R.I.P. As the World Turns (aka My Ode to Soap Operas)

So, I'm supposed to be studying for my last final tomorrow (side note: yay!), but I'm proscrastinating. Also, I'm saddened by the news that CBS has cancelled As the World Turns. The last episode will air September 17, 2010 after 54 years. Once upon a time, especially in late middle school through early college, I eagerly waited to see what would happen next in Oakdale.

Though I haven't regularly watched the show in a few years, I hate that the genre is slowly dying. Guiding Light went off the air this fall after a 72-year, 15,762-episode run and the future looks pretty bleak for daytime serial television. My viewing timeline of GL was very similar to that of ATWT, which is fitting since they were considered "sister" shows. And while I was sad to see GL's cancellation, it didn't hit me as hard then as ATWT's has hit me now. Maybe it was because GL was virtually unrecognizable to me by the end of its run having been reduced to out-of-studio location shoots and shaky, single-held cameras as a means to cut costs. I did tune in for the very last episodes of GL. It was like saying good-bye to a long and faithful friend. I was pleased that it ended with the annual Bauer barbecue and the reunions of some of my favorite relationships/couples, especially the four Muskateers, Mallet and Dinah, Bill and Lizzie, and, of course, Josh and Reva.

This makes me wonder what will be in store for As the World Turns' final episodes. I dearly hope it centers around core characters and families and brings together the most cherished couples. I would especially love for the final words to be spoken by Nancy Hughes, played by Helen Wagner. Wagner, the only original cast member remaining, spoke the first words on the soap ("Good morning, dear") in 1956, and it would be fitting if she spoke the last.

I know soap operas get a bad rap, but their very nature makes them so fascinating. They are a unique television medium in that they tend to go on and on creating rich, vibrant histories. This is the reason they are so very different from primetime shows and the reason fans get so into them. People who watch soaps generally grow up watching soaps with their mothers or grandmothers. I grew up watching Days of our Lives with my mother and when I got older, I branched out to other soaps. Because it's on everyday year after year, the characters become familiar and viewers become unusually invested in their lives. While soaps today have fallen mightily from the deliciously campy, adventure-filled, love-in-the-afternoon, heydeys of the '80s and the more realistic, well-written, social awareness of the '90s, I still hate to see the genre die. And though General Hospital and All My Children are especially atrocious these days, I would never want these shows canceled mainly because, misguided or not, I still have hope for them to get better and become the shows I once loved. I think daytime can be revitalized and I draw such hope from the example set by One Live to Live, which, in my opinion, is the best in daytime. It's just soapy goodness. It helps that the show has hired a head writer that seems to sincerely love and, perhaps most importantly, respect the genre. As a result, the show has experienced a rebirth in quality storytelling. OLTL isn't perfect but it's generally well-written, respectful toward its history, and integrates the entire cast and canvas.

While I wasn't entirely surprised by the decision to cancel the show (ATWT has been hanging by a thread for a while now since producer Proctor & Gamble hasn't been exactly subtle about it's desire to get out of the soap business), I was most certainly disappointed. Lately, I have been checking in with ATWT once in a while since the news broke that Paul Leyden's Simon is returning, so I would be up-to-speed when Simon stepped back into Oakdale. Though Simon and Katie were the reason I first tuned into ATWT (they are still one of my top soap couples of all time), I became fond of the other Oakdale residents and was entralled in their lives, loves, joys, and heartbreaks. If you'll indulge me, I'd like to relive some of my favorite moments/couples/storylines.


-Simon and Katie's wedding of convenience. One of the funniest, most entertaining weddings in soap history. I wish I could find a clip of it. Seriously, it's up there with, though doesn't quite surpass, Sean and Tiffany (er, Elsie May Crumholtz)'s wedding from General Hospital.

-More Simon and Katie: Halloween. The airport. Simon admits he loves Katie. Katie teases Simon with her superstitions. First Halloween anniversary. The real wedding. The cottage. Simon begs Katie to live when she flatlines after donating part of her liver to sister Margo. I really wish I could find the scenes of Simon and Katie in the opera house basement in Malta as they are probably my favorites, but alas.

-Hunt Block's snarky and dastardly Craig Montgomery. I loved Block's Craig with Cady McClain's Rosanna.

-Paul and Rose: I loved Scott Holroyd's Paul (I still prefer his Paul to Roger Howarth's version) with Rose. They just sparkled. First meeting. The gazebo. First date. Engaged.

-Trent Dawson's Henry Coleman and his hilarious, partners-in-crime-turned-best-friendship with Katie.

-Hal Munson's death. How I loved Hal. The sadness surrounding his death was exaccerbated by the fact that it resulted from his portrayer Benjamin Hendrickson's suicide. Jesse Soffer's performance as Will Munson was especially moving. I loved his entire run as Will. He was one of the best actors the show produced. And that's not damning with faint praise. This is a show that launched the careers of Meg Ryan and Julianne Moore in addition to employing one of the best casts in daytime.

-Dusty and Lucy: It started at the warehouse. Hiding. The charm. Dusty comforts Lucy at the Oakdale PD. First kiss. "I could drown in you." Dusty saves Lucy. Breakfast in bed. Courtyard break-up.

-Jack and Carly's Montana wedding and Jack is Sage's father.

-Luke comes out to Holden and Lily.

-Lucinda's cancer.

-Paul and Meg in the cabin. Before they spiraled into a mess of suck. This was also the only time I cared about Roger Howarth's Paul.

-Luke and Noah: First and second kisses. First time.


Also, some iconic memories I've only seen via YouTube.

-The fabulous Lisa Grimaldi.

-Bob and Kim.

-Julianne Moore's dual roles of Frannie and Sabrina Hughes.

-Teenaged Lily and Holden first meet in the Walsh stables. I really wish I could find the scene where Holden drops down from the loft and Lily is left speechless. That's one of the most recognizable moments from the show.

-Steve and Betsy's wedding. (Betsy Stewart was played by future America's sweetheart Meg Ryan.)

-Old school Tom and Margo, played by Justin Deas and Margaret Colin.

-Scott Bryce's vulnerable and tortured Craig Montgomery. His Craig was best with Finn Carter's Sierra and is likely Craig's best pairing period.

-Margo pulling Casey off life support.

-Jack and Carly in Teague's cabin.



I know there are plenty more, but it's hard to get them all when a show has a decades long history. Luckily (and hopefully), these will all live on via the wonder that is YouTube.

If It's Not Broken, Don't Fix It!

Just a quick post as I'm preparing for my first test of the semester, but I thought this couldn't wait. I love Ralph Lauren. Really, I do. I know I've complained about this more than once, but this big pony thing is getting out of hand. Check out what I found in my e-mail this morning with the subject "New Big Pony Styles In Fresh Fall Colors."





I guess "Better than ever" is subjective. Please, Ralph (can I call you Ralph?), stop while you're ahead. There are better ways to update your polos than with ... this. Why ruin a perfectly good polo with this monstrosity? Really, I want to know. Inquiring minds are screaming out, "Whyyyyy?!"*


*I know what happened to Nancy Kerrigan was awful and not funny, but, let's be honest with ourselves here, that soundbite is never not funny.

I Think I'm Finally Ready To Talk About It

So, it's been over a week since that awful Wednesday evening when Anoop was kicked off America Sucks American Idol. It took a week of bitterness but I think I'm finally OK with it. Still not overly happy because when I think about that damn judge's save, I still get a little rage-y. But I've accepted it and I'm ready to move on. I know, that's what really matters. Anyway, Anoop seems to be taking it extremely well. His interviews have all been gracious and charming. I especially loved this one. It helped kickstart my healing process. So good for him! I hope he does well. Alright, I think that's enough of my melodramatics for now.

I did go to the Clef concert last Saturday. It was really good. Probably the best one I've been to, and I've been to every single one since I was a sophomore. They released their new CD, Twist. It's pretty great. I highly recommend it. You can check out a bunch of their performances on YouTube.

Also, Monday was the last day of classes and I attended the last class of my undergraduate career! So sad. I have one more exam for the semester and then...GRADUATION! I still have mixed feelings. The whole thing has been very bittersweet. I didn't realize when I came to Chapel Hill just how much I would love the town and the university. Well, it's been a great four years.

Now it's time for my cruise!

More on the Snoguration!

See what I did there? Snow + Inauguration = Snoguration!

Ahem.

This week the South shut down (as usual) once the big, bad snow arrived! Well, parts of North Carolina and Virginia did anyway. (Aside: Can we even consider Virginia and North Carolina Southern states anymore since they went Democratic in the election? Have the other Southern states voted us out yet?) It never ceases to amaze me how Southerners freak when even the tiniest flurry is predicted. (They clearly did not spent their childhood Christmas vacations in Cleveland much less stepped foot in Minnesota! Let me know when the snow is knee or even waist deep!) Chapel Hill was no exception. In all fairness, this was a lot of snow (for the South). We got about 4-5 inches. That's more than I've seen around here in years. So, this time, closings were necessary given buying two dozen snow plows is not a practical application of local capital in North Carolina.

So when the snow started coming down Monday night, my roommate and I were sure, given the weather forecast, the university would close on Tuesday. Can't have students walking or commuting to campus in a Southern blizzard! So when we awoke Tuesday morning to check the administration's decision, we discovered that the University hates us and we would not be sleeping in. I know! So we (begrudgingly) slid walked to campus. It was ridiculous. Only once we were in our 8:00am class did the University send people to shovel snow and spread salt. You know, after we already risked our lives getting to class. Then, to top it off, the University decided to cancel classes starting at 3:30pm. 3:30! That's in the afternoon! What's wrong with this school?! I was pissed. Apparently, I wasn't the only disgruntled one.

Anyway, here are some snapshots I took of the Snoguration (including a massive snowball fight and the hundreds of people who watched the big event in the Great Hall), the only good thing to come out of the University's indecisiveness.

ABC Hates Me

How is it that shows like Rules of Engagement, According to Jim, and Grey's Anatomy (you read that right, Grey's hasn't been interesting in two years and it's officially jumped the shark!) continue to pollute the airwaves, yet quality television programming gets the ax?! Why am I in such despair? You see ABC, in its infinite wisdom, has decided to cancel two of my shows. I know! The nerve! So, it is with deep sadness that I bid them farewell.

RIP Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money. I will cherish your few remaining episodes.




Pushing Daisies: You were a whimsical wonderland. Every episode made me smile from the sheer cuteness that radiated from my television screen. OK, also because of the hotness of Lee Pace as Ned the Piemaker. I will miss your quirky ways and your awesomely obscure references. I will never again wonder if Ned and Chuck will accidently bump into each other while rounding a corner. No longer will Emerson's greed, cynicism, and mastery of one-liners give me joy. Finally, Olive. Oh, Olive and her unrequited love for Ned. I will miss her spunk and apparent aversion to crewnecks.




Dirty Sexy Money: I didn't watch a second of season one, but ended up being sucked into this show this fall since it came on after Private Practice (yes, I watch that mess, don't judge!). It is pure soapy goodness. A guilty pleasure done right. It's what should have been the Dallas or Dynasty of this generation. It did soap better than every single one of the daytime dramas. And believe me, I'm no stranger to daytime. Judging! Stop! What will fill the void in my life for delicious soapy drama?! Well, you know, other than the über-awesome Gossip Girl? And the sometimes-awesome, but really more hit-or-miss Desperate Housewives? Isn't it enough that daytime is currently circling the drain? Why get rid of one of the good bits of soap in my life? Why have you slighted me again, soap gods?!


Serves me right, I suppose. After the loss of my beloved Men in Trees, I knew I shouldn't trust ABC. Fool me once...

Oh, but before I go I should mention that there is one bright spot on ABC. And that is the wonderful American adaptation of the British drama Life on Mars. I was vaugely familiar with Jason O'Mara because of his brief appearance in Band of Brothers (I'm a sucker for nearly anything WWII-related), but I forgot just how smoking hot he was until this show thrust itself into my life by being fortunate enough to take the timeslot after Grey's Anatomy. Finally, something good came from my roommate continuing to watch that drivel! So ABC gets some credit for keeping his beautiful face on my television screen. If you don't watch this show, watch it. Please! After all ABC has done to me, I don't think I could handle losing Jason O'Mara this show from my life too!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to see a professional for my over-attachment to these shows.