Likes & Yikes 2013

Here is my version of best and worst for 2013. This is far from a complete list and just how I feel today about daytime soap opera related items. First will be general soap opera thoughts and later I will have items for particular programs.

Likes: TVGN picking up The Young and the Restless & Bold and the Beautiful (even if B&B is a day behind). It is so nice that there is an alternative way to view those shows.

Likes: Soap ratings for daytime have gone up in general, though with less shows it isn't surprising if some people migrated to "new" shows.

Yikes: The Prospect Park Lawsuit issues, which is no surprise.

Likes/Yikes: That we got All My Children and One Life to Live back online (or on OWN), but had less than 50 episodes each and were left with cliffhangers.

Yikes: Mentioned this last year, but SoapNet now is truly gone for everyone (not just for me).

All My Children

Likes/Yikes: Cassandra's story was harrowing, and had good performances. That said the pacing made it even more difficult to watch.

The Bold & The Beautiful

Yikes: While I've had enough with soap opera pregnancies in the last few months, it was shocking to me that B&B had two miscarriages in such a short time as both Brooke and Steffy had unviable pregnancies.

Likes: That Stephanie hasn't been forgotten even though she has passed away.

Days of Our Lives

Likes: That Shane and Kim came to visit to see their errant daughter as it would have been ridiculous if they hadn't come to town after she ODed on drugs.

Yikes: The hole that was left when Eileen Davidson's Kristen left Salem.

General Hospital

Likes: That we had a Nurses Ball, not that it was perfect, but I appreciated the effort. I also liked seeing some characters visit Port Charles.

Yikes: How the stories weren't connected for weeks, though they seem to be getting better in that regard.

One Life to Live

Likes/Yikes: The introduction of Carl into the story, but not finding out what his plans were and how it tied together. I wish they had started the explanation earlier so even if the characters didn't know what happened the audience did.

The Young & The Restless

Likes: While it was sad that Jeanne Cooper (Kay) passed away in real life, her tribute episode was awesome. I loved seeing the fourth wall being broken and the cast speaking about her.

Yikes: The evil blogger story, why can't a soap do a story about a nice blogger. We aren't all mean (or are we?)

That's my short list of some things I like and didn't like in soaps in 2013. Hopefully 2014 will be a good year for this genre of shows.