Before the age of binge-watching and streaming platforms that know what you want to watch before you do, there was an institution known as “appointment television.” For millions, this daily ritual revolved around the dramatic, often unbelievable, but always captivating world of soap operas.
They were the daily companions that unfolded in real-time over years and sometimes even decades. Their characters felt like distant relatives, their towns felt like places we’d visited, and their cliffhangers were the talk of the office the next day. For many of us, the familiar theme music of a favorite soap opera was the soundtrack to a sick day at home from school or a lazy afternoon with Mom or Grandma.
They gave us family dynasties to root for, villains we loved to hate, and star-crossed “supercouples” whose turbulent romances became the stuff of legend. It was a powerful formula for television dominance, and the following 11 shows are the undisputed champions of the genre.
11. Neighbours
Years on Air: 1985-2022, 2023-2025
Original Network: Seven Network / Network 10 (Australia)
Total No. of Episodes: 9,363 (as of writing)
Why It Is Must-See TV: Set on the sunny, idyllic Ramsay Street in a Melbourne suburb, Neighbours was the feel-good, youth-oriented soap that became a global phenomenon, especially in the UK. It was less about corporate takeovers and more about friendships, young love, and local drama.
Beyond this, the show’s legacy as a prolific launchpad for future superstars, including Kylie Minogue, Margot Robbie, Russell Crowe, and Guy Pearce, cannot be denied. Its 2022 cancellation and fan-driven revival in 2023 proved the show’s enduring appeal, though it was cancelled again in 2025 when Amazon Freevee shut down. The last episode will air sometime in December.
10. The Bold and the Beautiful
Years on Air: 1987-Present
Original Network: CBS
Total No. of Episodes: 9,619 (as of writing)
Why It Is Must-See TV: The glitzier, more glamorous sibling to The Young and the Restless, this soap plunged viewers into the high-fashion world of the Forrester family. At its heart is the seemingly unbreakable, yet perpetually broken, love triangle between Brooke Logan, Ridge Forrester, and Taylor Hayes.
Famous for its on-location shoots in exotic locales and a storyline pace that moved faster than its contemporaries, B&B remains one of the most-watched soaps in the world. CBS renewing the show in April for not one, not two, but three entire new seasons goes to show that even in our streaming-saturated era, there’s still an appetite for good old-fashioned melodrama served with a side of haute couture.
9. EastEnders
Years on Air: 1985-Present
Original Network: BBC One
Total No. of Episodes: 7,223 (as of writing)
Why It Is Must-See TV: If *Coronation Street* was the heart of the North, EastEnders is the gritty, dramatic soul of London’s East End. Centered around Albert Square and the iconic Queen Vic pub, the show never shies away from tough, socially relevant storylines.
Famous for its “duff duff” cliffhanger drumbeat, its explosive Christmas Day episodes are a British television tradition, often packed with more drama than a holiday dinner with the in-laws. EastEnders celebrated its 40th Anniversary Week back in February (17th-20th) of this year, so it’s safe to say the show is here to stay for the foreseeable future.
8. One Life to Live
Years on Air: 1968-2013
Original Network: ABC/The OnLine Network
Total No. of Episodes: 11,136
Why It Was Must-See TV: While other soaps whispered about social issues, One Life to Live shouted them from the rooftops. Creator Agnes Nixon was determined to blend high-stakes drama with social consciousness. The show is widely remembered for its groundbreaking storylines, most notably Victoria Lord’s struggle with dissociative identity disorder, which introduced viewers to her multiple personalities, like Niki Smith.
Set in the fictional Philadelphia suburb of Llanview, it was a complex and daring show that respected its audience’s intelligence. Its cancellation on network television prompted such a passionate fan outcry that it led to a brief, innovative revival online, a final testament to its powerful bond with viewers.
7. All My Children
Years on Air: 1970-2011, 2013
Original Network: ABC/The OnLine Network
Total No. of Episodes: 10,755
Why It Was Must-See TV: Two words: Erica Kane. Portrayed by the indomitable Susan Lucci, Erica was the beautiful, tempestuous, and endlessly watchable anti-heroine of Pine Valley. Her performance was amplified by a sprawling ensemble cast that expertly played the lovers, rivals, and family members caught in her dramatic orbit. Her story, from rebellious teenager to media mogul, was the vibrant core of the show for over 40 years.
While AMC was known for its progressive plots, its most famous story was off-screen: Lucci’s incredible streak of 18 Emmy nominations before her historic win in 1999, which earned one of the longest standing ovations in TV history. When ABC pulled the plug, devoted fans refused to let Pine Valley die — sparking a passionate online revival through Prospect Park’s platform. But production ceased after 43 episodes as the economics of digital soap opera proved too challenging.
6. Coronation Street
Years on Air: 1960-Present
Original Network: ITV
Total No. of Episodes: 11,670 (as of writing)
Why It Is Must-See TV: The world’s longest-running television soap opera, still in production, “Corrie” is less a TV show and more a British cultural institution. Set in the working-class, cobblestoned town of Weatherfield, its strength has always been its focus on community life and its blend of kitchen-sink drama with genuinely witty Northern humour.
From the legendary Rovers Return Inn and the sharp-tongued matriarchs holding court in the corner shop to Ken Barlow’s record-breaking tenure as the only remaining original character since 1960, Coronation Street has witnessed decades of British social change through the lens of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances.
5. The Young and the Restless
Years on Air: 1973-Present
Original Network: CBS
Total No. of Episodes: 13,297 (as of writing)
Why It Is Must-See TV: Known for its lush production values, cinematic style, and one of the most iconic theme songs in television history (“Nadia’s Theme”), Y&R brought a different kind of sophisticated glamour to daytime TV. Created by William J. Bell, the show switched up soap opera storytelling by slowing down the pace to focus on character development and emotional nuance, earning it the nickname “the beautiful show.”
The series is set in the fictional Genoa City, Wisconsin, and is dominated by epic corporate and family feuds between the established “old money” Abbotts—founders of the successful Jabot Cosmetics empire—and the ruthless “new money” Newmans, led by self-made patriarch Victor Newman (Eric Braeden).
Y&R once conquered daytime TV with a 32-year streak as America’s #1 soap opera (broken in 2020), launching careers for stars like Michelle Stafford, Joshua Morrow, and Sharon Case, while serving as a breeding ground for future Hollywood talent.
4. As the World Turns
Years on Air: 1956-2010
Original Network: CBS
Total No. of Episodes: 13,858
Why It Was Must-See TV: For over 20 years, As the World Turns was the most-watched daytime drama in America. Created by Irna Phillips, the “Queen of Soaps,” this series was revolutionary for its time, pioneering the 30-minute soap opera format and focusing on the psychological and emotional turmoil of its characters rather than relying solely on sensational plot twists.
Set in the fictional midwestern town of Oakdale, this “slow burn” soap built beloved multigenerational families over its remarkable 54-year run. At its heart were matriarch Nancy Hughes and her son, Dr. Bob Hughes, whose presence provided the show’s moral compass and emotional anchor. Known for its intimate character studies and realistic storytelling approach, ATWT launched countless careers and became a training ground for future stars, including Meg Ryan, Julianne Moore, and James Earl Jones.
3. Days of Our Lives
Years on Air: 1965-Present
Original Network: NBC / Peacock
Total No. of Episodes: 15,227 (as of writing)
Why It Is Must-See TV: “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.” That iconic opening, spoken by the late Macdonald Carey, has been a daily signal for drama for nearly 60 years. Created by Ted and Betty Corday, this saga is the ultimate showcase for soap opera’s most audacious storytelling by fearlessly blending timeless romance with supernatural storylines.
Set in the town of Salem, the show has given us everything from timeless romance with supercouples Bo & Hope and John & Marlena to some of the wildest plots ever conceived, including Dr. Marlena Evans’ infamous demonic possession. It also successfully navigated the changing TV landscape by making a landmark move from network television to the streaming service Peacock in 2022, proving that even after nearly six decades, Salem’s residents continue to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing entertainment landscape.
2. General Hospital
Years on Air: 1963-Present
Original Network: ABC
Total No. of Episodes: 15,805 (as of writing)
Why It Is Must-See TV: The longest-running American soap opera still in production, General Hospital is a true television legend that has managed to reinvent itself across decades. While it started as a straightforward medical drama set in the fictional Port Charles, it evolved in the late ’70s into an action-adventure spectacle.
The show’s cultural peak came with the 1981 wedding of supercouple Luke Spencer and Laura Webber—a television event so monumental it drew 30 million viewers, earned coverage on the evening news, and remains the highest-rated episode in American soap opera history.
From mob wars that turned Port Charles into a veritable battleground to international espionage and sci-fi storylines to supernatural elements, GH has proven time and again that it can thrive in any era.
1. Guiding Light
Years on Air: 1952-2009 (on TV), 1937-2009 (total run)
Original Network: CBS
Total No. of Episodes: 15,762 (television run)
Why It Was Must-See TV: The undisputed champion of longevity in broadcast history, Guiding Light holds the Guinness World Record as the longest-running drama series ever produced. Before it ever graced a television screen, the show began as a 15-minute radio drama in 1937, created by Irna Phillips as a vehicle for spiritual guidance during the Great Depression. Its transition to TV in 1952 marks the beginning of a 57-year television run, bringing its total to an astounding 72 years.
Centered on the multigenerational Bauer family in the fictional town of Springfield, the show became the ultimate family saga chronicling decades of love, loss, triumph, and heartbreak. Watching Guiding Light was literally a tradition passed down from grandparents to parents to children, making its 2009 finale the true end of an era, leaving behind a legacy that will likely never be matched.