September 19, 2008
I absolutely loved GH's Max trying to win Diane back by holding a radio outside her window Lloyd Dobler style. The unlikely pairing is one of the truly bright spots on the violence-addled show. Their little break-up set the stage for another wine soaked heart-to-heart between Diane and Alexis which is always fun. It also prompted Diane to lay into Sonny with a brutally honest assessment of his attitude towards women and life in general. Even through tears, Diane's tough, no-nonsense nature shined through. It's exactly that quality that makes her match with gentle giant Max so much fun to watch.

September 12, 2008
I couldn't help but pity poor Aaron on ATWT this week. Not only did his new bride bed her former flame before their rehearsal dinner, during the ceremony she said nearly the same exact thing Chris uttered to her prior to their roll in the hay. Alison pledged to Aaron, "I will try to be worthy of your love." The day before, Chris admitted to her, "I want to be worthy of you loving me back." Hhhmmmm. Perhaps the obvious first sign Alison's heart wasn't in it was when she shoved a bridal gown at Susan, told her to buy it and ran out. While Alison was preoccupied with Chris and his puppy, Aaron was off picking out a wedding menu and doing everything in his power to give her a special day. Alison's conscience was not the only thing gone AWOL. By the looks of him, Holden's hairbrush also pulled a disappearing act. Everyone knows Holden is a low maintenance, every man type, but he could've run a comb through his locks for his son's nuptials. One thing I do love is ATWT's lustful flashbacks and the show was chock full of them this week!

September 4, 2008
Okay, this may shock some folks, but so far, I am a tad underwhelmed by James's return on ATWT. We all know the litany of his misdeeds, that he has a penchant for kidnapping people and inciting mayhem. But to date, all I've seen is an odd man who lives in a wine cellar and eats scraps. Really? In his defense, I guess he can't be all sinister and evil 24/7. Presumably he hatches all of his diabolical plots off-screen, because given what I've seen, I just want the Scooby gang to run in and rip off his mask. I am waiting with bated breath for Anthony Herrera to take off the gloves and unleash the kind of hell only James can.

August 27, 2008
I absolutely loved the ATWT grand dames this week! Lisa was fabulous as usual when she fessed up as to why she was trying to keep Lily from encountering Carly at Fashions. "Well, I heard about what happened with the car, and I just — well, I didn't want another incident here because it's hard to get blood out of silk, you know."

Then today, like a one two punch Lucinda deliciously gobbled up screen time with Oakdale's latest addition Brian. He actually suggested she go mushroom hunting with him, "It's a fantastic sport and a culinary delight,” he promised. Naturally! Could it be considered anything but? Has he met Lucinda?

Those two scenes, combined with Lucinda's use of the word "poppycock" is more than enough to get me digging for shrooms!

August 22, 2008
I was tickled to see ATWT's ever indomitable Lucinda get so much screen time this week with the introduction of Laurence Lau's new character, philanthropist Brain Wheatley. The scene where she rings Lily while covered in a facemask with cucumbers over her eyes was classic. When Lily explained that she had a night of romance and drama ahead of her and was unable to do a favor for her mother, Lucinda completely brushed off her pedestrian plans. "Well, cancel it, Darling, because I've got something better planned. Meet me at Fashions, and I will tell you everything." From sexier duds to suggesting her daughter throw a dinner party and invite Brian, it is obvious Lucinda is on the prowl — and I love it! Lucinda is not the only one getting her groove back! Lily has been stoking the flames of passion with Mike. Sure it's a rebound, but more often than not those sort of relationships are just want the doctor ordered to mend a broken heart. It was also refreshing to see that all of Parker's creepy lurking around pay off when he socked Leo for getting fresh with Liberty.... Switching gears here for a moment, what is up with GH's Johnny and Lulu? They are behaving like two heartsick teenagers. I am sorry, but they seem to be a little too old to be carrying on the way they are.

August 13, 2008
AS THE WORLD TURNS. I am not really sure where to start. The hostage drama played out beautifully, with the proper amount of suspense and more than a hint of camp. The frenetic scenes in and about the hospital while the mad man collected his victims were fabulous. John James was delightful as the demented doc and the line he shot at Emily when she offered to be his pawn in Alison's stead was priceless. "Thank you for the offer Emily. That was very sweet, but I need to take someone that people really care about." I laughed out loud. I also chuckled when poor Aaron awkwardly dangled out of the air vent like a clumsy ninja. The obligatory sentimental scenes after the brouhaha subsided were sweet. But the tide turned for me as soon as we were thrust into Alison's subconscious. I am all for scenes in black and white, but the odd interjection of song and dance routines in the fantasy sequence nearly destroyed all the positive thoughts I had for the first half of the show. If the purpose of the dream scenario was to leave people speechless, it worked.

August 5, 2008
With all of his recent huffing, puffing and all around freaking out lately, it was nice to see ATWT's Brad finally share a touching, yet goofy daddy/daughter moment with Liberty. Meredith Hagner (Liberty) has a beautiful voice, I see why they wanted to include her singing. Austin Peck (Brad), however, better keep his day job. All kidding aside, it was sweet to watch the pair awkwardly remedy the sad fact that they don't really know each other. As Liberty crooned "That's How You Know" from the movie Enchanted, Brad clumsily sang LALALALA along with her. Makes you think the two may finally be connecting and making some of their own memories.

July 31, 2008
First things first, I am thrilled to see suds vets filling the screen on ATWT. Lucinda was just divine dealing with a philandering Carly. Margo and Tom have been fabulous on the front burner, I am still having visions of Margo pointing a piece at Emily. As I mentioned last week, the return of Rick Decker has not disappointed, one wonders what nefarious deeds he may be up to.... On the prime time scene, the past week has been entirely fulfilling, I got my long needed Jagger fix on GH: NIGHT SHIFT and of course, MAD MEN returned. Here are a few things that struck me about GH:NS: When did Dr. Leo Julian become so angry? I hope the character will lighten back up and slip his headphones on. It was adorable how jealous Patrick got of strapping (half-naked!) Jagger. Any finally, poor Dr. Ford, how little we knew ye. Last week, I encountered perfectly coiffed young men and women donning dapper circa 1962 business attire, handing out cards about the MAD MEN season premiere at Grand Central Terminal, what a totally clever advertising plan! Of course, after that Sunday couldn’t come fast enough for me. The only thing I did not love about the season opener of MAD MEN was the fact that the hour flew by! I can’t wait to see what is in store for Don Draper and his cronies at Sterling Cooper. Thank goodness I have GH:NS to hold me over until next week.

July 18, 2008
Raise your hand if you think Noelle Beck did a great job as a heartbroken, betrayed Lily this week. I do, I do!!! Beck combined a perfect amount of rage, sadness and indignation in Lily's reaction to her hubby's adulterous ways. I was not a fan of the Holden/Carly pairing from the start and seeing Beck portray Lily as vulnerable and trusting as she did, made the couple that much more distasteful to me. So, I wasn't privy to doctor demento Rick Decker's first stint in Oakdale, but I am loving his latest! I dig the way everyone behaves when he's around, from Margo's unintentionally funny jibes about how he's a lunatic to Alison's blood curdling scream. It was classic. I have a feeling this is going to be a VERY interesting summer!

July 11, 2008
It's mothers gone wild month on ATWT! First, Barbara slipped into mama bear mode to protect her young (Paul) in the face of diabolical Sofie. Then, this week, pistol-packing mom Margo whipped her piece out on Emily after she caught the tabloid temptress sauntering around the Hughes kitchen in her skivvies. Although the copper opted not to pump her son's lover full of lead, she unloaded a barrage of verbal bullets that were nearly as damaging when she spilled the beans to Tom about Em's hooking past. Maybe Tom is onto something with his desire to keep Emily away from her son. But I hardly think her prior misdeeds should be the reason why. Perhaps her prancing around the house for a sex romp with Casey — Daniel's half-brother — is a better argument. I know they are both consenting adults, but that is just wrong on a number of levels. Paging Jerry Springer...

I can not, I say, can not wait for the new season of NIGHT SHIFT! I am psyched about so many aspects of the show. Just to name a few: Antonio Sabato Jr., Robert's return, the synchronization with GH, and did I mention Antonio Sabato Jr.? Aside from the obvious (he is an Adonis), Jagger is a wonderful character and his presence already makes me nostalgic for the Jagger/Brenda/Karen and the pre-brain damaged Jason days. I can only hope and pray that Jagger will also eventually make it back on the GH canvas.

Speaking of GH, the pained expressions on Jason's face as Carly ranted about Jax kissing Kate and excused her own infidelity were priceless! He totally mirrored the frustration I was feeling watching Carly flail around in her glass house.

July 3, 2008
So ATWT's poor, demented Sofie is toast. I may be the only one, but I am going to miss the truth challenged Ms. Duran. There is nothing like an unhinged ingénue to liven up a story line. Yeah, she fibbed about Paul raping her, sure she tried to whack his mother in the hopes Meg would get locked up for doing it. But she added a fitting amount of lunacy, she brought crazy back. Sofie's shenanigans served as perfect catalysts for Barbara to bare her claws and chillingly tease the psycho about how she could "simply disappear" without anyone noticing. On a separate note, I have to chime in about several things that have been on my mind regarding the denizens of Port Charles. Here it goes, in no particular order:

Okay, I get that Robin has serious abandonment issues (growing up the spawn of two globe-trotting super spies was far from easy) but I sincerely hope she ditches her baggage and opens her eyes about Patrick's intentions.

Now on to Carly, this is a woman with more than just abandonment issues, clearly. For a moment there — and I mean a moment — it looked as if she was finally having some clear, sane thoughts when she admitted having a baby would be a bad idea and would not replace Michael. Then, as usual, she reverted to type, harassed Kate and ran to Sonny's house screeching like a banshee. Not to mention the cockamamie scheme she concocted in the event she was pregnant.

Finally, to say Claudia is an utterly unlikable shrew on the surface is an understatement. Which is why I enjoyed her scenes during the quarantine, as well as her growing fondness and concern for Spinelli. There is definitely something more to "Vixenella" than her gruff exterior lets on.

To quote Monty Python, "And now for something completely different." I am really pleased to see a soap character working in the field of EMS. On GL, Remy recently gained his certification as an emergency medical technician. For years, daytime has been filled with cops and let's face it, more cops. It is refreshing that a suds character donning rubber gloves and a tech bag. Allow me to explain my sentiment, here in NYC, the police are "The Finest", the firefighters are "The Bravest", correction officers are "The Boldest" and sanitation workers are "The Strongest". In comparison, the paramedics and EMTs crack that they are called "NY's Forgotten" as they are an essential service no one seems to notice. I hope GL manages to include all the trials, tribulations and excitement Remy's new job holds in store for him.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Cheers, Erika

June 20, 2008
Greetings soap fans!

My name is Erika Martinez, I am a new senior writer here at Soap Opera Digest and Soap Opera Weekly. If my name looks familiar it's because I am fresh off a 10 -year stint as a crime reporter for The New York Post. Over the last decade I've covered countless tales of murder and mayhem, both within the five boroughs of NYC and beyond.

I can't wait to delve into the intriguing world of daytime dramas. I'll be covering AS THE WORLD TURNS for Digest, and would love to hear from fans of the show. Since I am a fairly new viewer myself, I am very interested in learning about how ATWT devotees feel about their favorite soap.

After being raised with a steady dose of AMC, OLTL and GH, it is a pleasure to slip into a show as entertaining as ATWT. This week, I relished watching Emily demand more copies of The Intruder be circulated around Oakdale after Tom threatened her with a libel suit. No surprise there, huh? I also got a chuckle out of Henry's antics after his recent windfall, he's quite a colorful cat.

I am so excited about working at Digest and Weekly and I look forward to sharing my journey with you!

Cheers,
Erika