A soap opera, or soap for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored by soap manufacturers. The term was preceded by "horse opera", a derogatory term for low-budget Westerns.
Growing Pains is an American television sitcom created by Neal Marlens that aired on ABC from September 24, 1985, to April 25, 1992. The show ran for seven seasons, consisting of 166 episodes. The series followed the misadventures of the Seaver family, which included psychiatrist and father Jason, journalist and mother Maggie, and their children Mike, Carol, Ben, and Chrissy.
Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera, which broadcast on Network Ten from February 27 (Melbourne) February 26 (Sydney) 1979 to December 1986 (Melbourne), though the series finale would not screen until September 1987 in Sydney, where it aired as a 3-hour film that was split into three 1-hour episodes at the much-later time-slot of 10.30pm, running eight seasons and 692 episodes. Prisoner was the first Australian series to feature a primarily female-dominated cast and carried the slogan "If you think prison is hell for a man, imagine what it would be like for woman!"
Isidingo was a South African soap opera, with dialogue mostly in English and isiXhosa. The series premiered on SABC 3 in July 1998 and was broadcast evenings on SABC 3 from Monday to Friday at 19:00. Until 2001 it was titled Isidingo: The Need.
7de Laan is a South African Afrikaans soap opera created by Danie Odendaal and produced by Danie Odendaal Productions. The series focuses on the lives of residents staying in and around the community of 7de Laan, in the suburb of Hillside. The programme's dialogue is primarily in Afrikaans and is subtitled in English with some English and Zulu dialogue in between. The street and shopfronts which are featured on the opening visuals, are that of Seventh Street in Melville, Johannesburg.
Fashion House was an American nighttime soap opera that aired at 9:00PM Eastern/8:00PM Central Monday through Saturday on MyNetworkTV stations. The series premiered on September 5, 2006, and concluded on December 5, 2006. It was produced by Twentieth Television with directors David Hogan, Alex Hennech, Jim Slocum and Jeremy Stanford.
In television programming, a limited-run series is a program with an end date and limit to the number of episodes. For instance, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' definition specifies a "program with two or more episodes with a total running time of at least 150 program minutes that tells a complete, non-recurring story, and does not have an on-going storyline and/or main characters in subsequent seasons." Limited-run series are represented in the form of telenovelas in Latin America and serials in the United Kingdom.
Daniela is a Spanish-language telenovela television series produced by the United States-based television network Telemundo and the Mexican production company Argos Comunicacion. This limited-run series ran for 120 episodes from May 6 to October 18, 2002. Daniela was aired in eleven countries around the world.
A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines tele and novela. Similar drama genres around the world include teleserye (Philippines), téléroman, and sinetron (Indonesia).
Showmax is an online subscription video on demand (SVOD) service which launched in South Africa on 19 August 2015. Its majority owner is MultiChoice, which itself is a spin-off of Naspers, owner of 30.86% stake in Tencent which owns a similar service, Tencent Video and iflix.
Thando Thabethe is a South African actress, and Radio DJ who was the presenter for the television show Thando Bares All on channel TLC and current drive time host on 947. She is Nivea's first brand ambassador in Africa. In 2019, Thando was named one of Forbes Africa's 30 Under 30. She is also the host of 947 Drive With Thando.
Nyaniso Ntsikelelo Dzedze is a South African performing artist. Born (1986) and raised in Johannesburg. The actor, dancer, choreographer, and singer is best known for his lead roles as adult Simba in Beyonce's Disney release Black Is King.
The third season of the American television series Gotham, based on characters from DC Comics related to the Batman franchise, revolves around the characters of James "Jim" Gordon and Bruce Wayne. The season is produced by Primrose Hill Productions, DC Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Television, with Bruno Heller, Danny Cannon, John Stephens, and Ken Woodruff serving as executive producers. The season included inspirations from The Dark Knight Returns, Batman: The Killing Joke, and Batman: Death of the Family.
Bontle Moloi is a South African actress, television presenter, radio personality, dancer, choreographer, singer and model. In 2015, she starred in the dance film Hear Me Move, which resulted her receiving an Africa Movie Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Khanyisile Mbau born 15 October 1985 known professionally as Khanyi Mbau, is a South African actress, musician, television presenter and socialite. Raised in Soweto, Mbau received recognition as the second Doobsie in the 1997 SABC 2 soap opera Muvhango (2004–2005); as Mbali in the SABC 1 soap opera Mzansi and SABC 1's mini-series After Nine. As of 2018, she is the host of the SABC 3 entertainment show The Scoop and The Big Secret on BET Africa, and plays Tshidi on Mzansi Magic's Abomama.
Maggie Benedict is a South African actress, writer and director. She studied acting at Pretoria Tech. Benedict is best known for playing the role of Akhona Miya on the SABC 1 soap opera Generations (2011-2014).
Thembi Seete, is a South African actress, singer, rapper, television presenter and model. She is best known as a member of former kwaito group Boom Shaka. Currently, she plays the role of "Gladys" in the Mzansi Magic telenovela Gomora.
Vinolia Mashego, popularly known as V-Mash, was a South African actress, television host, MC and entertainer. She is best known for the roles in the television serials such as Muvhango and Isibaya as well as presenting the 90s musical program Jam Alley.
Chumani Pan, is a South African actor. He is best known for the roles in the television serials such as; Ashes to Ashes, Montana,'woman king' and Shooting Stars.
Mmabatho Mogomotsi is a South African actress and script writer. She is best known for the roles in the television serials such as; Ashes to Ashes, Hillside, Ingozi, The Wild and Yizo Yizo.
