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Summary: Another welcome TV release!
Review: Don't read if you fear marginal spoilers.
This season saw the further development of the principals: Jody's tumultous relationship with the mother of his child-to-be. The further erosion of Jessica and Chester's marriage. Burt's brush with infidelity. Danny and Elaine's amazingly bad marriage and later tragedy. Who knew such serious situations could be so hilarious? Maybe only on a show in which real people can be convinced that a puppet is psychic and can become intoxicated.The first season came out when I was 7 and I was not allowed to watch it until summer reruns after my parents had screened the entire season. This second season I got to see "live" with the rest of the world. I was hooked and am happy to see that the humor still holds up after 25 years. For those that are going to be seeing this for the first time, the cliffhanger at the end of this season is just as nailbiting as the previous.
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Summary: Where is Season Three?
Review: I have both seasons and my family really enjoyed all the episodes. Now we are left hanging for the next two seasons! C'mon people, publish Season THREE!!!!
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Summary: The Genius of Susan Harris
Review: I just finished watching the second season of "Soap" and the bonus interview with the creators. The season was pure genius, and it amazes me that television like this ever made it past someone like Fred Silverman. Of course, because of network issues (and America as a whole, at that time) the series was spun off and diluted ("Benson," anyone?) but the originality and unassailable creativity that existed during the first and second seasons of "Soap" live on now, thanks to these DVD releases.
After watching the first two seasons of "Soap," I have come to the conclusion that Susan Harris was the brightest, most brilliant writer ever to work in the medium of television. Ms. Harris (along with her collaborators) created not only "Soap," but "Golden Girls," and "Empty Nest." What I found devestating was this: nowadays, sitcoms are written by committee. During the first two seasons of "Soap," Ms. Harris wrote over 70% of the shows BY HERSELF, and co-wrote the rest. This woman was working every week, coming up with brilliant, side-splitting comedy, all the while bucking the system and disproving stereotypes, and the proof lies on these delicious little silver platters.
Harris, along with her partners, created a wonderful company of mostly Broadway theatre actors, and they utilized them to their best. Dinah Manoff does a delicious bit in "Soap" as the shrewish mob daughter, and then was resurrected years later for her brilliant turn in "Empty Nest." Witt/Thomas/Harris did a tremendous thing, and created a sort of repertory company of wonderful actors who spanned all of their series. The delighful Richard Mulligan turns up in every one of their series. The sensational Doris Roberts (another terrific actress whose roots lie in the NY stage) also shows up in this DVD set. My personal favorite is Inga Swenson, star of the Broadway musical "110 in the Shade," as the sadistic, revenge-driven Scandanivian maid. True to repertory form, she turned up later on "Benson," as another character, which allowed the multi-faceted Ms. Swenson a chance to shine as two completely different characters.
Harris was able to illuminate something here that very few writers do, and it was a gift to all of the actors who played her parts. None of her characters are "stock," or one dimensional. The divine Kathryn Helmond is a dumb socialite, but one with whom everyone could sympathize, because she was a tender, caring human being. She was a living, breathing, dichotemy. (As we all are, really.) Same with every single other character who appeared on "Soap." It is a remarkable achievement, and what makes "Soap," at its core, so brilliant still today.
Ms. Harris herself turns up playing a prostitute in one of the Season 1 episodes. She looks terrific. She doesn't look a day older during the contemporary interviews on the Season 2 set, which leads me to believe that not only is she a talented writer, but she somehow trumped Ponce de Leon somewhere along her travels.
Ms. Harris, I hope that someday you get the full credit that you richly deserve. Everyone else? Buy both seasons of "Soap" on DVD. It's a wonderous, hysterical experience, and an eye into one of our best (albeit underappreciated) contemporary writers.
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Summary: Can't Wait!
Review: I'm like a kid on Christmas Eve waiting for this to be released. The first season DVDs were awesome, hilarious right from the earliest episodes. Thanks to Columbia-Tristar for finally releasing Season Two (I was starting to wonder) and please - Keep those seasons coming!
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Summary: SOAP IS THE VERY BEST SITCOM EVER
Review: If you ever want to see the only, original SOAP, buy the complete set as soon as possible. The antics of the Campbells and the Tates is as funny as it can be. This series can make you laugh (and hurt you stomach doing it) and can also move you to tears, it's THAT good!! I never missed an episode in the late 70's, early 80's and am glad that it's all on DVD for me to view whenever I want to visit Dunn's River, Conn. This was the beginning of the careers of Billy Crystal, Kathryn Damon, and others. BUY IT NOW!! IT is worth it!!
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Summary: One bad thing...
Review: In brief Soap is humorous. Soap has a series of plots that you can follow,just like otehr soap's - of course what makes soap funny is that it is a satire on the real soap's. And from the soaps I saw the story is not much different except that the people are making funny comments instead of crying all the time.
The show was made in the late 70's and being over 25 years old I do nto find that is has become dated, and it has retained it's humor.
The BAD thing! How long must I wait for volumne three!!!???
I need to find out what happens to Bert, which man will Jessica selects how does Danny get away from the killers, and who will rescue Billy!!!
Tri-Star hurry with volumne three!!!
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Summary: Precursor
Review: Quite possibly the best show that has ever been assembled on American TV! Makes me wonder though if Michael Patrick King and Darren Star when creating Sex In The City watched Episode #7 from season 2. It has the most hilarious scene where the four female leads are sitting in the kitchen stuffing their faces and talking about how horny they all are. I recommend this second season EVEN if you don't own the first!
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Summary: It Got There First and Best
Review: Season two of the ongoing saga of the tates and the Campbells prove to be even better and sideplitting funny. The characters become more thought out and colorful and I am hoping that season three pops out soon. I won't give away the plot lines, but if you enjoy terrific humor and wacky but somehow true to life characters, this is the show for you.
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Summary: The funniest series ever
Review: Soap is being repeated on cable, Paramount in the UK Sept 04 and is as hilarious as ever, great scripts, great actors, hilarious situations and laugh out loud one-liners. All my family from ages 12 upwards love it and empathise with the characters.
Seeing it again has prompted me to buy the DVD's and hope that the other series are released as soon as possible.
Todays script writers of soaps should look to attain this standard of writing
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Summary: SOAP - finally the trial gets resolved! SEASON TWO!
Review: 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 second season someone is convicted of murder wrongly, everyone seems to have an affair, several people have near nervous breakdowns, somebody gets kidnapped by aliens, impossible love rears its head several times, and somebody forgets who they are! 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 23 episodes spread out over 3 discs. You also get an unaried PILOT, and a featurette with the creators. 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 2004, but it's still something special. Too bad they didn't put more on the discs - COMMENTARY FOR SEASON 3 PLEASE!, but the show itself is well worth the price! Is the picture quality poor? Not too bad but you do see some flaws, 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! Like video laughing gas!
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