Right now you can watch Growing Pains on streaming — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. 7 seasons of it means there is plenty to get through without ever feeling padded. 171 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Watch it for Alan Thicke — stay for everyone else around them. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Growing Pains is worth clearing space for. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Growing Pains from the crowd. Fatherhood has taken on a whole new meaning for Jason Seaver, who has assumed the chores of cooking, cleaning and minding the kids so that his wife, Maggie, can pursue a career in journalism after spending 15 years as a housewife. Alan Thicke and Joanna Kerns lead a cast that never overplays a joke. It ran for 7 seasons (1985–1992), and the writing holds up across every one of them. Growing Pains earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Growing Pains is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. The tonal similarities to Everybody Loves Raymond are real, though Growing Pains carves out its own identity quickly. 7 seasons is a lot, but the quality holds all the way through. Alan Thicke is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.

Growing Pains wrapped up in 1992, created by Neal Marlens — and 7 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.