Most Disappointing No-Show
Young & Restless basically dashed our last hopes of ever seeing Doug Davidson return as Paul when the character skipped Genoa City’s bicentennial celebration to spend time with daughter Heather in Portugal.
Soaps’ Best and Worst of 2023… So Far: From Most Entertaining Show to Silliest Storyline, Hottest Couple to Tackiest Move [PHOTOS]
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Image Credit: Sean Smith/JPI -
Best Break-Up
Image Credit: ABC screenshot (2) We’d made no secret of the fact that we were 100 percent in favor of General Hospital pairing Josslyn with Dex… which only made us feel crummier when William Lipton and Eden McCoy left it all on the floor (of Kelly’s Diner) as her character admitted to his that what they’d had… would not be returning.
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Most Pointless Hookup
Image Credit: Jill Johnson/JPI When Days of Our Lives had Alex and Allie hit the sheets again — this time without her girlfriend — we assumed that in true soap style, Johnny’s twin would wind up pregnant. Instead, she promptly left town in the least dramatic fashion possible. (Dare we hope she’s out there, somewhere, about to provide Henry with a sibling?)
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Hottest Topic
Image Credit: CBS screenshot The mere suggestion that Bold & Beautiful might allow Taylor and Brooke to swear off not only Ridge but men in general set off a fan frenzy the likes of which we haven’t seen in… ever? Love is love, folks. Yet it generated a whole lotta hate mail. (Read as much as you can bear here.)
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Lamest Cliffhanger
Image Credit: Paramount Network Season 5 of Yellowstone pressed pause on New Year’s Day with Jamie and Beth plotting one another’s murders… but not actually doing anything. Sure, she clocked him with a rock, but if we had a nickel for every time she’d hit him with something, we’d be as rich as big daddy John. As midseason finales go, it was grade ZZZ.
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Worst Break-Up
Image Credit: Howard Wise/JPI The level of commitment — heck, the level of interest — that Young & Restless playboy Billy showed as he and Lily ended their relationship made us wonder anew why we’d ever invested in the pairing in the first place. We’ve switched from white to red wine with more conflicted feelings (and more feelings, period).
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Worst Exit
Image Credit: ABC We’ll give General Hospital that Britt’s swan song was dramatic: The terminally ill doctor’s life was cut short by a close encounter with The Hook. But why on earth would you kill off a character with as much potential as Obrecht’s daughter when c’mon, ya never know, Kelly Thiebaud might want to return someday.
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Most Pointless Plot
Image Credit: Jill Johnson/JPI Since nobody but nobody believed that Days of Our Lives was really killing off Marlena, Kayla and Kate, was there any reason to care? Oh, and not for nothin’, but just once, we’d like to see a soap not depict heaven as an all-white affair.
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Most Disturbing Pairing
Image Credit: Howard Wise/JPI Understandably, Bold & Beautiful fans lost their minds when Bill seemed to lose his by taking up with merry murderess Sheila. But hey, at least ya have to admit the show threw a real jaw-dropper of a shock at us… especially once we found out what the tycoon was really up to!
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Best Exit
Image Credit: ABC Not “best” as in it made sense or anything, mind you. Grey’s Anatomy had had Meredith all set to move to Minnesota when daughter Zola’s anxiety changed their destination to Massachusetts. (What? Huh?) However, we’re still A-OK with Ellen Pompeo’s departure because it paves the way for more of the new class of residents that have pumped fresh blood into the long-running drama.
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Best Wedding
Image Credit: ABC screenshot From the gorgeous ceremony to the drama which unfolded the second it was over, General Hospital scored big-time with the nuptials of Curtis and Portia.
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Most Low-Key Reveal
Image Credit: CBS screenshot Not a single eyebrow was raised when Young & Restless’ Fen strolled in and introduced his boyfriend, Trey. Well, not in Genoa City, anyway. Viewers were somewhat surprised, given that Fen had apparently come out (and found love) off screen!
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Best/Worst Reveal
Image Credit: ABC On one hand, General Hospital picked a culprit that made sense to be The Hook. On the other, it was awfully coincidental that Heather had just happened to have turned back up on the canvas around the time the murders began.
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Best Cartoon
Image Credit: Peacock screenshot We didn’t know what to say about the bananas sci-fi stories that Days of Our Lives was telling at the start of 2023. But then an ice-cream scoop played a part in deprogramming Jake Stefan, and suddenly, we got it: The soap’s not a soap anymore, it’s a comedy.
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Tackiest Move
Image Credit: CBS screenshot (2) Bold & Beautiful got the reaction that it wanted by making it appear that Taylor had committed suicide: We were scared. But it also got one that it couldn’t have wanted, as viewers took issue with the cheap treatment of a grave matter.
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Most Unbelievable Decision
Image Credit: ABC We wanted to order a neuro consult for Simone after Grey’s Anatomy had her stop mid-hookup with adorably devoted Lucas to not only give her jerky ex-fiancé the time of day but a “yes” to his latest marriage proposal.
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Most Predictable Storyline
Image Credit: Howard Wise/JPI (3) Did anyone not see a “Who’s the daddy?” twist coming on Young & Restless when the show had Sally enjoy one last romp with Adam before committing herself to Nick?
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Best Life-or-Death Twist
Image Credit: ABC Screenshot The moment General Hospital revealed that Nina was Willow’s birth mom, we all rolled our eyes, assuming that the ailing young woman’s longtime sparring partner would be the one to save her life. So imagine our surprise when tests revealed that Nina wasn’t a match for Michael’s babymama!
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Silliest Courtroom Drama
Image Credit: Howard Wise/JPI Bold & Beautiful had a judge allow Douglas to decide whether he wanted to live with Hope or Thomas… and the little boy chose Steffy. What if he’d picked Big Bird or Barney? Would her honor have let him move in with anybody he wanted?
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Most Useful Prop
Image Credit: Jill Johnson/JPI Need to cure a seemingly fatal illness? Turn back the hands of time? Heck, maybe you — like Days of Our Lives’ Megan — just need a partner in crime who won’t sass you like that mouthy Dr. Rolf. Have we got just the orchid for you!
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Funniest Business
Image Credit: Howard Wise/JPI Once Young & Restless had Victoria start hitting on Nate, we realized that we’d been right all along to suspect that Newman Enterprises has no HR department.
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Most Likely To Bathe In Teflon
Image Credit: ABC screenshot We assumed that everyone from Michael to Drew to General Hospital fans would blast Carly for doing everything in her power to keep Willow and Nina from discovering they were mother and daughter. Yet the deceptive diva emerged from the mess almost entirely unscathed!
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Least Understandable Motivation
Image Credit: CBS screenshot Can anyone explain to us what role, exactly, Bold & Beautiful dressmaker Ridge played in busting Sheila? Far as we can tell, he abandoned his family in order to hang out with Bill and Agent Chen, neither of whom really seemed to need his help.
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Slowest Burn
Image Credit: Jill Johnson/JPI Ever since Days of Our Lives’ Tripp and Wendy crossed paths on Beyond Salem: Chapter Two back in the summer of 2022, we’ve been waiting for them to get together. Yes, she’s with Johnny, but they’re never on, and Tripp is just sitting there, adorable as ever…
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Most Massive Plot Hole
Image Credit: Howard Wise/JPI Would Young & Restless never let any of Lauren’s friends on Bold & Beautiful tell her that Sheila Carter is alive and as homicidal as ever?
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Best Undressed
Image Credit: ABC General Hospital has made the extremely good decision to remove Dex’s shirt at every opportunity. Chilling at the Metro Court pool? Take it off. Injured in the line of duty? Take it off. Sexytime? Well, duh.
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Least Believable Rewrite
Image Credit: Howard Wise/JPI For months, Bold & Beautiful had Sheila leering in vain at Deacon. He only took her to bed the first time because he thought she was someone else. He tried desperately to get her to vacate his hovel. And after all that, the show attempted to sell us on them as some kind of star-crossed couple? Eh, no. They are many things, but Romeo and Juliet, they ain’t.
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Best News
Image Credit: Jill Johnson/JPI Days of Our Lives was renewed by Peacock for not just another season but two more. We’ll drink to that!
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Most Potential
Image Credit: Howard Wise/JPI From the moment Daniel returned to Genoa City, it was pretty obvious that Young & Restless was going to give his pairing with Lily another try. So far, we like what we see. The real test will be whether the show addresses their past issues and allows us to see them move into a new dynamic.
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Best Sub
Image Credit: ABC screenshot Asked for a second time to step into the loafers of General Hospital pot-stirrer Nikolas, Adam Huss did such a good job that many fans suggested he be given a longer-term shot at the role, should the opportunity arise. Speaking of Huss…
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Best Flashbacks
Image Credit: Jesse Grant/JPI Only a few weeks after wrapping his brief General Hospital sting, Bold & Beautiful reminded us that back in 2002, Huss had played one of Sheila’s more memorable victims… not only because of Lance’s aversion to buttoned shirts but also because of his death by swarming bees!
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Most Fitting Career
Image Credit: Peacock screenshot Not since Young & Restless‘ Leanna Love has a character been so perfectly suited to the role of gossip columnist as is Days of Our Lives’ Leo.
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Most Worth the Wait
Image Credit: ABC When at long, long last, General Hospital let Spencer and Trina have their first kiss, it was everything we had hoped it would be and more. Which is pretty miraculous, considering how amazing we hoped it would be!
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Strangest Choice
Image Credit: ABC screenshot Maybe General Hospital was inspired by the Emmy Bold & Beautiful scored for John McCook with Eric’s erectile dysfunction story. But we really could’ve done without seeing nefarious Victor suffer the same fate. (Although having it be a result of Selina’s meddling was amusing!)
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Best Celebration
Image Credit: Howard Wise/JPI From the special guests to Phyllis’ meltdown — not to mention the reveal of her unexpected marriage to Jeremy Stark — Young & Restless pulled out all the stops as the soap marked its 50th anniversary in high style.
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Most In Demand
Image Credit: Howard Wise/JPI Apparently, Bold & Beautiful black sheep Thomas is the only designer out there capable of capturing the essence of the Hope For the Future line. That’s good for him but crazy bad for the company!
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Most Doomed Couple
Image Credit: Peacock screenshot Sorry, but ask any Days of Our Lives viewer and they’ll tell you that “Harris and Hope” simply doesn’t roll off the tongue the way “Bo and Hope” does.
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Unlikeliest Heroine
Image Credit: ABC screenshot At first, we assumed General Hospital was having Esme fake her amnesia. But thanks to fantastic performances by Avery Kristen Pohl, we can’t help but feel sorry for Ace’s mom as one person after another fills her in on just how hateful she was. Can we keep this version of the character?
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Least Celebrated
Image Credit: Howard Wise/JPI What did Bold & Beautiful give Carter get for having devoted a decade of his life to Forrester Creations? A clock, a note and a handshake. The least they could have done is give him an office.
