Tuesday’s night airing of ABC and PEOPLE’s two-hour special The Story of Soaps featured many notable daytime and primetime soap stars, past and present, clips from backstage to classic memorable moments, and some participants who were providing commentary on the erosion of the daytime soaps in our culture. Still others, maintained and realized that everything today is serialized from the news we watch, to some of Netflix’s most binge-watchable series, and of course, the birth of reality-programming.
Throughout the airing of the special, The Story of Soaps was trending on Twitter and social media either at the #2, #3 or #4 spots for the entire duration of the broadcast presentation, and the cancelled and beloved All My Children was also at one point trending.
However, known soap writers, journalists, ardent fans, and actors of the genre, were all on Twitter last night live-tweeting their thoughts as the special went down, and there was definitely mixed reactions and reviews, when all was said and done.
What the special did not shy away from, but tackled, was Luke’s rape of Laura at the campus disco on General Hospital. and how that moment now, as Genie Francis (Laura), so eloquently put, would be considered as ‘date rape’ in our culture. The series even included a pivotal moment where Laura addresses Luke (Tony Geary) about the rape years later, after helping Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) through her rape ordeal.
John Stamos (Ex-Blackie Parrish, GH) got a bevy of “Right On’s!” for his comment that the soaps do not get the credit that they deserve and clearly came through as one of the soaps greatest supporters, as did former The Doctors and Knots Landing star, Alec Baldwin.
However, throughout the two-hours, Andy Cohen’s commentary was thread throughout; mostly citing soap’s demise and the creation of reality-programming and his “Real Housewives” franchise, that the special touted as the new soap operas. It continued on the narrative that people preferred to see real-life drama then made-up drama on a fictional soap. And while, that has been a trend in American culture for decades, the commentary came off as often out of place in a celebration of the soaps; and bringing in a lot of negativity to the special that soap fans were tired of hearing.
In a lighting rod moment, Cohen stated: “I know Susan Lucci doesn’t agree with me, but I think that the Housewives have replaced soap operas because truth is stranger than fiction. Soaps became kind of unnecessary because you could do it with real people, and they’re writing the drama themselves.”
The special did also address the cancellations of All My Children and One Life to Live, (which many were not sure they were going to do – given this special was airing on ABC), where One Life’s leading lady and six-time Daytime Emmy winner, Erika Slezak (Ex-Viki) said what we all wanted to sa ywhen the ax fell on the towns of Llanview and Pine Valley, “People were horrified”.
Clearly, OJ Simpson and his murder trial and reality-programming were also given a chunk of time to show where the once mighty landscape of daytime soaps which once had 13 shows on the air, dwindled town to 4. But, it would have been nice to see more time spent on how in this day and age, the people in this current landscape of the genre work so hard to get episodes done at an unbelievable pace, and how in that climate the performers still deliver gut-wrenching performances.

Photo: ABC
Former Loving, OLTL and Breaking Bad star, Bryan Cranston, did point out how the once powerful soaps, just don’t have the dollars they used to, and need to, to help with production costs and their taping schedule.
Viewers were reminded of soaps’ socially relevant storylines including hankie-inducing moments from: Robin (Kimberly McCullough) and Stone’s (Michael Sutton) HIV/AIDS storyline on General Hospital, to Billy Douglas being a gay teen coming out on One Life to Live, played by a young Ryan Phillippe.
There also did not seem time spent on the contributions of William J. Bell; one of the most prominent writers of the soap genre of all-time.
For many commenting on social media last night, there seemed to be a feeling of some glaring omissions of participants who could speak on this genre, who have been in the trenches as soap producers, soap writers, pundits, actors, and more, who were not included in the special.
So, what was your review of The Story of Soaps? How would you grade it? Do you feel it accurately reflected the history of the genre? Were you happily surprised, or when it came to the end where you over it, or somewhere in between? Sound off in the comment section below. Below are some tweets from notables who have worked as an actor, a writer, and a journalist in the soaps.
I’m thrilled! But she is far too young to be Brenda Strong’s mother!
She is definitely too young.
Judith is only 11 years older than Brenda. That would be a terrible casting decision!
I’m excited to have Judith on the show, but hope it’s in a different role.
Agreed…. Judith is too young to be playing Ann’s mother.
But she will def be and awesome addition to Dallas.
To read Judith Light is cast in anything is good news to me… but DALLAS?!?!?! Woohoo!
And I love the possibility she will play Ann Ewing’s mother. I am delighted to see creators of the relaunch embrace Ann and actress Brenda Strong. I love both. And Mitch Pileggi as the ex-husband!
Can it be January now?
I love Judith Light in anything, TV shows, films or on stage. She is a wonderful actress who can play any type of roll, but I do agree she is not the correct age to play the mother of Brenda Strong.
Let me throw this out: maybe she is the new Pam. I think if anyone could pull it off, it would be her.
Do you think the writers/producers would dare such a recast?
I don’t know….. recasting Pam? If they did I can’t see Judith being the new Pam physcially. Of course years have gone by and I guess they could cook up some explanation, but the description for the character doesn’t sound like Pam. Pam wasn’t like her brother Cliff. Pam was sweet and this character sounds more like a Sue Ellen type of lady. A recast Pam— possible, Judith as Pam—- no I don’t think so.
Victoria Principal the only Pam do not even go there!
If they bring Pam back, it can ONLY be with Victoria!
I thought she was fabulous as Karen Wolek,,,,I remember her playing that part on OLTL!!!!!!!!!!!!! She did an awesome job…..Very well acted…..And I liked her “Who’s The Boss!” And movies she had done………………………
Go Judith!
I LOVE that Judith is coming to DALLAS!!! She is SO talented and the show is lucky to be getting her! Maybe she will play Ann’s sister who has been raising Anns daughter? Regardless of who she is ging to play…. very excited!!!
This soap is getting better and better, even with its casting! I can’t wait for season 2! The plot thickens in January, and Ms. Light I’ll be watching you soon! I wonder what schemes she’ll be brewing in the mix of this family war?
When Desperate Housewives came on, my favorite housewife killed herself in the opening show. Brenda Strong is a very good actress. So is Judith Light. Both will make the new DALLAS even stronger!
Now we just have to sit and wait 10 or 20 years until some network re-starts OLTL!
I dvr… stuff… and I actually, finished the Dallas Season…. a couple of weeks ago… and that tells me… it kept my attention…. I enjoyed it… what really surprised me… was the relationship”s” between…. Jr. and son… and Bobby and son… it was heartfelt… and… familial… and was surprising…. to see fathers and sons… “fight” for their family… one poster… said… perhaps it was MF… but… Patrick Duffy… really pulled out all the stops… for Dallas… he was emotionally plugged in and pulled out all the stops… I was cheering for him. He’s the heart of the show… and like… Read more »
I’m super excited! Except I don’t it’d work if she played her mother. She’s too young! Judith and Brenda have only an 11 yr age difference.
Yay Judith! 😀
I really hope JL WILL NOT be bringing her gay stuff along here. Really. This is DALLAS. not um, some lil gay boy place. Judith light loves gays for some reason.
Didn’t know that about Judith Light, how did you figure that out?
Anyway, thanks for being so blunt and upfront about your feelings.
???? Judith Light… doesn’t have that much power….
Judith Light, the Person… has a big heart….
First of all, your blatant homophobia is disgusting!! And secondly, Judith will be playing whatever is written into her script. And if she “loves gays” as you say, what business is it of yours?
bring Bryan Dattilo to Dallas woohoo
She will be really great any part she plays, can’t wait to see her.
While I liked Judith Light on ‘Who’s The Boss’, I don’t feel the need to see her on ‘Dallas’. Besides, she and Brenda Strong are around the same age, so it would be unrealistic for her to play Ann’s mother. I would much rather see an established character like Donna, Katherine Wentworth, or PAM!