Second Chance (Boys Will Be Boys)

1 9 8 7 – 1 9 8 8 (USA)
9 x 30 minute episodes (Second Chance)
12 x 30 minute episodes (Boys Will Be Boys)

Charles Russell (Kiel Martin) dies in a hovercraft accident in 2011 and finds himself appearing before St. Peter (Joseph Maher) for judgement.

He is judged to be not bad enough for hell but not good enough for heaven, so he’s given a chance to return to Earth during the 1980s to assist his younger self, Chazz (Matthew Perry), in making better decisions in his life in order to redeem himself.

Charles assumes the last name ‘Time’ (from the magazine) and rents the room over the garage at the home where he grew up in Venice, California. His divorced mother – who thinks he looks familiar – needs the money, and the proximity to his younger self gives him plenty of opportunities to help the teenager become a more responsible adult.

Chazz’s best friends are Booch (William Gallo), a worldly-wise, black leather-jacketed womaniser reminiscent of Fonzie from Happy Days, and Eugene (Demian Slade), an incredibly naive nerd.

St. Peter watches over events closely, grading Charles’ progress.

Unhappy with the original format, the producers dropped the fantasy element and the original star, Kiel Martin, after nine episodes. In January 1988 the series was retitled Boys Will Be Boys, and the focus shifted to the escapades of the three teens –  Chazz, Booch, and Eugene.

Though still in high school, Chazz and Booch (whose alcoholic father had recently died), became roommates. They were now living in that room over Mrs Russell’s garage (more shades of Happy Days) that Charles had lived in.

Chazz also had a new girlfriend in perky, next-door neighbour Debbie Miller (Terri Ivens).

Charles Russell/Time
Kiel Martin
Chazz Russell
Matthew L Perry
Francis “Booch” Lottabucci
William Gallo
Helen Russell
Randee Heller
Eugene Blooberman
Demian Slade
St. Peter
Joseph Maher
Debbie Miller
Terri Ivens
Alex
Adam Sadowsky

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