It’s Only My Opinion: GH, Y&R, DAYS, B&B and BTG — Which Soaps Are Ready for Summer?
It’s almost summer on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless, Days of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful and Beyond the Gates, and Carolyn Hinsey looks at how things are heating up on all the soaps.
Running With The Devil
Back in the day, soap fans always looked forward to summer because we knew the action would heat up. Pool parties on Y&R, the Bauer Barbecue on Guiding Light, David Vickers donning his flag Speedo on One Life To Live, As the World Turns’s Lily and Holden smooching at Snyder Pond, and GH‘s Luke and Laura on the run in Beecher’s Corners drew millions of eyeballs. Budgets are different now (!) but the stories can still sizzle.
GH is honoring some of these summer traditions with the Metro Court pool (coming soon!) and sending Britt and Rocco on the run from Cullum. Rocco’s parents had no one to blame for that but themselves after mishandling their son’s shooting of the WSB baddie.
Lulu: “Where’s Rocco?”
Dante: “Rocco’s with Britt – and they’re gone.”
Lulu: “This is the second time Britt has stolen Rocco from us. She’s got this sick obsession with being his mother!”
Hold on. Rocco sought Britt out for weeks because she was the only person acknowledging how dangerous his situation was. Lulu pacified Rocco while secretly securing fake passports; Dante unconvincingly assured Rocco all would be well. Rocco couldn’t stand his parents fighting so he turned to the woman who gave birth to him (with a stolen embryo) and begged Britt to take him out of town.
Before departing, Britt ratted out Pascal to Sonny as Sidwell’s clean-up man, giving Sonny and Laura a way out from Sidwell’s blackmail (Dalton’s body).
Laura: “What do we know about Pascal?”
Sonny: “He’s French.”
Ha! GH is obviously treading water until Jason returns later this summer, but sending a kid we care about (who is both a Corinthos and a Spencer) on a dangerous journey with a “dying” villainess keeps the stakes high and the A-listers engaged. If that cold fusion plot is ever going to heat up, now’s the time.
Where Art Delilah’s Family?
A pregnant stranger named Delilah collapsed in front of Brook Lynn and Chase, gave birth, and died. The duo wants to adopt her baby but first they have to find Delilah’s family. Clues from the art world found in Delilah’s suitcase gave their lawyer Alexis an idea.
Alexis: “I’m going on a trip.”
Ava (sarcastic): “You want me to water your plants?”
Alexis: “No. You’re coming with me.”
The partners in crime journeyed to Manhattan, where dashing art dealer Apollo showed them a picture of Delilah — with Ethan.
Back home, Tracy hired Ethan to insure BLQ and Chase have a smooth road to adoption (unaware of Ethan’s questionable involvement with the baby’s mother) because she knows BLQ might have been the other car in Jordan’s accident. Michael is making moves to use that against his cousin so he can push Chase towards Willow (with the resulting scandal giving Michael custody of their kids).
Michael: “With Chase, everything is guilty or innocent. If he finds out Brook Lynn played a part in the accident and kept it from him, there’s no coming back from that.”
Michael claims he is “setting Brook Lynn free” from the unworthy Chase by highlighting the cracks in their marriage, but that’s some nasty business. Chase means everything to BLQ, as evidenced by her threatening the local congresswoman.
Brook Lynn (to Willow): “I am very grateful for everything you’re doing for us, but if you so much as breathe on my husband again it will be the last breath you take. I will destroy you.”
Excellent. See you at the pool!
Young Guns
If you live in Los Angeles and can’t find a bathing suit, that’s because B&B bought them all for the relaunch of Bikini Bar. Now owned by Deacon, the hot spot features lots of skimpily-clad extras grooving in the background while Will and Electra smooch and R.J. and Dylan jealously look on. Most recently, Will didn’t appreciate R.J. talking to Electra so he punched him. The Forrester scion went down like a sack of doorknobs and had to be helped home by Dr. Finn, who prescribed ice and ibuprofen. R.J. had a different solution.
R.J.: “You need to fire Will from Forrester.”
Ridge: “I can’t just fire Will because you like the same girl.”
Indeed, that’s a good lawsuit. It makes sense to crank up the younger set for summer, but R.J. is going to need some redeeming qualities for that to be a believable contest. Asking his daddy to oust his romantic rival ain’t it.
R.J.: “This is about a Spencer at Forrester. It’s me or him, Dad.”
Will’s brother just returned to Spencer Publications, so the timing is right for Will to go work there if he does get fired.
Wyatt: “Why am I here?”
Bill: “Can’t a father just see his son?”
Wyatt and Liam (in unison): “No.”
They were right. Bill summoned Wyatt because he wants him to find the Hope for the Future diamond for Logan to use when they launch Hope’s new fashion line. You remember, the diamond that leads you to your destiny and also has magical powers? Maybe the alluring gem can get Brooke to stop yelling at Katie for using her own last name on her company.
Summer Sorrow
DAYS is also bringing back some old faves, which qualifies as a summer staple.
Lani and Eli resurfaced as one of the only fun, happy couples in Salem.
Lani: “Chanel has aggressive breast cancer.”
Eli: “I’m so sorry.”
Never mind. I do not understand why Chanel and Johnny would be saddled with more heartache when they are such a cute, believable couple and are descended from such A-listers.
Johnny: “We’re in this together. I know you’re going to be the greatest mom to Trey and [unborn] little Quattro for many years to come.”
Chanel (crying): “Amen.”
Johnny: “This baby is so lucky to have the best mom anyone could ever ask for.”
If she lives. Sniff!
On the bright side, I’m all for 80-year-old Julie going on a date…
Business As Usual
The best summery tale to look forward to on Y&R would be if they’d rerun one of Katherine Chancellor’s famous pool parties on July 4th. Other than that, it’s kind of a downer: Matt Clark is back to terrorize people and/or be redeemed with “amnesia,” Nikki/Victor, Jack/Diane, Kyle/Claire, Abby/Devon are in tatters, and there’s not a single core young person on this show to carry a lighthearted teen tale. Mattie and Charlie Ashby, Faith, Connor and Christian Newman, and Johnny and Katie Abbott are all being raised off screen, which means even if Y&R did recast and gave them a great arc, it would take a while for us to care because we don’t know them.
Personally, I’d like a break from all the business stories. No more AI programs destroying billion dollar companies like Newman Enterprises, no more “Summer’s Conglomerate” with one employee (God bless Lauren), no more watching Sally and Audra go over their “advertising budget,” no more musical chairs for Chancellor. Get back to basics with human stories starring people we love, or love to hate.
Traci (to Jack): “Nobody would blame you for wanting revenge, but do you honestly think it’s going to be helpful? There is every chance you will work things out with Diane, but only if you focus all your energy on her and you don’t waste a moment on revenge against Victor and Patty.”
Yes. Can Traci, Michael and Lauren run Genoa City for the summer?
Bill Player
The most realistic exes on all of daytime are BTG’s Bill and Dani. He regrets his cheating behavior, misses her family, and frankly isn’t that happy in his new marriage to Hayley, who we know is trying to kill him.
Bill: “You love taking care of your man, don’t you?”
Hayley (serving him a tainted drink): “Making sure you’re taken care of is my most important duty.”
That’s the first honest thing she’s said. Bill’s hands are shaking now, so maybe the world’s slowest-acting poison is starting to take effect. It’s time for Hayley to get busted and Bill’s slow crawl towards Dani to commence.
Leslie (accusatory): “You’re playing the long game.”
Hayley: “I’m not playing at anything.”
Leslie: “You just haven’t gotten caught yet.”
Get on that!
Hey. It’s only my opinion.
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