Life Goes On

Season 1

Not Rated

Life Goes On is a television series that aired on ABC from September 12, 1989, to May 23, 1993. The show centers on the Thatcher family living in suburban Chicago: Drew, his wife Elizabeth, and their children Paige, Rebecca, and Charles, who is known as Corky. Life Goes On was the first television series to have a major character with Down syndrome.

Where to Watch Season 1

22 Episodes

Pilot
E1
PilotIn the series premiere, Charles "Corky" Thatcher tries to mainstream in a regular high school with his sister, Becca. But his first few days in Grade 9 take a serious turn when he is accused of cheating off of an exam.
Corky for President
E2
Corky for PresidentCorky runs for freshman class president with the help of an unpopular, smart student,Lester Fishbein. He has a crush on Rona and really believes that Rona likes him as well. Rona encourages him to run and Corky doesn't realize she's just joking with him.
The Baby-Sitter
E3
The Baby-SitterCorky gets a babysitting job; his classmates barge in at the house where he is babysitting. The intrusive folks include Tyler, who regrets the whole thing, and ""Russo"", who is basically a jerk/nemesis.
Break a Leg, Mom
E4
Break a Leg, MomLibby has a chance for a comeback of sorts, at the community college's "Autumn Follies". Meanwhile, Corky is having troubles in math class, but doesn't want to take arithmetic tutoring with kids ten years younger than himself.
Becca's First Love
E5
Becca's First LoveBecca falls for the lead singer (Gabe) in a neighborhood band. She stays out with Maxine to listen to the band past curfew. Gabe encourages her to stay late and she gets in trouble with her parents.
Paige's Date
E6
Paige's DateDrew sets up Paige with a charmer whose head is in the clouds; unfortunately his sense of responsibility seems to be mired in quicksand.
Paige's Mom
E7
Paige's MomPaige's mom comes back. They have a great time, and make plans for a trip to New England. Paige's mom winds up living without Paige. A lot of flashbacks to when Paige's mom, an actress, originally left. Tearful ending with Paige calling Libby mom.
Call of the Wild
E8
Call of the WildDrew works on a construction project at an Indian burial ground. A wolf who mysteriously gaurds the grounds saves Corky from Dobermans pursuing him in a nearby wooded area.
Corky Witnesses a Crime
E9
Corky Witnesses a CrimeCorky tries out for the football team. The footbal coach hits a student, one of his former players, and all the team stands up for the coach except Corky who is compelled to tell the truth. The coach claims that he was hit first. He cuts Corky from the team, but later when the team comes out with truth as well, Corky is allowed to keep trying out.
Ordinary Heroes
E10
Ordinary HeroesA frustrated Drew decides to quit his construction job and go into the restaurant business; and he joins Libby in counseling a couple whose newborn daughter has Down's Syndrome. As it turns out in the end, the guy who owns the restaurant doesn't sell the restaurant to Drew because Corky has Down's. Also, we learn that the cook at his restaurant makes the best french fries.
Pets, Guys and Videotape
E11
Pets, Guys and VideotapePaige goes to work for a veteranarian who is very kind with suffering animals but kind of insufferable with humans. The vet is divorced and has a child. Meanwhile, Becca videotapes a hectic day in the life of her working mother.
Corky's Crush
E12
Corky's CrushBecca and Corky are paired off with other students who must pretend to be engaged for a week to investigate issues of marriage and family life. Meanwhile, Libby's feuding parents hole up at the Thatcher residence.
Thacher and Henderson
E13
Thacher and HendersonAt the high school football reunion, Drew finally makes peace with his best friend after a falling out over a business deal that caused Drew to lose $10,000 after 10 years. Becca watches Paige who is with her vet boyfriend and then her ex (the motorcycle man) shows up and Paige has to choose between the 2 of them. Becca gets a crush on one of the football players sons until Tyler Benchfield shows up putting her in the same position as Paige.
The Return of Uncle Richard
E14
The Return of Uncle RichardDrew's younger brother Richard, a lovable family black sheep, breezes in at a time when Corky is beginning to wonder who'll look after him when his parents die. Drew and Richard don't get along, but needless to say, the kids love him. The culmination of Drew's mending relationship with Richard comes when Libby and Drew entrust the care of Corky to Richard if something were to happen to them.
Brothers
E15
BrothersThe Special Olympics, a time for warmhearted competition and fun, also bring love to Corky and a challenge to Tyler, whose father won't permit Tyler's brother, Donny (who also has Downs) to participate.
Corky Rebels
E16
Corky RebelsAt 18, Corky wants out from under his parents' wings-- even if it just means taking the bus to school. Unfortunately, he ends up with the bad crowd. The height of this episode comes when ""bad boy"" Corky auditions for the community talent show with a hip-hop dance routine to "" Fight the Power"" from ""Do the Right Thing"", the Spike's Lee film. Eventually, after the rough kids with whom he's been hanging out turn on him, he mends his ways and does a tap dance routine with Becca (their ""standard"" act) in the show instead.
It Ain't All It's Cracked up to Be
E17
It Ain't All It's Cracked up to BeBecca enters a Miss Teen contest and finds out that she is sharing a room with none other than Rona Lieberman. Scholarship money is at stake in this pageant. Becca gets know Rona a little better after Rona's mother shows up at the pageant drunk and makes a fool of Rona during her piano performance. Drew has problems with the new neighbors because their son has a band and plays loud music. Corky tries out for chorus but doesn't make it because he can't sing. Later the neighbor boy gives Corky his old set of drums and Corky seems to be quite talented at playing them. Drew and the neighbors make peace.
Pig o' My Heart
E18
Pig o' My HeartDrew finally gets a chance to own his own restaurant, but it's Corky who brings home the bacon: a huge runaway porker that hogs Corky's affections. Corkt adopted it to fill the void of Paige's leaving ( so this must be when Monique Lanier left the show). How Drew got the restaurant bears discussion. In ""Ordinary Heros"", he tried to but it, but when the brother's who owned it discovered that Corky had Down's, one of them got cold feet about what that would do for business. Then the writers decided instead on the fact that Drew can't get the loan approved to buy the place. When the owner of the pig ( which Corky named ""Jeffrey"", even though it was a girl) finally is reunited with the animal, he mentions something about liking restaurants but having no time to run them. Drew sees his shot and goes for it-- cut to the Grand Opening of the Glen Brook Grill, with cameos by all the friends of the family from previous episodes.
Becca and the Underground Newspaper
E19
Becca and the Underground NewspaperBecca writes an article for her school paper but clashes with the faculty adviser. When she discovers an underground paper is published at the school she decides to work there instead. An article she writes has unintended consequences she is forced to make some ethical decisions.
Save the Last Dance for Me
E20
Save the Last Dance for MeBecca's aged dance teacher (Viveca Lindfors) must enter a nursing home.
With a Mighty Heart
E21
With a Mighty HeartDrew is sure that his father, who stops by on his way to join the Peace Corps in the Solomon Islands, isn't telling them the whole story.
The Spring Fling
E22
The Spring FlingBecca finally gets asked to the dance by Tyler. Only had already accepted an invitation with someone else. She breaks it off with the first guy, but then feels guilty and dances with him or something.