The Best & Worst of 2005 - Part 1

December 1, 2005
by Michael Kelly

I had made up my mind that I wasn't going to go to the trouble of coughing up a Best and Worst column for 2005. I figured there was no point since I had little to contribute that wasn't overwhelmingly negative.

However, since a leading soap publication has named Y&R the best daytime soap of 2005, I felt inspired to reveal why I believe such praise is not only undeserved but downright laughable.

It doesn't matter that my soap viewing is limited to Y&R and sister show B&B. It also doesn't matter if the only reason Y&R was so honored is that it doesn't suck to the extent of the other shows.

Selecting an apple to eat that has one worm in it rather than five merely proves one is desperate and desperation shouldn't play a role in bestowing praise. With that in mind, let's get down to business and assess Y&R's strengths (what few could be identified) and weaknesses for 2005.

Biggest Screw-Up: Killing Cassie

Yes, Joshua Morrow (Nick) and Sharon Case (Sharon) cried their eyes out impeccably (and could earn Emmy nominations for it) when Cassie croaked and her death certainly gave the writers an easy opportunity to pull the couple apart for the umpteenth time.

Unfortunately, Cassie's premature end also led to several months of a surly, embittered Nick railing against Daniel Romalotti for supposedly killing his little girl, an unjust vehicular homicide charge being pinned on a needlessly guilt-ridden Romalotti and an insipid love on the run tale featuring Daniel and Lily.

Let's also remember Y&R's scribes couldn't even kill Cassie properly. I still shudder when I think of a weak and feverish Cassie effortlessly disconnecting herself from the medical ties that bound her, donning her mother's kerchief and trench coat and slipping out of the hospital undetected. The less said about the poor girl wandering the streets mumbling, "Gotta...find...Daniel" before collapsing inside the coffeehouse the better.

It seems downright short-sighted and self-destructive of the writers to kill off a core character the audience adored. When one thinks of the limitless future storyline possibilities Cassie would have had compared to the utter crap the scribes gave us after her demise, her loss seems not only cruel but senseless.

Best Recast: Judith Chapman as Gloria Fisher-Abbott

Replacing a highly distinctive and gifted actress like Joan Van Ark (ex-Gloria) couldn't have been easy for Chapman but she eventually (after close-minded me stopped irrationally resenting her) won over this reporter.

Chapman's success in the role is particularly remarkable since she couldn't be more different from Van Ark. Joan's Gloria was a low-rent Blanche DuBois while Judith's Mrs. Abbott is more of a Norma Desmond type. What matters is that Gloria is still an odd duck and Chapman has great rapport with her onscreen sons and husband.

Worst Recast: Amelia Heinle as Victoria Newman

You know you're in trouble as a Y&R fan when the only person Victoria Newman seems to slightly connect with is J.T. Hellstrom. When she's interacting with anyone else, Heinle's bland, monotone Ms. Vicki seems like she needs a nap.

Victoria used to be a live wire who clicked with everyone. She used to be a captivating bitch-brat who could piss you off with her ball-breaking brand of snootiness one moment and break your heart the next.

But alas, that was Heather Tom's Victoria. The only time one can't be indifferent to Heinle's version is when her caterpillar eyebrows, unruly mane of hair and vast mouthful of choppers inspire derision. It's better than yawning at her, I guess.