Soap opera Soap opera A soap opera is an ongoing drama serial on television or radio, featuring the lives of many characters and their emotional relationships. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas being sponsored by soap manufacturers. BBC Radio's "The Archers", first broadcast in 1950, is the world’s longest-running radio soap opera; the world's longest-running television soap opera is "Coronation Street", first broadcast on ITV in 1960. The first serial considered to be a "soap opera" was "Painted Dreams", which debuted on October 20, 1930 on Chicago radio station WGN. Early radio series such as "Painted Dreams" were broadcast in
Soap opera led by Academy Award nominees Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, the drama premiered to high ratings. The show is strongly influenced by other works such as William Shakespeare's "King Lear", James Goldman's "The Lion in Winter" and the 1980s soap opera "Dynasty". Also in 2015, E! introduced "The Royals", a series following the life and drama of a fictional English Royal family, which was also inspired by "Dynasty" (even featuring Joan Collins as the Queen's mother). In addition, ABC debuted a primetime soap opera "Blood & Oil", following a young couple looking to make money off the modern-day Williston