All My Children
On-Air On-Soaps Michael Fairman's Best and Worst List of 2011!
Courtesy/ABC
In an emotional, bizarre, and heartbreaking year in the world of soaps, there was still tremendous work done by the talented performers in the genre in front of the camera, as well as those behind-the-scenes who illustrated brilliant creativity and passion for their field, and for loyal soap fans everywhere.
In addition, there were several not so stellar moments, characters, or storylines that get the dubious honor of some of the “Worsts” of 2011. So with that said, Michael Fairman presents to you his fourth annual Best and Worst of the Year. In several categories, it was almost too tight a race to call, and so we have showed you the runner-ups in those particular cases, and in some cases, we had to call it a “tie”.
From Best Soap to Worst, to Best Overall Performance by an Actor and Actress to Most Irritating Character, to Best Storyline to Worst, to Best Newcomer to Worst Return, to Best Single Performance in a Storyline by an Actor and Actress to Most Tortured Character, to Most Inexcusable Way to Handle the Soap Audience, we dissect it all, in our annual look back at the year in soaps.
Now, while we know many of you have your own picks and choices, we encourage you to let us know your thoughts as well. And most of all, we want to wish all our soapers a healthy, prosperous, and fantastic New Year!
So without further ado, after the jump, we reveal the list!
ON-AIR ON-SOAPS MICHAEL FAIRMAN’S BEST AND WORSTS OF 2011!
BEST SOAP
One Life to Live
BEST WEB SOAP
Courtesy/ABC
Venice
WORST SOAP
General Hospital
MOST DISAPPOINTING SOAP
The Young and the Restless
MOST DISAPPOINTING EPISODE
All My Children finale
BEST STORYLINE
Tale of the Two Todds – One Life to Live
WORST STORYLINE
Who killed Skye? – The Young and the Restless
MOST BOTCHED STORYLINE
The Balkan and Brenda- General Hospital
LOOPIEST STORYLINE
Courtesy/MFSOAPS
Trippy-Berry Island with Brooke and Thomas – B&B
MOST OFFENSIVE STORY POINT
Lisa yielding an HIV positive blood-filled syringe as a weapon – GH
BEST RIPPED-FROM-THE HEADLINES SOCIAL ISSUE STORY
Teen suicide via bullying – One Life to Live
BEST WRITING
Ron Carlivati – One Life to Live
WORST WRITING
David Kreizman and Donna Swajeski – All My Children (For the beginning of 2011)
Garin Wolf – General Hospital (For the latter part of 2011)
BEST SINGLE PERFORMANCE MALE
Courtesy/ABC
Jonathan Jackson – Lucky addresses Luke during Luke’s intervention – GH
BEST SINGLE PERFORMANCE FEMALE
Erika Slezak – Viki battles her alters in Erika’s special 40th Anniversary episode– OLTL
BEST SINGLE PERFORMANCE BY A YOUNGER PERFORMER
Austin Williams – Shane’s suicide attempt – One Life to Live
BEST EPISODE OF THE YEAR
The Fraternity Row Fantasy Episode – One Life to Live
BEST COMEDIC EPISODE OF THE YEAR
The Vicker Man Premiere – One Life to Live
Runner up: The Blanca Show – One Life to Live
BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR
(TIE) Trevor St. John – One Life to Live, Jonathan Jackson – General Hospital
Runner up: Steve Burton – General Hospital
BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS
Courtesy/ABC
Florencia Lozano – One Life to Live
Runner-ups: Erika Slezak – One Life to Live, Crystal Chappell – Days of our Lives
BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR
Billy Miller – The Young and the Restless
BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Ilene Kristen – One Life to Live
BEST YOUNGER ACTOR
Chandler Massey – Days of our Lives
BEST YOUNGER ACTRESS
Molly Burnett – Days of our Lives
MOST BELOVED CHARACTER AND PERFORMER WE WILL MISS THE MOST
Michael E. Knight – All My Children
BEST RETURN
Courtesy/ABC
David Canary – All My Children
Runner up: Andrea Evans as Tina with David Vickers, the dog in tow – One Life to Live
WORST RETURN
Debbi Morgan – The Young and the Restless
BEST RECAST
Barbara Rhodes (Irene Manning) – One Life to Live
WORST RECAST
Tom Degnan (Joey) – One Life to Live
BEST RECURRING PERFORMER
Tuc Watkins – One Life to Live
BEST RUINATION OF A CHARACTER
Chloe Lane who becomes a hooker – Days of our Lives
MOST TORTURED CHARACTER
Jason Morgan – General Hospital
MOST OVERUSED PLOT DEVICE BY ONE SHOW AT ONE TIME
Photo Credit: Getty Images
The soap epidemic called The Doppelganger – DAYS, AMC, Y&R and OLTL all head them! Enough!
FAVORITE DOPPELGANGER
Jane – All My Children
WORST DOPPELGANGER
Caleb – The Young and the Restless
WORST WAY TO WRITE OFF A MAJOR SOAP CHARACTER
Marty Saybrooke wanders on to a plane, because she is told her presumed dead husband Patrick is on board. And, we see no on-screen reunion of Susan Haskell and Thorsten Kaye!
MOST UPSETTING MOMENT OF THE YEAR INVOLVING A PERFORMER
Trevor St. John ends up being killed-off of OLTL after a murky and confusing negotiation, and the return of Roger Howarth. Thus depriving fans of the two Manning brothers for any length of time.
MOST INEXCUSABLE WAY TO HANDLE THE SOAPS AND ITS AUDIENCE
Prospect Park allowing OLTL to film their final episode knowing that they couldn’t come up with a way to put it online, and making the actors tout that the show is continuing, and leaving fans in the dark with no proper press.
WORST DECISION THAT IMPACTS SOAP FANS
Courtesy/NBC
ABC cancels One Life to Live and All My Children in the same breath!
BEST TRIANGLE
Viki/Charlie/Echo – One Life to Live
WORST QUANDRANGLE
Steffy/Liam/Hope/Thomas – The Bold and the Beautiful
BEST COUPLE
Billy and Victoria – The Young and the Restless
MOST CRINGEWORTHY COUPLE (TWO YEARS RUNNING)
Adam and Sharon – The Young and the Restless
SEXIEST NON-COUPLE
Brooke and Thomas – The Bold and the Beautiful
WORST COUPLE
Joey and Kelly – One Life to Live
WORST QUANDRANGLE
Courtesy/ABC
Steffy/Hope/Liam/Thomas – The Bold and the Beautiful
MOST IRRITATING CHARACTER
(TIE) Siobhan McKenna – General Hospital, Damian Spinelli as Jackal P.I – General Hospital
WORST NEW FAMILY INTEGRATED INTO A SOAP
The Patels – One Life to Live
MOST REVITALIZED CHARACTER
Nikki Newman – The Young and the Restless
MOST CREEPY PERFORMANCE
(TIE) Brianna Brown – General Hospital, Bruce Weitz – General Hospital
BEST WEDDING
Sonny and Brenda’s wedding – General Hospital
BEST WEDDING FALL-OUT
John and Natalie’s confrontation after the double wedding of Natalie/Jessica busts up! – OLTL
BEST NEWCOMER MALE
Courtesy/ABC
Josh Kelly – One Life to Live
WORST NEWCOMER MALE
Barrett Helms – One Life to Live
BEST NEWCOMER FEMALE
Kate Mansi – Days of our Lives
WORST NEWCOMER FEMALE
Diana DeGarmo – The Young and the Restless
BEST NEW CHARACTER
(TIE) Sonny Kiriakis, Days of our Lives, Cutter Wentworth, One Life to Live
THE CHARACTER WHO KEEPS COMING BACK AND NO ONE CARES
(TIE) “Franco” and Lisa Niles – General Hospital
BEST GUEST STAR PERFORMANCE
Josh Duhamel – All My Children
All My Children
Chrishell Stause and Her ‘Selling Sunset’ Boss Jason Oppenheim Make Relationship Instagram Official
All My Children
Kelly Ripa’s First Book On the Way in 2022
All My Children
All My Children Stars and Eileen Davidson On New Episode of Virtual Game Show “Soap Opera Know-It-All”
Imagine being in the hot seat and having some of your soap opera favorites trying to stump you with trivia, while trying to best your competition. Well, that’s what four contestants faced as they battled it out in the ultimate soap trivia game, Soap Opera Know-It-All.
The Michael Fairman Channel just released its fifth episode of its season, where in round one of the game play, stars from the beloved All My Children served up the questions including: Cady McClain (Ex-Dixie), Jill Larson (Ex-Opal), Lindsay Korman-Hartley (Ex-Cara), Vincent Irizarry (Ex-David) and Jacob Young (Ex-Y&R). In addition, the former cast members from Pine Valley also try to stump viewers at home with some additional character-related questions.
Later in the episode, there is a very special appearance by Eileen Davidson (Y&R, Ex-Days, Santa Barbara and B&B). It is Eileen who reveals and asks the final question of the game to determine the eventual winner.
For this edition, host Michael Fairman welcomed longtime soap fans: Michael Cochran, Sean McKinley, and Robert Davis along with returning champion, David Bursky for this soap deep-dive competition.
Photo: MFTV, Inc.
Trivia questions from the following daytime and primetime soaps were put to the players during the game: All My Children, As the World Turns, Dark Shadows, General Hospital, Knots Landing, Sunset Beach, Days of our Lives, Dynasty, Edge of Night, One Life to Live, Port Charles and The Young and the Restless.
As the series moves through its now back-half of the season, the winning contestant must defeat the competition for the right to move on to the next episode to face three more challengers all in pursuit of the “Know-It-All” title with special soap-related prizes along the way.
Watch the episode below and make sure to subscribe to the Michael Fairman Channel for more interviews, music and more.
Now let us know, did you get most of the answers correct? Which question stumped you all the way? Comment below.
Eileen Davidson Confirms She’s Part of DAYS Limited-Series: “I’m BEYOND Excited to be Joining BEYOND SALEM!”
Kimberlin Brown Returns to The Bold and the Beautiful with a Bombshell … Sheila is Finn’s Bio-Mom!
Christie Clark and Austin Peck Join Cast of ‘Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem’
Y&R’s Zach Tinker Cast as Sonny Kiriakis in ‘Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem’ Limited-Series on Peacock
‘Port Charles’ Star Jay Pickett Dead at 60
Soap Alums: Helgenberger, Bonilla, and Ilonzeh Cast in New Drama Pilot ‘Getaway’
Chrishell Stause and Her ‘Selling Sunset’ Boss Jason Oppenheim Make Relationship Instagram Official
‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman’ Remake Lands at TBS
OLTL Alum Florenica Lozano Joins Netflix Series, ‘Breathe’
‘Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem’ Limited-Series Ordered by Peacock
Carson Boatman, DAYS Incoming Johnny DiMera, Ties The Knot
DAYS Olympic-Style Promo to Tide You Over Until It Returns
‘Port Charles’ Star Jay Pickett Dead at 60
‘Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem’ Limited-Series Ordered by Peacock
Y&R’s Melissa Claire Egan Baby Shower with Cast and Friends (Photos)
‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman’ Remake Lands at TBS
OLTL Alum Florenica Lozano Joins Netflix Series, ‘Breathe’
Chrishell Stause and Her ‘Selling Sunset’ Boss Jason Oppenheim Make Relationship Instagram Official
Christie Clark and Austin Peck Join Cast of ‘Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem’
Y&R’s Zach Tinker Cast as Sonny Kiriakis in ‘Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem’ Limited-Series on Peacock
DAYS Olympic-Style Promo to Tide You Over Until It Returns
Eileen Davidson, Judith Chapman and Kim Waltrip Talk Plans & Launch Campaign To Make ‘Dial Emme For Murder’ into a Series
Marla Gibbs Joins Days of our Lives
All My Children Stars and Eileen Davidson On New Episode of Virtual Game Show “Soap Opera Know-It-All”
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Bill Learns the Truth About Justin’s Deception
Sexy Soap Stars Unite & Show Hallmark Hunks They Can Be Smokin’ Hot Too; All To Help Kids In Foster Care
Aaron D. Spears Discusses Justin’s Dark Turn On ‘Bold Live!’
THE BACHELORETTE: ‘Still To Come’ Promo Leaves Viewers Pondering with Its Editing
Meghan McCain Exiting ‘The View’
B&B’s Jacqueline MacInnes Wood Shares Her Emotions & Reactions On Her Second Daytime Emmy Win for Lead Actress
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Days Of Our LivesJuly 25, 2021Carson Boatman, DAYS Incoming Johnny DiMera, Ties The Knot
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Days Of Our LivesJuly 24, 2021DAYS Olympic-Style Promo to Tide You Over Until It Returns
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Breaking NewsAugust 1, 2021‘Port Charles’ Star Jay Pickett Dead at 60
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Breaking NewsJuly 26, 2021‘Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem’ Limited-Series Ordered by Peacock
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NewsJuly 26, 2021Y&R’s Melissa Claire Egan Baby Shower with Cast and Friends (Photos)
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NewsJuly 28, 2021‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman’ Remake Lands at TBS
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NewsJuly 27, 2021OLTL Alum Florenica Lozano Joins Netflix Series, ‘Breathe’
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All My ChildrenJuly 29, 2021Chrishell Stause and Her ‘Selling Sunset’ Boss Jason Oppenheim Make Relationship Instagram Official
I was really disappointed with the Lisa Niles story because with Brianna Brown, there was actually potential. Brianna and Brandon Barash had good chemistry and a better storyline/writing job would have utilized Brianna’s talent. Instead, they wrote the character into a corner that left fans gagging. GH has so much talent on board… I sure hope the writing in 2012 does the talent justice.
I disagree with you naming The Patels as the worst family of 2011! I loved them, and thought they all did a great job! I know you probably named best new male newcomer and best new character to Josh Kelly/Cutter Wentworth because this year was a very slow year for “newbies”, and they weren’t a lot of them this year on the soaps, but I was indifferent to the Cutter character at the beginning since he was involved in that lame storyline con job scam with Aubrey scamming Joey, and the quadriangle between Cutter/Aubrey/Joey/Kelly. The I really hated the character… Read more »
Agree with most,…..I have Jerry Ver Dorn in a three tie with Trevor and Jackson for lead actor…….
Also for worst quad, I did not like the setup but i think the Steff/liam/Hope/thomas storyline has turn the corner in the last few weeks and is really good right now….
Great List Michael!!! Agree with most… Happy New Year and thank you for your great site, with awesome content and your wonderful interviews… oh and your fab podcasts!!!
We can only hope someone picks up OLTL… anything can be possible!
Okay—- Just have to say this was obviously one man’s opinion. OLTL is not THAT great. Sorry to say…. You can tell what his favorite soap is. Too bad the ratings don’t prove it…… Happy New Year, all!
Thank you,Michael.I agree with the vast majority of your picks.i dread that next year the worst coupling will be Victor & Sharon.Have a great New Year.
Woohoo! Great picks! I love my Villy. Miller and Heinle just SHINE together. There’s no one else like them
I agree with most of your picks especially Billy and Victoria as Best Couple and the return of Nikki Newman.
Happy New Year!!!
Great list Michael!
So happy to see Villy as the best couple! They definitely are! Love them And yay for BM getting best supporting actor! Well-deserved 🙂
Great picks but my favorite? Naming Billy and Victoria as Best Couple. They are a force to be reckoned with and their chemistry is amazing! <3
I would have put cringeworthing couple as anyone the character of Nick Newman is with, he is most definitely the male whore of daytime. I guess I am in the minority but I think Sharon& Adam have great chemistry. Don’t forget the Baldwin brothers did a lot of bad things before they were accepted into Genoa City society. I could list them for everyone but it would take too much time. And I am sorry I just don’t get Steve Burton’s acting or lack of he looks stiff. Just my opinion otherwise I pretty much agree Michael.
I’m in agreement with 99% of your list but totally disagree about your worst female newcomer. As an actress she’s really good. It’s not Diana’s fault that the writing is one dimensional. I see her doing a great job with not so stellar writing and don’t fault her at all.
good picks ,and I love that you agree with me about franco and lisa niles ,Im glad she is gone ,hopefuly franco is gone with all his finger painting and please ,I forgot her name right now but the one with the irish accent what a waste of her and lucky.please make her gone to.We only have 9 more days of one life to live ,the best soap,best writing ,best actors,It will be missed.
I agree with much of this list, but the Patels were integrated well into the OLTL canvas. Vimel was Clint’s lackey from 2010 and the addition of Rama was seamless. Tying her into new-ish characters also helped. I am neutral on Neela.
I am confused with how Debbi Morgan is a worst return to Y&R when she was never there before. Is her character’s return the worst?
General Hospital was not the worst soap. Dante & Lulu’s wedding was the best, definitely better than Sunny & Brenda’s.
Sorry, but I like the Patels! They’re great! When’s the last time a family of couple was integrated into a soap??
I agree with most. Definitely hands down OLTL was the best soap of 2011. I hope the emmys will recognize them with this distinction this year. It will be an injustice if it goes to any other soap.
I liked your picks this year. I’m sad cause I can’t say I will be waiting for next years list, anymore. I feel badly, Michael, because this must present a great deal of frustation for you and other journalists. But, I think because you are the best interviewer bar none, your creativity will find new avenues to write about. We still have Y&R and DAYS and GH and B&B and The online soaps. So hang in there everyone. Hope you will find new things to bring to us fans,Michael. You are the best.
Best Actor: Darnell Williams – All My Children
Best Actress: Debbi Morgan – All My Children
Best Couple – Jesse and Angie – Legends on All My Children
Best Single Performance by an actor: Jesse (Daarnell Williams) delivers his stillborn daughter.
Best Single Performance by A Couple – Angie (Debbi Morgan) and Jesse (Darnell Williams) at the gravesite of their stillborn daughter.
No racial balance in this article.
reunite sonny and brenda in 2012 and renew robin and patrick wedding vows
I Did NOT Think Debbi Morgan was the Worst Return of A Character on The Young And The Restless. I thought she did A Good Job. I thought the Worst Return was Gillian on All My Children. Gillian Barely said 5 Words. She might as well not have Returned. I know that Prospect Park wanted the Cliff Hanger, but I thought that Babe should have been Alive and Babe and JR and AJ could have Moved to San Diego. That way, Jacob Young could go to The Bold And The Beautiful and Alexa Havins could still do that Torchwood TV… Read more »
Jason Morgan the most tortured character?!?! Oh please, we have been tortured with Jason’s insertion into storylines that he has no business being in for years. How about tortured viewers! Completely over the character and “his pain”.