Top 10 Soap Operas That Don't Exist Anymore

Top 10 Soap Operas That Don't Exist Anymore

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for soap operas that have sadly been lost like sand through the hourglass.

#10: “Dark Shadows” (1966-71)

Given the reputation of “Dark Shadows” for gothic horror, it’s easy to forget that the show was a legit soap opera, with multiple intertwining plot threads. For many, however, “Dark Shadows” was basically the Barnabas Collins Show. each week offered a descent into the imaginative worlds of the occult and supernatural. This is just one of the reasons why the soap is still so fondly remembered today. Its legacy was such that it received spin-off film adaptations and even a modern reimagining from director Tim Burton. Soap operas have never shied away from exploring fantasy elements in their storylines, but there will only ever be ONE “Dark Shadows.”

#9: “The Edge of Night” (1956-84)

We move from the world of horror soaps to another outlier from the daytime television world: crime procedurals. “The Edge of Night” was a very popular soap opera that deviated from the usual pulpy romance in favor of a more grounded and realistic exploration of dramatic city living. There were love stories and triangles, of course, but the main character of Mike Karr is primarily focused on fighting crime and injustice wherever he finds it first as a police officer, then as an attorney. It’s no wonder that “The Edge of Night” was actually first pitched as a daytime version of the popular “Perry Mason” character, as there was definitely a similar vibe.

#8: “Santa Barbara” (1984-93)

Our next soap is definitely more traditional in scope, but that doesn’t mean that “Santa Barbara” didn’t have its own rabid, cult fan base. The show featured a “Who Shot J.R.?” plotline similar to “Dallas,” only here utilized as “Santa Barbara’s” central framing device, around which nearly every character revolved. A lot of actors came and went throughout the “Santa Barbara” cast, and the soap was never really popular with critics. What it did possess was the interest and loyalty of its fans, who kept “Santa Barbara” on the air for nearly a decade. All good things must end, however, with production, writing and cast issues resulting in “Santa Barbara” signing off for good in 1993.

#7: “Ryan’s Hope” (1975-89)

Soap fans are used to watching the fabulous lives of the wealthy and beautiful spill out against the backdrop of even more gorgeous scenery and sets. “Ryan’s Hope” was yet another distinguished soap that tried to do something different with this formula. By placing their characters in New York City, “Ryan’s Hope” felt much more grounded and realistic, a sentiment that was echoed in the more approachable storylines. Oh sure, there are wealthy families in the show, but the titular Ryan family are hard-working, old-school folk, and the show enjoyed exploring how societal mores and attitudes were changing around their blue-collar lifestyle. And “Ryan’s Hope” was all the better for it.

#6: “Guiding Light” (1937-2009)

In the world of soap operas, there’s longevity…and then there’s “Guiding Light” longevity. The show started life in radio all the way back in 1937, before eventually going on to become one of, if not the most, famous soap operas of its day. This was thanks in part to one very famous head writer in the form of Agnes Nixon, an absolute industry legend. Nixon’s creative fingerprints were all over hits soaps like “One Life to Live” and “Loving,” while her work on “Guiding Light” impressively juggled numerous characters with multiple motivations and storylines. It was this connection to people that assisted “Guiding Light” in retaining its loyal fanbase for so many decades.

#5: “Passions” (1999-2008)

There’s no doubt about it: “Passions” was certifiably crazy-pants, but that’s why we loved it. This comparatively modern-day soap was notable for a number of reasons, not the least of which was its further normalization of same-sex relationships for a daytime audience. Beyond this, however, “Passions” also knew what it was, and how to have fun with so many weird and wacky storylines. The soap delighted in parodying famous films like “Gone with the Wind” and “The Wizard of Oz,” while at the same time speaking directly to its audience in a fictional manner. An even more schizophrenic aspect of the soap was its reputation for brutal violence, making “Passions” sort of an “anti-soap opera” that reveled in being completely its own, unique thing.

#4: “Another World” (1964-99)

One interesting aspect of daytime television is how it can reflect cultural sentiment, and present itself parallel to a shifting society. “Another World” was a great example of this as it broached the subject of abortion, nearly a decade prior to the landmark decision of Roe vs. Wade. Elsewhere, “Another World” asked existential and anthropological questions about culture, class and wealth, often in a manner that was more sophisticated than other soaps of the time. “Another World” had a great run for over thirty years, but was eventually canceled in 1999. Coincidentally, its replacement on the NBC daytime schedule was actually our previous entry, “Passions!”

#3: “As the World Turns” (1956-2010)

When examining lists of the longest running dramatic television programs, soap operas always make the cut. They’re just conducive to long-form storytelling, with enough loose plot threads to keep their audiences hangin’ on year after year. “As the World Turns” was one of these epic and old school soaps, an absolute juggernaut that boasted legions of fans. The soap was the brainchild of Irna Phillips, another titan of the industry who made “As the World Turns” more than just a mere potboiler. Her storylines were rich and multifaceted, taking their sweet time in developing every character to their fullest extent. This was just one of the reasons why “As the World Turns” enjoyed a fifty-plus year run on the air.

#2: “One Life to Live” (1968-2013)

Ok, we admit it: soap operas aren’t for everyone. Specifically, the genre can occasionally be seen as too exclusive and not diverse enough when it comes to representation for different socio-economic backgrounds. “One Life to Life” arrived in 1968, during a time of great culture shock, and reflected these changing times by presenting a much more realistic view of the world. The four central families of “One Life to Live” are set up in a Philly suburb, and all come from different backgrounds. This allowed the soap to tell a variety of stories, while keepings things fresh and current for a daytime audience. Think of it as the soap opera that soap opera fans needed, at the time they needed it.

Before we name our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions!

“Port Charles” (1997-2003)
Vampires, Werewolves and Kelly Monaco! Oh My!

“Loving” (1983-95)
Ended with a Serial Killer Angle?!

“The City” (1995-97)
A Sequel to “Loving” with All the Surviving Characters

“Sunset Beach” (1997-99)
A Nineties Soap that Struggled to Find Its Young Demographic

“Generations” (1989-91)
The First Soap Opera that Focused on an African-American Family from the Start

#1: “All My Children” (1970-2011; 2013)

For our number one pick, we simply have two words for you: Erica Kane. Actually, we have two more words for you: Susan Lucci. The actress is synonymous with the soap opera, to the point where she’s become known worldwide for her work on “All My Children,” even by those who would never even bat an eye at a similar show. This was not only testament to La Lucci’s delicious villainy on the show, but for Agnes Nixon’s enduring creation as a soap opera for everyone, not just the cliché stereotype of the “bored housewife.” As a matter of fact, “All My Children” boasted plenty of men watching a soap opera, perhaps for the first (and only) time. Gotta love that Lucci.

What’s your favorite forgotten soap? Let us know in the comments!