Where did you spend weekday afternoons?

Back in the days before VCRs, DVRs, and on-demand viewing TV Guide was the weekly television bible and daytime afternoons were booked with soap operas.  Viewers were forced to make choices like Days of Our Lives or All My Children, Another World or One Life to Live.  Most soap fans watched one channel lineup throughout the afternoon and were loyal to all the soaps in that lineup.

With the onset of VCRs and DVRs, it opened up a whole new world for soapers to be able to watch whatever stories they wanted even when they aired against each other.

Before recording devices were available I started out with Days of Our Lives and Another World.  In the late 1970s I switched over to All My Children.  When I was home I would be in Pine Valley, Llanview, and Port Charles between the hours of twelve and three.  All My Children was my favorite show and when it was over I would often leave the television on and catch One Life to Live and General Hospital.  As much as I disliked missing episodes when I was at work or away from home, the beauty of soap operas is how easy it was to pick storylines back up after being away from them.

Where did you spend weekday afternoons?

Which Cancelled Soap Opera Should Return to Production?

Anyone who knows me knows that of course my answer is All My Children.  I miss Pine Valley and all the characters in it.  However, I think my answer would have to be ALL cancelled soaps should return to production.  Soap operas are a form of entertainment that steps over the traditional boundaries of entertainment and into the realm of social education.  Soap operas educate viewers on social issues.  So many of us have learned social lessons from our stories that we carry into our real lives.  But, if we cannot have all the cancelled soaps returned to us, I would love to see All My Children again.

Which Soap Opera Couple Should Have Never Divorced?

Susan Lucci and David Canary as Erica Kane and Adam Chandler

Soap:  All My Children

Couple:  Adam and Erica

There have been many couples that have come together and then later divorced in Soapland.  The couple I felt should never have divorced was All My Children's Adam Chandler and Erica Kane.  They may have both had better mates, like Brooke English and Jackson Montgomery, but when Adam and Erica were together it was constant fireworks as they plotted and schemed and then made up with each other.

Who Is the Best Soap Opera Cook?

Soap Opera:   All My Children

Best Cook:   Kate Martin

For me, Kate Martin was the best cook in soap operas.  She was always baking cookies, cooking dinner, cooking something.  You could almost smell the aromas coming from Kate's kitchen.  The Thanksgiving spread was ala Grandma Kate.  There were scenes in the Martin kitchen.  Do soap operas even show kitchens any more?  If Kate Martin were still around, there would definitely be a kitchen set and it would get a lot of use.

Who Is Your Favorite Soap Opera Family?

Soap Opera:  All My Children

Family:  The Martins

All My Children's Martin family is my favorite soap family.  Kate Martin was the best Grandma, and Joe and Ruth were the perfect family elders.  Tad and Jake were maturing into the next generation of family leaders.  

I loved Martin family gatherings.  They were always so warm and family-feeling, but there was always some kind of craziness going on in the middle of them.

What Was the Funniest Soap Opera Moment?

Michael E Knight AKA Tad Martin in the Chicken Suit

Show:  All My Children

Moment:  Tad Proposing in a Chicken Suit


The funniest soap moment for me was All My Children's Tad Martin proposing to Dixie Cooney in the chicken suit!  Although it happened decades ago, I still laugh when I think about it!

Where Do/Did You Usually Watch Your Favorite Soap Opera?

Our family would gather in the early evening and watch All My Children in the living room.  It was a time when we could all relax together after our respective days.  We really miss that time we shared in Pine Valley.

Now, I watch General Hospital.  Although I usually watch the DVR recording on the bedroom TV, most often I watch it on an iPad via the ABC Player.

Which Soap Opera Character Would You Change Places With?

Kelly Ripa as Hayley Vaughn Santos

Show:  All My Children

Character:  Hayley Vaughn Santos

I know, if you are going to be an All My Children fan, the most likely candidate for this assignment would be Erica Kane.  However, I chose Hayley Vaughn Santos.  Hayley is one of the very few soap opera characters who got out of Soapland alive and well.  She and her sexy, gorgeous husband Matteo, and their family literally ride off into the sunset to California to live happily ever after.  I just love the fact that Hayley not only survived the soap world in Pine Valley but against all odds wasn't killed, murdered, institutionalized, heartbroken, abandoned, or left in a coma doing it.  I want Hayley's life - happily ever after!

Who Is Your Favorite Female Soap Opera Actress?

Soap Opera:   All My Children

Favorite Actress:   Susan Lucci

There have been so many incredible actresses who have graced the daytime soap opera screen!  But, Susan Lucci is the Ambassador of daytime soap operas.  Her portrayal of All My Children's beloved Erica Kane helped set the benchmark for leading daytime actresses.  For me, Susan Lucci will always be synonymous with daytime soap operas.

What is Your Favorite Soap Opera Town?

Soap Opera:  All My Children

Town:  Pine Valley, PA

My favorite soap opera town is Pine Valley, PA, home to All My Children.  I love Pine Valley because it is homey, elegant, and seedy at the same time, going from Tad Martin's home to the Pine Valley Inn to the Pinecone Motel.  I never realized how much commerce there was in Pine Valley!  There are a list of businesses, restaurants, hotels, clubs, bars, hospitals, and law enforcement groups in the town.  The best feature of Pine Valley though, beyond its residence and stories, is its close proximity to Llanview and Port Charles...

Who Introduced You To Soap Operas?

Soap:  Another World

A girlfriend in high school introduced me to the wonderful world of soap operas with Another World.  I was hooked and watched the show into young adulthood.

Soap: All My Children

My future husband reintroduced me to the world of soap operas.  He was a devout fan of All My Children and Erica Kain along with another male friend.  I began catching the show with them, was hooked, and loved it.  My daughters grew up on All My Children and we all watched faithfully to the very last Disney/ABC episode.

Who is Your Favorite Male Soap Opera Actor?

David Canary as Twins Adam and Stuart Chandler

Show:  All My Children

Actor:  David Canary

My favorite soap opera actor is David Canary as Adam and Stuart Chandler on All My Children.  David brought such a breadth of experience with him when he joined All My Children.  He used that experience to create not one, but two incredible portraits of individuals, the twins, Adam and Stuart.  Every scene he was ever in he leant class, grace, and style to.  Thank you David, for your consistent, absolutely impeccable work!

At What Age Did You Start Watching Soap Operas?

Show: Another World

Age: 14

Victoria Wyndham as Another World's Rachel Cory

There were never soap operas in my house growing up.  They were thought of and referred to as, "sob stories."  At age 14, I met a girl on the school bus, we became friends, and I began spending time at her house after school.  She and her older sister watched Another World when they got in the door from school.  On occasion when their mother was home in the afternoon, she watched too.  That amazed me!  I began watching with them.  Steve and Alice, Rachel and Mac, I was hooked!  It became a regular routine to stop at their house after school before going home so I could catch Another World.

What Is Your Favorite Soap Opera Line of Dialog?

James Kiberd as All My Children's Trevor Dillon

Show:  All My Children

Favorite Line of Dialog:  No Bout Adoubt It!

All My Children's Trevor Dillon (played by James Kiberd) was an easy going, beloved character to many.  He is still to this day, over ten years since appearing on All My Children, affectionately called Uncle Porkchop.  Trevor had a way of playing with words, and one of his recurring sayings was "No bout adoubt it."  To this day, I use that line!

Who Is/Was Your Favorite Soap Couple?

Soap:  One Life To Live

Couple: Cord and Tina

Okay, I am an All My Children fan.  I could have picked a long list of couples who had chemistry on All My Children.  But, the couple that immediately caught my attention and heart was the courtship and relationship between Cord Roberts and Tina Lord on One Life to Live.  They were so different - playful, loose, and exuded a special chemistry between them that made you want more, more more!

What Was Your Favorite Soap Opera Event?

All My Children Crystal Ball Keepsake

Show:  All My Children

Event:  The Crystal Ball

The Crystal Ball was a magical annual event in Pine Valley that always became the canvas for much foolishness and mayhem, something soap fans love!  All of Pine Valley attended the Crystal Ball.  The costumes, gowns and tuxedos, and the actors and actresses in them were always delectable eye candy for viewers.

Actress Jessica Tuck as Megan Performs at the Daisy Awards

Runner up would be the One Life to Live Daisy Awards.  What a glamorous hoot!!!

Who Is Your Favorite Soap Opera Child?

Leven Montgomery Portrayed Autistic Lily Montgomery

Show:  All My Children

Actress:  Leven Rambin

Role: Lily Montgomery Lavery

There have been so MANY fine young actors and actresses who have filled out soap canvases portraying children in our beloved soap towns.

I chose Lily Montgomery Lavery of All My Children played by Leven Rambin as my favorite.  Leven brought a special respect to the role of Lily, the autistic step-daughter of Jackson Montgomery.  Whenever she was onscreen she lit up the scene.  The character of Lily brought to light the challenges that face children suffering from autism as well as the adjustments families must make.  Her character also addressed the social challenges facing someone who has special needs.  Lily made it socially acceptable to be different, to have special needs.  The residents of Pine Valley rallied around her to ensure she was secure and comfortable.  In return they got a beautiful shining citizen who exuded innocence and sweetness while being wise far beyond her years.

What Was the Saddest Soap Opera Story?

Eileen Herlie - Myrtle Fargate

 

Show: All My Children

Story: Death of Myrtle Fargate

There have been many storylines over the years that have been sad beyond words.  Just in All My Children alone there have been so many! There are the breakups and the deaths of characters as art mirrors life.  The passing of Jenny, Mona Kane, Cindy Chandler, Phoebe Tyler, Baby Lenora Hayward, and Palmer Cortland were some of the storylines that pulled viewers' heartstrings out.

But, the greatest loss I felt was the passing of Eileen Herlie and the death of her character Myrtle Fargate.  Although Eileen was 90 at the time of her death in 2008, Myrtle had a fire in her right to the end.  For viewers, it was heart-wrenching to see the raw, visible pain fellow characters went through at the news of her passing.  Myrtle was such an integral part of the Pine Valley fabric there was a special tribute held in her honor in which Agnes Nixon made a rare appearance to pay her respects to Myrtle and Eileen.  Myrtle had a twinkle in her eyes and a wonderful approach to life, loving every moment.

WHEN we can once again visit Pine Valley, there will forever be a little empty corner in it that Myrtle should be filling.

Who Had the Best Soap Opera Wedding?

Dimitri and Erica Kane Marick

Soap: All My Children

Wedding: Dimitri and Erica

There have been some monumental weddings over the last five decades in soap operas.  Luke and Laura, Cliff and Nina, Clint and Vicki, Cord and Tina, Bo and Nora, and that is just ABC soaps - the list goes on and on!  Of all of them, I chose the wedding of Erica Kane and Dimitri Marick as my favorite.  The romance and ultimate fairy tale wedding was sophisticated, magical!, and a delight to watch!

What Is/Was Your Favorite Soap and Why?

Soap: All My Children

Why:  Pine Valley.  I LOVE Pine Valley and loved visiting it every week day!  Erica, Adam, Tad, Opal, and all the rest who brought life to Pine Valley will always have a special place in my heart.