Life Goes On (TV series)

Life Goes On
The cast of Life Goes On. Clockwise from left: Kellie Martin, Patti LuPone, Bill Smitrovich, Chris Burke, and Arnold the Semi-Wonder Dog.
Created by	Michael Braverman
Starring	Bill Smitrovich Chris Burke Kellie Martin Patti LuPone Tracey Needham
Theme music composer	Lennon–McCartney
Opening theme	"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" Performed by Patti LuPone and the cast of Life Goes On
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	4
No. of episodes	86
Production
Running time	60 minutes
Production company(s)	Toots Productions Warner Bros. Television
Distributor	Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Release
Original network	ABC
Original release	September 12, 1989 – May 23, 1993

Life Goes On is an American television series that aired on ABC from September 12, 1989, to May 23, 1993. Reruns aired on The Family Channel from 1992 until about 1995, FX from about 1995 until about 1998, and ION from 1998 until about 1999. 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 (Corky, played by Chris Burke, who himself has Down syndrome in real life).

The drama featured the Thatcher family, whose son, Charles "Corky" Thatcher (played by Chris Burke), has Down syndrome, while their daughter Becca (played by Kellie Martin) did well at school but was socially awkward. Tony Award-winning stage actress Patti LuPone played the mother Elizabeth ("Libby") and Bill Smitrovich played the father Drew. Eldest sister Paige Thatcher was played by Monique Lanier during the 1989–1990 seasons and by Tracey Needham during the 1990–1993 seasons. Becca's boyfriend and Corky's buddy, Tyler Benchfield, was played by Tommy Puett. Jerry Berkson (Ray Buktenica) was Libby's quirky boss. In the last two seasons, Becca's boyfriend Jesse McKenna was played by Chad Lowe.

Executive Producer Michael Braverman first cast Chris Burke in the 1987 television movie Desperate, based on Braverman's favorite book, Lord Jim. After seeing Burke's work, ABC executives asked Braverman to create a show around Burke.

The show is set in the Chicago suburb Glenbrook, Illinois, which is named after the high school which one of Braverman's children attended at the time. The name itself is a blend of the real suburbs served by the school, Glenview and Northbrook.