50 Fun Facts About The Goldbergs

On which network did The Goldbergs air for ten seasons?

It premiered on September 24, 2013 and signed off with its series finale on May 3, 2023.

In which Philadelphia suburb is The Goldbergs set?

Creator Adam F. Goldberg really grew up there; the show is loosely based on his own family.

Who narrates every episode as the adult Adam Goldberg?

Each episode is introduced as taking place in "1980-something", so the decade's references arrive out of order.

What is the title Beverly's children give her for her overbearing parenting?

Wendi McLendon-Covey was the first actor cast, on January 11, 2013, before Jeff Garlin and George Segal joined.

Who plays Beverly Goldberg?

She came to the role after Reno 911! and a breakout turn in Bridesmaids.

Which HBO series had Jeff Garlin starred in before playing Murray Goldberg?

He played Larry David's manager Jeff Greene on Curb, a role he kept up alongside The Goldbergs.

What is Murray's favourite insult for his children?

He is usually delivering it from the family couch in his underpants.

What is the name of the furniture store Pops founded and Murray runs?

Its success let Pops retire comfortably and hand the business to his son-in-law.

Who played Albert "Pops" Solomon?

Pops was a laid-back widowed World War II veteran and Adam's best friend.

What rap name does Barry give himself?

He also leads the Jenkintown Posse, whose members chant "JTP" back whenever the initials are spoken.

What do the letters JTP stand for?

Geoff Schwartz, Naked Rob, Andy Cogan and later Matt Bradley make up the crew with Barry.

Which NHL team's jersey does Barry wear constantly?

He also made the school wrestling team despite his general lack of talent.

What does Barry go to college to study in season 7?

He graduates from high school in the season 6 finale and heads off alongside Erica.

The character Erica is based on which real-life Goldberg?

Adam F. Goldberg has two older brothers, Eric and Barry, so the eldest sibling was gender-swapped for TV.

Who does Erica marry in season 9?

Geoff had pined for her from season 2; they became a couple midway through season 4.

Which college does Erica leave for in season 5?

She drops out at the end of the season to start a band with Lainey and Valley Erica.

What is the name of Erica and Geoff's daughter, born in season 10?

Her full name is Muriel Allison Goldberg Schwartz.

Why does young Adam use his middle initial at school?

The real Adam F. Goldberg adopted the F for the same reason, to avoid confusion with the actor Adam Goldberg.

What does Adam use to document his family's life?

The real home videos are reenacted in episodes, with the originals shown before the end credits.

Who plays Adam Goldberg as a child?

Troy Gentile plays Barry and Hayley Orrantia plays Erica.

Which franchise is young Adam obsessed with?

In season 1 he and Erica meet Thomas Lennon's Taun-Taun Todd while queuing for Return of the Jedi.

Who plays Lainey Lewis, Erica's best friend and Barry's great love?

She later led the spin-off Schooled as William Penn's music teacher in the 1990s.

Which NFL team does Lainey's father Bill support, to Murray's disgust?

Bill, played by David Koechner, eventually becomes one of Murray's closest friends.

What ironic nickname does mild-mannered Geoff go by?

He is the best-behaved member of the JTP, which is the joke.

Which band does Geoff spend his gap year following in season 7?

He ends up enrolling full-time and moving into Erica's dorm room.

Which JTP member removes his shirt at every opportunity?

Noah Munck plays "Naked" Rob; Matt Bush's Andy Cogan is teased for his height instead.

Which classmate is always addressed by his full name, even by his own mother?

He is known for his bowl haircut and endless turtlenecks.

What nicknames does Coach Mellor give Erica and Adam?

Bryan Callen's gym teacher left in season 6 to train wrestlers, handing his whistle to his brother Nick.

Which former wrestler plays Coach Mellor's brother Nick?

Nick first appears as Villanova's defensive coordinator before taking over the William Penn gym.

Who plays guidance counsellor Mr. Glascott?

Glascott moonlights delivering pizza and giving guitar lessons, and becomes principal in the spin-off.

Who plays Principal Earl Ball?

Beverly storms his office whenever she thinks one of her children has been wronged.

Which Breakfast Club alumnus plays cool motorcycle-riding counsellor Mr. Perott?

He also cameoed in the season 7 premiere as a Disneyland security guard, nodding to National Lampoon's Vacation.

Who plays Murray's cantankerous father "Pop Pop" in later seasons?

Paul Sorvino played the character in a single season 2 episode before Hirsch took over.

Who plays Murray's schemer brother Marvin?

Marvin's get-rich-quick plans always collapse.

What is the name of the Goldbergs' dog, introduced in season 3?

Barry begged for the dog, but it bonds with Murray instead.

Which actor reprised Ferris Bueller's police-station character on The Goldbergs?

The season 2 homage episode recreated the film beat for beat.

Which horror icon did Robert Englund reprise in season 6?

The show's Halloween episodes regularly borrowed 80s movie villains.

Rick Moranis lent his voice to which Spaceballs character in season 5?

It was a rare acting appearance for Moranis, who had largely retired from screen work.

Rick Springfield guest-starred as the owner of what kind of business?

Gary runs Gary-oke's, where Erica works in season 6.

Jon Lovitz reprised his character from which 1998 film in season 6?

He played rival singer Jimmie Moore in the Adam Sandler comedy.

What was the show's working title when it first landed at ABC?

An even ruder version of the title came first; ABC announced the final name in April 2013.

Which band wrote the theme song "Rewind" at Adam Goldberg's request?

Goldberg asked his favourite band to write it specifically for the show.

Which cancelled show had Adam F. Goldberg created just before The Goldbergs?

Rather than wait for another pilot season, he took The Goldbergs to ABC, which agreed to make it immediately.

Why did Jeff Garlin leave the show in December 2021?

Murray was kept on screen through outtakes, CGI and stand-ins before the character died off-screen in season 10.

How did the show keep Murray on screen for the rest of season 9 after Garlin left?

The character died off-screen in the season 10 premiere, "If You Build It".

The season 9 premiere was dedicated to which cast member, who died in March 2021?

His last episode, "Couple Off", ended with a 48-second video tribute.

What was the name of the spin-off set at William Penn Academy in the 1990s?

It starred AJ Michalka, Tim Meadows and Bryan Callen and was cancelled after two seasons in May 2020.

Which recurring character was the spin-off originally going to be built around?

ABC passed on that version in 2017 despite it testing better than the original pilot, then ordered Schooled a year later.

Which real Philadelphia-area convenience store chain gets frequent shout-outs on the show?

Gimbels, Willow Grove Park Mall and Kremp's Florist get the same treatment.

Adam's classmate Ruben Amaro Jr. grew up to become general manager of which team?

Like Dave Kim, he is always addressed by his full name.