SPOTLIGHT: Nikki and Victor Newman

Victor and Nikki Newman are one of my all-time favorite soap opera couples. I fell in love with them instantly when Victor met stripper in 1981. It seems like a lifetime ago now. Over the years they have broken up, been married to other people, broken up again and moved on again. Currently Victor is married to Ashley and Nikki is about to marry Paul. Or she was before Thursday's episode.

But what I want to focus on here is the amazing history and chemistry that is shared between Y&R's best couple, Victor and Nikki. Wednesday's episode seemed like a farewell for Melody Thomas Scott. As Nikki was having cold feet about marrying Paul, the show used flashbacks of her relationships with Paul and Victor to great effect. As much as I love the character of Paul, and the 70s flashback with Paul and Nikki was priceless, Nikki belongs with Victor Newman. That wonderful flashback-filled show left no doubt. Whether they are happy, fighting or falling in love all over again, their chemistry is undeniable. They will never be finished with each other.

One thing the daytime soaps have going for them is an unmatched history. No other scripted series, or even reality series, can flashback 30 years like Y&R did on Wednesday. It's so powerful to see that history being used showing Nikki's relationships with Victor and Paul and how they evolved. I want to give major kudos for writing and airing such a special show that new and old viewers alike could enjoy. It was entertaining and also educational for fans who may not have seen these relationships from the beginning. I would love it if more soaps took notice of this. AS THE WORLD TURNS is probably sitting on the biggest goldmine in terms of history and it would help the show greatly to use it.

I don't know what the future holds for Victor and Nikki but I have no doubt that as long as Melody Thomas Scott and Eric Braeden are on Y&R these two will always come back together no matter how long it takes.

SPOTLIGHT: ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Misogyny

I am all for a good catfight on soaps when two STRONG, beautiful women go at it and tear into each other. If someone steals my baby and makes me think she is dead, I'm going to cut someone. I also know if I go to an event and someone is wearing the exact same outfit I'm wearing, I'm out for blood! Think of the entertaining fights that ensued between Paulina and Vicky on ANOTHER WORLD and the legendary battle between Vanessa and Nola on GUIDING LIGHT.

However, on Thursday's episode of ONE LIFE TO LIVE, Blair and Téa physically attacked each other all for the "love" of Todd Manning. I don't believe for one second that these two strong, independent, beautiful women would still be affected by Todd. Todd is a vicious, sociopathic rapist. He treats both women with contempt and they keep coming back for more. Who is the target audience for the show? Has a focus group been conducted and it was found out that women 18-49 love to fight each other to see who gets to have sex first with an unrepentant rapist? As a long term viewer, it's insulting to watch Kassie DePaiva and Florencia Lozano have to act out these fight scenes.

If the characters of Blair and Téa are to be salvaged, both need to move in new directions. Blair and John may not have set the world on fire but it was an example of Blair realizing how toxic Todd was and that she could have something different. Téa is an intelligent, cunning, lawyer. There isn't anyone other than Todd for her?

As for Todd, clearly his new love interest is meant to be Stacy Morasco. That is one "woman" who is perfect for him! An added bonus is that Trevor St. John can offer some acting "help" to Ms. Hunt.

What do you think ONE LIFE TO LIVE fans? Is the Téa-Todd-Blair triangle entertaining to you? Is Todd the man of your dreams and worth fighting for? Sound off!

SPOTLIGHT: THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

Let me be clear that I don't have anything against Jacqueline MacInnes Wood. I think she is a beautiful, charismatic actress and she gave a great interview to We Love Soaps. But out all of the hypocrites currently residing in soapland, I think Steffy Forrester might be the worst of them all.

How dare that little twit warn Brooke to stay away from Ridge after everything that Ridge and Taylor did to try to come between Steffy and Rick. When everyone was trying to destroy that tortured (I certainly was tortured watching them together)romance, it was BROOKE who stood behind them. She allowed her romance with Ridge to suffer so Rick and Steffy could be happy. And now, she puts this guilt trip on Brooke warning her not to destroy her family. If Steffy is strong enough to sleep with a guy who hit the sheets with her twin sister and mother, then she can deal with her family breaking up!

On the plus side, it was thrilling to see Rick Hearst and Katherine Kelly Lang share scenes again. The chemistry is still there and Whip actually seems to make Brooke laugh. I highly recommend you watch their scenes today. Hearst is one of our finest actors and my fingers are crossed that B&B is going to utilize him as the leading man that he is.

However, if Whip pulls a Ric Lansing and throws Brooke into a Panic Room, all bets are off!

SPOTLIGHT: The Love Story of Y&R's Kitty and Zapato

It's very hard for me to write this right now. I hope you can all bare with me. Romance has always been such a major part of our soaps and I truly thought we had lost it. I didn't believe I would ever melt when two characters saw each other for the first time across a dirty potting shed.

That all changed when Kitty and Zapato met for the first time on the Tuesday, July 14 episode of THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS. It was as if they had known each other forever. I worried that Zapato would allow the Newmans to color how he feels about Kitty, but he sniffed her like he would anyone he loved. And in the moments that Kitty spent with Zapato, it was as if his sniff brought her back to life. I haven't seen her so animated for weeks.

I just have to believe that THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS is going to make this couple work. Kitty and Zapato are from two different worlds and I know their union will be fraught with complications. For so long, Kitty has only had MJ in her life. She is a loner and feels she doesn't need anyone. Zapato thinks he has everything in the world that he needs. With that harpy Ashley around, Zapato will always have someone. But Zapato needs true love just as much as Kitty does. MJ and Victor may try to come between them but it will only make them stronger!

I am going to fight for this couple. I just need to figure out what their song is going to be!

SPOTLIGHT: Y&R's Kitty

It has been a very long time since I have fallen for a new soap character. There was a time it didn't take me long to connect to a new face on the canvas, but these are hard times for soap fans. New characters are introduced so quickly that you never really get a chance to know them.

I have a new favorite character now and I couldn't be happier. Kitty, much like Madonna and Cher before her, doesn't need a last name. I think she may be playing herself. All I know is that she is the best character to hit Genoa City in years. In her interactions with Mary Jane, she can't help but steal the scenes. What's interesting is that most new actresses to soaps would need to adjust to the fast pace of daytime. True, she doesn't have any dialouge, but her facial expressions, her eyes and her beauty are rare for daytime. Kitty is also extremely loyal. In scenes with Mary Jane, she sits there and listens. She never turns on MJ or tells her that she is wrong. We all need someone like that in our life who will love us unconditionally.

What pains me though is how she is treated by Mary Jane. Hidden from the world, Kitty hasn't had a chance to make friends. Eventually, every successful soap character deserves a romance. With the animosity between Victor and Mary Jane it would be soap opera magic if Kitty eventually found true love with Victor's dog, Zapato. Talk about a Romeo and Juliet type relationship! Can you imagine what lengths Victor would do to keep the two apart? And Kitty has already held her own in a scene with Eric Braeden. I am currently composing their theme song and hoping to send it to Y&R. It's a labor of love though and I'm not expecting to make any money from it.

Finally, I am worried about the length of Kitty's contract. I am sure her agent is begging her to leave soaps for the movies. It would break my heart if she left. If she has to leave Y&R at some point, I would like her to remain in the suds business. Crystal Hunt just isn't working as Stacy on ONE LIFE TO LIVE and Kitty could do wonders in that role. Think about all of the cat fights between Kitty and Farah Fath's Gigi!

Y&R is the show to watch these days and I would like to thank Kitty for that. I am trying to contact her publicist for an interview but have yet to receive a response. If anyone reading this knows how I can reach her, I would really appreciate it. She is on the brink of superstardom and I would be thrilled to be the first one to interview her.

Thanks, Kitty, for all you are bringing to the show!

SPOTLIGHT: Y&R's Tricia Cast as Nina Webster

I have a secret to admit, We Love Soaps fans. I thought I was past the point of falling in love with a fictional soap character. Sure, I had love in my heart for Sarah Gordan Buchanan (Jensen Buchanan) on ONE LIFE TO LIVE. There was a time when I couldn't miss a scene with Jake Mckinnon (Tom Eplin) on ANOTHER WORLD. And I can't forget my true love, Kimberly Brady (Patsy Pease) on DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

I hate to break it to Sarah, Jake, and Kimberly, but I have a new love. I now want to marry Nina Webster. Tricia Cast is currently stealing every scene she is in on the THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS. There is not one false note in her portrayal. From the moment Cast and Nina returned to Genoa City it was as if she never left. I feel fully confident in saying the current story unfolding could not be happening without Cast and Nina.

Nina is not only the smartest resident of Genoa City (sorry Jill, your drinking may have clouded your judgement), but watching her passion to save her son, to prove that Cane is a fraud and to put snarky Lily Winters in her place is a sight to watch.

I always enjoyed Nina, but never so much since she has returned to town. When all is said and done, I need to see Nina get beyond her troubled romantic past and find true love. Clearly, Phillip, David, and Ryan weren't the answers! If there isn't anyone available in town for her, I hope she knows where to find me.