John Hughes is best known for his iconic '80s teen movies, but his work also had a significant impact on television. He started his career writing for Delta House, the short-lived 1979 TV version of Animal House, but he quickly switched to film. Three films that he wrote and directed -- Weird Science; Ferris Bueller's Day Off; and Uncle Buck -- were turned into TV series in the '90s. Plus, at least three more movies that he wrote received pilot commitments -- "Mr. Mom" in 1984 (TV listing; Baseline); "Some Kind of Wonderful" in 1988 (Illinois DCEO); and "Maid in Manhattan" in 2008 (BuzzSugar) -- but none were picked up as series.

 

Let's take a look back at Weird Science, Ferris Bueller and Uncle Buck. If you do nothing else, click the link for the opening for Ferris Bueller, the series -- the credits and theme song are shockingly awful.

Weird Science

The Movie		The Series
1985	Year	1994 - 1997 on USA; 1998 on SCI FI
Anthony Michael Hall (Gary); Ilan Mitchell-Smith (Wyatt)	Gary & Wyatt	Michael Manasseri (Wyatt); John Mallory Asher (Gary)
Kelly LeBrock	Lisa	Vanessa Angel
Bill Paxton	Chet	Lee Tergeson
Clips (Hulu)	Video Links	Full Episodes (Hulu)

 

Ferris Bueller

The Movie		The Series
1986	Year	1990 - 1991 on NBC
Matthew Broderick	Ferris	Charlie Schlatter
Jennifer Grey	Jeanie	Jennifer Aniston
Cindy Pickett	Mom	Cristine Rose
Clips (YouTube)	Video Links	Opening (YouTube)

 

Uncle Buck

The Movie		The Series
1989	Year	1990 - 1991 on CBS
John Candy	Buck	Kevin Meaney
Jean Louisa Kelly	Tia	Dah-ve Chodan
Macaulay Culkin (Miles); Gaby Hoffman (Maizy)	Miles & Maizy	Sarah Martineck (Maizy); Jacob Gelman (Miles)
Clips (YouTube)	Video Links	Commercial (YouTube)