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 Simpsons alumni Al Jean and Mike Reiss.

Synopsis
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
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.

Cast

 * Mike Damus as Marty DePolo
 * Corbin Allred as Steve Beauchamp
 * Ron Glass as Rod, God's Cousin
 * Maureen McCormick as Judy Beauchamp (episodes 1-11)
 * Tommy Hinkley as Casey Beauchamp
 * Katie Volding as Katie Beauchamp
 * Jordan Brower as Jorden Lubell
 * Conchata Ferrell as Aunt Pam
 * Jerry Van Dyke as Grandpa Jerry Beauchamp (episodes 12-17)