I was never, ever one of those girls who was attracted to the bad boys.

In life – and in soaps – it’s the good guys….the guys with honesty and integrity, who I always root for.

Having said that, my top three fave guys in soapland these days are actually quite similar in the way they are the white knight, do-the-right-thing kind of guys.

And they are (drumroll please) – Police Chief Bo Buchanan/OLTL, Det. John McBain/OLTL and Officer Dante Falconeri/GH.

Hmmm. There seems to be some kind of these going on here…

Oh yeah…They’re all cops!

Robert S. Woods‘ Bo Buchanan has been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember.

Robert S. Woods (Bo Buchanan)

Bo has always been the antithesis to his powerful – albeit immoral – father Asa, played brilliantly by the late, great Phil Carey.

Yes, Bo struggled all his life – right up to his father’s death – with the love for this father and the hate for the choices (many illegal) his father made.

Asa was a hard-living, womanizing, boozing, cantankerous old coot.

Bo is the polar opposite.

But they both loved each other.

One of the choices that was contrary to his character – and that he struggled against – was kissing his ex-wife, Nora, behind his brother’s back while Clint and Nora were engaged, and later married.

But, really, Nora (Hillary B. Smith) and Bo were meant to be together all along….and I think that counts for something in the right vs wrong department.

In other words, if destiny intervenes (and I don’t mean Destiny Evans)…if two people are made for each other – like Bo and Nora – then it’s more right for them to be together than wrong….Does that make any sense?

And they didn’t have sex until after Nora broke up with Clint (Jerry Ver Dorn) – and in this day and age THAT counts too!

Speaking of which, where the heck ARE Bo and Nora these days???

They had that wonderful wedding week, which I thought was really funny and highlighted the comedic sides of many of the cast members.

Hillary B. Smith (Nora), Eddie Alderson (Matthew) and Robert S. Woods (Bo). (ABC/Donna Svennevik)

Then, POOF, they were gone off the canvas….and now they’re back…and Bo has a new, young assistant….

Unfortunately, I think we ALL know where THAT is going.

As far as Johnny McBain….There’s always been a soft spot in my heart for him.

Michael Easton as John McBain (Photo/ABC)

Michael Easton‘s portrayal of John…well, he’s one of my favorite characters in soapdom.

It’s his intensity for doing the right thing….the hero….the rescuer….

And those deep, blue eyes….

He’s another one who always does the right thing and is honest as the day is long.

And if you’re one of his peeps…someone he cares for….or even just a friend…
No matter, he will go to the mat for you!

Take Kelly and the murder of her mother…John and Kelly were mildly acquainted before she asked him to help her find out what really happened to her mother.

But he has gone above and beyond to help her.

Ya gotta love it!

One of his biggest struggles came when he found out that Michael and Marcie’s baby, Tommy, whom they adopted because he was abandoned, was really the son of Todd Manning and Margaret Cochran.

In that case, it was a huge dilemma for him ….What exactly was the right thing to do? Betray his brother?

It ate at him – and Easton showed the viewer the inner struggle that McBain was going through.

And Dominic Zamprogna‘s Dante Falconeri reminds me so much of McBain!

Julie Berman (Lulu) and Dominic Zamprogna (Dante). (ABC/Ron Tom)

Dante is honest to a fault – and Zamprogna shows us those qualities through the earnestness in his eyes when he’s talking.

Dante’s big brown eyes….they’re just honest, that’s all I can say.

And he, too, struggles with a similar situation to Bo…although, in my opinion, having Sonny Corinthos as a father is WAY WORSE than having Asa as a father.

Dante is loyal…boy is he loyal…even after being drugged by Brook Lynn, he’s still loyal, thank goodness…

And I love the fact that Michael has figured it out…He’s on to Carly’s plan to use Brook Lynn (Adrianne Leon) to break up Dante and Lulu (Julie Berman).

Yes, I’m a sucker for the good guys.

I guess it stands to reason that police officers SHOULD be the good guys…

But, as we all know, it doesn’t always happen in life – and, especially doesn’t always happen in the soap world.

HELLOOOO, Det. Ronnie DiMestico!

Thought you all might like to hear last night’s Delibernation BlogTalkRadio show, where host Silas Kain and I discussed the state of soap operas – present and past.

Silas and I think a lot alike regarding our appreciation of the rich history embedded in soap operas.

So, if you’d like to hear our thoughts, click on the play button below….sit back….relax…..and listen to us yack about our fave (and not so fave) characters and our hopes for the direction of the genre’s future.

Silas Kain

My name is Silas and I’m a soap opera aficionado.

There I said it and I have no shame.

And that’s how I’d like to begin my relationship with you.

A couple of weeks ago, Michele asked if I would consider being a contributor to Soapbox1. I didn’t have to think about it for long – because Michele gets it. She understands the intimate relationship fans have to soap opera.

So, in this introductory piece for Soapbox1, I’d like to take a moment of your time and explain what it is about Soap Opera that I respect and admire. And when you’re done, I hope you seriously consider what I’ve written and share your thoughts here at Soapbox1.

It really doesn’t matter which soaps you may watch, we all share a common bond. So with all that being said, a glimpse into the life of a soap opera fanatic…

It began for me as a little boy.

John F. Kennedy was assassinated on the weekend of my 8th birthday (please don’t do the math). Suddenly this little 3rd grader was sitting in front of the television translating the words of Cronkite, Huntley and Brinkley to his deaf parents. It was a quick education. But that baptism of fire caused me to become extremely interested in current events, the American political system and History.

The following summer I would come in from morning play to capture the 15 minute soap opera Love of Life. Remember them? Bruce & Vanessa Sterling? Christopher Reeve? Life on a college campus? Sure, it was quirky – almost silly at times. But the lives of the people in Rosehill, New York was completely fascinating to me on so many levels and for so many reasons.

That was a contentious year – the aftermath of John F. Kennedy.

The week following Mother’s Day 1964 would transform my life on so many levels. That was the week my mother began watching Another World.

Remember we’re at the Summer of 1964.

And by the end of that summer, this little boy learned what abortion was – thanks to Pat Matthews and the vision of Irna Philips. Sure that was too much for a kid – but remember, I was my parents’ human closed-captioning device.

From that summer I was baptized by the families of Bay City into a world of bumps and curves which lasted until that final show in June 1999. For 35 years I followed the lives of the Matthews, Davis, Cory and Carrington families. I laughed and cried with Wally, Felicia and Cass. When the show bid their farewell to Mackenzie Cory, I wept openly with my mom. It’s OK for a man to have feelings. I learned that from soap opera.

You see those shows were my education into the real world.

My parents did their best, but they viewed the world without the “noise”. They had innocence and as hard as they worked at being parents – their innocence and sheltering from their own families did not really prepare them for the world of the 60’s.

I grew up fast. And, in retrospect, I wouldn’t give up a thing. Every rise and fall. A marriage. Ups, downs, near fatal illness – all of it. I wouldn’t change a thing because all of it was but a dress rehearsal for this stage of my growing, fulfilling life.

And through it all, the cast of “my story” would be guests in my living room 5 days a week. They became my friends, my teachers, my guides.

Take All My Children, for instance. When Tara and Phil went through the trauma of the Vietnam War, I was right there with them. That’s where I got my attitudes against the war.

Tara Martin (Karen Lynn Gorney) and Phil Brent (Richard Hatch)

When I was introduced to the character of Erica Kane – she was a spoiled self-absorbed brat being raised by the ever loving Mona. While everyone was abuzz about Erica being raised by a “single” parent – I found it interesting from a different perspective.

My grandmother raised 10 children on her own. My dad was the product of a single parent having lost his father at 11 months. He never knew his father and I never understood my grandmother’s “hardness” until Mona Kane. She made me understand my grandmother in a whole new light.

Frances Heflin as Mona Kane

Of course, there was Ryan’s Hope.

My other Grandmother – the Irish Catholic one — and Maeve Ryan were so alike it was almost frightening. The only difference? Grandma had the faith of Maeve but the spunk of Mary.

Ryan's Hope

But it was tough to keep up in the 70’s. School work was a priority and there were many familial events which would be yet another transformation.

There was a constant.

The stories.

Those silly little daytime dramas which were packed with knowledge like no other program on television.

At this point you must be asking yourself why I’m weaving this broadcloth? Where am I going? Relax. It all comes together — and when it does I hope a light bulb burns brightly above your head.

If you’re under 50 you probably don’t know much about the 60’s. But life was different back then.

Most mothers were at home raising their families. And while they watched their stories in the afternoons they would learn about appliances, detergents, furniture and life. The classic American soap opera became a classroom in millions of living rooms across America. Don’t laugh just yet, my dear. I’m uttering a profound truth.

Twelve years ago a small group of Another World fans got together in an Internet campaign to save our show. Of course, it didn’t happen. But what blossomed were friendships and bonds that remain strong to this very day. And we had the opportunity to share notes over the years.

The first two years after AW, we held reunions in New York City. The AW stars came out – at their own expense. They spoke to us, encouraged us but most of all they were grateful on so many levels for the loyalty, the respect and the love we shared.

In 2001 we got the Governor of Connecticut to proclaim Linda Dano Day. She went on The View the day before our 2nd Reunion. Joy Behar thought it was kind of dumb but that’s Joy Behar. She couldn’t understand the daytime dynamic – she wasn’t really part of it. But this small group of AW loyalists accomplished something astounding. And we accomplished these feats by learning from Rachel & Mac Cory, Ada Downs, Felicia Gallant and Donna Love. Those people were role models to us – the simple folk. And we became determined in our goal, we had the steadfastness of Ada, the creativity of Rachel and the loyalty of Liz Matthews.

Interwoven in my 35 years of Another World was my interest in Days of Our Lives, All My Children, One Life to Live and General Hospital.

Another World was and always will the ultimate. So when I make commentary on the shows I view today, remember I was spoiled by a band of actors and writers who were in many respects the Shakespeares of their genre.

So, that’s why I am a soap fan. Not only was I entertained but I was educated on life in so many respects – as each of you is a beneficiary of that education without realizing it!

If you are young man or woman reading this, you may not know it but your grandmother or mom may have been a soap fan. And some of the wisdom they imparted upon you came from what they learned.

Like I said. Soap fans and cast have a different dynamic. They’re guests in our homes. They come on screen 5 days a week. And, in the evolution of the characters’ lives, we learn from their experiences.

A story line such as interracial romance on One Life to Live served to change attitudes on so many levels. When OLTL went out on a limb there was such disdain! Yet today, interracial romances are no novelty. They are the fabric of soap.

The rape of Laura on General Hospital became fodder of discussions in millions of homes. The abortion of Pat Matthews in 1964 had equal impact. The bottom line is women across America were learning more about the realities of life through the stories created by visionary writers.

Do the research. As far as I am concerned, women would not have achieved that which has been achieved without the influence of American soap opera. While most thought of the typical soap fan being an overweight bon-bon devouring woman, lounging like Jean Harlow across a couch – there’s the truth.

Once upon a time, All My Children was shown on college campuses across America. Luke & Laura’s Wedding dominated the entertainment headlines like no other.

Luke (Tony Geary) and Laura (Genie Francis)

Days of Our Lives attempted to introduce a gay character – Eric Peters — at a time when gay rights were just an idea. The fan backlash was so horrific, Days writers reversed course for the character.

It would be years before soap would dare enter the forbidden zone. Remember Capitol? Believe it or not, many female political science lovers were inspired by Wally McCandless and Myrna Clegg.

What Daytime accomplished most is that it served as a vehicle for women to come into their own. Were it not for the strong, driven female role models of soap opera such as Maggie Powers, Dr. Althea Davis and Mona Aldrich, I dare say the evolution of women’s parity in our society would remain delayed.

So, young men and women, believe it or not your lives would be remarkably different today were it not for the genre known as Daytime. As Shakespeare revolutionized storytelling in his time, the pioneers – Irna Philips, Agnes Nixon and countless others have helped shape and shift our attitudes toward contemporary life.

To be honest with you, my ultimate fantasy is to have the Museum of Television & Radio do a serious symposium on the influence of Daytime on American society from 1955 – 2000.

While Daytime seems to be dying these days, I hope to inspire you to understand that which I’ve known for years. I hope you will come to appreciate Daytime’s stellar history and realize that soap opera remains an interesting facet of our culture which needs a little love right now.

And maybe, just maybe, I’ll get you to return to one of those stories you stopped watching.

Reality TV may be the rage these days but there’s nothing “real” about it.

Those who write the lines and create the characters of daytime have a keen sense of our society and world. And in their own little way they bring those things to the screen every day, every week. And, in many cases, the situations the writers create are more real and relative to our lives than that of Snookie and da Situation.

Another goal is to have you come out of the closet.

There’s nothing wrong with being a soap fan. You may be a housewife or retired homemaker. You may be a working gal in a law office or the head of a corporation. You’re a law professor, banker and, yes, even a physician.

Soap fans come from all walks of life. And plenty of them are male – gay and straight. Get over it.

Soap opera is the diversion – the non-pharmaceutical which calms, infuriates and makes one consider options.

Every couple of weeks I’ll be writing a piece for Soapbox1. I’ll be talking about story lines, actors, writing and more. I’m going to be coming from a perspective of 35 years’ intimate experience with the world of Daytime.

I’ll call them like I see them – you may not agree. And when you don’t — I hope you’ll get in to the discussion. I’m human. Perhaps you have a perspective I haven’t considered.

If there’s something you want me to write about, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m full of myself. There’s nothing better than bellowing out an opinion. That’s the Irish in me.

Perhaps you’ve finally reached that point of enlightenment which suggests that soap opera did, indeed, have an impact on your life even before you knew Todd and Tea or Sonny Corinthos.

Perhaps from these story lines that we discuss, we can come up with the writer’s rationale. That’s another beautiful aspect of being a soap fan. We get it. We get the actors and we know when a writer screws up history. If a producer changes, we’re the first to cast our ballots. If a costume designer changes – we know it.

Soap fans are the ultimate focus group underused by media companies. We’re the ones who can tell you everything right down to the sets or change in make-up artists.

We’re up close and personal.

And – we are the ultimate consumers of advertisers’ products. Think about that the next time you go shopping. Those companies who sponsor OUR shows deserve our response.

So, thanks for reading.

The next column I post will be all One Life to Live – on many levels because I am on FIRE at the direction I suspect they’re taking.

Adieu.

[NOTE: Silas Kain hosts the weekly BlogTalk radio show Delibernation, where he and his guests discuss a variety of topics that include "politics, personal empowerment and what each of us can do to make this world a better place for the next generation."
Michele will be his guest Thursday at 11 p.m. EST to discuss "The Influence of Soap Opera on American Culture."]

I know it’s been out for awhile….

But I just had a chance to watch all six webisodes of the online ABC fantasy soap series “What If,” where they pair a character from one ABC soap in a chance meeting with a character from another soap…..

HY-sterical!

The thing about the episodes is that they are short, four-to-five minute clips, each, so that you can get a taste of the two characters interacting – and it leaves you wanting more!

They are well-written and well-acted.

It’s all just pure fun….

And let’s face it….who doesn’t like our soap characters having a little fun together???

Watch the intros to the series by the actors, who talk a little bit about what it was like working with each other.

I’d have to say my favorite is Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) meeting Tess Buchanan (Bree Williamson)…those two characters together made me smile and laugh the entire time!

In my opinion, Zamprogna and Williamson are so great in portraying their respective characters, so no surprise to me that they would be good together.

Damian Spinelli (Bradford Anderson) meets Todd Manning (Trevor St. John)….this is also one of my favorites… I mean, what can you say when these two polar opposites collide….ya gotta love it!!

The ending is PRICELESS!!

I also loved the Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) meeting Erica Kane (Susan Lucci).

Those two vets worked off each other seemlessly – and Sonny and Erica together was the epitomy of soapiness!

Then there’s Carly Corinthos Jacks (Laura Wright) meets Ryan Lavery (Cameron Mathison)….Again, those two make it seem like they’ve been onscreen together forever.

And the chemistry between the two is electric!

But let’s face it…who wouldn’t have chem with either of them?

When Angie (Debbi Morgan) and Jesse Hubbard (Darnell Williams) meet Starr Manning (Kristin Alderson)….let’s just say the teenager hears TMI! So funny!

And when Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) meets Greenlee Smythe (Rebecca Budig), there’s a bit too much alcohol involved, if you catch my drift.

The “What If” series can be found at abc.com and soapnet.com.

I have to say that I’m really looking forward to the next four webisodes coming out….

We have Luke Spencer (Tony Geary) meeting Viki Buchanan Banks (Erika Slezak); Maxie Jones (Kirsten Storms) meeting Rex Balsom (John-Paul Lavoisier); Blair Cramer (Kassie DePaiva) meeting Tad Martin (Michael E. Knight) and John McBain (Michael Easton) meeting Sam McCall (Kelly Monaco).

Talk about some fireworks with those couples!

First they break up Spixie….

Kirsten Storms (Maxie) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli). Spixie in happier days. Photo: ABC

And now they’re turning Spinelli dark.

Why is it that soap writers feel the need to take something reaalllly good – and turn it bad?

And even worse, they are not being true to the character – at all!!

That’s one of my biggest problems with the soaps – taking a really good character and turning him into a bad guy on a dime.

(One Life To Live does it a lot, but that’s a blog for another day!)

I give all the credit to whomever thought up the concept of Damian Spinelli and executed all of the brilliant writing I so fondly refer to as Spinelli-speak.

Spinelli (Bradford Anderson) was so different from most soap characters.

He had a genuine goodness through and through….someone unable to lie or show meanness toward anyone.

It was certainly not the norm that he forged a lasting and profound friendship with someone who is his polar opposite – Jason Morgan, the mob enforcer.

But, again, that was part of Spinelli’s charm…he could see past the outer Jason to his inner good qualities.

Bradford Anderson (Spinelli) and Steve Burton (Jason). (ABC/Ron Tom)

I loved the innocence, yet deep wiseness of Spinelli’s character….

Spinelli – the nerdy, off-beat computer geek who endeared himself to all….

Where has he gone?

This whole revenge plot with Carly against Dante is ridiculous.

The thing is….the real Spinelli would see the illogic of Carly’s thinking in blaming Dante for Michael’s incarceration….When WE ALL know the blame is on Sonny, Jason and Carly herself for raising Michael in the life and exposing him to the mob….not to mention the entire coverup of Claudia’s killing.

It’s been a slow, yet steady progression down a slippery slope into becoming just like all the other not-so-nice characters on GH….and there are PLENTY of those.

Therein lies another big problem with GH….they kill off all the really good characters…..Georgie…Emily…..

Need I say more?

And now, slowly but surely, they’re turning Spinelli into another bad guy.

I just don’t get it!!

Kelly Monaco (Sam) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli) (ABC/Ron Tom)

Why would you take someone so special like Spinelli and turn him into just another revenge-driven character?

Sam said it best in yesterday’s eppy.

“Spinelli, I’ve never seen you act like this. It kind of scares me. I’ve never seen you so dark.”

I love Claire Walsh as the tough-as-nails prosecutor on General Hospital for many reasons.

Steve Burton (Jason) and Dahlia Salem (Claire) on GH. (ABC/Patrick Wymore)

For one, Dahlia Salem as Walsh brings a great deal of realism to the role.

She has the mannerisms and presence of a prosecutor down better than many real-life prosecutors.

I know this because is my real job as a news reporter, I cover courts and spend lots of time sitting in courtrooms and watching prosecutors on a daily basis.

Salem, as Walsh, is the real deal.

She’s tough. She’ll do just about anything to win a case – except lie which is taboo – and she has a conscience.

She also has a soft side – as evidenced by her talk with Lucky (Jonathan Jackson) about her biological clock ticking.

I love her paired with Lucky, btw, and I hope that’s where the writers go with her.

Of course, these days, Walsh is making a deal with the devil – namely Sonny -in order to arrest Johnny.

Now, that part, I don’t really like, because – up to now – everything about her character was pretty much real.

But, seriously, this would never happen in reality!

At least not with any ethical prosecutor – and that’s exactly what Claire is.

Remember how incensed she was when she discovered that Jax lied to her and knew it was Michael who killed Claudia all along?

That was real!

But I really liked Monday’s eppy when Claire told Sonny (Maurice Benard) what he was really about.

And she nailed it!

“You’re really good at justifying yourself,” Claire said. “And what’s fascinating to me is that everything that people say, is true. You are ruthless and you’re manipulative. I wouldn’t call you brilliant, but you’re certainly cunning.

“You’re your own biggest fan and you think the world owes you a favor because your stepdad slapped you around. And you use your bad experiences to justify the violence you cause. You’re an emotional bully!”

But then Sonny comes back with telling her that HE knows what she’s all about – her career! And that’s why she doensn’t have a husband or children.

He goes on to tell her that if she arrests him instead of Johnny, it would be much better for her career, because he’s a much bigger fish to fry and Johnny’s a nobody.

“You’re ego never fails to astound me,” Claire says. “Where I’m headed, people like you are somebody else’s problem and, where I’m headed, you’re not a thought on anybody’s mind. You’re just something they scrape off the bottom of their shoes. You’re a stepping stone…just another way to get where I’m going.”

Well said, Claire!

Dahlia Salem (Claire) and Maurice Benard (Sonny) on GH. (ABC/Ron Tom)

However, I’m really afraid of the path they’re going down….

You see, for some reason which I fail to understand, Sonny attracts some strong, smart women.

Case in point: Alexis.

Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) was Sonny’s attorney when she slept with him. Can you say Conflict of Interest?

One Time and BINGO -she’s pregnant!

I DON’T – and I Mean DON’T want to see Claire go down that road.

I cannot stomach Sonny seducing one more intelligent woman and make her into a driveling, Sonny defender.

Not this one!

Run Claire, Run!!!

I LOVE to discuss my soaps with other fans, because it helps me to see things from other points of view…other perspectives.

And even though I might not like a particular storyline, there are fans out there who do.

It was just one of those convos I had recently with my good friend and loooongtime soap fan, Sharona.

You see, she was telling me how GREAT she thought General Hospital was these days and how she was liking the storylines – particularly the Michael & Jason in prison storyline.

Huh??

Did I hear you correct, Sharona?

She explained it like this:

“The fact that Jason gave up his freedom for Michael is heartwarming and going to great lengths to protect him in jail since he blames himself for handing him over to Sonny as a baby. He knows now that was a huge mistake and you feel the same guilt he does watching that storyline develop. He literally gave up his own life and love life for Michael.”

Chad Duell (Michael) and Steve Burton (Jason) behind bars. (ABC/Patrick Wymore)

Hmmm. I never thought of it that way.

Sharona did agree that it would be implausible for a judge to send an 18-year-old to a hard-core prison for five years in order to teach the adults who perjured themselves a lesson.

But, as I always say, you do have to suspend reality when watching soaps….That IS part of the real draw, after all.

And Sharona reminded me of that.

But still, I hate the whole Michael going to prison thing.

And I ESPECIALLY hate that Michael has probably been raped (although we haven’t actually heard the r-word yet).

Hasn’t Michael been through enough already?

It’s just another facet of GH’s going to the dark side….everything being either depressing, sad or violent.

As a quick aside – I think Chad Duell has been doing an incredible job as Michael….stepping into the role during a highly-charged, front-burner storyline and seamlessly making the change.

I have to say the ousting of Drew Garrett as Michael left big shoes to fill. Garrett was amazing in the role, it was hard to imagine the change.

But Duell HAS done a superb job!

Click here to read about the recast and to watch this very quirky video with Chad Duell in it!

Now – on the Carly trying to destroy Lante by using Brook Lynn (Adrienne Leon) ….Well, I hate the whole s/l because I love Dante and Lulu together.

Lulu has grown so much since she’s been with Dante…Not to mention the GREAT chem going on between Sonny’s son and the daughter of supercouple Luke and Laura.

And not only that….THEY did the right thing and now they’re the town pariahs….I don’t get it and I don’t like it.

And I am SO sick of hearing Carly blaming Michael’s fate on Dante and Lulu, when – in reality – it’s the fault of Carly, Sonny and Jason for putting Michael in the line of fire, so to speak.

As far as Sharona’s thoughts on the subject:

“It’s been fun watching the Lulu-Dante romance develop and build slowly, watching her support of Dante through the whole brother Michael and Sonny mess was encouraging and hopefully a test of time for their relationship no matter what Brook Lynn and Carly throw at them. The romance is very believable and it’s just nice to watch a young couple develop like that through all the adversity. The chemistry is great between them and the writers have done a good job with that. The scene between Lulu reading Brook Lynn the jealous girlfriend act was priceless.”

Julie Berman (Lulu), Adrianne Leon (Brook Lynn) and Dominic Zamprogna (Dante). (ABC/Rick Rowell)

Sharona continues, “What I don’t get or like is how vindictive Carly has become. Just when I thought she got over her witchy ways her nails come out again. I think her Lulu-Dante plan is going to blow up in her face.”

ITA about the jealous GF scene….I was so with Lulu (Julie Berman) on that….telling BL to stay away from her man and getting all territorial – with Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) listening in to boot! Yes, it WAS priceless!

Here….Give it a look see….

So Sharona and I are pretty much on the same page about that s/l.

And Laura Wright as Carly makes me want to slap her one minute and cheer alongside her the next!

She has so many dimensions to the character!

I’m hating what she’s trying to do to Lante. But I really love when she goes toe-to-toe with Sonny and puts him in his place.

And although I don’t like much of what Carly does when she’s on her own and I haven’t liked Jax much over the years – I like Carly and Jax together as a couple.

I have to say, that I have liked what Jax has become recently as a father figure to Morgan and Michael and a father to Jocelynn.

But it took me a loooong time to get over the way he ditched Skye (Robin Christopher) on their wedding night when Brenda (Vanessa Marcil) showed up – which led to Skye spiraling downhill.

Speaking of Brenda, she’s coming back to Port Charles, if you haven’t heard yet.

Vanessa Marcil (Brenda Barrett). (Photo by Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images)

And I really don’t know how I feel about it considering her last appearance brought about the Jax/Skye split.

If she can lighten up Sonny – I’m all for it!

But as for Franco‘s return…..

James Franco returns as the psycho-artist Franco. (ABC/Carol Kaelson)

All I can say is fasten your seat belts!

I CAN’T WAIT for today’s One Life To Live!!!

How many times have I said THAT in the past few months???

Ummmmm…..let me see……NONE!

But last week’s lead up to Bo and Nora’s wedding was pure fun – and, might I add, GENIUS on the part of the writers.

Showcasing the talents of Robert S. Woods as Bo and Hillary B. Smith as Nora are looooooong overdue!

Here’s an interview with Smith and Woods – courtesy of ABC.

They are so great together, eh?

And I LOVE the fact that they have them wearing the same clothes from their first wedding 15 years earlier.

Using Smith’s comic talents headlining the “everything that can go wrong will” storyline was brilliant….the damaged eye, the broken tooth, the lame leg, the burnt wedding dress and, the topper – the green hair – was too funny!!

Hillary B. Smith as Nora on OLTL. (ABC/Heidi Gutman)

But it was really Smith’s facial expressions – especially the lisp from the broken tooth – that made those scenes so hysterical.

I also give huge kudos to the ensemble at Foxy Roxy’s (Roxy, Natalie, Jessica, Gigi and Viki) and their reactions to the escalating mayhem!

The looks on their faces – PRICELESS!

Farah Fath (Gigi), Melissa Archer (Natalie), Ilene Kristen (Roxy), Hillary B. Smith (Nora) and Erika Slezak (Viki). (ABC/Heidi Gutman)

Erika Slezak as Viki – ALWAYS brings everything she has to her scenes, whether it’s high drama or lighthearted comedy.

It added so much to have the always-stoic Viki trying her best to stay positive, while everything was going from bad to worse. Viki’s calm and reasurring words were h}morously contrasted against the “Oh Sh**” look on her face.

I really liked the scenes where Natalie (Melissa Archer) and Roxy (Ilene Kristen) were mixing up the hair potion like two mad scientists.

[caption id="attachment_2518" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Melissa Archer (Natalie) and Ilene Kristen (Roxy) as mad scientists. (ABC/Heidi Gutman)"]

It was a welcome – and much needed – change from the dark tone that has permeated OLTL in the preceeding months.

But let’s stay focused on the positive, shall we?

The other emerging comedy surrounded Bo at the church – with the missing minister and the skunk in the church. Fallout from the skunk included the destroyed flowers and tuxedo as well as skunk spray on Bo.

The scenes with Bo sitting in the tomato juice bath were great…..suffice it to say Woods’ expressions and line delivery was perfect!

Once again, the ensemble of John (Michael Easton), Rex (Jean-Paul Lavoisier), Brody (Mark Lawson) and Matthew (Eddie Alderson) were incredible in their reactions to the entire debacle.

And the piece de resistance? The addition of Bo’s newly discovered son – David Vickers Buchanan (Tuc Watkins) – to the mix.

I really like the rapport between them as “Pa” and son as well as the budding friendship with David and Matthew (Eddie Alderson) – or as they refer to each other….Big Brother and Little Brother.

There are no words to sufficiently express the amazing comedic element that Watkins brings to his scenes. It’s something that can’t be taught and is just inherent in his performances.

I loved the whole Cuban cigar schtick… each cop who entered the room, David offered up an illegal Cuban cigar…..

And did ya know it’s illegal to smoke in a church???? So Funny!

The juxtaposed toasts of Natalie and John was brilliant as was the clips from Bo and Nora’s first wedding…..Loved it!

I also liked the side drama of John and Kelly (Gina Tognoni) trying to get Blair (Kassie DePaiva) to sing at the wedding as a second choice, despite Blair’s glaringly missing invite to the big event.

I’ve always liked the chemisty between Easton and DePaiva and was disappointed when their short-lived romance never fully blossomed. I also think Easton and Tognoni have great chemistry, while working feverishly to find the killer of Kelly’s mother.

Needless to say, the three of them onscreen together made for some fun scenes.

In anticipation of today’s wedding, I ask: Who will perform the ceremony?

Can’t WAIT to find out!

Ryan or David? Who should Greenlee choose?

One of the biggest front burner story lines on All My Children is the Ryan/Greenlee/David triangle, and there are a few reasons why I like it.

I’ll be the first to say that I don’t like Ryan (Cameron Mathison). I like the actor, but the character just doesn’t do it for me, anymore.

When I first started watching the show, I really liked Ryan, but recently he’s become too much. The only thing they could do to make him more of the Super Hero, I-Need-A-Damsal-In-Distress kind of guy that they are making him into, would be if they dressed him in a cape.

Then there’s David (Vincent Irizarry).

If you caught Monday’s episode, Greenlee mentioned that David has done some rather, ahem, bad things in the past. But now, they are married out of convenience, and David has fallen head over heels in love (which can be a dangerous thing).

Rebecca Budig (Greenlee) and Vincent Irizarry (David) Photo: Adam Larkey/ABC

They have history too – he was once her brother-in-law, while she was married to Leo (Josh Duhamel)

Now, David and Ryan are fighting to be the man that Greenlee (Rebecca Budig) comes home to every night.

And here is why it’s a good story.

There are two distinct camps. Those who like Ryan and Greenlee (dubbed Rylee by fans) and those who like David and Greenlee (dubbed GreeD by fans).

Rebecca Budig (Greenlee) and Cameron Mathison (Ryan). Photo: ABC/Carol Kaelson

Both of these groups have a big following, and I can’t help but compare it to 2008 when there was a split between the Rylee fans and the Ailee fans (Aidan and Greenlee). That story was done nicely.

Now, the downside to writing this well: If Greenlee ends up with Ryan, GreeD fans will be upset; and if Greenlee ends up with David, Rylee fans will be upset.

So where do you stand on the debate?

Do you enjoy the breath of fresh air that is GreeD, or do you believe the history between Ryan and Greenlee will pull them back together?

Who is the love of Greenlee’s life?

I made my stand on who I think Greenlee should be with on my All My Children post about new couples, but where do you stand?

Would someone please tell me what is in the watercooler at the One Life To Live studios?

More specifically….the writers’ watercooler?

Does it seem odd to anyone else that the OLTL writers’ seem to be making a habit of having a seemingly non-violent person go from a calm, reasonable person to a raging maniac in about five seconds?

Schulyer Joplin (Scott Clifton) the most recent case in point.

Scott Clifton as Schuyler Joplin Photo: ABC/Heidi Gutman

Granted, he did lose everything….Gigi, the baby and then finding out that Mitch was his father.

But there was no evidence at all they he was a) crazy or b) had violent tendencies.

And in a matter of a Big Apple minute, the guy kidnaps Gigi, holds her captive at gunpoint and then aims to shoot Rex, but instead shoots Bo.

Take a look at the way Schuyler goes totally off the deep end with Gigi.

Pathetic.

That’s all I can say about what they’ve done to the character.

Then, afterward, Schuyler somehow regains rational thinking when talking with Roxy (Ilene Kristen).

Kind of inconsistent, wouldn’t you say?

This same modus operandi happened with Ross Rayburn (Michael Lowry) just a few short months ago, remember? He went from a laid-back surfer dude to a psycho nut job.

I wrote about it then, marveling at the ridiculousness of it.

It was just a vehicle to get Ross off the show and pair Todd with Tea. But, really, couldn’t they have thought of something that wasn’t so ridiculous?

Now we see the same thing happen to Schuyler.

Unfortunately, we know Scott Clifton has been let go from the show.

So the question is will Schuyler be killed off or sent to St. Ann’s or to Statesville?

And the sad thing is that Roxy will once again be left alone.