Soap
1977 through 1981
A
Witt
Thomas
Harris
Production
"Confused? You won't be..."
With its outrageously open treatment of taboo subjects such as infidelity, impotence, homosexuality, racism, religion, and mental illness, Soap was, from 1977 to 1981, one of the funniest half-hours to hit American television.
Created by Susan Harris, Soap told the story of two sisters, Jessica Tate and Mary Campbell and their equally dysfunctional families. Married to compulsive adulterer and scruples-free stockbroker, Chester, Jessica Tate (a sublime performance of bewildered vagueness by Katherine Helmond), lived in a mansion in the wealthy part of Dunn's River, Connecticut. Those that lived with her were Grandpa Tate; an ex US Army Major who still thought the war was on -son Billy; who apart from anything else was abducted by a religious cult -and their black butler, Benson; whose belligerent attitude manifested itself whenever the front door-bell sounded, with the sarcastically put question, "You want me to get that?" Robert Guillame became so popular as the only one to keep a cool head in the Tate household long after everyone else had lost theirs, that he was spun off into his own successful series (Benson). For her sins, Jessica also had two grown up daughters, the flirtatious Corrine, and Eunice; who was having an affair with a married Senator.
The Campbell household lacked any semblance of sanity too. Mary was married to impotent second husband Burt (a wonderful performance of rubber-faced lunacy by Richard Mulligan), who is first accused of murdering his own son; Peter, and is later abducted by aliens! Living under their roof was Mary's own children, Jodie (future Hollywood movie star, Billy Crystal); who fought hard within his own family to be accepted as a homosexual, and Danny; who worked for a local mobster. Bert's son from a previous marriage, Bob, a ventriloquist who would make sarcastic and untimely remarks through his puppet, Chuck, joined the family later on.
Soap undoubtedly set new standards for television comedy with its brilliant ability to turn, literally on a dime, from madcap comedy to serious drama in mid-sentence. Successful both as a knowing and lovingly crafted satire on the more outrageous elements endemic in so called "legitimate" soap operas, and as a highly individual comedic entity in its own right. Due to a combination of excellent writing, first rate acting and a certain fearlessness in addressing serious issues with wit and humour, Soap more than justifies its fondly regarded position in the pantheon of truly great U.S. situation comedies.
When Soap first aired it was the most controversial show of the new TV season. The network received tens of thousands of letters against the show. Some ABC affiliates threatened to air the show or only air it late at night. Soap inspired the spin-off show "Benson" starring Robert Guillaume.
Soap premiered on September 13, 1977 and aired
1977-78 Tuesdays @ 9:30 and was the 11th rated show.
1978-79 Thursdays @ 9:30 and was rated the 19th show.
1979-80 Thursdays @ 9:30
1980-81 Thursdays @ 9:30
Soap's demise was on April 20, 1981.
After that it aired on the WB for a few years and now is on a comedy station.
The Cast
Chester Tate .............................Robert Mandan
Jessica Tate .........................Katherine Helmond
Corrine Tate (1977-1980)...................Diana Canova
Eunice Tate ..............................Jennifer Salt
Billy Tate...................................Jimmy Baio
Benson (1977-1979) ....................Robert Guillaume
The Major ..............................Arthur Peterson
Mary Dallas Campbell .....................Cathryn Damon
Burt Campbell .........................Richard Mulligan
Jodie Dallas .............................Billy Crystal
Danny Dallas ..................................Ted Wass
The Godfather (1977-1978).............Richard Libertini
Claire (1977-1978) ....................Kathryn Reynolds
Peter Campbell (1977)......................Robert Urich
Chuck/Bob Campbell..........................Jay Johnson
Dennis Phillips (1978) .....................Bob Seagren
Father Timothy Flotsky (1978-1979)..........Sal Viscuso
Carol David (1978-1981) ................Rebecca Balding
Elaine Lefkowitz (1978-1979)...............Dinah Manoff
Dutch (1978-1981).......................Donnelly Rhodes
Sally (1978-1979) ..................Caroline McWilliams
Detective Donahue (1978-1980)................John Byner
Alice (1979)..............................Randee Heller
Mrs. David (1979-1981).......................Peggy Hope
Millie (1979) ...........................Candace Azzara
Leslie Walker (1979-1981)..............Marla Pennington
Polly Dawson (1979-1981)....................Lynne Moody
Saunders (1980-1981)...................Roscoe Lee Brown
Dr. Alan Posner (1980-1981)................Allan Miller
Attorney E. Ronald Mallu (1978-1981).......Eugene Roche
Carlos "El Puerco" Valdez (1980-1981)....Gregory Sierra
Maggie Chandler (1980-1981).............Barbara Rhoades
Gwen (1980-1981)...........................Jesse WellesThe Family Tree
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