Spooks, Sci-Fi, and Soaps
Last month I watched an amazing retrospective on soaps that was done in the UK a few years ago. It was incredibly interesting to watch them go through the evolution of soaps. Although ABC completely shunned the special, other soap executives and producers from the states spoke freely about the changes in soaps and the crisis that developed after the O.J. trial. One thing that became apparent as they talked about lower ratings and writing changes was that producers all over the world seem to think they have to do something different now. They feel that with changing times and so many repeated stories that doing something unique becomes a necessity. While many acknowledged that you can tell the same type of stories again and again if done right, it did appear like they truly believe the audience is bored with the same and need something different. Well, I can't speak for every viewer, but for me it is that lack of familiarity that is really killing soaps.
I feel what is desperately missing from the genre, especially in the states, is a soap with any kind of focus to it. The industry has been in such poor shape lately that it will do anything to grab viewers. So many soaps have lost their identity, not just in the states, but in Europe as well. What these shows used to be about, what they used to deliver uniquely to viewers is absolutely gone. From One Life to Live being one of the most lifeless, dark towns since 1999 to British soap EastEnders drowning in gangster related stories, soaps try to hitch a wagon onto the next big story idea to help faltering ratings. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but when it does work, it is always short term. Eventually, something happens where even fans get tired of it, which is the case with many Days and General Hospital fans. Being able to manage a balance and maintain the essence of a soap is difficult. Nearly every soap changed the focus of their storytelling at some point for some reason, sometimes for the better and more times than not for the worst. But should there be certain story directions that they should avoid? Well I think soaps should definitely wean themselves off the supernatural and fantasy storylines.
It's bad enough the focus of family; friends, hearth, and home have been lost in lies, betrayal, and more lies. But when you add to that mucked up atmosphere clones, possessions, magic potions, you've lost more than just the mood a soap gave you, you lose everything about that soap you used to recognize. As the World Turns has always been a pretty grounded show, despite the sometimes unbelievable writing lows they've had in the past decade. But even the late great Douglas Marland hit bumps when he ventured out of the down to earth storylines. When he had heads shrink and portraits come to life, it was incredulously stupid. And if Marland can't pull off a supernatural story, what gives anyone else the audacity to think they can pull it off? Has any other soap survived storyline shifts into the supernatural and science fiction direction? I'd venture to say no. For example, Guiding Light had credibility stretched just a bit too far when Reva was cloned but didn't stop there when they've since had her become psychic (and a selective one at that). GL's current problems go much farther than just the times they've delved too deeply into the unexplained, but it sure hasn't helped. Days has had a plethora over outer worldly stories in the last ten years. From the possession to Aremid to Princess Gina, it's all been done. Some had much stronger success than others (the possession was hurt by the O.J. case and a really bad flashback episode and the Gina story was marred by the Jope fiasco) did. I can't help but think that had a lot to do with the fact that before even the ratings challenged Guiding Light could even be threatened with cancellation, Days was literally on the chopping block this time last year.
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