5 most entertaining soap opera parodies

Soap opera is one of the most popular forms of entertainment on television. The genre's origins lie in sentimental romance novels, children’s morality tales of the 19th century, detective fiction, pulp fiction, vaudeville, and the evangelical roots of the radio. As an amalgamation of so many different aspects, soap operas, therefore, tend to be over-the-top, sentimental, scandalous, and dramatic. The melodramatic genre has captured the attention of millions of viewers over the years, with many twists and turns. Even though a soap opera deals with the bizarre and the unthinkable, it has still enjoyed massive loyalty and popularity among fans. Soap operas tend to run over years, often decades, and thus gain a significant number of die-hard fans.

While it was on the radio, the soap opera had melodrama, overt preaching, and advertising in the mix. However, when it shifted to television, soaps became less about preaching and more about lasciviousness. S*x and scandal became an important to the storylines of some of the most famous soap operas, and extramarital affairs were a given.

As the popularity of soap operas reached an all-time high, a sub-genre was created. Mock-soaps, which were a parody of the soap operas, started gaining traction and became wildly successful. Writers and comedians took note of the hilarious stereotypes of the soap genre and decided to create their own versions. Carol Burnett is the first person to create a parody, As the Stomach Turns, in the 1970s. Sitcom producer Norman Lear also produced a couple of soap opera parodies during this decade and continued the trend.

From specialized shows that were created simply to parody the soap genre, to movies, which revolved around soap dramas and included the element of spoof, there are many instances in pop culture where soaps have been parodied for their dramatic nature.

Even the classic animated show, The Simpsons, did not spare soaps and included two episodes where soap dramas were parodied in a hilarious manner. This mock-soap shows were often written by real-life veteran soap writers, which made the parody authentic. Moreover, many iconic actors and actresses from the soap genre would often cross over and make light of their own shows in these parodies.

Over the years, there have been many soap opera parodies that have entertained audiences and highlighted the comical aspects of the genre. Movies like Tootsie, have gone a step further, and provided social commentary upon the different treatment that women get in the entertainment industry and given shallow roles. Here is a quick list of some of the most entertaining parodies of the soap opera genre.

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Soap, All That Glitters, and other parodies of the soap opera genre

1) Tootsie

One of the most well-known film parodies of the soap opera genre is Tootsie. Starring Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, and Bill Murray, this satirical romantic comedy movie is directed by Sydney Pollack and had a big impact on the trend of spoofing soap operas in mainstream pop culture. The movie revolved around Michael Dorsey (Hoffman), who is a talented but moody actor who finds it hard to get work. Financially challenged, he decides to adopt a female persona to bag a role in a soap opera show. Tootsie is considered a revolutionary effort for its comment on the one-dimensional portrayal of women in soaps, and the gender bias they had to suffer. Disguised as Dorothy, Hoffman's character gets into a soap called Southwest General. It is a direct parody of General Hospital. The movie has many comic scenes highlighting the farcical and often comic nature of soap operas. The movie was a critical and commercial success and was nominated for multiple awards at the Oscars. Tootsie is an influential classic and one of the best-known mainstream parodies of the soap genre.

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2) Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

Developed by Norman Lear and starring Louise Lasser, Greg Mullavey, and Graham Jarvis, the satirical soap opera Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman aired from 1976 to 1977. The show revolved around a homemaker in small-town Ohio named Mary Hartman, who is portrayed as a neurotic woman. The show focuses on the bizarre incidents that happen in her life and also revolve around her husband and their friends and neighbors. The show has been one of the most popular parodies of daytime soap operas. From generic themes to its title, everything about the series spoofs the soap opera genre. The title of the show is based on an inside joke that creator Norman Lear cracked, based on the notion that soap opera characters often repeat their dialogues at least once during an episode. The show was written by sitcom writer, Gail Parent, and soap writer, Ann Marcus (who was associated with Search for Tomorrow). The show includes all the cliches of a soap opera and does not have a laugh track. From sentimental storylines to over-the-top drama and characters, the parody has it all. The series also focuses on how consumerism affected the American homemaker. The show is a cult classic and a hit with viewers and critics alike.

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3) Soap

Created, written, and produced by Susan Harris and starring Jimmy Baio, John Byner, Rae Allen, Soap, is a sitcom that aired from 1977 to 1981. Soap was positioned as a nighttime parody of the popular daytime soaps. The show featured real-life soap actors like Donnelly Rhodes from The Young and the Restless and Robert Mandan from Search for Tomorrow. The series featured Katherine Helmond and Cathryn Damon, as sisters and matriarchs of their families. The show lasted for several years, and was aired once a week, ruthlessly parodying the conventions of the soap genre. Presented in a serial format like soaps, the show featured melodramatic and over-the-top storylines that were reminiscent of soap operas. Themes like alien abduction, extramarital affairs, cults, demonic possession were included in the plot that highlighted the ludicrous nature of soap operas. Further, the show also parodied the use of dramatic cliffhangers. Like other soap dramas, the show was videotaped instead of being filmed. Soap is one of the most endearing cultural byproducts of an era, when soap dramas were regularly being spoofed. In 2007, Soap was listed by Time magazine as one of the 100 best TV shows of all-time.

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4) Soapdish

Directed by Michael Hoffman and starring Sally Field, Robert Downey Jr., and Kevin Cline, Soapdish, is a comedy movie co-produced by Aaron Spelling, who was also a nighttime soap producer. The movie continued the era of soap opera parodies and kept the genre alive. The plot revolves around the personal and professional lives of the cast and crew of a popular fictional TV soap opera. Soapdish is said to have spoofed the real-life soap show called The Sun Also Sets. The movie was released amidst a string of parodies of the soap opera genre. The characters in the movie deliver over-the-top performances and highlight the drama that goes on in front of the camera and behind it, during the filming of a soap opera. Real-life soap opera actors like Stephen Nichols and Finola Hughes acted in the movie, which made it even more authentic and hilarious. The movie received positive reviews and was praised for spoofing soap opera stereotypes in a comic manner.

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5) All That Glitters

Created and produced by Norman Lear and directed by James Frawley and Herbert Kenwith, All That Glitters, is a sitcom that aired in 1977. The show is a hilarious parody of the soap opera format and features Lois Nettleton, Barbara Baxley, Greg Evigan, and Eileen Brennan. The series was created by Lear because he wanted to replicate the success of his other soap opera spoof, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. Even though the show received mixed reviews, it was aired at a time when soap opera parodies were being constantly churned out and allowed to flourish as a new sub-genre. The show revolves around a group of employees, who work at the Globatron corporation. The story focuses on their personal and professional lives and the trials and tribulations they face. As a spoof of a soap opera, the characters regularly display over-the-top behavior. All That Glitters is set in a world where the traditional gender roles are reversed. Women are shown as executives and the ones in command, while men are the support staff or stay-at-home dads. Further, instead of women being scheming and using s*x as a tool, it was the men who were treated as the s*xual objects. The show has gained more positive reviews over the years.