Hooked on Soaps by Paula Todd is an article that attempts to explain the allure of daytime television dramas.
             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 lines include the network management's positions on volatile political subjects.
             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.
             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.
             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.
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