I don't think the term soap is difficult to define.  But given that since Friends, most sitcoms have cliffhangers and season finales, I believe it has to have more criteria than just continuing drama.

49 minutes ago, Paul Raven said:

Those shows had soapy elements but we all know they were not soaps.

To fit NBCs brand I guess  their soap should have been urban,maybe  a little gritty and daring.

Sisters was a relative success.Did it fit the NBC brand?

I think there's an argument to be made that Hill Street Blues integrated certain soap elements in a way most primetime dramas hadn't before.

I think Sisters mostly existed in its own corner rather than feeling like it was true to any network.

50 minutes ago, te. said:

Hell, in a recent interview Nicolette Sheridan pointed out that Knots was a night time drama. People still have an aversion to the term soap for whatever reason.

Yes, that made me roll my eyes. I noticed she didn't say that about Paper Dolls. The idea is that if a show is good, it's not a soap.

1 hour ago, DRW50 said:

I'd argue Hill St. Blues, LA Law, and St. Elsewhere, although most involved with them would probably have retched if you called them soaps.

And, SISTERS, is NBC, primetime & a soap or I'll eat my hat. Also I go along with your three. 

I prefer the term “serial.” Knots and Dallas, after the first seasons, were fully serialized. Hill St, St. Elsewhere, and LA Law were hybrids: they had serialized story elements that would continue for a limited number of episodes, but they generally had a couple of self-contained stories per episode as well.

13 hours ago, DRW50 said:

Yes, that made me roll my eyes. I noticed she didn't say that about Paper Dolls. The idea is that if a show is good, it's not a soap.

I keep thinking about PAPER DOLLS, which I loved, and how she & Terry Farrell (spelling?) were so young, the two ingenues. And, then, I think why is Nicolette a part of the Divas Xmas group? 

Edited November 26, 20232 yr by Donna L. Bridges
clarity

13 hours ago, Paul Raven said:

Sisters was a relative success.  Did it fit the NBC brand?

"Sisters" fit well with the NBC brand, but I think it would've fit on ABC, too.

After doing a blog on streaming classic soaps, I did a quick scratch tally: 

appletv has 10.

FreeVee, Prime Video & YouTube have 5 each.

Pluto has 4. 

I just think it's a fair significance. 

 

https://sites.google.com/site/mundodallases2/dallas/urban-legends-of-the-supersoaps

20 URBAN LEGENDS of the Supersoaps

1. WAS LINDA EVANS THE FIRST CANDIDATE TO PLAY PAMELA EWING ON “DALLAS”?

Legend Status: Untrue

2. WAS A DALLAS-DYNASTY CROSSOVER EVER PLANNED?

The networks had to use a lot of fake stories (more or less leaked to trashy mags and papers) as an attempt at getting the viewers interested in those shows again. One of the most over-the-top articles had "Dallas"´ J.R. wheeling and dealing with the Queen of "Dynasty" herself, Alexis. Though the two shows were aired by competitor networks and produced by different companies (Spelling and Lorimar), there seemed to be an intention out there to make a crossover and unite these two parallel worlds, even for a brief storyline, though it was never confirmed or denied by TPTB.

Legend Status: Untrue (but funny to think about!)

5. WAS PAMELA SUE MARTIN TEMPTED TO RETURN TO “DYNASTY” AFTER SHE LEFT?

Even after re-casting the role, Spelling wanted Martin back. First, the Shapiros wanted her and Jeff to run a hotel (but Spelling had the rights over the adaptation of Arthur Hailey´s "Hotel", and they sued him: eventually they settled, and this idea was dropped). When they were working on the "Dynasty" spin-off, "The Colbys", they tried to lure her again, unsuccessfully.

8. WAS “KNOTS LANDING” AN ADAPTATION OF INGMAR BERGMAN´S “SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE”?

Jacobs defined his initial idea for the show as "Scenes from a Marriage Times Four", a "dramatic exploration of the way people related in the post-sexual revolution world and how they kept their marriages together if they could". On the other side, Michael Filerman wanted to emphasize the soapy, lighter side.  The Jacobs-Filerman creative duo usually explain very cordially that [..] one wanted "to produce art" and the other wanted "to create trash".

15. DID JOAN COLLINS REFUSE TO APPEAR IN “THE COLBYS”?

Collins wrote in her autobiography "Passion for Life":"The producers were extremely anxious for me to guest-star in "The Colbys" but I refused

19. IS TRUE THAT SUSAN SULLIVAN SUGGESTED HER CHARACTER SHOULD FALL IN LOVE WITH RICHARD ON "FALCON CREST"?

At the time, tabloids published that Robert Foxworth and Sullivan coudn´t stand each other because of her obsession with perfection, and they even hinted that the blossoming affair with Richard was partly a way to keep them apart. The communicative, sparkly actress talked about her shorter new hairdo, her wish to do comedy, her exit from "Falcon Crest" and also, about how Maggie´s relationship with her brother-in-law started. She said that, although actors didn´t have too much input in the plots per se, writers did listen to their suggestions and ideas. It was Susan herself who told them to investigate the undeniable chemistry that she and Richard Channing (David Selby) had on screen.

@Khan - I thought some of these answers would intrigue you based on recent postings

 

 

Edited November 29, 20232 yr by j swift

Blog 259 Streaming Classic Soaps

effective Nov. 27, 2023

Many classic soaps are known to have episodes on tape, in warehouses, or other storage. Very likely they are not digitized. To be streamed they would have to be cataloged & digitized just to be streamed in chronological order. To market them by storyline, etc. would require more in editing & creating titles & segues, etc. This applies to most defunct daytime soaps including ABC/Disney and P&G. If anyone has any info about the ownership or whereabouts of any classic soaps, please pass the info along!

90210 the reboot. 5 seasons. Prime Video, CW & CWseed

ABC soaps: AMC, OLTL, RH, CITY, PC, LOV are owned by Disney & it's not known whether they would have any interest or not. AMC & OLTL were warehoused together & they lost 5 seasons each, also to a fire.

ALL MY CHILDREN See ABC soaps. The Prospect Park AMC reboot web episodes are now being streamed on Hulu, Hulu Plus & are available on ITunes as well. They are half hour long.

ANOTHER WORLD See P&G soaps.

AS THE WORLD TURNS See P&G soaps.

BEVERLY HILLS, 90210, 10 seasons; 10 seasons each, Prime Video & Pluto; 1 season, appletv. Fans report dissatisfaction with the generic music being used.

BOLD & BEAUTIFUL current episodes on CBS & streamed on Paramount Plus. B&B has a classic feed up on their own YouTube channel & it begins with Episode 1. Beautiful channel & so well-organized.

CAPITOL was owned by John Conboy Productions & is now owned by the John Conboy Foundation. No information.

THE CITY See ABC soaps.

COLBYS has a complete 2 season channel on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBrrfZs-ew7NZttDuMb3BUolp-HbBBnpk

CORONATION STREET Hulu is streaming current 12 days behind.

DALLAS, 1978, 14 seasons. 13 seasons on FreeVee; 12 seasons on appletv

DALLAS the reboot 3 seasons. appletv

DARK SHADOWS 12 seasons. all 1225 episodes are streaming on FreeVee. 12 seasons on tubi, Pluto, freevee; 4 seasons on redbox; 1 season peacock, peacock premium.

DARK SHADOWS primetime reboot 1991. 1 season. Fubo & Roku.

DAWSON'S CREEK 6 seasons. appletv, CW, Prime Video, Disney

DAYS OF OUR LIVES Current soaps are streamed on Peacock Plus which maintains 2 seasons. Classic soaps are warehoused except for one season which was lost to fire. No classic episodes are available.

THE DOCTORS was owned by Colgate-Palmolive who sold it to NBC. All but the very last few years are being shown by RetroTV & can also be seen via IT'S REAL GOOD TV. Available on Roku & other devices. The RetroTV website lists cable outlets that carry it. Twice daily, midday & 6:30 & a block on weekends. Also they are removing the copyright credit line. Reason unknown. Makes it difficult to date some episodes. https://www.itsrealgoodtv.com/ https://www.getafteritmedia.com/retrotv

DYNASTY, 1981, 10 seasons. 9 seasons Pluto & appletv; 2 seasons Prime Video

EDGE OF NIGHT See P&G soaps.

FALCON CREST, 9 seasons, 227 episodes; 9 seasons, FreeVee; 4 seasons appletv

GENERAL HOSPITAL Current soaps are broadcast on ABC, shown on abc.com and streamed on Hulu. Classic episodes from 2018, Season 55 called General Hopsital Spotlight are up on https://abc.com/watch-live/unlocked-general-hospital-spotlight

GENERATIONS owned by NBC. No information.

GOSSIP GIRL is on max, apple, hulumax, Roku, Google Play, VuDu, Amazon & Microsoft.

GUIDING LIGHT See P&G soaps.

KINDRED: THE EMBRACED, excellent short-run, only 8 episodes, vampire soap is available on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzovi87vDfzLiv_-xg5wV5RO0hY3uNKuC

KNOTS LANDING is not streaming anywhere but JustWatch.com has it in their database so you can sign up for them to let you know. Latest information is that the hold up is music rights. Knots Landing is one of the top 10 most wanted shows that is hung up because of music rights. According to Errol of SON KL is being worked on.

LOVING See ABC soaps.

MELROSE PLACE, 1992, 7 seasons; 7 seasons each, Prime Video, appletv

MELROSE PLACE reboot 2009 only 1 season. appletv

THE O.C., 4 seasons; 4 seasons each, Hulu, Hulu/max, appletv

ONE LIFE TO LIVE See ABC soaps. OLTL: The Prospect Park OLTL reboot web episodes are now being streamed on AppleTV and are available on ITunes as well. They are half hour long.

ONE TREE HILL 9 seasons. Hulu & hulu/max 9 seasons; appletv 8 seasons

P&G soaps are considered hopeless because P&G has said they're not interested to streaming companies that have approached them. P&G soaps begin with 1979-80. Somerset & Texas would presumably have all episodes.

PARADISE FALLS fully available on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLecklOwGnUiqRZTeP_7hQrV7oGtOno_tQ

PASSIONS owned by NBC. There is a complete PSSN YouTube channel up. Find it by your hostess's YouTube ID: @melissamosley9749

PORT CHARLES See ABC soaps.

RITUALS, a syndicated show, was distributed by Telepictures. 1 season of 260 25-minute episodes. Telepictures is now a subsidiary of Warner Brothers Television Studios, which is owned by Warner Brothers Discovery. No information.

RYAN'S HOPE See ABC soaps.

SANTA BARBARA was owned by the Dobsons who sold it to New World which was bought by 20th Century Fox which was bought by Disney. No information.

SEARCH FOR TOMORROW See P&G soaps.

SOMERSET See P&G soaps.

SUNSET BEACH owned half by NBC & half by Spelling. Spelling Entertainment, the tv catalog in its entirety is now owned by CBS. Does that mean that SUNSET BEACH is owned jointly by CBS & NBC?

TEXAS See P&G soaps.

TITANS, 1 season, FreeVee

YOUNG & RESTLESS current episodes on CBS & streamed on Paramount Plus. Y&R has a 3 season classic feed up on Pluto which begins with 2018 & is Mal Young's HW tenure.

 

Does Anyone know of A place I Could Watch At Least Clips of The Short Lived International Soap Opera Judith Krantz's Secrets from 1992???

It has one amazing Cast!

@Joseph Ironically, the full movie of Danielle Steel's Secrets is on YT.  As for Judith Krantz's Secrets it has been discussed in its own thread and this member suggested a source for three clips (which are now unavailable), but @Paul Raven provides an excellent summary.

 

Edited December 3, 20231 yr by j swift

40 minutes ago, j swift said:

@Joseph Ironically, the full movie of Danielle Steel's Secrets is on YT.  As for Judith Krantz's Secrets it has been discussed in its own thread and this member suggested a source for three clips (which are now unavailable), but @Paul Raven provides an excellent summary.

 

Ok! Thanks

 

While most remember Norman Lear for ALL IN THE FAMILY and a slew of phenomenal sitcoms, Soap Opera Fans may remember these shows...
ALL THAT GLITTERS Featured familiar faces like Jessica Walter, Louise Shaffer, Gary Sandy, Lois Nettleton, Anita Gillette and Danny DeVito. In a television first, Linda Gray, appeared as the first transgender series regular on television, Linda Murkland -- a model! Of course, Linda soon became Sue Ellen Shepherd Ewing on DALLAS.
MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTMAN Featured waxy yellow buildup and deadpan actress Louise Lasser. With a supporting cast of Greg Mullavey, Dody Goodman, Debralee Scott, Mary Kay Place and Graham Jarvis and a slew of zany supporting characters. MHMH was a precursor to SOAP, which spoofed daytime and was aired late night. Stories included The Fernwood Flasher (Mary's Father!!!!) and a series of bizarre murders...
FOREVER FERNWOOD The continuation of MHMH after Louise Lasser exited the show.
FERNWOOD 2-NIGHT and AMERICA 2-NIGHT Satire of talk shows featuring Martin Mull and Fred Willard as the hosts.
PALMERSTOWN, USA Less of a soap but more like THE WALTONS and LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, PALMERSTOWN, U.S.A. told the story of two nine year old best friends in rural Palmerstown. One is white, the other is black. Featured Jonelle Allen, Bill Duke, and a young up and comer named Michael J. Fox.

 

 

 

37 minutes ago, slick jones said:

ALL THAT GLITTERS Featured familiar faces like Jessica Walter, Louise Shaffer, Gary Sandy, Lois Nettleton, Anita Gillette and Danny DeVito. In a television first, Linda Gray, appeared as the first transgender series regular on television, Linda Murkland -- a model! Of course, Linda soon became Sue Ellen Shepherd Ewing on DALLAS.

And, that was in 1976, I believe & I think it is remarkable. Norman Lear was so ahead of everyone else! There aren't enough words, or kudos to express the admiration he deserves.