Try several years! I’ve watched DOOL off and on since I was a kid when my grandmother and mother watched. I’ve gone years between watching and then caught up within a few days when I tuned back in. Some of the actors have been playing the same character for 50 years, a lot of them for 30 or so.
I starting watching again when I retired a couple years ago. I think it’s hilarious. They recently finished the Satan possession storyline (which really wasn’t as fun as the original one in the 90s) and this week someone has returned from the dead, thanks to the resident mad scientist. This happens so often that it’s an inside joke on the show. It’s definitely not what soap operas were originally.
Anyway, the news made me sad. As much fun as it is to watch, it’s certainly not worth paying for since I’m not interested in any other content on Peacock. Apparently the show only has one more year on their current contract with NBC so this looks like they are just putting it out to pasture. Oh, well, it entertained me off and on for over 50 years. Can’t ask for much more than that from a TV show.