''My Secret Identity'' is a

television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite television, satellite, or cable television, cable, excluding breaking news, television adverti ...

starring

Jerry O'Connell Jerry O'Connell (born February 17, 1974) is an American actor and television host. He is known for his roles as Quinn Mallory in the television series ''Sliders'', Andrew Clements in ''My Secret Identity'', Vern Tessio in the film '' Stand by M ...

and

Derek McGrath Derek McGrath (born June 4, 1951) is a Canadian actor and writer. Life and career McGrath was born in Timmins, Ontario. His career began as Linus in ''You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown''. He is known for his roles in '' Cheers'' as Andy Schroed ...

. Originally broadcast from October 9, 1988 to May 25, 1991 on CTV in Canada, the series also aired in

syndication Syndication may refer to: * Broadcast syndication, where individual stations buy programs outside the network system * Print syndication, where individual newspapers or magazines license news articles, columns, or comic strips * Web syndication, ...

in the United States. It was later shown in reruns on the

Sci-Fi Channel Syfy (formerly Sci-Fi Channel, later shortened to Sci Fi; stylized as SYFY) is an American basic cable channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. Launc ...

. The series won the 1989 International

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

for Outstanding Achievement in Programming for Children and Young People.

Synopsis

O'Connell stars as 14-year-old Andrew Clements, who while looking one day for his friend, Dr. Benjamin Jeffcoate (McGrath), trips and is hit by a photon beam, causing him to develop superpowers. He uses these abilities to fight crime, to solve personal problems, and to help others. He hides his powers from his mother, sister, and friends with the exception of Jeffcoate. Andrew initially called himself Ultraman, but this was later dropped.

Powers

In the first season, Andrew must carry around

aerosol spray Aerosol spray is a type of dispensing system which creates an aerosol mist of liquid particles. It comprises a can or bottle that contains a payload, and a propellant under pressure. When the container's valve is opened, the payload is forced out ...

containers and use them to move through the air, as his flying ability is limited; he can make himself nearly weightless, and move up without any problems, but he cannot propel himself through the air or move down without some external force. He can jump quite high and do amazing flips. In the second season, unexplained, Andrew gains the ability to move through the air without the use of aerosol cans. Later in that season, after being struck by the photon beam a second time, Andrew develops

superhuman strength Superhuman strength is a superpower commonly invoked in fiction and other literary works such as mythology. A fictionalized representation of the phenomenon of hysterical strength, it is the power to exert force and lift weights beyond what is ...

but loses his invulnerability. For the entirety of the series, Andrew loses his powers when exposed to radiation (e.g. electromagnetic waves and x-rays). Starting in episode 10, he loses his powers for 2–3 days after exposure to an x-ray at the dentist. Later in the series, he regains them immediately after the exposure stops.

Setting and characters

The main setting of the show is

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

, in the fictional suburb of Briarwood. Andrew goes to Briarwood High and his sister Erin goes to another school. Dr. Jeffcoate (supposedly the fourth-smartest man in the world) is a close friend of the family who lives next door. He is attracted to Mrs. Clements but never tells her.

Cast

as Andrew Clements *

as Dr. Benjamin Marion Jeffcoate *Christopher Bolton as Kirk Stevens (1989-1991) *Marsha Moreau as Erin Clements * Wanda Cannon as Stephanie Clements *Elizabeth Leslie as Ruth Schellenbach

Episodes

Novel

A novelization of the pilot episode, written by Jovial Bob Stine (R. L. Stine), was released in 1989.

Syndicated stations (United States)

References

External links

* {{InternationalEmmyAward Children and Young People 1988 American television series debuts 1991 American television series endings 1980s American comic science fiction television series 1990s American comic science fiction television series 1980s American teen sitcoms 1990s American teen sitcoms 1988 Canadian television series debuts 1991 Canadian television series endings 1980s Canadian science fiction television series 1990s Canadian comic science fiction television series 1980s Canadian sitcoms 1990s Canadian teen sitcoms American children's comedy television series American children's science fiction television series American superhero comedy television series Canadian children's comedy television series Canadian children's science fiction television series Canadian superhero comedy television series Teen superhero television series CTV Television Network original programming First-run syndicated television programs in the United States Television series about teenagers Television shows filmed in Toronto Television series by Universal Television