"Clueless," the movie, was a warm, clever, pointed and hilarious teen comedy that belied its title; "Clueless," the series, gradually lived up to it. The title, not the movie.
The first series benefitted from Amy Heckerling being more actively involved and from having a cast closer to the movie's (including Elisa Donovan, Stacey Dash, Twink Caplan and Wallace Shawn reprising their roles - plus Brittany Murphy appearing in one episode in a different role from the one she had in the movie); but as time went by the show became more like the sort of thing it sent up, with the rot setting in during the UPN years (seasons two and three). More predictable, more syrupy, and less sharp in the writing (the first season didn't need any jokes about how the characters would be in their mid-20s - "Just old enough to play teenagers on TV" - to be witty); when Dionne (Stacey Dash) sang on camera in one season the writing was on the wall.
Whereas Alicia Silverstone was very definitely the star of the movie, her substitute Rachel Blanchard was consistently upstaged by Elisa Donovan; and the inclusion of issue-centred episodes, though well-intentioned, just made the show seem even more like a departure from what it was. Perhaps it should have remained cancelled after the first season; although "Clueless" still ranks above "Running the Halls" and "Student Bodies," the lack of a laugh track is the only thing it shares with truly classy efforts like "The Wonder Years" and "Malcolm in the Middle."
Watchable? Missable? What-EVER...!
The first series benefitted from Amy Heckerling being more actively involved and from having a cast closer to the movie's (including Elisa Donovan, Stacey Dash, Twink Caplan and Wallace Shawn reprising their roles - plus Brittany Murphy appearing in one episode in a different role from the one she had in the movie); but as time went by the show became more like the sort of thing it sent up, with the rot setting in during the UPN years (seasons two and three). More predictable, more syrupy, and less sharp in the writing (the first season didn't need any jokes about how the characters would be in their mid-20s - "Just old enough to play teenagers on TV" - to be witty); when Dionne (Stacey Dash) sang on camera in one season the writing was on the wall.
Whereas Alicia Silverstone was very definitely the star of the movie, her substitute Rachel Blanchard was consistently upstaged by Elisa Donovan; and the inclusion of issue-centred episodes, though well-intentioned, just made the show seem even more like a departure from what it was. Perhaps it should have remained cancelled after the first season; although "Clueless" still ranks above "Running the Halls" and "Student Bodies," the lack of a laugh track is the only thing it shares with truly classy efforts like "The Wonder Years" and "Malcolm in the Middle."
Watchable? Missable? What-EVER...!