The Goldbergs

I've had the privilege of seeing only two episodes of this pioneering family show, many years ago (in reruns), and I was quite impressed with its unique brand of humor and human warmth. Let's hope that many episodes survive and will be shown again, but sorry to say, the likelihood is small. With the advent of digital TV, "grainy" black and white vintage TV is even less likely to be appreciated. People seem to think that they are not getting their money's worth if they are not utilizing the full potential of their expensive TV sets. Well, there's another kind of potential that ought to be cherished: the human potential, as embodied in THE GOLDBERGS and other priceless, unforgettable family shows like MAMA. If you want to see them, your best chance is the Museum of Television and Radio in Los Angeles and New York. Alas, they don't sell copies of the shows. One doesn't even know who implemented such tight-hearted policies or why.

As a Jewish child living in a brownstone walk-up apartment in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood I enjoyed The Goldbergs because it was a show about people like us, the likes of which has never been seen again. Sadly today a wonderful heartwarming show like The Goldbergs might be considered "too stereotypical" or "politically incorrect" but we all loved it years ago. Also it's great to see guest appearances by then unknown but future stars of TV and movies an that show including Beatrice Pons (Lucille Toody on Car 54 Where Are You?) and Frank Sutton (Sgt. Carter on Gomer Pyle USMC) among others. The acting on this show was superb, making the characters truly believable. A great under-rated show for sure. ☺

First airing and adapted for television in 1949 and based on its earlier radio broadcast starting in 1929, we have The Goldbergs. Often sited as one of the first sitcoms for both radio and television, it certainly helped define the format as watchers and listeners tuned in each week to hear the latest happenings of the Goldberg family, particularly the matriarch Molly. Created, written, and directed entirely by the star herself, Gertrude Berg, the series was certainly the first series with a female showrunner, and was also the first to depict home life of a Jewish family. Only hearing of the series after reading (listening) to Jennifer Keishin Armstrong's book When Women Invented Television, which I would highly recommend for more on this series, Berg herself, and a few other early women greats in the business, I immediately sought out where I could stream it and was lucky to find many of the extant episodes available on RokuTV. Unfortunately much of the series has been lost to time, but a considerable amount still exists. I must stay to a modern audience the pace is quite slow, and the constant advertisements for Rybutol, a vitamin supplement, were both funny and a fun reminder about how little advertising has changed in over 75 years. Episodes typically follow one or two new family dilemmas, from meeting the new neighbours to one of the kid's new relationships. With no laugh tracks, at the insistence of Berg, the series remains quite lighthearted, for me more a source of chuckles than laughs, but still quite good. Known for her leaning out their apartment window and delivering monologues, ad reads, and chatting with the neighbours, her famous "yoo-hoo" greeting would have been meet by thousands each week tuning into the latest 30 minute episode. To note, there is a more modern series of the same name and similar premise, but interestingly they are completely unrelated, the modern supposedly written without knowledge of the original. All said, unless you're already a fan of slower, black and white, 1950's television I don't know that I'd necessarily recommend, but if that does happen to be you certainly go for it, its a cornerstone of what's made tv today and was fun to have on in the background.

i don't watch television entertainments (other than SNL occasionally). but, one night at about 2am, while channel-surfing the UHF band i stumbled onto an episode of "The Goldbergs".

the contrast between this show and today's dreck literally brought tears to my eyes. in this particular episode, a couple who were friends of the Goldbergs had just separated. it seems that they did not 'communicate' openly and honestly with each other during their marriage.

in discussing this, the Goldbergs started to become increasingly candid with each other about mutual disappointments from the past. as they did so, the emotional air became more and more acrid.

the point was that there is no easy answer to the question of how much to 'confront' and how much to sweep under the carpet. but, there was no hitting below the belt, no potty humor, no double (or mono) entendres. just two decent people discussing a universal domestic problem with a leavening of humor.

i haven't been able to find it again, but i wish it would go into syndication locally.

In today's TV world, it seems as if they go for the straight, unsubtle, some times dirty laughs. Shows like this would simply not be given a chance. Call "the Goldbergs" what you will, it is a gentle and thoughtful comedy. Where I grew up there were many, many people similar to those presented in this show, including my own Grandmother. We also lived near plenty Ralph and Alice Cramden's, and even couples similar to the Mertz's. Slide of life programs really were reflective of life, at least my life. The Goldberg's is a wonderful show in this vein. BTW I've found episodes on Internet Archives as well as YouTube. Enjoy.