Afternoon Delight: Why Soaps Still Matter

Forget everything you've heard about the daytime soap opera going the way of the old Betamax tapes that were used to record them. The style and influence of the afternoon serial resonate in every existing dramatic entertainment and reality show, as the soaps continue to engross and entertain millions of viewers around the world every single day. In Afternoon Delight: Why Soaps Still Matter, author and veteran soap expert Carolyn Hinsey brings a unique passion and perspective to the genre, having covered daytime television for more than twenty years. In this enthralling new work, she shares all the dirt, dish, and drama that make soaps great from what happens on-set to what makes it on-air, from backstage drama to back room dealings, and all the sensational soapy scandal from the daytime bedroom to the network boardroom.

Filled with fascinating anecdotes, celebrity contributions, insider analyses, and a true fan's perspective; Afternoon Delight: Why Soaps Still Matter vividly makes the case that daily dramas still serve up a delicious dish of programming with a purpose. Where are we now? The #1 soap "The Young and the Restless," currently has over 4 million viewers every day (take that, Jon Stewart!). "As The World Turns" went off the air in Sept. 2010 with a higher rating than "Mad Men." Clearly, there is enormous interest in the still-surviving daytime soaps and a desire for them to thrive for another 50 years. Soap operas have blazed a trail across television that continues to be relevant in our homes and in our lives to this day; to millions of loyal viewers there is no doubt that you can still find plenty of love in the afternoon!