It is interesting that no US soap anywhere (not even the newest one) is seriously trying for this kind of young cohort anymore. I guess Days comes closest, but not really. Why did they give up on next gen? Because that group will never watch soaps again? Even so, you need them to sustain the shows.
I would say anybody under 40 they're not watching soaps they're watching The Housewives Love & Hip Hop Jersey Shore Married to Medicine Love Island especially Black viewers they're Not watching Y&R GH Days they may be watching Beyond the Gates it's closer to the Love & Hip Hop Housewives Genre
Because I've asked I have extended family in their 40s they don't watch soaps at all my sisters age group 45 -50 they're not watching soaps either they're still watching the Housewives Jersey Shore Married to Medicine Reality TV Tubi Netfix Lifetime
BTG at least has different tiers of characters 20s 30's 40s prob 70s a couple of Teenagers they're actually telling stories that younger Black people can relate to 2 lgbtq couples Active Villains Healthcare workers characters hav a Niteclub Shady cops & they Actually show people Working #BTG
Yes we are kind of probably the last generation to actively really watch soaps they're more into reality TV so maybe that's why they're not investing in them
The other issue is US writers try to “write young” and it comes across as inauthentic. And then there’s the talent pool…
1) They’re not watching linear like that. These show skew OLD. 2) younger viewers tend to like stories featuring older characters 3) if you see whose watching on TikTok are 20 something Black women and I’ve never heard a complaint about lack of teen stories
I would add 4) the available pool of young talent is *vastly* diminished with so many more choices and opportunities — a Sarah Gellar or a Josh Duhamel or an Anne Heche would take the soap route thirty years ago to break into the business, but now would likely take the Netflix/streamer path.
I also think there’s something to be said about having had soaps shoot in NYC and access to a broader range of talent.
It's clear how powerful the UK acting programs are in terms of nurturing young talent that is good from day one on soaps.
Yes! Between EE & ED there aren’t many teens that have made me cringe watching their acting
ED had a high cringe factor, but they've gotten rid of most that problematic group or backburnered them. (And they got rid of one who *could* act, sigh)
Yes agreed
Absolutely