Why did it have a such a short life??

[seventies_sitcoms]

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.

[Shine]

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]

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)

[Shine]

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]

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]

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]

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]

I looooved show; it's a cult classic !

[OH Nuts!]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.