Brooklyn Bridge

I was very sad when Brooklyn Bridge was discontinued. It was a funny and charming and gentle portrayal of a Jewish family living in Brooklyn about half a century ago. I was among the lucky ones who discovered this program while it was being aired, and therefore had the opportunity to see television at its greatest.

Goldberg's "Brooklyn Bridge" is one of the best television series ever made. But viewers ignored it, as did so-called watchdogs who whine about there not being high-quality programs for families. The cast, led by Gerard as the oldest son, was excellent. The stories about growing up and trying to get along with an extended family were down-to-earth and sometimes poignant. If it comes back to cable, watch it. Every episode was solid, with most rising to a level untouched by TV. "Brooklyn Bridge" should be considered classic television.

I enjoyed this series from the first moment it started. With an outstanding cast and story lines, it is by far in my personal Top 5. My Mother grew up in Brooklyn and adored the Dodgers. Being 100% Irish, she can attest to the Irish family. She can remember the Knot Hole Gang and seeing the Bums at Ebbets Field all the time. The show hits on many of the traditions of various faiths and how they interacted with others. I just hope that sooner rather than later, this series can be found on DVD. It would be a shame if this did not happen. It truly is a wonderful show! Also, it is surprising that more of the younger actors and actresses didn't go on to other projects. The older cast members, have already had some great bodies of work. Marion Ross for one. Happy Days was a fantastic show and Mrs. Cunningham was one of TVs most popular mothers.

This was an amazing show that frankly was too good for television. Most of the time, TV hooks you because it's loud and brash and appeals to the lowest common denominators and that is the main reason why this wonderful show failed. That, and CBS kept moving it around so often that fans had a hard time finding it! Describing the genre isn't easy. It wasn't exactly a comedy, though there were some wonderfully funny moments (such as when Grandpa meets the ball player Gil Hodges after he'd been telling his grandson that they were teammates back in Russia). It wasn't exactly just a period show, though it bore some similarity to THE WONDER YEARS. It wasn't exactly a drama, but the Holocaust episodes which guest-starred Joel Grey brought me to tears. Instead, it felt like you were magically transported from your home to the home of a very decent and normal Jewish-American family who lived in 1950s Brooklyn. And, despite having Marion Ross as the grandma (she was WONDERFUL), it was not a phony HAPPY DAYS type of 1950s--it was like you were really there.

Amazing writing, superb direction and nice and believable characters you could care about and love--this was one of the sweetest and best family shows ever made. If it ever comes out on DVD, I guarantee you I'll be one of the first to get a copy.

The short-lived television series "Brooklyn Bridge" was one of the finest family programs ever. It was nostalgic... and funny... and sad... and entertaining... and educational... and worthy of many other superlative accolades, as well.

With a good marketing effort, "Brooklyn Bridge" on DVDs would, we believe, be the popular program it should have been when originally aired, but was prematurely canceled.

PLEASE... "BBBB"-- Bring Back "Brooklyn Bridge" for a new generation (as well as for those who remember it fondly).

--R. Howe / Erskine, Minnesota