417:
their manager. The fictitious band, which actually consisted of four skeletons stolen from the biology lab (and controlled by strings with a smoke machine to cover them up), is a little too successful and
Matthew soon finds himself agreeing to allow Norman an interview with the band for Music Press magazine, figuring that if the truth ever comes out, Norman will be humiliated. The interview only fuels the Dregs' popularity, and this sets up the cliffhanger: the
38:
453:
In episode 14, "Caught in the Act," Matthew renounced his scheming after Eileen found out what he had been up to. For the last four episodes, the show's original premise was completely ignored; this may have been a result of letters that NBC received from parents of high school-aged boys. According
431:
In the second part of the episode, Matthew is scrambling to explain why The Dregs failed to show up to a sold-out concert. To make matters worse, Norman is starting to suspect that the band doesn't exist and
Matthew gets sued. He finally has the brilliant idea to send the "band" to a watery grave by
416:
A notable episode was a two-parter entitled "The Dregs of
Humanity". In the first half of the episode, Eli loses the school's money that had been trusted to Matt for hiring a band for a school dance. To cover the loss, Matthew crafts the rise and fall of a band (The Dregs of Humanity) and acts as
371:, Norman struck up a friendship with Eileen and the two were soon dating. Dismayed that his mother had chosen someone he felt was beneath her, Matt attempted to sabotage their relationship, but soon finds Norman to be a cagey antagonist who regularly foils Matthew's plots.
454:
to
Bateman, the reason the show was cancelled was because NBC was receiving “letters from mothers across the country whose kids were getting into trouble at school by mimicking Matthew’s (Bateman) antics”.
367:
The status quo of
Matthew's world changed forever in the series' pilot, when Norman Lamb (Garrison) moved into the apartment across the hall. A quick-witted but impoverished writer from
1519:
360:, apartment with his older sister Julie (Cast) and widowed mother Eileen (Kaye). Matt ran various underhanded dealings with his high school friends, especially his sidekick Eli (
1514:
1504:
1529:
1494:
1489:
1539:
1524:
421:
calls and offers a $ 20,000 gig for the Dregs. While heretofore willing to let the Dregs retire, the money is too enticing and Matt agrees to the gig.
1509:
432:
concocting a story that the "band" drove off a cliff into the ocean. In a later episode, it is revealed that the fake band was inducted into the
1499:
1339:
1320:
1361:
20:
1304:
424:
The second installment of the two-part episode was scheduled to air the following week, but was preempted by a speech by then-
1424:
433:
480:
475:
446:
444:
The series opened with some positive reception from critics, but its time slot competed with the popular show
1344:
485:
225:
1534:
676:
484:, in which Garrison starred for four seasons (the two shows also shared the same production company,
98:
1263:
1187:
364:), such as selling pre-written term papers and exam answer keys, and even engaging in blackmail.
341:
337:
243:
1011:
Matt's latest scheme revolves around efforts to convince his mother's boss to give her a raise.
1463:
1300:
1386:. "Martin Short" 04 January 2021 (Podcast), Accessed 22 September 2023. Event begins at 47:09
1296:
1289:
1370:, Retrieved December 15, 2010 (noting that debut episode of the series had to go up against
600:
Teen Matt tries to foil romance between his mother and a neighbor. Guest star: River
Phoenix
418:
1128:
1085:
Eileen's rejected suitor takes his new bride on a lavish holiday. Guest star: Liz
Sheridan
582:
515:
509:
463:
305:
106:
62:
728:
Matt plans to bug Julie's pajama party and sell the secrets. Guest star: Justine
Bateman
1366:
1325:
760:
533:
497:
404:
329:
325:
134:
37:
1483:
793:
Norman and Matt pose as father and son on a TV game show. Guest star: Alan
Blumenfeld
521:
503:
425:
398:
380:
361:
321:
309:
138:
130:
118:
80:
1116:
Principal Ellis and Norman ask Matt for investment advice. Guest star: Shawnee Smith
352:
The show centered on
Matthew Burton (Bateman), a teenage scam artist who lived in a
573:
527:
102:
94:
1268:
1432:
1399:
1243:
578:
467:
392:
313:
301:
126:
58:
386:
357:
317:
122:
886:
Matt sabotages Norman and Eileen's getaway by canceling Norman's credit card.
612:
1474:
979:
Norman helps dispose of the Dregs of Humanity. Guest star: Nina Blackwood
697:
To impress a girl, Matt hires a limousine and borrows Norman's apartment.
353:
1457:
948:
After Eli loses school-dance funds, Matt promotes a group of skeletons.
368:
297:
48:
1468:
1023:
This is reflected by a new title sequence which made its debut here.
1383:
759:
Matt and Norman receive notes from a secret admirer. Guest star:
1054:
Matt convinces Norman to let Eli play on the school soccer team.
633:
Substitute teacher Norman foils Matt's plans to cheat on a test.
470:, who just three years later would take the harder tone of the
333:
258:
917:
Norman tries to show the Burtons the meaning of Christmas.
1394:
1392:
1149:
A cheerleader plots to get Julie kicked off the squad.
474:
concept and put it in an entirely different context:
1017:Show moves to Saturdays, replaced on Wednesdays by
264:
254:
249:
239:
231:
221:
207:
197:
192:
181:
170:
162:
154:
144:
114:
90:
68:
54:
44:
28:
1288:
1223:Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series
824:To irk Norman, Matt hires a man to romance Eileen.
450:on ABC and the series was canceled in early 1985.
1338:Duffy, Mike (Knight-Ridder) (28 September 1984).
462:The show's creators and executive producers were
664:Matt tries to convince Julie to go out with Eli.
1192:Best Young Actor in a Television Comedy Series
1520:Television series by Sony Pictures Television
1356:
1354:
8:
1515:American television series about teenagers
1505:American English-language television shows
1321:TV's junior con man proves oddly endearing
1205:Best New Comedy or Drama Television Series
544:
36:
25:
1530:Television series created by Ron Leavitt
1362:NBC makes the wrong move with new sitcom
1160:
1495:1985 American television series endings
1255:
1146:
1120:
1113:
1089:
1082:
1058:
1051:
1027:
1007:
983:
976:
952:
945:
921:
914:
890:
883:
859:
855:Norman takes over Matt's English class.
852:
828:
821:
797:
790:
766:
756:
732:
725:
701:
694:
668:
661:
637:
630:
604:
597:
565:
1490:1984 American television series debuts
1282:
1280:
1278:
1121:
1090:
1059:
1028:
984:
953:
922:
891:
860:
829:
798:
767:
733:
702:
669:
638:
605:
566:
7:
1540:1980s American multi-camera sitcoms
1525:Television shows set in Los Angeles
1319:Holston, Noel (26 September 1984).
14:
994:Sandy Sprung & Marcy Vosburgh
963:Ron Leavitt & Michael G. Moye
932:Ron Leavitt & Michael G. Moye
901:Sandy Sprung & Marcy Vosburgh
808:Ron Leavitt & Michael G. Moye
743:Sandy Sprung & Marcy Vosburgh
681:Ron Leavitt & Michael G. Moye
648:Ron Leavitt & Michael G. Moye
536:(“The Dregs of Humanity: Part 2”)
1510:Television series about families
1360:Jicha, Tom (26 September 1984).
1295:. St. Martin's Griffin. p.
16:American sitcom airing 1984-1985
1264:Weekend Viewing: It's Your Move
1069:Fred Fox, Jr. & Al Aidekman
957:"The Dregs of Humanity: Part 2"
926:"The Dregs of Humanity: Part 1"
777:Fred Fox, Jr. & Al Aidekman
440:Series changes and cancellation
412:"The Dregs of Humanity" episode
332:. The show originally aired on
21:It's Your Move (disambiguation)
1340:'It's Your Move' Shows Promise
1262:Weinman, Jaime (3 July 2009).
548:
182:
171:
1:
1374:and a miniseries installment)
1348:, Retrieved December 15, 2010
1329:, Retrieved December 15, 2010
1272:, Retrieved December 15, 2010
1125:"Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen"
864:"Don't Leave Home Without It"
300:television series created by
587:September 26, 1984
1500:1980s American teen sitcoms
1291:The Rocklopedia Fakebandica
1136:February 23, 1985
1103:February 16, 1985
904:December 19, 1984
873:December 12, 1984
811:November 28, 1984
780:November 21, 1984
746:November 14, 1984
530:(“A Woman is Just a Woman”)
1556:
1425:"7th Youth In Film Awards"
1400:"6th Youth In Film Awards"
1242:The show was rerun on the
1072:February 9, 1985
1041:February 2, 1985
997:January 26, 1985
842:December 5, 1984
715:October 31, 1984
684:October 24, 1984
651:October 17, 1984
434:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
18:
1186:
1183:
1147:
1124:
1114:
1093:
1083:
1063:"A Woman Is Just a Woman"
1062:
1052:
1031:
1008:
987:
977:
966:January 9, 1985
956:
946:
935:January 2, 1985
925:
915:
894:
884:
863:
853:
832:
822:
801:
791:
770:
757:
736:
726:
705:
695:
672:
662:
641:
631:
620:October 3, 1984
608:
598:
569:
561:
558:
555:
552:
547:
35:
1287:Childs, Mike T. (2004).
481:Married... with Children
1345:The Beaver County Times
486:Embassy Communications
1429:YoungArtistAwards.org
1404:YoungArtistAwards.org
213:John Maxwell Anderson
895:"The Christmas Show"
145:Theme music composer
19:For other uses, see
1435:on 14 November 2010
1246:from 1989 to 1992.
1188:Young Artist Awards
988:"Caught in the Act"
336:from September 26,
198:Executive producers
1470:It's Your Move
1459:It's Your Move
268:September 26, 1984
244:Embassy Television
240:Production company
1235:
1234:
1157:Award nominations
1154:
1153:
609:"Put to the Test"
562:Original air date
383:as Matthew Burton
289:
288:
278:February 23, 1985
163:Original language
155:Country of origin
1547:
1445:
1444:
1442:
1440:
1431:. Archived from
1421:
1415:
1414:
1412:
1410:
1396:
1387:
1381:
1375:
1358:
1349:
1336:
1330:
1317:
1311:
1310:
1294:
1284:
1273:
1260:
1161:
1143:
1141:
1110:
1108:
1097:Thomas McConnell
1079:
1077:
1048:
1046:
1004:
1002:
973:
971:
942:
940:
911:
909:
880:
878:
849:
847:
818:
816:
787:
785:
753:
751:
722:
720:
691:
689:
658:
656:
627:
625:
594:
592:
550:
545:
512:("Pajama Party")
500:("Love Letters")
458:Production notes
426:President Reagan
401:as Lou Donatelli
389:as Eileen Burton
340:to February 23,
285:
283:
275:
273:
250:Original release
184:
173:
40:
26:
1555:
1554:
1550:
1549:
1548:
1546:
1545:
1544:
1480:
1479:
1454:
1449:
1448:
1438:
1436:
1423:
1422:
1418:
1408:
1406:
1398:
1397:
1390:
1382:
1378:
1359:
1352:
1337:
1333:
1318:
1314:
1307:
1286:
1285:
1276:
1261:
1257:
1252:
1240:
1210:
1159:
1150:
1139:
1137:
1129:Herbert Kenwith
1117:
1106:
1104:
1100:Michael G. Moye
1086:
1075:
1073:
1066:Tony Singletary
1055:
1044:
1042:
1035:Tony Singletary
1024:
1000:
998:
991:Tony Singletary
980:
969:
967:
949:
938:
936:
918:
907:
905:
887:
876:
874:
870:Katherine Green
856:
845:
843:
836:Tony Singletary
825:
814:
812:
794:
783:
781:
763:
749:
747:
729:
718:
716:
698:
687:
685:
665:
654:
652:
634:
623:
621:
601:
590:
588:
583:Michael G. Moye
543:
524:(“The Experts”)
516:Alan Blumenfeld
510:Justine Bateman
494:
464:Michael G. Moye
460:
442:
414:
395:as Julie Burton
377:
350:
306:Michael G. Moye
296:is an American
281:
279:
277:
271:
269:
216:
215:Katherine Green
214:
212:
203:Michael G. Moye
202:
149:
137:
133:
129:
125:
121:
109:
107:Tony Singletary
105:
101:
97:
85:
83:
79:
78:Michael G. Moye
77:
75:
73:
63:Michael G. Moye
61:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1553:
1551:
1543:
1542:
1537:
1532:
1527:
1522:
1517:
1512:
1507:
1502:
1497:
1492:
1482:
1481:
1478:
1477:
1466:
1453:
1452:External links
1450:
1447:
1446:
1416:
1388:
1376:
1367:The Miami News
1350:
1331:
1326:Ottawa Citizen
1312:
1305:
1274:
1254:
1253:
1251:
1248:
1239:
1236:
1233:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1224:
1221:
1217:
1216:
1214:
1211:
1208:
1206:
1202:
1201:
1199:
1196:
1193:
1190:
1185:
1181:
1180:
1177:
1174:
1171:
1168:
1165:
1158:
1155:
1152:
1151:
1148:
1145:
1144:
1134:
1131:
1126:
1123:
1119:
1118:
1115:
1112:
1111:
1101:
1098:
1095:
1092:
1088:
1087:
1084:
1081:
1080:
1070:
1067:
1064:
1061:
1057:
1056:
1053:
1050:
1049:
1039:
1036:
1033:
1030:
1026:
1025:
1009:
1006:
1005:
995:
992:
989:
986:
982:
981:
978:
975:
974:
964:
961:
958:
955:
951:
950:
947:
944:
943:
933:
930:
927:
924:
920:
919:
916:
913:
912:
902:
899:
896:
893:
889:
888:
885:
882:
881:
871:
868:
865:
862:
858:
857:
854:
851:
850:
840:
837:
834:
831:
827:
826:
823:
820:
819:
809:
806:
803:
800:
796:
795:
792:
789:
788:
778:
775:
772:
769:
765:
764:
761:Kristy Swanson
758:
755:
754:
744:
741:
738:
737:"Love Letters"
735:
731:
730:
727:
724:
723:
713:
710:
707:
706:"Pajama Party"
704:
700:
699:
696:
693:
692:
682:
679:
674:
671:
667:
666:
663:
660:
659:
649:
646:
643:
642:"Dating Games"
640:
636:
635:
632:
629:
628:
618:
615:
610:
607:
603:
602:
599:
596:
595:
585:
576:
571:
568:
564:
563:
560:
557:
554:
551:
542:
539:
538:
537:
534:Nina Blackwood
531:
525:
519:
518:("Dad and Me")
513:
507:
501:
498:Kristy Swanson
493:
490:
472:It's Your Move
459:
456:
441:
438:
413:
410:
409:
408:
407:as Norman Lamb
405:David Garrison
402:
396:
390:
384:
376:
373:
349:
346:
330:Garrett Morris
326:David Garrison
293:It's Your Move
287:
286:
266:
262:
261:
256:
252:
251:
247:
246:
241:
237:
236:
233:
229:
228:
223:
219:
218:
209:
205:
204:
199:
195:
194:
190:
189:
186:
179:
178:
175:
168:
167:
164:
160:
159:
156:
152:
151:
146:
142:
141:
135:David Garrison
116:
112:
111:
92:
88:
87:
86:Marcy Vosburgh
70:
66:
65:
56:
52:
51:
46:
42:
41:
33:
32:
30:It's Your Move
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1552:
1541:
1538:
1536:
1533:
1531:
1528:
1526:
1523:
1521:
1518:
1516:
1513:
1511:
1508:
1506:
1503:
1501:
1498:
1496:
1493:
1491:
1488:
1487:
1485:
1476:
1472:
1471:
1467:
1465:
1461:
1460:
1456:
1455:
1451:
1434:
1430:
1426:
1420:
1417:
1405:
1401:
1395:
1393:
1389:
1385:
1380:
1377:
1373:
1369:
1368:
1363:
1357:
1355:
1351:
1347:
1346:
1341:
1335:
1332:
1328:
1327:
1322:
1316:
1313:
1308:
1306:0-312-32944-X
1302:
1298:
1293:
1292:
1283:
1281:
1279:
1275:
1271:
1270:
1265:
1259:
1256:
1249:
1247:
1245:
1237:
1231:
1228:
1225:
1222:
1219:
1218:
1215:
1212:
1207:
1204:
1203:
1200:
1197:
1195:Jason Bateman
1194:
1191:
1189:
1182:
1178:
1175:
1172:
1169:
1166:
1163:
1162:
1156:
1135:
1133:Pamela Norris
1132:
1130:
1127:
1102:
1099:
1096:
1094:"The Experts"
1071:
1068:
1065:
1040:
1038:Pamela Norris
1037:
1034:
1022:
1020:
1016:
1012:
996:
993:
990:
965:
962:
959:
934:
931:
928:
903:
900:
898:Arlando Smith
897:
872:
869:
866:
841:
839:Pamela Norris
838:
835:
810:
807:
804:
779:
776:
773:
762:
745:
742:
739:
714:
712:Fred Fox, Jr.
711:
708:
683:
680:
678:
675:
650:
647:
645:Arlando Smith
644:
619:
616:
614:
611:
586:
584:
580:
577:
575:
572:
546:
540:
535:
532:
529:
526:
523:
522:Shawnee Smith
520:
517:
514:
511:
508:
505:
504:River Phoenix
502:
499:
496:
495:
491:
489:
487:
483:
482:
477:
473:
469:
465:
457:
455:
451:
449:
448:
439:
437:
435:
429:
427:
422:
420:
411:
406:
403:
400:
399:Ernie Sabella
397:
394:
391:
388:
385:
382:
381:Jason Bateman
379:
378:
374:
372:
370:
365:
363:
362:Adam Sadowsky
359:
355:
347:
345:
343:
339:
335:
331:
327:
323:
322:Ernie Sabella
319:
315:
311:
310:Jason Bateman
307:
303:
299:
295:
294:
267:
263:
260:
257:
253:
248:
245:
242:
238:
235:22–24 minutes
234:
230:
227:
224:
220:
217:Fred Fox, Jr.
210:
206:
200:
196:
191:
187:
180:
176:
169:
165:
161:
158:United States
157:
153:
147:
143:
140:
139:Adam Sadowsky
136:
132:
131:Ernie Sabella
128:
124:
120:
119:Jason Bateman
117:
113:
110:Arlando Smith
108:
104:
100:
96:
93:
89:
82:
81:Pamela Norris
74:Fred Fox, Jr.
71:
67:
64:
60:
57:
53:
50:
47:
43:
39:
34:
31:
27:
22:
1475:epguides.com
1469:
1458:
1437:. Retrieved
1433:the original
1428:
1419:
1407:. Retrieved
1403:
1379:
1371:
1365:
1343:
1334:
1324:
1315:
1290:
1267:
1258:
1241:
1167:Association
1032:"Eli's Song"
1018:
1014:
1013:
1010:
867:John Pasquin
771:"Dad and Me"
709:John Pasquin
673:"Night Work"
574:Peter Bonerz
528:Liz Sheridan
479:
471:
461:
452:
445:
443:
430:
423:
415:
366:
351:
292:
291:
290:
232:Running time
226:Multi-camera
222:Camera setup
103:John Pasquin
95:Peter Bonerz
84:Sandy Sprung
29:
1535:NBC sitcoms
1244:USA Network
1238:Syndication
1226:Tricia Cast
802:"The Rival"
617:Al Aidekman
579:Ron Leavitt
556:Directed by
492:Guest stars
468:Ron Leavitt
393:Tricia Cast
314:Tricia Cast
308:, starring
302:Ron Leavitt
211:Al Aidekman
201:Ron Leavitt
185:of episodes
127:Tricia Cast
91:Directed by
76:Ron Leavitt
72:Al Aidekman
59:Ron Leavitt
1484:Categories
1250:References
1173:Recipient
1140:1985-02-23
1107:1985-02-16
1076:1985-02-09
1045:1985-02-02
1001:1985-01-26
970:1985-01-09
939:1985-01-02
908:1984-12-19
877:1984-12-12
846:1984-12-05
815:1984-11-28
784:1984-11-21
750:1984-11-14
740:John Tracy
719:1984-10-31
688:1984-10-24
655:1984-10-17
624:1984-10-03
591:1984-09-26
559:Written by
387:Caren Kaye
358:California
318:Caren Kaye
282:1985-02-23
272:1984-09-26
193:Production
174:of seasons
148:Rik Howard
123:Caren Kaye
69:Written by
55:Created by
1384:Smartless
1269:Maclean's
1229:Nominated
1213:Nominated
1198:Nominated
1170:Category
960:Jim Drake
929:Jim Drake
833:"Top Dog"
805:Jim Drake
774:Bob Lally
677:Jim Drake
613:Linda Day
506:("Pilot")
419:Palladium
208:Producers
150:Bob Wirth
99:Jim Drake
541:Episodes
354:Van Nuys
115:Starring
1439:16 July
1409:16 July
1372:Dynasty
1176:Result
1138: (
1105: (
1074: (
1043: (
999: (
968: (
937: (
906: (
875: (
844: (
813: (
782: (
748: (
717: (
686: (
653: (
622: (
589: (
570:"Pilot"
447:Dynasty
369:Chicago
348:Premise
280: (
276: –
270: (
265:Release
255:Network
166:English
1303:
581:&
328:, and
298:sitcom
49:Sitcom
1179:Ref.
1164:Year
1015:Note:
553:Title
45:Genre
1464:IMDb
1441:2014
1411:2014
1301:ISBN
1220:1986
1184:1985
1019:Sara
466:and
375:Cast
342:1985
338:1984
304:and
1473:at
1462:at
549:No.
488:).
478:'s
476:Fox
334:NBC
259:NBC
183:No.
172:No.
1486::
1427:.
1402:.
1391:^
1364:,
1353:^
1342:,
1323:,
1299:.
1297:59
1277:^
1266:,
1122:18
1091:17
1060:16
1029:15
1021:.
985:14
954:13
923:12
892:11
861:10
436:.
428:.
356:,
344:.
324:,
320:,
316:,
312:,
188:18
1443:.
1413:.
1309:.
1209:–
1142:)
1109:)
1078:)
1047:)
1003:)
972:)
941:)
910:)
879:)
848:)
830:9
817:)
799:8
786:)
768:7
752:)
734:6
721:)
703:5
690:)
670:4
657:)
639:3
626:)
606:2
593:)
567:1
284:)
274:)
177:1
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
