This coming Sunday (Nov. 29) at 7 PM (ET) the American Life Network will present the pilot episode of network's first-ever scripted series.

Titled Everyday Life, the show (which has been described as a sort of spiritual Twilight Zone or as Crash meets The Twilight Zone) features former Hour of Power minister Robert A. Schuller in the Rod Serling role as narrator, portraying a mysterious pastor chronicling the often ironic spiritual journeys of the residents of a small town.

I recently interviewed Rev. Schuller, as well as Chris Wyatt (founder of GodTube and Schuller's son-in-law) about the new program and the American Life Network itself (which, BTW, they co-own through their Comstar Media Fund which is set up to promote positive entertainment across a variety of platforms including television, the internet and other new technologies).

Note: While I didn't have access to my trusty tape recorder at the time of the interview, I'm confident my notes are accurate and virtually verbatim.

I want to talk, of course, about Everyday Life, but first I'd like to spend some time talking about the American Life network. How did the ALN purchase come about? In other words, how did a minister and the founder of GodTube end up owning a cable TV network?
 

Wyatt: Well, we both have strong backgrounds in TV. Of course, Robert's is well known and I myself am a television producer. Looking over the TV landscape, we found that there's not really a safe place out there for family-friendly TV content. The networks -- even ABC Family -- are not really programming these kinds of shows.

But there is a market there. Fox News is an example of what we're talking about. They found that 100% of the news outlets were basically programming for about 50% of the audience. Well, what about the other 50%? Fox News spoke to their perspectives and is now the clear leader in the marketplace. American Life Network can to do the same on the entertainment side of the industry. We plan to fill that void.

So, you bought the network. Where to you go from here?

Wyatt: ALN is now in about 13 million homes. We want to be the largest provider of family entertainment in America. We’ll do this through ALN, other acquired networks, the Internet, cell phones and even satellite radio. We plan to use Hulu-type technology to program the Internet and make use of social networking sites to promote and expand the brand.

What is the goal of ALN? What is the intended audience?

Wyatt: We plan on building a business that is synonymous with quality family entertainment -- like Disney or ABC Family was.

Right now ALN's main competitor is TV land which programs for baby boomers and their kids. To us, that's family programming. But, while our deal involves access to lots of old programming (ALN currently airs reruns of off-net classics like LA Law, Lost in Space, Remington Steele and both classic Bob Newhart sitcoms) our goal is to develop new and original shows.

We're looking to work with good producers to acquire good product. We'd like to find the next Bella or Fireproof.

We want to counter-program MTV.

Schuller: I want to portray youth in a positive light. So much of the programming today is a real insult to who they are and their values.

ALN recently aired the documentary The Third Jihad: Radical Islam's Vision for America and plans to air a second Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West on Sunday, December 6th. Can you tell me about those programs?

Wyatt: ALN is the only network in America to air these programs in their entirety. We believe it's important for national security for people to be aware of these issues -- but, generally, we're looking for good family programming. We're planning to announce a whole new lineup that will include movies, original series and reality shows to debut around February.

Is ALN a "Christian" channel?

Wyatt: We are not a "Christian" channel but our programming does reflect Judeo-Christian values. Except for some time on Sunday morning, which is traditional, you won't find televangelists on our air. You don't have to be of the Christian faith to enjoy ALN programming.

How did Aaron Norris come about your network?

Wyatt: Aaron is our V.P. in charge of programming. He's a perfect fit for the reality and scripted shows we're developing. He's known for producing lots of great entertainment including, of course, his brother's show Walker, Texas Ranger.

Will (Walker star) Chuck Norris be appearing on Everyday Life?

SCHULLER: No Chuck for now, but you'll see some familiar faces. They'll be some surprises. (The series premiere will feature wrestling superstar Steve Borden, Terry Kiser [the dead guy in Weekend at Bernie's], Brad Hawkins [V.R. Troopers] and anime actress Lydia McKay [whose voice may be recognizable to fans of the post-apocalyptic anime saga Trinity Blood].

How did Everyday Life come about?

Schuller: Everyday Life was developed by ALN's in-house development team. I wanted to do a show like this because Jesus spoke in parables, telling stories of everyday life. If Jesus were alive today he'd be telling these kinds of stories.

Was it difficult to make the transition from preacher to actor?

Schuller: (laughs) Well, maybe it would be if I were attempting to act. But I'm not an actor -- but the narrator. The show is really an anthology with my minister character narrating the stories of the kinds of issues people face in everyday life -- with some insight.

So this isn't a series in which you'll be interacting with group of regular characters in the parish office?

Schuller: No, I'll be telling the stories from a narrator's distance.

In your mind, what will define success for Everyday Life as a TV series? Are you planning on making the show available through other venues besides ALN?

Schuller: The show will be available on DVD and on other networks we may acquire and, perhaps, in broadcast syndication.

I've seen you sometimes sing on The Hour of Power. Will we be seeing and hearing some of that on Everyday Life?

Schuller: (laughs) I hadn't thought of that. Let's say there are no plans for singing right now. Maybe we'll keep that on the back burner.

Note: Twelve more episodes of Everyday Life are set to air in the first quarter of 2010, along with the debuts of other ALN programming. Till then, you can catch the first episode on ALN this Thanksgiving Sunday at 7 PM (ET).