Growing Pains - The Complete First Season (1985)

Excellent bonus material.

The bonus material documentary was interesting to watch. In real life, all seemed close to the characters they played on the show, and they seemed to really respect one another. September 3, 2008

The Best Thing I've Ever Watched

I am from China, and Growing Pains was shown three times, first when I was in primary school, then in middle school, and last when I was about to go to college. This show has accompanied me throughout my life, and I had different feelings and reflects every time I watched it. Just listening to the theme song "show me the smile again..." brings back so many memories. Jason (Alan) was also the figure I admired, and that's why I came to the States and got my Bachelors in Psychology. I eagerly wait for all the seasons to be released and, no matter how pricey they would be, I will buy them. April 6, 2008

I can FINALLY appreciate this classic

Honestly, when this sitcom came on the air in 1985, I was only three years old. So at the time most of its humor drifted over my head while the more direct shows like ALF captivated me. But in recent years I rediscovered Growing Pains (all seven seasons through various sources), and I understand what older kids and young teens (and indeed the whole family) loved about it. Some people accuse GP of being a cheesy pop culture icon of the '80s, but it really did have a witty edge to it that you don't get much of today, save on a few of the brassier late-night shows.

The first season is definitely NOT the best. There are plenty of giggles here, from Mike's fling with a Madonna wannabe to Jason's jealousy when Maggie gets involved in a news project with a young male co-worker. And who can forget the day that Mike plans to cheat on a test but ends up not needing to after all (but alas the dishonesty damage is already done)? I think that it's in the second and third (and fourth and fifth) seasons that we get a clearer picture of all the Seavers and their friends (not to mention Mike's best friend Boner, who plays a rather boring and trivial role in the first year). But let's hope that the subsequent seasons are released on DVD, and done soon.

The stories of Growing Pains are of the kind that most families across all social spectra can relate to in one way or another. There's a little here for everyone. In contrast to the rather bubble-gum conservatism of many 80s sitcoms, there is plenty of light-hearted sexual innuendo here as well as discussion of serious issues, like drug use, terminal illness and even crony capitalism! And who can ever forget the hilarious double entendre implied by the nickname Boner, which the characters never refer to in a naughty context?

This show makes me wish I was born just three or four years earlier so I would have been old enough to share the laughter and love at the time. The Seavers are the kind of family that most Americans (and other people around the world) would look up to as an idol. In that sense, Growing Pains represents a kind of social utopia that most of us can believe in, an ideal that contemporary America has, unfortunately, fallen all too far short of. Perhaps some day every family will have a fair opportunity of having things end up as well as this family did.

My first experience with Growing Pains came too early and didn't go beyond a few episodes. The second one came in early adulthood, kind of late but still plenty young to show me its smiles. March 30, 2008

GrowingPains, it takes you back... Where are the others?

I always loved growing pains and I was so happy to see the first season out on DvD but where are the other seasons, Growing Pains only got better with age and now I would love to watch this progression! I want to see Mike, Carol, Ben and Chrissy grow up... and what about the movies, I want to buy those also! Can you help out? March 18, 2008

Great DVD

This is a great DVD but I really wish the other seasons would be released. I was so happy when this season was released. Please release the others too! January 22, 2008

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