raysond
For those of us who remember the golden decade that was the 1980's,then you may remember the short-lived series from the early 1980's starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Jami Gertz. During its run,SQUARE PEGS,was the hippest teen show of its day. Created by former Saturday Night Live writer Anne Beatts(who based the show on her own experiences as a high school student)this show had some great writing,funny and outrageous characters,tubular new wave music and fashions that came out during the height of the MTV generation. So,what is there not to like? This was however an early vehicle for both Sarah Jessica Parker and Jami Gertz who would go on to bigger and better things in their careers,but since the show slipped into oblivion,was never to be heard from again....until 2004 when TV Land resurrected this show from the television graveyard of lost shows and aired it as a marathon. And it hasn't been seen since. Historically,and in perspective,TV shows about teen and high school life have short-life spans. For example shows like "James at 15","The White Shadow","Welcome Back,Kotter","Lucas Tanner", not to mention other great teen shows like "The Bronx Zoo","The Marshall Chronicles","Saved By The Bell","Freaks and Geeks","Boston Public",and "Beverly Hills,90210" were brilliant depictions along with classic shows like "Dobie Gillis","The Patty Duke Show","Room 222", "Mister Novak","The Headmaster","Karen",and "Gidget" along the lines of shows dealing with the subject matter involving teens."Square Pegs",premiered on CBS-TV on September 27,1982 and ended its run on March 7,1983 producing 20 episodes. The show during the start of the 1982-1983 season premiered on Monday nights on the network's powerhouse Monday night line-up which included "Newhart","M*A*S*H", "One Day At A Time",and the groundbreaking police drama "Cagney and Lacey"(which replaced "Lou Grant" after six seasons). When it premiered it went opposite the competition alongside the variety-reality series "That's Incredible!"(ABC),and the powerhouse drama "Little House On The Prairie"(NBC). When "Square Pegs" left in 1983,CBS replaced with the action-packed adventure series "Scarecrow and Mrs.King".Getting back to SQUARE PEGS,the show not only introduced Sarah Jessica Parker and Jami Gertz,but also Tracie Nelson(the daughter of fame actor and rocker Rick Nelson)and Merritt Butrick. The show also broke ground as well that featured high school students playing themselves and also featured teenagers in the leads,and not some twenty or thirtysomething with a Shakespearan accent from the British theater playing a some kid. This was also a series that both some great musical guests like Devo and The Waitresses(who sang the show's theme song). And speaking of guest stars that appeared on this show which included the talent Bill Murray,and the not so talented Steve Sax,Father Guido Sarducci,and some TV legends like Tony Dow(aka Wally from Leave It To Beaver),and Don Grady(aka Robbie from My Three Sons). As you watch the series from the 1982-83 season,this was a show that came out in the midst of the MTV generation along with some of the music,clothing,catch phrases,video games and much more.
cutterccbaxter
One episode featured the drummer from The Doors. I've said it before and I'll say it again, there are never enough TV shows with drummers on them. Square Pegs also made a comical visual reference to Citizen Kane. No wonder it only lasted one season. The biggest weakness of the show was the premise. Every week Patty and Lauren aspired to join the popular crowd. It should have been apparent after their first attempt that a). The popular kids would never accept them, and that, b). Hanging out with Johnny Slash was way more cooler because he knew the drummer from The Doors. One final note: I thought SJP did well at finding her inner nerd.
Pepper Anne
I got interested in this show when I happened to catch the TV Land marathon one weekend night, and I've been a fan ever since.Square Pegs is about two friends, Lauren (Amy Linker) and Patty (Sarah Jessica Parker) who are high school freshman with the ambition of popularity. Except, things never seem to go as planned.
Square Pegs was great because it never got caught up in the oversexed life of horny teenagers (though there are some subtle remarks), so it wasn't soap opera-esque. That's quite a refreshing break from the incessant self-indulgent dramas and sitcoms targeted for today's teenager. But, nor was it commentary on the critical issues facing american teens at the time. It was just a simple, light-hearted show about a bunch of goofy high school kids. And, tough the situations were sometimes dull (such as the episode where Lauren falls in love with the school handyman), Square Pegs was a pretty funny show about an odd assortment of characters.
Plus, how can you go wrong with a show in which both The Waitresses (who performed the theme song) play the Freshman Dance and Devo appear at super-peppy Muffy Tepperman's Barmitzvah?Given some of the old short-lived crappy television shows that have made it to DVD, I am wondering when the show's makers are going to get smart and put the entire Square Pegs season (it was only on for one season) on DVD and/or VHS?
blaackbird
I recently saw this show for the first time. What a museum piece. Unfortunately, I suppose, it belongs in a museum NOBODY WANTS TO VISIT! A horrifying reminder of some very typical traits of the time and the rabid desire to look and act like a d*** fool in order to be popular, this show sent ugly shivers down my spine. I'll be turning 30 this year, and I never felt so glad to be so far from adolescence as when I saw this show.
As if that weren't enough, the acting reeked. I do acknowledge that since the show was satirical, the poor acting likely was all part of the clownish send-up of the dim-bulb behavior it depicts. It almost makes it praiseworthy. Almost.I'm just as glad that I don't like Sarah Jessica Parker anyway (that smarmy HBO show of hers and her clear impression that she's attractive... insert vomit here).
