"Soap" (1977) TV series 1977-1981

Creator:

Susan Harris

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

13 September 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The soap-operish antics of two families: the Campbells and the Tates.

Plot Keywords:

Soap Opera | Alien Abduction | Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | Shell Shock | Gay Son

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Rod Roddy	...	Announcer (84 episodes, 1977-1981)
Katherine Helmond	...	Jessica Tate (82 episodes, 1977-1981)
Richard Mulligan	...	Burt Campbell (82 episodes, 1977-1981)
Cathryn Damon	...	Mary Campbell (80 episodes, 1977-1981)
Ted Wass	...	Danny Dallas (74 episodes, 1977-1981)
Billy Crystal	...	Jodie Dallas (73 episodes, 1977-1981)
Robert Mandan	...	Chester Tate (72 episodes, 1977-1981)
Jennifer Salt	...	Eunice Tate / ... (63 episodes, 1977-1981)
Jimmy Baio	...	Billy Tate (60 episodes, 1977-1981)
Diana Canova	...	Corinne Tate-Flotsky / ... (59 episodes, 1977-1980)
Arthur Peterson	...	The Major (56 episodes, 1977-1981)
Jay Johnson	...	Bob Campbell / ... (56 episodes, 1977-1981)
Robert Guillaume	...	Benson DuBois (49 episodes, 1977-1980)
Donnelly Rhodes	...	Dutch Leitner (35 episodes, 1978-1981)

Runtime:

30 min (93 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:PG (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Trivia:

The show was intended to run for only five seasons. Even if ABC renewed the series, there would only have been one more year to resolve all the cliffhangers.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the first episode, Chester Tate tells Benson he can't eat eggs as he has high cholesterol, but in several other episodes, he is clearly seen eating eggs.

Quotes:

Mary Gatling Dallas Campbell: I have one son who's about to become my daughter, another son whom people are trying to kill, I have a lunatic stepson and a dummy living in my home and a husband who won't make love to me. That's not life, that's something by Tennessee Williams!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "That '70s Show: Vanstock (#2.6)" (1999)

How can ANYONE dislike this?

This is the greatest sitcom ever made, a tremendous parody of the trashy soap operas that were all the rage when it was in production. There was topicality -homosexuality, racism, revolution, crime, and other things- and there was plenty of comedy, physical and otherwise. In particular, I think that the thing which hooked me on this program was the psychotic young ventriloquist and his dummy, which seemed at times to be more alive than some of the people! At least it was real to him! I particularly remember the scene where there is a discussion concerning a murder and the Black dummy, Bob, looks over at Benson and remarks, "I think the Black guy did it." Benson then coolly crosses the room, yanks the dummy out of Chuck's hands and throws it out a window, which sends Chuck into furious hysterics!

This is one of the very few shows from the 1970s that I can honestly say I miss. Good job, all!