The wait is over.
The countless calls, e-mail petitions, and network protests have paid off, and TV audiences are finally getting what they've begged for. This Sunday, The Growing Pains Movie hits ABC.
It's been eight years since the Seavers have been "sharin' the laughter and love," but this week's Wonderful World of Disney showcases the clan in all-new two-hour reunion special.
Why now? Why ever? Well, Jason (Alan Thicke) and Maggie (Joanna Kerns) are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary, and Mom has an announcement for the family: She's running for Congress. Home to help are ad exec Mike (Kirk Cameron), attorney Carol (Tracey Gold), and Hollywood pool-boy Ben (Jeremy Miller). Snotty baby child Chrissy is a high school senior, but Luke Brower (Titanic phenom Leo DiCaprio) is conspicuously absent.
While the Pain may have been great the first time, it's hard to imagine how self-consciously cheesy its revival might be. Few of this cash-strapped crew is seeing the light of day these days, and as we already noted, their one breakout star isn't anywhere on the bill.
Still, what we'd really like to see is a Family Ties reunion. Watching Michael J. Fox as a jackass College Republican prancing around the house incessantly preaching about Wall Street would be the perfect compliment to this economics-obsessed electoral season of woe.
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