"Check It Out" (1985) TV series 1985-1988

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Creator:

Brian Cooke

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | unknown

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The misadventures of the staff of a supermarket.

Plot Keywords:

Supermarket | Grocery Store | Sitcom | Remake | Based On British TV Series

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Don Adams

...

Howard Bannister (2 episodes, 1985)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

DLT Entertainment Ltd.

Movie Connections:

Version of "Full frys" (1999)

A Brief Look at "Check It Out!"

The show was centered on Don Adam's iconic mannerisms and comebacks, which took place mostly in his character's, Howard Bannister's, grocery store, but the story would also lead to settings outside.

Around Howard were his employees, one of which was his long-time love. The employees were the typical get-on-each-others'-nerves-but-really-love-each-other characters, but each had a distinct personality, albeit populated by the norm for '80's shows, such as the dimwit, the arrogant-one, etc..

There was a punk girl, and even, albeit stereotypical, gay man, something not necessarily portrayed in all sitcoms at the time; there was actually greater diversity with this show's characters than "dumb one," "arrogant one," "slut," "straight man" that populated the TV screen.

I used to watch this TV series when it first aired; I was only a child. It is now airing on TV Land Canada.

I was disappointed at first, for suddenly it wasn't as funny as I remembered. Still, if one can get past some very corny dialog at times, and the amateur film quality compared to most other sitcoms, it is a rather enjoyable and humorous show.

Although an American sitcom, it was filmed in Toronto, and Canadian icons and scenery were sometimes seen, for example, The Canadian Pacific Railway train in the intro.

Unfortunately, the series did not last long, and one can contemplate more reasons than one why it failed. The writing is a big factor; I don't necessarily think it was the worst of what was out there, but the fact that at least one episode's script and even many lines were directly lifted from another show.

The popular Canadian TV series "The King of Kensington," had an early episode entitled, "Save Old George." It featured the tale of saving a landmark tree in the neighborhood, and trying to get the main character to care about it like he used to as a child.

"Check It Out!," not only stole the name of tree with the plot line, but exact lines were lifted and given from one main character to the other!

"Check It Out!," airs on TV Land Canada, and though it may not go down in history as a classic on par with Adam's "Get Smart," overall, if one is sick of Today's TV, this is a show to watch.