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Adventures in Odyssey

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Adventures in Odyssey
File:Adventuresinodyssey.gif
The AIO logo, 1991 to present.
Created byPhil Lollar & Steve Harris
StarringHal Smith (1987 - 1994)
Katie Leigh
Paul Herlinger
Will Ryan
Walker Edmiston (1987-2007)
Dave Madden
Alan Young
Earl Boen
Townsend Coleman
Steve Burns
Chris Anthony
Corey Burton
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Country of originUnited States & Canada
No. of episodesradio: 613 (at present)
video: 17
books:15
Lists
Production
ProducerFocus on the Family
Running time17-30 minutes per episode But can go to two hours
Original release
Networksyndicated
ReleaseNovember 21, 1987 –
present

Adventures in Odyssey, commonly abbreviated AIO or simply Odyssey, is an Evangelical Christian-themed radio drama/comedy series created by Phil Lollar and Steve Harris for Focus on the Family in 1987.

The series centers on the fictional town of Odyssey; in particular, the owner, employees, and patrons of an ice cream and discovery emporium called "Whit's End." Episodes range from purely comedic episodes to extremely melodramatic arc episodes, but nearly always feature thematic and direct references to the Bible. Characters openly discuss Christianity in the context of individual episodes, and certain episodes present reenactments of Bible stories.

Now beginning its 48th album, 20 years AIO has spanned 613 half-hour radio episodes, 13 pilot episodes, 17 animated videos, 15 books, and numerous edutainment computer games, in addition to related merchandise and the Passages spinoff book series. The show can be heard on hundreds of radio stations in the United States, Canada and around the world.[1]

History

Beginnings

The idea of AIO began in the mid-1980s with Steve Harris, then Coordinator of Promotion with Focus on the Family's Broadcasting Department. The VP of Focus on the Family along with other production staff were discussing ideas for the upcoming Christmas broadcasts when Steve Harris suggested a radio drama. Harris, with consent of Focus on the Family executives Mike Trout and Bobbie Valentine, decided to produce a Christmas-themed radio drama called "Spare Tire" for airing during the 1983 holiday season. The drama, which featured only two actors, was a "smashing success", 1 and paved the way for a second and third Christmas drama, the 98 "House Guest" and the 98 "Gone Fishin'". Both of these dramas included actor Hal Smith, who would later portray AIO main character John Avery Whittaker, and Chuck Bolte, who would portray George Barclay.

In the spring of 1986, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson interviewed Bruce Wilkinson on the subject of media influence in modern society. Wilkinson persuaded Dobson that complaining about media programming was not enough -- that Christians should produce their own programming as a replacement.

In response, Dobson called on Steve Harris to launch a radio series. Focus on the Family hired Phil Lollar, a filmmaker and screenwriter, and Harris and Lollar began to work on creating the program, but disagreements abounded concerning the show's format. Initial plans for a variety show faded; eventually, the two decided on a "30-minute weekly drama/comedy program set in a small town, centering on the problems, foibles, antics, relationships, and goings-on of the people with the town."[2]

The two then established the setting, disagreeing on Oregon or Ohio (but selecting the latter). Lollar named the town "Odyssey" after seeing William F. Buckley's United Nations Journal: A Delegate's Odyssey on his bookshelf. Next, the name of the program's main character was chosen: John Avery Whittaker. "Whit's End" was created, and Lollar wrote detailed histories and descriptions of Odyssey, John Avery Whittaker, and Whit's End. By mid-1986, Focus on the Family approved the show's description, and hired a new writer, Susan McBride. In early fall, Focus on the Family decided to finance a 13-episode test series, Family Portraits, which would determine whether the idea would fly or fail. Harris, Lollar, and McBride wrote the pilot episode, FP1: "Whit's Visitor" during November 1986; it was produced by Focus on the Family's Bob Luttrell in December 1986, and aired on January 5, 1987.

Focus on the Family received over 4,000 positive responses from listeners, fueling the show's development. Joe Glauberg, a staff writer for Happy Days and Mork and Mindy, was brought in to help generate creative direction. The final Family Portraits episode, FP13: "A Simple Addition", aired on April 13, 1987, leaving the entire summer for Harris and Lollar to move the series from testing stage to full-time production.

Over the summer of 1987, production moved, along with the rest of Focus on the Family, from Arcadia, California to Pomona. The new show, called Odyssey USA (OUSA), retained only two main characters from Family Portraits: John Avery Whittaker and Tom Riley; the pilot, 1: "Whit's Flop", premiered on November 21, 1987.

The First Decade - 1986 to 1996

The first major change in Odyssey USA occurred in April 1988, after only 24 episodes of the new program. Focus on the Family Broadcasting VP Mike Trout argued that the inclusion of "USA" in the program's name would alienate listeners outside the United States (and, in particular, in Canada). Thus, the show's name was changed to Adventures in Odyssey. (All back episodes of OUSA were relabeled.)

The program also gained recurring characters, a feature that Family Portraits lacked (other than Whit). Most important were the introductions of Connie Kendall, Eugene Meltsner, and the Barclay family, as well as more appearances of Tom Riley. A few Family Portraits episodes were rewritten and aired as AIO episodes with similar stories but different characters.

The program also took many creative leaps and bounds almost right from the start. The show saw 29 albums released in that time starting with "Family Portraits" and ending with "Welcome Home." Within that time many story arcs were introduced including the infamous Blackgaard saga, the Novacom saga, the conversion of Connie, and the Meltsner Arc.

The first decade -- lasting through December 1996 -- saw production of 372 AIO episodes

The Second Decade and on

After 10 years of non stop production, the format and schedule of production needed a change. Therefore, a break was called and from December 1996 to September 1997 production halted on Adventures In Odyssey.

When the show came back there were three significant changes.

First, was that Hal Smith had obviously passed on and Paul Herlinger took over the voice of John Avery Whittaker. The First Decade had ended with Whit making a very welcome return to Odyssey and it seemed the perfect place to step back and brain storm about where the show would go from there.

Secondly, almost all of the normal child actors were not brought back including Kurt, Isaac, Oscar, and Lucy. The only surviving "child" was Rodney Rathbone. Other main characters were brought back such as Tom and Connie. All of the old story lines had been wrapped up and it was time to introduce new characters or flush out the newer ones such as Jack and Jason, to make the show more fresh and hopefully more accessible to new listeners.

Finally, production turned into a system more like television complete with a season premiere and finale.

There was also a hiatus from November 1998 to September 1999, though four new episodes aired in the spring of 1999.

Officer David Harley

One of the most controversial decisions made on the show was involving a character by the name of Officer David Harley played by Will Ryan (who also voices Eugene Meltsner).

He made his first appearance in the third AIO episode, "Lights Out at Whit's End." His final appearance was on an unreleased 2 part arc called "The Return of Harley."

His character was one of a local Police Officer that was not too bright but with a good heart and good intentions. His appearance on the show caused a large amount of response from parents concerned about how his persona would send the wrong message about real police officers and his character was later dropped with little or no explanation as far as the show plot goes.

The majority of the shows that Officer Harley appeared in were later re-recorded and re-aired under different titles with another character, Harlow Doyle: Private Eye who was again voiced by Will Ryan. Other episodes had the character of Eugene replacing Officer Harley. If an episode was not redone, it was not released at all.

Later on when a demand for the original episodes to be re-released came up, an album called "The Early Classics" was released in 1996. It featured many of the original episodes with new intros and outtros by Chris along with the re-recording of other episodes to remove Officer Harley. To this day no Officer Harley episodes have been officially released and the original albums are something of a collector's piece.

The main lesson that people learned was that Focus on the Family listened to their listeners by removing Officer Harley and later bringing him back in the form of Harlow Doyle.

Whither Whit?

The most significant change to AIO came in 1994, when Hal Smith died of a heart attack. With that, the voice of the AIO main character was gone.

Of course, a number of yet-unaired episodes had been recorded, giving the AIO writers time to plan a course of action. Starting in episode #274: "First-Hand Experience", two of the show's main characters, Eugene and Bernard, left on a trip to California. This six-episode arc, which followed Eugene and Bernard's trip, gave the writers over a month to decide the fate of Whit back in Odyssey.

Eugene and Bernard arrive back in Odyssey in episode #280: "Gone . . .", learning that Whit has taken a position in Israel with the Universal Press Foundation's Missions Board, and that due to the urgent nature of the vacancy, Whit is scheduled to leave that day. Eugene and Bernard race to the airport, only to find that Whit has just departed. The episode uses several clips of Whit from past episodes, in addition to clips of a tape Hal Smith sent to the AIO staff shortly after the death of his wife, to create the scenes with Whit.

Whit returned to Odyssey in 1996; since that time, he has been voiced by Paul Herlinger.

New Directions

  • The "Split" era

The "Split" era refers to a time period in AIO history when the producers were searching for a new Whit. In 1994, After Hal Smith died, the character of John Avery Whitaker was sent to the Middle East so the producers could find a new actor to play Whit. To fill the void Whit left, two new characters were introduced. Jason Whitaker, Whit's son, portrayed the adventurous side of Whit. He also possessed Whit's inventing skills. Whit's wisdom and faith were found in the other new character, Jack Allen. Jack and Whit were lifelong friends, and Jack took over Whit's "grandfatherly" attributes, aiding the kids in moral dilemas and being the spiritual leader of the gang at Whit's End. The attributes of Whit were split between Jason and Jack and the show continued on.

  • Departure of Will Ryan

Between 2000 and 2005 the character of Eugene was nowhere to be found. While he was involved in the Novacom saga, he never actually spoke during these shows. Only things about him were mentioned, like the fact that his apartment had been ransacked (Plan-B; Missing in Action). This absence of Eugene was due to the absence of Will Ryan, the actor who played Eugene. Eugene and Will Ryan returned in 2005 in "A Most Intriguing Question." The absence of Eugene was explained by saying that he and Katrina had toured the world. Eugene has been on the show steadily since that date.

  • Novacom and new directions

The Novacom saga was a major series in AIO. The saga lasted between 2000 and 2002. It dealt with the evil doings of a TV company named Novacom, Andromeda (the parent company), and all of their minions such as Dr. Charles. They planned on using mind control to rule the world. During this saga, Whit opened a new Whit's End in Connellsville. Many new character were introduced then cut after the series ended in the spring of '02. During this series, Robert Mitchell (Mitch), who was allegedly murdered, but later found to be alive, was introduced and he and Connie became a couple. Cal Johnson (Alex Jefferson's cousin) was also introduced. Jason Whitaker became a more prominent character, but after the end of the Novacom series, he returned to his minor role that he had before the series began. Cal and Mitch exited soon after the end of the Novacom series as well. Aubrey and the Shepard family also were cut after this Novacom saga. Another major outcome from the saga was the tone of the show. The Novacom series was very mature for the usually young audience (8-12 yrs. old.) While the Novacom saga is a favorite of many Odyssey fans young and old, AIO has been quite different ever since. In general the tone has been much more light hearted with little of the intrigue found in during the Novacom days.

  • Changing of Connie

Connie Kendall has had several personalities during the AIO history. Early on in the series, she was a very rebellious teen. She had a lot of spunk and rebellion as many teens do. After she became a Christian in the early 90s, she was still spunky, but better behaved and more intent on doing God's will. After the Novacom series and her failed relationship with Mitch, she has become very different. In great contrast to her early days, Connie went through a whiny weak stage. The current Connie is normally a mellow, calm, level-headed Christian who occasionally relapses into her spunky self.

Structure

Format

AIO is atypical in that it does not fall cleanly into either comedy or melodrama category, and episode plots range from the farcical (e.g., #440: "I Slap Floor") to the extremely serious (e.g., #499, "Exit"). In all, approximately one-third of all episodes fall in the purely comic category, a third in the purely dramatic category, and the remaining third are hybrid. However, all episodes are written to convey some moral, and a Bible reference verse, and are written to be both entertaining and acceptable to all age groups.

Most radio episodes are written to fit in a half-hour broadcast window, though it is not uncommon for a single episode to span multiple half-hour segments, divided into numbered parts (each carrying their own production number). To date, there have been 64 multi-part episodes, with the four-part "Plan B" the largest (episode #484, #485, #486, & #487). Major storylines, as with other melodramas, span numerous episodes. The Novacom saga, for example, spans 29 episodes, originally aired over a 20-month timeframe.

Initially, each AIO episode began and ended with a short story segment, usually around two minutes total, involving the program's host, Chris. (Chris seemed to exist in both the real world and in the fictional AIO universe.) These "wrap-arounds" introduced and highlighted the subject of the episode; at the end, Chris would give the Bible verses supporting the theme of the particular episode, as well as production credits and, occasionally, contact information for Focus on the Family. Eventually, it was decided that these wrap-arounds had become so elaborate that they detracted from the main story and Odyssey plotline, and starting in 1991, Chris's role was reduced to a brief introduction ("Hi, this is Chris. Welcome to Adventures in Odyssey!"), followed by John Campbell's AIO music theme. However, Chris retained the role of concluding each episode with a recapitulation and biblical reference. In multi-part episodes, Chris introduces the later segments by introducing select informative soundbites ("Last time, on Adventures in Odyssey . . .).

Another change to the introduction came shortly thereafter: Chris's welcome statement was overlaid onto the musical theme, followed by a welcome from main character John Avery Whittaker, after which a selection of soundbites from the episode were juxtaposed to create a (usually) comedic preview of the episode.

This format has remained, albeit with a few minor changes. First, beginning with the 1994 episode "Second Thoughts", various characters followed Chris in welcoming listeners to the program (a change originating when the character of "Whit" was absent from the show from 1994 to 1996). Second, beginning with episode #144, "Someone to Watch Over Me", the AIO theme and welcome sequence was moved to follow the opening scene in select episodes, similar to most modern-day television melodramas and sitcoms. Third, voice acting credits were added to engineering credits read by Chris at the show's conclusion.

The only other experiment regarding the AIO format began with episodes #428a, "The Eternal Birthday" and #428b, "Imaginary Friend", two quarter-hour episodes designed to air within the same half-hour time slot. Each "half-episode" was independent of the other, and generally tended to the comical because of the limited development possible in a shorter time frame. After ten such "splits", the idea was abandoned (AIO fans claimed splits catered to a declining attention span among youth.) [3]

The current format, for most episodes, is thus:

  1. Musical theme
  2. Chris's introductory welcome
  3. Introduction from a character
  4. Soundbite preview of the episode
  5. Episode, with two commercial breaks
  6. Chris's conclusion, with episode summary, moral take-away, Bible reference, and voice, engineering, writing, and production credits

The timespan of individual AIO episodes also varies greatly. The shortest episode is 223: "Real Time"; the episode covers events that take place in approximately twenty-two minutes of Odyssey time (the actual episode is 22 minutes, 51 seconds long). However, other episodes contain events in Odyssey that may occur over more than a month, for example, 182: "The Scales of Justice" and 202: "Timmy's Cabin".

Broadcasts

AIO is broadcast through thousands of radio stations in the United States and Canada. Station finder In addition, online broadcasting occurs through OnePlace.com Listen online. Many stations rerun episodes daily (synchronous with one another); new episodes are aired on Saturday mornings, at 10:00 AM.

Releases

See Album list for more information.

AIO is in a relatively unique position. Most radio dramas were popular before the advent of inexpensive and convenient recording and playback formats, and back episodes were never released. AIO, however, began near the end of the cassette tape era, and Focus on the Family decided to use that medium to create albums of AIO episodes, a decade before the custom became popular of releasing TV series on DVD. The early albums contained six cassette tapes, with two episodes per tape, and were the primary release format through 1992, with most of the first 208 episodes released exclusively on cassette (a few remain unreleased to this day).

In 1993, the 16th AIO album, Flights of Imagination, was released for both audio cassette and on four CDs. Dual-release, on both cassette and CD, was the tactic used for all albums from 16 to 45 which are available on both audio cassette and CD. Since then Focus on the Family has since gone back and reissued albums 1-15 in CD format as well including an extra album of never before released episodes.

In 2006 Focus on the Family said that album 45 would be the last album to be released on both cassette and CD, limiting future releases to CD only.

Themes

AIO reflects the beliefs and stances of its parent organization, Focus on the Family, a U.S.-based interdenominational, evangelical non-profit organization. All episodes are based on a certain scriptural reference, though the inclusion may range from simply the Chris's thematic summary at the end of the program, to the religious topic being discussed throughout the episode. Some episodes deal with general moral principles, such as honesty or trust, with little reference to Christianity in particular (for example, #158: "A License to Drive"). Others, however, concern doctrinal topics such as Christology, Salvation, Spiritual warfare, and so forth (for example, #357, "The Search for Whit, part 3"; #330, "The Time Has Come"; and, #122-#123, "Castles and Cauldrons, parts 1-2", respectively). Most, though not always all, of the protagonists are Christians, and prayers and church events are regularly included in episodes. However, denominational issues are not considered. For example, most Christian characters attend churches with such nondenominational names as "Odyssey Community Church" and "Odyssey Bible Church".

In addition, the principle of Biblical inerrancy is ascribed to most of the protagonists, especially John Avery Whittaker. As such, references to and re-enactments of Bible stories are regular, and interpreted as factual.

Some serious topics dealt with in AIO include:

Characters

Main article: List of Adventures in Odyssey characters
  • John Avery Whittaker, commonly known as "Whit", voiced by Hal Smith (1987 - 1994) and Paul Herlinger (1996 - present)
  • Connie Kendall, the oldest Whit's End employee, voiced by Katie Leigh
  • Eugene Meltsner, voiced by Will Ryan (1988-2000, 2005-present) (recently returned to AIO after 5 years)
  • Katrina Shanks-Meltsner, voiced by Pamela Hayden and Audrey Wasilewski, Eugene's on-again, off-again girlfriend for many years who finally became his wife after a turbulent courtship
  • Bernard Walton, the town's window-washer, voiced by Dave Madden (actor)
  • Tom Riley, the town's farmer, and good friend of Whit, voiced by Walker Edmiston (1987 - 2007)
  • The Barclay family, including parents George and Mary, daughter Donna, and sons Jimmy and Stewart along with cat Ferguson (once belonged to Donna's friend Karen, who died of cancer) and dog Normal. The Barclays eventually left Odyssey for a small New England town called Pokenberry Falls, where George took a job as pastor of the local church.
  • Jack Allen, childhood friend of Whit and current owner of the J & J Antique Shoppe, voiced by Alan Young
  • Jason Whittaker, Whit's son, voiced by Townsend Coleman
  • Bart Rathbone, manager of the Electric Palace, voiced by Walker Edmiston (1987-2007)
  • Wooton Bassett, local postman, voiced by Jess Harnell
  • Rodney Rathbone, Bart Rathbone's son, founder and leader of malicious gang The Bones of Rath.
  • Lucy Cunningham-Schultz, ace reporter and writer for The Odyssey Owl school newspaper and freelance writer for the chief city newspaper, The Odyssey Times. Voiced by Genni (Mullen) Long.
  • Dr. Regis Blackgaard, the villain who attempts to take over the town of Odyssey. In the series he is supposedly killed in a tunnel explosion; however, his character appeared in a later episode, in which he communicated with a character named Aubrey inside the Imagination Station. It was revealed that this was due to a virus which had gotten into the machine, and it was destroyed for good. Voiced by Earl Boen.
  • Edwin Blackgaard, Regis's twin brother, owner of the Harlequin Dinner theater as well as the Electric Palace. Voiced by Earl Boen.
  • Chris, the show's announcer, voiced by Chris Anthony

See Character list for more information. See AIOHQ.com Voices for a list of credited AIO voice actors.

AIO unquestionably centers on John Avery Whittaker, founder and proprietor of "Whit's End". "Whit", as he is called by most friends (Eugene Meltsner a notable and consistent exception), is a widower with a varied history, a history that often plays into episodes. After serving with the United States Navy in World War II, he was involved as a consultant with the National Security Agency. Later, he founded the Universal Press Foundation, an encyclopedia company, and became an elementary teacher. He and his late wife Jenny moved to Odyssey approximately ten years before the setting of the pilot episode of AIO.

Helping Whit at "Whit's End" are his two main employees, Connie Kendall and Eugene Meltsner. Connie appeared in Odyssey in episode #4, "Connie Comes to Town", as a junior-high student. After graduating in episode #405, "The Graduate", she decided to continue to work at "Whit's End" full-time. Eugene, who first appeared as a college student in episode #51, "Connie, Part 1", began an internship at Whit's End while attending Campbell College. In recent years, his fellowship with the college has given him less opportunity to work at Whit's End, and the sensitive nature of his research caused him to flee Odyssey in the midst of the Novacom saga. After much soul-searching, Eugene returned to Odyssey in episode #564, "A Most Intriguing Question (Part 1)".

The rest of the most prominent supporting characters include:

  • Tom Riley, voiced by Ed Walker: a local farmer and former Odyssey mayor who is old friends with Whit, and his known for his relaxed, honest approach to all things. He owns and operates the "Timothy Center", named for his late son.
  • Bernard Walton, voiced by Dave Madden: a friendly janitor known for his metaphorical antics. Serves as a common-sense foil to book-smart Eugene.
  • Jack Allen, voiced by Alan Young: a childhood friend of Whit, who, along with his wife, Joanne, owns the "J & J Antique Shoppe"; known for being somewhat reticent.
  • Jason Whittaker, voiced by Townsend Coleman: Whit's youngest son, who, similar to his father, is a former employee of the National Security Agency. Jason is known for his good looks, intelligence, and strong pro-technology tendencies that often conflict with the views of Jack Allen (with Allen serving as a common-sense foil to technophile Jason).
  • Bart Rathbone, voiced by Ed Walker: scheming manager of the "Electric Palace", known for his half-baked entrepreneurial ideas, constant attempt to promote his store, and multiple ill-fated campaigns for the Mayorship of Odyssey.
  • Rodney Rathbone, voiced by Steve Burns: the none-too-smart son of Bart Rathbone acts as local bully and head of the eponymous bad-boy gang "The Bones of Rath".
  • Edwin Blackgaard, voiced by Earl Boen: identical twin brother of perennial villain Dr. Regis Blackgaard, a good-natured but egocentrical Shakespearian actor who owns, manages, and stars in the productions of the "Harlequin Dinner Theatre".
  • Wooton Bassett, voiced by Jess Harnell: a recently added character, is the postman serving "Whit's End". He is known for his juvenile personality and obsession with comic books (especially the fictional "PowerBoy" series).

Plot arcs

See Plot arc list for more information.

  • Connie

The first multi-part plot arc of AIO concerns Connie Kendall. Connie, a teenager from California, moves to Odyssey in episode #4: "Connie Comes to Town", and takes a job at "Whit's End". Through the first season, there is a significant amount of tension between Connie's areligious belief and the Christianity of Whit and Tom. Over time, Connie softens to Christianity, and becomes a Christian at the end of the two-part episode "Connie" (#51 & #52).

  • Blackgaard saga

Main article: Blackgaard saga

The "Blackgaard saga" is the definitive AIO storyline, with its roots first mentioned in #19, "Recollections", and its encore in #424 & #425, "Blackgaard's Revenge, parts 1 & 2". Thus, the saga was broadcast over a total of 11 years. The saga includes the 11-part Darkness Before Dawn series, originally broadcast in 1995.

The saga recounts the ongoing battle between John Avery Whittaker and his nemesis, Dr. Regis Blackgaard, over two different items: first, a computer program Whittaker developed for the National Security Agency named "Applesauce", and second, a mineral found beneath "Whit's End" that forms the active ingredient in the enzyme TA-418, a chemical weaponizer.

  • Barclay saga

Another ongoing storyline in AIO concerns the Barclay family's direction following father George Barclay's unemployment. In the Barclay saga, George Barclay is led into the ministry, and the Barclay family eventually moves from Odyssey to the small town of Pokenberry Falls.

  • The Search for Whit

Roughly a year following John Avery Whittaker accepting the position in the Middle East, a series of strange, unclear messages reach Odyssey, essentially making it seem evident that Whit has disappeared and may be in danger. Jason and Eugene embark on a mission to find him, and eventually do (presumably because the producers found a suitable recast for Whit's voice).

  • Eugene And Katrina

One of the most popular plot arcs in AIO concerns Eugene Meltsner's relationship with Katrina Shanks. Eugene and Katrina's relationship was plagued by numerous miscommunications and misunderstandings, which were largely a result of Eugene's lack of experience when it came to matters of the heart.

  • "Meltsner Arc"

Eugene has stumbled upon clues to find his father.

  • Malachi's Message

A mysterious man named Malachi comes to Odyssey and claims to be an angel. Seemingly, this story arc was inspired by the popular CBS-TV drama Touched By An Angel.

  • Novacom saga

Main article: Novacom saga

The largest continuous plot arc attempted to date, the "Novacom saga" spanned 29 episodes originally aired over a 20-month timeframe, and concerns the attempts of the Novacom Corporation to brainwash Odyssey and, eventually, the world.

The Novacom series begins with a number of episodes that introduce the Novacom corporation to Odyssey. Novacom is a media conglomerate, and buys a number of television and radio stations in the Odyssey area. Many of the television programming they run is controversial and violent, which quickly puts Whit and most of the protagonists of Odyssey at odds with Novacom. Later it is found that Novacom is trying to mind control the people of Odyssey and the world.

Over time, an increasing number of voices claim that Novacom is up to no good.

Special show types

In addition to normal shows, which involve characters in the Odyssey fictional universe, a few other formats are frequently used (in, perhaps, 10% of episodes). These divergent formats are usually connected to Odyssey by such devices as inventions of John Avery Whittaker, for instance.

BTV

BTV is a television show in Odyssey that is hosted by Bernard Walton. BTV episodes consist of several different segments that focus on a common topic. Usually the topics deal with something Biblical, the episodes that are included in the BTV series are:

  • 298: I Want My B-TV
  • 317: BTV: Envy
  • 345: BTV: Compassion
  • 383: BTV: Thanks
  • 410: BTV: Forgiveness
  • 434: BTV: Redeeming the Season
  • 439: BTV: Grace
  • 461: BTV: Obedience
  • 515: BTV: Behind the Scenes

KYDS Kids Radio

Kids Radio is a radio station run out of Whit's End. While it doesn't necessarily broadcast continually it has been used to tell many stories. A few of the broadcasted shows have included The Twilife Zone (a parody of The Twilight Zone), The Jimmy Barclay Show, Candid Conversations with Connie, "Ask Mitch", (later changed to "Ask Docter Wise") and O.T. Action News.

The idea behind KYDS "Kids Radio" began in episode #36: "Kids Radio". Brad Dillard, a local youth, convinces Whit to allow him to use some old equipment at "Whit's End" to produce a radio station for kids' programming. Though many of the children of Odyssey express interest, Brad cannot convince enough others to actually work on the production. Brad's father, seeing his son overworked, asks Whit to discontinue the station's operation, and he sadly does so.

However, Whit decided the idea was a good one, and in episodes #114: "The Big Broadcast", and #141: "Over the Airwaves," he reintroduces "Kids Radio" as a medium for conveying biblical truths to the children of Odyssey.

"Kids Radio" is an interesting plot device, as it plays into AIO in numerous, but very different, ways. For instance, several episodes of AIO are nothing more than a half-hour length "Kids Radio" program. Usually, the AIO episode begins as normal, after which a character (usually Connie Kendall) introduces the "Kids Radio" program to Odyssey residents. In this way, real listeners skip through the Odyssey fictional universe and enter a second-layer fictional universe, such as The Twilife Zone, a "Kids Radio" program. (For example, the pilot episode for The Twilife Zone is the only content of episode #288: "The Twilife Zone.") Actress Katie Leigh portrays Connie Kendall's wrap-around of the broadcast of The Twilife Zone, as well as Rodlyn Serly, the host of The Twilife Zone who is fictional even in Odyssey. Thus, with these programs, there is a double-layer of fiction.

Other AIO episodes contain "Kids Radio" programs, but from the perspective of the Odyssey fictional universe. For example, episode #294: "Unto Us a Child is Born", concerns the playwriting, directing, recording, and live-radio drama on "Kids Radio" (live in the Odyssey fictional universe, not in reality). The same is the case with episodes of Candid Conversations with Connie, sports programs, and others.

It is implied that "Kids Radio" is not in continual live broadcast, as characters sometimes use the studio (located in Whit's End) to conduct private conversations, as in episodes #335 & #336, "Love is on the Air, Parts 1 & 2".

The Imagination Station

The Imagination Station is undoubtedly the most often-used plot device, outside of the major characters and "Whit's End"/Odyssey as a whole, in AIO. Indeed, it is almost a character itself, having evolved throughout the AIO storyline and playing a major role in most AIO plot arcs. The Imagination Station is one of John Avery Whittaker's inventions. People can use the station to experience historical and biblical events in a seemingly more-immersive version of virtual reality. The general concept is similar in many respects to the Star Trek holodeck. The station is typically used for educational and for other productive reasons however on one occasion the fictional corporation Novacom attempted to exploit its technology to enslave the entire world. In the video series episode "The Knight Travellers," the Imagination Station is used by the villain as a mind-control device.

The Room of Consequence

The "Room of Consequence", another of Whit's inventions, was introduced in episode #236, "Into Temptation". The idea is that just as the Imagination Station allows individuals to step into the past, the Room of Consequence allows them to see a possible future, usually extrapolated from the decisions the person is making in the present. Unlike the Imagination Station, the Room of Consequence does not appear to allow for significant interaction with the future environment.

The Room of Consequence plays a much smaller role in AIO than the Imagination Station, with only ten episodes including it to date.

The Transmuter

The Transmuter is another one of John Avery Whittaker's inventions. Just as The Imagination Station allows a person to experience the past, and The Room of Consequence allows a person to see a possible future, the Transmuter allows a person to experience the present from another person's point of view. This lets you experience events from a perspective you normally wouldn't be able to see. It debuted in episode #419, "Another Man's Shoes". The Transmuter is described as bearing a resemblance to the weight scales in a doctor's office.

Video series

  • Differences between audio & video

Book series

Focus on the Family has released several different fictional book series based on Adventures in Odyssey.

Original series

  1. Strange Journey Back
  2. High Flyer With a Flat Tire
  3. The Secret Cave of Robinwood
  4. Behind the Locked Door
  5. Lights Out at Camp What-A-Nut
  6. The King's Quest
  7. Danger Lies Ahead
  8. Point of No Return
  9. Dark Passage
  10. Freedom Run
  11. The Stranger's Message
  12. A Carnival of Secrets

Passages Series

  1. Darien's Rise
  2. Arin's Judgement
  3. Annison's Risk
  4. Glennall's Betrayal
  5. Draven's Defiance
  6. Fendar's Legacy

Mysteries in Odyssey

  1. The Case of the Mysterious Message
  2. The Mystery of the Hooded Horsemen

Merchandise

Trivia

  • The names of the Barclay family are all based on the movie It's a Wonderful Life: George is based on the character George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, Mary is based on Mary Bailey, played by Donna Reed. While the adults' names are based on the fictional characters' names, their children's names, Donna, Jimmy and Stewart, are based on the names of the actors Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart, respectively (Stewart's middle name is Reed, putting the actors' last names together). The last name is a close approximation of Bailey. The relation between It's a Wonderful Life and the Barclays on AIO is so close that they made a 1-hour Adventures in Odyssey episode (It's a Pokenberry Christmas, Parts I & II) with the plotline and many of the quotes from the movie. Also AIO characters have alluded to It's a Wonderful Life. See List of references to It's A Wonderful Life.
  • An AIO episode, #248, "Terror from the Skies", is based heavily on the radio broadcast The War of the Worlds by Orson Welles. The episode features Edwin Blackgaard, owner of the "Harlequin Dinner Theatre", producing a radio broadcast dubbed Terror from the Skies. Like The War of the Worlds, it uses news bulletins tell about an alien invasion. In Blackgaard's broadcast, a meteor lands near Odyssey. The meteor breaks open and several hideous aliens emerge, who capture and eat several people, before encountering the National Guard. The National Guard try to defeat them, but to no avail, as the aliens are not affected at all by the weapons. All appears to be lost, until the aliens succumb to the simplest weapon: water, which affects them in a way similar to acid. This is an homage to the way the aliens in The War of the Worlds succumb to viruses and bacteria. Terror from the Skies is confirmed by Edwin Blackgaard to be simply a dramatization, much like the way Orson Wells confirmed his to be.
  • AIO Episodes #122 and #123 "Castles & Cauldrons, Part 1" and "Castles & Cauldrons, Part 2" were the first episodes to have a parental advisory from Focus on the Family founder/chairman Dr. James Dobson due to the heavily dramatic and spiritual nature of the episodes. The episodes portrayed spiritual aspects of fantasy role-playing games (RPGs). The scripts were carefully reviewed by AIO and Focus on the Family staff members prior to airing. These episodes are highly controversial, even among Christians. Castles and Cauldrons is a reference to Dungeons and Dragons.
  • On the compilation album, Grins, Grabbers and Great Getaways, episode #36, "Kids Radio" was labelled "KYDS Radio" (apparently using KYDS as the station's call sign). This is a play on words as the station was run "by kids, for kids". The AIO website and later releases of the episode changed the name to "Kids' Radio". Although, most fans refer to it as "KYDS Radio".

Cast

Notes

  1. ^ Phil Lollar, The Complete Guide to Adventures in Odyssey (Focus on the Family, 1996), p. 3. ISBN 1-56179-466-X
  2. ^ Ibid., p. 4.

See also

Sources

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