The Goldbergs: The Complete Second Season

The Goldbergs, set in the 1980s, burrows as deeply into its decade as That '70s Show did for the ‘70s. Patton Oswalt narrates here as the adult version of creator Adam F. Goldberg, who draws from his own childhood (each episode ends with a clip from Goldberg's home movie collection). Adam (Sean Giambrone), a 14-year-old computer enthusiast (he has an Apple II), lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with his mother Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey), father Murray (Jeff Garlin), sister Erica (Hayley Orrantia), brother Barry (Troy Gentile), and grandfather Pops (George Segal). Adam's father manages a furniture store, while Beverly is a stay-at-home mom who likes to bedazzle with her clothing, and micromanage her family. The hyped-up acting, which takes equal inspiration from Sam Kinison and Seinfeld's splenetic George Costanza, may be overwhelming for some viewers (a stylistic approach that also characterized Malcolm in the Middle). Fortunately, the writing provides more consistent pleasures. During the second season, Pops happily moves into a retirement home after an apartment mishap, Barry makes headway in his pursuit of Erica's best friend, Lainey (AJ Michalka), and the whole gang recreates Ferris Bueller's Day Off (complete with a Charlie Sheen cameo). Recurring characters include Stephen Tobolowksy as Adam's high school principal and Ana Gasteyer as his choir teacher, while the ‘80s references range from Atari and Pop Rocks to Trivial Pursuit and New Kids on the Block. Presenting all 24 episodes from the 2014-15 sophomore season, extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, and a gag reel. Recommended. (K. Fennessy)