"Soul Man" (1997) TV series 1997-1998

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Don Scardino

Writers:

Pat Dougherty (writer)
Elliot Shoenman (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

15 April 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

Mike Weber is a widowed Episcopal priest who must cope with (among other things) his four children, his obstreperous parishioners in Royal Oak...

Plot Keywords:

Family Relationships | Sitcom | Clergy | Church | Spin Off

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Kevin Sheridan	...	Kenny Weber (25 episodes, 1997-1998)
Dan Aykroyd	...	Rev. Mike Weber (12 episodes, 1997-1998)
Dakin Matthews	...	Bishop Peter Jerome (11 episodes, 1997-1998)
Courtney Chase	...	Meredith Weber (11 episodes, 1997-1998)
Brendon Ryan Barrett	...	Andy Weber (11 episodes, 1997-1998)
Spencer Breslin	...	Fred Weber (11 episodes, 1997-1998)

Also Known As:

"Father's Day" (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Kaufman Astoria Studios - 3412 36th Street, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Touchstone Television

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Stories Behind the Making of 'The Blues Brothers' (1998) (V)

This was a badly wasted opportunity

What happened to Dan Aykroyd? He once played characters on Saturday Night Live and his various hit movies that would make fun of shows like this. Perhaps he just has lost his form. Whereas SNL was vibrant biting and angry this show is slow predictable and nothing to brag about. But the show could have been so much more. Dan Aykroyd as a minister this should have been overflowing with satire and Aykroyd should have hammed it up as much as possible.

Instead we got this show, which tried so hard to be another run of the mill family sitcom. ABC had a lot of faith in this one as they put this show in some of its best time slots around Home Improvement when it was one of the most popular shows on television. I can't believe Dan Aykroyd would do this. It was just not enough. For a man that is so versatile and talented I do not know how he could possibly do something like this.

It wasn't a bad show the problem is from someone so talented you would expect something to be brilliant and not something so routine. Perhaps this was the wrong kind of show for Aykroyd to do. Perhaps he should have played a salesman of something like his many characters did in SNL. Well the star of this show has backed off of a lot of his busy career. And why shouldn't he? The man is a legendary comedian and he isn't in need of money so he can afford to do bad shows like this. Here's to you Dan he we are waiting for Ghostbusters 3.