Spencer

I thought it was real funny for the short time it was on-too bad!

I remember waiting with anticipation every week - waiting to see that cute boy "Spencer" again. I became a Big Chad Lowe fan that year and then I couldn't believe it when they took my beloved show off the air. As quickly as he had come into my living room and blew me away with his really really charming good looks and funny character, he was gone. What would I do now without my adorable Spencer to look at anymore? This boy was as cute as they come and I only wish someone would put these precious few episodes of 80s television sit-com on DVD for us (apparently also precious few) fans to enjoy. I can't even find any pictures of Chad Lowe's character "Spencer" on the web or anywhere! And I thought you could find ANYTHING on the web!! What's wrong with this world when you can't even find a single picture of an adorable teen celebrity online. There's even the opportunity for the awesome "shirtless" Spencer, as he had his shirt off during one episode when he had a date and he was getting ready to go out. I remember he was splashing baby powder on his body and he opened his pants and looked down at them and splashed some baby power "down there" too. Aw, Babeeeeee!!

What is it about really good TV shows centering around teens? Despite the under 25 crowd being a significant segment of the viewing population, and the given assumption that most TV programmers would be clamoring to create more shows revolving around their concerns, very few shows portraying the teen experience with any level of intelligence and/or sensitivity last for long. ROOM 222, JAMES AT 15, THE WHITE SHADOW, THE BRONX ZOO, THE MARSHALL CHRONICLES, MY SO-CALLED LIFE--none of these shows had the runs they deserved. Even the vaunted THE MANY LOVES OF DOBIE GILLIS, admittedly a hipper show than MY THREE SONS and FATHER KNOWS BEST, only lasted two or three seasons(one of the longer runs). Getting to my point, we have SPENCER, a notch or two above fare like IT'S YOUR MOVE, a concurrent offering about a teenage boy. Spencer tries to navigate the jungle of high school life with humor and a little insight, and occasionally we get some poignancy. Case in point: Spencer(who was forever getting sent to the guidance counselor by exasperated teachers)ends up visiting the G.C. in one episode with a zany new girl with multicolored hair. Come to find out this free-spirited girl is really a troubled runaway, and Spencer has the sensitivity to help her by contacting her parents against her wishes. Not earth-shattering, but better by far than most representations of teens at the time. Pity that it didn't last longer(it's demise was hastened, no doubt, by the fact that actor Chad Lowe vacated the roll of the title character mid-way through the first and only season) O Great TV Land, grant our prayer and run this show over a teen-TV themed marathon weekend. Amen

This was a funny show. The writing was very clever. The casting was good, too.I wish it was available on tape or on DVD. Spencer was always getting into mischief. He always found a way to redeem himself.The network didn't give the series a chance. I was very disappointed when it got taken off-the air. Chad Lowe never got a break like his brother did until he co-starred on "Life Goes On". He finally got some recognition. I believe he received an Emmy for his performance. He is both good at comedy and at drama. I would like to see him star on his own series. His wife is doing well with "Million Dollar Baby". Of course, she's Hillary Swank!

This show was a rare gem and went off the air all too soon. I rate this right up there with the Jason Bateman comedy "It's Your Move" for funny, clever mid-80's teen comedies. My best memory of Spencer is the New Year's Eve episode, where Spencer has a date with a very lovely girl, who just happens to be several inches taller than him. That was the first time I saw 6-foot tall Terry Farrell, who later went on to play Lt. Dax in "Star Trek: Deep Space 9." Despite her being on that show for several years, I never forgot the first time I saw her. Fortunately for me, I am lucky enough to have a copy of that episode of Spencer that I taped the night it was broadcast. I wish I had others. I would gladly buy a DVD of it if one is ever released, although with so few episodes, I doubt one ever will be. But if you ever get a chance to, watch any episode. I don't remember any bad ones!