For people outside the family circle, watching someone else’s home movies is about as exciting watching paint dry.
But when Adam Goldberg, creator of the popular TV show, “The Goldberg’s,” took his family videotapes to Doug Robinson (executive producer of “Happy Madison,” “Rules of Engagement” and more), Robinson was glued to the tube, and slapping his knee with laughter.
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“This is a TV show,” Goldberg recalled Robinson saying.
Goldberg, joined by several cast members of the show and the general manager of WPVI-TV, was honored Friday during a ceremony at City Hall. Mayor Jim Kenney paid tribute to Goldberg’s success on the Philly-inspired television show set in the 1980s, during the era of bangles, big hair, Boomboxes, Walkmans, fanny packs, Rubik’s Cubes and Nintendo.
“Everyone in the region, myself included, can relate to this show,” said Kenney. “Not only does it bring me back to the joy of Flyers, Eagles, Phillies and Sixers games I watched with my dad – it actually provides an accurate depiction of Philly fans.”
Goldberg admitted it took him a decade to find the courage to write the show, fearing no one would want to see a comedy based off his real-life experiences growing up in the city’s suburbs.
“I was 100 percent positive that no one would want to spend their free time watching what went on in the Goldberg household,” he said.
“Most of my childhood was a blur of my dad’s tighty-whities and my mom wearing her ugly sweaters and my brother, Barry, going through this deep, spiraling behavior when the Eagles would lose. So, I thought, who would want to watch that? I never thought that people would relate, but they did.”
During tonight’s Phillies’ game against the Oakland A’s, fans will be treated to tons of 80s fun for “The Goldberg’s Night” at Citizens Bank park, where Goldberg will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, Phillies-themed clips from the show will be featured on PhanaVision throughout the game, fans will receive a retro Phillies/Goldbergs slap bracelet.