List of Mr. Belvedere Episodes - Season 5 (1988/89)

Season 5 (1988/89)

During this season, Mr. Belvedere was one of the four original shows on ABC's then newly established TGIF block, which began during this season, along with Perfect Strangers, Full House, and Just the Ten of Us.

Because of the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike, season 5, along with the rest of the 1988/89 primetime season, began in October.

"The Book" and "Black Widow", two season 4 leftovers, aired during this season.

After May 5, 1989, reruns of select episodes from select seasons aired in the 9:00 P.M. timeslot, until July 28, 1989. A week later, the show moved into the 8:30 P.M. timeslot. It would stay there until September 1, 1989. A week later, the show moved to Saturday nights at 8:00 P.M., and its original 8:30 P.M. timeslot was soon given to a new ABC sitcom called Family Matters.

Finally, there were two episodes ("The Dinner" and "The Attic") that, for some reason, were shelved by ABC until syndication in 1990.

080. "Marsha's Secret"
Written by: Jeffrey Ferro & Fredric Weiss
Marsha's position at the Legal Hut has been draining all the excitement out of her and when she is offered a higher position the entire Owens family is excited for her but she secretly decides to turn it down. Little does her family know, that she has quit altogether at the Legal Hut and has taken up a position as a singing waitress at a '50s style restaurant but Marsha's secretive behavior has George convinced that she is having an affair. Meanwhile, Kevin enters into a competition in an attempt to win a Ferrari.

• Original Airdate: November 11, 1988
• PC: 5V07
• Featured songs: Lollipop and Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes) (Latter song was originally performed by Dee Dee Sharp). Both songs were cover versions recorded for the show, and Ilene was lip-synching to someone else's pre-recorded singing, as were the other two waitresses, played by Amy Lyndon and Isabelle Wolfe.
• The bikini underwear Mr. Belvedere was wearing in Kevin Nightingale make a return in this episode.
• Beginning with this episode, Carl no longer wears glasses, and now has yellow streaks on his hair.
• Ronnie Schell (the contest judge) is best known for his role as Duke Slater on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C..
• Richard Kind (Joe) is best known for his role as Paul Thomas Lassiter on Spin City.
• Courtney Gebhart had a role as Carla on thirtysomething.
• Harvey J. Goldenberg also reprised his Mr. Hodnet role in season 6's "Homecoming".
• Amy Lyndon (one of the singing waitresses) has many film and TV shows to her credit.

072. "Black Widow"
Teleplay by: Frank Dungan & Jeff Stein
Story by: Doug McIntyre
George is offered a guest appearance on a local talk show and the host, Barbara Collins, becomes smitten with him. Later, George learns of her reputation for hiring attractive co-hosts and then luring them into bed. George is not worried at first until he finds Barbara throwing her weight around and squeezing him out of his sportscaster job and George finds himself trapped, which just may threaten his marriage. Meanwhile, a makeover from Heather has Wesley becoming a slave to fashion.

• Original Airdate: December 9, 1988
• PC: 5M21
• This episode was made for the 4th Season, but ABC held it back and aired it as part of the 5th season.
• Barbara Collins was played by stage and screen actress Lois Nettleton.
• Marcia Lewis (Estelle) is a Tony-Award nominated actress.
• Donn Simione (Brad Buckley) was the celebrity centerfold in the September 1989 issue of Playgirl magazine.
• Tami is once again played by Maggie Han.

065. "The Book"
Written by: Frank Dungan & Jeff Stein
Mr. Belvedere decides to try to capitalize on his years of living with the Owens family when he goes though his journals to use as references on a book that he is writing. However, once the book is published, no one in the family is pleased with the end result. Meanwhile, George discovers Marsha has been secretly saving money to buy a Porsche, and Kevin joins the pep squad in an attempt to meet girls, but ends up becoming the team mascot.

• Original Airdate: March 31, 1989
• PC: 5M14
• This episode was made for the 4th Season, but ABC held it back and aired it as part of the 5th season.
• In one scene, Marsha wears the same cheerleader outfit she was wearing in "The Cheerleader" two seasons ago.
• Kevin alludes to the events of season 3's "The Mogul".
• Larry Gelman is best known for his role as Dr. Bernie Tupperman in The Bob Newhart Show. He also appeared again on Mr. Belvedere in season 6's "Fixed".

076. "Roommates"
Written by: Liz Sage & Doug Steckler
Kevin has had it with his foreign exchange student roommate, Anatole, who keeps a pet goat in the apartment. The last straw is when Anatole invites some friends over for a party and Kevin promptly tosses him out. Meanwhile, for a business class, Kevin observes the operations at a plumbing supplies company and meets a feisty woman whom he discovers that she lives next door to him. Meanwhile, Wesley's criticism of Mr. Belvedere's cooking leads to a cook-off.

• Original Airdate: November 25, 1988
• PC: 5V03
• First appearance of Eileen Seeley as Kevin's love Casey.
• A clip from this episode (Wesley & Mr. Belvedere cooking off against each other) was used in the opening credits to season 6.

078. "The Curse"
Written by: Doug Steckler & Liz Sage
When Kevin kicks him out of the apartment, a furious Anatole shows up at the Owens door demanding a place to stay for him and his goat. However, the family gets fed up and demands he leave but before he does, he puts a curse on the family. Now the Owens family must deal with a string of bad luck and must find a way to break the curse. Meanwhile, Kevin is having no fun constantly bickering with his new roommate, Casey and soon discovers that there is a thin line between love and hate.

• Original Airdate: December 2, 1988
• PC: 5V05
• In Kevin's dream sequence in this episode, Mr. Belvedere is dressed up like a fat woman.

081. "Duel"
Written by: Frank Dungan & Jeff Stein
After Mr. Belvedere trips over a skateboard and falls down the stairs, he becomes wheelchair-bound with a broken leg. Thus, the family is seeking a temporary housekeeper and after a handful of disastrous interviews, one presents himself in the shape of Mr. Belvedere's midget cousin, Galen, who's out for more than just a job and a friendly visit, he wants revenge. Meanwhile, Marsha is excited about a job interview and Kevin's latest girlfriend is furious with him when he gives her a bowling ball as a gift.

• Original Airdate: November 18, 1988
• PC: 5V08
• Mr. Belvedere's midget cousin, Galen Belvedere, was played by David Rappaport, who was best known for his roles as the gang of dwarves leader Randall in Time Bandits, and as Simon McKay in The Wizard (another 20th Century Fox Television series). Also a nod to The Wizard, Fran Ryan, who played Tillie Russell on that show, appears in this episode as Mrs. Deferschmidt.
• This was the last episode written by Frank Dungan & Jeff Stein.

082. "Anchors Away"
Written by: Jay Abramowitz
A new news director at the TV station is making changes and has George filling in for an ailing Skip who is having colon surgery. However, when Skip returns he finds himself out of his old job with George having become the permanent replacement and Skip's new job as host of a horror program is not as satisfying. Meanwhile, Heather tries to pay for the repairs of Marsha's car after she scratches it and asks Mr. Belvedere for a loan, but when she fails to pay it back, she becomes his slave.

• Original Airdate: January 20, 1989
• PC: 5V09

083. "Homeless"
Written by: Fredric Weiss & Jeffrey Ferro
Heather and Angela volunteer down at a soup kitchen and Heather befriends a homeless man who is being thrown out of the shelter because his two-week limit is up. This prompts her to bring him home with her and she hides him in the attic but living in such close quarters, the family soon becomes suspicious of what she is hiding. Meanwhile, Marsha wonders what George is hiding when a golf buddy of his dies while having sex, and George becomes scared the same thing might happen to him.

• Original Airdate: December 16, 1988
• PC: 5V10

084. "New Year's"
Written by: Tony Sheehan
Wesley and Heather talk their parents into letting them throw a New Year's party and to get Mr. Belvedere out of the house they set him up with the Hufnagel's housekeeper, Ilsa. However, the two of them begin to neglect their housework when they start spending all of their time together and Mr. Belvedere realizes that things are getting more serious than intended so he tries to fend off her advances. Meanwhile, Kevin becomes an unwelcome houseguest when he falls ill and Marsha becomes his personal nurse.

• Original Airdate: January 6, 1989
• PC: 5V11
• Rosemary Forsyth, who played as Ilsa Shoemaker in this episode, would later play as the woman that Mr. Belvedere marries in the 2-part finale.
• A clip from this episode (Heather pouring oatmeal on Wesley) was used in the opening credits to season 6.
• This was the last episode written by Tony Sheehan. After this episode was made, never again would this show employ the same original creative writing team of Frank Dungan, Jeff Stein, & Tony Sheehan.

085. "Spot"
Written by: Jay Abramowitz
George comes home with a surprise for Wesley, something that Wesley had been wanting for years, a dog. However, Wesley is less than satisfied, as it seems he has gotten past that phase and does his best to ditch the cute little pooch. Meanwhile, Heather becomes friends with a mystic, which threatens her friendship with Angela. However, Angela decides to not take this threat lying down and suddenly seems to be able to speak from the spirit world.

• Original Airdate: January 13, 1989
• PC: 5V12
• Angela's last name is revealed in this episode as Gilbert.
• First episode with a 1989 copyright date. In addition, the orientation of the copyright credits also get somewhat of a touch-up as of this episode.

086. "Stakeout"
Written by: Liz Sage
The town of Beaver Falls is stricken with fear with the Highheel Bandit on the loose and the neighborhood rallies together and forms a task force headed by two members of The Happy Guys of Pittsburgh club. This leads George, Kevin and Mr. Belvedere to stakeout the neighborhood even going as far as dressing in drag to serve as decoys for the ruthless bandit. Meanwhile, Wesley corrupts the young boy whom Heather has been babysitting for, and the young man soon becomes an even bigger terror than Wesley.

• Original Airdate: February 3, 1989
• PC: 5V13
• Whit Hertford (James Montgomery), along with Nora Kirkpatrick, founded the Funny or Die original webseries Happy Place.
• Rob Stone dresses in drag for the third time in this series.
• Christopher Hewett dressed in drag before for his role as Roger de Bris in Mel Brooks' The Producers.
• This was Raleigh Bond's very last work as an actor. He died 7 months later after taping this episode.

087. "Mutiny"
Written by: Doug Steckler
To celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary, George and Marsha go on a romantic cruise, but it turns out to be a cruise from Hell when they appear to have become passengers on a pirate ship. Meanwhile, Mr. Belvedere takes a sojourn to England to rub elbows with the royal family leaving Wesley and Heather at the mercy of Kevin whose pushy roommate, Casey, barges in and takes over. Soon, Kevin, Heather and Wesley begin to revolt against the strict Casey and try their best to bring Mr. Belvedere back as soon as possible.

• Original Airdate: February 17, 1989
• PC: 5V14
• A clip from this episode (Wesley & Heather grinning on the couch) was used in the opening credits to season 6.

088. "The Debate"
Written by: Jeffrey Ferro (now credited as Jeff Ferro)
Heather and Angela are members of a Speech club and a certain boy catches both their eyes and they each set out to make him their boyfriend. The boy soon finds himself in the middle of the feud between friends and he must decide between one or the other. Meanwhile, Marsha redecorates Mr. Belvedere's room and Wesley and him become roommates but Wesley quickly becomes sick of Mr. Belvedere's constant practical jokes that he pulls on Wesley day and night.

• Original Airdate: February 24, 1989
• PC: 5V15
• Mr. Wiggins, the Debate Team moderator is played by William Bogert, who played Brandon Brindle on Small Wonder.
• Two clips from this episode (Mr. Belvedere dumping confetti on Wesley, and Heather walking into the kitchen with a yellow-dotted blouse) were used in the opening credits to season 6.
• Jeffrey Ferro and Fredric Weiss are now credited as Jeff Ferro and Ric Weiss respectively.

089. "The Election"
Written by: Fredric Weiss (now credited as Ric Weiss)
Wesley, running for student body president, is sure he will win because he does not have an opponent and he has a determined campaign manager named Miriam. However, at the last moment he gets an opponent, in Billy Podell, a paraplegic, whose situation makes Wesley shy away from slander, but it does not shy Billy away from doing it to Wesley. Meanwhile, Mr. Belvedere hopes for a surprise birthday party even though he said he did not want a fuss and then becomes upset when the family obeys his wishes.

• Original Airdate: February 10, 1989
• PC: 5V16
• Gabriel Damon (Billy Podell) is best known for his roles as R.H. Sarnac in the short-lived TV series Call to Glory, Roger Hatton in the short-lived One Big Family, Hob in Robocop 2, Spot Conlon in Newsies, and as the voices of Littlefoot in The Land Before Time and Little Nemo in Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, among many other roles.

090. "Really Full House"
Written by: Liz Sage & Doug Steckler
Kevin wants to take the next step in his relationship with his roommate Casey and move to a sexual one but just as they decide to take that step, they get an interruption in the form of Wendy and her husband who pay them a visit and Wendy makes it known that she still lusts for Kevin all the while being trapped in a loveless marriage. Meanwhile, a hick family moves in down the street and they begin to torment Wesley, Heather and George, while Marsha is preoccupied with putting together a case for a client.

• Original Airdate: March 17, 1989
• PC: 5V17

091. "Almost Heaven"
Written by: Jay Abramowitz
Wesley has been grounded to the house after yet another prank on the Hufnagels but he is determined to sneak out. When Mr. Belvedere discovers he is gone he goes after him and ends up in the hospital in a coma after wrapping Marsha's Porsche around a tree. Mr. Belvedere is then taken on an "angelic" journey of what the Owens' would be like without him.

• Original Airdate: May 5, 1989
• PC: 5V18
• Much like "Kevin Nightingale", this episode ends with Mr. Belvedere writing his journal entry in his hospital bed. This time, he is joined by Heather and Angela.

092. "The Ghostwriter"
Written by: Ric Weiss
Wesley is trying to get the attention of a girl he likes and begins writing love letters to her. Meanwhile, Marsha and George's spring cleaning unearths some old love letters from an old flame and this prompts her to wonder why George ca not be that romantic. In response, George begins plagiarizing Wesley's poems. Meanwhile, Kevin and Mr. Belvedere become the repairmen for Kevin's apartment building.

• Original Airdate: April 28, 1989
• PC: 5V19

093. "The Escort"
Written by: Pamela Kidwell & Laura Numeroff
For some extra money, Kevin picks up a job as an escort and after having an encounter with a sexpot, Kevin meets a sweet old woman whom he hits it off with and even begins thinking seriously of marriage when she proposes. Meanwhile, the Owens' monthly bills have got out of hand, and Mr. Belvedere suggests a strategy to curb the family's expenses.

• Original Airdate: April 14, 1989
• PC: 5V20
• Sometime around mid-February, Bob Uecker suffered a mild heart attack while taping Mr. Belvedere. This may explain why his George Owens character was completely absent for the next three episodes (this particular one, and the following episodes titled "The Dinner" and "The Attic").

094. "The Dinner"
Written by: Jeff Ferro
Marsha begins cooking meals, but to her family's horror, her meals always turn out inedible. To help boost her self-confidence, Mr. Belvedere secretly substitutes her meals with his. However, things may blow up in his face when she plans to cook a meal for her boss and does not allow Mr. Belvedere in the kitchen. Meanwhile, Kevin's attempt at being a stripper nearly kills him.

• This episode premiered in syndication in 1990.
• PC: 5V21

095. "The Attic"
Written by: Ric Weiss & Jay Abramowitz
Yet another prank on the Hufnagels prompts punishment for Wesley who is supposed to clean out the attic. However, he finds himself with some company, when he gets locked in with Mr. Belvedere and they recall (thorough flashbacks) what life has been like in the Owens' household since he moved in with the family.

• This episode premiered in syndication in 1990.
• PC: 5V22
• Bob Uecker appears in this episode, but only in flashbacks.
• Excluding flashbacks, the only time the Owens family (minus George) is seen and heard is during the cold open, and during the ending, when Heather's voice is heard.
• This was the last episode in the initial back-end syndication package. It consisted of all 95 episodes made up until this point. The off-network syndicated reruns commenced in the United States on select Fox affiliates in September 1989. Season 6 was eventually added to the package later on.
• This episode was a clip show. It consisted of select episodes from all the seasons made up until this point: 2 from season 1, 10 from season 2, 10 from season 3, 8 from season 4, and 7 from season 5. The following episodes were featured in this clip show:
  • Stranger in the Night (The Pilot Episode)
  • Heather's Monk
  • Reunion
  • Debut
  • Deportation: Part 1
  • The Teacher
  • Speechless
  • The Apartment
  • Moonlighting
  • Stakeout
  • Duel
  • Initiation
  • Halloween
  • Grandma
  • The Dropout
  • New Year's
  • Foxtrot
  • Amish
  • The Book
  • Commentary
  • The Curse
  • Pinball
  • Gorgeous George
  • The Cheerleader
  • Almost Heaven
  • The Counselor
  • The Lion Sleeps Tonight
  • Delivery
  • Deportation: Part 2
  • The Auction
  • Fat Cats
  • Dinner for Two
  • The Thief
  • Kevin's Older Woman
  • The Debate
  • The Crush
  • The Play