Daytime Influence on the Primetime Soaps

[kalbir]

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.

 

[Franko]

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).

[Paul Raven]

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

 

[AbcNbc247]

Dallas was among the first, or possibly the first prime time show to do cliffhangers, which had to have been inspired by soaps. 

[Xanthe]

Cliffhangers were a feature of movie serials before daytime existed. Nighttime could have recognized them as essential to the serial form without going through daytime. 

[kalbir]

@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.

Edited October 30, 2021 by kalbir

[Frank2803]

It seems like the main thing primetime tv figured out about daytime soaps is the premise that an audience would be comfortable with a serialized format week by week.

Ironically I think the first primetime tv show to use serialized format was the comedy "Soap"

 

[wonderwoman1951]

actually, it was ‘peyton place,’ in 1964. irna phillips was an advisor.

[Frank2803]

Thanks for the correction