Planet Soap

GH: AJ's return in 2014. So much more could've been done with the character, they could've paired him with Carly for a little bit to re-create the Alan and Monica toxic relationship dynamic. He could've even giving Sunny some hell now that Michael knew the truth behind his parentage. Instead they turn him back into a drunk and killed him off --again--despite his being a legacy character.

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Y&R Music cue extracted from a 1991 episode. RPReplay_Final1644417644.mp3

GH Sabrina: after Robin returned from the dead the character kind of just faded into oblivion until she got killed off Y&R: Dina, being that the character already had animosity with Jill she could've been used to re-create the feud that was lost after Kay died. Instead they gave her an Alzheimer's plot that dragged on way too long. Dynasty: Dominique should've caused way more trouble than she did.

unsure if this is posted here but this youtuber summarizes and analyzes several Dallas episodes:

It would have made sense, as someone said in one of these threads, if Brooke were a sex addict rather that an alcoholic. That would've explained a-lot of past behavior and made for an interesting storyline.

flashbacks today!!

this line up feels so odd. Soaps then news then soaps again, rather than have the two sister soaps just run back to back.

I was thinking about the time slot idea for a thread and your post had really made me think this might be a good topic. The ABC line up of amc at 1, oltl at 2, gh at 3 followed by oprah at 4 which would lead i to the 5 pm news on many abc o&o's was solid! GH felt like the quintessential late afternoon soap so it felt odd when they moved it to 2pm to accomodate Katie Couric's talk show in several markets. Glad they moved it back to 3pm in my market. Someone had mentioned in another thread that B&B at 1:30pm was helped greatly by Y&R as it's lead in.

Seems like I need to check out some early 2000s guiding light, haven't paid too much attention to that era in yt episodes

What timeslots do you think severed or hurt a soap? Other questions to consider: were there any soaps that should/should not have been on at the same time? Ex. Should the new Port Charles have been put opposite the #1 Y&R at 12:30pm? I'll start: Growing up Guiding Light always aired at 10am on my local CBS O&O. I always found myself thinking that was very early in the day for a soap opera. According to Wikipedia, I probably wasn't alone in this thought: To me I've never had the thought that it was too early in the day for a talk show. Personally I like a light hearted talker like Regis & Kelly in the early mornings and more topical/serious shows like Oprah in the early or later afternoon, especially as a lead in to the 5pm news. Just a random preference not something that should be a rule. Soaps however, for what ever reason to me feel like something more midday oriented: 11am-3pm, maybe 4pm for the extreme latest. Thoughts?

b&b: sheila

That's an excellent way to phrase it. Basically of all the Soaps that were on the air by 2000, which one (based on your viewing experience) do you consider the greatest of all time.

2012/2013: GH changes head writers who revamps the show and build Significant press around the shows 50th anniversary. Not to mention a massive marathon on soap net. 2017: nostalgia comes alive as Sheila returns to B&B, and Steve Burton's Jason returns to GH.

2005 is where we saw a major quality drop on multiple soaps y&r, gh, atwt, and GL. 2004: ABC soaps drop their classic 90s openers (AMC had a good looking open which debut in 03) in favor of cheap, dark, runway looking intros with revamped themed songs.

IMO the reason soap fans are so hesitant towards streaming is that soaps, much like daytime television, was one if the ultimate forms of appointment viewing. There's a certain comfort in knowing that every day at 4 PM Oprah is going to be on, or you can see Erica and Jackson in some form of drama at 1 PM. With streaming ,when you have an entire library at your disposal anytime you want, you lose some of that anticipation magic. As much as I love watching all episodes of soaps on YouTube, and watching TV shows on streaming, there's some excitement in knowing that I have to wait every Wednesday night to catch a new episode of the Chicago dramas or every Thursday to see Shonda's shows. I would like to see all libraries of soaps be available on streaming in good quality since they hardly are ever rebroadcast.

Name an individual year in which something especially important happened on a soap in terms of on screen or behind the scenes events that significantly altered the show for better or worse. For example: 1975 (Y&R) Phillip Chancellor's death, a land mark storyline that would drive story for decades. 1976 (OLTL) Victor Lord's death, which fuel Dorian and Viki for decades to come 1996 (GH) Jason Q becomes Jason Morgan, goes to work for Sonny and Carly comes to town. All three events events would shape GH for the next quarter century 1995 (all soaps) OJ trial causes mass preemptions significantly contributing to audience erosion. 2011 (all soaps) OLTL/AMC cancellations mark the final nails in the coffin of the soap purge.

I've heard one analyst say GH had the most masculine appeal amongst the soaps. I could definitely understand that given the mob crime and gun violence elements of the show, along with the action adventure.

I agree about the hyperfocus on on a single or at the most 2 plots at a time. I disagree though with the notion that the half hour format is cause of it. It's a matter of the show not knowing how to make the most of the time they have (though I'd take 22 over 18 mins). I don't think soaps should have even should've expanded to an hour in the first place.

Going back to pre-Monty GH, 1977 backwards, was GH good in terms of storyline and keeping you engaged? Or would it have earned it's would be cancellation?

Anyone who's watched a decent amount of 50s or 60s episodes (most likely online) have a ranking on the early years? I know ATWT and TGL were highly reguarded. On the other hand OLTL brought some new flair in the 60s with stories like Carla white passing.

I do see alot of similarities between Y&R and AMC in terms of having a core set of middle aged main players Erica/Adam/Brooke/Tad+ & Victor/Nikki/Jack/Ashley+, along with the glamour and romance element. Y&R is my favorite soap but I always find myself ranking GH above it.

94-96 weren't terrible but they didn't have as much momentum as the eras that preceded and succeeded them. In watching old episodes I find my attention being held more by the years I listed. The mid 90s is where we saw Taylor being "dead", Brooke going mad in Barbados etc.. Plus '93 is where we saw the transfer of head writer from Bill Bell to Brad Bell. Up to 93 Bold was strong with Sheila's introduction, the BeLief formula, Bridget's paternity and Brook & Eric's marriage. After 97, there was Sheila really going mad with her exit story, and re introduction in 2002. We got Brook's bedroom, her marriage with Thorne vs Macy, crossovers with Y&R, as well as Rick/Amber/Kimberly and Deacon. Y&R also had a minor slump around this time.

Many people say that much like Y&R there was a lull in the mid 90s on Bold. Somewhere around 94-96. What were some factors, particularly storyline wise, that lead to this?

B&B couples to end the show : Taylor & Ridge Brooke & Eric Quinn & Carter Liam & Steffy Fin & Hope *if Stephanie were still alive, she'd be with Massimo