Comments on: Monday morning time machine: Square Pegs and The Waitresses! http://www.historiann.com/2010/05/17/monday-morning-time-machine-square-pegs-and-the-waitresses/ History and sexual politics, 1492 to the present Wed, 22 May 2013 01:42:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Synchronize Swatches! : Historiann : History and sexual politics, 1492 to the present http://www.historiann.com/2010/05/17/monday-morning-time-machine-square-pegs-and-the-waitresses/comment-page-1/#comment-852717 Synchronize Swatches! : Historiann : History and sexual politics, 1492 to the present Fri, 29 Jul 2011 02:40:12 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=11077#comment-852717 [...] one of the only three shows I ever watched about high school, along with Square Pegs and Beverly Hills 90210. Does The Facts of Life count? (I guess once the main characters got to be [...] [...] one of the only three shows I ever watched about high school, along with Square Pegs and Beverly Hills 90210. Does The Facts of Life count? (I guess once the main characters got to be [...]

]]> By: Historiann http://www.historiann.com/2010/05/17/monday-morning-time-machine-square-pegs-and-the-waitresses/comment-page-1/#comment-620845 Historiann Wed, 19 May 2010 02:53:28 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=11077#comment-620845 No, I didn't. You forgot that I wrote "Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000), which also had a very short run, was centered on boys’ stories and experiences and had just one major female character." No, I didn’t. You forgot that I wrote “Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000), which also had a very short run, was centered on boys’ stories and experiences and had just one major female character.”

]]> By: Elena_Romero http://www.historiann.com/2010/05/17/monday-morning-time-machine-square-pegs-and-the-waitresses/comment-page-1/#comment-620794 Elena_Romero Wed, 19 May 2010 01:08:01 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=11077#comment-620794 You forgot Freaks and Geeks, which to those of us who didn't have these fantastical high school experiences full of popularity issues and fretting about boys, touched such a raw nerve that it was canceled after one season. You forgot Freaks and Geeks, which to those of us who didn’t have these fantastical high school experiences full of popularity issues and fretting about boys, touched such a raw nerve that it was canceled after one season.

]]> By: susurro http://www.historiann.com/2010/05/17/monday-morning-time-machine-square-pegs-and-the-waitresses/comment-page-1/#comment-620601 susurro Tue, 18 May 2010 18:06:44 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=11077#comment-620601 ahh "Brain" I loved how Jordan "mis"pronounced his name all the time ... I want that t-shirt as well. I do however have a picture of Leto and Danes meeting up last year at a party on the blog and how the times have changed ... ahh “Brain” I loved how Jordan “mis”pronounced his name all the time …

I want that t-shirt as well. I do however have a picture of Leto and Danes meeting up last year at a party on the blog and how the times have changed …

]]> By: Historiann http://www.historiann.com/2010/05/17/monday-morning-time-machine-square-pegs-and-the-waitresses/comment-page-1/#comment-620393 Historiann Tue, 18 May 2010 11:46:05 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=11077#comment-620393 Susurro--I was talking about Brian, the guy who had a crush on Angela and couldn't believe that she liked Jordan Catalano, who treated her so badly. Agreed: Jordan and Ricky were not friends! Not at all. Who <i>didn't</i> have a crush on Jordan Catalano? Jared Leto played him to perfection--the dreamy-looking jerk everyone has a crush on in high school. I saw a tee shirt on line a few years ago that said, "I made out with Jordan Catalano." I should have bought it immediately, but I didn't. Geoff: <i>The Facts of Life!</i> I loved it, but mostly because I was a preteen then. And Shaz: I'll have to try to catch <i>Making Fiends.</i> Sounds about my speed. Susurro–I was talking about Brian, the guy who had a crush on Angela and couldn’t believe that she liked Jordan Catalano, who treated her so badly. Agreed: Jordan and Ricky were not friends! Not at all.

Who didn’t have a crush on Jordan Catalano? Jared Leto played him to perfection–the dreamy-looking jerk everyone has a crush on in high school. I saw a tee shirt on line a few years ago that said, “I made out with Jordan Catalano.” I should have bought it immediately, but I didn’t.

Geoff: The Facts of Life! I loved it, but mostly because I was a preteen then.

And Shaz: I’ll have to try to catch Making Fiends. Sounds about my speed.

]]> By: susurro http://www.historiann.com/2010/05/17/monday-morning-time-machine-square-pegs-and-the-waitresses/comment-page-1/#comment-620304 susurro Tue, 18 May 2010 07:25:11 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=11077#comment-620304 your best bet for shows that revolve around girls or at least have girls perspectives front and center is Nick (the teen version of Nickelodeon), several of the web based shows like Anyone But Me, to a lesser extent ABC Family. The WB offers a lot of status quo material already mentioned but has tried to branch out, and failed, every year for the last 4 years; some of their stronger female characters show up on shows like Smallville, which offers episodes centered around female characters in a male dominated storyline, and Supernatural, which has had whole seasons where the women were essential to the plot but is generally about male bonding and queer window dressing. Of the shows slated for the summer, there are a few coming out on both ABC and NBC that promise female perspectives but they are in the slasher and spy genre not the "coming of age" genre. Skins, which is a British show that re-airs on BBCAmerica and is slated to be adapted for an MTV version, is one of the best examples of a show giving equal or greater time to the internal thoughts and lives of young girls (straight and lesbian), including those with mental health issues, each episode is based around the perspective of a single character and the number of girls in each cast outnumbers the boys; the cast changes every two years. That being said, boys perspectives and entanglements still dominate the overall narrative. One small correction, Jordan Catalano and Ricky were not friends. Ricky was Angela's friend and he had a huge unspoken crush on Jordan which was only addressed in the episode where Rayann slept with Jordan and Angela couldn't believe the betrayal. And yes, I know this b/c I gave a paper on it at the PCA one year comparing certain proto-feminist messages in it to similar and diverging ones in RFR (Radio Free Roscoe). (And now, I will be taking my nerdy self back to my own blog or perhaps off to re-read the Uglies which really should be made into tv or film and would very clearly center young girls making away and a whole new world ... ahem) your best bet for shows that revolve around girls or at least have girls perspectives front and center is Nick (the teen version of Nickelodeon), several of the web based shows like Anyone But Me, to a lesser extent ABC Family. The WB offers a lot of status quo material already mentioned but has tried to branch out, and failed, every year for the last 4 years; some of their stronger female characters show up on shows like Smallville, which offers episodes centered around female characters in a male dominated storyline, and Supernatural, which has had whole seasons where the women were essential to the plot but is generally about male bonding and queer window dressing. Of the shows slated for the summer, there are a few coming out on both ABC and NBC that promise female perspectives but they are in the slasher and spy genre not the “coming of age” genre.

Skins, which is a British show that re-airs on BBCAmerica and is slated to be adapted for an MTV version, is one of the best examples of a show giving equal or greater time to the internal thoughts and lives of young girls (straight and lesbian), including those with mental health issues, each episode is based around the perspective of a single character and the number of girls in each cast outnumbers the boys; the cast changes every two years. That being said, boys perspectives and entanglements still dominate the overall narrative.

One small correction, Jordan Catalano and Ricky were not friends. Ricky was Angela’s friend and he had a huge unspoken crush on Jordan which was only addressed in the episode where Rayann slept with Jordan and Angela couldn’t believe the betrayal. And yes, I know this b/c I gave a paper on it at the PCA one year comparing certain proto-feminist messages in it to similar and diverging ones in RFR (Radio Free Roscoe).

(And now, I will be taking my nerdy self back to my own blog or perhaps off to re-read the Uglies which really should be made into tv or film and would very clearly center young girls making away and a whole new world … ahem)

]]> By: Geoff http://www.historiann.com/2010/05/17/monday-morning-time-machine-square-pegs-and-the-waitresses/comment-page-1/#comment-620260 Geoff Tue, 18 May 2010 04:00:11 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=11077#comment-620260 I think I remember something along these lines...it went something like "You take the good/ You take the bad/ You take them both and there you have..." what? Please, help me out... Whatever that show was, it did have a long run. I think I remember something along these lines…it went something like

“You take the good/
You take the bad/
You take them both and there you have…”

what? Please, help me out…

Whatever that show was, it did have a long run.

]]> By: Western Dave http://www.historiann.com/2010/05/17/monday-morning-time-machine-square-pegs-and-the-waitresses/comment-page-1/#comment-620238 Western Dave Tue, 18 May 2010 03:31:34 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=11077#comment-620238 As a teacher in a girls' school (this year teaching 9, 10. 12) I can say that teenage girls are watching: a) Glee and lots of it. And crushing on the gay male character b) Gossip Girl and 90210 although more for the clothes than the plots - they get that this is fake high school c) Hannah Montana - even the seniors. The show has widespread appeal, mostly because almost every episode is about balancing work and family and family almost always wins - which is not what happens in a lot of these girls' real lives. Plus some of the songs are pretty good and Emily Osmet is a deeply gifted physical commedian d) Buffy in reruns (on Logo) or on DVD or downloads via Netflix e) Anything on nickteen (H20, Degrassi - sort of 90210 except in Canada so less money and more realistic plot lines) f) although all claim not to watch ICarly they seem to know just about every episode, allegedly seen while babysitting. Again, the sidekicks carry this show. g) That's So Raven - The Disney show that kicked off Disney's domination of girls' tv near as I can figure. Still much loved and it's easy to see why, Raven Simone is the true inheritor to Lucille Ball's mantle. I hope she has a long career. h) Phineas and Ferb - like iCarly the claim is "I saw it babysitting" The supporting characters play a huge part in the appeal: Perry the Platypus, Candace the sister, the mom, Dr. Doofenshmirtz's daughter. Somehow everyone knows the best music from this show. i) Yo Gabba Gabba. Mostly because of the guests. I think they just watch the best clips on Youtube like this one http://www.youtube.com/user/yogabbagabba?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/69/veN2gyCEj8s As a teacher in a girls’ school (this year teaching 9, 10. 12) I can say that teenage girls are watching:
a) Glee and lots of it. And crushing on the gay male character
b) Gossip Girl and 90210 although more for the clothes than the plots – they get that this is fake high school
c) Hannah Montana – even the seniors. The show has widespread appeal, mostly because almost every episode is about balancing work and family and family almost always wins – which is not what happens in a lot of these girls’ real lives. Plus some of the songs are pretty good and Emily Osmet is a deeply gifted physical commedian
d) Buffy in reruns (on Logo) or on DVD or downloads via Netflix
e) Anything on nickteen (H20, Degrassi – sort of 90210 except in Canada so less money and more realistic plot lines)
f) although all claim not to watch ICarly they seem to know just about every episode, allegedly seen while babysitting. Again, the sidekicks carry this show.
g) That’s So Raven – The Disney show that kicked off Disney’s domination of girls’ tv near as I can figure. Still much loved and it’s easy to see why, Raven Simone is the true inheritor to Lucille Ball’s mantle. I hope she has a long career.
h) Phineas and Ferb – like iCarly the claim is “I saw it babysitting” The supporting characters play a huge part in the appeal: Perry the Platypus, Candace the sister, the mom, Dr. Doofenshmirtz’s daughter. Somehow everyone knows the best music from this show.
i) Yo Gabba Gabba. Mostly because of the guests. I think they just watch the best clips on Youtube like this one http://www.youtube.com/user/yogabbagabba?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/69/veN2gyCEj8s

]]> By: shaz http://www.historiann.com/2010/05/17/monday-morning-time-machine-square-pegs-and-the-waitresses/comment-page-1/#comment-620193 shaz Tue, 18 May 2010 00:52:57 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=11077#comment-620193 Loved Square Pegs in the 80s... My new ridiculous fave is a cartoon series (5 minute shorts) called Making Fiends by Amy Winfrey. Seriously, it makes me crack up constantly. It features Vendetta, an evil scientist girl, who is saddled with the ridiculously cheerful Charlotte, who thinks they are BFFs no matter what. (C: "This is my special rock -- Vendetta gave it to me." V: "I threw it at her!") I have a print for my office -- to remind me how you can get the last laugh by being incessantly nice to people no matter how horribly they behave. P.S. Or, if you are looking for girl fiction, check out the Franny K. Stein series -- girl mad scientist. Loved Square Pegs in the 80s…

My new ridiculous fave is a cartoon series (5 minute shorts) called Making Fiends by Amy Winfrey. Seriously, it makes me crack up constantly. It features Vendetta, an evil scientist girl, who is saddled with the ridiculously cheerful Charlotte, who thinks they are BFFs no matter what. (C: “This is my special rock — Vendetta gave it to me.” V: “I threw it at her!”) I have a print for my office — to remind me how you can get the last laugh by being incessantly nice to people no matter how horribly they behave.

P.S. Or, if you are looking for girl fiction, check out the Franny K. Stein series — girl mad scientist.

]]> By: Julia http://www.historiann.com/2010/05/17/monday-morning-time-machine-square-pegs-and-the-waitresses/comment-page-1/#comment-620123 Julia Mon, 17 May 2010 22:44:14 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=11077#comment-620123 I don't know if HBO counts, but Sex & the City was a pretty good show. The movies have become more about clothes and shoes, not that Manolo Blahniks weren't a component of the show as well. Some of the episodes were about more than fashion, and I think the characters were intended to be seen as strong, independent women. The movies have fallen away from that a little, unfortunately, but the first couple of seasons of the show were pretty good, and definitely revolved around women! I don’t know if HBO counts, but Sex & the City was a pretty good show. The movies have become more about clothes and shoes, not that Manolo Blahniks weren’t a component of the show as well. Some of the episodes were about more than fashion, and I think the characters were intended to be seen as strong, independent women. The movies have fallen away from that a little, unfortunately, but the first couple of seasons of the show were pretty good, and definitely revolved around women!

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