1.
Serialized/Open-Ended Text

Character Driven

Inspired by Woman’s Domestic Fiction of the

19th Century—Jane Austin/Emily Bronte
The Events of Every Day Life Elevated to an Operatic

Form—Heightened Melodrama
Considered a “woman’s” genre—situated on the low

rung of the culture hierarchy
Relationships/Romance /Family—Central Focus

Love Triangles, Weddings, Far-Fetched (Back from

the Dead)

2.
When a plot threatens to become

too absorbing, it is interrupted by
another storyline resuming or a
commercial break.
These shows also engage in

repetitive and monotonous
storytelling to present the
viewers with the ability to
maintain an adequate
comprehension of storylines and
character development

3.
The Guiding Light (1937)

began as radio drama
which eventually
transferred to television.
Soap Operas reached

their peak in the 1980’s.
Luke and Laura’s

Wedding on General
Hospital still remains
highest rated episode of
daytime television.

4.
In 1981, General Hospital’ s “ICE

PRINCESS” storyline generated a
large number of male viewers with
it’s action/adventure/sci-fi plot
elements.
Since the mid-90’s, the show has

become mob-centric with Sonny
Corinthos (A Tony-Soprano type
character) as its central character.
The show incorporates
action/violence in attempts to draw
a male audience. However, the
traditional soap elements override
and fail to shed the daytime soap
stigma.

5.
Prime-Time Soap Operas

prevailed in the 80’s with
Knots Landing, Dallas,
Dynasty, and Falcon Crest
becoming long-running rating
sensations.
Utilized elements of the

traditional soap opera.
In the 90’s traditional soaps

displaced themselves into the
teen soap-Beverly Hills 90210,
Dawson’s Creek

6.
HILL STREET BLUES (1981-1987)

Combined the elements of a serialized

soap opera with the police procedural
drama.
Each episode featured intertwined

storylines—some self-contained, some
open-texted.
Intertwined urban action/violence

elements(masculine driven) with
exploration of personal lives, romantic
interests, other forms of melodrama
(traditional soap opera)

7.
Utilizes the Elements of

Masculine-Driven Films
Action/Adventure/
Violence/Crime
The Sopranos (The

Godfather/Goodfellas)
24 (Die Hard/Clear and

Present Danger/Air Force
One)
The Shield (Dirty Harry)

Deadwood (Westerns)

Hill Street Blues/NYPD Blue

(French Connection/In The
Heat of the Night)

8.
Serialized—Follows criteria of complex

narrative-arcs/open-text
Protagonist exudes ultra-masculinity,

Morally ambiguous

Fleeting Moments of Sensitivity

Physically aggressive

many consume excessive amounts of alcohol or

are in recovery (ex Andy Sipowicz-alcoholic/Jack
Bauer-Heroin Addiction)
Occupations are male-dominated

Densely plotted--generally opposes the

repetitive and slow paced storytelling of the
traditional soap opera
Hyper-sexuality and male bonding overrides

romance
Unlike the traditional daytime soap opera-these

shows are generally respected by critics –many
are multiple Emmy-winners (NYPD BLUE/THE
SOPRANOS/24)

9.
Prior to 1998, NBC’s Hill Street Blues and

ABC’s NYPD Blue were the most successful
male soap operas.
Cable is responsible for the influx of a new

wave of male soap operas.
In 1997, HBO launched OZ, a year later-The

Sopranos—followed by The Wire, Deadwood,
Entourage
Showtime-Californication

FX- The Shield, Rescue Me, Sons of Anarchy.

Network-24, The West Wing, Prison Break,

Life on Mars
Subgenre—geek soap opera—Smallville,

LOST, Supernatural, Heroes, Chuck

10.
Oz (Prison Drama)

Californication (Sexualized

drama focused on amoral sex
addict)
Entourage (Bromance/amoral

Hollywood lifestyle)
The Sopranos (Mob-centric)

Deadwood (western)

The Wire (crime drama)

24 (counter-terrorism)


11.
With Male Soap Operas and

Procedurals taking
prominence, ABC decided to
reboot the traditional
prime time soap format in
2004 with an 18-34 year-old
sensibility—launching
Desperate Housewives and
(later in the season) Grey’s
Anatomy to commercial
and critical success.
Did the male soap opera

help give the female soap
opera critical
respectability?

12.
Aired on FX March 12, 2002-

November 25, 2008 (7 Seasons)
Emmy nominated

Michael Chiklis (Best Actor 2002)

The series revolves around an

experimental division of the LAPD
set up in the fictional Farmington
district (quot;the Farmquot;) of L.A.
Converted church (quot;the Barnquot;) serves

as the police station.
Strike Team (Vic Mackey, Shane

Vendrell, Curtis Lemansky (Lem),
and Ronnie Gardocki)
Cross legal and moral boundaries to

maintain justice on the streets of Los
Angeles.

13.
Rogue Police Detective—Can Be

Both Good and Bad (referred to
as “Al Capone with a Badge.”)
Rude, Sexists, Obnoxious,

Adulterer, Murderer, Liar,
Thief, Self-Serving
Divorced (3 Children-son and

daughter diagnosed with
autism)-pursues illegal money to
support his family.
In pilot episode, Vic shot fellow

cop, Terry Crowley, point blank in
the face, because Crowley was
assigned to bust Vic for being a
dirty cop. This event became the
impetus for the show’s
enormously complex series arc.

14.
When Vic discovered that Julien, one of the

cops in the squad, was gay, he threatened to
reveal the man‘s secret unless the cop decided
to give false witness in a case to protect Vic
and another dirty cop who stole some
cocaine confiscated during a drug bust.
Vic can be a good cop like -he gives a

prostitute money to get off the street for the
night and go home to see her kid. He also
protects his Strike Team (as long as his
interests are fulfilled)
Vic has a troubled marriage with his

wife, Corrine. They have a son who is autistic.
For romance outside the home, Vic carries on
an affair with fellow police officer Danielle
quot;Dannyquot; Sofer.

15.
Penultimate Episode of Season

Internal Affairs Lt .Kavanaugh (Forrest Whitaker) is determined to bring

down Vic for his crimes.
Vic and Kavanaugh have been playing game of cat and mouse

throughout the season.
As a result of Kavanaugh turning one of Vic's informants, IAD became

aware of Lem stealing heroin which he never turned in.
Having found the heroin, IAD is capable of arresting Lem, but

Kavanaugh wants him to incriminate the whole team .
Lem remains loyal to Mackey-he looks to him as a surrogate father.

Vic is worried that if Lem goes to prison, that he will be killed by one of

Vic’s nemesis—Antwon Mitchell.
Prior to this episode, Kavanuagh tried but eventually withheld from

raping Vic’s ex-wife.
Vic realizes Kavanaugh’s ex-wife is his achilles heel.


16.
Subplot—recurring investigation into a

series of hate crimes against the
homosexual community.
Romance is displaced by the

father/brother relationship Vic
possesses with his strike team.
Dialogue is extremely coarse, sexually

graphic
Sexual objectification of Kavanaugh’s

ex-wife
Danielle “Danny” is carrying Vic’s baby

Julien’s denial of his homosexuality-

extends through the entire run of the
series.