A sharp, ahead-of-its-time sitcom that pushed soap-opera parody into genuinely subversive territory. Its blend of absurdity, serialized melodrama, and character-driven farce still feels distinctive, though some jokes and attitudes are very much of the late 1970s.
Soap
Where to watch: Buy
TV Show · Comedy · Soap
Tue
Created by: Susan Harris
Starring: Katherine Helmond, Cathryn Damon, Richard Mulligan
Overview
The antics of a wealthy family, the Tates, and a working-class family, the Campbells, in the fictional town of Dunn's River, Connecticut.
Created by
Susan Harris
Cast
Katherine Helmond, Cathryn Damon, Richard Mulligan, Robert Mandan, Billy Crystal, Ted Wass, Diana Canova, Jennifer Salt
Curator Review
Verdict
A sharp, ahead-of-its-time sitcom that pushed soap-opera parody into genuinely subversive territory. Its blend of absurdity, serialized melodrama, and character-driven farce still feels distinctive, though some jokes and attitudes are very much of the late 1970s.
Best for
Viewers who like boundary-pushing network sitcoms
Fans of ensemble comedies with ongoing storylines
People interested in TV history and cult classics
Anyone who enjoys campy melodrama and deadpan absurdism
Skip if
You want modern pacing and contemporary sensibilities
You dislike broad farce or laugh-track-era sitcom rhythms
You prefer fully self-contained episodes over serialized chaos
You are sensitive to period-specific stereotypes and dated humor
Overview
Soap is one of the most important American sitcoms of its era: a network comedy that treated serial melodrama as both target and engine, then built a deeply strange family saga around it. The Tates and Campbells are a perfect setup for escalating absurdity, and the show’s willingness to swing from slapstick to genuine emotional stakes is a big part of its enduring appeal.
Worth noting
Its reputation rests on how fearless it was for ABC in the late 1970s. The series mixes taboo topics, surreal twists, and character comedy with a pace that often feels more modern than its vintage suggests. Even when the jokes are uneven, the show’s invention and confidence make it feel like a prototype for later ensemble comedies that cared about continuity and chaos.
Bottom line
The first two seasons are the essential stretch, with the show’s concept and comic voice at their strongest. Later episodes remain watchable, but the novelty and momentum are most potent early on. As a cult classic, it’s best approached as both a time capsule and a blueprint for smarter, stranger TV comedy.