The Goldbergs - Crazy Calls - Review

I hope everyone enjoyed this episode of The Goldbergs! I think this season has started off strong, and "Crazy Calls" was no exception. "Crazy Calls" was fun, and I especially liked Murray's storyline with his father. Murray was definitely the M.V.P. for me this week.

The Goldbergs finally get an answering machine because Murry is tired of his kids not giving him his messages. Erica and Barry are ecstatic! "Dad did something that doesn't suck!" Barry tells Murray. Their excitement fades when Murray tells them this machine is for him, and he records a terrible outgoing message. It sounded like a robot, but it was hilarious.

Erica and Barry find "Crazy Calls", a cassette tape of answering machine jingles, and sing one for their dad and Pops. "Wait for the beep! You gotta leave your name you gotta leave your number. Wait for the beep!" I loved the jingle, and that Pops got into it. But Murray says his message stays. Murray's father calls and leaves a ridiculously long message, and this begins their conversations and arguments through the machine.

The "Great Goldberg Answering Machine War" goes on for a while, and finally ends when Erica deletes Pop Pop's message. She didn't realize that this would make Murray sad so she, Barry, and Pops scheme to get Pop Pop and Murray together to talk in person. This fails miserably, but Erica convinces Murray to go talk to his dad. Murray takes Pop Pop $17 worth of pretzels, and they watch a game together. I doubt this is the end of Murray and Pop Pop's conflict and arguing, but it's nice to see them getting along even if it's for a short time.

Also occurring this week was Adam and his trouble finding a place to sit in the cafeteria for lunch. I think this story was something most of us can relate to. Maybe not exactly finding a place at lunch, but worrying about having a place that you fit and having true friends. Adam stumbles upon the school's computer lab and is thrilled when the two Mike Levy's tell him they're allowed to eat lunch in there and play Oregon Trail. Hanging out in the computer lab doesn't do much for Adam's popularity, and he gets called a nerd by Johnny, the resident bully. Beverly takes him to the guidance counselor, but Mr. Glascott tells Beverly Adam and his friends are nerds. "They're not even on the social ladder."

Beverly schemes to make Adam more popular and puts cheese in the computer. The principal tells Adam and the others that they are banned from the computer lab. They must eat in the cafeteria "with the normals." I always enjoy Principal Ball's scenes. The Mikes then turn on Adam and blame him for the cheese incident. Adam realizes that Beverly was behind this whole thing, and he takes her to Mr. Glascott's office.

The meeting with Beverly, Adam, and Mr. Glascott was my favorite part of this story. Adam wants to get Beverly in trouble and make her understand boundaries. I liked they put the guidance counselor in the middle of their issues. "Write it down, Andre!" Eventually Beverly realizes that Adam likes the computer lab and she tries to fix her mistake. She makes the bully Johnny take the blame with the cheese, and Adam is allowed to eat in the computer lab again.

Adam is grateful to his mom for making this all happen even if she doesn't respect boundaries. Adam and Beverly hug and makeup. I know that this is how most episodes of the Goldbergs end, but I love it. I'm glad that Adam appreciates his mother, and I'm happy that Erica and Barry played a small role in bringing Murray and Pop Pop together.

"In that moment I realized I had a mother who would cross any boundary for me, and that made me the luckiest kid in the world." - Adam

Favorite Quotes:

- Adam: "Report the snuggies and the kisses both butterfly and Eskimo." Mr. Glascott: "You eskimoed on school grounds? I gotta write it."

- Mr. Glascott "If the kid won't accept help from his super cool guidance counselor then he's just a lost cause."

- Barry (about the machine message): "It's so long and explainy."

Other Thoughts:

- I laughed so hard at the very end when Erica called home. Barry was such a jerk, but he kept going on and on! And it just got funnier because Erica just could not decide if Barry was actually talking or if it was the machine!

- The Goldbergs being excited about an answering machine made me remember how cool I thought it was when my parents got call waiting in the 90s. It sounds silly now, but I'm sure in 20 years we'll look about and think about how outdated and weird things are now.

What did you think of "Crazy Calls"? Did you enjoy it? There won't be a new episode next week so I'll see you all in two weeks!

About the Author - Jessica VanWinkle

Jessica VanWinkle is an avid television fan and been a member of the SpoilerTV team since 2016. Her favorite shows include Chicago Fire, Grey's Anatomy, The Middle, The Goldbergs, iZombie, and many more. Jessica is a native Kentuckian and while not watching television you can find her cheering for her beloved Kentucky Wildcats. She also enjoys watching football (the American version), reading, and spending time with her cat, Oliver. Jessica is a graduate from Western Kentucky University where she majored in Public Relations and minored in Sociology.

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