What was the allure of this show?

[rusty spike]

I've watched a few episodes from season 2 and aside from a "cute kid" who says a few funny lines and then gets into trouble and then there's a "you should know better talk from both Kathryn and George.

I was an early tween when this show debuted. I tuned in several times and caught a few episodes. Someone mentioned that this was really an adult show for adult audiences. Maybe it was meant for yuppies and their problems living in the 1980s. I regularly watched DS and FoL and I thought those were really funny (aside from the tragedies of Gary, Todd and Dana). DS appealed to me because my family was very dysfunctional and there were many episodes where Mr. D has some deep talks and admits that he was wrong or acknowledged that a child has a different view point.

So I tried watching an episode about a modern art sculpture. It starts with Kathryn insisting that Webster find a way to buy a "toy" that he really wants- a skateboard. So he tries to run around the house doing extra cleaning. At one point he goes to the neighbor's house and learns about collecting cans. Maybe I was watching edited scenes or dialogue but it seems like the parents just send them away somewhere while they do their contemporary lifestyle interests and Webster goes around the neighborhood collecting aluminum cans for recycling. And yes, he gets ahold of the modern sculpture of cans and goes to the recycling center with the neighbor.

EL was a cute child actor, the problem that I see is that he is expected to act, think and behave as a little adult.

I'm amazed that this show went on for four seasons.

[DJM77]

Originally Posted by rusty spike

I'm amazed that this show went on for four seasons.

It actually went on for six seasons.

[rusty spike]

Thanks for the correction.

I went off of the released seasons and didn't realize that it was SO popular that it went on for six seasons.

I'm not here to bash the show, but to develop a better understanding as to why it lasted as long as it did.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by DJM77

It actually went on for six seasons.

To clarify, the first four seasons (1983-87) were on ABC while the remaining two seasons (1987-89) were aired in first-run syndication.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by rusty spike

I've watched a few episodes from season 2 and aside from a "cute kid" who says a few funny lines and then gets into trouble and then there's a "you should know better talk from both Kathryn and George.

I was an early tween when this show debuted. I tuned in several times and caught a few episodes. Someone mentioned that this was really an adult show for adult audiences. Maybe it was meant for yuppies and their problems living in the 1980s. I regularly watched DS and FoL and I thought those were really funny (aside from the tragedies of Gary, Todd and Dana). DS appealed to me because my family was very dysfunctional and there were many episodes where Mr. D has some deep talks and admits that he was wrong or acknowledged that a child has a different view point.

So I tried watching an episode about a modern art sculpture. It starts with Kathryn insisting that Webster find a way to buy a "toy" that he really wants- a skateboard. So he tries to run around the house doing extra cleaning. At one point he goes to the neighbor's house and learns about collecting cans. Maybe I was watching edited scenes or dialogue but it seems like the parents just send them away somewhere while they do their contemporary lifestyle interests and Webster goes around the neighborhood collecting aluminum cans for recycling. And yes, he gets ahold of the modern sculpture of cans and goes to the recycling center with the neighbor.

EL was a cute child actor, the problem that I see is that he is expected to act, think and behave as a little adult.

I'm amazed that this show went on for four seasons.

I was really young when Webster was originally on the air, so admittedly, I can't say that I have first hand knowledge of how successful it was during that time period. I am well aware though, that it's primary audience was children.

Webster was probably also a case of being a "right place, right time" type of show. It came out during that weird time-frame in-between the end of All in the Family and the start of The Cosby Show, where sitcoms were becoming decidedly safer and family-friendly and less daring and confrontational. I really don't think that Webster could've worked in a pre-Diff'rent Strokes/post-Cosby Show world to put it in another way.

Emmanuel Lewis was without a doubt, a cute kid and I'm going to go out on a limb and say that maybe, his high profile affiliation with a Thriller-era Michael Jackson also helped draw attention and publicity to Webster.

[rusty spike]

There are several threads about Webster setting a fire that burns down the apartment. I wanted to watch. I went to Prime as a member and discovered that it costs an extra 1.99 to watch that specific episode. You can also try watching the series for free on Pluto, but they only have a handful of episodes available to stream.

[DJM77]

Originally Posted by rusty spike

You can also try watching the series for free on Pluto, but they only have a handful of episodes available to stream.

Yeah, and the one where he burns the apartment down isn't one of them.

[biffbronson]

Originally Posted by TMC

... and I'm going to go out on a limb and say that maybe, his high profile affliction with a Thriller-era Michael Jackson also helped draw attention and publicity to Webster.

I couldn't quite understand this sentence, until I realized "affliction" probably should be "affiliation."

[TMC]

Originally Posted by rusty spike

There are several threads about Webster setting a fire that burns down the apartment. I wanted to watch. I went to Prime as a member and discovered that it costs an extra 1.99 to watch that specific episode. You can also try watching the series for free on Pluto, but they only have a handful of episodes available to stream.

Webster come to think of it, was basically "Trauma Porn: The Sitcom". I had previously written about how for an ostensibly kids show, Webster could get exceedingly dark and depressing.