"All My Children" matriarch, Susan Lucci.
Since around 2009, daytime soap-operas have been getting cancelled steadily, with network executives citing budgeting issues as the reason. To say the least, fans have been outraged and this is a sad loss in television history as most popular soaps have been on the air for more than 30 years (“Guiding Light,” cancelled in 2009, ended after a 72-year presence on radio & television). In September, ABC’s “All My Children” will close (est. 1970), followed by “One Life to Live” (est. 1968) in January 2012, leaving only 4 soaps between CBS, NBC and ABC. Some may find it frivolous that I’ve written an article about the cessation of soap-operas, but we are losing an important piece of our pop-culture fabric. They may be deemed campy, cheesy and outrageous, but the melodramatic circus that is the soap has outlasted most forms and trends of television programming, to the point that it took an economic recession and a budget crisis to take them out.
I think soaps have long survived for multiple reasons. Everything we love about entertainment media- sensationalism and fantasy -lies within the soap. Part of why the fine arts exist is so we can briefly suspend or exaggerate reality to express or escape from the stressors of daily life. Soaps provide all the juicy, low-down dirty sensationalism we want to gossip about and alter reality in the most radical ways. Incorporating every major movie genre, soap storylines are especially unique and provide a little something for everyone. See one episode about a hallucinatory ghost visiting her grieving mob-boss husband to warn him about an impending attempt on his life by a cooky magician who was once in love with the mob-bosses wife, and you’ve got romance, horror, drama and action all in one hour. In soap opera-land, ANYTHING goes and ANYTHING can happen. The fact that there are endless possibilities for a storyline’s resolution is what keeps people watching and talking. Much like how we all have to see the conclusion to the Harry Potter film franchise (or read the book), we have to know what happens next. Soap-operas are fairy-tales for adults. Where else can you watch someone go from being a doctor, to a bartender, stripper, a priest and finally a life-saving secret agent? Where else can you love a murderous prick?
I think soaps have long survived for multiple reasons. Everything we love about entertainment media- sensationalism and fantasy -lies within the soap. Part of why the fine arts exist is so we can briefly suspend or exaggerate reality to express or escape from the stressors of daily life. Soaps provide all the juicy, low-down dirty sensationalism we want to gossip about and alter reality in the most radical ways. Incorporating every major movie genre, soap storylines are especially unique and provide a little something for everyone. See one episode about a hallucinatory ghost visiting her grieving mob-boss husband to warn him about an impending attempt on his life by a cooky magician who was once in love with the mob-bosses wife, and you’ve got romance, horror, drama and action all in one hour. In soap opera-land, ANYTHING goes and ANYTHING can happen. The fact that there are endless possibilities for a storyline’s resolution is what keeps people watching and talking. Much like how we all have to see the conclusion to the Harry Potter film franchise (or read the book), we have to know what happens next. Soap-operas are fairy-tales for adults. Where else can you watch someone go from being a doctor, to a bartender, stripper, a priest and finally a life-saving secret agent? Where else can you love a murderous prick?
Before she was "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer," Sarah Michelle Gellar was "Kendall Hart" on "All My Children."
Nikolas & Emily wed on "General Hospital."
Another thing that’s helped soap operas weather an ever-changing television horizon is how it brings people together. Most people have seen at least one soap episode or lived with someone that watches. At minimum, the name “Erica Kane” rings a bell. What started out as daytime entertainment for housewives of yester year has become a cult classic for women, and even some men, of all ages. Soaps bridge generational gaps, as the rich character and storyline history is ongoing and interconnected. Soaps were the one thing me, my grandma and mother could all agree to watch. Some of my favorite mom stories involve her telling me about what my favorite character’s parents were up to back in the day, and man, they were a trip. For college students, soaps were a collective good reason to be late to class. How mad can the professor be if the whole class was late? We couldn’t miss Nikolas and Emily’s wedding (of “General Hospital”)! I’m still mad Emily Quartermaine died. You didn’t have to do that Bob Guza (former head-writer of “GH”)! In high-school, talk of fictional characters’ exploits sometimes cut down on harmful, real-life gossip and gave the popular girl something to chat about with the outcast. There’s just something about watching a love story subsist a death defying, adulterating, baby stealing, chip-in-the-brain, demon possessed evil twin clone.
Finally, the actors. The acting ability of soap opera stars has long been questioned and challenged, and many have a hard time finding work outside of daytime, but it takes more than skill to learn and perform the immense amount of material a popular character has to absorb. Think about it: soaps are on 5 days a week YEAR ROUND with only holidays off. No other scripted television show airs that often. It also takes skill to play your own evil twin. Not many big-shot Hollywood actors can say that they’ve done that. On another note, soaps are generally more respectful to actors. Writers tend to be more forgiving and flexible, forming storylines around pregnancies, illnesses and temporary exits. Plus it’s a consistent gig. You’re not sitting around waiting for the next script or the next phone call from a film exec. Soaps are such a consistent job that you can literally grow up on them. AMC’s Susan Lucci (“Erica Kane”) has been on the drama since its start. 33-year-old Kimberly McCullough (“Robin Scorpio”) started on “GH” at age 7. 20-year-old Kris Alderson, better known as “Starr Manning” from “OLTL,” originated her role at age 6. Say what you want about soap actors, but they’ve worked hard to craft and originate the iconic roles that will last forever in television record and in the memories of the fans that they are often so accessible to (shout out to “Adam Chandler,” “Edward Quartermaine,” “Victoria Davidson” & “Dorian Lord”).
After receiving quite the backlash and protest from fans, ABC has resolved to put “AMC” and “OLTL” online, but kinks, contracts and budgeting are still being worked out. There HAS to be away to reduce production costs besides cancellation. I could deal with seeing my favorite soaps (or as grandma called them, “stories”) only 3 times a week, instead of 0. Network representatives might have to get as creative as the soaps they’re cancelling to come up with a better plan.
*The character of “Erica Kane” is such a salient pop-culture figure, she has her own song. “Erica Kane,” by the late R&B singer Aaliyah, was released posthumously in 2002. You can hear the song in my tribute video below.
Finally, the actors. The acting ability of soap opera stars has long been questioned and challenged, and many have a hard time finding work outside of daytime, but it takes more than skill to learn and perform the immense amount of material a popular character has to absorb. Think about it: soaps are on 5 days a week YEAR ROUND with only holidays off. No other scripted television show airs that often. It also takes skill to play your own evil twin. Not many big-shot Hollywood actors can say that they’ve done that. On another note, soaps are generally more respectful to actors. Writers tend to be more forgiving and flexible, forming storylines around pregnancies, illnesses and temporary exits. Plus it’s a consistent gig. You’re not sitting around waiting for the next script or the next phone call from a film exec. Soaps are such a consistent job that you can literally grow up on them. AMC’s Susan Lucci (“Erica Kane”) has been on the drama since its start. 33-year-old Kimberly McCullough (“Robin Scorpio”) started on “GH” at age 7. 20-year-old Kris Alderson, better known as “Starr Manning” from “OLTL,” originated her role at age 6. Say what you want about soap actors, but they’ve worked hard to craft and originate the iconic roles that will last forever in television record and in the memories of the fans that they are often so accessible to (shout out to “Adam Chandler,” “Edward Quartermaine,” “Victoria Davidson” & “Dorian Lord”).
After receiving quite the backlash and protest from fans, ABC has resolved to put “AMC” and “OLTL” online, but kinks, contracts and budgeting are still being worked out. There HAS to be away to reduce production costs besides cancellation. I could deal with seeing my favorite soaps (or as grandma called them, “stories”) only 3 times a week, instead of 0. Network representatives might have to get as creative as the soaps they’re cancelling to come up with a better plan.
*The character of “Erica Kane” is such a salient pop-culture figure, she has her own song. “Erica Kane,” by the late R&B singer Aaliyah, was released posthumously in 2002. You can hear the song in my tribute video below.
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