It’s Only My Opinion: General Hospital, Young and Restless And Other Soaps Need More Summer Stories
Soaps are missing the (sail)boat by not telling more summer stories. Nothing beat the blockbusters we grew up watching.
Remember Guiding Light’s Bauer barbecue? From the 1980s to the final BBQ in 2009, the annual July 4th gathering gave Springfield’s residents the chance to celebrate amidst the Sturm und Drang. Ed and Maureen having a fight, Holly and Roger sharing a romantic moment, Fletcher marrying Maeve in a huge backyard ceremony (with Kassie DePaiva as Chelsea singing!), Rick getting crowned “King of the Barbecue” — every year was a smorgasbord of action and romance, and fans looked forward to it.
Days of Our Lives also treated us to barbecues in the Brady backyard. The last one I recall was in the 2000s, when Doug reminisced with Bo about how much he hated Bo dating Hope back in the day as a warning to not get in between his daughter, Chelsea, and the much older Daniel Jonas. (Doug’s advice that keeping young lovers apart will only make them more determined to be together is the eternal soap opera credo.) The tradition of burgers and beers as our faves mingle makes them feel like family… which is the goal.
Tradition reigned on Bold and Beautiful, too, when everyone used to gather at the Forrester mansion for champagne and catfights. Stephanie caused trouble in 1991 by inviting Ridge, Taylor, and Brooke (who was wed to Eric at the time) to join Macy, Thorne, etc. for some lighthearted fun. “Looks like you guys are having a fight,” said the pot-stirring Brooke to Ridge before Eric announced Ridge and Taylor’s engagement. Taylor and the unhappy Brooke shot daggers at each other. The only thing smaller than Brooke’s response to their engagement news was her bikini — and Ridge’s Speedo.
Similarly, the July 4th bashes on Young and Restless used to make quite a splash. Between Katherine Chancellor’s pool parties and the Newman and/or Abbott backyard barbecues, there was a good chance someone would be thrown in the water. More important? It would be fun. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen Sharon in a teeny bikini trying to catch Nick’s eye, or a Speedo-clad Brad dancing with Ashley as Traci fumed.
But nothing was better than David Vickers in that American flag Speedo, trying to get Kelly to put cocoa butter on his “thighs and calves” on One Life To Live. “Security!” yelled Dorian. David and Dorian shared quality banter, and then she — what else? — threw him in the pool.
I don’t miss the Speedos (what was up with that?), but I do miss the annual parties full of A-listers splashing around in bathing suits while drama swirled around them.
Currently, General Hospital is the only show trying to keep up with annual traditions. With rare exception, we get the Nurses’ Ball and a Quartermaine Thanksgiving debacle every year. They’ve recently added a third festivity: July 4th fireworks at The Metro Court pool. Last year, Mac learned Cody was his son while watching fireworks, which is the way to do it — a big reveal with lots of people around to see it. More recent events at the MCP include Gio pushing Ezra Boyle into the water after the smarmy politician harassed Laura, jealous Portia tossing a drink on Jordan, Josslyn eying Dalton’s courier, and Lulu flipping out after spying Rocco talking to Liesl Obrecht (among many others).
I’m sure there’s more coming, but they’ll never beat pregnant Kristina falling out of Ava’s hotel window with a deadly splash. That’s why you spend big money on a set like that and use the hell out of it.
Speaking of spending money, B&B is back in Italy for a new fashion show and an old triangle. When Nick told Brooke he was a “sailor at heart,” he wasn’t kidding. He lined up a huge boat, a bottle of prosecco, and a diamond ring, but the boat malfunctioned, so he had to commandeer a red convertible to speed him to the bash in Capri — and Brooke.
Eric: “This is a private event!”
Nick: “Well, then it’s good one of the VIPs will be glad to see me.”
That “VIP” was Brooke, cruising around on Ridge’s speedboat while he dissed his half brother for wanting to make a promise to her that Ridge himself is unwilling to make.
Ridge: “Nick is a snake.”
Brooke: “He cares about me.”
Nick’s reappearance isn’t a summer story per se, but taking the triangle to Italy shows off the beautiful Mediterranean and treats viewers to colorful summer ensembles in the sunlight. B&B needs to do more of that at home by cranking up the Forrester pool and the old Bikini Bar for regular shenanigans.
It was Y&R’s bad luck that they set a three-month story in “Nice, France” while B&B was showcasing the actual sparkling sea of the Mediterranean. The sets were dark, the giant bushes in the maze were weird, and the “pool” consisted of a few folding chairs and a pitcher of lemonade. The murders of Damian and Chance didn’t lighten the mood, nor did Nick getting beaten to a bloody pulp. Overall, their big summer story was pretty depressing.
However, Audra did do some quality vamping in those skimpy bathing suits.
Kyle: “When you made this loathsome deal with Victor, you made your bed and now, you’re going to lie in it alone. When Victor crushes your dreams, don’t come to me.”
Audra: “You have chosen the wrong person to cross.”
I hope her battle with Kyle continues when they get home, perhaps around the Abbott pool, which we haven’t seen in years. Did Diane redo the backyard too? Get on that, girl.
DAYS is also using fake outdoor sets for places like Horton Square, The Brady Pub, and John’s funeral (sniff!). I seem to recall a museum in Florida being used for Victor Kiriakis’s estate, and of course, Bo and Hope making love for the first time in New Orleans is legendary. Their annual observance of Juneteenth has picked up steam since Abe and Paulina’s wedding, which is most welcome. Couldn’t they film that away from the studio in sunny California? It’s also time to resurrect the Brady barbecue. Take the action outside!
Beyond the Gates did just that, filming at a sunny outdoor park recently. Unfortunately, the story involved a bad guy stalking a teenage girl. Surely the Duprees have a luxury back deck to host an annual summer event. Perhaps they could take a page from DAYS and honor Juneteenth? Or give us an annual reunion of the Articulettes while good cop Jacob grills hamburgers (and less law-abiding guests).
We’re halfway through summer and only two shows have given us any real sunlight, water, or a set featuring a pool. As Rick said at GL’s last Bauer barbecue, “Grandma Bert was a great lady, not just because she loved her grandson but because she came up with this celebration with family and friends. She leaves this wonderful legacy behind.”
That is the point of soap operas, so we should celebrate it — on the regular!
Hey. It’s only my opinion.
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Soap Opera Digest does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.