ways to luck

Television series
German title	ways to luck
Original title	Julia - ways to happiness
Country of production	Germany
original language	German
Year (s)	2005-2008
Production company	Grundy UFA
length	42 minutes
Episodes	789 in 4 seasons
genre	Telenovela
Theme music	Melanie C  - First Day of My Life
idea	Gavin Strawhan
production	Rainer Wemcken
music	Curt Cress , Jörg Jesse, Chris Weller (up to episode 50)
First broadcast	October 6, 2005 to February 24, 2009 on ZDF , ORF 2 , SF 1
occupation

Ways to Happiness is Germany's fourth telenovela . It replaced the first German telenovela Bianca - Ways to Happiness and was broadcast from October 6, 2005 to February 24, 2009 in the afternoon at 4:15 p.m. on ZDF . In Austria the format was broadcast on ORF 2 and in Switzerland on SF 1 . From June 4, 2007, the telenovela was also broadcast in Italy on the TV channel Rai 1 , but was canceled after 80 episodes due to a lack of viewers. On November 17th, 2008 Julia - Ways to Happiness was broadcast on Rai 2 . After the first 29 episodes were broadcast, the broadcast was also stopped here. Rai 1 tried again and again to keep the series in its program. From February 25, 2010, the episodes started on Rai 3, where they could be seen under Italian synchronization with the name Julia - La strada per la felicità (after La strada per la felicità ).

In January 2012 it was announced that the series will be reissued under the name Paths to Happiness - Traces in the Sand . It was broadcast on ZDF between May and July 2012, but due to poor audience response it was stopped after 99 episodes instead of 240.

background

Paths to happiness is a commissioned production by ZDF, ORF and SF . The executive production company is Grundy UFA TV Produktions GmbH .

The telenovela was filmed in the historic halls of the Tonkreuz on the premises of Studio Babelsberg AG in three studios with a total of 1,500 square meters. The outdoor shots were taken in the vicinity of Kleinmachnow until August 2006 , including on Lake Machnower and on the grounds of the Hakeburg , which served as the backdrop for Villa Gravenberg. Also in the village of Petzow , here were the boathouse and Tobias Becker's house. Both buildings had to give way to the planned park of the Schlosshotel Petzow and have since been demolished. Since August 2006, Schloss Sacrow and its outbuildings have been the new outdoor location in Potsdam. In the telenovela, it depicts the manor house of the van Weyden family. Tobias Becker and his family have lived in the servants' house next door since then, followed by the Landmann family.

Like Bianca - Ways to Happiness , Ways to Happiness is produced in Studio Babelsberg AG .

The chief authors of the telenovela are Julia Meimberg and Christian Schramm (since episode 651). Her predecessors are Petra Bodenbach (episode 1-443) and Uschi Müller (444-650, since episode 403 in the team of chief authors).

In March 2006 ZDF announced that Julia - Ways to Happiness would be extended by a whole year to 500 episodes over and above the originally planned 250 episodes because of the great success. Due to the main role change on December 18, 2006 (episode 281), the name suffix Julia was dropped in the title, the telenovela has since been called Paths to Happiness . In August 2007 it became public that the telenovela would be extended a second time, this time by 240 episodes. In July 2008 it was announced that the way to happiness after 789 chapters will come to an end in spring 2009.

Opening credits

The opening credits of Weg zum Glück change with the start of a new season, with a delay of a few episodes not uncommon. There were a total of 6 opening credits:

• No. 1 (Chapters 1–281) with: Susanne Gärtner, Roman Rossa and Isa Jank
• No. 2 (Chapters 282–306) with: Susanne Gärtner, Roman Rossa, Gisa Zach, Nicole Mercedes Müller, Isa Jank and Hubertus "Hugo" Grimm
• No. 3 (Chapters 307–504) with: Gisa Zach, Nicole Mercedes Müller, Isa Jank and Hubertus "Hugo" Grimm
• No. 4 (Chapters 505–710) with: Susanne Berckhemer, David Kramer , Isa Jank and Anja Boche
• No. 5 (Chapters 711–732) with: Anja Boche, Timo Hübsch, Peter Zimmermann, Marijam Agischewa and Isa Jank
• No. 6 (Chapters 733–789) with: Anja Boche, Timo Hübsch, Peter Zimmermann and Marijam Agischewa

action

season 1

Julia and Daniel Gravenberg (1–250)

The main roles Julia Schilling and Daniel Gravenberg get to know each other on a safari tour in South Africa. When Julia has to flee to Germany with her mother Christa Schilling, she believes that she has lost sight of Daniel forever. Without any means and unemployed, she tries to start a new life in Falkental and takes a temporary job in the Falkental porcelain factory, without knowing that Daniel is the future junior boss of the company. After many entanglements, two breakups, a bogus pregnancy, a heart attack, a fake miscarriage, a paddle-blow induced coma, a wrong conviction in court, a fake coma, two embezzlements, a fake fatal accident, a real suicide attempt, a duel and fall over the cliff and fatal cobra bite on the ground, the two find each other at the end, get married and travel to South Africa on their honeymoon.

season 2

Nina and Ben Petersen (251–500)

Nina Bergmann is a single mother. A few years ago, her husband Max van Weyden, whom she met on one of her photo safaris, went abroad for work, to South America. When he did not return, she followed him. Due to various entanglements, Nina fled with her daughter and went into hiding with her aunt Birgit Hertel in Falkental. Nina meets Julia's half-brother Ben Petersen. Both work in the Falkental porcelain factory and also get closer in private. After many entanglements, a pregnancy, a custody lawsuit, a fake paternity test, a faked brain tumor, a wedding, an unsuccessful attempted murder with a fake victim, two kidnappings, a blindness and a hidden healing from it, an incessant discussion between Meike and Elsa whether it is better That Ben will stay with Elsa or not, an earthquake burial in Armenia, three divorces, a paternity test, a real miscarriage, one more unsuccessful attempted murder in which the murderer kills herself, Nina and Ben marry and sail to the Caribbean for their honeymoon.

season 3

Luisa and Simon Becker (501–703)

Luisa Maywald comes to Falkental in search of the birth mother of her adoptive sister Nora Maywald. One day Luisa discovers her long-lost lucky charm in Simon's studio. Then she enters the studio to get her talisman. At the same moment, Simon Becker enters his studio. Luisa quickly hides behind a bookshelf. When Simon discovers Luisa's eyes and wants to know who she is, it is already too late. Luisa accidentally knocked over a statue that hit Simon's head. She immediately rushes off to get help. Nora uses this moment to make Simon believe that it was her own eyes. After various entanglements, a separation, a daughter's recognition, a murder trial, a fake rape, a candlestick attack with subsequent slight amnesia, an attempted but aborted murder, two engagements, a coma, a false charge, a blackmail for a wedding, one Divorce, an attack on the bride's car, Luisa takes the train to Waldesruh and follows Simon. Luisa and Simon later marry and leave Falkental. Then they live with their son Moritz in New Zealand.

Season 4

Nora and Alexander van Weyden (711–789)

Nora van Weyden comes to Hamburg after escaping from the prison hospital. On the run, she meets Alexander, they spend a wonderful day together. But then she faces her 6-year prison sentence. After a long 6 years, they meet again on Nora's birthday. Nora confesses to Alexander why she fled back then. It turns out that they are siblings. Your love seems impossible. Caught between love and taboo, Nora and Alexander try to suppress their feelings for one another. But the longing for one another is stronger. After a few hurdles and trials, after it turns out that they are not related after all, they finally find each other in a romantic wedding ceremony and become happy together.

occupation

main actor

Sorted according to the order of entry.

actor	role	consequences	Years
Susanne Gärtner	Julia Gravenberg, b. Shilling	1-303 734-737	2005-2007 2008
Susanne Häusler	Christa Schilling	1-120 236-250	2005-2006
Roman Rossa	Daniel Gravenberg	1-303 734-737	2005-2007 2008
Holger C. Gotha	Frederik Gravenberg	1-270 705-789	2005-2006 2008-2009
Isa Jank	Annabelle Gravenberg, b. Krüger, historically van Weyden †	1-732, 734	2005-2008
Karin Ugowski	Eva Landmann	1-789	2005-2009
Michael Rast	Jörg Schwarz †	1-235	2005-2006
Friedhelm Ptok	Werner Gravenberg †	1-131 137, 171-178	2005-2006
Ralph Schicha	Tobias Becker	1-738, 789	2005-2008, 2009
Lucie Muhr	Patrizia Gravenberg	1-355 735-736	2005-2007 2008
Angela Sandritter	Silke Mertens	1-462	2005-2007
Kaya Marie Möller	Lilly Gerlach, b. Becker	1-412	2005-2007
Nicolás Artajo	Kolja Hertel	1-477 498-500	2005-2007
Anton Noori	Andreas Krill	1-432	2005-2007
Christoph Kornschober	Niko Becker †	3-263, 265	2005-2006
Stefan Mocker	Jan Schönke	5-279	2005-2006
Leander Modersohn	Tim Gerlach	13-412	2005-2007
Sonja Baum	Marie Vermont	46-216	2005-2006
Lina Rabea Mohr	Charlotte "Charlie" Vermont	69-343	2006-2007
Michèle Marian	Birgit Hertel	113-500	2006-2007
Nicola Ransomware	Katy Wellinghoff, b. Neubauer alias Katja "Katy" Krüger	178-211	2006
Gisa Zach	Nina Petersen, b. Miner	215-500	2006-2007
Nicole Mercedes Müller	Paula Bergmann	215-500	2006-2007
Jennifer Breitrück		733-789	2008-2009
Mareile Bettina Moeller	Viktoria "Vicky" van Weyden †	222-493 495, 500	2006-2007
Peter Zimmermann	Richard van Weyden	232-789	2006-2009
Hubertus "Hugo" Grimm	Benjamin "Ben" Petersen	239-500	2006-2007
Jens Peter Nünemann	Hagen knight	245-633	2006-2008
Sebastian Edtbauer	Erik Landmann	282-477	2006-2007
Bernhard Reininger	Stefan Krill	320-462	2007
Corinna A. Horn	Elsa Landmann, b. Ritter, formerly Petersen	334-789	2007-2009
Silke Matthias	Helena van Weyden, b. Amber †	340-612	2007-2008
Jost Pieper	Maximilian "Max" van Weyden	341-442	2007
Birte Wentzek	Meike Becker, b. Hansen	354-733	2007-2008
Lisa Spickschen	Elisabeth "Lizzy" van Weyden	413-690	2007-2008
William Mang	Harald Becker †	466-590	2007-2008
Heike Schroetter	Marianne Becker	466-738, 789	2007-2008, 2009
Susanne Berckhemer	Luisa Becker, b. Maywald	469-703, 789	2007-2008, 2009
Anja Boche	Nora Wagner, b. Kruger, adopt. Maywald, recognized van Weyden	469-789	2007-2009
Markus Frank	Konrad Landmann	471, 501-789	2007-2009
David Kramer	Simon Becker	474-703, 789	2007-2008, 2009
Günter Bubbnik	Sebastian Becker	504-733	2007-2008
Markus Baumeister	Henning Reichenbach	509-713	2007-2008
Katrin Griesser	Sophie Gravenberg, b. Nowak	517-789	2007-2009
Hans-Jochen Röhrig	Ludwig Adam	547-789	2008-2009
Marvin Jaacks	Theo Gehrmann	637-713	2008
Bela Klentze		714-789	2008-2009
Armin Schlagwein	Tom Nowak	693-789	2008-2009
Kaja Schmidt-Tychsen	Constanze Becker	702-789	2008-2009
Marijam Agisheva	Judith Wagner	710-789	2008-2009
Timo Hübsch	Alexander Wagner	711-789	2008-2009
Steven Merting	Michael Adam	712-784	2008-2009
Christina Athenstädt	Jessica Fuchs	741-788	2008-2009

supporting cast

Sorted according to the order of entry.

actor	role	consequences	Years
Meike Schlueter	Commissioner Tanja Redmann	47-48 169-211 694-713	2005 2006 2007
Andreas Schwartz	Markus Edelhof	82-122	2006
Jürgen F. Schmid	Dr. Lonnemann	114-155	2006
Norbert Stöß	Dietmar Hertel # 2	206-224	2006
Christoph Kottenkamp	Peter Giese	223-243	2006
	Catherine	251-789	2006-2009
	Dr. Seeg	251-253 314-339	2006 2007
Daniela Schober	Alexis	276-279	2006
Judith von Radetzky	Dr. Antje Kössling	284-297	2006
Niels Kurvin	Kevin	292-340	2006-2007
Ana Kerezovic	Tatjana Petersen	326-337	2007
Nela Lee	Jane Sakamoto	345-379 397-399	2007
Manuela Sieber	Katja Weber	353-361 416, 434, 496	2007
Mathias Kahler	Ron Grasser	382-397	2007
Lorenz Christian Koehler	Dr. Fred Schneider	393-423	2007
Patrick Bach	Commissioner Fuhrmann	400-420	2007
Katja Zinsmeister	Beate Krauss	430-462	2007
Ulrich Drewes	Commissioner Bauer	463-497	2007
Annemone Haase	Hedwig Wiegand †	486-509	2007
Olaf Rauschenbach	Jan Delbrück	566-667 707-708	2008
Raphael Johannes Kübler	Jens	620-634	2008
Susanne Szell	Gerlinde Weidner	637-675	2008
	Thomas Grabowski	672-677	2008
Ronny Rindler	Robert Beltinger	679-690	2008

Guest appearances

• Cornelia Schindler as Ben's business partner and flirt with Sabine Lehmann (episodes 305-306)
• Ingo Nommsen as doctor Dr. Beyer (eps. 422)
• Kristina van Eyck as reporter Inga Blum (episodes 436–437)
• Ludwig Hollburg as a doctor Dr. Hellmann (episode 442)
• François Smesny as doctor Dr. Bährwald (episodes 458–462)
• Gojko Mitić as chief physician Dr. Tecumseh (episodes 556–559, 567–568, 572)
• Isabel Edvardsson as Chief Police Officer Antje Blank (episodes 601–602)
• Horst Lichter as owner of the snack bar Karl Karsunke (episode 615)
• Norbert Hülm as a golf judge (episode 637)
• Horst Janson as Pastor Paul Lehmann (646–650, 677–678, 735)
• Egon Hofmann as a conductor (episodes 654–655)
• Peggy Lukac as a train passenger (episode 655)
• Dunja Rajter as chanson star Claudine Duval (episode 656)
• Christian Rogler as Sheikh Haschim (episodes 687–688)
• Johannes Heesters as Johannes Heesters (episode 726)
• Ruth Moschner as theater project manager Barbara (episodes 783–784)

Character timeline

Audience ratings and audience reach

The first season of Weg zum Glück reached an average of 2.03 million viewers aged three and over and an average market share of 16.2 percent. In the advertising-relevant target group (14–49 years), an average of 6.9 percent market share was measured. The second season saw 2.27 million viewers, the market share was 18.8 percent. The market share among 14 to 49 year olds was 7.7 percent. The market shares of the third season decreased compared to the first two seasons.

Web links

• The road to happiness in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• Ways to happiness Preview service on SoapSpoiler.de

Individual evidence

1. ↑ This is what the new "Path to Happiness" is all about
2. ↑ http://www.quotenmeter.de/cms/?p1=n&p2=57195&p3=
3. ↑ The role Katy Wellinghoff , played by Nicola Ransom , comes from the telenovela Bianca - Ways to Happiness . In the course of this, in episode 180 (2006) Tanja Wedhorn as Bianca Berger-Wellinghoff , Franz-Joseph Dieken as Viktor Schneider , Elisabeth Sutterlüty as Judith Wellinghoff , Susanne Schlenzig as Simone Morgenrot and Michael Rotschopf as Pascal Wellinghoff in flashbacks to scenes from Bianca - Ways to see happiness .
4. ↑ The role of Dietmar Hertel was previously portrayed by Dietmar Lahaine in episodes 138–141 (2006) .