Valerie

I remember watching this show on Sunday afternoons when I was younger and loving them. It wasn't a philosophical show that takes after something by Shakespeare, but it was fun. A lot of my friends during that time loved it, as well. Sandy Duncan took Valerie Harper's place, and it reminded me of my friend's mother. That was another way it connected with me. It let family be funny, safe, and comfortable, just like other sitcoms. There was nothing wrong with it! It was just fun and simple! Other shows like this were "Family Matters", "Family Ties", "Cosby Show", "Roseanne", etc.. If you watch those shows, then you should find "The Hogan Family", sit back, and enjoy!

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.

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.'

how can you say that the hogan family was a great show, Mark and Dave and the other guy. that was a good show, it reminded me of my neighbors. i had to register just to tell everyone how good this show was. you know what else where good shows? pete & pete, salute your shorts, and "fun house". too bad there not in syndication anywhere:(