Yolanda

1. I watch all of the ABC soaps (PC, AMC, OLTL, GH). I tape them while I'm at work.

2. What bugs me about soaps today is that the minute you have a strong independent female character, some knucklehead writer decides that she can't function without a man. The constant insistence that a woman is not complete unless she's involved is a crock.

Archermar

1. I watch ATWT and GL now a couple of times a week used to watch AW at least four days and taped the fifth day. Check on occasion Y&R and B&B.

2. l999 was a bad year for soaps with the cancellation of two soaps AW and Sunset Beach. I think that soap operas as an advertising medium for P&G is a secondary efforts now and if their new type of incentive to advertising agencies it could be a lot less of P&G money for daytime. Hopefully other co operations will step up and fill the gap. I am not singling out P&G (although they did not make me happy with their handling of AW) it is just that they are a very major player in the daytime market. I also think the writers of soaps need to read the history of the soap when writing them much as Ms.Shapiro at ABC tries to have her daytime people do. I know that there is competition out there for good writing with the expansion of the medium but there is a wealth of talent out there if the suits and powers that be will just look and quit shuffling the same old around. I am not advocating the ridding of the old just mix in some new talent/ Soaps are at a turning point and there is potential to go on to greater heights or the networks can turn a deaf ear to the publics outcry and rely on the easy non representative ratings system and turn daytime in to a wasteland of talk and game shows . 

FPOLYGALA

1. Another World

2. I read about the article that you are writing about the state of the soaps. I grew up watching soaps with my grandmother, but never truly was enthusiastic about any soaps until I was recovering from an illness. I kept the soaps on for company and to keep my spirits up. I think those that watch the soaps at the broadcast times are many people who can't get out much or who don't see the families often or who have small children taking naps. Like curling up with a good book, watching soaps can transport you away from your own little world. After I recuperated from my injury, I began to tape "Another World", which had a lot about family relationships and friendships. I admired the focus on the family bonds, the successful women and the friendships not only among the women but between the men and women. The romances seemed very true to life as well. And it is the only soap I ever saw that had merriment and fun each week. So every night, I looked forward to enjoying in this show and was never disappointed. My teenage son took to joining me for the daily episode, and Grandma watched, too. It often found it's way into family conversations in the way you'd fondly talk of cousins, aunts and uncles. So "Another World" had an appeal for me and my family that was cross-generational and tightened our family bond. After this extraordinary program was cancelled, I have not found a compelling reason for me to watch soaps (or NBC!!) but do value that they keep Grandma from being too lonely.

Vicki E.

1. One Life To Live (Daily), General Hospital (Daily), Sunset Beach (Sporadically through the week).

2. I think that the fans are often too critical of their soaps. I have seen personal attacks on writers, stars, etc. Some of the best couples are broken up for more story possibility, which bothers me. I like a happy ending. Overall, I am an extremely loyal fan to my top favorites. I will go along with whatever story they come up with. If the networks would try to understand their fans, rather than worry about the ratings, they might see better results. I feel for the NBC fans. They obviously don't care about their viewers. They will suffer because of it. Ratings are already dropping for them. If they could shed the stigma they are creating for themselves, the soap industry could grow. I think ABC is doing an excellent job with their daytime shows, I just wish the would slow down with the firing and hiring of new cast members.

AW40

1. I watch ATWTs regularly now that AW is off the air. 

2. I feel viewership is down only on one specific network. That could spell trouble for the soaps that network is currently showing. I feel daytime soaps as a whole are going strong. I think Fox and WB may end up starting in the soap business I hope. The All Soaps Channels will be great for reruns on our favorite soaps. Esp. for people who were born after some of their shows started airing. They can watch the repeats from the beginning and really get in on the history. I guess one thing that has always bothered me with time soaps is the stigma of the BORED HOUSEWIFE or people who watch soaps don't have a life. This stigma has always been with daytime soaps and I think always will be. Primetime soaps are accepted but not daytime. I also feel the Neilson rating system is a thing of the past. It is time,esp. for daytime viewing, to start relying on the voice of the people, internet polls ,etc and not Neilson boxes. That my opinion!