http://soapnet.go.com/specials/bestof2006/mimi1.html

ALL MY CHILDREN

Honestly, I'm hard pressed to find anything good to say about this once classic and addictive soap opera. Struggling both in the ratings and to hang on to the hearts and attention of its viewers, AMC has gone terribly wrong in the last year, if not before. I'm not going to analyze the whole year and all the mistakes that have been made, but, as promised highlight what I felt was the best and the worst. Nevertheless, I can't help but make one comment on the show overall: It's boring. That is the worst sin of all in my book. Enrage me, enthrall me, simply entertain me and I'm yours; but never, never bore me. There's way too much good entertainment of many kinds available for me to bother watching something that's just ho hum. Since it's my job, I still watch All My Children. I would never in a million years have thought that would be the only reason I'm still tuning into a show that was once one of my very favorites.

THE GOOD:

Dixie's return

Babe and JR's reconciliation

Krystal and Adam, a Match Made in Hell.

A Killer in Pine Valley.

THE BAD:

Unforgivable History Rewrite.

THE UGLY:

Buried Alive.

AS THE WORLD TURNS

This show is like the little girl with the curl: It's either very, very good or, well, the opposite. Actually, when ATWT is bad, it's really mostly boring. And you know how I feel about boring. Anyway, in general, this "little girl" has been much more good than bad most of the year.

THE GOOD:

Death Becomes Them. (natural causes and of the serial killer variety)

Luke Comes Out.

THE BAD:

Craig Returns.

THE UGLY:

Maddie's creepy, sexually abusive brother-in-law.

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL

Brad Bell is a good storyteller much of the time. Unfortunately he tends to tell the same story over and over and over and…Well, you get the point. Much of this year was no different than years past, but the few times he veered from the usual borderline incestuous triangles and quadrangles the show hit the bull's-eye. It should happen more often.

THE GOOD:

Stephanie Confronts Her Past.

Darla's Death.

THE BAD:

The Never-ending Mix and Match Love-go-round.

THE UGLY:

Those Scenes With Daddy Taking a Belt to Young Stephanie.

DAYS OF OUR LIVES

I've been saying for years that head writing two soaps was too much to ask of any writer, and both of Jim Reilly's shows Days and Passions were getting the short shrift. It was more obvious in the case of Days because the show was a long-time fan favorite with a rich history; Passions' fans had different expectations. Reilly had infused it with too much of his signature big, unbelievable events that brought some short-term interest to the show, but ultimately undermined the characters and the fabric of the entire show. Then the fans of the show got an early Christmas gift (very early, his hiring was confirmed in August and his episodes started airing in October) when it was announced that Hogan Sheffer, former As the World Turns savior, would replace James Reilly as the Days head writer. I'm happy to report that "new" Days is starting to look very much like the old Days, and by that we mean the good old days.

THE GOOD:

John and Marlena and Bo and Hope Reunite!

Patch and Kayla Return!

The supercouple renaissance on Days.

THE BAD:

Endless Use of The Lazy Writer's Cliché, Switching Paternity Tests, Results, Etc.

The Cast Bleeds Favorites.

GENERAL HOSPITAL

There's been so much emotionally resonant storytelling on GH in the last several months that one wants to forgive head writer Robert Guza and executive producer Jill Farren Phelps any other missteps along the way. The show isn't perfect. There are days when I have no idea what's going on especially with the mob storylines even though I watch the show faithfully every day. Okay, sometimes I do other things while I watch (I have to live) and might be distracted occasionally. But GH is so improved, so rich and so rewarding that I can hardly recall what I haven't liked over the past year. And that's a good and amazing thing. Oh, and though I'm not doing a classic Best and Worst type column with a lot of categories, if I were then General Hospital would be named Best Show in a walk. No other soap even came close this year.

THE GOOD:

Laura Returns.

Lulu Has an Abortion.

Sonny Hits Bottom and Climbs Back Up.

Luke and Tracy's Marriage.

THE BAD:

Despicable Ric.

The Messy Mob:

THE UGLY:

Lucky's Pill Addiction Sends Him Into Maxie's Bed. .

GUIDING LIGHT

To celebrate its upcoming 70th (!) anniversary on January 25, 2007, Guiding Light is partnering with Hands On Network, a nonprofit network of 64 volunteer organizations and a half million volunteers. The week of their anniversary (Jan. 22-26) they're closing up shop and cast and crew is heading to the Gulf Coast to help rebuild homes destroyed by hurricane Katrina. I mention this because although GL has had an erratic year story-wise, there is definitely an air of vitality and rebirth surrounding our oldest daytime drama. This unique way of celebrating a incredible milestone is very much in keeping with that feeling of revitalization and forward movement that emanated from the show in 2006.

THE GOOD:

Reva's Breast Cancer.

Dinah Grows Up.

THE BAD:

Reva's Secret Breast Cancer.

Jonathan Leaves Tammy, Marries Lizzie and Settles Down as the Perfect Husband.

Beth Kidnaps Gus and Alan, Tortures Them and Gets Away With It.

THE UGLY:

Olivia's Character Assassination.

ONE LIFE TO LIVE

Though this soap is tremendously erratic both in interest and believability, it is one of the better daytime dramas at incorporating core families with newer character and uses its veterans to relatively good effect. The story arcs are too long and, in my opinion, its couples too lackluster. But OLTL is better than average much of the time, though it needs to speed things up a little.

THE GOOD:

Todd Dies of a Lethal Injection (But He's Revived).

Clint and Dorian.

John Lives.

Jess/Tess's Baby is Nash's.

THE BAD:

Tess and Jess Integrate and Choose Antonio.

The Whole Spencer Thing.

THE UGLY:

Why Jess Became Tess.

Dorian Has Adriana Stalked.

PASSIONS

I've said it before and I'll say it again (and probably, again) Passions isn't my kind of soap. It's too silly, too drawn out, too weird. It's both too whimsical and too sadistic ? an odd combination of qualities to be sure ? for my tastes. And there are too many pretty faces with minor talents to suit me. I watch the show only occasionally, but enough to get the picture. On the other hand, Passions remains true to itself pretty consistently, which is more than I can say for a lot of the soaps. If Passions is what you want, when you tune in, Passions is what you'll get.

THE GOOD:

Rachel Returns.

Luis Is Alive.

Alistair Dies.

THE BAD:

Vendetta

Breaking Up Evian

Siren The Mermaid

THE UGLY:

Spike.

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

Y&R has been the undisputed number one show for nearly two decades and deservedly so. Under the guidance of one vision - Bill Bell's - since the show premiered, it was grounded in family drama, great characters, uniformly splendid acting, realistic dialogue and comforting continuity. When Bell died he handed the reins over to long time associates Jack Smith and Kay Alden and though, like all soaps it had its bumps and missteps, it remained largely the solid gold show it always had been. Suddenly this year, Lynn Marie Latham (veteran of the great Knots Landing) was given the head writing duties and, in short order, replaced Smith as executive producer as well. The show is still excellent, but it has undergone some subtle (and not so subtle) changes that have some fans a little concerned about the direction of this perennial crowd pleaser. I'm perfectly happy to take a wait and see attitude and not make a "rush to judgment," though sometimes first instincts are the right ones.

THE GOOD:

Life (and death?) in the don't-panic room.

A Kinder, Gentler Victor.

John Dies.

Phyllis's Baby is Nick's, Not Jack's.

THE BAD:

Brad's Secret Jewish Past and That Nazi Thing.

She Pouts to Conquer. Was there ever more of a sourpuss than Colleen?

Disease or Topic of the Week.

Jack is "Islanded."

THE UGLY:

Jack Becomes a Monster.

Gloria Sabotages Glow.

I agree with her.

I agree with most everythig she said about my shows

I agree with everything she said, especially about AMC.

I pretty much agree with her. I'm starting to understand why GH got Best Show in SOD, even though I'm not happy about it.

Seems like she got ATWT right on, she is right when it is good it is great, and when it is bad it is just plain boring, also agree that all the death storylines that were done (Jen's, Hal's and the slasher storyline) were very well done, and that Lukes Storyline was great(key word, was. seeing as it has been dropped for a while.) Also agree with the bad Craig's return is not a good thing at all, to much airtime(but we knew that going in, there can't be Craig unless he is on everyday). I would have chosen the Katie/Simon/Carly/Jack/V/Henry storyline has the ugly, and the repetitive storylines that we see, and the lack of history ever being shown on the show.

Edited December 20, 200619 yr by winterguy125

She's right about DAYS. The first half of 2006 was not good, but not terribly awful, but then before JER left it was a complete mess. In the last two weeks it has hit its stride. Even the return of supercouples has not been so contrived and caught up in that destined crap that JER force fed to viewers, and I think that's what hurt them.

See - I really don't agree with her on most of the soaps I watch.

I just never tend to agree with her anymore

I agree for the most part with ATWT. The deaths on this show were entertaining. Jennifer's, of course, was the best of the year, IMO, and would almost guarantee the show a Best Drama Emmy. Nick's death was also pretty good if you disregard his rapid descent into bad-guy territory. This was back when Mike and Katie were still tolerable to me, as were Carly and Jack, so it was really nice to see them dealing with this kind of thing for a while.

That being said, there were just TOO MANY deaths this year. Nick, Jennifer, Hal (which couldn't be avoided, I know), the slasher victims. That's just too many, I think. Thank God there was also a good amount of weddings because I have it programmed in my head that one death equals one wedding, and they cancel each other out. I'm weird like that.

The Luke stuff was great from February to June, about up until the time Lily went into a coma. In addition to the deaths and Luke's stuff, I'd also give the first half of the year a "good" for regularly giving us characters like Lisa, Lucinda, Emma, Nancy, Bob, Susan, and Kim on a weekly basis. There were weeks where Nancy was on for THREE episodes. In ONE week!

I agree whole-heartedly with the Bad. I want Craig gone and I never wanted him back in the first place. I only ocassionally watched in 2004 simply because I was sick of Craig and Paul. And now they are dominating the show again. And it sucks.

See - I really don't agree with her on most of the soaps I watch.

I just never tend to agree with her anymore

That's because you're the most optimistic person on the face of the earth, Always!

What you saw as "Wasn't last week's AMC so full of heart and depth and emotion?!?! YAAAAAAAAAAY!!! WOOO HOOOOO!!!" and "Look! Kelli Giddish!!"

I saw as "Ugh! A family I despise is grieving over a boring character I hated, giving Ryan and Jonadick yet another chance to whine and cry about their horrible childhood for the 54,567th time, complete with flashbacks, while Simone got a 0.01 second flashback and an ex-boyfriend who dumped her for trailer trash weeping over her dead body." and "Look! Kelli Giddish!!" because somethings don't change.

I agree with her on everything but OLTL. OLTL sucked big time.

I agree with GH being the best soap. Take away the mob and it's not that bad of a show.

That's because you're the most optimistic person on the face of the earth, Always!

What you saw as "Wasn't last week's AMC so full of heart and depth and emotion?!?! YAAAAAAAAAAY!!! WOOO HOOOOO!!!" and "Look! Kelli Giddish!!"

I saw as "Ugh! A family I despise is grieving over a boring character I hated, giving Ryan and Jonadick yet another chance to whine and cry about their horrible childhood for the 54,567th time, complete with flashbacks, while Simone got a 0.01 second flashback and an ex-boyfriend who dumped her for trailer trash weeping over her dead body." and "Look! Kelli Giddish!!" because somethings don't change.

LOL - oh R Sinclair how I love you! Even though we seem to be so opposite with our AMC tastes, you still read my opinions. lol

To me though - for AMC anyway - with all her b!tching all year long, I would have thought she'd put "Rewriting History" as the Ugly...and the Buried Alive thing as her Bad (even though I thought when he was actually buried, it was entertaining - but after he died it went downhill.

Everyone disliked Dixie's return - and even she b!tched about it - so her putting it as Good doesn't make sense...although NOW, 1 year later since her return, I'm LOVING Miss Dixie!

And I'm wondering which Babe/JR reconciliation she is talking about as being Good. The Spring reconciliation was good - but after all the murder attempts afterwards, I'm surprised she'd even list that as Good.

As for the other soaps - she has DAYS and ATWT about right....but for OLTL - John Lives is NOT a Good. lol

And for GH - I don't think Lucky getting addicted to drugs was the worst, ugly thing for GH this year. And Sonny's depression crap wasn't Good IMO.

Edited December 20, 200619 yr by alwaysAMC

IA with her.

I agree with a lot of what she said except for ONE LIFE's Good Clint & Dorian, this is actually horrible and character assasination of Clint. After all that Dorian has done to Viki and Jessica and the rest of the family, Clint would NEVER give this beatch the time of day and under any other writer than Dena Hackley, he wouldn't be. Also Bree being Nash's was horrible IMHO, and John being alive is not that great either. I'd rather have Kevin, Kelly, Hugh and David.

I roughly agree with her about the shows that I watch (DOOL, GH, Y&R, and occasionally AMC) except I always ask myself, which "good old days" are people referring to when they talk about DOOL? But she got the gist of it right, IMO, especially loved how she noted that the interest Reilly brought was always short-term spikes. As far as GH ITA that overall it's quite emotionally resonant compared to a lot of shows, that's why I like it despite the flaws, it's intentions are to tell emotional stories. Y&R is still the most well executed show, agree there, the worry is over what is going to be executed from now on.