For a quirky little show that not many seem to remember, Square Pegs had some really great cameos. The Waitresses sing the show’s catchy self-titled theme song and also make a guest appearance as the band at the school dance in the pilot episode. I think it’s pretty risqué that the school let them sing their big hit “I Know What Boys Like” but apparently CBS was trying to figure out what their target audience liked. Fellow new wave rockers Devo also make a guest appearance in the episode “Muffy’s Bat Mitzvah.” The original drummer for the Doors, John Densmore, cameos as the drummer in Johnny Slash’s band “Open 24 Hours” and Bill Murray made an appearance in the episode titled “No Substitutions.” The two-part Christmas special features Leave It to Beaver’s Tony Dow guest-starring as Patty’s estranged father.
I must say for a supposed misfit, Sarah Jessica Parker is cute as a button as Patty Greene. I really don’t understand why so many men don’t find her attractive. She gets her heart broken in the pilot episode when the big man on campus dances with her but tells her he’s dating an older girl in college. I love it when she tells him, “Why ask for the moon when we have the stars?” That’s such a great line. All I can say is get ready to have your heart broken several more times, kid.
We all know what happened to Sarah Jessica Parker post-Square Pegs, but what about her co-stars? Let’s start with best friend Amy Linker. IMDb reports that she was most recently seen on a television series titled Don’t Make Me Sick in 2009, although I’ve never heard of it. Sadly, the actor who portrayed Johnny Slash died at age 30 in 1989; apparently he had suffered from pneumonia and had a spinal tap done less than a week before he died. Prior to his death, he had an impressive resume, noting Fright Night Part 2, Star Trek: The Next Generation and Jake and the Fatman among his credits.
John Femia (Marshall) hasn’t done anything since ABC afterschool specials in 1984. Tracy Nelson (Jennifer) hasn’t done much recently, but I will always remember her as the nun in Father Dowling Mysteries. She did cameos in several shows, starring in everything from The Love Boat, Family Ties and Matlock to Melrose Place. Jami Gertz (Muffy) is about to make a television comeback in ABC’s The Neighbors, after enjoying guest roles on Modern Family and Entourage, the series Still Standing and the role of Star in 1987’s The Lost Boys. Claudette Wells (LaDonna) was a voice actor in Disney’s The Princess & The Frog and Mulan. Jon Caliri (Vinnie) hasn’t really been in anything since Hill Street Blues.
The series enjoyed a bit of syndication, airing on the USA Network, Nickelodeon and TVLand briefly in the 1990s. When the first Sex and the City movie came out in 2008, CBS finally released the entire series on a digitally-remastered DVD set, which I’m proud to say I own. Any time I’m in the mood for a new wave flashback (which can be quite often as I adore the 1980s and especially the new wave scene), I can pop it into the DVD player and transport myself back in time. If you’ve never seen it, I recommend giving the series at least a once-over. It’s clearly no Fast Times at Ridgemont High or Freaks & Geeks, but it’s worth a watch.
Clacked by Kim Tibbs
on Aug 30, 2012 @ 14:00 EST5EDT
Thanks for doing this post. I loved this show! Have been a big fan of SJP and Jamie Gertz over the years. The whole cast was really adorable. That’s sad about the actor that played Johnny Slash, his character was a riot. I will have to check out the DVD.
Now you make me want to rent Square Pegs from NetFlix.