All My Children
TV Guide Names The 60 Greatest Soap Opera Moments Of All-Time!
Courtesy/ABC
TV Guide Magazine’s Michael Logan has been a busy-bee putting together this historic list of his 60 top all-time moments in soapdom! The compiled list and top ten are featured here!
In the top slot is no surprise to many, as it is Luke and Laura’s wedding on General Hospital! Number two, B. J.’s Heart transplant storyline on General Hospital In at number three, Marlena’s possession by the devil on Days of our Lives. At number four, Bert Bauer’s diagnosis of uterine cancer on Guiding Light, and in at number five, Karen’s courtroom confession and testimony played by Judith Light on One Life to Live.
We won’t tell you the rest of the top ten, or the remaining 50 on the list. Check it out! Then, let us know if you agree with the top five, and let us know what your favorite soap opera moment is of all-time! There is some wonderful moments in here!
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Yes, and I remember all these scenes
Completely shocked at #3. I know more people, including myself, who stopped watching DOOL because of that very storyline!
Good call! I stopped after that ridiculousness too!!! But glad I did because that’s when I picked up GH and have stuck with it ever since!
That’s why I Started watching days and I quit after it was over.
You must not have known very many people because this story catapulted DAYS into the no.2 spot. Whether it was your cup of tea or not is irrelevant, the possession storyline was one of the most daring and innovative storylines ever to hit daytime.
That list sucks. The Sheila/Lauren baby reveal and the fire at the farmhouse? Sheila holding the Forresters at gunpoint? Annie making Reva push her down the stairs? Annie getting arrested at her wedding to Alan?
Totally agree about the Annie and Reva staircase scenes, they should be on there for sure!
He lists a lot of “moments”, but only about 10 do I find truly compelling. He’s missing a lot, and not many YR moments listed.
What???! Luke rapes Laura number 59??? And no mention of Luke saving Port Charles form freezing at the hand of Mikos Cassedine? And no mention of Elizabeth Taylor (Helena) putting the famous Cassedine curse on Luke and Laura after they wed?
And nothing with Robert Scorpio–or Anna? What about when Anna first saw Robin–and she ran into her arms? And what about when agent O’Reilly was shot in the telephone booth–leaving poor “Sonny” (Robent) to grieve?
And no “bromance” scene with Luke and Robert?
Why, I could list 60 GH memorable scenes alone–it was that good in its heyday.
Your right about those…they should do a top 100!
Karen Wolek on the stand was one of the greatest acting triumphs ever. Glad to see that so high on the list.
I’d have no idea how to rank these but I tend to like the stories that are more factual in content (Could really happen) and teaches a life lesson. I read the lists and love so many of them, but I cried so much when BJ gave her heart to Maxie and Robin was diagnosed with HIV and the steps mankind have come since then. HIV is very controllable and organ donation/transplant recipients have such a good chance of surviving now. Karen Wolleck testimony was so riveting and I loved that story and her. Guess that started by love of my #1 soap One Live to Live.
Picking favorite soap moments is like asking a mother which one of her children she loves best. But it was fun strolling down memory lane going down his list. I agree with most, but not all of his choices– it is so subjective— one of my favorite story lines was when Vicky proposed to Jake at the playground on AW in the late 90’s, I still have it on an old VCR tape and watch it sometimes.
They shouldve done a top 100 list…and lets us vote pick.
I’m a TV Guide subscriber and the reason they did 60 is because this is the 60th anniversary of the magazine. So all the lists they have been doing this year go to #60. And even if fans voted, many would still be unhappy.
What a great memory from “Another World”, Mary! I loved Vicky and Jake, and would love to have that proposal taped. 🙂
I’ll have to check and see what I do have taped from my old soaps [that have disappeared]. I think I only have the last episode of AW though. 🙁
You can find some old aw clips on utube.
I agreed with many of the choices.I however really disliked the Marlena possession storyline,or as I refer to it as DAYS meets DARK SHADOWS.One storyline that was very groundbreaking was on SECRET STORM,Amy Ames’ out-of-wedlock pregnancy of Lisa,with her married professor,Dr.Paul Britton in ’63.
Dark Shadows time travel storylines were other great moments, especially the 1795 plot where witch Angelique turned Barnabas Collins into a vampire.
I lived for the Dark Shadow time-travel storylines. Also, I can’t believe no Alan and Monica are on the list. Monica’s breast cancer should definitely be there.
This listing sums up my opinion of Logan’s list:
55. Vincent gets pregnant by his own father, Passions (2007)
WHAT??? I didn’t watch “Passions”, but that is as puzzling as his whole list.
His list seems to be the shows which shocked him the most or something. I rarely agreed with Logan’s opinions of the soaps, so I’m not really surprised at what was memorable to him.
There might be 5 of those that are memorable to me. I’m still laughing over Marlena being “possessed” by the devil as one of his choices.
Passions was a goofy far out supernatural soap opera where anything happened. it was fun to watch.
I never watched Passions because NBC cancelled my all time favorite soap Another World to put it on– and at the time they said they wanted an edgier soap to get the young people watching, sound familiar?
I bet Passions might have fared better it they didn’t tick off so many AW fans– to put it on. I am glad you enjoyed it, but I never thought it was worth losing AW for.
Ok I need some help the late Christopher Reeves played a bigamist on which soap and was that listed because I vaguely remember that when I was a kid.
He played Ben Harper on Love Of Life…another soap i miss.
It was Love of Life, I think the character’s name was Ben Harper. Am I correct?
Thank you I looked it up and you are right they told more story in 15 minutes then they do in an hour. Great writers in the old days!
One of my favorite moments was on Dark Shadows when governess Victoria Winters…during a seance…was transported back to the year 1795 and meant members of the Collins family who resembled (since played by the same actors) who resembled their modern day counterparts…the Collins family of 1967. In 1795 we learned how Barnabas Collins became a vampire after he spurned the witch Angelique, a maidservent, who hexed him and cause many deaths of the 1795 Collins family. Victoria got the blame and was hung as a witch but as she was hanged she returned to the present alive. 1795 was a great vampire story and the show was at its best at that time, imo, though its ratings peaked during its 1897 Quetin Collins werewolf plotline that was another great daytime moment!
My spelling mistakes ect. ugh!!!
There shoudve been 100 great moments, and online voting by fans…we r the ones who know what should be on that list.
When you consider all the soaps that have aired over the years I think they could do a top 1000 moments lists, and it still would not be enough to get them all. Which only proves what we soap fans have known for years– soaps are great entertainment–
After watching soaps steadily since age 4(50 years!) i probably could fill all 1000 with my own.
no u don’t
Do too! Most they picked were right, but there are other moments we all remember that arent there.
They didn’t list many of my favorites. I’ve been watching for 50 years too. Since 1963 when my Grandma made me watch GH. I think the fans should have had a voice – but then – perhaps that wouldn’t have worked either since the newbies would have filled the list with newer stories and forgotten the old stuff. How about Jessie and Phil Brewer? That was awesome. Monica and Alan – when he tried to kill her, or breast cancer? Or Alan’s addiction. They had tons of great stuff over 30 years. Also, I don’t remember if Lisa was on there with the Bob Hughes storyline from the 60’s. I was only a small child – and I still remember being awed by it. I would include early Phil and Tara (Hatch and Gorney) and their Vietnam storyline. Or how about when Tom Berenger was on OLTL as Tim with Jenny. Also the Mason and Mary story on SB.
Doug and Julies first wedding on DOOL in 1975 or 76…John Randolphs shocking death on AW in 1979, AW first to expand to an hour in 1975, ATWT and EON debut as first 30 min. soaps in 1956, the death of Sarah Karr in 1961 on EON, Victoria Winters transported to the year 1795 on Dark Shadows in 1967, Susan shoots David Martin 1960s DOOL, Rachel reveals to Alice shes pregnant by Steve, Alice’s fiance on AW late 60s? the prison break and final two weeks of OLTL on abc. GHs 50th anniversary…and nurses ball. Too many moments…there shouldve been a top 100.
great moments in there… what is that one that says: Vincent got pregnant by his own father — Passions
I never watched Passions – was that fantasy land where guys can be pregnant?
te he he
The first time I ever watched a soap was Karen Wolek’s court room scene. I still say “WOW!” when I think about, Judith Light was/is amazing.
*Bo kidnapping Hope from her wedding to Larry – Days.
*Laura returns to Luke at the mansion and runs into his arms – GH.
*The click/boom episode Brenda marries Jax / Lily get blown up in front of Sonny – GH
*Margo (Margaret Colin) on the stand being cross examined by Tom on ATWT.
*Luke saving the world – GH
*Luke and Laura on the run from the left handed boy – GH.
*Stone dying of AIDS – GH.
I could go on and on.
Didnt Larry lift the wedding veil and it was Harry Hofsteader? in the wedding gown instead of Hope? that was a funny moment.
Yes he did. That was a great episode. Even the days leading up to it when Bo kept missing Hope because Larry was keeping him away from her. Then realizing it was Howie under the veil and seeing Bo and Hope on the motorcyle. Finding out that Bo kidnapped Hope and that Mrs. Horton was in on it. Those were great days!
Now that we talked about him…the show really needs to bring back BO, even if they have to find a suitable replacement!
I would have thought more from General Hospital in the 90’s would have been mentioned, such as Sonny catching Brenda with the wire, Lily dying from a car bomb meant for Sonny, just as Brenda and Jax were marrying, more on Stone and Robin, Lois crashing Ned’s (Eddie’s) birthday party thrown by his other wife Katherine, etc. I do agree with the top 2 moments, as well as, Judith Light’s performance.
one life to live,s karen walk with the trial!
For the most glaring admissions were
Stone dies of AIDS – GH
Clink/BOOM! – GH
“Hello Barbara” – ATWT
I wrote the same thing about both GH episodes, along with when Sonny found the wire on Brenda, the on-location in Puerto Rico, when Lois jumped out of the cake at Eddie’s birthday party and annouced that she was married to Eddie/Ned.
Nicole (Maeve McGuire)found alive in Paris by Kevin Jamison -Edge of Night 1975
Serena/Josie (Louise Shaeffer) breaks down on the stand -Edge of Night 1976
Josie shoots Mark Faraday – Edge
Those were good moments too…i thought the clown puppet murder of Eliot Dorn and the Mansion Of The Damn plotline on E.O.N. were great too…i miss my mystery/crime serial. Edge was sooo cool.
Edge of Night was a unique and wonderful gem which is sorely missed by so many even after all these years.
Jonah Whitney was revealed to be alive on Edge of Night! approx 1973 – 75
You mean Jonah Lockwood who was really Kevin Whitney? The murderer who attempted to kill Lauri Anne Karr? Great storyline that was.
Yes,another of Henry Slesar’s greatest storylines.
of course what was i thinking.
And Geraldine Whitney didn’t she plan the whole thing?
Maybe PP can resurrect EON – those stories were timeless.
I would love to see Edge make a comeback…on UTUBE someone created some terrific new openings for the show as if it were still on in 2008 and 2013. i believe.,.if you havent seen them check it out. their terrific…Bo and Nora on OLTL would be perfect as Mike and Nancy if Edge returned(but i doubt theyd leave oltl) or the actors who played Tom and Margo on ATWT when that show was cancelled…imo.
Since TV Guide mentioned rapes one of the most horrifying was the rape storyline in 1992 on ATWT of Margo and where they find out her attacker was HIV positive. Very realistic and well told story they took their time and also did not end up making the attacker a romantic hero.
WOW! I never really watched ATWT; but, I wish that the writers of our current shows reviewed the history of the other soaps for new, innovative ideas. Those are the types of storylines that viewers invest in, real life scenarios, good, bad, happy, sad, etc.
Missing:
1) Adam discovers Nicole is alive (The Edge of Night, 1975). In an age before spoilers and when the soap media was months behind in reporting major casting news, the return of the fabulous Maeve McGuire’s Nicole Drake was a COMPLETE shock and a total thrill.
2) The death of Brian Kendall (One Life to Live, 1978). A storyline that not only involved every major Llanview character at that time, but one that showcased the true talents of the late, great Jacquie Courtney (as Pat Kendall, the devasted, grief- and guilt-riddled mother).
3) Kay Chancellor & Joanne Curtis (The Young and the Restless, 1977/78). Following the death of Phillip and an aborted courtship with Ralph the plumber (Greg Walcott), Katherine Chancellor’s friendship with Joanne Curtzynski (Kay Heberle) was fraught with Lesbian undertones. Although the storyline was dumped, it was still pretty daring for daytime TV.
4) Margo’s facelift (All My Children, 1974). A full decade before Kay Chancellor/Jeanne Cooper’s on-air facelift, there was Eileen Letchworth’s cosmetic transformation (although the actual surgical procedure wasn’t on-camera). The actress even went on The Mike Douglas Show to discuss the event. Alas, Margo’s efforts did little to prevent her younger husband, Paul (Bill Mooney), from gravitating back to his true love, Anne Tyler.
5) Muffin’s death (Somerset, 1975). Okay… maybe this one is a only personal favorite. Dr. Jerry Kane’s psychotic ex-wife Dorothy (Jennifer Bassey) tormented her ex and his new wife, Heather (Audrey Landers) by tampering with Heather’s car brakes (landing her mother, Eve — played by Bibi Besch — in the hospital) and killing their beloved sheep dog, Muffin. This struck terror in the hearts of every animal lover (like me) out there. Dorothy’s gun-wielding meltdown — as she relived being abandoned by a husband she put through medical school — almost made her sins forgiveable. Almost.
6) David & Valerie (Days of Our Lives, 1976). Technically not daytime’s first interracial romance, it nonetheless was the most publicized. White David Banning (Richard Guthrie) fell in love with beautiful, African-American Valerie Grant (Tina Andrews), facing opposition from Val’s parents (Ketty Lester & Lawrence Cook) and trepidation from his mother, Julie Anderson (Susan Seaforth Hayes). In the end, new headwriter Ann Marcus (direct from her writing stint on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman) scotched the promising storyline.
Maeve McGuire one of the finest actresses ever to grace daytime television.And also a lovely,intelligent and funny person.
I remember Somerset: Julians crazy wife was poisoning Andrea because she thought her husband was having an affair with her. Zoe was going to shoot Andrea and Zoe killed her own brother or father?(4get which) instead. Zoe was committed to a mental hospital but escaped and murdererd a different woman(4get her name) who was having an after with Zoe’s husband. Also, a longtime Days fan, i remember David and Valerie…i liked the Grant family. Valerie also had a brother named Danny. David lived with the Grants following a car accident and Julie and the Hortons thought he was dead. I swear i read in a fan mag back then that NBC had the writer drop the storyline because NBC got nervous after some stupid viewers complained about the interracial storyline. I had no problem with it…Tina Andrews was great and shouldve been emmy nominated for her work.
How about Carla and Ed on One Life to Live. She was passing as I recall? Then turned out she was black! That was a nice spin.
So great to see the vintage soaps mixed with their more contemporary counterparts. Nice to see SFT mentioned a couple of times.
How about Tess stealing Nash’s car? Or their love scene in the rain at the quarry… How about Viki imitating Niki imitating Viki? Or how about when Rex bedded Lindsey AND Jen Rappaort, or when Todd and Sam said goodbye at the airport… or when Niki made an almost pass at Todd…. Or when Blair pushed Tea out of the window… Or when Dorian hit Jessica with her car… Or when Kevin and Kelly realized their love was over… All OLTL memorable moments…
…..ah its good to have OLTL back giving us new memorable moments.
I think the lit is wonderful! Not because I agree or disagree with what’s on it or not, how high some moments are or how low they are, but because everyone has their own list of 60 or 100 from their time watching their favorite shows.
Reading everyone’s list has been such a pleasure! We soap fans are a loyal bunch and some TV execs still don’t understand that. That goodness for those who do.
Another one: 10 year old David Collins tampered with the car brakes on his father Roger Collins car in an attempt to kill him because David feared his father was planning to send him away to boarding school. Laura Collins , Davids mother, turns out to be a Phoenix who returns every 100 years to claim her children and take them into a fiery death with her. Barnabas Collins and Dr. Julia Hoffman are transported into the future and find the Collins family either insane or dead, and the family mansion known as Collinwood in ruins and haunted by ghosts! All from Dark Shadows!!! Wealthy Jean Paul Desmonds wife Erica who was frozen in a cryogentic chamber after her death, comes back to life evil and deadly and starts to murder several people to stay alive who are trapped in her husbands castlelike mansion located on a secluded island…this was on the other supernatural soap similiar to Dark Shadows called Strange Paradise which was produced in Canada and syndicated in U.S. in 1969. However, it was very shortlived.
Kimberly going blind was great for me.-DOOL
A few others:
— Iris confesses to her father, Mac, she was “The Chief” (AW, 1989)
— Sunny’s rape episode (SFT)
— The Great Henderson flood (SFT, 1986)
— Reva drives off the bridge (GL)
— Jefferson Brown impersonates Schuyler Whitney (EON, 1981-82)
— Alexandra’s country club takedown of Roger (GL)
— Who shot Jake? (AW)
— Nora Fulton’s murder (EON)
— The LOVING murders
No writing has ever matched the incredible talents of Edge of Night! This one must be resurrected! The murder of E. Dorn, Draper’s amnesia after the train wreck that was leading him to prison for a crime not committed…… The false assumption of Margo Dorn saying “no” on her death bed when she was trying to reveal the name of her killer and not say no that he wasn’t innocent, Nancy Karr trapped in the clinic, Josie/Serena courtroom drama, Nicole alive and then in the final season suddenly killed by poisonous makeup etc. Bring it back please!!
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Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
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