McGee and Me!

Did You Know?

• In 1990, producer George Taweel received the Michael Landon Award for the series.
• In 1993, Joe Dammann, Sarah Dammann, Chelsea Hertford, Whit Hertford, and Shaylisa Hurte received nominations for Outstanding Youth Mini-Video Series.
• Mary Stevens of the Chicago Tribune described the series as exceptional and noted the production quality was top-notch.

Premise

The series centers on Nicholas "Nick" Martin, an 11-year-old aspiring artist and cartoonist living with his family in Eastfield, Indiana. His father David is a newspaper journalist, his mother Elizabeth works at a counseling center, and he has an older sister Sarah and a younger sister Jamie. The family moves into their grandmother's house in the first episode. Nick frequently draws and talks with his imaginary friend, an animated character named McGee, who has his own wacky adventures and serves as Nick's confidant. Nick faces worldly trials that test his morals and convictions, learning valuable lessons and sometimes facing consequences. His friends include Louis Armstrong, Renee Johnson, Phillip Monroe, and later Jordan Michaels. The main adversary in the first nine episodes is Derrick Cryder, a bully who reforms after saving Nick from a gang member. The first nine episodes take place in elementary school; the final three, titled The New Adventures of McGee and Me!, see Nick in junior high school, with actors appearing older than their characters due to the production gap.

Cast

Joseph Dammann portrays Nicholas "Nick" Martin, the protagonist and kid cartoonist who regularly faces moral decisions. Ken C. Johnson voices McGee, Nick's goofy cartoon creation and imaginary friend who provides advice but sometimes gets Nick into trouble; Johnson also voices all other animated characters. Terry Bozeman plays David Martin, Nick's father and a newspaper journalist who guides his children to follow God's plan; in "Take Me Out of the Ball Game", he becomes obsessed with winning a Little League championship and learns a lesson about misplaced faith. Vaughn Taylor plays Elizabeth Martin, Nick's mother who works at a counseling center and helps raise her children righteously; in "A Star in the Breaking", she learns humility when her hoped-for job turns out to be secretarial work. Sarah Dammann, Joseph's actual sister, plays Sarah Martin, Nick's older sister who picks on him but has a good heart and advises him. Chelsea Hertford plays Jamie Martin, Nick's younger sister who looks up to his artistic skills but can act bratty; she is the first to forgive Nick when he becomes conceited. Eve Brenner plays Grandma Martin, with whom the family lives; in "Back to the Drawing Board", she helps Nick overcome jealousy toward a classmate.

TV airings

The pilot episode "The Big Lie" aired on ABC as part of the Weekend Specials on January 25, 1992, with ABC's Janice Gretemeyer noting it was trimmed for commercials and to cut specific Christian content. A second episode, "Take Me Out of the Ball Game," followed on September 12. The full series later ran on Trinity Broadcasting Network and its children's channel Smile of a Child, though it was no longer airing by April 2012.

Episodes

"The Big Lie": Nick moves into his grandmother's house in Eastfield, Indiana, with his family. To make friends and avoid a bully, Louis tells lies about George Ravenhill's house; Nick sneaks into the old man's cellar, scares himself, and the kids create stories that spiral into lies. Derrick and his friends wreck the house, and Nick helps clean it up to make amends. His dad teaches him about lying, elders, fear, speaking up, and bullying. "A Star in the Breaking": Nick, his mom, and McGee learn humility when fame from being on a game show goes to Nick's head. "The Not-So-Great Escape": Nick wants to see "Night Of The Blood Freaks Part 4" but his parents forbid it; he sneaks out, regrets it, and is punished with extra chores, learning to honor his parents. "Skate Expectations": Nick protects a geeky boy from Derrick and enters a skateboarding contest despite poor skills; Derrick's friends try sabotage, but Nick wins after Derrick is disqualified, learning about cheating, practice, and friendship. "Twister and Shout": Nick and Sarah are left in charge during a tornado warning, dealing with fear and faith in God. "Back to the Drawing Board": Nick and Todd, both talented artists, compete for a contest spot; neither wins, but they learn good sportsmanship.