Teen Angel (1997 TV series)


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"Teen Angel (TV series)" redirects here. For the Disney Channel fantasy drama, see Teen Angel (1989 TV series).

Teen Angel is an American fantasy sitcom that aired as part of ABC's TGIF Friday night lineup from September 26, 1997, to February 13, 1998. It stars Corbin Allred as a high school student whose recently deceased best friend, played by Mike Damus, returns to earth as his guardian angel. The series was created by Simpsons alumni Al Jean and Mike Reiss.

Teen Angel
GenreFantasy sitcom
Created by
Starring
ComposerJeff Rona
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes17
Production
Executive producers
  • Al Jean
  • Mike Reiss
ProducerBrian J. Cowan
Cinematography
  • Charles R. Conkilin Jr.
  • Donald A. Morgan
EditorJohn Neal
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22–24 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 26, 1997 –
February 13, 1998

Teen Angel follows a high school boy, Steve Beauchamp (Corbin Allred), and his recently deceased best friend, Marty DePolo (Mike Damus), who dies from eating a six-month-old hamburger from under Steve's bed on a dare and is then sent back to Earth as Steve's guardian angel. Marty's guide is a large disembodied head named Rod (Ron Glass), who identifies himself as God's cousin – a running gag throughout the series is that Rod is mistaken for God himself.

Marty, as a supernatural being, would frequently break the fourth wall. For instance, prior to the opening credits of the episode "Grumpy Young Men", Marty explains the absence of Steve's mother and the return of his father to the viewers.

Reception and cancellation

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The series was created and placed in the TGIF lineup by ABC in an attempt to capitalize on the success of another ABC supernatural series, Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Along with Sabrina and the also-new You Wish, Teen Angel was one of three supernatural-themed sitcoms on the TGIF block that season.

At the time of the series airing, TGIF had already begun to decline (as a result of direct competition against the CBS Block Party during that season and the new Disney ownership). You Wish was canceled after only 13 episodes, and while Teen Angel lasted more or less a full season, it was also canceled after 17 episodes.[1][2]

 
Teen Angel promo shot of Corbin Allred and Mike Damus

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Recipient Result
1998 Young Artist Award Best Family TV Comedy Series Teen Angel Nominated
Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series – Leading Young Performer Mike Damus Nominated
Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series – Leading Young Performer Corbin Allred Nominated
  1. ^ Lowry, Brian (2000-04-14). "'TGIF'? Well, ABC's Not So Sure Anymore". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  2. ^ Houran, James; Lange, Rense (2001). Hauntings and Poltergeists: Multidisciplinary Perspectives. Beloff, John. McFarland. p. 90. ISBN 0-7864-0984-3.
  3. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Sept. 22–28)". The Los Angeles Times. October 1, 1997. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  4. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Sept. 29–Oct. 5)". The Los Angeles Times. October 8, 1997. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  5. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 6–12)". The Los Angeles Times. October 15, 1997. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  6. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 13–19)". The Los Angeles Times. October 22, 1997. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  7. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 20–26)". The Los Angeles Times. October 29, 1997. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  8. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 27–Nov. 2)". The Los Angeles Times. November 5, 1997. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  9. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 3-9)". The Los Angeles Times. November 12, 1997. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  10. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 10–16)". The Los Angeles Times. November 19, 1997. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  11. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 24–30)". The Los Angeles Times. December 3, 1997. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  12. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Dec. 1-7)". The Los Angeles Times. December 10, 1997. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  13. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Dec. 15–21)". The Los Angeles Times. December 24, 1997. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  14. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 5–11)". The Los Angeles Times. January 14, 1998. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  15. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 12–18)". The Los Angeles Times. January 21, 1998. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  16. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 19–25)". The Los Angeles Times. January 28, 1998. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  17. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 26–Feb. 1)". The Los Angeles Times. February 4, 1998. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  18. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 2-8)". The Los Angeles Times. February 11, 1998. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  19. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 9-15)". The Los Angeles Times. February 19, 1998. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.