The Powers of Matthew Star

The series was originally called The Powers of David Star[3]. With this title and a somewhat altered premise, the original pilot was to deal with teenaged David Star, who lived with the school janitor, Max (Gerald S. O'Loughlin). Max had a secret he was not sharing with David, who had no idea that he and Max were from another planet. As his powers began to surface, David started to understand who he was. Hot on their trail was the FBI. The original pilot was aired as the last episode of the series. TV Guide's 1981 Fall Preview issue's network schedule grid lists the original series title as The Powers of Daniel Star.

Five miles out of Crestridge, a UFO lands. When the landing is picked up by military radar, a call is placed to a General Tucker. Nearby, a man hands a woman a likeness of Walt/D'Hai on a disk and instructs her to find him and the boy. Matthew Star can't sleep. He admits to his guardian, Walt Shepherd (""Shep""), that he's tired of running. Walt agrees, but the alternative is death. Matt feels cheated that he never knew his father and can't have a normal life. Walt encourages him. They are in a new town, which is safe, for now. It's the first day of school. Mr. Shepherd finds himself in Principal Kenneth Heller's office. Before long, he realizes he is not only the Science teacher, but Home Economics, Track Coach and Football Team Trainer. Matt meets Pam in Drama Class and they are instantly attracted to each other. He also meets Bob, and Brian, who reacts to him threateningly. Meanwhile, Walt finds his class unenthusiastic about the wonderful world of Science. At lunch, Matt me

April is singing (badly) at Backtrack Studios. The producers, including Joe Allen, roll their eyes. He's got a suitcase. A black man with a white suit enters a nightclub with a suitcase of his own. There's a meeting upstairs and we realize now that the black man looks exactly like Walt Shepherd. Three cops are waiting at a table expectantly, and head upstairs. As diamonds are exchanged for cash, the cops pounce. The lookalike shoots one of the cops and escapes through the nightclub. Walt comes home late after browsing at an RV center for three hours. When he sees Matthew using his telekinesis to return a book to a shelf, he challenges him to try it blindfolded, since his father had the ability to do it. The neighbor's dog distracts Matt's concentration and a broken window results. At Valley Hospital, two cops discuss their dead partner, Robert Carson, and vow revenge. Detective Crawford remembers seeing the killer at Crestridge High; a teacher. Crawford goes to the school to que

Pam is in girl's shower. The camera closes in on the door, through which a monster enters. It turns off the lights and grabs her. Pam screams, then giggles. The director, Trent, yells cut and scolds Pam for not dying properly. The stuntman, Burt, calls for a break. They are filming ""Zombie Letterman."" Pete, a gopher on the set, sees Matt for the first time in four years. They used to live next door in Connecticut. He asks about his guardian; Matt cuts him off. Pete runs to get some tape, Matt joins him. The scene starts again. Meanwhile, Pete tells Matt that he wants to be a stuntman and that this is a good start. Matt invites Pete to stay at his house. During football practice, with Pete watching, from his motorbike, Matt throws a bad pass then gets tackled. Finally his pass is caught. Matt and Pam drive to his house. Pete follows on the motorbike, popping wheelies and clowning around. He dodges a truck, but nearly slams into a car. Luckily, Matt intervenes with telekinesi