 Parker Lewis Can't Lose - original Fox advertisement Parker Lewis Can't Lose was an American teen sitcom that originally aired on the FOX network from September 1990 to June 1993 (three seasons, 73 episodes). During the last season, the series sported the simpler title Parker Lewis. The series was produced by Columbia Pictures Television and was strongly influenced by the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. [edit] Synopsis The series depicts the tribulations of the title character Parker Lewis, a Santo Domingo High School student, for whom nothing is impossible. Parker often narrates in shows. Just like his best friends, Jerry Steiner and Mikey Randall and his girlfriend Annie Sloan, his prime concern is achieving and maintaining "coolness" during the turbulent years of adolescence. However, their efforts are often 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 (dissolves from one scene to the next were done by ever larger pixels), 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 3,100 students are called "Flamingos", after their football team. 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. [edit] Characters [edit] Main characters - Parker Lloyd Lewis (played by Corin Nemec) - Smart guy with a penchant for garish shirts and cutting classes. Parker usually has a plan up his sleeve, and they in turn usually involve outsmarting someone else. Plans put into effect begin with the command: "Synchronise Swatches". Parker is famous for his catch phrase, "not a problem," which he often says when faced with trouble. He and his two "buds" have their high-tech headquarters hidden above the gym. In the final season, Parker finally settled down with one girl, Annie, and appearing more mature and less reliant on his "not a problem" attitude.
- 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'" (episode 2), or suggesting to "Paint It, Black" when Jerry betrays the group's trust).
- Jerry Steiner (played by Troy Slaten) - Archetypal nerd. In the first two seasons, he wears a trench coat (said to be made by NASA) from which he produces almost any object imaginable, apparently fixed inside with velcro. He addresses everyone by last name, e.g., "Mr. Lewis," "Mr. Randall," and even "Mr. Kubiac," or collectively as "sirs". At the end of the credits of the Pilot episode, Jerry hid in the locker next to Parker's talking endlessly to Parker through the door, not knowing that he had left, causing him to plaintively call out: "Mr. Lewis? Mr. Randall? Mr. Phillips? (Clyde Phillips, the series' creator and executive producer) Hello?" Jerry is also known to sometimes utter eek! like a mouse when in danger. Most of the time he has a crush on Parkers sister Shelly.
- Grace Musso (played by Melanie Chartoff) - Principal of Santo Domingo High; Parker's arch-nemesis, five foot five, said to be in her mid thirties but actually older. Wants to get Parker expelled. Often breaks the glass on her office door when she makes her distinctive "thumb swoosh" gesture. She has a racy side which is sometimes exposed. She has many secrets which she would rather be kept quiet, such as living in a $600,000 house on a $38,000 a year salary (ep 6), which Parker uses as the necessity arises.
- Shelly Ann Lewis (played by Maia Brewton) - Parker's other arch-nemesis: his little sister, who goes to the same school as a freshman. She likes to manipulate teachers and parents to her benefit and tries to get Parker into trouble. Most of the time she is on friendly terms with Jerry and the two seem to end up in a constant relationship at the end of the series. Her favourite saying is: "My brother is a dead man!" whenever she finds an opportunity to bring Parker into an embarrassing situation. She has a tendency to call out Mom! when Parker gets one over on her, as seen at the start or end of various programs.
- Martin Lloyd 'Marty' Lewis (played by Timothy Stack) - Parker's father. He owns a video rental store called Mondo Video with his wife and is helped by Parker and Shelly on weekends. He tries hard to keep some of the coolness that he had in his own school days when he was a, in his own words: "young hoodlum".
- 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". 6 ft 7 ins and 270 lbs, he is built like a dinosaur with a brain to match, yet with a surprisingly sweet disposition. While walking, Kubiac causes earth tremors. His favourite line is, "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 quickly became a helpful character who would often help Parker and his friends in their schemes. Later it becomes revealed in a moment of confidence with Parker that Larry is more intelligent than he appears and his dim-witted persona is merely an act.
- Franklin 'Frank' Lemmer (played by Taj Johnson) - Principal Musso's ultra-conservative sidekick and "lapdog" with vampiric tendencies. He has been in school 16 years (ep 9), wears black and seems to have a telepathic connection to the principal. Obsessed with war, strategy and politics. Nixon is his hero. Musso can summon him with a dog whistle. He is able to teleport at will. Seasons 1 & 2 only.
- 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 with a doctorate in penology. Musso's primary adult rival and a devote of the sculpting of bonsai trees. As tough as Musso is, Pankow is regarded as far, far worse. Seasons 1 & 2.
- 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, often dishing out sage advice to Parker.
- Bradley 'Brad' Penny (played by Harold Pruett) - Appeared in the show's final season. He works as a bricklayer, is athletic and good-looking. Parker sees him as an arch-nemesis but Brad often only wants to be friends though misunderstandings come between them. 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] Episodes [edit] Syndication and DVD releases The show premiered in syndication on September 14, 1993 on the USA Network.[1] As of February 2009, minisodes are available on Crackle. On June 30, 2009, Shout! Factory released the complete first season of Parker Lewis Can't Lose on DVD in Region 1.[2] . The 4-DVD set includes special features including exclusive interviews with the cast, crew, and creators. Although the cast and crew discuss both Melanie Chartoff and her character, Grace Musso, Chartoff herself does not appear in any of the supplementary materials. Season 2 will be released on January 26, 2010.[1] | DVD Name | Ep # | Release Date | | The Complete First Season | 26 | June 30, 2009 | | The Complete Second Season | 25 | January 26, 2010 | [edit] Award nominations | Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient | | 1991 | Young Artist Award | Nominated | Best Young Actress Starring in a New Television Series | Maia Brewton | | Best Young Actor Supporting or Re-Occurring Role for a TV Series | Troy W. Slaten | | Best New Family Television Comedy Series | - | | 1992 | Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series | Maia Brewton | | Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series | Corin Nemec | | 1993 | Outstanding Young Comedian in a Television Series | Corin Nemec | | Best Young Actress Co-starring in a Television Series | Maia Brewton | | Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Television Series | Troy W. Slaten | [edit] Internet support Parker Lewis was one of the first shows with fan support on the Internet. It was done through a mailing list called The Flamingo Digest.[3] Several people from the list were invited to the set.[4] [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.
- The show is referenced in Family Guy, in a small scene that shows Peter going through a "Parker Lewis phase", being strongly interested in the show for a short time.
- 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).
- Early in episode 44 during the crowd scene, a banner can be seen as 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 the 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.
- On the mixtape Fear and Loathing in New Orleans, rapper Curren$y makes reference to the show with the line "Spitta can't lose, cause the boy is Parker Lewis!"
- In the song "Hip Hop Hooray" by Naughty By Nature, the main character is referenced in the line "Fools get foolish neither them or Parker Lewis knew us."
- On NBC's sitcom My Name Is Earl episode "Inside Probe, Part 2" (Season 4, airdate May 7, 2009), actor Tim Stack's character remarks on his unreliable memory, "...people tell me I was on a show called Parker Lewis Can't Lose for three years, but I don't remember that". Stack played the father of "Parker Lewis" from 1990 to 1993.
[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 Czech Republic, the show aired on Česká televize as Parker Lewis musí vyhrát (Parker Lewis Has to Win).
- 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 as Parker Lewis ne perd jamais (Parker Lewis never loses).
- In Germany, the show aired on Pro 7 as Parker Lewis – Der Coole von der Schule (Parker Lewis - The cool (guy) from school).
- 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 Paraguay,it aired on SNT then on RPC
- 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, Telemadrid, 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] References - ^ "USA buys 'Facts,' 'Parker,' films. (USA Network; Columbia Pictures Television's shows 'Facts of Life' and 'Parker Lewis')". Multichannel News. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-14508523.html. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ Lambert, David (2009-02-16). "Parker Lewis Can't Lose Release Date, etc". tvshowsondvd.com. http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Parker-Lewis-Lose-Season-1/11330. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
- ^ "Publicly Accessible Mailing Lists". www.sen.ca.gov. December 18, 1993. http://www.sen.ca.gov/ftp/REF/04MLIST/ACCESSIBLE_LISTS.TXT. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
- ^ Troy Slaten (actor), Timothy Stack (actor). Parker Lewis Can't Lose, Season 1, Disc 2, Deja Dudes (commentary track). [DVD]. Shout! Factory. Event occurs at 7:10.
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