Even before it premiered on September 13, 1977 (Tuesdays at 9:30 pm on ABC),
Soap was mired in controversy (including 32,000 letters of protest) and primed to make television history. Conceived as a primetime satire of daytime melodramas, this groundbreaking series toppled many of the TV taboos that remained after
All in the Family and
M*A*S*H, openly addressing a variety of risky topics (homosexuality, infidelity, impotence, familial murder) with a deft combination of irreverent wit, wacky slapstick, supreme stupidity, and--key to its success--engaging drama from characters you could really care about, regardless of their rampant quirks and foibles.
As a friendly announcer informs us, "this is the story of two sisters" in suburban Connecticut--wealthy dimwit Jessica Tate (Katherine Helmond) and blue-collar housewife Mary Campbell (Cathryn Damon)--whose class-divided families are bound by enough scandalous secrets to make each of these 25 episodes (all written by creator-producer Susan Harris and directed by sitcom veteran Jay Sandrich) a polished gem of half-hour comedy. The integration of plot and character is flawless, and dirty laundry was rarely this absurd: Jessica's cheating on her cheating husband (Robert Mandan, the show's underrated lynchpin); stepson Jodie (Billy Crystal) is (gasp!) openly gay, and brother Danny (Ted Wass) has Mafia connections; daughter Corrine (Diana Canova) is in love with a priest; Mary's husband Burt (manic genius Richard Mulligan) is a would-be killer who thinks he's invisible; and all of them are suspects in a murder case that fuels the season's cliffhanger finale.
This is ensemble comedy at its finest, and is it any wonder Robert Guillaume--as the Tates' insolent servant Benson--got his own spin-off sitcom in 1979? His line readings (such as "You want me to get that?" when the doorbell rings) are instant classics, and while Helmond tops the cast with her inimitable brand of idiocy, there's not a weak link in the entire cast. All those protesting prudes fought a futile battle: Soap was never naughty without purpose (indeed, the show possesses subtle integrity) and a large and loyal audience propelled it to even crazier heights in subsequent seasons. (Technical note: Given the shortcomings of 25-year-old videotape, with minor glitches and color variations, these episodes look and sound remarkably good.) --Jeff Shannon
1 Absolutely hilarious!
Nominated for 17 Emmys in its short four-year run, Soap premiered in the Fall of 1977 as one of the most controversial shows in American television history (and all before a single episode ever aired). The show was opposed by many groups who thought its subject matter would be too mature for a prime-time audience. But Soap never overstepped its bounds, and the show became an instant smash hit with its brilliant and satirical spoofs of classic daytime programming. Sporting an all-star cast and talented producers, the show spawned successful spin-off Benson in 1979, a series that launched Robert Guillaume's career to a whole new level...
Set in suburban Connecticut, Soap follows the lives of two sisters - Jessica Tate (Katherine Helmond), a wealthy yet dim elitist, and Mary Campbell (Cathryn Damon), a housewife in a more traditional blue-collar atmosphere. But regardless of their social station in life, neither woman manages to escape the scandal and intrigue surrounding a typical soap opera family. Jessica's daughter Corrine (Diana Canova) is smitten with a priest, yet they are both having an affair with the same tennis pro. Meanwhile, Jessica and her husband Chester (Robert Mandan) incessantly cheat on one another. As for the other side of the family, Mary's husband Burt (Richard Mulligan) is certifiably insane, her son Danny (Ted Wass) is a mobster, stepson Jodie (Billy Crystal) is an out-of-the-closet homosexual, and all of them are caught up in a family filled with promiscuous infidelities and quite possibly murder! Throw in the insubordinate and sarcastic Tate butler Benson (Guillaume), and Soap holds its own as one of the funniest sitcoms in TV history...
The Soap (Season 1) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the series premiere in which the audience learns the background of the two differing, yet similar, families. Jessica overhears Chester making plans to meet his mistress just before she meets her own lover, a local tennis pro named Peter. Jessica leaves Peter just before Corinne arrives for a lesson of her own... Meanwhile, the Campbells are beset by a rift between Danny and Burt, and Burt reveals to Mary that his inability to perform in the bedroom is a result of guilt from having killed her first husband... Other notable episodes from Season 1 include Episode 4 in which Jessica and Corrine encounter each other in Peter's apartment, and Episode 25 in which Charles Lefkowitz (Sorrell Booke of Dukes of Hazzard fame) orders Danny to marry Elaine or else he will kill the entire Campbell family...
The DVD Report
2 Chester did it.
I cant wait to watch season 2 just to see how Chester killed Peter.
3 5 stars ins't enuff..........
Everybody is 100% correct raving about the cast members of Soap, but the one who always fractured me was the senile old Major, dragging around his 3 foot tall ceramic dog........ oh, wow, still kills me just thinking about it. ;-)
4 One of the funniest shows ever!
I recently bought this collection. I laughed as hard at the episodes now as I did when I originally saw them!
Burt Campbell making himself invisible will ALWAYS crack me up.
This show was way ahead of it's time. It had great writing and unforgettable characters. Plus, what an awesome cast: Richard Mulligan, Katherine Helmond, Robert Mandan, Billy Crystal, etc.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention how hilarious Chuck and Bob were. I still can't understand how Bob never won an Emmy award!
5 On behalf of the ESB100 review:
Great series. Found esb100's comments "extrememe"ly sloppy, but at least interesting.
P.S. As to age: just a wee bit over 13. Yup!
6 At least watch this once before you die!
If you only accomplish one thing in your short presence on this planet, let it be this! Take the time to buy this series on DVD and spend a few weeks watching it. There is so much to do in life, but there is just nothing greater than watching the ensemble cast of Soap present their wild, wacky, crazy, happy, sad, and mental personalities to the viewer in each and every episode. Rather than offer additional praise for this series (which I'm always ready to do), I will offer some responses to common shootdowns mades at this show. First, the show is NOT dated - simply disregard the fact that this show is over 25 years old. I find this show much funnier than any comedy on television today or in the last 5 years. And that is saying a lot, considering Curb Your Enthusiasm and Arrested Development are both on the air! The show itself presents slapstick comedy like never before. The series is a real mocking of soap operas, but in itself, I find it to be a soap opera of its own. Not only does the entire series have a continuous storyline, but the characters come and go just as quick as they do on daytime shows (not that I would know these things...). The show isn't just about comedy however. I found myself very intrigued during the first and second seasons, especially in the storylines that involved murder, lust, and mystery. While I was laughing at Benson, the Colonel, and the rest of the cast, I was also paying very hard attention to the seriousness inside of this show. No matter how crazy this show became (UFO abductions, for example), the viewer is still able to grasp what is being presented as complete enjoyment on the tube. 5 stars, 10 out of 10, 110%, whatever... JUST BUY THE SHOW!
7 "This is the story of two sisters....."
SOAP was writer Susan Harris' hilarious take on the world of soap operas (and the often-ludicrous and impossible situations they depicted). The first season of SOAP introduces us to the main characters; the Tate family and the Campbell family.
Jessica Tate (Katherine Helmond) lives with her rich husband Chester (Robert Mandan) and their children Eunice (Jennifer Salt), Corrine (Diana Canova) and Billy (Jimmy Baio). The house is rounded-out by Jessica's crazy old war veteran father The Major (Arthur Peterson) and smart-mouthed butler Benson (Robert Guillaume).
Jessica's sister Mary (Cathryn Damon) lives with her husband Burt Campbell (Richard Mulligan) and her 2 boys Danny (Ted Wass) and Jodie (Billy Crystal), who are from her previous marriage (a Mobster who was accidentally killed by Burt!).
The problems start right away when Burt's long-lost son is both the lover of Jessica and daugher Corrine! Danny learns his real father was in the Mob, and now he has been ordered to kill Burt! Jodie, a proud homosexual, surprises everyone when he announces he's going to have a sex change, and Burt's other son Chuck (Jay Johnson) comes to stay...with his ventriloquist dummy Bob in tow!
The main storyline throughout this first season is the murder of Peter, and the subsequent court case with Jessica as the accused. The rest of the season sets about establishing the relationships between the characters, etc. The writing is crisp and still quite hilarious. Probably one of the most hilarious characters was Ingrid (played by Inga Swenson) who popped in from time to time to wreak havoc in the lives of the Tate and Campbell clans. So don't delay...order the first season of SOAP today!
8 A Good Start
I purchased this set never seeing the series but recognizing the stars. The more I watched this show the more I got into it. The first 5 episodes are very boring on this set, partly because it is just introducing the characters and there is really no story lines.
The series is excellent when they start the Who Killed Peter episodes. It is very very funny. The series really develops in the second season and gets very bizarre (as most soap opera's do). I love this show because I hate soap opera's and this show makes fun of them. I would recommend this show to anyone who dislikes soap operas, loves the actress Katherine Helmond, or likes Harris-Witt Productions (such as Golden Girls, Empty Nest).
9 Hilarious!
Before The Golden Girls, Susan Harris created this hysterical (and at the time controversial) comedy series about two of the most dysfunctional families ever put on television. The wealthy Tates and the middle-class Campbells are the two families focused here, with the center of the show focused mostly on two sisters: Jessica Tate and Mary Campbell. This show had me laughing out loud alot, which is something that I hadn't experienced much on recent TV shows. Soap received much controversy back when it premiered in 1977, but the controversy weared off after it became a big hit. This is worth seeing to catch Billy Crystal in one of his early acting roles as Jodie. But the rest of the cast is great. Katherine Helmond (Jessica), Cathryn Damon (Mary), Robert Mandan (Chester, Jessica's husband), Richard Mulligan (Burt, Mary's husband), and Robert Guillaume (the real scene-stealer as Benson) are all hilariously excellent. The first season of Soap was outstanding. After watching it, I couldn't wait for season 2. (See review of Soap: The Complete Second Season).
10 Too Bad Comedy Shows on TV now aren't this good
This was a really excellent comedy tv series while it lasted...sure beats out what's on tv now. There are many funny characters here..like chuck and bob, Jessica, and Burt. Life is sometimes stranger than reality so this isn't always too unrealistic at times.
11 Good - could have been better...
One of the funniest (and bravest) shows ever to be produced or air on any network. The DVD set is good, but could have include some extras and better quality copies of the show. See Sledge Hammer! Season One and compare the difference. Ah well, at least it's finally out there.
Hey, if anyone is interested, I recently started a new Yahoo 'group' for the TV comedy series "Soap" that ran from 1977-1981. If you'd like to join us or know anyone else that would, we'd be thrilled to have you! Here's the link:
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/This-Is-Soap/
Hope to see you there!
12 A gem in the vast wasteland
In the annals of television history, "Soap" ranks as one of the most outrageous sitcoms ever aired on an American network. Ribald, over the top, whimsical, and with the potential to offend large segments of society, "Soap" handily lived up to each of these elements and more. But most importantly the show about two wacko families living lives of utter weirdness was incredibly hilarious. I was a mere seven years old when the program appeared in the late 1970s, but I did remember bits and pieces of the show since my parents let me watch it with them. I know; I can't believe they let a youngster view a program like this one, but they rightly figured that my tender age prevented me from understanding the adult themes behind the comedy. Of course, you didn't need to understand much to laugh at the physical machinations of Richard Mulligan. When I finally saw a few episodes on cable a few years back, I finally understood what the ruckus was all about. I usually avoid watching television nowadays, but I put "Soap" right up there with "The Rockford Files" as my two favorite network shows. It's great to see the former arrive on DVD.
"Soap" is the story of two related families. The wealthy Tate clan, headed by ditzy Jessica (Katherine Helmond) and the lecherous Chester (Robert Mandan), contain enough cranks to populate a mental asylum. Daughter Corrine (Diana Canova) spends her days at home and her nights sleeping with her mother's tennis instructor, at least when she isn't romantically pursuing a Catholic priest. Other daughter Eunice is a big shot reporter in a suspect relationship with a Congressman. Jessica's father, known as The Major (Arthur Peterson), is a World War II veteran who simply can't let go of his wartime experiences largely due to his fading mental state. The only normal person in the family--and that's saying a lot--is son Billy (Jimmy Baio), whose concerns involve dating girls and staying out of the way of his wacky family. Fortunately, the Tate's butler Benson DuBois (Robert Guillaume) serves as a sort of comedic relief to the constant shenanigans by snubbing the cheating Chester and protecting the hapless Jessica from the horrors of the family's activities. The Tate family isn't merely dysfunctional; the psychiatric profession came up with the term after watching this show.
Jessica's sister Mary (Cathryn Damon) heads up her own family, the Campbells. As strange as the Tate's are, they simply cannot hold a candle to this agglomeration of oddities. Mary married husband Burt (Richard Mulligan) after her first husband perished in an accident. Her two sons live at home with the couple. There's Jody Dallas (Billy Crystal), a man struggling with his sexuality and his relationship to a star professional quarterback. Brother Danny (Ted Wass) thinks his brother's joking when he claims to like men, but he's got problems of his own. Danny is mixed up in the Mafia, and when the Godfather (Richard Libertini) tells him someone he knows murdered his father, Danny seeks revenge as condition for leaving organized crime behind. The best addition to the Campbell household doesn't arrive for a few episodes, but once they do the show took on a dimension of craziness rarely witnessed on television. Burt's son by his previous wife, Chuck (Jay Johnson) and his dummy Bob arrive from Hawaii to stay with the family. Problem is, Chuck thinks Bob is real and acts accordingly by taking the mannequin with him everywhere he goes. Soon, everyone around them can't help but fall into thinking the dummy is real too. It's hilarious.
I'm not even going to get into a full exposition of the various twists and turns each character goes through during the course of the first season. Instead, I'm going to throw out a few of my favorite situations and scenes and let it go at that:
1) Burt prancing around a cabin in the woods while wearing a bear rug.
2) The whole first season moves toward a denouement where Jessica Tate takes the fall for a murder. Witness the scene where Police Chief Tinkler (Gordon Jump) arrives at her home to question both families about the crime. He methodically interviews each member and discovers that nearly every one of them is so weird, possesses so many mental and emotional hang-ups, that they are all suspects.
3) Jessica's lawyer decides to interview both families so he can create a list of potential character witnesses on her behalf. Again, everyone is so out of bounds that he can't find one family member to take the stand.
4) Veteran character actor William Daniels appears in one episode as Heinrich Himmel, a Gestapo like investigator determined to solve the murder. His lines are classic dialogue: "Please to put the toy away" and "ARE YOU JODY? DO YOU LOOK LIKE JODY? DO YOU SOUND LIKE JODY?" had me laughing for hours afterwards. I'm laughing now just remembering them.
5) Burt's reaction when he opens the refrigerator and sees Chuck's dummy stuffed inside.
6) Danny's rabbi disguise and conversation with the Mafia goons.
Obviously, there are many amusing scenes in this wonderful DVD set. Seeing them all together in chronological order is an interesting experience. The earliest episodes are the least amusing because creator Susan Harris and crew had to establish the characters first. Benson plays a crucial role in the beginning with many one-liners and wisecracks until we learn to recognize the traits of the cast. It's difficult to pick the best actors in "Soap," but special mention goes to Helmond and Mulligan. Jessica Tate's ditzy ramblings are jaw dropping to behold, and Burt Campbell's increasingly loony theatrics steal every scene he's in. If you're a fan of the show, you already have this and the second season collection. If you're not a fan, you will be as soon as you watch this completely insane show.
13 Soapsational
This is without a doubt the funniest show to ever air on Television, not to mention the number of actors who began on this show went on to bigger things! A must for soap lovers and those who love comedy!
14 Amazing!
This has to be one of the best TV series I have ever viewed in my life. The comedy is fresh, and exciting, even though it was written in the 70's. The acting is top notch, and the characters are well crafted and loveable. I have never loved a TV show so much in my life.
And yes, while this series is a comedy, because of the characters and the actors, there are some amazing dramatic moments that pull at your heart strings. I have to say this is one of the best casts I have ever seen on TV. They just gel together so well.
The DVD set is good. The picture is clean and clear, with almost no problems, and the sound is decent, although better on some episodes than others. There are no extras, but the price tag on the set is extremely low for the amount of episodes you get (25 complete episodes).
If you want a fun, exciting show, check out Soap. The stories are great, the acting is amazing, and it will stick with you long after your done watching it. Now if only they could get season 3 out soon!
15 Still the Funniest!!!
I own the complete VHS Collector's edition of Soap. Tonight I am going to purchase the DVDs just recently released. If you never saw this wonderful show, or saw it way back in 1977, I couldn't recommend it more!! The humor, the cast, the story lines, are just as fresh and funny today as they were 27 years ago! Written by Susan Harris (Golden Girls), each episode is crafted to have you laughing one minute, and near tears the next. The amazingly talented cast manage to turn this often silly "soap opera" into what I consider to be a classic!!! The TV show Dallas is credited with creating the "cliffhanger" with "Who Shot JR?" in 1979, but actually SOAP ended it's first season with "Who Killed Peter Campbell?" in 1978, a year earlier.
16 I want more !
I am still chuckling when I think about the shows. So how long before the 3rd season?
17 still as funny as ever
Even after 27 years this is still a great show. Ok so there is some minor editing of episodes on the DVD but so what, I can't see why so many are getting so worked up about it. If you liked it in 77 you will love it now.
18 Fantastic show, barely adequate release
In today's entertainment climate, it's hard to imagine how the content of Soap was enough to warrant the flood of letters received by the network in criticism of the show, but in 1977, Soap was quite a scandal; before the first episode even aired!
It's also hard to believe that Soap's quirky, off-beat premise has never been duplicated, as over 25 years later, it still stands as a completely unique take on the traditional sitcom format. That's not to say that Soap hasn't dated at all - it does show its age in a number of places, although certainly much less than many of its contemporaries in the television world; Soap remains, overall, a breath of fresh air.
The formula is remarkably simple: Take two families so dysfunctional that they make The Simpsons seem like paragons of fine social behaviour, and throw them into insane soap-opera-esque situations, with each episode following on from the last and the plots gradually getting more and more exagerated, ridiculous, and labyrinthine, blatantly parodying the numerous soap operas that plague network TV, even to this day.
It could have been an unmitigated disaster, as attempts to create "wacky" TV often result in an unintelligent, directionless mess that seems like nothing more than a series of failed attempts to elicit a laugh from the audience. Not so with Soap. It's partly because the writing was sharp, and often witty with some fantastic one-liners. It's partly due to strong characters that you could actually feel for, when the show took one of its more serious turns. It has a lot to do with an incredible ensemble cast who each provided perfectly timed deliveries and a neverending array facial expressions that were often as entertaining as the writing itself.
Based upon the quality of the material, I won't hesitate to recommend this DVD set, particularly to those who've never experienced the show. Its very nature does, after all, require it to be viewed in order, for maximum enjoyment, and this boxed set offers the opportunity. (While TV Land insist on only purchasing the rights to a group of episodes from the second season, and airing them incessantly).
So whilst fans of the show should rush out and buy this set, and those who have never seen it should pay the (very reasonable) asking price to get a first look, the set does have a number of problems.
MOST forgiveable is the lack of extras. Most of us buy these things for the episodes, after all, but some decent extras can make what is a good set into an outstanding one.
STILL forgiveable is the cramming of 25 episodes onto 3 disks. Ordinarily, this might provoke a little more aggrivation, but the show was shot on videotape in the 1970s. A little less compression isn't going to do much to improve the picture, which is still the best this show has looked in a long while.
ANNOYING is the fact that a few episodes have been slightly edited. I understand that this isn't for time, nor content, but due to non-cleared music rights, which I can understand. These edits are small, and shouldn't disuade you from this purchase.
MOST DISGUSTING, however, is the fact that syndicated versions of two of these episodes were included, instead of the original, uncut versions. There's absolutely no reason for this, and it seems wholely sloppy. Thankfully, it's limited to just two episodes, but the producers of this set should be ashamed of themselves. I seriously hope this won't happen again for the second season set.
So, overall, a set with a few annoying quirks, but nevertheless the first 25 episodes of a show that would easily have been worth a five star rating should a little more care been taken with the release. At the asking price, it's a steal!
19 As funny as I remembered
I have enjoyed this set over and over and it is still funny. Comes on 3 seperate DVDs. Each has an option to play all which I find very helpful on series DVDs. I was disappointed that there are really no special features. I was hoping for interviews with the cast or at least a director. I would still highly recommend.
20 Not worthy
It's a shame that "Soap" is out on DVD while the truly funny, groundbreaking show that it lamely attempted to imitate (Mary Hartman) is not yet out. There is no justice in this world!
21 A Groundbreaking Show
I loved Soap as a kid in the 70's, and it's great to have the episodes on DVD now. Soap was conceived as a parody of TV soap operas, but it actually transcended the genre and became something unique. A great cast helped make each character sympathetic and memorable.
The early episodes in the first season are funny, but a bit uneven, as the writers try to introduce a vast array of characters and situations. But by midway through the first season, the show starts to really hit its stride, and nearly every scene is a classic.
Can't wait for Season 2!
22 According to Tri-Star/columbia...
...whom I contacted via email last week, the last two seasons will be released sometime this year, although there is no exact date as of right now. Keep the faith, Soap fans!
23 Soap - The Complete First Season
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE we want more, we want more, we want more!!!! My girlfriend and I watch 3 DVD in 3 days!!!! We watch it every week in the 70's,
24 next season pls
we want more, we want more, we want more!!!! brilliant to be able to sit down for a laugh for 20 minutes and see a full episode. next season please. just in case you didn't get it - next season pls, next season pls, next season pls.....
25 What a way to kill a weekend
I was 13 when this show came out and my mother made us all watch Soap (before the era of multiple TV's in America's homes). I hated it at the the time. It was one of the few times my mother was not swayed by the whining of her chidren.
I rediscovered the show in the mid eighties at college and fell in love. I skipped an entire semester of Introduction to Marketing to watch the show every day at the Frat house (and still got a B+ in Marketing). It became a college cult classic with me and my friends.
I am still amazed by the cast's skill taking the viewer from one emotional extreme to another in a matter of seconds. Chuck and Bob, Benson, Sherriff Tinkler, the Major, the cast is legend. The characters were all totally unbelievable, yet I always believed.
The casting and writing was pure genius. This series may have been written and produced by Susan Harris, but Mel Brooks must have been lurking in the shadows of the set somewhere.
I can't wait to have mom over for dinner and spring this on her as after dinner entertainment. This is must have for anyone who needs to have laughs on tap. Or want to cry at the drop of a hat.
26 MORE, MORE, MORE! AND SOON, PLEASE!
Most old sitcoms are rerun occasionally - But not this one! Watching this DVD set brought back memories of classic, hilarious storylines I had long forgotten. The best $25 I've spent in a long time! If any Columbia execs are reading this, PLEASE release Season Two in the near future! I can't afford to keep buying the subsequent VHS episodes from online auctions!
27 remains funny after all of these years
Like some other reviewers here, I had a "Soap" marathon when I first got this set. Unlike some TV shows that I grew up watching, this one has remained funny. (The return of the "Carol Burnett Show" to TVLand has me wondering why I thought that show was so great when it aired in the 1970's.)
As to some of the previous reviews mentioning some of the edits of episodes here, I would guess that the low cost of the set prompted the exclusion of a couple of songs (like "There Is Nothing Like A Dame"). Or perhaps it was an issue of being able to get the legal clearance to include those songs at all, at any price. Getting all of one season for $20 versus the hundreds of dollars that the first season cost on VHS through Columbia House is a great deal; if a few small scenes are missing to make the set affordable, I'm in favor of that choice. I know that I wouldn't pay hundreds of dollars to own this, even though I enjoy the series very much.
As to Danny appearing as an old Jewish man, perhaps that reviewer fell asleep during the scene where that happened. I cannot recall in which episode this occurs, but Danny's appearance as an old Jewish man is definitely on this dvd set.
Like many others, I am eagerly awaiting seasons 2 and 3 on dvd.
28 Great series
This innovative series was quite controversial when it was showing on TV. Unfortunately, they only had three seasons. I just can't wait to get seasons 2 & 3 on DVD!
In this DVD it was interesting to see the actress who plays Rosario in Will & Grace (Shelley Morrison) as a motel maid on the episode where Corinne stays in the motel after leaving Peter. Also interesting was to see the actress that play's Marie in Everybody Loves Raymond (Doris Roberts) as Father Tim's mother. The funny thing is that her character there bears an uncanny resemblance to the overbearing mother that she plays in Raymond!
I loved this series back then, and I am glad I now get to see it any time I want!
29 Simply The Best
It doesn't take a genius to know that this soap opera was ahead of its time. The cast was outstanding and it seemed as if this was an actual family with all the hijinks that were always going on. I bought the first season and have watched it probably 10 times already. It is well worth the money I paid for it and I can't wait to find out if the other seasons are coming out on DVD too.
30 A must have
Television at it's best! I currently own the entire collection on VHS and recently purchased the DVD set for my sister. We both enjoyed the show as kids and finally, it's available on DVD. Unfortunately for me, I purchased the original set from Columbia House at a whopping $29.99 per tape (entire set cost over $500.) The positive here is that in the event later seasons are not released on DVD, I already own the collection. Soap covers a broad range of topics, which makes the series interesting and very entertaining. I won't rattle on about certain characters or episodes, if you have ever watched Soap and laughed, you must own this DVD.
31 A Former Fan and a New One
I loved this show when I was young and recently purchased the first season. My wife had not seen the show before but she now loves it as much as me. I truly hope that the producers of this DVD read these reviews and realize there is a band of fans begging for the further seasons. I still love the one I have but it would be wonderful if I could introduce my wife to the entire panorama of lunacy. This is one of the best TV shows in my lifetime. Susan Harris has written an extremely humorous story and the cast brings out all the insanity within the script.
32 One of the best comedies ever
I was a little kid when this first came out and I do remember all the brouhaha surrounding it. My parents watched it and loved it. When I was older and it was in syndication, I was finally able to watch it and even then didn't understand why it was considered controversial. Can you see the generational gap?
The show centers on the Tate and Campbell families, united by sisters Jessica Tate and Mary Campbell. The Tates are rich, the Campbells are middle class. Jessica is a lovable ditz, and Mary is the practical one. The first season introduces us to a wide array of characters:
Chester Tate - Jess's philandering husband
Eunice Tate - Jess's uptight daughter who has a secret of her own
Corrine Tate - Jess's other daughter who is a wild child
Benson - the sarcastic butler who steals every scene he is in
Burt Campbell - Mary's wacky husband with a "few" problems
Jody Dallas - Mary's son from her first marriage; he's gay and thinks about having a sex change
Danny Dallas - her other son; he belongs to the Mob
Bob & Chuck Campbell - Burt's son from his first marriage (Chuck that is); Bob is his dummy who is more human than Chuck.
They are not all the characters, but they are the major ones. Such things come up like murder, murder attempts, sex change operations, many many adulturous affairs, mother and daughter sharing the same lover, impotence, mental illness, and the required big murder trial.
I can't remember a show that could be wacky, poignant, and heart-wrenching. You laugh. Out loud. You cry. You gasp. Though the situations seem ridiculous, the actors make it all seem so plausible, especially Katherine Helmond as Jessica.
I agree with the others - I can't wait for season 2!
33 must complete the series
I loved Soap as a child and growing up as a teen.I have borrowed this boxed set of "Soap The complete first season" and everyone asks the same question,Where is season two?.We are all left hanging at the cliffhanger.Everyone who buys this will be waiting for season two.If your not going to put it out then the first season should not be put out there either.It was an excellant show but we need to keep the seasons coming.
34 Brilliance
If you did not catch SOAP when it originally aired, how unfortunate. To be living in a time when the issues they so beautifully addressed were so prevalent made the show pure genious. It made us laugh at ourselves. The reference to being a soap opera spoof are misleading. It didn't turn out to be that way. You grew to love and enjoy every character with all of their quirks. The writing, acting, and comedic delivery were sheer brilliance. I was saddened on many levels when it was abruptly cancelled because enough people (or maybe just a few loud enough people) just didn't get it. It was brilliant and just what the doctor ordered for it's time. I'm so glad it is available again. Don't miss it. You'll be quoting lines from it for the rest of your life.
35 Great cast + Great writing = GREAT SHOW
I can't really add too much to the other reviews - the cast was fantastic, and the writing was outstanding. I think the editorial reveiwer said it best when refering to the cast "you can care about"; despite all the looney stuff that goes on in the series, the acting and writing are EXTREMELY well done, and most of it holds up to anything that's out today (Jessica's goodbye to Corin is especially heartwrenching; Kathrine Helmond is excellent all around, and a WAY better actress than I ever gave her credit for. Very nice work).
All in all, this is a fantastic set, marred only by Sony's ineptitude when it comes to extras for it's DVD packages. However, viewed on it's own merits, the show hit a home run everytime.
Highest Recommendation.
36 Give us MORE!
The fans of this show deserve the unedited version as well as interviews with the cast, crew, writers and producers. Groundbreaking, earthshaking comedy. Yes, yes, yes. Loved it then, and it is still one of the best. Don't let us down when the second season is put on disc. If you never saw it you will not be disappointed. If you are a fan you will love reliving those classic moments.
37 Missing Episode?
I bought this 1st season set a few days ago, and have already had my 25-ep Soap marathon. I don't know anything about edited episodes like some other reviewers pointed out. However, I was a bit startled to see that the last ep of the 1st season wasn't on the set, and I distinctly remember at the end of that one, there was a cliffhanger regarding Peter's murder. Am I mistaken? Was that indeed a 2nd season opener? I dont think it was. At any rate, I got my money's worth of enjoyment from this set and look forward to other seasons being released, hopefully containing all episodes.
38 I will keep this One and Order two more.
I purchased this DVD set as a gift for my sister-in-law who
loves to laugh. When I got home and read the content of the DVD set and thought to myself "maybe I would like this myself." I also thought that if I opened it, I would have to add by sister-in-law back on the Christmas shopping list. Well,I did open it, and really enjoyed it. I have since ordered two
more sets that I plan to give as Christmas present. The only down-side to this is, I will have to WAIT until Season 2 comes out.
39 Excellent Show That Deserves a Better DVD
What can I say about this groundbreaking hit TV show from 1977 that other reviewers haven't already said? This is an excellent, hilarious soap opera spoof that focuses on two familes whose only link is the matriachs, Jessica and Mary, two sisters. Well, Jessica is also sleeping with Mary's stepson, so I guess there are more links. Several funny storylines are woven together in this first season, culiminating with a classic murder mystery that stretches for twelve of the 25 episodes.
This is definitely a five star TV show, but the DVD production is severely lacking. Not only are a couple of episodes edited, as previously reported, but there are no extras to speak of (unless you count movie trailers). I can easily recommend this collection to purchase, just due to the excellent episodes of this series that you will get. However, Soap deserved more effort from Columbia House, and one can only hope they release season two with complete, unedited episodes. Knowing their history, however, extras will probably continue to be a pipe dream.
40 NOTE - 4 Episodes are Edited - Inexcusable for DVD
As soon as this set came out, I posted below, enthusiastic about receiving complete, unedited episodes, even to the point of excusing the absence of extras.
I was wrong. As discussed by others below and on the Yahoo Soap Group, a comparison of the DVD episodes with the complete, unedited episodes on the Columbia House videotapes shows that 4 DVD episodes are edited:
Episode 2 - Edits out Jody singing "There's Nothing Like a Dame" and the tune the Godfather hums after Danny leaves the sauna.
Episodes 16 and 17 are the syndicated versions, each missing 2 and 1/2 minutes from the complete episodes.
Episode 19 deletes the "On the last episode on Soap" intro.
It should be noted that the company issuing Soap on DVD, Columbia TriStar, also puts out Sanford and Son on DVD, and that a second season DVD episode of Sanford and Son, "Blood is thicker than Junk" incredibly edits out 2 and 1/2 minutes which appear on the syndicated version.
All of this, of course, is not important in light of what's happening in the world, but it does show extrememe sloppiness and lack of care by Columbia TriStar.
41 Can't Wait For More "Soap!
The is a very nice first season release of the classic sitcom "Soap." Stellar writing, acting and directing makes this show a cut above most things on tv today. Though time has not been kind to the video quality of some of the episodes, these dvds still look much better then the reruns on TVLand or Comedy Central. Do not hesitate to buy this fine set. I hope that Colubia Tri-Star delivers us seasons 2-4, because this show deserves to be preserved and seen in the dvd format. Perhaps they can include the two 90 minute "Soap" retrospectives that were put on VHS in the mid-1990's as part of future sets.
42 MORE SOAP
Because I was a young and somewhat naive thing when SOAP first aired, I was not able to fully appreciate it. Now, as a 40-something, having seen a bit of life, I would have to say this is among the best is the TV-nostalgia DVD genre. The humor is subtle and just the slightest bit wicked. A great break from the buffoonery, stupidity, and sometimes outright cruelty of today's SitComs, most of which are not even funny. If there's a waiting list for the Second Season, I'm on it!!!
Oh - do you want me to get that?
43 surprisingly, it still holds up in the new millenium
i really loved Soap when it was originally on tv, and i was excited to see that the first season had come out on dvd. i was a bit concerned, though...at times, movies or tv shows that i loved from that era have been released, and i've been disappointed to find that the humor didn't hold up well after all these years. what was funny then just isn't always funny any more.
so it was with some hesitation that i bought this dvd set -- i was concerned that seeing it now might tarnish my fond memories of the original run. but i was pleasantly surprised to find that i still really enjoyed the show. sure, there are parts of it that maybe don't hold up as well as others, but on the whole it was still fun and funny.
44 Love Soap
I can't wait for the other seasons to come out!
45 Great TV Show Finally On DVD
Back in 1977, this show was very controversal. It is somewhat tame by today's standards, but the humor still works. It's just less likely to offend people. This show is a soap satire. It is a comedy soap opera. This was the first series to have a cliffhanger at the end of each season. It might have been the first series with a non-stereotypical homosexual male. ...although Jody Dallas (Billy Crystal) is almost a stereotype at first. The plot of each episode can get as insane as the daily soap operas. Soap lasted 4 seasons with a 5th season planned. There was a spin-off, Benson, which had one episode that was used to tie-up the loose ends.
The series focuses on two sisters, Jessica Tate (Katherine Helmond) and Mary Campbell (Cathryn Damon). Jessica and Chester (Robert Mandan) are the rich couple. Jessica can be a little slow-witted at times during the comic moments. Chester is a stockbroker who is always cheating on Jessica. Mary and Burt (Richard Mulligan) aren't rich, but they have their share of troubles too. The Major (Arthur Peterson), Jessica's and Mary's dad, still believes World War II is going on. There is plenty more, but I'm only sticking to what's established at the very beginning. I don't want to spoil anything.
In response to a previous review, the summary of past events at the start of each episode may mention something or use clips that happened a few episodes earlier. It reminds you of what you need to know for the episode about to be shown. I remember the scene the reviewer claims was missing.
Burt Campbell and Jessica Tate are my personal favorites in the series. Other characters improve as the series progresses. Danny Dallas (Ted Wass) becomes more of an idiot in later episodes.
I wish the box for this set was more sturdy like the box Fox uses for The Simpsons. There are also no cutouts in the outside case to help you grab the insert to get the discs out. I keep thinking I'm going to tear the box when I try to pull the DVDs out. The first couple of times I had trouble getting the insert that holds the DVDs out. It does begin to come out easier each time.
None of the Columbia/TriStar DVDs of old TV shows seem to have many extras. The most you can expect are previews related to something about the show. This Soap set has an ad for other retro TV DVD sets and a trailer for America's Sweetheart (because Billy Crystal stars in it).
TRIVIA BITS:
Rod Roddy of The Price Is Right ("Come On Down!") provided the narration at the beginning and ending of each episode.
Richard Mulligan is also known for his role in Empty Nest.
Katherine Helmond also starred on Who's The Boss and has appeared more recently on Everybody Loves Raymond as Lois.
Robert Mandan appeared on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in "Cardassians."
46 View from the UK
I am in Liverpool, England and am delighted to be able to watch Soap again. Bearing in mind when it was first made I find the quality of the DVD to be very good. The various characters are a joy and I hope that DVDs of the remaining episodes are in course of producton as I shall certainly buy them.
47 Soap
The best comedy you can own. Can't wait for session two to be released.
48 Ground-Breaking Sopa Opera "Spoof" Sit-Com
...in the beginning, there were 2 families, both in verious state of continuous lunacy. On 2 sides of the tracks, each nut-house had daily doses of events, a never-ending "soap opera". The difference is, every minute of this show is absolutely hilarious!
Here is the complete first season. The "Benson" character is still raw and unrefined, with somewhat of an evil streak (on his own show, the star mellowed considerably). Here the "faithful" butler goes out of his way to serves his master foods known to be potentially dangerous.
The wealthy half of this extended family flaunts their blue blood and the cash & status that goes with it, while the working class side struggles. Still, they share many of the same situations, crisis and just plain crazy day-in-day-out events. A regular life wouldn't contain as many "jams" as this family encounters in just this first season of the show. Enjoy!*****
49 Soap - The Complete-?- First Season
When I finally saw this DVD in the store after YEARS of waiting - I literally "yelped" as my hand snatched it from the shelf. The DVD was a must-buy and should be for any fan of this all-time great show. I spent hours that night relishing over every episode I could fit in. There were even some episodes I had never been able to see prior, and that, alone, was priceless. However, there is something that must be mentioned. Soon after the episodes get going; in the "preludes" and "prologues"; I began to notice scenes that were referred to having occurred, but I did not get to view in the episode I just watched. For example, When Danny is hiding from the mob, he frequently changes costumes as part of a running gag. The voiceover refers to Danny dressing as an elderly Jewish man. But the scene was cut from the episode for some reason and is not viewable. Once or twice is forgivable, but the more episodes that played the more I realized I am still missing out on little scenes that were not included on this DVD. Which means that hopefully someone will come out with the "really complete" version one day. To title this DVD as "Complete" is truly false advertising, as there are many small scenes which are edited out. Nevertheless, it is extremely enjoyable and further DVDs will be purchased from me. So if you are a fan of this Television Classic, by all means, purchase it and ride the roller coaster of Soap all over again. If you are a truly hard-core Soap fan, however, buy it - but be ready to experience that nagging feeling like you've missed something that might seem trivial to some, but vital to the collector. Plus, would it kill 'em to add some special features such as commentaries or interviews by some of the surviving cast?
50 Completists: BE WARNED
My sole gripe about this wonderful first season set is that only 22 of the 25 episodes are offered in their entirety.
Episodes #16 and #17 have poor picture quality and only run 22.5 minutes - just as they did when the show was sliced and diced for its initial sale into syndication back in 1981. These two episodes also feature a shortened version of the "story of two sisters" opening from season THREE.
Episode #19 is inexplicably missing the opening "Last week on Soap..." segment.
If Columbia House was able to release the entire series on home video back in the mid 90s FULLY INTACT, why are we now being sold syndication prints on DVD?
51 Oh Man!
Talk about revolutionary... it took television twenty years to confront homosexuality after Soap did(and Soap did it better). This has to be one of the best television shows EVER... and it's STILL funny. I was born after Soap first aired and saw it for the first time in syndication at the age of 14 and have been looking for it on video for 9 years since! Thank you for bringing this awesome show back to us and PLEASE release the subsequent 4? seasons! I was so excited that I had to buy two copies, one for myself and one for my mother. It's a gotta own runaway hit.
52 Soap is finally back!!
Been waiting for years for someone to finally make this show available. It far exceeds many of today's sitcoms. The cast is wonderful and the storyline hillarious. Can't wait for the release of seasons 2, 3 and 4.
53 Soap: no dud
I'm loving it. I just sat through nearly 10 hours of Soap and was rolling on the floor. I cannot wait until the subsequent episodes. You really can't beat the price either.
I'm just wondering why people are dissing the quality of the DVD. I didn't realize that everyone back in 1977 had such high tech systems in their homes. For the first few seasons, I had a B/W set, so make your own judgements. The DVD guys did an excellent job.
54 Classic Debut Season
Soap was one of those Shows that you had to see to Believe.nothing was off Limits&they dealt with everything.Billy Crystal was so funny back in the day.this Show was risky for the Mid 70's.
55 At Last! Quality TV at its Finest!
If you have ever seen Soap and you are interested in this DVD - GO FOR IT! This is a great three CD set with the whole first season on it. It goes from when both Coren and Jessica are 'taking tennis lessons' with Peter, through Danny's running from the mob and hooking up with Elaine and Bert's stint with invisibility.
Soap hit just about every controversial subject known to society at a time when that had not really been done before - and it has never been done as well since. If you have never seen Soap, it is the story of two sisters - Jessica Tate and Mary Campbell ... and their families. Jessica is married to Chester who is a securities man and is sleeping with anything that will stand still long enough. Jessica (who later played Mona on Who's The Boss) plays a dim but beautiful wife and a loving mother to two daughters, Coren and Uness, and one son, Billy. Both girls have a thing for impossible love affairs. In season one, Coren is in love with a priest and Uness with a married senator. Billy is the only normal one there though at fourteen he asks for the keys to `park' the car with his girlfriend and Jessica gives them to him although she doesn't understand because the car is already parked. Benson (Robert Guilllame) is the only one holding the family together. As the butler and the cook, he has some great lines as his undisguised contempt for Chester comes through loud and clear. Oh, and I almost forgot about Jessica's dad, the Major. World War II is still going on strong in his head as keeps kidnapping and interrogating the neighbors as German spies.
If you can't already see the potential, meet the Campbells. Mary, Jessica's sister (remember this is the story of two sisters), is married to Bert (played by Mulligan). Bert owns a construction firm building skyscrapers. He is also impotent. But that is just because he killed Mary's first husband, unbeknownst to her. Mary has two sons - Danny and Joey (Billy Crystal). Danny wants to stop working for the mob but has to first kill the man who killed his father ... and just when they were finally getting along! Joey is gay and is in love with Dennis Phillips, a popular quarterback who is afraid that public knowledge of his homosexuality will spoil his endorsement possibilities. Bert has two sons also ... well, three if you count the dummy, Bob. Chuck is a ventriloquist from Hawaii who has a stormy and argumentative relationship with his smart-ass dummy, Bob. Bert's long lost son, Peter is the same tennis instructor who is "giving lessons" to Jessica and Coren.
Confused? All these questions will be answered when you purchase your own copy of Soap: the First Season.
56 5 star show on a 3 star DVD!
SOAP was amazing when it aired, and it still has a lot going for it. The slapstick scenes are impeccable, the comedy is brilliant and sharp, and the heartwrenching scenes are so well done! It's the story of two sisters and their respective families - Jessica Tate and Mary Campbell. In true soap opera form in this first season someone is murdered, everyone seems to have an affair, several people have nervous breakdowns, somebody tries to quit the mob and gets drug back in, somebody goes into the hospital for a sex change, somebody finds out they were adopted, impossible love rears its head several times, a couple of people are accused of murder, and many of the characters are blackmailed! This doesn't even BEGIN to cover all that happens!
SOAP moved at lightning speed doing what most soap operas take years to develop. I watched it back in the days it was on, and I was afraid it would not hold up well. Guess what? It does! SOAP was funny because of the characters not topical discussions. Sure there are plenty of 70s touches - the costumes, the way the show looks, but it's still funny and moving. The ensemble was unbeatable!
The DVD gives you 22 episodes spread out over 3 discs. No extras! And this show begs for them. It was the FIRST show to have a content warning before it aired, the first show with an openly gay character (Billy Crystal as Jody Dallas), and it's soooooo irreverant and politcally incorrect! Black jokes, gay jokes, veteran jokes, talk about orgasms, talk about infidelity, talk about impotence, mental health issues, hookers, politicians -- I could go on and on with the tabboos this show broke! It seems a little less sensational here in 2003, but it's still something special. Too bad they didn't put more on the discs, but the show itself is well worth the price! Is the picture quality poor? Yes, but that may be because of the way networks taped shows back then. SOAP was never high on production values, just high on its own giddy satire!
57 Soap - The Complete First Season
Funniest lines ever on this show (and for those who love it as much as I do, will know what I'm talkng about).
Ya gotta love Jessica:
When discussing Plato being homeosexual: Mickey Mouse's dog is gay??
When Jessica learns Jody is going to be a father: Dennis is pregnant??
58 One of the great TV Shows
I just watched the first season of this fantastic show and I haven't laughed so much in a long time. I'd forgotten what a genius Susan Harris, the creator, was. Do yourself a favor and buy this DVD. 20 years old, "Soap" is still better than just about everything on TV right now.
59 A true clasic
The ultumate clasic comedy that was copied but never bettered. Still as hilarious as the day it was first aired. even after 26 years it still has me laughing. A landmark in comedy and a comedy that has somthing for all ages.if you dont remeber it trust me you wont be disapointed. indpired writing and a cast that is second to none.
60 Finally, the insanity whenever I want to see it.
Two months ago some friends and I were talking about this show, and how great it would be to have it on DVD. And now it's here! I spent most of this past weekend watching all 25 episodes and I can't wait to watch it again. This is truly a comedy classic. Could they get away with some of this stuff today? Not a chance! And that's a shame, because 'Soap' contains some of the funniest dialog you'll ever hear. (And, some of the most touching.) To careen from pure buffoonery to heart wrenching emotion and back to slap-stick, while keeping it solidly entrenched with the characters and situations, is pure genious. The cast is outstanding, and the guest stars terrific. (Harold Gould is memorable as Barney Gerber as is Gordon Jump as Sheriff Tinkler.) But, to me, Richard Mulligan and Katherine Helmond make this show. No one, and I mean no one, was funnier than Mulligan as Burt Campbell. An elastic face and a slap-stick mentality carried him over the top and back again. Helmond, as Jessica Tate drifted seamlessly between screwball and martyr.
Now, why only four stars? Easy. The other comments about poor color transfer and lack of features/bonus material are right on the money. I know that you can pick this 3 disc set up for $20 brand new and right off the shelf, but this show was too important to give it such short shrift. It broke ground that no one else dared to tread. And that ground still remains largely untouched in the PC world of television that exists today. Either way, buy it, rent it, borrow it, hey... even steal it. Just take the time to watch it.
61 This series is still sharp and funny
I remember watching this series in reruns when I was growing up. Much of the humor, I now realize, was way over my head. It's amazing what they did manage to get away with! I was really too young to clearly remember the pop culture of the '70s, but were things more liberal and less PC-minded than now? Granted, some of the situations are a bit dated now...I don't think that TV could get away with portraying 'a gay son' in so many stereotypical situations...or (probably) get away with The Black Manservant, etc.
Having said that, both Billy Crystal (as Jody the gay son) and Robert Guillaume (as the great Benson the man servant) bring humor and dignity to their roles, which I guess was intentional by the script material they were given. I think the intention of the creators of the show was not just to poke fun at the soap opera genre, but to put a magnifying glass on the stereotypes that abounded both on screen and in life.
I was very disappointed at the total lack of extras in this DVD set, which is why I'm giving it 4 instead of 5 stars. No commentaries...no interviews...the only 'extras' are 4 useless commercials/trailers. Given that this series had a lot of historical significance in TV culture, this oversight is a shame. The picture quality is nothing to praise - fuzzy picture, occasional color shifts - but I could live with that if only they had included some extras. (The bad picture quality problem seems to be shared by many sitcoms from the '70s and '80s, with rare exceptions like the beautifully transferred Mary Tyler Moore season 1 DVD set.)
Even without the extras though, this series is highly recommended on its merits alone.
62 Great to have Complete Episodes, but Picture is Yellow-Green
I've just watched the first three episodes and think the show remains as terrific as I remember it. The deranged Major asking Benson to "sing me a song, boy" is outrageous, and in all the praise for the regular cast, please don't overlook amazing character actor Richard Libertini as "The Godfather." It should also be remembered that even without extras, the DVD set is a great value, as it presents the complete episodes rather than the now-televised butchered syndicated versions with a few minutes shaved off, when it is televised at all.
The picture quality, though, is a problem. The entire picture has a yellowish-green hue, and yellow horizontal bars are constantly visible. In the opening episode, there is a close up of Billy Crystal grinning, and his entire forehead has a yellow-green bar across it. Very annoying.
63 THE BEST EVER!
I'll make this short and sweet. I'm a child of the 70's, and I've watched every sitcom that came out of that much maligned decade. And the decades that followed. "Soap" is quite simply, the funniest show I have ever seen. This is the only TV show that still, all these years later, can bring me to tears of laughter just remembering some scenes (like an extremely drunk Burt trying to step down off a coffee table - the funniest bit of physical comedy I've ever seen).
Great cast, many of whom went on to TV (and motion picture) stardom.
For the easily offended: skip this show. Nothing is sacred. From homosexuality to alien abductions to demonic possession to insanity, absolutely NOTHING is off-limits on this show!
I'm ecstatic that this ground-breaking series is finally available on DVD. I can't wait for the rest of the series to make it long-awaited debut.
64 Retro classic chock full of talented performers
This is a great series. Watching these episodes really takes me back. Our Mom wouldn't let us watch SOAP, so we always had to hide in the kitchen and watch on it the clunky old B&W TV; it's even funnier in color!
65 Television's Landmark Comedy
At long last, "Soap" comes to DVD. An avid fan of the show since it originally aired in the 70's, I own the series on VHS but am estatic about the DVD release for a few reasons. Not only do I look forward to selecting which episodes to watch over and over again, ANY extras will just be icing on this delicious cake. But beyond that, having Season One on DVD means that there's a commitment to releasing future seasons of this quinti-sensational laugh-riot-of-a-comedy. Now I know what my friends are getting for Christmas this year!
Ruthlessly funny and irreverent, SOAP was like a breath of fresh air when it first made its network appearance 25 years ago. My best friend and I would literally watch each episode together - eithe rin person or on the phone, mostly to share the immediacy of the funniest gags we'd ever scene, but also to ensure one of us would remember all the lines the next day. With a cast of characters that quite honestly DEFINED the word CHARACTERS "Soap" ranks as the funniest comedy series of the past 40 years, perhaps ever. Up there with "I Love Lucy" each episode guarantees a laugh - guffaws and belly grabbing are a given. Few series have ever combined wit and wisdom the way SOAP did. Sure - it introduced prime time's first "out" gay character (Jodie, the incomparable Billy Crystal) but no show has even come close to creating some of the other situations you'll find here!
A demon baby? YEP, why not, when a fallen priest (Father Tim) hooks up with the ... daughter Corinne.
A talking grapefruit? Sure...if you're imitating one crazy sibling's unique attachment to a ventriloquist dummy named Bob.
A mother in lust with her daughter's lover (and tennis coach)? Trust me, Lifetime never had it this good.
How about murder? Alien Abductions? A gay quarterback? An all-knowing scene-stealing butler (the one and only BENSON)? Yep, they're all here. And Richard Mulligan - the late great and brilliant comedian who forever channelled the character of Burt -is absolutely the funniest TV dad you'll ever meet. You can keep Bill Cosby - gimme BURT any day! And Katherine Helmond, whose bust and boundless sex-kittenish turn as Jessica Tate made her a TV staple - is an absolute joy.
SOAP was - and remains - a series that breaks the rules and still works. Its humor was often raw and raunchy, but human nonetheless. Forget "Happy Days" - for pure unduplicated television laughs, SOAP is comedy heaven.
66 Fun for Adults
What a nostalgic thrill to find this on DVD. This is the funny stuff where Billy Crystal got his start. And I absolutely loved Jessica the red-head. Another very adult-oriented wonder on DVD is "New Sex Now" which is not funny at all, rather very seriously great stuff for consenting couples to experiment with and enjoy.
67 Ah...life is good.
As a child of the 70's, I was allowed to watch SOAP, probably because much of the adult humour was over my head. And yes, it is pretty tame by today's standards, but so what? It's still freakin' hilarious! Check out the mind-boggling array of talent this landmark series cultivated:
Billy Crystal: OK, he ain't been funny for awhile, but he's probably the biggest star to come out of the show.
Richard Mulligan: Make that...the late, lamented Richard Mulligan. His Burt Campbell could make you laugh yourself silly one minute, and break your heart in the next. Admit it, SOAP fans...you hung onto "Empty Nest" far too long just because of him.
Kathryn Helmond: If you grew up on "Who's the Boss" you know her as Mona. But to my generation, she was the sweet and ditzy heart of this crazy ensemble.
Robert Guillome: I don't think I spelled his name right. He's Benson, of course.
Ted Wass: I never was a BLOSSOM fan (really...who was?), but in terms of success, Ted was on a hit show for awhile there.
Dinah Manoff: Hmmm...Empty Nest again?
And there are other familiar faces, of course. SOAP is a one-of-a-kind sitcom, that's for sure.
Now, let's just hope for some extra features when seasons 2-4 hit the shelves.
68 IT JUST CAN`T GET ANY BETTER...
I WATCHED SOAP EVERY WEEK RELIGOUSLEY,THAT WAS BEFORE TAPE MACHINES...THEN WHEN VHS WAS AROUND, A LOCAL STATION SHOWED IT EVERY DAY MONDAY TO FRIDAY AT 6:00...SO WITH TAPE READY I TAPED ALL 92 EPISODES...NOT THE BEST QUALITY, BUT , I HAD IT...
THEN SOME YEARS LATER I PURCHASED THE SOAP VIDEOS THROUGH COLUMBIA HOUSE...23 TAPES AT ABOUT 30.00 A TAPE...THATS ABOUT 700.00...BUT, I GOT TO WATCH THE SERIES SEVERAL TIMES SINCE...
WELL, NOW I AM VERY EXCITED TO FINALLY GET THIS THE MOST COMICAL SERIES EVER NEXT TO MAYBE BARNEY MILLER TO EVER BE ON TV ON DVD...WOW...I`LL BE THERE ON THE RELEASE DAY TO PURCHASE THE FIRST SEASON...
THE WRITING AND PERFORMANCES ARE TRULY TIMELESS,THEY GOT BETTER WITH EVERY SHOW...THIS IS A MUST OF ALL TV SHOWS TO OWN ON DVD...
P.S. DOES ANYONE WISH TO PURCHASE 23 VHS TAPES...HAHA
69 This Is The Story Of Two Sisters...
Even before its debut in the fall of '77, Soap, a self proclaimed satire of the soap opera format was surrounded by controversy. Advertizers boycott the series, religious groups called the show "immoral", and the ABC network recieved hate mail from potential viewers. Why all the fuss for a sitcom? For starters, Soap featured the first openly gay character in prime time, and it also had plenty of adult situations and dialogue. Watching the show's reruns, I am struck by how tame the show seems now, by today's no holds barred standards. But Soap (along with All In The Family) broke new ground first, and wasn't affraid to tackle taboo TV.
Soap traces the members of two families, the Tates and the Cambells, and their upside down world. There are a number of reasons why the show worked. Series creator Susan Harris took the absurdity of the format and tapped into something that was genuinely funny. A majority of the first season scripts were penned by Harris herself and that kept things consistant. Coming off the classic Mary Tyler Moore Show, year one director, Jay Sandrich was quite a catch. He knew how to juggle the large cast very well. Speaking of which, the cast of the show, was just superb. The show made household names of Billy Crystal, Richard Mulligan, Katherine Hellmond, Robert Mandan, Robert Guillaume, Ted Wass, and Catherine Damon (among others). Each actor brought something unique to the role they played.
While I am generally pleased that the show is making it to DVD, it sure would be nice if the powers that be, saw fit to include some bonus material. It looks as though the three disc set includes just the 25 episodes from season one and that's really it.
For fans of the show though...it's about time. Thanks to great writing, solid casting, surehanded direction, and classic charaters...Soap remains a classic
70 FINALLY!!
I don't have this in my possesion soon but I can't wait! I've been hoping and wishing that someone would finally decide to give one of the best comedies on television the "complete first season, DVD" treatment. 'Bout damn time! ;)
BTW, I'm rating this 5 simply because the show is so funny.
71 FINALLY...a GOOD show is put out on DVD!
While it's a crime that the likes of "Mad About You", "Mutant X" and "Laugh-In" have all been put out on DVD before this fine show, at least now it's finally being released for us fans to enjoy. Now, let's hope that these are COMPLETE episodes (the ones currently airing on TV Land are butchered to death, and they keep showing the same 20 or so from Season 2 over and over again) and that it doesn't take them three years to put out Seasons 2-4 and the recap specials.
72 SOAP Amazing Show
I highly recomend you getting this DVD. SOAP is a classic show that is loved by all. The first season was thought of by many as the best season of the entire show. The storyline of "Who Killed Peter" was excellent. Chuck and Bob are funnier than ever. If you want, check out SOAP on TV Land Kitchen. They only have a handful of episodes but if you enjoy it then get this first season.
This parody of a SOAP opera had me laughing often.
