The year is almost over and it has been full of good news for fans of daytime (and anytime) soap operas. Ratings for all the broadcast series went up, two canceled shows returned online and viewers were treated to one standout performance after another. Check out our "Best and Worst of 2013" list below and be sure to add your own "Bests" and "Worsts" in the Comments section below.
BEST SOAP OPERADAYS OF OUR LIVES
Other Emmy contenders: THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, GENERAL HOSPITAL, ALL MY CHILDREN
BEST WRITING
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
Other Emmy contenders: GENERAL HOSPITAL, DAYS OF OUR LIVES
BEST ACTOR
Darnell Williams, ALL MY CHILDREN
Other Emmy worthy performances: Greg Vaughan, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; Billy Miller, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; Maurice Benard, GENERAL HOSPITAL; Jason Thompson, GENERAL HOSPITAL; Anthony Geary, GENERAL HOSPITAL
BEST ACTRESSHeather Tom, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
Other Emmy worthy performances: Eileen Davidson, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; Finola Hughes, GENERAL HOSPITAL; Jane Elliot, GENERAL HOSPITAL; Elizabeth Hendrickson, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; Katherine Kelly Lang, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; Debbi Morgan, ALL MY CHILDREN
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jerry verDorn, ONE LIFE TO LIVE
Other Emmy worthy performances: Tristan Rogers, GENERAL HOSPITAL; Blake Berris, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; Anders Hove, GENERAL HOSPITAL; John Aniston, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; John McCook, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESSJess Walton, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
Other Emmy worthy performances: Lynn Herring, GENERAL HOSPITAL; Judi Evans, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; Robin Mattson, GENERAL HOSPITAL; Beth Maitland, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; Kathleen Gati, GENERAL HOSPITAL
BEST DIRECTING
GENERAL HOSPITAL
Other Emmy contenders: THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
BEST STORYLINE
Robin's Scorpio Drake's journey back to her family, GENERAL HOSPITAL
WORST STORYLINE
Neil and the Mystery Blogger, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
MOST EXCITING DAY
April 29, 2013: Fans were up at 4 a.m. ET to watch the first episodes of the new ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE on Hulu.
BEST EVENTNurses Ball, GENERAL HOSPITAL
BEST SPECIAL EPISODE
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS paid tribute to the late Jeanne Cooper (May 28, 2013).
WORST FUNERAL
Katherine Chancellor's life was celebrated on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS in an outdoor park by only a handful of people.
BEST WEDDING:
Mac & Felicia, GENERAL HOSPITAL
BEST NON-WEDDING (tie)
Brady & Kristen, DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Patrick & Sabrina, GENERAL HOSPITAL
SADDEST STORY
Delia Abbott's death, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
BEST COUPLEJesse & Angie, ALL MY CHILDREN
WORST COUPLE
Michael & Kiki, GENERAL HOSPITAL
WORST MUSIC
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
BEST DUO
AJ & Miranda, ALL MY CHILDREN
BEST TRIO
Kate, Sami & Gabi, DAYS OF OUR LIVES
BEST COMEBACK
Tristan Rogers as Robert Scorpio, GENERAL HOSPITAL
BEST TRIANGLEBill/Brooke/Katie, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
WORST TRIANGLE
Liam/Hope/Wyatt, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
BEST BADASS
Anna Devane, GENERAL HOSPITAL
BEST NEWCOMER
Eric Nelsen, ALL MY CHILDREN
MOST ANNOYING CHARACTER
Lulu Spencer Falconeri, GENERAL HOSPITAL
BEST ACTOR IN A NEW ROLE
Maura West as Ava Jerome in GENERAL HOSPITAL
WORST SET
Chancellor Park, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
BEST GUEST APPEARANCESnoop Lion, ONE LIFE TO LIVE
BEST CHILD ACTOR
Brooklyn Rae Silzer, GENERAL HOSPITAL
SEXIEST MALE
Lawrence Saint-Victor, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
SEXIEST FEMALE
Eileen Davidson, DAYS OF OUR LIVES/THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
BIGGEST MOMENTUM KILLER
GENERAL HOSPITAL followed up the widely publicized Nurses Ball and the show's 50th anniversary celebration with two months of story featuring Roger Howarth, Kristen Alderson and Michael Easton playing brand new (and unnecessary) characters.
MOST DETERMINED CHARACTER
Anne Milbauer, DAYS OF OUR LIVES
MOST CONFUSING DISAPPEARANCE
AJ Quartermaine, GENERAL HOSPITAL
BEST SONGGENERAL HOSPITAL's "You're Not Alone"
BEST RESURRECTED SONG
"General Hospi-Tale"
MOST BORING BILLIONAIRE
Devon Hamilton, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
MOST ENTERTAINING CHARACTER
Heather Webber, GENERAL HOSPITAL
BEST TRENDS
* Daytime ratings on the rise. As we've said for the past two years, the reports of daytime drama's death have been greatly exaggerated.
* Characters from the past returning to enhance current stories.
MOST PROMISING NEW VILLAIN
Quinn Fuller, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
WORST TRENDS
* Telling viewers a story instead of showing it.
Biggest Offender: THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (Rose, Mariah, etc)
* Unnecessarily rewriting history to make characters blood relatives.
Biggest Offenders: GENERAL HOSPITAL (Franco is Heather's son) and THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (Dylan is Nikki's son)
BIGGEST WASTE OF TALENT (tie)
Rebecca Herbst, GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kristian Alfonso, DAYS OF OUR LIVES
DAYTIME SOAP OPERAS
