Soul Man (TV series)

Soul Man
Created by	Carmen Finestra David McFadzean Matt Williams
Written by	Sarit Catz Pat Dougherty Karin Kelly Gloria Ketterer Tom Leopard David MacFadzean Steve Paymer Jon Pollack David Richardson Elliot Shoenman Marley Sims Danny Smith Mary Pat Walsh Matt Williams
Directed by	Peter Bonerz Gil Junger John Pasquin Will Mackenzie Don Scardino Andrew Tsao Ted Wass
Starring	Dan Aykroyd Anthony Clark Kevin Sheridan Brendon Ryan Barrett Spencer Breslin Courtney Chase Dakin Matthews Anne Lambton
Theme music composer	Isaac Hayes and David Porter
Opening theme	"Soul Man"
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	25
Production
Executive producer(s)	Carmen Finestra David MacFadzean Matt Williams
Location(s)	Royal Oak, Michigan (setting) New York, NY (actual filming location)
Camera setup	Videotape; Multi-camera
Running time	22 minutes
Production company(s)	Wind Dancer Productions Touchstone Television
Release
Original network	ABC
Original release	April 15, 1997 – May 26, 1998
Chronology
Related shows	Home Improvement

Soul Man is an American sitcom that aired on ABC in 1997 that lasted two seasons and starred Dan Aykroyd.

The series premiered on April 15, 1997, and was picked up for a second season of 22 half-hour episodes after only three episodes aired for the first season. Despite ranking 29th in its 2nd and final season, it ended on May 26, 1998, with 25 half-hour episodes produced in total.

The theme song was "Soul Man" written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. Aykroyd was closely associated with the song, having released a hit single of it in 1979 with his band The Blues Brothers.

Premise

Mike Weber (played by Aykroyd) is a widowed Episcopal priest who must deal with his four children, his quirky parishioners in Royal Oak, Michigan, and a wet-behind-the-ears curate who happens to be the nephew of his bishop.

Home Improvement connection

Mike Weber appeared on Home Improvement as the priest of Richard Karn's character, Al Borland. He was hired to put in a new stand for a holy water basin in the season seven episode "Losing My Religion". Tim Taylor ended up cutting the hole too big, causing the basin to fall through the floor.

In the Soul Man episode "Cinderella and the Funeral", Al Borland appeared in order to fix the church's furnace. Reference was made to Tim and the holy water basin falling through the hole he cut.

Zachary Ty Bryan appeared in the episode "Public Embarrassment and Todd's First Sermon" playing Brad Taylor.

Episode lists

Season 1

Episode #	Episode title	Original airdate
1-1	"Urges and Lies"	April 15, 1997
1-2	"Communion Wine and Convicts"	April 22, 1997
1-3	"Cinderella and the Funeral"	April 29, 1997

Season 2

Episode #	Episode title	Original airdate
2-1	"Mike's Awakening"	September 30, 1997
2-2	"Hello Todd, Hello Nancy, Goodbye Harley"	October 7, 1997
2-3	"The Lost Sheep Squadron"	October 21, 1997
2-4	"Trick and Treat"	October 28, 1997
2-5	"Public Embarrassment and Todd's First Sermon"	November 4, 1997
2-6	"Camping and Housekeepers"	November 18, 1997
2-7	"Three Priests and a Baby"	November 25, 1997
2-8	"Attic Box Blues"	December 2, 1997
2-9	"Christmas Ruined My Life"	December 16, 1997
2-10	"Yes Sir, That's My Baby"	January 6, 1998
2-11	"Holy Rollers"	January 13, 1998
2-12	"A Kiss is Just a Kiss"	January 20, 1998
2-13	"The Stan Plan"	February 10, 1998
2-14	"The Choir Boys"	February 17, 1998
2-15	"Todd and the Bod"	February 24, 1998
2-16	"Grabbed by an Angel"	April 14, 1998
2-17	"Just the Three of Us"	April 21, 1998
2-18	"Raising Heck"	April 28, 1998
2-19	"The Good Shepherd"	May 5, 1998
2-20	"Who Killed St. Shepherd?"	May 12, 1998
2-21	"Play Ball"	May 19, 1998
2-22	"Little Black Dress"	May 26, 1998

References

External links

• Soul Man at the Internet Movie Database
• Soul Man at TV.com