Best and Worst of Soap Operas in 2025, Part 2
Daytime Confidential
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: ...
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Best and Worst of Soap Operas in 2025, Part 1
Daytime Confidential
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:...
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Daytime Confidential Reflections With Melodie Aikels
Daytime Confidential
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...
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Daytime Confidential Reflections with J. Bernard Jones
Daytime Confidential
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...
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Saditty Rococo
Daytime Confidential
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...
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Who's the Daddy?
Daytime Confidential
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...
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Daytime Confidential Reflections with Karen from Wubs
Daytime Confidential
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...
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Daytime Confidential Reflections with Mike Jubinville
Daytime Confidential
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...
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Magical Powers Everywhere
Daytime Confidential
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...
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2025 Daytime Emmy Awards: Reactions, Winners and Red Carpet Moments
Daytime Confidential
On Daytime Confidential podcast episode 1182, Luke Kerr, Jillian Bowe, Joshua Baldwin and Melodie Aikels react to the 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. Melodie spills tea about Daytime Emmy red carpet and winners walk interviews The team shares their first impressions of the show, from it to being streamed to Mario Lopez hosting, the In Memoriam and debated whether or not the award show's stage felt like an award show stage. From the surprise winners to the Daytime Emmy favorites taking home the night's biggest awards, the DC crew dive into all the major catagories, including:...
info_outlineOn 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.
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