# The Goldbergs (Sitcom on ABC): They're Jewish, Right? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 9, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goldbergs-sitcom-on-abc-theyre-jewish-right/675910 "2013-12-09T17:45:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goldbergs-sitcom-on-abc-theyre-jewish-right/675910/41 "2013-12-11T14:47:58Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > So FWIW, last night was the last new episode of 2013, and was NOT a Christmas episode. The school was having a “Holiday Talent Show”, and the Patton Oswalt voiceover (which is brilliant) said at one point something like “Barry was in the holiday spirit”. No Christmas or Hanukkah decorations in the house, though I did spot a few Christmas cards on the mantle. You see!? There _is_ a war on Christmas! It apparently started in the '80s. I actually came in here to post this but was beaten to the punch. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2013, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goldbergs-sitcom-on-abc-theyre-jewish-right/675910/42 "2013-12-11T15:13:43Z")
The show is remaining as vague about their religion as it is about which year it is. The narration says that it’s nineteen-eighty-something and they mix up cultural references from throughout the decade. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goldbergs-sitcom-on-abc-theyre-jewish-right/675910/43 "2013-12-11T15:23:44Z")
Yeah. The Phillies were in the World Series a few episodes ago, which makes it 1980 or 1983, but Barry’s taken 8 karate lessons thanks to Daniel-san, and that didn’t come out until the summer of 1984. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goldbergs-sitcom-on-abc-theyre-jewish-right/675910/44 "2013-12-12T21:19:25Z")
The narrator\* gives a month and day each episode, but the year is always “nineteen eighty something.” Smart if you ask me. Allows ambuguity, anachronisms, and they won’t run into the problem _That '70s Show_, starting in 1977, but running for eight seasons. \*: IMDB only lists Oswalt through “2013;” I really hope he keeps doing it. The mix of geeky nostalgia and wry cynicism makes for a perfect, modern-day Daniel Stern. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goldbergs-sitcom-on-abc-theyre-jewish-right/675910/45 "2013-12-13T00:05:52Z")
Is this show okay for kids to watch? We’ve caught up on The Middle and watched the entire Malcolm in the Middle series so I’m looking for something similar for my nine year old and I to watch sometimes. I’m wondering about this and Everybody Hates Chris. She’s just outgrown most kid shows and seems more interested in family dynamic type series these days. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goldbergs-sitcom-on-abc-theyre-jewish-right/675910/46 "2013-12-13T00:27:06Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Yeah. The Phillies were in the World Series a few episodes ago, which makes it 1980 or 1983, but Barry’s taken 8 karate lessons thanks to Daniel-san, and that didn’t come out until the summer of 1984. In the same episode with the Phillies in the World Series, Barry listens to “It’s Tricky” by Run-D.M.C. The album that contains that song wasn’t released until 1986. I read an interview with the creator of the series and he said that since he didn’t know how long the series would last he wanted to get as many of his favorite 80’s references in as he could. I understand why he would want to do that but it’s kind of bothersome to me when I know the timeline is messed up since I grew up in that era. I still think the show isn’t bad and I find it pretty amusing. ETA: To answer **Rushgeekgirl** , I haven’t seen every episode but I don’t recall anything that would be too bad for kids. Maybe others who have watched can remember something I’ve forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goldbergs-sitcom-on-abc-theyre-jewish-right/675910/47 "2013-12-13T01:32:58Z")
It seems family friendly to me. There is a discussion about boobs in the pilot episdoe, but that’s all I can think of that at all risque. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goldbergs-sitcom-on-abc-theyre-jewish-right/675910/48 "2013-12-13T04:34:41Z")
Oh that’s fine. We just went through Malcolm and his brothers’ obsession with boobs. That show was genius, by the way. I never appreciated it the first time around. I’ll give the show a shot. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goldbergs-sitcom-on-abc-theyre-jewish-right/675910/49 "2013-12-13T08:02:55Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Elaine had the shiksa appeal. Wasn’t there an episode based around that where she complained about “this Shiksa thing”? ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goldbergs-sitcom-on-abc-theyre-jewish-right/675910/50 "2013-12-13T13:47:12Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > Is this show okay for kids to watch? We’ve caught up on The Middle and watched the entire Malcolm in the Middle series so I’m looking for something similar for my nine year old and I to watch sometimes. I’m wondering about this and Everybody Hates Chris. She’s just outgrown most kid shows and seems more interested in family dynamic type series these days. The show is very tame (by modern standards, anyway). If you let your kids watch _The Middle_ you’ll be fine with _The Goldbergs_. The older sister _is_ a bit of a floozie, however. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goldbergs-sitcom-on-abc-theyre-jewish-right/675910/51 "2013-12-16T06:27:50Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Yeah. The Phillies were in the World Series a few episodes ago, which makes it 1980 or 1983, but Barry’s taken 8 karate lessons thanks to Daniel-san, and that didn’t come out until the summer of 1984. I had it narrowed down to 85, based on Barry and the grandfather’s drivers licenses (particularly Barry’s birthdate on his), but then they brought in Zelda as a major part of a B-plot (it was also seen as a prop in at least one earlier episode, but props don’t matter nearly as much as plot), and that game didn’t come out in America until mid-87. Then the end of the B-plot had Zelda 2, and that one didn’t come out until late-88! So yeah, they’re just in “we don’t give a fuck what year it is, get over it and have fun” mode. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > (For example, we had the same VCR as shown in the credits.) You did? I was wondering if that was a real model or not, it’s quite distinctive looking with those big multicolored buttons and I’ve never seen one quite like it. What kind is it (if you remember)? ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goldbergs-sitcom-on-abc-theyre-jewish-right/675910/52 "2013-12-16T07:40:16Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > I had it narrowed down to 85, based on Barry and the grandfather’s drivers licenses (particularly Barry’s birthdate on his), but then they brought in Zelda as a major part of a B-plot (it was also seen as a prop in at least one earlier episode, but props don’t matter nearly as much as plot), and that game didn’t come out in America until mid-87. Then the end of the B-plot had Zelda 2, and that one didn’t come out until late-88! > > So yeah, they’re just in “we don’t give a fuck what year it is, get over it and have fun” mode. Link to the interview I mentioned in post #46. Adam Goldberg Explains Why _The Goldbergs_ Isn’t Set in a Specific Year > **[Adam Goldberg Explains Why The Goldbergs Isn’t Set in a Specific Year](https://www.vulture.com/2013/11/why-goldbergs-not-set-specific-year.html)** > > Plus, how much yelling is too much yelling? ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goldbergs-sitcom-on-abc-theyre-jewish-right/675910/53 "2013-12-16T13:47:25Z")
> [@Flywheel](#): > > Sounds like they’re [Ambiguously Jewish](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AmbiguouslyJewish). So they’re Jewishish. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goldbergs-sitcom-on-abc-theyre-jewish-right/675910/54 "2013-12-16T14:03:22Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > (For example, we had the same VCR as shown in the credits.) > > You did? I was wondering if that was a real model or not, it’s quite distinctive looking with those big multicolored buttons and I’ve never seen one quite like it. What kind is it (if you remember)? It was a JVC brand. The tapes loaded on the top, through a pop up tape receptacle thing. And there was a remote, but it was wired. I think it cost us about $600 or so. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goldbergs-sitcom-on-abc-theyre-jewish-right/675910/55 "2013-12-16T14:52:38Z")
[Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5rrzdwxyuU), for instance is a Canadian commercial for that VCR, or another similar model. Note that it’s about six inches high and it has the wired remote I remember. I also remember traveling to Manhattan with my parents and buying a box of ten 120-minute videotapes for the low, low price of a hundred bucks (ten dollars per tape). That was a much better price than we could get back home in Connecticut. (Edited to add, [here](http://vintageelectronics.betamaxcollectors.com/jvcvhsvcrmodelhr-7100u.html)’s a page with photos of that VCR.) Sorry for the nostalgia trip. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goldbergs-sitcom-on-abc-theyre-jewish-right/675910.md?page=2)