soap opera

noun3

1. •
   A radio or television serial, typically broadcast in the afternoon or evening, about the lives of melodramatic characters, which are often filled with strong emotions, highly dramatic situations and suspense.

   • It also followed the very successful long-running soap opera, Neighbours. — 2014
2. •
   Such serials in general.
3. •
   Any story that is like a soap opera, as by being convoluted or melodramatic.

   • Salal invented some soap opera about a mystery informant, and Meg sold it to the cops. — 1989