All My Children: My Favorite Characters

Opal and Billy Clyde and Ray were the best, campest villains ever. Well, I quit watching about 25 years ago, so maybe some better showed up after that. I hate to think of Ms Lucci being unemployed after all these years.

The worst cover in history was Friday's for The NY Daily News. There was a photo of Susan Lucci with the caption about "The Fat Lady" singing for soaps. It made it look like they were referring to Lucci, if you didn't know the old "fat lady sings" expression. Worse, right next to it, in huge letters, was the main headline of the day: "HE RAPED ME!!"

Haley's alcoholic mom Arlene, Grandma Kate Martin, Mona Kane. Myrtle for sure. Oh, Michael, couldn't soap fan Ms. Winfrey just buy both shows and let them continue on OWN ? For 34 years, 5 times a week, I spent more time with Pine Valley's and Llanview's families than my own. And all those shirtless hunks - like Cutter in the steam room at Llanview's gym/spa Serenity Springs. Schwing.

Don't forget the original "Children" along with Erica: Tera Martin, Chuck Tyler and Phil Brent. They were all High School seniors as was I in 1970 when the show began.

Hey MM, why not create some buzz by interviewing S Lucci or Erica's lezzie/daughter character, or one of those hunks from OLTL (also cancelled, thus decimating industry jobs in NYC). THe Writers Guild just sent a messgae to ABC urging them to reconsider and the websites are unleashing nonstop fury. The least you can do is sign the petitions to fire Brian Frons (head of ABC daytime) or to save the shows on Petitions Online to make up for your relative lack of coverage about major (and groundbreaking) story lines on AIDS, gay, lesbian and even transgender characters on both shows the past 15 years, which have probably done more to promote tolerance in middle-America than any other social force. If all that fails, why not start watching for the next few months--you'd be surprised how easy it is to pick up the habit again, and how cathartic it can be. While you're at it, you can get a makeover at the Glamorama and some sorely needed new clothes at the Boutique or Lacy's. Pine Valley would undoubtedly welcome you back with open arms.

Sorry, I'm embarrassed to admit I didn't watch OLTL.

Michael, if you have any memories to share of One Life to Live also, would love to read them. I'm especially interested in your take on the ultimate Diva Bitch of all time, Dorian Lord (no offense Erika Kane) and her rival Victoria Lord Riley Buchanan Carpenter Davidson Banks (you know, the one with six different personalities, and don't forget six Emmys). Susan Lucci...1 Emmy only!

Mr. Mickey sez: "I also loved Langley Wallingford, Phoebe's gay husband. Okay so he wasn't officially gay but come on!"

Come on is right. He made Richard Simmons look like Chuck Bronson.

Vote for Opal Gardner..Opal Opal Opal Opal Gardner ..great character...PHOEBE was pure camp too

Langley knew Myrtle Fargate from their carny days. They were skilled pickpockets. Why do I remember this?

I loved those 3!!!! Dorothy Lyman as Opal was MAGIC!!! I also loved Langley Wallingford, Phoebe's gay husband. Okay so he wasn't officially gay but come on! Also do you remember Silver Kane, Erica's imposter sister who was all mousey and transformed into a vixen? Palmer Cortlandt! So many great characters over the years!

I always loved Dixie for some reason.. so sad about this!

Billy Clyde Tuggle and his Estelle and Ray Gardner (Opal's ex and Tad's dad?) prank calling Ruth Martin while wearing a sweat soaked sodajerker's hat.

Oh, the Glamarama!!! This was my first and only soap...back in my high school days. Christmas vacations...my aunt catching me up on the shenagians I'd missed.. and the requisite Christmas miracle. But once Erica became a "respectable high fashion magazine owner", it 'd gone downhill.

Yeah, loved him too. And of course Phoebe Wallingford.

What about Tad the cad?? He was dreamy.