Bye Erica...the end of an era

After several weeks of speculation it was confirmed today that long-running ABC soaps "All My Children" and "One Life To Live" are being canceled. All My Children will end its 41 year run in September, and One Life to Live will end its 43 year run in January 2012.

Although I've watched "One Life to Live" in sprints, I've been watching "All My Children" regularlyish since day one. I actually saw the very first episode in January 1970!

It was during my Christmas vacation in second grade. I remember Susan Lucci's Erica Kane was a high school senior, along with her rival Tara Martin. Of course I had no idea what was going on, but I was entertained. After that I would watch whenever I was sick at home or on school breaks.

Once VCRs came into the picture I'd tape it and watch with my mother after school and work. We did this until I got married and left my parents' house. Mami watched it every day until the day she died. Of course she'd forget what she saw the minute it was over and she wasn't able to follow the storyline, but she did recognize the old characters. Right now I'm going through a phase of not recording and watching it, but I keep up with the general story line by participating in a Usenet forum and watching it if I'm home.

I think the writing has deteriorated significantly in the last few years, but at its best it tackled social issues long before prime time did. They dealt with the Vietnam War, abortion, drunk driving, drug use, interracial marriage, homosexuality, AIDS, hate crimes, mental health and transgender issues along with the traditional soap opera story lines.

They had the first legal abortion on television just months after Roe v. Wade was decided. They incorporated an actress' face lift into the plot and for the first time cosmetic surgery and its physical and psychological issues were discussed. They presented daytime television's first lesbian kiss and wedding and there were many other firsts. I learned a lot about the "real world" watching it and "General Hospital" - which will now remain ABC's only soap opera.

"All My Children" is part of our culture and part of my life...even if I wasn't watching I'm saddened by this news. I'll miss knowing it's there.

Top 9 - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

So today they pick from the always controversial Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...good field from which to mine.

Look how pretty Jennifer looks! And Steven was coherentish during the intro. Randy shut up.

Jacob Lusk – Man in the Mirror (Michael Jackson) - Fabulous song; keep it under control Jacob; nice, he's singing it really well, a little screaming is fine; he looked good no weird faces; it was fine but a little boring... Score - 6.

Haley Reinhart - Piece of My Heart - Before the break Ryan said she's doing Janis! OH NO SHE IS NOT! No! Just no!; GAH! She's doing Janis!; she looks good; sounds bad; you don't have to growl every word!; I don't like it; how do you make Janis boring? I love that song and she killed it. Score - 4.

Casey Abrams – Have You Ever Seen the Rain? (Creedence Clearwater Revival) - fabulous song!; I'm digging the bass; I like it; he's a little weird still, but it works here; it was good; OK so I'm starting to get Casey. Score - 8

Lauren Alaina – Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin) - really Alaina? You're doing Aretha?; a phenomenal song! not loving the look; actually it's not bad; ok...she only yelled a little; it was really quite good; but she's still boring. Score - 7.

James Durbin – While My Guitar Gently Weeps (George Harrison) – beautiful song; wow his voice is beautiful; he can do soft!; and then he yelled! and it was good! loved it!... Score - 9.

Scotty McCreery – That's Alright Mama (Elvis Presley) – Love this song!; he's changing it up; oh no...he tried to be sexy and that was bad; "all hat and no cattle" Steven?; I don't know the performance was weird, I didn't hate it, but I'm confused; his voice was excellent as always, but I don't think I can deal with a sexy Alfred E. Newman; the girls rushing the stage - staged or really bad security?. Score - 9.

Pia Toscano – River Deep Mountain High (Tina Turner) – one of my favorite songs ever!; she's gorgeous!; she was fantastic; classy as hell; WOW! Loved it! She nailed it! Score - 10.

Stefano Langone – When A Man Loves A Woman (Percy Sledge) – another favorite songs; a difficult song; he's really cute; he has such a pretty voice ooh a little edge!; then it got sweet; it was less boring but still needs a little ooomph. Score - 8.

Paul McDonald – Folsom Prison Blues (Johnny Cash) – amazing songl the train is comin' 'round the bend and headed for a train wreck; awful; he's smiling too much, treating it like a party song - it's about PRISON! Paul; he needs to go NOW; he has no voice. Score – 2


Who I Think *Should* Go: Paul McDonald

Who I Think *Will* Go: Paul McDonald

I think it was Pia's night. What did you think?

Cafe con Leche - Sorta

When I was about 4 or 5 years old - as I refer to them, "my parents' early Cuban refugee" years, they would scrimp and save to buy espresso coffee. We were in New York at the time so it was expensive and only available at Italian markets. Naturally they would only use it to drink as "cafecito" - not "waste" it for cafe con leche. Instead we would use Nescafe Instant for the cafe con leche. There was no Cuban bread at the time, so they'd buy baguettes.

Flash forward to this morning as I dipped some baguette into Nescafe con Leche. And smiled.