20mil were watching them and you could have a soap story or couple getting legit magazine covers. But since the late 80s that's diminished greatly.
Look at Y&R, they're the top rated soap opera and who has been influential other than characters introduced in the 80's? You're hard pressed to look at characters introduced 30-35yrs ago or less on whatever soaps that are left and find "influential characters". Same with B&B, that show is still all about Ridge, Brooke, Taylor, Eric....characters from 40yrs ago. For GH, out of the cast that's left it's Sonny, Tracy, Carly, Anna and other vets. But what's their influence? It's minimal at best at this point. I think MB was influential to a degree in the 90's to early-mid 2000s but not anymore. Same with Tracy in the 80's and 90's which was her height of influence.
Name me a character on gh that's been introduced in the last 25-30 years that you or anyone would consider influential in any way?
I compare it to sports, it's hard to compare eras because of different circumstances. 70's & 80's soaps seemed fresher. But with each passing decade, more and more recycled Story lines diminished any influence soaps once had. Those days are long gone.
