Growing Pains - The Complete First Season |  | Directors: Joanna Kerns, Jonathan Weiss, Dan Guntzelman, Nancy Heydorn, Don Amendolia
Actors: Alan Thicke, Joanna Kerns, Kirk Cameron
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $27.98
Buy New: $5.25
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Rating:  82 reviews
Sales Rank: 12,474
Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
Languages: English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Discs: 4
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Running Time: 527 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.6 x 0.8
MPN: 012569740433
ISBN: 1419819208
UPC: 012569740433
EAN: 9781419819209
ASIN: B000C6NPHC
Theatrical Release Date: September 24, 1985
Release Date: February 7, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
The comedic adventures of a psychologist with a home business and his journalist wife as they raise their children.
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
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 82
 WOW, Even Better Than I Thought June 13, 2006
ktk3438 (Midwest United States)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
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!
Pls Release Growing Pains! June 7, 2005
Growing Pains Fan (Singapore)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
I'm writing 'cause I agree with all the reviews here! Growing Pains is an all-time best sitcom ever! Great acting, humour, drama and plots with good moral - what more could you ask? Please release Growing Pains on DVDs - all the 7 seasons! I've got friends and relatives who will definitely buy them too!!!
Why did Warner Brothers abandon this show? August 17, 2006
Bryan Holwerda (Muskegon, Michigan United States)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
Sometimes I hate big studios, and their poor decisions. In a recent online chat with the WB about their tv shows on dvd, a good question came up. The question was if they were going to continue with Growing Pains on dvd. Their response "NO plans for Growing Pains".
This is so sad. Why would they not release the other seasons? They should at least give it a chance, and release the second season. Horrible news.
Well its about Time November 20, 2005
T. Stewart (Santa Cruz)
18 out of 24 found this review helpful
Eventhough I was to young to original watch "Growing Pains" durring its inital seven-season run on ABC, the show is still forever linked to my childhood through the miracle of syndication. I remember every weekday after school coming home and watching this wonderful seris on the Disney Channel. I really don't know what originally hooked my 5-year-old self, but even today I can still watch these reruns and smile.
The show follows the misadventures of the Seaver Family and all the escapades that life throws them into. First there are the parents: Maggie the new working mother and her partnet in crime, the stay-at-home-father. And then there is Mike who always seems to find himself in trouble, and yet uses his good looks to get out of it. And then there is Carol, book-worm and all-around girl-next-door nerd. Finally (atleast this season) comes Ben the annoying little brother.
This is a family sitcom about a family, and despite a persons age I honestly cannot see how anyone could not giggle and be entertaining with a trip with the seavers.
Getting this show to DVD has been a real chore. For years fans have been asking, bugging, and doing many different things to see the shiney discs for Growing Pains, and now it has finally paid off. Although the extra are pretty sparse, this is a most-have set for any child of the 80s.
My 2nd Family Returns! March 30, 2006
Jedi4JC (California)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Back in 1985, the Seaver Family became my "2nd family." I was 15, and as any teen knows, it can be a challenging age. Trying to find my place in the world. Dealing with my own family problems. Needing a place of refuge. Back then, I didn't know that God alone could give me the peace I needed, so I hid from my problems by immersing myself in Growing Pains. Admittedly, I was "obsessed". Kirk became my "idol". Alan was the dad I always wished I had. And Tracey and Jeremy reminded me so much of my own brother and sister, that I felt like a perfect fit. Watching this Season One, brought back so many memories.
I'm actually gratefully now for the part the Seavers played in my life. It was an exceptionally well written show and the acting, in my opinion was top rated. They were all pros, and as the above review stated, you really did feel like they were a real family. I was blessed with the opportunity to meet several of the cast over the years and I look forward to more seasons to share with my sons and wife, who also love the show! Thanks for bringing the Seavers back!!!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 82
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