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Daytime Influence on the Primetime Soaps


kalbir

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We often talk about the Dallas/Dynasty influence on daytime soaps but how about the opposite direction, daytime influence on the 1980s big four primetime soaps. 

For example, characters/situations from Y&R being used on CBS's big three primetime soaps, or characters/situations from ABC's big three daytime soaps being used on Dynasty.

 

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Great idea, kalbir!

Jackie Zeman, in the '90s Soap Opera Book of Lists, said GH's story about Lucy agreeing to and then backing out of an arrangement to be Bobbie and Jake's surrogate mother was based on the Baby M drama that unfolded in 1986-87. The storyline was on GH in 1987 (a plot point in the bigger Bobbie/Jake/Lucy/Tony drama). In 1988 it happened with Adam and Dana on Dynasty (a plot point in the bigger Sean Rowan vs. the Carringtons and Alexis drama).

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Mmmm... not sure that the primetime shows were looking at daytime for inspiration, apart from using the soap conventions that had been around for decades eg illegitimate children, affairs, amnesia etc

thinking of Y&R's 80's stories I can't offhand remember them being used in someway in primetime.

Nikki faking illness to hold onto Victor

Ashley having an abortion and ending up in amental institution

Jack sexing his stepmother and then being blackmailed

Patty shooting Jack and then not remembering

John and Jill's bitter divorce and her getting part of the Jabot

 

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@Paul RavenMaybe for Y&R some of the big 1970s storylines/characters could have been an influence, ie. Chris/Snapper/Greg triangle, Chris's rape, Leslie/Lorie/Brad triangle, Lorie's parentage, Lance/Lucas/Leslie/Lorie quadrangle. Then again, brothers fighting over a girl, sisters fighting over a guy, heroines that are rape victims, and parentage reveals are classic soap elements. Also Victor's 1980s character arc, introduced as a villain but with the unexpected popularity of the pairing with Nikki, the orphanage backstory, and his other storylines, Victor was more of an anti-hero by the end of the decade.

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