PARKER LEWIS CAN'T LOSE: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON

A girlfriend of one of my closest friends used to absolutely INSIST that I watch My So-Called Life. I had missed the show somehow, and she thought that the troubles and adventures had by Claire Danes and Jared Leto not only made for grand television, but their antics were an implicit part of her life as a kid. Fast forward a few years, though: When she and I actually sat down to watch that show, she was appalled. Not only was the show not as prescient and smart as she thought, but she actually became embarrassed that she ever had such deep affinity for it.

I would imagine that this scenario may present itself to anyone who returns to Parker Lewis Can't Lose. Corin Nemec has a ton of charisma as the show's eponymous protagonist, and his buddies Mikey and Jerry make noble foils for Parker's frequent adventures, but at the end of the day, this first season of this cult-adored program is kind of like a smart coming-of-age story trapped in a pair of jams and a Hypercolor t-shirt. There are lessons to be learned, for sure - Nemec showcases a nice balance of individuality and a desire to be cool with his presence here - but for someone like this writer who didn't watch the show at all in its initial broadcast, watching this first season on DVD was not exactly riveting.

But here's hoping that those who loved it back in the day will still love it now (let's just hope it avoids the My So-Called Life syndrome...).

Video/Audio: Well, the good news is that this early 90s sitcom looks like an early 90s sitcom on DVD. Presented with 1.33:1 transfers and simple stereo sound mixes, the show looks and sounds like it must have upon its first broadcast. However, things aren't razor-sharp. Color accuracy is acceptable, but finely detailed textures are super-compromised and black levels fluctuate wildly. And while dialogue has been recorded and presented plainly, some effects and much of the show's musical presence sounds tinny and almost hollow. Again, maybe I'm complaining about the show's original sound design and not the video/audio quality of this set, but whatever the case, these transfers are....okay.

Supplements: There is a lot of dead space on many of them, but fans of Parker Lewis Can't Lose will be happy to know that there are no fewer than seven screen-specific audio commentaries on this set. We get creators and actors and behind-the-scenes folk to offer their throughts on the show and how it looks almost twenty years in hindsight, and while for those of us not fully versed in the show and its merits, things tended to ramble a bit, I have no doubt that Parker-heads will eat these up. Also included is a half-hour featurette - The History of Coolness: A Look Back at Parker Lewis Can't Lose - which is a nice comprehensive look at the show and its development (even if much of the info here was already parlayed in this set's commentary tracks).

Final Thoughts: This writer wasn't savvy enough in the early 90s to turn on narratively provocative shows like Parker Lewis Can't Lose, so watching it now doesn't bring me any kind of nostalgic pull. Fans of the series, though, will be stoked: The show looks and sounds fine, and Shout! Factory has afforded this set a small but forceful set of bonus goodies. If you're in the mood to pin your jeans and watch TV, this one's the set for you...

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