Characterized by melodrama and mawkishness, soap operas tend to appeal to wider audiences, influencing network executives to keep them on air for many years. With plots like Marlena marrying the priest who exorcised her in Days of Lives, or J.R. getting shot by a mysterious person in Dallas, viewers have often found it hard to resist what the genre has to offer.
The term “soap opera” was first used for radio dramas that were sponsored by soap manufacturers in the early 20th century. It was preceded by “horse opera”, a term used for the clichéd and formulaic Westerns of the time. Today, many such shows have been made, each of them getting squeezed as much as possible yet never appearing to run out of juice. So, which of them beats the rest in longevity? It might seem like The Bold and the Beautiful never ends, but it’s still not old enough to feature on the list. Instead, the peak is dominated by a few other notable American and British shows.
10 All My Children (1970-2011)
41 Seasons
All My Children’s plots revolve around various families living in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictional suburb of Philadelphia. The show’s notable characters include Erica Kane (Susan Lucci), a tender-hearted woman who keeps getting caught up in the town’s chaos, Adam Chandler (David Canary), a slimeball entrepreneur who never plays by the rules, and Jackson Montgomery (Walt Willey), an attorney who also happens to have stolen Erica’s heart.
Groundbreaking on Many Levels
This engrossing tale about community life is still enjoyable on repeat viewing. The script constantly sizzles, and every cast member is superb. In the ‘70s, the show hooked viewers by doing what no one else dared to. It was the first soap opera to feature a larger working-class cast, as well as prominent black and Hispanic families. It also dived into taboo topics regularly. It showed the first legal abortion on television, had a plot centered around protesting the War in Vietnam, and featured a character contracting HIV. Over the years, it continued to evolve with the times, keeping itself fresh until the early 2010s. Buy on Apple TV+.
9 One Life to Live (1968-2012)
46 Seasons
A wrenching soap opera, One Life to Live is strikingly topical, yet it steers clear overt polemics, instead opting to focus intently on Heiress Victoria “Vicki” Lord (Erika Sleza) and her anguish. Erika delivers a top-tier performance as the protagonist, who, despite belonging to the wealthy Lord Family, never seems to enjoy life. The show’s other major characters include members of the Buchanan family and the blue-collar Riley family.
As Outlandish as Soap Operas Get
One Life to Live’s longevity is tied to its over-the-top nature. Rather than bore viewers with numerous “I love you!” declarations, the show has several outlandish plots, including one where Vicki heads to heaven and another where Clint Buchannan time-travels back to the 1800s after falling off a horse. The protagonist, Vicki, is also very relatable because she is a symbol of health-related struggles. Throughout the series, she suffers from heart disease, breast cancer, a stroke, Dissociative Identity Disorder, and even gets shot. Buy on Apple TV+.
8 Pobol y Cwm (1974-Present)
44 Seasons
Filmed in the Welsh language with English subtitles, Pobol y Cwm is all about small-town life. The show is set in the fictional village of Cwmderi in Gwendraeth Valley. Initially, events took place around a nursing home, but much of the chaos now unfolds in or out of the village pub, Y Deri, and the nearby farms, businesses, and homes. Another regular setting is the comprehensive school, Ysgol y Mynach.
Catering to a Niche
There aren’t many Welsh soap operas out there and, as one of the few available, Pobol y Cwm has been in demand ever since it premiered. Airing five nights every week, it has remained a ratings anchor for its tiny network, S4C. The riveting show soars thanks to Gwenlyn Parry and John Hefin’s theme-heavy scripts and nefarious, high-wattage characters. Dealing with infidelity, economic turmoil, and tradition, the show packs a smack and triggers interest from fans of all genres. Buy on Amazon.
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7 The Young and the Restless (1973-Present)
50 Seasons
There are no longer dozens of young characters in The Young and the Restless, but there are plenty of restless ones. Considered one of the most enjoyable soap operas of all time, the series follows the residents of Genoa City, Wisconsin, initially putting the spotlight on two families, the well-to-do Brooks and the struggling Fosters, before taking detours to other homesteads. Despite the numerous changes, the soap opera has maintained a four-decade feud between the characters. Katherine Chancellor and Jill Abbott.
The Highest Rated Daytime Drama
Penned by Days of Our Lives alum William J. Bell, the CBS soap opera is a riotous mix of lust and double-crosses. Sex sells, and this particular show tossed its competitors aside by taking viewers to the bedroom. Before that, soap operas refrained from diving into the sexual aspects of romance. Here, there was premarital intercourse, incest, impotence, and even sexual assault. Such topics are no longer exclusive to the show, but the evolution has continued nonetheless.
In recent years, the soap opera has kept its progressive charm by introducing many minority characters and touching on various tending topics. It’s, therefore, not surprising that it has held its rank as the highest-rated daytime drama for 35 years. Stream on fubo or Paramount+.
6 As the World Turns (1956-2010)
54 Seasons
As the World Turns dwells on the trials and triumphs of the elite Hughes and Stewart families in Oakdale, Illinois. Over the years, the Stewarts slowly vanish and are substituted by the traditional and conservative Snyders, as well as the sophisticated Lucinda Walsh with her numerous machinations. The show also has a special place in American history, as it was running on CBS when John F. Kennedy’s assassination was announced.
Sidestepping the Melodrama
Garnering over 10 million viewers per episode, As the World Turns was the first classic of the so-called professional-themed soap operas, featuring families headed by medical and legal professionals. Because traditional careers were more desired at the time, the show maintained its popularity for years. This was a huge departure from the norm, and many other productions in the genre would go on to copy the format. Additionally, the show offered something different by focusing on psychological realism rather than melodrama. Buy on Amazon.
5 Emmerdale (1972-Present)
52 Seasons
Set in Emmerdale, a quiet fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales, the ITV opus, Emmerdale, subtly accentuates the tranquility and occasional mayhem of rural England. There are multiple parallel stories centering around different villagers. The soap opera is also primarily filmed outdoors, a sensible choice since most of the characters spend their time on the farm.
A Lot Can Happen in the Village
At first glance, Emmerdale, might feel like an uninspiring slow-burn drama, but it didn’t become one of the longest-running British shows by accident. It has the kind of shockers that prevent viewers from quitting. One memorable storyline involves a sudden plane crash that kills four main characters.
There are also plenty of innovative episodes, including one that features an entirely female cast, with the women getting to address the numerous gender imbalance issues that plague society. Much of the success can be credited to the hiring of a new production in the ‘80s which introduced eccentric characters and more dramatic plots. Stream on BritBox.
4 Days of Our Lives (1965-Present)
60 Seasons
Created by the married duo of Ted and Betty Corday (whose son, Ken, has served as showrunner since Betty’s death), Days of Our Lives centers on the romantic and professional lives of a few citizens in Salem, a city in an unnamed Midwestern state. Originally, the show leaned towards Hortons, a family whose members tended to become doctors. Over the years, priority was given to the feud between the Irish Bradys and the Italian DiMeras with the Hortons remaining a regular fixture.
Tasting Different Genres
In its early days, Days of Our Lives remained relevant by riding on whatever genre was popular. It thus featured plots involving aliens, ghosts, super-spies, and mad scientists, among other kinds of bizarre characters. In recent years, the show still aims to be a pastiche of different styles, beautifully woven together with modern developments to keep it grounded in reality. And to appeal to longtime fans, the show has also kept many old cast members on the payroll, thus ensuring legacy characters keep popping up every now and then. Today, several movie stars, ranging from Jensen Ackles to Vivica Fox, can pride themselves on being alumni of the soap opera. Stream on Peacock or fubo TV.
3 Guiding Light (1952-2009)
57 Seasons
Guiding Light debuted as a radio show. It was initially about Reverend John Ruthledge and everyone who considered him an associate. After the transition to TV, the focus shifted to the Bauers, a German immigrant family trying to make the most out of life in America. Other prominent families on the show were the Norrises, the Marlers, the Spauldings, the Coopers, the Lewises, and the Reardons.
Evolving with the Times
Beautifully shot with handheld cameras, this evocative Emmy-winning project helped usher in the golden age of soap operas. Every actor delivers a tear-jerking performance. But it’s the show’s blunt, insightful indictment of general life that is most stirring.
Eager to not get left behind by the competition, the writers of Guiding Light changed the tone every decade. The ‘50s and ‘60s were more about inclusivity, while the ‘70s were more about drama, with major characters dying regularly. The ‘80s gave more screen time to younger characters, while the ‘90s covered absurd plots like cloning and time travel. Buy on Amazon.
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2 General Hospital (1963-Present)
60 Seasons
General Hospital could also be categorized among the must-see medical dramas as the plot, primarily, centers on the patients and medics at General Hospital in Port Charles, New York. Early notable characters are Dr. Steve Hardy (John Beradino), his wife, Nurse Audrey March Hardy (Rachel Ames), Dr. Lesley Webber (Denise Alexander), Nurse Jessie Brewer (Emily McLaughlin, and lawyer Lee Baldwin (Peter Hansen). Many modern characters are descendants of the original characters.
Dark Plots and Fun Couples
Early seasons are admittedly dated, but the show kept morphing into something more beautiful, so recent seasons are extremely fun to watch. From dark storylines involving murder and sexual assault to geopolitical ones involving Soviet spies, there has always been something to bait viewers with.
Much credit goes to the recent showrunners for tackling some of the most delicate topics and toeing the line of political correctness like a funambulist. Beyond that, most couples are a riot together, particularly Luke and Laura, whose 1981 wedding attracted over 30 million viewers. Add the spellbinding title tune by Jack Urbont, Paul Glass, and Steve Hopkins, and you have a show that’s impossible to resist. Buy on Amazon.
1 Coronation Street (1960-Present)
60 Seasons
Anyone hoping to start watching Coronation Street now will have their work cut out for them since there are over 11,000 episodes and dozens of spinoff films centering around the characters. Thankfully, there are also plenty of documentaries that summarize earlier seasons. The British soap opera mainly touches on the lives of middle-class residents of the fictional Weatherfield neighborhood in Salford, England.
Never Running Out of Steam
According to Barb, Coronation Street still averages 5 million viewers per episode. What’s the secret? Initially relying on kitchen-sink realism, the show has mostly survived by serving light-hearted remarks. The show also clicks due to its characters’ disarming magnetism and unforced energy. These relatable individuals are plagued by socio-economic challenges, yet they face this hectic life with optimism and relative calm. Besides that, the series has always been counted on to tackle many topical issues, ranging from domestic ones such as emotional abuse and bigamy to external ones like racism and politics. Stream on Prime Video or Brit Box.
