I'm sure this has been discussed on here before...But I realized that in the 80s and 90s, there are many shows on the "Big 4" networks where someone under the age of 18 is either the main lead, or the second main lead. Nowadays, the only shows like that are on Nickeloden or Disney. Can you imagine a 12-year-old getting their own show on CBS in 2013? I can't.

Here are some examples:

Doogie Howser, MD
Blossom
Silver Spoons
Punky Brewster
Webster
The Facts of Life
Growing Pains
Saved by the Bell
Out of this World
Eerie, Indiana

Anymore you can think of?

Since when was Kirk Cameron the main lead on Growing Pains? :confused:

My bad. I guess I was thinking about how he blew up (in the teen celebrity world) due to the show. But I just watched the opening credits, and saw the parents were the first two people credited.

Mike Seaver certainly became one of the main stars of "Growing Pains", but yeah- the show didn't necessarily start out that way. There's a similar scenario with Steve Urkel on "Family Matters"- except that with him, he was only supposed to be a guest star on an episode- but his character was so popular that they kept him coming back and he eventually became one of the main characters (but he was never billed at the top or anything.)
Same scenario with Henry Winkler as Arthur Fonzarelli on "Happy Days".
So it may be a technicality, but I think Kirk Cameron's character on "Growing Pains" can still fit. I would almost argue the same for Michelle Tanner on "Full House", but maybe not quite to the same extent.
But back to other '80s and/or '90s shows with a lead star under the age of 18-
Out of This World
Boy Meets World
Land of the Lost ('90s revival)
Wishbone (although the dog pretty much dwarfed everyone else on the show- lol:lol: - oh, but this one is a PBS show, so I don't know if this counts. I guess that would also knock out "Ghostwriter" as well. )
Sidekicks
The Secret World of Alex Mack (ah- sorry, that one is a Nickeolodeon show)
The Powers of Matthew Star
Starman (LOVE this series!)
The New Lassie (this one was syndicated so I don't know if that counts)
Harry and the Hendersons (maybe?)

I would say "Diff'rent Strokes" but that started in 1978- but it ran through 1986.

The Wonder Years

If the producers thought Kirk was good enough to carry the show as a main lead then he would've received top billing but as far as I know he was always billed third.

IMO, he wouldn't qualify for this thread because he was not the main lead nor did he receive top billing. Same can be said for Emmanuel Lewis & Webster, although most of the storylines centered around him, the leads were Susan Clark and Alex Karras.

Okay- good point. Strictly speaking, Mike Seaver and Webster can't be considered lead stars since they weren't billed as such. But they are both still certainly main characters on their respective shows and both had a number of storylines devoted to their characters.

The Wonder Years
Definitely- great show.:) :cool:

The Wonder Years Kevin Arnold aka fred savage was under the age of 13 when he started the show he was the main character, the show would have been nothing without fred savage he brought the show to life with his body language and facial expressions.

Kellie Martin portrayed the title character in the 1994-95 CBS period drama, Christy. She was 18 at the time.

Damn! She was only 18 in 95. I thought she was older because I remember her as Becca on Life Goes On and she seemed so much older than 14/15/16 on there. Then again. It may be because I was a kid when I watched that show. (A very young kid) and to me teens looked adults.

Yep, Kellie's birthdate is October 16, 1975, so she was 13, almost 14 when LGO premiered. I think she's always had that maturity beyond her years, that made her seem a bit older than she was/is. But she turned 18 while beginning to film the Christy pilot in the fall of 1993, and its first 6 episodes aired in the spring of 1994.

Tia and Tamera Mowry, born July 6, 1978, were just shy of 16 when Sister, Sister debuted April 1, 1994 and they received top billing over their on-screen parents, Jackee Harry and Tim Reid.

Cory from Boy Meets World is the main character on that show every episode dealt with him well duh he was the star of that sitcom lol

If the producers thought Kirk was good enough to carry the show as a main lead then he would've received top billing but as far as I know he was always billed third.

IMO, he wouldn't qualify for this thread because he was not the main lead nor did he receive top billing. Same can be said for Emmanuel Lewis & Webster, although most of the storylines centered around him, the leads were Susan Clark and Alex Karras.


No more calls! We have a winner!!!!

Hey, would this count? Even though The Dukes of Hazzard started in 1979, it aired through 1985, and John Schneider (born April 8, 1960) was 18 when the show premiered in January 1979. He and Tom Wopat were the human leads on the show, even though Tom Wopat was billed first. But John was the one who drove the General Lee most of the time, he was a teenager at the time the show started. I think that should count.

Kirk Cameron is a chrisitan hes doesthe christian moives called left behiend he reclenty did christian moive callled fire proof hes got on show on chrisitan tbn staion called the way of the leader he also did the voice of disneys allddian he got like a chrstian camp for chrisitans familys

the girlher nameLarisa oleynik she played shawns girlfriend in couple espdieos of boy meetsworld then she did two moive the babby sister club and did moive called 10 things i hate about you

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Hey, would this count? Even though The Dukes of Hazzard started in 1979, it aired through 1985, and John Schneider (born April 8, 1960) was 18 when the show premiered in January 1979. He and Tom Wopat were the human leads on the show, even though Tom Wopat was billed first. But John was the one who drove the General Lee most of the time, he was a teenager at the time the show started. I think that should count.


Read more: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=309690#ixzz2Nd4aPGrP
I love that you refer to John Schneider (Bo) and Tom Wopat (Luke) as the human leads on "The Dukes of Hazzard". Because we all know the main star was the General Lee! Yeeha!!!!!:) :cool: :lol:

That's right!!! :D

In 1987 Corey Haim starred in a show called Roomies ...on nbc...he was 16 at the time..it also starred Burt Young.....they were college roomates Corey was Matthew WIGGINS WHO was young and bright and the burt young character was a retired drill sergeant who was going back to school....it wasnt on long...but I really enjoyed it.

John Schneider PALYED CALRK KENTS DAD IN SMALLVILLE THEN HES BEEN DOING SOME CHRISITIAN MOIVES LATLY

Jerry O'Connell - My Secret Identity
Sarah Jessica Parker - Square Pegs

Bruce Norris was 17 years old when The Popcorn Kid premiered...It only lasted a month though.

I would like to discuss teen actors of the other decades.

Claire Danes - My So-Called Life

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Jerry O'Connell - My Secret Identity
Sarah Jessica Parker - Square Pegs


Read more: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=309690&page=2#ixzz2O1G47UVQ
Good call on both shows! Both are great shows and Jerry O'Connell and Sarah Jessica Parker have both gone on to do other great shows and movies. I love watching both "My Secret Identity" and "Square Pegs". If only the former would come to DVD as "Square Pegs" has. .:) :cool:

Mike from Growing Pains stole the show majority of the episodes revolved around him

Gaby Hoffmann was 12 in 1994 when she starred in Someone Like Me on NBC. The show was originally going to be called "Gaby".

Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen were 12 in 1998 when they first starred in Two of a Kind on ABC.

Erik von Detten was 17 in 1999 when he first starred in Odd Man Out on ABC.

Brittany Snow was 16 in 2002 when she first starred in American Dreams on NBC.

Corin Nemic was 19 in 1990 when he first starred in Parker Lewis Can't Lose on Fox.

I don't know if she was considered the lead, but Staci Keanan was 12 in 1987 when My Two Dads first aired on NBC.

Small Wonder with Tiffany Brissette as Vickie the Robot. '85-'89.

Did anybody overlook the cast of "Whiz Kids?"

I'm sure this has been discussed on here before...But I realized that in the 80s and 90s, there are many shows on the "Big 4" networks where someone under the age of 18 is either the main lead, or the second main lead. Nowadays, the only shows like that are on Nickeloden or Disney. Can you imagine a 12-year-old getting their own show on CBS in 2013? I can't.

Here are some examples:

Doogie Howser, MD
Blossom
Silver Spoons
Punky Brewster
Webster
The Facts of Life
Growing Pains
Saved by the Bell
Out of this World
Eerie, Indiana

Anymore you can think of?

Charlotte Rae was the Main Lead on The Facts of Life.

Jay North, Dennis the Menace. Patty Duke, the Patty Duke show, Sally Field, Gidget. Then you could even say Happy, a little baby, a show I think Ronnie Burns starred in during the 1960's.