ABC's sitcomThe Goldbergsis based on the life of the show's creator, Adam Goldberg, but, understandably,the show has had to deviate some from the true story.Much ofThe Goldbergsis taken directly from Adam Goldberg's real-life home videos and stays true tohis real life growing up(much to the occasional embarrassment of the real Goldbergs).Still, the series has had to move away from the truth at times.
The showfirst aired on ABC in 2013 and now, The Goldbergsseason 9 is in full swing. It tells the slightly fictionalized story of Adam Goldberg's family as they navigate life in the 1980s, giving audiences the chance to relive the iconic decade.The Goldbergstakes heavy inspiration from the real-life Goldbergs and the wacky situations they went through while growing up, including an overbearing mother and a father who refused to wear pants. The showhas put some serious work into remaining accurate to real life. The series is based in the Goldberg's hometown of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania,Wendi McLendon-Covey wears the real Beverly Goldberg's sweaters, andreal home-video clips that were recorded by Adam frequently appear in the sitcom.
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Some changes have ultimately been out of the show's hands, mostly driven by recent losses to the cast. George Segal, the TV and drama legend, portrayed Adam's grandfather, Albert "Pops" Solomon, since the show's inception. Unfortunately, Segal's passing in March 2021 forced the show to continue without an integral cast member. Curb Your Enthusiasm star Jeff Garlinalso left The Goldbergsafter multiple investigations into the comedian's on-set behavior. For the time being, Garlin's character will remain on the show, his absence hidden with unused footage and body doubles. Here are the other significant changes The Goldbergs made from the true story.
Adam's Brother Was Changed To A Sister
InThe Goldbergs,Adam has two elder siblings, Erica and Barry. While Adam Goldberg also has two elder siblings in real life, they're actually both brothers. Early on in the show's creation, Goldberg decided that his brother Eric was going to become Erica. He revealed (viaJewish Exponent) that this decision was made to make the show more relatable; the idea of the show is about reliving growing up in the '80s, but with three boys, the show would only be able to portray the male experience. By turning Eric into Erica, the show was able to portray what it was like to be a young woman in the '80s. Adam believed that changing Eric to Erica would add additional layers to the show. Some of the storylines do still pull from Eric Goldberg's life — like Erica's fake ID and wrecking their father's car — butnot directly portraying Eric allows the show greater wiggle room when it comes to Erica's character.
Murray Wasn't A Furniture Salesman
InThe Goldbergs, Adam's father Murray runs a discount furniture store that was passed down to him from his father-in-law, Pops. While this was drawn from the Goldbergs' real life, it wasn't exactly the truth. Murray did work in a furniture store named Goldberg's, but only until college. In real life, Murray Goldberg was actually a doctor, just like a good portion of the Goldberg family. Murray, Barry, Eric, Adam's maternal grandfather (who is the basis for Pops), and Adam's wife, Sarah Goldberg, have all gone into the medical field to some degree. The furniture store also wasn't owned byMurray's father-in-law, but by his own father. This change was likely done to makeThe Goldbergsmore relatable to the average family, which was the show's main goal — most families weren't entirely comprised of doctors, after all.
Adam Went To High School In The 90s, Not The 80s
Each episode ofThe Goldbergsis ambiguously set in "1980-something," the erstwhile Brat Pack era, which has given the series a lot of wiggle room when it comes to making anachronistic references — like referencing an early '80s movie and late '80s sneakers in the same episode. However, not everything in the show actually took place in the '80s. The real Adam Goldberg was born on April 2, 1976, and began high school in 1990.InThe Goldbergs, however, Adam is 17 and the '80s are still going strong. While most of the show is a mash-up of '80s references, there have been other references inThe Goldbergsthat fall outside the 1980s timeframe, including cars released after the '80s and the phrase "re-gift," which didn't hitcommon vernacular until 1995, when it was popularized by an episode ofSeinfeld. The fluid timeline allowsThe Goldbergsto keep the '80s aesthetic that has endeared it to audiences across the country, portraying just what it was like to experience both middle school and high school in the 1980s.
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Pops Passed Away When Adam Was In College, Not High School
George Segal's passing left a major hole inThe Goldbergs'cast. Pops was a beloved member of the Goldberg family, and at times, Adam's best friend. After Segal suddenly passed due to bypass surgery complications at the end ofThe Goldbergsseason 8, the series was left with a difficult choice: re-cast Pops, or write his death into the series early. Adam Goldberg has confirmed (via Twitter) that the real-life Pops lived well into his 80s, passing away while Adam was in college. Unfortunately, Segal's death meant Pops was written off of the show while Adam was still in high school. The Goldbergsseason 8 ends with a touching tribute to Segal, whileThe Goldbergsseason 9 begins with a similar tribute for Pops in .
The Real-Life Goldbergs Were Even Crazier
There's no denying Adam Goldberg has an incredible amount of love for his family; he has crafted his home videos into something he can share with the world, inviting audiences into his family. However, Adam also doesn't deny that his family is, in his own words (via Forward), "a lot cruder, a lot louder."Like a lot of families, the real-life Goldbergs frequently fought and suffered from overbearing parents; however,The Goldbergs season 1 quickly discovered thatcursing and calling each other morons was a bit polarizing for families and critics alike. AfterThe Goldbergstoned down their characters after season 1, audiences seemed to find the show more relatable — but the real Goldbergs know their respective characters are a little "too nice." One requirement of the show, however, was that Beverly would get to swear at least once per episode, even if it was censored. Adam has also previously admitted there are home videos that are too embarrassing to air. Though he's sure that America would love them, they'll never see the light of day on The Goldbergs.
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The Goldbergs releases new episodesWednesdays on ABC.
