When did the show start going downhill ? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

08-25-2000, 09:48 PM

Although it started off slow the first season, I think 'Growing Pains' hit its stride the second, and then peaked during its third year on the air. From the fall of '88 on however, with the exception of maybe half a dozen episodes that were hilarious, I thought the show lost its direction. Whether the birth of Chrissy or the change in producers affected this, I know that by the last season the show all but flat out sucked. What does everybody else think about this ?

daisygirlee · 11-12-2000, 05:44 AM

i think when mike became a teacher it went downhill...story lines werent growing pains style anymore..mike was responsible... i couldnt believe it

JohnMcMillin · 11-30-2000, 11:16 AM

I agree, this was another thing I disliked about Cosby Show. Mike Seaver and Theo Huxtable were supposed to be underachievers and irresponsible. So why towards the end were both mature and everything?

The Growing Pains reunion movie was proof that only in Hollywood could a character like Mike Seaver end up being a CEO at an advertising agency. In real life, he should've turned out similar to how Ben did in the movie.

Kalen Q! · 06-10-2001, 08:42 PM

I think it went downhill when the characters started to change. When they let DiCaprio on the show, when Chrissy was in her more older years, when Mike had become mature, when Ben became a geeky moron, and when Maggie and Jason became less crazy, the whole show became campy.

07-09-2001, 09:28 AM

The show went downhill when they had Chrissy. Have you ever noticed that when a show SHOULD go off the air they start adding new characters. So it wasn't bad enough that they had a child that grew at an alarming rate but they had to add that Titanic guy and it was still a stupid show. And as far as Mike .. how did he become a teacher so quickly?? I thought you had to go to school for 4 years. From past shows we all know he wasn't THAT smart.

07-10-2001, 04:37 PM

all of you are forgetting the theme song. At first, Growing Pains had its own style, with the family gathered in front of the house, then, the song plays, then, 1 person is left. but, later, they had an acapella version (only singers, no instruments)and the pictures of them. It was similar to Family Ties, and the song was not happy anymore, it sounded kind of sad, thats what i think helped hurt the show.

PRAIDER · 07-10-2001, 05:56 PM

IN MY OPINION GROWING PAINS WITH DOWN HILL WHEN JUILE McCULLOUGH WAS DROPPED FROM THE CAST.THE SHOW GOT TOO SERIOUS AND "JUMPED THE SHARK".

Mcfly · 08-06-2001, 12:39 PM

I always skip over the first year when Disney does the re-runs, cuz the show wasn't razor sharp yet. But by season two when Cameron dominated the hilarious action, it got great and, in my mind, didn't run out of steam until the final year. The stories got uninvolving (Ben breaks a vaccuum, Maggie's dad's ghost shows up in one, Carol has problems with her doof boyfriend) and they tried to shake things up with cast additions (Leo) but it was time to leave anyway. Seven years was enough.

new england holiday · 08-28-2001, 08:09 PM

When they made Chrissy jump from age 2 to like...age 6! god, that ruined it!

Mcfly · 08-29-2001, 08:20 PM

Well, Jack, I'm pretty much with you about the first season. Really took awhile for them to find their way, but 86-88 was great. Even 89-91 were good for me, but that final year seemed to be trying to many new things to pump life back in. Chrissy, Luke, Mike as a teacher...they ended things when they should have.

plappy · 09-25-2001, 11:44 AM

The last two seasons made the show look like a teddy bear's worst nightmare. The only bright spot was the black-out episode. The love between ben and crissy is greater since Balki and Larry or Fran and Maxwell.

bonbon · 01-19-2002, 02:32 PM

I think adding Chrissy to the cast wasn't a good idea. Then when she skipped 3 years of her life, it only got worse. She always had those too smart for her age comments too. Also, Carol's goofy boyfriend wasn't that great for the show. He was just a little too much. I can't say for sure exactly when it went downhill, because it's been a long time since I watched my tapes.

DJM77 · 01-19-2002, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lovin' 80's Sitcoms
When they made Chrissy jump from age 2 to like...age 6! that ruined it!

I totally agree.

mamamiasweetpeaches · 02-01-2002, 02:03 PM

Mom and Dad Are Havin A Baby!!!! 7 words that usually predict a shows un-comindg doom!!!!Chrissy was the kiss of death. Adding Leonnardo DeCaprio was a pointless move too(which must've insulted the guy who played Ben to no end!!!"Whaddaya mean I'm not cute anymore?????")

JPJ · 06-17-2002, 04:02 PM

Yea, I'd have to say that after the 1988 season, the show became more of a "Growing Pain" than a sitcom!

<and the room takes a collective groan>

08-25-2000, 09:48 PM	#1
Jack Frost Guest Posts: n/a	When did the show start going downhill ? Although it started off slow the first season, I think 'Growing Pains' hit its stride the second, and then peaked during its third year on the air. From the fall of '88 on however, with the exception of maybe half a dozen episodes that were hilarious, I thought the show lost its direction. Whether the birth of Chrissy or the change in producers affected this, I know that by the last season the show all but flat out sucked. What does everybody else think about this ?
Jack Frost Guest Posts: n/a

07-09-2001, 09:28 AM	#5
zoey Guest Posts: n/a	The show went downhill when they had Chrissy. Have you ever noticed that when a show SHOULD go off the air they start adding new characters. So it wasn't bad enough that they had a child that grew at an alarming rate but they had to add that Titanic guy and it was still a stupid show. And as far as Mike .. how did he become a teacher so quickly?? I thought you had to go to school for 4 years. From past shows we all know he wasn't THAT smart.
zoey Guest Posts: n/a

07-10-2001, 04:37 PM	#6
GPrules!!! Guest Posts: n/a	all of you are forgetting the theme song. At first, Growing Pains had its own style, with the family gathered in front of the house, then, the song plays, then, 1 person is left. but, later, they had an acapella version (only singers, no instruments)and the pictures of them. It was similar to Family Ties, and the song was not happy anymore, it sounded kind of sad, thats what i think helped hurt the show.
GPrules!!! Guest Posts: n/a

11-12-2000, 05:44 AM	#2
daisygirlee Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 01, 2000 Location: coral springs,florida usa Posts: 54	i think when mike became a teacher it went downhill...story lines werent growing pains style anymore..mike was responsible... i couldnt believe it

11-30-2000, 11:16 AM	#3
JohnMcMillin Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 29, 2000 Location: louisville, ky, USA Posts: 380	I agree, this was another thing I disliked about Cosby Show. Mike Seaver and Theo Huxtable were supposed to be underachievers and irresponsible. So why towards the end were both mature and everything? The Growing Pains reunion movie was proof that only in Hollywood could a character like Mike Seaver end up being a CEO at an advertising agency. In real life, he should've turned out similar to how Ben did in the movie.

06-10-2001, 08:42 PM	#4
Kalen Q! Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 10, 2001 Location: Dodge City, Kansas Posts: 24	I think it went downhill when the characters started to change. When they let DiCaprio on the show, when Chrissy was in her more older years, when Mike had become mature, when Ben became a geeky moron, and when Maggie and Jason became less crazy, the whole show became campy.

07-10-2001, 05:56 PM	#7
PRAIDER Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 16, 2001 Location: BRYAN,OHIO,USA Posts: 18	IN MY OPINION GROWING PAINS WITH DOWN HILL WHEN JUILE McCULLOUGH WAS DROPPED FROM THE CAST.THE SHOW GOT TOO SERIOUS AND "JUMPED THE SHARK".

08-06-2001, 12:39 PM	#8
Mcfly Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 06, 2001 Location: ca Posts: 374	I always skip over the first year when Disney does the re-runs, cuz the show wasn't razor sharp yet. But by season two when Cameron dominated the hilarious action, it got great and, in my mind, didn't run out of steam until the final year. The stories got uninvolving (Ben breaks a vaccuum, Maggie's dad's ghost shows up in one, Carol has problems with her doof boyfriend) and they tried to shake things up with cast additions (Leo) but it was time to leave anyway. Seven years was enough.

08-28-2001, 08:09 PM	#9
new england holiday Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 17, 2000 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia AND Southern California Posts: 212	When they made Chrissy jump from age 2 to like...age 6! god, that ruined it!

08-29-2001, 08:20 PM	#10
Mcfly Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 06, 2001 Location: ca Posts: 374	Well, Jack, I'm pretty much with you about the first season. Really took awhile for them to find their way, but 86-88 was great. Even 89-91 were good for me, but that final year seemed to be trying to many new things to pump life back in. Chrissy, Luke, Mike as a teacher...they ended things when they should have.

09-25-2001, 11:44 AM	#11
plappy Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 27, 2001 Posts: 89	The last two seasons made the show look like a teddy bear's worst nightmare. The only bright spot was the black-out episode. The love between ben and crissy is greater since Balki and Larry or Fran and Maxwell.

01-19-2002, 02:32 PM	#12
bonbon Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 10, 2002 Posts: 79	I think adding Chrissy to the cast wasn't a good idea. Then when she skipped 3 years of her life, it only got worse. She always had those too smart for her age comments too. Also, Carol's goofy boyfriend wasn't that great for the show. He was just a little too much. I can't say for sure exactly when it went downhill, because it's been a long time since I watched my tapes.

02-01-2002, 02:03 PM	#14
mamamiasweetpeaches Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 30, 2002 Location: Middle Village,NY Posts: 390	Mom and Dad Are Havin A Baby!!!! 7 words that usually predict a shows un-comindg doom!!!!Chrissy was the kiss of death. Adding Leonnardo DeCaprio was a pointless move too(which must've insulted the guy who played Ben to no end!!!"Whaddaya mean I'm not cute anymore?????")

06-17-2002, 04:02 PM	#15
JPJ Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 16, 2001 Posts: 78	Yea, I'd have to say that after the 1988 season, the show became more of a "Growing Pain" than a sitcom! <and the room takes a collective groan>