Best American soap series

A powerful family drama about the head of a music empire whose three sons and ex-wife all battle for his throne.

Follows two of America’s wealthiest families, the Carringtons and the Colbys, as they feud for control over their fortune and their children focusing on Fallon Carrington, the daughter of billionaire Blake Carrington, and her soon-to-be stepmother, Cristal, a Hispanic woman marrying into this WASP family and America’s most powerful class.

Dawson's Creek is an American teen drama that portrays the fictional lives of a close-knit group of teenagers through high school and college.

A group of lesbian friends struggle with romance and careers in Los Angeles.

Follow the lives of a group of teenagers living in the upscale, star-studded community of Beverly Hills, California and attending the fictitious West Beverly Hills High School and, subsequently, the fictitious California University after graduation.

Felicity Porter, a sensitive and intelligent girl from the San Francisco Bay Area, decides to give up a slot at Stanford University's pre-med program to follow her long time crush to college in New York City. Things get even more complicated when she meets her dorm's resident advisor and they fall in love.

Follow the complicated dynamic between the rich and powerful Cryer family and the hired help who work in their opulent Savannah, Georgia, mansion.

The world's first mega-soap, and one of the most popular ever produced, Dallas had it all. Beautiful women, expensive cars, and men playing Monopoly with real buildings. Famous for one of the best cliffhangers in TV history, as the world asked "Who shot J.R.?" A slow-burner to begin with, Dallas hit its stride in the 2nd season, with long storylines and expert character development. Dallas ruled the airwaves in the 1980's.

Follow the lives of a group of young adults living in a brownstone apartment complex on Melrose Place, in Los Angeles, California.

Ordinary college student Paige gets her big break after auditioning for the starring role in a Hollywood blockbuster. She must now navigate her new star-studded life and the highs and lows that come with being the new It Girl in town as well as balancing her college workload.

Families, friends, enemies and lovers experience life-changing events in the large upstate New York city of Port Charles, which has a busy hospital, upscale hotel, cozy diner and dangerous waterfront frequented by the criminal underworld.

This sexy, sleek drama takes viewers into the lives of a group of husbands, wives and friends that live and love in the same middle class neighborhood. On the surface they are true-to-life, relatable people – raising children, working jobs, finding and maintaining romance - but just below the veneer of happiness, their lives are entangled by heartbreak, deceit and lies that threaten to destroy everything.

Sisters Mary Campbell and Jessica Tate lead soap-opera lives with their crazy families.

The saga of a wealthy Denver family in the oil business: Blake Carrington, the patriarch; Krystle, his former secretary and wife; his children: Adam, lost in childhood after a kidnapping; Fallon, pampered and spoiled; Steven, openly gay; and Amanda, hidden from him by his ex-wife, the conniving Alexis. Most of the show features the conflict between 2 large corporations, Blake's Denver Carrington and Alexis' ColbyCo.

"Like sands through the hourglass... so are the Days of our Lives." These words, spoken by late cast member Macdonald Carey, open every episode of this daytime drama, chronicaling the trials and tribulations of the citizens of the fictional city of Salem.

The rivalries, romances, hopes and fears of the residents of the fictional Midwestern metropolis, Genoa City. The lives and loves of a wide variety of characters mingle through the generations, dominated by the Newman, Abbott, Baldwin and Winters families.

Dark Shadows is an American gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966, to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements. It was unprecedented in daytime television when ghosts were introduced about six months after it began. The series became hugely popular when vampire Barnabas Collins appeared a year into its run. Dark Shadows also featured werewolves, zombies, man-made monsters, witches, warlocks, time travel, and a parallel universe. A small company of actors each played many roles; indeed, as actors came and went, some characters were played by more than one actor. Major writers besides Art Wallace included Malcolm Marmorstein, Sam Hall, Gordon Russell, and Violet Welles.

A series of supernatural events begins in a small coastal New Jersey town after the arrival of a mysterious teenage girl, who apparently has the ability to influence the people and events around her.

Chicago Hope is an American medical drama television series, created by David E. Kelley. It ran on CBS from September 18, 1994, to May 4, 2000. The series is set in a fictional private charity hospital in Chicago, Illinois.

Continuing drama combining romance and intrigue set against the glittering backdrop of Beverly Hills and the American fashion industry.

Set in the 1990s, these are the life and times of Amado Carrillo Fuentes, a man who became the head of the Juárez cartel. Nicknamed “El Señor de los Cielos” (Lord of the Skies) because of the large fleet of airplanes he used to transport drugs, he was also known for washing more than $200 million through Colombia to finance his huge fleet. He is described as the most powerful drug trafficker of his time.

Falcon Crest is an American primetime television soap opera which aired on the CBS network for nine seasons, from December 4, 1981 to May 17, 1990. A total of 227 episodes were produced. The series revolves around the feuding factions of the wealthy Gioberti/Channing family in the Californian wine industry. Jane Wyman starred as Angela Channing, the tyrannical matriarch of the Falcon Crest Winery, alongside Robert Foxworth as Chase Gioberti, Angela's nephew who returns to Falcon Crest following the death of his father. The series was set in the fictitious Tuscany Valley northeast of San Francisco.

The domestic adventures, misdeeds and everyday interactions of five families living on a cul-de-sac in a small California community.

Estranged and out-of-touch, four women in their 40s reunite for a chance to recapture their fame and regain the swagger they had as the Nasty Bitches—their ‘90s group that made them legends in the hip-hop world.

The kidnapping of her son unleashes a storm in Nuria García's life who, in the most difficult moment, meets Santiago Zepeda; together, they find redemption in the face of adversity.

A powerful and prestigious family reigns over a posh gated community with juicy secrets and scandals waiting to be uncovered.

Based on the best-selling 1969 novel by Irwin Shaw, the series follows the divergent career courses of the impoverished German American Jordache brothers.

Loren (Brittany Underwood) a smart, shy and independent high school senior who has ambitions of being a songwriter, secretly sends her song lyrics to her celebrity crush, rock superstar Eddie Duran (Cody Longo). Loren's wildest dreams come true when she not only wins a songwriting competition sponsored by Eddie, but strikes up a friendship with her idol. Eddie sees beyond Loren's potential as a songwriter and gives her a first break as a singer, and when the truth about his less-than-faithful girlfriend Chloe (Melissa Ordway) is revealed, Eddie and Loren's friendship blossoms.

Set on horse ranches around Houston, Texas, this Spanish-language telenovela covers the three Gallardo brothers' search for vengeance against the wealthy del Junco family, following the mysterious death of their rodeo-riding sister. The brothers soon become aware of the three beautiful del Junco daughters, and entanglements ensue...

Sunset Beach was a short-running American television soap opera, first broadcast in the United States on NBC on January 6, 1997, and last airing on December 31, 1999. The show followed the loves and lives of the people living in a fictional coastal city named Sunset Beach, on the coast of California. The show was co-produced by NBC and Spelling Television. It aired in over 70 countries around the world. Sunset Beach won two Daytime Emmy Awards and was nominated another 11 times. The show also received 22 nominations for various other awards.

The story surrounds the life and adventures of Grachi, a teenage girl, who must learn to use her recently discovered magical powers while facing the new school, the boys, the other witches, and growing up like any teenager.

Passions follows the lives and loves, and various romantic and paranormal adventures of the residents of Harmony. Storylines center around the interactions among members of its multi-racial core families as well as the supernatural including town witch Tabitha Lenox.

Dark Shadows is a primetime television series which aired on NBC from January to March 1991. A re-imagining of the 1966–1971 ABC daytime gothic soap opera Dark Shadows, the revival was developed by Dan Curtis, creator of the original series.

Hotel is an American prime time drama series which aired on ABC from September 21, 1983 to May 5, 1988 in the timeslot following Dynasty. Based on Arthur Hailey's 1965 novel of the same name, the series was produced by Aaron Spelling and set in the elegant and fictitious St. Gregory Hotel in San Francisco. Establishing shots of the hotel were filmed in front of The Fairmont San Francisco atop the Nob Hill neighborhood. Episodes followed the activities of passing guests, as well as the personal and professional lives of the hotel staff.

A story of revenge and ambition, seduction and betrayal; all told from the perspective of an offended and abused woman named Altagracia. Altagracia represents the hundreds of thousands of Mexican women who have been victims of the violence by faceless men who are protected by impunity. But Altagracia, transformed into a strong-willed, ruthless man-eater known as La Doña, will seek out each and every one of these men to bring them to justice.

Every weekday at noon, Maxine, Mo, Heather, Kibby, and Nina—hosts of The Lunch Hour, the long-running women’s talk show—gather around the table to discuss life, love, politics, and juicy gossip. But behind the scenes, it’s even juicier — a backstage world filled with power struggles, diva fits, and steamy affairs. Inspired by the book “Satan’s Sisters” by Star Jones, television personality, lawyer and journalist.

This "show-within-a-show" comedy from Darren Star takes a satirical look at the action behind the scenes of a teen prime-time soap. It centers on the on and off-camera antics of five actors who star in a fictional high school drama called Grosse Pointe

Lace is an American television miniseries, based on the novel of the same name by author Shirley Conran. The plot concerns the search by sex symbol Lili for her natural mother, who surrendered her for adoption as a newborn. The miniseries is infamous for the line "Which one of you bitches is my mother?" spoken by Lili, when she finally assembles the three potential candidates.

Ana Lucía, Ana Leticia and Ana Laura are identical triplets with very different personalities. After a terrible accident, Ana Lucía disappears but the blood ties will unite their lives in an unexpected way.

In the fictional town of Fernwood, Ohio, suburban housewife Mary Hartman seeks the kind of domestic perfection promised by Reader’s Digest and TV commercials. Instead she finds herself suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune: mass murders, low-flying airplanes and waxy yellow buildup on her kitchen floor.

The Colbys is an American prime time soap opera, which originally aired on ABC from November 20, 1985 to March 26, 1987. Produced by Aaron Spelling, it was a spin-off of Dynasty, which had been the highest rated series for the 1984–1985 U.S. television season. The Colbys revolved around another wealthy, upper-class family, who were distant relatives of the Carringtons of Dynasty and who owned a large multi-national corporation. Intended to surpass its predecessor in opulence, the series' producers were handed an immensely high budget for the era and cast a handful of well-known movie stars among its leads, including Charlton Heston, Barbara Stanwyck, Katharine Ross and Ricardo Montalban. However, The Colbys was ultimately a ratings disappointment, and was canceled after two seasons.

Spanish telenovela based on Johnston McCulley's characters. Don Diego Dela Vega, adopts the secret identity of Zorro. Diego born in the 1790s to a white father, Don Alejandro Dela Vega, and his wife, Native American warrior named Toypurnia. Diego learned his acrobatics and fencing skills in Spain, under a great swordmaster, than he returned to his family's California hacienda. He lives as both a nobleman and a vigilante, fighting imperialist oppression. He is backed by the brotherhood of Zorro, a secret society called the Knights of the Broken Thorn. Zorro falls in love with a beautiful young widow, Esmeralda Sánchez de Moncada. She arrives in California with her sister Mariángel Sánchez de Moncada and her father, Fernando, the newly appointed governor—and villainous dictator—of Los Angeles. The story arc focuses on mysteries concerning Esmeralda's long-lost mother and the man whose atrocities changed Diego's life forever. Their resolution threatens to shake the Spanish Empire.

Balancing college and a secret nightlife, Marcella becomes dancer Sin to support her family. When her brother's best friend Ben unknowingly becomes her client, an intense attraction forms. She must juggle family, Ben, and her double life.

Trapped in the Closet on the Independent Film Channel (IFC), starring Grammy-winner R. Kelly as Sylvester, is one of the most unusual creative endeavors in recent history. Originally aired in 2005 and 2007 as a series of 22 short videos, Trapped in the Closet is now available in its entirety. Perhaps the first R&B operetta artist ever, R. Kelly takes us through a musical soap opera of the lives of Sylvester, his wife Gwendolyn (Cat Wilson), and an ever-increasing circle of community members connected in some way to the couple. Sometimes comic, sometimes tragic, there are surprises at every turn. While maintaining a single melody and rhyme scheme throughout, R. Kelly masterfully weaves a tale of love and deceit, complete with cut scenes, dream sequences, and flashbacks. To add to the fun, Kelly plays several roles himself, including a narrator in an angelic white suit, a holy roller preacher, and an unrepentant pimp.

Savannah is an American prime time television drama that ran from January 21, 1996 to February 24, 1997 on The WB. It was created by Constance M. Burge and produced by Aaron Spelling.

The decades-old, risk-taking soap centers around Erica Kane and her long line of husbands.

Talented designer Ana Velázquez arrives at Velvet and falls in love with Alberto Márquez, heir to the company, but their love must overcome many intrigues, including a marriage of convenience.

Tex is released from prison and enters the new world where he enters a journey of finding himself. Tex Brown is the story of the character Tex from the series About Him, 15 years after. He is a prison inmate serving time for attempted murder when he lashed out on a gay basher and almost kills him. Tex is a dark soul and is very disconnected with the world because of his past. His life changes when he is released from prison on a new program and has to transition to becoming a law abiding citizen again. Johnson is assigned to his case as a parole officer and is challenged to breakdown the walls to help him heal from his past.

Santa Barbara is an American television soap opera, first broadcast in the United States on NBC on July 30, 1984, and last aired on January 15, 1993. The show revolves around the eventful lives of the wealthy Capwell family of Santa Barbara, California. Other prominent families featured on the soap were the rival Lockridge family, and the more modest Andrade and Perkins families. Santa Barbara aired in over 40 countries around the world and is best remembered for its witty dialogue and sometimes tongue-in-cheek situations that often seemed like an affectionate parody of the genre. The show won 24 Daytime Emmy Awards and 18 Soap Opera Digest Awards among various other awards.

Angela and Samantha were best friends when they were little, but a trap of fate separated them for many years. An unmissable story of loyalty, friendship, courage and love.

Models Inc. is an American prime time soap opera that aired on the Fox television network during the 1994-1995 television season. It is the third series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise. The series was created by Charles Pratt, Jr. and Frank South, and executive produced by Aaron Spelling, Charles Pratt, Jr., Frank South, and E. Duke Vincent.

North Shore is an American prime-time soap opera It centered around the staff and guests of the fictional Grand Waimea Hotel and Resort on Oahu's North Shore in Hawaii.

The longest running show in broadcast history, Irna Phillip's The Guiding Light has captivated its viewers for well over half a century on two different mediums (Starting in radio in 1937, the show then transfered to television in 1952). Over the years, "GL" has epitomized Phillip's unique style of writing. While other shows plunged their viewers into a fantasy realm, "GL" told stories deeply rooted in everyday life, each tale an accurate portrait of society. Through its doors have passed the famous: Kevin Bacon, James Earl Jones, Wendy Moniz, Calista Flockhart, and many others. Those looking for the secret behind the show's amazing longevity need look no farther then the shows ability to adapt to fit the times. While the show has changed its focus over the years, the one overriding theme has remained the same that through family, friends, and faith, one can find hope, "light" in even the darkest of situations.

A high society woman loses everything and has to move with her three daughters, and her mom to a middle-class neighborhood.

Love ignites for the first time when a 15-year-old girl from Caracas, Venezuela falls for a heartthrob.

Followes the lives of the fictional city of Llanview for over thirty years.

Inocente de Ti is a Miami-based 130 episode telenovela that first aired on the Univision network in 2005. It features Camila Sodi, Valentino Lanús, and Helena Rojo.

The story of Captain Amalia Ortega, leader of a secret unit, whose mission is to capture the most wanted Mexican drug trafficker, putting both her profession and family's life at risk.

Over a long weekend, John & Marlena travel to Zurich, Ben & Ciara have a romantic getaway in New Orleans, Chad visits some old friends in Phoenix, and Abe, Paulina, Lani, and Eli vacation in Miami. All find themselves embroiled in a mystery involving stolen jewels which, in the wrong hands, could cause dire consequences for Salem.

Is a story about twin brothers, one rich and the other poor, who were separated at birth and reunited several years later by fate. However their polar opposite lives are switched. Through this journey they search and discover themselves.

For almost thirty-five years, 'Another World' was a much loved part of the NBC daytime lineup. Fans followed the Frame, Cory, Hudson, and many other families through trial and tribulation, pain and pleasure. Another World was the first soap to expand to an hour (then 90 minutes from March 1979-August 1980). It also was the first soap to have spin-offs (Somerset & Texas). In April of 1999, the parent company and network made a decision not to continue the program, and the show aired it's final episode in June of 1999. Although gone from the airwaves, the show will live on in the hearts of the fans. You can now relive Another World every day on SoapNet at 11:00AM and 3:00pm EST. "We do not live in this world alone, but in a thousand other worlds." Created By: Irna Phillips with William J. Bell First Broadcast: May 5, 1964 Last Broadcast: June 25, 1999 Program Type: Soap Opera Production Company: Procter and Gamble Productions Broadcast History: 3:

Bárbara Guaimarán, a young woman who grew up beautiful and happy until she suffered a painful incident, for which she decided to take revenge on all men, trying to seduce them to later take their fortune and their lands. With the arrival of Santos Luzardo, a handsome and brilliant lawyer, and his indifference to the game of seduction, a war is unleashed when Marisela, Dona Bárbara's daughter, despised by her and abandoned to the care of an alcoholic father - Lorenzo Barquero, is discovered for Santos, with whom she falls in love, which leads her to face her mother, who performs the most atrocious actions to get the love of the same man.

Angel Salvador, known as 'Devil', is a priceless jewel thief who, after leaving prison, is dedicated to theft even to pay a huge debt. But he then falls in love with Manuela Davila, his lawyer, who is ironically the girlfriend of his biological father, who years ago abandonned him and his mother.

In this drama, teenager Lily McAllister recalls the downfall of her family, the Greeleys, who have built a massive publishing empire over the course of several generations.