Another Life (1981 TV series)
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| Another Life | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Soap opera |
| Created by |
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| Composer | Brent Havens |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 875 |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBN |
| Release | June 1, 1981 – October 5, 1984 |
Another Life is an American television soap opera produced and broadcast by The Christian Broadcasting Network from June 1, 1981 to October 5, 1984. It was co-created by Roy Winsor and Bob Aaron, and ran for 875 episodes. It attempted to combine standard afternoon intrigue with religious overtones, as many characters were portrayed as born again who relied on the power of prayer to solve their problems. Set in the fictional east coast town of Kingsley (ostensibly thought to be in Virginia), the show was taped in CBN's hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia.[1]
Synopsis
[edit]Throughout its run, Another Life revolved around the Davidson family - local anchorman Scott Davidson, his wife Terry who works as a nurse (Mary Jean Feton), daughter Lori (Jeannette Larson and later Debbie McLeod), and teenage son Peter (Darrel Campbell). Although they sometimes struggle with their faith, they stick by their principles, and show compassion towards their fellow man - most notably next-door neighbor Liz Cummings (Carolyn Lenz) who lives with her alcoholic and adulterous husband Jeff (Tom McGowan) and their daughter Jenny - and eschew revenge on those who have caused them grief.[2]
Wealthy businessman Charles Carpenter (Randy Kraft) attempts to control every situation with his power and influence, and holds a grudge against the Davidsons, particularly after Scott investigates a crime story involving a mob gang which has connections with Kingsley's uppercrust which includes the Carpenter family. Charles' daughter Miriam Mason (Ginger Burgett[3]) also holds a grudge against the Davidsons, and files an adultery case against daughter Lori who is accused of having an affair with her husband Paul, a lecturer at the local college. Although it was later proved that Lori was innocent, Paul and Miriam get a divorce, with the latter losing custody of their son - although it is often hinted that Paul does indeed have feelings for Lori. Charles would later date Terry Davidson's half-sister, the equally nefarious Nancy Lawson (Nancy Mulvey) who also clashes with the Davidsons and uses her charms to lure wealthy men into relationships with her, but never appears to hold down a steady career.
Russ Weaver (Christopher Roland), a pre-medical student who is about to propose to Lori, finds himself tangled with the drug ring when he is left with a huge debt after paying his girlfriend's medical bills following a serious car accident the couple are involved in. He is also torn between Lori and fellow student Becky Hewitt (Sue Scannell) who is Lori's best friend. Unknown to Lori, Becky slept with Russ after the latter grew frustrated with Lori's refusal to have sex with him due to her beliefs. Lori would later catch the attention of Ben Martin, a handsome but older doctor who attends to Lori after her accident, and this infuriates Russ even after she breaks up with him. Russ's father is later revealed to be Vince Cardello, a member of the local mob.
Russ and Becky secretly marry shortly after she becomes the lead singer of the rock band Summerwind. The lead guitarist and founder, Phil Hayes (Scott R. Brown), falls for her, thus creating tension in her relationship with Russ. Becky later becomes pregnant by Russ, but miscarries due to Summerwind's hectic schedule. After discovering Russ had cheated on her with another student, and that their wedding is not legal, Becky leaves Russ to pursue a solo singing career in New York.
The Davidsons are also close friends of the Redlons, an African American family which includes the deeply religious Ione (Edye Byrde) and her son Gene (Eddie Hailey) who is Scott's colleague, and involved in a custody battle with his ex-wife Carla (Elain Graham) over their son Jimmy who is often stuck in the middle; the situation is not helped when Carla puts her singing career before her family. Jimmy is hospitalized following a drug overdose, but refuses to name his dealer. Scott and Gene realize there is a connection between the mob and drug ring and both vow to investigate, leading to their dismissal at work after their TV station receives threats.[4]
Following the Cummings' departure from Kingsley more families are featured, including the Prescotts and the Phillips.
In a nod to how The Secret Storm began its story, Scott and Nora are killed in a car accident on New Year's Eve.[5][6]
Production
[edit]One of the program's creators, Bob Aaron, left the show, after a dispute on one of the show's most heavy-handed moments when Jeff was in the hospital suffering from cancer, and was miraculously healed when a beam of light entered his hospital room. Declaring such soap writing "deplorable", Aaron quit the show soon after.
On the set
[edit]Eddie Hailey, who played the non-Christian part of Gene Redlon, is actually the son of a minister. At the time of making the series, he had been a born again for some time. He credited his rebirth into Christianity as a result of his failure to win the part of Alex Haley in Roots: The Next Generations. He started attending a Los Angeles church that Bob Dylan went to. One day, he was reading a Parish magazine saw something about Another Life and later successfully auditioned for a part. While on the set of Another Life, he would lead the cast in a half hour prayer service each morning.[7][8]
Title sequences and theme music
[edit]During its first nine months on the air, Another Life had a simple opening shot of a beach at sunrise. Brent Havens, who was the music director of CBN's signature show, The 700 Club, composed the theme music. The original opening and closing arrangement consisted of a trumpet solo, backed by quietly played strings and a Rhodes electric piano, which was a frequently used instrument in the show's music cues.
In March 1982, a new, jazzier opening was introduced. This sequence consisted of dramatic scenes from past episodes (which changed regularly), and close-ups of all the main characters. At the end of the montage, a shot of Terry praying in her kitchen dissolves into the sunrise beach scene from the original opening. A "hotlicks" version of Brent Havens' theme music was used for the new opening, but the quiet original arrangement continued to be used for the end credits, which featured stills from that day's episode.
Cancellation
[edit]In 1984, Another Life was cancelled due to low ratings and a shortage of advertising revenues. In its first year, 68 stations nationwide bought syndication rights to the show which reached an estimated 50,000,000 households daily, but as it entered its third year the number of stations buying the program had dropped to 25, and television ratings showed that Another Life was reaching just 500,000 households.[9]
Airings
[edit]Reruns of the series were shown on Trinity Broadcasting Network during the late 1980s and early 1990s, but have not aired in the United States since. The show has aired in the United Kingdom on the GOD TV, and in the Middle East on Middle East Television. Episodes have also been uploaded onto YouTube, and the show remains popular in Africa, particularly in Nigeria; in an interview with The Punch, Nollywood producer/director Zeb Ejiro revealed Another Life had inspired his own soap opera Ripples.[10] As of 2017, Another Life is broadcast in the Netherlands by Christian cable channel Family7.
Cast
[edit]Notable cast members
[edit]One of the show's more successful alumni Susan Scannell (Becky Hewitt), left after the first year to join the cast of Search for Tomorrow. Dee Dee Bridgewater had a minor role as Sam Marshall, Gene Redlon's boss and later love interest.[11] Additionally, Paul Gleason, who originated the role of troublemaker Lee Carothers, would go on to greater fame as high school principal Richard Vernon in the 1985 film The Breakfast Club.
| Actor | Character | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Mary Jean Feton | Terry Davidson | Local nurse; married to Scott; mother of Lori and Peter; half sister of Nancy. |
| John Corsaut | Scott Davidson | Anchorman of the news for Kingsley's local TV station, husband of Terry. |
| Jeanette Larson and Debbie McLeod | Lori Davidson (later Lori Martin) | College student; daughter of Terry and Scott. Originally involved with Russ Weaver, she would later marry Dr. Ben Martin. |
| Darrel Campbell | Peter Davidson | Student: son of Terry and Scott, brother of Lori. Known for his frequent wisecracks. |
| Naomi Riseman | Nora Lindsay | Mother of Terry; step-mother of Nancy Lawson; grandmother of Peter and Lori. |
| Matt Williams | Benjamin 'Ben' Martin | Local surgeon and college lecturer; married Lori after her engagement to Russ ended. |
| Nancy Mulvey | Nancy Lawson | Terry's half-sister; aunt to Peter and Lori; step-daughter of Nora; Another Life's main villain. |
| Edye Byrde† | Ione Redlon | Mother of Gene and one of Terry's best friends. |
| Eddie Hailey | Eugene 'Gene' Redlon | Local anchorman who worked with Scott Davidson, son of Ione, husband of Carla; father of Jimmy. |
| Elain Graham and Kari Page | Carla Redlon | Singer; wife of Gene; mother of Jimmy. |
| Aaron White and Troy Paris | Jimmy Redlon | Son of Gene and Carla. |
| Dee Dee Bridgewater | Samantha 'Sam' Marshall | Gene's boss/love interest |
| Edward Allen | Leon Marshall | Real estate agent-turned- dinner chef; brother of Sam; close friend of Gene |
| Joe James | Monroe 'Monk' Lassier | Juvenile delinquent taught by Lori |
| Alan Sader | Harold Webster | Local lawyer, representing the Carpenters. |
| Ray Owens | Mitch Dunbar | Local lawyer, representing the Davidsons |
| Julie Jenney† | Barbara 'Babs' Farley | Former prostitute, lodging with the Redlons |
| Randy Kraft† | Charles Carpenter | Local businessman, villain, married to Helen, father of Miriam |
| Suzanne Grandfield | Helen Carpenter | Wife of Charles, mother of Miriam. |
| Susan C. Carey | Courtney Carpenter | Niece of Charles, and cousin of Miriam; dated Peter Davidson, but was pressurized into marrying Vaughn Sumner. |
| Ginger Burgett | Miriam Mason (née Carpenter) | Daughter of Charles and Helen, and formerly married to Paul Mason; mother of his son, Fredrick. |
| Robert Bendall | Paul Mason | Local college professor; ex-husband of Miriam, and father of Fredrick. |
| Jeff Jamison | Norman 'Norm' Eliot | Business associate of Charles'; in love with Miriam; holds grudge against Lori |
| Kelly Gwinn | Hugo 'Lance' Lancelot (Miriam's kidnapper), and Jeremy Lancelot (Lance's twin brother) (Dual role) |
Hugo kidnapped Miriam, and Jeremy fell for her |
| Nicholas Benedict† | Ronnie Washington | Head of drug/prostitution ring; Miriam's kidnapper |
| Chandler Hill Harbin | Blue Nobles | Also known as "Cinderella Rapist"; works for Ronnie |
| Nancy Allen | Paula James | Local prostitute working for Ronnie Washington |
| Christopher Roland | Russell 'Russ' Weaver | Pre-med student; college football hero; Lori's boyfriend. Secretly involved with Becky Hewitt |
| Michael Ryan | Vincent 'Vince' Cardello | Local gangster; father of Russ; associate of Charles |
| Marty McGaw | Carrie Weaver | Mother of Russ; Vince's secret mistress |
| Sue Scannell | Rebecca 'Becky' Hewitt | Student/Model/Singer; Lori's best friend and college roommate; has a secret affair with Russ |
| Chris Auer | Francis Miller | Student at college; has unrequited crush on Becky |
| Read Morgan† | Jason Prescott | Local building construction manager/Politician; father of Gil and Marianne |
| Jerry Timm† and J. Michael Hunter | Gil Prescott | Works in father's firm; male chauvinist playboy |
| Renee Crawford | Marianne Prescott | Lori's friend who works in father's firm; dates Russ after Becky's departure |
| Peggy Woody | Amber Phillips | Model; daughter of Dave and Kate Phillips; sister of Stacey |
| Karen Chapman | Stacey Phillips | News reporter; daughter of Dave and Kate Phillips |
| John Cardoza and Tom Urich | Dr. Dave Phillips | Former abortionist-turned-general practitioner; ex-husband of Kate; father of Amber and Stacey |
| Dorothy Stinnette | Kate Phillips | Former wife of Dr. Dave Phillips. Mother of Amber and Stacey |
| Jim Williams and Paul Gleason† | Lee Carothers | One of the wealthiest residents of Kingsley; political associate, and later fiancé of Kate |
| Diane Seely | Vanessa Fazan | Head of local secret society DOMI; hypnotist |
| Tom McGowan | Jeff Cummings | Next-door neighbor of the Davidsons; husband of Liz father of Jennifer |
| Carolyn Lenz | Liz Cummings | Jeff's wife, Terry's neighbor and friend and mother of Jennifer. |
| Michele Seidman | Jill Hanson | Juvenile delinquent living with the Cummings |
| Donna McLaughlin | Beth Sleighmaker | Local court judge; biological mother of Jill |
| Annamarie Smith | Vicki Lang | Love interest of Peter; worked with Gene, and later Miriam |
| Bob Burchette† | Dr. Alex Greenley | Local doctor at Kingsley General; love interest of Terry |
| Frankie Cardoza | Lucille Figgins | Local nurse at clinic |
| Scott R. Brown | Phil Hayes | Founder of rock band 'Summerwind'; rival of Russ Weaver |
References
[edit]- ^ CABLE NOTES; CARVING OUT A NICHE FOR RELIGION
- ^ CAN A RELIGIOUS SOAP OPERA FIND AN AUDIENCE?
- ^ Another Life Tries to Clease with New Soap
- ^ Another Life Undertones of Religion
- ^ The Soaps Get Relion
- ^ "Another Life". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 28, 2018.
- ^ Filmweb - filmografia, actor, rozwiń
- ^ The Washington Post, May 9, 1982 - Another Life By S and ra G. Boodman
- ^ "CHRISTIAN BROADCAST NETWORK CANCELS ITS CABLE SOAP OPERA (Published 1984)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022.
- ^ I Acted Once and Vowed to Never Do It Again
- ^ Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television
External links
[edit]- Another Life at IMDb