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If you are unfamiliar with Hey Dude, featured on Nickelodeon from 1989-1991, there are two key facts you need to know: 1. Yippie ki yi yay is what the cowboys say and 2. If you are a teen, you can be given a prominent staff position at a dude ranch where there seem to be only two adult authority figures present.
That’s what happened to Brad, Melody, Ted and Danny. Spoiled Bradley (Brad) and sweet Melody were an accomplished equestrian and swimmer, respectively, and made up the female side of the ranch love triangle. Ted was the dreamy heartthrob, and Danny was his slightly juvenile sidekick with a sensitive side. Mr. Ernst was the ranch’s clueless owner, Buddy was his dorky (but unaware of it) son and Lucy, Mr. Ernst’s assistant, was the only capable adult around for miles. Quite literally, for miles – the ranch seemed to be smack in the middle of nowhere, a few miles down the road from nothing.
Well, nothing except amazing, quality television. There are so many reasons why this show is awesome – here’s my top 10.
1. Hey Dude was the first live-action show on Nickelodeon. It paved the way for other teen-themed comedies like Salute Your Shorts and Clarissa Explains it All. And really, without shorts to salute and Melissa Joan Hart to make up video games about life situations, where would I – nay, where would WE – be?
2. David Lascher. David Lascher is amazing simply for his ability to play the same age range for over a decade. He played a teen on Hey Dude from 1989-1991, a teen on Blossom from 1992-1995, a college-aged guy on Clueless (the TV show) in 1996, and a college-aged/early twenties guy on Sabrina the Teenage Witch from 1999-2002. That’s a span of 12 years spent playing a 5-year age range. How does he do it?
3. Chicks with dude’s names. Like Brad.
4. Fantastically cheesy “Very special episode” moments, like the one seen here where Ted learns a valuable lesson from Danny about Native American contributions to society (and it appears that Danny wants to see Ted’s contributions, too, just sayin’).
5. On that note, Hey Dude had way better Native American moments than Saved by the Bell. If someone had tried to dress up as a Native American called Running Zack, worn a headdress, and made war whoop sounds, stuff would’ve gotten real. Danny would not have stood for that.
6. Love triangles. Ted and Melody? Ted and Brad? Buddy and … Danny? Poor Danny and Buddy generally got no love. Buddy was too young for the girls on the show, but what was Danny’s excuse? Watch some of the flames of passion between Ted and Brad here. Also, enjoy the inexplicable three-minute montage of clips set to “Boys of Summer” that follow. I did.
7. Mr. Ernst. Every Nickelodeon show needs an adult who is easy to annoy. Mr. Ernst was generally good-natured, but it was so much fun to watch him get pranked. Mr. Ernst was always coming up with wacky ways to get people to the ranch, like building a giant toothpick sculpture. (He was an accountant, marketing is not his strong suit).
8. We can still see Hey Dude! Apparently, part of the set is still standing. The show was filmed on location at the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch in Tucson, Arizona. I want to go to there.
9. Ted. David Lascher has been discussed, but his character Ted was totally the Zack Morris of the desert. And who doesn’t want a Zack Morris of the desert? Even better, Ted did not have annoying “time out” capabilities and could handle himself on a ranch. Hot. Check out what his co-workers had to say about that saucy minx:
10. The theme song. This theme song is so catchy, you’ll find yourself singing it years after seeing the show (or, OK, I will find myself singing it years after seeing the show).
11. Bonus: Apparently, people love the theme song so much, many have taken it upon themselves to replicate it on YouTube. And thus concludes your Hey Dude primer. Git along, little doggies.
Kristin Clifford is a writer and comedian in Chicago. Check out her comedy, her Web site and her Twitter.
