The critically acclaimed series was filmed over a six-month period, five days a week by Chicago videographer Ned Miller in the Betacam video format.
[1] Inspired to make a "real life" version of John Hughes films, co-executives Lou Gorfain and Chuck Bangert shot a ratio of "150:1", 150 minutes to one minute of usable footage, comparing waiting and observing to capture unscripted moments to "panning for gold".
They began filming in October 1990 with the permission of the administrators, pupils, parents, and school board.
[3][4] The series premiered on prime time, back-to-back with the popular American teen drama series original, Beverly Hills, 90210, to ride a surge in second-season viewership; and aired regularly Saturdays 8:30 pm EST / 7:30 pm CST.
Among the subjects covered include homecoming, teen pregnancy, sports competition, dating, the Gulf War, and personal tragedy.