Episode 1
Honeymoon from Hell
1h
The Thatchers win a problem-plagued church raffle trip to Hawaii.
Episode credits
Directed by Rick RosenthalGuest stars Ray Bumatai, Oliver Clark, Gloria Gifford, Denis Arndt, Don Ho
TV series
Life Goes On
1989NR4 seasons6.6 / 10
Obladi, oblada, life goes on, brah, lala, how the life goes on.
Life Goes On is a television series that aired on ABC from September 12, 1989, to May 23, 1993. 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.
Availability
Not streaming in United States
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Life Goes On premiered September 12, 1989. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Synopsis
Life Goes On is a television series that aired on ABC from September 12, 1989, to May 23, 1993. 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.
Season 2 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Where to watch Life Goes On
Episode 2
Corky and the Dolphins
1h
While in Hawaii, Corky goes dolphin-riding and Becca falls for a surfer. (Part 2 of 2)
Episode credits
Directed by Rick RosenthalWritten by Jule SelboGuest stars Janet Carroll, Dean Cain, Robert Pine, Denis Arndt
Episode 3
The Visitor
1h
Libby discovers she's expecting again, and the family fears the consequences of a pregnancy at her age.
Episode credits
Directed by Michael NankinWritten by Michael NankinGuest stars Seth Green, Oliver Clark, Bradley Pierce, Gregory White
Episode 4
Becca and the Band
1h
Rona and Tyler break up because Rona lied to him and went to a frat party. Becca becomes manager of Tyler's band and sets up a gig for them at the opening of the new mall with the prerequisite that there has to be a female singer in the band. Tyler asks Becca nad she agrees. At the last minute she backs out and asks a friend to do it and Tyler ends up leaving with Becca's friend, leaving the Bec depressed. Also, Libby is offered a chance to leave the restaurant and return to her old high-pressure, but higher-paying job.
Where to watch Life Goes OnEpisode 5
The Banquet Room Renovation
1h
Drew decides to turn the back room of the restaurant into a banquet room in hopes of bringing in more money. He gets funding from Farmer Jack on the condition that Drew use his son (Teddy) as a worker. Drew agrees. Drew and the kid develop a father/son like relationship. Corky is jealous and tries to help but causes more damage than good, which Drew blames on Teddy until Corky tells him the truth. Meanwhile, Libby, back at her old job tries to dig up a canine star for a gourmet dog-food commercial.
Episode credits
Guest stars Paddi Edwards
Episode 6
Halloween
1h
Halloween scares up a bad time for all: Libby and Drew at Jerry's big party, Corky at the school masquerade, and Becca who is home alone. The horror movies she's watching start to get to her. The lights go out, an intruder breaks in- it turns out to be Tyler. Confusion abounds.
Episode credits
Guest stars Tanya Fenmore
Episode 7
Chicken Pox
1h
Becca dreams about figure skating with a man. She wakes up with the chicken pox and has to stay home sick. Tyler comes to visit her several times to tell her about his problems with Rona. He and Becca become closer until Rona shows up ( just when they're about to kiss!)and steals him back from her. Meanwhile, Drew hires a waitress at the grill and comes down with the pox. Corky also gets sick and thinks that Becca got him sick on purpose. Paige's boyfrind (the vet) has gone to a conference and then will be moving back home to take over his father's practice. She wants Libby to go to a spa with her that weekend and think about going with him. The decision is made for her when she finds out the vet wants to get married to a another woman. After all 3 Thatcher's get over the pox, Libby comes down with a nervous rash from all her stress and is bed-ridden for the weekend and left to fend for herself.
Where to watch Life Goes OnEpisode 8
La Dolce Becca
1h
Becca gets a crush on a French student and Maxi with this French guy's friend. They have high hope of getting in with this ""mature"" crowd. She and Maxi go to a bar with these boys and Maxi gets drunk. Becca tells her mom the next morning to get some help for Maxi's hangover. Becca's mom ends up telling Maxi's mother what happened after giving her word to Becca that it was just between them. Becca and Maxi get into a fight and Maxi is in with the mature crowd. Becca ditches school and gets grounded but has to go out that night when she recieves a call from Maxi because one of these guys had left her stranded. She gets caught sneaking back in the house. Side plot: A lady is choking in the restaurant, Corky runs to get Drew who gives the lady the Heimlich maneuver and the two of them become heros. Later the lady sues Drew for $ 25,000 because supposedly he broke one of her ribs.
Episode credits
Guest stars Tanya Fenmore, Julie Cobb, Terri Ivens
Episode 9
A Thacher Thanksgiving
1h
Corky pictures the family at the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving; Drew, opening the restaurant for the holiday, meets an old classmate who is homeless.
Episode credits
Directed by Charles Braverman
Episode 10
Libby's Sister
1h
Tension between Becca and Drew isn't helped by the arrival of Libby's sister Gina (Mary Page Keller) and neice Zoe ( Leigh Ann Orsi).
Episode credits
Directed by Rick RosenthalGuest stars Tanya Fenmore
Episode 11
The Buddy
1h
A fun-loving old buddy brightens up Drew's life, but the man has a shady side. Meanwhile, Becca and Zoe squabble over room sharing.
Episode credits
Guest stars Don Stewart, Alan Blumenfeld
Episode 12
The Bicycle Thief
1h
Corky resolves to enter a 50k bike race despite his father's objections, and makes friends with another biker who is epileptic. He bought a brand-spanking new bike from a guy in the bike store who had a crush on Paige. The bike was stolen, and Zoe, seeing Corky's heartbreak, stole him an almost identical one. The truth wins out, though, and all gets cleared up in the end.
Episode credits
Directed by Mel DamskiGuest stars Anthony Addabbo
Episode 13
Isn't It Romantic
1h
Cupid is shooting arrows at almost everyone. First Hans gets a crush on a lady that delivers newspapers whose husband just died. Kent, Paige's motorcycle man returns and aings ""Wild Thing"" to her at the Grill and they get back together. Becca has to dissect a frog in biology and her partner is a boy named Matt. They have an up and down relationship but still end up together rather than as friends. Tyler catches them smooching in the hall and becomes jealous. He sneaks into Becca's room that night and proclaims his feelings to her only to find out that it is Zoe he is talking to...Becca is out with Matt. Jerry develops a crush on Gina and they go out on a date provided that only the human part of Jerry is allowed on the date and if Jerry shows up, the date is over.
Episode credits
Directed by Michael Lange
Episode 14
The Bigger Picture
1h
Gina despairs when nothing she does is right in the eye of her mother, and Corky despairs when his special-ed substitute suddenly takes leave.
Where to watch Life Goes OnEpisode 15
Last Stand in Glen Brook
1h
Becca organizes a '60s-style protest in support of a record store owner (Quincy Jones) arrested for selling allegedly obscene material. She begins having nightmares of ""Thought Police"" (censorship cops) storming through Glenn Brook.
Episode credits
Directed by Larry ShawGuest stars Quincy Jones, Michael Alldredge, Adam Carl, Brandi Chrisman, Elyssa Davalos, George Ede, Gina Hecht, Craig Hurley
Episode 16
Head over Heels
1h
Becca does a double flip over her gymnastics coach-as does Gina over a handyman (Michael St. Gerard) several years her junior.
Episode credits
Guest stars Michael St. Gerard, Tanya Fenmore
Episode 17
Corky's Travels
1h
Corky gets lost and wanders around the mean streets of Chicago. He meets a kindhearted, young hooker who gives him his first sexual experience-essentially a few long kisses. ( The episode is intentionally vague over whether they went further.) Corky is shadowed (and mystically guided) throughout the evening by a semi-mythic blues singer, the great Leon Redbone. Becca and Tyler spend a rainy, frustrated evening driving around Chicago looking for Corky, and end up smooching in the car. This episode was filmed mostly in black and white.
Episode credits
Directed by Rick RosenthalGuest stars Bernie Coulson, Robin Tunney
Episode 18
Thanks a Bunch, Dr. Lamaze
1h
Drew confronts his feelings about them having yet another child. He comes through in the end when another woman goes into labor early. Becca makes muck over athlete's unearned grades-only to muddy herself.
Episode credits
Directed by Michael Lange
Episode 19
Ghost of Grandpa Past
1h
Drew is having doubts about the restaurant and keeps having conversations with his Grandfather. I think in the end he decides on the new look for the restaurant.
Where to watch Life Goes OnEpisode 20
Arthur
1h
Corky befriends an older man with Down Syndrome who leads a kind of life that Corky would like to lead.
Episode credits
Directed by Michael NankinGuest stars Walter Olkewicz, Ryan Bollman
Episode 21
Lighter Than Air
1h
Libby cooks up a great ad for a line of diet frozen foods; Corky and Zoe paly Sherlock Holmes and snoop into Tyler's furtive behavior.
Episode credits
Guest stars Tom O'Rourke, Ana Alicia
Episode 22
Proms and Prams
1hfinale
Expectations run high as Becca awaits Tyler's invitation to the prom, and Libby expects her baby. Patti Lupone sings ""More Than You Know"".
Episode credits
Directed by Kim FriedmanGuest stars Ben Murphy, Montrose Hagins, Tanya Fenmore, Jonathan Prince
Episode information updated Jul 23, 2026
Available now in United States
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More about Life Goes On
Cast
Bill SmitrovichAndrew "Drew" Thatcher
Patti LuPoneElizabeth 'Libby' Thacher
Chris BurkeCharles "Corky" Thatcher
Kellie MartinRebecca 'Becca' Thacher
Chad LoweJesse McKenna
Tracey NeedhamPaige ThatcherMonique LanierPaige Thatcher
Elizabeth BerkleySelenaCredits
- Created by
- Michael Braverman
- Written by
- Toni Graphia, Jule Selbo, Michael Nankin
Production details
- Status
- Ended
- Series type
- Scripted
- Episodes
- 83
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
ABCUnited States
Themes
chicago, illinoisdown syndromefamily dramasuburban chicago