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| Sarah Jessica Parker as Patty Greene in "Square Pegs" in 1982-1983. Source: https://www.throwbacks.com/ no-one-remembers-square-pegs-but-the -drama-behind-the-scenes-is-unforgettable/ (May be subject to copyright) |
Such is the journey Sarah Jessica Parker made from a geek in the short-lived sitcom “Square Pegs” in the 1980s, to columnist and fashionista in New York in "Sex and the City".
Geek
“Square Pegs” was kind of an oddball show that appeared on Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial during the 1982-1983 season. Two girls vowed, in the opening credits, that this was the year they were going to be popular. They said the school all comes down to cliques, and they just had to find the right one.
“Square Pegs” was kind of an oddball show that appeared on Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial during the 1982-1983 season. Two girls vowed, in the opening credits, that this was the year they were going to be popular. They said the school all comes down to cliques, and they just had to find the right one.
The two girls were Patty Greene and Lauren Huchinson, played by two unknown actors at the time named Sarah Jessica Parker and Amy Linker.
Lauren was chubby, Patty wore glasses and braces, and each week they tried a different way to become popular.
As for the rest, on the one side, were their fellow nerds Marshall Blechtman, who wanted to be a stand-up comedian, and new wave punk Johnny Slash. On the other side were the popular kids. One was Jennifer DiNuccio, who was the stereotypical valley girl. At one point she sees Patty and Lauren and says, “Gross me out the door”. There was Ladonna Fredericks, the cheerleader; and Vinny Pasetta, who was the “hunk” every girl wanted to date. There was also Muffy Tepperman, who was your glee club, booster club, involved-in-all-school activities type.
They were all stereotypes of the cliques the show was trying to illustrate. John Hughes would be much more effective – and successful – a few years later doing the same thing in “The Breakfast Club”.
There were some heartfelt episodes such as the one Vinny sees Patty with her glasses off and they kind of go on a date. Of course, it was never destined to work out.
However, seeing Jessica Parker with her glasses off, showing the world the beauty she really did have, was a prelude of things to come.
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| Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw in "Sex and the City" in 1998-2004. Source: https://www.thelist.com /281742/the-untold-truth-of-sex-and-the-city/ (May be subject to copyright) |
The next time I recall seeing Sarah Jessica Parker, she had begun her transformation from caterpillar to butterfly. The movie was “L.A. Story” in 1990, and she played SanDeE, the ditzy and much younger love interest of Steve Martin. She was no longer a wall flower, but superficial, outgoing and sexy.
That led to more roles and her eventual lead in the iconic “Sex and the City”, where she won two Emmy awards and four Golden Globes for the role of Carrie Bradshaw. She also played Bradshaw in two theatrical movies and in “Just Like That…”, the 2021 update to “Sex and the City”.
Parting thoughts
It never ceases to amaze me how things can change on a dime. When “Square Pegs” went off the air in 1983, I would never have guessed the actor who played the mousy Patty Greene would shed that geek image and not only become a fashion idol but also one of the strongest female characters on television.
Parting thoughts
It never ceases to amaze me how things can change on a dime. When “Square Pegs” went off the air in 1983, I would never have guessed the actor who played the mousy Patty Greene would shed that geek image and not only become a fashion idol but also one of the strongest female characters on television.
Recently, I binge-watched all six seasons of “Sex and the City” and the two movies. Every so often, when I watched Carrie Bradshaw with her friends Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda, I saw Patty Greene hanging out with her buddy Lauren Hutchinson in the halls of Weemawee High in 1983.
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