It's Your Move

This show could have lasted a little longer, only if the producers made an annoucement before each episode aired saying. "What you see in this show is just for pure laughs, and never to be copied in real life". But because they did'nt the show got cancelled quickly. A very funny show, nothing like The Cosby Show, Family Ties, and Growing Pains. The star of the show was Jason Bateman playing Matthew Burton, a cool fourteen year old, living with his clueless mother(Caren Kaye) and selfish sister(Tricia Cast). Matthew was quite a scheamer, and felt he could get away with anything. That all changes when his mom starts dating Norman Lamb(David Garrison) a strugling writer. Matthew does'nt like him, and tries to think up a scheam to get rid of him. But he's in for a big surprise, when Norman proves he's just a bigger scheamer then him. Jason Bateman and David Garrison both had comic chemistry. But there charm could'nt save the show. Because the producers where afraid that kids would start copying Matthew's antics. Like some of those family shows when the kids try to pull a fast one, but they always get caught in the end. But this show was cool, because Matthew rarely got caught, only once by his mother, only twice by Norman. The show was fun to watch and it deserved a little better, then what it got.

While he was playing Ricky Schroeder's wiseacre buddy in "Silver Spoons" he showed a knack for one-upping his cast mates. This gave him a chance to BE number 1.

The show is dated beyond belief now. The sweaters and the early 80's new wave clothes might make even blind men cringe now. But the humor was dead on target.

Bateman owned this show. He was not only the eye, but the whole hurricane. He may remind people of a teen version of Hawkeye from M*A*S*H. His feathers never ruffled despite the problems he got into.

The puns and one-liners were non-stop as well. Made every episode full of those groaning laughs. I can't figure why it didn't succeed. But I'm glad Jason did.

DVD release???

This show was too far ahead of its time to make it. Matthew Burton was a smart-ass14 year old with an IQ that seemed to rival Einstein's. He was constantly pulling off schemes that would make the CIA jealous. His clueless mother thought, as usual, that he was a saint, but his closely scheming sister knew better, though that didn't protect her from his antics.

His arch-nemesis was a neighbor that his mother was dating named Norman. Norman, while geekly on the outside was the ultimate schemer. 'You can't kid the kidder. Everyone knows that the first rule of the underhanded is to always look behind you!' Matthew's schemes were, in fact, so perfect that the moronic censors saw fit to annihilate the show by turning it into a 'life lesson' sit-com <is that an oxy-moron?>. Remember the episode where Eli <Matt's best, stupid friend> saves the soccer game? Very shortly after the change from wicked cool smart-ass to 'teach me son' character happened, the show was canceled. Not surprising if you've seen the show. The dregs of humanity will go down in history as one of the all-time greatest scams in TV history. Too bad FOX Network wasn't around a bit sooner. This show could have put Married With Children to shame.

Satori

See David Garrison before "Married With Children"! Wow this show was the BEST! This was my favorite show in the 80's; I wish someone would show reruns. I think it was just too clever for the critics, and the viewers. But hey what do I know, I was only 11?

I think that the producers of !It's Your Move" are missing out on a great opportunity because it is still not available on DVD. If it was to be released in this format, then I would certainly buy it. Another character not very often mentioned was the janitor of the flats where they all lived. Ernie Sabella played this man, Mr Donatelli, (I think that was his name) a most revolting person who hated Mathew Burton intensely. Every time they could, they exchanged insults at an alarming rate. "So that the flies can shower" was only one of the jibes from Burton to Donatelli. This sequence still makes me laugh when ever I think about it. As everyone else says, (well, most people) it is a pity that it is no longer shown. Rather strange when other shows get constant re-runs and do not have such biting humour. I would give this show full marks, even though it first aired such a long time ago.