Another Life (1981 TV series)

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{{Infobox television | image = Another Life (Christian Broadcasting Network television series) logo.svg | caption = | genre = Soap opera

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Another Life is an American television soap opera that was produced and broadcast by The Christian Broadcasting Network, from June 1, 1981 to October 5, 1984. It was co-created by both Gerald T. Straub and the late Jason Vinley: 875 30-minute episodes were produced. It attempted to combine standard afternoon intrigue with religious overtones, as many characters were portrayed as born-again Christians, 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

Through its run, Another Life revolved around the Davidson family - local anchorman Scott Davidson (played by John Corsaut), his wife Terry (Mary Jean Feton) who worked as a Nurse, 19-year old daughter Lori (Jeannette Larson and later Debbie McLeod), teenage son Peter (Darrel Campbell) as well as Terry's 68-year old mother Nora (played by the late Naomi Riseman). Although the Davidsons sometime struggled with their faith, they stuck by their principles, showed compassion towards their fellow man - most notably next-door neighbor Liz Cummings (Carolyn Collings), who lived with her alcoholic and adulterous husband Jeff (Tom McGowan) and their daughter Jenny (Amy Williams)- and eschew revenge to those who have caused them grief. In New Year's Eve of 1981, Scott and Nora were killed in a car accident, by drunk driver Dennis Frazer (Nat Blanchey). [2]

Wealthy businessman Charles Carpenter (the late Randy Kraft) attempted to control every situation with his power and influence. Charles held a grudge against the Davidsons, particularly after Scott investigates a crime story involving a mob gang, which has connections with Kingsley's upper-crust, which included the Carpenter family. Charles' daughter Miriam Mason (Ginger Burgett) also held a grudge against the Davidsons and filed an adultery case against 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 got a divorce, with Miriam losing custody of their son Frederick (aka Erick)- 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 Hathaway), who also clashed with the Davidsons. Nancy used her charms to lure wealthy men into relationships with her, but didn't 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 Lori's medical bills, following a serious car accident the couple were involved in. Russ was also torn between Lori and fellow student Rebecca Lynn "Becky" Hewitt ([[Susan Scannell-Gilbert), who is Lori's best friend. Unknown to Lori, Becky slept with Russ after he grew frustrated with Lori's refusal to have sex with him, due to her religious beliefs. Lori would later catch the attention of Ben Martin (Matt Williams), a handsome 27-year old doctor, who attended to Lori after her accident. This infuriated Russ, even after Lori breaks up with him. Russ's father is later revealed to be Vince Cardello (the late Michael Ryan), a member of the local mob.

Russ and Becky secretly marry shortly, after she becomes lead singer of the rock band Summerwind. The lead guitarist and founder, Phil Hayes (the late Scott Russell 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 Sheila Carter (Nancy Pope), and that their wedding wasn't legal, Becky left Russ to pursue a solo singing career in New York.

The Davidsons were also close friends of the Redlons, an African-American family, which included the deeply-religious Ione (the late Edye Byrde) and her son Eugene "Gene" (Eddie Hailey) who is Scott's colleague. Gene's 13-year old son Jimmy (Aaron White then Troy Chandler Paris) eventually became hospitalized following a drug overdose, but refused to name his dealer. After Gene's wife Carla (Elain Graham and Kari Selinow) returned to Kingsley, after 2 years, her and Gene are eventually involved in a custody battle over Jimmy, who is often stuck in the middle; the situation is not helped when Carla puts her singing career before her family. Scott and Gene realized there is a connection between the mob and drug ring and vowed to investigate, leading to their dismissal at work after their TV station WRD receives threats. [3]

Following the Cummings' departure from Kingsley, in the middle of Another Life's second season, more families are featured, including the Prescotts and the Phillips.


On the set

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. [4] [5]

Title sequences and theme music

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

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. [6]

Airings

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. [7] As of 2017, Another Life is broadcast in the Netherlands by Christian cable channel Family7.

Cast

Notable cast members

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. [8] 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 .

ActorCharacterRole
Mary Jean FetonTerry DavidsonLocal nurse; married to Scott; mother of Lori and Peter; half sister of Nancy.
John CorsautScott DavidsonAnchorman of the news for Kingsley's local TV station, husband of Terry.
Jeanette Larson and Debbie McLeodLori Davidson (later Lori Martin)College student; daughter of Terry and Scott. Originally involved with Russ Weaver, she would later marry Dr. Ben Martin.
Darrel CampbellPeter DavidsonStudent: son of Terry and Scott, brother of Lori. Known for his frequent wisecracks.
Naomi RisemanNora LindsayMother of Terry; step-mother of Nancy Lawson; grandmother of Peter and Lori.
Matt Williams Benjamin 'Ben' MartinLocal surgeon and college lecturer; married Lori after her engagement to Russ ended.
Nancy MulveyNancy LawsonTerry's half-sister; aunt to Peter and Lori; step-daughter of Nora; Another Life's main villain.
Edye ByrdeIone RedlonMother of Gene and one of Terry's best friends.
Eddie Hailey Eugene 'Gene' RedlonLocal anchorman who worked with Scott Davidson, son of Ione, husband of Carla; father of Jimmy.
Elain Graham and Kari PageCarla RedlonSinger; wife of Gene; mother of Jimmy.
Aaron White and Troy ParisJimmy RedlonSon of Gene and Carla.
Dee Dee Bridgewater Samantha 'Sam' MarshallGene's boss/love interest
Edward AllenLeon MarshallReal estate agent-turned- dinner chef; brother of Sam; close friend of Gene
Joe JamesMonroe 'Monk' LassierJuvenile delinquent taught by Lori
Alan Sader Harold WebsterLocal lawyer, representing the Carpenters.
Ray OwensMitch DunbarLocal lawyer, representing the Davidsons
Julie JenneyBarbara 'Babs' FarleyFormer prostitute, lodging with the Redlons
Randy KraftCharles CarpenterLocal businessman, villain, married to Helen, father of Miriam
Suzanne GrandfieldHelen CarpenterWife of Charles, mother of Miriam.
Susan C. CareyCourtney CarpenterNiece of Charles, and cousin of Miriam; dated Peter Davidson, but was pressurized into marrying Vaughn Sumner.
Ginger BurgettMiriam Mason (née Carpenter)Daughter of Charles and Helen, and formerly married to Paul Mason; mother of his son, Fredrick.
Robert BendallPaul MasonLocal college professor; ex-husband of Miriam, and father of Fredrick.
Jeff JamisonNorman 'Norm' EliotBusiness associate of Charles'; in love with Miriam; holds grudge against Lori
Kelly GwinnHugo '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 WashingtonHead of drug/prostitution ring; Miriam's kidnapper
Chandler Hill HarbinBlue NoblesAlso known as "Cinderella Rapist"; works for Ronnie
Nancy Allen Paula JamesLocal prostitute working for Ronnie Washington
Christopher RolandRussell 'Russ' WeaverPre-med student; college football hero; Lori's boyfriend. Secretly involved with Becky Hewitt
Michael Ryan Vincent 'Vince' CardelloLocal gangster; father of Russ; associate of Charles
Marty McGawCarrie WeaverMother of Russ; Vince's secret mistress
Sue Scannell Rebecca 'Becky' HewittStudent/Model/Singer; Lori's best friend and college roommate; has a secret affair with Russ
Chris AuerFrancis MillerStudent at college; has unrequited crush on Becky
Read Morgan Jason PrescottLocal building construction manager/Politician; father of Gil and Marianne
Jerry Timm† and J. Michael HunterGil PrescottWorks in father's firm; male chauvinist playboy
Renee CrawfordMarianne PrescottLori's friend who works in father's firm; dates Russ after Becky's departure
Peggy WoodyAmber PhillipsModel; daughter of Dave and Kate Phillips; sister of Stacey
Karen ChapmanStacey PhillipsNews reporter; daughter of Dave and Kate Phillips
John Cardoza and Tom UrichDr. Dave PhillipsFormer abortionist-turned-general practitioner; ex-husband of Kate; father of Amber and Stacey
Dorothy StinnetteKate PhillipsFormer wife of Dr. Dave Phillips. Mother of Amber and Stacey
Jim Williams and Paul Gleason Lee CarothersOne of the wealthiest residents of Kingsley; political associate, and later fiancé of Kate
Diane SeelyVanessa FazanHead of local secret society DOMI; hypnotist
Tom McGowan Jeff CummingsNext-door neighbor of the Davidsons; husband of Liz father of Jennifer
Carolyn LenzLiz CummingsJeff's wife, Terry's neighbor and friend and mother of Jennifer.
Michele SeidmanJill HansonJuvenile delinquent living with the Cummings
Donna McLaughlinBeth SleighmakerLocal court judge; biological mother of Jill
Annamarie SmithVicki LangLove interest of Peter; worked with Gene, and later Miriam
Bob BurchetteDr. Alex GreenleyLocal doctor at Kingsley General; love interest of Terry
Frankie CardozaLucille FigginsLocal nurse at clinic
Scott R. Brown Phil HayesFounder of rock band 'Summerwind'; rival of Russ Weaver

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References

  1. CABLE NOTES; CARVING OUT A NICHE FOR RELIGION
  2. CAN A RELIGIOUS SOAP OPERA FIND AN AUDIENCE?
  3. Another Life Undertones of Religion
  4. Filmweb - filmografia, actor, rozwiń
  5. The Washington Post , May 9, 1982 - Another Life By S and ra G. Boodman
  6. "CHRISTIAN BROADCAST NETWORK CANCELS ITS CABLE SOAP OPERA (Published 1984)". The New York Times . Archived from the original on March 24, 2022.
  7. I Acted Once and Vowed to Never Do It Again
  8. Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television