Customer Reviews

Parker Lewis Can't Lose: The Complete First Season

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have fond memories of watching Parker Lewis Can't Lose with my family on Sunday evenings on Fox back in 1990 when it first aired, and we all enjoyed it. Where I lived in San Francisco it was on at 7:30 right before The Simpsons and lasted for three seasons.

It may be nearly 20 years after the fact, but even now it holds up as a high-quality show of uncommon intelligence and humor, and is notable for being one of the Fox Network's early hits. Besides inventive storylines and a light, humorous touch, Parker and his buds are memorable characters, and the casting is pitch-perfect. The editing and camera movements are creative, enhancing the whimsical and quirky nature of the show.

And I, for one, appreciate the fact that this show is somewhat of a time capsule of early-90s clothing and styles. I was in high school when this show was on, and it reminds me of those days more than a little bit.

The 26 Season One episodes are hands-down the best in my opinion, and hopefully this set will sell like hotcakes thus necessitating a Season Two release. The abbreviated Season Three (only 22 episodes) is a different story, however. It is notorious in tv history as being a classic "shark-jumper"--at the behest of the producer, it changed its name to "Parker Lewis" (losing the "Can't Lose" moniker) and became more of a vanilla after-school-special type program no longer resembling the irreverent show of the first two seasons.

Here are the 26 Season One episodes in broadcast order:

1. Pilot (9/2/90)
2. Operation Kubiak (9/9/90)
3. Power Play (9/16/90)
4. Parker Lewis Must Lose (9/23/90)
5. Close, But No Guitar (9/30/90)
6. G.A.G. Dance (10/7/90)
7. Love's a Beast (10/14/90)
8. Saving Grace (10/21/90)
9. Musso & Frank (10/28/90)
10. Deja Dudes (11/4/90)
11. Radio Free Flamingo (11/15/90)
12. Science Fair (11/18/90)
13. Teacher, Teacher (12/2/90)
14. Rent-a-Kube (12/16/90)
15. Heather the Class (1/13/91)
16. Jerry: Portrait of a Video Junkie (2/3/91)
17. Splendor in the Class (2/10/91)
18. The Human Grace (2/17/91)
19. Citizen Kube (2/24/91)
20. Randall Without a Cause (3/10/91)
21. Jerry's First Date (3/24/91)
22. Against the Norm (4/7/91)
23. King Kube (4/28/91)
24. Teens from a Mall (5/5/91)
25. My Fair Shelly (5/12/91)
26. Parker Lewis Can't Win (5/19/91)

At long last, Parker Lewis is finally coming to DVD! This truly is one of the best shows ever broadcast on TV and it's one of the mysteries (and injustices) of the universe that Screech from Saved by the Bell gets a DVD release but quality like Parker Lewis (and Midnight Caller) have to endure fan petitions to get a well-deserved DVD release. Now let's keep the pressure on for seasons 2 and 3 to be on DVD!

I gotta say, AT LAST!!! This is the premier and best sitcom of American Television along with Malcolm in the Middle. If you've not seen it yet, prepare to get hooked - this show is extremely addictive. Parker Lewis - a High School genius, not by books; but by creativity has a way out of every situation he gets himself into thanks to the "Musso excuse files" kept safely hidden on a football sized rolodex in Steiner overcoat. Meanwhile Mikey, has the knack for finding trouble, actually they all do; the 3 Tenors of high school sheningans and pranks. The principle Grace Musso, and her able assistant Frank Lemmer - who's official title as Special Obedience Helper steal nearly every scene. This is the show to escape into non-reality and just enjoy yourself. No big message here, just straight up entertainment. The cast is classic casting, everyone here belongs on this show and you will learn all about everyone important to the cast in the very first episode. And you will immediately be hooked. But the biggest star of this comedy series wasn't the cast, it was the special affects. This show was so ahead of it's time, the sounds and visuals, strange camara angles, Musso's "unopposeable thumb," the sound of Kubiaks 300 pounds walking thru the hallways of Santo Domingo High; nothing I write here will do justice for the genius of creativity this show had. But don't take my word for it, see it for yourself, and like so many of us who have waited long overdue, you will be hooked, and you too will realize this is as good as it gets.

It is a good show, if you are looking at this you already know what its about. The only problem and it is a BIG problem is the quality of transfer to DVD. It stinks, I had old copies of the show I had made on VHS while it was on TV and the quality of those after all these years of fading is about the same or better than the DVD quality. When I first tried to watch it I thought my DVD player or TV was messed up, it was that bad. The worst part of the movie are the times when they froze the image and continue on with the talking or audio, at those points you really see how bad the transfer was... frankly I would suggest passing on this one because of quality of the transfer alone. Go look for a VHS copy of it and you'll find better quality than the DVD. VERY VERY disappointed.

FINALLY!!! I have been waiting for this to come out for soooo long. I just ordered my copy, and can't wait for it to arrive. I practically grew up with this show. I hope that they come out with the other seasons next. I have one comment for the people that are responsible for releasing this... THANK YOU SIRS!

I remember catching episodes back when this show was on TV, and I remember how unusually funny and clever it was. I still remember the one episode (which I think was a season finale) where the camera pulls all they way back from the set, and there's these two guys sitting way in the back, and one leans over to the other and says something like, "So THAT'S how they do it." This was a direct slam at the attempted copycat show "Ferris Buellers Day Off" which wasn't funny at all (unlike the brilliant movie).

But the real spirit of Ferris Bueller lived on in Parker Lewis, and now I'll be able to see all the episodes I missed. Now, if we could get Max Headroom and Shewolf of London out on DVD, I could die in peace knowing I'd lived a full life.

This was probably the BEST comedy of the 90's. The nerd "Jerry Stiener" was waaaay better than those other TV nerds like Screech or Erkel! Thanks to the powers that be for finally releasing this show. It was groundbreaking to say the least, and paved the way for so many other shows. It was said that they "out Ferris'd" the terrible TV show Ferris Bueler. The show was about the coolest kid in High School, Parker Lewis, and his two best buds, Jerry and Mikey. Get this DVD. You will not be sorry. I can't wait.

Parker Lewis Can't Lose is finally being released on DVD this summer and I am one happy girl! This show was one of my favorites growing up and how can you not be fond of Corin Nemec who plays the title role? Nemec was such a special and cool actor, wonder what he's been up to all these years? The first season was utterly delightful, the comedy is dark and ironic and the situations these teens get in is so realistic. I can't wait, reserve your copy today!

This show is beautiful, funny, smart, entertaining, creative, and even innocent by today's low standards. What more could you want from a sitcom? I have held on to some VHS tapes I have of this show, and my 12 year old loved them. I can't wait for these DVDs!

This was one of my favorite shows! Done with intelligence, wit, style and substance it has definitely become a cult classic. USA Network used to show re-runs during the summer of 95 and 96. Finally Parker Lewis makes his debut on DVD. The cast was pitch perfect with Parker and his best buds being instantly likeable. Maia Brewton as Parker's younger sister Shelly ranks up there with Danielle Spencer's Dee Thomas from What's Happening as the kid sister from Hell and steals every scene she's in.

But whatever happened to Taj Johnson, who played Frank Lemmer? He seems to have disappeared (or make that teleported) from the business. Hopefully, Shout will have a lot of great supplemental material with the whole cast.
I eagerly await the arrival on DVD.