Martha Williamson made television history when her CBS series, TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL set a new standard for an inspirational family drama when it grew to a weekly audience of over 20 million viewers and exploded into more than a billion dollar franchise during its initial 9-year run. As Executive Producer and Head Writer of the ground-breaking series, Williamson was the visionary who guided the show into previously uncharted territory with her unique brand of inspirational story telling that produced more than strong ratings; it changed lives. Correspondence from viewers reveals its continued impact as the series plays in syndication and DVD's worldwide. Williamson then sealed her place in history when she went on to become the first woman to solely executive-produce two one-hour dramas simultaneously, after creating and executive-producing PROMISED LAND, which aired for three years on CBS. Williamson jumps back in to the TV fray as the Creator, Writer and Executive Producer of SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere on Saturday, October 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED will serve as the introduction to this inspiring, sometimes whimsical story of a group of postal detectives whose mission is to deliver letters from the past and make sure they miraculously arrive just in the nick of time.
Eric Mabius stars as Oliver, the idiosyncratic leader of the small, but dedicated Dead Letters Office group that also includes Kristin Booth as newcomer Shane, Crystal Loweas free-spirited Rita and Geoff Gustafson as oddly-intuitive Norman. These intrepid folks are like no postal workers you’ve ever seen before in that they are duty-bound to deliver the seemingly undeliverable. Their determination leads them out of the letter-sorting backroom and out into the world, where letters and packages from the past solve crimes, reunite lost loves and alter the futures of people who have no idea their lives are about to radically change. Daphne Zuniga co-stars as postal supervisor Andrea in a tale that leads off with the story of their efforts to clear the name of a wrongfully accused man as they try to reconnect him with his true love. You’ll want to watch Williamson’s unique vision and story concept only she could bring to television.
We Love Soaps recently caught up with Williamson to discuss her career and find out more about more SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED. Read our exclusive interview below.
WE LOVE SOAPS: Before we get to SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED, I have to ask you about working on THE FACTS OF LIFE. What was that experience like?
MARTHA WILLIAMSON: It was amazing coming into it, for a number of reasons. First, it was my very first job as a sitcom writer and my first experience on the staff of a television series. It the most fun I had ever had up until that point. To sit at a table with comedy writers, all I did every day was wake up and say, I get to go sit at a table and laugh all day long.
Second, I fell in love with the girls. They were really funny and interesting. It was amazing to watch them growing up and then spending those last three years with them. It was also when Charlotte Rae left and Cloris Leachman joined the show. Cloris is an Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning actress and is absolutely brilliant. I got to work with one of the best professional actors in the business and she taught all of us a great deal about commitment and detail.