My Two Dads

When my wife and I married in 1985, I became the step-father of an eight-year old girl, whom I have raised as my own. At the time she had recently been adopted by another man because she never met her real father. In a sense, she now had two dads. When the show aired we had been in this situation for three years. This show gave her a connection to the rest of the world because she thought she was the only kids with two dads. The man who had adopted her was very money-oriented and I am an artist, so she felt a real connection to Nichole. I hated to see the series end because it was a great source of excitement for my daughter and it made me feel like our whole situation was not so abnormal. Although the show was a comedy, it made a lot serious statements about life and how to deal with situations as they are thrust upon you.

The show's premise about a young single mother dies leaving orphan Staci Keanan to be raised by two potential fathers who are very opposite of one another. They are played by a former hometown resident Greg Evigan and Paul Reiser. The Judge who put them together is played by the wonderful Florence Stanley. Okay, the plot may have been dumb but something clicked on this show about two very different men who are not gay raising a daughter in New York City. Of course, a simple blood test would determine who the father was but it was more important that it did not matter after awhile. That family can be redefined about people who love and care for each other. The show also had the two fathers date women. Of course, now the show would be about two gay men raising a daughter which would have left the fire out of them trying to get along and live together as a family. Isn't family about people who love each other after all?

This show may have more meaning for me than most anyone else. I've seen every episode at least five times. I would love a chance to own the videos if the show ever comes to DVD. I'm an adoptee who had a very difficult time living with my adoptive parents. My adolescent years were too painful for me to want to remember them. I could understand a child trying to cope with a foreign environment. I can definitely see much of my personality in her character. I was a bright kid. She had two parents that cared for her and tried to relate to her and understand her. I wish that I would have had so much. Her parents may not have known what to do in every situation, but they made an effort to seek outside guidance when they felt their own advice was inadequate. In this show I see the parents and the adolescent memories that I never had but wanted.

The basic plot of the show was Nichole's(Keanan) mother died and she was adopted by the two men who had been with her mother.

Micheal (Reiser) was the successful, easily stressed business man. Joey (Evigan) was the laid back rock musician. Also the judge lived with them to oversee the upbringing. Typical episodes include Nichole's first date, Nichole's dating a rebel, etc. The series gave me the first appearance of Reiser's range of comedy material, also Keanan was the girl that I wish that went to my junior high.:)

Need one of television's ad hoc families? I recommend this one. Nicole's (Staci Keenan) mother dies, and her two old flames inherit her per her will. One of them is her father, but no one knows who. They used to be best friends, but parted enemies, and now make up their differences for Nicole's sake and move into Joey's apartment and try to put up a "normal" family. Of course, the two dads have totally different personalities;Michael is an uptight consultant while Joey is a carefree, spontaneous artist. This makes for the funniest situations which of course get settled by the end of the episode. I think this is one of the funniest comedies of the '80s. If you have the time, check it out.

*** out of ****