Down to Earth (TV series)
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| Down To Earth | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by | Arthur Annecharico Sam Harris |
| Starring | Carol Mansell Stephen Johnson Dick Sargent David Kaufman Kyle Richards Randy Josselyn Marla Rubinoff Lester Fletcher Ronnie Schell Michael DeLano Rip Taylor |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 110 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Arthur Annecharico Rick Miner |
| Running time | 30 mins. |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | TBS |
| Original run | 1984 – 1987 |
| External links | |
| IMDb profile | |
| TV.com summary | |
Down to Earth was an American fantasy situation comedy series that ran on Superstation TBS from 1983 to 1987. It was produced by Procter & Gamble Productions and was the superstation's first original series.
Contents |
[edit] Premise
The series revolved around Ethel MacDoogan, a free-spirited gal from the roarin' 1920s. Unfortunately (as told in the lyrics to the show's theme song), that would all come to an end for Ethel in 1925 when "...she was struck down by a trolley, golly." Ethel waits in Heaven for 60 years for a chance to earn her wings, until finally she is sent to earth in the 1980s to help a family named the Prestons.
The Prestons are a typical modern-day family with modern-day situations: widowed father Richard is a realtor; older son Duane is very class-conscious; daughter Lissy is always very opinionated; J.J. (the youngest) just wants someone who can fill their late mother's void. It's J.J.'s prayer that an angel would come into their lives that summons Ethel, and J.J. is the only one who knows her true identity.
Infiltrating the household as housekeeper/maid, Ethel is clueless about even the simplest conveniences of modern-day life. J.J. helps cover for her when it comes to adapting to the newfangled inventions of the past 60 years, and she eventually wins over the Prestons by teaching the family lessons in how to deal with the situations in their lives.
In addition to her earthly employer, Ethel is under the constant eye of her heavenly boss (and their successors), who watch her every move—and her every mistake. Her first overseer, Mr. Divine, kept a close eye on her. He was later replaced by the very concerned Lester Luster, followed by her ex-fiance/con-man Jake, with the outrageous Stanley McCloud (played by Rip Taylor) taking over in the show's final years.
Popping in from time to time is their ditzy (and attractive) next door neighbor Candy Carlysle.
The series made several changes to its cast. Besides the ethereal bosses, it changed the earthly father as well, becoming the second series in which Dick Sargent replaced another actor in the same role.
The series was co-created by Star Search winner, singer, actor and AIDS activist Sam Harris. Harris wrote several episodes of the show.
[edit] Cast
- Carol Mansell (Ethel MacDoogan)
- Stephen Johnson (Richard Preston, 1984)
- Dick Sargent (Richard Preston, 1984-1987)
- David Kaufman (Duane Preston)
- Kyle Richards (Elizabeth "Lissy" Preston)
- Randy Josselyn (J.J. Preston)
- Marla Rubinoff (Candy Carlysle, 1985-1987)
- Lester Fletcher (Mr. Divine, 1984)
- Ronnie Schell (Lester Luster, 1984-1985)
- Michael DeLano (Jake Fiore, 1985-1986)
- Rip Taylor (Stanley McCloud, 1985-1987)
[edit] Crew
- Executive Producer: Arthur Annecharico
- Producer: Rick Miner
