Spyder Games
Encyclopedia
Spyder Games is a television series
that was broadcast on MTV
from June 18, 2001 through September 20, 2001. MTV's second foray into the soap opera
format following the run of the anthology series Undressed
, the series was originally called Spyder Web in development.
Originally intended for a 3 pm time slot, Spyder Games ultimately debuted at 7 pm because of its racy content. The final episodes, originally scheduled to air during the week of 10 September 2001, were postponed by a week because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The last episode was written as cliffhanger
, but MTV did not pick the series up for a second season.
and his writing partner Valerie Ahern
about developing a soap opera targeting the network's 12-24-year-old demographic
. According to McLaughlin, "We wanted to do for soaps what Scream
had done for horror films. That movie acknowledged and even spoofed the conventions and staples of slasher film
s while never forgetting it was one ... We wanted to distill everything people loved about soaps — the impossibly hot young characters and deliciously suspenseful melodrama
— and eliminate all the things people hate: the glacial pace, the endless recaps and all that praying and crying." James Stanley
and Diane Messina Stanley
helped the show's creators by serving as Story Consultants
before it debuted.
, Boris Carlisle, who is in control of the company. A widower with four children (Natalia, Dmitri, Ivan and Sasha), Carlisle exhibits an irrational and unconcealed hatred (for apparently misogynistic
reasons) for daughter Natalia, the sole Carlisle child interested in the success of the family's video game business, the titular Spyder Games. Carlsle instead places all of his interest and value in Dmitri, the oldest son, while second son Ivan's sensitivity is rewarded with Carlisle's barely-concealed contempt. Youngest son Sasha, a teen much younger than his siblings, is superficially indulged.
Dmitri becomes romantically involved with Daphne, a fashion designer, but through mistaken identity is deceived into having sex with Daphne's conniving employee Taylor. Concealing a trailer trash
past while working secretly as a call girl
, Talyor then supposedly becomes pregnant with Dmitri's child. Ivan marries Julie Whitmore, the daughter of another wealthy local businessman, but then reveals he is gay as he is undeniably attracted to Francisco, a male houseguest in the Carlisles' home and one-time flame of Natalia's. Sasha pursues a career as a serious musician but is frustrated at being typecast as a teen idol in the style of Aaron Carter
; indifferent and easily distracted, he breaks the heart of Cherish, a high school classmate with a hard crush
on him who is also his most loyal fan. Meanwhile, Natalia struggles to conduct business at Spyder Games, constantly opposed and undermined by her father, who demonstrates many unscrupulous behaviors, both personal and professional. A host of additional characters move in and out of the Carlisles' dealings, including private investigator Jeff Northcutt, Taylor's ex-convict brother Lyle and Natalia's creepily devoted lackey Todd. Eventually Sasha is revealed to be Natalia's son instead of brother, fathered by Ivan's wife Julie's father when Natalia was about thirteen years old. As the episodes progress, a mysterious series of events lead to Boris' murder and the discovery of his severed head in a freezer.
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
that was broadcast on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
from June 18, 2001 through September 20, 2001. MTV's second foray into the soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
format following the run of the anthology series Undressed
Undressed (TV series)
Undressed is an American anthology series that aired on MTV from July 26, 1999 to September 5, 2002. The series was created and executive produced by British director Roland Joffé.-Synopsis:...
, the series was originally called Spyder Web in development.
Originally intended for a 3 pm time slot, Spyder Games ultimately debuted at 7 pm because of its racy content. The final episodes, originally scheduled to air during the week of 10 September 2001, were postponed by a week because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The last episode was written as cliffhanger
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
, but MTV did not pick the series up for a second season.
Origins
In December 1998, MTV Series Development approached novelist and television writer Christian McLaughlinChristian McLaughlin
Christian McLaughlin is a television writer, producer, and author. McLaughlin is a graduate of Radio-Television-Film at the University of Texas...
and his writing partner Valerie Ahern
Valerie Ahern
Valerie Ahern is an American television screenwriter and producer.She has written episodes for a number of television series since 1995 including The Young and the Restless , Clueless, Desperate Housewives, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Drawn Together, The Parent 'Hood, Renovate My Family, Hot...
about developing a soap opera targeting the network's 12-24-year-old demographic
Demographics
Demographics are the most recent statistical characteristics of a population. These types of data are used widely in sociology , public policy, and marketing. Commonly examined demographics include gender, race, age, disabilities, mobility, home ownership, employment status, and even location...
. According to McLaughlin, "We wanted to do for soaps what Scream
Scream (film)
Scream is a 1996 American slasher film written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven. The film stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Drew Barrymore, and David Arquette...
had done for horror films. That movie acknowledged and even spoofed the conventions and staples of slasher film
Slasher film
A slasher film is a type of horror film typically involving a psychopathic killer stalking and killing a sequence of victims in a graphically violent manner, often with a cutting tool such as a knife or axe...
s while never forgetting it was one ... We wanted to distill everything people loved about soaps — the impossibly hot young characters and deliciously suspenseful melodrama
Melodrama
The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them...
— and eliminate all the things people hate: the glacial pace, the endless recaps and all that praying and crying." James Stanley
James Stanley (writer)
James Stanley is an American TV writer, producer and actor. He has also been credited as James Carl Stanley and Jim Stanley. He is married to Diane Messina Stanley, who is also a writer.-Positions held:...
and Diane Messina Stanley
Diane Messina Stanley
-Positions held:Strong Medicine, Judging Amy, Knots Landing, The Young And The Restless , Harper Valley P.T.A., House Calls, That's Life, Savannah, Homefront, Early Edition, Pacific Palisades, Army Wives, and Road To Avonlea...
helped the show's creators by serving as Story Consultants
Creative consultant
Creative consultant is a credit that has - particularly in the past - been given to screenwriters who have “doctored” a movie screenplay. It is often given by producers in lieu of official credit. Those given this credit in the television field work closely with an Executive Producer, Head...
before it debuted.
Synopsis
The show centers on a wealthy video game-producing family and the unexpected murder of the patriarchPatriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
, Boris Carlisle, who is in control of the company. A widower with four children (Natalia, Dmitri, Ivan and Sasha), Carlisle exhibits an irrational and unconcealed hatred (for apparently misogynistic
Misogyny
Misogyny is the hatred or dislike of women or girls. Philogyny, meaning fondness, love or admiration towards women, is the antonym of misogyny. The term misandry is the term for men that is parallel to misogyny...
reasons) for daughter Natalia, the sole Carlisle child interested in the success of the family's video game business, the titular Spyder Games. Carlsle instead places all of his interest and value in Dmitri, the oldest son, while second son Ivan's sensitivity is rewarded with Carlisle's barely-concealed contempt. Youngest son Sasha, a teen much younger than his siblings, is superficially indulged.
Dmitri becomes romantically involved with Daphne, a fashion designer, but through mistaken identity is deceived into having sex with Daphne's conniving employee Taylor. Concealing a trailer trash
Trailer trash
Trailer trash is a derogatory North American English term for poor people living in trailers or mobile homes, especially in trailer parks.-Television:...
past while working secretly as a call girl
Call girl
A call girl or female escort is a sex worker who is not visible to the general public; nor does she usually work in an institution like a brothel, although she may be employed by an escort agency...
, Talyor then supposedly becomes pregnant with Dmitri's child. Ivan marries Julie Whitmore, the daughter of another wealthy local businessman, but then reveals he is gay as he is undeniably attracted to Francisco, a male houseguest in the Carlisles' home and one-time flame of Natalia's. Sasha pursues a career as a serious musician but is frustrated at being typecast as a teen idol in the style of Aaron Carter
Aaron Carter
Aaron Charles Carter is an American singer. He came to fame as a pop and hip hop singer in the late 1990s, establishing himself as a star among pre-teen and teenage audiences during the early-first decade of the 21st century....
; indifferent and easily distracted, he breaks the heart of Cherish, a high school classmate with a hard crush
Limerence
Limerence is a term coined c. 1977 by the psychologist Dorothy Tennov to describe an involuntary state of mind which seems to result from a romantic attraction to another person combined with an overwhelming, obsessive need to have one's feelings reciprocated...
on him who is also his most loyal fan. Meanwhile, Natalia struggles to conduct business at Spyder Games, constantly opposed and undermined by her father, who demonstrates many unscrupulous behaviors, both personal and professional. A host of additional characters move in and out of the Carlisles' dealings, including private investigator Jeff Northcutt, Taylor's ex-convict brother Lyle and Natalia's creepily devoted lackey Todd. Eventually Sasha is revealed to be Natalia's son instead of brother, fathered by Ivan's wife Julie's father when Natalia was about thirteen years old. As the episodes progress, a mysterious series of events lead to Boris' murder and the discovery of his severed head in a freezer.