The Goldbergs (TV series)

The Goldbergs is an American television sitcom that premiered on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 on ABC. The series was created by Adam F. Goldberg and stars Wendi McLendon-Covey and Jeff Garlin.^[2] The show is produced by Goldberg, Seth Gordon, and Doug Robinson.^[3] It is loosely based on Goldberg's family in the 1980s, complete with a childhood version of himself.

Premise

The Goldbergs is set in the 1980s in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, but is filmed in Southern California. The show is loosely based on the showrunner's own childhood, during which he videotaped events, many of which are re-enacted throughout the program.^[4]

The series stars Jeff Garlin as patriarch Murray and Wendi McLendon-Covey as his wife, Beverly. Their two older children are Erica (Hayley Orrantia) and Barry (Troy Gentile). The youngest child, Adam (Sean Giambrone), documents his family life with his video camera, while the present-day "Adult Adam" narrates every episode as taking place in "1980-something." Beverly's father, Albert "Pops" Solomon (George Segal), is frequently around to provide advice or to help out his grandchildren (often behind his daughter's back).

Cast and characters

Main cast

• Wendi McLendon-Covey as Beverly Goldberg,^[3] the overprotective matriarch of the Goldbergs. She frequently injects herself into her children's lives, often to their embarrassment, and is supremely confident in their abilities.
• Jeff Garlin as Murray Goldberg,^[3] the gruff, somewhat antisocial patriarch of the Goldbergs. Unlike Beverly, he is realistic about his children's abilities and believes she smothers them too much. He's worked full-time since his teenage years, and wants his children to learn how to fend for themselves. He runs a furniture business and loves sports.
• Sean Giambrone as Adam Goldberg,^[3] the pop-culture obsessed youngest child of the Goldbergs. Smart and geeky, he often films his family's activities on a VHS camcorder.
• Troy Gentile as Barry Goldberg,^[3] the dim-witted middle child of the Goldbergs. Though seemingly untalented in every way (except in ice hockey and wrestling, at which he excels), he remains highly confident while trying to become popular in high school.
• Hayley Orrantia as Erica Goldberg,^[3] the nonchalant oldest child of the Goldbergs. Smart but rebellious, she is popular in school and dominant over her younger brothers.
• George Segal as Albert "Pops" Solomon,^[3] Beverly's laid back father. Though an elderly man with a number of goofy characteristics, he acts much younger than his age and often gives sage advice to his grandchildren. Adam considers him as his best friend. He once owned Murray's furniture store.
• Patton Oswalt as adult Adam Goldberg (voice only),^[5] who narrates the show from the future.

Recurring

• Cedric Yarbrough as Vic, Murray's closest friend and co-worker.
• Stephen Tobolowsky as Principal Ball, the principal of the high school that the Goldberg children attend.
• AJ Michalka as Lainey Lewis, Erica's best friend, whom Barry has had a lifelong crush on. To the surprise of many, Lainey later becomes Barry's girlfriend.
• Bryan Callen as Mr. Meller, the high school's no-nonsense gym teacher and coach.
• Natalie Alyn Lind as Dana Caldwell, Adam's classmate who later becomes his girlfriend.
• Stephanie Katherine Grant as Emmy Mirsky, a girl in the neighborhood whom Adam hangs with. They are happily "just friends".
• Kenny Ridwan as Dave Kim, an awkward classmate and friend of Adam's.
• Noah Munck as 'Naked' Rob Smith, member of The Jenkintown Posse.
• Sam Lerner as Geoff Schwartz, member of The Jenkintown Posse.
• Matt Bush as Andy Cogan, member of The Jenkintown Posse.
• Dan Bakkedahl as Mr. Woodburn, Adam's lonely and depressed science teacher.
• Ana Gasteyer as Miss Cinamon, a music teacher at the high school that the Goldberg children attend.

Notable guest stars

• Tim Meadows as Mr. Glascot, a disenchanted teacher who also delivers pizza for a living.
• David Spade as Gus, a sketchy manufacturer of fake IDs.
• Paul Sorvino as Pop Pop, Murray's stern father of few words.
• Martin Starr as Andre, the local video store clerk who bans Murray after an excessively late rental.
• David Koechner as Bill Lewis, Lainey's father who, to Murray's dismay, is a major fan of the Dallas Cowboys.
• Charlie Sheen as the man in police station, reprising his iconic role from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
• Nick Swardson as Rick, a sketchy black market toy dealer.^[6]

Development and production

The project originally received a script commitment from Fox in August 2011. After Adam Goldberg's previous show, Breaking In, was canceled, he did not want to wait for another pilot season to arrive and moved it to ABC, who agreed to immediately produce it.^[7][8] On January 11, 2013, Wendi McLendon-Covey was cast as the pilot's lead;^[9] later, Jeff Garlin and George Segal joined the cast.^[10][11]

The pilot episode was directed by Seth Gordon. On May 10, 2013, ABC picked up the show to series to air in the 2013–14 American television season.^[12]

The show's theme song, "Rewind," was written at Goldberg's request by I Fight Dragons, his favorite band, specifically for the show.^[13]

On November 1, 2013, ABC picked up the show for a full season order.^[14]

On May 8, 2014, ABC announced the second season renewal of The Goldbergs.^[15][16] It was also announced that the show would move to Wednesdays at 8:30 pm ET, following The Middle beginning September 24, 2014.^[17]

Episodes

Reception

Critical reception

The Goldbergs pilot received mixed reviews, averaging a score of 52% on Metacritic based on reviews from 26 critics.^[18]

Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter called it "one of the rare freshman comedies to deliver," giving credit to the show's "outstanding writing” and “strong cast."^[19] David Wiegand of the San Francisco Chronicle said, "you'll immediately like everyone in the family and the jokes derive from credible situations."^[20]

Hank Stuever of The Washington Post said the show was "obnoxiously loud."^[21] David Hinckley of The New York Daily News said the show is "just awful."^[22] Tierney Bricker of E! News gave a more positive review, saying that the show is "like Modern Family mixed with A Christmas Story."^[23]

The Goldbergs was included in TV Guide‍ '​s 2013 Top Twenty "Best Shows of the Year",^[24] along with The Hollywood Reporter^[25] and Today.^[26] In addition, SpoilerTV awarded The Goldbergs with the honor of Best Comedy of 2013-2014.^[27]

By season 2, the show began to find its footing creatively and critically, reaching a Rotten Tomatoes score of 100% fresh.^[28] The show continues to be well received. "Entertainment Weekly" called the season two premiere "the best of any family comedy on TV in the way it eschews dysfunction for its more appropriate, real-world term: love."^[29]

Nielsen ratings

Broadcast

The Goldbergs originally premiered on ABC on September 24, 2013.^[17] The pilot was made available on Hulu and ABC.com before it premiered on television.^[34]

The Goldbergs will be broadcast in the UK on E4, starting on 20 April 2015.

References

External links

• Official website
• The Goldbergs at the Internet Movie Database
• The Goldbergs at History vs. Hollywood