Weird Science

Gary Wallace, a teenager who dreams of beautiful women and a cheerful life, and his only friend, the shy and geek Wyatt Donnelly, always serve as a target for ridicule and bullying of violent classmates. Once using a computer and mysterious electrical radiation, they manage to bring to life the "woman of their dreams." Her name is Lisa, and she is ready to fulfill the wishes of her creators ...

Weird Science (1994-1998) is an American teen science fiction sitcom created for USA Network. Gary Wallace (John Asher) and his shy best friend Wyatt Donnelly (Michael Manasseri) are the bullied outsiders of their high school who use a computer and mysterious electrical energy to create Lisa (Vanessa Angel), a woman who exists to fulfill their wishes. The engine of the show is the gap between teenage fantasy and reality: every wish brings a new complication, and the boys must keep Lisa's magic hidden from parents, classmates and the school's bullies while trying to build their own confidence. Each half-hour episode is a self-contained comic misadventure, with a recurring cast that includes Lee Tergesen as Chett Donnelly, Wyatt's older brother. The show runs for five seasons and roughly ninety episodes, following a case-of-the-week format rather than a single arc. Set in a present-day American suburban town, it carries the breezy, goofy, wish-driven tone of 1990s network comedy, with a light sci-fi spin on coming-of-age awkwardness. Fans of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Mork and Mindy and I Dream of Jeannie will find resonance in its magical household chaos and affectionate teenage underdog energy.

Reviews are mixed, appreciating the light teen comedy premise and lead chemistry while finding the later seasons uneven and repetitive.

• Sabrina the Teenage Witchteen sitcom with fantastical transformation premise and comedic wish-fulfillment
• Mork & Mindyteen science fiction comedy built on a magical or technological gadget upending adolescent life
• I Dream of Jeannielight supernatural teen comedy with a wish-granting companion and sitcom format

Release Date

1994-03-05

Episode runtime

30 min

Rating

6.8 / 10 (87)

What is Weird Science about?

Two lonely teenage misfits bring a dream woman to life with a computer and get more chaos than they bargained for.

What is Weird Science like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Weird Science as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is Weird Science violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Weird Science.

What did critics think of Weird Science?

Reviews are mixed, appreciating the light teen comedy premise and lead chemistry while finding the later seasons uneven and repetitive.

Which shows are like Weird Science?

Shows with a similar feel include Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Mork & Mindy, and I Dream of Jeannie.

How long is Weird Science?

Weird Science: 5 seasons, 88 episodes.

Is Weird Science still running?

No, Weird Science has ended.

Where can I watch Weird Science?

In United States, Weird Science streams on The Roku Channel.