The motion picture "Baby Boom" was a hit with audiences, primarily because of the acting talents of Diane Keaton, who was convincing as a high powered corporate climber in the business world who was suddenly saddled with a kid that instantly, and completely unexpectedly (no pun intended) became her own. Ms. Keaton's actions and reactions to everything is what made the comedy. The reversals of having to be this cutthroat business professional and then this doting mommy, completely out of her depth in dealing with that, sold the concept.
When they decided to adapt the film to the small screen, Kate Jackson, who at the time was noted for being "The Smart Angel" on the ABC action adventure series, "Charlie's Angels," and who had just come back from battling breast cancer, a diagnosis she received at the end of her most recent series at the time, CBS' "Scarecrow and Mrs. King," stepped into the Keaton role.
Nothing against Ms. Jackson, who certainly had a homespun southern charm that she used to distinguish her version of the character from Keaton's, but she just couldn't do the kind of reversals that created the laughs in the film specifically and there weren't nearly as many laughs in this series as there should have been, especially when you consider that not one, but TWO successful stand up comics of the day: Joy Behar and Susie Essman, were co-stars, and long-time great actor, Sam Wanamaker as her corporate boss was there to create some friction.
Adorable twins Kristina and Michelle Kennedy reprised their roles as the titular baby from the motion picture to this series (the only actors who crossed over from the big to small screen), a year older and reciting dialog!
It was the end of the 1980s, and there was the question of business acumen leading to promotions in the boardroom and how that could jibe with the desire for motherhood that we are told that women supposedly had. That concept is interesting when you consider that neither the film star, Keaton nor the series star, Jackson ever gave birth themselves, with both of them choosing to adopt later in their lives.
New York plays a part in that you need the ambition and drive to succeed in the business world, and that was (and very much still is) more challenging for a woman dealing with the very real Glass Ceiling, especially now, when you consider how laws are changing and how restrictions on health care can create life altering decisions, forcing some women out of their jobs - one giant leap backward in our sociological evolution.
I don't think you could reboot this series for the 2020s, but, personally, I think it's time to launch a new film version to examine the concept of all of the elements that we are looking at in the wake of Roe v. Wade and how "The Boomers" (especially those in politics) need to simply stay out of the womb.
I suppose that would be a very different movie, though... and probably NOT a comedy!
