The Year That Was: Daytime's Best & Worst of 2001

THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY


  • ODE TO BAD SNL SKITS THAT NEVER END: Who is Proteus? And did the AMC writers care any more than we did? PC’s "Tempted" and "Tainted Love" both vamp tales, two titles doesn’t stop it from being one story. Teen field trips on NBC.

  • SHOCKS TO THE SYSTEM (a.k.a old-fashioned jaw droppers that force you to tune in): PS’ Brian is Antonio and Theresa marries Julian. B&B’s Massimo is Ridge’s father. OLTL’s R.J. has a daughter and gasp! a storyline. Jessica isn’t (or is she?) Viki’s daughter.

  • GOOD CARTOON Vs. BAD CARTOON: A fine line. DAYS’ John Black’s cocked eyebrow is a classic. AMC’s Chris Stamp is what you spread on all those Ritz crackers that are advertised on the breaks.

  • MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENTS: Cringe as Chloe and Brady relive The Sound of Music. Wince every time Y&R’s Sean and Jill share the screen, especially the strip tease. GL’s Reva savior to slaves and Jews, trivialize history that’ll turn out pretty.

  • BEST PSA: B&B’s Tony finds out he’s HIV positive at the same time he falls head over heels for Kristen. The Forresters and Clarke become educated as the couple heads to the altar. Bono would be proud of Zende and the other African orphans. Vintage Agnes Nixon must have been ghostwriting.

  • TREND MAKING JANE AUSTEN FEEL THOROUGHLY MODERN: Women losing their mind over a man. AMC’s Laura and Leslie. ATWT’s Julia. GL’s Catalina and Tory. Y&R’s Tricia and Brittany. B&B’s Morgan. PS’ Kay and Ivy. OLTL’s Gina. I could go on.

  • SINGULAR SENSATIONS: OLTL’s Starr (Kristen Alderson) the apple falls nice and close to the tree. ATWT’s Bonnie (Napiera Groves) an interracial femme fatale who could teach Erica Kane a thing or two. DAYS’ Jack (Matthew Ashford) finally that firing has been corrected. GL’s Gus (Ricky Paull Goldin) providing the wit and wisdom absent from the rest of the hour.

  • MAJOR MISSTEPS: AMC’s Anna and Alex should have worn nametags (someone needs Martha Byrne tutelage). PC’s dirt bikes, way to be in touch with your audience. GH’s frozen mustache twirling dead guy. And could GL’s San Cristobel please sink into whatever ocean is nearest of convenience to the writers, we know they enjoy convenience.

  • CONSISTENT GOODNESS: AS THE WORLD TURNS. Barbara revitalized. Stenbeck’s return. Rose’s uniqueness. Lily and Holden’s supercoupleness. Emma’s kitchen. Craig’s moral ambiguity. Lien and Dante exited way too soon, and Paul’s a tad milquetoast considering his lineage, but this is still the show that sets the bar high.

  • INTERMITTENT GOODNESS: GL introduces the Boudreauxes, ending a lengthy white wash. OLTL’s Blair and Todd’s rocky marriage. DAYS’ Jennifer nervously returns to the dating scene. GH’s Luke and Laura minus the doom and gloom.

  • FUTURE WISHES: AMC - Bianca kisses a girl on camera. ATWT - AW’s Joe and Paulina take over the diner. B&B - Macy’s alive and well. DAYS - No more brain chips. GL - The return of Ed, Alan-Michael, and Dylan. GH - Brenda and Tracy come home. OLTL - Headline in The Sun: Rappaports declared missing, Buchanans found. PC - Romance and families. PS - A big lavish wedding that ends in marriage. Y&R - Jack outwits Victor.

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