The Goldbergs

Premise

The Goldbergs is set in a non-chronological representation of the 1980s in the Philadelphia suburb of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, and shows the reality of the 1980s through a preadolescent's and, later in the series, teenager's eyes. The show is loosely based on the showrunner's childhood, during which he regularly videotaped events. Many of these videos are reenacted for series episodes, with the original version then shown before the end credits.

The series stars Jeff Garlin as the father, Murray, and Wendi McLendon-Covey as the mother, Beverly. Their two older children are Erica (Hayley Orrantia) and Barry (Troy Gentile). The youngest child, Adam (Sean Giambrone), documents his family life with his video camera. Beverly's father, Albert "Pops" Solomon (George Segal), is frequently around to provide advice or to help out his grandchildren (often behind his daughter's back).

The present-day Adult Adam (Patton Oswalt) narrates every episode as taking place in "1980-something". The show's episodes are frequently built around the era's pop culture in a non-chronological order, and each season contains references from throughout the decade.

Many references to real-life Philadelphia-area businesses are made, including the Wawa convenience store chain, Gimbels department store, Willow Grove Park Mall, and Kremp's Florist of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Additionally, several 1980s cultural icons guest star as themselves on the show and a number of figures from Goldberg's actual life guest star as fictional characters or their own parents.

The series is an example of 1980s nostalgia.

Cast and characters

Main cast

Wendi McLendon-Covey as Beverly Goldberg (née Solomon), the overprotective matriarch of the Goldbergs. She is often called their "smother" by the children. As such, Beverly frequently injects herself into their lives, often to their embarrassment. At the same time, however, she is extremely supportive and encouraging of the children's endeavors, being supremely confident in their abilities.

Sean Giambrone as Adam Goldberg, the jovial, good-natured youngest child of the Goldbergs. An aspiring filmmaker, he frequently films his family's activities on a VHS camcorder. Adam often ends up having to use his middle initial to distinguish himself from another Adam Goldberg who attends the same school. Unlike Barry and Erica, he is depicted as being a stereotypical nerd, having an array of geeky hobbies and passions, such as an obsession with Star Wars.

Patton Oswalt as adult Adam Goldberg, who narrates the show from the present day.

Troy Gentile as Barry Norman Goldberg, the short-tempered, somewhat naïve middle child of the Goldbergs. Though untalented in many ways, he remains highly self-assured while attempting to make himself popular in school. Barry has a competitive streak, insisting on "dominating" everything he does, especially sports. He is an avid fan and player of basketball and ice hockey (often wearing his favorite Philadelphia Flyers jersey), and made the school wrestling team. He also listens to rap music (giving himself the rap name "Big Tasty"), and is the leader of a crew called the Jenkintown Posse (abbreviated "JTP", which fellow members repeat whenever the initials are spoken). In the fifth-season finale, Barry proposes to Lainey and she accepts, but they do not go through with a wedding. He graduates from high school in the sixth-season finale and heads to college in season 7 along with his sister Erica, where he begins studying to become a doctor. Barry is based on Adam's real-life brother of the same name.

Hayley Orrantia as Erica Dorothy Schwartz (née Goldberg), the intelligent and musically gifted but rebellious, somewhat sour oldest child of the Goldbergs. The early seasons of the series have Erica as the love interest of Geoff Schwartz, and although she rejects his initial attempts to make her fall in love with him, they become a couple midway through season 4 and get married in season 9. In the fifth season, Erica leaves for college at D.C. School of the Arts, only to drop out at the end of the season to start a band with Lainey and Valley Erica. After her music aspirations end up going nowhere, she decides to head back to college to get her life back on track. At the end of Season 9, Erica reveals that she is pregnant. Her child, a daughter named Muriel Allison Goldberg Schwartz, is born early in season 10. "Erica" is based on Adam's real-life brother, Eric Goldberg.

Recurring cast

Judd Hirsch as Ben "Pop Pop" Goldberg (seasons 3, 7–10, guest season 4), Murray's cantankerous, opinionated father, whom Murray views as a rival.

Pop Pop first appeared in one season 2 episode, and was portrayed by Paul Sorvino where he is portrayed similar to Murray (though far worse) and patriotic such as believing E.T. should have been dissected for military purposes and Elliot should be arrested after Adam tried and failed to make him cry from watching the movie.

Dan Fogler as Marvin Goldberg (seasons 1–7, 10), Murray's carefree, unreliable younger brother who is frequently involved in bizarre get-rich-quick schemes that always end up failing

Lucky, the Goldbergs' pet dog introduced in season 3. While the family originally got the dog based on Barry's insistence for one, Lucky develops a bond with Murray.

Natalie Alyn Lind as Dana Caldwell (season 1–3, 7; guest season 4 & season 10), Adam's classmate who becomes his girlfriend. In the season 2 finale, it is revealed Dana may be moving to Seattle. The season 3 premiere confirms she is now living in Seattle. Adam and Dana continue a long-distance relationship, but it ends when the two realize how different they have become. Dana returns to Jenkintown in season 7 after her grandmother in Seattle passes away, but makes it clear to Adam that she just wants to be friends. The real-life counterpart for "Dana" is named Amanda Caldwell. The first name was changed due to early legal concerns about the show's autobiographical nature.

Kenny Ridwan as Dave Kim (seasons 1–9; guest season 10), an awkward classmate and friend of Adam's, who is always addressed by his full name, even by his own mother. He is known for his "bowl" haircut, as well as constantly wearing turtlenecks. He shockingly dates troublemaker Carla Mann for a brief time in season 6.

Stephanie Katherine Grant as Emmy "Muscles" Mirsky (seasons 1–9), a girl in the neighborhood with whom Adam likes to spend time. Because they grew up together, she and Adam treat each other as best friends rather than as potential love interests, and she behaves like "one of the guys" in the company of Adam and friends. In her sophomore year of high school, she wants Adam's help with meeting a boy she's interested in dating, and Adam initially has trouble seeing her that way.

Guest cast

Tom Cavanagh as Charles Kremp, Chad's father (season 1, episode 8)

Martin Starr as Andre, the local video store clerk who bans Murray after an excessively late rental (season 1)

Tanner Buchanan as Evan Turner (special participation; 2 episodes)

Thomas Lennon as Taun-Taun Todd, a Star Wars fan that Erica and Adam meet while waiting in line to see Return of the Jedi (season 1, episode 22)

David Spade as Gus, a sketchy manufacturer of fake IDs (season 2, episode 1)

Charlie Sheen as the man in the police station, reprising his role from Ferris Bueller's Day Off (season 2, episode 14)

Nick Swardson as Rick, a sketchy black market toy dealer (season 2, episode 15)

Chuck Norris as himself (voice only), who is heard from offscreen reading a letter to Barry (season 3)

"Weird Al" Yankovic as himself (season 3, episode 15)

Chad Coleman as Leon, a manager of Spencer's Gifts store (season 4)

Martin Kove as Master John, a kind sensei who is the opposite of his role as Cobra Kai dojo sensei John Kreese (season 4)

Ilan Mitchell-Smith as Mr. Connelly, the science teacher in the fifth-season premiere episode "Weird Science". Mitchell-Smith portrayed Wyatt Donnelly in the film Weird Science.

Mike Quick as Coach Fast, an assistant football coach at William Penn (season 5)

Cameos from real-life counterparts

Chad Kremp as a deli worker (season 1, episode 8), and as Charles Kremp (seasons 4–10)

J. C. Spink as Joe the Bus Driver (season 1, episode 18)

"Handsome" Ben Bauman and "Regular" Amy Gross as Double Dare producers (season 3, episode 13)

Michael C. Levy and Michael Z. Levy as computer technicians (season 4, episode 4)

Brea Bee as Mrs. Vanica (season 4, episode 14) and as Brea's mother Vicki Bee (season 8, episode 5 and season 9, episode 7)

R. D. Robb as Paul Sirochman, a photographer (season 4, episode 15; season 6, episode 22; season 7, episode 10)

Jackie Geary as Lynn Geary (season 4, episode 19; season 5, episode 21; season 6, episode 5)

Beverly Goldberg, Essie Karp, Virginia Kremp, and Linda Schwartz as a group of elderly friends that Beverly longs to be like (season 5, episode 11)

Rubén Amaro Jr. as Rubén Amaro Sr. (season 5, episode 11; season 6, episode 6)

The real-life members of JTP (Barry Goldberg, Matt Bradley, Andy Cogan, Geoff Schwartz, and Rob Smith) all appear at the end of the episodes "Hail Barry" (season 5, episode 14) and "Colors" (season 5, episode 17)

Eric Goldberg (credited as "My Brother") at the end of "MTV Spring Break" (season 5, episode 18) and (credited as "The Real Eric Goldberg") in "Eight-Bit Goldbergs" (season 6, episode 19)

Emmy Mirsky (credited under her married name Emily McCoy) as Serry Mirsky, Emmy's mother in "Flashy Little Flashdancer" (season 5, episode 19) and "Hersheypark" (season 6, episode 4)

Production

Casting

The project originally received a script commitment from Fox in August 2011. After Adam Goldberg's previous show, Breaking In, was canceled, he did not want to wait for another pilot season to arrive and moved it to ABC, who agreed to produce it immediately. When the project first landed at ABC, the title of the show was to be How the F--- Am I Normal?, before being revised to How the Hell Am I Normal? in early 2013. The final title of the show was first announced by ABC in April 2013.

On January 11, 2013, Wendi McLendon-Covey was cast as the pilot's lead; later, Jeff Garlin and George Segal joined the cast.

George Segal died during the airing of season 8. The April 7, 2021, episode, "Couple Off", which was Segal's last, ended with a 48-second video tribute to the actor, who had died fifteen days earlier due to complications from bypass surgery.

In December 2021, during the airing of season 9, it was announced that Garlin would not return to the show after multiple misconduct allegations and HR investigations. His departure was announced as a mutual decision. For the remainder of the season his character continued to appear on the show, portrayed via the use of outtakes, a stand-in, and CGI. In August 2022, it was revealed that his character was killed off off-screen, prior to the events of the 10th season.

Filming

The pilot episode was directed by Seth Gordon. On May 10, 2013, ABC picked up the show to series to air in the 2013–14 American television season. It was later picked up for a full season order on November 1, 2013. The show is filmed on a series of stages at Sony Pictures Studios. In March 2020, Sony suspended production due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sony ultimately resumed production in August 2020. Production was again suspended briefly during January 2021 due to the pandemic.

Music

The show's theme song, "Rewind", was written at Goldberg's request by I Fight Dragons, his favorite band, specifically for the show. A soundtrack, featuring songs performed on the show by the cast members, was released on December 6, 2017.

Reception

Critical reception

The Goldbergs first season received mixed reviews, averaging a score of 52% on Metacritic based on reviews from 26 critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, season 1 has an approval rating of 55% based on reviews from 42 critics.

Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter called it "one of the rare freshman comedies to deliver", giving credit to the show's "outstanding writing" and "strong cast". David Wiegand of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, "you'll immediately like everyone in the family and the jokes derive from credible situations".

Hank Stuever of The Washington Post said the show was "obnoxiously loud". David Hinckley of The New York Daily News said the show is "just awful". Tierney Bricker of E! News gave a more positive review, saying that the show is "like Modern Family mixed with A Christmas Story".

The Goldbergs was included in TV Guide's 2013 Top Twenty "Best Shows of the Year", along with The Hollywood Reporter and Today. In addition, SpoilerTV awarded The Goldbergs with the honor of Best Comedy of 2013–2014.

The second season had a Rotten Tomatoes score of 100% based on reviews from 5 critics. The show continued to be well-received, with Marc Snetiker of Entertainment Weekly calling the season two premiere "the best of any family comedy on TV in the way it eschews dysfunction for its more appropriate, real-world term: love".

After the series was renewed for season 3, ABC network chief Paul Lee stated that both he and ABC believed that the show will be around for "a long time".

Broadcast

The Goldbergs originally premiered on ABC on September 24, 2013. The pilot was made available on Hulu and ABC.com before it premiered on television.

In Australia, the show airs on the Seven Network.

It had been previously broadcast in Canada on CTV. In 2024 it started airing on Global TV and on superstation NTV.

It has been broadcast in the United Kingdom on E4 since April 20, 2015 and also airs on E4's sister network E4 Extra since 2022. formerly in Ireland on RTÉ2 from October 19, 2015 to February 20, 2025, and in Turkey on DiziSmart since 2015.

In France, the series has been broadcast on Comedie+ since October 17, 2015.

The show has been broadcast on Neox TV channel in Spain since May 8, 2016 (2016-05-08).

In India, the series is aired on Star World.

In Germany, the series has aired since February 16, 2016 on the Disney Channel (seasons 1–2.4), Universal Channel (seasons 2.4–3), Sky 1 (seasons 4–8), Comedy Central (free-to-air seasons 3–7), ProSieben (free-to-air seasons 8–9), Sky Comedy (seasons 9–10). In Portugal, the series is aired on Fox Comedy, while in Italy on Joi (seasons 1–6.16), Premium Stories (seasons 6.17–8), Infinity+ (seasons 9–10) and Italia 1 (free-to-air).

In Israel, it is broadcast by satellite provider yes.

In South Africa, the series had aired on M-Net.

In Hungary, the series was aired on Comedy Central from 2016 to 2020 (Season 1–7). From Season 8, the series continued on Comedy Central Family.

In Ukraine, the series is aired on Paramount Comedy Ukraine.

Syndication

The show went into syndication in September 2017 and began airing on local stations on September 11, Nick at Nite on September 18th until its removal on September 22, 2018, and Pop on September 24 until its removal in 2023. The show premiered on TV Land on September 23, 2018 until it was removed as well as of 2023.

Spin-off

In November 2016, it was first reported that ABC was developing a spin-off that would center around recurring character Rick Mellor, played by Bryan Callen. On January 10, 2017, Wendi McClendon-Covey's character was reported as appearing in the script in a guest appearance. The script was ordered to pilot on February 2, 2017.

On March 16, 2017, it was confirmed that Nia Long had been cast as the female lead in the role of Lucy Winston. At the same time, it was confirmed that Tim Meadows would reprise his recurring role from The Goldbergs as Andre Glascott. Jay Chandrasekhar was also confirmed to direct.

On May 17, 2017, ABC passed on the spin-off, despite it reportedly testing very well – going as far to test better than the pilot of the original series. At the same time, Adam F. Goldberg revealed the title of the failed spin-off Schooled.

On January 8, 2018, it was announced that the pilot would air as a special episode of The Goldbergs on January 24, 2018, under the episode title The Goldbergs: 1990-Something. Along with Nia Long as Lucy Winston and Tim Meadows as teacher-turned-principal Andre Glascott (who is also revealed to be Lucy's brother), the pilot also starred Rachel Crow as Lucy's rebellious teenage daughter Felicia, and Summer Parker as Felicia's bubbly younger sister Gigi, with Octavia Spencer narrating as the present-day Felicia.

After the pilot aired, Goldberg had expressed hope that the airing would prompt discussions with ABC that could lead to the series being picked up for the 2018–19 TV season. Three months later, on April 16, 2018, it was announced that ABC had officially picked up the spin-off, Schooled, for a 13-episode season slated to air in 2019. It was also announced that AJ Michalka would reprise her role as Lainey Lewis from The Goldbergs in the new show, but Nia Long will not return to the spin-off due to being a regular cast member on the CBS drama series NCIS: Los Angeles. In May 2020, the series was canceled after two seasons.

Canon status

Series creator Adam F. Goldberg departed after season 6 and publicly stated that seasons 7–10 are not considered canon to his original vision. These later seasons were produced without his creative involvement and diverge from the show's intended autobiographical tone. After Goldberg was not consulted on the series finale, he later wrote the canon finale in comic book form. In Goldberg's comic, published by American Mythology, his family is killed by Victor Crowley to ensure that the new showrunners could never write a reboot or sequel to the show.