Short-Lived Sitcom Potpourri (X)

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IT’S YOUR MOVE (September 1984 – February 1985, NBC)

Premise: A teenage schemer tries to undermine his mother’s boyfriend.

Cast: Jason Bateman, David Garrison, Caren Kaye, Tricia Cast, Ernie Sabella, Adam Sadowsky

Creator/Writers: Michael G. Moye & Ron Leavitt, Katherine Green, Fred Fox Jr., Al Aidekman, Sandy Sprung & Marcy Vosburgh, Pamela Norris



Thoughts: One of the most overrated short-lived sitcoms of the ‘80s, this multi-cam effort by the future creators of Married… With Children indeed previews that FOX classic’s biting, cynical, unsentimental tone, with an anti-family sensibility that was in stark contrast to the popular hits of 1984-’85. Of course, removing this show’s trademark sting became the network’s sole objective — so much so that the last few episodes of its single-season run barely resembled what its premise was initially designed to offer: the ongoing clash between a scheming teen and his single mother’s boyfriend. But let’s start at the beginning… This premise naturally allowed for the creators’ already gestating causticity (honed on The Jeffersons), with an emphasis on confrontational humor that desires bigger laughs than the majority of the mid-’80s’ efforts. However, even with this comic drive, I’m still not as high on the series as a lot of critics today seem to be, and that’s largely because I don’t think it’s ever as funny as the decade’s best (let alone Married… With Children), for while I appreciate the good work done by a pre-Valerie Jason Bateman and a pre-Married… With Children David Garrison — both of whom are obviously capable of anchoring a series — the rest of the ensemble is fairly generic and bland: the oblivious mom, the dweebish friend, the eye-rolling sister (who nevertheless is something of a prototype for Kelly Bundy). Accordingly, this isn’t a very rich sitcom by way of well-defined characters. And that’s even before the network’s heavy dilution.

What’s more, it’s only dubiously character-driven within story, for although I know many viewers thrill for the tit-for-tat one-upping that often propels the plotting in the first half of It’s Your Move’s run, I’m not innately impressed by scheming “prank war” idea-led stories (or the gaudy big notions they invite — like the infamous “Dregs of Humanity” two-parter), which tend to be amusing in and of themselves, independent of the leads or the “situation” at hand. So, I seldom find this kind of storytelling commendable in the context of the genre, and, except for the times when plots are directly and obviously motivated by the fun, well-shaped, contentious relationship between this show’s only two worthwhile regulars (and, specifically, Jason Bateman’s Matt, who is the series’ only truly well-defined figure, capable of inspiring its tone and all its narrative concerns), it’s not choice sitcommery. To that point, the only real value in this show is the central relationship and its star characterization… and they’re not prioritized in story as often as they should be. Also, all of this is true even before the network’s dilution, so, ultimately, I find this to be a mostly idea-driven sitcom with a conventional set of leads in a formulaic teen structure, enlivened only by the precocious kid’s caustic ethos (and even that is far tamer than what will develop on the superior Married… With Children). And as far as these short-lived sitcoms go, it’s not meritless, but it’s no lost gem nor “ahead of its time” offering either. It’s just a flop prelude to a funnier, simple, more character-based work from these smart creators.

Episode Count: 18 episodes produced and broadcast.

Episodes Seen: All 18.

Key Episode (of Seen): #1: “Pilot” (09/26/84)

Why: There’s no script funnier than the pilot, which sets up the central relationship beautifully and portends bigger laughs and better stories than the series ever actually delivers, both because of the network and its own intrinsic shortcomings with character and plot.

[digicashceo]

I loved this show when I was younger!