Out of This World

You've got a very pretty blonde, blue-eyed girl with special powers but she can't use them to wreak venegance on her cruel classmates. No, I'm not talking about that Wiccan air-head, I'm talking about Evie Garland. Cuter, prettier and funnier, she paved the way for everyone else and was all but forgotten for the effort. Maureen Flannigan had a certain amount of charm and irresistable, dare I say it, magic; she was the Maureen McCormick of the Eighties. Donna Pescow was her cute mom and Joe Alaskey was her enjoyable uncle. His absence from the show was one of the signs of the end. The late Doug McClure played the whimsical town mayor in the series, but as the series went on, he just seemed to get more stupid and annoying. The show suffered a lot as the scripts became more contrived, and the series ended with an unsatisfactory plotline dangling - a poor end to a once great show. I wish Flannigan much better.

Donna Pescow is the mother of Maureen Flanigan who married Burt Reynolds about 16 years earlier and he promptly departed for his home. Which is the planet Anterias in a galaxy far far away. Not that he doesn't keep in touch with his earth family, they've got some kind alien communication machine that can make sound travel light years in seconds. With that he dispenses fatherly advice. Reynolds is never seen in all the episodes in the four years this series ran.

Out Of This World was a nice show with a mighty thin premise that was good while it lasted, but probably was canceled in time as Flanigan moved out of her teen years. As an alien she had some powers and abilities far beyond mortal man though she was no superhero. Rather she got herself in normal teen situations as television describes them and used her powers to get in or out of them. Pescow presided over it all with aplomb.

Flanigan had a really hunky California surfer type boyfriend in Steve Burton who almost immediately got himself another gig in General Hospital where he is a resident to this day. Pescow had a brother who was named Beano and played by Joe Alaskey. Anyone named Beano you know is a comic character and Alaskey always seemed perpetually flustered.

Last, but not least was Doug McClure who played a former actor and now mayor of their small California town. McClure was very funny doing a spoof on himself as a retired action adventure hero now gone into politics. Seems that I remember another star becoming mayor of a small California town, who could that be?

Out Of This World was a pleasant if not truly memorable situation comedy.

I was only 8 years old when this programme appeared on the TV screens in 1989 over here in the UK. Looking back at it, I can remember if I'm right that each birthday Eve had, she would get a present off here father, which would give her the ability to use new powers given to her.

The show sadly only lasted 4 years, but thank you for DIGITAL SATELLITE, where there are weekly runs of the programme today! One note I should point out, lookout as when the world is frozen and too see the people move ever slightly, or a simple blink, which is more noticable in series one.

I watched this show from the time it aired in syndication. Maureen Flannigan delivered a terrific performance as the popular Evie Garland. I was so hooked to this show that I began to act just like her, and I don't mean girlie like, I mean I began putting my two index fingers to- gether trying to stop time like her. I began to do it in school so much that I got in trouble by teacher and parents and I was forbidden from watching the show for a week. Eventually, I learned my lesson and I was allowed to watch it again and even though I had been punished once for doing it I would still do it in private when I was alone. I would even play the characters on the show with friends.

Usually with 80`s programmes there very dated and not seem as funny as they were. Its better than Sabrina the Teenage Witch - even my son thinks so! Ok, Evie has to rely on her Alien Dad Troy for most powers - but she can freeze time! Who wouldnt want to do that???

I watched Out of this World only just now and its as funny now as it always was. My children love it too - especially the theme tune! Whats even more mazing is that I think I had Evie Garland`s wardrobe! I had practically all of Evie`s clothes in the 80`s - not that fit me now - ahem! lol.

I have about 70 episodes and would love to find the remaining ones if anyone could help? Cant wait to have all 96!!!