Eight Is Enough

Eight Is Enough
Genre	Comedy-drama
Starring	Dick Van Patten Diana Hyland Betty Buckley Grant Goodeve Lani O'Grady Laurie Walters Susan Richardson Dianne Kay Connie Newton Willie Aames Adam Rich
Theme music composer	Fred Werner (Season 1 & 2 opening theme) Song: from Season 3 onwards – "Eight Is Enough" Music by Lee Holdridge Lyrics by Molly-Ann Leikin
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	5
No. of episodes	112
Production
Executive producer(s)	Philip Capice Lee Rich
Producer(s)	Robert L. Jacks Gary Adelson Greg Strangis Phil Fehrle
Camera setup	Single-camera
Running time	50 minutes
Production company(s)	Lorimar Productions
Distributor	Warner Bros. Television originally distributed by Worldvision Enterprises, Inc.
Release
Original network	ABC
Audio format	Monaural
Original release	March 15, 1977 (1977-03-15) – August 29, 1981 (1981-08-29)
Chronology
Followed by	Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion (1987) and Eight Is Enough: A Wedding (1989)
External links
[{{#property:P856}} Website]

Eight Is Enough is an American television comedy-drama series that ran on ABC from March 15, 1977, until August 29, 1981. The show was modeled after syndicated newspaper columnist Thomas Braden, a real-life parent with eight children, who wrote a book with the same name.

Synopsis

The show centers on a Sacramento, California, family with eight children (from oldest to youngest: David, Mary, Joanie, Susan, Nancy, Elizabeth, Tommy, and Nicholas). The father, Tom Bradford, was a newspaper columnist for the fictional Sacramento Register. His wife Joan (Diana Hyland) took care of the children. Hyland was only in four episodes before falling ill; she was written out for the remainder of the first season and died five days after the second episode aired.

The second season began in the fall of 1977 with the revelation that Tom had become a widower. Tom fell in love with Sandra Sue "Abby" Abbott, (Betty Buckley) a schoolteacher who came to the house to tutor Tommy who had broken his leg in a football game. They were married in one of the series' TV movie broadcasts on November 9, 1977. The role went to Buckley after being approved by network chief Brandon Tartikoff, who felt the character of the sympathetic teacher she had played in the 1976 film Carrie would also be great for the series. In another TV movie event in September 1979, David and Susan were both married in a double wedding. As the series progressed, Abby got her Ph.D. in education and started a job counseling students at the local high school, oldest sister Mary became a doctor, while second-youngest son Tommy became a singer in a rock-and-roll band.

Cast and characters

Main

• Dick Van Patten —Tom Bradford
• Diana Hyland —Joan Wells Bradford (season 1)
• Betty Buckley —Sandra Sue "Abby" Abbott Bradford (seasons 2–5)
• Grant Goodeve (Mark Hamill in the series pilot) — David Bradford (22 years old at start of series)
• Lani O'Grady — Mary Bradford (21)
• Laurie Walters — Joanie Bradford (20)
• Susan Richardson — Susan Bradford (19); later Susan (Bradford) Stockwell
• Dianne Kay (Kimberly Beck in the series pilot) — Nancy Bradford (18)
• Connie Needham — Elizabeth Bradford (15) (originally credited as Connie Newton before she married)
• Willie Aames (Chris English in the series pilot) — Tommy Bradford (14)
• Adam Rich — Nicholas Bradford (8)

The actors' ages varied greatly from their characters. Hyland was 41 when the show began, Buckley was 29, Goodeve was 24, O'Grady was 22, Walters was older than Buckley at 30, Richardson was 25, Kay was 22, Needham was 17, Aames was 16, and Rich actually was 8.

In the pilot, the role of David was played by Mark Hamill, Nancy was played by Kimberly Beck, and Tommy played by Chris English. When ABC screened the pilot they were unhappy with a couple of performances. Beck and English were let go and replaced by Dianne Kay and Willie Aames. Hamill sought to get out of his contract on Eight is Enough to take the opportunity to star in George Lucas' Star Wars. This was rejected by Lorimar Productions as he had signed a five-year-contract with them. However in December 1976 Hamill had been involved in a car crash that resulted in him needing reconstructive facial surgery. By the time ABC had greenlit the series, Hamill was still hospitalized and unavailable. They let him out of his contract and the role was re-cast with Grant Goodeve now playing David for the series.

The cast of Eight Is Enough

Top row (left to right):
Kay, Van Patten, Goodeve, and Walters.
Middle row: Richardson, Newton, and Buckley.
Bottom row: Rich, O'Grady, and Aames

Recurring

• Brian Patrick Clarke—Merle "The Pearl" Stockwell (1979–1981)
• Jennifer Darling—Donna (1977–1981)
• Janis Paige—Vivian "Auntie V" Bradford (1977–1980)
• Michael Goodrow—Ernie Fields (1979–1981)
• James Karen—Eliot Randolph
• Ralph Macchio—Jeremy Andretti (1980–1981)
• Joan Prather—Janet McArthur Bradford (1977–1981)
• Michael Thoma—Dr. Greg Maxwell (1977–1981)
• Virginia Vincent—Daisy Maxwell (1977–1981)

Production

The show was developed by writer William Blinn and was a Lorimar Production. It was originally distributed by Worldvision Enterprises. For the first three years the show filmed interior scenes at The Burbank Studios now known as the Warner Bros. Ranch. From the fourth season the show filmed interiors at MGM Studios in Culver City.

The home featured in the exterior shots was on Chiquita St, off Lankershim Blvd in Los Angeles. The house has since been demolished and replaced by a newer home.

The show's team of producers included Robert L. Jacks, Gary Adelson, Greg Strangis, and Phil Fehrle. Executive producers were Lee Rich and Philip Capice.

As a production of the Lorimar stable, who were concurrently producing CBS's The Waltons, writers were often contracted by the producers and were shared between both programs. (Waltons costar Will Geer also made an Eight is Enough guest appearance during season 2.) Regular writers included Peter Lefcourt, the writing teams of Gwen Bagni and Paul Dubov, Rod Peterson and Claire Whittaker, Bill Nuss and Dusty Kay, Nick Thiel and David Braff, J. Miyoko Hensley and Steven Hensley, Bruce Shelly, Sandra Kay Siegel, Gil Grant, Karen I. Hall, and Hindi Brooks, who soon became the show's long-time story editor. In-house directors included Philip Leacock, Harry Harris, and Irving J. Moore. As an in-joke, the character name of one of Nicholas Bradford's best friends was Irving Julius Moore, a nod to the director of the same name whose middle name was in fact Joseph.

Music

Theme

For the show's first two seasons, an upbeat instrumental piece written by Fred Werner was used as the show's opening theme. Beginning with the show's third season, this was replaced by a slowed-down vocal theme titled "Eight Is Enough," which was sung by series co-star Grant Goodeve. The song had music by Lee Holdridge and lyrics by Molly-Ann Leikin, and was first heard in a longer arrangement on the last episode of the second season titled "Who's on First?", which was also performed by Goodeve.

Score

Early episodes had instrumental music by Fred Werner and the prolific Alexander Courage, but the show's real musical stamp came from veteran composer Earle Hagen, who had a knack of composing memorable cues as he had previously been the in-house composer on The Andy Griffith Show. He composed a beautiful love theme for Tom and Abby, a theme that permeated the show in various incarnations throughout the remainder of the series. Some later episodes were scored by John Beal and Miles Goodman.

In 1980 there was a writer's strike in Hollywood, and one of the off-shoots of this industry problem was making cost cutting measures in the music department on the show. Some of the later episodes were tracked with a combination of uncredited library music and with some original music by those of the aforementioned Messrs. Hagen, Beal, and Goodman.

Reception and cancellation

The series jump-started acting careers for several of its young stars. It cemented teen idol status for Grant Goodeve (David), Willie Aames (Tommy), and Ralph Macchio, who played Abby's orphaned nephew Jeremy later in the show's last season. Aames would go on to star with Scott Baio in Charles in Charge. Goodeve started a minor singing career, following his rendition of the show's theme song (see "Theme music") and initially hosted HGTV's If Walls Could Talk. Macchio would gain the most fame in feature films such as The Karate Kid and its sequels, as well as My Cousin Vinny.

After the end of the show's fifth season (112 hour episodes), production costs and declining ratings caused the show to be canceled, along with seven other shows that season. Variety's headline on the cancellation stated, "Eight Shows In, Eight Shows Out". In a 2000 episode of The E! True Hollywood Story, Dick Van Patten stated that no one contacted him to inform him of the cancellation. Instead, he read about it in a newspaper.

The series had two reunion movies on NBC. In An Eight Is Enough Reunion on October 18, 1987, Mary Frann replaced Betty Buckley as Abby; Buckley had been filming Frantic during its production. This was followed by An Eight Is Enough Wedding on October 22, 1989, this time with Sandy Faison as Abby. By coincidence, both movies aired opposite game two of the World Series on ABC.

Episode list

All airdates have been compiled from either TV listings in the Los Angeles Times or publicity photos. Unless otherwise specified, all episodes, including the pilot, were standard hour-long ones.

Season 1 (1977)

• 001. "Never Try Eating Nectarines Since Juice May Dispense" (airdate: March 15, 1977)

Pilot episode. After 15-year-old Elizabeth is arrested for the possession of narcotics, Tom and Joan Bradford are faced with the dual problems of raising money for her defense and trying to understand why 21-year-old David Bradford moved away from home after objecting to the way they handled the drug bust.

Note: In the Pilot, David was played by Mark Hamill, Nancy was played by Kimberly Beck, and Tommy played by Chris English. When ABC picked up the show, they were recast respectively with Grant Goodeve, Dianne Kay, and Willie Aames.

• 002. "Schussboomer" (airdate: March 22, 1977)

Tom and Joan are reluctant to let Susan go away for an unchaperoned ski weekend.

• 003. "The Gipper Caper" (filming date: February 23 – March 4, 1977) (airdate: March 29, 1977)

A football game becomes a blood and guts event.

Note: This episode's working title was "What Hath Roone Arledge Wrought?".

• 004. "Pieces of Eight" (airdate: April 5, 1977)

Tom is forced to face a newspaper strike, a wife who wants a job, and a daughter who wants to become a model.

• 005. "Women, Ducks, and the Domino Theory" (airdate: April 12, 1977)

Tommy falls in love for the first time and learns life's most difficult lesson.

• 006. "Turnabout" (airdate: April 19, 1977)

David's romance with an older woman becomes a topic for argument.

Note: Adrienne Barbeau guest stars.

• 007. "Quarantine" (airdate: April 26, 1977)

When Mary's new boyfriend is hospitalized with an exotic illness, the Bradford family and a visitor are questioned by the health department.

• 008. "V is for Vivian" (airdate: May 3, 1977)

Tom's swinging sister comes for a visit and the family is impressed.

Note: Janis Paige guest stars.

• 009. "Hit and Run" (airdate: August 10, 1977)

Season 1 finale. Tom finds that daughter Joanie has been blackmailed into asking for a retraction in his newspaper column after she crumples the fender on a classic sports car.

Notes: Peter Coffield and Molly Dodd guest star. This was held back by ABC until the show moved to Wednesday nights, after a 13-week-hiatus.

Season 2 (1977–78)

• 010. "Is There a Doctor in the House?" (airdate: September 14, 1977)

Season 2 premiere. Tom and the temporary single Doctor Maxwell try their luck as middle-aged swinging singles.

• 011. "Trial Marriage" (airdate: September 21, 1977)

Tom disapproves when his oldest daughter moves in with her new boyfriend. Enter a teacher named Sandra Sue "Abby" Abbott (Betty Buckley's first appearance), who is needed to sort all this out, and is also Tommy's tutor who wants to teach Tom a thing or two.

• 012. "Triangles" (airdate: September 28, 1977)

David's roommate dates both Joanie and Susan.

• 013. "Double Trouble" (airdate: October 5, 1977)

Problems develop when Tom and Abby break-up and he begins dating Ellen Manning, a divorcee.

• 014. "Mortgage Burnin' Blues" (airdate: October 19, 1977)

A party at the Bradfords' spirals out of control.

• 015. "Dark Horse" (airdate: October 26, 1977)

Tom and Abby decide to get married after having put aside their own problems to help Mary run for the board of education.

• 016. "The Bard and the Bod" (airdate: November 2, 1977)

Joanie is all excited about winning the lead in a Shakesperean production, but Tom is not.

• 017. "Children of the Groom: Part 1" (airdate: November 9, 1977)

Tom and Abby decide to marry despite complications caused by his children.

Note: Special 2-hour episode.

• 018. "Children of the Groom: Part 2" (airdate: November 9, 1977)

Note: Syndicated versions of this episode split it into two hour-long parts, cutting some scenes out.

• 019. "I Quit" (airdate: November 16, 1977)

Tom Bradford "resigns" as father when the kids accuse him of being a dictator.

• 020. "All's Fair in Love and War" (airdate: November 23, 1977)

Tom's liberal attitudes are put to the test when he surprises a romance between Mary and the black son of his old Navy friend.

• 021. "The Return of Auntie V" (airdate: November 30, 1977)

Turmoil strikes the Bradford household when Tom's flamboyant sister gives the newlyweds the down payment of a new mansion.

Note: Janis Paige guests.

• 022. "Yes, Nicholas, There is a Santa Claus: Part 1" (airdate: December 14, 1977)

A present hidden by Joan before her death restores the Bradfords' spirit after a Christmas burglar (dressed up as Santa Claus) steals their gifts.

Notes: Special 2-hour episode. Will Geer and Judy Strangis guest star.

• 023. "Yes, Nicholas, There is a Santa Claus: Part 2" (airdate: December 14, 1977)

Note: Syndicated versions of this episode split it into two hour-long parts, cutting some scenes out.

• 024. "Dear Miss Dinah" (airdate: December 21, 1977)

Tom doles out sage advice in the hometown newspaper's advice to the lovelorn column, but loses his cool when Elizabeth asks if she should take "The Pill".

• 025. "A Hair of the Dog" (airdate: January 11, 1978)

Tommy Bradford and his father Tom have a man-to-man talk on his father's birthday.

• 026. "Author! Author!" (airdate: January 18, 1978)

Tom Bradford decides to write a novel and receives unexpected resistance from his family.

• 027. "Much Ado about Garbage" (airdate: January 25, 1978)

Tom has been suspended from his job without pay after accusing the city officials and garbage company of corruption and refusing to reveal his sources to a grand jury.

• 028. "Seven Days in February" (airdate: February 1, 1978)

Nancy decides to convert to Judaism when she falls in love with a man she thinks is Jewish.

• 029. "Hard Hats and Hard Heads" (airdate: February 8, 1978)

Encouraged by his friend's success, David trades in his hard hat for a newsman's notepad.

• 030. "The Boyfriend" (airdate: February 15, 1978)

Abby and Susan's boyfriend are suspected of having an affair when they work together on a project.

• 031. "Great Expectations" (airdate: February 22, 1978)

Tommy cheats in school in order to meet his father's expectations.

• 032. "Long Night's Journey into Day" (airdate: March 1, 1978)

Members of the Bradford family are forced to take shifts to keep Abby awake for 24 hours after she falls and suffers a concussion.

• 033. "Poor Little Rich Girl" (filming date: February 8–17, 1978) (airdate: March 22, 1978)

The self-assured daughter of a prominent contractor showers David Bradford with expensive gifts in an attempt to buy his affections.

• 034. "The Lost Weekend" (airdate: May 3, 1978)

The Bradford children quickly transform an idyllic holiday away from parents.

• 035. "Who's on First?" (airdate: May 10, 1978)

Season 2 finale. The Bradfords stage a show to support a local orphanage.

Note: The first appearance of the season three theme song.

Season 3 (1978–79)

• 036. "Nine is too Much" (airdate: September 6, 1978)

Season 3 premiere. When Abby manages Nicholas' Little League team, Tom provides unwanted coaching from the bleachers, and America's favorite past-time becomes the Bradford's biggest headache.

• 037. "Here We Go Again!" (airdate: September 13, 1978)

All the Bradfords wonder if there is going to be a new Bradford.

Note: This episode is also known as "Oh No--Not Again!".

• 038. "Who's Crazy Here?" (airdate: September 20, 1978)

Abby is convinced Tom is having an affair with another woman.

• 039. "Cinderella's Understudy" (airdate: September 27, 1978)

Joanne's debut as an actress becomes a conflict of interests for Tom, torn between his role of proud parent, and his unexpected role as theater critic.

• 040. "Milk and Sympathy" (airdate: October 11, 1978)

Nicholas falls head-over-heels in puppy love with his fourth grade teacher.

• 041. "The Flunked and the Funked" (October 18, 1978)

Nancy drops out of school to get a job and finds that excitement and wealth are not part of the life of an unskilled worker.

• 042. "Cops and Toddlers" (airdate: October 25, 1978)

Nancy brings home a group of toddlers, and Susan goes into basic training as a police cadet.

• 043. "The Hipbone's Connected to the Thighbone" (airdate: November 1, 1978)

Mary is banished from the Bradford household after making her father angry.

• 044. "Fast and Loose" (airdate: November 8, 1978)

David struggles to cope with the loss of a close friend, and ends up being arrested for bar-room brawling.

• 045. "War Between the Bradfords" (airdate: November 15, 1978)

Abby's schoolboard speech on modern women in society creates a Bradford battle of the sexes.

• 046. "All the Vice-President's Men" (airdate: November 22, 1978)

Thanksgiving for the Bradford clan arrives in a storm of red tape when the nation's Vice-President accepts an invitation from Nicholas to visit their home for the holiday.

• 047. "You Won't Have Nicholas to Kick Around Anymore: Part 1" (airdate: November 29, 1978)

When Nicholas accidentally starts a fire that destroys the celebration of Tom and Abby's first anniversary, the unhappy youngster leaves home in search of a new family.

Notes: Special 2-hour episode. Jack Elam guest stars.

• 048. "You Won't Have Nicholas to Kick Around Anymore: Part 2" (airdate: November 29, 1978)

Note: Syndicated versions of this episode split it into two hour-long parts, cutting some scenes out.

• 049. "Alone at Last" (airdate: December 6, 1978)

After bundling their broad off to the mountains for a camping trip, Tom and Abby soon find their romantic weekend alone disturbed by too much peace and quiet.

• 050. "The Yearning Point" (airdate: January 10, 1979)

Elizabeth's dream of going to a posh Eastern school conflicts with the Bradford household budget.

• 051. "Moving Out: Part 1" (airdate: January 17, 1979)

When Tom gets upset about Susan's boyfriend taking a shower in the upstairs bedroom, Joannie coming in after curfew, and Nancy sunbathing topless in the backyard, the girls move out of the house into their own apartment.

Note: Special 2-hour episode.

• 052. "Mother's Rule: Part 2" (airdate: January 17, 1979)

Note: Syndicated versions of this episode split it into two hour-long parts, cutting some scenes out.

• 053. "Inlaws and Outlaws" (airdate: January 24, 1979)

The mutiny by Susan, Joannie, and Nancy continues, and Abby's parents announce their marital estrangement.

• 054. "Horror Story" (airdate: January 31, 1979)

When a thunderstorm causes power failure, the Bradford children use their vivid imaginations to transform the old homestead into a hysterical Haunted House.

• 055. "Just the Ten of Us" (airdate: February 14, 1979)

When David and his girlfriend decide to live together, their decision threatens Tom's chance to win the "Father of the Year" award, along with an all-expense-paid-trip to Hawaii for the entire Bradford family.

• 056. "Best of Friends" (airdate: February 21, 1979)

Tommy rocks the Bradford family foundation with the shocking news of his impending marriage and fatherhood.

• 057. "The Kid Who Came to Dinner" (airdate: February 28, 1979)

When Nicholas Bradford discovers that his new playmate has no parents, the youngest Bradford tries to turn friendship into brotherhood.

• 058. "The Better Part of Valor" (airdate: March 7, 1979)

Abby finds her relationship with Tommy threatened when she returns to teaching and flunks a failed basketball star, causing Tommy peer-group problems.

• 059. "Dads, Daughters, Different Drummers" (airdate: March 28, 1979)

When Tom forbids Joannie to see her new boyfriend, she runs away from home to be with the handsome young writer she loves.

• 060. "The Final Days" (airdate: May 2, 1979)

Tom's editorial, on "Passing the torch to a younger generation", ignites a Grey Power demonstration by Sacramento's indignant senior citizens.

• 061. "Marriage and Other Flights of Fancy: Part 1" (airdate: May 9, 1979)

David, despite the family's concern and his father's objections, teams up with an outspoken female in a cross-country quest for new beginnings.

Notes: Special 2-hour episode. This episode is also known as "The Two of Us".

• 062. "Marriage and Other Flights of Fancy: Part 2" (airdate: May 9, 1979)

Note: Syndicated versions of this episode split it into two hour-long parts, cutting some scenes out.

• 063. "The Graduates" (airdate: May 23, 1979)

Season 3 finale. Graduation is hardly what the Bradfords expected -- with Joanne upset over her future and Elizabeth suspended from her commencement exercises where her father is to be the guest speaker.

Season 4 (1979–80)

• 064. "Merle the Pearl" (airdate: September 5, 1979)

Season 4 premiere. Nicholas' plan to impress his little girlfriend backfires when star pitcher Merle (Brian Patrick Clarke) ignores him at the ballpark.

• 065. "The Cupid Crisis" (airdate: September 12, 1979)

When Tom makes a "losers pay for the dinners" bet on a touch football game between his family and his neighbor's, it's a wild "hut, hut, hut".

• 066. "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" (airdate: September 19, 1979)

David and Janet set a wedding night, which turns out to be the same day Merle and Susan accommodate Merle's ball-playing career move.

• 067. "Ten Ships in the Night"
• 068. "The Night They Raided Bradfords" (airdate: October 3, 1979)

Merle's sister, Linda Mae, pays the Bradfords a visit. However, she is shocked when she finds out they are not who they seem.

• 069. "Letter to One Bradford" (airdate: October 17, 1979)

Because he broke a chain letter, Nicholas believes he is to blame for Tommy being rushed to the hospital for surgery.

• 070. "The Devil and Mr. Bradford" (airdate: October 24, 1979)

Tom Bradford makes a hasty exit from a movie theater with little Nicholas in tow after he discovers too late that the movie – "Snow White..." – is X-rated.

• 071. "Big Shoes, Little Feet"
• 072. "Fathers and Other Strangers: Part 1" (airdate: November 7, 1979)

Aunt Vivian comes up with a plan to take the entire Bradford clan to Hawaii.

Notes: Special 2-hour episode. Janis Paige and David Wayne guest star.

• 073. "Fathers and Other Strangers: Part 2" (airdate: November 7, 1979)

Note: Syndicated versions of this episode split it into two hour-long parts, cutting some scenes out.

• 074. "Separate Ways" (airdate: November 21, 1979)

Susan and Merle reach an impasse regarding their careers when he wants to fly to Puerto Rico to play winter baseball and she wants to finish her last semester of college at home.

• 075. "Arrivals"
• 076. "Brotherhood, Sisterhood"
• 077. "Mary, He's Married"
• 078. "My Son, The Prom Queen" (airdate: January 9, 1980)

When Tommy gets embroiled in a battle of the sexes - he runs for the title of Prom Queen at high school – he gets some unexpected help from the female population at the school.

• 079. "The Courage to Be"
• 080. "Semi-Centennial Bradford"
• 081. "The Commitment"
• 082. "Seven More Days in February" (airdate: February 6, 1980)

Cupid runs amok in the Bradford household during Spring Break, causing Mary to fall for a young Psychiatrist who really wants to be a Stand-Up Comic, Nancy to swoon over an Archaeologist on his way to his first dig, and Joannie to be swept away by an SAP (Self-Analysis Programmer).

• 083. "The Return of Joe Simons" (airdate: February 13, 1980)

When Joe Simons returns promising Nicholas gold nuggets, Tom questions the motives of both Joe and his secretary (Mary Betten) as well.

• 084. "Bradford vs. Bradford" (airdate: February 27, 1980)

Janet and David's marriage is threatened when she starts working in overtime at the office with a handsome lawyer.

• 085. "Memories"
• 086. "Official Positions"
• 087. "A Matter of Mentors" (airdate: March 26, 1980)

Joannie gets an important assignment at work but Jeffrey believes that the boss will be expecting a favor in return. Joannie blows her chance at a big story. An experienced reporter makes her his partner and the result is an important scoop. Meanwhile, Nicholas has a problem with a bully that he can't hit back, and fed up with the way that Tom divvies up the family's discretionary funds, Tommy takes over budgeting for it.

• 088. "Roll Over Bradford"
• 089. "A Little Triangle"
• 090. "Grad Night"

Season 5 (1980–81)

• 091. "And Baby Makes Nine: Part 1" (airdate: October 29, 1980)

Season 5 premiere. Final season. A very pregnant Susan is in an automobile accident; Elizabeth moves in with her boyfriend and Merle pitches for the New York Mets.

Note: Special 1-hour and a half episode.

• 092. "And Baby Makes Nine: Part 2" (airdate: October 29, 1980)

Note: Syndicated versions of this episode split it into two hour-long parts, cutting some scenes out.

• 093. "Jeremy" (airdate: November 5, 1980)

There's trouble brewing when the newest member of the Bradford household (Ralph Macchio) shares a smoke with Nicholas.

• 094. "Welcome to Memorial Dr. Bradford"
• 095. "Generations"
• 096. "Holly"

Tommy falls for a girl who's a lyricist. The garage is transformed into a small nursery for Susan & her baby.

• 097. "The Maltese Airline Bag"
• 098. "Strike"
• 099. "Bradfordgate" (airdate: January 7, 1981)

Tom's nomination to the Board of Education makes him compromise his beliefs. Meanwhile, Joannie goes undercover as a TV reporter, and Nicholas tries to change his "cute" image.

• 100. "Darlene Dilemma"
• 101. "Second Thoughts"
• 102. "David's Rib"
• 103. "Vows"
• 104. "The Way We Were"
• Tommy tries to get back with Jill when she starts liking Ernie. David's depressed over his new :bachelor apartment complex. Nicholas & Jeremy deliver papers for the Sacramento Tribune.
• 105. "If The Glass Slipper Fits"
• 106. "The Best Little Telethon in Sacramento"

Joanie organizes a telethon for Cannel 8. Jeremy tries to be Tommy's manager.

The episode features performances by Willie Aames, Connie Needham, Betty Buckley, Grant Goodeve, Dianne Kay & Adam Rich.

• 107. "Yet Another Seven Days in February"

This time, the boys get weird dates.

• 108. "The Idolbreaker: Part 1" (airdate: April 11, 1981)

Tommy's band gets the biggest gig of its career when the group's agent signs them for a national tour with a top star.

Note: Part 1 of two-part episode.

• 109. "The Idolbreaker: Part 2" (airdate: April 18, 1981)

Tommy moves into Ellen's apartment and makes plans for their future wedding; a new sexy female reporter stirs jealousy in Joanie; Jeremy celebrates his 16th birthday.

Note: Conclusion of two-part episode.

• 110. "Starting Over"
• 111. "Goals"
• 112. "Father Knows Best?"

Post-series movies

• Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion (1987)
• An Eight Is Enough Wedding (1989)

Syndication

Reruns of all 112 episodes of Eight is Enough have been sporadically syndicated, since the show's syndication debut in September 1982. The show also aired on FX when the network began in 1994, but hasn't been on cable since (except for a 50th Anniversary Warner Bros. marathon on TV Land in 2005), and on PAX when that network began in 1998. It currently runs on WMEU-CA, a low-power station in Chicago, which also airs on WCIU-TV subchannel 26.3.

During its network run, the show was distributed by Worldvision Enterprises (also internationally in rebroadcasts), and later by Lorimar-Telepictures. All syndication rights are now held by (Lorimar successor) Warner Bros. Television.

International

In Italy, RAI public networks aired the first season of Eight Is Enough under the title Otto Bastano in 1978, the literal Italian translation of the original title. The remaining seasons were aired in the 1980s on Retequattro, a commercial network from Fininvest (now Mediaset), under the title La Famiglia Bradford. The Italian version excludes the laugh track.

The French version, Huit, ça suffit! was a big success in the 1980s both in France and Quebec, Canada, and among all Francophone (French-speaking) Canadians.

In Spain, Eight Is Enough was aired also in the 1980s. RTVE (public network) aired all the seasons under the title Con Ocho Basta (the Spanish translation) in Friday's evening time.

In the Philippines, Eight Is Enough aired on GMA 7 from 1978 to 1981.

DVD releases

On April 17, 2012, Warner Home Video released the complete first season of Eight Is Enough on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time. The release includes the pilot episode (featuring Mark Hamill in the role of eldest son David) and a cast reunion special. Several of the episodes have the wrong end credits, and the Lorimar Productions logo has also been edited out of the end credits.

On November 13, 2012, Warner Bros. released Season 2, Parts one and two on DVD-R via their Warner Archive Collection. These are Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) releases and are available through Warner's online store and Amazon.com. Season 3, Parts One and Two were released on April 30, 2013.

Season 4, Parts one and two were released on August 13, 2013. The fifth and final season was released on March 11, 2014.

DVD name	Ep #	Release date
The Complete First Season	9	April 17, 2012
The Complete Second Season, Part 1	14	November 13, 2012
The Complete Second Season, Part 2	12	November 13, 2012
The Complete Third Season, Part 1	14	April 30, 2013
The Complete Third Season, Part 2	14	April 30, 2013
The Complete Fourth Season, Part 1	14	August 13, 2013
The Complete Fourth Season, Part 2	13	August 13, 2013
The Complete Fifth Season	22	March 11, 2014

External links

• Eight Is Enough at IMDb
• Eight Is Enough at TV.com
• Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion at IMDb (1987 reunion movie)
• An Eight Is Enough Wedding at IMDb (1989 reunion movie)
• Eightisenough.com contains episode summaries