A television flop, Jennifer Aniston starred in Before Friends

Jennifer Aniston would become one of NBC's biggest stars as Rachel Green on Friends, but the road to fame wasn't always smooth sailing. One of her bumps in the road (apart from her role in the funny horror comedy “Leprechaun”), had her role in the television adaptation of John Hughes' 1980s classic “Ferris Bueller's Holiday.” Aniston was perfect for the role of Jenny, Ferris' sister, taking over from Jennifer Grey, who played the character in the film. Aniston's low, cool voice, pouting mouth and exasperated sighs perfectly captured Jeannie's angry attitude and frustration with Ferris' antics, namely his uncanny ability to charm everyone he comes in contact with and his clever ways of getting out of trouble. She's perfect for the role, but the TV show itself? Well, it's not that great. It's even weird.

“Ferris Bueller's Day Off” is the best John Hughes movie ever made. focuses on the best day ever during senior year, a final celebration before its characters Ferris, Cameron and Sloane face the gloom of adulthood. However, to make the story work for the TV series, the writers had to go back, taking us to Ferris' junior year to explore the everyday life of the smooth-talking, fun-loving teenage villain. The concept didn't last long, as the series was canceled just a few months after its debut, with only 13 episodes airing. The reviews were bad, with Citizen of Ottawa calling the series “high school horror” that deserves a “failing grade”. It just didn't have the magic spark of a movie that existed in a weird parallel universe where this version of Ferris didn't exist because The Boston Globe memorably, “the kind of high schooler other kids would want to hang out with,” but the kind “other kids would want to hang with.”

The series tries something that could have been clever if the lead actor Charlie Schlatter wasn't so crazy. Schlatter lacks Matthew Broderick's swagger and boyish charm, instead coming across as a knowing clown who's more annoying than funny. In this strange, upside-down world of Ferris Bueller, the original John Hughes film exists and is based on Schlatter's life as Ferris. He complains about the movie and even belittles Matthew Broderick for playing himself, going so far as to saw his head off a life-size cardboard cutout. “This is television; it's real,” he says. While this meta joke may have seemed like a clever way to start the show — as comparisons were inevitable — it seems unnecessary given all the weird changes from “Ferris Bueller's Vacation.”

Why bother making a television series at all? None of the original cast members return, and the setting changes from Chicago to Santa Monica, taking away the everyday suburban feel of the original film. Seeing the magic of Ferris' school could have been fun to watch, but it all feels routine and inconsequential. The short season revolved around Ferris sparring with Ed Rooney, dating Sloane, and helping Cameron get a girlfriend. There are storylines about getting stuck in an elevator with Rooney, wanting to run for student president, and dealing with an annoying grandma. “Ferris Bueller” just doesn't have the heart of a John Hughes movie, especially without Matthew Broderick's magnetic performance. Ferris's story wasn't just about fun and visiting museums and emergency parades; it was about teenagers struggling with their future, caring for their friends, and dealing with family issues. If you're weirdly fascinated by how rough this early part of Jennifer Aniston's career was, there are some clips on YouTube.