Soap is the story of sisters Jessica Tate (Katherine Helmond) and Mary Campbell (Cathryn Damon). The show chronicles a year in the life of the Tates and Campbells, two completely dysfunctional familes that cannot co-exist no matter how hard they try. The Tates are the picture of extreme wealth while the Campbells are blue collar to the core.

Soap: The Complete Fourth Season is a collection of the last 21 episodes of this groundbreaking ABC series that satirized daytime dramas in terms of narration, recaps, cliffhangers, ominous music and burning questions left unanswered until the next episode.

The Emmy Award-winning sitcom created by Susan Harris (The Golden Girls) did not shy away from controversy. During its 1977-81 run, Soap never stopped tackling sensitive issues. For example, Billy Crystal portrays Jodie Dallas, one of television’s first openly homosexual characters. Other topics such as divorce, murder, organized crime, infidelity, paternity and alien abduction were delivered with high drama, laughter and biting sarcasm. 

The fourth and last season starts with Jessica fighting for her life in a hospital. On the brink of death, she's suffering from a mysterious virus. The doctor has no idea what the virus is, so he names it after Jessica. A few floors away, Mary has given birth to a baby boy she's convinced is an alien. He makes weird noises, can fly, and has the ability to change color. Mary's doctor thinks she is insane and wants nothing to do with her constant unannounced visits.

Mary's husband, Sheriff Burt Campbell (the late Richard Mulligan) and stepson Danny (Ted Wass) add to the wacky confusion when they wake up in a stupor in a dingy motel. Strewn on the floor are items of women's apparel, the only clothing available. Burt and Danny are then set up by “Tibbs” a mobster out to frame them both and get rid of the sheriff. Once at home, they receive photos of themselves with naked women that will be used to blackmail them. When Danny is shot at a party, Burt seeks vengeance. He goes after the mob to take their organization out once and for all.

Meanwhile, young Billy has a mark on his head after a sexual experience with Leslie (Marla Pennington) who tries to kill him. using all sorts of weapons. Each time, she is thwarted by some kind of mishap. She ends up shooting Saunders (Roscoe Lee Browne), who replaced the much-loved character Benson (Robert Guillaume) as the Tate’s butler.

Although the negatives should have been digitally brushed up for this DVD (the colors are fading) and Benson is sorely missed, Soap: The Complete Fourth Season offers fans a great time with old friends.

(Released by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment; not rated by MPAA.)