Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show
Title card
Created byEd Ferrara
Kevin Murphy
(Based on characters created by Stuart Gordon, Brian Yuzna and Ed Naha)
StarringPeter Scolari
Barbara Alyn Woods
Hillary Tuck
Thomas Dekker
George Buza (seasons 2–3)
ComposersPeter Bernstein
Christopher L. Stone
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes66 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersLeslie Belzberg
John Landis
Camera setupFilm; Single-camera
Running time48 minutes
Production companiesPlymouth Productions
St. Clare Entertainment
Walt Disney Television
Original release
NetworkFirst-run syndication
ReleaseSeptember 27, 1997 (1997-09-27) –
May 20, 2000 (2000-05-20)

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show (truncated to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids in the show's title sequence) is an American syndicated comic science fiction sitcom based on the 1989 film, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. It expands upon the original film's concept of a shrinking experiment gone wrong to include a myriad of experiments gone awry. It debuted in syndication on September 27, 1997,[1] and ran for three consecutive seasons, concluding with the 66th episode on May 20, 2000.

Peter Scolari took over the role of Wayne Szalinski, the wacky inventor played by Rick Moranis in the original film. Each episode incorporates new technologies and digital effects to feature the family in various new adventures. The series was filmed in Calgary, Alberta, with its main studios located in Currie Barracks, a decommissioned Canadian Forces dormitory.

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
122September 22, 1997 (1997-09-22)May 16, 1998 (1998-05-16)
222September 26, 1998 (1998-09-26)June 12, 1999 (1999-06-12)
322September 25, 1999 (1999-09-25)May 20, 2000 (2000-05-20)

Characters

The Szalinski family are the only returning characters from the films. Wayne Szalinski (Peter Scolari), the show's protagonist, is the husband of Diane and the father of Amy and Nick. The well-meaning Wayne constructs a variety of inventions, including the Shrink-Ray, Neuron Nudger and Brainiactivator among others, that often create predicaments for his family. His wife, Diane Szalinski (Barbara Alyn Woods), is a lawyer. Diane supports Wayne and is very loving, but gets fed up with his antics. The family have a dog, Quark, who is played by Matese in the first season, but by Rusty in seasons two and three.

Amy Szalinski (Hillary Tuck) is the oldest child of Wayne and Diane. She displays the normal teenage angst, but loves her family no matter what. Her younger brother, Nick (Thomas Dekker), is very much like Wayne and also enjoys inventing things. However, unlike his father, he believes in and has an extensive knowledge of the supernatural. He and Amy bicker like most siblings, but generally get along fairly well and will go out of their way for each other when one is in trouble.

The series picks up with the Szalinski household relocating to Matheson, Colorado. Next door to the Szalinskis are the McKennas. Jake McKenna (George Buza) is chief of the police force. He is usually caught up with the Szalinski's mishaps. His younger son, Joel, is one of Nick's friends. His older son, Jack, is an occasional love interest for Amy.

The series has guest appearances from other actors too. In the first episode, Eugene Roche swallows Hillary, Barbara, and Peter accidentally, along with their shrunken van.

Another episode features guest appearances from Bret Hart and Owen Hart in a wrestling themed episode.

Cast

Main

The main characters of the TV series (from left to right), Diane, Wayne, Nick, Amy Szalinski, and the family dog, Quark (portrayed by Mattise). Photographed by Charles Bush.
Actor/Actress Character Years Episodes
Peter Scolari Wayne Szalinski 1997–2000 66 episodes
Barbara Alyn Woods Diane Szalinski 1997–2000 66 episodes
Hillary Tuck Amy Szalinski 1997–2000 66 episodes
Thomas Dekker Nick Szalinski 1997–2000 66 episodes
George Buza Chief Jake McKenna 1998–2000 30 episodes

Recurring

Actor/Actress Character Years Episodes
Bruce Jarchow H. Gordon Jennings 1997–2000 16 episodes
Andrew T. Grant Joel McKenna 1998–2000 13 episodes
Mark Hildreth Jack McKenna 1998–2000 3 episodes
Jewel Staite Tiara Vanhorn 1997–1999 5 episodes
Hilary Alexander Ms. Elders 1998–1999 10 episodes
David Lereaney Mr. Patterson 1997–1998 9 episodes
Vanessa King Danielle 1997-1999 8 episodes
Wilson Wong Myron 1999-2000 5 episodes
Miranda Frigon Veronica 1998-1999 5 episodes
Christine Willes Mrs. Gotteramerding 1999 3 episodes
John Michael Higgins Ar'nox 1997–1998 3 episodes
Doug MacLeod Dan 1997–1999 4 episodes
Thierry P. Nihill Russell 1997–1998 4 episodes
Valarie Pettiford Bianca Fleischer 1997 2 episodes

Production history

The Honey, I Shrunk the Kids television series launched in September 1997, shortly after the last film in its namesake trilogy, Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, was released direct to video. The focus of the television series was on the Szalinski family as they were in the first film, with Wayne and Diane Szalinski living with and raising their children Amy and Nick. The Szalinskis' third child Adam, who was introduced in Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, was never mentioned in the series; it was not clear if the series took place before he was born until the penultimate episode, in which Diane announced she was pregnant which indicated that the show took place between the first film and the sequel.

The film franchise's star Rick Moranis is mentioned briefly in one episode where Amy tells Wayne that he resembles him. However, Wayne is clueless as to who Moranis is.

After the first season, writers Ed Ferrara and Kevin Murphy left the show. Ed Naha, one of the creators of the original "Honey" film, came aboard as both head writer and co-executive producer for the final two seasons. The second season would also see Stuart Gordon, another of the original film's creators and executive producer of Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, direct an episode ("Honey, Let's Trick or Treat").

The third season saw a precipitous drop in ratings and Disney announced it was ending production after three seasons. The series finale aired on May 20, 2000.

Syndication

Reruns of the series aired on Disney Channel from 2001[2] to 2006, and aired on Discovery Family from October 11, 2010 until September 13, 2013.

Awards and nominations

Daytime Emmy Awards

  • 1999 – Outstanding Sound Editing – Christopher Harvengt, Kim Naves, James A. Williams, Jason W. Jennings and Tiffany S. Griffith (Nominated)
  • 2000 – Outstanding Sound Mixing – Bill Thiederman, Dean Okrand, Mike Brooks and Clancy Livingston (Tied with Bill Nye the Science Guy and Bear in the Big Blue House) (won)
  • 2001 – Outstanding Sound Mixing – Clancy Livingston, Dean Okrand, Bill Thiederman and Mike Brooks (won)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Heffley, Lynne (September 21, 1997). "UPN gets 'Clueless'; 'Honey' shrinks to size of a KCOP kid series; KCAL unwraps Mummies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Newly Acquired Disney's Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Series Premieres on Disney Channel in Fall 2001". Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. July 10, 2001. Archived from the original on July 22, 2001. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
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