"Parker Lewis Can't Lose" (1990-1993)

I wanna say this was on Fox on a night that was death.

I think instinctually we do know what good writing and story are. Which made me a little hesitant to re-watch a show I soaked up when I was 14 years old.

“Parker Lewis Can’t Lose” was about a high school kid who, along with two friends, created antics that drive the principal Ms. Musso (Melanie Chartoff) nuts. She has her own minions as well, in the form of a dark gothic lapdog named Frank Lemmer.

What makes this show absolutely brilliant is the commitment to the silliness of the project. It’s not “Police Squad!” type visual humor but it is quite close. Both shows had an early demise. Which, in the commentary track of “Police Squad!” the reasoning is…television isn’t really a visual medium. People turn it on as background noise. So you had to pay attention to gags. Actually, this theory may be really accurate considering a similar show “Sledgehammer” also went off the air prematurely.

You can’t be dumb and watch a show like this. Granted the style is gross late 80’s (aired in the 90’s) the snap low-attention span high school humor was REALLY before it’s time. On the coattails of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” the show is about a suave too cool and smart for school dude who lives on his wits. He works at his father’s video store and devises schemes to drive Ms. Musso nuts. It’s a gamesmanship between the two, which usually entails having her be the (sometimes literal) butt of the pranks. He’s a lovable guy, she’s a surprisingly sexy principal. Which, in this day and age, there’s no way they would produce anything this un-PC. Though ahead of its time for showing teenage angst and jealousy WITHOUT having to be maudlin.

I LOVED this show then, and really pleasantly surprised how much I like it now. I don’t think it’s a nostalgic thing though. I think it really is well made. In terms of having distinct high school characters. Sure, some are one-dimensional like Kubiak who is a behemoth man-boy who supplements all his activities with a simple reward of food. He’s played by Abraham Benrubi, who has now gone on to major t.v. and movies. A great career which I only remember him as this guy.

“Parker Lewis…” is that day-glo neon late 80’s. Max Headroom styling, which may annoy people. And believe me, it’s nauseating having to relive that era. But there is a charm to this show that seemed so innocent. The gags are done purely for our benefit. As the opening credits to all episodes begin with a reveal from the point of view of say…a washing machine. Or a refrigerator. To which you’ve seen a million times now. Pretty forward thinking 25+ odd years earlier.

Seek this show out if possible. It really is a nice gem from the 90’s. A solid 3 season run of fun quality which is sorely missing in today’s single camera sit-com. All you have are lame-wads facing the camera “The Office” shit.