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gwyn1vere
Reviews
Just the Ten of Us: Close Encounters (1988)
The one where Marie was in charge . . .
I was 8 years old when this episode first aired. I remember one scene really well. Marie was the starchy, straight-laced, by-the-book, nerdy -yet-devout daughter topped off with glasses, buttoned up shirts, and long skirts.
For the other sisters, it was easy to find boys interested in them at an all boys school. It wasn't so easy for Marie, so to soften Marie up for letting them have a party, the wilder, ditsier sisters find a guy to distract Marie.
This is where it gets predictable. Popular Boy and plain Nerd Girl meet under false pretenses(i.e. a bet, persuasion, a favor, geek outreach program, etc.). Nerd Girl falls hard for Popular Boy and can't believe what's happening to her. Popular Boy starts to see Nerd Girl for everything she is, not everything she's not. Tragedy strikes for the potential young lovers because the truth comes out about why they met. Eventually, Popular Boy pushes past the obstacle and Popular Boy and Nerd Girl end up together even if it IS just for a quick kiss in the attic bedroom she shares with several sisters with the open window as a backdrop with with observations about the moon and stars before the party is busted by the long absent parents.
Hillside (1990)
cast of future actors
Let us not forget. Nickelodeon was a launching pad for many future B list stars. "You Can't Do That On Television" where the green slime originated was one of the shows. (Few children today watching the Kids' Choice Awards are aware of the slime's origin or what the trigger was for getting slimed.) "Fifteen" was another. Though Ryan Reynolds was playing the 13 year old little bratty brother Billy, he was still a prominent character. Thought, Alanis Morrisette was on "You Can't Do That on Television" probably near the time Ryan Reynolds was on "Fifteen" - could that have been the basis for the relationship they share today? Just a thought.
It was a great squishy teen drama that I loved to watch being in late elementary school and early middle school Saturday afternoons before leaving for piano lessons. It seemed so racy then. But, it's nothing compared to what kids will watch today.