Categories: Whimsy

Here’s Ruben Amaro Jr. on a sitcom last night

“The Goldbergs” is a great show. Sure the ’80s throwback thing is fun, but it’s one of the better family sitcoms to emerge on TV in some time. The characters are well constructed, there’s a fine mix of zaniness and grounded humor, and there are more than a few solid performances (most notably Wendi McLendon-Covey’s turn as overly caring mom Beverly).

Oh, also the show is set in Philadelphia and there are tons of local references embedded in the show.

That’s because it’s based off the life of Adam F. Goldberg, who was born and raised in Jenkintown. So the Goldbergs have been to a Phillies game and a Flyers game. They did an episode on “Dance Party USA,” which is important for me because my brother was on the show. Heck, one of the regular locales on the show is a WaWa parking lot (seeing the old WaWa sign always gives me goosebumps).

It’s really fun to watch “The Goldbergs” and feel awash with nostalgia for local history (I’m just amazed Goldberg hasn’t yet recreated the Action News theme, seeing as the show is on ABC).

Anyway, an episode two seasons ago focused on a rivalry with star high school athlete Ruben Amaro Jr. See, the kids go to William Penn Academy (supposed to be Penn Charter), and Amaro in real life was the stud at Penn Charter (graduated 1983) who was destined for professional baseball glory.

Well, they made an Amaro Jr. reference on last night’s episode, but this time they brought in Ruben Amaro Sr. Played by Ruben Amaro Jr.

Seriously, so awesome. It was admittedly really cool to see Rube on a sitcom.

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.