Editing Touched by an Angel

{{short description|American drama television series (1994–2003)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Touched by an Angel (CBS Productions) logo.svg
| caption              =
| genre                = [[Fantasy television|Fantasy]]<br />[[Drama (film and television)|Drama]]
| creator              = [[John Masius]]
| showrunner           = [[Martha Williamson]]
| starring             = {{Plain list|
*[[Roma Downey]]
*[[Della Reese]]
*[[John Dye]]
*[[Valerie Bertinelli]]
}}
| theme_music_composer = Marc Lichtman
| opentheme            = "Walk with You"<br />Performed by [[Della Reese]]
| endtheme             = 
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 9
| num_episodes         = 211
| list_episodes        = List of Touched by an Angel episodes
| executive_producer   = {{Plain list|
*[[Martha Williamson]]
*Burt Pearl
*Jon Andersen
}}
| producer             = {{Plain list|
*R.J. Colleary
*Burt Pearl
*Jon Andersen
*Robert Visciglia Jr.
}}
| location             = [[Salt Lake City]], [[Utah]]
| runtime              = 48 minutes
| company              = {{Plain list|
* Moon Water Productions
* [[CBS Productions|CBS Entertainment Productions]]<br />(1994–1995)<br />(seasons 1–2)
*[[CBS Productions]]<br />(1995–2003)<br />(seasons 2–9)
}}
| network              = [[CBS]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1994|9|21}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|2003|4|27}}
| related              = ''[[Promised Land (1996 TV series)|Promised Land]]'' 
}}

'''''Touched by an Angel''''' is<!--DO NOT change to "was" per WP:TENSE--> an American [[drama (film and television)|drama]] television series that premiered on [[CBS]] on September 21, 1994, and ran for 211 episodes over nine seasons<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Carbone |first=Nick |date=April 6, 2012 |title=Touched by an Angel |language=en-US |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2012/04/09/top-10-on-screen-depictions-of-heaven/slide/touched-by-an-angel/ |access-date=June 21, 2022 |issn=0040-781X}}</ref> until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by [[John Masius]] and executive produced by [[Martha Williamson]], the series stars [[Roma Downey]] as an [[angel]] named Monica, and [[Della Reese]] as her supervisor Tess. Throughout the series, Monica is tasked with bringing guidance and messages from God to various people who are at a crossroads in their lives. From season three onward, they are frequently joined by Andrew ([[John Dye]]), the Angel of Death (who first appeared as a recurring character in season two).

==Plot==
The episodes of the series generally revolved around the "cases" of Monica ([[Roma Downey]]), an angel recently promoted from the "search and rescue" division, who works under the guidance of Tess ([[Della Reese]]), a sarcastic boss who is sometimes hard on her junior colleague, but is more of a surrogate mother than a supervisor.

Monica in one episode outlines that she started in the choir, then annunciations, followed by search and rescue and then case work. Most cases involve a single person or a group of people who are at a crossroads in their lives and facing a large problem or tough decision. Monica and Tess bring them messages of hope from God and give them guidance to help make decisions. During their first episode, the pair receive a red 1972 [[Cadillac Eldorado]] convertible as a gift; they use it for transportation throughout the rest of the series while in the human world, with Tess doing the driving. As the series progresses, Monica continues gaining experience as a case worker and, during some cases must learn lessons of her own.

During the series pilot, an [[Personifications of death#In Abrahamic religions|angel of death]] named Adam is introduced. In the season two premiere, "Interview with an Angel", a new Angel of Death named Henry is introduced. Then in the season two episode entitled "The One That Got Away", Andrew (played by John Dye) is introduced as the Angel of Death. Initially a recurring character, he becomes a main character in season three, making him the permanent Angel of Death for the remainder of the series. The original angel of death, Adam, continued to appear in guest appearances over the next few seasons.

In Season 4, a new angel is introduced named Rafael (Alexis Cruz), who appears throughout the series on a recurring basis, often assisting the main trio (Monica, Tess, and Andrew) in their cases. Rafael is a younger looking angel than the others and thus is occasionally involved in situations involving teenagers and young adults so they can relate to each other. Towards the end of the seventh season, a new angel, Gloria (Valerie Bertinelli), is created by God during one of Monica's assignments, designed to adapt to life on Earth in the 21st century. She becomes a regular character for seasons eight and nine, as a trainee under Monica and Tess's guidance.

In the series finale, Monica is up for promotion to supervisor, pending the outcome of a difficult case in which she must defend Zach ([[Scott Bairstow]]), an innocent drifter accused of causing a boiler explosion at a school two years ago in the small town of Ascension, Colorado. The explosion killed most of the children, leaving the citizens devastated. During the case, Monica sees many familiar faces, including Joey Machulis (Paul Wittenburg), one of Monica's previous assignments, who is a witness to the events; his brother Wayne ([[Randy Travis]]), who is now sheriff; Sophie ([[Marion Ross]]), a formerly homeless acquaintance; and Mike ([[Patrick Duffy]]), a lawyer Monica saved during her search and rescue days, who is now the mayor. An out-of-town developer claims Zach is the perpetrator, and despite the lack of evidence, Zach is put on trial. Monica does all she can to help him, including asking Mike to represent him, but the prosecutor in the case, Jones, is really [[Satan]] in disguise, and Zach is eventually convicted.

After the trial, Monica is able to help the citizens realize their mistake and to see that Zach's return to the town had helped them finally start living again. They begin going back to church, welcomed by the pastor they had once abandoned. Their change of heart, however, cannot free Zach, so Monica visits him in jail and reveals that she is an angel. She then promises him that she will become his guardian angel, forgoing all future assignments and the coveted promotion, to protect him from harm in prison. When she returns in the morning, however, the cell is empty. The citizens decide not to search for him, and it is revealed that Joey inadvertently caused the explosion after the devil tricked him into turning the boiler too high to warm some kittens he'd found.

The perplexed Monica returns to the desert to find Tess and Zach. There, she learns that Zach was actually God,<ref>{{Cite book |title=[[The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present]] |publisher=Random House |year=2009 |pages=1414}}</ref> and that her defending him was a test, which she passed by being willing to sacrifice herself for him. Monica is promoted to supervisor. As she leaves, she says her goodbyes to Gloria, and to Andrew, who gives her a pocket watch to remember their friendship. Before parting, Tess gives Monica the keys to the Cadillac, as she is leaving her job to sit at God's feet. Monica is last shown driving away as the camera pans out over the desert.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://marthawilliamson.com/touched-by-an-angel-original/?cat=touched-by-an-angel&vid=5518&doing_wp_cron=1545855569.3344330787658691406250|title=Episode 922: 'I Will Walk With You' Part Two|first=Martha|last=Williamson|date=10 September 2013 }}</ref>

==Episodes==
{{Main|List of Touched by an Angel episodes}}
{{:List of Touched by an Angel episodes}}

==Cast and characters==

===Main===
*[[Roma Downey]] as Monica, a kind-hearted [[Irish people|Irish]] angel prone to getting in trouble, who is sent town-to-town to encourage people. She appears in all but two episodes.
*[[Della Reese]] as Tess, Monica's tough but loving supervisor. She acts like Monica's mother, often addressing her as "angel girl" or "Miss Wings". She appears in all but three episodes.
*[[John Dye]] as Andrew (main, seasons 3–9; recurring, season 2), an angel of death.
*[[Valerie Bertinelli]] as Gloria (main, seasons 8–9; guest, season 7), an intelligent but naïve and accident-prone [[Italian American]] angel made to understand the way of life in the early 21st century.

===Recurring ===
*[[Alexis Cruz]] as Rafael, an angel
*[[Ossie Davis]] as Erasmus Jones and [[Gabriel]], an [[archangel]]
*[[Jasmine Guy]] as Kathleen, a [[fallen angel]]
*[[Celeste Holm]] as Hattie Greene
*[[Wynonna Judd]] as Audrey Carmichael
*Eddie Karr as Nathaniel Greene
*[[Cloris Leachman]] as Ruth, an archangel
*[[Gerald McRaney]] as Russell Greene and Dr. Joe Patcherik
*[[Wendy Phillips]] as Claire Greene and Ruth Ann Russell
*[[Charles Rocket]] as Adam, an angel of death
*[[Marion Ross]] as Sophie and Emma
*[[Randy Travis]] as Wayne Machulis and Jed Winslow
*[[Paul Winfield]] as [[Samael|Sam]], an archangel and Andrew's supervisor
*Paul Wittenburg as Joey Machulis

===Notable guest stars===
{{columns-start}}
The series featured hundreds of guest stars during its run. Those who played other angels or demons included:
*[[Bruce Altman]] as Henry, an angel of death (season 2, episodes 1 & 4)
*[[Chris Burke (actor)|Chris Burke]] as Taylor, an angel (season 3, episode 26; season 4, episode 2)
*[[Bill Cosby]] as Phil, the angel of restoration (season 3, episode 27; season 5, episode 17)
*[[Keb' Mo']] as the angel of music (season 3, episode 27; season 9, episode 9), Isaac (season 6, episode 9),<br />and J.D. Winslow (season 7, episodes 24–25)
*[[Mandy Patinkin]] as [[Satan]] (season 7, episode 23)
*[[John Schneider (screen actor)|John Schneider]] as Frank Littleton (season 2, episode 6) and Joshua Winslow/Satan (season 7, episodes 24–25)
*[[David Ogden Stiers]] as Jones/Satan (season 9, episodes 21–22)

Musicians and other non-actors who guest starred included:
*[[Maya Angelou]] (season 2, episode 7)
*[[Charlotte Church]] (season 6, episode 7)
*[[Natalie Cole]] (season 2, episode 7)
*[[Bill Gaither]] (season 7, episode 24)
*[[Faith Hill]] (season 4, episode 1)
*[[Kathy Ireland]] (season 6, episode 3)
*[[Naomi Judd]] (season 6, episode 25)
*[[Tara Lipinski]] (season 5, episode 15)
*[[Jo Dee Messina]] (season 6, episode 9; season 9, episode 7)
*[[NSYNC]] (season 6, episode 7)
*[[Renee Olstead]] (season 4, episode 15)
*[[Sally Jessy Raphael]] (season 2, episode 22)
*[[Kenny Rogers]] (season 6, episode 14)
*[[Kerri Strug]] (season 3, episode 28)
*[[Luther Vandross]] (season 8, episode 20)
*[[Montel Williams]] (season 5, episode 20)
{{column}}
As themselves:
*[[Hank Aaron]] (season 8, episode 2)
*[[Muhammad Ali]] (season 5, episode 24)
*[[Nadia Comaneci]] (season 3, episode 28)
*[[Celine Dion]] (season 5, episode 9)
*[[Dr. John]] (season 2, episode 15)
*[[Al Hirt]] (season 2, episode 15)
*[[Al Jarreau]] (season 2, episode 15)
*[[Toby Keith]] (season 8, episode 7)
*[[B. B. King]] (season 2, episode 15)
*[[Rosa Parks]] (season 5, episode 23)
*[[Plus One (band)|Plus One]] (season 7, episode 20)
*[[Sally Ride]] (season 5, episode 26)

The show also featured early appearances by many actors who later achieved greater fame, including:<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 21, 2017 |title=12 celebrities who were 'Touched by an Angel' before they were stars |url=https://metv.com/lists/12-celebrities-who-were-touched-by-an-angel-before-they-were-stars |access-date=June 21, 2022 |website=Me-TV Network |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Jack Black]]
*[[Bryan Cranston]]
*[[Kirsten Dunst]]
*[[America Ferrera]]
*[[Alyson Hannigan]]
*[[Shia LaBeouf]]
*[[Brie Larson]]
*[[Justina Machado]]
*[[Hayden Panettiere]]
*[[Pedro Pascal]]
*[[Zachary Quinto]]
{{columns-end}}

==Production==
''Touched by an Angel'' was produced by [[CBS]] and Moon Water Productions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=http://www.touched.com/touched05/faqs.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912125744/http://www.touched.com/touched05/faqs.php |archive-date=September 12, 2012 |access-date=March 22, 2010 |work=Touched.com |publisher=[[CBS]]}}</ref> The network had wanted to do a series about angels after reading a story in ''[[Newsweek]]'' about how belief in angels was becoming popular.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Dolbee |first=Sandi |date=September 12, 2020 |title=The story of how 'Touched by an Angel' got its wings and became one of TV's biggest shows |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/tv/story/2020-09-12/the-story-of-how-touched-by-an-angel-became-one-of |access-date=June 21, 2022 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> Critic Harold Bloom, among others, noted a cultural awareness of angels around those years that began in 1990 with [[Sophy Burnham|Sophy Burnham's]] international bestseller ''A Book of Angels,'' and continued with [[Tony Kushner|Tony Kushner's]] 1993 play [[Angels in America]], among many other cultural touchstones.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bloom |first=Harold |author-link=Harold Bloom |date=2007 |title=Fallen Angels |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=89z4lm9oZNUC |location=New Haven |publisher=Yale University Press |page=4 |isbn=9780300123487}}</ref>

Most episodes of the series were produced in [[Salt Lake City]], Utah. According to ''[[New York Times]]'' reviewer [[Caryn James]], [[John Masius]] created the first pilot episode for the series, but it was a darker, less hopeful story than the producers wanted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strusiewicz |first=Cezary Jan |date=July 7, 2014 |title=Movies And TV Shows That Were Almost Crazy Dark |url=https://www.cracked.com/blog/5-family-movies-tv-shows-that-were-almost-insanely-dark |access-date=June 21, 2022 |website=Cracked.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name="New York Times">{{cite news |last=James |first=Caryn |author-link=Caryn James |date=January 8, 1999 |title=Sure, Mom May Be Dead, But That Won't Stop Her |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E1DC103EF93BA35752C0A96F958260 |access-date=March 22, 2010}}</ref> It cost the studio $2 million to produce the episode.<ref name=":0" /> Masius wrote the show as a reflection of his spiritual anger at the time due to his two children being born disabled.<ref>{{cite web |last=Elber |first=Lynn |date=June 25, 2003 |title=Teenager turns reluctant grim reaper in Showtime's 'Dead Like Me' |url=http://onlineathens.com/stories/062603/ent_20030626022.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030815090155/https://www.onlineathens.com/stories/062603/ent_20030626022.shtml/ |archive-date=August 15, 2003 |access-date=February 21, 2013 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |via=[[Athens Banner-Herald]]}}</ref> [[Martha Williamson]] was approached to be the series executive producer in early 1994. She described the pilot she received as "upsetting" as it "portrayed angels as recycled dead people with power over life and death."<ref name=":0" /> She initially declined the position, but during a lunch with [[Andy Hill (basketball)|Andy Hill]], then President of CBS, she mentioned the show and suggested he find a producer who would create a show with "loving, joyful" angels that the audience would have to believe in.<ref name="Martha">{{cite web |last=Williamson |first=Martha |year=1996 |title=TV Is Touched by an Angel |url=http://touched.com/touched05/about.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204212125/http://touched.com/touched05/about.php |archive-date=February 4, 2013 |access-date=March 23, 2010 |work=[[Guideposts]], as reprinted at Touched.Net |publisher=CBS}}</ref>

Williamson stated that she could not stop thinking about the show after that meeting, and eventually called to ask if the position was still open. Though getting the position was no longer a sure thing, she passed up a more lucrative position directing a court drama and went in for an interview with CBS in June 1994. During her interview, she states she emphasized that she was a Christian and could only do a show that depicted angels in a way she felt was true to her view of angels and that was respectful towards God.<ref name=":0" /> She also indicated that the pilot should be redone from the beginning, keeping only the characters Monica and Tess, reworked. The studio agreed with her remarks and hired her.<ref name="Martha" /> Williamson herself wrote a new script for the pilot episode, while also working on hiring the remaining staff for the series, which was due to premiere in September. The pilot was filmed in Salt Lake City and the show was ready on schedule. The first episode aired on September 14, 1994.<ref name="Martha" />

===Theme song===
The show's theme song, "Walk with You", was sung by Della Reese with a gospel choir. An extended version appeared on the series soundtrack.

===Spin-off===
In 1996, ''[[Promised Land (1996 TV series)|Promised Land]]'' was launched as a spin-off series, following the Greene family whom Monica had met during one of her cases, as they travel the United States helping those in need.<ref name=":0" /> Four crossover episodes aired during ''Promised Land''{{'}}s three-season run.

==Broadcast and syndication==
The series went into syndication in 1998, and has aired on [[PAX-TV]], [[Hallmark Channel]], [[True Crime Xtra|CBS Drama]], [[Up (TV network)|Up]], [[MeTV]] and [[Start TV]].<ref>[https://www.starttv.com/shows/touched-by-an-angel Start TV]</ref> It has also aired on Hallmark Drama (now [[Hallmark Family]]).<ref>[https://www.hallmarkdrama.com/touched-by-an-angel Hallmark Drama]</ref>

===Chain email hoax===
In 1999, a [[Chain letter#Email|chain email]] emerged that falsely claimed that atheism activist [[Madalyn Murray O'Hair]] (who died in 1995) was circulating a petition for the [[Federal Communications Commission]] to ban all religiously themed radio and television shows, including ''Touched by an Angel''. The email claims the petition has the ID number 2493, and calls on readers to write to the FCC to express their objections to it. The hoax was modeled on a chain email from 1996,<ref name = Mikkelson>{{Cite web |date=February 9, 2015 |title=Petition to Ban Religious Broadcasting |url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/petition-to-ban-religious-broadcasting/|last = Mikkelson|first = Barbara |access-date=June 21, 2022 |website=[[Snopes.com]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and variations persisted into the 2000s, with different programs mentioned and different individuals supposedly leading the effort. In reality, the referenced petition (RM 2493) sought to prevent religious organizations from receiving licenses to broadcast on educational channels, it did not demand a ban on all religious programming, O'Hair was not affiliated with it, and it was rejected by the FCC in 1975.<ref name = Mikkelson/>

==Home media==
[[Paramount Home Entertainment]] has released all nine seasons on DVD in Region 1. The DVDs released before 2006 used the main Paramount brand; starting with The Third Season, Volume 2, they use the [[CBS Home Entertainment|CBS DVD]] brand. Seasons 1, 2, 5–9 were released as single season box sets, while seasons 3 & 4 were released as two volume sets.

On February 9, 2016, CBS DVD released ''Touched by an Angel: The Complete Series'' on DVD in Region 1.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 17, 2015 |title=Touched by an Angel - CBS/Paramount Announces a First-Ever Release of 'The Complete Series' |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Touched-Angel-The-Complete-Series/21749 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119045413/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Touched-Angel-The-Complete-Series/21749 |archive-date=November 19, 2015 |website=TVShowsOnDVD.com}}</ref>

Four themed sets, each containing four episodes, have also been released. The first two, "The Inspiration Collection: Holiday" and "The Inspiration Collection: Hope" were released on November 10, 2009;<ref>{{cite web |date=August 11, 2009 |title=Touched by an Angel - 'Inspiration Collection' Releases Bring the Best Hope and Holiday Episodes to DVD |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Touched-Angel-Best-Of-DVDs/12463 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513022104/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Touched-Angel-Best-Of-DVDs/12463 |archive-date=May 13, 2010 |website=TVShowsOnDVD.com}}</ref> "The Inspiration Collection: Faith" and "The Inspiration Collection: Love" were released January 26, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 4, 2009 |title=Touched by an Angel - Update About Love and Faith DVDs: New Extras, Box Art, More! |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Touched-Angel-Love-and-Faith/12916 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109183557/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Touched-Angel-Love-and-Faith/12916 |archive-date=January 9, 2010 |website=TVShowsOnDVD.com}}</ref>

In Region 4, [[Shock Records]] has released five volumes of episodes from the series, each containing nine episodes and a set containing all five volumes together.<ref>{{cite web |title=Touched by an Angel |url=http://www.ezydvd.com.au/search?q=Touched+by+an+Angel&t=all |access-date=6 October 2014 |website=ezydvd.com.au}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! DVD name
! Ep #
! Release date
|-
| The Complete First Season
| align="center"|13
| August 31, 2004
|-
| The Second Season
| align="center"|22
| May 3, 2005
|-
| The Third Season, Volume 1
| align="center"|16
| February 7, 2006
|-
| The Third Season, Volume 2
| align="center"|13
| November 28, 2006
|-
| The Fourth Season, Volume 1
| align="center"|13
| March 27, 2007
|-
| The Fourth Season, Volume 2
| align="center"|14
| December 4, 2007
|-
| The Fifth Season
| align="center"|26
| July 24, 2012
|-
| The Sixth Season
| align="center"|26
| September 25, 2012
|-
| The Seventh Season
| align="center"|25
| April 23, 2013
|-
| The Eighth Season
| align="center"|22
| July 30, 2013
|-
| The Ninth and Final Season
| align="center"|22
| November 19, 2013
|-
| The Complete Series
| align="center"|211
| February 9, 2016
|}

==Reception==

===Critical===
Throughout its run, ''Touched by an Angel'' received negative reviews from critics, who derided its use of treacly melodrama. [[Tom Shales]] of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' said, "viewers with low tolerance for precious whimsy will probably find they have overdosed on pixie dust within the first 10 minutes."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shales |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Shales |date=September 21, 1994 |title='TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL': HAVE MERCY |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/09/21/touched-by-an-angel-have-mercy/b8bc3a68-6c17-42f7-a5dc-62b4f0d0a464/ |access-date=June 21, 2022}}</ref> Michael Blowen of ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' wrote, "If you loved [[Michael Landon]]'s '''[[Highway to Heaven]]''<nowiki/>', a show pooh-poohed by the critics that became a huge hit, you'll probably go for this sugary, maudlin, sentimental myth-making."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blowen |first=Michael |title='Daddy's Girls' needs less of him; 'Angel,' for our sins |pages=85 |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71905801/friends-season-one-touched-by-an/ |url-access= |access-date=June 21, 2022}}</ref> [[David Zurawik]] of ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]'' opined it was "the worst new series of the TV season [...] there's absolutely nothing divine about it." Commenting on frequent shots of Monica's bare feet in the first episode, Zurawik wrote, "I'm not sure what that's all about unless CBS has research showing a large audience of foot fetishists waiting for a reason not to watch ABC's ''[[Roseanne]]''."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zurawik |first=David |date=September 21, 1994 |title='Touched by an Angel' doesn't have a prayer |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/09/21/touched-by-an-angel-doesnt-have-a-prayer/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421093505/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1994-09-21/features/1994264151_1_monica-tess-cbs |archive-date=April 21, 2013}}</ref>

In a retrospective piece titled "Mauled by an Angel" for his column ''Religion Dispatches'', W. Scott Poole stated that Downey and Reese "served up a syrupy but powerful advertisement for a greeting-card brand of religious faith with little theological definition, but a healthy serving of 'chicken soup for the soul' (a [[Chicken Soup for the Soul|franchise]] that itself became popular in the same era)."<ref name=":1" /> He added the show "seemed to suggest that God was deeply concerned but mostly unable or unwilling to get directly involved, sending along his messengers to patch things up for humanity (or select portions of it) now and again."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Poole |first=W. Scott |date=February 16, 2010 |title=Mauled by an Angel: Why Do Americans Need "God's Secret Agents"? |url=https://religiondispatches.org/mauled-by-an-angel-why-do-americans-need-gods-secret-agents/ |access-date=June 21, 2022 |website=Religion Dispatches |language=en-US}}</ref> Writing of the first season, [[Ken Tucker]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', gave the show a "C" grade, and said the show "succeeds in being so unpretentiously, innocently pure-minded—this is the ''[[Forrest Gump]]'' of fall '94—that it's possible to feel sympathy for its ratings plight."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Ken |date=November 4, 1994 |title=TV Show Review: 'Touched By An Angel' |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |url=https://ew.com/article/1994/11/04/tv-show-review-touched-angel/ |access-date=June 21, 2022}}</ref> [[Common Sense Media]] reviewer Emily Ashby gave the series 3 out of 5 stars, and said that "this uplifting, inspirational show is steeped in strong moral messages, life lessons, and Christian overtones that include multiple references to 'God,' 'Lord,' and the 'Father.'"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Touched by an Angel TV Review {{!}} Common Sense Media |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/touched-by-an-angel |access-date=June 21, 2022 |website=[[Common Sense Media]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Ratings===
''Touched by an Angel'' became one of CBS's highest-rated series during season three and continued through season six, when it was the ninth most watched network series, with 17,190,000 viewers that amounted to a 15% share of the market as determined by [[Nielsen Media Research]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=variety/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Susan |date=August 11, 2016 |title=A Look Back at Roma Downey's Famed 'Touched by an Angel' Role |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/spotlight/touched-by-angel-memorable-afterlife-1201834936/ |access-date=June 21, 2022 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> In season eight, after the series moved from its Sunday time slot to a Saturday one, it dropped to 79th place, with 8.3 million viewers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2002/2002-05-28-year-end-chart.htm |title=How did your favorite show rate? |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=May 28, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2010 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2"|Season
! Episodes
! Time slot (ET)
! Season premiere
! Season finale
! Season<br />rank
! Viewers<br />(in millions)
|-
! 1
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1994–95 United States network television schedule|1994–1995]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 11
| style="text-align:center;"| Wednesday at 9:00 pm <small>(Episodes 1–8)</small><br/>Sunday at 8:00 pm <small>(Episode 9)</small><br/>Saturday at 9:00 pm <small>(Episodes 10–11)</small>
| style="text-align:center;"| September 21, 1994
| style="text-align:center;"| March 4, 1995
| style="text-align:center;"| #78
| style="text-align:center;"| 8.90
|-
! 2
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1995–96 United States network television schedule|1995–1996]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 24
| style="text-align:center;"| Saturday at 9:00 pm
| style="text-align:center;"| September 23, 1995
| style="text-align:center;"| May 18, 1996
| style="text-align:center;"| #34
| style="text-align:center;"| 11.10
|-
! 3
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1996–97 United States network television schedule|1996–1997]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 28
| style="text-align:center;"| Sunday at 8:00 pm
| style="text-align:center;"| September 15, 1996
| style="text-align:center;"| May 18, 1997
| style="text-align:center;"| #10
| style="text-align:center;"| 13.19<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1996.htm|title=ClassicTVHits.com: TV Ratings > 1990's|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref>
|-
! 4
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1997–98 United States network television schedule|1997–1998]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 27
| style="text-align:center;"| Sunday at 8:00 pm <small>(Episodes 1-25)</small><br/>Sunday at 9:00 pm <small>(Episode 26)</small>
| style="text-align:center;"| September 21, 1997
| style="text-align:center;"| May 17, 1998
| style="text-align:center;"| #5
| style="text-align:center;"| 21.80<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://ew.com/article/1998/05/29/what-ranked-and-what-tanked/ | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | title=The Final Countdown | date=May 29, 1998 | access-date=April 20, 2020 | archive-date=September 24, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924184101/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C283382%2C00.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! 5
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1998–99 United States network television schedule|1998–1999]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 26
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"| Sunday at 8:00 pm
| style="text-align:center;"| September 20, 1998
| style="text-align:center;"| May 23, 1999
| style="text-align:center;"| #6
| style="text-align:center;"| 19.50 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://geocities.com/Hollywood/4616/ew0604.html |title=Final ratings for the 1998-1999 TV season |access-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029011819/http://geocities.com/Hollywood/4616/ew0604.html |archive-date=October 29, 2009 }}</ref>
|-
! 6
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1999–2000 United States network television schedule|1999–2000]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 26
| style="text-align:center;"| September 26, 1999
| style="text-align:center;"| May 21, 2000
| style="text-align:center;"| #9
| style="text-align:center;"| 17.19<ref name=variety>{{cite news|title='Elv1s,' in 2nd week, rolls over Stones disc |work=Variety}}</ref>
|-
! 7
| style="text-align:center;"| [[2000–01 United States network television schedule|2000–2001]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 25
| style="text-align:center;"| October 15, 2000
| style="text-align:center;"| May 20, 2001
| style="text-align:center;"| #25
| style="text-align:center;"| 14.00<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://ew.com/article/2001/06/01/bitter-end/ | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | title=The Bitter End | date=June 1, 2001 | access-date=April 20, 2020 | archive-date=July 18, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718141929/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,256435,00.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! 8
| style="text-align:center;"| [[2001–02 United States network television schedule|2001–2002]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 22
| style="text-align:center;"| Saturday at 8:00 pm <small>(Episodes 1–10, 12–20, 22)</small><br/>Sunday at 8:00 pm <small>(Episodes 11, 21)</small>
| style="text-align:center;"| September 29, 2001
| style="text-align:center;"| May 11, 2002
| style="text-align:center;"| #79
| style="text-align:center;"| 8.30<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2002/2002-05-28-year-end-chart.htm | work=USA Today | title=How did your favorite show rate? | date=May 28, 2002}}</ref>
|-
! 9
| style="text-align:center;"| [[2002–03 United States network television schedule|2002–2003]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 22
| style="text-align:center;"| Saturday at 8:00 pm <small>(Episodes 1-21)</small><br/>Sunday at 8:00 pm <small>(Episode 22)</small>
| style="text-align:center;"| September 28, 2002
| style="text-align:center;"| April 27, 2003
| style="text-align:center;"| #91
| style="text-align:center;"| 7.60<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://ew.com/article/2003/06/06/rank-and-file/ | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | title=Rank And File | date=June 6, 2003 | access-date=April 20, 2020 | archive-date=July 19, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719064902/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,455439,00.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|}

===Awards===
The series was nominated for eleven [[Primetime Emmy Award]]s between 1997 and 2000, including two nominations each for Downey and Reese in the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]] and [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series]] categories, respectively.<ref name="TodaysCatholic Interview">{{cite web |title=Touched By An Angel |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/touched-angel |access-date=June 21, 2022 |website=[[Emmy Awards]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Martin |first=Deanna L. |date=September 12, 1997 |title=Emmy Which Way |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |issue=396 |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C289418%2C00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=June 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421163141/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,289418,00.html |archive-date=April 21, 2009}}</ref> It was also nominated for three [[Golden Globe Awards]], two in 1998 and 1999 for Downey for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Drama]], and one in 1998 for Reese for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film|Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/47182.stm |title=Nominations for the 55th Golden Globe Awards |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=January 17, 1998 |access-date=March 26, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/9901/22/golden.globe/ |title=On the way to Oscar, Golden Globes will offer hints |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=January 22, 1999 |access-date=March 26, 2010 }}</ref> even though the series was never able to secure either award. Marc Lichtman was awarded five [[Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI Film and Television Awards]] for "Television Music" in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 for his work as the series composer.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Patrick Williams Earns Career Nod At Film, TV Awards |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=109 |issue=21  |date=May 24, 1997 |page=99 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fA8EAAAAMBAJ&q=BMI%20Film%20%26%20TV%20Awards%20%22Marc%20Lichtman%22&pg=RA1-PA99 |issn=0006-2510 |access-date=March 26, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Menken Honored at Film, TV Awards |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=110 |issue=21 |date=May 23, 1998 |page=96 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jQ4EAAAAMBAJ&q=BMI%20%22Touched%20By%20An%20Angel%22%20%22Marc%20Lichtman%22&pg=PA96 |issn=0006-2510 |access-date=March 26, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/533563 |title=BMI Film/TV Awards: 1999 |publisher=[[Broadcast Music Incorporated]] |date=January 1, 1999 |access-date=March 26, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/232836 |title=BMI Honors Top Film and TV Composers |publisher=[[Broadcast Music Incorporated]] |date=May 15, 2000 |access-date=March 26, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/232961 |title=TV and Film Composers Score at BMI Awards |publisher=[[Broadcast Music Incorporated]] |date=May 16, 2001 |access-date=March 26, 2010 }}</ref>

===In popular culture===
[[Maria Bamford]] imitated Monica on the track "Touched by an Angel" on her ''Burning Tours'' album.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 8, 2014 |title=Touched By An Angel - Maria Bamford |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvP4jz3PlyY |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Maria Bamford - The Burning Bridges Tour |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-burning-bridges-tour-mw0000568567 |work=[[AllMusic]] |language=en |access-date=June 21, 2022}}</ref>

It was also spoofed on ''[[MadTV]]'' as "Touched by an Atheist" on an episode guest starring comedian [[George Carlin]].<ref>{{Citation |title=George Carlin on MAD TV Touched by an Atheist |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3YeqTpZMJ4 |work=YouTube |language=en |access-date=}}</ref>

It was also spoofed on the ''[[Family Guy]]'' episode "Ready, Willing and Disabled".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ready, Willing, and Disabled - Family Guy Wiki Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/family-guy/Ready,_Willing,_and_Disabled |access-date=June 21, 2022 |website=[[IGN]] |date=20 March 2012 |language=en}}</ref>

[[Weird Al Yankovic]]'s take on [[Eminem]]'s "[[Lose Yourself]]", called "[[Couch Potato (song)|Couch Potato]]", changed the title to ''Touched by an Uncle''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Couch Potato (Parody of "Lose Yourself" by Eminem) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YDOZjrVMAY |access-date=June 21, 2022 |website=YouTube}}</ref>

It was parodied in the ''[[Birdgirl (TV series)|Birdgirl]]'' episode "Thirdgirl".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Touched by a Birdcat {{!}} Birdgirl {{!}} adult swim |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XjpG1iU1L0 |access-date=January 11, 2023 |website=YouTube}}</ref>

==In other media==
A book on the series, ''Touched by an Angel'', was published by [[Zondervan]] in November 1997. Written by Williamson and Robin Sheets, it contains background information on some of the stories featured, series production information, basic details on the first fifty episodes and profiles of Downey, Reese and Dye. It also has short story versions of four episodes: "Interview with an Angel", "There, but for the Grace of God", "An Unexpected Snow" and "Jacob's Ladder".<ref>{{Cite book|isbn=0310221595 |title=In the Words of Angels: Twenty Inspiring Stories from Touched By An Angel |last1=Williamson |first1=Martha |last2=Sheets |first2=Robin |date=October 1997 |publisher=Zondervan }}</ref> A second book, ''In the Words of Angels: Twenty Inspiring Stories from Touched by an Angel'', was published by [[Fireside Books]] on August 28, 2001. Also written by Williamson, it collects twenty short stories based on episodes from the series.<ref>{{Cite book|isbn=0743203682 |title=In the Words of Angels: Twenty Inspiring Stories from Touched By An Angel |last1=Williamson |first1=Martha |date=October 2001 |publisher=Atria Books }}</ref>

An audio soundtrack, ''[[Touched by an Angel: The Album]]'', was released on November 3, 1998. The 15-track CD includes a full-length version of the series theme song, "Walk with You", performed by Della Reese and songs by [[Céline Dion]], [[Shawn Colvin]], [[Bob Dylan]], [[Faith Hill]], [[Martina McBride]], [[Amy Grant]], [[Jaci Velasquez]], [[The Kinleys]], [[Wynonna Judd|Wynonna]] and [[Amanda Marshall]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000DHR7 |title=Touched by an Angel: The Album <nowiki>[Soundtrack]</nowiki> |website=Amazon |date=1998 |access-date=March 22, 2010 }}</ref> The soundtrack went platinum.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 11, 1999 |title="Touched By An Angel" - The Album Certified Platinum, Will Be Featured in Valentine's Day Episode Of CBS Television Series. |work=[[Business Wire]] |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/%22Touched%2BBy%2BAn%2BAngel%22%2B-%2BThe%2BAlbum%2BCertified%2BPlatinum%2C%2BWill%2BBe...-a053853188 |access-date=June 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525013012/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/%22Touched+By+An+Angel%22+-+The+Album+Certified+Platinum%2c+Will+Be...-a053853188 |archive-date=May 25, 2013 |via=[[The Free Library]]}}</ref> A second album, ''Touched by an Angel: Christmas Album'', was released on November 9, 1999, with 13 tracks of [[Christmas music]]. In addition to having tracks performed by Reese and Downey, it features songs from [[Randy Travis]], [[Keb' Mo']], [[Charlotte Church]], [[Kirk Franklin]], [[Collin Raye]], Amy Grant and [[Donna Summer]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00002MZ53 |title=Touched By an Angel: Christmas Album <nowiki>[Soundtrack]</nowiki> |website=Amazon |date=1999 |access-date=March 22, 2010 }}</ref> Both albums were released by [[Sony Music Entertainment]], the successor to the former record division of CBS.

== See also ==
* [[List of films about angels]]
* ''[[Highway to Heaven]]''  (1984–1989), similar concept
* ''[[Heaven Help Us (TV series)|Heaven Help Us]]'' (1994)
* ''[[God Friended Me]]'' (2018–2020), similar concept
* ''[[Heaven Can Wait (1978 film)|Heaven Can Wait]]'' (1978 film)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|0108968}}
* {{epguides|id=TouchedbyanAngel}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19961220021256/http://www.cbs.com/primetime/angel.html Official Website]
* [http://uptv.com/shows/touched-by-an-angel/ ''Touched by an Angel''] at UP TV Network

{{Touched By An Angel Episodes}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Drama Series}}

{{Portal bar|Television|United States|1990s}}

[[Category:Touched by an Angel| ]]
[[Category:1990s American drama television series]]
[[Category:2000s American drama television series]]
[[Category:1994 American television series debuts]]
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[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:American fantasy drama television series]]
[[Category:Angels in television]]
[[Category:CBS original programming]]
[[Category:CBS television dramas]]
[[Category:Christian entertainment television series]]
[[Category:Demons in television]]
[[Category:Fiction about the Devil]]
[[Category:Religious drama television series]]
[[Category:Television series about angels]]
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