Ricky ou la belle vie

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.

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.

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 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 :-).

What I remember most about "Silver Spoons" and why I watched it as much as I did was Ricky's toys. The boy had a toy train that he could ride on!! Talk about living the life. I wanted Ricky's life so bad. The show never had to be funny to me nor have any message, I just needed to see toys.