It's Your Move

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It's Your Move ranks 10,050 out of the 18,229 shows on TV.com.

The 84 users who count themselves as It's Your Move fans have written a total of 4 reviews.

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Premiered

Ended

Genre

After Jason Bateman had shown just how funny he could be on Silver Spoons, he was given his own show called It's Your Move. Unlike most family sitcoms of the time, Silver Spoons included, It's Your Move emphasized clever humor and witty writing over typical plots involving normal... more »

After Jason Bateman had shown just how funny he could be on Silver Spoons, he was given his own show called It's Your Move. Unlike most family sitcoms of the time, Silver Spoons included, It's Your Move emphasized clever humor and witty writing over typical plots involving normal family behaviors such as those seen on Family Ties and Growing Pains. It's Your Move often had a moral of some kind, but it was delivered in a Simpsons-esque way rather than shoving it down your throat. The show revolves around a smart, 14-year-old kid named Matthew Burton who, with the help of his slightly chubby crony, Eli, keenly pulls off schemes and pranks that would impress Ferris Bueller. Matthew lives in an apartment with his mother, Eileen, an attractive, single woman who attracts men like flies to a horse. Matthew, of course, is very protective of her and uses his clever tricks and schemes to weed out any of the losers who might want to take advantage of Eileen's kindness and naivete. Eileen, however, is completely oblivious to her son's antics and believes that he is as sweet and innocent as she is. Matthew also lives with his older sister, Julie, for whom Eli has a huge crush. Unlike her mother, Julie often sees through her brother's plans and offers up any trouble she can. Nevertheless, Matthew even has his bratty sister under control and is the master of his destiny.

Things change when a struggling writer named Norman moves into the apartment across the hall and immediately falls in love with Eileen. Eileen feels the same for Norman who treats her well. Matthew doesn't share his mother's sentiments and feels that she should be dating rich, good-looking guys - both of which Norman is not. Thus, Matthew sets out to ruin Norman's chances with Eileen with one of his hilarious setups, but Norman turns out to just as be as clever and turns the tables on Matthew.

The series basically consists of the two adversaries trying to dupe each other. The two characters were very likable, and their schemes were so cleverly crafted that it was easy to enjoy the show when either guy pulled one over on the other. Unfortunately, the series was disliked by adults because it portrayed a child out of the control of his parent. Eventually, Eileen became aware of her son's pranks and the balance between the characters went off-kilter. The show performed even more poorly and was quickly canceled. The show later enjoyed a brief resurgence in reruns on the USA Network.

Main Title Theme Song
"It's Your Move" by Rik Howard and Bob Wirth

NBC Broadcast History
September 26, 1984 - December 19, 1985 ---- Wednesdays ---- 9:30 - 10:00 P.M.
January 2, 1985 - March, 1985 ---- Saturdays ---- 9:30 - 10:00 P.M.
June, 1985 - August 19, 1985 ---- Saturdays ---- 8:30 - 9:00 P.M.

Nielsen Ratings - Top 30
Season 1 (1984-1985) Not In Top 30

Youth in Film Awards Nominations
Best Young Actress Starring In A Television Series
1984-1985 - Tricia Cast

First Telecast: September 26, 1984
Last Telecast: February 23, 1985
Episodes: 18 color episodesless «

• DVD's (Region 0).

  I have the whole series on 4 DVD's Region 0 ,anybody interested please send dvd trading list to: kilo_super_64@yahoo.com.au

  I have the whole series on 4 DVD's Region 0 ,anybody interested please send dvd trading list to: kilo_super_64@yahoo.com.au less «

  tawoz Last online Oct 21, 2007
  2 comments, last one Aug 12, 2008 + Add Comment

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  8.1 Great

  A funny sitcom that revolves around a teenager who is locked in a battle of wits with his mom's boyfriend. hide « show »

  I believe the interaction between Matthew and Norman is a very integral part of this show. That makes it somewhat different from its competitors. The only downside for this show is the fact that sometimes the situations are just too unbelievable for the characters to actually be in. It is almost insulting to believe that a 15 year old kid could get away with treating adults in the way that Matthew does, or that he could in fact get away with most of the things he does. Of course, that is all part of the fun of this show. Use your imagination and watch this one, it really is a funny and great show.

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  RLM1626 Added Dec 23, 2007 All my reviews
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  10 Perfect

  My Life On TV hide « show »

  I have always had mixed feelings about this show. On one hand was it funny, hilarious and before it's time. Jason Bateman had originated this role of a teenage con-artist as Derek Taylor on the surprise hit, "Silver Spoons," but by time he got his own show, the role had been expanded upon into some very large scale covert operations with listening devices and secret plots, a sort of "Parker Lewis" for it's time. The show was also a nightmare for me too, because I used to have a friend named Matthew Burton (Bateman's character), and we used to brag about stunts we had never really done. We both got a lot of flak from this show, and I think we enjoyed the attention a little bit. I've lost contact with him, but today when when we see each other, he reminds me of when we strung up the school skeletons for the concert. It never happened of course, but of course it's how we remember the show. I think both of us would have killed to have a mom who looked like Caren Kaye or a sister like Tricia Cast. Garrett Morris could never have been my principal, he was too laid back. David Garrison though I think we would have been friends with, especially if we could have predicted he'd be later moving in next door to Christina Appegate !

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  aesgaard41 Added Oct 14, 2006 All my reviews
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  8 Great

  I have to agree that this show was ahead of it's time. I can remember watching this as a kid on USA with a lot of other obscure shows that didn't go much further than a season or two... hide « show »

  I have to agree that this show was ahead of it's time. I can remember watching this as a kid on USA with a lot of other obscure shows that didn't go much further than a season or two.
  
  If only we had the cable channels of today back then, like Comedy Central. Even Fox takes the occasional risk and allows someone to be offensive.
  
  Unfortunately, we'll probably never even see these shows on DVD. Not because they aren't good enough but because the companies who own the rights don't want to cut through the red tape to get it done.
  
  Ofcourse based on the reviews for this show there probably aren't too many people who even know it exists.

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  tvdotcomsux Added Feb 21, 2006 All my reviews
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  10 Perfect

  Matthew Burton (played by Jason Bateman) is a clever, scheming 14-year old who's smarter than most of the adults in his world and gets just about everything he wants... until Norman Lamb (played by David Garrison) moves in across the hall and starts datin hide « show »

  "It's Your Move" show was, and still is one of my all-time favorites. Jason Bateman was AMAZING talent at just 14-years-old, and he was well-matched with David Garrison. It's sad that NBC caved in to a handful of complaints, meddled with the show and effectively ruined it. I mean, "It's Your Move" was pretty tame by today's standards -- certainly more tame than the so-called 'children's programming' my 7-year-old daughter watches on Nickelodeon or the Disney Channel. As obscure as the show was and small as it's fan-base is today, I still hope the relative success of "Arrested Development" will inspire someone to release "It's Your Move" on DVD. Jason Bateman must feel snakebit -- he keeps turning in brilliant, hilarious performances and his series keep getting prematurely cancelled.

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  kerryobryant Added Jan 10, 2006 All my reviews