Here you have a "young adult" TV show but it's the creation of the brilliant minds of Jose Rivera and Joe Dante. Directors included the best in Hollywood including Bob Balaban, Brian Spicer, Ken Kwapis and Tom Holland (Malcolm in the Middle, Freaks & Geeks, Nurse Jackie, Kimmie Schmidt, Tracy Ullman). The big secret? It was intelligent story telling that did not insult kids while also entertaining and challenging adults.
Stories were hilarious and serious at the same time. You have Elvis, who may or may not be the real thing, getting belly laughs in the same episode about a dead kid. You have a funny, obnoxious, smart-aleck punk (Dash X) whom no one will befriend except the anti-hero of the series, the outstanding Marshall Teller. He recognizes Dash for what he is, a lonely, broken soul.
A lot has been made of the short sidedness of the suits who cancelled such a wonderful thing after a single season of 19 episodes. I for one am extremely grateful. While I loved Eerie, Indiana, I am so glad it did not meet the fate of so many of its TV brethren, namely staying on the air beyond its time and sucking to death.
The final episode "Reality Takes A Holiday" directed by the brilliant Ken Kwapis is a masterpiece. Actually you will find it listed as episode 18 of 19 due to bizarre network programming but it was always meant to be the season/series finale. It not only breaks the 4th wall it decimates it with glee while shattering the lines between fantasy and reality. It contains my favorite line of dialogue, ever:
Dash X to Marshall Teller: "I'm just a character on a TV show, I'm no more real than you are!"
God bless Eerie, Indiana and all the lost, broken souls who dwell there. It remains a classic that holds its own against time and is well worth watching. And that goes for all kids aged 2 to 200!
Stories were hilarious and serious at the same time. You have Elvis, who may or may not be the real thing, getting belly laughs in the same episode about a dead kid. You have a funny, obnoxious, smart-aleck punk (Dash X) whom no one will befriend except the anti-hero of the series, the outstanding Marshall Teller. He recognizes Dash for what he is, a lonely, broken soul.
A lot has been made of the short sidedness of the suits who cancelled such a wonderful thing after a single season of 19 episodes. I for one am extremely grateful. While I loved Eerie, Indiana, I am so glad it did not meet the fate of so many of its TV brethren, namely staying on the air beyond its time and sucking to death.
The final episode "Reality Takes A Holiday" directed by the brilliant Ken Kwapis is a masterpiece. Actually you will find it listed as episode 18 of 19 due to bizarre network programming but it was always meant to be the season/series finale. It not only breaks the 4th wall it decimates it with glee while shattering the lines between fantasy and reality. It contains my favorite line of dialogue, ever:
Dash X to Marshall Teller: "I'm just a character on a TV show, I'm no more real than you are!"
God bless Eerie, Indiana and all the lost, broken souls who dwell there. It remains a classic that holds its own against time and is well worth watching. And that goes for all kids aged 2 to 200!