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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
Jacob Martinez is ‘Days of Our Lives’ New Javi Hernandez Replacing Al Calderon in the Role
Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.
As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.
Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.
Photo: JPI
Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.
Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”
Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.
So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.
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This week starts with heartbreaking news. Patrick Muldoon, best known for his roles as the original Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives and later as Richard Hart on Melrose Place, died on Sunday, April 19, at the age of 57. Reports indicate his death was sudden following a heart attack.
Muldoon’s sister, Shana Muldoon-Zappa, told TMZ on Monday more details on her brother’s death, “Patrick went to take a shower Sunday morning after drinking coffee with his girlfriend in their Beverly Hills home. His girlfriend decided to check on him after he was taking too long and found him unconscious on the bathroom floor?” Shana added that paramedics rushed over and tried to revive Patrick, but there was nothing anyone could do.
Soap fans first saw Muldoon as Kate’s (Lauren Koslow) son on DAYS back in 1992, where he quickly became a fan favorite during the on-screen love story between Austin and Carrie Brady (Christie Clarke). Patrick left the series in 1995. He later made comeback for appearances in 2011 and 2012.
Photo: JPI
On Melrose Place, he played bad buy Richard Hart from 1995-1996. Patrick launched his acting career while in college landing the role of Matt in the 1990 sitcom Who’s The Boss? alongside the likes of Judith Light (ex-Karen, OLTL) and Tony Danza. Following his graduation, Patrick nabbed a recurring role as Jeffrey Hunter in Saved By The Bell by 1991.
Throughout his decades long career, Muldoon also starred in several motion and TV series including his leading roile in Starship Troopers (1997). He also had parts in Deadlock (2021), Vanquish (2021), Dakota (2022), Marlowe (2022), and Murder At Hollow Creek (2023).
Photo: JPI
Not only was Patrick an actors, but a producer and a musician and singer. He often made appearances and put out music with his band, The Sleeping Masses. Muldoon was the band’s lead singer and guitar player. Patrick was also a producer of TV and film projects.
At the time of his death, Patrick was also an executive producer on a the movie “Kockroach,” which is currently in production.
Taking to his Instagram, just a few days before his death, Muldoon expressed,“So excited to be a part of this amazing project KOCKROACH directed by Matt Ross starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Edgerton, Zazzie Beetz And Alec Baldwin. Filming now in Australia,” he captioned his post.
Sadly, on April 24, Muldoon can be seen in his 2025 film Dirty Hands also festuring Denise Richards (ex-B&B, RHOBH), which will be released on digital streaming platforms on VOD.
Muldoon is survived by his partner, Miriam Rothbart; parents, Deanna and Patrick Muldoon Sr.; his sister and brother-in-law, Shana and Ahmet Zappa; and their children, Muldoon’s beloved niece Halo and nephew Arrow Zappa.
Share your remembrances and condolences on the loss of Patrick Muldoon via the comment section, which is followed below by the trailer Dirty Hands due out later this week on digital platforms.
All My Children and Hallmark alum, Jonathan Bennett has been cast in the newly-created role on General Hospital as Joe Fitzpatrick.
Look for Bennett to make his debut on the ABC soap opera next month in May. Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans for his work as JR Chandler on All My Children from 2000-2001. Later, he landed the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout role.
Jonathan would go on to star in seven Hallmark Channel movies and then hosting and producing the network’s reality competition show Finding Mr. Christmas, Bennett has also appeared as a contestant on Season 19 of Dancing with the Stars, plus Celebrity Big Brother in 2019, and he starred on Broadway in Spamalot.
Courtesy/ABC
Frank Valentini, the executive producer of General Hospital shared to Deadline who first reported the casting news, “We’re so excited to have Jonathan joining our cast. He’s a tremendous talent and will be a fantastic addition to ‘GH.’
After the news broke, Bennett took to his Instagram and shared, “There’s a new guy in town…” Meanwhile, the official General Hospital account shared a pic and expressed, “He’s already tired of us telling him his hair looks sexy pushed back. Welcome to the family, Jonathan Bennett.
Bennett is married to Jaymes Vaughan. Back in 2022, they became the first gay couple to appear on the cover of the wedding magazine, The Knot.
So, what do you think of the casting of Jonathan as Joe Fitzpatrick? Is he the new man for Lucas? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
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