"THE STORY OF SOAPS," A TWO-HOUR TELEVISION EVENT FROM ABC AND PEOPLE, DEBUTS TUESDAY, MAY 19, AT 8:00 P.M.

Featuring Alec Baldwin, Carol Burnett, Andy Cohen, Bryan Cranston, Vivica A. Fox, Jon Hamm, Susan Lucci, Denise Richards, John Stamos, Chandra Wilson and Many More

ABC and PEOPLE present "The Story of Soaps," a two-hour prime-time television event highlighting the iconic impact of the soap opera. Featuring an incredible panel of experts and voices, "The Story of Soaps" airs TUESDAY, MAY 19 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC.

"The Story of Soaps" explores how no genre of television has laid deeper roots into our cultural consciousness and serialized storytelling than the soap opera. In today's shifting television landscape, "The Story of Soaps" traces how female creators migrated from radio to television to become the dominant force in daytime for more than three decades. Today, that legacy is alive and well all over prime time and reality, and much of what propels modern television traces its roots back to those first sprawling, steamy storylines. "The Story of Soaps" takes an extensive look at this iconic, impactful genre and the cultural phenomenon its massive impact has had on the world at large.

"The Story of Soaps" brings together an impressive company of experts and familiar voices to help illustrate this remarkable story (listed alphabetically by first name):

· Abigail De Kosnik, author

· Agnes Nixon, creator of "All My Children"

· Alec Baldwin, actor

· Allan Sugarman, co-founder of Soap Opera Festivals Inc.

· Andy Cohen, creator

· Angela Shapiro-Mathes, executive

· Brad Bell, executive director

· Bryan Cranston, actor

· Carol Burnett, actor

· Chandra Wilson, actor

· Chris Van Etten, writer

· David Jacobs, creator

· Deidre Hall, actor

· Denise Richards, actor

· Donna Mills, actor

· Drake Hogestyn, actor

· Eddie Mills, actor

· Eileen Davidson, actor and reality star

· Erika Jayne, "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"

· Erika Slezak, actor

· Finola Hughes, actor

· Genie Francis, actor

· Greg Vaughan, actor

· James H. Brown, writer

· Jill Farren Phelps, executive producer

· John Aniston, actor

· John McCook, actor

· John Stamos, actor

· Jon Hamm, actor

· Jonathan Murray, executive producer

· Joyce Becker, co-founder of Soap Opera Festivals Inc.

· Kate Coyne, editorial director, entertainment, PEOPLE

· Ken Olin, executive producer

· Krista Smith, consultant

· Laura Wright, actor

· Lorraine Broderick, head writer

· Marc Samuel, actor

· Marc Cherry, creator

· Mark Teschner, casting director

· Mary Crosby, actor

· Maurice Benard, actor

· Melody Thomas Scott, actor

· Shelly Altman, head writer

· Susan Lucci, actor

· Susan Sullivan, actor

· Vivica A. Fox, actor

· Yhane Smith, creator of "Harlem Queen"

"The Story of Soaps" marks the third time that ABC and PEOPLE have partnered on a documentary event. In August 2017, they teamed up for "The Story of Diana," a two-night prime-time event that commemorated the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana's tragic passing at 36 years old and, in August 2018, for "The Story of the Royals," a prime-time television event that documented the fascinating lives of the British royal family. "The Story of Diana" drew a combined cumulative audience of 12.7 million Total Viewers over the course of its two-night event, and "The Story of the Royals" pulled in 10.1 million viewers over the course of two nights.

"The Story of the Soaps" is produced for ABC by the television production division of Meredith Corporation with executive producers Bruce Gersh, Bruce Robertson and Dan Wakeford; and by Maggievision Productions with executive producers Maura Mandt and Rebecca Gitlitz.

About ABC Entertainment

ABC Entertainment airs compelling programming across all day parts, including "Grey's Anatomy," the longest-running medical drama in prime-time television; riveting dramas "The Good Doctor," "How to Get Away with Murder," "A Million Little Things" and "Station 19"; the Emmy(R) Award-winning "Modern Family" and trailblazing comedy favorites "American Housewife," "black-ish," "Bless This Mess," "The Conners," "The Goldbergs," and "Schooled"; the popular "Summer Fun & Games" programming block, including "Card Sharks," "Celebrity Family Feud," "Holey Moley" and "Press Your Luck"; star-making sensation "American Idol"; reality phenomenon "Shark Tank"; "The Bachelor" franchise; long-running hits "Dancing with the Stars" and "America's Funniest Home Videos"; "General Hospital," which has aired for more than 55 years on the network; and late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"; as well as the critically acclaimed hit special "Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons.'" The network also boasts some of television's most prestigious awards shows, including "The Oscars(R)," "The CMA Awards" and the "American Music Awards." ABC programming can also be viewed on demand and on?Hulu.

About PEOPLE

Meredith Corporation's PEOPLE revolutionized personality journalism when it launched as a weekly in 1974 with a mission to celebrate extraordinary people doing ordinary things and ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Ubiquitous and still at the center of pop culture more than 45 years later, the PEOPLE brand is accessible across all media and platforms (print, digital, video, OTT, mobile, social) bringing more than 100 million consumers a unique mix of breaking entertainment news, exclusive photos, video, unparalleled access to the red carpet, celebrities, and in-depth reporting on the most compelling newsmakers of our time. An essential component of PEOPLE's editorial vision remains human interest stories, which touch and often mirror the lives of our passionate audience. ComScore ranks the PEOPLE/Entertainment Weekly Digital Network No. 1 in the entertainment news category. PeopleTV, the advertiser-supported OTT streaming service from PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly that launched in 2016, features original series and specials focusing on celebrity, red carpet, pop culture, lifestyle and human-interest stories. PEOPLE is an award-winning 24/7 news organization headquartered in NYC with reporters worldwide. For more information visit PEOPLE.com and follow @people on Twitter and Instagram, @peoplemag on Facebook, and the PEOPLE channel on YouTube and on Snapchat's Discover.

ABOUT MEREDITH CORPORATION

Meredith Corporation?has been committed to service journalism for 118 years. Meredith uses multiple distribution platforms - including broadcast television, print, digital, mobile and video - to provide consumers with content they desire and to deliver the messages of its advertising and marketing partners. Meredith's National Media Group reaches over 190 million unduplicated American consumers every month, including nearly 95 percent of U.S. Millennial women. Meredith is the No. 1 magazine operator in the U.S. and owner of the largest premium content digital network for American consumers. Meredith's Local Media Group includes 17 television stations, reaching 11 percent of U.S. households.