The Goldbergs

A late (2nd season) quick review.

This is a very good family sitcom based on the actual life of its writer when he was a teenager. The presentation of the show is using the narration of an older version of himself with emphasis in the specific characteristics of the 80s that leaves a nostalgic feeling for the era.

No fake laughs (live or prerecorded) here.

Exceptional casting. True to life situations. Funny in a good way (without being ridiculous or vulgar like other comedies out there). Honest to the heart.

In a sentence: Watch it and you wont be disappointed!

The original premise of the Goldbergs was great, a standard family sitcom based on some semi-autobiographical family info from the show runner. The 80's nostalgia was great as it was generally non-specific regarding chronological release of products and events which also added to the fun of the show.

Anchored by veterans such as George Segal and Jeff Garlin, it introduced us to a number of up and coming young actors and we've been able to watch the grow-up in their characters.

Fast-forward several seasons and the gags are becoming tired and the innovation has left the writing. Season 8 was lackluster and you hopped that season 9 might wrap-up some loose ends but instead we see "fresh" story lines that are not fresh and take away from the original uniqueness of the premise.

Combine that with the sad passing of Segal, which wasn't handled very well, and the dismissal of Garlin because someone accused him, even though he's not been charged or found guilty of a crime shows that this program has truly indeed jumped the shark.... The Fonz would be proud.

Full disclosure: S01-S04 we're great television, the downward spiral of each subsequent season has spoiled the entire enterprise.

Its about time we get a great show like this! It reminds me so much of The Wonder Years (One of my favourite shows of all times). It is funny, all the actors are fantastic and have great chemistry together. After 3 episodes it quickly became my new favourite show. At the end of each episode there is a clip of the real family it is based on (Adam Goldberg) which I love. I think this is why the show works so great, is because its based on a real family and real stories. So many shows and movies you watch and there isn't anything realistic about it, so they are entertaining but not something you can relate to. That is not the case with this show, and that is why it reminds me so much of The Wonder Years. It mixes comedy with story telling. I can't rave about this show enough, and I will be FURIOUS if it gets cancelled.

I haven't seen a single commercial for this show, but I recognized the mom from Reno 911 and figured I would give it a shot. It's actually pretty good. Having grown up in suburban Philly in the 80's, they have pretty much nailed a typical Northeast Philly suburb. The writing is good, and the plot is fun to follow. I think you will really enjoy this show if you like smart, funny comedies you can relate to. The clothes are dead on for 1985. The house is exactly like every house I ever went into in our neighborhood, and just as tacky. The family dynamic is very familiar, and accurately represents a typical Philly family. I urge you to give this show a chance. You will more than likely see a lot of your own family in these characters.

Honestly I really didn't like the first season or two, but hung in there and the show grew on me. Seasons 5 and 6 are much better... and then the downhill rollercoaster ride.

Season 10, sucks. Season 9 was meh.

Really, the show should have ended at Adams graduation or, when he created the video to replace the messed up football video. That was a crowning achievement of his schooling; and would have been a good ending.

At this point, just kill it. It's done. You know it is done when they stopped putting the video clips at the end. This was a clear indication that they ran out of source material and were just making things up; and it is not working. Getting rid of the Dad was stupid (even in reality it seemed that way) and really just plunges the show into obscurity.

If it had ended earlier; my rating would have been higher, but I have to cover the entire show, not just what I enjoyed.