ABC, People Magazine Present New Primetime Soap Opera Documentary

There have been plenty of supercouple pairings in the world of soaps over the years. Here’s a new one: ABC and PEOPLE magazine have partnered to produce a TV special that every soap opera fan is going to want to see!

Celebrating The Soap Opera

The special is titled The Story of Soaps and it examines the iconic impact that the soap opera genre has had on audiences and society. An all-star panel of experts, actors, writers, producers, and other soap opera professionals will weigh in on the daytime serial genre throughout the special.

According to ABC: “The Story of Soaps traces how female creators migrated from radio to television to become the dominant force in daytime for more than three decades.

“Today, that legacy is alive and well all over prime time and reality, and much of what propels modern television traces its roots back to those first sprawling, steamy storylines. The Story of Soaps takes an extensive look at this iconic, impactful genre and the cultural phenomenon its massive impact has had on the world at large.”

The list of soap opera talent participating in this special is impressive. In addition to Andy Cohen (Watch What Happens Live), who can be seen in the teaser below, the list of talent includes (but is not limited to): Alec Baldwin (ex-Billy, The Doctors), Bryan Cranston (ex-Doug, Loving), Carol Burnett (ex-Verla, All My Children), Donna Mills (ex-Madeline, General Hospital; ex-Abby, Knots Landing), Deidre Hall (Marlena, Days of Our Lives), Chandra Wilson (Miranda, Grey’s Anatomy), Denise Richards (Shauna, The Bold and the Beautiful), Genie Francis (Laura, GH), Drake Hogestyn (John, DAYS), Erika Slezak (ex-Viki, One Life to Live), John McCook (Eric, BB), and Susan Sullivan (ex-Lenore, Another World; ex-Maggie, Falcon Crest).

Writers and producers will be featured in this special, too. There will archival footage of late AMC and OLTL creator Agnes Nixon; Bradley Bell, executive producer/head writer, BB; Desperate Housewives creator/executive producer Marc Cherry; Yahne Smith, creator, Harlem Queen; and Lorraine Broderick (writer, AMC; DAYS).

Other personnel from the soap opera genre featured in this special include Emmy-winning GH casting director Mark Teschner and Joyce Becker and Allan Sugarman, co-founders of Soap Opera Festivals Inc.

Check a teaser below of the upcoming soap special. ABC and PEOPLE have previously partnered on programs about Princess Diana and the British royal family. The Story of Soaps airs Tuesday, May 19 from 8 to 10 p.m. ET on ABC.