Name game
SNAPS to the nameless, faceless people who come up with the oft-hysterical names of soap operas.
From the adjective-driven Passions (e.tv, 4.40pm) to the descriptive The Bold and the Beautiful (SABC1, 6pm) and The Young and the Restless (e.tv, 5.30pm), the name of a soap opera not only provides a convenient, one-glance look at the contents, but must also be catchy enough for fans to throw out the odd, “So, did you catch (insert name here) last night?” when discussing the previous night’s viewing among similarly addicted soapie lovers. It’s no surprise the lengthy Days of Our Lives (SABC1, 5.10pm) is simply Days to the savvy fan.
And then there are the local soaps. I am a long-time fan of Isidingo (SABC3, 6.30pm) but I have always wondered why there is “The Need” tagged on to the end of the name. The need for what?
Scandal (e.tv, 7.30pm) is self-explanatory but I wonder if the scriptwriters feel pressured to ensure the storyline lives up to its obvious name. If a couple were getting along swimmingly, would there be an obligation to toss in some skeletons so those watching the soap for the first time can link the title to the dramas facing the cast?
What about a location-based name like Sewende Laan (SABC2, 6.30pm)? It’s direct and effective, leaving no room for doubt over where the action takes place. For a double whammy of family fun and strong indications that a soap will stick around for years to come, a simply succinct Generations (SABC1, 8pm) will suffice.
It must be a heavy burden to bear to be the one who signs off a soap opera name. With no guarantees that the audience will “get” it, the task can’t be as easy, or as much fun, as it looks.
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