Year in the Life, A

1 9 8 7 – 1 9 8 8 (USA)
22 x 60 minute episodes

A sensitive look at the lives of three generations of the prosperous Gardner family who lived at 123 Liberty Lane in Seattle, Washington.

Joe Gardner (Richard Kiley) was the head of the family, a man who grew up during the Depression yet built himself the successful Gardner Plastics Company.

When his wife, Ruth (Eva Marie Saint) died, he was supported by his four adult children: Jack (Morgan Stevens), Sam (David Oliver), Anne (Wendy Phillips) and Lindley (Jayne Atkinson).

The oldest daughter Anne (35), grew up as a hippie, had been married twice and was the mother of David (Trey Ames) and Sunny (Amanda Peterson), both from her first marriage with Glenn Maxwell (Scott Paulin).

Lindley was 31 years old and worked as a sales representative for the family company. She was married to Jim (Adam Arkin), an attorney, and had an infant called Ruthie (played by Melissa Kay and Sarah Kay).

Thirty-year-old Jack was the black sheep of the family and a rebellious drifter. Sam, the youngest (24), was married to the flighty Kay (Sarah Jessica Parker) and also worked for Gardner Plastics.

Dr Alice Foley (Diana Muldaur) became Joe’s new love interest (and later, fiancée).

The series – created by Joshua Brand and John Falsey, who had created St Elsewhere – began life as a three-part 1986 NBC miniseries of the same title.

While loved by the critics (Don Merrill of TV Guide called it “remarkable television entertainment”), the show never really developed a following and vanished after an eight-month run.

Joe Gardner
Richard Kiley
Jack Gardner
Morgan Stevens
Sam Gardner
David Oliver
Anne Gardner Maxwell
Wendy Phillips
Lindley Gardner Eisenberg
Jayne Atkinson
Dr Alice Foley
Diana Muldaur
Jim Eisenberg
Adam Arkin
Ruthie Eisenberg
Melissa Kay
Sarah Kay
David Maxwell
Trey Ames
Sunny Maxwell
Amanda Peterson
Glenn Maxwell 
Scott Paulin
Kay Ericson Gardner
Sarah Jessica Parker
Ruth Gardner
Eva Marie Saint