The Hogan Family: Difference between revisions

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The series originally was built as a starring vehicle for Valerie Harper, whose best known role beforehand was as the title character in the 1970s sitcom ''[[Rhoda]]''. Set in Oak Park, Illinois, Valerie Hogan (Harper) was a career woman (the owner of an auction house and later, a graphic designer) whose airline pilot husband, Michael ([[Josh Taylor]], who concurrently starred on ''[[Days of Our Lives]]''), was frequently gone, meaning she had primary responsibility of raising the couple's three sons: 16-year-old David ([[Jason Bateman]]), and 12-year-old twin sons Willie and Mark (Danny Ponce and Jeremy Licht). Valerie had a couple of best friends, but the one that stuck around was the busybody (but very sweet) next-door neighbor Patricia Poole (Edie McClurg).

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* [[An Aesop]]: While most had standard happily-ever-after morals, ''Valerie'' (and its successors) often twisted this trope. A prime example is the second-season episode "Leave it to Willie," which turned the standard "happy ending" on its head; Willie (an ardent fan of a ''[[Leave It to Beaver]]''-type show, where everything always works out in the end) steals his dad's car to go for a joyride with a buddy, is involved in a hit-and-run and keeps silent about the ordeal ... even when Valerie confronts David about taking the car and causing the accident. David eventually finds evidence (a Cheeto) to incriminate Willie, who keeps quiet. Then, he sees another episode of his favorite show, where the main protagonist is involved in a similar scrape (Harper and Ponce playing out the "happy ever after ending" he envisions). When he sees that telling the truth will absolve him, he figures he has nothing to lose and comes clean with Valerie. Only this time, Valerie is not relieved, but very angry with Willie that he lied (by keeping quiet and not coming forward when asked earlier) and allowed David to take the blame. She ultimately grounds him from going to a party, but worse says she has lost trust in him ... and that's even before his dad -- Taylor does not appear in this episode -- finds out.

* [[Channel Hop]]: From NBC to CBS (for its last season).

* [[Christmas Episode]]: Which also turned out to be the very last episode of the series.

* [[The Danza]]: Applied to the first two seasons, when the title character was present.

* [[House Fire]]: See series description for explanation.

* [[McLeaned]]: The character of Valerie Hogan, in a car accident (after Valerie Harper was fired after a well-publicized off-screen feud with Miller/Boyett).

* [[Missing Mom]]: Starting in the fall of 1987 (upon Harper's departure).

* [[Thematic Theme Tune]]

* [[Very Special Episode]]