The Goldbergs Review: 1990-Something (Season 5 Episode 14)
The Goldbergs Season 5 Episode 14, “1990-Something,” fast-forwards to the 90s for a spinoff special featuring Mr. Glascott and Coach Mellor.
Beverly Goldberg, not one to take breaks, makes an appearance even though her kids have graduated at this point. Everything is better with more Wendi McClendon-Covey.
NIA LONG, WENDI MCLENDON-COVEY
Although, this spinoff special works just fine on its own.
Mr. Glascott’s sister and nieces make a great family to center on during the radical 90s. Their dynamic is so different from The Goldberg’s, which is a nice change-up that sets it apart.
Lucy being a single mom adds another family paradigm to be explored. Her daughters also have distinctive personalities that we have yet to see on the show. And it’s a good idea to have the older, tougher girl narrate her childhood rather than following in Adam’s squeaky clean footsteps.
BRYAN CALLEN, NIA LONG
I like how the Goldberg-style is applied to a different kind of family. It makes me want two shows!
Just think of the crossover possibilities!
Both Tim Meadows as Mr. Glascott and Bryan Callen as Coach Mellor are always a breath of fresh air when they pop up on episodes of The Goldbergs. Here we get more of a chance to see what makes them tick. The way they butt heads, and eventually come to work together, but still with their opposing views is a solid center point to hinge the overall story.
With Lucy and her kids providing a strong family basis right out the gate, the focus that creator Adam F. Goldberg wanted to put on teachers and educators is allowed to shine through.
ANA GASTEYER, TIM MEADOWS
The different teaching methods employed by Glascott and Mellor make for entertaining situations and hilarious dialogue.
Mr. Glascott: You need to give her space to communicate her feelings.
Coach Mellor: She doesn’t need feelings. She needs competition to build character. There’s nothing like the feel of a trophy in one’s hand.
Mr. Glascott: That’s old-fashioned thinking, Rick. In my school, everyone is a winner even if they lose.
Coach Mellor: But if you lose, you’re a loser.
Mr. Glascott: With me in charge, everybody gets a trophy.
Coach Mellor: The losers can’t get a trophy. It makes no sense.
Mr. Glascott: It makes sense because everyone wins!
Lucy: Are you two done?
The great thing is that you know they are not done. Even once they come to a working truce, they continue to argue the merits of their ways, and it’s still funny.
BRYAN CALLEN, RACHEL CROW
This spinoff special of The Goldbergs introduces us to characters and circumstances with which I need more time. It is odd to have this placed into the regularly aired season. I hope we get the opportunity to go “back to the future” to William Penn Academy, 1990-Something.
Stray Observations:
- “There’s nothing sweeter than the taste of victory…except flan.”
- “I feel like a dodgeball just hit me in the heart.”
- I love the Gigi character. “I’m super pumped to make new best friends.”
- The Planet Hollywood references, though.
- I like that Beverly meets Lucy. They are alike in the sense that they will do anything for their kids, but their approaches are so different.
What did you think of this special episode of The Goldbergs? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
Reviewer Rating:
User Rating:
The Goldbergs airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on ABC.
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Erin Allen
Erin is a former script supervisor for film and television. She's an avid fan of middle aged actresses, dark dramas, and irreverent comedies. She loves to read actual books and X-Files fan fiction. Her other passions include pointing out feminist issues, shipping Mulder and Scully, and collecting pop culture mugs.
52 comments
Would rather have watched the Goldbergs.
It was definitely a weird way to introduce this idea. It should’ve been separate.
“I want it that way” was way outta place as a 90s kid knowing it was released in 1999….
I agree. I didn’t like that choice of song.
Absolutely terrible and what’s with the racist jabs? Just awful hot garbage of an episode.
This was awful. A waste of a half hour. Not funny in the least.
I hated the new episode. Will not keep watching but I loved the 80’s ones. So sad this was not good.
Luckily we still have the 80s with The Goldbergs.
I just hope it goes back to normal next week. It was my favorite show before this episode.
As far as I know, this was a one-off special. It should be back to normal for the rest of the season.
Ummmm, bring back the real family fast or one less fan tunes in.
The Goldbergs will be back.
Totally disappointed was looking forward to the Goldbergs don’t give a crap about the coach with a stupid principal the heartwarming stories of that family is what the show is about not the stupid School principal or the coach. A spin-off of this would be a total disaster
You say this spinoff would be a disaster yet they created Schooled which is quite successful and really funny.
i didn’t really like it
Terrible episode
Huge Goldbergs fan and couldn’t even watch this whole stupid episode….
Worst show ever! Bring back Barry!!!
Barry was sorely missed!
This was the worst Episode. The entire show not just the Gym Teacher last it’s balls.
Total waste of time and makes no sense to introduce the 90’s under the Goldbergs. It’s the family stories that make the show!
Goldberg’s has to be entering 90s soon. They’ve been mentioning stuff from 89 in the last few episodes. Maybe should have just done that. I’d rather see the family entering a new decade that focus on a high school.
This should have been separate. Not an episode of Goldberg’s. It was confusing. I love the teachers but introducing Nia long as a main character was weird considering there are so many established characters. I want this to be good because all the actors playing the teachers (too many to list) are awesome.
But (I assume) naming the show “1990-something” is a terrible idea. First of all they called it goldbergs: 1990 something. Which is stupid since Goldberg’s aren’t in it. Or at least aren’t the focus. Second of all what happens when they hit 2000? The shows title limits it. Goldberg’s is a show set in the 80s…. But it could progress into the 90s. Can’t do that if the show is called 1990 something. Also, for a show focused on the 90s the START with 1999?! This is a mess and shouldn’t have been made.
I love Goldberg’s but Adam Goldberg is a 1 hit wonder. Not a bad thing. But just stick with what’s working. Imaginary Mary was awful. And I really wanted to like that too. It looked like a drop dead fred tv series. But the imaginary friend was inconsequential. She had no effect on the show and in general wasn’t even funny. She was just there. Replace the cgi muppet with a conscience voice over …. Or nothing. Just remove her because she was pointless. And the show is the same or better.
I was really disappointed with this.
It didn’t work as an episode of The Goldbergs. It probably wasn’t the best way to introduce this idea. I doubt it will go anywhere because the reception hasn’t been favorable. I would love to see The Goldbergs progress into the 90s, but I do like the idea of high school in the 90s, as well (proabably because I was in high school then!).
I enjoyed it a lot. Maybe because I knew it was a pilot going in. ABC should run it for a year, I think it could be as good as The Goldbergs, maybe better because Coach would be in every episode.
I think so, too!
A total waste of time. Who in the world thought this was a good idea. This episode was not only boring but was an embarassment to the really good show The Goldbergs
Did not like it and didn’t even finish watching it. Bring back the Goldberg!
Disappointed. Could be because I have my heart set on the Goldberg family and wasn’t expecting the storyline to change. Maybe the disappointment clouded my judgement and I would have like it introduced a different way
I think it could’ve been introduced better, as well. It caught a lot of viewers off guard.
Terrible. Felt nothing for the new 2D characters. Failed to convey the same nostalgia for the 90s (my generation) that the actual Goldbergs show successfully conveyed for the 80s.
I really enjoyed it as a one-off. As the actors have other commitments now I think it would be nice to see a few more of these interspersed, almost like the CW is rotating Legends and Supergirl in the same slot, while keeping Arrow and Flash seperate but it’s all one big deal. I have VERY fond memories of the 90’s and after watching this, took my 1990 Mazda Miata out for a spin complete with a Mariah Carey cassette playing in the dash….
This episode was terrible. Stupid guess we can take Goldberg’s off the dvr.
Never please, never put that stupid 90s show on the air again !
Terrible episode. You cant turn The Goldbergs into Blackish. Either bring back the original characters or end the season and start a brand new show but don’t ruin a good show by mixing in new characters. Middle finger to you ABC.
This episode was horrendous! Anybody that says it would be good is not a true fan of the show and have never really watched it or paid attention. People please do not leave positive comments if you are not a true fan of the show. Do not allow anyone to believe that this episode was even remotely close to being good. This should not be considered to be a TV show stop it immediately from happening.
Sucked…turning a great show into another ABC after school black special….
This lady hit the nail on the head why so many hated the episode. They don’t want more than a token blackness in their 80s white fanasty. Losers.
it is the worst episode of the Goldbergs, i keep watching and thinking “WTF is going on”, it is so completely boring and not interesting episode which happened out of no where, and if it happens again i will stop watching it.
I couldn’t believe how bad it was. I am not interested in this spin off if it is picked up.
I liked the episode. If you didn’t realize that it wasn’t really a Goldberg’s episode then you were probably confused, but you probably also don’t deserve the Goldbergs, or Glascott, or Coach Mellor. The big fans knew there was a possible spin-off centered on Mellor. Knowing that this was the pilot and they stuck it in mid-season to me means that it’s not getting picked up….which hits me in my biggest muscle – my heart. Rick Mellor forever.
“I feel like a dodgeball just hit me in the heart.”
This didn’t work when Fox tried to cash in on That 70s Show with the abomination that was That 80s Show and ABC might have made the same mistake. Some of the references were fun, but as a show it was meh. As far as the dates of references, The Goldbergs have mixed many references from different years into single episodes, I assumed that was why they say “1980 something” instead of pinpointing a year.
Was very very upset to watch this episode. If this is to be a spin off they need a new name. I have no issues with series doing spin offs, but at least get a new name. As a spin off I would watch it but would have like the choice of watching it, not having it just show up for viewing.
I hate it. Bring back the Goldbergs
…with Lainey gone the show was lacking something…but still good. This is the death knell if it’s the new “Goldbergs”.
Horrible! It wasn’t the Goldberg’s it is trying to capitalize on a great show! It didn’t work at all!
Wow, I’m a little late in seeing this but, it was confusing and not even good as a pilot. It turned into a show about adults which, I think was a mistake. Glascott went from lovably pathetic to randomly a very strong personality. It should have been centered around the 90s and the kids first…
Fair points.
I really didn’t like it I totally skipped the entire episode when I was watching the series on Hulu. I would not watch the spin off if they actually make it into a show
They did end up making a spin-off called Schooled, but it is a bit of a different premise. It follows Lainey as she navigates the 90s as a teacher at William Penn. Season 2 premieres tomorrow.
Not a good idea and i think if the show is made it will bomb just like the 80 s show patterened loosely on that 70 s show. If you want it to go farther concentrate on the goldbergs as they enter the 80 s decade and possibly beyond.
They did end up making a spin-off, although it is a different premise. Schooled follows Lainey as she navigates the 90s as a teacher at William Penn, and its 2nd Season premieres tomorrow.
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