GOODBYE MARY BETH EVANS AND STEPHEN NICHOLS

Watching DAYS OF OUR LIVES today was rather masochistic.   Steve and Kayla's final scenes sucked royally, giving no opportunity for the actors to provide a sense of closure to their characters, thus depriving the viewer of a happy ending to a beloved couple.  Add to that Molly Burnett's childish whine as the annoying Melanie, the pain of seeing the fabulous Chelsea getting a storyline with Max as we know Rachel Melvin is leaving and Nicole's nightmare that stretched OVER A COMMERCIAL BREAK and it's no wonder I'm switching to ONE LIFE TO LIVE!

The aftermath of the Go Red ball was quite compelling, culminating in the discovery that Marty was lying next to the corpse of someone from I WANNA BE A SOAP STAR. Actually, I've completely forgotten his name but the actor did very well in his stint, certainly better than INTURN winner Ryan in ATWT.  The use of flashbacks was handled well, too.  Hooray for a show that screams confidence while other shows like DOOL seem ashamed to hold onto their best assets.

HARSH REALITY INTRUDES

As entertaining as ONE LIFE TO LIVE is nowadays, the scenes of Dorian firing people, complete with "You're fired" boxes and last paychecks, can't help but bother the Unemployed Household a bit. In a different way, I am saddened by the blind item in the last SOAP OPERA DIGEST which stated an actress who "hasn't caught on with fans" will be fired. I like everyone on OLTL, and today's cliffhanger made me fear that Talia or Sarah is getting a bullet in the head. I think Talia's days are numbered and Beth Ann Bonner will unfortunately become another I WANNA BE A SOAP STAR alumni who never becomes a soap star. Good thing Brody was wearing a tank top or else this blog could degenerate into unemployed misery.

GENERAL HOSPITAL was less depressing to me, because no one was getting laid off and Spinelli called Claudia "Daughter Of Darkness"! I wrote a few blogs back about how GH could just endlessly pair Spinelli with every character possible and I would be amused, and my theory was proven by the scenes with Spinelli and Claudia. I say have Claudia strike up an odd friendship with Spinelli; it would actually give her character one redeeming quality!