you see any incorrect info or have contact info to add, please let us know!) I will also continue to boycott all ABC shows (except for the daytime soaps.)

ABC hurt us by cancelling our shows, so let's hurt them back! Maybe now they'll think twice about messing with soaps and their fans! This may truly be General Hospital's last chance.

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover

OLTL's Catherine Hickland Rips Brian Frons a New One!

Brian Frons should know better than to mess with a Daytime Diva! Catherine Hickland (OLTL, Loving/The City) has been very vocal about the cancellation of OLTL and AMC on twitter, and now she's written a very revealing (and passionate) piece on her blog about it. It's called "No More Love in the Afternoon" and boy has she ripped Brian Frons a new one!

Here's just a little taste of it:

“The ratings kept declining” he will spin. And I say

“Yes, well that was the plan, wasn’t it?” Isn’t that what you have been doing with all of your character assassinating and lame story telling? Isn’t that what you’ve been doing micromanaging your producers, writers, and staff to insanity? Business 101 teaches that you hire super competent people and let them do their job. Control freaks find this nearly impossible, which is why they ultimately fail. Its pure arrogance to think that you know what the audience will accept on shows that they knew far, far better than you. They didn’t accept mediocrity, and for that, the viewers were punished? What’s wrong with this picture?

To be fair, she never mentions Brian Frons by name (why bother?), but it'll be clear to everyone who she's talking about. She also goes on to say, "In 30 years as an entertainer, I can not recall a more reviled executive." Wow.

While her comments about Frons are what are going to make headlines, there's so much more here. She perfectly voices our anger and sorrow over the loss of our shows and her treatment by HIM mirrors the way fans have felt they've been treated all these years. It's clear that Miss Hickland respects the genre, the people that work in the industry and the fans. She loves soap fans and I love her for that. She's talented, intelligent and has a kind and caring heart! My only regret? That this means we're probably not going to see Lindsay returning to One Life To Live before the finale (full disclosure: I'm a huge fan of the Nora vs. Lindsay rivalry - I love them both!)

Here's a link to the blog
Here's a link to Catherine's twitter
To visit Catherine's site, click here

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover

My Take on the ABC Soap Fiasco

Wow, who would have thought that we would be 'here' again? It seems like just yesterday we got the news that Guiding Light was going off the air, and Passions before it. We only JUST digested the ending of As the World Turns and yet once again we are here grieving the loss of not one but TWO legendary programs All My Children and One Life to Live.

Now it is important to note that the fight is not yet over, but with that said I am just going to write about my take on this whole situation as it currently stands.

Should the soaps have been canceled?

No one wants to honestly answer this question, we have history with these shows, we love them, and we know that there is every chance that the shows 'could' improve and return to the amazing status of yester-year. But with that said, both shows have been less than perfect as of late, and if we are going to be completely honest All My Children has been dang near unwatchable for a very long time, and if this was ANY type of Primetime show we would be championing the cancellation so we could potentially get new content that we would fall in love with, but because it is daytime, if we 'wish' cancellation upon any of the soaps we are treated as villains, and to an extent rightfully so. But let's look at the situation at All My Children. You have got to look at the entire situation at All My Children. The show was moved across the country, got a new writing regime, and continued to produce lack-luster programming for over a year.

It was really given a fighting chance, but TIIC did not rise to the occasion and save the show, thus it is dead.

Now on the other hand I do give a lot more credit to Frank Valentini / Ron Carlavati then my co-blogger Mel might. Mel completely feels that Ron C was the end of One Life to Live and I guess to an extent she is right. But while One Life to Live has its fair share of issues, it has been consistently the better soap produced here in the U.S.A.

But what is that saying? Soaps here in the states have consistently been slipping in regards to quality. While the rest of the world has adapted and treated viewers with respect, we in the states have been treated like imbeciles with stories of doppelgangers and back from the dead. We shake our head, write angry blog post, but continue to watch because there is no alternative.

If tomorrow I became Head of ABC, I would have looked at the daytime line up, cussed and asked why this horrific programming is on my lineup, and probably proceeded to make drastic changes from the top on down and give the show a year to turn everything around, or else face the axe.

From strictly a 'quality' standpoint I agree with the choice to axe both of these programs.

With that said, I believe that the replacements for these soaps should have been maybe The Chew and two half hour, quality written soaps. Maybe cut One Life to Live to a half hour and give the other half hour to a brand new streamlined soap with one or two Vets as the big draw, but do everything possible to keep the budget low. Home and Away reportedly has a very low budget, and a VERY high return due to international licensing and high cast turn over, so do that for a new soap. Just come up with new ideas and revitalize this genre.

I do think axing two soaps at the same time was dumb, they should have at least taken the CBS model of axing one soap this year, and then another next year, that way the blow is not as harsh.

With that said the decision has been made, and it is time for us as soap fans to mobilize and try to find these shows another home, and more importantly help keep the ones we have on the air.

That does NOT however mean we should simply stop complaining about the quality of these shows and just be thankful that the shows are on the air. I have heard countless times since the ABC announcement that we need to just watch the shows, and that quality writing doesn't save anything, but at the end of the day if a show has quality writing and I am involved in the characters, storylines, and other elements of the show, than I am going to promote it and get more people to watch it, whereas I cannot in good faith tell ANYONE to watch Days of Our Lives, All My Children or any of the other shows on the daytime lineup as they currently stand.

In closing, it is time to end on a downer, because I am hearing, from a very reliable source, that General Hospital is on the block, with a decision being made about it in January. If we want to save that soap we need to start acting now and not wait for the final moments when the axe has already swung.

I am upset and frustrated by this whole situation as well, and I wish I was not here writing this piece, but at the end of the day we are, and while I am upset with the choices that have been made up to this point, I can somehow rationalize the decision to cancel these shows, but I do not in any way agree with their replacements.

What is your take on this fiasco? Am I crazy? Have I lost my mind? Let me know in the comments below or on twitter @Soapwikijohn.

Hoover Pulls Ads from ABC in Support of Soap Opera Fans!

Big Score for Soap Fans!!! After being flooded wth letters and emails from soap fans, Hoover has decided to pull their ads from ABC. Here's what Hoover's VP of Marketing wrote on their facebook page:

To all the loyal ABC soap fans,

I want you to know from me personally that we hear you loud and clear. My wife and mother are both passionate viewers of All My Children and One Life to Live, as are many of my colleagues here at Hoover. We were and are as disappointed with this news as you are.

In fact, we will discontinue our advertising with ABC this Friday, 4/22. We're making every attempt to pull our spots from these programs sooner.

Because we feel that’s not enough, we also want to help get your voice heard with ABC. So, we’ve set up a special email address, SaveTheSoaps@Hoover.com, to help pull together the mass emotional outpouring of support for our beloved ABC soaps and get it to our contacts at ABC. Please, send your emails to us at SaveTheSoaps@Hoover.com, and we’ll get every, single last one of them to ABC.

We’re 150% committed to doing what matters most to you – so if there’s anything else we can do to help or you have any ideas, please email this address, and we will respond to you personally.

Thank you for standing up for what matters to you! We need more of that in this world.

Brian Kirkendall
Vice President of Marketing
Hoover.

Bravo Hoover!!! Since making the announcement Hoover's followers on twitter and facebook have skyrocketed! Please take a few minutes to email them, tweet them and leave a message on facebook thanking them for their support! Unlike ABC, Hoover listens to and appreciates soap fans!

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover

Chelsea Handler Disses OLTL's Robin Strasser II: Robin Strikes Back!

Hey guys! Sorry I'm posting this so late. I wasn't feeling too well this weekend (I blame ABC!)

As most of you know, Chelsea Handler dissed One Life to Live Diva Robin Strasser a couple of weeks ago on her show Chelsea Lately (to watch a clip and read our initial blog on it, click HERE).

After it was announced that ABC was cancelling OLTL and AMC, I called Robin's hotline to listen to her reaction, and Surprise Surprise, towards the end of the call Robin brought up Chelsea! Robin laughed, called Chelsea a b*tch and then joked that she'd gotten more airtime on Chelsea Lately than she had on OLTL that week! Robin obviously has a terrific sense of humor!

There were so many calls to Robin's line that the system crashed! Unfortunately, it looks like the line will be down for a little while. Last I heard, Robin said the tech people were going to try and salvage the message (sorry, can't remember where I read that, otherwise I would link to the article.)

It's hard to believe that Chelsea Handler has her own show, but our beloved Robin (along with so many other talented people) will soon be unemployed. :(

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover

One Life to Live and All My Children AXED

The soap sky has finally fallen down on us, and both programs have officially been axed.

Here is the press release (followed by a statement by me):

ABC EVOLVES THE FACE OF DAYTIME TELEVISION WITH THE LAUNCH OF TWO NEW SHOWS, "THE CHEW" AND "THE REVOLUTION"
Iconic Shows "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" Will Broadcast Their Final Episodes in September 2011 and January 2012, Respectively; Series Will Sunset in a Manner That Honors Viewers and the Shows' Creative Legacies
Guided by extensive research into what today's daytime viewers want and the changing viewing patterns of the audience, ABC is evolving the face of daytime television with the launch of two new shows, "The Chew," which will premiere in September 2011, and "The Revolution" (working title), which will premiere in January 2012. These new shows expand ABC Daytime's focus to include more programming that is informative and authentic and centers on transformation, food and lifestyle -- cornerstones of programming that resonates with daytime viewers as evidenced by the success of "The View."
As food has become the center of everyone's life, "The Chew" will focus on food from EVERY angle -- as a source of joy, health, family ritual, friendship, breaking news, dating, fitness, weight loss, travel adventures and life's moments. Produced by Gordon Elliot, the Emmy Award-winning executive producer of "Paula Deen's Home Cooking" and "Down Home with the Neelys," this new one-hour series combines entertaining takeaway with memorable personalities to create a live show where viewers get the dish on anything and everything related to the world of food and beyond. Whether it's new trends like food trucks and urban gardens or how pesticides in our food may affect our health, we can't stop talking about it. The hosts who will guide the hour include Mario Batali (Restaurateur, Food Network's "Iron Chef America" and author); entertaining expert Clinton Kelly (TLC's "What Not to Wear"); Carla Hall (Bravo's "Top Chef"); Michael Symon (Restaurateur and Food Network's "Iron Chef America"), and nutrition expert Daphne Oz, who simplifies often confusing information about food.
From Executive Producer JD Roth and 3 Ball Productions, producers of "The Biggest Loser," "Masterchef" and ABC's upcoming "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition," comes "The Revolution," a daily show about health and lifestyle transformations. The show is hosted by a team of experts and rotating guest contributors who help viewers transform all areas of their lives, from relationships to family, food, style, home design, finance and more. This dream team, led by fashion expert Tim Gunn, also includes celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak and American Idol alum Kimberley Locke. The show features a unique concept: each week one woman's five-month weight loss journey will unfold in just five days, with daily results and a final transformational reveal on Friday. "The Revolution" is a one-stop shop for better living.
"While we are excited about our new shows and the shift in our business, I can't help but recognize how bittersweet the change is," said Brian Frons, President, Daytime, Disney ABC/Television Group. "We are taking this bold step to expand our business because viewers are looking for different types of programming these days. They are telling us there is room for informative, authentic and fun shows that are relatable, offer a wide variety of opinions and focus on 'real life' takeaways. A perfect example of this is 'The View,' and that factored into our decision. 'The Chew' and 'The Revolution' are in the same vein and will be great additions to the lineup, with 'The View' serving as an ideal foundation from which to launch these programs. They will also provide enormous opportunity for the creation of ancillary businesses and growth."
"General Hospital," the second-most popular show in daytime, is not impacted by this announcement and will remain on the air.
To honor the core, passionate audience and their rich history with our soaps, "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" will conclude each series in a manner that respects their legacies and the longstanding hopes of many of their viewers.
"'All My Children' and 'One Life to Live' are iconic pieces of television that have made an indelible mark on our culture's history," reflected Frons. "Each of the shows has touched millions and millions of viewers and informed the social consciousness. It has been a privilege to work with the extraordinary teams who brought the residents of Pine Valley and Llanview to life each day, and we thank the cast, crew, producers and most especially the fans for their commitment to the shows through their history."
None of this could have been possible without the extraordinary Agnes Nixon. "More than 40 years ago, Agnes Nixon created both the worlds of 'All My Children' and 'One Life to Live,' worlds that the rest of us have been privileged to live in," said Frons. "Her shows led the way forward, breaking a lot of rules along the way to defy expectations about what soaps can do and the issues they can cover.
I am honored to have worked with her."
"All My Children" has revolved around the lives of the residents of fictional Pine Valley, a town which closely resembles the Philadelphia Main Line. "All My Children" took home the 1998 Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, the third time the show received this top honor, having also garnered the award in 1994 and 1992. "All My Children" has received more than 30 Emmy Awards and consistently distinguishes itself in the field of daytime drama. The show has historically been committed to and is often the first to tackle social issues, focusing on such topics as AIDS, abortion, cochlear implants, teenage alcoholism, racial bias, acquaintance rape, spousal abuse, homosexuality, Reyes syndrome, Vietnam MIAs, drug abuse, the risks of motherhood over 40, safe sex, pet therapy and organ donations, among others. The show made television history airing daytime television's first same-sex kiss between two lesbian characters, as well as daytime television's first same sex wedding between two women. It was the first to chronicle the coming-out story of a transgender woman and to cast a real life Iraq War veteran whose story reflected his real life experiences and injuries incurred in combat.
"All My Children" premiered on the ABC Television Network on January 5, 1970, as a half-hour show; seven years later it expanded to an hour. Julie Hanan Carruthers is executive producer.
Also created by Agnes Nixon, Emmy Award-winning "One Live to Live" is set in the fictional town of Llanview, which is modeled on a Philadelphia suburb. "One Life to Live" debuted on The ABC Television Network July 15, 1968 as a half-hour show. Ten years later, it grew to a full hour in 1978.
"One Life to Live" has been lauded for its groundbreaking exploration of social issues, diverse canvas, award-winning performances and innovative storylines. Along with the history-making week of live shows in May 2002, "One Life to Live" is responsible for many "firsts" in Daytime television, including stories of interracial romance, illiteracy, medical misdiagnosis, racial prejudice, gang violence and teen pregnancy. The show received mass critical acclaim for its 1992 homophobia storyline, which captured national headlines when it introduced the character of a gay teen (played by then unknown Ryan Phillippe) and culminated with the emotional display of the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. "One Life to Live" was honored by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) with the Outstanding Daytime Drama Award in 1993, and again in 2005 and 2010.
In 2002 the show won its first-ever Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series, and was nominated again in 2007 and 2008. Created by Agnes Nixon, "One Life to Live" debuted on July 15, 1968 and marked its 10,000th episode on August 17, 2007. Frank Valentini executive-produces.

So where do we go now? I really wish I had the answer. I don't think NBC or CBS will pick up either program, so if I was going to truly try and talk someone into picking up these shows I would look at the cable networks such as Lifetime and OWN and really hope we can persuade them.

It is a really sad day for soap fans...

Random Thoughts 04/11: General Hospital, All My Children, One Life to Live

GENERAL HOSPITAL
Lucky (inexplicably baring his soul to Jason):
"I can't escape the irony that Jake was conceived because of my addiction and he died because of my father's."
-Also Ironic: Elizabeth and Jason were drunk when Jake was conceived!
-Irony thy name is Jake: Jake was named after a bar!

Today Nik dumped the hottest chick in town so that he can have more time to brood over the misery that is his family's life. I have to say that I am really sad to see Brook Lynn (the talented and lovely Adrianne Leon) leave. I think she was a great addition to the cast and she was a good contrast to Maxie and Lulu. Plus, I would have loved a Brook Lynn/Matt hook up!

While I love it when Sam and Carly get along, the conversation between them today creeped me out. I get that Carly thinks a JaSam baby will heal Jason's wounds, but offering to carry the baby for Sam?? And did you see the little twinkle in Carly's eyes when she made that suggestion? I'm tired of Carly's obsession with Jason! Carly clearly wants to give Jason a child and all I have to say is: Back off B*tch - he's Sam's!!!

ALL MY CHILDREN
I have to admit, I thought this was pretty cute:
"We're just friends. We're friends...sometimes" - Colby explaining her relationship with Asher

Was it me, or did Jesse look like he had a massive headache when everyone was yammering away at the police station? I know the feeling.

I want a Ham-Off between Darnell Williams, Lindsay Hartley and Michael E. Knight! Whoever can chew the most scenery in an hour wins!

What's with Erica acting all coy and not wanting to jinx the wedding?? Honey, you are gorgeous, but you are also 65 years old and have been married 500 times. Cut the cutesy crap.

ONE LIFE TO LIVE
Natalie to John: "Our baby! Your son! Our baby! Your son!"
Me to Natalie: "Shut up"

Uhm...lots of square jawed guys fighting each other over that skank Tessica. Am I the only one that doesn't find Tess's antics funny or amusing? It's all rather pathetic and sleazy now. I honestly thought for a second she was gonna bang both those shirtless guys in the steam room.

Cuteness: Dorian/David (Chelsea Handler be damned!), Langston/Markko, Rama.

Here's the thing guys, I'm not a huge fan of Carlivati's OLTL. I think he's a talented writer, but I find the show uneven and difficult to watch at times. However, since Roger Howarth is coming back I've decided to start watching OLTL regularly again.

Did you guys like what you saw today? What did you love, what did you hate?

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover

Still No Answers About All My Children & One Life To Live Cancellation Rumors

Hey guys, just a quick note. While ABC confirmed that Lorraine Broderick has been hired as AMC's new headwriter, they're not confirming or denying anything else. Some of us felt this move was a good sign for AMC, but TV Guide's Michael Logan pointed out that the current headwriters Dave Kreizman and Donna Swajeski are at the end of their contracts anyway and it's possible Broderick has simply been hired to wrap up the show. (Read Logan's latest here.)

Soaps In Depth ABC posted hopeful tweets over the weekend, assuring fans AMC was not going to be cancelled and that a press release would come out today. (Read my summary of their tweets here.) Unfortunately, they seem to be backtracking a bit today.  Here are their most tweets:

• Yes, I'm aware of every rumor floating around out there. No, I don't know which ones are true & which aren't. The MINUTE I know, you will.
• Don't expect that this is necessarily a situation we'll have full answers to today, tomorrow or next week. I suspect it'll unfold slowly
• While Lorraine Broderick is new headwriter of #AMC, there's much speculation that she'll be writing the end of the show. Rumors galore.
• Folks, absolutely NOBODY (except folks in charge) KNOW what's going on. We're all hearing LOTS of rumors, many of which conflict.
• The general concensus: It ain't good. But when I know anything — KNOW, not hear rumors — I'll pass it along, promise.

Seems they're not so sure anymore about All My Children not being cancelled. There's even less information out there about One Life to Live. I think at this point everyone is on the same page. It's do or die and this is the time for fans to write and call ABC and let them know you want your soaps to stay on the air.  I haven't seen this anywhere, this is just my own thought, but I'm wondering if an increase in online views (of AMC and OLTL episodes) at ABC's official site might help too??

I'm still looking for good AMC/OLTL campaigns to direct you to. There are tons of sites/blogs giving us info on who to contact, but I'm hoping to find a central campaign that's really organized.  Until then, I suggest going to Pine Valley Exposer or SoapOperaNetwork.

Also, if anyone is interested, Soaps In Depth ABC and Soap Central's Dan Kroll are doing a podcast "analyzing the AMC/OLTL situation." More info here.

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover

Are All My Children and One Life to Live Being Cancelled or Not??

I don't know about you guys, but my head is spinning. Rumors of All My Children's cancellation have been picking up steam for weeks and recently, much to the surprise of many fans, One Life to Live was thrown into the mix. Was it possible that two ABC soaps were on the chopping blog? Many in the soap and mainstream media seemed to think so. Even Agnes Nixon's son-in-law, David Hiltbrand, wrote a piece for philly.com that read like a Farewell Letter to AMC (read about it here). Not a good sign.

But maybe there's hope after all? Lorraine Broderick has just been hired as new headwriter at AMC (read SOD/SOW's announcement here). And check out these Soaps In Depth ABC's tweets:

• Great news kids: #AMC is NOT being canceled. Even better news: Lorraine Broderick is bring named headwriter. It's official.
• No word on #OLTL. But hey, one miracle a day. Lol
• Folks, when something's a rumor, I say so. Same when it's fact. #AMC being safe and Broderick being named headwriter? FACT.
• it's from an ABC spokesperson. Press release will go out Monday.

While this sounds good, I'm still hearing that AMC and OLTL are in serious danger and that breaks my soap lovin' heart.  One of my biggest regrets is that I didn't campaign to save Guiding Light or As the World Turns. For too long I was in complete denial about the possibility of their cancellation, and then it was too late. I'm hoping AMC and OLTL fans realize that they have to be proactive. Even if their shows are saved at the last minute, it will be a temporary reprieve.

In the next week or so I'm going to try and post info on Save AMC/OLTL campaigns and suggestions on what fans can do to save their shows.  For now, I recommend checking out The Pine Valley Exposer's "Help Save AMC Now" post - it's got all the info you need to get started.

We need to let TPTB know we love our soaps and want to keep them on the air! If we don't fight for our shows, no one else will!

Let me know what you think!
-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover

TV Icon Genie Francis to Y&R!

Yes it's true folks! Television Icon and Soap Superstar Genie Francis is back on daytime, but not to the show or network that made her a Pop Culture Phenom. According to Entertainment Weekly, Ms. Francis will be joining daytime's #1 soap The Young and the Restless. According to EW, she'll play Cane's mother (guess Cane isn't so dead afterall?) They also report that she'll begin taping "at the end of the month" - I'm assuming they mean April.

While I'm disappointed that Francis won't be coming back to General Hospital anytime soon, I can't say I'm surprised. In her piece for EW, Lynette Rice characterized Francis' move to Y&R as "abandoning" ABC, but I'd argue it's the other way around: ABC seemed to have abondoned Francis long ago. They've made it clear in their passive aggressive way that they had no interest in bringing Francis back in any meaningful, long-term capacity. I bet they're regretting their decision now! Good for Francis for knowing her worth and  giving ABC the finger (figuratively speaking, of course)! Perhaps they'll learn to treat their actresses (especially a Soap Legend) with more respect and consideration.

Pros: Genie is back on the air where she belongs. Y&R has scored big time! Not only are they getting a fantastic actress with a large fanbase, they're also getting mainstream media attention, which doesn't hurt. Genie is being reunited with former costarts Tristian Rogers and Stephen Nichols, which could be a great thing. You just know TPTB at ABC are fuming!

Cons: High expectations usually lead to disappointment. All this talk (already!) about a ratings increase for Y&R because of Genie places unfair burden on the actress and the show. There is such a thing as too much hype (ex: Brenda/GH). Genie has had limited success in other daytime roles (Diana on DAYS, Ceara on AMC). Genie will be yet another new face on Y&R which is already filled with talented actors from other shows, is this too much for loyal Y&R viewers who want to see more of the vets they know and love? Genie is being reunited with former costars Tristan Rogers and Stephen Nichols, which could be a not so great thing (we know how badly 'recapturing' magic can go.)

Good Luck Genie!!! We'll be watching!

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover

PS: Thanks Jorpa59 for the tip! :) And thanks to all the tweeters that let me know that the news first broke at EW :)

Agnes Nixon's Son-In-Law Bids Farewell to AMC

David Hiltbrand, Agnes Nixon's son-in-law and former AMC writer, addressed the rumors of the show's seemingly imminent cancellation. While his piece for philly.com (read it here) asks "All My Children facing cancellation?" the tone of it leaves little doubt that the show's fate is sealed. Hiltbrand ends his article with:

Farewell, Brooke, Myrtle and Tad. Goodbye, Opal, Dixie and Palmer. Fare thee well Trevor, Bianca and Greenlee. We will not see your like again.

Doesn't sound good Soapies :(  Let Hiltbrand (who was also a writer for Guiding Light) know your thoughts by either leaving a comment on the article or by tweeting him at DaveOnDemand_TV

On a side note, there is something he wrote that I disagree with:

Maybe Susan Lucci, who plays the show’s scheming cynosure, Erica Kane, is jinxed. Remember the long string of years she was nominated for, but did not win, a Daytime Emmy? Now her show may be cancelled the week before her memoir comes out.

Ironically, I thinks this benefits her book. Her 19 year Emmy losing streak brought her national mainstream attention and made her a household name, even to people who never watched soaps. Likewise, the rumors of cancellation may very well bring Lucci and her memoir some mainstream media coverage that it might not have gotten otherwise. At least that's one positive thing to come from all this...

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover

SoapWikiJohn's 2011 Soap Predictions!

Hey everyone,

So with 2011 upon us I thought I would take a moment and make some soap predictions and see how close I actually come to being right as 2011 plays out, so without further delay here are my 2011 soap predictions-

Will A Soap Be Canceled, if so which one?- I think 2011 will be the end for All My Children. Its the bottom of the ratings, the show is over budget, and unless something dramatic happens the quality is not the best, so while it pains me to say it, I think AMC is toast.

Will there be another 'kish-o-trophic' casting shocker in 2011? I think so, I have a feeling that one MAJOR actor will be fired/let go/ not resign in 2011, I am not sure on which soap, but I have a feeling that it will shock the soapworld to its core.

Which Soap will be the 'best' in 2011 -

Oh lord this one is hard, the soaps fluctuate so rapidly that it is really hard to tell which will be the "BEST".

If you are watching U.K. soaps I am going to go out on a limb and say EastEnders will reclaim its thrown with the whole Baby Swap storyline that has just kicked off. While I haven't seen those scenes yet, I just have a feeling that this storyline could be game changing and could help it be the 'BEST'. Coronation Street has issues and I think its to unpredictable to say it will be the best, and Hollyoaks and Doctors while both having a big year, and I will personally be loving them I don't know that they can overtake a baby swap. That leaves Emmerdale. Had Executive Producer Gavin Blyth not died I would have said Emmerdale would easily take best soap, but because of his unfortunate passing I am just going to give it to EastEnders and pray that I am right.

If Australian soaps are your favorite I am going to say Home and Away will reclaim its former glory and beat out Neighbours in quality come 2011. The soap had a lot of problems in 2010, but with a new writer involved I have a feeling that we will get much better storytelling in this coming year.

Now for what you all really care about the U.S. soaps..... This one is really a toss in the bucket. I don't think All My Children or The Bold and the Beautiful will get this title. The ONLY way Days of Our Lives will be the BEST is if Dena Higgly is fired, and I highly doubt that will happen. The Young and the Restless is way to sporadic. So that really just leaves One Life To Live or General Hospital. Between those two I am going to say General Hospital will pull the year off as best show. Now I think they will also be the most talked about and controversial show, but that might be just the thing the soap needs to regain its footing as best soap.

What Soap Will Be Unwatchable in 2011-

I am going to go out and just say All My Children will be the worst soap of 2011. There really is no foundation for this assumption, only that I don't think it will be able to compete with any of the others. I feel that Days might wise up and fix a few things, but AMC... I just don't feel that they can gain the ground needed to fix things to even compete so that's why it is the most unwatchable in my opinion.

Who will be the most tortured couple of 2011?

Well this one is going to be fun, and get me into a LOT of hot water. I am going to say JaSam will be the most tortured couple of the year. I don't know anything, or have any hard proof, but I just feel that things could go down a bad road and the way that General Hospital has been with its couples I think its about time to cause havoc and wreck the thing that is JaSam all up.

Cutest Couple of 2011?

I am going to say for the US- Kevin and Chloe from The Young and the Restless, and for Australia - Romeo and Ruby from Home and Away.

So those are my predictions for 2011! Do you agree or disagree? What are your predictions? Let me hear them in the comments below!

Hey AMC Bring On The "Cake"

Recently All My Children brought on the phenomenally under-appreciated actress Lindsay Hartley on as Cara Finn, who is Jake Martin's (Ricky Paull Goldin) ex-wife.

While I know there are plenty of Jake and Amanda fans, I for one am really looking forward to seeing Cara and Jake's relationship bloom, so I say bring on the 'Cake' All My Children because you do not want to waste the amazing talent that Lindsey has to offer.

Are you enjoying Cara's return? What are your thoughts on Lindsay Hartley so far? And are you for or against 'Cake'? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Memorable Soap Deaths 3

Hey All! Way back in March, fellow Denial Island resident SoapWikiJohn posted some of his Memorable Soap Deaths. I loved his post, and I followed it with Memorable Soap Deaths 2, where I posted some of my personal favorites.

Well...we're baaaaaaack! Here are some of our readers' picks!

1. Death By Plaster: Jeremy Hunter, Loving (formerly of All My Children)

Erica's Evil Twin cited the death of Jeremy Hunter (Jean LeClerc) as one of the most memorable, and silliest, soap deaths. In 1995, Loving was cancelled (spinned off as the ill-fated The City) and the final storyline featured a serial killer bumping off a good chunk of the cast (geez, I'm thankful the GL and ATWT finales were better than that!) One of the victims was former Pine Valley/AMC resident Jeremy Hunter, suffering a truly weird and surreal death! Campy and Hilarious or Just Plain Stupid? You be the judge!

(skip to 7:32 for Jeremy's death in all its slo-mo glory and make sure to watch until the end so you don't miss his 'body' being discovered!)




2. Too Young To Die: Cassie Newman, The Young and the Restless

Inbal, Imgoodbackup and Pam all cited the 2005 death of Cassie Newman (Camryn Grimes) on Y&R as a memorable soap death. I have to agree! Not only was this incredibly sad, but it was shocking! She was a Newman heir (though not biologically), a popular character played by a popular actress who we watched grow up onscreen, and she was soooo young! I still feel that killing her off was a mistake, but the emotional impact of her death is undeniable. I cried hysterically when this first aired, and it still hits me hard when I watch it now! Brilliantly acted, written and edited...get your tissues out:




3. Shot and Dropped From a Cliff, Roger Meets His Maker: Roger Thorpe, Guiding Light

Pam picked Roger's 1980 "death" in Santo Domingo as her most memorable soap death. I never saw it originally, but had a blast watching it on YouTube! Roger is dragging poor Holly through the jungle as Ed and Mike (who??) chase after them. One thing leads to another, and the dastardly Roger finally gets what's coming to him...or so viewers thought. I love the sparks between Maureen Garrett and Michael Zaslow - whether Holly and Roger were hating each other or loving each other - Maureen and Michael were always magic!
(RIP Michael Zaslow - one of the greats, he'll never be forgotten)




Any other Memorable Soap Deaths that broke your heart, shocked you, or just made you giggle? Let us know!

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover1938

Latest Soap Ratings: Sept 13 - 17, 2010

As the World Turns reaches #4 again! *sniff* *sniff*

Credit Soap Opera Network

September 13 - September 17, 2010
(Compared to Last Week/Compared to Last Year)

Total Viewers
1. Y&R 5,048,000 (-69,000/+46,000)
2. B&B 3,193,000 (-58,000/-153,000)
3. GH 2,641,000 (-101,000/-61,000)
4. ATWT 2,593,000 (+18,000/+105,000)
5. DAYS 2,510,000 (+16,000/-360,000)
6. AMC 2,387,000 (-81,000/-211,000)
7. OLTL 2,327,000 (-130,000/-236,000)

HH
1. Y&R 3.5/13 (same/-.1)
2. B&B 2.3/8 (same/-.1)
3. GH 2.0/7 (same/same)
4. ATWT 1.9/7 (same/+.1)
5. DAYS 1.8/7 (same/-.3) <- ties low rating (11th straight week)
5. AMC 1.8/6 (-.1/-.1)
5. OLTL 1.8/6 (same/-.2)

For Demographic breakdowns, Day-To-Day and Seasonal numbers, visit Soap Opera Network

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover1938