ANOTHER LIFE

[Soaplovers]

That was the thing about this soap, it still had some great soap opera stories even with the religious angle.  In some ways, it heighten the soap opera trope of conflict and temptation... and showing the fallout of choices made.

@dc11786The good stuff really gets going in the middle section of episodes (around episode 300 to 600).. though there are some interesting elements/stories that play out in the final batch of episodes that are cut short by the cancellation.

Apparently, the announcement the soap was canceled came out in late August 1984 and were given only a few weeks to tie everything up.  The cause of cancellation for this soap was the same thing that caused Edge of Night/Ryan's Hope/Search for tomorrow to be canceled... Affiliates.

[DRW50]

@dc11786 Thanks again for your recaps/analyses. I remember some of the story about Gene and whether he was seen as being proud enough or assimilated or what have you. That type of story could go haywire but the actor who played Gene always managed to give some dignity to the character and I never felt like the show saw him or Ione as tokens. 

The Jeff story does sound interesting. This was still an era when some Christian-based entertainment was trying to teach difficult lessons and not just focused on trying to get people to vote for despots and employ Hollywood has-beens in slick vessels.

You're right in that I can't see Tony ever actually arriving on the show. 

On the same Youtube channel that recently put up a 5 hour bloc of Y&R/B&B/ATWT, I stumbled onto an episode of a Pittsburgh-based show called His Place. The channel that made the show billed it as a "Christian soap opera," but to me it is more like Houseparty or The Lives We Live - people/characters we know sitting in one location (in this case, a diner). They have a little bit of storyline but mostly talk to a faith figure and then have a Christian musical guest. They might also talk to local people involved in charity work.

You have about what you would expect in many cases (Jews for Jesus, the gay agenda, later tweaked to the '10s version). Some of the material is not what you'd expect and would never be allowed today; one of the other few available episodes, from 1996, has a guy who talks about the Crusades being wrong and about how unfair treatment of Muslims, and has another guy who has a conversation with a regular about racism and how the regular character feels guilty over thinking some black men were going to hurt him, but still, I wouldn't call it a soap. Maybe if more episodes were around I would. (about 70 or so episodes of the early '10s revival are on Youtube but I'm more interested in seeing the original, which ran from the late '80s to 2004).

 

Edited March 2 by DRW50

[dc11786]

Credits based on what we have available:

Defacto Headwriters

Roy Winsor (credited as Storyline Consultant)    Monday, June 1, 1981 (#001) - Monday, October 12, 1981 (#096) 

with scripts by: Steve Sylvester (18), Bro Herrod (18), John Cloyse (11), Peter Cloyse (6), Jeff Dane (1)

 

Dallas & Joanne Barnes (credited as Story By)    Tuesday, October 13, 1981 (#097) - Monday, October 26, 1981 (#106)

with scripts by: Dallas & Joanne Barnes (2), Steve Sylvester (2), Linda Carol Culpepper (2), John Jenny (1), Laura Eastman (1)

 

No creative lead listed                                            Tuesday, October 27, 1981 (#107)-  Friday, December 25, 1981 (#150)

with scripts by: Steve Sylvester (10), Linda Culpepper (7), Cheryl Chisholm (5), John Jenny (3), John Faulk (3),Peter Andrews (1)

 

Dallas & Joanne Barnes (credited as Creative Supervisors) Wednesday, December 30, 1981 (#153) - Tuesday, August 10 , 1982 (#312)

with scripts by (as of episode #200): Cheryl Chisholm (8), Steve Sylvester (7), Linda Culpepper (6), Susan McBride (5), John Faulk (4), Ted O'Hara (1)

 

Jason Vinley (credited as Special/Program Consultant)      Wednesday, August 11, 1982 (#313) - Friday, October 5, 1984 (#875) 

Executive Producers

Robert Aaron                      Monday, June 1, 1981 (#001) - Friday, October 16, 1981 (#100)

John Cardoza                     Monday, October 19, 1981 (#101) - Thursday, December 3, 1981 (#134) 

David M. Hummel               Tuesday, December 8, 1981  (#137) - Friday, October 5, 1984 (#875) 

Edited March 2 by dc11786

[Khan]

I wonder if that was the same Peter Andrews who had worked for years as a producer and director on GL.

[Soaplovers]

I think so...

 

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nytimes/name/peter-andrews-jr-obituary?id=51984408

[dc11786]

The really good stuff alligns with the arrival of Jason Vinley as the "creative consultant" which is basically the headwriter role at that point. I think he's behind Miriam's kidnapping, the Amber / Gil / Stacey triangle, the Kate Phillips Carrouthers murder mystery, and some other stories during that period. 

The final year is intriguing because the show starts to lose the premier cast (the original Carpenter clan is replaced by Charles' brother Preston, his occasionally seen wife Phyllis, and their complicated daughter Courtney) and Peter leaves shortly before the show is cancelled. The DOMI plot seems insanely delicious and the Assassination Game plot sounds intriguing. I don't think the more domestic stuff from that era is as strong such as Courtney and Vaughn, but I like Susan Carey Lamm so we will see.  

What I am watching now is on the edge of the Barnes' fulltime arrival so its in a headwriter less era with network executive John Cardoza overseeing production because of Bob Aaron's departure. The material is very topical (abortion, pornography, homosexuality, white flight) that I think are replaced by Dallas and Joanne Barnes' heavy action driven approach after knocking off Nora and Scott by the end of their first week. I am not sure if the topicality will remain, but I'll be curious. 

The content is intriguing and the execution is tighter than the early episodes. Only Steve Sylvester is still around from the first episodes on YouTube. I think the topicality feels like early Wendy Riche "General Hospital" when she was guiding things and not a whole lot is actually happening but the material is generally well written and interesting ideas are approached. With the way they are burning through material, I can't see it lasting long but its been a fun two months. 

The Jeff story is insane. He ends up in prison where his cellmate is an alcoholic, Dave Phillips played by John Cardoza, former executive producer and CBN executive. I believe this character is eventually the man Terry marries, but it may just be an odd coincidence of reusing the name. 

The Russ / Carrie / Becky / Vince material is probably elevated because the actors are rather strong. Even Marty McGraw (Russ' mother Carrie Weaver) overplays her part in a way that is very compelling. On "The Catlins," Bea Swanson plays a similar sorta role in a way that makes her stand out as a local actress paired with more traditional New York talent. 

The big plot movement has Russ and Becky now married as well since Russ has learned about the baby and is frustrated by Becky's attention due to joining Summerwind. It's a beautifully disastrous move that is replayed by Sue Scannell on "Search for Tomorrow" in about a year's time when Kristen Carter marries Brian Emerson. It's a shame that "Search" didn't utilize Scanell as well in the material I've seen as she has been here.  

The Hollister Square story is moving along. Doug Hughes is being written out, but pops back in the story apparently several times over the years. He's a fun recurring character. Samantha Marshall and the zoning office has made it clear to Harold Webster and Charles Carpenter that they are on to them and Charles has decided to build the mall for real; I guess the initial plan was fraudulent. 

I only have about 2 weeks left of the original configuration of the Davidson clan and they have been sorta dragging for a bit. I wasn't keeping episode to episode notes, but they started fading after the wedding which is when David M Hummel becomes executive producer. Nancy remains my favorite though I like Terry and Lori well enough. Nora is an interesting concept but I'm not sure they nailed all the elements of the character.  

Peter Andrews is also the casting director on "Another Life." Thanks Soapslover for adding some more. 

[dc11786]

Script writers for episode counts #201 - #260 under Dallas and Joanne Barnes:

Cheryl Chisholm (34 episodes) - as production writer 

Libby Rodes (9 episodes), Chris Auer (8 episodes). Linda Culpepper  (7 episodes), Steve Sylvester (5 episodes), Cheryl Chisholm (4 episodes), Ted O'Hara (4 episodes), Susan McBride (4 episodes), Edna (C.) Brown (2 episodes)

 

It's not clear what the "production writer" role is. Cheryl Chisholm is credited in each episode with credits in the role after 209 except for the 3 episodes Chisholm wrote the scripts. I am assuming its a breakdown writer or maybe script editor. 

This takes us to the end of the first year. I'm about 100 episodes away from the end of year 1 (I'm at 165). The Barnes have been credited for about 3 weeks. Lots of characters have been written out. Helen Carpenter is gone in the last week of December having taken everything and left. No goodbye scene, just Charles and Miriam coming home to a barren home. Marty McGraw gets a goodbye scene a few days later as Carrie Weaver decides to return home. Doug Hughes and the other Hollister Square people are slowly saying their goodbyes to Ben Martin. Nora and Scott are dead at the end of the first week. Samantha Marshall is offered a job in D.C. and leaves shortly after the funeral. Nancy, seeing dollar signs in Nora's death, quickly dumps her tv station owner boyfriend in a brutal scene where she says he more than likely bored his late wife to death. Nancy is a nasty piece of work. 

The story started to lose steam mid-December. The crisper, shocking scripts have faded, which is disappointing. The scripts are rather plot heavy without the mix of domestic drama and social relevance that had been sprinkled in. There are still some good moments here and there and some crappy ones. I don't know if this is the result of John Cardoza's departure and David M. Hummel taking over or the impending lull with the Barnes assuming the reigns. 

The nastiness between Nora and Nancy doesn't even come to an end in death. Nora completely disowns Nancy claiming Terry as her only daughter. I realize Nancy isn't blood, but Nora raised the woman. It's just a nasty move to make. Nancy, of course, has stolen the will and is now in cahoots with Harold Webster, the Carpenters shady attornney. It's fun, but it is still ugly. Nancy is also going after Scott's estate claiming Scott's reckless driving was the cause of Nora's death. Nancy is heartless, but she is someone who has been hurt for her entire life. I find myself sympathizing with her more than I should. 

In one particular moment, Terry learns of the will and declares Nancy isn't even Nora's daughter. It's a low blow for Terry to pull even in the heat of the moment. In Nancy's early sequences, Terry defends her to the death. This shift, while intriguing, is a bit disappointing without Terry delivering some speech about how she has seen the light. 

Sam's out and now the Slaymakers are becoming major roles in the story. I think there has even been reference to Jason Prescott (originally Dan) who has employed Peter. There is definitely a new day dawning in "Another Life." I sorta miss the old one. 

One of the more shocking scenes in this sequence was mobster Vince Cardello calling out Charles Carpenter as Charles' toast to Scott Davidson's death. Even Vince is disgusted and makes a point of stating how morally bankrupt Charles is. Michael Ryan is fun as the mobster taking the moral high ground.  

[DRW50]

@dc11786 Always appreciate seeing your posts on the show. I think the show picks up again somewhere after this point, but they do likely lose that edge or social commentary they had in some of these transition episodes. 

What you mention about Nancy is why I struggle with my feelings for the character. She is just so nasty, with no filter or attempts at camp or fun. I appreciate the honesty, but it can be difficult to watch.

[Soaplovers]

@DRW50 I decided to watch the last 50 episodes of the show (episodes 825 to 875) and Nancy is a bit more of a grey character then she is in the episodes that @dc11786is reviewing.

I can tell that the cancellation notice came quickly because the show is operating at a semi slow/decent pace up till around episode 855/856 before it goes into quick overdrive trying to tie up stuff around episode 860.

In fact, a new story was starting up around the 840s that I suspect would have climaxed during November 1984 so the final episode doesn't resolve the plotline.. but gives hints on what will end up happening in the story.

The DOMI story is pretty good, and I think the later twist cheapens the story.. but I suspect the cancelation notice probably caused the twist to come out of left field.

Deadly Pursuits/Assassin has decent focus in the last 50 episodes.. but it seems to be dropped and/or resolved off screen.. but I'm at 861 in my viewing so maybe there will be a resolution of sorts mentioned.

Of the younger characters, the actress playing Courtney is a natural and it makes sense she ends up going to Search for Tomorrow for awhile in 1985 as Adair.

But the best conclusion I can come up with is that the episodes are well written, the acting is good, and it definitely had legs to continue on had the show not been canceled. 

In my opinion, Another Lie achieves what the soap opera Loving was trying to be when it debuted.  A college town soap opera that had a strong focus on the college  and the townspeople.

[DRW50]

You're right - she does become more mixed as time passes (but never fully redeemed, similar to Russ).

I wonder if they thought being on CBN meant they'd have more time. 

I remember saynotoursoap's reviews (read them again recently) about how the show was in a strong place and then stumbled for a while. I'm not sure if that helped lead to the cancelation or if it was inevitable. At least the closing story is mostly strong.

[dc11786]

It's a real shame. I'll be curious to see if there is any shift again when I get to the episodes Cheryl Chisholm is credited as production writer. Chisholm starts as a production assistant and starts writing scripts in the interim period. She became a playwright (or was one when the show premiered). There is a near stage quality (albeit local stage) to the scripts in November-early December, 1981. 

I think my thoughts are Nancy are very misguided. The Lindsey family is quiet toxic during the interim period with Alf Lindsey having revealed the truth about Nancy's paternity drunkenly during her sixteenth birthday. Nora confessing she had accepted the affair because she didn't want one mistake to ruin their entire marraige. Nora's inability to love her husband's love child. An unloved Nancy racking up to ex-husbands and an abortion before she turns 33. It's a very stark vision of a core family. Delightfully delicious in the dynamics, but Terry is nearly saint qualtiy in this period while not coming off as a Pollyanna. It's a briliiant combo of wriitng and Mary Jean Feton's warmth and presence. 

I think I am suppose to hate Nancy because she was marked from birth by her illegitimacy and her nasty demeanor, but working with troubled youth, Nancy has the trademarks of someone who just wasn't cared for. By her thirties, Nancy should have progressed a little but some of those heated exchanges between Nora and Nancy are so brutal on each side and Nancy very frankly points out that Nora hated Nancy because she couldn't hate Alf. Nancy's flirtation with Scott, and later with his boss, screamed of needs of a father figure who would love and care about her, but if she couldn't get love, she'd get security from money. 

Under the Barnes, she is absolutely vile. Squatting in Nora's house isn't bad as I knew that was happening, but going after Scott's estate was devious even by Nancy's standards. I wish there were some more layers to Nancy as she showed a moment of remorse after showing up after midnight of NYE and learning Scott and Nora were dead. 

The only other character that fascinates me, in a very different way but becasue of their story, is Jeff Cummings, who is also losing a bit of his edge with the Barnes around. After experiencing "the miracle," I found Jeff's hapless devotion to God without making any real efforts to think for himself fascinating as it was presented as a false way to celebrate religion. Jeff's acquisition of the bookstore was smart, but the bizarre segue into the introduction of Dr. Dave Phillips is borderline campy madness. Dave, played by Cardoza, is a reformed alcoholic cell mate of Jeff's who has now revelaed he is a former abortionist who feels he has been saved by Jeff. I really wish they had considered having Jeff join the ministry as I think that would have been such an interesting arc for him. The former sinner now trying to lead a flock while also being tempted. 

The Barnes aren't writing very layered scripts at this point (150-165). Everything is black and white for the most part. Vince Cardello's moment of chatisizing Charles Carpenter is a rare moment of conflicting values where the mob takes the moral high ground (Guza would love this scene; AL's equivalent of Sonny telling off Edward Quartermaine).

I'm glad to hear the last year is good. From the fan interview posted with headwriter Jason Vinley, I think he lost the plot a bit in the final year. He really enjoyed the Daar Salaam bible story, which I think was endemic of the 1980s sci-fi trends. He described it as "Raiders of the Lost Ark." I'll be curious to see how I feel when I get there. 

Susan Carey Lamm has impressed me in both roles (AL and SFT), but I think she should have replaced fellow AL actor Susan Scannell as Kristen in 1985. Kristen could have been involved in the custody battle of Jonah and filled the void of villain now that her brother was dead. Adair was a dead end with the decision to eliminate Alec Kendall. 

You are probably right about AL being what Loving wanted to be and couldn't manage.  

I have to wonder what impact the shift in cast had. I know that when the cable soap "The Catlins" was cancelled in early 1985, it had experienced decent ratings in January, but it wasn't enough. I got the sense that the production costs continued to grow as they procured more coastal talent. I wonder what role that played on "Another Life." Also, given the departures in the last year of the show of several major cast members (the Carpenters, Peter, Russ?) I have to wonder if there wasn't some money issues at play. Maybe I'm wrong thoguh. 

[DRW50]

You give me a lot of insight into Nancy. Thanks. 

I haven't watched tons of the Bible story, but it seems like something that was never suited to the show, and maybe only could have worked if GH or DAYS of that era were involved (I can see Alice, Caroline, Shawn and Tom being drawn into a Bible mystery.

I wish they'd taken your approaches with Jeff. If he had stayed maybe he could have become jealous of Dave, who was so accepted by everyone.

I do think the cast changes played a part. Miriam is also written out around that time. And most of the newer people aren't as compelling - the younger female cast (and the Lori recast) in particular.

[Soaplovers]

The same thing that caused Edge of Night and Search for Tomorrow to be axed caused Another Life to also be axed.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/23/arts/christian-broadcast-network-cancels-its-cable-soap-opera.html

 

I have a feeling that the Bible story turned viewers off, and they tuned out so affiliates responded by dropping the show.  It looks as though the show finds its footing again by its last few months.. but it was too little too late.