Like with every successful sitcom, 'Soap' was successful right out of the gate with its controversial topics and situations. It was groundbreaking in addressing certain taboos in a sitcom context in the late 70's. But was there a time in its run when the show "jumped the shark" in its attempt to snag ratings? The Malaguay run seems to be a desperate attempt. Or Bert's abduction by aliens. What stands out as a deliberate move to secure ratings?

I didn't mind the outrageous stuff, although El Puerco's stuff went on too long. In looking at episode descriptions, I'm seeing around the middle of Season 3 that you have Billy and Leslie, Danny and Polly, and Jodie's neverending issues. I don't know if it was jumping a shark, but it does seem like it was getting tedious around then.

I remember "One Life to Live" actually had a story about aliens and the lead female character being in space. I read once in the late 1970's a soap opera had a cult story but after Jonestown the network ordered the show to quickly wrap it up and drop it.

Just about every silly storyline in Soap, was done on soap operas. The show was a parody of that. It was also a real soap opera in that bad and sad things happened to the various characters.

I dont think it declined in quality. It was still hilarious and occasioanlly thought provoking until the end. It is sad that the series couldnt have done its five years like Susan Harris wanted, thanks mostly to the jerkoff people who hated the show for such irrational reasons that it was basically ran off the air due to a lack of advertisers. If there was the internet and social media back then, the show might have been saved.

I dont understand why if someone doesnt like a show or movie, dont watch it. I am not going to watch "The Last of Us" for example but I am not going to scream from the rooftops or on the keyboard for you not to watch it. Even in the old days of the three networks, just turn off the TV, read a book, make love to your wife, go see a movie, get drunk, get a life. This is what we did and yes children, there were lots of nights when there was nothing on.

When Benson left the show JTS.

For me, Soap jumped the shark when Burt became sheriff and was no longer acting like himself. Also when Mary started drinking. These were 2 of my favorite characters, so I didn't like these changes, but around the time this started happening; I really wasn't enjoying any of the show that much.