The 2022-2023 broadcast television season officially kicked off on Monday, September 19 with the return of all-new episodes of some of television’s most-watched and most-social programming, including “The Voice,” “NCIS,” “9-1-1,” “FBI: Most Wanted,” “Abbott Elementary,” and “Law & Order: SVU,” to name a few. So, when do/did the daytime soaps have their season premieres? Let’s find out!
Note: There’s some spoilers ahead.
Daytime soaps haven’t traditionally gone by “seasons” as they are the only genre to air new episodes every weekday all year round with limited exceptions. However, in recent years, the broadcast networks have quietly promoted new seasons of each series similar to their primetime counterparts. As an example, CBS recently noted new seasons of “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “Let’s Make a Deal,” “The Price is Right” and “The Young and the Restless” would premiere this month. The game shows launched their recent seasons on Monday, September 19, and the two soaps premiere their new seasons this week.
Although the idea makes sense for “Let’s Make a Deal” and “The Price is Right” since the two take lengthy breaks from taping and can air reruns throughout the summer without lapsed viewers realizing they’ve potentially already seen an episode, the network’s daytime soaps aren’t able to take breaks, even on some major holidays, since they tape roughly 250 all-new episodes year round and must air said episodes in chronological order.
Photo by Howard Wise/JPI Studios
With reruns not faring too well in the ratings, daytime soaps don’t have to share schedule space with other programs outside of extraordinary events such as breaking news or sports coverage. Thus, when “The Bold and the Beautiful” launches Season 36 on Monday, September 26, it would appear as just another episode to viewers of the L.A.-based soap since they only had the weekend to wait to find out what happens next. On the other hand, fans of primetime shows will have had to wait months between seasons to answer such queries.
To entice viewers behind the idea of premiere week for their dramas, CBS is kicking off “B&B’s” new season with a crossover episode featuring Melody Thomas Scott appearing as her Nikki Newman character from “The Young and the Restless” as she meets up with her old friend Eric Forrester (John McCook). While the two catch up and discuss an original Forrester design that’s to be worn by Nikki’s granddaughter, Summer (Alison Lanier), Nikki’s real reason for being in town is to meet up with Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan) with the hope she’ll get what she needs to take down Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters). In addition to McCook and Kanan, look for Scott to share scenes with Annika Noelle (Hope Logan) and Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy Forrester). There’s also a certain someone lurking in the shadows during Nikki’s meeting with Deacon that’ll make the crossover event the more enticing for longtime viewers of both dramas. The show will air its 9000th episode in April 2023.
The Young and the Restless
Courtesy of CBS
On Friday, September 30, “The Young and the Restless” kicks off its 50th season with Nikki back in town from her Los Angeles visit with the information she learned from Deacon, hoping it helps her and Phyllis’ (Michelle Stafford) plan and Diane encounters a surprise visitor. Meanwhile, Victor (Eric Braeden) has sound advice to share with his daughter, Victoria (Amelia Henle). The show will build off its classic storylines all season long, with the return of several fan favorites intertwined with intrigue and family drama featuring the show’s iconic characters. Former “One Life to Live” actor Trevor St. John (ex-Victor Lord, Jr./ex-Todd Manning) makes his debut as a yet-to-be-named character. He debuts Wednesday, September 28. In March 2023, the daytime drama series will air a special 50th-anniversary episode.
“Days of our Lives” suddenly moved to streaming service Peacock after 57 seasons on broadcast network NBC. With the show filming nearly eight months ahead, there wasn’t much time to promote the move, but the new season still kicked off on schedule (Monday, September 19) with big revelations, particularly in the “Who Killed Abigail?” storyline — it was explained that Clyde Weston (James Read) had done the deed. On Tuesday, September 27, viewers will find out what happened the night she was killed when Chad (Billy Flynn) confronts his wife’s killer.
Courtesy of ABC
Before segueing into its 60th season (September 12), “General Hospital” kicked off a new serial killer storyline, the show’s first since 2013 when Stephen Clay (Michael Easton, currently appearing as Hamilton Finn) terrorized Port Charles. With two victims under their belt, one of whom died last week, a third victim of “The Hook” will be attacked this week, leaving many in Port Charles questioning everything. The following week, yet another victim will be attacked. In April 2023, the daytime drama series will air a special 60th-anniversary episode.
What follows is a recap of the season premiere dates for the four daytime soaps:
- “General Hospital” (ABC) – Season 60 (Monday, September 12)
- “Days of our Lives” (Peacock) – Season 58 (Monday, September 19)
- “The Bold and the Beautiful” (CBS) – Season 36 (Monday, September 26)
- “The Young and the Restless” (CBS) – Season 50 (Friday, September 30)
