Beverly Hills Teens is an American animatedchildren's television program produced by DIC Animation City.[2] Distributed by Access Syndication and originally airing in first-run syndication in the United States from September 21, 1987 through December 18, 1987 and airing in The Children's Channel in the United Kingdom from March 1, 1994 through February 28, 1998, the series consists of one extended season, comprising a total of 65 episodes, each 30 minutes long.[3] After its original run, the series continued to be broadcast as part of a syndication package featuring rebroadcasts of Maxie's World and It's Punky Brewster,[4] and has subsequently acquired the retronymBeverly Hills Teen Club.[5]
Developed by Jack Olesker, Michael Maliani and Barry O'Brien, and executive produced by Andy Heyward, the series' namesake teenagers reside in the exclusive enclave of Beverly Hills, California and are shown to have exaggerated wealth, exemplified by mansions, yachts, and limousines, while navigating typical teenage concerns, including schoolwork, friendships, and romantic rivalries. In 1989, the series was nominated for the Youth in Film Award (now known as the Young Artist Award) as "Best Animated Series."[citation needed]
In January 1987, the wire services reported that Access Syndication, which was partnered with DIC Enterprises and Coca-Cola Telecommunications, had three new animated children's series in development for the fall of that year.[citation needed] The three series said to be in various stages of production at that time were Tiffany Blake, Starcom: The U.S. Space Force and Beverly Hills Teens.
Described by one columnist as "[s]poiled rich kids who attend classes equipped with Louis XIV antique desks",[citation needed]Beverly Hills Teens was touted by producers as a response to the more violent series aimed at children, maintaining that the new series would be less action-based and more character driven, and would provide "wholesome role models for kids."
President of Access Syndicate, Ritch Colbert lamented the state of children's entertainment at the time, stating "Children's programming these days is dominated by neo-miiltaristic, boy-toy animation." Citing shows like SilverHawks, ThunderCats and G.I. Joe, which were popular animated series of the time, Colbert continued "Where are the Tom and Jerrys, the Flintstones, the rich characters for children to nurture and develop and identify with?"
When questioned as to whether "money-happy" teens residing in Beverly Hills would be the best examples for children, Colbert countered "Well, they may be rather more wealthy than most teenagers, but they have typical teenagers' problems and the important thing is they are fully realized personalities."
While in development, early names for the series' four lead characters were reported as "Troy", "Chrissie", "Raven" and "Pierce". Although the boys' names would remain into the production of the series, the girls' names were subsequently changed, with "Chrissie" eventually becoming series protagonist "Larke", and "Raven" eventually being renamed "Bianca."[6]
The series takes place in Beverly Hills, California, and follows a fictional "Teen Club", consisting of a group of wealthy teenagers, shown to be approximately sixteen years old. Common settings include the teens' palatial high school, the country club, the local salon and spa, and the shopping thoroughfare on Rodeo Drive. The lead protagonist is Larke, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed high school student and fashion model who is shown to be kind and generous to her friends. Her romantic lead is handsome heartthrob Troy, who, like Larke, is shown to be genial and likable, and is often the object of affection for the other girls.
Providing much of the series' conflict is raven-haired beauty, Bianca, who views Larke as her primary rival for everything from the lead in the high school play, to the title of Homecoming Queen, and, most importantly, Troy's affections. Sharing her disdain for the perfect coupling is Pierce, an effeminate and narcissistic boy who presents himself as a "ladies' man", but resents Troy's relationship with Larke. Storylines frequently involve Bianca or Pierce, or sometimes both working together, plotting and/or manipulating events in an attempt to sabotage Larke and Troy's romance, as well as various other relationships within the Teen Club.
The other girls of the Teen Club include rocker girl Jett, cowgirl Blaze, aspiring actress Nikki, southern belle Tara, Teen Club President Shanelle, and gossip columnist Switchboard. The other boys of the Teen Club include rocker boy Gig, surfer boy Radley, self-promoter Buck Huckster, and Bianca's chauffeur Wilshire. In addition to their peer group, the teens are often accompanied by two youngsters, boy genius Chester and Pierce's little sister Jillian, while the rivalry between Larke's cat "Tiara" and Bianca's poodle "Empress" frequently provides the series with its more traditional slapstick comedy elements.[3]
The teens appear as an assortment of legendary fairy tale characters when Bianca slips into a series of daydreams during a literature lecture.
27
"Nothing But The Gossip"
Mike Kirschenbaum
October 27, 1987 (1987-10-27)
Switchboard is faced with an ethical dilemma when she is offered the opportunity to become assistant to celebrity gossip columnist Mona Blabit.
28
"Now We're Cooking"
Joe Glauberg
October 28, 1987 (1987-10-28)
The teens each work to create gourmet delicacies after they are approached to submit recipes for the cook book, "Recipes of the Super Rich".
29
"Old at Heart"
Tony L. Marino
October 29, 1987 (1987-10-29)
Nikki assumes the undercover identity of elderly persona "Flora Belle" after losing the opportunity to portray the role of a senior citizen on stage.
30
"Death Valley 500"
Durnie King
October 30, 1987 (1987-10-30)
The Teen Club faces an underhanded opponent when they compete in the "Death Valley 500" charity auto race to benefit homeless children.
31
"Star Split"
Tony L. Marino
November 2, 1987 (1987-11-02)
Jett tries her hand at a series of different career paths after she and Gig decide to break up their rock group and go their own separate ways.
32
"Double Your Trouble"
Steven J. Fisher
November 3, 1987 (1987-11-03)
Gig has his hands full when he secretly leads both Larke and Tara to believe that they are the exclusive winner of the "Date with Gig" contest.
33
"Take My Hostage, Please!"
Temple Mathews
November 4, 1987 (1987-11-04)
Bianca stages her own kidnapping in an attempt to have Troy rescue her, only to find herself held captive for ransom by a real life kidnapper.
34
"Trouble Times Three"
Emily Dwass
November 5, 1987 (1987-11-05)
Tara recruits Jett and Shanelle to help her babysit when she is called upon to spend the day watching her mischievous identical triplet nephews.
35
"Bianca's Dream"
Sindy McKay Larry Swerdlove
November 6, 1987 (1987-11-06)
Bianca grows bored with the monotony of the Teen Club and falls into a dream in which everyone is the antithesis of their real life personality.
36
"Pierce's Hundred Dollars"
Jim Rogers
November 9, 1987 (1987-11-09)
Pierce's father challenges him to save $100 from his allowance, promising to award him the world's most luxurious automobile if he succeeds.
37
"Look Deep Into My Eyes"
Calvin Kelly
November 10, 1987 (1987-11-10)
Chester invents a mind control device, prompting Pierce to use it to hypnotize the Teen Club members into electing him the Teen Club "King".
38
"The Commercial"
Mike O'Mahony
November 11, 1987 (1987-11-11)
Larke's cat Tiara is selected to star in a television commercial, prompting Bianca to devise a scheme to have her poodle Empress cast instead.
39
"Hold the Anchovies"
Mike O'Mahony
November 12, 1987 (1987-11-12)
Larke and Bianca lead competing teams for "The Big Whiz Kids Pizza Biz Contest" to win a 40 foot yacht and a week-long vacation in Tahiti.
40
"From Rad to Worse"
Ken Kahn
November 13, 1987 (1987-11-13)
Radley becomes brilliant and arrogant after Chester performs a genius brain transfusion on Radley in an attempt to help him with his homework.
41
"Scene Stealer"
Tony L. Marino
November 16, 1987 (1987-11-16)
Nikki attempts to take center stage when the Teen Club participates in the television program "Lifestyles of the Young and Disgustingly Rich".
42
"A Splitting Image"
Temple Mathews
November 17, 1987 (1987-11-17)
The Teen Club searches for a birthday gift for Pierce, while Chester invents a cloning machine, believing a twin will be Pierce's ideal companion.
43
"Diet, Please"
Tony L. Marino
November 18, 1987 (1987-11-18)
Things get out of hand when Tara embarks on a strict diet/exercise regimen so that she can meet the weight requirement for eligibility in the "Miss Magnolia" beauty contest. This very special episode is followed by a lecture from Larke about the dangers of crash-dieting and over-exercise.
44
"Jillian's Lesson"
Temple Mathews
November 19, 1987 (1987-11-19)
The girls give Jillian advice for getting the attention of her crush, which results in a series of embarrassing mishaps for her big brother Pierce.
45
"What the Hex Happening?"
Calvin Kelly
November 20, 1987 (1987-11-20)
The Teen Club is plagued by misfortune after Bianca finds a diamond pendant and refuses to return it to its rightful owner, a gypsy fortune teller.
Chester becomes a private investigator when Bianca implicates Larke in the mysterious disappearance of the "Star of Rodeo Drive" diamond.
61
"The Tortoise and the Dare"
Ken Kahn
December 14, 1987 (1987-12-14)
The world's wealthiest teens descend on Beverly Hills to compete in the Silver Spoon Olympics, beginning with the Millionaire's Marathon.
62
"Greens with Envy"
Ken Kahn
December 15, 1987 (1987-12-15)
The world's wealthiest teens continue to compete in the Silver Spoon Olympics, which proceeds with the team golf and team polo events.
63
"Troy Triathlon"
Ken Kahn
December 16, 1987 (1987-12-16)
The Silver Spoon Olympics concludes with its main event, a triathlon which comprises ice skating, downhill skiing, and, dive and dash events.
64
"Miracle at the Teen Club - Part 1"
Doug Molitor
December 17, 1987 (1987-12-17)
The teens envision themselves as the players in a Christmas Carol allegory while snowbound during Buck Huckster's Christmas Eve Party.
65
"Miracle at the Teen Club - Part 2"
Doug Molitor
December 18, 1987 (1987-12-18)
The teens envision themselves as the players in a Christmas Carol allegory while snowbound during Buck Huckster's Christmas Eve Party.
Reception
In the 21st century, Beverly Hills Teens garnered a resurgence of attention from entertainment websites and newspaper columnists reminiscing about their childhoods in the 1980s. BuzzFeed writer, Brian Galindo playfully touted the camp appeal of the cartoon as "embodying '80s decadence", describing the series as "the original Beverly Hills, 90210, but way, way more ridiculous."[12]
Dilshan Boange, columnist for the Sri Lankan newspaper The Nation cited the series (and, in particular, its theme song) for exporting American "epicurean" ideals, writing "The Beverly Hills Teens sing out the status quo of monopoly over 'style' and how it's 'done right'. It is a message to lesser mortals to take note. The center tells you what is 'in' and what's not. [...] Have you given much thought to how many US TV shows market their lifestyles to us on a daily basis through TV shows that speak of the 'American dream'?"[13]
In Bulgaria, the show was first broadcast in 2002 on bTV as a part of the FoxKids block along other '80s and '90s shows such as Masked Rider and Inspector Gadget. Thus, the age cohort that grew up watching the show there were teens born from the late '80s to children born in the '90s. This introduced the '80s TV show to a much younger audience, including both Millennials and Generation Z members.[citation needed]
On April 26, 2007, Déclic Images released a Volume 1 DVD box set featuring the first 23 French dubbed episodes of the series - known as Bécé Bégé (BCBG...short for "Bon Chic, Bon Genre" or "Good Style, Good Class") in France - in the Region 2 format.[15] On November 28, 2007, Volumes 2 and 3, containing 20 and 22 episodes respectively, were released.[16][17] On May 17, 2010, all 3 Volumes were made available for purchase as a 3-box set of the entire series.[18]
On February 19, 2013, Mill Creek Entertainment released a Volume 1 DVD set featuring the first 32 episodes of the series in the Region 1 format which includes a bonus episode of Heathcliff.[19] On October 1, 2013, Volume 2, featuring the remaining 33 episodes, was released.[20]
