Superhero Added to Daytime Soap Opera
It looks like there will be a Sci-Fi element arriving on the daytime soaps this week. The popular CBS daytime soap, 'Guiding Light', is partnering with Marvel Comics on a episode where one of the GL characters gets superpowers. The episode, "She's a Marvel", will air on Wednesday, November 1st.
The story is pretty simple - girl gets zapped by an electrical current, girl gets superpowers. That's really not important, unless you get to stay home and watch GL each day. I know my TiVo couldn't keep up with soaps, with the amount of shows that I already watch!
There are two items that are important to glean from this story. First, Marvel's entertainment division is going strong. The introduction of a superhero into a soap opera is brilliant, as that viewership stereotypically will bring the kids to Marvel's next blockbuster movie. Their business model is getting good reviews and they have several high profile movies ('Iron Man', 'Spiderman 3', 'Fantastic Four 2') in the pipeline.
Second, the introduction of a superhero into a mainstream soap opera like 'Guiding Light' shows the acceptance that 'fantastic' elements have among the general TV viewership. Coupled with the success of 'Heroes', Jericho and 'Lost', I suspect many network executives are taking note that Sci-Fi and Fantasy programming is a viable vehicle. If they are, it would mean additional Sci-Fi shows for the 2007 season. At least, that's my take.
