Can't give any specific best years at the moment, but as far as worst years go:

AW: 1996, 1998, 1999

ATWT: 1996, 2002, 2004, 2006-2008

B&B: 1996, 2006-present. Every day gets worse and worse.

Days: 1989-1992 2000-2001, 2003-2005, 2007, 2008

GL: 1994, 1996, 1998-2001, 2003, 2006-2009

Y&R: 2005-2007, 2009-present.

I remember the fall of 1996 being terrible for every soap I knew and watched. AW had nothing, ATWT had Diego/Umberto reveal and Lisa's husband whatever his name was kidnapping her to Tahiti with John and Barbara in pursuit with a bunch of other mindless stuff like Sara/Paul/Zoe, Nikki/Ryder, Danni the pathological liar etc. B&B I think had Brooke go crazy with those dolls and tried to pair Ridge and Lauren together, GL had Gilly's impossible exit along with the Hart/Dinah/Roger nonsense and nuAlan-Michael. Days had Bo and nuBillie on that island the night Bo was suppose to remarry Hope, while Y&R had Nikki's insta-marriage to Joshua Landers, the Audrey North debacle, and then featured the never-ending Cole/Victoria/Ryan/Nina saga ever single day

Edited March 15, 201015 yr by soapfan770

Oh yeah for AW from 1992-1994 aside from a few major events it seemed the show was reminiscent of what we have seen from Passanate at ATWT with a new story every month. Nothing too memorable aside from Iris' exit.

Edited March 15, 201015 yr by soapfan770

I remember the fall of 1996 being terrible for every soap I knew and watched. AW had nothing, ATWT had Diego/Umberto reveal and Lisa's husband whatever his name was kidnapping her to Tahiti with John and Barbara in pursuit with a bunch of other mindless stuff like Sara/Paul/Zoe, Nikki/Ryder, Danni the pathological liar etc. B&B I think had Brooke go crazy with those dolls and tried to pair Ridge and Lauren together, GL had Gilly's impossible exit along with the Hart/Dinah/Roger nonsense and nuAlan-Michael. Days had Bo and nuBillie on that island the night Bo was suppose to remarry Hope, while Y&R had Nikki's insta-marriage to Joshua Landers, the Audrey North debacle, and then featured the never-ending Cole/Victoria/Ryan/Nina saga ever single day

I think Nikki and Josh were fall 1997. Fall 1996 I think Nikki had just split with Brad because she went to see Victor after his shooting instead of marrying Brad. I agree that was not a good period for any of the soaps -- that and 2001 were both generally poor years for most soaps I watched at the time (although I did enjoy Tricia gunning down Ryan and his damn guitar!)

"Best", based on what I watched at the time or on Youtube:

GL - 1981, 1983, 1992

ATWT - 1986, 1989-1990

AW - 1983 (I don't know what it was like day to day but a lot of AW stuff I enjoyed seemed to start in that year, like Donna, and Cass/Felicia friendship)

OLTL - 1978-79, 86, 92-93

Y&R - 1998

AMC - 1981-1984

GH - 93-95

Edited March 15, 201015 yr by CarlD2

Best years of my viewing:

DAYS: 1995, 1996, 1997 (first half), second half of 1999, first half of 2000, 2002.

GL: 1997, 1998, 2002, first half of 2003, second half of 2004.

The Worst Years:

DAYS: 1998-1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 (why am I still watching?? Oh, wait, I only watch a lil bit these days)

GL: 2000 (stopped watching from the fall of 2000 until 2002), 2006, 2007... (stopped watching in August 2007)

Looking back, I wish ONE, I'd started watching Days of Our Lives before 1995, and TWO, that I'd stuck with GL during 2000-2002 just for the heck of it.

I never mentioned my best... Since everyone else is... (I'll pick at least one per decade - and not counting this year)

All My Children - 1984-1986, 1996, 2003

One Life to Live - 1986-1987, 1995, 2008

I think Nikki and Josh were fall 1997.

It was 96.

It was 96.

They were together that long? Geez. I could have sworn they got married in mid-97, not long before Victor married Diane (didn't Victor have the jet fueled to get Nikki back but by the time he got there they were married).

Ooooh, I forgot to do best. I've only really been watching on a day-to-day basis for about 10 years, so I'll say 2004 for AMC and 2006 for ATWT.

Looking back, I wish ONE, I'd started watching Days of Our Lives before 1995, and TWO, that I'd stuck with GL during 2000-2002 just for the heck of it.

I don't know how you can live with yourself for missing Marah's essay on pride in her virginity, or Marah's boyfriend trying to rape her and Marah being a strong woman, in the show's mind, by stripping down to her bra and panties and demanding that Tony finish the job.

They were together that long? Geez.

Yep.

Poor guy didn't even get a funeral.

Nikki did donate his medical books, so that's something.

Days Since 1996:

Best: 1997-1999 Mid 2002 - early 2003

Worst: Mid to Late 2000, 2007-2010

GL 1989-1990, 1996-2009

: Best: 1989-1990, 1997-1998, 2001-2002

Worst: 2007-2009

OLTL: Since 2006

Best: Late 2007-Early 2008

Worst: 2009

Pass: 1999-2008

Best 1999, 2001, 2004

Worst: 2007, 2008

Best-

OLTL: 1993-1995, 9/2007-8/2008

AMC: 1994-5, 2002

GH: 1993-1996, 1998-2001

DAYS: 1993-1995

Worst-

OLTL: 1999-2000, 2002, 2005-2007

AMC: 1997, 2000-2001, 2003-onward (I hope I have these dates right)

GH: 1997, 2001-2002, 2003-onward

DAYS: 1997-onward

With the other shows, my viewing history is too sporadic or after-the-fact to be an honest appraisal "in the moment."

Edited March 15, 201015 yr by Vee

Worst:

Would 2009 count as AMC's worst or would that be the last few Mctavish years?

I think it was ONE of the worst years of the show. I remember 2001 also being pretty unwatchable.

GH: 2007

OLTL: The last few years have been some of the worst IMO

The worst year I've seen on Days...well there were several. Not sure of exact years, but I believe 2000 aka Teen Central was pretty horrific. And don't forget the year that brought us Virtual Eden, even though I'd like to.