Beyond Our Control was an American youth-produced television series that aired on local NBC affiliate WNDU-TV in South Bend, Indiana for 19 seasons from 1967 to 1986.

Screenwriter Chris Webb, a student participant and adult writing adviser, wrote, "I think the thing that makes BOC really work is that it is done by high school kids, and the audience can tell that it was, and the show never hid the truth.

For a majority of seasons, the opening featured a kinestasis of hundreds of magazine and album covers from the current year over "Mickey's Son and Daughter" by The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.

The closing theme song was "Remember (Christmas)" from the album Son of Schmilsson by Harry Nilsson and featured clips from familiar older TV shows.

NATFE's citation described the series as "outstanding variety programming actually produced by students in South Bend, that provided a new and entertaining insight into the status of contemporary American culture as mirrored by the television Industry Itself.

"[3][4] In 1976, Beyond Our Control won the Chicago International Film Festival's "Gold Hugo" award for best television program in its category, competing against professional series and specials produced by major networks and local stations throughout the country.

[5] A Gabriel Award from the Catholic Academy of Communication Professionals followed in 1977, recognizing Beyond Our Control as a top youth-oriented local television program in markets ranking smaller than number 25.

[7] Most recently, in August 2017 at a BOC 50th Reunion,[8] The City of South Bend issued a proclamation signed by Mayor Pete Buttigieg in honor of Beyond Our Control.

Typed scripts were handed to company members at Wednesday night Junior Achievement meetings, at which time students had the opportunity to audition for parts or be assigned to technical positions.

Company members who went on to greater fame include Larry Karaszewski (Emmy Award-winning screenwriter and producer The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story), Daniel Waters (screenwriter, Heathers), David Simkins (screenwriter, Adventures in Babysitting), Diane Werts (film critic, creator of "For Better or Werts"), Dean Norris (SAG Award-winning actor, Breaking Bad), Traci Paige Johnson (animator, creator of Blue's Clues), Phil Frank (journalist, videographer, and documentary producer [1]), Chris Webb (screenwriter, Toy Story 2), Katharine Eliska Kimbriel (fantasy novelist, Night Calls [11]), Corrie Wynns (journalist for WMAQ radio, AP Radio Network and Sheridan Broadcasting Network), Patrick Pritchett,[12] executive assistant for Kathryn Bigelow and James Cameron, poet and English professor, and Mary Willems Armstrong (co-author of Encyclopedia of Film Themes, Settings and Series [13]).

At age 26, he conceived the idea of Beyond Our Control as a satirical look at the world of television, and, under the auspices of Junior Achievement, produced the program for ten years.

Under Williams' guidance, the show received national acclaim with articles in many newspapers and magazines, including an extensive spread in TV Guide.

[14] In a letter[15] to his "kids" shortly before his surgery, which was distributed after his death, Dave wrote: "Some of you may find it ironic that a 37-year-old man who neither drinks nor smokes nor drugs, and who frequently preaches that life is great if you smile a lot and make others happy, suddenly discovers that he harbors something in his brain that doesn't belong there.

Then he shared a little bit of his philosophy of life: "I think it all has to do with working hard and smiling a lot and listening more than you talk and concentrating your effort in one area... " He wrote: "So, remember me, please, at my best.