Silver Spoons

Another one of my favorite shows during the '80s. Who couldn't help but love Rick Schroder as a kid? He moves in with his wealthy father and learns that dad has never really grown up himself. The show concentrated on the "little lessons" that each member of the show tried to provide each other with.

This show was never meant to be a hit but it was with a stellar cast including a young Rick Shroeder as the spoiled but likable rich kid. Who could forget the train in the house? His grandfather was played by legendary actor, John Houseman, and his father was well-played by Joel Grey. His stepmother and father's secretary was played by Erin Gray better known for her female role in the short-lived series, Buck Rogers. Everybody knew that they would get together. Anyway the Strattons live in Long Island, we also got to see Jason Bateman before he became famous. I liked Christina Belford who played the mother and former wife, Mrs. Stratton. She left an unforgettable impression on me that I always remembered her name. Well, the series had a nice five year run during the sitcom explosion of the 1980s.

Yeah, I loved this show, and it's concept. It was a winning formula. Ricky Schroder, who in my opinion was just a natural actor, and Joel Higgins, who I wish to hell, did more stuff, played so well off each other, as re united mature son versus childish, spoilt, millionaire, father who lives in a two story castle of lavish riches, it's facade, looks like another of his expensive toys. Erin Gray lean't such great and sexy support as the Higgin's personal assistant, who eventually, became Charle's Stratton's second wife. This show's also good if you want to see a really young Jason Bateman, starting out, a seasoned performer with really good acting chops. The episode where a schoolboy crush on Gray's was cute and funny. And check out Higgins's really big train set ride. His character, was one I really liked more than most comedies at that time, and this shows, one of the reasons, I'm really gonna remember 1983. Great show with bolstered performances, that never slacked, this is one 80's show you definitely must see, via Youtube.

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 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 :-).