General Hospital
Soap Opera Digest Names: GH – Best Show, Y&R Most Disappointing Show, OLTL – Best Good-Bye!

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I so disagree about GH being the best Show
Really? Surprise after surprise? The use of the older characters and past history to make great story lines for today? The use of EVERYBODY in the cast, not just Sonny, Carly, Sam, etc.? The fact that everybody has a story going on right now and its all very diverse? The fact that the story lines aren’t dragging and are more fast-paced and suspenseful?
I totally agree with you Evan.
I agree with Evan also!!!!! I agree the story lines aren’t dragging .. Like years ago you could tune in months later & you didn’t miss much.. GH ie definetely
keeping my attention Mon.-Fri. Can’t wait to see what happens next….
2nd that! I said the same thing a week ago!
Well I agree with you Dinah. It draws me in less today than when Guza was in charge….and that’s saying A LOT.
A. LOT.
GH is the most improved but def not the best show. Despite its derailment this year I still say YR is the best show. They have the most consistent , well drawn characters and usually the stories have much more substance.
Cartini have turned GH into a sensational cartoon, much like they did OLTL. Their silly stories get ratings, but for those of us who want substance there is always Y&R.
Well I enjoy GH each day and have no complaints about the story line. And I also liked OLTL a lot & still miss it. Again I can’t wait to watch GH each day….I find it interesting and suspenseful…I have alway’s watched this soap & I will stay with GH..
Substance? Like Nick choosing Phyllis? Then Sharon? Then Phyllis again? Then Sharon again? Then back to Phyllis? Then his dad marrying Sharon. After his brother dated her. Ummm….should we mention Angeline? lol.
Granted, I do watch Y&R, and like some of the stories that don’t drag out for two years, but saying GH has no substance when you have stories a out surrogatcy, and events to raise awareness for AIDS research, family dealing with the death of the father/grandfather/gg……saying that there’s NO substance may be pushing it a bit. lol.
Y&R is by far the most overrated soap on TV…GH deserves top nods. I say that there is much substance in both shows, but GH executes it with far more emotion and ease!
Hi Michael for me YR miss some
Passion and some happyness they have the most incredible couple with Ronan and Phyllis and they brake it Phonan have so much chemistry we feel the connection look real yes its desapointed and hope they give us romance
I would agree with most, except, I would name Days as the worst. While it has one good storyline, the show overall, is incredibly week. Y&R has not yet got moving again at full speed but they have made huge changes behind the scenes to address its weaknesses. The stories are slow at this point but at least the nightmare does appear to be over. The changes at Days have done nothing to improve the overall show.
The nightmare for Y&R does not appear to be over. Quite the contrary. Only the same few are on every day. Unlike GH who uses EVERYBODY!
B&B is the best
are you kidding……this whole year it has been steffy always there to interfear with hope and liam, hope and liam get back together, than steffy again breaking them up….and of course brooke and ridge, we had to watch all that crap in italy, just for them to remarry, go on a honeymoon, then ridge leaves. they did not stay true to the characters…,im going to miss stephanie…
Completely agree about Y&R. I had watched the show since the 70’s, but started to not enjoy it as much when it became clear that Adam would never pay for his crimes and they killed Colleen so that idiot Victor could live, and finally stopped altogether with the Sharon/Victor fiasco. I only read the recaps now and am about to quit on that also, they have just destroyed that show. I followed Eileen Davidson over to Days and love it, so at least I still have a soap to follow, but I miss the old Y&R.
So agree about how they killed off Colleen! It was also heartbreaking the way they killed off Brad too. Devastating!
have faith–I only read recaps for the worst of the mob years on gh but watch it on youtube every night now
I Agree GH has Been AWESOME and has put out very good Soap having to do with Love ,Family and every thing else that makes for a good show Y&R had been SO BAD FOR SO LONG and it keeps being that way the Stories are so Lame we the fans can tell where the story line will go b4 it even gets there and they use the same people on the show over and over this is Y&R not the NEWMAN HOUR. there are OTHER Families on the show we fans want to see on the show Y&R need… Read more »
OLTL send off made me want more stories..It left a lot of those stories up in the air
foe me…The stories weren’t an ending but a beginning to new stories for OLTL..
They nailed OLTL’s goodbye. It was poignant and downright perfect. GH has been getting better and better. Way to go RC & FV!
I agree with you, Tracy. How about that weird plot twist right now where Alcazar and Tomas (OLTL) are the same person? I don’t recall that EVER happening on a Soap, Which is a surprise when you think about how many actors have moved from show to show,
Don H
Totally agree with you, Tracy.
I agree with Tracy …OLTL’s goodbye was great but it left me wanting more !!!
Hi Michael im a Big fan Of you and Of YR
Since 30 years i was anxious to see what the writer Will do and im little bit desapointed too they CAN explore new things like Ronan and Phyllis this couple bring something new to this show and we all love it they become my favorite and love to see more Of shadam they bring passion too the fan need that just heard that Jeff branson is leaving what a Big lost for this show
Thank you to read me
Jessy xx
SOAP OPERA DIGEST IS RIGHT ABOUT THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS IT IS THE MOST DISAPPOINTED SHOW OF 2012 BECAUSE THEY HAVE PHYLLIS HUSBAND MESS WITH PHYLLIS LITTLE SISTER WHO IS FAMILY I AM NOT INTEREST IN WATCHING THAT IT IS NASTY THEY DON’T HAVE CHEMISTRY AT ALL.
I agree 100%
I think Y&R should get Most Improved Show! I really don’t think it was the most disappointing show before, either.
Hi ! Michael Love your writing ! Im a Big fan too Of YR and yes the show is Boring sorry but true Like the other people who write here i see a major couple in Phonan they have it their chemistry is Phenominal they deserve a major love story not Navery JB and MS are great together the BEST in longtime love to see more Billy and Victoria YR miss what is the most important for people LOVE go take Back JB and write them something that would blow in our face something beautiful and magic like Never before… Read more »
well we are not going to get anything now from phyllis & ronan because jeff branson is leaving the show again…………
Agree 100%….
GH best show? PU-LEEZE. ConnieKate? A tired baby switch storyline? Robin’s horribly conceived and executed funeral? Lack of storyline for so many? More useless newbies than I can keep track of? This GH worship is working my last nerve. Haven’t watched in months and you couldn’t pay me to. I think for the 2 weeks it aired this year, OLTL was probably the Best Soap. Heartfelt, entertaining, engaging, surprising, traditional but still creative, beautiful. B&B focused way, waaaay, WAAAAAAAY too heavily on 3 obnoxious characters. YR was a hot mess I stopped following that one too. And my beloved DAYS… Read more »
You haven’t watched in months but you thunk GH is the worst? Not a fair opinion.
So says you. I’ll also never put crocs on my feet but I still maintain they are one of the ugliest pairs of shoes ever created.
Just because I refuse to watch does not mean I can’t have an opinion. I know enough without having to spend a single solitary second of my day watching.
This is why I don’t normally make comments. People who don’t watch the show who are sure that it sucks should keep their uneducated opinions to themselves. And liking the work of a writer doesn’t make me a butt kisser.
“Uneducated” is an interesting choice of word to associate with watching a daytime soap opera. Just saying…..
And I don’t believe I ever said “butt kisser”.
Hey, you have your opinion of the show, for which you are entitled to. As am I. I left my opinion. It was your choice to comment on it.
I agree Jules. All of the Cartini butt kisser are way off base. There is so much wrong with GH still. Like you mentioned, Kate/Connie, the lame Jasam baby switch, the Krstina Trey newbie casting and lackluster romance, the ridiculous latex masquerade with Faison pretending to be Duke, the lack luster Luke and Anna Romance, Britt, Sabrina, Patrick, Elli Spinelli and that name game nerd romance. I could go on. AJ’s return is about the only story that doesnt bastardize history and has the potential to be a multilayered, intelligent engaging tale. The rest of it is a saturday morning… Read more »
I a enjoying GH.. And I am a die-hard fan of OLTL !!!!! And I like GH too and like the
storylines .Much better from years ago. They are definetely on the right track now…
That’s my opinion….
I’m really worried about Y & R. Nobody seems to realize what Sony did by putting JFP in charge. I don’t have any personal feelings about her one way or the other, but I know her track record and am starting to see Y & R get even more disappointing under her leadership. The Bells deserve such a better legacy for their work than what her leadership will provide. It’s just sad. From changing a sweet boy Kyle into a skirt-chasing young adult who doesn’t even fit in with the Abbott family (speech patterns and all) is just the beginning… Read more »
You have a right to your opinion, and I can’t/won’t dispute it since I’m not a regular viewer of YR, but don’t insult our intelligence trying to get yourself over. It’s sickening
From what many insiders have said JFP doesnt have autonomy at YR. Sony is ruling the show with an iron fist. She has to clear all her major decisions with them. So far Josh Griffith’s writing is going well in my opinion. None of the major vets have been killed off her backburnered so things are so far so good. I enjoy the show alot more. YR is bouncing back and they were in no where near the bad shape that plagued GH. And yes I was very worried when I heard JFP was coming to YR. But again she… Read more »
I hope so … the show has so much potential such so much history and longtime actors/characters….we’ll see what happens!
well, Dinah, to bad, because Gh was the best show, it delivered all all fronts, and it had buzz all year round, cant say the same for the other shows.
So true, Aria.
I so AGREE with all three decisions! Perfect!
I so agree with GH being the best show & only b/c of them adding the OLTL characters on. I so miss OLTL!!
Couldn’t have said it better myself!!
DITTO!!!
Oh & Sam of course I just wish they would find a way to bring Jason back..
Yes GH is the best! No soap keeps me as rivited as General Hospital. The intermingling of OLTL actors with GH was superp and only brought more enjoyment to the program.
May the show last another 50 years. The writers deserve an award for showing the powers that be they know what they’re doing! Keep it up guys 🙂
Hear! Hear!
I agree with Debbie 100%…………..
GH is the best show on daytime right now !!!
I agree…..
If Y&R is so disapointing, why are they number 1??
GH has breathed life back into the show. I LOVE what the writers have done I congragulate them, and imo anyone who doesn’t enjoy GH shouldn’t be watching it.
because people watch crap, duh, thats why Y&R is #1 and thats why jersey shore was mtv highest rated show.
duh?? With a vocabulary like that its easier to understand your way of thinking.
Jersey Shore?? Really?? hahahahahaha
You wanna now talk about ” vocabulary ” debrika??? Hahahahahaha. Okay!
I would hardly compare y&r to the jersey shore, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.
YR is number one because they never lost as much of their core audience as GH and the ABC soaps did over the last ten yrs. YR continues to average near 5 million viewers. Over the last few yrs GH struggle for 2 million. And since 2000 ABC and Frons destroyed GH’s core families and gutted the show, handing it over to Sonny. They have never recovered from those mistakes fully. Ive been watching since 1969 and despite all of Cartini’s sensational, cartoonish stories the show hasnt been the same for me. The only real story that truly interests me… Read more »
i have been watching gh since the beginning & right now this is the best i have seen gh in the last 8 to 10 years & the new regime has done an excellent job in getting gh back to being an enjoyable soap – it is perfect no but is is much better than it was……….
I watch GH everday. It’s habit forming. And you want to watch it everyday…
What do you mean cartoonish stories? I don’t understand….
I have not read the issue, but sadly, I agree with their choice of Y&R as disappointing show. IT seems everyone but Maria Bell was on the same page about this once stellar drama. She was the most in denial about how bad it gotten. Never was it more evident than when she took to Facebook after her firing to defend her poor choices. As far as the new regime goes, six weeks into their run, I’m 50/50 with them. I think the acting is much better with JFP there. Actors formerly sleep walking through their scenes have come alive… Read more »
You made some excellent observations Chris. The key to successful soap opera writing is all in the timing. If you rush a story line viewers are left not feeling emotionally connected to it like love stories that happen over night. On the other hand go too slow and it will drive viewers crazy waiting for the pay off. I admit Y&R has lost its rhythm- story lines for the last while have either been too fast or too slow, but times have changed from the seventies when this show was conceived. Back then everyone had the luxury of time. No… Read more »
Don’t listen to Chris-he’s just upset because he can’t run down GH anymore to promote his anti-soap agenda
Thanks Mary for your feedback! I agree with your points as well. There is definitely no rhythm to Y&R anymore. Just a series of stories that don’t always connect to the bigger picture. I’m not hating Y&R as I did when MAB wrote it but I’m just ok with it right now.
Troy you have me mistaken for another Chris. I don’t watch GH. Keep it classy dude!
If you are indeed another Chris-then I stand corrected
Y&R sucks because it is still the Newman Hour. Hate it! When will it become Y&R again?
AMC will always be my favorite but glad to see ABC soaps are the best.You’d think ABC would get the hint and Neilsen.
I completely disagree. The ABC soaps were the best a decade to 15 yrs ago. Since 2000 the ABC soaps hit rock bottom. Until recently YR and BB were always the best quality the highest rated.
Frons, Phelps, ABC and Cartini decimated their soap line up. Cartini turned agnes nixon’s groundbreaking, socially relevant One Life into a ridiculous campy cartoon. And despite YR’s recent derailment they continue to crush GH in ratings. They still range around 5 million viewers. GH is still under 3.
I disagree…
OLTL will alway’s be my favorite soap of all time…Never watched the soaps on those other channels..I watched the Soaps on ABC with my mom so many years ago & still am…
You know I never watch Y&R but I still wouldn’t condemn it.Want all soaps to suceed.to amny have been cancelled already.now GH is building a new audiences since new people have taken over and glad for it.Glad for your show.So just be glad for all of them instead of condemning them.remember your stuck with the one who help bring down Gh’s ratings.Good Luck on that one.Hopefully Y&R fans will stick by it no matter what.There are alot of ABC soap fans who do watch all of them.Its not like we are all stuck on one network.,We are just fighting Anne… Read more »
General Hospital is by far the best soap!!!
Yeah right with latex masks, split personality bimbos, an LSD induced psychic and a younger generation full of talentless performers like Chad Duell, ( Michael) Lindsey Morgan( Kristina), Eric Valdez ( Trey), Kris Alderson ( Star), Kelly Sullivan ( Kate) etc.
Ive watched GH since 1969. Cartini should write mindless Steven Sagal movies or saturday morning Cartoons. They wouldnt know intelligent, well crafted serialized drama if it bit them in their collected as+ses. Lol.
I suppose you preferred the Guza era? Mob, mob and more mob?
I agree with Jeff !!!!!!!!
I would say GH and BB for best. Y&R is trying to reestablish ittself and Days for Chandler Massey and Eileen Davidson.
Its too bad that a once venerable soap like Days has to pander to the gay rights political agenda to be compelling. The rest of that show is a waste of air time. Poor Mac Carey and Francis Reid are no doubt turning over in their graves.
I’d say BB is the most disappointing show. Too many Brooke/Ridge storylines. Not enough of the underdog winning the day. Got tired of Hope. Just about every relationship involves different members of the same families. Almost too many cast members with not enough direction or motivation. This show would be fine if it was a one hour show.
At least YR uses different cast members from time to time. As bad as the writing was, there was some variety.
I am looking for opinions on the Steve Harvey Show.. I watched it last wk. when GH wasn’t on which was Thurs & Fri.(Thanksgiving). I watched it all of 10 mins. and I had enough . I found the topics to be silly Etc….. I like him on Family Fued Game Show…Not crazy about his talk show….I will pass on this one….. And loving GH more & more!!!!! Tomas isn’t Tomas but Alkazar….Hope Blair doesn’t marry him.. Blair ,Skye,& Todd got at Tea’s house in the nick of time to tell Blair the truth about him….
I have been watching soaps for about 40 years so I seen the good bad and ugly of most daytime serials. The one thing I know is there is no way to please everyone. If they write for one character someone will complain that they are not writing for a different character. If they change the sets, someone will complain the old sets were better. If they don’t change anything, someone will complain nothing changes. But complaining about them is part of the fun of watching of them. I don’t know any other genre in television that can hold the… Read more »
A lovely post Mary! Beautiful words, even if I couldn’t live by them.
That’s so true, Mary, for a lot of us long-time, die-hard soap fans; thick or thin, good or bad, we will continue to watch and hope things will improve ~ cheer when they do and gripe when they don’t. When I die, I’m sure they’ll have to tear the remote control out of my hand and turn off GH.
A die-hard soap fan is like a sports fan following their favorite team. They root for them even if they are losing, they root for them even if they don’t make the finals. They will complain on sports radio about the players, coaches and tell everyone who will listen what they would do if they were in charge, but come game time- they are in the stands or watching the television. Why? Loyalty and loyalty used to be the back bone of daytime drama. You watched because it was your soap.
Great insightful post. But I have to say that over the last yr or so Ive been turning to cable for their serials and I am far more impressed and satisfied. Shows like BoardWalk Empire, Homeland and Game of Thrones are all serials but they are so much more compelling and intelligent.
Ive watched daytime serials since 1969 and theyve seen better days. Though I treasured the legacy I find myself out growing the camp and silly plots. Like you said I complain about the genre because I want it to do better.
It is easier for nighttime dramas because they are only writing one show per week for so many weeks, while a soap is almost everyday, all year long, for years upon years. Nighttime shows such as one you mentioned will eventually end, while soaps go on for decades. Nothing wrong with those shows you mentioned but it is a bit unfair to compare them to daytime because is a different format. Part of the problem is that we are now living in a world that is motivated by trends, whether it be vampires, s&m novels or the latest craze on… Read more »
excellent post mary! i have been watching soaps for almost 50 years & i could not have said it better myself …………..
Oh for the days when you could have a cup of coffee like good old Nancy on ATWT and make it riveting!
I absolutely agree with these three choices! GH has been so entertaining, and Y&R has been so dull and boring for quite a while. OLTL did have the best goodbye, but I so wish it hadn’t been cancelled. I still miss OLTL and AMC more than I can say.
I agree with GH as best show. B&B could’ve been a contender if they didn’t focus on the same three characters ALL YEAR LONG!!!! Y&R was boring and DAYS just can’t seem to get its footing back after the reboot. Before the reboot it had some potential.
Absolutely agree that GH is best and OLTL had the best send-off! Kudos to Ron Carlivati and Frank Valentini for both! GH keeps getting better and better. Love it!
GH is the best show and Y&R has sunk to an all time low. It is now the most boring of all the shows. Funny GH had that category until Frank and Ron came along. Now Y&R has the worst producer and writers of all the shows and eventually the public will see it. JFP from General Hospital fame is seriously terrible and soon the loyal Y&R fans will see what I am talking about. Now there is not a day that goes by that I can hardly wait to see what happens on GH. Best show I have ever… Read more »
Totally agree with their best soap! GH has always been my fave and most of the time the best overall! Way to go GH!!! Kow if ABC will just keep it on for another 50…
I agree with the opinion Y&R was very disappointing this year. They have destroyed core characters and couples and continue to bury them (Sharon, Phick). They brought old stories up for B/s reasons. They have not taken advantage of good actors /families like the Winters. And it seems to be getting worst. The blood bath and hate thrown on characters are insulting to the fans. Where are the families that fight yet stay together because they are family versus making pious judgements on loved ones. Abbotts, Chancelors, Newmans , Winters, Baldwins. where are the friends ? And the new writers… Read more »
I agree that Y&R has gone down even with the new writers. Every where you look, television is talking against and trying to stop cyberbulling, but Y&R entertains cyberbulling. Kyle is the worst actor the Y&R has. His acting is so fake. Why is Chelsea still in Y&R and with Adam. It is not a strong story plot. Im tired of looking at them in that dark dull living room. I have gotten to the point that I tape Y&R because it is not interesting anymore, but there are some people I still like to see. Since I tape it,… Read more »
Back before the PVR or VHS a soap fan would have to watch every day and everything in order to get to the stuff they like. Part of the fun back them was watching the soap in a group and while the filler stuff was on we would do what we do now on this posts. We made fun of the ugly furniture or how lame the new guy’s hair cut was or during commercials guess what the next scene would be and what they would say. It was all apart of the soap experience. Not every episode can be… Read more »
I for one really wish we would stop pitting the remaining four soaps against each other. Like MarySF said we all love these shows and this genre. I for one could care less which soap did better in the ratings against another soap – tell me how the soap did against the other daytime shows! I have been watching for 40 years myself and am saddened at how the daytime serial drama has been gutted. I may not like some of the plot points or characters on a show – but I haven’t stopped watching.
And DG do you have any comment of your own – or can you only comment on others?
GH is the best in my book!!!!! Love Tracy, Anna, Robert,Luke,John,Blair, even Todd ETC…………..
I could never understand Y&R’s popularity. I have tried on several occasions in the past 25 years to watch this show and it bores me silly no matter who is at the helm. Peter Bergman bored me on AMC and he annoyed me the few times I watched him on Y&R. Being a fan of both GH & DAYS since the late 70’s and early 80’s – GH right now, is by far the best show in Daytime (not like there are many to choose from, but if I had to pick!) If they get rid of Kate/Connie, Christina, Britt… Read more »
This was why Maria Bell was fired. Agree with GH being the best soap right now.
We all are soap fans not enemies here.We all have our picks.What is everyone’s problem..The ratings change all the time.I may only watch GH but hope all of them succeed.Lot to many already for cheap talk and cooking shows.My favorite is still AMC but I am baking the genre no matter what network its on.Everyone plese just back soaps and no replacement shows.Another one goes more will follow.
With airing only 9 episodes in 2012, OLTL should be named best soap. What they did in those two weeks can’t hold a candle to the rest. But I am loving GH right now. It is definitely the most improved show. I don’t always agree with Frank and Ron’s vision all the time, but they know how to use the history of the show and deliver a compelling story where all characters are involved in a fast moving pace.
ABC just bring back ONE LIFE TO LIVE.
I agree. But to be fair and honest, GH had no competition. B and B told one story all year until Stephanies death took prominence. Young and the Restless was a complete mess until the new regime took over. And DAYS seemed to forget how to tell stories. After a very disappointing start, Cartini has made GH must see tv again. It kind of reminds me of the final months of AMC when so many dead characters were brought back. Im not complaining. Fans will accept any outrageous stories that undo the destructive rampage that Phelps and Guza inflicted on… Read more »
The most buzzing show, on the Internet is the BEST SHOW. IN DAYTIME and that show is GENERAL HOSPITAL. And there are a little few, things they need to improve on. 1.) KATE/CONNIE 2.) BRINGING ON MORE VETS 3.) MAKING THE RELATIONSHIPS ENEW, AND FRESH ( SABRINA AND PATRICK, LIZ WITH SOMEONE NEW PROBABLY THE NEW GUY. OR BRINGING LUCKY BACK. 4.) GET RID OF THE LESS TALENTED (BRITT, TREY, FAISON) People who’s talent is a waste. 5.) LESS OF SONNY, AND MORE OF THE CORE FAMALIES. ( THE QUATERMAINE’s and THE SPENCER’S) They need more focus on the core… Read more »
I can’t say OLTL was the great good bye because it should have stayed.
GH ,especially the anniversary and the Nurses Ball were the best ever. Very rewarding for all the fans. Kate/Connie has got to go she just doesn’t fit in. BandB could tie with Y and R for most disappointing. OLTL may have had a good farewell but nothing can beat GL. And that’s the show that should come back.
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