The Show That Captured America’s Heart: Eight is Enough

[TMC]

https://thewritelife61.com/2018/06/1...ght-is-enough/

Beginning in 1977, Eight is Enough was a hard show to categorize; not really a drama but not a comedy either, even though it featured a laugh track. The show was based on the 1975 autobiography of newspaper editor and columnist Thomas Braden. Tom Bradford (Dick Van Patten) was a columnist for a Sacramento, California newspaper. He and his wife Joan (Diana Hyland) have eight children: Mary (Lanie O’Grady), David (Mark Hamil), Joanie (Laurie Walters), Nancy (Kimberly Beck), Elizabeth (Connie Needham), Susan (Susan Richardson), Tommy (Chris English), and Nicholas (Adam Rich).

A few changes were made from the pilot episode. ABC questioned the performances of the actors who played Nancy and Tommy and replaced them with Dianne Kay and Willie Aames. Another change from the pilot occurred in the role of David. Originally, Mark Hamil was signed but after he received the offer to appear in an upcoming movie Star Wars, he received permission to break his contract and the role was taken over by Grant Goodeve.

When the show began, David lives on his own. Mary is going to school to be a doctor while Joanie, Susan, and Nancy are late studying acting, fashion, and modeling. Elizabeth and Tommy are in high school, and Nicholas is still in elementary school. Tommy would later be part of a rock ‘n roll band.

Four episodes into the series, Diana Hyland who played Joan, the mother, was diagnosed with breast cancer and died soon after. For the rest of Season 1, she was said to be away. In Season 2, Tom was portrayed as a widower and later in the year he meets and marries Abby, played by Betty Buckley. Abby is a school teacher. The series deals with the trials and tribulations every family tackles, including school concerns, sibling rivalry, and relationship issues. The kids were quite different in personality, and it seems like everyone could relate to at least one of them. While The Brady Bunch sometimes seemed a bit syrupy, everyone wanted to be part of a family like the Bradfords.

The show captured the hearts of many viewers, being number one for a while. In the first season the show finished 23rd overall, but seasons 3-4 had the show 11th or 12th each year.

In Season 3, Susan marries Merle “The Pearl” Stockwell (Brian Patrick Clarke) who was a baseball star, and David marries Janet (Joan Prather) in a double ceremony. In the last season, Goodeve suggested he and Janet divorce because he didn’t think David was being featured in enough storylines. With so many of the kids flying the coop, Ralph Macchio was brought in as Abby’s orphaned nephew who lived with the Bradfords. You always know when an orphaned relative is hired, the show is not going to last long.

The show was developed by writer William Blinn. The first three seasons were filmed at The Burbank Studios (now the Warner Brothers Ranch) and the last two years were filmed at MGM Studios in Culver City. Writers were often shared with The Waltons, which was another Lorimar-produced show.

During the first couple of seasons, an instrumental version of the theme was played during the opening. However, in later seasons, lyrics were added, and the theme was sung by Grant Goodeve.

[DJM77]

I've been watching the first season on Google Play. They don't have the other seasons. I really wish that Hulu would pick this show up. I guess I could buy the DVD's.

[OH Nuts!]

I absolutely love love love this show. So much so that if I were shipwrecked and could only take five shows with me, THIS would be one of them.

[AMackII]

One of the Best Shows from the 1970s. If MeTV does plan to air EIE in the near future, It would be a dream turn into a reality.

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by AMackII

One of the Best Shows from the 1970s. If MeTV does plan to air EIE in the near future, It would be a dream turn into a reality.

When FOX was started showing the show in the late 80s, THAT is what motivated to buy my first VCR—so I could tape each show. I have about 70 eps taped. The resolution is not the greatest, but viewing them does bring back fond memories. (In 2010 I converted them to DVD)

[Hawkee]

My mom first saw Eight Is Enough when it first aired and she thought it was a great show but it wasn't until I saw it with Mom on PAX TV and I thought Eight Is Enough was wonderful. I would have to say that had Diana Hyland not passed away Eight Is Enough would've been more successful but I think once Betty Buckley replaced Diana Hyland Betty made the show more successful and after Eight Is Enough ended Betty Buckley's star status soared and now she is a successful singer and Broadway actress. And I think Dick Van Patten actually made the show a huge success and I think if it wasn't for Dick Van Patten Eight Is Enough would not have existed and you would think now that he's gone TV stations should air Eight Is Enough reruns again. Mark Hamill was gonna be on Eight Is Enough but passed on it for Star Wars? I find that hard to believe because it would've been cool to see Luke Skywalker on Eight Is Enough. I think that Eight Is Enough was one of those sitcoms that hardly gets it's reruns shown on retro channels anymore since it was last seen on PAX TV and with the death of Dick Van Patten this show should be rediscovered on TV again for all the world to see
Bestie

[RetroGuy2000]

I remember watching it as a kid. There were a LOT of daughters.

There was one episode where one of the girls had to go topless for a job; IMDB says it was for a play, but I misremembered it as being something else. We were not allowed to watch the show after that.