The 90s had the primetime specials as it has already been said in the 80s thread.

The psychotic obsessive woman who became crazier than ever. 

A Latino invasion with new families and romantic leads.

Everyone trying to outreily James E. Reily with insane, outlandish posts.

The teens become more prominent.

The Melrose Place aesthetics. Even NY soaps got a California vibe.

1991 Generations canceled. (2 years)

1993 Santa Barbara canceled. (9 years)

1995 Loving canceled. (12 years)

1995 The City started.

1995 P&G did an exec producer shuffle, sending each EP to another of 3 shows.

1997 The City canceled. (2 years)

1999 Another World canceled. (35 years)

1999 Passions started.

1999 Sunset Beach canceled. (3 years)

I believe also that during the 90s each network daytime head changed. 

Adds up to lots of changes & lots of turmoil in soapdom. 

1 hour ago, Sapounopera said:

The Melrose Place aesthetics. Even NY soaps got a California vibe.

That is, when they weren't trying to emulate ER or NYPD Blue.

Coffee houses and trendy bars became all the rage to hang out in the 90's on soaps.

 

I'd actually state that carrying over from the mid to late 80s, soaps started tackling more socially relevant storylines, such as homosexuality and racism in the wake of Rodney King. It seems though that after the OJ Simpson trial (1994/1995), soaps started drifting away from that and going the more sensationalistic route, trying to attract 90210/Melrose Place viewers by the end of the decade. 

25 minutes ago, Donna L. Bridges said:

Thanks. Try not to let him bother you. He only posts to be a detractor. Never contributes. 

😍

Another 90s trend: the steamy sex scene. Sax, satin sheets and all.

Jill Farren Phelps pervasive destruction under the guise of modernization. In the 1990’s she did it on Guiding Light, Another World, and One Life To Live, with varying degrees of success. And often she did it by taking control of the writing, to the detriment of each show.

6 minutes ago, titan1978 said:

Jill Farren Phelps pervasive destruction under the guise of modernization. In the 1990’s she did it on Guiding Light, Another World, and One Life To Live, with varying degrees of success. And often she did it by taking control of the writing, to the detriment of each show.

And in the 90s at AW two fine actors won Emmys & then for their trouble they were let go by the show! Anna Kathleen Holbrook & Charles Keating! You can imagine theirs & ours as the fans, confused reaction at this slap in the face for their winning ways! 

I fervently wish that JFP had remained a Music Producer & accomplished the 80s trend of musical montages to close out special shows. 

Good topic @Sapounopera

11 hours ago, Sapounopera said:

The teens become more prominent.

That was 90210 influence.

Then by the late 90’s/early 00’s there became an HBO obsession with trying to ape The Sopranos and Sex & The City. 

If there was one good trend in the early 90’s it was almost every soap brought, expanded and/or revitalized AA families and characters. Y&R got the Barber/Winters, GL had Hamp and the Grants, Days revived the Carvers etc. Unfortunately it was all for naught as by 1996/97 except for Y&R and to some extent ATWT all the shows dropped them. 
 

In the late 90’s a lot of the soaps decided to do their own Titanic-esque plots including ATWT, Sunset Beach, Days, Passions etc. 

There was a trend of soaps bringing back their 80’s supervillains in the mid-90’s. Stefano, Carl, Alan, and finally James all resurfaced 1993-1996/97.

17 hours ago, kalbir said:

Good topic @Sapounopera

Inspired by your 80s Trends topic 😉

For fun we need to do a thread on 1970's trends. 

On 1/22/2024 at 9:30 AM, Donna L. Bridges said:

And in the 90s at AW two fine actors won Emmys & then for their trouble they were let go by the show! Anna Kathleen Holbrook & Charles Keating! You can imagine theirs & ours as the fans, confused reaction at this slap in the face for their winning ways! 

I fervently wish that JFP had remained a Music Producer & accomplished the 80s trend of musical montages to close out special shows. 

It's Anna Kathryn Holbrook. You constantly have to be corrected. Ugh.

18 minutes ago, TEdgeofNight said:

It's Anna Kathryn Holbrook. You constantly have to be corrected. Ugh.

Anna Kathryn, not Anna Kathleen, thanks.