Mr. Belvedere
Updated: 12/20/2025, 1:43:01 PM Wikipedia source
Mr. Belvedere is an American sitcom that originally aired on ABC from March 15, 1985, until its cancellation following the 107th episode on December 30, 1989. The network then shelved the remainder of Season 6. ABC aired the show's two-part series finale on July 8, 1990, a rare occurrence for a canceled program. The eight remaining episodes from Season 6 that the network shelved (bringing the final number of episodes to 117) would eventually air in syndication. The series is based on the Lynn Aloysius Belvedere character created by Gwen Davenport for her 1947 novel Belvedere, which was later adapted into the 1948 film Sitting Pretty. The show stars Christopher Hewett as the title character, a butler for an American family headed by George Owens, played by Bob Uecker.
Infobox
Genre
Sitcom
Based on
Belvedere by Gwen Davenport
Developed by
Frank DunganJeff Stein
Starring
Christopher HewettIlene GraffRob StoneTracy WellsBrice BeckhamBob Uecker
Theme music composer
Judy Hart-AngeloGary Portnoy
Opening theme
"According to Our New Arrival"(performed by Leon Redbone for 116 episodes)(performed by an unidentified studio vocalist for the pilot only)
Composers
Jimmie Haskell (Pilot episode; music arranged and conducted by)Lionel Newman (music supervision; Pilot episode/seasons 1–2)Ben Lanzarone (additional music; seasons 3–6)
Country of origin
United States
Original language
English
No. of seasons
6
No. of episodes
117 (list of episodes)
Executive producers
Frank DunganJeff SteinTony Sheehan (1985–87)Liz Sage (1989–90)
Producers
Patricia RickeyJeff Ferro (1988–90)Ric Weiss (1988–90)
Production locations
Sunset Gower StudiosHollywood, California(Pilot and Season 1; 1985)ABC Television CenterHollywood, California(Seasons 2–6; 1985–1990)
Editors
Edward J. BrennanJessie HokeDon Wilson
Camera setup
Videotape; Multi-camera
Running time
24 minutes
Production companies
Lazy B/F.O.B. Productions20th Television
Network
ABC
Release
March 15, 1985 (1985-03-15) –July 8, 1990 (1990-07-08)
Tables
First released
First released
Season
First released
Episodes
Last released
1
1
Season
1
Episodes
7
Episodes
March 15, 1985 (1985-03-15)
Originally released
April 26, 1985 (1985-04-26)
2
2
Season
2
Episodes
22
Episodes
September 27, 1985 (1985-09-27)
Originally released
March 28, 1986 (1986-03-28)
3
3
Season
3
Episodes
22
Episodes
September 26, 1986 (1986-09-26)
Originally released
May 15, 1987 (1987-05-15)
4
4
Season
4
Episodes
20
Episodes
October 30, 1987 (1987-10-30)
Originally released
May 6, 1988 (1988-05-06)
5
5
Season
5
Episodes
24
Episodes
October 14, 1988 (1988-10-14)
Originally released
May 5, 1989 (1989-05-05)
6
6
Season
6
Episodes
22
Episodes
September 16, 1989 (1989-09-16)
Originally released
July 8, 1990 (1990-07-08)
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 7 | March 15, 1985 (1985-03-15) | April 26, 1985 (1985-04-26) | |
| 2 | 22 | September 27, 1985 (1985-09-27) | March 28, 1986 (1986-03-28) | |
| 3 | 22 | September 26, 1986 (1986-09-26) | May 15, 1987 (1987-05-15) | |
| 4 | 20 | October 30, 1987 (1987-10-30) | May 6, 1988 (1988-05-06) | |
| 5 | 24 | October 14, 1988 (1988-10-14) | May 5, 1989 (1989-05-05) | |
| 6 | 22 | September 16, 1989 (1989-09-16) | July 8, 1990 (1990-07-08) | |
· Home media
Seasons One & Two
Seasons One & Two
DVD name
Seasons One & Two
Ep#
29
Release date
March 17, 2009
Special features
New interviews with Bob Uecker, Ilene Graff, Rob Stone and Brice Beckham
"The Guy who Plays Mr. Belvedere Fanclub" sketch from Saturday Night Live with Tom Hanks from 1992
Season Three
Season Three
DVD name
Season Three
Ep#
22
Release date
September 8, 2009
Special features
Six audio commentaries with Ilene Graff, Rob Stone, Tracy Wells and Brice Beckham ("Debut", "Kevin's Date", "Pills", "The Crush", "The Competition", "Kevin's Older Woman")
Season Four
Season Four
DVD name
Season Four
Ep#
20
Release date
January 19, 2010♦September 8, 2015 (re-release)
Special features
Episode promos created for the syndication package
| DVD name | Ep# | Release date | Special features |
| Seasons One & Two | 29 | March 17, 2009 | New interviews with Bob Uecker, Ilene Graff, Rob Stone and Brice Beckham "The Guy who Plays Mr. Belvedere Fanclub" sketch from Saturday Night Live with Tom Hanks from 1992 |
| Season Three | 22 | September 8, 2009 | Six audio commentaries with Ilene Graff, Rob Stone, Tracy Wells and Brice Beckham ("Debut", "Kevin's Date", "Pills", "The Crush", "The Competition", "Kevin's Older Woman") |
| Season Four | 20 | January 19, 2010♦September 8, 2015 (re-release) | Episode promos created for the syndication package |
· Awards and nominations
1985
1985
Year
1985
Award
Primetime Emmy Award
Result
Won
Category
Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Series
Recipient
George Spiro Dibie(For episode "Stranger in the Night")
1986
1986
Year
1986
Award
Young Artist Awards
Result
Nominated
Category
Best New Television Series – Comedy or Drama
Recipient
–
Best Young Supporting Actor in a New Television Series
Best Young Supporting Actor in a New Television Series
Year
Best Young Supporting Actor in a New Television Series
Award
Brice Beckham
Won
Won
Year
Won
Award
Best Young Actress Starring in a New Television Series
Result
Tracy Wells
1987
1987
Year
1987
Award
Nominated
Result
Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress, Starring in a Television, Comedy or Drama Series
Category
Tracy Wells
Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor Starring in a Television Comedy or Drama Series
Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor Starring in a Television Comedy or Drama Series
Year
Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor Starring in a Television Comedy or Drama Series
Award
Brice Beckham
1988
1988
Year
1988
Award
Nominated
Result
Best Family Comedy Series
Category
–
Best Young Female Superstar in Television
Best Young Female Superstar in Television
Year
Best Young Female Superstar in Television
Award
Tracy Wells
Best Young Male Superstar in Television
Best Young Male Superstar in Television
Year
Best Young Male Superstar in Television
Award
Brice Beckham
1989
1989
Year
1989
Award
Nominated
Result
Best Young Actress Guest Starring in a Drama or Comedy Series
Category
Laura Jacoby(For episode "Pigskin")
Best Young Actress – Starring in a Television Comedy Series
Best Young Actress – Starring in a Television Comedy Series
Year
Best Young Actress – Starring in a Television Comedy Series
Award
Tracy Wells
Best Young Actor – Starring in a Television Comedy Series
Best Young Actor – Starring in a Television Comedy Series
Year
Best Young Actor – Starring in a Television Comedy Series
Award
Brice Beckham
Best Family Television Series
Best Family Television Series
Year
Best Family Television Series
Award
–
2004
2004
Year
2004
Award
TV Land Award
Result
Nominated
Category
Best Broadcast Butler
Recipient
Christopher Hewett
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
| 1985 | Primetime Emmy Award | Won | Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Series | George Spiro Dibie(For episode "Stranger in the Night") |
| 1986 | Young Artist Awards | Nominated | Best New Television Series – Comedy or Drama | – |
| Best Young Supporting Actor in a New Television Series | Brice Beckham | |||
| Won | Best Young Actress Starring in a New Television Series | Tracy Wells | ||
| 1987 | Nominated | Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress, Starring in a Television, Comedy or Drama Series | Tracy Wells | |
| Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor Starring in a Television Comedy or Drama Series | Brice Beckham | |||
| 1988 | Nominated | Best Family Comedy Series | – | |
| Best Young Female Superstar in Television | Tracy Wells | |||
| Best Young Male Superstar in Television | Brice Beckham | |||
| 1989 | Nominated | Best Young Actress Guest Starring in a Drama or Comedy Series | Laura Jacoby(For episode "Pigskin") | |
| Best Young Actress – Starring in a Television Comedy Series | Tracy Wells | |||
| Best Young Actor – Starring in a Television Comedy Series | Brice Beckham | |||
| Best Family Television Series | – | |||
| 2004 | TV Land Award | Nominated | Best Broadcast Butler | Christopher Hewett |
References
- Episodes 23–24 of season 5 only aired in syndication.
- Episodes 13–20 of season 6 only aired in syndication.
- Associated Presshttps://apnews.com/article/c84852dbf431b84aa16465a1c851bdb3
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/15/arts/gwen-davenport-92-belvedere-author.html
- The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows - 1946-Presenthttps://books.google.com/books?id=w8KztFy6QYwC&dq=%22Mr.+Belvedere+(situation+comedy)%22&pg=PA903
- New Straits Timeshttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZmFPAAAAIBAJ&pg=1744,3306822&dq=mr+belvedere+cancel&hl=en
- The Pittsburgh Presshttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z4kcAAAAIBAJ&pg=5523,4976703&dq=mr+belvedere+pittsburgh+dungan+stein&hl=en
- The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Presenthttps://books.google.com/books?id=w8KztFy6QYwC&dq=%22Mr.+Belvedere+(situation+comedy)%22&pg=PA903
- "Bio"http://www.garyportnoy.com/bio/
- The Albany Heraldhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8XVEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2365,4460340&dq=primetime+nielsen+ratings+1984&hl=en
- Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
- USA Today
- Philadelphia Inquirer
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-20-tv-29829-story.html
- The Miami Newshttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Df4lAAAAIBAJ&pg=1962,6182197&dq=mr+belvedere+ratings+1987-88&hl=en
- The Deseret Newshttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YkxTAAAAIBAJ&pg=7054,4727603&dq=poking+around+through+the+rubble+of+the+1988-89+television+season&hl=en
- Wichita Eagle
- Ratings for the week of December 25, 1989https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TIHU89_R9xg/SYCxo-5l4NI/AAAAAAAAAC0/DeN38ODiYgQ/s1600-h/Ratings_19891225.jpg
- The Dallas Morning News
- Ratings for the week of June 25, 1990https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TIHU89_R9xg/St57upQA5EI/AAAAAAAAAHI/G6noSkTuHcE/s1600-h/Ratings_19900625.jpg
- Ratings for the week of July 2, 1990https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TIHU89_R9xg/SuEjRMLEyJI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/eZGQt4vE3sI/s1600-h/Ratings_19900702.jpg
- Mr. Belvedere Onlinehttp://www.sitcomsonline.com/mrbelvedere.html
- "FamilyNet Fall 2011 Schedule Part II With Sitcoms Like Mr. Belveder; The Parkers Return to BET"http://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2011/09/familynet-fall-2011-schedule-part-ii.html
- "Mr. Belvedere - SCOOP: Get Your First Look at DVD Package Art for Mr. Belvedere - Seasons 1 and 2!"https://web.archive.org/web/20141025075242/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Mr-Belvedere-Seasons-1-2-Box-Art/11045
- "Mr. Belvedere - The Butler is Back! A Season 3 DVD is Scheduled for Release"https://web.archive.org/web/20120420082335/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Mr-Belvedere-Season-3/11989
- "Mr. Belvedere - Fans Get a Season 4 Set from Shout! Factory...But Not in Stores"https://web.archive.org/web/20130613132917/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Mr-Belvedere-Season-4/13098
- "The "What's The Hold-up?" FAQ"https://web.archive.org/web/20130415081050/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/articles/holdup.cfm#Belvedere
- Shout!'s 'Season 4' Re-Release Seems to be Sold in Stores This Time! Archived July 26, 2015, at the Wayback Machinehttps://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Mr-Belvedere-Season-4/21364