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Yes, I watch daytime soaps

By Catherine Toth Fox • September 9, 2012 • Musings, The Daily Dish

Confession: I’m obsessed with “Days of our Lives.”

I started watching the hit NBC soap back in 1980 — I was 5 years old — with my grandma, who lived with us. I was completely riveted by the glamorous characters, the crazy story lines, the cliffhangers after each episode.

“Days” had everything: love triangles, amnesia, serial killers, kidnapping, baby swapping, rape, murder, even demonic possessions.

No wonder it’s the longest-running scripted television program in the world. (The first show aired on Nov. 8, 1965.)

I can’t get enough!

A lot of people are shocked that I still keep up with the show, which, let’s be honest, isn’t staffed by the best cadre of serious thespians. But it’s fun, it’s light, it’s interesting — and it never ends.

I can go for months without seeing a single episode — not even reading synopses online — and turn on NBC at 1 p.m. and follow along. Most of the characters are the same — the newbies are usually the kids of the older characters — and the plot lines are fairly easy to understand. There’s always a bad guy — these days, the DiMeras — and a complicated love triangle that typically involves people in other relationships. It’s brainless stuff.

I can’t explain why I still have a nostalgic soft spot for “Days.” Even A-lister Julia Roberts loves the show. (See the clip below.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE6p5m8UYsE
Back in 1996, “Days” won the People’s Choice Award for Best Daytime Drama — and at the end of this clip, Julia Roberts, one of the biggest movie stars at the time, gets on stage and gushes about her favorite soap. For real.

See? I’m not just not alone — I’m in pretty good company!

Anyone else still tuning into daytime dramas? Or have you replaced your favorite soap with “The Real Housewives of New York City”?

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Catherine Toth Fox

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10 Comments

  • Reply M September 10, 2012 at 6:55 am

    Hello Cat!
    I don’t watch daytime soaps, not home during the week days. Even if I was I wouldn’t watch it anyways.

    • Reply Catherine Toth September 11, 2012 at 1:01 pm

      Why not?!?! It’s like reading an easy, brainless book. No thought required!

  • Reply Annoddah Dave September 10, 2012 at 8:31 am

    CAT: When I was a kid, my favorite soap was Dark Shadows. I did not see the movie though. K dramas are addicting as well.

    • Reply Catherine Toth September 11, 2012 at 1:01 pm

      “Dark Shadows” — sounds like a radio program.

  • Reply rayboyjr September 10, 2012 at 10:07 am

    Hey Cat … welcome back!!! … I’m not even sure when you returned from your trip …

    … I’ve never been a daytime soap fan … used to watch it a little when I was younger … mostly because the girls used to watch it … and it came on right after the morning game shows …

    … but I’ve got to admit I had gotten into K-dramas a bit a few years ago … strange because it’s harder to watch because of the subtitles (I don’t understand Korean) … but I think I watched because it was on at night …

    … there’s just too much on tv to concentrate on any one thing (except sports for me) … and I hardly watch reality shows anymore …

    • Reply Catherine Toth September 11, 2012 at 1:01 pm

      Oh, no, don’t get me started on K-dramas! That’s the end of me!

  • Reply L September 10, 2012 at 10:16 am

    hey cat!

    i’m so glad i’m not alone in my religious following of DOOL. been watching since the late 80’s (2/3rds of my life!). been dying to go to day of days in CA, but the timing has never worked for me. i did post a request for them to come here when they mentioned going on the road. i really just want EJ to come…anyone else is just gravy. of course, they might not get him back… :p

    • Reply Catherine Toth September 11, 2012 at 1:00 pm

      LOL. I know what you mean about EJ. Quite the charmer. I’m a huge fan, too. 🙂

  • Reply David Jackson September 10, 2012 at 11:25 am

    I watched “Dark Shadows” and haven’t watched any others since. BTW: good thing you left Costa Rico when you did!

    • Reply Catherine Toth September 11, 2012 at 1:00 pm

      I KNOW! Just missed the earthquake!

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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