ABC’s The Goldbergs concluded it’s third season in May and even after 71 episodes the show’s timeline, 1980-something, still continues to be a bone of contention week after week on social media. Every Wednesday Twitter is a light with people pointing out various “inconsistencies” or how “that just didn’t happen then!”. Sigh
Well, I’m here to (hopefully) clear the air once and for all and prove that 1980-something is something to enjoy, and not fight. So please, put down your Rubik’s cube and indulge me, won’t you?
When does the show take place?
The Goldbergs takes place between the years of 1980 and 1989, and while the opening voice over does in fact specify a day, such as March 9th, the year is always referred to as 1980-something. Quirky right? I know.. keep reading.
But that thing wasn’t around at the same time as that thing.
Yes, you’re right Ferris Beuller wasn’t around at the same time as the Reebok Pump, and The Beastie Boys were fighting for their right (to party) long before Mannequin hit the silver screen. We get it, you’re a master of 80’s trivia. But you know what? The Goldbergs isn’t a documentary. It’s a sitcom! It’s under no obligation to be factually accurate.
In case you didn’t notice the show’s creator Adam F Goldberg is a geek, and he will be the first to acknowledge that the show is a jumble of all things 80’s. But while the show does use pop culture references and news stories from the decade, they are only meant to be a back drop for the stories being told. It’s not about Gobots or Alf, but about family, friends, and the experiences of growing up. All things anyone can relate to, no matter what decade you grew up in.
Anyone who has wandered down memory lane will attest to the fact, that you don’t always remember exactly when things happened but you do remember how they made you feel. A jumble of moments that had an impact on your life, that’s what you remember – and that’s exactly what The Goldbergs is – moments from Adam’s real life. Why do you think there’s real home videos at the end of the show? Because it all really happened. And, yeah okay I guess the writers could easily go by the time stamp of such videos to create a more linear timeline but that just leads me into….
It never established itself as a linear narrative.
Sure this week we revisit the New Kids on The Block, who were big in the late 80’s, and next week’s episode takes us back to the beginning of the decade with the opening of Star Wars.. and you know what guys? That’s okay because…
It’s called artistic license.
All writers – no matter who they are use it, because it allows them the freedom to explore the characters and their world more freely. Real life can be very boring at times, so why put those moments on screen? Why not cherry pick the moments that best encapsulate what you were going through, or what was happening? The Goldbergs does this with 1980-something.
Many, including myself, argue that The Goldbergs is set up as if being told many years later, à la How I Met Your Mother. Perhaps Patton Oswalt’s “Adult Adam” is not just providing the voice-over for the show but relaying his ‘memories’ to his children or grandchildren in present day. That would explain why the use of 1980-something works so well, because really no one cares when it happened just that it happened.
Final Thoughts
While this opinion piece is just that – an opinion of one fan, I hope it can open people’s eyes to the fact that inconsistencies on this show are irrelevant. The Goldbergs is meant to be a funny half hour that takes you away from the problems of your world – and really isn’t that what we want from TV? A fun form of escapism? I know I do.
So please social media buddies, stop fighting it and start believing in 1980-something.
Writer’s Note: This article originally appeared on the television site Voice of TV.
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