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Monday, May 14, 2012

Lessons in Storytelling—Get on with it


I have a question for all of you—What is the appeal of Soap Operas?

I get the drama, the sex, the gorgeous men, and the maids, but the plot takes so long to unfold. I’m a fan of building tension. But I’m also exceptionally impatient, so the slow build has its limits.

I haven’t watched a Soap in years. My sister convinced me to watch Passions with her (horrible show). We got SO into it, but not in the normal way. We watched to see how drawn out they could make it. If I remember right it took over a week to get through one day on the show (we judged time by the clothing).

So tell me do you love or hate Soaps? Which ones do you watch? Do they move to slow for you?

-Angie

After thought—I’m a fan of teen versions of the Soap, like Vampire Diaries and Smallville. They seem to move fasters, but maybe I’m wrong.
  

23 comments:

Kyra Lennon said...

I'm not a fan of soap operas - and in the UK they aren't quite as bizarre as they are in the U.S!

Stina said...

I used to watch them when I was a teen and in Grad school (a bunch of us would watch The Young and the Restless in residence). I couldn't care less about them anymore. I couldn't even tell you which ones still exist. :)

The acting was corny, but it's cool to see how many of the actors went onto something bigger. Soaps used to be a great way to start your career.

Donna K. Weaver said...

I hate Soaps. I think they kill brain cells, and at my age I need to be careful about that kind of thing.

Besides, I think they celebrate the most despicable human failings.

Libby said...

I really hate daytime soaps. I watched them in high school but they are dullsville to me. Though I do like the occasional natural disaster that happens where everyone looks beautiful and is in full make up.

Jessie Humphries said...

Nope, not a Soap fan. I used to watch Days of our Lives in High School for a minute, but I hated it even then. Great eye candy though! Btw, have I told you how much I love knowing you are from Idaho??? Cuz, I do. :)

Ruth Josse said...

Soaps make me gag. BUT! I wish I knew you liked VampDi so we could have discussed it at the conference. Did you watch the season finale??

Johanna Garth said...

I haven't watched soaps since I was a kid staying home from school. But I agree, the pacing is an issue.

Jennifer Ruth Jackson said...

I used to watch them but don't anymore.

How many times can you watch the same plot be foisted on different people, anyway? There are so many... **Sighs**

Samantha May said...

Oh gosh. No. My mom loves them though! Her favorite is General Hospital :P

Tara Tyler said...

watched a little in college & after, but never got hooked.

i am hooked on game of thrones, it is kind of a soap opera - medieval style =)

Cassie Mae said...

I'm a teen soaper. :) Vampire Diaries (omgosh! did you watch the season finale???? AGH!) and One Tree Hill are addictions of mine. I also own Dawson's Creek and I love Ringer. Pretty much a CW junkie

Emily R. King said...

The closest I got to watching a teen soap was Dawson's Creek, and that was only because my friends were all watching it. Oh, and because of Joshua Jackson. Yum! :)

Jackie said...

Ick to daytime soaps.

Love Vampire Diaries!

My mom's been a huge Young and the Restless fan forever. She STILL talks about the characters like they are real people.
For example...
Mom: "Did you hear about Jack? He can't walk! I can't believe he got shot." She has actual tears in her eyes.
Me: "Jack who? My dad, Jack?"
Mom: *clearly annoyed with me* "No, not your dad. I'm talking about Jack Abbot." She points to the television.
Me: I shake my head and walk away.

Suzi said...

I totally agree with you. I didn't watch soaps growing up. I thought it was stupid that if you miss a show or two, you're totally lost.

On the flip side, I did enjoy Dallas. But since that was a nightime show, I'll put it in another category so I'm not a hypocrite. :)

McKenzie McCann said...

I've never watched a soap opera, and I have a strong feeling I'm not missing anything.

Amy Mak said...

I did your writing contest a few months back...I can't watch soaps ever since I got addicted to One Life to Live when I was 15 and supposed to be watching 5 small children :) I will only admit to watching The Bachelor under torture which is kind of really like a soap. Speaking of which, doesn't it start tonight?!

Melissa Sarno said...

I used to watch soap operas when I was in high school. I would tape them for the week and watch all 5 in a row on Saturday morning. I remember being interested in all the relationships. But you're right. The plot never went anywhere.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

Days of Our Lives was my brain sucking show of choice. I can watch it once a year and stay caught up on the plot...gotta love that!

Meredith said...

I'm not a fan of traditional soaps, but I LOVE teen dramas like Vampire Diaries. They do move more quickly, probably because they're only on once a week. And they're addictive!

Jennifer Shirk said...

YES, Soaps move way too slow for me. But I hadn't reaized until I had stopped watching one for a few months. Then when I tried to get back into it I saw they were still talking about the same thing. Ugh.

Neurotic Workaholic said...

I didn't like Passions either, especially when they tried including supernatural themes. It just seemed so contrived. I have to admit that I got hooked on Sunset Beach and All My Children back in the 90s, though. In the back of my mind I knew that the storylines were stupid, but I couldn't stop watching because they were so addictive. But like you, I got impatient too. Someone always has a secret on those shows, and it always takes weeks (or even months) of angst-ridden monologues and threats of blackmail from jealous rivals before the secret is finally revealed.

Brinda said...

I watched Days of Our Lives for years. I can't watch a show today. I agree that they move WAY too slow. I also love Vampire Diaries but only watched first season.

Unknown said...

I used to watch soaps when I was younger, because my grandparents were watching me and they never missed an episode. But a lot of the time, I find them too dramatized and bordering on unrealistic.

But when I see some of the ones on MTV (I think there's one called I lost my pants), I can't help but develop plot bunnies.

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