Soap (1977-1981) This is the story of two sisters...Jessica Tate and Mary Campbell... All I can say is "Thank God for Comedy Central and thank God I'm an early riser." Comedy Central has been playing one of my favorite comedies back to television...but it seems like its only on early Saturday and Sunday morning. Most people can remember their families gather around the television for some wholesome primetime television show...The Muppet Show, Little House in the Prairie...I remember my family gathering around the television to watch soap. In fact, most people my age were not allowed to either watch it because of its "racy" content or because it was on too late. So, I felt privileged. While the concept was simple...a spoof of daytime soap operas...it has never been duplicated, despite the numerous clones that have been developed over the years. Where other shows go wrong is that despite its comedic nature, Soap also had a bit of emotional depth. One moment, you are on the floor laughing and the next moment, you are touched. I genuinely cried when Jessica (Katherine Helmond) was initally rejected by daughter Corinne (Diana Canova) after finding out she was adopted. I thought Jodie's (Billy Crystal) coming out to his brother Danny (Ted Wass) was sensitively done. Spoofs, nowadays, either go for the cheap laugh or don't know when a touching moment is appropriate. A big part of why Soap was able to pull this off, of course, was because of the stellar cast...Katherine Helmond, Billy Crystal, Richard Mullingan, Robert Guillame, Cathryn Damon, Robert Mandan, Diana Canova, Jay Johnson, Jennifer Salt, Tedd Wass Jimmy Baio, Arthur Peterson and Donnelly Rhodes. Some, like Billy Crystal and Robert Guillame, went on to do some great things and others, like Katherine Helmond and Richard Mulligan, went on to do other sitcoms. Anyway, if you've never seen it because you were not able to stay up like my other friends, check it out on Comedy Central. Soap Links Soap Episode Guide Marvin's Soap Page Trish's Tribute to Soap Soap - Let's Do Lunch!

Loren's Favorite Shows Absolutely Fabulous (1992-1996) Alien Nation (1989-1991) All In The Family (1971-1979) Angel (1999-present) Bewitched (1964-1972) Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-present) The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1979) Dawson's Creek (1998-present) Ellen (1994-1998) E.R. (1994-present) Felicity (1998-present) French & Saunders (1987-???) Friends (1994-present) Green Acres (1965-1971) Golden Girls (1985-1992) I Dream of Jeannie (1965-1970) I Love Lucy (1951-1957) Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983) Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997) Maude (1972-1978) One Life To Live (1968-present) Roseanne (1988-1997) Soap (1977-1981) Star Trek (1966-1969) Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994) Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999) Star Trek: Voyager (1995-present) Tracey Takes On... (1996-present) The Tracey Ullman Show (1987-1990) The Vicar of Dibley (1994-present) Will & Grace (1998-present) Wonder Woman (1975-1979) Back to Television Index