They were very similar to each other. Was ABC trying to copy cat the formula from NBC?

I know a lot of people disagree, but I do think the format was almost too similar, down to the baby who came in around season 3 that was suddenly a six year old about two years later

I know a lot of people disagree, but I do think the format was almost too similar, down to the baby who came in around season 3 that was suddenly a six year old about two years later


Oh yeah, I forgot about that. :lol:

It was my understanding that Growing Pains was ABC's answer to The Cosby Show (dad works out of home office while mom is a professional in the city). CBS's answer was the short-lived Flip Wilson vehicle, Charlie & Company.

It was my understanding that Growing Pains was ABC's answer to The Cosby Show (dad works out of home office while mom is a professional in the city). CBS's answer was the short-lived Flip Wilson vehicle, Charlie & Company.


Hmmm, I don't know about that. I mean, if it was a Cosby ripoff, wouldn't you need a black family instead of a white surburban one?

Growing Pains was too similar to Family Ties. And, it was right around the time Growing Pains premiered that Family Ties was most popular.

Growing Pains was also similar to Who's the Boss?, in my opinion - both showed how Dad didn't always know best. You could say all 3 shows were similar to each other.

The shows were quite identical to each other. But since I liked Family Ties I liked Growing Pains. Actually, if truth be told, I liked Growing Pains more--I thought the kids had more personality on that show. And Mike was such a character! He came across as such a smart a** and a hellion, but actually was a good kid underneath, which to me, added a nice nuance.

Yes it was a rip off. When GP first premiered I refused to watch it because I thought it was a pale imitation of FT which was my favorite sitcom at the time. I started watching it though in year two and it quickly became one of my favorites. It had different things in it that appealed to me.

i always heard charles n charge was rip off of whos the boss

i always heard charles n charge was rip off of whos the boss
That wasn't true because both shows premiered at the same time... fall of 1984.

I do not think Growings Pains was a ripoff of Family Ties

It was my understanding that Growing Pains was ABC's answer to The Cosby Show (dad works out of home office while mom is a professional in the city). CBS's answer was the short-lived Flip Wilson vehicle, Charlie & Company.


Yeah how could I forget Charlie and Company, it was the CBS version of Family Matters 4 years before the REAL FAMILY MATTERS-lol

I never thought about "Family Ties" and "Growing Pains" being so similar, but now that I think about it, they really wore. I loved "Family Ties" but I barely remember anything about it (jobs, most eppys, etc). I was a "Growing Pains" addict for a while, so I loved it more. Maybe it was just coincidence that the two shows were similar?

Andrea

I never thought about "Family Ties" and "Growing Pains" being so similar, but now that I think about it, they really wore. I loved "Family Ties" but I barely remember anything about it (jobs, most eppys, etc). I was a "Growing Pains" addict for a while, so I loved it more. Maybe it was just coincidence that the two shows were similar?

Andrea

When I was younger, I used to get the two confused because they were so similar to me. I'm a bigger fan of Family Ties though. :D

Hmmm, I don't know about that. I mean, if it was a Cosby ripoff, wouldn't you need a black family instead of a white surburban one?


I didn't say it was a ripoff, Brian. I said it was ABC's response to the popularity of The Cosby Show, which brought back to life the family sitcom (heck, sitcoms in general were a dying breed at that point on all the networks)

I thought Growing pains, family tie, and who's the boss did a great job ripping off eacth other