When life’s too short

OF course, we’ve all had favorite shows that, when canceled, filled us with outrage [“Loyal Propositions,” by Robert Lloyd, May 20]. I remember when CBS canceled “Beauty and the Beast” -- I didn’t watch anything on CBS until “CSI” started! “B&B;” ended in 1990 and “CSI” started in 2000, so we’re talking about a 10-year boycott. And believe me, I didn’t miss a thing.

What intrigues, and could start quite a debate, is: Why is it that soap operas stay on the air for 20 or 30 years and, like the Energizer bunny, just keep going -- and going and going -- but other genres on TV can’t even last a season without getting canceled?

Curiouser and curiouser -- I’m sure your readers could come up with lots of answers.

DAYLE VICKERY

Orange Park, Fla.