Technically, this show may not have been short-lived enough. Small Wonder ran for four seasons - from '85 to '89 - in syndication. Whenever I am baffled by the popularity of tween vehicles like The Disney Channel's Hannah Montana, I just think of the inexplicably high ratings little robot Vicki got in her first year and the solid following that held on until the show's demise.The show's conceit involved a robotics firm engineer designing an AI cast-off from Annie to come live with his family. The robot was a "Voice Input Child Indenticant." VICI. Vicki. You get it. The Lawson family had quite a time trying to keep the monotoned Vicki's origins a secret from those pesky Brindles next door. They couldn't possibly destroy the adorable bundle of bolts that Dad had so lovingly (and sorta creepily if you think about it) put together and kept at home long past her beta-testing date.
After all, Vicki was a marvelous addition to the Lawson household. She made a great kid sister to the Lawson's only flesh-and-blood child Jamie. He spent most of his time trying to teach Vicki to act like a normal kid. It probably would have helped if she owned more than one dress.
Vicki did, however, have a dark side - alter robot ego Vanessa. This is where Small Wonder became a real acting tour de force on the part of young Tiffany Brissette. Vanessa was a foul-mouthed, conniving little brat who almost got her own spin-off, Too Good Too Be True, when Small Wonder finally hit the skids. If you're curious about Brissette's post-child star traumas, you'll soon get to see them aired out on television. Tiff was chosen as a Surreal Life participant for 2006. Her appearance will air on VH1 in early 2007. I wonder if she'll be bringing her Vanessa or Vicki persona to the house party?
Small Wonder was named one of the worst TV shows of all-time by USA Today in 2002. The show does have its fans, which I can only hope is the result of childhood nostalgia and helping spoonfuls of irony. Lord knows that's why a little part of my brain will always be occupied by a girl robot with a back panel accessible for repairs.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-13-2006 @ 10:25PM
daniel said...
wow. at first glance, i couldn't remember, but when i seen the pic of the girl i remembered this show. i had a huge crush on Vicki. i never would have thought of this show. thanks for letting me remember.
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11-13-2006 @ 12:28PM
Zack said...
I had no idea about the spinoff!
Oy, THE SURREAL LIFE. I'm so sorry.
I can recall pretty much every episode of this show: Someone says something. Vicki takes it literally. Wackiness ensues. My favorite was when Jamie said, "Forget everything," and she went blank.
I used to watch this after school every day. I'm so ashamed...!
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11-13-2006 @ 12:32PM
smikwily said...
I have no idea what pulled me into this show when I was young, but I've seen more episodes of this than I care to admit. Heck, I could probably sing along with the theme song if an ep came on right now... GAH!!! MAKE IT STOP!!!
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11-13-2006 @ 1:26PM
Martha Fischer said...
My brothers and I watched this show religiously. I think it was less because it was good than because it was on right before Solid Gold, which we loved so much we watched whatever was sitting next to it in the TV listings. Sad but true.
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11-13-2006 @ 1:31PM
hessian said...
I'm curious as to how a show that ran for three years qualifies as short lived.
This show aired in a very different time. There was a market for weekend sybdication back then. FOX was still in its infancy and independent TV stations were starving for original content.
Somehow, crap like this found success.
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11-13-2006 @ 1:36PM
Das Klaun said...
"Here son, this little girl is here to do whatever you tell her, and she's going to live in a box in your bedroom."
And with that, the son grew up to be a serial killer.
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11-13-2006 @ 2:34PM
Hey Alex said...
I have to admit, I watched this show, and I don't recall it being short lived. It wasn't hilarious by any means, but then again neither was Leave it to Beaver. It was simply a watchable diversion aimed at kids.
There were lots of other syndicated shows around the time (which by the way, whatever happened to original syndicated shows?!)
Here are some that I remember...
My Secret Identity (with Jerry O'Connell)
It's a Living
Charles in Charge
Throb
Mama's Family
and my favorite guilty pleasure..
Acapulco H.E.A.T.
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11-13-2006 @ 2:47PM
justinwhy said...
I used to watch this show all the time. I always though Jaime (the son) was a little...erm... different though.
Anyway, anyone remember the name of the show in which this girl had an alien for a dad and she would talk to him in the attic or something. I think the girl's name was Evie or something. Another very odd show I used to watch a lot.
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11-13-2006 @ 2:55PM
Mike K. said...
justinwhy,
I think the show you're thinking of is "Out Of This World"
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11-13-2006 @ 3:03PM
Akbar Fazil said...
And dont forget the voice of the Dad in Out Of This World was Burt Reynolds!
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11-13-2006 @ 3:33PM
Spamouflage said...
I lived in China for a few years and that show was on everyday on Star (HK-based English-language channel). It was horrible but since we didn't speak Mandarin, it became our defacto favourite sitcom. She's fantastic, made of plastic.
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11-13-2006 @ 4:00PM
cara said...
Small wonder was awesome..it was a time where saturday mornings and afternoons were devoted to tv and everyone watched with delight!
Out of this world was an awesome show as well. I can sing both theme songs ... "would you like to swing on a star..carry moon beams home in a jar.... "
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11-13-2006 @ 4:07PM
Take2 said...
Anyone remember Mr Merlin about Merlin in modern day teaching a young apprentice? or Powers of Matthew Star about an high school student who has super powers because he's an alien? What about Whiz Kids about a bunch of kids who use computers to solve crime?
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11-13-2006 @ 4:11PM
FredTheCat said...
A good friend of mine had a recurring role on this show. We have no end of fun mocking him about it.
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11-13-2006 @ 7:35PM
GameBoiPA said...
Small Wonder may not have been great, but I always found it to be a family-friendly, "bubble gum for the brain" syndicated sitcom. If you want to talk about worst shows ever, look no farther than Surreal Life.
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11-14-2006 @ 4:01PM
Jack said...
According to imdb, I'm two days older than the actress who played Vicki. All I remember about the show was thinking she would be doing porn in about ten more years.
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11-20-2006 @ 10:56PM
yatesy said...
I HATED that girl who lived next door. But her mother ended up playing "Mrs. Poole" on The Hogan Family. She might be best known as the secretary to the Principal in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Sometimes I can't remember my phone number but I remember that.
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12-05-2006 @ 8:58AM
margaret said...
I think Small Wonder should be come out for sale. It was as good or better then some of the ones that are out there for sale. Does anyone else want to owe the series.
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1-05-2007 @ 4:31PM
Cari said...
I totally forgot about this show!! I am ashamed to admit it, but I watched it religously. I would have never been reminded of it had you not posted this little story, but it does bring back fond memories.
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