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(VOTE) Which Soap Opera Was Best in 2023?
As 2023 is coming to a close, it’s time to reflect and look back at the year in soaps. While Michael Fairman TV’s annual Best and Worst of the Year won’t be unveiled for a few more days, we would like to hear your thoughts on which of the four major soap operas: DAYS, GH, B&B and Y&R you think gave you the most drama and was your favorite throughout the year.
After pondering some of the storypoints below, scroll to the bottom of the post to cast your vote and take our year-end poll.
The Young and the Restless brought us: the shocking Aunt Jordan and Claire storyline just in time and at the end of the year, the return of Cameron Kirsten at the beginning of the year, the Bicentennial Gala, Phyllis faking her death, Devon and Abby’s sex-filled romp as Amanda and Chance happened upon the scene, Sally losing her baby, Malcolm (Shemar Moore) returning to pay tribute to his late brother Neil, Jack and Diane’s wedding, and more.
Photo: JPI
General Hospital delivered some heart-tugging stories including: the sudden death of Britt Westbourne, Port Charles reeling from the passing of Nurse Epiphany Johnson (the late Sonya Eddy), Victor Cassadine’s plot (harkening back to the Ice Princess story of old) and the Greenland escapades which concluded with Trina leaping into Spencer’s arms, after believing he had perished. There was the “death” of Nikolas Cassadine, plus the end of Ryan Chamberlain’s reign of terror. Emma Samms returned to the soap as Holly, while Curtis learned that Trina is his biological daughter following his wedding to Portia and its aftermath, plus there was Esme’s machinations and amnesia, Heather Webber’s antics, Sonny and Nina’s wedding, the returns of Tracy Quartermaine and Lois Cerullo, Ned’s amensia and the return of “Eddie Maine”, and more.
Photo: ABC
Days of our Lives brought the camp and nods to its past throughout the year including: the return of Orpheus who ‘killed’ Marlena, Kate and Kayla who were sent to Heaven, which turned out to be hell. Then, the three ladies wound up in cryogenic chamber and being held hostage by Megan Hathaway. Bo was officially resurrected and was brainwashed by Megan. Later, as he was about to reunite with Hope, when he was shot by his son, Shawn and put into a coma. Shawn began downing booze and developed a drinking problem. Nicole and Eric had a sex romp while high on laced-filled biscuits. She became pregnant. Now, with Nicole married to EJ, and Eric being with Sloan, the baby turned out to be Eric’s but the DNA tests were switched. After a car crash with Dimitri and Leo, Nicole gave birth. The baby was taken supposedly to safety by Dimitri, but the baby wound up in the hands of Sloan and Melinda Trask, and they schemed to pass the baby off as Sloan’s adopted son. Dimitri wound up being sent off to a maximum security prison, leaving Leo to take down Sloan, by blackmailing her for money if she doesn’t return the baby back to Nicole.
Photo: JPI
The Bold and the Beautiful had plot twists and romance drama including: Bill Spencer all of a sudden blackmailing Steffy and Finn over Taylor shooting him years ago, if they testify that Sheila shot them both. It later was revealed Bill was working with Ridge to bring down Sheila, only it backfired and Sheila was set free. Then, there was Brooke and Taylor’s temporary BFF moments, Thomas choosing to live with Steffy, not Thomas or Hope and Liam, Sheila and Deacon falling in love, Hope lusting after Thomas and kissing him in Rome; only for Liam to see the whole thing and then turn around and kiss Steffy. Brooke and Ridge finally reunited in Rome, too. There was Finn acting a bit creepy where mother Sheila was concerned, and Eric’s failing health and his life-saving surgery.
Photo: JPI
Now below, cast your vote for the Best Soap Opera of 2023, and then let us know in the comment section which soap you voted for (if you so choose) and why. There is also an option to vote for none, if you think none of the soaps delivered the best of 2023.
GH gets top nods from me but Days isn’t really too far behind.
Totally agree that General Hospital is number 1
Honestly, not the best year for soaps at all. The CBS soaps don’t air down here, so I can’t even speak to those. GH had some interesting “retro” moments with Ice Princess 2.0, Holly’s return, and Tracy being back in town, but that ridiculous Tricky Dick Nixon Falls mess is still dragging the whole show down. And the recent massive “bait & switch” with the Pikeman storyline did not help matters at all. Lose Nina. Lose Hallmark Drew. Bring Jason Back. Flush the post 2012 toilet spiral already
As for Days… a Devil doesn’t want to appear biased, but they have really gone downhill since I left Salem, haven’t they? The return of Bo & Hope seemed promising, but it was a short lived bait & switch, and the two legendary characters had a whole two minutes in a scene together before poor Bo was literally shot in the back by his own son and sent off to veggieland in a coma. Victor Kiriaks’s death was used to create a new cartoon villain who is already past his pull date. Be gone, Konstipation… or whatever your name is. And don’t get a Devil started on GwenTheresa… or the ridiculousness of Eric raising his own baby, and being too dumb to figure it out.
So best soap of 2023? Hate to say it, but I have to vote for “None of the Above” this time.
B&B
Days is my favorite not just story but actors, sets, lighting. Y and R and B and B were ok but not spectacular and look sloppy. I dont watch GH.
What sets on Days of Our Lives? Most hilarious thing I’ve heard.
I know! Ask anyone who’s caught 5 minutes of any of the 4 shows and they’d all agree DAYS has inferior sets and lighting.
Days gives the most for the buck never boring always moving bold in second Yandr good one day abysmal the next Days gets the nod
None!
The bold and the beautiful get the top nod from me.it got the queen of bad.no young villain is no match for all time best one.the queen of bad aka shelia. My legend soaps villain. And the deacon men with her .they are a. Good couple.thanks for the deacon man get her out of prison.I know they was just temporarily have queen of bad in prison for temporarily.but not for ever.for the young viewers.the deacon men know the shelia women from they yr day.they was your outcast couple on they.whenever the queen of bad retirement.as Shelia is alive.they got keep her she make the show interesting.the other person are boring.they need an another young queen of bad.to be like the Shelia person.maybe one day Shelia come back yr where she first start.have an interesting backstory.yr would be behind the bold and the beautiful.
Please learn how to write the English language.
The bold and the beautiful get top nod for me.it got the queen of bad.Shelia.no young villain can beat the all time best one .the queen of bad .Shelia.my legend soaps villain.Her with the deacon men are an good couple.thank deacon for help my legend soaps villain.they was temporarily keeping her in prison.I know they wasn’t going keep Shelia in they for long.for the young viewers.the deacon men know the Shelia woman from they yr day.they was your outcast couple on they.they need keep Shelia the queen of bad on the bold and beautiful.she make the show interesting the other person boring.when Shelia retire.but hopefully it not for an long time.they need an another young woman to become like the Shelia character. An another queen of bad.maybe Shelia can go back to yr one day where the woman first started.have an interesting backstory.I watch the bold and the beautiful. And young and the restless.would get the second nod.me and my granny when I was little on my day off from school I would watch those two with her.I did not watch the other two soaps.two yr person tie to gunsmoke Eric Braden aka victor the mean old man.and Jess Walton aka Jill the gunsmoke woman.my legend soaps villain aka Shelia the queen of bad can go up against western bad guy.the women is similar to western bad guy.have three nickname crazy woman,evil witch,she devil.
Young & Restless!!!
GH remains the Best Soap for 2023 with B&B a close second. Great stories and some of the best acting! Looking forward to 2024.
I have one for the Worst of 2023. How about “The Ongoing Torture and Abuse of Sasha Corbin”. Seriously over the top and dragged out story arc that lasted the entire summer and didn’t conclude until October.
It’s not the actual story of Sasha being placed in the mental institution under Doctor Mental – it was how long GH took to resolve a story from a character who for 2 years had been knocked down again and again. Borderline abusive.
GH has great stories to tell – but the fans are getting tired of waiting an average of 2 years to see them resolved. A new story begins and we now know that it will be 2025 before the good guys come out on top or our favorite couple is happy. It’s too long.
With the regular writers now back, there’s a noticeable speed up in wrapping up storylines or plot points. Pikeman/Anna’s stalker took two episodes to tidy up. Seems like the long-running Nina turning in Carly & Drew story as well as the recent Finn’s malpractice suit may wrap or move to the aftermath. Felicia being on to Cody is another welcome advancement. With JJY out for some time, that’s probably going to simmer for a bit more.
Days of our Lives. Really glad it’s still available to watch on Peacock, although it should never have been taken off NBC!
DAYS has the best HOTTIES and twisted story lines. Like the PHOENIX, it keeps rising. But there are too many new characters taking up LEGACY characters air time. AND like several others way too much Baby Mama Trauma!
General Hospital bar no contest. But, realistically, both EastEnders and Neighbours topped ALL American soaps in every single category.
I only watch GH, and I think they had a good year overall. The show gets a lot of criticism on social media and various soap websites, with some people almost gleefully wishing to see it get canceled, which I never understand. Some people seem to get off on being miserable and negative.
It has its ups and downs in storylines just like any other year, just like any other show. I’ve been watching for 30 years, and there have been years where I would say they had a down year overall, the writing was a mess, whatever. But I wouldn’t say 2023 was one of those years. I’ve enjoyed far more than I’ve disliked this year. I use the fast forward button when I watch on Hulu a lot less than I have in the past, I’ll put it like that, lol.
When it comes down to it, GH still has the best cast from top to bottom, especially in the lead actress category. Maura West, Finola Hughes, Cynthia Watros, Laura Wright, Genie Francis, Nancy Lee Grahn, Rebecca Herbst, the list goes on. If they have one issue it’s that the cast is so large, it’s sometimes hard to find stories for all the main cast members.
They’ve done a much better job than they have in the past at using the beloved legacy characters. Rena Sofer returning as Lois after 26 years was a highlight as was the queen Jane Elliot returning as Tracy.
They brought some old school adventure this year with the blast from the past Victor Cassadine Ice Princess/weather machine story, and the return of Emma Samms, Holly faking her death etc. I’ve enjoyed the spy stuff with Anna and the WSB, her shooting Charlotte brought some good drama. Ryan and Heather working together as a team of super villains was a hoot, revealing Esme as their daughter was a cool twist.
They’ve told some good medical stories, which GH is known for. The word “Hospital” is in the show’s title after all. They’ve had romance, comedy, and family drama. Aiden coming out to Elizabeth and the under stated way they told the story, it was a part of an every day conversation, was one of the best and most important scenes for so many reasons they’ve done all year.
I think overall the show has a nice mix of what makes a good soap. GH was the best soap of 2023, in my opinion. Happy New Year to all!
General hospital is the 2023 best soap of the year!
I’ve watched Y&R since I was very young and it will always be a favorite, but, Days of Our Lives has been my favorite in 2023.
Sonny & Nina ruined GH. I now only watch Bold.
I’m just tired of the Adam bashing enough already it’s getting real real real old
Y&R, my all time favorite soap was disappointing for most of the year. But, it did redeem itself with the Jordan/Claire/Nikki etal “story”.
GH has reached a low blow for me with nuTrina, albeit Spencer, as hot as he is, is starting to get on my nerves—NuTrina à La Sorbonne? Didn’t realize the girl was a genius. Bonnie chance!!
That should read “bonne”. Not Bonnie—C’est français—autocorrect has no clue!!
Breaking News
2026 Daytime Emmy Awards: ‘Extra’ Partners with NATAS for Pre-Ceremony Red Carpet Stream; Week of Segments Leading to Ceremony and Post-Coverage
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) announced on Thursday that the syndicated entertainment news series, Extra will be its partner for exclusive coverage of the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards being held on Friday, October 30 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.
The 2026 Daytime Emmys as previously reported can be seen streamed via the The Emmys,YouTube channel, via watch.theemmys.tv, as well as on the official Emmys app, available for phones, tablets, and smart TVs.
Here’s a breakdown of the pre, during and post Daytime Emmys coverage via Extra below!
Beginning Monday, October 26, Extra will feature five nights of dedicated Daytime Emmys segments leading up to the ceremony, giving fans an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the award show.
In addition, Mona Kosar Abdi, Weekend Host & Senior Correspondent with Extra will host the pre-show red carpet stream on the @TheEmmys Youtube channel.
Extra host and Dancing with the Stars judge, Derek Hough will present during the ceremony, and correspondent Terri Seymour will also host coverage throughout the evening.
Extra’s weekend edition (A WEEK FOLLOWING the ceremony) will features notable red carpet moments, winner reactions, and exclusive footage from the night’s festivities.
The entertainment news program is also nominated for three Daytime Emmy Awards going into the ceremony.
So, what do you think of Extra’s scheduled upcoming coverage of the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards starting on Monday? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) revealed on Thursday, the lineup of presenters for 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards taking place on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California.
The ceremony will stream live on the NATAS YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@theemmys and watch.TheEmmys.tv.
Scheduled to present from the current soaps are: Katelyn MacMullen (Willow, General Hospital), Delon de Metz (Zende, The Bold and the Beautiful), James Preston (Nick, The Bay), Paul Telfer (Xander, Days of our Lives), Tamara Tunie (Anita, Beyond the Gates) and Susan Walters (Diane, The Young and the Restless).
Photo: NATAS
In addition soap alums, Crystal Chappell, Lesli Kay, Joe Lando, Eva LaRue, who is also a nominee this year, A Martinez, Juliet Mills, and Alicia Leigh Willis, will also be on hand to present.
The ceremony which celebrates nominated lifestyle programs and dramas will also include presenters: Eva zu Beck (Superskilled with Eva zu Beck), Danielle Chang (Lucky Chow), Sunny Hostin (The View), Derek Hough (Extra), Pati Jinich (Pati’s Mexican Table), Star Jones (Divorce Court), Michael Jr. (Stand Up and Do Something), Judge Greg Mathis (Mathis Court with Judge Mathis), Keke Palmer (Glam Through the Ages), Nischelle Turner (Entertainment Tonight), and Andrew Zimmern (Andrew Zimmern’s Wild Game Kitchen).
The 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards will bring together an exciting mix of presenters representing the full spectrum of daytime television,” said Adam Sharp, President & CEO of NATAS. “From familiar faces in daytime drama to the personalities and creative voices behind talk shows and lifestyle programming, this year’s lineup reflects the breadth of talent that makes daytime so special. We look forward to celebrating the people who continue to shape the genre.”
Matthew Hoffman (Love Island USA, Cheap A$$ Beach Houses) will serve as the ceremony’s Voice of God, bringing his signature comedic narration to the evening’s celebrations. As previously announced, Lifetime Achievement honoree Genie Francis (Laura, General Hospital) will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by her husband, Jonathan Frakes.
So, what do you think about the list of presenters for the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards? Let us know who you are looking forward to seeing via the comment section below.
Congratulations are in order for three-time Emmy winner, Tom Pelphrey (ex-GL and ATWT) and his fiancée Big Bang Theory star, Kaley Cuoco! The couple welcomed their second baby daughter together on October 12, and revealed they named the little bundle of joy, Philomena Carmine Bobby Pelphrey.
Tom and Kaley shared the news via their Instagram accounts on Wednesday with some adorable baby pics. Cuoco captioned the photo“🎀Philomena Carmine Bobby Pelphrey🎀. 💖10/12/26💖. There are no words to describe this feeling once again. What a blessing.
Cuoco added, “We are so grateful for the crazy wild up and down journey that brought us to our little Philo! Family officially complete 😭Time to bring Matilda’s baby home! 😂💕”
Photo: KCuoco IG
BABY MAKES FOUR
Next, Kaley shared her love for the father of her children, exclaiming, “Tom Pelphrey, life exploded the minute we met, and the gifts keep coming. I love you forever , girl daddy! 💘.”
Philomena now joins big sister, Matilda mwho was born in 2023, as part of the Pelphrey/Cuoco family! Tom and Kaley began dating in 2022 and became engaged in 2024.
Daytime fans first saw the talented actor on Guiding Light as Jonathan Randall, the son of Reva Shayne (Kim Zimmer). Tom won two Daytime Emmys for his memorable performances during his run from 2004-2009.
He later played Mick Dante on As the World Turns from 2009-2010, before heading to work in primetime and motion pictures. Last month, Pelphrey one the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role in HBO’s Task.
TOM PELPHREY CELEBRATES EMMY WIN AND NEW DAUGHTER WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER
After winning his Emmy, the expectant dad told E! News, “We’re both so excited. Our daughter’s excited. We’ll see how it goes when it actually gets there.” Tom added, “The things that are new and the things that feel like not a big deal this time. But mom and baby are healthy, so God willing, that keeps up, and we’re thrilled,” added the actor.
Pelphrey took to his own Instagram and said on the birth of his second daughter, “Philomena Carmine Bobby Pelphrey. Another miracle. Welcome to our family youngest queen! Kaley you showed up in every way as a partner and a mom even when you weren’t feeling your best- you’re a CHAMPION. The girls and I would be lost without you. Thank God for the gift of this family and these girls.”
Jumping in to the comment thread to congratulate Tom and Kaley were Beyond the Gates star Ashley Jones (Heather), Dave Annabelle, Martha Plimpton, Alyssa Milano and many more.
Share your congrats and well-wishes to Tom, Kaley, Matilda and their new addition to the family, little Philomena via the comment section below.
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2026 Daytime Emmy Awards: ‘Extra’ Partners with NATAS for Pre-Ceremony Red Carpet Stream; Week of Segments Leading to Ceremony and Post-Coverage
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