Touched By An Angel - General Discussion

[Was-MArsenault]

21 hours ago, Raja said:

I wonder how many people had the highlight of their career or are potentially helped by that episode on deal with grief lost in a Cosby blacklist?

That's probably why they're not showing it.

[Raja]

18 minutes ago, MikaelaArsenault said:

That's probably why they're not showing it.

START advertises itself as a women's lead channel with only Early Edition breaking the format. A blacklist of Cosby because he is a rapist seemed to be the only reason  to skip just an episode he was a guest on, not the editorial of dealing with grief. I  wonder what issue TPTB had with an episode about Rosa Parks

[Was-MArsenault]

1 minute ago, Raja said:

START advertises itself as a women's lead channel with only Early Edition breaking the format. A blacklist of Cosby because he is a rapist seemed to be the only reason  to skip just an episode he was a guest on, not the editorial of dealing with grief. I  wonder what issue TPTB had with an episode about Rosa Parks

That's what I meant to say. A blacklist of Cosby.

Here is the episode description:

Monica runs into Tess on the side of the dirt road of a small Illinois town. As Tess is holding a bloodied noose, while crying, she also guides Monica, who must experience what it feels like to be black to help a black person with discrimination, hatred, and bigotry. In order for this to happen, she is transformed into a black person.

4 minutes ago, Raja said:

START advertises itself as a women's lead channel with only Early Edition breaking the format. A blacklist of Cosby because he is a rapist seemed to be the only reason  to skip just an episode he was a guest on, not the editorial of dealing with grief. I  wonder what issue TPTB had with an episode about Rosa Parks

Early Edition is no longer on there though.

[Raja]

8 minutes ago, MikaelaArsenault said:

That's what I meant to say. A blacklist of Cosby.

Here is the episode description:

Monica runs into Tess on the side of the dirt road of a small Illinois town. As Tess is holding a bloodied noose, while crying, she also guides Monica, who must experience what it feels like to be black to help a black person with discrimination, hatred, and bigotry. In order for this to happen, she is transformed into a black person.

Early Edition is no longer on there though.

Okay Roma Downey in blackface is probably the issue for the Rosa Parks  episode being withdrawn. START doesn't take chances 

[Was-MArsenault]

4 minutes ago, Raja said:

Okay Roma Downey in blackface is probably the issue for the Rosa Parks  episode being withdrawn. START doesn't take chances 

Now that makes sense as in why they're not showing it.

[Gramto6]

4 hours ago, MikaelaArsenault said:

There's Start TV if you want to see the show, but you may not have the channel.

Sadly I don't get that channel. ☹️

[Was-MArsenault]

6 minutes ago, Gramto6 said:

Sadly I don't get that channel. ☹️

That's a shame that you don't get it. There's CBS All Access along with Amazon Prime as well, but not all of the episodes are there unfortunately.

[Gramto6]

1 hour ago, MikaelaArsenault said:

That's a shame that you don't get it. There's CBS All Access along with Amazon Prime as well, but not all of the episodes are there unfortunately.

I do have Amazon Prime, I'll check there while the sappy Christmas stuff is on HD. Thanks for pointing that out.

[Was-MArsenault]

38 minutes ago, Gramto6 said:

I do have Amazon Prime, I'll check there while the sappy Christmas stuff is on HD. Thanks for pointing that out.

Anytime! You may want to get the DVD's though if you would like to see all the episodes.

[Was-MArsenault]

And it looks like on Friday, November 8, Episode 6 of Season 6 will be skipped.

[Raja]

START TV whisperer trying to figure out their red line. It was originally a Halloween night episode but Wiki just says START doesn't air it. So I guess it is not being saved for Wednesday. A straight out demonic possession might be the reason but then other episodes with jasmine Guy and John Schneider has had the evil one's representatives.

[Was-MArsenault]

19 hours ago, Raja said:

START TV whisperer trying to figure out their red line. It was originally a Halloween night episode but Wiki just says START doesn't air it. So I guess it is not being saved for Wednesday. A straight out demonic possession might be the reason but then other episodes with jasmine Guy and John Schneider has had the evil one's representatives.

I was the one who did that.

[Was-MArsenault]

Google recently changed the main image for Touched By An Angel, and it now looks like this:

It used to look like this:

Edited November 8, 2019 by MikaelaArsenault

[Gramto6]

Interesting... so now Roma Downey is the main star? Geesh, Della Reese has so much more talent than Downey will ever have! Wonder what is behind that?

Edited November 8, 2019 by Gramto6

[Was-MArsenault]

It looks like Season 7 Episode 3 will not be shown on November 20. The episode is called The Invitation and it had Marla Gibbs as the guest star.

Episode description:

Tess talks to Monica about the devil and instructs her to stay with Annie, her assignment who is pregnant. Unbeknown to her, the devil has disguised himself as a 15-year-old child named Denis. Tess sings praise and worship to God. Annie tries to tell the future using tarot cards and Rick bets a cheque of $4500 on a horse which he loses when the horse comes 3rd. Andrew catches Millie in a bar toilet about to commit suicide because she thought her cancer was returning. Andrew then reveals himself. Tess and Andrew explains to Rick, Millie and Clara about Satan. After Annie falls down a flight of stairs, Monica, revealing herself as an angel, explains to her about the devil, that he is a liar, a deceiver a monster and a beast. Monica encourages Annie to call on God and after she falls onto unconsciousness, Monica prays. Tess also encouages Rick, Millie and Clara to pray and to put on the armour of God. As the group of friends arrive at Annie and Rick's apartment, singing, the devil then leaves.

[Was-MArsenault]

On 11/8/2019 at 12:57 AM, Gramto6 said:

Interesting... so now Roma Downey is the main star? Geesh, Della Reese has so much more talent than Downey will ever have! Wonder what is behind that?

According to the photo, yes. I'm not sure what is behind it and I wish that I knew, but I really liked the old picture with Della, Roma, and John better.

The new photo is nice, but I really wish that something else was used instead. Maybe a photo of Della perhaps.

Edited November 11, 2019 by MikaelaArsenault

[Raja]

10 minutes ago, MikaelaArsenault said:

It looks like Season 7 Episode 3 will not be shown on November 20. The episode is called The Invitation and it had Marla Gibbs as the guest star.

Episode description:

Tess talks to Monica about the devil and instructs her to stay with Annie, her assignment who is pregnant. Unbeknown to her, the devil has disguised himself as a 15-year-old child named Denis. Tess sings praise and worship to God. Annie tries to tell the future using tarot cards and Rick bets a cheque of $4500 on a horse which he loses when the horse comes 3rd. Andrew catches Millie in a bar toilet about to commit suicide because she thought her cancer was returning. Andrew then reveals himself. Tess and Andrew explains to Rick, Millie and Clara about Satan. After Annie falls down a flight of stairs, Monica, revealing herself as an angel, explains to her about the devil, that he is a liar, a deceiver a monster and a beast. Monica encourages Annie to call on God and after she falls onto unconsciousness, Monica prays. Tess also encouages Rick, Millie and Clara to pray and to put on the armour of God. As the group of friends arrive at Annie and Rick's apartment, singing, the devil then leaves.

So it does seem as if along with the Bill Cosby blacklist START has or will be cutting episodes with a faith, Satan followers specifically  here, being depicted as the evil side. I guess when other episodes roll around my theory will be confirmed if they are also skipped.

[Was-MArsenault]

3 minutes ago, Raja said:

So it does seem as if along with the Bill Cosby blacklist START has or will be cutting episodes with a faith, Satan followers specifically  here, being depicted as the evil side. I guess when other episodes roll around my theory will be confirmed if they are also skipped.

It's interesting that Start TV is skipping episodes, but at least they have a reason to.

[Was-MArsenault]

One of tomorrow's episodes of the show on Start TV is the one where Liam Neeson does an introduction and was uncredited for his appearance.

Not sure if he just does the cold open or appears in some scenes.

[Was-MArsenault]

And here is an old article about the show:

https://www.deseret.com/platform/amp/1997/4/19/19307587/angelic-deeds-touched-by-an-angel-strives-to-inspire-good-works-by-portraying-them-in-a-moving-way

[Was-MArsenault]

Start TV is mixing up the episodes for Thanksgiving.

8 AM to 9 AM will be an episode from Season 1, and 9 AM until 10 AM will be an episode from Season 8.

[Was-MArsenault]

Today's episode of the show had Tess being late due to car trouble, and Andrew along with Monica holding a surprise party for her.

Upcoming episodes include:

The debut of Valerie Bertinelli as Gloria

Charles Rocket guest starring as Adam

[Gramto6]

I sure miss the reruns of this show on Hallmark Drama! Sadly replaced by the sappy Christmas movies...gahhh I hate them!

[Was-MArsenault]

On 11/28/2019 at 3:05 AM, Gramto6 said:

I sure miss the reruns of this show on Hallmark Drama! Sadly replaced by the sappy Christmas movies...gahhh I hate them!

I wish that the show was on at a decent time on Hallmark Drama, because I'm not awake when it’s on.

[Gramto6]

42 minutes ago, MikaelaArsenault said:

I wish that the show was on at a decent time on Hallmark Drama, because I'm not awake when it’s on.

I'm a night owl so it works great for me. I can see how it doesn't work for others though.

[Was-MArsenault]

2 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

I'm a night owl so it works great for me. I can see how it doesn't work for others though.

Ah, I see. Now it makes sense for you as in why.

[Was-MArsenault]

Here is some trivia courtesy of IMDB. There’s a lot of interesting facts as well!

- The show was cancelled during its first season. It was brought back the next year after fans staged a letter-writing campaign.

- According to an interview with Roma Downey, many of the clothes Monica wore in the first season were Downey's. She wore such a small size, the wardrobe department didn't have anything that would fit her.

- At the beginning of season four, Della Reese threatened to leave the show if CBS and Martha Williamson didn't increase her salary.

- Tess (Della Reese) sends the other angels out on missions to help people redeem their lives and show them God's love, in real-life, Reese was an ordained minister. 

- In numerous interviews, Roma Downey said that her child Reilly is the goddaughter to Della Reese. 

- Bill Cosby was scheduled to make a cameo as the Angel of Fun. After the murder of his son Ennis, the appearance was cancelled. However, he did appear as Phil, the Angel of Restoration. 

- Della Reese was sixty-three-years-old when the show started.

There's more, and I'll post the rest another time.

[Was-MArsenault]

And all this time, I thought that this picture was of John Ritter.

 

It turns out that it was Charles Rocket.

[Was-MArsenault]

Some skipped episodes coming up this week:

Season 8, Episode 8 which is called Heaven's Portal

Season 8, Episode 11 which is called A Winter Carol

Could A Winter Carol be saved for when Christmas comes, or is it actually skipped?

[Was-MArsenault]

Here is a Touched By An Angel site that has a forum along with other stuff such as video clips and photos.

http://tbaamemories.com/

I myself just happened to join the site.

[Was-MArsenault]

I'm looking forward to seeing the Jump! episode that John Dye directed on Tuesday. I've always wanted to see it, but never got a chance to.

[Was-MArsenault]

And I just got the complete series of the show last week.

[opus]

8 hours ago, MikaelaArsenault said:

I'm looking forward to seeing the Jump! episode that John Dye directed on Tuesday. I've always wanted to see it, but never got a chance to.

2 hours ago, MikaelaArsenault said:

And I just got the complete series of the show last week.

Tuesday on Start? Umm, if you have the complete series box set, why are you waiting to watch an edited commercial filled version?

[Raja]

32 minutes ago, opus said:

Tuesday on Start? Umm, if you have the complete series box set, why are you waiting to watch an edited commercial filled version?

I found when re-watching Star Trek that it flows better if you break for commercials  as the show was designed. Otherwise you burn through natural stops it was like reading a wall of text without paragraphs.

Another thing I found out from The Closer/Major Crimes fan community is that for message boards a broadcast schedule, as oppose to binge streaming, does bring more eyeballs to the same episode and topics at near the same time and thus are more likely to spark interaction.

[opus]

21 minutes ago, Raja said:

I found when re-watching Star Trek that it flows better if you break for commercials  as the show was designed. Otherwise you burn through natural stops it was like reading a wall of text without paragraphs.

I don’t think I’ve come across that thinking before. I’d still prefer unedited and commercial free.

Oh, and the constant pop up ads and onscreen promos that are seemingly omnipresent during shows on tv networks these days?  Hate those too.

[Was-MArsenault]

8 hours ago, opus said:

Tuesday on Start? Umm, if you have the complete series box set, why are you waiting to watch an edited commercial filled version?

You're right. I'll do that then.

[Was-MArsenault]

Part 2 of the trivia!

John Masius created the first pilot for the series, but it was a darker, less hopeful story than the producers wanted and cost the studio two-million dollars to produce. It was meant to focus on suffering's existing due to a cruel sense of humor by God, and showed Tess as a chain-smoking angel who was frequently at Monica's throat. (Della Reese once said in a interview that in it Tess was mad at Monica because she owed her four-hundred dollars.) Masius wrote the show as a reflection of his spiritual anger at the time at his two children being born disabled. Martha Williamson was approached to be the series' executive producer in early 1994. She described the pilot she received as "upsetting" as it "portrayed angels as recycled dead people with power over life and death". She initially declined the position, but during a lunch with Andy Hill, then President of CBS, she mentioned the show and suggested he find a producer who would create a show with "loving, joyful" angels that the audience would have to believe in.

Most of Della Reese's friends appeared on the show: Rosa Parks, Marla Gibbs, Gavin MacLeod, Ernest Borgnine, Bill Cosby, Bonnie Bartlett, and Maya Angelou.

Compared to Walker, Texas Ranger (1993), another CBS show, this was another series to have featured more country singers, singing either regular country music or Christian country music.

An often-repeated false story is that noted atheist Madalyn Murry-O'Hair once campaigned to get the show off the air. The truth is that O'Hair had passed away well before the show debuted.

Tess's nickmame is: Elohite Master of the Watch.

When Della Reese was asked to star in the series, she wanted to have a one-shot agreement between CBS and producer Martha Williamson, but ordered more episodes. Reese was widely seen as a key component of the show's success.

Della Reese's health problem became obvious, and she collapsed on the set and was rushed to the hospital in 2000.

The only known episode where Andrew takes a person's soul to Hell is the fifth season episode "Into the Fire".

Throughout the show's run, Tess behaves like a surrogate mother to Monica, as did Della Reese to Roma Downey in real-life. Downey said in an interview that she had lost her mother when she was very young, and Reese acted as her mother while they met.

The only religious show in which profanity was used.

Della Reese was living in Beverly Hills, California, when cast for the series. (Most of the series was produced and filmed in Salt Lake City, Utah, and various locations surrounding the city. ) Throughout the making of the series, she would fly to her home and back every weekend and on other breaks to be with her family.

In the final season (which was the ninth), all actors had to be taken 10% off of their salaries, a situation in which Della Reese refused to give to CBS, knowing the network had enough money already. Unfortunately, it had to be this way, and consequently, each actor was asked to be absent from at least 1 episode, esp. Reese herself.

According to Della Reese, as the producers came up with a show, Martha Williamson, said in a production meeting, "This is going to be a story, and we're going to use the word 'God'. Can you live with that?" and Reese was laughing.

By the time the series ended production for its second season, a spinoff show Promised Land (1996) was already launched. Because the series continued production for a third season, a new crew was hired for production of Promised Land. In the meantime, parts of the pilot were rewritten and two characters from the original pilot were recast. Gerald McRaney and Wendy Phillips, who were guest stars on this show, were the first to be cast for the spinoff. Originally, the part of Hattie Greene was played by Peg Phillips; Celeste Holm replaced her in the cast. The part of Nathaniel Greene was also recast with Eddie Karr, playing the role in the new version of the pilot and throughout the series.

The character of Andrew was supposed to be on for only two episodes, but proved so popular, John Dye had received a starring role, towards the end of the second season.

The show's research (esp. on people with disabilities) was handled with respect.

After the show's cancelation, Della Reese, Roma Downey and John Dye were very good friends, until Dye's passing in early 2011 and Reese's passing in late 2017, making Downey, the only surviving cast member. The TV series has had a great success thanks to the excellent actors and screenwriters.

The word "angel" means "Messenger" in the Greek language.

Della Reese composed the show's theme song, "Walk With You."

Monica can't sing, in real-life, Roma Downey is a singer.

After reading a bunch of junk scripts for television, Roma Downey was first cast as Monica in the series.

Della Reese was a popular singer during the run of the show, and was also given opportunities to sing many secular songs, in addition to Christian music.

At the beginning and/or end of most episodes, a white dove, the Biblical symbol of peace, is shown flying across the screen.

The show concluded after nine seasons due to low ratings but, at the same time, had also run its course.

Roma Downey was pregnant during the second season, and wore large clothing to disguise this.

Before Roma Downey was casted in the series, she had never been a Della Reese fan, growing up, by either listening to Reese's music or film.

Originally, the role of Monica was written for a young, unfamiliar American actress, when instead, Roma Downey, being from Ireland, won the role, who could forget doing an American accent.

On the very first episode of the series, Della Reese ends up with a rather old, but in beautiful condition, red Cadillac convertible. Several episodes do have side action where the car is breaking down, but Della always gets it fixed, even if she has to work on it herself.

Before she became an angel and a supervisor, Tess (Della Reese) used to work for her first assignment as a food tester for one of the Caesars.

For most of the series' run, Tess drives a 1972 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado, on occasion, Monica would be driving the car, though Tess gave her the car, on the series' finale.

In the first episode, Tess told Monica this phrase, when doing her employee's first assignment: "You get your little angel butt back to the city,"

Some certain facts stating about Tess and Monica, being born-again Christians, acknowledges that Della Reese and Roma Downey are born-again Christians, in real-life.

This series launched the acting career of Roma Downey. She previously performed as Hippolyta in Hercules and the Amazon Women (1994).

Having liked all colors, Roma Downey tended to wear a lot of black, because she wears so much white on the show.

The word "God" was used that was also the supremacy for this show.

This show is similar to Highway to Heaven (1984).

Monica's nickname is: "Miss Wings". Almost any time that Tess is attempting to make a point with her, her boss gave her a reference.

In one episode, Andrew wanted to borrow Tess's 1972 Cadillac Eldorado, when Samuel stole it.

A fan/friend of Della Reese's, Angela Lansbury guest-starred on this episode as an old British lady, who had no choice to unveil her secrets of the past.

Della Reese's childhood friend Marla Gibbs guest-starred in 1 episode of this show, as one of the psychics, attempting to commit suicide. This was after Reese had guest starred in 2 episodes of Gibbs's 227 (1985). On one episode, Reese played Sandra's long-lost mother, who was visiting town, and in another episode, she played an angel (in Heaven) whom Lester had dreamt of, when both he & Mary were attending church.

Billie Holliday gives Andrew a name 'Gingerman,' when he was posing as a pianist.

Several people played different characters over the course of the show's nine seasons.

When Della Reese was approached by producer Martha Williamson for her first choice, for the older female lead role of Tess, she was reluctant to play that role, when she went ahead and play the role, anyways.

Roma Downey (Monica) was the only actress to appear and to participate in almost every episode of the series, with the exception of 2 in the final season (Touched by an Angel: The Root of All Evil (2003) and Touched by an Angel: The Show Must Not Go On (2003)). In second place, Della Reese (Tess) had appeared and participated in almost every episode of the series, with the exception of 2 in the final season (Touched by an Angel: Bring On the Rain (2002) and Touched by an Angel: The Good Earth (2003)), plus 1 in the third season (Touched by an Angel: The Journalist (1996)), before.

Despite not starring in the same season as Bonnie Franklin and Valerie Bertinelli, who both co-starred together on One Day at a Time (1975), they were both featured on the show, respectively. Franklin played one of the jurists, before Bertinelli played an angel.

The show premiered on Wednesday, September 21, 1994, on CBS at 9:00 PM EST/8:00 PM PST, which bumped In the Heat of the Night (1988) on Fridays, a month later, then, later the same season, it aired at 9:00 PM EST/8:00 PM PST, before Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) and immediately following Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993), for 2 years, before moving the show on Sunday, at 8:00 PM EST/7:00 PM PST, immediately following 60 Minutes (1968), replacing the then canceled Murder, She Wrote (1984), for 5 years, before moving the show to Saturday, at 8:00 PM EST/7:00 PM PST, for the final 2 years.

"Bar Mitzvah" is dedicate to the memory of Jack DuVall.

Monica loves coffee.

Tess is a singer, as to what Della Reese was in real-life.

The original concept toyed the line between "God Is Evil" and "Humans are just another of God's Wonderful Toys", but CBS fired the creator when he refused to write more idealistic episodes.

The series is believed to be Highway to Heaven (1984) of the 1990s. Both series are about angels sent to Earth by god to help people.

Recurring character Russell Greene and his family went on to have their own spin-off series Promised Land (1996) which the series focused on the Greene family whom hit the road and travels across the United States when Russell loses his job. The show ran for 3 seasons. Roma Downey, Della Reese and John Dyes made guest appearances as Monica, Tess and Andrew.

[Was-MArsenault]

Roma Downey's Twitter:

https://mobile.twitter.com/RealRomaDowney

Facebook:

https://m.facebook.com/RomaDowney/

LightWorkers:

https://www.lightworkers.com/

A video at UP Church:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lKH8MeIsvQU

Dani and Dannah singing with Roma Downey:

https://m.facebook.com/danianddannah/videos/1835381309832850/

Edited December 15, 2019 by MikaelaArsenault

[Was-MArsenault]

Today's 8 AM episode of the show had the CBS StereoSound intact.

I really do wonder if these are the original master tapes that Start TV is using.

[Was-MArsenault]

Hallmark Drama is changing the time slot around for Touched By An Angel. It will now be on starting at 5 AM and ending at 9 AM.

[Gramto6]

On 12/27/2019 at 9:16 AM, MikaelaArsenault said:

Hallmark Drama is changing the time slot around for Touched By An Angel. It will now be on starting at 5 AM and ending at 9 AM.

Noooo! i'm a night owl but that is beyond what I can do!

[Was-MArsenault]

5 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

Noooo! i'm a night owl but that is beyond what I can do!

Sorry that you’re not happy about it!

What's interesting though is that they’re starting over from the beginning instead of continuing where they left off.

[Gramto6]

14 hours ago, MikaelaArsenault said:

Sorry that you’re not happy about it!

What's interesting though is that they’re starting over from the beginning instead of continuing where they left off.

Probably because that is a whole new demographic of viewers. Early morning, vs late nighters.

[Was-MArsenault]

I was watching the show on Hallmark Drama recently, and noticed something about the credits.

I'll explain more later.

[Was-MArsenault]

Tomorrow marks the 9th anniversary of John Dye's passing.

[Was-MArsenault]

Today is the 9th anniversary of John Dye's passing.

[Was-MArsenault]

Something to note about the credits being used on Hallmark Drama.

They aren’t the credits that are shown on Start TV with Tess, Monica, and Andrew, and is a completely different set that’s used.

[Was-MArsenault]

Start TV is skipping the Labor Of Love episode on Tuesday. I don't get why they're skipping it.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0732077/?ref_=ttep_ep20

[Was-MArsenault]

Marsha Kramer, who guest starred on an episode of the show in 1998 has passed away.

https://deadline.com/2020/01/marsha-kramer-dies-at-74-1202841477/

She guest starred on the episode called Gloria.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0732101/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_11

[Was-MArsenault]

That didn’t last too long. Comcast has reverted back to the original image with Della, Roma, and John again after having the Roma Downey photo for 2 months.