The Goldbergs to Pay Homage to Risky Business, But 'Thriller' Is Off Limits
Take those old records off the shelf, Goldbergs fans.
The ABC comedy will pay tribute to the classic 1983 Tom Cruise film Risky Business in the Season 3 premiere, it was announced Tuesday at the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Beverly Hills.
RELATEDRevenge Spinoff Not Impossible, Says ABC Boss: ‘It’s a Wonderful Brand’
“I wanted to start with a big splash,” executive producer Adam Goldberg said. “We’re crashing cars, and we’re doing the whole thing…. It’s going to be awesome.”
Also on Goldberg’s radar for Season 3 is a nod to Short Circuit, when Beverly tasks the boys with building a robot. (The show previously paid homage to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Goonies.)
Apparently not in the cards for the comedy, which is famously set in the year “1980-something,” is a tribute to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video. Despite generating a great script for such an episode, to air around Halloween, Goldberg says he heard back from those who protect the song’s rights and was told it will never see the light of day on a TV show.
RELATEDABC’s Wicked City, Best It Can, Will Be Mindful of Violence Against Women
“We were just told by the writer of the song he doesn’t want his song to be aired on television,” Goldberg explained, to which star Jeff Garlin deadpanned, “Has he seen movies lately?”
Other takeaways from the panel:
* Next season, “every episode is about how I struggled with puberty, transitioning from middle school to high school,” Goldberg previewed. Also on tap: making fun of giant ’80s hair.
* The writers have talked about a Bar Mitzvah installment for Adam. “If we were to do it, it would probably be this season,” Goldberg said, although star Sean Giambrone’s changing voice might present a challenge. “We’re just trying to figure out what the story would be.” (Goldberg, himself, had a Stephen King-themed Bar Mitzvah.)
* Natalie Alyn Lind’s upcoming stint on Gotham doesn’t mean Adam and Dana’s romance is over. “I’ll explore long distance relationships when you’re young and in love,” Goldberg said.
Excited about The Goldbergs‘ latest homage? Sound off in the comments!
Related stories
TVLine Items: Nicolle Wallace Nixes View Role, Mariah on Empire and More
Get more from TVLine: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter
