On this day July 18, 1987, The New Adventures of Beans Baxter premiered on FOX and brought a fast paced mix of teen comedy, spy action, and cartoon like energy to the brand new network. Created by Savage Steve Holland, the same mind behind Better Off Dead and One Crazy Summer, the show followed the life of a seemingly average high school student who finds himself recruited by a secret government agency after his father is kidnapped by an underground organization.
The show starred Jonathan Ward as Beans, a skateboard riding teen suddenly thrown into a double life filled with gadgets, disguises, and global villains. Part comic book fantasy, part spy spoof, the series moved quickly and leaned into its quirky style with bold color schemes, strange characters, and a sense of fun that matched the energy of FOX’s youth focused programming.
Though The New Adventures of Beans Baxter only lasted one season with 17 episodes, it left an impression for its unusual blend of genres and fast talking charm. It was one of FOX’s earliest attempts to stand out from the other networks by targeting a younger and more offbeat audience. With appearances from veteran actors like Elinor Donahue and creative set pieces in every episode, the show embraced its wild concept and never took itself too seriously.
80s insight: In the mid 80s, shows like Beans Baxter gave younger viewers the kind of wish fulfillment fantasy that combined high school awkwardness with secret agent thrills. FOX took a gamble by leaning into youth culture and pop inspired storytelling, and this series was a bold early example.
The show starred Jonathan Ward as Beans, a skateboard riding teen suddenly thrown into a double life filled with gadgets, disguises, and global villains. Part comic book fantasy, part spy spoof, the series moved quickly and leaned into its quirky style with bold color schemes, strange characters, and a sense of fun that matched the energy of FOX’s youth focused programming.
Though The New Adventures of Beans Baxter only lasted one season with 17 episodes, it left an impression for its unusual blend of genres and fast talking charm. It was one of FOX’s earliest attempts to stand out from the other networks by targeting a younger and more offbeat audience. With appearances from veteran actors like Elinor Donahue and creative set pieces in every episode, the show embraced its wild concept and never took itself too seriously.
80s insight: In the mid 80s, shows like Beans Baxter gave younger viewers the kind of wish fulfillment fantasy that combined high school awkwardness with secret agent thrills. FOX took a gamble by leaning into youth culture and pop inspired storytelling, and this series was a bold early example.
