First, Happy Thanksgiving guys!

I’ve always had this curiosity whenever I read people’s reactions and comments about their soaps. A part of me wonders: how exactly do they watch these shows?

Do they stick to the TV, stream them the same day, or save them up for weekend binges (like I do a lot of the time)? It feels like such an important question, especially since technology has completely reshaped our viewing habits. Fewer people sit in front of the television these days - many prefer watching on their phones and laptops. Everything is shifting, and so is the way we consume media. With streaming apps and sites offering decades of soap archives, and YouTube full of seasons of old shows, binge-watching has become the new normal. Just a glance at the Classic Soaps section shows many fans - myself included - devouring years worth of episodes in just a few months whenever they have the free time.

So, what are your viewing habits these days?

As for me, I keep up with Brad’s drivel and BTG daily, catching up on missed episodes over the weekend. But when I’m alone and my husband’s at work, I dive in my real passion: binging classic soaps. Working from home office saves me HOURS, and I often spend that time watching two or three episodes a day. Sometimes I take breaks from soaps altogether, but then there are vacations or free days when I’ll go through thirty episodes in 24 hours! Honestly, I think I’m the ultimate binge-watcher. There’s a thrill in knowing there are more episodes waiting for me. Limiting myself to just one a day feels stressful! 😁 It’s such a contrast to how I watched years ago. Back in my teens and early 20s, I only followed current episodes and rarely binged. I had the patience then. Now, I crave the feeling of knowing entire decades are available at my fingertips. It’s a cozy, addictive feeling - almost like a drug!

Edited Friday at 04:40 AM3 days by Maxim

Way back when I was working, I taped Y&R and then watched each night ff through the ads so only about 45 min needed. Occasionally dipped into other shows but kept up via SOD.

Now I access Y&R and BTG through other methods and watch more sporadically. Not every day or a specific time. Too many other things to watch, books to read etc

Edited Friday at 03:52 AM3 days by Paul Raven

2 minutes ago, Paul Raven said:

Way back when I was working, I taped Y&R and then watched each night ff through the ads so only about 45 min needed. Occasionally dipped into other shows but kept up via SOD.

Now I access Y&R and BTG through other methods and watch more sporadically. Not every day or a specific time. Too many other things to watch, books to read etc

Ah, the taping! This was an almost ritualistic process for me. I used to do it when my father forbid me from watching "girly" soaps. I would wake up before dawn, turn the TV and press record on the early morning repeat of the Bold episode... continue sleeping and then I would watch in secret whenever I could through the day. Never thought I would have everything... one click away. My childhood self would have not believed me if I told him he would.

Edited Friday at 04:03 AM3 days by Maxim

Always on TV, either DVRed from cable or a USB stick for classic soaps. I only watch short clips on the computer or phone.

Almost never live. It's pretty rare that I will watch something the same day. I like to watch before reading the threads (except Y&R, nothing ever happens so I can't really get spoiled), so I'm often dozens of pages behind. I try to keep up with BTG because it's a new soap and I want to participate in the discussions, but the random preemptions have been a turnoff.

What changed the most over the years is my attention span! I remember I used to FF more, now I almost never do, I'll just start browsing the internet and let it run. I only watch classic soaps when I'm in the mindset where I can pay close attention, as if I were watching a classic movie. The modern soaps are more for background. GH holds my attention best. Y&R and B&B are for when I have things to do or just went to veg out and scroll the net. BTG is somewhere in between.

17 minutes ago, BoldRestless said:

Always on TV, either DVRed from cable or a USB stick for classic soaps. I only watch short clips on the computer or phone.

Almost never live. It's pretty rare that I will watch something the same day. I like to watch before reading the threads (except Y&R, nothing ever happens so I can't really get spoiled), so I'm often dozens of pages behind. I try to keep up with BTG because it's a new soap and I want to participate in the discussions, but the random preemptions have been a turnoff.

What changed the most over the years is my attention span! I remember I used to FF more, now I almost never do, I'll just start browsing the internet and let it run. I only watch classic soaps when I'm in the mindset where I can pay close attention, as if I were watching a classic movie. The modern soaps are more for background. GH holds my attention best. Y&R and B&B are for when I have things to do or just went to veg out and scroll the net. BTG is somewhere in between.

I often let random Bold episodes run in the background while I do chores around the house. They often go out of order... an episode from 1989 ends and a 2009 one starts... But since I know all of it by heart, it doesn't bother me. Occasionally, I'll hear Stephanie and pause what I'm doing to listen for a moment. My grandmother watched Bold religiously on the TV every day for years... with our family dog always by her side. When she passed away, that dog would go wild whenever she heard the actors's voices on TV. I could always feel she was searching for my grandmother in those moments.

1 minute ago, Maxim said:

I often let random Bold episodes run in the background while I do chores around the house. They often go out of order... an episode from 1989 ends and a 2009 one starts... But since I know all of it by heart, it doesn't bother me. Occasionally, I'll hear Stephanie and pause what I'm doing to listen for a moment. My grandmother watched Bold religiously on the TV every day for years... with our family dog always by her side. When she passed away, that dog would go wild whenever she heard the actors's voices on TV. I could always feel she was searching for my grandmother in those moments.

That's a very sweet story ❤️

My grandmother would always declare "she's a bitch!" when Brooke would come on screen. My grandfather would say that Brooke was a "good actress" which meant she cried a lot and was pretty.

Just now, BoldRestless said:

That's a very sweet story ❤️

My grandmother would always declare "she's a bitch!" when Brooke would come on screen. My grandfather would say that Brooke was a "good actress" which meant she cried a lot and was pretty.

Your grandmother and mine would have been in total agreement about Brooke! ❤️ She would give the actors/characters advice while the show was going on: "He will cheat on you with that slut! Run Taylor! Run and take your kids with you! Don't listen to his lies! Brooke was naked in his office and he didn't tell you! That woman is the Devil". And I would always argue that I loved Brooke just to annoy her.

These shared experiences in front of the TV are so special.

If I'm working from home that day, I'll watch BTG (and now) GH usually same day or the next day. I usually save the weekends, when free, for binging my weekly TV shows or streaming series.

I'm currently watching classic GL and watch that on my laptop and let it play in all my free time day to day when I'm cooking, doing chores/laundry, etc - so I can be mobile with it. That allows me to watch anywhere from 2-5 episodes a day. I prefer this with classic soaps because they're so much better than modern day soaps, and I always want to see what happens next. For modern day soaps, I can easily wait a day and not be bothered.

Back in the day, my mom would tape (VHS) AMC daily and it was our family dinner show. Great memories!

9 hours ago, alwaysAMC said:

If I'm working from home that day, I'll watch BTG (and now) GH usually same day or the next day. I usually save the weekends, when free, for binging my weekly TV shows or streaming series.

I'm currently watching classic GL and watch that on my laptop and let it play in all my free time day to day when I'm cooking, doing chores/laundry, etc - so I can be mobile with it. That allows me to watch anywhere from 2-5 episodes a day. I prefer this with classic soaps because they're so much better than modern day soaps, and I always want to see what happens next. For modern day soaps, I can easily wait a day and not be bothered.

Back in the day, my mom would tape (VHS) AMC daily and it was our family dinner show. Great memories!

❤️

The biggest change for me is that in the past I trusted they had a plan and a story to tell. These days, no more. I'm jaded, alway expecting the worst.

However BTG and GH have rekindled my love for the genre. Of course I always watch on demand.

7 hours ago, Aback said:

The biggest change for me is that in the past I trusted they had a plan and a story to tell. These days, no more. I'm jaded, alway expecting the worst.

Can relate so much!

The internet. Once upon a time you watched the shows by yourself and maybe knew someone you could discuss them with. So it was a much more isolated experience.

What changed is the acting. Some of GH still feels like it’s modern and very 2025 and some feels like stuck between 1981 to 2004. Crazy but what can u expect from a show with 100 characters on contract and Reccuring.

What also changed is the direction of them soaps! There is none! It feels like they made it up as they go. Like seriously they get an idea for a new story and it sounds good but they have no goal to reach and make it up as they start their story