Been watching the wonderful and enlightening documentary The Jewish Americans for the last two Wednesdays (hours five and six air next Wednesday, February 23 from 8:00-10:00 on NPT Channel 8). Last night, I learned about The Goldbergs, an extremely successful radio show that moved to television in 1949. It starred Gertrude Berg as the matriarch of a Jewish family. I wasn’t familiar, so I did a little Googling.
TvParty.com has some great information on the history of the show and Getrude Berg’s career. The site says The Goldbergs was “the original “show about nothing,” just the ordinary daily frustrations of life as seen through the eyes of patient, wise, resourceful Molly.”
The Hour, in a YouTube video on the top five sitcoms of all time, says The Goldbergs was the first sitcom. “It followed a family going through zany situations,” says The Hour. “And that’s what sit-com stands for “situation comedy.”