50 YEARS OF SOAPS: AN ALL-STAR CELEBRATION” (CBS 10/27/94)

The greatest moments of daytime drama remembered. Join over 150 past and present daytime stars as they salute an extraordinary half-century of soap opera history. Hosts include Peter Bergman, Robin Strasser and Kristian Alfonso. Appearing: Ellen Fulton; soap matriarchs Frances Reid and Helen Wagner; A. Martinez; Kim Zimmer; Victoria Wyndham; and Jacklyn Zeman. Former on-screen couples include Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes (who became offscreen spouses), George Reinholt and Jacqueline Courtney, John McCook and Jamie Lynn Bauer, Mary Stuart and Larry Haines, and Jonathan Frid and Lara Parker (Dark Shadows’ demonic duo).

Agnes Nixon, Bill Bell and the late Ima Phillips are honored in film tributes to creators of daytime serials, once known as “sob stories,” “suffering sagas,” “washboard weepers” and ultimately “soap operas,” after soap manufacturers became major sponsors.

The gala also includes a salute to brides, with daytime stars modeling their characters’ original wedding gowns; a look at soap-opera bloopers; clips of romances and weddings, villains and vixens; and segments on social relevance in this soaps, enduring families, and American serials televised around the world. (Analog, 120 min with original network commercials)