10 References You May Have Missed In The Babysitter’s Club

On July 3, 2020, a Netflix version of The Baby-Sitters Club was released. Based on the book series of the same name, which was written by Ann M. Martin and published between 1986 and 2000, this television show focuses on a group of friends who start a babysitting business.

For many, these novels were a childhood staple, with their relatable characters and exciting adventures. While this new TV series is set in the present day, there were quite a few nods to the ‘90s, along with some fun Easter eggs. So who all caught these totally awesome references while watching this totally sweet story play out? 

9 Kristy’s Mom… OMG

This story centers around five best friends who are in middle school, but their other pals, peers and family members are featured, too. And when viewers first saw Kristy Thomas’ mother, they probably got even more thrilled about watching…

This character, Elizabeth Thomas-Brewer, is played by none other than Alicia Silverstone. She has appeared in numerous films and TV shows over the years, but her most iconic role was being Cher Horowitz in Clueless from 1995!

8 She’s Not Totally Clueless

Fans with eagle eyes and ears may have also heard Kristy say a line about her mom not being “totally clueless”. Those who wrote this script could have used any phrase in this scene, but it is great that they took this reference even further.

Cher Horowitz is one of the biggest icons from the 1990s, as her wardrobe, quotes and overall vibe still have an influence over people today. And now, more people get to see this star in action, as she is a part of this series, too.

7 Claudia’s Yellow Plaid Outfit

Okay, speaking of Cher Horowitz’s stylish ensembles, there was one other Clueless-inspired Easter egg… While all of the main characters in The Babysitter’s Club wore some incredible looks within this story, Claudia Kishi is known for dressing in a bold and creative way.

One of her outfits on this show was yellow and plaid. Sound familiar? That was the same material that was used on the most memorable outfit from Clueless!

6 A Book Cover, Recreated

In a poster utilized to promote this new Netflix show, the stars were shown in some very familiar poses. The episode titles all corresponded with the actual novels, beginning with Kristy’s Great Idea. The cover of that book showed the pals sitting around one of their bedrooms, which was recreated for this poster!

Yes, pictured here are actresses Xochitl Gomez as Dawn Schafer, Sophie Grace as Kristy Thomas, Momona Tamada as Claudia Kishi, Shay Rudolph as Stacey McGill and Malia Baker as Mary Anne Spier.

5 Another Netflix Show

Another reference that popped up referenced another beloved and popular Netflix series: Queer Eye! Claudia and Stacey decided to go over to Mary Anne’s house, in order to give her room and her father an update.

They mentioned the show, they called themselves the Terrific Two (instead of the Fab Five), and the theme music from QE even played. 

4 Let’s Get Together

Two of the main friends in this story, Mary Anne and Dawn, became even closer when their parents started dating (again). During these scenes, the girls mentioned another amazing film from the ‘90s: Parent Trap!

They even went to a camp, just like Lindsay Lohan’s characters did. They also did Annie and Hallie’s handshake, which fans probably used to do back in the day, before, after or while reading their BSC books. 

3 It’s All In The Details

Those who read these books surely caught many more intriguing elements while watching this television series.

From the names of the characters, town and streets to details such as Claudia hiding candy around her room and Kristy’s red visor and director’s chair, the team that put this all together did a wonderful job staying true to what fans know and love.

2 Speaking Of That Team…

When it comes to this show, author Ann M. Martin served as a producer, with Rachel Shukert as the showrunner, Lucia Aniello as an executive producer and Michael De Luca as an executive producer.

Some who watched this new series may have heard of De Luca, in particular, before; he has worked on a ton of well-known flicks throughout his career, including some major ones from the 1990s, such as The Mask, Boogie Nights and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me!

1 That Iconic Phone

Last but not least, there was that iconic phone. As mentioned, Netflix’s The Babysitter’s Club is set in a modern time, but the girls needed a landline for their babysitting clients to call. Claudia pulled one out that she had bought on Etsy.

Everyone wondered if it would actually work. It did… and it just happened to be that clear type, with all the colorful gears in it on full display! That groovy gadget is one of the most recognizable and ideal objects from the 1990s, and it was totally fab to see it here.

About The Author