2007 The Year That Was

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED MALE:

Josh Duhon (Logan, GH). Equally believable as the tough guy, the romantic hero, and the boy longing for his father’s love. Add in a handsome face and you’ve got a name destined to be in lights.

MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED FEMALE:

Sabine Singh (Greenlee, AMC) While fans were busy with their heads stuck in the past, and the writers had their heads stuck somewhere else, Sabine created a three-dimensional character full of flaws and heart. The kind of character Amanda Seyfried whipped up from thankless scripts a few years ago only to be fired as Joanie and move on to Mean Girls, Veronica Mars, Big Love and a movie with Meryl Streep.

WORST BUSINESS SENSE:

The slumber parties/Mean Girl conventions at Fusion come to mind, but no, actually NBC wins the prize for announcing that DAYS is unlikely to go on past 2009. Gee, wonder why fans have left in droves, why should we show loyalty when their network isn’t even trying to?

WORST ACTING BY AN ALLEGED PRO:

Finola Hughes (Anna, GH). Since when is Anna a ditz? Yeah, I would’ve said never too until her brief stint this summer gushing over Noah’s rock star look-alike. Are we seriously supposed to believe that was the one time police commish? Either create a new character or be the smart strong woman fans admire.

COUPLE YOU SHOULDN’T ROOT FOR, BUT KINDA CAN’T HELP IT:

In the ugly tradition of Luke and Laura, we have DAYS’ E.J. and Sami. You know you should cringe at a rapist romancing his victim and yet their chemistry is by far the best reason to keep watching this soap. It’s a shame there’s a very dark shadow over the couple.

BEST AND WORST EXPERIMENT:

General Hospital Nightshift. Nicely paced, well-acted summer entertainment but at the start producers claimed it was separate from the daytime show only at the end to throw all those storylines onto GH without properly explaining them to non-Soapnet subscribers or releasing the DVD in time to get them up to speed.

SO INSANE IT’S FUNNY:

Passions’ Vincent (a hermaphrodite?) pregnant with his father’s child. How can that get cancelled twice in one year? Could a soap opera get any soapier than that? Or any sicker. Ah, maybe that’s the problem.

THE GLUE:

Peter Bergman (Jack, Y&R) One aimless murder mystery after the next and sizzle free couples have turned reliable old Y&R into a snore. The always pitch perfect Bergman feels like the only thing that hasn’t taken a turn for the worst.

A TURN FOR THE BETTER:

Any show looking to get back on track should follow One Life to Live’s plan. From complicated new May romances (Natalie and "Uncle" Jared, cops Antonio and Talia) to sparkling Decembers (Charlie & Viki, Dorian & Clint). From belly laughs (David, Rex, Todd) to tears (orphan Langston, Pa’s passing). OLTL has returned to heart, home and family, the essence of good soap opera.

TOUR DE FORCE:

Gina Tognoni (Dinah, GL). We’ve seen the brain trauma plot device a million times yet never has it felt remotely real until this actress tackled every second of frustration and confusion such a person certainly must feel.

UGLINESS WITH A SILVER LINING:

As usual, rape was popular this year (Days, PS, BB) and as usual, it was a serious topic handled irresponsibly and likely soon to be forgotten by these characters when it should stay with them always. Worst offender, B&B’s Stephanie handed Brooke to her rapist on a silver platter - heinous - but at least the scenes reminded us that Katherine Kelly Lang is more than just a beautiful face.

LOWLIGHTS:

AMC: Kendall and Aidan have grief sex.
ATWT: Emily the prostitute, Alison the porn star.
BB: Earbleeding sing off between Constantine and Rick.
DAYS: The airline, serial date rapist.
GH: Sweet, lovable Georgie strangled to death.
GL: Harley drooling over her niece’s boyfriend.
OLTL: Evangeline tossed in a coma.
PS: No resolution for fans without DIRECTV. The usual senseless violence against women.
Y&R: Daniel’s porn addiction. Nick’s coming and going amnesia.

HIGHLIGHTS:

AMC: Sending up Valentines to loved ones.
ATWT: The Snyder kids.
BB: Stephanie’s one-liners at Donna.
DAYS: John’s deathbed.
GH: Logan and Lulu, Logan & Scotty, Nik’s grieving over Em.
GL: Building real life homes. Cyrus torn between saving gunshot victim Marina or himself.
OLTL: Paris, Texas. Talia’s refusal to play games with Antonio.
PS: Witchling Endorra goes to school, Whitney’s goodbye to Theresa.
Y&R: Jack’s relationship with Noah. Cane’s reluctant attraction to younger gal, Lily.

NEW YEAR’S WISHES:

AMC: Brooke mows down Ryan, Annie, Jonathan, and Ava on her way back to town.
ATWT: Holden and Lily have eyes only for each other.
BB: Katie gets a story.
DAYS: Hope, Kayla, Marlena and Adrienne go back to school & join the sorority so they can finally hog all the screen time.
GH: Quit killing core family members.
GL: Gus and Natalia, Josh &Cassie, Cyrus & Harley, never share another allegedly romantic scene.
OLTL: Charlie and Viki stay on the front burner.
PS: The final week or more airs on NBC so we all can see it.
Y&R: Not one more murder mystery or trial that’s about a character no one cares about.

Fan Comments:

Jennifer (Galesburg, MI USA)
Bring Her Back: I really wish Guiding Light would bring Tammy back on the show. I really think the show is missing the love between her and Jonathan. That was why i tuned in everyday.

Bailey (Lexington, SC USA)
Lowlight GH: Jason and Elizabeth hogging all the screen time with their not so amazing "love". What is with GH trying to ruin themselves with a couple that isnt good at all? Killing off Georgie! WHAT THE HELL WHERE THEY THINKING?!
Highlight GH: Giving us a tiny semblence of our Jason/Robin/Sonny family back. GIVE US BACK THE GREATS! Cooper and Maxie and Logan and Lulu: The new Fab Four, if only Lulu and Maxie could get along. These couples are great and will go VERY far if GH lets them.
Wishes for GH: Give us back our Georgie! Something anything to have her back! Dillon too! Give us a little more of this Jason/Robin/Sonny stuff we got during the Black and White ball. I mean come on cant you see how Jason and Sonny just light up? Its so adorable! I WANT MORE RIGHT NOW!

Teri (Youngstown, OH USA)
The couple i wish they kill and the storyline that needs to change is the whole jason/liz fiasco.. jason has turned into some mindless twit with no brain.. and the biggest travesty was making him jakes father when it should have been lucky this is far most one of the worst couples in soap history.. next is the ever boring sonny and kate...now the best surprising couple and best recast in history is jax and carly.. laura wright has amazing chemistry with all her male co'stars.. if they wanted to redo history and correct a travesy they should have reunied carly and jason lw and sb are smoking in scenes

Barb (East Cleveland, OH USA)
The Couple you shouldn't root for but kinda can't help it: Jason and Elizabeth/GH. This coupling has been years in the making. I, for one, have held my breath long enough! Will TPTB please get them truly together--with their son--already!? At least for the 2 minutes you'll give their fans anyway!

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