TV Radio Week, January 21,1979
Whenever a new year begins, most people reflect on how they spent last year — and last year, we spent more than 2,500 hours watching soap operas. With those viewing hours under our eyelids, we feel that we have a right to hand out accolades for the best in daytime drama for 1978. In past columns, we have given awards for the very best and the very worst. Since we're still in the holiday spirit, today's mentions will be positive. When the joyous mood has worn off, we'll present the contrasting negative awards.
Cutest Baby Ever to Grace a Soap Opera Nursery: Hands down, the winner is the lass who plays Ryan Fenelli on "Ryan's Hope." That infant smiles when she's supposed to, gurgles on cue,, and even wails at the proper time. Several other little ones who appear on afternoon TV would do well to take baby lessons from her.
The Juvenile Actor Who Makes Us Wish We Were 10 Years Younger So We Could Date Him: John E. Dunn, "All My Children's" Tad Martin, wins this one. This actor manages to make his overly good character sparkling and likeable. And those brown eyes are incredible. If we can't.be 13 again, we wouldn't mind having a 13-year-old daughter who could date him.
The Man We'd Most Like to Have Comfort Us in a Crisis: Bob Hughes of "As the World Turns," as played by Don Hastings, takes this award. Here is a man who hands out the same "things-willbe-better-advice" everyone else does on daytime TV, but when he delivers the line, we believe it. Even when he is proven wrong, we believe him the next time he says it. The credit goes to the actor.
Most Realistic Portrayal of a Married Couple: Ray MacDonnell and Mary Fickett (Joe and Ruth, "All My Children") play a married couple like no other couple on afternoon TV — you believe they are married. They are able to argue, love and banter just like real folks. Credit here goes to both writers and actors.
Most Charming Villain: The nod here goes to Roger Thorpe of "Guiding Light," as played by Michael Zaslow. We know Roger is a scoundrel, but Zaslow is one of the few bad guys on television who are shaded gray.
Brotherly Love Award: This goes to William Mooney, who toils as Paul Martin on "All My Children." Since his soap opera wife Ann has been in a sanitarum, the actor has little to do. This is a shame, because the scenes he does are marvelous — especially when he starts to tease his brother Joe. It is comforting to see siblings goading each other and acting like real siblings.
Most Insecure Character: Thank the Lord for "Guiding Light's" Katie Parker, as played by Denise Pence. Those wonderful put-downs Katy aims at herself are terrific. What started as a minor role seems to be blossoming for the actress and the character. For us imperfect television viewers, it is nice to have a character voicing insecurities. Although Denise, with her looks, has nothing to be insecure about, her delivery makes it believable.
Best Actress to take over a Role and Make it Her Own: Jada Rowland takes this one. When she replaced Carolee Campbell on the "Doctors," it seemed strange. Now we find it hard to remember that anyone else ever played Carolee Aldrich.
Serenest Person Around: This award goes to Susan Brown for her portrayal of "General Hospital's" Gail Adamson. She allows the character to be calming without being boring — which is no mean trick. Many heroines on afternoon television simper from one problem to the next. This character has grace and style.
Actress Most Able to turn a Character Around: While we're stopping at "General Hospital," Leslie Charelson deserves a mention for winning in this category.Monica was truly a witch, but when Leslie joined the cast, Monica softened. She still doesn't always believe that right is right and that's it, but she's a charmng schemer and one we'd like to have in our corner.
Best Crier on the Airwaves: Judith Light, as Karen on "One Life to Live," has no rivals. She makes the tears flow on cue, but does it in such a touching way it doesn't grate. Some daytime criers are enough to warp the living room floor, but our girl Judy has just the right tear flow. We've had our turn.
By
Paul Raven ·
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