Description: This heartwarming family drama broke ground by addressing difficult social issues including Downs Syndrome and AIDS is on DVD for the first time. The show centers around the Thatchers: Drew, Libby, Becca, Paige and Corky.
Amazon.com: When Life Goes On first aired on ABC in 1989, it wore its ground-breaking bravura on its theoretical sleeve: The dramedy focused on a hard-working but deep-loving Midwest family, the Thachers, with a small twist. Son Corky, 18, had Down syndrome, and the actor who played him, the charming, sweet-faced Chris Burke, also has Down syndrome. And while many of the plot points revolved around Corky and the challenges he faced being "mainstreamed" into a regular high school, his sweet temperament and determination, and the ongoing trials of the rest of the members of the family, made for a compelling and well-rounded TV saga. The Emmy-nominated Kellie Martin (who would go on to star in ER) plays plucky sister Becca, the 14-year-old initially mortified that her older brother would be in her freshman class, but she rallies, believably, and becomes a key source of emotional support for Corky. The other cast high point is Patti LuPone, who in the '80s was one of the premiere stars of Broadway musicals, and who plays the loving but sometimes battle-scarred mom, Libby, to steely perfection. The Complete First Season contains all 22 episodes, plus some great extras, including commentaries by Burke and series creator Michael Braverman. In the end what made the Thacher family so special was that it was really just like every family; sometimes there are curve balls, and sometimes there are wild moments of joy. And always, life goes on. --A.T. Hurley
Life Goes On We loved this TV series when our son was just a newborn with Down syndrome. It pointed us in the right direction and filled us with hope for his future. Now, he's 19 and the series means even more to us and he LOVES it. He has met Chris Burke (Corky) and Chris has inspired us from the beginning. It would not be easy, but many, many possibilities are out there. This series blazed the trail for public understanding of people with Down syndrome and other disabilities. We also have a teenaged daughter Becka's age and we really get a bang out of her character!
Where are the next seasons? What's the hold-up on releasing subsequent seasons? This show was a Sunday night mainstay for 20-somethings to 60-somethings -- properly promoted you'd sell it like hotcakes. Please bring out the remaining seasons!
Short and Sweet This tv show is just as I remember. The only problem I have is the opening song is different from the song on the actual show. This new songs sucks.
Another great show finally comes to dvd This is a great show when it was aired in1989 on the ABC network,and now finally we can all watch the episodes on the first season set. I hope that the other seasons of this great classic will be released soon. It would be nice towatch thoes episodes too.
love it! i love it!
the only thing bad i could say about it is that it never shows Corky getting in trouble for things he did willfully wrong. kids with Down's syndrome shouldn't be treated any differently than "typical" kids; that goes for discipline too...
when are you going to come out with the other seasons?
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