Here are my thoughts on Afternoon Delight Why Soaps Still Matter by Carolyn Hinsey. If you haven’t read the book, there are content spoilers. I’m not giving everything away, but this summary & commentary is on the first eight chapters.
The first thing I noticed in getting the book is they used what I call the “Santa Barbara” font (though I can’t recall its real name) was used for “why soaps still matter” and the chapter titles. I wonder if that was an intentional choice. The book has sixteen chapters, plus an introduction and photo gallery. When reading this book, I wondered who it was targeted at, is it for someone like me whose followed the soaps since childhood or for someone who knows little about the genre. I think Hinsey did a good job in trying to make it accessible for the newbies without boring the rest of us.
The introduction and first chapter can be read on Amazon.com for free. It has a forward by Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Y&R) who talks about how she became a soap viewer, then it shares a story from Hinsey’s life about people skipping work to watch GH’s famous wedding between Luke and Laura. Chapter one gives a basic summary of the history of soaps, which can be read on Amazon.com for free. It starts with Irna Phillips and discusses her successes and failures with programs on radio in television. The basics about Search for Tomorrow and early As the World Turns are also explored. It ends with a mention of Irna’s firing from P&G, subsequent death and how her protégés Agnes Nixon and Bill Bell kept the genre going in the 70s and 80s.
Chapter two is called shining a light on soaps. It starts by explaining how Irna ties into the present day soaps with the exception of General Hospital. She does bios of Agnes Nixon and Bill Bell, and discusses social issues stories. Then Hinsey does a quick summary of each of the shows on the air now along with Another World, As the World Turns and Guiding Light. They are extremely brief and seem to be factually correct. She also shares a memorable story and favorite scenes. I like that as it shows her personality, but obviously I don’t agree with all of her opinions.
Chapter three is soaps 101. Ironically I think chapters 1 and 2 were soaps 101. This chapter describes things like sets, costumes, makeup, and props. The different kinds of actors from regular to extra are also mentioned along with how shows deal with pregnancies, vacations and other things that keep people off set and how they pre-tape. A few interesting examples are given like how at a Crystal Ball at AMC, one of the actresses didn’t make it in for a fitting, so while everyone else was in fancy garb, she was in a basic black dress. People gaining weight and unexpected plastic surgery making things difficult for wardrobe.
Chapter four is called Love of Life (obviously based on the old soap). This chapter goes into detail mainly with blind items (though there are quotes with Peter Reckell about how things were at times tense between him and Kristian Alfonso at Days) about actors who have to work together, but don’t get along. Sometimes it is the opposite and actors request love interests based on real world friendships. The flipside is also shown with how some real life relationships began due to the programs (whether they were introduced by co-stars or both work on the same program.) Eileen Fulton’s granny clause gets a treatment along with the 90s fight between Eric Braeden and Peter Bergman. That was so big in the day that it made Entertainment Tonight.
Chapter five is only on soap operas. This has the staples of things that happen in daytime that seldom happen in other genres of television, like SORAS and the interrupted wedding. The examples she gives in this chapter are fun and varied. Chapter six is six degrees and could be also called they were on soaps and are known outside of the genre.
Chapter seven black to the future is about stories about race in soaps. This gives examples of some famous interracial pairings and African-American couples (like AMC’s Angie and Jesse). There is also a list of famous African-Americans who were in soaps like Billy Dee Williams and James Earl Jones.
Chapter eight is gays of our lives. The major gay stories were mentioned like ATWT’s Nuke (though there is less on them), the first gay male character Hank, and One Life to Live’s Billy. Day of Compassion and the Nurses Ball (GH) from the 90s is also mentioned, but it wasn’t just an ABC thing. It was done on syndicated talk shows as well and other soaps. She also summarizes same sex stories with women. Bianca’s life on All My Children along with GL’s Olivia and Natalia are discussed. She finishes that part making a comment that female viewers may prefer watching two women than two men, as women want to fantasize about men. What is weird though is at one time in sci-fi fandom (Star Trek to be exact wish I could find the quote where I read that), it was shown more women wrote same sex male stories than men. Then she goes into OLTL’s Kyle and Fish, a couple I enjoyed as a woman. The comment I disagree with is that people who like a particular couple tend to want more especially if they watch the program for those characters. That isn’t a gay issue.
The quote that could get people angry with Hinsey I believe is that “homosexual relationships don’t lend themselves to soap opera storytelling.” Wow, really wow. The first thing she says is it is hard for them to date as there aren’t enough choices of people in a contract cast along with how can a gay character have long lost children or unwanted pregnancies. There would never be a gay version of B&B's Brooke sleeping through a family. First off, a gay male character could donate sperm or a lesbian could use an unnamed sperm donor, so surprise kids could happen if that is a concern. Also some people in this world are attracted to both sexes, and that topic is something soaps have largely ignored. A woman or man torn between two lovers, who happen to be brother and sister for example, would add another wrinkle in keeping it in the family. So yes I believe it could work, but no show is gutsy enough to go there.
So that’s my first half review of Carolyn Hinsey’s book. I’ve enjoyed reading it so far, and I’ve omitted much as over 150 pages in less than 1200 words would cause one to do. That’s also because if one wants to know everything they need to get their own copy of the book as it is still in print.
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