Why did the Soaps even expand to 60 minutes??

[frequentsoapfan]

You can watch that soap for two weeks straight and not see more than 5 of the people that are in the opening.

[allmc2008]

Are there any AW 90 minute episodes on YT??

Never mind. I just founded one!!

[allmc2008]

I just found some and the scenes are like 10 minutes long!!

[will81]

If you compare the running time of a one hour show from the 70's (roughly 46min) to one from today (roughly 37min) then we aren't really watching a one hour show anymore anyway. More like 45min. I am sure in time we will be watching a 30min soap with 30min of commercials.

[SFK]

I've seen a couple of 90 min. episodes and the scenes tend to start with lengthy sequences of stage business, like Louise walking back and forth in the living room arranging things before the doorbell FINALLY rings.

[JAS0N47]

This page has articles about the "Days of Our Lives" transition from 30 to 60 minutes:

http://www.jason47.com/days/halfhourtohour.html

[P.J.]

The simple answer is money. When the soaps expanded, they were cash cows for the networks.