The 80 Greatest Soap Opras of All Time

The Greatest Soap Operas of All Time

From daytime to primetime, soap operas have been a staple of television since Faraway Hill first aired in 1946. However, it wasn’t until the 50s that soaps really took off. Many of the most popular soap operas from the 50s first began as radio programs. For the next 6 decades, soap operas ruled the airways during both daytime and primetime, becoming obsessions for millions of people. Many of these soap operas spanned decades, introducing many new characters and twisty plots all the time.

 

(top: All My Children)

Many soaps dealt with the same types of settings. "Days of Our Lives," "General Hospital," and "The Doctors" were all set in hospitals, while many other popular soaps like "Dallas" and

"Dynasty" (top picture above) surrounded the lives of wealthy families. There were also a few supernatural soap operas over the years, such as "Dark Shadows," "Passions," and "Port Charles."

(Below: Dallas: the Next Generation) 

 

"As the World Turns ," FOR 16 YEARS! "Another World", for 5 years! and  NOW "The Young and the Restless" the highest rated soaps for 27 years and running!" "The Bold & the Beautiful" #1 serial in the World over 20 years!"Primetime soaps, airing only once a week, have become incredibly popular as well.

 

What are the very Best Soap Opras ever? This list of the best soap operas of all time has been ranked by the community. The votes for the greatest soap operas below from the New York Times few weeks ago and see how the soaps you think are great rank.

 

1.   DALLAS

2.   DYNASTY

3.   THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

4.    KNOTS LANDING

5.   THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

6.    FALCON CREST

7.   GUIDING LIGHT

8.    PEYTON PLACE

9.   AS THE WORLD TURNS

10. GENERAL HOSPITAL

11.  DAYS OF OUR LIVES

12.  ANOTHER WORLD

13.  EASTENDERS

14.  CENTRAL PARK WEST

15.  ALL MY CHILDREN

16.   SEARCH FOR TOMORROW

17.   CAPITOL

18.  SANTA BARBARA

19.  DALLAS: THE NEW GENERATION

20.  FLAMINGO ROADS

21.  THE DOCTORS

22.  DOWNTON ABBEY

23.   SAVANNAH

24.   BERRINGER'S

25.   BRIGHT PROMISE

26.   FASHION HOUSE

27.   LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING

28.   OUR PRIVATE WORLD

29.   BARE ESSENCE

30.   A WOMAN TO REMEMBER

31.   PAPER DOLLS

32.   THE SECRET STORM

33.   CORONATION STREET

34.   HOME AND AWAY

35.   NEIGHBOURS

36.   GREY'S ANTAMONY

37.   DARK SHADOWS

38.   DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES 

39.   BERVELY HILLS, 90210

40.   PASSIONS

41.   RYAN'S HOPE

42.   GOSSIP GIRLS

43.    LOVE OF LIFE 

44.    THE COLBYS  (below)

45.    ONE LIFE TO LIVE

46.    PACIFIC PALISADES

47.    THE O.C.

48.    ANOTHER LIFE

49.    SUNSET BEACH

50.   DAWSON'S CREEK

51.    2000 MALIBU ROAD

52.    RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE

53.    TEXAS

54.   THE MONROES

55.   DIRTY SEX MONEY

56.   BROTHERS AND SISTERS

57.   ONE TREE HILL

58.   UGLY BETTY

59.   EMMERDALE

60.   LOVING

61.   EDGE OF NIGHT

62.   OUR FIVE DAUGHTERS

63.   EMERALD POINT N.A.S 

64.   MELROSE PLACE

65.   A FLAME IN THE WIND

66.   VALIANT LADY

67.   DANTE'S COVE

68.   THE CLEAR HORIZON

69.   REVENGE

70.   SCANDAL

71.   FARAWAY HILL

72.    DANGEROUS WOMEN

73.    FROM THESE ROOTS

74.    GENERATIONS

75.    MODELS, INC.

76.   NASHVILLE

77.   FOOTBALLER'S WIVES

78.   PORT CHARLES

79.   GENERAL HOSPITAL: NIGHT SHIFT

80.   THE CITY