"Growing Pains" (1985) TV series 1985-1992

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Creator:

Neal Marlens

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

24 September 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

The misadventures of a family with a home business father and a journalist mother.

Plot Keywords:

Long Island | Children | New York | Sitcom | Insult

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 16 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Alan Thicke	...	Dr. Jason Seaver (165 episodes, 1985-1992)
Joanna Kerns	...	Maggie Malone Seaver (165 episodes, 1985-1992)
Kirk Cameron	...	Mike Seaver (165 episodes, 1985-1992)
Jeremy Miller	...	Ben Seaver (165 episodes, 1985-1992)
Tracey Gold	...	Carol Seaver (164 episodes, 1985-1992)

Runtime:

30 min (166 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Guntzelman-Sullivan-Marshall Productions

Trivia:

Alan Thicke was predominantly known as a Canadian talk show host before the role of Jason on the show. Most involved with the production did not want him, but when no one reading for the part fit the bill, Thicke was auditioned and hired.

Quotes:

Kate Macdonald: What do you know about guys?
Mike: Well, I've been one for fifteen years.
Kate Macdonald: But you're nineteen.
Mike: Interesting story.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Home Improvement: Groin Pains (#2.4)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

As Long As We Got Each Other

This show was terrific and still is in reruns!!!

I cannot believe that people are trashing this show. I loved this show when I was growing up. I watch reruns of it now on the ABC Family Channel and I still love it.

The show originally centered around upper class parent Maggie and Jason Seaver and their pains raising three kids: Mike, Carol, and Ben.

Mike was the fast-talking underachiever who was always trying to scheme people. Carol was the brainy overachiever and basically the exact opposite of Mike. Ben, well, was just there. He wasn't as outgoing as Mike and wasn't as smart as Carol. He didn't really do anything special.

As the show went on, Mike (Kirk Cameron) quickly became the star of the show. Some of the schemes he tried to pull were hilarious. I remember one episode where he indirectly ran a money pyramid scheme with a paper route.

As the shows ratings began to fall, they began to bring new characters to breathe new life. Maggie gave birth to Chrissy in the third season. I remember during one of the summer hiatuses, she mysteriously aged like 5 years. They also brought in Luke (Leonardo DiCaprio) as a homeless kid that the Seavers adopt for a season and Dwight as Carol's weirdo boyfriend.

In the later years, I thought the show was still very entertaining. You got to see Mike go from being an irresponsible teen to a very responsible adult. While the show dealt with many serious subjects, it never really took itself too seriously.

I would highly recommend this show to anyone who didn't grow up in the 1980s. They just don't make many shows like "Growing Pains" anymore.