This is the earliest episode I remember actually listening to LIVE on KIRO-710 in Seattle. How awesome it is to literally stumble across this collection and return to those cozy nights under my blankets with my little clock radio, the creaking door, E.G. Marshall and that "byammm-rummm-rummm-rummm" cello sending me off to awesome adventures in the night. Not to mention this was an awesome series of episodes to get me properly hooked on CBSRMT.

I remember as a 12 year old, staying up WELL past my allotted beddie time with a pair of 1st generation radio headphones, lying there in dark, completely absorbed in this marathon adventure. I was already obsessed with ancient Egypt and this story only exacerbated the whole thing. I started carving Akhnaten's cartouche on things after this, and I think Tammy Grimes voice jump started my puberty... Thank you for giving me back these memories!

In this episode we are introduced to the principle characters. Nefertiti, daughter of the Prime Minister has, through inner workings and the intention of her father, been betrothed to Akhenatan, presented as a spineless, whimpering simp who, though heir to the throne, could barely walk across the street without holding his mother’s hand. Nefertiti is a strong willed woman with a lust for power and a cruelty that bubbles near the surface. After the death of Amenhotep, Akhenatan’s father, Akhenatan is to be made pharaoh and married to Nefertiti on the same day. In one flashback, they recall a moment in their childhood when the two of them, playing with their dear friend Horemheb, attack an overseer for mistreating a slave. Akhenatan is less than enthusiastic about it while the other two show their strength and courage at a young age.

this was a great episode! can't wait to check out episode 2!

The scene with the kitten is ridiculous, imo. Cats were worshiped in ancient Egypt and it's likely that Nefertiti's kitten would be sitting on it's own little throne, not running around loose. It is stupid how her kitten was dismissed as a "pet" by Nefertiti's advisors, who seemed to think she was "silly" for devoting so much time and energy to a little kitten. This is a totally unrealistic attitude toward cats, which reflects the writers of CBSRMT and completely disregards how the ancient Egyptians viewed cats.

Tammy Grimes voice has always been my favorite.

I rate this episode ★★★★☆ for GOOD. Entertaining? Yes. Fully accurate of events? Not entirely. G. Frederick Lewis, who wrote this 5-part story, did a great job of keeping listeners amused about these historical figures who lived in ancient times. But the dialogue between major and minor characters felt more like a soap opera series. Who knows what Nefertiti and Akhenaten really said to each other before they became spouses. Also, why was the kitten, at the 24:00 mark, being treated differently? SPECIAL NOTE: Egyptians treated Cats like deities and represented societal practices, but the kitten in this story was an ordinary household pet. As for the characters’ names, only 1 was incorrect. Nefertiti’s sister’s name wasn’t “Marianni.” It was actually “Mutbenret.” In our Host’s Prologue, E.G. Marshall invites us to a Tomb of the Past; the Ancient Egyptians. In ACT-1, introduce our leading lady who was known as “the beautiful woman” and learn the things that Egyptians did, including games of death. In ACT-2, learn more about what Egyptians believed, worshiped, and feared. In ACT-3, think about the people who made kings/rulers/pharaohs and had the power to do it. In the end, reminding us that Nefertiti & Akhenaten had a precarious existence; dealing with enemies both abroad and in their homeland of Egypt. In his Epilogue, E.G. Marshall states that our 2 main characters lived to turn superstition into religion, implying more to come, now that the 1st chapter is over. The sound effects of gongs, birds chirping, harp in the background, whipping, slingshots, crow cawing, the kitten, drapes, chin whiskers fall to the floor, festive music and people murmuring at the ceremony, pouring of the pomegranate wine, and drawing of the curtains were very helpful. The music had the right tracks provided. Tunes that were both dramatic and epic and made this story come to life. Now onto our cast: Tammy Grimes (as Nefertiti), Russell Horton (as Akhenaten and Overseer), Evie Juster (as Queen Tiye and Marianni), Robert Dryden (as Amenhotep III and Prime Minister Ay), and Ian Martin (as Court Tailor and Horemheb). Both Robert Dryden and Ian Martin were great in their dramatic roles. Evie Juster was good as the Egyptian Queen Tiye, but too cutesy to play Nefertiti’s sister. Russell Horton is a memorable actor on CBSRMT, but his role as the Overseer sounded far-fetched. His role as Prince Akhenaten was OK. As for our leading lady, Tammy Grimes playing as Nefertiti was also OK. I do adore Tammy Grimes for her contributions on CBSRMT, both in acting and hosting, but Tammy Grimes has a sophisticated voice and Nefertiti was a queen with keen ambition. I could see Marian Seldes, Patricia Elliott, Kim Hunter, or Morgan Fairchild playing the role of Nefertiti. Or maybe even Nina Foch (who played Bithiah: The Pharaoh’s daughter from Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 film “The 10 Commandments”). But anyway, the narrations, music, and sound effects were awesome. I’ll be looking forward to hear the next chapter of CBSRMT’s tale of Nefertiti. Until next time…pleasant dreams. =0)

@Russell, Having the cat as a "household pet" is exactly what makes this part of the story ridiculous, IMO.