Fast Times TV Show

Cast: Dean Cameron, Patrick Dempsey, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Wallace Langham, Claudia Wells, James Nardini, Vincent Schiavelli & Ray Walston

Crew: Directed By: Neal Israel (#1,#2), Claudia Weill (#3), Daniel Attias (#4), Amy Heckerling (#5) Supervising Producer: Amy Heckerling Developed By: Allen Rucker Music Supervisor: Danny Goldberg

Notes:

• The Fast Times TV Show debuted on CBS as a mid-season replacement on March 5, 1986.
• The show only lasted a total of seven episodes. Here’s the list:
  • 1. “The Last Laugh” (03-05-86)
  • 2. “Pilot” (03-12-86)
  • 3. “The Engagement” (03-19-86)
  • 4. “What is Life?” (03-26-86)
  • 5. “My Brother, the Car” (04-02-86)
  • 6. “My New Best Friend” (04-09-86)
  • 7. “Secret Romance” (04-23-86)
• Cameron Crowe was a creative consultant on the show and was on set during the filming of the pilot.
• The theme song heard during the opening credits (“Fast Times”) was written by Danny Elfman and performed by his band, Oingo Boingo.

• The series was not shot at Van Nuys High (where the original movie was filmed). A closed high school in Glendale, CA was used.
• All of the major characters in the film are also in the series, but only actors Ray Walston (Mr. Hand and Vincent Schiavelli (Mr. Vargas) reprise their roles from the film.  The TV series, however, introduces a new character not in the film. This character is Ms. Leslie Mellon, a touchy-feely teacher who is the exact opposite of the hard-boiled, no-nonsense Mr. Hand. While not represented in the film, this character is very similar to Mrs. George in Cameron Crowe’s original book.
• An unused script that was never filmed had Spicoli convinced that Mr. Hand is the devil (after he watched Damn Yankees on TV which featured actor Ray Walston as a singing Satan).
• Episode Five was co-written and directed by Amy Heckerling.
• Moon Zappa appears as Linda and Stacy’s friend Barbara.
• Jason Hervey (The Wonder Years) plays Spicoli’s little brother, Curtis.
• Here’s a rare publicity photo from the press kit: