About ten years ago, the website We Love Soaps compiled (https://boards.soapoperanetwork.com/topic/42388-all-25-biggest-blunders-in-daytime-soap-history/) a list of what they considered (http://daytimeroyaltyonline.com/we-love-soaps-25-biggest-blunders-in-daytime-soap--t11142.html) to be the top 25 biggest blunders (https://www.welovesoaps.net/2011/09/25blunders.html) in daytime soap opera history.

All of them, really, but my top choice would be the introduction of focus groups and trying to appeal to the younger demographic, which has not done any good and instead alienated long-time viewers, resulting in most of the soaps being cancelled and the remaining few on life-support...

Frankie Frame being killed on AW......That made me so mad.

Canceling All My Children

Losing "The Edge of Night" because network affiliates time shifted it to delayed airings in poor time slots. Out of all of the soaps Edge had consistently brilliant mysteries especially with Henry Slesar. The change of writers made the show too different too quickly. If any soap would work today it would be "Edge", I could really see it as a weekly night-time soap on a streaming service, but I suppose they wouldn't need to buy the title, especially with so many of the cast long deceased.

A close second is ABC abruptly canceling "Dark Shadows" without trying new writers. That show could handle the sudden change since it time jumped constantly.

Third I'd say changing Guiding Light into something that resembled home video filmed in parks and parking lots.

Port Charles jumped the shark when it became a three month story arc type of soap opera and added something else to the title (i.e., Tainted Love).

Port Charles jumped the shark when it became a three month story arc type of soap opera and added something else to the title (i.e., Tainted Love).

I was able to see Tainted Love and Tempted reruns on SoapNet back in the day. I don't think it jumped the shark during those. If anything, it added more interest for new viewers to watch. I like soaps that have an ending in sight for a storyline keeping it moving at a steady pace. Look at Passions. They kept the story of Gwen revealing Ethan's paternity framing Theresa going for the whole 8 years of the show's run. It was finally revealed in the last episode. If they just keep stories dragging for so long, viewers will dump it.