List of Mr. Belvedere Episodes - Season 6 (1989/90)

Season 6 (1989/90)

This was the final season for Mr. Belvedere.

Due to rapidly declining ratings (which already were not high to begin with), after 12 episodes, ABC quickly shelved the series, along with 8 episodes. After much speculation that the show had been cancelled, ABC decided to arrange for a special airing of the 2-part series finale on July 1–8, 1990 at 8:30 P.M.

Part 1 of the series finale was co-directed by Rob Stone (who does not appear in it, but does appear in part 2) and Don Corvan.

The 8 episodes that ABC shelved ("Love Fest", "Donuts", "Runaways", "The Pageant", "The Baby", "Bad Marsha", "Home", and "Mumsy") would eventually make their debut in syndication in 1990.

096. "The Field"
Written by: Ric Weiss
George's birthday is coming up and the family is trying to find the perfect gift for him. Meanwhile, George has been coaching Wesley's baseball team and has been putting pressure on Wesley to be the best he can be which brings to light George's not-so great past as a baseball player.

• Original Airdate: September 16, 1989
• PC: 6V01
• Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, Ernie Banks, Harmon Killebrew, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, and Robert Goulet (his third appearance on the show) make guest appearances in this episode. This was the second (and last episode) of the series to feature an all-star cast.
• Richard McGonagle has done extensive voiceover work throughout his career.
• Brice Beckham practiced for several weeks with a baseball coach to get in shape for this episode.
• Once again, the show went on-location to shoot some scenes for this episode.
• Bob Uecker returns to the show, after missing three episodes near the end of production during season 5.
• Featured songs: "You Gotta Have Heart" sung by Robert Goulet, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", and the "1812 Overture".
• Instead of writing his journal entry in his room, Mr. Belvedere writes it outdoors in the park. He is then invited by Ernie Banks to come with him to an "All You Can Eat" Rib Joint.
• The 5th and final opening credits from season 6 debuts in this episode. Like the previous version, this version was also truncated in syndication.
• As of this episode, Jeff Ferro & Ric Weiss are now the supervising producers, and Liz Sage is now the co-executive producer.

097. "Big"
Written by: Jay Abramowitz
Wesley is being harassed at school by some bullies and runs into some luck when another student scares them off due to his body size. However, Wesley's savior turns into an annoyance when he begins hanging around all the time. Meanwhile, Kevin and Heather are in a battle of the sexes, and they drag George and Marsha into their fight.

• Original Airdate: October 21, 1989
• PC: 6V02
• First of 2 episodes that featured Seth Green as Louis, "Paper Mill" being the other.

098. "Brain Busters"
Written by: Ric Weiss
George and Wesley are big fans of a TV game show called Brain Busters and apply to be contestants. When they go for tryouts, Wesley quickly learns he has a dud for a partner, so he dumps George and teams up with Mr. Belvedere. However, he quickly discovers himself going from one extreme to another.

• Original Airdate: September 30, 1989
• PC: 6V03

099. "Truckin’"
Written by: Liz Sage
Investing in live commodities puts Mr. Belvedere in the money but George finds himself in something else when he does not sell off his share and ends up with a truck load of pigs. This leads him and Mr. Belvedere to drive the rig down to West Virginia to sell the swine, but they find that they like the trucker lifestyle, so they decide to make it their profession.

• Original Airdate: October 07, 1989
• PC: 6V04

100. "Counterfeit"
Written by: Jeff Ferro
Wesley needs to take an additional class to fill up his schedule and decides on print shop but once he takes the class, he takes full advantage of the copy machines by making counterfeit money, which inadvertently gets into George's hands, and he spends the money all over town. Meanwhile, Kevin's apartment seems to be haunted calling for a seance.

• Original Airdate: December 9, 1989
• PC: 6V05

101. "Paper Mill"
Written by: Lee H. Grant
Wesley becomes friends with a new kid, Craig, and agrees to write a book report for him to help catch him up. This leads to word getting around, and all of Wesley's classmates come to him for papers. However, he quickly finds Craig coming to him for every paper he has to write, which leads to Wesley discovering that Craig cannot read.

• Original Airdate: November 11, 1989
• PC: 6V06

102. "Fear of Flying"
Written by: Doug McIntyre
George reveals that he has a fear of flying, and Mr. Belvedere tries to cure him by talking on a ferris wheel ride. When that does not work, he enrolls him in a fear class, with classes being held in the Owens' living room. Meanwhile, Heather's psychology project has her dying her hair blonde, and she gets a jealous reaction from Angela.

• Original Airdate: November 4, 1989
• PC: 6V07

103. "Homecoming"
Written by: Jay Abramowitz
With Homecoming days away, Heather finds herself considering being dateless, until she meets Keith Elliot and is swept off her feet, that is until he tries to rape her. Meanwhile, Wesley is making a video about Mr. Belvedere's career, but he is having a hard time getting anything interesting.

• Original Airdate: November 18, 1989
• PC: 6V08
• Beginning with this episode, a newer, sped-up jingle accommodates the 1982 20th Century Fox Television logo that ended each episode.

104. "Fixed"
Written by: Jeff Ferro
Wesley's dog, Spot is running rampant and keeps following around the prize poodle of a neighbor. George and Marsha order Wesley to take Spot to the vet to get neutered, but it quickly becomes apparent that Wesley did not listen to them, when a slew of puppies take over the Owens' household.

• Original Airdate: November 25, 1989
• PC: 6V09

105. "Used Cars"
Story by: Denny Sarokin
Teleplay by: Liz Sage
Kevin gets a job at the used car dealership run by Carl's Uncle Phil. Kevin at first has a hard time getting into the selling business, but quickly becomes a natural crooked used-car salesman. Meanwhile, Mr. Belvedere receives a letter from the Queen expressing her desire to have Mr. Belvedere return to his previous position.

• Original Airdate: December 2, 1989
• PC: 6V10

106. "The Professor"
Written by: Ric Weiss
Kevin falls head over heels for his substitute professor and begins wooing her. However, he gets a shock when Mr. Belvedere hits it off with her and a jealous Kevin and Mr. Belvedere begin acting like jealous little kids battling over a woman. Meanwhile, George's idea of a family game turns into a gambling addiction for Marsha, Wesley and Heather.

• Original Airdate: December 30, 1989
• PC: 6V11
• Jane Leeves is better known for her role as Daphne Moon on Frasier.
• After this episode aired, ABC permanently canceled the series. They would then skip ahead to the 2-part finale in July 1990.

107. "A Happy Guy's Christmas"
Written by: Dennis Snee
The Happy Guys of Pittsburgh are putting on their annual Christmas play and have decided on "A Christmas Carol". The entire Owens family is cast, but when Mr. Belevedere gets frustrated with the poor directing, he takes over the job, only to quit in a huff. This leads to Mr. Belvedere being visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

• Original Airdate: December 16, 1989
• PC: 6V12
• Don Lake wrote for The Bonnie Hunt Show.
• In at least one scene, Chris Durand served as Christopher Hewett's stunt double.
• First (and last) time Jack Dodson appeared on the show without his partner Raleigh Bond, who died earlier in 1989.
• Footage of the Pittsburgh skyline was provided by WTAE-TV.
• Featured songs: "Deck the Halls", Marsha and three other men singing "Oklahoma" (the title track of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical), they also sing "We're in the Money" in Mr. Belvedere's dream sequence, and "What Child Is This?" (background music that was played to the tune of "Greensleeves").
• Spoof of Charles Dickens' classic novel A Christmas Carol. The main cast for Mr. Belvedere's fantasy throughout most of the episode was as follows:
  • Christopher Hewett as Mr. Belvedere/Old Mr. Belvedere
  • Bob Uecker as Jacob Marley/George/Old George
  • Ilene Graff as The Ghost of Christmas Past/Marsha/Old Marsha
  • Rob Stone as Kevin/Old Kevin
  • Tracy Wells as The Ghost of Christmas Present/Heather/Old Heather
  • Brice Beckham as The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come/Wesley/Old Wesley
  • Trenton Teigen as Young Mr. Belvedere

108. "Love Fest"
Written by: Doug Steckler
George and Marsha try to rekindle their romance, while Heather and Carl try to see if they can get a spark going between themselves, much to the torment of Kevin, who distrusts Carl's intentions.

• This episode premiered in syndication in 1990.
• PC: 6V13
• Final appearance of Willie Garson as Carl.
• Outside of the journal scene, some of Mr. Belvedere's lines were dubbed in by Christopher Hewett himself in post-production.

109. "Donuts"
Written by: Jeff Ferro
When the owner of Belvedere's favorite donut shop dies, he leaves his donut shop to him. Which does not make Lou Anne, his faithful employee, happy. When Belvedere bosses her, she quits, leaving him all alone to take care of the donut shop. When he spends too much time at the donut shop to take care of the Owens, they hire Lou Anne to help out. Belvedere hires Kevin to help at the shop, which only leads to disaster. Later they learn that there is another will, a video one, and in it he says that this was all part of the owner's plan to teach both Belvedere and Lou Anne lessons: Belvedere, who scarves them like there is no end in sight to ease up, and Lou Anne to value something. So in the end, he gives Lou Anne 90% of the donut shop and Belvedere the rest.

• This episode premiered in syndication in 1990.
• PC: 6V14
• First episode with a 1990 copyright date.
• Armelia McQueen (Lou Anne) is best known for her role as Oda Mae's sister in Ghost, and as The Queen of Hearts in Adventures in Wonderland.
• The late Phil Bruns (Ralph) was best known for his role as George Shumway on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.
• Elliott Reid (Randall) worked regularly in radio dramas the golden age of radio.

110. "Runaways"
Written by: Jay Abramowitz
While at Lou Anne's Donut World shop (the same one from the previous episode), Wesley, who volunteers to work there, is introduced to her daughter Sheila. Wesley falls in love with her, much to the shock but nevertheless delight to his parents. However, things become much more serious when he decides to run away with her. Meanwhile, as a result of the dreaded stone henge curse that he was affected by exactly 7 years ago, Mr. Belvedere begins to act strangely when he goes through an identity crisis, and is constantly changing back and forth between himself, and someone else. George, Marsha, Heather and Kevin, come up with a way to snap him out of it.

• This episode premiered in syndication in 1990.
• PC: 6V15
• Yunoka Doyle (Sheila) starred in a short-lived, but critically acclaimed TGIF sitcom called Where I Live.
• Featured song: Mr. Belvedere singing Three Little Fishies as "Fee Itty Fitties".

111. "The Pageant"
Written by: Wayne Kline
Heather is a member of a feminist group at school, and they plan to make a statement against the Miss Beaver Falls Beauty Pageant. First they try to use Angela as a pawn, but when that falls through, Heather runs herself, but has second thoughts about sabotage. Meanwhile, George forgets his wedding anniversary.

• This episode premiered in syndication in 1990.
• PC: 6V16
• Edd Byrnes (Kookie on 77 Sunset Strip) plays as the host of the pageant in this episode.

112. "The Baby"
Written by: Dennis Snee
When Marsha gets stuck with a baby for the weekend, she decides to keep him. The family is at first hesitant, but soon supports her decision. When she encounters difficulty keeping up with work and taking care of a baby, she sadly gives the baby up to a family who could take better care of her.

• This episode premiered in syndication in 1990.
• PC: 6V17

113. "Bad Marsha"
Written by: Ric Weiss
Visiting a client in jail, Marsha comes face-to-face with Sharon Whit, an exact Marsha lookalike. During their consultation, Sharon knocks out Marsha and switches places with her, leaving Marsha trapped in prison while Sharon moves into the Owens' household, although the Owens grow suspicious of her strange behavior, while Marsha desperately tries to convince the guards that she is not Sharon. When she sings a guard out of a hostage crisis, she returns home just as the family confronts her, thinking she is Sharon - when she wakes up, a victim of a nightmare caused by anxiety about a test in law school.

• This episode premiered in syndication in 1990.
• PC: 6V18
• Rayna is played by Rose Marie in this episode.

114. "Home"
Written by: Wayne Kline
George and Marsha get fed up with things deteriorating in their home so they decided it might be time to sell the house and find a smaller one. However, soon everyone has second thoughts about moving when they get a glimpse at the potential buyers. Meanwhile, Kevin's elderly neighbor finds herself in a new home, a retirement home, put there by her son and daughter in-law.

• This episode premiered in syndication in 1990.
• PC: 6V19

115. "Mumsy"
Written by: Jay Abramowitz
Mr. Belvedere gets a surprise visit from his 'Mumsy', his elderly mother who has come over from England to stay with the Owens family. Mr. Belvedere is tired of her walking down memory lane and bringing up his past something, which he seems ashamed of. Meanwhile, Kevin inherits George's old tool belt and soon finds an admirer fawning over him strictly because of his belt.

• This episode premiered in syndication in 1990.
• PC: 6V20
• Sylvia Kauders had a recurring role as Aunt Sadie on Dream On, and as Roberta in Spin City.
• Barbara Alyn Woods played Diane Szalinski in the TV version of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and Deb Lee in One Tree Hill.

116. "Mr. Belvedere's Wedding: Part 1"
Written by: Dennis Snee
While at the laundromat with Wesley, Mr. Belvedere meets a nice woman whose work in the African jungle has temporarily been halted. They quickly hit it off, but when Mr. Belvedere fears that it may be getting too serious, he tries to brush her off by fooling around with a much younger woman.

• Original Airdate: July 1, 1990
• PC: 6V21
• Both parts of the finale featured Giselle Hufnagel (played by Teresa Ganzel).
• Directed by: Don Corvan & Rob Stone

117. "Mr. Belvedere's Wedding: Part 2"
Written by: Beth Roberts
Louise confronts Mr. Belvedere; he reveals his fears, and they decide to get married. However, cold feet have Mr. Belvedere running away, only to have George drag him back for his wedding. As Belvedere and Louise reach the altar, she breaks the news that she has been called back to Africa; Mr. Belvedere decides to go with her, saying goodbye to six years of working for the Owens family.

• Production Date: March 1990
• Original Airdate: July 8, 1990
• PC: 6V22
• Act 1 ends with Mr. Belvedere writing in his journal, for what turned out to be the very last time he did so. He then has a fantasy about how his newly married life could turn out as, and it's a parody of the vintage sitcom The Honeymooners. In the fantasy, Mr. Belvedere was Ralph Kramden (originally played by Jackie Gleason), Louise was Alice Kramden (played in most episodes by Audrey Meadows), and George was Ed Norton (originally played by Art Carney).
• Final appearance of Norman Bartold as Skip Holdings.
• Final appearance of Michele Matheson as Angela, who aappeared on the show a total of 26 times, more than any other guest star.
• Fourth (and final) appearance of Robert Goulet.
• Emory Bass (Minister) performed on broadway, and played Phipps on Angie.
• Tricia McFarlin was a dancer on Solid Gold.
• Leslie Cook served as a dance choreographer in movies, as has Aurorah Allain.
• Lisa Lord had a regular role as Grace Sullivan on Port Charles.
• Christopher Hewett, Ilene Graff, and Brice Beckham were the only cast members to appear in all 117 episodes of the series.
• Featured songs: Robert Goulet singing "On a Clear Day, You Can See Forever" and "If Ever I Would Leave You". This was Goulet's signature song from the musical Camelot, and was composed by Lerner and Lowe. Also used was Land of a Thousand Dances by Cannibal & the Headhunters, for the scene where Mr. Belvedere dances with two ladies along with George, Kevin, Wesley, Skip, and Robert Goulet, hours before his wedding. This was the only time in the show an actual recording of a pre-existing pop record was used, as opposed to a cover version recorded for the show.
• The episode's very last scene (as well as the last scene of the series overall) is much like the last scene in most episodes, except it has Mr. Belvedere (now in Africa) writing a postcard to the Owens family.
• Part 2 of the 2-part finale, and the final first-run episode of the series.