Silver Spoons
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2008-07-05T02:55:17Z
Squids and Chips
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{{Infobox television |
| show_name = Silver Spoons
| image = [[Image:Silver Spoons Intro.jpg|210px]]
| caption = Intro screenshot of ''Silver Spoons''
| format = [[Sitcom]]
| runtime = approx. 0:23 (per episode)
| creator = Howard Leeds<br>[[Ben Starr]]<br>Martin Cohan
| developer = David W. Duclon<br>[[Ron Leavitt]]<br>[[Michael G. Moye]]
| executive_producer = David W. Duclon<br>(1982–1984)<br>Robert Illes<br>James Stein<br>(1984–1985)<br>Steve Pritzker<br>(1985–1986)<br>George Burditt<br>(1986–1987)
| starring = [[Rick Schroder]]<br>[[Erin Gray]]<br>Leonard Lightfoot (1982-1983)<br>[[Joel Higgins]]<br>[[Franklyn Seales]] (1983-1987)<br>[[Alfonso Ribeiro]] (1984-1987)<br>[[Jason Bateman]] (1982-1983)<br>[[Corky Pigeon]] (1982-1985)
| country = {{USA}}
| network = [[NBC]] (1982-1986)<br>[[Television syndication|Syndicated]] (1986-1987)
| first_aired =[[September 25]], [[1982 in television|1982]]
| last_aired =[[March 4]], [[1987 in television|1987]]
| num_seasons = 5
| num_episodes = 116
|}}
'''''Silver Spoons''''' is an [[United States|American]] [[sitcom]] that aired on [[NBC]] from [[September 25]], [[1982 in television|1982]] to [[May 11]], [[1986 in television|1986]] and in [[first-run syndication]] from [[September 15]], [[1986 in television|1986]] to [[March 4]], [[1987 in television|1987]]. The series was produced by [[Embassy Television]] for the first four seasons, until [[Columbia Pictures Television]] (now [[Sony Pictures Television]]) took production of the series with the move to syndication.
==About the show==
The title of the show is based on the expression that rich children are born with a [[proverb]]ial [[silver spoon]] in their mouth, implying that they are given only the very best and work for nothing. It is also a term for family wealth. Despite the premise, the goal of the show was to disprove either of these notions.
In the [[pilot episode]], Ricky Stratton ([[Ricky Schroder]]) arrives at the mansion of the father he has never met to introduce himself, move in and get to know him better. Edward Stratton III (played by [[Joel Higgins]]) epitomized the phrase "overgrown child," having never taken responsibility for anything in his whole life including his toy business named Eddie Toys, which showed in the pilot as he tried to take his mind off the fact his business associate embezzled some of his money. The elder Stratton thinks that his son is too uptight and needs to get out and have fun while he's still young. Edward's father is played by [[John Houseman]] in a recurring role as the thoughtful, well-to-do patriarch and industrialist whose demeanor starkly contrasts with Edward's and seems more similar to Ricky's (at first).
Ricky's mother Evelyn Bluedhorn (with whom Edward had a romantic relationship which led to a marriage that lasted one week, played recurringly by Christine Belford) placed him in a military boarding school after she remarried, thinking Ricky would be in the way. Needless to say, Edward was surprised to find that his short-lived marriage to Evelyn had produced a son. After originally sending Ricky back to boarding school, Edward changes his mind and decides to surprise his son by dressing up as a [[swamp monster]] to tell Ricky that he would let him live with him at the mansion.
The series centers on Ricky and his single father Edward. As an overgrown kid who owns a multinational toy company empire, Edward's mansion is stocked with arcade video games (including ''[[Tempest (arcade game)|Tempest]]'') and has a scale model freight train that runs throughout the house. Edward exhibits his childishness and playfulness in many behaviors; for example, he performs a little dance before playing ''[[Pac-Man]]'' when the video game plays its theme song. Stratton's personal assistant, Kate Summers (played by [[Erin Gray]]), was often the voice of reason. Kate's role added tension to the show and provided incentive for Edward to act more mature (at least sometimes). Edward and Kate had a will-they-or-won't-they relationship which led to the two dating and later becoming married in the third season. One year after the show was cancelled Rick Schroder would star in [[Larry McMurtry]]'s sweeping [[Western (genre)|Western]] epic, [[Lonesome Dove]]
===Supporting characters===
During the early years of the series, Ricky meets Derek Taylor ([[Jason Bateman]], appearing [[1982 in television|1982]]-[[1983 in television|83]]) and Freddy Lippencottleman (Corky Pigeon), appearing from [[1982 in television|1982]]-[[1985 in television|85]]). They get into a lot of trouble and learn all the childhood lessons along the way. Ricky also tries to teach his father Edward to grow up and be an upstanding adult, while Edward taught Ricky to be a kid and have fun. In the third season, Ricky develops a friendship with Alfonso Spears ([[Alfonso Ribeiro]]), the nephew of Edward's stuffy [[accountant]] Dexter Stuffins ([[Franklyn Seales]]).
===Guest stars===
Guest stars that have appeared on the show included [[Whitney Houston]], [[Joey Lawrence]], [[Matthew Perry (actor)|Matthew Perry]], [[Mr. T]], [[Menudo]], [[Jonna Lee]], [[Gary Coleman]] (in a crossover from ''[[Diff'rent Strokes]]'' as Arnold Jackson), [[Sharon Stone]], and [[Ray Walston]]. [[Baseball Hall of Fame|Baseball Hall of Famer]] [[Tommy Lasorda]] appeared at the end of one episode.
==Episode guide==
{{main|List of Silver Spoons episodes}}
==Cast==
[[Image:Silver Spoons.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The cast of ''Silver Spoons'']]
*[[Rick Schroder]] as Ricky Stratton
*[[Joel Higgins]] as Edward Stratton III
*[[Erin Gray]] as Kate Summers Stratton
*Leonard Lightfoot as Leonard Rollins (1982-1983)
*[[Franklyn Seales]] as Dexter Stuffins
*[[Jason Bateman]] as Derek Taylor (1982-1984)
*Corky Pigeon as Freddy Lippincottleman (1983-1985)
*[[Alfonso Ribeiro]] as Alfonso Spears (1984-1987)
*Bobby Fite as J.T Martin (1983-1984)
*[[John Houseman]] as Grandfather Edward Stratton II
*[[Ray Walston]] as Uncle Harry Summers (1985)
*[[Billy Jacoby]] as Brad (1985-1986)
*Christine Belford as Evelyn Bluedhorn Stratton (1983-1986)
==Reruns and syndication==
The series has not been in regular syndication since the mid-1990s, except for a few airings of select episodes on [[Nick at Nite]] in [[2001 in television|2001]] and [[2005 in television|2005]].
Some of the Sony Pictures Television program library (including ''Silver Spoons'') had been acquired by [[ION Television|ION]] in August 2006. No date has been announced when ''Silver Spoons'' will air. The show is also available on [[Comcast|Comcast digital cable's]] [[On Demand]] service as of [[September 19]], [[2006]].
The first season is also available for purchase by episode or season on iTunes.
In 2008, popular video on demand site Hulu began airing the first season of "Silver Spoons."
==Theme song==
The show's theme song titled "Together" was written by Rik Howard and Bob Wirth. The original version was accompanied mostly by guitar. Two other versions of the theme were used during the show's run. A [[synthesized]] version was used in [[1985 in television|1985]] when all other Embassy Television series (''[[The Facts of Life (TV series)|The Facts of Life]]'' and ''[[Diff'rent Strokes]]'' included) modified their opening credits. The third version of the theme, a rock version, was introduced in [[1986 in television|1986]] when the show moved to first-run syndication.
==Issues addressed==
While largely a comedy, ''Silver Spoons'' commonly addressed certain issues that affect people using the "[[very special episode]]" format.
*In a Season 2 episode, Ricky suspects that a girl he's babysitting was kidnapped by her father. Many missing children cases have involved children being kidnapped by one of their parents or relatives.
*In an episode from Season 3, Alfonso is doing poorly in school, and a teacher (played by Olympic athlete [[Bruce Jenner]]) helps him by discovering that Alfonso has [[dyslexia]], a condition which causes the mind to retain information differently, and letters are seen in a different way, usually backwards.
*Ricky attends a party and is pressured into [[underage drinking|drinking]] by his friend. He later finds out that his friend has a [[alcoholism|drinking problem]] and tries to get him help.
*The issue of school [[bullying|bullies]] was touched upon in an episode in which Ricky is being picked on by a [[bullying|bully]] and Edward decides to hire a [[bodyguard]] for Ricky (played by [[Mr. T]]).
*[[Homelessness]] was addressed in an episode when Ricky discovered a family living in a cave on his father's estate.
*[[Teen pregnancy]] was also a subject in an episode where Ricky is paired with a girl in a mock marriage project at school and finds out his partner is pregnant, both in the mock marriage project and in real life.
*In the Season 3 episode "Spare the Rod," Ricky discovers that his friend is being [[child abuse|beaten by his father]]. The end of the episode reveals that the father is also a child abuse victim.
*In the Season 1 episode "The Great Computer Caper", Ricky and friend Arnold Jackson (a crossover character from ''Diff'rent Strokes'') hack into a military computer and access the plans for a top-secret fighter jet. They soon learn they might be guilty of [[treason]] and attempt to run away from home to avoid punishment.
==DVD releases==
On [[June 19]], [[2007]], [[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]] released the first season of ''Silver Spoons'' on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time.<ref>[http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=7072 tvshowsondvd.com]</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!DVD Name
!Ep #
!Release Date
|-
| The Complete First Season
| align="center"|22
| [[June 19]] [[2007]]
|-
| The Complete Second Season
| align="center"|22
| TBA
|}
==References==
<div class="references-small">
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==External links==
* {{imdb title|id=0083479|title=Silver Spoons}}
* [http://www.tv.com/show/495/summary.html ''Silver Spoons'' at TV.com]
* [http://www.retrojunk.com/details_tvshows/98-silver-spoons-silver-spoons/ ''Silver Spoons'' at Retro Junk]
* [http://www.jumptheshark.com/topic/silver-spoons-general-comments/1792 ''Silver Spoons'' at Jump The Shark]
[[Category:1982 television series debuts]]
[[Category:1987 television series endings]]
[[Category:1980s American television series]]
[[Category:American television sitcoms]]
[[Category:NBC network shows]]
[[Category:Television series by Sony Pictures Television]]
[[Category:First-run syndicated television programs in the United States]]
[[fr:Ricky ou la belle vie]]