Soap operas

A typically dramatic moment from "Veterinarian's Hospital".

From a Muppet comic strip by Guy and Brad Gilchrist.

"As the World Takes Turns" on Sesame Street

"The Young and the Vestless" on Sesame Street

"All My Oofniks" on Shalom Sesame

A soap opera is an ongoing, serialized work of fiction, usually broadcast on television or radio. The term originated during the radio era in the 1930s, derived from the fact that soap manufacturer Procter & Gamble was the most prominent early sponsor of such programs. Trademarks from the early days of soaps include overwrought emotional outbursts, dramatic organ music, and a somber-voiced announcer posing questions about the storyline. The Muppets have spoofed this format many times.

Muppets

• "Veterinarian's Hospital" is a regular spoof on The Muppet Show of medical soaps like General Hospital and The Doctors as well as Vaudeville comedy acts.

• Episode 103 of The Jim Henson Hour features a soap opera.

• Muppet Magazine issue 20 featured "Swinesty," a parody of the nighttime soap Dynasty.

• Muppet Madness includes a parody called Our Turning World.

• Dr. Bob can't see any patients in the December 13, 1983 The Muppets comic strip because he's in the middle of some medical research: watching General Hospital.

• The name of The Muppets episode "Generally Inhospitable" is a parody of General Hospital.

Sesame Street

• Sesame Street has featured many soap opera parodies.
  • Hunt for Happiness
  • Love of Grouch (First: Episode 1456) is Oscar's favorite program, featuring such characters as Dusty Grouch, Dirty Lucinda, Oily Slick, and Smelly Fumes.
  • All My Letters (First: Episode 2277), a spoof of the ABC soap opera All My Children.
  • The Heartstrongs (First: Episode 2163)
  • School in the Afternoon (First: Episode 2223), a parody of the ABC soap opera promotional campaign, Love in the Afternoon.
  • Sounds of Our Lives (First: Episode 2731), a spoof of the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives.
  • As the Worm Turns (First: Episode 2942), a spoof of As the World Turns.
  • As the World Takes Turns (First: Episode 3365), a spoof of As the World Turns.
  • The Young and the Vestless (First: Episode 3374), a spoof of The Young and the Restless.
• Plaza Sésamo has featured spoofs of telenovelas, Mexican soap operas, often with the original stars.
• Shalom Sesame has also spoofed many soap operas. "As the Seasons Turn" is a spoof of the CBS soap As the World Turns and "All My Oofniks" is a spoof of All My Children.
• Big Bird pretends that a letter "X" he's playing with is a grandmother watching "X-Ray Hospital" (in reference to General Hospital) on TV in episode 2024.
• An announcer states that Owl My Children will be following Hoots the Owl's talk show in Episode 2619.
• In the third The ABCs of COVID-19 special, Grover noted that he was grateful for soap operas during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Daytime Emmys

The Muppets have often hobnobbed with soap opera stars at the Daytime Emmy Awards, where children's shows like Sesame Street and soap operas are both honored.

• Oscar the Grouch presented an award with David Canary (Adam Chandler, All My Children) in 2005.
• Kermit covered the 2005 ceremony for The Tony Danza Show, interviewing, among others, award winner Erika Slezak (Viki Davidson, One Life to Live).

Connections

Many actors who have played regular or featured character roles in Muppet/Henson productions have also appeared on soap operas.

• Paul Benedict played Mr. Pratt on The Guiding Light (1999)
• Jason Bernard played Preston Wade on Days of Our Lives (1982)
• Troy Byer played characters on Knots Landing and Dynasty
• Larry Block played Mickey on The Secret Storm (1971) and Cal Jamison on General Hospital (1978)
• Linda Bove played Melissa Hayley Weldon on Search for Tomorrow (1973)
• Fran Brill played Beverly on Guiding Light (1997)
• Ruth Buzzi played Leticia Bradford on Days of our Lives (1983) and Nurse Kravitz on Passions (2003)
• Desiree Casado appeared in a bar scene on One Life to Live (2006)
• Rosalind Cash played Mary Mae Ward on General Hospital (1994-1995)
• Barbara Dana played Lucy Colman on The Nurses (1963)
• Emilio Delgado played Paul on Falcon Crest (1982)
• Charles Durning played Police Chief McGowan on Another World (1972)
• Mark Hamill played Kent Murray on General Hospital (1972-1973)
• Michael Jeter played Arnie Gallo on Another World (1988)
• Raúl Juliá played Miguel Garcia on Love of Life (1969)
• Will Lee played Grandpa Will Hughes on As the World Turns (1956)
• Paul Leyden played Simon Frazier on As the World Turns (2002-2007)
• John Bedford Lloyd played Warren Dunn on All My Children (2001)
• Susan Lucci plays Erica Kane on All My Children (1970-present)
• William H. Macy played Frank Fisk on Another World (1982)
• Belinda Montgomery played Jennifer on Dynasty (1982) and Sylvie Gallagher on Days of Our Lives (1986-1987)
• Alan Muraoka played Mr. Pravat, a Thai bartender, on One Life to Live (2006)
• Roscoe Orman played Tyrone on All My Children (1976)
• Stuart Pankin played Jace Sampson on Falcon Crest (1989-1990) and Benny Appleman on Knots Landing (1991)
• Joe Ponazecki played Dr. David Thornton on Another World (1960s), Reilly on The Secret Storm (1973), Lt. Wyatt on The Guiding Light (1977-1994), and a minister on All My Children (1991, 1993)
• Richard Roundtree played Oliver Travers on As the World Turns (2002-2003)
• Florence Stanley played Mrs. Reynolds on The Nurses (1965) and the sobbing voice of Josette on Dark Shadows (1966-1967)
• Jessica Walter played Eleanor Armitage on One Life to Live (1996)
• Louis Zorich played Milo Simonelli on Another World (1982)