It was May 3, 2020-something, andThe Goldbergssaid farewell after 10 seasons on ABC.
“I’ll watch it next week in my pajamas with everyone else.”
WENDI MCLENDON-COVEY:We didn’t know.
Wendi McLendon-Covey and Rob Corddry on the series finale of ‘The Goldbergs’.Scott Everett White/ABC
We didn’t know.
I thought maybe we’d squeak out another half-season, or full season.
It kind of seemed like it might go that way.
The series finale of ‘The Goldbergs’.Scott Everett White/ABC
It’s not like you might say, “Ah!
We haven’t gotten a fair shot!”
No, of course we got a fair shot, and 10 seasons is phenomenal.
Wendi McLendon-Covey and Sean Giambrone on season 1 of ‘The Goldbergs’.Eric McCandless/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
But when it was the final days on set, you knew they were the final days on set?
No, no, we didn’t.
We found out like two days before our wrap party thatwe were canceled.
Wendi McLendon-Covey and Sean Giambrone in the 2013 series debut of ‘The Goldbergs’.Eric McCandless/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Sometimes it just happens that way.
But I was melancholy anyway, just in case.
I wanted to commit to memory every single one.
So that was tough.
It feels like it leaves everyone in a good place.
Oh, that’s great.
Everything gets rebooted now.
Maybe we do a holiday special 10 years from now.
And we would all be on board for whatever.
I would work with these people for any reason.
We’ve been very lucky.
When the show started, what were your hopes for how many seasons you’d go?
Was there a number that would’ve made you happy?
That would be amazing if we could do a full season!'
And then, you know what?
I heard somebody say we could maybe go for seven seasons.
So back then, that was the goal.
Could we get to see syndication?
Oh my God, how fabulous would that be?
we got picked up again!"
So getting to see them every day?
That was the big accomplishment, and I was so proud when we did that.
Were there any season finales along the way that you thought, this one right here might be it?
Or, if this one is it, it’s a good way to go out?
I’ve never felt that.
I always thought, “Well, this better not be it!”
[Laughs] Because it leaves too many things unanswered.
You at least want to see the characters happy and settled in their new life.
So I think we’re doing that.
I think we’ve accomplished that.
We’re just gettin' started!
I did not enjoy any of that, if we’re being honest.
I did not think that was fair.
To do that to us while we’re working, that was a bad idea.
That’s all I can say.
The show never connected with Emmy voters.
Why do you think that was?
We’ve never campaigned that hard.
We have never really campaigned that hard.
Having said that, it’s never been anindustryshow.
A lot of streamers get a lot of inside industry buzz we never got that.
We’ve done 229 episodes.
[Laughs] You need us to throw you a lunch?
I mean, come on!
[Laughs]
The kids grew up before our eyes over the course of these 10 years.
What do you remember about them when you think back to filming that pilot?
I just remember that Sean came in under the wire.
And he was Adam.
He was this sweet little man, little man-child.
[Laughs] I’ve just never seen anything like it, but it was exactly what should happen.
Sean was in school trying to get a high school education.
I don’t understand how he got through those years.
He just took it all in stride and it put some of us to shame, his behavior.
But after 10 years on a show, you didn’t want to take a little time off?
Or because of that is there momentum so you jump right back in to keep it going?
I love what I do, and I’m a workaholic when it comes to that.
So it’s better for everyone in my life if I just stay working.
I kind of had to say yes.
I’m so honored that I got to do that.
