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Space Cases

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Space Cases
Created byPeter David
Bill Mumy
StarringWalter Emanuel Jones
Jewel Staite
Rebecca Herbst
Kristian Ayre
Rahi Azizi
Paige Christina
Anik Matern
Cary Lawrence
Paul Boretski
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producersMicheline Charest
Ronald A. Weinberg
Ted Jessup
Running time22 minutes
Production companiesCINAR Films
Nickelodeon Productions
Original release
NetworkNickelodeon
ReleaseMarch 2, 1996 (1996-03-02) –
January 27, 1997 (1997-01-27)

Space Cases is a Canadian science fiction television series[1] that aired on Nickelodeon for two seasons. Created by Peter David and Bill Mumy, it premiered on March 2, 1996, and ended on January 27, 1997, with reruns until 1998.[2] Space Cases aired for a time on Nickelodeon's Saturday night block of shows known as SNICK, and on Nickelodeon UK, with reruns on Family and TVOntario in Canada.[3]

A Space Cases episode aired on TeenNick in the US as part of its The '90s Are All That block on the night of October 14, 2011, for the block's U Pick with Stick line-up, and again on December 27, 2011, for Party Like It's the '90s. Space Cases returned once again on the night of January 1, 2016, on TeenNick during the new The Splat programming block but has not aired since; the first four episodes of Season One were aired.

The show's premise revolves around a group of misfit students and two adults who are stranded far from home aboard an alien ship. Their attempts at journeying back see many dangerous adventures and controversies, with some occasionally more mature themes.

History

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The series was shot in Montreal, Quebec. Because of budget constraints, props from Are You Afraid of the Dark? and other Nickelodeon programs were used in the series. In other episodes, more mundane props were used, as in the episode "Homeward Bound", the character Suzee is sitting in a chair with compact discs pasted to either side. During the first season, electronic games such as Lights Out were used as control panels on walls.

Season One's original theme song was orchestra-based, with an announcer voiceover giving a preamble. A vocal song telling the story of the Space Cases was used as the closing. For Season Two, this song was moved to the front and re-recorded to accommodate the removal of Catalina, the addition of Suzee, and some re-arranging to how the characters were presented. At some point after the series ended, Nickelodeon had the song re-recorded once more, using the same character arrangement as Season Two, but removing Suzee and adding Catalina back in, and created a new opening for the Season One episodes with this song.

The series features a multitude of celebrity guest stars throughout its run, including George Takei, Mark Hamill, Bill Mumy, Katey Sagal, Michelle Trachtenberg, Danny Tamberelli and Robin Leach.

Characters

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Main cast

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Recurring cast

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Synopsis

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In the first episode of the series, a small group of misfits are kept behind from a Space Academy field trip. Nearby, an odd bird-like alien ship appears, and Harlan Band decides to sneak onto it; the other students, all of whom are younger and much less troublesome, follow Harlan onto the ship. During their exploration of the ship's interior, the organic ship bonds to each student when each touches a bulkhead.

TJ Davenport, their teacher and principal, and Commander Seth Goddard go after them and, in a series of unfortunate events, become separated throughout the vessel. One of the students accidentally charges the engines, hurtling the ship off into a spatial rift. By the time everyone figures out that only the children who bonded to the ship can actually control it, the ship has stopped several light years away from the academy. They set off on a return trip which would take them at least seven years, four months, and twenty-two days at maximum speeds.

Episodes

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Pilot

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TitleOriginal air date
"Breath of a Salesman"Unaired
An alien salesman, Yee Haw Jones, boards the ship.

Season 1 (1996)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"We Gotta Get out of This Place"John BellPeter David & Bill MumyMarch 2, 1996 (1996-03-02)
After learning their field test is suspended because they are not ready, the Space Cases try to prove themselves by making contact with the Christa, an alien ship outside Star Academy. While Commander Goddard and Miss Davenport look for them on the ship, the Christa is pulled through a spatial rip sending them all on a journey they learn will take over seven years to return home.
22"Who Goes Where?"John BellPeter David & Bill MumyMarch 9, 1996 (1996-03-09)
After retrieving a teddy bear from space for Rosie, Radu starts to see Spung hallucinations. Catalina realizes the teddy bear is responsible for the hallucinations and with Thelma's help, she is able to make an antidote.
33"A Day in the Life"Otta HanusPeter David & Bill MumyMarch 16, 1996 (1996-03-16)

The Christa becomes the target for a pair of territorial aliens.

Guest Stars: Mark Hamill & Bill Mumy as Ferna Herna.
44"Spung at Heart"Otta HanusPeter David & Bill MumyMarch 23, 1996 (1996-03-23)

After receiving a distress call, Radu and Harlan rescue a young Spung - a race that both humans and Andromedans distrust. As a reward the Spung reads their future, and the crew becomes frightened when her predictions begin coming true.

Guest Stars: Katie Emme as Elmira & George Takei as Warlord Shank.
55"Forever Young"John BellStory by : Kristian Ayre
Teleplay by : Jerry Colker		March 30, 1996 (1996-03-30)
Neinstein, an alien being, turns Miss Davenport and Commander Goddard into children. The kids celebrate not having any adults on board until Neinstein takes over the ship and their lives. The crew are forced to retake the ship or be on a trip to Neinstein's home world for the next 70 years.
66"Nowhere Man"Iain PatersonPeter David & Bill MumyApril 6, 1996 (1996-04-06)
After complaining that he wants to be left alone, Harlan begins working in the engineering room where he finds a radiation leak and soon regrets it.
77"Desperately Seeking Suzee"John BellPeter David & Bill MumyApril 13, 1996 (1996-04-13)
Suzee leaves over an argument she has with Catalina. With Suzee gone, Catalina and Harlan send the Christa heading straight for a comet and Catalina hopes Suzee will come back in time to save them.
88"It's My Birthday, Too (Yeah!)"John BellTeleplay by : Peter David & Bill Mumy
Story by : Myra David		April 20, 1996 (1996-04-20)
When Radu finds out it is Bova's birthday, he says it is also his birthday, but things do not go the way he planned.
99"Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Court"Otta HanusJerry ColkerApril 27, 1996 (1996-04-27)

The crew gets sick of Harlan bossing people around; so they put him on trial for endangering them. Soon Radu looks carefully in the future video and discovers that everyone had a role in endangering the Christa after Harlan's departure. With the discovery made, can he convince Harlan and Catalina to cooperate with each other?

Adding to the problems is that they have also entered a parallel universe where only Spung exist; which has unintended side effects.
1010"Prisoner of Luff"Otta HanusTeleplay by : Magda Liolis
Story by : Ted Jessup and Peter David & Bill Mumy		May 4, 1996 (1996-05-04)
A prisoner takes over the Christa in order to save a race from war. Harlan suspects her for what happened to Catalina and refuses to help until the prisoner retrieves her out of the prison she put her in.
1111"The Impossible Dram"Otta HanusPeter David & Bill MumyMay 18, 1996 (1996-05-18)
A knight boards the Christa searching for a monster that may exist only in his imagination.
1212"Break on Through to the Other Side"John BellPeter David & Bill MumyMay 25, 1996 (1996-05-25)
Bova is the only witness to an accident that seems to implicate Thelma as a traitor.
1313"On the Road to Find Out"John BellPeter David & Bill MumyJune 1, 1996 (1996-06-01)
The crew discovers another vessel similar to the Christa that has just been through a war. However, Catalina suspects that the ship is part of Warlord Shank's plans. This proves correct and only she is able to rescue the Christa and crew to safety at the apparent cost of her life. As the crew mourn losing Catalina, her seemingly-invisible friend, Suzee, is shown in front of the crew.

Season 2 (1996–97)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
141"New Places, New Faces"Jeff BlythPeter David & Bill MumyOctober 12, 1996 (1996-10-12)
Three Spung killcruisers drop out of hyperspace to attack the Christa. This forces the crew to crash land on a jungle planet, with atmospheric friction turning the Christa silver; THELMA and the interior also turn silver due to symbiosis. The Christa engines are now damaged, stranding the group until they can scavenge resources to rebuild and modify the ship.
152"The Sporting Kind"Vincenzo NataliEvan Carlos SomersOctober 19, 1996 (1996-10-19)
Rosie finds a new pet, but Spung are hunting for it and are not happy about losing their prey.
163"Long Distance Calls"Stephen WilliamsPeter David & Bill MumyOctober 26, 1996 (1996-10-26)

The crew uses a powerful communications satellite to contact friends and relatives back home, but they are overheard by Reaver, a pirate who wants the satellite, and his old nemesis, Commander Goddard.

Note Suzie is able to call Catalina back in her home dimension, where she has been taken in by Suzie's parents.
174"King of the Hil"David StraitonPeter David & Bill MumyNovember 2, 1996 (1996-11-02)
Harlan is captured by a tribal people known as The Hil, who believe prophecy is being fulfilled.
185"Truth Hurts"Stephen Williams (director)Magda LiolisNovember 9, 1996 (1996-11-09)
Rosie cannot keep secrets and, as a result, places her trust with the crew in jeopardy.
196"Homeward Bound"Adam WeissmanValri BromfieldNovember 16, 1996 (1996-11-16)
Radu receives a vision that Spung attack cruisers are coming to destroy the Christa, but he cannot convince anyone that what he knows was not just a dream.
207"All You Can Eaty"Jeff BlythKevin Kopelow and Heath SeifertNovember 23, 1996 (1996-11-23)

The crew discovers a new pet, but do not realize the dangers of having it aboard the Christa. However, Suzie and Rosie sense something is off.

Guest Stars: Danny Tamberelli as Male Prankster/Stuart, Michelle Trachtenberg as Female Prankster.
218"Both Sides Now"John FawcettPeter David & Bill MumyNovember 30, 1996 (1996-11-30)
The crew wish they could exchange bodies with one another. Suzee wants to be an android, Radu wants to be human, and Harlan wants to be Andromedan. When the crew get their wish the Christa does not respond to the crew.
229"Mother Knows Best"David StraitonMindy SchneiderDecember 7, 1996 (1996-12-07)

A strange energy force, known as Ma, gives the kids as well as the adults whatever they want. However, Radu is not fooled and suspects that Ma is after them. Meanwhile, the Christa's power is being drained while the other kids are being spoiled by Ma, and Thelma cannot convince them that they are in danger. It is up to Radu to convince the others they are in danger and that they must break Ma's spell over them in order to save the Christa.

Guest Stars: Sheena Larkin as Ma, Katey Sagal as voice of Ma.

Note: Major focus on Thelma during the first half of the show.
2310"A Star is Boring"David StraitonPatricia MarxJanuary 19, 1997 (1997-01-19)
Bova is feeling left out of the crew, so he sends out a signal to space. He claims to have an immortality potion, and that he is living proof. When an interested alien buyer contacts him it is discovered he does not have a potion to sell. The alien kidnaps him and puts him on display as the "oldest living creature".
2411"Runaway"Adam WeissmanPeter David & Bill MumyJanuary 5, 1997 (1997-01-05)

Radu and Bova are returning with fuel for the Christa. Suzee has made modifications to the Christa's engines, Harlan tries them out, and the Christa becomes a runaway ship on a collision course with Radu and Bova in the shuttle.

Note End of the Stranded Arc
2512"Trouble with Doubles"Jeff BlythJoshua Levin, Benjamin ZackheimJanuary 12, 1997 (1997-01-12)
The crew fly by an old satellite where a Doppleganger, a creature of energy that creates evil twins of people, gets on board the ship. The evil twins begin to take over the ship.
2613"A Friend in Need"Adam WeissmanPeter David & Bill MumyJanuary 27, 1997 (1997-01-27)

The Space Cases check out a space station that was recently attacked by Spung.

Note Final episode, leaving the show unresolved; the crew hasn't gotten back to the school nor has Suzie switched back with Catalina.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Before Prodigy, Nickelodeon Already Created Its Own Star Trek". Screen Rant. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  2. ^ "6 Classic Sci-Fi TV Shows Netflix Should Remake After Lost In Space". CinemaBlend. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Space Cases: Remember This Show?". Entertainment Weekly. 14 September 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
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