Following, in no particular order, are my all-time favorites.
1. ‘All My Children’
2. ‘The Young and the Restless’
A work of art. Yes, over the years Y&R has sometimes been predictable but it’s what’s poppin'! Since its debut in 1973, the show has been groundbreaking for daytime serials in its lush production values and it continues to be a pioneer. As of 2009, Y&R has managed over 1,000 consecutive weeks in the No. 1 spot for daytime dramas.3. ‘Days of Our Lives’
A timeless classic that’s always cool and contemporary. A few years back, Lauren Koslow, who plays Kate Roberts, regularly appeared on screen rocking two black tips with a pale manicure. I’m a David Bowie fan. What can I say? And who couldn’t watch Rafe all day long?4. ‘Ryan’s Hope’
Addictive. I was, and still am, addicted to re-runs of Ryan's Hope, the glorious show that ran on ABC from 1975-1989. And RH was a precursor to The Sopranos. It’s true. RH was the first daytime drama to have a major mob storyline. The cast for RH was as sublime as its amazing dialogue and heartfelt stories. Sadly, Bernard Barrow (John), Nancy Addison (Jill) and Nicolette Goulet (who replaced Mulgrew as Mary) are deceased.
5. ‘General Hospital’
This 1963 soap opera is credited for starting the trend of the “supercouple” for all soaps! Luke and Laura (Tony Geary and Genie Francis) set the standard. Rafe and Sami on Days, Ryan and Greenlea on AMC, Cane and Lilly on Y&R and Brody and Jessica on One Life to Live were all compelling, but they all followed in the footsteps of Luke and Laura.
6. ‘As the World Turns’
I’ve always felt that the real power of soap opera lies in couples made up of characters as wacky and, yes, flawed as we are. Who can forget Tom and Barbara and Hal and Barbara, two incredibly complex couples supported by an unforgettable story? This story resonated for me because even though everyone knew that Tom and Margo were each other’s true love and belonged together, at the same time I always felt that Margo could have just as easily been happy with Hal. And visa versa. Makes you think…that this show deserves a spot on any Top 10 list.7. ‘Guiding Light’
For many of us September 18, 2009, will live on as, well, the day the “music” died. Primetime TV shows come and go all the time, but we’re more connected to our shows, which makes endings like this harder. We might be only 1.2 million people – not a lot by today’s standards – but we’re a dedicated bunch. And our final glimpse at the characters left us satisfied that, at the very least, Josh and Reva were back in each other’s arms.