“This is how I remember the 80s – there were no parenting blogs or peanut allergies, just a whole lotta crazy.”
That’s the opening narration from THE GOLDBERGS, Patton Oswalt providing the off-camera voice of the adult Adam Goldberg, the youngest of the three kids at the center of ABC’s breakout hit from last year. While kids of the 60s eventually had THE WONDER YEARS, and those a decade later getting THAT 70’s SHOW, it’s only fitting that kids like myself – the ones who grew up in “1980-something” – finally get a series that properly captures our decade. While there have been a few who’ve tried and failed, THE GOLDBERGS (out this week in a Complete First Season DVD set) is undoubtedly the best we’ve ever seen.
Aside from shows like DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD and DOC McSTUFFINS, I don’t watch a ton of television these days, and when it comes to episodic fare, I’ve been finding it harder and harder to get invested in a series and follow it through. I’m a little more prone to throw on a DVD or fire up Netflix to check out something a little older – something comforting… like KNIGHT RIDER. I’m pretty sure that little Adam Goldberg would appreciate that – after all, he’s the television embellishment of series creator Adam F. Goldberg, a guy who’s the same age as I (“Bicentennial Babies,” circa 1976), and a bespectacled kid with a major love of G.I. JOE, STAR WARS. VOLTRON, and pretty much everything else I’ve been into for the past 30+ years. The fact that he runs around toting a camera is even more familiar, though we didn’t make the jump to VHS until the 90s, and I was still rockin’ a Super 8mm well past the BATMAN year of 1989.
While The Goldbergs may not have the exact dynamic of my family (or yours), father Murray, mom Bev, brother Barry, sister Erica, Grandpa “Pops” and little Adam are completely familiar. We’ve all known people like The Goldbergs, and the other residents of their world are spot-on as well. The production design (tackled here in the bonus features, along with the terribly-80s/totally awesome costuming) is also top-notch, placing the ‘Bergs in a house I could’ve easily visited once upon a time. I’d imagine that there’s a set of wicker paper plate holders in there somewhere.
The 23-episode first season is a sitcom done right – devoid of laugh-track crap, and with each self-contained episode wrapped-up within a 22-minute package of pure retro goodness. With full episodes centered around THE GOONIES, GHOSTBUSTERS, STAR WARS (RETURN OF THE JEDI) and even those classic toys (U.S.S. FLAGG!), THE GOLDBERGS is 100% Rock Father-Approved.
THE GOLDBERGS: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON is now available on DVD. Season 2 premieres Wednesday, September 24 at 8:30/7:30c on ABC.
