"Square Pegs" (1982) TV series 1982-1983

Creator:

Anne Beatts
(more)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

27 September 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Welcome to Weemawee High School, where being in the right clique can make one's years in school memorable...

Plot Keywords:

High School | Sitcom

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Sarah Jessica Parker	...	Patty Greene (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Amy Linker	...	Lauren Hutchinson (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Merritt Butrick	...	Johnny Slash (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
John Femia	...	Marshall Blechtman (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Tracy Nelson	...	Jennifer DiNuccio (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Jami Gertz	...	Muffy Tepperman (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Claudette Wells	...	LaDonna Fredericks (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Jon Caliri	...	Vinnie Pasetta (20 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Directed by
Kim Friedman		(10 episodes, 1982-1983)
Terry Hughes		(8 episodes, 1982-1983)
James Nasella		(2 episodes, 1983)

Series Writing credits
Anne Beatts		(20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Janis Hirsch		(6 episodes, 1982-1983)
Andy Borowitz		(5 episodes, 1982-1983)
Marjorie Gross		(5 episodes, 1982-1983)
Deanne Stillman		(3 episodes, 1982-1983)
Susan Silver		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Produced by
Anne Beatts	....	executive producer / producer (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Ronald E. Frazier	....	supervising producer (19 episodes, 1982-1983)
Shannon Silverman	....	associate producer (15 episodes, 1982-1983)
Stephen E. Smith	....	associate producer (8 episodes, 1982-1983)
Greg Brown	....	associate producer (6 episodes, 1982-1983)
Luciano Martino	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Jonathan Wolff		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Emil Oster		(1 episode, 1982)
Richard N. Hannah		(1 episode, 1983)
Brianne Murphy		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Joy Wilson		(1 episode, 1983)
Jay Kamen		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
William McAllister		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Set Decoration by
Joseph A. Armetta		(1 episode, 1982)
Tom Cost		(1 episode, 1983)

Series Costume Design by
Deirdre Naughton		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Makeup Department
Dorinda Carey	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1982)
Shirley Crawford	....	hair stylist (1 episode, 1982)
Charles House	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1983)
Evelyn Trimmer	....	hairdresser (1 episode, 1983)

Series Production Management
Bruce Hendricks	....	unit production manager (2 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Larry Lipton	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Art Department
Margaret Mazzola	....	leadman (8 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Sound Department
David Schneiderman	....	sound mixer (2 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Visual Effects by
Christopher Dusendschon	....	animation camera: Midocean Motion Pictures (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Hapke	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Casting Department
Eve Brandstein	....	casting (2 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mary Lou Reinbold	....	costume supervisor (12 episodes, 1982)
James P. Cullen	....	costume supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Joy Wilson	....	film editor (1 episode, 1982)

Series Music Department
Tom Scott	....	composer: end title music / composer: opening title music (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
The Waitresses	....	composer: main title theme (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Stephen E. Smith	....	music supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Carolyn A. Poer	....	assistant accountant (19 episodes, 1982-1983)
Edie Baskin	....	title sequence (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Andy Borowitz	....	story editor (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Jeff Carpenter	....	title sequence (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Constance Kaplan	....	production consultant (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Glenn Padnick	....	production consultant (2 episodes, 1982-1983)

Production Companies

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1982-1983)
• Embassy Television

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1982-1983) (USA) (TV)
• Columbia Pictures Television
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001)
• Columbia TriStar Television
• Embassy Telecommunications
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-)

Other Companies

• Universal City Studios  sound recording

Runtime:

30 min (20 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

Excelsior High School - 15711 Pioneer Boulevard, Norwalk, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Trivia:

Creator Anne Beatts, a former writer for _"NBC's Saturday Night Live" (1975)_, based the sitcom on her own personal experiences.

Quotes:

Jennifer DeNuccio: Like, who ARE Devo? Are they guys, 'cause I only go and see guy bands.
LaDonna: They're guys... they're WEIRD guys... but they're guys!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: (#8.52)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Square Pegs

Commmentary on the short-lived series Square Pegs

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.