h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

While "technically" this is defined as "sports entertainment" it shares the basics of a soap opera: Each show is different, the scripting tends toward the overly dramatic, camera work isn't always the best and the characters solve their problems in wacky, unbelievable ways.

The big differences are the reasons why I love watching WWF (World Wrestling Federation) rather than a regular soap opera. Pregnacies and kissy face actions are pretty much nonexistant; the characters have silly, dramatic names like "Kane", "The Undertaker" and "The Rock"; and problems are solved with huge, muscly, mostly disrobed men (I am female, by the way) flinging one another about the ring in ways that would make an olympic gymnast faint.

I also have a great deal of respect for what the performers put their bodies through, as I had asperations when I was younger and trained for six months. Believe me it hurts. And not just a little. After dislocating everything, a few concussions and fingers sprained so badly they resembled purple sausages, I decided to call it quits.