document_title: The Patriot (2000 film)

question_text: who was mel gibson character in the patriot based on

text: The Patriot (2000 film)

text: Plot[edit]

text: During the American Revolution in 1776, Benjamin Martin, a veteran of the French and Indian War and a widower with seven children, is called to Charleston to vote in the South Carolina General Assembly on a levy supporting the Continental Army. Fearing war against Great Britain, Benjamin abstains; the vote is nonetheless passed and, against his father's wishes, Benjamin's eldest son Gabriel joins the Continental Army.

text: Two years later Charleston falls to the British and a wounded Gabriel returns home carrying dispatches. The Martins care for both British and American wounded from a nearby battle, before British Dragoons, led by the ruthless Colonel William Tavington, arrive, arrest Gabriel, and take captive the African American free men and women who work Benjamin's land. When Benjamin's second son Thomas tries to free Gabriel, he is shot and killed by Tavington, who then orders the Martins' house burned, and wounded Americans executed. After the British leave, Benjamin gives his next two eldest sons rifles, and they ambush the British unit escorting a tied Gabriel. Benjamin skillfully, yet brutally, kills many soldiers with his tomahawk. A British survivor tells Tavington of the attack, earning Benjamin the moniker of the "Ghost". Benjamin and Gabriel resolve to fight the British, leaving the younger children in the care of Benjamin's sister-in-law, Charlotte. On their way to the Continental Army's camp, they witness the southern Continental Army under General Horatio Gates engaging the British Army. Benjamin recognizes the foolishness of the action; sure enough, the Continentals are decisively routed.

text: Benjamin meets his former commanding officer, Colonel Harry Burwell, who makes him colonel of the local colonial militia due to his combat experience. Benjamin is tasked with keeping Lord Cornwallis's regiments pinned south through guerrilla warfare. French Major Jean Villeneuve helps train the militia and promises more French aid. Gabriel asks why Villeneuve and others mention Benjamin's role in something called "Fort Wilderness". Benjamin says that when he was fighting in the British Army in the French and Indian War he and several other soldiers were sent on a mission to assault a French fort called "Fort Wilderness" where he and his comrades literally cut the defending French soldiers apart slowly, revealing why Benjamin is always hesitant when asked about the event and why he is haunted by his past. Benjamin's militia harass British supply lines, even capturing some of Cornwallis' personal effects and his two Great Danes, and burn half the bridges and ferries leading to Charleston. Lord Cornwallis blames Tavington for creating this reaction with his brutal tactics. However, irritated at the lack of progress, and insulted by Benjamin's clever ploy to free some of the captured militia, Cornwallis reluctantly allows Tavington to stop Benjamin by any means necessary.

text: With the reluctant aid of the Loyalist Captain Wilkins, Tavington learns the identities of some militia members and proceeds to attack their families and burn their homes. Benjamin's family flees Charlotte's plantation as it is burned to live in a Gullah settlement with former black slaves. There, Gabriel marries his betrothed Anne. Tavington's brigade rides into the town that supplies the militia. He assembles all the townspeople, including Anne, into the church promising freedom in exchange for the whereabouts of the rebels. However, after the location is given the doors are barricaded, trapping the people as Tavington orders the church burned, killing them all in a cold-blooded act of genocide. After discovering the tragedy, Gabriel and several others race to attack Tavington's encampment. In the ensuing fight, Tavington mortally wounds Gabriel before fleeing. Benjamin arrives soon after, only to have another of his sons die in his arms.

text: Benjamin mourns and wavers in his commitment to continue fighting, but is resolved when reminded of his son's dedication to the cause by finding an American flag he repaired personally. Martin's militia, along with a larger Continental Army regiment, confronts Cornwallis' regiment in a decisive battle at the Battle of Cowpens. The British appear to have the upper hand until Benjamin rallies the troops forward against their lines and Tavington rushes to personally target him. The two duel and Tavington gains the upper hand, delivering several wounds to Benjamin. A beaten Benjamin slumps to his knees, and Tavington prepares to deliver the coup de grâce. At the last second, however, Benjamin dodges the attack and stabs Tavington to death, avenging his sons' deaths. The battle is a Continental victory and Cornwallis is forced to retreat.

text: After many eventual retreats, Cornwallis is besieged at Yorktown, Virginia where he surrenders to the surrounding Continental Army and the long-awaited French naval force. After the conflict ends, Benjamin returns with his family and discovers his militia men rebuilding his homestead in their new nation.

text: Cast[edit]

text:
Mel Gibson as Benjamin Martin
A veteran of the French and Indian War as the hero of the fictional Fort Wilderness and widowed father of seven children, Benjamin does what he can to avoid fighting in the Revolutionary War knowing the implications surrounding it. When his oldest son, Gabriel joins up, and his second born son, Thomas is killed, he takes it upon himself to join and fight with the colonial militia. He is nicknamed "The Ghost" by the British. He is based on a composite of historical characters which include Thomas Sumter, Daniel Morgan, Nathanael Greene, Andrew Pickens, and Francis Marion.[6]
Heath Ledger as Gabriel Edward Martin
Benjamin's eldest child, and the husband of Anne Patricia Howard Martin. He decides to join up with the Continental Army against his father's wishes. He is killed during an attack on the Green Dragoons' camp, while seeking revenge against Colonel Tavington for his wife's murder.
Gregory Smith as Thomas Martin
Benjamin's second son, he, like Gabriel, is anxious to fight in the war, but Benjamin says he has to wait because of his age. He is shot and killed by Tavington when he protests against Gabriel's arrest. Tavington rebukes him as a "stupid boy" for his actions afterward. Benjamin takes Thomas's set of toy tin soldiers and, over the course of the film, melts them down into bullets for his pistol.
Trevor Morgan as Nathan Martin
Third son, he and Samuel help around the farm. When Gabriel is taken prisoner and Thomas is killed, he and Samuel help their father on a rescue mission. Unlike Samuel, he is "glad" to kill British soldiers.
Bryan Chafin as Samuel Martin
Fourth son, he is usually seen helping Nathan around the farm. When Gabriel is taken prisoner and Thomas is killed, he helps his father, Benjamin, rescue Gabriel by killing several British soldiers, even though he doesn't want to kill. For a short while, he becomes scared of his father after he witnesses him brutally killing and mutilating, post-mortem, a British soldier with a tomahawk.
Logan Lerman as William Martin: Benjamin's fifth and youngest son. This character was not originally in the script and was only added because Mel Gibson wanted to have seven children in the film (like in real life) rather than six. Though present throughout the film, his only line is during the opening credits.
Mika Boorem as Margaret Martin
Benjamin's older daughter, she is often seen taking care of her younger siblings.
Skye McCole Bartusiak as Susan Martin
The younger daughter and child among Benjamin's seven children, she has a problem with speaking, which may be a post-traumatic reaction to the death of their mother; only later on does she finally open up. Her feelings towards her father change radically as the film progresses, and after Benjamin leaves from the furlough to rejoin his militia, in an extremely emotional scene, she seemingly forgives him and tells him she'll say anything he wants to make him stay, to which Benjamin can only promise to return, which Susan accepts.
Joely Richardson as Charlotte Selton
Benjamin's sister-in-law and love interest in the film. She is the owner of a plantation that is later burned down in the film. She looks after Benjamin's children while he is fighting.
Jason Isaacs as Colonel William Tavington
Colonel of the Green Dragoons, he is portrayed as a charismatic sociopath and a brutal commander. Long ago, his late father wasted away the family money, along with William's inheritance. He suggests to Cornwallis that he be allowed to acquire the Ohio territory as payment after the war since the brutality his commander wants from him sacrifices his social standing in English society. He is nicknamed "The Butcher" by Brigadier General O'Hara. The character is based on Banastre Tarleton.[6]
Chris Cooper as Colonel Harry Burwell
One of Benjamin's commanding officers in the French and Indian War and a colonel of the Continental Army. He fought in the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill. When his wife gives birth to their firstborn son, they name him after Benjamin's late eldest son, Gabriel. His character is loosely based on[citation needed] Lieutenant Colonel Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee.
Tchéky Karyo as Major Jean Villeneuve
A French officer who trains Martin's militia, he holds a grudge against Martin for his part in the French and Indian War, but they become close friends by the war's end. He explains in the film that he watched his wife and two daughters, 12-year-old Violette and 10-year-old Pauline (both green-eyed), being burned in the ship that carried them by the British, which explains his hatred for them. He serves as Martin's second-in-command.
René Auberjonois as Reverend Oliver
A minister of Pembroke who volunteers to fight with the militia. He also tries to give spiritual advice to his fellow soldiers. He is one of the eighteen captured men taken to Fort Carolina and released later on by Benjamin. He aides Gabriel in killing Captain Bordon, but is mortally shot by Tavington. Before dying, he courageously tosses his musket to Gabriel so that he may finish off Tavington.
Lisa Brenner as Anne Patricia Howard Martin
Gabriel's childhood friend and love interest, whom he marries later in the film. She is killed in the town church along with the rest of the town on Tavington's orders.
Tom Wilkinson as Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Earl Cornwallis
A general of the British army. While pompous and arrogant, he is disgusted by Tavington's savage and ungentlemanly-like tactics. Cornwallis is a skilled commander, with Martin calling him a genius, but he sees militia as nothing more than "farmers with pitchforks" and is easily duped by Martin in a key scene. His two Great Danes, Jupiter and Mars, are a gift from king George III.
Peter Woodward as Brigadier General Charles O'Hara
Cornwallis' second-in-command. Like Cornwallis, he does not share Tavington's views on war.
Donal Logue as Dan Scott
One of Benjamin's men. He is a racist and bullies the former slave Occam, but grows to befriend him, especially when saved by him while wounded. In the last part of the film, they stand side by side in the final battle and the raising of Martin's new house.
Leon Rippy as John Billings
One of Benjamin's neighbors and oldest friends who joins the militia. He is one of the 18 captured men taken to Fort Carolina and released later on by Benjamin. Afterward, John helps Charlotte Selton and Benjamin's children escape the burning of the Selton plantation. He commits suicide, in full view of his comrades, after finding that Tavington's men have killed his wife and son.
Adam Baldwin as Captain James Wilkins
An officer in the Loyalist Colonial militia recruited into the Green Dragoons by Captain Bordon. He knows everything about Benjamin Martin, and is called upon by Tavington to divulge such information when required. Earlier on, at the South Carolina Assembly in Charleston, he is one of the twelve out of forty to vote against a levy for the Continental Army. He fights alongside Tavington, and also shares these brutal views on how "all those who stand against England deserve to die a traitor's death." When he is forced to burn the church at Pembroke, with town residents inside by Tavington, only then does he regret his own words and realize what kind of man his commanding officer really is. He is last seen fighting alongside the British in the final battle of the movie. His fate is not shown.
Jamieson K. Price as Captain Bordon
Tavington's second-in-command of the Green Dragoons and chief intelligence officer. He is just as ruthless as his commander, "strong-arming" prisoners during interrogations. He is killed by Gabriel in the youth's raid against the Dragoons.
Jay Arlen Jones as Occam
An African slave who is sent to fight in his master's place. He is taunted and bullied by the other members of the militia, but is treated as an equal by Benjamin, Gabriel, Jean, and later on by Dan Scott and the others. He gives out information of the captured eighteen militia men at Fort Carolina while escaping Tavington's trap. After serving a year in the Continental Army, he becomes a free man, but nonetheless still serves with the militia until the end of the war, and later aids, alongside his former adversary Dan Scott, in raising a new house for Martin. (See also: African Americans in the Revolutionary War)
Joey D. Vieira as Peter Howard
Anne Howard's father, who lost his left leg and most of his hearing while fighting the French and Indian War. He likens British taxation policies to the British taking his other leg.
Zach Hanner as British field officer.
Terry Layman as General George Washington.
Andy Stahl as General Nathanael Greene.
Grahame Wood as a friendly British Lieutenant at Martin's farm who interacts with both Benjamin Martin and Colonel Tavington. He sees Tavington's orders to kill the Colonial wounded and other prisoners revolting, but remains silent and follows through with the orders without question, largely out of fear for his own life. He dies shortly afterwards in Martin's skirmish to rescue his son, Gabriel.

text: Production[edit]

text: Script[edit]

text: Screenwriter Robert Rodat wrote seventeen drafts of the script before there was an acceptable one. In an early version, Anne is pregnant with Gabriel's child when she dies in the burning church. Rodat wrote the script with Gibson in mind for Benjamin Martin, and gave the Martin character six children to signal this preference to studio executives. After the birth of Gibson's seventh child, the script was changed so that Martin had seven children. Like the character William Wallace, which Gibson portrayed in Braveheart five years earlier, Martin is a man seeking to live his life in peace until revenge drives him to lead a cause against a national enemy after the life of an innocent family member is taken.

text: Casting[edit]

text: Joshua Jackson, Elijah Wood, Jake Gyllenhaal and Brad Renfro were considered to play Gabriel Martin. The producers and director narrowed their choices for this role to Ryan Phillippe and Heath Ledger, with the latter chosen because the director thought he possessed "exuberant youth".

text: Filming[edit]

text: The film's German director Emmerich said "these were characters I could relate to, and they were engaged in a conflict that had a significant outcome—the creation of the first modern democratic government."[6]

text: The film was shot entirely on location in South Carolina, including Charleston, Rock Hill—for many of the battle scenes, and Lowrys—for the farm of Benjamin Martin, as well as nearby Fort Lawn.[7] Other scenes were filmed at Mansfield Plantation, an antebellum rice plantation in Georgetown, Middleton Place in Charleston, South Carolina, at the Cistern Yard on the campus of College of Charleston, and Hightower Hall and Homestead House at Brattonsville, South Carolina, along with the grounds of the Brattonsville Plantation in McConnells, South Carolina.[8] Producer Mark Gordon said the production team "tried their best to be as authentic as possible" because "the backdrop was serious history," giving attention to details in period dress.[6] Producer Dean Devlin and the film's costume designers examined actual Revolutionary War uniforms at the Smithsonian Institution prior to shooting.[6]

text: Music[edit]

text: The musical score for The Patriot was composed by John Williams and was nominated for an Academy Award.[9] David Arnold, who composed the scores to Emmerich's Stargate, Independence Day, and Godzilla, created a demo for The Patriot that was ultimately rejected. As a result, David never returned to compose any of Emmerich's future films and was replaced by Harald Kloser and Thomas Wanker.

text: Reception[edit]

text: Critical response[edit]

text: The Patriot received mildly favorable reviews from critics. The film scored a "Fresh" rating of 61% rating among all critics on Rotten Tomatoes, which notes that it "can be entertaining to watch, but it relies too much on formula and melodrama."[10][11] The Patriot is one of two Emmerich films to ever be given a "fresh" rating from that website (the other is Independence Day). Rotten Tomatoes also notes that, "While his hero is conscience-stricken about killing, Emmerich sure enjoys serving it up in generous helpings.[12] " On Metacritic, the film earned a rating of 63 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews". The New York Times critic Elvis Mitchell gave the film a generally negative review, although he praised its casting and called Mel Gibson "an astonishing actor", particularly for his "on-screen comfort and expansiveness". He said the film is a "gruesome hybrid, a mix of sentimentality and brutality".[13] Jamie Malanowski, also writing in The New York Times, said The Patriot "will prove to many a satisfying way to spend a summer evening. It's got big battles and wrenching hand-to-hand combat, a courageous but conflicted hero and a dastardly and totally guilt-free villain, thrills, tenderness, sorrow, rage and a little bit of kissing".[14] The film was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound.

text: Controversy[edit]

text: A highly positive review was purportedly written by a critic named David Manning, who was credited to The Ridgefield Press, a small Connecticut weekly news publication. During an investigation into Manning's quotes, Newsweek reporter John Horn discovered that the newspaper had never heard of him.[15] The story emerged at around the same time as an announcement that Sony had used employees posing as moviegoers in television commercials to praise the film. These occurrences, in tandem, raised questions and controversy about ethics in movie marketing practices.

text: On June 10, 2001, the episode of Le Show, host Harry Shearer conducted an in-studio interview with Manning, whose "review" of the film was positive. The voice of Manning was provided by a computer voice synthesizer.[16]

text: On August 3, 2005, Sony made an out-of-court settlement and agreed to refund $5 each to dissatisfied customers who saw this and four other films in American theatres, as a result of Manning's reviews.[17]

text: Box office[edit]

text: The Patriot opened in 3,061 venues at #2 with $22,413,710 domestically in its opening weekend, falling slightly short of expectations (predictions had the film opening #1 with roughly $25 million ahead). The film opened behind Warner Bros The Perfect Storm, which opened at #1 with $41,325,042.[18] The film closed on October 16, 2000 with $113,330,342 domestically, which barely recouped its budget of $110 million. It was successful overseas grossing $101,964,000 with a grand total of $215,294,342.[2]

text: Accolades[edit]

text: The Patriot was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Sound Mixing (Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell and Lee Orloff), Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score.[19] It also received several guild awards, including the American Society of Cinematographers award to Caleb Deschanel for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography[20] and the Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Award for Best Period Makeup and Best Period Hair Styling.[21]

text: Historical authenticity[edit]

text: During development, Emmerich and his team consulted with experts at the Smithsonian Institution on set, props, and costumes; advisor Rex Ellis even recommended the Gullah village as an appropriate place for Martin's family to hide.[22] In addition, screenwriter Robert Rodat read through many journals and letters of colonists as part of his preparation for writing the screen play.[23]

text: Producer Mark Gordon said that in making the film, "while we were telling a fictional story, the backdrop was serious history".[6] Some of the resulting characters and events thus were composites of real characters and events that were designed to serve the fictional narrative without losing the historical flavor. Rodat said of Gibson's character: "Benjamin Martin is a composite character made up of Thomas Sumter, Daniel Morgan, Andrew Pickens, and Francis Marion, and a few bits and pieces from a number of other characters."[6] Rodat also indicated that the fictional Colonel William Tavington is "loosely based on Colonel Banastre Tarleton, who was particularly known for his brutal acts".[6]

text: While some events, such as Tarleton's pursuit of Francis Marion and his fellow irregular soldiers who escaped by disappearing into the swamps of South Carolina, were loosely based on history,[24] and others were adapted, such as the final battle in the film which combined elements of the Battles of Cowpens and Battle of Guilford Court House, most of the plot events in the film are pure fiction.

text: Criticism of Benjamin Martin as based on Francis Marion[edit]

text: The film was harshly criticized in the British press in part because of its connection to Francis Marion, a militia leader in South Carolina known as the "Swamp Fox". After the release of The Patriot, the British newspaper The Guardian denounced Marion as "a serial rapist who hunted Red Indians for fun.[25] Historian Christopher Hibbert said of Marion:

text: "The truth is that people like Marion committed atrocities as bad, if not worse, than those perpetrated by the British."[26]

text: The Patriot does not depict the American character Benjamin Martin as innocent of atrocities; a key plot point revolves around the character's guilt over acts he engaged in, such as torturing, killing, and mutilating prisoners during the French and Indian War, while not mentioning his crimes against fellow colonists during the Revolutionary War. In Hibbert's book Redcoats and Rebels: The American Revolution Through British Eyes, written before The Patriot was released, Hibbert included no criticism of Marion. Conservative radio host Michael Graham rejected Hibbert's criticism of Marion in a commentary published in National Review:

text: "Was Francis Marion a slave owner? Was he a determined and dangerous warrior? Did he commit acts in an 18th century war that we would consider atrocious in the current world of peace and political correctness? As another great American film hero might say: 'You're damn right.' "That's what made him a hero, 200 years ago and today."[27]

text: Graham also refers to what he describes as "the unchallenged work of South Carolina's premier historian" Dr. Walter Edgar, who claimed in his 1998 South Carolina: A History that Marion's partisans were "a ragged band of both black and white volunteers".[27]

text: Amy Crawford, in Smithsonian magazine, stated that modern historians such as William Gilmore Simms and Hugh Rankin have written accurate biographies of Marion, including Simms' The Life of Francis Marion.[28] The introduction to the 2007 edition of Simms' book was written by Sean Busick, a professor of American history at Athens State University in Alabama, who wrote:

text: "Marion deserves to be remembered as one of the heroes of the War for Independence....Francis Marion was a man of his times: he owned slaves, and he fought in a brutal campaign against the Cherokee Indians...Marion's experience in the French and Indian War prepared him for more admirable service."[28]

text: During pre-production, the producers debated on whether Martin would own slaves, ultimately deciding not to make him a slave owner. This decision received criticism from Spike Lee, who in a letter to The Hollywood Reporter accused the film's portrayal of slavery as being "a complete whitewashing of history".[29] Lee wrote that after he and his wife went to see the film, "we both came out of the theatre fuming. For three hours The Patriot dodged around, skirted about or completely ignored slavery." Gibson himself remarked: "I think I would have made him a slave holder. Not to seems kind of a cop-out."[30]

text: Criticism of Tavington as based on Tarleton[edit]

text: After release, several British voices criticized the film for its depiction of the film's villain Tavington and defended the historical character of Banastre Tarleton. Ben Fenton, commenting in the Daily Telegraph, wrote:

text: "There is no evidence that Tarleton, called 'Bloody Ban' or 'The Butcher' in rebel pamphlets, ever broke the rules of war and certainly did not ever shoot a child in cold blood."[31]

text: Although Tarleton gained the reputation among Americans as a butcher for his involvement in the Waxhaw massacre in South Carolina, he was a hero in Liverpool, England. Liverpool City Council, led by Mayor Edwin Clein, called for a public apology for what they viewed as the film's "character assassination" of Tarleton.[32] What happened during the Battle of The Waxhaws, known to the Americans as the Buford Massacre or as the Waxhaw massacre, is the subject of debate. According to an American field surgeon named Robert Brownfield who witnessed the events, the Continental Army Col. Buford raised a white flag of surrender, "expecting the usual treatment sanctioned by civilized warfare". While Buford was calling for quarter, Tarleton's horse was struck by a musket ball and fell. This gave the Loyalist cavalrymen the impression that the Continentals had shot at their commander while asking for mercy. Enraged, the Loyalist troops charged at the Virginians. According to Brownfield, the Loyalists attacked, carrying out "indiscriminate carnage never surpassed by the most ruthless atrocities of the most barbarous savages".

text: In Tarleton's own account, he stated that his horse had been shot from under him during the initial charge in which he was knocked out for several minutes and that his men, thinking him dead, engaged in "a vindictive asperity not easily restrained".[33]

text: Tarleton's role in the Revolutionary War in the Carolinas is examined by Ben Rubin who shows that historically, while the actual events of the Battle of the Waxhaws were presented differently according to which side was recounting them, the story of Tarleton's atrocities at Waxhaws and on other occasions became a rallying cry, particularly at the Battle of King's Mountain.[34] The tales of Tarleton's atrocities were a part of standard U.S. accounts of the war and were described by Washington Irving and by Christopher Ward in his 1952 history, The War of the Revolution, where Tarleton is described as "cold-hearted, vindictive, and utterly ruthless. He wrote his name in letters of blood all across the history of the war in the South."[35] Not until Anthony Scotti's 2002 book, Brutal Virtue: The Myth and Reality of Banastre Tarleton, were Tarleton's actions fully reexamined. Scotti challenged the factual accounts of atrocities and stressed the "propaganda value that such stories held for the Americas both during and after the war".[36] Scotti's book, however, did not come out until two years after The Patriot. Screenwriters consulting American works to build the character Tavington based on Tarleton would have commonly found descriptions of him as barbaric and accounts of his name being used for recruiting and motivation during the Revolutionary War itself.[37]

text: Whereas Tavington is depicted as aristocratic but penniless, Tarleton came from a wealthy Liverpool merchant family. Tarleton did not die in battle or from impalement, as Tavington did in the film. Tarleton died on January 16, 1833, in Leintwardine, Herefordshire, England, at the age of 78, nearly 50 years after the war ended. He outlived Col. Francis Marion who died in 1795, by 38 years. Before his death, Tarleton had achieved the military rank of General, equal to that held by the overall British Commanders during the American Revolution, and became a baronet and a member of the British Parliament.

text: Depiction of atrocities in the Revolutionary War[edit]

text: The Patriot was criticized for misrepresenting atrocities during the Revolutionary War, including the killing of prisoners of war and wounded soldiers and burning a church filled with townsfolk. While atrocities occurred during the war, the most striking of the film's depictions of British atrocities—the burning of a church full of unarmed colonial civilians—had virtually no factual basis nor parallel in the American or European 18th century wars, with the exception of the Massacre at Lucs-sur-Boulogne in 1794. The New York Post film critic Jonathan Foreman was one of several focusing on this distortion in the film and wrote the following in an article at Salon.com:

text: "The most disturbing thing about The Patriot is not just that German director Roland Emmerich (director of Independence Day) and his screenwriter Robert Rodat (who was criticized for excluding the roles played by British, Canadian (Juno Beach) and other Allied troops in the Normandy landings from his script for Saving Private Ryan) depicted British troops as committing savage atrocities, but that those atrocities bear such a close resemblance to war crimes carried out by German troops—particularly the SS in World War II. It's hard not to wonder if the filmmakers have some kind of subconscious agenda....They have made a film that will have the effect of inoculating audiences against the unique historical horror of Oradour—and implicitly rehabilitating the Nazis while making the British seem as evil as history's worst monsters....So it's no wonder that the British press sees this film as a kind of blood libel against the British people."[38]

text: The Washington Post film critic Stephen Hunter, a historian of the era, said: "Any image of the American Revolution which represents you Brits as Nazis and us as gentle folk is almost certainly wrong. It was a very bitter war, a total war, and that is something that I am afraid has been lost to history....[T]he presence of the Loyalists (colonists who did not want to join the fight for independence from Britain) meant that the War of Independence was a conflict of complex loyalties."[39] The historian Richard F. Snow, editor of American Heritage magazine, said of the church-burning scene: "Of course it never happened—if it had do you think Americans would have forgotten it? It could have kept us out of World War I."[40][41]

text: The concept of patriotism[edit]

text: Slate columnist Michael Lind criticized the identification of the leading character's actions with patriotism. Specifically, Lind stated that "this movie is deeply subversive patriotism. Indeed, patriotism is a concept that neither the screenwriter...nor the director...seems to understand". He further wrote that "the message of The Patriot is that country is an abstraction, family is everything. It should have been called The Family Man".[42]

text: In contrast, historian Ben Rubin argues that because the American Revolution was a conflict that as often pitted neighbor against neighbor—Whigs (advocates of Revolution) against Tories (loyalists to Britain)—as it pitted nascent Americans against the British, many people stayed neutral until goaded into taking a stand in reaction to perceived atrocities.[43] From this perspective, Benjamin Martin's joining of the militia becomes, according to commentator Jon Roland, a deep patriotism that "shows them being called up, not as an act of an official, but by private persons aware of a common threat...[reacting to a] militia duty to defend one another".[44]

text: Homages[edit]

text: This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

text: In the film, Gibson's character asks, "Why should I trade one tyrant three thousand miles away for three thousand tyrants one mile away?" "They Call me a brainless Tory," said (Doctor) Reverend Mather Byles while watching three thousand Sons of Liberty parading the streets of Boston, "but tell me my young friend, which is better, to be ruled by one tyrant three thousand miles away or three thousand tyrants not a mile away".[45]

text:
Paul Revere And The World He Lived In by Ester Forbes Riverside Press Cambridge, Massachusetts 1942
The Patriot: The Official Companion by Suzanne Fritz and Rachel Aberly
The Patriot: A Novel by Stephen Molstad


document_title: List of islands in the Irish Sea

question_text: one of the british island in the irish sea

root

text: List of islands in the Irish Sea

text: This is a list of islands in the Irish Sea.

tag: p

text: Listed below are islands in the Irish Sea which are over 1 km² in area, or which have a permanent population:

text:
Name
Area (km²)
Rank (area)
Permanent Population[1]
Rank (pop.)
Country

Anglesey
714
01
69,000
02
Wales

Isle of Man[2]
572
02
80,056
01
Isle of Man

Holy Island
39
03
13,579
03
Wales

Walney Island[3]
13
04
11,388
04
England

Lambay Island
5.54
05
<10
08
Republic of Ireland

Bull Island
3
06
<20
07
Republic of Ireland

Ramsey Island
2.58
07
0
-
Wales

Bardsey Island
2.58
08
<5
10
Wales

Calf of Man
2.50
09
0
-
Isle of Man

Barrow Island
Unknown
-
2,616
05
England

Roa Island
Unknown
-
100
06
England

Ynys Gaint
Unknown
-
<10
08
Wales

Piel Island
0.20
-
<5
10
England

Ynys Castell
Unknown
-
<5
10
Wales

Ynys Gored Goch
0.004
-
<5
10
Wales

tag: table

text: Other islands[edit]

text:
Cardigan Island
Chapel Island
Chicken Rock
Church Island
Cribinau
Dova Haw
East Mouse
Foulney Island
Headin Haw
Hestan Island
Ireland's Eye
Islands of Fleet
Kitterland
Little Ross
Middle Mouse
North Stack
Puffin Island
Rough Island
St Mary's Isle
St Michael's Isle
St Patrick's Isle
Saint Tudwal's Islands
Salt Island
The Scares
Sheep Island
The Skerries
South Stack
West Mouse
Ynys Benlas
Ynys Dulas
Ynys Feurig
Ynys Gaint
Ynys Llanddwyn
Ynys Lochtyn
Ynys Moelfre
Ynys y Bîg

tag: ul


document_title: Ford sewing machinists strike of 1968

question_text: where did female machinists go on strike in 1968

text: Ford sewing machinists strike of 1968

text: Strike action[edit]

text: The strike, led by Rose Boland, Eileen Pullen, Vera Sime, Gwen Davis, and Sheila Douglass, began on 7 June 1968, when women sewing machinists at Ford Motor Company Limited's Dagenham plant in London walked out, followed later by the machinists at Ford's Halewood Body & Assembly plant. The women made car seat covers and as stock ran out the strike eventually resulted in a halt to all car production.

text: The Dagenham sewing machinists walked out when, as part of a regrading exercise, they were informed that their jobs were graded in Category B (less skilled production jobs), instead of Category C (more skilled production jobs), and that they would be paid 15% less than the full B rate received by men.[1][2][3] At the time it was common practice for companies to pay women less than men, irrespective of the skills involved.[4]

text: Following the intervention of Barbara Castle, the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity in Harold Wilson's government, the strike ended three weeks after it began, as a result of a deal that immediately increased their rate of pay to 8% below that of men, rising to the full category B rate the following year. A court of inquiry (under the Industrial Courts Act 1919) was also set up to consider their regrading, although this failed to find in their favour.[5] The women were only regraded into Category C following a further six-week strike in 1984 (source BBC documentary broadcast 9 March 2013).[6]

text: Impact[edit]

text: Inspired by their example, women trades unionists founded the National Joint Action Campaign Committee for Women's Equal Rights (NJACCWER), which held an 'equal pay demonstration' attended by 1,000 people in Trafalgar Square on 18 May 1969.[7]

text: The ultimate result was the passing of the Equal Pay Act 1970, which came into force in 1975 and which did, for the first time, aim to prohibit inequality of treatment between men and women in terms of pay and conditions of employment.[8][2][4][9][10] In the second reading debate of the bill, the machinists were cited by MP Shirley Summerskill as playing a "very significant part in the history of the struggle for equal pay".[11] Once the UK joined the European Union in 1973, it also became subject to Article 119 of the 1957 Treaty of Rome, which specified that men and women should receive equal pay for equal work.[12]

text: A film dramatisation of the 1968 strike, Made in Dagenham, was released in 2010.[13] A musical adaptation of the film was premièred in London in 2014. In January 2015 it was announced that the musical would close in April 2015.[14]


document_title: Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)

question_text: who is the head of the legislative assembly

text: State legislature[edit]

text: In states where there are two houses there is a Legislative Council and a Legislative Assembly. In such a case, the Legislative Council is the Upper House, while Legislative Assembly is the Lower House of the State Legislature.

text: The Governor shall not be a member of the Legislature or Parliament, shall not hold any office of profit, and shall be entitled to emoluments and allowances. (Article 158 of Indian constitution).

text: The Legislative Assembly consists of not more than 500 members and not fewer than 60. The biggest state, Uttar Pradesh, has 403 members in its Assembly. States which have small populations and are small in size have a provision for having an even lesser number of members in the Legislative Assembly. Puducherry has 30 members. Mizoram and Goa have only 40 members each. Sikkim has 32. All members of the Legislative Assembly are elected on the basis of adult franchise, and one member is elected from one constituency. Just as the President has the power to nominate two Anglo Indians to the Lok Sabha, similarly, the Governor has the power to nominate one member[1] from the Anglo Indian community as he/she deems fit, if he/she is of the opinion that they are not adequately represented in the Assembly.

text: Qualification[edit]

text: The qualifications to become a member of the state Legislature are largely similar to the qualifications to be a member of Parliament. i) The person should be a citizen of India ii) not less than 25 years of age[2] to be a member of the Legislative Assembly and not less than 30 years as per Article 173 of Indian Constitution to be a member of the Legislative Council.

text: No person can become a member of the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council of any state, unless the individual is a voter from any constituency of the state. Those who cannot become members of Parliament also cannot become members of the state legislature.

text: The member is elected by the people of that particular constituency and represents those people in the legislative assembly and debates on issues related to his or her constituency. The MLA's position is like an MP, but the difference is only that MLA is in the state level and the MP is in the national level.

text: Term[edit]

text: The term of the Legislative Assembly is five years. However, it may be dissolved earlier than that by the Governor on the request of the Chief Minister. The term of the Legislative Assembly may be extended during an emergency, but not more than six months at a time. The Legislative Council is the Upper House in the State. Just like the Rajya Sabha it is a permanent House. The members of the state's upper house are selected based on the strength of each party in the lower house and by state gubernatorial nomination. The term of is six years, and a third of the members of the House retire after every two years. The upper house of a state assembly, unlike the Upper house of the Parliament, can be abolished by the lower house, if it passes a specific law bill, which states to dissolve the upper house, and gets it attested in both houses of parliament and then signed by the president into law. Only Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh have their upper houses in existence with 6 year term, J&K also has 6 year term lower house. All other states have abolished the upper house by the above-mentioned method, as the upper house causes unnecessary problems and issues.

text: Powers[edit]

text: The most important function of the legislature is law making. The State Legislature has the power to make laws on all items on which Parliament cannot legislate. Some of these items are police, prisons, irrigation, agriculture, local governments, public health, pilgrimages, and burial grounds. Some topics on which both Parliament and states can make laws are education, marriage and divorce, forests, and the protection of wild animals and birds.

text: As regards money bills, the position is the same. Bills can originate only in the Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Council can either pass the bill within 14 days of the date of the receipt of the Bill or suggest changes in it within 14 days. These changes may or may not be accepted by the Assembly.

text: The state legislature, besides making laws, has one electoral power, in electing the President of India. Elected members of the Legislative Assembly along with the elected members of Parliament are involved in this process.

text: Some parts of the Constitution can be amended by Parliament with the approval of half of state legislatures. Thus the state legislatures take part in the process of amendment of the Constitution.

text: MLA party memberships as of 15 May 2018[edit]

text:
State name
Total
BJP
INC
Leftists
Socialist
NDA
Others
Ind.
Vacant

Andhra Pradesh
175
4

TDP 125, YSRCP 46

Arunachal Pradesh
60
48
1

PPA 9

2

Assam
126
61
25

AGP 14, BPF 12
AIUDF 13
1

Bihar
243
53
27
CPI-ML 3
RJD 81
JDU 70, LJP 2, RLSP 2
HAM 1
4

Chhattisgarh
90
49
39

BSP 1
1

Goa
40
14
16

MGP 3, GFP 3,NCP 1

3

Gujarat
182
99
76

BTP 2, NCP 1
2

Haryana
90
47
17

INLD 19
SAD 1
BSP 1
5

Himachal Pradesh
68
44
21
CPM 1

2

Jammu & Kashmir
87
25
12
CPM 1

JKPC 2
PDP 28, NC 15, PDF 1
3

Jharkhand
81
43
7
CPI-ML 1, MCC 1
JMM 19, JBSP 1
AJSU 4
JVM(P) 2, BSP 1, JP 1, NSM 1

Karnataka
224
104
79

JDS 36

BSP1, KPJP 1
1
2

Kerala
140
1
22
CPM 57, CPI 19, CMP(KSC) 1, RSP(L) 1, C(S) 1, NSC 1, KCB 1
JDS 3

IUML 18, KCM 6, KCJ 1, NCP 2,
5
1

Madhya Pradesh
230
165
58

BSP 4
3

Maharashtra
288
122
42
PWPI 3, CPM 1

SS 63, RSP 1
NCP 41, BVA 3, AIMIM 2, MNS 1, BBM 1
7
1

Manipur
60
31
19

NPF 4, NPP 4, LJP 1

1

Meghalaya
60
2
21

NPP 20, UDP 6, PDP 4,  HSPDP 2
NCP 1, KHNAM 1
3

Mizoram
40

34

MNF 5
MPC 1

Nagaland
60
12

NDPP 18, NPP 2, JDU 1
NPF 26
1

Odisha
147
10
16
CPM 1
BJD 117, SKD 1

2

Punjab
117
3
78

SAD 14
AAP 20, LIP 2

Rajasthan
200
162
25

NPP 1
BSP 2, NUZP 2
7
1

Sikkim
32

SDF 22
SKM 10

Tamil Nadu
234

8

AIADMK 117, DMK 89, IUML 1
1
18*

Telangana
119
5
13
CPM 1

TRS 90, AIMIM 7, TDP 3

Tripura
60
36

CPM 16

IPFT 8

Uttar Pradesh
403
311
7

SP 48
ADS 9, SBSP 4
BSP 19
5

Uttarakhand
70
57
11

2

West Bengal
294
3
38
CPM 26, RSP 3, AIFB 2, CPI 1

AITC 217, GJM 3
1

Delhi
70
4

AAP 66

Puducherry
30

15

AINRC 8
AIADMK 4 , DMK 2
1

Total
4120
1515
727
142
325
320
1003
63
23

text: Presiding officers[edit]

text: Similar to the Presiding officers of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council also have Presiding Officers. The Legislative Assembly has a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker and the Legislative Council has a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman. They are elected from among the members of the House.


document_title: List of Growing Pains episodes

question_text: who played carol's boyfriend sandy on growing pains

question_tokens: who played carol 's boyfriend sandy on growing pains

text: List of Growing Pains episodes

text: Series overview[edit]

text:
Season
Episodes
Originally aired

First aired
Last aired

1
22
September 24, 1985
May 13, 1986

2
22
September 30, 1986
May 19, 1987

3
26
September 18, 1987
May 4, 1988

4
22
October 19, 1988
May 3, 1989

5
26
September 20, 1989
May 2, 1990

6
24
September 19, 1990
April 24, 1991

7
24
September 18, 1991
April 25, 1992

TV films
2 films

text: Episodes[edit]

text: Season 1 (1985–86)[edit]

text:
No. in
series
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
Production
code

1
1
"Pilot"
John Pasquin
Neal Marlens
September 24, 1985 (1985-09-24)
206740

Maggie goes back to work as journalist, leaving Jason to take care of the kids. When Mike gets arrested for crashing into a police car, Jason must find a way to control his anger and disappointment.

2
2
"Springsteen"
John Pasquin
David Kendall
October 1, 1985 (1985-10-01)
185803

Mike tries desperately to get tickets to a Bruce Springsteen concert and is ecstatic when Jason gets them. However, he does not seem as enthusiastic when a news report shows Mike with his father enjoying the concert.

3
3
"Jealousy"
John Pasquin
Carol Black & Neal Marlens
October 8, 1985 (1985-10-08)
185801

Jason becomes suspicious that Maggie is doing more with a co-worker (Tom O'Rourke) than working on a story.

4
4
"Carol's Article"
John Pasquin
Sybil Adelman & Martin Sage
October 15, 1985 (1985-10-15)
185804

Carol auditions for her school paper, but is angered when her mother doesn't give her a good review. Meanwhile, Mike and Ben get on a winning streak betting on horses.

5
5
"Superdad!"
Nick Havinga
Tom Walla & Dave Wollert
October 29, 1985 (1985-10-29)
185805

With Maggie's increased workload, Jason takes on more responsibilities at home and gives Carol boy-trouble advice. Maggie is uptight with Jason for being more involved with the kids...after she urged Jason to do just that.

6
6
"Mike's Madonna Story"
John Pasquin
Carol Black & Neal Marlens
November 5, 1985 (1985-11-05)
185802

Mike becomes romantically attracted to a "Madonna look-alike" (Dana Plato), which worries Maggie; Ben accidentally ruins Carol's plant project.

7
7
"Weekend Fantasy"
John Tracy
Arnold Margolin
November 12, 1985 (1985-11-12)
185808

Jason and Maggie leave Mike in charge while they go on a getaway weekend. But when nobody answers when they call home, they imagine all sorts of dreadful possibilities.

8
8
"Slice of Life"
John Tracy
Rich Reinhart
November 19, 1985 (1985-11-19)
185809

After Jason reviews a marriage-compatibility test for his work, he and Maggie take it. They're in for some unpleasant surprises.

9
9
"Carol's Crush"
John Tracy
Stephen J. Curwick
November 26, 1985 (1985-11-26)
185810

Carol has blooming romantic feelings for an older family friend, including jealousy when he's romantically attracted to someone else.

10
10
"Dirt Bike"
John Tracy
Kerry Ehrin & Ali Marie Matheson
December 3, 1985 (1985-12-03)
185811

Mike rides a dirt bike against his parents' wishes while camping with Boner.

11
11
"Standardized Test"
Nick Havinga
Carol Black & Neal Marlens
December 10, 1985 (1985-12-10)
185806

Mike completely disregards an IQ test and gets a score that worries his parents.

12
12
"A Christmas Story"
John Tracy
Story by : Carol Black & Neal Marlens
Teleplay by : Tom Walla & Dave Wollert
December 17, 1985 (1985-12-17)
185812

On Christmas Eve, Ben is having second thoughts about Santa Claus; a patient of Jason's (Alan Blumenfeld) threatens to commit suicide by head-firsting down their chimney.

13
13
"The Love Song of M. Aaron Seaver"
John Tracy
Arnold Margolin
January 7, 1986 (1986-01-07)
185814

Mike falls for a cultural student (April Lerman) whom he impresses with a poem written by Carol. Their next date is on an annual family bowling night.

14
14
"First Blood"
John Tracy
Mark Fink
January 14, 1986 (1986-01-14)
185813

Ben's hockey team unfortunately features father-son bullies, the father being the team's coach (Dan Lauria); things only get worse when Ben's father gets involved. At home, Maggie teaches Mike how to ballroom-dance so he can escort his girlfriend to a family wedding.

15
15
"Slice of Life II"
John Tracy
Tom Walla & David Kendall
January 21, 1986 (1986-01-21)
185815

When Maggie tells Jason she might be pregnant, Jason realizes he might not be emotionally ready.

16
16
"The Seavers vs. the Cleavers"
John Tracy
Susan Beavers
January 28, 1986 (1986-01-28)
185817

Mike and Carol don't want their parents chaperoning a dance, so they're glad when they are actually told not to – until Carol finds out the PTA's objection to them. Guest starring Annette Funicello as Mrs. Hinkley.

17
17
"Charity Begins at Home"
John Tracy
Dan Guntzelman & Steve Marshall
February 18, 1986 (1986-02-18)
185816

Ben does not have enough money to buy Jason the really good present he thinks he deserves, but Mike's advice causes him to accidentally commit a crime.

18
18
"Reputation"
John Tracy
David Kendall
February 25, 1986 (1986-02-25)
185819

Mike gets the best grade in the class on his American history final, stunning the class, his family, and Mike himself. When Mike wonders how he pulled off such a great grade...his teacher accused him of cheating.

19
19
"The Anniversary That Never Was"
John Tracy
Timothy James
March 4, 1986 (1986-03-04)
185818

Mike, Carol, and Ben want to give their parents a relaxing anniversary, but Maggie gets called to Washington for business, distressing Jason.

20
20
"Be a Man"
John Tracy
Rich Reinhart
March 11, 1986 (1986-03-11)
185820

Home alone while the rest of the family goes to visit Maggie's parents, Mike throws an unsupervised party. The Malones are having financial trouble and will not accept money from anyone, including their son-in-law.

21
21
"Career Decision"
John Tracy
Story by : Bob Brush
Teleplay by : Bob Brush & Tom Walla
May 6, 1986 (1986-05-06)
185821

When Maggie brings Carol to work, Carol has to witness Maggie's humiliation over a mistake she made in an article. Meanwhile, Mike realizes that the world does not revolve around him.

22
22
"Extra Lap"
John Tracy
Stephen J. Curwick
May 13, 1986 (1986-05-13)
185807

Jokester Uncle Bob dies in his sleep during a visit; after the funeral, Mike believes that he is seeing his ghost (James Callahan).

text: Season 2 (1986–87)[edit]

text:
No. in
series
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
Production
code

23
1
"Jason and the Cruisers"
John Tracy
Tom Walla
September 30, 1986 (1986-09-30)
185962

Maggie reunites Jason with his former band when he starts to feel old.

24
2
"Fast Times at Dewey High"
Dan Guntzelman
David Kendall
October 21, 1986 (1986-10-21)
185963

Mike finds himself with two dates for the school dance.

25
3
"Long Day's Journey Into Night"
John Tracy
David Kendall
October 28, 1986 (1986-10-28)
185961

Carol is overjoyed when a popular girl at school starts hanging out with her – until she finds out she is only interested in Mike.

26
4
"Call Me"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
November 11, 1986 (1986-11-11)
185965

Maggie and Jason recall how Ben got into trouble by calling a pornographic hotline, then blaming a neighbor kid for giving out the number.

27
5
"Employee of the Month"
John Tracy
Tom Walla
November 18, 1986 (1986-11-18)
185967

Mike tries to help a co-worker (Olivia d'Abo) by taking responsibility for her frequent mistakes; after he is fired, he acts like he is still going to work.
Danny Nucci guest stars as Mike's boss.

28
6
"Dream Lover"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
November 25, 1986 (1986-11-25)
185970

Carol tutors the captain of the football team.

29
7
"Do You Believe in Magic?"
John Tracy
Melody Rowland
December 2, 1986 (1986-12-02)
185969

After being conned out of $10 by Mike, Carol and Ben (with their parents' help) hatch an elaborate scheme to get it back.

30
8
"Jason's Rib"
John Tracy
Tom Walla
December 9, 1986 (1986-12-09)
185971

Maggie feels belittled by Jason when they disagree about a school dress code during a parents' meeting.

31
9
"The Kid"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
December 16, 1986 (1986-12-16)
185972

Overwhelmed by the holiday spirit, Ben brings home a homeless teen (Hallie Todd). The teen, who snidely identifies herself as "Nancy Reagan", cops an attitude with the Seavers and sees a chance to rob their house. Has Ben made a mistake in being considerate, or will the Seavers' hospitality set the teen runaway straight?

32
10
"The Breakfast Club"
John Tracy
David Tyron King
January 6, 1987 (1987-01-06)
185966

After Maggie insists that Mike be grounded for lying, she is caught in a lie herself and Jason suggests that she should ground herself to teach Mike a lesson. But this is one of those times when a punishment hurts the parent more than the child – Maggie will be missing a concert in Atlantic City by one of her favorites! While Maggie stays with Mike, Carol goes to Atlantic City with Jason so that the tickets will not go to waste.

33
11
"Choices"
John Tracy
Susan Beavers
January 13, 1987 (1987-01-13)
185964

Maggie and Carol are thrilled when Carol gets a chance to skip a grade. Then Maggie wonders if her life choices might have given her daughter the wrong idea.

34
12
"Higher Education"
John Tracy
Susan Beavers
January 20, 1987 (1987-01-20)
185973

Mike is blackmailed by a girl who helped change his grade on an English test so he would be allowed to go on a ski trip. When Jason and Maggie have colds, Carol runs the house a bit too well for Jason's liking.

35
13
"Some Enchanted Evening"
John Tracy
Susan Beavers
January 27, 1987 (1987-01-27)
185976

Carol is eager for Bobby to invite her to the Dewey High winter formal, but he does not seem so eager. Meanwhile, Mike has three girls courting him to be their date.

36
14
"Thank You, Willie Nelson"
John Tracy
David Kendall
February 3, 1987 (1987-02-03)
185974

Maggie's father sells his house without his wife's approval, causing a controversy between them. Mike and Ben attempt to find ways to mess with Carol's pajama party.

37
15
"Thank God It's Friday"
John Tracy
Dan Guntzelman & Steve Marshall
February 10, 1987 (1987-02-10)
185975

Mike and his friends are pressured to take drugs at a college party.

38
16
"My Brother, Myself"
John Tracy
Susan Beavers
February 24, 1987 (1987-02-24)
185981

Ben hits puberty and – with advice from Mike – tries to hit on his babysitter.

39
17
"Jimmy Durante Died for Your Sins"
John Tracy
Christopher Ames & Carolyn Shelby
March 3, 1987 (1987-03-03)
185979

After Carol's parents tell her she can only get a nose job if she gets the money for it herself, she wins it in a radio contest.

40
18
"Carnival"
John Tracy
Sybil Adelman & Martin Sage
March 10, 1987 (1987-03-10)
185968

Maggie volunteers to help out at Ben's school carnival but starts to ignore Ben and do it only for herself.

41
19
"The Awful Truth"
John Tracy
Kate Boutilier
March 17, 1987 (1987-03-17)
185980

The kids believe that Jason was married before and Mike was the product of that marriage.

42
20
"Born Free"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
March 31, 1987 (1987-03-31)
185978

Jason and Mike go on a guys' trip to Boston so Jason can show Mike around his old college and convince him to go to college. But before they even get there, Mike gets some serious life experience during the flight.

43
21
"The Long Goodbye"
John Tracy
David Kendall & Tim O'Donnell
May 5, 1987 (1987-05-05)
185982

Maggie believes that the Seavers' handyman is getting too old (he's messing up more than he's fixing) and tries to convince Jason to let him go. Then they find out that somebody else was behind the mistakes.

44
22
"Confidentially Yours"
John Tracy
Tom Walla
May 19, 1987 (1987-05-19)
185977

Maggie gets a job offer – from a womanizer who only wants to sleep with her.

text: Season 3 (1987–88)[edit]

text:
No. in
series
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
Production
code

45
1
"Aloha (Part 1)"
John Tracy
Story by : Tom Walla
Teleplay by : Dan Guntzelman & Steve Marshall
September 18, 1987 (1987-09-18)
186103

The Seavers journey to Hawaii but the holiday does not go as Jason planned. Maggie has work problems, Mike and Carol find romance, and Ben finds a new interest.

46
2
"Aloha (Part 2)"
John Tracy
Story by : Tom Walla
Teleplay by : Dan Guntzelman & Steve Marshall
September 18, 1987 (1987-09-18)
186104

Maggie solves her problem; initially shocked that his Hawaiian girlfriend has a daughter, Mike enjoys babysitting her; Bobby arrives.

47
3
"Taking Care of Business"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
September 22, 1987 (1987-09-22)
186102

The family is supportive of the positive effects of Mike's job. Then Jason discovers his employers use bait-and-switch tactics.

48
4
"Not Necessarily the News"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
September 29, 1987 (1987-09-29)
186109

Maggie's family becomes anxious to find her a new job.

49
5
"Michaelgate"
John Tracy
Dan Guntzelman & Steve Marshall
October 6, 1987 (1987-10-06)
186108

Mike is nominated for student-body president.

50
6
"Big Brother is Not Watching"
John Tracy
David Tyron King
October 13, 1987 (1987-10-13)
186101

Ben is told that if he wants a new bike he has to put up half the cost, so he turns to Carol for ideas on how to make a fast buck. Carol organizes a raffle of Ben's old bike, but the plan is derailed when some bullies threaten anyone from buying tickets to assure themselves of the prize, and Ben and Carol get chastized by their parents, who must decide how to proceed.

51
7
"A Star Is Born"
John Tracy
Neal Marlens & David Kendall
October 27, 1987 (1987-10-27)
186101

When the girl he likes is chosen as leading lady in the high school play, Mike auditions for leading man and wins the part. He knows nothing about acting and can't recall his lines, but he loves rehearsing the kissing scenes.

52
8
"Gone But Not Forgotten"
John Tracy
Christopher Ames & Carolyn Shelby
November 3, 1987 (1987-11-03)
186105

When the Seaver house is burglarized, the family fears the perpetrators' return.

53
9
"Who's Zoomin' Who?"
John Tracy
Tom Walla
November 10, 1987 (1987-11-10)
186113

Carol's friends convince her to dump Bobby for the handsome new transfer student (Brad Pitt).

54
10
"This is Your Life"
John Tracy
David Kendall
November 17, 1987 (1987-11-17)
186110

Ben is fearful of undergoing a tonsillectomy, so he escapes the surgery with the aid of a jovial taxi driver (Alan Hale Jr.). After coming home realizes he has been punished for his cowardice by being disinherited and replaced with a new, perfect-in-every-way Ben.

55
11
"Broadway Bound"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell & Tom Walla
November 24, 1987 (1987-11-24)
186115

Mike skips the local school play audition to audition for a Broadway play.

56
12
"The Scarlet Letter"
John Tracy
Kate Boutilier
December 1, 1987 (1987-12-01)
186106

Carol doubts the purpose of education when she gets an A+ on an exam paper she bluffed her way through.

57
13
"A Reason to Live"
John Tracy
David Tyron King
December 8, 1987 (1987-12-08)
186112

A troubled girl uses a school assignment with Mike and Boner to seek help from Jason.

58
14
"Nasty Habits"
John Tracy
Christopher Ames & Carolyn Shelby
December 15, 1987 (1987-12-15)
186119

Mike's bad habits catch up with him and put him in danger of not graduating: he can't seem to start his English paper and even plans to go out the night before it's due.

59
15
"The Marrying Kind"
John Tracy
David Kendall
January 5, 1988 (1988-01-05)
186114

Jason and Maggie are shocked when Carol announces her engagement to Bobby.

60
16
"State of the Union"
John Tracy
Kate Boutilier
January 12, 1988 (1988-01-12)
186120

Jason and Maggie spend more and more time apart as Maggie's new job demands more and more of her time.

61
17
"The Mom Who Knew Too Much"
John Tracy
Kate Boutilier
January 26, 1988 (1988-01-26)
186111

Carol is furious with Maggie for telling Jason one of her most intimate secrets.

62
18
"Great Expectations"
John Tracy
David Kendall
February 9, 1988 (1988-02-09)
186122

A letter from the girl he met in Hawaii has Mike scheming to go to Los Angeles without Jason and Maggie's knowledge.

63
19
"Dance Fever (Part 1)"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
March 1, 1988 (1988-03-01)
186117

While Maggie and Jason chaperone Mike and Carol's high-school dance, Ben goes in search of his manhood.

64
20
"Dance Fever (Part 2)"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
March 2, 1988 (1988-03-02)
186118

As Ben continues his quest for manhood, the high-school dance continues: Jason and Maggie compete to see which one is the better D.J.; Mike discovers he has values; and Carol learns to think for herself instead of going along with the crowd.

65
21
"Bringing Up Baby"
John Tracy
Tom Walla
March 9, 1988 (1988-03-09)
186121

While the Seavers make room for baby #4, Maggie grasps for a way to tell her boss she's pregnant.

66
22
"The Obscure Objects of Our Desire (Part 1)"
John Tracy
David Kendall
March 30, 1988 (1988-03-30)
186365A

Spring cleaning breathes new life into the family's household objects, and each has a story to tell.

67
23
"The Obscure Objects of Our Desire (Part 2)"
John Tracy
David Kendall
March 30, 1988 (1988-03-30)
186365B

Housecleaning turns up things from the family's past and sparks memories.

68
24
"How the West Was Won (Part 1)"
John Tracy
Dan Guntzelman & Steve Marshall
April 26, 1988 (1988-04-26)
186291

Mike and Boner learn that Coach Lubbock has been fired, prompting them to organize a protest.

69
25
"How the West Was Won (Part 2)"
John Tracy
Dan Guntzelman & Steve Marshall
April 27, 1988 (1988-04-27)
186292

Jason, Carol, Mike, and Boner are arrested over the demonstration of Coach Lubbock's firing.

70
26
"Graduation Day"
John Tracy
Dan Guntzelman & Steve Marshall
May 4, 1988 (1988-05-04)
186116

Mike's graduation stirs memories from his proud parents, who recall his birth and first day of school.

text: Season 4 (1988–89)[edit]

text:
No. in
series
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
Production
code

71
1
"Fool for Love"
John Tracy
Kate Boutilier
October 19, 1988 (1988-10-19)
186433

Ben works up the courage to ask a girl (Candace Cameron) to a Halloween party.

72
2
"Birth of a Seaver"
John Tracy
David Kendall
October 26, 1988 (1988-10-26)
186434

Maggie goes into labor on Ben's 12th birthday.

73
3
"Family Ties (Part 1)"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
November 2, 1988 (1988-11-02)
186431

Mike has a showdown with Jason over his rights as an 18-year-old college student and declares his freedom from parental rule.

74
4
"Family Ties (Part 2)"
John Tracy
Tom Walla
November 9, 1988 (1988-11-09)
186432

Mike converts the storage space above the garage into an apartment and must choose whether he wants to be tenant or family member.

75
5
"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"
John Tracy
Becky Ayers & Joanna Kerns
November 16, 1988 (1988-11-16)
186435

Jason learns his widowed mother has a new beau.

76
6
"Homecoming Queen"
John Tracy
Kate Boutilier
November 23, 1988 (1988-11-23)
186436

Carol is chosen for homecoming court.

77
7
"Nude Photos"
John Tracy
David Kendall
November 30, 1988 (1988-11-30)
186437

Mike's photography course includes nude studies. While his friends see it as a chance to get their thrills, Mike actually gets a nagging feeling he should be a professional student.

78
8
"Ben's First Kiss"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
December 7, 1988 (1988-12-07)
186439

Ben throws a party to get to know a girl.

79
9
"The Nanny"
John Tracy
Kevin Abbott
January 4, 1989 (1989-01-04)
186438

The Seavers hire a nanny for Chrissy, with interesting results.

80
10
"Mandingo"
John Tracy
Story by : Dan Guntzelman & Mike Sullivan
Teleplay by : David Kendall & Tim O'Donnell
January 11, 1989 (1989-01-11)
186442

A travel snafu strands Julie with Mike.

81
11
"In Carol We Trust"
John Tracy
Tom Walla
January 18, 1989 (1989-01-18)
186441

Carol sneaks out of the house for a date.

82
12
"Mom of the Year"
John Tracy
Becky Ayers
January 25, 1989 (1989-01-25)
186443

Maggie is chosen to receive the "Working Mother of the Year" award and prepares a speech.

83
13
"Semper Fidelis"
John Tracy
David Kendall
February 1, 1989 (1989-02-01)
186440

Boner flunks out of college and joins the Marines.

84
14
"Feet of Clay"
John Tracy
Todd Thicke
February 8, 1989 (1989-02-08)
186444

Maggie arranges for Ben to meet his favorite rock musician, Jonathan Keith (Brad Pitt), whose backstage behavior cures Ben's idolatry of him.
Note: This is Brad Pitt's second appearance in the series. He previously guest-starred as Carol's love-interest Jeff in the season-three episode "Who's Zoomin' Who".

85
15
"Anniversary from Hell"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
February 15, 1989 (1989-02-15)
186446

The Seavers achieve their 20th anniversary, but trouble in the form of a pie fight erupts among their celebration's guests.

86
16
"Fortunate Son"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
February 22, 1989 (1989-02-22)
186445

Maggie becomes concerned when Mike takes a job at a convenience store and may have to do dangerous night shifts.

87
17
"Double Standard"
John Tracy
Todd Thicke
March 1, 1989 (1989-03-01)
186447

Jason punishes Carol and Ben unequally for the same offense: sneaking out for dates.

88
18
"The Recruiter"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
March 15, 1988 (1988-03-15)
186449

To avoid going to her parents' college without disappointing them, Carol has Mike hire a homeless man (Carmen Filpi) to pose as Jason.

89
19
"Show Ninety – Who Knew?"
John Tracy
Kevin Abbott
March 22, 1989 (1989-03-22)
186450

Jason helps Mike with his Psychology class, with unexpected results.
Note: Contrary to the episode title, this episode was the 89th episode to air.

90
20
"Second Chance"
John Tracy
Story: by Dan Guntzelman & Steve Marshall
Teleplay by: David Kendall
April 12, 1989 (1989-04-12)
186448

Carol's boyfriend Sandy (Matthew Perry) drives drunk and gets into an accident.
Note: This episode ended with a message that told viewers how many alcohol-related accidents that caused injury or death in the United States occurred while the episode ran. The number increased from 29 to 30 after approximately a minute.

91
21
"The Looooove Boat (Part 1)"
John Tracy
David Kendall
April 26, 1989 (1989-04-26)
186451

Jason's mother wants to get married on a cruise ship.

92
22
"The Looooove Boat (Part 2)"
John Tracy
David Kendall
May 3, 1989 (1989-05-03)
186452

Jason tries to calm his mother when her wedding plans fail.

text: Season 5 (1989–90)[edit]

text:
No. in
series
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
Production
code

93
1
"Anger With Love"
John Tracy
David Kendall & Tim O'Donnell
September 20, 1989 (1989-09-20)
186704

Maggie disapproves of Mike and Julie's wedding plans.

94
2
"Mike and Julie's Wedding"
John Tracy
David Kendall
September 27, 1989 (1989-09-27)
186703

Julie and Mike suffer prenuptial jitters.

95
3
"Carol Meets the Real World"
John Tracy
David Kendall
October 4, 1989 (1989-10-04)
186701

Jason demands that Carol find a job.

96
4
"Fish Bait"
John Tracy
Rob Bragin
October 11, 1989 (1989-10-11)
186702

Mike's drama teacher and classmates start to intimidate him.

97
5
"Teach Me"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
October 18, 1989 (1989-10-18)
186706

Carol brings a fake boyfriend to a family party.

98
6
"Carol's Papers"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
October 25, 1989 (1989-10-25)
186705

Jason confronts Ben and Mike, who give conflicting versions of how Ben came to sell Carol's old term papers to students at Dewey High – and to date a seductive 18-year-old.

99
7
"Coughing Boy"
John Tracy
Mindy Schneider
November 1, 1989 (1989-11-01)
186709

Mike attends an open casting session and wins a part on a TV cop show!

100
8
"The New Deal (Part 1)"
John Tracy
Shelly Landau
November 8, 1989 (1989-11-08)
186707

Jason gets a promising job offer.

101
9
"The New Deal (Part 2)"
John Tracy
Shelly Landau
November 15, 1989 (1989-11-15)
186708

Jason tries to hide his new job offer from Maggie.

102
10
"Paper Route"
John Tracy
David Kendall
November 22, 1989 (1989-11-22)
186710

Ben assumes Mike's paper route for half the money.

103
11
"Five Grand"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
November 29, 1989 (1989-11-29)
186713

Maggie's parents give each of the grandchildren $5,000 as an early inheritance.

104
12
"Carol's Promotion"
John Tracy
Mindy Schneider
December 6, 1989 (1989-12-06)
186711

Carol considers postponing college when she gets a promotion at work.

105
13
"Ben and Mike's Excellent Adventure"
John Tracy
Rob Bragin
December 13, 1989 (1989-12-13)
186712

When taking Ben out to get supplies for a last minute project, it turns into all sorts of nighttime adventures to include a run in with the cops and girl-chasing.

106
14
"The Triangle"
John Tracy
Shelly Landau
January 3, 1990 (1990-01-03)
186714

Mike falls for his leading lady.

107
15
"The Return of the Triangle"
John Tracy
Shelly Landau
January 10, 1990 (1990-01-10)
186715

David turns to Mike for help with Kate.

108
16
"The Home Show"
John Tracy
David Kendall & Tim O'Donnell
January 17, 1990 (1990-01-17)
186716

The Seavers' reception to raise money for a free mental-health clinic is in trouble when, having mixed-up the date, they send the caterer away, then can't get her back or find another on no notice.

109
17
"Jason vs. Maggie"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
January 24, 1990 (1990-01-24)
186717

Jason and Maggie argue over Ben's request to get his ear pierced.

110
18
"Mike, Kate and Julie"
John Tracy
David Kendall
January 31, 1990 (1990-01-31)
186718

Mike unexpectedly sees a familiar face while on a date with Kate.

111
19
"Mike, the Teacher"
John Tracy
Mindy Schneider
February 7, 1990 (1990-02-07)
186719

Mike becomes a substitute teacher.

112
20
"Carol in Jail"
John Tracy
Mindy Schneider
February 14, 1990 (1990-02-14)
186720

Mike's unpaid parking tickets get Carol arrested when she is pulled over driving his car.

113
21
"Future Shock"
John Tracy
Todd Thicke
February 21, 1990 (1990-02-21)
186721

After seeming to be the oldest parent at Chrissy's preschool (as in, the teacher thinks she's Chrissy's grandma), Maggie dreams of Chrissy as a teenager (played by Krystyne Haje).

114
22
"Ben Cheats"
John Tracy
Tim O'Donnell
March 14, 1990 (1990-03-14)
186722

Ben weighs the pros and cons of cheating after sly classmate Vito clues him in about test-passing.

115
23
"Mike, the Director"
John Tracy
Rob Bragin
March 21, 1990 (1990-03-21)
186723

As he prepares to graduate, Mike decides he wants to try his hand at directing.

116
24
"Weekend at Mike's"
John Tracy
Story by : David Kendall & Tim O'Donnell
Teleplay by : Shelly Landau
April 4, 1990 (1990-04-04)
186725

The family stays at Mike's apartment while the house is being fumigated.

117
25
"Ben's Movie"
John Tracy
Shelly Landau
April 25, 1990 (1990-04-25)
186695

Ben casts a girl he likes in his home movie.

118
26
"Where's There's a Will"
John Tracy
David Kendall
May 2, 1990 (1990-05-02)
186696

Jason and Mike journey to inspect the mountain cabin Jason has inherited from his Uncle George.

text: Season 6 (1990–91)[edit]

text:
No. in
series
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
Production
code

119
1
"Mike's Choice (Part 1)"
John Tracy
David Kendall
September 19, 1990 (1990-09-19)
187014

Mike decides to quit college to fully focus on acting; Jason and Maggie disapprove.

120
2
"Midnight Cowboy (Part 2)"
John Tracy
Nick Lerose
September 26, 1990 (1990-09-26)
187015

Mike moves into the city; Carol has a hard time with her commute to Columbia University.

121
3
"Roommates (Part 3)"
John Tracy
Bob Burris & Michael Ware
October 3, 1990 (1990-10-03)
187016

Mike and Carol rent an apartment in the city as Jason and Maggie wait patiently for them to return home. The wait may not to be too long as Carol get immersed in the culture of NYC, indirectly getting her and Mike evicted, and Maggie's parents start laying down the law.

122
4
"Daddy Mike"
John Tracy
Elias Davis & David Pollock
October 10, 1990 (1990-10-10)
187013

Mike and Eddie (K. C. Martel) join a single-parents group to meet women.

123
5
"Ben's Sure Thing"
John Tracy
Shelly Landau
October 17, 1990 (1990-10-17)
187012

At Ben's school's Parents' Night, his parents learn what he has been telling his friends about the girl that he has been dating (Andrea Barber) – and the words' effect on his popularity.

124
6
"Jason Flirts, Maggie Hurts"
John Tracy
Jack Weinberger & Mike Weinberger
October 24, 1990 (1990-10-24)
187011

A flirty Jason gets jealous when Maggie turns the tables.

125
7
"Happy Halloween (Part 1)"
John Tracy
Jay Abramowitz, Dan Guntzelman & Nick Lerose
October 31, 1990 (1990-10-31)
187017

The Seavers spend a rainy Halloween night telling ghost stories – and thanks to Mike they discover that truth can be much scarier than fiction.
Guest starring Jamie Luner – "Cindy Lubbock" of Just the Ten of Us.

126
8
"Happy Halloween (Part 2)"
John Tracy
Jay Abramowitz, Dan Guntzelman & Nick Lerose
October 31, 1990 (1990-10-31)
187018

The Seavers' rainy Halloween night continues.

127
9
"Let's Go Europe (Part 1)"
John Tracy
David Kendall
November 7, 1990 (1990-11-07)
187019

Jason buys an anniversary trip to Paris from travel-agent Mike, who wins a European tour that falls apart. In Paris, Maggie is bitten not by the love bug but by appendicitis.

128
10
"Let's Go Europe (Part 2)"
John Tracy
Bob Burris & Michael Ware
November 14, 1990 (1990-11-14)
187020

While Maggie is hospitalized in Paris, Mike is stuck on the road with an angry customer.

129
11
"Let's Go Europe (Part 3)"
John Tracy
Story by : Dan Guntzelman & David Kendall
Teleplay by : Bob Burris & Michael Ware
November 28, 1990 (1990-11-28)
187022

Mike and Amy continue to bicker their way toward Paris.

130
12
"Divorce Story"
John Tracy
Elias Davis & David Pollock
December 5, 1990 (1990-12-05)
187023

Jason, happy to see his mother's second marriage crumbling, doesn't want to offer professional help.

131
13
"The World According to Chrissy"
John Tracy
Leilani Downer
December 19, 1990 (1990-12-19)
187024

Chrissy's imaginary friend is a 6-foot-tall mouse, Ike.

132
14
"How Could I Leave Her Behind?"
John Tracy
Jack Weinberger & Mike Weinberger
January 2, 1991 (1991-01-02)
187021

Mike and Eddie double-date – Eddie's date is Mike's ex-girlfriend.

133
15
"Like Father, Like Son"
John Tracy
Vince Cheung & Ben Montanio
January 9, 1991 (1991-01-09)
187025

In an intrafamily communications seminar, Mike and Jason discover how alike they are.

134
16
"Ben's Rap Group"
John Tracy
Todd Thicke
January 23, 1991 (1991-01-23)
187027

Jason becomes Ben's business partner in rap-group management, but he uses the money he's invested to control Ben.

135
17
"Eddie, We Hardly Knew Ye"
John Tracy
Rich Reinhart
January 30, 1991 (1991-01-30)
187026

Maggie's father Ed dies during a visit to the Seavers.

136
18
"Maggie Seaver's: The Meaning of Life"
John Tracy
Jay Abramowitz
February 6, 1991 (1991-02-06)
187029

Jason takes Maggie on a tropical getaway to lift her spirits after her father's death.

137
19
"All the World is a Stage"
John Tracy
David Kendall
February 13, 1991 (1991-02-13)
187030

Mike competes with a well-established actor for a soap-opera role.

138
20
"Not With My Carol You Don't"
John Tracy
Leilani Downer
February 20, 1991 (1991-02-20)
187028

Jason encourages Carol to volunteer at a clinic, then disapproves of the ex-con she meets there.

139
21
"Meet the Seavers"
John Tracy
Story by: Dan Guntzelman, David Kendall, Mike Sullivan & Steve Marshall
Teleplay by: Bob Burris & Michael Ware
March 6, 1991 (1991-03-06)
187032

In a Twilight Zone-esque episode, Ben gets shouted at by his parents and grouses to himself how come his family is not like what he sees on TV. He awakens to discover he's Jeremy Miller, an actor on the set of "Meet the Seavers".

140
22
"Carol's Carnival"
John Tracy
Rich Reinhart
March 27, 1991 (1991-03-27)
187033

Ben forces Carol to go on a date with the brother of his new girlfriend but he ditches her and Carol meets another man at the carnival, their date site.

141
23
"Home Schooling"
John Tracy
Story by : Dan Guntzelman & Mike Sullivan
Teleplay by : Nick Lerose
April 17, 1991 (1991-04-17)
187031

Maggie homeschools Ben after he is suspended from school.

142
24
"Viva Las Vegas"
John Tracy
Shelly Landau
April 24, 1991 (1991-04-24)
187034

Mike and Kate accompany the eloping Eddie and a hat-check bimbette to Las Vegas.

text: Season 7 (1991–92)[edit]

text:
No. in
series
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
Production
code

143
1
"Back to School"
Jack Shea
Bob Burris & Michael Ware
September 18, 1991 (1991-09-18)
187201

Mike begins his first day teaching remedial students.

144
2
"Stop, Luke, and Listen (Part 1)"
Jack Shea
Liz Sage
September 25, 1991 (1991-09-25)
187203

Mike learns his best student, Luke Brower (Leonardo DiCaprio), is homeless, and offers to help him.

145
3
"In vino veritas (Part 2)"
Jack Shea
Rich Reinhart
September 28, 1991 (1991-09-28)
187204

Mike persuades Jason and Maggie to let Luke stay with them temporarily; just as he moves in, Jason's wine collection disappears.

146
4
"Paper Tigers"
Jack Shea
Leilani Downer
October 5, 1991 (1991-10-05)
187202

Jason and Maggie compete to write a newspaper column; Ben starts to hate his glasses.

147
5
"The Young and the Homeless"
Jack Shea
Bob Burris & Michael Ware
October 12, 1991 (1991-10-12)
187205

Luke runs way from the Seavers' just as Mike is about to film his soap-opera scenes.

148
6
"Jason Sings the Blues"
Jack Shea
Jerry Colker
October 19, 1991 (1991-10-19)
187206

Jason accompanies a leery Luke to the doctor, where he gets nasty news.

149
7
"The Kid's Still Got It"
Iris Dugow
Jerry Colker
October 26, 1991 (1991-10-26)
187207

Carol accompanies Maggie to a resort on an interesting weekend; at home, the all-male weekend is infiltrated by a female: Chrissy, who has been sent home with head lice.

150
8
"There Must Be a Pony"
Iris Dugow
Liz Sage
November 2, 1991 (1991-11-02)
187208

Nouveau-riche neighbors move in next door and their lavish party crashes Jason's "cure" for Chrissy wanting to stay up late because she thinks her bedtime has been keeping her from big fun. Meanwhile, Ben must be Luke's "Big Brother" on his first day of high school, but he soon realizes that Luke will do fine.

151
9
"The Big Fix"
Iris Dugow
Leilani Downer
November 9, 1991 (1991-11-09)
187209

Consumer advocate Maggie raps a vacuum cleaner that Ben secretly broke.

152
10
"Home Malone"
Burt Brinckerhoff
Rich Reinhart
November 16, 1991 (1991-11-16)
187210

The ghost of Maggie's father Ed oversees the Seavers' visit to her childhood home.

153
11
"Bad Day Cafe"
Renny Temple
Bud Wiser
November 23, 1991 (1991-11-23)
187212

Luke's father comes to town wanting him back.

154
12
"B=MC2"
Gerren Keith
Cathy Jung
November 30, 1991 (1991-11-30)
187211

Ben crams for a college entrance exam with no help from Jason.

155
13
"It's Not Easy Being Green"
Renny Temple
Leilani Downer
December 21, 1991 (1991-12-21)
187213

Christmastime brings the Seavers anger and angst.

156
14
"The Call of the Wild"
Andy Cadiff
Bob Burris & Michael Ware
January 4, 1992 (1992-01-04)
187214

Penniless Mike schemes to give Kate a ski-trip.

157
15
"Honest Abe"
Burt Brinckerhoff
Wendy Braff
January 18, 1992 (1992-01-18)
187216

Luke's homeless friend steals a Seaver memento.
Note: Tracey Gold does not appear in this episode.

158
16
"Vicious Cycle"
Burt Brinckerhoff
Cathy Jung
February 1, 1992 (1992-02-01)
187217

Maggie and Jason hold Mike accountable for Luke's curfew problems.
Note: Tracey Gold does not appear in this episode.

159
17
"Menage a Luke"
Gerren Keith
Todd Thicke
February 8, 1992 (1992-02-08)
187215

A love triangle involves Ben, Luke, and a classmate.

160
18
"The Five Fingers of Ben"
Burt Brinckerhoff
Jerry Colker
February 22, 1992 (1992-02-22)
187218

Tired of being bullied, Ben takes karate lessons.
Note: Tracey Gold does not appear in this episode.

161
19
"Don't Go Changin'"
Don Amendolia
Leilani Downer & Rich Reinhart
February 29, 1992 (1992-02-29)
187220

Mike believes his old friend Eddie is a bad influence on Luke.
Note: Tracey Gold does not appear in this episode.

162
20
"The Truck Stops Here"
Joanna Kerns
Jerry Colker
March 21, 1992 (1992-03-21)
187219

Luke's father returns, wanting him to join him on his trucking journeys.
Note: This episode marks Joanna Kerns' directorial debut. (She would go on to direct a number of other notable television series.)
Note: Tracey Gold does not appear in this episode.

163
21
"Maggie's Brilliant Career"
Gerren Keith
Kate Boutilier
April 4, 1992 (1992-04-04)
187221

Maggie wants to fulfill a dream by climbing a mountain.
Note: Tracey Gold does not appear in this episode.

164
22
"The Wrath of Con Ed"
Nancy Heydorn
Liz Sage
April 11, 1992 (1992-04-11)
187222

A power failure hampers Jason and Maggie's romantic evening.

165
23
"The Last Picture Show (Part 1)"
Jonathan Weiss
Bob Burris, Wendy Braff, Jerry Colker, Leilani Downer, Cathy Jung,
Rich Reinhart, Liz Sage, Michael Ware & Dan Wilcox
April 25, 1992 (1992-04-25)
187223

In Part 1 of the series finale, a senator offers Maggie a job in Washington, D.C.: should she accept?

166
24
"The Last Picture Show (Part 2)"
Jonathan Weiss
Bob Burris & Michael Ware
April 25, 1992 (1992-04-25)
187224

In Part 2 of the series finale, Mike proposes to Kate and the family reminisces about good times in their home.

text: TV films[edit]

text:
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date

The Growing Pains Movie
Alan Metter
David Kendall & Mike Sullivan
November 5, 2000 (2000-11-05)

The Seavers help Maggie in her senate campaign against her former boss.

Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers
Joanna Kerns
Christina Lynch & Loren Segan
October 16, 2004 (2004-10-16)

Jason and Maggie want to sell the house and retire causing a rift with real estate agent Ben, Mike and Carol.