Remember when soaps were THE THING? Women (and men) across the country would use vacation days from work so they wouldn’t miss that very important episode, kids were named after characters (thus, “Megan” came to be– thanks, Days of our Lives), and they were very much the show to watch on day time television.

But has 2009 slowly been putting an end to the hype of soap operas?

TV Guide has rated the best and worst soap operas of the year. What do you think about the list? What ranks as the best soap to you? The worst? Hey, does anyone even watch these shows anymore?

BEST SOAP OPERA:
One Life To Live

BEST PRIME-TIME SOAP OPERA:
Ugly Betty

MOST IMPROVED PRIME-TIME SOAP:
Desperate Housewives

MOST IMPROVED SOAP:
Days of our Lives

WORST SOAP:
All My Children

MOST DISAPPOINTING SOAP:
The Young and the Restless

MOST FRUSTRATING SOAP:
As The World Turns

SMARTEST EXECUTIVE IN DAYTIME:
Frank Valentini, One Life To Live

WORST DAYTIME EXECUTIVE:
Barbara Bloom, CBS VP

BEST HEAD WRITER:
Ron Carlivati, One Life To Live

WORST HEAD WRITER:
Chuck Pratt Jr., All My Children

WORST EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
Ellen Wheeler, Guiding Light

BIGGEST SHOW KILLERS:
P&G/Telenext and Ellen Wheeler

BEST DIRECTING:
General Hospital
—tie — One Life To Live

BEST LOCATION SHOOTS:
One Life To Live

WORST LOCATION SHOOTS:
Guiding Light

BEST-LOOKING SHOW:
One Life To Live

WORST-LOOKING SHOW:
Guiding Light

BEST STORYLINE:
Nicole and Sami’s baby switch, Days of our Lives
—tie — Fish’s coming out, One Life To Live

WORST STORYLINE:
John and Marlena’s exit, Days of our Lives

BEST SWEEPS/MOST PERFECT SOAP MONTH:
One Life in November

GROSSEST STORYLINE:
Ashley’s miscarriage/hysterical pregnancy, Y&R

MOST SHOCKING PLOT TWIST:
Phillip faked his own death because he was gay, The Young and the Restless

BEST CHARACTER TWIST:
Doris is a lesbian, Guiding Light

WORST MURDER MYSTERY:
Who killed Stuart?, All My Children

MOST DISAPPOINTING EPISODE:
Guiding Light’s finale

MOST INNOVATIVE STORYLINE:
Twenty-two (minus one) gay weddings, One Life To Live

MOST OVEREXPOSED STORYLINE:
Phyllis/Nick/Sharon, Y&R

There, of course, is many more categories. If you are interested, check out TV Guide.

What ranks as your best or worst soap?