Maybe it was the writers' strike in 1988 that helped bring in the television recession of bad comedies and dramas, despite being based on the film of the same name and the same adorable identical twins playing Baby Elizabeth. The show could have worked if the network allowed it too. Kate Jackson replaced Diane Keaton as J.C. Wiatt and Jackson is a worthy television replacement for such a role. But the story was changed when they moved J.C. back to New York City with Baby Elizabeth. I liked it better in Vermont and thought that the move could be disastrous. The show became another series in itself with the same child but different mother. Regardless, I think they could bring this series out on DVD with the movie.
6 Reviews
NYC 400 - #385 - "Baby Boom"
DeanNYC25 April 2024
The motion picture "Baby Boom" was a hit with audiences, primarily because of the acting talents of Diane Keaton, who was convincing as a high powered corporate climber in the business world who was suddenly saddled with a kid that instantly, and completely unexpectedly (no pun intended) became her own. Ms. Keaton's actions and reactions to everything is what made the comedy. The reversals of having to be this cutthroat business professional and then this doting mommy, completely out of her depth in dealing with that, sold the concept.
When they decided to adapt the film to the small screen, Kate Jackson, who at the time was noted for being "The Smart Angel" on the ABC action adventure series, "Charlie's Angels," and who had just come back from battling breast cancer, a diagnosis she received at the end of her most recent series at the time, CBS' "Scarecrow and Mrs. King," stepped into the Keaton role.
Nothing against Ms. Jackson, who certainly had a homespun southern charm that she used to distinguish her version of the character from Keaton's, but she just couldn't do the kind of reversals that created the laughs in the film specifically and there weren't nearly as many laughs in this series as there should have been, especially when you consider that not one, but TWO successful stand up comics of the day: Joy Behar and Susie Essman, were co-stars, and long-time great actor, Sam Wanamaker as her corporate boss was there to create some friction.
Adorable twins Kristina and Michelle Kennedy reprised their roles as the titular baby from the motion picture to this series (the only actors who crossed over from the big to small screen), a year older and reciting dialog!
It was the end of the 1980s, and there was the question of business acumen leading to promotions in the boardroom and how that could jibe with the desire for motherhood that we are told that women supposedly had. That concept is interesting when you consider that neither the film star, Keaton nor the series star, Jackson ever gave birth themselves, with both of them choosing to adopt later in their lives.
New York plays a part in that you need the ambition and drive to succeed in the business world, and that was (and very much still is) more challenging for a woman dealing with the very real Glass Ceiling, especially now, when you consider how laws are changing and how restrictions on health care can create life altering decisions, forcing some women out of their jobs - one giant leap backward in our sociological evolution.
I don't think you could reboot this series for the 2020s, but, personally, I think it's time to launch a new film version to examine the concept of all of the elements that we are looking at in the wake of Roe v. Wade and how "The Boomers" (especially those in politics) need to simply stay out of the womb.
I suppose that would be a very different movie, though... and probably NOT a comedy!
When they decided to adapt the film to the small screen, Kate Jackson, who at the time was noted for being "The Smart Angel" on the ABC action adventure series, "Charlie's Angels," and who had just come back from battling breast cancer, a diagnosis she received at the end of her most recent series at the time, CBS' "Scarecrow and Mrs. King," stepped into the Keaton role.
Nothing against Ms. Jackson, who certainly had a homespun southern charm that she used to distinguish her version of the character from Keaton's, but she just couldn't do the kind of reversals that created the laughs in the film specifically and there weren't nearly as many laughs in this series as there should have been, especially when you consider that not one, but TWO successful stand up comics of the day: Joy Behar and Susie Essman, were co-stars, and long-time great actor, Sam Wanamaker as her corporate boss was there to create some friction.
Adorable twins Kristina and Michelle Kennedy reprised their roles as the titular baby from the motion picture to this series (the only actors who crossed over from the big to small screen), a year older and reciting dialog!
It was the end of the 1980s, and there was the question of business acumen leading to promotions in the boardroom and how that could jibe with the desire for motherhood that we are told that women supposedly had. That concept is interesting when you consider that neither the film star, Keaton nor the series star, Jackson ever gave birth themselves, with both of them choosing to adopt later in their lives.
New York plays a part in that you need the ambition and drive to succeed in the business world, and that was (and very much still is) more challenging for a woman dealing with the very real Glass Ceiling, especially now, when you consider how laws are changing and how restrictions on health care can create life altering decisions, forcing some women out of their jobs - one giant leap backward in our sociological evolution.
I don't think you could reboot this series for the 2020s, but, personally, I think it's time to launch a new film version to examine the concept of all of the elements that we are looking at in the wake of Roe v. Wade and how "The Boomers" (especially those in politics) need to simply stay out of the womb.
I suppose that would be a very different movie, though... and probably NOT a comedy!
I AGREE **POSSIBLE IF OUT OF DATE SPOILERS**
patdwyer427 April 2004
Warning: Spoilers
I have to say that I am in total agreement with those that tout this overlooked series trial as fine Television. I watched every episode the season that it aired on NBC, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was well-written, nice premise, well acted and did some interesting and innovative things with the standard sitcom format. I recall the episode where Jane Wyatt/Betty Anderson and Barbara Billingsley/June Cleaver visit Kate Jackson in a dream after she bemoans her inability to be the kind of mother she sees on television. The message was sweet, simple, touching and delivered by two pros. Another scene in which Kate, after subjecting her daughter to testing by and institute for child intelligence boosting, tells a shocked Paxton Whitehead that he and everything he stands for us utter horse#### was not only hilarious but a touch risky; with only a subtle bleep between the word and out families' ears (wink). All in all a fine series that was given short shrift.
JoyLess Behar
lymbo-330893 June 2021
That should tell you all you need to know.
Made me laugh in her bio.... "used to work in a mental hospital". That's an interesting way of saying, they let her clean her room.
Don't waste your time, watch the movie with Fiane Keaton.
Made me laugh in her bio.... "used to work in a mental hospital". That's an interesting way of saying, they let her clean her room.
Don't waste your time, watch the movie with Fiane Keaton.
A Mile A Minute!!!
dataconflossmoor26 September 2003
The plight of a "Roaring Eighties" career woman with a five to nine job, bombarded with this, plagued with that, who's doing what and how does this really affect me, after all, I 've only got seventeen seconds to think about it...This emerging third generation liberated woman thing is going really well, there's just one more thing!!.... NOW I WANT A BABY!!!.....I'm a New York executive making $250,000 a year, and I never seem to do the right thing!!!! This T.V. series in many ways was better than the movie... It was much faster in pace, and it made caffeine a much more serious problem than relationships, or shall I say lack of them!!...NBC was at the pinnacle of cutting edge television in the late eighties, knifing and witty dialog, as well as social relevancy were injected into this television series by the nanosecond...These characteristics were coy and flippant, that is why they went unnoticed, at the same time, the professional subtlety involved was extremely entertaining!! I just don't know why this program as well as many others weren't as popular as they should have been!!! Next time, the television executives at NBC should post a sign in Times Square...WARNING: TELEVISION WORTH WATCHING DURING PRIMETIME!!
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