Soap Opera Digest VS. Soap Opera Weekly

I'm going to reveal another of my deepest, darkest secrets. I love soap operas. I admit it and I'm not ashamed of the fact. There is no need for soap opera snobs to attempt to convert me. I love my soaps and I'm sticking with them.

However, with my busy life, I don't usually get to watch my favorite soaps on television with any kind of frequency. Sometimes I remember to record them and sometimes other things simply get in the way. Therefore, I often have to rely on soap related magazines to fill me in on what I have missed. My two favorite are Soap Opera Weekly and Soap Opera Digest.

Both publications are weekly magazines. They have a lot of similarities, but also have some differences.

Soap Opera Digest is a half-size publication measuring approximately 5" by 7". It averages around 100 pages per publication. Each issue has current topics and articles of interest but also has certain sections that repeat every week. Information contained in the digest includes:

Late Breaking News that provides up-to-date information on hot shows and stars;
Comings and Goings that outlines which stars are coming to shows, leaving shows, or re-signing with existing shows;
Record This provides information on up-coming "must see" episodes;
Star Style provides information on what stars are wearing, where they are going, and what they are doing;
Editor's Choice salutes the best in daytime for the past week and chooses a single outstanding performer;
Editor's Notes provide the magazine's editor with a forum to share her current opinions about soaps;
Previews gives a summary of the soap actions two weeks back and offers clues to what is in the works for the next week;
My Opinion gives one of the magazine's writers a chance to expound on what is and isn't working for various shows;
Hot Off the Net tallies votes regarding favorite actors, actresses, and couples;
Classic Lines shares some of the shows' best lines;
Roundup poses questions of various soap stars;
Thumbs Up and Down presents the best and the worst of current storylines;
Gossip shares all kinds of information on the stars;
Hot Shots offers the newest, hottest photos of soap stars;
Recommended List tells what the stars are reading, watching on TV, and seeing at the movies;
Scorecard keeps fans up-to-date with who got married, divorced, had babies, died, etc. on recent soap shows;
Ask Us gives fans a chance to pose questions about soap shows and stars;
Sound Off let's fans share what is on their minds; and
Mail Bag shares the type of mail there are receiving at the moment.

It also offers interviews with soap stars and information about upcoming soap events. It is a good little magazine; slickly done, well written, and beautifully laid out. It is done in a full-color, gloss paper format much like standard magazines. My favorite sections are late breaking news, comings and goings, hot off the net, classic lines, thumbs up and down, sound off and mail bag. I don't care for the editor's notes, with which I general disagree, and previews because it is so far behind.

Soap Opera Digest is more expensive than its competitor because of its format and extra pages. Information wise, however, the two are comparable. I give Soap Opera Digest four out of five stars.

Soap Opera Weekly is done more like a newspaper insert. It is still full-color, but done in newsprint rather than gloss. It measures about 9" by 11" and has roughly 100 pages. It too has standard sections that repeat from week to week as well as late-breaking news on soap operas and soap stars. Sections include:

The News provides a summary of two or three late-breaking stories of interest;
Milestones shares information about soap stars who have gotten married, had children, or are celebrating other important events;
Revolving Door shares information on new hires and fires;
Winners and Losers summarizes the past week's ups and downs;
The List shares opinions from fans;
Buzz shares late breaking information on soap star favorites;
Carolyn's Corner focuses on an interview of a fan fave;
Applause Applause rewards the work of an outstanding soap performer;
Who, Where, and Wow shares photos and summaries on what soap stars are doing;
Hit and Miss summarizes storylines that work and those that do not;
Culture Club shares what soap stars are reading and watching;
Sneak Peek shares information on what is about to happen on your favorite soaps;
Last Week summarizes the events that occurred about two weeks back;
Dress for Success shows pictures of the stars in all their glory and their clothing flops;
Style shares information on some of soap star's favorite new items;
Random Quotes shares some of the things that soap stars have said;
Public Opinion lets fans share what they think about stars, stories, and shows;
Mail Call shares information on what fans are writing;
Viewer's Choice lets fans respond to specific questions about their favorite shows;
Personal Appearances shares information on where soap stars will be appearing; and
FYI focuses on a specific fan favorite.

Like the digest, it provides interviews on the stars that fan's love, new comers, and up and coming stars. Of the two magazines - - which are very similar in nature - - I generally prefer Soap Opera Weekly over Soap Opera Digest. I like its quick, summary format and equal focus on specific shows, stars, and events. My favorite sections are the news, winners and losers, the list, hit and miss, public opinion, mail call, and FYI. There really aren't any sections in this magazine that I do not like.

Soap Opera Weekly is slightly cheaper than its competitor. However information wise, it is comparable. I give Soap Opera Weekly four and one-half out of five stars, which means it barely squeaks by its competitor.