Oct 13, 2002 7 min read

Suzanne is painting her nails while working the counter at “His Place,’ the name of this diner, which is also a popular, award-winning Cornerstone Television show where subtle lessons in Christianity and morality are served up, along with doughnuts, bagels and pizza. Suzanne is a regular at “His Place,’ otherwise known as “the diner show,’ where her job title is hostess, but her function is actually to aggravate her brother, Tim Burgan, the proprietor. Earlier in this episode, Suzanne caused a small fire in the kitchen when her nail polish fell into a vat of French fries. Later, Burgan will race across the diner to answer a telephone while Suzanne sits nearby, oblivious to the ringing.Now, she is offering career advice to Matt, the diner’s 16-year-old waiter. Suzanne tells Matt he should consider taking a job in the bar next door when he’s old enough to work there because the pay is better.

Matt protests that, as a Christian, he couldn’t consider working at the bar. Offended, Suzanne points out that she is a Christian, too.

When Matt looks at her in disbelief, Suzanne says, “I go to church every Sunday – especially if I have a new outfit.’

Tonight’s episode shows off the antics of Suzanne, while offering a lesson in responsibility and values.

Terry Manolovich, the actress who plays Suzanne, smiles about her character during an interview before the show is taped.

“I’ll be a clown for Jesus,’ she says. “It enables us to say something for Jesus. We get comic relief here. If something is told in comic form, people may take it to heart. If it’s preached to them, they may turn it off.’

“His Place’ is one of several original shows produced at Cornerstone Television, located in Wall, Allegheny County, near Pittsburgh. Others include “Getting Together,’ which spotlights well-known Christian leaders; “At Home With Arlene Williams,’ a cooking show with personal warmth; and “Focus on the Issues,’ which offers a Christian perspective of critical issues.

“His Place,’ famous for its silver-and-red set where fans can take the booths as extras, is seen Monday through Friday at 9:30 p.m. on and repeated at 12:30 a.m., with a “best of’ shown Saturdays at 12:30 a.m. It airs on Charter Communication’s Channel 6, Armstrong/Connellsville’s Channel 40 Armstrong/California’s Channel 40 and Adelphia’s Channel 12.

The show seeks to reach out to people through everyday situations. Burgan, who plays himself and is the show’s senior producer, calls it a slice of Christianity.

“Christian life is not just something you do on a Sunday,’ he says, “it’s something you try to do throughout the week.’

But the aim of “His Place’ is to reach people who don’t respond to traditional ministries.

“We wanted a way to reach people that want to have some relationship with the Lord but don’t know who to get there from here,’ says Burgan, an ordained minister who has worked at Cornerstone for 21 years. “We also want to reach people who don’t want anything to do with religion but know there is a God, and people who are angry at God and against religion. We want to show them that it’s not so much about tradition but about having a relationship.’

“His Place,’ which has been on the air since 1989, reaches an international audience. It is shown throughout the United States and in Europe, Africa and Australia.

The show broadcasts five new episodes a week – live on Mondays and Wednesdays – except for telethon weeks when programming is pre-empted and the holidays when reruns are shown.

Spearheading the work are four full-time staffers, including Burgan, Ron Henderson, program producer; Robin Heiple, producer; and Becky Johnson, a McClellandtown native who is character development director.

During bi-weekly staff meetings, the four flesh out a story line that is written into script by Rose Capanna. The show’s technical crew includes Johnson’s husband Steve, who is a Farmington native and works at Cornerstone as a producer/director.

Each show features Burgan talking to diner guests on a variety of contemporary topics. For example, tonight’s guests are Melissa Trevathan and Sissy Goff who have co-written a book called “The Back Door to Your Teen’s Heart.’ Burgan never interviews the guests, however. The talk comes across as an earnest discussion.

Wrapped around the interviews are humor and drama with an assortment of engaging characters. Besides Tim and Suzanne, they include Phil Andrews, owner of the bar next door, who is played by Scott Kerschbamer; Chaz Allen, the handyman played by Charles Linderman; Joe Manski, the delivery man played by Todd Olson; Robin Faith, a waitress played by Denise Morrone-Merola; Meredith Jeffreyz, another waitress played by Jenna Rowles; and Sal, the salesman played by Sal Greco. Kyle Hembree, who has been with the show for two months, plays Matt, the teen-age waiter.

The tie in between guests Trevathan and Goff, and tonight’s drama is how adults can influence teen-agers, revealed in Suzanne’s talk with Matt. When Matt sticks up for his Christian beliefs, Suzanne tells Tim that he’s influencing Matt too much. That’s when Matt talks about the responsibility that adults have in regards to teen-agers. The characters also include Johnson, who is seen on occasion as Sal’s super saleswoman or Gertrude, the obnoxious church lady.

“Gertrude and Suzanne get along well. They like to talk about people,’ notes Johnson.

Characters have performed story lines that deal with premarital sex, abortion, sexual harassment, divorce. Each story carries a message that is bible-based.

“We watch what’s happening in the news and decide what topics to use. But some topics are based on what people are coming through the area,’ says Burgan, who noted that guests include musicians, authors, even professional wrestlers. “…There isn’t a topic we’re afraid to cover.’

The show takes itself and its message seriously – even holding a prayer circle every night before taping. But staff members enjoy themselves and are fans of the show.

“It’s great. The people are good. The atmosphere is good,’ remarks Hembree.

“I like that it’s not ‘hit you over the head with the Bible,” says Henderson, who has been with the show 11 years. “It makes Jesus palatable to the masses. It’s not guilting them in. It’s loving them in.’

Manolovich, who has been with the show five years, comments, “It’s a wonderful way to reach people for Christ because we have more of a contemporary format.’

She says people flicking through the channels might stop when they hear the characters talking about sex, drugs, abortion.

“We take it to the edge,’ Manolovich says. “Secular people hearing it, might tune in. But they still hear God’s word on a particular subject.’

Jennifer Clendaniel, of Washington, a fan who is playing an extra at the diner tonight, says, “I get a warm feeling when I watch it. It has today’s topics. But they’re real people. You feel comfortable with them.’

The need to share their faith is apparent in all the staff of “His Place.’ Says Burgan, “People on the show have been so blessed, they want everyone to know what we know in relation to the Lord, especially now that there’s a lot of hopelessness and people are fearful. They know there is someone they can trust; they put their lives in his hands.’