40 Years Ago, Harry Potter Director Chris Columbus Created A Sci-Fi Show Nobody Remembers Today

Forty years ago, the director behind the iconic Harry Potter films, Chris Columbus, embarked on a different journey in the realm of animated television. Prior to his monumental success in the fantasy genre, Columbus created a sci-fi show titled "Galaxy High School." This program, which aired on CBS in September 1986, centered around two human teenagers, Doyle Cleverlobe and Aimee Brighttower, who became intergalactic exchange students.

They attended "Galaxy High School" alongside a diverse group of alien classmates, leading to various comedic situations.

The show starred familiar voices, with Nancy Cartwright lending her talents to Gilda Gossip, an extraterrestrial with a multiple-mouthed persona, and a character known as Flat Freddy Fender. Chris Columbus, who had previously made a name for himself with films like "The Goonies" and "Gremlins," was drawn to the project after being approached by Michael Chase Walker. He was already a fan of animation, making him a suitable candidate to develop this concept.

The theme song for "Galaxy High School" was penned by Don Felder, the lead guitarist of the Eagles. While it may not rank among the best sci-fi theme songs from the 1980s, it certainly carries a certain charm. "Galaxy High School" can be considered an anime, as it was partially animated by the Japanese studio TMS Entertainment. Despite this, the Los Angeles Times offered mixed reviews, praising the animation but criticizing the writing, particularly the numerous mean-spirited jokes aimed at Doyle.

The show faced cancellation after its first season, with only 13 episodes aired. Despite its local market success, CBS often preempted it with sports programming, hindering its ability to develop a dedicated fan base. The show's creator, Larry DiTillio, lamented the potential the series had, expressing disappointment over the conflict with the network over creative direction.

DiTillio noted that while they envisioned "Galaxy High School" as a wild and crazy show, the network desired a more conventional, safe, and derivative product.