Daytime and Nighttime TV Soap Operas
by tbell1826 | created - 23 May 2011 | updated - 23 May 2011 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Hawkins Falls: A Television Novel (1950–1955)
15 min | Drama
Life in small-town America during the 1950s. Broadcast live, some episodes survive as kinescopes.
Stars: Bernardine Flynn, Toni Gilman, Maurice Copeland, Wed Howard
Votes: 29
2. Search for Tomorrow (1951–1986)
30 min | Drama, Romance
Jo Gardner lived in Henderson where she wed many times. She was a motel owner, librarian, then a B&B owner with best pal Stu Bergman. Jo's daughter Patti and Janet Bergman were good friends. Stu married first Marge, then Ellie.
Stars: Mary Stuart, Larry Haines, Dwight Weist, Carl Low
Votes: 334
3. Love of Life (1951–1980)
TV-PG | 25 min | Drama, Romance
Initially set in fictional Barrowsville, New York, this serial tells the story of extremely disparate siblings: long-suffering Vanessa Dale and her bitchy sister Meg. After Meg was written ... See full summary »
Stars: Audrey Peters, Ron Tomme, Peggy McCay, Jean McBride
Votes: 114
4. Guiding Light (1952–2009)
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Romance
This show took place in the fictional Midwestern town of Springfield and centered on the middle class Bauer family.
Stars: Kim Zimmer, Beth Chamberlin, Maureen Garrett, Robert Newman
Votes: 1,860
5. The Secret Storm (1954–1974)
30 min | Drama, Romance
Tells the story of the long-suffering Ames family and their seemingly endless domestic tragedies.
Stars: Jada Rowland, Peter Hobbs, Lori March, Bibi Besch
Votes: 271
6. The Brighter Day (1954–1962)
25 min | Drama
"Our years are as the falling leaves. We live, we love, we dream, and then we go. But somehow, we keep hoping that our dreams come true on that brighter day." These words opened this ... See full summary »
Stars: Blair Davies, Mona Bruns, Hal Holbrook, Mary Linn Beller
Votes: 34
7. As the World Turns (1956–2010)
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Romance
The focus in on the upper class Hughes and Stewart families plus their tribulations in Midwest Oakdale. The Stewarts fade away eventually to be replaced by the rural Snyders and wealthy Lucinda Walsh with her many intrigues.
Stars: Elizabeth Hubbard, Jon Hensley, Ellen Dolan, Colleen Zenk
Votes: 2,276
8. The Edge of Night (1956–1984)
TV-14 | 30 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Attorney Mike Karr and his colleagues are involved in solving crimes and intrigue which touch the lives of many citizens.
Stars: Ann Flood, Forrest Compton, Donald May, Joel Crothers
Votes: 467
9. Young Dr. Malone (1958–1963)
30 min | Drama
Set in fictional Denison, Maryland, this daytime serial focused the on the father-and-son team of doctors Jerry and David Malone, who practiced at Valley Hospital. "Young Dr. Malone" was ... See full summary »
Stars: William Prince, John Connell, Augusta Dabney, Michael Ingram
Votes: 26
10. From These Roots (1958–1961)
30 min | Drama
The fictional New England community of Strathfield was the setting for this remarkably well-written serial. The drama focused on the romantic exploits of newspaper journalist Liz Fraser, who married playwright David Allen.
Stars: Audra Lindley, Len Wayland, Ann Flood, Billie Lou Watt
Votes: 22
11. General Hospital (1963– )
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
Families, friends, enemies, and lovers experience life-changing events in the large upstate city of Port Charles, New York, which has a busy hospital, upscale hotel, cozy diner, and dangerous waterfront frequented by the criminal underworld.
Stars: Maurice Benard, John Beradino, Laura Wright, Rachel Ames
Votes: 5,524
12. The Doctors (1963–1982)
30 min | Drama, Romance
Dr. Matt Powers is chief of Hope Memorial Hospital in the city of Madison, and he cares about the lives of staff and patients.
Stars: James Pritchett, David O'Brien, Lydia Bruce, Elizabeth Hubbard
Votes: 248
13. Another World (1964–1999)
TV-14 | 90 min | Drama, Romance
The life in the Midwestern town of Bay City, and the love, loss, trials, and triumph of its residents, who come from different backgrounds and social circles.
Stars: Victoria Wyndham, Constance Ford, Hugh Marlowe, Linda Dano
Votes: 1,146
14. Peyton Place (1964–1969)
30 min | Drama, Romance
People married and divorced, loved and lost. Murder, illicit passion, insanity, and secrets were the staples of Peyton Place.
Stars: Ed Nelson, Barbara Parkins, Warner Anderson, Dick Tufeld
Votes: 715
15. Days of Our Lives (1965– )
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Romance
A chronicle of the lives, loves, trials and tribulations of the citizens of the fictional city of Salem.
Stars: Deidre Hall, Kristian Alfonso, Drake Hogestyn, Alison Sweeney
Votes: 7,428
16. Dark Shadows (1966–1971)
TV-PG | 30 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
The rich Collins family of Collinsport, Maine is tormented by strange occurrences.
Stars: Jonathan Frid, Grayson Hall, Alexandra Isles, Nancy Barrett
Votes: 5,428
17. Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (1967–1973)
30 min | Drama
Mia Elliot, a Korean immigrant who fell in love with Paul Bradley and Dr. Jim Abbott. These interracial relationships stirred trouble for those involved.
Stars: Leslie Charleson, Donna Mills, Robert Burr, Judson Laire
Votes: 86
18. One Life to Live (1968–2013)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama, Romance
One Life to Live centres takes place in the fictional town of Llanview, PA.around the wealthy Lord family, and the middle-class Woleks and Rileys.
Stars: Erika Slezak, Michael Storm, Michael Easton, Kristen Alderson
Votes: 2,633
19. Bright Promise (1969–1972)
30 min | Drama
Trials, tribulations, affairs & heartbreaks of students, faculty & administration of fictitious Bancroft College.
Stars: Susan Brown, Paul Lukather, Dana Andrews, Susannah Darrow
Votes: 44
20. Where the Heart Is (1969–1973)
25 min | Drama
Set in Northcross, Connecticut, "Where the Heart Is" followed the dysfunctional lives of the Hathaway family and those near them. The problem of the Hathaway family was quite simple: ... See full summary »
Stars: James Mitchell, Diana Van der Vlis, Louise Shaffer, Terry O'Connor
Votes: 31
21. All My Children (1970–2011)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama, Romance, Mystery
Set in the fictional East Coast suburb Pine Valley, this show is the decades-old, risk-taking soap that centers around Erica Kane and her long line of husbands.
Stars: Susan Lucci, David Canary, Michael E. Knight, Cameron Mathison
Votes: 3,258
22. Somerset (1970–1976)
30 min | Drama
Somerset debuted as a daytime drama, revolving around the powerful conglomerate Delaney Brands and its effect on the fictional community of Somerset, Illinois. Two years into its run, the ... See full summary »
Stars: Georgann Johnson, Paul Sparer, Susan MacDonald, Joel Crothers
Votes: 91
23. The Young and the Restless (1973– )
TV-PG | 37 min | Drama, Romance
Set in Genoa City, this is the long-running soap that tells the story of the struggle behind the business, and sex-savvy Abbott and Newman clans.
Stars: Eric Braeden, Doug Davidson, Peter Bergman, Joshua Morrow
Votes: 6,834
24. Ryan's Hope (1975–1989)
TV-14 | 30 min | Drama, Romance
The trials and tribulations of The Ryans, an Irish-American family in New York City.
Stars: Helen Gallagher, Bernard Barrow, Nancy Addison, Michael Levin
Votes: 560
25. Dallas (1978–1991)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama, Romance
J.R. Ewing, a Texas oil baron, uses manipulation and blackmail to achieve his ambitions, both business and personal. He often comes into conflict with his brother Bobby, his arch-enemy Cliff Barnes and his long-suffering wife Sue Ellen.
Stars: Larry Hagman, Ken Kercheval, Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray
Votes: 16,578
26. Knots Landing (1979–1993)
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Romance
The residents of Knots Landing, a coastal suburb of Los Angeles, deal with various issues such as infidelity, health scares, rape, murder, kidnapping, assassinations, drug smuggling, corporate intrigue and criminal investigations.
Stars: Michele Lee, Ted Shackelford, Joan Van Ark, Kevin Dobson
Votes: 3,219
27. Texas (1980–1982)
60 min | Drama, Romance
Daytime Drama, spun off from "Another World," which followed Iris Carrington from Bay City as she rediscovered Alex Wheeler, a former love, and moved to the Houston area. The stories ... See full summary »
Stars: Carla Borelli, Beverlee McKinsey, Jerry Lanning, Lisby Larson
Votes: 127
28. Dynasty (1981–1989)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama, Romance
The trials and tribulations of two feuding families, the Carringtons and the Colbys, both oil rich families in Denver, Colorado.
Stars: John Forsythe, Linda Evans, Joan Collins, Gordon Thomson
Votes: 8,457
29. Falcon Crest (1981–1990)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama, Romance
Set in the vineyards of California, this prime-time soap opera presented the conflict in the powerful Gioberti family, owners of the vast Falcon Crest Winery.
Stars: Jane Wyman, Lorenzo Lamas, Chao Li Chi, David Selby
Votes: 4,274
30. Capitol (1982–1987)
30 min | Drama, Romance
Follow the political struggles for power and personal machinations between two conflicting families, the wealthy Cleggs and the middle-class McCandlesses.
Stars: Constance Towers, Debrah Farentino, Rory Calhoun, Carolyn Jones
Votes: 151
31. Loving (1983–1995)
30 min | Drama, Romance
"Loving" takes place in the fictional town of Corinth, Pennsylvania and centers on the lives of the wealthy Alden family. Love, betrayal, and the struggle for power form the focus of this long-running drama.
Stars: Lisa Peluso, Laura Wright, Lauren-Marie Taylor, Christine L. Tudor
Votes: 382
32. Santa Barbara (1984–1993)
TV-PG | 45 min | Drama, Romance
In Santa Barbara, California, the fascinating lives of the wealthy Capwells revolve around the Lockridge, the rival family, and other more modest families such as the Andrades and the Perkins, whose fates know the same torments.
Stars: A Martinez, Marcy Walker, Nancy Lee Grahn, Jed Allan
Votes: 2,837
33. The Colbys (1985–1987)
60 min | Drama
This spin-off of Dynasty (1981) featured the adventures of Jeff and Fallon Colby and Jeff's other wealthy relatives in California.
Stars: Charlton Heston, John James, Katharine Ross, Emma Samms
Votes: 1,174
34. The Bold and the Beautiful (1987– )
TV-PG | 19 min | Drama, Romance
The saga of high fashion glamour, honor, romance, passion, and most importantly, family.
Stars: Katherine Kelly Lang, Ronn Moss, John McCook, Susan Flannery
Votes: 8,265
35. Generations (1989–1991)
30 min | Drama
Soap opera about two families, one black and one white.
Stars: Kelly Rutherford, Kristoff St. John, Joan Pringle, Jonelle Allen
Votes: 455
36. Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–2000)
TV-PG | 44 min | Drama, Romance
A group of friends living in Beverly Hills, California make their way through life from their school days into adulthood.
Stars: Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty, Luke Perry, Jennie Garth
Votes: 37,562
37. Melrose Place (1992–1999)
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Romance
Classic serial drama around a group of friends living in Melrose Place, California.
Stars: Heather Locklear, Andrew Shue, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Thomas Calabro
Votes: 13,283
38. The City (1995–1997)
30 min | Drama, Romance
"The City" picks up where "Loving" left off. After a rash of serial killings, several of Corinth, Pennsylvania's residents move to an apartment building in SoHo to start a brand-new life. ... See full summary »
Stars: George Palermo, Laura Wright, Ted King, Roscoe Born
Votes: 112
39. Sunset Beach (1997–1999)
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Romance
After discovering her fiancé Tim Truman kissing another woman, Meg Cummings leaves her home in Kansas on their wedding day to start a new life in Sunset Beach, California.
Stars: Lesley-Anne Down, Sam Behrens, Susan Ward, Clive Robertson
Votes: 2,622
40. Port Charles (1997–2003)
TV-14 | 30 min | Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Residents at the hospital, doctors,friends and their families are constantly threatened by Dr. Greg Cooper who may be the Homicide killer, avenging on all of them because he was dropped from the hospital's intern program.
Stars: Julie Pinson, Jon Lindstrom, Lynn Herring, Jay Pickett
Votes: 542
41. Passions (1999–2008)
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama
In the world of power and money, the wealthy and powerful Crane family rule the town of Harmony from their mansion on Raven Hill.
Stars: Lindsay Hartley, McKenzie Westmore, Galen Gering, Juliet Mills
Votes: 5,151
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