On September 15, 1964, ABC launched a programming experiment--a prime time series similar to the daytime soap operas that were so successful. Peyton Place became a fixture on the network's schedule for the next five years. The success of Dallas in the early 1980s made the prime time soap opera a staple of television programming.

From Bare Essence through The Yellow Rose, this reference work details the successes and failures of 37 prime time serials through 1993. For each show, a lengthy history covers the character development and provides production details, and season-by-season data provide start and end of the season, time slot, comprehensive cast and credits, and an episode guide.