All My Children

Greenlee, Leo (for the next couple days) and Kendall, you can keep talking. The rest of you, shut up. I'm going to miss Josh Duhamel. He's a charming actor and he brought some much-needed levity to the show. Also, even though it's moving so slowly I think it may actually be going back in time, I'm enjoying the Maria story. Aiden, however, needs to go look pretty somewhere else because the dude can't act.

As the World Turns

First off, Agim Kaba has gotten marginally better over the past few months. However, he is in no way good enough to be carrying the main umbrella story on this show. The feeling I have about this "Catch Us If You Can" story is reminiscent of the sinking stomach I had when I read they were going to clone Reva. The dialogue on this show is still the best in daytime, but the plots have become ho-hum. The only thing keeping me interested these days is the delicious Trent Dawson (Henry). I do have high hopes for Carly and Jack's impending nuptials and the major return that I hear is planned. I love me some crazy Julia.

The Bold and the Beautiful

Say what you will about Executive Producer Bradley Bell, but the guy has moxie. He's fired a significant portion of his cast and seems to be refocusing the show. Again. For a show that was in pretty decent shape to begin with, that's a ballsy move. There was probably loads more story to tell with Sheila and Erica, but their exits seem to be well executed. I'm a little troubled by the way he's dropped the much-heralded infusion of Latino characters, but any overhaul that involves the unemployment of Hunter Tylo is one I can get behind. The woman just bugs me. And the fact that she's making noise about suing the Bells over her dismissal is high comedy. Hopefully Ms. Tylo will find her seat alongside her husband and Philip Michael Thomas at the Fallen Off The Planet Bar and Grill.

General Hospital

This show had a very deep hole to climb out of and it does seem to be getting closer to the surface. However, there is still a long way to go. Vanessa Marcil's return has been a boon to Sonny and Jax's stories, but everyone else is still in storyline limbo.

Laura's exit was heart-wrenching, but the attic plot never seemed to take shape. Hopefully, it will be resolved with Luke's return. Maybe he can also bring a decent story for Lucky, Nicholas and Gia. And Liz. And the Quartermaines. And just about everyone who isn't a Corinthos, Jacks or Barrett. I still remember when this show had a large, vibrant canvas with as much humor as horror. The recent casting of Lane Davies bodes well for the humor part, though. I can’t wait to see him and Nancy Lee Grahn team up again as they did on Santa Barbara. And, all I can say is that if Lucas does turn out to be gay, he better get a love interest right quick. Or at least complete the triangle and come between Lucky and Nicholas, the gayest couple on daytime.

Guiding Light

Poor Marj Dusay. She gets canned from AMC right after Paul Rauch casts Joan Collins as Alexandra. I'll probably watch a few days when Alexis shows up, just to see if she's still acting with her hair.

One Life to Live

Thank Heavens. That's all I can say. The news that Josh Griffith is taking over as Head Writer and Michael Malone will be acting as Creative Consultant may be the best news of the soap year. (Well, next to McTavish being thrown out on her misanthropic ass). This show has become so boring, so annoying, so downright oogy, the only thing that can fix it is a massive change in the writing staff. Why is Keri pregnant with her mother's baby? What is the point of the Liz character except to act as a red herring in every other plot? (She's as much Jessica's mother as she is Joanna). And why is Gary Tomlin so infatuated with doing strange things to Sherri Saum's uterus?

In the good news department, Viki's return has finally moved the baby-switch plot along. But why is Erika Slezak the only person on this show who gets to have a brain? I'm clueless as to why Rex was even brought in, though. The boy looks damn good in his boxer briefs, but other than that, what's the point? Also, Innocencia? Are you shitting me?

Port Charles

Because what this show really needed was more Livvie. Why is she in a cave talking like Nell? These arc stories are certainly innovative. If by innovative you mean vapid, nonsensical and dull. The only comment I can make on this new plot is that at least it doesn't involve the Avatar. And the only good thing I could say about "Torn" was that it didn't involve psychotropic candles. Do you see a pattern? The cast and characters here are fine, they just need to start acting like normal people. And, for the love of all that is Holy, no more Angels.