Best of Daytime Soap Operas in 2024

Check out my thoughts below on the Best of Daytime Soap Operas in 2024.

BEST SOAP
General Hospital

The average episode of GH was typically somewhere between good and very good during 2024. From the dramatic and poignant deaths of Spencer, Gregory and Sam to the excellent returns of Lucky, Ric and Lulu, the stories were the most "must-B&B in the genre.

MOST CONSISTENTLY INCONSISTENT SOAP
The Bold and the Beautiful

B&B continued to revolve around Ridge, Brooke, Steffy and Hope in 2024. The characters were sometimes maddening but mostly consistent with their histories. The stories made us invest in watching the show every day but you never knew when an about-face might happen. Like Luna, the innocent young heroine who we later learned was a mudererer. Or Thomas suddently being over Hope after years of obsessing. The turns felt jarring, and like the writers changed course mid-stream. But tune in any day and it feels like you were watching B&B, your story, and that's a win after 37 years.

BEST PERFORMANCES
Sharon Case (Sharon, The Young and the Restless)
Case delivered one riveting performance after another leading up to Heather's death and then the fallout.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 25)

1970: ABC aired the final episode of The Best of Everything.
1984: All My Children's Tad was celebrated at his bachelor party.
1996: Days of our Lives' Sami and Austin married.
1998: One Life to Live's Bo grieved his son, Drew.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1967: On Dark Shadows, while Willie Loomis remained in a coma, Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) attempted to hypnotize David Collins (David Henesy) to stop his prying into Barnabas' (Jonathan Frid) affairs.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 24)

1951: Love of Life premiered on CBS.
1979: As the World Turns' Doug and Annie declared their love.
1981: General Hospital's Alan proposed to Susan.
1986: Another World's Mitch met his son, Matthew.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1951: Daytime soap opera Love of Life, created by Roy Winsor, premiered on CBS, three weeks after Search for Tomorrow debuted on the network. Both shows started as 15-minute serials but Love of Life would expand to 30 minutes in 1958, and remain a half hour until its final episode on February 1, 1980. None of the original actors stayed from beginning to end but director Larry Auerbach did. He went on to direct several other New York soaps before retiring the late 1990s. He was among those interviewed by Dustin Hoffman for the soap opera comedy, Tootsie.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 14)

1966: Constance went into labor on Peyton Place.
1981: General Hospital's Susan was in the hospital after having baby Jason.
2009: Guiding Light's Lillian visited Maureen Bauer's grave.
2010: One Life to Live's Dorian threw water on Bo and Nora.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1936: NBC debuted Frank and Anne Hummert's radio soap opera John's Other Wife. The story revolved around John Perry (Hanley Stafford), the owner of a department store, his wife Elizabeth, and an assistant secretary named Annette. John got more than he bargained for when Elizabeth started to feel as though Annette had become his "other wife." The show ran until 1942.

1966: On Peyton Place, Constance MacKenzie (Dorothy Malone) was brought to the hospital after she began feeling labor pains.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 13)

1977: ABC's serialized comedy series Soap premiered.
1979: The Edge of Night's Raven clashed with Elliot.
1985: Days of our Lives' Marlena & Richard made love.
1985: GH's Anna told Robert that Robin was his daughter.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1969: Susan Lucci and Helmet Huber were married. Lucci joined All My Children for its debut a few months later playing ambitious teenager Erica Kane. The Hubers are celebrating their 46th anniversary today.

1971: On The Doctors, Dr. Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) visited her mother, who was recovering from a stroke.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 12)

1966: Days of our Lives' Tony prepared to leave town.
1985: General Hospital's Josh Clayton was killed.
1994: One Life to Live's paralyzed Luna took her first steps.
1994: All My Children's Hayley and Alec plotted revenge.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Days of our Lives, Tony Merritt (Richard Colla) told Marie Horton (Maree Cheatham) he was leaving Salem.

1966: On Dark Shadows, news of Bill Malloy's death spread around Collinsport.

Tamron Hall Guest Stars on Friday's Episode of 'General Hospital'

Talk show host Tamron Hall will guest star on an all-new episode of General Hospital, airing Friday, September 13. She'll tease the appearance with a behind the scenes clip on Thursday's edition of her new nationally syndicated show, Tamron Hall (check your local listings). Watch a preview clip of Tamron Hall’s meeting with Jasper Jax (Ingo Rademacher) on General Hospital below.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 11)

1975: Ryan's Hope's Jack visited Sister Mary Joel.
1984: Santa Barbara's Jade ran into David Hasselhoff.
1986: Another World's Reginald had a fire started to stop a story.
2003: The Young and the Restless' John punched Victor.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1941: On radio soap opera Life Can Be Beautiful, "Chichi" Conrad (Alice Reinheart) coped with heartbreaking news.

1967: CBS aired the first color broadcast of The Secret Storm.

1972: The Edge of Night began airing at 2:30 p.m. ET, moving from its usual 3:30 p.m. timeslot where it had been performing well in the ratings. CBS and Procter & Gamble made the decision to move the show to create blocks of P&G soaps that would not compete against each other on CBS and NBC. Edge of Night's ratings took a nose dive, and was eventually moved to ABC on December 1, 1975, to make room for the As the World Turns expansion to one hour. We Love Soaps included this timeslot change on the 25 Biggest Blunders in Daytime Soap Opera History list back in 2011.

1975: On Ryan's Hope, Jack Fenelli (Michael Levin) took Mary Ryan (Kate Mulgrew) to see Sister Mary Joel (Sylvia Sidney), who told Jack she needed his help.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 6)

1976: Ryan's Hope's Delia searched for evidence against Frank.
1978: All My Children's Erica Kane married Tom Cudahy.
1985: General Hospital's Robin Scorpio arrived in Port Charles.
2011: All My Children's Erica met Verla Grubbs.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1948: On radio soap opera Claudia, Claudia (Dorothy McGuire) had opening night jitters.

1976: On Ryan's Hope, Delia Ryan (Ilene Kristen) lied to her husband, Frank (Michael Hawkins), when he found her searching through his things

Today in Soap Opera History (September 5)

1960: Search for Tomorrow's Alison dealt with her mother-in-law.
1980: General Hospital's Monica faced a divorce decision.
1989: As the World Turns Paul shot his father, James Stenbeck.
2008: Hollyoaks' John Paul found Kieron's body.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1938: Radio soap opera Life Can Be Beautiful premiered on CBS, starting a successful 16-year run. Life Can Be Beautiful quickly became known to radio insiders by its initials, and widely referred to as "Elsie Beebe." It was the story of Carol Conrad (Alice Reinheart, and later Teri Keane), a disadvantaged child who--still in her teens--ran into the Slightly Read Bookshop seeking shelter and a hiding place from Gyp Mendoza (Waldemar Kappel, and later Paul Stewart), the town racketeer. The kindly old book dealer, Papa David Solomon (Ralph Locke), would soon become one of the great philosophers of daytime radio. Carol became "Chichi" and was installed on a pallet in the back room as the old man's ward. Fifteen years later, she was still there. The show was billed as "an inspiring message of faith drawn from life."

1960: On Search for Tomorrow, after talking things over with Joanne (Mary Stuart), Alison (Anne Pearson) endured an uncomfortable evening with her in-laws, the Metcalfs, who came over for dinner.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 31)

1960: Grace was still bitter on The Secret Storm. 1989: Josie
moved in with the Matthews family on Another World.
1994: Erica was in a neckbrace on All My Children.
2010: Oakdale said goodbye to Nancy Hughes on ATWT.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1948: Radio soap opera The Guiding Light, still almost four years away from making its way to television, introduced the character of Friedrich "Papa" Bauer. Theodore von Eltz originated the role and was replaced by Theo Goetz a year later. Goetz would remain with the show until his death in 1972.

1960: On The Secret Storm, Myra Lake Ames (June Graham) visited Grace Harris Tyrell (Marjorie Gateson), who had something to say about everyone.

1966: On Days of our Lives, Susan (Denise Alexander) already regretted her month-old marriage to David Martin (Clive Clerk), who was still in love with Julie (Charla Doherty). Julie turned to her grandfather Tom Horton (Macdonald Carey) and asked him to help her stay in Salem rather than live with her parents, Ben and Addie, in Europe.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 30)

1968: The Doctors' Mike returned home.
1991: Wayne Northrop returned to Days of our Lives as Roman.
2004: General Hospital debuted a new opening.
2010: ATWT's Bob revealed Nancy Hughes had passed away.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...

1968: On The Doctors, Mike Powers (Peter Burnell in his debut) returned home, much to the delight of his father, Dr. Matt Powers (James Pritchett).

1968: On Dark Shadows, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) and Willie Loomis (John Karlen) went to the crypt where Tom Jennings (Donald Briscoe) kept his coffin, but when Barnabas opened the coffin, it was empty. Jennings arrived and tried to bite him.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 28)

1986: Another World's "Marissa" made her way to Bay City.
1991: Santa Barbara's Dash and Katrina grew closer.
1998: All My Children's Junior was locked in a cage.
2009: One Life to Live's Fish didn't remember his night with Stacy.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1967: On Another World, Liz (Audra Lindley) was happy to hear that Bill (Joseph Gallison) suspected Madge of Danny's murder.

1967: Australian Broadcasting Corporation soap Bellbird premiered. It remained on the air until December 1977.

1968: On Dark Shadows, Julia (Grayson Hall) protected Tom Jennings (Don Briscoe) from a gun-toting Barnabas (Jonathan Frid). After Tom vanished, Barnabas went to the window to look for him. When he turned around Julia had escaped.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 25)

1966: Days of our Lives' Julie wanted to stay in Salem.
1975: Susan Harney debuted as Alice on Another World
1987: As the World Turns' Holden opened up to Lily.
2009: General Hospital's Jason and Sam made love.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Days of our Lives, Julie Olson (Charla Doherty) told her grandmother, Alice Horton (Frances Reid), that she didn't want to live in Europe.

1971: On The Doctors, Karen tried to convince Matt she wasn't as boring as he thought.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 24)

1979: General Hospital's Laura wanted a job at the disco.
1987: Lizzie demanded answers on Ryan's Hope.
1989: As the World Turns' Shannon lost her baby.
2007: One Life to Live's John arrive to arrest Lindsay.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1970: Murial Williams returned to Another World as Lenore's (Judith Barcroft) mother, Helen Moore. Williams remained with the show until April 8, 1976.

1976: Rosemary Forsyth debuted as Laura Horton on Days of our Lives.

1977: On Another World, Mac (Douglass Watson) listened in through the intercom as Dave (David Ackroyd) told Pat (Beverly Penberthy) he had always been in love with Rachel. Mac shut off the intercom before Dave told her that Rachel still loved Mac. Dave left Bay City to live in Boston on the next episode.

1978: On All My Children, Tara Martin Brent (Nancy Frangione) told Chuck Tyler (Richard Van Vleet) that she hadn't heard from Philip.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 23)

1960: Alan was unhappy with Susan on The Secret Storm.
1984: Jonathan had Nola Star Trek style fantasy on Guiding Light.
2000: Jensen Ackles made his last appearance on Days of our Lives.
2006: Jeffrey Carlson debuted as Zarf on All My Children.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1960: On The Secret Storm, Bryan Fuller (Carl King) was invited over for dinner with Susan (Mary Foskett) and Alan Dunbar (James Vickery), who was less than thrilled about it.

Find out more about The Secret Storm in Remembering Woodbridge: A History of the Late, Great 'Secret Storm'.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 22)

1960: As the World Turns' Grace wanted to help her son.
1979: Guiding Light's Holly received a marriage proposal.
1986: Young and Restless aired the "It's OK to Say No" concert.
1986: Days of our Lives' Marlena and "Roman" were remarried.

"The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1955: On The Brighter Day, Lydia's (Murial Williams) romantic life suffered as she became more stressed over her desire to confess that she had taken the silver clock.

1960: On As the World Turns, Dr. Cassen (Nat Polen) explained to Penny Hughes Baker (Rosemary Prinz) that he couldn't keep her husband, Jeff, at the hospital against his will. Meanwhile, Jeff's mother, Grace Baker (Frances Reid), was upset that she wasn't allowed to see her son, and wasn't convinced Jeff needed to be hospitalized, but Chris Hughes (Don MacLaughlin) put her in her place.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 19)

1996: Nathan Hastings died on The Young and the Restless.
1996: Frankie Frame was murdered on Another World.
1996: GH's Jason and Robin arrived in Montauk on Stone's birthday.
2013: The series finale of One Life to Live aired online.

"The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1929: NBC Blue network broadcast Amos 'n' Andy, starring Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll, for the first time. The show ran as a nightly radio serial from 1928 (starting at local WMAQ) until 1943, then as a weekly situation comedy from 1943 to 1955.

1953: On Search for Tomorrow, Arthur Tate (Terry O'Sullivan) told Nathan Walsh he planned on leaving Henderson and forgetting all about Joanne Baron (Mary Stuart).  Later, Stu Bergman (Larry Haines) asked Nathan what kind of troubles Arthur was having.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 18)

1980: Edge of Night's Draper saw himself in the newspaper.
1980: General Hospital's Monica goaded Lesley into a slap.
1981: Guiding Light's Morgan and Kelly married at Laurel Falls.
1988: As the World Turns' Hank came out to Iva.

"The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1899: Actress and writer Bess Flynn was born. She was on the writing team of Irna Phillips' Painted Dreams, the first ever daytime soap opera in 1930. Both Flynn and Phillips played the role of Mother Moynihan. Flynn went on to wrote for three other soaps: We The Abbotts, Bachelor's Children and Martha Webster (she also played the title role).

1978: On One Life to Live, Richard (David Reilly) and Becky (Jill Voight) were trapped at the lake during a storm.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 17)

1977: Leslie Charleson assumed the role of Monica on GH.
1992: Elizabeth Keifer debuted as Blake on Guiding Light.
2007: The 10,000th episode of One Life to Live aired on ABC.
2007: As the World Turns' Luke and Noah shared an historic kiss.

"The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1933: On radio soap opera Ma Perkins, Ma (Virginia Payne) has found out about Cousin Sylvester's marriage proposal to Penny, and she wondered what kind of men the cousins were.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Julia (Grayson Hall) warned Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) not to become too chummy with Barnabas (Jonathan Frid).