The Soap Box -- Discuss your favorite (or not so favorite) Daytime Dramas

[Ty Junior]

I see the need to have Malcolm on the show though. It certainly gives Neil and Lily something else to play on. However, unless you can get Shemar, don't bring the character back. There are some people that are just not recastable, Shemar is one of them.

On a side note, who else is loving the return of Eric Braden and Melody Thomas Scott? Y&R clearly had a huge apiece missing when they were MIA. I'm glad they're back. Give Melody something to do though, please!

Oh, I got plenty to say about what's been going on at Y&R these past few weeks-- just got to find the time to post it.  I did want to echo quickly on the Shemar recast, and say that albeit a jarring change, it does appear to have correlated positively with more screen time for Neil and Lily, and Neil appears to be getting his own storyline on the side with the whole Tucker McCall situation and his possible romance with Ashley.  The only person left out in the cold is Devon.  They just haven't figure out what to do with the poor guy and that's a shame.

And as I preface my thoughts two weeks ago, it's clear that EB is back in action.  Hasn't been off my screen for one second, and that's not good.  Granted, he's driving a lot of interesting story, but due to the lack of breaks from having him shove down my throat, I'm also forced to be quite irritated by him at the same time.  And I agree, if we're comparing it to the resurgence of EB, then Melody Thomas Scott is surely being shafted.

[Dallas]

I saw it coming for awhile now, but the Patty/Emily storyline is finally heating up again. Part of me actually hopes they kill Emily ... what a bore of a character. Of course, I suspect that they brought her on because they liked this actress ... so now they can get rid of Patty when all is said and done and Emily can remain on the series.

[livelikemusic]

Y&R is EXTREMELY interesting these past few weeks, though damn Patty for nearly killing Emily.

I liked Emily, and liked her with Jack. Patty should be dead, after killing one person and practically a second.

And the Ashley/Neil pairing is so adorable and re-freshing!!!!

[Ty Junior]

I have to say that the Nicholas/Sharon/Adam/Phyllis/Ashley storyline is what's keeping me glued to Y&R right now.  It was sort of lackluster last week with Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) missing in action for a whopping FOUR days last week while the mess that was Patty/Emily was shoved down my throat.  Personally, I believe both characters are expendable.  Dobblegangers are so 2000 and late as the line in the song goes, and I have no interest in seeing another round of let's swap places and turn all of Genoa City into a bunch of blind idiots for a couple months.  And it does anyone know how a psych patient managed to get her hands on hair dye or bleach in order to alter the color of Emily's hair.  I still haven't figure that one out, although that was just the tip of the iceberg on how the switcheroo was executed. 

It's going to be interesting to see how long she can go on pretending to be another woman without anyone becoming a wiser.  I don't imagine this will be any healthier for her self-esteem to have Jack saying "I love you, Emily" to her every night before they go to bed.  I did feel for her when it came to the wedding night and consummation time, how she anxiously devours Jack like she hasn't had him in years-- as if the whole Mary Jane' fiasco thing never happened.  It didn't compute on some levels, but I got where the writers were going in that she's far from reform as we clearly saw with the evil eye exercises on Sharon in today's episode.  I suppose as long as she doesn't go all ape shit crazy, it will be alright since I don't think Sharon and Emily were exactly bosom buddies either.

Michelle Stafford was awesome again on today's episode.  I love the end where she just waiting in the chair after Adam and Sharon waltz back in from their vacation getaway, ready to roast him on the open fire.  Wednesday episode looks like it's going to be good now that Ashley's becoming wise to Adam's machinations.  It shouldn't be long before the whole truth comes out at this rate.  Perhaps then we can finally see poor Estella released from her prison sell.  Oh, and Victor was once again an overbearing presence on today's episode.  What business is it of yours if Ashley and Neil are getting more romantically involved?  Granted, she's the mother of two of your children, but that doesn't give you reign over her personal life, just as she doesn't have reign over yours.  I'm glad that Traci's speech convinced her that living in the ranch was a bad idea.  I say run, and run quick Ashley.  The sooner she's out of old mustache domain, the sooner he can stop butting in where he's not wanted.  By the way, I'm with you Scott, Neil and Ashley are a refreshing match.  I think they have potential.  She's definitely going to need someone as grounded as him when the truth hits the fan about Faith.

Oh, and how funny was Lauren snapping at Daisy- "Why are you so clumsy?" or something to that effect.  Looks like she's about irritated as I am of seeing this insufferable character parade around Genoa City.  Jana, please uncover the secret so that she may finally be gone.  Any wagers on who little "Max" could be? 

[livelikemusic]

Phyllis is getting on my last nerve to be honest. She can't just enjoy her husband and time with her daughter, no she has to cause trouble. Nick should've dumped her ass even after Summer got into the accident, stupid idiot. I hope Adam and Sharon annull their marriage, Nick and Sharon hook up, and Phyllis and Malcolm get close, and then Adam can die. MM's contract with Y&R is coming to a close anyway, so I see it happening.

And the Patty/Emily thing is nice, but I'm not liking it anymore. How can Jack NOT see it's Patty and not Emily, especially Paul, C'MON you guys, stop being stupid. HOW THE HELL DID PATTY DYE EMILY'S HAIR BLONDE AS WELL!?! Like honestly? Soaps are not so smart on this reguard!

And Lauren snapping @ Daisy I found HYSTERICAL!!!!!!!! I laughed my ass off. "Why are you so clumsy?" ahahahahah. And when did Lauren get the leg brace off?? And now she's in HEELS!?!?!

[Dallas]

I'm willing to forgive the loop holes for Patty's escape ... the storyline must go on ... but the thing that always gets me about the twins thing (and I even do it on ODaaT) is how the heck doesn't Jack know that it's not Emily after he's had SEX with her. Surely the two women are different in bed, kiss different, perform differently ...

[livelikemusic]

I'll forgive them once they fix the mess they call couples.

Sharon + Nick
Jack + Emily OR Phyllis
Victoria + JT

And put Adam outta his misery and kill him, plus maybe a Malcolm/Phyllis pairing!

[Ty Junior]

Phyllis is getting on my last nerve to be honest. She can't just enjoy her husband and time with her daughter, no she has to cause trouble. Nick should've dumped her ass even after Summer got into the accident, stupid idiot. I hope Adam and Sharon annull their marriage, Nick and Sharon hook up, and Phyllis and Malcolm get close, and then Adam can die. MM's contract with Y&R is coming to a close anyway, so I see it happening.

I can see why she would get on some people's nerves, but I just love the character and the actress that I see past her faults.  And I do have a hard time trying to figure out what her motives are exactly in uncovering Adam's machinations other than just the pure fun of bringing him down a peg.  I just see it as the accident having sparked everything, and how Adam tried to coolly blow it off would raise flags for anyone.  As for Phyllis and Malcolm, I'm gonna have to say no.  They always had a flirtation underneath the strictly platonic mask (as far as I can remember), but I can't see them as a couple, especially with Malcolm 2.0 incarnation.  The first scenes that were filmed between them seemed really forced that they would have to gain momentum.  Personally, I would prefer she and Jack got back together.  She seemed to be at her best with him.  With Nick, she's not secure, which might explain her need to go and ruin Sharon's perceived security because Sharon is clearly still the apple of Nick's eye.  So perhaps that is the driving force in her wanting to take down Adam.  Maybe she's trying to speed up the inevitable, and end this ridiculous round of ring around the rosy between her, Nick and Sharon.

I'm willing to forgive the loop holes for Patty's escape ... the storyline must go on ... but the thing that always gets me about the twins thing (and I even do it on ODaaT) is how the heck doesn't Jack know that it's not Emily after he's had SEX with her. Surely the two women are different in bed, kiss different, perform differently ...

Could be the cosmic powers that be trying to show how little Jack knows the woman he thought he just married.  Considering he was involved with Patti eons ago, and then as Mary Jane, perhaps he's deluded himself into thinking that the familiarity of the intimacy is because of Emily, not the woman he was screwing before her.  But then again, as savage animals, we men are too focused on our libidos to give thought to the emotional disconnectivity we now feel with the person we're sleeping with.

[Dallas]

The thing with Phyllis is that she's digging her own grave ... like she always does. She's snooping around Adam's past ... she'll help uncover the truth ... but when the truth DOES come out, Nicholas and Sharon will reunite with their baby and Phyllis will be out in the cold. That's my prediction.

[livelikemusic]

Nick and Phyllis are just video games and sex. That's all their relationship is. Phyllis needs to just relax and not feel threatened. I think she's secretly in love with Sharon by the way she's always OBSESSED with her and her life.

And I'm sure Phyllis will freak when she hears how Victor/Adam/Nicholas schemed about the Jabot deal, she'll FREAK and want to go running back to Jack immediately. Ugh. I'm over Phyllis.

[Ty Junior]

Nick and Phyllis are just video games and sex. That's all their relationship is. Phyllis needs to just relax and not feel threatened. I think she's secretly in love with Sharon by the way she's always OBSESSED with her and her life.

And I'm sure Phyllis will freak when she hears how Victor/Adam/Nicholas schemed about the Jabot deal, she'll FREAK and want to go running back to Jack immediately. Ugh. I'm over Phyllis.

Which is truly sad because the affair in the long-run scarred Phyllis' friendship with Nikki, and lead to the dissolution of NVP.  Honestly, what Phyllis needs to do is leave.  She is right to be threatened because anyone with eyes can see that Nick is still carrying a torch for Sharon, one that he's acted on several times while still married to Phyllis.  Karma's a bitch, but after a while, one just has to say deuces and peace out.  It will not shock me to see her freak when she learns what Victor and Nick did because it was downright dirty and unethical, not to mention Jack and her have a special place in each other's heart despite the rotten things they have done to one another, and she knows how important that company is to him.

[Dallas]

I think the character of Phyllis would be totally unworkable if anyone but Michelle was in that role. Michelle brings such a likeable presence to Phyl though that it works. I do agree that once Phyl learns the extent of Nick & Vic's plan to get Jabot, more sh*t will hit the fan. Nick & Phyl keep saying they'll stop keeping things from each other, but they always end up keeping stuff from each other ...

[livelikemusic]

I think the character of Phyllis would be totally unworkable if anyone but Michelle was in that role. Michelle brings such a likeable presence to Phyl though that it works. I do agree that once Phyl learns the extent of Nick & Vic's plan to get Jabot, more sh*t will hit the fan. Nick & Phyl keep saying they'll stop keeping things from each other, but they always end up keeping stuff from each other ...

I watched a promo of Y&R when Michelle left the role, and lemme tell you, the character just didn't have the same feeling.

i don't know, I'm just over Phyllis at this point. I find her annoying and just too much of a bitch for my own liking.

[Joshua]

I just read at Daytime Confidential that that Amanda Setton (Kim) has quit her role as Kim Andrews, after One Life offered her a contract and pay increase, in turn she's going to Hollywood for pilot season. I'm shocked about this! Kim is the first newbie that I feel in love with in a long time - her story with Clint was so good I thought!! Very upset...

[Ty Junior]

I just read at Daytime Confidential that that Amanda Setton (Kim) has quit her role as Kim Andrews, after One Life offered her a contract and pay increase, in turn she's going to Hollywood for pilot season. I'm shocked about this! Kim is the first newbie that I feel in love with in a long time - her story with Clint was so good I thought!! Very upset...

Meh!  She's a good actress, but I never got the hoopla over the character.  I wish her the best of luck in primetime.  I can't imagine she won't be able to find something, although if I were her, I would try out for one of the already established series as many of the new projects don't seem to be making it pass a first season.

As for OLTL as a whole, it was a pretty good week last week.  The scenes between Viki and Dorian, where Dorian has to eat crow after admitting that she left the whole city in disarray after allowing Mitch Lawrence and his cronies to run the city.  I mean, they don't do Dorian's characters any favors.  And the fact that she seemed secure now to overtone everything with Mitch still alive (just in maximum security) didn't seem to make any sense in hindsight, but at least she forging ahead and fighting without compromising a bunch of people in the process.  Still, it irritated me a bit to hear Viki sounding so self-righteous and not understanding Dorian's plight for one second.  Granted, she was upset because her daughter had been shot in one of Dorian's hair brain scheme, but people in glass houses really shouldn't throw stones.  It looks like things are looking pretty bleak for Viki and Charlie as well.  With Kim soon to be out of the picture, could we be seeing a Viki and Clint reunion?  

And for the love of God, why do we have to sit through another memory lost storyline?  Granted, who would want to remember that Mitch Lawrence is their biological father?  And that the same man tried to rape you?  It should be interesting to see how much I'm able to sit through before I start reaching for the "FF" button.  

The show runners at OLTL should be careful because they are starting to develop a penchant for killing off characters, but not really killing them off.  It appeared Stacy met an icy end on Tuesday, but then by Friday's episode, it appeared someone was trying to suggest she maybe made it out of the lake.  Don't know how.  Could be just a red herring, but if not, this is where I feel the death begins to lose it value because you have the regret and mourning, and then it all amounts for naught for whatever reason.  In any event, it might be best for Stacy to stay dead while all this baby drama unfolds as things are about to hit the fan next week now that Gigi knows Schuyler is the father.  Why the heck did the idiot wait so long to tell her anyway?  Not smooth, dude.  At the very least, he should have told her when it was time for them to get the father's consent instead of standing there like a deer in headlights.

Oh, and I hope they aren't bringing back Cassie just to have her killed off by poison tea.  So wrong, and not the least amusing.