My Secret Identity
Encyclopedia
My Secret Identity is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 television series starring Jerry O'Connell
Jerry O'Connell
Jeremiah "Jerry" O'Connell is an American actor, best known for his roles in the TV series Sliders, Andrew Clements in My Secret Identity, Vern Tessio in the film Stand by Me, Charlie Carbone in Kangaroo Jack, and Detective Woody Hoyt on the drama Crossing Jordan...

 and Derek McGrath
Derek McGrath
Derek McGrath is a Canadian actor.He is known for his roles in Cheers as "Andy-Andy" Schroeder , Dr. Benjamin Jeffcoate in My Secret Identity, Crewman Chell in Star Trek: Voyager, and as Dr. Derek Hebert in Doc...

. Originally broadcast from September 1, 1988 to May 1, 1991 on CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...

 in Canada, the series also aired in syndication in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

Synopsis

O'Connell stars as 14-year-old Andrew Clements, who while looking one day for his friend, Dr. Benjamin Jeffcoate (McGrath), trips and is hit by a photon beam, causing him to develop superpowers. He uses these abilities to fight crime, to solve personal problems and to help others. He hides his powers from his mother, sister and friends with the exception of Jeffcoate. Andrew initially called himself Ultraman, but this was later dropped.

Powers

Initially, Clements' powers include superhuman speed, invulnerability, and levitation
Weightlessness
Weightlessness is the condition that exists for an object or person when they experience little or no acceleration except the acceleration that defines their inertial trajectory, or the trajectory of pure free-fall...

. Clements gains super-strength after being hit by the photon beam a second time.

In the first season, Andrew must carry around aerosol spray
Aerosol spray
Aerosol spray is a type of dispensing system which creates an aerosol mist of liquid particles. This is used with a can or bottle that contains a liquid under pressure. When the container's valve is opened, the liquid is forced out of a small hole and emerges as an aerosol or mist...

 containers and use them to move through the air, as his 'flying' ability is limited; he can make himself nearly weightless, and move up without any problems, but he cannot propel himself through the air or move down without some external force. However, he can jump quite high, and do impossible flips. In the second season, without explanation, Andrew gains the ability to move through the air without the use of aerosol cans. Later in that season, after being struck by the photon beam a second time, Andrew develops superhuman strength
Superhuman strength
Superhuman strength, also called superstrength, super-strength, or super strength, is an ability commonly employed in fiction. It is the ability for a character to be stronger than humanly possible...

 but loses his invulnerability.

For the entirety of the series, Andrew loses his powers when exposed to radiation (e.g. electromagnetic waves and x-rays). Early in the series he is unable to regain his powers quickly after exposure. Later in the series, he regains it immediately after the exposure stops.

Setting and characters

The main setting in the show is the fictional suburb of Briarwood. Andrew goes to Briarwood High and his sister Erin goes to another school.

Dr. Jeffcoate (supposed to be the fourth smartest man in the world) was a close friend of the family, living next door, and had a thing for Mrs. Clements but never let her know.

Cast

  • Jerry O'Connell
    Jerry O'Connell
    Jeremiah "Jerry" O'Connell is an American actor, best known for his roles in the TV series Sliders, Andrew Clements in My Secret Identity, Vern Tessio in the film Stand by Me, Charlie Carbone in Kangaroo Jack, and Detective Woody Hoyt on the drama Crossing Jordan...

     as Andrew Clements
  • Derek McGrath
    Derek McGrath
    Derek McGrath is a Canadian actor.He is known for his roles in Cheers as "Andy-Andy" Schroeder , Dr. Benjamin Jeffcoate in My Secret Identity, Crewman Chell in Star Trek: Voyager, and as Dr. Derek Hebert in Doc...

     as Dr. Benjamin Marion Jeffcoate
  • Christopher Bolton as Kirk Stevens (1989-1991)
  • Marsha Moreau as Erin Clements
  • Wanda Cannon as Stephanie Clements
  • Elizabeth Leslie as Ruth Schellenbach
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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