I know people hate when someone just copies and pastes an article or interview with no (insightful) comments, but I think this article says more than enough.

Where is the Summer Love?

Remember that great early 80s ABC Daytime promo campaign called "Love in the Afternoon"? Back then, every soap opera remembered and celebrated the fact that fans primarily watched their shows to experience authentic feelings of romantic love between characters. On some shows, like Supercouple headquarters Days of our Lives, the magic of a male and female falling in love was almost fetishized by long intense love/sex scenes and love montages featuring sappy songs like "Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You."

And starting in the summer of 1980 on General Hospital, summer became primetime for love stories. That magical summer was dominated by the charming and especially sweet experience of watching Luke and Laura falling in love while on the run from the mob headed by Luke's almost father-in-law Frank Smith. Summer love became a mainstay on soaps.

But I sit here this summer of 2007 tuning in to soaps looking for love, I'm not seeing much. On Young and the Restless, the summer is headlined by Amber being kidnapped, screaming and whining every day. (How much do viewers have to pay the captors to off Ms. Obnoxious permanently?) On One Life to Live, Layla and Vincent's summer dinner al fresco was ruined by them being bound and gagged by Tate (rhymes with hate), the white supremacist who always looks exactly like a male model in his unwrinkled Arrow shirt. On Guiding Light, Reva's heaving her cleavage around Springfield daily, and is having an affair with Jeffrey, not as a romance, but as a middle-aged woman's desperate last at stab at whoopee.

Where is the love? This is a famous soap catchphrase originally uttered by Doug Marland almost 20 years ago. It is even more relevant this horrible loveless soap summer, in which soaps are not really about love, but about endless plot machinations and gimmicks. Add to that explosions, muggings and long flashbacks (such as the scene of Days' corny Brady and DiMera family disagreement in long ago Ireland ). And don't forget, hermaphrodites! I don't see much romance for the pure sake of romance, in which two characters simply confess their love for one another.

So far, I've seen only two instances of summer love played for the sake of romance, and they are interesting because both romances are between older characters. On Passions, of all places, Julian had the most touching declaration of love anew for Dr. Eve soon after the disaster of finding out that the hermaphrodite Vincent was their long lost son. I cried through the scene. The writing was unusually intelligent and adult, and Ben Masters (who Marlena has absolutely adored for decades) delivered his lines with the Best Diction in Daytime, and true tenderness. How rare nowadays is such overall bravura work like this, such good old daytime acting and writing? Very rare, but happily not gone entirely. On The Bold and the Beautiful, Ashley and Ridge declared their love for one another in a couple of beautiful scenes that were also refreshingly adult.

Unfortunately, this is the super rushed plot world of B&B and perhaps Ashley and Ridge's love story will last a month, tops. That is because almost all declarations of true love these days on soaps are little more than a hook for a long story that really is about something else: deception, chicanery, suspense, even showing off special effects. For example, all summer GH has been about the paternity of baby Jake, the aftermath of Jason and married Elizabeth's one night stand a year ago. That is not love, that is not real romance, that is plot for the sake of audience manipulation. All My Children staged a way, way overproduced car crash with Spike and the new Greenlee. On first sight you'd think this story was about Kendall simultaneously delivering a premature baby or Kendall and Zach's boring married love being tested. With the melodrama of the special lighting, the drawn out pace and the super dramatic music, believe me, it was more about the Big Car Crash.

So readers, what have you been watching so far this summer? Tell me if you've seen any real romance, any real love on soaps. I am not talking about love as a hook, but love for the sake of love. The kind you used to tune into see, many summer lovin' years ago.

If only her column meant something.

By that I mean, that I wish her column meant more than just her opinion. I wish it could actually be heard.

This may be a foreign concept to many soap watchers, but the love stories on these shows interest me the least. They always have. For me couples always go through a contrivance to be together, another contrivance to break up and create tension, and one more to reunite. After just reading at CBS.com that the latest row between Lily and Holden on ATWT may jeopardize their future, you can see why I feel this way. They weren't even supposed to be together, but the actors' chemistry was so strong 2 decades ago. Perhaps more happy accidents like that could win me over. I believe the author is right about love stories being used as a background prop for convoluted plots. As much as the Luke and Noah story could be the hottest soap romance in years, it's already being fouled up, and we probably haven't seen the biggest detour in that tale yet.

Hmmn...the great Jack/Katie "romance" doesn't thrill people? Shocking...simply shocking.

Other than Henry and Vienna on ATWT, romance is dead on that show. At least until Carjack steps up to the plate.

"Romance" has been sacrificed as boring. Or worse, in order to more efficiently work the budget in the budget tightening era.

Well......I see I spent a few minutes that I'll never get back.

Here's the Julian/Eve scene as posted by SIPort. IMO, it was one of the best written scenes on any soap that I've seen in a long time.......and it happened on Passions of all soaps. LOL

The past 2 days have been Evian Heaven.

HEAVEN, PEOPLE.

Monday did so much of trying to clean up the mess that had been Evian from the blowup in Julian's office until a couple of weeks ago. Eve has just found out that Vincent is their son; it's totally blown away her fantasies of the reunion that she had been planning with her son in her mind; on top of that she finds out Vincent is the blackmailer and responsible for Rae's murder. She doesn't want to see an innocent man - Luis - die, so she's going to the prison and tell everyone that Vincent is responsible. This is where we found Evian on Monday.

Julian: Eve, wait.

Eve: No, Julian, no. I am going to go to the prison and I am going to tell the truth. I'm gonna tell them that Luis did not kill Rae or that bartender but that our son, Vincent, did.

Julian: You will stop this!

Eve: No, Julian! Our son is responsible, and I'm not gonna let Luis die for crimes he didn't commit.

Julian: I refuse to let you tell the truth to anyone about Vincent.

I love both Julian and Eve here. Eve is trying to do the right thing, and Julian believes he's doing the right thing - for his son.

Eve: Oh, Julian, you are such a monster. How can you just let Luis die? His blood would be on your hands.

Julian: I'm finally doing what any father would for his child. I am protecting our son.

Eve: What, our son the murderer? The blackmailer? The rapist?

Julian: Well, whatever he is, he is still our son, we are his parents, it is our duty to keep him safe. I am not calling Sam Bennett and implicating our son in those horrendous murders.

Eve: You are not trying to protect Vincent because he's our son. You are trying to protect crane industries and the Crane name. Yes. The only motive that you have for being quiet is to keep Crane industries from being dragged through the mud. You don't give a damn about Vincent.

Eve has been in a lot of pain since their breakup; it forced her to doubt everything she ever thought about Julian that she KNEW was true. The Julian she once loved would have protected their son because he was their son; but, the Julian that she had seen...the Julian of their breakup, THAT Julian cared for Crane Industries and little else. She had to say it, because it's all she's seen for awhile, and it pained her.

Eve: Julian, what happened to your humanity?

Julian: People who don't deserve to be Cranes are pulling the rest of us down.

Eve: What does that mean? God, you know what? You're just as racist as your father. Yes, I know. You're talking about Chad and Vincent, the black Cranes. What you're saying is that because they're African-American, they can't be real cranes. Admit it, Julian. Why don't you throw some racist comments at me, your ex-whore.

Oh, my poor Eve. In the deep corners of her heart, this is what she most feared - that Julian was Alistair. For many years, she had felt that Julian was like Alistair, even while hoping that he was the man that she fell in love with all those years ago. When they were together, she knew that he wasn't like Alistair, but their breakup had shaken that faith, and now, hearing those words from Julian, it was like she felt dirty for ever loving Julian, because she felt betrayed from the bottom of her heart. I loved the response by Julian. Ben played it perfectly with facial expressions, saying ' Woman, are you crazy? How could you possibly think that about me? Have I really messed it up with you THAT badly? Don't you know how wrong you are?'

I loved that even though he had those expressions on his face, he didn't get angry; he understood. He knew that Eve said those words from a place of pain- raw pain - and he wasn't going to bait her, or argue with her. He knew that was the wrong approach. Julian finally saw how deep the split between them had really gotten, and he knew that he shouldered a lot of the burden, especially with how they had broken up.

Eve: Oh, just admit it, Julian. The only reason you even got involved with me was because I was African-American and you just thought that was so exciting. And because you knew that sleeping with me would just be like spitting in Alistair's face. And I noticed that once he was dead, you didn't waste any time getting rid of me.

Julian: Wait, wait, wait, wait. Don't change the facts to justify your idiotic argument. You left me.

Eve: Well, you didn't try very hard to get me back.

Julian: I wanted to marry you. But you wouldn't listen to me. I mean, after you'd gone, I realized that the only thing I really had left was the family name and crane industries.

Eve: Well, and I trust you'll be very happy together.

Julian: Please, don't do that.

Eve: What about Ivy? I mean, every time I see you two, you're together. You know, the blonde woman that's usually under you?

Julian: You know what Ivy and I feel for each other is not love. It's just that, when we get in a bad way, we've realized that we can comfort each other.

Eve: Try a bowl of ice cream next time.

Julian: Eve, I'm trying to tell you what's in my heart.

Eve: I know what's in your heart, Julian. It's a cold place filled with money.

Julian: You know that's not true. I know that you hate me, but try being in my shoes just for a moment. I mean, I've lost everything. I've lost my family, my wife, you. Now I find out my son is a serial killer? No wonder I barricade myself in at crane industries. It's the only safe place I have left.

Eve: You can just stay there and count your money.

Julian: I'd give it all up for you.

Eve: Oh, stop it.

Julian: I mean that, eve. I'd trade all that money and power for your love.

Eve: Oh, Julian.

Julian: It's true. You know, I wouldn't care if I was just dead broke, digging ditches. I mean, if I knew, at the end of the day when I came home, that you'd be standing on the front porch waiting for me... I love you with all my heart. I always have and I always will.

I loved this exchange. From Julian reminding her that SHE was the one who broke up with him, to Eve's smartass reply of that HE didn't fight hard to get her back, it was great. I loved that he called her argument 'idiotic', but he did it in such a way that wasn't insulting. It wasn't harsh. It was gentle and stern - 'Woman, have you lost your mind?', but said with love.

I LOVED that her jealousy about Ivy came out. No, she doesn't want him with Ivy. Julian's ridiculous explanation that no woman would have accepted EXCEPT from Julian, because it was a typical and Julian - logical explanation, was too funny. Her ice cream comment was funny too.

And, when she tried to attack him again, he fought back with all that he could - his truth. The most basic fundamental of Julian Truths - he loves Eve. Explaining to her what meant having her love again, after he lost it, meant to him. How devastated he was to lose it, and what it still means to him. It was Julian at his most raw; his most human. I saw the Julian I love the most - the Julian that loves Eve.

Julian: You know, when we're young, we make mistakes and we regret them for a lifetime. My biggest mistake was allowing my father to convince me to let you go, because without you to help me grow, I became this twisted, malevolent caricature of a man. And then, when you let me back into your life, well, for the first time in many years, I felt human. And we were back together for a very short period, you know, a few months, but in those months I grew, and it's very hard to put into words, but it's as if you searched the arid plains of my soul and you found joy buried there. I mean, it was -- it was half buried and half dead, but you found it and you freed it. You made it bloom. You made me feel like a whole man. And then you left me, and I know that you hate me, but you must believe that I love you. I love you so and I will always love you. I will go to my grave with your name on my lips.

Damn. How good was that? How absolutely perfectly Evian was that? It's the line that almost makes those dark months worth it, because it's clear that someone on the writing staff actually DOES understand the Essence of Evian.

I definitely agree. It's a really interesting column, but sadly, nobody will ever listen to this. Half of soap charm is gone these days and the only way we can get them back is by watching reruns.

This may be a foreign concept to many soap watchers, but the love stories on these shows interest me the least. They always have.

I don't think romance should be the be all and end all of every soap opera(how boring would THAT be?) but I do think romance is a huge soap opera staple that shouldn't be ignored. A little bit of romance can ground a character(like B&B's Ridge, who was literally unbearable all of 2006 until Ashley melted his butter) or too much of it will make you puke more than a girl drinking the punch at a frat party(DAYS's John and Marlena).

I'm hoping DeLacroix is wrong about Ridge and Ashley. I think Brad and whoever is consulting with him on this one(re: Kay Alden) will try their best to build up this romance. The more I see Eileen/Ashley, the more I realise that Brad brought her on for the future. Eileen wasn't brought on as a steal from DAYS(although that probably has to be a big bonus), she was brought on as the next generation for B&B. The show needs strong, less-whorey women with no ties to the current characters(Taylor would fit into the category except they keep her very isolated).

Everyone often wonders who will fill the Susan Flannery void when she retires or when she is less-needed in story and I believe they could be grooming Ashley for that. Not to say that Ashley will become supervillian like Stephanie, but Eileen is no doubt more of a "lead" than alot of the other ladies on B&B. Brooke is a lead too, but she's very polarized. You either support her or you don't.

And there I go on another tangent. Anyway...

I think anything done on a soap without a purpose or given a good reason(whether that is a romance, an explosion, extreme violence) is foolish.

They weren't even supposed to be together, but the actors' chemistry was so strong 2 decades ago. Perhaps more happy accidents like that could win me over.

I heart happy accidents, but soaps rarely, if ever act on them.

I believe the author is right about love stories being used as a background prop for convoluted plots. As much as the Luke and Noah story could be the hottest soap romance in years, it's already being fouled up, and we probably haven't seen the biggest detour in that tale yet.

I think CBS and the affiliates are worried about sponsors, viewer backlash, etc. ATWT's purpose with this show is to show two young men falling in love, which still frightens the red states. Unlike PASSIONS, where gay stories are designed as crass humor and insulting parody, ATWT(or at least this is what I've inferred) wants this to be right. But the holdup is that they don't want to piss people off either.

Luke is the new Bianca. He's always gonna get screwed out of good story and will probably end up falling victim to a hate crime.

I think CBS and the affiliates are worried about sponsors, viewer backlash, etc. ATWT's purpose with this show is to show two young men falling in love, which still frightens the red states. Unlike PASSIONS, where gay stories are designed as crass humor and insulting parody, ATWT(or at least this is what I've inferred) wants this to be right. But the holdup is that they don't want to piss people off either.

They want the glory of doing a gay romance, but it will be played out on heterosexual terms. That's why Noah slept with Maddie first. Now the objectors can tell themselves he's not really gay at all because of that decision.

I think CBS and the affiliates are worried about sponsors, viewer backlash, etc. ATWT's purpose with this show is to show two young men falling in love, which still frightens the red states. Unlike PASSIONS, where gay stories are designed as crass humor and insulting parody, ATWT(or at least this is what I've inferred) wants this to be right. But the holdup is that they don't want to piss people off either.

Luke is the new Bianca. He's always gonna get screwed out of good story and will probably end up falling victim to a hate crime.

There are rumors out there that a scene between Luke and Noah got CBS and P&G worried. Rumors they wanted a scene toned down.....now I hear rumors it isnt true..and that ATWT people are waiting on a final decision from CBS/P&G.

Again I say these are all rumors.

Maybe we need a little more romance, but we need fewer baby stories in my opinion. One of the reasons I love Ryan's Hope is that not everything is about babies. I like action and adventure a lot more than romance myself. I think LML has had some good ideas it's just that the execution hasn't always worked out.

I know that DAYS is struggling in the romance department. Some fans that watched Hogan's work on ATWT say that he doesn't write for romance. I'm starting to see that as an actual fact, and no longer just speculation. When's the last true love scene that we got? I can't even remember it. We always see the beginning, before the lovemaking, or afterwards, in the after-glow. Gone are the DAYS where we had the long hot sex montages. I miss those.

I think Days's problem is they can't afford bedroom sets anymore. I was shocked on Friday in EJ's fantasy to see Sami/EJ having a love scene in a nice bed like that. Days hasn't had a bedroom scene since Feb. Passions hardly has bedroom scenes either and I am seeing many shows lacking in them. I think it's part of budget cuts across the board.

I think romance is important but, in this day and age, the fans that count in the ratings couldn't care less. They just want drama and action. They want fast paced stories. Long-time fans and devoted fans of the genre want the romance but the average fan just wants entertainment so I can see what soaps are doing. That isn't to say that romance should go ignored. There needs to be more but I can't advocate for 5 days a week of making out and "couple time" when I know that it will hurt soaps ratings-wise. Personally, I miss romance and want to see it regularly but young fans and the average fan have different wants I think.

This may be a foreign concept to many soap watchers, but the love stories on these shows interest me the least. They always have. For me couples always go through a contrivance to be together, another contrivance to break up and create tension, and one more to reunite. After just reading at CBS.com that the latest row between Lily and Holden on ATWT may jeopardize their future, you can see why I feel this way. They weren't even supposed to be together, but the actors' chemistry was so strong 2 decades ago. Perhaps more happy accidents like that could win me over. I believe the author is right about love stories being used as a background prop for convoluted plots. As much as the Luke and Noah story could be the hottest soap romance in years, it's already being fouled up, and we probably haven't seen the biggest detour in that tale yet.

THANK YOU. The love stories are so wery Boring.

Marlena and John, two oversexed persons in their sixites, atleast Marlena.,

Hope and Bo, so Boring when it comes to their love.

Kayla and Steve, also Boring when it comes to love.

When it comes to lovescenes, i think many actors & actresses sound so unaturally. You know love is fantastic, but you must face it no one tells your wife/husband how much they love eachother every single day after being married for twenty single years. If the supercouples could fight more, have problems actually and sometimes love eachother it would be so much better. But to hear and see a show where everyone loves eachother and be nice and friendly to eachother, they could just drop it.

I might be the only one, but i rather see Amber every day, being annoying, then i watch Marlena and John telling eachother how much they love eachother. The Uk Soapoperas handles the love so much better, by writing, by actors, and by realistic storylines..........