Carolyn Hinsey, Editor
Soap Opera Weekly
260 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Dear Ms. Hinsey:
I have never fallen victim to the common addiction that is daytime soap operas, though I understand they provide a powerful draw. One of my literature professors at Berkeley even admitted to taping a soap daily. My curiosity was aroused today, however, by a statement that was attributed to you in a recent news story.
The show “All My Children” is set to have a character who is undergoing surgery to transform from a man into a woman. It will be a first for television and hopefully expand the awareness of the show’s viewers. You are quoted as seeing this as “desperate,” that the show’s producers are trying a bunch of new stunts to increase ratings. My question to you as someone who knows the business of soap operas very well is: how does one distinguish between a desperate attempt and, well, normal soap opera stuff? I read recently about a much-publicized reunion between the two characters Luke and Laura on “General Hospital.” Apparently her character has died and been brought back to life, and they have gone through all sorts of other situations that you don’t usually hear about while hanging around the barber shop.
I thought soap operas were famous for characters going in and out of comas and plotlines taking the most incredible twists and turns imaginable. Sex reassignment surgery seems almost tame compared to some of them. So I just wondered what stands out about it to you to call it out as desperate.
Truly,
Liz Mann
