The ABC sitcom The Goldbergs has had a tremendous run on the network, reaching nine seasons and gaining a relatively large fanbase. But recent cracks in the production of the show may be a hint to ABC that The Goldbergs has reached its end -- even if everyone involved is doing everything possible to keep it alive.
During the production of Season 8, actor George Segal (who portrayed the lovable and eccentric Pops) passed away from bypass surgery complications. His last official appearance on the show was Season 8, Episode 16, "Couple Off," which acknowledged Segal in a tribute video at the end. The Season 9 premiere "The Goldbergs' Excellent Adventure" was when the show really addressed his death, revealing that Pops died of natural causes. Most recently, misconduct allegations against Murray's actor Jeff Garlin led to his immediate leave from the show, which has been poorly covered up in recent episodes.
In Season 9, Episode 15, "The Wedding", Erica and Geoff finally get married -- and while it's supposed to be a beautiful moment, it's actually a horror show thanks to The Goldberg's creepy attempt at using a Murray stand-in. Murray's face is strategically in only a few shots of the wedding scene, and there's a moment where his disembodied voice saying "sweetheart" echoes over Erica walking down the aisle. It's obviously pulled from another episode, and sounds completely unnatural. What's worse are the few moments when the camera pans over to Murray's face; he appears as a Madame Tussauds wax figure.
It's clearly a rough situation that the writers and editors are forced into, given Murray was already written into the scene and it would make no sense for him not to be at his daughter's wedding. But they're no Marvel when it comes to CGI, and it's just one indication that The Goldbergs does not have the means to carry on without two of its main characters. In fact, the show has been hanging by a thread in Season 9 even excluding the cast changes. Adam will be going off to college, which means the show's premise of being based on the real Adam F. Goldberg's childhood will be running dry soon.
The Goldbergs' main issue is that the shtick just doesn't work anymore. Beverly was always the most entertaining and humorous character on the show thanks to her constant smothering, but nine seasons in, she's still learning the same lesson of letting go of her children. The kids' stories became less amusing as they matured, and the JTP's antics as grown-ups prove that their storylines were funnier when there was room for immaturity in high school. Their behavior's just weird as adults.
Sitcoms are arguably the most difficult shows to keep running on air these days, mainly because the humor dies slowly over time, so props to The Goldbergs' cast and creatives for sticking it out this far. But the signs are clearly there that the show cannot last much longer. Adam F. Goldberg is helming a new Muppets show over on Disney+, and Garlin is claiming that his inappropriate behavior was an issue for three years, which if true, doesn't paint the series in a great light. With COVID-19 delays, Segal's death and Garlin's departure, ABC may want to take the Modern Family route and just end The Goldbergs on its own terms while i'ts still a beloved comedy.
New episodes of The Goldbergs premiere every Wednesday at 9 pm ET/PT on ABC.