Today is the 20th birthday of my fave rave English soap opera, Eastenders.
I started watching whenever I got DirecTV for the first time which was upstairs at my Grady Ave apartment. I think that was probably 1997 or 1998. Of course, the new episodes don’t come on American TV any longer since BBC America cancelled it. But, thanks to the interweb, I can keep up with the comings and goings of Albert Square in Walford.
How long have most American soap operas been running. 40 years? 50?
The only two American soap operas that I have really ever watched are “Passions” and “Santa Barbara”. Both very good in their own way, but the Brits win out.
Feel free to muse about your favorite soap opera moments in my comments. I’m sure :stephanie: has something to say about Santa Barbara and I would think that :courtney: might point out that it is a beloved show in Mother Russia.
Sadly, I’m starting to forget specifics from Santa Barbara. I remember something about Eden and a shark, Cruz screaming ADRIANNA in what should have been an emmy-winning performance, and “I Can’t Help Falling in Love” (the Elvis song) being Kelly (Robin Wright) and Jeffery’s song.
Still waiting for SoapNet to acquire SB. Or for it to come out on DVD.
That’s right, I forgot they loved SB in Russia. When I had a babysitter in summer, I got hooked on her soaps, the two that preceded SB–Days of Our Lives and Another World. They’re pretty standard (at least back then), twins, murder, affairs, unrequited love, secrets always on the edge of leaking out. Before I could drive, I spent a lot of my summer days stuck in the house watching those soaps, just to make the day pass. Now I hate them. I equate them with imprisonment. I think that might be why I could never watch Dawson’s Creek and why I haven’t gotten into O.C. (although from what I’ve heard, O.C. isn’t what it appears in commercials). I did find Passions amusing briefly in its total off-the-wallness. I wonder if I’d like East Enders.