Product Details

• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (85 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1419819208
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #153,511 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This four-disc set offers two welcome opportunities to be reunited with the Seaver family. The first is all 22 episodes of this 1985 sitcom's inaugural season, which resurrected the career of failed talk-show host Alan Thicke, and catapulted Kirk Cameron to teen-idol status. The second is a near-half-hour present-day campfire chat with all the cast members, including Joanna Kerns (conflicted working mom Maggie), a hearty and seemingly healthy Tracey Gold (brainy daughter Carol), and Jeremy Miller (precocious younger son Ben). Joined by writer Tim O'Donnell, they share memories of how each was cast, their fond memories of the show and dealing with fan adulation. Growing Pains did not really suffer any. It cracked the Top Ten in its first season, and while the cast members are not the most natural comic actors, by season's end their bond is palpable and the characters really do seem like family. Thicke's Dr. Jason Seaver is a sitcom anomaly: a work-at-home dad. He has moved his psychiatric practice into the den after Maggie takes a job as a journalist. His belief system is put to the supreme test by his three children, especially 15-year-old Mike (Cameron), whom Maggie calls "a hormone with feet." In the pilot episode, no sooner does Jason agree to give Mike more independence, then Mike is jailed for joyriding in his older friend's car.

Growing Pains does have a tendency to go for the easy laugh by having the kids--especially 9-year-old Ben--spout age-inappropriate jokes ("It was all so clinical," he complains at one point to Maggie after Jason bandages a scrape). But the series did admirably touch on some hot button family issues. In "The Seavers vs. the Cleavers," Annette Funicello guest stars in a rare mean role as a parent who disapproves of Maggie choosing to work "just when her children need her the most" (a nifty little retro joke: "Ward, I'm worried about the Seavers"). In "Superdad!," Maggie is upset that Carol turns to the ever-present Jason and not to her for advice. Refreshingly, not all problems are solved by episode's end. In the same episode, a boy the esteem-challenged Carol has an unrequited crush on does not miraculously materialize to ask her to the dance. In addition to the cast reunion, this set contains an interesting extra: the unaired version of the pilot with a less telegenic (but perhaps more in character) Elizabeth Ward in the role of Carol. For those who grew up with the Seavers, and in need of a retro blast of '80s nostalgia, Growing Pains will still, to quote the theme song, show you that smile again. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Oh Grow Up, April 17, 2006

By 

Bennet Pomerantz "Bennet Pomerantz, AUDIOWORLD" (College Park, Maryland) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Growing Pains: The Complete First Season (DVD)

If Father Knows Best had been revised in 1980's , It would have been called Growning Pains-Tim Brooks, Prime Time Guide to Network Shows

One of the two staples of the 1980's sitcoms was Growing Pains> the Other is (the unleased to DVD at this time) Family Ties (with Micheal J. Fox).

Alan Thicke does his best TV work playing Jason Seavers, a home office Psychiatric doctor working at home and a SUPERDAD. He is a shrink who doesn't understand his three kids. His wife Maggie (Joanna Kerns) returns to the work world as a report for the local paper.The three kids... Mike (Kirk Cameron) who is a con man, slacker and a huster, always looking for the newest deal...Carol (Tracie Gold) who is the brainy intelligent one and Ben (Jeremy Miller) who as the youngest child tries to act like both Mike and Carol with limited success.

What makes this TV show work is the interplay between the characters. Its the writing that makes this show.

The extras on this set is a cute documentary of the cast talking of the show (S'mores and more) and the Original pilot with another actress playing Carol. What is missing is cast commentaries on any episodes in this set.

Is it worth it? Yes and it barely dates itself...King of The Hill and the Simpsons took pages from the Growing Pains's playbook..you can see this when you watch these episodes

Bennet Pomerantz, AUDIOWORLD

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW, Even Better Than I Thought, June 13, 2006

By 

ktk3438 "ktk3438" (Midwest United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Growing Pains: The Complete First Season (DVD)

Has it been over 20 years? Time flies. If you watched this show when it aired, then this is a MUST HAVE!

This was everything I imagined, and more. Seeing the un-aired pilot was awkward with the other young lady, and I can see why they changed. The show would not have been the success that it was without all of the cast they ended up with.

It was great seeing episodes I have not seen in years, and even better to see ones I have never seen. Although like anything older, it is dated in some ways, but it really brought me back to a great time in this country, and in television.

This had to be the tops for that time frame, and the length of it's run time proves it.

I liked the bloopers, but wanted more afterwards, there are not many. The campfire extra they throw in is nice as well. It's nice to see everyone as they are now. Although it a little was scary seeing Tracey Gold try to sing the theme along with everyone, she did not know the words? Imagine that! I know she's been through a lot, but she grew up on that show, those words should be as easy to repeat as her own name. It made me feel sorry for her, but I guess she's had her mind on more important things.

All in all, this was a welcome addition to my collection of DVD's, and probably my most respected. I cannot wait for the other seasons to come out, how long must we wait??

GET IT!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The benchmark of '80s sitcoms!, March 25, 2007

By 

Joanna Mechlinski (CT, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Growing Pains: The Complete First Season (DVD)

Born in 1980, I grew up with the Seavers, who seemed to me the essence of a closeknit family...

With mom Maggie a journalist, dad Jason works from home -- something of a novelty in '80s television, and maybe even today. His kids need his attention, in different ways: 15-year-old Mike's a hormonal troublemaker with an engaging personality, while 14-year-old Carol is studious and a worrier, while 9-year-old Ben's struggling to grow up and come into his own.

"Growing Pains" also features something else that's something of a rarity now...a great theme song! To this day, it's one of my favorites, and included in the TV theme playlist on my iPod.

Whether you grew up with this show and want to reminisce, or want to introduce it to you kids, definitely pick up this box set! You'll be sure to get lots of laughs, and even learn the inevitable moral or two along the way.