IT’S YOUR MOVE was Jason Bateman’s first starring role in a sitcom, after playing Ricky Schroeder’s sidekick on SILVER SPOONS.
He played a teenager who, when he wasn’t pulling various scams, was trying to destroy his single mother’s relationship with a neighbor in their apartment building. Caren Kaye (the tutor in MY TUTOR) played his mother, David Garrison (MARRIED WITH CHILDREN) played the neighbor.
The show worked because of Bateman. While today, after ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, he is considered a great comic actor, even back then he managed to play this rather unlikable character in a very funny way.
His best friend was Eli, played by Adam Jay Sadowsky (who did little after this). His sister was Tricia Cast. She became a big soap opera star. Ernie Sabella (the warthog in THE LION KING, PERFECT STRANGERS) played Mr. Donatelli, the janitor.
It aired on NBC beginning on September 26, 1984. I was kind of surprised to find out that it only ran for 18 episodes, and ended its run on February 23, 1985. I think I saw them all.
Well, except for one.
One of the most famous things about the show was the “Dregs of Humanity” episode. This was a two part episode that had its second part pre-empted by a speech by President Reagan. That second part never aired, at least on NBC.
Reruns were shown on USA NETWORK where it ran on weekends in 1989 to 1992.
IT’S YOUR MOVE isn’t on DVD, but it should be. Jason Bateman has a following, and they could release the entire run in one set.
Until then, you can watch some of it on YouTube. Here is the pilot episode.
Look closely at the 3:00 minute mark. Recognize Brian?
That is none other than River Phoenix!!
Bateman’s delivery in that opening should have made everyone realize he would still be around today.
Here is the rest
I believe Sony has the rights. They’ve pretty much given up on TV on DVD sadly. I hope they come around one of these days.
NOTE: This post contains YouTube clips. If unable to view from an outside site, click through to view.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
FORGOTTEN TV: IT'S YOUR MOVE (1984-1985)
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8 comments:
Ah, yeah! This may be my all-time favorite sitcom! I would so own a DVD set of it. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!
I long held a fantasy of reviving Jason Bateman, so I have a bittersweet kind of joy that he's gotten a revival over the last few years, but he is a very, very talented comic actor indeed.
Blondes don't usually excite me much, but Caren Kaye is hotter than Georgia asphalt. I think it's because at no point in anything I've seen her in - which is pretty much just My Tutor - does she attempt to act sexy. She just is.
I visit your site because I know you'll pull something like this out of the vaults, Moviezzz. Good work.
I remember "Dregs of Humanity." Wasn't that a punk band on the show?
Not forgotten! There's no reason this shouldn't be on DVD in one handy box set with Bateman commentary throughout. Throw in Garrison and/or Kaye to reminisce with him and I'll pay double. I'll even forgive it if the memory cheats.
Thanks for those clips! It's been so long since I've seen Tricia in anything - great talent!
Didn't they re-work this show during its run so that Jason Bateman wasn't a schemer anymore? I remember hearing that there were a lot of complaints that he was kind of too evil and self-centered for a mainstream network protagonist, but when they ditched that angle, the show lost its reason to exist.
Same thing happened in season 3 of Parker Lewis Can't Lose (which was another awesome show).
Yes, they tried to make Bateman more TV friendly, but it hurt the show and didn't help the ratings.
I've been watching this show on youtube ever since I read this article. Jason Bateman was an unusually good actor for his age! He completely carried that show!
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