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"Everybody's got a special kind of story" as the theme tune stated. Unfortunately the young cast members had fairly sad ones. Enough has been said about the individual tragedies of Dana Plato, Todd Bridges and Gary Coleman so I won't say too much there.
Gary Coleman was an entertaining little fellow who really quite held the show together, Colin Bain's performance as a modern day daddy Warbucks kind of figure was actually played with quite a deal of sincerity despite sometimes dubious plot sometimes and special credit to both Nedra Volz and Charlotte Rae who provided some of the best moments of hilarity as the housekeepers. There where some annoying things like that Sam kid who was added later on when Arnold started maturing and losing his cutseyness (how many shows have done this when the ratings dwindle) and episodes like the one with Nancy Reagan eh..war on drugs propaganda. But also nice things like a very hot young Janet Jackson who played Willis's girfriend in a few episodes. They did get quite brave with their subject matter at times, for the time especially in a prime time g rated show. A spin-off from the show "The Facts of Life" was also not too bad.
It's good to see again. A real time capsule of middle America's sensibilities of the 70s and 80s wrapped up in a family entertainment package.
7/10
