Daytime Soap Operas
2018 The Year That Was

Best & Worst of 2018: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

Best Mystery

Who Shot Bill, The Bold And The Beautiful- While I’d never want to see Bill dead (he’s easily the best thing about B&B), pretty much everyone he knows in LA did want him dead during that stormy night when someone shot him in the back. The great thing about this story was that every character was well-motivated to do the deed, any one of them taking a shot at Bill would have been believable and that’s ultimately what you want from a story like this as a viewer, you want that fun, suspenseful guessing game where absolutely any character might be guilty. Bonus points to B&B for first pointing the finger at Liam only to reveal Taylor as the real culprit, a choice that is still paying dividends months later as far as story goes.

Bad Moms

Brooke and Taylor, The Bold And The Beautiful – There were moments this year where B&B had me not only ashamed for these actresses having to speak these words, but really for all of womankind. The way these two women have pushed their daughters at Liam, rather than being like hmm, this guy is an indecisive jerk and you can do better, their absolute conviction that their girls will only be happy if they wind up in a relationship with Liam, is absurd, embarrassing and antiquated. He had both ladies pregnant in quick succession, and Steffy had to make the decision for him who to be with, she actually had to put the ring on Hope’s finger for him, and this is who their moms want them to fight over? Brooke and Taylor’s advice giving and championing of Liam, particularly Brooke pushing her daughter quickly down the aisle lest Liam change his ever-waffling mind, makes these ladies seem far more certifiable than shooting Bill ever would. And don’t even get me started on Brooke, of all people, slut-shaming Steffy for having a lingerie line, acting like because her daughter is more demure, less sexually overt, she’s more worthy of winning that lame booby-prize of a husband.

Highs - The Bold And The Beautiful

Bill’s strained relationship with Will. - “You are so thirsty,” Steffy to Hope. - Bill brilliantly labels Liam the human ping pong ball. – Again, Bill, with the expert insults, refers to Thorne as milquetoast mayonnaise. – Quinn’s foot through Stephanie’s portrait – Charlie proposed with lemon bars.

Lows - The Bold And The Beautiful

Liam proposed to Hope barely a breath after he was going to get back with Steffy, he really knows how to make a girl feel special. – Xander faking an American accent for reasons I still don’t understand. – Sally was going to be fired when everyone thought she’d left threatening online messages for Hope, yet when it turned out to be Zoe threatening Emma, no problem, let’s hire a psychopath as an in-house model??? - Just any of the weirdness with that cat. - I don’t mind Wayne Brady, he’s certainly the best actor of the too many newbies the show has brought on board, but some subtlety in the character and the way too obvious story would be really welcome.

Wishes - The Bold And The Beautiful

Stop rushing the romances. Katie is a single mom already struggling with one ex husband, it’s absurd that she’d jump into marriage with Thorne two minutes into their relationship. I like Wyatt, I love Sally, but their romance means nothing to me because I didn’t get to see them falling for each other, they went from never dating to living together, skipping all the ship-solidifying stuff in between. - It would be refreshing if someone didn’t get married in Eric’s living room. - Give Sally her fun, scheming spark back (and her family, too). – A blue-collar love interest for Steffy, be it a manny or a warehouse worker at Forester, whatever, just someone rugged, in sharp contrast to Liam’s version of masculinity, but maybe not as evolved as Liam when it comes to Steffy’s powerhouse nature, so there’s a natural conflict between them that doesn’t have to involve a triangle.

Best Return

Robert Scott Wilson (Ben, Days) - Although I found Robert Scott Wilson’s performances increasingly impressive towards the end of his initial run on Days, and I lamented the show’s decision to throw away the character by making him a serial killer, when I heard they were bringing Ben back full-time, I wasn’t exactly excited, I thought, great, first Xander keeps popping up like a bad one-note penny, now Ben, too. I could not be happier that I was wrong about this, bringing Ben back was a stroke of genius, a shot of adrenaline for the show, and best of all an opportunity to see this actor’s potential grow into something special. I know the romance with Ciara is controversial, not everyone is going to have an easy time buying in, understandably, but for me, the massive sparks, the deep emotional connection they’re gradually building (slow is always better in soap romances, always), the forbidden it’s us against everyone in town vibe, is exactly the recipe for a super-couple that I’ve craved (and rarely received) in recent years, they’re like a throwback to the eighties and nineties couples. Also brilliant, having Ben work as Stefan’s henchman, not only does it mean Ben maintains a certain edginess that challenges viewers as a former serial killer should challenge viewers, there also seems to be an odd sort of friendship developing between the two town pariahs that’s adding even more dimension to both characters, and dimension is key for creating high-quality, long-term anti-heroes.

Roughest Start

Tyler Christopher (Stefan, Days) – I’ve loved Tyler Christopher pretty much from minute one on General Hospital, he’s a strong actor, attractive, basically a dream choice for casting on Days Of Our Lives, but man, has the show made it super challenging to get behind this character. I realize they tape many months in advance so they didn’t know #MeToo was coming, and in that lens, how inappropriate it would feel to have Stefan constantly disrobing in front of Abby when he first came to town. But, the offensiveness of that was mild in comparison to him having sex with “Gabby” when he knew the actual owner of that body, Abby, would never have consented. Abby could not consent to what was happening to her own body. That sure seems like the definition of rape. I know the show and the characters have tried super hard to walk this back, to try and justify it as, well, “Gabby” consented and she’s “part” of Abby, and she and Stefan were allegedly in love, and Abby didn’t press charges, basically accepting that somehow it was her fault for being mentally ill and… ugh. Yeah, none of that was okay. Not at all. The thing is, I still very much like this actor, and there have been moments, especially with the baby and Ben where I’ve enjoyed the character, too, I like that he’s a complicated, dimensional villain, what I don’t like is that they went down the road of dubious consent and then just swept it aside as if it was a non-issue, and had the victim seemingly be the only one taking any responsibility for what happened, when she should not have taken on any blame whatsoever.

Highs - Days Of Our Lives

Sheila, the TLC references, her attitude, her lack of social-standing and graces, her way with a one-liner, I could not love her more. – The comedic stuff leading up to John and Marlena’s non-wedding. – Making J.J. an EMT, a job I don’t remember ever seeing on soaps before. – Eli and Lani’s loss and an ornament on the tree. – Bonnie’s reference to Mimi’s time in a Connecticut town. - Sonny & Leo’s hate and humor filled wedding. – Julie’s fiftieth anniversary coincided with actual involvement in a story. – Stacy Haiduk took on the gargantuan task of re-creating Susan and succeeded.

Lows - Days Of Our Lives

The whole John poisoning Steve, ISA nonsense, waste of a Billie return. – Both Theresa and Kristen, trying to blackmail Brady into sex, it was like the year of terrible, murky consent issues in Salem. – Steve, just gone. – This writing team started out so promising with Lucas falling off the wagon but then they had nothing, absolutely nothing for him even though his son is back from the dead and his mom is always up to shady business and he’d started a romance. – The Halloween episode, undoubtedly fun for the actors, but like an SNL sketch, a little goes a long way, it certainly doesn’t stretch to a full episode, I’d rather see the standard actors in Halloween costumes and more forward momentum for what’s actually going on in the plots.

Wishes - Days Of Our Lives

Please don’t pair Sheila and Abe romantically, let’s leave it with him as a father-figure/mentor to her, and her having fun pushing him to loosen up, like with the sneakers. – Obviously with the back from the dead situation and Eve, there will be some drama necessary to mark Jack’s return, but I’m desperate for some classic Jack and Jennifer romantic comedy, the sooner the better. - Ciara and Claire pursue something other than boys and hating on each other, how about going into business together? – John and Marlena at home. Do they even have a home? - A fresh start for Stefan romantically, with Sarah, he and Eric would be very formidable rivals (that is until Nicole returns).

Best Newcomer

Max Gail (Mike, GH) – I don’t know what I love more, that the best newcomer in this youth-obsessed medium isn’t a twenty-something, or that they took a shot on a former sitcom star and it turns out he can more than hold his own dramatically opposite Maurice Benard? As sad as it is to see Mike struggle with his memory, watching Max Gail in the role is a heartwarming joy. I don’t know if I’ve ever taken to a recast so immediately, I just instantly found him so endearing. My only problem with Mike and his story is that we know there will have to be a heartbreaking end to it at some point and what a loss to the show that will be.

Worst Boyfriend

Matt Cohen (Griffin, GH) – Griffin is awfully dreamy to look at, and he’s super sweet and caring when you’re a girl in need, like when Ava struggled with her burns, he seemed so romantic and heroic with her, but wow, if you’re not a helpless damsel, best of luck. He seemingly chose to cheat with Kiki because she was vulnerable and needy after being sexually harassed, whereas that same night, Ava had asserted her independence via song and for some reason Griffin took huge offense to it. What exactly did Ava do wrong there? Is she not allowed to state that she can take care of herself? Sonny (Griffin’s friend) always lets the world know how powerful he is, yet if Ava does the same, it’s a sin? Yes, Ava has done terrible things, and I know I was supposed to side with Kiki and Griffin in their unapologetic self-righteousness because of those terrible things, but I found that challenging, especially where Griffin is concerned. I mean, this is someone who did tests without the patient’s consent, this is someone who was shot for having sex with another man’s wife, this is a man who had sex with his girlfriend’s daughter apparently all because his girlfriend made it known that nobody owns her, as no one should. Are we sure Griffin’s actually one of the good guys?

Highs - General Hospital

Third grade career day. – Bullying at school.- Vintage Jason taking the janitor role at the mental hospital. - OLTL’s Sam cameos as the scout who found Peter – Cameron’s chat at Christmas with little brother Aiden. – Peter slept outside Maxie’s door. – Franco and Drew bonding during the Jim Harvey trauma. – Nathan’s funeral, especially Dante’s voiceover. – Jordan and Curtis married. – Obrecht eating in front of a starving Peter.

Lows - General Hospital

No lead up to Dante’s exit, and he only said goodbye to Lulu. – Nina selling ad space? Pretty sure that isn’t what magazine editors do. - Colonel Sanders weirdness, I’m not at all against product placement, whatever keeps these shows going, but that was just incredibly odd. – Somewhere along the way the writers forgot that Sonny buried the body, he did not murder him. – Extremely tough to believe that Dr. Kim would hide Oscar’s diagnosis from him. – James DePaiva had so much potential, unfortunately they took his character in the predictable direction.

Wishes - General Hospital

More than one reference to Erica Kane, let’s make that happen, have her do business with ELQ and an extended stay at the Q mansion, if Monica thought Tracy was demanding and exasperating... – Expand on what they started with the family drama of Finn and his dad, and Franco wanting the Webbers at the wedding. – Sonny doesn’t cheat, unless it’s with Brenda, then I’m all for it.

Most Dignified Exit

Eileen Davidson (Ashley, Y&R) – Ashley’s been floundering in Genoa City for quite some time now, going from one unworthy relationship to another, while always taking a backseat to her brothers at work, so who can blame Eileen Davidson for deciding it was no longer worth commuting and being away from home for that. I love though that Ashley went out in a big way, that she let Jack know how it felt to not be a blood Abbott, that she called her family out on their hypocrisy and their sexism, that she walked out of there unapologetic, with her head held high and her patents in her pocket (the legacy Jack and Kyle attempted to steal from her, yet still, the family sided with them against her). It sucks that Jabot seems to be having such a weirdly easy recovery from the loss of all those products, still, it felt like in the end, Ashley won, and if she had to leave, what better way to go out than with a victory.

Big Little Copycats

The Downfall of JT, Y&R – I don’t have a problem with taking inspiration from books, movies or other TV series, and putting your own spin on it, but it sure seemed like Y&R waited an awfully long time to put their own spin on Big Little Lies, only veering off in their own direction once they’d run out of season one material to mimic. The JT saga included rough sex, abusiveness, a therapist, a group of women who end up at a gathering together who aren’t necessarily friends but they end up having to cover for one another after one of them murders this guy, aka Big Little Lies. Making matters worse, not only did this unoriginal tale murder JT, it assassinated his character, too. JT hadn’t previously been an angry or violent person, if he was going to try to kill Victor, wouldn’t it have been back when Victor inadvertently caused Colleen’s death? But no, he didn’t harm a hair on Victor’s head back then because he was not that person, never, this new version of JT came out of nowhere, it made no sense other than they decided to do Big Little Lies and needed a tall blonde guy to stand in for the tall blonde guy, so voila, JT was their man. Meanwhile, you have, for instance, Michael, a past abuser and abuse victim himself, who (while I would never wish for his death, either), would have at least not seemed like such a leap from who he is. As much as it annoys me how closely they copied Big Little Lies, it pains me even more that this story didn’t end at the same point as Big Little Lies first season did, instead, without HBO’s blueprint, it’s dragged on and on, with Nick in a JT mask, a dug up, missing body, a new in town cop for some random reason so obsessed with the case that he’s declaring it homicide without any proof of a homicide, it’s all so tiresome and I just don’t understand how this hasn’t ended yet, it’s a miracle we all haven’t been driven to the bottle like Nikki. Are they biding their time for season two so someone else will figure out an ending for them?

Highs - The Young And The Restless

Lily and Cane reunited – A Kyle who finally has a personality between digging up graves and putting his foot in it every other minute with Lola. – Tracy, every Abbott argument benefited from her being there and being their conscience. – Lily applying her makeshift makeup in prison. - Neil returned with an invigorated, take-charge attitude (not that the show let it last long).

Lows - The Young And The Restless

Sharon waited until the altar to call Nick out on cheating in front of their girl, what wonderful parents poor Faith has. - Sending Reid away when his missing father would have finally provided him with a meaty, organic story to play. – Mariah forgiving Tessa approximately eight million times, for such a tough talker she sure is a disappointing doormat. - Billy has sex with Summer, Nikki has sex with Arturo, and we all vomit just a little bit. – Paul vanished without a mention, Neil moved without a goodbye. – When it comes to milestone marking returns, hands up everyone who was clamoring to see Raul and Brittany?

Wishes - The Young And The Restless

The show remembers that Victor, regardless of age, has been and always will be their leading man, there are fans who love him, and fans who love to hate him, but we can all agree it doesn’t feel like Genoa City without him front and center, protecting his family, not disowning them. - Jack back at the helm of Jabot, Paul behind his desk, and Neil relaying his experience of being a widower to Devon, Neil counseling his son on how to get through it, since Drew’s death means a lot more to all of us, including to Devon, than random Nate’s random lost love. - Nick doing something more believable than being a CEO, because no, that is so not him.

The Invasion Of The Newcomers And How Too Many Of Our Shows Are Getting It Really, Really Wrong

It can be exciting to see new faces on our soaps, but this year, the rules to successfully launch newbies seem to have been forgotten, and everyone is suffering for it. Once upon a time, when introducing a new actor or a new character, shows were mindful to make sure they had emotional ties to old favorites, the thinking being that, if a character we love has history with and cares for someone, it’s that much easier for us to care for them, too. Introducing an entire family like Y&R has done with the Rosales clan is nearly impossible when the viewers and everyone in Genoa City, have no connection whatsoever to them, unless there’s someone out there who found Arturo and Nikki’s affair endearing or in any way emotional, so here we are with a bunch of characters foisted on us while we wonder why we’re supposed to care because they have no context with the characters we enjoy, when they’re alone in scenes together, it’s like are we sure this is even Y&R? That’s the other thing about newcomers, back in the day, shows tended to abide by the old adage of never having two newcomers alone in a scene, if you’re just tuning in at that moment and can’t recognize your favorite show, that’s a problem. Also, look at B&B, to put it kindly, they have a few actors on there right now who are incredibly green, incredibly, so to have two or three of them alone in a scene, floundering together, it’s painful for the viewers to watch. If you insist on casting people who have to learn how to act on the job, at least put them in scenes with the likes of Katherine Kelly Lang or Heather Tom, vets who could maybe offer some advice, help put them at ease, the way things are right now isn’t doing the actors or most importantly, the loyal viewers, any favors. The tough, disheartening part about all of these complaints are that the majority of these newcomers are racially diverse, which is something the soap world desperately needs, but I have to believe there is a more seamless way of attaining a more colorful canvas than the way, in particular, B&B and Y&R, have attempted to do so this year. I mean, Nate is Olivia’s son on Y&R, but we haven’t seen Olivia in like a decade, and Devon’s sister is barely a blip in my memory, so maybe age Neil’s son instead, since we love Neil, we want Neil to have screen time, and if we see him loving his boy, odds are, we’d welcome that boy. Or in the case of the Rosales family, that’s trickier since there isn’t much history of Latin people in Genoa City, the majority haven’t had ties to anyone either (and so, surprise, they didn’t last long or make much of an impression), but way back when, Nikki’s butler, Miguel was Latin, and he was always very much looking after Nikki, so maybe she could have repaid him by caring just as fiercely for his niece Lola, who’s come to live with her and try to make it in the culinary world, and after two or three years of Nikki caring for this girl, encouraging us viewers to care for this girl, too, then introduce, one (and only one) family member at a time. As for B&B, the randomness of these interns/models makes no sense whatsoever, when you already have diversity with actual connections to core characters that you’ve neglected, whether it’s Maya, or Donna’s son Marcus, there is still plenty of story left to tell for both of them, there was no need to introduce Zoe or Xander or Emma and weirdly have them at board meetings and fashion shows and family gatherings that they have no business being at. There’s a way to make these shows less white, as they should be, but unfortunately it can’t be done well in one fell swoop, it has to be gradual and in an organic way, shoving unfamiliar people down viewers throats creates resentment not affection.

Vets Disrespect

Most soap fans are savvy enough to realize that the budgets are not what they once were, we understand the reality is that some of our favorite actors are going to end up on the chopping block simply because there isn’t room for them financially. But when you look at the likes of Y&R’s Paul or Days’ Steve, just to name two of the many beloved faces that disappeared from our screens this year, surely, if we have to lose them, there is a more respectful way to go about it. I mean, it seemed like, in some cases, these actors had no idea what their status with their respective shows even was, couldn’t the powers that be at least have the decency to have conversations with people who have been there for decades and say hey, this is the situation, so they’re not left in some horrible limbo? Also, I find it really hard to believe that these cast changes happened so abruptly that they couldn’t have written a little something into the show, not only to honor the actor’s contribution by sending them out on a heartfelt note or with some goodbyes, but also, give the viewers some sort of closure or plausible explanation for the character’s extended absence rather than them just being gone. It makes zero sense that the Genoa City Police Chief’s office is either sitting there empty or oddly commandeered by a newcomer to the force, could Paul not have had a conversation with Christine or Nikki, and said, hey, my mom (is Mary still alive?) or daughter is sick, I need to go look after her for awhile, just something so it’s not such an inexplicable hole in the story, and character-wise looking after family would make total sense for a guy like Paul. I get it, with the erosion of viewership and dollars, soaps can never have the sprawling casts they once had, but surely the cost-cutting does not have to be this unkind to actors who have poured their hearts into entertaining us for decades, there must be a gentler method to letting them go.

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