As silly as they were, I suspect in their day they influenced some of the fashion and cosmetics and household decor markets. Who couldn't see the beautiful people and beautiful homes on those programs? I didn't watch them, but in a couple of instances I was around people who did and they took the time to explain the convoluted story lines, so on a couple I actually knew what was going on if I walked into the room.

In later years they were the way some people probably were introduced to topical issues; the Susan Lucci character apparently went through a lot of events that had to do with laws and attitudes. Abortion, a gay daughter character, etc.

I won't miss them, I never paid attention, but I suspect that whatever comes on won't be nearly so satisfying to the viewers who will miss, as my great aunt Mabel used to call them, "their stories." (Mabel loved General Hospital.)

SRS