“DID I DO THAT?”
THIS WEEK IN OUR HISTORY…STARRING HEATHER LOCKLEAR AND STEVE URKEL
WHEN THIRTYSOMETHING TAUGHT TV HOW TO FEEL IN 1987 EDWARD ZWICK and Marshall Herskovitz created an adult drama that seemed, at the time, like something of a revelation. The soft-lit, soft-rock vibe of thirtysomething held a mirror up to a certain kind of real life. The action, so to speak, was the relatable conversations between the characters—an attractive
baby-boomer group of friends— who struggled with love, marriage, children, careers, friendship, and balancing it all. Without it, would we ever have enjoyed feeling-feelings shows such as Brothers & Sisters, Parenthood, and even newcomer Togetherness? Luckily, we never have to find out. —SARA VILKOMERSON
Patricia Wettig and thirtysomething cover our May 4, 1990, issue
THIRTYSOMETHING
BROTHERS & SISTERS
PARENTHOOD
TOGETHERNESS
GETTING BACK TO OUR ROOTS In 1995 we defended Heather Locklear—as one should—after she came under style fire for sporting blond hair with dark roots. To back ourselves up, we cited similarly coiffed stars like Fabio and Courtney Love and asked Beverly Hills-based hair legend José Eber for advice. “Having roots makes you feel like you’re totally in,” he said. And remember: The ’90s are back.
WRITE TO US! 3 EW_LETTERS@EW.COM
Cover girl Amy Schumer’s bawdy humor was a total turn-on for reader James Atkins of Russellville, Ark.: “I knew Amy Schumer was the funniest
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comedian working, but you’ve also reaffirmed my belief that she’s one of the sexiest women in all of show business. Gee, I hope she reads this!” The comedic stylings of the controversial Daily Show host-to-be, however, had Robb Gallo of New Haven, Conn., saying, “Maybe the
question isn’t ‘Is America Ready for Trevor Noah?’ but ‘Is Trevor Noah Ready for America?’ ” Readers were ready to binge on Netflix’s new superhero show, Marvel’s Daredevil, though Julie Harrington of Lombard, Ill., bemoaned its lack of romance. “Yet again,
the implied message with superhero series is No Girls Allowed. If these shows would stop acting as if characters in committed, realistic relationships were a death knell, maybe networks could focus on what all viewers want: a good, entertaining story.”
CONTACT US We want to know what you think. Send emails to ew_letters@ew.com or mail to 135 W. 50th St., New York, NY 10020. Include your name, address, and telephone number. Letters may be edited for clarity or length. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SUBSCRIPTIONS For 24/7 service, please use our website (www.ew.com/ customerservice), or call 1-800-828-6882. You can also write to ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY at P.O. Box 30608, Tampa, FL 33630-0608.
WET TIG, KEN OLIN, WHITE: ABC PHOTO ARCHIVES/GET T Y IMAGES (3); CALISTA FLOCKHART: MIR ANDA PENN TURIN/ABC; SALLY FIELD: JUSTIN STEPHENS/ABC; PARENTHOOD : JOE PUGLIESE/NBC (2); MARK DUPL ASS: MELISSA MOSELEY/HBO; MELANIE LYNSKEY: COLLEEN HAYES/HBO; LOCKLEAR: RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE.COM
Jaleel White was supposed to appear on Family Matters for only one episode. Instead, his nasal, nerdy Steve Urkel stole the show for all nine seasons. In our 1990 spotlight on then-13-yearold White—who will appear on Castle May 4—he told EW he hoped the character would become an icon. “I’d love for Urkel to take off,” he said. Mission accomplished.
