Soap Operas

[Morty Vicar]

My 9 year old has just asked me why soap operas are called soap operas. I have no idea. Can anyone help, please?

[Postdog]

When they originated in the States many years ago on the radio (and bearing in mind in the states virtually all the radio and TV is commercial) these playlets/ongoing dramas were sponsored and funded by predomitably makers of constantly used household products, mainly soap and soap powders. The name soap opera developed.

[Morty Vicar]

Postdog - thanks very much.

[andy-hughes]

In fact, original 'soap operas' were the kind of way-over-the-top dramas that are so easy to parody - probably Dynasty and Dallas are the nearest we ever got. The essence of a 'soap' was that there was always loads of drama, but nothing actually ever happened.

In that sense, it is a misnomer to call shows like 'The Bill' and 'Corrie' soaps, as the TV companies rather sniffily renamed them - they are 'Continuing Dramas'.

'East Enders' is of course a soap, where people seem to have no job of work to do, they constantly sleep with and fight with each other, and no-one ever seems to have the fiinnancial support for their constant absences, when they always vanish with just a small case or bag.