Truly Dreadful Film

Don't Believe the Hype

Better Late Then Never

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Lets be honest here. After the success of Family Ties there was an attempt to match what Micheal J. Fox did on that show. Michael brought charm to the part he played and was funny as the young Republican. Kirk Cameron brought nothing to the role as Mike Seaver except as some jerky bonehead. The show pretty much followed the same lines as Family ties with kids growing up and dealing with family issues by trying to be funny at the same time. Family Ties was able to do this where as Growing Pains was not. None of the characters in this show never really gelled in my view and it just flat lined to boredom. Tracy Gold also brought nothing to the part with Alan Thicke at least somewhat interesting.So where are they all now? What has Tracy Gold been doing these days? Last I heard Kirk Cameron is some bible thumping TV infomercial preacher. Yeah good career move Kirk!!

Growing Pains lasted 7 seasons (166 episodes) against the toughest competition in TV history: Cheers, Cosby, Golden Girls, Roseanne… I am very glad that this fun show will join the other shows that have been honored with a DVD. This family was wacky, goofy, smart, smart-mouthed, yet full of heart. The show never gets old. It's important to buy the DVD($23!) soon after it comes out to send a message to the studio that made the DVD that we like the show a lot; enough to buy a 2nd Season. Because the only thing better than the 1st season is the 2nd(The Goofy Glue Incident, etc).The characters are meticulously written, and brought to life well by the actors – like Seinfeld, Friends and Cheers. They're characters you get to know, like, care about, and never forget. Same goes for a lot of the episodes:11. "STANDARDIZED TEST" Idaho I.Q. high school test- Quote: "After this, the whole school will know how stupid we are" 4. "CAROL'S ARTICLE" episode that made up a word: "stinkiosity"(I'm laughing right now-20 years later).16. "THE SEAVERS VS. THE CLEAVERS" – with Annette Funicello in a "June Cleaver" parody. Season 2: 29. DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC? – a take on "The Sting". - Ben: "Here's your cut, mom." 41. THE AWFUL TRUTH – The Kids are alone in the house, and make a discovery. - One of my favorite eps of all TV. 44. CONFIDENTIALLY YOURS - The Kids are alone at home again - things happen…involving Goofy Glue.I'll be watching this show for the rest of my life (thanks to the DVD and Warner Brothers). I still remember watching the 1st run of some of these memorable episodes 20 years ago!!....."Who knew?" ;)

My favorite episode was when Mike had the paper route and he gave it to Ben who gave it to some other kid.It's a good show to watch if you want a good laugh once in a while.But sometimes it can be dramatic too.The cast is okay.

After the family ties success on NBC, ABC developed Growing Pains to rival it about the Seavers with their 3 children in Long Island, New York. Nobody in this show has the New York accent but it still beats other shows. Kirk Cameron became a huge teen star in the eighties. Tracey Gold shined as the middle sister, Carol Seaver. Alan Thicke finally had a successful show in his lifetime and Joanna Kerns came out of her big sister Donna Devarona's shadows as the Growing Pains mom. The writing could have been better and the show could have equaled Family Ties but nowadays, a show like this would have got Emmys. Sure, it was sweet and full of saccharine but I miss it now.