Series synopsis
Soap is an American comedy soap drama television series that premiered on ABC on September 13, 1977. It ended on April 20, 1981. It was created by Susan Harris. It stars Katherine Helmond, Cathryn Damon, Richard Mulligan and Robert Mandan.
The antics of a wealthy family, the Tates, and a working-class family, the Campbells, in the fictional town of Dunn's River, Connecticut.
Premise
The antics of a wealthy family, the Tates, and a working-class family, the Campbells, in the fictional town of Dunn's River, Connecticut.
Premise: Soap: the TV show that made Soap Operas funny!
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Katherine Helmond as Jessica Tate
- Cathryn Damon as Mary Campbell
- Richard Mulligan as Burt Campbell
- Robert Mandan as Chester Tate
- Billy Crystal as Jodie Dallas
- Ted Wass as Danny Dallas
- Robert Guillaume as Benson
- Diana Canova as Corinne Tate
Supporting cast
- Jennifer Salt as Eunice Tate
- Jimmy Baio as Billy Tate
- Arthur Peterson as The Major
- Jay Johnson as Chuck Campbell
- Donnelly Rhodes as Dutch Leitner
- Roscoe Lee Browne as Saunders
- Jesse Welles as Gwen
- Rod Roddy as Announcer
- Marla Pennington as Leslie Walker
- Hamilton Camp
- Joshua Shelley
- Ted Shackelford
Guest cast
- Hamilton Camp
- Joshua Shelley
- Ted Shackelford
- Barbara Goodson
- Colleen Riley as Gloria
- Scott Mulhern as Roger
- Stephen Mendillo as Sheldon
- Olivia Barash as Molly
- Marianne Bunch as Pigeon
- Alan Oppenheimer as Mr. Kirby
- Ernesto Macias as Johnny Dallas (as Eric Mason)
- Richard Libertini as The Godfather
Episodes
This series spans 5 seasons with 87 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 2 | ||
| Season 1 | 25 | September 13, 1977 | March 28, 1978 |
| Season 2 | 22 | September 13, 1978 | March 15, 1979 |
| Season 3 | 22 | September 12, 1979 | March 27, 1980 |
| Season 4 | 16 | November 12, 1980 | May 25, 1981 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Creators Come Clean A twenty minute featurette focusing on the three creators and how the series came to be. They relate how they went about casting the many varied roles and what obstacles they faced in attempting to get the show on the air. The program was derided before a single episode was ever broadcast. Various religious and gay rights groups assailed the show, and it was only with support of Fred Silverman (President of ABC at the time), that the show survived and flourished for four seasons. |
|
| 2 | Encore Bonus Episode: Season 1 Pilot |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 This satirical soap opera introduces the Campbells and the Tates: two suburban families of unequal prosperity but equal lunacy and a similar zest for the foibles which make us all human. |
September 13, 1977 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 In order to leave the mob, Danny is ordered to kill his father's killer; Chester is blackmailed by his secretary; and the identity of Burt's long lost son is a shock in more ways than one. |
September 20, 1977 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Jessica fails to confess her infidelity; Mary fails to terminate Burt's impotence; and Danny learns the identity of the man he must terminate. |
September 27, 1977 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 26 Chester tries to commit suicide, Jodie moves in with Carol, Mary suspects Burt of having an affair, Mother Flotsky puts a curse on Tim and Corinne, Jessica is sentenced to 50 years for killing Peter, and Chester confesses that he's the real murderer and meets Dutch, his new cellmate. |
September 14, 1978 |
| 2 |
Episode 27 Chester and Dutch escape from prison, Carol tells Jodie that she is pregnant, and the Tates all disappear into the basement. |
September 21, 1978 |
| 3 |
Episode 28 Chester and Dutch are discovered hiding in the basement, Chuck attempts to go on a date without Bob, and Eunice and Dutch begin to really like each other. |
September 28, 1978 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 48 Burt wakes up on the spaceship. Mrs. David arrives with Jodie's daughter. Jessica chooses Chester. Danny is missing. |
September 13, 1979 |
| 2 |
Episode 49 Alien Burt has his way with Mary, and she's not complaining. Real Burt meets Saul, who tells Burt he cannot escape the spaceship. Billy resists the Sunnies' brainwashing. Mrs. David asks Jodie to choose between Wendy and Alice. Benson and ""the Step Brothers"" penetrate the Sunnies' compound but are stopped short of rescuing Billy. |
September 20, 1979 |
| 3 |
Episode 50 Billy is rescued from the Sunnies. Mary is oversexed. Danny is saved by Millie. Jodie is torn between Alice and Wendy. Jessica is sad to bid Benson farewell. |
September 27, 1979 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 70 Dr. Hill revives Jessica, who remains in a coma. Danny and Burt wake up in an adult motel. Mary is relieved to see that her baby is white. Billy dodges Leslie's bullet, which hits Saunders instead. Dutch chooses Eunice over Corinne, who announces she will be moving on soon. Jessica emerges from her coma apparently healthy and surrounded by her many suitors. After the judge learns of Carol's machinations, she awards custody of Wendy to Jodie. Carol threatens Jodie. Burt and Danny receive X-rated pictures of themselves in the motel room. |
November 12, 1980 |
| 2 |
Episode 71 Jessica tells her suitors that she is moving on with her life--without them. Burt and Danny consider responses to Tibbs' blackmail threats. Polly turns down Danny's marriage proposal, leaving him despondent. Corinne departs for a new life in California. Wendy is kidnapped. |
November 19, 1980 |
| 3 |
Episode 72 After Burt tells Jodie there's nothing the law can do to help find Wendy, Jodie takes matters into his own hands. Jessica returns home from the hospital. Eunice and Dutch announce their engagement, much to Chester's horror. Leslie continues her bumbling efforts to kill Billy. Mary receives the blackmail photos of Burt in the motel room. Jessica agrees to allow Chester to live in the poolhouse. |
November 26, 1980 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ABC |
|---|---|
| First aired | September 13, 1977 |
| Last aired | April 20, 1981 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Monday at 22:00:00 |