Where To Watch
Scott Baio: ''It's OK to be square"
The actor didn't stray far from the straight-and-narrow.
Do you agree with Huey Lewis & The News? When they said "It's hip to be square," was the statement only true of that era? Or is there something eternally cool about uncoolness? That aloof attitude, a devil-may-care detachment from "coolness" might just be the antithetical coolest thing ever. After all, what's less cool than trying? So, maybe The News was in good company in their declaration. At the very least, they had one TV figure who shared their sentiment.
Scott Baio is best remembered for his work on television decades ago, both in Happy Days and later on Charles in Charge. While either role would have afforded him an invite to the hippest parties in town, it turns out Baio was better suited for the square set.
In 1984, as the sun set on Happy Days, Baio was readying his next big sitcom. As he prepared for his next big role, he spoke with The Fresno Bee about the ways he and Charles might be more similar than not.
"Charles shares my feelings. It's OK to be square, to be old-fashioned and married, and to be in love. What's wrong with being conservative?
"I was born in 1960, so I'm too young to know anything about that era except what I hear and read. I'd say the '60s generation was pretty crazy. They didn't believe in marriage and kids and traditional values. Who wants to deal with all that negative junk? For me, it's nice to be positive and upbeat. It means you can help other people."
Baio grew up in the Bayridge section of Brooklyn, where he didn't drink booze, use drugs, or even smoke cigarettes. Rather than find himself a product of his environment, Baio avoided "the heavy party scene," and instead devoted himself to sports and cars.
"But I'm not dull, honest," said Baio. "I have a lot of fun. But I don't need any phony stimulus."
In Baio's estimate, one of his most important projects was the 1980 TV movie The Boy Who Drank Too Much, where he played a young alcoholic whose disease tore apart his family. The script and the acting were so convincing that young fans would reach out to Baio for years asking his advice about dealing with similar issues within their own homes.
"Now that's a great high in my life. That's terrific. It makes me feel more sure than ever that being upbeat and straight is the way to go. Call it square if you want, but it's ok."
Related
4 Comments
