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Another World (TV series)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the soap opera. For the 2019 anime series, see Another World (Japanese TV series).
"Rachel Cory" redirects here. Not to be confused with Rachel Corrie.
Another World
GenreSoap opera
Created by
StarringSeries cast
Theme music composer
Opening theme
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons35
No. of episodes8,891
Production
Executive producers
Running time
  • 30 minutes (1964–75)
  • 60 minutes (1975–79, 1980–99)
  • 90 minutes (1979–80)
Production companyProcter and Gamble Productions
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseMay 4, 1964 (1964-05-04) –
June 25, 1999 (1999-06-25)
Related

Another World is an American television soap opera that aired on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999.[1][2] It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J. Bell, and was produced by Procter & Gamble Productions at NBC Studios, 1268 East 14th Street in Brooklyn.

Set in the fictional town of Bay City, the series originally opened with announcer Bill Wolff intoning its epigram, "We do not live in this world alone, but in a thousand other worlds," which Phillips said represented the difference between "the world of events we live in, and the world of feelings and dreams that we strive for."[3] Another World focused less on the conventional drama of domestic life as seen in other soap operas, and more on exotic melodrama between families of different classes and philosophies.

In 1964, Another World was the first soap opera to talk about abortion when such subjects were taboo. It was the first soap opera to do a crossover, with the character of Mike Bauer from Guiding Light, which was also created by Irna Phillips, coming from Springfield to Bay City. It was also the first to expand to one hour, then to ninety minutes, and then back to an hour. It was the first soap opera to launch two spin-offs, Somerset and Texas, as well as an indirect one, Lovers and Friends, which would be renamed For Richer, For Poorer. Another World was also the second soap opera with a theme song to chart on the Billboard record charts, "(You Take Me Away To) Another World" by Crystal Gayle and Gary Morris, in 1987.

On April 12, 1999, NBC announced it was canceling Another World. Its final episode aired on June 25, 1999. It was replaced with another soap opera, Passions, on July 5, 1999.

Development

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Another World's best-known title sequence, seen from June 1966 to September 4, 1981, making it one of the longest-running continuous title sequences on television.

In 1963, NBC approached PGP about Irna Phillips creating a new serial for them. She decided to base it on the concept of living not only in real life, but simultaneously living in an alternate world of hopes and desires.[4] Attorney Mitchell Dru (played by Geoffrey Lumb), who had previously been a character on As the World Turns, became a character on Another World during the early years of the program (1964-1971).[5] Two characters from another CBS soap opera, The Guiding Light—attorney Mike Bauer and his daughter Hope—did cross over in 1966, remaining for a year before returning to The Guiding Light. Expectations were so high that Another World had six weeks of commercial time sold in advance.[6]

On November 22, 1963, a group of executives (including Executive producer Allen M. Potter and director Tom Donovan) met at the VMLY&R ad agency in New York to discuss the show's opening story, the death of William Matthews, when they heard the news of another death in Dallas: the assassination of President Kennedy.[7]

After opening with a death in the core Matthews family, Irna planned to follow up with an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, a septic abortion, a shooting, and a murder trial. As Allen M. Potter explained, "Irna just didn't want to take a chance on waiting for the ratings. She felt that with this kind of showy story she could build an audience more quickly."[8] Said Tom Donovan, "In construction, Irna was attempting to follow the structure of As the World Turns. Irna would never conceive of a story not based on a family."[9]

John and Pat are married, 1965.

Cancellation

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On April 12, 1999, as part of a shakeup of the network's daytime and early morning schedules (in which NBC also canceled NBC News at Sunrise (with newcomer Early Today replacing it as the network's early-morning newscast) and picked up the daytime talk show Later Today (a short-lived spinoff of Today) in exchange for the withdrawal of the talk show Leeza (which was renewed for the 1999–2000 season and subsequently sold into first-run syndication) from the network's schedule), NBC announced that it would not renew Another World, ending the series' run after 35 years once the show's previous renewal agreement ended that June.[2][10] Many reasons abounded for Another World's cancellation, with one of the more notable events occurring in the summer of 1998: the network's San Francisco affiliate at the time, KRON-TV (now a CW owned-and-operated station) – at the time one of NBC's highest-rated stations – stopped airing the show altogether to air the syndicated Howie Mandel Show in its timeslot, leaving Days of Our Lives and Sunset Beach as the only NBC soap operas that the station cleared on its schedule, and resulting in additional erosion of the program's already below-mediocre ratings. Independent station KICU-TV picked up the show and aired it for the rest of its run (with NBC logo bugs and end-credit vocal network promotions removed), but the series still experienced a steep ratings decline in the Bay Area market as KRON refused to guide viewers to the program's new home.[11]

Wikinews has related news:

Cast

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See also: List of Another World cast members

Another World started off with the Matthews family as the core family. The Cory family later became the main focus. Other families included the Randolphs, Frames, Hudsons, Loves, Ewings, and Harrisons.

Spin-offs

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The show spawned two spin-offs: Somerset (1970–1976) and Texas (1980–1982). (In 1970, the two shows were known as Another World: Bay City and Another World: Somerset before reverting to their unique names.) One primetime special aired in 1992: Another World: Summer Desire.

A "viewer-directed," text-based continuation of the series called Another World Today existed online, initially sanctioned by TeleNext Media, the production arm of Procter & Gamble.[12]

Airtimes

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While individual NBC affiliates had the right to air any show whenever they wished, most of the affiliates (almost all of them, in the earlier days of television) aired the show when it would be transmitted to the network's direct affiliates.

In the mid-to-late 1990s, when Another World was in its final ratings slump, many affiliates swapped Another World's time slot with Days of Our Lives, which usually aired an hour earlier. Other affiliates transferred Another World to their morning schedule. One station, KXAS, aired Another World on a different local channel (KXTX) that had a programming and promotion agreement with KXAS, for a time in the late 1990s.

The network aired the show at the following times throughout its history:

  • May 4, 1964, to January 3, 1975: 3:00–3:30 PM
  • January 6, 1975, to March 2, 1979: 3:00–4:00 PM
  • March 5, 1979, to August 1, 1980: 2:30–4:00 PM
  • August 4, 1980, to June 25, 1999: 2:00–3:00 PM

Theme songs

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A number of theme songs were used throughout the run of the series. The most sustained was "(You Take Me Away to) Another World," which was performed by Crystal Gayle and Gary Morris. The song was used from 1987 to 1996.

Morris's and Gayle's song was only the second daytime serial theme to become a chart hit; released as a country pop single in 1987, it rose to number 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. (The first was "Nadia's Theme" from The Young and the Restless, which had charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976.)

Notable alumni

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Many well-known film and television actors and celebrities appeared on Another World early in their careers:

Others who were dayplayers or extras included: Dan Futterman, Zach Grenier, Melissa Joan Hart, Frankie Muniz, Donna Pescow, Reginald VelJohnson, and Ming-Na Wen.

Awards

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Daytime Emmy Awards

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Drama series and performer categories

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Category Recipient Role(s) Year(s)
Outstanding Drama Series N/A N/A 1976[13]
Lead Actor Douglass Watson
Charles Keating 		Mac Cory
Carl Hutchins 		1980,[14] 1981[15]
1996[16]
Lead Actress Laurie Heineman
Irene Dailey
Linda Dano 		Sharlene Frame
Liz Matthews
Felicia Gallant 		1978[17]
1979[18]
1993[19]
Supporting Actress Anna Kathryn Holbrook Sharlene Hudson 1996[16]
Younger Actress Ellen Wheeler
Anne Heche 		Marley Hudson/Vicky Hudson
Marley Hudson/Vicky Hudson 		1986[20]
1991[21]

Other categories

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  • 1995 "Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series"
  • 1995 "Outstanding Original Song"
  • 1994 "Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling for a Drama Series"
  • 1994 "Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for a Drama Series"
  • 1993 "Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling for a Drama Series"
  • 1992 "Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team"
  • 1992 "Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling for a Drama Series"
  • 1990 "Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling for a Drama Series"
  • 1990 "Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for a Drama Series" (tied with All My Children)
  • 1989 "Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for a Drama Series"
  • 1975 "Outstanding Drama Series Writing"
  • 1974 "Outstanding Art Direction or Scenic Design" (tied with The Young and the Restless)

Other awards

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Executive Producers / Head Writers

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The following helmed Another World during its 35-year run:[22]

Years Executive Producer(s) Head writer(s)
May 1964 – March 1965 Allen M. Potter Irna Phillips with William J. Bell
March – October 1965 Doris Quinlan James Lipton
November 1965 – February 1969 Paul Robert 1965–1966; Mary Harris 1966–1969 Agnes Nixon
February 1969 – August 1971 Mary Harris; Lyle B. Hill Robert Cenedella
August 1971 – May 11, 1979 Paul Rauch Harding Lemay
May 14, 1979 – November 1979 Paul Rauch Tom King
November 1979 – December 1980 Paul Rauch Tom King, Robert Soderberg
December 1980 - November 1981 Paul Rauch L. Virginia Browne
November 1981 – November 1982 Paul Rauch Corinne Jacker
November 1982 Paul Rauch Robert Soderberg
November 1982 – December 1983 Paul Rauch; Allen M. Potter Robert Soderberg, Dorothy Ann Purser
December 1983 – February 1984 Allen M. Potter Dorothy Ann Purser
March – June 1984 Allen M. Potter Richard Culliton
July 1984 – January 1985 Allen M. Potter Richard Culliton, Gary Tomlin
January – July 1985 Stephen Schenkel Gary Tomlin
August 1985 – March 1986 Stephen Schenkel, John Whitesell Sam Hall, Gillian Spencer
March 1986 – January 1988 John Whitesell Margaret DePriest
February – April 1988 John Whitesell; Michael Laibson Sheri Anderson
April – September 1988 Michael Laibson Donna Swajeski (WGA Strike)
September 12, 1988 – November 10, 1988 Michael Laibson Harding Lemay
November 1988 – November 1992 Michael Laibson Donna Swajeski
November 1992 – November 1994 Michael Laibson; Terri Guarnieri; John Valente Peggy Sloane, Samuel D. Ratcliffe
November 1994 – August 1995 John Valente; Jill Farren Phelps Carolyn Culliton
August 1995 – May 1996 Jill Farren Phelps Tom King, Craig Carlson
May 1996 – January 1997 Jill Farren Phelps; Charlotte Savitz Margaret DePriest
January – March 1997 Charlotte Savitz Elizabeth Page,
Tom King, Craig Carlson
March – April 1997 Charlotte Savitz Tom King, Craig Carlson
April – December 1997 Charlotte Savitz Michael Malone
December 1997 – May 1998 Charlotte Savitz Richard Culliton
May – July 1998 Charlotte Savitz Richard Culliton, Jean Passanante
July 1998 Charlotte Savitz Jean Passanante
July 1998 – June 1999 Charlotte Savitz; Christopher Goutman Leah Laiman, Jean Passanante

On location tapings

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Another World production left the studio to film exterior scenes several times. Some of these locations included:

See also

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Bibliography

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  • Julie Poll, "Another World 35th Anniversary Celebration", ISBN 0060193042, HarperEntertainment, April 27, 1999. Retrieved 2015-10-11.
  • Gerard J. Waggett, "The Ultimate Another World Trivia Book", ISBN 1580630812, Renaissance Books, September 4, 1999. Retrieved 2015-10-11.

Further reading

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References

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  1. ^ Wolk, Josh (April 20, 1999). "End of the World". Entertainment Weekly. EW.com. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  2. ^ a b Angulo, Sandra P. (June 25, 1999). "Soap Dish". Entertainment Weekly. EW.com. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  3. ^ LaGuardia, Robert (1974). The Wonderful World of TV Soap Operas, page 288. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-25482-1.
  4. ^ "The Creation of Another World". Another World home page. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Mitchell Dru". Another World home page. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  6. ^ Lackmann, Ron (1976). Soap Opera Almanac, page 23. New York: Berkley Publishing Corporation. ISBN 0-425-03234-5
  7. ^ LaGuardia, Robert (1974). The Wonderful World of TV Soap Operas. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-25482-1
  8. ^ LaGuardia, Robert (1974). The Wonderful World of TV Soap Operas, page 169. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-25482-1.
  9. ^ LaGuardia, Robert (1974). The Wonderful World of TV Soap Operas, page 170. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-25482-1.
  10. ^ "NBC reorganizes daytime programming". Broadcasting & Cable. Cahners Business Information. April 19, 1999. Archived from the original on March 29, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
  11. ^ "'Another World' Finds New Home on KICU". San Francisco Chronicle. Chronicle Publishing Company. July 1, 1998.
  12. ^ "Another World Today". Another World Today. 1970-01-01. Archived from the original on 1 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  13. ^ "Daytime Emmys – 1976". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  14. ^ "Daytime Emmys – 1980". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  15. ^ "Daytime Emmys – 1981". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  16. ^ a b "Daytime Emmys – 1996". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  17. ^ "Daytime Emmys – 1978". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  18. ^ "Daytime Emmys – 1979". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  19. ^ "Daytime Emmys – 1993". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  20. ^ "Daytime Emmys – 1986". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  21. ^ "Daytime Emmys – 1991". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  22. ^ Julie Poll, "Another World 35th Anniversary Celebration", Harper Entertainment, 1999.
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