jimbogags
I believe the above summary is incorrect--they didn't have five kids. The baby, the 3rd kid, made their total family no. 5.For as short-lived as this series was, it is memorable to me because I myself was practically a "baby" when the show aired, and it was one of the first TV shows I remember "having to watch". Had the TGIF era occurred a bit earlier (or if this show came a bit later) it probably would have been longer-running. The show may seem rather trite now compared to the advancing sophistication and mature nature of programming; but it fell in line with all the other sappy family sitcoms of the day, and it was enjoyed by families with young kids. Perhaps not all members of the family liked it, but often the sitcoms of that ere were "for kids" anyway. Peter S. seems ageless, however, in that 20 years later he would play opposite his Newheart costar in Listen Up--still appearing young enough to play the same exact role if there were to be a Baby Makes 5, Part II.
happipuppi13
In 1983 it had been over a year since ABC's Bosom Buddies ended production. Peter Scolari who had starred with Tom Hanks in that show landed on this cutesy,cuddly,silly ABC family sitcom that makes Full House seem like a Shakesperain play. Evidenced in the opening credits that include images of babies crawling on all fours or seemingly smiling at the camera with soft music and forgettable lyrics that end with "...and Baby Makes F-i-i-i-ve". Ick.Peter plays a family man with 4 kids already and a wife who's expecting her 5th anytime now. This show was so not serious,that when the mother went into labor it caused the audience to unintentionally laugh but they kept it in. Peter,of course makes like the panicky husband and falls all over himself and looks like a fool.Then,6 year old Brandy Gold (little sister of Missy Gold from "Benson")plays their too cute for words youngest daughter. Her 2 most memorable moments are these. Momy & daddy are kissing in the bed and she pops out from under the blanket and (looking right at the camera) shouts "HI!" Then in another scene she says,"Daddy,I swallowed a crayon". Peter goes nuts calls the hospital and he asks her when this happened. She says innocently,"3 days ago". Since this was just a replacement series,it is mostly forgotten now 24 years later. It can be mostly looked on at how lost networks were in the world of sitcoms,having to live up to what the grand comedies of the 1970s put in place. Thankfully,as we know,things got better in 1984 with The Cosby Show (preceded by Family Ties and Cheers),Who's The Boss,Growing Pains and others to come. "Baby Makes Five" and many other short lived TV comedies from 1980-early 1984,would make a great documentary on "how not to have a hit sitcom". It wasn't one of the best but it wasn't the worst ever either. That title goes to NBC's "We Got It Made",in my opinion. (END)
