The Best of Times (1983– ) User Reviews

A Promising Series Dampened by Its Laugh Track

[abbazabakyleman-98834 · 8/10 · 2 January 2019]

This was an unsold pilot that aired on CBS on August 29, 1983 as a possible replacement series for Square Pegs, but dismal ratings pulled the plug on the show after its first episode. It's not too bad of a show, but the unnecessary laugh track hurts it, greatly. The plot centers around a group of high-schoolers, all stereotypes: the slick womanizer, the nerd, the aspiring musician, the goody-goody, etc. Robert Romanus basically reprises his Mike Damone character from Fast Times, but gives it a little more depth as he as to deal with his impossible-to-please father (Alex Rocco) and the musician character hounded by the school's sadistic vice principal. Lessons are learned at the end for everybody involved.