Interview:Paul McCusker (August 2001)
- What do you like most about working with Adventures in Odyssey?
The creative teamwork among the writers, engineers and actors.
- How did you end up on the Odyssey team?
Back in 1987, Chuck Bolte, who was consulting with Focus on the Family, asked me if I had any interest in writing scripts for a new radio drama they were producing. I said, sure, why not?
- How did you like playing one of the bad guys, Philip Glossman?
Phillip Who?
- In your opinion, what is your best Passages book?
The first six.
- What episode do you think is the best overall?
I'm sorry, but there are nearly 450 episodes to consider. I think I did a list of 10 favorites in our Odyssey Guide. That's a good place to start, if you're interested.
Those Episodes Include:
- The Mortal Coil I & II
- The Time Has Come
- Gone...
- Unto Us A Child is Born...
- (tie) A Touch of Healing I & II, Where Is Thy Sting?
- On Solid Ground
- Best Intentions
- BTV: Compassion
- Hidden in My Heart
- The Perfect Witness
- What episode, that you wrote, do you like best?
I'm going to have to defer to my previous answer. Honestly, it's nearly impossible for me to say.
- Would you ever give up working on AIO?
I would if and when God asked me to. (It's worth bearing in mind that while I was living in England from 1997 to 2000 that I had minimal input about Odyssey: working on an occasional script, etc.)
- What is your opinion on the new kids in the series?
I like them. But we need more new characters.
- What thing do you wish you could change about the way you write, direct, etc.?
Now you're REALLY getting into impossible territory. It's not a question I can answer in a few lines (if I could answer it at all).
- Who has been your favorite character on Adventures in Odyssey and why?
I don't have a favorite character. I like all of them, for various reasons.
- What is your favorite AIO website?
Yours, since you're interviewing me right now. If you weren't interviewing me, then I'd have to say the official website from Focus. (What else would you expect me to say?)
- What is it like being popular in all AIO fans' eyes?
I don't know. Am I popular in all AIO fans' eyes?
- What did you think of the split episode era?
I think there were some good ideas and stories during that time. The drawback for me was that they didn't leave enough time for character development, or to deal with themes at a deeper level.
- Do you have any last comments, questions, suggestions?
Keep up the good work!
Thanks for taking time out of your day to talk to us!