It's Your Move (1984–1985) User Reviews

Too good for its time.

[tachyon_1 · 9/10 · 29 June 2006]

This was a great show. Yet it never seemed to get the viewers or popularity it deserved. It seems like a lot of copies came out later that got all the glory, yet were lesser shows. Bateman of course _was_ the show. His character was smarter and cooler than the posers. Like a lot of shows, it died an early death it did not deserve. At the time the show was on I never missed an episode. I really do not understand how Growing Pains became so huge while this masterpiece slipped into oblivion. Mind you Growing Pains was good, but not at this level. Stupid TV execs.

Oh well.

Any news of it on DVD?

This show rocked!

[culwin · 8/10 · 17 September 1999]

See David Garrison before "Married With Children"! Wow this show was the BEST! This was my favorite show in the 80's; I wish someone would show reruns. I think it was just too clever for the critics, and the viewers. But hey what do I know, I was only 11?

Bateman breaks out.

[haildevilman · 8/10 · 8 July 2007]

While he was playing Ricky Schroeder's wiseacre buddy in "Silver Spoons" he showed a knack for one-upping his cast mates. This gave him a chance to BE number 1.

The show is dated beyond belief now. The sweaters and the early 80's new wave clothes might make even blind men cringe now. But the humor was dead on target.

Bateman owned this show. He was not only the eye, but the whole hurricane. He may remind people of a teen version of Hawkeye from M*A*S*H. His feathers never ruffled despite the problems he got into.

The puns and one-liners were non-stop as well. Made every episode full of those groaning laughs. I can't figure why it didn't succeed. But I'm glad Jason did.

DVD release???

This was a Stellar Show, and it was all Bateman

[richard.fuller1 · 14 June 2002]

Possibly the most underrated show since 'Frank's Place', It's Your Move was phenomenonly funny. Tricia Cast, David Garrison and Caren Kaye could all be replaced, but it was Bateman's show, through and through. The relationship between Matthew Burton, his mother, Caren Kaye, and the man who dates her who lives across the hall, David Garrison, could have in time become much more sharper and defined. Tricia Cast was Matthew's sister, Julie, and just as much a victim of his shenanigans as Garrison was. But still she was his sister and could be just as sinister as he was, yet he wasn't overly cruel to her. I always remembered one moment when Matthew was exchanging barbs with Julie, her female friend Sheila, and their dates, two football players. As Matt left, he recognized the four of them as thus, "Ladies (you think he means the two girls), . . .Sheila (obviously now implying Sheila was not a female, but the jocks were). His subtlety and their blank expressions was hilarious. Yet the funniest was the two parter Dregs of Humanity. Again, like Franks Place, It's Your Move could not be left alone and was yanked around, till the audience grew weary of trying to find it. Dregs of Humanity became the victim of that act, as two episodes near the end of the season, the ratings dropped and the first time Dregs aired, part two was deleted the following week for a special coverage, politics or something! I waited back through all the episodes and had to keep up with where the show was airing as it kept getting shuffled around until I finally found and saw part two. Even today I have to tell people what happened when they say "Do you remember a show with Jason Bateman and that guy off Married With Children? Whatever became of the Dregs of Humanity?" Then, yes, there was the burglars stealing the furniture episode too, when Matt and Norman did go on a gameshow. Too, too funny. The battle of wits in this show has not been surpassed since. It wasn't crudely offensive either.

This is a lost show. If it should ever air somewhere, try to record it and keep it. And then you can ask yourself "What happened?"

Hilarious and too good to last

[mccaffreythomas · 10/10 · 3 December 2008]

I was reminded of this show about 3 years ago and when I remembered it it was like recalling an amazing childhood memory. I was 11 when it premiered and immediately I was hooked. I feel like this show never needed to find itself. It immediately found its stride on the 2nd episode. Jason Bateman is so amazing in it. His character in this played a very significant part in shaping my adolescent behavior. I thought I was Matthew Burton. I have never seen a teenage character this well written. I loved him because he wasn't awkward and insecure he had everything figured out already and was always a step ahead of every adult. I also loved how it wasn't soppy. All the adults hated him because he was always outwitting them. It was amazing to see him go toe to toe with a grown man and many times come out on top. And I loved how all his lines were just hilarious and he was never at a loss with a quick insult. One great one is when Norman wants to interview the Dregs of Humanity and Matt says to him, "Norman the guys aren't interested. It's nothing personal, it's just that they find you very offensive." I like Jason Bateman now but for me he never topped this role.

Ahead of its time

[whatch-17931 · 8/10 · 1 February 2021]

I was one of the few who saw this first run. This is in many respects almost like Ferris Bueller.

I loved it, but I think it was not yet the time for what can easily be seen as subversive. A feature like Ferris Bueller is one thing, though even that got flack.

This is similar to the also short lived Whiz Kids (1983-1984) in that regard. Whiz Kids got massive flack for portraying teenage hackers breaking laws and getting away with everything.

Early Jason Bateman vehicle and... hey, isn't that Steve Rhodes?

[okedjtj · 10/10 · 12 January 2017]

With Justine Bateman's success on "Family Ties", NBC decided that two Batemans were better than one and came up with this vehicle for her younger brother, Jason. Young Bateman plays a teen con-artist who helps support his single mother through money making schemes such as selling cheat sheets at school, etc. His little racket is threatened when he gets a new neighbor - an adult version of himself. Things go from worse to worser when the neighbor begins dating his mother & also becomes a teacher at his school. It becomes a chess match as the two constantly try to outsmart/outwit each other. The neighbor was played by David Garrison, a few years before he would take on the role of another neighbor from hell - Steve Rhodes on "Married... With Children". The show was buried on Wednesday nights, a bad night for the Peacock Network, where even "Family Ties" struggled before drawing the Golden Ticket of Cosby as it's lead-in on Thursdays. NBC wasted little time finding another vehicle for Bateman, as "The Hogan Family" would premiere a year or so later

Great show

[chem_prof2000 · 10/10 · 10 July 2008]

Jason Bateman was great, but David Garrison also excelled in his role on this under-appreciated show. The two of them had great chemistry and comedic timing off each other. I couldn't believe it when the show was canceled.

David Garrison was also good on "Married with Children". Of course Jason Bateman's career has gone on and on, notably the movie "Juno" and the cable series "Arrested Development".

Too bad his sister wasn't as talented. She reached her high point on "Family Ties" convincingly playing a dim bulb. She was recently on "Desperate Housewives" and her looks have declined drastically. She has lost too much weight and appeared to be having a bad hair lifetime.

Makin the Moves

[hellraiser7 · 8/10 · 22 March 2022]

This is another under the radar gem and it's another lost sitcom that was an almost classic. There really wasn't a sitcom like this, nor has there ever been. I feel the main fundamental problem with the sitcom genre is that it tends to become formulaic but also cookie cutter as most shows just takes up the same format over and over, almost like the same show just frosted differently. But this one was slightly different as it still was a family sitcom but with a little twist and turn to it, to make it unique.

In a way the show could almost be like a British comedy as it more on verbal and clever humor. The show has some memorable dialog and verbal jokes, and it also makes good use of build up to pay off or even simply making a running joke funnier than before. The theme song of the show is good, it's not one of the most memorable ever but a nice listen as it has a slightly catchy energetic beat which really gives you the feel there is a competitive game on.

The characters are all good and well rounded From the Principal played well by SNL alumi Garett Morris whom I think is another underrated comedic actor. Really like how he's not some stereotypical blowhole principal we've seen in dozens of shows and movies. But he's a principal that you can get behind and you like to work with. He's friendly, really like that he has that attitude of energy and pizzazz which helps as he really wants to have a well-run school but also wants people to do their best.

Norm played by David Garrison another underrated comedic actor and of course I remember in another comedy TV show "Married With Children". He kind of looks like actor Jimmy Stewart which in a way adds to the comedy, this almost feel like the kind of character Jimmy would play from Norm's mannerisms and even how he dresses. But anyway, Norm is a writer who has above average intelligence but is down on his luck and is looking to turn his life around.

But of course, the best character is Matthew Burton played well by Jason Bateman. This show is sort of the second in his 80's sitcom trilogy as his debut was as a supporting character in a couple of seasons of "Silver Spoons" (another forgotten gem and review for another time), the third being "The Hogan Family". He as usual is at his best as he has the sharp charisma and smart-ass charm.

His character is one that is just starting out in the con game as we see he's highly intelligent, but he decides to use that intelligence for his own gain, to mainly just get whatever he really wants in the minute. You can say this guy is cocky and arrogant as he does succeed most of the time in his gains. Though may 'be not all the time or not the way he wants it because sometimes when he does the reality of the results are a lot different then what he had in mind.

This was a bit different at the time as most kid character in sitcoms are on the straight and narrow, but this character was in a bit of a grey area. This strangely make him a more interesting character because it makes him more human. The kid though isn't totally selfish as he really does have a heart deep inside and does care about people, and does use his talent to help them out, which is exactly what he should do with it in the first place.

There is a good back and forth between both characters, it's pretty much your experienced and inexperienced motif. Both we see are alike whether they want to admit it or not. As we see both are trying to outsmart each other, though we see most of the time they outsmart themselves as both share that Achilles heel of being too smart for their own good. But also, whether they want to admit it or not both are bonding and filling in that empty space both have carried for a long time.

For Norm despite being in the writing game for so long, he's never really built enough of a life for himself to live. In a way that's one of the flipsides of the coin in writing where your can be so busy writing about other places and what they have, but never really visiting them yourself. Norm dating his mom is sort of a redemption story for him as it's his ticket to getting and living the life he always wanted to but is also the father figure that needs to help him steer him in the right direction.

For Mathew, Norm is the father figure and mentor he very much needs because as smart as he is, he's still a kid that still has a lot to learn about life. But also, to get a good dose of reality that the world isn't wrapped around his finger and that he needs to be real himself to live the best kind of life.

It's really too bad this show couldn't of been part of the long line up of classic 80's sitcoms/comedies but due to the shows premise it's a tough sell, though most comedies even the one's that are successful like "Seinfeld" usually are as some aren't always what everyone is use to. But also with the amount of competition this show had during the time it just didn't stand a chance.

Even though the show probably wouldn't of been one for the long haul, I would of like two more seasons just to see how much things develop for the two as well as where it all will lead. Only in the realm of fan fiction could this happen. And I wouldn't fret too much, because after this show Jason of course moved on to another 80's sitcom "The Hogan Family" (show I reviewed) which was a hit at the time though also another forgotten gem.

It would be cool if there was a Blu ray/DVD set of this show (also "The Hogan Family" and rerelease of "Silver Spoons" I mentioned) released from "Mill Creek", I know that the fanbase for this show is small however there are fans of the actor Jason Bateman, once again it would be nice to see another part of his earlier work.

So if your looking for more vintage 80's sitcoms or even just curious about more of Jason Bateman's work then checking this show out would be a good move.

Rating: 3 stars.

The Dregs of Humanity

[three8s2013 · 7/10 · 11 January 2020]

I remember the episode with MTV VJ Nina Blackwood who said she was old pals with the Dregs from their punk days. An imaginary band. Ha! This was a very underrated sitcom that simply vanished. Jason Bateman is a good actor.

biting humor that deserved a bigger audience

[kirstymd · 30 April 2001]

Try to remember that this show was introduced in the era of "Cosby"... ! It's humor wasn't exactly wrapped in a pullover sweater handing out Pudding Pops. The skeleton show was where Jason Bateman and his friend Eli needed a band for the school dance, so they dressed up some lab skeletons and labelled them the Dregs of Humanity. The "group" soon had their own teenage groupies. I remember my sister and I rolling on the floor laughing until our guts hurt. I.Y.M. showcased what Jason Bateman has always done best - that smirky, know-it-all, smartass character. I'd love to see him find another show worthy of his talents.

WAY ahead of its time!

[hunterdu · 27 April 1999]

This was an unbelieveably funny show. Unfortunately, as with most cutting edge shows, it ran into some criticism and was not allowed to reach its full potential. When they were forced to tone it down in the second season, it lost its edge. But it could very well be in the top five for premier seasons for any sitcom.

David Garrison and Jason Bateman are an equal match.

[adrian-260 · 4 June 2007]

I think that the producers of !It's Your Move" are missing out on a great opportunity because it is still not available on DVD. If it was to be released in this format, then I would certainly buy it. Another character not very often mentioned was the janitor of the flats where they all lived. Ernie Sabella played this man, Mr Donatelli, (I think that was his name) a most revolting person who hated Mathew Burton intensely. Every time they could, they exchanged insults at an alarming rate. "So that the flies can shower" was only one of the jibes from Burton to Donatelli. This sequence still makes me laugh when ever I think about it. As everyone else says, (well, most people) it is a pity that it is no longer shown. Rather strange when other shows get constant re-runs and do not have such biting humour. I would give this show full marks, even though it first aired such a long time ago.

One of the greats

[scott_satori · 18 May 2004]

This show was too far ahead of its time to make it. Matthew Burton was a smart-ass14 year old with an IQ that seemed to rival Einstein's. He was constantly pulling off schemes that would make the CIA jealous. His clueless mother thought, as usual, that he was a saint, but his closely scheming sister knew better, though that didn't protect her from his antics.

His arch-nemesis was a neighbor that his mother was dating named Norman. Norman, while geekly on the outside was the ultimate schemer. 'You can't kid the kidder. Everyone knows that the first rule of the underhanded is to always look behind you!' Matthew's schemes were, in fact, so perfect that the moronic censors saw fit to annihilate the show by turning it into a 'life lesson' sit-com <is that an oxy-moron?>. Remember the episode where Eli <Matt's best, stupid friend> saves the soccer game? Very shortly after the change from wicked cool smart-ass to 'teach me son' character happened, the show was canceled. Not surprising if you've seen the show. The dregs of humanity will go down in history as one of the all-time greatest scams in TV history. Too bad FOX Network wasn't around a bit sooner. This show could have put Married With Children to shame.

Satori

A fun show that was doomed from the start.

[mack3175 · 3 October 2002]

This show could have lasted a little longer, only if the producers made an annoucement before each episode aired saying. "What you see in this show is just for pure laughs, and never to be copied in real life". But because they did'nt the show got cancelled quickly. A very funny show, nothing like The Cosby Show, Family Ties, and Growing Pains. The star of the show was Jason Bateman playing Matthew Burton, a cool fourteen year old, living with his clueless mother(Caren Kaye) and selfish sister(Tricia Cast). Matthew was quite a scheamer, and felt he could get away with anything. That all changes when his mom starts dating Norman Lamb(David Garrison) a strugling writer. Matthew does'nt like him, and tries to think up a scheam to get rid of him. But he's in for a big surprise, when Norman proves he's just a bigger scheamer then him. Jason Bateman and David Garrison both had comic chemistry. But there charm could'nt save the show. Because the producers where afraid that kids would start copying Matthew's antics. Like some of those family shows when the kids try to pull a fast one, but they always get caught in the end. But this show was cool, because Matthew rarely got caught, only once by his mother, only twice by Norman. The show was fun to watch and it deserved a little better, then what it got.

This show is phenomenal. Never to be outdone. 80's at its Best!

[Vivacious_J · 13 May 2001]

I own all the episodes of this UNFORGETTABLE 80's show. I saw it once or twice when USA re-ran it in 92 and couldn't get it out of my mind so i desperately found a way to purchase it...long story. Anyway, Jason Bateman as Mathew Burton is a crafty, smart ass that (if I wasn't 4 years old when this show was out) would have been in love with! There's just something about those polo shirts and colored sweatshirts and that shady smile of his that turn me on! LOL, back to the rest of the cast....Eli (who i know on a personal basis) is an adorable clutz and also a great juxtaposition to Matt's conniving, shrewd ways. He is in love with Matt's big sis, the popular cheerleader/slut Julie, who is a cute 80's girl who gives her brother a run for his money with some petty fights and snide remarks. The mom, Caren Kaye, is rather flighty and unaware of her children's un-innocence but she has her place in the show and if Norman Lamb (Steve from married with children...another favorite show of mine!) loves her, than golly gee I love her too! Norman is also hilarious. Him and Matt carry out the greatest rivalry in television history--at least in this reviewer's opinion. In closing, let me just say, if you haven't seen the "Dregs of Humanity" episode, you haven't lived. "Bones lives in the fast lane."

Norman: "So how are the ladies?" Tombstone: "Who cares. They're just objects of lust. We cast them aside. We're THE DREGS!" enough said. BOW DOWN TO THIS (sniff sniff) ONE SEASON WONDER 80's GEM OF A SITCOM!!!to think they let trash like gimme a break, webster, etc go on for 5 seasons and "It's Your Move" gets shafted after one...what a sick and twisted world we live in!

Fantastic, forgotten classic

[erichrattenburg · 8 August 2005]

I never saw this show when it was on the air (I was four years old at the time), but a coworker has this on DVD (I think it's an "unofficial" copy). Let me just say right now that this series ranks amongst the very best of all the great 80's sitcoms.

Everyone seems to be in love with the Dregs Of Humanity episodes, and for good reason. But they are all great in their own way. It's a shame that they didn't allow this series to go on.

In the end, please see this if you can. Please bug the heck out of the studios or the powers that be for this to get its long-deserved proper release. Then we can all sit back and think of what could've been had this great show been allowed to grow.

You all are right on the money.

[mshollywod · 28 November 2004]

I was only nine but I totally remember being fascinated by this show. I thought Jason Bateman was so cute and funny. Lol, I used to think he would make the perfect boyfriend. But I agree the show was way before it's time. I too would pay to see all of the episodes again. It was definitely my favorite show of the 80's. It's great to know there are people out there who share the same sentiment as I do on the show. I heard there is a video store in Burbank, CA that sells/rents every single TV show and pilot there every was in existences at this store. I wonder how true that is. Well, maybe it's not in Burbank but I know it's in the Los Angeles area. Unfortunately I haven't seen his new show Arrested Development because I missed all of last season.

A great show!!

[MN_Movie_Critic · 12 June 2003]

This show deserved to be on longer. Despite that Mathew was so deceptive & the acting may not have been the best - the show was well written and was REALLY FUNNY!!!

The Dregs of Humanity, the old lady school teacher who black-mailed her students for grades, the episode when Mathew gets caught. GOOD STUFF!!

Way ahead of its time.

[garretsr · 20 April 2003]

This was one of the greatest/funniest shows of the '80s. But, it was before Fox, so there had been no "Simpsons" or "In Living Color" to smash the Network taboos. Too bad it's not on DVD. I'd order it in a heartbeat.

The greatest teenage sitcom ever made.

[bowlsmaclean · 14 April 2000]

This show came and went. They will never come this close to perfection again. Jason Bateman could of been the idol of millions if this show was given a complete second season. Sadly it ended with self apologetic demise. No syndication what so ever. I'd pay to own episodes of this on tape

jason bateman carries another show

[nikkivisser · 19 February 2017]

love to have this on DVD and it doesn't hurt to have sexy wmilf Karen Caye.The show centered on Matthew Burton (Bateman), a teenage scam artist who lived in a Van Nuys, California apartment with his older sister Julie (Cast) and widowed mother Eileen (Kaye). Matt ran various underhanded dealings with his high school friends, especially his sidekick Eli (Adam Sadowsky), such as term paper sales, exam answer keys, and blackmail. The status quo of Matthew's world changed forever in the series' pilot, when Norman Lamb (Garrison) moved into the apartment across the hall. A quick-witted but impoverished writer from Chicago, Norman struck up a friendship with Eileen and the two were soon dating. Dismayed that his mother had chosen someone so far beneath her, Matt set upon sabotaging their relationship, but soon finds he has met his match—Norman reveals himself to be cut from the same cloth as Matthew, and foils plot after plot.

Caught In The Act

[Oilers85 · 9 February 2000]

David Garrison as Norman and Jason Bateman as Matthew are well cast in this short-run but brilliant comedy of a 14 year old schemer who meets his match. NBC cancelled the show apparently after complaints that kids were copying Matthew's schemes! This show was a forerunner to "Married With Children" by the same producers and the influence is obvious. 4/5 from me, losing a point for missing the plot in the final episodes.

Life Imitates Art ?

[Thor2000 · 2 May 2001]

I have always had mixed feelings about this show. On one hand was it funny, hilarious and before it's time. Jason Bateman had originated this role of a teenage con-artist as Derek Taylor on the surprise hit, "Silver Spoons," but by time he got his own show, the role had been expanded upon into some very large scale covert operations with listening devices and secret plots, a sort of "Parker Lewis" for it's time. The show was also a nightmare for me too, because I used to have a friend named Matthew Burton (Bateman's character), and we used to brag about stunts we had never really done. We both got a lot of flak from this show, and I think we enjoyed the attention a little bit. I've lost contact with him, but today when when we see each other, he reminds me of when we strung up the school skeletons for the concert. It never happened of course, but of course it's how we remember the show. I think both of us would have killed to have a mom who looked like Caren Kaye or a sister like Tricia Cast. Garrett Morris could never have been my principal, he was too laid back. David Garrison though I think we would have been friends with, especially if we could have predicted he'd be later moving in next door to Christina Appegate !

A Case Against Having Children

[hillari · 11 December 2000]

My younger sister loved this show, but I couldn't stand Jason Bateman's character. What a sneaky, low down kid Matthew was! Every week he was grinning about something he had pulled on his mom's boyfriend. Of course, this was inbetween the stuff he was pulling on his friends and neighbors. Bateman was just doing another variation on the little rat he played on Silver Spoons.