The Soap Opera Encyclopedia (Waggett book)

{{For|the 1985 reference book of the same name by Christopher Schemering|The Soap Opera Encyclopedia (Schemering book)}}

{{Infobox book

| name = The Soap Opera Encyclopedia

| image = SoapOperaEncyclopedia1997.jpg

| caption = US 1st edition cover

| author = Gerard J. Waggett

| cover_artist =

| country = United States

| language = English

| subject = Soap operas

| publisher = HarperPaperbacks

| release_date = November 1997

| media_type = Print (paperback)

| pages = 644

| isbn = 0-061-01157-6

}}

The Soap Opera Encyclopedia is a 1997 reference book by Gerard J. Waggett which assembles comprehensive information about American daytime soap operas.

The Soap Opera Encyclopedia features commentary, analysis and criticism of every American daytime soap opera that had aired prior to the book's publication. It also discusses background, significant storylines and impact of each program, and lists performers and characters.{{cite book|last=Waggett|first=Gerard J.|title=The Soap Opera Encyclopedia|publisher=HarperPaperbacks|date=November 1997|isbn=0-061-01157-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/soapoperaencyclo00wagg}}

Waggett includes "The Soap Opera 100," his look at "Daytime's 100 Most Noteworthy Actors, Writers, and Producers."{{cite book |last=Waggett |date=1997 |chapter=The Soap Opera 100 |title=Soap Opera Encyclopedia |url=https://archive.org/details/soapoperaencyclo00wagg |url-access=registration |pages=[https://archive.org/details/soapoperaencyclo00wagg/page/429 429–500]|publisher=HarperPaperbacks |isbn=9780061011573 }} The book also gives overviews and background for the Daytime Emmy Awards and Soap Opera Digest Awards, and lists nominees and winners.{{cite book |last=Waggett |date=1997 |chapter=The Daytime Emmy Awards |title=Soap Opera Encyclopedia |url=https://archive.org/details/soapoperaencyclo00wagg |url-access=registration |pages=[https://archive.org/details/soapoperaencyclo00wagg/page/501 501–572]|publisher=HarperPaperbacks |isbn=9780061011573 }}{{cite book |last=Waggett |date=1997 |chapter=The Soap Opera Digest Awards |title=Soap Opera Encyclopedia |url=https://archive.org/details/soapoperaencyclo00wagg |url-access=registration |pages=[https://archive.org/details/soapoperaencyclo00wagg/page/573 573–623]|publisher=HarperPaperbacks |isbn=9780061011573 }} Finally, the book lists US daytime soap opera ratings from 1952 through 1997.{{cite book |last=Waggett |date=1997 |chapter=Soap Opera Nielsen Ratings |title=Soap Opera Encyclopedia |url=https://archive.org/details/soapoperaencyclo00wagg |url-access=registration |pages=[https://archive.org/details/soapoperaencyclo00wagg/page/625 625–642]|publisher=HarperPaperbacks |isbn=9780061011573 }}