Hello fellow Goldbergs fans. This week we had an all new episode which featured Adam and Erica teaming up against Beverly, and Barry struggling to accept a new member into the JTP.
Adam begins this week with his camera getting knocked over and him accidentally saying a bad word. Then Beverly wants to know where he learned to talk like that. The rest of the family informs her that they learned it from her. This part of the episode was completely stolen from A Christmas Story. If you haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend it. In that movie, Ralphie says the same word, and his mom wants to know where he learned it. He heard it from his father, of course.
Beverly decides that she can control herself so she sets up a swear jar for herself, Erica, Adam, and Murray. They have to put a dollar in every time someone swears. Beverly wants to use this money to go to Colonial Williamsburg, but Erica wants a trip to the Bahamas. Murray just thinks this is stupid and wants no part of it.
"I'll put $20 bucks in that thing if I can call any moron who's acting like a moron a moron anytime I want." - Murray
"Fifty." - Erica
"Worth it. Morons!" - Murray
Erica and Adam trick Beverly into swearing more and putting more money in the jar so they can get that Bahamas trip. Murray points out that they're just using her so she creates new jars: a "Badittude Jar" for Erica, and a "Adam Jar" for Adam. Erica has to put money in the jar every time she has a bad attitude, and Adam has to put money in every time he says something nerdy.
"We're all just using these jars to become better people. By the end I'll curse less, Erica will be a ray of sunshine, and Adam will be more...accessible." - Beverly
Beverly, Erica, and Adam have a war over the jars. The three can't help themselves and end up just taking money out of each other's jars. I thought this was pretty funny. "Swear Jar!" "Adam Jar!" "Badittude Jar!" It gets to the point where none of them want to talk in fear of having to give up money. Murray has had it and tells them that all of these things make them who they are. "You swear because you care." He tells his family that he doesn't want them to change. Adam and Erica decide that they can go to Williamsburg and use the money from the jars to get a hotel. Beverly is very touched.
While I liked this story and thought it was funny, I kind of thought Beverly cursing was random. We've never heard it before, but all of the sudden it's a big deal? And I thought it was a little over the top, but most things on this show are.
Barry had a story of his own this week. Matt Bradley, the former punk guy who is super mellow, wants to become a JTP member, but he's very hesitant. Barry gives Matt a bunch of challenges, but he passes all of them. The other members of the group love Matt, and they outnumber Barry and decide to go see the Grateful Dead.
Barry complains about the Grateful Dead to Pops who tries to get him to watch "What's Happening." The two do their own version of "Who's on First" as Barry thinks he's asking "what's happening?" This was my favorite part of my episode! I loved that Pops and Barry went back and forth with "what's happening?" and "I just told you what's happening!" Barry gets an idea to record the Grateful Dead so he and his friends will be kicked out. This backfires as The Grateful Dead actusllly likes people recording their concerts and the rest of the JTP are just mad about his plan. Barry does apologize. He says that he was worried that they would like Matt more than him. Everyone forgives him and the JTP all hop in the van and go to another Grateful Dead concert.
I love that Barry and Matt Bradley stayed friends as we saw at the end of the episode. I actually like him and think he's a good addition to the show. And I appreciated all of the references to A Christmas Story and Who's on First. I thought that made it fun. And I always like when Erica and Adam team up. As I mentioned before, I was a little confused why Beverly's cursing was a big deal all of a sudden, but I can overlook it.
What did you all think of Deadheads? Do you love A Christmas Story? Are you wanting to see more Matt Bradley in future episodes? Leave a comment down below!