It’s only been a little over three weeks since Donald J. Trump became President of The United States and for many, it’s felt like watching a real-life soap opera play out 24/7.
However, it’s also produced what could be considered a mini-soap (or reality TV show, some might say) each afternoon when White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes to the podium to make assertions many reporters disagree with as news comes at us like a tornado every day since this administration took office.
In fact, Spicer’s press conferences have become so popular, that Melissa McCarthy has taken to parodying them on Saturday Night Live each weekend.
But, what about the soaps? Spicer’s pressers air during the afternoon on the cable news networks, and according to the New York Times, they’re pulling in better numbers than our beloved traditional daytime dramas.
The Times reports that Spicer is pulling in an average of 4.3 million viewers, and when he speaks (and sometimes berates reporters), numbers for FOX News, CNN, and MSNBC go up by about 10%.
These numbers are beating both The Bold and the Beautiful and General Hospital, two shows that air on network TV when Spicer is on cable news.
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However, Spicer and sometimes the president, will cut into The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives, as well as B&B and GH, angering viewers who see their soaps pushed back a day.
For example, this week, Steve and Kayla’s Valentine’s Day wedding on DAYS will air on February 15 because of a presidential interruption a few weeks ago.
Just today, GH was pre-empted for a joint press conference between the president and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
With a flurry of news coming at such an accelerated pace daily, is it any wonder soaps could suffer as Americans tune in to real-life drama?
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