In a recent podcast interview, Ryan Gosling praised soap opera actors for their talent. He mentioned Days of Our Lives in particular and one actress on it, Deidre Hall. She then responded by inviting him to visit the set and he accepted.
Shemar Moore began on Young and the Restless before going on to co-star in Criminal Minds and SWAT. Now I’m seeing advertisements for him returning to the show. I know he came back for some big anniversary but this was a few years ago if I remember correctly.
Denise Richards spent 3 years on The Bold and the Beautiful.
More and more actors from soap operas seem to be popping up in prime time network and streaming TV. Not just in one off roles/guest spots either.
Kinda seems like they’re having a moment.
I wish they'd do a Melrose Place reboot.
I mean complete reboot, with re-castings for all the original old characters.
Also, I wouldn't mind if they did the same for Sunset Beach... and One Life to Live.
3
GofunkierttiApr 8, 2026
+5
The market for nighttime soap operas never went away. That's why Riverdale and half the old CW'S lineup existed. Netflix has plenty of them like Heartstopper or Elite.
Daytime soap operas do seem to be dying for real though. Probably not all of them but several long running ones have been taken down. Honestly I suspect people just prefer the semi-scipted stuff like Real Housewives or Secret Life of Mormons. It's basically the same thing but "real".
5
NoTitleChampApr 8, 2026
+6
Maybe but I wouldn't go by listnook. People online have always had a somewhat dismissive attitude towards them.
6
Nandi_LaApr 8, 2026
+4
I remember seeing Nathan Fillion being on One Life To Live in the early 90s as well
4
No-Badger-7377Apr 8, 2026
+3
edge of gen z here. You just wait. Run them in the background because they are on during day and endless episodes while doing homework and online job. Then suddenly I'm hooked by the shitty plots and annoying characters. No different than binging meh netflick shows except the soaps dont get cancelled much and keep going and going with season after season.
3
x6ftundxApr 8, 2026
+2
Not really, because the women who watched them aren't around anymore. It was a show designed to sell products to stay-at-home housewives in the 50-60's.
2
GroundbreakingUse794Apr 8, 2026
+3
People are just checked out on society and soap operas are mindless stories about f****** and sucking. People like stuff like that.
3
CustomerExpress443Apr 8, 2026
+1
Boomers Gen X parents etc. It's heavily dated work.
9 Comments