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Small Wonder': The Strange True Story Behind the Weirdest Sitcom of the '80s

By A Mystery Man Writer

#x201C;It’s funny: Someone could do a True Hollywood Story of Small Wonder.” — cast member Emily Schulman Webster (Harriet) Looking back, a lot of the TV shows we watched as kids in the 1980s don’t hold up all that well. Debuting in first-run syndication on September 7, 1985, Wonder starred 10-year-old Tiffany Brissette as Vicki, a robot made to look like a girl who lives with her inventor Ted Lawson (Dick Christie), Ted’s wife Joan (Marla Pennington), and his son Jamie (Jerry Supiran). Vicki was supposed to blend in with the rest of the family as Ted’s adopted daughter, but she also possessed special powers like superhuman strength and Mr. Fantastic-like stretching ability. With Wonder turning 30 years old next week, Yahoo TV spoke with cast members Marla Pennington Rowan (who played mom Joan) and Emily Schulman Webster (who played nosy neighbor girl Harriet) about their memories filming the show, and how they respond to it being labeled one of TV’s all-time biggest disasters.
“It’s funny: Someone could do a True Hollywood Story of Small Wonder.” — cast member Emily Schulman Webster (Harriet) Looking back, a lot of the TV shows we watched as kids in the 1980s don’t hold up all that well. Debuting in first-run syndication on September 7, 1985, Wonder starred 10-year-old Tiffany Brissette as Vicki, a robot made to look like a girl who lives with her inventor Ted Lawson (Dick Christie), Ted’s wife Joan (Marla Pennington), and his son Jamie (Jerry Supiran). Vicki was supposed to blend in with the rest of the family as Ted’s adopted daughter, but she also possessed special powers like superhuman strength and Mr. Fantastic-like stretching ability. With Wonder turning 30 years old next week, Yahoo TV spoke with cast members Marla Pennington Rowan (who played mom Joan) and Emily Schulman Webster (who played nosy neighbor girl Harriet) about their memories filming the show, and how they respond to it being labeled one of TV’s all-time biggest disasters.
“It’s funny: Someone could do a True Hollywood Story of Small Wonder.” — cast member Emily Schulman Webster (Harriet) Looking back, a lot of the TV shows we

Small Wonder': The Strange True Story Behind the Weirdest Sitcom of the '80s

Small Wonder (TV Series 1985–1989) - IMDb

Small Wonder': The Strange True Story Behind the Weirdest Sitcom of the '80s

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Small Wonder': The Strange True Story Behind the Weirdest Sitcom of the '80s

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Small Wonder': The Strange True Story Behind the Weirdest Sitcom of the '80s

Small Wonder': The Strange True Story Behind the Weirdest Sitcom of the '80s

Small Wonder': The Strange True Story Behind the Weirdest Sitcom of the '80s

Small Wonder (TV Series 1985–1989) - IMDb

Small Wonder': The Strange True Story Behind the Weirdest Sitcom of the '80s

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Small Wonder': The Strange True Story Behind the Weirdest Sitcom of the '80s

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Small Wonder': The Strange True Story Behind the Weirdest Sitcom of the '80s

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Small Wonder': The Strange True Story Behind the Weirdest Sitcom of the '80s

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Small Wonder': The Strange True Story Behind the Weirdest Sitcom of the '80s

Small Wonder (TV Series 1985–1989) - IMDb