"Best/Worst" from "Soap Opera Digest": Part IV Quiz

Answer: Phoebe Wallingford and Wade Matthews

1986 was not a good year for the soap since they received not one kudos in the "Best and Worst" issue published by "Soap Opera Digest" and one knock was for "Gimme a Break" with Phoebe and Matt. The editors hated how dumb the usually sophisticated Phoebe came off in permitting a young sleezebag's conniving influence best her. Further comments insisted also how the couple exuded limited, if any, chemistry, thus "Digest" considered this plot an overall dud.

Answer: Brooke/Adam/Dixie

1989 earned a lot of praise for the soap in "Soap Opera Digest's" final roundup with one prominent being for "Most Intriguing Story" over the Brooke/Adam/Dixie triangle. There was much approval over how unique the plot was with Adam siring a child with Dixie since Brooke was infertile.

The editors also loved performances from Julia Barr (Brooke), David Canary (Adam/Stuart) and Cady McClain (Dixie). For their work in this storyline, Barr and McClain won Emmys at the 1990 Daytime Emmys.

Answer: Jesse Hubbard

For 1988, one nod "AMC" received from "Soap Opera Digest" at the end of the year in their final evaluation of the soaps was "Best Death Scene" in regards to Jesse Hubbard. The editors appreciated how all the details were executed in giving Jesse one heck of a sendoff.

They also adored the acting from Debbi Morgan (Angie) and Darnell Williams (Jesse) as they played out these gripping scenes.

Answer: Terrence Frye

A notable storyline from 1992 was when Terrence Frye underwent a huge attack at Tom's club by two racist Pine Valley citizens. The story went so well that "Digest" recognized it in their "Best and Worst" issue by highlighting it as the "Best Social Issue".

They loved how responsible "AMC" was in shepherding this important plot through, considering it happened just months after Rodney King's beating. Praise went out as well to Dondre T. Whitfield's (Terrence) acting).

Answer: Erica Kane

Shockingly, the usually scheming Erica Kane earned the badge of "Best Heroine" in 2008 after "Soap Opera Digest" reported the hits and misses of soaps throughout the year. The show liked how Erica transformed programs while behind bars so as to aid her fellow prisoners in job training. Editors from "Digest" appreciated how this showed a side to Erica that's not often embodied in Pine Valley.

Answer: Cortlandt Manor

The biggest honor "AMC" got in 1987 from "Soap Opera Digest" was "Best Story" with a couple intriguing tales amidst the Cortlandt Manor backdrop. The editors loved how the drama unfolded over Ross raping Natalie. They also loved Palmer's further escalating feud with Adam Chandler and Nina's entertaining story about choosing between Cliff and Matt.

Answer: J. Eddie Peck (Jake)

The magazine was not all with J. Eddie Peck's performance as the new Jake so they denounced him as the "Worst Recast" of 2000. They disliked how Peck appeared to mispronounce "Gillian" and did not seem to care much for his facial expressions. In a rare occurrence, Peck actually responded to the criticism and blasted "Digest" since his accent made it difficult to enunciate "Gillian".

Answer: JR Chandler

One disappointment "AMC" got in the 2004 roundup from "Soap Opera Digest" was in "Worst Villain" over JR. The editors felt there were numerous instances when JR went too far in attempting to prove Babe as an unfit parent. They also wished that "AMC" writers had implemented more of Dixie's good influence into him during his scheming run that year.

Answer: Edmund Grey and Maria Santos

While Edmund and Maria were a popular couple, their wedding was not with the "Soap Opera Digest" editors as they received a thumbs down in the "Most Disappointing Wedding" inclusion. The editors felt this ceremony dragged on for too long compared to most soap nuptials. They also felt as if no excitement persisted on what was a lively, energetic duo.

Answer: Proteus Saga

2002 did not do a whole lot of good for "AMC" in the "Best and Worst" issue from "Digest" and that was proven with "Worst Story": The Proteus saga. The editors hated how long this story went on for and realized that even the scene stealing Marj Dusay (Vanessa) could not rescue the mess. They also disliked how convoluted everything was from the Proteus storyline.