From January 1999, these where SOD’s choices for what they called most cringe-worthy and biggest story mistakes for each soap on the air at the time. Let me know if anyone wants specific write-ups!

GH: Sword of Malkuth mystery, 1982

Y&R: Death of Phillip III, 1989

Days: The Salem Slasher, 1983

GL: The death of Maureen, 1993

AMC: Erica kidnaps Maddie, 1997

B&B: Enter Karen Spencer, 1992

AW: Bobby Reno/Shane Roberts story, 1996-1998

ATWT: The downfall of Steve Andropoulos, 1986-87

Beach: The pairing of Casey & Rae, 1997

OLTL: Larry vs. Ivan, 1982

PC: Serena is blinded, 1998

The Days choice is news to me. I thought everybody loved the Salem Slasher story lol 

5 minutes ago, AbcNbc247 said:

The Days choice is news to me. I thought everybody loved the Salem Slasher story lol 

Killing Renee? As if.

The Y&R choice is dead wrong.

6 minutes ago, AbcNbc247 said:

The Days choice is news to me. I thought everybody loved the Salem Slasher story lol 

Believe it or not there biggest complaint was about the whole Roman/Andre/Tony face mask stuff as whoever wrote the article said the story became ridiculous. 🤣

1 minute ago, soapfan770 said:

Believe it or not there biggest complaint was about the whole Roman/Andre/Tony face mask stuff as whoever wrote the article said the story became ridiculous. 🤣

And yet we're still dealing with masks 😂🤣

9 minutes ago, AbcNbc247 said:

And yet we're still dealing with masks

Which shows the mindset of TPTB. 

It worked in 1983 ! Let's keep doing it!

38 minutes ago, soapfan770 said:

GH: Sword of Malkuth mystery, 1982

Is this the David Gray story with the introduction of Laura and Jackie Templeton?

I recently googled Paul Rossilli who play David and either they were very lucky with casting or the plot point about people being memorized by his eyes was inspired by the actors own peepers.  Unfortunately his acting was not as memorable as his facial features.

The sword is a classic Macguffin, when it was finally revealed it looked so cheap, like a Halloween prop.  And, in the end, it really didn't give an explanation for Laura Webber Spencer's disappearance. 

Edited February 12, 20223 yr by j swift

14 minutes ago, AbcNbc247 said:

And yet we're still dealing with masks 😂🤣

LOL. Here's what the write-up says:

WHY WE HATED IT: 

True blue Roman, the most honest, good-hearted cop in Salem, a serial killer? Enough said. It was the first of many (and we mean many) evil DiMera plots designed to bring down the Brady clan. The real killer was Andre, Tony's look-alike cousin who donned a "Roman" mask every time he went in for the kill.  Roman faked his death (but clued in Marlena) to nab the fiend. The story went from dumb to utterly ridiculous with Andre assuming Tony's identity. It ended when Andre drowned in quicksand on one of the DiMeras' many hideaway islands. Adding insult to injury, Roman "died" there from a gunshot wound as well. 

 

Here is also the write-up for the Death of Phillip III on Y&R: 

 

WHY WE HATED IT: 

Though the story was well told, and the subject matter was (and remains) topical), Phillip was a popular, pivotal character from a key (but small) family; his death left a significant void. Phillip had always been a pawn in Jill and Kay's feud, and despite duking it out over his guardianship, they were united in their love for the shy, sensitive heir, so that dynamic was lost. We'd also like to point out that Phillip's deathbed scene was played out not with his moms or his wife, but with former girlfriend Cricket. Katherine had to run her company solo. It would have been exciting to watch her brining her protégé along --- to Jill's chargin. And, of course, Phillip would have thrown a monkey wrench into Kay and Jill's battle over the Chancellor estate. As for Nina, well, she's moved on from one failed relationship to another. But right now, no one misses Phillip III more than Phillip IV, who hasn't been able to cope since stepdad Ryan left home.  

44 minutes ago, soapfan770 said:

Y&R: Death of Phillip III, 1989

Also, I disagree with this choice because it inspired stories for Nina and others for the next decade (or more if you include Cain) - however obviously they couldn't predict that in 1999

Edited February 12, 20223 yr by j swift

They would have had to recast. Wasn't it Thom's choice to leave?

Had Phillip stayed on would he and Nina re-united? Would he marry Cricket?

A lot of Nina's stories could have been played even with Phillip around.

2 hours ago, soapfan770 said:

Believe it or not there biggest complaint was about the whole Roman/Andre/Tony face mask stuff as whoever wrote the article said the story became ridiculous. 🤣

I really wonder what that poor writer made of the Salem Stalker storyline...

I think the Days thing is fair.  Wasn't Jed Allan running around wearing a faux Roman mask to help Doc too?  I think there is a case for John being Roman as well, but I think everyone liked that story.

3 hours ago, soapfan770 said:

Y&R: Death of Phillip III, 1989

Trust me, the solution they came up with wasn't any better, lol.

4 hours ago, soapfan770 said:

AMC: Erica kidnaps Maddie, 1997

I know they tried to justify her taking the child by saying Erica feared that Maddie would grow up feeling unworthy like she (Erica) did, but...it just wasn't something you could see Erica doing under any circumstances.

10 hours ago, carolineg said:

I think the Days thing is fair.  Wasn't Jed Allan running around wearing a faux Roman mask to help Doc too?  I think there is a case for John being Roman as well, but I think everyone liked that story.

Nah... Roman wore a Don mask in order to get to Marlena after he "died" 😂

Y & R

I thought Phillip's death was a good story decision.  History repeating itself with the car accident, Kay/Jill reunited in grief and also disdain for Nina...Jill trying to do to Nina what Kay had done to her, etc.  And it left Nina vulnerable to the likes of David.

B & B

I actually think Karen was a good idea, and at first, Joanna Johnson made her different than Caroline...she was more a fish out of water.   What went wrong was making her too polished too quickly...and not finding a proper story for Karen.  There were times she was not an ingenue and even had an edge....but her stories didn't get followed up on (she was paired with Thorne...and had good rival chemistry with Macy...but I don't recall any element calling into question if Thorne was with her because she looked like Caroline, etc).

Sunset Beach

Rae was dropped a mere few months into the show's run..and I recall people were pissed because she was likable..and she/Casey had chemistry.  What was SOD's write up on this story?