AI Quantifies the Greatest Soap of All Time

[Wilsoky]

Quantifying the "best" soap opera of all time is inherently subjective, as it depends on individual preferences, cultural impact, longevity, viewership, and critical acclaim. However, by examining various criteria, we can attempt to rank them:

 

Longevity and Episode Count:

Guiding Light holds the record for being the longest-running soap opera, with 72 years on the air, including radio, ending in 2009 with 15,762 episodes. Its ability to adapt and evolve over time is notable.

Viewership and Ratings:

General Hospital has been a top-rated soap for decades, especially known for moments like Luke and Laura's wedding, which remains one of the most watched soap episodes ever. It has been on air since 1963, showing consistent popularity.

Critical Acclaim and Awards:

Days of Our Lives has been celebrated for its storytelling and character development, particularly noted for its iconic supercouples and dramatic plots. It has also received numerous Daytime Emmy nominations and wins.

All My Children is often highlighted for its influence on daytime drama through its portrayal of social issues and the iconic character Erica Kane, played by Susan Lucci, who became synonymous with soap operas.

Cultural Impact and Memorable Storylines:

Dark Shadows stands out for its unique blend of supernatural elements with traditional soap opera storytelling, influencing later shows and even spawning film adaptations.

Dallas and Dynasty are iconic for their primetime success, with "Who Shot J.R.?" from Dallas being one of the most famous cliffhangers in TV history. However, these are primetime soaps, not daytime.

Fan and Viewer Votes:

Community rankings like those on Ranker often place General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, and The Young and the Restless at the top, reflecting fan appreciation over time.

 

Given these considerations, here's a speculative ranking based on these quantifiable measures:

 

General Hospital - For its enduring popularity, significant cultural moments like Luke and Laura, and numerous awards.

Days of Our Lives - For its long run, vast number of episodes, and influence on soap opera storytelling.

The Young and the Restless - For its consistent high ratings, longevity, and impact on daytime television.

All My Children - For its pioneering approach to social issues and the iconic Erica Kane character.

Guiding Light - For its unmatched longevity, though its influence has waned since its conclusion.

 

Please note, this is a speculative ranking based on available data and does not definitively claim one soap opera as the "best" over others, as preferences can vary widely among viewers.

Guiding Light history

Primetime soap operas

Include viewer polls

[Wilsoky]

*footnote - this was copied and pasted from Grok after asking the question...

[Maxim]

For some reason lately... any time I ask my personal AI-chatbot on my computer something, it makes horrible mistakes and then when I tell him - you are making a huge mistake, he starts telling me he's sorry and then makes another mistake and gives me wrong info yet again. It literally lies to me and then corrects himself and gets all kinds of messed up info from imdb.  

I remember it was more correct months ago.

[Planet Soap]

Y&R is my favorite soap but I think General Hospital is the greatest soap of all time.

It pulled the largest daytime audience for Luke & Laura's wedding, it invented the super couple, it offers storyline variety: medicine, crime, romance, SciFi, action/thriller, business, and social issues.

It also helped transform the genre from a stage play on TV to melo-dramatic action/adventure. 

Its sweeps events like the train crash and Metro Court were awesome.

As for longevity the only soaps I really hear layman/mainstream audiences talk about today are GH, AMC, and occasionally Y&R.

I hear people mention Erika Kane and Victor Newman and Luke & Laura more than Bob & Kim Hughes, Alexandra Spaulding, or Asa Buchanan.

Edited December 27, 2024 by Planet Soap

[Wilsoky]

I think the one thing AI misses is the intensity of Fandom. That's hard to quantify. 

Yep, the largest incorrect answer from Grok was DOL being critically acclaimed- that is not mostly true.

Edited December 27, 2024 by Wilsoky

[Faulkner]

LOL… I did a top 10 based on a Q&A with Claude and this is what I got… Y&R, how far you’ve fallen.

 

RankItem 1 Guiding Light (June 30, 1952–September 18, 2009)
2	As the World Turns (April 2, 1956–September 17, 2010)
3	All My Children (January 5, 1970–September 23, 2011)
4	The Edge of Night (December 1, 1975–December 28, 1984; previously on CBS April 2, 1956–November 28, 1975)
5	General Hospital (April 1, 1963–present)
6	One Life to Live (July 15, 1968–January 13, 2012)
7	Days of Our Lives (November 8, 1965–September 9, 2022)
8	The Young and the Restless (March 26, 1973–present)
9	Search for Tomorrow (March 29, 1982–December 26, 1986; previously on CBS 1951–1982)
10	Another World (May 5, 1964–June 25, 1999)

[Liberty City]

This list puts a smile on my face, aside from a few of the rankings.

[Wilsoky]

 

Haha! What were your questions?

Edited December 27, 2024 by Wilsoky

[Faulkner]

What Claude asked me:

What role does historical significance and longevity play in your appreciation of soap operas?

How do you weigh the impact of iconic characters and memorable storylines versus consistent quality over time?

What role does innovation in storytelling format play in your appreciation of soap operas?

Do you give extra consideration to shows that maintained high ratings throughout their run versus those that had more niche appeal?

How do you factor in a show's ability to retain its core identity while adapting to changing times?

What would shift? The ranking sort of surprised me as well. But I do find myself drawn to watching YouTube episodes of the soaps in roughly that order, now that I think about it. I would have ranked AW higher and maybe have swapped OLTL and GH in terms of my general enjoyment. Y&R was my favorite, but I’ve lost a lot of my appreciation for it over the years, and I rarely revisit old episodes.

Edited December 27, 2024 by Faulkner

[Liberty City]

The Edge of Night, Search for Tomorrow and One Life to Live likely would not even be on the list if it were mine, honestly. The top three seem solid, although, I [could] possibly see another number-three.

[Faulkner]

Oh interesting—which shows would you replace them with? And what would be your No. 3? GH? DAYS? Y&R? 

[Liberty City]

Either The Young and the Restless or Santa Barbara would be my third, honestly. General Hospital could also rank there.

[Contessa Donatella]

I took your questions & offered them to Bing CoPilot & this was its reply.

Quantifying the "best" soap opera of all time is inherently subjective, as it depends on individual preferences, cultural impact, longevity, viewership, and critical acclaim. However, by examining various criteria, we can attempt to rank them:
Longevity and Episode Count:
Viewership and Ratings:
Critical Acclaim and Awards:
Cultural Impact and Memorable Storylines:
Fan and Viewer Votes:

End of your questions.

Beginning of reply:
Absolutely, ranking soap operas can be quite subjective, but examining them through various lenses can give us a good idea of their impact and legacy. Here are some key criteria and notable examples:

### Longevity and Episode Count:
- **Guiding Light**: This soap opera ran for 72 years (1937-2009), holding the record for the longest-running scripted show in broadcast history.
- **General Hospital**: Debuted in 1963 and is still ongoing, making it the longest-running American soap opera currently in production.

### Viewership and Ratings:
- **Dallas**: While more of a prime-time soap, it had a massive viewership, with the "Who shot J.R.?" episode being one of the most-watched TV episodes of all time.
- **Days of Our Lives**: Has maintained a loyal viewership since its debut in 1965.

### Critical Acclaim and Awards:
- **The Young and the Restless**: Frequently tops the Daytime Emmy Awards with numerous accolades for acting, writing, and directing.
- **All My Children**: Another show with a strong presence at award ceremonies, especially known for its groundbreaking storylines.

### Cultural Impact and Memorable Storylines:
- **As the World Turns**: Known for tackling significant social issues and having one of the first same-sex kisses on American daytime TV.
- **General Hospital**: The "Luke and Laura" wedding episode in 1981 drew 30 million viewers, becoming one of the most iconic moments in soap opera history.

### Fan and Viewer Votes:
- **Days of Our Lives**: Often ranked highly in viewer polls for its dramatic and engaging storylines.
- **The Bold and the Beautiful**: Has a significant international following, making it one of the most watched soaps globally.

Each of these shows has its own unique charm and contribution to the genre, making it hard to declare one as the absolute best. What's your favorite soap opera, and why does it stand out to you?

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I replied that my favorite was Another World & I talked about its characters & its writers. CoPilot then said

"Another World" truly had a remarkable cast and some of the most memorable characters in soap opera history. Constance Ford's portrayal of Ada was indeed legendary, bringing depth and heart to the show. Anne Heche's performances as twins Vicky and Marley were captivating and showcased her incredible talent. Victoria Wyndham's portrayal of Rachel was iconic, and Beverlee McKinsey's Iris brought so much drama and excitement to the storyline.

Agnes Nixon and Pete Lemay's writing contributed significantly to the show's success, creating complex and engaging storylines that kept viewers hooked. It’s no wonder "Another World" remains a beloved classic.

Edited December 27, 2024 by Contessa Donatella
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[DaytimeFan]

This just proves that AI is bullsh*t.

[Maxim]

I recently asked the AI to plan some meals for me according to a certain plan... and Jesus Christ... it did a horrible job at what I asked of him. AI still has a long way to go. I'm not that impressed too.