The TV series Ferris Bueller premiered in the Autumn of 1990 as the 1990-1991 TV season was starting. None of the actors who starred in the film reprised their roles in the TV series. The series premeired on the NBC TV network. It's loosely based on, and loosely adapted from, the film "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", which was a popular movie during the Summer of 1986. This series premeired four years after the film.
The series is not a continuation of the film. It is actually a prequel series as when the first episode premeired, the main character states that he hated how Matthew Broderick, who portrayed the title character in the film, and even chainsawed a cardboard cutout of Matthew Broderick in the first episode. The rest of the series doesn't make any more references to the film.
In the film, Ferris was a senior and his sister Jeannie as a junior. In the TV series, it was the other way around.
This TV series is one of those that fall into the category where the film it's based on is much better than the TV series.
This series suffered from a lack of real creativity. With the exception of Jennifer Aniston, who portrayed Jeannie Bueller in this TV series, this series suffered from bad acting, bad writing and also, sloppy direction. The worst part is that Charlie Schlatter, who portrayed the title character here, does a lousy recreation of Matthew Broderick's performance. The series was dull and boring as it lacked real comedy. The actors who portrayed the respective characters in the film were much better. The film was a very charming, entertaining and hilarious experience, but this TV series goes downhill.
This series lasted only thirteen episodes. Twelve episodes aired from August to December of 1990 while the final episode didn't air until August 1991. NBC canceled the series overall. Thank goodness for small favors.
Overall, one of THE worst TV series based on a popular film. The film is much better than this pathetic excuse for a TV series.
