I was in a doctor’s office waiting room this afternoon, trying to keep my restless kids occupied when I heard the most extraordinary line spoken on the TV: “I’ll show that mermaid a thing or two about catching men!” Looking up at the screen, I was astonished to see something that very much resembled what we used to call in my day “a soap opera.”

At first, I thought it must be a spoof, some rerun of a “Saturday Night Live” skit. Could this really be a daytime drama? Turns out that, yes, it was indeed a soap opera called “Passions.” Evidently, this show has been on for several years now. Where have I been?

Obviously not watching soap operas.

I’m fascinated by trends in television; I believe they say a lot about a culture. And at one time, I was a soap opera junkie. In high school, I would rush home from class to catch “General Hospital” every day. It was back in the days of Frisco (pre-Melrose Place Jack Wagner) and Felicia (Kristina Malandro). In college, it was all about “Days of Our Lives” and the Bo and Hope saga. And I wasn’t the only one. My friends and classmates were all addicted too. We talked about our favorite characters’ latest trials and tribulations over lunch. But the storylines back then were all about romance and scandal. Yes, they were over-the-top and extreme, but everything that happened on the show was possible. Not probable, but possible.

Mermaids?

I did a little research and learned that “Passions” has always had fantastical storylines like this one. They’ve had talking dolls and witches too. Evidently, it’s quite successful. And “Passions” isn’t the only one. I’m told “One Life to Live” has featured UFO’s, and a now-defunct soap called “Port Charles” had a vampire. What’s going on?

Well, I have a theory. When all the TV writers threatened to go on strike a few years back, TV producers struck back by creating “reality shows” that didn’t require writing teams. The strategy actually worked, and TV has been filled with “reality” ever since. My theory is that soap operas are taking up the fantasy slack. Since “Survivor,” “American Idol,” and “Project Runway” are so rooted in real people’s quests, TV audiences need a little escapism. With little fantasy to fill our evenings, soap operas are sweeping in to give a little fantasy in the daytime.

Do mermaids, witches and vampires belong in daytime drama? Who am I to say? After all, TV is all about entertainment, right? And I gotta admit, mermaids are sure more entertaining than some of those idiots on “American Idol!”