How a washed-up soap star’s suburban exile became a global television curiosity

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When a fictional soap opera star is killed off, she moves in with her sensible, homemaking sister in Ohio. This sitcom, Hope & Faith, polarized critics with its frantic energy but found a surprising afterlife in syndication across the globe, from Russia to Turkey, long after its original cancellation.

Created by Joanna Johnson, Hope & Faith premiered on ABC in September 2003. The premise was loosely inspired by Johnson’s own experiences as a cast member on The Bold and the Beautiful. The show centered on the dynamic between Faith Fairfield, a dim-witted, unemployed soap actress played by Kelly Ripa, and her sister Hope Shanowski, a grounded mother of three portrayed by Faith Ford. The series was filmed at Silvercup East in New York City and became a staple of the revived TGIF comedy block during its first two seasons.

The show’s reception was notably mixed. Critics like Phil Gallo for Variety dismissed the series as banal and derivative, while People Magazine labeled the pilot a frantic half-hour that struggled to find its footing. Conversely, Entertainment Weekly’s Ken Tucker found the show fascinating, praising the lead performances despite its loud and crass nature. By January 2006, ABC began benching the show to accommodate Dancing with the Stars, and the series was officially cancelled in May 2006 after three seasons and 73 episodes.

Despite its domestic cancellation, the show enjoyed a robust international presence. It was broadcast in countries including Australia, Ireland, Norway, and Denmark. In 2005, Turkey produced its own adaptation titled Belalı Baldız, which ran for 34 episodes. Domestically, the series found a second life through cable syndication on WE tv from 2006 to 2010. While only the first season has seen a DVD release, the show remains a curious case study in how a polarizing American sitcom can transcend its initial critical reception to find a lasting, worldwide audience.

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