Spyder Games
Spyder Games | |
---|---|
Genre | Soap opera |
Created by | Valerie Ahern Christian McLaughlin |
Starring | Shawn Batten Christina Chambers Megalyn Echikunwoke Byron Field Monica Serene Garnich Tori Falcon Enrique Murciano Jane Wiedlin Mink Stole Craig Robert Young |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 65 |
Production | |
Producers | Jason Shubb Darren Wadyko |
Camera setup | Multi-camera |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Original release | |
Network | MTV |
Release | June 18 (2001-06-18) – September 20, 2001 (2001-09-20) |
Spyder Games is an American television series that was broadcast on MTV from June 18 to September 20, 2001. MTV's second and last foray into the soap opera format following the run of the anthology series Undressed, the series was originally called Spyder Web in development.[1]
Originally intended for a 3 pm time slot, Spyder Games ultimately debuted at 7 pm because of its racy content.[2] The final episodes, originally scheduled to air during the week of September 10, 2001, were postponed by a week because of continuous news coverage of the September 11 attacks, which MTV aired. The last episode was written as a cliffhanger, but MTV did not pick the series up for a second season. With the decline of the format, as of 2021, Spyder Games is the last new American soap opera to debut on a traditional, non-streaming broadcast or cable TV network.
Origins
In December 1998, MTV Series Development approached novelist and television writer Christian McLaughlin and his writing partner Valerie Ahern about developing a soap opera targeting the network's 12- to 24-year-old demographic.[1] 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 films 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."[1] James Stanley and Diane Messina Stanley helped the show's creators by serving as Story Consultants before it debuted.
Synopsis
The show centers on a wealthy video game-producing family and the unexpected murder of the patriarch, 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, Taylor 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.
Cast and characters
- Shawn Batten as Natalia Carlisle
- J.R. Cacia as Dmitri Carlisle
- Christina Chambers as Taylor Jones
- Megalyn Echikunwoke as Cherish Pardee
- Byron Field as Ivan Carlisle
- Monica Serene Garnich as Julie Whitmore Carlisle
- Robert Hutchinson as Sasha Carlisle
- Enrique Murciano as Francisco Torres
- Nectar Rose as Daphne Wallace
- Bryce Mouer as Lyle Jones
- Zay Harding as Jeff Northcutt
- Alisa Reyes as Rocio Conejo
Reception
Spyder Games was criticized for numerous reasons, not the least of which were visibly impoverished production values and questionable quality of acting performances.[3]
References
- ^ a b c Spyder Games - ChristianLaughlin.com
- ^ Johnson, Tricia (June 22, 2001). "The Summer Games". Entertainment Weekly. p. 41. Archived from the original on April 10, 2005. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- ^ Bianculli, David (June 22, 2001). "LET 'GAMES' DESIST Soapy 'Spyder' trips over own web". New York Daily News. p. 131. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
External links
- Spyder Games at IMDb
- Spyder Games Behind the Scenes - ChristianLaughlin.com
- v
- t
- e
- The Bold and the Beautiful (1987–present)
- Days of Our Lives (1965–2022 TV; 2022–present Web)
- General Hospital (1963–present)
- The Young and the Restless (1973–present)
- Faraway Hill (1946)
- Highway to the Stars (1947)
- These Are My Children (1949)
- A Woman to Remember (1949)
- A Time to Live (1954)
- As the World Turns (1956–2010)
- The Bennetts (1953–1954)
- The Brighter Day (1954–1962)
- The Edge of Night (1956–1984)
- The First Hundred Years (1950–1952)
- First Love (1954–1955)
- Follow Your Heart (1953–1954)
- For Better or Worse (1959–1960)
- From These Roots (1958–1961)
- Golden Windows (1954–1955)
- The Greatest Gift (1954–1955)
- Guiding Light (1952–2009)
- Hawkins Falls (1950–1955)
- Kitty Foyle (1958)
- Love of Life (1951–1980)
- Miss Susan (1951)
- One Man's Family (1954–1955)
- Portia Faces Life (1954–1955)
- The Road of Life (1954–1955)
- The Secret Storm (1954–1974)
- Search for Tomorrow (1951–1986)
- The Seeking Heart (1954)
- Three Steps to Heaven (1953–1954)
- Today is Ours (1958)
- Valiant Lady (1953–1957)
- Woman with a Past (1954)
- The World of Mr. Sweeney (1954–1955)
- Young Doctor Malone (1958–1963)
- Another World (1964–1999)
- Ben Jerrod (1963)
- Bright Promise (1969–1972)
- The Clear Horizon (1960–1962)
- Dark Shadows (1966–1971)
- Days of Our Lives (1965–2022)
- The Doctors (1963–1982)
- A Flame in the Wind (1964–1966)
- Full Circle (1960–1961)
- General Hospital (1963–present)
- Hidden Faces (1968–1969)
- Love is a Many Splendored Thing (1967–1973)
- Moment of Truth (1965)
- Morning Star (1965–1966)
- Never Too Young (1965–1966)
- The Nurses (1965–1967)
- One Life to Live (1968–2012)
- Our Five Daughters (1962)
- Our Private World (1965)
- Paradise Bay (1965–1966)
- Peyton Place (1964–1969)
- Where the Heart Is (1969–1973)
- The Young Marrieds (1964–1966)
- All My Children (1970–2011)
- The Best of Everything (1970)
- Bird of the Iron Feather (1970)
- How to Survive a Marriage (1974–1975)
- Lovers and Friends/For Richer, For Poorer (1977–1978)
- Return to Peyton Place (1972–1974)
- Ryan's Hope (1975–1989)
- Somerset (1970–1976)
- A World Apart (1970–1971)
- The Young and the Restless (1973–present)
- Another Life (1981–1984)
- The Bold and the Beautiful (1987–present)
- Capitol (1982–1987)
- Generations (1989–1991)
- Loving (1983–1995)
- Rituals (1984–1985)
- Santa Barbara (1984–1993)
- Texas (1980–1982)
- The City (1995–1997)
- Passions (1999–2008)
- Port Charles (1997–2003)
- Sunset Beach (1997–1999)
- Swans Crossing (1992)
- Tribes (1990)
- Spyder Games (2001)
- All My Children (2013)
- Anacostia (2009–2018)
- As the Cookie Crumbles (2008)
- The Bay (2010–2015)
- Beacon Hill (2014)
- The Cavanaughs (2010–2011)
- DeVanity (2011–2014)
- East Los High (2013–2017)
- EastSiders (2012–2020)
- Miss Behave (2010–2012)
- One Life to Live (2013)
- Ragged Isle (2011–2014)
- River Ridge (2012)
- The Spot (1995–1997)
- Tainted Dreams (2013–2014)
- They Go On (1997)
- Venice: The Series (2009–2014)
- What If... (2010)
- Winterthorne (2015)
- Youthful Daze (2012–2016)
- Days of Our Lives (2022–present)