‘Mr. Belvedere’ Is the Best Free Wholesome TV Show on YouTube

We're Kicking Off the New Year with 'Mr. Belvedere'

We're kicking off the new year with a phenomenal eighties TV series called Mr. Belvedere. A classic TV sitcom that is full of traditional family values, laugh out loud comedy, and a phenomenal cast that you'll absolutely fall in love with. This is a quality family TV show and it's perfect for children of all ages.

I'll share the top five themes woven throughout the series, how it connects to a recent Dave Rubin Podcast episode with Patricia Heaton, and where you can actually watch it. But there's just one catch I need to tell you about.

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Let's jump into today's episode.

Meet the Owens Family in 'Mr. Belvedere'

Allow me to introduce to you the Owens family, George and Marsha, played by Bob Uecker and Ilene Graff. Their three kids: Wesley, Kevin, and Heather, played by Rob Stone, Tracy Wells, and Brice Beckham. And then of course, there's Mr. Belvedere played by none other than Christopher Hewett. He's supposed to just be the housekeeper, but he becomes their confidant, their counselor, and above all their friend.

This show is all about family and the ups and downs we all experience in one way or another. The chemistry this cast has reminds me of Family Ties, another wholesome TV show worth checking out. Everyone just clicks on and off screen. It's just amazing.

Wesley the Troublemaker

Wesley's the troublemaker, always getting into mischief and he and Mr. Belvedere are constantly going at it. But it's absolutely hilarious.

The Hilarious Supporting Characters of 'Mr. Belvedere'

Then you've got the supporting characters who add even more humor. There's Angela, Heather's best friend who can never remember Mr. Belvedere's name. Every time she walks in, you know she's going to call him something ridiculous. A few of the crazy names she calls him are Mr. Belly Flop, Mr. Bumblebee, Mr. Bed Wetter, and Mr. Baby Boomer. It's just hilarious.

And in the later seasons we have Mrs. Checchini, who's a spunky elderly neighbor of Kevin's, the oldest Owen's child when he's living on his own, who's full of life and adds a whole new dimension of humor. I can only hope I have half her energy when I'm her age.

Between Angela, Mrs. Checchini, and the whole Owens family. This show has jokes throughout every episode.

'Mr. Belvedere': A Family Comedy of the Eighties

And you have to remember back in the eighties, there was no political correctness, policing comedy. Mr. Belvedere's on the heavier side. So there are plenty of fat jokes. But that's what made this comedy work back then. People didn't take it personally. Comedy could just be comedy to make everyone laugh. And everyone in the show is made fun of, not just Mr. Belvedere.

Above all. The family loves each other. They're close, they help each other, support one another. I mean, they're not perfect and they have arguments like any family, but they work through them. You see marriage struggles and kids doing what kids do, disobedience, lying, scheming, you know, doing anything to get what they want and learning harsh lessons when they go after them the wrong way.

Top Themes Throughout 'Mr. Belvedere'

Which brings me to the top themes of this show, which does a fabulous job of teaching kindness, empathy, thinking outside the box, friendship, dealing with crisis, peer pressure, and so much more.

'Mr. Belvedere' Episodes with Heavier Themes

You have some episodes that have heavier themes. I'm gonna give you some examples.

There's an episode where Wesley's in middle school, I think season five or six, and he meets this popular kid he's supposed to tutor, but instead of actually tutoring him, Wesley ends up doing his homework. And then Wesley gets the bright idea to turn it into a business, charging his other classmates to do their homework too. But he discovers a secret about why this cool kid won't do his own work. I won't spoil it, but it's a very powerful episode.

In another one, Wesley befriends a kid nobody likes. He's tall, overweight, and nerdy. And you know, just like kids in schools, you know, other kids make fun of him, but Wesley has a connection with him through comic books. And then Wesley throws a party and feels ashamed to invite his friend, and that ends up blowing up in his face. And he says some very mean unkind words to his friend. When my daughter and I watched this one, she was shocked and said, "Mom, why would he say that? How could he treat his friend like that?" And you know, it just sparked an interesting conversation between us.

His sister, Heather, goes through what so many young girls face. Feeling like she's not pretty enough, trying to fit in. In one episode she has a job and a boy she likes starts taking advantage of her at work. And she has to decide whether or not to speak up and risk him not liking her anymore.

There are so many storylines that I can't fit it into this short episode. But one of the best things about this show is what happened at the end of certain episodes.

'Mr. Belvedere' and the Power of PSA's

Back in the day, shows like Mr. Belvedere included PSAs, public service announcements, at the end when episodes dealt with heavy themes.

There's one episode in season five where Wesley goes to summer camp and meets a counselor who takes an inappropriate interest in him. Wesley keeps it secret, but it changes him and his personality. He doesn't know how to deal with it, but eventually another situation arises that forces him to speak up. At the end Christopher Hewitt and Brice Beckham talked about good touch, bad touch, and the importance of telling somebody.

This episode was and always is deeply personal for me. I went through the same thing when I was about 12 years old, being molested by an older cousin. When I saw this particular episode, I genuinely believe God was speaking to me through the TV. I know some people might think that's crazy, but I truly believe it. Within that same week, I saw a Power Ranger's PSA, and then an America's Most Wanted PSA. All about the same thing and that's when I knew I needed to tell someone and I did. I never saw any of those PSAs again. It was all God.

This show is fantastic and I can't recommend it enough. Your family will laugh out loud and you'll simultaneously grow in your relationships, thus bringing your family closer together.

What's Missing in Today's TV that 'Mr. Belvedere' Had in Spades?

That's what's so powerful about old TV like this. You just can't find it anymore. Writers don't create quality TV like this, and it's sad.

Patricia Heaton on the Golden Era of TV

Recently on the Dave Rubin Podcast, he interviewed Patricia Heaton. You may know her from, Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle. And she talked about this exact thing. How streaming changed everything and how like Everybody Loves Raymond, was kind of the last show at the turn of the two thousands that still had great comedy without the political correctness, and it was taped in front of a live audience just like Mr. Belvedere.

She called it the golden era of TV. I pushed that golden era back even further but here's what Patricia said that really stuck with me. Back then, everyone on set was focused on making the show successful. Nobody cared about anyone's political opinions or what side of the aisle they were on because everybody was laser focused on making a great show families could enjoy together.

And that's what's missing today. That's why I'm bringing you these TV show recommendations. To remind families wholesome entertainment like this still exists.

How TV Used to Bring Families Together

And the way we consumed TV back then made that family connection even stronger.

Patricia also talked about how TV used to bring people together. We don't have that anymore. Now we're drowning in streaming options and everyone watches separately on their own devices, for the most part. When I was growing up, if you didn't have a VCR or you weren't home when your show aired, you missed it, period. So families gathered around the TV together. They watched and talked about it the next day with friends and neighbors.

She also mentioned the Warner Ranch, where the iconic fountain from the Friends credits lived, and the Bewitched and Walton's houses and the Lethal Weapon house all stood. All of that TV history was leveled to build numerous sound stages because of the push for streaming content. Now it's nothing but empty sound stages. All that history destroyed for nothing.

The Entertainment Industry's Shift

I talk about something similar that happened at CBS where I used to work. That studio is now an empty shell of what it used to be. If you wanna hear more about this, you can check out my bonus episode from October 29th, Inside the Fall of Wholesome TV Shows and What You Lost. It gives a ton of background on why I do this show as well.

Patricia Heaton isn't the only industry person saying this either. Stephen Baldwin said the same thing on the PBD Podcast last year. He explained how the entertainment funnel used to be so small and selective and streaming blew that funnel wide open. Now there's no quality, just quantity trying to fill an endless void.

Where to Watch 'Mr. Belvedere'

So here's the catch, you can't find Mr. Belvedere streaming on any major platform. The only place I've found it is on YouTube. The quality varies. Most episodes are totally watchable. Some are grainy, But don't let the YouTube thing stop you, please. This show is absolutely worth it.

You can't go wrong with Mr. Belvedere and I can't recommend it enough. It's a wonderful, family-friendly TV show you can totally binge with your family and you'll simultaneously grow in your relationships, thus bringing your family closer together.

Final Thoughts About 'Mr. Belvedere'

I just finished watching the series again with my kids, and I got just as sentimental as I did back in the eighties when it originally ended. Watching it always feels like a warm hug. Comforting, humorous, family-centered, with storylines that carry you from season to season.

That's it for today. Next week is episode 50. A milestone for any new podcaster. So I'm celebrating by sharing one of my favorite sequels of all time. One with a character that will capture your heart, your kids' hearts, and leave a lasting impression for years to come. Don't miss it.

Thanks for joining me. Have a great rest of your week. Don't forget your values matter and your TV should too.

Catch you next week. Take care.