We Love Soaps has made our choices for the best television of 2011. The best of the web will be honored at the 3rd Annual Indie Soap Awards on February 21. Unlike the Awards, this list is totally unscientific, but if you happen to disagree with our "winners," we do hope that you will tell us why in the Comments section, below.First, some general observations. It was an up and down year for every daytime soap, and for some, it was mostly down. ONE LIFE TO LIVE was the most consistently good all year long (although it remained addicted to writing blunders), and it's enduring watchablity only exacerbates the pain of its impending departure. ALL MY CHILDREN became good again at the end, although it's hard not to be frustrated forever by the unresolved cliffhanger of the last episode. Jonathan Jackson kept us riveted on GENERAL HOSPITAL, although the writing continues to frustrate. On THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, we think there was too much of Steffy/Liam/Hope/Thomas. As for DAYS OF OUR LIVES, we're glad it improved and rebooted, but it needs to become "must see" more frequently; can we pick up pace just a little? And then there's THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, which was off the rails for much of the year.
But as long as our daytime faves are on the air, there's always a chance stories will improve. We've seen this ebb and flow for decades. As committed fans, we offer constructive criticism out of love and dedication, knowing that shows can always get better, if only they have a chance. It is very, very sad that ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE no longer have that chance.
What about primetime? The big paradox of 2012 was that while daytime soap operas were suffering, serialized dramas were exploding all over the evening broadcasts. In fact, many producers actually cited daytime soaps, as well as primetime favorites like KNOTS LANDING or DALLAS, as inspirations. Even as the number of daytime TV soap operas continued to dwindle, their legacy and influence were felt more then ever.
Below are our picks for the best (and sometimes worst) of the year. Who did we miss? Please feel to honor them (or call them out) in the Comments section, below!
BEST DAYTIME SOAP OPERA
ONE LIFE TO LIVE
BEST PRIMETIME SOAP OPERA
REVENGE
MOST FRUSTRATING SOAP OPERA
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
BEST ACTRESS
Emily VanCamp (REVENGE)
BEST ACTOR
Jonathan Jackson (GENERAL HOSPITAL)
BREAKOUT STAR
Katie Leclerc (SWITCHED AT BIRTH)
SOAP OPERA WE LOVED THAT NO ONE WATCHED
THE PLAYBOY CLUB
BEST DOCU-SERIES
DIRTY SOAP
BEST REBOOT
DAYS OF OUR LIVES
BEST DECISION
Soap Classics licensing classic P&G soaps for distribution (DVD, TV, Retail)
WORST DECISION
ABC Daytime canceling their top-rated soap
MOST CONFUSING DECISION
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS benching Melody Thomas Scott for several months
BEST MOVIE PREMIERE
Vicker Man on ONE LIFE TO LIVE
MOST PROMISING STORY FOR 2012
Will's coming out on DAYS OF OUR LIVES
BEST FANTASY
FRATERNITY ROW on ONE LIFE TO LIVE
MOST ANNOYING TREND (Media)
Proclaiming soaps are dead
MOST ANNOYING TREND (Daytime)
Miscasting good actors
MOST IMPROVED SOAP OPERA
ALL MY CHILDREN (final months)
BIGGEST S#!TSHOW
Daytime Emmys Telecast
WORST HOST/WORST LINE OF THE YEAR
Wayne Brady, Daytime Emmy Awards
"Don't boo me, I didn't write this crap."
BEST HERO
Brian Kirkendall, Hoover
WORST VILLAIN
Brian Frons, ABC Daytime
BEST MYSTERY
Prospect Park
HOTTEST MALE STAR
Aaron Diaz, TERESA and PAN AM
HOTTEST FEMALE STAR
Naya Rivera, GLEE
OVERUSED BLUNDER OF THE YEAR
Doppelgangers
BEST COMEBACK
Cady McClain as Dixie, ALL MY CHILDREN
WORST PLOT POINT
Lisa trying to inject Patrick with HIV, GENERAL HOSPITAL
BEST WRITING
Mike Kelley, REVENGE
MOST MISSED PERSONALITY
Kirsten Storms, DIRTY SOAP and GENERAL HOSPITAL
MOST ENDEARING CHARACTER
Brittany, GLEE
WORST CHARACTER
Angelina, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
BEST INTERFERING MOTHER
Fary Bjorlin, DIRTY SOAP
MOST INSENSITIVE ADVERTISING
THE CHEW commercials during ALL MY CHILDREN's finale
BEST MEMOIR
"I'm Just Sayin'" by Kim Zimmer
Best MEMOIR EPILOGUE
"All My Life" by Susan Lucci
RELATED:
- Why 2012 Will Be "The Year Of The Soap" (Part 1)
Sadly, I fear that ABC will do the same to OLTL by airing commercials for the Revolution.... and I am not watching the replacement...AT ALL
ReplyDeleteI do not watch The Chew and I will not be watching The Revolution. I'd rather eat nails.
ReplyDeleteI agree! We want our shows back. The Chew and The Revolution are not on my menu either!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to know I'm not the only one who enjoyed The Playboy Club, which was just beginning to find its groove when it was so abruptly canceled.
ReplyDeleteHere is one angry soap fan who believes that the network executives don't care about anything more than how much money they can make. What the viewers want to watch is not as important to them as how much money can save by putting on as many reality shows as the public will stand for. I watch some reality tv but I won't watch AMC or OLTL's replacements.
ReplyDelete