Tss5078 Now days, most people only recognize Mr. Belvedere as a frequent butt of Family Guy jokes. On the surface, it was just another 80s sitcom, one of the founding members of ABC's classic TGIF line-up, but for those of us who have come to love this show, we realize that it was so much more.Mr. Belvedere is an English butler, who was created in a 1947 novel, starred in a 1948 movie, and modernized for television in 1985. The show centers on Lynn Belvedere (Christopher Hewitt), a British Royal butler, who has been hired to work for a middle class family in suburban Pittsburgh. Most of the time, it's your every day run of the mill sitcom, but what made this show extremely different, was it's very special episodes, which occurred several times a season.The show ran from 1985-1990, yet it still managed to be the first television show to tackle issues such as AIDS, bullying, stranger danger, elder rights, and even homosexuality. Often times the family would come into conflict and face three choice, Mrs. Owens, who always does the right things, Mr. Owens, who never does the right thing, and Mr. Belvedere the voice of reason that lies somewhere in the middle.As for the cast, they are as unique and strange a mix as ever seen on television. The main sources of comedy come from Mr. Belvedere (played by Christopher Hewitt, between known for his performances on Broadway than anything else) and his dealings with Wesley T. Owens (Brice Beckham), who is as twisted and psychotic as any sitcom child could ever be. Mr. Belvedere has frequent run-ins' and a contentious relation with head of the household, George (played by Bob Uecker, a former baseball player), which usually lead to some quick one liners, and even more laughs.Mr. Belvedere was really ahead of it's time and extremely underrated as far as television history is concerned. It may forever be remembered as that show with the butler, that led into Full House, but for it me, it has always been an image of how the not so perfect family should function and work together. It is a mixture of laughter, tears, and life lessons that is as relevant today as it was back then.

Maxine Dumont This was a really fun show that is a good example of the old school, very family friendly, situational comedies that ate up most of my family's TV watching time throughout the wonderful decade of the nineteen-eighties.The lead character (the title-named Mr. Belvedere) is a stuffy but very wise and very professional, stuck-in-his-ways butler who actually was the butler for the royal family. I forget why he leaves them and moves to the U.s.Anyway he settles in with this American family of blue collar people in Pittsburgh, PA, where the father is a gruff former baseball player (played by Bob Uecker) and the youngest son Wesley is a trouble maker and a constant thorn in Mr. Belvedere's side but also becomes his best friend.

FloatingOpera7 Mr. Belvedere (1985-1989): Starring Christopher Hewett, Bob Uecker, Ilene Graff, Brice Beckham, Rob Stone, Tracy Wells, Creator Alan Bergman DEAR GOD! Rumagging through old sitcoms through the internet, I was flooded with memories of this show. When I saw this, they were most likely the final seasons (1988-1989). British actor Christopher Hewett (now deceased) played Mr. Belvedere, a proper British émigré who on a snow December evening in Philadelphia or Boston or some East Coast America city, knocks on the door of the suburban middle class family the Owen's residence, seeking job as a housekeeper and nanny. A male nanny ? He was like a male version of Mary Poppins with a lot of attitude, a modern ideology, wit and great humor! Most of all, he was always there to loyally help the Owens and provide them with great advice. He was a good man and an example of fatherly masculinity mixed with a touch of a balanced cultured/artsy/sophisticated feminine side. He often clashed with the more macho, no-nonsense Mr. George Owens (Baseball star and later sports commentator Bob Uecker). I liked when these two matched wits and butted heads! Mrs. Owens was played by Ilene Graff, though quite frankly I don't recollect much of her part. She was a typical 80's housewife/mother which meant she probably had long hair, 80's sun dresses and "book club" clothes. She was, however, a very modern mother and quite liberal. I remember one particular episode in which her eldest son Kevin (Rob Stone) was in drag as he was going to attend a fun costume party. MARSHA OWENS: Where are you going ? KEVIN: To the costume party. I'm going as a hot babe. MARSHA: Not like that you aren't. And she tears off a piece of his skirt so that his thighs are showing!!! In another episode: PHONE RINGS. BELVEDERE PICKS UP. "Owens residence. Mary Poppins speaking." Their youngest son Wesley (Brice Beckham) was a troublemaker and prankster, a lot like a human version of Bart Simpson before Bart Simpson ever made it on TV. He was a hellraiser with a heart of gold and ultimately, he is a good kid whose life is changed by Mr. Belvedere. He always learned valuable lessons. Tracy Wells was the middle child Heather, who was stuck in her high school worries of being popular and attractive. This show had a lot of heart. At the end of every episode, Mr. Belvedere would write about his day in his diary. The credits would end with a mixture of a tinkling piano melody to depict Belvedere's character and then plunges into the jazzy, party spirit of the main theme. I will always remember this show.

soda_pop41 I saw the re-runs on TV and my whole family love it. I found out how talented Brice Beckham was. He plays Wesley, who always puts his family into trouble. My little sis fancys him. I mostly liked the looks on Mr. Belvedere's face- especially when he was caught by George while dancing in the opera music. I also liked the part that Wesley broke the TV and waving "Hallelujah!" to Mr.Belvedere to hide the smoke. The casts are great and "Mr.Belvedere" is one of the funniest shows in the 80's.