Soapers

By Flo DiBona

‘Soapers’ is the story of a social movement that emerged in April, 2011 when Disney/ABC simultaneously announced the cancellation of not one but two popular daytime soap operas, ‘All My Children’ and ‘One Life to Live.’ At first soap fans were numb and in shock. Then they got angry. ...And then they got organized.

On Friday, September 23, 2011 the last network episode of All My Children aired and on Friday, January 13, 2012, the end came for One Life to Live. For over forty years these stories and characters had been in the homes, lives, families, and hearts of Soapers.

Using social media platforms Soapers began to organize, plan cross-country protests, and initiate widespread campaigns and boycotts. There had been outrage before about soap operas being canceled but never had fans joined together like this. With hundreds of Facebook groups and pages, websites, countless Twitter accounts, and tens of thousands of fans, a true David and Goliath story emerged. No one started out to be a soap opera activist but as the movement to have these shows reinstated grew, many became just that.

‘Soapers’ offers a 50,000-foot view of the soap movement from its humble beginnings through resurrection on a new media platform - the Internet, and a second heartbreaking cancellation. It also offers a view of Soapers and their hopes for the future. In true soap opera style, the soap movement is a roller coaster of emotional ups and downs, twist and turns, victories and defeats.

No real on-air soap opera could contain more drama than the story of the soap movement, replete with rumors, innuendos, plot twists, left turns, sponsor targets, mainstream media spotlights, lawsuits, fan wars, and even a dose or two of Oprah Winfrey in the mix.

‘Soapers’ chronicles the good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly side of the soap fan world. Soapers take down names and take no prisoners when it comes to their beloved stories (ask the people of one of the network replacement shows). Underneath all the high drama of the soap opera world ‘Soapers’ reveals a very unexpectedly diverse, broad, passionate, and complex fan base fueling it all.

While soap fans will enjoy ‘Soapers,’ non-soap fans may gain even more from it. The derogatory stereotypes of Soapers being lazy, mumu-wearing, bonbon eating couch potatoes watching mindless, meaningless television gives way to a new understanding and sometimes surprising revelation of the value of soap operas.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Flo DiBona
• Release date: Sep 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311809667

Flo DiBona

Flo DiBona was born in the Bronx, NY in the mid-1950s. She is an award-winning photographer, published author, and mixed media painter and sculptor. Flo is a retired enterprise information systems integrations consultant, a champion of the soap opera genre, and supports independent web series. She lives in Northern California with her husband, daughter, and two rescue cats.

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Soapers

By Flo DiBona

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2015 Flo DiBona

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work, which have been used for reference only and without permission. The publication use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Source for some dates, lists, and historical facts: Wikipedia.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Dedication

Part I: Soap Operas

Soap Opera Stereotypes

A Brief History of Soap Operas

Chronology of Soap Operas

The Value of Soap Operas

Thread in the American Cultural Fabric

Not Just Soaps!?

Celebrity Soapers

Soap Operas Around the World

Soap Operas in the Most Unexpected Places

Soap Operas Gone But Not Forgotten

The Remaining Four

Soap Fan Fiction

Web Soap Series and the Future of Soap Operas

Part II: Anatomy of a Soap Fan

The Soaper Stereotype

What Is a Soaper?

Generations of Soapers

Soapers with No Voice

The Value of Soapers

Social Media and Soapers

Closet Soapers

Stories of Soapers

Part III: The Soap Movement

Background

Chronology of the Soap Movement

Ageism

Nielsen Ratings

Two Soaps Canceled in One Day

Social Media and the Role it Played

Oprah has Her OWN

Boycott ABC Across America

Fan Wars and Common Goals

Taking Down Names and Taking No Prisoners

A Soap Opera Heart

Save Our Soaps

ABC Upfront Advertiser Meeting Rallies

David Bests Goliath …Temporarily

The Lights Go Out in Pine Valley and Llanview So Many Times!

Phoenix Rising

Braving the Cold and Sharing Hot Cocoa

The Shows are Canceled …Again

A Soap Within a Soap

What Soapers Want

Part IV: For Soaper Eyes Only

Beloved Soap Opera Actors Gone But Not Forgotten

The Longest Careers

Soapers Online

CNN iReports

Los Angeles Web Series Examiner Articles

About the Author

Other Books by Flo DiBona

Flo DiBona Online

Foreword

Soapers is the story of a social movement that emerged in April, 2011 when Disney/ABC simultaneously announced the cancelation of not one but two popular daytime soap operas, All My Children and One Life to Live. At first soap fans were numb and in shock. Then they got angry. ...And then they got organized.

On Friday, September 23, 2011 the last network episode of All My Children aired and on Friday, January 13, 2012, the end came for One Life to Live. For over forty years these stories and characters had been in the homes, lives, families, and hearts of Soapers.

Using social media platforms Soapers began to organize, plan cross-country protests, and initiate widespread campaigns and boycotts. There had been outrage before about soap operas being canceled but never had fans joined together like this. With hundreds of Facebook groups and pages, websites, countless Twitter accounts, and tens of thousands of fans, a true David and Goliath story emerged. No one started out to be a soap opera activist but as the movement to have these shows reinstated grew, many became just that.

Soapers is a 50,000-foot view of the Soap Movement from its humble beginnings through resurrection on a new media platform - the Internet, and a second heartbreaking cancelation. It also offers a view of Soapers and their hopes for the future. In true soap opera style, the Soap Movement is a roller coaster of emotional ups and downs, twist and turns, victories and defeats.

No real on-air soap opera could contain more drama than the story of the Soap Movement, replete with rumors, innuendos, plot twists, left turns, sponsor targets, mainstream media spotlights, lawsuits, fan wars, and even a dose or two of Oprah Winfrey in the mix.

Soapers chronicles the good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly side of the soap fan world. Soapers take down names and take no prisoners when it comes to their beloved stories (ask the people of one of the network replacement shows). Underneath all the high drama of the soap opera world Soapers reveals a very unexpectedly diverse, broad, passionate, and complex fan base fueling it all.

While soap fans may enjoy some of the nostalgia of Soapers, non-soap fans may gain even more from it. The derogatory stereotypes of Soapers gives way to a new understanding and sometimes surprising revelation of the value of soap operas and their fans.

When the Soap Movement began there were millions of strangers watching two soap operas. Today there are thousands of friends still missing them and other soap operas now gone.

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to acknowledge and thank the thousands of soap fans who have participated in the Soap Movement. So many continue working today to save the remaining daytime network soap operas, champion to bring back those gone, promote new online shows, and preserve the soap opera genre. Your tireless efforts have made a difference and continue to make a difference in saving our stories.

So many Soapers have shared their personal experiences about their stories both publically and privately. Each is a beautiful love story, a privilege to read, and a gift of the heart. Hearing and reading them has brought hours of love, laugher, tears, sorrow, joy, comradery, and a common bond that transcends any demographic. Thank you Soapers for sharing your touching memories.

Special thanks to the soap fans who agreed to share their poignant and passionate stories: Ellen W, Tammy K, Margaret Z, Cheryl K, Kelly G, Amberly W, Elizabeth M, Johanna M, Theresa B, Karen W, Robin A, Cindy C, Sandi R, and MaryLou D. Thank you for the laughter, the tears, and the love.

Deepest gratitude to the casts and crews of daytime soap operas past and present. Dedicated and committed to excellence day-in and day-out, these artists persevere to create fantasy worlds that viewers can escape to and enjoy. Thank you for sharing your passion and talent with us all.

Last but certainly not least, thank you to God for all of the blessings each day.

Flo DiBona, Sacramento, CA, September 2015

Dedication

Soapers is lovingly dedicated to all soap fans worldwide and to all those soap fans, beloved actors, and characters we have lost along the way.

Part I: Soap Operas

Soap opera: [op-er-uh, op-ruh] noun. 1. A radio or television series depicting the interconnected lives of many characters often in a sentimental, melodramatic way. [Source: Dictionary.com]

Soap Opera Stereotypes

Worthless, waste of time, out-of-date, silly, shallow sob stories that drag on forever with storylines that are laughable they are so bad

When you are not a fan of soap operas, there are often preconceived ideas about the genre that are based on stereotypes others have shared or made jokes about. So let’s get right to them, because it turns out that these stereotypes and the logic behind them couldn't be further from the truth.

Soap operas are a waste of time, time people could use to get out and get a life. Soap operas have absolutely no value. Soap operas encourage laziness. Soap operas move so slow you can miss years and it’s still the same story. Soap operas are for slackers who don’t want to go out and get jobs. Soap operas are for low-income mothers who sit home watching television all day instead of bettering themselves. Soap operas don’t require good actors or crews, they’re just soaps. Soap operas are decades past their time and relevance. Soap operas are easy to create. Soap operas are for old people.

For those who have never been hooked on a soap opera, it can be hard to understand the attraction or passion fans feel for their stories, let alone why soap operas are still relevant and exist today.

Soap operas are a waste of time, time that could be use to get out and get a life. Soap operas give nothing of value and watching them chains viewers to their televisions, preventing them from getting out. Soap opera viewers have no lives beyond soap operas and need to get one.

Soap operas have absolutely no value. There is absolutely nothing gained from watching a soap opera. Soap operas encourage people not to have lives of their own, living only in a soap world fantasyland.

Soap operas encourage laziness. Soap operas attract and encourage lazy, weak, unmotivated, behavior and people. They are not for energetic, strong, enthusiastic people.

Soap operas move so slow you can miss years and it’s still the same story. Soap operas move along at a snail’s pace. After years the same old story keeps being told over and over.

Soap operas are for slackers who don’t want to go out and get jobs. Soap operas encourage people to slack off and not want to work. The unemployed sit around all day watching soap operas instead of looking for jobs.

Soap operas are for low-income mothers who sit home watching television all day instead of bettering themselves. Soap operas encourage low-income females to ignore their responsibilities in favor of watching television. Low-income females don't better themselves but need to.

Soap operas don’t require good actors or crews, they’re just soaps. Soap operas are not professional shows so great talent and skills are not required to work on them. Soap operas are a lower level of entertainment than other shows. Soap operas are the easiest shows to work on.

Soap operas are decades past their time and relevance. Soap operas are made for grandmothers, not today’s youth. Soap opera stories have nothing to do with real life or the issues we face today.

Soap operas are easy to create. Soap operas aren’t like big production prime time shows or movies. They are made on autopilot with the same sets, same characters, same actors, same crews, same stories every day. What could be easier?

Soap operas are for old people. Soap operas only exist to feed old people’s nostalgia. Soap operas do not speak to young people. The soap opera audience is only made up of age 50+ viewers.

As with all stereotypes, too often they get in the way of seeing the value in things we may not fully understand. This often leads to a one-dimensional view. Through examination and understanding we learn that there is always more to something than first meets the eye, especially when it comes to soap operas.

A Brief History of Soap Operas

Rooted in radio, soap operas sold soap

There are many books, articles, websites, webcasts, podcasts, and blogs that dive deeply into the history of soap operas. They provide a minutia of soap opera facts, figures, details, dates, and statistics. There are also many fans who know every detail of soap opera history and could rival a super-computer in the area of soap opera trivia.

This is a very high-level, simple overview. For detailed information on soap operas, specific shows, characters, actors, and other details, Google and Wikipedia are great starting points. Online book distributors such as Amazon and iTunes as well as local libraries also carry many books on the subject. YouTube has thousands of soap opera-related video available for viewing from rare footage of past shows to fan-produced homages.

The term soap opera comes from its humble beginnings in radio where short, serialized stories were used as a vehicle to sell soap-related products such as laundry and dish detergent, and hand soap. Opera refers to the operatic, high melodramatic nature of the stories.

Some will argue that soap operas have been around almost since the beginning of mankind when stories were shared from one person to another, embellished, and passed on from generation to generation, continually evolving along the way as they drifted further and further into fantasy. They just were not broadcast.

What we call the modern daytime soap opera had its humble beginnings in radio 85 years ago. Painted Dreams premiered on October 20, 1930 as a 15-minute radio spot. It was created by the mother of today’s daytime soap operas, Irna Phillips, who went on to create a soap opera dynasty through her own stories and those of her proteges, Agnes Nixon and William J. Bell. During the 1930s, Irna Phillips continued to create radio soap operas, including Today’s Children. "Painted Dreams aired for thirteen years and established the tradition of long-running daily weekday soap operas.

During the 1940s, four new daytime soap operas made their radio debut. By 1949 soap operas were a daily habit of most housewives. Many would do quiet tasks like ironing during their shows or take a break in their day to stop and listen to their stories. Many young children were already being raised in Soaper households, listening alongside their mothers.

On January 31, 1949, the soap opera genre forever changed. Irna Phillips again became a pioneer with the debut of These Are My Children, the first televised daytime soap opera on a major television network. Although Faraway Hill created by David Lewis aired first in 1946 and is sometimes credited with being the first televised soap opera, it was aired in the evening and only once a week during its short life on the limited DuMont Network. These are My Children opened the soap opera floodgates. The transition from radio to television wasn't always an easy one. Some shows that made the leap from radio to television ran simultaneously on both for some time while audiences caught up with having a television in their living rooms.

By the early 1950s soap operas were picking up steam as their popularity rose. Sixteen soap operas made their debut. Women across the country were now planning daily activities around their stories and soap products were flying off the shelves. Of the many daytime television soap operas that debuted in the 1950s, six went on to air five days a week for more than a decade each. These decades-long stories became part of American households like the soap products they sold. Search for Tomorrow, Love of Life, Guiding Light, The Secret Storm, The Edge of Night, and As the World Turns became threads in the American cultural fabric of the time. Soap operas became a part of many childhoods, leaving behind many fond memories of time shared with loved ones while growing up. The tradition of sharing soap opera stories across generations began to solidify during this time.

Guiding Light made its television debut on June 30, 1952 and went on to become the longest running soap opera and one of the top five longest running shows in television broadcast history. Guiding Light began as a radio daytime soap opera in 1937 and continued until 1956. During that time it debuted on television and ran concurrently on both radio and television for four years. Guiding Light continued to air on network television until September 18, 2009. Along with its 57-year television history it has a combined radio/television history of 72 years.

Soap operas reached their growth peak in the 1960s. During this decade, televisions were becoming commonplace in American homes, and with them came more viewers hungry for content. Women were still primarily stay-at-home moms raising children. However, by the end of the decade, women were becoming more independent as more sought jobs outside their homes. Eighteen new soap operas debuted in the 1960s. Five shows, General Hospital, The Doctors, Another World, Days of Our Lives, and One Life to Live, aired for more than a decade. Two of them, General Hospital and Days of Our Lives, represent half of the four remaining soap operas still airing on network television today.

During the 1970s, networks continued to enjoy huge profits. Advertisers saw unparalleled sales revenues from soap opera sponsorships. Women were home during the day less and less, but a new generation of viewers who grew up on their mothers' stories was in place. Popularity and profits were so high during the 1970s, soap operas were expanding their formats to one hour, and some to 90-minute episodes. By the end of the decade soap operas monopolized a dominant block of major network afternoon daytime programming.

At the same time, the genre’s growth declined significantly. Only eight new soap operas were created during the decade compared to eighteen the decade before. Three of the new soap operas remained on-air for more than a decade: All My Children, The Young and the Restless, and Ryan’s Hope.

In the 1980s soap opera popularity was beginning to wane while they still generated millions of dollars in revenue for networks and advertisers. By now, women working outside the home had become commonplace. Daytime soap operas remained quite popular in part thanks to consumer sales of VCRs (Video Cassette Recorders). With the introduction of the VCR, viewers were no longer tied to their televisions in the afternoon, but they could still enjoy their stories. A new age of viewing television was born, one where viewers could watch on-demand whenever they chose. They could now watch their stories in the evenings when they got home from work or save up a week’s worth of shows and binge watch when they were home on weekends.

VCRs had a tremendous impact on daytime soap opera popularity. Previously women tuned in during the day, typically while they were home alone or with small children. The VCR introduced soap operas to the rest of the family when they were viewed during times when the whole family was home together. Men and older children began viewing along with Moms and soon watching recordings of soap operas together as a family was becoming tradition in many households, whether it was in the evenings after the shows aired or on weekends.

During the 1980s, eight new soap operas were introduced; however, four decades-long shows ended. Only two new shows were introduced during this time that lasted more than a decade: Loving, and The Bold and the Beautiful, the fourth of the last remaining daytime soap operas on network television today.

In the 1990s the soap opera genre further declined. Viewership continued to drop as more long-running soap operas were canceled. As the technology and entertainment industries exploded to provide more viewing choices and options, and lifestyles dramatically changed, viewers continued to move away from the tradition of soap operas. During this period, only six new soap operas were introduced