Interesting how this show continues to draw interst.
When you think of how many single-season sitcoms have come and gone over the years, and how they have been consigned to complete obscurity, it's rather amazing that this show continues to draw as much interest as it has.
I imagine a lot of it has to do with the fact that several of the stars went on greater success, Sarah Jessica Parker chief among them. For some reason, I taped these shows on VHS when they originally aired, complete with commercials and all, and have hung on to the tapes over the years. Once in a while I'll pull out a tape an torture my kids with an episode, and it really strikes me how Square Pegs completely captured the mood of the times. The period 1982-83 wasn't nearly as optimistic as the later 80's. The country was still mired in a bad economy with high interest rates and unemployment similar to what it is today. Square Pegs isn't a very happy show.
On the other hand, the music on the show is great. "New Wave" was still fairly new, and still sounded fresh and vital. There are some great songs playing on the jukebox at "The Grease." One that I remember in particular was Billy Idol's "White Wedding." After years of disco and over-processed 70's music, that new sound was a great relief.
The show itself is somewhat hit or miss. Some of the earliest episodes were pretty awful, but the show hit stride late in it's run. The episodes with Bill Murray and Martin Mull were great. It was too late by then, unfortunately. If CBS had stuck with the show for at least another 13 episodes, I'll bet that it would have lasted at least long enough to see Patty, Lauren, Johnny and Marshall graduate. It would have been fun.
"He was running around like a rooster in a barnyard full of ducks."--Pat Novak