If you grew up in the late seventies or early eighties, you probably remember the cigar, the thick glasses, and that dry, gravelly voice. George Burns. He didn't just play God; for a whole generation, he was God. By the time 1980 rolled around, Warner Bros. knew they couldn't just leave the "Almighty" in a supermarket aisle with John Denver. They needed a follow-up. But when you look at the oh god book 2 cast, you’ll notice something immediately: it’s almost entirely different.
Except for George, obviously. He was eighty-four years old and still the sharpest guy in the room.
The Big Gamble with a Small Star
Honestly, replacing John Denver was a tall order. He was at the peak of his "Rocky Mountain High" fame. Instead of finding another massive folk star, director Gilbert Cates went in a totally different direction. He cast an eleven-year-old girl named Louanne Sirota—usually just credited as "Louanne"—to be the new divine messenger.
She wasn't some random kid from a commercial. Louanne had just finished a run as the lead in Annie on stage. You can see that "stage kid" energy in the movie. She’s precocious. She’s tiny. She has this weird, 1940s-style haircut that makes her look like she belongs in a black-and-white film, yet she’s the one coming up with "Think God" marketing slogans.
The chemistry between her and Burns is basically the whole movie. While the first film was a courtroom drama about a man’s sanity, this one feels more like a grandpa hanging out with his granddaughter. It’s sweet, if a little less "intellectual" than the original.
Who Else Was in the Room?
The supporting players in this sequel are actually a "Who's Who" of eighties television royalty. It's kinda funny to see them all squeezed into this light fantasy plot.
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- Suzanne Pleshette (Paula Richards): You probably know her best as Emily Hartley from The Bob Newhart Show. She plays Tracy’s mom, and honestly, she brings a lot of groundedness to a movie that could have been too saccharine.
- David Birney (Don Richards): He plays the dad. Birney was a huge TV face back then, appearing in everything from St. Elsewhere to Serpico. In the film, he and Pleshette are divorced, which was a pretty "modern" touch for a family-friendly God movie in 1980.
- John Louie (Shingo): Every eighties kid needs a best friend, and Shingo was it. He was the skeptical neighbor who helped Tracy with her "God campaign."
- Conrad Janis (Charles Benson): He played the school principal. If he looks familiar, it’s because he was Mindy’s dad on Mork & Mindy. He basically specialized in playing "flustered authority figure."
Cameos and Oddities
The movie leaned hard into the "real world" vibe by casting actual celebrities as themselves. Dr. Joyce Brothers shows up. Hugh Downs, the legendary NBC newscaster, makes an appearance too. It was a way to make Tracy’s claim of talking to God feel like a national news event rather than just a local school problem.
Also, keep an eye out for Wilfrid Hyde-White as Judge Thomas Miller. He was a veteran British actor who brought a bit of "old Hollywood" class to the proceedings.
Why the Cast Changed Everything
The first movie was about a guy losing his job and his reputation. The oh god book 2 cast turned the story into a battle between childhood innocence and adult cynicism. When a panel of psychiatrists—played by guys like Hans Conried and Howard Duff—try to grill an eleven-year-old about her "imaginary friend," the stakes feel different. It’s not about legalities anymore; it’s about whether we've lost our sense of wonder.
George Burns actually had ties to Duff and Conried from his old radio days on The Burns & Allen Show. It’s a nice little Easter egg. Having his old friends on set probably made the 100-year-old (well, 84-year-old) feel right at home.
What Happened to Them?
People always ask where Louanne went. She didn't stay in the spotlight forever. After a few more roles in shows like Mork & Mindy and The Love Boat, she eventually transitioned into journalism. For a while, she was an associate editor at E! Online.
George Burns, of course, lived to be 100. He did one more "God" movie (Oh, God! You Devil) where he played both God and the Devil. But many fans still swear that the "Book II" dynamic was the most "human" version of the character.
Actionable Takeaways for Movie Buffs
If you're planning a rewatch or diving into this trilogy for the first time, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the chemistry: Pay attention to how George Burns adjusts his timing for a child actor versus how he worked with John Denver. It's a masterclass in comic adaptation.
- Spot the TV Icons: See how many 70s/80s sitcom stars you can find. It’s basically a time capsule of the era's casting pool.
- Check the Slogans: The "Think God" posters in the movie are actually pretty clever examples of early 80s guerrilla marketing.
- Listen to the Score: Charles Fox (who wrote the Happy Days theme) did the music. It’s very much of its time.
The movie isn't perfect. Some people find the kid-centric plot a bit too "cute." But the oh god book 2 cast managed to catch lightning in a bottle twice, mostly because they didn't try to outdo the original. They just told a simpler, smaller story.