WHEN WE THOUGHT of writing a review for this LIFE GOES ON Series, we didn't realize that it had been on for a total of four years. Looking it up in IMDb records refreshed our memory. With all due respect, working on the Police Department, afternoon shift with rotating days off, preempted us from being home every Sunday, when it aired.
THE SERIES DELIVERED in the area that it promised. Being a far cry from depictions of "typical" American families from previous times, this story of the Thatcher family; who, like every family, have their share of bumps in the road of life.
THE CAST WAS particularly well chosen; as everyone in the "Thatcher family" has both convincing attitude and appearance. The cast consisted of: Bill Mitovich (Drew Thatcher, Father), Patty LuPone, (Libby Thatcher, Mother), Chris Burke, son Corky), Kellie Martin (Becca Thatcher, Daughter) and Tracey Needham (Paige Thatcher, daughter).
THE ONGOING STORYLINE chronicled the day to day struggles of the family at all levels. E.G., Father's construction business goes under and he regroups his energies into operating a restaurant. The Mother faces up to the inevitable changes in life as one ages. Becca struggles with the trials of an adolescent's coming of age.
BUT THE MOST groundbreaking and innovative element was introduced in the character of Corky. It is that the younger Mr. Thatcher is a Son; who just happens to be a Down Syndrome teen. Actor Chris Burke, who portrayed Corky, is in real life, so afflicted.
THERE COULD WELL have been a tendency for the production team to gravitate toward being preachy and maudlin. This they tastefully avoided and instead they gave us a straightforward, bold and realistic dramatization of a family whose love and devotion for each other, holds them together; all the while they were weathering economic chaos, social set backs and coming to grips with with the cold, cruel treatment that some gave to Corky.
WHEN ALL IS considered and LIFE GOES ON is evaluated as a complete series, it surely will be rated as an all time top dramatic series! AND TO THINK, it was on ABC, not on that pretentious tax glutton, PBS.Now, what would Newton Minow say?*
NOTE * Newton Minow (1926-) a politically active Chicago lawyer, was appointed as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission in the Kennedy Administration. In a speech before the National Associatoion of Broadcasters in 1961, he referred to commercial TV as a "vast wasteland."
THE SERIES DELIVERED in the area that it promised. Being a far cry from depictions of "typical" American families from previous times, this story of the Thatcher family; who, like every family, have their share of bumps in the road of life.
THE CAST WAS particularly well chosen; as everyone in the "Thatcher family" has both convincing attitude and appearance. The cast consisted of: Bill Mitovich (Drew Thatcher, Father), Patty LuPone, (Libby Thatcher, Mother), Chris Burke, son Corky), Kellie Martin (Becca Thatcher, Daughter) and Tracey Needham (Paige Thatcher, daughter).
THE ONGOING STORYLINE chronicled the day to day struggles of the family at all levels. E.G., Father's construction business goes under and he regroups his energies into operating a restaurant. The Mother faces up to the inevitable changes in life as one ages. Becca struggles with the trials of an adolescent's coming of age.
BUT THE MOST groundbreaking and innovative element was introduced in the character of Corky. It is that the younger Mr. Thatcher is a Son; who just happens to be a Down Syndrome teen. Actor Chris Burke, who portrayed Corky, is in real life, so afflicted.
THERE COULD WELL have been a tendency for the production team to gravitate toward being preachy and maudlin. This they tastefully avoided and instead they gave us a straightforward, bold and realistic dramatization of a family whose love and devotion for each other, holds them together; all the while they were weathering economic chaos, social set backs and coming to grips with with the cold, cruel treatment that some gave to Corky.
WHEN ALL IS considered and LIFE GOES ON is evaluated as a complete series, it surely will be rated as an all time top dramatic series! AND TO THINK, it was on ABC, not on that pretentious tax glutton, PBS.Now, what would Newton Minow say?*
NOTE * Newton Minow (1926-) a politically active Chicago lawyer, was appointed as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission in the Kennedy Administration. In a speech before the National Associatoion of Broadcasters in 1961, he referred to commercial TV as a "vast wasteland."