Hey Dude: Season 1

A comedy series set on an Arizona dude ranch, Hey Dude debuted in 1989 on Nickelodeon as the kid-oriented cable channel's first original live-action production, shot on a tight budget with a small cast acting out all-too-familiar situations. The episodes center on four teenagers who work at the Bar None Ranch, a summer retreat near Tucson owned by Ben Ernst, a klutzy but good-hearted Eastern tenderfoot. David Lascher is Ted, the big-talking, girl-crazy troublemaker; Joe Torres is Danny, a fun-loving Hopi Indian and resident nature expert; and Kelly Brown is Brad, a rich girl from Michigan who's the riding instructor. But the show's breakout star was Christine Taylor as Melody, the girl-next-door swimming teacher (Taylor would go on to pop-culture fame as Marcia in The Brady Bunch Movie). With its simplistic scripts, broad performances, and obvious physical humor, Hey Dude feels like just another cheap syndicated '80s sitcom, boasting none of the smart-alecky, self-aware sensibility of Nickelodeon's current crop of hits, such as iCarly. Compiling all 13 episodes of the opening season, DVD extras include an interview with Taylor. Not recommended. (S. Axmaker)