Poll Results: How Fans Feel About Special Soap Opera Standalone Episodes

The Young and the Restless just did a special, standalone episode to celebrate Peter Bergman’s 30th anniversary playing Jack Abbott, which is something you will often see on a soap opera.

It featured clips galore from Jack’s past — as long as the actor was still on the show (so no Gina Tognoni as Phyllis). Last year, they did the same for Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott).

Sometimes soaps might focus an episode on a dream, like Days of our Lives with its Halloween nightmare, or General Hospital with Sonny’s (Maurice Benard) ‘what if he had never become a mobster’ show. (The answer to that one is, the world would have been a terrible place and Robin would have died of AIDS, had Sonny not made the sacrifice of becoming a criminal.)

The Bold and the Beautiful has less time to play with, at a half-hour, but they took a trip to fantasy island once or twice themselves, too. Do fans enjoy this break from the regular routine? What over 4,000 had to say:

Wins By A Nose

The tiny lead of 51% gave “Yes” the advantage. It’s always fun to see old soap opera clips. And it was downright tear-jerking when YR honored the life of Kristoff St. John (Neil) after his tragic passing. Christian J. LeBlanc also won an Emmy for Michael’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” reverie years ago.

Sonny wasn’t the only one who got the ‘What If’ treatment on GH. Maxie (Kirsten Storms) wondered what things would have been like if her cousin BJ hadn’t died — and donated her heart to Maxie. That was a nice change!

Separate But Equal Soap Opera Fun

An almost equal 49% voted “no.” You want to look to the future, not wallow in the past. And you’re only interested in episodes that move the plot along. One that spins its wheels is a waste of time for everyone concerned.