Sitcoms Online Photo Galleries - Baby Boom: Kate Jackson and Michelle and Kristina Kennedy( TV Times)

Baby Boom aired from September 1988 until January 1989 on NBC.

Yet another movie-turned-tv series that flopped was this comedy based on the 1987 Diane Keaton film of the same name.The series also suffered from eratic scheduling; there was a gap of almost 8 weeks between the premiere and the 2nd episode, and during it's brief fall run, it was never telecast for more than 3 consecutive weeks at a time.

Kate Jackson starred as J.C. Watt, who was the picture of yuppiedom, stylish, single, Harvard-educated lawyer aggresively pushing her way up the executive ladder at a large corporation. Dates called her " The Tiger Lady." Then on her doorstep appeared baby Elizabeth ( Michelle & Kristina Kennedy), left to her by a recently deceased English relative. J.C.'s high-powered career was thrown into turmoil. She tried hard to juggle the demands of instant motherhood and career, but never could seem to decide which life she wanted. Seemingly oblivious to her plight were Mr. Curtis , her demanding boss ( played by Sam Wanamaker who also appeared in the movie), secretary Charlotte ( Susie Essman); fellow lawyer Arlene( Robyn Peterson); and officious young assistant Ken ( Daniel Bardol), who was constantly angling for her job. Helga ( Joy Behar), was the fearsome nanny who took care of Elizabeth while J.C. played office politics.

Seen occasionally in flashbacks were J.C.as a career-obsessed child ( played by Nikki Feemster), and as a teen ( played by Jill Whitlow).

Viewers were apparantly unamused by the idea of baby-as-career-obsticle and the series was soon canceled.

Two leftover episodes aired on August 14 and September 10, 1989.

A Review From USA TODAY

TV PREVIEW
BY MONICA COLLINS

A goo-goo boo-boo

Reeking with pretension, Baby Boom-fall's first premiere-looks like a million bucks. You are overwhelmed by the filmic look, the lush score, the gauzy opulence.

This is the pretty way to raise an instant family-no smelly diapers, no spit-ups, no tears. And no heart.

Kate Jackson, the star, is cute. The baby, the co-star, is cuter-all chubby and curly. The island of Manhattan seems lifted from a Woody Allen love letter. Even the grocery store seems cozy and inviting filled with sensitive divorced guys shopping for fresh fruit and frozen dinners.

Cute and cloying, almost choking. If we watch tv for vicarious pleasure, then Baby Boom leads you into an abundant garden of yuppie delights.

But it's all in fun, of course. Baby Boom-about a corporate climber( Jackson) who inherits a baby-is supposedly making satiric hay of all that superficiality.

But Baby Boom-produced by the same team that produced the Diane Keaton film-is one of the most precious and showoff-y tv shows. To even call it a tv show is like referring to your jaguar as a jalopy. This strives to be much more than your standard tv comedy-a Woody Allen short-subject perhaps.

What gets lost in this brittle and calculated world is the baby. The child ( played by twins Michelle and Kristina Kennedy) is the only freshness, the only escape from the claustrophobia. In the first episode she just wants her " blankie." A genuine need. The only genuiness in Baby Boom.

For more on Baby Boom go to http://www.kate-jackson.com/babyboom.htm