Customer Reviews

Mr. Belvedere: Seasons One & Two

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Shout! has done another excellent job with their release of Mr Belvedere seasons one & two. The episodes are all the original network episodes, not syndicated cuts. The original opening credits have been restored, inculding the original pilot opening. No music is replaced. The video is for the most part fine. Occasionally there is a blurry spot but the show is over 20 years old. The audio sounds fine also, but occasionally the sound is slightly lower in some spots.

Now for the show itself. I watched this show when it originally aired and haven't seen it much in syndication since. My memory of the show is mostly from it's original network run. I loved the show then but wasn't mature enough to fully appreciate it's humor. After watching this set I enjoyed the show even more than I remembered. As an adult I can catch the adult jokes that I missed when I was a kid. This show is as entertaining to adults as it is to a younger audience. It holds up well. I watched episode after episode not wanting to come to the end and enjoying every second of it.

The set does have special features. There are interviews with the surviving cast members (minus Tracy Wells). They talk about how much fun they had on the show, including the pranks they played on each other. They talk of their fond memories and how they are still rmeembered to this day for their Mr Belvedere roles. Hopefully future sets will have an interview with Tracy Wells. The other special feature is the SNL Mr Belvedere fan club skit. That has nothing to do with the show, but it is hysterically funny. Tom Hanks is in it. The set also features two clips Family Guy in which Stewie sings the Mr Belvedere theme song. This is also mentioned in the interviews.

If anyone is on the fence about buying this set and worrying that they won't enjoy it as much as they remember, worry no more. The show is better than remembered. A few plots may be dated but as a whole the show stands up very well. You won't be disappointed.

If you're sick and tired of today's un-funny and truly mean comedies that are billed as "family sitcoms," then this DVD release of Mr. Belvedere from the mid-1980s is for you.

Mr. Belvedere had heart. A Classic TV Family Sitcom that remains vastly underrated, it was based on the Gwen Davenport novel, "Belvedere," which also had spawned two much earlier movie adaptations. The TV series brought a high-brow Englishman to work as a live-in nanny for a middle-class American family. It ran Friday night's on ABC from 1985 to 1990.

It starred Christopher Hewitt, who portrayed Lynn Aloysis Belvedere, a very proper Englishman who had worked for the British gentry, including Winston Churchill and English royalty. The series begins when Belvedere shows up at doorstep of the American residence of George Owens on a very cold and snowy December night. Ownes, played surprisingly well by George Uecker, portrayed exactly what he was in real-life: a former Major League Baseball player and sportscaster.

George's wife on the series, Marsha Cameron Owens, played by Ilene Graff, as well as their three children, immediately fall under the charm of Mr. Belvedere. The same cannot be said of George, who has the exact opposite response to Belvedere, and the feeling is decidedly mutual. Nonetheless, Mr. Belvedere is hired and the rest is Classic TV history.

Much of the series involves the conflict between George and Mr. Belvedere, but also the interaction of the "stuffy" British servant with Marsha, who is also a law student, and the children: Wesley T. Owens, played by Brice Beckham; Kevin Owens, played by Rob Stone; and Heather Owens, played by Tracy Wells. Especially compelling is the relationship that evolves between Belvedere and the spirited and wise-cracking Wesley.

At the end of most episodes, Belvedere is seen relaxing in his room in the evenings after the children are in bed, recording their "everyday" experiences in his diary for future use for a novel he is writing!

A mid-season replacement series that premiered in the middle of March 1985, the first season had only seven episodes. This boxed set includes those episodes and the Complete Second Season, which had 22 episodes.

Season One episodes are: Stranger in the Night, the pilot that introduces the characters; The Outcasts; Gotta Dance; Gorgeous George; What I Did for Love; The Lost Weekend; and Sweet Charity.

Season Two episodes are: The Lion Sleeps Tonight; Tornado; Cheerleader; Requiem; Delivery; The Contract; Vows; Strike; The Letter; Pinball; The Prize; Speechless; The Teacher; The Dropout; Rivals; Wesley's Friend; The Will; Valentine's Day; Heather's Tutor; Amish; Dinner for Two; and The Play.

One of the last of the truly great family sitcoms, I remember watching Mr. Belvedere on Friday nights during its first-run. I didn't even know it was being released on DVD until I was in the store the other day and saw it!! I grabbed it immediately, almost leaping with joy out to my car!

Its even better than I remember. This is a sitcom that was truly a "family" show. All members of the cast had great chemistry together!! No wonder the series became a huge hit!!

Its decent, yet heartwarming and even inspiring "controversial" episodes that are dealt with in a sensitive, loving way. The series isn't mawkishly sentimental either. Its just good, clean, wholesome fun. Best of all......it is FUNNY!!!! Watching Mr. Belvedere one-up everyone or the multi-talented Brice Beckham as Wesley steal the show makes for great classic television.

I also remember thinking how pretty Tracy Wells (Heather) was and how clean-cut and handsome Rob Stone (Kevin) was (he still is).

This is an awesome family show and I hope we won't be disappointed in the fact that companies have the habit of releasing great shows like this for one or two seasons....then don't release the rest of them. Bring the rest of the seasons of this great, classic family sitcom on.....pronto!!

I personally had never seen Mr. Belvedere before. Someone had mentioned it to me so I gave it a try. I was intrigued. It's truly a classy show with heart. Something the whole family could watch. I loved it!

Love this show even though I didn't watch many episodes during it's original run('85-90). Chris Hewitt is terrific with his dead pan aristrocratic zingers and Brice Beckham always delivers his lines with that devlish smirk. The two of them work off each other beautifully. It may not have been one of the most popular sitcoms from that era like say Family Ties, Who's The Boss or Growing Pains but it's still endearing, entertaining and funny all these years later. SHOUT did a great job with this set. I was surprised how good the transfers looked for an 80's sitcom and the audio is excellent all the dialogue came in loud and clear.

PS Irene Graff was and still is sexy as hell. :)))

Thank You Mr Belvedere for the great memories and RIP my dear freind!!

Based on the character "Belvedere" created by Gwen Davenport and first portrayed on screen by Clifton Webb in the adapted films Sitting Pretty (1948), Mr. Belvedere Goes To College (1949) and Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell (1951), ABC's "Mr. Belvedere" finds the live-in butler (the late great Christopher Hewett) deposited with the Owens family, a somewhat provincial household in the suburbs of Pittsburgh.

As Belvedere notes in his journal entry: "Although the individual members seem well intentioned enough, they do seem a bit out of touch with each other. But with a certain amount of patience and direction, I'm sure I can whip them into shape...even George. They're damn lucky to have me".

Indeed. And thanks to Shout! Factory (props to DVD producer Brian Blum), the show's fans are lucky to have him finally on DVD. Mr. Belvedere - Seasons One & Two is a 5-disc (single-sided) set featuring the show's first 29 episodes (all 7 from Season One, plus all 22 from Season Two); Full Frame (1.33:1) video; plus the following Special Features: New Interviews with the Cast, and Saturday Night Live - Mr. Belvedere Fan Club sketch.

The discs are housed in 3 slimcases inside a handsomely designed [brown] slim outer box. Disc 1 contains Season One Episodes 1-7, Disc 2: Season Two Episodes 1-6, Disc 3: Episodes 7-11, Disc 4: Episodes 12-17, Disc 5: 18-22 plus Bonus Features. The picture and sound are fairly good, despite some noticeable grain and a very noticeable sound drop in "The Letter" episode. There are chapters for the episodes which you can skip through using your remote.


Season One

Disc 1:
Stranger in the Night (3/15/1985)
The Outcasts (3/22/1985)
Gotta Dance (3/29/1985)
Gorgeous George (4/5/1985)
What I Did For Love (4/12/1985)
The Lost Weekend (4/19/1985)
Sweet Charity (4/26/1985)


Season Two

Disc 2:
The Lion Sleeps Tonight (9/27/1985)
Tornado (10/4/1985)
Cheerleader (10/11/1985)
Requiem (10/18/1985)
Delivery (10/25/1985)
The Contract (11/1/1985)

Disc 3:
Vows (11/18/1985)
Strike (11/15/1985)
The Letter (11/22/1985)
Pinball (11/29/1985)
The Prize (12/6/1985)

Disc 4:
Speechless (1/3/1986)
The Teacher (1/10/1986)
The Dropout (1/17/1986)
Rivals (1/24/1986)
Wesley's Friend (1/31/1986)
The Will (2/7/1986)

Disc 5:
Valentine's Day (2/14/1986)
Heather's Tutor (2/21/1986)
Amish (3/7/1986)
Dinner For Two (3/21/1986)
The Play (3/28/1986)

I remember when "Belvedere" first aired in the 80's. It wasn't groundbreaking, although the AIDS episode was one of the first to deal with the subject. It was though, charming and quite funny, especially the play between Mr. Belvedere and Wesley. After watching on DVD, I was suprised how good it actually was. Sure, it has some cheesy 80's references thoughout, but it is a nice, family comedy (which became so popular in the 80's, thanks, in part to the success of "The Cosby Show").

Very good quality dvd I have waited years for these to come out on dvd. and I am more than pleased to see it out. I hope they do the other 4 remaining seasons. This series is one of the best family oriented shows in history I suggest buying it. Its a clean quality tv series you dont see many of these anymore.

This is one of my favorite shows in the 80's. I enjoy Mr. Belvedere's sarcasm and his odd relationship with George (Bob Uecker). My favorite episode is on Season 2 called 'Valentine's Day'. Check out the young Stacy Ferguson (of Black Eyed Peas) in this episode. Also the band 'Young Savages' is hilarious. I can watch this episode over and over.
I'm glad it's finally out on DVD. Now I can retire the VHS recordings I did years ago of this show.

1985. What a wonderful year it was. It was definitley a joy and a treat to be a little kid in this era. 1985 was no exception. This was the year that brought us "Back To The Future", "The Goonies", "The Breakfast Club", and so much more. Tears For Fears, Wham!, Madonna, and others were ruling the music charts. And on TV, "The Cosby Show", "Family Ties", "Cheers" and many more were taking over your living room. 1985 also brought us another family sitcom, a type of sitcom prevalent in the 1980's, and this one featured a prim and proper english butler. A butler named Mr. Belvedere. Lynn Belvedere, to be exact.

"Mr. Belvedere" premiered as a mid season replacement on ABC on March 15, 1985. Here is the set up : The Owens family are a typical family household, five members, and living in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. Dad George Owens(Bob Uecker, "Major League")is a sports columnist. Mom is Marsha Ownes(Ilene Graff), a mother and wife who is going to school to become a lawyer. And what is a family sitcoms without the kids?. The Owens family has three kids. Teenagers Kevin(Rob Stone)and Heather(Tracy Wells), and little Wesley(Brice Beckham). The parents have their hands full, and need a little help. Mr. Belvedere(Christopher Hewitt)lands on their doorstep just in time and, with some shoving by the others to George, becomes the new Owens housekeeper.

"Mr. Belvedere" was not a major hit, and from what I hear, struggled to stay on the air for it's six seasons. It is a fondly remembered series from my youth, and it is wonderful to see that it has held up surprisingly well. The first episode, "Stranger In The Night", sets things up and gets it going. Belvedere makes an impression on the family members, mainly Marsha and the kids, but tough 'ol George hasn't been swayed. When he finally is, the next 6 seasons are set in motion. And with this set, you get the first two seasons. 29 episodes in all. And what do these two seasons hold in the zany chaos of the Owens household?. Read on....

Season one, being a mid season show, was pretty short. 7 episodes in all. Wesley is front and center in a few episodes, such as not being invited to a friend's birthday party in "The Outcasts", to trying out for the ballet instead of football in "Gotta Dance". Heather and Kevin get their turns too. Kevin tries to win over a girl in "What I Did For Love". As the 6 seasons go on, this will be a recurring theme for Kevin. Sometimes his endeavors are funny, sometimes a little scary. Heather, along with Wesley, brings a homeless lady to the house in the season one finale, "Sweet Charity". Season 2 has one of the most remembered and talked about episodes of the show. In the episode "Wesley's Friend", Wes discovers a friend of his has AIDS. It was one of, if not the first, series, especially a sitcom, to cover such a topic. It would of been pretty daring and risky back in 1985, but the episode handles the subject very well, as Belvedere helps others to understand the disease and the real facts of it. A tornado also hits the Ownes residence in, fittingly enough, "Tornado". More "special episode" material can be found in "The Contract", about drinking and driving. The romantic side for the oldest Owens kids take some interesting turns when Heather falls for her blind tutot in "Heather's Tutor", and Kevin falls for an amish girl and decides to live like one in "Amish". Oh these episode titles. Right to the point!. And lots, lots more!.

"Mr. Belvedere" may not of got the acclaim, may of taken a lot of pot shots, but the series was always better than you'd think. Sure, it could be corny and syrupy(but who says that is always a bad thing?), but it had an edge to it. Maybe 'edge' is not the appropriate word, but there are times where the show seems to know what it is and has some fun with it. There probably weren't too many family shows where, in the pilot, Wesley mentions his dad's girlie magazines and Belvedere, having just met Wesley, asks Marsha if it was a rough pregnancy. It's little things like this, and better ones, that were peppered throughout the series. It may seem tame by today's standards, but there seemed to be something a lot better going on than what occasional/non watchers or overly critical people may of thought. Not that I am praising the series as the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it was good for what it was, better than some may give it credit for, and deserving of a little more attention than it got. While the Huxtables and Keatons and Seavers were the families of the 80's, the Owens family held their own, week to week, on their little show that could. It also benefitted from a pretty solid cast. Every one held their own, and seemed comfortable as a family, but the spotlight usually goes to Christopher Hewitt and Brice Beckham, as Belvedere and Wesley. The banter between the english housekeeper and George was fun and amusing, but the relationship between Belvedere and Wesley was the most interesting. Beckham was a very good child actor. Wes could be real bratty(I believe some have said "devil child" as well), but Beckahm was good at it. Hewitt was wonderful, and even though it seemed he and Wesley were constantly at each other's throats, you knew that they really, really cared for each other.

The final disc boasts some extra features. The first is a pretty quick featurette with the cast of the show(sadly, Hewitt has passed away, and Tracy Wells is nowhere to be seen). Uecker, Graff(who will surprise you as she has seemingly not aged a day since the series went off the air in 1990), Beckham, and Stone, all share stories. What's really wonderful is that they got along and still stay in contact like a family to this day. The other featurette is a skit from 'Saturday Night Live' about Belvedere, and it features Tom Hanks. Also, if you click on Mr. Belvedere's head on the last disc, you will find an Easter egg.

In the end, "Mr. Belvedere" may not of been the most popular of 1980's family sitcoms, a decade which was packed with them, nor was it groundbreaking television. But it was a nice, sweet, entertaining little show that has held it's simple charm all these years later.