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"Parker Lewis Can't Lose" (1990) More at IMDbPro »

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17 comments in total

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25 out of 27 people found the following comment useful :-
Release this now please!, 16 November 2004
Author: milesh from Cabridge, MA US

I have only fond memories of this show and for me it set the standard for teen comedies when it was running. The later competing Ferris Beuller show didn't hold a candle to it. The site-gags were well done, the cheeziness of the show was an asset, not a liability, and it was consistently witty and clever; the likes of which hadn't really been equalled until the Buffy series arrived on the scene many years later.

Still, I have yet to find this in any video or DVD form. I'd really like to watch the series again (as would my then-college roommate when the series came out). It was a sleeper and still has a semi-cult following. It's a shame that it is yet another common example of good series' that keep falling victim to TV execs who only care about dumbed down franchise material and instant gratification.

What's the hold up folks? Put out the DVD boxed set now!!!!

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21 out of 21 people found the following comment useful :-
Clever and Funny, 31 May 2001
Author: Matthew Ignoffo (mermatt@webtv.net) from Eatontown, NJ, USA

This show was clever and funny -- and so the network really didn't get it. Some of the satire of middle-class "morality," school bureaucracy, and human egotism was too sharp for the tastes of those folks who prefer every sitcom to be a carbon copy of every other sitcom, all of which are Punch & Judy shows.

Parker was a bright student with a couple of loyal buds who constantly fought their way out of the snares created by the unimaginative world around them. The show was creative, imaginative, funny, and touching. I'm glad to see that it has a new life on cable reruns.

Mental note: Watch the show!

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13 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :-
coolness., 28 July 2003
Author: NRG (n000g) from germany

back in the early nineties, me and my best buddies back then loved this show. parker, mikey and jerry where kinda role models to us.

the show's comic-like presentation is pretty cool, so are the gags. it has its own style. unique.

nowadays, im watching it again. its even better now, because i get more jokes than i did when i was 9 or 10. :) sadly, i have to admit that season 2 isnt at the level of season 1, and season 3 is almost a disaster. way too much love stories. in one episode parker says "i remember when this was my show", what made me think "yeah, me too"...

however, its a must-see. at least season 1 and 2 are. coolness.

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13 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
Ferris who?, 15 April 2003
Author: s8-10 (northaustinite@yahoo.com) from United States

This show illustrated early 1990s teen life with a new at the time method of cramming humor on many levels into a short thirty minute timeslot. Parker became an icon for the changing sense of cool in the early 90s and saw the nation through a time of transition from 80s materialism and glam-rockers into grunge and "alternative"ism. A rare ratings bringer for the at the time newly formed Fox Network, viewers welcomed change from the mentally devoid traditional family night viewing of the era. This show held its own and managed to build up a decent if not cult following for the wisecracking characters and sight gags/slapstick. The first season was a comic success followed by 2 more seasons of half-hearted "doogie howser" type plotlines, however there were "funny" and "cheezy" shows in all three.

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14 out of 16 people found the following comment useful :-
Very much ahead of its time, 24 August 2002
Author: Apogee_

"Parker Lewis" was a very unusual show, and that's probably also the reason why it only lasted 3 seasons. The show revolves around the life of the main character Parker (the trendy guy), and his pals, Mikey (the cool guy), Jerry (the nerdy guy) and later on also Kubiac (the bully guy, who turned out to be all right).

It's all about being a teenager, and all what comes with it, love, trouble with the parents, making choices etc. What makes the show unique is the stories, and more importantly how they are told. It's hard to explain really, but it's something out of the ordinary, and it definately worth checking out.

Even though the show didn't last very long, it did help make the way for other brilliant children/young adult shows such as "Eerie Indiana" and "The Adventures of Pete and Pete".

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11 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :-
This show ruled the school!, 14 June 2003
Author: xaing9 from Tampa, FL

Me and my sister used to watch this damn show all the time back in the day. We LOVED it. And we wept when it was cancelled. We WEPT. Most GroundBreaking shows do end up getting cancelled though. But like my old man said, "Crying won't do anything. You have to take action!" So me and my sister started a letter writing campaign to get this show brought back. Of course, we started said campaign last week, but you never know! you never, NEVER know!!!

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8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
The vanguard, 15 January 2001
Author: mix-3 from Tallinn, Estonia

I love it. I do. This, IMHO, is what a teenage/youth comedy should be. A perfect example of how a series can be intriguing, funny and yet explore the very real situations high school students come face to face with every day. And it does this without being crude, without offensive language etc. Having seen the series, some of the other similar series like Sweet valley high, Saved by the bell and, yes, Ferris Bueller (TV series) look like pale imitations and wannabes. Granted, Parker isn't for everyone. The surreal situations may alienate or simply bother some viewers. But it depends on the person.

Give it a try.

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8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
A witty, insightful series but with the right dose of humour, 11 November 1998
Author: BCY from NSW, Australia

A superb series which only lasted for three seasons. Each episode was meaningful and whilst there were sight gags, the series developed into monologues about relationships, which was handled in a humorous and witty manner. The characters evolved and in particular, Kubiac went from being a brute to someone with a three dimensional character who actually had feelings and emotions.

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7 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
Mental Note: A great show, 29 September 2002
Author: aplato from Portland, OR

Somebody happened to say "coolness" to me yesterday who was wearing this obnoxious shirt, and it made me instantly remember this show. I religiously watched this show in college. The first season is nothing short of pure genius. Absolutely helarious with irreverant characters, whacky plots, and some camera work that rivals the Cohen brothers in Raising Arizona.

Every now and then you can catch somebody on Ebay selling off the entire show on VHS. If you get a chance to see an episode, don't miss it. Its genuinely funny stuff.

However, beware the 3rd season. The show's popularity seemed to cause it troubles with the Studio Execs so they retooled the show in the 3rd season and killed off a lot of its charm. Most of the 3rd season episodes are booooooring standard sit-com fair.

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
For Teens of the 1990s!, 21 May 2007

Author: Sylvia Marciniak (sylviastel@aol.com) from United States

I still can't believe that I haven't seen this show since it's cancellation. Corin Nemec was known for his role as Steven Stayner in a made for television film about the Stayner abduction and life. Corin displays his acting ability here to show his range can be comedy. The show only lasted a couple of seasons on Fox when it was innovative, new, and fresh. Now, I crave for shows like Parker Lewis Can't Lose to return again to television. His supporting cast wasn't forgettable neither but it was lightened side of adolescent life. Too bad, it hasn't come out on DVD. I bet it would be a hit all over again. I remember that it didn't have a studio audience which I thought was different from a sitcom standard.

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