Silver Spoons

Silver Spoons, may not have been a worldwide cultural phenomenon, like Cheers, which started just a few days after this, but is well and fondly remembered by people somewhere in their 30's to maybe those somewhere in their 50's. I'm only 25, but wise and kind of an old soul. The series was referred to as "treacly sweet" or something along those lines, Rick Schroder was a lovable boy, starting as Ricky Stratton, the 12-year old who was mature and wise beyond years. Dad was a kid at heart; VERY much a kid. That is to say he played with electric trains and played in the fashion of a child. Nonetheless, I think he was still a good father and the nicest TV dad I remember. Jason Bateman was in the first two seasons, of course, as Ricky's trouble-making, smart aleck friend. It's a wonder that was Jason Bateman, seeing him today in the ultra-contemporary 21st century programs, like Arrested Development, which i did not like, and his feature films in recent years. Though, maybe not hilarious and sometimes serious with pro social messages and "special episodes" e.g. Ricky babysits a little girl who was neglected by adopted parents,and characters with disabilities maybe the theme in at least an episode, and teen pregnancy (no it wasn't Rick's fault) it made me laugh more than most other shows, strangely. I bought the first season in a vintage style lunch box at Best Buy about 2 and a half year ago, and it took me almost 3 months to finish. Sexism and cliché'd gender stereotyping comments also seems kept to a minimum. I didn't like Jason Bateman so much in the show. By season 2 or Season 3, Alfonso Ribeiro became the new friend. A waiter at Olive Garden from the generation said he was the show's star. Next to Ricky Schroder at least. I carry the lunch box around with me, as I got tired of the little backpack. Joel Higgins, was no prolific actor on the silver screen and I can only think of maybe TV movies he was in, but he went on to record some music. He seemed rather quiet in Hollywood, something underrated, in my opinion. Erin Gray was also lovely as the assistant who was like a surrogate mother to Rick and later his father marries her. Ricky was clean cut like the Brady kids, a style and time in television I miss.

This show remains one of my favorite TV series, partly because I'm Ricky Schroder's age (and my high school class celebrated its 30 year reunion back in 2018). Watching the show takes me back to those formative years, and even now I really like how Ricky Schroder portrayed Ricky Stratton. Not only was he cute, especially during the first two seasons, but if you didn't know he was rich, you couldn't tell just by looking -- a far cry from those who feel "entitled" today. Granted, in later seasons, Ricky tried -- and frequently failed -- to be a ladies' man, but he always seemed likable and, more importantly, relatable. Though my memory of later seasons is hazy (mostly because only the first season is readily available), I'm pretty sure there were times I'd watch an episode and want to high-five Ricky, give him a hug, or strangle him. But at the end of the day, he was always someone you'd want as a friend.

The show ran the gambit of tackling different topics that '80s teenagers would have faced. in the early seasons they ranged from stuff like computer hacking (a la WarGames) to watching X-rated movies to dealing with the possibility of losing a parent while still a teenager. In later seasons the topics became more mature, like when a divorced father kidnaps his daughter from her mother or when one of Rick's friends has a drinking problem that ends up getting Rick injured.

Unfortunately I never had a VCR to record the show until after it ended, so right now I can only relive the first season in its entirety. What I would have liked to have seen, though, was perhaps some kind of special giving us a glimpse of what the characters would have been some ten years or show after the show ended. Would Ricky be as successful as his dad? Would he be married and have kids? What kind of father would he be (and what kind of grandparents would Edward and Kate be)?

This was one of those shows from the golden decade of the 1980's and this show was produced by the same individuals who brought us the shows of our day:"Different Strokes",and the others? The short-lived sitcom "Hello,Larry","The Facts Of Life","Who's The Boss?",and so much more. "Silver Spoons" really brought audiences into the spotlight the young and talented Ricky Schroder and with the presence of his abilities and his other talents took this show to the top of the Nielsens for three out of its five seasons that it ran on NBC-TV from 1982 to 1987. This was indeed a huge favorite with the teenage set during the decade that brought out a lot and so much,much more. Ricky Schroder stars as super rich-kid millionaire Ricky Stratton-the kid who has it all,the toys,the girls,and everything else under the guidance and supervision of his father,Edward Stratton III,a single father who is coming from a painful divorce to raise his son alone played by Broadway sensation Joel Higgins and his biological mother,also facing a divorce as well who is in custody of the child,played by Christine Belford. Edward's assistant is

Dexter Stuffins(Franklyn Seales)who watches over the youngster in times of trouble,where Ricky usually gets into sometimes,along with the kooky and sometimes stuffy grandfather Edward Stratton II(played by the great John Houseman)along with Edward Stratton III's hot new girlfriend whom he would later married on in the series,Kate Summers(played by the gorgeous hottie Erin Gray).

This show had it all and about that house this kid had! He had an arcade style game room in the family den,a build-in train set that went throughout the house along with other accessories that he had-any kids dream house,a house full of toys and presents and just about everything else! But still he had the same problems other kids his age growing up since some of the times he could be totally obnoxious,and there were times when the father and the son learn a lot from each other since most of the episodes really concentrated on the "little lessons" here that each member provided and from there you can tell this was a family-oriented show with a little something extra insight in some of the episodes produced. And those friends Ricky had? One of them was his best-buddy J.T.(played by Bobby Fite),Freddy(played by Corky Pigeon), and the unpredictable Derek,who was in my opinion the Eddie Haskell of the show who was always trying to get Ricky is some hair-brained scheme and ends up being one of his closest friends,and that was played by Jason Bateman.

The best part about this show was during the series' third season,another character was introduced and the debut of Alfonso Ribeiro as Ricky's pal and close buddy,Alfonso Spears. Anyways,the show had some of the pop culture items from that era,and its a crying shame that the series "Silver Spoons" isn't shown in certain markets and I wanna know what is the holdup? Come on? Nick-At-Nite,TV Land,ABC Family Channel or Spike TV,get with it! Bring back this show! Getting back to the era of the show,the culture items from that decade were on this program: Topsider boat shoes,Michael Jackson dance moves,The RUN-DMC Collection,Break dancing,Shell-toed Adidas shoes,The Michael Jackson collection-everything from the items that were included--the glove,the hat,the shoes,the jacket from the video "Beat It",everything from Madonna too,and those Members Only Jackets were included in some of the episodes. I remember during "Silver Spoons"that they showed the now classic "Pepsi" commercial with Alfonso Ribeiro dancing with the "King Of Pop"-Michael Jackson. This was in the 1980's!

This was another show I watched back in the eighties. If you'd like to see some of the pop culture items from that decade, check out this program. Topsider boat shoes, Michael Jackson dance moves, Members Only Jackets--they're all in Silver Spoons in various places. One episode I remember vividly has Shroeder's character hacking into a military computer by mistake and downloading plans for a top-secret fighter jet--I'm serious! Let's see....oh, yes, there was the episode where he and John Houseman drive the family Mercedes through a wall into Higgin's character's office. Egad! I gotta stop. I'm having flashbacks :-).

It's not very often that you come across a TV show, let alone a situation comedy, in which the father is portrayed as more childish than his son. Nevertheless, such a program came into fruition in the form of Silver Spoons, when it debuted on NBC in September 1982. Joel Higgins was perfect as Edward Stratton III, a wealthy man who discovers that he is the father of a 12-year-old boy named Ricky Stratton, played by Ricky Schroder. But who could have guessed that someone like Ricky Schroder, known for dramatic movies such as The Champ and The Earthling, would star in a sitcom? Regardless, Schroder was great as Ricky Stratton.

Silver Spoons is an enjoyable sitcom. The series ran for five years, on NBC from 1982 to 1986 and in first-run syndication from 1986 to 1987. It produced a total of 116 episodes. That was a good run. It has been over thirty years since the series ended its run, but I still have fond memories of it.