Vote for why you think it jumped
Never Jumped
Bert is kidnapped by aliens
Exit...Stage Left (Benson)
Location Change (El Puerko)
Susan Harris stops writing
Shark Bytes
I haven't seen the show since it was run the very first time. The reason then, that I and others stopped watching it was that it had actually "become a soap". To us, it truly had dispensed with the satire and taken on alarming aspects of all the daytime dramas series that I no longer had interest in(except to mock) Given that it was run in the afternoons here by the second season...anyway, reading the posts I see that posters have a different take on it and see it as the comedy series it was meant to be. So I'd like to watch it again....
I feel Soap jumped the shark around the end of the second season/beginning of the third season. Basically, somewhere in here, the series crosses a line, and changes from being bizarre (but entertaining) to silly. And this decline continues through the third season and on into the fourth. I freely admit that I haven't seen much of the 4th season -- I find it unwatchable. Perhaps the greatest loss is Benson -- He's the glue that holds the series together, and the show falls apart without him.
It's a shame, because the first and most of the second season of Soap are one of the funniest comedies ever broadcast. Many thanks to DVD, for making it possible to see this late seventies gem as it was meant to be seen!
It's a shame, because the first and most of the second season of Soap are one of the funniest comedies ever broadcast. Many thanks to DVD, for making it possible to see this late seventies gem as it was meant to be seen!
When shows like 'Days Of Our Lives' got almost as weird as Soap itself. More crucially, the writing had run out of puff by the final season or two, and there you go. On the plus side, when it was good, it was excellent. All the characters were endearingly neurotic to some degree, but landmark GILF Katherine Helmond's portrayal of sweetly dotty Jessica Tate was worth watching the show for alone.
One classic moment among many: Indecisive Dutch desperately making up ludicrous new verses to 'Eeny Meeny Miney' to delay choosing between Eunice and Corrinne.
One classic moment among many: Indecisive Dutch desperately making up ludicrous new verses to 'Eeny Meeny Miney' to delay choosing between Eunice and Corrinne.
"Soap" never really jumped the shark. Although during the fourth and final season, there was a noticeable decline in the quality of writing. Some viewers felt that the show jumped the shark towards the end of the second season, with Corrine's possessed baby, and Burt's encounter with the UFO. But the whole idea of the show was to be bizarre. And with these story developments, the bizarreness took a "paranormal" direction.
For a while, I thought the show might have jumped the shark by Burt becoming sheriff. Burt was basically an insecure wimp. Most noticeably during the second season, when he saw Mary after her professor made a pass at her. And during the third season, when he was first beamed down from the UFO, and saw "Alien Burt" in his house. In both situations, Burt was afraid to confront the situation, and ran away for the time being. This was not a man, who would have the guts to singlehandedly bust Tibbs' gang of organized crime with a baseball bat, during the fourth season. But the episode with the bat worked, because it was bizarre.
This was possibly the last worthwhile development in the storyline. With Burt's subsequent recognition as a hero, and the continuing events with Jessica and El Puerco, something was lost for the rest of the show's run.
After recently buying and viewing all four DVD sets, I realized something about Jodie's portrayal as gay. Except for the quarterback Dennis in the first season, we only see a couple of other men in his life, and only briefly. He is more often seen with a woman, first Carol and finally Maggie. Something is wrong with this picture. It was also strange watching the relationship between Danny and Polly, during the third season. Admittedly I grew up in a "colorblind" environment, and never really witnessed the type of hostilities which Danny and Polly faced in their interracial relationship. Society has made a lot of progress in the thirty years since the show aired, regarding its acceptance of interracial relationships. But there is more work to be done. There is even more work to be done, to get society to better accept homosexual relationships. Homophobia is still too prevalent. Even though scientific research is more and more suggesting, that one does not choose to be gay, just as one does not choose to be black.
My favorite funny moments from the show, include Burt's response to curing his impotency and wanting to throw a party, along with Burt's reaction to Jodie getting Carol pregnant. And a few funny Jessica moments. Including when Jessica and Chester enter Corrine's jail cell, and Jessica is appalled at the presence of the toilet in the cell. And when Mary tells her about Jodie's pending fatherhood, she goes "Dennis is pregnant?" And as Corrine and Tim are about to break up, Jessica reads a dictionary definition of "eunuch."
For a while, I thought the show might have jumped the shark by Burt becoming sheriff. Burt was basically an insecure wimp. Most noticeably during the second season, when he saw Mary after her professor made a pass at her. And during the third season, when he was first beamed down from the UFO, and saw "Alien Burt" in his house. In both situations, Burt was afraid to confront the situation, and ran away for the time being. This was not a man, who would have the guts to singlehandedly bust Tibbs' gang of organized crime with a baseball bat, during the fourth season. But the episode with the bat worked, because it was bizarre.
This was possibly the last worthwhile development in the storyline. With Burt's subsequent recognition as a hero, and the continuing events with Jessica and El Puerco, something was lost for the rest of the show's run.
After recently buying and viewing all four DVD sets, I realized something about Jodie's portrayal as gay. Except for the quarterback Dennis in the first season, we only see a couple of other men in his life, and only briefly. He is more often seen with a woman, first Carol and finally Maggie. Something is wrong with this picture. It was also strange watching the relationship between Danny and Polly, during the third season. Admittedly I grew up in a "colorblind" environment, and never really witnessed the type of hostilities which Danny and Polly faced in their interracial relationship. Society has made a lot of progress in the thirty years since the show aired, regarding its acceptance of interracial relationships. But there is more work to be done. There is even more work to be done, to get society to better accept homosexual relationships. Homophobia is still too prevalent. Even though scientific research is more and more suggesting, that one does not choose to be gay, just as one does not choose to be black.
My favorite funny moments from the show, include Burt's response to curing his impotency and wanting to throw a party, along with Burt's reaction to Jodie getting Carol pregnant. And a few funny Jessica moments. Including when Jessica and Chester enter Corrine's jail cell, and Jessica is appalled at the presence of the toilet in the cell. And when Mary tells her about Jodie's pending fatherhood, she goes "Dennis is pregnant?" And as Corrine and Tim are about to break up, Jessica reads a dictionary definition of "eunuch."
soap was a really good sitcom, different than anything that had came before. i watched it right thru to the end. it maintained its quality and never jumped.
When soap ended I was shocked still am.
They left us with so many cliff hangers
and only one of them was eventually resolved the one was "was Jessica really shot?" It was resolved in an episode of Benson. In the episode Benson sees an apparition(spirit) that only he can see and hear of Jessica saying she is not dead but in a coma in south america. That was the only cliff hanger ever resolved only Sarah(creator of soap) knows the rest! Does anyone know what season of Benson Had this Episode?
They left us with so many cliff hangers
and only one of them was eventually resolved the one was "was Jessica really shot?" It was resolved in an episode of Benson. In the episode Benson sees an apparition(spirit) that only he can see and hear of Jessica saying she is not dead but in a coma in south america. That was the only cliff hanger ever resolved only Sarah(creator of soap) knows the rest! Does anyone know what season of Benson Had this Episode?
I don't think Soap ever jumped the shark. It would have jumped if they had ever taken Chuck and Bob off. I still don't know why anybody would say it jumped when Benson left. He was just a surly butler with an attitude. Burt, and Chuck and Bob made me laugh more than any of the other characters.
Despite being a fairly conservative person, this remain one of my favourite shows. It's a shame that other sociopolitically oriented shows are always so stilted and bereft of real wit and entertainment. I would give Susan Harris all the credit, as she really did incredible work on the writing for Soap, but she's never been able to recapture the sheer imaginative power that came out of the Soap ensemble (even if her later creations did have better runs).
As far as I'm concerned, though it had it's foibles and ended on a cliffhanger, Soap never jumped the shark.
As far as I'm concerned, though it had it's foibles and ended on a cliffhanger, Soap never jumped the shark.
One of the best shows ever. Chuck and Bob really made the show. Chuck and Bob's interaction with every other character was hilarious, especially with Burt.
The Benson character was also fantastic.
The Benson character was also fantastic.
I want to know where I can get my hands on the truly "final" episode where Jessica goes to heaven and meets God (Bea Arthur). I know this existed, because I saw it (I believe the year after it was cancelled.) Why wasn't it included on the 4th season DVD set? I would LOVE to see that episode!!!
Hey, Chester...you sound like me when it comes to the "Reality Show" craze.
I also loved Soap, but it, in my opinion jumped with demonic possession of Fr. Tim and Corrine's baby.
But that said...it wasn't supposed to be a dramatic representation of real life.
Broke a lot of rules and opened the door for the 'kickin out' of the '50's style censorship television was plagued with up 'till then.
I also loved Soap, but it, in my opinion jumped with demonic possession of Fr. Tim and Corrine's baby.
But that said...it wasn't supposed to be a dramatic representation of real life.
Broke a lot of rules and opened the door for the 'kickin out' of the '50's style censorship television was plagued with up 'till then.
One of the reasons listed on why Soap jumped was "Burt being kidnapped by aliens". ARE YOU SERIOUS? That was on of the funniest plots on this show!Burt was the best! Had a huge crush on Jessica(VERY good looking for an older dame!)Chuck & Bob were great!One of the funniest sit-coms ever! I've said it before & I'll say it again...Take these stupid reality shows off the air & bring back shows like Soap!
it never jumped the shark because it was a mockery of soap operas! it was one over the top moment after another and that's why it was fantastic, we never knew what was coming next!
i remember when i first watched it. i was about 11 y.o. and became instantly addicted! i even taped some episodes. the one where mary goes to tell jessica shes pregnant "you'll never guess! not in a million years..." "you're pregnant?" classic!
i saw it again last year and it is as funny now as it was 10 years ago (when i saw it for the 1st time) and before that. one of the few shows i can't get tired of.
although it did suffer for a while after benson's departure. he was my favorite character along with jessica.
*sigh*
i remember when i first watched it. i was about 11 y.o. and became instantly addicted! i even taped some episodes. the one where mary goes to tell jessica shes pregnant "you'll never guess! not in a million years..." "you're pregnant?" classic!
i saw it again last year and it is as funny now as it was 10 years ago (when i saw it for the 1st time) and before that. one of the few shows i can't get tired of.
although it did suffer for a while after benson's departure. he was my favorite character along with jessica.
*sigh*
Soap was incredible and a true gem in Susan Harris' crown. It never jumped the shark.
I remember i used to get annoyed when a story wouldnt end and i was afraid i was going to miss it. The scene when Jessica expelled the demon from her grandchild left me speechless and sent shivers down my spine. There were so many great moments that paid off well.
I remember i used to get annoyed when a story wouldnt end and i was afraid i was going to miss it. The scene when Jessica expelled the demon from her grandchild left me speechless and sent shivers down my spine. There were so many great moments that paid off well.
Leave a Comment
