2009: The Year that Soaps Will Be Happy to Forget - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 12-29-2009, 07:34 PM

This was a year of staggering loss in which CBS killed its hallmark serials As the World Turn and Guiding Light. Adding insult to injury: Exec producer Ellen Wheeler and CBS Daytime chief Barbara Bloom were squarely to blame for GL’s demise when their “revolutionary” makeover (which they thought would save the soap genre) sent hundreds of thousands of fans fleeing, yet neither woman would accept any responsibility at all. Instead, they made it seem like we were the ones too stupid to get it.

And the Loser is… Us. The producers of the Daytime Emmys gave viewers a dopey dance routine with Vanessa Williams and Gilles Marini and a soap-star fashion show but didn’t allow anyone from Guiding Light to say a word during the show’s farewell tribute. They then ran out of time and ended the telecast before the folks at The Bold and the Beautiful could accept their trophy for best soap. Now these same clueless yahoos want to produce the 2010 awards. Somebody stop ’em!

The Blind Side Out of nowhere, General Hospital fans were slapped with the news that Luke (Tony Geary) had a baby with Holly (Emma Samms) back in the ’80s—meaning his famously happy marriage to Laura (Genie Francis) was a sham.

Low Blow Buddhist-bashing One Life to Live reached the Himalayas of bad taste when Dorian (Robin Strasser) tried to get the attention of a meditating monk by dipping down under his sacred robe and giving him oral sex. Okay, so the monk was her ex-flame David (Tuc Watkins), but still. If a soap blasphemed Christianity like that, there’d be hell to pay!

Dru Who? When Victoria Rowell quit as The Young and the Restless’ Drucilla in 2007 she went all bat-doodoo and blasted the cast for being racist and not giving her Emmy support. She then spent 2009 desperately campaigning to get her old job back. No surprise here: Rowell’s still waiting for the phone to ring.

So Much For Making History Daytime’s first legal gay marriage ended after just one day when All My Children’s Bianca (Eden Riegel) learned that her bride Reese (Tamara Braun) kissed someone at the rehearsal dinner. Worse yet: That someone has a penis. Worse yet: Head writer Chuck Pratt (since fired) had the nerve to blame this sad, aborted mess on Riegel’s busy schedule.

Happy Trails There was something so poignant about the deaths—just days apart—of good friends and OLTL cowboys Clint Ritchie (Clint) and Phil Carey (Asa). Their funny, brawny, unapologetic machismo was a rare thing in soaps and is sorely missed.

Worst Plot Ever Y&R revealed that Phillip (Thom Bierdz) faked his death in a car crash 20 years ago and is still alive. What made him cause his family so much grief and torment? He didn’t want to admit he likes boys. Runner up: Y&R’s Case of the Bank-robbing Chipmunk. How did the soap we picked as the best of 2008 become the lamest of ’09?

End of an Era This was also the year the accountants sent a message to our daytime superstars: You don’t matter anymore. We nearly lost Y&R’s Eric Braeden (Victor) and Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki) due to budget cuts. Ditto OLTL’s Strasser. And we did painfully bid adieu to Days of Our Lives greats Deidre Hall (Marlena), Drake Hogestyn (John), Thaao Penghlis (Tony), Mary Beth Evans (Kayla) and Stephen Nichols (Patch). Memo to the bean counters: There’s a reason these people are pricey—they’re solid gold.

http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/soaps...2009-3614.html

catlover79 · 12-29-2009, 09:57 PM

Thanks for sharing the article, Brian. Good old Michael Logan, telling it like it is. Alas, 2009 was probably the worst year in soap history. Let's hope TPTB at the few soaps that still exist learn from this year and not repeat it!!

80sTrivia · 12-30-2009, 10:50 AM

The article really says it all... I hope the final nail in the soap opera coffin hasn't been nailed yet, but it doesn't look too far away from this angle...

MrCleveland · 12-30-2009, 12:47 PM

Just like how my year went...2009 is hands-down the worst Soap Opera year ever!

catlover79 · 12-30-2009, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80sTrivia

The article really says it all... I hope the final nail in the soap opera coffin hasn't been nailed yet, but it doesn't look too far away from this angle...

I agree...and it's such a shame, too.

MickeyMac · 12-30-2009, 07:29 PM

That article says it all.

Michael Logan is the Roger Ebert of soap writing.

catlover79 · 12-31-2009, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

That article says it all.

Michael Logan is the Roger Ebert of soap writing.

He is! I have to admit that the man really knows his stuff. He does his homework. I also enjoy the humor he injects into his writing.

12-29-2009, 07:34 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	2009: The Year that Soaps Will Be Happy to Forget This was a year of staggering loss in which CBS killed its hallmark serials As the World Turn and Guiding Light. Adding insult to injury: Exec producer Ellen Wheeler and CBS Daytime chief Barbara Bloom were squarely to blame for GL’s demise when their “revolutionary” makeover (which they thought would save the soap genre) sent hundreds of thousands of fans fleeing, yet neither woman would accept any responsibility at all. Instead, they made it seem like we were the ones too stupid to get it. And the Loser is… Us. The producers of the Daytime Emmys gave viewers a dopey dance routine with Vanessa Williams and Gilles Marini and a soap-star fashion show but didn’t allow anyone from Guiding Light to say a word during the show’s farewell tribute. They then ran out of time and ended the telecast before the folks at The Bold and the Beautiful could accept their trophy for best soap. Now these same clueless yahoos want to produce the 2010 awards. Somebody stop ’em! The Blind Side Out of nowhere, General Hospital fans were slapped with the news that Luke (Tony Geary) had a baby with Holly (Emma Samms) back in the ’80s—meaning his famously happy marriage to Laura (Genie Francis) was a sham. Low Blow Buddhist-bashing One Life to Live reached the Himalayas of bad taste when Dorian (Robin Strasser) tried to get the attention of a meditating monk by dipping down under his sacred robe and giving him oral sex. Okay, so the monk was her ex-flame David (Tuc Watkins), but still. If a soap blasphemed Christianity like that, there’d be hell to pay! Dru Who? When Victoria Rowell quit as The Young and the Restless’ Drucilla in 2007 she went all bat-doodoo and blasted the cast for being racist and not giving her Emmy support. She then spent 2009 desperately campaigning to get her old job back. No surprise here: Rowell’s still waiting for the phone to ring. So Much For Making History Daytime’s first legal gay marriage ended after just one day when All My Children’s Bianca (Eden Riegel) learned that her bride Reese (Tamara Braun) kissed someone at the rehearsal dinner. Worse yet: That someone has a penis. Worse yet: Head writer Chuck Pratt (since fired) had the nerve to blame this sad, aborted mess on Riegel’s busy schedule. Happy Trails There was something so poignant about the deaths—just days apart—of good friends and OLTL cowboys Clint Ritchie (Clint) and Phil Carey (Asa). Their funny, brawny, unapologetic machismo was a rare thing in soaps and is sorely missed. Worst Plot Ever Y&R revealed that Phillip (Thom Bierdz) faked his death in a car crash 20 years ago and is still alive. What made him cause his family so much grief and torment? He didn’t want to admit he likes boys. Runner up: Y&R’s Case of the Bank-robbing Chipmunk. How did the soap we picked as the best of 2008 become the lamest of ’09? End of an Era This was also the year the accountants sent a message to our daytime superstars: You don’t matter anymore. We nearly lost Y&R’s Eric Braeden (Victor) and Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki) due to budget cuts. Ditto OLTL’s Strasser. And we did painfully bid adieu to Days of Our Lives greats Deidre Hall (Marlena), Drake Hogestyn (John), Thaao Penghlis (Tony), Mary Beth Evans (Kayla) and Stephen Nichols (Patch). Memo to the bean counters: There’s a reason these people are pricey—they’re solid gold. http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/soaps...2009-3614.html
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

12-29-2009, 09:57 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Thanks for sharing the article, Brian. Good old Michael Logan, telling it like it is. Alas, 2009 was probably the worst year in soap history. Let's hope TPTB at the few soaps that still exist learn from this year and not repeat it!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

12-30-2009, 10:50 AM	#3
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,715	The article really says it all... I hope the final nail in the soap opera coffin hasn't been nailed yet, but it doesn't look too far away from this angle...
	__________________ Perfect Gift Books for Pop Culture Fanatics: Thank You for Being a Friend: A Golden Girls Trivia Book The Bouquet Residence: A Keeping Up Appearances Trivia Book Cooking With the Golden Girls: Fun & Delicious Recipes from a Hilarious Miami Kitchen Love in the Afternoon: The Ultimate Soap Opera Trivia Book The Last Great Decade: The Ultimate 90s Trivia Book Betty White: A Celebration

12-30-2009, 12:47 PM	#4
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,222	Just like how my year went...2009 is hands-down the worst Soap Opera year ever!
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

12-30-2009, 07:29 PM	#6
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	That article says it all. Michael Logan is the Roger Ebert of soap writing.