Today I checked out the new channels that are being added to Sasktel Max this fall. One of them is "The Christian Channel", which is "a nationally licensed digital television service like no other, proclaiming the values of the Christian Church to Canadians, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Christian Channel is a television service designed to entertain, inform, enlighten and inspire all practicing Christians and those still seeking".

I started to scroll through what programs appear on this channel, and I was so excited to see that they will be airing Highway to Heaven three times a day, six days a week! Maybe I'm just a big "Luther", but I love that show!!! I can remember watching it with my family when I was in elementary school. I already have the first three seasons of it on DVD, and I plan to collect all five (mainly because you couldn't watch it on TV anymore, until now!).

The premise of Highway to Heaven (NBC: 1984-89) is that Jonathan Smith (Michael Landon) is a probationary angel who has been sent to Earth to help people help themselves. His sidekick is a cynical, retired police officer named Mark Gordon (Victor French). Jonathan met Mark as part of his assignment in the premiere episode to help Mark's sister and the residents of the nursing home that employs her. Each episode, Jonathan receives his assignment from "The Boss" (God), and he and Mark pose as subsitute teachers, house painters, sports physicians, camp counsellors, handymen, priests, bodyguards, etc. in order to get close enough for Jonathan to help and counsel the individual. When this is done, the pair move on to an other unknown assignment in Mark's aging grey Ford LTD sedan.

One of the best parts is that 20 years has passed, and you can also enjoy a bit of a laugh when things get too cheesy or too "80s".

Another one of the entertaining aspects are biting personal comments that Jonathan sometimes makes to the people he has been assigned to help. Shannon dubbed these comments "angel burns", and I enjoy shouting, "BURN!!!" whenever one occurs. Some examples are:

"I can't leave my sister! I'm all she has!"
"You're not all your sister has - but your sister's all you have."

BURN!!!

"I feel sorry for you, Mr. Gaylord. You're a hero to strangers - but a stranger to your own children."

BURN!!!

YOU CAN WATCH "The Christian Channel" ON
Sasktel Max - Channel 282
Roger's Digital Cable - Channel 396
Star Choice - Channel 399
MTS (Manitoba Telecom Services) TV - Channel 21

Highway to Heaven airs
ON WEEKDAYS AT 11 AM, 3 PM , and 11 PM CENTRAL TIME
and
ON SATURDAYS AT 10 AM, 3 PM, and 10 PM CENTRAL TIME