Complete series cast summary: | |||
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 4 episodes, 1982 | |
Bob Hastings | ... | Skit Performer 4 episodes, 1982 | |
Jack Kruschen | ... | Skit Performer 4 episodes, 1982 | |
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William Lanteau | ... | Skit Performer 4 episodes, 1982 |
Gary Owens | ... | Skit Performer 4 episodes, 1982 | |
Rick Williamson | ... | Skit Performer 3 episodes, 1982 | |
The third-generation owner of a seedy hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey copes with various problems, including the regular residents.
This show appeared in what we may now call a "golden" period for network television. in the early 1980s, for whatever reason, the commercial networks seemed willing to take chances on dicey shows, even airing programs with admittedly no chance of commercial survival.
It was in this atmosphere that "Live from Studio 8H" aired on NBC--a program featuring classical music performances from the studio where Arturo Toscanini once conducted live concerts. And, over on ABC, a "limited-run" series called "Police Squad" cracked us up for six episodes, then was gone. During this period "No Soap, Radio" also aired on ABC, enjoying only a brief run.
"No Soap, Radio" was evidently never intended to succeed. One may suppose that the "doomed" shows of the 80s were aired to lend prestige to the networks which carried them. In any case, "No Soap" was a funny show and brought some wonderful talent back to television, notably Bill Dana, who had been one of the Sixties' stars of the medium.
The humor on "No Soap" was decidedly out of the mainstream. Many folks would (and did) turn the channel when confronted with it. But the show was funny, and appealed to the same type of humor connoisseur who worshiped "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (which, by the way, was a hit).
So, "No Soap, Radio" is an unjustly neglected show. The talent involved with it alone should have made it a hit, but it was never meant to be. The commercial networks in those days were willing to put these shows on the air, but not to stand by them or promote them. A couple of years after this show, "Buffalo Bill" and "Domestic Life" met the same fate on NBC.