Television series

Small Wonder

Name: Small Wonder
Genre: Comedy, Family, Science Fiction
Released: 1985
Cast: Tiffany Brissette, Jerry Supiran, Richard Christie, Emily Schulman, Marla Pennington

Small Wonder follows a teenage robot mistaken for a human girl as she integrates into a suburban family. It's earnest, deliberately weird, and utterly committed to playing a preposterous premise straight. Designed for children but fascinating to anyone curious about 1980s television logic and practical effects, it's the kind of show that shouldn't work but somehow does.

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you enjoy gentle, old-fashioned sitcoms where a single absurd premise, a robot passing as a kid, gets milked for small domestic mischief and an easy, all-ages laugh.

Skip it if you need sharp, fast-moving jokes or characters with depth, since this one runs on broad gags, cute sight-gags and big, mugging performances.

What it asks of you: Each half hour is a contained mix-up you can dip into, with a light, unhurried rhythm and a bright, child-friendly tone.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Family Ties1982

A smart family sitcom about generational clash and values, with sharp writing and a genuinely talented cast. Alex P. Keaton is one of TV's great characters, and the show earned its syndication success honestly.

But It's very much a product of its Reagan-era moment. Some topical references have calcified, and the political messaging can feel blunt.

Knight Rider1982

A man and his talking car solve crimes. The premise is exactly as ridiculous as Small Wonder's, but executed with genuine charm and stunt work that still impresses. Michael Knight and KITT have real chemistry.

But By season three the formula tightens into a rut. Some episodes feel like they're going through motions, and the action sequences can drag.

Punky Brewster1984

An orphan girl finds a home with a gruff older man; heartfelt without being saccharine, funny without winking at the camera. It captures the exact tone of 80s family television done well, with genuine warmth underneath.

But The formula is extremely familiar now. If you find the premise of a scrappy kid reforming a cynical adult tiresome, this won't change your mind.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Small Wonder

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Westworld1973

Both use artificial humans to explore identity and belonging, but Westworld asks dark questions about creation and power where Small Wonder asks gentle ones about acceptance.

A western theme park populated by androids becomes a trap for its guests. It's a serious, genuinely unsettling film that uses robots as a lens to examine desire, control, and what it means to be real—the philosophical questions Small Wonder jokes around with.

But It's a 1970s thriller, so the pacing is deliberate and the special effects are crude by design. If you want pure entertainment rather than ideas, it will feel slow.

Perfect Strangers1986

Cousins—one Midwestern, one urbane—share an apartment. The fish-out-of-water setup is simple but endlessly inventive, the cast is excellent, and the show gets better as it finds its rhythm.

But The laugh track is aggressive, and some running gags survive long past their expiration date. Balki's accent becomes a crutch.

Diff'rent Strokes1978

Two African American boys adopted by a white millionaire navigate class, race, and belonging. Despite its sitcom trappings, it tackles real issues with surprising thoughtfulness and genuine heart.

But It's uneven in tone—sometimes it wants to be funny, sometimes serious, and it doesn't always land the tonal shifts. Some episodes feel preachy.

My Three Sons1960

The DNA of every family sitcom that followed. Three brothers, a widowed father, and a grandfather navigate life together with genuine warmth and clever writing. A masterclass in sustainable sitcom structure.

But It's 26 years older than Small Wonder. If you're hunting for something contemporary, the pacing and sensibility might feel glacial.

The Twilight Zone1959

Science fiction stories about technology, identity, and what it means to be human—told with elegance and a willingness to let ideas breathe. The DNA of thinking sci-fi is right here.

But About a third of the episodes are lesser entries. Quality is genuinely uneven, and some premises feel thin even for their era.

Here Come the Brides1968

A frontier town tries to attract women settlers. It's campy, earnest, and weird in exactly the same way Small Wonder is—utterly committed to its strange premise without irony.

But It takes itself very seriously, which can read as dated or heavy-handed. Some episodes are slow, and the romance subplots don't age well.

Out of This World1987

A girl with a half-alien father can stop time by touching her fingers together. The core conceit is wonderfully absurd, and the show leans into magical realism in ways that feel genuinely inventive for syndicated television.

But The laugh track is relentless and the plots are often paper-thin. It coasts on its one good idea rather than developing it.

Chappie2015

Both ask what happens when a created being must integrate into human society and develop its own identity, though Chappie treats the question with existential weight.

A police robot gains consciousness and must navigate humanity, mortality, and what he's meant to become. It's messy and strange but genuinely moving—a film about a robot learning to be itself.

But Neill Blomkamp's reach exceeds his grasp; the film is tonally confused and tries to balance cartoonish violence with sincere emotion. It doesn't always work.