The term TV 'OPERA' is a type of television show that combines elements of both OPERA and drama. The term is derived from the Italian word 'OPERA', which means 'work'. It typically features a story line with characters that sing their lines instead of speaking them. The most popular example of this genre is the long-running American SOAP OPERA, 'General Hospital'. The crossword solution for this term is SOAP, which stands for 'Serialized Operatic Audio Performance'.