Why did it have a such a short life?? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

seventies_sitcoms · 01-11-2005, 11:32 PM

Who's bright idea was it to cancel Square Pegs so early? I thought it was a high rated show. When it ended there a rumor going around that most of the cast was on cocaine and the network decided just to pull the plug. Hopefully there isn't any truth to this.

Nighthawk76 · 01-11-2005, 11:50 PM

I've read several different stories concerning the drug use behind the scenes. Some sources say that it was the cast on the set that were heavely into drugs where as somewhere else I read that it was the producers who had the drug problems. I think it comes down to the simple fact of ratings. The show wasn't getting the ratings that CBS thought that it should and so they decided to end the series after only one year. I think if the ratings had been higher then even if there had been drug abuse behind the scenes that the network would have looked the other way. I guess that we'll never know what the true story is.

ruggerbugger_us · 05-14-2005, 12:39 PM

Michael Grade pulled the plug. He was in charge at Embassy TV at the time. Controversy surrounding cocaine use at the location, which was a real school, plus the poor ratings made up his mind. My source of information is a lengthy TV Guide article published at the time.
Michael Grade is infamous in the UK for cancelling Doctor Who when he became controller of BBC One. He clearly has no problem cancelling shows with loyal fans. He is now Chairman of the BBC board of governors. The chairman, he claims, has no say in programming. (Coincidentally Doctor Who is back)

Nighthawk76 · 05-14-2005, 02:49 PM

Michael Grade is evil. I figured that in the end it came down to ratings. If Square Pegs had been the number one show, I don't think that cocaine use on location would have really mattered.

Schmoopie · 07-17-2008, 03:30 AM

According to the producer (on the DVD interview) she said that the reason for its' demise was that CBS decided to move it to a different night and it aired opposite the last half of the A-Team. She said that as soon as they did that, she knew it was pretty much dead. I guess before that, it was getting pretty good ratings.

I remember that I couldn't ever find it, which is why I hardly ever watched it. Such a shame, too. Think of all the stuff they could have done if they let the series run for four years!

Andrea

jimpickens · 12-30-2008, 06:04 AM

Plus at that time the whole new wave valley trend ran its course so when you have a TV show with a flavor of the month theme and characters who are the epitome of the fad of the day you are going to have a short run. Plus when you have a group of twenty somethings trying to pass off as teenagers it won't be long before becomes noticeable cough sweathogs cough.

browneyes106 · 03-12-2009, 11:18 PM

I heard the stories of drug use on the set before. But I think maybe it was a number of factors. I think the show continued it would have been really successful.

Chocolate Moose · 03-13-2009, 01:22 PM

I looooved show; it's a cult classic !

OH Nuts! · 06-22-2009, 10:16 AM

Yes I'm surprised too it only made 1 season. While it was very uneven (imo some eps were absolutely tdf and others stunk big time) it deserved a 2nd Season at least. And I just loved seeing Tracey Nelson as I'm a Nelson Family fan esp. The Adv. of Ozzie & Harriet (which is what brought me to SO in the 1st place). And imo Tracey was a BIG BIG help to the show. She was just great as the conceited queen bee valley girl Jennifer Di. Although Sarah Jessica was no slouch either.

gidgetgrape · 06-30-2009, 09:40 AM

I think Square Pegs would have done better if it would have been on NBC, especially if it would have been bundled with Family Ties and The Facts of Life. CBS wasn't exactly know for its hipness back then.

Schmoopie · 08-13-2009, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidgetgrape

I think Square Pegs would have done better if it would have been on NBC, especially if it would have been bundled with Family Ties and The Facts of Life. CBS wasn't exactly know for its hipness back then.

I agree. I also wish they hadn't added the laugh track in the later episodes. It seemed funnier without them.

KurtfromPitts · 09-02-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

I agree. I also wish they hadn't added the laugh track in the later episodes. It seemed funnier without them.

Facts-Square Pegs-Family Ties would have been an awesome combo.

littlebelle · 11-09-2009, 03:05 AM

I think it was too early for it's time. It's rare for a one year wonder to become a cult classic, well known show.

TMC · 02-03-2015, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nighthawk76

I've read several different stories concerning the drug use behind the scenes. Some sources say that it was the cast on the set that were heavely into drugs where as somewhere else I read that it was the producers who had the drug problems. I think it comes down to the simple fact of ratings. The show wasn't getting the ratings that CBS thought that it should and so they decided to end the series after only one year. I think if the ratings had been higher then even if there had been drug abuse behind the scenes that the network would have looked the other way. I guess that we'll never know what the true story is.

Drug use on set?

EccentricGenius · 01-06-2016, 06:55 PM

Low ratings probably killed "Square Pegs" after its lone season on CBS in 1983...a pity, because I would've wanted to see Patty, Lauren, and the rest of the gang graduate from Weemawee in the summer of '86.

01-11-2005, 11:32 PM	#1
seventies_sitcoms * Senior Member Join Date: Jan 09, 2005 Posts: 2,243	Why did it have a such a short life?? Who's bright idea was it to cancel Square Pegs so early? I thought it was a high rated show. When it ended there a rumor going around that most of the cast was on cocaine and the network decided just to pull the plug. Hopefully there isn't any truth to this.

07-17-2008, 03:30 AM	#5
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	According to the producer (on the DVD interview) she said that the reason for its' demise was that CBS decided to move it to a different night and it aired opposite the last half of the A-Team. She said that as soon as they did that, she knew it was pretty much dead. I guess before that, it was getting pretty good ratings. I remember that I couldn't ever find it, which is why I hardly ever watched it. Such a shame, too. Think of all the stuff they could have done if they let the series run for four years! Andrea
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

12-30-2008, 06:04 AM	#6
jimpickens Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2007 Location: weston,wv Posts: 1,389	Plus at that time the whole new wave valley trend ran its course so when you have a TV show with a flavor of the month theme and characters who are the epitome of the fad of the day you are going to have a short run. Plus when you have a group of twenty somethings trying to pass off as teenagers it won't be long before becomes noticeable cough sweathogs cough.
	Last edited by jimpickens; 12-30-2008 at 06:28 AM.

03-13-2009, 01:22 PM	#8
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,885	I looooved show; it's a cult classic !
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

01-11-2005, 11:50 PM	#2
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,256	I've read several different stories concerning the drug use behind the scenes. Some sources say that it was the cast on the set that were heavely into drugs where as somewhere else I read that it was the producers who had the drug problems. I think it comes down to the simple fact of ratings. The show wasn't getting the ratings that CBS thought that it should and so they decided to end the series after only one year. I think if the ratings had been higher then even if there had been drug abuse behind the scenes that the network would have looked the other way. I guess that we'll never know what the true story is.

05-14-2005, 12:39 PM	#3
ruggerbugger_us Member Forum Hawk Join Date: May 14, 2005 Posts: 3	Michael Grade pulled the plug. He was in charge at Embassy TV at the time. Controversy surrounding cocaine use at the location, which was a real school, plus the poor ratings made up his mind. My source of information is a lengthy TV Guide article published at the time. Michael Grade is infamous in the UK for cancelling Doctor Who when he became controller of BBC One. He clearly has no problem cancelling shows with loyal fans. He is now Chairman of the BBC board of governors. The chairman, he claims, has no say in programming. (Coincidentally Doctor Who is back)

05-14-2005, 02:49 PM	#4
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,256	Michael Grade is evil. I figured that in the end it came down to ratings. If Square Pegs had been the number one show, I don't think that cocaine use on location would have really mattered.

03-12-2009, 11:18 PM	#7
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,097	I heard the stories of drug use on the set before. But I think maybe it was a number of factors. I think the show continued it would have been really successful.

06-22-2009, 10:16 AM	#9
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Yes I'm surprised too it only made 1 season. While it was very uneven (imo some eps were absolutely tdf and others stunk big time) it deserved a 2nd Season at least. And I just loved seeing Tracey Nelson as I'm a Nelson Family fan esp. The Adv. of Ozzie & Harriet (which is what brought me to SO in the 1st place). And imo Tracey was a BIG BIG help to the show. She was just great as the conceited queen bee valley girl Jennifer Di. Although Sarah Jessica was no slouch either.

06-30-2009, 09:40 AM	#10
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,503	I think Square Pegs would have done better if it would have been on NBC, especially if it would have been bundled with Family Ties and The Facts of Life. CBS wasn't exactly know for its hipness back then.

11-09-2009, 03:05 AM	#13
littlebelle Spell Caster Senior Member Join Date: Dec 29, 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,659	I think it was too early for it's time. It's rare for a one year wonder to become a cult classic, well known show.

01-06-2016, 06:55 PM	#15
EccentricGenius Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 30, 2015 Posts: 766	Low ratings probably killed "Square Pegs" after its lone season on CBS in 1983...a pity, because I would've wanted to see Patty, Lauren, and the rest of the gang graduate from Weemawee in the summer of '86.