Today in Soap Opera History (July 13)

1983: All My Children's Tad returned to Pine Valley.
1990: Days of our Lives' Hope "died" in an explosion.
1999: As the World Turns' Jack gave Carly a compass.
2009: The Young and the Restless' Phillip revealed he was gay.

"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...

1965: On Another World, Lee Randolph (Gaye Huston) wasn't happy when Dr. Lewis said she could go home at the end of the week.

1966: On The Guiding Light, Leslie Bauer (Lynne Adams) accused her husband, Ed (Robert Gentry), of becoming a "cold blooded cynic" to help soothe his anger of his father's drinking.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 10)

1961: Finale of daytime soap opera Full Circle aired on CBS.
1981: GH's Susan was shocked to learn PJ was Steven Lars.
1994: Another World's "Kate" introduced herself to John.
1997: B&B's Stephanie and Eric made love.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent 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...

1961: CBS aired the final episode of daytime soap opera Full Circle. The half-hour series starred Dyan Cannon as Lisa Crowder and Jean Byron as Kit Aldrich.  It was the first soap opera to be broadcast live from Hollywood. The opening credits below are from the July 1, 1960 episode.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 16)

1966: The final episode of A Time For Us aired on ABC.
1968: David Selby debut on Dark Shadows.
1983: Chase found information about Falcon Crest in his grandfather's will.
1996: Another World's Jake planned to steal the Lassiter Christmas tree.

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Peter Dalton (Stephen Elliott) refused Mike Karr's (John Larkin) resignation then argued that his leaving would be a disservice to the public.

1966: ABC aired the final episode of daytime soap opera A Time For Us (formerly A Flame in the Wind), originally created by Raphael Hayes and Joseph Hardy. Jane Elliot, Conard Fowkes and Margaret Ladd were among the stars during the series run from December 28, 1964 to December 16, 1966.

1968: David Selby debuted on Dark Shadows as Quentin Collins. Terry Crawford also aired for the first time as Beth Chavez.

Reimagined 'Undressed' in Development at MTV

On the heels of its blockbuster deal for The Real World, MTV Studios today announced plans to reimagine Undressed, another groundbreaking series that explored the complicated dynamics of young adult relationships.

Celebrated for its honest take on gender, class and race, Undressed helped launch the careers of hundreds of young actors and behind the scenes talent, including: Christina Hendricks, Jason Ritter, Max Greenfield, Brandon Routh and Chad Michael Murray, as well as Damon Lindelof (Lost), Lizzy Weiss (Switched at Birth) and Steven S. DeKnight (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

Roland Joffé, the two-time Oscar nominated director who created and executive produced “Undressed,” is set to EP the scripted series which is currently in development.

MTV aired more than 200 episodes from 1999 – 2002 of the GLAAD Award winner which was widely praised by fans and critics alike for being one of the only shows at the time to feature gay, lesbian and bisexual characters and same-sex relationships. By offering an unfiltered look at the romantic lives of these characters, “Undressed” proved to be one of the most inclusive shows of its generation.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 13)

1983: All My Children's Tad returned to Pine Valley.
1990: Days of our Lives' Hope "died" in an explosion.
1999: As the World Turns' Jack gave Carly a compass.
2009: The Young and the Restless' Phillip revealed he was gay.

"All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"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...

1965: On Another World, Lee Randolph (Gaye Huston) wasn't happy when Dr. Lewis said she could go home at the end of the week.

1966: On The Guiding Light, Leslie Bauer (Lynne Adams) accused her husband, Ed (Robert Gentry), of becoming a "cold blooded cynic" to help soothe his anger of his father's drinking.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 10)

1961: Finale of daytime soap opera Full Circle aired on CBS.
1981: GH's Susan was shocked to learn PJ was Steven Lars.
1994: Another World's "Kate" introduced herself to John.
1997: B&B's Stephanie and Eric made love.

"Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."
― Machiavelli

"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...

1961: CBS aired the final episode of daytime soap opera Full Circle. The half-hour series starred Dyan Cannon as Lisa Crowder and Jean Byron as Kit Aldrich.  It was the first soap opera to be broadcast live from Hollywood. The opening credits below are from the July 1, 1960 episode.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 16)

1966: The final episode of A Time For Us aired on ABC.
1968: David Selby debut on Dark Shadows.
1983: Chase found information about Falcon Crest in his grandfather's will.
1996: Another World's Jake planned to steal the Lassiter Christmas tree.

"History is a vast early warning system."
― Norman Cousins

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Peter Dalton (Stephen Elliott) refused Mike Karr's (John Larkin) resignation then argued that his leaving would be a disservice to the public.

1966: ABC aired the final episode of daytime soap opera A Time For Us (formerly A Flame in the Wind), originally created by Raphael Hayes and Joseph Hardy. Jane Elliot, Conard Fowkes and Margaret Ladd were among the stars during the series run from December 28, 1964 to December 16, 1966.

1968: David Selby debuted on Dark Shadows as Quentin Collins. Terry Crawford also aired for the first time as Beth Chavez.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 13)

1983: All My Children's Tad returned to Pine Valley.
1990: Days of our Lives' Hope "died" in an explosion.
1999: As the World Turns' Jack gave Carly a compass.
2009: The Young and the Restless' Phillip revealed he was gay.

"History is a vast early warning system."
― Norman Cousins

"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...

1965: On Another World, Lee Randolph (Gaye Huston) wasn't happy when Dr. Lewis said she could go home at the end of the week.

1966: On The Guiding Light, Leslie Bauer (Lynne Adams) accused her husband, Ed (Robert Gentry), of becoming a "cold blooded cynic" to help soothe his anger of his father's drinking.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 10)

1961: Finale of daytime soap opera Full Circle aired on CBS.
1981: GH's Susan was shocked to learn PJ was Steven Lars.
1994: Another World's "Kate" introduced herself to John.
1997: B&B's Stephanie and Eric made love.

"All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"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...

1961: CBS aired the final episode of daytime soap opera Full Circle. The half-hour series starred Dyan Cannon as Lisa Crowder and Jean Byron as Kit Aldrich.  It was the first soap opera to be broadcast live from Hollywood. The opening credits below are from the July 1, 1960 episode.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 16)

1966: The final episode of A Time For Us aired on ABC.
1968: David Selby debut on Dark Shadows.
1983: Chase found information about Falcon Crest in his grandfather's will.
1996: Another World's Jake planned to steal the Lassiter Christmas tree.

"More and more, I tend to read history. I often find it more up to date than the daily newspapers."
― Joe Murray

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Peter Dalton (Stephen Elliott) refused Mike Karr's (John Larkin) resignation then argued that his leaving would be a disservice to the public.

1966: ABC aired the final episode of daytime soap opera A Time For Us (formerly A Flame in the Wind), originally created by Raphael Hayes and Joseph Hardy. Jane Elliot, Conard Fowkes and Margaret Ladd were among the stars during the series run from December 28, 1964 to December 16, 1966.

1968: David Selby debuted on Dark Shadows as Quentin Collins. Terry Crawford also aired for the first time as Beth Chavez.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 13)

1983: All My Children's Tad returned to Pine Valley.
1990: Days of our Lives' Hope "died" in an explosion.
1999: As the World Turns' Jack gave Carly a compass.
2009: The Young and the Restless' Phillip revealed he was gay.

"If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree."
― Michael Crichton

"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...

1965: On Another World, Lee (Gaye Huston) wasn't happy when Dr. Lewis said she could go home at the end of the week.

1966: On The Guiding Light, Leslie (Lynne Adams) accused Ed (Robert Gentry) of becoming a "cold blooded cynic" to help soothe his anger of his father's drinking.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 10)

1961: Finale of daytime soap opera Full Circle aired on CBS.
1981: GH's Susan was shocked to learn PJ was Steven Lars.
1994: Another World's "Kate" introduced herself to John.
1997: B&B's Stephanie and Eric made love.

"The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect is already in the cause."
― Henri Louis Bergson

"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...

1961: CBS aired the final episode of daytime soap opera Full Circle. The half-hour series starred Dyan Cannon as Lisa Crowder and Jean Byron as Kit Aldrich.  It was the first soap opera to be broadcast live from Hollywood. The opening credits below are from the July 1, 1960 episode.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 16)

1966: The final episode of A Time For Us aired on ABC.
1968: David Selby debut on Dark Shadows. 1983: Chase found
information about Falcon Crest in his grandfather's will.
1996: AW's Jake planned to steal the Lassiter Christmas tree.

"The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect is already in the cause."
― Henri Louis Bergson

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Peter Dalton (Stephen Elliott) refused Mike Karr's (John Larkin) resignation then argued that his leaving would be a disservice to the public.

1966: ABC aired the final episode of daytime soap opera A Time For Us (formerly A Flame in the Wind), originally created by Raphael Hayes and Joseph Hardy. Jane Elliot, Conard Fowkes and Margaret Ladd were among the stars during the series run from December 28, 1964 to December 16, 1966. Check out an episode of A Time For Us from 1965 below:

Today in Soap Opera History (July 13)

1983: All My Children's Tad returned to Pine Valley.
1990: Days of our Lives' Hope "died" in an explosion.
1999: As the World Turns' Jack gave Carly a compass.
2009: The Young and the Restless' Phillip revealed he was gay.

"History never looks like history when you are living through it."
― John W. Gardner

"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...

1965: On Another World, Lee (Gaye Huston) wasn't happy when Dr. Lewis said she could go home at the end of the week.

1966: On The Guiding Light, Leslie (Lynne Adams) accused Ed (Robert Gentry) of becoming a "cold blooded cynic" to help soothe his anger of his father's drinking.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 10)

1961: Finale of daytime soap opera Full Circle aired on CBS.
1981: GH's Susan was shocked to learn PJ was Steven Lars.
1994: Another World's "Kate" introduced herself to John.
1997: B&B's Stephanie and Eric made love.

"Mankind are so much the same, in all times and places, that history informs us of nothing new or strange in this particular. Its chief use is only to discover the constant and universal principles of human nature."
― David Hume

"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...

1961: CBS aired the final episode of daytime soap opera Full Circle. The half-hour series starred Dyan Cannon as Lisa Crowder and Jean Byron as Kit Aldrich.  It was the first soap opera to be broadcast live from Hollywood. The opening credits below are from the July 1, 1960 episode.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 16)

1966: The final episode of A Time For Us aired on ABC.
1968: David Selby debut on Dark Shadows. 1983: Chase found
information about Falcon Crest in his grandfather's will.
1996: AW's Jake planned to steal the Lassiter Christmas tree.

"Most of us spend too much time on the last twenty-four hours and too little on the last six thousand years."
― Will Durant

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Dalton refused Mike's (John Larkin) resignation then argued that his leaving would be a disservice to the public.

1966: ABC aired the final episode of daytime soap opera A Time For Us (formerly A Flame in the Wind), originally created by Raphael Hayes and Joseph Hardy. Jane Elliot, Conard Fowkes and Margaret Ladd were among the stars during the series run from December 28, 1964 to December 16, 1966. Check out an episode of A Time For Us from 1965 below:

Today in Soap Opera History (August 10)

"To believe what has not occurred in history will not occur at all, is to argue disbelief in the dignity of man."
- Mahatma Gandhi

"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...

Bartlett Robinson

1945: On radio soap opera Portia Faces Life, Kathie was shocked to see Portia's late husband, Walter (Bartlett Robinson), alive and well! Listen here.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) returned to the Blue Whale Café -- and ran into her former tormentor, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid).

1972: On Another World, Pat (Beverly Penberthy) brought Michael (Tom Ruger) and Marianne (Loriann Ruger) over for a visit with Jim.

1979: On The Edge of Night, Steve (Denny Albee) saved Paige's (Margaret Colin) life.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 17)

Guiding Light's Josh and Reva were finally married 25 years
ago today.

"History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies."
- Alexis de Tocqueville

"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...

1939: CBS Radio soap opera Woman of Courage premiered. Selena Royle starred as Martha Jackson, whose small-town life allegedly proved that "if ye have faith, nothing shall be impossible." The series, written by Carl Buss, ran until July 10, 1942.

1969: On Another World, Dru (Geoffrey Lumb) told Alice (Jacqueline Courtney) that Steve had secret plans for her.

1978: Actor Thayer David died at age 51. He played several different roles in ABC soap opera Dark Shadows: Matthew Morgan, Professor T. Elliot Stokes, Sandor Rakoski, Count Petofi, Timothy Stokes, Mordecai Grimes, and Ben Stokes.

1979: On The Edge of Night, Paige (Margaret Colin) was grilled about Tobias.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 10)

1961: Finale of daytime soap opera Full Circle aired on CBS.
1981: GH's Susan was shocked to learn PJ was Steven Lars.
1994: Another World's "Kate" introduced herself to John.
1997: B&B's Stephanie and Eric made love.

"There is no present or future, only the past happening over and over again - now."
- Eugene O'Neill

"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...

1961: CBS aired the final episode of daytime soap opera FULL CIRCLE. The half-hour series starred Dyan Cannon and Jean Byron, and was the first soap opera to be broadcast live from Hollywood. The opening credits below are from the July 1, 1960 episode.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 12)

1981: DYNASTY premiered. 1983: Blackie's frat party got out
of control on GH. 2009: ATWT Luke and Noah made love.
2012: OLTL said goodbye to FRATERNITY ROW. 

"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see."
- Winston Churchill

"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: The character of Hope Bauer, who crossed over from THE GUIDING LIGHT, appeared on ANOTHER WORLD for the final time. Elissa Leeds played the role on both shows.

1976: DAYS OF OUR LIVES stars Bill Hayes (Doug) and Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie) appeared on the cover of TIME magazine. Read the article here.