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Sue Shawn Says's avatar

The best theme song of the 1980s, which I'll have stuck in my head the rest of the day, which is not the worst thing.

I also have this lukewarm take that most 1980s male teenage main characters were just like Mike Seaver: good looking, charming, didn't care about school, always in trouble and then getting out of trouble. And this led to wayyyyyyy too many real life dudes in the 80s trying to be just like Mike Seaver.

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John Toma | Nostalgia Nation's avatar

🤣🤣 Blueprint for 80s male teenagers for sure. I think the only one that didn't really care much about anything, and seemed to have his own philosophy on life, thanks to his dad, was Bud Bundy!

Growing Pains theme is unforgettable and certainly one of the best!

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Big ERN's avatar

Boner was one of te most underestimated characters in the history of television. When he refused to go to the bathroom at that party, I shed a tear.

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John Toma | Nostalgia Nation's avatar

lol, definitely underrated. Loved him in the episode where him and Mike are working for an old friend selling audio equipment, and he would tell everyone to come back for the sale!

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Big ERN's avatar

Ah yes, that was the first tine I heard the term " bait and switch" lol.

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Tai Freligh's avatar

Interesting perspective on sitcoms of the 80s. Thanks for sharing!

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John Toma | Nostalgia Nation's avatar

Thank you!

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Danielle's avatar

Loved, and still love, “Growing Pains”!

Kirk Cameron was my first crush. 🥰I had posters of him all over my room, even in my Trapper Keeper!

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John Toma | Nostalgia Nation's avatar

My sisters loved him, they had a couple of posters also, lol

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Liz LaPoint's avatar

I remember when Leo started getting movie roles because I was like “there’s the kid from Growing Pains!” Lol

But I’m surprised to see Hilary Swank & Brad Pitt had guest spots, I must’ve missed those episodes!

When I told my teen son we had a family sitcom in the ‘80s with a character whose nickname was Boner he was like “WHAT” 😆

PS: thanks for reminding me of that song! I loved that song, now I’m going to add it to my ‘80s playlist

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John Toma | Nostalgia Nation's avatar

I'm pretty sure if I really deep dive on this show I can pull out quite a few, albiet lesser known, guests and the shows or films they appeared on after Growing Pains. A lot of the teen sitcoms were early roles for big names, especially the likes of George Clooney (Facts of Life). Johnny Depp also. We had some really great actors come out of these shows. I can't not mention MJF (Family Ties).

Lol, yep, we had two hilaruos sidekicks imo, Boner and Buddy Lembeck!

I also have a Spotify list of all of my favorite themes from the 80s and 90s, regular rotation 😁🙌

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Dshimizu's avatar

I never saw the drug party episode, but I do remember one focused on DiCaprio's character and alcohol

At first, the Seavers worry that he's been drinking the alcohol, which I think was wine. It turned out that his father struggled with alcohol addiction and DiCaprio's character admitted to dumping it down

I can't remember if it was due to fears that he would give in to temptation and drink, or if he was scared that Alan Thicke's character would would develop alcohol addiction

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John Toma | Nostalgia Nation's avatar

You're right, Luke was terrified of following the same path as his father. That's a great story arc episode for sure!

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