The internet radio show, Stardish Radio, also had a two-hour episode discussing the best and worst of the soap world. A couple people called in throughout the show, and special guest Michael Fairman discussed his choices as well. It was pretty insightful but also a bit rushed since they couldn't go into overtime so easily like podcasts can. And there were plenty of interesting categories.
You can listen to the episode here: Best & Worst with Michael Fairman
Since not all of the categories were covered, you can check out Michael's site for the rest of his picks: Michael's Best & Worst
I followed along with the show, making my own picks again. And looking at Michael's site, I made picks in categories that the show didn't get to. There were a few I left out, but most of them I have covered. There are a couple categories that were also featured on Daytime Confidential. I think most of the categories are different and will make you think about who you'd choose. This list is also ABC-soap-heavy since I haven't been a regular GL & ATWT viewer in a while.
Best Comeback(s): Debbi Morgan & Darnell Williams (Angie & Jesse, AMC) - The story that ensued after their return wasn't great, but it's all about the moment they first saw each other after being apart for 20 years. That moment at the train station... Jesse rushed off the train. Angie turned at just the right time to see him through the train's smoke. And it was this perfect moment when they came together with Alicia Keys' "Like You'll Never See Me Again" playing. The next few episodes they were alone together in every way that counts. Beautiful return!
Florencia Lozano (Tea, OLTL) - I LOVE TEA! I looked forward to her return but not to seeing her with Todd. (Tea has only interacted with Roger Howardth's Todd.) To my surprise I have loved every second of her being back, and most of her scenes have been with Todd. Florencia makes one fabulous attorney even though I don't agree with Tea defending Todd. Despite all of what Todd put her through, she is back in Lanview with a backbone. No one can take her down, and I love it!
Worst Comeback: Rebecca Budig (Greenlee, AMC) - It all started with those promos advertising Rebecca as the "real" Greenlee. Terrible for ex-Greenlee Sabine Singh. And it went downhill from there. Rebecca had bad story throughout her entire return. Greenlee almost died of root poisoning, which was preposterous. She was with Aiden, and they didn't have any chemistry. She moved on from Aiden back to Ryan too quickly. Two bad pairings were what Rebecca was stuck with.
Most Underrated Actor: Cornelius Smith Jr. (Frankie, AMC) - He has been put to task by sharing scenes with the great Darnell Williams, Debbi Morgan, Ricky Paull Goldin, and Beth Ehlers. And he shined in all of those scenes with those & other actors. He amazes me; I believe he has a great future with this show. Cornelius has become a fine actor, and I don't think he gets enough praise.
Most Underrated Actress: Carolyn Hennesy (Diane, GH) - She does not get the credit she deserves, at least not by TPTB. Every time she is on screen she is phenomenal. You do not turn away when Diane is on because she steals the show. Place her with Alexis, she's funny. Place her with Sonny, she's tough. Place her with ANYONE, she's fantastic. She needs more material. I believe she could handle anything.
Moment of the Year (Male): AMC's Tad (Michael E. Knight) meeting his daughter, Kate - We fans had long known that Kathy, Julia's "niece", was Tad & Dixie's mistakenly-given-up daughter, Kate. It just took over a year for Tad to find out. Through the power of Dixie's spiritual intervention, Tad & Kate were finally united. And the scenes where Tad talked to Kate/Kathy were so moving and something that all Tad/Dixie fans were waiting for. Michael did an awesome job as Tad connected with the daughter that he & Dixie always wanted.
Moment(s) of the Year (Female): OLTL's Jessica saying goodbye to Nash - Bree Williamson drove me to tears when Jessica had to say goodbye to her husband, Nash. I wasn't a big Nash/Jessica fan, but his death was heartbreaking. I don't believe he had to die to leave the show, but it produced amazing scenes. Jessica had such a tearful farewell with him, and he couldn't even speak. She also brought in their daughter and told him she was pregnant. Bree just blew me away and made me cry.
OLTL's Marcie giving up Tommy - At the very beginning of the year there was the huge climax to the Todd/Tommy/Marcie story. Marcie was driven to extremes when she got cornered in the Bonjour Cafe. She took Viki hostage and remained determined to keep "running" with little Tommy (aka Sam). Husband Michael got in and made her realize she had to surrender Tommy to Todd. Kathy Brier did a fabulous job portraying a desperate adoptive mom coming to terms with having no other option but to give up her son.
Best Performance(s) by a Duo: We've got my two favorite pairs here.
AMC's Tad & Dixie's heavenly reunion - I enjoyed this so much. Michael E. Knight and Cady McClain are wonderful together, and seeing just the two of them in all their scenes was a real treat. It was bittersweet to watch what Tad & Dixie's life could have been like raising their daughter, Kate. All of their scenes were touching; Michael and Cady are still magical together. It was sad to see them letting each other go at the end. Their goodbye was painful, and we need Dixie back alive & Cady back full-time.
GL's Gus & Harley's farewell - This time I'm talking about their real goodbye in the hospital before Gus had (unsuccessful) surgery. Gus laid there in the hospital bed connected to machines and stuff. Harley came in to see him, and they had some sweet words. When it was time for him to go into surgery, Harley realized that he most likely won't make it. And they said the most beautiful, heartbreaking words... Harley: "...You're the love of my life forever and ever and ever and ever, okay..." Gus: "...You're the love of my life too." Ricky Paull Goldin and Beth Ehlers had the magic again!
Worst Couple: Aiden & Greenlee (AMC) - Yuck, yuck, yuck! It's not the actors faults, but they just don't have any chemistry. Aiden & Greenlee were together most of the year, and I couldn't stand them. They're just not good together. And Greenlee was too wishy-washy when she was happy with him.
Paul & Meg (ATWT) - I only saw the show once this year, and this pair was on. They were boring as hell! They were boring when I was watching over a year ago. And I've heard nothing but dislike from the Daytime Confidential podcast. Paul and Meg are completely BORING together!
Best Couple: Rex & Gigi (OLTL) - This is a repeat choice from "Version 1". To keep it short, I love them. They have so much chemistry. I was rooting for them through all their obstacles. They are electric and adorable and so in love. I enjoy seeing them be a family with Shane.
Bianca & Reese (AMC) - The writing for them is terrible, and I hate that Reese is teetering on the bisexual realm. The reason they're a "best couple" is because they're so loving together. I love their hugging, kissing, and other affections. It's also refreshing to see a gay couple with a baby and plans to get married. And it was nice to see Bianca happy.
Character You Originally Liked But Ended Up Hating: This was extremely tough because I don't really hate anyone. I choose AMC's Colby Chandler simply because she was recasted. Amber Childers started out as a bratty Colby, but she improved so much. I began liking her, and I don't understand why she was let go. Brianne Moncrief took over as Colby, and she can't act. Colby is a bore, and I can't stand watching her.
Character You Originally Hated But Ended Up Liking: Lizzie Spaulding (GL) - I had always hated Lizzie, with both Crystal Hunt & Marcy Rylan portraying her. She was such a spoiled brat. And I understand that THAT is who she was, but it was annoying. By having a child, though, Lizzie grew up. I completely understand now how pivotal a character she is. When I do watch GL, I enjoy seeing her. She's especially good with Bill.
Worst Storyline: Besides GL's Gus and Harley's horribly separate triangles (explained in "Version 1"), there was GH's text-message killer. There was no point to this, and it seemed to last too long. Characters were killed that shouldn't have been (IE: Georgie, Emily). To make it worse was the killer's reveal - Diego Alcazar. It made no sense why he would murder people, and he wasn't someone people cared much about.
Best Storyline: Besides GH Night Shift's Robert's colon cancer (explained in "Version 1"), Starr's pregnancy on OLTL was groundbreaking and remarkable. OLTL fans have watched Starr grow up with the same actress, Kristen Alderson, portraying her. Seeing her have sex for the first time and learn she was pregnant were startling. It made for great story because it was still Kristen in the role. TPTB could have taken the easy way out, but instead we endured a full 9-month pregnancy right along with Starr. Each step brought amazing scenes for every teenager & parent to see.
Worst-Written Soap: Guiding Light - I have heard that it improved over the past year. I believe it. But the beginning of the year was a tragedy. Josh and Cassie were still together, and Josh became a minister. Gus and Harley were literally kept separated from each other. Harley stole Marina's boyfriend. Rafe & Daisy were boring. Olivia had a secret heart disease. Sometimes there wasn't any talking in scenes, and a lot of scenes had people doing nothing. Having four head writers doesn't help.
Best-Written Soap: One Life To Live - Everything seamed together... There were compelling stories, witty dialogue, character-driven actions, amazing scenes, etc. The writing has been the best I've ever seen. Everything made sense this past year, even the Todd/Marty story, which made more sense with the fall-out. Even though the Mendorra and 1968 stories weren't loved by all, I believe they still kept all fans hooked. It was a semi-perfect year for Ron Carlivati's writing team.
Best Recast: Ricky Paull Goldin as AMC's Jake Martin - Jake was always a pretty boring, listless character in my opinion. Ricky Paull has put spark into Jake and just shines in the role. Ricky is a refreshing addition to AMC and has such a wonderful energy about him. He has made Jake his own already and has chemistry with everyone. Love him as Jake!
Worst Recast: Brianne Moncrief as AMC's Colby Chandler - Like I said earlier, I do not understand WHY Colby was recasted. Amber Childers grew into the role and improved as an actress. Colcy became someone to root for. WHY recast her? Colby has been dumbed down and is pointless since Brianne took over. Brianne can't act and can put you to sleep. She should be let go to take acting lessons.
Over-The-Top Acting: Laura Wright (Carly, GH) - I love her as Carly, and I had a tough time with this category. But there were times over the course of 2008 that Carly was annoying. So many times was Carly/Laura yelling at whoever she was talking to (Jason, Sonny, Jax, Kate, etc). Yikes! She needs to take it down a notch sometimes. I understand the fire in Carly, but she doesn't need to be screaming all the time.
Worst Decision made by an Executive Producer: Ellen Wheeler changing GL's production model - In February 2008 all scenes became filmed using cheap hand-held cameras in real houses & buildings at Peapack, NJ. At first the cameras were up in the actors' faces too much, but it has improved. However, I still do not think the production should have changed. It hasn't helped save the show, and the sets are poor. GL doesn't even look like a soap anymore.
Best Decision made by an Executive Producer: AMC's TPTB snatching up Ricky Paull Goldin - One week I was reading about him leaving GL, and the next I was reading about him joining AMC as Jake. Great move on AMC's part because Ricky is such an amazing actor. He's doing a wonderful job as Jake. AMC's executives made a smart decision even if it was to stick it to Procter & Gamble and Barabara Bloom (president of CBS daytime).
Best Breaking News: Andrea Evans' return to OLTL - This is a personal favorite of mine; I couldn't think of something that affected the whole soap world. I had been wanting Andrea Evans' to return for a while, and with the cancellation of Passions I had hope. I was excited about the news of her return, and it was a major thing for her to go back to her old soap stomping ground. The reason she left was because she had a stalker. She obviously dealt with that, and she was ready to play Tina again. Every moment of Tina was enjoyable even though her story wasn't up to par.
Worst Breaking News: Drake Hogestyn & Deidre Hall fired from DAYS - John and Marlena is Days Of Our Lives best supercouple. Every soap fan near & far know who they are. Everyone knows who Drake & Deidre are. I've never been a regular viewer/fan of DAYS, and I know how huge they are! It was shocking to read that they were fired. FIRED! This is terrible because it's something that rocks the entire soap world. It means that no one is safe from being axed, and DAYS could eventually be canceled. Two major stars fired brings consequences.
Worst Performance by an Actress: Justis Bolding (Sarah, OLTL) - I like her, and I think she's a better Sarah than the previous one (when Sarah went by Flash). Here's the "but": when Christian suddenly spotted Sarah from an airplane after she had gone over a waterfall, she wasn't very traumatized. Justis hardly acted at all. She did not do a good job playing someone who had a terrifying, life-and-death experience. Sarah looked fine, and acted like she was simply lost in the woods.
Worst Performance by an Actor: Aidan Turner (Aiden, AMC) - He's bad pretty much all the time. I can't stand him or his accent. You can't understand him half the time. His lines come off as gibberish sometimes because of his thick accent. And I don't see the need for him on AMC anymore; Aiden's just a pointless character.
Most Irritating Couple: OLTL's Tess Brennan - She's was great her first time around, but this second time she became so annoying. She was all about getting back at Natalie & Jared for Nash dying. And it just lasted a bit too long. It's like she was all talk and no action. Natalie was in the secret room FOREVER before Tess had that bomb to kill her. Also, Tess seemed to complain and yell all the time. So annoying!
GH's Jerry Jax - I NEVER liked him, and I NEVER bought that he was the real Jerry Jax. He did horrible things to people throughout his whole time on the show. And yet he romanced Alexis , the District Attorney & my favorite character, while STILL being a criminal. He was annoying because he never paid for his crimes, and I didn't care for his accent.
Worst New Character: OLTL's Vanessa - Can't stand her at all! She is so irritating and terrible to watch. I don't like her with Christian. They don't have any chemistry, and she practically stole him from Sarah. I don't care about her, especially since we're discovering that she killed Lola's mother instead of Ray. Hopefully, she's on her way out of town soon.
Best New Character: AMC's Taylor Thompson - This is obviously a biased choice because I LOVE Beth Ehlers. I really do enjoy Taylor, though, because she's so unlike the other females on the show. She isn't glamorous. She's her own tough person, and she really knows how to defend herself. She's a breath of fresh air. I'm eager to see her interact with more characters and become central to the show.
GH's Olivia Falconeri - What spunk she has! I was glad GH finally decided to explain who Olivia is, but I wasn't quite ready for another new character. That feeling didn't last long, though. I've enjoyed Olivia since day one just like her cousin, Kate Howard, when she first arrived. And the two of them together are explosive! Olivia is a force to be reckoned with. GH has found gold in Lisa LoCicero.
Worst Character: Natalia Rivera (GL) - I believe with this category I didn't feel like thinking too much, so I took the easy way out. Choosing Natalia is a total personal bias because she helped keep my favorite couple, Gus & Harley, apart. And that was only the beginning of the year; she might have improved now. But at the time I could not stand the sight of her. She was somewhat annoying, and I never accepted her with Gus. I wish she never came to town.
Best Character: Jake Martin (AMC) - Yum, yum, yum! I've enjoyed every moment of him because Ricky Paull Goldin is SO GOOD! So freakin' brilliant! Jake has chemistry with everyone he talks to. He's adorable with Taylor, Tad, and Frankie. He has so much potential and is a ton of fun to watch. He was such a treat in 2008.
Nora Buchanan (OLTL) - I've enjoyed her throughout the past year too. She had so many great scenes with Bo, Clint, Dorian, Tea, Cole, etc. Hilary B. Smith hits it out of the park every time. Nora's tough, funny, smart, and just plain wonderful. I'm so glad she finally got some storyline again.
Best Special Episode: OLTL's 40th anniversary - Two shows of Viki in heaven (again) and Dorian being "haunted" by Mel. It was all amazing! Viki encountered her niece, Megan (played by Erin Torpey, ex-Jessica), Asa, Ben, and "God" - Agnes Nixon (OLTL's creator). It was an emotional, poignant journey. Meanwhile, Mel had to coax Dorian into bringing Viki back to life, and their scenes made me remember how great they are together. And the Rex/Bo 1968 story began as well, which was hilarious.
AMC's tribute to Eileen Herle/Myrtle Fargate - Simply beautiful! Myrtle was a matriarch of the show, and sadly, she died in real life. So, she had to pass away on the show too. In the episode, Myrtle had left gifts for Erica, Opal, Bianca, and Zach that brought numerous flashbacks. People like Amanda, Frankie, and even Kelly Tyler visited Myrtle's Boarding House. And then everyone gathered at Zach's new casino, which was decorated like a carnival in honor of Myrte's circus days. It was a very moving show, and even Agnes Nixon (also AMC's creator) made an appearance.
Best Actor: Robert S. Woods (Bo, OLTL) - He was amazing as always this past year. He deserves an Emmy one of these years. He had scenes with Nora back in January or February in which they hashed out what went wrong with them and why he still can't get over it. He was brilliant. And he stood his ground when confronting Clint and Jared during everything going on with Buchanan Enterprises. He was hilarious with Rex during the 1968 storyline. Robert has a full range of emotions; he never ceases to amaze me.
Best Actress: Susan Haskell (Marty, OLTL) - She wasn't that great when she returned, lying around and falling for Todd. Once Marty discovered Todd's lies, she completely bounced back. Susan stunned me, and she has been phenomenal through the whole "rapemance" fallout. Marty doesn't know who she is, and she hates Todd with a passion. Susan has nailed every scene during Todd's hearing and dealing with everyone Marty doesn't remember (Nora, Cole, Blair, etc). I had no idea how powerful an actress she really is.
Biggest Waste of Talent: Ricky Paull Goldin and Beth Ehlers (Jake and Taylor, AMC) - They both left GL, and ABC snatched them up with every intention of making them a couple. Before Beth arrived, Ricky's Jake was roaming around without much of a story. There was more for him once Taylor came on. Jake & Taylor inched their way closer, but Brot's arrival put a damper on that. And now they're walking around without much to do. For pretty much most of 2008 their story wasn't much. So, two powerful actors are on AMC, and nothing is going on with them. Why bother hiring them at all if you're not going to use them?
Worst Special Effects: All My Children's Tornado - It was cheesy; it just didn't look real enough. You could tell by the actors and sets that the dark skies & tornadoes weren't really there. The tornado chasing Zach's car looked cool, but overall, the tornado stuff did not work well. And I didn't really care about The Comeback Bar's damage (Babe's injuries especially).
Best Special Effects: AMC's Jesse/Angie wedding drama - The roof shots with the helicopter were pretty cool. The background buildings and everything seemed real. There was so much great suspense surrounding these effects. I cared about what was going on with Jesse, Angie, Tad, Jake, and Rob Gardner. And Darnell Williams/Jesse looked awesome leaping over the building to reach the helicopter.
Best Soap: One Life To Live - It has it all: writing, acting, sets, music, etc. Everything is working and meshing well together on that show. Kudos to the wonderful actors, head writer Ron Carlivati, and exec producer Frank Valentini. Check out "Version 1" for further explanation.
Worst Soap: All My Children - It has phenomenal actors, but they're not being used right. We have a bunch of choppy storylines. And I think it's sinking fast! Kudos to exec producer Julie Hanan Carruthers and head writer Chuck Pratt Jr to wrecking & bringing this show down. Check out "Version 1" for further explanation.
Best New Actor/Actress: Mark Lawson (Brody, OLTL) - He is awesome! OLTL found brilliance with him. I was worried about him coming on because he would be another obstacle for Rex & Gigi. But he caught on quick. Brody is a great complex character that meshes so well with Rex, Gigi, Adrianna, and most recently Jessica. He proved to be a fascinating obstacle for Rex & Gigi with his Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Mark brings it to the table in every scene, and I hope he sticks around.
Best Actor in a New Role on Another Soap: Jason Cook (Matt, GH) - This one was tough because there aren't too many actors playing new roles on my shows. So, Jason Cook gets it because Matt has become a likable guy and Jason is working his way into GH well. I saw him a little on Days Of Our Lives, so I knew he's a good actor. I was worried about TPTB throwing Matt with Maxie right away. Thank God that didn't happen, and it's great that he's Patrick's brother. But he needs more story.
Best Actress in a New Role on Another Soap: Tamara Braun (Reese, AMC) - I love her from her GH years, so I knew it would be a treat to watch her again. I'm thrilled she's on AMC playing Bianca's love interest. Tamara plays the hell out of this role, and I buy her as a bisexual (since it seems that Reese isn't 100% lesbian). She clicks with this cast. I enjoy her scenes with Erica, Zach, and whoever else she's with. Reese/Tamara is someone to watch.
Most Shocking Plot Twist: Tea defending Todd (OLTL) - This is a personal shock. Obviously, it's not a major shock (like Bess stealing Starr's baby), but it made my mouth drop. I knew that Tea would be returning in December, and I'm sure it's just a short stint. I didn't know WHY she was returning, and I was hoping she wouldn't interact too much with Trever St. John (the Todd recast). To my surprise she was (sort of) back to DEFEND Todd against the charges of raping Marty again. I did not think that ANYONE would be on Todd's side in this case. So, the fact that Tea is blew my mind.
Sluttiest Male: Cyrus Foley (GL) - He went from Marina to her aunt Harley FAST, and at one point he was kind of with both of them at the same time. He cheated on Harley with her best friend Cassie. He went from Marina to Harley to Cassie within just a couple months. He really knows how to get around, doesn't he?
Sluttiest Female: Amanda Dillon (AMC) - This goes along with the Glittery Hoo Hoo category in "Version 1". Amanda was with Jake, then David, and then JR. She moves fast. She dated Jake for about two months. After that, she tangled dangerously with David. She got very close to JR thanks to her deal with David. So, she's the best fit for this category.
Best Guest Performance(s): Stephen Markle (Mel, OLTL) - His return for the OLTL 40th anniversary episodes was brilliant. Mel has been gone a long time, and I had forgotten how much spark he has with Dorian. The two of them are such a treat. Mel only had scenes with Dorian, and they were the comic relief of those episodes as Viki had her emotional journey in heaven. Mel is sorely missed, and Stephen truly brought it during the 40th anniversary.
Agnes Nixon (AMC & OLTL) - We fans were spoiled the past year! Agnes, the creator of All My Children and One Life To Live, appeared on both shows! She was a lovely, graceful gem on both of them too. On OLTL she played herself in the 40th anniversary episodes, acting as God in Viki's heavenly trip. She was the icing on the cake out of everyone in heaven. On AMC after the tornado drama she played Aggie, a ghostly figure carrying around a book & acting as if she founded the town (or something like that). She was a strong presence on both shows and did a phenomenal job.
Best Performance(s) by a Vet Who Never Gets a Story: Catherine Hickland (Lindsay, OLTL) - She is one of the best. She was riveting when we finally learned that Lindsay killed Spencer Truman. Catherine brought her all during the murdering flashbacks and when everyone found out Lindsay did it. It was when Lindsay accepted The Woman of the Year award, and you know that couldn't go on without a hook. Catherine again never ceased to amaze me.
Leslie Charleson & Stuart Damon (Monica & Alan, GH) - During GH's special Christmas episode a gift was left for Monica: a pair of glasses that she never wanted to wear. She had bickered with Alan in the past about them. When she put them on, she could see Alan. Of course, he's been around for a while, but Monica could never see or hear him. Christmas magically brought them together again, and it was moving for all Quartermaine fans. Kudos to Leslie and Stuart for showing one reason why Alan should never have been killed off in the first place.
Worst Business Story: Anything involving Fusion (AMC) - This business has gone down the tubes. No one cares about Fusion anymore. With Kendall & Greenlee running it again last year, there was NO work being done. All I saw was snacking and ugly pole-dancing. When Erica took over, the whole place became a horribly bright white. At least she's trying to get some work done, but it still isn't interesting.
Best Business Story: The Buchanan Enterprises takeover (OLTL) - This was too good! This was the climax to the Jared-pretending-to-be-a-Buchanan story. We knew Dorian was plotting something since she discovered Jared's fraud, and we knew how much turmoil the Buchanan family would endure once they knew the truth. So, in grand fashion at a major benefit Dorian announced her takeover of BE and that Jared was really Charlie's son. What a bang!
Best Actor who has too much Material to Juggle & Makes it all Look Good: Trever St. John (Todd, OLTL) - He had a TON of material in 2008 with Starr's pregnancy and the rapemance with Marty. The rapemance fallout brought a lot too. Trever nailed it out of the park in every scene. He did not make romancing Marty look good, but everything else was fabulous to watch. The way Todd dealt with Starr, Cole and everyone during the Marty fallout - you couldn't not watch. Trever is powerful.
Best Actress who has too much Material to Juggle and Makes it all Look Good: Kirsten Storms (Maxie, GH) - She was on almost every single day, or so it seemed, last year. She may not have had huge storylines, but she had tons of material. She's usually a joy to watch. Maxie has so much spunk and energy, just like a regular young adult. She's fast-talking, social, and a busy bee. She's everywhere with (almost) everyone. And Kirsten makes it all good. You can't help but love her.
Best Goody Two-Shoes Character Showing a Backbone: GL's Marina Cooper - During the triangle with Cyrus and Aunt Harley, I believe it was Cyrus who told her about his feelings for & sleeping with Harley. Marina had been a pretty weak, sappy character with Mandy Bruno portraying her. But she finally got some toughness in her when she was face-to-face with Harley. Marina wasn't about to go soft on her. She railed Harley and tore her down. Mandy finally showed some powerful acting, and Marina showed that she can truly defend herself & get angry at someone.
Best Socially Conscious Effort: Starr's pregnancy (OLTL) - As explained in the "Best Storyline" category, Starr was pregnant a full 9 months. The writers displayed every step of her pregnancy and what she was feeling. She was only 16, and this baby changed her life forever. OLTL made a real effort to reach out to teenagers & parents and educate them. Kristen Alderson kept a blog each week, writing about happenings in the story and encouraging teens & parents to communicate with each other about sex. OLTL told a teen pregnancy story without preaching what the "right" choice is; they showed multiple sides of the situation. And they pulled it off wonderfully.
