Parker Lewis Can't Lose
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| Parker Lewis Can't Lose | |
|---|---|
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| Format | Sitcom |
| Created by | Clyde Phillips |
| Starring | Corin Nemec Troy Slaten Billy Jayne Melanie Chartoff Taj Johnson Abraham Benrubi Maia Brewton Gerrit Graham |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 73 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes (with commercials) |
| Production company(s) |
Columbia Pictures Television |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Fox |
| Original run | September 2, 1990 – June 13, 1993 |
| External links | |
| IMDb profile | |
| TV.com summary | |
Parker Lewis Can't Lose is an early 1990s comedy television series produced by Columbia Pictures Television that was strongly influenced by the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The series originally aired on the Fox network from September 1990 to June 1993 (three seasons, 73 episodes), the last season sporting the simpler title Parker Lewis.
The series depicts the tribulations of the title character Parker Lewis, a Santo Domingo High School student, for whom nothing is impossible. Just like his best buds Jerry Steiner and Mikey Randall and his girlfriend Annie Sloan, his prime concern is achieving and maintaining coolness during the turbulent years of puberty. However, their efforts keep being thwarted by Parker's little sister, Shelly, and principal Grace Musso. Apart from various aspects of teenage life, embedded in a surreal, living-cartoon-like quality and the clever camera angles and filming techniques, an episode regularly contains more or less subtle references to movies, politics, and celebrities. The surrealism was toned down in the series' final season.
The TV spinoff Ferris Bueller, which was directly based on Ferris Bueller's Day Off, debuted on NBC during the same month, but it only lasted 13 episodes. Parker Lewis Can't Lose actually had lower ratings, but the Fox Network was still in its early years and thus had lower expectations.
Contents |
[edit] Characters
[edit] Main characters
- Parker Lloyd Lewis (played by Corin Nemec) - Smart guy with a penchant for garish shirts. He usually has a plan up his sleeve, and they in turn usually involve outsmarting someone else. Parker is famous for his catch phrase, "not a problem," which he often says when faced with trouble. In the final season, Parker finally settled down with one girl, Annie, and he seemed more mature and less reliant on his "not a problem" attitude.
- Jerry Steiner (played by Troy Slaten) - Archetypal nerd. In the first two seasons, he always wears a trench coat from which he produces almost any object imaginable, apparently fixed inside with velcro. He addresses everyone by last name, i.e., "Mr. Lewis," "Mr. Randall," and even "Mr. Kubiac," or collectively as "sirs". At the end of the credits, Jerry is stuffed into his locker by the Kube, causing him to plaintively call for "Mr. Lewis? Mr. Randall? Mr. Phillips? (Clyde Phillips, the series' creator and executive producer) Hello?"
- Michael Patrick 'Mikey' Randall (played by Billy Jayne) - Rock'n'Roll rebel without a cause. By far the most emotionally driven of the trio. He often quotes or paraphrases famous songs (e.g., "To quote Don Henley, this is The End of the Innocence", or suggesting to "Paint It, Black" when Steiner betrays the group's trust).
- Grace Musso (played by Melanie Chartoff) - Principal of Flamingo High; Parker's arch-nemesis. Often breaks the glass on her office door, and with that trademark 'swoosh' when she swings her arm with thumbs pointing to the door.
- Shelly Ann Lewis (played by Maia Brewton) - Parker's other arch-nemesis, his little sister. She likes to manipulate teachers and parents to her benefit, which usually annoys Parker to no end. Most of the time she is on friendly terms with Jerry (at least when no sexier guys are around) and the two seem to end up in a constant relationship at the end of the series.
- Martin Lloyd 'Marty' Lewis (played by Timothy Stack) - Parker's father. He owns a Video rental. He tries hard to keep some of the coolness that he had in his own school days.
- Judy Lewis (played by Anne Bloom in season 1 and Mary Ellen Trainor in seasons 2-3) - Parker's mother. She can be loving and gentle, but if her family is threatened she is ready for battle.
- Francis Lawrence 'Larry' Kubiac III (played by Abraham Benrubi) - a.k.a. "Kube", he is built like a dinosaur with a brain to match, yet with a surprisingly sweet disposition. While walking, Kubiac would cause minor (and sometimes major) earth tremors and noises. Initially not a member of Parker's gang, he later develops some ties to them. But still, he is more of a force of nature than a real player. His favourite line was, "Eat now?". In the series' beginning, he was initially introduced as a pure bully, aggressive and hostile towards other characters, but within a few episodes, his character was quickly changed into a more benign and friendly one, and he eventually became a helpful character who would often help Parker and his friends get out of trouble.
- Franklin 'Frank' Lemmer (played by Taj Johnson) - Principal Musso's ultra-Republican sidekick and "lapdog" with vampiric tendencies. Likes to wear black and seems to have a telepathic connection to the principal. Obsessed with war, strategy and politics. He is able to teleport at will.
- Annie Faith Sloan (played by Jennifer Guthrie). Parker's love interest from the middle of the second season to the show's end.
[edit] Recurring characters
- Dr. Norman Pankow (played by Gerrit Graham) - The principal of El Corrado High School and Musso's primary adult rival. His doctorate is in penology. As tough as Musso is, Pankow is regarded as far, far worse.
- Nick Comstock (played by Paul Johansson) - Manager of the Atlas Diner during the second season. He is very attractive and possesses a supernatural ability to help people with their problems.
- Bradley 'Brad' Penny (played by Harold Pruett) - Yet another arch-nemesis of Parker that appeared in the show's final season. He works as a bricklayer, is athletic and good-looking, and punches Parker in the face on various occasions. Needless to say that Shelly is intrigued by him.
- Coach Hank Kohler (played by John Pinette). Joining during the show's final season, Hank Kohler served as a father figure for Larry Kubiac and the new owner of the Atlas Diner, which he finally loses in the show's final episode, "The Last Supper." He is obsessed with Grace Musso, who is completely repulsed by him.
[edit] International
- In Argentina it aired on Canal 2, in the afternoons.
- In Australia, the show aired on Channel 9
- In Austria, the show aired on ORF1.
- In Belgium, the show aired on the official Flemish television channels (BRT1 and BRT2, now called Eén and Canvas) with multiple reruns.
- In Brazil, the show aired on Rede Record
- In Canada, the show aired on Global TV.
- In Chile, the show aired on Canal Trece
- In Colombia, the show aired on Canal Uno.
- In Costa Rica it aired on Repretel Channel 6 and Channel 11.
- In Denmark, it aired on TV2
- In El Salvador it aired on Channel 6.
- In Finland, it aired on Kolmoskanava.
- In France, the show aired on TF1, and later France 3.
- In Germany, the show aired on Pro 7.
- In Greece and Cyprus, it aired on ANT1
- In Hungary, the show aired first on M1 and years later on TV2.
- In Iceland it aired on Sjónvarpið as Skálkar á skólabekk (Rogues in school)
- In Israel, the show aired on Cable Channel 6 and later on Cable Channel 3.
- In Italy it aired on Telemontecarlo
- In Kenya, it aired on Kenya Television Network (KTN)
- In Mexico, the show aired on XHGC-TV Canal 5
- In the Netherlands, the show aired on NCRV.
- In New Zealand, the show aired on TV2.
- In Norway, it aired on NRK as a part of the show Go' Elg
- In Peru, the show aired first on Frecuencia Latina (Canal Dos).
- In the Philippines, the show aired on RPN 9.
- In Poland, the show aired first on Canal+, then on TVP2.
- In Portugal, the show aired first on TVI and years later on SIC Radical.
- In Slovakia, the show aired on TV Markíza.
- In Spain, the show aired on Canal Sur, TV3, Canal 9, ETB 1, TVG and years later on Cuatro
- In Sweden, the show aired on SVT, as 'Parker Lewis'
- In Switzerland, the show aired on SRG.
- In Turkey and North Cyprus, it aired on CNBC-e
- In the UK, the show first aired on BSB Channel Galaxy before moving to SKY One and later on Toonami. The series never made it to terrestrial television.
- In Uruguay it aired on Canal 4.
- In Venezuela the show aired on Venevision
[edit] Cultural References
- Alternative rock band Fall Out Boy released a song entitled "Parker Lewis Can't Lose (But I'm Gonna Give It My Best Shot)." on their first album Fall Out Boy's Evening Out With Your Girlfriend. the song boasts the lyrics: "In the meantime/just talking to my shoes converse with my Converse/at least they hear a word I say"
- The Western name for a common pig character in early Sonic the Hedgehog video games is Porker Lewis.
- At the end of the first season finale episode, "Parker Lewis Can't Win," two figures observing the PLCL set say: "So that's how they do it!" "C'mon, Ferris, let's get out of here." (A reference to the short run of the rival Ferris Bueller on NBC).
- In one episode during the second season, a background figure in a crowd scene can be seen holding a sign to the viewing audience that reads, "Thank you for not watching Eerie, Indiana." Eerie, Indiana was an NBC program on opposite PLCL during 1991-1992.
- In Sci-Fi TV movie S.S. Doomtrooper which starred Corin Nemec as Captain Malloy, one of the soldiers on his team is named Parker Lewis.
[edit] Episodes
[edit] Season 1 (1990–1991)
- Pilot
- Operation Kubiak
- Power Play
- Parker Lewis Must Lose
- Close, But No Guitar
- G.A.G. Dance
- Love's a Beast
- Saving Grace
- Musso & Frank
- Deja Dudes
- Radio Free Flamingo
- Science Fair
- Teacher, Teacher
- Rent-a-Kube
- Heather the Class
- Jerry: Portrait of a Video Junkie
- Splendor in the Class
- The Human Grace
- Citizen Kube
- Randall Without a Cause
- Jerry's First Date
- Against the Norm
- King Kube
- Teens from a Mall
- My Fair Shelly
- Parker Lewis Can't Win
[edit] Season 2 (1991–1992)
- Father Knows Less
- A Walk on the Dark Side
- Full Mental Jacket
- Future Shock
- The Undergraduate
- Stormy Mikey
- Fat Boy and Little Man
- Aging Gracefully
- The Parker Chronicles
- Rock 'n' Roles
- Loves Handles
- Boy Meets Girl
- Raging Kube
- Tower of Power
- Obscene and Not Heard
- Goodbye Mr. Rips
- Civil Wars
- Glory Daze
- Boy Meets Girl II
- Dance of Romance
- When Jerry Met Shelly
- Geek Tragedy
- Money Talks
- Home Alone with Annie
- Diner '75
[edit] Season 3 (1992–1993)
- Flamingo Graffiti
- Cape Flamingo
- The Kiss
- Summer of '92
- Love is Hell
- Jerry's Journey
- Beauty and the Kube
- Hungry Heart
- Lewis and Son
- Kohler Buys the Diner
- Parker's Got a Brand New Car
- An Unmarried Musso
- Educating Brad
- The Love Bug
- Write or Die
- The Bitch is Back
- Musso: a Wedding
- A Night to Remember
- Boys Night In
- Senior Jerry
- The Rocky Kohler Picture Show
- The Last Supper
[edit] Trivia
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- Actor Seth Green originally auditioned for the role of Jerry Steiner, but lost out to Troy Slaten. Presumably this is also where he met Abraham Benrubi, with whom he appeared in Without a Paddle, and who is also a frequent guest voice actor on Green's Adult Swim show Robot Chicken
- The theme for every high-school dance in the show was "Remember The 80s".[citation needed]
- Larry Kubiac's first name is actually Francis, as revealed by his younger brother Bobby in the pilot episode. Larry's first name appears again twice in "The Parker Chronicles" (S2 Ep9) when Grace Musso, and then Frank Lemmer announce the "Kubospective Ceremony". Bobby never appeared in any other episode of the show. Kubiac is referred to several times by his full name later in the series: Francis Lawrence Kubiac. Francis Lawrence is the real name of Gidget, and is one of many references to sitcoms from the 50s and 60s present in the show.
- Robin Fecknowitz, the love object of both Parker and Mikey in the pilot, was played by actress Milla Jovovich.
- Parker shares his middle and last name with Robert Lloyd Lewis, one of the show's producers.
- "Sloan," the last name of Parker's girlfriend, is almost identical to the first name of Ferris Bueller's girlfriend Sloane in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, the movie on which the show is thematically based.
- "Grace," the first name of Principal Musso is shared by Ed Rooney's secretary Grace in Ferris Bueller's Day Off
- In one episode, Parker Lewis pulls a Debbie Gibson's "Out of the Blue" 12" EP into frame, saying that life is just as sweet and wonderful as a "Debbie Gibson record".
- In one episode, when faced with a troubling day, Parker looks at the camera and says to the viewers, "I wonder if Ferris Bueller has days like these."
[edit] DVD release
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment currently has no plans to release the show on DVD, possibly due to music clearance issues. Both Corin Nemec and Abraham Benrubi have expressed an interest in seeing the show released, and it is currently one of Sony's most-requested TV titles for release.
In a recent interview, Corin Nemec said that he and Shout! Factory had approached Sony about obtaining the rights for a DVD release, but they declined the offer, because they were unwilling to share the profits with an outside entity. According to Nemec, it was to be a comprehensive release, and he was to be involved in producing the supplementary materials, including interviews with cast members and audio commentaries. The project is currently on an indefinite hold, presumed cancelled.
[edit] External links
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