ABC pressed on why “The Goldbergs” isn’t more Jewish - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 07-16-2014, 01:41 AM

http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/07/15/abc-diverse

Responded ABC’s Paul Lee: “I don’t think there’s anybody in the country who watches The Goldbergs who doesn’t think it’s a show about a Jewish family; I think it’s pretty explicit."

king of comedy · 07-16-2014, 06:50 AM

It doesn't matter as long as it's funny.

Mr. Television · 07-16-2014, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king of comedy

It doesn't matter as long as it's funny.

Exactly. Who in the world cares about the rest?

Yong Fang · 07-16-2014, 12:57 PM

Well, the names are obviously Jewish. Murray is definitely Jewish, he owns/runs a second hand furniture store that was given to him by his father in law, Albert Solomon. Murray is loud and animated.

The mother of the family is a tiger mother who hovers over her children minute by minute, and the two sons are named BARRY and ADAM! Erica seems pretty typical, level headed and to me the voice of reason in the family.

To recap, father is named Murraya nod runs a second hand furniture store, stay at home mother loves her children and follows them around like the Stasi, with two kids named Barry and Adam, Barry tries but sucks at sports, and not very good with the girls, and Adam doesn't even try at sports and wants to be a film actor/producer, back lot movie janitor/gopher when he grows up. You don't need a family to wear Yamulkes, have curls in their hair, wear big hats and sing Fiddler in the Roof!

George Segal is Ashkenazi Jewish, but he states in his Wiki that he, nor his family were interested in the religion, he was never bar mitzvah-ed as a child. I think his Wiki stated that he did a Seder with Groucho Marx once, but Groucho wasn't into it either and wanted to get to the drinks, food and music.

The father, played by Jeff Garlin is Jewish, but that is as plain as Eddie Murphy being black. He's great and my favorite character on the show.

Wendy McLendon-Covey is not Jewish. I hate to say this, but I wish McLendon-Covey would change her name to a stage name, something easier to remember, or drop the McLendon or Covey. I think she is very good and funny, but it is hard to remember her name.

Troy Gentile who plays Barry is not mentioned as or not as Jewish in his Wikipedia, but I bet a $20 he is. Would be pretty ironic if he were with the name "Gentile".

The kid who plays Adam is a Sean Giambrone, an Italian. Oddly, no Wiki page on him.

As an aside, who really knows the religion of many of the sitcom families anyway. Off the top of my head, the Ramanos on Raymond were Catholics. A few others might go to some generic church. On the show Rhoda, they mentioned that they were Jewish, but accept for ethnicity, no one really cared.

IllinoisTVFan · 10-15-2014, 01:13 PM

I'd like to see them as Jewish and celebrate Jewish holidays, like Hanukkah. I think it would be cool and interesting and different. I'm not Jewish (practicing Catholic though one of my great grandparents was Jewish)but there re many Jewish and they could relate to them.

comedyfreak · 10-27-2014, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IllinoisTVFan

I'd like to see them as Jewish and celebrate Jewish holidays, like Hanukkah. I think it would be cool and interesting and different. I'm not Jewish (practicing Catholic though one of my great grandparents was Jewish)but there re many Jewish and they could relate to them.

Then you'd have all the atheists complaining that they are offended by their religion.

IllinoisTVFan · 10-27-2014, 12:53 PM

That's true, atheists would complain because that's what they do. They are troublemakers and look for things to cause trouble about.

TeeVeeCloset · 10-27-2014, 08:27 PM

Anyone wanting a more traditional jewish "The Goldbergs" check out the reruns shown several times a day of the original "The Goldbergs" on JLTV starring female pioneer legend Gertrude Berg, who not only did the series for years in televisions' infancy LIVE! It came from radio where it played for 17 years!

"The Ultimate Goldbergs" is available on DVD from Shout Factory,
or search out the amazing documentary on Ms. Berg who was the first female with such power in an industry dominated by men way before Lucille Ball.

Anyone of any media substance as usual should know history before such silly inquiries regarding the current ABC series.

visaman666 · 10-27-2014, 11:39 PM

Perhaps, but the Goldbergs (2014)isn't as Jewish, as The Goldbergs(1948) , and I should know this? Oy Vey!

TeeVeeCloset · 10-30-2014, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by visaman666

Perhaps, but the Goldbergs (2014)isn't as Jewish, as The Goldbergs(1948) , and I should know this? Oy Vey!

Nothing written directed towards you, but I believe that was my exact point during the first sentence of post #8 above yours......with a history lesson, I do appreciate your humor.

Now to all on this entire site.......

When cut we all bleed red blood and we will all die eventually, We're all water front different rivers and someday we'll evaborate together!

Now someone dispute me with some OT nonsense so we can continue to find more division than unity.

Mace Dolex · 10-30-2014, 09:27 PM

Wow I mean how ignorant can people be when they feel that a sitcom is being insensitive to their religion, get a life.

07-16-2014, 01:41 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,016	ABC pressed on why “The Goldbergs” isn’t more Jewish http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/07/15/abc-diverse Responded ABC’s Paul Lee: “I don’t think there’s anybody in the country who watches The Goldbergs who doesn’t think it’s a show about a Jewish family; I think it’s pretty explicit."

07-16-2014, 06:50 AM	#2
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	It doesn't matter as long as it's funny.

07-16-2014, 12:57 PM	#4
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	Well, the names are obviously Jewish. Murray is definitely Jewish, he owns/runs a second hand furniture store that was given to him by his father in law, Albert Solomon. Murray is loud and animated. The mother of the family is a tiger mother who hovers over her children minute by minute, and the two sons are named BARRY and ADAM! Erica seems pretty typical, level headed and to me the voice of reason in the family. To recap, father is named Murraya nod runs a second hand furniture store, stay at home mother loves her children and follows them around like the Stasi, with two kids named Barry and Adam, Barry tries but sucks at sports, and not very good with the girls, and Adam doesn't even try at sports and wants to be a film actor/producer, back lot movie janitor/gopher when he grows up. You don't need a family to wear Yamulkes, have curls in their hair, wear big hats and sing Fiddler in the Roof! George Segal is Ashkenazi Jewish, but he states in his Wiki that he, nor his family were interested in the religion, he was never bar mitzvah-ed as a child. I think his Wiki stated that he did a Seder with Groucho Marx once, but Groucho wasn't into it either and wanted to get to the drinks, food and music. The father, played by Jeff Garlin is Jewish, but that is as plain as Eddie Murphy being black. He's great and my favorite character on the show. Wendy McLendon-Covey is not Jewish. I hate to say this, but I wish McLendon-Covey would change her name to a stage name, something easier to remember, or drop the McLendon or Covey. I think she is very good and funny, but it is hard to remember her name. Troy Gentile who plays Barry is not mentioned as or not as Jewish in his Wikipedia, but I bet a $20 he is. Would be pretty ironic if he were with the name "Gentile". The kid who plays Adam is a Sean Giambrone, an Italian. Oddly, no Wiki page on him. As an aside, who really knows the religion of many of the sitcom families anyway. Off the top of my head, the Ramanos on Raymond were Catholics. A few others might go to some generic church. On the show Rhoda, they mentioned that they were Jewish, but accept for ethnicity, no one really cared.

10-15-2014, 01:13 PM	#5
IllinoisTVFan Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 22, 2011 Location: South of Chicago Posts: 4,072	I'd like to see them as Jewish and celebrate Jewish holidays, like Hanukkah. I think it would be cool and interesting and different. I'm not Jewish (practicing Catholic though one of my great grandparents was Jewish)but there re many Jewish and they could relate to them.

10-27-2014, 12:53 PM	#7
IllinoisTVFan Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 22, 2011 Location: South of Chicago Posts: 4,072	That's true, atheists would complain because that's what they do. They are troublemakers and look for things to cause trouble about.

10-27-2014, 08:27 PM	#8
TeeVeeCloset Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2003 Posts: 1,873	Anyone wanting a more traditional jewish "The Goldbergs" check out the reruns shown several times a day of the original "The Goldbergs" on JLTV starring female pioneer legend Gertrude Berg, who not only did the series for years in televisions' infancy LIVE! It came from radio where it played for 17 years! "The Ultimate Goldbergs" is available on DVD from Shout Factory, or search out the amazing documentary on Ms. Berg who was the first female with such power in an industry dominated by men way before Lucille Ball. Anyone of any media substance as usual should know history before such silly inquiries regarding the current ABC series.
	__________________ Living near "Ozzie Nelson Drive".....

10-27-2014, 11:39 PM	#9
visaman666 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 818	Perhaps, but the Goldbergs (2014)isn't as Jewish, as The Goldbergs(1948) , and I should know this? Oy Vey!

10-30-2014, 09:27 PM	#11
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,668	Wow I mean how ignorant can people be when they feel that a sitcom is being insensitive to their religion, get a life.