Starman (TV series)

Starman
Genre	Science fiction
Created by	Bruce A. Evans Raynold Gideon
Developed by	Mike Gray James Hirsch John Mason
Written by	Michael Marks Mike Gray John Mason Randall Wallace
Directed by	Bill Duke Robert Chenault Bob Dahlin Mike Gray Robert Hays Nancy Malone Nick Marck Bob Sweeney
Starring	Robert Hays Christopher Daniel Barnes Michael Cavanaugh
Composer(s)	Dana Kaproff Jack Nitzsche
Country of origin	USA
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	22
Production
Executive producer(s)	Michael Douglas James S. Henerson James G. Hirsch
Producer(s)	Mike Gray John Mason
Running time	60 mins. (approx)
Production company(s)	Henerson/Hirsch Productions Columbia Pictures Television
Distributor	Columbia TriStar Television Sony Pictures Television
Broadcast
Original channel	ABC
Original run	September 19, 1986 (1986-09-19) – May 2, 1987 (1987-05-02)
Chronology
Preceded by	Starman

Starman is an American science fiction television series, starring Robert Hays and Christopher Daniel Barnes and continuing the story from John Carpenter's 1984 film. The series ran on the ABC network from September 19, 1986 to May 2, 1987. The series was an adaptation and sequel to a movie of the same name produced in 1984.^[1]

Storyline

The series takes place fifteen years after the film's story and features the return of the alien as a clone of deceased photojournalist Paul Forrester to spend time with his now teenage son Scott Hayden, Jr (Christopher Daniel Barnes) as they try to avoid a U.S. government agent and find the missing Jenny Hayden.^[1]

Each episode of the series had the fugitive father and son moving from place to place meeting people that were in need of some assistance, while Scott tries to explain to his alien father what it means to be a human being and Starman must deal with fallout from Forrester's rather hedonistic past. Each has a small silvery sphere of alien material, about 3–4 cm in diameter, that allows a trained mind to project thoughts to carry out telekinesis or telepathy in some limited manner. Starman is adept, but Scott needs to learn how to focus; in one episode, "Blue Lights", Scott accidentally creates a picturesque image of a rotating ring of blue lights that is mistaken for a UFO. Both are also able to empathically connect with animals.

Starman and Scott are also trying to stay one step ahead of government UFO investigator George Fox (Michael Cavanaugh), who will not tolerate Starman and Scott running free in society. Once, when Starman tells Fox that children are the world's future, Fox reacts with hostility to imply that Scott is some sort of mutant, and therefore not acceptable. Starman, however, holds no malice toward Fox, and even treats a life-threatening injury before he and Scott make their escape. (This, again, has similarities to The Fugitive, with Dr. Kimble occasionally saving the life of his own nemesis, Lt. Gerard.)

In a two-part episode, "Starscape", Starman and Scott find Jenny Hayden (Erin Gray) living as an artist, under the name Karen Iseley, in Arizona. One more episode, "The Test", aired after the two-part episode, that tried to pave the way for a second season, but the series was canceled.

Episodes

1. "The Return" – September 19, 1986 (1986-09-19)
2. "Like Father, Like Son" – September 26, 1986 (1986-09-26)
3. "Fatal Flaw" – October 3, 1986 (1986-10-03)
4. "Blue Lights" – October 10, 1986 (1986-10-10)
5. "Best Buddies" – October 24, 1986 (1986-10-24)
6. "Secrets" – October 31, 1986 (1986-10-31)
7. "One for the Road" – November 7, 1986 (1986-11-07)
8. "Peregrine" – November 14, 1986 (1986-11-14)
9. "Society's Pet" – November 28, 1986 (1986-11-28)
10. "Fever" – December 5, 1986 (1986-12-05)
11. "The Gift" – December 12, 1986 (1986-12-12)
12. "The System" – January 9, 1987 (1987-01-09)
13. "Appearances" – January 16, 1987 (1987-01-16)
14. "The Probe" – January 30, 1987 (1987-01-30)
15. "Dusty" – February 6, 1987 (1987-02-06)
16. "Barriers" – February 13, 1987 (1987-02-13)
17. "Grifters" – March 13, 1987 (1987-03-13)
18. "The Wedding" – March 21, 1987 (1987-03-21)
19. "Fathers and Sons" – March 28, 1987 (1987-03-28)
20. "Starscape, Part 1" – April 4, 1987 (1987-04-04)
21. "Starscape, Part 2" – April 11, 1987 (1987-04-11)
22. "The Test" – May 2, 1987 (1987-05-02)

Awards and nominations

DVD release

The entire series was released on DVD in at least Region 1 format, on April 16, 2012.

References

External links

• Starman at the Internet Movie Database
• Starman at TV.com
• Starman at epguides.com
• Spotlight Starman International (fan club site)
• Starman fansite
• Starman: The TV series