Ranker TVList RulesVote up the best primetime soap operas to have ever aired on television
Soap operas have been a staple of the television world since they first gained traction in the 1950s. However, it wasn’t until the 80s that the primetime soap was born. While a daytime soap airs every weekday and are usually targeted to an audience of bored housewives and college students, primetime soaps only air once a week, during primetime hours. Primetime soaps also target a wider audience, so they tend to be more realistic. However, they still retain the drama and shocking plot twists that make soap operas so appealing. This list of the best primetime soap operas to ever air on television has been voted on and ranked by the community.
In the 80s, primetime soaps were all the rage, with "Dallas," "Dynasty, and "Knots Landing" as topics of conversation and can't miss viewing for every TV lover. When something exciting happened on one of these shows, such as the shooting of JR, everybody knew about it.
Although the primetime soap died out for a few years, it reemerged once again when "Desperate Housewives" became a huge hit. Since then primetime soaps have continued to entertain television fans.
What are the best primetime soap operas in the history of television? Vote up the all time best primetime soaps below and see where the soap operas you love to watch rank.
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377152Dallas
Larry Hagman, Ken KerchevalPremiered: 1978
Dallas is a long-running American prime time television soap opera that aired from April 2,... more2
382163Dynasty
John Forsythe, Linda EvansPremiered: 1981
Dynasty (ABC, 1981) is an American prime time television soap opera created by Richard and... more3
299139Knots Landing
Michele Lee, Ted ShackelfordPremiered: 1979
Knots Landing is an American primetime television soap opera that aired from December 27, 1979... more4
263130Melrose Place
Heather Locklear, Andrew ShuePremiered: 1992
Melrose Place is an American primetime soap opera that aired on Fox from July 8, 1992 to May... more5
231110Falcon Crest
Jane Wyman, Lorenzo LamasPremiered: 1981
Falcon Crest is an American primetime television soap opera which aired on the CBS network for... more6
264147Desperate Housewives
Teri Hatcher, Felicity HuffmanPremiered: 2004
Desperate Housewives (ABC, 2004) is an American mystery comedy-drama television series created... more7
209128Beverly Hills, 90210
Jason Priestley, Shannen DohertyPremiered: 1990
Beverly Hills, 90210 (Fox, 1990) is an American teen drama television series created by Darren... more8
171133Revenge
Emily VanCamp, Madeleine StowePremiered: 2011
Revenge (ABC, 2011) is an American drama television series created by Mike Kelley, inspired by... more9
130104The Colbys
Charlton Heston, Barbara StanwyckPremiered: 1985
The Colbys is an American prime time soap opera, which originally aired on ABC from November... more10
11399Brothers and Sisters
Mary Crosby, William WindomPremiered: 2006
Brothers and Sisters is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from January to April 1979. The... more11
5538Devious Maids
Ana Ortiz, Dania RamirezPremiered: 2012
Devious Maids is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry, produced... more12
146140Grey's Anatomy
Ellen Pompeo, Justin ChambersPremiered: 2005
Grey's Anatomy (ABC, 2005) is an American medical soap opera television series created by... more13
113106Peyton Place
Mia Farrow, Leslie NielsenPremiered: 1964
Peyton Place is an American prime-time soap opera which aired on ABC in half-hour episodes... more14
5945Twin Peaks
Kyle MacLachlan, Russ TamblynPremiered: 1990
Twin Peaks (ABC, 1990) is an American mystery horror drama television series created by Mark... more15
130130The O.C.
Mischa Barton, Adam BrodyPremiered: 2003
The O.C. (Fox, 2003) is an American teen drama television series created by Josh Schwartz. A... more16
115114Melrose Place
Heather Locklear, Andrew ShuePremiered: 2009
Melrose Place is an American television drama series broadcast on The CW from September 8,... more17
7064Dirty Sexy Money
Peter Krause, Donald SutherlandPremiered: 2007
Dirty Sexy Money is an American prime time drama series created by Craig Wright. It ran on ABC... more18
123125Gossip Girl
Blake Lively, Leighton MeesterPremiered: 2007
Gossip Girl (The CW, 2007) is an American teen drama television series created by Josh... more19
8886Flamingo Road
Mark Harmon, Morgan FairchildPremiered: 1980
Flamingo Road is an American prime time soap opera that aired on NBC. It was first seen as a... more20
7977Models Inc.
Carrie-Anne Moss, Garcelle BeauvaisPremiered: 1994
Models Inc. is an American prime time soap opera that aired on the Fox television network... more21
4947Hotel
James Brolin, Anne BaxterPremiered: 1983
Hotel is an American prime time drama series which aired on ABC from September 21, 1983, to... more22
8493Nashville
Connie Britton, Clare BowenPremiered: 2012
Nashville (ABC, 2012) is an American musical drama television series created by Callie Khouri.... more23
104119Scandal
Kerry Washington, Henry Ian CusickPremiered: 2012
Scandal (ABC, 2012) is an American political thriller television series created by Shonda... more24
7484Central Park West
Raquel Welch, John BarrowmanPremiered: 1995
Central Park West is an American prime time television soap opera that ran from September 1995... more25
96113One Tree Hill
Chad Michael Murray, James LaffertyPremiered: 2003
One Tree Hill (The WB, 2003) is an American drama television series created by Mark Schwahn.... more
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