Why are soap operas so popular?

In light of the final episode of All My Children being aired yesterday, I thought I’d re-post one of my old blog posts today. If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you’ll know that I’ve talked about soap operas a few times over the years. I even dreamed about starting my own Christian-based soap opera on my old blog post.

I’ve been analyzing soap-opera popularity for awhile now, and, as a writer, I’ve wondered why soap operas are so popular? The storylines are convoluted and very senseless, yet, people (including myself) have watched them for years and years? Why?

I know if I’d written some of the storylines that I’d seen on soap operas, the editor and the readers would have a fit since the soap opera plots are so ridiculous. Are these ridiculous plots the reason why people are so drawn to the soaps?

Granted, the fascination is ending since soaps are now being cancelled. A few are still running, but I sense, in time, that soap operas will be extinct. So before reading my archived blog post, feel free to share your thoughts about this question:
Why are soap operas so popular?

Just wanted to mention that I haven’t watched soap operas regularly since 2008. I might catch an episode a few times a year on the cable soap opera channel, though.
~Cecelia Dowdy~

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NOTE, THIS IS AN ARCHIVED BLOG POST FROM 2007!

Okay, I’ll admit it. I’ve been watching soap operas off and on since I was in high school. I used to be a big fan of All My Children and General Hospital. Over the last twelve years, I’ve been an avid watcher of The Young And The Restless. However, you’ll notice that I said I watched them off and on. The reason I can’t keep watching soap operas for extended periods of time is because, although I enjoy some of the story lines, the concept of reality slowly sinks into my brain and I think the stories are stupid! Really! Most soap operas have the following types of story lines in common, which can get tired and old after awhile:

1. Infidelity
2. The Evil Twin(or a variation of this).
3. Coming back from the dead.
4. Changing the history of past events, or inventing “new” history to support a storyline.
5. Multiple marriages.

Another pet-peeve of mine regarding soap operas is the children. Haven’t you ever noticed how fast they grow up? These kids are born one year – and they’re infants – about five years later they’re out of high school. They’re shipped off to boarding school or college for a few years and come back all grown up. I sense the writers/producers think that soap opera watchers have limited memories and will forget the actual age of these children!

The infidelity is a kicker! My goodness! Somebody is always sleeping with somebody else’s husband or wife! The marriage will then end, and that’ll lead to the one I listed as number five (multiple marriages)! When you look at these soaps, after awhile you discover that certain characters have been married to half the town, and sometimes the ex-wives and ex-husbands of the same spouse can become good friends, the fact that they’ve been married to the same person is not a deterrent from the friendship.

The Evil Twin…that one is definately unbelievable! I’ve seen this used a number of times with a soap opera. Sometimes the two are actually twins, and other times, they are related but look so much alike that they can pass for twins. Other times, it just so happens, that there’s another person out there, lurking, who looks just like one of the characters on the soap opera! Also, this new look-a-like is evil….hmmm….

Coming back from the dead! Whew! I thought that cats were the only ones that had nine lives! Whoever made up that saying certainly never saw a soap opera! I mean, come on, coming back from the dead? In soap opera land, when people die, it’s common for them to NOT have a body for the funeral! And this scenario can sometimes lead number 2(or maybe I should call it, the unevil twin?) where it’s believed that someone has come back from the dead, and it’s discovered that there is a relative, or someone lurking out there, that looks just like said dead person, but this new lookalike could be good or evil…hmmm.

Sometimes, when I watch a soap opera, all I want to do is clean it up! How about, a Christian soap opera? You can have infidelity, murder(forgot to mention number six up at the top. You’ll eventually have somebody murdered, then you’ll have to slug through the trial very slowly, while the wrong person is being tried, and then finally, the truth comes out!), evil twins, but my soap opera would have a faith element. How do these cast of charcters get past these obstacles…through their faith in God, that’s how. I would show how a woman has to forgive the “other” woman for sleeping with her husband. I’ll have to show how a woman has to forgive her husband for sleeping with his mistress. I’ll have to show husband begging wife for mercy, renewing his covenant with God and starting afresh with his wife while they put the past behind them and learn to lean on God, and seek Him for answers to their problems!

I’ve noticed that in the soaps I’ve watched, they don’t really mention God or going to church much. It’s mentioned some, but sparingly. The only time I recall a soap opera having a man of the faith on regularly was Father Jim Vocheck(?sp) on the now defunct soap called Loving. Since I haven’t watched every single soap opera out there, I’m wondering if there are others that I’m not aware of?

These are the soap opera musings that were twirling through my head as I give The Young And The Restless a break for awhile. They even have the “twin” scenario with a twist, somebody had plastic surgery to look like one of the characters…hmm. Also, somebody who was murdered (number six on my list) has a cousin who comes to town, who looks just like the murder victim. Hmmm. Ever see identical twin ‘cousins’ as opposed to identical twin sisters….???

Cecelia Dowdy
www.ceceliadowdy.com