“Love Ninja”
The show: The Goldbergs
As part of the ABC lineup of family sitcoms, this show, set in the ’80s, gives us lots of nostalgic laughs. The show is told from the point of view of the youngest Goldberg sibling, Adam, who is a total movie nerd. The interaction between the three Goldberg siblings provides the most comedy.
While the show is mostly based on the real Adam Goldberg’s life growing up in suburban Pennsylvania, battling with his well-meaning, overprotective mother, it also offers a fun retrospective look at the ’80s.
Best of the best: “Love Ninja” (“I Drank The Mold,” season 2)
Adam’s older sister and brother, Erica and Barry, perform this song to convince their miserly curmudgeon dad to buy them the latest stereo technology, a cutting-edge CD player (kids, ask your parents). At the time, such a piece of equipment would run the average consumer about $900, so they cook up a plan to get the dough out of the ever-complaining Murray.
They think if they can write a hit song, they can prove to their dad the CD player will advance their musical education, but when Erica tries to try it out for their grandfather, Barry jumps in as his rap alter-ego, Big Tasty. What ensues is a perfect example of comedy, cringey-ness, and delicious family dramedy.
Best lyric(s):
“Roundhouse, face kick, elbow chop
Ninja stole my heart and she wouldn’t stop
Bo staff, blow dart, samurai blade
Ninja went off like a ninja grenade
Girl chose smoke bomb, vanished in the sparks
She’s so deadly like a robot shark
A robot shark, how sweet that would be?
Mechanical beast swimming in the sea…”