GMMR Flashback: Rags to Riches
June 22, 2008 by Kath Skerry
Every once in a while it’s important to look back at our history and understand how the events of those who came before us affected life as we know it today. These events shaped who we are and we must pay them the proper respect they deserve. In order to properly honor our forefathers (or two fathers in the case of Nicole Bradford), GMMR will start to look back at those whose influence made us the people we are today.
Rags to Riches: A wealthy business man looking to improve his public image takes in orphaned girls to share his home for a week. While in their new temporary home the girls get a glimpse of the good life and are so overwhelmed by it all that they have no choice but to break out into song as a way to express their true feelings. But just as they are starting to enjoy it all the publicity stunt ends and the wealthy man prepares to send the girls back to the orphanage. But with the help of the wealthy man’s butler, he realizes how much the girls brought to his life and decides to adopt them and raise them as his daughters. Together the wealthy business man and his new adopted daughters break out into song to celebrate their joy.
Yes, RAGS TO RICHES was a complete and utter rip off an ANNIE, but I didn’t mind. I just knew that in 1987 this 11 year old wanted nothing more than to be part of a world where everyone was singing, singing, singing.
The characters on the show used songs from the 50’s and 60’s to express themselves, often rewriting the lyrics to fit the show’s plot and ultimately bastardizing the song to within an inch of its life. Looking back at the clips I see the horror of what they were doing, but at the time I loved every minute of it.
RAGS TO RICHES only lasted a season and a half but I’ve never forgotten it. And every time I look at my rich father and my 5 adopted sisters while we are holding hands and signing in the mall I know which TV show to thank.
(…and yes, that’s Tisha Campbell doing her thing as my favorite sister, Marva)
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Filed under TV News
Kath…I loved that show!!! I used to play it with my friends on the playground. No one else I talk to remembers it…thanks for the flashback!!! 😉
STOP IT!!!!!!!!!! I can’t handle any more reasons to love you, GMMR!!!!!!!
I’ve been a long time reader of your blog, but this is the first time I’ve just HAD to comment a post. We share a love of John Krasinski and Josh Jackson but it took a post on Rags to Riches to completely suck me in. Thank you for this!
Do you know where full lengh episodes can be downloaded?
I can’t thank you enough for this post. As I was reading I wanted to reminisce about the “I Love Him” song at the basketball court (my most re-enacted scene as a dreamy 10 year old) and there it was in glorious You Tube format! Thanks for the memories!
Oh my god – my sister and I were just talking about this show a half an hour ago! You must have been reading my mind. (Off to email her this post…)
I can’t believe you wrote this! I just posted about RtR when I saw Tischa Cambpell in Little Shop of Horrors and it caused a flashback to this show. I loved it!
OMG, Kath – this is so great! I totally remember this show and wanting to be one of the adopted daughters so I could sing and dance and live in a mansion! 😉 I’m loving this TV flashback – can’t wait to see what other memories you’ll bring back!
i have all twenty episodes on dvd. they are recorded from vhs tapes and some of the video is not perfect but they are all very watchable. all commercials have been deleted and they are in english. if anyone is interested please contact me at kathyc111@atlanticbb.net