Soaps, as most people call them, are chalk full of unrealistic situations, most being too sensational to entertain any thoughts of being remotely real. That doesn't stop tens of millions of Americans and Canadians from tuning in religiously each day.

You will never witness someone using a washroom, blowing their nose, or doing anything that a real person would do; that would be boring television. Instead, these mundane but necessary parts of life are left out and story lines are centered around the most unbelievable circumstances imaginable.

What makes these fantasies so appealing to the general public? Todd believes it may have something to do with the impossibility of stories that involve the most beautiful people with the best wardrobes.

Not everyone has the time to watch every day but it's possible to catch up on the happenings once a month. Some people never miss a show and border on obsessive. These people tend to insist they're not addicted but in fact are no different from the faithful sitcom watcher.

Todd says that it's possible that the loyalty of millions could be exploited easily when story li

Todd theorizes that the catharsis enjoyed by viewers when they tune in can be compared to the way ancient Romans felt when watching gladiators battle for their lives in the Coliseum. Says a Winnipeg nursing supervisor," When I watch some of the horrendous tangles these people get into I think, 'Hey, I didn't have such a bad day after all.'"

Apparently the once hallowed territory of the busy housewife is now shared with all kinds of people, including men. It is reported that about one third of viewers are men.

Psychologists' opinions, of what began as a radio show in the 30's, vary from necessary to disdain. Dr. Daniel Cappon, a therapist and professor at York University says, "People get hooked on soaps because they live on the razor's edge of an artificial present." While Dr. Bram Goldwater, psychology professor at UVIC says, "People are interested in other people, in what happens in their lives and how they handle it."

There are about a dozen soaps that occupy the airwaves from noon to five and a few at night as well. VCR's are the weapon of choice among career people who can't be home during soap hours but will watch hours of them at night.

One woman from Toronto actually named her two children after soap stars and would have imaginary conversations with others, hoping for a character to talk with her.

Todd writes that soaps are testing grounds for ordinary folk to gauge their responses to difficult situat

Some common words found in the essay are:
Americans Canadians, Jeanne Cooper, Pat Staton, William Bell, UVIC People, Marques Toronto, Paula Todd, Coliseum Winnipeg, University People, Daniel Cappon, story lines, soap stars, hooked soaps, people soaps,
Approximate Word count = 964
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)