Best and Worst of Soap Operas in 2025, Part 1

On episode 1191, Daytime Confidential looks back at 2025 with the Best and Worst of 2025 in Soap Operas, Part 2. Luke Kerr, Jillian Bowe, Joshua Baldwin and Melodie Aikels dive into the Best and Worst of Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital and The Young and the Restless headlines and storylines, including all your favorite long-running categories. Listen to Best and Worst of Soap Operas in 2025, Part 1.  Share your picks for Best and Worst of Soap Operas in 2025, Part 2 in the comments! Best Scene: Worst Scene: Glittery Hoo Hoo of the Year:   MP (Magical Penis) of the Year: Most in Need of some Lovin': Why, Just Why:   Read a Book (Dumbest Character): Einstein Award (Smartest Character): Soap Opera Scenery Chewer of the Year:   Hall of Shame: Charity Ramer Award for Babies Who Don't Know Who they Are: Worst Daytime Drama: Best Daytime Drama: All this and more on the latest Daytime Confidential podcast! Bluesky: @DCConfidential, LukeKerr, JillianBowe, Josh Baldwin, and Melodie Aikels. Facebook: Daytime Confidential Subscribe to Daytime Confidential on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify.

On episode 1190 of Daytime Confidential, Luke Kerr, Jillian Bowe, Joshua Baldwin and Melodie Aikels look back at 2025 and the Best and Worst of Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital and The Young and the Restless headlines and storylines, including all your favorite long-running categories. Share your picks for these categories in the comments below!  Most Improved Character: Best Male Character: Best Female Character: Biggest Waste of Talent (Male or Female): Most in need of a Makeover: Character Most in Need of a Recast: Dreams Really Do Come True: Be careful what you wish for: Best Couple or Triangle: Worst Couple or Triangle: Worst Storyline: Best storyline: All this and more on the latest Daytime Confidential podcast! Bluesky: @DCConfidential, LukeKerr, JillianBowe, Josh Baldwin, and Melodie Aikels. Facebook: Daytime Confidential Subscribe to Daytime Confidential on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify.

In episode 1189, Daytime Confidential marks Season 19 with a special Reflections episode featuring Melodie Aikels.  Melodie Aikels looks back on how she went from a teenage listener on a Guiding Light message board to a core member of the Daytime Confidential team. She talks about discovering the podcast in high school, setting iTunes alerts so she would never miss an episode, and what it felt like to be "the baby" among a group of veteran soap fans and journalists. She remembers breaking Guiding Light's cancellation story, covering So Long Springfield events, and how a last minute call from Jamey Giddens led to her very first flight: a Guiding Light media trip to Universal Studios that threw her into the deep end of the soap press pool. From red carpets and Emmys to Performer of the Week "checkboxes," Melodie explains how she found her voice as a critic while still fangirling over icons like Melody Thomas Scott, Eric Braeden and Lawrence Saint-Victor. Melodie also digs into how the genre has changed over the past 19 seasons: the loss of the New York soaps and the Broadway pipeline, the shift from slow burn storytelling to fast, condensed arcs, and the frustration of "telling not showing." She shares why Beyond the Gates gives her hope, why she will always defend Nikki Newman, and what it means to literally grow up on a podcast while the soap world reshapes itself around you. 00:00 – From Listener to "the Baby" of the Podcast Melodie remembers discovering Daytime Confidential in high school, listening on the way to and from school, and falling in love with the rants and top fives. 06:00 – Message Boards, Early Podcasts and Becoming DC Family Old school SoapNet and TWoP message boards, Luke and Lisa's early days, Jamey debuting as "Jay," and how different ages and perspectives shaped the show. 12:00 – Guiding Light, Mel's Guiding Gossip and Breaking a Cancellation Running a Guiding Light board, launching Mel's Guiding Gossip, and how a connection through Nikki led to writing for Daytime Confidential and later breaking the GL cancellation story. 18:00 – First Flight, Universal Studios and So Long Springfield Jamey's call that sent Mel on her first ever plane trip, Guiding Light's media shoot at Universal, meeting other soap press, and covering the So Long Springfield events with Mike. 24:00 – Red Carpets, Emmys and Seeing Legends Up Close Why red carpets feel like a circus, building rapport with actors, and the surreal experience of interviewing people she grew up watching, from Melody Thomas Scott to Eric Braeden and Lawrence Saint-Victor. 31:00 – Top Fives, Checkboxes and DC's Running Jokes Favorite top five episodes, Performer of the Week "checkbox" hall of fame, awkward Guiding Light moments, and the inside jokes that became part of DC's language. 39:00 – How Soaps Have Changed: Speed, New York and Lost Pipelines The last great era of mid-2000s soaps, losing the New York shows, what the Broadway pipeline meant for performance, and how faster pacing has cost the genre key emotional beats. 49:00 – Beyond the Gates, Bread and Butter Actors and Soap Optimism Why Beyond the Gates makes her hopeful, the importance of a predominantly Black cast, and the renewed focus on veterans like Jane Elliott, Susan Seaforth Hayes and Melody Thomas Scott. 56:00 – Rewrites, "Tell, Not Show" and What Still Drives Her Crazy The problems with rewriting on-screen history, off-screen "tell" instead of "show," and why the genre has to get smarter about how it uses limited time and budgets. 1:04:00 – Growing Up on the Podcast and Meeting DC Listeners Melodie reflects on literally growing up on DC, building real friendships online, being recognized by voice at plays and fan events, and why she still finds joy in doing the work. All this and more on the latest Daytime Confidential podcast! Bluesky: @DCConfidential, LukeKerr, JillianBowe, Josh Baldwin, and Melodie Aikels. Facebook: Daytime Confidential Subscribe to Daytime Confidential on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify.

For this Daytime Confidential Reflections special, episode 1188, Luke Kerr sits down with longtime Daytime Confidential contributor J. Bernard Jones for a straight shot of soap history, fandom and survival. J. Bernard opens up about the stroke he suffered in May and how laughing at the occasional scrambled word has helped him keep moving forward. J. Bernard remembers how he first found Daytime Confidential through the blog and became "a pure a-hole" in the comments before Jamey Giddens recruited him to write. He talks about launching J.F.Y., a glossy magazine for Black gay men that briefly thrived before collapsing with the ad market in the mid 2000s. J. Bernard traces his soap roots to watching The Edge of Night with his mother, the bombed honeymoon that hooked him, and how that led to a lifelong obsession with Procter & Gamble soaps, Santa Barbara and Guiding Light. He and Luke compare the old magazine wars and AOL chat rooms to today's forums tab on Google and social platforms. The conversation turns to Beyond the Gates and General Hospital, where they break down pacing problems, the weight of Ashley and Derek, the power dynamics in Martin and Smitty's relationship and whether the Drew shooting landed at the right time. Through it all, J. Bernard keeps one eye on corporate consolidation and one eye on the genre's future, arguing soaps still matter if the industry treats them like they do. EPISODE OUTLINE 00:00 – "Welcome to the Daytime Confidential 01:10 – "This past May I had a stroke and a little bit of weakness on my right side." 04:30 – "My first exposure to Daytime Confidential was through the blog." 08:30 – "J.F.Y. was actually targeted towards Black gay men, which I published in Brooklyn." 14:30 – "It was that one episode of The Edge of Night that really got me hooked." 20:30 – "Santa Barbara was the show. It was fresh. It was new." 27:00 – "Fan interaction has exploded in ways now that are very reminiscent of the early 2000s." 34:00 – "When I look at Beyond the Gates, my reaction to it has been relatively mixed." 42:00 – "I initially was a little pissed off about a Black man who's gay who's being automatically paired with a white guy." 50:00 – "I like where General Hospital is right now; I have a lot of problems with how they got here." 56:00 – "I think that Curtis's dad did it." 59:00 – "I really, really have loved my association with Daytime Confidential." All this and more on the latest Daytime Confidential podcast! Bluesky: @DCConfidential, LukeKerr, JillianBowe, Josh Baldwin, and Melodie Aikels. Facebook: Daytime Confidential Subscribe to Daytime Confidential on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify.

On episode 1187 of Daytime Confidential, Luke Kerr, Jillian Bowe and Joshua Baldwin dish the latest Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital and The Young and the Restless headlines and storylines. BEYOND THE GATES Eva and Kat go head-to-head, and neither blinks. Leslie stirs the pot at the club and enjoys every second. Hayley eyes both Bill and Izaiah. The panel floats theories about Hayley's angle and how Izaiah might catch on. Andre and Dani's relationship continues to evolve. THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Luna pulls off a jailbreak and the guards are written like fools. The discussion hits the contraband phone, the laundry-through-the-bars mess and the beach house lacking security. Bill's new zen phase gets mocked as temporary at best. DAYS OF OUR LIVES Days of Our Lives kicks off its 60th anniversary with flashbacks and Horton family history. Holly and Tate's film assignment ties into the celebration. The gala mixes nostalgia with confrontations. Jennifer and Chad face off over his children. Sami returns, clashes with EJ and Belle and reveals a sudden engagement. Marlena's health deteriorates and more DiMeras go missing while Rolf resurfaces. GENERAL HOSPITAL Rocco's arrest turns into a full adult court case because New York tries 16-year-olds as adults. The remand gets called absurd even under the law. Laura can't pull strings during the election. Danny wants to take the blame. Trina returns and puts Jordan on notice. THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Matt Clark continues to gaslight Sharon as she unravels. Audra and Holden's past comes up again with questions about money and what he actually did. Cane's company collapses after Victor turns the program against him. Phyllis gives Victor the tool used on Cane. Lily's approach frustrates the panel, and Y&R needs to rebuild its teen scene. Episode Outline 00:00 – Cold Open • Luke previews Luna's jailbreak, Cane's corporate collapse, Rocco's court case and Days of Our Lives at 60. 02:15 – The Bold and the Beautiful • Luna escapes prison with guards acting clueless • Bill's zen phase gets mocked • Will gets a beach house and becomes the golden child 15:55 – The Young and the Restless • Matt Clark manipulates Sharon while she spirals • Audra's secrets • Cane's company collapses after Victor turns the program on him • No chemistry between Cane and Phyllis • Desire for Amanda's return and bigger umbrella story 34:30 – Days of Our Lives • 60th anniversary flashbacks land well • Jennifer and Chad's showdown hits hard • Sami returns, clashes with EJ and Belle and reveals engagement • Marlena's symptoms worsen as Rolf's lab resurfaces • Multiple DiMeras go missing 54:20 – Beyond the Gates • Eva and Kat face off • Hayley eyes Izaiah and Bill • Andre is ready to leave for LA until Dani stops him 01:15:00 – General Hospital • Rocco charged as an adult under NY law • Danny wants to take the blame • Jason's son steps back from confessing • Trina confronts Jordan in a standout scene 01:32:00 – Final Thoughts • Josh: Tabiana Ali shines • Jillian: Trina checking Jordan was needed All this and more on the latest Daytime Confidential podcast! Bluesky: @DCConfidential, LukeKerr, JillianBowe, Josh Baldwin, and Melodie Aikels. Facebook: Daytime Confidential Subscribe to Daytime Confidential on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify.

On episode 1186 of Daytime Confidential, Luke Kerr, Jillian Bowe, Joshua Baldwin and Melodie Aikels dish the latest Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital and The Young and the Restless headlines and storylines. BEYOND THE GATES Andre chooses Dani over Ashley. Martin has a self-righteous meltdown over his daughter's "Magnum" scandal. Kat doesn't deserve the blame, and Eva calling Ted "Dad" sets her off. Luke predicts Izaiah will turn out to be Joey's son. THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Taylor and Deacon's chemistry is undeniable, and Sheila senses a threat. What will Luna do next to get out of prison? B&B's refusal to use the word "rape" continues to kneecap the story. Electra is at her best when she's mean. DAYS OF OUR LIVES Who is the pumpkin slasher? Rachel is a demon seed child, but so was Ciara when she was Rachel's age. Will Rachel grow up into a good girl like Ciara or a bad girl like Sami? Johnny and Chanel finally get their baby, but it's Leo and Javi's goodbye that won the week. GENERAL HOSPITAL Tracy triumphs over Ronni and Martin when she discovers Monica's will. Jane Elliot and Erica Slezak delivered a master class. Slezak should put herself up for a Guest Daytime Emmy next year. Is Laura a hypocrite for kicking Martin out but being friendly with Sonny? THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Roger Howarth's reveal as Matt Clark divides the panel. Mel delivers a crash-course history lesson on Matt's past with Sharon and Nick for newer viewers. Noah's new face reveal was pointless. Y&R needs to dive into Noah and Audra's connection. Sharon Case turned simple dialogue into grounded grief. Episode Outline 00:00 – Cold Open • Luke Kerr previews the week's lineup and welcomes the panel. 02:30 – The Young and the Restless • Roger Howarth is Matt Clark and Clark's resurrection sparks debate • Melodie recaps the 1990s Matt Clark saga — Sharon, Nick, and the Carter Mills twist • Noah's face-reveal scene gets roasted; Sharon Case earns praise for understated emotion 18:30 – The Bold and the Beautiful • Taylor and Deacon's therapy tension blurs professional lines as Sheila plays puppet master • Luna manipulates her cellmate to fake injuries • Panel slams the show's refusal to call Will's assault what it was — rape 30:30 – Beyond the Gates • "Magnum condoms" make their daytime debut • Isaiah and Joey's connection raises paternity flags — Joey may be Isaiah's real father • Andre chooses Dani, closing the triangle with quiet honesty and earned emotion 44:30 – Days of Our Lives • Johnny and Chanel finalize baby Trey's adoption • Leo and Javi's goodbye draws tears and Emmy chatter • Speculation grows over Sami's engagement and what her comeback means 56:30 – General Hospital • Tracy finds Monica's will and exposes Martin's fraud • Erica Slezak's guest arc earns high praise • Laura kicks Martin out 01:10:00 – Final Thoughts • Mel: Winterfest on Beyond the Gates • Jillian: Quartermaines need their cutthroat edge back • Josh: Ernestine Johnson Morrison's standout background work • Luke: Don't steer Anna and Jason romantic All this and more on the latest Daytime Confidential podcast! Bluesky: @DCConfidential, LukeKerr, JillianBowe, Josh Baldwin, and Melodie Aikels. Facebook: Daytime Confidential Subscribe to Daytime Confidential on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify.  

Daytime Confidential marks 19 seasons with a familiar voice: Karen from Wubs, one of the earliest General Hospital bloggers and a friend of the site long before the podcast existed. In Episode 1185 of the Daytime Confidential Reflections mini-series, Karen and Luke Kerr reminisce about SoapZone handles, Helena Cassadine debates, and the moment she pushed Luke and DC onto Twitter back in 2006. From there, the conversation turns to what has changed — and what hasn't — in daytime: bigger sets, smart reuse of space, and why the rooftop pool set still feels fresh. Karen breaks down how social media reshaped soap fandom. Karen reflects on Tristan Rogers' legacy and why his final General Hospital scenes felt like the right goodbye. She explains how Smarmy Drew unlocked Cameron Matheson's edge and why Alexa Havins makes Lulu compelling even at her messiest. They dissect Lucky's short-lived return and praise Isaiah new energy on the canvas. The conversation moves to Sidwell's foil to Sonny, and Luke and Karen draft a playful Cassadine–Faison family tree. They close on Anna's WSB arc and how corporate storylines are always favorites for them. Karen shares plans to retire next year, return to fan events, and launch video segments showcasing her vintage memorabilia. Episode 1185 wraps with a final bit of nostalgia. Episode Outline 00:00 – Opening 00:13 – Intro and Reflections setup 01:58 – Early blogging friendships 07:02 – What's changed and what hasn't 11:37 – Tristan Rogers memories 17:10 – Robert and Anna vs. Robert and Holly 23:52 – Wubs plans: retirement & video ideas 25:08 – State of General Hospital today 26:22 – "Smarmy Drew" works 31:53 – Where does Drew go next? 34:22 – Alexa Havins as Lulu 38:20 – Lucky's return & exit 42:58 – Lucas, Sidwell & Marco 50:01 – WSB trainees, casting, chemistry 59:19 – Social media then and now 01:03:02 – Wrap and socials All this and more on the latest Daytime Confidential podcast! Bluesky: @DCConfidential, LukeKerr, JillianBowe, Josh Baldwin, and Melodie Aikels. Facebook: Daytime Confidential Subscribe to Daytime Confidential on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify.

Daytime Confidential celebrates 19 seasons as Luke Kerr reconnects with early guest-turned-longtime co-host Mike Jubinville for Episode 1184. This special Daytime Confidential Reflections episode looks back at the origins of the podcast and the relationships that shaped nearly two decades of soap coverage. Luke and Mike revisit the early days when Daytime Confidential covered nine soaps each week. They remember the weekly Performer of the Week episodes and the Top Five countdowns that sparked so many debates. Mike recalls joining the show during its first year and watching the podcast's online community turn into lasting friendships. They share stories and reminisce about Mike's affection for As the World Turns. From late nights editing episodes to growing the DC brand, Luke and Mike reflect on the changes in podcasting and what it means to stay creative after 19 seasons. The discussion shifts to Beyond the Gates, the newest soap opera that has become a DC favorite. Luke and Mike talk about pacing, character arcs, and contemporary representation. They examine why Danny and Andre's relationship resonates, how the Dupree family keeps viewers divided, and what makes Beyond the Gates unpredictable and fun. Episode 1184 closes on gratitude and nostalgia. Luke and Mike talk about the friendships that have endured since those early episodes and the passion that keeps Daytime Confidential evolving. As part of the Daytime Confidential Reflections mini-series, this captures the humor and the heart behind the longest-running soap opera podcast. Episode Outline 00:00 – Intro and early DC memories 01:05 – Watching nine soap operas 04:09 – As the World Turns and CBS soap talk 10:10 – Performer of the Week and Top Fives 12:20 – Mike Meeting Josh: DC's "Super Couple" 22:00 – Beyond the Gates discussion 34:00 – Dupree family and Naomi arcs 42:00 – What Mike misses about podcasting 45:00 – Listener friendships 48:00 – Wrap up and reflections All this and more on the latest Daytime Confidential podcast! Bluesky: @DCConfidential, LukeKerr, JillianBowe, Josh Baldwin, and Melodie Aikels. Facebook: Daytime Confidential Subscribe to Daytime Confidential on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify.

On episode 1183 of Daytime Confidential, the Daytime Emmys are behind Luke Kerr, Jillian Bowe and Joshua Baldwin, who catch up on their favorite storylines from Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital and The Young and the Restless of the past two weeks.  Viewers finally know what Hayley's true motives are and how she's scamming Bill on Beyond the Gates. David Lami Friebe debuts as Izaiah and has immediate chemistry with Eva and did we see a spark in Naomi for her brother-in-law? Should BTG pursue an Eva/Izaiah/Naomi triangle OR should they go after an Eva/Izaiah/Kat triangle? Taylor and Deacon have chemistry on The Bold and the Beautiful and we're not opposed to it. Is B&B better than The Young and the Restless right now?  Is the Sarah and Xander relationship in danger of being recycled too quickly on Days of Our Lives? The DC crew debates. Sophia's secrets are out and facing the consquences of her actions.  Carly is pissed that Josslyn is a WSB agent and she wants revenge on General Hospital. Ronni kicking Tracy out of the quartermaine mansion delivered great soap from Slezak and Elliot.  Tamara Braun debuted on The Young and the Restless as Serena Bacall and immediately shared scenes with a lot of characters. What is her connection to Holden? Does she have chemistry with Joshua Morrow's Nick Newman? Why is Y&R putting much energy into Daniel and Tessa when the real gold is Daniel and Lily?  All this and more on the latest Daytime Confidential podcast! Bluesky: @DCConfidential, LukeKerr, JillianBowe, Josh Baldwin, and Melodie Aikels. Facebook: Daytime Confidential Subscribe to Daytime Confidential on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify.