Network: ABC
Episodes: 85 (77 half-hours, eight hours), four seasons
Show dates:
September 13, 1977 — April 20, 1981
Show status: Cancelled/ended
Performers include:
Katherine Helmond, Robert Mandan, Cathryn Damon, Richard Mulligan, Ted Wass, Billy Crystal, Jennifer Salt, Jimmy Baio, Diana Canova, Arthur Peterson, Jay Johnson, Robert Guillaume, Donnelly Rhodes, Sal Viscuso, Rebecca Balding, Marla Pennington, John Byner, Dinah Manoff, Eugene Roche, Roscoe Lee Browne, Gordon Jump, Gregory Sierra, Nancy, Barbara Rhoades, Bob Seagren, Randee Heller, Caroline McWilliams, Inga Swenson, Jesse Welles, Allan Miller, Robert Urich, Howard Hesseman, Charles Lane, Lynne Moody, Joe Mantegna, and Rod Roddy.
Series Description:
This groundbreaking serial sitcom, created by Susan Harris, tells the story of two sisters — Jessica Tate (Katherine Helmond) and Mary Campbell (Cathryn Damon).
Naive Jessica is part of a rich family which includes her philandering husband Chester (Robert Mandan) and three children; man-crazy Corrine (Diana Conva), snotty Eunice (Jennifer Salt), and often-ignored Billy (Jimmy Baio). Jessica’s senile father, the Major (Arthur Peterson), and sarcastic butler Benson DuBois (Robert Guillaume) serve as consistent sources of humor and commentary on the crazy Tate household.
Mary lives a middle-class life with her second husband Burt (Richard Mulligan) and two sons from her first marriage; gay Jodie Dallas (Billy Crystal) and Mafia tough guy Danny Dallas (Ted Wass). One of Burt’s sons, Chuck (Jay Johnson), also lives in the Campbell house. Chuck is a ventriloquist who believes that his nasty and constant companion puppet Bob is a live person.
Later characters include convict Dutch Leitner (Donnelly Rhodes), Detective Donahue (John Byner), lawyer E. Ronald Mallu (Eugene Roche), and urbane butler Saunders (Roscoe Lee Browne). The series announcer is Rod Roddy.
What happened next?
In September 1983, over two years after the end of Soap, an episode of spin-off Benson gave viewers one last glimpse of Jessica Tate. In “God, I Need This Job,” Benson is very stressed about his job as budget director. It doesn’t help when he finds out that the Tates are trying to have still-missing Jessica declared legally dead. Moments later, his old friend appears to him in a spirit form that only he can see. Jessica tells Benson that she needs to find a way to do a good deed that will help get her into heaven. After several bungled attempts, she succeeds in a way that also alleviates Benson’s problems. As the two share a tender farewell, Jessica realizes that she’s definitely not dead but is actually in a coma somewhere in South America. She tells him not to worry because she’ll get out of it somehow, as she always does. As she “floats” out of the room, we hear the strains of Soap’s theme song one last time.
The 31st episode of That ’70s Show called “Vanstock” includes a brief tribute to Soap. During the end credits we hear Soap-like music and announcer Rod Roddy teases the audience about what will happen to the show’s characters. In the final scene, we see Chuck and Bob on the living room couch. The voice-over says “And what about Chuck and Bob? Oh wait, they’re not on this show!” Bob looks at Chuck and scolds, “See, I told you we weren’t on this show!” Chuck retorts, “Oh shut up, Bob.” The announcer ends the episode by saying, “Confused? You won’t be after the next episode of That ’70s Show!” (To hear more about this cameo, listen to the second part of our interview with Jay Johnson.)
In an interview included on the Benson Season One DVD set, executive producer Tony Thomas said, “They [Benson and Jessica] were such good friends and there was such deep care and love for each other. As Soap was winding down, I wanted Benson to come back and have a relationship with Jessica. I just believed that those two were meant for each other. She had a terrible husband, she got involved with terrible guys along the way, during the Soap series. And I just wanted to end it with Benson coming back and rescuing her from the whole thing because they were truly soulmates.”
Though the show’s ratings were still good in season four, ABC cancelled the series because of continued pressure from the so-called “moral majority.” By the end of the series, Vlasic pickles was the only advertiser interested in advertising on the series. In They’ll Never Put That on the Air, executive producer Paul Junger Witt said, “We weren’t killed by a fearful network. The network had been incredibly supportive. We had been doing this long enough to understand that they were in a business, and they sat down and showed us — dollar for dollar — why they couldn’t afford to do it anymore.”
Prior to the start of seasons two, three, and four, ABC aired 90-minute retrospective episodes that recapped where the previous season had left off. Two of the retrospectives were released on video tape in the 1990s but unfortunately, none of them are included on the DVD sets.
One of Soap’s most popular characters, sharp-tongued butler Benson, was given his own spin-off and left the series at the end of season two. He returned to Soap for a few season three episodes and Jessica Tate visited his show twice — in episodes seven and 93. Like Soap, Benson unfortunately ended with a cliffhanger. (To learn what was in store for the next season of Benson, go here.)
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Just finished it. Wished for season 5. Season 4 was the only bad season of the show. Dutch should have stayed with Corean.
I literally just finished (finally) ripping all 4 seasons of DVD’s to my computer and started a rewatch (first time sine the original airing).
I picked up dvds of Seasons 1 & 2 at a garage sale. Had to have them; I used to stay up late & watch reruns of it on the little black & white my grandparents gave to me. I loved it so much I found new dvds of seasons 3 & 4 online & bought them too! I’m crushed that the series ended the way it did!!
Soap was the best, too bad Ronnie and Nancy Reagan killed it & WKRP!
Soap is aired every Saturday morning on IFC early in the am on Verizon…5 episodes a week.. Love it
Robrt Guillaume, “hi : “, “happy birthday :”, (soap t.v. series) ” e. eighties “, a.engedi
what is the name of the theme song for soap? Who wrote it?
I remember Richard Mulligan in a series , that I thought was Soap , he died and was carried to a bar by his friends , and eventually they place him in a boat and sent him out to sea. Does anyone remember this?
Not a show but a movie. S.O.B., for standard operating bull****, from 1981.
And it was a really good movie too. Lots of 70’s era stars like Larry Hagman and Loretta Swit.
Movie called S.O.B.
Where was soap supposed to be shot
It took place in Dunn’s River, CT but was shot in Los Angeles.
Would love to see Cozi TV or MeTV pick this up!!! Really surprised neither has.
This was the best series of any comedy series on TV ever since Soap came on no one can touch all the characters in this series that were all great and funny,especially Chuck and Bob that really made this show.Susan Harris was great and had enough nerve to create this series in the late 70s and early 80s ,Susan Harris should of written a book on season 5 and season 6 and tell what happens and she would of had a best seller for a long time hope someone finishes it,if not i could write.So lets do it for the… Read more »
Doing a research paper on the ABC television show “Soap”. would appreciate information behind-the-scenes, producers roles in each manner of production, why the series was created in the first place, who was the target audience, strategies for drawing in an audience, DVD commentaries on insight into production, thank u
can you share that research paper when finished?
I ordered the l st season of soap to share with a bunch of retired old hags. After all these years it is just as brilliant and humorous as the first time we watched it. We plan a monthly meeting to view each year in the series. I just want Susan Harris to know she is an incredible geneous. Our thanks to her for giving senior citizens a good laugh.
From an ex Westchesterite.
I remember an episode where Jessica dies and “argues” with the angel at the gate, played by Bea Arthur, why she needs to return to earth. I’ve purchased the DVD set. But I don’t see this episode. What happened to it?
@Jan: That was a recap special that aired between seasons three and four. For whatever reason, the studio didn’t include the recap specials with the DVD sets. The one you’re thinking of was released on VHS many years ago and you can still find it on eBay from time to time.
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Soap – TV Series Finale
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