The Goldbergs – It’s a Wonderful Life

By: Ariba Bhuvad

In the 80s taking family pictures and putting them into holiday cards was all the hype, which is why Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey) wanted to make sure that this year was going to be their best one yet, especially after seeing how angelic the Kremps’ holiday card was. In an effort to outdo them she decides to do a professional photo, even though Murray (Jeff Garlin) is against it. Pops (George Segal) doesn’t think doing pictures out of jealousy is the best way, but Beverly says everyone does it for that reason so she orders the full package at the photo studio. As Adam (Sean Giambrone) points out, they’ve done their own share of family photos over the years and they’ve all been pretty ridiculous. Erica (Hayley Orrantia) comes home for winter break and plans to do nothing but sleep. Unfortunately, Adam informs her that may not happen as Beverly intends on doing a family photo. 

Meanwhile, the JTP [Andy (Matt Bush), Naked Rob (Noah Munck) and Matt Bradley (Shayne Topp)] are prepping for the holidays back at the JTP pad. It’s a Wonderful Life is playing on television, but not for long and not if Barry (Troy Gentile) can help it. He’s not quite in the holiday spirit and says they have to watch “Lone Wolf McQuade” instead. He ends up breaking the television by kicking it which prompts the JTP to open up about asking Barry to be more respectful. He uses their stuff, wears their clothes and is constantly interrupting them and doesn’t seem to feel bad for any of it. 

Back at the Goldberg house Beverly is holding Hanukkah festivities and lighting the menorah while getting the family prepped for the family photo. She gives everyone tube socks and festive holiday sweaters. Murray refuses to wear it while Geoff (Sam Lerner) thinks the sweater he got is for him when it’s really for Barry. It turns out that he really wants to be in the Goldbergs’ family photo and the only one that truly notices is Adam. 

Erica seems to see it too, but she’s not sure why Geoff is so eager to be in the photo. But he feels that since they’ve been dating for so long and are now living together, it’s only natural for him to be in the picture. Sadly, Erica just feels he is being an idiot. 

While out for a walk Dave Kim (Kenny Ridwan) and Adam are cut off by a colorful van. Wearing masks, the JTP jumps out and kidnaps Adam because they want to find out how they can prank Barry. Adam’s advice is to take away the only thing Barry loves the most–himself. If they make him feel like he doesn’t matter and erase him from existence he’ll feel the pain. And so the next day the JTP proceeds to pretend they don’t know Barry at all. In fact, they even change the group name to JAG, The Jenkintown Association of Guys, and make Johnny Atkins (Sean Marquette) their leader. Instead of understanding the point, Barry thinks he’s been erased from existence, at which point Johnny comes clean about the prank. Naturally, Barry gets pissed off and says he’s coming for them–when it’s convenient for him. 

Geoff is still trying to get into the Goldbergs family picture, so he comes up with a list of reasons he should be in it. He’s a fixture in the family now which makes Beverly realize she should have asked him. Geoff is officially given the green light to be in the picture and even gets his own sweater. However, Erica doesn’t seem too pleased with the whole idea.

To get back at the JTP Barry tries to get Pops’ advice who reminds him that Barry never listens to his advice anyway. So, Pops decides to give bad advice in the hopes Barry will do the opposite. And it doesn’t exactly pan out that way. Barry shows up at the JTP pad at 6 A.M. and says he has brought everyone holiday gifts. Much to their dismay he’s brought Andy a pair of his slacks shredded, Naked Rob shredded copies of his naked enthusiast magazines and a shredded letter from Matt Bradley’s grandpa. The JTP have had enough of Barry’s antics and says he has to leave the house. 

Family picture day finally arrives and everyone is decked out in their sweaters. Erica; however, is dead set on convincing Geoff how horrible it is an idea. She points out faults in her family all day and, as expected, the picture does not turn as Beverly wants. 

After being kicked out of the JTP pad, Barry decides to watch It’s a Wonderful Life and ends up falling asleep to have a dream similar to the movie. His dream involves seeing what life would be like if he didn’t exist. In his dream Pops points out that Matt Bradley ends up being a successful Gap businessman since Barry wasn’t around, Andy has a growth spurt because Barry didn’t steal all his lunches and Naked Rob is known as Gorgeous Rob since Barry was never around to pants him in the second grade. Moreover, they all have wives and are very happy in their lives. Barry wakes up to finally realize what he’s done wrong and what he has to do to fix things with the JTP.

Geoff decides to get thank you gifts for the Goldbergs as a way to show his appreciation for letting him be in the family picture. He ends up running into them to learn that they took the picture without him. Erica had lied to her family and said he had explosive diarrhea and couldn’t make it. It becomes obvious that Erica just didn’t want him in the picture. This leads Geoff to presume that Erica is embarrassed of him, but she tells him that is not the case at all as he goes back to the dorm to pack his things. In fact, she’s just scared of the future and what it means, especially since Lainey was in their holiday card last year and she and Barry broke up. She doesn’t want the picture to be a bad reminder of things if she and Geoff don’t work out. Instead, they decide to take holiday pictures with just the two of them–and boy, are they adorable!

Barry finally shows up at the JTP pad and brings actual presents for them. He confesses he had a dream that they were all successful and it made him sad that it was without him there. So, he fixed all the things he shredded of theirs, and bought them each personal gifts as well–except for Matt Bradley, since he ran out of money.

Although the Goldberg holiday picture didn’t turn out as Beverly was hoping, Murray points out that it still represents them and who they are. And that is really all they could ask for!