Der Hogan-Clan

The transition from "Valerie" to "Valerie's Family" to "The Hogan Family" is surprisingly smooth. However, the content is just not there; which is a shame because I absolutely love this cast and the set. This show was also one of the very first shows to feature an AIDS storyline. That is certainly commendable. I enjoyed maybe 4 or 5 episodes out of the entire series.

I can't remember a worse show than this. Family Hogan is boring and meaningless. I never found a laughable joke. This must be product of a lame mind. Pathetic from the very beginning, more ridiculous even than `7th Heaven', although Linkan-3 can doubt it. Too moralist, the subjects are never smart. But the Hogans will please old ladies who had never seen that machine called TV.

This show really belonged to Valerie Harper, no offense to her replacement Sandy Duncan. Harper left the show under uncertain circumstances. Regardless, the show and network wrote her off sadly. While on, she was the mother to three boys and a pilot husband who was often absent. The cast was first rate including Edie McClurg as a neighbor, Christine Ebersole as her snobby unmarried sister-in-law, and the boys played by Jason Bateman, Jeremy Licht, and Danny Ponce. Ponce and Licht played fraternal twins who were as opposite as night and day. They touched on some issues like AIDS and homosexuality and other issues in this series but the show never fully recovered from the blow of Harper's absence.

First of all, back in late-1985, early 1986, NBC was originally gonna name the show "The Hogan Family," but later changed their mind and opted for a name that reflected its original famed star "Valerie Harper." Thus, it was retitled "Valerie."

After, the famed contract dispute over her salary, Valerie Harper left the show, or was fired - depending who's side of the story you hear- thus the show was renamed "Valerie's Family: The Hogan's." This angered "Valerie Harper" very much, and she sued the producers for still using her name as the title of the show without her permission.

Thus, the producers opted to revert back to the original suggested production title: "The Hogan Family."

In reality they were always 'The Hogan Family.'

First of all Huge Val Harper Fan here from day one as far back as when she star with Mary Tyler Moore and then Her own Show Rhoda. I was excited when Valerie Family first debuted. I was such a huge Fan of the Show I loved it still do till this Day. I often try and catch it in rerun form. I have always felt never was the same once Val was gone from the show, Althou I did continue to watch it. The show always had a lovely Family vibe/cozy easy going vibe. They just do not make shows like this anymore. I feel this show never got as much respect as it should have. LONG LIVE "VALERIE" "Hogan Family" <3 (REVIEW BY: Leslie Wrona)