About Soap Operas
The dramatic lives of the characters in America's favorite soap operas are forever immortalized by their steamy affairs and tragedies, which seem to know no bounds. There is apparently no limit to the subject matter and storyline of these serial showcases, which continue to surprise viewers with daily narratives that can incorporate anything from the supernatural to the obscene.
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Identification
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Soap operas are in a serial format. The characters and stories in which they are involved play out in a sequence of episodes. Soap operas attract viewers from all different walks of life who tune in to see what the characters will be up to next. Soap operas are televised around the world, and no matter what the language, all are consistent in their level of drama. Cliffhangers are common and can be revealed after a commercial break--or after a long weekend. This concept keeps viewers tuning in, curious to see what will happen next.
History
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Soap operas began to make their way into the lives of Americans in the 1930s. Back then, soap operas were a little different. There was no television in the 1930s, so entertainment was dependent on radio broadcasts--and some of these radio shows were so dramatic that they were labeled operas. But because the daytime commercials that were heard between segments were usually advertising cleaning and other household products, they became known as soap operas. It wasn't until 1950 that the first television broadcast of a soap opera was introduced. It was called "The First Hundred Years."
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Types
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In today's soap opera world, there are two kinds of narrative programming: open and closed. Open serial narratives are written to include an ongoing series of events that continue to develop from day to day. In a closed serial narrative, there is an end. The events play out just like the open narrative, except for the fact that on a chosen day, the storyline ends.
Features
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Each soap opera episode tends to last approximately 1 hour in length, while others are as short as 1/2 hour. Soap operas are commonly aired daily and almost always shown at the same time each day. Still, some soaps are run weekly, leaving the audience hanging until the narrative continues.
Time Frame
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For the most part, American soap operas can be seen on major networks NBC, ABC and CBS. CBS's soap opera "Guiding Light" is the longest-running soap opera on television. Originally airing in 1952, it started as a radio show on NBC in 1937.
Misconceptions
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Soap operas have often referred to as something for women. The notion of soap operas seems to conjure up a picture of women sitting on couches throughout the world in front of their televisions, enjoying a mid-afternoon snack while the husband works and the kids are in school. But men are also avid viewers of soap operas. And just as both sexes can work, both can come home and watch their favorite soap when the workday is through, thanks to VCRs, DVRs and TIVO.
Expert Insight
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America's most favorite soap opera has been listed in the Library of Congress: CBS's "The Young and the Restless," which reached a fan base of about 7 million people. The soap opera has won many Daytime Emmy awards.
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