THE SPECTATOR
TV TIMES DECEMBER 15, 1990
No
Secret To Show's Success
The harvest of family sitcoms are bountiful on TV networks, and seem
to vie for attention as to who can be the most outrageous. Yet My Secret
Identity stands apart with a refreshing combination of zaniness and
heart.
This half-hour
Canadian comedy/adventure series, now in its third season on CTV, won
the 1989 International Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Programming
for Children and Young People, for good reason. Produced by Sunrise
Films Ltd., the series' widespread popularity is evident by international
sales to 35 countries on five continents.
Jerry O'Connell
portrays Andrew Clements, now age 16, whose secret superpowers and incorrigible
yen for mischief with pal Kirk Stevens (Christopher Bolton) cause Dr.
Jeffcoate (Derek McGrath), the neighborhood mad scientist, frequent
bouts of hair-tearing.
Andrew is bright
and assertive, but not a smartass. Dr. J is a gentle man, but not a
pushover.
"He's getting
cooler now," says O'Connell, who recalls Dr. J as "kind of
a nerd the first year." O'Connell views My Secret Identity generally
as "more hip" this season, addressing more adult issues. Andrew,
for example, is more interested in girls and cars than in comic books.
"I wouldn't
call him a nerd," replies McGrath, with mock indignation. "I
would call him a private person."
"He's a private
nerd," adds O'Connell, an impish twinkle in his blue eyes.
And what about
pal Kirk? "He's a bit of a mouthpiece," says Bolton, age 20,
last season an occasional guest and now a regular character on My Secret
Identity. "He doesn't have an editor between his mouth and his
brain, so it's up to this guy (Andrew) to look out for me."
Andrew's mother
Stephanie (Wanda Cannon) and sister Erin (Marsha Moreau) complete the
all-Canadian cast, with the exception of O'Connell who hails from Greenwich
Village, New York.
McGrath view Dr.
J as "the moral centre" of the TV series. "For me, his
most attractive quality as a human being is a kind of profound courtesy.
He's courteous to the atmosphere and to his fellow men. He believes
in that.
"And
he's a great romantic," McGrath continues calmly and confidently,
against a background of guffaws from O'Connell and Bolton, who then
adds: "He's a regular 'studmuffin.' "
"Well, I
wouldn't go that far-r-r," replies McGrath, "That's a little
example of Kirk's character, no editing. I would have said 'gangster
of love' or 'Cadillac of passion' perhaps." Andrew's petty mom
Stephanie, of course, is Dr. J's prime love interest, who tends to be
not quite accessible.
An obvious ingredient
in My Secret Identity's success is the rapport between characters in
production and off set. The show's themes range from popular issues
of concern in adolescent and family life to the fantasy world experienced
in Andrew's dreams.
There, he sees
himself, Kirk and Dr. J as fantasy characters in a time warp of 1960s
hippie days or 1930s gangster legends.
A noticeable difference
between this show and other family sitcoms, however, is the lack of
controversial language. Why? "I'm not against it, frankly,"
says McGrath. "I don't think there's anything you can say that
kids haven't heard. It depends on the kind of programming and the tone.
"When it
comes to a show like ours," McGrath continues, "I think it
would simply be inelegant and in bad taste... We have a responsibility
to the audience who have supported the show. They say, 'It's such a
relief to be able to turn on the television, and find a show that the
whole family can watch, without being offended, and still be entertained.'
"
"We also
have to be careful not to preach," says Bolton. He and O'Connell
are against censorship of language on TV programs, even if My Secret
Identity avoids what is controversial.
"As our (young)
audience grows older, they start to do what they want to do," says
Bolton. "They don't want people telling them what to do. We just
show that it's not always the best idea -- we don't preach it -- you
shouldn't drink or you shouldn't do drugs, or you shouldn't drop out
of school. We just set a good example, and I think we've done a really
good job."
Sandy Greer
HOME
PAGE
|