15 TV shows you forgot about (and some you wish you could)

Parker Lewis Can’t Lose

This show was one of the odder series on the FOX lineup, but it had its own quirky charm that pulled heavily from the John Hughes classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Set in the fictional Santo Domingo High School, Parker Lewis was the ’90s protagonist we all wanted to be.

He was cute, charming, popular and could rock the heck out of those pastel, printed shirts. He was friend to all, and his only nemesis was the big-banged principal of his high school. She was determined to make sure Parker didn’t graduate, and she pulled out all the stops to thwart his easy-going lifestyle. He also battled his pesky little sister, who took sibling rivalry to a whole new level.

The show only ran for three seasons, but it was interesting and quirky, and was grossly under appreciated. Aside from its relentless perky tone and optimistic themes, it was well written (mostly). It was sarcastic without being downright mean, and it was smarmy enough to give us a giggle, but it never teetered over the edge to gross.

Like most of the shows on this list, Parker Lewis Can’t Lose trades in nostalgia. I’m not sure how it would hold up today, but it’s got enough John Hughes inspiration to at least keep us interested.