Soap Opera Fans Overwhelmingly Against Covid-19 Storylines

The coronavirus continues to impact the world of daytime television. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced the production to shut down, for the four remaining soap opera's and viewers need to know what is going on. General Hospital, The Young and the Restless, and The Bold and the Beautiful, all went on hiatus and have altered what viewers will see each weekday afternoon. Days of Our Lives, films episodes eight months in advance so there will be no interruptions in their programming. GH will have Flashback Friday, where older episodes are shown, and the CBS soaps will offer classic fan favorite shows on Thursday and Friday.

On April 3, The Young and the Restless aired the first wedding between Victor and Nikki, while B&B viewers got to watch the fashion show in Monte Carlo where Thomas and Sally were first getting together, and Ridge kissed Quinn. The website Golderby asked their readers, to complete a survey regarding what happens when the soaps are up and running again. The poll asked if viewers decided to see Covid-19 written into their favorite programs and the results indicate that soap fans overwhelmingly responded, "No." A whopping 61% who responded said that the four remaining soap opera's should avoid coronavirus storylines "like the literal plague".

Nancy Lee Grahn, who portrays Alexis Davis on General Hospital concurred with the majority who took part in the survey. During her new talk show “Soaps in Quarantine,”( which is socially isolated) the actress said she was “quite certain that is not going to happen.” There are several reasons why the fans and Ms. Grahn responded this way. Golderby says that headline "Ripped-from-the-headlines storylines would be challenging even under the best of circumstances". In addition as mentioned earlier the Soaps shoot weeks or even months in advance. It would be impossible for them to stay ahead of the curve. Holidays such as Christmas, July 4th, and Veterans Day are annual events so they can easily be worked into the programming.

The biggest reason this would be a bad idea is that many viewers enjoy the daytime dramas for escapism. They love rooting for the underdog, and waiting for the villians to get what is coming to them. Breakups, make ups, love affairs, baby switches, love triangles, long lost children, and power struggles, are what the fans desire. Addressing real time issues probably would not be a welcome addition. There is also the fact that the coronavirius is devastating the entire world. No one wants to live it and also see it on afternoon television. Soap fans want to know what Hope, (DOOL) will be up to next, and watch Ridge and Brooke navigate their relationship, (B&B). Viewers desire to know whose life Victor Newman will ruin,(Y&R) and whether Julian and Alexis will reunite, (GH).

Considering that most people are sheltering in place and cannot partake in their usual activities, watching the soaps may be what they need to keep their minds occupied. There were, however, 21% of survey respondents who think that General Hospital could do a coronovirus storyline because of the medical setting. This would be somewhat possible because Sonny's family is already sheltered in place because of mob boss Cyrus Renault. Dev and Joss are also doing home school. Having the doctors, nurses, and some of their family members quarantined inside GH would be a doable situation but there is something that should be kept in mind. In order for this to be realistic, hospital personnel, which might include some of their favorite characters might have to become infected, or even die.

Out of those who did the survey, only a meager 18% think that all four of the daytime drama's should all acknowledge the Covid-19 pandemic in their storylines. Most of those who watch the soaps would probably take the attitude that they don't need to watch the pandemic on television because they have lived it in real time. It's one thing to deal with the mob violence, including Jason blowing the bad guys away, because that is fantasy, although many believe Sonny is modeled after Don Sonny Corleone from The Godfather. The coronavirus is still in progress and wounds may be too fresh for viewers to want to see it play out on their favorite soaps. The daytime writers will probably heed the voice of the majority in this situation, but time will tell so stay tuned for updates and spoilers related to your favorite soaps.