The Goldbergs
Episode 2.17 “The Adam Bomb”
Created by Adam F. Goldberg
Directed by Lew Schneider
Written by Chris Bishop
Starring Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jeff Garlin, Sean Giambrone, Troy Gentile, Hayley Orrantia, George Segal
ABC
Air date: April 1, 2015, 8:30pm

Happy April Fool’s Day! The Goldbergs 2.17 “The Adam Bomb” review has a few spoilers, if you haven’t seen the episode yet, but it’s a half hour comedy where the problem is always resolved in 23 minutes, so how much can I really spoil anyway?

It is April 1st, 1980-something as we visit our favorite 80’s family on April Fool’s Day. Adam (Sean Giambrone) compared his and Barry’s (Troy Gentile) relationship to the Cold War – Reagan vs Gorbachev and Rocky vs “that ‘roided out monster that killed Apollo Creed.” So Adam decides to play the greatest April’s Fool prank ever. He took Barry’s prize possession, the one thing he was “never to touch with my human oils.” And pretended to destroy it in the dryer.

Barry’s prize possession? The actual hightop of “basketball’s greatest badass” Charles Barkley.

Adam’s prize possession? His Castle Grayskull. Well, it used to be anyway until Barry jumped up and down on it, crushing it for real along with his dreams.

Adam: “By the power of Grayskull, this will not stand.” Yes!!!

Meanwhile, Tiffany is about to have a concert at the mall as she was prone to do in the 80s. Erica (Hayley Orrantia) knows this is her chance to be discovered and tells her parents she’s not going to college to pursue her dream as a singer. Bev (Wendi McLendon-Covey) says to Murray (Jeff Garlin), “I’m the dream pusher and you’re the dream smusher,” even though she agrees with Murray. They turn to Erica’s music teacher (guest star Ana Gastemeyer) to get her to “actively destroy her dreams” and “shame her into quitting” in a delightful tag team of bad parenting. Bev eventually comes around and wants to be her “momager.”

Adam and Barry continue to “get” each other back until Barry finds the ultimate “Adam Bomb.” Just as he is about to unleash it publicly, a real moment in 80s history happens.

You don’t want me to spoil everything, do you?

Some awesome references/pics: Benetton, Sam Goody, Garbage Pail Kids, Andy Gibb, Tiffany, Scott Baio, and lots more!

Of course the end brings me to happy tears as most of the episodes of The Goldbergs do.

Bonus: There’s a Big Tasty video!

ABC’s press release:

“The Adam Bomb” – When Erica gets inspired to put college on hold, in favor of pursuing a singing career, Beverly is worried Erica will be disappointed her dream will not come true. Beverly puts Murray up to the task to have a talk about her future with a surprising result. Meanwhile, Adam and Barry get into an epic war that starts as an April Fools’ joke but ends with more repercussions, on “The Goldbergs,” WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 (8:30-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

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