Parenthood (1990)

I lost count of the laugh-out-loud lines in tonight's special one-hour premiere that makes you wish for an hour every week. [20 Aug 1990, p.C1]

The result is thirtysomething crossed with The Waltons — and I mean that as a compliment.

A rich blend of generations that has more of the juice of life and truth to it in an hour than a thousand formula sitcoms squeezed for everything they've got. [20 Aug 1990, p.D1]

It's affectionate and cute without being coy. In translating their own real-life experiences to the screen, the members of the creative team know that parenthood is filled with tensions and travail. But they are smart enough to allow the tenderness of the experience to shadow every encounter. [20 Aug 1990, p.C1]

Tonight's first episode is highly recommended for Ed Begley Jr. fans who may have wondered what Dr. Victor Ehrlich has been doing since "St. Elsewhere." [20 Aug 1990, p.9]

Parenthood tries to capture the headaches of being a modern parent. Good enough, but it also supplies a sweet brand of aspirin to ease every pain. And at an hour tonight, it's too long. It will probably work better at the half-hour length it will have in future episodes. [20 Aug 1990, p.C1]

At an hour in length, Parenthood seems like a prolonged, and rather melancholy, sitcom. There are too many characters, and it's hard to keep the relationships straight. Replacing the irreplaceable Steve Martin as the father of a 10-year-old problem child -- and a man who remains something of a problem child himself -- is the capable but unexciting Ed Begley Jr. [20 Aug 1990, p.B1]