A soap opera is a type of serialized drama that is typically broadcast on television. It is characterized by melodramatic storylines, often involving a SAGA of characters and their relationships. The term 'soap opera' is derived from the fact that many of the original programs were sponsored by soap manufacturers. A sudser is another name for a soap opera, and an IMBROGLIO is a complicated and confused situation, which is often seen in soap operas. Two of the most popular soap operas are 'One Life to Live' and 'General Hospital'.