Parker Lewis Can't Lose
Parker Lewis Can't Lose is an early 1990s television comedy series that was strongly influenced by the film, Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
It originally aired on the Fox network from September 1990 to June 1993 (3 seasons, 73 episodes). It depicts the tribulations of Santo Domingo High School student and title character Parker Lewis and his friends Jerry and Mikey. The most notable thing about "PLCL" is that its humor is very surreal and bizarre, almost like a live-action cartoon. (Episodes of the Clueless TV series are comparable, with sound effects and character reactions.) The surrealism was toned down in the series' final season, which for that reason is regarded as being somewhat inferior to the first two.
Catch phrases
PLCL established at least three memorable catch phrases:
- "Coolness."
- "Synchronize Swatches!"
- "Not a problem."
Main Characters
- Parker Lewis (Corin Nemec)
- Smart guy with a penchant for garish shirts. He usually has a plan up his sleeve.
- Jerry Steiner (Troy Slaten)
- Archetypal nerd. In the first two seasons, he always wears a trench coat from which he produces almost any object imaginable, supposedly fixed inside with velcro.
- Mikey Randall (Billy Jayne)
- Rock'n'Roll rebel without a cause. By far the most emotionally driven of the trio.
- Grace Musso (Melanie Chartoff)
- Principal of Flamingo high and Parker's arch-nemesis.
- Frank Lemmer (Taj Johnson)
- Musso's sidekick and "lapdog". Likes to wear black and seems to have a telepathic connection to his Principal.
- Francis Lawrence 'Larry' Kubiac (Abraham Benrubi)
- aka "Kube", he is built like a dinosaur with a brain to match. Initially not a member of Parker's gang, he later develops some ties to them. But still, he is more of a force of nature than a real player.
- Shelly Lewis (Maia Brewton)
- Parker's other arch-nemesis, his little sister. She likes to manipulate their parents to her benefit, which usually annoys Parker to no end.
- Dr. Norman Pankow (Gerrit Graham)
- The principal of El Corrado High School and Musso's primary adult rival. His doctorate is in penology. As tough as Musso is, Pankow is regarded as far, far worse.