Hollywood. 1955. Faced with two inexperienced actors, a film director encourages the leading lady and leading man to fall in love in real life so as to provide the heat needed for the inner film's romance, which enrages the actress' possessive gangster boyfriend, who happens to be the film's financier.

This ABC/PEOPLE television special highlights the impact of the soap opera. In today's shifting television landscape, "The Story of Soaps" traces how female creators migrated from radio to television to become the dominant force in daytime for more than three decades. Today, the legacy of the soap opera continues all over prime time and reality t.v. An extensive look is taken at this iconic, impactful genre.

The special celebrates the 40th anniversary of the beloved sitcom and features interviews with the series creator Susan Harris, executive producer Tony Thomas, original writers, and superfans like Kelly Ripa, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Mario Lopez. It explores the show's enduring appeal and lasting influence on pop culture.