Down to Earth (TV series)

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

Down to Earth was an American fantasy situation comedy series that ran on Superstation TBS from 1984 to 1987. It was produced by Procter & Gamble Productions and was the superstation's first original series.

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 the Preston family.

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 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 helping them deal with their problems.

Popping in from time to time is their ditzy (and attractive) next door neighbor Candy Carlysle, who became a regular character in 1985.

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.

Production notes

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.

In addition to having run on TBS, it also had subsequent runs on Good Life TV in 2007.

Cast

• Carol Mansell (Ethel MacDoogan)
• Stephen Johnson (Richard Preston, 1984)
• Dick Sargent (Richard Preston, 1984-1987)
• David Kaufman (Duane Preston)
• Kyle Richards^[1] (Elizabeth "Lissy" Preston)
• Randy Josselyn (Jay Jay 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)

Crew

• Executive Producer: Arthur Annecharico
• Producer: Rick Miner

References

1. ^ TBS promotional campaign

External links

• Down to Earth at TV.com
• Down To Earth at the Internet Movie Database
• "Down to Earth" at RetroJunk, including opening credits video