Ted has the unenviable task of explaining to his unwary Vicki-doting father, who
bitterly lost his job to automation, that his new lovely adopted granddaughter is
really a robot. The currently attainable concept of Vicki-like android robots that can take
the place of expensive porcelain dolls in the hearts of those who go into hock
collecting such, or supplanting pets or even being surrogate grandchildren became
a lot more tangible to the staff by the fan response. That senior fan mail showed
they most doted this episode boistered this observation (See Why Seniors Doted on Vicki). From the writers' circle
standpoint this rather watered-down comedy/drama reaffirmed the show's potential
and seeded ideas of the spin-off and, more soberly, gradual disenchantment, as it
sparked a smouldering debate of the show's continuing with standard sitcom humor
or striking out with more socially relevant science-fiction plotlines. Techie note: Yes, Vicki's power output should be just enough to jump-start a
car. (See Vicki's Robot Powers).
Production Title: "The Grandparents"
Guest Cast:
This much underrated semi-poignant episode received lots of approving fan mail
across the spectrum that hinted of Small Wonder's greater
sociological plot potentials. Since stories such as this one can't be copied by
other sitcoms, Small Wonder had a corner on unique themes that it
failed to exploit. Bill and Martha Lawson would've co-starred with Brissette's
dual role or another young actress in the series' aborted Too Good To Be True
Unfortunately, the producers largely held the show as "light fantasy"
and trashed many intriguing and thoughtful Family Ties-grade
scripts. Some of these ideas survived through writers who repackaged them in
pieces of Twilight Zone and Star Trek: The Next
Generation episodes with Lt. Data, who shares a few of Vicki's features.
Completed: 25-Oct-85/
Show no: 124
Written by Dick Christie, Tom Amundsen, and David Ruprecht
Directed by Selig Frank
Produced by Bruce Taylor
Bill Lawson: Jack Manning
Martha Lawson: Peggy Converse
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