Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show
A syndicated series expanding on shrinking experiments gone awry.
The television series *Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show* (shortened to *Honey, I Shrunk the Kids* in its title sequence) is a comic science-fiction program that aired in American syndication. It is based on the 1989 film of the same name. While the original movie centered on a single shrinking experiment that goes wrong, the show broadens this premise to include many different inventions that malfunction. Each episode runs for an hour. The series first aired on September 1, 1997, and lasted for three seasons, ending with its 66th episode on May 20, 2000.
Peter Scolari plays Wayne Szalinski, the eccentric inventor originally portrayed by Rick Moranis in the film. The show uses new technology and digital effects to send the family on a variety of fresh adventures. Filming took place in Calgary, Alberta, with the main studios located in Currie Barracks, a former Canadian Forces dormitory.
The Szalinski family are the only characters who return from the movies. Wayne Szalinski (Peter Scolari) is the main character, married to Diane and father to Amy and Nick. He builds many devices—such as the Shrink-Ray, Neuron Nudger, and Brainiactivator—that often cause trouble for his family. Diane Szalinski (Barbara Alyn Woods) works as a lawyer. She supports Wayne and is loving, but frequently grows frustrated with his schemes. The family dog, Quark, was played by Matese in the first season and by Rusty in the second and third.
Amy Szalinski (Hillary Tuck) is the older child. She deals with typical teenage angst but remains loyal to her family. Her younger brother, Nick (Thomas Dekker), resembles Wayne in his love for inventing. Unlike his father, however, Nick believes in the supernatural and knows a great deal about it. The siblings argue like most brothers and sisters, but they generally get along and help each other when trouble arises.
The series begins with the Szalinskis moving to Matheson, Colorado. Their next-door neighbors are the McKennas. Jake McKenna (George Buza) is the police chief and often gets caught up in the Szalinskis’ mishaps. His younger son, Joel, is a friend of Nick’s, while his older son, Jack, occasionally becomes a romantic interest for Amy.
The television series launched in September 1997, shortly after the direct-to-video release of *Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves*, the last film in the trilogy.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Comic science fiction / Family sitcom
- Camera
- Film; Single-camera
- Runtime
- 48 minutes
- Creator
- Ed Ferrara / Kevin Murphy · (Based on characters created by Stuart Gordon, Brian Yuzna and Ed Naha)
- Starring
- Peter Scolari / Barbara Alyn Woods / Hillary Tuck / Thomas Dekker / George Buza / (seasons 2–3)
- Executive Producer
- Leslie Belzberg / John Landis
- Composer
- Peter Bernstein / Christopher L. Stone
- Company
- Plymouth Productions / St. Clare Entertainment / Walt Disney Television
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Num Seasons
- 3
- Num Episodes
- 66
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series picks up with the Szalinski household relocating to Matheson, Colorado. Peter Scolari took over the role of Wayne Szalinski, the wacky inventor played by Rick Moranis in the original film. The Szalinski family are the only returning characters from the films. Wayne Szalinski, the show's protagonist, is the husband of Diane and the father of Amy and Nick. He constructs a variety of inventions, including the Shrink-Ray, Neuron Nudger and Brainiactivator, that often create predicaments for his family. His wife, Diane Szalinski (Barbara Alyn Woods), is a lawyer who supports Wayne but gets fed up with his antics. The family have a dog, Quark, played by Matese in the first season and by Rusty in seasons two and three. Amy Szalinski (Hillary Tuck) is the oldest child, displaying teenage angst but loving her family. Her younger brother, Nick (Thomas Dekker), is much like Wayne and enjoys inventing, but also believes in and has extensive knowledge of the supernatural. Next door are the McKennas: Jake McKenna (George Buza), chief of police, his younger son Joel, and older son Jack, an occasional love interest for Amy.
Reader's Guide
The series was filmed in Calgary, Alberta, with its main studios located in Currie Barracks, a decommissioned Canadian Forces dormitory. After the first season, writers Ed Ferrara and Kevin Murphy left the show. Ed Naha, one of the creators of the original Honey film, came aboard as head writer and co-executive producer for the final two seasons. The second season saw Stuart Gordon, another of the original film's creators and executive producer of Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, direct an episode. The third season saw a precipitous drop in ratings, and Disney announced it was ending production after three seasons. The series finale aired on May 20, 2000. Reruns aired on Disney Channel from 2001 to 2004 and on Discovery Family from October 11, 2010 until September 13, 2013. The series won two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Sound Mixing (2000 and 2001) and was nominated for Outstanding Sound Editing in 1999.
Did You Know?
- The series was filmed in Calgary, Alberta, at Currie Barracks, a decommissioned Canadian Forces dormitory.
- The Szalinskis' third child Adam, introduced in Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, was never mentioned in the series.
- The series won Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Sound Mixing in 2000 and 2001.
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