Synchronize Swatches!
Original title
Parker Lewis Can't Lose
Released
9/2/1990
Origin country
US
Genre
Comedy
Production companies
Columbia Pictures Television, Clyde Phillips Productions
Status
Ended
Number of seasons
3
Number of episodes
73
Parker Lewis is a teenager who apparently can't lose. He's cool, cute, popular, hip – and seems to get away with anything. That's not to say he's got no problems. His two primary nemeses are school principal Grace Musso, whose goal is getting Parker expelled; and his little sister Shelly, whose sole purpose seems to be tattling on Parker. However, with best friends Mikey and Jerry, Parker takes on the world and makes the best of high school.
Mikey finds love with a new girl in school at the same time Parker finds love with a new girl (it's the same girl). Being a true bud, Parker steps aside and helps Mikey by asking her out. However, complicating matters further, Robin is more interested in Parker. The final straw arrives in the form of football player Larry Kubiac, who wants to destroy Parker.
Parker takes on a new role as Larry Kubiac's agent. While Larry is a force to be reckoned with on the football field, his communication skills are lacking. When college-football scouts are on campus, Parker must help the giant impress them or else wind up a failure. Now Parker must find a way to help Kubiac or else risk a future of pain, courtesy of the Kube.
There's a disturbance in the force as there can't be two Parker Lewises. New student Matt Stiles threatens to steal Parker's glory as he's able to outdo Parker at every turn. In the blink of an eye, Parker is no longer the coolest kid in school and struggles to keep his sanity. His world is crumbling around him unless he can find a way to beat Stiles.
Parker Lewis is a force to be reckoned with in whatever he does, and now he decides to run for class president. When the dedicated Becky Grant puts her all into it only to pale in comparison to Parker, guilt follows. For once, Parker decides to lose at something and throw the election, but it seems that Parker can't lose even if he tries, and his ratings soar higher than ever.
After the day from Hell, Mikey has had enough. With no post-grad plans, he finally figures that he might as well drop out. Now he's trying to make it as a musician, and Parker and friends must intervene to help Mikey see the error of his ways.
With the upcoming G.A.G. Dance looming, the guys are all a bit worried. G.A.G. means "Girls Ask Guys", therefore worry of the wrong girls asking out guys is very real, and Parker intervenes with a motivational speech. While Parker might be able to inspire confidence to the students, who will inspire Parker? As everyone finds dates, Parker winds up the odd man out.
A secret admirer has it out for Mikey while Parker is focused on Musso moreso than ever as she's bent on having him make up three months of missed first-period classes.
Sometimes a bunch of little events occur at just the right time to culminate into one big disaster. This is one of those days, as Musso's review results in her being demoted to teaching home ec, and Dr. Norman Pankow becomes the new principal. When Pankow turns the school into a prison, Parker must figure out how to get Musso her job back.
Parker constantly takes advantage of situations where he (or his buddies) can benefit. When Frank Lemmer finds himself stuck between a rock and a hard place, he turns to Parker. As Musso tries to hook Lemmer up with her 'unsuitable' (in Frank's opinion) niece, Lemmer cuts a deal with Parker for a more suitable date. As Jerry needs help for an upcoming test that Lemmer can help with, the deal seems simple enough. Naturally, this simple task for Parker hits a series of snags... and Parker only worsens the situation.
With the Class of 1970 reunion coming up, some surprising characters appear. not only did Musso graduate then, but Larry's dad, Parker's dad, and the dads of his two best buds. The forerunner of Parker, Mr. Lewis was the resident prankster along with his buddies, and in their day perpetrated the ultimate prank. Now the only evidence of their identities in the prank are about to be revealed as the time capsule will be opened in front of the entire graduating class. Can Parker cover up the crime, or will his dad's legendary episode from years past cause Parker's downfall?
Deep in the bowels of Santo Domingo, a secret has lay dormant since the 1960s: its very own pirate radio station. When Parker and friends stumble across the hidden radio station, they feel they must bring it back to life. The more Musso tries to shut them down, the more the students listen, causing a major thorn in her side. As the gang discover the amount of good the station has on the students, the more they feel they need to keep it going... unless Musso and Lemmer find them first.
It's that time of the year when geeks rejoice. With the big science fair approaching, the rivalry between Musso and Dr. Pankow heats up. Both sides are confident that their schools will win the science fair, and they place bets on their schools. With the impending threat of failure, Jerry (Santo Domingo's best chance at winning) spirals downward, causing Musso to panic. When she realizes that Santo Domingo will lose and Pankow is without any promising projects, the bet changes: the school with the worst project will prevail.
Ms. Donnelly is the definition of coolness as she not only makes class interesting, but she lets her students have fun. When pranks backfire, Ms. Donnelly usually covers for Parker, but this time, her patience begins to falter from the ensuing chaos. The heroic teacher finally resigns, leaving the students to fend for themselves.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are helpless against the rising rate of theft from Mondo Video. Parker realizes that Kubiac could help solve the problem in the form of a rent-a-cop. All's well at Mondo and the shoplifting drops to zero--but then iron-fisted Larry Kubiac takes the job a little too seriously and the customers of Mondo are afraid to even enter the store.
In this installment of "Shelly finding herself", she strives to be a "Vogue", the trendsetting clique. They take Shelly in but Shelly is blinded to their mean girl behavior and she must decide whether her popularity is worth burning those closest to her.
Jerry's latest geeky obsession has taken him away from what matters most, leaving Parker and Mikey to get him back on the right track.
When Parker falls head over heels for a girl, his buds find that their leader has fallen under her spell and they're powerless to stop her. He grows brainwashed enough that Mikey and Jerry can no longer depend on him, causing a ripple in the universe. Now they need to save their friend before the group permanently disbands.
Musso and Dr. Pankow are at it again. Each is trying to get something from the school board and naturally are willing to going to extremes to get their way. Pankow tries to win Musso's heart—and consequently her vote at the school board hearings. Parker discovers what Pankow is scheming and tries to convince Musso that she's being had. Can Parker get through to her before she ends up looking like a fool?
Kubiac's lack of funds impact his ability to buy what he craves most: food. This forces him to stealthily seek out other's food. A true menace, Kubiac can't be stopped, and the students suffer. Then, in an unlikely turn of events, Kube wins a sweepstakes, which makes him an instant millionaire. He'll truly never go hungry again... At least until he starts spreading his wealth all around Santo Domingo at a staggering pace.
Mikey is the wild one, and temptation to leave his friends is always present. When some older guys offer Mikey a spot in their crew, he can't refuse. Good intentions and logic go out the window and Mikey finds himself on the wrong side of the law with his new gang. True friends will stick by you and Parker and Jerry must help out their friend. Mikey might have bitten off more than he can chew though as saving his own skin involves ratting on his new friends.
Jerry's not acting normal and, as Parker and Mikey get to the bottom of the problem, they learn the motive is Jerry's love of a girl. Parker and Mikey ditch their responsibilities in order to pilot nervous Jerry through his date.
The last confrontation between Musso and Pankow left Pankow in shambles. Now he's back, begging Musso for a job. Parker knows better than to trust him and is out to get to the bottom of his plan. In a game of cat-and-mouse, Pankow, Musso, and Parker are out to win.
The announcement of Junior Prom royalty is surprising and scandalous at the same time. On his own, Jerry is responsible for the outcome of Kubiac winning. Now that it's all gone to Kubiac's head, coming out with the truth proves to be hard and potentially very painful for Jerry.
When not in school, Parker and the guys hang out at the mall. In this outing, Jerry feels like the odd man out as he is the only jobless one. Mikey, on the other hand, finds that the promotion at his job is driving up his stress. Parker is after a girl who's always just out of reach, Musso deals with her shopaholicism, and Shelly is out to prove that Lemmer is a vampire.
Getting invited to one of Melinda Harris' parties is a big deal, and when Shelly gets one, she strives to get a date. She grows desperate, and seeks her brother's help—well, she blackmails him. As Jerry is used as her training date, Jerry starts to find interest in her.
Parker has many good days, some mediocre days, but only one worst day. Everything imaginable that can go wrong does. Even Shelly one-ups Parker when she plays an embarrassing video of Musso to the entire school instead of the video Parker really made for Musso, portraying her in a good light. In the end, Parker has had enough and ditches the rest of his day. Could this be the end?
A local business man sponsors a family build-a-better-toaster contest and Mikey can't participate because his mother doesn't have the time.
Shelly joins the Dark Siders, whose initiation calls for her to be suspended from school.
The buds try to break Jerry of his lack of self-confidence when he is without his coat.
Musso forces Parker to make a decision about his future. Kubiac runs from his booster shot. Shelly takes revenge on the cheerleaders.
Parker has a crush on one of his teachers. Jerry wants a part in the school's production of The Music Man.
Mikey lets his school work slide when he gets a chance to impress a record executive.
Jerry joins the football team and becomes king of the gridiron, but fumbles on his friendship with Kube.
Musso mellows as she approaches her 40th birthday, so Parker calls in Dr. Pankow to get the old Musso back.
Parker's diary falls into the wrong hands and he is afraid of the possible consequences if it gets out.
Shelly tries everything to meet her favorite rock star.
Parker asks out a girl he met on a computer bulletin board, but considers backing out when she is less than he hoped for.
Nick is where Parker turns to for advice when Annie breaks his heart.
Kubiac's girlfriend preaches pacifism, leaving the school defenseless.
Musso wants the buds to make a documentary about the school, but Parker has no time thanks to his new history teacher.
Parker's dad protests the banning of a rock album by Dr. Pankow.
Parker's favorite teacher must leave teaching for a better paying job to support his family.
When his wife takes a philosophy class, Parker's father questions the universal truth of their marriage.
Santo Domingo's favorite alumnus returns to accept an award.
Parker and Annie open their souls to the audience to try to save their relationship.
Frank finds the girl of his dreams and turns to Nick for advice.
When Shelly asks Jerry for help with her science project, Parker tries to stop the budding romance.
Jerry takes a shy ""geek"" under his wing, but when she leaves the nest too early, his own eggshell ego begins to crack.
Mikey needs extra cash so he gets a job at the diner.
Parker and Annie plan a quiet evening at home which is interrupted by most of their friends.
A train spills toxic waste which traps everyone in the diner.
Parker decides to change a few things his life. First on his list is to spend a night with Annie.
In a remake of the film Cape Fear, tough guy Brad Penny saves Parker's life and tries to befriend him. Parker becomes suspicious and vows to never let Brad get to him.
Shelly tries to get her first kiss, and she sets her eyes on Brad Penny. Parker tries to stop her from completing her mission.
Love is in the air as Kohler plans to win over Ms. Musso's heart, Ms. Musso meets a handsome stranger, Mikey meets a new girl, and Jerry tries to win over Shelly.
After being left out of everything, Jerry goes on a quest to become cool.
While working together, Kubiak develops a crush on Annie.
Kohler is interested in the mother of the boy that Kubiak is babysitting. Annie tries to fix them up.
Mr. Lewis expects Parker to take over the family business once he's older.
Coach Kohler takes over the guy's hangout.
Parker's father wrecks the classic car that Parker just bought.
Parker's nemesis Brad Penny returns and gets back into school and takes over the poetry class. Jerry gets a job at the diner.
Mikey has a problem with writer's block which may cause him to attend summer school. Everyone gives him help by pitching story ideas, one of which takes on the style of the old Parker Lewis Can't Lose.
Parker is having an unusually lucky day until Mikey introduces him to his new girlfriend. A girl Parker once met at summer camp two years ago and whom broke his heart. Jerry tries to make a commercial for the diner that Kohler likes.
Much to Kohler's dismay, Grace gets married to a man with a six-figure salary; however the bridegroom drops dead soon afterward.
Parker must double-date with Shelley on Prom night, when his parents decide Shelley is a little young to be attending. At the event Shelley turns up missing just as his parents arrive.
Jerry gets move into the A.S.A.P. program which makes him a senior, when he gets a B+ on his first test he freaks out, drops out and starts laying bricks. Grace has a recurring dream about The Scarlet Letter.
Kube gets invited to a movie party but trouble ensues when he invites Kohler to tag along.
Parker and the gang find out that the Atlas Diner is going to be torn down in order to provide a location for a new strip bar. A clip show featuring highlights from all three seasons ensues.
This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.
