Soap

Soap

8/10
ABC Ended Comedy

4 Seasons · 90 Episodes · Premiered September 13, 1977 · Ended May 25, 1981

Soap is an outrageous comedy saga serializing the hilarious exploits of the characters in two unusual families. Meet the Tates and the Campbells, two families who have relationships as complex as those in a Russian novel. But the fun is in the unraveling.The well-to-do Tate family is comprised of Chester Tate the father, and Jessica, the mother, the parents of three children. Their two daughters, Corinne and Eunice, have distinctly different personalities. Their son, Billy, compared to the rest of the family, is the only sane member of the group, according to Benson, their hired employee who knows everything about everyone. The witty Benson does his best to hold the family together. Living with the Tate family is Jessica's father, referred to as the Major -- who doesn't quite believe that World War II is over.On the other side of town lives Mary Dallas Campbell, Jessica Tate's younger sister. Mary is wed to Burt Campbell who is not as prosperous a breadwinner as Chester. Mary's former husband, Johnny Dallas, has passed on, leaving her with two sons, Danny and Jodie. The older son, Danny, does not quite see eye-to-eye with his stepfather, and while the rest of the family knows Jodie is gay, Danny just thinks Jodie has a wonderful sense of humor.

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Seasons & Episodes

Season 1

25 episodes
E01
Episode 1
Wed, Sep 14 1977 2:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
The Tate family is rich and has many secrets to hide. The Campbell family is working-class and tackling many personal problems.
E02
Episode 2
Wed, Sep 21 1977 2:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
After her tennis lesson, Jessica lunches with Mary, who mistakes her sister's glow for a facelift. At the office, Claire catches Chester wooing his newest mistress via telephone. Claire threatens to tell Jessica; when that fails to scare Chester, she also threatens to call the SEC. Jodie comes out of Mary's closet wearing one of her outfits and blonde wig. Mary tells Burt that Jodie wears her outfit better. . . and that is not Jodie's big surprise! Burt ran into his long lost son at a sporting goods store; he is coming to dinner that evening to meet the family. Danny has a surprise: the Godfather says he has to kill Burt in order to get out of the Mob. Benson is the only one who has fun when the Campbells gather at the Tate home for dinner. As the epithets and fists fly (and Jessica glows) Benson opens the front door and admits Burt's son, Peter. Jessica and Corinne are both shocked; and Jodie is titillated. Tennis, anyone?
E03
Episode 3
Wed, Sep 28 1977 2:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
The families are introduced to Peter Campbell, Burt's son from his first marriage; the Godfather offers Danny a contract to leave the mob, by killing his own stepfather Burt.
E04
Episode 4
Wed, Oct 5 1977 2:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
NFL quarterback Dennis Phillips turns out to be Jodie's boyfriend; Danny makes several hilarious attempts on Burt's life while the oblivious victim is happily making a sandwich. Claire tells Chester to get a divorce or else....
E05
Episode 5
Wed, Oct 5 1977 2:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
Corinne reveals her feelings for Catholic priest Father Timothy Flotsky, but still decides to move in with Burt's son Peter; Burt cannot reveal his secret to a sex psychiatrist, who admits to his own troubles from a Playboy bunny.
E06
Episode 6
Wed, Oct 26 1977 2:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
Father Tim has to raise his voice in church to drown out Corinne's pleas; Jessica blames Chester for her affair with Peter, as he was the one who bought her a tennis racket for her birthday.
E07
Episode 7
Wed, Nov 2 1977 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
Chuck and Bob arrive from Hawaii, insulting everyone within earshot; Chester's secretary Claire reveals all to Jessica, who believes only that the poor girl is delusional about having an affair with her husband; on a fishing trip with Danny at a secluded cabin, Burt goes from jubilant to nervous as his stepson reveals his intent to kill him.
E08
Episode 8
Wed, Nov 9 1977 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
Unable to kill his stepfather Burt, Danny must now hide out from the mob, telling his mother that he's been chosen to work undercover as a spy.
E09
Episode 9
Wed, Nov 16 1977 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
Awaiting his sex change operation, Jodie befriends an elderly Jew named Barney Gerber, and a pretty nurse who jumps at the chance to 'convert' a homosexual; Burt tells Dr. Medlow how he killed Mary's first husband in self defense, and is assured that it was not premeditated.
E10
Episode 10
Wed, Nov 23 1977 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
An ecstatic Burt returns home ready to celebrate after six months of celibacy, but a distraught Mary is unable to reciprocate; devastated at losing Dennis to a woman, Jodie swallows 45 pills in a desperate suicide attempt, tearfully slipping away as Barney Gerber displays his joy for life.
E11
Episode 11
Wed, Nov 30 1977 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
Barney Gerber reassures Burt and Mary that Jodie is doing fine, while Jessica confesses her affair with Peter to her husband Chester, who only feels amusement at her unfaithfulness.
E12
Episode 12
Wed, Dec 7 1977 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
Jessica delivers an ultimatum to the philandering Chester, and threatens to kill Peter Campbell for lying to her and betraying her daughter Corinne; late that night, while in the shower, Peter is murdered by an unseen assailant.
E13
Episode 13
Wed, Dec 14 1977 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
In the aftermath of Peter's murder, Chief of Police Tinkler goes over the facts with both the Tates and the Campbells.
E14
Episode 14
Wed, Dec 28 1977 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
In the aftermath of Peter's murder, the Tates and Campbells take turns suspecting each other. Chief of Police Tinkler arrives to make a startling arrest.
E15
Episode 15
Wed, Jan 4 1978 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
Corrine's natural mother, formerly the Tates' Swedish maid, travels to Dunn's River to be with her daughter; tiring of running from the mob, Danny winds up in bed with the daughter of mob boss Mr. Lefkowitz.
E16
Episode 16
Wed, Jan 11 1978 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
Corinne meets her real mother, Ingrid Svenson, for the very first time; still vengeful at the loss of her child, Ingrid has hired a German detective whose abrasive nature rubs Benson the wrong way; and Chief of Police Tinkler gathers enough evidence to arrest Jessica for Peter's murder.
E17
Episode 17
Wed, Jan 18 1978 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
Chester has to mortgage the house to make Jessica's bail; Burt claims he can make himself invisible.
E18
Episode 18
Wed, Jan 25 1978 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
Chester enlists on Jessica's behalf E. Ronald Mallu, the most expensive attorney money can buy; Chester's spiteful secretary Claire finally makes good on her threats by turning him in to the SEC.
E19
Episode 19
Wed, Feb 8 1978 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
E. Ronald Mallu struggles to find good character witnesses for Jessica among her crazy family; Jessica's heartfelt pleas to Corinne are shot down by the bitter Ingrid Svenson, who convinces Corinne that she only did it to prevent her testifying against her mother in court.
E20
Episode 20
Wed, Feb 15 1978 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
Exhausted by Elaine's affections, Danny is stunned to learn that he must marry her or have his brains blown out; Jodie hides Bob in the refrigerator, only to learn that Chuck cannot carry on a conversation without another identity.
E21
Episode 21
Wed, Feb 22 1978 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
Jessica's trial begins, with the prosecutor saying such nasty things about her that she threatens not to come back; Jodie meets Carol David, E. Ronald Mallu's assistant, who finds the 'suicidal homosexual' adorable.
E22
Episode 22
Wed, Mar 1 1978 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
While dining at a Japanese restaurant, Carol convinces Jodie to go away with her for a weekend; Jessica's trial continues, with the prosecutor announcing a surprise witness.
E23
Episode 23
Wed, Mar 15 1978 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
Burt finally tells Mary how he killed her first husband; Ingrid loses Corinne after sleeping with Judge Petrillo; and Tim's mother can't suppress the desire to strangle Corinne, the girl who stole her son away from the priesthood.
E24
Episode 24
Wed, Mar 22 1978 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
Jodie wakes up in bed with Carol, understandably confused about the previous night's events; Chief of Police Tinkler drops by to arrest Chester for his stock manipulations; E. Ronald Mallu's summation brings Jessica's trial to a close.
E25
Episode 25
Wed, Mar 29 1978 3:00 AM GMT+0000 30 min
Tim and Corinne plan their wedding; Carol convinces Jodie that they should live together; and the jury returns a verdict in Jessica's trial.

Season 2

22 episodes

Season 3

22 episodes

Season 4

21 episodes
Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal as Jodie Dallas
Cathryn Damon
Cathryn Damon as Mary Campbell
Katherine Helmond
Katherine Helmond as Jessica Tate
Richard Mulligan
Richard Mulligan as Burt Campbell
Rod Roddy
Rod Roddy as Announcer
Ted Wass
Ted Wass as Danny Dallas
Diana Canova
Diana Canova as Corinne Tate Flotsky
Robert Guillaume
Robert Guillaume as Benson DuBois
Jennifer Salt
Jennifer Salt as Eunice Tate
Robert Mandan
Robert Mandan as Chester Tate
Robert Urich
Robert Urich as Peter 'The Tennis Player' Campbell
Arthur Peterson
Arthur Peterson as The Major

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