Soap Operas Make My Eyes Bleed

Because, whatever you think of the budgetary constraints or the slap-dashedness of the writing, there's something pretty compelling about the relentless drive of the narrative; also, soaps are generated over much longer time periods than any other narrative form that we have (or ever have had, to my knowledge) - there are no doubt people watching, say, the UK soap 'Coronation Street' who have been watching it since the sixties, witnessing, essentially, a universe unfolding in real time alongside their own, and have a real sense of its history and genealogy. They can be measures of people's own histories.

And, occasionally, they manage to get it together enough to be good for whole episodes at a time. Only occasionally, mind.

(No longer affiliated with Evil Phrenology Ltd.)

While I'm a huge fan of "smart" shows like The Wire and such, I also love shows that don't require you to think and that I can just watch after a long day at work or college, with a cup of hot tea and a blanket. I only watch one soap opera (All My Children), but that's the show I watch when I want to unwind. (It's also a family tradition between my sister, my mother, and I. We make it a point to watch the show together every day or every couple days.) The writing is usually ridiculous, but god damn, it is fun to yell bullsh!t at the screen with my family.

It’s funny you should mention “smart shows like the Wire and such” because even “Uncle Junior” on The Sopranos became addicted to a soap at one time on the show. I can hardly blame him though, because once when I was laid off and couldn’t afford cable, and found myself pretty much just lying around my apartment for most of the day, even I fell into the habit of watching “da soaps” lol!

Mind you, that was absolutely the last thing I thought I’d be doing with time, but they really can become quite seductive and insidiously addictive, lol! Junior was so funny while watching them:

“Look at this one here...she’s a real putana (whore)”



"Stick with me baby, and you'll be fartin' thru silk!"

We watch to annoy people like you. Do something positive, instead of negative. If you don't like soaps, watch something else. Simple, really.