Teen Angel (1997 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 Al Jean and Mike Reiss.

Synopsis

Teen Angel follows a high school boy, Steve Beauchamp, and his recently deceased best friend, Marty DePolo, 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, who identifies as God's cousin. Maureen McCormick, who played Steve's mother, Judy, left the series halfway through its run.
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 explained the absence of Steve's mother and the return of his father to the viewers.

Reception and cancellation

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. You Wish was canceled after only twelve episodes, and while Teen Angel lasted more or less a full season, it was also canceled after 17 episodes.

Cast

Awards and nominations