Parenthood is an American comedy-drama series based on the 1989 film of the same name. Executive produced by Ron Howard (who also directed the film), the series aired for one season on NBC.^[1]

Parenthood was one of many failed movie-to-TV adaptations in the 1990-91 season, also including Baby Talk (a follow up to Look Who's Talking), Ferris Bueller and Uncle Buck.^[2]

The series delivered seriocomic vignettes on rearing children, revolving around four generations of a middle-class California (the movie however, took place in St. Louis, Missouri) family, the Buckmans. The Huffners of the film were renamed the Merricks on the TV series.

The pilot episode was considered by USA Today and New York Post as the best movie-to-TV spinoff since M*A*S*H.^[3][4] However, ratings for the series were low and Parenthood was canceled after 12 episodes.

The series is notable for featuring a number of people who at the time were unheard of but later became famous. One of the writers on the show was Joss Whedon. The cast featured Leonardo DiCaprio, David Arquette, and Thora Birch (billed simply as "Thora" here).

• David Arquette portrays Tod Hawks (portrayed by Keanu Reeves in the film)
• Jayne Atkinson portrays Karen Buckman (portrayed by Mary Steenburgen in the film)
• Ed Begley, Jr. portrays Gil Buckman (portrayed by Steve Martin in the film)
• Thora Birch portrays Taylor Buckman (portrayed by Alisan Porter in the film)
• Maryedith Burrell portrays Helen Buckman (portrayed by Dianne Wiest in the film)
• Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Garry Buckman (portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix in the film)
• Mary Jackson portrays Great Grandma Greenwell (portrayed by Helen Shaw in the film)
• Zachary La Voy portrays Justin Buckman (reprising his role in the film)
• Sheila MacRae portrays Marilyn Buckman (portrayed by Eileen Ryan in the film)
• Bess Meyer portrays Julie Buckman Hawks (portrayed by Martha Plimpton in the film)
• Susan Norman portrays Susan Buckman Merrick (portrayed by Harley Jane Kozak in the film)
• Ken Ober portrays Nathan Merrick (portrayed by Rick Moranis in the film)
• Ivyann Schwan portrays Patty Merrick (reprising her role in the film)

• Max Elliott Slade portrays Kevin Buckman (portrayed by Jasen Fisher in the film)
• William Windom portrays Frank Buckman (portrayed by Jason Robards in the film)

*Max Elliott Slade, who portrayed Kevin Buckman on the TV series also portrayed a younger version of Steve Martin's character in the film.

The show was featured on the now-defunct cable network Trio in 2005 as part of their "Brilliant But Cancelled" series of shows that were cancelled before their time.

A new television adaptation of the movie^[5] premiered on NBC in March 2010. Craig T. Nelson and Bonnie Bedelia play the parental roles, they are joined by Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, Erika Christensen, Dax Shepard and Monica Potter.^[6]

• On the set of Parenthood -- A behind the scenes look at the NBC sitcom that does a convincing imitation of family life
• Parenthood at IMDb
• Template:Tv.com show