Long-running Soap Opera, running on CBS from 1956-1975, and on ABC from 1975 to 1984. Produced by Procter & Gamble Productions, it was the second half-hour long soap opera (premiering the same day as As the World Turns). Often referred to as Edge or EON for brevity.
Unique in that, unlike most other soaps that focused on domestic drama, Edge focused on crime and mystery elements; according to The Other Wiki, Edge was P&Gs attempt to salvage a planned daytime adaptation of Perry Mason. Its focus on crime/mystery and its late timeslot (originally scheduled at 4:30pm - hence the title) allowed it to amass a large male audience.
This show provides examples of:
- Artifact Title: The title referred to the show's original, late afternoon timeslot, which moved forward through the years - to the point that it aired at 2:30pm at the end of its run on CBS. Averted once the show moved to ABC, where it aired in the 4:00pm timeslot.
- Captain Ersatz: Mike Karr was one for Perry Mason.
- Clear My Name: Happened often, as nearly every character who went to trial was innocent of the crime.
- A Day In The Lime Light: Edge did this twice:
- In 1968, Edge devoted an entire episode to Adam Drake; the episode involved Drake (played by Donald May) delivering a closing argument during the murder trial of Julie Jamison.
- In 1976, one episode featured only Mike and Nancy Karr (Forrest Compton and Ann Flood).
- Dramatic Half-Hour: The second half hour soap on U.S. TV, premiering the same day as the first (As the World Turns).
- Happily Married: Mike and Nancy Karr for over 20 years.
- Live Episode: By necessity in the early years, Edge was produced live until 1975...about a decade after the other soaps had moved to videotape.
- Long Runner
- Soap Opera Organ Score: the last known Played Straight example: the last soap opera to be filmed live and scored by an organ accompanist rather than prerecorded and supplied with a more conventional recorded score.
- Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome: Notably, inverted on Nicole Travis. She originated on the show in 1968, played by Maeve McGuire. When the character was recast in 1977 and 1981, the new actresses were 18 and 15 years younger than McGuire, respectively.
