What Might've Been: Struck By Lightning (1979)

CBS was looking for something to mine the fantasy-sitcom vein that ABC had found with Mork & Mindy. The "Tiffany of the Networks", which had fantasy-coms in the 60's that were hit or miss (i.e. My Favorite Martian, My Living Doll), discovered that while they had a good idea, it was on the wrong night. And it came from the same studio that produced Mork!

Struck By Lightning didn't even last a month here in the US, but all 11 episodes would air overseas. Jack Elam (ex-The Texas Wheelers) starred as the monster of Frankenstein, now working as a common handyman, but needing the formula that brought him to life renewed. It turns out that Dr. Frankenstein has a modern descendant, a science teacher (Jeffrey Kramer), who has just moved into the neighborhood.

Elam was better known as a character actor who played a lot of guest parts, usually in Westerns, but was never able to carry a show in a starring vehicle of his own. Too bad, because this could've helped change that culture. I never saw the show, so we'll forsake a rating, and close with the open and  a sponsor tag, courtesy of Gilmore Box: