Growing Pains: The Heartwarming Show That Stole Our Hearts

Back in the early '80s, it seemed like the sitcom genre was on its last legs. Audiences had checked out, and critics weren’t exactly handing out praise. But then, in the fall of 1984, something magical happened. The Cosby Show premiered, and it was like a breath of fresh air. Suddenly, prime-time TV was alive again, and networks realized they needed more sitcoms. One of those shows? ABC's Growing Pains, which is still charming audiences today on Antenna TV.

A Family You’ll Love: Meet the Seavers

Debuting in 1985 and running until 1992, Growing Pains was all about the Seaver family. At the heart of it all was Dr. Jason Seaver, played by Alan Thicke, a psychiatrist who worked out of his home office. His wife, Maggie Seaver, portrayed by Joanna Kerns, was a reporter who balanced her career with raising their three kids: Mike (Kirk Cameron), Carol (Tracey Gold), and Ben (Jeremy Miller). Over the years, the family grew with the addition of Chrissy (Ashley Johnson) and even a young Leonardo DiCaprio as the homeless Luke Brower. It was a show that felt like home, with laughs, love, and life lessons thrown in for good measure.

Was It Just a Cosby Clone?

When Growing Pains first hit the airwaves, critics were quick to dismiss it as just another Cosby Show knockoff. But guess what? It was a hit right out of the gate. And let’s be honest, that’s not surprising when you consider the show was created by Neal Marlens, who was part of the creative team behind The Wonder Years. That’s some serious TV talent right there. Sure, there were similarities, but Growing Pains carved out its own unique niche.

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Alan Thicke Weighs In

One of the first people to speak up against the Cosby comparisons was Alan Thicke himself. In an interview with The Sacramento Bee in 1986, he said, “Why don’t we compare it to Ozzie and Harriet or Father Knows Best? We’re not trying to be Cosby. Our show is more story-driven than ensemble-focused. Cosby is all about Bill Cosby himself. They don’t focus on stories; they’re all about relationships. Bill Cosby took that concept and turned it into an art form. There’s really nothing new under the sun. He’s been talking about family quirks in his stand-up routines for years. He’s the parenting Mark Twain of our time.”

Thicke also pointed out the romantic and sensual undertones between him and Joanna Kerns. “If you read our scripts, or even compare them to Cosby or Miami Vice, you wouldn’t think, ‘Wow, this is revolutionary.’ What makes it different is the combination of the cast and how it’s executed. It’s the people and the way we bring it to life that sets us apart.”

For more on the incredible cast of Growing Pains, keep scrolling down.