Soaps are making a huge comeback. 2025 could be the year of storytelling. Beyond The Gates premiered in February with promising ratings. Also, people can’t stop buzzing about scripted dramas like The White Lotus and Severance because of their compelling storytelling. Now, a new soap opera in the works is shaking up the genre.
Going Old-School
This is good news for those who can’t get enough soap operas and storytelling. Michael Fairman teased big news on X, formerly Twitter. A new soap opera titled Montecito is in the works. But there’s a twist. It will be streamed in an old-school format.
Since the 1960s, other soaps have used the audio format. Old Cove, Tomorrow’s a New Day, Heritage, and the award-winning audio drama series Forever and a Day are a few of them. The last series features an impressive ensemble cast including Jonelle Allen, Tonja Walker, Amelia Marshall, Lauren B Martin, John Driscoll, Frank Dicopolous, Dorell Anthony, and others, effectively reviving the audio soap opera genre.
“EXCLUSIVE: ‘Montecito,’ a New Audio Soap Opera Featuring Daytime Favorites Set to Make Its Debut,” Fairman teased. The cast photo featured Crystal Chappell, Mike Manning, Rick Hearst, Peter Porte, Emme Rylan, Kelly Thiebaud, and Vincent Irizarry.
Those are just some of the soap opera greats who will appear on the soap. Hearst will serve as the show’s announcer. The first two episodes will premiere on Tuesday, April 22. New episodes will drop every Tuesday through the middle of June. The soap is available to stream via Apple Podcasts and the Montecito YouTube Channel.
New Era of Soaps
Montecito marks the first return to the old-school format. Soap operas started out on radio before the invention of the television. This harkens back to an era when people craved storytelling. In a time when true crime and procedural dramas trend on social media, this is needed. Also, it ushers in a new era of soap operas.
“Soaps began 95 years ago on the radio. We’ve seen the genre expand and contract over the years, but there’s new life with the premiere of CBS’s Beyond The Gates being the first new daytime drama in 25 years. Montecito brings the genre back to its original form as a premium audio serial. We’ve cast the show with daytime TV favorites and are proud to bring in new voices as well,” series creator Grant Rutter said in a statement to Michael Fairman TV.
Of course, there are many seedy people in Montecito. But what makes this series compelling is that these characters are complex. They toy the line between good and bad. However, there are few details about the soap’s plot. The teaser will drop on Tuesday, April 15th. You can learn more about the new series on Facebook and YouTube. What are your thoughts on Montecito? Let us know in the comment section.
Check out the trailer below.
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