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!

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.

I remember watching Valerie when it first aired. And I remember the huge deal when she left the show, and it continued on. It was one of those rare shows that keep going even after the title character has left the program. I don't remember if I followed the show on it's entire run.

Fast forward to 2021. Over the years I've been a huge fan of Jason Bateman's work in the movies. He's one of the best straight man comedians on the big screen today.

I'm flipping the channels and come across the Hogan Family on TV. Mind you, it's at the Sandy Duncan years. I'm actually enjoying this show. It's not irreverent comedy like Arrested Development, or gut busting hilarious like Seinfeld. I would put it more in the 'feel good' category. I guess it's more of a male-oriented program, considering it's about 3 sons and their father (and aunt), so I can relate to a lot of the issues they talk about.

So if you want to watch something that's entertaining, and like I said, feel good TV, give this show a shot. Give it a shot again, if you hated it back in the day, too. Maybe as you've gotten older, you can appreciate the more simpler times in this sitcom.

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:(

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.