Twice in a Lifetime (TV series)

Lore & Background

The series centers on an individual who dies prematurely and is given three days to travel into their past. Without revealing their identity, they must convince their younger self to make a different choice at a pivotal moment, such as quitting smoking or choosing a different job, to effect a better outcome. Each episode features a different guest star in the leading role, while series regulars play supporting roles.

Season One featured Gordie Brown as advocate Mr. Jones, and Paul Popowich played advocate Mr. Smith in Season Two. Al Waxman played Judge Othniel in 40 of the 44 episodes, and also appeared as Judge Jephtah in two episodes. Polly Bergen played Judge Deborah in two episodes. Waxman died in heart surgery on January 18, 2001, after the second season had finished its original broadcast run.

In the second season, Mr. Smith is a mystery man with no ID who dies in a firefighter's arms and loses his memory. He seems to be trying to remember who he is and complete his job as a guide, possibly to regain his life or become an angel, though this is never made clear.

Reader's Guide

Twice in a Lifetime stands as a notable entry in the anthology drama genre, offering a unique twist on the afterlife and second chances. Its structure—each episode featuring a different guest star as the deceased protagonist—allowed for a wide range of stories and characters. The series explored themes of regret, redemption, and personal growth, with the central conceit that a single changed choice could alter an entire life.

The show's production involved veteran television producer Barney Rosenzweig, who oversaw the first season, and sci-fi director David Winning, who directed ten episodes. The series aired on CTV in Canada and PAX in the United States, and later found syndication on the W Network in Canada and Ebru in the United States. Its legacy is preserved through DVD releases, including a complete series set from Visual Entertainment in 2022. While not a major award winner, the series remains a cult favorite for its heartfelt storytelling and the performances of its rotating guest stars.

The Second-Chance Anthology Formula

Created by Steve Sohmer, Twice in a Lifetime took a distinctive approach to the mystery-drama genre by building every episode around a single guest star rather than a fixed ensemble. The premise centers on an aspiring angel who, for unexplained reasons, will not enter heaven and instead serves as a guide for someone who has died prematurely. In the afterlife, that person is granted three days to travel back into their own past and, without revealing who they truly are, persuade their younger self to make a different pivotal choice—perhaps quitting a destructive habit or taking a different career path. The ultimate goal is to teach a life lesson that transforms them into a better person.

The writing followed a strict four-stage structure: an accidental death, a judgment scene, the second-chance journey through the past, and a hopeful resolution. Because each installment featured a new lead and a different setting, the series functioned as a true anthology spanning countless arenas and character types, all anchored by the same recurring afterlife courtroom.

An Ensemble in Flux: Cast and Character Shifts

The series underwent a notable shift in its regular cast between its two seasons. In the first year, Gordie Brown portrayed Mr. Jones, a seasoned and confident advocate in the afterlife courtroom. For season two, that role was replaced by Paul Popowich as Mr. Smith, a far less polished figure. Smith's origin is deliberately mysterious: he is a man with no identification, pulled from a burning church by a firefighter, and he dies in the firefighter's arms. His apparent memory loss makes him a clumsy novice compared to Jones's expertise, and the show never fully reveals his backstory or what he ultimately hopes to achieve—whether reclaiming his own life or finally becoming an angel.

Al Waxman anchored the series as Judge Othniel across forty of the forty-four total episodes, though he also appeared as Judge Jephtah in two first-season installments. Polly Bergen stepped in as Judge Deborah for two episodes, while Diahann Carroll played Prosecutor Jael. Tragically, Waxman passed away during heart surgery on January 18, 2001, while the second season was still in broadcast.

Behind the Camera: Production and Creative Direction

Although Twice in a Lifetime ran for only two seasons, its production gathered a roster of experienced television professionals. Barney Rosenzweig, well known for his work on Charlie's Angels and Cagney & Lacey, served as the overseeing producer for the first season, lending the project a pedigree of high-quality network drama. On the directing side, sci-fi veteran David Winning helmed ten episodes, including "The Trouble with Harry" (starring Jere Burns and Brent Carver), "Moonshine Over Harlem" (featuring Earle Hyman), and "It's a Hard Knock Life" (with Markie Post).

The writing room adhered to a rigid structural template: every episode moved through the accidental death, the judgment, the second-chance past, and a satisfying conclusion. This formula gave the series a reliable rhythm while the guest-star model kept the material fresh. The second season also introduced a visual and narrative departure, as the passage into the afterlife was redesigned to distinguish it from the first year's setting, and Mr. Smith's amnesiac arc added a layer of ongoing mystery that the first season's more straightforward Mr. Jones never required.

After the Final Episode: Syndication and Home Video

Despite its modest two-season run on CTV in Canada and PAX in the United States, Twice in a Lifetime found a second life through syndication and home-video releases. Reruns of the series have continued to air on the W Network in Canada and on Ebru in the United States, keeping the anthology accessible to viewers who may have missed it during its original broadcast window.

On the home-media front, Video Service Corp initially put out two DVD volumes, each containing just two episodes—a modest offering for a forty-four-episode series. That changed in February 2022, when Visual Entertainment released the complete series on DVD in Region 1, finally giving collectors and new fans a single, comprehensive set.

The show's thematic DNA—guiding a recently deceased soul toward redemption—places it in a recognizable lineage alongside the earlier series Highway to Heaven, and it is frequently listed among works dealing with angelic or afterlife narratives. For fans of character-driven, morally focused anthology television, the series remains a quietly compelling niche title.

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