Favorite YouTube Soap Videos

Is this a kissing book?

2010-01-11T16:31:00.002-05:00

OLTL: Todd and Blair, Christmas 1994- The start of it all

2008-11-27T01:14:00.003-05:00

Blair: There are no rules, except no love. No love, no love.
Todd: No problem.

As an experienced soap fan, I knew that the one thing they swore off would be exactly what would happen.

Part One
Part Two

OLTL Todd and Blair: Home

2008-11-22T23:54:00.004-05:00

For whatever reason, the creator of this video doesn't want it embedded. Fair enough, but I really love this sweet video about my favorite soap sociopath and the woman who loved him.

OLTL Todd and Blair: Home

Another World Ryan's Death pt 1

2008-11-22T23:47:00.001-05:00

A real tear-jerker.

OLTL's Todd and Blair: Being Bad

2008-11-22T22:16:00.001-05:00

This is my own soap fanvid, starring old-school Todd and Blair from One Life to Live.

2008-11-22T22:05:00.001-05:00

I don't have much time for blogs, but I figure linking videos is just about the easiest thing I could do. I watch more soap-related videos on YouTube than anything else, so why not chronicle it?

One Life to Live- Best Soap of the Moment

2008-01-12T01:25:00.000-05:00

01/11/08
Great episodes this week. Viki/Marcie scenes were particularly good and intense. Chris Stack really proved to be a great recast and I think he and Kathy Brier work well together. I also appreciated that there were a lot of laughs to balance out the sturm und drang. And it looks like the hostage crisis will end next week.

01/10/08
Another well done episode. My sister made fun of me for looking so concerned about Viki, but it was only because KB did such a good job of making think Marcie was completely nuts. I mean, I knew Viki was going to be okay, but I was still worried, a sign of good soap writing.

My feelings about Marcie swing from one extreme to another. One moment I feel sorry for the crazy woman, the next I'm yelling at the screen for a sharp-shooter to take her out when she started accusing Viki of faking being ill. And then I teared up during the last scene of the episode. Tommy/Sam smiling at Michael and then the three of them together, probably for the last time, got to me. I'm not on Marcie's side, but I'm not made of stone, either. The whole thing is just really sad.

01/09/07
I don't know about anyone else, but I loved today's episode. I just had the best time watching today. And I think KB is doing a wonderful job of playing a deranged woman I still feel sorry for. I really bought that Marcie could shoot Viki.

How great were the reporters, having absolutely nothing new to report, talking about the diner's award winning pie (the secret is the graham-cracker crust)? And everyone's reactions to Viki working as a waitress?

Viki said exactly what I've been thinking for months. The truth is, Sam/Tommy will be able to survive without Marcie, but Marcie doesn't think she can survive without him. I understand that. I sympathize. But that doesn't make putting Sam/Tommy's life at risk by going on the run any less selfish. I feel very sorry for Marcie, but this isn't about what's best for her. It's about doing what's best for Sam (yes, I'm calling him that) in a terrible, heart-breaking situation.

Hollyoaks: O.B. slugs Clare

2007-12-11T15:44:00.001-05:00

Great scene from Hollyoaks, clipped by me.

Best Fanvids to "When You Were Young" by The Killers

2007-12-11T00:12:00.000-05:00

The first video, a Doctor/Rose fanvid from Doctor Who, is one of the best edited videos I've seen, synchronized perfectly to the music. It really captures the emotion of the characters and the situation as well. As my brother said, "It actually makes the song better."

The second video isn't as sophisticated, but it also manages to evoke emotion. General Hospital's Luke and Laura were the biggest thing to ever hit daytime soap operas. It's a lovely video.

2007 Fall Prime-Time Season So Far

2007-09-26T15:37:00.000-04:00

"How I Met You Mother" was very funny and will probably remain my "watch live" show for that time slot. Slap-bet countdown! Can't wait.

I caught the first episode of "Chuck" and thought it was very well done. The title character is just so endearing and ingratiating that you can't help but root for him. I didn't record "Prison Break" this week, but I'm sure I'll see it later on my Mom's DVR. I'm afraid my favorite convicts have been demoted to a "watch later if I can" status.

I was not impressed with "The Big Bang Theory", but it wasn't awful. Maybe I'll watch, or maybe I won't. Too soon to tell.

"Heroes" wasn't all I wanted in a season premiere, but it was solid. The big question remains: What happened to Peter?

I watched "Bones" and "House" on Tuesday, and both were enjoyable hours. There were a number of distractions during "Bones," leaving me a little confused by the plot, so a re-watching may be necessary. "House" was funny, as usual, and had a nice twist at the end. I'm looking forward to seeing which of the new several dozen ducklings survive, and what happens when the old ones return to the hospital.

I've recorded but not yet watched "Reaper" or "Journeyman." If I enjoy them, do I dare attempt to watch any other new shows?

Hollyoaks recap 09/25/07 (Dec. 27, 2006)

2007-09-26T01:58:00.000-04:00

It's Christmas Day, and Max, Clare, and Tom are in an isolated Cabin. Clare says they have no cell-phone reception. Tom opens his presents, and Clare gives Max his present from her, a pair of cufflinks to replace the pair he used to have that belonged to his father. Max is touched up the gift, saying that Clare means everything to him. He tells her he thinks he's going to die and promised that his insurance will take care of her. She tells him she doesn't want to here him talk like that. Meanwhile, O.B. can't convince the police or Dominic that Clare is trying to kill Max.

The Dean/Osbourne family talks about baby Charlie coming to live with them. Frankie can't wait to get her grandchild home. But later, when Jake goes to the prison, Becca can't bring herself to give him up, deeply disappointing Jake.

The McQueens attempt to have a good Christmas, despite having no presents or food, including a game of charades. They have dinner later at the Dog. Jacqui calls her mother from prison to wish her a happy Christmas. Jacqui notices Becca and the baby as she goes back to her cell.

The Valentine children have their first Christmas since their mom died. Dad Leo tries to make up for all the years he wasn't there, but Sasha and Sonny don't appreciate the effort.
Later, the McQueens, the Deans, the Valentines, and other assorted villagers spent the evening at the Dog.

Clare leans over Max, checking to see if he's still breathing. He awakes when her mobile rings. It's O.B., demanding to know where they are. Clare pretends it's a friendly call from Dom, and that the call is dropped.

Max is getting worse. He thinks he needs a doctor. When Clare claims her mobile is broken, Max remembers some of the things O.B. said. Clare acts hurt, and says she'll take Tom with her to ring a doctor. Instead, she just takes Tom out to play for a while, letting Max grow worse and worse.

A desperate O.B. breaks down the door of Max and Clare's flat to find evidence of where they went. At the cabin, Max wakes up wanting his medicine. Clare isn't there, so he pulls himself across the room to get them out of the jar. He knocks the jar to the ground, spilling the capsales. He sees that one has broken open, but that no medicine spilled out. As he opens another empty capsale and another, he begins to realize the true horror of the situation. Clare decides it's time to go back to the cabin.

Hollyoaks Recap 09/24/07 (Originally Dec. 22, 2006)

2007-09-26T00:10:00.000-04:00

Today's episode begind in an artsy way, with several characters appearing as holiday card drawings before becoming live action (you know what I mean). Clare was an angel (ha!) bringing breakfast to bed-ridden Max. Next picture is baby boy Dean, in a manor scene, until he's revealed to be in his prison nursery with Becca. Next shot is mistletoe, which Hannah rips down and throws in the trash. It's all very cute.

At the McQueen house, Craig can't believe John Paul broke up with Hannah, telling him this is causing trouble between him (Craig) and his girlfriend Sarah. Craig can't keep his eyes off a scantily-dressed Mercedes, to John Paul's annoyance.

Hannah is confused and upset about her breakup with John Paul. Sarah and Gilly, each in their own way, try to offer advice, but to no avail.

Becca talks to her roommate, but can't bring herself to tell her what charge she was convicted of. Becca still hasn't named the baby. Later, the roommate finds out Becca was convicted of having sex with someone underage. Becca tries to explain, but the woman accuses her of being sick. "Things happen to people like you," she warns. Later, Frankie Dean (Becca's mother-in-law) visits. She tries to comfort Becca, who says she doesn't think she can raise her son in prison. Frankie tells her the best thing she could do would be to let Jake bring the baby home.

The McQueen family have dinner at the Dog, where John Paul tells them he broke up with Hannah. Carmel is in rare form today. She tells them all about an avert she saw:
"When you buy the CD, you get a free air guitar. How good is that. I am so getting it. I know I can't play the guitar, but it would still look cool." The looks on her family's faces were priceless.
Tina tried to explain, but it didn't penetrate.

Michela brings her dad Ricky back to McQueen house while the others are still out. Ricky gives her a present to open later, and sends her out for pies while he waited there. When she came back, he was gone- and so were the presents and major appliances!

The McQueen family arrives home to find a tearful Michela. Apologizing, she admits that it was Carmel, John Paul, and her dad who robbed them, taking their whole Christmas.
Myra: "At least we've still got some Turkey."
Michela tearfully shakes her head.
Myra: "I need a drink."
Michela shakes her head again.

Carmel asks if he left any of her presents.
Mercedes: "Yeah, he's got your air guitar over there. Not wrapped up though."

Michela: (Showing them Ricky's gift to her) "He said that this was how special I was to him."
She shows them the empty box.
Carmel: "I can't believe it. He even nicked that."

Max tells Clare that he has to get out of the flat. Max wants to get Tom a present. Clare says that he is far too ill. Later, with much effort, he sneaks out. Dominic and O.B. see Max on the street. Shocked at his appearance, they want to take him to the hospital. Truly, the man looks like death. Clare arrives, and convinces Dominic that she'll take Max to the hospital. O.B. wants to go too, but Clare refuses. He accuses her of neglecting Max's care.
Clare: "So the heart-attack's my fault now is it."
O.B.: "No, you just got lucky." Clare reacts slightly at this.
O.B.: (Realizing just how right he is) "That's it, isn't it. You're going to let him die."
O.B. has figured it all out. About the life insurance. About everything. Unfortunately, he can't convince anyone else. When O.B. arrives at the hospital, he finds out that Max never arrived.

Clare loads Max and Tom in her car. Max asks where they're going.
Clare: "Don't worry, Max. We're going away for a Christmas you'll never forget."

The episode ends with Becca looking despondently at her baby in his crib, now labeled "Charlie."

Merry freakin' Christmas.

Hollyoaks recap 09/21/07 (originally 12/21/06)

2007-09-23T14:14:00.000-04:00

Becca gives birth to a baby boy at the hospital. She can't believe how things have turned out. She is visited by her thrilled husband Jake and her sister Nancy before being carted off to the mom/baby unit at the prison. Nancy sobbed in Jake's arms as they led Becca away.

Tom wants to take a letter to Santa to ask him to make Max better. Clare refused to take him, resulting in Tom leaving the flat on his own. Tom runs to O.B. at the restaurant to ask him to take him, but Clare shows up to take him away. O.B. thinks Clare is mistreating Max, but he can't convince Dominic that Clare is lying about Max's condition. O.B. decides to sneak into the Max and Clare's flat. When he sees what bad shape Max is in, he decides to call a doctor. But Clare catches him and Max lies that he saw a doctor today already. O.B. begs Max to see that Clare is trying to kill him, but Clare throws him out.

Justin indignantly tells Sasha that some people actually think he's lying and that he got Becca sent to prison out of revenge (the nerve of some people actually speaking the truth)! Justin seems somewhat torn about Becca's prison sentence, but Sasha thinks she got what she deserved, and that if Becca had been a man, she'd have gotten 10 years instead of two. Justin reacts to this (guess he remembered that he just had sex with 15-year-old Sasha).

Without telling her mom or siblings, Michela meets her long-lost father Ricky. They meet in a cafe and appear to bond. He wants to see her again. Michela is thrilled.

Craig and John Paul discuss their respective girlfriends, as Sarah and Hannah discuss them. As usual, girls and boys see things a bit differently. While Hannah is quite smitten, John Paul is feeling smothered. Later, John Paul breaks up with Hannah because he knows that something isn't right and he likes her too much to use her. Hannah won't believe that it has nothing to do with her performance in bed, despite John Paul insisting that she's done nothing wrong.

The War

2007-09-23T13:16:00.000-04:00

Tonight, I'll be watching Ed Burn's "The War" on PBS. It's unlikely that I'll choose to watch "The War" the rest of premiere week, but I will record to watch late. It looks really good. Shame it couldn't have aired during the Summer.

New TV Season: What to watch?

2007-09-23T12:32:00.000-04:00

After a Summer chock-full of new programming, the Fall TV season doesn't feel as special as it used to. In fact, I'm kind of resentful about having to figure out what's on my Must See list. Complicating matters is the fact that I only have basic cable and no DVRs to help me, just two TVs and VCRs. Fortunately, my mother has premium satellite and a DVR, so I can catch up when I visit.

Monday
I was already torn between whether to watch "How I Met Your Mother" or "Prison Break" live (HIMYM won), but now they throw "Chuck" in the mix, which looks like my kind of show. "Prison Break" may be regulated to my "I'll watch it if it gets FauxTiVoed at my parents' house and I have time" list. And should I even bother with "The Big Bang Theory"? I want to support "Aliens in America", but I only have so ways to record TV at my house.

9:00 is no contest. I'd watch "Heroes" no matter what. But what about "K-ville"? I wasn't blown away by the first episode, but it was okay. I'd feel kind of guilty about not watching a show shot in New Orleans. Maybe I'll tape and watch it later. And what about "Samantha Who?", which doesn't premiere for a few weeks? It looks cute, but there are only so many hours. "Journeyman" looks interesting, but would my time be better served by watching the previously mentioned pre-recorded "Chuck" at that time?

Tuesday
"Bones" and "House" will always be on my Watch Live list, if I'm how that is. I have class on Tuesdays, and afterwards I work out with a friend. I'll be lucky to make it home by 9:00. It's sad that I'm a little torn about this. Fitness and friendship will prevail over TV, but just barely. I'll be recording "Reaper", and while "Cane" may be worthwhile, I just don't think I have time. "Law and Order: SVU" is, as always, on my Oh, Look L&O:SVU is On Maybe I'll Watch It list. It's not what I consider Must See TV, but somehow I always end up watching.

Wednesday
I'll be watching (or taping, I can't decide) "Kid Nation." I finally got around to watching it with my mother at her place, and we both enjoyed it. It may be DVR show we'll watch together on the weekend. I'll give "Pushing Daisies" a try. I'm going to at least check out "Bionic Woman" and "Life".

Thursday
I would have loved "Ugly Betty" if I had watched it, which is why I never watched it. I'll be watching NBC's comedy line-up ("My Name is Earl", "The Office", "30 Rock", "Scrubs") but likely not "ER." "Grey's Anatomy" has been demoted to my Watch Later list, and "Smallville" is off altogether.

Friday
I'm going to try to stick with "Friday Lights" only. There may be over worthy shows (and I watch the premier of "Moonlight"), but I have to take a stand someplace. I'm going to wean myself off "Stargate: Atlantis." "Doctor Who" is almost finished for the season, and I'll probably buy the series anyway.

Saturday
Catch-up day for programming I didn't watch during the week, including the great "Hotel Babylon" on BBCA. There is "Torchwood" also on BBCA, which I'll watch when I can.

Sunday
I suppose I'll watch "Desperate Housewives" live, although I'll be tempted to watch Showtime's "Dexter" instead. I won't let myself watch anything else for fear that I will like it.

Hollyoaks: The Story So Far

2007-09-21T00:28:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure how many American soap fans know about Hollyoaks, but they should. This British import is the best daytime soap opera I've seen in years. Let's face it: American daytime soaps are horrible and are unlikely to improve.

BBC America is re-airing the 65 episodes they showed this summer, but new episodes are being streamed online on BBC America's website. Being able to watch online works well for me, as I had to visit my parents house to watch BBC America. Right now we are seeing episodes that aired in Britain just before Christmas 2006. If you like good soapy soaps, give Hollyoaks a try. The streaming episodes only stay up at the site for 7 days, although if you want to save the episodes, you can find programs that will allow you to download copies for yourself.

The major stories as of 09/20/07, American pace:

Sociopath Clare Cunningham is trying to kill her poor husband Max (who recently had a cocaine-induced heart attack) by tampering with his medication. All she ever cared about was getting her hands on Max's money, and now that she knows about his life insurance policy, she's pushed aside any feelings of guilt or sentimentally she may have felt for him. Clare is keeping Max's friends away, but she's so smooth that most of them think she's a devoted wife and a good substitute mother for Max's 6-year-old brother, Tom, whom Max is raising. The manager of Max's club, Warren, knows that Clare is no angel (she's cheated on Max with him), but even he has no clue how bad she really is. Max's estranged best friend O.B. knows that Clare is evil, but will he ever get the proof he needs? Will Max wake up before it's too late?

Poor Becca! Becca Dean was a young teacher Hollyoaks' High. Unhappily married to Jake, she gradually fell in love with a student, Justin Burton, although they did not sleep together until he was 16 years old, the age of consent. Becca lost her husband and her job, but she really loved Justin, and he moved in with her. Did I mention that she is also pregnant with a child that could be Jake or Justin's? Although she loved him, eventually she realized Justin was too immature and reckless and she ended the relationship.

Justin retaliated by lying in court that Becca seduced him when he was only fifteen. Despite her younger sister Nancy and Jake's efforts, Becca was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison. Becca went into labor when she heard the verdict. At that same moment, Justin had sex with 15-year-old Sasha Valentine, Justin's best friend Sonny's little sister. Justin has had a hard year (both his twin sisters were murdered in an arson fire), but he's still an evil little turd.

Fifteen-year-old Amy Barnes is pregnant, but hiding it from her family. Only her best friend Michela McQueen and a nurse, Suzanne Ashworth, know the truth. Amy's 17-year-old sister Sarah is dating Craig Dean. His best friend John Paul McQueen recently slept with Sarah's best friend Hannah Ashworth, but he seems ambivelant about the relationship.

Michela McQueen has reconnected with her long-lost father, behind her mother Myra's back. Mercedes McQueen is dating Russ Owen. Tina McQueen is dating Dominic Reilly. Jacqui McQueen was seeing Dominic's brother Tony Hutchinson until she violated her parole and ended up back in prison. Dim but sweet Carmel McQueen is still searching for a boyfriend.

The are several Hollyoaks Community College students sharing a flat, one of whom is a cross-dresser (Kris), and another who is a psycho (Will). Will manipulated things so that the object of his affection (Zoe) believed that nice-guy Zak was stalking her, all the while watching her via a hidden camera in her room. When Zoe and Zak made up, Will arranged an accident that burned Zak's arm.

There is more, of course, but it's not difficult to catch on. The accents can be a problem, but the meaning is usually clear, even if the words are not.

First ever blog

2007-09-20T23:58:00.000-04:00

On a whim, I decided to start a blog. I have no deep thoughts to share, no pearls of wisdom, but feel free to read and comment anyway.

From the name of my blog, you may have gathered that I'll post mainly about the television shows I'm watching. Why? Because I watch too much of it. Might as well write about what I know.