Or will he continue with the same old, same old, and watch viewers continue to leave in groves.

Look what happened in 2009. We lost two, NOT ONE, but TWO long time soaps. Networks know that soaps are slowly losing ground to cable, to women going back to work in droves, and to a lack of interest in them with the hot, borderline R rated soaps on HBO/Cinemax. Soaps can't afford to lose many more viewers and the cancellation of the two big dogs in the water really didn't come as a surprise to those who are long term viewers. The young crowd, twenties and thirtyish viewers, really don't have that much of a vested interest in the soaps unless they grew up watching them with their moms or dads, so the bottom line here is that in order to survive, the soaps almost have to cater to the older dogs as well as put some interest out there to pull in the next generation. But how in the hell do you do that without offending one group or another?

Brad Bell sure hasn't figured that one out yet. All he's done most of 2009 is play see-saw, going back and forth and giving every single fan base something to hope for, something to chew on and something to think they're going to eventually get their favorite couple or favorite character on more than a few days. He's added some serious eye candy that does nothing but strip to underwear most of the time with no real story to try to pull in the younger generation. He's aged the young toddlers to young adults despite the ridiculousness of the situation expecting us older dogs to just accept it to pull in more storylines while keeping the long-term characters on the front burner. Trouble is, when you try to please everyone, you piss off everyone. AND you begin to lose viewers by the thousands who really have no vested interest.

To me, that's what 2009 was all about. Testing the waters, trying new couples, teasing EVERYONE with a little bit of meat to see which group bites the hardest and running with it. In my humble opinion, though, it's hurt the show more than helped it and I would truly be thankful for some sort of NORMALCY on the show. Yes, even a soap opera can be normal, including ridiculous shows. I don't think Brad Bell had a direction at all in 2009, I think he was changing gears every other month until he could decide which way way he was going to go. We heard from Kyle Lowder that a return to Brick and Tridge was the original idea and direction, and for sure we all saw the little hints and actions of the characters proving that's where the show was going. Too bad one of the old timers had to throw a fit, I've heard, and give an ultimatum to stop it. Brick up against Tridge, JackieM's with Brooke, Rick and Nick going up against Ridge and his kids with Taylor being the matriarch would have been great soap, especially when Hope and Steffy started going up against each other. So what happens? Brad writes this horrible IVF storyline making Jack Hamilton Marone Brooke Logan's child knowing he was going to write Bricky back together again, then shove a destroyed Taylor back into the arms of the man who loved her and she loved. Tridge was POWERFUL, romantic, and one of the strongest and most popular couples on daytime. Now, it rests in peace and I hope it remains there.

What we got left with was Bridge (sadly and quickly thrown together), Nicket (same thing, only even more eye-rolling) and Taylor with a possibility of Whip being her suitor. I see why it was done. I've been a soap-a-holic for the better part of 35 years. Here's why I think Bridge was resurrected despite the fact that the vast majority of viewers can't stand the couple. What the hell would they have done with Brooke? She's not fit for anything else. She's spent her life ruining other people's relationships and chasing taken men. What would they have done with Ridge? He's good for nothing but prancing around, wanting to be adored, whining when things don't go his way and he's certainly not pulling in younger women knowing the hot eye candy is around baring it all in fashion shows. So what has worked in the past? Well...Eric and Stephanie. The selfish narcissist skirt chasing adulterer married to a control freak who knew her husband was a leach but stuck by him. Taylor being Mrs. Forrester would NEVER put up with the crap Ridge is capable of dishing out. The writers almost had to put Bridge back together again for either Brooke or Ridge to have any kind of storylines. I'm quite looking forward to watching Ridge become an even bigger azzhole than he already is while Brooke sees him slipping away. You can almost BET MONEY that Ridge will be kissing up on Taylor soon and you can almost bet that Brooke and Ridge will be fighting over stupid crap, probably Brooke demanding that HER daughter, Hope, be a full part of the company over Steffy who is a FORRESTER and deserves to be there. We'll see.

So last year was full of twists, turns and surprises while Brad pondered which way he was going to go. Here, in my opinion, are some of the best and worst of them. And I promise not to let my own favoritism get in the way.....well....I'll TRY.

BEST ACTOR: Kyle Lowder. Hands down. The aftermath of Phoebe's accidental death, and the Ridge/Rick rivalry was fantastic to watch. I wished he would have had more screen time, and even though I love me some Jack Wagner and think it was a VERY close tie, I have to go with Kyle.

BEST ACTRESS: This one, too, was an easy one for me. Despite the fact that Taylor is my favorite, and remembering that NOBODY can ever replace Susan Flannery in the Best Actress award, I have to say that Heather Tom banged it out last year. I know, I know, Katie is the most hated character on the show second to Donna, but Tom made us hate her. Tom made us totally roll our eyes whenever whiney little Katie was on. Still does.

MOST IN NEED OF A STORYLINE: Is there ANY doubt? THORNE. Winsor Harmon is a hottie and a fabulous actor and I can't imagine for the life of me why they aren't using him more. This holiday filler and showing up a few times a year is ridiculous and a HUGE waste of talent.

MOST IN NEED OF AN ACTING COACH: Here's a touchy one that I've tried to avoid all year, because let's face it, the male and female who in my opinion qualified for it have some very passionate fans who will cuss you out if you dare say anything negative, but come on....RONN MOSS, DUH. Ronn is aging very nicely and is still hot, but after all these years, he still continues to tilt that head, stroke hair and walk with his arms behind him leaning to one side like Elvis Presley and STILL deliberately slurs some of those “S” words to sound sexy. Famous for the 'praying hands' and monotone sentences, the man needs to put some life into the role, not 'sexiness'. He's sexy, he doesn't have to prove it.

The female in the most need of an acting coach? SORRY, darling, as much as it pains me to say this, Jennifer Gareis. It pains me because Donna is such a hated creature, I don't think anything JG does to improve her acting skills will make anyone like Donna. Of course, it's kind of hard to do much 'acting' when all they've had her doing is prancing around in teddies giggling and saying “honey bear” every ten seconds.

BEST COUPLE: Well....in my humble opinion, Nick and Bridget did make the best couple last year even though they're not too popular, and there's one reason....They obviously love each other despite all the history. They've overcome Brooke's interference several times and as long as Brad keeps them together, they'll run JackieM's up against Forrester Creations quite nicely and enjoyably.

WORST COUPLE: UM.....here's where I shock some people. JOWEN. Jackie/Owen. I hated Tridge together, because even though they were starting to go the right way and I was rooting for them, Brad changed gears at the last minute and decided after all the past months of writing them falling for each other again, to put Brooke back in the mix. No, Bridge isn't the worst couple in my book because it keeps both of those sorry losers away from decent people and I'm going to enjoy watching them turn on each other soon. And they will. JOWEN gets my bid for worst couple. The Cougar/Boy Toy thing was hot for a while, but the stupid surrogate story and nonsense fashion shows where Owen is doing nothing but posing half naked is really ruining Brandon Beamer as well as the character of Owen itself. Somebody needs to split them up.

MOST SHOCKING PLOT TWIST: Geesh. Take your pick, there were tons of stinkers, but the return to Bridge after the build up of putting Tridge back together again rises above them all. Tridge had decades of passion, of real love and family, and they were starting to click again, with Ridge admitting that he wanted peace, not the turmoil Brooke always brought him, and admitted Taylor was the love of his life he regretted losing. BUT NOOOoooo, somebody decided to turn on a dime and throw away everything to put Nicket and Bridge back together on a dime. Ridiculous.

BEST USE OF HISTORY: I don't even know why I kept this one in the column, most of us columnists are doing about the same best/worsts, but my particular soap HAS NOT honored history in what, three years or better? Brad Bell has butchered the history of nearly every character. BOOOOOO!!!

WORST STORY: Again, take your pick. There were some stinkers, but the Bridge/Tridge triangle tops them.  Don't know WHO thought we'd like to see Brooke and Taylor battling it over Lunkhead again, and thankfully they ended it. They even made us choke through Brooke and Taylor going to counseling because LUNKHEAD wanted them to. What a ridiculous nonsense.

BEST STORY: Stephanie. Going to JackieM's and finding a new family. Brings tears to my eyes even now. I loved it!!! I loved JackieM's forming and going up against Forrester Creations and I hope Brad is good to his word this time that JackieM's and FC WILL do battle more often.

Here's some honorable mentions for you....

WORST EYE-ROLLING SCENES: Katie whining about how her sisters don't respect her. Ridge whining about losing FC when it was his own and his father's fault. ANYTHING with Donna/Eric in it. Justin wanting Donna. Owen and Jackie's sex scenes. The minister-less Bridge Beach wedding. The bust-up of the Tridge wedding with Brooke coming in after being dragged by a horse and still not getting her man. The entire Bridge reunion.

BEST HEART WARMING SCENES: Brad throwing that “I shared Jack with you” line for Taylor, confirming what we already knew, Taylor was still involved in her son's life. Nick and Bridget finding out they were going to be parents again. Nick and Bridget falling for each other again. Stephanie embracing her new family and telling Eric to jump off, rubbing it in his face that HE would cost Forrester Creations with his actions.

ABSOLUTE WORST DECISION

SHOVING THE LOGANS IN OUR FACES 24/7. Someone needs to even out the playing field, WE'RE SICK OF THE LOGAN OVERKILL.

Not too bad of a year, but TOO many things not being settled and ending up being changed. Let's hope things will settle down, ok??

Hope all of you have more love and more luck in 2010.