Disney Channel Premiere Film: Not Quite Human (1987)

Not Quite Human

Dr. Jonas Carson creates an android that looks just like a human 17-year-old boy, and he "adopts" him as his son and as an older brother to Becky, who names him Chip. After the Carsons move to a new town, Chip is enrolled in high school alongside Becky. Dr. Carson also begins teaching science at the school, so he can keep a close watch over his son's progress.

Dr. Carson's former employer, Gordon Vogel, seeks to apprehend Carson's functional android, believing that he is entitled to this advanced technology since it was developed while Carson was under a contract that he didn't fulfill. Vogel has plans to turn Chip into a war-machine military project.
The first of three films in a series, Not Quite Human is a 1987 television movie, based on the Not Quite Human book series by Seth McEvoy.

Cast

• Jay Underwood ... Chip Carson
• Alan Thicke ... Dr. Jonas Carson
• Robyn Lively ... Becky Carson
• Joseph Bologna ... Gordon Vogel
• Robert Harper ... J.J. Derks
• Kristy Swanson ... Erin Jeffries
• Lili Haydn ... Jenny Beckerman
• Brandon Douglas ... Scott Barnes
• Carey Scott ... Paul Fairgate
• Brian Cole ... Jake Blocker
• Sasha Mitchell ... Bryan Skelly
• Judy Starr ... Dr. Sondra Stahl
• Greg Monaghan ... Coach Duckworth

1985 Disney Channel Premiere Film: Lots of Luck

Released February 3, 1985

Lot$ of Luck

How lucky can you get? That's exactly what Frank and Julie Maris are asking when mother/housewife/hairdresser Julie brings home a winning, million dollar lottery ticket. And that's just the beginning of an incredible string of fortune! The family quickly discovers that their Midas touch has its price- annoying fortune seekers, distant relatives, and the tax man are all jockeying for a piece of the action.

The suburban, blue-collar couple is happily residing with their three kids, Cindy, David and Trish, and Julie’s mother, Lucille.  Things could be better as money is tight: Julie works hard as a hairdresser and Frank, a mechanic, dreams of opening his own auto-repair shop with best buddy A.J. 

Things soon change when Julie wins the state lottery and then they keep on winning other things, such as a new car and a vacation.  The Marises spend, spend, spend and then the day of reckoning comes when they find that they have failed to pay their taxes on the winnings.  They see a way of getting out of this new debt and, maybe, get enough to open the auto shop if Julie can win a special auto derby in her ancient VW Bug with modifications by Frank & A.J., and computer guidance from her young son David.  Let’s just say that slow and steady just may win the race!

Cast

Annette Funicello		Julie Maris
Martin Mull		Frank Maris
Fred Willard		A.J. Foley
Polly Holliday		Lucille
Mia Dillon		Jessie Foley
Tracey Gold		Cindy Maris
Jeremy Licht		David Maris
Christina Nigra		Trish Maris
Hamilton Camp		Joe
Jack Riley		Marvin
Dick O’Neill		Wilson

Directed by: Peter Baldwin

Written by: Deborah Cavanaugh, Eric Loeb

Tiger Town: 1983 Disney Channel Premiere Film

Released October 9, 1983

Alex (Justin Henry) and his father (Ron McLarty) are devoted Detroit Tigers fans, even now as they are struggling. Alex's favorite player is aging star Billy Young (Roy Scheider), who is having a sub-par season, his last before retiring.

Alex's father dies unexpectedly, but not before he tells Alex that he should always believe. Consequently, Alex decides to visit every Tiger home game. Every time Young comes to the plate, Alex closes his eyes and wishes hard, and Young ends up hitting a home run. Thanks to Young's rejuvenated play, the Tigers start winning again.

But there is a price. Alex, who now believes that if he doesn't go to the games, the team will lose (explaining the Tigers' pitiful road trips); finds himself the subject of ridicule by classmates, since he often sneaks out of school early to watch the Tigers play. Nevertheless, thanks to Billy Young, the Tigers claw their way back into the pennant race. The final game of the season, against the Baltimore Orioles, would decide the pennant.

Alex has his ticket and school lets out early so kids can watch the game, but as Alex leaves school, he's detained by bullies who take his ticket and his money. Only when Alex gets his principal's attention is he released and forced to run all the way to Tiger Stadium. Bribing a little girl for her bike and hanging onto the back of a city bus get Alex to the stadium in time for the ninth inning, where Young is up and the Tigers are trailing. Young makes contact with the ball just as Alex gets to the front of the stadium aisle, and Young ends up clearing the bases, giving the Tigers the pennant.

   

Mary Wilson makes a Cameo Appearance in "Tiger Town". Shot on location, this movie gave the former Supreme a chance to visit her native Detroit and sing the National Anthem.