A Year in the Life
Encyclopedia
A Year in the Life was a 1986 Emmy Award–winning miniseries
and a one hour dramatic series which ran on NBC
during the 1987–1988 television season, created by Joshua Brand
and John Falsey
(whose long lasting partnership also produced the television shows St. Elsewhere
, Northern Exposure
and I'll Fly Away
).
The series began as a three-part miniseries which was first broadcast in December 1986. As suggested by the title, the miniseries followed the various members of the Gardner family of Seattle during the course of one year. The major event of that year was the sudden and unexpected death of wife and mother Ruth Gardner (Eva Marie Saint
).
Following the success of the miniseries, NBC decided to launch a one hour drama series the following fall. Richard Kiley played Joe Gardner, owner of a successful plastics business and father of four adult children. The children were twice-divorced daughter Anne (Wendy Phillips
), who had returned home with her two teenaged children; daughter Lindley (Jayne Atkinson
) and husband Jim (Adam Arkin
), parents of a newborn baby daughter; black sheep son Jack (Morgan Stevens
); and conservative youngest son Sam (David Oliver
), married to free-spirited Kay (Sarah Jessica Parker
). Diana Muldaur
was a later addition to the cast as Dr. Alice Foley, Joe Gardner's new romantic interest. Trey Ames played Joe Gardner's grandson, David Sisk.
The miniseries was the third-highest rated miniseries of the 1986–87 US television season
with a 16.9/27 rating/share.
The series ran for one complete season, but was not renewed for a second season.
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
and a one hour dramatic series which ran on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
during the 1987–1988 television season, created by Joshua Brand
Joshua Brand
Joshua Brand is an American television writer, director, and producer who created St. Elsewhere, I'll Fly Away and Northern Exposure with his writing-and-producing partner John Falsey....
and John Falsey
John Falsey
John Henry Falsey, Jr. is an American television writer and producer.Falsey was born in New Haven, Connecticut, the son of Patricia Helene and John Henry Falsey...
(whose long lasting partnership also produced the television shows St. Elsewhere
St. Elsewhere
St. Elsewhere is an American medical drama television series that originally ran on NBC from October 26, 1982 to May 25, 1988. The series is set at fictional St. Eligius, a decaying urban teaching hospital in Boston's South End neighborhood...
, Northern Exposure
Northern Exposure
Northern Exposure is an American television series that ran on CBS from 1990 to 1995, with a total of 110 episodes.-Overview:The series was given a pair of consecutive Peabody Awards: in 1991–92 for the show's "depict[ion] in a comedic and often poetic way, [of] the cultural clash between a...
and I'll Fly Away
I'll Fly Away (TV series)
I'll Fly Away is a television series set during the late 1950s and early 1960s, in an unspecified Southern U.S. state. It aired on NBC from 1991 to 1993 and starred Regina Taylor as Lilly Harper, a black housekeeper for district attorney Forrest Bedford and his family...
).
The series began as a three-part miniseries which was first broadcast in December 1986. As suggested by the title, the miniseries followed the various members of the Gardner family of Seattle during the course of one year. The major event of that year was the sudden and unexpected death of wife and mother Ruth Gardner (Eva Marie Saint
Eva Marie Saint
Eva Marie Saint is an American actress who has starred in films, on Broadway, and on television in a career spanning seven decades. She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the drama film On the Waterfront , and later starred in the thriller film North by...
).
Following the success of the miniseries, NBC decided to launch a one hour drama series the following fall. Richard Kiley played Joe Gardner, owner of a successful plastics business and father of four adult children. The children were twice-divorced daughter Anne (Wendy Phillips
Wendy Phillips
Wendy Phillips is an American actress, noted for playing David Selby's last wife, Lauren Daniels, during the final season of Falcon Crest and for playing Gerald McRaney's wife, Claire Greene, on both Touched by an Angel and Promised Land...
), who had returned home with her two teenaged children; daughter Lindley (Jayne Atkinson
Jayne Atkinson
Jayne Atkinson is an English-born American film, theatre and television actress. She is perhaps best known for the role of Karen Hayes on 24 as well as her Tony Award-nominated roles in The Rainmaker and Enchanted April...
) and husband Jim (Adam Arkin
Adam Arkin
Adam Arkin is an American television, film and stage actor and director. He played the role of Aaron Shutt on Chicago Hope. He has been nominated for numerous awards, including a Tony as well as 3 primetime Emmys, 4 SAG Awards , and a DGA Award...
), parents of a newborn baby daughter; black sheep son Jack (Morgan Stevens
Morgan Stevens
Morgan Stevens is an American actor, primarily seen on television.He appeared as Paul Northridge in one episode of The Waltons and in three reunion movies. In A Wedding on Walton's Mountain, his character married the character of Erin Walton...
); and conservative youngest son Sam (David Oliver
David Oliver (actor)
David Oliver was an American actor best known for roles on two television programs.From 1983 to 1985, he played the role of Perry Hutchins on the daytime soap opera Another World. In 1986 he played the role of Sam Gardner in the miniseries A Year in the Life...
), married to free-spirited Kay (Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker is an American film, television, and theater actress and producer.She is best known for her leading role as Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO television series Sex and the City , for which she won four Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Emmy Awards...
). Diana Muldaur
Diana Muldaur
Diana Muldaur is an Emmy-nominated American film and television actress.-Career:Born in New York City, but raised on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, Muldaur started acting in high school and continued on through college, graduating from Sweet Briar College in Virginia in 1960. She studied acting...
was a later addition to the cast as Dr. Alice Foley, Joe Gardner's new romantic interest. Trey Ames played Joe Gardner's grandson, David Sisk.
The miniseries was the third-highest rated miniseries of the 1986–87 US television season
1986-87 United States network television schedule
This was the United States television schedule on all three commercial television networks for the fall season beginning in September 1986. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with certain exceptions, such as Monday Night Football....
with a 16.9/27 rating/share.
The series ran for one complete season, but was not renewed for a second season.