I really liked watching this show as a kid. I enjoyed it during it runs on the Family Channel and most recently TV Land. I have season 1 on DVD but I miss seeing the show on TV Land.

I do. Immensely.
Now after Michael Landon is gone, it is not far-fetched to see him as an angel. He may have had his problems in his real life, but I read that he made his characters on his shows how he would like to be. And by that he has added to the joy for so many people who enjoy Little House and Highway To Heaven.

I have a couple episodes on videotape but I would love it if TvLand or Hallmark would start playing it.

Michael Landon is probably one of the most underrated talents in television.
His legacy, from Bonanza to Little House on the Prairie to Highway to Heaven was indirectly responsible for such other family fare as
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Touched by an Angel and 7th Heaven. His talents--from actor to writer to director to producer--cannot be
overstated. Yes, he had his personal problems and faults .. because he was
human. The work speaks for itself, and that is what he will be remembered
for. God bless Michael; we were blessed to have him with us for as long as
we did. I know he enriched my life and, I'm sure, the lives of many others.

I miss this show, I haven't seen it in years, I wish they would bring it back to our screens here in the UK. I remember watching it Sunday evenings when I was younger. :)

I miss it too. I can't believe they took it off of TV Land. What were they thinking? This is one of the best shows that was ever made.

I miss it too. I can't believe they took it off of TV Land. What were they thinking? This is one of the best shows that was ever made.

I know I was mad too. It was one of the better shows they had on there.

I miss Highway to Heaven and the quality TV programs Michael Landon made. I know some people dismiss these type of programs, but they give people hope and joy.

Seems like quality family type shows are a rare thing on tv these days. Besides watching my Highway to Heaven DVD's, I also watch my Little House on the Prairie DVD's. I had to buy the DVD's or I would've gone nuts! They bring me so much comfort after a long hectic day at work.

Yes I missed this show I wish it was still on the air

i liked and miss the show i liked all of michael landon;s shows he knew how to make great family entertainment without it being boring or goody 2 shoes

Michael Landon and Victor French were both great in this show and Little House On The Prairie!

7th Heaven is the BEST!!

7th Heaven is the best show ever created!!!

Yeah ,i miss highway to heaven very much.It was actually my fav show of Michael Landons and Victor Frenchs.One of the most inspirational shows of all time.They we're also both great guys RIP Michael and Victor.

7th Heaven is the best show ever created!!!

APPLES AND ORANGES

I've seen it on several occasions but honestly I couldn't tell you anything about any of the episodes. I wish they would show it again, like maybe on UP-TV since they are showing Little House. But I think that station is trying to appeal to women so maybe that's why they're not showing it. I'm going to see if I can find the episodes online somewhere and reacquaint myself.

It was one of my favorite shows. The only thing I didn't like was that Eugene Orowitz who played Jonathan Smith would swear once in awhile, and that's something a heavenly angel wouldn't do, but there were quite a few good ones. Once in awhile, there'd be one that didn't show me much; but most of them were fun to watch. I just watched the episode A Magnificent Madness or whatever it was which guest starred Jonathan Frakes. He's not the only Star Trek actor to guest star on the show because Wil Wheaton was on the show when he was in his tween years. I love the way Jonathan would use his angel abilities to basically win the lawsuit and cause Jonathan's character to reconcile with his dad. It's strange how when he did Star Trek: The Next Generation, Riker had issues with his dad in that one.

Yes. I loved this show.

Heads up, Netflix will no longer have the series after Oct. 31.

Late Night Retro Television Review: Highway to Heaven 5.13 “Merry Christmas, From Grandpa” (https://unobtainium13.com/2026/04/09/late-night-retro-television-review-highway-to-heaven-5-13-merry-christmas-from-grandpa/)

Posted on April 9, 2026 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Welcome to Late Night Retro Television Reviews, a feature where we review some of our favorite and least favorite shows of the past! On Thursdays, I will be reviewing Highway to Heaven (https://web.archive.org/web/20140406222954/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/3121987-highway-to-heaven/#entry), which aired on NBC from 1984 to 1989. The entire show is currently streaming on Tubi and several other services!

Episode 5 (https://dove.org/review/11179-highway-to-heaven-season-5/).13 “Merry Christmas from Grandpa” (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0601570/)

(Dir by Michael Landon, originally aired on August 4th, 1989 (https://www.tvtango.com/listings/1989/08/04/family_feud_1988))

The final episode (https://www.remindmagazine.com/article/22867/highway-to-heaven-ending-last-episode-finale-michael-landon/) of Highway to Heaven (https://unobtainium13.com/tag/highway-to-heaven/) is a sad one for a number of reasons.

First off, it’s a Christmas episode but, because NBC (https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Highway+to+Heaven%22+NBC&sca_esv=4240043c73feb5c7&udm=36&sxsrf=ANbL-n6uoUZORMspofyppovYgjsJIhgBPA%3A1775973645014&source=lnt&tbs=bkt%3As%2Ccdr%3A1%2Ccd_min%3A1%2F1%2F1989%2Ccd_max%3A12%2F31%2F1989&tbm=) never really gave the final season a regular spot on the schedule and instead of just aired the final 13 episodes whenever they needed to fill a hole, the finale didn’t air until August.

Secondly, the episode features Mark and Jonathan going “thirty years into the future,” — in this case to 2018. Mark is stunned to discover that he’s still alive in 2018. Jonathan tells him that it’s because he finally stopped smoking. In real life, Victor French (https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/about-victor-french/) died (https://www.google.com/search?q=Victor+French&sca_esv=4240043c73feb5c7&udm=36&sxsrf=ANbL-n4Cno3DfvQuGjIEzQlq-KrGzu1SCw%3A1775973716010&source=lnt&tbs=bkt%3As%2Ccdr%3A1%2Ccd_min%3A1%2F1%2F1989%2Ccd_max%3A12%2F31%2F1989&tbm=) of lung cancer six months after filming this episode. Again, because of the way NBC handled the final season, French did not live to see the final episode aired (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3IaDNnfBEE&lc=UgwfG5pndfN2g2Q801l4AaABAg).

Finally, the final episode of Highway to Heaven (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031144625/http://www.jumptheshark.com/h/highwaytoheaven.htm) is not one of its strongest episodes. The strength of Highway to Heaven (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Series/HighwayToHeaven) was that Jonathan and Mark spent their time helping ordinary people. Even if you didn’t agree with the show’s theology, it was hard not be touched by the earnest sincerity that lay at the heart of the majority of the episodes. Jonathan and Mark were do-gooders, in the best sense of the term.

That said, there were more than a few episodes that could be a bit preachy and that’s the case with this episode. As was often the case with Highway to Heaven‘s weaker episodes, this episode was inspired by Landon’s own environmentalism. On Christmas Eve, Jonathan and Mark visit three men — a businessman, a farmer, and the President (seriously!) — and bring with them visions of the future. The businessman sees that he has to stop promoting nuclear power. The farmer sees that he has to stop using insecticides. And the President watches as all of his future grandchildren and great-grandchildren vanish from existence as a result of him not doing something to protect the environment.

It’s heartfelt, yes. I don’t doubt Landon’s sincerity. But I just wish the final episode had been a bit more of a traditional episode. I wish that it had featured more of heart and the humor and the Landon/French chemistry that marked the show’s best moments. Of course, again, Landon had no way of knowing that Victor French was going to die. (Apparently, even though French does look noticeable thinner, he did not learn that he had lung cancer until after he filmed his last episode.) If the show had been renewed for another season, it’s doubtful it would have worked without the chemistry between Landon and French.

I’ve enjoyed reviewing this show. Originally, I didn’t think I would. I expected this show would bring out my cynical side with a vengeance and there were a few episodes that did just that. For the most part, though, this show won me over. Watching it, one gets the feeling that Michael Landon truly did want to make the world a better place. Who can’t be touched by that?

Next week, a new show will premiere here.