"No Soap, Radio" (1982) TV series

Director:

John Robins

Writers:

Les Alexander (writer)
Rich Hall (writer) (1982)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

15 April 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The third-generation owner of a seedy hotel in Atlantic City copes with various problems, including the regular residents.

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Atlantic City New Jersey

Cast

Steve Guttenberg	...	Roger (5 episodes, 1982)
Hillary B. Smith	...	Karen (5 episodes, 1982)
Bill Dana	...	Mr. Plitzky (5 episodes, 1982)
Fran Ryan	...	Mrs. Belmont (5 episodes, 1982)
Jerry Maren	...	Morris (5 episodes, 1982)
Stuart Pankin	...	Tuttle (5 episodes, 1982)
Edie McClurg	...	Marion (5 episodes, 1982)
Brett Baxter Clark	...	Skit Performer (5 episodes, 1982)
Bob Hastings	...	Skit Performer (5 episodes, 1982)
Jack Kruschen	...	Skit Performer (5 episodes, 1982)
William Lanteau	...	Skit Performer (5 episodes, 1982)
Gary Owens	...	Skit Performer (5 episodes, 1982)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

An American Monty Python?

Although this comedy only lasted a season it was probably one of American television's best attempts in creating a Monty Python type sketch comedy program.

The show was led by a young Steve Guttenberg (YES, the Steve Guttenberg who later starred in all those dreary police academy films) and a small band of Hollywood character actors. The basis of each show revolved VERY loosely on the events at a hotel in which Guttenberg worked.

NSR was not afraid to completely wander from the show's premise as with Monty Python's Flying Circus. This show would go into movie parodies or other skits completely unrelated to the main story. Like some of the best Python episodes, NSR would eventually find its way back to close its story before the episode was over.

One of the unrelated events would be a stunt by Bob "Super Dave Osborne" Einstien. The NSR skits were probably some of his best stuff (when Super Dave is limited to a few minutes, is can be quite funny), especially his most dangerous stunt of cursing at the late New York Yankees hotheaded manager, Billy Martin.

The show had some great continuing gags. One involved a reoccurring sight gag in a "Break in Case of Fire" box (more like a booth). Each week one would see everything from a live fireman to a boy scout (rubbing two sticks together) encaged in the glass booth.

NSR was a part of ABC's "Two Hours of Comedy Power' for the 1982 year. In the Tuesday night line up started with the show "Bossom Buddies" with the talented Peter Scolari and some guy named Tom Hanks (whatever happened to this guy?), No Soap Radio, and the series "Police Squad" with Leslie Nelson (which spawned three movies of the same name). The evening would end with "Mork and Mindy" in which the great Jonathan Winters joined the series in the 1981-1982 year as Mork's (Robin Williams) son, Mearth.

Considering what became of the shows and its stars, I would love to see ABC or even Comedy Central show these two hours as they originally appeared 20 years ago. All have pretty much appeared in syndication except NSR. It is about time that the most daring show of the series gets credit for attempting to be creative.