Soaplessly Devoted

Erica Clark races home every day at three o'clock to watch her favorite soap opera, dreaming of the glamorous life of actress Holly Donahue. So Jason sends her into the show through the Room of Consequence, where she becomes Holly herself - mansion, pool, and the dashing Derek included. But the dream sours fast: rigged awards, a poisoned rival, three million stolen dollars, and a fake policeman who hauls her off to an empty warehouse for revenge. Even Derek turns out to be a fraud, sweet-talking the combination to her safe out of her and vanishing with her diamond necklace. When her last friend flees at the sight of real police, Erica cries out that she isn't Holly at all... and gets arrested for impersonating her. Back at Whit's End, Erica has seen enough of the miserable lives behind the beautiful scenery, and she's done with soap operas for good - though she can't resist asking Jason to give her friend Kim a turn.

Found on The Changing Times Album 22 · 12 episodes

The run See every episode

0289 A Call for Reverend Jimmy When casual comments convince Jimmy that he's destined for the pulpit, he throws himself into preaching - while Donna squirms as her father's sermons keep mining her most embarrassing childhood moments.

1 of 2 0290 A Name, Not a Number With a deadly stolen virus in play and a fellow agent missing, Jason Whittaker is pulled out of retirement for one last mission that leads him to a guarded castle in Europe - and to a face from Odyssey's past.

2 of 2 0291 A Name, Not a Number A retired agent's quiet return to small-town life is upended when the secret formula he's safeguarding makes him the target of terrorists, traitors, and a midnight ransom demand.

0292 Siege at Jericho An embedded news team reports live as Israel marches on the impenetrable walls of Jericho, where an innkeeper's dangerous act of faith puts her family's fate on the line.

0293 A Code of Honor The discovery of a mysterious coded ledger in Whit's workroom sends Jack and Jason on a hunt through Odyssey's past to uncover the secret behind a children's club called the Israelites.

0294 Unto us a Child is Born When young Jimmy Barclay decides to stage a live Christmas Eve radio drama of the Nativity with his reluctant family and friends, chaotic rehearsals and a very pregnant leading lady put the whole broadcast on shaky ground.

0295 Soaplessly Devoted A soap-opera-obsessed girl gets to step inside her favorite show as its glamorous star - and discovers the glittering life she envied isn't what it appears.

0296 Red Wagons and Pink Flamingos When a bargain sale makes Kim miss her best friend's birthday party, a stubborn feud erupts that only an old story about a rusted red wagon might mend.

0297 Blackbeard's Treasure Two boys exploring a coastal cave at low tide stumble onto pirate gold - and something that guards it.

0298 I Want My B-TV! When Odyssey's TV station loses its children's show, an unlikely janitor rallies the town's kids to build a homegrown program of their own.

0299 The Truth about Zachary A school reporter's assignment to profile Odyssey's newest student becomes a battle of wills with a boy determined to keep his past a secret.

0300 Preacher's Kid When her father becomes the church's interim pastor, teenager Donna Barclay struggles under the congregation's watchful eyes - until one forbidden night out with friends puts everything her family has to the test.

0301 The Good, the Bad, and the Butch When his estranged childhood best friend suddenly wants to reconnect, Sam must decide whether the friendship is real or a setup by the gang his friend now runs with.

Featured characters

Minor characters & crew 9 more roles

1 featured character

Police Officer Townsend Coleman

8 supporting roles

Emcee Corey Burton Soap Opera Announcer Marshal Younger Derek (b) Robert Spina Victoria Maureen Davis Waiter Maureen Davis Holly Donahue Maureen Davis Trevor Donahue Corey Burton Lieutenant Mitchell Robert Spina

Made by

Chris Anthony Host Marshal Younger Writer Phil Lollar Director Dave Arnold Sound Designer · Producer Paul McCusker Producer Chuck Bolte Executive Producer

The story

Read the full synopsis 2 min

Erica Clark visits Whit’s End each afternoon so she can be home by three o’clock for Medical Center of Love. She follows every romance, betrayal, and mystery in the television soap opera, especially the glamorous life of actress Holly Donahue. Because Erica’s parents are still at work, they do not know she watches it. Jason warns that the program dresses harmful choices in wealth and excitement, but Erica insists that it is harmless fun and surprisingly realistic.

Jason programs the Room of Consequence to let Erica enter an episode as Holly. The chance to live in a mansion, swim in an enormous pool, and meet the handsome Derek thrills her. Derek declares his love and reveals that he has accepted a secret government assignment in Bolivia for three years. His talk of beginning a family makes Erica believe he plans to marry her.

As Holly, Erica attends an awards ceremony and wins six prizes, including several for jobs she never knew she had done. Her delight ends when officials announce that the awards were rigged. Holly’s friend Victoria calmly reminds her that Holly arranged the cheating to protect her career, but Erica has no memory of it because Holly frequently suffers convenient amnesia.

Lieutenant Mitchell arrives with questions about actress Elena Mayfield, who was poisoned before an important audition. Victoria again explains that Holly committed the crime. Soon Erica also learns that Holly has embezzled three million dollars from her uncle. The beautiful, successful life Erica admired is held together by dishonesty and selfish ambition.

Mitchell arrests her and takes her to an empty warehouse rather than a police station. He admits that he is an impostor seeking revenge. Holly’s brother Trevor arrives with the fake officer’s diary and exposes him as Mr. Elena Mayfield. Then Derek appears and reveals that Trevor has sold Holly’s secrets to the newspapers for eleven years. Every wild accusation is proved by yet another conveniently detailed diary. Erica is relieved when Derek rescues her and still expects his proposal.

At dinner, Derek asks careful questions about Holly’s secrets and persuades Erica to reveal the combination to a safe in her bedroom. He suddenly leaves for his flight, asking only that she care for his dog. When Erica returns home, she discovers that her diamond necklace is missing. Derek wanted the safe, not her.

Victoria promises never to abandon Holly, then flees the instant real police arrive. Erica finally rejects the whole identity and cries that she is Erica Clark, not Holly Donahue. The bewildered characters decide to arrest her for impersonating Holly, and Erica begs Jason to remove her from the program.

Back at Whit’s End, Erica recognizes that the people she envied are miserable and unable to trust anyone. Their beautiful surroundings hide lives ruled by sin and its consequences. She promises Jason that she will stop watching soap operas and asks whether her friend Kim can experience the same program - with one important warning: no matter what Kim says, Jason must not let her marry Derek.