The Goldbergs in the Media: That's Incredible!

[Stinger97]

I thought this was the best news to open this topic with: "The Goldbergs Cast Feeling Good About Season 2 Pickup"!

[Kromm]

A good recent AFG interview:  http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/goldbergs-boss-talks-time-slots-697442

 

Really interesting is all the talk of the celebs who have reached out to Goldberg (or been contacted and given easy permission for stuff to be used).  Seems like a lot of Hollywood likes this show.

 

And this hilarious and almost too-truthful bit... (italic emphasis mine)

 

 

 

Wrapping up, what does your mom think of Wendi's performance and the show overall?

She loves it. My dad passed away and she hasn't seen any of these videos that I show at the end [some of which feature him]. Every week, she calls me touched and crying. She recognizes that the Beverly on TV is a very Disneyfied, sweeter version of how she is in real life -- which is a real smothering ball buster -- which comes across on the show, too.

 

And another:  http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/04/catching-up-with-adam-f-goldberg.html

 

Among that there's two interesting bits that directly addresses a comment I've seen both at TWOP and here about the show--that some portion of the audience can't believe the way the parents and kids talk to/insult each other.

 

Paste: How are you a different parent than your parents were?

Goldberg: If I called my kids a moron, I think it would traumatize them. I don’t think they even know what the word is. There was kind of a no-nonsense parenting style that my parents had that was true of the time. Everything now … there are books and there are websites and there are blogs, and you’re reading and there’s research. We’re such an interconnected world now, and half the stuff they did was pretty terrible but we somehow turned out fine.

Paste: What does your family think of the show?

Goldberg: They all love it. It’s the sweetest version of my family that will ever exist. What’s interesting is that people assume that it’s exaggerated and I pulled back a lot. I think the pilot came closer to what my family was really like, and the pilot was very polarizing. I had a lot of time between the pilot and when the series premiered. The show doesn’t have as much of the screaming and yelling, and that’s all there was in my family. My mom even says, “I love the Beverly character, but it’s not really me. She’s too nice and sweet.” It’s the essence of my family for sure. It’s just a Disneyfied version.

Edited April 30, 2014 by Kromm

[Stinger97]

Thanks for those, Kromm. The critics were harsh with the pilot, and most of them cited the yelling and general over-the-top nature as the biggest issues. I'm glad that AFG noticed it and dialed it back. I think he's certainly found a happy medium with what we're getting now-- the show walks the line perfectly between the crazy, the funny, and the sweet. For me, it's turned out to be the best sitcom on-air.

[Kromm]

Thanks for those, Kromm. The critics were harsh with the pilot, and most of them cited the yelling and general over-the-top nature as the biggest issues. I'm glad that AFG noticed it and dialed it back. I think he's certainly found a happy medium with what we're getting now-- the show walks the line perfectly between the crazy, the funny, and the sweet. For me, it's turned out to be the best sitcom on-air.

 

It's a nice thought that Goldberg reacted well to criticism, but with the realities of television production, there's really no way it actually happened like that.  A whole bunch of episodes were already in the can before the first episode even aired, and even more of them were at least finished scripts and/or in active production already.  If AFG dialed things back, it really likely was either his own decision, or (and I know we hate to credit them) the result of either focus groups over the summer, or someone at the studio making early comments.  In the end, whether it was Goldberg himself or someone consulted, the one thing it couldn't have been a result of was as a response to media/critics.  That would only be true if we started to see changes mid-season, but really we saw them Episode 2.

Edited May 13, 2014 by Stinger97

[Stinger97]

We're renewed for Season 2, folks!

[Kromm]

We're renewed for Season 2, folks!

 

I'd say "A victory of quality over dreck!" except that "The Neighbors" (a show almost as good as "The Goldbergs") didn't get renewed, whereas the nightmarishly bad "Mom" and "The Millers" WERE.

[Arynm]

Renewed!! My life can go on. I was really worried about this one.  So glad we get another season of this crazy family

[Stinger97]

TVGuide has an article called "How Real is The Goldbergs?" detailing the S1 stories and how many of them actually occurred (i.e. Real Beverly bought six mattresses on sale and still has them in her attic).  The article also addresses what to expect in S2. If I had to guess, I'd say that once Erica (S3?) or Barry (S4?) head off to college in the show, we'll see this:

 

"But even New York is too far for Bev. One of Goldberg's favorite tales — that he can't do on the show (yet) — is his mother sleeping in his dorm the first weekend of his freshman year."

 

That is such a Beverly thing to do.

[Lawgiver]

Thanks for sharing that article. I followed it to another article on tvguide.com where Wendi was interviewed. She's apparently worn some of the real Beverly's clothes on set! Hilarious! She also makes a point of saying she would never walk of with the clothes and try to claim them for her own. I don't blame her.

[Arynm]

I read that article as well, I'm glad you linked it. The story with Bev and the mattresses slayed me, those mattresses have to be 30+ years old! I am so glad it got a second(and many) season.

[Lawgiver]

Here's a new Vulture article. http://www.vulture.com/2014/05/goldbergs-adam-goldberg-interview-on-critics.html

[Traveller519]

Thanks for that.

 

I like a lot of the sentiment he proclaims about the show being close to him and it appears he has a solid plan for the show.

 

The time setting is going to bother some people no matter what. We're too used to shows that are told chronologically (with live actors anyway). I remember being frustrated with that 70s show, when the show was in it's sixth season and they were still supposed to be in High School. 

 

But I've warmed to the approach. Exiting Season 2 it may actually give the show some extra legs. The non-chronological format could work well in Syndication. I'm hoping it does well on Wednesday Nights.

[Kromm]

This is interesting.

 

The Goldbergs: History vs. Hollywood 

 

Lots of cool stuff there, including stills of the real people, facts about their real background... even the rules of Ball-Ball!

 

 

Their real house (note the real Murray is a bit more successful than Fictional Murray--because it makes for better TV I think if they're middle class rather than wealthy enough to afford that nice house in the right-side picture):

 

 

And the real Murray in his underwear...

 

 

Bev is pretty accurate, if you take the age difference into account (real Bev is 70 now, and Wendy McLendon-Covey in her early 40s:

 

Edited October 18, 2014 by Kromm

[Stinger97]

Thanks for posting that, Kromm! I had no idea the real Goldbergs were actually very well-off. Also, the real Beverly looks pretty great for 70!

[biakbiak]

I had no idea you could buy a 1925 6 bedroom 5.5 bathroom Tudor with a library for under $700,000! I need to leave the Bay Area.

[Kromm]

I had no idea you could buy a 1925 6 bedroom 5.5 bathroom Tudor with a library for under $700,000! I need to leave the Bay Area.

Not to mention that Murray is actually DOCTOR Goldberg (and the actual furniture store exists, but only had a tiny bit to do with Murray at all--and NOTHING to do with Pops, since it was Murray's Dad who owned it and not Bevs).

[paulvdb]

ABC orders extra episodes of 8 series

The Goldbergs gets 2 extra episodes for a total of 24 this season.

[mtlchick]

'The Goldbergs' Taking on New Kids on the Block

 

 

I may have squeed with joy. 

[dcalley]

This article is about another tribute episode in the works.

Edited October 30, 2014 by dcalley

[dcalley]

Wendi is on tonight's Whose Line on the CW.

[dcalley]

This was on Jeopardy! tonight ("TV Families," I think), but no one got it.

[HyeChaps]

I got it!  Yelled it nice and loud.

[Stinger97]

The AV Club gave The Goldbergs an above-average A- for "Happy Mom, Happy Life." (The site covers both The Middle and The Goldbergs in the same article, so scroll down about halfway for the written review.) 

[Kromm]

The AV Club gave The Goldbergs an above-average A- for "Happy Mom, Happy Life." (The site covers both The Middle and The Goldbergs in the same article, so scroll down about halfway for the written review.)

Interesting, since I consider that one of the show's less effective episodes. Still better than most network TV, but "B+" territory at most.

[HyeChaps]

Another '80's movie will get the Goldberg treatment:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/goldbergs-princess-bride-tribute-782418

[Kromm]

The real interesting bit in that article is just the little aside at the end:

 

 

The news comes as The Goldbergs has moved up to a top five comedy series among adults 18-49. With three days of delayed viewing, the March 4 installment was the No. 4 comedy for the week, behind only The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family and The Odd Couple.

Quite the news, given that I think some of us even feared the show might get canceled last season.

 

A jump in numbers from the 4.x m mark to regularly getting 7.x this season has GOT to have ABC jumping for joy (Happy Mom, Happy Life getting 7.86m--a record other than the premiere).  And that's just the total viewership. It sounds from the article like the 18-49 demo is even better.

Edited March 19, 2015 by Kromm

[dcalley]

Jeff Garlin on The Daily Show, where he offers Jon a part on The Goldbergs.

[dcalley]

Wendi will be on Celebrity Jeopardy this Wednesday.

[Stinger97]

From TVGuide: The Real (Crazy) Stories Behind Season 2. Adam F. Goldberg describes the true stories behind S2's episodes 1, 6, 8, 10, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, and 24. 

[dcalley]

At the end of that article is this:

 

I have certain rules for the parents on the show. One of the rules is Murray will never say "I'm sorry" or "I love you." The other rules are the parents won't do sex puns or even kiss or hold hands for that matter.

I guess because they didn't in real life (in front of Adam, anyway)?

[Stinger97]

TVGuide has a cute article about Beverly, written last week: How Beverly Became the World's Best Smother. My favorite story about the real Beverly comes at the very end: apparently, Real!Beverly purchased a bunch of porn on VHS because it was on sale (buy 1, get 3... that is a pretty good deal). I doubt that's a storyline we'll be seeing next season!

 

And AVClub reviewed last night's episode, giving it a perfect 'A.' (As always, scroll down to the second half of the article for The Goldbergs bit.) I concur. 

[Kromm]

And AVClub reviewed last night's episode, giving it a perfect 'A.' (As always, scroll down to the second half of the article for The Goldbergs bit.) I concur. 

The only bit I disagree with is "This show was finding its feet by the second half of its first season, and it’s spent virtually its entire second season soaring".  Why? Because I think this show worked from Episode 1.  Although I will admit the show jumped from "Very good" in early Season 1 to "Outrageously good" from around mid last season to now, with only maybe 1 or 2 klonkers in the whole run (and even their klonkers were good compared to most shows).

[LeighAnne]

The people at Flicks and the City recorded TV Guide magazine's "Fan Favorites" panel at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con.  Wendi McLendon-Covey participated:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FADlkI7VgSE

 

 

[dcalley]

Jeff Garlin was in rare form at a Television Critics Association press tour panel to preview season 3 of "The Goldbergs." He complained about having to film scenes where Murray Goldberg takes off his pants when he comes home from work (they have to do take after take, "and I don't like to bend"), and about ABC censors' paranoia of what might be seen when he appears in tighty-whities, with the censors claiming to see shadows and movement from his nether regions when "the only way to see shadows or movement is to put a flashlight behind my balls."

The rest of the article is about Curb.

[Traveller519]

I guess because they didn't in real life (in front of Adam, anyway)?

 

Going back a bit here.

 

It's a bit of a shame for me. While it may be authentic. I think my only qualm with the show is the lack of Chemistry between Murray and Bev. It's worked in some epsisodes where the characteristics of one serve to temper those of the other. However, I remember the short run of Surviving Jack, the chemistry between Rachael Harris and Chris Meloni was wonderful. 

[Racj82]

Just a heads up. Adam F Goldberg did the nerdist podcast this past week. Real good listen. He talks about his twitter beef with a celebrity sharing his name, why I there is a sister here, how his family has been affected by the show and a lot of 80s goodness among other things. Check it out.

Edited October 9, 2015 by Racj82

[Kromm]

Just a heads up. Adam F Goldberg did the nerdist podcast this past week. Real good listen. He talks about his twitter beef with a celebrity sharing his name, why I there is a sister here, how his family has been affected by the show and a lot of 80s goodness among other things. Check it out.

Hmm.  The show label has "Adam Goldberg" on it (no "F") and so I assumed it was the OTHER guy--who I had absolutely no desire to hear as a guest. So thanks for the heads up that it was the one I'm actually interested in.

 

EDIT - They must have redone the show label. Now it DOES have the "F" (and it didn't a few days ago).

Edited October 10, 2015 by Kromm

[Racj82]

Hmm.  The show label has "Adam Goldberg" on it (no "F") and so I assumed it was the OTHER guy--who I had absolutely no desire to hear as a guest. So thanks for the heads up that it was the one I'm actually interested in.

 

EDIT - They must have redone the show label. Now it DOES have the "F" (and it didn't a few days ago).

After the discussion about the OTHER Adam Goldberg in the podcast, someone might have chosen to change it and make it clearer. I'm not sure. It came up in my feed as Adam F.

[Traveller519]

Mine auto downloaded as Adam Goldberg, and I finally listened to it this week. Some great insights. 

 

I do love the show in its current incarnation, but I'm secretly curious as to what the Fox version of the show, which he considered to be a little more authentic to his actual family would be like. I wonder if that's why Fox went in on Surviving Jack, which despite it's quick run I really enjoyed.

[Lawgiver]

Renewed! http://www.tvguide.com/news/abc-renews-once-upon-a-time-the-goldbergs-fresh-off-the-boat-and-quantico/

[Kromm]

Renewed! http://www.tvguide.com/news/abc-renews-once-upon-a-time-the-goldbergs-fresh-off-the-boat-and-quantico/

I'm glad it got 4. Heck, 5 will be good. But I'm going to be the first to go on record here saying that after 5, there's a big part of me that hopes that despite network pressure (they'll consider it easy ratings by that point), they retire the show. I squirm when I watch sitcoms that go past the 5 year mark--something tends to die in them right around that mark.

So here's to another season (season 3 started out a bit questionable but had some really great ones here on the back end), and maybe another beyond... but in two more years if I remember this post I'm gonna come back and post again whether I still feel that way.

[Kromm]

I wonder if Patton Oswalt will be in any emotional shape to do voiceovers for this show by the time it goes back into production again?  It's got to be late in the production process, so figure it could be as late as next August when they need him again,

 

For those who don't know, his wife died yesterday (April 21 2016). 

 

One assumes most of his normal acting gigs (where he shows his face) and definitely his standup, is on hold for a bit. Voiceovers might actually be the easiest stuff to do--no people to deal with.

Edited April 23, 2016 by Kromm

[biakbiak]

Randomly his new special launched on Netflix today.

[Traveller519]

Is this the place to talk about the special?

I thought they did a good job with it, and the show kind of addressed the Eric/Erica thing for the first time (really quickly).

Jeff talking about how Troy acts Barry based on instinct and how it works was really cool, almost fatherly in and of itself.

[mansonlamps]

There's a topic for the special, episode 22.

[Slade347]

ABC's schedule for the fall is out and The Goldbergs is moving up an hour on Wednesday to 8:00 PM ET. The new series Speechless slides into the 8:30 slot, while The Middle moves to Tuesday night. You can see the entire ABC schedule here.

[mansonlamps]

I recently saw a picture of a very young Angelina Jolie and was struck by how much Erica looks like her.  

[Michel]

Al/Pops hasn't been in any promo pics this season.  It's just been Murray, Beverly, Erica, Barry, and Adam.  Something happen to the character or the actor?

Edited September 12, 2016 by Michel

[biakbiak]

4 hours ago, Michel said:

Al/Pops hasn't been in any promo pics this seasons.  It's just been Murray, Beverly, Erica, Barry, and Adam.  Something happen to the character or the actor?

Hush!! 2016 has been awful enough. George is fine, George is fine!

[Lawgiver]

News about the upcoming season! I'm excited for season four.