THE PLOT THUS FAR
City-born rancher Benjamin Ernst (David Brisbin) and his herd of teenage help return to the Bar None Ranch for another summer of desert dustups and adventures. Season Two episodes include a plane crash, ghost stories, romantic turmoil, a treasure hunt and even an alien sighting! Stars Christine Taylor as lifeguard Melody, David Lascher as senior staff member Ted, Kelly Brown as horse trainer Brad, Joe Torres as Hopi Indian native Danny, Debrah Kalman as ranch hand Lucy and Josh Tygiel as Ernst’s son Buddy.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
When one visits the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch in lovely Tucson, Arizona…only a few will know the majesty that once dwelled within. For a solid three seasons, Nickelodeon shot a show there dubbed “Hey Dude”. A simple throwback to the Disney live-action shows coupled with 80s sitcom mentality led to a wonderful childhood romp. But, it was a lot nicer than shows of that era. Nobody was terribly mean to each other, but at the same time nobody seemed to progress outside of the cliched sitcom attitudes. Plus, what was the deal with Buddy?
The second season of the show is more of the same. The kids argue over who left them a $100 bill for a tip, they tell ghost stories and Melody tries out for the Olympics. Laughs are had and you begin to wonder why Nickelodeon shifted away from these shows. It’s a little disappointing to see a lack of strong kid-based shows on television that don’t either cater to the stupid or turn into Degrassi. Still, there’s a kind of schmaltz associated with the show that will probably keep it firmly away from kids of this era.
The DVD comes with no special features. However, the A/V Quality is spotty due to the budget constraints of the era. Whomever thought that shooting on video was futureproof, needed to get kicked in the head. The colors are washed out, digital noise is thick in the background and everyone looks pixelated. That being said, Shout and Viacom did the best with the materials on hand. It’s presentable enough to watch, it’s just that you’re not going to wow anyone with the set. I’d recommend a purchase for hardcore fans.
RELEASE DATE: 01/31/2012
