The Soaps In Depth Podcast

With most soaps running low on episodes Richard and Charile debate if there's a way for them to keep filming.

Sometimes, things happen on our soaps that leave us with questions. We might ask, "Wait, why would that character do such a thing?", or we might speculate as to why a storyline is playing the way it is. This week, Charlie and Richard look at things from all four of the daytime soaps which leave them (and, based on feedback, many of you!) with questions, which they'll attempt to answer. From what motivates THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS' Adam to how THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL's Sally sees this whole "fake death" thing playing out, and from why DAYS OF OUR LIVES' Brady and Kristen put a pause on their baby reclamation plans to how GENERAL HOSPITAL's plan for Michael might play out in a court of law. All this and more on the latest episode of the Soaps In Depth podcast!

How tough is it for a newcomer to jump into a storyline that has already been unfolding for years? This week, Charlie and Richard tasked their producer, Nick, with watching soaps and reporting back. The result? A sometimes hilarious, sometimes telling glimpse into what first-time viewer Nick enjoyed, didn't quite get... and the surprising thing that made him feel right at home.

This is a rough time for all of us, but on this week's show, Richard and Charlie manage to focus on the positive. With the ratings up thanks to so many people being forced to stay home, your hosts offers some advice on how the soaps can continue this upward momentum in the weeks and months ahead. From ideas on how to breath new life into reruns to suggestions for moving forward when taping resumes, this week's show is all about the future!

There's some scary stuff happening out there, and on this week's show, Charlie and Richard discuss whether things like coronavirus should be woven into the soaps... and if so, how would it be done? Then, they look at five things they're loving right now, including a reunion on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS, a strong character on GENERAL HOSPITAL and more.

You know the old saying: Opinions are like… let's go with "pet peeves." Everybody's got them. On this week's episode, Richard and Charlie discuss the problems that come with expression opinions on Twitter. From accusations of bias to the difficulties of summing up complicated thoughts in one or two sentences. Plus, we look at how the soaps shutting down due to coronavirus will impact them — and viewers — in the days and weeks ahead.

Richard and Charlie told listeners to ask us anything... and they sure did! This week, they tackle a wide variety of topics (none of which are Charlie's favorite gorilla or Richard's favorite Genoa City doctor, for a change!). Does daytime need more female headwriters? Why did THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS break up Lola and Kyle? Which GENERAL HOSPITAL character would we most like to see return as a recast? All this -- and a final question that serves as a heck of a cliffhanger -- on the latest episode of the Soaps In Depth Podcast!

This week, Soaps In Depth: The Podcast borrows a page from Soaps In Depth: The Magazine to look at five things we're loving right now… and one we're not. From THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s master manipulator to GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Mob wars, we’re looking at all four of the daytime dramas and playing favorites!

Fans wait months or even years for a major storyline to finally payoff, so it’s important that soaps deliver. Whether it’s GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Michael finally learning the truth about the baby swap or the villainous actions of DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Gabi being exposed (on her wedding day, of course), we’re looking at huge recent events and asking: Did they stick the landing? Plus… if you screw up the big moment, is it possible to turn things around with the aftermath?

In this week's edition of The Soaps In Depth Podcast, Richard and Charlie play You Win Some, You Lose Some while discussing DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ shocking cast changes, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s latest hookup, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s “two-timing” and a happy ending on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS that… really wasn’t all that happy.

The phrase “They don’t make ’em like that anymore” might well have been invented for characters like ALL MY CHILDREN’s Tad Martin. Who could forget the storyline in which the Pine Valley bad boy bedded both Liza and her mom? Today, soaps seem to think of bad boys and vixens in terms of insanity, rather than sex appeal. On this week’s show, Richard and Charlie look around the dial in an effort to figure out if himbos and vixens are gone for good… or simply in hiding!

Just like that, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Lola and Kyle called it quits. Like every other aspect of the couple’s relationship, the end felt more than a little rushed... prompting Richard and Charlie to take a look this week at the pacing of several current storylines. From THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s dithering Spencer brothers to DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Gina and Stevano and GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Mob war, they look at what’s working and what’s not… and why!

A special stand-alone episode of The Soaps In Depth Podcast, As the Page Turns is an original comedic soap opera written by Soaps In Depth editors Richard Simms and Charlie Mason, and Nick Perfetto, the podcast’s indefatigable producer. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the soap-within-the-podcast draws back the curtain on the cutthroat world of soap-opera-magazine-publishing to reveal a dark side teeming with outsized egos, uncontrollable tempers and nameless interns. As the Page Turns was recorded in the style of a classic old radio show, with the staff of Soaps In Depth playing larger-than-life versions of themselves. Well, except for Richard, whose character required no exaggeration.

The Soaps in Depth crew made an original audio drama that releases 2/3/20. Here's the trailer.

Thanks to the on-going impeachment hearings, daytime is taking a major hit, with soaps being pre-empted… in some cases just as their stories are hitting major turning points! Charlie and Richard look at how DAYS OF OUR LIVES is winning a game that the other shows aren’t even playing. Plus, find out what THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS did that neither of your hosts had ever seen before on a daytime soap. All this, plus details about next week’s show and why you won’t want to miss it!

In a matter of weeks, a good soap can stumble into a bad patch, and a soap that’s been struggling can suddenly become must-see TV. This week, Charlie and Richard look at all four daytime soaps and discuss where they are on the cycle. Which soap has made a miraculous turn-around? Which is treading water? And which do the hosts actually disagree on? Find out on this week's episode of the Soaps In Depth podcast!

This week, Richard and Charlie find themselves with a few questions about recent events on the four daytime dramas. For example… why is THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Victoria, one of the wealthiest women in Genoa City, doing her own laundry? And how does THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Forrester Creations plan to keep Zoe from filing a company-breaking lawsuit if they ever decide to fire her? Why did DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Kristen so quickly give up her latest game? And how, exactly, did GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Nikolas marry Ava, given that legally, he’s both dead and wed… to Hayden! All this and more as we look at things that make us go… Hmmmm.

What recent scene on The Young & The Restless left Richard and Charlie channeling Valerie Cherish? (And if you don't know who Valerie Cherish is, run to YouTube… you’ll thank us later!) And what did Charlie decide he’d rather see instead? Find out in this week’s episode, as your hosts turn their attention to current storylines on all four of the current daytime dramas, and offer up suggestions on how to turn them into must-see TV.

As the one-year anniversary of the podcast rapidly approaches, Richard and Charlie look back on the past 12 months to discuss the soapy highs and lows. Which show made the biggest move? Which storyline payoff was a homerun? Which much-maligned character should have been given a bigger break? And which storyline did just about eveyone love? Find out on this week’s episode!

On this week’s episode, Richard and Charlie dared to say, “ask us anything… ” and listeners took them up on it! From cross-soap love stories to all-time favorite characters, the hosts (with an assist from producer Nick Perfetto) share a few secrets and a lot of laughs