Soap

Soap is an iconic American sitcom that aired on ABC from 1977 to 1981. This boundary-pushing show serves a unique blend of comedy, drama, and shades of soap opera, offering a satirical commentary on society and developing an ardent fan base. Its groundbreaking content, along with its memorable characters and plotlines, has etched its place in the annals of television history. The show's main stars include Katherine Helmond, Robert Mandan, Cathryn Damon, Robert Guillaume, and Jimmy Baio, delivering riveting performances that breathed life into its provocatively intriguing plotlines.

180 episodes of Soap were produced over four seasons, each mimicking the format of a traditional soap opera with multiple ongoing storylines. The sitcom is set in the fictional town of Dunn's River, Connecticut, and details the lives and escapades of two sisters, Jessica Tate (Katherine Helmond) and Mary Campbell (Cathryn Damon), and their eccentric families.

The wealthy and naive Jessica is married to Chester (Robert Mandan), a feckless, philandering stockbroker. They have two grown children: a preppy-type son and a neurotic daughter. The family shares their opulent home with Jessica's daffy father, referred to as The Major, and Benson (Robert Guillaume), their wise-cracking and sarcastic butler who isn't afraid to voice his opinions.

In contrast, Jessica's sister Mary's blue-collar household is made up of her second husband, Burt (Richard Mulligan), her stepson, and her two sons from a previous marriage. Jodie, Mary's openly gay son, was one of the first regular gay characters in American television history.

Viewers can expect a roller coaster of extraordinary and outlandish situations, including infidelity, organized crime, abduction by aliens, mental illness, and even ventriloquism. And while the term "soap opera" often calls to mind melodramatic plot twists, "Soap" flips the script, leveraging a satirical, almost farcical style to deliver its slice-of-life narrative.

The sitcom also won plaudits for its adept blend of outrageous comedy with moments of sincere, poignant drama. Through its thought-provoking storytelling technique, the show never shied away from tackling controversial topics of the time, such as extramarital affairs, mental health, and homosexuality. In the process, it opened a dialogue about these traditionally hushed-up themes and set a precedent for many sitcoms that came after it.

The performance of the cast is consistently spectacular, with Helmond's performance as the incredibly naive, yet sympathetic, Jessica standing out. Mandan's work as the unfaithful Chester offers a slyly comic portrayal of a stereotypical philanderer, and Damon's portrayal of Mary exemplifies the everywoman struggling to keep her outlandish family intact. Guillaume's role as the acerbic Benson went on to serve as the launchpad for the spin-off series, Benson, where Guillaume continued his role, ultimately winning an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

The series is masterfully narrated by an off-camera voice, who at the beginning of each episode, recaps past events with the trademark line, "Confused? You won't be, after this week's episode of...Soap." Oddball, amusing, and filled with unforgettable characters, "Soap" remains an essential part of television history.

In summary, Soap redefined American sitcoms with its innovative storytelling, depicting the lives and hilarious misadventures of two contrasting families while breaking numerous social taboos. Its memorable performances, clever humor, and audacious plotlines made it a must-watch during its run. Even today, the series remains a cult classic, celebrated for its bold and progressive charm in a classic soap opera setting.