Less Drama on Soaps

Re “Despite Efforts, Soap Operas Lose Ground” (by David Bauder, July 31):

As a young actor, I cut my teeth on the now-defunct soap “Search for Tomorrow” (as did some other thesps such as Jill Clayburgh, Robert Mandan, Olympia Dukakis).No other genre represents such a cross-section of artists, whether it’s 50-year veteran Mary Stuart (“Guiding Light”), young Christopher Walken, Susan Sullivan, Christopher Reeve and Dustin Hoffman, stars past their supposed prime like Dame Judith Anderson (“Santa Barbara”) and Joan Crawford (“Love of Life”) or behind-the-camera folks like John Whitesell, Harding LeMay and Agnes Nixon. So what’s wrong with today’s soaps and why are people turning off in record numbers?

I doubt it has anything to do with a young demographic hungering for the fantasy of a “Passions” or uber-reality of a “Big Brother.” It has to do with the lack of simple, compelling drama that made serials so exciting right from their radio days. MTV’s “Real World” (co-created by former soap exec Mary Ellis Bunim) has never lost that core component.

No talking doll, silicone goddess nor cheesy special effects can take the place of good old-fashioned storytelling! (Remember your grandmother referring to them as her “stories”? Duh!)

NELSON ASPEN

Los Angeles

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The reason telenovelas are so popular is not because of a burgeoning Latino population but simply because they are so much better. They have class, style, a great story line, good character development, wonderful acting. They focus on the story, love and romance, as opposed to meaningless bedroom musical chairs.

The production and costume design in the “period” telenovelas are also of the highest artistic quality. And need I mention the great-looking heroes and heroines?

F. SPIWAK

Tarzana