SOAP

SOAP is an American sitcom television series that originally ran on ABC from September 13, 1977, until April 20, 1981. The show was created as a night-time parody of daytime soap operas, presented as a weekly half-hour prime time comedy. In 2007 it was listed as one of Time magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME". SOAP consists of 88 episodes of 30 minutes.

STORY: The show starred Jessica Tate (Katherine Helmond) and Mary Campbell (Cathryn Damon) as sisters and matriarchs of their own families. The wealthy Tate family employs a sarcastic butler/cook named Benson (Robert Guillaume). Mary's family, the Campbells, are working-class, her son Danny Dallas (Ted Wass) is a junior gangster-in-training. Danny is told to kill his stepfather, Burt Campbell (Richard Mulligan), Mary's current husband, who murdered his father Johnny, who was also a mobster. Mary's other son, Jodie (Billy Crystal) is gay, having a secret affair with a famous professional football quarterback, and contemplating a sex-change operation.

GAY COUPLE STORYLINE: Jodie (Billy Crystal) is the son of Mary Campbell (Cathryn Damon) and her first husband Johnny Dallas and is an openly gay man. He shares his mother's common sense and pleasant temperament. He is first dating a closeted football player — played by 1968 Olympic Gold Medallist and 1972 Olympic Silver medallist in Pole Vaulting, Denis Phillips (Bob Seagren), but later fathers a daughter (Wendy) with Carol (Rebecca Balding), an attorney who seduces him. After Carol runs off to join the rodeo, Wendy is left with Jodie, triggering a custody battle and a kidnapping.

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Jodie Dallas (Billy Crystal) and Denis Phillips (Bob Seagren)

BILLY CRYSTAL (1977-1981) March 14, 1948, Yorkville, NY, USA 

BOB SEAGREN (1977-1978) October 17, 1946, Pomona, CA, USA

SPECIAL: Similar to a soap opera, the show's story was presented in a serial format, and featured melodramatic plotlines including alien abduction, demonic possession, extramarital affairs, murder, kidnapping, unknown diseases, amnesia, cults, organized crime warfare and teacher-student relationships.

AWARDS: ‘SOAP’ won 4 Primetime Emmys. 7 wins & 18 nominations.

8.1 IMDB