"The Baby-Sitters Club" (1990) TV series

Director:

Noel Black

Seasons:

1

Genre:

Family

Plot Keywords:

Babysitter | Friendship | Friend | Teenage Girl

Cast

Melissa Chasse	...	Dawn Schafer / ... (11 episodes, 1990-1993)
Meghan Andrews	...	Mallory Pike (11 episodes, 1990-1993)
Avriel Hillman	...	Kristy Thomas (11 episodes, 1990-1993)
Meghan Lahey	...	Mary Anne Spier (11 episodes, 1990-1993)
Nicole Leach	...	Jessica Ramsey (11 episodes, 1990-1993)
Jessica Prunell	...	Stacey McGill (11 episodes, 1990-1993)
Jeni F. Winslow	...	Claudia Kishi (11 episodes, 1990-1993)
Danny Tamberelli	...	Jackie Rodowsky / ... (7 episodes, 1990-1993)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Scholastic Productions

Quotes:

Jackie Rodowsky: She's a girl! Girls are totally gross!
Mary Anne Spier: Gee, thanks!
Dawn Schaffer: And what are we, space mutants?
Jackie Rodowsky: You're... you're...
Kristy Thomas: Better make this good Jackie!
Jackie Rodowsky: You're... you're baby-sitters!

Movie Connections:

Followed by The Baby-Sitters Club (1995)

Not as bad as all that...better as it went along.

Wow, some pretty strong comments on this show! Honestly, it's not as cheesy as some make out. Sure, it's not Citizen Kane, but for what it is, it's not bad at all.

First, I think the casting was great. I often found it unbelievable in the books that the girls were only in Middle School, considering all the things they were able to do (go to NYC at the drop of a hat, babysit infants, etc), so casting older actresses made the whole thing more plausible. Also, I think the actresses have been unfairly criticized, I think it was the writing that was a bit off, it was geared a little too young to be believable, not the writers fault or the actresses, just how it worked out. Also, those who have commented on the lack of television and film appearances of the actresses post-BSC should be aware that the majority of the performers on this show were from the stage, and many returned there after this series.

The series was much closer to the books than the film was, and the supporting cast did well. As the show progressed, it improved drastically. The performers had gotten the chance to get to know each other and develop a working relationship, and the story lines also began to embrace heavier topics, such as divorce and the destruction of our environment.

Good fun to revisit on rainy Saturdays, and something I will surely share with my own children if I am blessed to have any.