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May 21, 2013

Growing Pains

TV 101: Where Have All the Theme Songs Gone?

by Dr. Ryan Vaughan, PhD (no, seriously), posted Mar 23rd 2011 5:15PM

Growing PainsThe TV show theme song used to be an institution, something you could look forward to with joy, often overshadowing the show itself. I can't count the number of times my wide-eyed young self was steadily enthused by the warm, familiar theme to 'Who's the Boss?' just in time for Alyssa Milano to dazzle me with her sexy tomboy 'tude.

Those days are mostly gone, unfortunately. First they were replaced by popular songs -- but all Paula Cole made me do was vomit just before I got my Dawson and Joey on. I didn't want to wait for that SONG to be over -- now it seems "theme songs" are actually just titular lines blurted out between commercials by some singing robot. Why would you throw away something so unabashedly awesome?

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Six Comedies That Traveled to Hawaii

by Rich Keller, posted May 12th 2010 1:15PM

The Brady's go to Hawaii -- One of a half-dozen sitcom familes that have traveled to the Aloha StateThis week, the Dunphys of ABC's 'Modern Family' spend some time in the islands of Hawaii. Though visiting the Aloha State during a show's first season is unprecedented in the world of television comedy, it certainly isn't the first sitcom that has spent some time there. Over the last four decades there have been a half-dozen comedies that have visited Hawaii's beaches.

1. 'The Brady Bunch' -- The standard-bearer for all future visits to Hawaii. This three-part 'Hawaii Bound' episode, which began the show's fourth season, had everything: luscious scenery, a cursed tiki, creepy caves, straight hair going curly, Don Ho, Vincent Price and Marsha Brady in a bikini. Even today, almost four decades since the episodes premiered, folks will stop everything when they air.

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Kirk Cameron Reprises Role as Mike Seaver ... Sort Of (VIDEO)

by Donald Deane, posted Mar 16th 2010 3:30PM

For a few shining moments this morning, Kirk Cameron was once again Mike Seaver from 'Growing Pains.' On 'Today,' (weekdays, 7AM ET on NBC), Cameron briefly reprised his role as Seaver by flipping up his collar, affecting a squeaky voice, and holding imaginary conversations with his parents.

Cameron explained that he often performs as Seaver as a way to focus an audience's attention during speaking engagements. "Every once in a while I'll go out and I'll speak at a school or a church ... and people are not listening to what I'm saying because they're thinking, 'Oh, there's that guy from 'Growing Pains.' I call that condition 'Seaver Fever,'" he said. "So, I try to get rid of it by feeding the fever and giving people six years of Mike Seaver in 60 seconds."

Watch the video after the jump.

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Who Are Your Favorite TV Parents?

by Sandie Angulo Chen, posted Mar 9th 2010 3:00PM

Parenthood on NBC review
Since NBC's new family dramedy 'Parenthood' premiered last week, it's time to reflect on the best of primetime parents. All of us who grew up watching TV had favorites -- the kind of parents we measured the very notion of parenthood by, and sometimes even our own mothers and fathers, because they were so sweet and loving or patient and smart or fun and free-spirited -- or all of the above. Here's your chance, as Inside TV readers, to pick your favorite set of fictional TV parents. Don't see your personal faves as a choice, just tell us in the comments.

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'Growing Pains' Actor Found Dead in Vancouver (VIDEO)

by Jane Boursaw, posted Feb 25th 2010 11:34PM

The Fox Report With Shepard Smith, Andrew KoenigWell, this is sad news. 'The Fox Report With Shepard Smith' (weeknights, 7PM ET on FNC) is reporting that cops say they've found a body believed to be that of Andrew Koenig, best known for playing "Boner" on 'Growing Pains.'

Vancouver police and the actor's father, Walter Koenig (best known for playing Lt. Chekov on the original 'Star Trek,' have confirmed the news. Later, during an emotional press conference, Walter Koenig acknowledged, "My son took his own life." For more on the story, visit Popeater.com.

Watch the video after the jump.

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Police Have Found Andrew Koenig's Body

by Danny Gallagher, posted Feb 25th 2010 9:02PM

TMZ has a sad and heartbreaking update on the ongoing saga of Andrew Koenig. Police have found the actor's body and his father, Walter Koenig, said it appears that his son took his own life.

Vancouver police released a statement earlier today that said a body was found in Stanley Park around noon that they believed was Koenig, the 41-year-old actor, activist and photographer who played Boner on the 80's sitcom 'Growing Pains'.

Andrew's mother, Judy, and father have just offered a public statement. Through the tears, they thanked the people who reached out to the family and urged people who think they are suffering from depression to seek help through their friends and family.



[via MSNBC]

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Andrew Koenig's Parents Walk Off 'Larry King Live'

by Brad Trechak, posted Feb 25th 2010 11:29AM

Walter KoenigThe parents of Andrew Koenig, best known for playing Richard "Boner" Stabone on the television series 'Growing Pains', walked off the set of 'Larry King Live' when their segment was interrupted by a breaking news story. Andrew's father is Walter Koenig, who is best known for playing the character of Pavel Chekov on the original 'Star Trek' series (and is only slightly less known for playing the evil telepath Alfred Bester on 'Babylon 5').

If I were the parents of a missing child, no matter what age, and I was invited to a major news program to plead for his safe return only to have the segment delayed, I'd be pissed off too. It's tough to blame the Koenigs for their behavior, particularly with a missing child. CNN should have rescheduled or at least pre-taped the segment like they did with Andrew's sister. It seems like Larry is getting a little insensitive in his old age.

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Walter and Judy Koenig Abruptly Leave 'Larry King Live' (VIDEO)

by Jane Boursaw, posted Feb 25th 2010 2:00AM

Larry King Live, Andrew Koenig, Walter KoenigThings are getting more interesting in the case of Andrew Koenig, missing since Valentine's Day when he was last seen in Vancouver. His parents, Judy and Walter Koenig (he played Chekhov in the original 'Star Trek') are in Vancouver helping police search for their son.

Apparently, they were all set to appear on 'Larry King Live' (weeknights, 9PM ET on CNN), but abruptly left the studio without explanation.

You have to wonder if they received information at the last minute that they couldn't talk about. Or maybe they're just too distraught to talk about it. Either way, it's all very sad, and we hope Andrew turns up safe and sound.

Watch the video after the jump.

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Actor Who Played "Boner" on 'Growing Pains' Is Missing

by Bob Sassone, posted Feb 21st 2010 1:30PM

Andrew KoenigLike a lot of people nowadays, I seem to hear all of my breaking news reports on Twitter, and that's how I found out that actor and activist Josh Andrew Koenig is missing. If the name doesn't ring a bell, he's the son of actor Walter Koenig ('Star Trek') and played Boner on the 80s sitcom 'Growing Pains.'

Koenig was last seen in Vancouver last week. He was supposed to fly back home on February 16 but did not board the flight and no one has heard from him since. Those familiar with the writing of Harlan Ellison know that the story "Jeffty is Five" was inspired by Koenig.

Koenig has been a political activist for quite some time and is also a camera operator on Never Not Funny. Several celebrities, including VH-1's Doug Benson, Jimmy Pardo (Koenig's brother-in-law), Sarah Silverman, Alyssa Milano, and 'How I Met Your Mother' star Alyson Hannigan have been tweeting about his disappearance and a Facebook page has been started. If you have any information about Koenig at all, please contact the Vancouver Police Department at 604-717-2534.

Update: Koenig's parents tell TMZ that he was suffering from depression and that the last time they heard from him was on February 9.

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Seven '90s TV Show Reunions That Need to Happen Right Now

by Kelly Woo, posted Jun 9th 2009 6:00PM



The Zack Attack is back! Alas, it was for one night only.

Last night, Mark-Paul Gosselaar surprised Jimmy Fallon on 'Late Night' by showing up dressed as Zack Morris from 'Saved By the Bell' -- complete with giant mobile phone. Fallon's been obsessed with putting together a 'Saved By the Bell' reunion, and Gosselaar (who now stars in TNT's 'Raising the Bar') gamely agreed to participate -- if Fallon can get everybody else on board.

It got us thinking about which of our favorite '90s sitcoms need to hold reunions, like, yesterday. 'The Today Show' already hosted a 'Cosby Show' reunion, but here are some more meet-back-ups we really, really want to see:

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Those commercials for 17 Again really bother me

by Bob Sassone, posted Apr 14th 2009 1:24PM

17 AgainI've been trying to figure out what bothers me about the TV commercials for the new movie 17 Again, and I finally know what it is: it's just not believable.

I know, I know, of course a movie that features a 37-year-old man somehow becoming a teenager again through some complicated process (from the previews I think it involves a whirlpool and/or lightning) isn't supposed to be gritty realism, but I'm talking about the cast members.

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A handy guide to sitcom homes

by Bob Sassone, posted Mar 19th 2009 1:02PM

sitcom housesDamn, I wish I had thought of this.

Artist and writer Dan Meth has created a series of cool pop culture charts at his web site, and the one on the right is a handy guide to sitcom homes. Sense a pattern? The shows in the top half all have kitchens on the left and living rooms on the right (how we see them via the camera angle), and the ones on the bottom have the living room on the left and the kitchen on the right.

I guess there are only so many things you can do on a sitcom, especially if it's filmed in front of an audience as many of these were.

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Boner from Growing Pains heads to court

by Bob Sassone, posted Mar 4th 2008 3:02PM

KoenigBut don't worry, it's the "good" kind of heading to court, not the drunk driving/holding up a video store/punching someone kind.

Andrew Koenig, who played Boner on Growing Pains* (and is the son of Star Trek's Walter Koenig) was arrested and jailed for 10 hours for stepping in front of a Rose Parade float on New Year's Day. Koenig was protesting the treatment of people in Burma, and the float was a celebration of China and the upcoming summer Olympics. Koenig and his father even went there last year to investigate what is happening and to film some of it. A pre-trial hearing was held yesterday.

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Today to host classic TV cast reunions

by Allison Waldman, posted Feb 22nd 2008 12:02PM

Knots ladiesReunions are hot, you know? On February 12, for example, Oprah reunited (most of) the kids from The Cosby Show, with Bill appearing via satellite. Well, never one to let a good idea go to waste, NBC jumped on the theme. They recently had a Family Ties reunion on Today, so now the morning show is commencing tomorrow with a series of more "Together Again" features. Tune into 8:00 a.m. hour each day so you don't miss a thing!

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Out of the Blogosphere

by Bob Sassone, posted May 13th 2007 9:14AM

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