The Best In Soaps 2016: ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Shines
An insidious takeover, daddy issues, Wall Street deceit. No, we’re not talking about presidential politics—it’s the best in soaps 2016!
Best Soap: The Bold and the Beautiful
There’s really no contest. CBS’s The Bold and the Beautiful continues to be daytime’s kickiest treat, luring us with corporate scandal and high-stakes emotions—how the hell did psycho mama Quinn (Rena Sofer, star of the year) end up married to megamogul Eric (John McCook, above, center with Sofer)?—and delivering the kind of jaw-dropping, tune-in-tomorrow moments that leave fans downright giddy. And the show shines like a precious jewel! The other three daytime serials (The Young and the Restless, General Hospital and Days of Our Lives) all struggle with slashed budgets and frantic shooting schedules, and it shows. But somehow B&B, hit with the same pain-in-the-ass restrictions, is fresh, gorgeous and constantly innovative. (Love that thrilling drone-cam!) These folks care, deeply, passionately, and they always go the distance. I can’t tell you how much that means to us soap nuts.
RELATED: B&B Boss Previews Seismic Shakeup at Forrester Creations
Best Actor: Billy Flynn, Days of Our Lives
This insanely gifted star dazzled us as Chad DiMera—the good-guy spawn of supervillain Stefano (the late Joseph Mascolo)—who was at war with his own toxic legacy and barely keeping it together as he mourned the sudden death of his wife and battled for custody of their child. Mark our words: Flynn (above, left), a former financial analyst for Warner Bros., is destined for greatness. So enjoy him now before you have to lay out big bucks to see him at your local multiplex!
RELATED: Days’ Wild Abby-Chad-Gabi Love Triangle
Best Actress: Melissa Reeves, Days of Our Lives
Many in soaps have played addiction stories, but none with more delicacy, nuance and bone-deep sadness than Reeves (above, right), whose sweetheart character, Jennifer Horton, descended into a living hell of painkillers and depression. Daytime Emmy voters tend to prefer fireworks, but this is the lady who should be taking home the gold.
Budig and Burton were on top of their game this year
Best Supporting Actor: Steve Burton, The Young and the Restless
With that fresh-from-the-gym bod and Mount Rushmore puss, it’s easy to dismiss him as yet another suds hunk getting by on machismo. But don’t be fooled. Burton’s year-end work as Dylan McAvoy, the hapless victim of a baby switch, was so subtly crafted and achingly poignant it can be summed up in just one word: perfection.
Best Supporting Actress: Rebecca Budig, General Hospital
As Hayden Barnes, the daughter of a Bernie Madoff–type con man who screwed thousands, Budig went from Port Charles pariah to romantic heroine in a fizzy, sexy transformation that’s simply intoxicating. Even Tracy Q (Jane Elliot), the town curmudgeon who pretty much hates everything and everybody, loves Hayden. That’s saying something.
Best Guest Star: Nichelle Nichols, The Young and the Restless
Nichols
The Star Trek icon was both regal and heartbreaking as Lucinda Winters, who reunited on her deathbed with Neil (a superb Kristoff St. John), the son she abandoned years ago when she was a hopeless drunk. Shame on Hollywood for not giving Nichols more opportunities like this! She is an acting powerhouse.
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Well this clinches it then: Mr. Logan has completely lost touch with reality. B&B is the most hackneyed, out-of-date, stuck-in-the-70s, repetitive, predictable, boring show on television, day or night.
Steve Burton has not changed the expression on his face or the tone in his voice since 1982. That's not acting; that's stealing a paycheck.
Finally, if I had a dime for every actor that Logan predicted would become the next big thing (see also: Tyler Christopher, Vanessa Marcil, etc. etc. etc.), I'd be richer than Burton.
Geesh, get a grip.
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Well, Vanessa marcil was kind of a big thing for a while (Beverly Hills and Las Vegas) at least compare to his other predictions.. Haha.
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I still have the page from TV Guide that I ripped out back in the mid 90s when Michael said Vanessa Marcil will be walking across the Oscar stage very soon. As much as I dreamed of that moment happening, it never did. I don't know how Steve was on Y&R, but I'm sure I can guess. However, Rebecca was the biggest dissapoitment of GH this year. I'm flabbergasted that she would even be considered best of the year on anyone's list!
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Nah on B & B as best soap. It is absolutely ridiculous with the repetitive dialogue and retconned, recycled stories. It's was painful to endure for most of 2016.
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omg totally!
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yep...but his other choices are as as lame as this one...
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Yes to Rebecca Budig because she is one of the brightest spots on GH lately. Can't comment on the rest, as I don't watch them.
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Yes, Dylan can be summed up in one word but the word is boring!
There is nothing exciting or compelling to watch about the character at all.
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Logan is some pathetic soap columnist who think all his 'opinion' is everybody's gospel...pathetic..
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My god michael logan and his BAD TASTE : puke to all his choices. And don't speak for the audience, michael the soa columnist (journalist even for entertainment you are not !)
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Hilarious that Michael thinks that Billy Flynn is actually going to be some big star instead of an actor who has a tendency to overact and is way overrated.
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Exactly how old is that pic of Steve Burton? He looked 10 yrs older than that when he left GH.
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That's what happens when you lose a lot of weight.
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So it's current? Wow. That is impressive. He was...bulky his last decade on GH.
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HateChel aka Rachel aka Hayden is an irrelevant character that should have never been cast on GH in the first place!
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Of course Liz fans hate her. She's the better more interesting grandchild of Steve hardy, the more compelling heir to the legacy that is Jeff Webber. Hayden is the "bad girl" who is truly generous where Liz is the "good girl" who is truly selfish. One is the perfect fit for wonderful Finn and the other belongs with freako Franco. And that's great as long as Liz doesn't change her mind and steal another husband.
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Please. HateChel bombed from day one and the show took over 18 months to try and make her relevant by tieing GreenME to a legacy family. Elizabeth came to town as a Hardy/Webber and has STAYED relevant by her own merit since 1997!
Tracy is now on prop duty as the show tries once again to force GreenME down our throats since she clearly bombed in the first place!
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Liz is only relevant now because she's being paired up (seemingly temporarily given the story) with the incredible roger Howarth. Just like he made ms's Nina tolerable and took HE from the greenest of newbies to a decent developing future leading lady, he is elevating Rebecca's game. Other than that, the character of Liz has been nothing more than a prop for other more interesting couples. Had the characters of Britt and nik stayed on canvas, Liz was not the love interest, she was the obstacle to overcome. She's been nothing more than a thorn in the side of jasam for YEARS where they trot her out here and there to muck up the works and then she goes back to lurking behind plotting plants or holding a clip board. And then there's the angsty moments that immediately lead to an actor exiting whether it be lucky, nik,aj, ewan or even the flirtation with matt. (Just like they can't seem to make Steven Lars or Sarah stick because the family chemistry isn't there making the resulting story dull as dirt). Once Leo left on amc, I couldn't stand green lee, so not only wasn't I some super fan, I wasn't even looking forward to her joining the already imho bloated gh cast but then Britt left the canvas and they needed someone powerful to pair with nik and to fill that good girl with a naughty streak void that Britt left behind. I was surprised by the immediate spark between budig and tc since I had been invested in the Britt pairing but the war of the roses dynamic was interesting. Then tc left and they had her spending time with Finn and sparring with Tracy - that's when I saw the true potential for the character. She's kind of what Brenda should have been as an adult rather than the "hot mess of a teen who never matured" character she became over the years. making hayden a hardy was the icing on the cake and it has given me a reason to finally want the return of Jeff Webber and a visit from a newly released Steve - something that felt like a waste before. I honestly don't get the animosity from the Liz fans because yeah you guys always seem to through shade at any actor or character you perceive as "stealing Liz's story", God knows I have been hearing that all the way back to Sarah's first appearance (Wahh why are they focusing so much on HER instead of....) but in this case budig finally gives Liz viable family. With Howarth also in the equation this is the most meaningful Liz has been to the canvas since she had a hand in getting Zander gunned down. Honestly at least they aren't writing her lying to an amnesia victim that had told her no to sex and/or a relationship just to get him to say yes. And who knows, if burton comes back Sam will get to choose which Jason she wants to keep and whichever one loses the woman they want, you might even get the scraps.
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I'd probably give the best soap to B&B as well since all soaps had a bad year, however, it was far from great. The only part of B&B that was great this year was Eric/Quinn pairing and all of the natural tension and storytelling that flowed from it. Other than that, we got the same old triangles: Bill-Katie-Brooke (done better 2-3 years ago) and Liam-Wyatt-Stephy (non-stop re-hash), the same surrogate story line from last year for the Avants, etc. The best moment was Katie's "Kiss of Death" speech to Brooke and best actress should probably go to Rena Sofer as she has been able to play Quinn through ridiculous story lines, like her marrying/divorcing Deacon for no reason and kidnapping/raping LIam.
As for MR for best actress for her 3 episode out-of-nowhere addiction story line, yeah no. And the fact that SB finally showed some acting ability recently with the baby reveal does not a best actor make. I'm OK with RB as Supporting Actress as she brings energy to the screen and is at least watchable. I think BF is a good actor, but I don't get the feeling that he is the second coming of Jesus like others do. That being said, he's a fellow MN boy, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Days was terrible for most of the year and only has been watchable since September. Y&R was OK and has improved over that last week, but nothing spectacular. GH has also just been humming along, not being terrible, but feeling like it's just doing enough to get by. Hopefully, all 4 soaps improve in 2017! .
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I agree with some of his choices. Love Billy Flynn.
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meh...the guy is hyped as the 'most wonderful hot thing in daytime land next to Leonardo Dicaprio in his prime' by his fans and the soap press..whereas he is just ...meh..average.
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i meant 'some' in the soap press like Michael Logan for example..lmao.
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didn't ask for your opinion. I am allowed to express mine.
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And me too, eyeroll and given you love Ej and Sami (a great soap pairing) , i thought you had better taste than that... My bad.
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yes you are allowed to have your own opinion but you certainly shouldn't attack me for having my own opinion.
There is no correlation between being a fan of ejami to being a fan of Billy Flynn. Don't criticize me for enjoying his acting.
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I also love Billy Flynn! He is truly a tremendous actor and riveting to watch. He somehow has chemistry with almost everyone he's in a scene with which, in my opinion, is a rare ability. Great choice!
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I do agree that B&B is the best soap, but don't agree with the other choices.
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I don't agree to any of these choices.
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NO to Burton and Reeves. The both are more boring than watching paint dry.
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to say the least..and Reeves is not leading lady, her lame addiction storyline was for about one or two episodes...and it was already too much...BORINNNNNNGGG
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Not everyone's opinion.
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I couldn't disagree more about some of these choices. B&B is a disaster.It's wash rinse repeat. Plus, people's love are as deep as a puddle. Quinn/Eric shag a handful of times & immediately are in love & Quinn;s changed? Pfft. Rachel Davis wasn't instantly changed by Mac after a handful of episodes. The vapid triangle of Liam/Steffy/Wyatt has eaten the show alive.Caridge/Batie destroyed for round #529 of Bridge.The Avants MIA
Best Actress is hands down Gina Tognoni. Brilliant sustained work as opposed to Reeves 3 day addiction story
Hayden's a heroine? Where? She's a haughty, selfish, hateful bitch with zero humility. I want to strangle her and/or slap her.That's no heroine IMO.
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