Why was it controversial? - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

isiahthomas · 12-16-2002, 12:16 PM

Did Billy Crystal ever kiss a man on Soap? I don't remember him kissing another man on here when i used to watch it.

swarlock · 05-14-2003, 06:20 AM

Definitely controversial for all that has been previously mentioned.

It's funny how a lot of TV families I've seen over have always tried too hard to maintain that "wholesome" Larger Than Life image of what a family should be.

In Soap I found the fictional Tates and Campbells to be very refershing and honest about the way real people live as oppossed to The Brady Bunch or Leave It To Beaver who sort of swept things under the rug.

It's not a slam against them and I loved watching them when I was younger. But I felt more in tune with Jessica Tate because a lot of her traits were mine too. Every character in that show may have had their problems but they proved to me that it doesn't matter what kind of structure you base your family on, you are still very human.

Make no mistake they also did their best to overcome a lot of it
half the time and it helped to know that underneath their tragic situations that they were really good people. If they were my neighbors in real life I'd accept them for who they are and still are.

Fixxer315 · 02-19-2007, 05:33 PM

On top of a sympathetic portrayal of a gay character (rare in primetime in the 70's, the show also had its fair share of racial, ethnic & religious humor. In fact, there are a lot of jokes that would not make it to air today.

For example, in the pilot, the Major calls Benson "boy" This would not be aired today as being too insensitive to blacks.

catlover79 · 04-27-2008, 10:38 AM

It's so ironic - compared to almost everything on the air today, Soap is tame!

iank · 12-11-2008, 09:41 PM

I find it hilarious how controversial it was in the States. I saw it as a little kid in the early 80s in the UK, I adored it and my folks never had a problem with me watching it. Americans, eh? lol

JR1 · 03-07-2009, 10:31 PM

If "Soap" seems tame today, it's because it paved the way for shows that followed. You have to consider the time, though- it was scandalous.

Miss Lisa · 03-19-2009, 11:34 PM

I would have loved to have been alive when this was all going on. I started watching Soap when I was thirteen, and I thought it was hilarious. Shows from back then weren't afraid to make fun of anything! I wish shows could be more like that today. Insead, they're afraid to do anything that might seem a little out of line. Besides, I think it was the fact that Soap was controversial that helped it to become more popular. Curiosity is a natural instinct.

comedyfreak · 03-21-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Lisa

I think it was the fact that Soap was controversial that helped it to become more popular. Curiosity is a natural instinct.

That and there was perfect chemistry between all the cast members.

Dr. Thong · 03-22-2009, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isiahthomas

Did Billy Crystal ever kiss a man on Soap? I don't remember him kissing another man on here when i used to watch it.

No. It was controversial enough just to have a gay character. Had there been a kiss, it would have given watchdog groups even more ammunition.

Now, such a kiss would be a selling point for viewers to watch.

Even though it was the 1970s, some people were still employing a 1950s mentality/outlook to what they watched, despite the inroads made by writer/producers like Norman Lear.

TripperFan · 03-22-2009, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

No. It was controversial enough just to have a gay character. Had there been a kiss, it would have given watchdog groups even more ammunition.

Now, such a kiss would be a selling point for viewers to watch.

Even though it was the 1970s, some people were still employing a 1950s mentality/outlook to what they watched, despite the inroads made by writer/producers like Norman Lear.

That's for sure. The "kiss that was heard around the world" was when Sammy Davis kissed Archie on the cheek in AITF. They wouldn't have dared crossed the line at that time having Billy kiss a guy.

My mom and I watched the show from day one and loved every minute of it. Actually I think you could get away with the Major referring to Benson as "boy" even today. Groups were just as sensitive back then about that - if anything almost moreso. It was an obvious reference to the old days of racism (where the Major didn't really mean to put down Benson, it was just "understood" in his day that a black man would be referred to as boy). Benson's reactions said it all anyway (and they were hilarious - it also helped set up the spinoff for Benson - proving that he sure wasn't a "boy").

I've seen it off and on in reruns, but no matter what station has it, they never seem to have the entire series and a lot of the best episodes aren't included. It's infuriating.

catlover79 · 03-22-2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

That and there was perfect chemistry between all the cast members.

Yes, they did. Though I admit being a bit jealous of Katherine Helmond's character because she had Gregory Sierra!!

Retro4Life · 03-25-2009, 08:23 PM

What, not Robert Mandan?

Miss Lisa · 03-25-2009, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Yes, they did. Though I admit being a bit jealous of Katherine Helmond's character because she had Gregory Sierra!!

Haha, I'm just jealous of the girls that got to play Danny's girlfriends. My friend and I watch Soap, and we both agree... Ted Wass was hot

catlover79 · 03-25-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Lisa

Haha, I'm just jealous of the girls that got to play Danny's girlfriends. My friend and I watch Soap, and we both agree... Ted Wass was hot

OK, you take Ted Wass and I'll take Gregory Sierra.

JR1 · 04-02-2009, 12:45 PM

Isn't Gregory Sierra El Puerco? People really found/find him attractive?

05-14-2003, 06:20 AM	#17
swarlock Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 13, 2003 Location: Kissimmee, FL. Posts: 51	Definitely controversial for all that has been previously mentioned. It's funny how a lot of TV families I've seen over have always tried too hard to maintain that "wholesome" Larger Than Life image of what a family should be. In Soap I found the fictional Tates and Campbells to be very refershing and honest about the way real people live as oppossed to The Brady Bunch or Leave It To Beaver who sort of swept things under the rug. It's not a slam against them and I loved watching them when I was younger. But I felt more in tune with Jessica Tate because a lot of her traits were mine too. Every character in that show may have had their problems but they proved to me that it doesn't matter what kind of structure you base your family on, you are still very human. Make no mistake they also did their best to overcome a lot of it half the time and it helped to know that underneath their tragic situations that they were really good people. If they were my neighbors in real life I'd accept them for who they are and still are.
	__________________ Don't waste your life worrying about the future, do something to make your future better.

04-27-2008, 10:38 AM	#19
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	It's so ironic - compared to almost everything on the air today, Soap is tame!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

12-16-2002, 12:16 PM	#16
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,704	Did Billy Crystal ever kiss a man on Soap? I don't remember him kissing another man on here when i used to watch it.

02-19-2007, 05:33 PM	#18
Fixxer315 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 01, 2007 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 16	On top of a sympathetic portrayal of a gay character (rare in primetime in the 70's, the show also had its fair share of racial, ethnic & religious humor. In fact, there are a lot of jokes that would not make it to air today. For example, in the pilot, the Major calls Benson "boy" This would not be aired today as being too insensitive to blacks.

12-11-2008, 09:41 PM	#20
iank Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 11, 2008 Posts: 39	I find it hilarious how controversial it was in the States. I saw it as a little kid in the early 80s in the UK, I adored it and my folks never had a problem with me watching it. Americans, eh? lol

03-07-2009, 10:31 PM	#21
JR1 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 07, 2009 Location: USA Posts: 742	If "Soap" seems tame today, it's because it paved the way for shows that followed. You have to consider the time, though- it was scandalous.

03-19-2009, 11:34 PM	#22
Miss Lisa Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 08, 2005 Location: My very own Green Acres Posts: 1,113	I would have loved to have been alive when this was all going on. I started watching Soap when I was thirteen, and I thought it was hilarious. Shows from back then weren't afraid to make fun of anything! I wish shows could be more like that today. Insead, they're afraid to do anything that might seem a little out of line. Besides, I think it was the fact that Soap was controversial that helped it to become more popular. Curiosity is a natural instinct.

03-25-2009, 08:23 PM	#27
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	What, not Robert Mandan?

04-02-2009, 12:45 PM	#30
JR1 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 07, 2009 Location: USA Posts: 742	Isn't Gregory Sierra El Puerco? People really found/find him attractive?