‘The Baby-Sitters Club’: There’s a Reason the Parents in the Netflix Show Looks So Familiar
It seems that with every generation, a new version of The Baby-Sitters Club finds its way into the hearts and minds of today’s youth. In 2020, Netflix has been the platform to bring the iconic book series by Ann M. Martin to life. The new version, created for Gen Z, is packed full of important issues that tweens and young teens are dealing with today.
At its core, The Baby-Sitters Club has always been about friendship. But, that doesn’t mean that the new series is skimping on important lessons. In just 10 episodes, the first season of the Netflix show deals with chronic disease, grief, blended family dynamics, gender identity, puberty, socioeconomic status, activism, abandonment, and more. The show is truly a testament to what it might be like to grow up in this day in age.
Netflix created ‘The Baby-Sitters Club’ for the next generation
Netflix’s version of The Baby-Sitters Club features great writing and direction as well as solid acting. The performances given by the cast are grounded and real, which helps fans to be invested in the story and what the characters are experiencing. The five main actors who make up the club aren’t the only ones doling out great performances. The actors who play the parents also add to the charm of the show.
Between the five main characters (Kristy Thomas, Claudia Kishi, Stacey McGill, Mary Anne Spier, and Dawn Schafer) there are quite a few parents to account for. But, the three that appear the most are Kristy’s mom, Elizabeth Thomas-Brewer, Kristy’s stepdad, Watson Brewer, and Mary Anne’s dad, Richard Spier. Older fans of The Baby-Sitters Club will note that these three actors may look super familiar to them. And there’s a good reason for that.
Alicia Silverstone as Elizabeth Thomas-Brewer
Elizabeth Thomas-Brewer is played by none other than Alicia Silverstone. If that name rings a bell it’s because Silverstone starred in the cult-classic film, Clueless. Though Silverstone has had roles between playing Cher Horowitz and her latest role in The Baby-Sitters Club, she prioritized her passion for activism over acting for quite a while.
In a recent interview with Vogue, Silverstone confessed that the fame that Clueless brought her actually turned her off to acting for a while. Fortunately, for fans of The Baby-Sitters Club, she found her joy for the craft of acting after some time had passed.
Why the older cast members look so familiar
“It was really intense,” Silverstone shared about the public’s reaction to Clueless. “I didn’t expect any of the reaction that we got. It was a lot, and I think if anything it all pushed me away from doing this job for a while and got me so much more into my activism. I eventually found my love of acting again, but at the time I didn’t know anything about what I was stepping into,” The Baby-Sitters Club cast member confessed.
Of course, Silverstone isn’t the only parent on the show who may look familiar to fans of The Baby-Sitters Club. Mark Feuerstein (Watson Brewer) might stand out because of his roles in The West Wing, Royal Pains, and Prison Break. Meanwhile, Marc Evan Jackson (Richard Spier) is known for his hysterical roles on classic NBC comedies like Parks and Recreation and for playing everyone’s favorite demon in The Good Place.
Will ‘The Baby-Sitters Club’ nab a Season 2?
Clearly, The Baby-Sitters Club boasts a dynamic cast. Though Netflix has not yet announced a second season, viewers hope there’s more in store. We’re sure fans can’t wait to see what the five friends (and their parents) get up to next.
