Oscar-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg will return to the role of Rose Schwarz in a Paramount+ series spin-off of the 1991 comedy Soapdish. Deadline reports that Goldberg, who starred opposite Sally Field in the original film, will reprise her role as the head writer for the interminable soap opera The Sun Also Sets. Jane the Virgin creator Jennie Snyder Urman will showrun and produce the series.
Related: Whoopi Goldberg can’t even with Meghan McCain anymore
Soapdish debuted as a film back in 1991 that also starred Kevin Kline, Robert Downey Jr., Elisabeth Shue, Carrie Fisher, Teri Hatcher, Cathy Moriarty, Kathy Najimy, and Garry Marshall. The movie lampooned the tropes and backstage drama of a long-running network soap opera, and has since earned a cult following for its one-liner zingers and camp humor.
But the film has also earned criticism for its portrayal of transgender characters, and for using them as a source of “gross-out” humor.
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In the movie’s cringeworthy final twist, one character is revealed to be transgender, causing at least one other character to gag in disgust. It ends with said character “de-transitioning” and returning to play dinner theatre. Understandably, the plot attracted wide derision in Disclosure, Sam Feder’s documentary about the portrayal of trans people in films and TV.
Here’s hoping that 30 years on, the show has a bit more respect for trans people. For that matter, we also hope to see the return of several other familiar faces opposite Goldberg’s Cheshire grin. The prospect of seeing Field, Hatcher, Najimy and et. al. reteaming for an update–albeit one compassionate to the queer world–is too promising a premise to ignore.
Here’s how Twitter is responding to the news…
https://twitter.com/motoridersd/status/1480701894787940358
As a soap writer I am excited about the #SoapDish reboot with Whoopi back in the role of Rose. I hope the reboot includes some really positive LGBTQIA representation.
— Tracey Ann Kelly ? (@TAKellywriter) January 10, 2022
The original Soapdish from 1991. A spoof about daytime soap operas. Aaron Spelling was responsible for this. I cannot wait for Whoopi Goldberg to reprise her role as head writer Rose Schwartz on the proposed reboot on Paramount @WhoopiGoldberg #Soapdish #RoseSchwartz pic.twitter.com/MON6w0ViwL
— Donald Peebles Jr. (@DonaldJrPeebles) January 10, 2022
I hope they can do “Soapdish” without the transphobia this time? The rest of it is excellent and perfect for a reboot.
— Thomas Edge 🏳️🌈 (@tjedge20) January 11, 2022
Cathy Moriarty will always be a fave, it’s such a shame her Soapdish plot turns transphobic because she’s one of the best things about that (amazing, save for the transphobic twist at the end) movie
— Lux “Feijoa Fan” Alptraum (@LuxAlptraum) January 9, 2022
A Soapdish reboot!?
As a series??
With Whoopi reprising her role?!?!?Never in my WILDEST dreams ? https://t.co/BD1D4RnBK7
— Aaron Wallace (@aaronwallace) January 11, 2022
Kangol2
Sounds like Hollywood has run out of ideas again. Soap operas are essentially historical material now, unlike in 1991–yes, they still exist but we live in the era of “reality” TV, etc. and the 1990s context is gone–so this seems like a bit of intellectual and artistic laziness, but hey, with the right writers and actors, it could be great. I also do hope they drop the blatant transphobia of the original!
johncp56
OH please yes updated
dhmonarch89
I doubt Whoopi would have signed on if it was still transphobic. We need to stop policing the past- learn from it- by all means, but you can’t change it. If you’re wasting your time crusading about the past and not doing a damn thing about the state of the world today- screw you! The character who gagged had been the trans character’s lover and didn’t know- yes- an overreaction, but I think you’d still find a significant percentage today who would do the same in a similar situation (every republican and probably 1/4 to 1/3 of honest democrats and independents- maybe not gag but be shocked/surprised/upset).
Paulie P
the movie was that good because it had a cast of familiar faces and they were all GREAT… a recast of nobodies won’t have the same impact.
Plus Whoopi doesn’t;t act anymore, she reads and waddles.
Winsocki
OMG: Get over this retro outrage. It was funny, it reflects reality of jokes. You make fun of people. I am a triple minority and understand society develops what is ‘proper’. Transphobic… I don’t care if you call yourself a cactus. Call me It/that/miss thang/miss demeanor/daddyzaddycaddyshack. You know this gay community is getting sad and as touchy as the GOP and Family Value nutters. Outrage over the Pet Detective also I bet with Sean Young character. Middle finger to the offended. Believe me I have been called a lot worse.