What time of night did Soap air?

I know the series ran late 70’s early 80’s. What I want to know is what time of night it aired.

Me and my buddy were watching old reruns of this last night on “On Demand” cable last night. Being that we were both born in 1970 we couldn’t rightly remember what time of night the show came on.

I seem to remember it came on after the 10 o’clock news (I’m guessing because it was so controversial for the time.) My buddy says “No way” it had to have been played at a more prime time spot.

IIRC, “Soap” ran mainly on Thursday nights at either 9:30 or 10:00pm. During it’s last year, when it was being run off the air by evangelist christians, ABC switched it to Monday nights at 10:00pm for the last few months before pulling the plug. The time switch, and the resultant lower ratings, were the network’s excuse to pull the plug on it w/o admitting that they were caving into christian censorship.

I distinctly recall that when the series switched time-slots, the network ran ‘promos’ for the series consisting of only white type scrolling over a black screen (with a narrator reading the text) stating that “Soap” would be returning to the air at a new time slot and asking “Is “Soap” unsuitable material for television? You be the judge.” and the theme music playing. I remember that because it was the first time I knew that there was such controversy surrounding the show (well, aside from my parents forbidding me to watch it, that is.)

According to this site:

http://www.televisionhits.com/soap/showsummary.html#televisedhistory

Soap aired at 9:30 Thursday nights on ABC from 1977-80, and 9:30 Wednesday nights in 1980-81.

However, because of its controversial subject plots, “[some] stations moved it from 9:30 P.M. to a late night time slot.”

So, you’re both right.

According to this site:

http://www.televisionhits.com/soap/showsummary.html#televisedhistory

Soap aired at 9:30 Thursday nights on ABC from 1977-80, and 9:30 Wednesday nights in 1980-81.

However, because of its controversial plots, “[some] stations moved it from 9:30 P.M. to a late night time slot.”

So, you’re both right.

Confused? You won’t be…

If there’s ever been a prime time network situation comedy that ran at 10:00 or later, it’s buried in the far distant prehistory of the field. Individual affiliates always have the freedom to move, preempt or not run network shows. So if your local stations did move it…

I blame you for the low ratings that left the show dangling with three separate cliffhangers the last season!

Fall 1989: Designing Women (10 pm), Newhart (10:30 pm).

“Pick up your feet!”
My favorite “Soap” quote.
The General…

…to his stuffed dog.

The best plotline was when Burt was abducted by the aliens.

I’ve also been watching it on OnDemand, but they’ve only given us six episodes so far. I’m dying for the alien abduction bit.

Oh yes. We were rolling when his wife Mary gave birth, and asked the doctor “What color is it?” (referring to the baby).

Since a lot of stations refused to show the first season at its normal time, ABC played episodes at 11:30pm on Fridays. That’s how I got to see the first season. I now have the whole series on DVD. It’s still funny nearly 30 years later.

Especially where he snaps his fingers just a split second before the aliens beam him up, and he disappears in front of Mary’s eyes, making her believe he really can turn himself invisible, a delusion of Burt’s for which Mary had him committed a season or two earlier.

I’ll try to stop now. :slight_smile:

The all-time greatest bit on television ever, he said hyperbolically, came during the episode in which Burt and all the kids go out drinking together and get wildly drunk.

At one point, Bob - the wooden ventriloquist’s doll - announces that he has to throw up – and everybody else immediately backs out of the way.

Almost any episode with Bob was hysterical but that moment when they all treated him as totally human is the peak.

I agree.

Remember when Chuck put a blindfold on Bob, to do a mind-reading act, and had Bob identify objects held up by Chuck in front of Burt and Danny? Burt and Danny were blown away by Bob’s supernatural power.

Yeah, I remember that one! Even Jody, the only normal one of the bunch, backed up. :smiley:
I think I need to go buy this one. Getting one episode at a time is killing me.

No no, they handed her the baby and she exclaimed with relief “Oh thank god it’s white!” and then looked up at the black nurse giving her the stink eye. “I was afraid it would be silver.”