By 
MOST IMPROVED
Photo: ABC
General Hospital, ABC
This was a fairly easy choice to make. Everything General Hospital did in 2012, the good and bad, was an upgrade over the last 10 years. Coming into the New Year, Jonathan Jackson (ex-Lucky) had just departed the show; Kimberly McCullough was on her way out of the door, and the soap was filled with dark, depressing storylines involving rape, murder and revenge.
However, upon the arrival of the soap opera producing super duo known to fans (and haters) as “Cartini” (Head Writer Ron Carlivati and Executive Producer Frank Valentini) things quickly turned around. While the dark and depressing storylines continued to play out, with more finding their way onto our screen, (can you say thunderstorm dead baby swap?) things quickly began to balance themselves out. The mob, a driving force of the show over the past decade, was relegated to the backburner. Characters such as Sonny Corinthos and Jason Morgan were no
longer the leading super heroes destined to always save the day, as that role was handed back over to those working for the Port Charles Police Department (PCPD), specifically that of the flawless former super spy Anna Devane.
The numerous shocking returns – Tristan Rogers as Robert Scorpio, Finola Hughes as Anna, Ian Buchanan as Duke Lavery, Kristina Wagner as Felicia Jones, Sean Kanan as A.J. Quartermaine and Anders Hove as Cesar Faison – kept us on the edge of our seats, always questioning who would show up next. This in addition to the introduction of the One Life to Live characters helped to creatively recharge the batteries of the entire canvas. Suddenly you had the great and powerful Sonny bouncing off the ever-so-witty Todd Manning, while the duo’s kids embarked on a slow burner forbidden romance. Meanwhile with John McBain transferring to the PCPD, we finally had a fully competent police force actually capable of solving a crime, something that hadn’t happen in a very long time (or at the very least had to be solved by the overworked Dante).
The rebirth of the Quartermaine family has been a pure treat to watch, as fan favorites came down from the attic and showed us why this family is so iconic to General Hospital. It was with the passing of John Ingle’s in real life however that we got one of the most touching and awe inspiring tributes that daytime fans haven’t seen in a very long time as the Quartermaine patriarch Edward passed away, and was able to walk up the stairs with his beloved wife Lila one final time, while his family and friends gathered around to pay their respects on Thanksgiving day.
However that isn’t to say the show was perfect, to be quite honest it was far from it. While we grew to enjoy the One Life to Livers, their initial introduction was rocky to say the least. McBain’s convoluted backstory revolving around a never-before-mentioned sister was beyond forced and disappointing. Todd Manning ‘s introduction wasn’t much better but the way in which he jelled with the entire cast allowed us to suspend our disbelief that an alleged murder could so effortlessly get off and wander around town without any question, and don’t even get us started on how awful Starr’s ‘tragic’ entrance was.
Then add on the lack of any REAL romances, that gave us the iconic love in the afternoon corner stone that the genera was known for, with random LSD induced visions and a multiple personality story that, while providing some good and entertaining performances, feels like it will never come to a conclusion, General Hospital is our most improved show, but misses out on being our best show for 2012.
‘This is a female driven storyline – Liam isn’t the one “choosing” between the women, it’s the women who are choosing him.’
Really? I cannot fathom finding this storyline anything but completely offensive to women. You’re absolutely right that Liam isn’t “choosing” between the women, because he wants to have it both ways AND THE WOMEN LET HIM. Both of those women should want and demand better for themselves, and yet it’s a torturous, never-ending merry-go-round that is wildly demeaning to the characters of both Hope and Steffy. I wish they’d both kick him to the curb that he deserves to be dropped on and then go out and find someone worth their trouble.
If they’re bores you, then why you’re watching them?
Will and Sonny are good together as friends…only. As a couple they are boring.
Your choice of Melissa Claire Egan as best supporting makes me realize why I agree completely with the naming of Y&R as most disappointing soap. I’ve been a major fan of hers since forever, and love her work. I only wish the show’s writing was worthy of her. It managed to make me despise her character, and that is so frustrating! I wish I could’ve seen Chelsea and Adam’s chemistry and instantly forgotten how she came on the scene, but I needed a whole lot more than that to forget everything she did. The writers constantly opted to take the easy way out with her, and her redemption and entry into respected GC circles happened overnight – totally unbelievable, and now it’s too late to rectify that in my eyes. MCE’s acting is fantastic as always, but the character is a fail for me, and the writers are entirely to blame.
Totally agree with one of the choices for Best Couple: Will Horton and Sonny Kiriakas of Days of our Lives (Chandler Massey, Freddie Smith). In my opinion, these two actors are simply amazing in their portrayal of a young couple who start out as friends and end up in love. They portray Will and Sonny as a real couple with real problems and struggles, just like any other couple. This is a true love story between these two characters, and Chandler and Freddie are both talented actors who make this relationship seem real.