Just under a year since the final weekly print edition of Soap Opera Digest was published, soap fans were in for a surprise when fall previews for “Days of our Lives,” “General Hospital” and “The Young and the Restless” began circulating online in recent weeks from what was alleged to have come from the now specially produced full-sized edition of the magazine.
Since the first preview guide was released in late August on X (formerly Twitter), and shared across message boards and other social media platforms, Soap Opera Network has confirmed that no such fall preview guide exists, either from a print edition of Soap Opera Digest or the still active online website.
The first fake preview guide released presented a breakdown of what’s coming up in Genoa City as outlined by “The Young and the Restless” executive producer/head writer, Josh Griffith. It was followed by an alleged guide outlined by “Days of our Lives” executive producer Ken Corday, with one for “General Hospital” popping up soon after. All three guides created debate among fans, who were either thrilled by what was highlighted, or outraged by what was not.
“BIG FYI – these are fake! Someone with too much time on their hands put together fact [sic] SOD Fall previews. SOD is only available online & no previews were included in the special edition they just put out,” noted X (formerly Twitter) user @SoapJenn on Friday, September 13 after “General Hospital” fans were in an uproar over what was alleged to be the fall preview for their favorite soap.
Despite the fall preview guides being fake, it appears that at least some of the information might have been real, with some of the previews lifted from a recent article published by TV Insider, which is the only reputable outlet to have published a fall preview guide for the four remaining daytime dramas, including “The Bold and the Beautiful.” You can read those previews, here.
Since ceasing to publish weekly print editions in November 2023, Soap Opera Digest has finally started to make good on its plan to release special print issues at least four times a year, with at least two special full-size editions now on sale, including “The Ultimate Young & Restless Guide” (display until 10/14/24) and “Soaps’ 50 Great Couples” (display until 12/16/24), which can be purchased online at the Magazine Store, a magazine distribution site owned by Digest publisher a360media. You can also grab your copies at your local newsstand, where available.
To be clear, neither special editions, which sees Carolyn Hinsey and Mark McGarry as editors, include fall preview guides for the four daytime dramas.