100 WVIA Way
Pittston, PA 18640

Phone: 570-826-6144
Fax: 570-655-1180

Copyright © 2025 WVIA, all rights reserved. WVIA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
NOW IS A CRITICAL TIME TO ACT. The Senate is voting to eliminate Public Media funding.

How soap operas set the foundation for American television

Soap operas have riveted American audiences for generations. These daytime dramas are famous for their long-running storylines, epic love affairs and the occasional evil twin. And while the genre is often dismissed as melodramatic or unserious, soap operas were actually the first places on television to tackle serious women’s issues, like rape, abortion and domestic violence.

WBEZ’s new podcast looks at soap operas as the foundation of American television storytelling. It’s called “Making Stories Without End,” and we speak with host Natalie Moore.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

Copyright 2025 WBUR

Here & Now Newsroom