The Goldbergs (2013 — 2022)

The Goldbergs is set in an alternate version of the 1980s in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, and shows the reality of the 1980s through a preadolescent’s, and later in the series, teenager’s, eyes. The show is loosely based on the showrunner’s childhood, during which he regularly videotaped events. Many of these videos are reenacted for series episodes, with the original version then shown before the end credits. The series stars Jeff Garlin as the father, Murray, and Wendi McLendon-Covey as the mother, Beverly. Their two older children are Erica and Barry. The youngest child, Adam, documents his family life with his video camera. Beverly’s father, Albert “Pops” Solomon, is frequently around to provide advice or to help out his grandchildren (often behind his daughter’s back).

The present-day “Adult Adam” narrates every episode as taking place in “1980-something”. The show’s episodes are frequently built around the era’s pop culture in a non-chronological order, and each season contains references from throughout the decade. Many references to real-life Philadelphia-area businesses are made, including the Wawa convenience store chain, Gimbel’s department store, Willow Grove Park Mall, and Kremp’s Florist of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Additionally, several 1980s cultural icons guest star as themselves on the show and a number of figures from Goldberg’s actual life guest star as fictional characters or their own parents.