Did you know Square Pegs starred Sarah Jessica Parker?

September 21, 2024 7:44 PM

That one time when Devo played a Bat Mitzvah. Presenting: Muffy’s Bar Mitzvah.
posted by bq (15 comments total)

(It’s a bat mitzvah. A bar mitzvah is for boys. B’nai mitzvah is the plural and is sometimes used when the person called to the Torah is non-binary. Thank you for subscribing to coming of age ceremony facts!)
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 8:55 PM on September 21 [32 favorites]

The theme song was always stuck on repeat in my head, but I don't recall ever watching a full episode.
posted by credulous at 9:10 PM on September 21 [2 favorites]

I used to watch this show when it aired, and sometimes the Waitresses' theme tune still gets stuck in my head, but I don't remember seeing this episode. I do remember watching DEVO play "That's Good" on Solid Gold, though.

PS: A very young Jerry Seinfeld wanders through the Bat Mitzvah at 16:37.
posted by oneirodynia at 10:27 PM on September 21 [4 favorites]

Thank you to this show for introducing me to the Waitresses. I loved their music so much and I wish Patty Donahue had lived long enough for them to have the revival they deserved.

I wish I could find the article I read a few months ago about how this episode was filmed and all the drug use that was going on (which was why the show was canceled apparently).
posted by gentlyepigrams at 10:42 PM on September 21 [3 favorites]

Totally different head.
posted by stevil at 11:34 PM on September 21 [4 favorites]

Oh gyahd, he’s playing an Omnichord. As I recall we had a whole shelf for defective Omnichords at the music store where I worked. Suzuki was one of the few Japanese companies not known for its quality. Also: Merritt Butrick sighting.
posted by jabah at 7:09 AM on September 22

I loved that show!
posted by umbú at 8:06 AM on September 22

I know, Dr. David Marcus!
posted by bq at 8:35 AM on September 22 [1 favorite]

Wow, unlike Solid Gold they actually tried to use the backdrop from the music video and took some careful steps with editing out the...ahem... Well I'll let Gerry tell the tale (via Wikipedia):

"We got this call from [MTV co-founder] Les Garland, He was like, 'Look, we know what you're trying to do here.' I go, What do you mean? He goes, 'Ya know, when that cartoon French fry glides through that cartoon donut and then it's with the girl looking happy. You can have the French fry, or you can have the donut, but you can't have the French fry and the donut, Otherwise, you can't cut to the girl.' And I go, 'But what about when the French fry hits the donut and breaks in half and she's sad?' And he goes 'Alright you little smart ass.' It was horrible. Then I go, 'What about that Billy Idol video you have and the girls are in skin-tight pants and their asses are full on in the screen and his head is between her legs and then somebody slaps her ass? What about that?' He goes, 'we're talking about you, we're not talking about them."

Also worth a previously about getting a famous music group to play your Bar/Bat Mitzvah. If the Tuppermans can do it you can too. Mazel tov, you little smart asses!
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:54 AM on September 22 [2 favorites]

I'd like it if they like us but I don't think they like us.

I wonder if my early exposure to this show is why I could never get behind Sarah Jessica Parker as glamorous, fashion icon, etc.
posted by praemunire at 9:21 AM on September 22 [4 favorites]

Wow, unlike Solid Gold they actually tried to use the backdrop from the music video yt and took some careful steps with editing out the...ahem... Well I'll let Gerry tell the tale (via Wikipedia):

Weirdly my memory of that Solid Gold show included the video as the backdrop, and me being surprised that they showed it! I must have transposed it with a later memory from MV3 (which, incidentally was hosted by Richard Blade, who plays DEVO's manager in Square Pegs) which I watched religiously ever single day.
posted by oneirodynia at 11:06 AM on September 22 [2 favorites]

If we're talking coming of age facts, Muffy is a little late for a Bat Mitzvah (12 for girls). Maybe she had a hard time in Hebrew school.
posted by brookeb at 6:47 PM on September 22 [1 favorite]

It's because her father sent her to China for a Learning Experience
posted by bq at 7:30 PM on September 22 [3 favorites]

I loved that show!
posted by mike3k at 7:46 PM on September 22

I do know that!

Like oneirodynia, I also watched MV3 every day after school, but it wasn't so satisfying because Channel 62 would often just play the same episode every day for reasons unknown.

I don't know if this is the very short article that gentlyepigrams is talking about, but it is...not a surprise after reading/watching media over time about what the members of DEVO were like.
posted by 41swans at 7:46 AM on September 23 [1 favorite]