John Tracy Movies
- 1986
Jason (Alan Thicke) and Maggie (Joanna Kerns) are outraged when the monthly phone bill arrives, indicating that someone in the Seaver household has made 67 calls to a phone-sex service. Automatically, Jason and Maggie conclude that Mike (Kirk Cameron) is the guilty party--but it turns out that the "phantom caller" is Ben, who not only lies about his indiscretion but tries to shift the blame to his friend Kris (Michael Kenworthy). Interestingly enough, this little moral lesson is told in flashback--we know WHAT has happened, but it takes a bit of time to figure out HOW and WHY. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
His head filled with the words of dad Jason (Alan Thicke) , who has been pontificating on the virtues of "giving" rather than receiving, Ben (Jeremy Miller) invites a stranger to spend Christmas with the Seavers. That stranger happens to be Denise (Hallie Todd), a scruffy street kid whom Ben found foraging through garbage cans for food. The family isn't all that keen on entertaining Denise, but circumstances are dramatically altered in both a surprising and touching fashion. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
This episode originally marked the return of Growing Pains to ABC's Tuesday-night schedule, after a two-month hiatus in which the series' timeslot was occupied by the brand-new sitcom Perfect Strangers. The plot finds both Jason (Alan Thicke) and Maggie (Joanna Kerns) facing the possibility of a radical career change, with Jason being offered a more lucrative job at Long Island Hospital, while Maggie considers quitting the newspaper after being humiliated by her boss. But will the couple agree to return to their former status quo, with Jason going to work while Maggie stays at home? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
Mike (Kirk Cameron) is devastated when his favorite uncle, an inveterate practical joker named Bob (James Callahan), suddenly dies during a visit to the Seavers. A few nights later, Bob's capricious ghost materializes before Mike's eyes. Is he merely dreaming out of grief, or has Bob really returned? Whatever the case, Mike is so unnerved that he may never go to sleep again! This is the final episode of Growing Pains' first season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
Jason (Alan Thicke) and Maggie (Joanna Kerns) are shocked when the PTA turns down their offer to chaperone a school dance. Apparently, the head of the PTA thinks that the couple is too permissive for the job, but by the time daughter Carol (Tracey Gold) gets wind of the story, she is convinced that her mom and dad have been deemed thoroughly "unacceptable" as parents! Appearing as PTA president Mrs. Hinkley is none other than former Mousketeer and Beach-movie heroine Annette Funicello--a casting coup that passed by without any sort of publicity fanfare when this episode originally aired in 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
Jason (Alan Thicke) is so preoccupied with the magazine article he is writing that he responds with anger when Maggie (Joanna Kerns) announces that she may be pregnant. While this drama is playing itself out, Mike (Kirk Cameron) finds himself forced to wait on "Lord" Ben (Jeremy Miller) hand and foot throughout the weekend lest his parents discover that he's broken a window. And finally, Carol (Tracey Gold) wants to divorce her geeky "husband" in a school marriage project (after all, according the scenario they have 11 kids and no bank account!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
An angry Jason (Alan Thicke) confronts Ben's hockey coach (Dan Lauria), whose win-at-all-costs philosophy extends to teaching the kids how to play dirty. As a result, Jason ends up with a black eye--putting him in good company with the similarly "decorated" Ben. Meanwhile, Maggie (Joanna Kerns) tries to help Mike (Kirk Cameron) learn ballroom dancing so that he can impress his latest amour Jennifer Miller (Stacey Young). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
Mike (Kirk Cameron) is currently fascinated by a snooty, artsy-craftsy girl named Juliet Van Druten (April Lerman). So anxious is he to impress Juliet that he lies about his family, fabricating stories about their various "artistic" pursuits. But things don't reach the crisis stage until Mike chooses to go on a date with Juliet rather than join the other Seavers in a bowling match against their neighbors, the Koosnans. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
While the rest of the Seavers are visiting Maggie's parents Ed and Kate Malone (Gordon Jump, Betty McGuire), Mike (Kirk Cameron) is allowed to hold a party at home. Unfortunately, things get out of control, and what started as a "mild" affair is quickly upgraded to "wild." Meanwhile, the family is shocked to discover that Ed and Kate are about to be turned out of their house...and when Jason (Alan Thicke) offers to lend the couple the money needed to pay the bills, he's in for yet another shock. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
Jason (Alan Thicke) has made elaborate plans for his 17th wedding anniversary, including an entire day without the kids! Unfortunately, Maggie (Joanna Kerns) is called away on an assignment to Washington DC, and it looks like she won't be back in time for the celebration. And as if that wasn't irritating enough, Jason also has problems with the household plumbing. This episode was originally slated to air on February 11, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
Nervous about an upcoming history exam, Mike (Kirk Cameron) writes a few "crib notes" on the soles of his shoes. Remarkably, he aces the exam without ever consulting the notes--but the teacher (Sam Anderson) refuses to believe this and promptly flunks him. Alas, when Mike tries to convince Jason (Alan Thicke) and Maggie (Joanna Kerns) that he passed the exam fair and square, he finds that his past history of stretching the truth is being held against him...leading to one of those Very Special Moments for which this series is famous. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
Jason (Alan Thicke) can't understand how Ben (Jeremy Millier) could afford to buy him an expensive birthday present--especially on an allowance of two dollars per month. It turns out that the enterprising Ben has been going around the neighborhood, collecting for a nonexistent charity! This episode was originally scheduled to air on February 4, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
Carol (Tracey Gold) is thrilled when the most popular girl in school, cheerleader Annie (Katy Boyer), wants to be her friend. But Maggie is far from thrilled when she discovers that Carol is only playing up to Carol to be near Carol's brother Mike. Highlighted by brief clips from the film classic Casablanca, this episode (originally slated to air on October 14, 1986) is also significant in that Mike receives his first on-screen kiss (eliciting the obligatory "Oooooooh" from the laughtrack!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1985
When Maggie (Joanna Kerns) and Jason (Alan Thicke) come up with radically different responses to the same compatability test, Maggie concludes that Jason is keeping secrets from her--and not pleasant secrets at that. Meanwhile, Ben (Jeremy Miller) aspires to break a record--any record--to qualify for the "Guinness" book. And Mike (Kirk Cameron) risks life and limb in a karate class to impress a pretty student named Linda (Ami Dolenz). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1985
Despite their trepidations, Jason (Alan Thicke) and Maggie (Joanna Kerns) agree to let Mike (Kirk Cameron) take charge of the house while they spend the weekend at a Vermont mountain lodge. When they call home and no one answers, Jason and Maggie begin to imagine all sorts of horrible scenarios, ranging from a weird stranger kidnapping the kids to Carol (Tracey Gold) and Ben (Jeremy Miller) cutting up at a bar! But what is actually occuring back at home turns out to be far more fascinating. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1985
Among Jason's patients is perennial loser Walter Bodewell (Alan Blumenfeld), who can't even succeed as a department store Santa. Indeed, his feeble "Ho Ho Ho" act has even been rejected by a group of underprivileged orphans! Depressed, Walter decides to end it all by symbolically jumping down the Seavers' chimney on Christmas Eve...whereupon Ben (Jeremy Miller), of all people, comes to the rescue. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1985
Against his parents' orders, Mike (Kirk Cameron) goes for a ride on a dirt bike, only to suffer a painful fall. The trick now is to hide his injuries from Maggie (Joanna Kerns) and Jason (Alan Thicke), to say nothing of hiding his guilt and humiliation. Elsewhere, Ben (Jeremy Miller) begins suffering traumatic nightmares, which are "analyzed" by Carol as part of a school project--a fact which Ben tries to turn to his financial advantage. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1985
Carol (Tracey Gold) is swept off her feet when handsome Jeff Beckman (John Scott Clough), an old friend of the Seaver family, returns to Long Island. She has always had a crush on Jeff, and has always assumed that the feeling was mutual. But when Carol goes out to dinner with Jeff, the fact that he has always regarded her as merely his "little sister" comes crashing down on her in dramatic fashion. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1980
Season Six of Laverne & Shirley begins--belatedly, due to a Hollywood writers' strike--as the titular heroines (played by Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams), along with fellow employees Lenny (Michael McKean) and Squiggy (David L. Lander), are fired en masse when Shotz Brewery replaces them with machines. Figuring that it's time for a radical change in their lives, the girls and the guys bid farewell to Milwaukee and head to California, where Laverne's dad Frank (Phil Foster) and stepmom Edna (Betty Garrett) have already relocated. This pivotal episode is highlighted by an extended dream sequence in which Laverne imagines herself married to a lifeguard, played by former pro football player and future Hunter star Fred Dryer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1980
Arriving in California in a dilapidated ice cream truck, Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams) move into their new Burbank apartment, right next door to their perennial neighbors Lenny (Michael McKean) and Squiggy (David L. Lander). In short order, the girls meet two new series regulars: stuntman-cum-landlord Sonny St. Jacques (Ed Marinaro) and sarcastic model-dancer Rhonda Lee (Leslie Easterbrook). They also realize with startling suddenness that they aren't in Milwaukee anymore when their new living quarters are rocked by a typical California earthquake! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1980
Through the auspices of their landlord, part-time stuntman Sonny St. Jacques (Ed Marinaro), starstruck Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams) land jobs in a major Hollywood movie. The good news is that the girls are going to be working shoulder to shoulder with 1960s hearthrob Troy Donahue (playing himself). The bad news is that our heroines are expected to perform several dangerous stunts while dressed in skimpy cavegirl outfits! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1980
Frank (Phil Foster) and Edna (Betty Garrett) gear up for the grand opening of their new Hollywood restaurant, Cowboy Bill's. At the same time, jobless Laverne (Penny Marshall) endeavors to pay off her debts to Shirley (Cindy Williams) by agreeing to play the "target" in Sonny's knifethrowing act, which is planned as the main attraction of the opening ceremonies. Alas, Sonny (Ed Marinaro) is unable to appear, obliging a nervous (and notoriously accident-prone) Shirley to take his place! With this episode, Eddie Mekka rejoins the cast as "Big Ragu" Carmine. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1980
After several lean weeks in California, Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams) finally land jobs in the giftwrapping department at Bardwell's Department Store. Unfortunately, it looks like the girls will be fired before they can be formally hired, thanks to a tantalizing consignment of chocolate candy laced with 100-proof rum. The final scene of this episode evokes fond and funny memories of similar chaotic climaxes in Laverne & Shirley's spirtual ancestor I Love Lucy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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