This show tried hard to be "Mary Poppins" meets "Bewitched" and I fault the writers at the failure of this show, not the rather engaging star with an able assist by Eileen Heckart as Boss Angel.
Now, I will admit to being somewhat biased since Jim Brogan is a friend of mine, and that casting him as a guardian angel was somewhat of an irony since he is, in the real world, as close to a wearing a halo as any human is allowed to be. I personally used to refer to him as "Father Brogan" because he never swore, walked away from dirty jokes and drank fruit juice at a bar (The Original Improvisation in New York City) where he performed on stage. But this sitcom was just lame and he deserved better. (He would tell you that himself. I remember him then saying it was just "typical sitcom stuff.")
Still, I remember this as his first professional media job and what really got him into show biz. The pilot show had Robin Williams as Mork on an hour long episode which was surely memorable as was the "Happy Days" episode which still pops up on reruns from time to time. I also remember a rather attractive brunette waitress from another comedy club telling me to be sure and watch the show and give him support. I did, and even talked my then live-in girlfriend into purchasing a TV so we could watch this show's premiere. (She is now my wife and we still have that old, teeny black and white.)
I believe I saw all of the 9 shows that were broadcast, and also remember that it was opposite "Disney" and "60 Minutes" which sealed its fate early on. Then, the Super Bowl for that year preempted about the last show proving that death comes even to angels.
Still, the premise, had it not involved a family of supposed cut-ups, might have worked if it were like an early funny precursor to "Highway to Heaven," but the creativity factor sunk this show from its interminable cuteness. The writers failed the bright comedian, and the show died a merciful death to go to, I assume, television Purgatory forever.
I am happy to say that Jimmy went on to do better than this, and if you ever get to see his stand-up, you will see this angel shine.
