We Love Soaps has made our choices for the best television of 2011. The best of the web will be honored at the
3rd Annual Indie Soap Awards on February 21. Unlike the Awards, this list is totally unscientific, but if you happen to disagree with our "winners," we do hope that you will tell us why in the
Comments section, below.
First, some general observations. It was an up and down year for every daytime soap, and for some, it was mostly down. ONE LIFE TO LIVE was the most consistently good all year long (although it remained addicted to writing blunders), and it's enduring watchablity only exacerbates the pain of its impending departure. ALL MY CHILDREN became good again at the end, although it's hard not to be frustrated forever by the unresolved cliffhanger of the last episode. Jonathan Jackson kept us riveted on GENERAL HOSPITAL, although the writing continues to frustrate. On THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, we think there was too much of Steffy/Liam/Hope/Thomas. As for DAYS OF OUR LIVES, we're glad it improved and rebooted, but it needs to become "must see" more frequently; can we pick up pace just a little? And then there's THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, which was off the rails for much of the year.
But as long as our daytime faves are on the air, there's always a chance stories will improve. We've seen this ebb and flow for decades. As committed fans, we offer constructive criticism out of love and dedication, knowing that shows can always get better, if only they have a chance. It is very, very sad that ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE no longer have that chance.
What about primetime? The big paradox of 2012 was that while daytime soap operas were suffering, serialized dramas were exploding all over the evening broadcasts. In fact, many producers actually cited daytime soaps, as well as primetime favorites like KNOTS LANDING or DALLAS, as inspirations. Even as the number of daytime TV soap operas continued to dwindle, their legacy and influence were felt more then ever.
Below are our picks for the best (and sometimes worst) of the year. Who did we miss? Please feel to honor them (or call them out) in the
Comments section, below!