Goldbergs Premiere Delivers Heartfelt Tribute to the Late George Segal’s Pops
The Goldbergs said goodbye to their beloved Pops in Wednesday’s Season 9 premiere, as each member of the family dealt with their grief in varying fashion. (Pops’ portrayer, OG cast member George Segal, died on March 23 from bypass surgery complications.)
Months after Pops passed away quietly in his sleep, Bill points out to Murray that his family is not handling the death well: Beverly has taken to calling herself an orphan; Erica is dismissive of Geoff’s wedding ideas; Barry is angry that Pops left him a pen instead of his cherished Super Bowl watch; and Adam is carrying around a doll that he plans to green-screen Pops’ face onto for their unfinished movie, Pops & Adam’s Excellent Adventure.
Bill suggests that they spread Pops’ ashes in his favorite place to heal, then fakes a letter from Pops with those instructions. But the family can’t figure out where that location would be. They start off at “his home away from home,” the racetrack, where one of Pops’ friends (Becker‘s Saverio Guerra) recognizes Bev from her picture. He points out that there’s a horse named Pop Goes the Weasel, which everyone (except Murray) takes as a sign. But when the poor horse gets injured, Beverly declares that they can’t spread her father’s ashes there.
The next stop is Pops’ favorite jazz club, where the proprietor (JAG‘s Scott Lawrence) has heard many stories about Bev. But it turns out the last time Pops was there, he drove into several cars and then some. Needless to say, Bev vetoes the site of Pops’ last car accident as a proper place to spread his ashes.
Near the jazz club is Pops’ favorite diner, where a waitress (NewsRadio‘s Vicki Lewis) reveals that she and Pops were lovers (or “human Tetris pieces,” as she puts it). As the family starts to bicker, with Barry and Adam fighting over the watch, Beverly realizes that the letter was fake. Murray admits to scheming to help them.
“It’s supposed to be hard. We lost somebody that we love,” Beverly says sadly, to which Murray replies, “But no one’s dealing with it.” Case in point: Bev won’t go out with her friends; Erica hates every wedding venue because they’re all missing Pops; Barry hates the pen because he thinks it means Pops was disappointed in him; and Adam is carrying a doll so he can pretend Pops never died. Murray admits that he also doesn’t know what to do after losing the man who gave him his business, his family and his happiness.
Adam tells Barry that the pen is the same one Pops wrote to Grandma with during the war, and that’s why he wanted him to have it. Then Adam admits that he knows Pops’ favorite place: It’s the tree where he proposed. Pops used to say that everything that blossomed in his life took root there, Beverly recalls. So it’s fitting that Erica decides that’s where she wants to get married.
As the family prepare to spread Pops’ ashes, Adam says some words from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure that encompass how Pops lived his life: “Be excellent to each other, and party on!”
With that, the Goldbergs start moving on in healthier fashion — Bev is ready to begin wedding planning, uh-oh? — and watch a home movie of Pops, in which he says, “I realize we shouldn’t dwell on the loves we’ve lost, because there’s more than enough love right here.”
A dedication card to Segal follows, then footage of the late actor singing and playing banjo on set.
Goldbergs fans, what did you think of the send-off? Grade the episode, then hit the comments.
Hard to imagine The Goldbergs without Pops. Was definitely a tearjerker.
It’s hard to imagine continuing the show without him.
I’ve always loved George Segal. I hope he is happy in heaven and knows he will be missed.
I have such fond memories of Mr. Segal’s countless appearances on Johnny Carson where he ALWAYS delighted everyone by playing the banjo and singing. So the ending to this tribute really melted my heart. Will miss him very much!
Does the Goldbergs know how to do episodes that aren’t movie tributes anymore? I know it wasn’t the main focus, and there were parts of this episode that were great, but I really don’t think the episode to acknowledge Pop’s passing should have also been the “Bill & Ted” episode.
That aside, Pops will be incredibly missed.
Agreed. The wedding Singer episode with the actual clips cut in was painful
They have done it for years for their season premieres. Acting like they do it every other episode is ridiculous.
Was disapointed that Pops was cremated. He was a Jewish character and cremation is prohibited. They could have had a poignant issue without cremation being the main theme of the episode. Did any1 do their research?
I know the show doesnt spend much time on their religion , but there was a Chanukah episode once where Pops was proud to be Jewish
I Wondered the same thing!
I haven’t seen the episode as yet. I live it Israel so it will take some time. I had a similar thought about burial, but then I remembered that Reform Jews are permitted to be cremated, and the Reform movement represents the largest stream of Judaism in America. So while it is not so traditional, it is very possible, and Pops’ character seemed like a guy who combined the traditional and the modern. All in all, I will miss the amazing George Segal and the love and warmth he brought to the show. May his memory be blessed.
Me too! The episode was weird cremating Pops who died peacefully in his sleep. 1. I don’t think he would have been cremated and ashes spread in a park because of his religion. 2. Pops favorite place was a park where he proposed to his wife? He seemed like he had a lot of girlfriends if he was totally thinking of his wife all the time. 3. Beverly telling her friend that her parents that died in a car crash was no big deal, was a little over the top mean. Other than that, it was ok.
got emotional just reading the recap. RIP George
Wednesday marked the 7th year anniversary of my son’s passing. It was already a melancholy day. As my husband and I watched this episode, the tears just flowed. It was lethargic and definitely captured much of what we were feeling. George Segal will be missed. I’m grateful for the beautiful send off episode dedicated to his character. Fitting that it was on Sept. 22nd.
So sorry for your loss Millie C. We lost my nephew on Sept. 18th, 10 yrs ago. Time moves on but the emotions are always strong.
The episode was a beautiful tribute to a very wonderful actor George Segal.
I haven’t watched the episode yet, but it sounds like it was a beautiful tribute. The Goldbergs won’t be the same without Pops.
I love this show i watch the reruns and the new shows. Never missing an episode
Was a beautiful tribute episode
I recorded the episode, but I haven’t watched it yet other than a few seconds I saw live last night while flipping through the channels
He will be missed. Cried, laughed, and remembered.
They did a great job on the Premiere, had to be a difficult episode to make. But I’m sure he was smiling down.
Series 1 I loved this sitcom but slowly hated it. I can’t stand the fact that characters are almost replying to comments before they have been said. In real life who digests a comment and relies within 0.01 secs. Crap
I truly loved the episode.Saying Good bye to Pops. I reminded me of my GPop! Great job Goldberg cast!!! BE EXCELLENT,PARTY ON!
Y.SIMMERS
Love the show . Most shows live off one actor. But all the main actors in this family count. Love them all .
SO human. I love this show.