Critically and commercially, daytime dramas (except General Hospital and The Young and the Restless) are sunk in a malaise. What's needed? A shot of the three R's.
Reality:
CBS' The Bold and the Beautiful is set in L.A.'s fashion world, right? But no gays or blacks? Hello? Its many weddings aren't the whitest thing about this show.
Relevance:
With viewers switching to O.J. and the chat shows, soaps have been fighting back with predictable pregnancy and evil-twin stories. Bo-ring! Have you seen the juicy, cutting-edge topics that Ricki Lake is getting away with?
Raciness:
The Procter & Gamble-sponsored soaps (Guiding Light, As the World Turns, Another World) have traditionally been conservative. But these days they're downright skin-free. Methinks the makers of Ivory soap are taking this purity thing a little far.
