I suppose we should give the George Lopez TV movie Mr. Troop Mom (premiering tonight at 8 ET on Nickelodeon) a free pass for completely ripping off the inimitable 1990 Shelley Long literally-camp classic Troop Beverly Hills. But only because it's Father's Day weekend. Trailer below.
I'm guessing the target demo will never have heard of Troop Beverly Hills, so even pointing out the striking similarities between the two may be pointless. Still: Jane Lynch's hardass khaki enthusiast = TBH's Velda Plendor, who never met a skunk she didn't want to immediately turn into a hat. George Lopez wears an argyle sweater vest in the mountains; Phyllis Neffler (Long) has a designer transform her Wilderness Girls uni into a "complete look" featuring a silk beige cape. Also, this thing looks like that thing, and don't even get me started on the identical "newly brave parent steps out on a precarious log" climax. Sadly, I see no Craig T. Nelson in the Mr. Troop Mom trailer. He better swoop in to save the day if George Lopez would like to eat a pickle is all I'm sayin'.
This all makes me a bit sad, but that's not to say there isn't room for both. Seriously — parents! — if your tweens enjoy Mr. Troop Mom, go out and rent them Troop Beverly Hills. Am I wrong, P-Dubs? Does TBH hold up today?
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I totally remember seeing TBH in the theaters as a kid and I loved it! I still do! Beverly Hills…What a thrill! My friend still goes around singing “It’s cookie time..buying them would be so nice” Sad in a way but we don’t care. LOL
HE PERMED ME!!!!
I loved loved LOVED TBH when I was a kid.
what a great movie.
I am sure as funny as George Lopez is he will never be as good.
I already rented TBH after seeing this lame trailer on the TV.No one can beat Phyllis Neffler!
I LOVE the original- my sisters and I watched it all the time (and still do). I seriously nearly brought my TBH DVD with me the last time I saw a Jenny Lewis show for her to sign. Although I can’t figure out if she’d be offended or amused.
And yes, I have been known to sing “It’s cookie time” once or twice upon being presented with a cookie.
WE’RE #1! WE’RE #1!
“Cigars…cigarettes…COOKIES!”
I’m almost 30 and I STILL watch TBH when it airs on tv! It’s a classic.
Troop Beverly Hills was my #1 sleepover movie. My friends and I would always watch it along with Girls Just Want to Have Fun. These are two movies that should never be remade.
I still love this movie! I still say “blue light special, aisle 13, cookies” and “smokey the bear says only you can prevent forest fires…smokey the bear isn’t going through a terribly messy divorce” all the time! love it!
This is just sad! I love love loved Troop Beverly Hills- I even bought it on DVD a few years ago! And, plus, is has a little Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kily and Jenny Lewis solo fame!
God, that looks terrible.
Troop Bevery Hills was a classic. Just like Real Genius and Girls Just Want to Have fun.
I love Troop Beverly Hills. It is such a “camp” campy classic. Funny, comical and love that many of the little kids did grow up to work in the business. Shelly Long was brilliant.
Makes me want to break out the DVD I bought of the movie a few years.
Annie: You can’t put wine in Hobo stew!
Phyllis: Why not? What goes better with hobos than wine?
You know… This sort of crap really frosts my cookies! Long live Long, and a hex upon the house of the evil, and completely unoriginal, Nickelodeon execs.
I love TBH! I think kids would still appreciate it today. I mean come on! It’s about fab rich people. They’ll get it.
I LOVED Troop Beverly Hills. Particularly liked the girl whose parents were an homage of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos.
“Troop Beverly Hills” is a movie I remember fondly from its frequent showings on the Disney Channel, before the days of Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers. It’s truly an 80’s classic.
Phyllis Nefler an example of the knock her down and she,ll get right back up again. A bit like Shelley Long herself. A lovely film with an enjoyable ending.
Wasn’t the girl with the foreign diplomat parents a young Carla Gugino?