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.
She’s fantastic but not nearly fantastic enough to get me to watch this show.
VICTORIA PRINCIPAL, on the other hand …
YOU’RE MISSING OUT!!! Wait a minute no you’re not. You wouldn’t comment if you weren’t watching. You just want to see how many people replied to your post. TRY AGAIN LOVEY!!
Judith Light was great on DALLAS. Can’t wait!
She plays crazy/mean like nobody else could.
She makes her character on Dallas simmer with barely controlled fury; makes me wonder what made her character so mean? I only wish someone like Sue Ellen will make her shake in her designer shoes.
Victoria Principal is NOT needed for this show trust me. I prefer Bobby with Ann….I would rather they reimage Knots Landing than bring back Pamela!
I have not watched I am happy for them but as my mother would say this is not my Dallas. We were down last May to visit Southfork in Dallas it was a lot of fun to hear about the owners of the property etc. I just do not have the feel in my gut like I did way back when. VP get’s a lot of grief but as my Daddy use to say best dam looking woman on the show. Patrick Duffy and her had off the charts chemistry the season that he died was great. Then the Dream… Read more »
It is Dallas.. why would have to be ”your” whatever that means, Dallas to enjoy an excellent series..
It has me on the edge and ALL the actors are giving us the best of the best in acting..
The story is all connected and moving along into its’ glory..
I think this season is much better than a the ”old days” .. lol
try it you will like it! 🙂
For those of us that watched “Dallas” from 1979 to 1991, no, this is NOT “Dallas.”
This is like an MTV, reality show version of the once great drama.
This version isn’t even 1/10 as amazing as the real “Dallas.”
Simply an expression to be honest I tried it just did not pull me in and not real crazy about the actors that play the roles. Plus my husband and I are nuts for Bates Motel and Blacklist so we have enough TV on Monday night. Glad you are enjoying it SuOOO!
The original ‘Dallas’ was world wide popular and the ‘Who shot J.R. was the most talked about soap plot ever and made news everywhere…the new version will never top the originals greatness but its still a good show!!!
This show doesn’t have to TOP what it was and the original DALLAS didn’t belong to anybody’s MOTHER. This show is MORE than intriguing enough to keep me coming back week after week. Thank goodness TNT had the cajona’s to revamp nighttime soaps in their original no holds barred form. This DALLAS is an instant classic and so is JOSHHENDERSON…COLBY CAN’T SMOULDER LIKE THAT!!!
Just for you Dallas fans in case you do not know Linda Gray/Sue Ellen her leg is used on the poster for the movie The Graduate. Just a little trivia!!!
She just plain scares me. I can see where her granddaughter gets her evil ways. Emma has made John Ross her b***h!!!
Mama Likes. That floored me, lol
oh so agree ! Judith Light deserves an award for that scene !
You are so right !!!!!. People who don’t watch really don’t what they are missing. One of my favorites right now.
This show is fabulous. If you loved Dallas back in the day, you will love this as well. Great show!!!!!!
Watched Dallas. Judith was fabulous. Loved her cool under the “strip search,” and how she re-asserted herself at Ryland, albeit as a bad girl. Competition for any of the characters on the show.