August 6, 2009
Yay to GH for acknowledging Edward and Lila's wedding anniversary on today's show! In an era of dwindling Quartermaines, it was a fond tribute to our much missed and beloved matriarch, Anna Lee (ex-Lila) — and it also served to bond Edward with Emily's duplicitous twin, Rebecca. Thanks and well done, GH.... and Anna, we miss you so but much like Edward, you will always live on in our hearts, as well.

June 26, 2009
As I join the rest of the world in mourning the deaths of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson (Yes, I had the poster on my boyhood wall and yes, my friends and I shook whatever we had at the time to "Off The Wall" at the Egan dances), I'm focusing my grief on the soap world, specifically the loss of GH's Ric. Ironically, upon his introduction, I'm the last person who thought I'd miss the character. Holding a pregnant woman hostage in a panic room went way beyond cruel and unusual. But Rick Hearst (ex-Ric) isn't a three-time Emmy winner for nothing. Once that story passed, he began a Tracy/Hepburn-ish relationship with Alexis. They fought. They flirted. She brought out the good in him. He brought out the playful in her. The pairing won me over. Sure, I was ticked when they broke up. Gosh forbid anyone's happy on a soap for too long (even though I'm a rare believer that a happy couple CAN have involving story). Rick got interesting for me again with the arrival of his Daddie Dearest, Trevor. After seeing how callous and cruel the senior Lansing was, it made perfect sense that Ric was so screwed up. And, if any of my friends were to EVER make a comment about the caliber of acting in daytime dramas, I'd sit them down with the scenes of Hearst and Stephen Macht when Trevor made no apologies for setting Ric up with Marianna to steal Alcazar's piers. That was the linear plot but underneath, those two acting titans ripped open years of old wounds when Trevor told Ric that he was right: His mother loved Sonny more than him. "Get over it!" Trevor spat. Ouch! Hearst revealed new layers to the engaging enigma that left us wanting more. While I enjoyed the recent "Who's the Daddy?" drama of Ric\Claudia\Sonny, Hearst's sudden departure squelched that story, but I'm so glad the character wasn't killed off. "Don't worry about me," Ric smiled to Claudia as the hospital elevator doors closed. "I'll be back." Well, all I can say is, "Ya better be, Richie. Ya better be."

June 10, 2009
Is it just me or is this a very head-scratching time in Port Charles these days? I know GH is a soap and there's a certain amount (okay, a lot!) of suspension of disbelief required, but still....

Sonny feels responsible for Michael's shooting, but wants him to move in? Wouldn't that be putting the boy in harm's way even more? Kate's never been to see Michael, even though they were close and she brought him to the warehouse the night he was shot? During Robin's postpartum, Patrick was worried that she wasn't spending time with the baby. Now that Robin has dealt with it, he's concerned that she's spending too much time with Emma? Nikolas thinks it's a coincidence that Emily's surprise twin just happened to show up in Port Charles, yet he runs a multi-national corporation? Luke wants another son, even though he admits he's a terrible father? Tracy has a trainer? Will the madness never end???

Eh, probably not. But hey, it's not like they've ever had an alien come to town....

April 14, 2009
While everyone is still reeling from the cancellation of the venerable 72-year-old soap GUIDING LIGHT, did anyone else find it ironic that the news came on the same day as GENERAL HOSPITAL's 46th anniversary and one day before AS THE WORLD TURNS's 53rd? This year, though, there were no fancy parties or cake cuttings. Once the forerunner of fancy celebrations, Y&R celebrated it's 36th with a pared down get-together after work with no significant others in attendance. Granted, none of these years are "milestone" years but in all honesty, these days, every year a soap remains on the air is a milestone year! While we're all still in mourning that with GL's passing, we lose a piece of Americana that we'll never get back, let me play Pollyanna and say let's focus on the positive and celebrate the soaps we do have — and let's do everything we can to keep them healthy.

January 9, 2009
I hope you appreciated my year-end gift — which was NOT to do a best/worst list for soaps, since every other entertainment writer/soap journalist/hack — and their mother — slapped one onto a magazine page/Internet blog/bathroom wall. However, I will share with you one of my more delightful job-related surprises from the year that passed. File this under "It's a small world," but a face from my hometown in Pennsylvania showed up as a guest star on YOUNG AND RESTLESS, in a pivotal role, no less. If you haven't heard the name Markus Flanagan, you've certainly seen him. A successful actor for over two decades, Markus made a name for himself in both film and television. (He'll hate me for saying this, but remember the episode of FRIENDS where Phoebe dated the "sporty guy" who never wore underwear? That was him!) On Y&R, he played the guy who published Victor's phony diary and, considering his impressive track record, I was delighted at how much he enjoyed his very first soap stint. "It's like the best job of all time," he e-mailed me. And, since we'd lost touch for awhile, I was surprised to learn Markus is now an author. Having documented his adventures in the screen trade, he penned One Less Bitter Actor, offering Hollywood wannabes sound advice for dealing with the highs and lows of "the business." Needless to say, much like him, it's a hoot. (To check it out, go to www.onelessbitteractor.com) So, here's hoping that 2009 will hold even more unexpected blessings and who knows, maybe one of these days, I'll be interviewing Markus on his next soap gig.