Just the Ten of Us
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Just the Ten of Us was a situation comedy that aired on ABC, most notably as part of that network's TGIF programming block. The series was a spin-off of Growing Pains, and was broadcast from 1988 until 1990.
The series focuses on Graham Lubbock (Bill Kirchenbauer), a substitute teacher at the high school that Growing Pains characters Mike and Carol Seaver (Kirk Cameron, Tracey Gold) had attended; and the father of eight children.
In the pilot episode (which aired on Growing Pains in the spring of 1988), Graham's contract is terminated, prompting Mike to lead a protest after he learns that he is trying to support a large family (including a baby that his wife, Elizabeth (Deborah Harmon), just had). Word spreads, and Graham is offered a job at St. Augustine's Academy, an all-boys private Catholic school in Eureka, California; Graham promptly moves his family to California.
Six of Graham's children were girls, four of them teen-agers (who were all very pretty); they included:
- Marie (Heather Langenkamp), the oldest and self-appointed leader.
- Cindy (Jamie Luner), who had a wild personality.
- Wendy (Brooke Theiss), who was always trying to get a date.
- Connie (JoAnn Willette), the brains of the group.
Graham and Elizabeth's sons were 11-year-old Graham Jr. (J.R., played by Matt Shakman) and toddler Harvey.
Episodes revolved around the family's efforts to save money, dating and other typical family sitcom plots. In later episodes, the four teen-aged girls formed a singing group called "The Lubbock Babes" (partly to help bring in much-needed extra income).
The series was built around Graham's character, a bumbling substitute teacher, which had been a recurring character on Growing Pains. His teaching skills had improved considerably for Just the Ten of Us, however.
Movie connections
The series had close ties with the Nightmare on Elm Street horror film franchise. Three of the four teenaged daughters appeared in various Nightmare films:
- Heather Langenkamp starred in the original Nightmare on Elm Street and as Nancy Thompson, Freddy Krueger's nemesis; this character is killed off in Dream Warriors. In addition, Langenkamp plays herself in Wes Craven's New Nightmare.
- JoAnn Willette plays a student aboard a school bus in who is slaughtered by Freddy.
- Brooke Theiss has a supporting role in as "Deb," who goes on to be the last of Freddy's victims in the film.
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