Ron Howard’s Parenthood to Become a TV Series… Again?

Posted by on January 29th, 2009   Filed under: Comedy, TV
Source: The Hollywood Reporter

There are some pretty weird TV pilots getting greenlit these days, but apparently the ’80s are a hot commodity, which supposedly explains why NBC is developing a new show based on Ron Howard’s classic 1989 comedy Parenthood. Heading up the project is Friday Night Lights creator Jason Katims, who also worked on Boston Public, Roswell and My So-Called Life.

The original film featured a star-studded cast including Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Dianne West, Rick Moranis, Keanu Reeves and Joaquin Phoenix. Maybe they can get some of the kids back to play the parents this time around! Strangely, the article over at The Hollywood Reporter fails to mention that there was already a short-lived TV series based on Parenthood in the early ’90s starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Thora Birch, David Arquette and Ed Begley Jr., among others. If it didn’t work in the early ’90s, can it really work now? Why even bother using the Parenthood name? (Don’t worry Friday Night Lights fans… they promise this won’t get in the way of that show, if it does end up returning for another season.)



  • Hm. The words “classic” and “comedy” are often bandied about these days, eh? …

  • dirrrtyfrank

    Parenthood is an excellent movie. There’s not a person I know that I have lent that movie to that did not like it or go out and purchase it for themselves. It’s funny genuine and embedded in reality, something that few movies are able to accomplish. Now, as for being a “classic”, that is debatable (many think it is, Hard Core Logo does not). I think one of the defining qualites of a classic movie is how it stands up to re-watchability, which I think Parenthood accomplishes in leaps and bounds. You can watch that movie at any age and get different meanings and perspectives and more importantly, laugh at so many different things. In this regard I belive Parenthood is the epitome of a classic comedy.

    Now another consideration is mass appeal and exposure of the movie. Parenthood was released in August of 1989 to a mild 10 mil at the box office and went on to reach the 100 mil plateau, something that was pretty significant in 1989, especially for a movie with comedic and dramatic elements. It was definitely a movie that build on word of mouth and positive reviews.

    Obviously, I think of this as a classic movie, but I can understand those that don’t, but I post this question to anyone reading this… when was the last time you watched it? Give it another spin … fucking ASAP!!!

    http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=parenthood.htm

    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098067/

  • it’s been years since i watched it, so i’m willing to give it another chance. i remember thinking it was kinda mediocre. but hey you couldn’t go wrong with steve martin in the ’80s!