Beverly Hills Teens Explained

Developer:Jack Olesker
Michael Maliani
Barry O'Brien
Director:Craig Zukowski
Composer:Haim Saban
Shuki Levy
Country:United States
Canada[1]
Language:English
Num Seasons:1
Num Episodes:65
List Episodes:Beverly Hills Teens#Episodes
Executive Producer:Andy Heyward
Runtime:30 minutes
Company:DIC Animation City
Channel:Syndication
Related:Maxie's World

Beverly Hills Teens is an American animated children'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 retronym Beverly 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."

Development

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. The three series said to be in various stages of production at that time were Tiffany Blake, and Beverly Hills Teens.

Described by one columnist as "[s]poiled rich kids who attend classes equipped with Louis XIV antique desks", 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]

Premise

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]

Voice cast

See also: List of Beverly Hills Teens characters.

[3] [7]

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."[8]

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'?"[9]

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.

Accolades

Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
1989Youth in Film Award
(now known as the Young Artist Award)
Best Animated SeriesBeverly Hills Teens[10]
Best Young Actress in a Voice-over RoleJoanna Schellenberg

Home media

During the series' lifespan, select episodes were released in the NTSC VHS format by Golden Book Video. In 1990, select episodes were released on single episode VHS tapes by Celebrity Home Entertainment as part of their Just for Kids Mini Features line.

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.[11] On November 28, 2007, Volumes 2 and 3, containing 20 and 22 episodes respectively, were released.[12] [13] On May 17, 2010, all 3 Volumes were made available for purchase as a 3-box set of the entire series.[14]

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.[15] On October 1, 2013, Volume 2, featuring the remaining 33 episodes, was released.[16]

Broadcast UK history

Related media

A video game had been in development by Tomahawk, but was cancelled.[17]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Веселая компания из Беверли-Хиллз (Beverly Hills Teens) (series 1987).
  2. Book: Perlmutter . David . The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows . 2018 . Rowman & Littlefield . 978-1538103739 . 78.
  3. Book: Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 - Volume 1. Hal Erickson. Hal Erickson (author). 2005. 134–135. McFarland & Company. 0786420995.
  4. Web site: Maxie's World Episodes. 6 January 2013. TV Guide.
  5. Web site: Beverly Hills Teen Club . 19 October 2013 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131020235908/http://www.dhxmedia.com/shows/animation/beverlyhillsteenclub.html . 20 October 2013 .
  6. Web site: Offstage – Rich role models. Geralyn Landreth. Wire Services. 2 January 1987. The Milwaukee Journal.
  7. Web site: Beverly Hills Teens Episode Guide (1987-1988). https://archive.today/20140107165154/http://www.bcdb.com/cartoon_characters/20741-Double-Surfing_Double-Cross.html%23cartoon_voices. dead. January 7, 2014. 6 January 2013. Big Cartoon DataBase.
  8. Web site: "Beverly Hills Teens": A Cartoon Embodying '80s Decadence. Brian Galindo. 13 March 2013. BuzzFeed.
  9. Web site: About those famed Hills in a place named Beverly. Dilshan Boange. 15 December 2013. The Nation. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140107202541/http://www.nation.lk/edition/fine/item/23572-about-those-famed-hills-in-a-place-named-beverly.html. 7 January 2014.
  10. Web site: 10th Annual Youth In Film Awards. 31 March 2011. Young Artist Awards. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150716012647/http://youngartistawards.org/pastnoms10.htm. 16 July 2015.
  11. Web site: Bécé Bégé - Partie 1 - Coffret 4 DVD. 26 April 2007. Déclic Images.
  12. Web site: Bécé Bégé - Partie 2 - Coffret 4 DVD. 28 November 2007. Déclic Images.
  13. Web site: Bécé Bégé - Partie 3 - Coffret 4 DVD. 28 November 2007. Déclic Images.
  14. Web site: Bécé Bégé - Intégrale - Pack 3 Coffrets DVD. 17 May 2010. Déclic Images.
  15. Web site: Beverly Hills Teens - Volume 1 - 32 Episodes. 19 February 2013. Mill Creek Entertainment. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131020135002/http://www.millcreekent.com/beverly-hills-teens-volume-1-32-eps.html. 20 October 2013.
  16. Web site: Beverly Hills Teens - Volume 2 - 33 Episodes. 1 October 2013. Mill Creek Entertainment. 1 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131004214425/http://www.millcreekent.com/beverly-hills-teens-volume-2-33-episodes.html. 4 October 2013. dead.
  17. Web site: Abandonware France - Bécé bégé. www.abandonware-france.org. fr. 2017-03-15.